Hestia had known that Orario would never be the same from the moment she met Shirou and the others, but the amount of change was difficult to fully describe. The city was charged with new energy and a sense of awe, curiosity, and intrigue beneath all the rubble of the city's prior dungeon break.
Cleaning and reconstructing efforts were hastily underway, but then again, it was understandable. If the damage outside had been so catastrophic, then there was no telling about the destruction and loss of life in Rivira. They would need to resupply the dungeon city on the eighteenth floor before those that were still alive all perished.
It was a matter of deep concern which forced many guilds and Familia to cooperate with each other despite their rivalries, but Hestia was a little different.
Hestia made a silly face and didn't bother even if she wanted to.
It had nothing to do with her considering Bell was her only Familia member, but it was fine. She was well off to a good start in the rise of her Familia, and to be honest, she was also a tad preoccupied with her new 'family.'
She was the Goddess of the Hearth and Home, and she'd damn well just kill herself if she couldn't live up to her name.
No matter the conflicts outside, the bitter rivalries, or heated wars and arguments, the hearth and home was a place of solace and hospitality.
For those hurting, for those in need, and for those who found themselves rejected, Hestia would offer the warmth of her hearth.
It was a nurturing spirit of a Goddess inclined to modest tradition and values as her core principle, and that nurturing spirit was fully directed at Bell.
Bell was the boy who reached out to Hestia when no one else would since Hestia's prospects weren't exactly the greatest in Orario, rather they were closer to the worst. He was also the one who introduced Hestia to a group concerning the biggest conspiracy of the Lower World…
Hestia didn't know how the others found out she was living with- scratch that she could name a certain individual (Loki), who would have sold her out given Rider, Archer, and Shirou's recent showing on the Grand Quest recruitment campaign.
They were all formidable monsters in their own right, creating an inadvertent effect on those that had wanted to exploit the recruitment campaign for their own means.
Regardless, even Hephy was guilting Hestia into arranging a private meeting, using how Hephy had helped Hestia when she was having a rough start.
Hestia had run away without giving an answer then because she'd sensed numerous pairs of eyes locked on to her when Hephaestus made the request.
Hephy's urgency had cast away her situational awareness to ask something like that in a public space everyone was paying attention to.
Imagine Hestia's surprise when she was suddenly kidnapped this morning when heading out to man her job as a croquette seller?
A short scuffle echoed within the tranquil morning air, a hand muffling Hestia's scream before she was dragged away by an unlikely group of hoodlums with no principles.
Panic was the first emotion to set in for Hestia, then came a grudging exasperation as she got a good look at her would-be assailants and understood that it wasn't that they had no principles, but that they were putting them on the back foot.
"This is honestly quite unbecoming," a woman said awkwardly.
The woman was wearing a simple white kirtle and long skirt, and wore her long walnut brown hair in a dignified manner behind her head. Her face was presently doing its best impression of an embarrassed tomato as she tried to keep her expression as straight as possible. However, she was shooting daggers at the old man who was accompanying her.
"Zeus, must we go this far to ask for a simple audience? This is not justice, this is invasion."
The old man winced, but looked just as ashamed as Astraea with their actions. However, it didn't deter him in the slightest. His skin was too thick, and his motivations too strong.
Then there was the person who was quick enough to grab, subdue, and drag Hestia to an obscure spot in a matter of seconds. No matter how Hestia tried to struggle, she didn't even have the time when she realized someone had kicked her off of her feet, and dragged her into the nearby bushes.
The proficiency of skill and capability denoted an ability on the rank of a high level adventurer.
Well, former in this case.
Hestia's lip twitched at having to backtrack on her prior thoughts. It would seem that Loki hadn't been the one who snitched that Hestia was living with Shirou and the others.
The culprit was right in front of her; the very same person who'd snagged her on the way to work.
Ryuu Lion shifted uncomfortably in front of Hestia's flat stare, but the moment didn't last long as the main perpetrators were likely the other two.
"Z-Zeus?" Hestia murmured with wide eyes before staring at the other woman. "A-Astraea too? What do you both think you're doing?!"
The old man, Zeus coughed into his hand while Astraea blushed and narrowed her eyes on Ryuu who had agreed on assisting Zeus if it meant 'jumping' Caster's customer line.
Of course, Ryuu was well aware that Caster did not play favorites or anything of the sort, but rather he was a man who honored commitments and could bend the knee to personal relationships.
Ryuu had heard from Bell that Caster caved when Archer brought Apollo along without invitation. Therefore, if Hestia, the Goddess who was hosting Caster in her residence were to seek an audience, it was unlikely that Caster would refuse.
Desperation had been Ryuu's primary driving point.
The judgmental stare in Astraea's hardening eyes was something Ryuu had to endure. Her Goddess represented justice and balance, and her current behavior was nothing close to upholding those morals.
'B-But there was no choice!'
Goddess Astraea was almost fully convinced that Ryuu had entangled herself in a strange cult and that she was being severely misled or had her mind tampered with. Sure, Caster had revealed an astonishing level of medical skill, but healing was different from revival.
When Astraea had insisted on dragging Ryuu away from Orario so she could recover both her mind and sensibility, Ryuu was on the verge of cracking.
It didn't help that Shirou, Archer, and Rider didn't stick around in their recruitment campaign to answer questions. All that was left was a sign-up board and an air of excitement at the successful prospect of completing the final Grand Quest.
Their sudden departure had to have been intended.
A classic marketing scheme!
It left Ryuu with little choice.
The only way to truly break Astraea's preconceptions was for her to see her former Familia members breathing in front of her again. Moreover, Caster needed Astraea's blood for the best effect on the other Astraea Familia members.
Ryuu could not allow Astraea to leave after finally getting her back to Orario.
It just so happened that a desperate Ryuu ran into a Zeus insistent on answers and who was determined to get them through any means.
The unholy collaboration started from there in which Ryuu leaked Caster's tendencies to Zeus, and formulated the 'Hestia plan.'
As air headed as Hestia normally was, she wasn't stupid when it came to abusing family relationships for ulterior motives.
Caster would certainly agree to a meeting if Hestia herself asked. That much she understood.
Crossing her arms while staring silently at Zeus, Astraea, and Ryuu, Hestia inwardly grumbled. Still, she found it odd that Loki and Freya weren't part of the group. Those two would have fit right in.
"Zeus, Astraea," Hestia greeted again.
"I had no part in planning this," Astraea admitted without hesitation. She was a kind woman with noble bearings and character, and this act of kidnapping was causing no small amount of embarrassment by association.
It showed in the fretful expression on Astraea's face, as well as the constant tapping of her fingers over her forearms.
"Lady Astraea!" Ryuu pleaded. "You promised to be firm until you proved me wrong!"
Astraea pursed her lips, obviously downcast, but persevering for Ryuu's sake.
Ryuu couldn't bear the expression and glanced away. The misplaced worry beneath the embarrassment was giving her an upset stomach.
"Long time no see Hestia," Zeus winked, nodding at Hestia but growing somewhat sheepish. "Just for the record, I'm not normally like this. There are just some things I need to get to the bottom of."
"So you think it's okay to just try and use me?" Hestia scoffed.
"Yes." Zeus nodded as Hestia deflated. All of them came from the same neighborhood in the Upper world and Zeus more than anyone knew Hestia's behaviors. "You were always sidelined for the others, and this seemed like a good opportunity that you would jump on to be of help."
Astraea found herself nodding before catching herself and glossing the matter over when Hestia gave her a watery-eyed stare.
"Up there and here are different!" Hestia insisted, cheeks reddening at the black memories from above. "I'm a different Goddess now! You won't get anything from me!"
"Please big sis?" Zeus clasped his hands.
'T-That's not fair- you'd go that far?!'
The edges of Hestia's mouth twitched upward as her eyebrows were doing funny things.
Despite Zeus's old appearance, it was a well known fact that Zeus was in fact the youngest of the original Oylmpians in the Upper World's Greek Neighborhood of Olympus.
He was the baby of the family and he'd never called Hestia by that title. She wasn't exactly the most reliable, and she'd always been bumbling her way through things.
"Demeter's warmth and charity are nothing compared to your compassion, big sis," Zeus said, laying it on thick while Astrea gagged in the back.
"C-Continue?" Hestia stammered, her tension easing.
"Truly you were the greatest of the sisters. The only one who never had anything bad to say to her name. Even Wise Athena fell victim to vanity in a beauty contest with Aphrodite and That bit- I mean Hera." Zeus coughed to cover his blunder, but the animosity that bubbled in his very being resonated with a scent of ozone wafting through the area. "Big sis, I really need your help here. I'm not asking for much. Just to introduce me to your current roommates?"
Astraea cleared her throat and stepped forward to intervene, as this wasn't sitting well with her. However, Ryuu hip-checked her and blocked her advance while giving Zeus the thumbs up.
"If it's just that…" Hestia drawled before clapping her hands over her cheeks. "I know who you want to meet, but he's not there right now Zeus. He and Rider are each training the Grand Quest recruits, and Hephy called in a favor for me to send Shirou her way. The only one of interest around is Caster because he never leaves that medical ward he's set up."
The preparations for the Grand Quest were already complete, and all that was left was to wait for the departure date. In the meantime, Shirou and the others had taken to helping the Familia's of other Gods to prepare for the level of danger they would have to face in the subjugation.
Zeus paused when he heard what Hestia said.
Most of the will in Zeus's gaze faded with the knowledge that Archer wasn't around. In contrast, Ryuu's expression lit up.
In any case, if what Ryuu had shared with Zeus was true, then Zeus had to pay a visit to Caster anyway.
"That will be enough, big sis," Zeus could feel his teeth grating as he lowered himself to call Hestia his elder, but the effectiveness was evident.
Hestia played with her hair and her chin began to subconsciously jut out with pride and confidence.
"F-Fine," Hestia finally caved.
Ryuu pumped her fists in excitement, not noticing Astraea staring at her with scrutiny. Truly the machinations of the cult Ryuu had fallen victim to ran deep.
Zeus just shuddered at the mental sacrifice he was making and quietly followed as Hestia led everyone to a rather large abandoned church.
Entering inside, the group was met with a perplexing sight of Peleus seated on one of many pews with a lost expression on his face. A part of him was still quite shocked that he was alive, and the other was undergoing a mental crisis. How else would you react when you're suddenly told you were a father who had a son with the woman you loved?
Problem was, he couldn't remember any of it. Thetis had disclosed her theories and Peleus was enraged beyond belief that some God or being would dare make him orphan his own son. Now there was an unbridgeable age gap, and Peleus had no clue how to interact with his son.
He couldn't be as accepting as Thetis. Awkward was the best way to describe it.
"Peleus," Zeus greeted upon recognizing Peleus. "Long time no see."
"Zeus?" Peleus shook his head and slowly let out a small smile. "Well I'll be, the memories are all coming back. Now if only they all came back," Peleus balled his hands into fists, but wouldn't allow his personal problems to burden others.
"Good to see you," Zeus cracked a smile that quickly faltered as a blur of blue threw herself on Peleus.
"Peleus! You should have been there and seen our boy! He was amazing!" Thetis wrapped her arms around Peleus's shoulder and hung off of him in her excitement to talk about their son.
It was only after silence stretched that Thetis realized that there was company.
"Ah, you. The She devil." Zeus was of course familiar with Thetis, but prior impressions now differed somewhat from the past ones. "You live here too."
Zeus's expression hardened just as fast as Thetis's did.
The feelings were mutual.
"Where our son stays is naturally where we stay." Thetis sneered at Zeus while hugging an embarrassed Peleus close. "Our love bore fruit, and our Achilles is the strongest. Friend or not, that Heracles has nothing on him!"
Bitch.
"You take that back while I'm being civil." Zeus gnashed his teeth. "You have no idea the extent of that boy's trails and the extent of his abilities, you cheater. Your boy Achilles can't compare."
"What does he mean by cheater Thetis-" Peleus expressed doubt.
"Don't listen to the enemy Peleus!" Thetis hissed, muffling Peleus's mouth.
"Enough!" Hestia intervened. This place was under her Godly domain. "Big sis is guiding, and this home will have no violence!"
The declaration froze many faces, not the least of which was Thetis whose expression slowly morphed into a mocking smile.
Zeus's head hung low in contrast as thunder echoed above.
The sacrifices he was making…
Peleus gave Zeus, Astraea, and Ryuu weird looks, but Hestia soldiered them on before they could retort and out of ear shot of Thetis's choked laughing.
Caster's medical ward wasn't too hard to find.
Just take the stairs because the ward took up the entirety of the abandoned church's second floor.
"Caster," Hestia knocked on the door between the stairs and the upper floor landing. "Can I come in with some guests?"
The bounded field Caster had set up flared for a second before recognizing Hestia's divine energy and fading away. The magic latch holding the door closed opened with a click.
"Enter," Caster said flatly.
Hestia walked in followed by Zeus and Astraea, but Astraea had to give pause.
"Ryuu…what are you doing?" Astraea asked.
Ryuu had frozen before she could even enter Caster's space, a giant metal snake barring her path.
"I-I'm banned." Ryuu blurted out with a red face.
Caster's bounded field still rejected her and Bell from the premise after their prior stint.
So, this was the place?
Zeus quietly mulled to himself while gradually losing the playfulness from his eyes. It was one thing to act in ignorance, and it was another to force himself to still act the same way after the visions he'd witnessed.
The inside of Caster's medical ward was spotlessly clean. No traces of dirt or untidiness could be seen, creating a sterile environment for the patients to rest. All were huddled near a staff lodged in the ground that radiated a divine healing energy that nourished those within even without food or water.
"Caster!" Hestia waved in greeting before running up to the local physician.
A golden sheep was perched on Caster's head, a large snore bubble coming out of its nose and irritating Caster to no end. His patience was already thin, but Hestia had a soothing effect due to the nature of her divinity.
"N-Now just hear me out…!"
Zeus didn't pay attention to whatever greetings Hestia and Caster had from there. Instead, his gaze was drawn to former members of his Familia he never thought he'd ever see again.
The sight was humbling as it was a symbol of Caster's true capabilities. This all coming from a time where the Grand Quest against the One-Eyed Black Dragon would resume.
If the power houses of his Familia could get back on their feet, then they too could once again participate.
Zeus balled his hands into fist and momentarily put thoughts of his son away in his mind.
"Ah? A..hh..aa…gh..sob…sob…"
Astraea had already fallen to her knees in a daze, eyes crinkling as she sobbed and sniffled at the sight of her former Familia peacefully sleeping and alive.
Zeus could not claim to be unaffected either. It was just that he was holding it in better in his experience as a leader of one of Orario's former powers.
Caster's work was truly a miracle, but Zeus's gaze soon found itself wandering to the most familiar woman in the room.
The one who was the nearest to the staff of Asclepius, and whose gaze had focused on Zeus since his arrival.
One step took Zeus closer, followed by another until he was standing next to the woman's bedside.
Zeus and the woman looked at each other for the longest time.
"It's been a long time, Alfia." Zeus said with a hint of emotion.
"Hn." Unexpectedly, Zeus actually got an answer.
More of a scoff in anything, but proof of the efforts Caster had been making.
Although the most effective means of healing a patient was the divine blood of their God reacting to their Falna, it didn't mean that there was no effect from the divine blood of other Gods.
It was just that the effectiveness was far weaker.
Alfia had just proven that she could move her mouth and speak.
Why she hadn't done so with Caster before, more because the both of them enjoy the silence more than their words.
"Why are you here?" Alfia croaked, voice pitifully weak. "No, it would be odder if you weren't here."
Alfia glanced at the other members of the Zeus Familia in the medical ward and then back at Zeus.
For a while, Zeus tried to answer, but he just couldn't find the right words. In the end, he settled on what mattered.
"The Grand Quest is resuming," Zeus said while thinking of his son and the feats he completed that were once deemed impossible. "I promise that this time, we will win."
Alfia's eyes widened.
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