A/N
AAAYYYEEE! It's me again! The bane of sleep himself, the story author!
Oh how much sleep I lose to this story! You lucky people get the fruits of my obsession, enjoy it!
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Let's get right into it!
4,879 Words in total.
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Freya moved with a passion, intent on arriving with due haste to the women's bath house where, for some reason yet known, Bell Cranel currently resided.
It was only thanks to pure luck that he hadn't run into any of the other members of the Familia, he'd likely be a stain on the floor about now.
.
She quickly came through the doors, Ottar stopping and turning to provide security.
Bell nearly jumped out of his skin when the doors opened, a fright only attestable to that of when he had walked in on Aria and Albert engaging in… let's just say adult activities… yeah that works.
"Bell!" Freya called. "What are you doing here?!"
Trje put in his two valis from Freya's arms. "Mraaaww?!"
"Ah-well… I lost my way, not that I knew where the way was. Ah, but I didn't know this was the women's bath when I- '' He rambled.
Freya stopped him. "No- Bell, why are you in Folkvangr?!"
Bell got a bit embarrassed. "O-Oh, yeah… I-I came to see you…"
Freya was surprised, but touched at the same time. "You came to see me?"
Bell slowly nodded.
Freya smiled, not like normal, but the type of smile that caused even Horn to stop and stare in amazement.
The sheer power of her happiness radiated out into the courtyard, stopping an questioning of Ottar on as to why they couldn't see Freya at the moment.
She calmed, still smiling brightly. "Well then Bell, what would you like to talk about."
"Uh, well…" Bell was cut off in his thought as various knocks came from the door, though slamming was a better description.
Freya looked to the door, now seeming a touch nervous.
"Perhaps we should move this meeting to my chambers…" Freya suggested, Horn nodding when their eyes met.
"I trust you can get him there unseen?" Freya asked, Horn nodding.
"Good, get going then."
Horn took Bell by the arm, leading him further into the bath.
Freya turned to the door where endless knocks were heard, sensing the near endless sea of her Falna practically mobbing to get past Ottar.
.
Horn and Bell moved swiftly through the empty bathing room. A place that in it's own right, could rival the artistic beauty that is Babel.
Bell of course could see none of this because of the self made blind placed over his eyes, it was just a scrap of cloth though.
"There's nobody but us in her Bell." She deadpanned.
"It's still not right." He answered.
She smiled, though slightly annoyed to have to guide him by hand. Though, to be honest, she didn't mind the contact with her brother.
She stopped cold, eyes wide.
'...brother…'
She turned back to him.
"Is everything okay Horn?" He called, his concern coming through.
"Y-Yeah, everything's fine!" She yanked on his arm, leading him once again to one of the escape tunnels.
You can say many things about the Freya Familia, but they were nothing if not prepared.
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Freya sat in wait for two of her most beloved children to appear, though she wasn't exactly sure on the 'where' they would show from. All she knew was that there were tunnels all around Folkvangr incase of the need to escape or move quietly away from everyone else.
The goddess looked around her room, it was a shame that she didn't spend more time here, the room, and the entire compound was beautifully built.
The room looked as though it were created for an eccentric royal family, murals were painted on the dome ceiling above, and the walls were made of an unknown material to her, looking a marbled dark and bright orange. The walls themselves were covered in paintings and carved works.
Freya couldn't help but look around herself, feeling that, although completely clean, that the room had a feeling of dusty disuse. It really had been in disuse, not one person having rested here since before Freya had taken part in the Zeus/Hera banishment.
A wide two-feet by two-feet tile popped up, startling Freya as she quickly turned to the now hole in the floor some four feet directly ahead.
Bell's head poked out like a gopher, looking away from her, not quite courageous enough to leave yet.
That was until Horn used her Level Four strength to force him up and out, right onto his face in front of Freya, who sat elegantly in front of the secret tunnel.
Horn jumped up, landing safely on her feet, while Bell pulled himself off the floor.
Bell was about to berate her for that, until he realized that Freya was already here, watching their little interaction with another smile.
Before Bell could properly react to the goddesses presents, Trje jumped from her arms, landing gracefully, then ran to him. He jumped the small height to head boop Bell's chest while he was still crouched down.
"H-High Trje." Bell stuttered, having to close his mouth to prevent Trje's tail form entering.
"Mwow!" The cat hollered at him.
"Have you been eating well?" Bell rolled to the side, landing on his back so he could better converse with the feline.
Trje jumped up on his chest. "Mwa-auww."
"I see, good-good." Bell nodded sagely as Trje sat, then laid on Bell, putting his face right over Bell's.
"Have you been good?"
"..."
"..."
"Is that a no?"
"Mwa."
"Do you want to be left with Anya next time?"
Seeming to know what that meant, Trje quickly jumped from Bell, scampering then jumping up to Freya, hiding behind her.
Bell moved to sit up, looking at the now distressed cat. "I'll also take that as a no."
The other two occupants of the room were both amused and confused at the interaction.
"Bell…" Horn called, he turned to her. "Can you talk to cats?..."
Bell looked at her like she was crazy. "Wh- No! Why would you-... I guess you would think that. But no."
Bell finally took the time to stand, Freya taking Trje back into her arms.
"So, Bell, you wanted to see me." Freya beamed once again.
"Yes." He smiled. "I actually wanted to come ask you some things as well. -May I?" Bell motioned to the couch across from her.
"Of course." Freya acknowledged, he sat. "What is it you wish to know?"
Horn took her usual place, just behind Freya's shoulder.
"Well, first, I would like to know as much as possible about Hermes right now."
Freya nodded, quickly thinking back to the events of yesterday.
"If I recall, he should be going on trial for his actions the day after tomorrow. I was about to send a message to the guild for you, but it seems fate had other plans."
Bell huffed in amusement, a smile shared across the room.
"You and the others from the Takemikazuchi, Loki and Hephaestus Familia's are set to be key witnesses, and are expected to be there before noon."
Bell nodded. "And what's happening with Asfi?"
Freya smiled. "I plan to ask Asfi to join my Familia once this is all over. I hope she'd be the new face of the Familia, and if I'm lucky, spread the idea of comradery inside these walls. I'm afraid there hasn't been much of that going around since Mia left."
Bell nodded. It wasn't the worst plan, she seemed kind but blunt and brutal, a lot like how he imagined Mia was in her prime, it may just work out for Asfi.
"Are you two doing well?" He asked.
Horn nodded happily while Freya glowed. "Yes, I am! I assume the same as you and Hestia?"
Bell nodded with a smile, before sighing.
"..."
"Okay then, now for the hard part."
Freya looked concerned the same with Horn from behind Freya.
"I'm sure Horn has informed you about the things she's learned about me down in the dungeon."
Freya slowly started a nod.
"Then I'm sure you've heard about how I can see souls, right?"
Freya didn't respond, unsure about where this was going, the same for Horn. Bell spoke somewhat darker than he had been previously.
"Can you please explain who 'Syr' is?"
They both showed no sign of movement, one might even think they were statues short of their breathing.
"Please. I won't be upset."
"..."
Freya moved first, taking a deep breath, Horn flinched when she did, concerned about the outcome that could arise from what was about to be said.
Freya slowly turned to Horn, both of them sharing a look, before Horn nodded loathingly to her.
She turned back to the curious Bell, speaking quietly. "I-I can explain." Freya looked to his feet rather than meeting his gaze.
"Some years ago, when Horn was a little girl, I made a deal with her. She had a wish, and I granted it… I took her name, and she got the ability to be like me whenever I'm not."
"When you're not?" He questioned.
She nodded. "The form you know as 'Syr', it's a form I've had since before descending to Genkai. Whenever I'd be in that form, Horn could be in my original form, while also being able to transform into 'Syr' herself."
Bell was somewhat confused about this.
"So you're both linked up somehow? Your souls I mean."
Freya nodded her head to the side in a type of half nod. "Only when one of us is in an alternate form."
Bell nodded.
"Okay then, so you're 'Syr'." Freya nodded.
"And you're also 'Syr'." Horn nodded.
"You CAN be Freya." Horn nodded again.
"But you can NOT be Horn." Freya nodded.
"We're good so far?" They both nodded to Bell.
"..."
"..."
"Are-... You're upset… Right?" Horn asked, speaking for both Freya and herself to the silent Bell.
"No… Well a little but nothing major." An invisible weight seemed to lighten on their shoulders.
"Well… How long were you gonna wait to tell me?" They both stiffened again.
"You weren't going to tell me, were you." They both looked at their feet.
Bell sighed. "Well, better that I found out now, rather than in, say a year."
"So, uh… is there anything else…" Freya asked quite awkwardly.
"No, not that I can think of. Do either of you?" He looked between the goddess and assistant.
Freya looked to Horn, then back to Bell. "Uh, yes actually. How did you get into Folkvangr? I don't suppose you just waltzed in through the front gate or something."
Bell made a goofy face, rubbing the back of his head.
Horn reacted first. "Oh my gods, you did, didn't you?" She face palmed.
"Well, tell us!" Freya encouraged.
"Oh, well, there wasn't anybody at the gate, er, booth. So I pressed that button on the outside."
They both nodded along.
"When I did that, a cup must have shaken from the buzzing. Well, it ended up falling off the shelf and onto the button to open the gate…"
For the first few moments, Bell was unsure of how exactly they were taking the news, only to see them sag like deflating balloons.
"Is everything okay?" Bell asked, worried.
"Uh, well…" Freya sounded defeated, unable to go on.
Until Horn, who sounded on the verge of tears finished the thought.
"We paid billions for that security system, and it just opened for you."
Bell sat there awkwardly watching the two grown women sulk.
"Well… I don't think that'll be much of an issue, just take the top shelf out…"
It was too late, the damage had been done.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"So… is there anything else…" Bell asked nervously, smacking his knees to pass time.
"..."
"W-Well… There's one thing…"
Both Bell and the still distraught Horn looked to her, Horn now directly behind her.
Freya poked her indexes together sheepishly, not sure if she should ask this particular question, though it burned inside her to know.
"Have you… Considered any partners recently?"
Bell looked on, confused. "What do you mean?"
Horn slowly realized what Freya was asking.
"Are there any, specifically elven girls you like-" Freya jolted as Horn pinched her arm.
The goddess turned to her. "Subtly." Horn deadpanned to Freya, who awkwardly nodded.
Turning back. "Is there anyone in the city you've come to wish for children with?-"
Horn fell over, landing with a sharp and heavy thud on the tile floors.
Bell in the meantime, was flushed deep crimson, not having even registered that what Freya had asked was a question. Bell's mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Freya smiled, blissfully unaware of how bold her words were, simply staring at the blank minded boy.
"Well?" She called to him rather excitedly.
"I-I-I-I d-don't think…" He couldn't form full sentences.
She stared at him, pouting, as Horn finally found the strength to stand once more.
"Bell." Horn called, moving to stand in front of the peppy goddess. "We were just curious if you had anyone you were thinking of romantically."
"But Noooooo-" Horn dramatically turned to Freya. "Someone just had to make it weird!"
Freya lost the winds in her sail, garnering a reaction from Horn that was both stern and concerned for her goddess.
Bell saw this, and wanting to help, he tried his best to draw both of their attention.
"Ah- Well…" Bell scratched his neck.
Both Horn and Freya looked at him with neutral expressions.
Bell looked back to them both. "I… I don't really think I would want to…"
They both looked concerned at this. "Why?" Horn asked.
Bell looked down more.
"You can talk to us, Bell." Came from Freya.
He looked up, seeing the faces of concern from both.
"I... I already found someone I love… And until I find them again… I don't want to betray that person."
Bell surprised both of them, speaking so absolutely about this love of his, of whom seemed to be long in the past.
Freya was filled with worry. "Who was this Bell?"
He looked down, not willing to make eye contact, nor wanting to say the name out loud. "...Artemis…"
Freya's eyes widened in shock.
"...You knew Artemis?"
He looked up slightly, but only just enough to gage her reaction, and her to see the pain overcoming him.
"She is the only person I've ever met, that was just so… so… everything."
"What do you mean?" Horn asked.
"Kind, happy, caring, fun, ambitious-" He giggled to himself. "-Bossy."
"You're waiting for her to reincarnate then?" Freya asked.
Bell nodded.
Horn was confused. "But I thought gods return to Tenkai when they're killed here?"
Bell didn't have the strength to tell her, so Freya did for him.
"When a god or goddess dies on Genkai, their arcanum typically saves them at the last moment, sending them to Tenkai once more. But in the case of Artemis-" She paused. "-something happened, causing her arcanum to leave her, and her soul to become part of the reincarnation cycle."
"That's… possible…?" Horn asked with concern.
Freya looked to Bell once more. "Yes, but nobody knows how it happened."
Horn also looked at Bell. "What happened, Bell?"
He shook his head as he tried to block the thought from his mind, but he couldn't.
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They ran, never stopping to check the bodies of her Familia, already knowing their fates.
Bell held her hand for dear life, the blue molten rock coming into view as it splashed up into their path.
They desperately tried to hold their breaths, the volcanic fumes filling the air of the underground chamber, making it poisonous to even breath.
Artemis tried her best to keep up, but the toll of that day had worn her down.
"Just a little further!" Bell dared to use what little clean air he had to reassure her.
As they made it into a tunnel section, Bell began moving quicker as he lifted her into his arms still running.
As she calmed from the surprise, Artemis saw that ahead was a slowly closing metal vault door, the very one they had arrived from several hours earlier.
The dark cave lit up from behind, the heinous blue light from the phosphorus infused magma now crawling after them.
Bell got close enough to the door, closing from top to bottom. He threw Artemis, her being surprised by the action, Bell rolled himself after her.
They both looked to the opening watching it close slowly as the now rapidly moving magma closed the distance, only being stopped as the door finally reached the bottom.
A sigh of relief not coming to them, as they were unsure of the air's purity.
They looked to each other, before Bell saw Artemis' eyes suddenly flick to behind him, at the door.
He turned, seeing the door start to glow where the magma built up.
He risked a breath, taking in the air around them, but finding it clean enough.
He kneeled, raising his hand to the door.
"Tundra of the far north, may the breath of the gods cross your never ending expanse.-"
Bell chanted as fast as he could, feeling the power that would soon recoil through his body.
When he finished the chant, the recoil made him feel as though his arm had split up the middle.
He turned to her, the door now covered in ice, expecting to see Artemis standing right behind him.
She hung by her throat as a member of Evilus tried to strangle her.
Not hesitating, he took his knife to the arm of the Level Four 'adventurer' if these monsters in human flesh could be called that.
The man never saw Bell move, being faster than the Level Fours senses.
He now stood in between the bleeding man and the recovering Artemis as she violently inhaled the air she could.
They stared each other down for a brief moment, the battle beginning the next.
.
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They were both wide eyed, hearing the tale of Artemis and their last moments together, how he'd been forced to do the unthinkable, and use his own physical being as a conduit so she could channel her arcanum to destroy the compound and all who were in it.
In doing so, using up all the arcanum for her return to Tenkai, losing her status as a god, so that she may save a city from the horrific chemical weapons produced from the volcano's toxic fumes.
Bell even mentioned how he had to sacrifice his own physical and magical strength, just so she could be in the reincarnation cycle. Though it made him no stronger than the average person of this era.
It was strange for Freya, now knowing what exactly had happened. She still remembered that day, all the gods of Tenkai were in a panic, desperately trying to determine why and how a god had been severed from the eternal plane.
It still haunted the majority of the gods' minds even now.
.
He sat rather uncomfortably as the two women in front of him looked on in pity.
"Well… That's the reason…" He looked down in shame of his past.
"..."
"Raise your head Bell." Freya commanded, getting the attention of both his and Horn.
He did so, only to be caught off guard as she suddenly wrapped her arms around him.
"You'll find her, I know it, and we'll be there for you every step of the way." She spoke quietly.
Bell did his best to not lose the battle with his eyes, though he knew it was a lost cause, feeling the first tear run down his cheek.
.
Several minutes passed as Bell looked to the clock, Freya now seated next to him so she could comfort the boy. Horn sitting on the other side.
He looked up slightly from Trje, who was sleeping on his lap.
Bell's eyes widened, looking at the clock on the wall, and seeing it was now past noon.
"Ah!"
"Ah?" They both asked.
"Oh, right- I need to go see Eina before it's too late! Sorry!" He apologized to them both.
"Who's Eina?" Horn looked at him with suspicious eyes and a grin.
His cheeks became ever so slightly flushed. "S-She's my dungeon advisor!" He proclaimed.
They both stared at him.
"You're telling the truth." Freya started. "But you definitely don't sound like you are."
He stood suddenly, speed walking towards the door in a nervous sweat. "Well I've taken up enough of your time, hahaha!"
He couldn't sound more suspicious if he tried.
As he was about to open the door, Horn's hand slammed up against it, forcing it to stay closed.
He turned back to the two women, now standing over his fearful self, both with devious looks to them. He felt small in comparison, though Freya was taller than him, Horn definitely was not.
"Bell." Horn smiled like a predator. "You aren't putting the moves on this 'Eina' are you? Especially after that story we just heard."
He looked to Freya, seeing the same unmoving resolve that Horn had.
"Well, uh…" A shiver went up his spine. "I didn't mean to if I d-did…"
"So something DID happen?" Freya questioned.
"..."
"..."
He cracked. "S-She kissed me yesterday… That's all!"
They both blinked.
Freya decided to have some fun. "My-my Bell, leading a lady on when you have another! Oh how brazen you are!"
"W-Wait-!"
"Oh how our dear Bell has fallen!" Horn stepped back, acting out her mock surprise.
Freya joined Horn. "What a play boy our dear little rabbit has become! Claiming hearts of maidens left and right!"
Bell was now blushing, but wasn't hiding himself, being annoyed enough not to.
Horn went on. "Oh, how my dear brother hath fallen."
They all stopped, both Freya and Bell looking at her, turning red before their eyes, unwilling to meet their stares.
"Eh?" - "Eh?" - "Eh?" They all three stuttered out.
"Brother?" Bell asked.
"Brother?!" Freya asked with enthusiasm.
Before Horn could even realize, Freya jumped her, tackling the poor girl to the ground.
"Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay!"
Horn looked up to Bell, a plea in her eyes.
Bell just grinned evilly, watching the hope drain from her eyes, being replaced with betrayal.
Freya and Horn remained on the floor for several minutes.
.
Bell and Freya walked side by side through the halls of Folkvangr, Bell carrying Trje, as an embarrassed Horn trailed a few paces back.
Ottar was also with them, trying his best to comfort the embarrassed and defeated girl, though, this is Ottar, so take that as you will.
Freya was attempting to continue their conversation as they left the building, the front gate becoming visible, though still a good distance away.
"So everything since the dungeon has been going smooth-" She was cut off.
"Goddess?!"
They saw dozens of Familia members rush towards them, all of which were headed for the goddess herself, until they noticed Bell.
The four of them now stand surrounded, just at the bottom of the main house's stairway.
A sharp drop in temperature came over the pathway (Which was so wide that they may as well have been streets), as those very same adventurers turned their eye to Bell.
To them, they were now seeing in the flesh the very person who was taking their precious goddess from them.
"It's him!" - "The bastard's here now?!" - "The nerve!"
Various shouts of anger came towards him, as Freya stepped up to block them off. Everyone stopped upon seeing the look on her face, one of absolute anger.
She opened her mouth to speak out, intending to shout at them all, Horn wanting to do the same. Before Ottar spoke up, stopping all of this.
"Bell Cranel-" All eyes turned to him. "-Are you trying to steal our goddess?" He didn't speak in an aggressive tone, but more one of curiosity.
"N-No!" He all but shouted out to the giant of a man. "I'm not, or at least, I'm not trying to if I am… I'm not, am I?" He turned to Freya, fear and worry in his voice.
"N-No! I love both you and my Familia the same!" She answered quickly.
This more so confused the Familia members around them, rather than reassuring them.
"So what is she to you?" Ottar asked again.
Bell hesitated, having so many powerful people watching him as he answered.
"W-Well… She's the person who created my people, and who's been looking after me when I needed help… So…" He paused, trying and failing to push aside his embarrassment.
"...I think of her like my mother…"
The entire field was in a stand still as Freya beamed, 'excited' not being quite a strong enough word for her at that moment.
She rushed the boy, grappling him into a tight and unwavering hug, one of the many given by her that day.
"I'm his mom! I'm his mom! I'm his mom!" Her excitement caused not just Bell to blush from embarrassment, but a good number of those watching Freya express herself.
"G-Goddess?!" A hand raised from the group, a female chienthrope.
In a moment of temporary sanity, Freya answered. "Hm?"
"I-Is what the Little Rookie said true?! Are you his mother?!"
A deadpan expression would've been understandable. But, Freya being Freya, she just grinned more.
"Yes!"
A general uproar came about, before Ottar shouted.
"SILENCE."
The field followed their orders, the only expressions left, even on Freya, were wide eyes at the never before seen loudness of Ottar.
He turned to Freya. "Goddess, I believe she was asking how Bell is your son."
"Oh."
'Oh?' Ran through every mind present.
"Well, Bell belongs to a race of people I created long ago, and he's the last one of them, so in a way, he's the last person I can call a true child."
She stopped, then thought of more, frantically speaking up. "-Though that doesn't mean I think any less of all you, I still cherish you all no less than before!"
A general sense of understanding swept the field of no less than forty people.
Bell tugged on Freya's sleeve, she turned. "G-Goddess, you're not supposed to talk about my past!"
"..."
"..."
"Goddess?" Bell was confused.
"Mom."
"What?" Bell asked.
"My name is Mom now."
He stared at her, wondering if she was serious as did the rest of the crowd.
"M-" Freya smiled as he started. "M-Mom… This was supposed to be a secret."
She grinned triumphantly, turning to the crowd and raising her finger in the air.
"Nobody is to talk of Bell's origins outside the walls. Any violations of this, and I will kick you out of this Familia!"
Bell pulled frantically on her sleeve again, the field becoming overrun with panic.
"M-Mom! Too much!"
"Oh." She turned back to them. "Scratch that… You will be reprimanded harshly, punishment will be determined later." She nodded to herself, the crowd slowly calming down afterwards.
"..."
"..."
A staring match arose from the various people present.
Until another hand popped up in the crowd.
Freya was a little confused, but called on the same chienthrope again.
"So… does that mean that Bell's children… Are your grandchildren?"
Every female in sight suddenly shifted in their attitudes, locking onto Bell as though he were a one way ticket for not only them, but their children to be even closer to Freya than they ever could before.
Bell got very nervous for his chastity.
"Form up!" Freya shouted, recognizing what was about to happen.
In an instant, every male in the crowd became an immovable wall between the women and them.
Various women tried to force their way past the 'wall'.
Ottar saw their ultimately futile effort, and quickly devised a plan.
"Cranel!"
"Heh?" Bell turned.
"Hold the cat out."
"W-What?!" Bell tried to understand.
"Just do it!" Ottar ordered.
Bell did as told, and like two opposing magnets, the crowd, wall included, suddenly backed away, refusing to come within forty or so feet from them. It was a near instant reaction.
"Uuuh… What in the-"
"Go!" Freya ushered the confused Boy. 'Her son.' She giggled at that thought once more.
They made heist, the crowd following them as they ran, but not coming any closer to Trje.
"What's happening?!" Bell shouted while running.
"That cat's a monster!" Responded, oddly enough, Ottar.
.
They arrived at the gate, Bell now facing back holding Trje out like a shield, while Horn went for the gate controls.
Bell tried to talk as this all happened. "F-Freya?!"
"Mom!" She stood beside him, everything having calmed since nobody dared approach.
"Mom!" He called back in mild annoyance. "I still have a small question."
"..."
"Why did you tell Ais about that word last night?"
She froze up, before walking away with a nervous grin.
He scowled. "Hey! Answer me!"
The gate slid open.
"Wh-What? Can't hear you from over there! Didn't you have something to do today?"
He looked back at the open passage to freedom, then back to the now running Freya.
"This isn't over!" He declared, running away as Ottar held back the crowd from chasing after him.
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As Bell ran, he failed to notice the women watching from the buildings opposite Folkvangr, watching for anything of interest to happen.
"This might have just been our lucky day." One spoke to the other.
"Should we report this immediately?" The second asked.
"No, let's finish the shift, we could get in trouble for slacking if it's nothing." The first responded.
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Fun Fact!
Spirits are the only form of being on the mortal plane that does not originate on Tenkai, that share the long lifespan of Snow Elves. Though they age differently, that being, not at all.
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A/N
Hello! It's nice to see you all again!
This (in theory) should be the last in-between chapter before the stuff we all know and love returns.
I am very, very excited for the following arc.
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I'm sorry if this was a bit hard to read, I did not mean for Bell's trip to Folkvangr to be the entire chapter, but it was, and with it came a lot of dialogue.
I hope it was acceptable… At least funny… Right?
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So… I was thinking… How would you guys feel about me doing a side story about if Bell (This Elf Bell) ended up in the Freya Familia like… say… a year or two before the OEBD fight with the Zeus and Hera Familia's. (Or earlier... Probably earlier.)
It wouldn't have much of a story, just Bell's daily struggles inside the walls of Folkvangr if he was actually supposed to be there.
It would be only his down time, none of the story telling stuff like this one, just a for fun story.
(Maybe give Bell that massive harem everyone keeps asking me for, in a place that I can distance from the official timeline.)
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Regarding the fun fact, this information is actually modified for this story. As I asked on the Danmachi subreddit, Spirits should only have a lifespan of around 1000 years or so.
But now in this, I have made it so they live until they are killed.
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Artemis's story is a whole thing, but you'll be learning about that over various chapters, so don't think that flashback was all there is!
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Thank you all for reading this chapter!
I hope you enjoyed it just as much as I did writing it!
Take care and stay safe! Happy weekend!