Chapter 12: Dancing whit a Elephant

As expected, the announcement of Astraea's return spread like wildfire, as did the end of the bounty on Ryuu. Several adventurers, especially the most unmotivated, came to the Guild to confirm the news, and some of them did not hide their irritation at the fact that a bounty of eighty million Varis had disappeared.

Of course, this did not guarantee total peace for the two women. The jackals who were only attracted by the bounty would move on, but there were also those who had a personal grudge against them. But unfortunately for them, these people would have to deal with the second news that came out two days later, Ryuu was now level 6, which gave her such strength that only a very few people could attack her. Not to mention the fact that Astraea was obviously allied with Thor, a new force that should not be underestimated.

When this second piece of news reached the tavern, Anya, Chloe and Lunoire joked that even whit the three of them, they would probably be no match for the elf. But their reflection was short-lived, because they had to get back to work. Ryuu was no longer there and Syr had not shown up since the announcement. No one suspected the truth, but since they were close, the girls just thought she needed time to accept the news.

And they were not that far from reality. Locked up at the top of Babel, Freya was indeed brooding. Ryuu's sudden departure left her with a bitter taste. She was torn between sincere joy that her friend was reunited with her beloved goddess and sadness that their daily routine had been shattered. She had spent so much time with the elf. It was her, as Syr, who had picked her up in that alley, she who had given her a taste for life, she who had given her a second home for five years.

But she also knew that she was at fault, their friendship was built on a lie, an illusion called Syr Flova. If she had wanted to, she could have kept Ryuu by her side, seducing her, making her part of her familia, using her power and influence to make her bounty disappear. She would have had the means to do so.

But she hadn't, just as she had never crossed the line of intimacy with Ryuu. Still, part of her would have been curious to see that face, always so closed, so serious, moaning and expressing pleasure under her expert caresses. But Freya had chosen to cherish above all the sweetness of their friendship.

Deep in thought, she paid no attention to the massive figure that arrived at her side. Ottar, always on the lookout for anything that would please his mistress, noticed that Freya was not in her right mind.

Is there a problem, my goddess? Is there anything I can do to please you?

The giant rarely took the initiative with her. That he cared for her spoke volumes about the image she portrayed. She offered her captain a small smile and placed a delicate hand on his cheek.

No, Ottar, this time it's nothing you can't handle for me, so don't worry.

As you wish, my goddess. However, I have news for you.

Curious, the goddess saw her captain hand her a letter which she opened and looked through, her face gradually abandoning its bad appearance.

Well, well... It looks like we'll have a new distraction to take our minds off things soon, Ottar.

In fact, most of the gods had received the news. Ganesha had decided to organise a big ball in his house. It wasn't the first time, but it still surprised a lot of people. And even though Apollo was no longer in town and his idea of having the gods accompany their children had been born of bad intentions, the concept had nevertheless pleased.

So, for this ball of the gods, the deusdeas could bring some of their children to the party. The guest of honour would of course be Astraea. The two familias had once strongly cooperated to keep peace in Orario, none of the children of Ganesha present at the time had forgotten the sacrifice of the goddess of justice and the death of almost all her children.

Unofficially, everyone also knew that Thor would be there, he too had an old friendship with the elephant god and since he had not been in town for long, this would be his first social event. And he too had things to celebrate like his installation, his first successful expedition or the rise to level 6 of his captain.

Of course, Hestia and Loki wouldn't miss it either. The Trickster was not the type to miss social events, especially when she could show off her children. And Hestia was planning to bring her children too, to show that she was no longer that tramp living off Hephaestus.

Even the Guild had planned to send representatives. Even though the organisation was supposed to be neutral, it still worked closely with Ganesha's familia to ensure law and order in the city. But since in reality, a social event did not interest many people, no one refused Eina to be a volunteer when she asked. She had often heard about the balls of the gods, but had never been able to attend. And then, if she was lucky, maybe she could dance with Bell, on some pretext.

The event was scheduled for the following week. So it was not surprising to see many gods and their children storming all the clothing and jewellery shops to get ready for this famous evening.

On the evening of the party, the palace of Ganesha, whose shape was perfectly identifiable, quickly came to life. The god in the elephant mask had done things in style. A gigantic all-you-can-eat buffet with the finest food and drinks, several talented musicians to entertain the evening. And of course his inimitable presence. He had made no effort to look stylish, as if being Ganesha was enough in itself. At his side, Shakti was in charge of welcoming the guests, a role naturally assigned to the captain of the familia. The latter was dressed in a blue evening gown that set her off perfectly.

Many of the gods quickly arrived, escorted by one or more of their children, everyone in their best attire. A man from the host familia announced the guests as they arrived.

Lady Loki and her familia!

Many of the gods had been betting amongst themselves as to whether Loki would show up dressed as a man again or whether she would make the effort to put on a dress. It was the latter that won out, for Loki had made an effort to be feminine. No doubt advised by the women of her familia, she had not repeated the mistake of the previous Ganesha banquet, namely putting on a tight strapless dress that did not fit her body at all. She had chosen something with a very different, fuller cut, which went much better with her slim and, unfortunately for her, rather flat body.

But Loki had not come alone, several of her children were with her, including her captain, Finn, who was wearing a light coloured suit that went very well with his blond skin and hair. Riveria was also there, wearing a very light green dress. A simple cut leaving her arms and shoulders bare, a simple hairstyle and discreet jewels, the elf princess didn't need anything more to highlight her natural beauty. Of course, Aiz had not been able to cut the party short, but she had not wanted to make a fuss and had simply brought out the dress she had worn at the Apollo ball. Lefiya had also come, dressed in a light orange dress, which covered her shoulders and half her arms, with a pair of matching gloves. And behind them were Tione and Tion. The former was wearing a rather short white dress, leaving a lot of skin uncovered, and her sister had adopted a more flamboyant style with a scarlet flamenco-like dress. The latter was ranting, as she would have loved to enter this ball on the arm of her beloved captain, unfortunately, he had to escort his goddess.

Lady Hestia and her familia!

The little goddess proudly entered the ballroom. She who, only a few months ago, had been a laughing stock, a broke goddess, living off the others, then off her only child, only coming to such events to shamelessly help herself to the buffet, had changed a great deal, for much had happened since then. Her little familia had grown up, Bell was breaking records for progress, she had defeated and robbed Apollo. Tonight, it was a Hestia proud of her childern's achievements who entered this room, accompanied by her entire familia.

She had decided to change her style for the evening. She had therefore abandoned white and blue, her usual colours, for a black dress that emphasised her beauty. Strapless at the top to highlight her assets and with ruffles at the bottom, stopping below her knees. She had also shed her pigtails to leave her hair loose. She walked proudly on the arm of a Bell who was horribly embarrassed to be the centre of attention for a few moments. The boy himself had not looked far and had pulled out his costume from their last party.

Behind them was Welf, in a black suit with a red bow tie, and Mikoto, who had also used the only dress she had. Next to her was Haruhime, who was fully embracing her cultural heritage. The fox girl was indeed dressed in a very chic embroidered red kimono and her golden hair was styled in an intricate bun held together by several decorated chopsticks. However, her kimono was still cut in such a way that she could free up one leg for wide movements if she felt like dancing. As for Lili, she wore a golden yellow dress, but the shoulders and arms were made of transparent black material.

Sir Thor and his familia!

It was strictly impossible to miss the god of thunder as he entered. On the one hand, he had an imposing stature, but above all, he made no effort to be discreet. The colossus had not put on a suit, on the contrary, he was totally assuming his Asgardian style. He had come dressed in a high quality tunic, which was decorated with gold and silver thread embroidery. It was slightly open to reveal a bit of his powerful and muscular torso, and the sleeves were slightly rolled up to show his powerful arms, just to please the ladies. After all, when you were a mountain of muscle like him, you relied more on virility when it came to pleasing the ladies.

On his arm, of course, was Mei. His captain was on this night more beautiful than ever. Embracing her shivati heritage, she wore a beautiful cheongsam-like dress, with bare shoulders and arms, coming down to her heels, it was slit on both sides to let her legs show as she walked. Her dress was naturally purple, her favourite colour. Her hair was styled in a high bun and then hung in a ponytail, decorated with several ornamented wands and she had make-up that emphasised her femininity.

Behind them was Thargar the dwarf, dressed in a formal outfit in the same style as his god, namely a richly decorated tunic emphasising his musculature. The poor man seemed as comfortable in this kind of social event as a goblin in a herd of barbarians. Ygannea, the beautiful and voluptuous elf, was also at the party. She wore a long dress with a high collar, in ice blue. A style that didn't show off too much of her assets, or else it would cause too many twists and turns. She had her hair in a long braid that she wore over her left shoulder and completed her outfit with a light shawl that she held at her elbows.

Andil and Linda, the silent human twins, were also present and hard to miss. The sister was walking back to the ball on her brother's arm. The young woman had her long hair loose and was wearing an asymmetrical black dress that covered only one shoulder with an epaulette made of black feathers. As for the brother, he wore an all-black evening suit, but very elegant. It had been pointed out to them that there was perhaps a little too much black in their outfits, but they didn't care. And the shy Purhaan, the sweet hume-bunny of the familia, was the last to arrive, wearing a very simple white dress, which emphasised her natural cuteness.

Other gods arrived next, including close acquaintances of some people. Hephaestus had come, in her slim red dress, which emphasised a femininity less emphasised with her work clothes. Tsubaki accompanied her, but the poor woman didn't seem at all comfortable in her black evening dress, which seemed to have been cut to emphasise her femininity and conceal her musculature.

Miach had also come and he had taken the opportunity to bring the new members of his familia with him. Naaza stood at his arm, reusing her usual asymmetrical dress, leaving her left arm bare, but covering her entire right arm which was an unsightly silver prosthesis. Although her familia was debt free, their finances were not extraordinary either, so the other two had to settle for renting simple dresses, a white one for Daphne and a black one for Cassandra.

Takemikazuchi also arrived at the party, and it had to be said that his haircut didn't really go with his evening suit. He had come with Ouka and Chigusa and neither of them looked comfortable at this kind of event. The captain had a puppet-like gait, attesting to his tenseness, and the poor young woman seemed to be looking for the nearest mouse hole where she could bury herself. Still, she was quite cute with her white ruffled dress and the two bows that held her hair to reveal her face.

Hermes, though discreet, was obviously in the party, with his white suit and his falsely dishevelled style, accompanied as always by Asfi, who would probably spend more time holding him than enjoying the party.

As expected, Eina arrived with a few other people supposedly representing the Guild. And since she could write it off as an business expense, she didn't mind investing in a pretty cream-coloured fringed evening gown and a little haircut. Compared to her very masculine work uniform, she was almost unrecognisable.

Our guests of honour! Lady Astraea and her captain, Ryuu Lyon!

All eyes turned to the entrance where two more than sublime women had just entered. The goddess of justice was dressed in a sumptuous dress with multiple veils and a beautiful indigo colour. She had an ethereal, bewitching, almost mysterious appearance, so much so that she could have been mistaken for a goddess of beauty. But the one who accompanied her was not to be outdone. Ryuu was almost unrecognisable too. From the moment they found out about the ball, she had been caught up in her goddess' shenanigans, who looked like a little girl playing dolls with her new captain.

The beautiful blonde elf wore a green dress, the bottom of which reached below her knees in the front and gradually lengthened to reach her ankles at the back. It covered her shoulders, but had a slight cleavage, just enough to show off her charms, and was completed by long gloves that reached halfway up her arms. With this, some discreet jewels and make-up cleverly measured, giving her a forest princess look, sublimated by her elven physical heritage. No one would have believed that this beautiful young woman was once a vengeful killer wanted by the authorities for multiple murders.

Of course, the gods could not but give in to their sick need for entertainment. So the goddess of justice was greeted from all sides by many curious deusdeas who wanted to know everything about her return and the circumstances surrounding it.

Fortunately for her and Ryuu, Ganesha quickly came to their rescue. After all, the host had to welcome the guest of honour himself. Astraea thus took the opportunity to slip away and come quickly to Thor, who was in the middle of a conversation with Hestia, while their children greeted each other and exchanged banalities.

Astraea, you are more beautiful than ever. I'm glad you wanted to preserve the surprise of your outfit. said the colossal god in his usual big voice.

And you, you are... always equal to yourself as far as I can see. She replied with an amused laugh.

And while the gods were making conversation, Ryuu dared to approach Bell shyly, her cheeks on fire, red with shame at the idea of being seen in such an outfit.

G-Good evening Bell. She said in a shy and adorable voice that no one knew.

G-Good evening Ryuu. The boy replied, disturbed to discover her so beautiful and feminine. He remembered telling her that he would have liked to see her in a dress after the casino incident, but he didn't imagine that the result would be so striking.

I... I don't look too weird in this outfit? she asked terribly embarrassed.

N-Not at all! It suits you very well... You look beautiful. He managed to articulate, red in the cheeks, under the distant, amused and slightly jaded looks of the gods.

By all the braves in the great hall, he really is as good as a brick with women... said the god of thunder with an air of dismay.

My great misfortune. replied Hestia with an equally jaded look.

And my Ryuu doesn't look any better. Astraea said with a more amused look. In any case Hestia, you've chosen well for a first child, with a few more years, he'll be just in my strike zone.

Oh no! You're not going to do that to me! said the little goddess with an outraged look.

No promise. Astraea winked at her knowingly. Hestia wasn't sure if Astraea was joking or if she would have another rival in the long run. In any case, she knew now that she had to watch this elf closely.

While the two goddesses were joking, the elephant-masked deusdea addressed his tall colleague.

By the way Thor, I see your beautiful captain, but your vice-captain did not come? Yet with his successes, this would be an opportunity for him to gain prestige.

Oh, but he's here, you're just not looking in the right place. Thor replied, pointing his finger towards the heights.

The elephant god looked up and saw that nezu was indeed there, sitting on one of the railings of the upper gallery of the gigantic hall, half hidden in the shadows, hidden by his cloak, but still with a plate with various items from the buffet in his hand.

Funny way to enjoy a ball. he said with an amused look.

He's having fun... in his own way. In reality, he's a great shy person. Besides, it's not really easy to find an evening suit for nezu.

Ekkrit knew above all that he was not yet at home in this kind of reception. It wasn't his rise to the top that would be enough to erase the prejudice against his species. Perhaps one day it would be perfectly natural to see nezu at such festivities, but for the moment he felt better up there, in the shadows. Besides, helping himself to the buffet without anyone noticing was his game for the evening.

As the bulk of the guests arrived, Ganesha spoke again to the small crowd.

I AM GANESHA! he shouted, as usual.

Yeah bro, we know that! Thor replied, making the whole crowd laugh, including the main man.

Good! Thank you all for coming! Now it's time for the first dance! Let the festivities of the evening begin!

In doing so, he had just given the signal that the evening was really about to begin. As he had to assume his role as host, it was his honour to invite Astraea, guest of honour for the first dance, which the goddess gladly granted him.

Thor's children beckoned him to socialise with other gods, so the lord of thunder invited Demeter to the first dance. Hestia wasted no time in getting hold of Bell and making it clear that he had better offer her the first dance. Welf did not wait long and went to find Hephaestus who expected nothing less. Takemikazuchi came to find a flushed Mikoto, but happy with the attention. Miach naturally came forward with Naaza.

Finn felt a huge chill run down his back and knew immediately where it came from. He knew instinctively that if he didn't invite Tione to the first dance, a new dark age could well begin in Orario right here and right now. So it was only natural that he asked the amazonness to dance with him, and she was ecstatic.

Thor's entire familia sighed with displeasure when they saw that Andil and Linda were well on their way to dance together. Separating them was really complicated, but they had their own circumstances. Ryuu was also very much in demand, but in the face of such celebrity, she preferred to excuse herself and dodge the issue. Even though it wouldn't be the first dance of the evening, she knew who she wanted to give HER first dance to.

The others were approached by members of other familias or even other gods, some refused, others accepted, and the Ganesha ballroom came alive with music as the dancers entered the floor.

After the first dance, most returned to their familias and many went to get refreshments. Dancing was quite a physical activity, even for seasoned adventurers. In the midst of all this, Bell was joined by Mei, Thor's captain.

Well, it looks like this isn't your first time dancing.

The second time, in fact, the first time was at a ball organised by Apollo. It was good despite the... special circumstances.

Yes, I've been told, all just to challenge you and lady Hestia. That guy really had a big ego problem. Enjoy it, I don't think anyone should start a war game tonight.

I hope not. he replied with a smile, taking Mei's words in stride.

By the way, how are your feet Bell? she asked with a mischievous smile.

Well, why? He was surprised by the question and didn't understand its meaning.

Good, because I think they're going to be in demand tonight. she said, patting him on the shoulder with amusement. The rabbit felt a shiver run down his back. He had the feeling that more than a dozen insistent looks were pointed at him. With Freya spying on him all the time, even though he didn't know it was her yet, he had developed a kind of sixth sense when someone was watching him intensely.

Good luck, because I don't think you'll be leaving this party for many more dances. She said, ruffling his hair affectionately before returning to her familia. Mei wasn't one of those who had fallen for Bell, she liked him and respected him, but saw him mostly as an adorable little brother who was fun to tease sometimes.

And as the evening was now well under way and the second dance was about to begin, the child of Ganesha who was announcing the guests was suddenly disturbed and addressed the crowd again.

L-l-lady Freya! And her familia!

Immediately all eyes turned to her. The goddess of beauty wore a shiny, long-cut silver dress. It had a cleverly calculated neckline and the slit in the leg allowed one of her legs to be seen as she walked. Her dress was the perfect blend of sensuality and elegance, emphasising the ideal proportions of her body, which was said to be an incarnation of the golden ratio.

She was on the arm of Ottar, who was wearing a tailor-made, high-quality suit. But even so, he still looked as much at home as a wolf trying to spend the night in a sheepfold. Behind them were Hogni and Hedin, the two former elven monarchs wearing the traditional regalia of their people. Freya had not brought Allen along for the evening, the cat-man was too temperamental by nature.

And of course, she was late on purpose so that everyone notices her. Said the god of thunder when he saw her coming.

Ganesha, as the host of the evening, naturally went to greet her, but she contented herself with quick greetings before heading... straight for Thor.

Many of the gods were as confused by her beauty as they were surprised by her presence, Freya rarely came to such events and this was the third time in a few months. Speculation was rife, and when they saw her walking towards the god of thunder, a being with whom she was supposed to be on the outs, some began to wonder if she had been in trouble. Some were beginning to wonder if there would be any action tonight.

On Thor's side, he motioned for his children to back away, to pretend to go to the buffet or to get a drink. The god of thunder had naturally briefed his familia on the goddess. They knew the rules with her. Avoid her as much as possible, if she spoke to one of them, remain polite and courteous, but do everything to shorten the conversation, give her no reason to start hostilities. And above all, do everything to avoid eye contact and physical contact so as not to succumb to her charm.

But for the moment, she seemed to be focusing her attention on Thor, to whom she offered her polite and charming smile.

It's been a long time, god of thunder.

Indeed, nice to see you again... queen of the valkyries.

Despite the smiles and the politeness, Thor had just sent Freya a little dig. Like many gods, Freya had many names and symbols. She was obviously a goddess of beauty, with all that went with it, and it was this aspect of her that she had wanted to emphasize in the Gekai. But Freya was also a warrior goddess, the queen of the valkyries, the high spirits incarnated as battle maidens. Thor's insistence on this aspect of her deity that she had forsaken was mocking.

The two deities were polite and smiling at each other, but all those watching from afar were not fooled, there was a real tension in the air and the words they exchanged were not mere politeness. Some of them had fun trying to guess what was being said.

Your arrival in town is a surprise, I thought you liked to travel.

I would have preferred you to stay away.

Well, we all want a change sooner or later and Orario is the place to be these days.

I don't care if my presence annoys you.

I see. You've found yourself a lovely familia, your children seem to fit you perfectly.

They're just as gruff as you are, and they're not as good as mine.

Just like yours, they seem to be fiercely loyal.

You can talk to your bunch of crazy fanatics.

It was very generous of you to help Astraea, you surprised us all.

What are you up to with her?

Astraea is a respectable goddess who deserved to be helped, don't you think?

Dream on so I can tell you anything.

And so the conversation went on for several minutes, with tense smiles and false politenesses that included attempts to get the other person to talk as much as to mock him or her a little. No one tried to approach, feeling that they might be frozen in place by the icy atmosphere between them. Many preferred to duck out in preparation for the next dance.

Will you ask me to dance to celebrate our reunion? The goddess of beauty raised her hand towards Thor, which surprised many people.

But with pleasure. Thor replied, making the gesture of inviting her, surprising even more people. Many thought he would send her packing, but obviously he didn't want to give her the pleasure of making an affront in front of everyone that she could exploit. And judging by the very slight annoyance that had subtly passed over Freya's face, she'd probably counted on it. She was tempted by the idea of stomping on his feet a few times during the dance, but that would be to undermine the image of perfection she wanted to give in all circumstances.

Are they going to dance or kill each other there? asked a god.

I'm starting to have doubts myself. answered another.

As he had not received any orders, Ottar did not move, unmoving as usual. But this was not the case with Hodin and Hegni. The former king of the white elves surprised no one by being the only one who dared to invite Riveria to dance, who accepted, just so as not to give Freya's familia any cause for complaint against them, but it was obvious that she accepted out of pure politeness.

As for the former dark elf monarch, he approached Ygannea. All of Thor's other children looked on suspiciously, but the magician discreetly signalled to them that all was well. She accepted this unexpected invitation.

Following the advice given to them, Andil and Linda finally agreed to unhook from each other. A little embarrassed, the man asked Mei to dance afterwards.

As for Bell, he knew that he would not escape another dance and Hestia was thinking about how to handle the situation. Even though she was dying to make her mark, she also knew that making another scene would be frowned upon and would be detrimental to her children, not to mention that Thor would not hesitate to lecture her. Seeing that the boy was trying to approach Aiz to propose a dance, Hestia decided to apply the rule of the lesser evil, which would allow her to gauge a potential competitor.

Bell! Go ask that elf to dance! she said, pointing at Ryuu. We have to show that our familia has prestige now, so my captain has to show it by dancing with the captain of the guest of honor. The excuse was perfectly lame, but if it would delay the deadline for him to dance with Walenwhathat, she take it. And Bell was too kind not to take her word for it.

So he approached Ryuu, who understood his intentions and had a hard time hiding the fact that she was dying for him to ask her to dance. Her first dance would be for him, she felt ashamed of Syr, but she couldn't hide her desires anymore.

Ryuu... if... if you'd like...

With pleasure! she said louder and with more enthusiasm than she had expected.

Hooo? My little Ryuu is finally letting go I see. The goddess of justice said to herself with an amused look before a certain tall blond man came to her.

Well, I'll be damned! The delicious Astraea, what a pleasure to see you again, my dear. Hermes then said to her, approaching her with his usual comedian's manner.

Hermes, I would say that it pleases me, but your little tricks have tended to give me too much work in the past, that would be lying. She gave him a polite smile, contrasting with the acidity of her words.

Ha! Always so cold and incisive! The incarnation of justice is decidedly as beautiful as it is ruthless. He replied, still overdoing it.

My punishments were cuter before I left, it's not like this time at the Tenkai where, by dint of doing stupid things, I crushed your b alls with my foot. She said with an amused smile at this memory. This was not the case for Hermes, who had instinctively clenched his thighs when he remembered this terrible punishment.

An intense memory, indeed. But let's forget the past and try to start afresh. May I have this dance, my dear? he said, bowing and holding out his hand.

But with pleasure. Astraea replied, taking Hermes' hand.

The dancers began to dance and the music started again. Bell and Ryuu were probably the most adorable duo. For the young man, it was only the second time in his life that he danced like this, he was not yet sure, but he was learning fast, so he was doing fine. As for Ryuu, she wasn't used to this kind of exercise, but she could count on her physical heritage as an elf to compensate. Following the advice she had been given, Bell focused her gaze on Ryuu's eyes. This made him blush, as he had the opportunity to see up close how beautiful she was tonight.

Of course, he had always thought his friend was a beautiful woman, but tonight he was aware of it in a different way. And Ryuu was becoming aware that Bell's gaze was also different, she felt that for the first time she had really caught his eye and his attention. Maybe not enough to make him forget the Sword Princess, but with willpower, maybe that could change. So in the meantime, she was enjoying this moment that belonged only to the two of them.

But they were not alone on the dance floor, the bulk of the attention was focused on the bearded colossus who was dancing with the delicate and sensual Freya. Although he looked a little awkward, Thor still managed to keep from making a fool of himself, but he was taking shameful advantage of Freya's aura that masked the imperfect details.

When was the last time we danced together Thor?

A very long time, the last time you tried to lure me into bed, I suppose. Despite the obvious sarcasm, he was still smiling.

Any chance I can convince you to give me sweet dreams tonight? She tried her most sensual smile, which would be enough to make any mortal man damn himself.

None, I'm sorry if you were hoping to get some pillow talk out of me.

Freya had tried, but without really believing it, she already knew that the big guy was insensitive to her charms, it irritated her, broke her pride, but this conquest was not her priority, not when she had perhaps finally found the pure soul that would free her from her loneliness. She had just come to gauge Thor's reaction to her. There was their usual defiance, but no open animosity. The dance ended and they greeted each other in the simplest way possible.

Riveria had danced with Hedin, but it had been perfectly protocol. The white elf knew quickly that he would not get any information from his fellow elf and that it was not a viable lead to learn anything about the projects that Loki and Thor might have in common. So they settled for a few exchanges of small talk.

Hogni had tried a more direct approach by inviting Ygannea to dance, but he was quickly caught off guard when he realised that the sorceress didn't fit into any of the elven standards. He had no opening to ask her interesting questions and even had to make an effort not to let his gaze drift slightly downwards. Yga may not have worn a neckline, but it was impossible to miss her arguments, which were much more imposing than those of most elves. As a result, the poor man was mentally scourging himself for being tempted by the body of someone other than his beloved goddess.

Hermes had also tried to extract information from Astraea, mainly to satisfy his curiosity, but also to see if there was any reason to revise his plans. Unfortunately for him, the goddess of justice could see through him and he too was only allowed a few very evasive answers, before he found himself on the defensive, enduring Astraea's questions in turn, trying to get information about her latest schemes.

On a lighter note, Thor's familia was amused to watch Andil attempt to dance awkwardly with Mei. The twins were inseparable, able to act in a coordinated manner that bordered on the supernatural, but as soon as they were separated, it was not the same story.

After this second dance, everyone went back to their own business, looking for someone to talk to, going for a drink or hanging out at the buffet. Of course, many gods tried to approach Freya, but they all turned back in front of Ottar's dark look, who was acting like a perfect scarecrow. The message was clear, it was the goddess of beauty herself who would choose whom she wanted to speak to.

And she seemed to have chosen, as she walked towards Astraea, who was drinking a cocktail while talking to Ryuu alone, who was red with embarrassment because of her goddess' questions about her relationship with Bell. However, she quickly became aware of Freya's presence and turned to offer her a polite smile.

Good evening Freya. I'm quite surprised to see you, you weren't a big fan of social events as I recall.

It depends on my mood. Or if there's a particular guest who stimulates my curiosity. I'm glad to see you back in Oraria, Astraea.

Thank you. Astraea didn't really know what to say to make the conversation flow. The only lines she could think of were rather acidic and she didn't want to incur Freya's animosity at the moment. She had made the choice to ally herself with Thor and it was common knowledge that him and Freya were not the best of friends. She even suspected that the goddess of beauty was only approaching her for that purpose. However, Freya did not seem to want to bombard her with questions.

If you'll excuse me. Astraea then said, trying to cut the meeting short. She knew that sooner or later she would have to confront Freya, but it was still a bit early.

Astraea. the silver goddess simply called to her, making the goddess of justice turn around. I'm really happy to see you again. I hope we can have tea together when you are less busy.

Astraea thought she'd found a new trap, but she was surprised by Freya's expression. She looked... sincere. As if for once she was speaking without any innuendo and was simply expressing her joy at seeing her in town again. Freya had nothing against Astraea. Syr had never lied when she told Ryuu that she was sincerely grateful for what she had done in the past. The goddess of justice was a respectable person and had Freya's sincere sympathy, even if she expressed it in her own way.

Why not, I'd be happy to, but when I've sorted out other things first. She replied with a small mysterious smile before leaving.

Throughout their conversation, Ryuu had remained at her goddess' side, silent, avoiding looking directly at Freya so as not to risk being caught by her charm. However, before they left, she couldn't stop her eyes from looking at her for a moment. The elf met the goddess' gaze and was surprised. She did not feel attracted or charmed, but she felt that Freya was looking at her in a special way, with a kind of pure tenderness. This confused her slightly, as it made her feel as if she was missing something important and she had no idea what it was.

Freya hadn't risked speaking directly to Ryuu, to avoid giving away any embarrassing information. But when she had met her gaze, she hadn't been able to hold back the affection she had for her friend and the latter had seen it. But that would not be of any consequence for the evening.

True to her reputation, the goddess of beauty did not linger at the party and quickly left, much to the displeasure of all her admirers, who would have liked to have had a better chance of spending the night with her. But she had more or less got what she wanted, even if it didn't amount to much. She took a quick look at Bell Cranel, her precious little pure soul. How she would have liked to dance with him, but she knew Hestia wouldn't let her, and it was still too early to reveal too much of her plans. Let the young man enjoy himself tonight, he had earned it, the time would come, she had to be patient.

Freya's departure immediately lowered the tension. The rest of the evening was all dancing, laughter and fun. For once, there were no disasters to interrupt everything, no gods coming to ruin everything with evil plans, just party deities and their children having fun.

As Mei had prophesied, Bell was in great demand for the rest of the evening, to the point that it was almost comical. After dancing with Ryuu, Hestia looked for another way to keep him away from Aiz. Unfortunately, she was too late and the rabbit had already gone towards the blonde swordswoman. Only the little goddess could count on an unexpected ally, Lefiya.

When the temperamental elf understood the intentions of the young man, she tried to intervene.

Will you dance with me! said Bell, bowing and closing his eyes, always shy when it came to the Sword Princess. Except that Lefiya had intercepted the request and when Bell opened his eyes again, he met the mortified gaze of the magician. Since he hadn't named her or paid any attention to her request, it was clear to everyone that he was asking her. And before he could say anything, Lefiya chose to sacrifice herself.

With pleasure! she said, taking his hand and dragging him quickly onto the dance floor. As for Aiz, she pouted, but was joined by Mei who brought her a glass of cocktail.

I thought he'd want to dance with me... the pretty blonde said with a sad look on her face. The shivati sighed in annoyance.

Haaaa... Aiz, you really can't see anything...

What do you mean? asked the other with a questioning look.

Nothing. Stay as you are Aiz, you're adorable like that. And the blonde looked even more lost and perplexed than before. Mei had already figured it out, but it wasn't her place to tell her the truth. If she couldn't guess, she should wait for Bell to make the first move. For her part, she would encourage them from afar.

And unfortunately, Hestia and Lefiya's shenanigans could only delay the inevitable, for Bell managed to invite Aiz to the next dance, who was more joyful at the idea than she could have imagined. And Hestia couldn't help it, because Thor had just asked her back and she knew she couldn't escape.

And after Aiz, it was a totally playful Tiona who grabbed Bell, ignoring convention. And after her, he caught the very insistent looks of Lili and Haruhime, making it clear that there would be no break for him.

Of course, Eina didn't let this opportunity escape either. But it took Bell a moment to recognise her, so different was she from her usual evening dress. And no one could have blamed her for asking him to dance, after all, she was his advisor, it was the least he could do to thank her after all she had done for him.

After his dance with Freya, which was not planned, Thor was able to invite Astraea in turn. As allies, they still had to show that they were close. Then it was Hestia, who saved Bell, and after her Loki. It would have been unthinkable for him not to dance with those he considered his daughters.

But as the evening wore on and the alcohol and good vibes became more and more present, things became less and less formal and much more festive. The dances became more lively, less formal, and you could even see people dancing in groups. Aiz was surprised by a Mei who was a bit burnt from drinking and who grabbed her hand to dance with her.

In the end, everyone quickly forgot about Freya's appearance and the slight tension that had resulted from it. In the end, there was nothing left but the party, the happiness of being together, no rivalry, just the joy of living and having fun. Tomorrow they would all return to their daily lives, their goals, their ambitions. But for this night, there was only the party.

Some left it very late, others a little earlier. And there were even people who did not leave especially in the company of those with whom they had arrived. It was because of this that we found ourselves having to deal with Tsubaki who was ranting because her goddess had left her there to sneak off with Welf.

I am Ganeshaaaaaaaaaaaa... shouted the host of the place at a very late hour of the night, while collapsing, completely drunk on a table, giving more or less the signal that the ball was finished.

The next day was fairly quiet, for while the gods recovered very quickly from the binge drinking and physical exhaustion, not all their children did. But on the whole, everyone had very good memories of the evening.

So it was the following day that a new event occurred. Syr was walking down a quiet alleyway, singing as she picked up some groceries for Mia. At the corner of an alley, a silhouette appeared on her path, that of a beautiful woman with brown hair and indigo eyes. And the woman offered her a smile before addressing her.

Hello. You are Syr Flova, aren't you?

To say that she was not happy about this meeting was an understatement, but she had to go with it and show off her acting skills.

Yes, that's me. And you are... Ha! I know! You must be Lady Astraea. You are exactly as Ryuu described you.

There was only hope that it would pass. The goddess of justice came closer to her and continued to smile at her.

Exactly, I am Astraea, Ryuu's goddess. I was curious to finally meet you Syr, given the affection my dear Ryuu has for you.

Your words flatter me goddess, I don't deserve so much. Inwardly, she crossed her fingers, it seemed to work for the moment.

Please, I wanted to thank you for taking care of Ryuu all these years and giving her so much. I feel she's matured a lot lately and I know it's because of you.

Ryuu is a precious friend to me.

However... the goddess then said with a more dry tone and showing a face that had lost its smile, while approaching the young woman. I formally forbid you to see Ryuu again. Unless... if you tell her... no, if you show her the truth.

Syr stood shocked for a moment, not quite sure she understood the goddess' words as she walked by.

After this, perhaps we can have tea together. she said before walking away.

In shock, Syr dropped her bag to the floor. She knew. Astraea knew everything. If she didn't know from the beginning, this meeting must have confirmed her suspicions. But how had she guessed and, above all, had she spoken about it? Who else knew? Ryuu? Thor? Loki? Or worse, Hestia, or even Bell? It would be a disaster if he found out, it would destroy everything she had built to get him back.

What had just happened was why Syr avoided certain deities, like Hestia or Thor. Because she wasn't sure she could fool them, for some reason. Even if the gods couldn't automatically know when another god was lying to them, as with mortals, there were some who were far more perceptive than others. And then she remembered that the embodiment of justice was not easily lied to.

Syr then took a deep breath to try to calm herself and regain her composure before sorting out her thoughts. On second thought, Astraea must not have mentioned it. If she interpreted her words correctly, she wanted the revelation to come from her. She probably only wanted to protect Ryuu.

But then, what should she do? The easiest thing to do would have been to give up on Ryuu. Given the importance she attached to Bell, the elf was a minor element in her plans. But strangely enough, the idea of not seeing her again made her heart ache. The attachment was deep and it was hard, even for her, to let go of it.

She concluded that making a decision now would be rash, she had to think it over calmly, weigh the pros and cons and try to find out if anyone else suspected anything. She then picked up her shopping bag and set off again.

Perhaps it was time to go back and give her dear Loki a little nudge.