The cat was out of the bag.
Bell looked at his grandfather with a questioning expression on his face.
"Grandfather, why did Mom call you Zeus?"
Zeus sighed while he looked over to Alfia.
She lowered her hands from her mouth. "I´m sorry, old man..."
"No, I think it is time anyway."
Zeus gently put Bell down on the couch and sat next to him, while the contrite Alfia sat down in one of the arm chairs.
"Bell, will you listen to me for a while?"
"Of course, grandfather."
The old man smiled.
"At first I want to apologize to you, Bell. There's something I've never spoken to you about. To be honest I didn't know how and when or if I should tell you. It was not like I wanted to keep it a secret from you, but it isn´t easy to explain."
Bell just looked at him, his trust in his grandfather was endless.
Zeus took a deep breath, Alfia looked at him apologetically.
"Grandfather?"
"Bell, to tell you the truth...I am Zeus, the king of Olympus...a god."
"A...god?"
"Yes, Bell."
Zeus felt very uneasy, which surprised him. He liked Bell very much, had looked out for him since he had waited all those years to see him again. Now he, the king of Olympus, the prime god of a whole mythology, was afraid if the boy he saw as his grandson would feel betrayed or stop loving him.
Would Bell change? Would their relationship change? Would he treat Zeus different?
"You are Zeus? THAT Zeus?"
"Yes..."
"Woah..."
"Bell?"
Suddenly, a bright spark of childlike amazement filled Bell´s eyes.
"WOAH! My grandfather is the great Zeus!"
"Eh?" Zeus looked surprised.
"This is so awesome! My books said that you are the most handsome, intelligent, smart and cool god of them all!"
Alfia who knew where Bell´s books came from rolled her eyes.
"Bell...aren´t you...upset?"
"Why would I?"
Irkh...I feel purified.
The shine in Bell´s eyes purified Zeus from the inside, if he would stare to long into these innocent, pure, shining eyes, he would even lose his lewd tendencies towards women! Alfia looked relieved at Bell's reaction.
"But grandfather, I am confused."
"I will explain it to you, okay?"
"Mhm!"
"Bell, you remember reading about the stories of old, about Orario and such?"
"Yes!"
"You know that adventurers followed the gods after we came down to the surface. We call this a Familia. And I had my own Familia."
"But then...are we...I mean..."
Zeus smiled. "Your father was one of my children, like all the others, he was like a son to me."
Bell´s uneasy expression got exchanged with a bright smile. "So you still are my grandfather!"
The heart of the old god grew warm, Bell didn´t seemed to care that Zeus was a god. Family meant something else for Bell than just blood relation. He and Alfia were related by blood even when she didn´t gave birth to him, but for him, she was his Mom and that would never change.
"So that´s why you are so wise and strong, grandfather!"
And for Bell, Zeus was his grandfather and that wouldn´t change.
"Hmm..."
"Bell?"
"But grandfather, you said my father was part of your Familia."
"Yes he was, he was what adventurers called a "Supporter", he was stronger than many of Orario´s adventurers."
Alfia smiled slightly.
Even when he was the weakest of the whole Familia, but I guess our Familias weren´t called monsters for nothing.
"I don´t understand, I thought the battle against the big monsters were hundreds of years ago."
"Was that written in your books?"
"No, there was no date, I just thought it was like that."
"The battle wasn´t even twenty years ago."
"Woah..."
For a moment they were quiet.
"Wait a minute..."
Bell´s eyes slowly wandered to Alfia, she tried to look away.
"Mom?"
"Y-Yes, sweety?"
"You were an adventurer in the past, right?"
"Yes."
"And...the book I read..."
Alfia gulped.
Zeus took pity on her.
"Bell."
"Yes?"
The old god grinned. "Your Mom is a hero."
"So...she..."
"She was the one that defeated the Leviathan."
Bell looked wordless at Alfia.
"Bell, Sweety, I´m sorry for not telling you the tru-"
"Awesome!"
"Huh?"
"So awesome! My Mom is a hero! The great hero Alfia! The most noble, beautiful and strong adventurer of the whole Hera Familia!"
Kuh...
Alfia was weak when Bell praised her.
"Woah...I knew that my Mom was cool...but so cool...wow...Awesome!"
"Bell...I..."
"You are so cool, Mom! You defeated the Leviathan! You are my favorite female hero! I always admired the hero Alfia, but to think that she even is my Mom! So cool!"
Ah Bell...you are not good for my heart sometimes...you´re too cute.
"So you are a really strong mage? You defeated the Leviathan with the bell of angels?"
Zeus smirked. "She more or less did, yes."
"Wow, can you tell me about it? What was the bell of angels? A weapon?"
Alfia suddenly got a serious expression. "No, Bell. I´m sorry but I won´t tell you about this fight. At least not now, when you are a bit older, okay? But I will tell you as much, it was a magic spell of mine, but I can´t show it to you."
I want him to be able to stay as a child as long as possible.
Alfia wanted to protect her little boy...her son...as long as possible, to keep the evil and dangerous things of the world away from him. That was the reason why she had joined Evilus together with Zard and Erebus. So that the adventurers of Orario could use them as a stepping stone to become stronger,
so they would be able to defeat the One Eyed Black Dragon, so that Bell would never have to pick up a weapon and live in peace. She wanted to do that for Meteria and Bell.
"Okay, I will wait."
"Grandpa? Mom?"
""Yes?""
"Can you tell me more about my mother and father? What happened back in Orario? You told me mother had an illness."
Zeus and Alfia exchanged a look before they started to tell Bell about his parents, Zeus about his father, Alfia about his mother. That Meteria was part of the Hera Familia too, that the goddess gave her the Falna to expand her life as much as possible, to fight her illness. And Zeus told him how his father joined his Familia and fell in love with Meteria at first sight...he spared the detail that he saw her and Alfia bathing.
Bell knew that his mother had died from her illness and that was why Zeus took him with him. But he wanted to know what happened to his father. Zeus and Alfia told him that his father stayed back with the Zeus and Hera Familia to protect Orario and Bell from a strong monster.
"Your father was really a brave man, Bell. And he loved you and your mother so much."
Alfia would not contradict Zeus. Normally Bell´s father was quite the scaredy-cat and was the first to run away. But courage didn´t meant to know no fear, it meant to fight even when someone was afraid. As much as Bell´s father was afraid of the black dragon, he did it for his son and Orario.
"Hehe, they were really cool."
Alfia noticed small tears in Bell´s eyes.
"And I´m happy to have such a cool grandfather and Mom. I love both of you very much."
Bell´s happy smile with the tears in his eyes brought tears to the eyes of the other two too. At first Zeus from the side, then Alfia from the front, hugged Bell.
.
.
"Are there people left from your Familia, Grandpa?"
Zeus couldn´t say with words how happy he was that Bell still called him like that.
"No, they all went on like true heroes."
He was a bit sad that he couldn´t talk with Zard one last time, but Alfia told him a bit about him. Zeus didn´t judged the two for the path they had taken, what they had done seemed harsh but was better in the end.
"And from your Familia, Mom?"
"I should be the last one."
And if Erebus hadn´t asked me this question back then, I also wouldn´t been here. Erebus, if you can see or hear me in heaven or wherever you are now...thank you. Thank you fromt he bottom of my heart. And you too Zard, because of you two I am able to spend my days with this little angel.
"So sad."
"Sad? No, Bell, it isn´t sad."
"Not?"
Zeus smiled. "They lived how they wanted to and they went on how they wanted to. Not many adventurers can make this choice and go how they want to. Like true heroes should, they stood on their feet and laughed into the face of their doom, not one of them tried to flee."
"Wow...they were really brave."
"They were, all of them were good boys."
Zeus looked a little wistful.
"And your Familia, Mom?"
"What can I say, we were all women, according to your grandfather, one more beautiful than the next."
"But you were the most beautiful one, right?"
Alfia shook her head, smiling. "No, that was Meteria."
"I think you are both really pretty!"
"Thank you, sweety."
For a few moments, Bell looked like he was in thoughts.
"Grandpa?"
"Yes?"
"My father was your child and Mama was lady Hera´s child, what does that make me?"
"You mean if you belong to my or Hera´s Familia?"
"Yes."
Zeus shook his head slightly.
"You are free. Free to make your own choice some day. Neither Hera nor I will force you into the Familias and we shouldn´t do that. You are my cute grandson and I want you to be happy. When you become a bit older, there will be choices that you can make. And it should be you that makes these choices.
You can listen to others opinions."
He grinned slightly, looked at Alfia for a moment before he winked to Bell. "Especially to your Mom´s opinions."
Then he continued normally. "But it always should be you to make an important decision. Don't let others make decisions for you, don't let them force you into anything and don't let them push you into a corner where you can only do as they will."
"I don´t really understand."
Alfia gently tapped Bell´s hand. "You will when you are a bit older."
"Hm, okay, I guess."
She smiled softly. "You will understand it."
For herself, Alfia hoped that Bell would just get the chance to live a peaceful, normal life. But like Zeus had said, it wasn´t her decision to make. As much as it pained her, whatever path Bell wanted to choose for his life, she would support him. Well most of his choices at least.
I will not tolerate that he turns into a deliquent!
The talk continued for a while, Bell learned more about his grandfather and his Mom. But not everything would go well for him on this day. When Alfia wanted to make them some tea, she suddenly swayed when she got up to her feet. Before Bell and Zeus could react, she stumbled and started to cough heavily.
"Mom!"
"Alfia!"
Zeus and Bell catched her before she could fall. She got a coughing fit like she never had ever since she came here. It felt like her heart was being squeezed and her lungs were clenching. This otherwise strong woman became extremely weak within seconds and completely defenseless. She had one hand clenched above her heart, with the other she covered her mouth.
She caught Bell´s expression while she coughed, he was afraid.
Zeus went into the kitchen fast to get her some water, Bell remained at her side.
"Mom, what is wrong?"
When she calmed down a bit, Alfia drank some of the water.
"Au...I guess it caught up again."
"Mom?"
"Bell, it´s okay I-"
She got interrupted when he hugged her from the side.
"No, don´t say that! I don´t want to lose you like Mama!"
Just from what he saw in this moment, Bell got something like a flashback of his mother. He was very small back then but a part of him still rememberred some moments of his mother´s illness.
Alfia was really happy for every single day that she could spend with Bell, but deep down she knew that her illness would kill her one day.
Except there would be a cure somewhere.
Zeus looked at her with a grim expression. "Is there a cure for it? Or something to help you?"
She shook her head. "If there is any, I don´t know it."
Alfia looked a bit sad, she felt Bell sobbing at her side. "Mom...don´t go away."
"Don´t worry my sweety, I´m sure it will turn out okay."
"No!"
"No?"
Both looked at Bell when he raised his face, he looked pretty determined. "I will find the medicine for you, Mom!"
"Bell?"
"I will...I will become big and strong! I will go with my sword and look for medicine for you! I will help you, Mom!"
Alfia smiled as her heart grew much warmer. "Thank you Bell, I really mean it."
She kissed his forehead and hugged him gently.
"I will become your hero, Mom!"
Ah, do I deserve this happiness? This little angel?
At this point, Alfia didn´t knew that what Bell said weren´t only words. Her illness, that his beloved Mom was in danger, ignited the fire in Bell. He had always dreamed about doing things like he had read in his books, but now that spark was about to become a raging inferno.
.
.
Far away in Orario, a young girl with fox ears and a tail looked up from the book that she was reading, she thought she heard the sound of a bell. This poor girl was very gloomy most of the time, she still waited for her hero to come.
.
.
Ryu's mood was as good as it had been for a long time, the reason for that was Syr. After her emotional breakdown after she talked with Astrea about the maid uniform, Ryu hadn´t looked too happy at work. Syr noticed that and asked her what was wrong.
Outside of her Familia was Syr the best friend that Ryu had and both had grown pretty close over the few years they knew each other now. Ryu just felt that she could talk with Syr about everything.
Her dear friend had listened about Ryu´s problem with the maid uniform.
"Oh, I´m sorry Ryu, this is all my fault, I shouldn´t have told lady Astrea about the uniform."
"No, it´s not your fault, Syr. Hah...as an elf I shouldn´t feel like that about my body."
"But Ryu, I honestly see no problem here."
"Huh?"
Only three people had seen Ryu naked since she came to Orario. Astrea, Syr and Alise. Astrea bathed with her followers from time to time, she wanted to spend time with them, so Ryu had agreed to it. And one day Alise just barged in and wanted to join them. Just like when she took her hand, Ryu had to her surprise not much of a problem with that, but was adamant about Alise not saying one word about this.
Syr had invited Ryu once to a small Spa weekend, there they had bathed together too.
"I mean I have seen your body Ryu, your body is justice itself."
Ryu blinked perplexed. "What do you mean?"
"I mean your body! Your everything! You are the definition of justice!"
"I don´t understand."
Syr looked surprised. "You don´t know about the language of the gods?"
"Ahm, no?"
"There is a saying among the gods, regarding a woman´s chest."
"Okay...do I want to hear that?"
"They say "Flat is Justice!"."
Ryu went quiet for a moment. "Excuse me?"
Syr nodded while she smiled excited. "You do know about the three great treasures that we got from the gods, like swimsuits, yes?"
"Yes."
"And there is some wisdom among the gods that they brought to us from heaven. One of those has something to do with a woman´s chest. Maybe it is their language, but they call a big breast "Plot" and say "Flat is Justice!". So your body, your chest Ryu, it isn´t something to be ashamed of, you are Justice itself! The truest child of lady Astrea!"
"Gah!" Ryu opened her mouth wide in shock.
Syr wanted to help Ryu and it was good that Ryu missed some common sense. It also helped that when Ryu asked Astrea shyly about that later, her goddess sighed.
"Yeah I heard that, the male gods talk like that."
She noticed that Ryu tapped against her top one time and smiled happy. "Justice, eheheh."
It would break Astrea´s heart to make Ryu sad, so she didn´t explained it further. From that day on, Ryu was proud about her body and used the maid uniform from time to time with pride.
.
And it was good that Ryu was in a good mood today, since she moved into a direction of Orario that didn´t let her feel too good.
"Ms. Ryu, you smile so much, did something happen?"
She was accompanied by two other people or rather Ryu and another person escorted the third.
"It´s just a good day, Ms. Lefiya."
"J-Just Lefiya is enough."
The third person, the one that they escorted, whistled slightly while she walked.
"Lefiya?"
"Yes lady Astrea?"
"Is Ryu a good big sister for you?"
"O-Of course! Ms. Ryu is a wonderful person!"
"Hehe, good."
Since Alise and the others went into the dungeon often, it was Ryu´s job to take care of the new members of the Familia. When the party moved deeper into the dungeon, Laurier and Filvis couldn´t go with them, since they weren´t strong enough. During the early after they joined the Familia, Ryu trained together with them, but only for a short while, she was really bad at holding back, but the other elves looked up to her.
But not only the elves, whenever a new member joined the Familia, it was Ryu´s job to help and take care of them while the others were in the dungeon. Of course Astrea helped too and did her best.
Today they had split up more, Alise and the main party went deep into the dungeon for an Expedition. After Alise, Kaguya and Ryu all leveled up to five, Ryu thanks to her merciless and sometimes brutal training, the guild gave them a quest for an Expedition.
Filvis and Laurier went into the dungeon with the newest member of the Familia, a female dark elf that went by the name Viana, they would move only through the first Floors, not going deeper than the fifth level.
So it was on Ryu and Lefiya to escort Astrea to her destination for the day and their goddess really looked forward to that.
Their destination was the source of Ryu´s slight troubles.
Lefiya looked amazed. "What a spectacular home."
They had arrived at the home of a certain Familia, the "Mansion" went by the name Iam Ganesha.
"Did lord Ganesha change his home again?"
Astrea giggled. "Ganesha does that sometimes, apparently to punish his children when they don´t behave."
"Hah, impressive how fast he does that."
"Right? Ganesha can be really impressive."
If they didn´t already knew it, Astrea´s expression would tell them everything they knew when a certain someone appeared at the door of the Mansion.
"Astrea!"
"Ganesha!"
Astrea was deeply in love. She and Ganesha had worked together a lot during the Dark Era and also afterwards. Her children didn´t knew everything that happened between the two gods, but over time, they had fallen in love with each other.
Love like that was something new for the pure goddess and many gods in Orario couldn´t believe it when Astrea and Ganesha came arm in arm to a Denatus meeting. Most of the male gods were very impressed that Ganesha of all people had managed to conquer Astrea´s heart and most of the female gods now didn´t wondered why no one managed to do that before.
She has an interesting taste in men.
For a moment, Astrea forgot about her two children following her, she walked with quick steps to the sturdy god, while he came grinning to her. Ryu and Lefiya averted their eyes when Astrea got up to her tiptoes and kissed Ganesha. The two elves noticed a blue haired figure waiting at the entrance of the Familia´s home. Shakti had accompanied Ganesha until he noticed Astrea´s presence, now she waited and didn´t wanted to disturb the love birds.
"I haven´t seen you for too long!"
"I agree! I, Ganesha, am heartbroken for not having seen you for such a long time!"
Shakti rolled her eyes, while Lefiya and Ryu smiled wryly. Both gods had seen each other for the last time yesterday. But they were newly in love so maybe it felt like an eternity for the two immortal beings.
"I have prepared a meal for us, Astrea."
Shakti´s eyelid twitched. "I have prepared that meal, Ganesha!"
"And I, Ganesha, thank you for that, Shakti! Ahahaha!"
Astrea smiled warmly to Shakti. "I thank you for your hard work, Shakti."
Now even the captain of the Ganesha Familia got slightly red, most children were weak to being praised or thanked by Astrea. While she wasn´t a goddess of love, there was something special about her.
"Shall we go, my love?"
"Gladly. Ryu, Lefiya, have fun you two!"
Ryu wanted to say something, but the genuine, happy, deeply in love smile on Astrea´s lips stopped her.
"She looks so happy." Lefiya smiled.
"Indeed."
After the two gods left, Shakti came to Ryu and Lefiya.
"Ganesha was very lifely and excited for the whole morning, I have never seen him like this before."
"B-But your god looks like a good man!" Lefiya looked up to Shakti, she was only thirteen so she was smaller than the human.
"Maybe, when he doesn´t have his strange urges. Anyway, shall we go? The others will wait."
"Alright."
"Lyon, I will be your opponent today, with five others."
"I understand."
"And Ms. Viridis, I found two Familia members of mine that will train with you, don´t worry, they are used to help new adventurers."
"Thank you so much!"
Since Astrea and Ganesha worked together for such a long time, their Familias also worked together. Ryu was still forbidden to enter the dungeon for two years, and since Lunor, Chloe and Anya refused to train with her again, she had training fights with the Ganesha Familia.
She was obsessed with not falling behind her family. Shakti was level five like her, but Ryu needed more opponents at once to go all out so she couldn't go too far. And due to Lefiya´s nature, the Familia had worked on a trainings plan for her.
Lefiya was very talented and maybe a magical genius, but it was her character, her fear to fail and her emotional weakness, that blocked her from using her full potential. They had noticed that Lefiya often panicked when monsters charged towards her and stopped or broke her incantation. Her favorite trainings partner and teacher was Filvis, but she was in the dungeon today.
Luckily, Alise was the most perfect captain there could be, in Ryu's eyes. Not only did she have near-divine patience, but she was also impeccable at cheering up downed Familia members. There was something special about her, no elf in the family rejected Alise, apart from Ryu and Lefiya no one let herself be touched, but that was to be expected.
When they were in the dungeon on the first Floors, the Familia held back and blocked the monsters, to help Lefiya train and calmed down her nerves. When she failed again, no one got agitated.
Alise just crouched down in front of the depressed Lefiya. "Don´t worry, Lefiya. You are still young and will learn it. The whole Familia is here to defend and protect you, so that you can protect us in return from monsters that we can´t attack with weapons, okay? Trust me."
The red haired captain grinned.
"Y-Yes, Ms. Alise!"
"Just Alise is enough. Oh and if you do well, I will persuade lady Astrea to let you and Filvis share a room."
In an instant, Lefiya beamed brightly. Filvis was her dearest friend already. In just the half year that Lefiya was now part of the Familia, had they become friends, Filvis was even okay with Lefiya touching her hands, she had only allowed that Astrea so far.
The Astrea Familia kept slowly growing and going into the dungeon. They had set their eyes and goal on the Loki Familia, they wouldn´t fall behind and tried to catch up to them...which wasn´t an easy goal, Loki´s children were something else.
.
.
The time in Orario and the small village moved forward. Bell enjoyed his life with his grandfather and his super cool Mom. Spring made room for Summer, went into autumn and winter, before a new spring arrived. Bell beamed at his Mom more than before, he adored her very much.
She was his hero, for all she had done for him and did in the past. He also admired the former members of the Zeus and Hera Familia, they told him about them when he asked about that topic.
Aside from enjoying his life, a desire filled Bell that had started to grow and grow and grow.
He wanted to become a strong adventurer, a hero. Bell loved all of these hero stories and wanted to be like them, especially Argonaut. Whenever his outfit got damaged slightly, Alfia fixed it for him. He still had the wooden sword that his grandfather had carved for him, three years ago. Bell had bombarded Alfia and Zeus about allowing him to become an adventurer.
Zeus wasn´t the problem, he allowed it Bell right away, since it was his own choice.
The problem was Alfia...´s maternal feelings. She wanted to protect her little baby at all cost, not wanting him to get hurt or face danger. To not get into trouble, if anything would hurt her little angel, she would go insane.
The one who persuaded her wasn´t Bell, but Zeus.
Both had a long talk after Bell went to sleep, he was close to become fourteen years old now.
"Alfia, I understand that you love and want to protect Bell, but this is his choice."
"What if he gets hurt? What if people attack him? I did what I did so that he never has to pick up a weapon."
"But he wants to do that, Bell wants to experience adventures. He wants to go to the dungeon in Orario, wants to save a girl there."
"But this is wrong."
"Is it really wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon?"
"I...the dungeon isn´t a romantic place like that!"
"For you at least. But doing this is part of a man´s romance."
"I hear you say that so often."
"Because it is like that."
The old god grinned. "A woman can´t understand that feeling."
"But...my little angel..."
Zeus smiled. "Alfia, you might probably be the most overprotective Mom there is. But this is Bell´s wish, his dream. You shouldn´t hold him back forever."
"Holding him back?"
Now he looked serious. "Alfia you are still young so-"
He noticed how her eyes flashed shortly, Zeus knew that it was a good thing to call Alfia young, it got him bonus points.
"I am pretty old now and I have met countless people and adventurer in my long, long life. Time and time again there were parties and groups that formed, sometimes around a strong leader. Some of these leaders had very kind hearts and were overprotective about their comrades and loved ones.
Whenever they were in danger, they would protect them, while that was noble, it ultimately held their comrades back. They never had to overcome an obstacle, never grow on their own, they were always held back without knowing it.
In some cases that was a bit extreme, I have seen people that were mostly like a pet to their leader, without any ill intend, their leader didn´t saw them as real people, since they were too kind."
"And you say I do that to Bell?"
Zeus shook his head. "Not directly. You are his Mom and it is natural for you to protect your little boy. Bell will soon be fourteen and if you like to admit it or not, he is a teenag-"
"Don´t say this word! Bell is still my little baby! My cute, little boy! My little angel!"
"And he will always be, since you are his Mom. But Bell also starts to grow, I mean not only his body, even when I´m sure that he will be taller than you one day. No, his mind is slowly changing from a pure child, to a teenager. His fantasies about becoming a hero and adventurer will turn into desires. He wants to do that, and..."
"And?"
"He wants to save you. Do you know how often Bell cried in his bed, out of worry because of you? Because of your illness? He is beyond afraid to lose his Mom after he lost his mother. He loves you so much Alfia, more than any other mortal person on this world."
"Bell..."
"And you love Bell more than anything else. So Alfia, I have to ask you, will you help Bell?"
"Help him? What do you mean?"
"Train him."
Alfia went quiet for a moment, training Bell?
"I don´t think we can and should hold Bell back in his wish. He wants to become a hero and save his Mom. And like you said, the dungeon is dangerous. He really wants to go, so to ease your worried heart, train Bell. Show him how to hold a sword correctly, you know how much he admires Argonaut and wants to be like him. I can´t think of a better instructor than you. How could it become dangerous in the dungeon when you train him before that? He couldn´t be better prepared and more safe."
"But, without a Falna...and don´t tell me you intend to give Bell your blessing, Zeus? You know what would happen if he goes to Orario and someone discovers that he has your blessing? Our Familias are banished from Orario."
"To answer your question, yes and no. So that the training will do something for him, I will grant Bell my blessing and update his status, until the day that he sets off to Orario, then I will take it away from him."
"But why?"
"He should find a fitting Familia for him in Orario, a fitting god or goddess."
Alfia wrinkled her nose. "I can´t picture one that would be fitting of my pure angel."
"What about my dear sister, Demeter?"
"She is a goddess of fertility! I am sure she would be enchanted by his cuteness!"
Zeus grinned, it was fun teasing Alfia a bit. "What about Ganesha?"
"I don´t want my son to turn into a weirdo."
His grin widened. "Loki?"
"Are you making fun of me?"
"Maybe. What about...let´s say...Astrea?"
"Are you sane? She is a nice goddess yes, but her whole Familia contains of only women! They are a dungeon Familia, what do you think would happen to my pure angel when he were alone in a home of many love starved, lonely women? I-I-I don´t even want to imagine that!"
Zeus shrugged his shoulders. "In the end it will be Bell´s choice, we can give our opinions and I´m sure he will especially listen to yours, since you are his everything."
Alfia sighed. "Maybe you are right."
"To be honest I don´t think he should join a big Familia, a small one or a god without followers may be perfect for Bell, so that he can find his way on his own."
"We have to see what we can find."
Zeus raised his eyebrow. "We?"
"What? I know you can´t go to Orario, but don´t think I will let my little baby go alone into that city!"
Alfia had horror scenes in her head, they didn´t wanted to go away. She saw Bell crouching on the ground, wearing a cute bunny suit while female adventurers tried to lure him towards them with sweets and other things. The next image was Bell lying in a bed, holding a woman in each of his arms, smoking...she really feared he could become a deliquent. The last picture was Bell sitting with an innocent face on a black couch, five tall, adult amazons behind him, looking down to him, grinning.
Nooooooooooooooooooooo!
"I-If even one woman in this city will look at my little angel with lusty eyes, I will destroy her!"
"But you would have to hide, or do you intend to stay with Bell in the same home? Remember what I said about protecting him too much."
"Irkh...please give me time to think about it all...what you say is bad for my heart."
"Alright, please think about my idea."
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And so, the day after Bell´s fourteenth birthday, he stood outside in a wide gras field. Bell held a hardened wooden sword in his hands, Alfia a few steps away also with a wooden sword in her hand.
Mama dragon would properly train her little one.
"Bell, are you ready?"
"Yes!"
"Then let us start, slowly. I will teach you how to hold and swing your sword right."
"Yes, Mom!"
Alfia smiled. "Good."
Bell Cranel would discover a new side of his Mom, she was adamant about helping him to become prepared. Not in his dreams would he be able to imagine what kind of training awaited him.
For the next two years, Alfia and Bell would train, she had begged Bell with tears in her eyes two wait until he became sixteen before he would go. It was hard for her to let her little angel go and she wanted to enjoy a bit more time with him, Bell was the same.
"Then, let us begin."
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Authors Note: Phew, 17 reviews for one chapter, I think this is my Record :D. Can´t say how happy I am that you like the story.
Don´t worry, Bell won´t go to Orario in the next chapter, at first comes the training and a bit more mother / son time. Also a bit more about the Astrea Familai, just to say it now, Filvis and Lefiya are only friends. As I wrote before, Bell won´t level up as fast as in the original story, maybe a bit faster than normal adventurers do, but not too fast.
Next chapter is for Blood of Zeus "Start of a Journey"
Then Blood of Zeus (Ero): A bustyful harvest (With Lunor and Demter, but no threesome)
And then Spirit Child "The truth about the big forest"
To answer questions.
: I will try to use the ... a bit less. When people speak in the story and I use the ... it is mostly meant for them taking a short breath or stopping for a second while they think, but I will try to work more with ",".
kratos1991: In case I go with a partner for Alfia, it won´t be a big part of the story anyway, more a side part. And of course there will be embarrassing comedic moments between Alfia and Bell.
alex882: About Alfia´s influence on Bell, I´m not the biggest fan of plot armor and I can say that training and living with her will change him a bit, not to the point that he feels like a different figure but a little bit, would make no sense if Alfia had no influence on him.
tdouble: I will just say, Alfia won´t be in a lovey dovey couple, I have something special in mind that should be fitting for her.
Dredgon: No elf harem, Bell will just have two lovers. But I can say as much, in the Blood of Zeus story that will start, Bell also goes to Orario with the Astrea Familia looking like that and that will be a harem story.
Ihateoc: If you mean the other elves that join the Astrea Familia, nope no Hedin, all members are female.
igimacigy: There will be lots of interactions between Bell and Astrea´s girls.
Anoynim: Well Laurier was never part of Loki´s anyway, she belonged to Hermes. About Lefiya, it will became clearer later why she joined Astrea and not Loki. But I can´t show everything at once.