Walking towards the towards and heading towards the market, Hestia could not help overhear a familiar voice talking over the murmuring crowd, "Above all else, come back in one piece, you understand me?"

Hestia turned towards the direction of the voice and noticed 6 figures standing in front of a man wearing a white kimono. The three closest to him wore a purple kimono with red shoulder pads and maroon sash. Behind them, three people stood wearing white clothing that seemed to give a sense of difference in status within the familia.

"Right," the 6 spoke in unison.

"And Mikoto," he pointedly gazed at the central woman with a ponytail, "don't go crazy just because you've ranked up."

"Yes sir," she nodded in obedience with a serious look. It made Hestia envious slightly that Takemikazuchi familia had such loyal and filial members. If only Bell could be like them and stop falling into the trap of Ais-whats-her-name.

The man next to Mikoto, Kashima Ouka, spoke up, "Thank you, Lord Takemikazuchi. We're off then." Takemikazuchi allowed them the permission and the familia members sprinted towards the entrance of the dungeon.

Taking that as her cue, Hestia walked up to him and called out, "Take! I take it, those are the children of your familia?"

"That's right, they are mine."

"Are they headed for the middle floors?"

"Yeah, your little rookie's on his way down there as well, isn't he?" Takemikazuchi continued to smile at Hestia as she watched him familia's descending shadows into the dungeon.

Hestia's expression grew worried, "Yes, that he is. He's just starting today. He took off pretty early this morning."

"Well," Takemikazuchi responded, "worrying about it won't help anything. All we can do is have faith."

The duo stared at the darkness where the familia had entered from, smile adorning on their features. Almost immediately, Hestia felt the land beneath her start shaking and shivering and she looked down and wondered aloud, "An earthquake?"

"Yes, we've had several lately."

"Yes, we have. They seem to last longer than they used to," her worries returned as she thought of Bell, hoping against hope that he'll be okay, unaware of a pair of eyes staring at her.

Time of the day passed by painfully slowly and Hestia couldn't help but feel the growing unease making its presence fully known. Going home did no good either and talking to Takemikazuchi would only distract her for so long. How she wished time could turn back to before all of this was the norm.

How she wished the time could go back centuries when this whole world changed.

Laying on her bed, Hestia did not realise when she fell unconscious. In front of her, Bell lay motionless. There was no visible wound but there was no movement from him either. A gasp escaped her lips as she rushed forward and knelt next to him, holding his hand and calling out, worry seeping out of her voice, "BELL! BELL! WAKE UP BELL!"

Silence awaited her and slowly, tears began forming on the corners of her eyes. She buried her head on his chest and began crying till she heard a faint heartbeat. Hopeful, she opened her eyes and looked up to see Bell. His eyes were beginning to flutter and Hestia smiled a hopeful smile but that was crushed when he opened his eyes, or the lack of. Where his red eyes were supposed to be present, lay pitch black abyss and crimson red blood began dripping from the pits.

"Lady Hestia- how could you let me die~?"

"Lady Hestia, why did you not tell me the truth~?"

"Lady Hestia, where were you when I was dying in the middle floors~?"

The echoes began to grow louder and Hestia's eyes shot open as she forced herself in an upright position, sweat dropping from her forehead onto the couch. 'It was all a nightmare,' she convinced herself as she looked at the time.

It was late; later than he usually is. The nightmares and the echoes began to return to her mind and Bell's face with blood dripping from the pits where his eyes should've been scarred themselves on her mind as she hopped on her feet and sprinted towards the Guild.

"What?" The lady with glasses asked incredulously, "That is just awful. Are they still down there?"

Hestia nodded in reply, "I can only assume so. I mean, obviously, they haven't stopped by here."

"No, they haven't. Atleast I haven't seen them," she affirmed as the advisor turned around and asked her colleagues, "What about you two?"

Receiving a shake of the head from the two, Hestia's options dwindled down and she finally declared, "Okay then, I shall order a quest to go in the dungeon and find Bell and the others."

The advisor – Eina – nodded and began scribbling down the quest till she was interrupted by the arrival of Takemikazuchi and his two members of his familia. Hestia recognised the two of them from the party that left for the middle floors in the morning.

"Take?"

At their home, Hestia is joined by Takemikazuchi and his familia, Miach, Hephaestus, Naaza from Miach's familia. Takemikazuchi's familia stare at the floor in shame and Miach concludes from their explanation, "So you're saying they purposely lured a pack of monsters toward Bell's party? Even if they were desperate, it is still unacceptable."

"If Bell doesn't get out of there alive, I will blame you until the day I die," Hestia spoke, as she turned away from the sole window from the top of her temple, "that being said, I am not going to hate you. I promise."

As if the heavens were paying heed to her words, the light entering the room began to glow brighter as the sunlight began dancing on the tips of her hand.

"So," Hestia continued, extending her arm out, "will you please help bring my Bell back home?"

Takemikazuchi's familia stared at the scene in awe, their shame burning into their minds as they knelt to the ground in respect and admiration and declared, "As you command."

Not expecting such a response, Hestia could only look at them with a thankful expression. But the problem did not end.

"You see, the thing is, I really can't help you much with the search party. I don't have any of my best search members. They are currently down in the dungeon with the Loki familia," Hephaestus stated as she sat on one of the benches.

Takemikazuchi, on the other hand, volunteered, "I don't mind sending Mikoto and Ouka down to the middle floors. And Chigusa will probably be fine as their supporter. I am afraid," he looked at the little kids of his familia, "the others will only slow you down. But three probably won't be enough."

Hestia stood still in contemplation, weighing the options when a strange voice piped up, "I'll help you out Hestia."

Everyone turned towards the door and watched as two figures walked in, familiarity finally sinking in. In front of them stood a blonde, cheery man with orange eyes and supporting a green hat with a white feather sticking out of it, followed closely by a woman with aqua blue hair and cyan coloured eyes hiding behind her glasses.

"Oh hello Hermes," Hestia rushed closer towards him.

Takemikazuchi asked the question that everyone in the room was thinking, "What are you doing here? What about your journey?"

"I cam running as soon as I heard my sweet friend Hestia was in a tight spot." Hermes lifted a piece of paper that he was carrying and showed it to Hestia, "Why don't you take a look at this? I even put in a little request for a search."

"You say she is your friend," Hephaestus began, gathering everyone's attention, "and yet you had absolutely nothing to do with her since you got to the lower world."

"Oh she does have a point," Takemikazuchi agreed.

Similarly, Miach continued, "You've never seemed like a very devoted friend of hers."

"Aw come on now," Hermes mockingly claimed, "Man, you guys are tough crowd. But still, I genuinely do want to help Hestia. I want to save Bell if I may."

He sneaked his arm around the shoulder of his companion, "So I have decided to let Asfi here tag along. She's my top dog so we'll be just fine."

The latter in question looked at him in surprise before exhaling with exasperation and bowing before the crowd in surrender.

"Well," Takemikazuchi turned to Hestia, "its your call."

"Rescuing Bell is my number one priority and the more help I get, the better. I accept your offer," she said the last part to Hermes who grinned a bright smile, "Good, you can count on me."

"We'll leave as soon as everyone is ready," Mikoto said.

Takemikazuchi concluded, "Lets aim for this evening, shall we? You three, make sure you are prepared."

On the side, Hermes and Asfi sat behind a bench, almost as if hiding. Hermes asked Asfi as he rocked back and forth, "Okay Asfi, what's wrong?"

"Tell me only the truth, when you told everyone we'll be just fine, don't tell me-"

Hermes answered before she could finish, "That's right. I am going with you."

"Hermes, Gods are not permitted inside the dungeon."

"Look, nobody needs to know," Hermes whispered mischievously, "just be sure not to make any mistakes. It'll work out."

Sighing, Asfi replied, "You planned this from the start, didn't you?"

Hermes laughed as he patted her head, "Hahaha, you just focus on protecting me, okay?"

"You are taking me with you," a voice spoke up next to them and they watched the familiar pigtails floating above the bench.

"Hestia!" the two spoke in unison as they looked at her in shock.

Hermes pointedly yelled at her, "Don't be absurd, Gods aren't allowed inside the dungeon. You know that. That's preposterous."

Hestia meanwhile, whistled loudly, tuning him out before saying, "We'll have to keep it secret," Hermes looked at her in defeat and Hestia continued, "I am going in with you to save Bell. There's something not right about leaving it up to somebody else. So I am going to help too. You understand?"

Her determination wore down Hermes' resolve as he sighed in resignation. Hephaestus and Takemikazuchi walked towards the three as the former called out, "Um, Hestia."

"Forgive me for we are to blame for this."

"Oh forget about that," Hestia stopped any more talks about forgiveness, "I can sense him. I am certain that Bell is still alive. The blessing that I gave him hasn't faded yet."

"Hestia," Hephaestus called yet again, "If you happen to run into Welf, could you give him something for me along with a little message if you don't mind?"

"Of course I can," Hestia answered.

For Hestia, the evening could not come fast enough as she began to ready herself to rescue Bell. Their meeting point was the entrance of the dungeon and Hestia waited in disguise as everyone slowly filed in. Unlike the familia, Hermes and Hestia decided to go in disguise to avoid anyone to see them.

"Okay, everyone ready?" Hestia asked, her fake glasses on her face as her body was wrapped in dark maroon scarf.

"Ready," they all said in unison.

"Good, then lets go and find Bell and his party."

"Wait," everyone paused and turned to look at the direction that Mikoto and Chigusa were staring at, "Who's that?"

A feminine figure walked towards them, green flower shaped hood, a white top underneath with what seemed to be green shorts. Dark brown boots reached above her knees while her gloves covered her arms till above the elbow. A white sash holding a wooden sword along with a pair of short swords wrapped around her waist as a green mask covered her mouth.

"Why is she here?" Hestia asked.

Hermes answered, "No need to fret darling, she's here to help."

Satisfied by the answer, Hestia nodded with a smile and turned towards the entrance, their group ready to depart, "Don't worry Bell, we are on the way."

A/N: I am evil. That's all I have to say. It took me more than a year to get this chapter finished. Trust me, I am disappointed in myself too but last year was a heck of a rollercoaster for me. From sleepless nights with university to my parents' medical emergencies and then working practically every waking moment, I have not had a chance to catch a break. Even this chapter was written within 2 hours before being uploaded as this is the only time I managed to find so I am not expecting this to receive good reviews but if you read it, please do review. I try my best to get stuff out as fast as I can and reviews really do help.