Felt like releasing a chapter for New Year's Eve. It's a bit short, but I still hope you like it!
I am trying to update this story more consistantly this time, just to make sure it doesn't end up like the other one. Not sure yet, but I will probably go for either a new chapter every other week or for a new chapter each month. I will most likely go for one every two weeks for now and might switch to one per month eventually if I fall behind on writing, which I am trying to avoid...
Anyway, happy new year to everyone reading this!
The elves' rabbit hunt had been resolved relatively easily after that. When Riveria had returned to camp, she had found the other elves quickly and made them tell her what had been going in the forest. Just as Bell had said they were still angry about the incident that had happened in the afternoon…
After confirming that, Riveria had given them a lecture about not being needlessly resentful since Bell had already gotten scolded more than enough and that, if they wished to blame someone for it, they should go and beat up Hermes. Riveria felt a little bad for throwing them Hermes as a sacrifice but… well they wouldn't go as far as to kill a god so he would be fine!
About half an hour later Bell had arrived in camp and, while he did reap quite a few glares and harsh words, he wasn't attacked or chased anymore…
Eventually the camp had settled down and the time until Loki familia's departure back to the surface went on without any further incidents…
It was a few days later that Riveria was walking through the streets of Orario, already carrying two heavy bags filled with writing supplies, books and other utensils that she was currently collecting for the familia. Normally those kind of jobs would be delegated to lower ranking members of the familia, but… those were currently occupied with exploring the dungeon or training. She had contemplated whether she should send someone else to do this but… she didn't want to interrupt them after they were so fired up about getting stronger once they had heard the news of Tiona, Tione and Bete levelling up.
Finally, Loki had suggested she should just do it herself as it would serve as a nice way to calm down after their expedition and, not seeing any reason to object, Riveria agreed, which lead to the current situation of her carrying shopping bags through the streets…
Truth be told, she wasn't in a good mood right now. Naturally she didn't show it, after all it would make the other members of the familia feel anxious, but still… she felt disappointed and useless after she hadn't levelled up after the expedition, despite how hard she had fought and worked together with everyone. She was sure that Finn and Gareth were frustrated as well, but just like her they didn't show it for the sake of the others…
Letting out a small sigh, she turned the corner of the back alley she was currently in… only to bump into someone!
Both of them let out a small cry of surprise as they fell down opposite of each other, the contents of Riveria's shopping bags all over the ground in between them…
"I am sorry… I didn't look where I was going…", Riveria apologized as she lightly shook her head and tried to get back up on her feet to collect the contents of the shopping bags.
"No it was my fault really, I should have looked out for other people!", the other person responded as they stretched out their hands too in order to help collect the fallen items. Only then did these two finally look at one another…
"Riveria?"
"Bell?"
The two of them said almost simultaneously as they recognized who they had bumped into…
A short while later the contents of the shopping bags were once again where they were supposed to be, contained within the shopping bags…
"Sorry again for bumping into you. I didn't properly look out for others.", Riveria once again apologized to Bell, though he was quick to tell her: "No need to worry! It was my fault really! You couldn't properly look out with those bags anyway!"
Seeing as they wouldn't come to a conclusion about this, Riveria decided to change the topic: "What are you doing here anyway?"
"Me? Oh I was just going back home after visiting my goddess at her current part time job. Welf and Lili couldn't go into the dungeon today, so I don't really have anything to do…", Bell told her.
"I see.", Riveria said. She didn't state her own reason for being here since… well that was fairly obvious considering the shopping bags…
"Say… Bell I hate to ask this of you but… would you help me out with my shopping if you don't have anything better to do?", Riveria eventually asked. She felt a bit awkward asking such a thing but… she still hadn't even visited half of the shops she needed to and already had her arms full with shopping bags. She'd need another pair of hands to help her carry, one way or another…
"Sure!", Bell replied energetically, not in the least bit annoyed by her selfish request. He had been looking for something to do anyway so it was a given that someone like him would help out when asked for help…
"Thanks!", Riveria said, slightly relieved that he hadn't been offended by the request, though she hadn't seriously thought he'd decline anyway… She handed him one of the two shopping bags and he accepted it without a fuss.
After that they started walking to get to the next store…
"What is all of that for anyway?", asked Bell while they walked. He had seen the contents of the bags, so he couldn't help but be a little curious.
"It's just regular supplies for our familia. Stuff like writing utensils and books. Since we get a lot of new members we usually teach them in theory lessons ourselves rather than let the guild handle it since that makes it easier to get them familiar with the other members and also allows us to teach them what is most important for their respective position. Next we will be purchasing potions, I assume you can guess why we'd need those.", Riveria explained.
"Wow, seems like large familia have a lot of stuff to worry about huh?", Bell said, clearly astonished by how different they treated new members of their familia, though that was of course only something a familia as large as Loki familia could do…
"Well if it helps to keep more people alive in the dungeon it's worth it.", Riveria replied.
"Speaking of the dungeon. Is what I heard about the incident on the 18th floor really true?", Riveria changed the topic. Of course she had heard the rumours about a floor boss spawning on the 18th floor and about how the adventurers down there, Bell and his friends included, had bravely fought and defeated it and so she was rather curious to hear about it from someone that was directly involved. As any information on the incident had been declared confidential by the guild, Riveria had no other way to find out about it than asking…
Bell for his part wasn't someone to make up things or needlessly talk himself up, so he was a great source of intel for Riveria, which was evident by how he truthfully told her about his feelings and thoughts on the matter: "Yeah, a floor boss spawned down there. I was involved in fighting it. Honestly… looking back on it, I still feel a bit scared. It looked really similar to Goliath and we had only just escaped Goliath barely alive a few days ago… I nearly died down there…"
Hearing those words, Riveria felt a bit guilty. Both for reminding him of such an unpleasant experience, but also because neither she nor any other member of her familia had been down there to help…
"Sorry for bringing up the topic…", Riveria apologized.
"O-Oh no it's fine! I get why you'd be curious…", Bell said, slightly surprised that she would apologize all of a sudden…
While they chatted, they visited various stores such as the potion store of the Dian Cecht familia, which made Bell feel a little guilty, though it wasn't him that was purchasing things so he didn't say anything.
They went through quite a lot of shops, sharing stories of the past and laughing, altogether enjoying one another's company. It seemed that both of them were having a good time after all, though… Riveria was still feeling the frustration of her failed level up deep in her chest, even if those thoughts were pushed into the back of her head…
Eventually, during a brief period of silence nearing the end of their walk, Bell said: "Say Riveria… is everything alright?"
"Hm? Yes, everything is fine. Why would you ask?", Riveria answered, clearly surprised by this sudden question.
"Well you… you seem to be a bit down you know? Is something bothering you?", Bell said. He had clearly seen through her façade.
Really it was strange that an outsider like him could see through her so easily when her own familia members could not and even more so since it was someone who had no idea about the feelings of a woman…
"Well I…", Riveria began, a bit hesitant and taken aback that her true feelings had been uncovered so easily…
"I suppose I feel a little… frustrated with myself…", Riveria finally admitted.
"Why is that?", Bell asked, clearly unable to see why someone as amazing as her would ever feel like that.
"We… we had a pretty difficult fight during our expedition. It was a close call really. All of us could have died down there in the dungeon. We only managed to survive because all of us fought to their utter most limit.", Riveria explained, though she omitted any details of who their opponent had been since that was secret information after all.
She briefly paused after that while she was slightly gritting her teeth in frustration. Bell patiently waited for her to continue…
"And still… despite that I didn't manage to level up! I- I have been Level Six for years now! I just…. I can't help but wonder if maybe… if maybe this is my limit….", Riveria finally admitted with a self-depreciating smile, voicing the worries that had been plaguing her mind for multiple days now. She knew how long it took to level up! She should be used to it by now! But even so she ended up doubting herself…
Bell simply listened to her words. The two of them had stopped walking now. They were currently standing in an abandoned alley as the sun began to set behind them, illuminating their faces…
Both of them went silent, Riveria awaiting Bell's answer while Bell himself was looking at Riveria's normally beautiful face that was now slightly distorted in frustration, thinking that he didn't want to see her face like this…
Finally Bell spoke: "Well I… clearly can't know how you feel since I only just levelled up…"
Riveria closed her eyes upon hearing those words. She had known he wouldn't understand…
"But!", Bell continued: "You are amazing you know? You… you and everyone else is just… so far above me! You are like a shining star to me! A faraway place that feels like I can never reach it!"
Riveria stared at him in wonder now, having opened her eyes when he had spoken to her once again.
"Even if it might be frustrating! Even if it might be painful! You can't just give up on yourself like that! Maybe you can't see it, but to the people around you, you are a guiding light, a dazzling star that we can only ever dream of reaching! You are the strongest mage of the city already! There is no way a genius like you has reached her limit! You can still grow! No, you will grow! Maybe it takes time, maybe you will doubt yourself again, but I don't have any doubt! You will surely surpass your current self one day!", Bell said with a strong voice as he locked his gaze with hers as he spoke of how he felt about her and other adventurers that had achieved so much more than him already. To Bell, high level adventurers like Riveria or Aiz, were just like the heroes his grandfather had told him about! He couldn't help but admire them! And his boundless love for the heroes of old, as well as the heroes of today clearly came through in his words…
Seeing his eyes filled with admiration, Riveria couldn't help but feel her heart pound in her chest. She had never had someone direct such clear and honest praise at her before, much less about being an adventurer! Of course there had been many elf's that had complimented her beauty or intelligence, but not one of them had been so clear and honest…
Once again silence settled in between them, though it didn't last for long. Soon enough Bell realized how boldly he had been talking to her, immediately apologizing for his actions: "I- I am sorry! Please forget what I said! I- I have no idea about any of this after all! Feel free to ignore my words, I am just an outsider after all!"
Riveria didn't react at first, but eventually she… started to giggle? At first it was only a faint sound, but eventually her laughter grew louder, stunning Bell as he didn't understand why she would laugh of all things.
After a few more moments of laughter, Riveria finally talk to him, though she had trouble suppressing her laughter while she talked: "You are way too quick to apologize really! Have some more self-confidence!"
Only now did she manage to control her giggling and instead, she now face Bell with a dazzling smile, telling him: "Thank you. I don't know if you really meant those things but… I really needed to hear that."
Bell, stunned by Riveria's beautiful smile as the sun began setting behind her, could only whisper: "Beautiful…"
Naturally Riveria heard him, after all they were standing rather close, however she chose not to comment on his whisper, only taking pride in his compliment in her mind instead.
After the two of them looked at each other for a while longer, Riveria eventually shook her head and brought the both of them back to reality by saying: "A-Anyway, we should get going", not able to prevent a small blush from colouring her cheeks when she caught herself gazing at Bell.
Eventually, the two of them arrived near Twilight Manor, for now though, they stopped just outside of the main gate since Riveria didn't want to cause any misunderstandings by bringing him into their home, instead they just placed the shopping bags down at one of the manor's walls as Riveria planned to have one of the other members pick them up with her later.
Seeing as they would soon part ways, Riveria once again faced Bell to thank him: "It seems like we have arrived. I would like to thank you again for helping me today." Riveria acted as if she was only talking about the shopping but… the hint of a blush on her face gave away that she was a lot more grateful for his kind words instead.
"It's fine, I was free anyway!" Bell told her before, after a brief pause, hesitantly adding: "If… if you ever feel troubled again and don't have anyone to talk to… you… you can always talk to me you know. I mean I may not be able to understand your feelings or help you but… but I will listen!"
He felt a bit awkward saying that, but nonetheless it brought a small smile to Riveria's face and once again made her heart skip a beat.
"Thank you, I appreciate it.", she replied, truly grateful that he wanted to help her. Adding in the situation with the corrupted spirit during their expedition, this was now the second time he had helped her out… No, the third in fact! At least if you considered helping her carry the shopping bags as a separate thing…
Feeling guilty for being helped so often by him, Riveria offered: "Hey so… since Aiz helped you train and get stronger before the whole thing on the 18th floor… if you don't have anyone to train you, I can help you out as well if you want…"
"O-Of course I am a mage though so… so I might not be the best for the job! I mean I can only really teach you about magic and the dungeon itself… B-But I can ask Aiz to train with you again! I am sure she would be delighted to!", Riveria said, slightly stuttering in a rather uncharacteristic manner.
What are you doing you stupid woman?! Why are you getting so flustered?! It's just training! Besides, you want to set him up with Aiz!, she reminded herself as she awaited his answer.
Seeing her flustered like that, Bell couldn't hold back and began laughing! Riveria gave him a slight pout, blushing while doing so as a reaction, though… she wasn't really mad at him, after all he wasn't laughing to mock her or be mean, it was simply a childlike, pure laugh without any ill intentions…
Finally, Bell's laughter transitioned into a smile as he said: "Yes please! I can need any help I can get, so I'd be glad if you could teach me! I am sure I have much to learn from you!"
Returning his smile, Riveria then bid him farewell. Feeling refreshed and happy about this unexpected encounter.
Once she had entered the mansion, Loki appeared to greet her. "Ey Riveria! Who was that? Your lover? You know, I will get jealous if you cheat on me!", she teased the elf, apparently having seen Bell talk to Riveria earlier.
"He is definitely not my lover!", Riveria told her with a glare, though… there just the tiniest bit of a blush on her face as she said that!
Adding that to the fact that a goddess, even more so the goddess of mischief, would always see through a mortals lies, Loki could tell that wasn't the whole truth! It seemed less like Riveria was hiding her feelings though and more like… more like she was just unaware of them, perhaps even fighting them!
Her curiosity piqued by her follower, Loki couldn't help but tease her some more: "Hey wasn't that a human though? You know, I don't care about your preferences, but aren't you a bit old for him? Besides, it would be really annoying to have little half-elfs all around the mansion, so please restrain yourse-!"
Before Loki had a chance to finish her sentence though, she was interrupted by Riveria's fist hitting her face!
"Stop spouting nonsense for a minute and put in some work instead you drunkard of a goddess!", Riveria told her, her face flushed even more, though this time it wasn't so clear whether she was flustered because Loki kept going on about Bell or because she was simply angry because she had been called old…
"The shopping bags are outside, go get them! And I expect you to do it alone or I swear I am going to burn every singly bottle of alcohol I can find in this house!", Riveria announced with a threatening voice!
Hearing that no-nonsense voice, Loki quickly dashed off to fulfil Riveria's task to save her alcohol, crying out: "Ok! I am sorry mom!"
In response, Riveria could only mumble: "I swear, I am going to kill her at some point if this keeps going on for much longer…", already preparing herself for the headache she felt coming thanks to her goddess….