Riveria looked out of her window while she frowned, Ais had been away for hours in this weather. She wasn´t worried about her well being, Ais had experienced harsher environments, but so long in this rain could even become problematic for an adventurer. At least the rain had stopped and the sky was slowly clearing up, a few rays of the evening sun fell down on a glistening Orario.
A soft knock came from the door.
"Come in."
"Lady Riveria, Ms. Ais has returned." Alicia looked inside.
"Ah finally."
Riveria got up from her chair and followed Alicia out of the room, closing the door behind her. It was pretty quiet in the Mansion, in this weather most of the Familia members stayed in their rooms and read or went to sleep early, there wasn´t much to do. She followed the hallways to the entrance of the Mansion, soon she heard the first voices.
"Man Ais, you look horrible!"
"Wow...I have never seen you so dirty."
Tiona and Tione stood at the entrance and seemed to talk to her. When Riveria came close, she saw what they meant. Ais had used her usual white dress when she had heard of the emergency quest, being good-hearted and an airhead, Ais had forgotten to change her clothes before going. Even with the raincoat she got from the Demeter Familia, she was dirty. Mud covered her boots and legs, and many drops were on her dress, skin, and hair. One could say that Ais was covered in mud and dirt from head to toe...but she looked really happy.
"Ais, you have returned."
"Riveria."
They were all surprised a bit when a happy smile bloomed on Ais´ face.
"Were you successful?"
"Yes, we secured nearly all of the fields, only a few got damaged."
"That is good, it would be bad if too many fields were damaged."
"Mhm." Ais looked like she thought about something else.
"Neh Ais...did something happen? Your cheeks are a bit red."
"Idiot...she must be cold from the rain." Tione shook her head, sighing.
But Ais had a smile on her face they had never seen before.
"Where many people are there to help?"
She shook her head. "Only a few, Bell was there."
"Bell Cranel helped too?"
"Yes, he..."
Suddenly Ais blushed and giggled...she acted like a young girl...
"He?"
"He said...he wanted to do it...for me."
"For you?"
Ais explained about the special potatoes. As she spoke, Tiona and Tione exchanged meaningful looks. Whenever Ais spoke about Bell, a glimmer came to her eyes and she smiled if she wanted to or not.
"Hmmm..." Tione leaned forward and looked more at Ais.
"Tione?"
"Hmmm..."
"Hmmmm indeed..." Tiona slowly walked around Ais and looked her up and down.
"T-Tiona?"
"Saaaay Ais...did...something happen?" Tione had a meaningful grin on her lips.
Ais´ cheeks flushed even more. "W-What do you mean?"
"Tiona? Tione?" Riveria was slightly confused by their behavior.
Tiona let her eyes wander around Ais. "Ah c´mon...we see your behavior...something happened...with Argonaut...right?"
"E-Eh?!" Now Ais got really red.
Riveria frowned lightly. "Ais?"
"A..ahm...we...ahm..."
Ais put her hands together in front of her crotch and fidgeted, she looked embarrassed...and too adorable.
"We...k-...kissed..." Her voice got more and more low at the end.
"Whaaaaat?! You two finally got together?!" Tione grabbed Ais´ shoulders and shook her.
"T-Tione!"
"Waaaah! Congratulation Ais! It was about time!"
"T-Tiona!"
"Ais..."
"Riveria?"
"You and...Bell Cranel...became...a couple?"
Somehow getting asked that directly let Ais squeak. "...yes..."
The amazon twins grinned happily and patted Ais´ shoulders and head.
Riveria sighed. I guess it was about time...good that she is going in a healthy way.
Something caught Tiona´s eyes.
"Say Ais...why is there even mud on your butt?"
"Hm?" She turned slightly around. "Oh...that was when I was pushed down after our first kiss and.."
Her memory was a bit blurry so she made a mistake when she had fallen down on her butt.
"Riveria?" Tione frowned.
Tiona and Ais also looked at Riveria who had frozen.
"Riveria?"
No reaction.
Tiona walked to Riveria and looked into her face. "Oh...she passed out..."
The words "when I was pushed down" were too much for Riveria... She just had imagined her pure, little Ais...pushed down by Bell into the mud...and both kissing passionately...it was too much for her heart...
.
.
Bell couldn´t help but smile happily while he walked home. He had parted with Ais two corners away from her home, they had shyly looked at each other and when they were sure that no one was looking, gave each other a short kiss.
"Good night, Ais."
"Good night, Bell."
While no one saw him, Bell literally danced while he walked and laughed in joy. He had finally done it, confessed to Ais...and she loved him too! Right now his live couldn´t get any better, Bell was just happy.
Orario was so beautiful in the evening sun since everything was wet from the rain, the whole city shimmered. The sky had cleared up and with the sinking sun, it looked like the sky was pure gold. Maybe it was only due to Bell´s perception colored with love.
He couldn´t stop thinking about the moment with Ais...when they had kissed. The feeling of her lips...the taste...just heavenly. And how Ais had knelt in front of him in the muddy field, covered in dirt with only her hair untouched by it, in the lone sunray she had looked like an angel...or a spirit.
And then her abashed smile, Bell couldn´t stop remembering how she had closed her eyes and lightly pursed her lips. From the first moment he saw her when she had rescued him from the Minotaur...he wanted to do that.
Bell slapped his cheeks a few times while he walked and pinched his arm to be sure that this all was no dream...but he was awake.
He was cold, drenched, and dirty...Bell felt just great. If a certain goddess would have looked at him now...and maybe she did...she would have seen his soul orb sparkling. The simple kiss and confession with Ais had filled Bell with sheer endless happiness.
Bell felt a bit unwell being so dirty, wet, and cold, so he was all too happy when he finally arrived home. Many windows were opened after the storm to let in fresh air and he longed for a hot shower.
In the very moment he opened the front door, blissful warm air surrounded him. He sighed in relief as he got inside and tried to bring in as little mud as possible. Carefully he took off his boots and socks, there was even mud on his bare feet.
"Master Bell?"
Haruhime came from the living room, already holding tissues in her hands.
"Ms. Haruhime...I´m back."
She smiled. "Welcome back master Bell, do you want to take a shower first? Or have dinner?"
Haruhime wasn´t able to say the last line that Aisha had taught her, the famous "Or...do you want...me?".
"I´m dying to take a hot shower."
"Ehe, take your time."
Bell went carefully up the stairs and went to his room. When finally five minutes later hot water poured down on him, Bell sighed in relieve. He felt alive again, and with the chilly feeling gone, he could bath in his memory with Ais. He giggled and squealed lightly, blushing heavily when he remembered how Ais had suddenly kissed him. Their confession afterward...and the other kisses...it felt just magical.
Grandfather, I did it!
When he came out of the shower, Welf came into the bathroom.
"Yo Bell, had a successful day?"
"Yes, much to do and fortunately the fields are safe...and for you?"
"Man that was a day...I was never before so happy to be a smith."
"What did you do?"
"Helped Hephaistos to smelt something, Tsubaki was also there, it was very exciting."
Bell didn´t know much about smithing, sometimes he watched Welf when he worked.
"And the smelting worked?"
"Yes, we managed to make two ingots, more than enough."
"Sounds good, for what is it?"
Welf grinned widely. "Hephaistos forbid me to tell anyone about it."
"Oh."
"Yes and...hmmmm..." Welf leaned closer to Bell.
"Wh-What is it?"
Suddenly Welf grinned again. "Bell...you did something, didn´t you?"
"I-I have no idea what you mean..."
"You are a bad liar, it is written onto your face! You are smiling in a special way I have never seen before...did something happen with your lady?"
Bell didn´t need to answer, he got bright red again.
"Hmmm...so I was right...it was about time."
Bell´s expression was a mixture of happiness, embarrassment, and some other emotions.
"Well ahm...I...ahm...we...ahm..."
"Did you kiss?"
"Hiiiiiiii!"
Oh...they did kiss...
Welf was happy for his friend...his brother...but he also knew that some of the girls in this house wouldn´t be that happy.
.
.
"Aaaaiiiiiis!"
"Aaaiiis!"
For once the amazon twins behaved exactly like the other, they had joined Ais in the big bath after her hot shower. They were just too curious about what happened between her and Bell.
Tione sat on Ais´ right side, Tiona on the left and both looked quite happy. While Tiona really liked Bell and enjoyed spending time with him, it was just friendship and no feelings of love. Nevertheless, she wouldn´t mind giving birth to a child of him some day, but that was just her carefree nature since Bell was handsome, friendly, and strong.
Ais was a bit at a loss for words, thankfully it was only the three of them. They had carried Riveria to her room, the elf had handled the information she got. And process the shock that her little girl had kissed a guy...and was pushed down in a muddy field where they had kissed more. Of course, Ais was not an elf-like Riveria...but the shock for her was strong...it would need a long talk on the next day to clear up the misunderstanding.
"Say, say! How did it happen? Did he do it?"
"Come on say it! We need details!"
"Tiona...Tione..." Ais fidgeted lightly in the bath, she wasn´t used to such a talk.
Ais pulled her legs close and her arms around them. "We helped at the fields and..."
The twins leaned closer, smiling widely.
Ais´ cheeks got red again and she lowered her face more to her knees. "When...it was over...I..."
"You?"
"K-K...kissed...him.."
"Whaaaat?! You did it first?!"
"I thought...I was...dreaming..."
"Oh y-..wait! You even do that in your dreams?!"
"Mmmmh!" She tried to hide her face behind her knees.
Tiona was really excited. "And then? Tell us!"
"We talked..and...confessed..."
"Woooohoooo!"
"Yes!"
She smiled lightly at the cheer of her two friends.
"And then?"
"We...kissed...again...and...again..."
"Wow...Ais...that you would be so bold..."
"Lewd..."
"Mmmmmh!"
As happy as they were, the twins kept teasing Ais for a short while.
"How did it taste?"
"Taste?"
"You know! His lips! How did Argonaut´s lips taste?"
"Mmmh! I...can´t...tell you..."
"Better than potato snacks?" Tiona grinned.
Ais looked first at Tiona, then Tione...and nodded lightly.
"Kya!"
"Kyaaa!"
"Say, say! How did it feel? Good?"
Ais...only nodded.
Soon the twins noticed that Ais also behaved somewhat strangely, when she had walked to the bath, Ais had covered herself with her towel more than usual. And she tried to her her chest under water and other things.
"Ais? Are you embarrassed?" Tiona looked curious about Ais's behaviour.
"No...it´s just..."
"Hm?" Tione joined her sister.
"Only Bell...should...be allowed...to see...my skin...in the...future..."
Riveria had told her to only show her skin to her beloved, so...
Ah! She is so pure!
"But the future...Ais, he already has seen you naked...didn´t he?"
"B-Bell averted his eyes! A-And he didn´t see "th-th-that" place..."
""That" place? Oh you mean your flower!"
"Mmmmh!"
Sometimes...or more often in the last time...it was hard for Ais to deal with the unabashedness of the amazons. It was true that Bell didn´t see Ais's sacred place...and he wouldn´t until marriage...that was something that Ais had decided in her heart even without Riveria´s teachings. Her mother had told her in the past something about offering her everything to her one true love...but she couldn´t know that her mother meant something different at that time...
The sisters needed a while to explain to Ais, that they were friends and had no romantic interest in Ais, so that was something else. Also, they had seen Ais naked often enough already...
Their little airhead was confused with the whole situation...and that made her only more adorable.
Ais...our little Ais...confessed to the rabbit and has a boyfriend now..hmmm...
Tione looked at her friend while she was in thought.
.
Hiiiiiii!
Somehow, in another room of the Loki Mansion, Finn felt a shudder running down his spine.
I have...a bad...feeling...
He felt like...his chastity was in danger...
.
When the night came, Ais and Bell lied in their beds in different parts of the city and looked up to the rising moon. Bell hugged one of his pillows, Ais her Bell plushy.
"Good night, Ais."
"Good night, Bell." She wished she could have hugged the real Bell...for now the plushy had to be enough.
.
Both wouldn´t be able to see the other for half a week, since both caught a cold from the many hours in the rain...it was torture for them. Ais wanted to go to Bell so badly...be at his side...cuddle with him.
"Riveria...please let me go..."
"No means no! You are sick!"
"But...when Bell is sick too...we can...sweat it out together..."
"Young lady! You two are a couple for two days and you already want to sleep in the same bed with him?! Sweat together?! I...I...I don´t even have words!"
"Mouh..."
Riveria was still afraid that Ais would skip a few steps too fast...
.
And it was torture for another person in Orario...one who had seen everything they had done in the fields. One who would throw her wine glass onto the next wall so that it shattered.
The female servants never before had seen this person so angry.
.
"Hmmm hmmm hmmm." Ais hummed happily while she closed her boots, sitting at the entrance of the Loki Mansion.
"Little Ais..."
A depressed-looking Loki walked towards her.
"Loki, good morning."
"Mornin´..."
Of course, Loki had noticed that with Ais and Bell...and she was absolutely not happy about that. It wasn´t just because Ais was her favorite, Loki didn´t like Hestia and through that, her children.
So Ais falling for Bell was one of the worst things that could happen for Loki. She was convinced that Bell was only trying to seduce Ais ... to take her away from her. Some gods could be quite possessive...so Loki thought about a method to undermine the relationship of Ais and Bell, she wanted her "cute, little Ais" for herself...or at least not lose her at one of Hestia´s children. But on the other hand, she didn´t want to make Ais sad...not wanting her to fall back into her "doll princess" behavior.
Maybe he wants to lure Ais into his Familia? Maybe others as well? He has carried Lefiya to him...and Tiona likes him. You little rabbit...I see through your plan...
Gods changing only slowly or not at all...so Loki couldn´t help but feel immense jealousy.
"Wher´ ya goin´?"
"Ahmm...I..."
Loki saw that Ais´ cheeks had turned pink.
Don´t tell me..
"Ahm...a...d-d...da-...dat-Nnnnh!" She covered her face behind her hands, not able to speak the word "date" out loud.
The sight of the blushing, squealing Ais was too precious.
"And what..." Loki took a deep breath to calm down. "Have you planned?"
"We...will train again, eat a snack around noon, train more...maybe walk a bit together."
That sounds exactly like what they usually did...
And indeed it was nothing special for Bell and Ais to do that, but now it would be different since they had become a couple. It would be their first training date, mostly because both didn´t know what to do on a date...so they did something they were familiar with.
"Have fun then..."
"Thank you Loki." Ais smiled widely and went to the door.
Loki followed Ais with her eyes.
I will not let you have your way with my precious Ais... shitty rabbit. Lil´shrimp...you will regret it, having sent your child to seduce my children.
The goddess made a fist, she would find a method to get him out of the way...one way or another...Bell would not lay his filthy hands on her innocent angel.
.
.
.
Bell closed his boots and took a deep breath, today should be a wonderful day...his first "date" with Ais...but something depressed the mood. On the last evening, he had told his Familia about him and Ais.
The reaction was...mixed, while Welf knew it anyway and congratulated him, some of the others seemed to be shocked. Mikoto too congratulated him...but Hestia left the room wordless...as well as Lily. Haruhime wished him all the good in the world...before she hastily left the room with tears in her eyes. Mikoto excused herself and went after Haruhime, not wanting to leave the heartbroken Renard alone.
Lily shut herself in her room, cried, and screamed into her pillow...her heart felt like it was about to break. Hestia went out to drink something with Miach and Takemikazuchi, she got heavily drunk.
And Mikoto held the sobbing and crying Haruhime in their shared room. All three of them knew that this day might come someday...it still hurt very much.
Bell wasn´t blind to their feelings...every girl he had met was very precious and important to him. But the one who owned his heart was Ais and he would never cheat on her...or build himself a harem. In the past he had dreamed about that...but it wouldn´t be fair...nor the right thing to do.
"Hey, brother."
Bell looked up when he heard a voice. "Welf..."
Welf sighed. "...Give them time...you know...I...I think you know...what I mean."
"Yes..."
He didn´t want to hurt them...but he had so tell them. At least in the morning, he had gotten the chance to talk to Haruhime.
.
"Haruhime..." Bell had entered the kitchen.
"Master Bell...please excuse me..."
She tried to leave the kitchen...not able to look into his eyes.
"Haruhime, wait!"
For the first time in his live, Bell was a bit forceful with a girl...in his view at least. When she tried to walk past him, Bell gently grabbed Haruhime´s wrist. Surprised, she looked up to him since he was a bit taller than her.
"Please...let me g-!"
Her words died away when Bell pulled her towards him and put her arms around her, hugging her gently.
"Master Bell! I...I...*hic*"
"Haruhime...I´m sorry..."
She whimpered and sobbed when he whispered into her ear, her hands clawed lightly into his shirt.
"Please...let me..."
"Haruhime! You are important to me! So important that I can´t find the right words to tell you! And please believe me, even if...you...I mean...even if I can´t love you...that way...I want to be there for you!"
Haruhime turned her face to him, and her lower lip trembled. "Bell..."
"I still want to be your hero! Please, believe in me! Whenever you need me, whenever you are in danger, I will be there for you. I will care for you, protect you...nothing will change that!"
The words just came to him and he hoped it were the right ones.
"*Hic* *Hic* *Hic*"
Bell had never hoped to do something like that in his live...but he made a girl cry. Haruhime returned the hug and cried onto Bell´s shoulder, let her emotions run wild. She needed to hold him, to let her feelings out and let him go...
her heart would need time to heal...but it was a start.
.
"So brother...have fun." Welf smiled lightly.
"Thank you, Welf."
Bell looked to the stairs while he opened the door, he hadn´t seen Lily or Hestia since the last evening. Love was a wonderful feeling...but there were downsides when it came to many people loving one.
This day had to come someday...so better now than later.
He went outside and walked in the usual direction, hoping that his goddess and first friend would get better with time.
.
.
Ais made a small detour since she wanted to talk to someone before she met with Bell. It was a part of the city that she came normally together with her Familia when they would celebrate something.
It was part of one of the eight main streets of Orario and this part here was mostly famous for this special building...a pub.
I hope...I wonder...is she there so early?
Ais looked around a bit helpless and thought about if she should dare to knock or not. Before she could decide, the door opened and a silver haired young woman looked outside.
"Sword princess? What brings you here this early?"
"Oh ahm...g-good morning."
"Ehe, good morning."
Syr smiled friendly to her while she looked at her curiously.
"I...wanted to...is Lefiya there?"
"Ms. Lefiya? Sure, I think it is okay for Mama Mia if you talk to her before the work starts, come in."
"Thank you."
Ais bowed her head and smiled thankfully. She followed Syr inside, who locked the door behind them.
"We don´t want random people to just walk inside when there are girls here that are sleeping upstairs, right?"
Syr giggled and gave Ais a sign to follow her, Ais simply nodded and followed her since she was not very good at small talk. The pub was quite big, and she noticed now that she saw it empty for the first time.
"Thank you for letting me in."
"Ah, no problem. I heard many things about you from Ms. Lefiya...only good things of course!" She beamed all over her face.
She is very friendly.
Ais could understand why many people like this certain waitress so much.
"Here, Ms. Lefiya is preparing the vegetables for the day, she is a real help."
Syr waved to her and walked inside the kitchen, Ais was a bit surprised that Lefiya worked so early since she saw no one awake besides Syr. Ais followed her into the kitchen and looked around a bit surprised...there was no one here. The pub seemed to be empty...or at least the ground floor...as if someone had taken care that no one would be down here...
"Ms. S-!"
In the moment that Ais turned around to Syr, she stopped with her words. A murderous expression was on Syr´s face for a moment...
.
Before she smiled like a queen...
.
And her eyes...
.
Flashed pink.
.
.
Bell leaned against the parapet of the wall where they trained normally, Ais should be here soon so he was quite nervous. They haven´t seen each other for half a week and his heart longed to see her. Soon he noticed long blond hair as a familiar girl walked up the stairs of the tower. His heart already started to race again...there she was...his idol...his love...and...his girlfriend.
He squeaked by himself as he thought those last two words...Bell had completely fallen for Ais. Bell noticed that she looked up for a moment but continued her way. Eventually she reached the top of the stairs and followed the wall towards him...she was so beautiful in the morning sun in his eyes.
"Ais...good morning." Bell smiled with all the love he had in his heart for her.
She said nothing as she came closer to him, her face looked disgruntled.
"Ais? Did something ha-"
Slap!
Bell had to blink a few times to get the situation...Ais had said nothing, she just slapped him.
"A-Ais?..." He held his red cheek.
Her expression was pure anger. "Bell Cranel..."
"A...is?..."
"I hate you..."
His eyes widened more and more...staggering back a step. "Wh..."
"You...you have defiled me! You used my confusion that day to force yourself on me! You dared to steal my first kiss! I hate you!"
Bell´s brain couldn´t keep up with the situation...Ais...had hit him...in anger...
"Ais...I...I..love y-"
"Don´t say my name like that! And don´t you dare say that to me!"
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and spit onto the ground.
"But I thought...I...you...we would be.."
"What?! A couple?! Don´t make me laugh! I was exhausted from the day and not myself! And you dared to use this situation to force your lips onto me!"
"Ais, please! I love you! And I thought you...love..me..." His voice got lower.
"Again...don´t make me laugh! I never want to see you again Rabbit Foot! I...hate...you!"
With these words, Ais whirled around and walked away. When Bell wanted to make a step after her, Ais growled and put her hand down on the hilt of her sword...a clear message.
Bell just stood there and couldn´t do anything...slowly his vision got blurry when tears filled his eyes. Not from the pain in his cheek...but his heart. Somehow his world had turned around completely...was it all just a dream?` Did he misunderstand Ais that day?
She...hates...me...I...I...
He was at a loss for words...Bell sank down to his knees and started to cry...alone on the top of the wall.
Bell had dared to finally confess to Ais...and now it was like this...he didn´t knew what to do.
With a scream of pain, Bell collapsed into a pile of misery and sobbed loudly. He felt a sharp pain in his chest when his heart broke.
Ais...
Hated him...
Everything was over...
He would never catch up to her now...nor be together with her...
Unnoticed by him...the Skill on his back that he didn´t knew about, the "Liaris Freese",...lost it´s white color and became dull...
And with losing the power of this skill...Bell lost his special immunity...
Also unnoticed by him, Ais Wallenstein walked through the city, her face showed no sign of anger. She had done like her mistress had told her and broke up with Bell Cranel, of course she would do it or her Mistress couldn´t love her anymore...
.
.
.
High up in Babel, Freya looked with immense pleasure what just had happened. As soon as she had charmed Ais, she had switched the role of Syr with Helun and returned to Babel. Her order was simple,
Ais had to break up with Bell, when he would become heartbroken, Syr would be there for him and make sure that he fell for her. At first she thought about getting Ais out of the way by sending her into the pleasure quarter and have her offer her body there for free...or eliminate her.
But even Freya wasn´t that cruel...at least not right away. And she had to be careful so that Loki wouldn´t notice it...or it could mean war. So all Freya did was overwrite Ais´ feelings for Bell and that was all, she should live her life calmly or die in the dungeon...Freya didn´t cared.
All that was important to her, was Bell...and Bell alone.
"Perfect...now...he will be...mine!"
Freya made a gesture and her mirror became blank again, she didn´t wanted to see Ais Wallenstein anymore...her role was fulfilled. This way, Freya didn´t noticed that tears were rolling over Ais´ face...she didn´t knew why but somehow her heart hurt...as if something horrible had happened just now...
The goddess laughed happily by herself.
"Everything goes...just...as...planned!"
Now she just had to continue her plan, to be there for Bell...and then...
Freya licked her lips seductive. "Beeeeeeell...you are miiiiiine..."
She already imagined the things she would do with him...do for him...do to him...
.
.
.
In another part of the city, two ingots of special metal shone for a moment by the lightning that wafted through them...as if it reacted so something...or someone...
