Chapter 60:

Time passed, and the combined members of Loki and Hestia Familia did what they could to prepare for Freya Familia. They took turns to visit Fels, and the two prum generals locked themselves away in the office. The tension rose as Loki Familia planned and charted for the expedition. As they did so, Hestia Familia disappeared into the city. They knew that even with all the planning in the world, they still might lose. So, they tried to spend as much time together as they could.

Eventually, though, the fated day arrived. Most of the strength of Loki Familia stood outside the Dungeon, prepared to go down into its depths. A few adventurers volunteered to stay on the surface, protecting Loki. Even if the Trickster Goddess wasn't the Goddess of Beauty's primary target, no one could underestimate what kind of tricks Freya had up her sleeve. That's why other precautions were put into place, and Hestia Familia called in every favour it could think of.

Still, the time came, and Loki Familia prepared to go into the Dungeon. Bell stood with Ais, who was none too happy with the situation. She had pleaded and begged with Finn to not go below the surface, to let her stay up top, but Finn had refused.

"If you don't go down, the plan doesn't work, Ais," he had said.

The Sword Princess had not been happy about that. In fact, she had been pouting about it the whole morning. She was practically glued to Bell's hip, trying to spend as much time as possible with him before she left. She had practically dragged him to the front of Babel tower, even though he would come to see her off anyway.

"Promise me that you'll stay safe," she said, her face as serious as stone.

Bell looked away. "I don't think any of us can promise that, Ais."

The pout deepened. "Then you have to try, or else I'll be mad."

Bell couldn't help his smile. "You seem pretty mad already."

She poked him in the rib.

"Ok! I promise that I'll try," replied Bell. "As long as you promise the same."

Ais nodded, seemingly satisfied. Then she looked over at her Goddess and looked back at Bell.

"…Bell, did Hestia tell you anything about her and Loki's emergency plan?" she asked.

Bell's brow furrowed as he shook his head. "No, I didn't even know that she had one. And if she would have told anyone, it probably would have been Lili."

Ais shook her head. "Lili doesn't know, and neither does Finn. The only people who know are Loki and Hestia." She gave a tiny frown. "I don't like it."

Bell chuckled. "I'm sure it'll be ok. Besides, I thought adventurers weren't supposed to be distracted in the Dungeon."

Ais smiled. "Yes, you're right."

"Alright, everyone, let's move out!"

At Finn's call, the large Familia began to move out. Ais saw Elwin give some parting words to Lefiya and Riveria. He hugged his sister goodbye and gave Lefiya a supervised kiss. All three elves were blushing but seemed happy about it. Ais turned back to Bell to find him staring at the same thing. The boy and girl locked eyes before looking away. While the two had kissed, they were very chaste kisses, often quick pecks. More importantly, the kisses were often in private. While both wanted to share one kiss before they separated, neither was quite brave enough.

"Kiss and be done with it, or get moving," commented Riveria from the side. "The two of you are holding up the convoy."

Ais glared at her adoptive mother, but Bell panicked. The part of his brain in charge of decision-making faltered for a second. That was why, with a jerk and a splutter, he grabbed Ais and kissed her for all to see. Like all the others, it was a quick kiss but still a big step for them. When he pulled back, Ais blinked but smiled. She turned with a wave and walked off toward her Familia. Bell watched them go, and even if he was a level six now, seeing the backs of one of the greatest Familia in the city still sent a shiver down his spine. It was like he was living in a story, part of a great quest.

"So, are you still going through with this plan of yours?" asked Elwin, walking up to his Captain.

Bell nodded. "It should be ok. The escape plan is in place now, and everyone else is ready."

Elwin sighed. "I don't get what you and Ryuu are thinking, but if you'll let me say one thing."

Bell looked over to find a surprisingly serious Elwin. His usual grinning face was gone, and there was something in how he held himself.

"This is a deity we're talking about," began Elwin. "I've seen Filvis's memories, and I know what deities pushed too far are capable of. They don't feel the same kind of remorse as we do and don't care about what stands in their way. You can't predict what they'll do, and they'll always surprise you." He finally smiled, but it was sad. "And I can tell you from my own experience dying isn't fun."

Bell nodded. "I know, and I'm not taking this lightly…but…."

Elwin rolled his eyes. "But you want to save everyone, and you and Ryuu think that there's still a sad little girl in there."

Bell nodded again. "I don't think that this is as simple as we think it is. But I also don't think that Freya is innocent either." He could feel his fists tighten, his stiff muscles cramping from the pressure. "I've been thinking about it…and her, for over a year. I don't think I've ever met someone so confusing." His frown deepened. "If she really wanted me…then she could've just taken me. Her Familia is strong enough. I can't forgive her after what she did with the Xenos, but I need to talk to her. I want to hear her honest perspective."

"Well, would you allow one of your precious subordinates to walk with you, then?" asked the half-elf.

Bell nodded. "Honestly, it would be a load off my mind. After all, once I go talk to her, there's no turning back."

The two began making their way down the large boulevards of Orario. They mostly chatted about the small details of their lives, trying to ignore the growing doom they both felt.

"Actually, I've been meaning to ask," said Bell. "What does Filvis think of this? I know that I should have asked her earlier, but I want to hear her opinion on our plans."

Elwin was quiet for a second. Every once in a while, he would nod or shake his head. After a minute, he turned back to Bell.

"She doesn't like the idea of going up against Freya; I mean, who would? But she does understand that this is the only way," replied Elwin. Then, he frowned. "Actually, she agrees with you and Ryuu. She says that her limited interactions with Freya suggest that she is, in fact, different from Dionysus."

Now it was Bell's turn to frown. "Does she know how they're different?"

Elwin shrugged. "Apparently, it's about what she's been doing and how she's been doing it. Obviously, she's still done some bad things, but there's a lack of finality, Dionysus had. That God truly wanted to burn everything to the ground, Freya is only acting like she does."

Bell nodded. "Except for the war with the Sun Seekers."

Elwin shrugged. "I mean, wasn't that all inevitable anyway? It's not like the rest of Orario did much to stop it. She still gave them the weapons and killed your friends, but she isn't fully at fault."

Bell nodded. "We are a little bit guilty." His fists tightened. "But she killed Rei and Gros. That is all on her."

Elwin sighed. "Yeah, nothing to say about that one. It was plain wrong, and it says a lot about the people that follow her."

"They probably hurt me the most," replied Bell. "It's one thing to follow the will of your Goddess, but it's another to give blind obedience and devotion."

"Well," began Elwin. "I'm sure that whoever is following us right now disagrees with you. I'm sure that they think that everything Freya does is good because everything is her will." He shook his head. "I don't know where it comes from, but there's nothing I can do about it."

"What about your friend, Archimedes? You must be pretty worried about him at this point," asked Bell.

Elwin shrugged in response. "I mean, if Freya took Archi hostage, then she probably had a reason for it. So, I can't imagine he'll be under threat of death. He's a pretty stoic guy, anyway. Not like they tried to steal Libby." Elwin shivered. "I can only imagine the madness that would ensue."

Bell blinked, realizing how little he knew of Elwin's original family.

"And whose Libby?" he asked.

Elwin smiled. "A childhood friend of mine. She's a full-blown Amazonian Battle Mage. All the firepower of someone like Lefiya, combined with Aisha's tenacity and battle sense." He nodded. "Just as deadly as you would think."

Bell couldn't help but gape. "I don't think I've ever heard of an Amazon like that. Even the ones from Telskyura didn't have someone like that."

Elwin chuckled. "She's an oddity, alright, but she still acts like a lot of the other Amazons we've met." He looked to the sky. "She was a good friend, defending me from others, making sure that Archi took care of himself." He shrugged. "That said, she wasn't perfect herself. The three of us got into a lot of trouble, giving Mama and the Captain a lot of headaches."

Bell smiled. "It sounds like you had some fun."

Elwin smiled back. "We did. There were always some problems. My heritage, Libby's way of thinking, or Archi's misunderstandings. But we had each other's backs." He shook his head. "You know, they offered to come with me and join Hestia Familia." He looked over his shoulder. Bell looked and found a caped figure standing on a rooftop. "I didn't accept because I was afraid of stuff like this happening to them, but still…in a calmer world, they would have been there when I met Riveria." Bell saw his hands curl into fists. "But they will be there for my wedding, Freya be damned."

Bell felt his face heat up. "So, there really will be a wedding? Isn't that…kind of fast?"

Elwin rolled his eyes. "That's what I thought too, but apparently, elves do things very quickly. They don't like to wait around, even if they live so much longer."

Bell frowned. "… won't you be living a long time as well?"

Elwin shook his head a little. "Apparently, it's a coin toss. I might live for a long time; I might not. Riveria thinks I'll have a better chance since I'm half High Elf." He shrugged. "Not a lot of precedence, though. Kind of the first time it's happened."

Bell nodded along. "Well, I think this is where we should split ways. After all, in this production of the Goddess, we all have our parts to play."

The half-elf snorted. "How profound of you. I think that all those hero stories are having an adverse effect."

The boy pouted. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I don't think Ais would find someone so obsessed very attractive," replied Elwin.

He left before Bell could respond.

"Well, jokes on him; me and Ais talk about hero stories all the time!" he responded to the air.

There was a shift in the air, and suddenly Bell felt the presence that had been following him get much closer. From the being's curious nature, he knew who it was.

"Hello, Hegni. Are you here to collect me?"

"I am your guide to the great light of our salvation," replied the Dark Elf.

"So, you won't carry me? That's kind of you. Ok, let's get going then," said Bell.

The two began walking down the boulevard of Orario. As they walked, people disappeared into their homes. Children playing in the street were called inside while shopkeepers closed down their businesses. Everyone understood the significance of this event, and no one would take the risk of getting in Freya's way.

To Bell's surprise, Hegni actually made him retrace his steps back toward the Tower of Babel. While the structure was often seen as a kind of beacon of mankind, now its presence was ominous. It loomed over the young adventurer.

"I thought we were supposed to go to Folkvangr?"

Hegni didn't turn around. "The Goddess wishes for a place close to her home of the Heavens."

"…and so I can't run away?" finished Bell.

Hegni didn't respond. The walk was quiet, but Bell was surprisingly comfortable the whole way through. He remembered Hegni and his part in everything that had happened. The dark elf seemed almost sad about Freya's attack on him and his friends. It reminded Bell of the way Hedin seemed to hold back. The March Hare knew that Hedin could have found quicker if he wanted to. It would have been easy for the former elven king to track Hestia Familia down. But he didn't. That didn't stop the fact that neither elf had done anything to actively help Bell and his Familia, but it did make him consider the possibilities.

Bell was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't realize they had arrived. He nearly bumped into Hegni, who had paused in front of the tower. Most days, Bell would always look up and study this remarkable architectural achievement. It was the lid of the Dungeon, and it was not a gift from the Gods. Humanity had created this for itself, a symbol of its own resilience. There was something inspiring in that to Bell.

He held that idea of resilience in his head as he and Hegni made their way up the tower. The walk was quiet, but Bell could feel the additional pairs of eyes on his body that appeared as soon as he stepped inside. There were other members of Freya Familia waiting for him. Still, though, the boy tried to keep a brave face. He would talk with Freya, and then he would execute his exit strategy. Hopefully, everything in the plan was going well. Finally, they reached the imposing door that marked the entrance to Freya's domain. Hegni ushered Bell inside and found the Goddess waiting.

With the Familia:

As this happened, the rest of Hestia Familia began work on their part of the project. Many of them scattered off to different parts of the city, with Loki Familia's token force being the only people at the manor. Welf went to Hephaestus's workshop to spend time with the Goddess. Oto and Ura had planned on going on a date but later realized that it would leave the house almost empty. Haruhime and Mikoto went out to buy groceries, pretending everything was normal. Finally, Lili and Ryuu hid away in the office.

"So, is everything underway?" asked Ryuu.

Lili nodded. "There is little to do now except to see what happens to Master Bell."

The elf could feel her jaw tighten. She didn't like leaving Bell alone, and she really didn't like sitting around and doing nothing. It was only her faith in Lili that kept her around.

"Remember, while it might be painful now," began Lili. "When things get underway, they'll be moving quickly. And many people we care about will be in danger."

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," replied Lili.

When it opened, she was met with a familiar cat-girl. Aki's black hair cascaded down her shoulders, and Ryuu could spot Raul in the background. They were the ones in charge of Loki Familia while Finn and the executives were underground. Aki waved as she walked in, now friendly and open with the prum commander. In fact, Lili had even started to teach Aki what little she knew when Finn was too busy.

"Loki's been tucked away," said Aki.

"How did she take it?" asked Lili.

Raul scratched the back of his head. "Not well, but it did get easier when we told her her part in the plan."

Ryuu nodded. "It's an important piece of the puzzle." She frowned. "Still, though, I don't like the risks. This is relying a lot on what me and Bell think of Freya."

Lili shrugged. "It was the only bet we could make."

Raul's brow furrowed. "…and what bet exactly are you talking about?"

"That whatever part of Freya created Syr wasn't all an act after all."

With the Bard:

Dixen sat idly in the main room of the Hostess. Around him, the waitresses bustled back and forth. Everyone seemed on edge, a nervous glint in their eye. After Freya's surprise visit, the tension had skyrocketed. The bard had witnessed how Mia had punched a hole through the wall. The worst, though, was Helun. The former handmaiden had become so nervous that she had been kicked out of the kitchen. Instead, she paced along the upper floors like a ghost. Even now, Dixen could count her footsteps. Idly, he set them to a beat, composing a tune in his head.

Foot traffic had been slow in the Hostess for a while as whispers of the coming storm brewed. While the people of Orario knew very little, they had endured enough to understand that something was coming. This was not the palpable fear of the Xenos or attacks by the Sun Seekers. After all, those were monsters hiding in the Dungeon. No, this fear was more defined and well-realized. It was not as thick, but definitely sharper. After all, everyone knew that Freya, and her Familia of monsters, were waiting in the wings.

"You know, I just don't get it," said Dixen. Lunoire, who was standing nearby, stopped to listen. "I mean, if Freya has gone off the deep end like you all are claiming, why hasn't she just destroyed Hestia Familia? I mean, she doesn't lack the firepower, even with Loki Familia standing with them."

Lunoire gave a soft glare. "Because, while Freya has gone crazy, that's not the only side of the story."

"I thought Helun had become Syr again?" asked Dixen.

There was a reverberating thunk sound. Everyone stopped working to watch as Mama Mia, hand still on the wooden mug, glared down at the musician.

"That ain't how it works, you half-wit," she said. "It was a contract with a Goddess, bound by her blood. Their roles have been switching back and forth for years, and Freya spent A LOT of time as that stupid girl. Goddess or not, that's gonna leave a lasting effect on a person." She grabbed a new mug and began wiping it down with a rag. "So, maybe the Goddess has gone crazy. I can speak from experience that it's possible. And if her Familia haven't been doing anything about it, I'm sure it's getting worse." Mia sighed. "We can't count on compassion from the Goddess, nor can we count on the reason of her Familia. And even if those kids have gotten stronger, a fight's got too many risks. So, we make one last plea." Mia's eyes had grown distant. "We pray that the stupid girl hasn't gone away yet."

Dixen sat quietly. "And what happens if she has?"

"Then we pray that Hestia Familia has had enough time to make a decent plan."

Everyone turned at the sound of the new voice. Helun, who wished to be Syr again, stood at the top of the staircase. Her eyes were red, and her face was lacking colour. Even her usually beautiful silver hair was dull and wispy.

"And if Syr won't listen to reason," continued Helun. "We hope that we can make Freya listen to force."

Mia nodded.

With the Boy:

The first thing Bell noticed about the suite of the Goddess of Beauty was the seeming lack of smell. He had expected perfumes and aromas, even just the brisk air. But instead, there was almost nothing of notice. It was the same with the lack of colours. The room wasn't ugly, but it was undoubtedly plain. In fact, it almost seemed spartan in its design. On further inspection, one would find that every piece of furniture, from the rugs to the chandelier, were of a quality so bogglingly expensive that it made the Hestia Knife look cheap in comparison. But still, these things did little to catch the eye. And then Bell looked upon her, and he understood why.

No one ever bothered studying the room of the Goddess because she always stood nearby. There was no need to make the room look pretty or smell nice because who would bother paying attention to that? Everything about this room served one purpose, to remind everyone that only she mattered. That all their attention should be on her, Freya, the Goddess of Beauty.

Sitting in the middle of her room, she wasn't actually looking at Bell. Instead, her eyes were focused on the city. Bell could see her pupils moving around lazily as if this great city was nothing but a painting she had commissioned on a whim.

"Lady Freya, the boy has arrived."

At the sound of the low gravely voice, Bell forced his head to turn away. He looked over at Ottar, the Warlord of Orario. Even now, knowing the kind of damage he could cause and the problems he had made for his family, part of Bell still wanted to be like him. This towering boaz had climbed his way to the pinnacle of strength. Through hard work and determination, Ottar built his throne. Brick by brick, battle after battle, the King never stopped moving forward in his quest for strength. And because of all that, Bell still admired him deeply. But all that admiration was nothing in the face of her grace.

"Ahhh, most excellent."

Her voice sounded like a gentle breeze on a pleasant day. It was like the weather itself would bend to her whim. Bell could already feel his knees wobble at the mere sound of her. The part of his brain that still belonged to a teenage boy in puberty imagined what other sweet sounds she would make. And even then, that part hated itself for disrupting her perfection. Still, though, Bell kept the image of Ais, and his Familia planted firmly in his mind. Even as Freya stood, her pale skin stealing Bell's attention, the boy kept his loved ones in mind. Still, though, even with the precautions they had taken, it was a struggle to remain sane.

"I had hoped you would give yourself in," said Freya. She smiled, and Bell felt an urge to prolong it. He wanted to do whatever it took to keep her smiling. "After all, despite what you may think of me, I do abhor bloodshed. And I would have hated to see what would happen to your poor Familia in open war." She walked towards him, bending low to make eye contact. "But we don't have to worry about that now, do we. You will be mine now, and I will make you into my perfect little Odr." She reached out a hand as if to caress him. Her eyes flashed silver. "Now, come with me so I can fix you."

It was that moment, in that position, that gave Bell the strength he needed, though. Even as Freya reached out her hand, he could see the insincerity behind it. There was another time when a Goddess had done the same, though. That Goddess had been a little pudgy, her face almost childlike. She was dirty from running in the streets and tired from a full day of work. Her smile reflected her demeanour, exhausted and apprehensive. It was far from perfect, but it had been honest. She had reached out her hand, and Bell had taken it. With that memory in mind, Bell moved Freya's hand away.

The boy was weak, and he knew that. His whole life, he had depended on the kindness of others. An old man had pretended to be his family. He had taken care of Bell, saving him from being an orphan. There had been a supporter, a smith, and an advisor. Three people that had believed in him when others would not. There were friends from far away that had taught him about making a family of his own. An elf that had taught him the true meaning of heroism. Each of them had reached out their hand to Bell Cranel. Whenever the boy faltered, overcome with hardship and strife, they had picked them up and given him their strength.

Once upon a time, a boy was about to die to a monster. But a gust of wind had delivered a girl to save him. Even though he was covered in blood and cowering in a corner, she did not judge him. Instead, she had reached out and asked him if he was alright. She had been his strength ever since.

Thinking of that girl now, as Bell often did, he could start to see the differences. Freya's body was perfection, but it was not Ais. Her skin lacked the rough edges that defined the muscles of Ais's body. Freya's hair fell like a waterfall, a perfect image, but it lacked choppy ends that characterized the blonde's appearance as if she had just returned from the Dungeon. Even Freya's eyes, silver like the stars, lacked the adorable naivety that made Ais so compelling. Freya was perfection, but how could Bell ever hope to fall in love with that? How could anyone ever expect him to?

The thought came unbidden, and the realization came so fast, that Bell couldn't help but laugh. His voice echoed through the chamber, disturbing its tranquillity, but he couldn't find a reason to care. Freya was still smiling, but he also noticed the confusion in her eyes. The flashing silver that signalled her charm faded. Even as he was laughing, Bell could feel the hatred rolling off the executives in the room. He reined himself in, getting the laughter in his voice under control.

"I'm sorry about that," he said. "I just realized something really funny."

Freya was standing straight now, an imperceptible frown on her face. She crossed her arms, peering down at Bell. He knew her look was dangerous, but he still struggled to keep the laughter inside.

"And what would that be?" she asked.

"I just remembered something I saw when I was a little kid," said Bell.

"Would you like to tell me?" asked Freya.

Bell nodded. "But first, you have to answer my questions."

"Ahhh, what a storybook moment," responded Freya, regaining her composure. "Yes, I think that sounds fair. Shall we sit and have lunch?"

"…are you the one making it?" asked Bell.

Freya turned to look at him, bewildered. "Now, that is something I have not thought about in a long while." She sighed fondly. "Oh, those were simpler times, weren't they." She shook her head. "But no, I will not be making it. Instead, it's one of those store-bought lunches."

Freya sat down, and a chair was soon provided for Bell. And even though he hated to admit it, the food was quite good. The Goddess did not try to make small talk, thankfully. Instead, she just studied him. It made him feel terribly subconscious of his food. When they were both done and the leftovers were taken away, Freya gave him her full attention.

Under her gaze, Bell remembered just how dangerous she was. He became aware of how precarious his situation was. Thankfully, the only other people in the room were Ottar and Hegni. He gave thanks to Hestia that Allen was not here, which would have made escape impossible.

"So, what are your questions?" asked Freya.

The laughter inside of him withered.

"…well, what does Odr mean?" he asked.

Freya nodded as if she was expecting this question. "My Odr is my destiny. They are to be my partner for eternity, ending my great loneliness."

Bell looked at her bodyguards. "But what about your Familia? Don't they make you feel less lonely? Aren't they a part of your family?"

Freya gave a sad smile. "As much as my children are a welcome presence, that is all they are. They would not be my equal, nor could they ever deny me. My Odr needs to be someone as pure and perfect as I am." She lay a possessive hand on Bell's arm. "Which is what you are. Or at least, it is what you were and could be."

Bell frowned but did not remove the hand. He was not taking any risks to upset Freya right now. Not when he was finally getting answers to questions he had been asking himself all year.

"Well, I guess that's my next question, then. Why do I have to be your Odr? What makes me so pure and perfect?"

Freya giggled. "Why, you silly boy, you don't yet realize just how special you are." She looked at Bell like he was a pet. "We Gods, even if we are looked away from our arcanum, still possess some gifts. One of mine is the ability to see souls. And in yours, I saw the first perfect soul. It was colourless, with a purity that I just had to see for myself. And then I met you and knew you would be my Odr."

Bell frowned. He opened his mouth to speak again, but Freya held one finger. He had one question left, and then the rest of it would begin. So, Bell thought long and hard about it. Finally, though, he spoke again.

"Do you have any regret for the hurt that you caused?" he asked. "Is there any part of you that feels remorse for the pain you inflicted or for my friends that you killed?"

Freya sighed, her gaze turning back to the city. "I do not have a simple answer, but I'm sure that you expected as much." She turned back to Bell. He nodded, so she turned back to the city. "In a way, I have regrets, but not for any reason that could be called good or just. I regret my actions because of how they pushed you away from me. The death of the Xenos made me sad because it made you sad. But I do not feel bad about it or that I was unjustified. I only regret that it escalated that far."

"And what about the pain that you caused Ryuu?"

Freya grew still and silent.

"I do feel bad about that. And the pain I caused to those silly girls at the Hostess," she said, hands clutched over her heart. "But I do not regret letting Syr be free. She deserves the happiness that the others are giving her."

Bell frowned. "But what about the Syr I saw playing with the children at the orphanage?"

Freya chuckled. "That Syr is an illusion in truth now. She is the final cry of a Goddess playing a game. I know they will be sad when she no longer appears, but that's just the problem." At Bell's silence, she continued. "Everyone will miss Syr. She had friends, family, and the possibility of love. Can I say the same? Who will miss me? Not the Goddess of Beauty, but me, Freya? Who will weep true tears when I am gone back to Heaven? How much of it will be the tears of the fanatical?"

Her voice grew quieter and quieter as she spoke. Bell's heart almost broke for her. Slowly, as to not disturb her, he reached out his hand.

"I can't give you what you want, but I can try and help," said Bell. "We all will. Everyone is willing to listen. Just stop demanding and ask us for help."

There was a moment when he thought he had done it. Freya had looked at Bell, and it was like she had seen him for the first time. But as soon as it came, it passed. The mask slid back up, and her smile turned wicked once again.

"A wonderful idea, perhaps," she said, her grin giving way to mania. "But do you know who I am?" She stood. "I am Freya, the Goddess of Beauty. The world is my garden, and you are my flowers. And when does a Queen care for the thoughts of her flowers? I will pluck you from the ground and trim your thorns. You WILL be my Odr, Bell Cranel."

Bell sighed. "So, the time has passed then. You really are as forgone as we thought you were." He stood as well. "Do you still want to hear what made me laugh?"

Freya nodded, confident that it did not matter. Bell, innocent as always, had marched up to her lair. She had him in her grasp, and he could do nothing about it. After this, all she had to do was keep Hestia Familia under control and take out the Sword Princess. But still, she had her Odr.

"It's just that you reminded me of a small child I once knew in my village," began Bell. "She was the town doctor's daughter, so she was much better off than I was. One day, I saw her begging her father for a pastry. There were dozens of them sitting there, but this little girl wanted one specifically. Her father told her to get over it and eat the pastry he had already bought. After all, one was as good as any other. The little girl disagreed, though. When she did not get that specific pastry, she started to scream and stomp her feet. She swung her arms around, calling her father many horrible names. I was with my grandfather at the time, and when I asked him what was going on, he replied, 'a spoiled brat is getting their just desserts.'"

Bell made sure to look Freya in the eye. When he finished talking, he saw her smile grow.

"My, what a charming story," she said. "Now, why don't you go with Hegni to your new room."

Bell shook his head. "No thanks."

Then, he jumped out the window.

With the Goddess:

Freya watched in astonishment as the glass shattered. However, she did not falter. She knew that her grip on this city was absolute and that she would regain her Bell.

"Aren't you afraid that he'll die?" asked Hegni, peering out the window.

Freya shook her head. "No, I'm sure that he has some kind of plan in place. It doesn't matter, though. Just get me my microphone."

As Hegni left, Ottar studied the Goddess.

"So, now you will charm the city?"

Freya nodded. "Now, I will charm the city."

Hegni soon returned with the microphone, which was hooked up to all the speakers in Orario. Freya cleared her throat. She could feel the way the people jumped at the sound of her voice. The thought made her happy. She tapped the mic once before speaking again.

"I want you all to listen to me…."

While that happened, Bell plummeted to the Earth. He did not fear, though, because he was caught soon after throwing himself outside. He felt a pair of claws latch onto his shoulder. He looked up and smiled.

"Thanks, Weine!"

The dragon girl smiled back.