I removed Riveria too many complaints.

For the guys that keep asking, this is not a harem, this is not a Bell x Ryu it's barely a Bell x Aiz.

For the people questioning, Hestia died uselessly. Why she dies shouldn't matter it is about what happens afterwards. I'll have a short chapter for those who need that explanation.

It is what it is

The sun was going down, it was low enough for the walls to overshadow Orario, still, the brightest rays were certainly visible in the clouds. The bars were open and adventurers were coming out of the dungeon. Aiz and Welf left Hearth Manor and were walking towards the home of the Loki familia, the Twilight Manor. They were red from the heat of the forge, so red some may interpret their situation differently. The temperature was cool and compared to the hot forge in the workshop, the air felt nice and cold to breathe.

As the redness was slowly going away Welf started to chat again with the sword princess.

"I heard from the Dea Saint that you've visited Bell every day"

Aiz nodded

"Thank you,"

Aiz tilted her head, she seemed confused.

Welf noticed and explained.

"I've lost a bit of courage to see him. I feel responsible for what happened. I think we all do." Welf face saddened

"Sorry," Aiz said apologetically.

"No, thank you, really! I don't think Bell could have had anyone better to visit him." Welf got an odd grin on his face.

"If I may ask, why have you visited him?"

It was quiet for a bit, Welf didn't know how to continue. He became lost in thought.

Welf didn't know Aiz' the sword princess or the Kenki well at all. To him, she could be a crazy, bloodthirsty, vindictive, savage who could only think about slaughtering monsters. What he did know and what he had learned was that it seemed that Aiz has at least one priority and that lucky son of a bitch didn't even know it.

Welf couldn't help but get the fattest grin on his face. However, he was sure no one would surpass the one he was chasing for. The vermillion red hair, her ruby red eyes and let's not forget her almost inhumane skill and passion with a hammer. Welf pupils dilated just thinking about it. (Dilated = Expanded in other words Welf was imagining Hephaestus working passionately on his hammer. XD)

By the time they stood in front of the twilight mansion Aiz spoke.

"I-I don't know."

Before Welf could respond the guards spoke.

"Who is this?"

"A friend," Aiz said.

The guards were glaring at Welf.

While Aiz and Welf walked through the twilight manor towards Finn's office, the smith felt quite uncomfortable. With every room they entered more eyes seemed to glare towards him. Elves seemed to have fiercest eyes.

When they entered the office Riveria and Finn were in a conversation. After Aiz entered the room Riveria's distraught face looked up with a smile.

"He is Bell's smith and we are making Bell new armour together."

"What are you here for Aiz?" Finn tried to steer the conversation.

"I want to help with Bell's armour so I need a bunch of Adamantite and the stuff to make Durandal," Aiz answered

"Okay, so why are you here?" Finn cleared up.

"We aren't able to give away such expensive wares. We have a lot of problems right now ourselves."

Welf smiled, he expected that answer.

Gareth walked in.

"Oi, what's all the fuss about? hey, who's this?"

Welf made sure he was first to speak.

"Hello sir, I am Welf Crozzo, I am, uhm, was the smith of the Hestia familia. I have since joined the Hephaestus familia hoping to get more proficient and help my dear friend Bell who is sickly in the hospital. There I met Aiz and she has been eager to help me."

Welf tried to be as polite as possible, everyone could see through his farce however it was still appreciated.

"Hestia familia ey, I'm deeply sorry for yer loss. I heard it's unknown how or why she left."

"Thank you," Welf said.

Gareth put his hand on Welf's shoulders and said.

"Ya don't have to be so polite ya know."

Welf started his sales pitch.

"I haven't sold or given them to anyone other than my previous familia member. However, I am willing to make an exception. I offer my services to this familia only. You and my party will be the only ones with access to these weapons. If the stories aren't enough I am willing to give the first so you understand the power they produce."

"What is your price Crozzo?"

"Of course, there will be a fee for its creation and as an exclusivity fee I would like some help to gather enough Durandal and Adamantite for Bell's armoury."

Finn that have to think long to answer.

"That doesn't seem like much of a win for us."

Welf knew how to sell his stuff.

"Those swords allow a level one to gain elemental strength of a level 4. And recently I have been able to create level 5 weapons although that is still an irregularity."

Finn's eyes widened "Level 5?"

"Yes, because I have only recently started to make them, I am still a novice in creating them experimenting and trying to get them stronger,"

Finn was shocked by that answer. He wants to see whether he is lying or not.

"Okay, come by tomorrow with a sword. What help do you need?"

Welf smiled and answered.

"I am not in good relations with my new familia and as a level two I struggle with collecting funds for so Aiz, I would need someone alongside Aiz to help carry the ores.

"I'll join ya," Gareth said,

During the three days of collecting ores, Gareth and Aiz had a lot of time talking. With two level-sixes, there were no troubles in the dungeon at all. After the first day, Gareth couldn't help but ask his familia member, the one he has raised half her life, how she was doing.

"Hey, kid how is it going?"

"..."

"I'm curious to see what will come from all the ores we're collecting."

"..."

Aiz lit up

"It has been a while, hasn't it? I have free time and I know I'll enjoy spending it with you."

Aiz clenches her fist out of excitement. while Mini Aiz dances the robot.

Gareth chuckles

"Haha, I'm sure it will be fun."

"I used to be the one to take care of ya. When Riveria and Finn were dealing with the other. We used to run away into the dungeon. Haha, those were some scary times. That's not even counting the Evils. Just Riveria's wrath when we returned still gives me shivers. Especially when all your weapons were broken again."

Aiz giggled.

"Oh man, I was so glad when I got you to understand that you should stop breaking your weapons. I used that excuse against Riveria for a long time."

"So…, how are you doing?"

"Mhm.., Scared?" Aiz said lost in thought.

"Scared? Who... you? Hehe, I should be scared for your safety willing to go get all the ore, the weight will kill you alone." Gareth laughed.

He continued

"What ya scared of, Bell or Knossos?"

Aiz nodded.

"Both?"

"I see." Gareth looked at the ground not sure what to say. Aiz spoke first.

"Bell and… Line.."

Gareth remembered the girl. She was always optimistic, She always stood next to the angry wolf, yet... even he couldn't protect her.

"Such a sweet kid"

After Gareth thought of Line he started remembering more people he had lost. Quickly tears came and it didn't like long for a steady stream of tears. It had been a while since he had thought about them. He wanted to stop himself in front of Aiz but he was too far gone and continued crying.

"I'm sorry," Aiz said.

"It's my fault." Aiz saddened.

"Hehe," Gareth giggled.

Aiz was confused.

Gareth sniffed.

"Thank you Aiz. Thank you for making me remember. It has been a while. Even though I am crying and sad that I've lost them. Remembering them makes me happy as well. Remembering the old familia and comrades is always fun. Remembering all the times' Line stood up for and against Bete are times that are worth crying about. I'm sure he agrees."

"It doesn't make me happy," Aiz said.

"That will come, it takes time." Gareth smiled.

"Mhm, okay."

"And the kid? Ya scared of him?"

Aiz shook her head.

"No, for him."

"Why?"

"a.. a… a friend?"

"Ah, A friend huh, similar to Tiona and Bete?"

Aiz shook her head

"No..."

Gareth got a humongous grin on his face.

"Then what?" He asked

Aiz shrugged again

"White's hair?"

Gareth had a confused look on.

Aiz tried again

"Red eyes.. uh.. body?"

Gareth laughed.

"You only have this with Bell?"

Aiz nodded

"You should talk to him about it."

Aiz' eyes widened a bit.

"When you look at Bell what do you see?"

Aiz shrugged her shoulders.

Gareth looked upwards at the ceiling, perhaps remembering a previous day.

"I'll tell you what I see. It is the same thing I saw in Ottarl, Zald, Alfia, Maxim and... you. "

"Potential."

"The kind that seems limitless, perhaps it is. "

"For some reason, certain people stick out ya know. when yer around them. They have this feeling of, I don't want to be on their bad sides. "

"And I'm glad I did. Some would've killed me. However, for Bell, it is different, for most this potential has another side."

"For Ottarl it is Lust for a crazy woman. Zald gluttony, Alfia Sloth, Maxim it was envy, and for you, it is Wrath. and Bell, either he is crazier than all the others combined or he is the only one who does not fall to the seven sins. He seems to have no limit and nothing will ever be in his way. I can see only the opposite in him, the virtues and I've barely met him."

"He is scary, that's why we aren't too close with the Hestia familia. We're simply... scared. We're scared of what the previous strongest familia did."

"Ya know how fast the kid grows."

Aiz nodded.

Gareth continued.

"Has he slowed down since?"

Aiz shook her head

"He is fast"

"Exactly,"

Even if I said see you next month I would be too late, for that, I apologize. I have gotten more views than words on this odd fanfic. I'll try to do better. (yeah right) I know Welf and Gareth is oddly polite I can't help it.

Lost a bit of interest in Fanfictions, either this will help me write more or I lose motivation. If I do, I will post everything I have which is the entire story it just may be a bit rough around the edges.

Riveria seemed a bit more mad than I wanted,