Authors Note1: I´m sorry it took so long and that this chapter isn´t as long as usual, but I needed to make a cut at the end, since the stage play will be parted in Acts, that should stay together.

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Four weeks went by in the blink of an eye and it was a pretty interesting time for Bell. Now there was only two days left until the festival would start, he would spend the first day with his Familia, at the second would be the stage play and the third...the third would be special.

It was a fun experience for all that were part of the stage play and Bell finally got the last two script pages from Hermes. The first one was a last general list about the acts and who would be there, the second page was about Bell´s last lines towards Ais...and he felt great gratitude towards the god for it.

Since there was not much time left and not much left to do, Hermes had asked Bell and Ais to help him check if everyone was ready. Ais would ask her own Familia and check everyone...she already got into her role as the demon queen and didn´t tolerated any slacking off...the others groaned that they had now two Riverias.
Bell could check in the morning for his own Familia and everyone was ready. Otara showed him a mad grin as she imagined how it would be to fight him at full power...even that her stage weapon didn´t got finished, she was looking forward to it.

So Bell had nothing else to do and went to the pub to check on Ryu and Syr, his relationship with Ryu had gotten better recently. Over the last year it wasn´t that easy between them, due to her broken heart. Bell didn´t knew about the promise between Ais and Ryu...and Ryu never approached Bell.
It took a long time for Ryu to calm her feelings down, her heart was in turmoil ever since Bell told her about his confession to Ais and more after Ais talked to her at the party. Ais was an angel...Ryu really thought so...her kindness was just a tiny bit behind Syr. Bell´s heart belonged to Ais...even if he saw in Ryu far more than just a friend.
Ryu loved him...and she would only ever love him...but to make a move on him with Ais´ blessing...that wasn´t an easy decision. For a long time after the party she had thought for her own if she should do it or not, she had talked to Astrea for a long time. Astrea wanted her dear child to be happy,
but she also said there was a chance that Ryu wouldn´t be happy like this. She was too young to know it better, Ryu talked to Syr but she also couldn´t help her. In the end she even asked Riveria for advice and to Riveria´s honor, she was as neutral as possible.

"Lyon, you really love Bell, do you?"

"I do...he is the one in my heart."

"I don´t like to talk about peoples secrets...but I will tell you that Bell asked me the same thing too."

"Oh?" Ryu´s eyes had widened.

"I will give you the same answer...to try and make everyone happy could mean to make no one happy. I know you are young, Lyon and you are in love...want to experience love. But you are also an elf like me and personally I don´t think it would work. Would you be okay with sharing Bell? Knowing that he kisses another woman? Makes love with her?"

"I...don´t think so...and also..."

"Yes?"

"It would...be unfair...I think. Bell chose Ms. Wallenstein...and she loves him. I would feel like...pushing myself between them. I...don´t think I would be able to "share" Bell...and it would be filthy to share the bed with more than one partner.
I may be different if we all loved each other...but romantic feelings between me and Ms. Wallenstein wouldbeimpossible!"

Ryu was breathing way too fast.

"Lyon...calm down a bit, okay? We can stop if you want."

Ryu took a series of deep, long breaths to calm down a bit, her heart was still pounding...Riveria noticed the tiniest glint of tears in Ryu´s eyes. It broke her heart to reject the love of her life for herself...but Riveria´s respect for her grew. Ryu´s decision was a very hard one...but probably the best to make.
As Riveria told Bell, it was part of growing up...and Ryu wasn´t the only one that loved Bell but would have no chance...they all had to live with it. And as far as Riveria knew...Ais had even given Ryu her okay if all she wanted was to have a child from Bell. Riveria had groaned in her mind when she heard that...Ais was too young and pure to be mad with her..and she didn´t understood elves well enough or she would never made this suggestion.
Ais just wanted Ryu to be happy too...but this would cause even more problems. The day might come when Bell and Ais would become parents on their own...and then what? Would Ryu´s child be treated as the sibling? Would Bell be able to spend time with his other child? Would it be fair towards the other girls that loved him?
Well Bell didn´t had romantic feelings for the prum and renard of his Familia, or Tiona. But it wouldn´t be a solution to share the bed with all of them until they got pregnant. And as an elf, Ryu absolutely refused the idea to be part of a "Harem". Also...Riveria knew Ryu well enough and talked to Astrea to confirm her guess. Ryu was "a romantic clean freak", which meant she couldn´t even imagine holding hands on her own will with Bell before they would swear their eternal love to each other under a full moon in a silent forest at night. And sharing the bed with him...that would take her years to do...and as an elf it meant the ultimate form of showing her love to him. So...just making love with Bell to get pregnant without a relationship...it was just impossible for Ryu...truly impossible.

So in the end with the advice of Astrea, Syr and Riveria...Ryu decided to reject Ais´ offer...and she told her about it...but asked her to never tell Bell about it.

Riveria was relieved...not because she was "on Ais´ side"...but she had truly feared it would break the hearts of all three...some things just weren´t meant to be. But there was one thing that Riveria could not save herself from...Ryu had started to cry...it was just too much. So Riveria´s maternal instincs came out again...she gently hugged Ryu and let her cry at her chest for a long time until she calmed down...Riveria never told anyone about that.

Over the course of the last year, Ryu had avoided Bell a bit...to give herself the chance to calm down a bit. Life wasn´t just the love for one person, Ryu had her friends and her Familia to take care of, as well as her goddess. She was the captain and the "big sister" of the other girls in her Familia. So month after month...Ryu slowly got used to the situation...and the turning point was when Ais saved her life on the wall.
Ryu felt much better after she heard that Bell survived and got his arm healed again. The stage play was a big chance for her...she didn´t wanted to miss Bell in her life, both were still more than normal friends...but not lovers. The one who helped her the most during that time was Syr. While Ryu loved her goddess more than the most things in the world and was deeply thankful to Riveria...who had offered Ryu to help her if she needed it, Riveria couldn´t escape her motherly instincts...it was Ryu´s special person that she needed.
Syr was her everything and Ryu was as much there for Syr as Syr was for her. Ryu didn´t knew it, but the time for Allen as Syr´s boyfriend was only a short time thing between them, Allen favored Freya/Syr over Syr/Freya and wanted to serve his beloved goddess as she was. But this gave Freya the chance to be there for Ryu, both spent much time together and helped the other to heal their wounded hearts.

That was why Freya agreed so strongly to the stage play, as long as she could do it with Ryu. Freya tried her best to let her life with her best friend continue before the time that love for Bell was a thing. Both were still good friends with Bell...but love was off the table.
These two best friends spent more and more time together, Syr even wanted to have Ryu and the others from the pub over for a sleep over at her place. They would stare in shock when they finally saw where exactly Syr lived...

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Bell wasn´t completely oblivious about Ryu´s feelings, so he had silently agreed to her taking her time and let her alone as much as she needed it. Secretely, Syr gave him hints about Ryu´s moods, when it was better for him to keep his distance, and when she seemed to need to see him. Bell didn´t did it to manipulate Ryu or have a secret from her, but to help her in the best way possible to ease her heart.
He still tried his best to make a very dear friend happy.

So he was even more happy when he saw Ryu´s first completely genuine smile towards him for a year...she had accepted things as they were and her heart had calmed down. They were able to talk normally with each other again and he went to her from time to time to train with her like in the past sometimes. Syr always watched these trainings fights and noticed something that she told them.
Ryu tended to go too far...that was one reason why Lunor and Chloe refused to train with Ryu...but against Bell she couldn´t go too far, since he was much stronger than her. She even trained with Ais sometimes...there was a very old rivalry between these two that Bell didn´t knew about. It dated back to the dark times...when one day...Ryu and Ais had fought about the last potato snack at a stall.
And those two had fought against each other seriously in the past, when Ryu wanted to buy Bell time to save the Xenos. Ais didn´t went all out...the only reason why Ryu was still alive. But she agreed to train with her, Ryu wanted to become stronger to protect everyone dear to her.

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"Ah, mornin´ Bell."

"Good morning, Ms. Lunor."

"Mouh Bell...too polite as always."

"Hehe, sorry sorry. Is it okay if I go inside?"

"Sure, Mama Mia gave you a free pass. Syr and Ryu are still practicing...but Syr...went a bit too far."

"Too far?"

"She begged Ryu on her knees to agree to her idea...I mean literally on her knees! You should have seen Ryu´s face when Syr knelt in front of her! Never before was she that red! Syr thought it might be a good idea to sing and play from time to time in the pub, Mama Mia liked the idea.
So she will build a small stage for them, Ryu will play her instruments while Syr sings...Mama Mia expects many guests on these evenings. Ryu wanted to decline...but against Mama Mia, Syr and Lady Astrea...she had no chance. Syr told her a lot that the customers would love to see them, especially since Ryu started to let her hair grow again."

Bell smiled wryly...poor Ryu. But he was sure, while she would be a bit embarrassed...she would be happy about it. Spending time with Syr and enjoy the presence of her happy goddess at the same time was pure joy for her.

Before he entered the pub, Bell knocked gently and opened the door. No customers were here at that time and while most of the others cleaned up, Ryu and Syr were indeed still practicing. Ryu sat on a chair, wearing her costume and playing on her spirit harp.
She had long white boots, that reached almost her knees, together with black pants. Her upper body was covered by a green tunic with white cloth in the middle. The tunic´s sleeves were of a light brown that reaced her ellbows. Her hands were in green and black gloves that had a very natural design. Wrapped around her body was a small brown cape and a white scarf.
On her head was a wide green hat with two white feathers. According to Hermes, it was very close to the clothes that the famous bard Ryulu had worn in the past, it fitted her so well. But it was her expression that let Bell smile, she looked as if she had fun and was smiling genuinely.

But...the song they were practicing wasn´t part of the stage play, it would be one of those they would play at the pub...one of Syr´s own creations.

"Toss a coin to your rabbi-...Oh Bell, hello!"

Syr´s outfit and her expression were both, seductive and innocent at the same time. She wore a long dress without sleeves. It had a light brown color around her legs, that went over into a white top that only covered her stomach and breasts...and those just barely. The top border of the top was frilly and went over into some kind of cloth that looked similar to a nearly see through pantyhose, that "covered" her cleavage and went up to her neck, where it was held in place by a green ribbon.
Her hands up to her elbows were covered in the same material. Her hair was bound back by another green ribbon and held a red rose in place, around her right, free upper arm was an additional ribbon. Depending on her expression she looked very seductive or innocent. Bell would later be told that while they played music at the pub, Syr would sometimes leave the stage to walk singing between the tables. While Ryu kept playing, her smile became somewhat dreadful...and every waitress also smiled like that when certain people would get the idea to "accidentely" touch their Syr.

"Good morning, Bell." Ryu stopped to play with the harp and smiled lightly.

"You two look so gorgeous! These outfits really suit you!"

"Ehehe, thank you." Syr smiled happily while Ryu looked a bit shy.

"Ahm...what was that song just now?"

"A composition of my own! But you are not supposed to hear it already...B.A.D...B.O.Y.!"

Syr waved with her right index finger in front of Bell´s nose.

"I´m sorry, but lord Hermes sent me here to check if you two are ready."

"Everything is okay, Bell." Ryu put down her harp and got up from the chair.

"I can´t wait to hear you two play here...I´m sure half of Orario will come to hear you."

"Only half? Püh..." Syr pouted.

"Well all of them couldn´t fit in here."

"Then...Ryu! Let us play in the Arena!"

"What?! No!"

"Awww...Come on...for meeeee?" Syr looked into Ryu´s eyes with the special puppy gaze.

"N-No...that´s...too much..."

"Mouh...okay then. But we will play together here, as long as it is with you, that´s fine. Ooooh but maybe we could ask Lunor, Chloe, Ahnya and Helun to join us, we could form an idol group!"

"What is an idol?"

"A famous being so the gods say."

"I...don´t really want to stand out..." Ryu had taken off her hat and fidgeted slightly.

"Okaaaay."

Syr looked like she was in thoughts.

"But we will play together, you play and I sing, and of course you will sing sometimes too."

"Huh?!" Ryu´s ears twitched up.

"Hehe...you thought I never heard you sing by yourself? You have such a beautiful voice...just like lady Astrea said."

"Irgh..."

Syr counted something on her fingers.

"There will be the pub birthday...Mama Mia´s birthday...your goddess´ birthday..."

"Syyyr..."

"Hehe...you are such a cutie."

Bell smiled while he watched their interaction.

"Okay then I will let you two continue to practice, I have to check on something else."

"Oh Bell, before you go."

"Hm?" He turned to Syr.

"Ahnya...can you come here for a second?"

"Meow?"

"I wanted to show you something, Bell."

Bell looked confused at the cat girl, who looked also confused.

Syr cleared her throat and looked at Ahnya.

"Ahnya, like we practiced, please repeat after me. Can you imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary mengaerie?"

"Meow...do I need to?..."

"Of course! You wanted to practice it for your singing, remember?"

"Meow am not so sure..."

"Aaaaahnyaaaa...Do I need to tell your brother that you don´t practice honestlyyyyy?"

"Meow!" Ahnya startled.

"Meow will do it! Meow will do it!"

Bell knew who Ahnya´s brother was...it seemed their relationship got a bit...better? He guessed that Syr had something to do with it...she really loved Ahnya.

Ahnya looked a bit uneasy and cleared her throat.

"Can mew imyagine an imyaginyary mewnyagerie mewnyager imyagining mewnyaging an imyaginary mewnyagerie?"

Bell nearly choked and had to cover his mouth with his hand...that just now sounded way too cute...

"Hehe...gotcha, Bell." Syr had a smug grin on her face.

When he heard that just now...Bell couldn´t help but imagine Ais with cat ears and tail...talking like that.

Syr had managed to awaken something in Bell just now...

"I-I have to go now!"

"Hehe...have a good day, Bell!" Syr waved happily, while Ryu and Ahnya looked confused.

A few days later, Bell would find a package for him without a note about where it came from. In there...would be a headband with two cat ears...and an attachable tail...

When he found that...Bell couldn´t help but gulp...and imagine Ais wearing that...the question is would she do that...

She would...but this is a story for another day.

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The festival really deserved the name festival. Even if it was meant for the gods, all of Orario got fun with it. The whole city seemed to be decorated, a small version of this festival was held every year, but this time it was a special number, so it became way bigger than usual.
As they had promised, Bell and Ais didn´t saw each other much on the first day of the festival, since they spent the day with their Familias. Bell walked arm in arm with Hestia, the festival was basically like the birthday of a god, so their children followed their desires on this day. Each of the Familias went alone and visited various stalls or restaurants. There were a few exceptions, most of the Ganesha Familia still had their job as guards, since Ganesha couldn´t spend the whole time with his whole Familia...it was way too big for that. Hestia was accompanied by Bell, Haruhime, Lena and Lily...she made an exception for Welf, he walked around with Hephaistos and some people from her Familia.

One of the few Familias that didn´t walked through the streets at first, was the Astrea Familia. They held a small ceremony in their home, Astrea wished to honor her deceased children. After that the small Familia enjoyed the...mostly...peacefull city, this was what her children had fought for.

After a few hours, Welf joined them since Hephaistos got persuaded by Tsubaki and her followers to go and drink something, and Welf also wanted to spend time with the Familia that he belonged to. So they walked around and talked about the time when the Familia started, their first adventures together and all the things that happened.
When she noticed that Lena fidgeted more and more, Hestia patted her back and told her smiling she should go to her wolf. Lena thanked the small goddess whole heartly and ran off...all of them could see how much she was in love.

The first day went by pretty fast.

On the second, two hours before noon, Bell left the city together with some of the others, they had to walk a big distance.

The time for the stageplay had come.

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Authors Note2: I got questions about Ry, why she didn´t approached Bell. It was planned like here from the beginning, but I wanted to give it some time so that it would look a bit more realistic. Ais gave her the chance, but Ryu couldn´t take it, it would feel wrong for her. I know some people were confused at first about the chapter in the pub, where Ais talked to Ryu, but I couldn´t answer your questions to not spoil it. This closes the case of Ryu´s feelings for Bell in this story, I decided unlike the first story, Ryu won´t get magically pregnant like Ais...would feel copied and wrong, somehow.

So still full BellxAis ahead!

That goes with a lot of questions that come, I want to answer them but then I would spoil the story. So I´m sorry.

My work was a bit like hell in the last two weeks, but now it gets better. Next chapter will come next week, called "Act 1" and I have something special prepared for a certain fox girl.

When this ark is over come three slice of life chapters, then a mini ark (about 3-4 chapers), then will the Expedition Ark start.

For the three slice of life chapters I will say as much. Two will be about potion accidents for Bell...let´s see what happens. And the last, Bell will help Ais to overcome the trauma she got from Riveria, that the other girls couldn´t help her with in Melen.