Authors Note1: If you read a CURSIVE! somehwere, that means nothing, its just a mark for me that this sentence is a thought and I missed to change it, if that happens I change that he next day.
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"Bell...please stop squirming around, that doesn´t make it easier for me."
"B-But..."
Ryuu tried her best to restrain Bell as he sat on the low wooden chair in the tiled area with curtain and drain in the middle, that was built into the corner of the room, so she could wash him with sponge and cloth. Ryuu had closed the curtain after they entered, to make sure nobody would surprise them, Bell had stretched out his left leg because of the plaster cast, placed his left arm on a low washing table and was holding onto handle that was built into the wall with his right hand.
After Hestia and Astrea had left, they decided to wash themselves, or rather Ryuu would wash both of them since Bell couldn´t really move. She had locked the door and pulled the curtains in front of the windows. After that she had helped Bell to slowly get out of his bed and sat down on the chair that was meant for that. Just with the two of them, they had no problem to take off the small hospital clothes. At first Ryuu started to wash Bell´s head, shoulders and upper body, but now that she came to his hips, he was squirming.
"Bell my love...I have seen you naked many times by now...you should be used to it...and.." Now she blushed lightly. "I´m naked too, it should be okay."
"Y-Yeah...but washing there...I-I can do that alone!"
"And how? You have to keep your grip on the handle or you might fall down."
"B-But it´s embarassing!"
"Bell...I´m your wife..."
"W-What if our positions were reversed?!"
"Well...it might be a bit embarassing..."
"S-See?"
"But if it is you...I would be okay with it."
"W-What?!" Bell only got more red and quieked lightly as the image flashed through his mind, of him washing Ryuu with a sponge.
"Bell we are married."
"Yes..but...I..."
Maybe a surprise attack will help..
Ryuu leaned forward and kissed Bell lovingly...when he was distracted, she reached between his legs with the sponge. Kissing him while she washed his privates with both hands...was indeed embarassing for both of them, but it had to be done. And one of Ryuu´s best characteristics was, that she put shame aside when there were things that had to be done.
Eventually she separated their lips. "See? Was it that bad?"
Bell didn´t answer, he looked to the side, bright red in the face.
"Bell?"
Ryuu felt something tapping against her hand and looked down.
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"Bell..." She sighed. "I can´t believe you...we are in a hospital...you are badly wounded...and just awake for six hours now...have some self restrain..."
"I-I-I can´t help it! When you touched me...and kissed...a-a-and you are kn-kneeling naked in front of me..."
She could see his eyes wandering over her body.
"So you were expecting something?" Ryuu raised an eyebrow.
"N-No! Believe me please! I can´t help but react when you touch me!"
"You didn´t react when Amid touched you."
"That´s because she isn´t you!"
Ryuu´s ears became slightly red by his confession. So he only reacts to me...and my body like that...
She looked down...his "sword"..twitched. "Can´t you make it go down? It will be a problem if you stay like that when Amid comes back...or our gods...or other visitors"
If he could, Bell would have covered his face with his hands now. "I can´t...I´m sorry I don´t know what is wrong with my body...You are in my mind all the time...your body...I..."
Ryuu had heard once that people reacted in different ways to a near death experience...but like that?
"So you lust for my body?"
"L-lust? N-No! I...how do I explain this...I feel more attracted to you than before...your hips...your breasts...your smell...your everything...all on you arouses me...I can´t help it!" Bell was panting since he was so agitated to say these things out loud.
Ryuu gulped lightly, she felt the same, ever since she woke up and was sure that Bell was save...she wanted to be near him.
"I...I..." Bell looked into her eyes. "I have the strong urge...to claim you as mine..."
Without asking how he meant that, Ryuu understood what Bell meant. They were married and had pledged their eternal love...but she felt this urge in her as well. It wasn´t something she could explain with words.
For Bell it might had something to do with his connection to the dragon...maybe for Ryuu it was the close contact to Bell when he was the dragon. She could feel it like an animalistic instinct.
Ryuu was Bell´s wife...his female...and Bell was Ryuu´s husband...her male. And that instinct made them want to show the whole world that each other ... was theirs.
Her heartbeat rose and she felt warmer for some reason.
She sighed, then a short smile flashed over her lips. "Can´t help it..."
"Ryuu, are you mad?"
A very strong red shade came to Ryuu´s cheeks and ears as she leaned closer. "Hold still...and not one word about this!"
"Ry-mf!"
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Ryuu kissed him passionately, softly pressed her breasts against Bell´s chest, reached down and gently grabbed his "sword" with both hands...
Bell...I love you...
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Slowly, she started to move her hands up and down...
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It was a new experience for both of them.
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The feeling of holding "it" in her hands was...strange.
It´s hard...but soft at the same time...haauuuu what am I doing...
Everytime Ryuu moved her hands up and down, a shudder ran through Bell´s body and he moaned into the kiss.
This is so lewd...but...I like that feeling...haaa Bell...what did you make out of meeeeee...
The pulsation of his "sword" felt so good in her hands, it showed her strongly that Bell was alive.
With a gasp for air, Bell broke the kiss. "Ah..Ryuu...I...!"
He is going to...
Ryuu couldn´t fight her curiosity any longer, she leaned lightly back and glanced down, moving her hands faster...it was almost enchanting.
"Ry...Ryuu! I´m..!" His hips arched forward.
Bell...I love you...let everything ou-
Her thoughts were interrupted when his "sword" twitched strongly in her hands, she couldn´t take her eyes from it and then...Ryuu saw and felt Bell´s hot essence splashing in an eruption from the tip...right onto her stomach.
Aah...its so hot!...So lewd...what are we doing...what am I doing? It´s almost like...a tiny dragon...dear gods what am I thinking?!...Somehow...it looks cute...
Her cheeks and ears burned as she watched almost bewitched how splash after splash came out...
But even in her...without knowing it...arousal driven curiosity, Ryuu didn´t dared to touch what hung below Bell´s sword...that was way too lewd for her, even in her current state.
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After Bell´s first release...Ryuu couldn´t take her eyes from his "sword"...she continued to move her hands and after a few moments, looked into his face and kissed him passionately, not only Bell´s breath quickened and got heavier, but Ryuu´s too...somehow she felt her most important place getting hot.
Ah...Bell...
Eventually Ryuu broke the kiss, the need for air demanded it, Bell was already panting and moaning...the movements of her hands got faster and her grip tightened lightly, she felt Bell´s essence covering her hands, making her grip...slippery...and producing lewd sounds...without noticing it, Ryuu rubbed her thighs together.
What is with me...I´m doing that for Bell...why is my body reacting now...
In her hands, she felt Bell´s "sword" twitch...three times Ryuu helped Bell to release his essence...right onto her body...until Bell finally calmed down.
At the last time, Ryuu kissed Bell passionately and her whole body shuddered...against her will, her legs opened slightely...in a twitch, Bell´s healthy foot jerked forward and his toes tapped against her sacred place...with a strong moan, Ryuu reached the climax together with Bell...the tiles under her were wet...
Mmmnnnhhh! Beeeeell!
Aaaah! Ryuuuuuuu!
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I can´t believe I did something like that for him!...and in a hospital...and that he...so much...so strongly...all over my hands, my chest...my stomach...dear gods even my thighs...what came over me? Steam rose from Ryuu´s head, and her breath got slower, her body...her "core" calmed down...and finally she could think straight again.
Ryuu´s ears burned, she never expected herself to be so bold...so lewd...at least in her point of view. She was about to hide her face behind her hands, but stopped herself in the last second when she rememberred what covered her hands right now.
If she hadn´t stopped herself, Ryuu would die of shame on the spot. Her nose still caught the smell and she felt her core twitch.
What a lewd smell...this...this will make me pregnant someday...hauuuu...
She couldn´t help but look at her, with Bell´s essence, covered hands and body...some of his essence dripped from her breasts...and ran down her thighs to her sacred place...subconsciously Ryuu began to move on of her covered hands downwards to...
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Poof!
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More steam came out of Ryuu´s head as her own lewd actions and thoughts surprised her, after her own strong climax, her head was finally clear and...everything she just had done came to her head...her cheeks and ears were so hot, they felt like they were burning.
No! No! No! Stop! This is enough! What is with me? Why did I do something like thaaaat! Wh-Wh-What if the others w-w-watched o-over me right n-now! AAAAAAAAAH!
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I can´t believe she did something like that for me!...and in a hospital...Bell smiled blissfully after they stopped panting...and Ryuu moving her hands, he could see her legs shaking and pulled his leg back, his toes were wet. His eyes caught the sight before him...Ryuu kneeling naked in front of him, his essence covered her...and...did he see hearts in her eyes?...for a few moments he could only stare at her fast rising and falling breasts...
Then a sudden clarity hit his head, a clarity he didn´t have until his last release.
What did we just do?! What did I just do with Ryuu! Oh dear gods...how could I?!
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"A-At least now we know that Amid was right..." Somehow Ryuu wasn´t able to look Bell in the eyes, so she was surprised when he leaned forward and kissed her.
So much for not going further while we´re here...
Ever since they had woken up, their kisses had become more passionately, something in them was crying out to do something life affirming. To hold the other, protect the other...and make them theirs...
Bell couldn´t help but looking at Ryuu longingly.
"Bell...please wait until we are home to...continue..."
Without saying something he kissed her again...maybe to thank her?
Ryuu...I love you...and...thank...you...
Ah Bell...you´re unfair...I love you so much...
In a corner of her mind, Ryuu was wondering how quickly his condition stabilized. Mere hours ago, Bell was extremely weak after he had slept for days and taken so much damage. He still felt weak and tired, but when they just did that, Ryuu felt the flame of live burning bright in Bell. Was that because his stats with a level six body were maxed out? That he would soon level up to seven?
Some adventurer said that the difference from level six to seven was bigger than any other level, that he would be on his way to something like a demi-god.
After Ryuu had helped Bell to calm down, she washed her hands and body with the tiny shower at the side. Then they finished their washing and returned to their beds. Ryuu had pushed the beds together and used the hooks on the underside to link both beds together.
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Right now they were sitting side by side and looked onto the special sheet that Bell had gotten from Hestia, so he could choose a development ability. Ryuu leaned her head onto his shoulder and Bell his head against hers, they got cuddly again.
Hestia had written down for him what the runes said.
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Bell Cranel
Belongs to: Hestia Familia
Level: 6-7
Available Development abilites: Blood of Zeus, Burning Fighting Fighter, Blade Master
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Blood of Zeus: The Ability to statisfy every women (recommended for Harem owners (That´s a no no Bell! I will not tolerate this!)), granting a high chance to deal thunder elemental damage when hitting a weakspot.
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The recommendition was written originally in the skill, Hestia wasn´t happy with that but she wrote it down so Bell could read everything...and then she had added her sentence.
"Blood of Zeus...what a strange name..."
"Hmmm...It would be understandable if you were from the Zeus Familia...or your parents." Ryuu looked as confused as Bell.
"A chance to deal thunder elemental damage...wouldn´t that be dangerous for me too?"
"Maybe...but the other part of the ability..." Her eyebrow rose and she looked at him.
"Wh-What? It´s not my fault that this ability appeared there, it´s not like I´m going to choose it."
A sheepish smile came to Ryuu´s lips and she whispered softly into his ear, so quietly that he could barely understand her, while she snuggled against him. "You already have this ability...trust me..."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, let´s continue reading." Ryuu had gotten very good in hiding her embarassement when she said something...lewd.
Why did I say something so bold right now?! What is with me? Is that because of...what we just did? Because we are happy to be alive? Haaaa...Have some shame, me...
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Ryuu frowned and looked at the second possible ability. "Burning...Fighting...Fighter...hmm...sounds childish to me."
"Ack!" An...embarassing...memory from the past came to Bell.
"Bell?"
"N-Nothing!"
"Burning Fighting Fighter: Master of using fire elemental magic, Ability increases the damage dealt by fire magic and grants more variations to "Firebolt"."
"This sounds interesting, the question is now how it would work, increasing how much? What variations?"
"I guess the only option would be to choose it and test it out, lady Hestia wrote nothing more."
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Bell pursed his lips since he wasn´t able to shrug his shoulders. "The last one..."Blade Master"..."
"A master in using his blades, grants fast switch between blade weapons, the strength and skill to use a sword and a dagger in each hand at once. Chance to deal critical damage when attacking a weak spot.
And the gift of heaven special. (I´m sorry Bell, it wasn´t explained in the runes what this "gift of heaven" is.)"
Hestia had added something here again.
"Hmm.."
"Hmm.."
Ryuu tapped her chin in thoughts. "I would say the last ability is the most useful, but like with the second, we don´t know what a part of this ability does."
"So you would choose the last one?"
"Yes, but that is only my opinion, you have to be sure yourself which one you want, it is your body after all."
"The fire magic sure sounds nice...but aren´t there many monsters in the deep levels that are immun to fire?"
"The first ones should be the flame rocks on the 44th Floor, from down there many monsters..and floors...have the ability of fire and are resistent or completely immun."
"Hmm Hmm Hmm..."
"Keep your time to decide."
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A soft knock came from the door.
Both looked up. ""Yes?""
Two women entered the room, a green haired elf and a young blond woman.
"Lady Riveria?" Ryuu was surprised.
"Ms...Ais..." Bell had mixed feelings.
"Can we disturb you two for a short while?"
Carefully Ryuu separated herself from Bell and returned to her bed, they didn´t want to cuddle in front of them.
Ryuu had mixed feelings about seeing Ais.
"I´m glad to see you two are awake and well." Riveria smiled lightly.
"Thank you lady Riveria...especially for what you did. I can´t thank you enough...without you I might have not been able to..."
"It´s okay Lyon."
"No it is not! I am indebted to you! If you ever need something, just say it!"
"Yes, from me too!" Bell joined Ryuu´s proposal.
"I will keep it in mind...Ais come here."
Ais looked uneasy when she stepped forward.
"She was too afraid to come here alone, but she wants to say something to you. But before she starts...I examined her and it looked like she was under the influence of something. I don´t want to say that loud, but she was crying for the last days for what she did to you two. It wasn´t her free will to do that."
Ais looked down to her feet. "I´m sorry..."
"Ms. Ais?"
"I´m sorry..*Hic*.I´m so sorry.." Her voice rose. "I don´t know what happened to me...*Hic*...and what I did to you two..." She sobbed.
Tears pooled in her eyes and flowed down her cheeks, it was the first time for Bell and Ryuu to see her so vulnerable. The strong, mighty and beautiful sword princess was gone, leaving behind a crying young girl.
"Can I do something that you will forgive me? I will do anything!"
"Sword princess." It was Ryuu who answered first.
"I can´t speak for Bell...but there is nothing that needs to be forgiven, it was obvious that you were out of your mind that night."
"*Hic* *Hic* Sorry..." Ais cried openly.
"I´m just glad that Bell is save...and for my part I´m not angry because of my foot."
"But..*Hic*..but.."
"Ais Wallenstein, if you need to hear this, I forgive you."
Ais only nodded, sobbing.
"Ms Ais..."
Bell looked uneasy...first at Ais, then Riveria and finally Ryuu.
Ryuu smiled. "Lady Riveria? Could you please help me? I think it is better if we let those two alone for a moment."
"Ryuu?"
She squeezed Bell´s hand for a moment. "Talk to her, she needs that right now. I will go and get us something to eat."
Riveria supported Ryuu as she used the crutch to slowly walk to the door.
With a soft click they closed the door, Ais and Bell were alone.
"Ms. Ais?"
She remained were she was, crying.
I think it is time...
Bell cleared his throat. "Ais."
"Huh?" She looked up to him with red eyes, it was the first time he just used her first name.
"Come here please and sit down." He clapped on the bed next to him.
"I..."
"Please."
Ais nodded, walked over to him and sat down at the end of his bed.
"Bell...I´m so sorry..."
"You don´t have to."
"But I nearly...killed you."
"That wasn´t you...it was your body that was moved by something else."
"But-!"
Bell had this rare half serious half mad expression on his face, Ais did the same thing that Ryuu had done in the past and he could only confront her directly with that.
"Ais!"
She jerked up like a startled cat.
"You are innocent!" He sagged back on the pillows, still weak. "I wasnt myself as well in that night. I will not say that I forgive you, because there is nothing that needs to be forgiven.."
"Bell I.."
"Ais...please stop crying...it hurts me way more to see you like this than my wounds do."
"Bell...thank you..." She wiped her eyes.
"Mmmh...thats better." He smirked.
"If there is anything I can do...I will do it...anything..." She looked at him pleadingly.
Another man would have used this moment...taking advantage of the crying, emotional weak girl and maybe in the past Bell would have asked for a kiss, but he wasn´t a jerk that would have done that.
"Please stop crying...and smile again, that is enough for me."
What happened next let Bell giggle, Ais wiped her eyes, took out a handkerchief of her pocket and blew her nose. It was a very cute sound.
"Ahm Ais..."
"Bell?"
He pointed at his nose. "You still have something..."
"!" Hastily Ais turned to the side, blew and wiped her nose again, her ears became red.
Bell Cranel was a gentleman towards women and would never do it on purpose...but seeing Ais or Ryuu embarassed...was somewhat cute...and precious for him.
After she had cleaned her face, Ais turned to Bell again, with pink cheeks. "So...you are not mad, Bell?"
"I am not, I would never think ill of you."
Ais felt her heartbeat rising. "B-Bell..."
"Yes?"
"There is..." She fidgeted. "Something I wanted to tell you..."
"I´m listening."
Bell had never seen Ais behaving like this before. She shifted slightly, looked over at him and away again, her face and ears became more and more red. He had seen this behaviour once, when Ryuu confessed her love to him.
Don´t tell me...
"Bell I..." Ais´ voice lowered more and more, he barely could understand her. "-ve you..."
"What?"
"Mmmmmh!" Ais quieked. "-ove you..."
"I´m sorry, I can´t understand you." Bell wasn´t teasing her, he really had problems understanding what she said.
For a moment she squeezed her eyes shut, than she looked at him, red as a tomato. "I love you."
Maybe the time came to a hold for Bell, or his thoughts just raced.
How he had yearned to hear these words in the past, he would had probably passed out. But now his mind was calm and clear...what might have something to do with what Ryuu did for him, but he couldn´t know that...Bell asked himself what to do now, how to react.
His heart gave him it´s opinion right away, Bell loved Ryuu...forever. Ais was very important to him...but love...that was what he felt for Ryuu.
The problem was that he didn´t want to hurt Ais.
"Ais..."
"Mh?" She looked up to him...hopeful...pleading?
"I´m sorry...I..can´t return your feelings...I love Ryuu...and I could never betray her."
Bell saw her heart breaking in her eyes. Ais staggered lightly back as if he had hit her.
No...this...what did I expect him to say...he is married...he loves her...I...
She looked so uneasy and vulnerable that it hurt Bell´s heart.
Ais felt cold, she could feel the darkness around her rising...never would she find someone to be with...never a hero to save her...never...
Fear came up in her.
Please...someone...
The truth was, Ais Wallenstein had a very weak heart, if it weren´t due to her friends...or that friendly white haired boy, she would probably be dead by now, died in the dungeon due to recklesness.
"Ais!"
Her eyes widened when she felt Bell´s free hand grabbing her shoulder and pulling her towards him. He didn´t kissed her, of course not, he pulled her into a hug as much as he was capable of.
Bell?
"I can´t return your love! I have only one woman in my heart!"
I see...
"But I still want to be your hero!"
Badumm!
Wh-
She looked into his eyes. "Bell?"
"You are very important for me! More than I can say! I don´t want to lose you and even if my heart belongs to another woman, you will always have a place in it as a special person. I don´t want to lose anyone, not my Familia, my friends, my love, not someone from the Loki Familia, who were so nice to me again and again...and not you. You gave me so much, trained me, helped me many times."
Her eyes widened more.
"And when the time comes and you need help...need a hero...I want to be there for you...will help you...will protect you...so that I won´t lose someone who is that important to me."
Without knowing it, Bell Cranel had said the words that Ais Wallenstein wanted to hear all the time...needed to hear all the time.
Ais hicced and sobbed, then she sunk onto Bell´s chest and cried...not because of a broken heart...but some mixed feelings she couldn´t explain.
Bell held her for ten minutes until she calmed down.
When she finally had calmed down, Ais looked up to him teary eyed.
"Ais?"
Chuu.
She gave him a tiny kiss on the cheek, his eyes widened.
"Forgive me...but please allow me that much...only this one time..."
Bell pulled her to his chest again and they stayed like this for a while, Ais deserved at least this.
Around five minutes later, Ryuu and Riveria returned, Riveria carried two tablets with food, since Ryuu had to use the crutch. They had their own talk, but Ryuu was still aware of what had happened here, due to her sharp ears. Was she mad with Bell or Ais? Jealous? No, jealousy didn´t exist in her heart, her trust in Bell was endless and that tiny kiss on Bell´s cheek was okay for her.
Ryuu could understand Ais, how troubled and wounded her heart was, so it was better for her to let everything out.
"We will now leave you two alone, you still have to rest."
Riveria leaned to Bell´s ear and whispered. "Thank you, for easing Ais´ pain."
He nodded lightly and they left, Ais was able to smile a little bit.
"What do you say, shall we eat?" Ryuu smiled.
After they had their meal, Bell told Ryuu what had happened, she knew it anyway but she was happy.
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The ranks in the hall of gods high up in Babel were filled, not to the brim but many were here. Some gods didn´t came since their Familias were busy with repairing the damage in the city.
The moderator, if someone would call it like that, was Hermes, unlike his usual behaviour the other gods could see that he wasn´t in a good mood, after loosing children that was understandable.
Some minds were heated, especially that of a certain red-haired flat-chested goddess. The discussion went on for a while now, how the whole incident could have happened, if there was more danger hidden and so on.
"My children searched through all of the city and interrogated some of the few surviving Evilus. They told them that they had attacked with their whole force."
"They would lie of course! Were you present?"
Hermes looked up to the god that had spoken with a grim look. "Of course, I´m not dumb." His tone of voice was harsh.
"So it is over...thats good."
"Nothing is over!" Loki slammed her fist on the place next to her. "The biggest problem is still here!"
Hestia looked slightly angry. "Are you talking about my Bell, Loki?"
"Of course I do! Just look what he did!"
"He didn´t wanted to do that."
"That doesn´t change the fact that he defiled one of my children and tried to do that with another!"
"Loki...he was cursed."
"What evidence do we have for that?"
They heard a gentle throat clearing...from Freya. "If I may?"
"S-Sure." Hestia wasn´t sure if that was a good idea.
"One of my children is very talented with magic, after the incident I sent him to the city to search for the item that had caused that."
"And?"
"He found a broken rod and examined it with his magic, the signature was the same as the black beast had...and your child, Hestia."
Somehow it meant alot to Hestia that Freya had put Bell extra and not just said "the black beasts".
"Thank you, Freya."
The goddess of beauty just smiled. "Oh I didn´t do it for you, I was curious and wanted the city save, just out of my good will."
Of cooooourse...
Hestia could believe the first part...but not the second...somehow.
"So he was cursed okay, but can we be sure that he won´t turn into that thing again?"
"My child told me the rod has lost all of it´s power."
"But still..."
"Loki...could it be...are you just jealous that Hestia will get all the credit for saving the city?"
"Wh-Wh-What are you talking about?!"
"As far as the records say, the black snake was defeated by Hestia´s child."
"But the black dragon was defeated by my lovely Ais!"
"And she nearly killed my Bell!" Now Hestia was angry.
"Still, it was my Ais that saved us!"
"Actually..." Freya had an..."evil"...smile on her beautiful face.
"What?!"
"The one who broke the curse of the dragon...was that elf."
A murmur went through the crowd.
"Elf?"
"What elf?"
"That elf?"
"The white "angel"?"
"My children told me about her."
"That one who saved so many people?"
"Does she really exist?"
"Aren´t they mistaking her for the sword princess?"
Loki wrinkled her nose. "And who is that elf you are talking about? No one here knows her, she isn´t an adventurer of a known Familia, if she exist she is no ones child."
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"She is my child."
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"Who? Only gods have entrance here!"
The figure that waited at the entrance came forward and took her hood of.
"Wha-?!"
"No way!"
"Can´t be!"
Freya´s smile only widened, of course she knew who waited there. "Hello Astrea."
Astrea arranged her hair and smiled into the round. "Hello everyone, it had been a long time."
Her eyes wandered to Freya, then she bowed her head. "Freya...I have to thank you."
"Me?"
"Your children took in my child, rescued her, saved her...gave her life new meaning...from the bottom of my heart, thank you."
"I had nothing to do with that."
"But still, without you they wouldn´t be there...and without them my child wouldn´t be."
"Wait, wait, wait, stoooop!" Loki built herself up in front of Astrea. "You think you can just return like that? And you say that child is yours?"
"First question, I hoped so. For the second, yes she is my last child."
More murmurs.
"Last child?"
"So it is "her"?"
"Can´t be...the Gale Wind?"
"And you are telling me, Freya, it was Astrea´s child that broke the curse on that boy?"
"Why don´t you ask Astrea that? She is right next to you."
Loki´s eyes wandered to the other goddess.
"Yes, it seemed like it was my child. At least it looked like that from my mirror, I wanted to see what she was doing, when I saw what happened here. After it was over I rushed here was fast as I could."
"And how did she broke the curse? She isn´t a strong mage if I remember correctly." Despite her behaviour, Loki was no fool. "How would she be able to do that, and can we really be sure it is over?"
Astrea sighed. "Honestly...I don´t want to say that loud here...but I guess I have no choice..."
"Go on."
"From what I saw...it was love, for her husband."
"Husb-...Your child and Hestia´s boy are married?"
"Yes, they are."
At the side, Hermes´ eyes flashed for a moment, that was a new information for him.
"I don´t want to talk ill about you or your child Astrea, but isn´t she the one that was blacklisted?"
Astrea nodded with a serious face. "Yes she is."
"Hmm...so how much we can trust her? She did some really evil things in the past."
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"If I may?" Ganesha stood up from his place.
A friendly smile came to Astrea´s lips. "Hello Ganesha."
The god with the elephant mask smiled. "Good to see you again."
He cleared his throat. "My captain, Shakti, told me about what happened in the city. She and a few of my children encountered the general of the monsters...an extremely strong irregular...not all of my children survived that."
Some gods showed him sympathy.
"And?" Loki looked at him.
"It was Astrea´s child...the "Gale Wind"...that saved my children and beat the monster general...alone! We have dozens of citizens that watched the fight from their windows, they were also saved by her."
Some other god interfered. "Hey wasn´t there a talk around two years ago that an unknown elf risked her life to save many children in the dungeon when they fought the goliath? The description would fit."
"Yes...that was also her." Astrea smiled like a proud mother.
"Hey around a year ago my children were saved in the dungeon by Hestia´s boy and an "unknown, beautiful elf", who´s description fits the Gale Wind too."
Again Astrea nodded. "She told me about it, they did that together."
Another murmur went through the crowd.
"Hmm okay, your child doesn´t seem to be that bad."
"What she had done hurts my precious Ryuu more than I will reveal to you, she did what she did after...I lost all of my other children, her heart was broken and...she wanted revenge...on Evilus."
More gods rememberred now.
"So she was the killer that did all this?"
"That was her?"
"Wasn´t that her actions that lead to Evilus´ defeat?"
"All of that...yes...but she isn´t the Gale Wind anymore."
"Not?"
"No...she broke with what she was...now she is just...herself...and my beloved child."
Loki tapped her chin as she walked back and forth.
"So in the end, it was your child...that broke the curse and defeated the dragon."
"Yes...but without your child Loki, it may have been impossible."
"How exactly?"
"I can´t say that out loud here, I´m sorry but you have to trust me please. That is something between my child, Hestia´s and yours, Loki."
"My cute little Ais?"
"Yes."
"Did anyone see how Hestia´s boy defeated the snake?"
It was Ganesha again who answered. "Yes, one of my children saw it and we got reports from countless citizens." He looked over to Hestia. "Bell Cranel defeated the black snake and may have saved the city, together with Astrea´s child...and your children, Loki."
"How did he do that?"
"From the inside."
All gods looked over to Freya, who had spoken.
"I have seen him do it from my window...you all remember the white flame pillars?"
All of them nodded.
"That was also him, he destroyed the tunnels, the Miasma...and used the same fire to destroy the snake from the inside...it was quite the interesting sight." She smirked.
"And after that?"
"After that...your child came and tried to kill him...and nearly did it."
"Well he was a black beast at this point, I won´t blame my little Ais for that."
"Yes...but he never really fought back."
"What?"
"He protected the "white Angel" from your child, and she tried to protect him from her."
"Well...my Ais had some problems...but she just wanted to defeat the black beasts so. Not that I want to doubt you...but do we have an absolut proof that he did it? Not that I won´t believe you Freya..."
The grey-haired goddess only smiled.
Hestia put a hand in her pocket. "I wanted to tell you all this anyway...I guess this will proof it."
She put the sheet she had with her, she had cut off the lower part with the skills, on the table and a magical projection showed all the gods Bell´s stats.
Every single stat was at "S 999" and the Level "6-7". What went through the crowd wasn't a murmur, but a scream. Most of the gods jumped to their feet as they saw it.
"What?!"
"No eay!"
"Impossible!"
"Level 7?"
"He isn´t even an adventurer for four years now!"
"How did he do that?!"
"What is he?!"
Hestia took the biggest pleasure from Loki´s expression.
"I-Impossible!"
"Oho? Your boy became quite strong Hestia...not as strong as my Ottar of course."
Hestia didn´t answered Freya, she just stuck out her tongue to the other goddess. "Bleeeeh!"
"What is your child Hestia? A hero?!"
"Very impressive." Ganesha crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Astrea? Would you give your child my thanks, for saving Shakti and the others?"
"Of course."
Hermes turned to Hestia. "Say Hestia...when will he level up?"
"This evening I think, he has to choose something and when he are done here, I will go to him and hear his decision."
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Finally, a smile returned to Hermes´ face. "My fellow gods...and beautiful goddesses." He winked to Astrea, Freya and the other women. "These were indeed dark times for Orario, but we got through it."
He continued. "I want to thank, especially our three great Familia´s, your children fought against the most monsters and Evilus´, without you many would have died. And I want to thank Hestia...or rather Bell Cranel for saving us...and Astrea´s child. I think this is a great opportunity to end our meeting with something good instead of sad things, don´t you agree?"
"What do you have in mind, Hermes?" Freya looked slightly interested.
"New alias´ for those two heroes, that are resting in the hospital under our feet right now."
"Of course we need a new alias for Hestia´s boy!"
"Yes! Naming a new level seven...that didn´t happen in years!"
"And here I thought the next one would be one of Freya´s or Loki´s."
Another god looked confused at Hermes. "But why for both? The elf is still blacklisted."
"I will be honest with you, my children got many informations about Astrea´s child and I talked with Ouranos a few times. We have the chance to give that poor child who lost so much a brighter future...especially after what she had done for us all...I hereby vote to overturn her blacklisting and grant her a new alias, for a new start...a new life. And I´m voting to welcome Astrea back at Orario, a goddess should be with her child."
Astrea´s eyes widened and she felt her heartbeat rising. Ryuu...
Not one god voted against it...even the still pouty Loki agreed.
"So...does anyone have any suggestion?"
More names than they could count were called.
"King Bunny!"
"True bunny King!"
"Easter bunny?"
"He isn´t a bunny but a rabbit...Rabbit King!"
My poor Bell...
Hestia did her best to avoid ridiculous names.
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"You are certain with your choice, Bell?" Hestia sat on the edge of Bell´s bed, he had turned his back to her and she had activated his Falna.
Since she had no chance before that, Astrea also was about to update Ryuu´s status, she had taken her shirt off and covered her chest with it. It wasn´t a problem for her when Bell saw her, but Ryuu didn´t want to show her skin openly...not even to her mother.
"Yes gode-..Hestia, this is what I want."
"Good..then I will update it with "Blademaster", good for you that you didn´t chose the first skill..."
"Ahahaha..."
"*Hic*" Ryuu was sobbing, after Hestia and Astrea returned, her goddess had told her the news about her person.
She was surprised how much it meant to her what the gods just did...she had broken with being the Gale Wind for some time now...but now...she was really free.
I will remember the good times I had as the Gale Wind...the time with my Family...
The runes on Ryuu´s back moved in a high speed, then they slowly came to a hold and sank down, it went way faster than Bell´s update. She felt Astrea softly hugging her from behind.
"Congratulation to being an adventurer again...and reaching level six..."
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"My "Angel of Justice"..."
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"Huh?" Ryuu turned halfway around to her smiling goddess...it was the first time she heard her new alias...and that she had leveled up.
Without knowing it, Ryuu Lyon had done the same thing as Ais Wallenstein, defeating a monster Rex on level five alone...with help of her friends, but she was the only adventurer.
Before she could say anything, Ryuu heard a moan from Bell and all three women saw him shaking. Hestia made a face and seemed to be in a fight with the runes.
"Such strength...Hnnnngh!"
Bell´s muslces seemed to swoll for a moment, with a crack the plaster around his left tigh and knee just broke off, the rest remained. He gritted his teeth, then his body returned to normal.
No...not normal...he looked a bit more mature now...maybe as if he was three or four years older...a really handsome young man.
Ryuu´s eyes were drawn to his chest and stomach, the muslces were well toned...and she had to gulp down her saliva.
Bell you look so...dear heavens, I don´t even have words for it!
Bell Cranel was still Bell Cranel, but somehow he looked stronger, a bit more masculine...and very attractive not only for his wife. Even Astrea had a red shade on her cheeks when she looked at him. Did his bare upper body just charmed another woman?
"M-Mother please don´t look!" Ryuu panicked lightly.
"Oh my...you are really a lucky girl, Ryuu." Astrea put a hand to her cheek. "Haaa...if he wasn´t your husband...I would probably go after him myself..."
"Mmmh! M-Mother!" Ryuu couldn´t help but blush.
Astrea giggled and reached Ryuu the sheet so that she could look at her status. "I´m joking...my little angel." Over the years she would often tease Ryuu with her alias like that.
"Haaaaa...It´s done...Bell?"
He said nothing...just looked at his right hand, opened and closed it again, then looked up. Except for the slight changes on his body, he looked the same.
"Bell? How do you feel?"
"Great...Somehow...how do I describe it...I can feel my body...healing?"
"Hmmm...Freya warned me that you might be confused for a while, it was like that with her child."
"Hmm.."
"Oh and Bell...don´t you want to know your new alias?"
"New alias?!" The thoughtful expression vanished from his face and he looked excited like a young boy again. "Tell me! Tell me!"
"There were a lot of names..."Bunny king"..."True Rabbit King"..."White Flash"...
"Eh..." Bell looked horrified.
Hestia teased him for a while with the silly names until he was about to cry, then she giggled.
"I´m just teasing you."
"A-And...what was it...in the end?"
Hestia looked at him serious, a proud motherly smile spread over her face. "Argo.."
"Argo...?"
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"Argonaut."
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"..."
"Argonaut?"
"Yes Bell, your new alias is "Argonaut"."
He lost the fight against his face muscles, a smile and laughter of pure childlike joy came over him. Bell looked incredibly happy.
"Argonaut...My new alias is Argonaut...this is like a dream!"
The three women at his side giggled, but he didn´t cared, Bell was happy.
After half an hour of sitting happy together, Amid came and told them that the time for visits was over for today and the hospital would now turn over to the night shift.
"We will come back tomorrow Bell, the others want to see you too and Amid told us, if you two are feeling well you can get more visitors now...when we don´t disturb the other patients. Amid said something about an operation tomorrow in the morning for one of Loki´s children, something about a silver arm and leg."
He nodded, still grinning.
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"Bell, I will walk them to the entrance, I will be back in five to ten minutes, I want to talk about something with mother, okay?"
"Okay, I´m waiting here, well it´s not like I could run away." Somehow he was in the mood for jokes.
He put his right arm behind his head and mumbled for himself as they walked out of the door. "Argonaut...I love that."
"Hmmm..." Bell looked to the door...it was closed...as well as the curtains.
Nobody is here...nobody can see me...
The change in his body felt extreme for Bell, rising up to level seven filled him with energy to the brim, so much that his arms and legs were slightly shaking.
He clenched his right fist. "So much...power..."
I can feel it...it is rising...
His right arm and leg shook more, electricity shot through his veins.
Bell threw himself into a series of poses as much as he was able to move and flexed his muscles. "I can feel it...it is rising...I can´t control it...aaargh!"
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"POWER OVERWHELMING!"
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His true nature came out again...the small still childish side in him.
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But...
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"Ahm..."
"Eeek!" Bell looked up shocked.
Ryuu was standing in the door...looking extremely embarassed.
"Ryuu..."
"Bell..."
"How long are you standing there?"
"Ahm..."
"Did you see?..."
"Mh..." Ryuu nodded slightly.
"Everything?"
"S-Sorry..."
"EEEEP!" Bell lost control over himself and...
"Bell? Bell?! Talk to me!..Aaah what do I do...AMID!"
A voice came from the hallway and she heard rush steps. "What happened?"
"Bell is twitching and is foaming out of his mouth!"
"What?!"
,
The mighty "Argonaut"...
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The second strongest Adventurer of Orario...
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Truly a mighty hero...
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Authors Note: Hello again everyone. Originally I wanted to take a short break before this chapter but when I read all those Reviews, I just had to continue. Especially the one from Luyaltea. The scene at the beginning wasn´t only meant as fanservice ( maybe 80%) but also to show how Ryuu and Bell change in their relationship. I´m starting with the next chapter tomorrow, I have just way too much fun writing this.
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Ps: Luyaltea I tried to send you a PM but somehow that doesn´t work, of course you can translate the story and republish it, it would be an honor.