"Is everyone in position?"
"Yes, lord Hermes. Every actor is at their place, the scene is built up and the magic items are in place."
"Wonderful, Asfi. Now then please take your place as well."
"Understood, but please don´t go too far in your role as the narrator."
"Asfi! I´m shocked, when did I ever went too far?!"
Asfi only stared at Hermes without saying a word.
"H-Hey, why are you so quiet? I never go too far...Asfi don´t look at me like that! Say something!"
"Hah...it´s okay...lord Hermes...I will go now."
She took a magic item that she had prepared, a Hades Head and went on her way to the castle of the demon queen. Like Lily would help Bell and his allies with their text and other things in case they forgot something, Asfi would do the same for Ais´ side. Both had a script on their own with a few lines, in case the others didn´t know what to say when it came to improvising.
Hermes wouldn´t tell the others, but he had invested quite a bit in this stageplay, and that everything would work well. If someone would ask him why he did all that, Hermes would answer honestly that his reasons were quite selfisch. For one part he wanted entertainment on his own,
then he would produce some good from the characters of the stageplay...the figures were already in production. He wanted to do something for Bell too, but even that he would cover with a selfisch reason. Orario had recently experienced a devastating war against these monsters. Heroes were needed,
Bell and Ais were the new young heroes in talk...he needed to do his part to distract them a bit from the fighting. To give them nice things to look forward too, so they would never break.
Hermes didn´t only did that because Zeus had told him to keep an eye on Bell...of course he would do it, since Zeus was his old man. They were on the surface, but some day Hermes might return to heaven...and Zeus too...then he would have a lot to explain...so he did his best. Bell and Ais needed to continue to push forward,
both had level seven...both were incredible strong now...but Hermes rememberred what had happened to Zeus´ and Hera´s Familias...if something like the black dragon king would attack...Orario would be obliterated. Many more people needed to strive forward and become stronger...Hermes longed to see a true hero...and he had the feeling that Bell might be this hero. So he needed allies and friends...those and more were Hermes´ reasons...for some reason that he couldn´t explain, Hermes couldn´t be honest to himself...deep down he did it because he liked Bell.
That was why Hermes had prepared the stageplay like he did...especially the end.
.
Hermes checked his outfit a last time and went on his way out of the room. He wasn´t in his home, but at Babel. It was the middle of the day and the festival was in full swing. But most attractions for the gods were set to a hold when a noise rang over the city.
There was a small stage in front of Babel and many, many chairs and benches. The whole main place around Babel was filled with people, the seats for the gods were special made. And all seats were filled to the brim, many people moved between the Familias and sold drinks and food. Hermes was surprised to even see Freya, not at her front seat but more in the middle, sitting side by side with Demeter, only one of Freya´s children sat next to her, Ottar. Demeter was accompanied by her whole Familia. He let his eyes wander around and saw Hestia and her Familia. Not all Familias were here, he knew that Loki and her children were in the Hostess of Fertility...well those who didn´t took part in the stage play.
Hermes climbed on the stage and went to the magic item in the middle, a sort of microphone that would enhance his voice to everyone. He wore dark brown pants, a wine colored west with a red coat, and a cylinder on top of his head.
He cleared his throat and tapped a few times against the microphone to get everyones attention. Soon all the noises in the crowd went down and they focussed on him.
"Laaaadiiiies and Geeeeentlemaaaan! Dear fellow gods and goddesses! I am happy that you all came in such numbers to watch our little stageplay. It isn´t much that I have to say...just a tinly little play that we arranged.
I want to thank especially Hestia and Loki, for lending me so many people. As well as Dian Cecht for the time of the lovely Amid. Also Takemikazuchi and Mama Mia."
Hermes made a short pause to take his breath.
"I won´t tell you much about what will happen, that would ruin it for you...so without further talk. Ouranos, I ask for permission to use my powers!"
A voice that the mortals couldn´t hear rang out.
"Granted."
Hermes snapped his fingers and all over Orario appeared magical mirrors that would soon show the scenery. Around Babel alone appeared eight of those, and they were truly gigantic. Ganesha and his Familia were busy in the arena, since it was also filled and now the mirrors appeared there too.
"So my lovely children and fellow gods...let us begin!"
.
.
Hermes closed his eyes for a few seconds before he opened them again and looked into the far distance, falling into his role as the narrator.
.
.
"This is an ancient story before the time of divine Falna, about a man who was a hero "Did you know...have you heard the tale? A tale from the past? Of the great hero Argonaut? Those famous, legendary hero that many people know about nowadays? He was a great hero from the past, admired by many, loved by a few.
But what if his story was a bit different? So let us travel to the past and see how the world was back then."
The mirrors all over Orario started to shine, before showing the landscape outside of Orario, moving fast into a direction that the people could not determine.
"It was a horrible time back then, before the gods came down to earth. The people had to fight against monsters and demons on their own, a few were blessed by spirits and got stronger...but those were few and the monsters very strong. Among all those monsters and demons, there was one that stood out among them...one of terrifying power...the demon queen! She wiped out all of her rivals and those who tried to get power on their own.
Defeating the Ice queen and offering her a place at her side...she united all the demons under her rule...that was the demon queen..."
The scenery on the mirrors moved towards a big castle, it was an old building and renovated by Hermes´ children for the play. Some people in the city might have recognized the castle, it was south-east of Orario. It was built next to a river,
the only way to reach it was by passing a long bridge. Several towers rose up and everything looked like it was covered in a light fog. The light there looked diffuse, a trick of the magical mirror. Following the scenery, the point of view moved fast along the bridge, for a moment a small, heavily armore figure was seen, before the view moved into the castle grounds.
The peope in Orario heard light laughter from a female voice...then the view moved through the main gate and inside the castle.
As if following the steps of a person, the point of view moved, following a figure...a small figure. It was a prum...a very famous prum. Clad in light blue pants and a long sleeved green shirt, with a coat around his waist in the same green as his shirt, and a white cape that was closed at his neck. He held a long spear in his right hand, the tip had a golden ornament and a blade as if it was made from ice, such was the color.
The prum followed the way through the castle and moved up some stairs, arriving at an enormous door with the symbol of ice on it´s door. He knocked a few times and waited.
"Come in."
"Mylady Ice Queen, you are as beautiful as ever today." Finn smirked.
"I thank you, handsome prince. What brings you here?"
Many people in Orario...especially the elves...gasped loud when they saw the ice queen that Finn talked to. Riveria wore a long white and light blue dress, that flattered the curves of her body. Around her waist started a long, white cape that was see through. The sleeves of her dress neded in some kind of white gloves, that let her hands free, there was an additional sleeve part which was also see through, but the cloth underneath blocked any view to Riveria´s body.
Around her waist was a black and golden belt, with a few blue emeralds hanging down from it. Her cleavage was covered by a similar looking piece of cloth, also in black and gold, with a sapphire in the middle. A tiara with an even bigger blue emerald held her now blue hair back. In her right hand she held a long staff, with a tip formed like a snowflake, an opened book was in her left, as if she was reading while walking around before the handsome prince entered the room.
"I came to report to our majesty."
"You may go...*sigh*...now is a moment as good as every other."
"Is she...not feeling well today as well?"
"When did she ever feel well in the last time?"
"True."
"After the conquering ended...and we joined her...she had turned like this...I hope your report will cheer her up."
"I hope so...and that I return alive." Finn gulped.
"I pray for you." Riveria raised her right eyebrow in a sarcastic way.
Since they were demons, something like praying for someone else or saying "Bless you!" after sneezing...was like a curse.
Finn just smirked and went on, following up the stairs. The whole area of the ice queen had a very chilly feeling, she preffered it this way. And anyone who wanted to get to the demon queen, had to get past the ice queens chambers first...she was the last guardian and her closest confidant.
"Demon queen...I hope you will feel better any time now...are you still waiting for him?"
High up in the biggest tower, were the chambers of the demon queen. The handsome prince didn´t knocked, she wouldn´t react to it even if he did. What awaited him behind the door was an enormous room, clad in darkness to the biggest part. Twelf giant pillars supported the ceiling, there wasn´t much in this room, except for a large, dark green carpet that led to the throne.
Next to the throne was a small door towards the personal chamber of the demon queen, but this was her throne room.
The handsome prince followed the carpet towards the throne...he couldn´t see the queen completely. The whole throne was covered in darkness...like a black fog. He saw only two feet in black boots, two horns that poked out of the blackness...and two, golden glowing, eyes...eyes that didn´t looked human...but like ones from a beast.
A faint click was heard...as if claws were slowly drumming on the armrests.
"Handsome prince...what brings you...to my...throne?..."
The voice of the queen sounded strange...also as if she was growling.
"I came to bring you my report, my queen."
The handsome prince bowed down before the queen and looked up again.
"Then tell me...what did you...hear?"
The tone of the voice changed a bit...as if she was bored...or maybe...it was something else?
"The defence of the castle is perfect, the demons under your rule are well and don´t miss anything...since you are their queen...and your reign is perfect."
"Is that so?..."
"Yes, my queen."
"Hah...then everything is perfect as always...*sigh*.."
"There is just..."
"Just?"
"A minor inconvenience."
"Speak."
"The mortals...those puny, little maggots...they refuse to listen to your perfect rule, my queen. I got informations that..."
"That? Speak loud and clear!"
"That they sent the one they call "The hero"."
Immediately, the demon queens behaviour changed, she leaned slightly forward and the handsome prince could almost see her face...almost.
"The hero?!"
"Yes, my queen."
A sudden burst of laughter filled the throne room.
"Finally! Finally they sent him! The hero!"
"My...queen?"
"Go now, handsome prince! Return to your post and take your subordinate with you! The hero is coming for me!"
"Y-Yes, my queen!"
The handsome prince hastily left the room, while the demon queen chuckled. When she was alone, her golden eyes flashed bright for a moment and the blackness was whirled around by...golden wind.
"Finally...I am waiting for you...Hero!"
.
.
While the scenery on the mirrors moved, Hermes moved his arms up and continued to narrate.
"The demon queen...ruler of all demons and monsters in the land. Enemy of mankind...but is she truly that fearsome? No one knows why she started to unite the demons...or to conquer such territory. The mortal races are in fear what might come to them, yet the attack didn´t started.
It can only be a matter of time now...or can it? Some of her loyal subjects are worried about their queen...she seems to be moody...What is the reason for this? In any case the mortals can´t wait until the demons attack...so they send their mightiest hero!...And his little sister...
Will they have success? Or will they be slain by the demons that await them already?"
.
.
"Big brother...wait for me!"
"Ahahaha! Come Fina! We have a long way ahead of us!"
"I said wait! Stupid brother!"
The sun stood high up in the air and the weather was just perfect. Two young looking people were on their way through the lands. A young man walked in front, followed by a young woman.
He was a human with white hair and red eyes. His feet were in some kind of sandals that left his toes free and his shins were protected by a leather binding, held in place by red strings. His pants were of a beige color and on his upper body he wore a long tunic, that went over in a pareo around his waist, bound by a red, cloth belt.
A long black scarf was wrapped around his neck and only the right side of the tunic had a sleeve, but a black one. On his hip were a long sword and a book...a diary. He hummed lightly while he walked, seeming to be pretty carefree.
The girl that followed the human was a beautiful elven maiden. She had white shoes with black socks, her legs were bare and she wore an orange skirt with black borders. She had a long sleeved, white tunic and a leather west, together with a blue cape that reached just below her butt, her hair was bound to a pony tail by a blue ribbon. Instead of a sword, she wore a staff, that had a pink emerald as its tip.
It was the famous, legendary hero Argonaut and his little sister Fina...even if they weren´t related by blood...Fina was adopted into his family.
"Now, now my lovely little sister, we have to hurry to reach the castle of the demon queen before night falls!"
In his role, Bell talked different than usual, he tried to keep his voice stronger and fuller and talk more enthusiastic. He looked really carefree right now and strolled along the land like he wanted to. Lefiya talked pretty much like usual...or rather like she did in the past to Bell, scolding him now and then.
"Why are you so eager to reach the castle so soon? We have a long way ahead of us anyway!"
"You heard the king, he sent us to visit the demon queen! So we must hurry."
"We are not going to visit her, brother. They sent us to defeat her!"
"Both mean the same to me, hahaha! Don´t you worry, I will defeat her with your help!"
"Act more like the hero you are supposed to be, brother! You act like a clown again!"
"Ah...the great hero Argonaut...the Clown...that has a nice ring to it...don´t you think, sister?"
"No I don´t!"
Bell walked a bit slower to let Fina catch up, then he put his arm around her shoulder, which let her blush a bit.
"I have complete trust in you, my dear, little sister. No demon in the world will have a chance against your magic. As long as you are at my side, we can´t lose!"
"S-Stupid brother...you should remind yourself of who you are..."
While the elven maiden tried to be strict with her brother, it seemed she enjoyed the affection a bit.
"Who else am I but the legendary hero Argonaut?! And you of course the magical genius, my beautiful little sister Fina! Ahahaha!...By the way...have you grown recently again?"
"Stupid, pervert brother!"
Lefiya punched Bell from the side and sent him fly.
"Buha!"
Bell hit the next bush and rolled off, staggering back to his feet. "My...beloved sister...Fina...I am happy...to receive your affection...but...wasn´t that...too much?"
"That wasn´t affection! I am punishing you for oggling at your little sisters chest!"
"And yet I´m so proud of your growing body..."
"Broooootheeeeer..."
Lefiya´s eyes glared and she raised her staff.
"I´m only praising your beauty, my beloved sister!"
The quarrel kept on while they walked, many spectators chuckled by the acting of these two.
"So Argo...what is really the reason you agreed to this quest? I mean yes you are the hero...but going with just the two of us? That is a bit dangerous...don´t you think?"
"Worry not, Fina. We won´t be alone! I am sure we will find trusty allies among the way! We can´t be the only ones that want to bring peace to these lands!"
"And yet I´m sure no one is so eager to meet the demon queen..."
"But you heard the stories! She is said to be an incredible beauty! A shame that a woman that is said to be the most beautiful in the country...right next to my beloved sister of course...is so evil.
If we can´t talk with her, I will defeat her! Trust me, Fina! With your magic and my mighty sword, we will defeat every monster or demont hat get´s into our way!"
"And you really want to challenge her to a fight?"
"It has to be, Fina. It's about time someone put a stop to her!"
"But...are you sure it is smart...to go with just the two of us?"
"But of course! We just have to believe in good and nothing can happen to us! Trust me."
For the first time during the stageplay, music started to play from the magical mirrors, provided by the people that Hermes had asked to do it.
And Bell...started to sing...
"We're going to fight, we're going to fight to liberate this land! We're going to fight, we're going to fight, the victor will be us!"
And Lefiya...joined him...and sung.
"But how can we win, her power is so great?!"
"We´re going to fight, we´re going to fight, and get rid of the queen!"
Lefiya smiled and jumped slightly up. "We´re get rid of the queen!"
It was more of a chant than an actual song.
.
The scenery changed again, showing the throne room of the demon queen, one of her loyal subjects brought her a report.
"My queen, the rebels have been spotted on the road!...and your strawberry ice-cream has been prepared."
The queen growled.
"Rebels...how I hate them...I'll take care of it personally...after the ice cream! Muahahahahaha!"
The demon queen rose up to her feet while the subject ran out of the chamber to get the ice cream. She turned forward and it looked like she looked directly through the mirror...then Ais started to sing too, with a strong voice.
I´m going to fight, I´m going to fight 'cause this land is mine!"
She put a hand to her chest and stretched it then forward to the mirror.
"I´m going to fight, I´m going to fight to show my eternal shine!"
The subject returned with a bowl of ice cream and sung too.
"You will smash them all, they don't stand a chance against you!"
"I´m going to fight, I´m going to fight, I will run them through!"
"Your power is so true!"
Ais stopped her singing.
"Subject, prepare everything for the fight! Send notice to my spy network! Tell the Oni to massage my feet...and make me some waffles!"
"As you command, my queen!"
.
The scenery changed back to Bell and Lefiya who were half jumping, half jogging forward as if they were happy, they sang together.
""We´re going to fight, we´re going to fight...""
Lefiya sang alone. "Surely we will win!"
.
Ais sang together with her subject.
""We´re going to fight, we´re going to fight...""
The subject sang alone. "Rebels are just a whim!"
.
Bell sang.
"The demon queen will loo-hoose!"
.
Ais continued to sing.
"No one is going to stop me!"
.
The mirrors showed both pairs now, singing in unison.
""""We´re going to fight, we´re going to fight, destiny takes its course!""""
.
It showed Bell again.
"We´re going to fight..."
.
And Ais.
"I´m going to fight..."
.
And both.
""The eyes of the world are on me!""
.
Ais again.
"I´m going to fight..."
.
Both.
"We´re going to fight..."
.
And Bell.
"Victory will be mine!"
.
Suddenly the music ended and they stopped to sing.
.
.
"Ooooh? Sure about that?"
.
.
"Huh?"
Lefiya stopped when she heard a voice, as did Bell, but he looked determined and gritted his teeth.
"I can sense it...the closing in of footsteps...a being that brings horror and disaster. I can hear it, the horrendous clank of it´s weapons!"
.
.
From behind a rock walked a figure forward, Otara. She was clad in a far eastern style battle armor, like the famous samurai used to wear, but without a helmet. Her feet were in far eastern style sandals without any socks.
Her racoon-like ears twitched one time and her tail wagged. Asfi had done masterful work to adjust the clothes at the right place to her tail.
In her right hand she held a long spear weapon, called a Guan-Dao, leaned against her right shoulder. On the right side of her hip was a long Katana and two Wakizashis crosswise on the back of her hip. Even in her role...Otara loved to carry many weapons.
"Now...what do we have here...who dares to come my way? Mortals? Hoooooo?..."
Otara smirked while she eyed the two.
"Are you two kids lost perhaps? This is the demon queens territory...you should turn around and go...not that I let you do that of course..."
Everyone could see that Otara was shaking from the sheer thirst for this fight.
Bell stretched his right arm and shielded Lefiya.
"I am the hero Argonaut and this is my adorable, little sister, Fina! We are here to search for the demon queen!"
"Hoooooo?! The hero? Really? YES! Finally a worthy opponent...
She raised her free fist and shook it. "Our battle will be legendary!"
Otara didn´t waited long, in an instant she jumped forward and raised her Guan-Dao with both hands.
"Stay back, Fina!"
Bell unsheathed his sword and got into battle stance.
Even if it was just a stageplay, Otara and the others were allowed to go all out. Their weapons weren´t sharp, so it was unlikely that someone would get hurt, still...everyone wore their protective pendant...just in case.
Otara twirled her Guan Dao over her head so fast the blade blurred. Had she been at the same level as Bell, he might have had serious problems with her since she fought so aggressively. Bell had practiced fighting in a way that made it look epic and dramatic, but would never be done in a real fight. Otara swung her Guan Dao down and Bell blocked with his sword at the last second. Metal banged against metal and sparks flew. Using reverse momentum, Otara spun away from Bell while swinging his sword in a complex pattern designed only to look impressive.
"We will whirl and twirl, circle and twist until one is unable to raise their fist!"
Bell´s sentence didn´t made much sense, but it rhymed.
Otara attacked again and tried to use the longer range of her weapon to her advantage, her armor looked massive, but it was actually very light, not usable in the dungeon, but enough to look good.
"Crescent Moon!"
She whirled the Guan Dao in a way that looked like what she just had shouted. Normally it was unwise to yell out an attacks name...while Ais still believed what Loki had told her, that it made her attack more powerful.
Bell acted as if it was hard for him to counter her attack...due to the level difference it looked so slow to him when Otara attacked. Otara pushed and tried to surprise him with a punch. Bell ducked and felt the blade snap over him. He dropped to one knee, then shot back up, sword held out. Otara was quick, dodging the sword's point and parrying the next blow. The blades snapped together in a storm of sparks before snapping apart again. Their weapons were enchanted to produce many sparks.
She had a wild grin on her face...Otara really loved to fight.
"Why are you here? Do you want to stop us? To reach the queen?!"
"Orders are orders, little human!"
Bell stabbed first, wielding his sword with sufficiently impressive skill. They bumped into each other again, exchanging savage blows, then jumped back again.
He pushed forward, using his greater mobility to get under the range of Otara's weapon, putting her on the defensive. Otara countered in a flash, sparks dancing across her armor as the blades met again.
Lefiya stood a few meters behind Bell, raising her staff and starting to chant, sparks danced in the air around her.
"Proud warrior, snipers of the forest. Take up your bows before the advancing plunderers. Answer the call of your brethren and ready your arrows. Tinge them with flame, the lamplight of the forest. Release them, the fire arrows of the fairies. Falling like rain, burn away the savages!"
Her voice got so low that she whispered.
"Fusillade Fallarica."
But louder she yelled. "Flare Burn!"
She had to cast her chant for real, but for the audience she used another name than her magic originally had. A magic circle appeared below her feet, then dozens and dozens of burning magical arrows shot out of her hands into the air. They curled on their way and she bombarded the land around the duel, let the light flash and made it look truly epic.
Bell and Otara kept fighting inside the magical bombardement, evading the magic by a hair's breadth. In reality, Lefiya aimed perfectly, so there was no danger to either of them.
"Buha!"
Otara jumped back as a magic arrow hit the blade of her Guan Dao, ripping the weapon to the side.
"You are wide open!"
Bell jumped forward and rammed his sword into Otara´s body, who´s eyes widened in shock. The audience gasped when the sword pierced the body. What they couldn´t see, Bell´s sword was on the side of Otara´s body, she used her left arm to hold it close to her body so that it looked real.
"I-...I...lo...st?"
"I will always keep your memory in my heart, proud warrior."
Bell...Argonaut janked his sword back and the battle maniac fell to the ground, twitching a last time.
"Big brother!"
"Ah, my beloved Fina! You really saved me there, my adorable, little sister! Hahaha!"
Bell patted Lefiya´s head while she jumped into his arms, as if she was worried. She tried her best to not show her burning ears...she was embarrassed by the thought that all of Orario saw her acting like that now.
.
.
"And like this...the first minion of the demon queen was taken down...many obstacles wait in the way of our two heroes...their journey continues! But not everything is hostile towards them.
To defeat an opponent like the demon queen...they will need help...allies and...artefacts of power...while they be able to get them?"
.
.
Bell and Lefiya continued their way, the distance they had to walk gave their audience a short moment to get new snacks, drinks or visit the bathroom if they had to. Many women in the city got enchanted by Bell´s acting and his heroic figure...but also many men took a liking to Lefiya.
"Big brother...are you hurt?"
"Don´t worry my beloved sister, I´m fine, thanks to your magic."
Lefiya had casted a healing spell on Bell, he wasn´t wounded but it was part of her character to really care for her brother.
"It is still a big distance...do you think the other servants of the demon queen are stronger?"
"I´m pretty sure of it! It would be nice to find something to make us stronger."
.
.
"Heroes...do thee...desire...strength? Are thee...of pure...hearts?"
.
.
"Huh?"
"Hm? What is this? A voice from the shadows?!"
.
.
Another figure appeared, not fully visible. It was another female figure...with long, black hair, bound to a pony tail...in a ninja outfit. Mikoto didn´t needed a new outfit for the stage play, she had more than one ninja outfit.
Only her eyes were visible, the rest of her skin was hidden under the cloth.
.
"A far eastern shadow warrior! Now that is an amazing armor! Fina I´m sure you would look nice in that too!"
"Argoooo..."
The ninja continued.
"We have watched over thee from afar, if thee seek strength to complete the task...follow this path!"
In an explosion of smoke, the ninja vanished.
"Brother...what should we do?"
"Follow the path of course!"
"Do you trust this figure?!"
"A beautiful woman clad in such an amazing armor?! Of course!"
"That was a woman?"
"Of course, trust my trained eyes!"
"Brooootheeeer...where were your eyes?"
"Oh please, I didn´t looked at anything improper, but the difference to a male is very obvious, don´t you think?"
It would indeed be hard to mistook Mikoto for a man when she wore such a skin tight suit.
The path moved between trees up to a hill, that was covered in even more trees...with a small temple on top of it.
"The temple of Justice!"
Bell yelled out, grinning.
"Huh? Temple of Justice?"
Lefiya tilted her head in confusion.
"Yes! I read about it, it is said to hold treasures of the Goddess of Justice, given to the mortals to fight against evil!"
"Oh! Then we should hurry and ask for their help!"
"I´m right behind you, Fina!"
Bell ran in a way behind Lefiya, that there was no chance the magical mirrors view could wander under her skirt from below...even if the scenery would get blurry there...to be honest...he didn´t trusted Hermes completely...he knew him too well for that.
What awaited them at the top of the hill, at the entrance of the temple...let many people and gods in Orario gasp...and Hestia showed a smug grin...since that was her follower.
The gate of the temple was closed and locked, in front of it stood a priestess, with her back turned towards them. Her outfit was pure white...as white as fresh snow...and evenly untouched. Golden hair fell down from her shoulders, two fox ears pointed out from a see through veil that was on her head, with holes for the ears,
her long, bushy tail moved slowly behind her.
"Wha-..."
By Lefiya´s noise, Haruhime started to turn around, she smiled gently. Now that her front was visible, they saw that her outfit wasn´t pure white. The robe had long, wide sleeves that ended in blue ruffles, her shoulders were only halfway covered and the cloth went down to her cleavage, also with blue ruffles there, so it looked very decent and not lewd in any way.
Around her waist was a long, red ribbon, and they could barely see, that the robe parted a bit at the legs, showing just slightly a red underskirt, as long as the robe and a glimpse of her right foot, covered in a sandal. Haruhime raised her see through veil slightly and continued to smile, then she raised both of her hands.
She brought the middle and ring finger of each hand together and touched with her tips the tip of her thumb, raising the index and little finger...she formed some sort of fox heads with her hands.
"Greetings travelers, what brings you to the Temple of Justice?"
Lefiya and Bell couldn´t hear it, but there was an uproar in Orario when the people saw just how beautiful Haruhime looked...she looked so pure and innocent...nearly all men felt the desire to protect her, rather than stealing her innocence away. It was almost impossible to have lewd thoughts about this being.
"Ahm...w-who are you?"
Lefiya´s surprise was not an act, she didn´t knew how Haruhime would look.
"I am the Miko, guardian of this Temple...I´d like to repeat my question...what brings you to the Temple of Justice?"
"Hear me, Miko! It is I, the great hero Argonaut! And my beloved sister Fina! We are on our journey to defeat the demon queen and bring peace to these lands!"
"Ah...uhm..."
Haruhime backed away a bit by Bell´s loud declare.
"Brother...let me talk to her...you have no idea how to talk to women..."
"Excuse me?!"
"Do I have to remember you of the elven bard?"
"I wasn´t sure that she was a woman!"
Many spectators looked to the mirror that showed Syr and Ryu while they played music...and noticed a murderous smile on Ryu´s face...not because of what he just said...but more towards the one who wrote the line for Bell...Syr looked the same...Hermes gulped a bit but pretended to not notice it.
Lefiya made a slow step forward, so that the Miko could focus on her.
"Oh great priestess, please hear my request! My brother Argonaut and I were sent to defeat the Demon Queen, but she is incredibly powerful. We were told that mighty artefacts are in this temple...artefacts given to the mortals to help them fight evil."
"There are indeed artefacts in this temple."
"Then...is there a way...that you would allow us...to enter?"
Haruhime´s expression changed, to a very serious one.
"No."
"No?"
"No."
"But...why not?"
"The entrance is forbidden for the unworthy."
"But...unworthy...us?"
"Of course."
"D-Do you realise that we are the heroes that all people talk about?!"
Haruhime´s expression was as if she was looking down on Lefiya...or an insect. She had some problems with this expression, but many men in Orario felt a pleasant shiver by the expression on her face and in her eyes.
"Do you realise that the entrance is forbidden?"
Fina lost her temper pretty fast.
"I-I demand that you give us a chance to proof that we are worthy!"
"I didn´t got a sign from the Goddess that you might come. The holy place of the goddess isn´t allowed to be disturbed."
"Really? But...we got the message...from that ninja."
"The entrance is forbidden."
"*Sigh* Okay...I understand what you are saying..."
Lefiya sighed again, then she got an determined look.
"Priestess! We a-"
"Miko."
"*Cough* Miko! We are to enter the temple and use the artefacts to defeat the demon queen! The land of the mortals is in danger and we shouldn´t waste even one second on our journey! Every demon that comes our way to stop us will be defeated, but we need those artefacts! Now open this gate! Or the forces of the demon queen might overrun the mortals plane!"
The Miko looked at Fina after her outburst for many seconds in silence.
"The entrance...is forbidden."
Lefiya started to shake and mumble for herself, clearly holding back her anger.
After half a minute of growling and mumbling, Lefiya sighed again.
"Okay...I thought I could get through you myself...if reason cannot be applied...unreasonable means must be taken..."
Lefiya turned her face to Bell.
"Brother Argonaut!...Convince her..."
She didn´t needed to say another word, Bell jumped forward and landed in front of the Miko, who startled a bit.
"Mmmmmmm-hm!"
Bell put his right leg back and slightly put his left at an angle, flexing his muscles as he made a heroic pose...Lefiya took a step back to be sure.
His voice changed a bit, got more deeper and...alluring...flirting...a bit...indecent.
"Oooh...little...Priestess."
He smiled in his most flirty way and flexed his muscles again. "Beautiful Fox-Maiden..."
"Y-Yes?"
Haruhime´s eyes widened by Bell´s behaviour...she didn´t knew what Bell was about to do and say...Hermes wanted to catch her true surprise.
Bell leaned slightly forward to her, the gate was right behind her back, so there was not much room to back away.
"Would you ever reject to let such an legendary hero like me enter your domain?"
"Uh..."
Haruhime´s eyes swam around...she didn´t knew where to look at...Bell flexing his muscles in front of her...her brain started to heat up.
Bell´s arousing smile widened while he moved his right hand slowly along his upper body and the few armor parts he had.
"Look upon my smooth silver steel..."
"Oh."
Her eyes widened more and she gulped...following Bell´s hand with her eyes...her knees shook.
Bell grinned nasty and lifted up his shirt, making a quick movement with his other hand, he held a small bottle in there and splashed it onto his stomach.
"My oiled abs..." He moved his hand along there.
Haruhime already got deep red, even Lefiya was embarrassed.
"Oooohh..."
Bell continued, he pulled back his sleeve and reaveled his upper arm, moving the oily hand along it.
"My well rounded biceps..."
"Hauuu..."
He leaned closer and his voice got even more...erotic.
"My cardic centre...pulsates...with smoooth...velvety...beats..."
Bell didn´t knew what that meant exactly, Hermes said something about his heartbeat.
"Haaaaah!"
Haruhime´s eyes couldn´t widen more...Bell´s face was just centimeters away from her, she gasped and whinced...her eyes wanted to wander around Bell´s body...yet they fled every time she wanted to do that.
Bell dealt the killing blow...when Haruhime turned her face away, he placed the oiled hand at the wall next to her...and slowly turned her face towards him with his other hand on her chin.
"Little priestess..."
"Y-Yes?..."
"I want to..."enter"...your..."temple"..."
He did his best to sound more than just suggestive.
"The entrance...is...Kyaun!"
Suddenly, Haruhime´s body jolted upwards...then she sank down to her legs...they had given up...her brain swum around and she didn´t knew what just had happend to her by Bell´s last sentence.
"...granted..."
She just sat there and shook slightly, Bell leaned back and smiled pleased.
"I thank you, Priestess. Come now, little sister! Ahahahaa!"
Bell pushed open the gate and went inside, a very flustered Lefiya followed him.
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An also very flustered Lily...that had a nosebleed...waited outside of the temple, still invisible due to the magic item.
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And the even more flustered Haruhime...was glad this was her only role in the stage play...since...she really needed to change her underwear now...
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Bell would never know what he managed to do to Haruhime...with just his words.
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Flustered and embarrassed...Haruhime still felt incredibly happy in her heart for that moment...due to the unknown thing that just had happened to her body.
Still...Hermes was a bit too cruel to let Bell speak in such a voice and let him say such words towards the pure, innocent Haruhime.
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"Brother...these are the artefacts?"
"I looks like it."
There were two small sockets in the main room, on top of the left one were two bracers of a golden metal, on top of the right was a pink veil, to be worn on top of the hair.
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"And like this, the heroes Argonaut and Lefiya fulfilled the first Act...many more obstacles await them."
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Authors Note: One part of this chapter got it´s idea from a small musical I saw on Youtube, the other is an omage to the great Bruva Alfabusa.
To answer a question from Noon12345:
Why this Ryu thing is in the story? I wrote it with her in place of all the girls that were in love with Bell, since it were quite a few. The original story is nearly a Harem and it is always hard to write it into a solo girl story in a Fanfiction. All of them except Ais have to give Bell up, so I can´t just write "Okay, that´s life" and be done with it.
I could have written it out of the sight of every of the girls, but that would be too long. I can´t just write about Ais and Bell, the side characters need their roles too.
I can guarantee you all that Ais has Bell completely for her alone and that all the other girls will move forward, knowing that they can´t live all of their life without doing that, only because Bell is taken.
It was my plan to let it look a bit realistic, that they have no chance to be his girlfriends, wives, lovers etc...but his friends and special people. Since Bell would always risk much to save Haruhime, Lily etc.
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Next chapter will be for Riveria again, then I´m working on Act II. Riveria´s story will slowly move towards the climax now.