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Kid Drive: you can say that but not for now.
MachiMoka and Guest: Hm… I wanted to do a fresh start so I made a new account. Though updates to the old stories will be made in my first account. In this account I am mostly going to focus on completing one story then start a new idea, would make sense to me also it would be way easier keeping tab on one story stead of a bunch.
MarcoSketcher: Thank you and this is just a start, there is way more things that will come as the story progresses. Also… about Loki and Freya familia, why not wait and let the story speak for itself.
Onto the chapter now shall we…
Disclamar:- I don't own Danmachi or its characters.
The sun rises and shines above, it is past noon and the familia readied itself for a long adventure. Before departing they did bid farewell to those they care for and finally everyone assembled at the melen port.
The request has been assigned as a guild mission and that too only to Hestia familia.
"Is everything prepared for the journey?" Lauren asked as her guardians finally shipped the final box on the ship.
"Yes my lady, everything is prepared and we are ready to leave at your command."
"Hm…"
The elfess looked at her surroundings and then finally called for Hestia familia who were still having their parting talk with their friends. They were given the attire that they have worn during Olympia, the time when they get through challenges to make Vesta revert back to Hestia.
The outfits did bring some memories but they decided to keep it and make sure the same thing doesn't happen ever again.
"Ahh…. Wish I could join this time but Ouranos says no," Hermes sarcastically said it out with his usual smirk.
"What will even do coming with us anyway," Hestia.
"Well, where ever Bell goes, I want to go there. After all I am tasked to look after that young man," Hermes.
"His grandpa is already dead so don't make up things for your own convenience," Hestia.
"Ah… Hestia, anyway… you better be careful," his tone becomes serious, "Ever since I heard that a mortal forcefully reached our level, I have been getting this sick feeling," Hermes.
"Yeah, I can't deny that. Now that a child really knows our secret it would be troublesome if they are let out," Hestia.
"And moreover, if they use power just for themself… you know what I mean," Hermes.
"Yes… I know it, you all better be careful too," Hestia.
"Well we are on high alert, I hope to see you and Bell soon," Hermes.
"Hey we will be totally fine so just focus on your thing okay," giving a heavy sigh to herself, "wish Hephaistos were here to bid farewell," Hestia.
"So… you are going for another adventure outside," Eina.
"Yeah… I have to be there for goddess," Bell said as he scratched his chin.
"Things are going wild for you," Eina said with a weak smile.
"What do you mean?" Bell.
"Just recently you have been through… a lot. It makes me worry about you. When I heard about the incident my heart almost stopped knowing you would not be able to survive but you did. And that relieved me," Eina.
"Ms. E-Eina… I know things are going wild and it is too much to take in but, we can't stand still can we?" Bell said with his usual smile to cheer his advisor.
"Yeah, I know, the thing that adventurers should not adventure really doesn't apply to you," Eina said as she rubbed a teardrop from her eyes.
"I hope you to be well, please come back safe okay."
She gave him a hug which he also returned and separated, with a bright smile on his face he reassured her.
"So, again on a new adventure just weeks after that horrible exploration mission, you really have gotten strong in terms of having guts Mikoto," Ouka jokingly said making her ex-member fluster as Haruhime and the takemikazuchi familia members laughed.
"We can't help it sir Ouka," Mikoto.
"That I know well, and it seems like you have gotten attached to Hestia familia," Ouka.
"I… I can't deny I," she smiled as she continued, "Hestia familia… has become a new home for me. My heart can't be separated from here… I am afraid I don't want to come back even after a year for changing familia."
Take just smiled and hummed.
"Well… as long as you are happy, it is okay where ever you are or where ever you want to be," Take gave his smile to her.
"And besides, we will be teaming up for expeditions so we are still together in a way aren't we?" Ouka also said with a wide grin.
"Everyone… Thank you for everything," Mikoto bowed down and finally bid farewell.
"You and I are the weakest Haruhime but we should do our best," Chigusa.
"Yes we will," Haruhime.
The girls held hands and smiled.
It is time, the Hestia familia boarded the ship, as the anchors were taken up the ship took the leave from the port, the familia waved their farewell as their loved once waved them back for the last time.
…
It's already an hour the familia left, everyone was comfortable but there was a thing that bothered the rabbit boy.
He decided to make his way and just let out the question in front of the Lady who brought them with her.
"So… Lady Lauren, if I may… I have a question to ask," Bell.
"Go on," Lauren.
"What are these Adepti's like? How do they look?" the boy asked as he visibly showed a clueless look on his face.
Lauren shots her eyes on the sky and answered: "They are just like us… the only difference is that they are able to use the power of the gods."
"Well… goddess did say the same thing but… do you know anything about them that we don't?" Bell.
"I am afraid… even I don't know them that well," Lauren said with an apologetic face.
Bell understands, no one would have ever seen one, even if they did it would be either hard for them to express them or they won't have any word to describe them.
"Well, we do know that some of them turn out to be good and some turn out to be bad," Hestia enters the discussion.
"G-Goddess," Bell.
"To be honest… we never expected a mortal to gain our power that quickly, it has been a secret between us gods which was too dangerous to be let out," Hestia.
"Lady Hestia, do you know how they were able to take the gods power?" Lily.
"…"
Hestia and Lauren said nothing which made the others even more curious about it.
"Lady Hestia?" Welf.
"Well… how to put it…" Hestia paused for few minutes; "Welf… supporter… you remember the situation with Artemis right."
The name shook Bell, Hestia continued.
"Yeah… she was eaten by the monster… and Bell had to…" Welf.
Lily frowned while Mikoto and Haruhime only had a little idea of what exactly happened also frowned as they knew that Bell had to take the goddess's life to free her.
"This is exactly the same case with the mortal," Hestia.
The familia felt shivers, "W-What?" Welf, Lily, Haruhime and Mikoto paled. Bell was left speechless.
"Well… it seems like a child found a way to prevent the god from escaping through the divine light," Hestia.
"Wait… what do you mean prevent the god from escaping through the divine light?" Welf.
"You remember Ishtar right, she was sent to tenkai by that divine light, when a god is about to die the divine light sends them back to tenkai. But… if the light doesn't reach the god then once they are killed their divine powers would be transferred to the being that killed them," Hestia.
"Wait… you are telling me that…" Welf frowned as the rest of the members got pale to even imagine the impossible.
"Yes… it seems like, that child found out the way to stop the light to save the god and they took the god's life for our power," Hestia.
Everyone was silent for few minutes, then…
"Does that mean… the one who possesses Vesta's power… have to kill goddess?" Bell asked as he was terrified to imagine losing his goddess again. The familia also got worried to hear this from him.
Her children looked at her, the goddess just smiled.
"I… don't know," Hestia.
"HOW COULD YOU SAY WITH THAT SMILE ON THAT FACE?" Bell.
"H-Hey Bell," Welf.
"YOU REALLY THINK ALL OF US WENT THROUGH THAT TROUBLE JUST TO LOSE YOU AGAIN!?" Bell.
The familia said nothing, Hestia on the other hand could feel how much it pains about the thought of losing her.
The tension increased but a big sigh finally cuts through it. Everyone looked at the lady who sighed.
"Bell Cranel… if you would listen calmly," Lauren.
"How am I supposed to be calm after listening to this, if this is what was going to happen, we would never—" Bell.
"Lady Hestia won't be a sacrifice," Lauren.
"… Huh?" Bell.
"I assure you, your goddess won't have to sacrifice," Lauren.
"That is good to hear but… how are we going to find the Adepti if you won't sacrifice me?" Hestia.
"I think you gods might not know about this, but we elves do," Lauren.
Everyone had a question mark above their heads.
"You will get everything once you reach our land, I assure you all that there will be no need for you to lose your goddess," Lauren says as she takes her to leave from the group.
They were happy to hear that they won't be seeing their goddess as a sacrifice but now they wonder how in the world are they going to find that Adeptus.
2 Weeks later
They could see an island not so far, the familia finally got excited to see the new world that was said to have real forest fairies residing there.
"We are almost there," Lauren said as her guardian's prepared to take the ship to the port.
"Wow so that is Alfheim, the land where forest fairies reside," Bell.
"Well they are basically elves but Lily is curious to know the elves living there," Lily.
"Before we go," Lauren takes their attention holding a transparent bottle filled with some liquid in her hand. She opened the lid and sprinkled some of the liquid over them.
"What is this, Miss Lauren?" Bell.
"This is holy water, we can't enter the sacred land with any impurity inside our body," Lauren.
"Oh… that makes sense," Mikoto.
The familia descends from the ship as the goods are taken out.
As they set their foot on the land they were greeted by a number of elves. Surprisingly they had a bit long ear compared to the ones they saw in Orario.
As the name of the island says, they really do look like fairies.
The arrived guests were guided to a big church for their stay, it was Lauren's place.
"It has been a long journey so it would be wise to take a rest for the day, we will show you the place tomorrow if you want to visit the village," Lauren.
"But lady Lauren what about the Adepti?" Haruhime.
"That can be looked afterward, first… it would be better to take a good rest for the evening," Lauren.
"Well yeah I am beat and exhausted after the journey," Welf.
"Not to mention we had to fight some sea monsters on our way here," Mikoto.
"Oh yeah feel free to use our bathhouse for refreshing yourself," Lauren.
"Wait… a bathhouse?" Mikoto's face glows up.
"Yes… the ladies here would guide you there" Lauren.
"Finally an evening worth taking rest," Mikoto.
"Uhm… Mikoto I think you should behave a bit," Hestia.
"Well you can't help her, she always loses it when it comes to hot springs," Haruhime sweat drops.
"Well that is our typical Mikoto," Hestia.
"It won't hurt, I think I would like to take a dip myself. Want to join me Welf?" Bell.
"Nah I will pass this one, I am just gonna go hit the bed," Welf.
"Oh then rest well," Bell.
An elfess attended them and took them to the bath.
The girls were left baffled to see how huge the bath was.
"Wow to think the church would have a huge bath such as this!" Lily said as she was still amazed to look at the bath size.
"This… this… this… This is heaven!" Mikoto literally had her eyes sparkling while Haruhime was collecting herself from the size of bath.
"Only for four of us… isn't the bath a bit bigger?" Haruhime.
"Wait… speaking of four people, where is Lady Hestia?" Lily.
….
"Ah…"
Bell finally rested himself in the bath relieving his stress.
"Ah… soo relaxing, no wonder miss Mikoto like spring bath, instead it seems even more soothing."
As he relaxed, he fell asleep.
After few minutes he heard the ripples of the water waking him up.
'Is it Welf?'
He thought aloud.
"I thought you were tired to even take a—"
Bell stopped as he saw a raven hair with a beautiful slender body and an oversized chest for her own size, his eyes spread as the person slowly turned to look for the source of the voice, soon as her face showed a blue orb like eye, Bell's blood pumped his head making his face crimson red. Seeing the boy behind her the girl also started to get blood pumped on her face.
"B-B-BELL?!"
"G-G-Goddess!?"
Both of them averted their gaze and showed their backs to each other.
"G-Goddess what are you doing here?" Bell.
"M-Me? Tell me what are you doing here!" Hestia.
"Eh… this is the men's bath, what are you doing here?" Bell.
"Huh? But that elf said that this is the ladies' bath," Hestia.
"W-What?" Bell.
It took them few minutes to calm down and take a breather, both of them showing backs to each other yet having a red face out of embarrassment.
"…" Bell.
"…" Hestia.
"I… I think I am done with the bath so I will be leaving first, you take your time goddess," Bell.
"A-Ah… okay Bell," Hestia.
The rabbit quickly jumped off the bath and ran away at full speed, Hestia on the other hand finally had her nerves calmed down but at the same time, she was disappointed.
"Why did I let him go~" she whined as she slapped the water.
Bell stopped for taking a breather after running what felt like miles away.
"Uwa… how did this even happen?" spoke to himself as he tried to complete it in one breath but failed to do so.
Not only that now as he was getting Hestia's body image flash before his eyes a number of times.
"AHHHH THIS IS WRONG," yelping aloud the rabbit made its way to his room and try to forget about the incident.
Unknown to him, an amber-colored-haired and eyed elfess was eavesdropping at him holding a round item, she hovered it toward his direction and the item took some sort of reading in it.
"So… was it a success or a failure," Lauren.
"I say it is in between my lady," elfess.
"Still no good huh, Lyra I want you to make sure they get even more closer," Lauren.
"Yes my lady," Lyra.
The night passes by and a new day arrives. The familia decided to take a look around the island and if possible, find the mortal god.
They were surprised to see that this place was no different from Olympia, but everything seems real and natural.
"The place reminds a lot about Olympia," Lily.
"that is a sure thing but unlike there… things seem normal here," Welf.
Bell was just lost in his own thoughts, Welf took a note of that and decided to ask him secretly as the girls were browsing the items in the shop.
"You okay Bell? You seem a bit lost," Welf.
"Huh… I am fine no need to worry about me," thought his expression had a troublesome look, "It is just… I had a weird dream last night."
"Weird dream? Care to share or…" Welf.
"It's nothing important so no need to worry about me," Bell gave his brother figure a smile.
"Well… if you say so," Welf.
"Sir Welf can you take a look over there, I can see a smithy," Mikoto said as she pointed towards a smithy.
"Oh I want to see how the smiths here work, I will be right back soon Bell," Welf.
"Take your time," Bell.
Welf takes his leave and makes way to the smithy with Mikoto, Lily and Haruhime. Hestia paused and looked at her child.
'Is he still troubled by that incident?' she thought.
"Lady Hestia, if you may the children from the orphanage want to see a god for a long time, If you could spare some time for them," Lauren took her attention.
"Oh… sure where are the children?" Hestia.
"This way please," Lauren.
The lady and the god left the place, Lyra who still had her eye on Bell decided to record his behavior.
Bell closed his eyes and recollected his dream…
…
It's nothing but darkness, amidst a faint light just surrounding me. Before me sat a figure… more like it floated as if it was in deep sleep.
'So you have arrived I see.'
It spoke as it felt like the voice was my own but on a deeper level, I looked at the figure as two red eyes showed up, it had its pattern similar to the goddess when she was Vesta. My body felt goosebumps as the figure seem to smile at me.
"Who are you?"
'There is no need to be knowing about me… for now, that is…'
It said as it closed its eyes again.
'It is already time for your waking, we shall meet again.'
As the figure said my eyes felt heavy and not to my knowledge it closed itself.
…
"Huh?" Bell.
As he opened his eyes, all he could see was amber eyes staring at him almost close to his face.
"AHHH!" Bell backed away from the elfess and made his distance.
"Are you good Mr. Cranel? You seem to be lost in thoughts, perhaps you might be a daydreamer," Lyra.
"Ah... no it's nothing like— ah where are others?" Bell.
"They already made their way to the orphanage," Lyra.
"They did?" Bell.
"Yes… the sister here will guide you; I have some private business to attend to at the moment," Lyra.
"Oh… okay…" Bell.
"If I may take my leave," Lyra.
"Oh yes sure," Bell smiled sheepishly.
The sister took the rabbit to the orphanage, Lyra again took the reading and was somewhat surprised with the result.
"So… lady Lauren was right, if we could just make them do it then our Adepti would take birth," She averts her gaze from the item and looks ahead, "I must inform lady Lauren about this as soon as possible."
…
"wow so this person here is a real goddess?" asked one of the children with green hair.
"She is so beautiful," said an emerald hair girl.
"Aww… all the children here are sweet," Hestia.
"Well children are innocent and cute, but I am surprised they are well behaved and well mannered," Haruhime.
"Well they are elves, they mostly make themselves disciplined," Lily.
"But got to admit, the orphanage here itself looks grand as if it's a school for these kids," Mikoto.
"This is their home and school, we make sure that these children grow as good and kind adults," one of the sisters spoke as to answer the samurai girl's comment.
From the entrance, Bell enters with one of the sisters of the orphanage.
"Ah Master Bell where were you?" Lily.
"Sorry I was just… oh wow there are a number of kids here," Bell said as he saw a number of kids innocently starring at him.
"Is this another adventurer?" child A.
"He looks like a rabbit," child B.
"Shhh… it is rude to call someone in that way," Sister A.
"Haha.. it's fine I am used to it," Bell.
The kids then ran towards the rabbit and played with him. Hestia familia spent the rest of the day with the kids.
…
"Ah… to think it would be night already," Mikoto.
"We had fun today though," Haruhime.
"aaahhhh!" Lily screamed taking their attention.
"W-What's wrong Lily?" Bell.
"We totally forgot about the Adepti!" Lily.
"Now that you have said… we really did forget about finding the person," Mikoto.
"Oh yeah I think we left Master Welf at the smithy," Haruhime.
"I think he would either have fun or probably getting hate because of his name," Mikoto.
"Oh yeah we totally forgot elves hate his bloodline," Bell sweatdropped.
"Hm… what's going on?" Welf showed up at the right time as his friends were a bit worried about him.
"Ah Welf you are back!" Bell.
"Yes I would be, why are you guys looking at me like this?" Welf.
"Oh nothing it's just…" Mikoto.
"Well your name has some bad things with elves so we thought," Bell.
"Oh… about that, surprisingly everyone here was just praising my work even though I told them my name," Welf's comment took them by surprise.
"Wait… for real?" Bell.
"Yeah… have to admit they treat likes of me like everyone, and they do seem to know that I wasn't the one to be blamed. Mostly it was because of Bell I think," the smith gave a bright smile.
"Huh? What do you mean," Bell asked as he tilted his head a bit.
"Nothing…" Welf.
Suddenly, a grumble escaped their stomach making them embarrassed a bit but later they laughed it off.
The group had the best meal for the night. After that they were given the rooms.
Unknown to the captain of the familia and their goddess, the elves played a small trick.
Welf got a room for his own and the girls got room for themselves which made Lily a bit curious about why there is no place for Hestia. Thinking that Bell will be staying with Welf, the prum didn't bother about it.
The maidens took Bell and Hestia to a single bedroom which was only fit for one person, though it had its own furnishing but the size of the bed was enough to fit one person.
"Here is your room Lady Hestia and Mr. Cranel," the maiden said as she directed her arm towards the room.
Bell and Hestia took a look at it and could not process the thought.
"But this is just for a single person," Bell sweatdropped.
"I am afraid all the other rooms are preoccupied," the maiden answered with a bow.
"Howcome a huge church ran out of guest rooms?" Bell panicked while Hestia was still speechless as she was just imagining herself sleeping with Bell on the same bed.
"Apologies but, you won't have problem do you," maiden.
"Well… I…" Bell stopped, he really didn't know what to say to her.
Hestia quickly made her mind and agreed to just pass a night like this till any other room gets vacant.
After the maiden left, both the god and the child just sat showing their back on the bed.
"…"
"…"
"This is awkward," Bell started not knowing how to start up the conversation.
"Ah... hahaha… what is awkward Bell, we used to sleep together when it was just the two of us anyway," Hestia tried to reply calmly but she couldn't help but stutter at some parts.
It felt a bit weird for her, usually she would be dragging his leg out just for fun but now that has come to practically do it, she seems to be hesitant. She knows Bell is an innocent boy who won't do anything that most men are likely to do but still, there was this uncomfortable feeling along with a thumping heartbeat that she herself couldn't explain.
"I think it would be rude for me to sleep with you, I am fine with the floo—" Bell.
"I—It's fine Bell, lets sleep on the bed but, just showing the back okay?" Hestia flustered a bit as she held his cloth with two tiny fingers.
"I—If you say so… goddess," Bell.
As the two calmed down, they slept showing their backs to each other. Face having a red tint as both of their hearts pumped the blood faster. It took them some time to sleep but finally slept.
…
Again in that same realm, I wake my eyes and again that same figure sat in midair still in deep meditation.
'We met again."
Spoke the figure as it revealed its crimson eyes. My body shook the moment it laid its eyes on me.
"Who… just who are you? Where am I? what is this place?!" Bell.
'Like I have already told you… there is no need to know about me for the moment. As for your second question, you are in the realm which exists between your consciousness and unconsciousness and this is a place in deep depths of your mind."
Answered the figure as crimson flames circled around us but surprisingly it didn't give any warmth… except it felt like a false visual.
"Why are you bringing me here?" I asked with some strength put up in my voice, for which the figure just smiled and replied back; "It isn't me who brought you here. It is you who brought yourself here."
"W-What?"
I am totally left baffled, the figure continued.
'Now that I have answered your question, I have the equal right for you to answer mine. So Bell Cranel… are thou ready for my questions."
The figure said as its smiling face slowly revealed it to me thanks to the flames lighting up our surroundings. And I was in utter shock knowing who that figure looked like.
"You are… me?"
-: Next chapter Preview :-
"Just… what is going on here? Lady Lauren, Lily demands for an explanation. Why did you made Lady Hestia sleep with Master Bell?" Lily lashes out in range.
"Oye Lil'E there might be a reason for this," Welf.
"Honestly what is going on with these elves forcing sir Bell and Lady Hestia to get together, what is it that you want from them?" Mikoto.
"Bell are you alright?" Hestia asked in a worried tone.
"I… I don't know, my heart feels like its burning from inside… Goddess… there is something severely wrong with me," Bell says as he is terrified of whatever is happening inside of him.
'It is almost time to be one Bell Cranel,' spoke the voice from his burning heart.
"Next Time: Awakening the Adepti"