On the next day, the sun is shining in the clear blue sky as it is morning and the city of Orario is slowly bustling with its citizens getting up for some of their planned activities. Merchants prepped their shops and stalls to sell, citizens go around to work, and adventurers do their usual activities which is to prepare themselves to dwell into the Dungeon.
Meanwhile with the Kaisers in the Underworld Castle. Bell is found in his bedroom's table as he is currently using some colored papers that he folds and wrapped around a box that he soon decorates with some ribbons and made a bow.
"Alright!" Bell smiles as he looks at the wrapped up box which is a present for Baku and Airmid's upcoming wedding that he picked with the help of his parents. "it's done!"
"Bell~?" Meteria's voice is soon heard as Bell turns to see his mother coming into the room after knocking on the door. "You already up, sweetie?"
"Morning, Mom." Bell said before he showed her the wrapped up present box. "I got up early to wrap up Baku and Airmid-san's present! Look!"
"ara. You already did?" Meteria said with a smile as she went and caresses her son's head. "that's really great, Bell~!"
Bell smiles to hear her praise before he and Meteria hear some knocking from the door as they turn to see Zagreus coming in. the dark haired half elf walking in and stops near the two.
"Good, you're awake." Zagreus said as he stares down at his son. "Take a bath and get dressed. We need to leave the Underworld Castle soon."
"Eh? Why?" Bell asks while blinking his eyes and looking a bit confused.
"there's going to be a meeting between all the current Kaisers of the Kaiser Familia and several representative gods from Orario." Meteria explained while pointing a finger out. "Remember that Helios-san had a task of a meeting with Athens and other neighboring kingdoms? It's coming soon and therefore all the Kaisers need to gather for this meeting in the Underworld Castle which will be fortified and guarded."
"So no one is allowed to be inside?" Bell asks.
"it is to ensure that there is no information leaked about the peace meeting that will be guarded by all the current Kaisers of Orario in order to ensure that the representatives are all safe and sound." Zagreus stated before he turned and begin walking towards the doorway. "Right now, you have 30 minutes left before the Underworld Castle ascends to the sky and won't return down for at least 3 hours."
"That long?" Bell said with a slightly surprised face.
"Goes to show that being a Kaiser is a tasking work." Meteria told her son before holding his shoulders. "Now then, it's time for you to go and take a bath now."
"Okay." Bell nods before slowly getting pushed to the room's bathroom. "ah! I can bathe by myself, Mom!"
"I know, I know." Meteria giggles.
An hour later, Bell along with his mother along with his cousins and their single parent face the current members of the Kaiser Familia at a large round silver podium like stage.
"I'm sure you all know that we're going to have a private meeting with several representative gods and therefore we will need the place to be absolutely secured." Helios spoke out as he faces the group with the other Kaisers. "Meaning that no one but us and the representative gods can be inside the Underworld Castle while the meeting is going."
"If this was going to happen, I should've laid back in bed at Tsubaki's place." Kenji said as he yawned while scratching the back of his head. "so damn early for the meeting, don't you think?"
"it's an important meeting and we need to do it early considering that one of us here is going to get married soon." Ploutos said to his son before he looked at Baku who grins while rubbing the back of his head with a rather embarrassed face.
"and as usual, per an important meeting we Kaisers will be unavailable to do our daily tasks for the period of time." Melinoe said while crossing her arms under her chest. "therefore, each one of you will be temporarily filling in our shoes until our meeting is over."
"Yeah." Bell's cousins nodded in reply.
"First off is Takeshi, Hayate, Baku, and Kenji." Helios spoke out. "you four along with Kamui will be taking the places of your respective parents and doing their jobs." He then crosses his arms. "leave the internal affairs and any commerce tasks in Orario to Miwa, Hephaestus, and Alfia."
"as usual I suppose." Hephaestus said while shrugging her shoulders and sighing with a smile. Alfia standing near her and being silent with her eyes closed and her arms crossed under her chest.
"what about Orario's defenses?" Miwa asks. "currently, there's been reported sightings of Rakia Kingdom's troops spying the surrounding borders of Orario."
"we'll leave those jobs to several chosen Familias." Polemos said while crossing his arms. "get them to work for the money that they want to make."
"What about me?" Yuki asks while carrying Yukina who is fast asleep in her arms.
"As much as I appreciate your enthusiasm to get back to work, Yuki." Melinoe said while uncrossing her arms and raising a hand up. "You're still on leave from any laboring tasks, understand? For now, how about you just spend some time with Zagreus and the others? you need the time off for a while after all."
"I see.." Yuki said before she nods in understanding and then smiles a bit when Meteria came near and smiles to her and Yukina who had woken up while yawning.
"you're not joining their meeting, Dad?" Bell asks his father as he believed that his father was another current member of the Kaiser Familia.
"I'm no longer considered a current member of the Kaiser Familia after I revoked my lineage as King, I now merely act as an envoy of the Kaisers or as a stand in for Helios when he is away from Orario." Zagreus replied to his son before he looks at his brother. "Just that."
"You do know that I could ask you to be my stand in for this meeting, right?" Helios asks with a smirking smile. "Considering that this meeting will possibly take more than just three hours to finish, and I am the King who has other matters to attend to."
"Those matters you needed to be attended have already been completed." Zagreus replied before he snaps his fingers and the podium that he and his group are standing upon started to glow and create a golden aura that enveloped them all. "We shall be leaving now."
In a flash, the group disappears from the podium as they were teleported away.
"He got you there." Makaria said with a grin while Thalia and Sotares were stifling their laughter.
"he did, didn't he?" Helios asks with a slightly disgruntled look on his face.
Upon Orario and by the Kaiser Garden, Zagreus's group appears nearby as they had been teleported to the area from the Underworld Castle.
"now then…" Takeshi said as he cracked his neck side to side, letting the bones pop several times. "We'd better get going and do our parent's jobs now."
"I'm going to have a headache doing my old man's job…" Kenji said after sighing loudly and walking a few steps away with Baku following him.
"you always say that." Baku told his cousin with a grin before he looks back at the others. "see ya all later during the evening party! Me and Airmid will be waiting on you all!"
"You don't need to remind us considering that you invited us all and planned the whole thing." Hephaestus said with a sighing smile while Miwa chuckles.
"Goes to show that he wants to make every moment special." Hayate said with a chuckle before he looks at the others. "I and Takeshi will be going now. see you all later." he then disappears in a blurring flash with Takeshi who joined him.
"We should be get going too." Miwa said as she looks at Alfia and Hephaestus. "Let's finish our work and get our husbands to work double after they are done."
"sounds like a plan." Hephaestus said with a nod while Alfia merely stayed silent, but her lips formed a small barely noticeable smirk.
Afterwards, the three left and bid goodbye to Zagreus, Meteria, Bell, Yuki, and Yukina who are left with free time.
"Now then…" Meteria spoke with a smile to her little group's members. "What shall we be doing today?"
"Well, I've been thinking of getting new clothes for Yukina." Yuki said as she looks at Yukina with a smile, the little renard playing with her mother's long red hair. "her old ones aren't fitting her size anymore."
"oh, that's a great idea!" Meteria said as she came near Yuki then began to tickle Yukina who squeals in glee. "Little Yukina here is becoming a big girl after all~!"
"perhaps both of you should visit the children's clothing store." Zagreus spoke while placing a hand to Bel's right shoulder. "While Bell and I venture into the Dungeon."
"eh? Really?" Bell asks his father who nodded.
"you have your license and you've learned the basic knowledge of the Dungeon." Zagreus spoke while turning to look at the Dungeon's entrance. "right now, you need personal experience in fighting against the Dungeon's Monsters."
"but will it be alright?" Meteria said as she looked worried. "I mean, Bell has only faced Monsters of the surface world and not the Dungeon."
"I will be the one to supervise him." Zagreus said. "do not worry."
"but what about my gear, dad?" Bell asks as he is currently only wearing basic clothes on. "I left it at the Underworld Castle and.." his words were cut off short when Zagreus snaps his fingers once and, in a flash, his body now dons his adventurer gear on. "wha!?"
"We will only venture from the 1st floor and no more deeper." Zagreus said to Meteria. "think of this as preparing him for his future, Meteria."
"well…that's…" Meteria spoke out before pausing and then nodding in understanding. The mother then looks at her son and with a smile asks. "be careful, alright? Listen to your father when he gives you advices, okay? And be safe."
"I promise, mom." Bell nods and Meteria nods back before giving him a peck on the forehead.
The mother then faces her husband who nodded to her before receiving a peck on the cheek.
"promise me that you keep him safe, alright?" Meteria said and Zagreus who nods before he looks at Bell.
"let's go." Zagreus said before he turns and begins walking towards the Dungeon's entrance.
"yeah!" Bell replied as he waves his mother, cousin, and niece goodbye before quickly following after his father.
"be safe~!" Meteria hollered out while waving a hand in goodbye to her husband and son who responded with a hand wave in return. She watches them go to the Dungeon's entrance before she hears cooing from Yukina who she finds is trying to catch some of her hair nearby which made her smile. "let's go find some new clothes for little Yukina-chan~!" she spoke while gently carrying the little renard into her arms and nuzzling her nose with hers. "let's dress her up all pretty for the party tonight~!"
Yuki giggles before she and her aunt head into Orario's merchant district where there are many stores that sell a variety of items.
In the Dungeon's 1st floor, Bell is standing within the underground labyrinth's first entrance floor that he is just looking around in amazement.
"so this is the Dungeon?" Bell whispers as he looks around the rocky ceilings and at some glowing crystal lights hanging on the side walls. "everything looks so…abnormal.."
"That is to be considered obvious considering that this Dungeon was not manmade at all." Zagreus said while walking near his son. "this place is filled with the mysterious unknown and therefore it could lead to trouble for many who are not prepared."
"what do you mean?" Bell asks before he screams when a Goblin appeared behind him and screeches at him, but the creature was killed by Zagreus who wields a hidden knife from his back that he soon sheathes very quickly. "w-what!?"
"I warned you that this Dungeon is a deathtrap to those who are not prepared." Zagreu said as he went and picked up a small purple crystal shard that fell to the ground when the Goblin was killed and turned into ashes. "that is the first rule of being an adventurer in the Dungeon. always be prepared and cautious of your surroundings."
"a-alright.." Bell gulped as he's trying to calm his heart after the little surprise from the monster.
Zagreus and Bell started to venture into the Dungeon's First floor, the father teaches his son in the many lessons and skills that he has to learn in order to survive adventuring within the mysterious labyrinth.
At one point, the father and son arrived near the stair entrance to the 2nd floor which had a white statue of a woman wearing a cloak and seeming to be praying.
"what's that?" Bell asks as he looks at the statue that looks very mesmerizing.
"This statue is called Teleria." Zagreus said as he looks at the white marble statue which is somehow radiating a white ethereal glow and seemingly emanate an otherworldly power. "It's a very ancient and powerful magic item created by the original Kaisers."
"What does it do?" Bell asks as he looks at the statute at a very much closer distance.
"It functions as the one item in the Dungeon that saves the lives of adventurers who are in danger." Zagreus replied while crossing his arms on his chest. "it possess an ancient mystical power bestowed by the original Kaisers of Orario and given the task to save the lives of those who are in death's reach."
"how does it do that?" Bell asks before he caught notice that the statue begins to glow brighter and flickers several times before it glows normally. "What was that?"
"The flicker indicates that it had teleported nearly 5 adventurers out of the Dungeon and to the Saint Sanctuary." Zagreus said while uncrossing his arms and reaching into his pants' pocket to take out a necklace that had a small glowing white crystal attached to it. "an adventurer wearing one of the Teleria Crystal will instantly be teleported out of the Dungeon when they are in danger. This is why the Death Rate of Adventurers in Orario is very small when the city was founded centuries ago." He then points a finger at Bell's necklaces. "and your Kaiser Amulet possess a Teleria Crystal which allows Teleria to teleport you out of Danger. Remember, do not lose it."
"Alright." Bell nods in understanding the advice from his father before he looks at the stair entrance to the Dungeon's 2nd floor. "so…can we go to the 2nd floor? I'm curious as to.."
"That is impossible considering your status as a rookie." Zagreus said while recrossing his arms on his chest. The father stares down at his son. "right now, you are designated as a rank F Adventurer who is only allowed to venture the first floor and no other."
"but why? I mean if I go with you then.." Bell said before his father cuts him off by walking pass him and go down a few steps down the stairs then turns to look at his son. "dad?"
"try following me here." Zagreus said as Bell looks confused at first before he walks down the stairs, only to reappear at the top like magic.
"wha?" Bell looks confused before he retried going down the stairs but the process repeated and he returns to the top once again. "what's going on?"
"it is a safety measure that the Original Kaisers made into Teleria when they created her." Zagreus said as he walks back up the stairs and face his son. "Teleria not only saves the lives of adventurers who are in danger, it also prevents them from doing any rash actions that could lead to their deaths. It is one of the many reasons why no adventurer has ever died from doing anything foolish."
"I see…" Bell muttered out before he looks a bit disappointed. "I thought I could take a look and.."
"do not get cocky." Zagreus said as he turns and looks at the Teleria Statue. "I've seen many adventurers who overestimate their abilities and ended up getting killed by the Dungeon." he then glance at his son. "remember that, Bell."
"yes.." Bell nods, the young man feeling a bit disappointed at himself.
Zagreus looks at his son for a moment before he closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh.
"train hard, learn well, and repeat." Zagreus spoke as Bell looks at his father confused before he gets a hand to his head by the half elf who caresses it a few times. "if you follow with those three steps, you'll be able to go deeper into the Dungeon's floors when you will be more stronger than you are now." He pulled his hand away and then began walking away. "for now, you still need to learn and train hard in order to achieve the goal of your dreams." He stops and then glance at the young boy. "you wish to be a hero, right?"
"yeah…." Bell nods before he smiles a bit sadly. "you think I can achieve that goal, Dad?"
"I don't know.." Zagreus replied before he turns to look away. "only you can find the answer to that question." He then begins walking away. "come, there's still much for you to learn."
"right.." Bell nods and then follows his father, but not before taking a quick look at the Dungeon's stair entrance to the 2nd floor. The young man curious about what lies beneath the labyrinth but for now; he'll keep that curiosity later.
After almost two hours of exploring the Dungeon's First floor, Zagreus and Bell exited the underground labyrinth and returned to the surface where the day is almost reaching the afternoon.
Zagreus and Bell walks upon the street, the half elf seemingly normal but not his son who has some monster blood covering his arms and legs which he is trying to wipe away with a piece of cloth provided to him by his father.
"this is so hard to..get off…." Bell said as he is trying to clean his hands, but the blood is sticking and doesn't want to be cleaned at all. "and it stinks so bad…"
"learn to kill the monsters while staying hygienic." Zagreus said with a glance at his son before he did a finger snap and the blood on Bell's arms and legs disappeared like magic. "Do not show such state to your mother who would faint within a second."
"yeah" Bell nods before he looks at his cleaned arms and then at his legs. "But that was a really convenient magic spell." He looks back at his father. "where did you learn it, Dad?"
"I didn't learn it, all descendants of the original Kaisers inherit all their special capabilities cultivated over centuries." Zagreus replied as he focused his attention on the street while conversing with his son. "magic, skills, and knowledge, we are all given those three status as we grow up." He then glance at Bell. "Even you will receive them because of your Kaiser Lineage."
"Really?" Bell asks and Zagreus just nods before looking back to the front.
"That day will come in the future, but for now you will still need to learn to be an adventurer." Zagreus stated before he and Bell came to a stop by the Kaiser Garden where they stand near the statues of the seven original Kaisers and the pedestal where the Devil's Bane resides. The half elf is silent for a moment before he turns and faces his son. "Bell, turn towards me."
"eh? What?" Bell turns and faced his father who stares down at him. "what's wrong, Dad?"
Zagreus looks at his son in silence for a moment before he took a quiet deep breath and asks. "do you really wish to be an adventurer?"
"eh? Why you ask that?" Bell asks. "I mean, I already said that i.."
"answer the question and do not reply it with another one." Zagreus stated as he sounded very serious, the half elf having a very hard gaze down at his son. "do you really wish to be an adventurer?"
Bell looks a bit tense to hear his father's serious voice that he only uses whenever it is something very important and that's something he rarely gets to experience in his childhood.
"Yes…" Bell nods with a firm body pose. "I want to be an adventurer."
"Do you understand the dangers that comes as an adventurer in Orario?" Zagreus asks. "do you understand what it means to take arms against the Monsters of the Dungeon and of Orario?"
"yes…" Bell nods as he thought about everything that he has been learning during his time in the Kronos Stasis, education from Eina, and advices from his mother before he came to Orario. "I understand that I will face danger that comes in a variety of shape and sizes."
Hearing his reply, Zagreus hardens his gaze to the point that his eyes slowly glows a dim light.
"do you understand that if you choose to be an adventurer of a Familia not affiliated with the Kaiser Familia, you will be facing pressure as a Rookie adventurer?" Zagreus asks. "do you understand that once you choose a Familia of your own, you cannot change your decision until you are allowed?"
Bell took a moment of silence to think of his father's words before he nodded with a very serious look in his eyes.
"I understand." Bell said and Zagreus stares down at his son with a very serious demeaning glare of a gaze that lasted for a minute before it stopped when the half elf close his eyes and sighs a bit.
"very well." Zagreus said before he opens his eyes while turning to look at the Devil's Bane. "Bell, remember well. You are of the Kaiser's descendant, but most importantly; you are my son therefore it comes to the logical sense that you will be seen differently if anyone knows about our relations." He then glanced at his son. "keep it a secret, understand?"
"yes." Bell nods. "I will."
Zagreus looks at his son and then at the Devil's Bane.
"I'm sure your mother had told you before but…" Zagreus spoke before he turns and patted his son's head. "Remember, if trouble arrives to your doorsteps and you require help. Just know that you can always rely on me and your family, understand?"
"yes." Bell nods before he gets his hair ruffled a bit by his father who had a small smile forming on his lips.
"Take care of yourself on the day you become a full pledged adventurer of Orario, understand?" Zagreus said and Bell nodded again before the half elf patted his son's shoulder a few times. "and remember to not worry your mother too much, alright?"
"I will." Bell nods before getting a few pats on the back by his father.
"come, I'm sure your mother and cousin is still finding new clothes for your little niece." Zagreus said as he turns and begins walking away. "she might be at the second block's cloth store which she was fond of when she was living in Orario."
"really?" Bell asks as he quickly got to his father's side. "mom lived in Orario before?"
"I suppose you should know more about your mother's past." Zagreus replied as he glanced at his son and then at the road at front. "before I married her, your mother along with her older twin sister were members of a very legendary familia that the Kaiser Familia were comrades with and…"
Zagreus continues to tell the story of his wife's past as an adventurer of a certain Familia to Bell while they keep on going straight for the location of the store where the half elf believes the woman might still be.
Some hours later, nighttime. Our attention is to a tavern bar which is currently reserved for a celebratory party held in the honor for Baku and Airmid's upcoming wedding.
Everyone from the Kaiser Familia and their family members are present as they faced the two main characters of the party; Baku and Airmid who held glasses of wine with their guests.
"to thank you all for coming on this splendid night! And to celebrate mine and Airmid's upcoming wedding! I hereby declare this party a go~!" Baku said with a big grin while raising his glass of wine with Airmid doing the same. "CHEERS!"
"CHEERS~!" everyone else cheered as they all drank their share of wine while those still underage got fruit juice instead.
The scheduled party went on as everyone came to gave their blessings and congratulations for the future wedded couple.
"be sure to have a good life, you two!" Takeshi told the two while a large roasted turkey drumstick which he just took a bite from. "and be sure to pop a lot of kids as well!"
"hahahaha! We plan to do so!" Baku laughs a bit embarrassedly while Airmid looks flushed red.
"but that is to be considering if Airmid is going to be strong enough to deliver one." Makaria said while sitting at a table with Miwa, Kenji, and Hayate. "I remember the time when Thalia was about to deliver Baku, she was screaming to the heavens when she tried to pass him through her womb and all."
"Screaming won't do it just." Polemos spoke out, the Arc Kaiser having a beer with Ploutos and Helios. "she told me once that she was delivering a large watermelon instead of a baby."
This got some laugh to be shared amongst the crowd in the party.
"hey, enough teasing about that." Thalia said as she came and held her son and future daughter in law from the back. "whether or not they can have kids or not, doesn't matter." she smiles to her son and future daughter in law. "I'm just proud that my big boy finally found the love of his life and will be settling down in the future." She then leans in close to Airmid with a teasing smile. "But do try your best to make me a grandma to lots of grandkids, alright? I'm not asking too much. Just 3-5 grandkids will be enough."
"I-I'll try my best!" Airmid replied all embarrassed.
"hey, Mom!" Baku whined to his mother who just chuckles while hugging the two together.
"just trying to ease in the mood~" Thalia said with a laugh before he gave the two a kiss on the cheeks. "all in all, I'm just happy that the two of you are going to get married and make our family even bigger." She then smiles to Airmid. "So can you do me a big favor and keep my big boy here out of trouble, Airmid? He is loved by everyone and can sometimes be too much loving to them. Keep an eye on him for me and I hope you have a very good and happy life with him in the future."
"Yes." Airmid nodded with a smile. "I will."
"good." Thalia said with a nod before she looks at everyone else. "alright~! Let's have another toast for the two upcoming newlyweds!"
"right~!" everyone cheered in unison while raising their drinks.
"How about we girls have a big cheers together~!?" Tsubaki cried out loud as she drags Shakti and Ardee to be with Airmid. She then takes out a big barrel of booze from out of nowhere. "I got the nicest booze in town just for this occasion~!" she then breaks the top and then started to pour out the alcohol into beer mugs. The smith then looks at Hephaestus and the others. "come on, Hephaestus-san~! everyone~! Let's drink till we drop~!"
"you do know that this is a party for Baku and Airmid, right?" Hephaestus said with a sigh while Helios and the others shared another laugh together.
Bell is chuckling as he is with his father and are watching Tsubaki who shared the drinks with all the women (minus Yuki) in the party and they all did a congratulations' cheers together. The young man smiling happily for his cousin and his fiancé in their pre-wedding celebratory party.
"I can't wait for their wedding day to come." Bell said with a big smile. "I'm sure Baku and Airmid-san will be so happy together."
"they will be happy." Zagreus stated, the half elf sitting on a simple barrel shaped chair and in the middle of pouring himself a glass of wine. He then took a sip then sighs. "Those who are married into the Kaiser Familia are always blessed with a happy life. That's a fact that hasn't changed for hundreds of years."
"hey, you say that like we could ruin our marriage if we didn't get the blessing." Helios told his twin as he came and then wrapped an arm around Zagreus' neck. The king began to rub a knuckle to his other half's cheeks. "I've been thinking about this, but you really got the wise mouth after you and Meteria got married, huh?! You're thinking you're all bad and great after getting yourself a wife!"
"hey, he wised up after he managed to date her!" Ploutos said after drinking up a mug full of beer. He grins and points a finger at Zagreus. "or rather he's been wising up when he asked her out too~!"
"yeah! Even though he was a nervous wreck when he first tried to talk with her too!" Polemos added in before he and Ploutos laughs together. "hahahaha! those were the good old days!"
"I remember the look on your face when Bell first came to the world too!" Helios grins while shaking Zagreus side to side. "I thought you look like a nervous wreck on your wedding day, but you were even more of a wreck when your son was about to get born!"
"at least, I got a son." Zagreus said while pulling Helios' arm off his neck and then taking a sip of his drink with his eyes closed. "you and Hephaestus hadn't made one yet after getting married after 5 years."
"oh, you're going to strike that sore spot, huh?!" Helios smirks to Zagreus who he grabs into a headlock. "Who was it that took your damn favor to become King of Orario, huh?! Who was it!?"
"You! and it was in your responsibility to be king considering that you're the older twin!" Zagreus grunted as he got out of the head lock and then proceeds to give one to Helios. "I worked hard to do all the tasks that you're too lazy to do!"
This little scuffle soon turned into a brawl between the King of Orario and his twin.
"hey! Helios!" "Zagreus! Stop!" Hephaestus and Meteria cried out, both seeing their husbands having a brawl like they were juveniles.
"This always starts whenever they start to drink at a party." Miwa facepalmed while shaking her head.
"And they say that they're mature than us." Melinoe chuckled before drinking up some wine.
"Someone get them to stop before they ruin the mood of the party." Thalia stated while in the middle of pouring some wine into her glass.
"Polemos." Alfia spoke out while quietly sipping a glass of wine for herself.
"yeah, yeah." Polemos replied as he put down his mug of beer and rolled his shoulders around. "I'm going."
"you too, Ploutos." Miwa told her husband. "you started this in a way. So break them up."
"why me too!? I just said the truth and all!" Ploutos retorted with his hands up in surrender. "they fight amongst themselves! I'm not on it!"
"just go and do it!" Miwa told her husband off as Ploutos groans before he joins Polemos in breaking off Zagreus and Helios' scuffling brawl.
After the two managed to get the twin brothers from fighting, Meteria and Hephaestus went to the two and pulled them away from one another.
"Why do you two have to always fight whenever we're having a party of any kind?" Hephaestus told her husband who just grumbles while looking away from her.
"This is supposed to be Baku and Airmid-chan's special party~! Don't start to fight with Helios-san every now and then~!" Meteria pouted at her husband who squinted his eyes and looks away. "mou~! Zagreus~!"
There is now a tense atmosphere between the twins as everyone else either looks a bit worried or rolled their eyes.
"Dad…" Bell called out to his father who glance at him and then close his eyes while sighing.
"come on, Uncle Helios. You too." Kenji called out to the King who sighs with a grumble and then turns to look at Zagreus.
"I'm sorry I called you a wise guy and a nervous wreck." Helios spoke out before he looks away. "Wise jerk."
"I apologize for making fun of your current family life." Zagreus replied and then turns to the side. "Lazy King."
"Why do these two never make up like normal people?" Sotares asks while facepalming.
As Meteria and Hephaestus try to get the two to make up and have the party return to its happy atmosphere, three people came walking into the tavern bar.
"fighting again?" a voice asks as everyone turns to look at who just spoke. "can't imagine what caused it in the first place."
The people who entered are Hades herself who is accompanied by a blonde haired teen with sharp red eyes and is wearing a zipped up blue jacket and jeans along with brown boots that has a sheathed knife tied around his ankle, and a middle aged and well built looking man with brown hair, gray eyes, and have scars around his face, he is also wearing an outfit similar to that of Baku's but black and more rugged looking.
"Grandma Hades." Bell spoke out as he soon smiles to the other two people with her. "Uncle Zald! Kamui-niisan!"
"Heard that you actually came to Orario to become an adventurer. You sure grown up, Bell." the one named Zald replied with a smile as his name is Zald Gratto and he's the husband of Thalia and the father of Baku. "doing well?"
"yes!" Bell nodded before looking at the one named Kamui. "it's nice to see you again, Kamui-niisan!"
"yeah, the same I can say to you, Bell." Kamui replied with a smile, the young man's full name is Kamui Mage Kaiser, the son of Makaria herself. He then looks at the situation. "now then…do I have to guess on what caused Uncle Helios and Uncle Zagreus to look like they were pulled away from a fight?"
"the usual." Kenji replied while crossing his arms on his chest. "a little brawl about the same thing again."
"as predicted." Hades spoke as she had her eyes closed before slowly opened. Her red eyes glancing at Zagreus and then at Helios. "if you two know any shame of showing such childish behavior in a party hosted to celebrate your nephew and future niece in law's engagement party. Apologize to one another and ensure that it doesn't happen again."
Zagreus and Helios looked at Hades for a moment before they looked away with slightly discomforted expressions on their faces.
"That wasn't a request, you fools." Hades spoke out as she harden her gaze with her red eyes glowing slightly red. "do you really wish to foul my mood?"
This made a slightly uncomfortable look to be formed on Zagreus and Helios' faces, both seemingly disturbed in feeling Hades' glare at them as they just turned and faced one another before going forward to shake hands.
"I'm sorry to be fighting against you." Zagreus and Helios spoke out in unison. "I promise that I won't do it again on another party ever again."
Hades looks at the two before she close her eyes and walked to a seat where she sat down.
"Resume the celebration and provide me with my preferred beverage." Hades spoke as everybody else looks at her and then at one another before smiling a bit and then laughed together.
Just like how she commanded it to be, the celebratory party resumed its happy atmosphere as everyone continued to celebrate the upcoming wedding couple's party.
Meteria who is with her husband, is currently getting him to cheer up when he is looking a bit disgruntled before she was approached by her son who gently tugged her hand to get her attention.
"What is it, honey?" Meteria asks her child.
"um, that was…" Bell spoke and Meteria understood what he wanted to ask in just a second.
"Grandma Hades is the head goddess of Zagreus and Helios' Familia." Meteria said as she and Bell looks at the goddess of death who is served a special bottle of wine by Baku and Airmid who thanked her for coming to their wedding celebration party. "even though both have moved on from being in her Familia, they still follow her commands because she's the one who helped them become who they are now." She then giggles. "in a way, she's like their mother who they can't defy no matter what."
"really?" Bell asks, looking slightly surprised.
"really" Meteria nodded before giggling. "that's why besides the Kaisers, Hades-sama is the only one who has the power to overrule them in Orario."
"oh….i see.." Bell nods in understanding before he turns to look at Hades who is now sipping the wine that Baku and Airmid served to her. the goddess of death taking a few sips with her eyes closed before she slowly opened them to glance at Bell and then close them once again.
The party went on till midnight as the celebration for the future couple was very cheerful and eventful because everyone keep on congratulating the two while presenting their gifts for them or for their future children. But at a point of time, there's the need to get some rest which was needed by the current Kaisers of Orario.
"welp, I'm going to hit the hay." Melinoe said after yawning before she went and smiled to Yuki who is carrying and caressing Yukina; the little baby renard already fell asleep in her mother's arms and is just snuggling close to her warmth. "can't let Yukina stay outside of her warm crib's comfort in this cold night."
"same here." Miwa stated while in the middle of getting a massage from Kenji. "These old bones of mine can't hold out in this type of party for too long. I might need to hit the therapy for a while."
"say that when we don't need to drag the old man away, Mom." Kenji told his mother as he looks to the side at a table where there is his father along with Baku, Helios, and Zald; the men look drunk except for Thalia's husband who seems to be doing well even though drank a barrel of wine or two. "he's drank till he dropped just like during Uncle Helios and Aunt Hephaestus' wedding."
"Just do your best to carry him like you always do, Kenji." Takeshi spoke as he came passing by Miwa and Kenji while carrying his father on his back, the young man heading out to the door where Alfia is standing by and waiting for him.
"It's going to be a pain curing him of his own hangover after this." Hephaestus said as she came and held her husband's shoulders. She then looks at Thalia who is still drinking some wine with Makaria and Sotares. "Thalia, do you mind making a curing spell for this?"
"When I'm sober enough." Thalia replied before drinking more wine and then do a finger snap which made green magic sparkles rain down on the unconscious drunk men who slowly wakes up. "for now, it's just a wake up spell to get them walking."
In time everyone slowly exited the tavern and made their home, a few of the drunk ones walked rather tipsy and looked like they had major headaches, but they were accompanied so there was no need to worry.
At one street, Zagreus along with Meteria and Bell are heading back to the Underworld Castle, but they decided to have a midnight stroll together as a family.
"wasn't that a very nice party?" Meteria asks her son with a smile and Bell nodded in reply.
"I'm glad that Baku and Airmid-san really liked our presents." Bell said, the young man along with his parents gotten the two future married couple; an amulet for good luck, fertility, and prosperity, a bunch of clothes for them and for their future children, and a special carved wooden photo frame.
"it's not the gift that counts, but the thought." Zagreus stated with a glance at his son and then back to the nearly empty silent road. "they were already happy that you came to celebrate their upcoming wedding."
"That's true and all, but they really like our presents, Zagreus." Meteria said before giggling. "especially your gift. They were very grateful for that amulet of yours."
"Baku presented us with the same gift when we got married, there's nothing so strange as to return the blessings that they gave us." Zagreus replied as he glance at his wife for a moment and then looked away. "That is all there is to it."
"You say that even though you're looking so happy~" Meteria teases her husband as she came near and leans close to him. "see~? You're blushing~!"
"You must be drunk in thinking that I blush." Zagreus retorted as he looked at his wife with a slightly serious look in his eyes. "I told you not to drink too much, didn't I?"
Meteria just keeps on smiling as she held Zagreus' hand and leans closer to him.
"I know, but it was a special party for our nephew and niece in law, right?" Meteria told her husband with a happy smile. "Can't I celebrate the occasion for them?"
Zagreus looks at Meteria for a moment before he looks away and sighs.
"Just don't drink too much because it'll discomfort you in the morning." Zagreus stated and Meteria giggles before proceeding to give him a kiss on the cheeks.
"yes~" Meteria replied all playfully before she looked at Bell with a smile while holding his hand. "so, Bell. I've heard that you already met with several goddesses who want you in their Familia? have you decided which one to join?"
"Yeah." Bell nods with a smile before looking to the front with a rather determined excited face. "I've decided on one."
"Who?" Zagreus asks with a glance to his son.
"That's…" Bell muttered out before he looks at his parents with a grin. "I'm going to tell you all tomorrow!"
"eh~?! Why not now~?!" Meteria pouted a bit before she went and hugs her son. "can't you tell Mama? I promise to keep it a secret~!"
"no~" Bell said all cheekily before he gets out of the hug and runs off. "it's a surprise!"
"eh~! Bell~! come on~! Tell Mama~!" Meteria called out to her son while chasing after him. "Bell~! wait~!"
Zagreus watches his wife and son play a little tag game in the middle of the night, the father watches them before sighing as he follows after them to make sure that they don't make too much noise which would disturb the people who are already sleeping.
As the half elf was following them, he stopped and took a glance at the moon in the night sky. He sees it in its full form before he hardens his gaze as he saw something flying with its shadow illuminated by the moon.
'another one…' Zagreus's eyes slowly glows as he clenched his fists very tight.
"Zagreus~!" Meteria's voice soon called out to the man who turns and sees that she is waving to him to come to her and Bell who she caught in a hug. "come on~! Hurry~!"
Zagreus looks at Meteria and nodded as he slowly walks to follow after them but not before taking a quick glance at the moon and sees that the shadow which he saw is now gone.
'it's gone.' Zagreus's left eye glows a red vapor as there is vein marks appearing all around the eye. 'no matter. It cannot escape my sight.'
Zagreus watches the moon before he turns and then hastened his pace a bit to catch up with his wife and son who is getting tickled while in a hug.
The night goes on as everyone in Orario sleeps peacefully in the presence of the Kaisers who protect them, but soon enough things will change on the day of tomorrow.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye
