Author´s Note: So, people asked for a second chapter. At first only three chapters were planned. But I want to make it it´s own small story. Which could mean that not every chapter will have h scenes in it.
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"Mmmh..."
"Hm?"
Bell woke up in one of the best ways possible, with the soft body of a beloved snuggled up to him. Her left arm was put around his chest, her left leg stretched over his right, the foot resting halfway on top of his left. Ardee´s head rested on Bell´s shoulder, his eyes wandered to her lips, lips that felt really good when they got kissed.
The only thing that Ardee currently wore on her body was a pendant with a saphire in it, a gift from Bell. Never before had she been more happy, adorable and abashed when he gifted her that. Now she would never take it off, even when she took a shower.
While he was a bit worn out, Bell still felt great. After he gifted Ardee the pendant yesterday, she became so clingy and needy, that they went at it for most of the night.
He closed his eyes and continued to doze, why get up early when he was able to remain like this for a while?
At some point he was half asleep again, Bell felt the touch of Ardee´s body, but couldn´t move his own. He felt a tickling sensation when Ardee´s left hand crawled lower, moving her finger tips along his skin, until she touched the object of her desire.
Nngh..
Her fingers had become really skilled, they danced along his tip and shaft, gently carressed his balls. Ardee made a pleased noise when he hardened, happy that his body was still in the mood and able after such a night filled with much love. And after he had filled her with so much of his love... Again and again and again...
Bell moaned slightly in his half sleep when she closed her hand around his shaft and gently started to move it up and down. It felt really nice to just lay there with closed eyes and let her do what she wanted.
A pleasant shiver ran over his body when Ardee moved a bit, kissing his jaw and neck.
She didn´t ask if he was awake, Ardee wanted to wake him up in her favorite way. Her kisses wandered over his body, further and further down. He groaned again when her lips kissed his tip.
"Aaahm~~~"
"Nnngh!"
His tip got swallowed by something wet, hot and soft. His body refused to move on his own will, Bell could just lie there and enjoy Ardee´s loving wake-up blowjob. Her technique had improved a lot, in the beginning she didn´t know what to do and had just sucked him off with all her heart, which had felt amazing on its own. Yet she didn´t nibble or lick him, Ardee took his tip into her mouth fright from the start, every time. Then...Bell was tempted to call it magic what she did with her hands and tongue.
She knew exactly how to do it, how to let him cum in only moments or how to please Bell for a really long time. Ardee made the experience that depending on how long she could Bell prevent from cumming, she drove him more crazy and the sheer amount of semen would increase. But she didn´t feel pleasure in teasing Bell, she felt it when she made Bell feel extremely good.
And when he returned that favor.
"A-Ardee..."
With a clearly audible pop, Ardee separated her lips from Bell´s tip.
"Hmm...looks like someone is ready and raring to go.~~" She slightly rubbed her cheek against his wet tip.
Ardee licked her lips and leaned over Bell with an amorous glint in her eyes when he finally opened his eyes.
"Good morning~~~"
"Morning..."
She straddled his waist and kissed him. As if his hands had a mind on their own, they now wandered and groped Ardee´s butt. It made her really happy that Bell wasn´t done at all, even after doing it so often last night.
While they kissed, Ardee slowly started to grind her maiden parts along Bell´s length. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of Bell´s body.
Ardee really loved Bell, seeing him smile at her always let her heart race.
Oh how much she loved this handsome, friendly, young man.
Ever since the fateful day of the explosion, where her body got wounded and she nearly died, Ardee had felt a bit strange. Nearly dying at such a young age did something to a person. She still didn´t regret that she tried to help the child. Because of her scars, Ardee hid her body from the eyes of any male. Only Ganesha had seen her without her hood, before Bell came. The sturdy, muscular god was like a father figure for Ardee. He wasn´t disgusted one bit by her appearance, Ganesha had treated her like always, had smiled and laughed with her, until Ardee was able to laugh again. She understood what Ganesha did, he was the support that she needed. Shakti was also there for her, after the explosion went off and she thought Ardee dead for a moment, Shakti had snapped and attacked Valetta together with Ryu. Kaguya, Lyra and Alise helped.
But it was Shakti who slaughtered Valetta. She didn´t only kill her, she attacked her, cut her, broke her limbs, screamed all the time while she did that. She hurt Valetta so much that even the crazy woman stopped to laugh, when she tried to get away, Kaguya sliced through the hollows of her knees. They saw Shakti´s murderous expression and left everything to her, Valetta´s screams were very loud. And she had begged Shakti for a mercy that would never come.
While Shakti was busy killing...slaughtering Valetta in the most brutal way, Ryu and the others went to the explosion spot, they had to prepare themself, thinking that Ardee´s body was blown apart. Then they found out that Ardee was just heavily wounded. Ryu immediatelly started to use her healing magic, while Alise ran to Shakti to inform her.
Shakti had cried without end, was every day in the hospital, as was Ryu. In fact Shakti barely even left the hospital, Ganesha had to force her at some point to eat something and sleep a bit.
With the help of these three and the Astrea familia, Ardee got back to her usual self. Only one thing was different, she was scared to reveal her scarred body to the eyes of other people. Deep inside her she thought that no one would ever find her attractive.
Until she met Bell.
And the young man soon managed to get into Ardee´s heart. Even when it was ridiculous and lewd, she love it that his body had reacted when he saw her naked, that he got an errection by seeing her scarred nudity. To think that he was able to think of her as attractive, made Ardee very happy.
So, cuddling with Bell, snuggling up to him, making love...having passionate, wild sex with Bell, was much, much more for Ardee than just the physical feeling. Even when she loved this phsyical feeling.
Soon she started to sigh and moan, Ardee pressed her body more against Bell´s, while rubbing against him.. The lewd sound of wet, rubbing private parts aroused both of them only more, there were only a few things that aroused Ardee so much as having Bell´s length moved between her lips. It surely would break Shakti´s heart to discover that her beloved little sister was quite the pervert. One time Ardee´s body jerked lightly and she moved too far forward, his thing slipped between her butt cheeks and as she moved back, the tip touched the spot between her buttcheeks.
This spot was a bit too naughty for Ardee.
She lifted herself slightly up, put his rod with her hand down and grinded herself against it again. Ardee shivered from the feeling as his shaft rubbed along the small knob that was so very sensitive. Her movements went shorter, making sure to hold his shaft between her lips while she moved back and forth, moaning more and more.
"Bell...I love you~~~"
"Ardee..."
She curled her hips up a bit to make room, while pressing her breasts against Bell´s chest. Her left hand wandered between their bodies and moved down, grabbing his length. Ardee placed his tip against her already dripping entrance, gently rubbing it up and down.
"Bell...love me...please..."
Ardee was in a really needy mood, she wanted...needed...to feel that Bell loved her.
Eventually Bell´s tip pushed between Ardee´s lips as she curled her hips down again. A gasp came from her while he groaned, but Bell kept his eyes closed, enjoying the moment while Ardee kissed him again.
"Nnnh...Bell...I want you...I want to feel you inside me...please..."
Slowly...little by little, Ardee moved further down. It helped alot that it was so slippery from their liquids and that she was already so wet. Ardee moaned pretty loud as she felt Bell´s member gently moving into her. Tears gathered in her eyes, she was incredible happy.
Feeling Bell inside her, Ardee didn´t know why it felt so good, but she loved it. When his arms went around her body to hug her, she felt even better. Bell was there for her, he would love and protect her, forever. To give her all the love she wanted and needed. It didn´t matter if Ardee was in the mood for gentle lovemaking or wanted it really passionate, that Bell "clapped her cheeks", how Kaguya called it...
Ardee was glad that she gave her virginity to him, never would she forget their first night. Even when some of the others teased her for barely waiting until she was of age before she jumped onto Bell. Well it wasn´t wrong that Ardee got so thirsty and horny that she couldn´t hold back anymore. It wasn´t Bell that had moved into bed with her...she had pushed him down and went at him.
She kept moving downward until she felt his tip touching her deepest spot. For a moment she stopped, just enjoying the feeling of Bell inside her...how her lips wrapped around him...how he twitched inside her. To feel how Bell´s manhood stretched her apart to have room, to feel this union, it was magical.
"Bell..."
"Ardee..."
She leaned down to kiss him lovingly, then she curled her body lightly, moving her hips forward and then slowly back. Her mind went blank, thoughts became unecessary, she could only feel Bell inside her and kiss him.
Bell is so deep inside me...we are one...I´m so happy...
Both continued to kiss, while Ardee slowly moved her body back and forth, loving the feeling of his thick length in her body moving in and out. When it happened at her first time, Ardee never expected her insides to be that sensitive. She was a growing girl, she was attracted to Bell before they had sex, so...she even had masturbated a few times while thinking of him, dreaming of him touching her body...to love her, be there for her. But the real thing was completely different. As usual, every single nerve sung in joy when his shaft moved along them...even more when the slightly thicker tip grazed them.
"Ah...nnngh...mmhh...hahn...oh...yes...haaaa~~~~"
Ardee moaned more and more while she moved on top of Bell, back and forth, up and down. She had pulled the blanket towards her, so that she was covered from her hips down. It somehow felt less lewd now that they were at least a bit covered.
And Ardee could pretend she totally wasn´t having sex with Bell, riding him, in case someone barged into the room. Also, it felt amazing to feel, but not see it.
Bell could only moan and groan while Ardee moved on top of him, to feel her insides around his rod was amazing. The feeling of being inside Ardee was unique, every woman he had shared the bed with a little felt different inside. Maybe it was just his imagination or he just thought about their personality...but for him it was like that.
"Hah...hah...hah...hah...Beeell~~~~"
She curled her hips steadily up and down, not rising her speed. Be it just grinding her hips, curling them up and down or bouncing on top of Bell, Ardee loved it all. Bell´s tip felt like it was on fire, whenever Ardee nearly pulled him out of her, her entrance wrapped around him tight, not wanting to let him go outside. And when he slipped out one time, Ardee was fast to put him inside her again.
"Ardee...soon..."
"Hah...ah...ahn...mmh...Bell...release it...release it all...inside me~~~ Fill me up!"
Bell´s hands twitched, he went to grab Ardee´s waist, pushing her more onto him.
That tripped Ardee over the edge, she had her first orgasm of the morning.
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"Mmmh~~~ That felt wonderful."
Ardee shivered strongly after her first climax, Bell still hadn´t reached his own orgasm.
"I agree." He loved to feel how her insides coiled around his rod, squeezing it.
"Hehe, I love you, Bell.~~"
"And I love you, Ardee."
After the kiss ended, Ardee sat up, Bell was still inside her down to the base.
"Hehe~~ It may sound lewd, but I love the feeling of having you inside me, to feel your semen pouring into me."
Ardee gently stroked her lower stomach, it was craving for Bell´s seed. One day this stuff would impregnate her, it would be a happy day for Ardee. By herself she had thought if one day she would have as much children as her mother did.
Bell chuckled slightly. "And I can´t deny that it feels wonderful to be inside you."
Ardee bit her lower lip. "Hehe~~ Then I make sure you will cum a lot...inside me.~~~~"
"Ardee..."
She could feel him twitch inside her. With a gentle smile, Ardee raised herself up, moaning as Bell slipped out of her and turned around, so that her back was facing him. She looked over her shoulder and smile, Bell smiled back, grabbed his shaft, gently rubbed his tip on her entrance...and entered her again as Ardee lowered herself.
"Bell..." She showed him a seductive smile. "Please...take me."
"Ardee!"
His hands found her hips, he softly rubbed her hot flesh, before thrusting upwards.
"Ah...nnh...mmmh...oh...yeees~~~"
At first she remained still while Bell gently thrusted into her...then Ardee started to move up and down. It was always Ardee who lost patience first and went more passionate at it. As innocent as she usually looked like, Ardee became really forward when she got into the mood.
"Mmmh...angh...ah..Ardee..oh..."
"Ah...ahn...Be...ll...hnngh!"
Her movements increased, this time she didn´t move slow on top of Bell, gently sliding him in and out of her...this time...Ardee started to ride him. Bell kept looking at Ardee´s naked body from behind, her nape, her erotic back...the enchanting butt, it was actually nice that the blanket hid this part from his eyes, it felt more erotic. From behind he saw her breasts bouncing up and down. She knew what to do with her hands,
Ardee kneaded her breasts, stroked his legs or wandered over her body.
Ardee moaned and gasped, letting her head hang back.
"Ah...this is wonderful...inside...me..."
Ardee smiled blissfully as she leaned forward and pushed herself against each thrust of Bell, wanting to feel him as much as possible inside her. Eventually she straightened up again, bouncing shorter and faster on top of Bell, both panting and moaning loud.
"Ardee...Ardee...irgh!"
"Bell...Bell...Bell...Ahn!"
Slight sweat glistened on their bodies as both moved faster to a grandious orgasm. Ardee´s ears twitched as she heard the loud smacking of drenched flesh on flesh, she loved it...it sounded like...love.
"Bell...cum inside me...please!"
"Ardee...I...ack!"
Ardee raised herself one last time and was about to slam her hips down, to bury Bell down to the base inside her.
But before they could finish, the door opened.
"Bell, I´m sorry I knocked a few times, are you awaaaaaaaai!"
Ryu was the unlucky one to open the door...
Ardee looked surprised up just as she slammed her hips down.
"Oh! Mornin´ Lion!"
She waved happily, while she pretended she and Bell weren´t doing anything naughty at all! Ardee stretched her arms a bit to show and pretend she was just doing stretches, that it had absolutely nothing to do with her having straddled Bell´s waist.
It may have looked like Ardee was just straddling Bell´s waist, sitting on top of him, but Ryu´s eyes couldn´t be fooled. Against her will, her eyes shot down to the spot where the bodies of the two would connected, the blanket didn´t fool her, even when it blocked her view.
To look smiling into Ryu´s eyes and pretending they weren´t having sex was hard, since Bell was down to the base inside her, twitched and throbbed without end. Suddenly Bell´s hips bucked up again, spurt after spurt his hot semen shot right into Ardee´s womb.
"Hrgh!"
"Mmmmmhhhhh!"
Ardee pressed her hands onto her mouth, so that she wouldn´t scream loud and everyone would hear it.
Ardee´s body twitched, jerked and spasmed as she experienced a strong orgasm from getting cummed inside. She couldn´t stop her hips from twitching and spasming, but tried to keep quiet while Bell filled her up...in front of Ryu!
"Haaaaaaaaa~~~" Ardee exhaled loud, crying again from sheer happiness.
Ryu knew what they were doing, even when she was the only virgin left in her familia, she had already seen how Bell could be. In the first night when the incident happened, he had shot her in the face by accident after all. Ryu never forgot this moment, nor the smell..then again how could she. Ryu had exchanged her oath of love with Bell, outside of Orario. There in a forest, under a full moon, both promised their eternal love. Ryu had accepted that Bell loved her whole familia. Then, she experienced for the first time why the others loved physical intimacy, by having her first kiss.
It felt wonderful.
It was as romantic as Ryu had pictured it. She would never forget the full moon in the sky, how Bell looked while he held her close to him, hugging her lovingly while they kissed. But Ryu hadn´t been ready to make love with Bell, both would take their time.
But when it happened would she be the first of her familia to expect a child? Maybe there was already someone pregnant?
No, not so far.
When Ardee had her first time with Bell, it was a safe day.
And when the "orgy" happened, most of the aphrodisiacs that the women had used to get Bell in the mood, also prevented the man to impregnate a woman for a week. After all, these were products from the pleasure quarter, often sold to female adventurers who needed to relax or wanted a bit fun.
"Argh!"
Ryu saw how Bell´s hands clenched around Ardee´s hips, his own hips bucked up and due to her sharp ears, she could literally hear how Bell started to release himself deep inside Ardee again!
"Haaaaaahn!~~~~"
Ardee threw her head back and started to twitch and spasm on top of Bell, reaching her fifth climax this morning already. Ryu couldn´t believe her eyes, to see how happy Ardee looked, that tears of happiness rolled out of her eyes and her expression spoke of pure bliss.
What made Ryu so extremely flustered wasn´t just seeing the sex in front of her eyes, she wondered seriously if she also would make such a lewd face when she would do it with Bell! She was an elf, that was not okay!
The poor elf saw how much her dear friend twitched due to Bell cumming sheer endless inside her! Ryu got more than just red.
"Y-You two aren´t even married yet!"
"Y-You´re wrong, Lion! I´m just s-stretching!"
Ryu didn´t believe Ardee, not when she made such a face.
"B-B-Breakfast is ready soon!"
Ryu slammed the door shut and nearly ran when she went away. She was of course ashamed to see what she saw, but only half of her embarrassement came from that.
Seeing Bell naked reminded Ryu of something that was pretty embarrassing for her.
Ardee turned to Bell with only slight embarrassment on her face. "Ahahaha..."
"Ehe...ahm...we should probably go and take a shower."
"Good idea."
They showered together, but this time without getting in the mood again. Still, showering together, washing each other while cuddling and kissing was really nice. They took care that every nook and cranny was cleaned.
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"Well, well, well, who do we have here? The "legal wife" makes her way to the breakfast table.~~~"
"Mouh, Kaguya, don´t call me the legal wife..." Ardee sat down a bit embarrassed.
Lyra couldn´t resist to tease Ardee too. "Why wouldn´t we? You easily made your way to the top, claiming Bell mostly for you."
"I-I don´t claim him for me...I know that he loves everyone."
"Yeah, but he doesn´t hang out with everyone as much as with you."
"It´s just because of our hobbies..."
Astrea came to the table too. "Good morning everyone. Kaguya, Lyra, are you teasing Ardee again?"
""Just a little bit, Lady Astrea.""
"Then don´t take it too far, please."
""Won´t do.""
The others greeted Astrea, they smiled even more when Bell came in and sat down at the table. Ever since that fateful day, his relationship with the familia members and Astrea had changed, in a good way.
"M-Morning..."
Alise sat down on her usual spot to Astrea´s right, glancing to her goddess, then looking away with red ears. Astrea also looked a bit abashed. Both had been a bit awkward around each other for a while, but it got better and better now. For the first days after the "incident", both weren´t even able to look at each other. Ardee was confused what had happened, when she came home from visiting her sister, she was more than just shocked by what she saw in the living room. That Bell had "devoured" everyone except for Ryu.
And that Astrea and Alise both slept, halfway on top of him.
These three had done much together and that was the reason why both were so flustered around each other. Alise loved her goddess very much, but not in that way! Even the always so lively captain couldn´t believe all the things she did with and to her goddess! And all that only due to the influence of Bell´s pheromons, after he consumed all these types of aphrodisiacs. Sure it was partly Alise´s fault...but these things went a bit too far.
Astrea was the same. That fateful night wasn´t only her first time with Bell, it was the first time that she ever did something like that with a man or woman! Astrea might not have been one of the three great Olympian virgin goddesses, but she was a virgin goddess too! Untouched by anyone! The only slightly sexual thing she ever did was to help Bell get relief in the bathroom before, but they didn´t go all the way there. And then she did all that on the couch bed with Bell and Alise...
Yes it felt good, felt amazing! But it was too lewd for her...
At least the things slowly got back to how they were before between Astrea and Alise.
But Bell´s relationship with the girls had changed too. It was a bit different with each of them. For Iska and Neze, he was a good friend and their favorite sparring partner, often fighting with both at once. Both didn´t mind in any way when things got a bit steamy, they were happy that Bell was such a great lover.
For Asta, Maryuu and Celty it was like...they loved to cuddle with Bell, just lay in his arms and have him help them with their work. Celty was the first of the familia to experience how incredible Bell was with giving massages. While she was doing important paper work for the familia, Bell had given her a shoulder rub...
More than one of the others came and glanced into the small bibliothek when they heard Celty moan and sigh, amazed that Bell let her make these noises just by massaging her shoulders.
For Ryana, Lyra and Noin it was something similar, they just liked to spend time with Bell, but not too much, they weren´t the type to have a man around them all day. Even when in Lyra´s case, her feelings ran deep, due to her lonely and scary past, she really liked it when Bell just held her in his arms, she got a bit embarrassed by his vows of love, but she also loved it. Sometimes Lyra wanted nothing more than to be weak around Bell, having him hug her gently while they lay in bed. It was just nice then. And Lyra loved to make love with Bell, she wasn´t a wild one, Lyra and Bell had to be a bit careful due to the difference in body size. Aside from that she could also be a bit perverted.
And Lyra had already decided, when the day came and she would get impregnated by Bell, Lyra would do everything to become a good mother. Her future children would have it much better than she had as a child. Sometimes Lyra "scolded" Bell for filling her head with all these silly thoughts.
The others misunderstood it completely when Lyra one time burst out. "I´m too young to be a Mommy!"
All of them thought Lyra was already pregnant then...
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Kaguya...well she was honest with her desires. For Kaguya...it was sex. She loved to have sex with Bell, a bit rough and dominant, it didn´t matter if she was the dominant one or if he was it. Kaguya wasn´t really the type to say "I love you" but she often screamed "I love iiiiit!" when they were alone with each other and Bell bent her forward over her bed or table, taking her like a true rabbit. She also wasn´t the type for dates or cuddling, but a good training with Bell was nice. And she liked to compete with him in the dungeon, to see who got more monsters.
As usual, the truth with Kaguya lay deeper, her feelings for Bell weren´t complicated. Kaguya loved Bell, very much. Of course his whole familia loved him, but in some cases the feelings for Bell were almost desperate. For Alise it had been quite easy to confess to Bell and she even took his first kiss. Of course it had to be Alise, since she didn´t wait for Bell to kiss her, she just went and had kissed Bell. In front of all the others! Kaguya had of course laughed and teased her and Bell with it. But deep down, Kaguya had longed and wished to be able to do that too. But she couldn´t, Kaguya shouldn´t even dare to do that with Bell and the others knew that. All of them except for Bell. To talk about her past to him wasn´t that easy. It hurt Kaguya in a way that she started to like Bell. Because she thought she would never be able to have that.
Kaguya´s family in the far east was the Gojouno clan. It was common for her clan to put a special kind of poison into the body of the women. Only the men of her clan got the antidote, so that they could keep their bloodline pure. When Kaguya broke with her clan and left the far east, she was prepared to never be able to find a partner. Be it man or woman, every person she would get intimate with, even only going as far as kissing, would die from the poison. At least that´s what Kaguya thought.
After a succesful fight against members of Evilus, the Astrea familia had a big, loud, long party. There were all kinds of alcohol, also special drinks that elves preffered. Astrea had ordered them chuckling to go wild and vent out all their stress, they needed this. Even Bell drank a bit, but not too much. Alise managed to persuade Bell to take off his shirt. The women of the familia had cheered loud, even Celty and Ryu had smiled abashed but happy when they saw his well tone upper body. Afterwards Lyra gave Bell a suit fly and he acted as the familia´s butler this evening, much to the joy of the women. To drown the demanding voice in her heart, Kaguya drank a lot. But she could handle it very well, due to the resistance against poison in her body, which came mostly from what her clan had done. But it was enough to make her a bit wobbly on her legs this evening. When she got up from the armchair, Kaguya staggered more than a bit and tripped.
Bell´s reflexes when it came to notice a woman in danger to get hurt and react to it were out of this world. But since he was a bit tipsy, he couldn´t catch Kaguya perfectly. He caught Kaguya in his arms, but as if it was a push from fate, he stumbled backwards with her and by sheer accident, their lips met, which were very slightly parted. It was enough so that a tiny bit of saliva from Kaguya touched Bell´s tongue. In an instant she panicked and pushed herself away, screaming out in fear. It was very rare for Kaguya to lose it like that and the others immediatelly jumped up when they heard her scream. Kaguya immediatelly yelled the ones of the familia that could heal should save Bell, since his life was in danger.
But...
Bell just blinked confused and showed no sign of discomfort. Kaguya couldn´t believe what she saw, the poison had no effect on Bell at all! She couldn´t understand that, why was he immune? Then she rememberred that Bell had "Abnormal condition resistance" Rank D. Apparently it came from all the good food that his aunt had made for him since he was a child. The poison in Kaguya´s body did nothing to Bell, he was immune against her. When she realized it, Kaguya actually started to cry in front of everyone. Normally she hated to look so weak, but now she was just glad.
The others first calmed down, then they cheered and were happy for Kaguya, very happy. And Kaguya...she was immediatelly all over Bell, kissing him again and again while he held her. None of the others complained that Kaguya didn´t leave Bell´s side for the rest of the evening, barely stopping to kiss him. Her heart tried to explode from sheer happiness. Not only did she found a man that was immune to her body, she loved this man! Very much! Now everything that she thought would be impossible became possible for Kaguya. Kissing! Sex! Having children!
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Alise was basically every type at once.
For Ryu...she wanted love. Out of her whole familia, she was by far the most romantic, had the most innocent picture of love and being happy with each other. Ryu was the only one that got red when she held hands with Bell, even more when one of the others could see that.
Ardee...Ardee was just happy with Bell. She was also like all types at once, plus as lovely as Ryu and as special as Astrea. The others teased her with the title of the "legal wife" for a reason.
And Astrea, she was more than "just" Bell´s Goddess. She was his "Goddess" and he gave her much love. And shoulder rubs! Out of all the familia members, Astrea demanded the most shoulder rubs. The two reasons for her stiff shoulders were obvious. And since Bell wanted to do so much for Astrea and the others, he was sad that he could only be at one place. Which led to him developing another magic spell, Mirror Image. The first time it happened by accident. Bell had massaged Astrea´s shoulders and at some point her feet, at once. She had blinked surprised when there were suddenly two Bells. The others were all over the moon when they heard about this skill.
Both Bells were the true Bell and he had the memory of both when the magic ended. But they couldn´t move far away from each other, had to stay in the same room. Not directly seeing each other was possible, for example when he helped Celty in the small bibliothek, cleaning to shelves at once. Or one brought books to the shelves while the other gave Celty her beloved shoulder rubs.
Breakfast with the Astrea familia was always nice and sometimes a bit funny. Especially since Bell felt often more than one foot slightly poking his feet or legs, pinching him slightly with their toes or rubbing a bit against him, just to tease him or for a bit of secret skinship.
One time...and only one time...he felt a really shy foot, gently stroking against his foot. When he raised his eyes, Ryu averted with red ears her face. She had heard with her fine ears how the others did so often, that she wanted to try that at least once.
But this time, he felt the foot coming from his left. Which meant...Astrea.
The Goddess of Justice smiled so innocent and gentle.
"Is something wrong, Bell?"
"No, nothing."
"Ehe, good.~~"
She was really gentle with that foot nudging and happy when Bell returned it. Astrea was really happy that Bell was the one man that made it into her heart, she also had to admit that making love with Bell felt incredible. Now she knew what she never had all these years, yet she was glad that she waited until she found her love.
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"So, Bell, today is your day off from the dungeon, what have you planned?"
"Ardee told me that Ms. Shakti and Lord Ganesha would like to meet me."
"Oh? Why that?"
Astrea looked to Ardee.
"Ahm...Shakti said she would really like to meet Bell, now that we..you know... And Ganesha..hah...he behaves like my father..."
Some of the others immediatelly started to mumble when they heard Ardee´s words.
"Introducing Bell to her family already..."
"Her big sister..."
"Her "father"..."
"She goes ahead again..."
"The legal wife..."
Ryu slammed her hand agitated onto the table. "Everyone! It isn´t nice what you say!"
Most of the others looked at Ryu, then they put their heads together and mumbled to.
"The "Mistress"..."
"She can introduce Bell to her family too..."
"Isn´t Lion some kind of royalty?..."
"Our little "Princess"..."
"I bet her innocence is just an act..."
"Yeah, I bet Lion is actually pretty naughty..."
"I heard she showers naked..."
"Really?! How lewd..."
"And she tries to charm Bell with her thighs..."
"Yeah, I saw how often he looks at them..."
"Bell has a thigh fetish?"
"You never noticed? He looks especially at Lion´s and Lady Astrea´s..."
"But Lady Astrea does have nice thighs..."
"Ah, so that´s why Lion shows them off so much in her battle gear..."
"How lewd..."
"Nah!"
The others grinned while they gossiped, they had no evil intentions, they just liked to tease Ryu.
Astrea smiled. "Ardee, shall I come with you two or do you want to go alone? You know when it is about marri-"
"I-I-It isn´t about m-marriage, Lady Astrea!" Ardee panicked.
Bell got red. "It´s ahm...just that they want to get to know me."
Alise tilted her head slightly confused. "But both do know you, Bell."
"As a member of this familia."
Ardee looked abashed down to her plate. "They...want to know him..since he is my b-b-boy..f-friend... And...I want to ask them an important question."
Kaguya rolled her eyes. "Aw come on, Ardee! Don´t even pretend to be that innocent and pure! We could all hear you going at it again like animals last night! And this morning!"
Ardee covered her face with her hands and squealed, Bell also looked embarrassed.
Astrea knocked on the table. "Kaguya, we talked about this. No such topics at the table, pretend you didn´t hear them."
Lyra grinned. "So Ardee secured herself a date with Bell on his day off, quite scheming."
Alise chuckled. "That´s the legal wife for you."
"And tomorrow, Lady Astrea has a date with Bell."
Astrea got a bit red. "It isn´t a date..."
""""""Haaaah~~~""""""
It was very precious for her followers to see Astrea fidgeting around and being abashed.
"Bell just accompanies me on the party that Freya holds..."
The others looked with a fierce glare at Bell.
"You better let her have the best evening of her life!"
"Take good care of her!"
"Don´t disappoint her!"
"Protect her well!"
"Make sure she stands out among the other gods!"
"Lady Astrea always stands out."
Ryu looked with a serious expression at Bell. "Make sure you keep Lady Astrea safe, Bell."
"I will protect her with my life."
""""""""Good.""""""""
The familia was a bit overprotective of their Goddess.
Alise suddenly raised her hand. "I call dibs on the next date with Bell! Before someone complains, my right as the captain!"
Neze grinned and raised her hand. "Then I call dibs on the next trainings session. And the full moon day."
Neze always had Bell for herself when full moon came, since she was a werewolf, Neze was in a really special mood on this day. That was also why Neze only had intercourse with Bell on this night. She saved herself up for the whole month, so that she could really enjoy it and go crazy in a full moon night. And Bell had learned how to handle Neze when she let her beastification out then, to say they would go wild then would be the understatement of the century.
Iska looked a bit like she got betrayed.
"Okay, I and Iska."
The amazon grinned, she loved to train with Bell, even more when he pushed her down afterwards or she him.
Lyra raised her hand. "Dibs on the next free time, so that Bell can help me with my workshop!"
Kaguya lazily raised her hand and smiled like a cat. "Then...I call dibs on the next nightwatch in the dungeon, together with Bell."
""""""""Nah!"""""""""
Nightwatch in the dungeon wasn´t that fun, mostly boring. But spending this time together with Bell, was something entirely else. It was quite risky to cuddle and touch then, the others could wake up from that, which was exactly what turned Kaguya on. To do something naughty to Bell, while he tried to remain as quiet as possible, while keeping his eyes open to possible monsters, that gave Kaguya a not so small kick.
Celty looked a bit abashed to the side. "I want to read with Bell some time again..."
Celty liked to read with Bell or have her help with the books in the library, just spending time with him was enough for her. But she also looked quite forward to be alone with Bell in the library.
All of them wanted to spend as much time with him as with each other. Ryu glanced only out of the corner of her eyes to Bell, of course she wanted to spend time with Bell too, doing lewd things like...holding hands.
Ryu looked at Ardee when she rememberred something. "Ardee, you said you wanted to ask Lord Ganesha and Shakti an important question, which one?"
"I...I talked with Lady Astrea about this before. I want to convert into this familia. The reason for that is pure logistic. As you all know, I have a skill that enhances close members of my familia. I only go into the dungeon or other fights with you all, so my skill never activates. This would be a waste, Ganesha and Lady Astrea told me it is a very rare skill. I´m sure they will understand this. Ganesha will always be like my father."
"Oh, Ardee?"
"Bell?"
"There is something I need to do before we go on the date, would that be alright?"
"What is it?"
"I have to visit Lady Hephaistos, to take care of a matter that I didn´t do for too long now. And another matter, I´m sorry..."
Ardee beamed all over her face. "As long as I´m with you, I´m happy, Bell!"
.
.
.
After breakfast was over, Bell chose a casual outfit, not his usual one, but a white T-shirt, a checked shirt over it, which he wore open, and light trousers. Before he put on his outfit, Bell asked Iska to do his hair, a good impression was important and Iska really liked to do that.
Ardee wore a light summer dress, in the same color as her eyes, Iska also made her hair for her. Like this Ardee´s burn scars were visible, but she didn´t mind when she was with Bell. Also, no one in the city would be dumb enough to make fun of Ardee when the "Juggernaut" was with her. Since Orario was still Orario, Bell wore one of his swords on his right hip. Normall he would prefer the left side, so he could use his right hand to draw it, but his left side would be occupied.
Kaguya helped a bit too, used some of her perfume on Bell. She didn´t only do that for Ardee, but all of them wanted to see Bell in this appearance when he wanted to look nice. It was quite something.
The last thing to finish Bell´s outfit was a bouquet of flowers, that Astrea cut for him in the garden. It was meant for Shakti, but Bell couldn´t resist to take one and turn to Ardee. She blushed strongly when she leaned slightly forward and Bell put the flower behind her left ear. In addition to her dress, she also wore the pendant of course. Ardee didn´t have her Sacred Oath with her, the sword would remain at home.
Both looked really good together and Ardee couldn´t stop smiling at Bell. And he couldn´t stop himself from praising her.
"Ardee, you look so beautiful, never before did you look more cute."
"Mmmmmh!"
Even Ardee´s ears got red, it wasn´t the first time that Bell praised her, but today felt really special.
The others mumbled again.
"Heh, like a Maiden in love."
"Kaguya, Ardee is a Maiden in love."
"If you call it like that, Lion."
"Kaguya, if you make fun of Ardee, you know that Shakti will come for you?"
"Pfff."
Bell bowed slightly down, raised Ardee´s left hand and kissed the back of it.
"Would you give me the pleasure to accompany me?"
"Gladly!"
Ardee couldn´t stop giggling and sighing happy.
Before they left, Bell offered her his left elbow, she linked her right arm with him and together they left.
Alise grinned. "He really looks like the perfect son and brother in law."
.
.
"Shakti, you look quite nervous, I, Ganesha! Must say."
"Be quiet, Ganesha."
Shakti walked back and forth in their home, wearing her usual outfit, the whip at her hip. She was really, really nervous...and agitated.
"That filthy...charming my baby sister...putting his hands on her body...I will never forgive him!"
"Shakti, you´re an adult woman, you should be more mature."
"Really?! You of all people tell me that, Ganesha?!"
The god just grinned and did one of his usual poses, flexing his muscles.
"Don´t be worried, I, Ganesha! Guarantee you that Astrea´s Juggernaut is a fine, young man."
"That alias! Argh! Why did the gods call him that?! What does it even mean?! That sounds like he would sexually harass women! Wait...if he dared to put his hands on Ardee in this way, I will chop "it" off! And whip him out of the city!"
"Shakti, they´re both old enough for that."
"Don´t you dare to assume that my cute, baby sister would do something like that! She is as pure and innocent as freshly fallen snow! She never even saw a man naked!"
"Shakti..."
"Let me rant, Ganesha! Ardee is my last sibling! My baby sister!"
"Ardee is eighteen, she is a young lady now."
"She is almost a child! Ardee still calls me "Big Sister!"
"You are her big sister."
The sturdy god did his best to try to calm his captain down. He was excited to meet Bell as Ardee´s boyfriend.
If Shakti would ever find out that not Bell was the "naughty" one of the couple, but her little sister, it would destroy her.
.
.
.
Even when Bell had a giant backpack with him to fit all the things he had to deliver, Ardee was more than happy to stroll through the city with Bell like that.
He had noticed in the past, that no matter where one was in Orario, they could always see Babel. People who lived here for a while could even tell the time, just by looking on which district Babel´s shadow currently was.
He was often enough in Babel before, but this time he went into a different direction as he and Ardee got there. Bell wanted to go up, thankfully there were these special magic items called elevators.
"Bell, to which floor do we have to go?"
"I don´t know the exact one, but somewhere between the 4th and the 8th. We can question someone there."
What Bell was looking for was the office of the goddess Hephaistos.
It took a bit of time, but they eventually found it. Yet they had to wait since Hephaistos was busy at the moment. Ardee didn´t mind to wait, as long as she could wait together with Bell, so they did it patiently for an hour, chatting about this and that, sometimes exchanging a loving kiss, until one of the elevators opened and a woman came out of it.
She had brown skin, long black hair, a red eye and wore an eyepatch over the other eye, similar to that of the Goddess Hephaistos. However, her eyepatch covered over the opposite eye, her left eye. She had a well-endowed chest which she kept in a sarashi, and wore a red hakama and sandals.
"Oh? Visitor for the boss?"
"Ahm, hello."
"Ah, you belong to the Astrea familia, right? What did they call you? Juggernaut or so?"
"Yes. And this is Ardee Varma, called Vyasa."
She shrugged her shoulders. "I know that, I forged the Sacred Oath for her."
"Oh!"
Ardee giggled and waved to the woman. "Hi Tsubaki."
Tsubaki grinned. "Still satisfied with your sword?"
"Jup!"
Tsubaki winked...or maybe blinked, Bell couldn´t tell. She carried several boxes of paperwork like it was nothing, she had to be quite strong. Her eye wandered to Bell´s enormous sword and the armor in the backpack.
"That´s not your sword, right?"
"It is now, it was a gift from my uncle, as well as the armor, I wanted to have it changed for my size."
"Oh? An armor and weapon fitting for your alias, hm? And why are you waiting for the boss to have time then?"
"I thought I have to ask Lady Hephaistos for something like that?"
"Nah, the boss takes care of the really important things. But she is busy at the moment, follow me."
"And you are, Milady?"
"Milady?" She blinked again and then laughed. "Oh boy, I was never called "Milady" before. Trying to flirt with me?"
"I don´t! I was raised this way."
"Aww, such a waste, you´re quite cute and manly at the same time. May I hug you?"
"No."
"Such a shame, with your build you´re really my type."
She grinned and winked. "As you heard my first name is Tsubaki. Tsubaki Colbrande."
"The captain of the Hephaistos familia?"
"Yes, it´s your lucky day, I have not much to do. Come now."
"Ahm, alright. But I also have a letter for Lady Hephaistos."
"I will give it to her later."
"Thank you, Lady Colbrande."
"Ms. Tsubaki is fine."
"Alright."
Bell picked up his stuff, Ardee carried the enormous sword for him, both followed Tsubaki. He wondered if she was an amazon, because of her look. Of course Tsubaki noticed his eyes on her.
"33."
"Huh?"
She grinned over her shoulder. "I´m 33 before you ask and no you´re not too young for me."
"Th-This wasn´t what I had in mind! It´s just my first time talking to an amazon."
"I´m no amazon. I´m a half-dwarf."
"A half-dwarf?"
"That´s what I said."
"Is that the reason why you´re so tall?"
"Jup, pops always called me "his big girl"."
"So your father is a dwarf?"
"Jup, he got me interested in smithing."
"And I guess you´re really good, since you´re the captain."
"Only the boss is still better than me."
Tsubaki continued her casual chat with Bell and Ardee, while she led them to her personal room. Only Hephaistos had more personal space than her. It looked half like a forge, half like an office, there were two doors leading away into other rooms, one of them was massive and made from metal. This door was open and let him look inside an actual forge.
She dropped the boxes with paperwork on a desk, then she turned to Bell and Ardee.
"Put your stuff on the metal table over there, I have to take a look at it."
"Alright."
Tsubaki took care of her paper work while Bell took out the parts of the full plate armor and Ardee put the sword on the table. After they did that, Tsubaki came to them.
"May I?"
"Of course."
She tried to raise the sword with one hand, but needed both in the end.
"Uff, this sword is really something."
Tsubaki balanced it with one hand and slightly knocked against the blade with her free hand, before putting it back on the table.
"This is pure adamantite."
"My uncle said it is adamantite, with a few lines of mythril and a core of orichalcum."
"And y-"
Before Tsubaki could ask something, a knock from the door interupted her.
"Boss? Come in."
"Tsubaki, is your paper work done?"
"Jup. Perfect timing that you´re here now."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, the young man here has a letter for you and wanted to talk to you."
"Oh?"
When Hephaistos looked at Bell, he bowed down.
"Nice to meet you, Lady Hephaistos!"
"Hello, young man. You´re Astrea´s follower, right? Hello Ardee."
Ardee bowed her head slightly while she smiled. "Good day, Lady Hephaistos."
Hephaistos´ eye returned to Bell. "What is this letter that you have for me?"
"I was told by my grandfather to give it to you."
"Your grandfather? Who might that be?"
"Please read the letter, he said he explained everything in there."
Hephaistos looked curious, but took the letter from Bell and opened it. Tsubaki watched how the expression in Hephaistos´ face turned to disbelief.
"Tsubaki."
"Boss?"
"Not one word about what I will tell you now."
"Hm? Sure."
"Bell, Ardee knows about this?"
"Yes, as does my whole familia."
Then Hephaistos explained what Zeus wrote in the letter. Tsubaki grinned when she heard it.
"Ah, now it makes sense that he has such a fine sword and armor, when it comes from that familia."
Hephaistos looked at Bell. "You are already an adventurer with equipment, what is your plan? A change for a different combat style?"
"Yes. To help me finish what my family started."
She saw truth and determination in him.
"You don´t intend to take revenge on Loki and Freya?"
"No, Grandpa explained a lot to me. I shall go my own way."
"Hm, you don´t lie."
"Why would I?"
The Goddess of the Forge went to the table with the sword and armor.
Tsubaki pointed at the various things. "He wants it changed to match his body. There is orichalcum in the sword, the armor is pure adamantium."
"This wasn´t made by our familia or Goibniu´s."
"Uncle Zard said it was made by the familia´s smith."
"Hm, Tsubaki will have to remove metal so that it will fit your form, what do you want to do with the rest of it? And shall your sword remain a greatsword?"
"I just want the sword to fit my size. About the rest of the metal, I thought...maybe giving a piece to each member of my familia and Ardee of course."
Ardee smiled lovingly again.
Tsubaki´s eyes widened slightly. "So the rumors about Astrea familia´s stud rabbit are true?"
Ardee got deep red.
Hephaistos also looked embarrassed. "Tsubaki!"
The captain just shrugged her shoulders.
"We can store the metal for you if you want, until you decided what each of them shall get."
"That would be nice, how much will it cost."
Hephaistos looked at Tsubaki, it was her decision since she would do it alone.
Tsubaki scratched her chin for a moment. "Will cost quite a bit, to shorten the sword and working on it so it will be a true Hephaistos familia weapon and armor will be a lot of work. I would say ten million Vals at least. Do you have this money?"
"My aunt a-...my young aunty and my uncle gave me their sigils for a Gnome Vault. They said they have no use of the money and I should take it. I don´t know how much is in there, but I guess it should be enough."
"If not, I will take the metal that comes from the blade as payment."
"That sounds fair. How long will it take?"
"A month, minimum."
"Alright."
"Do you have a spare weapon? Orario isn´t a place to walk around unarmed these days."
"I have two swords."
Ardee grinned. "And us!"
"Alright. This will stay between us, boss and I won´t tell anyone that you´re the former captain of the Zeus familia."
"Captain? I wasn´t the captain."
"You´re the last living member, right?"
.
.
After Bell left Babel, it was time to go to the Gnome Vault, to check if there was enough money there. The moment one of the gnomes would open Alfia´s vault for him, Bell fainted.
The uncrowned prince had come to Orario and he was immediatelly the richest person there...Bell had now more money than the four top familias of Orario...combined. Which wasn´t that hard since the Loki and Astrea familias were almost everytime out of money, due to their dungeon work.
Ardee gave Bell a lap pillow until he woke up again. To get so much money was quite the experience, now he had to decide what to do with it.
.
.
Bell and Ardee didn´t go to "IamGanesha", the home of the Ganesha familia, right away. At first they would spend some time in the city, Ardee had asked him for a date after all, they would go a bit later and then continue their date afterwards.
Orario got more peaceful with each day. The day after the "incident" happened at the home of the Astrea familia, Freya´s captain faced the Rudra familia in the dungeon and word got out that he wiped them out. As one of the four great familias, Astrea got some secret informations from Freya, about the very unusual irregular that appeared during that fight. Later she got a message from Ouranos, that they should keep this a secret, no one except for the great four was allowed to know about this monster.
Bell was really glad when he heard about this, that it was the Warlord that faced and defeated this monster. If it were his familia, someone might have died.
All of them were pretty serious about this news.
Until...
It was Alise that shocked them all.
She sat on the couch with crossed legs, tapped her chin and looked like she was in thoughts.
Ryu had looked at her. "Alise?"
"Hmmm...I wonder..."
Astrea looked concerned. "What bothers you, Alise?"
"I mean...we didn´t go into the dungeon because non of us could move that day..."
Astrea first looked confused, then she got red.
"So does that mean...Bell´s "Justice"...saved all our lives?"
Silence followed. But all too soon, Kaguya and Lyra chuckled, then they started to laugh. Neze, Iska and Ryana followed...
The others were too ashamed to laugh.
Yet Alise wasn´t wrong. Even Ardee had laughed, so much that she started to cry. Astrea was too flustered to look at Bell, but she mumbled that she was glad to have recruited Bell. And Ryu...she was devastated...that THIS had saved her familia...
But due to that incident, the Astrea familia survived. With the Rudra familia gone, the four great familias used their chance for a counter attack. Kaguya showed her best and worst side at the same time. Astrea finally let Kaguya lose, but she sent Ryu with her to act as a counter part, so that Kaguya wouldn´t go too far. Kaguya´s clan were experts in all kinds of forms to get informations out of people. But without the use of torture. The elders taught the younger ones, cut a person enough and they will tell you everything that they think you want to hear, which didn´t mean it was the truth.
No, Kaguya´s methods were different. She got all the informations they needed, the Goddess Freya helped too in her unique way.
Due to their effords and the combined counter attack of the four great familias, Evilus got pushed back further and further, three of their gods, including Rudra, were sent back to heaven already.
Orario got more peaceful, yet the familias didn´t stop. Bell and Ardee had their days off, but most of the others would continue their work. They even got spies inside of the guild. The head of the guild, Royman, got pale when they told him the positions of the traitors...some of them were really close to him each day.
A secret night raid followed. To protect the guild´s image and to make sure that no informations about spies and infiltrators got out, the Astrea familia and a few members of the Freya familia, with backup from the Loki familia attacked all of them in one night at once, making it look like the work of thugs or something else.
With the help of the Ganesha familia afterwards, no one outside of the four great familias and the leader of the guild knew that the "victims" were traitors.
The traitors didn´t get killed, they caught all of them and Kaguya did her best to interrogate them, she got many informations out of them. One of them also muttered an interesting word...Knossos.
.
.
.
"Haaah~~~The weather is perfect!"
Ardee smiled while they walked, it really was a nice day. There were only a few clouds in the sky and not one of them came from an explosion. The last explosion in Orario happened two weeks ago! That was a new record for the city! And that was why Ardee´s and Bell´s date was also important for the citizens, it showed them more and more that a normal life returned to Orario.
Some members of the familia had even started to work part time at the famous pub of Orario, the Hostess of Fertility. Freya had talked with Astrea, that it would do good for her children to do something normal, something other than fighting. The pub got even more customers due to that, people now had the chance to see the beautiful women of the Astrea familia in a waitress uniform!
Ardee also did it from time to time, she said the work was really funny. And she had whispered into Bell´s ear with an amorous smile, that she would like it to be his personal waitress now and then when they were alone.
For their first goal, they went into the south west part of Orario. Lately the gondola service had started to work again. So customers had a chance to take a slow ride along Orario´s canals. It was perfect for couples! Ardee really wanted to do that with Bell. They took their time to walk there, talking here and there with citizens.
They were well liked, since their familias did so much for the people. What made Ardee really happy was the sight of children, playing on the streets again. And according to what Noin, Neze and Maryuu had seen another day, even a few bards visited Orario again! Life returned to the city, the dark times slowly came to an end.
Which gave them more chances to go into the dungeon. Bell especially loved to explore the dungeon and he was a very valuable member of the party.
"Bell, don´t you think it´s wonderful now in Orario?"
"Very much, the mood was so grim when I arrived."
"Hehe~~ And much became better because of you."
"I´m just doing my part, as everyone else."
"It still is an important part."
"You´re doing an important part yourself, Ardee."
"We´re all doing it."
"Say Ardee, is there something I should keep in mind when we go to meet your sister? I know a bit about Lord Ganesha, but..."
Ardee giggled. "Oh Shakti is easy to deal with. Just be normal and don´t do anything what could be counted as flirting or lewd. Or else she might use her whip."
"Whip?"
"Mhm."
"Oh.."
"Hehe don´t worry, Shakti is really nice."
Bell smiled wryly. "Well you are her little sister and not the guy that started to go out with her little sister."
Ardee smiled brightly when he said that.
"And I really love to go out with you, Bell. You make me so happyyyy~~~~"
She couldn´t hold back, leaned against him, her left hand on his muscular chest and kissed him. Ardee beamed all over her face when the kiss ended.
"Hehe~~ But we shouldn´t do this in front of Shakti."
"I guess."
.
.
.
They continued their way, while they walked they saw a familiar figure. It was a girl, maybe around ten years old.
"Is that the girl from the Loki familia?"
"The little Wallenstein?"
"I wonder what she does here."
"And alone on top of that."
They saw how the young girl staggered slightly, wearing her battle outfit, which was quite dirty, the sword sheathed for now. And she had scratches and bruises all over.
"Maybe she is injured?"
"It looks like it."
Ardee couldn´t stop her caring nature, Bell went with her to take a look at her. The little Ais staggered more and held her belly.
Stopping close to her, Ardee crouched slightly down.
"Are you hurt, Ms. Wallenstein?"
"Mmh...hungry..."
"You´re hungry?"
"Mh..."
Bell looked around and saw something that would change Ais Wallenstein´s life forever. While Ardee stayed with Ais, Bell went to a street stall and bought something.
"Ms. Wallenstein, would you like to try this?"
Bell held something wrapped in paper towards the girl, it was a potato snack.
Ais Wallenstein´s very first potato snack.
She would never forget this moment in her life, when her teeth sunk deep into the snack. Her eyes widened and she squeaked slightly. A new world appeared in front of her eyes.
Ais started to devour the potato snacks like a starved wolf, never did she eat something that tasted better. Ardee couldn´t help but smile when she saw how happily Ais wolfed the potato snack down. But she still felt bad that the small Ais was wounded, so Ardee mumbled for a few moments by herself.
.
"Dia Kaumundi."
.
It was Ardee´s unique healing magic, not only did it heal the wounds of the target, it also increased the status for a while. The number of targets she could heal and boost slightly was depending on her level. Since Ardee was level three she could heal and boost three people like that.
Normally adventurers kept hidden what they were capable off, but Ardee was different. When someone was hurt, she would help. In the dark times she had used her magic openly more than one time. Since Ais not only felt her wounds healing, but also the increase in status, she felt better than ever before! Ais was so busy with the potato snacks, Bell had even bought premium ones, that she didn´t notice how Ardee healed her.
For Ais, the potato snacks did all that! It had to be divine food! It filled her stomach, let her taste buds dance and let her feel better!
Ah...bliss!
The now full and very happy girl thanked Bell and Ardee and went humming happily back to her home.
Without knowing it, Ardee and Bell gave Riveria a really hard time to teach the young girl that she shouldn´t only eat these snacks. The elven princess cursed whoever gave Ais junk food, to their luck, Ais didn´t really remember who it was, because she had been so hungry.
It wouldn´t the last time that Bell and his familia "messed" with the fate and future of the Loki familia without knowing it. This would also happen with other familias, just because the Astrea familia was there and not slaughtered.
Of course the Astrea familia was the most happy about this fact. Even when the reason why they all weren´t dead was pretty embarrassing. And they would never talk about this incident!
.
It was still morning when they arrived at the small dock from where the gondolas started. They were supposed to meet with Shakti and Ganesha at noon, so there was enough time.
An old man stood there and took care of the gondola, while he waited and hoped for customers.
"Good morning Sir."
He looked up. "Oh, welcome dear customers. Would you like a ride?"
"Yes please."
"The long or the short tour?"
Ardee smiled. "Long."
The old man nodded smiling. "Alright, thank you for using the gondola, please get in, then we can start."
Bell had thought a lot about the gondola ride before they left the house. What would be more polite and chivalrous? Going in the gondola first and offering Ardee his hand while keeping the boat stable? Or should he offer her his hand from above, while she went carefully inside?
It didn´t help that he asked Alise and Astrea before. Alise said she would like to go first, while Astrea would prefer it when Bell went first. At this thought, both also would like a gondola ride with him in the future.
Bell thought a long time, thinking about everything that he knew about Ardee. In the end he decided to carefully go in first, then turned around and offered her a hand.
"Milady."
She giggled, placed her hand on his and went carefully in the gondola, both sat down side by side.
"The Gondola has a small magic crystal under it, so it will follow the flow of the water and stay in the middle. You can get off wherever you want, so enjoy the ride."
It was a nice experience for both, Ardee snuggled up to Bell and he put his right arm around her. The old man used a long stick to push the gondola away from the dock and their ride started.
"Mmmmhh~~~"
Ardee beamed happy as she cuddled with Bell while the gondola slowly moved along the water. The weather was just perfect for something like that. And of course that she was there with Bell only made it better.
"Bell?"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"And I love you, Ardee."
She glanced at him and waited for something, Bell didn´t let her wait long and kissed her. For now, Ardee didn´t think she could become any happier.
Ardee had no idea...
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Both just enjoyed the time together and cuddled while the boat moved slowly, but at some point they had to get off. Ardee blushed giggling when Bell lifted her carefully up in a princess carry, then he jumped with her in his arms out of the boat, back to a small street nearby. A normal mortal couldn´t even dream of jumping so high and far.
When Bell let Ardee down onto her feet again, she made sure that her skirt looked properly, before she curtsied elegantly and giggled.
"Thank you, my prince."
"Always, Milady."
"Oho? And who do we have here, flirting so openly in bright daylight?"
Both turned to the female voice they heard behind them. What awaited there eyes was a sight that would charm most gods and mortals. And of course Bell and Ardee were not completely immune against the appearance, thankfully the face that was beyond beautiful was covered with a transparent veil.
The face of the Goddess Freya.
She was accompanied by her captain, a true mountain of a man. And a young woman with flaming red hair.
""Lady Freya!""
The goddess chuckled. "Ehehe~~ It sounds cute how you two say it in unison, Bell, Ardee."
Of course the goddess knew who both were. Bell´s eyes wandered to Ottar, who nodded.
"Juggernaut."
"Mr. King."
Ardee seemed more interested in the red haired woman.
"Hehe, this is the new member of my familia, Heith."
Heith just nodded, without saying something.
"Ehehe~~ Heith is a bit shy."
Now the redhead looked a tiny bit flustered.
"But she is really special. And what are you two doing here? Aside from doing a dramatic entrance?"
Ardee grabbed Bell´s arm and smiled happily while she pushed herself against him from the side. "We´re on a date, Lady Freya!"
"Oho?~~ I heard from Astrea that you go on dates with Bell the most."
"Huh?! She told you that?!"
"Hehe, of course.~~ We godesses talk about many things when we meet in the divine bath. And I always love to hear about love stories. You two sure look cute together."
Freya noticed that while she talked with Ardee and Bell, Heith looked a bit jealous.
"Oh my~~ You don´t need to look like that, Heith. Don´t be worried, I love you more than members from a different familia."
Now Heith looked happy and embarrassed at the same time. And Freya noticed that Heith looked for some reason a but curious at Bell.
"Oh no, I can´t risk and allow that."
Heith got perplexed when Freya suddenly covered Heith´s eyes with her hands.
"Lady Freya?!"
"I´m sorry Heith, Bell has a special influence on women, I can´t risk him charming you."
"But he already has a girlfriend! Why would he?!"
Freya chuckled. "This is one of Bell´s girlfriends."
"What?!"
Bell looked flustered. "Lady Freya, you´re ruining my reputation again..."
"Then tell me what I said isn´t true."
Neither Bell nor Ardee could say that.
Freya continued to talk while she still shielded Heith´s eyes, as if it was the most natural thing to do. As always, Ottar didn´t react to what his goddess did, he was used to it.
"And where will you two go now?"
"To my familia´s home, I want to talk to Ganesha and our captain."
"Your big sister, right?"
"Yes."
"Finally introducing Bell to your family?"
"It isn´t like that...they already know him."
"Hm, then have fun and please greet Astrea from me. I look forward to what she will wear at my party. I guess you will accompany her, Bell?"
"I will."
"Then it will surely become a nice evening."
Freya waved slightly while she went her way, followed by Ottar and Heith. Heith got a bit confused by Freya´s actions, she glanced for a moment over her shoulder to Bell, before she looked forward again.
Ardee followed them with her eyes. "What a friendly goddess."
Bell nodded. "She is really nice."
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"Hah, the sight of your familia´s home is always something else."
"I know what you mean, Ganesha is really creative when it comes to designing the house."
"I wonder how he is able to change the appearance so fast."
"Maybe it is just one of his talents, just like Lady Demeter is able to let so many different vegetables and fruits grow."
Both walked towards the entance of IamGanesha, Bell at first had trouble to speak the name of the familia´s home properly. As usual, four guards were in front of the giant home. Normally two would be enough, but while the dark times slowly ended, they wouldn´t risk anything. Also, in the future Ganesha would always let four people guard the gate, so that they didn´t get bothered and could chat. Since it could still get dangerous, one of the stronger member of the familia was also there.
As usual, Bell was seriously impressed by the armor that the Ganesha warriors wore. The four normal guards wore heavy armor with tunics drapped over it, that looked similar to Ganesha´s. Each of them held a heavy shield with an elephant design on it. Their helmets also looked like elephant heads, the tusks protected their cheeks, the trunk went down in the middle to their mouths. The shoulder guards looked a bit like elephant feet, the armor boots were the same, but bigger and heavier. As a weapon each had a sword at their hip and a kind of staff weapon with a scythe on top, maybe even looking a bit like a curled elephant trunk.
All of their equipment yelled out "We are Ganesha!"
In Bell´s eyes...they looked really cool.
"Ah, Ardee, you come to visit?"
"Hello Hashana, yes, Shakti and Ganesha are waiting for us."
Hashana and the others looked at Bell.
"You´re Juggernaut, right?"
"I am. Am I allowed to enter?"
"You´re coming with Ardee and belong to the Astrea familia, of course."
"Thank you."
Hashana waved it off and continued to look around. The biggest part of the Ganesha familia was in the city, like most of the days.
One of the guards opened the door for them. "Ganesha is in his office, Boss Shakti should be there too."
"Thank you." .
While Bell and Ardee walked through the home, he was surprised that it was a bit bigger than it looked from the outside.
"Ardee?"
"Mh?"
"Do I need to wear a mask too?"
She shook her head. "Nope. Do you want to?"
"Hm.."
"B-Bell?" Ardee looked a bit shocked.
"I do think their armor looks really cool."
"Don´t tell me you want to wear something like that?"
"No, not that."
"Do you want ME to wear something like that?!"
"I was just curious."
"Irgh...please give me time to prepare my heart... But I guess it would make Ganesha happy."
Bell looked surprised at Ardee, it was rare to see her that embarrassed.
"But I won´t wear a mask and yell out "I am Ardee!", alright?!"
Bell chuckled. "I won´t force you to anything. I just thought even if you would wear such a heavy armor, you would still look amazing, beautiful and feminie."
"Mouh...no flirting now."
"I´m just telling the truth."
Both arrived soon at Ganesha´s personal office, which were just multiple rooms for his personal use and the big living room was his office.
As usual the door was wide open.
And as usual, Ardee heard her big sister sigh. Ardee went inside and smiled happily.
"Ganesha! Shakti! Hello!"
"Ardee! My child! I! Ganesha! Welcome you with open arms!"
He did that, literally.
Ardee went a bit away from Bell when Ganesha pulled her into a fatherly hug, Ardee nearly vanished against Ganesha´s sheer mass. The god was pretty tall and sturdy.
Bell bowed slightly, he did that to every god. And most women.
"I wish you a good day, Lord Ganesha."
"Ah, Bell! The mighty Juggernaut! Come into my arms, my boy!"
Bell couldn´t escape the manly hug.
Meanwhile Ardee went to gree her big sister. "Shakti!"
"Ardee! My little one!"
Shakti also hugged Ardee...while she shot a murderous glare at Bell, who got pretty surprised.
"I wish you a nice day, Lady Shakti."
"Tsk."
"Huh?"
Ganesha´s laughter filled the room. "Don´t be shocked, Bell! Shakti was worried the whole morning, because we finally get to know you."
"But we met before."
"Not as Ardee´s boyfriend! Gnihi!"
For Bell it looked like Shakti tried to shield Ardee from Bell´s eyes.
"Don´t you dare look at my baby sister with your lewd eyes, you fiend!"
"Eh?!"
"You beast! You charmed my vulnerable, innocent, little sister! I will skin you alive!"
Ardee struggled a bit to get free from her sister.
"Shakti, no! You can´t!"
"Why not?!"
"Because I love Bell!"
Shakti´s mouth opened in shock. "Th-These words! These cursed words!"
Ganesha laughed again and put an arm around Bell´s shoulders.
"Ahahaha! That´s what I wanted to hear! Hah, time sure flies, my little Ardee is growing up into a young woman!"
"Ardee is still a small girl! Don´t you dare call her a woman! She is still innocent and pure!"
Ardee decided not to say anything to that, nor did Bell. She had a bit trouble to calm Shakti down enough so that they could talk.
When they sat down, it somehow felt more like an interrogation.
Shakti slightly squinted her eyes. "So you put your eyes on Ardee..."
"I wouldn´t call it that, but yes, Ardee caught my eye in the moment I saw her without her hood for the first time."
"Did you pull it down to take a look?!"
"I didn´t, it was an accident. But when I saw her face, her eyes, she was just beautiful."
Ardee got more red when Bell praised her. Shakti and Ganesha had noticed that Ardee walked around in a dress, showing some of her scars openly. Both knew how hard it was for Ardee in the past to let anyone see them. Only the healer who took care of Ardee, Shakti, Ganesha and the Astrea familia had seen them. It was one of the reasons why Ardee was now mostly with the Astrea familia. She couldn´t bear with the thought that a man might see her like this.
But now when she looked at Bell, when both saw how loving her smile was, that she held Bell´s hand with the one of her that also had a scar, both couldn´t deny that it looked cute. And of course Shakti was deep down glad that Ardee found someone.
But still! She was her baby sister! In Shakti´s eyes it was too early! Way too early!
Ganesha crossed his massive, muscular arms.
"So you fell for Ardee in the first moment you saw her face?"
To talk about when exactly he fell in love with Ardee was a bit embarrassing.
"N-Not directly in that moment."
Ardee smiled when Bell looked at her from the side. "But it didn´t take long after that, only a few weeks."
Shakti could at least accept that.
Ganesha made a face like a worried father.
"And what are your intentions with my child in the future?"
Ardee wanted to protest the question. "Ganes-"
But Bell made a determined face. "I plan to ask Ardee for her hand in marriage when the time is right, after I asked you, Lord Ganesha and you, Lady Shakti, for permission."
This left Ardee speechless, Shakti shocked and Ganesha grinning.
"Wonderful! I! Ganesha! Am pleased to see you´re speaking nothing but the truth! When this is what Ardee wants, I have nothing against it! Different familia or not!"
Shakti looked as if Bell just confessed he planned to steal Ardee away from her. Partly happy, partly not.
Ardee went deep red after she heard that. "B-Bell...is that true?"
"Of course it is. I mean becoming a couples means to marry later, right?"
Ardee glanced only shyly to him, nodding then. "B-But proposing so suddenly..."
"It wasn´t meant as a proposal. But Ardee...do you want to marry me when the time is right?"
"Of course!"
Ganesha and Shakti had to avoid their faces when Ardee´s lit up like the sun, it was just too bright. Never before in her life had Ardee looked so happy.
She couldn´t stop herself from kissing Bell, thankfully the other two looked away.
Even Shakti couldn´t be mad with Bell when he made her this happy.
The chat continued for a while, then Ardee decided it was time to talk about something serious.
"Ganesha, Shakti, there is something else that I wanted to talk about."
"That sounds like something serious."
"Ardee?"
"Please let me finish before you say something. I wanted to ask you both if I could convert into the Astrea familia. My reason for that is only logical. It has nothing to do with all the girls or even with Bell. Both of you know about my skill to strengthen the status of others. But it only works if we share the same blessing. Since I go with them into the dungeon and on missions anyway, it would help us. But I don´t really want things to change, I still want to be part of your familia, Ganesha. And of course still be with you, Shakti."
The sturdy god nodded. "I see, that reason makes sense. If it is only about changing the blessing, I have no problem with it. You still will be my little girl, Ardee. I can live with that."
"Really? So easily?"
Ganesha grinned wide. "Gnihi! Of course, if that helps you all, I, Ganesha, am all in!"
Shakti looked a bit lost. "Ardee...I..."
"Shakti, I don´t want to be separated from you or Ganesha. But it would be a waste not to use my skill. So please..."
"And it has nothing to do with Bell?"
Ardee shook her head. "It is only so that we´re stronger, we can never underestimate the dungeon or Evilus."
"Then...alright. But you still have to come over, alright?"
"Of course!"
Shakti smiled slightly, then she looked at Bell. "Promise me that you will always protect Ardee, she is the most precious thing I have."
"I promise, Lady Shakti."
"Ms. Shakti is fine. But don´t you dare call me Sister-in-law!"
Ardee chuckled when she heard how worried her sister was.
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Bell also had something serious to talk about.
"Lord Ganesha."
"Yes?"
"I would like to ask you if you could help me with a problem."
"That would be?"
"I inherited money from my family and it is so much that I don´t really know how to take it to good use."
"How much are we talking about?"
"Two billion Vals."
Shakti nearly spat out her tea, even Ganesha choked.
"That is quite the sum."
"I heard that so much money can cause more trouble than do good. It could even become a problem if I decided to use all the money for my familia, let us rely too much on our equipment. Since Orario is heavily damaged and many people lost all they have, I would like to use much of the money to help the people."
"How much are we talking about?"
"1.5 billion Vals, I would like to use the rest for my familia."
"I can see that you speak only the truth, Bell. I, Ganesha, am at a loss for words. So much money can surely help a lot of people."
"Also, I have the feeling if we would buy equipment with so much money, it could disturb the economy in Orario, when too much money is in one place."
"True, it could cause more trouble than good. But why didn´t you ask Astrea?"
"I discovered it when I was in the city today with Ardee. And you are the god of the people. I thought you would know it the best."
Ganesha nodded again with a serious face.
"Bell, I can´t say with words how much this moves me. We will have to make plans at first, so that no one tries to use this act of kindess to their advantage."
"I thank you, Lord Ganesha. I feel much better this way."
Ganesha winked. "But keep a bit money to give our little Ardee the wedding she deserves in the future."
Ardee went red again. "Mmmmh! Ganesha!"
"Of course I will!" Bell looked iron again.
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When the meeting was over, Bell´s reputation had grown very much in Shakti´s eyes. And Ganesha got really happy when Ardee asked him if he would have a mask for her too, but not an elephant one, she wanted to change it a bit so that it would fit her taste.
Ardee would later make a bunny mask out of it and just like her god´s, it would leave her mouth free. And she would order a custom made armor, looking a bit like the ones from the Ganesha familia, but fitting her body and looking more feminine.
After both returned home, the Astrea familia threw a big party, to welcome Ardee. And they partied even more when Bell told them about the money, that he at first intended to pay all the debts that his familia had with the smithing familias. Since they didn´t know how to thank Bell properly, each of them told him he would have one wish free, not matter what it was. Ryu only added that nothing naughty was allowed for her wish.
For the next day was the party planned where he would accompany Astrea.
But for the night that followed, they got an important message from Kaguya, who was the only one that wasn´t home when Bell and Ardee returned.
The informations she got in secret was about some fishy things that the Ishtar familia seemed to be up to.
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An hour away from Orario, a small Renard of about eleven years of age and with golden fur, cried in the cage that she was in, which was driven towards Orario. She had dreamed about seeing this city, but not like this.
She couldn´t know that a hero was on the way.