The arranged duel of the Kaiser Familia's representative Shakti Varma vs Loki Familia's representative Aiz Wallenstein had ended as the battle resulted in the Kaisers' victory and the jester's utter humiliating defeat. All residing Orario are now with the Kaiser Familia as they had used the duel as a propaganda to propose their Familia's ideal that has influenced the citizens.
Right now, it is almost midnight and Orario is at peace, but not for the two formerly strongest Familias who have been disgraced and utterly humiliated earlier on.
In the Underworld Castle that floats high in the sky, there is Zagreus walking in the many hallways of his Familia's Home. the Bloody Kaiser still has his helmet on that soon retracts as the half elf went and stands by a door that was slowly opened for Melinoe to come out.
"how is he?" Zagreus asked the red haired elf who shakes her head while sighing.
"as much as it was for his own safety and wellbeing, I think we over did it a bit." Said Melinoe as she took a quick glance into the room that has Bell who is just crying and sobbing on the large bed. "he's very heartbroken after learning how that brat actually feels about him."
"this is for his own sake." Zagreus stated as he pushes the door more wider and went pass Melinoe. "if he is allowed to continue to have feelings for her too long and learns of how she had truly felt about him.." he then glances at the red haired Kaiser with his glowing red left eye. "…you know what would happen, right?"
Melinoe looks at Zagreus before she closes her eyes and sighs then walks away.
Zagreus watches her leave as he soon closes the door behind him and enters the room while going straight for Bell who is crying to himself while sitting on the bed's edge and leaning against the bed frame.
"why….A-Aiz-san…how c-could you?" Bell cried as his tears drips down his eyes and soaks his hands that tried to stop them but to no avail. "why?"
"How long will you cry?" Zagreus asked as he stands near his son and looks down at him. "How long will you whine about a broken heart of an unrequited love?"
Bell stops his crying for a moment and turns to look at his father who just looks down at him before he turns and goes near the window.
"I had told you that the Sword Princess was not someone for you to be in love with, you did not heed my advice and now face such pain." Zagreus said as he looks at the moon for a moment before he turns and glances at Bell. "What a foolish child you are."
Bell hears his words and grimace a bit with a sad frown before he wipes his tears that still pours down his eyes.
Zagreus looks at his son and turns around to face him from his spot.
"do you not feel anger on yourself for being such a child? Do you not feel so foolish to believe in such a childish crush to occur like a story of the past?" Zagreus asked while his eyes began to glow. "do you not feel utterly disgraceful upon yourself?"
"i-I don't…!" Bell cried a bit as he sniffles and wipes the tears from his eyes before facing his father. "I never wanted this to happen! why did you do such horrible things to Orario!? Why!?" he gets off the bed and faces Zagreus head on. "how could you just scare everyone!? How could you hurt people I care for?! Ouka-san, Asfi-san, Ryuu-san, Mia-san, Aisha-san! you hurt so many people! They were good people and you just! You just hurt them! Why, dad!?"
Zagreus looks down at his son and scoffs a bit to his cries.
"How long have you been such a blind fool, Bell?" Zagreus asked with a dark look. "how long?"
"What?" Bell spoke in confusion.
"let me ask you this…are your friends really your friends?" Zagreus spoke out as he looks straight at Bell's puffy red eyes. "have they been true to you?" he turns and looks at the moon outside in the night sky. "they may have been good and close friend of yours, but to me and the other Kaisers…." His eyes glance to the side as it is seen in the window's reflection. "they were sinful people."
"sinful?" Bell muttered out before he sees a scroll appearing in front and soon unravel itself. "wha?"
"read them carefully." Zagreus said as he turns around towards Bell who gently takes hold of the scroll. "what is written in the scroll is the sins that your so called friends had done in the past."
"t-this is…" Bell muttered out as he sees names of friends with marks of thievery, murder, and attempted assassination.
"if you still cannot believe what is written in the scroll, let me tell you this clearly." Zagreus said as he raise his right hand and snaps his fingers to create a mirror that floats in front of Bell. "first would be Mia Grande from the Hostess Fertility." The reflective object soon shows the dwarf woman. "her sin is that she is a former and still active member of the Freyja Familia who was involved in the murder of my twin older brother and your uncle, Helios Kaiser." The mirror shows Mia in her youth with several other adventurers under the goddess Freyja. "not only was she involved in Helios' murder, she had tried to assassinate Melinoe many times in the past. Can you call that person a friend, Bell?"
"n-no..but she's.." Bell muttered out as he wanted to retort but the words are stuck in his throat.
"next is Asfi Al Andromeda, the Perseus of the Hermes Familia." Zagreus interjected as he continues with the mirror showing Asfi's image. "her sin is that she is a follower of Hermes who has been doing nothing but trouble upon Orario for years. She has done everything under his name and did it all without question." The mirror now shows Asfi who is hiding in a crowd and is looking at Bell during the time of the Xenos attack in the past. "do you remember that she had plan to cause your monster friends to go on berserk with a magic item of her own creation? Do you wish to call such a person your friend after she tried her best to please her god who wishes nothing but chaos for his own entertainment?"
"b-but that time…Wiene and the others are!" Bell cried out but Zagreus cuts him off again.
"Ryuu Lion, the Gale and former and last member of the Astraea Familia." the mirror now shows the blonde elf in its reflection as Bell sees her in action against monsters. "we did not wish to capture her at first, but we had no choice for Polemos desired that she would be captured." The mirror soon shows Ryuu with a walnut brown haired goddess and a few other female adventurers who are the deceased members of the Astraea Familia. "her Familia's goddess, the goddess of justice; Astraea was a close friend to us Kaisers alike with Hephaestus and Demeter. She was and still now the goddess who had once given her blessings to your Aunt Sotares. Yet her child, Ryuu Lion had acted a very dangerous sin and that was being involved in the murder of someone close to the Kaisers…" Zagreus then points a finger at Bell. "and close to your mother."
"close to…Mom?" Bell spoke out in confusion as the mirror soon shows Ryuu and her comrades in the dungeon and in battle against Alfia who gives the young man a surprised face. "M-Mom?"
"the woman you see in the mirror is not Meteria." Zagreus stated as the mirror now shows the image of Meteria with Alfia, both having smiles together. "her name is Alfia, she was Meteria's older twin sister."
"M-Mom had a twin?" Bell said in shock as he never knew about it. "but..she's.."
"Alfia was a former member of the Hera Familia and a close friend to the Kaiser Familia" Zagreus spoke out before hardening his gaze a bit when the mirror shows Alfia being together with Polemos at a garden, the Arc Kaiser smiling a bit awkwardly to the Silence who has her eyes closed and a small yet amused looking smile on her lips. "she was also Polemos' lover."
Bell just became more shocked as he never knew that he had an aunt who is close to his mother and uncle Polemos.
Zagreus soon explained a detailed yet short explanation of the Evilus' incident years ago to Bell as he tell about the important parts of the dark age.
It took almost 5 minutes for Zagreus to explain everything clearly to Bell who just showed shocked, confused, and bewildered faces at some parts of the explanation.
"afterwards…Alfia died and left the world with Zald." Zagreus said as he had his eyes closed. "do you not realize that if their Familias hadn't been banished, your mother would still be with you and you have Alfia as your aunt who could care for both of you? Do you not realize just how much pain that was inflicted into Polemos' heart after learning that his own lover had been killed before getting healed of her disease with the cure he had searched for years?" he then looks at Bell who has some tears dripping down his eyes. "do you not realize how we Kaisers mourn our lost friends, and loved ones?"
Bell just cried in tears as he no longer has the feeling to yell at his father for hurting many of his now former friends.
"I never wished to interfere with your love life, Bell. I wanted you to live the life you want but you were mixing yourself with dangerous people" Zagreus spoke out as he hardens his gaze at his son. "let me ask you, were you prepared to learn of their secrets that could've made your life even worse than what it was?" he soon raises his hand and placed it on top of Bell's head. "I vowed to Meteria with my life, I vowed to her that I would keep you safe from danger and harm of any kind. I vowed to protect you no matter what and yet you try to live a life of danger." He caresses his son's head and then place his hand to the young man's right shoulder while having sadness in his eyes. "do you really wish to live a life with murderers and sinners? Do you wish to forsake your mother's sacrifice for you? Do you wish to live a life of fake love and friendship?"
"i-i..i just…" Bell muttered out in a mumble as he cries some tears that he tries to wipe away but fail terribly. "I'm sorry…I was…I just.."
Bell sniffles a bit as he wipes some tears on his eyes before he gets pulled into a hug by Zagreus who place a hand to his son's back and stroke it while another hand is on his head.
"cry as much as you wish, Bell. let it all out." Zagreus spoke out in a gentle voice. "do not let Aiz Wallenstein's unrequited feelings hurt you. There is always the one who is truly meant for you. She is somewhere in the world and I along with your aunts and uncles will help you find her. so for now…just cry as much you wish." He strokes his son's back gently and held him closer. "Release the sadness so that you may feel better."
Bell looks a bit wide eyes as he soon tears up and begins to cry loudly to his father, the young man crying out in anguishing tears for his heart was broken by the golden haired princess who never had true feelings for him in return.
Zagreus held his son firmly as Bell just cries onto him.
"i! I like her! I loved her! she was my hero! Aiz-san was heroic! Strong! Beautiful! I wanted to be like her! I wanted to be as strong as her! I wanted to be worthy to stand beside her! and yet! And yet!" Bell cries out all his pent up emotions about the Sword Princess to his father. "how could she do that to me!? why does everyone think that I cheated as an adventurer!? Why?! why?!"
Bell continues crying as he cries out everything about his life that started with how his foster parent; Zeus had pretended to die that hurt him badly, to how he finally learns on what Aiz had think of him in the first place.
"I hate this! I hate this so much!" Bell cries out. "I hate it! I don't want to remember this! I don't want to remember Aiz-san anymore! She's cruel! She is too cruel! I hate her! I hate her!"
Zagreus listens to his son's cries as his eyes glows and sees that Bell is surrounded by a dark aura that is growing.
"you can hate her as much as you wish, Bell. but do not let it become darkness that will taint you." Zagreus said as he holds Bell closer. "you are still young and inexperienced, you must forget about this and move on. Do not linger in it. if you do, you will regret it later."
"i..i can't…what Aiz-san said that time…it's just too clear in my head and…" Bell cries out as Zagreus slowly leans away and looks at his son's tearful face. "I don't want to remember her anymore…I just….i just want to be with you, Aunt Melinoe, Uncle Polemos, Uncle Ploutos, Aunt Makaria, Aunt Thalia, and my goddess and everyone…I don't want to remember Aiz-san anymore…" he cries more tears as he sniffles and sobs sadly. "I don't want to feel this pain anymore."
"if that is what you wish for." Zagreus said in a soft voice as he sees the dark aura around Bell subsiding as it glows weaker. "allow me to help you with that."
Bell looks at his father a bit confused at first, but he soon sees him raising a hand and holding it in front of his face.
"I will lock away the memories of Aiz Wallenstein in your mind, I cannot completely erase them from your memories, but doing this will ensure you to forget the pain that she inflicted upon you." Zagreus said as his hand slowly glows in a whiteish dark aura. "just take a deep breath and close your eyes, Bell. this will be over soon enough."
Bell looks at his father's hand as its glow started to illuminate stronger and flash brightly to the point that what the young man sees is nothing but pure white.
A minute later, Bell is placed upon the bed as the young man is fast asleep.
Zagreus stands near as he drapes the blanket over Bell and looks upon him from where he stands. The half elf watches his son all asleep before he turns and sees Meteria's spirit appears floating beside him.
Meteria looks at her son before to Zagreus as she spoke out to him in a rather sad voice.
"do not stop me, Meteria." Zagreus told her as he looks at the spirit and then to his son. "This is the only way to ensure Bell is safe from that flaw of the world. I could care less of your wishes that regards her welfare."
Meteria looks at Zagreus and shakes her head before coming close and grasping his right hand. The white spirit speaks out to the Kaiser, but she sounded very sad and depressed like she was guilty of something.
"is that so?" Zagreus spoke out a bit softly as he glances at Meteria and then down to his son while frowning a bit. "I'm sorry, but this is really for the best. If I was more attentive and knew about your condition at the time; Riveria wouldn't be…"
Meteria let out more sad voices as she held Zagreus' hand and leans close.
Zagreus sifts softly as he turns and gently touches Meteria's expressionless mask like face, he caresses her cheek while softening his gaze.
"I can't…I promised myself that I would end this incident by my own way." Zagreus whispers as he frowns a bit more. "You were and still are my one true love. You're Bell's Mother and I promised you that you will be able to watch him grow up and look after him. Please…just forget about her." he grasped her hand and held it up. "What I had with Riveria was nothing more than…"
Meteria pulls away her hand from Zagreus and floats back, the White spirit shakes her head and tears started to well up by her eyes and are dripping down before becoming sparkles when they fell to the floor.
Zagreus looks and hears her voice as Meteria shakes her head while her tears continue to drip down her mask like complexion. The Kaiser listens and soon frowns sadly while looking away.
"I cannot return to the past." Zagreus whispers as he slowly glances towards Meteria and made his way to the spirit who floats back but the Kaiser takes hold of her hand to stop her. "Meteria, please. Because of what they did in the past, you had to suffer so much before I had arrived. How can you be so forgiving to the people who had tarnished what your Familia had done for Orario?" he grasped her hand and gently pulls the spirit to him, he now holds and hugs her close. "please…I'm not only doing this for Bell, I'm doing this for you too. You lost your life too early because of their greed and I cannot allow that. So please…"
Meteria let out her sad voices as she turns a bit to look at Zagreus before her tears grew strong and continues dripping down her eyes while she hugs the man in return.
Zagreus listens to her sad cries as he frowns very sadly before he separates and looks at Meteria closely.
"..please…" Meteria spoke out in a very soft and gentle voice that is clear and understandable.
Zagreus looks at Meteria as he just stays silent for a minute before he closed his eyes and sigh.
"just….just this once" Zagreus spoke out as he slowly opens his eyes while raising a hand to gently wipe away the white spirit's tears. "I will only do it just once…" he cups her cheeks and caresses it several times. "is that alright?"
Meteria nods in reply before she takes hold of the half elf's hand with both of her hands in a gentle grasp that is warm and soft. She caresses it before he leans close to Zagreus who holds her waist and back.
"remember that this isn't your fault." Zagreus whispers. "you were protecting our child from the dangers of the world and for that, you are not sinned. You were just foolish, naïve, and….." he smiles a bit as he held the spirit in a gentle embrace. "stupidly brave."
Meteria speaks out to Zagreus before nodding in the embrace that gets closer when the half elf pulls her to his chest.
"for you and our son, I could care less of my own welfare." Zagreus said in a whisper as he separates in the embrace before he pecks the spirit's forehead and gently cups her chin. "as a man and as a father, it is in my duties to protect both of you from harm's way. That is why you should never feel guilt, Meteria."
The White spirit looks at Zagreus before she nods and gets caressed on the cheek by the half elf.
Zagreus caresses the spirit's cheek before he slowly let go as she fades and disappears.
After Meteria disappeared, Zagreus turns and looks at his son who remains fast asleep on the bed before he turns and walks towards the door and exits the room.
The Bloody Kaiser is now walking in the hallway of his Home as his eyes slowly glows and his vision gave him sight upon Riveria who is asleep in her tent while seemingly to have cried herself to exhaustion.
"just this once…." Zagreus whispers before his helmet reforms upon his head. "for Meteria's sake."
About a few days later. Things in Orario has gone for a 180 degree turn because the citizens that were afraid of the Kaisers have begun to worship and respect them.
At the Western Border gate of the city, there are dozens of people coming into Orario. Some are travelers while some are merchants who brought their products with the help of horse carriages.
"welcome to Orario!" Ganesha is working at the reception as he admits and welcomes the people in Orario, but his work is supervised and thoroughly guarded by his Familia members mixed with Hell Knights. "the city will welcome you all with open arms! also I am Ganesha!"
"work more efficiently, dumbass." Said Polemos who glares at Ganesha from behind, the masked god squeaks in fear because the Arc Kaiser is holding up an electrocuted right fist. "if you wish to uphold our Familias correlation, best you behave when a Kaiser is around. Got it?"
"y-yes!" Ganesha squeaks as he continues his job while afraid of what Polemos would do if he goes with his usual character.
Prior to Polemos' words, after the duel between Aiz and Shakti was over. It was announced and acted that the Kaiser Familia are going to become ally Familias to the Ganesha Familia along with the Hephaestus Familia and the Demeter Familia.
At the Ganesha Familia's Colosseum, the architectural building is now guarded by the Familia's members and the Hell Knights, the building is now improved in its built and security while decorated with orange and black flags and banners which has the Ganesha Familia's symbol and the Kaiser Familia's Symbol joined together.
The same is done for the Homes of the Hephaestus Familia and the Demeter Familia which are guarded by Hell Knights and decorated with flags of their Familia's symbol mixed with the Kaiser Familia's symbol.
All of which was done by the Kaiser Familia after setting up the duel that was rigged to be in their victory.
Currently, members of the Kaisers have been spread out as they all did their work to establish more friendly relationship with the citizens while making them hate the Freyja and Loki Familia.
Polemos stays at the western border gate and watches over the work done by Ganesha, Ploutos and Makaria have a meeting with Tsubaki; the Iron God Kaiser and Mage Kaiser planning something to be done with the help of the Hephaestus Familia's Cyclops, Thalia is at the Dian Cecht Familia as she is directly meeting with Dian Cecht and his captain; Airmid Teasanare, Melinoe is with Shakti as the two are currently having a sparring match in the Ganesha Familia's colosseum and are being watched by many of the Familia's members where amongst them is also Zagreus who sat upon a throne all alone.
Our attention is to the sparring match between Melinoe and Shakti as the two women are sending punches and kicks at each other in a rapid fashion.
Shakti is currently backflipping away from Melinoe who is coming at her with a spinning pinwheel kick, her attacks causing holes upon the field as she chases after the Ankusha, now named the Brave Kaiser.
Pushed to a corner, Shakti stops and lands on her hands that bends a bit before she pushes herself off the ground and into the air, dodging Melinoe's incoming kick strike.
Shakti looks at Melinoe as she comes down with a right fist pulled back behind her.
Melinoe turns and looks up before she spins and sends her right leg to kick Shakti's right fist that came down for a punch.
Both women struggled in power as it is seen on Shakti's expression, but the Blade Kaiser seems calm and a bit amused in a way.
Their power struggle continues for a few seconds before Melinoe overpowers Shakti and kicks her away.
Shakti flies in the air as she twirls and then lands on the ground while crouched down to one knee. She raises her head and hardens her gaze at Melinoe who has her right leg held upwards before slowly pulled down.
Melinoe smirks a bit at Shakti as she stands in her place before walking towards the Ankusha while having her hands pocketed in her jeans.
Shakti grips her fists hard before she stands up straight and grabs a part of her attire that she throws into the air to strip off, the Brave Kaiser wearing the same black outfit that she wore during the climax of her duel against Aiz.
"Equip!" Shakti exclaimed after raising her right arm, the bracelet on her wrist has its wings extended and its gem flickering its light before flashing brightly.
Melinoe stops in her place as she looks at Shakti who dons her armor and wields her double tipped spear that materializes into her outstretched right hand's grasp.
'just a few weeks of training and she got the hang of it.' Melinoe thought with a smile as Shakti spins her spear and got into a stance before she dashes straight at the Blade Kaiser. 'Zagreus taught her well.' She soon pulls back her right leg and then sends an upswing kick that deflects the Brave Kaiser's thrusted spear attack that let out a loud metal clanging sound. 'but not well enough!'
Both female Kaisers got into action as Shakti rapidly swings, spins, and thrusts her spear at Melinoe who blocks and counters with only her legs that swings and kicks against the Brave Kaiser's weapon.
The spectator's watches in shock as they couldn't believe that they are watching a sparring match that looks like an all out duel to the death.
"you see that! Melinoe Kaiser blocks Captain Shakti's attacks with just kicks!" "she's not even wearing armor and yet she can deflect a weapon's attack with such ease!" "being a Kaiser sure does make a difference in everything!" "this is insane!" the Ganesha Familia members chatter as they couldn't take their eyes away from watching the duel between the two women who closes in and just clashed their mettle against one another.
Melinoe and Shakti continues their little duel as they didn't stop no matter what.
Zagreus remains upon his throne like seat as he watches the battle through the visor of his helmet, the Kaiser having his identity remained hidden to others.
"you are certainly going with it all to ensure Orario is safe, aren't you?" a voice spoke out as Zagreus didn't need to turn for he knew who had come near him. "planning a rigged duel against Loki's child that would ensure that your son would no longer have feelings for the Sword Princess who revealed her true feelings about him while also making it a propaganda to bring back the glory of the Kaiser Familia. your keen and cunning plan goes beyond the ideals of the gods, Zagreus."
"all is for the safety of Orario and my son." Zagreus spoke out as he leans against his seat and hears small footsteps from his guests who came near him. "and also, I only did the propaganda of the plan to ensure those two Familias get what they deserve for their actions upon Orario in the past." His eyes glows and turns to glance at his conversing companion. "you should understand how we work after so many years, Hephaestus."
The goddess of smith appears as she looks at Zagreus with a glance of her eye before she turns and close it then let out a small sigh while crossing her arms under her chest.
"if I think about it more clearly, Helios would've done the same action as you did." Hephaestus spoke out in a small whisper as she opens her eye that has a sad glint showing with a frown on her face. "but he would not have done it in a way that would cause utter humiliation to Loki Familia."
"Helios was the Light of the Kaiser Familia." Zagreus stated as he slowly gets off his seat and stands near Hephaestus who watches the fight between Melinoe and Shakti that ended when the Blade Kaiser kicks away the Brave Kaiser's spear that she grabs and then held its bladed edge near the blue haired woman's neck. "while I am the Darkness of the Kaiser Familia. Remember that once again, Hephaestus."
Hephaestus made no reply as Zagreus turns his head to her before to the field where he sees Melinoe and Shakti easing themselves from one another. The Blade Kaiser chats with the Brave Kaiser whose armor disperses into sparkles that gets gathered and sucked into her bracelet that has its wings folding back in.
"Melinoe" Zagreus calls out with his voice somehow echoed.
The Blade Kaiser along with Shakti turns towards where the Bloody Kaiser is. Zagreus looks at the two as he raises his right hand and extended his palm so that he holds a metal suitcase that materializes in his grasp.
Zagreus held the suitcase up before he throws it into the air and let it fall towards Melinoe who catches it.
"as we had discussed before, guide Shakti in our roles of protecting Orario." Zagreus spoke out as he lowers his hand. "And I leave today's assignments on you."
"I got it" Melinoe nods in reply before she looks at Shakti and nudges her head to the side. The Blade Kaiser walking towards the field's exit tunnel with the Brave Kaiser following behind.
Zagreus watches the two leave the arena before he looks at Hephaestus who still remains quiet.
"Complain about my actions as much as you want, Hephaestus." Zagreus said to the goddess as he turns before outstretching a hand to the red haired woman, the armored half elf holding out another gold coin with the skeletal marking upon his palm. "i cannot stop after losing my brother to that bitch those years ago. You know that."
Hephaestus bit her lips for a moment as she looks away while closing her eye while her right-hand takes the coin from Zagreus's grasp.
"I still believed that there could've been a better way to ensure order upon Orario." Hephaestus spoke out as she fully turns away from Zagreus, facing her back to him. "there had to be."
"There would be a way, but I do not know how to think of it." Zagreus said as he turns and began walking away. "Only Helios could do so."
Zagreus left Hephaestus alone as the goddess frowns sadly while shedding a single tear.
"Helios…" she whispers softly in a sad voice as the goddess reaches a hand to her chest and grasps the rings on her necklace.
Upon the Underworld Castle, Bell is found in the Elysium Garden all alone.
After the duel and him learning of what Aiz really thought about him and everything that is related, he has been staying with his father and family members to recoup a bit from everything.
Right now, Bell is having a happy smile as he currently waters the flowers surrounding his mother's grave. The water rains from the watering can's tip and upon the flower patch, giving the plants the liquid that they need to stay rejuvenated.
Bell let out a satisfied sigh as he sees the flowers just blooming all beautifully, as if thanking the young man for his actions.
"grow healthy and strong, you all." Bell whispers as he waters every single flower around his mother's grave.
After he was done, Bell went and sat by a bench while placing the now-emptied watering can by his side.
Bell looks at his mother's grave as it beautifully stands with the flowers surrounding it. he smiles and then reaches for his locket from inside his shirt, he pressed the switch once and opens the lid to see the photo of his mother carrying his infant self.
"I really wished that I could've always been with you, mom…" Bell whispers softly as he traces a finger to the photo of his mother all happily smiling to his baby self.
As Bell immerse himself with looking at his mother's photo, Zagreus made an appearance as the Bloody Kaiser slowly approached his son.
Taking his time, Bell soon turns and looks at his father who went and sat beside the young man.
"have you finished watering the flowers?" Zagreus spoke out as his helmet detaches from his head. The Kaiser turned to look at his son. "and have you finished collecting yourself?"
"yes…I have.." Bell replied while nodding with a small smile before he turns and looks back to his mother's photo. "I no longer want to cry over it."
"is that so?" Zagreus spoke as his eyes glows and sees his son's body covered in a pure white aura that seems nearly transparent. "I see.." the Kaiser's helmet reforms upon his head and he gets off the seat. "if so, then let us depart for your Familia's Home. I'm certain that they are worried of your state after that incident."
"yes." Bell replied as he closed the lid of his locket, hides it under his shirt, and gets off the bench.
Zagreus nods to his son who nods back before the father and son leaves the Elysium Garden.
As they are leaving, Zagreus turns his head slightly to the side as he glances to his former love's grave and sees her Spirit appearing near it.
Meteria looks at the Kaiser as she has a hand grasping her chest while seeming a bit anxious from how she forms such a hard fist that clench her astral like dress.
'don't worry, I will amend my mistake after I get our son back to his Home. I promise.' Zagreus spoke out in a telepathic mind link with the spirit. 'just rest for today, you have been making too much of an appearance lately. You need to conserve your strength not only for your sake…' the Kaiser turns and looks at his son who stands by the exit door that was slowly opened by magic. 'but for our son, right?'
Zagreus looks back as Meteria tilts her head down before she looks at the Kaiser and nods her head once then disappears.
Nodding his head in reply, Zagreus turns when his son calls out to him.
Zagreus walks away as he follows Bell back into the Underworld Castle's domain, the door closing behind him with a big thudding sound.
At the location of the Hearth Mansion, the Hestia Familia members are going around doing their daily chores but with less enthusiasm considering how their Rabbit Captain had left a few days back to be with the Kaiser Familia.
In the backyard, there is Hestia who is helping out Mikoto, Haruhime, and Lili in doing laundry. Welf is currently busy with doing some inside chores which is to clean their entire bathroom.
"Could this be a good path for Orario, Hestia-sama?" Mikoto asked Hestia who flaps a dried sheet several times before hanging and pinning it to the drying rack. "for the Kaiser Familia to trick the Loki Familia in a duel that is obviously in their victory and then using it as a form of propaganda for the citizens of Orario to support the Kaisers. I am afraid to say that….it was a very underhanded move."
"I understand where you're going with this, Mikoto-kun." Hestia stated as she straightened another sheet out of the basket and flaps it a few times before hanging and pinning it to the drying rack. "I have to admit that it was very underhanded and a bit harsh on what they did to Loki's and Freyja's Familia but knowing their role for Orario's protection and the vengeance that they see for Zeus and Hera…I honestly can say that I foresaw it coming."
"Are you saying that the Kaiser's actions were just, Hestia-sama?" Lili asks.
"The people of the lower world are all different from one another, they come in all different sizes and personalities and the same goes for gods." Hestia said as she holds up a pillow sheet and looks at it while imagining Zagreus and the other Kaisers in the back of her mind. "but the Kaisers….they're different from anyone. They are united as one mind and body while still differing from one another like they're a bunch of voices echoing in a chamber that is hollow." She soon looks up to the sky and gazes at the sun that is covered by passing clouds. "I hate to admit it, but the Kaisers are individuals whose power and morale are against and beyond to what we are."
"you mean….they are beyond the gods themselves?" Haruhime asked Hestia who just nods her head in reply.
"Cunningness, intelligence, power, everything. They surpass any god in all aspects." Hestia said who soon shivers a bit when she remembers the utter power that Zagreus unleashed upon the day, he made the announcement of the Kaiser Familia's return to Orario. "the Kaisers are beings beyond what we are."
Lili and the others look at Hestia in worried silence as they could understand her fear of the Kaisers after witnessing how they planned such a perfect action that led to the utter humiliation and downfall of the two former top strongest Familias of Orario.
"hey guys!" Welf suddenly appears as he pokes his head out by the window near the backyard. "it's Bell! he's back!"
"eh!?" the girls instantly turns their head to Welf. "really!?"
"really! He's waiting at front with his father!" the blacksmith replied before he went off. "hurry!"
"r-right!" Hestia and the others nods as they quickly left their chores.
At the front entrance of the Hestia Familia Home, Bell with Zagreus had entered as the two are waiting for the goddess of Hearth and her entourage to come.
"Bell, do understand that if you still wish for time alone.." Zagreus spoke out to his son who just nods his head.
"I know, dad." Bell said with a small understanding smile. "I just plan to stay home for a week or so. just to readjust and go back on being an adventurer of the Hestia Familia."
"if that is what you wish." Zagreus said while nodding before he patted his son's head. "just don't force yourself, you're still young and have time that is to be used for your sake."
"yes" Bell nods before he and Zagreus turns around to see Hestia and the other Familia members to come. "goddess…everyone."
"Bell-kun." Hestia spoke out in seeing her rabbit captain who seems awfully fine. "are you…okay?"
"I'm fine, better than never." Bell said with a smile. "I'm sorry for worrying you all."
"you sure?" Welf asked while frowning a bit. "after what happened at the duel, you…"
"do not speak another word, Welf Crozzo." Zagreus interrupted as the Kaiser's eyes glows and flashes under his helmet's visor, his eyes menacingly glare upon the red haired smith. "if you dare speak the next words, I will eliminate you from my son's life."
Welf instantly shuts up as he looks afraid of Zagreus.
"dad, It's fine. I am fine." Bell said as he looks at his father with a smile. "I'm not bothered by it."
Zagreus glares at Welf for a moment before his eyes dim and the Kaiser turns to look at the young man beside him.
"I will believe that once your heart has truly settled." Zagreus said as his eyes flashes once and the Kaiser's sight sees Bell's heart by an x-ray like vision, the young man's heart is beating but at a small frantic like tempo. "you cannot fool me with your words, Bell. remember that."
"yes…." Bell replied as he looks down a bit. "I will remember that."
Zagreus looks at his son before he turns towards the Hestia Familia who stays silent and are looking at their rabbit captain with a bit of a worried expressions on their faces.
'be worried as they wish…' Zagreus's eyes glows before they turn pure black. 'my trust upon them won't be achieved so easily.'
"go to your room and rest for now, Bell." Zagreus said as he looks back at his son who lifts his head to look at the Kaiser. "rest and dream of what you wish to do at a later time."
Bell looks at his father in silence before he nods his head and slowly walks towards the stairs.
Hestia and the others look at Bell as he went straight for the stairs, Haruhime reaches a hand to him but stops while frowning when remembering the rules set by the Kaisers upon their Familia.
Zagreus watches his son go up the stairs and disappear. He looks up and soon hears a door opening and then closing. Afterwards, he turns his attention to the Hestia Familia.
"do understand that my actions of bringing him back here was of his wish, not mine." Zagreus said as he crosses his arms on his chest and his helmet detaches to show his face that has a very disapproving look. "if he never has such a wish to return to you lot, I would've confined him in my Home for as long as I wish. Understand?"
"y-yes.." Hestia nods her head slowly while having an unnerved look.
Welf and the others nodding their heads as they have the same expression as their goddess.
Zagreus looks at the group for a moment before he closed his eyes and let out a small soft sigh.
"he will stay in your Home for an entire week. I do not wish to see him venture into the Dungeon for the passing time." Zagreus spoke out as he slowly opens his eyes that are glowing a bit. "and also…do not ever mention a thing that would refer to Aiz Wallenstein of the Loki Familia. she is dead to my son."
"e-eh? What do you mean?" Hestia asks but she soon squeaks in fear when Zagreus glares at him.
"do not make me repeat myself, maggot." Zagreus growls out as his red left eye glows and becomes nearly reptilian. "as of today, your Familia will have the task of never allowing my son to hear or see anything relatable to that useless blonde maggot from the Familia of clowns. What she had spoken during that duel, broke his heart and therefore I will not allow that maggot to see nor speak to him ever again. It doesn't matter whether she wishes to come and apologize to him. reject her advances no matter what." A dark aura covers the Kaiser's body and forms a dark silhouetted shadow of himself that stands near, but it has glowing red eyes and a diabolical fanged smile that seems to make it cackling. "if any of you cause him to remember of the pain that he had felt during that day. i'll make sure you wish for death as your salvation."
The Hestia Familia members shivers in fear as they're shaking in their boots.
Zagreus continues to stare down at the Hestia Familia in his oppressing glare for a minute before he stops when he closed his eyes and his helmet reforms upon his head and covers his face.
"my Familia will be busy for an entire week and therefore there will be none who will come to check on Bell." Zagreus said as his eyes glows and flashes under his helmet's visor. He raises a hand and points a finger at the Hestia Familia. "do not ever allow Aiz Wallenstein to come near my son, understand?"
The Hestia Familia members stay silent for a moment before they all nodded in unison.
"also, do not dare to use the incident a few days back as an excuse to get to my son." Zagreus said as he lowers his hand and glares menacingly to the three girls in the Hestia Familia who he knows are in love with his son. "I won't ever allow it."
Hestia, Lili, and Haruhime could only shiver in fear and nervously nods their heads as Zagreus glares at them.
The Kaiser continues to glare at the three before he turns and raises his right arm to look at his Halo Ring that has its gem glowing repeatedly.
"This is Zagreus." The Kaiser spoke after tapping two fingers to the gem of the Halo Ring. "what is it?"
"it's me, Thalia. I set up the meeting between you and Airmid Teasanare of the Dian Cecht Familia." Thalia's voice spoke from the communication magic item. "come and meet her."
"I got it." Zagreus said as the magic item deactivates when the call was hang up.
Zagreus turns back to look at the Hestia Familia for a moment before he turns while throwing his cape to the back. the Kaiser walks away before disappearing into black dust.
The Hestia Familia watched him disappear before they look at each other and then to the stairs. The group feels worried for Bell but they have to follow Zagreus' command and not do anything.
"Bell-kun…" Hestia whispers with a frown.
As she spoke out the young man's name, Bell is in his room as he lies on his bed with his eyes closed. the young boy seeming to have fallen asleep.
At the Dian Cecht Familia's Home, things there are intense for the members of the healer Familia because there are a large number of Hell Knights that surround the area along with filling the building's interior.
In a private room that is usually used for Dian Cecht Familia members to have a one to one conversation with their customers, there is Airmid who is looking very nervous and tense in her own Home and it is because of directly sitting across from Thalia who just sat in silence while holding her Saint Cross that she places aside.
Airmid had a bead of sweat sliding down the side of her head and it is because the atmosphere in the room is so tense from how there is a Kaiser alone with her and hasn't talked ever since she had arrived to discuss with herself and her patron god who had left after his presence was no longer needed.
"u-um?" Airmid mumbled her voice to Thalia who just sat in silence. "m-may I ask a question?"
"you can ask when my brother arrives." the Saint Kaiser stated as she raise her Saint Cross up and hugs it to her chest. "I am only here to set up a meeting between you and him. that is all."
"i-I and?" Airmid spoke out in confusion as she didn't know which brother that Makaria is referring to.
"myself." Zagreus' voice sounded out as Airmid made a surprised noise when the Bloody Kaiser appears from a blaze of black flames and is now sitting beside Thalia. "good work, Thalia. Leave the rest to me."
"I intend to do so." Thalia replied as she waves her Saint Cross out and then gets off the seat. "I'll be going to Brother Ploutos and Makaria. I'm sure that they will need my help in our project of ours to be succeeded in time."
"indeed." Zagreus stated while nodding before he waves a hand to the side and creates a black portal for Thalia to walk right through and disappears into.
Airmid watches Thalia disappear from the room that is left with her and Zagreus himself.
"now then…" Zagreus spoke out as his helmet detaches from his head and the Kaiser faces the Dea Saint face to face. "your name is Airmid Teasanare, the Dea Saint of the Dian Cecht Familia, correct?"
"y-yes.." Airmid nods her head in reply while nervously looking down at her lap but then lifts her head to show a very anxiously scared expression to the Bloody Kaiser. "w-what is it?"
"be at ease, I don't intend to do anything to you. I just wish to converse to you." Zagreus said as he snaps his fingers for a Skeletal Servant to appear in the room and provides the two occupants with tea and biscuits. "tea?"
Airmid gulped nervously as she wasn't so sure about what does Zagreus wish to converse with her.
A minute later, the skeleton familiar serves both Zagreus and Airmid with their cup of tea and plates of biscuits.
Zagreus held his cup of tea upon his lap and looks at Airmid who is seemingly tense and nervous.
"would it ease your mind and body if your god; Dian Cecht joins this conversation of ours?" Zagreus spoke while raising an eyebrow. "what I wish to converse with you, also has something to do with him as well."
"w-what do you mean?" Airmid asked confused.
Zagreus looks at the Dea Saint before his lips part and he begins to speak.
Words were uttered and Airmid could only listen while showing shocked, baffled, and bewildered expressions at hearing what Zagreus is speaking to her.
After 3 minutes, Zagreus stops talking as he looks straight Airmid who seems shock to the core. The Dea Saint frowning all worriedly while looking down to her lap.
"i-is what you say…the truth?" Airmid asked as she looks up towards Zagreus. "is that really…?"
"everything is the truth." Zagreus stated while holding up his cup of tea and looking upon the reflection of himself in the brownish liquid. "this is a secret that I along with the Kaisers only know." he soon closes his eyes and take a sip before opening them to look at Airmid. "but I suppose this dark secret is very well known to many gods who vow to keep it a secret."
"i-if the gods know of this secret, then why do you know?" Airmid asks all nervously.
Zagreus places his cup of tea to the table and looks at the Dea Saint with his eyes just glowing very menacingly.
"I cannot speak the answer, I can only show you." Zagreus said as his eyes glows brighter while Airmid tenses up and her eyes started to glow in the same color as the half elf's eyes.
The atmosphere in the room went silent as none spoke a single word.
Zagreus's glowing eyes stares right at Airmid's eyes, both gazing deeply before it ended when the Kaiser's eyes closed and the Dea Saint's eyes blinks rapidly and her face showing a shocked expression on her face that soon turns into a grim look.
"to think that they would keep such a secret from all of us…." Airmid whispers softly while holding a hand to her chest and grasping parts of her attire. "I can't believe it."
"it won't matter if you trust what I had shown you or not." Zagreus stated as he opens his eyes and hardens his gaze. "what matters is that the catastrophe will come upon Orario and we Kaisers won't be able to protect the city when it comes." He close his eyes for a minute and went into silence before he slowly opens them to look at Airmid. "that is why I had chosen Shakti as a new Kaiser of the Kaiser Familia."
"t-then the reason why you wish to converse with me is..?" Airmid asked with an unsure expression on her face.
"I wish to ask of you this question." Zagreus said as he raises his hand and outstretched it towards Airmid. "Will you become the next Saint Kaiser, Airmid Teasanare?"
During the time when Zagreus arrives to the Dian Cecht Familia's Home to speak to Airmid and asks her to become the next Saint Kaiser.
Our attention is to the north area of Orario where the Loki Familia resides. Their Home gone and they are only living by having tents and their resources are small. Their numbers also dwindled as they used to have at least a hundred members, but sadly they are reduced to a mere 20-30 because many of them left because of the terror caused by the Kaisers and how harsh they were living.
Right now, the members still remaining are those that are level 2-6. All former rookie and lower ranked ones have left and never returned.
In one area there is Finn and Gareth who are talking with Raul and Annakitty about their plan for a quick trip to the Dungeon and get magic crystals to make some money that they need for their resources.
"we still have a lot to accomplish…" Finn whispers as he looks at some papers that has a list of their needed resources. "our numbers have dwindled much and we have less resources to get requested.." he frowns and shakes his head. "I can't think of it as a good sign.."
"Raul, Aki. Our supplies for this week will still last?" Gareth asked the two who nods. "good."
"but we're talking on our supplies for food." Raul spoke with a hand raised before he looks down a bit nervous. "our needed medicine and other supplies are almost gone."
"we tried getting new supplies from Dian Cecht Familia, but they only supply us with basics." Annakitty stated before frowning. "even their Familia are going into a coalition alliance with the Kaisers…"
"I see…" Gareth whispers before he hears some commotion from near them.
"Loki Familia are a bunch of parasites!" "Losers!" "leave the city, you wannabe heroes!" a small crowd of people are near the Loki Familia's makeshift Home as they threw trash of any kind to the Familia before running off when Bete and Tione came.
"those motherfuckers!" Bete growls as he wanted to kick them to the next moon but couldn't because there are a bunch of Hell Knights in the area that are ready to pounce on the werewolf if he tries to harm anyone. "if those Kaisers weren't around!"
"because of them, the Captain's reputation has gotten down!" Tione exclaimed as she grips her fists hard while kicking away a piece of trash near her.
"don't you two dare do anything." Finn called out as the two adventurers turn to see the pallum coming to them with Gareth. "let the people do whatever they wish on us."
"but captain!" Tione exclaimed while looking shocked. "we wouldn't be in such a situation if those Kaisers never came back!" she swings a hand to the side. "everything you worked up for your people went down the drain! Don't you feel that they should be the one to go away instead of us!?"
"don't say another word about it, Tione." Finn stated before he turns and begins walking away. "their actions upon us in their justice for our greed. Let it be."
"Captain!" Tione cries out in shock as she went after Finn and began to try persuading him to try and lead a revolution against the Kaisers that could actually lead to their entire Familia's death.
"Finn become a damn coward!" Bete growls as he walks away with an annoyed look on his face. "if I had been the one to have fought those Kaisers instead of Aiz that day…"
Bete walks off while Gareth stays in his place as he frowns and sighs softly.
"it's only a matter of days before our Familia is abolished.." Gareth whispers as he placed a hand to the side of his head. "why did we accept to get rid of Hera Familia that day?"
Meanwhile on another part of the Loki Familia's residential area. There is Tiona who is helping out Alicia, Lefiya, and Elfy who are cooking the Familia's meal.
"hey, Lefiya. you feeling alright for today?" Tiona asked the elven mage who nods while stirring a ladle in a big pot that stew being cooked inside.
"yes. The wound is almost closed now.." Lefiya replied in a rather sad and unnerved voice, the elven mage receiving a wound from when she blurted out the fact that Bell was naïve in front of his own Family members that caused her to get blasted by Makaria in result. "i.."
"Lefiya, please just focus on cooking." Alicia spoke as she is chopping up vegetables at a makeshift wooden table with Elfy. "don't mention a single word about that boy."
"but!" Lefiya cried out but Alicia shushes her.
"you are lucky that you only received a minor wound from the Mage Kaiser." Alicia stated before she stops and frowns while shaking a bit scared. "if it was that Zagreus Kaiser…"
"l-let's not talked about what happened that day, alright?" Elfy spoke out as she place down a basket of fruits and begins to try and change everyone's topic. "let's focus on cooking! We got some mouths to feed, right!?"
"right…" Tiona spoke in a rather energetic less voice that is unlike her. she frowns before she looks to the side and to a tent where she sees Aiz just sitting and looking very troubled. "Aiz.."
The group continues cooking as they only made a simple meal of a stew with the side of bread and sliced fruits.
"I'll be taking this first meal for Riveria-sama." Alicia spoke while carrying a wooden tray of the assorted meal. "can you guys handle the rest?"
"yes." The others replied as Alicia nods before she walks away to the tent where Riveria has been staying in for the last few days.
"Riveria-sama? This is Alicia." The Elleaf spoke out politely before slowly entering the tent. "I have brought you your meal." Alicia walks in and soon became surprised to see that the high elf princess of the Loki Familia is missing from her bed. "Riveria-sama?"
Putting down the tray and then going out, Alicia began to look around for Riveria.
"Riveria-sama!? Where are you, Riveria-sama!?" Alicia cries out. "Riveria-sama!?"
Unknown to Alicia, the Nine Hell is far away from the area as Riveria is found walking a bit sluggishly at a road. She walks pass many people who gives momentary stares at her because of how pale and malnourished the high elf princess is looking.
"She had forgiven you and your familia years ago and therefore I am inclined to do the same as the father of her child….and as her former lover."
Zagreus' voice echoes as his words just left a deep scar in her broken heart.
'this life…I hate it…why?' Riveria thought as her puffy red eyes well up in tears when she remembers how her life has been for years. 'why did I have to be a high elf princess? Why couldn't I have been a normal person? Why couldn't I have a normal life?' her tears pours down her cheeks as she slowly sobs in tears when remembering the time how Zagreus just left her at the café is similar to the time in the past when the Bloody Kaiser left her and Orario with his siblings. 'why couldn't I have been more stronger that day?'
Riveria continues to walk as she cries in tears. The Nine Hells walks amongst the crowd and head straight for the location of the Babel Tower.
In the Dungeon and in the base hideout of the Evilus' remnants. Enyo and Ein are watching something being handled by their followers as it seems large and shadowed.
"how long will it take for it to be completed?" Enyo spoke out as he raises his head up and then looks at his masked compatriot. "how long will it take for it to be fully completed and prepared for the Kaisers?"
"the followers states that it would take another week or two at the best." Ein said before shaking his head. "but I believe that there won't be enough time considering how the Kaisers have deduced your identity, Dionysus-sama."
"right…" Enyo spoke as he raise a hand and grabs hold of his mask that he slightly takes off to reveal his identity as the God of wine, Dionysus. He smiles a bit amusingly. "I have never felt such coming fear and terror in a millennia…."
"that is understandable considering that your disguise was easily identified by the legendary Kaisers of the Kaiser Familia." Ein stated while taking off his own mask to reveal himself or herself as Filvis Challia; the Maenads of the Dionysus Familia. "to think that it only took them about a month after their return to Orario. I have to say that I am impressed and frightened at the same time."
"none of that would matter though." Dionysus said as he puts his mask back on. "chaos and despair will arise from the Dungeon whether or not the Kaisers dare to obstruct in its path." He takes a few steps forward and looks at what the followers of Evilus are doing. "this chaos bringer is something I have no doubt would destroy the Kaisers." He chuckles and raises his hands out. the masked god looks upon a large and chained black wyvern like dragon monster that has been parasite with a Demi Spirit which is feeding itself with magic stones provided by Evilus' followers. "a time of fear will come to Orario just like the dark ages. But this time, it will be coming with despair as its compatriot."
Dionysus chuckles before he begins to laugh while Filvis stays standing at where she is and just puts her mask back on.
'will the chaos and despair triumph against the terror that is the Kaisers?' Filvis asks herself as she turns and begins walking away. 'I suppose only time will tell.'
That's a wrap!
Bye bye