"And that´s most of what happened."

"Most of?"

"I don´t remember everything after a certain point, as does Bell."

"Is that true, Sweety?"

"Mmf!"

"Hm."

At the end of the fight, Bell had a mind down and Haruhime collapsed too from exhaustion. At this point both didn´t get any information anymore, but they had a feeling as if they had slept on a really, soft cloud, that smelled nice.
They had returned from the dungeon after both woke up again. Lily guarded them, while Lefiya Viridis and Filvis Challia, soon to be a Viridis too, left. Before Bell and Haruhime could even thank them, they were gone, Lefiya with a bright red face, and even Filvis looked a bit embarrassed.

Lily accompanied them to their familia´s home, by chance Alfia was also there.

And now...they were sitting on the couch and chairs, reporting what happened. That to say, only Haruhime and Lily could report, Bell was unable to speak. When she heard that her son almost dies, Alfia hugged his face to her chest and refused to let him go. If any other woman than Alfia had done this, Bell would probably faint again, but for him, Alfia wasn´t a "woman".

"Ahm, lady Alfia, I think Bell starts to suffocate..."

"I must protect my boy..."

"But still, he can´t talk like that!"

Haruhime looked a bit agitated...or...jealous? She would like nothing more than to comfort Bell, even do what Alfia did just now if he wanted to be spoiled this way...

She would´ve to prepare her heart first of course.

Bell really started to struggle, it was embarrassing to be held like this. A normal hug was okay...but not like this.

"Mmmmf!"

"Hah..." Alfia let go of him.

"Mom...that´s embarrassing..."

"Hoh? You are embarrassed to be hugged by me, hm?"

"You know what I mean."

She still refused to let him go away from her side.

And then...her eyes wandered to a shivering bundle of a person. Lily was really scared of Alfia when she was like that, her gaze tore deep into her very soul.

"You know the attackers, yes?"

"Lily does."

"They are from your familia, the Soma familia, yes?"

"They are."

"And they have a grudge against you?"

"Not really a grudge, they were in for the money."

"And you knew about their grudge before?"

"Lily did."

"And they were the ones that Bell and Haruhime protected you from?"

"Yes..."

Lily shrank more and more in front of Alfia. It was as if a black storm cloud was brewing behind Bell´s Mom.

"And you didn't think it necessary to warn them? That something might happen? How is your famila in such a mood?"

"Lily is really sorry! Lily didn´t think they would do something like that, that it would only hit Lily!"

"Is that so..."

They could all see that Lily was close to burst into tears. Alfia could be really frightening.

"Hm." Miach was in thoughts.

"I have a guess why they did it. Lily, your familia members try to collect money at all costs, right?"

"They do."

Alfia looked at him. "What do you have in mind, god Miach?"

Alfia called every deity god or goddess and then their name. Lord or Lady would be more polite in a way, but she had no interest in that.

"I think it is the curse of the divine wine that Soma makes. It is already strong for us gods, but for mortals...that is something different."

"So, the Soma familia really has problems with their followers and you belong to this familia and know about the problems. Were harrassed by them before and expected them to do something in the future. Which means you brought my son into mortal danger...and Haruhime."

Lily shivered more and more...then finally tears streamed down her face.

"Please don´t abandon Lily! Don´t throw her away like everyone else! Lily has no one! She is all alone! No one was ever kind to Lily before she met master Bell and lady Haruhime! They are Lily´s first!"

Alfia´s face twitched dangerous.

"Your...first?"

Her eyes slowly wandered to Bell and Haruhime, the question in her face was obvious.

What did you two with her in the dungeon?

"Lily´s first friends!"

"Then if you consider both of them your friends, why didn´t you tell them?"

"Lily was afraid! Afraid of being thrown away again! Lily just wanted to live this small dream a bit longer!"

Lily held nothing back, her emotions exploded out of her.

"And why didn´t you leave your familia?"

"Lily isn´t allowed to leave until she pays 10.000.000 Vals..."

Miach frowned. "Is that a rule set down by Soma?"

Lily shook her head. "The captain of Lily´s familia told her this rule. He manages everything, lord Soma just sits in his room and makes wine..."

Alfia let go of Bell and crossed her arms under her chest.

"And they probably will do this again?"

"Not all in Lily´s familia are bad...but most of them."

Alfia closed her eyes for a moment, then she nodded.

"Alright, stay here."

She got up and turned to take her coat.

"Mom?"

"I´ll be back in an hour."

"What are you planning to do?"

"Wipe out the Soma familia of course and destroy their home."

Lily´s face showed pure shock. "What?!"

Bell jumped to his feet. "You can´t!"

"Why not? They nearly got you killed, that is more than enough reason for me to do it."

Bell moved to the door. "You can´t do that, I won´t let you. You can´t just go around and destroy everyone that may be dangerous!"

Miach also got up to his feet. "Alfia, I can´t allow that."

She turned to the god and raised an eyebrow.

"I understand that you are furious, so am I. Soma´s children nearly got Bell, Haruhime and Liliruca killed. But like Bell said, you can´t just go and destroy the familia, we have to do this the right way. The Ishtar familia was one thing, but it would draw attention to yourself if you do that again."

Haruhime´s eyes widened when she heard these words and she looked at Alfia. So it was her that destroyed everything! Alfia looked at Haruhime in return, the fox girl was smart enough to read Alfia´s mood.

Not one word about this.

"Then what are you planning to do, god Miach?"

"At first take Bell, Liliruca and Haruhime and go to the Stardust Garden."

Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Why there of all places?"

"To thank Astrea and her children properly. This is the second time they saved Bell. And also the girls."

Alfia stopped. "These two elves...belong to the Astrea familia?"

"The way that Bell described them, yes. One of them was even present when he was saved for the first time."

Alfia thought it were just some elves that saved Bell.

It is this familia again that saved Bell? Hah...Maybe it is a reward for saving them back then? I want to believe that.

Nahza raised her hand. "I will stay and keep the shop open, we don´t want to disappoint our new customers..."

Alfia looked to Nahza. "Then I will help you."

She would wear her veil just to be sure, in Alfia´s presence, all the customers would behave and don´t be too loud.

And now, Nahza´s eyes wandered to her god. "Lord Miach, please keep in mind what lady Astrea told you last time..."

Miach smiled slightly, while Bell and Haruhime looked curious.

"I will, it won´t happen again."

Before they left, Miach suddenly went close to Nahza and gently put his hand on her hair. "I´ve given you enough trouble in the past, hm? My dear Nahza..."

"Mmmmh!"

Haruhime´s eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hands, could it be? Nahza´s tail wagged like never before, could it be that Miach wasn´t as dense as he seemed to be?

They could see that Nahza´s heart was dancing in her chest and that she really wanted to yell something out, but not in front of the others.

Since she wanted to spare Nahza the embarrassement, Alfia continued with a question.

"God Miach, what do you plan to do after you said your thanks to the Astrea familia?"

"I'll settle the matter, my way."

For the first time they all saw Miach when he was very serious and determined.

.

.
"Lord Miach, where is the Stardust Garden?"

"In the South-West, it isn´t that far away."

"I wonder why it is called Stardust Garden."

"You will see that when we arrive, Bell."

Lily looked a bit uneasy while she went with them.

"Lord Miach, is it okay for Lily to be here?"

"Why shouldn´t it? Except for Nahza, I intend to bring my full familia to talk with Astrea."

"Huh?! But Lily isn´t part of your familia!"

"Yet. When things are settled with Soma, you need a new familia. I intend to take you in, you form such a nice party with Bell and Haruhime, and you called them your friends. Or is this against your will?"

Lily´s expression brightened. "Really? You really will take Lily in?!"

Miach crouched down in front of Lily and smiled gently.

"Liliruca Arde, when this is all over, I would gladly invite you to join my familia."

A smile of nearly child-like joy spread on Lily´s face, but new tears dwelled in her eyes.

"Does...does Lily deserve this?"

"Of course you do."

"But...will lord Soma let Lily go?"

"Trust me on this, Lily."

Lily nodded and sobbed. Bell and Haruhime smiled and crouched down next to her too.

"We will gladly welcome you, Lily."

"Of course we will, Ms. Lily."

"*Hic* *Hic*"

They took their time until Lily calmed down an wiped her face with a tissue. Miach couldn´t show up at the home of the Astrea familia with a crying girl, it could damage his reputation...

.

"Hmmm~hmmm~hmmm~~"

Slender fingers and very fine hands moved carefully between the flowers. A soft voice that would be too beautiful if it was used to sing, hummed softly while the owner worked. But it wasn´t really work for the owner, it was a joy to do that.

And rarely for her, the woman that worked in the garden, wore a green dress.

Ryu Lyon enjoyed to take care of the flowers in the garden of her familia. She especially took care of the white flowers, that her goddess loved so much. They were called "Violets", a white form of violets, Astrea called them "Viola". According to her goddess, these flowers represented Justice. It was one of her rare days off, where she didn´t go to the dungeon with her familia, or worked at the Benevolent Mistress with her friends. Since the weather was nice, she took care of the flowers. All elves in the familia loved to do that, being close to the nature filled them with ease.
That was also why Ryu was barefoot, feeling the gras between her toes was nice...and it tickled a bit.

"Everyone grow up and stay healthy, okay?"

Ryu whispered in elvish. It was a nearly mythical picture how she knelt there between the flowers. The garden would probably change soon, Lefiya would bring something back with her when she and Filvis went to the Wishe forest the next time.

A branch from a holy tree.

That was really something, these branches were able to take root. The Astrea familia would grow a holy tree in Orario, out of all the gods that lived in Orari, the elves couldn´t think of a better one to allow that to. They would plant it in a corner of the garden, when the tree would grow bigger, Astrea would allow elves from other familias to come and visit the tree. They had also talked about it, all members of the Astrea familia wished to get their graves under that tree. It wouldn´t just be a holy elvish tree, for them, it was the tree of Justice.

"Hah...This part is finished."

Among the elves of the familia, there was one that had asked Astrea if she would also be allowed to grow some plants from her home. Astrea forbid it. Because...the plants that Viana wanted to grow were all poisonous and many had a really bad smell. So she had no other choice but to grow them in her room, which had seals to prevent the smell from getting outside, she herself wasn´t bothered with it.

"So were to-"

Ryu stopped when she heard a knock against the wooden gate, that marked the entrance to the Stardust Garden.

She rose up to her feet and walked to the entrance, visitors didn´t come often without them knowing it first.

"Oh, lord Miach."

"Good day, Lyon."

Ryu noticed that three other people were with Miach, she heard the smallest one before she saw her.

"Mr. Cranel, good day."

"Good day, Ms. Lyon."

Ryu greeted the other two too.

"What brings you here, lord Miach?"

Miach was one of the few gods that Ryu called lord instead of god.

"I would like to talk to Astrea and your familia."

"Oh? It is a serious matter, judged by your tone."

"It is."

"Then please wait here, I will go and t-"

"Oh my? It is the fine, noble lady with her familia."

Ryu turned slightly around when she heard the voice behind her.

"Kaguya?"

"I heard some voices and came over, but oh my, what a surprise we have here."

Kaguya winked slightly to Haruhime, who looked a bit nervous.

"Then can you wait here with them? I have to go to lady Astrea."

"Sure, now be quick, little Leon."

"Don´t call me like that."

"Whatever you say." Kaguya smirked.

Ryu sighed and went into the house.

Kaguya leaned against the gate and looked at the small familia in front of her.

"Hehe, I hope you don´t try to do the same thing as last time here, lord Miach."

The god smiled wryly. "I won´t, it wasn´t my intention to do so."

Bell looked curious. "What did you do, lord Miach?"

"It was a misunderstanding."

Kaguya smirked again. "Yeah, sure."

"It really was."

Kaguya chuckled. "If you want to know what your god did, the last time he was here for a visit, he made nearly all of the poor maidens in this familia really flustered."

"Oh?"

"When he greeted our lady, he bowed down and kissed the back of her hand. That was already really bold of him, then he said it is a pleasure to see her again, as well as all of her beautiful children. You have to know that most of us don´t have much contact with men. And even I have to admit that lord Miach is pretty handsome. When he turned to the familia, our elves fled, since they feared he would kiss their hands too."

Miach looked a bit embarrassed. "It was a misunderstanding."

Haruhime looked pretty flustered, while Lily looked like she was thinking again if she wanted to join the familia of a womanizer.

"Mhm, kissing the hand of a woman that is kind of married, the Chientrope that was with you looked really unhappy at that moment."

"I am aware of that, I won´t do it again."

After teasing the god a bit, Kaguya´s eyes wandered at first to Bell, over Lily and finally to Haruhime.

"Looking good, noble lady."

"Th-Thank you..."

Haruhime wasn´t sure how to talk to Kaguya.

Eventually the door to the Mansion opened and this time, Alise came out.

"Kaguya, can you get the others? Ryu is telling the others in the garden. I will guide our guests inside."

"Understood, captain."

Kaguya left and Alise opened the gate for them.

"Nice to see you again, lord Miach."

"Thank you, Alise. I hope you are all well?"

"All well, alive and kicking."

"That´s good."

"Lady Astrea awaits you in the living room. But I shall tell you something before."

"Yes?"

Alise cleared her throat and did her best to imitate the voice of her goddess.

"Tell him, he shall remember what I told him last time. No flirting or accidentally charming my girls. He should be aware that Artemis even forbid him to get close to her home because of his usual behaviour, even when it isn´t meant like that."

"Alright, alright. I won´t defy the lady of Justice, not in her home."

Haruhime clapped her hands in shock over her mouth. "D-D-Defile her?!"

"Haruhime...I said defy, not defile."

"Oh..."

Alise chuckled. "Hoh? Looks like someone has a dirty mind."

"Hauuu..."

With a push, Alise opened the door to her home.

"Welcome, in the Stardust Garden!"

Miach´s three followers, actually just two at the moment but maybe soon three, already saw in the garden why this place was called like that. The big amount of white flowers, let it really look like stardust. And the Mansion was just as beautiful.

The walls were made from a white stone, not bricks but natural, each stone looked different, it probably had taken a long time to built the walls. Above it was a peaked roof with sloping sides, it was made of wood with red clapboards on it. Wooden braces ran from the roof beams to the walls. The massive living room they were led into had a large amount of furniture. Many small cupboards were on the walls. Bundles of herbs and plants hung on hooks, giving off a pleasant smell. There was a fireplace in the background, but no fire was burning in it at the moment. Various couches and armchairs stood around, some made of fabric, some made of leather, but all white. One chair looked very specially made, obviously this one belonged to Astrea.

The goddess stood by her personal chair. Bell was more than amazed. He'd seen her once in the pub, but here, in her home, in this light...she was beyond beautiful. She was wearing her usual off-the-shoulder white dress with the parted long, baggy sleeves. The golden ornament in the middle of her chest, which allowed a small, subtle glimpse of her valley and the inner sides of her breasts, it would probably look lewd on many other woman, but it didn't on her. Her gentle, friendly smile on that face seemed like purity and justice personified. Well, she was justice personified, after all.

For Bell, Haruhime and Lily it looked like this goddess was always smiling gently.

"Miach, it´s been a while my friend."

"Astrea, I wish you a wonderful day, you look as beautiful as always."

The goddess chuckled. "You never seem to change, Miach. I know that you don´t try to flirt with me, but please remember the rule I set up for you."

"I will hold back in front of your children, don´t worry."

Astrea´s eyes wandered to Miach´s followers, they remained a second longer on Bell.

"Be very welcome in my home, children of Miach."

They thanked and greeted the goddess.

The goddess waved to a couch, next to her armchair.

"Please have a seat."

They all sat down, with Miach close to Astrea.

"So what brings you here, Miach?"

"I wanted to talk with you, Astrea. And your familia."

"Oh, for what reason?"

Astrea´s eyes wandered to Miach´s followers and her smile widened a bit, she knew exactly why. Before Miach continued, Astrea´s children came in, all that were at the Mansion at the moment.

Bell´s eyes shone when he saw one elf in particular. Lefiya Viridis wore a light green dress too today, she had worked in another part of the garden, together with Filvis.

For some reason that Bell and Haruhime didn´t got, Lefiya blushed slightly when she saw them, Filvis also seemed to be a bit flustered.

More than one seemed to be a bit taken aback when they saw Miach.

Astrea chuckled. "Don´t worry girls, he won´t do it again."

Still, Miach got up to his feet.

"Children of Astrea, I would like to ask for your forgiveness for the last time. I never intended to make any of you feel unwell. Please believe me when I tell you, there wasn´t any try to flirt with any of you."

Astrea and especially Nahza told Miach that he sometimes had to be clear about that, some women easily misunderstood the gentle, nice god.

While Astrea´s followers sat down on the various couches and armchairs, Kaguya smirked a bit.

"I actually found you quite charming, lord Miach."

Alise grinned. "Me too."

.
In the home of the Miach familia, Alfia turned around when she suddenly heard a growl behind her. Nahza´s tail was stiff and she looked really jealous for some reason.

.
Back in the Stardust Garden, Alise and Kaguya winked in a playfull, maybe teasing way. They didn´t fall for the god, nor would they. As usual, the elves looked a bit uneasy about the way these two talked.

Lyra leaned back on her armchair and grinned. "Hah...and here I thought a god has fallen for my beauty, but it turns out he is just that nice to every woman. I wonder if the young man at your side is like that too..."

The eyes of most of the women wandered to Bell now.

.
Back in the Blue Pharmacy, Nahza suddenly heard a loud growl behind her, it was Alfia that made this sound.

.
"I promise to you, Bell isn´t like that."

Some of them still noticed, that Bell´s eyes flashed around sometimes, mostly to a certain elf.

Astrea cleared her throat. "So Miach, what came you here for today?"

Miach nodded and turned so that he could look at Astrea and her whole familia.

"I came here today as the leader of my familia. To thank you Astrea and especially your children. For the second time now, you saved children of mine in the dungeon. At the first time, it was you, lady Lyon."

Alise grinend. "Her name is Leon."

Ryu flahed an "angry" glare at Alise. "No it isn´t!"

Kaguya chuckled. "Yes it is."

Lyra joined in. "It absolutely is."

The elves tried to defend Ryu.

Astrea knocked loud on the table. "Girls."

They went quiet again, so that Miach could continue.

Miach bowed slightly towards Ryu.

"I want to say thank you, Mylady. You saved Bell´s life by killing that Minotaur. I know that he thanked you, but I as his god should also do this personally. So, thank you. I really mean it. If there is ever something that you need from me, please just say the word."

Ryu nodded in a serious way. "I understand and accept what you said, lord Miach."

It was serious business when a god thanked a mortal like that. And Ryu was a too upright and serious elf to just tell him it wasn´t necessary. She saved Bell´s life, saying it wasn´t much would be like an insult.

Bell bowed slightly from his seat to thank her again.

Miach´s eyes wandered to Lefiya.

"And I want to thank you Lefiya Viridis. You were also there and I am sure, you would´ve been the one to save Bell, in case Lyon weren´t there."

Lefiya didn´t know how to react to this, she only nodded.

"And then, this familia saved my children a second time, this time more than just one. Haruhime, Liliruca and Bell would´ve been dead, if you Lefiya Viridis and you Filvis Challia weren´t there."

Miach bowed deep towards the two elves.

"You two have my thanks as a god, if you ever need something, just say the word."

Bell and Haruhime joined their god, Lily had already thanked them in the dungeon.

"We would also like to thank you for everything. Thank you, lady Challia! Lady Viridis!"

"Thank you so much for saving our lives."

Both bowed down, when they looked up again, Filvis looked a bit surprised. And Lefiya...her face was red.

She looked hastily from Bell and Haruhime to Lily, a dangerous glow in her eyes.

Lily hastily moved her hand. "Lily didn´t say anything about what happened!"

Haruhime and Bell looked confused.

""About what happened?""

Lefiya hastily looked into another direction. "N-Nothing!"

Filvis was also slightly red. "That´s right! Nothing happened! Absolutely nothing!"

To their bad luck, now their familia members really looked curious, even Astrea.

The Miach familia and Lily bowed an additional time.

Miach made a very serious face. "I am indebted to your familia, Astrea. When I can somehow, I will pay you back. For starters, you will get a 20% discount at our familia´s shop. I know that isn´t much, but at least a bit."

Astrea smiled. "I accept your thanks, Miach. But please don´t think you owe us a debt. My children told me about it, there was no way they could let your children die."

Haruhime joined her god. "But still, lady Astrea! We owe you a lot, we want to pay your familia back somehow! When there is anything we can do..."

Bell agreed with her. "Haruhime is right, we will pay you back."

Lily nodded enthusiastically. "Lily agrees!"

While Lily said that, she caught a glimpse from Lefiya. Her facial expression told her everything, she shouldn´t even dare to tell Bell and Haruhime what happened after they fainted. Lily gulped.

A few of Astrea´s members chuckled when they saw how serious the Miach familia was.

.

"Miach, now we heard you thanking us, but there is something I´d like to know."

"Yes?"

"Lefiya and Filvis told me something disturbing. That what happened yesterday wasn´t an accident in the dungeon."

Miach nodded. "That is right. Liliruca told me all she knew about this. Apparently, it were members of her current familia that lured the monsters to them. They wanted to have them killed and then rob their dead bodies."

Various sounds came up from the members of the Astrea familia, not one was a nice one. Lyra and Kaguya even went so far as to curse in very unlady like ways.

"A dungeon trap, how disgusting."

"You are right, this is something very dire and can´t be forgiven."

Astrea looked at Lily. "And which familia do you belong to, young lady?"

"The Soma familia, lady Astrea."

"Ah...I guess it makes sense then. Hah...Soma..."

Miach nodded. "I have to do something about that. Not only is this attack unforgivable, I also want to get Liliruca out of her familia. But she isn´t allowed to leave before she paid 10.000.000 Vals."

"Did Soma set up this rule?"

"No, her captain. Soma seems to not care much about anything anymore."

"You intend to go today?"

"Yes, even when I´m not quite sure how to do it. My familia isn´t strong enough for a fight, but I still want to talk to Soma."

"I guess you don´t intend to ask me for help?"

"No, this is our problem. I can´t ask my dear friend to help me with someone stronger than me. You are the lady of Justice, this would be wrong."

Astrea looked at her followers, a few of them grinned, some chuckled. They knew their goddess very well.

"You are wrong, Miach. This is about justice. What happened to your children was cowardly and a crime. Justice must be done to you. And besides, two of my children were also in danger. Even if both are strong, you never know what can or will happen in the dungeon. It's also my job to keep order in Orario. The development of the Soma familia is worrying and I will speak to Soma. I will never allow "that time" ever to come again."

Astrea got a bit louder to the end, her familia members straightened their backs. This was their job, aside from exploring the dungeon.

Alise looked surprisingly serious. "Lady Astrea, do you need my sword?"

"Yes. Alise, Filvis and Lefiya, you three will come with me. But I don´t want to start a fight if possible."

"""Understood."""

"Miach, can you and your familia wait outside? I have a few things to say to my children, while the three get changed."

Also, Astrea wouldn´t allow a man in her Mansion, when some of her followers would changing clothes in their rooms. Her "daugthers" still were maidens and they would feel unwell with a man being close by.

.

.
The only one of the eight people that went to the Soma Mansion that carried a weapon, was Alise. But her sword had a special meaning beyond that of a weapon. It was forged in a way, that it looked like her familia´s symbol and Astrea´s personal sword. With permission of Astrea, Alise used a replica of the Sword of Justice. As the captain of her familia and Astrea´s Champion of Justice, it was only fitting. Some thought Alise Lovell, the Phoenix, had a very carefree, joking, sometimes teasing and relaxed personality in general. She could become very serious, but the joy in her heart never stopped, she did what was just and gave her familia members courage in her own way.

But well...she had a bit of a problem sometimes, she didn´t like it when someone treated her goddess with enough respect.

"Touu!"

With a loud clank, Alise cut down the metal gate of the home of the Soma familia.

"As my lovely goddess just said, she is here to talk to your god, lord Soma! She doesn´t do that on a whim, your familia tried to kill these three here and brought my fellow familia members in danger! So you are close to make yourself an enemy in the Astrea familia and the Soma familia!"

Miach coughed. "Miach Familia."

"Sorry, slip of the tongue, I mean of course the Miach familia!"

Not one member of the Soma familia was dumb enough to raise their weapons. Alise was one of the strongest adventurers in the whole city, completely capable of wiping out the entire familia on her own. But with Filvis and Lefiya at her side, she could literally obliterate the Mansion and ground in a firestorm. Bell, Haruhime and Lily were also there.

Alise put the tip of her sword between her feet, her hands rested on the hilt.

"Lady Astrea, your orders?"

"Please stand down and wait here."

"Understood."

"Miach, Ms. Liliruca, please come with me. We will talk to Soma."

Lefiya and Filvis nodded and waited with their captain. Bell and Haruhime also stayed with them. They watched how the two gods and Lily went into the Mansion.

"I hope everything will be alright." Haruhime looked a bit uneasy.

Alise winked. "Don´t worry, noble lady. As long as my wonderful goddess is there, everything will be fine."

"N-Noble lady?!"

"I heard Kaguya calling you like this."

"I-I am no noble lady..."

"You sure? You really have the aura and behaviour of one."

"Mmmh.."

"Lady Alise?"

"Ms. Alise is fine, young Bell."

"Please ahm...please not about this topic, okay?"

"Hm? Sure."

They waited and looked at the Mansion. After a while, Bell´s eyes wandered to Lefiya.

Of course she noticed that.

"What are you looking at me for, Bell Cranel?"

"S-Sorry..."

He looked away and Lefiya noticed that he seemed to be flustered. While she looked into his direction, Lefiya´s eyes fell on him and Haruhime. She rememberred the two times she had hugged Haruhime now...it was really nice. And Bell...Bell´s head on her thighs...that had sent a jolt through her body. Not only was she surprised that she wasn´t disgusted by them touching her body, but that...it felt so strange.

What is wrong with me?

She had one of her small fantasies again.

.

.

Wham!

Bell rammed his palm next to her face against a wall in the dungeon.

"Wh-What do you want, Bell Cranel?!"

"I want to sleep with my head on your thighs again...it is the best pillow there is..."

Haruhime came from the side and gently touched her shoulder a bit.

"Will you let me hug you again? That you carry me?..."

.

.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH STOP IT! STOP IT! STOOOOOOOOP! WHAT AM I DREAMING ABOUT?!

.

.
I am a proper elven maiden, why do I think about something like that?! Curse you, Bell Cranel!

Lefiya moved a little bit away from Bell and Haruhime.

.

.

They never knew what the gods and Lily talked about, but at some point, the window of Soma´s room got pushed open and he personally threw a large pot outside. It smashed on the ground and the divine wine in the making got soiled.

The members of the Soma familia would become quite shocked by the changes that happened to their familia from now on. One of them couldn´t stand it, their captain. With a howl, he wanted to throw himself maybe onto Lily, in any case he moved with dangerous intend in the direction of Astrea and Miach.

All that Haruhime and Bell caught, was a glimpse of an incredible fast movement and a line of fire. In the next splitsecond, Alise had jumped from where she stood, into Soma´s room and rammed the captain of the Soma familia into the next wall. All her playfulness was gone when she pointed her sword at him. The flames that had surrounded her feet and hands, now waved behind her like wings. It was easy to understand why she was called Phoenix.

Right now, she looked like the fiery angel of justice.

"Did you just threaten my goddess?"

She risked nothing when it came to her goddess. Still, no blood was shed this day, except for the man´s broken nose.

.

After they were done at Soma´s place, the two familias split up again and went their ways. While the Astrea familia went home, Astrea looked like she was in thoughts.

"Lady Astrea?"

"Hm, so this is the young man that Lefiya talks so much about."

Alise grinned, while Lefiya froze.

"I-I don´t talk much about him! I complain!"

"But why? He seems to be friendly."

"He is a human brute! He just took Ms. Ryu´s hand and I´m sure he will try to do that with us as well!"

Astrea smiled. "Don´t be too harsh to him Lefiya, he looked quite often at you. Maybe he likes you?"

"Haaaaaaa?! Never! No chance in the world! I´m pretty sure it´s just because we saved his life!"

The goddess chuckled. "He looked at you, not at Filvis."

Filvis moved closer to Lefiya, as if she wanted to protect her "little sister".

Alise whistled. "Since he grabbed Leon´s hand, maybe he has a thing for elves?"

"Why are we even talking about that human?!"

"I mean you ran into him nearly every day, maybe it is fate?"

"Fate?! With that human?! Never!"

"Trust me Lefiya, fate can be wonderful or a cruel mistress, even we gods fear her."

"Her? Does she exist?"

"In a way, the Moires and the Norns often speak of her, according to them, Destiny is female. Or maybe it is just a way of saying it, I even heard the term, Fate and Destiny are capricious rulers."

"Do you really think it is my fate or destiny to meet that human, lady Astrea?"

"No."

"Eh?"

Lefiya and Filvis looked equally confused. Alise grinned when Astrea started to chuckle, then to laugh. The goddess was sometimes a bit playfull and loved to tease her children a little bit.

"I guess it ist just coincidence. You two live in the same city, you are both adventurers. I think you walk past some people nearly every day, you just don´t notice it. Maybe you just notice him because of your quest?"

"Maybe..."

.

"And that was all, so please, welcome our new member, Liliruca."

The sound of claps followed Miach´s speech. They were back in their home after they wished Astrea and her children goodbye. They made sure that the claps weren´t too loud, since Alfia was there. Miach didn´t tell them everything that happened in Soma´s room, that was something between the gods and Lily. Bell and Haruhime had noticed that Lily´s cheeks were quite red and she slurred a bit, as if she drank alcohol. Also, Miach looked at her with respect, as if she had done a great deed.

"Ish it really okay to take Lily in?"

"Don´t worry, Lily. We are all happy to have you."

Bell and Haruhime nodded strongly after Miach´s words.

"But, lord Miach..."

"Yes, Nahza?"

"What do we do about a room?..."

"Oh...right."

"Lily does have her own room."

"But it wouldn´t be safe for you to stay there."

"Hm...Haruhime´s room is mostly finished."

Alfia raised her hand slightly. "I don´t have an additional room."

"Lily has an idea then. If it is okay, Lily would use the unfinished room until it is finished and then switch places with Ms. Haruhime."

Lily looked at Miach, Haruhime and Alfia.

"As long as you don´t make much noises, I have no problem."

Alfia´s eyes wandered to Bell, he could more or less hear her thoughts.

Don´t think I will have a room for every girl you get your hands on. I swear, you take too much after your grandfather. I hope for you that you don´t try to build a harem!

Bell felt Alfia´s intense stare.

Nahza raised her hand. "We could always change the room situation..."

Miach smiled. "It is too early for that, Nahza."

"Huh?!"

Miach said early...not that he wouldn´t do it.

"Bell, Haruhime, Lily, Alfia, would you excuse me? I have something to talk with Nahza about."

The four nodded and Miach asked Nahza to follow him into his personal room. He had something important to talk to Nahza about. Astrea had given Miach a hint, as the saying went, she gave him a wave with the fence post. That he should be clear with Nahza about his feelings too. Astrea saw how Nahza reacted when it came to Miach, so she just told Miach that he should be clear what Nahza was to him.

"Mr. Bell, Ms. Haruhime, Lily is so infinitely grateful to you! Lily will do her best to become the best supporter there is!"

"And I´m sure you will manage to do that, Lily."

"In my eyes, you are already the best supporter."

The small party was in a great mood.

But...

"The best supporter you say..."

Lily gulped, she felt like a mouse in front of a cat, her eyes wandered to Alfia.

"I heard you took Bell´s weapon to fight with, yes?"

"Yes..."

Bell shook his head. "After I saw how she fought with it, it belongs to Lily now. She is a natural."

"Hm...you do intend to become stronger, yes?"

"Lily does. And she will take good care of Mr. Bell´s spear!"

Alfia and Haruhime both froze for a second, that sentence could be easily misunerstood.

"The best supporter you say. Which means you have to be able to be an excellent supporter and also fight alongside your party members, in case it is necessary."

Lily nodded.

Alfia smiled slightly, it was the scariest thing that Lily had ever seen.

"Since you will move into my house...I will make sure that you will become the best supporter."

"Huh?"

Alfia´s "smile" widened.

"I will personally train you."

"Eh?"

"You are the supporter of my son´s party. I will make sure that you are the best supporter he can get. Also, since you are a young supporter, your status has to be quite low. Someone like you is the first to die in the lower floors."

"Lily knows that..."

"Then I will drill you and show you how to use the spear."

"Bu-"

"Sure you don´t want to say, but, right?"

"*Gulp* Lily...will be in your care."

Alfia´s smile even scared Haruhime now and Bell gulped. He knew all too well how harsh Alfia´s training could become. She was only soft with Bell in the beginning, she said a strong body would protect him, so she was merciless.

They talk was interrupted by a strange sound, a very loud, happy squeal from Miach´s room.

When Miach and Nahza came out of his room, she was bright red, smiled extremely wide and her tail wagged like never before.

.

.

When Bell woke up at the next morning, he felt pretty good. His bed felt nice, not as nice as the dream he had about using heavenly soft clouds as his pillow, that also had smelled really nice. Haruhime apparently had a similar dream, of hugging a good smelling cloud.

I guess I´ll go and take a shower, then I will prepare breakfast for everyone. He went to bed early the last night, as did Lily, Haruhime accompanied Alfia as usual. They wanted to give Nahza and Miach some time alone. Not one of them asked what exactly happened, but Nahza smiled like never before.

I´m happy for her, I hope it is what it looks li-Oh...

When Bell opened his door, he saw Nahza´s tail wagging heavily, Miach´s hand under her chin, raising up her face a bit...and he kissed her.

Well I guess it´s obvious now. They surely didn´t lose time.

Bell decided to not disturb them and sneaked to the bathroom, he knew that no one was in there, since Lily had left very early in the morning, Alfia demanded they started immediatelly. A shower so early in the morning felt very good, it helped him to wake up completely.

.

.

Hah...Lily is so exhausted...

Lily opened the door of her new familia home, not caring about the smooching couple in the main room and walked to the bathroom. It was only seven, but she had already trained under Alfia for three hours!

She is a tyrant! That woman isn´t human! She is like a dragon!

Lily wanted to cry, everything hurt, she had blisters on her hands. Alfia said she would make her the perfect spear user, everything below absolute perfection was unacceptable. Bell´s life could depend on Lily after all, also, being strong wasn´t bad either. She would also observe Lily´s training with her little balista. Especially the quick switch between both.

Alfia told her that most of her days would now start like this and that she would also teach Lily important things she had to do as a supporter.

Lily is already exhausted and we still will go to the dungeon today...

She managed to wobbily walk to her room, got fresh underwear, her towel and went to the bathroom. Lily didn´t hear any sound of the shower running, so Bell was probably still asleep.

Hah...

Lily undressed in the bathroom and went to open the shower.

But Lily will take good care of Mr. Bell´s-

Her thoughts were interrupted when the shower door got opened.

Spear...*Gulp*

Due to their size difference, Lily had something directly in front of her nose.

"Eh..."

"Ah..."

Lily looked up, Bell looked down.

"Ahm...th-the shower is free now..."

"Th-Thank you..."

Bell moved to the side, covered his crotch with his towel, while Lily went into the shower and closed the door. Only when Bell eventually left the bathroom and closed the door, both went deep red.

Lily didn´t mean this speeeaaaaar!

Both decided to not say a word about the incident, it was stil a very awkward breakfast...since there were sausages part of the breakfast... It was probably good that neither Haruhime nor Alfia knew about this incident.

.

.
The growing Miach familia had a nice morning, Nahza had only eyes for her god right now. Bell, Haruhime and Lily would take it slowly and move down to the 10th Floor again.

.

.
And inside the dungeon, echoed strange noises. The dungeon gave birth to something that shouldn´t be.

An irregular.

On the 10th Floor...

.

.

The cruel mistress called Fate, was about to start her game.

.