'Bell…' Artemis smiled to herself as she rested in his chest. Though her arms ached with small amounts of pain, her heart fluttered with butterflies. She could hear his heart beating gently in her ear. It was calm and steady which made her happy. His arms curled around her tightly holding her in a way she could only describe as making her feel safe and it only made her smile more.

How she wished she could return the gesture, how she wished she could wrap her arms around him and finish the connection between them.

But all she could do was lay there and relax. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. Too relax into her dreams.

"Artemis!" Bell called out to her as he ran towards her, a huge smile on his face.

She stood over Laurous. She had beaten him like she knew she would. Winning the wargame for Hestia and Bell.

"Bell!" She smiled, running into his arms embracing him the speed at which she jumped into his arms caused them both to fall back landing on the sandy floor of the colosseum floor.

"Artemis you won!" He cried tightly, hugging her and pulling her down into his chest.

She cried tears of joy. She nuzzled her face into his chest and cried.

He smiled his hand running through her hair as he comforted her.

The world around them seemed to disappear as she lifted her head. Teary-eyed, she smiled. "We won Bell…" She gripped his side. "We won."

They went silent, the pair staring at one another, her mind screaming. 'Do it. You want this!'

So she couldn't help herself, pulling him into her lips the two sharing their first kiss in full view of an entire arena.

She was happy. The virgin goddess was accepted, she was alive, she… she was in love.

She knew it was all a dream. She had lost, humiliated and beaten a second time by that wretched man. She hated herself for losing and forgetting herself in the situation she was in now.

Her dream shifted to the bathroom. She blushed, realising he was holding her naked frame as he washed her. She hated the idea of men seeing her naked. But Bell was the exception, as she let him see and touch her. The longer it went on the more she enjoyed it. And in the end, without realising it at the time, she had kissed him.

Her dreams continued off where she could not. Moans as he explored her body. His hands grabbed her ass and pulled her closer. His lips pushed into hers as she wrapped around him.

She wished it would continue. She hoped to explore it more, but she heard it. A giggle not of her own.

Tiona and Aiz returned much later to find the house empty. Or at least that's what they thought. All the lights were off and not a sound to be heard for miles.

"You think they all went out?" Tiona looked at the sword princess who shrugged.

"Maybe…" She removed her shoes and went upstairs to the bathroom. Tiona rushed to the kitchen, determined to finish off her leftovers. Only to find someone else had beaten her to it.

"What!" She cried, slamming the door shut. "When I find out who it was I'll make them pay!" A red Aura formed around her, but quickly faded as she grabbed an apple instead.

As she ate she walked to the front room, hearing Aiz grumble to herself as she walked down the stairs to join her. Tiona turned to enter the front room only to stop in her tracks blocking the doorway and dropping her half-eaten apple.

"Awwww Aiz, come look at this." She waved Aiz over to her pointing in the direction of the sofa.

Aiz merely poked her head over the shoulder. But her face quickly soured as she noticed Bell and Artemis asleep together in each other's arms.

Tiona jumped up and down squealing. "Oh my god they look so cute!" She giggled. Her hands covered her mouth as she admired the two.

Aiz didn't share her reaction. Her hand gripped her skirt as she held in her jealous rage.

"Ohh I know…" Tiona pushed past Aiz and up the stairs, rummaging through her things before nearly flying down the stairs, recovering at the last second with perfect composure.

She returned to find Aiz staring at the two with a face she didn't know the girl could muster. However, she pushed her aside as she raised a small crystal up towards the two.

Artemis moved her head, causing Bell to stir, pulling her up closer to his face. Their cheeks touched.

"Perfect!" A bright light flashed from the crystal, and Tiona's smile only grew.

"I'm gonna ship these two so much!" She held the crystal up and smiled only to feel the anger radiating off of Aiz, her eyes glaring at the poor broken girl. Tiona knew full well the girl was the jealous type but seeing her get this annoyed, it was almost like when she gets her to kill stolen, or is losing a fight.

'This is all this is to her…A fight. There can only be one winner and she's losing… Badly.' Tiona let out a little sigh. As much as she liked Bell, teasing him was enough for her. Seeing him blush was a treat. But she knew Aiz couldn't express herself. Her feelings. It was clear Bell had a crush on her for a time but… Artemis easily stole him away with her charm and personality.

Aiz, meanwhile, stood over them, her hand clenched at her side. Her eyes glared down at the happy-looking girl. She tried to imagine herself in the same position, but couldn't. She hated it. Her heart sank as she tried to remember Riviera's words from the night before, but she just couldn't agree with them.

'I've known him longer!' She bit her lip gripping her arm now as she thought of ways to break the two apart just so she didn't have to watch them.

'Why? Why is he so attracted to her? I don't get it. It's been a few weeks and yet… I just don't understand!' She looked to Bell and tried to look into her heart.

Idle curiosity brought them to meet. That curiosity only grew as he defeated foe after foe despite only being a level one. Yet she came to understand her feelings more as she spoke with Riveria. Love something she didn't truly understand. She knew her mothers love and her fathers but not the kind the elf spoke of. It changed her perspective on the boy. She suddenly had an itch to learn more about him and get closer.

Yet when she was finally getting to know him. When they finally seemed to get closer to one another… That damn spear appeared and with it the blue-haired goddess. She didn't really care at the time, she couldn't remove the spear. But seeing that goddess jump on Bell. Hugging him and claiming him on the spot made her blood boil. Yet still, she didn't know why.

She turned away and headed for the door. She was gonna go and train but she wanted to do it with Bell. She wanted to have a little time alone with him. She glared at Tiona. Though not intentional in the slightest who simply turned her head in response. She looked at the weapon rack which they used to store old swords and staffs. Without a second hesitation she kicked it causing a loud crash of metal and wood as the collection of training weapons fell, cascading down to the floor.

This made Tiona jump a little as she turned around to look at the mess "AIZ'S!" She shouted only to cover her mouth as she heard a small gasp from behind her. They both turned to look at the sofa. Artemis and Bell's eyes locked with one another. Tiona looked a little upset but Aiz couldn't help but smile as she turned around.

Artemis was the first to realise their position though she was helpless to do anything. Unable to move away she watched as Bell's eyes locked with hers for but a moment. They both blushed hard though it quickly became clear to the two there were other people nearby as he looked over his shoulder to see Aiz and Tiona staring back.

"H-Hey Argo-Kun sorry we didn't mean to disturb yo…Hey Aiz what are you!" Aiz pushed past her as she grabbed Bell's shirt only giving him the briefest of looks as she pulled him up.

"Training…Now!" She growled pulling him over the sofa.

"W-Wait whahhhh!" Bell couldn't finish as his whole body was lifted over the sofa before hitting the ground.

Tiona and Artemis could only blink at each other as the golden haired sword princess whisked the rabbit away before their eyes.

Artemis tried to call out to Bell but he was already too far away. She suddenly felt a great loss and worse she was stuck unable to move an inch. She had no choice but to look to Tiona who was equally confused and shocked.

'I need to get hold of Riveria.' She tried to smile. "D-Don't worry he'll be back soon, 'Riveria will see to that!"

"I hope so…" Artemis looked down, a small blush on her face but mainly a look of defeat.

Tiona couldn't but help but bite her lip seeing Artemis's face. "D-Don't worry.." She couldn't help but pat the goddess on her head. She looked at the clock and thought for a moment.

"J-just wait here. I'll be right back, okay." Tiona quickly hurried towards the kitchen grabbing a small communication crystal off the side. She flicked it a couple of times till it started to glow.

"Riveria!" She called out the crystal shining brighter as the connection was formed.

Riviera and Lefiya sat in a small cafe just down the road from the house. Even though she wanted to have a hard drink after her run in with Regis she couldn't help but feel something was off so decided to play it safe instead. Lefiya had done nothing but ask questions about Regis the entire time trying to learn as much about him as possible.

"Does he…"

"LEFIYA FOR LOKIS SAKES CAN YOU BE QUIET FOR TWO MINUTES!" She shouted, almost cracking the cup in her hand as she glared at the small elf.

Lefiya quickly cowered away into her chair as she let out a little "Epp" Dropping her head and not saying another word to her mentor.

"Ughhh gods why did he have to show up today…" Riveria couldn't help but let out a frustrated sigh, she placed her cup down and folded her arms as she looked at the cowering girl and then looked away, trying to cover her own shame. "I'm sorry I… Ughhh that man just gets on my nerves."

Lefiya looked up but remained quiet, gauging her mentor's face and waiting for it to become reasonable before speaking.

She twiddled with her fingers nervously. "He offered to train me… I'm not sure.. Ahh, Riveria, should I?"

Riviera let out a low sigh. "You'd be a fool not to…" She rested her chin on her hand as she looked at the girl. "Regis is many many things. But If there's one thing about him I'd admire it's his knack for learning."

She swirled her cup for a moment as she stared into it. "Ha, I remember when he asked me out. The poor fool learned ancient elven just to impress me. Like that would work. Yet he spoke it perfectly as if he had been studying for a lifetime. While most other races are limited to the number of magics they could use, he was special."

Lefiya couldn't help but notice but Riveria seemed happy almost for a moment as she reminisced.

"You want to know why he was, nay is? Heh, the most dangerous member of Zeus's familia?" She leaned back and looked up. "He could read people like a book. He knew almost every fighting style ever taught. He wasn't the strongest by any means. Ottarl, Zard and Alfia all out matched him. He wasn't the fastest or even lucky. No, he's smart, careful and he plans everything in an instant." She giggled looking at Lefiya.

"He could probably teach you a thousand Elven magics. You really would become the thousand elf under him. Ahh of all the unique magics to have… He had to have the one that governs time…" Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth, not wanting to let that last part slip.

'Ahh thousand Elf, there are so many spells I could learn.. Wait, what did she just say?' "

"R-Riveria… W-What did you just say?" Lefiya asked, trying to hold in the tremor in her voice.

The green-haired elf sighed loudly. "Ughhh, I shouldn't have let that slip. Lefiya you can't tell anyone this okay since I'm allowing you to train under him it's imperative you don't let anyone in the guild find this out." She leaned a little closer holding up her hand so nobody could read their lips.

"Regis at a young age was able to use a special form of time magic. Like Alfia who had also developed a rare magic, it was locked to him; he had studied countless nights and days to try and unlock more of it but soon came to realise just the hope of beneficial such a spell could be." She took a deep breath and leaned back happy that nobody was listening to them.

"Imagine being able to stop time in an area for what seems like seconds to those outside it. But in reality, it's hours inside. Never aging, just imagine how much you could learn. Your only limit is your surroundings."

Lefiya's eyes widened in amazement. "That's amazing I wish I had a power like that…"

Riviera smiled. "Yes… I'm sure anyone would… Though is it worth a day of your life?"

The small elf looked confused for a moment. "I…I don't understand?"

Riviera took a deep breath. "That's just the nature of the magic, like all amazing things in this world it has a drawback. Ahhh simply using it requires him to sacrifice a day in his life. A fair price, some would say for infinite knowledge…"

Lefiya lowered her head. "So… How long does he have?"

Riveria looked away with a glint of sadness in her eyes. "Truth be told… I couldn't say. Really to get to where he has, I'd say he's used at least ten years of his life."

Lefiya tried to see the bright side of that. "That doesn't seem too bad."

The tall elf simply sighed. 'I wonder If it's finally time…He's not an idiot perhaps… perhaps he really is trying to write the wrongs before death.'

She looked at the small elf. A girl who had limitless potential and a reason to get stronger. 'There would be no better person to pass on his knowledge…'

She smiled. 'Regis…ahhh I suppose you've at least earned the right to explain yourself.'

"Mmm your dead set on learning from him, Lefiya?"

The elf nodded quickly, her eyes shining with pleading looks. "After I think on it. Ahhh it's a wonderful idea. Take every lesson to heart. Fu-fu perhaps in time you could even match Aiz in strength."

Lefiya's face lit up like the sun as she bowed her head. "Thankyou Riveria. I promise I won't let you down!"

She giggled. "Ohhh trust me. It's not me you've got to impress. Regis has high standards"

The two chatted a little before Riveria's communication crystal started to glow.

"Huh?" She reached into her pocket. "I don't remember telling Bell about this… which means…"

She activated only to see a panicking Tiona looking left and right with a crying Artemis in the background.

"RIVERIA WE HAVE A PROBLEM!" The short amazon look to her with confused eyes.

Riveria just saw the crying girl behind her and instantly jumped to a conclusion "Ughh calm down Tiona just get Bell and she should calm down."

"T-that's the problem… Aiz just found them and dragged Bell off for training!"

Riveria sat silently before quietly squeezing her staff. A crooked smile on her face as an angry aura radiated her. "Thankyou Tiona… Just try to cheer her up as best you can."

She cut off the connection. Lefiya gulped as she watched Riveria get to her feet.

"R-Riveria i-is everything Alright?"

"I can't believe that girl! Agrhhhh! Lefiya come along were leaving!" She grabbed her staff and threw a bag of valis at a nearby waiter. Her eyes focused on the wall. "I guess you want to be punished like a child Aiz!"

"Aiz!" Bell shouted as he was dragged out the door.

"Training." She said with an expressionless face and a flat voice, pulling him along by his ear. She didn't care for what he had to say. She was annoyed. Annoyed, he was spending time with another girl rather than improving himself.

"Ahh… Ahh.. Aiz please!" Getting his ear pulled by an angry level six hurt, it felt like she was trying to tear his ear off. "Aghh, please let go, Artemis needs me, okay, j-just let go!"

Yet she didn't, she knew he would only try to run off back to his precious new friend… Or whatever they were at this point. She gave him a stern look. "Why aren't you taking this seriously?"

Given his surprised look It was clear his thoughts were only on Artemis, the wargame had slipped from his mind entirely. "W-What are you talking about?" He asked, confused by her question.

She stopped. Just at the entrance to the wall. With a sharp pull forward she spun him around and pushed him up against the wall. Angry, annoyed and disappointed in him for his lack of worry for the situation he was in.

"Ahhhk! Aiz! What are you!" He clutched her arm which held him to the wall. Desperately trying to wiggle free but to no avail. All he could do was look up and see her disappointed face.

"Weak…" her arm pushed him up a little as she looked down.

"You've done nothing but cuddle that girl ever since she lost!" She growled at him. Almost as if she was angry at Artemis but Bell knew what she was implying.

"She lost a humiliating fight Aiz! She's gonna remember this for the rest of her life! I'm just trying to…" He was cut off as she pulled her sword on him. Sticking it into the wall next to his face.

"Dead…"

He froze looking at the sword Desperate, stuck into the wall just mere millimeters from his face.. Clearly this wasn't the situation he had anticipated. "Aiz why are you so worked up about this?"

His calm and gentle voice only served to annoy her more. "Idiot!" She pulled him off the wall and into the stairs well. Grabbing Desperate from the wall.

Bell gulped as he pulled his knife in shock and suddenly found himself parrying her strikes. Jumping back he quickly took to the stairs to get some high ground.

"Aiz.." He gasped out as he stepped back out of her range. Nearly tripping as he was ill prepared to deal with her fast strikes.

"What are you doing?" He took a step back only to feel the Hestia knife flung from his hand as her cold blade touched his neck.

She glared, pushing it a little deeper. "Wargames are no joke! If you're not ready you will die! She will die! You should know this from watching her fight so why!" She sighed knowing of all Finn's lessons this was the one she didn't take seriously…

"Why are you acting like it's not an impending threat?!" She looked deep into his eyes. Before he had been so full of anger and rage. It was like her in the past but now. It was like all of it had just washed away.

She took a deep breath and tried to think about what she was saying as she looked at Bell's confused face as he stared back at her.

"Aiz please I'm only trying to protect her!"

"You're trying to protect her?" She growled. Kicking him to the side. Bell gasped as the air was knocked out of him yet he still reached for the Hestia knife as Aiz loomed over him.

"You can barely protect yourself! How are you gonna fight two opponents when all she's going to do is stand behind you?"

Bell was about to say something but quickly rolled out the way grabbing the Hestia knife as Aiz came at him. He took a deep breath and fled up the stairs.

Aiz meanwhile persisted as she followed him. "What happens If one gets past you and she's cornered? Are you gonna turn your back and try to help her?"

Bell gripped his chest. The memories of Artemis beaten back against the wall unable to fight back.

"I…. Ughhh" He nearly tripped again trying to get a hand on the conversation but was failing in both. He took a deep breath and hurried to the top.

Aiz knew he was starting to focus a little on her being a threat but she wasn't gonna let him rest for too long. Quickening her pace she headed towards the top.

Bell sighed with relief as the warm sun hit his face and fresh air filled his lungs. 'Finally familiar ground.' He made some distance and prepared himself for Aiz's next assault.

His mind however thought about what she said. The implications of a two on two. 'Ughh I can protect her. I will protect her?!' He firmed up his resolve taking a battle stance as Aiz exited the stairwell.

She wasted no time dashing forward and lunging Desperate towards him, aiming at his heart. She wasn't surprised that Bell parried it with ease, but that meant nothing as she swept for his legs.

Bell noticed giving a little hop to avoid it using the force of her next swing to help push his body back. As his feet hit the floor he made an attempt to strike clashing blades with hers.

Aiz let out a little smile. 'Let's start your training…'

The two began to spar like they always did but this time Aiz had no intentions of going easy on him or playing fair.

She parried his strike with ease proceeding to use her speed to knee his leg.

"Arghh!" Bell yelped but his attention shifted for a second and Aiz swiftly knocked him on his back with a single strike.

"These people don't play fair Bell!" She moved to strike him again causing Bell to roll away and quickly get to her feet. Aiz didn't give him a second as she knocked him down again. She was like two people pursuing a single target not giving him a second to react.

'Fuck it's just like when her and Tiona tried to train me…'

She grumbled. "Artemis gets knocked down, you're still fighting!"

Bell parried but his thoughts were shifted. "She can handle herself!"

Aiz grabbed his arm and pulled it behind his back. "Against the man that just nearly crippled her?"

Bell looked down knowing she was making a really good point.

"I'll help her overcome that fear and trauma!" He said, finally taking the fight seriously. He stomped her foot though it did little it helped him push back and free his arm.

"N-No matter what Aiz." He smiled at her as he regained his footing. "I'll be there for her no matter what."

Aiz sighed. 'Your just not getting it!' She took a moment to let him rest and think.

"You want to help her, Bell? Then stop cuddling her like a baby!"

Bell just looked towards the destroyed church. He looked down after noticing the arena. clenching his fists a little.

"After everything she's been through… How can I not?" He looked up at one of his love interests, His first one and his inspiration.

Aiz just shook her head. "But you're not seeing the bigger picture Bell… You would shelter her right up until the wargame then what?"

Bell shifted his weight as another attack came at him. He failed to parry it as desperate cut his arm a little.

"I'm not! You saw how badly she got beaten in that fight, I'm only looking after my Familia member." Bell cried out as he attacked and she parried him.

"She'll be a nervous wreck!" Aiz went for another strike. This time grazing his cheek. Bell touched it seeing a small drop of blood.

"I'll help her! I'll help her through it Aiz." He took the offensive, pushing her back a little.

Another few blows sparked between them. "And I know Aiz…" More sparks. "There's more to come, so…" Their blades locked together for a moment. "Thank you for the training!"

He understood why she was doing this and why she was so annoyed at him. She had given him a lot to think about. Though for the time being his focus would be to help Artemis.

They both stopped after an hour or so of sparring. Bell had managed to appease her a little as he regained his breath.

Aiz took a deep breath as well. Sheathing desperate. "Ahhh why don't we have a little rest." She spoke calmly almost as if she forgot why they had been fighting.

'Were alone…' She smiled sitting down and tapping her lap. A small smile.

"T-to say sorry…" She looked away. "F-for dragging you out here and attacking you…"

Bell looked at the offer of a lap pillow. He loved it when she offered and while he wanted to get back to Artemis he knew denying her was out of the question.

As he took a step forward he froze a cold Aura escaped from the stairwell as the two slowly heard a voice.

"NOT ON MY WATCH YOUR NOT!" A loud voice boomed towards them as Aiz shivered and gulped.

'N-no it's too soon!' She looked at her lap and sighed. 'Why now…'

Bell didn't turn around but he could see the worried look on Aiz's face and the overwhelming aura piercing right through him as he recognised the voice all too well.

"R-Riveria…" Aiz looked up before swiftly moving to her knees realising there would be no running from the mother elf.

Riveria stepped out of the stairwell. Behind her was Lefiya who looked at Bell with surprise and then Aiz with a hint of disappointment.

"Lady Aiz… why would you do something like this?" She spoke quietly, only Riveria hearing her as she sighed heavily.

"Of all the things I told you not to do!" She pushed past Bell only giving him a glancing look. She paid him no mind looking back at Lefiya. Bell got the message and quickly went to the other elfs side. The two awkwardly looking at one another as Lefiya tugged his shirt. "W-we should wait downstairs…"

Bell didn't argue with her. Normally Lefiya was a mixture of anger and kindness but given the look on her face he knew nothing could come from watching.

The two moved down the stairs quietly, Lefiya looking down as she held his arm and led him away. A tint of pink on her cheeks.

Rivera stood over Aiz and glared down at her disappointment was only part of her glare. The other half was anger.

Once she was happy Bell and Lefiya were out of earshot she slapped Aiz's cheek.

"You stupid Girl!" Rivera raided her hand again though stopped herself as she took a deep breath.

Aiz held her face and looked up like a child being punished.

Rivera kept her glare. "What the hell were you thinking?!"

Aiz looked down trying to avoid Riveria's glare as she scolded her. "I…I just wanted to help."

"Help? Help!" She refrained from hitting her again. "You stupid, idiotic ughhhh dumb girl!" Riveria began to pace around a sign Aiz really didn't like to see.

"I was enjoying a nice cup of tea. Then I find out you steal a crippled girl's only source of comfort without a hint of remorse!"

Aiz tired to speak up.

"No You Will be quiet. Your actions were selfish, nothing more! Not only that you took him outside the house! Which I specifically told you not to do!"

She turned back and paced circles around her. "Help? You almost cost him the wargame and for what?! To get him alone for a couple hours?!" Riveria hit her head with the top of her staff, causing her to hold her head in pain.

"If he was seen without me or Lefiya then he'd be disqualified! What part of that did you not understand!"

The sword princess dropped her head with a little tear in her eyes as she thought about it. "I just wanted to help."

Riveria stopped and stabbed the ground with her staff. "Don't lie to me Aiz…"

Ais grasped her arm. "I'm not I…"

"You're jealous, Aiz. You just wanted to have him to yourself. Damn the risks. Stop hiding behind this preconceived notion that you're trying to help!"

Riveria took a long deep breath as Aiz fell quiet. She watched as the girl she raised like a daughter clenched her fists.

'Yes, I'm jealous of that little blue bitch!' She bit her lips keeping her thoughts to herself. 'She's holding him back. Making him weaker! Getting attention from him she doesn't deserve!'

She got to her feet and quickly dusted herself off. Looking to Riveria. "You told me to give him up… I won't."

Riveria looked at her. "That wasn't me telling you that was an order Aiz."

The blond-haired girl shook her hair. "So it's fair for her to fall in love and I'm supposed to just watch and do NOTHING!".

Riveria was getting annoyed. "For Loki's sake Aiz just grow up! Can't you see those two are in love! I'm only trying to help you! Better to accept that then have your heart broken!"

Aiz did something she never thought she would do in her life. She raised her hand and slapped the green haired elf. Riveria was shocked to say the least. The girl she treated like a daughter just slapped her.

Yet she didn't retaliate; she just stood and looked at her with a disappointed look.

"I can't stop you Aiz. You want to pursue Bell fine. But never disobey another one of my orders again!" She glared at her with all seriousness as Aiz's nodded.

Riveria took a step forward "Say it Aiz!"

She kept her gaze as Aiz opened her mouth. "I swear I won't disobey another one of your orders."

With that Riveria calmed a little. "Ughh let's head back. If anyone asks we were shopping for supplies."

She grabbed her by the ears and gave an evil smile. "Ohhh and don't think I have forgiven that little slap young lady! when we get back I think we should start doing swimming lessons again!"

Aiz went white as Riveria pulled her by the ear. 'No! Anything but that!'

Bell sighed heavily as he and Lefiya sat quietly at the bottom of the wall. His arms and legs bruised a little from Aiz not holding back. 'Ughh guess I still need a lot more training…'

The quiet elf observed him. Noticing a cut to his cheek, a bruise to his arm and who knows what else she couldn't see.

'Lady Aiz… I want to believe you were only trying to help…But this seems so unlike you.'

She took a deep breath. "Idiot why didn't you try to stop her!"

Bell heard the smaller elf talk as he gave her a confused look. "I-I don't know what you…"

Lefiya jumped to her feet and leaned over him. "Don't play dumb Cranel you clearly didnt want to be here so why didn't you try and deny her?!"

Hearing the young elf made him chuckle a little it was the same old Lefiya he had recently gotten to know. He wasn't sure why but he felt he needed to explain.

"I tried…" He rubbed his arm. "But she was right in a way. Artemis isn't going to be ready in time for the wargame." He let out a long sigh. "I need to get stronger. So I can protect her and fight ahhh!"

Lefiya hit him over the head. A small annoyed look on her face. "Urughh you truly are an idiot Bell. Sure Aiz can be right when it comes to training. But she's useless at understanding other people's emotions."

She took a deep breath calming herself before continuing. "Artemis might not show it now. But the horrors she faced will haunt her for the rest of her life." She looked away as his curious red eyes looked towards her.

"Yes…Your constant cuddling of her isn't gonna help her mentally prepare for the next fight. But…Every second you're there to comfort her. No matter how small will help her massively in the long run."

Bell silently thought on her words. He wondered if she was right. Aiz made a good point but was it worth the risk to Arts well being?

Lefiya smiled. "Just think about it when we head back okay." She gave him an unusually big smile before pulling out her staff. "Now let's fix you up."

Bell watched as she began to chant a spell. A light glow emanating from her staff. Suddenly a faint glow surrounded his body. His cut quickly headed and his bruises faded. As the light faded Bell couldn't tell anything had really happened.

Lefiya smiled. "There, can't have your little girlfriend worrying over you."

Bell went red as he shook his head. "She's not my girlfriend…!" He blushed a deep red hiding his face.

Lefiya laughed. "Sure she's not…" Lefiya teased him with a little giggle. Bell had never seen Lefiya like this yet he was glad.

"Deny it all you want, Bell. You two clearly have more than just a normal friendship…"

'Yeah we do… Ughhh what am I thinking!' He shook his head. "S-so what… She's a nice girl, we get along very well…"

Lefiya grumbled. 'Surely he's not still drooling for Lady Aiz!'

Bell sighed. 'I love Aiz. I love Artemis. It shouldn't be this hard to choose one!'

Just then the two heard footsteps as Riveria and Aiz came down the stairs, the tall green elf holding the young girl by the ear.

"Bell… I believe Aiz has something she wants to say to you!" She pulled the sword princess forward with ease as Aiz bowed her head in shame.

"I-I'm sorry for my current actions… T-they won't happen again." Bell and lefiya couldn't help but feel the line had been rehearsed and that Aiz had been made to say it a thousand times in the past.

For this however Aiz received a chop to the head. "He isn't Finn! Now do it properly."

She clutched her head as a small tear escaped. "I-Im sorry…"

Riveria sighed. 'Ughhh this is why you'll never get a boyfriend…'

"Ughhh let's just get back to the house before someone sees us!"

"Come on come on…." Tiona paced back and forth as she looked over a sobbing Artemis. She didn't know what to do, so she contacted the one person that might.

The doorbell sounded loudly making her jump as she ran to the front door. She pulled it open.

"Ahhh Ryu, thank the gods you're here I…"

Ryu just groaned and pushed a bag into the girl's arms. "Hestia just said to give her these. There is also a spare pair of clothes for Mr Cranel…"

She turned about to leave only for Tiona to grab her wrist. "W-Wait you can't leave me when she's like this… I-I don't even know how to cheer her up."

The Stoic elf turned to her. Her face said it all. I won't be much help either.

"Ughh there's a note In the bag. Just give it to her… If you want to help her…"

The elf turned, her face going a little red. "Help her get ready for his return… N-now if you excuse me… I've got to get back to work."

As soon as she arrived she disappeared into the main street leaving a slightly confused Tiona as she took a peek in the bag and blushed. "Ohhh yeah that's sure to get his attention. Fufu ohhh Artemis you got a present from Hestia!"

Authors notes

Its here the stars have aligned and I've finally had time to write!

I've been busy. Really busy. Really, I haven't had a chance to even think about new chapters. Between work and personal life I just haven't had the time to sit down and write. But this story ISN'T DEAD AND CERTAINLY WON'T BE DYING UNTILL I'M DEAD! Haters be damned! Cough anyway this is gonna be short sweet and to the point. To the those looking forward to this I say enjoy and look forward to discussing it with you. To those that like to just hate it. I say bring it on and see if I'll be deterred. There's a reason it got where it is and I intend to keep it that way.

Stay safe have a wonderful day or night and see you next time.