Hello! So yes, Alfia and Zard will be a little out of character. Oh well. That's why this is a fan fiction and not the story right? Okay guys. I am once again asking for your assistance. You guys were great and got back to me super-fast with their stats. Thank you all so much. Really. Now, what would make for a good name for Alfia and Zard's son? He won't be involved in the story much but I don't want to just call him "Their son" the entire story. This is why I shouldn't have kids. I wouldn't know what to name them lmao. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy the chapter.
"Please! Let's take a break Auntie!" Bell whined.
"Huuuh? Say that again." Alfia responded with a glare.
"I mean, can we please take a break stepmother?" Bell corrected himself. He was still getting used to calling his aunt his stepmother.
"Better. And no." Alfia responded.
"But I'm tired!" Bell whined.
"Oh? I never thought the self-proclaimed 'hero' would ever take a break." Alfia teased.
"We've been at this for 6 hours!" Bell yelled while looking at the mountain of books Alfia brought him to study.
"And?" Alfia said.
"And I also trained with uncle Zard for 8 hours!" Bell added. To be fair, all he did was learn the basic of the basics as he was still new. But going from simple farming to sword training was a big step for Bell. Plus having Alfia crushing him with her books wasn't helping much.
"And?" She repeated.
"Ugghh." Bell groaned and felt defeated.
"Uh, dinner is ready?" Zeus said at the doorway.
"Foood!" Bell yelled excitedly.
"Dammit old man." Alfia said. "Fine. We'll stop here for today." She told Bell.
"Yaay! Thank you, Aun- er, stepmother!" Bell said as he took off.
"Hm. Least he's getting better with that." She told herself.
"Alfia, is all this really necessary? Zeus asked with a sweatdrop looking around at the mountain of books around the room.
"We agreed to teach Bell and this is how I teach." She said.
"Still." Zeus said with a laugh.
"Anyway, this would all help more if you'd just give him your status now rather than later old man." She said.
"Heh. I know. Call it a godly hunch, but I think it'd be better to give him my status when we're in Orario. I think something interesting will happen there!" Zeus said.
"That makes no sense whatsoever." Alfia said as she walked away. "You still need to tell him the truth." She added.
"I know." Zeus said sadly. "I just don't know how he'd take it." Zeus said.
"He'll probably be excited. Just tell him sooner rather than later." She said and left.
"Yeah. And then I'll tell him how to build a harem!" He laughed to himself and followed.
….
"Haaaa!" Bell yelled as he rushed his enemy.
"Weak." Zard said as he once again stopped Bell's sword with one finger.
"Again." He said as he pushed him back.
A few weeks had passed since they agreed to teach Bell and Zard wanted to see if Bell actually understood his training and so he decided to spar with him that day. Well, it was hardly a spar for Zard. He barely moved at all. Poor Bell got tired fast though.
"Is that all you can do? 'Hero'?" He mocked him.
"Grrrr. Haaa!" Bell yelled angrily as he ran back at him.
"Wrong!" Zard yelled and kicked him away.
"Ack! Ouch." Bell said.
"Letting yourself get angry is a quick way to die Bell. Anger makes you sloppy and predictable. I thought I taught you that." Zard said disappointed.
"Yes uncle." Bell said sadly.
"Don't forget it. Now, again!" He commanded.
"Yes!" Bell said and rushed forward again.
"Geez, Bell. Don't you know when to quit?" Zeus asked as he watched them go.
"Obviously not. He was raised by you. And that's not a compliment." Alfia told him.
"Hahaha!" Zeus laughed.
"Shut up." Alfia said and hit his head leaving a bump.
"Ouch." Zeus said holding his head.
"When are you planning on telling him? If you don't want to secretive when Hermes eventually visits, you'd better do it soon." Alfia told him. She was worried that the later Bell found out the more it might hurt him. While barely knowing him a few weeks she could guess that Bell would be excited to find out he was being raised by a god. But what about if he found out years later? A teenage Bell might not take it too well.
"I know. I was planning on telling him tonight." He replied.
"Oh?" Alfia said surprised.
"Mhmm." Zeus hummed.
"Alright then." Alfia said as they went back to watching Bell and Zard.
….
"Ughh what did I sign up for?" Bell whined as he crashed onto his bed. It had already been a month of training with Alfia and Zard and he thought he was as good as dead now.
"Hey, Bell! You're not giving up are you?! Heroes never give up!" Zeus said walking into his room.
"No way! Just wondering if I'll even survive long enough to become one." Bell told him while remembering today's harsher training. He forgot to do his chores yesterday and they both punished him for that. They took away his afternoon hero story. How could they?!
"Haha!" He laughed.
"Grandpa! Can you read me a hero story?" Bell asked with stars in his eyes. He'd get his story one way or another.
"Not today, Bell. I came here to actually talk to you about something." Zeus told him and got serious.
"Huh? What is it grandpa?" Bell asked.
"That's it, actually. But first, Bell, what I'm about to tell you won't change the fact that I love you. You know that right?" He asked.
"Of course!" Bell replied..
"Hehe." Zeus chuckled and ruffled his hair a bit making Bell laugh.
"Alright. Here's the thing, Bell. I am not really your grandfather." Zeus said and sat down with him.
"You're, not?" Bell asked sadly.
"No, Bell. But I did know your parents Bell." He told him.
"Really?" Bell asked excitedly.
"Of course I did! Your father was even part of my familia!" He told him.
"Familia?" Bell asked confused.
"Right, you don't know what that is yet. A familia is group of people with a god's blessing. I've told you what gods are, remember?" Zeus asked him.
"Yeah. You said that they are divine beings from heaven and some come down to earth for fun." Bell said recalling what Zeus told him.
"Mhmm! A blessing, or a falna, is the only thing gods can give to their 'children' from their powers. Each one's the same, the only difference is from person to person depending on their experience." Zeus told him.
"Wait, does that mean?!" Bell asked.
"That's right Bell! I am a god!" Zeus said and lifted his divine aura letting Bell know he wasn't lying.
"Woooow!" Bell said in awe.
"And I'm not some ordinary god, Bell, I am the god Zeus! From the Zeus familia! The strongest familia to ever live!" He bragged.
"That's so cool!" Bell yelled in excitement.
"I know right?!" Zeus yelled and started laughing.
"My grandpa is a god." Bell said quietly still trying to process that thought. "My grandpa is a god." He repeated a little louder. "You're a god grandpa!" He yelled and hugged him. This was possibly one of the best days of his life.
"Yes Bell!" Zeus said and laughed.
"Quiet down or else!" Alfia threatened as she spawned in the doorway.
""Yes ma'am"" Both answered simultaneously. Alfia glared at them for good measure and walked away.
"Let's not anger your aunt, Bell. Take this as godly wisdom." Zeus told him releasing the breath he was holding.
"Even I know that, grandpa. Er, Zeus." Bell said confused as to what to call him.
"No no no, it's still grandpa. I did raise you after all." Zeus told him with a smile.
"Good. I'm still having a hard time with auntie." Bell said tired from all of Alfia's 'corrections'. Zeus just laughed at his misery.
"So grandpa, what happened to your familia? How come you're out here with me? Shouldn't you be with them?" Bell asked.
"They're gone, Bell." Zeus told him bluntly.
"Huh? But, I thought you said you were the strongest?" He asked confused.
"That was true, Bell. We were the strongest familia. Along with the Hera familia. Sadly, we found something way stronger than the both of us combined." Zeus said sadly.
"Huh?" Bell asked in fear. That just made no sense to him. He always knew his grandpa was strong, so that must mean his familia was also strong like him. But what could possibly be even way stronger than that?
"That's a story for another day, Bell. I'll tell you when you're older, I promise. And don't worry. We may have lost but we went down fighting. That monster won't be back anytime soon." He reassured him. "Now. It's your bedtime isn't it Bell?" Zeus asked.
"Nooo?" Bell said wanting more answers.
"Lying to a god, Bell? You must really think highly of yourself!" Bell teased.
"Ah! I'm sorry grandpa!" Bell said and bowed on the floor.
"Hahaha! I'm just messing with you Bell! Plus you're just a terrible liar." Zeus said bluntly.
"Ack!" Bell said feeling attacked from that.
"Get some rest tonight, Bell. I'll answer more of your questions later." Zeus told him.
"Yes grandpa." Bell said and got under the covers.
"Good boy. Goodnight Bell." He said and made his way toward the door.
"Goodnight grandpa." Bell replied.
"Grandpa?" Bell asked.
"Yes?" Zeus answered and turned around.
"I love you grandpa." Bell told him sincerely. That made Zeus smile from ear to ear.
"I love you too Bell." Zeus told him and wished him a goodnight.
"Heh. That feels nice." Zeus said to himself still smiling.
"Told you he wouldn't be mad." Alfia told him.
"Hmm." Zard hummed in agreement.
"Heh. Guess I should have more faith in him." Zeus told them.
"Of course." Alfia said and turned back to Zard. "So how do you think Bell is improving?"
"He's getting better. Slowly, but surely." He responded. "And how's his education?" He asked her.
"I've already taught him all that happened from before the gods till now." She boasted with a rare smile. While she was proud of Bell's progress in history, she was also proud to find that she can teach.
"I almost feel sorry for him." Zard said with a small laugh.
"Now what does that mean?" She asked and looked at him.
"Nevermind. So, when's Hermes coming? As much as I'd rather not admit, we still need that cure." Zard said shifting the conversation in fear for his life. He was pretty sure Alfia wouldn't kill him, but he wasn't going to risk it.
"He said the soonest he could come would be next month. He still needs to gather more information." Zeus told them
"As long as we get it before we croak that's fine." Alfia said.
"Agreed." Zard added.
"Well, onto more important matters. How should we tell Bell about the dragon?" Zeus asked them.
"I'd, rather not." Zard told him.
"He's just a boy! Tell him when he's older for all I care. Not like we were apart of it anyways." Alfia said disappointed at herself. "Telling him now won't do anything but scare him." She reasoned.
"Fine, fine. I won't tell him yet." Zeus said defeated.
"Good." Alfia said and laid back in her seat. Zard followed and closed his eyes
"So, when's the wedding?" Zeus teased them as he saw them mirror each other.
"Gospel" Alfia chanted and sent Zeus flying. Zard smiled at her antics and ran out to catch him. He couldn't let his falna disappear.
….
"So, you're sure this will work?" Alfia asked.
"Yes! I'm pretty sure this will work. Maybe." Hermes said.
It had been half a year since the two moved in with Bell and at Zeus's request Hermes was quick to find that cure to the two's illnesses.
"If it doesn't, I'll kill you." Alfia said. For Alfia, supplies from the best healers around the world and a sacred tree branch were used for her illness. All of it resulted in a normal pill-sized medication. That's why she could hardly believe it. How could such a small thing save her from the illness she's had all her life?
"We've tried everything else. Might as well." Zard told her and took his own medication. It was similar to Alfia's, the difference being that a healer from Athena also had a hand in making it as well as a certain up and coming healer from Dian Chet familia in Orario.
"Well, I don't feel anything." Alfia told Hermes.
"Give it time Alfia-chan." Hermes told her.
"Time is one thing we don't have if it fails." She told him.
"It'll work! Probably." He repeated.
"Well, it doesn't hurt as much to breathe anymore." Zard said feeling the medicine kick in.
"Hmm." Alfia said as she too felt it easier than normal.
"See? It won't work too much now, but keep taking it and eventually you'll feel good as new. Maybe." Hermes said.
"'Maybe'?" Alfia questioned.
"Give me a break! It's not like there's ever been a bad a sickness as you two have had." Hermes whined.
"True."
"Alright, look. This is purely experimental. It's not like we've had a chance to test its effects before now. And even if it was perfect, it's only a temporary fix. I'll still look for a permanent cure but for now you should be able to use your full strength without hurting yourselves now at the very least." Hermes.
"Gospel." Alfia chanted and aimed the spell upwards. The result was an ear-shattering sound wave attack that took down more than a couple of nearby trees and a house or two.
"Gods dammit! At least wait for us to leave first!" Hermes shouted at her surprised that he could still hear.
"Still hurts." Alfia told him.
"GIVE THE MEDICINE TIME DAMMIT! Firing a full blast attack just after taking it won't help at all!" Hermes yelled.
"That wasn't even her full strength." Zard stated calmly.
"Hmm" Alfia hummed with a smile.
Hermes's captain was just staring at the two bug eyed. 'That's now her full strength?! That would kill any floor boss!' Asfi thought to herself.
"You two are crazy. Anyways, tell the old man I said hi. Come on Asfi." Hermes said.
"You're not staying?" Zard asked.
"Oh sure, I'd love to! Would you like me to stay before or after I find your 'incurable illness's cure'?" Hermes asked.
"Hm." Zard hummed.
"Plus, we have a city to rebuild first. You're extremely lucky we were able to keep this safe." Hermes said reminding them of evilus's assault on Orario.
"How did things turn out there?" Alfia asked.
"There were lots of casualties. Mainly civilians. But a lot of adventurers lost their lives too. Oh, remember that justice goddess I told you about? Astrea? Her captain leveled up." Hermes said.
"Nope." Alfia replied.
"Of course you don't. Well, a couple adventurers across Orario leveled up from this. That's the only good thing that came from this." Hermes said.
"Hmm." Zard hummed.
"See ya!" Hermes said and walked away with his captain not too far behind.
"Should we feel bad that we were almost apart of that?" Alfia asked Zard.
"What's done is done. It's not like we were the ones that took their lives." Zard told her.
"Still." Alfia said.
"Come on. They're probably wondering what's taking so long." Zard told her and walked away.
"Coming." Alfia replied.
"Oh, and you're telling Bell that he missed 'Uncle Hermes'." Zard told her.
"Now that's cruel." Alfia said with a smile. Zard just chuckled at her response.
….
Years had gone by and now Bell, age 14, was ready to tackle Orario along with his family.
"Grandpa, how far is Orario?" Bell asked.
"It's only a few day's travel. Especially with how much stuff you mother is bringing." Zeus said looking at all the baby stuff.
"You raised Bell. You know how hard it is to raise a kid." Alfia said as she held her sleeping son in her arms.
"Ouch, mom." Bell said.
"It's true." Alfia said as she sat down next to her husband, Zard. It had only been about a year after they arrived before they started seeing each other. A few years later they eventually got married and had a kid of their own later.
"She's right." Zard added.
"Ughh." Bell groaned with a smile. While they would still tease him now and then, he still loved his family with everything he had and more.
"Alright now settle down. It's time we head off! To the dungeon city of Orario!" Zeus yelled.
"Are you planning on waking him up while you're at it!" Alfia said and pointed to her son.
A quiet 'sorry' was heard and then their cart took off.
Bell took a moment to reflect on all that happened and said goodbye to his home he'd come to love.
'Goodbye, home sweet home.' He thought to himself. 'And hello Orario.' He added and looked at the direction of the dungeon city.
Annd fin. Okay how did you guys like the chapter? As you can tell, I decided to go with the Zeus familia. I don't know where you guys are looking but all I can find when looking up Alfia stories are ones where she and Bell join the Hestia familia. And literally only 1 other story with artemis. (Anyone know what happened to that story? It was a really good one.) I'm saving the Hestia familia for my 3rd story that I'll do. You can try to guess what it will be, which I know none of you will get right, and if you do you get to name it I guess lol. It'll still be an Aiz story since that's literally all I can write lmao. But I think it could be a good one.
Alright enough rambling, I would like to again ask for your opinion. What should I do with the Astrea familia? Should they still be killed off? I've only been able to watch part 1 (Fucking loved it btw) so I don't know the full story. If someone could summarize it that'd be helpful.
And also, I saw someone say that only the main force of Zeus and Hera were killed so the rest should still be alive, but didn't Ottar say that after Alfia and Zard died that the last members of their familias were now gone? Implying that they were the only two left? (Saw this on the subreddit.)
That's all for now. It's 3 am and it's time for bed. Goodbye!
