Bell walked slowly through the streets, his eyes were puffy and red from crying. It felt like something was squeezing his heart continuously...it really hurt.

Ais...why...what did...I do...

When did it go wrong? What did go wrong? The boy had no answer to his questions, all he knew was that the girl he loved so much...despised him now. He was used to get the cold shoulder or hatred from other people in the past...but not from Ais.

Bell wandered aimlessly through the city, he had no destination in his mind, nor did he know what to do now. All that he had fought for...had longed for...was now gone and meaningless.

Was I too forceful? Did I misunderstand her?

He didn´t know...Bell didn´t know anything at this moment. Just following the streets in whatever direction...this was supposed to be a wonderful day...but now...

"Mr. Bell?"

His face lightly rose when he heard a soft voice. A familiar, silver-haired girl stood next to him, this time in her casual white dress. As always, Syr looked like an innocent angel, and she

had a worried expression on her face.

"Mr. Bell, did something happen? You look...horrible..."

"Syr..."

Bell sobbed when he looked at her friendly face, his brain was empty and his heart hurt. She looked at him with a worried expression, then she walked to him and suddenly hugged him.

"Mr...no...Bell...you are hurt...right?"

In his hurt state, Bell needed...longed for some comfort. Syr guided him to a small, rarely used park, where they sat down on a bench. Soon his tears burst out again and he told Syr about what happened.

Syr didn´t say much, she put her arm around him and just spent his comfort. At some point, Syr gently pulled Bell closer and gently pressed his face against her chest, so that he could cry as much as he needed.

"Bell...I´m so sorry...for what happened to you..."

"H-How could I...be so wrong...what did I do wrong..." He sobbed.

Syr gently patted the back of his head. "You did nothing wrong...Bell. It...I mean...ahm...may..be..it just...wasn´t...meant.."

"But...but...I love her..*Hic*.I love Ais..."

I don´t want to hear that Bell, you have to love me! ME!

"I´m there for you...Bell."

And I will always be there for you Bell...always. Soon you will realize...you...only...need...me...

Syr didn´t dare to wear her queen-like smile on her lips, just in case someone saw them.

"Syr...thank you." Bell slowly pulled himself up so that he sat upright. "Really...thank you...but I...I have to talk to her...have to explain to her."

She looked a bit uneasy. "Do you think...that is...smart?"

As gently as possible, she took his hands and looked into his red eyes. Even in his state, Bell noticed the special glimmer in Syr´s eyes. Syr didn´t only look at him as a friend...Syr...looked at him...like a maiden in love.

"Syr..I.."

She caressed his hands gently. "Bell, I can only imagine how hard it is for you right now...when you want to talk...I will be there for you."

For a long while, Syr sat there with Bell and spent him in comfort. Seeing Bell hurt and heartbroken was not what she desired, but it played into Freya´s hands. The more hurt he was due to Ais, the deeper he would fall in love with her and

the less likely it would be that he would return to her. She was relieved that her sudden action worked the way she had hoped for. Not only was Freya angry when she saw that Ais and Bell had kissed, but she was frightened. Freya saw how

Bell´s soul orb had started to change and soon it would be impossible for her to get through to him. So she had dealt the most horrible blow when he was vulnerable, the immense happiness and joy of being in love with Ais Wallenstein, was turned

into deepest despair.

Now she would be there for him, to help and comfort him, but Freya had to be careful or Bell´s soul would take damage. Right now his orb had turned slightly dull, but she was sure with time it would shine yet again and become more beautiful than ever before.

She had waited long enough and in the end, she should have used her charm earlier, Freya was sick of waiting.

Bell was the one.

Bell was her Odr, she was sure.

Bell...would be...hers alone.

Without showing it on her face, Freya smiled...the seed was sown...now she had to make sure that it grew.

Our love...will be forever...I always get what I want...and I...want you.

.

.

.

.

Ais walked through the streets of Orario toward her home, she felt a bit strange. She knew Bell for quite some time now and was interested in his rapid growth, and how fast his skill as an adventurer developed.

Ais had trained with him for that very reason, but she never felt more than that interest for Bell. When she had heard that her beloved potatoes were in danger, she had acted immediately. But that

Bell had suddenly kissed her when she was so exhausted...she was too perplexed to react and her memory was quite blurry...maybe due to her exhaustion.

When she had woken up this morning...or was it on the way to their "training"...Ais wasn´t sure when...but she got very angry at Bell. Her mother and Riveria had told her that only her beloved

should be allowed to kiss her and touch her skin. And Bell took that from her just because he had fallen in love with her.

He is so egoistic! He didn´t even talk to me about that! Now I´m tainted and I can never give my future love my first kiss! I hate him!

Suddenly, Ais stopped and shook her head...something didn´t feel right. After a few moments, her raging heart got slower again as she felt calm in her. She shouldn´t waste her time to be angry at Bell, it wasn´t worth it.

Yes..the only thing that mattered was her Familia and getting stronger, both were equally important to her. Ais would get stronger and one day defeat the One-Eyed Black Dragon to rescue her mother, but she would also protect all the people that

were so important to her, her Familia. No one else mattered and that training with Bell was over, forever. She would never forgive him for doing that...but why was it important in the first place? It wasn´t like Ais was romantically interested

in anyone, love for her Familia was one thing...but love in a romantic way...somehow it didn´t feel important for her.

Mother...Father...I never found a hero for me...I probably never will...

But Ais didn´t feel desperate about that like in the past...it just...didn´t matter for her anymore...for whatever reason.

Not everyone can find a hero...not everyone needs a hero. Mother...maybe I am different to you in that matter...but just you wait, I will free you one day and return you to Father. With the help of...

Ais paused in her thought...with the help of whom? Some of her thoughts just ended suddenly...as if the end didn´t come to her mind or didn´t matter. It was a weird feeling in her head...most likely because she was still upset because of Bell.

But even that feeling got less and more...she had liked Bell as a training partner, but nothing more.

Well...this also is over now...

.

.

Soon, Ais arrived at her home again, it was till early in the morning so there should be enough time for...

For my d...d...d...da...dat...for what is enough time?...Going to the dungeon? Yes, that should be what I like.

She opened the door and walked inside, taking her boots off since it wasn´t well-liked to use shoes inside the Mansion. Ais would go to her room and get the things she needed for the dungeon.

At this time it was already pretty lively at the Mansion, so there were many people around.

"Ais?"

"Hm?"

Tiona had seen her by chance and was surprised to see her.

"Why are you here?"

"I´m getting my equipment and going to the dungeon."

"You two are training in the dungeon?"

"Two?"

Tione frowned confused. "Aren´t you going with Argonaut?"

Ais shook her head. "Training with him is over, I don´t want to see him again."

"Eeeeh! What happened?!" The Amazon's eyes widened in shock.

"I told you what he did...he suddenly kissed me...he shouldn´t have done that..." Her expression changed between slightly angry and calm as if her brain wasn´t sure what it wanted.

"Wh-Wh-What?! What are you talking about?!"

The raised voice of Tiona lured someone else to them, her sister.

"Tiona, Ais, what is wrong?"

"Ais just told me she doesn´t want to see Argonaut again!"

"What?!"

Ais frowned lightly. "Why are you two surprised like this?"

"Why wouldn´t we?! You two are a couple!"

For a moment Ais shook her head. "No, we aren´t, why wouldn´t we?"

"Because you love Argonaut!"

She made a face for a moment as if these words made something inside her react.

"No...I don´t...I hate him."

"What?!"

"What?!"

Most people let those three alone, but a certain elf had very good ears.

"Ais, Tione, Tiona, what is this ruckus?"

"Ais told us she hates the rabbit!"

"Huh?" Riveria looked shocked.

"Why are you all reacting like that? Rabbit Foot shouldn´t have kissed me suddenly, that is unforgivable."

"What do you mean? Did you have an argument?!"

"I told you already on the evening of the storm. When we were done with the work I was exhausted and tired then...then..." Ais blinked a few times in confusion, her memory was blurry. "He just kissed me."

"Ais?! You told us that you kissed him!" Tiona was beside herself.

"You have misunderstood me, why would I kiss him? I don´t even like him very much."

Riveria gave them a sign to follow so that they wouldn´t talk in the hallway. After arriving at Riveria´s room and she had locked the door, they continued.

"Ais...you asked me for advice about him...you fell in love with Bell Cranel...what happened?"

"Love? Me? With him? That´s...ridi-...it can´t be."

"But you told us so much how happy you are that you two kissed! That you are really in love with him! You acted like a pure Maiden!" Tione nearly roared.

"I´m sure I was just exhausted and mixed up some things."

The three looked at each other, did they misunderstand Ais so much?

"Ais...you asked me to let you go to him when you were sick...remember?"

"I just wanted to tell him what a horrible thing he did...and slap him."

"You slapped Argonaut?!"

"Of course, he deserved it."

"Ais..." It was rare to see Tione so shocked.

Riveria couldn´t believe what she had heard right now. She wasn´t happy about all the things that happened between Bell and Ais, but she was more than relieved that Ais had found someone for herself...and Bell Cranel was practically the perfect man for her.

"Ais...did something happen today? You wanted to go on a date with Bell Cranel today..."

"No, I´m sorry but you might have misunderstood me, I went to make things clear with him. I told him that he did wrong and I hated him for that. Our training and partnership is over, I never want to see him again."

During their talk, sometimes Ais closed her eyes and shook her head as if she was confused. This way her friends didn´t notice that her eyes had a pink shade at that moment. Something in her reacted to her confused feelings and showed her the "right" way.

"Now please excuse me, I want to go to the dungeon as I intended."

"Ais..."

"Ais..."

The twins were more than shocked...they were so happy for Ais...

Riveria couldn´t say anything when Ais left the room and closed the door behind her.

"Riveria?"

"What happened with them?"

Helpless, the twins looked at her.

"I...I can´t...I have no idea...but something happened...something went horribly wrong. Something isn´t right..."

The three looked to the closed door...something about this situation felt just wrong.

.

.

.

Hestia sighed while she sat on the big couch in the living room. She still felt bad about the last evening, not only because of the message she got from Bell...or that she drank so much...but more that she just ran out of the room and didn´t say anything to him.

Her feelings were one thing...but him finding someone was a wonderful thing and so she felt just bad.

"Lady Hestia..."

Lily sat on another couch and felt just as bad as Hestia.

"We weren´t very nice to Master Bell..."

"No, we weren´t."

"I feel really bad..."

"Me too...my poor little Bell...we should have said something."

Lily leaned her head back and sighed. "It still hurt very much."

"Yes.."

Goddess and mortal sighed together, a broken heart was one thing...but leaving Bell just like that was another.

"I wonde-.."

Suddenly they heard the door opening and slamming, followed by hasty steps.

"Master Be-what happened?!"

When they heard Haruhime´s shocked voice from the hallway, Hestia and Lily jumped up to run out of the living room. They just caught a glimpse of Bell´s leg when he ran up the stairs without saying something, soon after they heard a door slamming again.

"Haruhime, what happened?"

The Renard had clapped her hands over her mouth and looked horrified. "Master Bell..."

"What did he say?!" Lily was agitated.

"He said "It is over..." and ran up the stairs...crying."

The three were perplexed, Haruhime had told the two that Bell wanted to go and meet with Ais again...it was meant to be their first date...

"Don´t tell me..."

Fast but silent, the three walked up the stairs toward Bell´s room...but they didn´t need to get close to hear him...

At first, it sounded like Bell was laughing...but after a moment they noticed they were wrong. Bell was crying from immense pain in his heart, this kind of cry only came from someone who got his heart broken.

But Bell´s heart wasn´t only broken...it was shattered.

"Oh, dear gods.."

"Don´t tell me..."

"But I thought they..."

The three looked at each other before they went down the stairs again. They didn´t know what to say to Bell now or how to talk to him...but it wouldn´t be nice to listen to him crying...

"Do you think...they had a fight?"

"I don´t know...he told me he was sorry that he couldn´t return my feelings but..." Haruhime´s ears and tail dropped a bit.

"Your fee-...Haruhime...you too?"

The fox girl looked at the other two and nodded. "Yes, I love Master Bell very much...but..."

Hestia and Lily nodded understandingly, they all loved Bell...but he loved Ais...and now...something had happened.

"I can´t imagine what could have gone wrong between them...they fit together so well.."

Admitting it hurt, but Haruhime had this thought for a long time now. So much that Bell was aware to a point of the feelings of the three, they had seen how much he loved Ais.

And no one more than Hestia, since she was the only one that knew about "Liaris Freese". It was basically burned into Bell´s back that he loved Ais Wallenstein. His rapid growth and his will were practically a shout-out of his love for her.

"But...didn´t they confess to each other?"

"I thought so too..."

"And..what happened in those fields?"

"I don´t know...I..."

"Yeah...we all left the room..." Haruhime looked depressed.

"Only Welf stayed with him..."

"Where is Welf?"

"He said he will be busy today at the forge with Hephaistos..."

"Lily thinks...should we...talk to him?"

"We can only try..."

But neither of them got the chance, Bell had shut himself in his room and refused to come out...he didn´t even answer to their careful questions since his tears just wouldn´t stop...

The poor boy had had some horrible experiences...but not one of them hurt as much as this one. And he wasn´t the only one who suffered, in another part of the city, Ais walked towards the dungeon with a confused face...when she paused for a moment, her small self sat somewhere and looked at her with empty eyes, her knees pulled close and the arms put around them. As if her maiden-like side was shut off.

.

.

.

"Come in..."

Loki looked down at the paperwork she was busy with when she heard some soft knocks from the door.

"Loki, I would like to talk to you."

"Riveria? What is it."

Even with being the "Mommy" of the Familia and the "Straight Man", Loki had never seen Riveria so concerned. She was constantly frowning and looked really worried.

"What happened?"

"It is about Ais."

"Oh, Ais and...that shitty rabbit?"

Loki couldn´t hide her despise for Bell Cranel anymore...and she didn´t want to.

"Loki..."

"What? I don´t trust him!"

"They broke up..."

"He-...wait what?!"

Riveria sighed and sat down on a chair.

"Ais returned from the city just now and told us that we have misunderstood her. That she isn´t in love with Bell Cranel but hates him for just kissing her like that when she was exhausted."

"I knew it!" The goddess smiled happily.

"Loki! This is serious and not a reason to cheer!"

"What? It is good that she sent him into the desert, that shitty rab-"

"Loki! There is something wrong with Ais!"

As much of an absurd goddess that Loki was sometimes, normally she didn´t tolerate it when one of her children talked to her like that. But in Riveria´s behavior, she saw something that let Loki stop for a moment...Riveria was really worried.

"Explain."

"You should be aware that Ais has feelings for Bell Cranel."

"I am aware.."

"And that these two confessed to each other."

"Yes..."

"The day of the storm those two have found together, that isn´t even a week ago. And today Ais wanted to go on her first date with him."

"I know, I talked to her this morning."

"And now she returned and suddenly told us that she and Bell Cranel broke up, after not even being a couple for a week."

"Maybe they had a fight?"

"No Loki, it has to be something else. Ais told us how much she had enjoyed what happened, that she was too happy that Bell also loved her. You have seen her face, her behavior in the last days...Ais was never before so happy."

Loki hated to admit it, but Riveria was right. "Yeah...I saw it..."

"Loki, I know that you don´t like Bell Cranel...but that change came too sudden and it doesn´t make sense. When they had a fight, Ais would ask us what she should do now...and even if you don´t like him, you have to

see that Bell Cranel won´t act like this. From what I have seen and heard, Ais is his very reason to be an adventurer, she is his world."

Loki folded her hands and speculated, whether Riveria was right if she wanted to hear that or not. Ais´ change was too sudden and it didn´t make sense. If Bell had done something horrible to Ais...not that he was strong enough for that so Loki believed...he would have

to be aware that the Loki Familia would probably murder Bell for that. They loved their "princess" and it was hard enough to hold them back to not going after Bell when he and Ais had become a couple. There were

people in the Familia who admired or loved Ais and wouldn´t like anyone who got to be her partner, even if they never had a chance to be that themself.

"How did she act when she returned? Strange? Unusual?"

"No, that was even more strange, she acted completely normal as if nothing special had happened. You know Ais, normally she would be confused, maybe tilt her head a bit."

They all knew their beloved airhead well enough, but Ais didn´t have much experience acting normal...she only slowly got there due to the interaction with their friends and...even if Loki hated to say that...due to Bell Cranel.

As much as she despised him, Loki didn´t want Ais to fall back into her "usual" behavior.

"That is disturbing...something isn´t right."

"As I said."

"Where is Ais now?"

"In the dungeon."

"Alone?"

"No, I asked someone to have an eye on her...from a distance."

"Who?"

"You know who I asked."

The Loki Familia had specialists for different jobs, and the one who was the best fitting for following someone unnoticed was Bete. Since he returned to the Familia, Bete tried to be more open...and reserved.

"Good, we don´t want anything to happen to her...do you think it could be magic?"

"Hmm.." Riveria had already thought about this possibility. "I don´t know of any spell that could suddenly do that...not to that extent. Maybe a magic item that was misused."

"A magic item you say..." Loki tapped her chin. "Go and talk to Finn when Bete returns and reports about Ais, we may need to keep an eye on Andromeda. Who knows if Hermes is involved in that."

"Do you think lord Hermes could have ordered that?"

"Hermes likes to interfere with people...it is a possibility."

Loki now had her "serious" expression, her children knew that this meant the time for playing around was over.

"If the change really is so sudden and so intense, there is something else involved that we don´t know about for now. But we will find out and..."

Loki´s expression changed to her merciless one. "Whoever messes with our little Ais...will pay."

What the goddess didn´t tell Riveria...she had a good guess who might be the one messing with Ais and Bell...

Maybe it was time for a little visit.

.

.

.

.

"*Hic* *Hic* *Hic*"

Bell had his face pressed into his pillow, he couldn´t stop sobbing and crying...his heart hurt so much.

Why Ais...why...what...did I do...

His whole world had shattered...in one moment he was as happy as ever before...in the next, it was like this. For him, the world had lost all of its color and happiness.

"Grandpa..."

This wasn´t how his Grandfather had described it to him...how he had imagined it. It hurt so much, it was a physical pain in his chest. All the things he had hoped for...all the things he had imagined...gone.

The first shy dates with Ais...maybe even holding hands...kissing from time to time. And even adult things like cuddling or marrying later...

"Ais..."

Bell had rolled onto his back, the forearm resting on his from crying hurting forehead. His lower lip trembled and he started to cry again. No matter what he did, his heart wouldn´t stop hurting.

What Bell couldn´t see...but a certain goddess could...his soul orb became more and more dull...Bell was about to lose all hope.

.

.

.

Loki walked through the hallways of Babel in a certain direction. Not many people came here often and when one did he was normally invited. Loki wasn´t invited but she didn´t care about that, she marched towards the two female servants who guarded the door.

"I want to see her."

"Lady Loki, please excuse us but our Mistress doesn´t want to be disturbed."

She lowered her voice a bit and became more threatening. "I want to see Freya, now."

Most normal people or adventurers would be intimidated by that...but these two were completely enchanted by their goddess, so whatever Loki did, it meant nothing to them.

"As I said i-"

The female servant was interrupted when the door opened a bit and a third female servant looked outside.

"Lady Freya says you shall let the goddess Loki come in."

The servants didn´t ask any questions, they just got out of the way and let Loki pass.

Damn you Freya, your children are more puppets than people.

Loki was more than slightly angry as she stormed inside Freya´s personal chamber. As usual, it was very luxuriously furnished. The room was dominated by the enormous velvet carpet in the middle and the giant window, with Freya´s chair in front of it.

Most of the time, Freya sat in her chair and held a glass of wine in her hand, looking down on Orario. For once only a few female servants were present.

"Freya."

"Ara Loki, welcome my dear." The silver-haired goddess giggled.

"I need to talk to you, Freya."

"Well, obviously or you wouldn´t have come here. What brings you to me?"

Freya seemed to be in a very good mood today.

Loki turned to the servants. "Leave us alone."

No reaction.

Freya giggled amused. "Leave us alone, my dears."

Now the servants moved and went outside.

"Loki, Loki, Loki...what made you so furious?"

"Freya tell me...did you do something?"

"I´m doing things every day."

"You know what I mean!" Loki moved towards Freya. "Did you...charm my Ais?"

"Oh, Loki...what brings you to that?"

There was it...her queen-like, arrogant smile. The one she always used when she thought she would get what she wanted no matter what...and most of the time it was like that.

"I know that you have your eyes on that little rabbit of Hestia."

"Is that so?"

"You even told me about it!"

"Well that might be, do you have a problem with that?"

"My little Ais is...was in a relationship with him."

Freya put a hand to her mouth and looked all too surprised. "Oh my! Is that so?"

"Don´t act surprised! I know that you know it! And I know that you want him for yourself!"

"And if I do?"

"So you admit it!"

Freya sighed. "Loki, yes I want the "Rabbit" for myself, what is so wrong with that?"

"I know you well enough Freya, if you want something or someone you really want it. You won´t let anyone else have it."

"And?" She raised an eyebrow.

"And I know that you would do basically everything to get what you want."

"So?"

"Tell me Freya...did you charm my little Ais?"

Freya took a deep breath and sighed again. "Yes."

"WHAT?!" Loki was about to raise her fist to punch Freya in the face.

"Now now...calm down Loki."

"YOU DARED TO CHARM MY CHILD?! MY PRECIOUS AIS?!"

"I did nothing to her...not much at least."

Loki breathed way too fast since she was so agitated.

"Freya...that means war."

Freya giggled again. "Do you know that most wars break out simply because people don´t talk to each other?"

"What is there to talk about? You charmed my child!"

"But what exactly did I do to her? Is she acting differently than normal?"

"What?! Eh..no!"

"See?"

Loki was confused by Freya´s behavior.

"Do you want to know what exactly I did to your precious princess?"

"Tell me, and you better have a good reason or you get war."

"All I did was to erase her feelings for the Rabbit."

"You...can do that?"

"Of course."

"Isn´t that against our rules?"

"No."

"But why would you do that?"

"What else should I do? Since the mortals walked over the surface and we gods existed, people loved. When someone was in love he or she would do many things to get the person they loved. They would dress up, offer them food, sleep with them, and do other things. And if there was a rival, they would do their best to win against the rival."

"So?"

"I wanted to "win" against your princess. I love Bell, I really do. Now I thought about what to do...how to make him mine. I thought about many options but in the end, she was the only "rival" of mine. So all I did was erase her feelings. I wouldn´t dare to harm her really or eliminate her, she is your child Loki and I don´t want to fight against you because of that."

"You did only that?"

"Only that. The Sword Princess is your child and I swear I won´t lay my hands on her nor harm her. She has her free will and she forgot about me or what I did, all I did was delete her feelings for Bell Cranel."

"Still...you did something to her."

Freya smiled friendly. "Now Loki...then tell me...that you don´t like that."

"What?!"

"You don´t like Bell Cranel, I know that. He has carried that cute elf of yours to his home, your little amazoness likes him and your princess fell in love with him. You don´t like Hestia and you don´t like him...so are you really angry?"

"Wha-..I mean...I.."

"I did you a favor, Loki. When I have him for me, Bell won´t come near your Familia anymore and you don´t have to be afraid that you lose children to him."

Freya was cheeky, arrogant, rude, brazen and a bitch ...but Loki had to admit...she wasn´t against what Freya did. If Ais would remain Ais and the only thing that changed would be not loving Bell anymore...Loki could live with that.

Gods changed slowly or not at all, that was an old saying. So Loki just couldn´t shake off her jealousy towards Bell.

Loki frowned. "And what would Ouranus say if he knew that?"

"Oh, do you think he doesn´t know? Really?"

"I guess not...is he allowing that?"

"I already had a talk with him, but did I do something really bad? All I did was break up a young couple...and it wasn´t really a breakup when they don´t remember. As long as the great quest isn´t in danger, I can mostly do what I want."

Freya shrugged her shoulders. "I told him with Bell at my side I could do that even better, I will help him with my Familia to dive deeper into the dungeon than he ever has. Until the day comes when he will convert to my Familia."

"You want to take him away from the Shrimp?"

"Of course, he is my future partner and he should stay at my side."

Loki was feeling unwell more and more, mostly because she tolerated such a cruel thing.

"You really like to toy with mortals, Freya."

Freya smirked. "Why not? We are gods, Loki. How long is a mortal life span? 80 years? 100? Some day your Princess and all of your current Familia members will be gone, mine too. And who remains? We gods do."

"That is a cruel thing to say...don´t you love your children one bit?"

"I love my children very much, in my own way."

"And what about the joy in living with them? Share the hardships of the mortal life?"

"Oh please Loki, don´t act like you are better than me. You do the things how you want, just in another way I do. You wanted to take the top and you are at the top, you want to stay at the top.

You are not one bit better than I am, all you care about is what I did to your child. Don´t pretend to care about mortals, most gods would cry out for what I did to Bell and you don´t care in the slightest."

In the end, Loki was partly satisfied, Freya did charm Ais but she didn´t do anything horrible to her...in Loki´s eyes. As long as there were no aftereffects for Ais, Loki was relieved.

It is better for you like this, my little Ais...

If only she could convince herself that it was.

I hope I won´t regret this...

Loki wouldn´t say anything about what she knew now...it was better for everyone.

If only that rabbit had never come to Orario...or Ais would have been a bit slower in rescuing him in the dungeon.

Only a tiny part in Loki felt bad about that thought...

.

.

.

.

Welf walked home exhausted, today they had started with the forging process of "The Sword", and it was a terrible experience. The ingots had reacted again and started to leak their elemental energy,

if such a thing would be possible, he would describe it that they...were angry.

Hephaistos had used a heavy set of leather gloves and apron, to protect herself from small lightnings that came out of the metal whenever they hit it with a hammer. Tsubaki on the other hand had taken off all of her clothes except for a fundoshi and the binding around her chest.

Her status was high enough to endure the small lightnings and she said she wanted to feel the raw power of that metal on her body. Well...Tsubaki was weird...sometimes...often.

"Why is it reacting like that?!"

Welf used his hands to protect his face, when they had shoved the metal back into the oven to heat it, the flames had turned blue, and the heat was immense.

"It is formed by lightning from a god, what do you expect?! This is the raw power of a storm, it burns to be unleashed! The only way to prevent this is to forge it...bind it into the form!"

The biggest part of him was incredibly happy to be part of the forging process, this sword would become unique. And Hephaistos had shown them the form that this sword would take.

"This?! This is the form?!"

"This is crazy?! Isn´t that forbidden?!"

"No, continue moving your hands!"

.

.

.

.

At least for some people, it was a good time in Orario...or out of Orario. When Bell cried in his room, Welf returned to his home, Ais from the dungeon... At that moment a certain young elf sank crying into the arms of the goddess she hadn´t seen for many years. The goddess also cried as she embraced her lost child, and cried like a lonely mother. And the elf that accompanied the other elf also cried, from happiness about the scene in front of her eyes.

It was the fifth day after they had left Orario, Lefiya had to talk many times to Ryu to give her courage, she wanted to return many times since she was frightened of how her goddess would react.

But in the moment that Astrea and Ryu had seen each other, the tears started and both hugged each other.

Lefiya wiped her eyes. How wonderful...I can´t wait to tell the others at home.

Lefiya was sure that things started to get better again, thanks to Bell, Ais, her friends, and Ryu.