Artemis didn't know what to do as she felt Bell's warm embrace ripped from her. She instantly felt cold and alone. She couldn't relax as her nerves got to her. Every little sound made her jump as she panicked. Tears filled her eyes as the Amazon Tiona tried to cheer her up.
"H-hey don't cry l-look why don't we play a game. Cards you gods like to play card games, right?"
Despite her best efforts, it was pointless. Artemis just hid her face, curling up in her arms and legs. Light sobs filled the room. It was hopeless. Tiona was split. She couldn't just leave her, but she needed help. Riveria was out searching for Aiz with Lefiya. Her sister was unreachable.
"Ugh, I can't take this…!" It wasn't until there was a knock at the door that she broke the awkwardness as she leapt up and sprinted to answer it.
To her relief, it was the mailman. "Ahhh, perfect, just wait there one moment!"
He looked a little confused as she rapidly scribbled on the piece of paper. "Take this to the hostess of fertility and make sure it gets to Lady Hestia!"
The man groaned as she shoved the paper into his chest. "Listen miss, I'm not your personal delivery boy, you want this delivery, do it like everybody else."
'Ugh!' She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small coin purse before throwing it at him.
"You are now." She gave him puppy dog eyes as the man looked down at the coin pouch.
"That's a week's wages…." He rubbed the back of his head and smiled. "Very well, please have a good day Miss." He lifted his hat and hurried off in the hostess's direction.
"Phew.." She, for the briefest of moments, relaxed as someone swiftly carried her note off to Hestia. However, her respite was short-lived as she heard a scream from the living room.
"P-please don't hurt me!" The blue-haired beauty cowered In the corner of the sofa as Tiona came running in.
Artemis was confused and scared. Bell had been the only thing keeping her calm. Her eyes filled with fear for the Amazones that stood in the doorway.
'So this is what Riveria meant when she said it would take a long time to recover…'
Right now the poor girl was frightened. But Tiona would not let her cower in fear at every little sound.
"Hey it's okay… I won't hurt you. I promise nobody is. You're safe here, you have my word."
Step by step, she got closer. Artemis occasionally glared at her not to come closer, but it was just her natural defense kicking in. Besides the odd twitch in her muscles, she couldn't move away without causing more pain. It was only thanks to the ointment and Riveria's magic that she could even sit comfortably.
Tiona stopped, hands in the air. "It's okay. L-look…" She held up the picture crystal. The faint light formed a picture and to Art's surprise, it was of her and Bell snuggled together.
Her eyes widened as a heavy blush formed on her face. It was one thing enjoying such a moment. But knowing someone had seen them had made it all the more embarrassing.
"P-please d-don't show anyone…" Artemis mumbled out, as she tried to hide her growing blush.
'I mean, I can't promise that…still at least she's distracted.'
Tiona pocketed the crystal as she came round to Artemis's side, sitting herself down next to her. It wasn't like she could run away.
"S-so you and Argo-kun are pretty close?"
There was a small silence as Tiona realised it was probably the worst thing to say.
She looked away. "Not as close as he is to her," Artemis whispered. She barely understood the relationship Bell and Aiz had. Hestia made her out to be this girl that Bell couldn't ignore and would come and steal him away.
Tiona pondered for a moment, not sure what to say. 'Ughhh, the truth will only hurt her. But I can't lie either…'
"Those two have a strange relationship. They met under unlikely circumstances. Bell had gotten cornered by a minotaur and Aiz was around to save him. Certain death awaited him, but he lived to see another day."
She closed her eyes. "We made fun of him, a level one cry baby that was lucky not to wet his pants. Bete was the worst to him, but not Aiz."
She put her hands behind her back. "Next thing we knew. That little adventurer became the fastest person ever to level up. I remember watching as he defeated a Minotaur single-handedly, still just a level 1…"
Artemis turned to see the smile on the girl's face as she recounted her meetings with Bell. "Little rookie, we called him. A fitting name. How this one boy turned into a real adventurer despite being belittled at every turn. Yet through it all, he just kept surprising us. Him and Lefiya teaming up to defeat a monster trap, battling the black Goliath on the 18th floor… Killing Anta…"
She bit her lip, realising she nearly said something she shouldn't have. She rubbed the back of her head and just laughed. "I asked him once how he did it. How he got so strong and why he took on impossible tasks for his level. You know what he said?"
Artemis shook her head. It hurt a little, but the story enraptured her. "What?"
"He said he wanted to be as strong as her someday. Be able to stand next to her as an equal and not someone holding onto her shadow."
"Ohhh.." Artemis looked down.
Tiona didn't notice this as she continued. "Of course, Aiz took notice of this and quickly brought him under her wing. Training him, hoping to learn the secrets of his fast growth." She went on and on about their secret training sessions. How everyone knew about it but said nothing. Yet the more she went on about the two, the more Artemis's heart sank.
"D-Do you think he loves her?" Artemis said in a disheartened voice.
Tiona stopped talking and looked at her, finally seeing the heartbroken look on her face.
"Yes… He does, that much I'm certain of…"
No matter how many times someone said it, it hurt her that little more. But one question still burned in her mind, one she needed to know. "Does she love him?"
"If you asked me when they first met? No, I don't think she did. Curious, sure, but love, that wasn't something Aiz knew…" She didn't want to say it. She didn't want to tell the girl what she worried about most. "Now I think she's understanding what she has with him."
Tiona bit her lip. 'I didn't see Aiz truly happy before she met Bell..'
Artemis wished she could just stand up and leave, going to cry under the covers of her bed. She felt confused. Was the relationship she and Bell have love? Did he just see her as a close friend? Or was he just using her to get at her body…
The last thought seemed impossible, but when she thought back. The close calls they had seemed suspicious. 'Am I just second fiddle to him? A bit on the side?'
She sobbed as her brain fed on the idea that she wasn't anything to him. Just a cute groupie he could walk around with and show off. Self doubt overwhelmed her. She had failed him in the arena and she couldn't help but feel she had failed as a woman. She couldn't help but picture Bell and Aiz laughing happily together as she trailed along behind.
Tiona couldn't help but see the disappointment on her face and feel responsible.
'Aiz or Artemis. False hope or terrible reality?' She closed her eyes. 'I can't lie to her. Bell has so many beautiful girls clawing at his feet. He has chased Aiz from the day he met her.'
"It might not be my place to say this, but…" She took a deep breath and tried to smile. "Bell might love Aiz, but that doesn't mean he doesn't love you…"
Artemis looked to her for clarification. The Amazon just giggled.
"Come on, you must have seen it? Sure, he's easy to flirt with and embarrass, but he always shy away from it. Syr, Hestia and multiple other girls have tried and failed to grab his affection. But not you."
Artemis glanced up in slight shock. "Mmm…" She struggled a little despite her bruises. She blushed hard. "Y-You think I might have a chance?" Artemis asked quietly.
Tiona smiled, giving out a giggle. "Sure you do. You can ask anyone that knows him. His head was so far up in the clouds with Aiz that even a naked girl standing a few feet away couldn't get his attention. But you did it on multiple occasions. No wonder Aiz is jealous of you."
"Jealous?" Artemis asked, seeing the other girl nod her head overtly.
"Ohhh for sure. What, you think she just drags him by his collar like a badly behaved puppy all the time?" She giggled. "Trust me you have a better shot than most though you might have to fight for him. Aiz really doesn't like to share… One time I tried to take a bite of her jagamarukun and she pushed me into the pond!"
Artemis shuddered for a moment before giggling a little at the silly act. "I- I.. see… fu-fu.." She covered her mouth with her hand and giggled back at Tiona. "I-I… fu-fu.. Have some fearsome competition…"
The two giggled with one another. Tiona smiled, glad that she was at least able to speak with her normally. "Soo, I'm curious. What made you fall for him?"
Artemis instantly went red as Tiona couldn't help but giggle. "Mmm… Don't hold back now, was it his million valis smile? His boyish good looks? Ahhh, did he save you from a pack of killer scorpions?"
She went bright red at the last suggestion, and Tiona jumped up. "Ah! Ahh! Was that it?"
She looked away, remembering all the times he had saved her. Her lack of awareness on the wall, getting cornered by minotaurs… But most of all…
"I...I hated him at first, his happy smile, those curious eyes of his, ughh, it annoyed me how can one boy seem so innocent and yet be like every other man…" She could only look down. "The first night I ran away confused. H-He stopped me from falling off the wall. It was then I gave him a chance…"
Tiona made herself comfortable leaning on the table, her hands on her cheeks as she listened to her story.
"Hestia had him keep an eye on me, worried about my safety…I wasn't worried, but Hestia was always a worry wort." She let out a gentle giggle. "At first I found it uncomfortable having to go everywhere with him, ahhh what a fool I was. I actually enjoyed every second of it."
Her heart fluttered as she remembered all the brief moments they had. How he comforted her when she realised her familia might all be dead or missing. But then it came to that fateful week.
"I...I was sick of the city, I wanted to see the open wilds that I was so used to, I made him take me. Ugh If I had been less impatient maybe I could have avoided this whole situation…"
She sobbed again, though recovered as she remembered the moments she had with Bell.
"Ahhh, cutting a long story short. He got sick, which was strange, but he did. I… I never looked after a man before. I didn't really know what to do." She shook her head, trying to not recount the pillow incident out loud.
"Anyway, I got attacked, and we headed back after we both recovered. That was when Apollo's familia kidnapped me, trying to draw out Bell…"
Tiona realised what happened next. Riviera mentioned it when she was called in to oversee medical duties. While the guild couldn't out right prove what happened, an eye witness saw a blue-haired girl getting dragged off. No doubt Apollo threw money at them to keep it a hush-hush matter.
"If he hadn't saved me I…" She couldn't move her arms due to the pain she was starting to feel in them both, but she wanted to hide her body, remembering what they did to her as she cried.
"Hey hey don't cry, it's okay…" She didn't know what to do. Should she hug her, pat her back? Milk and cookies always cheered her up. Try as she might, but nothing worked. She had allowed a horrible memory to resurface. Not having Bell to calm her down made everything that much worse.
'Ughhh, they made her out to be this stone wall of a woman, strong, brave and fearless that didn't let her emotions get to her.' Tiona hit her head against the wall. 'Can a god really become human? Is this what it means to be mortal?'
When Ryu arrived, she was so happy, she finally had someone who might help. Yet, in typical fashion, the elf disappeared as soon as she arrived. Leaving little more than a bag and note to bring the former goddess out of her crying.
She opened the bag and giggled. "Ohhh, now that is something…So that's her play."
"Artemis, Hestia sent you a gift." She quickly hurried to the front room, holding the bag in one had as she smiled. Artemis just raised her head. Her eyes were red from all the crying, but the thought of getting something from Hestia made her smile a little.
Although Artemis couldn't use her arms, Tiona was happy to show her. Sitting the bag down next to her she pulled out a beautiful silk nighty which Artemis instantly recognised blushing even redder than Bell's eyes as she turned away.
"Ohhh, this is even more beautiful than I thought. I mean, for a former goddess of chastity, you sure had good taste."
Artemis tried to shake her head as best she could. "It was just comfortable…I didn't really take notice of the design…"
She couldn't look at it the same way, not after Bell had seen her in it. Cuddle with her in it…
"Well I'm sure Bell must really like it if Hestia sent it to you?" Tiona carefully folded it back up and placed it back in the bag before grabbing the letter which came with it.
"S-She probably just assumed it would be more comfortable on my sink…" she lied, knowing full well what significance the nighty had to her.
The tanned girl took her words at face value before showing her the letter. "Want me to read it to you? I know it might be private but…" Seeing the fact she couldn't really do much she thought it best to ask.
"Ughh yes please…" She gulped a little. 'Please Hestia, don't have put anything embarrassing in." Hoping and praying her friend was sensible she waited for Tiona to open the envelope.
Clearing her throat Tiona looked through the first couple lines and smiled.
"Artemis, sorry I haven't been able to come and see you both. The guild is forcing me to remain under house arrest while you are under recovery. I would have sent one of the other gods to check up on you, but Royman has forbidden any contact between any of the gods regarding you. Ryu was the best option to get you this letter.
I know it must be difficult for you being surrounded by so many strange faces, especially the backstabbing and trickster kind that come with Loki familia…
"Hey know that uncalled for!" Tiona shouted before rubbing the back of her head. "I only trick people when they have something I want…" She cleared her throat.
"While I don't entirely trust them, I know they will take good care of you both. Still I'm sure at this moment in time a certain blond bitch has taken your favorite snuggling pillow away from you."
Tiona stopped and peered over the letter to see her face glowing brightly as she began to sweat a little as their eyes met.
"D-Don't just stop!"
The Amazon just smiled evilly. "So he's your pillow is he?"
"S-Shut up! That's just Hestia being a tease… I-It's all nonsense!" Artemis bit her lip. 'She's so getting it when I next see her!'
Tiona just couldn't stop giggling for a few minutes before composing herself and looking at the letter once again. "Lets see blah blah blah…Blah blah…"
Artemis narrowed her eyes at the girl as she was obviously getting bored. "Please just read it!"
Tiona sighed. "But it's soo boring she just goes on a rant about how Aiz is your biggest threat and how she can't be trusted. It's like half the goddamn page…" She sighed even louder this time as she turned it over.
"I'm sure Bell wasn't taken of his own free will and as such I have given you something along with a few pairs of clothes to help even the scales. I hope you make a full recovery. Lots of love, Hestia."
Artemis grumbled. "Is that really what she said?"
Tiona shrugged. "Mhh, I just abridged it at the end."
"You know that is really rude?" The blue-haired girl said with distaste. Watching the girl throw the letter back in the bag.
"Look I'm an Amazon with a low attention span. I might like to read hero stories but this is far from an epic tale, It's just some girl bitching…" She groaned. "But let's forget about that and do something fun!"
The poor crippled girl couldn't help but sigh. "You say that so confidently like I will just jump to my feet…" She closed her eyes. 'I don't want to say it to her face but this girl is really oblivious to others problems…'
Tiona giggled "Ohh come on your injuries are just a minor set back. Don't tell Riveria but I have a little something that should help you to move…" The fact she was smiling with such pride and confidence was starting to terrify her.
"O-Okay B-But what do you have in mind?"
The Amazon just clapped her hands together and smiled. "Dress up of course!"
"NO!" Artemis barked as she realised what the girl was asking her to do.
Tiona just gave her an evil grin and leaned forward. "Ohhh so you don't want to get your pillow back? Let him see what he's missing out on?"
Every inch of Artemis shivered as the realization the girl had gotten all the secrets she needed to tease and play with her heart strings. That playful yet evil smile seemed like she was trying to help her but it was also mischievous enough to know there would be many embarrassing moments to come. Tiona just held the bag with her little finger swaying it in front of her face. Artemis knew full well that without her help she wasn't getting into the nighty before Bell returned. The question know was… At what cost?
"Ugh fine p-please help me…" She said in a defeated voice at the Amazon just giggled and bounced about happily. "Okay I will go get the painkillers…"
She rushed upstairs to her room, grabbing a small vial of dark red liquid and running back down the stairs as carefully as she could. "Ahh found it, now I will warn you this stuff is not for the faint of heart…"
Artemis eyed the small vial in her hand and wondered just what the girl was about to give her. "T-That doesn't look like any normal potion or painkiller?"
The vial's contents seemed to bubble and pop as it was shaken in the girl's hand. "W-Well it's not entirely legal ugh I may have won it in a game of… Ahhh let's not get into the details, all you need to know is an experimental version of a cheaper elixir."
All this and Artemis wasn't at all filled with confidence. But what other choice did she have?
"F-Fine...I'll take it!" She cried out as she prayed this wouldn't end badly.
Tiona nodded, popping the cap as she carefully eased Art's head back so she could pour the potion into her mouth.
'Ohhh gods this tastes disgusting!' She began to cry as the bitter taste overwhelmed her senses making her want to throw it all back up but she powered through as she painfully swallowed the liquid.
She waited for about half an hour worried that the potion had no effect on her and it was just a disgusting prank set by the other girl to just get her hopes up. Yet slowly but surely the pain in her arms and legs faded, not completely she still felt some lingering pain but it was enough to help her relax and slowly regain the ability to move her arms and legs.
"W-Wow I-Its uncomfortable but its working!" She held back some small tears as she carefully got to her feet, almost toppling forward as she failed to adjust her balance.
"Easy tiger, I'm amazed it even works, ughhh I should warn you it's only temporary and I have zero idea how long it will last…"
Art's expression didn't change as she held the small smile giving her a small nod. "That's fine… Hopefully long enough for Bell to get back…"
Tiona grabbed the bag and smiled. "Great well let's get you changed fufu, he's gonna be so shocked Ahhh I must get the memory stone ready to record it!"
Back at the hostess.
"Hestia just sit down."
Hestia stopped pacing as she turned to see Aphrodite holding a drink in her hand. As Hermes and Hephaestus rubbed their foreheads. Welf, Lili, Mikoto and Luna all sat round a spare table off to the side as Syr cleared their half-eaten plates of food.
"Urgh I knew this would happen. I leave Bell alone with that girl for one minute and she's already got her claws in him!" The big breasted goddess just shouted as she began to pace again, Hephaestus just grabbed her and pulled her onto a chair.
Her friend just looked at her. "Just shut up for two seconds. Heavens your jealousy for that girl is unbearable."
"I agree, you were always like this whenever Artemis left you alone to do something else. You're like a lost puppy that had its toys taken away."
Hestia glared across the bar towards Aphrodite. "Shut up, you're another blond bimbo I hate!"
The other goddess felt a vein form on her forehead as she let out an angry smile. "What did you just say you loli big tits!"
Hermes and Hephaestus just let out a loud sigh as the two girls slammed the bar.
"Blond bimbo! Whiney bitch, The most unattractive goddess in all of heaven!" Hestia shouted loudly.
Aphrodite just growled as she tried to get up and go for her only for Hephaestus to slam a knife next to Aphrodites hand. "WILL THE TWO OF YOU JUST SHUT UP!"
Both the goddess gulped as they sank back into their seats… "Yes mamm…"
The red haired goddess just rubbed her face. "Ughh I can't believe I used to date you…" She said glaring at Aphrodite.
"WAIT WHAT!" Welf stood up and looked back only for his goddess to wave her hand. "It's nothing you misheard AND STOP LISTENING TO A PRIVATE CONVERSATION!"
She raised her voice, making Welf gulp as he sat back down and shook his head. "Haha yeah no way she'd ever date another girl hahahaha." The others at the table just looked at one another quietly feeling sorry for the poor blacksmith.
Lili and Mikoto both had the same thought. 'He's gonna get the shock of his life soon…'
Back at the bar Hermes taps his fingers gently. "Maybe this isn't such a bad thing."
"Hermes, be very careful with what you say next. Why?" Hepeastus said with a serious glare.
Hermes paused for a moment. "W-Well I mean, It's clear they are going to be training so why not just let them…"
"I'm going to have to report this conversation." Hermes' face went white as he looked at the goddess in front of him. "Allowing a vilotion of the rules or ignoring the fact that they might be happening or ongoing while in the prossess of look at your fucking face!" She couldn't keep a straight face as she started laughing.
The messenger god let out a deep sigh as he downed his drink. "Please take this seriously…"
"Ohhh I'm sorry I didn't realise everybody else was…" The goddess of the forge said as she took a sip.
Aphrodite had now calmed down enough and sat with her arms crossed. "Okay, so besides the fact that Hestia is jealous as hell of this girl we can all agree that letting Bell train with her is a good thing, yes?"
Everyone but Hestia nodded. "I can't believe this, Aphrodite this girl is the one person in the world that might steal Bell out from under Artemis. Are you really going to break her heart just so Bell can get a little stronger?"
The goddess of beauty shook her head. "Hestia, let's make one thing clear. I am all for Artemis falling in love, I still haven't forgiven your little rookie for what happened but Artemis loves him and that's enough for me. But let's not forget that this is Artemis we are talking about. She is nothing like she used to be. The girl that inspired so many women has become a crying mess all because someone has taken her first love."
She took another sip of her drink and leaned forward. "That's not the Artemis I know, she does best in hard situations and lets not pretend that Bell isn't helping her by cuddling her like a baby. The less she's around him the quicker she'll want to recover and get stronger."
Hestia couldn't fault the woman's logic as she just silently nodded in agreement. Deep down she knew everything Artemis was going through was difficult. She never loved a man before, she had never lost a fight so humiliating and now she was having to deal with jealousy toward another woman. Aphrodite was right if she was to recover, she needed to spend time away from Bell. But that just seemed unlikely now.
"Well whatever happens, lets just hope she's ready for the next fight…" Hephaestus quietly spoke as she finished her drink and stood up. "I have to get going, I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help."
The male god stood up and shook her hand. "It means a lot Hephaestus, Hestia needs a friendly face to distract her from time to time…"
"Anytime, keep your chin up girl, Apollo might have knocked you down, but that doesn't mean the war is over." She smiled and waved goodbye to everyone.
Aphrodite got up as well and sighed. "Well this was pointless, look I've got to go get some information from a drunk merchant. If you want, me, just follow the bodies of love drunk men."
"Poor bastards…" Hestia said under her breath before getting up and heading to her room. Hermes rubbed the back of his head and paid the tab with Mia.
Bell and the rest of the Loki females returned to the house. Lefiya had been reminiscing with Bell a little trying to keep him away from Riveria who was still scolding Aiz. When the house came into view Bell's heart sank as he realised he had left Artemis alone for hours… He quickly headed towards the door. Yet as he tried to open it he found it locked. He turned to the others with a confused look on his face.
"I guess Tiona locked the door. Just knock, she'll hear you…"
Bell nodded and knocked loudly waiting for response. When he got one he was a little shocked.
"Coming!" A voice called out but it wasn't Tiona's which confused everyone. Except Bell whose eyes widened as the door opened up and the blue haired beauty stood before him smiling as she played with her hair. Bell's jaw hit the floor as he did not know what was going on…
"A-Artemis?" He had a long day, he was tired and he wouldn't have been surprised if Aiz hit him hard enough that he was starting to see things. But he was swiftly pulled into her chest as she hugged him tightly.
Behind him, Riveria and the others watched equally confused as to what was going on. Mostly Riveria who instantly deduced that something was afoot and barged past the two her eyes angry as she looked to the kitchen. "TIONA WHAT DID YOU DO!"
"Ahhh R-Riveria I-I…" She tried to sneak around the corner towards the back entrance but Riveria had her locked in her sights as she gulped loudly. "I was only trying to help!"
"Ughh you gave her that stupid potion I told you to throw away didn't you?!" Her icy stare froze Tiona to the spot as he laughed nervously. "Hahah How did you guess…"
Riviera gripped her staff. "Honestly I'm surrounded by reckless fools! Ughhh what if she just dropped dead? Did you even think about the consequences?"
"Nope, I just did what I thought was right." Tiona said confidently knowing there was only going to be one outcome to what she did…
"First Aiz and now you ugh I can't deal with this all today I'll just punish you later!" She had given up at this point as she looked to Artemis who was standing perfectly fine along with. Her legs wobbled a little as she realised she wasn't without pain but it was clear whatever the potion did it healed her nerves to some extent.
"Okay, you two stop blocking the doorway for the others." She said turning back to see Bell and Artemis both blushing. Aiz was the first to enter, glaring at Artemis but getting a small jab from Riveria. "Be nice."
Aiz just pouted a little as she turned to her. "S-Sorry…" It wasn't much but it was enough for Riveria as she watched the two quickly take sides of Bell.
"Ugh these two I wish there was some way I could get them to just get along…Otherwise, this is going to be a long recovery…" The tall elf rubbed her forehead hard as she walked to the kitchen to make a pot of tea.
Artemis glared at Aiz, who glared back at her as both attached themselves to his arms. "G-Girl's ah you're squeezing my arms, argh a little too tightly…" Bell winced in pain as the girls only gripped his arms harder.
'He's mine you blond bitch!' Artemis thought as she glared her thoughts into her rival's eyes.
Aiz did the same. 'Not a chance, reject goddess, he's my rabbit, not yours.'
Bell just let out a loud groan. Having two of the most beautiful women clearly fighting over him was hard to deal with but worse, he was actually enjoying it a little as he felt their breasts rub against his arms. 'Ahhh in another life this might have been heaven.'
Despite the two clinging to him, he quickly dragged them along to the living room so he could at least get comfortable. As he sat down both girls snuggled closer into his arms as he closed his eyes. 'Ugh, this isn't going to make picking one any easier.'
Both girls began to talk to him, trying to keep his attention while he tried to share it equally between them. He felt bad for ignoring one over the other and couldn't help it when the other asked a question. He was at breaking point until Tione announced dinner where he hoped that some semblance of a truce would come between them while they ate.
"Bell, would you like to try some of my Teriyaki chicken?" Artemis asked as she held a spoon towards his mouth.
Aiz leaned forward as well holding the veggies left from her plate of Jagamarukun. It wasn't much but the gesture was what counted. Nothing got between her and her Jagamarukun.
He just waited till both were close enough that he could just eat both in one bite. Much to their joint disappointment. He was fearing that both would try to sleep with him that night just so the other didn't get the upper hand. It was then that Riveria let out a loud cough grabbing everyones attention.
"Alright I have an announcement to make." She said standing up.
Tiona and TIone leaned closer. "Oh no she's standing up. This can only be bad news." The two tanned girls whispered as they looked at the others and then at Riveria again.
"Let's start with you Tiona, for your reckless idea of giving an untested potion to Artemis which I might remind you could have backfired! I'm sending you to help protect rookies on the upper floors."
Tiona looked horrified by this. "N-No anything but that! Ahhh they always get themselves killed by doing stupid things. And it's sooooo boring!"
Riveria crossed her arms "It wouldn't be a punishment if it wasn't!"
She took a deep breath as she turned to Aiz, Artemis and Bell. "Bell, I trust that you understand that the events today can not happen again. As such while I won't deprive you of any sort of training it must be within the bounds of the garden. Tione will be happy to assist you."
Aiz pouted hard. "Why can't I help?"
Riviera seemed to smile as she turned to Aiz. "Ahhh yes the one that caused me the most trouble today. I thought long and hard about how I was going to punish you. First it was going to be restarting our swimming lessons or depriving you of Jagamarukun for a month!"
Aiz shivered at both her threats knowing both would be like hell.
Riviera smiled as she looked at Bell. "I hope you enjoy the night Bell. I do feel bad for this."
Bell looked a little confused. "F-For what?"
The green-haired elf smiled devilishly. "Well, as of tomorrow morning, I will relieve you of your duties of caring for Artemis, and entrusting everything to Aiz."
Everyone at the table went quiet, that was until Tiona started to burst out laughing.
"Hahaha good one Riveria, ohhh that's the best joke I've ever heard." The amazon felt herself laughing uncontrollably but her sister just shook her head.
"She's not joking…"
"Riviera, A-Are you sure that's a good idea?" Tione spoke up.
The elf just nodded. "Yes, I do Tione." She looked towards Aiz whose face was as white as snow and equally as white Artemis who was clinging to Bell's arm tightly.
"Aiz, I expect you to feed her, wash her, dress her and anything else she might require while she is under our care! Do you understand?"
"N-no that's not fair!" She cried as she slammed her hands on the table. Everyone gulped as they realised she was about to invoke the wrath of Riveria.
Riviera just smiled, "Ohhh that's it this has been a long time coming." She quickly moved towards her causing the sword princess to gulp as she tried to move towards the door. Riviera quickly grabbed her ear and smiled. "I think the pond in the garden needs a good deep clean!"
Tiona, Tione and Lefiya all quickly followed the two as Aiz started crying, leaving Bell and Artemis alone. She was still clinging to his arm as she looked up into his eyes. "W-Well…" She began…
Bell nodded. He didn't like the idea but he wasn't about to disobey Riveria's orders. "Shush, let's just make the most of the night." He said gently, taking her hand as he stood up. She blushed and nodded.
"Yes lets…" She followed him upstairs as they made their way to their room, Artemis stopped blushing as she pulled him in the opposite direction.
"H-Hey A-Artemis what are you…" She bit her lip as she looked back, stopping at the door to the bathroom. "Y-your filthy… H-How am I supposed to enjoy my pillow when he's all sweaty…"
Bell blushed as he looked away. "S-So you want me to take a bath first…"
Her blush was as red as his eyes as she shook her head, opening the door and pulling him inside. "I…" She took a deep breath as the door closed and she turned around gently removing the clothes Hestia had sent her earlier as she stripped down. Bell couldn't help but blush as she realised what was happening. "A-Artemis you don't have to…"
Her panties and bra were the last things to hit the floor. She took a deep long breath as she turned towards him. Every part of her wanted to hide her body, but he had already seen it earlier that day. "I want to repay you from earlier… S-so please, let me clean you this time…"
Authors notes
Is it a bird Is it a plane NO ITS CHAPTER DAY! Yep I know its not been a whole month since I last updated...I think... But I think I got the mojo back. That and a few free days off to write always helps. Not a great deal happens in the chapter I know slow progress but hey its all character building and I stick by it. Cough but yeah that ending. Haha didn't see that coming did ya! Aiz taking care of Artemis hahaha I think I've gone insane...Who knows?
Anyway thanks to everyone that left reviews on the last chapter and previous chapters. While I'm fine with getting bad reviews I don't stand for saying something is shit and not giving valid feedback. I've seen many good stories ended by trolls and haters. While I know I'm not the best writer at the end of the day I'm appealing to a niche and I will try my best to fill the gap. I appreciate the feedback and take all comments to heart even the bad ones. So if you get a firey reply its because I care... If you don't get a reply I still care I'm just busy and forgot.
As always, I hope you enjoyed it and I look forward to your comments. Stay safe and see you all next time.