The first thing that Bell noticed when he opened the door to the famous Hostess of Fertility, also called Benevolent Mistress, was the noise. It was loud in there, lively, he heard many voices.
Laughter. Cheering. Praises for the food. Whistles.
The pub was almost filled to the brim, all kinds of people were in here. Elegant, slender elves. Small prums. Sturdy dwarves. Fascinating Beastkin. And very normal looking humans.
And from the first to the last person, it looked like everyone had a good time and much fun.
"Wow, so many people."
"Oh my! Mr. Bell, you really came!"
When Bell heard the cheerful voice, he turned to the side. And was greeted by the probably most cheerful and happy smile in all of Orario.
His heart got squeezed again by that sight.
Ah, she is so cute!
"G-Good evening, Ms. Syr."
"Ehehehe, I´m happy that you kept your promise!"
"Of course I would, it was a promise after all."
"Hehe, come."
Syr took a deep breath. "Now seating one!"
Bell followed her with a confused look.
"We have to anounce when we seat a customer."
"Wow, every time?"
"Jup!"
Bell followed the humming Syr, he noticed that she swung her hips naturally and did his best not to look, which was hard. He let his eyes wander around the pub.
"There are so many people here."
"Oh, it is like this every evening."
"Really?"
"Mhm! This pub is one of the seven wonders of Orario after all. Right after Babel and the Colloseum. So we´re rank three!"
"It is that famous?!"
"Nobles from other cities sometimes travel to Orario only to eat here."
"You´re making fun of me, right?"
Syr turned halfway around to him and grinned happy. "Nope! Not when it comes to the pub! You can ask around, there isn´t a single person in Orario that never heard one of the names of this pub."
"Why does it even have multiple names?"
"Weeeeell, in the morning we are a café, then a bar from noon and a pub in the evening. A famous place like this one needs more than one name. Babel for example also has more than one name, right?"
"Hm, yes. I guess that makes sense."
"Hehe, so here is your seat!"
Syr led him to a place at the counter, from here he could see all of the pub, while having a wall in his back. For a first timer like him, it was the perfect place.
"Thank you..."
"Eheh, a bit overwhelmed?"
"Yeah, I was never before in such a place."
Syr half smiled half smirked, an adorable sight. "Do you want to drink something while you look at the menu?"
"Yes, but I don´t know what I should drink."
"Ale?"
"I´m only sixteen..."
"Hm, moonberry juice? Elves like that."
"Is it sweet?"
"Yes."
"I dont like sweet things."
Good to know.
"Then how abouuuut...root beer? There is no alcohol in there."
"That sounds good, I don´t want to get drunk."
"Alright, Mama Mia, one root beer please!"
"Comin´ up!"
"Mama?..."
"Hehe, Mama Mia is the owner of the pub. For aaaaaall the girls that work here, she is our Mama, who watches over us like a loving mother. She really is a big sof-Kyau!"
Syr rubbed her head after Mia dealt a light chop with her hand. "Stop babbling and spreading rumors ´bout me."
"Teehee, sorry Mama Mia."
Mia placed a big mug in front of Bell. "Here ´ya go, boy."
"Th-Thank you!"
When Bell took the mug, Mia leaned for a moment with her arms on the counter. "So you´re Syr´s friend, eh?"
"F-Friend? We just met each other today."
"Syr here is really fast in makin´ friends. Yer a fresh adventurer, hm?"
"Y-Yes!"
Mia grinned, Bell had never before seen such a tall and strong built woman.
"Then yer should eat and drink! Ta grow strong! And if yer exhausted from the dungeon, come and eat, good food will bring yer through the day!"
"Oh ahm, thank you."
"As along as yer have money, we will serve ya. But no flirtin´ with ma girls! The name of my pub isn´t meant literally!"
"Yes, understood!"
"And, what´s yer familia, boy?"
"F-Freya familia."
"Hoh, really?" Mia raised an eyebrow. "Yer don´t look like a follower of that goddess. Normally they´re all "Lady Freya this" and "Lady Freya that", sreamin´ all day how great that goddess is."
Syr turned around to Mia and pouted heavily for some reason.
"What, got somethin´ ta say?" Mia stared her down.
"N-No.."
"Ahm, goddess i-...I mean l-lady Freya is really kind to me. She took me in and allowed me to go into the dungeon."
"What? Yer don´t beat each other up all day with the rest?"
"No, at first I did, but I didn´t like it."
Mia raised her eyebrow even more and looked at Syr for some reason, who smiled gently.
"Wait, why do you know that the Freya familia does that?"
Mia sighed, but it was Syr that answered. "Mr. Bell, I haven´t told you, Mia and I a-Kyau!"
"That´s Mama Mia!"
"I´m sorry!...Mama Mia and I also belong to the familia."
"Eeeeeh?! Really?!"
Syr nodded grinning. "Mhm! Didn´t you hear the name Mia Grand before?"
"Mia Grand...Mia Grand...wait...THAT Mia Grand?! The former captain?!"
"Ding! Ding! Ding! You get one hundred points!"
"The woman that was said to rival the beauty of our goddess?!"
"Heh, yer have good eyes, boy."
Syr smiled while she winked. "Exactly, Mama Mia is really pretty."
"But why a-...Oh sorry, I´ll take the Pasta please...But why are you here?"
"Oy Mei, one Pasta!"
A voice answered from the kitchen. "Understood!"
Mia turned to Bell while she cleaned some mugs. "All that fighting was boring. All of them just want to fight all the time. Wasn´t my thing, so I talked to her and opened my pub here. She doesn´t mess with my business, so that´s fine."
Bell smiled. "It looks like Goddess really is kind."
Mia shrugged her shoulders. "Sometimes."
Their conversation got interruped my a strange sound...sniffing.
"Nya? Nya? Hmm..."
Bell turned around and saw a cat girl standing confused behind him, she also wore a waitress uniform.
Syr looked at her. "Anya?"
"Meow? That smell...meow can smell...lady Freymeow"
Syr walked around Anya and gently put her hands on Anya´s shoulders. "It´s okay Anya, no one will do something. What you smell is probably her scent on Mr. Bell here. He is a new member of the familia. But don´t be worried, he isn´t like the others."
"Meow..." Anya looked uneasy at Bell.
"Ahm, n-nice to meet you, Ms...Anya?"
Syr smiled. "Anya is also like us, Mr. Bell. We all don´t really fit into that familia. Anya had her own problems, so Mama Mia was so kind to take her with her."
"And Goddess had no problem with that?"
"Nope, I know that she loves her "cute little kitten"."
Syr giggled and blew playfully in Anya´s ear, which let the cat girl startle.
"Meow!"
"Oy, Syr. Stop botherin´ Anya and go back ta work."
"Understood, Mama Mia. Come, Anya, the customers are waiting."
Anya looked a last time at Bell, who waved shyly and smiled friendly. Soon he sat there alone, with Mia close by.
"Anya´s a bit delicate when it comes to the familia."
"Oh."
Mia winked. "Looks like yer had yer own problems, but nothin´ a good meal can´t fix."
She placed a big plate in front of him with a small mountain made from pasta, the smell alone made his mouth water.
"It tastes really good, as good as Ms. Syr´s sandwiches that she gave me this morning."
Mia raised an eyebrow. "Hoooooo?"
Suddenly, Anya froze. As well as three other waitresses. One of them was a black haired catgirl, the other a human and the last one a really beautiful elven maiden.
"What did yer just say?"
"Ahm, Ms. Syr gave me a few sandwiches this morning, I had no breakfast at home. They tasted really good! A-And your food is also really good!"
Mia frowned. "Yer eat her food and still went to the dungeon? Yer could actually eat that? Are yer really...a human? Or ya havin´ poison resistance rank S?"
Bell heard Syr´s voice from the backround. "Mouh, Mama Mia! That´s so mean!"
Bell could only imagine that Syr throwing a tantrum would also look very cute.
He scratched his cheek. "Ahm yes, it was really tasty. I could eat something like that every day."
"Mmmmh!" Bell didn´t see Syr, but he heard her.
But Syr´s four friends saw her and how strong she blushed and how happy she looked when she heard these words. Only the elf looked slightly worried, but she was a bit overprotective when it came to Syr.
"Boy, I said no flirtin´ with ma girls."
"I-I am not f-f-flirting! But it was really, really good!"
Syr probably couldn´t look more happy than she did right now.
.
.
Bell ate his Pasta and just had to admit that it was probably the best meal he ever had. He thanked Mia for the fantastic food, but remained on his seat and took a sip of his drink now and then.
With the fantastic mood in the pub, the warm meal in his stomach, Bell felt really good. He let his eyes wander around, was only a bit ashamed that he looked at the waitresses, above all, of course, Syr. Many of the girls that worked here were beastkin, most of them cat girls. From the voices he heard, Bell got a bit confused. It looked like only Anya and the black haired catgirl talked in a cat like way. But he had to admit it sounded cute.
Then his eyes fell on the elf again, she had short, green blond hair and the aura of a professional. Her eyes flickered to him for a second, then to Syr, then she focussed on her work again.
He really started to like this place.
I´m glad that Ms. Syr asked me to come here and that Goddess gave me a bit pocket money.
And soon he heard Syr´s voice again.
"Now seating our special guests!"
Special guests?
Bell looked to the door, as did many other people. Syr led a group of eight or nine people to a few tables that had been pushed together. The first one looked like a human, with red hair, blue clothes...and was surprisingly flat, but still a woman...probably. The woman got followed by a prum with blond hair and a young human woman also with blond hair and golden eyes. Then came two elves, one clearly an adult elf with jade colored eyes and hair, the other younger with chestnut colored hair and blue eyes. Next was a sturdy dwarf with an impressive beard and a young werewolf with ash colored hair and fur. At the rear were two amazons in very daring clothes. Both looked a bit alike, maybe twins. But it was easy to see who was the "big twin".
Each girl or woman of the group was more beautiful than the next and Bell may have been enchanted by their sight, but compared to Syr...she was just the most beautiful in his eyes.
And his goddess of course, ranking number two.
When they sat down, the red haired woman talked to Syr.
"Oh my, little Syr. You are as pretty and delicious looking as always. Mehehe."
"Ehehe, you flatter me, lady Loki. But please keep your hands by yourself."
Lady Loki? This is the goddess Loki?! So that makes this the Loki familia?
Mia´s voice came up behind him again.
"Surprised, boy? They are the top group of the other strong familia in Orario. Yer familia´s rivals if ya want."
Bell looked to Mia. "Rivals?"
"Yeah, som´ only think ´bout buttin heads with ´em. Stupid."
"But, lady Mia, aren´t we all adventurers? I mean, why fight each other?"
Mia looked perplexed. "Lady? Hm, okay. Yeah, all adventurers, the dungeon is hard ´nough."
"True, I don´t really want to fight another familia. I mean...why would I? I don´t know them, I have nothing against them."
Mia suddenly put her hand on his head and ruffled his hair. "Yer a smart one, boy."
"S-Stop please, lady Mia."
"Nya? Lady?!"
The brown haired cat girl, Anya, was close to them again.
"Told ya, Anya. He´s a good one, not like the others."
Anya seemed to be still wary about Bell, but he smiled friendly.
Bell took a sip from his drink and looked at the Loki familia.
So that´s how strong adventurers look like.
Of course Bell had seen a few of his familia too, but he couldn´t tell a difference between them.
"Lady Mia?"
"Pffft!"
He turned his head to the side, Syr was here again.
She giggled. "Lady? Ehehehe."
"Stop giggling and do yer work."
"Haaai~~."
"What´s up, boy?"
"I haven´s been long enough in Orario to tell the difference. Are they strong? Goddess said that our captain, sir Ottar, is really, really strong. And so is Mr. Hogni."
"Hogni huh? That strange dark elf? He´s a battle maniac. And Ottar, he´s all muscle and ´bout getting stronger. Don´t take him for example, ya don´t want become like ´im. Stay yer own way."
Secretely, Syr showed Mia a thumbs up, as if she wanted to say. "Good job."
"Oh and I saw another one that I heard is strong. What was her name again...I think...Ms. Hedin. She looked a bit stiff but also cu-"
"PFFFT!~~~~Ahaha!~~~~Ahahaha!~~~~~Ahahahahahahaha!"
The sound of Syr´s laugh, that came from the bottom of her heart, was the most beautiful sound that Bell ever heard in his whole life. She really tried to hold herself back, but it didn´t work. She laughed so hard that she had to put a hand on the counter, the other on her stomach...he saw tears running down her cheeks.
"Ahahahaha! Ah, ow my sides! Ahahaha! Owie, it hurts. Ahahahaha! Ms. Hedin! Ahahahaha!"
"Eh? Did I say something wrong? I only saw her from afar." Bell blinked confused.
"Ahaha, please, stop it, Bell! Mfufufuf."
Mia sighed. "Boy."
"Hm?"
"Hedin is a man."
"Eh...Eeeeeeh?! A man?! Are you sure?!"
"Yes." Mia pointed at her throat. "Look here next time. If there´s an apple, there is a banana, like they say."
"Eheheh. Mama Mia is right, Mr. Bell. Hihi. Mr. Hedin is a cute man. How did you not notice that?"
"I just saw him from afar..."
At first Syr wanted to point out that the chest should´ve made this obvious. But then again not all elves were stacked...and that was something she never dared to point out when a certain someone was in the same room as her. That would be too cruel. While Ryu wasn´t completely flat...she lacked a bit in her own eyes. Compared to Syr...and Anya...and Lunor...and Mama Mia...and most of the other staff members.
Syr slowly calmed down again, wiping away one last tear. "Hah, I didn´t laugh that much in a long time."
"Now get back to work, we have many customers."
"Understood, Mama Mia."
In the moment that Syr wanted to take her leave, the fine hairs in Bell´s neck rose. It was a part of his skill, the skill that he didn´t know about, the feeling came faster than his conscious thought. Syr was in danger.
"Meow, Meow...Meeeooooow!"
It was Anya, she carried a large bowl of soup and tripped over the foot of an adventurer. Anya stumbled and couldn't stop her fall forward. Holding the bowl of soup in both hands, she tripped and the boiling hot contents of the bowl spilled straight in Syr's direction. Syr and Mia noticed the movement but it was too late. The counter was in the way for Mia and Syr wouldn't be fast enough. Her eyes didn´t even have time to widen from shock, but her brain grasped what was about to happen. Syr couldn't even turn away to protect her face.
Oh n-
And then, her savior appeared. Faster than anyone else could react, Bell jumped up and into the way, even before the soup started to spill out of the bowl. He grabbed the surprised Syr and hastily pulled her towards him, bending his body over her as far as it would go, her face pressed against his chest for protection. Syr heard the slight slapping sound as the soup hit Bell in the back, neck and the back of his head, then she felt the twitching of his body.
And then...
The screaming started.
Bell´s body blocked all of the soup, Syr didn´t even got hit by a single drop. But in return, he got hit by every last drop of it. And it felt as hot as molten lava.
.
"GYAAAAAAAAH!"
.
Every single person in the pub heard that scream and soon saw what happened.
Bell's arms were jerking and spasming from the pain, Syr couldn't free herself as Bell was much stronger than her. The other waitresses were already moving, with Ryu leading the way. But one reacted faster than Ryu. When Mia saw what was about to happen, she gave up jumping between them in time. Instead, she grabbed three large mugs of wonderfully cold beer, grabbed the dwarf sitting right in front of her, pushed him asid, and tipped the mugs of beer at Bell. This type of mug was a specialty of the pub. They were so big that they could hold three liters of liquid. Usually dwarfs ordered them. It was fortunate that she had just filled three such mugs. Mia grabbed all three mugs by the handle with her left hand and poured them with a powerful shove towards Bell and Syr. With an audible splash, nine liters of beer hit Bell's back, neck and back of his head. It soaked both, him and Syr from head to toe.
But thankfully, the icy beer numbd the pain in Bell´s back, he still groaned, his skin was red.
"Bell!"
Syr finally managed to break free when Bell slumped to the ground, groaning from pain.
"Oh no! Ryu! Hurry!"
Due to the immense pain, Bell didn´t notice much that happened around him.
.
.
"**oa *eal."
"*yu, plea** **rry."
"Meow...sor** Me**..."
Bell didn´t undersand the words that he heard completely, everything was blurry. To him it looked like his field of vision was slightly tinted green, but thankfully the pain in his back and neck slowly stopped.
It felt as if cool but not freezing water was being trickled down his back from a gently lapping stream or small lake deep in a forest. Bell had experienced what healing magic felt like, but never like this. This one felt a lot nicer than Heith's. Maybe it was the fact that he hadn't been beaten black and blue before.
Slowly, all feeling returned to his body, his head stopped pounding with pain and his back started to feel normal again. Now Bell noticed his posture, he was sitting in some kind of chair, his chest was leaning against the backrest of the chair, his head tilted slightly downward. Both arms were hanging down in front of him...and someone was holding his hands.
His labored breathing calmed down more and more. What Bell couldn't see, but the elf behind him could, the skin color on his back and neck changed from red to a normal tone. Eventually the magic stopped and the green color vanished from Bell´s field of vision.
He reckognized his surroundings when he opened his eyes, it was a locker room of sorts. And he realized who was holding his hands. It was Syr, she knelt on the ground in front of him with a very worried expression on her face and her uniform was completely soaked. She smelled like an entire brewery, but so did he.
Bell heard an unfamiliar voice behind him. "That was all, he is healed."
Syr looked past Bell´s face. "Thank you, Ryu."
"Not for that."
"Meow..."
"Anya, it wasn´t your fault. The adventurer had his legs stretched into the way. They know they shouldn´t do that."
And then Syr looked into Bell´s eyes. "Mr. Bell, how are you feeling?"
"Better...much better. Are you hurt?"
Syr smiled more than just gently and slightly squeezed his hands. "I am unharmed, thanks to you. That was really heroic of you."
"No, it wasn´t m-"
Suddenly, Syr squeezed his hands with more strength and looked agitated for some reason. "It was heroic! Don´t make yourself small! That soup would´ve burned my face, neck and chest! And you stepped in when you noticed that shoving me out of the way wouldn´t work. You took it all on! That was really brave and heroic of you!"
The unknown voice spoke again. "I have to agree with Syr, Mr. Cranel. You were really brave to do that and to protect Syr."
"Nyou were really cool, Meow!"
Bell raised his head a bit, at first he saw the cat girl, who looked really sorry. Then he saw for the first time in his life, a really beautiful female elf from up close. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, right after Syr of course. Easily on par with his goddess...a fact that he shouldn´t tell his goddess...probably.
"You healed me, right?"
"I did. But I would like to ask you, not to tell around that I can do that."
Bell nodded. "Since you healed me, it is the least I can do, thank you. Lady Ryu."
"Lady? This is a bit much. Ms. is enough."
"Okay."
"Nyite hair..." Anya fidgeted on her spot, not knowing what to do.
"Ms. Anya, it is okay, it wasn´t your fault. I´m just happy that Ms. Syr isn´t hurt."
Syr looked up to him with big eyes. "Is this really everything that matters to you?"
Bell smiled slightly. "Yes, I couldn´t bear with it if you got hurt."
"Mmmh..." Syr looked to the side.
Ryu looked surprised when she saw the red shade on Syr´s cheeks.
"Mr. Cranel."
"Yes, My. Ryu?"
"Mama Mia would like to thank you for saving Syr. She said you should take a shower, you will get a change of clothes while we wash your dirtied clothes."
"I will do that." Syr looked determined.
"S-Syr...these are the clothes of a man..."
"Ryu, this isn´t the time to be ashamed. I need to wash my clothes too. It is the least I can do for Mr. Bell!"
"Auu.."
"Ryu, we are all women here. Shall I ask Chloe to do it?"
"Better not..."
"What shall Meow do?"
Suddenly, Syr smirked and winked mischievously. "You could help Mr. Bell shower and wash his back."
"Meow!" Anya isntantly got deep red and her tail went stiff.
"S-S-Syr!" As did Ryu.
"M-M-Ms. Syr!" And Bell...
"Ehehe, I´m joking. Just joking. I´m just happy that you are okay again, Mr. Bell."
"Syr, please, my heart can´t take such jokes."
"Sorry, Ryu. You two can go down now, I will show Mr. Bell where the showers are."
"But Syr...to leave you two alone...I..."
"Ryu, don´t be worried. Mr. Bell, you won´t use this situation to your advantage and attack the defensless me, right?"
"No! There is no way in heaven that I could ever do that!"
"Hehe, see? Mr. Bell is really chivalrous."
Ryu took a long look at Bell, then she nodded and went out of the locker room with Anya.
"They are just worried about me."
"I can understand that. Ahm, does Ms. Ryu also belong to..."
Syr shook her head. "No, Ryu isn´t part of our familia. But I won´t tell you who her god or goddess is."
"It´s okay, I just thought for a moment that maybe all the people here could be."
"Hehe, only Mama Mia, Anya and I. Oh and you of course. But Psssssst! This is a secret. You will notice that it is sometimes hard to talk with people when they know that you belong to our familia."
"Understood."
Only now did Bell realize...that he had not a single piece of cloth on his upper body. And that Syr still held his hands.
"A-Ahm, where is my shirt?"
"I had to take it off, so that Ryu could heal you."
Bell noticed that Syr looked away from him, but still glanced to his chest now and then. But only shyly and rarely.
"C-Come now, I will show you the bathroom."
It looked like that Syr was as embarrassed as Bell. But the only waitress that was really unhappy about the event, was Chloe. The black haired cat girl would´ve paid to be allowed to undress Bell and help him shower...
.
.
This is so awkwaaaaaard!
Bell stood in the shower stall, hot water was pouring down on him. Using the bathroom of the pub, where only females worked, wasn´t his problem. The problem was that three stalls away, Syr also showered in that very moment. They had discussed who should take a shower first. Bell had insisted it to be Syr. But Syr had argued that if he, as a customer, protected her from the soup, then she would feel extremely bad that he was doused with beer and then had to wait until he could take a shower. Bell, on the other hand, argued that it was against all his principles for a young lady to be doused with beer and for him to take a shower first. He knew how she felt at the moment and that it must be even worse for a woman to smell like that.
Since neither of them wanted to back down, Syr finally suggested they shower at the same time, in separate cabins of course. Bell had blushed again and stammered he could never do such a thing! But Syr...she wasn't playing fair cards.
She had just looked up to him with puppy eyes and mumbled.
"Is it...no good?"
Syr had prepared a towel and spare clothes for him, Bell wondered why they had clothes for a man, but he didn´t ask. It felt good to get clean again, the visit at the pub wasn´t what he had imagined. But he was happy that he managed to protect her from the hot soup.
When he shut off the shower, Bell waited for a moment, he didn´t hear the sound of Syr´s shower.
"Mr. Bell?"
"Y-Yes?"
"I will go out of my shower now, can you please wait until I´m done?"
"S-S-Sure!"
"And please no peeking, I trust you."
"I won´t do that!"
Syr opened the door to her shower stall and peeked outside, but Bell´s was closed. Going out, she used the towel to dry her body, she turned away from Bell´s shower stall. She trusted him not to peek, but in case he did it by accident, he would only see her behind.
He really is a gentleman.
"Mr. Bell, I´m done now, I will wait outside."
"Thank you..."
After Syr was gone and he heard the door close, Bell went out of the shower too. To wait and having to listen until she was done was embarrassing, at least it was over now.
.
.
"What do you mean it will take hours for my clothes to dry?"
"It started to rain outside, I only noticed this after I washed your clothes. We don´t have a heat stone, so it will take a few hours. I´m sorry."
Syr smiled a bit awkward.
"Irgh, what do I do until then?"
"We have a separate guest room, you can wait there, even sleep. I don´t think you want to go down into the pub like this."
Currently, Bell wore a really wide shirt and short pants.
"I´ll guess I´ll do that." Bell sighed.
"Ehehe, it isn´t that bad to spend the night here, I also do that often."
"Aren´t you living here, Ms. Syr?"
"Nope. My room is somewhere else. But I won´t say where." She winked in a really cute way and held her right index finger in front of her lips. "That´s a secreet."
"Okay, I can understand that. Then I will wait until my clothes are dry again. Thank you, Ms. Syr."
"Oh, Mr. Bell, before you go, I forgot something."
Bell turned half around to her. "Hm?"
He felt a really soft and gentle touch against his cheek. "Chu."
"E-Eh?!" Bell stumbled to the side, Syr had given him a kiss on the cheek.
"Teehee, a well earned reward for the heroic knight that saved me from the hot soup."
"Eh. Ah. What. Oh. I mean, eh wa..." Bell´s brain refused to work properly.
Syr waved happily and went to the stairs. "Have a nice rest, Mr. Bell. And thank you agaaaaaain!"
Bell blinked for a while perplexed, touching his cheek with his fingers.
Getting burned by the piping hot soup, then having beer poured over him and the others things that happened.
To get a kiss on the cheek as his reward.
.
.
Worth it.
.
.
His grandfather would´ve been proud.
.
.
.
"And that was all that happened at the pub, I swear it."
"Hm, I believe you, Bell."
"Really?"
Freya nodded. "I don´t need my divine eyes to see that you´re not lying. No one is dumb enough to flirt with one of Mia´s girls and spend the night there out of a...naughty...reason."
Bell breathed a sigh of relief. To come back to his familia´s home in the early morning was very awkward. The only thing he didn´t tell Freya about, was the kiss on the cheek. And the fact that he thought Hedin was a woman...
"I am impressed that you jumped in so willingly to protect Syr from the soup. She would´ve gotten seriously hurt by that."
"It was the right thing to do. So Ms. Syr, lady Mia and Ms. Anya are really part of the familia?"
Freya nodded. "They are. but their circumstances are special. As long as they are happy, I´m pleased."
"You are really kind, Goddess."
Freya smiled slightly. "If you say so. So, Bell, there is something else I would like to talk to you about."
"Yes?"
"I know that you aren´t happy with the "baptism" here. But I would like to give you a personal trainer and an advisor for the dungeon."
"Oh? Who might that be?"
"Hogni will take care of your training, but don´t worry, it won´t be like before."
"And my advisor?"
Freya suddenly started to smile brightly.
.
.
After Bell left and went to his room, Freya got visited by two other members of her familia.
""Lady Freya, you wanted to see us.""
"Yes, come in."
The first one that entered her room was Hogni, followed by...Hedin. Freya looked at first at Hogni, but then she started to chuckle slightly when her eyes fell on Hedin.
"Lady Freya?"
"Nothing, you just look quite...cute...today."
"Is that so?"
"Hehe."
The dark elf looked at Hedin and shrugged his shoulder when he saw Hedin´s questioning look.
Hedin pushed his glasses slightly up. "What can we do for you, Mylady?"
"Before I tell you the reason for your visit, I want a promise from both of you."
Both elves were all ears.
"You will not talk to anyone about what I am telling you now. Not even to each other outside of this room and to no one else. Especially not to Bell."
Both nodded. ""Your wish is our command.""
"Good. Hogni I want you to become Bell´s trainer. Train with him in the morning before he goes into the dungeon, show him how to fight properly. But, this is not...and I repeat...NOT the usual "training" you had here. No breaking bones, no cutting him and of course no nearly killing him. This is just "normal" combat training. Did I make myself clear?"
"Yes, lady Freya."
"Hedin, I want you to become Bell´s advisor for the dungeon. I don´t want to entrust him to an advisor from the guild, your knowledge is far greater than what they have. There will be days when Bell doesn´t go into the dungeon, teach him on these days and on others in the evening. I will inform you about Bell´s status, so it is for you to allow him when he can go deeper into the dungeon. Make it clear that he should absolutely listen to you in that matter. I already told him that, but as you have noticed, Bell is a bit different from all of you."
"That I could see. If this is your wish, I will teach him."
"And Hedin, I also would like you to teach him about magic, when the time comes and he gets magic."
"In case he gets magic, I let him shoot it out here until he collapses from a mind down. It´s better than to experience that for the first time in the dungeon."
"I´ll leave it to you."
Freya looked at both, one after the other.
"And now comes the part that you are not allowed to talk about."
Freya put the sheet with Bell´s status and his skill on the table, letting both of them take a look at it.
"Increased growth?"
Hogni smirked. "So that´s the reason, I understand."
"I have to point it out again, don´t tell anyone about this, especially not Bell. The skill will vanish when he knows about it. Just tell him it is normal that some adventurers grow faster than others."
Both nodded.
"Lady Freya."
"Hedin?"
"This part here, Immunity to charm, what does this mean? You never tried to charm him."
"No I didn´t. But as you know, people are naturally attracted to goddesses´of beauty. Bell is not, he sees me as his goddess, but that is all, not attraction."
Hogni put his hands on his hips. "To think that such a skill exists, he really is something else."
"That´s why I entrust you with his training."
Hogni nodded while Hedin said nothing, he was obviously in thoughts.
"Lady Freya, even when I train carefully with Bell, his weapon won´t withstand the training for long."
The goddess smiled. "Leave that matter to me."
Hedin nodded after ending his thoughts. "Lady Freya, may I ask a question?"
"Of course."
"Why him? He is the newest member of our familia. Aside from this amazing skill, why give him special treatment?"
Freya looked out of her window for a moment, then back at Hedin again. "Because Bell is special. Special in his own way, like all of you."
"Thank you, I will take my leave then and work on a curriculum. But I won´t be a kind teacher, only perfection can be tolerated."
"I expected nothing less from you, Hedin."
While both elves turned around, Freya noticed that Hedin was in thoughts again. Hogni on the other hand was slightly shaking from...excitement.
"Hogni."
"Yes, Mylady?"
"Don´t turn Bell into a battle maniac."
"I would never do that."
After both elves left, Freya could finally let her breath and then her faint laughter out. She covered her mouth with one hand, small tears appeared in the corner of her eyes.
Ms. Hedin...so cute!
Bell Cranel had already done what no one except Mia had ever managed to do. He let Freya cry from laughing.
So, time to visit someone.
.
.
Hephaistos slightly rubbed her eyepatch while she looked at the paper work in front of her, it was a habit when she was in thoughts. As usual the goddess had a lot of paper work to do, but she enjoyed to do it. She took much more work away from Tsubaki than she should, but like this, her captain could focus on her smithing, instead of doing boring paper work.
She heard a knock from the door.
"Come in."
"Hephaistos, you have a visitor."
"Thank you, Hestia."
The small goddess pulled her head back and was about to open the door wide. "Hey, don´t pull on my skirt!"
"Ehehe, this looks really cute, Hestia."
"This is my uniform! Hephaistos forces me to wear it!"
"Oh, really?"
Hephaistos looked up when she heard a familiar voice and saw a certain goddess of beauty walk into her office, while she slightly pulled at Hestia´s uniform.
"Freya, please don´t bother my staff."
"Oh, Hestia works for you?"
"She has to pay rent somehow, since she still didn´t start her own familia."
"Hey, I´m looking everywhere! This isn´t easy these days."
"Hmmm~~~" Freya smirked. "Maybe I could introduce you to someone."
"Really?!"
"Freya, don´t pull Hestia into your shenanigans, she is too pure for that."
"What are you saying? I would never do something like that. I´m just doing that because I´m worried about a dear friend."
"Aha."
Hestia looked with happy puppy eyes up to Freya. "Really?"
"Hehe, of course Hestia. I will ask a child of mine to introduce you to that someone later. It is a woman, she isn´t an adventurer, but runs an orphanage here in Orario. Maybe you can start like this."
"Thaaaaank youuuuu! Freyaaa!" Hestia cried crocodile tears.
"Now, now. Don´t cry, you will ruin your costume."
"This isn´t a costume, but my uniform!"
"You look like a maid."
"Uniform is uniform! And now I have to go or Hephaistos will get mad."
Freya smiled until Hestia closed the door.
Hephaistos raised an eyebrow. "Are you really going to introduce her to someone?"
"Yes, I have someone in mind, I think they would go along well. The children would surely be happy to play with Hestia."
"But why would you do that?"
Freya walked towards Hephaistos´ desk in an elegant manner. "No matter what some people say, I am a goddess of love and fertility. I love children and Hestia would become a good guardian."
"Hm, just don´t be mean to her."
"I would never, not to Hestia." Freya smiled.
"Hm, alright. What brings you here?"
"I want to place a custom order."
"Oh? For what?"
"A weapon, for a child of mine."
Hephaistos just looked surprised.
"It is meant as a gift for my new child."
"Since when are you doing that?"
"He is special."
"Is that so? Hm. What kind of weapon shall it be?"
"Hmmm...I think he trains with two daggers."
"How long?"
"Around so." Freya showed it with her hands.
"Hm, so the usual length."
"I want to give him a push forward, it shouldn´t be such an incredible weapon like Ottar´s. But something that...I don´t know...grow with him in a way?"
"Grows with him?"
"Yes."
"Hm."
"Oh and I want this to remain between us, Hephaistos."
"You want me to make this weapon?"
"I do."
"You know I can´t us my Arcana."
"I am aware."
"Work done by me isn´t cheap."
Freya moved the fingers of her right hand through her hair. "Just tell me the price."
"Do you want one or two weapons?"
"If possible a set of two that he can use together."
"Hm, it will take some time."
"But you will do it? Otherwise I will go and ask Goibniu."
"Hoooo?"
Freya smiled by herself, now she had Hephaistos by her honor as a smith.
"Please, Hephaistos. You are my first choise.~~~"
"You don´t need to try to flirt with me, I will do it."
"Thank you so much, Heph-"
They got interrupted when the door got suddenly opened and someone walked in, a young man with red hair.
"Sorry, lady Hephaistos. I am bit la-"
"Welf, have you never heard about knocking?"
"W-Oh, sorry. I didn´t know that you have a cus...to...mer..."
"Argh, not again!"
Hephaistos jumped up from her chair, quickly jogged over to Welf and pulled him close, turning her body so that he couldn´t see Freya anymore.
"Freya, your veil. And close your coat! Your boobs are nearly spilling out!"
"Oh, sorry."
Freya quickly put her veil back on and closed her coat, while Hephaistos had no other choice to hug Welf´s face to her bosom. A fact that made both embarrassed and Welf very happy.
Welf looked up to Hephaistos with a dreamlike face.
"Welf, please wait outside for a moment until I´m done here."
"Yes~~~..."
"Hah...you bring nothing but trouble, Freya."
"It wasn´t on purpose."
"I know, I know."
Freya watched how Welf went outside.
"And this young man is who?"
"A child of mine. M I N E. You can´t have him."
"Ehehe, I don´t intend to take him, don´t worry."
Hephaistos sighed. "He is a bit special."
"Special in general or special to you?"
Hephaistos returned her gaze, no words were needed.
"Oh, I see. How cute~~~"
"Freya..."
"Let me guess, by special you also mean...he has trouble in your familia?"
"That´s a pretty specific guess."
"Because I am the one who made the guess."
"I admit it, he doesn´t get along too well with most of the others. He just can´t find a dungeon party."
"Oho?"
"Freya?"
"Hephaistos, I might have a good idea.~~~"
Freya explained what she had in mind for a few minutes.
"Hm, somehow you make me feel like a mother right now arranging with another mother that their children should play together."
"Ehe, quite the amusing thought."
"No, I don´t want to feel like a mother about Welf."
Freya noticed that Hephaistos´ cheeks were slightly red.
"Oh my~~~. You really do have feelings for him!"
"B-Be quiet! My love life is not your concern."
"Hehe, how cute. Has he confessed already?"
Hephaistos went quiet for a while. "He did."
Freya smiled brightly, as a goddess of love, she was just too interested in that matter.
"Did you two kiss?!"
"We want to wait, until he can present me something that is worth being called a masterpiece."
"Hehe, one reason more to let him "play with Bell"."
"I will talk to Welf, I can´t promise anything."
"I think both would benefit from that."
"Yeah, when you go out, make sure Welf can´t catch a glimpse of your face or body."
"Sorry about that. Do you want to know how to get him out of that state?"
"Of course!"
Freya explained it to Hephaistos with a low voice.
"Nah! Are you making fun of me?!"
"No, it is how it is, I´m sorry."
She saw that Hephaistos was deep red. It wasn´t like Freya had tried to charm Welf, but she couldn´t fight her own nature, her very being. More than one time this really bothered her.
When their talk was finished, Freya left the office again, making sure that her veil was still in place. Outside, she saw Welf, who smiled as if he had a really nice dream.
"You can go in now."
"´Kay..."
I feel a bit sorry for him. Hephaistos, do your best to get his head clear again.
Inside the room, when Welf closed the door, he still smiled like that.
"Welf."
"Yes?~~~.."
"Lock the door."
"Hm?"
While Welf did what Hephaistos ordered him to do, she started to unbutton her shirt.
The relationship of Hephaistos and Welf progressed a bit faster than they had anticipated. But both were very happy when they ended on Hephaistos´ couch in each others arms. Hephaistos with a naked upper body, Welf without pants.
Freya still felt really bad. This outcome was the nature of her being. Even when she wanted to do this and was happy with the outcome, Hephaistos didn´t really have any other way to clear Welf´s head from her accidental influence.
But just like every time...she couldn´t and wouldn´t show that to anyone.
What Welf and Hephaistos had was true love.
Real love.
Freya didn´t have this.
Because nobody really understood her.
Nobody could understand her truly.
No one.
Freya was...alone.
All alone.
Craving for a love that she slowly lost hope to ever receive.
To get her Odr.
Sometimes when she was alone in her bed and slept, Freya actually cried in her sleep. Begging for someone to appear and love her, to truly love her.
But then again...there was a small light of hope.
A pure, bright soul, that did something to Freya that she never thought was possible.
It gave her hope.
.
.
And it would give her despair. It would kick her into the deepest abyss of despair.
.
.
"Nice to meet you, Welf Crozzo is the name. But please call me Welf."
"My name is Bell Cranel, Bell is okay."
Both shook hands, standing in front of Babel.
"Shall we go?"
"Of course."
Their first meeting was at first a bit stiff, but Bell and Welf would all too soon become friends.
.
Two weeks later.
.
"And then Welf was like "Leave this to me!" and he charged right into the monsters. And I was like "I´m counting on you!", while I fought against the other wave of monsters."
"And then?! How did it go?!"
"We defeated them, Mr. Hogni´s training really helps a lot. We managed to save the two girls and defeated three dozen monsters in one fight!"
Bell grinned wide, he and Freya sat on a couch in her personal room. The goddess sat with pulled up legs on the couch, hugging a pillow and listening in awe to Bell´s story of heroism. When she was alone with Bell, Freya acted completely different from her normal behaviour. Not as cheerfull and carefree as a certain, gray haired waitress, but much different from usual.
"Bell, I´m so proud of you, that was really good work."
"Hehe, thank you. But I couldn´t have done it without Mr. Welf."
Freya smiled. "You two became friends pretty fast, hm?"
"Hehehe...yes. I am really happy that you had this idea, Goddess. And that lady Hephaistos agreed to it."
"Well I can´t let you run alone into the dungeon all the time. And since I am aware how other people see the familia, I guessed you would´ve a hard time to find companions."
"It is really fun to go into the dungeon together. But Welf said we should look for a supporter, that this would make things easier."
Freya´s gaze said all that was needed without using words.
"No, you don´t need to look for us. Today we met a Chientrope girl when we came back to Babel."
"Oho? Bell, Bell, Bell...you surely don´t try to flirt with yet another young woman, don´t you?"
"I-I-I didn´t try to flirt with Ms. Syr!"
"But you´re going to the pub every morning and afternoon now, right?"
"She said she would prepare lunch box for me every morning! I couldn´t decline! Also it is really delicious!"
Freya smirked. "Is that so?"
"Yes, it is!"
"Then please Bell, be careful with Syr. She might not look like it, but this girl can be very sensitive."
"Be careful? What do you mean?"
Freya´s smile widened. "Bell, have you forgotten what I am? I am a woman too and a goddess of love. Do you think I wouldn´t notice how you talk about Syr?"
"Mmmmh!" Bell looked abashed to the side.
After a few moments he looked back at Freya again. "Is it that obvious?"
"For me? Yes."
"Oh..."
"I won´t say anything about it, this is between you and Syr. But to get to a different topic, I have something for you."
"Oh?"
"It is your welcome gift, as the newest member of my familia."
Freya got up from the couch and walked to her desk, she gave Bell a wink to follow her. As usual, Bell averted his face when he followed Freya. Even when he wasn´t in love with her, the divine body and the natural swing of her hips was too much for the young boy.
When they arrived at her desk, Bell looked down to a large, long, wooden box.
"What is inside?"
"You will see, open it."
Freya smiled and watched how Bell slowly opened the box. Inside were two identical looking daggers. Well not completely identical. The blade of one was white, the other black, but both had runes imbedded in them. As soon as Bell´s finger tips touched the handles of the daggers, the runes awakened and glew in the same color as Freya´s eyes.
"Woah..."
"I had them order made for you, Bell."
"For me? Isn´t that really expensive?"
Freya shook her head. "Not really. But I want my young hero to have a fine weapon. So that you can do more heroic deeds and tell me about them."
"Wow...thank you, Goddess. Really, I mean it."
"Take them, try them."
"Yes..."
Bell carefully closed his hands around the handles of his new daggers. The runes flashed for a second as the daggers acknowledged their master and owner.
"They feel..."
"Light?"
"No...and yes. But more like...a part of my body."
"Hehe, that´s good."
Bell slowly moved the daggers, they were perfectly balanced.
"So, you like them?"
"Yes! Absolutely! Thank you so much!"
"Hehe t-Unf!"
Freya got interrupted when Bell couldn´t keep his happiness by himself and hugged her. Carefully of course, since he still held his daggers.
"Thank you so much, Goddess!"
Freya blinked a bit perplexed, then she gently returned the hug.
Bell...what are you doing to me?...
Before Bell left Freya´s room after they were done, she told him to take a day off on the next day. It was Monster Philia again and that was something he shouldn´t miss.
"Oh by the way, Bell."
"Yes?"
"Your daggers, their name is "Rabbit Fangs."
"Eeeeh?! Why?!"
Freya just giggled.
.
.
.
The Monster Philia really was a big festival. Never before had Bell seen so many people. He decided to make the best out of the day, but now it went a bit different than what he had imagined.
Where could she be?
Bell held a purse in his left hand, the purse of a woman. Syr´s purse. As usual he had visited the pub in the early morning to say hello. Mostly because he hoped to see Syr there. Over the course of the last two weeks, Bell had fallen in love with Syr more and more. Whenever he saw her, he could only smile or grin, while his mouth went dry and his heart started to beat fast.
But he just didn´t know how to tell her that...he was a bit afraid. Would she return his feelings? Probably not, since they just knew each other for two weeks. Well for him it was obvious after the first day.
When he had arrived at the pub, Anya tried to explain to him in her unique way that Syr forgot her purse. Thankfully Ryu explained it to him afterwards, her way was easier to understand.
He eyed the large crowd of people. "Hm, looks like it will be hard to find Ms. S-"
"Oh, Bell?"
"Huh?"
And there she was, just like that. Bell´s eyes widened slightly, not only out of surprise that it was her that found him.
But more because it was Bell´s first time seeing Syr in her casual clothes. She was even more adorable than usual. Instead of her uniform, Syr wore a light, wide, white dress, that looked like it was made from the same material as a t-shirt would be. It was a one part dress, that went down just below her knees. The dress had basically no cleavage at all, but still, the cloth showed how well endowed Syr was. Instead of normal shoes, Syr wore sandals, also she had a large hat on her head.
She had never been more beautiful in Bell´s eyes before.
"Wow.."
"Bell?"
"Oh ah, s-sorry. Hello, Ms. Syr."
"Ehehe, were you looking for me? Teehee."
"Yes I was."
"Oh?"
Bell raised his hand and showed her the purse. "You forgot this at the café."
"Ooh! Thank you so much! Without it I wouldn´t be able to buy something. Eheheh, I can be such a klutz sometimes."
"N-No problem."
Bell´s cheeks felt warm as their fingers touched slightly when she took the purse.
Syr smiled wide. "Hehe, this must be a blessing from lady Freya! I really wanted to go together with you to the Monster Philia!"
"Really?"
"Yes, I mean I still have to really thank you for saving me on our first day!"
"You don´t need to thank me."
"I absolutely have to. You the hero saved me the damsel from danger! So let me pay you back today."
"I..a hero?"
Syr´s smile somehow shone stronger than the sun. "Jup! You are my hero, Mr. Bell."
Sometimes Syr called him Mr. Bell and sometimes just Bell, not that it bothered him.
Instead of giving him a chance to back away, Syr took his right hand and pulled him with her.
"Come!"
She laughed while she started to walk. Bell´s legs agreed with her and started to work before he could really think about it.
.
.
"Two crépes please!"
Syr leaned forward and whispered something to the woman behind the counter, who smiled understanding and nodded.
While they waited, Syr smiled at him. "Hehe, spending my day off with you makes it even better."
"B-But why?"
Suddenly, Syr looked flustered. "Mouh, Bell...you can´t expect a girl to say this out loud..."
E-Eeeeeh?! What does she mean? Why is she fidgeting like that?!
Bell´s heart immediatelly started to race when he saw Syr act like that.
"So, dear customers, here are your mixed crépes."
Syr took the two crépes that were wrapped in paper and handed one to Bell. His own had fruits, but nothing too sweet.
"You said that you don´t like sweet things, right?"
"You remember that?"
Instead of answering, Syr just smiled brightly and offered him her crépe. "Do you want a bite?"
"Eh?! N-No, I-I mean..."
"Mouh, come on. I couldn´t give you a lunch box today, it´s only fair."
"But...I ahm..."
Syr´s happy smile just got more beautiful, so Bell had no choice but to give in. He took the smallest bite possible. And just as he wanted to move back, Syr took a quick bite out of his crépe.
"Eh?!"
"Mwehehe, now we´re even."
Bell´s face was pretty red, he knew that Syr acted much different from all the other women he had met so far...which weren´t that many...but it was tough for him.
"Now let us go and enjoy our date!"
"D-D-Date?!"
"Isn´t that how you call it when a boy and a girl spend time together like this?" Her expression was innocence incarnate.
"I guess so..."
"Hehe, come."
Syr pulled him with her, he couldn´t resist, not that he wanted to. The festival was really lively and even when they didn´t go to the coliseum, they had a lot of fun. Syr showed him one of the famous potato snack stalls.
"Oh, little Syr!"
"Good day, lady Hestia."
The stall was run by a small goddess with..."plenty of wood in front of the hut". Together with the goddess were a few children and a pretty, adult woman.
Syr showed a warm smile when she looked at the children and the woman.
"Hey there."
"It´s Syr!"
"Big sister Syr!"
"Syr!"
The children ran around the small stall and hugged Syr from all sides, while she crouched down to return the hug.
"Hello Syr."
"Hello Maria, how is it going?"
"Good, very good. Thank you for introducing us to lady Hestia."
"Hehe, is she a nice goddess?"
"The best I can wish for."
"Then I´m happy. Lady Hestia?"
"Hm?"
"Can I still come and visit from time to time, even when the church is now your home?"
"Of course you can! You are an honorary member, Syr!"
"Thank you, lady Hestia."
Now the children noticed Bell.
"Who is this?"
"Who is he?"
"Who are you?"
Syr chuckled. "Mr. Bell is a good friend of mine."
Maria looked surprised at Syr, she opened her mouth to ask a question. But Syr put her finger to her lips and made a pleading face while she blushed.
Hestia was already busy with the stall again, she pulled out two big potato snacks.
"Here, for you it´s free, as a small thank you."
"Oh! Thank you, lady Hestia!"
Since Syr was still busy hugging the children, Bell took the two potato snacks. The small goddess winked, smiled and showed him a thumbs up, as if she wanted to say, good luck.
"So then, we will be going. Listen to what Maria and your goddess tells you, okay?"
"""Okaaaay!"""
Since Bell´s hands were full, he just nodded to them while he grinned a bit. Seeing Syr with these children really warmed his heart. Could a single girl really be this perfect? Obviously!
After he handed Syr one of the big potato snacks, they went on.
.
.
"I am Ganesha!"
While they walked, Bell got suddenly surprised by a really tall and sturdy god. At first he thought it was just a normal man, then he saw the mask and heard what he yelled. The god with the elephant mask stood close to the entrance of the coliseum, apparently the main event haven´t started so far.
"Oh, lord Ganesha, good day."
"Oh, little Syr! What a lovely day! Are you enjoying the festival?"
"I do, it is as wonderful as every year!"
"Then I, Ganesha, am happy! Go and have fun on the festival with your boyfriend!"
"B-B-Boyfriend?!" Suddenly, Syr looked really flustered.
"Oh my, did I jump to a conclusion?"
"M-Mouh, lord Ganesha..."
"I´m sorry! Please take this small Ganesha figure as an apology!"
He handed them a small figure that hung on a keychain, it looked exactly like the sturdy god and was grinning from one ear to the other. Bell was a bit too buffled to say something.
"Thank you, lord Ganesha. C-Come, Bell, l-let us go..."
"Coming."
A few people chuckled and smiled while they watched Bell and Syr vanishing in the crowd again. Syr didn´t understand what was wrong with her, her reaction was by no means an act. She never felt like this before. Her heart pounded in her ears!
They kept walking and looked at a few other stalls, but eventually they wanted to take a break and looked for a place on a meadow, close to a tree, a bit away from the festival.
Bell could just sit down, but Syr had to be more careful, so that her skirt wouldn´t flip up. They sat in a way that the tree was between them and the festival, to have a bit privacy. As the gentleman that he was, Bell took off his jacket, folded it, so that Syr didn´t have to sit with her white dress on the gras.
"So, Bell. Do you like the festival?"
"Absolutely. It is wonderful here, thank you for showing me everything, Ms. Syr."
"Ehehe, I think just Syr would be fine now, Bell."
"But ahm..I..."
"Come on, for me?"
Syr smiled again and while Bell was a bit flustered, he followed her wish. "S-Syr."
A new wave of happiness exploded in Syr´s heart, the day got closer and closer to become perfect.
Syr carefully took off her sandals and wriggled her toes in the grass.
"Hehe, this feels nice. I am really happy that I have the chance to walk with you over the festival."
She saw that Bell looked a bit uneasy again, as if he tried to gather the courage to say something.
"Bell?"
"S-Syr! I...I..."
She moved her right, bare foot towards Bell and pulled slightly at his pant leg, when he looked up, she just smiled.
"Do you want to tell me something?"
"I...no...ahm...Yes..but...I...ahm..."
Syr showed him her warmest smile. "Bell."
"Hm?"
"I won´t run away, I promise you. Tell me what you want to tell me. Dare it."
"Syr?..."
She just kept smiling, a vulnerable, loving, hopeful smile.
"Syr...I...I..."
.
.
"I love you!"
.
.
When Bell opened his eyes again, he saw that Syr´s smile had changed. It wasn´t vulnerable and hopeful anymore...it was just...there was no other word to describe it...beautiful.
"Bell..."
"Y-Yes?"
Syr moved up to her knees, the hem of her dress pulled up a bit so she wouldn´t get stains from the gras. She took both of his hands and opened her heart completely to him.
.
.
"I love you too."
.
.
Syr couldn´t help but giggle in her mind when she saw Bell´s happy expression. A bit like a rabbit that got it´s favorite treat.
But confessing love and do what came next... were two very different things.
Since it looked like Bell lacked the courage a bit, Syr leaned a bit forward.
"Bell..."
"S-Syr..."
He gulped heavily while he looked at her lips, that came slowly closer. Bell steeled himself, it was his job as a man to do it! His grandfather told him so.
.
Bell, listen. A man shouldn´t wait for a woman to make the last step. He has to be the one to do it. This is part of a man´s romance.
Grandfather?
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROMANCE!
Grandfatheeeeer!
.
He gulped again, went up to his knees and leaned forward too. Syr´s face was as flushed as his. She couldn´t help but smile, had actually to fight hard not to grin from happiness. Syr put her right hand to the edge of her hat and pulled it down a bit, so that no one could see what she and Bell were about to do.
"Bell..."
"Syr..."
Bell gathered all of his courage, put both of his hands on Syr´s shoulders, she put her left hand on his chest. They moved closer and closer, until Syr closed her eyes and waited.
.
.
In the moment that their lips touched, the crowd inside the coliseum cheered loud as the main event started.
But Syr wanted to believe, that they cheered for them.
The kiss with Bell felt magical.
Syr...was happy.
.
.
And deep inside her mind, the other half of her personality, Freya, sat with pulled up legs in the endless darkness that was her life. Never before had she found true love, that someone loved her for who she was, not because of the influence that her being had.
And this darkness now got a small crack.
White light fell in. The sad goddess looked up.
Are you...my Odr?
.
.
Both smiled shyly and chuckled a bit when the first kiss ended. The second followed a short moment later, this time it was a bit longer.
.
.
She was equally happy and afraid. Happy that the unthinkable might actually happen. And afraid that it might be something false.
.
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Please...don´t abandon me. Love me.
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Please...
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.
Syr laughed happy while they knelt in front of each other. She didn´t wait for the third kiss, Syr slighlty jumped at him, pushing Bell laughing to the ground and kissing him again, for the first time he felt how soft the body of a girl really was. It was the happiest day of her life.
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*Hic* Please...
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Author´s Note: Hello everyone. First, I´m sorry it took so long. Since BoZ Ero got a 17k words chapter between two of CoF, it took a bit. Plus, I´m currently having the flu, and that doesn´t really help with writing.
16 Reviews just for the first chapter, Wow! I´m happy that you like it so far.
It may feel a bit rushed sometimes, since there will be small time jumps. But this is because it is a short story, but don´t worry, I won´t stick to the original story all the time. Sadly, I can´t answer any question to Cassandra´s vision.
Next chapter will be a bit about Bell and Hogni, their training and other things. And of course more Bell X Syr!
To explain something. Some still wait for a new Blood of Zeus normal chapter, but that won´t happen. A complete harem is just too hard to write for me. That´s why I make these short stories, so that every girl has their time to shine.
One short story that I didn´t mention so far will take place in the dark times, Bell is already 16 then, but you will read why. And this story will be Bell x Alise.
And since it was asked, yes Spirit Child will get an update, I´m working on the side for the chapter. Instead of an arc, it will be one, long chapter, maybe between 10-17k words. After that, there will be a short arc in there about a dream of Ais, but the main plot line will be over.
Also, a very important part of this story will be the splitted personality of Syr and Freya. But you will see. And of course, and this is the most important thing as always, that Bell will rescue a woman that no other can save.