Hehe, today is the day.
Syr walked humming to the pub, it was early morning and she was excited to see the new face at her first day at work.
I´m sure she will look cute in the uniform...Loki, Loki...why do you let such a cutie run away? Well that´s your loss!
It was getting warmer in Orario these days, summer was approaching and that was a time that Syr looked forward to. Every year in summer, Mama Mia prepared some special uniforms for them fitting
the summer, to increase the flow of customers. One year they had to use cat ears and tails...well except Ahnya and Chloe...to lure in more customers. Ryu´s ears had burned in shame to wear such an outfit, at least
she could convince Mama Mia to keep her long skirt since no one was allowed to see much of her skin. The combination of cat and elven ears was surprisingly popular, if Ryu were a little bit more friendly and open-minded,
she would surely have a boyfriend by now. But Syr knew who she had her eyes on, even if Ryu was aware of that or not.
Ryu...you would be the only one I would be okay with to date Bell...but only if I would be the first one of course.
No matter how much she loved Ryu, Bell was rightfully hers...no one else would get him.
Syr took out her spare key and opened the backside of the pub, locking the door behind her after she went in.
Hmm...I wonder if they are all awa-
A gentle knock from the front door interrupted her thoughts. Syr started to smile brightly, she knew who that was. Pulling out her key again, she walked to the front door and unlocked it.
"Good morning, Ms. Lefiya!" Syr beamed all over her face as she looked at the shy elf.
"G-Good morning..."
Lefiya felt a bit uneasy, as she had promised Mia she would work for defiling her kitchen...even if she thought that 100.000.000 Vals was a bit much... But maybe the work could help to distract
her from her sorrow, Filvis´ death was two weeks ago now. Two days earlier Lefiya had cried like on the first day, Anakity had visited her and brought something with her...an urn. On Riveria´s
request, Raul and Anakity went into Knossos again and searched for all the ash they could find...everything that remained of Filvis. Monster or not, Filvis was Lefiya´s best friend and she needed it to give her friend
a proper funeral. Ignoring the ban of Lefiya for the day, Riveria and a few friends of Lefiya went with her to the big graveyards of Orario, it was a small ceremony since no one of Filvis´ Familia was left.
After everything was over, Lefiya felt better...it felt like a proper ending. Still...she had cried endlessly in Riveria´s arms. The others had hugged Lefiya beforehand and left those two alone, at this point Riveria was as much
Lefiya´s mother as she was Ais´...and Tiona´s...and many more. Spending the day afterward with Riveria, talking to her about some things from the Familia really helped her to feel better. Especially...what Riveria did at the end.
"Lefiya."
"Yes?"
"Now that the funeral went by...take your time to calm down a bit...but after that I expect you to not slack off."
"Huh?"
"What? You will return to us in a year and I expect you to be stronger, more controlled, and mature."
"Lady...Riveria?"
Instead of smiling, Riveria showed her the strict teacher behavior. "You don´t plan to slack off, do you?"
"N-No! I will work hard!"
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"Ehe...are you looking forward to your uniform?" Syr smiled again.
"assing..."
"Hm?"
"It´s... embarrassing..."
"Why? It looks cute."
"But I am an elf! It´s shameful to walk around like that!"
"Huh?!" Ryu looked up, she was in the changing room as well and about to put on her uniform. "Sh-Shameful?"
"Ah, Ryu don´t mind her! It isn´t shameful at all! You look elegant and chaste."
It was hard enough in the past to convince Ryu to wear that uniform...
Lefiya looked at the coat hook in front of her, with the uniform she would wear, it would be the first time for her to put it on.
"Soooo you two, I will leave you alone, Ryu please help your junior!" Giggling, Syr went outside and closed the door.
My...junior...
Ryu would be the one to show Lefiya the work and she would help her to put the uniform on. Like most other elves, Lefiya was not okay with someone seeing her bare skin even if she wore underwear, except for a few other people.
Normally that would be her friends who she used to bathe with, and Ryu was one of them too. They had once bathed together in a lake with Filvis when they were on a journey to an elven forest to accompany Riveria. It was
a sweet but sad memory for Lefiya, she made up her mind to remember the good things with Filvis, to keep her friend in mind and how she deserved it.
"Do you need help with the clothes?"
"Yes please...what is the first thing?"
"Take your clothes off down to your underwear and then..."
The explanation went on for a while and Ryu had to help Lefiya with binding the apron correctly. A few minutes later, Lefiya looked at herself in the big mirror in the corner of the changing room.
Without wanting to be narcissistic, she had to think that it looked good in her...rather...
"Cute..."
"I´m happy that you like it."
"Thank you, Ryu."
"Come Lefiya, the others are waiting."
"Y-Yes!"
Together both elves went down the stairs, spending time with her dear friend was something that Lefiya really enjoyed, it helped her a lot. But sadly...Lefiya made Ryu a bit depressed...since she was much, much better
at housework and in the kitchen, than Ryu was, not only as she was in the past...but even now. Lefiya was really good at cooking, good enough that Mama Mia would use her in the kitchen to not only peel vegetables.
Chloe, Lunor, Ahnya, and Ryu had to watch in shame how fast and clean Lefiya could peel and cut the vegetables.
"Man little elf...you sure are useful...keep your eyes on her girls! You can learn a thing or two!"
"My name...Lefiya..."
"You have to earn being called by your name."
"Okay..."
"But if you keep working like that, you will have earned it tomorrow evening."
"Huh?!"
"What?!"
"No way?!"
"MEOW!"
The four looked shocked, Syr was the only one she had called by her name from the start. Ryu had needed a month to "earn her name", Lunor and Chloe two and three weeks, Ahnya had needed three months...and that while Mia already knew her beforehand.
"She is dangerous..Meow.."
"Nya...housewife material..."
"So jealous..."
"Very good...my friend..." Even Ryu couldn´t help but feel a bit jealous.
But over the day Lefiya would discover the true danger of working at the pub...serving customers. While she had no problem with memorizing and writing down the orders...Lefiya felt the stares of every customer on her...especially the males.
Filthy...
Of course, most customers looked at her since she was a new face here and looked really beautiful and cute in the uniform. But Lefiya still noticed how some men looked at her...especially adventurers. She couldn´t fight her nature and slightly glared
at them or gave them an icy look when she served them their food and drinks. To her bad luck that behavior was rather well-liked by many customers...being treated like that was a new experience and many felt a pleasant shudder when Lefiya came to their table.
"Enjoy your food...ugh..."
Haaaaaaa!
This act would make her really popular very fast with the customers and since it was liked, Mia allowed it. It soon made the round in Orario that the Benevolent Mistress had a new "cute, young elf waitress that will look at you with despise". Needless to say
that many male gods liked this.
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Bell slowly used more and more strength to push Ais´ sword down, both were sweating from their intense training and fought back and forth on the city wall.
As expected the guards had yelled at them for demolishing a part of the wall so they were more careful.
He enjoyed their daily training very much and indeed they trained every day now together, just spending time with Ais was enough to make him happy. But Bell was all too eager to get stronger again, since he had leveled up he was most of the time at his training with Ais or in the dungeon.
Be it with his party or alone, he pushed himself to his limits, since he started at ten with every stat, it was a long way to 999 again. He wanted to max out every stat again to be as strong as possible. But even so, he had discovered one thing, he was a fresh level five, and Ais a level six...but Bell was stronger than her. Ais had more experience and was faster than him, but in terms of pure strength, he had the upper hand. Both had an advantage in the fight...well actually both had two but they weren´t aware of the second. Ais was faster and Bell stronger...but being near Bell made Ais flustered and vice versa.
Bell even dared to live out a small dark desire in him...sometimes he used his strength to push Ais back until her back bumped against a part of the parapet, the feeling of being pinned between Bell and the wall let Ais blush heavily...and the small dark spot in Bell enjoyed her flustered face. It was the little
bit of darkness inside him he allowed himself to have.
Ais frowned while she looked into Bell´s face as he kept pushing down her sword with his strength. That Bell was actually stronger than her was a surprise at first...but it made Ais incredibly happy that he was progressing so much and was ahead of her in some things. Loving Bell or not, she wouldn´t be able to enjoy
a relationship to its fullest when he wouldn´t be able to keep up with her in the dungeon and other things. That was her actual thought but deep down unknown by her...Ais hoped that Bell would be her hero... Her heart yearned to love him...to be loved by him...to be protected.
Since she had discovered her feelings, Ais Wallenstein became more and more a pure maiden in love.
Bell has more strength..it makes no sense to fight against him to his terms...change of plans!
Suddenly, Ais yanked her sword aside, trying to break Bell´s balance this way. But both knew the other really well and Bell went with the movement, his left hand came up, holding Hakugen in a reverse grip. He slashed at Ais´ face but she bent herself backward, kicking up with her right leg. Maybe it was luck or bad luck, but
when Bell moved to the side, his foot kicked against Ais´ and broke her balance instead.
Oh no!
"Kya!"
She couldn´t stop her own fall and was about to hit the parapet with the back of her head.
"Ais!"
Bell let go of his weapons, jumped forward, and hastily put his right hand on the back of her head, the left on her waist. He felt a sharp pain when his hand hit the stone edge, but it was a good pain since he had prevented Ais from bumping her head, and the sound of her when she slipped made it even more worthwhile.
For a few moments, both stared into each other's eyes, their faces only a few centimeters away from each other.
B-B-B-B-Bell! Riveria said it is too early for a k-k-kiss!
Ah Ais...Your lips..I...No wait!
He protected me...again...
"Eep...Th-Thank you..." Her face got hot when she got aware of his hand on her waist, since she wore her usual outfit, the palm of his hand touched her bare skin...it felt really good.
"N-No problem..."
Did she just...made an "Eep" sound? So cute...
Slowly, both found their balance back and straightened up, being so close together was a nice feeling for them.
"Shall we...take a break?"
"Sounds good.." Ais averted her red face and slowly stroked her hair where Bell had touched her.
He saved me...again...
For once they had their lunch break on the wall, Bell had two lunch boxes with him that Haruhime had made in the morning.
"Ais, for you."
"Oh, thank you." She smiled happily.
Her eyes shone bright when she put the lid away, the box was filled with all kinds of delicious things. Haruhime had made two meatballs for each of them, freshly cut vegetables, and two soft-boiled eggs. Bell also had a bottle of tea with him
and two cups. It was really nice having lunch together here on the top of one of the towers. The sight was amazing, except for the part behind Babel, they could see all of Orario and also pretty far away on the land.
Mmh..I´m heaven.
Ais bit happily into one of the meatballs and enjoyed the rich flavor and juice...Haruhime was a great cook. She smiled to Bell, who smiled back to her and they kept eating lunch together.
"Ha...that was so good..." Smiling blissfully, she leaned back against the wall.
"Yes, I have to give Haruhime another compliment for that."
"From me too!"
"Okay."
"Ah Ahm...Bell?"
"Yes?"
"There is...something I wanted to ask you."
"Sure."
"We aren´t going on an expedition soon so...would you like to...accompany me...on a mission?"
"What kind of mission?"
The question was just to buy his brain some time, the moment she ended her question he wanted to yell out "YES!"...
"Search something in the dungeon..."
The look Ais gave him...let Bell nearly melt...she looked a bit hopeful and...pleading?
"Of course! I would gladly accompany you!"
His heart stopped for a moment when he saw the happiness on her face. In the past he had never seen her like this, she smiled more often these days...and was so much more beautiful when she did that.
"Ahm Ais..I...I..." His cheeks felt really hot.
Do it Bell...tell her!
"Bell?"
"I...I...lo..."
"Hm?"
Her eyes widened a bit. What is he about to say?
But...he didn´t find the courage...
"N-Nothing...Ahm...s-shall we...take a nap?"
"O-Okay...sounds good..."
Both still had a long way ahead of them.
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A few days later high up in Babel.
"Mmh...mh...Ottar?"
"Yes, lady Freya?"
Freya walked around in her private library and searched for a book, not a certain one in particular but one that would entertain her. As most of the time, Ottar kept her company in case she needed something.
"I´m a bit thirsty, would you bring me a glass of water, please?"
"Of course, my lady."
Ottar bowed and took his leave.
A glass of water for Lady Freya...what does she mean with that? Of course not just ordinary water...that would be unfitting for her. She must mean special water...water fitting a goddess like her, but where do I find this water?
Is something like that sold? Maybe to be found in the dungeon?
It may be one of his flaws or one of his best features, but Ottar always overthought what Freya meant with her orders, he always wanted the absolute best for his beloved goddess.
Weren´t there some rumors about a "godly" spring in the dungeon?
Soon, Ottar had put on his equipment and went down to the dungeon, if there was a special spring he would find it and bring his goddess the water she deserved. And he had to hurry, he couldn´t let her wait for too long.
Freya continued to search for a book. "I wonder where Ottar is with my water..."
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"My feet hurt..." Lefiya wailed while she sat next to Ryu, the staff was on a break.
"Didn´t you walk very much in the dungeon?"
"Yes..but that was something else.."
"Hm..if you say so."
"How do you bear with all these stares?"
"Hmm..I think there are only many because you are new at the pub, Nya." Chloe sat at the same table.
Except for Mia, Syr, and Lunor, everyone sat at the table. Lunor helped Mia in the kitchen to prepare the food for the break and Syr had her day off. Even if Lefiya was used to hardships, working in the
pub was something else. In the morning the work was easy and even around noon, but in the afternoon when the adventurers came, it got hard. But even so the other waitresses told her that is was easier now since Lefiya was there.
Who would´ve thought that I would be a waitress someday, hmm Filvis what would you have said if you saw me like that?
Despite the hard work, Lefiya had discovered two things, the amount of work left her no time to wail all the time and Mama Mia´s food was worth all the hardships.
"Ha...to think that her food is the only thing I look forward to these days.."
She looked surprised when the others started to chuckle.
"Huh?"
Ryu smiled. "We all were at this point, eating delicious food is enough reason to keep on going, or something like that Mama Mia told us."
"Nya, say Lefinya...do nyou have a boyfriend?"
"Huh?!" She blushed by that question. "N-No."
"Ah..then nyou are purrfect here...Nya..." Somehow Cloe looked a bit depressed.
"Meow...but aren´t nyou living with white hair?" Anya tapped her chin.
"Just in the same house, there is nothing I feel for Bell!"
"Bell?" Ryu frowned lightly, so far Lefiya had called him only by his full name.
"I-I mean Bell Cranel.."
Lefiya really had no romantic feelings for Bell, but over the last two weeks, she had started to feel different about him. He had helped her so much, did everything to help her and feel better...he was a really nice guy.
Little by little since she had so much contact with him, her thoughts about him changed, and she started to understand why so many people...especially girls...liked him.
"Ehe...It´s good to see you two are getting along better."
"Mh...well...he did so much for me...you both did."
Bell had helped her and many things, but Ryu was her anchor in the last weeks. Her friends came to visit her sometimes but they weren´t friends with Filvis...Ryu was. So they talked a lot with each other
and Lefiya opened more and more of her heart to Ryu, holding her very dear. It wasn´t a feeling of love...but Ryu was a very dear friend to her.
"Okay girls, time to eat!"
Lunor opened the with her back and kept on walking backward, holding three plates in her hands, followed by Mia who carried the other plates.
"Ah...that food alone is worth it..." Lefiya looked at the plates with shining eyes.
For a while, only the sound of cutlery was heard.
"Ryu, you want to take your vacation soon, yes?"
"If possible yes...it is very important to me."
"Shouldn´t be a problem, if I don´t let you go you won´t work properly with your mind away all the time."
"Thank you, Mama Mia."
Lefiya looked at Ryu. "Are you going somewhere?"
"Yes, I will travel to a village in the north...to search for someone..."
"May I ask...who?"
Ryu looked a bit worried...then sad...then frightened...but smiled at the end. "My goddess."
Lefiya looked perplexed. "Your...goddess?"
"Yes.." The hint of small tears were in the corners of Ryu´s eyes. "I got a letter...with information where she might be...I want...to visit her...but..."
"But?"
"Haaa...I don´t know...if I can...or should."
"Of course you have to go!"
"Lefiya?"
"Go see her! You told me so much about her, I learned many things about the Astrea Familia! You have to go!"
"But...what if..."
"If you are afraid I will go with you!"
"Oh...you...will?"
"Hoooo? You will?" Mia raised an eyebrow.
"Oh eh...Mama Mia...I..."
"Ha...Ryu has a bad influence on her junior...already demanding time off so soon..."
Ryu only looked at Mia, pleadingly. Despite her rough behavior, Mia had a really soft heart when it came to her girls.
"Well, normally we would be fewer people anyway...It might be better to have someone to keep her company..."
"Ms. M-"
"Huh?!"
"Mama Mia..."
"But you two will work even more in the meantime."
"Of course!"
"Thank you, Mama Mia!"
"Nya, Mama Mia, can I have time off too?"
"Should´ve thought about that earlier."
"Nyaa..."
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A few hours earlier.
"Hey, Bell...ready for your adventure with your girlfriend?"
Welf stood behind Bell, who sat on the floor and closed his boots.
"Sh-She is not my girlfriend..."
"For now...go get her, tiger."
"Welf..."
"Hehe...tell me honestly that you don´t have such thoughts."
"I can´t..."
"Ha! I knew it."
"A-Anyway...I´m off now..."
"Have fun."
Bell had a big backpack with him, it was far bigger than his usual one because he carried lots of empty bottles with him, together with some filled bottles and lunch boxes from Haruhime. It
was enough food for three days since they didn´t know how far he had to go into the dungeon with Ais. And he really looked forward to it, going into the dungeon with Ais...being alone with her down there...
there might even a chance for him to save her from a dangerous situation.
"Ah Bell you saved me! I love you!"
Ehehehe...
It was early morning and he walked fast through the streets of Orario, not many adventurers were up at this time. Who would´ve thought that this day would come when he would meet with his idol...his love...to go on a mission?
Well, there was this one mission in the past with the haunted Mansion...but that was something else...
Only light morning fog was in the air and Orario was so peaceful, Babel looked majestic in the early sun rays.
And there she was...
Ais waited for Bell, leaning with her back against a pillar at the entrance to Babel, yawning.
She looks so cute when she yawns!
"A-Ais, good morning."
"Ah Bell, good morning." Her smile put the sun to shame in his eyes.
"I have everything we need with me."
"Good...shall we...go?"
Ais yawned again, it wasn´t because it was early...but because she hadn´t gotten much sleep that night. She was way too excited about going on a mission with Bell, and since she would be away for two or three days, Riveria had talked to her.
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"Ais, make sure there is enough room between you two when you sleep."
"Riveria?"
"You have to be aware that Bell Cranel is a growing boy, he might try to hug you in his sleep."
"Is that...bad?"
"Young lady!"
"Ack!..."
"Something like hugging should be done after a proposal!" Riveria was a bit old-fashioned about love.
"But he already..."
"What?! What did he do to my little girl?!"
"It was an accident..."
"Ha..." Riveria staggered, shocked.
"Hey Mommy, keep it down and let her go!" Tiona came to rescue Ais and pushed Riveria away or Ais would get no sleep at all.
"W-Wait Tiona! Ah Ais wait I have to te-"
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Together they went into Babel on their first real quest together...bot were more excited about spending time with the other than the expedition itself. At the same time high up in Babel, Freya asked Ottar to bring her a glass of water.
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On the evening of the same day when Lefiya returned from work, she almost stormed into the Heart Mansion.
"Lady Hestia!"
"Y-Yes?!" The small goddess was startled by Lefiya´s yell.
"Please I need your help."
"What is it?"
Lefiya leaned closer so that only Hestia could hear her...for some reason.
"I would...I would like to accept your offer."
"Oh, you mean..."
"Yes...please...grant me your blessing..." Lefiya looked still a bit uneasy.
Hestia smiled to her motherly. "Okay, come with me."
Together they climbed up the stairs and went into Hestia´s private room, locking the door behind them.
"You are really sure?"
"Yes, I need my strength back...and I want to get stronger before the year ends...but please...ahm..."
"I won´t get mad don´t worry, I will grant you my blessing and everything else will be your choice."
"Thank you...lady Hestia...I mean it."
"Hehe...don´t worry."
Lefiya sat down on a chair with her back to Hestia, pulled up her hair and opened her clothes. She used her other hand to cover her breasts, revealing her bare back to Hestia. When the goddess placed her hand on the back, she felt Lefiya shudder lightly.
"You are...really sure?"
"Yes..."
"Lefiya..."
"Yes?"
"Don´t worry...I don´t intend to take you away from Loki."
"It still...isn´t easy..."
"That shows me how much you love your Familia."
"Lady Hestia...thank you...please...do it."
Hestia poked her fingertip with a small needle and let a few drops fall on Lefiya´s back, soon her Falna appeared, and Hestia read for the first time how strong Lefiya actually was. Soon the runes started to move, what the gods never told their children was how the actual process looked like when they gave the blessing or chose a skill for their children.
"Do you want to grant your blessing?"
The runes floated in front of Hestia, there were two she could touch. "Yes" or "No"
"Mmmmnhhh!" Lefiya shuddered when Hestia touched the "Yes", she felt the blessing combining with her Falna.
And her body felt its full strength coming back.
"Haaaaaaahn!" She couldn´t help but make a noise, it was a really pleasant feeling.
Hestia pretended that she didn´t hear the very unelven sound that "her new child" had made just now.
The goddess used the special paper from a pile to complete the ritual.
"So Lefiya...here."
Lefiya turned lightly around and took the paper from Hestia with one hand, her chest still covered with clothes and the other hand.
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Lefiya Viridis
Belongs to: Hestia Familia
Level: 4
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For once Lefiya didn´t cry, but small tears of happiness were in her eyes. "Thank you...lady Hestia."
"Hehe...no problem."
"Oh ahm I forgot to tell you, I will go on a journey with Ms. Lyon soon."
"What?!"
