Authors Note1: Hey I forgot to say it for this story, many many thanks for all those Reviews, I´m happy that so many people like that story. Not because I want to hear that I can write good, but that people are able to enjoy a BellxAis story. I can already say one thing, this story will become longer than the Ryu one.
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Bell looked up to the entrance of the Hostess of Fertility, the pub was closed for the day due to the repairs. He wasn´t sure if he should disturb them, but Bell was too worried. One of the windows was boarded up. Bell had come alone, Ais stayed at her Familia´s home, they discussed how the training would be held. Waking up that morning in each others arms...sharing a gentle good morning kiss...it was the best feeling in the world.
After thinking for a moment, Bell knocked.
"Closed for today!"
He knew the voice, it was Lunor.
"Ms. Lunor, it is me, Bell."
A few moments later he heard the door clicking and getting opened from the inside. Lunor stood there, holding one arm close to her body for some reason.
"Mr. Cranel, come in."
"Thanks you...are you okay, Ms. Lunor?"
She glanced down to her arm. "Don´t worry, Ryu healed my arm for me."
"Healed?! Were you hurt?!"
"We talk about that inside."
Lunor locked the door behind him, the tables and chairs had been moved to the sides, a few of them seemed to be broken. Mia was standing by the counter and worked on a broken table, a few other waitresses were also working on chairs.
An incredibly beautiful woman in leather pants and a white shirt was kneeling on the ground and working on another broken table.
"Ah boy, welcome."
"Ms. Mia, hello. What happened here? I heard you were attacked by the Freya Familia."
"Yeah, but I gave them a fine beating, for hurting my girls."
"Who was hurt?"
Lunor stepped next to Bell. "One broke my arm."
"Does it still hurt?"
"No, thanks to Ryu."
Mia looked slightly angry. "And Chloe´s leg was cut."
"Dear gods! Is she okay?"
Lunor continued. "Lefiya healed her, she went with her to the hospital to make sure she is okay."
"Phew...but why were they here? Who in Orario...or all of the world would be so...dumb...to attack this pub?"
His sentence let Mia grin a bit. "Good said, some very dumb people."
The beautiful woman with the long brown hair and indigo colored eyes got up and walked towards him.
"You are...Bell Cranel, yes?"
"Ah ehm...yes?" He was taken aback by her beauty.
The woman smiled...then she suddenly hugged him.
"Thank you...for saving my child..."
"Oh ah...eh...huh?!"
He heard steps from the stairs. "Bell are y-...ah m-mother, please don´t hug Bell just like that!"
Ryu´s face got slightly red when she walked to him with hasty steps.
"M-Mother?!" Bell looked into the eyes of the woman when she made a step back.
"Ehe...sort of." When Ryu arrived at them, she squeaked when the woman suddenly hugged Ryu. "Ryu is my precious daughter."
"L-Lady A-Astrea..."
Bell´s eyes widened a bit. "Lady Astrea?! The goddess of justice?! Your goddess, Ryu?!"
Ryu tried to nod, which wasn´t easy due to Astrea´s hug.
"Nice to meet you young man, and thank you again for saving my adorable Ryu."
For the next minutes, Bell got a good explanation how it could be that Astrea was back in Orario and what happened at the pub. He was amazed by Ryu´s expression, part of her was slightly angry about the attack...especially since they tried to harm Syr...but Bell had also only once before seeing Ryu smile like that. She looked so happy, free, relieved. .
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"What we still don´t know is, why they attacked us...and were after Syr." Ryu frowned lightly.
"I may have a guess."
"Oho?" Mia raised an eyebrow.
Bell explained to them that two members of the Freya Familia had attacked him and Ais, the explanation from Ottar it wasn´t an order...and what Riveria told them. Mia´s expression was like stone when she heard all of it...and that about Freya.
"But...not that I doubt lady Riveria...why would they attack you? How could you make the goddess Freya angry?"
He looked at Ryu and shortly at the others...then at Ryu again. Bell felt strange and for some reason a bit bad for what he was about to tell her.
"Ryu...I..." Astrea´s eyes shone when Bell called her daughter just by her name. "I don´t know..if I should say this...or how..."
His relationship with Ryu had changed extremely after the incident on the 37th Floor...and even more after the party where she had "abducted" him...where he had rested with his head on her wonderful, soft, warm thighs.
She took a special place in his heart that he couldn't quite name...Ryu was far more than a friend...but the one he loved was Ais.
At first Bell only mumbled, so quietly that even Ryu couldn't understand him.
"Bell?"
He took a deep breath and looked into Ryu´s eyes...his heart hurt for some reason...because he had an inkling that what he was about to say ... would hurt her terribly.
"Lady Riveria...said the children of lady Freya might have been enraged because their goddess was heartbroken. That she did some things...because she was desperate...because Ais and I...confessed...to each other.
Astrea´s eyes widened by his words and wandered to Ryu. Ryu´s expression remained the same but her eyes...they looked incredibly sad...
"You and...the sword...princess."
Everyone who knew Ryu well enough...and that included Bell...saw how her heart broke in this very moment...
"I´m sorry Ryu...I...I didn´t know how...to..."
It was much, much harder to tell Ryu this than the other girls...if he hadn´t fallen for Ais...Bell was sure he would have for Ryu.
Ryu took a deep breath. "A-At least n-now we have a guess why they did it."
"That isn´t all."
"Hm?"
He saw that Astrea had taken one of Ryu´s hands...she was shaking slightly...and the smallest tears gathered in the corners of her eyes...
Bell explained about the duel that would be held in about a week. That this was the only option to prevent the war, and that he and Ais didn´t intended to kill their opponents. He said the last thing after Ahnya had started to cry when she heard who would be his opponent.
"White hair...please..." She had begged him with a pleading look. "Don´t kill my brother..."
"I won´t...I promise."
They talked for a while until it was time for Bell to go, the training would start soon.
"Bell...take care..." Ryu looked uneasy.
"I will...until then...Ryu..."
Both didn´t really had words to say to the other, it was a difficult situation.
After Bell had left, Ryu looked to Mia. "Mama Mia...may I take a break?"
Mia nodded with an understanding look. "Take your time..."
Astrea followed Ryu who walked the stairs up fast, the goddess had already guessed that Ryu had fallen in love with Bell due to the way she talked about him. While Bell returned to the Loki Mansion, Astrea held her crying daughter in her arms, patting her back and was just there for her. Ryu had only felt more hurt when her Familia died before her eyes, even when she had rooted for Syr, Ryu couldn´t deny her own feelings anymore.
"Ryu..." Astrea felt bad to see her daughter with a broken heart...at least she could spend her the comfort she needed right now.
Oh my little one...I hoped so much that you would find someone...
Elves were in many ways different than other races, while Haruhime, Lily and other girls were also sad about Bell loving someone else...they could fall in love with someone else over the years. But elves only chose one partner in their whole live...Ryu would...could...never fall in love with someone else other than Bell.
If only there was a way...
But Astrea knew that wouldn´t be possible, from what she had heard, Bell wasn´t the type to take multiple lovers...and Ryu surely wouldn´t wanted to be part of a harem. The only other possible person for Ryu to love Bell with her would have been Syr...but that only because Syr was Ryu´s everything.
My little angel...
Astrea put both arms around Ryu, holding her shaking, crying daughter. Having her goddess back would help Ryu very much...but was also a reason why she was even more emotionally troubled at the moment.
And telling that Syr...Ryu had never thought about how Bell might feel...she always thought Syr would be his lifetime partner...or maybe herself...or both of them...
"*Hic*...*Hic*...Bell...*sniff*..."
The goddess held her last child for hours, she was sure that Ryu had dreamed about forming a family with Bell...having children with him...even if she wasn´t aware of that herself. Mia gave Ryu the day off...she was aware enough about Ryu´s feelings for Bell.
Maybe..you two will be together...in another life...
Until the end of their lifes...Ryu would always love Bell...
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Why does love has to be so complicated...
Bell´s heart still hurt, one part of him was happy like never before that he and Ais had found together for real now...but that he had to hurt Ryu like that...but that was a part of growing up. When he came first to Orario, Bell had dreamed about having a harem with beautiful girls...especially elves...but that wouldn´t be fair to any of them.
Ryu...I´m sorry...
He just wished for all of the people that were important to him to be happy. Bell hoped that Ryu would become happy without him...somehow...he didn´t wanted to lose her as a very special person.
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Bell used the time of his walk back to the Loki Mansion to try to calm down again. There would be time for him to talk with Ryu about all of these things. But now he had to focus on what was in front of him, the duel.
I will absolutely win and defend Ais...protect our love!
He was still troubled when he got back and that caught the attention of a certain someone. The guards let Bell pass and when he entered the building, Riveria was the first person he came across.
"Bell, is everything alright?"
"Ms. Riveria, oh ahm...y-yes, everything okay."
But Riveria was experienced enough to notice when someone was troubled, especially a young person. Her maternal instincts reacted...she just had to help him.
"Sure? If you want to talk, I have an open ear, maybe I can help you."
At first Bell wasn´t sure, but then he followed Riveria to her room, he just couldn´t focus on what was in front of him. When they sat down in her room, Bell started to tell Riveria about his visit at the pub. That he felt different about telling Ryu that he loved Ais, than telling the others, but he didn´t knew why.
Ah...the trouble of youth...so he started to have romantic feelings for Lyon too, but still chose Ais.
Riveria listened to the end, especially how Bell described Ryu´s reaction.
Hmm...I guess Lyon is in love with Bell.
She had often heard Ryu talk about Bell, that she thought highly of him. It wasn´t that surprising that Ryu fell in love with Bell, she had once accompanied Riveria on a journey together with Lefiya and Filvis, all three were really curious about love.
"What shall I do, Ms. Riveria? I feel really bad somehow...I just want to make everyone happy..."
Her heart grew warmer when she looked at the troubled Bell, even if she didn´t admitted it, Riveria liked to help young people.
"There aren´t much things you can do here."
"Hm?"
"You really like Lyon, do you?"
"Yes, Ryu is more than a very important friend for me."
"And I can only guess that she really likes you too."
"Hm.."
"Bell tell me, who is the one you love?"
"Ais."
Riveria nodded. "And if you never had met Ais, who would it be most likely?"
Bell blushed fiercly, he asked himself that question for the first time. "R...Ryu..."
"I can understand why you think like that, but you can´t do anything at the moment to make her happy."
"Not?"
"No, I won´t speculate if Lyon loves you or not, that is something for her alone. But if she does...you can´t change that. How do you feel that you are reunited with Ais?"
"I could scream out of joy and jump around!"
Ehe...such an honest answer.
"But yet..."
"Yet?"
"I love Ais...I really do and I will always...but why...does that have to make...other people...sad?"
Ah...young love...
"There are many girls that like you, am I right?"
"P-Probably..."
"But there is only one you have in your heart...or are you into harems?"
"No!"
"You never thought about it?"
"I-In the past maybe..when I...first came to Orario. But...it would betray their feelings. Like I would devaluing them...they all deserve to be loved by the person they love. But I..."
"You can´t be that person for everyone."
Bell nodded.
"If more than one girl is in love with you, it would make them sad when you love someone else. But that is part of life, I can understand that you want to make them all happy, that is in your nature...but that won´t work this time."
"Can I...say something to her? That it..would be her...if not...for Ais?"
"That would probably break her heart...what brings you to that thought?"
"I have no idea what to do..."
Riveria rememberred again that Bell was only a boy of nearly fifteen years now, he lacked the experience.
"There isn´t something you have to do...but them...or Lyon."
"Hm?"
"It might sound hard...but they have to deal with it...so is the life. And as much as I know Lyon, Ais and you...a love triangle wouldn´t work...nor do I think that anyone of you would want that."
"No."
"So Bell...give Lyon time, life isn´t so bad without a partner."
"Hm?"
Riveria smiled. "I have no partner, nor children on my own and I´m happy with my life."
"Oh..."
"No need to look compassionate. There were some men who courted me...and Loki... But I had to reject them all and even if that broke their hearts...they had to keep living on. So is life."
"But...I heard...that elves..."
"We only choose one partner for life, yes. So if Lyon is in love with you, she will never take someone else as her partner for life."
"Ryu..."
"Bell...you can´t make anyone happy when it comes to love, some things aren´t meant to be. If you tried to make everyone happy, you probably won´t make anyone happy. Do you regret falling in love with Ais?"
"No!"
Riveria could only imagine how many girls or women fell in love with Bell. Maybe some from his Familia...at least Lyon, Ais, maybe Tiona...and Lefiya thought highly of him too...in another way.
"Bell, accept how things are, that is part of growing up. I am aware that everything is a bit much for you at the moment, you made many experiences that a boy of your age shouldn´t, and very quickly one after the other. That you love Ais doesn´t mean you can´t spend time with them anymore. Give Lyon time to process what she heard today, I´m sure her friends will be there for her...that is all you can do."
"And her goddess..."
"Her goddess?"
"When she returned from her journey with Lefiya, lady Astrea accompanied her."
"Goddess Astrea is back in Orario?!"
Bell blinked surprised when Riveria yelled out. "Ah eh...yes."
"I have to see her! But...not now..."
Riveria could guess what Astrea had to do right now...she probably held her sad child.
"Are you familiar with her?"
"Yes, from back "then". There are some things I would like to tell her."
"Oh?"
Riveria smiled slightly. "That is something from the past...the dark times."
"Oh, I understand."
"So Bell...are you feeling a bit better?"
"Yes...a bit."
"Good, now focus on your training with Ais...that duel will be dangerous for you two."
"I understand."
When Riveria got up, she did something that would surprise most of the people that knew her. Right when Bell got up, Riveria patted him lightly on the head.
"You are doing good, Bell."
Bell blushed again...the gesture of her felt warm...like something...a mother would do.
"Th-thank you, mo-.."
When he stopped his sentence, Riveria sighed in her mind. Please don´t start to see me as a mother too...I´m not that old...
But Bell wouldn´t be the last one that got help from "Mommy" Riveria, it was just in her nature.
After that talk he felt a bit better and less troubled.
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Bell adjusted his weapon belt while he followed Ais through the Loki Mansion, they would start the training at the special training spot. With every step his mind got calmer and more focussed on the training,
the duel would be very dangerous...they could even die if they wouldn´t give their all. Their behaviour changed while they walked, their small, clumsy tries to flirt stopped, fighting filled their minds.
At the exit of the building, Loki waited for them...or rather for Bell.
"My little Ais...can you give me a moment with him?"
Ais glanced to Bell and nodded.
After she left, Loki turned to Bell. "We have spared no money to get everything you two will need for a week of truly hellish training. I won´t say that I´m not worried, protect my little Ais...bring her back...and make sure you are with her."
"Goddess Loki..."
She patted him on the shoulder while she left. "My cute, little Ais has chosen you...so don´t you dare die to protect her...come back together."
"Understood."
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Bell stepped out on a gras field in the inner courtyard of the Loki Mansion. He was used to the size of his Familia's property ... but this was something completely different. It was the training ground of the Loki Familia, nearly big enough to fit the whole Heart Mansion inside.
In addition to Ais, a few other people waited for him. Tiona and Tione were talking with Ais, Bete was down to one knee and adjusted his boots. A few members of the Loki Familia that Bell didn´t knew were also present, they were standing next to a filled table, as well as Finn.
"Bell Cranel, good to see you."
"Mr. Finn." He nodded.
"I will at first explain a few things, than we will start with your training. Ais and you will always fight together, since this is a two vs. two duel, you two have to be the perfect pair, your teamwork must be flawless. From what we know about the Freya Familia,
their members all fight as individuals, each of them is trying to get goddess Freya´s attention. While Ottar doesn´t need a partner and also has no equals, this will be the key point for a victory of you two. Allen Fromel and Hogni Ragnar are very strong, both are level six and while we don´t know their exact status, it is most likely that they are upper level six adventurers."
Ais stepped next to Bell and listened to Finn´s explanation too, glancing to Bell from time to time.
"I talked with Loki and Riveria, we organized everything we need."
Finn pointed to the table. "We have healer and potions from the Familia, all that stuff is worth a few million Vals. Whenever one of you gets hurt or exhausted, we will heal you and immediately train again. Normally we would pull our punches a bit but we don´t have that luxury now. It is two upper level six adventurers against one level six and one level five, and both will try to kill you. You have to win this duel, not only because your lifes are in danger, but there is also a risk of a true war."
While he talked, Gareth appeared from the building, holding a small box in his hands.
"Yo Finn, something has arrived."
"Hm?"
"A "gift" from a certain...skeleton."
"Oh?"
Gareth opened the box and showed what was inside, Finn whistled approvingly. "Someone wants to support you two."
"Hm?" Ais looked curious.
Finn pulled out a flask. "These...are Excelia potions."
"That means?" Bell never heard of that before.
"There are ten in total...each worth at least 20.000.000 Vals...they increase the amount of Excelia you earn from fighting for a short while. They are too expensive and short lived to be used in the dungeon."
"What?! 200.000.000 Vals in total?!" Bell was more than shocked.
"A sign of support."
Mr. Fels sent all this...
"And there is a note here..."
Finn cleared his throat and read what was written.
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"Bell Cranel, Ais Wallenstein, use this to close the gap between you and your opponents.
I will send you a few other things on the day of your fight and have send something else to the young fox lady of your Familia.
Your fight is excellent opportunity to test out a few things.
Good luck.
Your friend "the Skeleton""
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That sounds like Mr. Fels is excited to test out a few new of his "toys".
Fels had told Bell once that he had a hobby of creating magic items or potions, experimenting with them. He had joked that he could endure when something went wrong since he was a skeleton anyway.
"Good, we will use these potions on you, Bell. We have to bring you closer to Ais´ level, but that also means that your training will be more merciless. Except for eat, sleep and using the bathroom, you will constantly fight.
We have prepared potions and magic that will help with exhaustion, headache and many other things that your body will show from fighting too much. The last day before the duel you two will rest, I also got a note from goddess Hephaistos that you should visit her to get what Welf wanted to show you.
She demanded you show up before the duel, at least three days...she wrote it is very important."
They nodded again.
"I won´t lie, the next week will be hell for you two...we have no other choice." Finn crossed his arms.
Ais raised a hand. "But then on one condition."
"Yes, Ais?"
"I will bath together with Bell after the training, eat with him and sleep with him, I won´t back down on this."
By the words "sleep with him" a few female members got really red...Ais sometimes was not so good at phrasing...but they got what she meant.
Finn shrugged his shoulders. "I will tell Riveria and Loki, even when they are not happy with that, it is your choice."
Bell looked at Ais who smiled happily to him, after being separated for too long, Ais wanted to spend every minute with Bell. Riveria was not that happy that Ais wanted to bath together with Bell, she pleaded her to at least bath back to back...
"So...who will be our first opponents?" Bell let his gaze wander around.
Finn grabbed his spear while Bete let his shoulders circle. "Bete and me, while Bete´s style is at least similar to Allen Fromel´s, I am the best spear user of the Familia."
Fighting against Mr. Finn...phew...
"One thing Bell Cranel...if it becomes to much for you at a moment, say something...we won´t break you or go too far."
"Understood."
But Bell wouldn´t ask for that once during all of the training, they helped him and his life..and Ais´...were in danger.
"Tiona, Tione, go to sleep now, you will take over when Bete and I are done."
"Roger."
"Good luck you two!"
Except for the healers and their opponents everyone left, Bell and Ais unsheathed their weapons. Bete and Finn took a stance across from them. Bell would take the first potion later, at first they had to get used to fighting.
"Alright...go!"
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"Irgh...agh...ouch..."
Bell whimpered a bit while he sat on a small washing chair in the big bathroom of the Loki Mansion. It wasn´t even late at night anymore...the first sunrays shone on the horizon, they had fought for fourteen hours...with small breaks in between and used many potions to fight fatigue and such.
Even with the work of the healers, Bell whole body hurt, he felt like he was Bete´s and Finn´s personal punching bag. Bell had lost count how many times he was thrown of hit to the ground, he had spit blood, sweat at least enough to fill a bath tub and got a few bones broken. During the fights, his back felt incredibly hot sometimes, he didn´t knew that it was a certain skill that had awakened again.
"Bell, you did good."
Ais tried to cheer him up, she knelt behind him and gently washed his back with a soft sponge. She had wrapped her towel around her, Bell wore one at his waist to cover his privates. He was too tired to blush because of the situation, just glad he could spend more time with Ais. It was a good thing that both had fought so often against each other, that helped to increase their teamwork, they just knew how the other moved.
"Ais...you are really amazing."
"Ehe...thank you...but you are amazing too, fighting so much on your level."
"I have no other choice..." He looked over his shoulder and smiled tired. "I want to protect you."
A warm smile appeared on her lips and she leaned forward, kissing Bell gently.
"We will do that together, Bell."
"Sounds good."
He leaned forward again and groaned when Ais used the sponge again, she looked at Bell´s back curious...then down on herself.
"Bell...are you...feeling stressed?"
"Well...my body...it was a lot of fighting."
"Hmm...Bell...please don´t turn around now..."
"Ai-!"
He froze when something very soft touched his back, and it wasn´t the sponge...it were two things..."
"A-Ais?"
"Don´t worry, it will help you, I know you like them very much."
"B-But Ais...th-that isn´t something...we should do...yet..."
"Hm? I´m just cleaning your back...hold still now."
"O-Okay..."
"If you like the softness..you can touch them if you want."
While she said that, Ais´ face was pure innocence...she didn´t had even the slightest lewd thought by her offer. It wasn´t because she was an airhead...Ais was too pure to think of that as something...filthy.
"A-A-Absolutely n-n-n-not!" Bell nearly squeaked.
"Mou..."
It wasn´t like he had any other choice...Bell sat still while Ais continued to wash his back...using a special body part of her. It wasn´t something lewd or shameful for Ais, she knew that Bell liked her breasts...so she came to the idea to use them to wash his back. Sometimes Ais just got such an inspiration, it also worked when he had a bad dream, so why not while she helped him washing. After she was done, Ais wrapped her towel around her again and both sank down, blissfully moaning, into the big bath tub.
"Alive again..."
"Mhm..."
Both didn´t even had time to cuddle afterwards on Ais´ bed before they slept, as soon as they lied down and hugged each other, they fell asleep.
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In the forge of Hephaistos, the sword pulsated slowly...waiting for a certain someone to take it.
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Authors Note2: The chapter took longer than planned due to way to much work for me at the moment. The next one will come sunday or monday. I just had to include the first part, Ryu had to know it at some point...even though I don´t like to make her sad. ;(
Next chapter will be named. "Thunder Rabbit"...