Bell sat about half an hour before the door opened.
"I´m sorry for leaving you outside for so long young man."
Bell stood up and turned to the goddess.
"Ah no..it´s no problem really."
He noticed that her eyes were red from crying.
She smiled. "Thank you, would you like to come in again ?"
Bell nodded and followed her inside, a backpack in each hand.
"Where is Ryuu ?"
The goddess looked at him with a slightly surprised face, before smiling again.
"She is washing her face right now, she said something about an unsightly appearance."
"Please sit wherever you like, I will make tea."
After taking his boots off, Bell sat down on the couch.
A few minutes later, Ryuu came from the doorless passage, her eyes were also still red.
Wow...
Even if she looked the same as before, she looked different. It was the look on her face ... or rather, her eyes. She looked infinitely relieved.
"Bell, sorry for taking so long..."
Before she got to the house she looked so dejected, but now she was smiling. It wasn´t her usual smile, hard to describe but it looked completely different.
It seemed freer ... softer ... more open...and so beautiful.
"It´s okay Ryuu."
Astrea returned right now, made a slightly surprised face again and put a tray with cups and a teapot on the table, then she sat in an armchair.
Ryuu sat down next to Bell on the couch.
"I´m sorry for ignoring you before young man, would you tell me your name ?"
"Bell Cranell."
"Then be very welcome , thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing back my child."
"I...just accompanied her."
Astrea shook her head. "No, Ryuu told me she couldn't have done it without you."
Bell looked at Ryuu who turned her head away with a pink shade on her cheeks.
"Ryuu...would you tell me what happened...after your collapse ?"
Ryuu faced her goddess. "I was in a side street...I had nothing left and didn´t know what to do...when someone helped me."
Astrea listened to her carefully.
"A girl named Syr, she took me with her and..."
She continued for half an hour and described how it came about that she worked at the pub now, what Syr had done for her, her new goal in life.
About how precious Syr was to her, how much she owed her, that it was her who pulled her away from the cliff or darkness.
Astrea smiled. "So you found a place for yourself, I´m happy."
Now she looked at Bell.
"Would you tell me how you two met ?" Astrea seemed like she always had that warm smile on her face.
"A short w-while after I arrived in Orario, Ryuu helped me when I dropped my knife and she gave me tips on what to do as an adventurer. Ryuu helped and rescued me more times than I can count."
Astrea looked at Ryuu...was there pride in her gaze ?
"When I was trapped in the middle floors, she was part of the rescue team, without her they wouldn´t make it in time...when an irregular boss spawned from the dungeon, Ryuu put her life on the line to save me and many other adventurers. Ryuu was always like a hero...always right...always on the side of justice.
The goddess kept looking at Ryuu while she listened to Bell, she was aware that Ryuu´s cheeks turned pink again with all that praise from Bell.
"B-But I didn´t do all that alone ! Bell is one of the most sincere people I know. Never have I seen an adventurer that learns so fast, gets strong so fast. He helped me many times too !"
Astrea just got more curious when Bell and Ryuu kept praising each other again and again.
"A while after that, my familia was challenged to a wargame, without her help we would´ve been wiped out and I would´ve lost everything, even my goddess. Ryuu helped me many times more...then the incident on the 27th floor happened."
"What happened there Ryuu ?"
Ryuu returned the gaze of her goddess and began to tell her everything. About Jura...the trap and...the Juggernaut. And all things that happened when Bell rescued her and they fell down to the 37th floor, the horrible things there, how they survived, everything...she only left out a few details of what happened at the river and how they defeated the Juggernaut.
Coming to the end, Ryuu placed the handle of her shattered sword "Alf´s Lumina" on the table.
"I only have Kaguya´s Futaba left now...I really liked the sword you named for me lady Astrea."
While she talked Astrea clapped her hands over her mouth and looked back and forth between them in horror.
"Ryuu...it pains me to ask this question...but would you tell me about our familias last fight ?"
Ryuu gulped and looked uneasy...the memory was always painful.
"When.."it"..appeared...Noin was the first one that died, we didn´t even realize what was happening...then it got Neze..." Ryuu whimpered. "Asta tried to protect us with her shield but..."
Astrea looked horrified.
"It took only seconds...when I tried to attack it, it nearly got me, Kaguya saved me but...she lost an arm. Lyana and Celty attacked with magic...then we discovered it would deflect any magic..."
Ryuu whiped her eyes.
"Iska and Maryu were the next..."
Tears filled Ryuus eyes.
"Ryuu...we can stop if.."
"No.." She whiped her eyes again. "You have the right to hear this.."
"We were helpless, but tried all we could to fight it...it even slaughtered the Rudra Familia. It got Lyra´s eyes...thats when Alise took action."
"Alise...Kaguya...Lyra...they sacrificed themselves to save me...they wanted me to live..."
Astrea closed her eyes, some tears flowing down her cheeks and put a hand over her heart. "Thank you Ryuu...it is painful to hear it...but I´m so proud of them...to face such a beast...and still hold up to our justice."
"After I returned to the dungeon...I found their weapons. I went down to the 18th floor and build them a grave...we always talked about how nice it would be to be burried there...whenever I can and Mama Mia gives me the time, I visit them."
When Ryuu came to the end, Astrea stood up, went around the table and hugged Ryuu.
"Oh my child...I'm so sorry for what you went through...and I´m so proud of you."
"Thank you, Lady Astrea."
.
They sat a few minutes in silence to calm down and so that Astrea could process what Ryuu had told her .
.
Bell coughed lightly. "I heard from Miss Eina, when I learned about Orarios past...that the guild had black listed the "Gale Wind" but...that in the ranks of the guild they were rumors,
that it was her actions, thad lead to the downfall of Evilus and the freedom of Orario."
Ryuu looked uneasy about that.
Astrea stood up and went over to Ryuu, lightly patting her on the head. "So despite everything that happened...you took such a great suffering on your shoulders...and saved so many..."
"I couldn´t be more proud of you..Ryuu."
Then Astrea moved over to Bell and to their surprise hugged him too. "And I want to thank you Mr. Bell, for rescuing my Ryuu."
Bell squealed slightly, despite the situation Bell was still Bell and a growing boy. When he was pressed against that literally heavenly bosom, he made a face as if he had found enlightenment.
When Astrea returned to her seat, Bell whispered. "I can die a happy man..."
Ryuu narrowed her eyes and he groaned softly as she pinched his arm.
Silently she scolded him. "Bell ! This is my goddess !"
"S-Sorry !"
.
Next Ryuu explained her resolve to protect those dear to her and that they could live in peace.
"So you found your own justice Ryuu." Astrea gave her a warm smile.
.
.
"When do you two plan to return ?"
Ryuu looked at her a bit nervous.
"About a week from now...ahm...you don´t expect me to stay here ?"
Astrea shook her head slightly. "No, you have a life in Orario and I have mine here. I just hope you will visit me from time to time."
"Whenever I can !"
Ryuu was as energetic this evening as Bell had never seen her before, maybe this was a bit like she was in her past ?
Astrea giggled. "You look so much like in the past Ryuu."
Ryuu looked a bit embarassed when Astrea continued. "Ah Mr. Bell...I wish you would´ve known Ryuu back then...even though she kept her distance from men. She was already very pretty with her long hair and upright nature. Always laughing and smiling...just like right now."
She smiled. "And of all my children she had by far the most beautiful singing voice...have you ever heard her singing ?"
Bell tried to imagine a younger laughing Ryuu with long hair...he smiled. "No...only her incantations."
Astrea´s gaze wandered to Ryuu. "I hope he will hear you sing someday...from the bottom of your heart."
Ryuu got even more embarassed, being praised by her goddess. "M-Maybe..."
.
"Mr. Bell, I have a guest room if you want..and Ryuu ? I have a room prepared for you."
"Lady Astrea ?..."
She smiled again. "I never gave up the hope that you would come to me, so it was always ready."
Ryuu felt her heart growing more warm...how she missed this...missed her goddess.
"Ah that reminds me...Mr. Bell ?"
"Yes ?"
"What exactly are you to my child ? I noticed for a while now, that you two call each other by your first names."
Bell and Ryuu froze, startled.
They didn´t change how they adressed when they met Astrea, normally they would only use the first name when they were alone...for whatever reason.
"I..uhm..we´re..friends."
Ryuu nodded in agreement.
Astrea put a hand on her cheek. "That doesn't look like it to me. The old Ryuu would never behave like that to a man."
"L-Lady Astrea, y-you´re wrong." Ryuu didn't sound convincing.
"Hmm...well if you say so...Mr. Bell, do you want to take a bath ? There is something I´d like to talk with Ryuu about in private."
"Oh, of course."
He nodded understandingly and left the room with his backpack, Astrea had showed them were their rooms were.
After he left, Astrea sat next to Ryuu on the couch.
"So Ryuu..." Astrea giggled. "I don´t need to be a goddess to see how you react to Mr. Bell...I am a woman too."
Ryuu got flustered. "Lady Astrea I...you´re wr.."
"It´s okay Ryuu...I feel relieved that you have a special someone."
"..." Ryuu got redder by the second.
"I´m sure you´re takting your time...its not like he did something indecent, like taking your hand at your first meeting."
"..." She was unable to answer.
"What ?.." Astreas eyes widened. "But you didn´t do more did you ?"
"..." She would have loved to sink into the ground.
"Don´t tell me...hugging ?"
"Ah..I"
"B-but surely no lap pillow ?.."
"Don´t tell me you slept in the same bed !" Astrea clapped her hand over her mouth again.
"Aaaah..." Ryuu squealed.
"No way...but at least hasn't seen you naked yet..."
Steam rose from Ryuu´s head and she tried to hide her face behind her hands.
"What happend to my pure innocent Ryuu..."
"L-Lady Astrea you´re wrong ! He´s not a bad guy ! I..."
"You ?"
"I..."
Astrea leaned closer and took Ryuu´s hands.
"You love him...do you ?"
"..."
Red to the tips of her ears, Ryuu only nodded.
Astrea squeezed her hand lightly and smiled. "I am so happy."
"You´re...not mad ?"
"Why should I ?"
"I mean...in our familia...we were only women..."
"Yeah...but you were all young...sooner or later some of you would have found a special someone. I think I heard Lyra talking about the captain of the Loki familia some times."
"So Ryuu..." Now Astrea looked flustered. "Have you two...kissed already ?"
"No..." Ryuu shook her head.
Astrea giggled again. "You sound disappointed."
"Lady Astrea...please don´t tease me..."
"I´m just happy that you found such a nice, handsome young man for yourself."
"W-We´re not...yet..."
"Then don´t wait too long Ryuu...use the time here to get closer."
"I..ahm."
Astrea leaned closer and whispered smiling. "I would love to see some grand-children some day."
Poof !
Ryuu´s face and ears got deep red instantly.
"Ch-Ch-Children ? N-No way ! W-We would have to do..th-th-that ! Thats indecent and filthy !"
Astrea just continued smiling. "Not when you´re in love Ryuu."
More blood rushed to Ryuu´s head. "A-A-Anyway ! I-It´s w-way to e-early for that !"
"Well I didn´t say right now."
Ryuu looked down to her knees squealing.
.
.
"Ryuu, would you come with me ? I want to show you something."
"Sure."
They stood up and Astrea led her upstairs to a door.
"This is your room."
Slowly Ryuu opened the door and stood still.
The room looked almost like her old room in their home "Stardust Garden".
The walls were painted white, green curtains, a desk, a dark green round carpet next to a closet and a large bed with green bed linen...Ryuu always loved the color green.
Ryuu looked at her goddess wordless...
She smiled.
Astrea followed her inside the room.
"Ryuu...there is something else I would like to do."
Ryuu turned around. "Hm ?"
"Would you...show me your back ?"
Ryuu looked a bit uneasy...she knew what that meant.
"But I´m...no adventurer anymore..."
"You are still my child...my daughter...and you want to protect those precious to you...don´t you ?"
Her eyes widened...Astrea had called her...her daughter...her heart grew warmer than ever before.
"I do..."
"And I want you to be strong...so that nothing happens to you."
Astrea looked at her pleadingly.
"Okay..."
Ryuu put the chair from the desk to the bed, while Astrea sat down on the bed. Before Ryuu could take off her top, Astrea stopped her.
"Ryuu...would you give me Futaba ?...This is a special occasion...and I want something from our Familia to be part of it."
Nodding, Ryuu handed one of the short swords over to Astrea, who unsheathed the sword while Ryuu put off her top.
Nervous, Ryuu covered her chest with her top and turned her back to Astrea.
Astrea poked her finger with Futabas tip, a drop of blood appeared and she let it fell on Ryuu´s back.
Light started to shine and the Falna appeared on Ryuu´s back. Astrea took a special paper and placed it on the Falna, drawing a circle with her finger on it.
They waited for a short while, before Astrea removed the paper. "All done..."
Ryuu turned around, her chest still covered and took the paper that Astrea handed her.
.
.
NAME: Ryuu Lion
Belongs to: Astrea Familia Race:Elf .
Status LvL:5 .
Strenght: F 331Defense: F 314Dextery: E 409 Agility: F 352Magic: D 523Hunter: G Immunity: EMagic Defense: I
Magic:Skill:
[Fairy Serenade][Undead Slayer]
[Mind Load][Evil Slayer]
[Aeroa Mana][Pure Soul]
[Noa Heal]
[Luminous Wind]
.
.
[Memento Mori]
.
"Wha..." Ryuu was speechles.
"Congratulation Ryuu." Astrea smiled at Ryuu´s perplexed face
"What is this ? I never heard of something like that !"
Normally when someone leveled up, their status would start at ten again, so leveling up and having such a massive jump in status...
Ryuu was already close to Level 5 all those years ago and she did many great deeds since then...maybe that was the reason ?
"And that skill.."Memento Mori"...what is this ?"
Astrea took the sheet from Ryuu and looked at the runes, only she could read the description.
.
[Memento Mori]Active: Calls upon the memory of a loved one to summon it and help in battle.
Summonable Memories: Alise, Kaguya, Lyra, Neze, Iska, Maryuu, Noin, Asta, Ryana, Celty, Ardee
Passive: Emergency use, will consume almost all mind power...no description.
.
Astrea smiled lovingly. "Looks like Alise and the other will still be there to protect you Ryuu."
For a while Ryuu sat there wordless...not only her Familia..but also Ardee.
Tears of gratitude filled Ryuu´s eyes and she smiled full of love. "Thank you...my dear friends..."
