"Welcome in the Hostess of Fertility, Meow!"
"Th-Thank you."
"Do nyou want to eat at a table or the counter, Meow?"
"A table please...in a corner if possible."
"Meow!"
Lefiya looked a bit uneasy around the pub, there were only a few customers around at this time. Somehow she was glad that it wasn´t Ryuu that had greeted her...she wanted to calm down a bit.
Better eat something...and...think about...what do...I do...now...
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Ais averted her face lightly from Bell while they waited in the queue of the potato snack stall, that he heard her making such a noise...was embarrassing. Somehow this day felt different from normal,
they had trained often together and took a break to eat something...but today was...different.
Isn´t this...what they call...a...date?
Ever since Riveria had told Ais this, all her thoughts circled around love...she wasn´t used to these thoughts. Ais didn´t know what she should do at all...one part of her heart sang in joy and
wanted to dance...the other was confused and a bit uneasy. What was she supposed to do when she was in love? Should she hold hands with Bell? Maybe other things? Riveria couldn´t give her an answer.
But...does Bell...l-l-love...me?
Ais glanced at him from the side again, that she felt uneasy about Bell loving her or not...she felt a bit weak...but somehow it didn´t scare her...it felt good. And she saw Bell in a new light, when he smiled at her, her heart immediately jumped and her cheeks felt warmer. When she gave him a lap pillow...maybe it was better that he wasn´t awake at that moment...her face burned by the memory of that.
And sadly, Ais had no one to ask for advice...Lefiya and Tiona both weren´t really interested in men...and Tione...well...she was special with her sight of Finn...but maybe she had an idea.
But...what will...they say...when they find out...
Maybe it wasn´t allowed since Bell was part of another Familia.
Will they be mad? How shall I talk with Bell about that? What will he say? What if...he loves someone else?
"Sorry Ais...I love Emilia..."
Who is Emilia?!...Haa...
"What shall I do?..."
"Ais?"
Ack! I said that loud!
"N-Nothing..."
"No I mean it´s our turn."
"Oh okay."
Together they stepped to the food stall.
"Ah Ms. Wallenstein, welcome again."
"H-Hello."
Ais was well known here, she came by nearly every day. And she got to know the old lady that worked here very well. Sometimes Hestia worked here, but thankfully not today...she got slightly clingy when she saw
Bell and Ais together. She looked at the menu and searched for the new flavor, it was at the bottom, and the name was "CoD".
"We would like to test this "CoD" flavor please." Bell showed the shop owner two fingers.
For some reason, the old lady giggled lightly. "With pleasure, that will be two thousand Vals, please."
"Oh Bell wait, that is too much for y-"
"I said it´s my treat, Ais." He shook his head and pulled out his purse.
After a few moments, the old lady was done and handed them two big potato snacks, each with a different topping. "So here are your "Couple on a date" potato snacks, special edition."
"Couple on..."
"a date?"
"Yes of course, it is written on the menu...hehe, you look cute with your boyfriend, you should bring him more often with you." She winked.
"B-B-Boyfriend?" Ais got deep red.
Bell was equally red and embarrassed, both looked away from each other, this way not noticing that the other blushed too.
He..they sure are cute!
Some of the surrounding people had heard the shop owner.
Woah...so the Sword Princess and Rabbit Foot are a couple?
What a lucky girl!
THIS is her boyfriend?
Wow...
Slowly both walked away from the stall, still blushing heavily, and sat down on a nearby bench.
"E-Enjoy your meal..."
"Y-You too..."
After the first bite, Ais forgot her embarrassment.
Ah...bliss..
The crunchy outside of the snack, the soft, creamy stuffing...it was just the best.
Nothing beats this.
Bell smiled as she watched Ais eating so happily...a sight he couldn´t get enough of, carefully he took a bite too, the taste was really good.
"*Gulp* Hm..I wonder...why do we have different toppings?" Ais looked at Bell´s snack.
"Ahm...it was written that we are supposed..to...share..."
"Share?"
"Yes...since its a couple...snack."
"O-Oh.."
"Do you...want a...bite?"
It was a bit embarrassing...but when she saw the topping on Bell´s snack, she definitely wanted a bite. He saw her drooling lightly.
"H-Here.." Bell held his snack towards Ais.
She smiled and leaned forward. "Aaaaahn."
The sight of her enjoying the taste so much...Bell could die for that.
"Mmh...really good...Bell..do you want one...too?" She held her snack to him.
If Bell knew Ais a bit better than he already did...he would be amazed. Ais never...ever...shared her potato snacks.
"No ahm...th-this would be...t-too.."
"Ehe..it´s okay, here."
"Th-thank you.." He took the smallest possible bite.
Some people were watching them, in a few days it would be the talk of the city that the Sword Princess went on a date openly with her boyfriend.
"Aaah...that was good..." Ais patted her stomach and smiled blissfully.
"I´m glad you liked it."
"*Growl*..."
"Ais?"
"Mh..."
"Ehe...wait a moment..."
Bell went to the stall again and bought another set of the "CoD" together with a small ice cream dessert. He knew well enough how much Ais could eat...and that with her figure.
Wait...wait...wait...what we just did...is this...what Lefiya called...an...indirect...kiss?
Ais tilted her head...then she blushed again.
Bell and I...had an indirect kiss...Haaaaaaaa! I have been in love with him for one day and we already kissed indirectly! What would Riveria say...
But as soon as Bell sat down next to her and held the food while she was busy eating...
Ah...Bell...I love you..
Bell memorized how she reacted to it, he thought the way to her heart might be through food...if he only knew that he was already in her heart. Both smiled to each other and enjoyed their first date...without
knowing that it was their first date.
I want to see this sight for the rest of my life. Bell smiled as he watched Ais eating happily.
Ah...I want to eat his food every day...
It wasn´t exactly Bell´s food but...the thought mattered.
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"Ais! Argonaut!"
"Huh?"
"Hm?"
Both raised their heads as they saw Tiona running towards them.
"Finally I found you two!"
"Tiona, did something happen?"
"Ms. Tiona?"
"Listen you two, Lefiya she..."
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A bit earlier.
"What? Nooo! Why Lefiya?! WHY?!"
"What? Lefiya got kicked out?"
"NO! Why Lefiya?!"
"Loki! Bring her back!"
"Not Lefiya!"
The Loki Mansion was in turmoil, the message about Lefiya´s forced leave of the Familia made the round very fast...and many moaned because of that. Lefiya was well-liked in the Familia and loved by many, be it due to her clumsy nature, her cuteness or sheer respect for her magic power. The Loki Familia was a big family...they were dismayed by the news.
"But she attacked Bete."
"Screw Bete!"
"I don´t like him too!"
"Hey, he is one of us."
"He is always so mean..."
"And he made her angry."
"Being angry is no excuse for cutting him with a weapon and preparing magic to attack.."
"Well that´s true..."
"Why was she mad?"
"I think because of that monster girl we fought."
"Wasn´t she her friend?"
"With a monster?"
"Was she a Xenos?"
"No, different.
"And she was friends with that?"
"Who knows the truth."
"A complicated situation..."
"And so soon after our big victory.."
Many wanted to talk to Loki, but she had locked her door for the day and Finn told them to let her be, that it wasn´t easy for Loki either.
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Some were hurt more than others.
I can´t concentrate on my work...
Riveria put a hand on her forehead and sighed...she wasn´t feeling well...absolutely not. That helpless, hurt expression of Lefiya...the despair on her face... She wanted to help her so much, but
in her current situation, it would be better if they left her alone so she could calm down. Also, the situation with Bete wasn´t easy, many didn´t like him but Riveria knew enough about his past...Bete just wanted
to help Lefiya in his own way. Deep down she knew why Bete was like that, he was afraid to open up to others...he was afraid of people he loved dying before his eyes again. That´s why he "bullied" the weaker members of the Familia,
he always said "If you are not prepared to fight, then don´t enter a battlefield!", since he knew all too well what could happen to afraid adventurers.
Riveria sighed again...normally Lefiya helped her with the paperwork or she studied under Riveria...the leaders of the Familia were sure that Raul would one day take Finn´s place and Lefiya that of Riveria.
At least Lefiya would only be gone for a year...if she wanted to return after that time...no one knew what would happen. And Riveria was afraid for her...Lefiya was much weaker now and emotionally hurt...who knows what she might do...
"Lady Riveria?"
Alicia had half opened Riveria´s door and looked inside.
"Alicia?"
"I´m sorry, I knocked many times but I just heard you sighing."
"Oh, please excuse me. Do you need something?"
"No ahm...I wanted to ask...if you need something, since helping you is normally...Lefiya´s job..."
"Ah thank you I don-...no wait...there is something."
"Yes?"
"Could you please call Tione, Tiona, Anakity, and Elfy? I want to ask you five something."
"Of course."
About five minutes later the five young women stood in front of Riveria.
"I have a request for you five...would you please go into the city and search for Lefiya? Keep an eye on her. I am afraid that something might happen to her...and please search for Ais...she should be informed about this."
They nodded, each of them was friends with Lefiya and was worried about her, still...Riveria couldn´t tell them that it was Loki who told her to keep an eye on Lefiya. Riveria could understand Loki, Lefiya had to be punished and they couldn´t
allow to just let her break the most iron rule...but they didn´t want her to get hurt.
"But keep quiet about this."
Soon they left the room, would split up in the city, there were a few districts they could spare themselves to search for her, like the Entertainment district, but Lefiya´s elven birth forbade her from going there.
Riveria looked out of her window...she wanted to go look for her pupil herself...but she couldn´t...it would give a false message.
Lefiya...
She gritted her teeth and made a fist, no one was happy with that decision...and it should be like this.
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Tch...why can´t they understand...
Bete sat on a small wall, one leg leaned on the stone, the other hung down, the hands crossed behind his head. Again he was in such a situation...whenever he got angry or drunk...he did and said things he regretted later.
His goal wasn´t to hurt Lefiya but to pull her out of her immense grief. And when he said it was better that Filvis was dead now, he only meant that she was now free from her suffering.
Bete was strong and many other things...but he was bad with words or showing that he cared about others. What he would never tell anyone, he was afraid of getting too close to someone...he didn´t want to get the feelings
again he had after losing all of his clan on that faithful day.
He had much to think about...it would be a hard month...finding a room was not that hard...but his roommate was...clingy.
Better go and find Lena...
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Sigh...
Lefiya poked with her fork in the food on her plate, it was beyond delicious like always here and her body demanded food. But she had to fight her tears all the time...not only because of Filvis.
I have...lost my Familia..
Of course, it was only temporary...but her thoughts were all filled with sad things.
How can I...go on...like this?
She looked to the wand that layed beside her...Mama Mia didn´t allow weapons or such things on the table. Slowly she put something out of her pocket, it was a blue crystal, the last piece of her own staff after Filvis had destroyed it.
Filvis...
She had kept the crystal and the shards of her staff...who knows why. Lefiya used her fork to pick up a piece of vegetable and chewed slowly, eating this delicious food and calming down a bit helped her. But she still felt horrible and every time her feet touched the bags under the table, she sobbed.
"Lefiya?"
Slowly she looked up with red eyes...Ryu stood on the other side of the table.
"My friend..."
Her voice sounded horrible from all that crying.
"Lefiya...did something happen? You don´t look good." She looked really worried.
"Ryu...I...*Hic*..." Her lower lip started to tremble again...the tears came from alone.
Hastily Ryu sat down next to Lefiya, she looked so hurt that Ryu didn´t think long and put her arms around the sobbing elf. As she felt the soft hug, Lefiya started to cry again for real, at the counter Mama Mia looked at the two elves for a moment,
it was the right choice to send Ryu to that table. Mia had a good eye for her customers, for those who would make a ruckus...and for those like Lefiya who were hurt by something and didn´t have anywhere to go.
For a while Ryu just held her dear friend, she exchanged a short look with Syr who watched worried. Eventually, Lefiya´s tears stopped and she calmed down a bit, after blowing her nose and wiping her eyes, she continued to eat slowly. For one thing, she was hungry...and no one ordered Mama Mia´s food and left half of it on the plate.
"My friend...do you want to tell me what happened?"
"I...I...*Hic*..."
"Is it...because of Filvis?"
Lefiya looked into Ryu´s eyes, she saw that she was sad too. "Mhm.."
"But there is more...isn´t it?"
"Yes..."
"If you want to tell me...or want me to listen...I´m here for you."
"I..messed up..."
"What happened?"
"I...someone from my Familia angered me..."
"Okay." Ryu gently stroked the back of Lefiya´s hand, Syr had often done that with her to calm her down.
"And I...attacked him...with my weapon..."
"Oh...Oh no...Lefiya..."
"That shouldn´t have happened...I lost control...I feel..so weak..."
Wordless, Ryu hugged her friend again, normally she wouldn´t do that in public but Lefiya´s table was in a corner and she was hurt.. Also, her friends and Mama Mia glared at anyone who looked at the two elves too much.
"And what...happened then?"
"Loki...my goddess...kicked me out of the Familia...for one year...it was our most iron rule."
"Kicked out...of your Familia?"
"Mhm.."
"Oh Lefiya..."
"It was...my fault..." Tears came to her eyes again.
For a while, Ryu sat by Lefiya´s side and talked to her, but she had to return to her work. When she saw that, Syr talked to Mama Mia, they let Lefiya sit there...kicking her out of the pub after finishing eating would be too cruel.
But her thoughts were like a vicious circle ... they just got darker and darker ... sadder and sadder.
Maybe...this will help...
"Excuse me, Miss?"
"Meow?"
"Do you...have moonberry juice?"
"Meow...hmm...I think so."
"Could you bring me a bottle please?"
"Sure, Meow."
The black-haired catgirl, Chloe, returned after a few minutes with a long violet bottle. Moonberry juice was well liked by elves...it was some kind of alcoholic drink...and very strong.
"Thank you."
"That will be 11.000 Vals."
"Okay."
At this point, Lefiya didn´t really care about the money... She wasn´t really a drinker, of course, she had tasted this juice in the past but Lefiya was always careful when she drank alcohol.
She smelled at the bottle after opening it and pouring something in her mug. While she sat there, Ryu kept an eye on Lefiya...but now she had too much to do...
Hopefully...this will help...Filvis...I drink on you!
The first sip filled her mouth...it tasted godly...this juice was to die for...worth every single Vals. It could be compared to wine but was a bit more fruity and sweeter...she really liked it.
Her stomach felt warm and so did her throat...normally Lefiya would stop after a single glass or mug...but now...more and more of the bottle wandered into her mug and down her throat...it helped her calm down.
Helped her to relax...and forget some of the evil thoughts...she kept drinking. And some of the customers...some of the men...had their eyes on Lefiya. An emotionally hurt, lone, drunk, young elf...the perfect prey for a night...
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Where are you...Ms. Lefiya...
Bell ran through Orario, after Tiona had found him and Ais and explained the situation, they split up. He wanted to help find her, Bell didn´t know why but he had a very bad feeling..that Lefiya might be in trouble.
He saw from the first moment that Ais was also really worried about Lefiya, she was her friend after all. Bell didn´t even dare to think about what might happen to Lefiya if she got into trouble...without her Falna working she wouldn´t even stand a chance
against a level one...
Some of the girls of the Loki Familia checked facilities that Bell couldn´t go to, special women's baths and such. He didn´t really know much about Lefiya so he kept running and looked out for her.
Where would a girl with a broken heart go to? Aaargh why do I know so little about her...
He had a really nice day so far with Ais, but this now was more important. Still...Bell thought about something that went through his head again and again...after the incident on the 37th Floor and in Knossos...he thought about confessing to Ais..
Bell didn´t know how she exactly felt for him...and sure he wasn´t even on her level...but he wanted to catch up to her more than ever. After his fight with Nidhöggr, Bell had a wonderful dream about sleeping side by side with Ais. Sometimes they did that
in their training too...his heart always jumped around in joy...how he would love to do that every day for the rest of his life...seeing Ais´ smile as the first thing in the morning.
But even if he found the courage...how to confess to her? Bell wished he could ask someone for advice...
One by one he checked known places...but Orario was a big city...Lefiya could be everywhere...
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"*Hic*..." Lefiya´s cheeks were red as she hiccuped.
The moonberry juice had helped her to calm down and the food let her stomach feel better. The pub was one of the best places one could be in Orario, she had come here a few times together with Filvis...she really liked that pub.
"Filvis...*Hic*..."
She didn´t cry...somehow Lefiya felt really calm...relaxed...numb. With a smile, she emptied her mug again...one bottle was already empty, the second also nearly. Lefiya didn´t feel drunk...nor did she care about that... sometimes she giggled when she remembered a funny scene she had together with Filvis.
I have...the feeling I´m...ehehe...forgetting...something...ehehe...
Lefiya giggled again...how cute Filvis had looked when Dyonisus made her flustered again.
I hope you are happy up there...and I hope this god burns in the fires of hell for all eternity.
She raised her mug in a toast upwards and tried to empty it...but it was empty, giggling again...and lightly sobbing...Lefiya filled her mug again.
I have...nothing left...Filvis...gone...my Familia...gone...ehehe...this is...a bad joke...
To her bad luck, the pub was filled to the brim so Ryu had no time to keep an eye on Lefiya, just from time to time she saw that Lefiya was still in her corner and drank something...but Ryu thought it was water...
Filvis...
Everyone...
New tears came to her eyes...hastily Lefiya emptied another mug...it helped to numb the pain. Alcohol really had its benefits how she noticed now...why did she refuse to drink it so long?
Oh right...I´m not an adult elf right now...
In terms of her people, Lefiya was still really young, and adult elves like Riveria wouldn´t have much problem drinking this juice...because they knew when to stop. Two bottles were an enormous amount for an elf, Lefiya swayed lightly and hiccuped again.
Lady Riveria...I have...failed you...I´m so sorry...
Lefiya poured the rest of the second bottle into her mug...it got easier to drink with each sip. Some men nearby glanced to Lefiya, she seemed to be a really easy catch...and beautiful on top.
I doubt...they will...take me back...what shall I do...
The alcohol now pulled Lefiya´s thoughts into darker, sadder regions again.
Should I...go back...to the forest? Or the Education District? That might be...a good idea..
She really liked this idea, she could bury Filvis's staff in the ground there together with her staff. Filvis would always be able to enjoy the light phenomenon.
We could watch it together...what do you say Filvis?
Lefiya smiled to the side, her friend smiled back to her and nodded.
Ehehe...so shall we go together? Todaaaaayy?
Filvis didn´t sit next to her anymore.
Fivi...Fivl...Fili...Fi..lvis..where are youuuu? Oh...rihgt...she ish...deash...
Even in her mind, she couldn´t talk straight anymore...Lefiya was horribly drunk. She let her head hang low and drank the last of her juice...there wasn´t a single spot of light for her. Her thoughts returned every time back to
how Loki had kicked her out of the Familia...how Filvis died in her arms... What might her friends say when they see her? What might...Ais say?
Lefiya...I was wrong about you...please don´t talk to me anymore...
Kuah Lefiya...we were so wrong to hang out with you...
Please don´t talk to me or the captain ever again...
More and more tears filled Lefiya´s eyes and she sobbed, again some of the customers looked at her...the prey was ready.
While she sobbed and wiped her eyes...someone came to her table.
"Hey...do you...want to come with me?"
Lefiya looked up, her eyelids heavy from crying and the alcohol...her vision a bit blurry and she couldn´t see very well anymore.
"Waaaash?"
"You should...come with me."
"Eeeeh..."
Leifya looked at the man...she couldn´t see him good.
A man...is picking me up...Filvis...what would you say...it´s my...popular phase...eheheheheheheheheheheh...Ha! Ms. Ais, Ms. Tiona, Ms. Tione, lady ahahahahahah Riveria...I´m getting...aehehehehehe!
She smiled halfway to the man...she had a guess what he wanted...but...Lefiya didn´t cared anymore...not in the slightest...
Screw it all...Filvis...
The man slowly took her arm and pulled Lefiya up, he put an arm around her waist and pulled her close, some of the customers thought he had an easy prey for the night.
Slowly...they walked towards the exit...
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"Have you found Lefiya yet?"
"No..."
"I searched in the whole district...nothing."
"Where could she be?"
"I´m sure...Lefiya is somewhere in a hotel or something like that. We all know her, she would surely lock herself this evening and thinking about what to do tomorrow."
"You are probably right, Aki...Lefiya isn´t the type to get into trouble."
"Shall we stop for today?"
"I will look for a while longer."
"Ais?"
"I want to find her...I have a bad feeling."
The others looked at each other, then they nodded.
"We will help you."
"Let´s hope she is somewhere save..."
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Mmmh...mmmh...mmhh...
Lefiya felt...light...someone was carrying her.
Where does...he bring...me...Ah...who...cares...anymore...
Lefiya...was done...with everything...
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"Bell?"
"Ryu?"
"Is she heavy? Shall I take her?"
"No...don´t worry..."
Bell looked at the passed-out Lefiya in his arms...when he had found her in the pub she was in a horrible state. Ryu felt so sorry for not noticing that Lefiya was drinking so heavily...that was dangerous in her state.
It was late at night and both walked into the direction of the Hestia Mansion, Ryu was with him for two reasons. For one she carried Lefiya´s belongings...and Bell couldn´t just walk with a passed-out girl in his arms through the streets.
Whenever someone looked curious at Lefiya, Ryu threw them the "glare" until they looked somewhere else...she didn´t wanted her friend to be seen like this.
"I can only imagine how she feels right now..."
Ryu sighed sad. "I have a good guess."
Bell looked at her, he held Lefiya in a princess carry, her head leaning against his shoulder. "I´m sorry, I.."
"Hmhm...It´s okay Bell."
Again they looked into Lefiya´s face...they had never seen her like this...so hurt...so vulnerable...so desperate...
"I hoped to never see her like this."
"Everything was too much, I think."
"Yeah..."
They walked for a while, slowly the Mansion came into view.
"Is Mama Mia angry?"
"About me leaving work?"
"And Lefiya...ahm...you know..."
"I think...she should go and apologize to Mama Mia when she feels better..."
When they had carried Lefiya out of the back door to spare her getting seen like this...Lefiya...had an accident... The whole kitchen smelled because of her throwing up suddenly...and Bell´s jacket.
But he wasn´t mad with her, he just felt sorry for her. It was a good thing that this had happened at the back door and not the front door...too many people would have seen Lefiya.
"Ryu?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for helping me."
"No problem."
"I hope she gets better."
"I´m sure of it...with time."
They kept walking until they reached the door, Ryu knocked. Shortly after a tired, small goddess opened the door for them.
"Bell...where were you...this late...oh...what happened?!"
"Goddess...can she..stay here?"
"Of course! Come in you three!"
"Bell, I have to go back."
"Ryu, I will need your help for something else."
"Hm?"
Bell nodded to Lefiya, to her clothes.
"Oh, right."
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Nnnnh...
Lefiya groaned in her sleep, her head hurt as if a horde of minotaurs were throwing themself against the inside. Her eyes hurt even without opening them, her throat felt dry and raw.
She rememberred nothing from the last night...only that she had felt bad...and...light?
Slowly she moved a bit...she was inside a soft bed.
A...hotel?
Groaning heavily...Lefiya slowly opened her eyes...blinking.
Where...am I?
