AN: So it has been quite a while hasn't it. Sorry about that, I've just been quite busy with everything that's been going on. That and I was distracted by the many other stories I've committed myself to writing and updating.
Still, I got it out eventually, even if it is later than I intended and am slowly getting back into the swing of things. Hopefully soon I'll start to update more regularly.
Not much else to say other than that, so I hope you enjoy the chapter and leave a review. Thanks for reading.
Disclaimer: I do not own Danmachi or the Elder Scrolls.
( - )
(Last Time)
"Say no more, say no more, I was merely asking…" Freya said, waving her hand nonchalantly, a smile still on her face.
"Hmm," Hephaestus grunted, still a bit stiff as she continued to watch the smiling goddess warily for a moment, before looking back at where Loki and Hestia were still arguing, only now it had devolved from Hestia showing off her Familia member and deriding the crown jewel of Loki's Familia, Aiz Wallenstein, to the two of them comparing boob size. A competition that the relatively flat chested Loki was sure to lose.
Seeing this, Hephaestus couldn't help but sigh. Sometimes she found it difficult to process the fact that there two were immortal goddess, especially when they showed less maturity than even her most immature Familia member.
( - )
Chapter 11
( - )
(In Azoth's forge)
"I thought I'd find you in here." Tsubaki Collbrande spoke up, a sly smile on her face as she nonchalantly leant against the doorframe to his forge.
Azoth just grunted in response, his gaze not straying from the dull silver blade in his hand as he gently placed it against the spinning grindstone he was sat in front of, sparks spraying off of the blade as it made contact.
"So is that the first piece you've made in this forge?" Tsubaki tried again, her one visible eye narrowing as she took in the shape and width of the sword, as well as the delicate swirling patterns, like smoke, that ran up and down its length.
The sword was perfectly straight, and maybe three feet in length. Currently though it had neither a pommel, a crossguard nor handle, but those were just extra additions. For the most part the blade looked finished, or at least fully forged. All that seemed to be left to do was sharpen the blade and then polish it up a bit.
"Yes," Azoth finally replied, moving the sword away from the grindstone now as he instead brought it up to eye level and looked down the edge.
The edge looked fine, but not too fine. Enough that it would cut, but not so fine that it would quickly pick up damage. To her own discerning eye, it looked like a good, if simple, sword.
"It's a simple blade," Azoth continued putting words to her thoughts, a slight frown on his face as he tested along the edge with his thumb. "But a solid one all the same."
"So not one of your enchanted blades then?" Tsubaki asked curiously, her gaze flicking to the nearby weapons rack as she spoke, taking note of the sword and great axe that were hung up there before she looked back to the tall elf. She had heard of his weapons from Hephaestus. Apparently they were impressive, and if the goddess of smithing said that, then that truly meant something.
"Not yet," Azoth replied, gently placing the blade down on a folded up piece of cloth as he did so. His attention instead moving to a simply crafted crossguard and pommel that lay nearby, and the two sanded down pieces of wood and two metal pins that sat next to them. "If the sword passes muster I might give it a simple enchantment. Maybe a Frost Enchantment, to help slow down enemies. I've honestly not decided."
"You want to imbue the sword with magic after you've already made it?" Tsubaki asked, her eye widening slightly in interest. She knew how to make magic swords herself, but the ones she made required magic to be used during the forging, not after.
In response Azoth's eyes narrowed and his posture stiffening as he turned to face her.
The sight of this almost made Tsubaki smile. Blacksmiths, like many artificers and artisans, jealously guarded their craft. Or at least they guarded the techniques behind their craft. After all if anyone could replicate them, then it would devalue their work and thus make all the hard work and experimentation they had put into creating their own unique style and techniques, worthless.
It didn't even matter that they were in the same Familia. None of them gave up their hard won, and hard earned, secrets easily or freely.
Not her, not Leo, not Welf, not Agil, not even Hephaestus herself.
The Familia was built around black smithing and crafting, and self-improvement and innovation. Bartering secrets and new ideas was ok, whether it be for materials or in exchange for something else, it happened all the time. But just giving them away freely, even to each other. That was not the done thing, not here.
Not even Hephaestus was exempt. Whenever she desired to learn one of her children's techniques, or use one of their designs, she struck a bargain with them first.
"I do," Azoth finally spoke, interrupting Tsubaki's thoughts as he did so. His expression smoothing out, as a slight smile instead played across his face. "I use a specially designed runic table to imbue enchantments into my equipment."
"Oh, and where is this table?" Tsubaki asked, her smile widening and her curiosity piquing. Maybe Azoth wasn't as secretive as the rest of their Familia. She wouldn't pry too much, after all she didn't want to take advantage. But she wouldn't say no to learning a bit more basic information if she could.
"Not built it yet," He replied shortly, barely looking up from his sword as he continued to inspect it in minute detail, even as he gestured vaguely to one of the corners in his forge.
Glancing in the direction he gestured, Tsubaki quickly spotted a plain wooden table with a plate of metal on top, and a number of other things scattered across it; including candles, a skull of some kind and several other pieces of metal. None of it was assembled, instead it was all lazily piled up on the table.
"Once I have a bit of time, I'll engrave the runes on the plate and set start to it up." Azoth continued, standing up now as he instead went over to where he had set aside the cross guard, pommel and handle. "It's not difficult to setup, not if you know how. The difficult part is getting the resources you need to properly use it."
"And what resources are those?" She asked curiously.
"Now that is a secret." Azoth smiled, fitting the cross guard onto the sword as he did so. "I'll be happy to tell you my process though, if you share with me how you build your adamantine weapons?"
"You don't know how to work adamantine?" Tsubaki asked in surprise. The metal was finicky to work with at the best of time, and required a true master smith to truly get the best out of it. There were not many Smiths out there that were skilled enough and knowledgeable enough to construct and maintain adamantine weapons and armour. And those that did know how, often jealously guarded their secrets.
"No, which is why I'm asking…" Azoth chuckled, setting the sword down now as he instead picked up a hammer and some pins and began to fit and attach the pieces of carved wood to the hilt.
Tsubaki rolled her eyes at the nonchalant response. "I take it that you're thinking of crafting your new armour out of it?"
"Yes, that or I'll use dragon bones." Azoth nodded, checking the grip of his new sword now. His long pale, dexterous fingers wrapping around the hilt, and then moving to check that the panels of wood were aligned and well fitted, after which he grabbed a nearby strip of leather and began to skilfully wrap it around the hilt in a plaited weave.
"Dragon bone?" Tsubaki asked, her eyes widening at the mention of the unusual material. "I can't say I've ever seen a suit of armour made wholly from bone before, wouldn't it be too brittle?"
"No, if the bone is properly treated it is fine, especially if it is strong, and resilient like dragon bone. As for working it, well there is a technique to that too. Besides I'll be using some metal work to fit it together, and reinforce the joints." Azoth smiled again.
It was a nice smile, Tsubaki mused, even as she ignored the previous comment and focused back on the matter at hand. It was difficult though, the promise of new smithing techniques was a difficult lure to resist. "Either way I think you are overestimating yourself if you think you can make an armour entirely out of adamantine or dragon bone. Adamantine ore is rare, especially since all the veins on the first thirty or so floors of the Dungeon have been completely depleted. To get the amount you want you'd need to Dungeon dive to the lowest levels, a lot, and for long periods of time. Which as you might imagine, is pretty dangerous and time consuming!"
"No risk, no reward." Azoth replied simply, moving to fit the pommel on his sword now.
"You might be a Level Six, kid. But in the Dungeon that doesn't matter, even Level Sixes will eventually get cut down and butchered if they head down too far and for too long, especially if they're alone." Tsubaki rolled her eyes. Azoth might be an elf, but she could tell from the way he spoke, his attitude and general demeanour, that he was not particularly old, probably only twenty or so. As such he still likely suffering from the reckless and arrogant folly of youth.
"Then I best not go down by myself." Azoth smiled again, taking up his hammer again. The sound of metal striking metal sounding out as he hammered the pommel into the hilt. "Besides, I'm in no rush. I'll probably build a temporary set of armour first, maybe try out some new techniques, if I pick any good ones up, and well, I'll have fun with it."
"Hmm," Tsubaki hummed, before she let out a sigh. "Well if that's what you want. But, a suggestion, if you are looking to build some cheap, but good quality armour, and want to use dragon bone to do so, I would suggested hunting down some of the Infant Dragons on the middle floors. They're not too tough, and although their bones are smaller, and nowhere near as dense as the dragons on the deeper floors."
"Thanks," Azoth nodded, standing up as he did so, the sword now gripped in his hand as he took a few practice swings with it.
"How is it?" Tsubaki asked curiously. His form was not bad, but it was not perfect either. She had seen better swordsmen.
"Well balanced, and light." Azoth said. "Not my best work, but good enough."
With that said, he turned and offered the sword to her.
Taking it from him, she straight away understood what he meant by light. It was still much heavier than a dagger, but despite that it was much lighter than a sword its size and thickness should be. It was probably a third as light as it should be, heavy enough that swings with it still had power behind them, but light enough that it could be moved swiftly and rapidly through the air.
Taking a few practice swings, a smile made its way across Tsubaki's face. It was a good sword, and if felt well balanced too.
Laying the flat of the sword across her finger, she checked to make sure. "Not perfect after all. You're blade is half a gram to heavy on one side."
"Only if you're feeling picky." Azoth rolled his eyes, taking his sword back from her as he did so.
"But otherwise, it is a beautiful piece. If you get Lady Hephaestus's approval you could probably sell it for half million vallis, as it is now. Add on a suitably strong enchantment, and you're looking at a couple of million. Not bad for a day or so of work, ey!" She laughed, clapping him on the shoulder as she did so.
Azoth nodded at that, a slight smile on his face as he reached over to the worktable and scooped up a simple, brown leather scabbard, and sheathed the blade. "Speaking of the Dungeon though, I hear that you might be heading down there soon with the Loki Familia?"
Blinking slightly at the sudden change in topic, it took her a few minutes to digest his question, before she nodded, a sly smile already spreading across her face. "That I am, why do you want in?"
"I wouldn't mind it." Azoth nodded, his expression turning serious.
"I'll keep you in mind then, we probably won't be going for a couple of weeks but I will let you know what Lady Hephaestus and I decide on." She replied.
She wasn't going to give him any more than that. The white haired elf might be strong and tough, but he obviously wasn't experienced with Dungeon diving. Whether or not she brought him along, very much depended on how she thought he would do in the Dungeon. She didn't want him to falter or get in over his head when they were on the deepest floors, to do so would not only put him at risk but all of them.
That said, she had a good opinion of him so far.
"I appreciate it." Azoth nodded. Thankfully not pushing the matter here and now like some Adventurers would have done.
"But anyway!" Tsubaki said, changing the topic of conversation now herself. "That's not why I came in here! No, I came to kick you out of the forge."
"Excuse me?" Azoth replied, his brow furrowing as his violet eyes bored into her.
"It's Monsterphilia, and you're new to the city. You shouldn't be cooped up in here, you should be out exploring!" Tsubaki continued undeterred. "Now come on, you're coming out with us. Leo, Charles, Lisabeth and even Welf are waiting for us in the main hall."
Cocking an eyebrow at this, Azoth looked to be on the verge of shooting her down.
"Oh come on, it's fun, and it'll be a good way for you to get to know your Familia! It's hard enough getting us all together at the best of times." She pressed on earnestly, her one visible eye locking with his. With how dedicated most of the Familia was to their craft, it was not an easy job at all corralling them and persuading them to go out together. Not when they all wanted to stay locked up in their forges, or in the shop selling their wares, or out buying new materials or harvesting them in the Dungeon.
Letting out a slight sigh, Azoth nodded.
"Fine." He said, grabbing up his newly forged sword. "I'll just go put something clean on!"
"Good, be down in around ten!" Tsubaki smiled, clapping him on the shoulder one more time, before she turned and swept out of his forge. "And don't look so dour, the festival is fun, you'll enjoy it!"
( - )
(Elsewhere in Orario)
Settling down at her table, Freya looked down from the veranda she was sat at, at the busy streets of Orario below. A small smile of contentment spreading across her face as she drank her tea in peace and just watched the world go by.
This was her temporary sanctuary, away from the bustling streets of Orario and the chattering children that inhabited it. This café was originally owned and started by a former member of her Familia, and now it was run by that Familia member's grandchild. As a primary stakeholder though, even now many years later, she was still allowed to book the whole veranda out as and when she pleased.
She didn't do it often, but sometimes her fellow gods got too whiny and annoying, or her children got too clingy and started bickering and squabbling to get her attention. It sometimes became too much, and she just needed space and time to herself.
Taking another sip of the sweet tea, Freya continued her observations. Her silver eyes moved over the teeming masses of mortals as they sold merchandise from their stalls, or chatted animatedly about the entertainment that would soon be starting in the amphitheatre.
It was Monsterphilia, or Monster Feria as it was once called. A festival that allowed the different Familia's to showcase their influence and wealth, or at least that was what it once was a few centuries ago. A chance for the Familia's and their gods to show off and try to one up one another. Nowadays though, few Familia still tried to take an active part in it beyond the crafting and farming Familia's selling their wares and produce.
Instead the festival had been usurped by the Ganesha Familia. With the main highlight of the festival being in the amphitheatre where the different members of that blowhard Ganesha's Familia showed off their monster taming abilities, and wowed and dazzled the crowds of simpleminded onlookers.
It was a somewhat tiring experience for her, especially since whenever she deigned to sit in on one of the performances she was swarmed by the other lesser gods and goddesses asking for favours, or trying to cling onto her coattails in the hopes that by merely being in her presence their place in the hierarchy of Orario will change.
It was not her cup of tea.
Smiling to herself at that thought, Freya took another sip of what was her cup of tea and let out another sigh.
Sometimes she just needed some alone time.
As if the world was trying to spite her, the sound of a familiar loud, obnoxious voice sounded out from inside of the café.
Her smile wavered slightly as she set her cup down on the table. Sometimes she needed that time away from others, but now was unfortunately not going to be that moment.
Pulling the black cloak she was wearing to hide her identity, tighter around her, Freya settled more comfortably into her seat as she waited for her guest to be shown through onto the veranda.
"Yo, sorry to keep you waiting." A loud voice called out cheerfully, shattering the calm silence she had otherwise been enjoying as the person she had invited finally arrived.
Setting down her tea, Freya forced a pleasant smile onto her face as she turned and saw Loki walking up to her, accompanied by a petit, blonde woman with a doll-like face and golden eyes. Loki's favourite pet, the famed Sword Princess.
"No need for apologies, you're right on time. I just came a little early," Freya said, her smile still present as she forced aside her distaste of the crass redhead, and instead turned to look at the blond swordswoman. "And she is...?"
"Ah, right, this is probably the first time you've met. This is Aiz from my Familia, that's enough of an introduction for you?" Loki introduced her child, her tone brusque and dismissive. A complete contrast to the sudden sharpness that entered her gaze.
Seeing the expression on the other goddess' face made Freya's smile slightly more genuine. She had a bit of a reputation, she already knew that. Not that that bothered her, after all it was amusing to see how wary some of the other gods and goddesses got around her. They were fearful that she would charm their strongest children away from them, and instead entice them to her Familia.
Smiling slightly wider now, Freya continued to watch Aiz closely for a moment, looking beyond her fleshy exterior and to what really mattered, her soul. The rumours about her were not unfounded, after all if she ever saw a soul that caught her eye. Well, she liked to collect and surround herself with beautiful things. It was part of the game.
"Aiz," Loki continued, her eyes narrowing warningly at Freya as she moved to take the seat across the table from the other goddess. "You might not think it to look at her in her hood and black cloak, but this is the Goddess Freya, so at least greet her."
"...Hello." The girl introduced herself with a nod, her head tilting minutely to the side in curiosity as she met Freya's silver eyes. Only for a slight hint of pink to then spread across her cheeks, and surprise to enter her eyes as she did so.
It seemed, Freya thought, that not even the emotionless doll was immune to her Charm.
"She's as impressive as I had heard, I can see why you like her so much," Freya said pleasantly, and she was being honest. The Aiz girl had a strong soul, one which shone a vibrant gold colour. On top of which there was something different about her too, something far more complex than she had seen in the run of the mill adventurer. Though just what that was would have to wait for later. For now she wanted to get down to business, after all she had not invited Loki out here for just a chat. "So tell me, Loki. Why'd you bring her with you?"
"Well you know, with the Monsterphilia going on, I'm planning on going out to have some fun with Aiz here. We're on a date you know!" Loki grinned widely, her distrustful expression clearing as she instead gave Aiz a fond look, like a master would to a favourite pet. "Plus, if I leave her alone, she's sure to dive right back into the Dungeon. If someone doesn't take care of her, she'll spend her whole life without a break. I tell you, sometimes she works too hard for her own good!"
Freya smiled at that, it was sometimes necessary to humour, Loki. The other goddess was an odd one at the best of times. She mingled too freely with the mortals, and more often than not forgot her place. It was distasteful really, how she acted like a clown, like comic relief. Allowing her children to mock and make fun of her. It was sad really, and pitiful.
Still, it was none of her business. If that was how Loki wanted to spend her time on the mortal plane, then that was up to her. Every god and goddess that had come down to the mortal plane from the Heavens had had a reason for doing so. They all had their own games to play.
"Lovely," Freya smiled. "Though training should never be discouraged. Especially since I've heard rumours that you're Familia will be going back into the Dungeon again soon, on a much longer and deeper expedition. In fact I've heard that you are looking to go further down than anyone, save for the Zeus Familia, has ever gone before..."
"Oh, it looks like you've heard a lot then." Loki replied, her smile vanishing as her eyes narrowed warily. "It also sounds like some people have been being too free with their tongues."
"Yes, well mortals like gossip you know." Freya replied dryly.
"You say that like gods and goddesses don't…" Loki shot back, and she had a point. Gods and goddesses were one thousand times worse than mortals when it came to gossip. "So is that why you called me here?"
"Partly." Freya shrugged carelessly, settling back in her seat as she did so her eyes still fixed on Loki. "I was hoping to enquire as to whether you would be taking any Familia members from outside of your own Familia with you?"
"So it's about a guy then?" Loki said bluntly, her caution giving way to resigned amusement. "Of course it's about a guy."
Freya simply smiled back, seemingly confirming Loki's assumption. Seeing this the goddess of mischief just sighed and leant back in her chair. "Really, that's why you dragged me all the way down here and interrupted my date, because you saw another guy you want to sink your hooks into!"
Pushing back the hint of annoyance she felt at the goddess of mischief's words. Freya instead sat straight again and shook her head. "As I said, it's not the only reason I asked to speak with you. I also wanted to discuss with you the possibility of making your expedition into a joint one between our two Familias."
Loki stiffened slightly at the suggestion, caution and concern suddenly entering her gaze as she sat up straighter in her chair and locked eyes with Freya.
"This is unexpected…" Loki said slowly.
"Really?" Freya smiled innocently.
"Ok, so what are you suggesting here? And why are you suggesting it?" Loki finally asked after a few moments of thought. Her distrust was clear to hear in her voice.
"I am merely offering some support. I was thinking of maybe sending a couple of my Level Fives and even a few Level Sixes with you, just to help bolster your ranks. As for why, well isn't helping out a fellow goddess enough? We all want to find out what is at the bottom of the Dungeon after all, that and the Guild does encourage the larger Familia's, like our own, to do regular expeditions into the Dungeon…" Freya replied smoothly, a beautiful smile on her face now. The kind of smile that would make a normal, weak-willed mortal fall instantly in love with her.
"If it was anyone else, maybe," Loki sighed, before she shook her head. "Let me guess, the real reason is because you are after someone from someone else's Familia, right? Which means that they are either someone in my Familia, or someone in one of the Familia's we'll likely be bringing with us... That narrows it down quite a bit. Hmm, since I don't think you're foolish enough to poach one of mine, I'm going to guess it is from another's Familia, and going off what I heard at that banquet. You're after Hephaestus's new boy toy. The elf, Azoth, right?"
Freya tilted her head to the side curiously at Loki's dissection of her actions. Sometimes it was surprising to see how intelligent Loki actually was beneath all of her bluster and clownishness. "I'll admit I am curious about the elven child, yes."
The Aiz girl noticeably stiffened at her words. Unfortunately though her face and eyes gave away nothing of what she was thinking or feeling, even to Freya's discerning eye.
"Huh, well you're not the only one curious. A Level Six like him turning up out of nowhere, and with no history, and with no one knowing anything about him. That's not something that happens. Something about the whole thing reeks of conspiracy. It is not possible for a Level Six to have gotten that strong without anyone having taken notice." Loki said, a frown on her face as she began to drum her fingers on the table. "Hephaestus claims he had a goddess before her, someone called Merida. You ever heard the name before?"
"No, it is not familiar." Freya shook her head. She too had heard the name from Hephaestus, but had found out nothing about her. She had even asked her contacts and scoured her library, and there was nothing. "But I too share your scepticism. There is something… unnatural about the child."
"Ha, and let me guess that's why you want him!" Loki snorted with laughter.
Freya just smiled in response. Loki was correct, she had seen the child's soul and it was without doubt the brightest and strangest she had ever seen. Where all other mortal's souls were just one colour, Azoth's soul was made up of hundreds. Maybe even thousands, of different colours and shades. It was a complex tapestry, one that was impossible to fully understand, even for one such as herself.
It was like he contained a thousand other souls in his body. Like he was a conglomeration of a thousand different lives, maybe past lives, in a single form. It was the only explanation she had for what she saw, impossible though it might be.
But then again that was why she wanted him. She wanted to talk to him, to find out what made him tick, what made him hot. She wanted to understand him as a person, and then divine the true nature of his impossible soul. He was a puzzle, a conundrum, that she could not resist wanting to solve.
"Ok fine," Loki finally nodded. "I'll pass on your offer to Finn. Since he's the one leading the expedition it is up to him over whether or not to accept your assistance. Though if we are to do this, I take it you'll be putting up some money to help fund the expedition too?"
There was a greedy glint in Loki's eyes as she said that. The sight of it almost made her roll her own eyes at the other Divine beings pettiness. "I would be amenable to that."
"Uh huh," Loki nodded, a slight smile still playing around her mouth. "You know Hephaestus is going to be pissed if you steal away her newest kid? Hell she might even ban you and your Familia from her shops, and from buying her wares."
"I doubt that she would ever be that foolish." Freya said, waving Loki's comments away dismissively, like an errant fly. As the most powerful Familia in Orario, she and her children had little to fear from Hephaestus. If it came down to it, she could and would strong arm the other goddess into reversing any sanctions she might want to dish out.
"You never change, do you?" Loki rolled her eyes. "One of these days you're going to fly too close to the sun and get burnt."
"Maybe, but not today I think." Freya smiled, picking up her still warm tea and taking another sip of it as she did so.
Now that she had dealt with Loki, and made her offer of support on the upcoming expedition, it was time for her to have some fun of her own.
Azoth wasn't the only soul that had caught her attention after all, there was another soul. One which was simple, where his was complex. Weak where his was strong. Pure, where his was corrupted. The contrast between the two was truly delightful.
( - )
(With Azoth)
Walking down the streets wearing a fresh white shirt, wool coat and leather trousers, his newly forged sword sheathed and strapped to his hip, Azoth couldn't help but grin as he looked around at all the stores and festival goers. There were more people here than he had ever seen in one place, or at least in one place outside of a battlefield.
It was amazing. The vibe in the city was infectious, and he, like the rest of his Familia, was getting caught up in it.
"Oi, Azoth!" Leo shouted from nearby as both he and Charles returned from a nearby pop up stall that was selling beer, several wooden flagons of ale in each hand as they returned to the group. "This is your first time to Monsterphilia isn't it!?"
Taking the ale that was offered to him by the half elf, Azoth took a long gulp of it and let out a sigh, smacking his lips together as he did in a distinctly undignified way. "Yeah, never been to the city before!"
"Haha well you're in for a treat then!" Leo grinned, slapping him on the shoulder. "You want to head over and see the main event, the monster taming!?"
"Or we can get more beer?" Charles offered with a smirk, downing his flagon of beer moments later.
"I'll drink to that!" Erhard, another member of the Hephaestus Familia. A bald, tanned human, with a cheerful, solid disposition nodded. A bright smile on his face as she clapped Charles on the back after he began coughing, a foam moustache visible on the younger human's upper lip.
Laughing at this, Welf shook his head. "There's plenty to do and see, and the taming will be going on all day. There's no rush."
"Yeah besides, I want to get some food first." Lisbeth, the pink haired pallum tagged on, rolling her eyes at the two heavily built humans antics. "How about Tsubaki, how about we go grab some food?"
"Can do, do you lot want to get some tables and we'll bring it over. After that we can go to the amphitheatre and see the taming." Tsubaki nodded, a smirk on her face as she allowed herself to be pulled away by the impatient pink haired, child-like blacksmith. The Captain of the Familia deliberately grabbing onto Welf's coat as she was pulled away. "And you can give us a hand Welfy!"
"Urgh, do I have too…?" Welf groaned, sending a scowl in Leo's direction as the short half elf started cackling in delight at the redhead's misfortune.
"Not sure what you're laughing about short fry." Erhard chuckled. "You're coming with me to get another round of beer!"
"What? But I just went!" Leo complained, not that he put up much of a fight as Erhard dragged him away. Instead the half elf just rolled his eyes and downed the rest of his drink.
Taking another gulp of his beer, Azoth couldn't help but laugh at his Familia members shenanigans. It reminded him so much of his time in the Companions, the comradery, and the inside jokes.
"Looks like it's up to us to get the tables then." Charles chuckled, a grin on his face as he looked over at the white haired elf.
The two smiths were a complete contrast to one another. Where Azoth was tall and broad shoulder, with white hair, delicate facial features and porcelain skin. Charles was much shorter, and stockier, with dark skin, plain features and short messy black hair.
"Sounds like a plan." Azoth nodded, smiling back at the affable human as he did so.
With that said the two of them started to make their way through the streets, looking around as they did for a nearby free table, or free place for them to sit and eat.
Unfortunately however, the two of them had barely made it a few steps before the atmosphere suddenly changed, and screams started to sound out in the distance.
( - )
AN: And it was looking to be such a peaceful day, one full of fun and friendship. Pity it couldn't last, I do enjoy writing the dialogue between the blacksmith of the Hephaestus Familia.
So yep, hope you all enjoyed the chapter and haven't given up on the story yet. Things will be kicking off soon with the plot, so I hope you all stay tuned.
Thanks a lot for reading, and I hope you leave a review. If you have any questions feel free to PM me, I tend to be quite good at answering those.
Thanks a lot.
Greed720.