The Tale of Odr: Freya's Fated Love
By : Ashkar44
...
Summary
Bell Cranel went to Orario to become a Hero and get the girl as he always dreamed of. See how his will and determination to become a Hero made him realize he was always destined to love and devote himself to one woman. A love that would make him the envy of the world and his determination to become stronger soar to never seen before heights. BellXFreya one-shot! LN16 spoilers!
Chapter 01
Bell Cranel had a clear goal in mind when he left his farm for Orario. Just as he heard his grandfather talk about his entire life, he was going to come to Orario and be a hero. He'd get to Orario, join a Familia, make a few friends along the way, and become the hero who gets the girl as he always dreamed of.
Bell realized quickly once he arrived, what he dreamed would not be such an easy reality to make happen.
Bell had gone to every Familia he could find. He started with the top Familias like Freya and Loki. When they had rejected him, he went to the next tier down such as Ganesh. He'd tried day after day to join a Familia, but none of them accepted him.
A few of the Familias simply politely declined, but most of them were a lot harsher than that. Bell had been literally thrown out, called weak, called small, and even been spit on a few times. His dreams were slowly withering in his heart and mind to nothing.
He had been in Orario for a week, and he still hadn't had any luck finding a Familia. He thought he'd have enough valis saved up for at least a month to find a Familia, but he truly had no idea how expensive it was in Orario.
Bell had been forced to go from a fairly rundown inn to one that was as shady as he could imagine since he couldn't find a Familia. That still didn't make much of a difference. Bell was nearly out of valis and would soon be sleeping on the streets if he couldn't find a Familia or a way to make some valis.
He was now down to his lasts night's worth of valis as he rose that morning. Bell tried a different approach and went to the Guild. He heard Familias that were recruiting would leave invitations with the Guild.
He went to the Guild with his hope renewed knowing that something good would happen today, he just felt it. He kept checking over his shoulder as he walked though. It felt as if someone was watching him, but he didn't notice anyone every time he felt it.
He finally got to speak with someone at the Guild. She was a very cute half-elf named Eina. Bell had tried to be charming as his grandfather taught him, and it seemed to work. The half-elf was blushing and offering her assistance for any other questions he had very quickly.
He walked out of the Guild with a smile on his face after that. It only lasted until he walked out the door and read the list of Familias who were openly recruiting. He had been to all of them already, save for one.
The reason he didn't go to that Familia would be obvious. The Hephaestus Familia only recruited smiths. Bell had no skill whatsoever that would get him into that Familia, and his hopes were withering again.
He scanned that list over and over again hoping he missed a Familia, but it was not meant to be. Bell wasn't aware he had gone to Babel until he was standing right in front of the entrance to the dungeon.
He saw adventurers walking around laughing and joking with each other. He saw others going about their days with smiles on their face, and it was all too much for Bell to handle.
All he could see were the people who laughed at him, threw him in the street, called him weak, and spit on him. Bell couldn't ever remember being angry in his entire life. Right now, he was enraged.
No one believed in him, and no one would even give him a chance to prove himself. Bell crushed the paper in his hand and his eyes burned with determination when he realized this.
"I'll show you..." Bell muttered to himself before he looked up at the sky. "I'LL SHOW ALL OF YOU!"
Most of the people around stopped to stare at the strange-looking boy with white hair and ruby eyes who was yelling like a crazy person. Bell paid none of them any mind as he stalked toward the entrance to the dungeon.
He bumped into someone he didn't notice on way in he was so focused on going in. He apologized and tried to be charming when she yelled at him. It worked and she blushed before dropping it and he turned back around more determined than ever.
He'd be a hero one way or the other, and he'd earn valis to keep staying in Orario. The heroes of old fought monsters without a God's blessing. He'd be like the Sword Hero of old and defeat monsters with his own strength and show everyone he was going to be a hero.
With his old leather armor, short sword, and dagger, Bell descended into the dungeon for the first time. He had no idea the impact this decision would have in the coming months.
From high atop Babel, Freya had been doing her new favorite hobby she picked up two days ago. Following the shining, bright soul of Bell Cranel. She had noticed the boy's unusual soul and had Ottar bring her any information he could find. It was more than she thought he'd find.
The boy had applied to her Familia but was turned away at the gates of Folkvangr. She couldn't be that angry at those on guard that day. They weren't openly recruiting, they never were, but they should have at least known she'd want to look at the boy herself.
One look at that soul and she may have just said yes. She had nearly gone and offered him a place yesterday, but she didn't after what she witnessed.
His soul had been shining less and less brightly every hour that passed. She couldn't invite him at that point if he was so easily dissuaded from pursuing his dreams so she held back.
She had thought she'd made the right decision as the morning went on. She watched as Bell walked to the Guild, his soul shining bright again only to see it diminish to nearly nothing. She was almost positive she'd made the right choice to hold back her invitation, and she'd never been more excited to see it was true.
The boy's soul had diminished with each step toward Babel and it was nearly nonexistent by the time he reached below her. Then... then the unthinkable happened. His soul vanished only to come back a hundred times brighter and more brilliant.
The sight of his soul burning like that brought Freya to her knees from atop her room in Babel. She had pressed her face and hands to the glass to get a better view as she watched him enter the dungeon without a Falna.
She had never witnessed a soul so intoxicating or pure in her entire existence. She had nearly orgasmed at the sight of it, it was so emotionally overwhelming. Freya had dismissed Ottar from the room after that and nearly had to crawl into her throne.
All she needed to do was sink two fingers into herself and picture that soul again for her to be sent over the edge of bliss. She had existed for longer than she could remember and had never felt something so strong in herself.
She needed to have that boy, but she also wanted to see how far he'd be willing to go to achieve his dreams. It would all be for naught though if he didn't survive his first day in the dungeon. If he did, the boy would be given a choice.
Freya wasn't sure which one he would choose, but she looked forward to his reply. She didn't for once think he'd disappoint her tonight with his choice. She pleasured herself for the rest of the time she could to thoughts of him taking the hard path instead of the easy one.
Freya knew this boy was special when it took her nearly three hours to think of anything other than Bell Cranel as she pleasured herself. Ottar was given his orders after Freya had touched herself up a bit.
Freya stared out her window from the top of Babel waiting with bated breath to see if the clear, bright soul of Bell Cranel would once again emerge from the dungeon.
Bell had stormed into the dungeon as a man on a mission. He stalked down the maze-like paths determined to kill any creature that came his way.
It wasn't until he had been walking for nearly ten minutes that he realized he had no idea where he was. He had started walking and making turns but failed to remember exactly which direction he was turning.
He stopped to try and trace his steps back when he heard a crack coming from the wall. Bell spun and watched as a Goblin emerged from the wall of the dungeon. Even Bell had heard of a Goblin before. They were one of the creatures you could find out in the world and not just in the dungeon.
Bell knew even a normal human without a Falna could kill a Goblin so he readied himself for his first battle. When the Goblin spotted him, Bell was going to charge with both weapons, but he heard more cracks happening.
He watched as two more Goblins came from the wall and now he was facing down three. Bell gulped and was tempted to run, but he let that fiery determination burn bright in him again and he charged at the first Goblin that emerged.
"HIIIIIIYYYYYYYAAAAAA!"
Bell met the dagger of the Goblin he charged with his own dagger in his off-hand. The clink of metal was foreign to Bell, and it seemed the Goblin was surprised. Bell took the opening to plunge his short sword into the Goblin's heart.
He watched as the Goblin turned to a black mist and a purple stone dropped on the ground. Bell was about to shout out in glee at his victory but felt something slice through his back.
"AHHH!"
Bell could feel himself bleeding through the back of his shirt, but had the presence to roll away. It was a Goblin he didn't see coming from the wall behind him. He had dispatched one, but still had three more to defeat now.
Bell lunged at the one who attacked him with his dagger. The Goblin blocked it and Bell went for the same move, but it wasn't to be this time. The Goblin used his second dagger and Bell was left to struggle against the Goblin in a battle of strength as their weapons were locked together.
Right as Bell was starting to get the advantage, he noticed a blade coming at him from the corner of his eye and rolled to the right. The other Goblins had caught up to them and he nearly had his head taken off by one of them.
He was quickly on his feet again and trying to figure out how to defeat these Goblins. He knew he couldn't take them all on at once, he needed to divide them somehow.
He moved toward the one on the right and sidestepped to the right so he was out of range of the other two. He brought his dagger down again as a backhand but didn't wait for his shortsword.
The Goblin blocked his dagger again but wasn't quick enough to react to his short sword. Bell's sword went right through his neck and the Goblin turned into a Magic Stone. This time, Bell didn't celebrate.
He rolled toward the closest one when he killed the other and tried driving his dagger into the Goblin's stomach. The Goblin blocked it then sidestepped his short sword.
Bell was glad he didn't put all his strength in his last blow for a kill shot. He was able to use his sword to defend against the other Goblin as it struck down at him.
Bell parried the Goblins dagger strikes three times before lunging at the other Goblin. It was looking for a moment to attack when Bell noticed he could get a sneak attack in if he timed it right.
Bell did and the dagger plunged right into the Goblin's eye turning it to a Magic Stone, but he paid for it. Bell left himself open to the other Goblin and it slashed his left arm. Bell winced in pain as the dagger tore through him, but he kept calm enough to counter-attack and the Goblin wasn't ready for it.
His dagger went straight into the Goblins stomach as his short sword went through its neck. It turned to a Magic Stone as well, and Bell looked around. There was nothing else around and he started chuckling.
That chuckle turned into full-blown laughter after just a few minutes. It wasn't the smart thing to do, but it was the only reaction Bell's body allowed him to have. He was so happy he'd just killed four Goblins by himself he couldn't stop laughing.
He picked up the Magic Stones once he collected himself and started walking back the way he came. He was glad he didn't get too lost as he found the exit and only needed to fight four more Goblins to do it.
Bell then memorized the path he took after that and explored the first floor of the dungeon until he was running out of energy. He was cut up and battered by the end, but he was alive.
He shouted in glee and got a lot of strange looks when he finally did start ascending out of the dungeon that day. He was on cloud nine when he went to the Guild to exchange his stones.
He was going to do it at Babel, but the line was very long. When the Guild employee asked what Familia he was in, he froze and then searched as if he forgot something to buy time. That very action was what caused him to use the excuse he dropped a bag of Magic Stones and would return after he found it.
He didn't think about needing to inform them what Familia he was in when he turned in his stones. He went back to Babel and hung out near the front of the line. When the third person he observed went up and they didn't ask for his Familia, Bell waited in the incredibly long line.
Bell didn't make a lot of valis that day, but it was enough for another night in that crappy inn, bandages, dinner, and breakfast the next day. He went back to his hole in the wall with a smile on his face and a pep in his step.
When he entered his room, something felt off to him. He knew he was staying in a shady place so he started looking around as he grabbed the hilt of his sword. He only made it two steps into the room when he saw what was different.
Sitting the in middle of his bed was a scroll. It had a wax seal, but no crest on it at all. Bell took one last glance around before sheathing his weapon and walking over to the bed. The contents of the scroll made Bell's smile and soul shine even brighter.
Dearest Bell,
I have never been as impressed with someone's desires to get stronger than I have of what I've seen in you. I see adventurers every day, but it has been a very, very long time since I've seen someone like you.
I cannot call you an adventurer for many reasons. First, I know you never got a Falna and so that would be the most obvious reason. However, I shall not call you an adventurer because you remind me of the Heroes of Old.
Those brave enough to venture into the dungeon and fight monsters for the betterment of mankind without a God's blessing. This world has not seen the likes of you since the Sword Hero, Albert Waldensteiin.
Your determination alone would have been enough for me to extend an invitation to you, but after what you have done today, I believe I shall offer you options. I wish for you to think about what you shall do after you hear them and what you do next will give me all the answers I seek on your desire to be a hero and not an adventurer.
My children made a mistake in turning you away, and I will rectify that if you wish. You have proven you have the desire and will to be an adventurer to me already. However, you have shown me something I've not seen in centuries, and wish to see if you believe you have proven yourself a hero yet.
If you believe you have done enough to gain entry into my Familia as one of my beloved children, stay here for the night and in the morning wait at the entrance to the dungeon. I shall send one of my children to collect you and bring you to me so I may give you my blessing.
However, if you believe you truly are as the Heroes of Old, I want you to continue to go into the dungeon without a blessing and determine yourself when you feel worthy to join my Familia. If this is the path you choose, pack up your things and head to the Benevolent Mistress.
Give the staff there your name and they will have a room already prepared for you. You shall be welcome to stay for as long as you wish to prove yourself in the dungeon without my blessing.
I want you to know that I will not fault you for either decision. I will still welcome you into my Familia with open arms regardless of the choice you make. I do wish for you to consider both of your options, and I eagerly await to see which you will choose.
Your Loving Goddess and First Admirer
Bell had never smiled brighter than he did after he finished the letter. If this had been any day but today after he arrived in Orario, the choice would be easy. It was still easy for him to make, but not in the way he would of just yesterday.
Bell immediately packed up his meager possessions and left the shady inn behind. He knew exactly where the Benevolent Mistress was and headed there immediately. He had always heard it was the best place to eat in Orario, but he didn't have the valis to spend to eat here.
He still doubted he'd be able to afford dinner there, but he'd get settled before heading out to find something cheaper to eat. When he finally did make it in the front door, the place was packed.
A lot of people stared at him, and it was probably because of all the bloodied bandages, but he didn't let it bother him. It got even better when an incredibly beautiful, silver-haired, silver-eyed waitress came up to greet him.
"Welcome to the Benevolent Mistress, my name is Syr, Syr Flova. Are you here for a drink or food?"
The longer he stared at her, the more he felt like he knew her from somewhere. He didn't know why, but he couldn't shake the feeling they knew each other. He knew that wasn't the case of course. He'd never forget meeting a girl this beautiful.
"Hi, Syr, umm, neither. I was told to come here. My name is Bell, Bell Cranel." Bell held his hand out and Syr shook it, that feeling inside Bell increased tenfold. "Have we met before?"
Syr looked surprised at what Bell said. She looked right at him and everything about her stare felt familiar to Bell. It was a sensation he just couldn't shake off.
"I don't think so. I've never seen you around here before, Bell Cranel."
"Yea, sorry, I just... I feel like I know you for some reason." Bell chuckled and scratched his neck. "Have you heard of me or did I just come here and make a fool of myself?"
Bell couldn't help the smile that came to his face when Syr giggled. It was like music to his ears.
"You're not a fool, Bell Cranel. Well, not tonight." she giggled again and Bell smiled even brighter and more charming. It must have worked because he saw Syr blush. "We were told you might be showing up. We have a room prepared for you. Would you like me to show you the way?"
"I could think of few things that would please me more, Syr Flova."
The blush on Syr's face and shy smile she directed at him was worth every word he managed to get out. He'd seen plenty of beautiful women in Orario, but he was captivated by Syr. In his mind, it was because she felt so familiar, but Bell couldn't say for certain if that was truly the reason.
Syr led him up to his room and showed him to the door. After an awkward conversation about how broke Bell was after he turned down dinner. He found out it wasn't just a room, but also three meals a day that was paid for.
Bell let her bring him dinner while he cleaned up a bit inside the room. When he got inside, he didn't think it would get better until he looked on the bed in the room.
On it was a set of armor, two short swords, two daggers, a backpack, and another scroll. Bell hurried over to it and cracked the unmarked scroll and read it.
Dearest Bell,
I knew you would be different from the rest and choose the hard path. It makes me as happy as it does sad. The joy of finding someone like you after so long only barely covers the sadness I feel at knowing I have to wait for you.
No matter how long I have to wait, I will wait for you, Bell. Know that the day I finally bestow my blessing upon you will be a joyous day for me. This room and three meals are yours until you decide it is time we meet.
I know you have not made the valis you should have because of needing to turn them in at Babel. The Guild offers more for them, and I do not wish for you to miss out.
When you come back here at the end of each day, leave your Magic Stones in the backpack outside your door in the corner. One of my children shall exchange them for you so you are given what you are owed, my dearest Bell.
Before you on the bed is my gift to you for wishing to be a real hero and not just an adventurer. It is by no means top of the line, but it shall suffice for now. I wish you nothing but the best of luck, Bell. And I shall be watching in great anticipation at what you will do next.
Your Loving Goddess and First Admirer
To say Bell was happy couldn't do his state of mind justice. Not only did he find a place to stay, gotten better items so he could survive in the dungeon, but he felt protected from reading that letter.
He looked at the items on the bed and his smile grew somehow yet again. He didn't notice the new set of trousers and a shirt. They were plain black, but it was the color Bell liked to wear under everything anyway.
The two short swords and daggers were nicer than what he had, but he knew they weren't anything magic or spectacular. The same went for the backpack and armor.
The armor was metal, which was a serious upgrade from his leather, but it was only a little better than one might expect from a starting adventurer. It was still fitted for speed as he liked, but it definitely offered more protection. He also liked the white color and red details. They matched his hair and eyes.
Inside the backpack, he found three potions and one with a note that said to drink it now. His cuts all disappeared, and he was left in bloody bandages with no reason to still have them on.
The others were both healing potions as well. For the dungeon, said the note on them. Bell got out of his bloody clothes and washed up as best he could in the basin in the room. He'd have to ask about a shower when Syr came back.
He heard a knock on the door, not a minute later, and told whoever it was to come in, not thinking to ask first. Bell turned and he saw Syr freeze in the door when her eyes landed on him.
He tilted his head in confusion until he realized he wasn't wearing a shirt and Syr was staring at him. The blush crept up her neck very quickly and Bell chuckled before putting his shirt on.
Syr set his dinner down on the table. It looked very good and like it was way too much food. That had to be at least two meals. Syr assured him it was alright, and Bell managed to remember to ask about the shower.
Once Syr had answered the last of his few questions, she had to head back to work. She went to walk out the door when she felt her hand grabbed and spun around. Bell brought her hand up and kissed the back of it before looking right at her.
"Thank you, for all your help, Syr Flova."
Syr blushed again and smiled at him. She went to open her mouth, but it wasn't her words that were heard by Bell.
"SYR! Stop flirting and get back to work!"
Everyone in the entire tavern definitely heard Mama Mia scream that up the steps. Syr had smiled again and blushed as she walked back down the stairs. Bell couldn't help but chuckle as he went to eat his delicious smelling dinner.
Bell wanted to do more but only managed to organize his new things before he felt sleep creeping up on him. He laid down that night with a smile on his face. He was happy, and he could feel someone watching over him.
"I won't ever let you down, Goddess."
Bell vowed to his Goddess in his heart and soul he'd do anything for her. Right before he drifted off to dreamland, Bell's soul flashed and two words in the Runes of the Gods appeared on his back...
~LIARIS FREESE~
The next morning Bell woke up and was greeted by Syr right at his door with his breakfast already in her hands. He knew then yesterday wasn't a mistake. The way she looked at him felt so familiar to Bell.
He still couldn't figure it out, but he happily accepted breakfast. He wanted to ask her to join him, but she told him she still had things to do. He ate alone and then got ready for the day.
Today, he went about it differently. He went back to the Guild and requested information on monsters in the dungeon. That same cute half-elf helped him again. She even went out of her way to give him a very in-depth class on the first seven floors worth of monsters.
Bell was sure she wouldn't go much farther than three or four, but she seemed happy with how focused he was and how much he learned from her. She even offered to teach him more and he happily accepted.
He didn't realize how much information someone could give him from the Guild about the dungeon. Having Eina help him would only be that much better. Bell could tell she was very professional and took her job seriously.
It didn't hurt she was so damn cute. She wasn't Syr, but there were a lot of things he could think of worse than having to stare at Eina to learn about the dungeon. Only after that did he go back, put on his armor, and head to the dungeon.
He took it slow at first this time and managed to cover a lot more ground on the first floor. He went back each night after the dungeon, flirted with Syr until Mama Mia got upset, ate in his room, and studied about the dungeon.
Every three days he'd go have a class with Eina. He felt bad telling her his reasoning was to have a better reason to get a Familia to allow him in knowing more of the dungeon, but it really wasn't a lie. He thought he should know as much as he could no matter what.
He set a clear goal to reach by learning about the dungeon. Bell felt if he could reach Floor 18 without a Falna, he'd prove it to himself he could be what he wanted to be.
He tried to set the goal to be six months, but after only three weeks, he already cleared to Floor 6. He thought maybe to push himself further, but that would give him the valis to purchase what he wished to gift to his Goddess for all her help and belief in him.
The reason he thought to push further he never admitted out loud. People would probably call him mad for believing this, but he was pretty certain he already had gotten to know his Goddess pretty well by then.
There was a reason he was drawn to Syr and why he took to greeting her by dancing with her all the way to the stairs when he got back from the dungeon each day. He only wasn't 100% certain of that because it sounded insane, even to him.
He could feel it though, the way she looked at him was the same feeling he got when he felt his Goddess watching over him. It was the only thing that made sense even if it did sound insane.
Bell pushed on day by day. At the end of his first month, he killed a minotaur that got loose and made it to Floor 9 when he was finishing up for the day. He ran into two members of Loki Familia then and it took some brainpower to dodge their question as to what Familia he was in. Realizing he had a magic spell the next day when he woke up knowing exactly what to say and do to use it made it feel like a reward for dodging the elf's questions.
Luckily, the elf, Riveria, was the only one who asked any questions. The human blonde girl, Ais, didn't say a thing to him. Bell realized then his grandfather wasn't mistaken. All the prettiest girls lived in Orario. Bell doesn't believe he's seen a girl who wasn't at least cute if not downright gorgeous.
Unlike his grandfather though, Bell didn't immediately wonder what they looked like naked. That mental picture only popped up when he was around Syr. He knew his grandfather would be disappointed in him, but Bell felt like he was made for his Goddess and no one else.
He knew his grandfather certainly wouldn't ever agree that one woman was enough, but the man was a pervert anyway. You had to take all his advice with a grain of salt.
Bell's charming smile would probably be classified as 'creepy' if he took all his grandfather's advice about wiggling his eyebrows and other ridiculous nonsense.
He certainly thought he was better at it than his grandfather. If he needed proof, he could just point to Ryuu. The elven waitress nearly fell over once and Bell grabbed her around the waist and by one of her hands.
He told her he finally got check off saving an Elven Princess from his hero list, and she didn't pummel him into the ground for touching her as elves normally did. Instead, she blushed and shyly looked away before thanking him and going back to work.
It was then he realized, while partially listening to his grandfather had been a wonderful idea. He also needed to adjust his strategy for thinking of one woman.
He felt Syr's angry eyes on him the moment Ryuu was out of sight. She moved quietly as a cat right up beside him and he's lucky he saved his hyde during this conversation.
"Is the Hero on to saving elves now instead of humans, Bell?"
"No, heroes always save the damsel in distress no matter who they are."
"Do they always try to make the Princess blush as well?"
"Some would say the Princess would already be blushing..." Bell turned and found she didn't find that as funny as he did. "But when the Princess is the best friend of the most beautiful girl he's ever seen, you always have to make sure to give it a little extra effort."
Bell looked over at her thinking he got her for sure. The look on her face said he didn't, and neither did what came out of her mouth.
"So you only care this person is beautiful then?"
"Yes, she's the most beautiful woman I've ever met... in here." Bell points to Syr's heart before looking down at her again. "It is just a coincidence she happens to be the most beautiful woman on the outside as well."
Bell smiled at her and went up to his room after he saw her start to smile. He sat on his bed smiling like an idiot for the rest of the night until sleep took him to dreamland.
Another month in the dungeon doing the same routine found him clearing all the way to Floor 14. Although that was a great milestone, he celebrated it for a much different reason. He finally realized he'd been being stupid and asked Syr out on a date, and she accepted.
While it was great flirting with her or just speaking to her, he realized he could take her out somewhere and they could talk without her needing to get back to work or him going to the dungeon.
He also had made plenty of valis, more than he thought he would. He was able to maintenance his gear and saved quite a bit since he wasn't paying for this room or food. He had already bought what he wanted for his Goddess. It was still a good deal of his valis, wouldn't be much to her, but he hoped it meant more than what it was worth.
It was that night he was certain there was some way his Goddess was Syr. She didn't like all hero stories as he did, but she did love the ones of the heroes before the Gods descended. It still didn't give him a clue as to which Goddess she actually was, but it would shock him if he reached his goal and he was incorrect.
He had the best night of his life with Syr on that date. They went out to eat, walked through the park, and danced before he took her home. He had no idea if he should kiss her or not when they left each other that night, but he didn't have to choose.
Syr made that choice for him when he realized that was exactly what she expected. He certainly wasn't going to turn her down and hoped he didn't disappoint her since he'd never done it before.
For Bell, it was indescribable. When their lips connected, it was like his whole body came alive for the first time. He only let it last for maybe 20 seconds, but it felt like an eternity.
When he looked at Syr to see if she felt it too, he got his answer when she grabbed his face and kissed him again. Bell never imagined his first kiss being with a girl so beautiful, and he also didn't think his second kiss would involve tongue, but Syr changed all that around in an instant.
After that night, it was no secret to anyone they were together. She would kiss him when he left for the dungeon every day when handing him his lunch no matter who was around. The thought of kissing her once he returned is what fueled him to come back more than anything.
Day after day Bell did this until another month had passed. Today he was leaving on his quest to reach Floor 18. Bell knew he truly only had to clear to Floor 16 to make it to Rivira.
He learned enough of the dungeon to know he'd have to run past the Monster Rex if it spawned. Bell planned to just sprint past the Wall of Grief the moment he laid eyes on it.
He also planned on telling Syr exactly how he felt about her when he returned. The more he got to know her, the more he realized what she'd always been searching for. It also gave him a much better idea as to which Goddess she was.
Bell hoped he guessed right, his gift would lose most of its meaning if he chose the wrong Goddess. He didn't think he was wrong, but he couldn't be 100% certain. He had never laid eyes on the Goddess he believes her to be.
When he prepared for the day, he geared up with everything he'd had since his first day at the Benevolent Mistress except his short swords. They were the only upgrade from what he initially started with.
He planned on getting some new armor if he survived this trip as a reward for himself. He'd like to find the same smith who made this armor. He liked it and it was very durable for being on the lower end of crafted armor. Bell thought he got lucky and somehow managed to get the finest set of low-end gear anyone had ever crafted.
He ran into those two girls from the Loki Familia again. He had done that a few times over the last three months, and they were always with the same other three girls. Bell came to know they were Tiona, Tione, Lefiya, Ais, and Riveria.
Once they had a werewolf with them named Bête, but the guy was an asshole. It almost made Bell furious he didn't remember him since he was the one who threw his Loki Familia registration in the dirt, called him weak, and threw him out, but he just used it as fuel that day.
The others were fairly nice, and all of them were beautiful. Tiona loved hero stories. Bell was pretty certain Tione only thought of her Captain. Ais was very quiet and kept to herself, and Lefiya was clearly infatuated with Ais. Riveria seemed to be the mother type who kept them all in line.
Bell could understand needing someone like that for them. They were all fairly young, very pretty, and very strong. He could imagine the havoc they could create, especially Tiona.
Bell had never met someone so happy all the time in his life. They needed to figure out how to turn her excitement into a potion. It would make Orario the happiest place in the world if they could.
He did like it when he saw them without Riveria in tow though. She had asked him a lot of questions every time she ran into him. He could tell it was starting to get to her that he was always so vague and secretive about what Familia he was in.
Bell would always chat with them and enter but would break away from them when they started to go a bit deeper. Not only did he want to avoid questions, but he also wouldn't get much stronger walking through the dungeon with adventurers as strong as them.
Today was no different and he broke away on Floor 10. He was somewhat grateful it was so easy to get there, but it almost felt like he cheated at the start. He contemplated going back but decided to continue.
Bell decided to see this through as recon and come back tomorrow and start on Floor 1 solo. It would do good to see the monsters on Floor 16 and know if the Monster Rex was going to spawn.
Bell knew that even though he killed a minotaur already, it would be no cakewalk having to fight more than one at a time on Floor 15 and Floor 16 if he got unlucky. Bell knew those Floors were for solo adventurers who were in the mid-level 2. If he could make it to Rivira, he believes he's proven himself to his Goddess and himself that he can be a real hero and not just an adventurer.
He had to cut through nearly twenty minotaurs on Floors 15 and 16 before reaching the Wall of Grief. He had gotten lucky and never had to fight more than two at a time at most. It was easier than he thought to keep one out of range with his magic while he dealt with the other with his blades.
Once it was one-on-one, the minotaur didn't really stand a chance, Bell was much faster than a minotaur and sliced them to pieces to get rid of them. Now he found himself in front of the Wall of Grief and his smile was beaming.
Bell knew even if the Monster Rex was here, he'd completed his goal. He was not suicidal enough to think he could defeat that monster and knew he was fast enough to cover the ground and make it to Rivira before it could get to him.
He sheathed his weapons, got ready, and took off right toward the exit. His first step inside the room made the wall crack and the Goliath started spawning. Bell had only gone a couple of hundred feet before he heard someone yell from behind him.
"Wait!"
Bell stopped and turned toward the incredibly deep voice. When he saw who was waving at Bell to run toward him, he took off right in his direction. Bell may have never met him, but he knew he should listen to an order when it was Ottar the King giving them to you.
Bell hadn't even made it halfway to Ottar before the Boaz jumped clear over Bell's head. He was nearly fifty feet in the air and pulled out two great swords. He came down on the Goliath's shoulders with a great sword each and cut right through the Monster Rex.
Bell just stared in awe as the monster turned to a black mist by a single attack from the Captain of the Freya Familia. Ottar had become his second goal when he believed Syr was Freya. Now, he was firm in his belief he set a good second step toward what he needed to do.
He stared right at the man while he was walking toward him, but his attention was drawn by the sound of heels on the floor. He turned around and smiled brighter than ever before.
Only a few feet away walking toward him was Lady Freya. This was the first time he'd ever laid eyes on her even if he believed he knew who she was. It was like seeing a taller, purple-eyed Syr again for the first time.
She could be more obviously beautiful as Freya, but Bell saw everything the same as he did when he walked in the Benevolent Mistress. The only difference was the way she presented herself.
She hadn't done her hair or clothes to look like the cute girl next door. She looked like the Goddess of Beauty, War, Magic, and the many other titles she held. When she stopped in front of him, he was tempted to take his victory dance now instead of waiting until he got back to the Benevolent Mistress.
"Goddess Freya."
Bell went with the charming smile and bow instead of his normal dance. He wondered if she knew that he knew she was Syr. He also wondered if anyone had ever playfully bantered with her. He imagined most men and women would have trouble thinking in her presence and not be able to.
"We finally meet, Bell Cranel~"
Now he knew she didn't know. Or at least, it didn't seem like she did. When she kept going, he was certain she didn't know.
"I know I told you I'd wait, but I couldn't help myself anymore~"
"It is quite alright, my lady. I planned on coming to see you tomorrow."
"Oh? You figured out who I was?"
Bell was tempted to laugh but simply kept smiling. He motioned to Ottar before holding his elbow out.
"I did. With your Captain here, I am quite useless in the security department. Could I be of assistance in escorting you to the Eighteenth Floor so we may talk further, Lady Freya?"
She put her hood back up, but Bell didn't miss the smile when she nodded before taking his arm. It was just like being with Syr, but she was taller. They walked off a ways from the entrance away from Rivira so no one would see her.
Bell still wasn't sure if he was allowed in the dungeon without a Falna, but he knew for certain Gods were not supposed to be in the dungeon. They ended up in a clearing a little more than fifty feet from a forest they walked through.
When they got there, Ottar kept going to give them some privacy and check ahead just in case. When Freya was staring at Bell, he couldn't stop smiling. Even when he answered her question, it was with a smile on his face.
"Are you going to tell me how you figured out I was the Goddess helping you?"
"Your eyes."
"My eyes?"
Bell's not sure how, but his smile was brighter. The look on Freya's face was one of genuine curiosity that a Goddess this cunning probably never had before.
"Yes, your eyes. I could feel you watching me. A lot of the time it came from the top of Babel. There is only one Goddess who resides that high up in the Tower of Babel."
"You could sense... my gaze?"
"Yes, all the time."
Bell sees her hesitate and wonders if she finally figured it out. He has a feeling he should only push this so far or she won't be ready for what he is going to tell her. He decides to give her some of what he knows and wants to say.
"It's been wonderful getting to know you these last few months, Lady Freya."
Bell wonders if anyone has ever seen the Goddess of Beauty surprised. She even stumbled a bit at the very beginning and he's sure she's never done that to anyone.
"W-What do you mean, Bell?"
Bell smiles at her again and holds his hand out as he does every time he comes back to the Benevolent Mistress from the dungeon. Freya still doesn't seem to believe what's going on so Bell enlightens her.
"I mean, why wait until I get back to the surface for my victory dance? The girl I always fight to come home to is right in front of me now."
Bell took her hand, spun her around like he always did, and finished with a dip. He kissed her this time as well as he had been doing since their first date. Freya was still in a little disbelief as they stood and he still held onto her.
"How long... have you... known?..."
"Looking back, from the moment I met you at the Benevolent Mistress, but I was only sure you were my Goddess. I didn't figure out it was you until we went on our first date."
The fact that all she could think to do was kiss him was the greatest of rewards. He knew he made the right choice to only tell her that much. The rest could wait.
"Shall we head back to the surface so I may receive your blessing, Lady Freya?"
"I told you I couldn't wait anymore. I'll do it right now, dearest Bell." She saw him look around and assured him. "Ottar will not let anyone near us."
She didn't give him time to protest and undid the straps on his shoulders. Bell reached for the ones on his sides, and the upper part of his armor came off easy enough.
He turned his back to her and lifted his shirt, but he heard her gasp and looked behind him. She looked very surprised again.
"Bell, did you join another Familia?"
"No, I'd never!"
"But you have... Oh... OH!" Freya looks like she figured something out. "I knew you were special, my dearest Bell."
He watched the drop of blood hit his back and Freya had a dazzling smile plastered on her face at the sight. Bell had two skills and a magic and gained it all without a Falna. She couldn't wait to see what they were.
She didn't have a piece of paper to show Bell, but she could take care of that when they got to the surface. When her blood hit his back and she could read everything, her heart raced faster than it ever had before. She knew Bell was very special, but she never realized how special until this very moment.
Bell Cranel (Level 2)
BASIC ABILITIES
⦁ Strength - E 425
⦁ Defense - E 485
⦁ Dexterity - D 530
⦁ Agility - D 570
⦁ Magic - E 400
⦁ Luck - G
⦁ Immunity - G
MAGIC
⦁ Arcane Bolt - Bell's love for his Goddess grants him the ability to harness her domain of magic - Swift Strike Magic (No Chant)
SKILLS
⦁ Liaris Freese - Rapid Growth - Fast growth as long as desire lasts - The strength of the effects corresponds with the level of the user's desires and love toward his goal - As a side effect it makes the user immune to charms
⦁ Odr - The Fated One - The truth must be revealed and accepted for effects to activate (Freya cannot read the rest yet)
Freya knew she felt something stronger toward him than simply being drawn to his soul. She didn't truly need to find out what the Odr skill did because that was all she needed to read.
She still couldn't believe he finally came, and she had found him. And not as the Goddess of Beauty, but a cute, simple waitress who'd been looking for him for millennia.
She kissed him again out of nowhere and she doubted she'd ever get used to how it made her feel. He said everything right when it was needed to be said as well.
"I have much more to tell you, but how about we worry about that tomorrow? Would you like to return to the surface as much as I would, my love?"
Freya didn't take his offered arm, she took his hand and intertwined their fingers. They followed Ottar up until near the exit. Freya sent him ahead knowing he'd cause quite the distraction, and she and Bell slipped past unnoticed.
When she finally took him to Folkvangr, she introduced him to her children as her beloved. Bell loved it, but Freya knew her children did not. She'd need to set them straight tomorrow morning and informed them all to be there for a meeting of the entire Familia.
It had taken far too long for her liking to parade her love around Folkvangr, but she finally had him alone for the first time without any illusions between them. She saved the bedroom for last knowing they wouldn't be leaving it once they entered.
Bell had gotten comfortable on her bed looking absolutely delicious, and Freya had taken her new favorite spot in his lap. She had barely had any time to savor the taste of his mouth before there was knocking on the door.
"Go away!"
She went right back to attacking him, but the knocking didn't stop. She stormed over to the door and threw it open ready to murder whoever was on the other side. She opened it to see Allen and did contemplate killing him for a moment.
"What?!"
"I apologize for... interrupting, my lady, but I was told by a Guild Messenger you needed to receive this immediately. No matter... what you were doing, my lady."
She ripped open the message and read it. It did nothing to calm her murderous rage, it only increased it. She knew she should have claimed him sooner in her Familia and much sooner as Syr.
"It appears I am required at the Guild immediately. Allen, collect Ottar, you two shall accompany me along with Bell. It seems Ouranos wants to speak with us."
Freya grabbed Ottar and left the rest in charge of security at Folkvangr. Not once did Freya let go of Bell's hand, and it didn't surprise Ottar in the least.
While he knew Bell Cranel was still weak, he had braved the dungeon without a Falna for his lady. For that, Bell Cranel had Ottar's respect even if he was still weak. He'd make sure his lady's love got strong as well.
For Allen, he was simply annoyed. It irked him that some weakling who looked like a rabbit got his lady's love so easily. He would give him a little respect for going in the dungeon without a blessing, but he didn't think it was enough to earn this level of devotion from his Goddess.
The people of Orario were in complete shock as Lady Freya walked past them. The sight of her always brought most of them to their knees, but seeing her holding hands with someone and smiling was something altogether different.
The streets of Orario went silent everywhere they walked until they arrived at the Guild. It was Eina who showed them down to talk with Ouranos, and Freya shouldn't have been surprised who else was in the room.
Not only was Loki there, but so were all her executives except for Gareth. The Sword Princess was in his place and her little band of misfits. Freya still kept up the perfect smile and showed no reaction to any of it.
Only Bell waving to them and saying hi made her slip a bit when she glared at the girls. It wasn't for long, but long enough she thinks Loki caught it.
Although, Loki looked distracted by her Bell and she was tempted to claw out the flat-chested girl's eyes. Bell did unimaginable things to her, and they were just getting started.
"You wanted to speak with me Ouranos?"
"It has been brought to the Guild's attention you have violated some serious rules, Freya."
"Which rules am I accused of violating, Ouranos?"
Freya knew well and good which ones she broke. She couldn't help herself when it came to Bell though. Even getting to spend every day with him and go on dates with him as Syr wasn't enough for her.
She went back on her own word to Bell and sought him out. She simply couldn't take it anymore. It wasn't enough to be with him as Syr, she needed to have him as Freya. Her own impatience got her into this mess, but she was very good at getting out of things such as this.
"The most severe of the accusations is the exchanging of Magic Stones that were acquired illegally in the dungeon, entering the dungeon as a God, and bestowing a blessing upon someone in the dungeon. How do you answer to these accusations, Freya?"
Freya knew all of that was true, but she wasn't going to admit that. She did, however, think she knew a way around all of these charges with no repercussions to herself or her Familia. She'd just have to gather a little more intel before she brought out her trump card.
"And who accuses me of these acts, Ouranos? Is there proof these violations truly occurred?"
"You're not getting out of this Freya!" Loki decided to chime in. "My girls saw you in the dungeon on Floor 18 giving your blessing to Bell! You should check your surroundings better instead of sucking face with a boy!"
Freya looked over at Loki, but the smile never left her face. It didn't even falter when she realized Loki hadn't seen her initial slip up because she too was enamored with Bell.
It did make Freya wondered how that came to be, but she could figure all that out later. She turned back to Ouranos.
"And if I can prove it was not me that stepped into the dungeon?"
"My girls saw you, Freya! There is no getting out of this with one of your tricks!"
Freya paid no attention to Loki's outburst and never took her eyes from Ouranos.
"Then I would have to reconsider what type of punishment is warranted. It must be done now though, Freya. I cannot give you enough time to plan something."
"There is no need, Ouranos. If you allow me to send Allen out, I shall bring you proof without leaving this room."
Surprisingly, Bell stepped up to her and put his hand on her arm to stop her. She looked down at her love, and what he said melted her heart even more.
"Don't give up your escape, my love. I will take the blame for everything that happened."
She already knew he was meant to be hers, but it even surprised her how in love Freya was becoming with Bell Cranel. It only grew every second she was in his presence.
"I lived that life to find my love, Bell Cranel. Now that I finally have you, there is no need for it any longer."
"If your Vice-Captain can make it back in sufficient time, I will allow your evidence, Freya."
Freya smiled before turning to Allen. Her Vice-Captain was very eager to help his lady.
"Allen, please bring Helun here, and make it quick."
Allen bowed and sprinted from the room. He wasn't known as the fastest in Orario for nothing. The rest waited for him to return. The Loki Familia began talking amongst themselves except to glare over at Freya as she attached herself to Bell.
She used all her skills to thoroughly distract Bell while they waited. Freya could tell he didn't like she was in trouble and was blaming himself. Her kisses, lovingly grazes of her fingers on him, and reassuring words it was her impatience to finally be with him caused all this did calm him down.
It also made him very handsy and she loved that the most. She never thought she'd enjoy a man grabbing her ass in front of others until today. Freya was tempted to take Bell right in Ouranos's Chambers for delaying the inevitable with this stupid summons.
Unfortunately, Freya only got to shove her tongue in Bell's mouth twice before Allen returned. Although she was disappointed he returned so quickly and interrupted a very steamy make-out session with her Bell. The look on the faces of Loki, the Sword Princess, and Riveria was almost worth having to stop.
When Allen did walk in with Helun, all anyone except Bell saw was the waitress Syr from the Benevolent Mistress. All of them were confused about how this would prove Freya's case, but they didn't have to wait long.
"Ouranos, I would like you to meet Helun, one of my children. Or as most of you know her, Syr from the Benevolent Mistress. Would you please tell Lord Ouranos what you did today, Helun?"
"Of course, my lady." Helun bows to her Goddess before turning to Ouranos. "I entered the dungeon today disguised as Lady Freya to keep an eye on Bell Cranel."
Bell was lost. While Helun certainly looked like Syr, she felt... different than Freya. Bell knew it was Freya in the dungeon with him today and all the other days at the Benevolent Mistress. He knew he'd never met this Helun until right now.
"This nonsense is your defense! I expected more out of you Freya!"
Loki didn't look to buy it, but Freya kept that smile on her face as she nodded at Helun. No one had any idea what it meant until Helun spoke.
*VANA SEITH*
Everyone in the room was stunned as Helun turned into Freya and Freya turned into Syr. Helun kept the magic up long enough to look at everyone in the room before canceling it and going back to her normal self. She turned and addressed Lord Ouranos.
"I usually take my lady's place when Bell Cranel leaves the Benevolent Mistress in the morning, and we switch places before he returns in the evening. However, today was a special day for my lady. It was the one-month anniversary of their first date, and my lady wished to do something special for Bell."
Helun smiled wistfully and everyone around wondered why she was so happy herself simply saying Bell's name. Freya understood. Helun felt all of her emotions when Freya was Syr. She had no doubt Helun was in love with Bell herself.
"When my lady asked me to watch over Bell that afternoon, I misinterpreted her meaning, and took it quite literally, Lord Ouranos. I knew it was my lady's wish for Bell to join her Familia and in my haste, I bestowed her blessing on him in the dungeon. It was my own misunderstandings that has led to these unfortunate circumstances we now find ourselves in, Lord Ouranos."
"As you have seen, Ouranos, while Helun can appear like me, and may bestow my blessing in that form. She does not possess my Arcanum so a god never stepped foot in the dungeon."
Ouranos was going to say something, but Loki cut in once again.
"That's bullshit! How can she bestow your blessing without Arcanum?"
"Don't get your boy shorts in a bunch, Loki." Freya smiled a little brighter at Loki's reaction. "I can prove it if you like. How about you send your Sword Princess over here so Helun can show you it works? I do like collecting pretty things and she'd fit in great in the Freya Familia."
"You think I'd give up my Ais to the likes of-"
"Enough!"
Ouranos's voice boomed over the room and everyone turned to the God atop his throne. It seemed he had heard enough bickering between the two Goddesses.
"Due to this new evidence, I have decided on the repercussions of the acts of the Freya Familia. You shall have your child demonstrate she can bestow a Falna. If she can, all charge brought against Freya shall be dismissed for entering the dungeon."
"I'm not giving up one of my children so you can prove this Ouranos!"
"I did not say you would be, Loki. Freya has not denied helping to cash in illegally obtained Magic Stones for someone without a Falna entering the dungeon. Nor has she denied Bell Cranel was bestowed her blessing inside the dungeon."
Freya absolutely didn't like where Ouranos was going with this. She narrowed her eyes at him, and even the God of the Dungeon felt a little uneasy continuing with his punishment. However, he kept going.
"The punishment for these acts shall be the way Freya proves it was not her in the dungeon, but Helun." When Ouranos looked at Freya so knew she'd want to kill Ouranos before he even opened his mouth. "Helun shall use her magic and prove she can give a blessing by removing the one on Bell Cranel. He shall then be free to join another Familia."
"What?!"
Loki isn't sure she's ever smiled so genuinely in her entire life at Freya's outburst. Now, she didn't care if she got out of everything else. She finally had the chance to get Bell Cranel into the Loki Familia.
She'd been obsessed with the boy since he bumped into her outside of Babel and he called her beautiful. Loki smiled wider thinking he'd look great sitting next to Ais as they had meetings in the Twilight Manor.
"I apologize for doubting your wisdom, Ouranos."
Loki gave him a slight bow but directed a smirk at Freya. Freya had been getting the best of her for years, but she felt like things would finally turn around for her now.
"You can't make me do that!"
Everyone was surprised to see it was Bell Cranel who shouted that and approached Ouranos's throne. The boy didn't seem daunted at all to approach the God of the Dungeon. Even when Ouranos narrowed his eyes at young Bell Cranel, it didn't seem to phase him at all.
"I can, and I will, boy. You are lucky this is all I punish you with. It is illegal to enter the dungeon without a Falna, I could ban you from Orario for the rest of your life if I felt like it."
Ouranos was usually not one to express exactly how powerful he was, he let his reputation as God of the Dungeon do that for itself. He was surprised that didn't seem to calm the boy at all.
"The True Heroes of this world didn't fight monsters with a Falna, and they didn't need one to step foot in the dungeon! I don't give a-"
"Bell."
Bell was seriously about to fly off the deep end at Ouranos, but a hand on his shoulder and his love's voice stopped him in his tracks. He saw the pain in her eyes and wished he could take it away right now. When he took her hand, he saw it fade somewhat, but was sad he couldn't fully wipe it away.
"Please, just... go with it. We will figure it out, but please don't get banned from the city. I couldn't bare it."
Bell backed away, and only moments later, Helun was Freya again. Bell lifted his shirt and waited. He felt the drop hit his back and knew he lost his Falna. What was surprising was the fact he didn't feel any different.
He still felt an indescribable connection to Freya, and he didn't feel any weaker at all. He felt like he had before he was bestowed his blessings. That was something he didn't expect. When he looked at Freya, he realized she still felt it too by the look in her eye.
"Now that it is proven true, all other charges against Freya Familia have been dropped. Bell Cranel, you have had a long day, and have a big decision to make. I shall not allow any to influence your decision and you shall stay at the Guild for tonight. We shall hear your decision tomorrow afternoon after you have had rest and some time to think."
"What are the rules for choosing a new... Familia?"
Bell felt his heart split just thinking it, saying it made him want to weep. Ouranos was quick to answer though.
"Those shall be delivered to your room for you to review. The Guild employee outside the door shall show you to your room. I must still speak with Freya and Loki, you are dismissed."
Bell turned to leave without even bowing to Ouranos. He started walking away, but never took his eyes off Freya for a moment. He stopped when he was going to pass her and changed course right toward her.
"Hey! Ouranos said no influencing your decision by speaking with Familias!"
He turned toward the redheaded Goddess, and the look in his eye makes Loki seriously question whether he would even consider joining her Familia now.
"It has nothing to do with Familias, it is personal."
Ouranos nodded his head it was okay, but Bell didn't even see it. He pulled a box out and handed it to Freya. She looked at it puzzled and went to open it, but Bell stopped her with a hand on top of hers.
"I wanted to give this to you tonight, but I will not be able to. Open this when you get home, love. You will have many things, if not everything, in the world more valuable than this, but when you open it I want you to remember why I want you to have it. I want you to remember that while I can always feel you with me, with this, you know I am always with you as well."
Bell laid a kiss on the back of her hand and left the room. He'd probably get himself killed if he didn't get out of there soon. Even seeing it was Eina in the hall that was going to escort him did nothing to cheer him up.
Bell spent the entire walk up to his room for the night thinking. He didn't mind the girls from the Loki Familia he had gotten to know, but seeing how happy Loki was to rip him away from his love got him enraged.
He didn't know what he'd do in terms of joining a Familia, but he was certain it wouldn't be the Loki Familia. Eina made small talk telling him about several Familias inquiring about him but he only nodded in response.
He could tell she wanted to say more but was grateful she didn't. He would not be good company right now and was glad when he was shut away in his room. He couldn't stop bouncing on the bed waiting for his guidelines to be delivered on what Familias he could join.
He didn't stop bouncing until the scroll was in his hand. He was handed two. One with the Familias that inquired about him, and another with the guidelines. After reading the guidelines over and over making sure he missed nothing, Bell realized he knew exactly what Familia to join.
Freya watched her one true love walk away from her and her heart broke a little more with each step. When the door closed, she visibly flinched at the loss of Bell. Even Ottar noticed it and made sure she was alright.
She turned to Ouranos for whatever it was he still wanted to say, but she only paid enough attention to nod or shake her head. She was solely focused on the box in her hand. It wasn't very big, and she had enough pretty things to know it was more than likely a necklace.
That didn't mean she didn't want to open it. She nearly did a few times, but she never did. Bell asked her to wait, and she would. The rest of it went by in a blur for Freya, and that was beyond unusual for her.
There was never a moment she wasn't prepared. Freya made it a policy to be five steps ahead of everyone else, but she was in a daze as she walked back to Babel. She was so out of it, she bypassed Babel altogether and walked straight to Folkvangr.
The sight of her children certainly lifted her mood considerably. Inside these walls, she focused her mind. Bell wasn't lost to her, he simply was forced to join another Familia.
Freya could easily make a deal with whatever God or Goddess ended up with Bell. It wouldn't be difficult unless it was Loki. There was always the choice of declaring War on whoever Bell chose, but she vaguely remembers Ouranos warning her not to do that.
"Ottar, assemble everyone in the courtyard. I shall address them shortly."
"As you wish, my lady."
Ottar went off to complete his task and Freya calculated in her mind all her options as she made her way to her room in Folkvangr. She had many ideas, but none could be started until she found out which Familia Bell chose.
She went to sit on her bed to open Bell's box, but it felt wrong without him there. She went to her desk instead. She set the box down and opened it. A single tear slid down each cheek as she looked inside.
Bell was certainly correct that in terms of monetary value, this would be the cheapest thing she owned. She knew though it was nearly every single valis Bell had earned in the dungeon.
The tears were because it was priceless to her, she didn't care how much money was spent on it. It was a simple silver chain with a silver rabbit charm. One of the eyes was a ruby and the other was an amethyst, matching both their eyes perfectly.
Bell had proven already he knew she was Syr, but this was the final thing she saw that proved everything she felt. He hadn't just bought this, it had to have been made, and that meant he truly knew who she was much longer than she believed.
She immediately took it out of the box and put it around her neck. Freya had more priceless jewelry than anyone she could imagine, but she rarely wore any of it.
People used jewelry to enhance their beauty or grace. Freya was the definition of both, there was no need to enhance anything. However, she doubted she'd ever take this necklace off.
She opened the doors of her balcony to address her children and her smile was beaming again. No matter what, she'd have her Bell and her children. They all went silent the moment she stepped out.
"My children. I am happy to see all of you here for me, but it is to speak words I wish were not true. They have taken my Bell, my Odr, from me..."
Not only did Freya stop because the words hurt so much to say. She also wanted to see how they would react to it. Freya did not like the reception Bell was welcomed to. Only Ottar and a few others treated him acceptably to her.
Freya heard the grumblings and whispered words of disdain against her Bell and she had enough. She had given them everything and they hated the one destined to make her happy.
"ENOUGH!"
However, it was not Freya who silenced everyone. Ottar turned around to face the rest of the Familia he was standing in front of. Freya was smiling down on Ottar as it seems Bell Cranel brought something out of her Captain she had been waiting to see.
"You have all benefitted from the love and protection of our lady. You have come here and received more love than you deserve for how you are treating our lady. She has given you all love and protection and you spit at the idea of her receiving the same!"
The gaze from Ottar, as he looked at the rest of his Familia, made some of them flinch. They'd never seen the Boaz so angry.
"Some of you are right, Bell Cranel is weak. But he is deserving of your respect. Did any of you prove your love and devotion to our lady by braving the dungeon without a blessing? How many of you would have survived to reach Rivira in only three months? He may be weak now, but I will make sure it does not last long. I was told Bell Cranel's growth as he received our lady's blessing and he was almost Level 3."
Some of them looked impressed even if they still couldn't stand the boy.
"Bell Cranel almost achieved Level 3 in three months with nothing but his desire to prove himself to our lady as his power. I will train him myself, and every one of you will aid me. If I have learned anything about Bell Cranel, it is he will find a way back to our lady. Her happiness is all you should care about. If you do NOT wish to help me..."
Somehow, the seven-foot-tall Boaz seemed to loomed over the entire courtyard and he'd never looked so terrifying. He gripped both hilts of his weapons so tight, he nearly bent the metal.
"I will deal with you myself."
Every person in the courtyard took a step away from Ottar out of natural survival instincts. Even Allen took a few steps away from the Boaz. It looked like their Captain was on the verge of slaying all of them.
The menacing aura around him disappeared in an instant when he felt his lady's touch on his arm. He turned to face her, and he'd never seen her look quite so happy at him. The smile on her face warmed his entire soul.
"Thank you, Ottar."
As if this moment couldn't get any better, Freya cupped his face and laid a kiss upon his forehead then each cheek. For the first time many of them could ever remember, Ottar the King smiled a real smile.
"You're happiness is my only concern, my lady."
His smile was about to drop back to his normal neutral expression, but his lady hugged him around his waist and buried her head in his chest. The smile stayed until she backed away and beamed up at him.
"No one has ever had a greater Captain to lead their Familia than I have found in you, Ottar." Freya patted him on the chest and turned to the rest of her children, Ottar kept smiling. "Ottar is right. I know my Bell will find a way back to me, but be prepared for tomorrow. I want to be ready for everything so all of you need to be prepared as well."
Freya turned and walked back to her room in Folkvangr with Ottar in tow. She needed to map out a few scenarios as to what could happen tomorrow, and it needed to be done now.
She wouldn't be able to sleep in that bed without Bell so she busied herself all night and into the morning with plans. All that was left when she finally raised her head from her desk was to hear what Bell had decided to do.
Bell Cranel found himself in a situation he never dreamed of after he had been in Orario for a few days. He remembered everyone turning him down. It didn't matter if it was in a cruel manner or a polite one, none of them wanted him.
Now, there were so many Gods and Goddess who wished to hear his decision, none of the rooms at the Guild were big enough and they had to hold it outside in the courtyard behind the Guild.
Bell saw all the Gods and Goddess he had read asked about him. They all ranged in Familia Rank from the top with Loki all the way down to the Goddess with no members Hestia. Bell noticed she looked to be an excited Goddess and she was very tiny.
Bell was fairly certain she wasn't even five feet tall, but her chest belonged in the realm of holy crap. He was surprised she didn't topple over every time she walked.
That didn't mean much to him though, once he scanned all the Gods and Goddess to see who all came, his eyes never left the only Goddess he'd ever truly care about, Freya.
The smile would have been immediate anyway, but it went beaming when he saw the necklace she was wearing. He wished she didn't have to blow a kiss at him. The nod from Ottar was welcome as well. He couldn't wait to get to know him in the future.
"We all know why we are here. So, Bell Cranel, what Familia have you decided to join?"
Lord Hermes was the one leading it since Ouranos couldn't leave his place. Bell didn't like the God at all. Most of it had to do with his first meeting with him, but Lord Hermes also didn't come across to Bell as someone who you could trust.
"After I looked over the information provided to me by the Guild about all the Familias who inquired about me and what rules I need to follow in selecting one, the decision truly came easy to me. It was made clear to me I was no longer allowed in the dungeon without a Falna. Although, I have already proven you do not need one to venture into it by making it to Rivira without one."
Bell heard the murmurings of everyone and smiled a bit. It seemed some didn't know he had gone into the dungeon without a blessing. He saw those Gods' and Goddesses' eyes shine in delight. He knew his next words would send them all into a frenzy.
"Therefore, the Familia I choose to join is..."
Bell made sure to give each God and Goddess a good look at to make them sweat. He wanted to get them all excited as he was when he came to Orario. That way they could feel what he did when they rejected him.
"The Freya Familia!"
"You can't do that!"
"Bell, you were just released from the Freya Familia, you can't join them again."
Loki was the one to shout, and Hermes was the one who tried to tell him he couldn't. Bell didn't pay them any mind, he only stared at Freya, but he still explained that he could indeed do that.
"I can, and I will. The guidelines given to me state I must choose a new Familia as if I was released from my previous one. That means I can choose any Familia I wish, even the one I was let go from. Although, I must wait to join officially."
Most of the Gods and Goddesses realized the loophole he just exploited, but he still kept going. He'd be apologizing to Lord Ouranos for his disrespect very soon after he realized the God left this loophole for him.
"I can join the Freya Familia after I wait a year. I did not need a Falna to get stronger, and I'll show all of you I don't need the dungeon to get stronger either. Just because I cannot go in the dungeon does not mean I cannot train. I'll sleep in the streets, help around Orario for food, I don't care. I'll wait a year and then I'll join my love."
Bell hadn't looked at anyone but Freya. It was like he was talking to her and everyone else didn't exist.
"I applied to all of your Familias, and you all turned me away. Only she gave me what I desired, and it is I who am destined to do the same thing for her. None of you see what I see. You only looked upon the greatest woman to exist as a Goddess of Beauty or trophy to be had. That is not what I see, at all."
Bell's smile he directed at Freya warmed her soul.
"I see what she truly needs, and I can be the only one to give it to her. I see a woman who just wants to be loved. Someone who needs someone to see beneath all the titles and elegance to know she is surrounded by love but lonely. I will always love her as a woman first before anything else, just as she has needed to be."
"You won't even survive the streets of Orario for a year!"
Bell turned his head to see who said that, but his gaze was drawn back the moment he went in search of who said it.
"No streets for my Odr." Freya walked right toward him. "He cannot stay in Folkvangr, and that is fine. That is not where he belongs anyway."
Freya finally stood in front of her love. One hand resting on his cheek the other grasping her necklace. She'd never looked at anyone the way she looked at Bell right now, and it wasn't missed by any that there was a flash on Bell's back.
"You belong with me, always. My rooms in Babel are not owned by the Freya Familia, but the Guild. It shall break no rules for you to stay there, my Odr. We shall never be parted again, my love."
Freya leaned down to kiss Bell, and everyone saw both of them start to glow. There was a faint white aura around Bell Cranel while Freya had a pure silver one. When their lips connected, both of their auras seemed to meld together into one.
Even very few of the Gods realized exactly what just happened. Freya took Bell's face in her hands and stared into those ruby eyes she loved before she smiled at him.
"We are bound for eternity, my Bell. Our souls intertwined for all time. You shall never be far from me ever again."
"Eternity shall never be long enough for me to show you how much I love you, Freya."
Freya kissed him again, but only chaste as much as she wanted to devour him. Ottar's newfound enthusiasm and belief in Bell had raised Freya's higher and now she was rewarded with the greatest prize she could imagine. She looked around at the other stunned Gods and their children. She decided it would be good to leave them all even more speechless.
"You may still call me Freya, but I will also accept Bell's wife or Bell's soulmate as preferable ways to be addressed."
Some of the people were so shocked, they passed out. Freya didn't mind any of them. She stared at Bell as he took her hand and they headed to Babel.
'No, we are headed home.'
Freya thought to herself as she stared at her love. When they reached the top, she took him to the window in her throne room to enjoy the view before she took him to bed for the first time.
When Freya looked at Bell against the backdrop of Orario and the sun, she couldn't help but think he looked like a King and that she had finally found him. Bell was confused when Freya's arms went loose around him.
He turned to see what was going on, and he couldn't believe what he was seeing Freya do. Freya herself never even thought twice about it. She had finally found her King, and there was only one thing left to do now that she had him.
Bend the knee...
.
.
.
Chapter 02
Bell thought he was seeing things as he watched Freya drop to her knees in front of him. It wasn't until she reached for his pants that he realized she did indeed intend to do what he thought she was. He grabbed her wrist to stop her.
"You don't have to do-"
"I'm craving it, Bell~"
The look in her eyes certainly wasn't lying to Bell. The fact she was drooling just thinking about it made him realize it as well. It made him hard in an instant.
"The first time I saw you enter the dungeon without a blessing, it brought me to my knees, Bell~ I had to dismiss everyone and crawl into that throne so I could touch myself to the thought of you~"
Freya started slowly unbuttoning his pants and if it was possible, Bell got even harder watching her.
"When you walked into the Benevolent Mistress that night~" Freya shivered at the memory. "I wanted to take you right there in the doorway~ It took everything I had not to offer this to you when I showed you to your room~"
Bell's pants hit the floor and his cock sprung free. Freya licked her lips at the sight. Bell swears he somehow got a little bigger in the few seconds it had been since Freya hit her knees.
"Everything about you is... perfect."
Freya ran her hand up the underside of his cock up to the tip. She wrapped her fingers around it and twisted a few times before stroking him back down.
"Ohhhh... m-my..."
Bell couldn't even keep his eyes open at the sight. Just because he'd jerked off a few times didn't mean he'd been with a woman. The sight of a woman as beautiful as Freya doing this to him nearly overwhelmed him so he had to close his eyes.
"Look at me, Bell~"
Everything she said since she went to her knees was the sexiest thing Bell had ever heard. He kept thinking it over and over every time she opened her mouth, and he could do nothing but comply.
Her hand had stilled around the base of his cock, and when he opened his eyes, he nearly lost control of himself. Freya swirled her tongue around his tip then wrapped her lips around his cock and started taking him down.
Every tiny movement down his shaft made his body tense more and more from the pleasure of feeling her lips wrapped around his cock. Every second Bell didn't think it could feel any better surpassed the one before it.
Freya kept their eyes locked together and it was a sight Bell would never forget. She never looked away or stopped until she had all of him down her throat.
The second Freya stopped, Bell's entire body relaxed. It felt like every nerve in his body finally settled and it was not what he was expecting.
Bell thought for sure he'd not be able to stop himself from cumming right down her throat. He felt relieved of the pressure, but from his body, not his cock.
Bell's right hand went behind Freya's head, and his left went down to touch her breasts. She barely wore anything most days and it was easy to get under her dress and play with her nipples.
Freya winked at Bell and then moaned on his cock as he pinched her nipple. She kept her same steady pace as she took him out of her mouth. She swirled her tongue around his tip again and took him back down a little faster.
Freya took him down over and over again, and she could say she was impressed. She thought for sure he'd have cum by now knowing he'd never been with anyone before.
She didn't mind though. She hoped he lasted an hour. There was nothing quite like the feeling of being on her knees for Bell. She was surprised how well he was doing turning her on as well.
He'd never looked away from her and used both his hands to the maximum effect where he could reach. Bell had her dripping and it wasn't long before she was touching herself while continuing the pleasuring of her love.
Freya had been salivating so much at the thought and action of sucking Bell's cock and he had lasted so long, she was slurping him down now. The lewd sounds turned her on so much she sunk a second finger inside of herself and moaned straight down Bell's cock.
Freya didn't think it could get any better, but Bell proved her wrong. The hand behind her head grabbed a fist full of hair while his other cupped her jaw.
Bell then started thrusting into her mouth faster than she could suck him down herself. It made Freya let out a long moan up and down Bell's shaft.
As soon as her fingers ran over her G-spot again, Freya exploded in an orgasm. It only intensified when Bell pinched her nipple, shoved his cock straight down her throat, and held it there as he let spurt after spurt of his seed run down her throat.
Freya had pleasured herself plenty since descending to the lower world, but this was completely different. Every wave of pleasure wracked her body with ten times the intensity they normally did.
Whether it was Bell's surprising stamina, his cock, or swallowing his seed, she didn't know. She just knew it had something to do with him.
Bell released his hold on her hair the moment her waves ended as well. She wrapped her lips tightly around his shaft and started taking him out of her mouth.
She milked him for every drop until she neared his tip and went straight back down. She did it a few times to make sure she got it all before cleaning his tip off with her tongue.
She even slapped it on her lips a few times and gave it a kiss when she saw he was still hard and ready to go. She winked up at him and stood. She meant to grab his cock and lead him to the bedroom, but he kissed her before she could.
She was a little surprised after what she just did, but she knew by his tongue in her mouth he must not have cared or realized. When she faced him to devour his mouth, his tip grazed her dripping folds and it sent another wave of pleasure up her spine.
Freya moaned into Bell's mouth when it happened and it made him pull her even closer to him. Bell was determined to hear every sexy, sultry, erotic noise Freya could make.
Freya did break away and grab his cock. She meant to use it as the time to stroke him back to life but he was still rock hard. She started leading him toward the doors to the bedroom, but he grabbed her wrist and spun her.
Freya wasn't sure what happened until she was in Bell's arms and being set down on her Throne. She went to sit up a bit, but arms around her thighs stopped her. She looked down to see Bell's face just inches from her folds.
"Mmm~"
The sight made her moan without him evening touching her. She could tell he was going to ask but didn't bother after her reaction. He buried his face right in her folds, and Freya was lost in the clouds.
The way he ran his tongue up and down her seam as he put pressure on her bundle was just the beginning of Freya's pleasure. He started swirling his tongue around her bundle and sliding his tongue in deeper with every pass.
It felt like he drove her mad with lust for hours like that until he finally buried his tongue inside of her. He was sucking and licking at the same time and it made Freya's entire body start to tremble.
The coming orgasm had been steadily building until he went so deep with his tongue. The second his tongue grazed her G-spot, Freya screamed out, tightened her thighs around Bell's head, and nearly pulled his hair out.
"OHHHH! MYYYYYYY! BELLLLLLL!"
Freya's entire body convulsed and spasmed as Bell continued to lap her up. She could hear his tongue lewdly lapping up everything coming out of her right now, and it was the sexiest thing she'd ever heard.
She was half-worried she would suffocate Bell with how deep she was pulling his face into her, but his tongue never slowed for a moment. He kept flicking over her G-spot over and over again until Freya only saw white and heard herself being lapped up by Bell.
"So delicious~"
Freya only heard mumbling, but it didn't make it untrue. Bell would never get enough of the way she tasted. He wanted to get every drop he could and willed himself to continue lapping it up until Freya was done riding out her pleasure.
When Freya was finally finished, Bell took one last long swiped up her seam to get any he missed before kissing his way up her body. She had recovered enough when he made it to her lips for Bell to see the dreamy look in her eye.
He didn't have to worry if she'd have a problem kissing him as she grabbed his face and plunged her tongue into his mouth. Freya continued to devour his mouth even as she felt Bell lift her in his arms.
Freya didn't even stop when she felt her back gently laid on the bed. There was something about tasting herself on Bell's tongue that she found incredibly erotic.
When he finally broke the kiss, he started trailing kisses down her jaw, neck, collarbone, and straight to her breasts. Freya had no idea when she'd lost her clothes, but she was completely naked other than the necklace Bell had given her.
When Bell finally made it to her nipple and swirling his tongue around it, her entire body arched from the pleasure as he bit down on it with his teeth.
"Mmmmm~ Yes, Bell~ More~"
He continued to exceed Freya's expectations as he gave her even more than she needed. He took the other nipple in his mouth and used a free hand to play with the one he just left. Freya couldn't contain her moans and screams, to begin with, but then she felt Bell push inside her.
"YESSSS! LOVE! YOURS!"
"SOOO... TIGHT... LOVE!"
Every inch Bell pushed into her and stretched Freya out was another plane higher she reached in bliss. He was pressing every button on every wall inside of her at once and her whole body arched again.
She started cumming before he was even seated completely inside of her. The sensation of him claiming her along with his mouth and hands on her was too much for Freya. She'd never felt so much pleasure all over her body at once.
"YES! YES! YES!"
When Bell finally was hilt deep inside her, her waves intensified. Not only did she feel complete with him like that, but he also didn't stop there.
He pulled halfway out and went back in. He wasn't fast and he wasn't slow. It was the perfect pace to time each deep thrust into her with another wave.
Freya's body was spasming so much with each wave, she was concerned she would squeeze Bell's cock right off. He never stopped though and Freya was lost in the stars of pleasure for what felt like an eternity to her.
It was only when her entire body finally relaxed that she realized Bell was sucking on the crook of her neck and he slowed his pace down considerably to allow her to recover. The feeling of him still slowly stretching her out around his cock did nothing to sate her need for Bell, it only drove it higher.
Bell went to lean up and look at her, but it was his turn to suddenly have his world flipped. He had no idea what just happened until his back hit the bed and he saw Freya looming over him.
The sight Freya made on top of him, completely nude with his cock inside of her, he tried to burn into his brain. There wasn't an inch on her that wasn't perfect, and the look of pure bliss on her face would never leave him for as long as he lived.
"Mmm~ Gods, Bell~ My dreams did not do you justice~"
Freya started rocking her hips and it felt to Bell as he'd never been deeper inside of her. He felt his tip rubbing back and forth against her womb and he wanted more.
"You're so... Perfect!"
Bell snaked his hands up her perfect thighs and around her hips to grab on to that perfect ass. He pushed his hips up to go even deeper as he pulled and pushed her faster to grind on his cock.
He could tell Freya was enjoying every second of it as she started to moan louder and louder. Bell sat up but continued to pull Freya into him. He now had access to those perfect tits and licked every inch he could reach with his tongue.
He moved a hand behind her ass to keep forcing her into him but ran his other up her body. He went straight up her middle, through the valley of her breasts, and didn't stop until it was lightly wrapped around her throat.
When he forced her head to the side so he could suck on her neck, Freya wrapped her arms around his neck and started bouncing on his cock as he made her grind into him. It felt like he was moving against every wall she had inside of her, and he didn't think he'd last much longer.
"OH! GODS! BELL! PLEASE! GIVE IT... TO ME!"
Bell would have gladly complied with how he heard her beg for it, but there was no need. Hearing Freya say that made his body go stiff before it felt like he exploded. She continued to bounce up and down on his cock as both their releases washed over them.
"YES! YES! YES! YES!"
"SO! FUCKING! GOOD!"
Freya only had enough brainpower to scream one word as Bell seemed to expand his vocabulary by one word as he spilled into Freya. He didn't think it would get better than feeling her cum around his cock, but he was certainly mistaken.
There had been nothing that felt as good as slamming into her while he was painting her velvety walls with his seed. When his last spurt erupted, he held Freya there against him until they both collapsed.
She could barely breathe as she laid on top of him. It wasn't until they laid there for nearly ten minutes that she was able to raise her head and look at him again.
As she gazed at him, she couldn't help but marvel that every second spent with him made her more in love and more in awe of him.
When she leaned down and kissed him, it was the most passionate one she had ever given him. If it wasn't for the mind-blowing sex, it was for the fact he was still very hard and ready for more.
Just kissing him while he sat inside of her like this was making her blood boil again and her core starting to heat up. Even Freya could have never expected the kind of feelings Bell Cranel would awaken inside of her.
Freya took to biting his earlobe and neck as he had done to her, she heard him starting to whimper at it and she was right behind him as he started to thrust into her again.
He was barely pulling out of her, but he was pushing impossibly deep inside of her the way he was doing it. She had to bite down on his neck to lessened her cries as each thrust sent a wave of heat through her body.
When Bell stilled again deep inside her, she could feel his tip in her womb and it sent out ripple after ripple of tiny waves of pleasure coursing through her. She felt his hand reach as far around her ass as he could, his fingers curled around her thighs just next to her folds, and he spread her even wider to push completely inside of her.
"Oh... my..."
The sensation was so overwhelming, she couldn't even cry out. Freya's voice was barely above a whisper and she needed to shut her eyes to block out all the stars gathering.
She felt Bell's mouth working its way down her collarbone toward her breasts and she didn't think she'd survive that.
Then suddenly, Freya felt empty. Bell's weight below her disappeared, his cock no longer filled her up, and his heat was nowhere to be found. Freya looked down in disbelief, only to feel his heat up against her again.
She turned her head, but she never got it around. She felt Bell's hand on the back of her neck pushing her head down. His other hand was on her right hip, holding her tight and her ass in the air with his cock positioned to enter her again.
"Mmm~ Yes... Bell~ Pleas- OH! YES! YES!"
Even though Bell would love to continue listening to a completely aroused and cock-starved Freya sound seductive, slamming into her tight, wet folds couldn't wait any longer. Bell wasn't gentle with her.
He slammed hilt deep into her over and over again. The sight of this Great Goddess with her face in the sheets and ass in the air all for him turned him into some animal. He didn't mean to, but he took a fist full of her hair and pulled back hard on it.
"Mmm~ Harder, Bell~ HARDER!"
Bell loved listening to her strangled cries as he pounded into her, but he needed more of her. He slammed home and stilled inside of her, he could feel her trembling as he leaned over her back. He snaked his hands down her hips and back, slide them along her sides, and took a breast in each hand.
"Come here, love~ I want to play with all of you~"
Bell leaned back once more but brought Freya with him. Her back was pressed to his chest, both his hands were fondling her breasts, and he was putting his mouth to work on her back, shoulders, and neck.
"OH! BELL! PERFECT! YOU'RE PERFECT!"
As soon as they were upright, Freya was lost again. He started pounding into her again, but he was everywhere on her. His mouth was everywhere on top of her, he left one hand to fondle her breasts while the other snaked down her middle and he started rubbing her bundle in circles with his middle finger.
When he pushed down on her bundle, pinch her nipple, bit into her neck, and hit her womb all at the same time, Freya felt like she left her body for a few minutes. When his seed spilled into her at the same time, she couldn't control anything that came out of her mouth.
"FUCK! Y-YOURS! GOOD! O-YES! FU-GOOD! GODS! Y-ALWAYS! YOURS! ALWAYS!"
"FEELS! PERFECT! INSIDE! FUCK! YOU!"
Bell wasn't much better at forming real thoughts. Every thrust was another spurt of his seed into her, and he's amazed he could speak at all. It truly felt indescribable to spill into Freya's wet, velvety walls.
They rode out the waves on their knees pressed together. Bell still had his hands all over her, but Freya had arched her entire body and wrapped her arms around his neck. She was limiting his mouth to her neck, but he didn't care.
He nibbled on her earlobe and spoke sweet nothings into her ear until they both collapse on the bed. He had finally slipped out of her when they landed on their sides and Freya immediately turned, grabbed his face, and kissed him.
She tried to convey everything she could into that kiss so he understood. Freya thought she'd done a great job the way he cupped her face and sensually ran his hand up her sides as their tongues danced.
She was confused by his titled head when their eyes met, it was when he spoke that she realized exactly how out of control Bell Cranel could make her.
"Mmm~ I've never seen your eyes glow before~ Do they do that all the time?"
Freya laughed and not a short giggle. It was a full-on belly laugh. It was all she could think to do when he looked that cute after what just happened. Anyone else would be a mindless puddle only wishing to do whatever she desired.
"No, my love~ It seems you claimed me so properly, I can't even control my Charming Gaze."
The cocky smirk and look he gave her while he played with the end of her hair should have probably made her mad, but she couldn't be mad at him, especially when he finally spoke.
"Hmm, shouldn't I be a slave to your every desire now, my love?~"
"Mmm~" Freya ran her fingers down his neck to his chest. "I believe we had that covered before I lost control, my love~"
Bell leaned in and bypassed her lips, much to her displeasure. However, when he licked her earlobe and whispered low in her ear, it lit the fire in her again.
"No~ Never your slave~ Always your other half~"
"Always~"
Freya agreed, looked him in the eyes, and brought him in for another kiss. His left hand snaked down to his cock and she couldn't believe it. He wasn't hard, but he wasn't far from it. He was more than halfway there and it only took a few strokes to get him ready again.
Freya was about to lean down and take him in her mouth again, but his stomach grumbled very loudly. They both broke the kiss and started laughing. Bell was a little embarrassed, but there certainly wasn't any need for that.
They both needed a break anyway because she had many more plans for her love that night. When they both stopped laughing, she looked him in the eyes again.
"Let's get some sustenance inside of us, my love~ You did a proper job making love to your wife~ Now~" Her voice dropped so low Bell was halfway done by the sound of it. "You need your energy so she knows what it is like to be fucked by you~"
Bell followed her advice... for the most part. He didn't 'fuck' her before they got food. He rolled Freya on her back and feasted on her until she could barely breathe.
Getting her release on his tongue three times he counted as his appetizer before dinner. He just couldn't let her leave without doing something after she said something like that.
Bell truly had no idea how many 'plans' his love had for him. They spent three days locked inside her rooms. The only time they left the bed was to eat or fuck on some other surface. One of his favorite memories was her pressed up against the glass overlooking Orario while he took her from behind.
His love had no boundaries when it came to them he soon found out. She'd do anything with him, and he obliged every fantasy she ever had in those three days. He knew she certainly had more, but he got in as many as he could.
Today was the first day he'd be leaving her side since his decision at the Guild. He had meant to have this meeting the next day, but Freya got him a little sidetracked.
He'd never complain, but he probably should have done this sooner. He's sure that there isn't a man or woman alive who wouldn't begrudge him his reasoning for waiting three days.
If there was anything Bell noticed on his walk through Orario, it was the stares. Everyone he passed stared at him. It didn't matter if they were male or female, young or old, an adventurer or normal citizen.
They all stared at him.
Even once Bell had kissed his love goodbye outside the Benevolent Mistress, everyone kept staring at him. He thought the staring would decline immensely, if not disappear, without Freya at his side, but it didn't at all.
No matter where he was, people were looking at him. Most of them, he could tell, were jealous or envious. Now that, he could understand. He'd be jealous or envious of himself if he saw someone with his love. She was the definition of perfection.
However, some of them stared in awe, and those are the ones he didn't understand. It wasn't until he heard whispers from others about him going to the dungeon without a Falna that he understood those looks.
When he finally got to his destination, he was glad to see he didn't have to wait in line. Eina happened to have no one at her desk so he walked right up to her. The half-elf always had a smile on her face, but he couldn't help but notice she looked somewhat tense as she saw him.
"Mr. Cranel, how may I help you today?"
Bell knew that wasn't a good start. Eina was obviously upset about something, that's the first time she's called him anything other than Bell as far as he can remember.
"I know this may be an unusual request, but would I be able to speak with Lord Ouranos, Eina?"
Surprisingly, Eina had a quick answer to that Bell was not expecting.
"Yes, we were told you may show up soon and request such a thing. If you may follow me, I can show you the way."
Bell nodded and walked behind Eina. He could tell Eina was debating on saying something to him and realized the moment she decided to do it. It would be a hard moment to miss, she smacked him on the arm, hard.
"That's for going in the dungeon without a blessing! What in the world were you thinking?! I knew I should have questioned why you paid so much attention in my classes!"
Bell chuckled at the upset half-elf. She certainly didn't like that.
"Sorry Eina, but you never asked what Familia I was in. I didn't want to get you in trouble or worry you so I said nothing. I hope you can forgive me, Eina."
He watched the half-elf sigh and look at him. It seemed she just needed to smack him a few times to regain her normal composure.
"I forgive you, Bell. I kind of have to, now that I have been assigned as you Guild Advisor."
Bell was happy to hear that. He knew he lucked out. Eina knew more about the dungeon than most adventurers did. She'd be a great source of knowledge until he could step foot in the dungeon again.
"I'm glad to hear it Eina. I hope you won't mind continuing our classes. I'll have a lot of time on my hands since I won't be able to go into the dungeon until next year."
"I don't mind at all Bell."
Eina smiled at him and he smiled back. He had a feeling he and Eina would become good friends in the future. It wasn't long after they made it to the door and Eina left him.
The room was now familiar to Bell and he saw Lord Ouranos sitting atop his throne as he was last time Bell was here. Bell knew he couldn't leave it.
"Lord Ouranos, thank you for agreeing to see me."
"Think nothing of it, Bell Cranel. I knew you would be back soon."
"I would like to apologize for my disrespect a few days ago, Lord Ouranos. You made sure to give me a loophole to remain where I wanted to. I let my anger at the situation get the best of me, and I took it out on you. I apologize once again, Lord Ouranos."
Bell bowed before the God and meant every word he said. No matter his emotions, Bell knew the Gods and Goddesses deserved his respect until it was shown they didn't deserve it.
"As I said, think nothing of it Bell Cranel. You are young and you will make mistakes. As long as you learn from them, you shall be alright in the future. I also believe Freya to be correct in her assessment."
"Lord Ouranos?"
Now it was Bell's turn to be puzzled. Surely this God didn't mean that the way Bell thought he did. He was happy to hear Lord Ouranos say it was for reasons other than what he thought.
"You are very special, Bell Cranel. There is something about you. I believe you shall be a great help to me in the future. I can feel it. I believe you are going to change things for the better, and that will be all the apology I need from you, Bell Cranel."
"I hope to not let you down in the future, Lord Ouranos."
Bell bowed again and Ouranos dismissed him from the room. That went much better than Bell believed it would, and now he was headed back to meet his love.
Bell wondered how her talk went. Bell promised her it would be alright, but he couldn't be sure that was true. He simply hoped it was.
When Freya watched her Bell round the corner, she sighed in sadness. The last three days with Bell had been the happiest she'd ever been in her entire existence. Not having him at her side felt like she was missing a piece of herself.
However, Bell was right. She needed to do this on her own and he had things he needed to do as well. They would be back together soon enough.
Freya didn't even bother knocking, Ottar opened the door to the Benevolent Mistress for her and she walked right inside. There were no customers yet, but all three people in the room stopped immediately when they saw her enter.
Of course, she knew them well. Not that they would know that other than Mia. She had been her Captain before Ottar. It would not be strange to Chloe and May that she knew Mia.
It would, however, surprise Chloe and May how well she knew the both of them. She didn't acknowledge them though. She walked right through the Benevolent Mistress and up the stairs. She only looked at Mama Mia to say.
"Tell Syr and Ryuu they have a visitor in Syr's room when they get back."
Freya didn't wait for an acknowledgment, she ascended the stairs into the room she stayed in plenty of times. She smiled right before she turned the handle and entered.
Right in front of this door was where Bell had kissed her for the first time. She would never forget what that kiss felt like to her, it always brought a smile to her face.
When Freya entered with Ottar, she ran her hand over a few of the surfaces knowing she'd probably never set foot in this room again. She brushed her fingers over the chair at the desk remembering all the times she got ready to go out with Bell on dates sitting in that chair.
She ran her fingers along the footboard of the bed remembering having it full of outfits and not knowing which one to choose to go out in. When she looked at the closet door and started to remember, she realized all her memories went to moments that consisted of Bell.
When she smiled and reminisced a bit longer, she remembered all the talks she had with Ryuu. When she had found her in that alley half-dead and ready to be rid of this world. It made Freya frown and smile thinking of her friend.
And that is exactly what Ryuu was to Freya, her only friend.
Sure, she could probably count Bell now in that category, but he was so much more than just a friend. Ryuu was the only friend Freya had truly ever had, not that the girl knew.
Just as Freya was remembering all the shopping trips she and Ryuu had been on, the door opened again. Syr walked in first with Ryuu trailing behind her. It made Freya smile when Ryuu stepped in front of Syr upon seeing who was waiting for them.
No doubt Ryuu was probably mad at Freya thinking she stole Bell from Syr, and that was partially why she was here. The other reason, she wanted to tell her friend the truth.
"What can we help you with, Lady Freya?"
Freya smiled again at Ryuu. Even when the elf was angry, she was still polite. That was something Freya admired about her. Even when her emotions flared up, Ryuu could remain calm and collected.
"I wish to speak with you."
Freya motioned for Ottar to leave them alone and took a seat on the bed. She patted the bed for both of them to join her, but only Syr sat next to her. Ryuu grabbed the chair from the desk and turned it toward her. It made Freya want to frown.
"Are you here to explain why you stole Bell from Syr, Lady Freya?"
Ryuu was still polite, but obviously upset. Freya couldn't help but love her friend more. She had stared right at Freya and didn't so much as blush.
Anyone else wouldn't be able to dare stare so long at Freya, but Ryuu's love for her friend had given her a willpower very few possessed in this world.
"No. I'm here to talk with you, Ryuu."
That caught the elf off guard and she glanced away. It wasn't long though before she was looking back at Freya. Freya could tell the elf was confused.
"Me? Why would you want to talk with me, Lady Freya?"
"You are the one I wish to explain everything to, Ryuu. It is no mystery to Syr why Bell is mine. I only wish for you to understand as well. When I started doing this, it was only for one purpose. To find my Odr, I did not mean to make a friend in the process. And now, I only want my friend to understand."
Freya looked at her elf friend and smiled. It was time to go for broke, and hope Bell was right. She didn't want to lose Ryuu, but she couldn't lie to her friend knowing Helun would be Syr from now on and she'd never see Ryuu again if she didn't tell her what was truly going on.
"The same friend I found in an alley ready to die. That same friend I spent countless hours with shopping. That same friend I have come to love over the years. That same friend who I spoke happily with about when I finally found my Odr."
*VANA SEITH*
As soon as Freya nodded at Syr, she cast her spell and they swapped appearances. When Freya looked at her friend, she noticed the elf stumble backward out of her chair and nearly fall over.
In any normal circumstances, it would have been a little funny. However, given what she just told Ryuu, it was worrisome, not funny. Freya didn't have the hope Bell did about Ryuu's understanding, and it seems she might be right over her love.
"Y-You're..."
Ryuu couldn't even think. Watching Freya and Syr swap appearances would have been mind-altering enough. However, watching Syr be the one who cast the magic and appeared completely unaffected by now being Freya was probably the most shocking of all.
Freya stood as Syr to approach the elf but stopped when she saw Ryuu take a step back. Her face fell and she looked at the ground, but it wasn't long before she was looking right back at Ryuu again.
"I'm Syr, and Syr is me. It is true whether you wish to believe it or not, my friend."
"Don't call me that!"
Freya's heart did break a little when Ryuu said that. She nodded at Syr and they changed appearances again. She had done what she wanted to. Now, she just needed to finish speaking her mind and the rest would be up to Ryuu.
"You may deny it, but you have been my friend for years now, Ryuu. I never intended to make any friends, just find my Odr. However, I saw a little of myself in you that night in the alley. You looked so lonely and lost, just as I have been since I've come to the lower world. No matter what you want to believe, I want you to know this, my friend."
Freya made sure to face her friend fully before saying this. No matter what Ryuu ended up deciding after this day, Freya wanted her to know everything she was about to say was the truth.
"You are my friend, and you always will be, no matter what you decide to do. I hope that you may accept me as such, but I understand if you cannot trust me right now. There are many ways I can prove as much, but that is not what I want from this."
"What is it you want, Lady Freya?"
"I want to keep my friend, Ryuu. I was going to offer you to join my Familia if you wished to be an adventurer again. I can get your bounty cleared if that is what it takes. Even if you wish to simply remain working here, I will do that if that is what you want. Even if you wish for nothing in return, I simply want to have my friend back. That is all I want, Ryuu Lion."
Freya stared at the elf, and Ryuu had to look away. She had no idea what to think of any of this. It was only then she glanced at Syr once more and realized there was a lot more she needed to hear.
"I will give you time and space to think, Ryuu. The knowledge you now possess is yours to do with as you see fit, my friend. Just know that I meant everything I said to you. I only want my friend back."
Freya gave Ryuu one last smile and exited the room. Ottar was waiting for her as always, and they made their way out of the Benevolent Mistress. Freya couldn't help but feel she lost her only friend every step she took away from that room.
Her mood did not improve when she stepped outside. In fact, it darkened considerably. Everyone froze and stared as they always did, all but one.
Bell was standing there smiling at her, but the fact he was speaking with four harlots from the Loki Familia did nothing to brighten her mood. She only managed a tiny smile when Bell made his way over to her.
It did brighten her mood a bit that he instantly left their side to be at hers. It certainly brightened her, even more, when he laid a kiss upon her lips. She was full-blown smiling as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again.
When they broke away, Freya pulled him into her and wrapped herself up in him. Bell always made her feel better, and the fact all those Loki Familia harlots were now looking at the ground and blushing made her feel even better.
"How did it go, my love?"
Bell was in front of her again and she couldn't see the girls from the Loki Familia. It still made her smile that he sounded so concerned, yet hopeful.
"I said what I needed to say. The rest is up to her, my love."
Freya could tell she didn't need to say anymore to him for him to understand. She was a little sad he broke their embrace but smiled again when Bell took her hand. She noticed those four were still standing there.
"Was there something else you needed?"
Freya could tell Bell noticed her tone towards the girls. His chuckle did nothing to hide the fact he thought it was hilarious she was jealous. She wanted to scowl at him, but his bright smile always changed her mood.
"Nope! Just catching up with Mr. Argonaut! See ya later, Argonaut!"
It was Tiona who didn't seem to notice Freya's mood. It was her sister shaking her head and dragging her away that finally saw the girls from the Loki Familia departing toward Babel. Bell was suddenly in front of her again as she watched them walk away.
"Are you really jealous I was talking to them?"
"They are from a rival Familia, Bell."
"Technically, I'm not in the Freya Familia." Bell's joking smile fell when Freya didn't seem to find that funny. "I ran into them a few times in the dungeon. I know you and Lady Loki don't get along my love, but those four aren't so bad. I suppose neither is Lady Riveria now that I know why she was always asking me so many questions."
"And why was she?"
Bell laughed at Freya's tone again. It seemed even THE Goddess of Beauty felt possessive of her man. Bell smiled at her as they started walking toward Babel themselves.
"Apparently, Riveria was trying to figure out which Familia I joined because Loki wanted me to join hers. Tiona told me I made quite the impression on her when we first met, even though I had no idea who she was."
"Mmm, no wonder that flat-chested, red-haired, annoyance was staring at you so intently in our meeting with Ouranos. Is it your plan to charm all of Orario, my Odr?"
Bell turned her to face him as they entered the lift to answer her. Freya didn't miss the smirk he was sending her way. She hoped she never got used to having someone who would tease her so openly.
"I only planned on charming one woman, but perhaps you have a point." Bell drew Freya right into him so their lips were almost connected. "I do have to contend with my love being desired by every man and woman in the world. Perhaps it would serve me well to get a list of my own going."
Freya is the one who crashed her lips into his. Bell hadn't felt her kiss him so possessively in their whole time together. She was practically devouring his mouth.
It was bad enough Ottar had to look away at the display. Bell could hardly breathe by the time Freya was through with him. It lasted the entire lift ride up to her floor.
"Just like all of them, they can desire all they want. You are mine, Bell Cranel."
Bell was lucky there were guards outside the door. When he scooped her up in his arms and went toward the Throne Room, they opened the doors for him.
He didn't even wait for them to close before he was kissing her again. Bell didn't break away until they were in front of the large window overlooking Orario. Bell set her down and turned her to face out the window. He took up residence right behind her.
"All of this is yours, my love. Do you know what is mine?"
"All of i-"
Freya never got to finish as she felt two fingers slide against her folds. Her dress, if you could call it that, barely covered an inch or two above her mound and Bell's fingers were inside of her in an instant. His breath on the back of her neck only heightened her arousal.
"This is mine."
Freya nodded her head and bit her lip to try and keep from screaming out. Bell laid a sweet kiss on her neck just below her ear.
"This is mine." The next was in the crook of her neck. "This is mine."
Bell continued to pump his fingers in and out of her folds and kiss down her shoulder. He kept repeating that it was his after every kiss, and Freya could only nod. She was clawing at the glass so hard, she thought she'd scratch right through it any moment.
Bell loved that it seemed her dress simply fell off when he got her going. Freya nearly whimpered when his fingers left her, but she felt him push down on her upper back and had to bend over to brace herself.
"And this is mine~"
"OH! YES! YOURS!"
It didn't matter if it was his words that finally made her cry out. She would attribute it to him sinking two fingers back into her and his tongue buried in her ass. Bell feasted on her and soon he was inserting a third finger as Freya was sent over the edge faster than she ever had been.
"YOURS! YOURS! YOURS!"
That wouldn't be the last time those were the only words Freya could think of when the waves of pleasure were washing over her. No matter what came her way, she'd never felt so whole and alive before.
THE END