"Ladies and Gentleman in Orario..and..."
Hermes winked for a moment.
"Far away...We are moving onward to the last act of the stageplay, the hero Argonaut will face the fearsome demon queen...will he be able to defeat her?"
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Far away on an island, two Familias looked at a big mirror.
"Hermes really went all out for the stageplay, dear."
"I have to agree, love of my life. Bell really looks heroic...but I have to say the last part just now was...strange."
"Well, Bell has strange friends."
"A few of them, but I have to say...I am surprised that a healthy young man like him, who saved so many girls has only one around him. But to turn that fox-girl into a woman with just the power of his words...Bell is truly my grandson!"
Hera raised her eyebrow. "Well it looks like Bell doesn't take after his "grandfather"...much...don´t you agree...dear...but why did I knew that the part with the fox girl would be so interesting for you? You perverted old man! Did you teach him that?!"
"I-I have n-no idea what you are talking about, I was always innocent and would never do something like that!" Zeus whistled innocently.
"Yeah in your sleep...Anyway...did Hermes wrote what the purpose of this stageplay was? It looks a bit too weird for just entertainment...especially with Loki´s kids there."
"He didn´t, but Bell looks really determined."
"He sure does...but something is...hmmm."
"I guess...you mean his magic?"
"Yeah, that was Alfia´s favorite spell...I wonder why he has it."
"Well she was his aunt."
"Yes...strange. Well but I´m relieved that he doesn´t seem to have Meteria´s sickness."
"Oh that...yeah...that poor girl.."
"Indeed...*sigh*...I really wish he would have been able to meet and talk to her at least once...no child should grow up without his mother."
"She loved him very much, hm?"
"Bell was Meteria´s world..."
"Then...do you think...did Alfia all that...to create a world for Bell? To give him a chance to become a hero?"
"I won´t try to understand that child...she didn´t liked me that much...but maybe...I can´t tell if she knew about her nephew...or loved him."
Hera and Zeus would never know, Bell wasn´t only Meteria´s world...his aunt did horrible things and even went into her death...all for him.
"Zeus?"
"Yes, starlight of my night?"
"Did you ever tell Bell...about his parents?"
"Only that they loved him very much...that his father was a brave man...and his mother weak from an illness...but the kindest, friendliest, nicest person who ever lived...and that he was everything to him."
Hera looked at Zeus for a moment.
"You know...sometimes I forget how nice and charming you can be...dear."
This time, the last word didn´t sounded like she wanted to scold him.
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Bell moved up the stairs, followed a long corridor, torches on either side giving enough light to see the throne room door was at the end. He held the nameless sword in his right hand, Vesta was back in her scabbard. He opened the door and stepped into the throne room, which had already been seen in the first act. There was still no real lighting here. Bell felt more than heard soft footsteps to the right, knowing Asfi was around here somewhere in case either of them forgot their text. Passing between the pillars, he held his hand on the hilt of his sword, as befitted a hero. His goal was clear before him...the throne of the Demon Queen.
The actual throne was on a pedestal, which consisted of six steps, four small braziers stood here and threw a strange light. Lying in the dark, not much could be seen on the throne...only the silhouette of the person on it was thrown onto the wall behind. A trick with the light made the figure appear gigantic and terrifying, especially the massive horns!
Bell slowly drew his sword, swinging it one time before taking it in both hands.
"Are you the Demon Queen?!"
He got no answer, the person on the throne just got up, the face still covered by the shadows, as well as most of the outfit...only the horns poked out and a hint of blond hair.
"The war between mortals and demons will end now, Demon Queen! I am here to defeat you!"
Bell ran up the steps, holding his sword ready and yelling out. The Demon Queen´s back was towards him, she didn´t looked at him.
Slowly...Ais turned around.
It was his first time to see her outfit as the demon queen. Her feet were mostly bare if he could call it that, at least she wore no shoes. The basic part was a black, skintight bodysuit, similar to the one Bell wore with his armor...she had demanded that from Asfi, wanting to wear something similar to her beloved...from her waist upwards was a dark red corset with her green emerald sitting between her breasts. The bodysuit went even completely around her throat, and there were small additional parts at her throat and shoulders, it looked a bit like scales there, made the bodysuit thicker and added some protection. On the right side, the suit ended at the back of her hand, leaving her palm and inside of her fingers free, just like her usual outfit did, so she could held her weapon better. The left side...Bell blinked surprised...Ais wore a gauntlet there in a green so dark that it looked almost black...she held a fan in it, moving her hand up to cover her mouth...she was told that was how a royal lady behaved...Asfi knew some things about that.
Of course she didn´t only wore the body suit, from her waist downward started a long, dark green skirt...so long that the hem of her skirt dragged across the floor. When Ais made a small step forward, the skirt parted for a moment to reveal her leg, that was covered by the body suit, when she stopped the skirt covered everything again. In addition she wore a long jacket with a dark, brown fur on her shoulders. Asfi had worked a long time to give Ais a majestic hairstyle, bound the long, blond hair up. They wanted to give her a headpiece, but the horns stopped this.
My Queen...
Bell felt the strong urge to kneel in front of Ais...especially when he saw her expression...fitting of a Queen.
The sight of Ais like this surprised Bell so much that he missed two steps and stumbled forward, trying his best to get his balance back while holding his sword to the side. When he finally stopped, Bell raised his head...and blushed fiercly...he was still a step below Ais...so his face was on the same height as her breasts.
Quickly he raised his head further, since all of Orario were watching them.
"Hello!"
Ais queen-like expression vanished and was replaced by a gentle, inviting smile. She bowed slightly forward and raised with her hands the skirt just a little bit, curtseyed politely, holding her eyes closed for a second.
"E...Eh?"
Bell´s shock wasn´t played...Ais improvised and made something different from planned...but since he knew her so well...Bell noticed the faintest smile on her lips...she had fun right now. Still..his brain was still busy taking the sight of her in...not able to form words, while his sword slowly lowered down more.
Ais raised herself again, let go of her skirt and smiled again...he could die for that smile.
"Hello, Hero."
Bell panicked...using this smile right now was unfair. He staggered back and pointed at her.
"W...W...Who are you?!"
"Me? The Demon Queen."
Bell blinked and lowered his hand a bit, his eyes wandered up and down on her a bit.
"The Demon Queen...you?"
"Mhm!"
She nodded.
"D-Don´t fool me!"
"I don´t fool you...I am the Demon Queen."
"They told me the Demon Queen is a fearsome demon! With giant horns!"
Ais tilted her head slightly...how Bell loved this gesture of her.
"But I have horns...see?"
She bowed her head slightly. It was a good thing Ais wore the corset and the jacket...so only Bell noticed these wonderful mounds from up close, it wasn´t intentional but he just couldn´t help to admire the body of the woman he loved so much!
"I am the Demon Queen, with the title of Crimson Eye."
"But your eyes are golden..."
"Ack!"
Not only Bell thought that this sound of her was cute...
"A-A-Anyway!"
Bell jumped two steps back and raised his sword again.
"I am the Hero Argonaut and was sent here to defeat the Demon Queen! To save humanity!"
Ais slowly raised her skirt a bit again as she walked down the steps of her throne...Bell moved backwards with a raised sword.
"I will run you through with my sword!"
She smiled so cute...
"Then I will evade and say Hello again...Hero."
"Wh-What is wrong with you?!"
"I am just happy to see you, Hero. I have waited a long time for you."
"W-Why?!"
Suddenly, Ais behaviour and her expression changed, she raised her bare right hand towards Bell and smiled seductively.
"Become mine...Hero!"
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Bell was too perlexed from Ais´ improvising. Thanfkully Asfi whispered unseen to Bell.
"She maybe tries to play the seducive part of the Demon Queen, she is supposed to represent the seven deadly sins."
That makes sense!
Bell made two fast steps back and raised the sword again.
"I refuse!"
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Ais´ facial expression slipped...she looked like an abandoned puppy.
"Eeeeeh? Bell...why?..."
Her lower lip trembled, it looked like she was about to cry...
Many people...gods and mortals...cursed Bell right now for doing that to the adorable Ais.
"You...don´t want...to be mine...Hero?"
"Again...I refuse!"
"So be it then..."
Ais´ expression changed again...was she mad?
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"I will make you mine by force then, Hero!"
Asfi did her best to muffle her scream with her hands, Ais drew her sword from next to the throne...it wasn´t the one for the stageplay.
Why does she have Zephyr with her?!
Ais had renamed her sword "Hurricane" after having a strange dream...she felt like the sword liked this name better...at least it was her favorite.
From here on onwards, Ais had no script left...only Bell had the last side...well and Hermes. They should fight against each other...in the best case without destroying the castle.
For a few seconds, Bell stared at Ais...at Zephyr...he saw behind her acting...saw that special look in her eyes.
Bell smiled.
"So be it, Demon Queen!"
Bell threw his sword away and drew Vesta from the back of his hip. In just a few seconds, this fight became much more for them then just a stageplay. Since Bell had reached level seven, Vesta was stronger now than Olympus, since it grew with his level.
Ais showed him a brave smile.
"Here I come, Hero!"
And just like that...most of the stageplay was forgotten for them...yet the outcome was better than anything that Hermes could have hoped for. .
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In the moment that their fight started, Syr and Ryu started to play the final music theme, they would repeat it over and over until the fight was over. Hermes called it "Heroic Desire".
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Bell and Ais had fought over a thousand times against each other...with each other. Training together was their favorite kind of "date"...it was much more to them than just fighting...it was a dialogue between them. Both knew the others body as good as their own...and their shared skill went even deeper than just the eye...Ais was Bell´s soulmate...as was he for her.
It was maybe too much to say that they could feel or hear the others thoughts, but they got a feeling...a feeling of a feeling what the other felt...so without saying something they understood each other. Ais felt that Bell had something planned...something for her...and Ais...Bell felt that there was an urge in her...and urge to show everyone how much she loved him and he loved her.
When Bell took his pose...a special pose...Ais took her own...the stageplay became basically a recap of their relationship now.
Both rememberred these special lines...
What should I do for training?
Shall I teach you how to fight?
Then what should we do?
Your weapon is a knife, isn´t it? Do you use kicks or martial arts?
Both smiled...this brave, wild smile that was meant only for the other...they would start with the basics...their very first fight...but now...with the overwhelming strength of level seven adventurers.
Ais threw away the fur on her jacket and made a movement at her long skirt, suddenly it wasn´t much longer than the one from her usual outfit, but the body suit blocked the sight of her skin, except for her half bare feet and her hands. She lowered her stand and held her sword at her right side...just like back then when she tried to show him how to hold a weapon...when he had thought she might be an airh-
She spinned around her own axis, raised her left leg and aimed with her heel for Bell´s face, but unlike back then, Bell leaned backwards and evaded the swift kick. Bell jumped back two steps, while Ais raised her sword only with her right hand, coming slowly closer to him, while he held Vesta raised as if he didn´t really knew how to use a Knife.
He jumped up and tried to slash her from above, Ais hammered Zephyr into his right side, using the broad side and threw him to the side. Quickly regaining his balance, Bell jumped back to his feet. Right now his back was his blindspot, so Ais dashed around Bell and stopped there, thrusting her sword forward. Bell dropped down to one knee, holding Vesta up and with a screech of metal on metal, he deflected the sword to the side.
Ais rushed past Bell, whirled around and thrusted her sword forward, Bell deflected it again, this time with his bracers and slashed at her head, Ais ducked down and was all too busy evading a rapid series of thrusts and stabs. Back then it wasn´t a problem for her, and while Bell did his best now to look unexperienced, she fought someone of equal skill and strength.
Her sword hit against his waist and his bracer again, in return he used his free fist to punch her shoulder. His defence was open so Ais thrusted straight at his left thigh, in reflex Bell tensed the muscle...Zephyr´s tip only scratched his skin there...she hadn´t intended to stab him for real He dropped down to one knee, as if he was hurt or exhausted.
"You are strong, Demon Queen."
"Your skills and strategy are lacking, Hero."
"Irkh..."
"Now stand up, Hero!"
Staggering, Bell got back to his feet, raised the right hand with Vesta and the left hand so he could block at any time. He ducked down under Ais´ sudden swing, only the tiniest movement of her body had warned him...no other person would have been able to read her like that. His Knife was thrusted forward since her defense was open...but Ais turned her sword and hit Bell´s head from above with the broad side. Pretending to be knocked out...Bell went down groaning.
As Ais moved her hand towards him, Bell suddenly whirled around and kicked her feet away. Ais stopped her fall with her left hand and rolled away to the side...she had seen Bell rolling away often enough to be able to copy his movements perfectly.
When she got back to her feet, Ais made another step backwards since Bell already followed her and aimed at her collarbone with his slash attack. Evading that, Ais thrusted the pommel of her sword onto Bell´s forehead, but the next attack missed when he jumped to the side in reflex. She whirled around again to kick against his cheek, but Bell moved up and took the kick with his ribs and moved his arm around her leg, now his left arm held her in place.
He couldn´t help but enjoy the softness of her thigh for a moment, then Ais suddenly stabbed Bell´s shoulder with the scabbard of Zehpyr, breaking his grip and let him stagger back.
She smiled as she slowly whirled Zepyhr and it´s scabbard in her hands around.
At the start of their relationship...even if both didn´t knew that it was the start back then...when Bell had a crush on Ais...she was the one that saved him so many times. In the dungeon, three times...at first from the Minotaur, then when he had passed out after having a mind down, then when he was surrouned on the 10th Floor. And even more times. Bell and Ais rememberred it clearly, when Tione gave Bell a hint where he would find Ais before the wargame...where he had found Ais and Tiona.
Bell´s fighting stance changed, more experience went into it, as if he suddenly changed.
Here I come...Bell!
Ais didn´t attacked in her usual style, now she was a whirlind of destruction, using Zephyr with skill and the scabbard in a wild style...very close to Tiona using her Urga. In their mind they were back on the wall, training so harshly to improve Bell´s skill.
His eyes were drawn for a moment to her gauntlet.
"This gauntlet really suits you, Demon Queen!"
A happy gleam appeared in Ais´ eyes...even now he couldn´t hold back to compliment her. In the blink of an eye, she switched her weapon hand, holding Zephyr with her left now. The scabbard hammered down and Bell blocket it with his bracers, a bright golden light flashed again, but Ais averted her eyes in the right moment, too used to this part of Bell´s armor. Her sword came forward again and he countered with Vesta. Back and forth did they drove each other, non of them gave the other a chance to search for an opening. It was a unique fighting style with basically no defense, both went so all out that no one would have a chance other than defend...it looked less and less like a fight...and more like a blade dance.
While they moved, their eyes didn´t left the others...staring nearly into the others soul.
They moved back and forth in the throne room, fought up the stairs to the throne and around it. Unseen by anyone, Asfi sometimes ran for her life when they came too close. Bell and Ais forgot a bit just how strong they actually were. When one of them fought against a level six member of the Loki Familia, the difference became easily visible, it was always like that with a higher level fighting a lower one.
Both had made the first steps on the path to become heroes...to become demi gods...their strength was something else. But when they fought each other...when they fought each other...the semi-divine was pulled to a "normal" level, at least for them it looked like this. The audience gasped more than one time about the sheer speed of their fight. Only adventurers...and only the higher leveled ones could actually get just how fast these two were. For normal people, every adventurers looked like a super human...but to see a level seven in action...against another level seven...it was a sight to behold.
There were small banners in the throne room, hanging down from the pillars that supported the ceiling...and they moved. All windows were closed and Ais didn´t used her wind magic...yet the banners moved...from the sheer force of the impact, when their weapons collided, they created small blasts of wind.
Bell noticed that small shiver at Ais...he knew what came now...she couldn´t hold back.
"Aerial...Tempest!"
Golden wind encircled Ais´ arms and legs, only a taint of green was in it. The change of color came with her level up, since Ais also matured as a spirit...or rather her spirit side started to mature in it´s own way, different from her womanly body. The gold instead of green was basically her own "spirit color", the green..her mother's legacy. Some of the green would never vanish from Ais´ wind and she was really happy about it.
But Ais too noticed the gleam in Bell´s eyes...those beautiful, rubelite eyes that she fell for.
Gong...
Light enveloped Bell´s arms and legs...he had to keep up with her.
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"What a siiiiiight! The hero Argonaut uses the "Hero´s sacred Power" given to him by the gods, to fight the fearsome Demon Queen, who uses her evil magic!"
A series of boos filled the air as Hermes called Ais's magic "evil".
"I-I mean her fearsome but yet majestic and awesome magic!"
Now more people cheered again...Hermes felt like his actors took the stageplay away from him more and more.
But maybe it was because of the words he had whispered to Bell.
I´m counting on you, !
So he smiled while he watched together with the audience how those two lovebirds clashed.
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A faint sound filled the throne room, Ais´ skirt whirled around while they moved. The slight howl and whisper of her wind mixed with the ringing and chirping of Bell´s magic...it was a very pleasant sound.
A crying Asfi ran again as they moved into her direction without noticing her.
"Is that all you got, Hero?!"
"What else do you want to see, Demon Queen?!"
"How about this?!"
Ais showed him a smile that he had never seen on her...a bit crazy...like a battle maniac...it reminded him of Tiona. She had let go of her scabbard when they were near the throne for the last time and fought with just Zephyr now.
She held the sword in her right hand and raised the left, the palm showing up.
"Carbunculus..."
Huh? What is she doing?
Ais´ smile widened to a grin...her eyes flashed, her skirt and jacket waved due to her wind.
"Crescent..."
Is she chanting?!
Even he had never heard this before.
Now her smile got truly demonic...she had trained this expression for a long time with Riveria... To see these two sitting together like mother and daughter, training their "demonic faces" together...probably every other person than Bell would have laughed.
"Iacta!"
Ais pointed her hand forward and whispered so low that only Bell heard her.
"Firebolt!"
Oh, that´s what she is doing!
Ais covered the use of Bell´s magic like Lefiya had done with her own, they pretended to chant something. And due to her shared skill with Bell, she could use his magic a bit, when she was so close to him.
WHAT IS THIS?!
Instead of just firing a fireball like Bell did, Ais held her palm raised...the fireball grew and grew and grew. He noticed the faint golden whirl around it, Ais empowered the fire with her wind magic...only possible because Bell gave her the chance to cast.
Eventually she was finished and fired the fireball.
"Woah!"
Bell jumped to the side and escaped with a roll, the fireball smashed into one of the pillars...and the explosion destroyed the pillar completely.
"Ahahahaha! How do you like that, Hero?!"
"Take that, Hero´s Strike!"
Bell too whispered silently.
"Firebolt!"
For one second, Bell charged his left hand and fired a white glowing fireball at Ais, she simply made a step to the side and evaded like it was nothing. Bell´s fireball exploded in the wall behind Ais...Hermes screeched when he saw the damage that these two were creating.
"Impressive, Demon Queen!"
"You too, Hero!"
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Stop praising each other while you destroy the caaaaastleeeeee!
Hermes...cried.
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"Again...Hero!"
"Sounds good to me!"
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BUT NOT FOR MEEEEEE!
Asfi cursed her god while she ran for her life...those two were just crazy when they fought each other...and they looked so happy and in love while doing that!
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"Carbunculus...Crescent...IACTA!"
"Heroooooooo´s Striiiiike!"
It was good that Asfi ran for her life...this time both spells collided with each other.
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From outside of the castle, the other actors saw all the windows of the Demon Queen´s chambers exploding...they wondered what these two were doing up there.
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Smoke and a wave of fire enveloped the throne room, a big amount of golden wind shielded Bell and Ais against it. It actually only shielded Ais, but Bell had jumped forward to clash with her again so he was inside the ball of wind.
"You are very strong, He...r...o..."
Ais´ voice suddenly changed...as if all will to fight had left her. Bell blinked surprised and followed her eyes...and gulped. They had prepared a dinner for Ais...including a supder, duper, deluxe, ultra premium potato snack...and now...it was ash.
Oh oh..
"Be...ll...why?...*sniff* *sob*"
He gulped...Bell knew this kind of voice from Ais...she was...angry. Her pupils narrowed, tears dwelled in the corners of her eyes...yes...Ais could even get angry with Bell...but only when he did something like this...and not for long.
But right now...
"Aaaaah! HERO!"
"S-Sorry, it was...Iaaaaah!"
The wind hissed like a swarm of angry hornets, Ais renewed her attacks against Bell. Both went to the next act of their relationship...there had been one time..and only one time...when both had fought the other with serious intention...when Bell had seen Ais as his enemy...sort of...and it had broken his heart...at least until she ended the fight on her own.
She dashed forward, the left leg stretched out behind her, the reg pulled up a bit, Zephyr pointed at Bell. He ripped Vesta up right in time to block the tip of Zephyr, Ais´ expression was pure determination.
"Please listen to me! The snack is-"
"I have no need!"
"Demon Queen!"
"When I get another Premium Snack or something similar, will you also burn it to ash?!"
"I-I would never!"
"I can´t trust you, Hero!"
Bell slowly got why Ais was able to act so well...and why this stageplay got so important to her. Hermes had actually whispered into her ear, she would have the chance to make a unique memory with Bell...and get an super, duper, rare, premium potato snack...and now Bell had burned it to a crisp...that was unforgivable...for her role.
With a fierce scream, Bell thrusted his Knife upwards and drove Ais back, she had a surprised expression...just like back then.
He returned the grip on his Knife and attacked her, Zephyr came down in time to block him.
Golden wind whirled up around Ais as she jumped backwards, making a backflip, readying her sword again.
"You have grown strong, Hero...so I don´t need to go easy on you!"
She crouched down a bit and ran forward with a speed that shocked most people. Bell moved his head to the side to evade the quick thrust, immediately throwing his body to the right to evade the next one. Ais didn´t let him room for a counter attack, stabbing and thrusting her sword in a rapid series of fierce attacks. Bell was only a fraction of a second too slow, Ais hammered up his weapon arm and opened his defense wide. When her sword came down again, Bell dashed past her, but she had counted on that...knowing her beloved all too well.
When he whirled around to jump at her, Ais hit him with the pommel of her sword...on the head...not with full force of course. Bell didn´t got down, he slashed at her, but Ais carved a long cut in his tunic. He barely managed to block the next stab to his face with his Knife, Ais pulled her sword back and kicked into his stomach, throwing him backwards to the ground. Yes...they weren't exactly squeamish about their training.
Ais walked towards Bell with a queen like expression.
"Firebolt!"
When she backed away, Ais noticed that he had aimed at the ceiling above her, more than one fireball hit it and eventually a big part of the ceiling came down. With an elegant jump backwards, she evaded the debris.
Dust didn´t had a chance to fill the room, the wind was quite strong due to the destroyed windows. Light from the full moon fell down from the hole in the ceiling...Bell and Ais hadn´t noticed that night came while they fought. Both got so absorbed into it...for them it was like moments...but they fought for half an hour now.
"Not bad Hero...not bad..."
The last of dust was driven away by Ais´ wind.
"And I have to say, you really make a beautiful figure, Demon Queen!"
"Huh?"
Ais blinked perplexed and her queen like behavior dropped...she was too weak against Bell´s praised and flirting...still not used how to react when it came so suddenly.
"You fight so well, your dress together with your waving hair...it sure makes my heart race!"
"Wh-What are you saying...dummy Hero..."
She fidgeted on the spot, taken aback by his sudden words.
Bell glanced to the side, there was a large balcony on the side of the throne room...bigger than his old house in the village.
"Let us end this, Demon Queen!"
Ais coughed one time to get herself back.
"Allright...Hero!"
The last act started.
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Their clothes waved in the night wind, both standing on each end of the balcony, facing each other, the full moon high up in the sky.
They moved in the same second, Ais jumped with her raised sword forward and Bell blocked the incoming attack. So it had happened over a thousand times between them during all of their fights.
She moved barely back and thrusted forward. Bell whirled around, evaded the thrust and slashed at her corset in one movement.
In high hopes to see some bare skin of Ais...especially that area...many male gods leaned forward. But Bell was as much a gentleman as he was...greedy...he had turned his Knife around and slashed with the backside, not wanting any other man to see Ais´ skin.
Her eyes widened while she smiled, both remembered a similar moment...when Bell had dealt his first true counter attack against Ais, scratching her chestplate. And like back then...Ais did a backflip and kicked with her toes against Bell´s chin, sending him stagger backwards.
"Why are you going so far, Hero? To protect the humans? Fight against demons?!"
"I don´t want to fight anyone! What I want is peace!"
"Then why did you came here?! You humans attacked us demons as often as we did you! In fact you started it because you were afraid of us!"
"I had the chance to come here because I was asked to do so!"
The clang of weapons filled the air, Bell and Ais were careful to not hit the others weapon when they talked or the audience wouldn´t understand anything.
"So you came to defeat us?!"
"No, I came for you!"
"To defeat me?!"
Ais raised her sword...when Bell dealt the killing blow.
"I came to see you, Demon Queen!"
"Eh?..."
It surprised her...this line wasn´t what he was supposed to say...
"I wandered through all the lands, fought endless battles and opponents to come closer to you! To see you!"
"W-Why?!"
"Because...I want you!"
"Huh?!" Ais blushed fiercly...it wasn´t an act.
With renewed vigor, Bell drove Ais backwards, who had problems to stop Bell´s advance. Eventually her back hit the wall and Bell knocked Zephyr out of her hand. He had to use his mostly deadly technique...one he had trained and mastered...the one he had used against Haruhime...
Bell slammed his right palm next to Ais´ face against the wall, holding Vesta backwards in his left hand.
"Become mine...Demon Queen!"
"Eh...eh...eeeeh?! B-Bell...what are you s-saying?!"
This wasn´t supposed to happen, Ais was confused and taken aback...Asfi didn´t told her any new lines from the side...both didn´t knew that Asfi had escaped while they had continued to destroy parts of the castle.
"What do you say, Demon Queen?!"
"Eh...I mean..."
Bell let go of Vesta, apologizing to his beloved Knife in his mind. Then he put his left arm around Ais´ waist and pulled her closer to him...she squeaked from surprise, her eyes wide. She didn't know what hit her as Bell led her to the center of the balcony.
"Demon Queen!"
And more quiet... "Ais..."
Bell knelt down in front of Ais...pulled something out of the pocket of his belt...a small box.
"Become mine!"
And more quiet again...Bell dropped all acts...not caring if all of Orario could hear him...in fact that was his plan.
He slowly opened the small box...and revealed a ring to Ais.
"Ais...will you marry me?"
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Most people in Orario went quiet and stopped what they were doing, staring at the magical mirrors. .
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Hermes´ smile widened...it was perfect.
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Ais blinked many times...tears filled her eyes...tears of happiness...
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"Hero..."
"Bell..."
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Her smile let her look almost divine...like a Spirit Child.
"Yes, I do!"
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Carefully he took the ring out of the box, Ais moved her left hand forward and waited. As gentle as possible, Bell moved the ring forward and put it on her ring finger...it was a perfect fit. Unknown by her, Bell had secretely measured her left ring finger multiple times when she slept, to make sure he got the right numbers.
When the ring was on Ais´ finger, her golden eyes shone brightly...the golden wind moved up around them without intending to do it...gentle...slowly...
Bell got back to his feet...they could only look into each others eyes...
Then they kissed...and all of Orario...and even more people...saw it.
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The audience talked to each other, not understanding at first if this was part of the stageplay...then one by one...and many more...they got it...Bell really had proposed to Ais right now.
Cheers followed soon after.
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This was what Hermes had whispered to Bell, to convince him for the stageplay.
"Hey Bell...how about it, want to play too? I know about that ring in the small box in your pocket...I know what you have planned to do...so how about it...why not...give little Ais here...a unique proposal? The best that was ever seen?"
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The whole stageplay...all of it...the actors...the scenery...the magic items...all were prepared for this very moment. Only to give Ais a one in a lifetime experience, to got proposed to by Bell in the...for her...most romantic way.
.
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They separated their lips for a moment, Ais laughed while she cried from happiness.
"I do, Bell...my Hero!"
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They kissed again.
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Authors Note: Yep, that was the whole purprose for this ark, I think I´m statisfied with the length of their fight, to write one thousand times how one of them blocked or evaded wouldn´t add much.
For the future, when Riveria´s Ark is done, I will change the rotation of new chapters. There will be two for Spirit Child, then one for Blood of Zeus.
Also for Alfia´s story (Name still in progress) I changed something, I decided to pair Bell only with two girls...one is a fox-girl, the other an elf with brown hair...she starts with L.
Which doesn´t mean that Bell won´t have a deep connection with Ais...he will be very important for her, just not lovers. This ark still has one chapter left, before moving towards the 3 Slice of Life chapters, then the small ark "Wedding". Now I could reveal the name.