Bell POV

"Hello sir are you the delivery boy," she asked. I felt my breath catch in my throat at her beauty. Yet as she spoke to me I noticed the slave collar around her neck and the fake smile she put up. "Excuse me, sir"

"Oh sorry. Yeah, I have the delivery right here" I said showing her the box. "Well come with me. The manager needs to see that you delivered it" She said opening the door some more. Regis and I walked inside and saw the interior of the place. It was simple oak wood and red carpet nothing to be too impressed about. She led us down a dimly lit hallway before coming to a door at the end of it. She knocked on the door and waited for a second before hearing a come-in. She opened the door and there sat a tan woman. She was an Amazon of course. She had purple eyes and long black hair that covers the right side of her face. She wears clothing reminiscent of a dancer along with earrings and various gold decorations around her chest and belly. Her clothes are revealing enough that she could be mistaken as wearing underwear.

"Hmm. Oh hello, little Haruhime and who's this a man? Oh, a boy you're taking to your bed" she teased.

"N-no Aisha this is the delivery boy" The woman now named Haruhime stuttered while blushing.

"Still pretty cute. Bring the package here so I can inspect that the contents aren't damaged" Aisha said. I walked up to her desk and put the box down on the table. She opened the box and made sure the product wasn't damaged. "Alright all seems to be in order our goddess has already paid before but here's a tip," she said tossing me a bag of valis. "Thanks hope you enjoy whatever Miach put in there," I said walking away.

Crackkoom

I already knew what was happening once I heard the thunderclap. I looked outside and saw that the once clear sky was now covered in clouds and pouring down rain. I know for a fact gramps did this.

"Hey looks like you're gonna get laid after all" Regis said and I could hear the smile on his face. I then heard footsteps come up behind me.

"Oh no, it's raining. Will you be able to get home alright" Haruhimes worried voice asked behind me.

"No, I live on the other side of town. Now I may be fast but I'm not that fast to where I won't get drenched" I said before chuckling softly.

"Oh Well you're welcome to stay here until the storm passes if that's ok with you of course"

"Fine with me. Besides if I do go out there I gotta listen to Regis complain about his fur being wet" I said pointing at Regis who was standing next to me.

"Is he your bond?" Haruhime asked as she reached down to pet him. "You could say that" I respond watching as she pets him. For once Regis didn't look pissed. Instead, he seemed to enjoy it. "Man it's really coming down out there and the sky was just clear," Haruhime said seeing how much rain was coming down.

"My grandpa once told me that storms can pop up out of nowhere and move fast. Maybe the storm will be gone soon" I knew what the old man was doing and I wasn't gonna fall for it.

"So how long have you been an adventurer for sir," Haruhime asked.

"About nine days," Regis said.

"He can talk," Haruhime asked shocked.

"Yup. He's sort of an irregular bond so to speak"

"That's so cool. It almost reminds me of the story of Arthur Leywin with his bond Slyvie" she said cashing Regis and me to choke on our spit. She looked at us worriedly. "You know Arthur's story?" I asked.

"Yeah, every mortal does. He's the hero that took down the Alacryans and saved the world" she said smiling. She must've really liked that story. Or that very censored version. Seems only the gods, Mia, and I know the true story.

"Yeah, that one's one of my favorites too," I said a cheeky smile on my face.

"You like hero stories too," she asked excitedly.

"Yeah, my grandpa used to read them to me all the time. From the feats of Hercules to Arthur Pendragon"

"That's so many. How did he know them all" she excitedly asked.

"He had a vast collection of books back home he would read to me," I said telling a little white lie. Can't exactly say my grandpa was a god.

"Oh, I've always loved hero stories. But here I'm only able to read Arthur's" I watched as her face lit up and then went downtrodden. I didn't like seeing her sad.

"Well I can tell you one while we wait," I said sitting on the ground with her and Regis. I watched as her eyes lit up with joy. "Really you can I'd love to hear one" she excitedly said her happy face returned.

"Well, which one would you like to hear," I asked a smile on my face.

Aisha POV

I stood behind the corner my back pressed against the wall as the delivery boy told her a story. Hearing her excitement and joy over hearing a new story made me smile. But also feel sad knowing what's coming in a week. I won't be able to help her this time. Not since Ishtar charmed me. Haruhime seemed to have already accepted her fate but I haven't. Such a kind and innocent girl shouldn't have to go through that. The killing stone. What a horrible creation. A stone that traps a soul within it and since we'll break it into multiple pieces which is pretty much breaking up the soul Haruhime will never go to heaven. But maybe he can help her. No, he said he hasn't been an adventurer long so he'd be too weak. Huh, what was it Haruhime always said about a hero?

"A hero always shows up when they're needed and will fight no matter the odds. However, a hero won't want to save someone as impure as me" I heard her voice say in my head. I shook my head getting rid of the memory. Maybe the boy can help or maybe not.

Bell POV

"So the boy using his magic outwitted the slavers and ran away with their prize freeing them," I said finishing my story.

"Wow even though it was a short story it was still intriguing," Haruhime said. "Although I think it was pretty dumb that the boy ran away from his caretaker and went deeper into the forest" I heard Regis snort next to her while she looked at him confused.

"Man the rain is still coming down," I said looking outside the window. The rain had not stopped and it had rained so much that the streets had started to flood a little.

"It's getting late as well" Haruhime added. "Well if the rain doesn't stop I guess you can spend the night here handsome," Aisha said coming out of her office.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha" we then heard Regis start laughing his ass off. "Shut up Regis" Regis didn't stop laughing. But I ignored him and started telling Haruhime another story. This time it was the story of Alfia slaying the leviathan.

"Wow, that's so cool. Normally you don't hear a woman being the hero of the story" Haruhime said excitedly.

"That's true but don't worry I have another one"

"Really what's it about"

"It's about a woman who was talked to by god to fight against a rival country. Her name is Joan of arc" I told her the story and many more. The rain didn't stop and it was starting to get dark.

"Well looks like you're spending the night here. Come on you can share my bed" Aisha said picking me up and walking away.

"Is it alright if Regis stays with Haruhime she seems to like him" I asked pointing out to the two. "Please Aisha," Haruhime asked.

Aisha sighed before answering. "Fine but the boy is staying with me so I can keep an eye on him"

"More like fuck him" Regis muttered.

"If it leads to that then yes," she said dragging me away. I let her as I could feel she was much stronger than me. When we entered her room she put me back down on the ground. "She seems sad," I said picking myself off the ground.

"So do you," she said looking me right in the eyes. "How can you tell" I wearily asked.

"Your eyes tell me everything I need to know. You feel alone don't you"

"I guess you could say that" I began following her to the bed. "Before I came here, my aunt. The last of my family pretty much. Well, she died and the year before that my grandpa died. So I was pretty much alone except for Regis" I sat on the bed and looked down putting my head in my hands. I felt her hand gently caressing my back causing me to flinch a little.

"No parents?" She asked.

"Dad died before I was born mom died during childbirth. Hell Regis is practically the only family I have left" I said not mentioning Mia.

"Must be hard being like that. Does your familia not fill that role?" She asked.

"They're getting there. I've only been here for 10 and my Aunt died the day before that. I had to bury her next to my mom and grandpa" I replied letting out a sigh before putting my head up and facing her. "But I have to keep going forward. They wouldn't want their deaths to stop me from achieving my goal"

"And that is," she asked an eyebrow raised.

"To be a hero. I know it sounds childish but I made a promise to someone and I intend to keep it"

"Then perhaps you can help me," she said before taking a look around the room.

"How so"

"Haruhime will die in two days during the full moon" I felt my heart sink at those words. I had just met Haruhime but I already knew she was one of the kindest people I'd ever met. But to hear she would be killed in two days for what reason?

"What why," I asked panic or something akin to it evident in my voice.

"Because she is a Renard and has a very rare magic"

"How rare"

"Very. She can cast a level boost for a short period of time" I was shocked. I had never heard of a magic like that before and I knew my magic.

"But wait if she dies wouldn't that magic be lost?" I asked confused about the plan for this operation.

"You would be right if Ishtar wasn't in possession of a killing stone" Aisha spat her voice full of disgust and contempt mentioning her goddess's name. I knew what a killing stone was thanks to Alfia's teachings so I knew how bad this was.

"Judging by the look on your face I'm gonna assume you know what that is" I nodded my head and she continued. "If this goes through then you and I both know Haruhimes soul won't be able to enter heaven. She'll never be reincarnated and will be stuck there in that stone broken up into little pieces forever" Aisha explained and sighed sadly.

"And you can't help her why?" I asked a hint of irritation in my voice.

"Because I destroyed the first one and my fucking goddess charmed me" she shuddered. "She charmed me and had her way with me for days. She did whatever she wanted to make sure I wouldn't disobey again" she was full-on shaking now seemingly reliving the traumatic experience.

I took a deep breath before I spoke. "So if I help there's a chance we'll have to fight," I asked.

"Very likely yes" she breathed out. "I normally guard Haruhime along with a girl named Lena. I guess you could say we're her friends of sorts"

"I won't tell you my answer so that way you won't be forced to tell Ishtar if I'll help or not" I replied.

"That would probably be for the best. Look I'm desperate here I know you're a level one and this is a big task for you so if you don't want to do it I'll understand" she said her body shaking.

"I'm sorry but I can't tell you my answer," I say hesitating to put my hand on her back like she did to me.

"But if we ever do fight I'll be able to handle myself if you rely on status more than technique," I say dropping a hint. She had a knowing glint in her eyes but it was very faint. She was still shaking most likely reliving the memories of what Ishtar had done to her and adding the fact that her friend was gonna die soon. She then scooted closer to me and laid her head on my shoulder.

"When a girl is crying you pull them close and tell them everything's ok," she said taking my arm and wrapping it against her. She leaned in closer and I felt her shaking a bit. I hesitantly put my hand on her head and pat it. "Sorry I uh I guess I'm not good with women. Let alone comforting then" I said.

"Aunt never taught you," she asked. "No. She wasn't really there emotionally but she loved me in her own way I guess"

"And your grandpa"

"Well he did give me an in-depth explanation of women and their cultures but never the comforting part," I said letting out a wry chuckle. We sat there like that for a while. I don't know why but I wasn't nervous even though I could feel her boobs pressing into me.

"So you're not good with women is what I'm hearing" she joked.

"I'm an isolated country boy I'm not good with people in general"

"You seem to be able to talk to people just fine"

"I'm just acting like I know what I'm doing and taking it from there" she giggled at that before letting me go. "Thanks, I needed that I guess"

"It's alright. I understand the stress of not wanting people to die. Especially those you consider family" she agreed with what I said before standing up.

"I hope you don't mind but I normally sleep naked," she said her playful attitude returning and in an instant, her clothes dropped to the ground. She turned around and my eyes were glued to her ample chest. "Oh see something you like," she said a devious smirk on her face. I blushed and quickly looked away.

"N-no I-I uh- oh would you like at that time for bed"

"Your reaction is just too cute" she chuckled crawling into bed next to me. The bed was fairly large leaving some room between us. "You stay on your side I'll stay on mine," I said pointing at her.

"Oh come on you don't want to have a little fun," she said scooting closer.

"I will burn your ass"

"Ooh sounds hot"

That was a bad pun"

She chucked. "Alright alright, I'll stay on my side. But if we do happen to cuddle in our sleep what then"

"That's fine can't control our unconscious bodies. But no hands below the belt got it"

"Fine fine. But I'll get you one day"

"You're gonna be waiting a while" we then lay there in silence for a few moments before Aisha spoke up again.

"Hey, Bell. Thanks"

"For what I haven't done anything"

"Right you haven't done anything yet"

I knew and she did as well. I wasn't gonna sit on the sidelines and let Haruhime die. Sure I barely know her but I didn't even know Maria and the kids before I gave them money. I didn't know Anya and Allen when they were slaves yet I still saved them. Just because I don't know then doesn't mean I won't save them.

Yeah, I know this chapter is all over the place. Not my best work I will admit but I had no idea what to write when he finally met Haruhime and what to do. But I hope this is good enough cause I'm drawing a blank on what to do. If you ace any questions feel free to ask and let me know if you like Aisha and Bell's relationship so far.