56 FOLLOWERS, thank you very much, and sorry for the delay, I had other business to do.

And also thanks to 'servantofcardin', 'enigma95' and 'Gennychi' for pointing out my grammar errors, as everyone already guessed, English isn't my first language.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, not even the soundtracks. Danmachi belongs to Fujino Ōmori, Final Fantasy XV belongs to Square Enix.

Is it wrong to seek answers?

Chapter 6: The Journey Back

CARRIAGE – RURAL AREA - AFTERNOON

While on their way, everyone was sitting in the first wagon, while their other stuff, even the large blue item was on the second one, which they put in a bag before.

(OPENING: HIROYUKI SAWANO feat: Eliana – S_TEAM)

They all talked about today's event. Bell especially was impressed by Noct, who was rather modest on that subject. Welf asked him how he could create his sword and if he could do it again right now. After he summoned it, he gave it to Welf, who was rather speechless, particularly because of its design.

After Welf gave it back, Noct let it disappear again.

At some point, Eina and Misha fell peacefully asleep. Bell was happy that he could see, that Eina slept peacefully, which of course wasn't welcomed by Lily and Hestia.

Astraea and Ryuu were talking with each other, probably about Ryuu's well being and her job as a waitress, as Noct suggested.

When Astraea saw her house again, she called the coachman to stop. While Noct went out for Astraea's supplies, Astraea, Ryuu, and Hestia went out too to escort her to her house.

INSIDE ASTRAEA'S HOME – RURAL AREA - AFTERNOON

After they got inside, Astraea told Noct and Ryuu to put the large basket right in front of the kitchen, then to put the food in the right place around the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Astraea and Hestia were talking in the living room, but Noct and Ryuu couldn't hear them.

INSIDE ASTRAEA'S HOME- LIVING ROOM – RURAL AREA - AFTERNOON

After both Goddesses sat on each chair, Astraea started the conversation „I think it's about time that I tell you the truth about Noct"

„I knew from the beginning when he explained about himself that he wasn't honest", Hestia said.

„Me too, but when Noctis told me his whole story, I knew that he wasn't lying, although no one else would've believed him, except other like us"

„Noctis? ….." Hestia asked since everyone called him only 'Noct'.

„yes, his real name is Noctis Lucis Caelum, " Astraea said.

Hestia already guessed that his name has to be different, but a long one like this wasn't on her mind, „that's a pretty long name".

At this moment, Astraea explained Noct's story, as much as she could remember. She could see that Hestia was as speechless as herself when Noct explained it to herself for the first time.

„but there's something that attracted my attention, even more, something I didn't tell him." Astraea said.

„and what is it? " Hestia wondered.

„there was a name of a person he met in his world, which sounds quite identical to one of Orario's current famous adventurers."

„and which one is it"

When Astraea said the person's name, Hestia didn't know at first, but when Astraea mentioned the person's Alias, Hestia immediately knew whom Astraea is referencing too.

„you sure it isn't some coincidence or something, I mean It's 'Silverlight' we're talking about " Hestia nervously said to Astraea.

„that's what I've thought at first too, but when I asked, discreetly of course, how that person looks like, I've realized the description is very applicable to 'Silverlight' "

„ And you're sure it was a good idea not to tell him? "

„As you said, It might be only some coincidence, as long as there's no clear evidence"

Astraea and Hestia then continued talking, like that strange, dark feeling they had in Melen.

INSIDE ASTRAEA'S HOME - KITCHEN – RURAL AREA - AFTERNOON

When Noct was finished with his part, Ryuu then turned her head towards Noct, „may I ask you something, sir Gar"

„you also don't need to be so formal, you know, " Noct said to her.

„I'm sorry, but it's an Elf's custom to address people like that, I also address like that to the others" Ryuu explained. For Noct, another Elven cliche has been turned out to be the truth: Elves are too formal.

So Noct concluded to speak more formal with her, which bothered him at first, but after looking at Ryuu's beautiful face and body, he immediately thought otherwise.

„Right, so what's the Question? " Noct wondered.

„compare to the others, I also felt it, something dark was watching us, " Ryuu said, which surprised Noct.

„y-you also felt it?" He asked again to be sure.

„yes, at the market place as well as when we left the beach." Ryuu confirmed, „so, do you might have an idea who that was?"

Noct was about to answer, only now to realize that he has to get into more details about his past, which he didn't want to explain it right now. But Ryuu's suggestion also wasn't wrong when Noct thought about it. Since he came into this world, it wasn't unlikely for others to do the same. Nonetheless, he had to give Ryuu a fitting answer, but he also didn't like it to lie to others in general.

„well, it's true that my Clan also had a few enemies, but I've never heard of them having relations that far away from 'Crystallum', so I'm not sure myself."

Now it was Noct's turn, „and you, did you ever felt something dark like that before?"

Ryuu looked again at Noct, „ As lady Astraea might tell you, I've been here in Orario for about 10 years, but to be honest, I've never felt someone or something having such dark energy ever before."

Now Noct got more concerned about this stalker. What if Ryuu's suggestion was right, and that stalker was really someone from his world. Since many of Noct's enemies from the Niflheim Empire died back then, it was possible that some of them also might have come somehow in this world.

„wait a sec, shouldn't lady Hestia and lady Astraea also felt it?, why didn't they reacted, " he asked Ryuu, hoping that maybe Astraea might tell her something.

„it's possible that Lady Astraea felt it too, but she always tries to avoid making worries to others, " Ryuu said while thinking back about her Familia members.

Ryu wanted to talk more, only to realize that for the potatoes, the last food she had to store, was no empty space available around.

Noct looked around, only to see an empty space above him, right under the ceiling.

„Do you know if here's a ladder nearby?" Noct asked Ryuu while still looking up.

„I'm afraid not."

„I've got an idea" Noct suggested.

After explaining it to Ryuu, He stretched his hands after bowing his body down.

Then Ryuu was about to put her right foot on his hands.

„are you sure you can do that, sir Gar?" Ryuu questioned concerned while looking down at him.

„there's no other way, isn't it?" Noct rhetorical questioned. Ryuu seemed to be convinced since he was strong, clearly stronger than herself.

As they continued, Noct, feeling the pressure, lifted Ryuu, who was holding the bag of potatoes with her. She succeeded in reaching the ceiling.

After putting the bag inside, noct was about to put her down.

But suddenly, he lost his balance and both fell on the floor.

Noct opened his eyes, realizing he was lying straight on the floor. He first looked around. 'thank heaven, no shambles' he thought.

When he was about to stand up, he noticed something rather heavy on his body so he turned his head towards that direction.

When Ryuu slowly opened her eyes, she noticed that she wasn't laying on the floor, but on something else, so she looked out.

Then, both realized that their face was very close. Their face got deeply read

Then they heard someone running towards the kitchen.

„RYU, NOCT, ARE YOU ALR-" Astrea loudly called to them while she and Hestia run towards the kitchen, only to realize that Ryuu was laying on Noct.

Both Goddesses were speechless after turning deeply red themselves.

But then, Astraea suddenly smiled, but of course, the Human and Elf saw her real angry emotion. „well, well, I didn't expect you both already be that close inside my house."

„n-no it's a misunderstanding, lady Astraea" Ryuu said while being scared.

„I can't believe you Noct, what's more, here out of all places" Hestia loudly declared while blushing and looking angry towards him.

Noct, who still remained red for a while, couldn't endure this embarrassment anymore.

„COULD YOU PLEASE STOP ACCUSING AND HELP US INSTEAD" he screamed.

After the 2 gods finally helped them, Ryuu was able to convince them both that it was a misfortune.

„Why didn't you use the ladder" Astraea wondered, then Noct didn't need to lift Ryuu.

„It wasn't there, and since you both were discussing in private, we didn't want you to bother", Noct said, „where was the ladder anyway".

„ahh, it was right on the backyard near the door, " Astraea said to them.

„you could've just waited until we're finished, " Hestia said while holding her both hands at her right and left the side of the stomach.

„ „we're sorry" " both said in unison.

„Anyway, Noct, I want to talk to you now, so come with me."

While Astraea and Ryuu went outside, Hestia and Noct went to the couch, where he and Astraea told their stories to each other.

„As you might guess, Astraea told me the truth about you", Hestia said while trying to smile.

„What exactly did she told you, " Noct asked, now more serious.

„your real name ... "

Noctis nodded while listening to her.

„that you're actually from 'far far away' … ", then Hestia's face saddened.

„... that you've gone through a lot, losing people who were dear to you … " she said while looking away from him

„ … and that you sacrificed yourself for your world." she then looked at Noct again.

Both sat still for a while.

…...

Then Hestia started to talk again, „you know, now I think it was a good idea that you didn't say the truth back then, when we met, I think I wouldn't believe that either, even if Astraea would say otherwise"

„well, actually, she made up that story, to be honest", Noct said while moving his right hand behind his head.

Hestia smiled at him warmly, „I also think calling yourself 'Noct Gar' is better than a striking, royal name like 'Noctis Lucis Caelum', even though I like the latter" Hestia said to him.

Noct smiled again.

„we've also talked about what you should do now, and we came to the conclusion, that it's the best that you accompany us towards Orario, " Hestia said.

Then Hestia stood up, stretching her right hand, „and therefore, would you join my familia? " Hestia asked

Now noct looked at her hand. At first, he wasn't sure. He actually didn't know what to do anyway, since he actually fulfilled his destiny as the chosen king.

But then he remembered that he also shouldn't be here, and he also heavily doubted that he will find any answers here around this rural area.

If he was about to accompany them towards Orario, the chances of finding answeres would surely increase.

And of course, he trusted Hestia and Bell.

Noct stood up, shaking Hestia's right hand, „I'm in, Goddess Hestia"

At these words, Hestia happily jumped while both went outside the house.

OUTSIDE ASTRAEA'S HOME – RURAL AREA - AFTERNOON

After breathing the fresh air again, Noct looked at the sky, noticing the sunset at the horizon.

„Yaay, " Hestia said victoriously while jumping. „He's joining, guys" she called to the others, who were also positively relieved.

While Noct noticed their happiness after Hestia went inside the carriage, he went to Astraea.

„I hope I wasn't a too great burden, " he asked her. He knew this may be the last time they see each other for a long time.

„not that much, I'm sure, " Astraea said before shortening the distance between them and hugging Noct as a sign of good by.

He did the same, „thank you for everything, Goddess Astraea" he said out of respect and as his sign of goodbye.

Ryuu, of course, did the same with her Goddess, „when I'm in Riviria again, I'll tell Alise and the others that I've visited you" Ryuu said while starting to cry a little.

„Please, promise me, that you will protect them" Astraea requested to Ryuu.

„I will, goddess, " Ryuu said while bowing again.

„especially him" Astraea quietly continued while moving with her eyes towards Noct, who didn't notice anything. „even though he won't need it that much" Astraea finished.

„yes" Ryu answered while embracing her again. After Ryuu stopped crying, Astraea accompanied both before they entered the carriage.

„don't look like that, it's not the last time we met, I'm sure" were her final words to both before the group left for Orario.

Both, Ryuu and Noct went inside the carriage. Welf held his right arm around Noct as a sign of his accession to the familia „the adventurers welcome you onboard, Noct" said Welf with an enthusiastic tone.

The others also congratulated him, even Ryuu gave Noct a handshake, which surprised the others, since they knew that Elves rarely shake hands with others, not to mention people of other races, what's more Ryuu was smiling.

When Noct turned away after the handshake, Ryuu had a strange feeling. She couldn't explain it, but she was somehow happy. At first, she thought it was because of what happened in Astraea's home, but It wasn't the usual happiness like she had with her goodness or her workmates. It was the same kind of happiness she sometimes fell when Bell is around. But this time it was stronger.

„Something wrong, Ryuu-dono, " Mikoto asked while looking at her.

Ryu turned her head towards Mikoto, „no, everything's fine to me; miss Yamato," she declared, she didn't want others knowing what happened inside the house back then, let alone to bother with her strange feelings.

„Now, Noct Gar" Hestia, happily smiling, said loudly towards him.

„It's time to get your blessing"

Everyone looked at her, surprised and a little bit concerned.

„Umm, shouldn't we wait until we're home, miss Hestia, " Lily asked her.

„I agree with my goddess, we have plenty of time right now, so it's not ness..."

„YES, IT IS" Hestia loudly declared. „let's start, Noct"

„Oh. OK" Noct said.

After putting his shirt off, Noct sits, with his back in front of his soon-to-be goddess, while she put a needle on her fingers. After one drop of blood on his back, it glowed lightly. After the glowing was over, Hestia read his status. She noticed the various skills, like Warp, and several magic abilities written on his back.

But then her eyes stretched outside in disbelief.

„Uwahhhh" she nearly collapsed by seeing his current Level.

Bell moved fastly to stop his goddess from falling.

„L-L-L-L-L-L-L-" she couldn't even pronaunce it.

Noct got a little bit concerned, „something wrong, goddess?" he asked, now properly, since he was now a new member.

After Hestia came back from her thought, her stunned expression turned into a devilishly smiling one.

„Let's talk when we reach Orario" were her final words, still being irritated by what she has read on Noct's back.

The carriage was rather quiet until they reached Orario.

CITY GATE - ORARIO – EVENING

Noct, carrying the large blue gem, though he couldn't be impressed anymore by his stay in this world, this city with the tower of babel, surpassed everything. He couldn't stop looking at it.

He remembered that the Citadel of Insomnia was also as high as Babel, but Babel seemed to be built mainly of stone and/or brick, no steel (since this world was less technologically advanced than Eos).

„So this is the Labyrinth City" Noct stunningly expressed, who fist left the carriage.

„I was also impressed when I first came here, " said Bell while leaving as the second the carriage, helping the others coming out. They took their stuff, Noct took the bag where the blue item was in.

„So, miss Hestia, can we finally know what his Level status is?" lily said while being very curious, like the other, even Misha and Eina, who was held by Ryuu because she still was tired.

HESTIA FAMILIA HQ – ORARIO - EVENING

After the carriage left and they stood inside of Hestia Familia's HQ; she stood before the others, breathing in and out.

Excitedly they waited what Hestia was about to announce.

„he's Level 6" she announced seriously.

„ „ „ „ „ „ LEVEL 6 ?!… " " " " " " they loudly repeated what Hestia said in disbelief

„and he's about to Level up when I checked his status, the Level numbers were whirling between 6 and 7" this time she sounded more proudly since this was like a big catch, much bigger than the 100 Million worth blue item.

Now everyone was speechless while looking at him

„I knew he has to be strong but not like THAT" Bell said while looking at Noct in disbelief.

„so that means he could deal with Mama Mia" Ryuu compared since Mia Grand, as the previous Captain of the Freya familia, was also Level 6. Ryuu suddenly started having that weird happiness she had after she gave Noct the handshake at the carriage. This time her face got deeply red. She thought maybe that Eina infected her.

„and also with the strongest members of the Loki Familia" Mikoto said, looking at Hestia.

„Does this also include Freya Familia?" Lily wondered.

„if he Level's up, he'll be one the same plane as 'King' himself, " Welf said, still shocked by that announcement.

„and what about 'Silverlight' ?" Lily wondered, also still shocked.

Eina, on the other hand, was still speechless. She couldn't believe that there was an unknown adventurer who came outside of Orario who's unbelievable strong right in front of them.

'I bet he could easily be Orario's next 'sexiest adventurer alive', he could easily surpass 'Hildrsreif', 'Braver' and even 'Silverlight' ' Misha thought while happily looking at Noct's handsome features.

After everyone recovered from that announcement, they all slowly left for their home, expect Noct, who remained with Bell and Hestia. They all have sworn not to tell a word what they heard until Noct was registered.

Noct went with Hestia and Bell to their, room under the abandoned church.

Since they were all tired, they wanted to go sleep after their shower, but then there was only one problem for Noct.

„so, where am I gonna sleep?" Noct asked.

Bell, whose respect of Noct has grown since the announcement, had a fitting Idea.

„Please, take the bed, while I and goddess will take the couch, " Bell said while bowing in front of Noct, „I know it's not appropriate, but … "

„What?, no it's alright, thank you" he looked the bowing Bell, feeling uncomfortable, „and please don't bow in front of me, I'm the newbie and you're practically the captain of this Familia" Noct declared.

„he's right, Bell, just because he's stronger doesn't make him superior, that's this Familia's golden rule, " Hestia said while seeing Bell stand up straight again.

„Y-Yes" he answered, somehow relieved, which was more than alright for Noct.

Hestia looked to Noct one last time. She then smiled, which was also replied with a rather tired smile.

„goodnight, Noct" Hestia wished to her new child, who went sleeping after laying on the couch.

INSIDE – ROOM OF PRAYER – GUILD HEADQUARTERS – ORARIO

The head of the Guild, Ouranos, sat on his throne listening to one of the reports of Fels, a mysterious individual with black robes that cover its face, making it impossible to tell its gender.

„So another one appeared", he opened his eyes „you sure she said 'Eos' "

„I've heard them precisely" Fels declared.

„Can we trust this 'Noct Gar' ?" Ouranos asked.

„Since he's now part of the Hestia Familia, I think we shouldn't be concerned for a while, but when I was in Melen, he was already pursued by someone" Fels explained.

This surprised Ouranos, „someone else was tracking him?"

„he noticed the pursuer, but apparently didn't care much" continued Fels,

„at first I believed it to be someone from the Aeshma Familia since they're looking for strong individuals right now and where also there today, but then I noticed that the pursuer wasn't eighter Human, Demihuman or other known race, but something darker"

Ouranos eyes opened wide, „so that means … "

„Yes, it seems the enemy already cast an eye on him"

Fels said while remembering seeing him fighting the sea monster. Fels also slightly laughed back then while remembering seeing him naked on the beach.

Fels continued, „Anyway, sooner or later he'll seek answers, that's what Astraea told me after they left for Orario, so I propose to talk to a certain informant". Fels explained.

„he's already the fifth known individual from that 'Eos' place, so it would be indeed wise to inform the first four about him " Ouranos answered while approving of Fels's proposal.

After Fels left, Ouranos closed his eyes. He remembered how he met Astraea several times. He trusted her judgment about people, so he was a little bit less concerned about that Noct Gar's intentions, but the fact that he's the fourth individual from another world couldn't stop bothering him,

'especially since he possibly couldn't be the last one coming.' he thought.

(ENDING: KARMINA - WALK YOU HOME)