Authors note1: At first, thank you for all these Reviews, ten reviews for one chapter is my record, and that so many followed and favored the story right away. ^^ I hope I can do it right with Alfia, nearly every day I get new ideas for her, from small interactions, to big things. I forgot to mention it in the first chapter, I will play with the timelines a bit. I know that the Rudra Famila lured Astrea Familia into the trap roughly two years after Alfia was defeated. I shortened the time.
Also, Bell will arrive in Orario a bit later than in the main story, at the age of sixteen. While all the events that take place, will put two years back, so that it will fit. Normal events of the main story will still take place, but I will only write the stuff in these stories, that will be changed.
You will see how I mean it. About questions that are asked, I can´t answer all of them, that would spoil the story. Also, I read every single review in my stories, more than one time sometimes. Also I´m always happy about ideas, I might not use them 1 to 1, but something very similar.
For Wally991´s question: Yes, more on the Astrea Familia, but even they only as a side, in this story I want to focus more on Bell´s Familia, since I didn´t used them much in the other stories.
Also: There will be parts in the first chapters, that show what the Astrea Familia does. Because Ryu is my favorite girl? No. Because it will make sense or get obvious later, I can´t spoil you.
And since you know it from my other stories, I won´t make a secret out of the identity of Bell´s grandfather, at least to the readers.
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"Aunty Alfia, do you want some more tea?"
"No, thank you Bell, I´m fine."
"Ehe."
The whole evening of Alfia´s arrival, Bell would not leave her side. He was really excited and sat next to her on the couch. His grandfather...Zeus...congratulated himself to his brilliant idea of telling Alfia where he went with Bell.
He knew that Alfia didn´t liked him that much, due to his...nature...when it came to women. But Zeus had a good eye for people, especially women...he knew what he did when he gave her this information.
Even when she doesn´t like you, Hera...your child is very similar to you.
From the few times that he saw Alfia at her sister´s side, when Bell´s father wanted to show Zeus his son, he already noticed how she behaved. Maybe Alfia herself didn´t noticed it, but she was a lot softer than usual when she was near her sister...or held Bell as a baby.
Zeus knew this special shine in her eyes...even if she was only his aunt...maternal feelings.
That´s my grandson! Already charming women at his age! And a mature one on top of that!
He got a few informations about what happened in Orario...Zeus would talk later to Alfia, when Bell was asleep. Still, he was really glad that she was here, while he would do his best for Bell, to raise him into a fine, young man...this boy needed a mother.
And even when she wasn´t aware of that herself at this point...Alfia would totally become his mother...or rather his Mom.
The old god grinned.
Gyahahaha! You will not be able to escape your fate now, Alfia.
"Hm? Is something wrong, old man?"
"No, nothing."
"Aunty Alfia, this is my favorite book!"
Immediately, Alfia´s expression changed when she looked at Bell instead of Zeus...it got really warm...but also a bit reserved...she wasn´t used to deal with a child. At least not with a child that she cared about.
"The journal of Argonaut, a hero story, right?"
"Yes! Argonaut was such a cool *Yaaaawn*...hero!"
Zeus smiled, it was late at night and Bell swayed slightly back and forth, the typical behavior of a child that was tired, but didn´t wanted to go to bed, since he was so excited.
"Bell, I think it is time to brush your teeth and go to bed."
"Eeeh? But grandfather, I´m not tired yet!"
For a moment his grandfather looked at him, then he grinned when Bell yawned again.
"We can continue tomorrow, then you can show your Aunt the book."
Just for a second, Alfia´s eyes flashed lightly by the word "Aunt"...she seemed to be okay with "Aunty" so far.
"No! I don´t want to sleep yet!"
Zeus guessed what troubled Bell. Alfia smiled slightly and gently put a hand on Bell´s head.
"Bell, I won´t go away, I will be here tomorrow when you wake up."
Bell looked up to her with pleading eyes. "Promise?"
The plea in his eyes was clear. Please be here when I wake up, don't go away.
Alfia smiled and gently patted his head. "I promise."
The young boy clutched his book to his chest and walked to his room, turning around every few steps. After putting the book in his room, he went to the bathroom to brush his teeth, then he went to his room again.
"Nighty, Grandfather, Aunty."
"Good night, Bell."
"Good night...Bell."
With a last look at his aunt, Bell closed the door to his room, while he was still excited, he also would fall asleep nearly immediately. .
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"So...old man...I guess you have questions."
Zeus nodded. "Yes, but that can wait. I can see that you are tired too. We will talk tomorrow or when you moved in completely."
He went up and brought Alfia a blanket and a pillow.
"It goes against my nature to let a woman sleep on the couch, but I can´t offer you anything else for now."
"I am thankful."
"I can only offer you cold water and cloth at this hour, to wash yourself."
"That will be enough."
Zeus nodded, both fell silent.
Never before had he seen her like this, looking so uneasy.
"Is it okay for me...to be here?"
"Why did you think I told you about this place?"
"But..."
"Find out what your heart longs for, Alfia. But be aware, Bell needs you. This boy, needs a mother."
"I´m just his aunt..."
For now, Alfia...for now.
Zeus had seen how Bell reacted to her, he was instantly infatuated with her.
She looked at him in silence, out of consideration for her, Zeus spoke softly. While she hated his perverted side and acts...Alfia had to admit that he could be a really good god.
Alfia looked at the door of Bell´s room, then at Zeus again.
"He doesn´t know?"
"No, I don´t know if I will tell him."
"Hm."
"Does anyone know that you came here?"
"No."
"Okay, then let us talk tomorrow."
She nodded, Zeus saw that she was in thoughts.
"Then good night...old man. I trust that you won´t try to peek on my in the bathroom or when I go to sleep."
Alfia couldn´t call him in another way.
Zeus grinned. "I won´t. Good night, Alfia."
After washing herself with a cloth and brushing her teeth, Alfia mad her bed out of the couch and lied down. It was strange...really strange to lie here. Ten weeks had gone by since Astrea´s children defeated her, she had stayed for about a month in the dungeon, before she decided to get out, living from what she found in the safe zone.
She had needed time to heal herself, buy travel clothes, think about what to do...and steel herself...to come here.
I feel...so warm...here.
She blinked tired, lying on the couch she could see Bell's bedroom door.
Bell...
His door was the last thing she saw before she closed her eyes, her thoughts were with her sister.
Meteria...I will watch over him.
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Nnnnh...morning...already...?
Alfia heard birds chirping, despite sleeping on a couch, she felt quite comfortable.
And the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes...was white hair.
Meteria?
She blinked to get her vision clear, below that white hair, were two red eyes.
"Good morning, Aunty Alfia!"
Eh?
The cheerful face of a young boy was right in front of the couch.
"Be...ll?.."
"Mhm!"
"Good..*Yawn*...morning..."
"Have you slept well?"
"I have, thank you."
When Zeus came out of his bedroom a while later, he grinned when he saw Alfia and Bell sitting side by side on the couch. The boy was showing his aunt his favorite book...Alfia had a really warm smile on her lips. Zeus was really proud of his grandson, in under twelf hours, he had conquered the heart of Alfia...and she had slept seven of these hours.
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It took Alfia six weeks after she saved Astrea´s children to get to Bell. But things didn´t stood still in Orario, even when the fate of the Astrea Familia had changed...one thing would stay the same...in a way.
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The day before Alfia would arrive in Bell´s village in Orario.
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In the house of a Familia, a sad goddess sat in the living room in her armchair.
"Lady Astrea?"
The goddess raised her face to look at the woman who came into the room.
"Alise?..."
"We found her."
Astrea´s eyes widened and she jumped to her feet.
"What?!"
Alise smiled slightly.
"Lyra found out where she is."
"Oh thank goodness, bring me there, hurry!"
Her captain nodded and waited at the door of the Stardust Garden, while Astrea hastily put her shoes on. No one would guard the home for now, all of her children were in the city, looking for someone.
"Where are the others?"
"Taking position around that spot, so she won´t be able to run away."
"Alise..."
"What? We want our little sister back too."
Goddess and mortal follower rushed as fast as Astrea was able to walk through the streets. Over the last weeks, Orario was in turmoil. It looked like an highly skilled assassin was moving in the city, blowing up various facilities and murdering people...even the guild had losses.
And the Astrea Familia knew very well who that was.
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Ryu.
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From all of Astrea´s children, Ryu was the youngest, the purest in a way, the most innocent...or how Kaguya called it...the most naive and inexperienced. Ryu and Kaguya had shared a room in the hospital, while Ryu´s wounds were healed quickly, Kaguya had to stay in the magical sleep for a while.
During all the fighting in Orario, She never lost her faith in trying to save everyone, that no one had to die...but the reality was different. When Ardi died..Ryu was upset, she had disappeared into town and was later found by the others. Kaguya had tried her best to open Ryu's eyes to the reality that fighting and war was just that.
The others were just as sad and hurt by the death of their friends...but unlike Ryu, they had learned to expect it and forced themselves to move on...Ryu couldn't...her heart couldn´t bear with the death of her friends...and the sight of Kaguya's missing arm...she blamed herself.
And eventually one night...
Ryu snapped.
She was healed far enough to move and was supposed to leave the hospital the next day. Unnoticed by the others, she got her clothes, took Kaguya´s Futaba swords and swore an oath to her sleeping friend.
The young elf went on a rampage. Her fellow Familia members had teached her various techniques, but so far her heart couldn´t bear with using them. Especially Kaguya knew a lot about getting informations...out of people.
Ryu hunted down every single person, mercant and facility that was bound to the Rudra Familia and Evilus.
Poison, Traps, Explosions, cold blooded murder...Ryu cared not about the technique, her heart screamed to her to end the suffering of everyone, to destroy the Evil. .
Due to her work...but not by her hands...three gods were sent back to heaven. The people in Orario at first felt uneasy, since the fights continued...but slowly...Evilus´ grip was broken. The Freya, Ganesha and Loki Familias used the chance to strike against Evilus´ too. Only the Astrea Familia didn´t attacked directly, but fought Evilus and their companions when they met them. Astrea´s children...searched for their little one...their little sister...who was lost in darkness.
And before that, while Ryu was still in the hospital, they went into the dungeon to recover the remains of their friends. They found nothing, the monsters in the dungeon had devoured them...they only found their weapons. To Astrea´s children went to the 18th Floor and build a grave their, sticking the weapons of their three dead friends in it.
In the end...Ryu collapsed in a back alley, wounded and exhausted. She didn´t knew what to do...over the time of three weeks she had murdered her way through Orario. Ryu didn´t knew it, but it was thanks to her that Evilus´ grip was broken and the dark times would finally end.
Maybe it was her fate after all...but someone found Ryu in that alley.
"Are you...okay?"
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"This is it? Out of all places...she is here?"
"Yes, apparently there was a ruckus and an explosion here last night, Lyra and Neze went to investigate, then Lyra found her."
"But why didn´t she came home? Evilus´ grip was broken two weeks ago!"
"I don´t know, Lyra and Neze kept their distance, we wanted to wait for you. Kaguya is getting restless. But Lyra talked to someone who works here, a grey haired girl, she said that Ryu is here for two weeks now."
Both moved towards a building that was quite famous in Orario, a safe haven in the dark times.
The Hostess of Fertility.
"My little one...why didn´t you came home..."
"Lady Astrea, your orders?"
"Form a wide circle around the pub and the dorm, don´t move too close, I don´t want to agitate the owner."
"Is the owner strong?"
"She could defeat all of you, at once."
"Wow." Alise whistled, but grinned.
"Alise?"
"I´m just happy we will get our little one back, I trust you, lady Astrea."
"Hm...Alise, you come with me, but please let me talk."
"Alright, I can´t guarantee that Kaguya will stay quiet and wait the whole time, she said "she wanted to wash her head properly."."
They heard banging noises coming from the pub or from the backyard rather than several people working with hammers. The front door was open as staff ran in and out, some carrying debris. And they were all young women, several of them cat people.
"Excuse me?"
Astrea went inside, followed by Alise, who let her sword outside by Iska, the amazon.
"Oh, goddess Astrea, we are closed for the day."
It was one of the employees that greeted the goddess.
"I would like to talk to the owner. Please, it is important."
"I will tell Mama Mia."
Alise leaned closer to Astrea when the waitress turned around and went to the kitchen. "Mama Mia?"
"Apparently, the girls that work here call her that."
"Hm."
A few moments later, the door of the kitchen got opened and the tall owner came out, followed by a grey haired girl.
"What brings you here, goddess of justice? I am busy today, some idiots demolished my shop."
"Good morning, Ms. Mia. I am looking for someone."
"Doing justice work again? Searching for a criminal?"
Astrea shook her head. "No, just a lost child."
The grey haired woman next to Mia got up to her tiptoes and whispered something into the dwarf´s ear. Astrea had seen her a few times during the dark times, she had helped the people, cheered them up.
Mia listened and nodded then.
"Alright, get her. Don´t tell her who is here."
The woman nodded and went outside.
"So she belongs to you."
"Yes, she does."
"Caused me quite the ruckus, demolished many plates and ingredients."
"She...attacked you?"
"Attacked me? Hell no. She is just the biggest klutz I have ever seen! Never had a waitress that had so much trouble learning."
Astrea and Alise looked dumbfounded at each other.
The door of the kitchen opened and two people came out, the grey haired woman walked in a way that the person behind her couldn´t see Astrea and Alise.
But they heard her voice.
"Mama...Mia, what can I do for you?"
Mia grinned. "There are customers here that asked for you. So, what do you want to order, dear customers?"
Alise couldn´t hold back anymore. "A naughty elf who ran away from home, as a take away please."
"What a coincidence, this is today´s speciality."
The woman behind the grey haired woman froze...when she heard Alise´s voice. The grey haired woman stepped to the side, Astrea´s and Alise´s eyes widened.
Ryu stood there...wearing the uniform of a waitress...with short, green colored hair. Which to the surprise of her goddess and friend...suit her quite well.
"Lady...Astrea...Alise..."
She looked frightened, quietly, the grey haired woman blocked the door to the kitchen with her body, so that Ryu couldn´t run away, in case she panicked.
Astrea looked at her lost child.
"Ryu."
For a few moments, no one said a word...then Astrea made a small step forward...Ryu moved slightly back.
"Ryu...please come here."
"Lady Astrea...I..."
"Shh...Ryu, it´s okay."
"No, I can´t..."
Ryu wanted to back away again by Astrea´s next step, but she bumped into the grey haired woman.
"S-Syr?"
Syr smiled. "Ryu, go to your goddess, it´s okay."
"No, I...I can´t...I betrayed you!"
Ryu looked like a frightened animal, her heart seemed to be torn. Alise waited quiet at the front door, while Mia was positioned in a way, that she blocked the stairs.
Astrea moved slowly closer to her frightened child.
"Ryu, It´s okay. Let us talk, okay? Please come back home."
She saw tears dwelling in Ryu´s eyes, her lower lip trembled.
"I can´t! I betrayed you! And Justice, I betrayed what it means to be just!"
Syr gently put her hands on Ryu´s shoulders from behind. "Ryu, remember the balcony."
Astrea and Alise didn´t knew what that meant, but they were amazed that Ryu seemed to have no problem with Syr touching her.. Syr had brought Ryu to a high place where they could watch over the city, there Ryu saw laughing children for the first time in years.
The goddess held her arms at her sides, to show Ryu she was no threat, that she understood.
"Ryu, please come back home."
"*Hic* *Hic* *Hic*"
It pained Alise to see her dear friend so uneasy, so vulnerable. Ryu was emotionally weak for such a strong warrior.
Eventually, Astrea stopped in front of her sobbing child and gently closed her arms around her, while Syr let go of Ryu.
"Ryu...come home...please."
The dam broke.
Ryu burst into tears, put her arms around her beloved goddess and cried like the lost child she was. A veritable torrent of tears spilled from Ryu's eyes, even Astrea started to cry.
"I´m sorry! I´m so sorry!"
"You don´t need to, Ryu! It´s okay!"
Alise smiled relieved, she tapped with her right hand against her hip, giving Iska and Kaguya outside the signal that they got Ryu. Iska moved away to inform the others...while Kaguya came inside...looking a bit agitated.
"I betrayed you! I´m so sorry! *Hic*"
"We will talk about it, just come home, Ryu!"
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The grey haired woman, Syr, smiled relieved by the scene before her eyes. But her eyes widened a bit in surprise when Kaguya came into the pub. It wasn´t exactly because she came inside...but the way she looked. Kaguya wore a kimono, that was nothing unusual, but she let the right part hang from her shoulder, like some famous, far eastern swordmasters did. Her chest was of course fully covered, but her shoulder was bare...and her right arm ended a hand wide below her shoulder, the cut was sealed by bandages. She was the first person that Syr saw, who showed that she lost a limb so openly.
"Finally got to your senses? Stupid elf! Do you know how worried we were?! How much lady Astrea cried?!"
Kaguya was...not really sensitive...actually she was, but she showed her worry about Ryu in another way. Like a certain werewolf in the Loki Familia, she was the one that said things to people that they needed to hear, not the things they wanted to hear.
"K-Kaguya?"
Ryu´s face was still wet with tears, Astrea let go of her and wiped her own eyes.
"It´s time for you to come home! Stop making us worried!"
"Kaguya...I..."
"I...I...I...stop giving me that!"
Only people who knew her understood that this was Kaguya´s way of showing how much she was worried.
"But I failed all of you...betrayed justice...because of my weakness...your arm..."
Kaguya´s face darkened and she moved closer, Ryu moved slightly backwards, until her back touched the wall.
"My arm what?"
"Because of me...you lost your arm..."
"Stupid elf!"
"Kyau!"
Kaguya dealt a chop with her hand on Ryu´s head...not a very strong one.
"I didn´t lost my arm because you were weak! I lost my arm because I protected you! And I did it out of my free will!"
Kaguya slammed her palm against the wall next to Ryu´s face.
"But..."
"No "But..." me! This is a badge of honor for me! Don´t you dare sully my decision by crying it was your fault!"
While she knew that Ryu was emotionally weak right now, Kaguya hated that her quarrel buddy was like that, she wanted to get the old Ryu out.
"Kaguya..."
"I lost an arm to save a very precious friend of mine! Do you think I would even hesitate to sacrifice my other arm when it means I would save your life?!"
Unnoticed by them, one by one, Astrea´s children came into the pub, waiting next to Alise.
"The gods were kind enough to gift me two arms, so it´s fine."
"But..."
Eventually Kaguya gripped Ryu´s chin and squeezed her cheeks...Ryu´s expression like this...was cute.
"I will get a silver arm and I will wear it openly, to show everyone how much my Familia means for me. There is nothing I wouldn´t sacrifice for anyone of you. Like you tried to do to protect us."
"*Hic*"
"Oh...there you go cry again...if you want to cry, do it over there."
Kaguya moved both around and pushed Ryu´s back from behind, sent her stumlbing forward. The one who catched Ryu, was Alise. And soon...Ryu vanished in a group hug from all her Familia members...crying loud that she was really sorry about making them worried.
Astrea smiled with tears in her eyes...finally she had her lost child back.
But...
Mia came over to the goddess. "Don´t think you can just take her, she has a debt to pay off."
The goddess nodded. "And we will pay it off, I will do it personally when I have to!"
All of Astrea´s children would help out, to work at the pub and pay Mia back. Besides, it would do them all good to do something other than fight all the time. It wasn´t really a debt that had to be payed back, but Mia just knew the right way to treat hurt girls. Of course it was nice to get so many new part time employees like this...
Astrea couldn´t thank Syr enough, since she was the one that picked Ryu up and brought her to safety. And she was happy that Ryu managed to find new friends in Syr, Anya, Chloe and Lunor.
Even when Ryu, Anya, Chloe and Lunor claimed they weren´t friends at all, but the goddess still smiled.
And another thing made Astrea happy, she was able to see all of her beloved daughters in these cute waitress uniforms...and her children saw her in that. Still...Astrea´s children would glare at every man in the pub, that dared to oggle their goddess too much.
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"Bell, there is something I want to give you."
"Oh?"
"It is my most precious possession."
After Zeus had greeted them, they had started to prepare breakfast. Bell asked Alfia about every ingredient if she liked or didn´t liked it. When Bell was in the bathroom to wash his face before breakfast, Alfia had asked Zeus something important.
Now that the breakfast was over, they had sat down on the couch, Zeus in his armchair.
"What is it?" Bell looked curious.
Alfia picked something up from her lap, a flat object wrapped in cloth. She carefully unwrapped it and handed it to Bell.
It was a picture. The picture showed a beautiful, young woman with long white hair. Her facial features were like a mixture of Bell and Alfia, her smile was genuine. And like Alfia, she had heterochromatic eyes, but instead of a green one, she had a blue eye.
"This is..."
"Your mother."
Bell looked fascinated at the picture, since Zeus didn´t had one, he had only faint memories about how his mother looked.
"Mama?"
Instead of starting to cry, Bell´s smile widened more, he looked really happy.
"And you give it to me?"
"Yes, it should be with you."
"Thank you so much, Aunty!"
Alfia startled a bit when Bell suddenly hugged her from the side, she felt him tremble slightly. While he was happy about the picture, it was also clear that the boy was still sad that his mother had died...which she could understand.
Not really knowing what to do, Alfia kept her arms raised and looked down at Bell, who buried his face in her side. Seeking help, she looked over at Zeus, who briefly closed his eyes and nodded to Bell. Slowly and carefully, Alfia lowered her arms and hugged Bell gently.
She felt how the young boy snuggled up to her, searching for the embrace of a mother figure.
Meteria..is this..okay?
While Alfia felt really warm, she still wasn´t used to it.
After a few minutes, Bell moved away from his aunt and looked up to her.
"What was my Mama like?"
After thinking for a moment, Alfia smiled, a warm, loving smile.
"Meteria was kind and pure, she always had a smile on her lips and was able to relax everyone with her presence. There wasn´t a single person who didn´t loved her. She valued life and was grateful to others for the smallest things.
A person who is or was more kind than her just didn´t existed. And...your mother really loved you, Bell."
To think that even Hera loved her so much, that she gave her the Falna, just to expand her life span as much as possible..
But Alfia didn´t spoke her thought out loud. So far, Bell didn´t knew about Alfia being an adventurer. Also...Alfia didn´t told Bell that his mother was rather possessive of food, she even scared Alfia one time, when she ate a sweet that Meteria wanted to the point that she made her resign herself to dying...even making Hera kneel in front of her one time!
But these weren´t things that a son needed to know.
"Thank you so much, Aunty Alfia!"
Now he really surprised her, Bell jumped to his feet, gave Alfia a kiss on the cheek and ran to his room, to place the picture of his mother on his desk. Zeus chuckled by the sight of Alfia´s dumbfounded face, while she touched her cheek.
Zeus was also the one that told Bell about his father, because it wouldn´t be a good idea to ask Alfia about him, for some reason she hated Bell´s father.
I wonder...maybe because he took her sister´s purity? Or was it another reason?
No one except Meteria, had ever seen how Alfia´s facial features derailed, when she came to visit her...and Meteria told her that she was pregnant.
"What?! How?! When?!"
Bell´s father and Zeus got along very well, they even went to peek on Hera´s bathing girls. It was an evening that Zeus would never forget, even when he took quite the beating by Hera for that. Only two women were in the bath, Alfia and Meteria. While Bell´s father was quite the pervert, when his eyes fell on Meteria, he never looked at another woman again...he immediately fell in love with her.
Which in Zeus´ eyes was quite romantic. And...when they got caught...only Zeus got caught, since Bell´s father was the number one in Orario when it came to running away.
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"So, I guess it´s time to go shopping."
Even when she had her backpack with various things with her, Alfia still needed some other things.
"Do we need much?"
"Yes, Bell. Woman need much more stuff than man."
"Is that so?"
Bell looked up to Alfia after what Zeus said, she just went with it and nodded.
"And we need wooden beams, for your Aunt´s-!...Aunty´s room."
Thankfully, the weather outside was nice and the sun shone. In the night before, Alfia didn´t really saw it, but the fields of the village were beautiful. It looked like a farm, the life here seemed to be a peacefull one.
After Zeus closed the door, Alfia felt a slight touch against the fingers of her left hand. When she looked down, she saw Bell that looked up to her with hope in his eyes.
She smiled slightly and took his hand, his expression immediately brightened.
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Slowly, Alfia opened up more and more to Bell...and just a bit to Zeus.
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She was so caught by Bell, that she didn´t even noticed...she didn´t coughed this morning, as she usually did due to her illness.
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Authors note2: I hope I can do the pace right, in which Alfia opens up to Bell and get´s used to her new fate.