Freya was nearly done binding her hair up.
"Don´t underestimate me, Bell."
"I won´t, Goddess."
When he heard that Bell would train with Freya, Hedin already told him that he shouldn´t think it would be easy. That the title goddess of war wasn´t for show, that Freya was easily capable of fighting against a level three adventurer.
He could tell that this wouldn´t be an easy fight just by looking at her. And he had to admit, his goddess was a true beauty. And her armor was truly a sight to behold. Her battledress...if it was the right thing to call it that...actually contained more than one piece of cloth. The main part covered her chest, but nothing above it and it didn´t have sleeves. It also covered her stomach and went further down to the middle of her thighs, but it looked like it sat more tight than a normal dress.
Starting from the underside of her breasts was a straight, golden line in the middle. On the left side of the line was the dress blue, on the right white. A dual belt sat crosswise at her hip, which also held the hilt of her sword. The "skirt" of the dress had a long slit on the right side to give her more movement, whenever Freya made a step forward, her lovely thigh became fully visible for a moment. To cover a bit more skin, she wore a long, white stocking with a golden border on her right leg, but not on the left. Her feet were in silvery plate boots of a style that Bell never saw before. Her upper body got also covered by a chestplate, it looked like silvery wings were covering her breasts. Around her throat and her left shoulder was a short, blue cape with a golden ornament in the middle. On the right side it was twisted and vanished under a silver and golden, round shoulder guard. On the shoulder guard were engraved a stylized rabbit and an egg, both important symbols for Freya. Her right arm was covered by a separate, white sleeve and a golden bracer. Her left arm only had a silvery bracer. She didn´t use a helmet, but he heard from Hedin that Freya had even more armor parts and weapons. Like a round shield, a spear, a winged helmet...truly the queen of the valkyries.
Originally this outfit looked different and wasn´t meant for Freya. Syr tried to convince Ryu to wear something like that, since it would look so cool on her. But Ryu declined, it was too revealing for her taste. Which was strange...since Ryu´s usual battle outfit showed even more skin.
So Freya had changed the armor a bit more to suit her taste.
Freya showed him a smirk.
"And? What do you say?"
"You are really beautiful, Goddess."
"Oho? Is that all I am? Just a beautiful woman?"
"I didn´t mean it like that..."
"Hah...most of the world seems to think I´m nothing more than my beauty..."
Freya showed him a battle hungry grin. "I think I should remind you all what kind of goddess I actually am. So thank you for assisting me doing that, Bell."
I have a bad feeling about this...
Ottar stepped forward as Freya and Bell entered the battle area. "This will be a training fight between Bell and lady Freya. So everyone watch careful, since our holy goddess will show us what she is capable of. Also, this is a bet, in case lady Freya wins, Bell has to follow every demand of her for a day. In case Bell wins, lady Freya has to follow his demands."
A chorus of booing was heard, some members of the familia looked agitated, as if they wanted to threaten Bell to not even dare to try winning.
Freya looked at her children like a queen.
"If someone interferes, they will be severely punished. In addition, I will withdraw my love from this person for a month."
More than just a few gasps could be heard among the Einherjar, how the biggest amount of warriors in Folkvangr was called. Most of them were incredibly jealous of Bell, to receive the honor to train with Freya was something they all wanted, except for the high executives since they were much stronger than Freya could ever hope to be.
Freya walked slowly towards Bell, until she stood right in front of him. Bell was only a few centimeters taller than her, from up close he noticed that she smelled really good.
"So, Bell, have you thought about what you want to order me to do?"
"No, I don´t need to think about that."
"Oho? Do you already have something in mind?"
"No, but I would´ve to win against you first, Goddess. I will do my best, but I think you are a strong warrior. I read stories about the Queen of the Valkyries."
"Oh? I hope only good stories."
"They were quite fascinating."
Freya grinned. "By the way, my sword and your daggers were forged by the same hands."
"Oh? Who did it?"
"Who knows? Maybe I will tell you in case you win?"
"Hm..."
"Now then, enough chatting, let us begin now."
"Alright."
Bell had less than a second time to react and bend his body backwards. It looked like Freya meant literally now, her sword slipped so fast out of the sheath that he could barely evade.
"Woah!"
He jumped back, Freya already dashed forward.
"Defend yourself!"
His hands flew to the hilts of his daggers, which he carried crosswise at the back of his hip. Freya´s sword sung as it leashed out at him again. Bell blocked the sword with both daggers at once, but the impact was stronger than he thought it would be, he was nearly thrown backwards.
She is so strong!
If he was honest, Bell hadn't counted on Freya having such strength. She looked so delicate and gentle in her dress the night before as she snuggled up to him. But now he saw a completely different aspect of her. Her face showed the highest concentration as she followed up on blows. During the first attacks, Bell only blocked or dodged. He tried to gauge how fast and strong Freya really was.
Of course she saw through this immediately and started to change her fighting style. To his immense surprise, she grazed his chin with her left fist while spinning around and delivering a deep swipe at his hip. His black dagger parried her sword while the white stabbed at her waist.
Freya's free hand came down and she blocked the dagger with her bracer.
It quickly became clear to him that Freya probably had combat experience of at least ************ years. No sooner had he completed the thought than Freya's face darkened as if she had read his mind.
"I have a feeling you just thought something very rude about me...Bell."
She didn't miss a beat and attacked him like a steel whirlwind.
"I was just admiring your bladework, goddess!"
Well that was at least half true...
"Bell...I can see when you lie!"
"Hiiiiii!"
Several Einherjar laughed, it looked too funny how Freya was chasing Bell around. But it wasn't Freya's intention to embarrass Bell or to belittle him.
Nobody was allowed to make her Odr small, nobody! Not even she herself!
Of course if he wanted it that way...
If her Odr wanted it, Freya would act like his queen...step on him if he wished to...
Even if Bell was of course still too young, pure and innocent...but whatever he would like later, she would grant him all wishes.
He was her Odr, her future husband.
As long as she was the one in his heart, he would love her and shower her with cuddles...she would do anything for him.
As your future wife, it is my duty, privilege and pleasure to fulfill all of your fantasies and desires that you may have one day!
Freya smiled again, but this time her strike wasn't just blocked. Bell dropped the black dagger, caught it with his foot and grabbed Freya's sword wrist after blocking with the white dagger.
Instead of just using strength, Bell used technique against Freya. He tried his best to turn her wrist, to make her drop the sword, it was something that Hogni showed him. Freya´s eyes shone from love, she was really proud of her Odr.
"Here I come, Goddess."
Freya showed him a smirk, let the sword fall and catched it with her other hand. Bell surprised everyone by dealing a headbutt. He knew that Freya would evade it...and he hoped it. Giving his Goddess a headbutt would make him feel bad.
She took a quick step back, but Bell stayed close to her. She only carried a one-handed sword instead of one for two hands, but his daggers were still better when he stayed very close to her. His strong point was his speed, so Bell tried to use that against her. Now, as she took a quick step back, he took a quicker step forward to get his leg behind hers.
Freya looked momentarily taken aback, but she danced halfway around his leg and snapped her sword diagonally up. Bell leaned to the side to dodge, but she immediately changed the angle of the swing...and broadside caught Bell on the butt. She slowed down enough to just spank him...Freya was sure that Chloe would´ve cursed her for spanking such a beautiful butt with a sword.
Bewildered, he saw that Freya's eyes shone mischievously...she was enjoying this fight.
Well, she was a goddess of war, which didn't necessarily mean bloodshed, but the act of fighting.
I will not give up without a fight!
Bell felt the same energy inside himself as the day he and Syr kissed. Allowing it to surge through him, he attacked Freya in turn with a veritable whirlwind of dagger attacks. Much like Hogni, she wove a steel cage around herself with her sword and bracer.
He couldn't even imagine what would happen if Freya also used her shield or any of her other weapons!
Instead of giving her another chance to go on the offensive, Bell attacked again.
He didn't know it at the time, but the incredibly rapid succession of stabs and slashes with his two daggers would later be dubbed the "Rabbit Rush".
Freya met Bell with great skill, her technique was just perfect.
Or at least almost.
Normally she didn't make any mistakes, no matter how small, when she wielded her blade. But Hedin noticed that Freya sometimes countered or attacked a little too quickly, as if she could hardly hold back. The glow in her eyes said everything, she had a lot of fun in this training fight.
Hedin watched the battle in silence, not like those pigs who hooted and cheered and pretended to be warriors. He wasn't like that jealous cow Heith, gritting her teeth as she watched and silently cursed Bell. Nor was he jealousy and anger personified like Allen.
The elf saw that Hogni grinned openly, enjoying the spectacle in front of him. Enjoyed the perfect fighting skills of his goddess and that his "disciple" did so well.
Ottar's face was as stony as ever, Hedin could only guess what was going on in his head.
But the elf wasn't just watching Freya or the fight in general, but Bell in particular. Hedin knew that Bell was in love with Syr, that she was the one in his heart. But he also seemed to open up more and more to Freya, maybe it just seemed that way to the elf.
It was a bit to be expected after last night's events, even when Bell was immune to Freya's natural charm. Which would make it all the more valuable if Bell would develop feelings for not only Syr, but Freya too.
Are you the key to her happiness? Can you be the one after such long time?
But for Freya to become truly happy, Hedin believed that Bell had to love her too, not only one half of her. It was easy to see that Bell was enjoying the fight as well, in a twisted way it looked a bit like a courtship dance.
At one moment the momentum of their movement brought them so close that the skin of their faces almost touched, then they were pulled away from each other again, only to immediately attack again. As if they couldn´t bear being separated of each other.
The fight had gone on for almost ten minutes and even Freya was sweating now. A fact Bell seemed to notice, he blushed a little whenever she got close to him. Hedin guessed it was just the fact that Freya was a beautiful woman and was so close to him. Plus, Bell probably noticed her scent more than anyone else.
And Bell indeed got bombarded with Freya´s scent and she smelled way too good. Gods were different from mortals, so instead of smelling bad, Freya smelled wonderful. Bell was completely and absolutely immune against her charm...but not against the fact that she was a woman. And that he liked her made it only worse. He scolded himself, he shouldn´t feel like this about his goddess.
Even when he agreed of relationships between mortals and gods as long as there was love.
Against his will he rememberred a moment of the last night, when Freya had snuggled up to him and told him that she loved him, while looking up from his chest with glowing eyes. He told himself she meant as a goddess, but he also really, really enjoyed the time he could spend with her.
And especially after what he heard from her last night, how lonely she was...his view of her slowly started to change. When Freya was so open and vulnerable, when she trusted him so much...she was so similar to Syr.
Their weapons collided and they wrestled their strength against each other.
Their eyes met, Freya´s were glowing stronger.
Bell mumbled so softly that only Freya and Hedin heard him.
"I swear I´ll make you happy."
"H-Huh?!"
Freya blinked perplexed and lost her focus for a second. In that moment, Bell broke her defence and slashed up, leaving a very fine scratch at her chestplate. He knew that even the cloth part of her armor was strong enough to block his daggers, yet he only aimed for the plate parts and never where her skin was bare.
"Mouh! That was unfair, Bell!"
"Huh?"
He didn´t understand what he did to her just now, Freya tried her best to catch herself as Bell attacked her without mercy. Bell wasn´t the only one that had troubles during the fight. Freya also caught his scent, it was the first time she noticed how good her Odr smelled. And her eyes were drawn to his lips more than one time.
These wonderful, soft, manly lips, that she knew felt all too good when being kissed.
Before he spoke his sentence, Freya was completely focussed, now her mind was a mushy mess.
How did me mean that?! Aaww! Why did he have to say that now?!
She tried her best to get her stance back, but her Odr really was merciless with her.
Hah...driving me into a corner...you really can be a brute, Bell.
Bell had noticed that Freya never raised her arms too far, that way she would reveal her armpits and that was a weakspot. Not that Bell would attack her there, but her instinct as a warrior forbid her to bare this spot. So Bell used the advantage of two weapons and attacked her from above again and again. Hogni teached him that raising his weapon over his head was always dangerous, since his defence would be wide open. But since he had two daggers, Hogni showed him a technique that he called "The scorpion's floating sting".
He didn´t really notice how exactly it happened...only that Bell tripped slightly...but the result was a very embarrassed Freya...well and himself.
.
.
"Mmmf!"
"Kyaa! B-Bell?!"
The Einherjar and some of the high executives immediatelly called for a rabbit hunt when they saw what happened. Bell had again raised his dagger and forced Freya to block from above. But then he had tripped slightly and fell forward. Only to get stopped by his face being burried in Freya´s armpit and his lips kissing her there accidentally.
Hedin sighed in his mind. A bit too daring now, Bell.
Freya and Bell got both deep red, he stumbled backwards immediatelly.
"S-S-Sorry Goddess! It was an accident!"
Freya immediately had her arms down and wrapped them around her body. She looked at Bell, her face flushed and embarrassed. The sheer fact that she felt embarrassed about this said enough. Only Bell was able to let her feel like this.
Mouh, Bell! I didn´t want you to kiss me there for the first time in this form! Also doing something lewd is too early!
"Y-You will pay for this~~~."
"Eh?"
Bell noticed that Freya used that slightly happy singsong tone again, which she often did when they were alone. Freya didn´t actually have a problem that Bell did that, only that he did it in front of the others. And so soon.
It´s too soon for us to do something like that, Bell! But wait...maybe it is my fault...by teasing him last night... Anyway! You should do that with Syr first! Well not exactly that! But you know what I mean!
Now it was Freya again that attacked Bell without mercy, a nervous smile on her face. Even when it was an accident, the fact that Bell kissed her armpit in front of everyone was quite embarrassing. A fact that surprised her.
She used her full potential as a warrior now, attacked him left and right.
The end of the fight came as sudden as it was just too sweet for Freya.
She also tripped at some point, after she managed to force Bell to drop the black dagger, she didn´t look down and her foot got caught at it. When Freya fell forward, Bell´s instinct took over and he immediatelly catched her in his arms after letting go of the white dagger.
Freya blinked surprised when Bell held her in his arms.
"Are you hurt?!"
"N-No."
Kuuuuuuh! If I tripped backwards we would´ve caught me princess style!
"Thank goodness..."
"My win..."
"Huh?"
Freya suddenly smirked like a cat that caught a prey. Bell felt something slightly poking his hip, it was the tip of Freya´s sword.
"My win, Bell."
The Einherjar cheered for Freya´s win and cursed Bell for hugging her. And for putting his lips on her body, even when it was by accident.
"Ahm...yes...my defeat."
Freya´s happy smile was a blessing for all of her children.
Hedin nodded pleased, Bell gave up a chance to win against Freya and chose to protect her instead.
You made the right choice, Bell.
Hedin was pleased with his student.
"Next time I expect more." Freya grinned wild.
"Of course!"
It wouldn´t be the last time that they trained with each other, but the last time they did it in Folkvangr. Freya had a wonderful idea where they could train.
.
.
"Hmmmm~~Hmmmm~~Hm~~~~ Hah, it was nice to break a good sweat like this in the morning. Kuuuuh! Training with Bell was so much fuuun~~~"
Freya hummed while the hot water of her personal shower poured down on her. It was a nice way to start her day. When she was about to wash her armpit, Freya got red again.
"N-Next time he has to tell me first when he wants to do that...I need to prepare my heart. And definetely not when I sweat beforehand! Kuuuuuh! Bell, what are you doing to me?~~~~ Hah, not that I complain, ehe."
Mouh, Freya! No doing naughty things with my boyfriend!
The goddess moved her head, the mind image of Syr stood there with a bright red face.
It wasn´t on purpose, Syr.
And yesterday when you made Bell touch your boobs?!
Th-That was just a little prank...
Y-You can´t do that! It´s too early for us!
I´m sorry...are you mad?
Only a little bit...I have no problem when you spend time with Bell or flirt with him...but not something so l-lewd.
It doesn´t bother you when I flirt with him?
Syr´s image smiled. You are me. I am you. We are us.
Syr...
Then the image pouted heavily. But he still is my boyfrieeend!
Ehehe, understood.
Freya shook happy in the shower. Not only did she had a great start in the day and a satisfying conversation with herself...she would also spend most of the day with Bell!
She continued to hum and sing softly, until she heard a knock. Freya knew who it was without even looking in the direction of the door. Only one person was allowed to knock at her bathroom door.
Maybe in the future Bell would also be allowed, but that had to wait! Syr and Freya both had to admit that it would be nice to wash Bell´s back when he came back after an exhausting day in the dungeon. To just spend time with him, listen to his heroic stories while giving him comfort and cuddle with him.
"Horn, what is it?"
"Mylady! Finally!"
"Hm?"
"I´m trying to get your attention for ten minutes now!"
"Oh?"
"It is twenty minutes to eight!"
"Oh? Thank y-...Oh no!"
"Yes!"
Freya went completely pale in her shower. She had to be at work in twenty minutes! If she would be late, Mia wouldn´t allow her to spend more time with Bell at work than she should!
"Why didn´t you come inside?!"
"You forbid me to do that!"
"Oh...right..."
Ever since Bell came into her life and Freya developed feelings for him, she forbid anyone from seeing her naked form. No one except for him would ever see her naked again! And of course no one would ever be allowed to touch her body again!
"Argh, when it is an emergency like that, ignore my order!"
"Yes...Mylady..."
Freya went hastily out of the shower after cleaning herself.
"Where is my t-Woargh!"
"Mylady?!"
"Nothing, I just slipped."
Making such a sound wasn´t very elegant, but Freya had no time.
Oh no, I have to run if I want to make it. Argh, I will sweat again when I arrive there...
"Lady Freya, may I make a suggestion?"
"Of course."
Freya was busy dressing herself, while Horn remained in front of the door.
"We could change places now and tell Bell that you came to go to work together with him."
The goddess blinked. "That is a wonderful idea, Horn!"
"Thank you."
"Hm, but we will be late if we just walk..."
"Hah...as much as I hate to make this suggestion...but Bell could carry you to work."
Freya´s eyes widened, THIS would be the most perfect start into a day possible!
She opened the door after dressing herself and stepped out. Before Horn could react, Freya grabbed her shoulders and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"You are a genius, Horn!"
"M-Mylady..." Horn got quite red and smiled abashed.
Even when she hated that Bell would now have the honor to carry Freya, the small kiss on the cheek made it worth it.
Horn tried to focus on her magic, but the kiss made her really happy.
.
"Unreachable stairway, Forbidden gate, Today, this day, My body will exceed the heavenly law, Empty soul, Unworthy desire, Descend in order of this traded true name, Daughter of the gods."
.
Freya and Horn stood in front of each other, the goddess wore her casual, white dress and Horn a beautiful robe, that hang a bit loose on her body.
.
"Vana...Seith."
.
The magic started to work with a soft glow. Soon Horn´s form changed into that of Freya, now the robe sat as it should be, since Freya´s body was more womanly than Horn´s. And Freya´s softly smiling form changed into that of Syr, the always cheerful, happy, deeply in love girl.
Hah...now I can have Bell carry me to work, I couldn´t be more happy.
Horn actually heard what Freya thought, as usual when the magic worked.
Kuh...curse him...to be allowed to touch her body...
"Ehehe, it was your suggestion, remember?"
"S-Sorry...I didn´t mean to..."
"It´s okay, I´m not mad. I know that you are jealous, but even when I have Bell, that doesn´t mean I don´t love you too, okay?"
"Yes.."
The now Syr leaned forward and kissed the now Freya´s forehead.
"You will always take a special place in my heart...Syr."
Horn felt Freya´s feelings when they were like this, it was enough for her to know that Freya held her in her heart. But there was something that surprised Horn, Freya also had a different feeling in her heart. A longing and a wish that people around her would stop to try to have her all of themself and to stop being jealous about each other when Freya spend a bit of time with someone else.
Maybe it is my fault for being the way I am...maybe I should´ve never done this all.
"Mylady?"
"Oh, it´s nothing, sorry that you had to hear this."
Why does she look so s-
"I´m not sad, Horn."
"Okay.."
Mylady, can I ask just one thing, please?
What is it?
Please don´t kiss Bell in front of me...
Syr smiled gently and put her hand on Freya´s cheek.
I won´t.
Horn accompanied Freya, or rather Freya accompanied Syr now. It was also a good moment that Bell would see Freya and Syr next to each other.
.
.
"Beeeeell!"
"Eh? Syr?!"
"Thank goodness you are finally here!"
"Syr, why are you here?"
"I came to visit Freya for a moment, to talk with her. And I wanted to go together with you to work."
"But I was supposed to come a bit later? I still have a short study session with Mr. Hedin."
"But...you don´t want to go together with me?" She blinked with puppy eyes.
"Of course I do!"
"Yippieh!~~~"
"Syr?"
"Freya?"
"Aren´t you supposed to be at work in ten minutes?"
"Gah!" Syr made a shocked face. "I´ll never make it in time! Auuuu...Mama Mia will be mad with me..."
Freya looked at Bell, then at his arms and nodded to Syr. More than one time. Bell understood.
"Syr."
"Bell?"
"I..could bring you there in time."
"But how?"
Bell slightly raised his arms, Syr´s face immediatelly lightened up.
At first a training fight, then Bell accidentally kissing her armpit and now a princess carry! Freya managed to have three different first times with Bell this morning!
When Bell knelt down and gently lifted Syr up in his arms, she beamed all over her face, more than just happy.
"Hold on tight, okay?"
"Yeeees!~~~~"
"Have a fun day you two, oh and Bell?"
"Yes?"
"Please don´t forget that Syr is wearing a dress, so also a skirt."
"Yes, I will keep it in mind."
"Good."
Bell had only a few minutes to get to the pub, but it would be enough.
.
.
"Hmm~~ Hmm~~~"
Lunor hummed while she cleaned the ground in front of the dorm´s door with a broom. Every day a different resident had to do this, apart from Mama Mia, of course. Sometimes Syr came extra early and she really wanted to do it, even if she didn't live in the dorm.
"Hm?"
She looked up when her level four ears heard someone approaching. All of Lunor´s friends had even better ears than her, which wasn´t that strange, due to their races, but she still heard when someone came close. It sounded like a heavy person or maybe someone carrying something. That person didn´t try to sneak in any way.
"Lunooooor! Good morniiiing!~~~"
"Hm?"
The young woman turned around...and nearly dropped her broom. She saw the happily waving Syr coming closer, which wasn´t unusual. Unusual was that Syr got carried by her boyfriend in a princess style, which let Syr beam even more than usual. Lunor saw that Bell´s eyes sprang around on the ground in front of him, so that he wouldn´t trip somewhere.
Bell eventually stopped in front of Lunor, knelt halfway down and let Syr stand on her feet. Syr giggled happy.
"Hehe, thank you, my prince."
He smiled. "I hope it wasn´t uncomfortable."
"Of course not!"
Syr leaned forward and gave Bell a loving kiss, Lunor averted her eyes slightly.
"Mmmmmah! Hehe, now I feel much better! You will come soon, right?"
"Yes, in about an hour or two."
"Okay~~~!"
Bell waved and went into the direction of Folkvangr again.
Syr turned around to Lunor.
"Morning~~!"
"M-Morning.. Now that was quite the way to show up here."
"M-Mouh...don´t look at me like that...as if you were judging me..."
"Hah?! Why would I judge you?! Just because you are showing off like that with your boyfriend?!"
"Me? Showing off?" Syr´s expression was pure innocence, but the expression in her eyes...was different.
"Of course you do, why else would you come here in that manner?"
"I was just late...I slept a bit too long?"
"Aha."
"Lunor...are you jealous?"
"Jealous? Me? Why? Just because you are our young one and got a boyfriend before the others? Pfff!"
"Ehehe! I´m sorry, Lunor. I really am."
"Whatever you say, just don´t let Ryu see this, or she will faint again."
"Alright!"
Syr went through the open door and entered the dorm. Everyone was already awake, even Chloe and Anya, who tended to sleep long. She quickly went up the stairs until she arrived in front of the changing room.
Around this time of the morning, there could only be one girl inside. Syr knocked in her special, enthusiastic way.
And of course Ryu´s voice came from the inside.
"Syr?"
"Ryu, can I come in?"
"Sure."
Syr opened the door a little, slipped inside and locked the door behind her. She was the only person allowed in the changing room when Ryu was inside. Even when she trusted her friends with her life, seeing her in her underwear was a no go. Syr was the exception.
"Good morning~~~!"
Ryu smiled slightly. "Good morning, Syr."
"Did you sleep well?"
"As always. And you?"
"Pretty good! And how was your morning?"
"I woke up early, trained a bit by myself, took a shower and then came to change my clothes."
"Oho! The early bird gets the worm, hm?"
"Yes. And how was your morning?"
Syr beamed all over her face. "Just perfect!"
"Really?"
"Jup! Couldn´t be any better!"
"That is good."
Syr went to her locker next to Ryu´s, then she pulled the dress over her head. Both were now in underwear and they started to change into their uniforms.
"Mr. Cranel is helping today, right?"
"Jup! He is coming later again."
"Again?"
"Bell brought me here."
"Oh?"
Syr smiled happily. "In his arms!"
"What?!"
"Hehe, I slept a bit too long and didn´t watch the clock before I went to Folkvangr."
Ryu looked a bit uneasy. "Why did you go there?"
"To see Bell of course! Hah...I couldn´t bear with the thought to only see him in two hours...that was too long."
"But...why did he bring you here..in his arms?"
"Oooooh, Ryu! That was soooo romantic! Bell was really manly and heroic! He said "Don´t worry Syr! I will bring you to your work in time! You won´t be late! Not on my watch!" Ehehe."
"Did he really say it like this?"
"Hmm, mostly. But the message was the same!"
"But Syr...carrying you in his arms...something like th-that should be done after marriage! And not in public!"
"Oh he made sure that no one saw us."
"What?! D-Don´t tell me Mr. Cranel lured you into side alleys?!"
"Lured me? Ryu...he is my boyfriend. If he wants to be alone with me he just have to say it."
"S-S-Syr!"
"What? Oh my, Ryu. Don´t tell me you´re thinking about something lewd?"
"O-O-Of course not! And anyway, these things are forbidden!"
"I agree with you."
"You do?"
"For now."
"Syr!"
"Hehe, don´t be worried Ryu. Bell and I will take our time to grow closer into a healthy relationship. Honestly, I´m super, duper, mega happy just to have Bell, that I can cuddle with him and k-k-kiss him."
"Kissing?! Before marriage?!"
"Ryu, we aren´t elves."
"But still...isn´t it too early?"
Syr smiled and put a hand on her left chest. "I feel it in my heart, Bell is the one and only for me. We may not be elves, but trust me, Bell is the only one in my life I will ever have romantic feelings for. And I´m sure Bell is the same with me."
Ryu went quiet after she heard that. "You really love him."
"I do. Forever."
Ryu smiled. "I´m happy that you found someone like that."
"And I´m sure you will find someone for yourself in the future."
After they finished changing into their uniforms, it was time to clean up the pub for the day and help Mama Mia in the kitchen, to peel and wash the vegetables. As usual...Syr was forbidden from doing much in the kitchen.
She only demanded that Mama Mia let her use one pan.
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When Bell arrived at the pub, it was time for breakfast. Syr told him beforehand to not eat breakfast at home, she wanted to surprise him.
He knocked at the backdoor and waited, a few moments later the door opened.
"Nya? Ah, nyite hair, come in."
"Good morning, Ms. Anya."
Anya had lost her shyness towards Bell after he visited the pub a few times. Even when he belonged to the Freya familia, she noticed that he was different from the others.
"Meow?"
She turned around to him again and sniffed slightly.
"Ms. Anya?"
"Meow smell like Syr."
"I brought her here this morning."
"Oh. *Sniff Sniff* Hmmm...and...meow smell like...lady Freynya."
"I trained with her this morning."
"Meow?! Nyou fought lady Freynya?!"
"Just a bit."
"Meow...nyou are strange."
"Ahm...thank you?"
Anya waved to him so that he would follow her. After two meters she rememberred to close the door and then continued her way. Bell noticed that Anya hummed slightly and swung her hips, it looked like she did that naturally.
"You are really pretty, Ms. Anya."
"M-Meow?!"
She flinched and whirled around. "Are nyou going after the nyautiful Anya too?!"
"Ahm no, I just wanted to be polite."
Syr gave him the tip to make Anya a compliment or two, so she would open up more to him. Bell didn´t really know how to compliment a woman, so he did what his grandfather told him in the past.
"Meow..."
Bell noticed that Anya´s cheeks were a bit red, maybe she wasn´t used to get such a compliment? He would learn later that most of the girls that worked at the pub were weak to something like that, since they had no private contact with men.
It was good that Syr didn´t tell Bell to try and make Ryu a few compliments...
He also couldn´t know that Syr had anticipated such a compliment, she knew it would make Anya flustered. Syr secretely used Bell to get back at her friends for being "so mean" to her when they played cards recently.
But Freya would also warn him later to never say something like that when Allen was able to hear it. Allen would probably try to murder him then...
Anya led him to the main room, the staff always had their breakfast there, the real work would start after that.
"Ah, boy. Right on time I see."
"Good morning, Mama Mia."
"Heh, it´s still too early for you to call me that. Wait until you put a ring on Syr´s finger."
Ryu, who was already at the table, looked a bit shocked. "Mama Mia!"
"What? You think he doesn´t want to?"
Bell shook his head. "I absolutely intend to spend the rest of my life with Syr! And to make her happy!"
"Hehe, good answer. Now sit down, Syr has prepared something for you."
"Oh?"
"She insisted to personally make breakfast for you. Said something about a wife´s duty and pleasure."
Right when May and the other kitchen staff members came in with the breakfast for everyone, Syr also appeared. She grinned all over her face and carried a big plate for Bell.
Syr had made him an omelet with chopped onions and mushrooms. Serve with some buttered toast and a little lettuce on the side.
It looked pretty normal... sort of...
But was an omelet really meant to emit an aura?
Bell couldn't know but Chloe had fought for her life to subdue the pan after the cheerful Syr was done...the pan had attacked her while snarling that the seal was finally broken.
Orario would never know it was saved by this beautiful cat lady when she prevented an Archdemon from being unleashed.
And just because Syr made an omelet, her cooking skills were...amazing.
"Hehe, Bell~~~ I made this only for you! Please enjoy it~~~!"
"I will~~!"
Lunor looked horrified how Bell happily ate the breakfast. He isn´t human...
Mia grinned. "And, boy? Is it tasty?"
Bell smiled. "It´s the best! The absolute best breakfast I ever had! I like how it tingles at my tongue and the taste of garlic."
Syr hadn´t used any garlic...
A few of the girls looked mortified and mumbled slightly.
"Are eggs supposed to tingle?"
"Is he that much in love?"
"Holy..."
Ryu smiled happy, it looked like Syr really found her other half, the one that was destinied to be with her.
But the others couldn´t deny that it looked cute when Syr sat down and fed Bell. They really looked like a newly wed couple already.
The breakfast went by in peace, Syr waited as promised until the others were out of sight before she gave Bell a kiss.
He spend the whole day at the pub, Bell didn´t expect any payment, spending time with Syr was enough for him. And they followed the condition of Mia and didn´t flirt at all during work.
Syr only hugged Bell now and then, especially during her break. She told Mia that this wasn´t flirting at all, just Syr charging her energy up again.
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A week later.
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It was the first day when Bell´s party went into the dungeon with Takemikazuchi´s children. They intended to go easy on the first day, so they wouldn´t go down into the middle floors. Which didn´t mean that the dungeon wouldn´t try to kill them.
"Syr, are you worried about Mr. Cranel?"
"You mean because he goes further down into the dungeon today? Nope."
"Really?"
Syr smiled. "I have trust in Bell. Whatever the dungeon throws at him, I´m sure he can deal with it. And juuuuust in case he goes missing, I´m sure there are a few people here that would go and look for him, hm?"
Ryu saw how convinced Syr was that everything would be okay.
While they had their conversation and went grocery shopping together, Bell was busy in the dungeon to strangle the life out of an irregular infant dragon that had three heads. Two of the heads were already dead, but he could only use his arms to literally strangle the last one.
Some of his party members were injured, those that were not protected the injured ones.
When the irregular finally died, Bell made his first step on the path to become a true hero. He had broken the record of the Sword Princess in reaching level two.
Freya would be insanely proud of Bell and also quite shocked when she saw that all of his stats except for magic went past 999. Before she let him level up, Freya wanted to talk with Bell about something.
She wanted him to read a certain book.
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But it came different than what Freya thought.
At the next morning after his great deed when she updated his status, something had changed.
"Nah..."
"Goddess?"
Bell sat with his bare upper body on the chair in Freya´s room.
"Bell...you are really something else..."
"What do you mean?"
"Here..."
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Bell Cranel
Belongs to: Freya
Level: 1-2
Strength: S 905 - SS 1091
Endurance: A 895 - SS 1019
Dexterity: S 901 - SS 1098
Agility: S 980 - SS 1337
Magic: I 0
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Skills: Liaris Freese, Argonaut, Hero´s Legacy
Hero´s Legacy: Friend of "Justice". Increased strength when in combat. Increased Endurance and Dexterity when in face of adversity. Increased Agility and Magic when fighting against powerful opponent.
When all three conditions are met, further increase of status. Lubrude Bequia MK II .
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Magic: Vanadis Odr (White Firebolt and the Flames of love)
Vanadis Odr: (Flames of love) Self fire enchantement, will cover body parts with white flames, increasing defense and attack power. (White Firebolt) When Flames of Love active, granting ability to shoot firebolts as short chant magic.
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"Magic! Goddess, Magic has appeared for me!"
"I see it..." Freya was in a state of shock.
"Woah! And look at my status! I didn´t know that the numbers can get so high!"
Because they can´t...Bell. I never heard of anyone that went past 999...not even Ottar.
And it looked like Bell wasn´t in a gentle mood, he kept pushing onto the shock that Freya had. Her eyes wandered to his development abilities, Bell could choose one out of three abilities when he went up to two.
Hunter.
Luck.
Emperor of the Night.
Hunter was a pretty common ability, but for Luck there was no explanation. But when Freya read about Emperor of the Night...
Th-Th-This is forbidden! There is no way I will allow him to choose that! Better hide it from him! Syr would lose her mind when they have their first time in the future from too much pleasure! Why does such an ability even exist? Is it because of my blessing as a goddess of love?
Freya´s eyes widened in horror when she saw the mind image of Syr glancing towards the skill...then she started to fidget flustered.
Syr! Don´t look! You are too innocent and pure to see something like that!
Syr´s image hid her face behind her hands and fled with a red face out of the room.
Hah...hah...Is this...what Liaris Freese does? Because he loves us? Bell...
Freya had no words for the feelings in her heart. That Bell was able to grow past the point of what should be possible for mortals...because of his love.
Bell now didn´t have a place in Freya´s heart anymore...he owned it completely.
I want to kiss him...
"Goddess?"
"Y-Yes?!"
"Does that mean I can level up now?"
Freya coughed one time to get herself back under control.
"Goddess? Are you feeling unwell? You are so red."
Bell really did Freya dirty at the moment. He got up from the chair, leaned his face forward and put his forehead against Freya´s.
"By the gods! You are burning, Goddess!"
She could only look in his eyes and at his lips, Freya´s brain was about to get fried.
Aaaaah! What are you doing, Bell?!
"It´s n-n-n-n-n-noth-kyau!"
"Eh? Did you just bite your tongue?"
"I didn´t! Stop teasing me!"
"But I don´t tease you?"
"Yes you do!"
"Oh, I´m sorry."
Bell moved away from Freya and sat down again. She panted heavily while she held a hand over her heart. Freya was too weak when it came to Bell.
"So does that mean I can level up now?"
"You could...but I would advice you to not do it."
"But why?"
"Your status is already really high, but your magic is at zero. We should talk to Hedin, so that you can test out your magic. It would be better to raise this status too before you level up."
"Understood! Can we talk to him now?!"
"S-Sure."
Freya slowly managed to calm down. Oh how she wished to put her arms around Bell´s neck and kiss him...but she had to restrain herself for now.
"Hm, I wonder why my magic is called the flames of love?"
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Bell had a serious problem with the baptism of Folkvangr, that was why he trained in the way he did. But when he finally got magic on his own, he would train with Hedin for three days like a madman. He would have one mind down after the other, always driving himself too far. Bell would consume mind potion after mind potion, he would train so hard that most of the Einherjar started to respect him...or at least fear him...
Whenever Freya was present, Bell doubled his efforts, which pleased Hedin. In the morning and the evening he would visit the pub, completely exhausted. Syr would do her very best to cheer him up and cuddle with him. The desire to become stronger and protect her only rose. And with that, his growth.
In only three days...by doing nearly nothing else than using his magic...
Did he manage to raise his magic from I 0 to SS 1001.
Freya had no words...as did Hedin and Hogni.
.
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"Bell, congratulation to level two."
"Yeeeeees! I did iiiiit! Yu-...uuuh..."
Bell suddenly swayed and was about to fall from exhaustion and fatigue.
"Bell!"
Freya catched him in her arms, but she stumbled backwards until the hollows of her knees hit the edge of her bed and she fell backwards. Bell landed on top of her, his face in the valley of her bosom, just like when they met for the first time. Freya held him and just looked at his exhausted face.
"You did well, Bell. I am so proud of you."
She leaned slightly forward and kissed his forehead.
"And I love you."
Freya let Bell use her heavenly pillows, she fell asleep at some point with her arms around him, while his sneaked around her.
It was the first time they slept together. At some point she turned a bit to the side, so that Bell was next to her. His face still remained in the same place, his arms around her. But now, Syr´s mind image gently hugged Bell from behind. Both parts of Freya´s mind were really happy.
And it really looked like Syr was okay with Freya also loving Bell.
On the next day, Bell´s level up was announced, Orario was in turmoil after the news, that someone leveled up in only a bit over a month. One goddess threw a glas of wine screaming against a wall in her home when she heard the news, Ishtar was at her boiling point.
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And inside the home of a certain god...the god that always wore an elephant mask had an idea.
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"I want to eat curry!"
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Ganesha was about to start the contest of the gods, in a special way this time. Apollo´s party gave him a good idea. Why not let the gods cook meals together with a child of them?
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Author`s Note: Hello everyone, thank you for so many Reviews. I read every Review I get, even for the stories that are already finished and I am happy about every single one of them. It encourages me to continue writing.
For the question about Ishtar. No she won´t get her own story. I had an idea about her, but the story "Under the courtesan´s veil." by SBahamut is going into the direction I had in mind.
Next chapter will be for Blood of Zeus (Ero), an Artemis Solo chapter. It will be the first chapter where I will try something new, more skinship instead of just doing it like rabbits. I read the wishes in the Reviews there, Ais, Lefiya and Ryu will all get solo chapters in the future.
That reminds me, in one or two of the future chapters there will be a lemonish part, but I will mark it for those who don´t want to read it.