Disclaimer: I do not own DanMachi or any of Omori's original characters, nor do I make any profit off of my writing.
Riveria scowled, teeth barred and full of malice.
"No."
Under no circumstance would she ever allow this to happen, not ever. She left that damnable forest to escape a prison woven with good intentions, she was not fond of another.
"You go through with this and you can count me out. I will leave this familia, leave this city, leave this country if I have to. Gone and never to return."
Loki crossed her arms and scoffed at the notion, yet her voice maintained none of her typical carefree nature. She spoke dully, not allowing her words to be diluted by the accent she keeps up on the regular. "No, you won't. We both know that, not with what's on the line."
"And what exactly is that? Some war borne only of the arrogance of two goddesses. Please, tell me, oh great goddess? What's on the line besides pride and entertainment? What is oh-so-important that you would condemn an innocent to such a horrible fate."
Loki shrugged. "It is out of my hands."
Riveria clicked her tongue and straightened her back, fixing the woman she had sworn her allegiance to all those years ago a reproachful look, filled with contempt. To think she'd trusted this woman, this goddess to lead. To think she'd assumed anybody would be any different than her bastard of a father. The good king Larfal Ljos Alf. Cowards, the lot of them.
"If you think for a minute I will go along with this you are sorely mistaken. I will fight it at every point. I will oppose you in every act– "
"And you would condemn us all to the alternative. Is that what you wish, princess? To see the streets of this city run red with blood? Death? Is that truly the future you wish to see?"
It was weird, seeing the goddess so serious. After years, decades even, of the red-haired woman doing nothing but drink, piss, and be merry she wouldn't have thought it possible. Yet still, the evidence was sitting before her. Gone was the accented Koine that just about everybody knew was fake, replaced by heavy words spoken by a lead tongue.
"You would condemn this familia to death? This city and her people to life under the hardships of war? You would sacrifice all of them – all those women, children, innocents – all of them to death and for what? Your own misconceptions about freedom and justice?"
Riveria said nothing, biting her tongue and doing everything in her power to not strike the goddess across the cheek.
"Tell me, Riveria, would you condemn her to the same?"
The high elf snarled. "You condemn her regardless! There is no fate for her here that leaves with her happy."
Loki snorted – actually snorted – at the comment. "You presume much, Alf. How do you know we do not act in her best interest? Hm? How do you know that she is even against this?"
As if. "When have you or lady Freya ever acted in anyone's best interest other than your own?"
The goddess narrowed her gaze, her thin, almond eyes becoming even thinner as she glared at the woman and stood to her full height. "Do you think I care nothing for you all? That I make this decision lightly? That I have no semblance of love in my heart for any of you?"
The high elf scoffed. "I know nothing of your motives anymore, goddess." Spitting out the name before straightening up and fixing her disheveled robes. "Am I excused?"
"Go." Loki waved her way. "Leave me."
Riveria rolled her eyes as she stormed out the door, muttering a 'gladly' as she went, and taking special care to slam it as she left. There were a series of screams and yells echoing from inside the office she vacated. Books and trophies slamming into walls and shattering over the magically protected surface. Perhaps she should drop the runes, let the goddess's tantrum bare a permanent mark on the room so that it may never be forgotten what she'd done today.
An arranged marriage.
Riveria grit her teeth.
A loveless marriage.
How dare the goddess think she could get away with this.
Whatever respect Riveria had for the homo deus had dried up long ago, the altars to the gods she once visited in her homeland having long since burnt out without their offerings. The last dredges of her youth and innocence having been swept away with them. She held no love for the lords and ladies of Tenkai, nor any hope that benevolent gods exist.
It should have been rather obvious; they had made their intentions clear when they abandoned their own world for this one. They came for entertainment; nothing more, nothing less. She was a fool to trust they would care for anything other than that.
Now more than ever Riveria wished she had never accepted that goddess's offer on that fateful day. She should have waited, found another way to escape her father's clutches on her own. It may have taken another ten, twenty, fifty years but it would have been worth it.
No more gilded cages. No more false promises. No more lies.
She brushed by her elven sisters as they reached out to her, ready to comfort whatever it was that troubled her. There was no helping this. In the end, Loki was right. She would not run from this, not when others would suffer for it. Not when–
She shook off the thought. Falling deeper into her rage would help nobody.
To think her goddess would do something so foolish. She honestly could not even remember what had been the start of it all, who had made the first slight. Freya had always been a proud woman, her familia falling even further for the vice. Had she been the first?
Riveria couldn't say.
And in the end, it didn't even matter. What mattered was that tensions in the dungeon city were at an all-time high. The Twilight Manor in the north and Folkvangr in the south. Metaphorical lines had already been drawn over the cobblestone streets, familias picking sides and civilians boarding their windows with false hopes of escaping the conflict to come.
Old agreements of nonaggression had been damned almost immediately. Who could have hoped to stop them anyway? They were the two most powerful goddesses in the city, nobody could hope to contest them. Riveria doubted even the combined might of the city's forces could stop either familia alone, let alone both.
Not like they ever would have agreed to fight side by side, but the point still stands.
That had been the when the order had from down from the high god, Ouranos, deep within the halls of the Pantheon.
Loki could have fought it.
Freya could have fought it.
And they didn't.
They just submitted to the high god's orders without so much of a protest. Oh? What is that? We, two immortal goddesses, started a petty fight that could have devastated the city? Oh, boo! We're sooo sorry! Here! Take our children to be punished in our place!
It made her so uncharacteristically angry. She was furious.
It was.. it was vile. A disgusting, archaic practice that should have been outlawed many years ago. She thought she had escaped such things when she'd fled her home, she thought she'd finally found salvation. It would appear she was sorely mistaken. Her father had been insistent about finding her a suitor, back then just the thought had caused bile to creep up her throat, but now? Now, it was so much worse.
Because this time it wasn't her.
It was Aiz.
Loki was marrying off Aiz. Aiz.
Aiz, a sixteen-year-old girl.
Just who would she be married to? King? Vana Freya? Perhaps somebody weaker, less important, but no younger in age? Would Aiz ever even now happiness? Would she even get to experience love?
A girl, practically still a child, being forced into a lifelong commitment against her will. Against Riveria's word. She'd sworn to protect the child, she'd sworn to keep her safe from harm, even if the words were never spoken aloud.
She was failing in her duty.
She was failing Aria.
And what's worse? She knew that, deep down, if it had been somebody else, anybody else, she wouldn't be this outraged. The thought itself made her sick to her stomach. She was repulsed by the very notion, but.. but it was no less true. If this was Tiona, Tione, even Lefiya, it wouldn't be as bad.
But Aiz?
Aiz?
That little girl she'd helped raise for the past nine years? The same one she'd watched grow into a beautiful, young woman?
That Aiz?
The one who'd persevered through every hardship life had thrown her way? Things that would have made most fall apart and never truly pull themselves back together?
That Aiz?
Of all the people in the world, why did it have to be her?
The high elf's only solace was that things weren't irreparable yet. There was still a chance she could fix this. She could do it, she knew she could.
And.. and if that meant giving herself up in the child's place.. well.. that's just the job of a parent, isn't it?
Riveria knocked on the door before her, waiting patiently as there was a shuffling behind it. She forced a smile to her lips just before it opened just a crack, a single golden eye peeking out from behind the heavy wood. The high elf watched as the girl's eyebrow dipped down in confusion before the door opened all the while, showing the girl in all her glory. A soft, wondering 'Riveria?' left her lips as she tilted her head to the side.
The high elf's lips twitched up softly in response and a soft nod of her head into the room asked a silent question.
Nodding, Aiz stepped to the side and allowed the older woman inside.
Aiz's bedroom was best described as.. clinical. Nothing was there that didn't need to be. A wardrobe full of copy after copy of the same battle dress. An arm stand surrounded by various vials and tinctures housing different oils and polishes. Her sword, Desperate, was propped up against the wall beside the stand, a whetstone resting on the window sill just beside it.
She didn't have much in the way of furniture, really nothing more than a bed and nightstand.
Speaking of..
"Aiz? What's this?"
The swordswoman followed the mage's eyes and immediately her own widened. Without thinking, she dove for the open book on her bed, curling her entire body around it and not letting the older woman even catch a glimpse of the cover.
"Wha— "
"It's nothing!"
Riveria raised an eyebrow at Aiz's pink cheeks and obviously faked smile. Convincing.
Why would Aiz even be this worked up about a book anyway? It's not like Riveria was one to dissuade somebody from the pursuit of knowledge.
"O.. kay?"
She shook off her momentary surprise, the subject of the book was of little consequence, what mattered was discussing the.. concerning news with Aiz.
"Uhm.. Riveria?" A pause as Aiz waited for the high elf snapped out of her musings. "Why have you visited me?" It wasn't like the woman did so often, at least not in her room. Aiz couldn't remember the last time the two of them had both been in here at once, it had to be years ago at least.
"You should probably sit.. "
Aiz blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice.
"O.. Okay?"
She stood up from where she was seated on the bed before sitting herself back down with a furrowed brow. Riveria nodded her head almost absentmindedly, muttering a 'good, good' as Aiz did.
How strange.
Riveria usually wasn't this distracted.
"Is.. is everything alright?"
Her eyes were naturally pulled toward the window, casually observing the array of reds and oranges that quickly faded into soft blues. She was lucky enough to receive a room at the end of the western wing where she could view the sunsets. She almost never did, too caught up in her own training to focus too much of anything besides getting stronger, but lately she's felt more.. at peace. Content to let a day or two slip away without grinding herself down to the bone in practice.
Still, she couldn't help but worry. Had something happened? Why was Riveria acting so strange?
"Everything," the high elf swallowed thickly but her eyes remained unseeing, vacant almost, "everything is going to be fine."
Aiz noticed the particular wording. Going to be, not is.
"Aiz.. things are going to change pretty soon, and I may not be able to stop them even if I try, so.. "
Riveria's head dipped down in a low bow as she clenched her hands tightly just before her waist. Her face was hidden by a curtain of emerald hair and Aiz couldn't help but feel a sense of.. wrongness overtake her. This whole image, the vacancy in her eyes, the bowing of her head, it was all just wrong. This wasn't Riveria.
".. I want to apologize in advance. I tried to stop it, I'm still going to try to stop it, but, I—" She cut herself off with a strangled sigh, unable to force anything out over her tongue.
Aiz filled the gap in explanation.
"Stop.. what? What are you trying to stop?"
"A mistake."
The younger of the two first-class adventurers frowned, her body uncurling from the book that she promptly slid beneath her pillow. Slowly, hesitantly, she rose from her bed and crossed the room.
"Riveria?"
The woman didn't look up and it was only then, only from this close, that Aiz noticed the slight sheen of the floorboards beneath the woman's head.
She's.. crying?
"Riveria, what mistake?"
All she got in response was a whispered 'I'm sorry' as the elf shook her head.
It was honestly really unhelpful. She didn't even know what the woman was apologizing for!
Aiz pouted but did her part to make the woman feel better about whatever it was that upset her. With two soft pats to the head and a muttered 'there, there' Aiz's job was done. Mission complete. There was no way somebody could still be upset after that. Aiz was certain of it.
".. "
".. "
So.. why was Riveria still crying?
She'd done everything right, hadn't she? The head pats, the 'there, there.' If she remembered correctly, that was everything needed to comfort somebody. (Perhaps she should recheck that book?)
"Uhm.. Riveria? I would like.. to help.. but I can't unless you.. tell me what's wrong?"
Did she say that right? She really ought to carry her notes around with her.
Although, judging by the fact that the high elf immediately straightened up she had to have done something right. She was quite proud of herself for that.
Meanwhile, Riveria was reeling. Did Aiz just ask if she was okay? Aiz? Aiz? Since when did she do that? And the face! She was looking at the older woman with such concern! She'd never thought she'd see the day!
Such a momentous occasion.
And after such horrible news, no less.
Auspicious. Truly auspicious.
Riveria did her best to collect herself, both from her rather.. embarrassingly emotional display as well as her shock. She cleared her throat. "Yes, well.. I am quite alright." A pause before she spoke again, this time in a far less facetious voice. "Thank you, Aiz. It means a lot."
The girl merely nodded, offering the elf a (no less confusing) 'you've got this, champ.'
Well. At least she was trying!
There was a (rather long) silence before either of them spoke again, incidentally causing them both to voice their thoughts at the same time.
"So.. what was the news?"
"There's.. something I need to tell you!"
Startled, they both blinked at one another, before Riveria let out a quiet chuckle and shook her head in amusement. She supposed neither of them were very good at this. She'd spent most of her life as a shut-in princess while Aiz was a traumatized young girl who never allowed somebody to get close enough for her to lean on. They weren't exactly conversationalists.
"Right.. you should sit."
Aiz did, with considerably less confusion this time since she was standing.
"Are you aware of the current.. tension between our familia and Freya's?"
"Yes?"
That wasn't anything new, was it? They had always been at odds with the other, in truth, all Aiz had ever known was the tension. She'd entered the city just a year or so before the dark years, but even then the two familias had been the strongest in Orario for many years. She couldn't think of a time when the relationship wasn't strenuous at best.
"Well, there was a.. scuffle, let's say, between the two sides. Nobody was killed, but people were hurt." And she doubted she'd ever fully forgive Bete for the part he played in it all, it was his irritability that led to the fight starting in the first place. "As punishment, Ouranos deemed it fit that the familia's perform a ritual of unity."
Aiz raised an eyebrow at that. Sure, she didn't quite know what it meant, but 'unity' hardly seemed like a bad thing.
"He's ordered a marriage between the two familias."
"A marriage?"
Riveria nodded solemnly.
"Yes. A union between one of each goddess's favored children, to ensure that both sides have an equivalent desire to see this through to the end."
Golden eyebrows furrowed for just a moment as the girl thought it over, considering what the information meant. Eventually, though, her head slumped, falling down to the floor as it dawned on her.
"Oh. It's— it's me? Isn't it?"
"Yes, Aiz. It is."
They gathered on neutral ground, the gods' denatus hall. The reasons were simple, neither side had an unfair advantage should a fight break out. Riveria thought it was awfully stupid, all things considered, it wasn't like the Loki familia actually stood a chance at defeating the Freya familia, not with Ottar in play. Any who thought they did were just deluding themselves.
Thus, Babel tower.
By the terms Ouranos placed over them, each goddess was allowed two escorts, not including the child to bed wed, which is why she and Finn were flanking Loki as she entered the ground level of the tower. In all honesty, Gareth was the better choice than her. She wasn't much of a close-quarters combatant and he was far more adept at defense, but there wasn't a chance she'd leave Aiz to deal with this alone.
Plus, she needed to be there for her plan to work.
It had been a day since her talk with Aiz and it wasn't hard to notice how much quieter the girl had become. Riveria hated it. She hated that Loki was sucking away the little bit of joy that remained in the girl's life. She hated it so much.
And all she could do was watch.
She felt useless. Absolutely useless.
But Loki would never have agreed to her tagging along if she knew what the elf intended, so she had to keep her mouth shut about it. For al Loki knew, Riveria was simply there to support Aiz, to make sure the girl wasn't scared, which was true in part, but not the entire reason.
Loki opened the doors to the hall with a mighty push, her hands stuffed back in her pockets as she stalked forward.
"A'ight! We're 'ere, Freya! Let's do this."
The goddess in question turned around, having been speaking lowly with her two guards. Ottar stood tall beside his goddess, a paragon of strength within the city. On the other side, stood Hedin, former king of the White Elves of Hyzaning island.
Yet she could not see Aiz's intended, why?
"Loki. It is.. good to see you, I suppose."
"Yeah, yeah. Let's get this over with, who're ya presentin'?"
Freya raised an eyebrow, opening her mouth to no doubt let out some kind of acidic response before seemingly pausing, slapping her forehead, and spinning around. "Bell!"
Riveria blinked. Who?
"Bell quit being shy, you'll like this, I promise."
The Loki familia waited.
Nobody came out.
Freya sighed and shook her head in her hands. "Hedin, I thought you were watching him?"
"He is very sneaky, milady. I did not notice him slip away."
"Wha— just— never mind. Can you just go find him for me?" A pause. "Please?"
The plead was really not needed, Hedin looked just about ready to dart off before she had even voiced the question.
The room was swallowed with silence as the elven king disappeared and those in the Loki familia couldn't help but stew in their curiosity. They had expected one of Freya's executives to be put forward, as per the rules of their agreement, but none of them had heard of any 'Bell' before. If she was being honest, Riveria was at a loss. She had come in fully assuming she'd be offering her hand up in place of Aiz's. The proposals were tentative at best, so if she wished it, she was sure she could convince Freya to agree to Hedin or Hogni marrying her. It wasn't what she wanted, but it would appease everybody in the end.
But this.. this Bell? Who even was he?
Beside her, she could see Aiz looking similarly puzzled. She was biting her lip again, her gaze flitting about the room nervously as her hands fidgeted before her lap.
The door opened.
And in walked a sheepish-looking elf.
"He.. uhm.. wishes to speak with his mother.. "
They watched as Freya's face immediately softened from the hard expression she'd been wearing before, something that confused them greatly. Freya? Soft? Those two words don't belong in the same sentence at all.
"If you will excuse me, I must go speak with him quickly."
"Eh?" Loki couldn't help but let out a confused noise. "The guy asked for his mother, the hell are you goin' f'r?"
"I am certain you can figure that out on your own. Ottar, please entertain them while I speak with Bell."
Never one to give any less than his best in fulfilling any of his lady's wishes, Ottar turned his attention to the other group, his face completely serious and his expression unwavering as he asked them a question.
"Would you prefer juggling or impressions?"
Yeah. They were at a loss.
"Bell?"
Freya found him curled up against a wall, his hands shaking as he sat there. Carefully, she kneeled down beside him, bring one of his hands up to cup his cheek before slowly guiding his head up to her. Her thumb ghosted along his skin as she smiled down at him.
There were tears in his eyes and Freya had never despised Loki more than at this very moment. It was her unmuzzled dog who had caused all of this, he was the reason why her sweet boy was crying. She knew, she knew that it didn't have to be Bell, she knew that.
But he had insisted.
It was what had drawn her to his soul originally, his unwavering kindness and ability to see the best in everybody. He was so.. pure. It was a breath of fresh air when compared to the other denizens of this city. Originally, she had seen him as a potential lover, perhaps her long-awaited Odr, the fated one foretold to complete her heart and make her whole.
He only lived up to one of those expectations.
She had approached him, the beauty of his soul blinding her from the past. From what she'd learned through Ali. She had approached him and offered a place amongst her familia.
He had been all too excited (if a little confused) to accept.
She spent weeks getting to know him. Between his trainings with Ottar and his studies with Hedin, he'd quickly dug himself deep into most of their hearts. Hell, even Ottar, mister 'you must challenge yourself to grow stronger' himself had all but insisted Bell needed more training before he entered the dungeon. He had said it was because he did not want his goddess to suffer if the boy were to be injured, but Freya knew better. Bell had a knack for worming his way into people's hearts.
Except Allen, but well.. yeah. Not much to say on that one. It is Allen.
Even Hogni smiled beneath that scarf of his when Bell was around, he made all of their souls just that much brighter with his presence.
And she loved him for it.
Unfortunately, all it took was one really (and she means really) awkward conversation for her to understand that he may, may not feel the same way.
But now she has a son, so.. win-win!
Evidently, the prophet she had spoken to all those years ago, the one that told her about her Odr? Yeah. They scammed her. She doubted an 'Odr' ever truly existed in the first place, but if they did, it was certainly Bell. Her heart had never been fuller.
And that's the exact reason why it hurt so much more when he'd begged her to let it be him. To let it please be him because he couldn't see that fate forced upon anybody in his familia. His family.
She's protested, of course she had. Hedin, too, was having none of it.
But Bell had insisted. He'd said that every other option already had found love, to marry them to somebody else would hurt them beyond repair. All of the executives loved their goddess with all of their hearts, he couldn't ruin that for them.
As it stood, Bell was the only option that fit Ouranos's terms and ensured that somebody at least had the possibility of leaving here happy.
And now he was curling in on himself and crying.
She didn't know how she hadn't seen the pain he was in, how she'd missed something this monumental. She'd used her divine gaze to check in on him, but every time she looked his soul was no less clear, no less pure.
But now?
It was like there was a thunderstorm raging within him, so much anger and hurt and he was trying to keep it all in, trying to conceal it from everybody around him.
He'd.. he'd been keeping this all in the whole time, forcing himself not to feel his own pain, not to acknowledge his own sorrow.
It broke her heart.
"Bell, sweetie, you don't have to do this. I love you, I never wanted this for you in the first place. If you're this upset we can find another way, I promise."
"But pe— people will— people will die. They'll be hurt, mom, and I can't just— I can't just not."
"I know, honey, I know, but you're only a kid, that shouldn't be your problem. This conflict has been a long time coming, but I'm sure we can find another way to get through it. You won't let me go to war, I know that," she pointedly ignored his indignant squawk and surprised 'why would you even want to!' as she pressed on, "but there has to be another way. We can find it."
Bell shook his head sadly. "We already tried. There wasn't."
"Well, then we'll keep trying! If we really work our butts off we can do anythi—"
"Mom."
"Yes? What is it?"
"It's— well, it's not fine. But it's okay, really. I'll make do."
"But— "
"Mom. Please. Let's— let's just go back, okay?"
Freya frowned but nodded, quickly ducking down and placing a kiss on his cheek before rising to her feet, dusting off her skirt, and holding a hand down toward the boy. She didn't release it as they began walking back down the narrow hallway, instead offering him a reassuring squeeze and side hug.
"If you are ever unhappy, you just— "
"I know."
"And if she's being mean— "
"I know."
They passed by where Hedin at a respectful distance. The elven man offered them both a smile before quickly fussing over Bell's appearance as he spoke lowly to the boy. "I think you'll like her, Bell, I really do. So, just.. give it a chance, alright?"
The younger boy blinked, not expecting Hedin's approval of all things, he'd been one of his most staunch protesters. Hell, the man had even offered himself up in his place, but the boy had heard none of it.
"You think?"
Hedin nodded. "I do. Love isn't always this.. immediate thing, sometimes it takes time and both halves working on it for it to work. Just stay true to yourself and be open to it, and you may find yourself surprised."
Quickly, Bell nodded, already feeling far better than he was before. If Hedin said he'd like them, then means he really might just!
But that begs the question.
"Who is it?"
A pat on the shoulder.
"You'll see soon enough."
Well, that wasn't satisfactory at all!
"Is it Amazon?"
"Soon, Bell."
But he wants to know nooooooow.
"So not her, perhaps somebody different? Thousand Elf?"
A quick lookbup toward Hedin's face showed that it was not, in fact, the forest faery. That was fine, he'd met her before once, kinda scary.
"Elleaf?"
"Be patient."
So, that's a no.
Bell gasped. "Nine Hells!?"
"What!? No! Are you crazy?"
Another no, then.
Shoot. He really thought he'd had it that time.
Who else was there? Amazon had a sister, right? What was her name? It started with a 'J' but he couldn't quite remember. Shoot.
Hmm..
He snapped his finger. "Alchat!"
Hedin groaned as his mother let out a tinkling of laughter. "No, Bell, it is not Miss Autumn." They were nearing the doors again, so she felt it wouldn't hurt to throw him a bone. "Nor is it Lomowarl, nor Jormungand."
So that's what Amazon's sister's name was. He'd forgotten that. And Lomowarl.. she was the human mage, right? Who did that leave?
It wasn't the Amazon twins, that was certain.
Nor was it any of the notable female elves.
His mother had also stated it was not that one catgirl nor the young fire mage either.
That was over half a dozen figureheads down, but he couldn't for the life of him remember who else there was.
The doors swung open and Bell didn't find any mercy in his mother as she dragged him in behind her.
Oh.
He sees where he messed up.
Yeah. That one was on him.
How did he even manage to forget her!?
Welp.
He was screwed.
Faint clapping reached his ears and Bell pulled his eyes away from golden hair to look over the rest of the Loki familia's envoy.
Why were they clapping?
He followed their gaze.
Ottar was bowing.
Why was Ottar bowing?
Whatever, didn't matter, his mom was speaking.
"A wonderful rendition of Ganesha, Ottar, I believe you captured his eccentricities beautifully."
"Your compliments please me greatly, my lady."
Huh. So, he did his Ganesha impression. Darn. He can't believe he missed something that great! That one was a real treat.
"Aiz Wallenstein."
The girl snapped to attention, pulling her horrified gaze away from the stoic boaz and over to the goddess of beauty..
.. as well as the young man at her side.
The swordswoman cocked her head at the sight of him. He certainly wasn't anybody she recognized, just who was he?
"I'd like to introduce you to my son, Bell Cranel. Bell, say hello."
"Eep!"
Freya sighed and pinched her nose, but nobody was blind to the fond smile on her lips. "He's.. usually more articulate." She clapped her hands together, now having both free thanks to her son slipping into a near-catatonic state. At least he was still standing up, she supposed. "I guess I will give you a brief starting point. Bell arrived in Orario about two months ago and joined my familia soon after. He's beloved by most of my executives as well as my adopted son, so do not think I make this decision lightly. That said, he is a sweet boy, and I do hope you can come to love each other." She tapped her chin in thought. "What else, what else?" A snap of the fingers. "Oh! He wants to be a hero!"
There was a scandalized gasp from behind her and Freya couldn't help but smirk. Serves him right for hiding.
"Mother!"
"Yes, Bell?"
"I thought you said you wouldn't tell people that?"
"I thought I said I would try."
"Well, it doesn't look like you were trying very hard!"
A self-satisfied smile. "No. I suppose it doesn't."
Bell just groaned.
Freya gave it a count of three before he realizes he's no longer hidden.
One.
Two.
"Eep!"
So close!
She sighed. "Bell, I know that you find Miss Wallenstein very beautiful," another squeak, "but this will never work if you don't cooperate."
He just shook his head petulantly.
Fine. She didn't want to do this.
"Bell. You'll have my full blessing to go into the dungeon if you get out from behind me."
"H- Hi! I'm Bell!"
Aiz blinked. "I know."
"O- oh! Right! Uhm.. " He scratched his head. "Would you like to do some sparring?"
Beside him, Freya went right back to pinching the bridge of her nose. Naturally, naturally that's the way he decides to get to know somebody. It's not like everybody is as big of a battle junkie as he—
"Sure."
—is. As big of a battle junkie as he is.
Right.
This was Aiz Wallenstein. That was probably like music to her ears.
Bell, the little sweetheart, beamed a smile toward the girl, eliciting a small one of her own, before darting off to the side and stealing Hedin's double-edged rhomphaia, scampering off again before the elf could protest. The elven king could only shake his head and sigh fondly.
"I'll bring it back, promise!"
"You better."
With one final thumbs-up, Bell crossed the room over to where Aiz stood, shifting from foot to foot. One of her arms stretched across her stomach, rubbing up and down along the sleeve of her other armor nervously.
"Ready?"
"Mm."
"Okay!"
And with that, the two left the room.
"Hey.. Freya?"
"Yes?"
"What level is that kid?"
"Just one, why?"
"Well.. our Aizy-poo has a bit of an issue holding back.. "
Three seconds passed before they all simultaneously rushed out after them, hoping they weren't too late to save the boy.
They were.
Tumbling over one another as they breached the door to the training room in Freya's apartment at the top of the tower, each person could only stare wide-eyed at the sight before them.
Aiz smiled happily as she gave a lap pillow to the unconscious white-haired boy.
Loki looked over at Riveria. "Did you teach her tha'?"
"No."
"Huh."
Aiz pulled her gaze away from Bell when she noticed them. "I'll take him."
Riveria blinked. But her carefully laid plans! "But, Aiz, you don't have to— "
"I'll take him."
Well. That was that.