The small group around Bell drew in many gazes on their way through Orario, which wasn´t a surprise. Most of the high executives of the Freya familia were with him, the people didn´t know what happened. But at least no one bothered them, Ottar alone was intimidating enough to scare people away.
It was a good thing that people were so scared of them, if words got around quickly that Freya was gone, many people might attack the members of the familia. When Freya gave up her divinity, her blessing vanished from the backs of her followers. Their Falna was still there, but not active. If one of them got a new blessing from a different god, they would return to their former strength.
They soon arrived at the pub, which was closed for now. Ottar moved forward, holding the still unconcious Allen on his shoulder, knocking loud with his free hand.
It took a few moments before the door opened and they saw one of the waitresses.
"Nah!"
Lunor looked very surprised at the group, then she noticed the girl in Bell´s arms.
"Syr!"
Hasty steps followed, the door got ripped open.
"SYR!"
Ryu dashed out.
Syr opened her eyes and smiled weakly to her two friends, her cheek resting against Bell´s chest.
"Hey you two..."
""What happened?!"
"Can we come inside?.."
"Of course, get in!"
Ryu opened the door wide and let them all in, Ottar had to dug down a bit. Lunor closed the door behind them.
There were no customers inside, only a weak Mia and a horde of extremely worried staff members. Each and every single one of the staff members were worried about Mia as if she was their mother, which she was in a way.
"""Syr!"""
Many of them were worried when they saw her, enough to not be intimidated by the high executives for now.
"Syr! ALLEN!"
Anya moved wobbily up to her feet and staggered towards them. Lunor hastily moved some chairs together and Ottar put Allen carefully down.
"Allen! Allen! Allen!"
As usual when it came to her brother, Anya started to sob and cry right away.
"He is just knocked out, little cat. Allen will get back to his feet soon."
Anya looked up to him with teary eyes, then she looked at Syr.
"She is okay too."
Anya took off her apron, folded it together and made a small pillow like that for Allen. Lunor went to the kitchen to get some water for everyone.
Ryu readied a chair for Syr, then Bell knelt down and put her gently onto the chair. Finally he was able to relax his arms.
"Was I heavy?..."
"No, of course not."
She smiled tired up to him, holding his right hand with her left.
"Syr, what happened? Mama Mia and Anya collapsed earlier, people yelled about a pillar of light, close to Folkvangr."
"Does that mean..."
Syr looked down for a moment, then at Mia, Anya and eventually Ryu again.
"Freya returned to heaven, she is gone from the surface."
All of the staff members looked shocked, while they didn´t have much to do with the Freya familia, this was big news. And they all knew immediatelly not to talk about this, being aware of what this meant for Mia and Anya.
"Was she killed?!"
"No, Ryu, she returned on her own."
"Oh."
"Bell and I talked with her, Freya was really unhappy with her life on the surface."
"Mh...Syr...are you...okay?"
Syr smiled wryly. "I am now..."
Syr looked up to Bell, her expression filled with so much love and affection.
Anya looked devasted. "Lady Freynya is...gone?..."
Syr nodded slowly. "She told me to tell you something, Anya."
"Mh?"
Syr cleared her throat, imitating Freya´s voice as good as possible. "My cute little kitten, I´m sorry that I have to say goodbye to you like this. I wished we would have a better relationship and that things didn´t turn out like this. I am happy that you found a family on your, keep an eye on your brother for me, will you? He tends to get in trouble. I hope you will become more happy in the future and will be blessed with many children. I really love you, my cute little kitten, I always did. Live a long and happy life, Anya."
Anya´s lower lip trembled, she sobbed and hiccuped even more. "Mmh...Mmmmmmhhh!..."
Soon more tears streamed down her face and Anya started to cry again. "Lady Freynyaaaaaaa!"
Lunor held Anya and let her cry at her chest, it looked like Anya liked her goddess after all. It was better when Anya thought the things were like that, Syr didn´t want to hurt her more.
"Mama Mia?"
"Syr?"
"Can we talk for a moment in private?"
"Of course."
"And...about Horn..."
"We still have a bit room in the dorm, since Anya wants to move out."
"Huh?"
Mia smiled slightly, despite the situation. "She wants to move in with her boyfriend."
"Oh my..."
"You can gossip later, come."
Syr gently squeezed Ryu´s and Bell´s hands one time. "I will be back shortly, okay?"
"Syr..."
"Ryu, don´t worry, everything is fine now."
"Okay.."
"Ryu...you shouldn´t look at me like that...I have a boyfriend..."
"H-Huh?! Syr?!"
Syr giggled slightly, then she went up from her chair.
"Gotcha."
"Mouh..Syr."
There was no better way to distract Ryu from her worries. Syr followed Mia into the kitchen and they closed the door.
Ryu looked at Bell.
"Bell, are you...you two...I mean..."
He smiled. "Everything is okay now, it was just a bit much and Syr is exhausted."
"Okay, I will wait."
.
"Bell."
A shadow towered over him.
"Captain?"
Ottar shook his head. "Not anymore. You will take care of her?"
"I will protect her with my life, forever and ever, in this life and the next ones."
Ottar nodded slowly. "Good. I will take my leave for now."
"Where are you going?"
"Talking to someone."
Ottar put his big hand on Bell´s shoulder. "You proved yourself, now protect her with all you have."
Bell nodded, then Ottar took his stuff and left.
"My student."
"Teacher?"
"I will take my leave too, what you all need for now is peace, I will come back again tomorrow."
"Have a safe trip."
"Are you worried about me, my student?"
"Of course I am."
Hedin smiled slightly, then he took his stuff and left too.
Bell looked at Hogni.
"And you, master?"
Hogni shrugged his shoulders. "I will stay, Bell. And since you succeeded in your training, I am not your master anymore."
"Then...a friend?"
Hogni grinned. "I can live with that."
.
.
Syr and Mia returned twenty minutes later.
Ryu immediatelly gave Syr a hug, while Anya genty carressed the hair of her sleeping brother.
"Alright, I understand the situation now. Girls, ears up, there will be a few changes."
All of the staff members listened to Mia.
"First things first, Syr will move into the dorm, she gave up her old room. So you can spend even more time with her now."
The others looked surprised at first, then happy.
Mia sighed. "Hah...but since their shared room is now gone, Bell will too move in the dorm."
Ryu clapped her hands in front of her mouth, looking shocked.
"You two were living together?!"
Syr chuckled. "Of course we were."
"You´re not even married!"
"But we will be one day."
"S-Syr...don´t tell me...you...you two...you..."
"We?"
"Y-You..I mean..."
Syr grinned in a teasing way. "Weeeee?"
"N-Nothing..."
"Ehe."
Mia sighed. "May I continue."
"I´m sorry, Mama Mia."
"So, as you heard, Syr and Bell will move into the dorm for now, until they get a new room on their own."
"Or a house!" Syr grinned."
"The young lady over there, her name is Horn, she is a good friend of Syr, we will let her stay for now too."
Horn couldn´t answer, she was still sleeping.
"Syr told me her wish just now, she wants to take over the pub at some day and for that she wants to become the number one cook."
The others looked baffled, shocked and surprised.
"Syr?!"
"Cooking?!"
"The head chef?!"
"Nyah?!"
"Hey, you´re really rude! Bell says my cooking is delicious!"
"Oh it will be, when I´m done with you. There will be no slacking off."
Syr smiled. "Don´t worry, I want to greet Bell every evening with a good meal."
Chloe smirked. "Nyou sound nyike a housewife, Meow."
"Well I hope to become one."
As usual, Syr showed her love for Bell very openly, maybe even more than before.
Mia looked at Hogni. "You have to find a room, my girls don´t have much contact with men, can´t risk anything."
Hogni just shrugged his shoulders.
"Ungh..."
"Ouch..."
Allen started to wake up, as did Horn.
Syr looked at the others. "Could I have this room for a moment? To explain something to them?"
Mia nodded. "Girls, come, give them a moment. You can bombard Syr with questions after that. But I want your boyfriend for a moment."
Bell nodded and followed Mia.
.
.
While Syr started to explain things to Allen and Horn, Bell went with Mia to another room.
"She already told me everything, can´t say I ever heard of something like that before."
"Me neither."
"You got something really special there, boy. She gave up her divinity for you, so that she can live a mortal life together with you."
"I intend to live more than one life with her, Mama Mia."
"To make a...former...goddess fall for you this much, are you sure you´re a normal human?"
"I am."
"And you´re not mad that she did all that?"
"We talked about it, she explained everything to me. I understand how frightened she was, all that I feel for her is love."
"Then make sure to make her happy. She really deserves it."
"I intend to do that."
"Good. Then there is only one thing left."
"Yes?"
"You will be living in a dorm with many young women that are single, there will be some rules for the bathroom. And I don´t want to hear a single "noise" at night from your shared room."
"Understood."
"Also find a room or house for you two soon."
"That was my plan."
"Hah, to think that a goddess loves you so much that she gives up her divinity for you."
"She said that her life became torture, that she wants to be free."
"I can understand her completely."
"You do?"
Mia shrugged her shoulders. "How many years do you think I know her?"
"I don´t know, you look pretty young."
"Heh, already trying to flirt with me too? My pub´s name isn´t meant literally, you know?"
"I would never try to flirt with another woman than Syr."
"That´s good. Come."
.
.
When both returned to the main room, they saw the door getting slammed shut, Anya cried again, while Syr looked sorry.
"Allen..."
Horn was now awake, sat at a table with a cup of hot tea, looking a bit lost. Thankfully, most of the others assumed it was because Freya had returned to heaven.
On this day, the pub wouldn´t open again, an uproar ran through Orario and an emergency Denatus was held.
.
.
The hall of the gods was surprisingly quiet.
"Is...is this true?" Hestia had actually tears in her eyes. "Is Freya gone?"
Ganesha nodded with a serious face. "Loki asked the "Knight of the white flame". He said Freya couldn´t live with her situation anymore and destroyed herself. We both saw that he spoke only the truth."
"No way...*Hic*..." Hestia started to sob.
There wasn´t a god that wasn´t shocked. Demeter sat next to Hestia and started to cry, she was one of the few friends that Freya had.
Hermes held his hat in his hands. "But why...I don´t understand. Returning back to heaven is one thing...but destroying herself? Freya? She out of all people?!"
For once, Loki said nothing. She always wanted to be on top, but not like this. This was actually a hard blow for Orario. While she and Freya had been rivals, her familia would always be there to defend the city, like when they worked together in Knossos. She thought she would celebrate when she finally would be the number one...but now... Loki could´ve lived with Freya returning to heaven, but dying...truly dying...that was something else.
Gods were immortal, eternal, for them one of them truly dying was far worse than for mortals.
.
.
It is true.
They all looked up when they heard the voice.
"Ouranos?!"
Freya talked to me in the moment before she destroyed herself.
When Freya destroyed her divinity, she had about two seconds to use her arcana for a bit, more than enough time for a goddess to do something simple like talking to another god.
She told me she can´t live like this anymore, that she will never find happiness, that she wants to be free.
Freya actually told Ouranos the truth, he knew what happened to her, who Syr was. And she asked him for the simple favor to not tell anyone about this.
Hestia and Demeter, only you two can hear me currently. Freya told me she always considered you two as close and true friends. She is sad that she cant spend any more time with you and wishes you all the good in the world. And she asked if you could take care of a few of her former children, since she trusted you the most.
Both goddesses started to cry heavily when they heard this. Freya had thought for a moment to tell at least Demeter and Hestia the truth, but she wasn´t sure if she could hide the truth from others then. Only one comment was needed at the wrong time and other gods would get it.
After wiping her eyes, since she was sad too, Hephaistos raised her hand.
"This really is horrible news, but we also have to think about the urgent situation. Freya´s children are a strong pillar to protect Orario and help against the dungeon. What shall we do about them?"
Loki sat up. "We c-"
Loki, I will not allow that you take them all into your familia, you are only allowed to take up to two strong members and a few of the weaker ones. They will most likely split up anyway, since most of them cant stand each other.
"How do you know this, Ouranos?" Hermes looked confused.
Because Freya´s former captain is standing in front of me at the moment. As of this moment, he received my blessing.
"""""""WHAT?!"""""""""
He wishes to work on his own, to protect something precious to him. I won´t form a familia, but this is his wish and he will help when Orario is in danger.
Now more gods looked shocked, so Ouranos had basically "snatched" the strongest adventurers away, even when he came to him on his own. They felt Ouranos´ presence vanishing, he was still busy with his prayers.
The Denatus continued for a long time on this day. Even when Ouranos told Loki the contidions and all of them were surprised that Ottar had received Ouranos´ blessing now, for once they were all too shocked to think about snatching strong adventurers for them.
Freya´s death was devastating for the gods.
They all agreed to tell the mortals that Freya only returned to heaven.
.
.
The pub remained closed for the day, the city was in turmoil anyway. Since Syr was pretty tired, she and Bell went to bed pretty early. The bed in the guest room wasn´t meant for two people, but it would work.
Syr waited for Bell to lay down naked on the bed, then she took off her shirt and panties, snuggled into his side, lying half on top of him while Bell pulled the blanket over them, her favorite way to sleep.
Both looked into each others eyes without saying something for a while.
"Bell, I love you."
"And I love you."
"Forever."
"And ever and ever."
She looked at him with slightly glowing eyes, he really was the only one that could see the fine, purple sprinkles in her eyes. Whenever she looked at him, they slightly glew, like back then when she was really happy.
"Your eyes are so beautiful."
"They are?"
"Yes, did I tell you how they look to me?"
"No."
Bell described it to her.
"Oh, the others didn´t say anything."
"Maybe I am the only one that can see them?"
She smiled. "So you can see my true self."
He put a hand on her cheek. "And I love it."
Syr didn´t resist in any way when Bell pulled her gently closer and kissed her.
The kiss lasted for a very long time, Bell felt Syr´s hands on his shoulder, it looked like she still was pretty strong. They didn´t end the kiss with a gasp for air, they just slowly separated their lips.
"Bell?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for coming back to me."
"I will always do that, for the rest of our lives and the next ones."
Her eyes glew a bit more. "That makes me so happy. But I don´t want you to live only for me, I want to see your dream become true, that you become a hero...even though you´re already my hero."
"And you´re my beloved, my true love.."
Syr smiled. "Your personal waitress?"
"And my goddess."
She made a strange expression.
"You will always be my goddess. You always were. I love everything about you."
"Even...when I teased you in the carriage?"
He got a bit red. "I...can´t say it didn´t feel good."
"And...when I healed you?"
"I will never forget this evening. Just as I will never forget our first kiss...may there be countless more."
"Oh there will be."
Syr sighed happy into the next kiss, feeling Bell´s arms hugging her made her happy.
"And I promise I will become a truly great cook."
"You are a great cook for me."
She smiled.
"Say."
"Mh?"
"Shall I call you in any other way when we´re alone?"
"Hm...did you think about something?"
"What about...Syrya?"
Her eyes shone for a moment, it really was a fascinating sight.
"I like that...can you say it again?"
"Syrya."
"Mmmh...I like it as much as when you say just Syr...or Freya...but only when we´re alone."
"Then I will call you that when we´re alone."
Since Bell wasn´t the type for naughty talk, they would later settle down with Bell whispering "Freya" into her ears when...he wanted to do some adult cuddling. Syrya and Freya would become nicknames for his beloved, just like Syr would whisper "Odr" into his ear when she was in the mood.
"Bell?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you...for making me whole...for pushing my two halves together."
"I will hold you for our entire life and beyond to make sure it stays that way."
"Then hold me tighter."
"Gladly."
They kissed again...and kissed...and kissed...
Until they fell asleep in each others arms.
.
.
"Mmmmh...morning...already?..."
Bell felt weird, as if something was pressing down on his hips. He felt gently fingers running along his stomach and chest, then two very soft things.
And when he opened his eyes, he was granted with the most wonderful sight in the world.
Syr had straddled his waist, leaned forward with her hands left and right of Bell´s head, her breasts rested on his chest and she half smiled half grinned.
"Syr?..."
"Good moooooorniiiiing!~~~~~"
Bell had often seen Syr happy, smiling, grinning and laughing, but never like this.
Never like this.
What Bell saw was true, complete happiness. She sung more than she spoke.
"Good morning."
"Mmmmh~~~~" She leaned her face closer, closed her eyes and waited.
A good morning kiss so shortly after waking up was really nice.
"Ehehe~~~. I want to go to sleep and wake up like this every day when you´re not on an Expedition!"
"Gladly."
"Yeah~~~"
She snuggled up to him more and cuddled him with all her strength...which was more than Bell had at the moment.
Syr couldn´t stop kising him, she was just too happy.
"Hehe~~~ I´m all yours now...forever and ever."
"And I will never let you go."
"Then hold me, Bell."
He put his arms around her and they kissed more, each kissed promised a never ending future together.
Then suddenly, Syr twitched slightly. "Muh?"
"Syr?"
The expression in her eyes changed, they glew slightly.
"Beeeell~~~...what is this that I feel heeeere~~~?"
She moved her hip slightly up and down, her butt rubbed against something that was standing up because it was morning.
"S-Syr...wait.."
"Hehe~~~Why?"
"Mama Mia said n-"
"Not at night~~~"
She leaned forward and whispered into his ear.
"I want you...my Odr."
He whispered her special nickname.
.
.
Mmmmmmmh~~~
Ryu stretched her arms over her head when she woke up, it was a good morning.
Her ears twitched slightly when she heard the birds chirping outside...and then a soft creaking noise.
Hm?
She focussed on the slight creaking noise and got from where it came, the former guest room next to her own.
Awwww, they love each other so much that they cuddle in the early morning, how cute.
On the other side of the former guest room, Chloe woke up too when she heard the soft creaking noises, kissing sound, low panting and silent moans.
In contrast to Ryu, Chloe understood what Syr and Bell were doing...
M-Meow...how lewd...
"Oh Bell, it looks wonderful!"
What does she mean, meow?!
Still...the black haired cat woman couldn´t leave her bed while she listened to the sounds of love making, her hands had a mind on their own.
Chloe was, after all, a pervert through and through. It only got better for Chloe when she heard silent steps, then something bumping slightly against her wall, more than one time.
Nya~~~~...can´t stop~~~...
.
.
Syr and Bell left the room two hours later, the staff members were already in the main building at this time. Bell looked a bit exhausted while Syr was shining from energy. Both had discovered something, Syr didn´t only give up her divinity, she had a true mortal body now.
That she gave her virginity to Bell at their first morning together was a dream for her.
At first they were very soft and loving, then Syr got pretty lively, like always.
Just like when she had helped Bell back then when the aphrodisiac was in his body, she had squeezed him dry.
When they showered together, there was lots of cuddling and kissing.
.
.
"Gooooood moooooorniiiiiiing!~~~~~~~"
Syr beamed all over her face when she came over from the dorm, with Bell at her side.
"Good morning, Syr." Ryu smiled.
"Morning." Lunor was happy too.
"Mornin´~~~" Chloe looked pretty relaxed for some reason.
"Morning..." And Anya...depressed.
Horn sat on a chair as if she didn´t know where she should be right now.
Bell held a bit back when he greeted them, he looked like he was drained from his energy.
Syr sat down next to Horn at first, she hugged her and then started to whisper in her ear for a while. Bell watched how Horn´s expression slowly changed, from depressed and lost to a bit more lively.
In the end the normally so glum girl nodded a few times.
Then...to everyones surprise, Syr gave her a kiss on the cheek, which let Horn squeak and Syr giggle.
Afterwards, Syr sat down next to the sad Anya and started to whisper something into her ears. Anya´s eyes became big at some point, then she nodded with tears in her eyes...and cried again.
Syr patted her back while she hugged her.
"It´s okay Anya...she will watch over you from above, always. I know that Freya really loved you, you´re her cute, little kitten after all. And give Mr. Allen some time to calm down, I know that he loves you even more than he loved Freya."
"Nya?"
"Did she never tell you? When Freya was out of the city for a "vacation", Mr. Allen and the others went with her. He got hit by a magical curse, that lets him see his most beloved person attacking him. And that wasn´t Freya, it was you, Anya."
"Mmh..."
"So cheer up, hm? I´m sure Mr. Allen will do his best, find a nice god and get stronger again. And don´t forget, Freya will always watch over you from the heavens, she doesn´t like to see you sad, okay?"
"Mh...thank nyou, Syr."
"Hehe~~"
Syr gave Anya a kiss on the cheek too, then she rubbed her cheek against Anya´s, until the cat woman struggled and tried to escape...not that Syr let her. She was really good in cheering people up.
.
.
"Syr."
"Mama Mia?"
"There´s someone outside that wants to talk to you, quite a lot of people."
"Yeah...I thought so."
"Told them they would get the shovel when they come in."
Syr chuckled. "There is no need for that, Mama Mia. I expected them to come. May I get some time to talk to them?"
Mia shrugged her shoulders. "As long as your boyfriend helps as long as you´re away."
"Bell isn´t my boyfriend."
"Oh?"
Syr raised her left hand, so that everyone could see her ring finger. After they loved each other quite intense this morning, Bell had given her the ring, since she already knew about it anyway. Syr had chuckled and laughed, claiming it was quite silly to propose to her after having morning sex.
"He is my fiance now!"
"""""""Nah!"""""""
All of the staff members, including Horn, jumped up when they heard what Syr said.
"Teehee~~ I will tell you when I come baaaaack~~~ Horn, come."
"Y-Yes."
Syr waved and went out of the shop, all eyes were immediatelly on Bell.
.
.
Mia told her where "they" would be waiting, Syr met them at the abandoned area in the west. Horn had followed Syr, she was pretty nervous.
Except for Ottar, Mia, Hedin, Hogni, Bell and Anya, the whole former Freya familia stood in front of her, Syr´s face got serious, but there was still a slight smile on her lips.
Heith stood in the front, a bit away from Allen and the Gulliver brothers.
"So, everyone. I will not say good morning, because I know this isn´t a good morning for all of you. You don´t need to say anything, I know why you´re here. So let me say something at first."
The wind waved, moved Syr´s hair behind her, with her expression it wasn´t really hard to see who she was, right now she looked like a queen.
"I am sorry, everyone."
Most members of the familia gasped, they didn´t expect to hear this from her. The Gullivers looked more surprised, Allen...quite pissed.
"I will try to explain to you why I did what I did."
Syr took a deep breath and started to explain her situation, her very being as a goddess of love, even Odin´s threat in the past. She explained to them that she loved them all, that she still did that, even when she wasn´t a goddess anymore. All of them listened to her, Horn already knew about Syr´s feelings, but she still looked sad. Every single one of the Einherjar that looked agitated before calmed down and looked more and more depressed when they heard how broken Freya had been inside.
The more they heard, the more sad did the Gullivers look.
Allen looked like he was torn between his feelings, Heith was the same.
Syr talked for almost an hour to describe her situation and gave them an insight of her heart.
"Now you know why I did what I did. Again, I´m sorry. It all came so suddenly for you, I know that. And there is something else that I want to apologize for, that I didn´t do something sooner."
Then Syr spoke about the problems that the high executives got over time, how they changed, including Horn and Heith, as well as the Einherjar.
"There is something else that I want, beside my freedom. I want all of you to become free, I want to see how beautiful you all become one day. Heith...it is mostly my fault that you became how you are today. That you worked too much every day, had never time to really do what you wanted. That you got so obsessed, that you even attacked Horn, which you considered as a friend."
Heith looked pretty bad, she glanced shortly to Horn, then away again.
"Still...even when I feel bad and it is mostly my fault for not stopping the baptism earlier...I will punish you for attacking Horn, Heith."
"Huh?"
"Come here, now."
Syr´s expression had changed, Heith had seen this in the past.
"M-My queen?"
"Now. Everyone except Horn, turn around."
Heith came closer, the others obeyed and turned around. Syr sat down on a broken pillar and pulled Heith onto her legs.
"Raise your butt."
"Yes..."
Heith squeaked when Syr suddenly pulled her skirt up, revealing her panties. Then...she grabbed said panties and pulled them down.
"M-My queen?! Hauuu~~~"
Heith couldn´t help but whimper when she felt Syr´s hand touching her butt.
"You really have a beautiful butt, Heith."
The red haired healer was unhappy when Syr pulled her hand away.
Then she yelped out in pain when Syr spanked her butt with all of her strength. The loud slap of skin on skin was heard by everyone.
"AAAH!"
Syr raised her hand and hit Heith´s butt again.
"Ack!"
Each word that Syr said was accompanied by another hit, sometimes more when the word was longer.
"You. A-tta-cked. Your. Good. Friend. Horn. Such. A. Thing. Is. Un-for-giva-ble! You. Were. A. Naugh-ty. Girl! And. Naugh-ty. Girls. Get. Pu-nish-ed! Horn. Trus-ted. You!"
More than one member of the Einherjar flinched when they heard the loud slapping noises and Heith´s cries of pain, Syr made sure that both cheeks to their fair share. Horn saw that tears streamed down Heith´s cheeks, while her butt became fiery red...as did Syr´s hand.
"I. Ne-ver. Want. To. See. Or. Hear. That. Again!"
"Aaah! I´m sorry! I´m sorry!"
"Don´t. Apo-lo-gize. To. Me!"
"I´m sorry, Horn! I´m sorry."
Syr showed no mercy. "She. Can´t. Hear. You!"
"I`M SORRY, HORN!"
Syr raised her hand a last time, but she only touched Heith´s butt gently this time...it still hurt.
"Good. That´s a good girl."
"*Hic* *Hic*"
Syr pulled the panties back up and moved the skirt down. Heith still held her butt and whimpered when she stood up again.
.
.
"*Sniff* *Sniff*"
"This is your punishment for attacking Horn and knocking her out. If she can forgive you or not is up to her, not me."
"Yes..*hic*.."
For some reason...Heith looked a bit happy. Maybe the heavy spanking of Syr broke through her fanatism, making her realize what she had done to a friend...especially since she was a healer.
"Allen."
Allen looked like he was still agitated, looking into another direction.
"A-ll-en."
The cat man finally looked at her.
"Allen, I want you to go to Ouranos too."
"What?"
"Ottar went to receive Ouranos´ blessing. So he can train on his own to become stronger. I know that you are the same, you will find peace there, trust me, I know you well enough. Also, Anya is really worried about you, you should talk to her."
"I don-"
An air of authority waved around Syr when she looked at the cat man. "That wasn´t a request, Allen."
He nodded slowly, even when she didn´t have her divinity anymore, the woman in front of him still radiated grace when she wanted.
Syr leaned closer and whispered into his ear.
"It is time that you become free too, Allen. You´re as much in a golden cage as I am."
He said nothing, only nodded.
Then Syr turned to the others.
"Heith."
"Yesh? *Hic*"
It looked a bit weird how Heith held her skirt up a bit, so that the cloth wouldn´t touch her reddened skin.
"I will not order you to do it, but I know all of you well enough. My tip for you would be to go to Dian Cecht or Loki, the choice is up to you. When you go to Loki, you will most likely meet Hedin a-"
Heith spat onto the ground when she heard the name, Syr said nothing to it, she just continued.
"Loki would gladly welcome you, the whole familia would, since you´re such an amazing, strong healer. But then you will spend most of your time in the dungeon, going onto Expeditions. If you go to Dian Cecht, he will gladly welcome you. Since you´re a healer on par with the Dea Saint, you would work in the hospital and rarely go into the dungeon. While it looks like a lot of work, with you and Amid Teasanare, the work should be going easier. In Dian Cecht´s familia, you will find peace and a more relaxed life. Decide on your own what you want."
Heith nodded.
"Alfrigg, Dvalinn, Berling and Grer. It is time that you stop living for me and live on your own. I freed you all these years ago, yet I imprisoned you in a way on my own. My advice for you would be Hephaistos, Goibniu or Ganesha. You four were great artisans in the past, I´m sure you would get far in the smithing familias. Also, I know that Hephaistos´ captain, Tsubaki Colbrande, has a thing for you, Alfrigg."
"Huh?"
Syr smiled.
"Then again you could also go to Ganesha, he would surely love to take you in, in such a big familia you could mostly to your own thing and become happy."
The four nodded slowly.
"For you others, there are many familias in Orario that are in need for strong adventurers. Ganesha could take most of you in without much problems. But maybe some of you want to start going into the dungeon now? Maybe some want to live a more peaceful life? Demeter can always use more hands on her fields. Wherever you go, I´m sure you will make a good choice."
The Einherjar nodded.
Syr wiped her hands and got up again.
"So, it is time for the final words. I thank you all for everything. You were all really good children...but now you aren´t my children anymore. I still hope to keep all of you as my dear friends, one can never have enough friends. My place is at the pub and one day I will take over as the owner, when Mia retires. Whenever one of you comes around, I will greet you with a friendly smile, will listen to your awesome and surely interesting stories, while serving you a good drink and food, made by me in the future."
Syr noticed how all of them flinched for a moment.
"Does aaaaaany of you have aaaaaanything to say about my cooookiiiiing?~~~~"
All of them shook their heads, including Allen.
"Mouh! You´re all so mean! All the same like my friends in the pub! Only Bell understands my cooking!"
The sight of the pouting Syr touched their hearts.
"I just want all of you to become happy. I will wait for your visit, tell me your stories, show me the partners you find, your children."
For some reason she winked to Alfrigg when she said that.
"I have to go now, the early work at the pub will start, Horn and I will have much to do."
"Mylady?"
"It´s Syr now, Heith."
"May I ask...what is this ring on your finger?"
"This? Ehehehe~~~ Bell proposed to me this morning.~~~"
""""""""NAAAAH!""""""""
"Now, now, now, my friends. Don´t be jealous. I love Bell as my partner, my future husband. Also...ehehe~~~~...I think by not it is clear that he is stronger than you. Allen, I´m sure you don´t want to lose next time. And...a little bird may have tweeted to me that your family is actually growing already, even when Anya isn´t aware of that right now."
Allen´s eyes widened a bit, he understood what Syr told him. A reason more to become stronger.
"Now then, my friends. I wish you all the best luck in the world."
Heith, the Gullivers, the Einherjar and even Allen slightly, bowed towards Syr a last time, then they looked how she walked back in the direction of the pub, Horn followed her...not as her atendant, but her friend.
.
.
In the pub, Syr found two additional visitors...one small and one big, both crying. Visitors that had both enormous racks. It took a long while to talk with Hestia and Demeter, Syr was torn what she should do. Telling them the truth, to ease her pain, it was hard for her to see her friends cry like this.
In the end...Syr couldn´t bear with it...to see Hestia and Demeter like that, it just hurt too much. She wanted a new life, a peaceful life...but her friends suffered. A god dying was more than just hard for their friends.
When Syr talked to them in private and spoke their names like she usually did in the past, both looked up. Syr slowly explained everything to them, since she was mortal now, they could see if she was lying or not.
So...Syr wasn´t even able to keep her secret completely up for one day. But Hestia and Demeter promised her to keep her secret, both were just glad that their friend wasn´t completely gone, even when Syr would die one day of old age. Both promised her to look for her and Bell when they returned one day.
But Syr also had a favor to ask, Mia, Bell, Hogni, Anya, Horn and even she herself would need a blessing now, otherwise it could get dangerous. Since Lunor was already her follower, Demeter agreed to give her blessing to whoever wanted it. Hestia claimed that Syr was already an honorary member of her familia anyway and that the kids loved her.
The question was now who would receive whose blessing.
Anya refused both, she said she would ask Ganesha for permission, to be in the same familia as her beloved. The cat woman would be surprised and cried even more when she saw that she was level five. Anya got pretty quick that Freya had secretely updated her status, so that her beloved, little kitten would be as strong and safe as possible.
Mia already knew Demeter, whe she bought vegetables from her and she wanted a peaceful life anyway, Demeter was too happy to welcome Mia and give her the blessing. Horn wanted to spend some time on the fields and some in the pub, so she too joined Demeter.
For Bell...it was a bit of a strange feeling, he knew Hestia from the time when they visited the former orphanage, it was a bit like coming home when he received her blessing. The small goddess shreeked in surprise when she saw the long list of Bell´s status, skills, magic and all that...to see how crazy strong he was.
For Syr it would be special.
She couldn´t decide between Hestia and Demeter, so Hestia came up with an idea. Since Demeter got two new followers...in a way...Hestia would give Syr her blessing, then after a year she would switch to Demeter, after a year to Hestia again. And so on and so on.
Receiving a blessing was a strange feeling, Hestia was heavily confused when she saw that Syr had a strength stat for S 999...everything else was normal.
On this first day, Syr wouldn´t really work, she had too much to do with explaining things to a few people. Ryu, Chloe, Anya and Lunor thought Syr was just explaining things to these people because Freya was back in heaven.
.
.
But there was one thing that couldn´t be prevented, no matter which way Bell chose in the beginning, when a particular thing happened...Ryu would always suffer.
When it happened that Horn really started to work at the pub, it would be Ryu to show her the ropes.
And of course, since Horn had a lot of practice...Ryu would be devastated, that Horn was so much better.
"*Sniff*...*Hic*..."
"Ms. Ryu, please cheer up!"
"I´m a useless elf..."
Syr heard Ryu sobbing and came from the kitchen, Mia wasted no time and started to teach Syr how to cook for real...and she was merciless.
"Mouh, Horn! I didn´t bring you along to make Ryu feel bad!"
"That wasn´t my intention!"
Syr gently hugged Ryu. "It´s okay, Ryu. No one can be perfect at anything..."
"I work here for five and a half years now, Syr!"
"I know...it´s okay..."
"Why are you averting your face, Syr?"
"No reason...oh look, that chair over there looks really nice..."
"Syr...et tu?"
"Ryu...it isn´t like that...hey...how about I introduce you to Hogni?"
"Huh?"
"He is nice and handsome and he lacks common sense, just like you!"
"I lack common sense?"
Chloe, Lunor and Anya nodded.
"See?"
"Kuh..."
"Hehe, come on, why don´t I introduce you?"
"Why would I want that?"
"To finally get a man? You aren´t getting younger, you know?"
"I´m an elf! I don´t h-h-hook up just like that!"
"No one said that."
Syr´s eyes seemed to glow.
"There Syr goes..."
"Shipping people again..."
Anya tilted her head in confusion. "Meow...Hogni only thinks with his sword, nya."
Chloe looked shocked. "Meow is a gigolo?!"
Anya shook her head. "Nyot this sword, Meow."
"Oh..."
Syr was aware that Ryu wouldn´t like Hogni at this point, she barely even knew him for a day. Which didn´t matter for Syr, she found her own happiness, so she would do her best to bring other people love and happiness too.
Syr´s "shipping crusade" had begun.
Even when she couldn´t have children on her own, despite being mortal, she would do her best to see the children of her dear friends.
.
But...
.
Was it really impossible for Syr to have children? She was mortal now after all...
Time would tell.
.
.
.
.
Four weeks later it would become obvious for everyone that Anya was pregnant, by chance her boyfriend did it during their first night.
Everyone was in a good mood.
And then finally, the first of Syr´s former followers and now friends visited the pub.
It was Hedin.
With his new familia.
.