Bell POV

"You're still buying the first round," Welf said as he helped me walk. My body was sore all over and my legs felt weak. I did fight a level three who was holding back a little after all. "You bet your ass I am. We have to celebrate a job well done" I joked before wincing. "Oh, Bell are you ok" Haruhime worriedly asked. I looked at her and smiled at her.

"Don't worry about me I'm feeling better just knowing you're safe" I said before seeing her face break out into a blush. "Smooth Prince Charming smooth," Regis said with Welf laughing. I rolled my eyes and chuckled as well. "Man, am I glad our fight ended when it did? I'm having trouble walking now" I said to Aisha. I saw a predatory glint in her eyes before she responded.

"Oh really well that's a good thing to know" she then let out a mischievous giggle. I looked to Welf who had a worried look on his face. "Make sure she stays away from my dick" he laughed before he spoke. "And just how am I gonna do that" he questioned with a quirk of his eyebrow. "Warn me so I can jump out the window" I joked back.

We all laughed until Regis spoke. "We're here," he said. He was right we had arrived at the Stardust Garden and two elves were guarding the gate. Both were women. The one on the right had golden yellow hair and round dark blue eyes. She was wearing a rosette pink cape on top of a white shirt and a pink corset dress, with a purple bow hanging at the collar.

The other had moderately long blonde hair that she usually wears tied back and bangs that flow to the middle of her forehead. She has deep green eyes.

She has a beautiful youthful face close to adulthood that would fascinate any man.

"Halt state your name and your business" the one on the right states pointing her staff at us. "Names Bell my god and captain are in there" I replied. "And your friends" "Welf, Aisha, and Haruhime all harmless. Now if you wouldn't mind Aisha's hurt pretty bad and I would like it if my captain could heal her" I said. I could see out of the corner of my eye Aisha giving me a confused look as she wasn't the one that was practically being carried. The elves also gave me a confused look as I was clearly the one who was more injured just by looks alone. Finally, they relented and the one with long blonde hair opened the gate and led us inside.

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"Nice place" Welf complimented as we walked down the hallway. The elf said her thanks but said nothing more causing an awkward silence to fill the room.

"What you don't make fun of him for shit like this," I said looking at Regis. "It's funnier with you" he replied not even sparing a glance at me back. "Dick"

Getting closer to the den we could make out voices but couldn't make out what they were saying. When we arrived we saw Miach and Nazha sitting across from each other and Astraea across from them all sitting next to a fireplace. Astraea perked her head up when she saw the elf and then her eyes went wide in horror seeing me being carried in. Miach and Nazha seeing her distress turned and also saw me however they were as horrified.

"Evening," I said jokingly trying to make light of the situation. "So I assume everything went well," Miach said throwing my other arm around his shoulder as he and Welf carried me to the chair where the god previously sat.

"Yup. Also, Ishtar's dead" I said sitting down in the seat before groaning in pain. "Bell what exactly happened in the pleasure district," Miach asked as he pulled a first aid kit out of nowhere. "A war. That's what happened. Explosions were everywhere people screaming. People dying that's what happened. Hell, I nearly got blown up myself" I said as Miach started to clean my wounds.

"And just what were you doing there Bell" Astraea asked in a professional tone. Her hands were folded over her lap. Her sapphire blue eyes stared directly into my red ones. "Just a simple rescue mission" I replied. Astraea then looked at Haruhime and Aisha the latter of which was being treated by Nazha. She then turned back to me before she sighed in annoyance.

"And pray tell why you needed to do a rescue mission," she asked putting one of her hands to her face. "Cause slavery's bad" I replied. She looked at me giving a 'no shit' type of look. But sensing I wouldn't tell her more she sighed again.

"Well as long as you're alright then all's well that ends well," she said before leaning back into her chair.

"How is it that every time you even walk out of the pharmacy you get your ass kicked," Miach asked cleaning the wound on my head. "Hey, I won again so I'm 2/3 right now" I replied before wincing. Alcohol hurt. Miach then looked at Aisha and then back to me before looking at Aisha again. "It's true how else do you think this chunk of sword got into my leg," she said as Nahza was in the process of removing it. Miach looked back at me surprised as well as everyone else in the room who wasn't present for the fight.

"What can I say I have talent" I joked. "But that shouldn't be possible not for a level one," the elf who had led us here said. "Lefiya. Bell comes from a long line of talented individuals so he's not lying when he says he's talented. Although a level one beating a level three is unheard of" Astraea said holding a hand up to calm her child. "Eh she was holding back," I said trying to minimize the praise. "Yet if you were a level higher I wouldn't have stood a chance," Aisha said as Nazha poured a potion where the sword was lodged.

"Nah don't downplay yourself" I replied. "Bell in serious. I don't have a mana core you do. If you were level two and we fought I wouldn't have stood a chance" she said. Her eyes were serious and her tone wasn't playful. "Alright I believe you but you're still a level three so don't downplay yourself," I said. I then felt a warm liquid being poured on my head. I looked up and saw Miach pouring a healing potion on my head. Then handing it to me to drink. "Here drink this and you'll feel better," he said a teasing smile on his face like I didn't know what a healing potion was. I drank it and felt better almost instantly. However, when I looked at Miach he had a look of sadness on his face.

"It looks like the cuts on your cheek will scar. Sorry Bell" he said patting me on the shoulder. I looked over and saw Haruhime with tears brimming in her eyes. "I-I'm sorry Bell it's my fault," she said her body shaking. "It's fine Haruhime. Besides now I have two badass scars that I will wear as badges of honor" I said smiling at her. Aisha gave her a comforting pat on her head to help calm her down. "It's ok little sister you're finally free," Aisha said in a soothing voice.

Astraea gave me a knowing look telling me she would let this slide. Since in all technicality, I did do a service of 'justice' for Haruhime. Funny thing that justice.

"Well, Prince Charming looks like you got your first scars. Gramps would be proud" Regis said. "Yeah, he would" I commented sadly. However, my sad reminiscing didn't bring down the overall happy mood in the den. "So first round still on you" Welf joked. I put my head in my hands and groaned. "Uh, I can't even think about drinking right now" Welf chuckled before patting me on the back. "Well, you are all welcome to stay here for the night. But the men will sleep in the den away from the woman and will be monitored to make sure they don't try anything" Astraea firmly said. I looked at Welf with a grin on my face. "Hear that Welf we get to have a sleepover under armed guard" I joked causing him and Regis to laugh.

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"Be well my darling I'll see you in the morning" Miach said kissing Nazha on the forehead. Welf and I were already laying on the beds the elf had brought out. Regis was in the middle curled up into a ball. Nazha then left us to go share a room with Aisha and Haruhime in a spare room Astraea had. Miach then laid down next to Welf before Regis spoke.

"So sad you're not sleeping with your girlfriend tonight" Regis joked getting a laugh from Welf and me.

"Actually we haven't slept in the same bed yet," he said turning on his side to face us. All three of us looked at him shocked. "You mean to tell us you do all this lovey-dovey shit but still haven't shared a bed," I asked.

"Just because we show affection doesn't mean we have to share the same bed"

"I don't know man sounds like you're a chicken," Welf said before making chicken noises. We all laughed except more Miach who just groaned in annoyance.

"I don't know why you're laughing Bell you're too scared to make a move on Alise" Miach bit back.

"Oh now wait a damn minute nothing is going on between us" I shot back.

"Oh is Bell pining after the red-headed fury" Welf joked.

"Don't you even start Welf" I said giving him a warning look.

"Or what"

"Hey, Miach you know Welf likes Hephaestus," I said looking at my god.

"Dude"

"I warned you" we then heard Miach laughing causing us to look at him. "Hephaestus really?" Miach asked.

"What got a problem with that," Welf asked.

"No" he laughed again. "It's just that she's really shy" he then busted out into laughter again. "So it'll make it really funny when you go out and you'll make her blush with every little nice thing you do" he then kept laughing for a few minutes no doubt thinking about those scenarios. But Welf picked up on something I didn't

"You said when not if" Welf questioned.

Miach then stopped laughing and realized his blunder. "Whoops slip of the tongue. Don't tell her though" he said putting his finger up to his mouth.

"Well, it's nice to know she feels that way. But I have to prove myself first" he said in total seriousness.

"Well, then we'll head into the dungeon to get you the right materials you need," I said and we exchanged a fist bump. "Alright boys it's time for bed lest we wake Astraea and her children up," Miach said.

"Aren't some of her kids monitoring us?" Regis asked and I felt my face go pale. "That means they heard everything we just said," I said burying my face in my hands.

"That means Alise is gonna flirt with you more once she hears this" Regis said. "No she isn't shut up," I said rolling over and facing the wall. I heard them all chuckle before Regis started singing Bell and Alise sitting in a tree. I kicked him causing him to yelp and shut up.

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"Bell come here a moment," Alfia said. I did what she asked and got off the ground after she had knocked me there. She sat on the grass and patted the spot in front of her. I sat in front of her and she spoke.

"From now on we're going to be practicing on the second phase of your beast will. This will help you hold it longer as well as get you used to seeing all the mana particles and aether in the air while you fight. Right now I want you to activate it and hold it for as long as you can" she said and I did as she asked. I was able to hold it for about a minute before it turned off and I was panting.

"That's good but you can do better again," she said. Then rinse and repeat until I passed out from exhaustion.

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I awoke to find the other two beds empty and Regis was gone. I saw that their beds were put away and the room was empty except for a prum with short pink hair sitting in a chair making what appeared to be bombs.

"Um hello," I nervously said getting up. She turned and looked at me before a smile spread across her face.

"Oh look the boy wonder has finally woken up. If you're wondering where your friends are they're eating breakfast in the eating area you know 'cause it's for eating" she said making a poor attempt at a joke.

"Oh joke fell flat didn't it," she said seemingly unbothered by it. "And this eating area is where," I asked. "Right you don't know where it is. Follow me I'll show you. She hopped out of her chair and beckoned me to follow her. I walked next to her and she struck up a conversation.

"So I heard you saved the fox girl and beat a level three at level one pretty impressive," she said putting her hand behind her head. "But you're also an idiot. Sure it was brave but also stupid"

"Well, it's my belief that bravery and stupidity are two sides of the same coin at times. Besides, I wasn't gonna let her die if I could do something about it"

"Wow a regular hero huh"

"I'm not a hero. I want to be but I'm not yet I'm just doing what's right"

"I think the fox girl would disagree" we then arrived at a giant room where long wooden tables stretched from one end to the other. At the end of the room farthest from the door was an area where you could grab food. I looked and saw Miach and the others sitting at a table in the middle with Alise and Ryu.

"Alright lover boy go get her," the prum said pushing me forward. "What are you even talking about"

"I heard what you all said last night," she said giving me a cheeky grin. "By the way names Lyra hope to see you soon lover boy," she said walking back to the den. I groaned in annoyance before walking to the food pickup and getting some pancakes and bacon. Miach noticed me approaching and waved me over.

"About time you woke up kid," Regis said sitting on the ground. "Hey I had a long night"

"I know I was there"

"Oh yeah," I then took my seat next to Welf who had saved me a spot. Luckily or unluckily for me, Ryu was next to me as well, and next to Ryu was Alise.

"So I heard someone saved a little fox and beat a level three last night," Alise said a hint of teasing in her voice. I slammed my head on the table and groaned.

"I just wanna eat my breakfast" I mumbled. I heard everyone laugh before Ryu told Alise to wait. I ate my breakfast tossing Regis a piece of bacon as I did. When I finished I then saw Ryu and Alise both looking at me. "Yes it's true there you happy now"

"Oh come on tell us the details" Alise begged.

"We fought and I won"

"That's boring tell us the nitty gritty"

"She threw me through a wall I kicked part of a sword into her leg"

"You fight dirty"

"You wanted the details"

"Alise if he doesn't want to say you can't force him" Ryu calmly said. "Oh fine I'll stop for now. But I will get that story out of you" she said pointing at me. I rolled my eyes before slamming my head on the table again.

"Face it Bell once the city hears of this it'll be all they talk about for a while," Miach said with a smile on her face. "Goddamnit," I said. I didn't want the publicity that's not why I did this. I just saw someone in trouble who needed my help. But hey not like I can stop but it doesn't mean I'll like it.

"Come on let's go home," Miach said standing up.

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"You sure you two want to do this," Miach asked. Aisha and Haruhime looked at each other and nodded their heads in agreement.

"Yes we're sure," Aisha said. Miach then pricked his finger and allowed the blood to fall on their backs before doing the process of giving them his falna.

When he finished he turned around to let the put their tops back on. When they turned and faced him they smiled.

"Welcome to the Miach familia," he said smiling at the two of them. He then turned and faced me. "Alright Bell your turn let's see your stats now," he said gesturing to the chair. I took my shirt off and took a seat on the chair. I felt Miachs blood hit my back and felt him doing the process to update my falna. When he was finished I heard him gasp.

"Bell you need to look at this," he said showing me my stats.

And cliffhanger. Anyway, this is the aftermath of the last chapter and if you noticed that Lefiya was in the Astraea familia and not the Loki familia I'll explain why. Now I will give credit where credit is due as originally this wasn't my idea. The person who came up with it was Ventanus over on . In their story change of fates Lefyia and a few others were in the Astraea familia. But I thought it was a good idea that I wanted to implement it here. But other than that I hope you enjoyed it and in the next chapter we'll meet a certain someone. Also, I know I mentioned Lena a few chapters ago, and was wondering if you would like her in the Miach familia as well.