Chapter 8: Prophetic Dreams

Hestia

Hestia was having a great day; the keyword 'was' having a great day. ' Kaze was everything she could have asked for in a child. He was caring, self-sacrificing, talented, and overall… perfect. That was one of the reasons she… gave herself to him. She knew he was in pain, and the longer he went, the more it would crush him.

That's why it hurts even more when he doesn't tell her anything. His worries, burdens, his pain, his plans. So, when she returns home after exploring the city to give Bell some time with Kaze, the release of Arcanum from Hephaestus shakes her as she starts running to the guild.

She cared for Hephaestus like a sister and would do anything for her. However, she knew her better than nearly anyone. Hephaestus would not relinquish her place in the mortal realm and release her Arcanum. Something else must have happened since she didn't ascend.

So, she rushed into the Guild Hall and saw the Gods crowding around an area. She could feel the tension in the air as the adventures steered clear of the gods, even their own.

Walking into the room, she could feel her Familia present, and she knew this was Kaze's fault.

"What is going on?" Hestia asked, seriously in her tone. The gods' looks sent shivers down her spine, as if she had done something wrong.

Hermes was the first to approach her with the same grin he was known for. As if he was aware of things others weren't. "Oh, Hestia, you came at a bad time. It mattered not though we would have sent for you either way."

Loki approached Hestia, and her face showed complete seriousness. "Hestia, when were you going to let us know you had a Familia member who could manipulate Arcanum?"

"…What?" Hestia said, not understanding the question. She knew it couldn't have been Bell. So, her thoughts went to Kaze. What did he do?

"Ah, is this necessary? I'm quite certain I didn't break any rules here." Kaze's voice sounded, and she went to him. However, Loki grabbed her arm, and she turned around, sending a glare at her fellow God. Her true form showed through briefly as her hair turned red.

"Let go." As if talking to a child, Hestia ordered Loki to remove her hand, sighing at seeing her fellow god release their power and raise her hands in surrender.

Hestia's outburst didn't go unnoticed by the other gods as they parted to let her through. Seeing him being forced on his knees as Tammuz and Aisha of the Ishtar Familia held him down. Sent fury through her, but she did not move to strike.

"Leave him; I'm his Goddess. You speak to me. What is the meaning of this?" Her words made the two members of the Ishtar Familia back up, seeing the enraged Goddess.

Ishtar stepped forward, giggling into her hand. "Hestia, you should be careful about leaking more Arcanum. Otherwise, you will be sent back to Heaven, and your child will not have anyone to protect him."

Hestia glared at her. Seeing the look in her eyes, she wanted Kaze for herself. Whatever stunt he was pulling attracted the wrong crowd. She looked around at her fellow Gods and Goddesses, watching the scene. Some looked as if they were waiting for her to make a mistake.

"Fine, I'll rescind it. However, know this: if you hurt him… even if I'm sent back to Heaven for it or if I have to wait a thousand years to make due on my promise, I'll make sure to make you burn. Those looks you're so proud of will never heal, and by the time I'm done, you will beg for forgiveness." Her words sent chills down everyone's spine. They knew that even with her low standing in the mortal realm in the divine realm, she wasn't known as the Goddess of the Immortal Flame for nothing.

Her aura rescinded, and she crossed her arms, not moving toward Kaze, who looked at her proudly. "So, will someone explain why you have my child on his knees?"

"Hestia, it is my fault," Hephaestus said, walking toward her friend. Hestia didn't say anything as she stared at her friend approaching her. She felt relief and shock at seeing her friend's face. "I talked him into proving himself on his Mystery skill, and he did it by healing my eye. However, he did something he shouldn't have, forcing a Goddess to activate their Arcanum."

Mystery skill? Hestia knew Kaze didn't have that skill. She had yet to update his Falna since his dungeon trip. How did he acquire a skill without it? Turning toward Kaze, they spoke in a silent conversation. For her to play along, so with a sigh, she did.

"He revealed it; I even told him not to either." She said, looking toward Hephaestus. "I'm glad your eye is healed, but that doesn't explain what Kaze did wrong."

"Oh, my dear, Hestia, let me explain it to you." She heard a revolting voice say as he wrapped an arm around her. One of his hands was dangerously close to her breasts as he slumped over her. "A mortal no one has heard of and seemed to come out of nowhere around a month after a new god descended. This mortal can interact with Arcanum, too, the source of power for us Gods. Oh, it just seems too much of a coincidence." Then, bringing his mouth close to her ear, he whispered, but not trying to be quiet. "Wouldn't you agree, my dear?"

Then a laugh sounded through, sending chills down all their spines. They all turned toward Kaze as he looked toward Apollo. His eyes filled with anger, his heterochromia eyes now shining the same color, a blood red, yet he didn't move. He wasn't completely angered.

"First, get your hand off my Goddess before I really commit a crime." He said, the air blowing through the hall at his warning. Many gods and goddesses looked around, impressed at his level of control. Apollo removed his hand from Hestia as he listened to the mortal. "Second, this whole scheme seems far-fetched to me. You claim that you captured me because of an unknown God's descent. Yet not a single time before Hestia's arrival did you ask me about the God, which means that this is about something else. Funny enough, the other Gods and Goddess didn't even move to capture me until Ishtar and you showed up."

"Knowing how much standing you two would cause them issues when stepping in, so they all let you do as you pleased. Well, they are much brighter than a lightbulb god and a slut of a Goddess." Kaze said, causing both deities to step toward him. Anger on their faces before they could speak, though he continued. "Like seriously, anyone with half a brain would have thought of the consequences if I was linked to an unknown god. I'm going to theorize about something. None of you have to answer, but I will say it anyway."

"This god has got you all riled up, so this tells me they're powerful. Enough to cause all of you to be scared. Which means they must be a high-tiered god. Theoretically, this God may not have the same limitations on their divine powers if this is the case. So, all of you would be powerless to stop them. Yet, you're trying to antagonize them."

Hermes was the first to speak up while walking toward Kaze and laughing. "You know, you seem like fun to have around. There are many divines around, and you're not acting fazed. I admire that bravery." Turning toward Ishtar's adventurers, still keeping Kaze down, Hermes smiled. "Let him go; he didn't commit any crimes." When they looked toward Ishtar without following his orders, he glared. "That was an order."

His voice left no room for argument as they stepped away. He reached out a handout to Kaze, who looked at it for a moment and accepted it. The god pulled him up to his feet. "You know, there were better ways to send out a message about having Mystery. It's an unmatched skill, true, but this was brazen."

"True, at first, I was planning on doing something simple like show Bell's knife, which is my work, but when I saw the items, the Guild had… why send such a simple message? When I can tell all of Orario that a… Divine Mystery user is in town. Of course, I'm just a normal mystery user, but I'm the only one that has accomplished such a feat." Kaze said with a shrug, his eyes still shining red. "Hmm, that seems like a great name for a shop."

"Hello, handsome. What is up with your red eyes? There is an anger behind them that sent shivers down my spine," Loki said, coming behind Kaze and nonchalantly putting an arm around him.

Kaze didn't react at first before an amused grin appeared. Surprising, even the divines in the room at his next move. He turned toward Loki, his hand snaking around her waist. "It is a secret of mine, but I wouldn't mind telling you. For a price, of course, maybe a date with the trickster Goddess herself."

Loki faltered momentarily, her short stature being pushed back as Kaze stared down at her face. Her eyes opened slightly, showing her own red eyes staring up at him before a smirk came on her face.

"Oh, my, so pushy. I don't mind pushy, but you'd need to accomplish something more than this stunt to get my attention. After all, you don't hold a candle to my Aiz." Loki said, a hand on Kaze's chest.

"Hmm, so you say I have to do something more than alter a divine myth for a date with you. Man, that ups the bar, doesn't it." Kaze said, disappointed as he let her go. "Well, I guess I'll just need to try harder, won't I."

"Oh, my Hestia, your child is spirited. I may have to take him for myself." Loki said, turning toward Hestia, who just smirked.

"Like you could handle him, no boobs," Hestia said, watching Kaze closely as he wasn't acting himself.

"No boobs?! How dare you? A virgin goddess like you wouldn't know a single thing about seducing anyone." Loki taunted, while Hestia just smirked at the words. Making Loki stop as her eyes opened completely, going between Kaze and Hestia in surprise. "You're joking?"

"Preposterous, this mortal having any luck with Hestia while I, with all my greatness, failed many times in Heaven. She is most likely just teasing you." Apollo said, looking toward Kaze with a glare.

"Please, the only thing 'great' about you is that Helios retired, and you got lucky enough to be chosen as his replacement. Come to think of it, aren't you just a replacement for another God or Goddess in some way? If I'm not mistaken, another divine thing holds some sway over each of your domains." Kaze said, laughing as he crossed his arms. "Many of them did better than you in each one, too. Your sister, for one, isn't it said she was the best archer in heaven, yet her domain is the Hunt. Damn, that must suck to be overshadowed by your older sister."

"How dare you, mortal! You know nothing of my stories; I'm older than her!" Apollo yelled, growling at Kaze. "Apologize this instant, or you will feel what it is like to anger a God."

Hestia was worried right now. Even with his unique potential, Kaze was not stronger than an entire Familia. So, if he didn't watch his words, she wouldn't be able to protect him.

"Kaze, please…" Hestia said, her pleas falling on deaf ears.

"Apologize? No, I think not. Maybe if I respected you even slightly, but no, I hold no respect for a deity that would fuck himself given the chance." Kaze bluntly said, making the hall go silent. A few snickers from some gods could be heard while the adventurers looked at Kaze as if he were insane.

Hestia looked around, noticing Bell off to the side watching the scene. Bell's eyes were filled with admiration for Kaze's brazen and courageous behavior. Hestia did admit it was quite… something seeing Kaze this way.

Apollo's Arcanum released from him as it filled the hall. Many gods looked at the scene with interest while Hestia moved before Kaze. She had not released her own powers yet, only giving him a warning with her stare. Both deities stared at each other, waiting for the other to make a move before Apollo called back his power with a deep breath.

"That would be too easy, releasing my power on a mortal. Even if I'd be sent to Heaven for it." Apollo said with a sigh before smirking at Hestia. "Your child said some foolish things to me. I'm not going to just let that slide, my dear Hestia. How are you going to repay me?"

Hestia scoffed. "Repay you?! I have no obligation to do anything for you. From what I learned here, you and Ishtar overstepped. You are coming after my child with no legal grounds."

Apollo smirked at Hestia as if he had her cornered. "Agree, to disagree. We were doing an investigation, but to disrespect a God… one would argue that takes precedent here."

"Those are some stupid laws. Are you Gods that are insecure? You made laws that a mortal can't disrespect you." Looking around the room at the other gods, who shrugged at the words. None of them cared if a mortal disrespected them and let it slide. Some Gods, though, were more sensitive, like Apollo.

"Silence, mortal. I'm talking with your Goddess." Apollo said as if he was talking to a child. "How about we settle this dispute? One party thinks they were wrong over a simple investigation. The other was because they were disrespected. So, how about a War Game?"

"Oh my, a War game?" It has been so long since one of those took place. Demeter said aloud. "I wouldn't mind seeing one after so long."

Miach was the next to speak. "Even though I do find it interesting, it wouldn't be fair. Hestia only has two members while Apollo has an entire Familia, and his captain is even ranked four."

"Not going to happen, Apollo. A rating game between us would be simply a slaughter." Hestia said, knowing her Familia was outmatched.

Apollo laughed, looking at Kaze. "That must hurt. Your Goddess has no faith in her children." Then, turning back to Hestia, he leaned toward her ear and spoke quietly. Only those with better hearing would hear, and none of the Gods present currently have this. "You sure you want to decline? If you do your Familia could find themselves in quite a situation down in the dungeon. My Familia will make it their goal to ensure they can't live a peaceful life here."

Hestia's eyes narrowed as her hands clenched, hearing Apollo's words.

"So, disappointing resorting to such tactics, lightbulb. We will accept, but given the circumstances, it will take place a month from now. What do you offer if we win? It has to be worth it, after all." Kaze said, shocking the room as they didn't hear what Apollo had said.

Hestia turned to her child in shock. "Kaze! You can't just accept War Games so casually! How do you expect to win when they have a level four?" Hestia yelled while Kaze didn't look fazed at her screaming. At the same time, he kept his gaze on Apollo.

"So, what is your answer? I have the authority to accept being the Captain of the Hestia Familia. Then again, I have the title because I came first," Kaze said, shrugging. "Right now, that doesn't matter. We accepted that it would be our loss if we backed out now. That is how this works, correct?"

Apollo cleared his throat at the question. "Yes, you are correct. So, you want a month to prepare? It seems boring to wait so long. How about three days?" Apollo said, shocking his fellow gods. "If you win, I'll give Hestia whatever her little heart desires."

"Whatever her heart desires? That is quite a statement. Sadly, three days is too short. What about two weeks?"

"One week, and I'll even throw in that my Familia and I will not do anything to hinder you."

"That works for me… what would you want from us?"

"You and Bell, I want you to join my Familia. You are both precious to Hestia, so to take you two would be bittersweet."

Kaze's eyes shined darker as he took a deep breath. "Fine, the terms are settled."Kaze was nearly growling by the time his conversation with Apollo was finished, and he shook Apollo'shand, settling the terms.

"Kaze, what did you do? How do you expect to defeat him in only a week?" Hestia said, grabbing his cloak, a look of desperation in her eyes.

He kneeled before Hestia, not caring about the people around them, taking her hands in his. Hestia was nearly in tears as she thought this was their end.

"Don't cry; remember the words I said when we met?" Kaze asked, getting a nod from her. "I meant every word. I will never leave you. No matter the circumstances. So, trust Bell and I, we won't fail."

Then Kaze smirked as he said loudly. "Plus, what is the record for ranking up a year? Bell and I can do that easily within a week. The light bulb should have been brighter and pushed for the few days."

Hestia laughed at hearing him taunt Apollo, who was still fuming in the room. Loki only smirked at hearing his declaration of becoming rank two by the end of the week.

"Level two won't be enough to beat him," Hephaestus said as she walked closer to her friend and essentially savior.

Kaze smiled, and the redness of both eyes sent a shiver down their spines again. "Who said anything about level two?"

Hermes turned toward Loki, who fumbled at the declaration—cackling at the trickster Goddess's surprise.

Hephaestus didn't say anything. A small part of her wanted to doubt his words but given the circumstances of the day… that part was extinguished when he sealed her myth. If anyone could level up more than once in such a short time, it would be Kaze.

Hestia felt compelled to act. She felt useless while her children were about to fight for her sake. "Ah, Hephaestus, I have a request… would you make weapons for my children?"

Sighing, Hephaestus shook her head. "I can't… not in such a short time. At least ones that would last."

Kaze hopped up and turned toward Hephaestus. "It's fine. I don't need one. Just make a dagger. One for Bell. Consider this part of your debt."

Hephaestus nodded as she turned toward Bell, her eyes observing her stance. "A dagger is simple enough. Hestia, I'll need your help."

Hestia rapidly nodded, not passing up the chance to help her children.

Before leaving, Hephaestus turned toward Eina. "Look for a suitable place for Kaze in Babel. His work is nothing to scoff at. I'll pay for the expenses."

"Yes, Goddess Hephaestus," Eina said, bowing at the Goddess.

Hestia turned toward Kaze and jumped to hug him, then ran over to do the same with Bell, who blushed as she accepted it.

Kaze

Looking over the room, I took shallow breaths to calm down. Speaking to the Gods andGoddesses in the room, I said, "Now, as much of anhonorthis was that so many deities were curious about me, mypartner and I do need to leave as we need to prepare for a War game."

Gesturing for Bell to follow. No one stopped us as we went back down to the dungeon. Bell was not saying anything as we went back down. She knew something was wrong with me. After all, the physical changes in my traits were still affecting me.

Sin of Wrath Partially Activated

Your anger is rising rapidly, but not enough for you to lose yourself. An opportunity has arrived.

Quest Received

[My Anger is My Own]

Control your partial enrage state for the week, and your trait will become a perk.

Reward - Trait evolution, 50 points in all Stats

Quest Received

[War Games]

Defeat the Apollo Familia in a War Game.

Bonus Quest - ?

Reward – Hestia can request anything from Apollo that her heart desires.

Bonus Rewards - ?, ?

Neither of these will be easy, but I couldn't let his words slide. He dared to put his hands on my Goddess. My woman. Then, he dared to go after Bell as if she were property to pass around. I'm going to show him the errors of his ways.

Make him beg for forgiveness.

"Bell, I hope you are ready. We won't be leaving this dungeon until the day of the War Game." I told her as we reached the first floor. "That Lightbulb will regret ever thinking of touching Hestia with his dirty hands."

"Okay, Kaze. I'll follow you." Bell quietly said, following me silently.

Stopping momentarily, I stared at her, making her shuffle on her feet.

Rune Learned

[Nourishment]

Able to provide nourishment to the body through magic in the rune. Users will not need to drink or eat while this is active.

Rune Learned

[Stamina]

Converts magic into Stamina through the rune.

"Give me your arm," I said as she hesitantly raised her hand toward me. Flicking my wrist, I saw that my brush appeared in my hand. At the same time, I used my magic to draw the two runes on her arm. I combined them so they took up less space. I was done quickly before she could refuse, even though she did try moving her arm before my grip stopped her. "Now, you won't need to rest for this duration. Let me know if you need rest, though. I won't force you to go on."

"Yes, Kaze."

Not saying anything else, we made our way down the dungeon. Killing every monster in our path, and since I had already revealed my inventory, which was used to store all the drops to save time,

Bell

Shefelt two emotions going through her right now. One was fear. She felt as if she was in the presence of a monster near Kaze. Her heart was pounding, and it was not because of her feelings. Something waswrongwith him. Even though his act was a good one,she could feel it.

Kaze wasangry, vengeful…, andwrathful. The slightest thing could set him off, and she could do nothing to help him. She barely even knew him. Why would any of her words changehim?

The other was anger of her own; she may not know Kaze… well, but her heart can't stand seeing people getting abused and getting used as if they were nothing. Plus, she hated the fact that God tried to take charge of the situation to hurt Kaze and capture him as if he were some criminal.

The looks that Goddess was giving Kaze as if he was a piece of meat enraged her that she wanted to commit the ultimate sin in front of all those gods. Yet, she was too afraid to move. Her feet stood still. She won't ever be that helpless again for… Kaze.

Kaze won't have to do everything alone because she will be there. She would be his hero this time.

?

The Apollo Familia's banner is in shambles. A castle is in ruins, cries are in the air, and blood flows from corpses littered on the ground. People are trying to flee from the battle.

All for naught as it seemed, the very wind was against their retreat.

A young girl with blue hair down to her waist and light green eyes sat on her knees. A Shadow with red eyes that shined with a fiery rage stood before her. Before the shadow rose a sword, and with a swift swing, the girl's head rolled.

The fear remained on her face even in death as her body slumped to the ground.

A scream could be heard throughout Apollo Familia's home as the girl from the vision woke up. Sweat covered her body, and her hands clutched at her head. She was forced to relive the vision she had seen, one so vivid that she didn't even need to decipher the message.

Death was coming.

A/n:

War Game is already starting, and Lilli isn't in the picture? What could that Pallum be doing? Will she ever show up?