Right off the bat with a "new" character's perspective! Let's go!
"Ouranos."
The speaker's voice echoed through the cavernous space. Darkness filled a majority of the interior, fought back briefly by an arrangement of pole mounted sconces. A many-tiered platform rose mightily in the center of the room. The top of the grandiose structure was marked by a duo of large flames contained in great basins and a towering, angular throne sat between them.
And on that rest was a figure garbed in heavy robes. With the weathered features of an elder and cascading lockes of snow, the man projected an air of wisdom and authority. His steady gaze turned down and to the side, watching the approach of the speaker from before.
In a deep baritone, the seated man intoned, "Fels. Do you have news?"
Like the throne mounted Ouranos, Fels was clad in dark, encompassing robes. Further, the figure kept their hood up, obscuring all discerning features. Arriving at the base of the tiered podium, the lanky individual dropped to a kneel, crossing an arm over their front.
The loose end of their long sleeve drew back some, revealing some of Fels' raised limb. Rather than flesh, a thin work of bronze was displayed. It was hard to tell if the device was a prosthetic or some sort of armor, the long talons in place of fingers seeming of dubious function. If it was a kind of armor, the arm contained within had to be practically skeletal…
"Yes," Fels spoke after some pause, their voice echoing as though two were speaking at once. The robed figure began to rummage through their garbs for a short time, plucking out a finely cut sapphire. "It may be best to simply show you."
As Fels held the gem up, a projection materialized above, taking up a wide swath of the room's space. Ouranos hummed as the display showed an aerial image of the Guild and the dungeon entrance from the night prior. The ancient god clenched his fists at the sight of such pandemonium, pained by the discord of his children.
The replay continued for a time, the angle rotating as Fels' familiar flew in a circle above the plaza. Then the color began to fade, the already muted hues of the night time sequence falling to drab shades of grey.
All but two figures fell into monochrome. As further emphasis the vision swiftly magnified, focusing on the pair.
The boy was a tad unique, marked by his ruby eyes and pure white hair. Though Ouranos could not place a finger on it, he felt as if there were something… more to this child. Other than that strange sensation, he appeared rather typical of a novice dungeon delver.
But the girl riding on his shoulders was another matter entirely, causing the deity's breath to hitch. Ouranos was one of the first of the deus deia to descend, a combination of wanting to set the stage for his fellow gods and his insatiable curiosity regarding the lower world. He had always been perceptive, even amongst the divines, and his centuries of watchful vigil had honed in him quite the discerning eye.
That ratty cloak really did little to deceive Ouranos. Not when he already knew the sort of creature he was looking at.
"A Xenos," the wizened god spoke.
Fels nodded, allowing the scene to play out at an increased speed. The pair watched as the boy and child were intercepted by Rose Fannett, operative of Search and Rescue, and then summarily handed off to Bell's personal advisor, Eina Tule. Fels' familiar lost sight of the group as they entered Guild Headquarters, the pale owl making a wide circuit of the building.
"This is quite the unprecedented outcome," the hooded figure commented. The display suddenly zoomed in on the near scrambling silhouette of Hestia. Ouranos almost loosed a laugh at her desperate shuffle up the conveniently placed ladder and her subsequent dragging into Crossette's office.
"It is certainly outside the scope of our current plans," the old god agreed. In an instant his vision grew focused, Ouranos actually leaning forward in his seat. After a sped through period of no movement from the primary subjects, the figures of the Hestia Familia made their reappearance. Through a side door of the building, Hestia, Bell, and the dragon girl emerged. They walked hand in hand, the monster child full of zeal and laughter as Hestia herself could barely contain a bubbling euphoria.
Ouranos allowed a rare smile. This was a small vision of the future he hoped to achieve, the "peoples" of the lower world united.
At this point the playback blurred and faded. Though more of a golem than a living thing, Fels' familiar still followed biological functions. It did not possess limitless endurance and required rest and refueling. Ouranos didn't even ask if there was further footage, Fels' lowering of the projecting gem saying all that was needed.
"Surveillance was lost after this point," Fels officiated, "though we have gathered that the Hestia Familia made an appearance at the Hostess. In the company of the Sword Princess, no less."
This time Ouranos did let free a snort. Ais Wallenstein, at least in the old god's observation, was a notorious blood letter in regards to monsters. Having her be among the "first contact" of a young Xenos… honestly, the entire thing was becoming comical.
"I've had no reports of any violent incidents from last night, beyond the minotaur outbreak on the upper floors." Ouranos quirked a brow down at his concealed subordinate.
"Indeed," Fels agreed, "witnesses actually described the occasion as 'humorously heartwarming'."
Ouranos moved. It was merely his hand, rushing up to cup against his mouth in order to suppress a sputter. It was still more motion than most saw of the old god in the span of days. Fels themself notably stilled upon the throned man's movement.
What followed was a mostly silent interval, marred by a single, muffled grunt that Ouranos would never claim ownership of.
"Ouranos," Fels ventured, "… what next?"
Orario's Overseer stroked his grasping palm down the pale length of his beard. He was ready to give Fels a general order to be watchful when something alarming pricked at his senses.
Being confined to his chair and acting as a component to the seal placed on the dungeon, Ouranos held a kind of sixth sense that ran across the city itself. It was a generally minor thing, still necessitating the use of agents to maintain eyes and ears throughout Orario.
But these sensations became easier to peruse the closer they were to Babel. And with his mind already concerned with Hestia and her familia, he was especially sensitive to the presence of her aura.
So when he felt two souls marked by the tiny goddess' blessing… he couldn't help but pause.
"… Ouranos?"
"Inform the others to maintain a close watch on Hestia and her familia. Report back any abnormalities immediately but endeavor not to make direct contact. This is to be a twenty-four, seven vigil, ensure that a rotation is kept so that there are always eyes on Hestia and her children."
Fels perked instantly at the use of "children," plural. The skeletal figure gave a swift bow before turning, all but fleeing from the throne room.
Despite not looking, a raising of Ouranos' hand seemed to root Fels in place mid retreat. The hooded individual turned back to face their deity.
"Has Odd offered any updates?"
As though just remembering something critical, Fels bowed more fully as they relayed, "Lord Odd has actually drifted the notion of discussing his findings in person. Apparently he is close by as of present."
While normally such news would have been a cause for vexation, Ouranos instead felt relief flood his being. With a gentle look, he dismissed Fels, the lanky figure vanishing into the darkness with less urgency than before.
As the beat of his subordinate's footsteps faded to silence, Ouranos closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and allowed himself to slouch.
Wiene had never known the sun. Upon stepping outside that morning, she had frozen. Bell had been a little alarmed but Hestia had figured things out quickly enough. When the girl had perched herself on a tall bit of rubble to stare at the rising sun, Hestia instructed her child to just let her bask for a while. The tiny goddess was on her way soon after.
It took about an hour for Wiene to get over her awe. By then the sun had risen enough for the rest of the city to start waking up, roused by the rising warmth. Wiene reveled in the sensation, suddenly infected with boundless energy. Bell fell in line with her quickly, the pair taking advantage of the deserted streets around their home for a rather chaotic game of tag.
They were now on some of the more trafficked roads near Daedalus Street, meaning an end to the rough housing. Still a ball of energy, Wiene repeated her performance from last night, twirling, dancing, and gliding from one side of the street to the other. If anything, the daylight seemed to spur her mirth further.
Bell walked at an even pace, only disturbing Wiene when they had to turn a corner. He was otherwise happy to let the girl frolic, always keeping a watchful eye. There were a few more kids out at this time of day and Wiene eagerly wished to interact with anyone about her height. She quickly bounced between various youths, throwing out her tried and true greeting as she jumped from encounter to encounter with extreme zeal.
Without the cover of night to conceal things, people were a lot more perceptive to the oddities of Wiene's appearance. A few parents and other adults visibly recoiled at her presence, more than a few adventurers flinching partway into ready stances.
Bell felt the weight of his own knife, sheathed near the small of his back, grow heavy whenever these reactions occurred.
But Wiene made up for her blue skin and visible fangs with sheer exuberance. Most people, even those who looked prepared to draw weapons, were swept up rapidly by her high energy rhythm. She really was the picture definition of "precious child," defenses crumbling before her charm.
Other kids were utterly hopeless to resist the waves of joy pouring off of the dragon girl. Bell recalled a time back in his home village when a troupe of entertainers had diverted through their settlement. The performers had given an impromptu show on a whim, taking over one of the larger avenues with acrobatic displays of vibrancy. The children, Bell included, had collectively lost their shit.
The scene Bell and Wiene left in their wake was of similar chaos. The streets and alleys absolutely rang with laughter young and old, people darting about as children raced and twirled in all directions. It felt more like a carnival than the cobbled streets of some impoverished district.
Bell may have ushered the two of them along a tad more quickly as things escalated. While it was nice to spread joy, it was not so nice to be named the instigator of a small scale riot.
Wiene squinted her eyes up at the navy painted plaque stamped above the heavy front door of the establishment. Her lack of knowledge of the written word did little to dissuade her attempt to discern meaning from the alien characters. She was sure that if she just glared hard enough, the information would leap into her mind from sheer intimidation…
Bell allowed this to persist for a while, maybe a tad longer than he should have. The sight was just too adorable for him to interrupt. The laughter of random passersby as they too took notice of Wiene's plight roused Bell from his stupor, the boy realizing they were starting to draw a crowd. Clearing his throat, the white haired youth softly pushed past the girl, opening the door to god Miach's modest apothecary.
Wiene openly gawked at the colors on display. While the chaotic maelstrom of Nessa's fabric shop had offered its own visual stimulation, these shelves adorned with a myriad of brews and potions presented a more "organized" alternative. In addition, the warm lighting of the establishment scattered and gleamed off of the various bottles and the liquids inside. It was all well structured to catch the curious eyes of customers.
Bell… could admit to falling for it himself the first time he visited. Maybe even the first few times…
The chimes above the door rang as the pair passed through. Almost instantly after, a somewhat flat, "Welcome," was issued from the wall adjacent to the main entrance. Wiene's sight flew between every source of stimulus as though unable to choose what to focus on.
But Bell quickly matched gazes with the young woman standing behind the check out counter. Clad in a long sleeve blouse, the sides a sky blue with a thick line of yellow running up the center, the girl was half focused on the bowl and grinder she was mixing ingredients into. Her violet eyes stared softly beneath the curled, tanned bangs of her shoulder length hair.
The young man also noted how her bushy, light brown tail began to gently sway as the pair met eyes.
Naaza gave a small smile, "Good morning Bell. How have you been?" Her words held a hint of affection, very much like an aloof older sibling.
Bell returned to her a blinding grin, giving the brunette a millisecond of pause. Her exposure to the boy's habits kept the reaction brief, her grinding efforts hardly faltering at all.
"Well, there was a lot that happened just yesterday…"
At Bell's statement, the droopy canine ears perched atop Naaza's scalp perked in time with her arcing eyebrows. "Yesterday… did you get caught up with that situation in the dungeon last night?" The boy awkwardly rubbing the back of his head said it all, Naaza stepping around the wood and glass frame of the counter.
Leaning down towards the slightly shorter Bell, Naaza took hold of his head with both hands. This squished his cheeks together, preventing the boy from speaking as the young woman turned his head this way and that. Wiene, watching curiously, twisted and turned her own head in imitation of Bell.
The young adventurer threw up his hands with an indignant whine. Naaza planted a grin on her lips as she allowed her hold to be broken. On the side, Wiene had her own arms thrown high overhead in her continued mimicry.
"Come on Naaza," Bell squawked, flapping his arms out to his sides like a nervous bird, "I'm fine! I made it all the way here, didn't I?"
Wiene was still copying her savior, rotating her arms at a slightly slower rate than Bell.
The dog eared girl hummed a halfhearted acknowledgment, placing a hand atop Bell's pale mane and patting him softly. "I suppose so, though you can't blame me for worrying." The boy's arms flopped to his sides as he pitifully whined out Naaza's name. She couldn't hold back a smile as she continued her gentle "assault."
That all changed when Naaza finally took notice of the shop's third occupant. Wiene, upon seeing that the "reward" for exceptional flapping was head pats, had begun wheeling hers in earnest. The slight breeze that had started picking up drew the shopkeeper's attention.
Naaza stilled, her plum orbs shrunken into pinpricks as a notable tremor seized her form. Bell flinched back as the sudden shakes raked her nails against his scalp.
Wiene quickly picked up on the fact that she'd gained Naaza's interest, ceasing her arm whirls and pumping her closed fists against her flanks. With a determined growl, the blue haired girl inclined her bandanna clad head towards the light brunette.
This sent an actual chill up Naaza's spine, one that Bell could visibly track. The fact that she'd kept from crying out at all was commendable, her countenance utterly stained by fear. By far it had been one of the most violent reactions to Wiene's presence Bell had seen, the girl looking like she was on the verge of breakdown.
He recalled then that Naaza's deity, Miach, had commented before on her inability to go into the dungeon. He hadn't pursued the line of question, but this sort of response to Wiene's appearance…
Of course the dragon girl, her gaze oriented on Naaza's feet, took little note of her tenseness. She remained in position, waiting as a period of silence fell over the trio. Wiene's patience dissipated quickly as the strange child bounced towards the tailed woman, groaning in light protest.
Bell assumed the only thing holding Naaza in place at Wiene's action was her own overwhelming fright. Hoping to avoid an impending explosion, the rookie dungeoneer cautiously drifted, "Uh… Wiene just wants you to pat her head too."
To cement this, the monster girl promptly rose to meet Naaza's gaze. The older woman was startled for a moment before the sheer innocence and zeal on Wiene's face halted her already erratic thoughts. The blunette nodded her head speedily in the affirmative, dropping back into her head down stance with ravenous conviction.
Naaza stayed put for a good while, her heart hammering against her ribs. Bell almost felt ready to intervene when the dog girl shakily started to raise her arm. Her right arm specifically, the one she always kept covered by long sleeves and a crimson glove.
There was a long interval of Naaza's palm traveling to and then hovering over Wiene's scalp. Enough that the little girl started rocking in place, clearly eager for affection. With apparent herculean effort, Naaza plopped her gloved appendage down onto Wiene's head. After an apprehensive second, she then started rubbing.
Wiene was ecstatic, practically purring at the woman's ministrations. Naaza couldn't hold back the most bewildered expression Bell had ever seen across her face. It seemed unconsciously that she started scratching faster, spurred on by Wiene's reactions.
This was all the dragon girl could take before her emotions boiled over. Wiene swiftly dove into her newest "conquest," wrapping her arms around Naaza's middle and burrowing her brow into her belly. Her giggling was absolutely incessant, barely muffled by the fabric of the shopkeeper's blouse.
Naaza laid both hands on the little girl's upper back, mostly out of familiarity. Her expression was that of someone half having an existential crisis and half letting her soul float free of her body. Wiene only noted that her hug was being "returned," increasing her nuzzling endeavors.
It was at this point that a door along the side wall, next to the counter, popped open. The figure shouldering his way through the portal was of tall stature, garbed in a beige half cloak with a navy colored robe beneath. He held a wooden crate and a small stack of papers and knick knacks with both hands.
The man's deep blue eyes turned towards the group. His attractive features rotated into view, no longer hidden behind the thick strands of his long, azure mane. A warm smile graced his lips as the god Miach, owner of the Blue Pharmacy, laid eyes on young Bell, their loyalest customer.
His enchanting features twisted into a confusing mix of amusement and intrigue as his sights settled on the strangely captive Naaza. Concern was added to the blend once Miach got a full read of his child's expression. And then his gaze lowered.
It was fortunate that Miach was beside the front desk. Because once he got a look at Wiene, his grasp on his cargo swiftly slackened. The wooden crate knocked atop the flat counter, the various bits on top of it scattering across the hard surface.
The noise caught Wiene's attention, the dragon girl whipping her head around towards Miach. The deus deia sucked in a sharp breath as Wiene's eyes and grin widened, overjoyed to have another first meeting right in front of her. The blue haired girl spun around, Naaza's unconscious hold now pressed against her front, and gave Miach her most dazzling, toothy smile.
"Hi! I'm Wiene!"
Naaza was back behind the cashier's desk, busying herself with the display shelves. It had the added benefit of keeping her back to the ongoing conversation. If it could even be called that.
In Wiene's mind, she was currently locked in a fearsome battle for dominance. Though her foe wielded a formidable weapon, she knew her own was an even match. Having caught her breath in the midst of their bout, the little monster eagerly dove back into the clash.
Bell watched on, mystified, as Wiene and Miach continued… whatever this was. The handsome god wielded a tuft of his hair between his fingers, holding the bundle like the end of a paintbrush. Wiene likewise held the ends of her own azure lockes and the blue haired duo were currently parrying each other's follicles. Miach looked to be truly enjoying himself.
"It's quite the surprise Bell," the friendly deity directed at the child of Hestia. He kept the offensive against Wiene even without looking, showing a strange degree of familiarity in the art of "hair fencing."
The white haired lad shook himself back into focus, "A surprise?"
Miach nodded, "Yes. I'm surprised you've taken so well to fatherhood."
Bell choked a little at the declaration. He was primed to dispute the god's words but the response caught in his throat. He couldn't help the image of himself, Hestia, and Wiene, living together as a family. Really… that pretty much was Bell's reality, wasn't it? The young adventurer really was this girl's father now.
That was far from an unwanted notion, he found.
"Fa-ther-hood?"
Wiene's tone was quite curious, the girl holding her tuft of hair up in a ready position. Off behind the counter, Naaza notably slowed her inventory efforts.
Miach smiled, "Yes. Bell is like your father, isn't he?"
"Fa… ther," Wiene sampled the word, her lack of understanding apparent. Her sparring partner quirked a brow, glancing quickly between Bell and his fellow blunette.
But Miach's features evened out as he explained, "A father is a man who protects and provides for his family. He is strong and certain, the one you look to when disaster strikes."
One could tell that Wiene was hanging on the deity's every word, her topaz eyes shining with reverence for this new information. As Miach finished his spiel and the dragon girl fully processed what was said, her sparkling gaze turned to Bell.
"Bell is Wiene's fa-ther?"
He… really couldn't process that right now. The young man's features flushed furiously, an embarrassed but highly pleased grin battling its way onto his face. Bell needed a minute to gather his thoughts.
Naaza capitalized on this. She may have been wary of the situation, but a chance to tease their white haired customer was not one she was ready to miss. Leaning over the front desk, Naaza said, "You should call Bell 'Papa' from now on!"
The boy sent the dog eared woman a look of pure betrayal. If anything, it only made Naaza's already shit eating grin just that much wider.
Again, Wiene ate up this new input with rapid zeal. Turning to her savior, the blue haired girl chirped out jubilantly, "Papa! Bell is Papa!"
The newly titled "Papa" actually squeaked from emotional overload. Naaza sputtered before she doubled over laughing, her palm slapping against the front desk. Miach was a bit more conserved, his own hand barely covering the short chuckles leaking through his own lips. Their subject of ridicule was staring off to an empty corner of the store, unable to meet anyone's gaze, his tomato red features clenched tightly in one hand.
The grin he held earlier was back with a vengeance, his cheeks going numb from the exertion.
Wiene took in the "good mood" as she always did: playing along. Unleashing her own round of giggles, the abnormal child began to spin and dance through the mostly clear area around the entrance and front counter. She was so in the moment that she just didn't register how dizzy and off balance she was becoming.
Her inevitable crash came shortly. Wiene ended up tripping over her own feet, wildly flailing as she fell back-first towards the edge of the service desk.
Being a somewhat former adventurer, Naaza possessed incredible reflexes. They came in clutch as the dog eared woman shot her left arm forward. The fleshy appendage caught Wiene on the back of her neck, cushioning her would be impact with the hard edge of the table. She let loose a soft breath at the close call.
In return, Wiene tilted her head back to get an inverted look at her tawny maned savior. The girl was still giggling, utterly unknowing of the danger she was just in. Naaza stilled at the sight of Wiene's fangs as the girl gifted her with a blinding smile. But now the woman was torn between fear of the bestial features… and adoration for the display of cuteness.
By the gods, she was becoming just as susceptible to this child as Bell!
Whilst the ladies entertained one another, Miach moved to catch Bell's attention. "So Bell," the god began, "what can you… tell me about little Wiene?"
The specific wording of Miach's question sobered the young adventurer quickly. At first, Bell fixed the smiling deity with an even stare. Aside from the cutesy interactions of Wiene and Naaza, the air was silent.
Though she was far from a popular goddess, both in heaven and in the mortal realm, Hestia did have friends. Very close, very loyal friends. These were people that Bell's goddess had absolute faith in, and Miach was practically at the top of that list.
Bell looked towards the girl he saved, the second member of his familia, and now the child who called him Papa.
"Wiene is… a little girl who doesn't have anyone. For now, it's only Hestia and myself. But we're hers… and she's ours."
A thoughtful crease appeared on Miach's brow. He had certainly noticed how careful the rookie dungeon delver was with his words. His divine sense read every statement as true, but what Bell said lacked any real details. The boy was being vague to avoid being caught in a lie.
But the young man had also made a declaration, one on behalf of his goddess as well. Whatever this strange girl's circumstances, Bell and Hestia had laid claim to her. Hell, Miach at this distance could feel the presence of a falna on her back. If Hestia had already gone that far, then the finer details really didn't matter.
Expression relaxing to its easygoing norm, Miach stood from the crate he was seated on. Smoothing out his robe with a few pats, he offered a helping hand down to a still sitting Bell. "Well, I don't need to hear any more then."
His own features brightening, Bell accepted the hand and popped to his feet. But before the air could be cleared completely, Miach leaned in towards the shorter young man's ear.
"Take care though. A father's role is to protect the family."
In a manner not so dissimilar to Wiene – only furthering their near parental bond – Bell took in the handsome god's words with obvious reverence. He recovered quicker though, replacing his grin with one that was far more determined. The boy responded with a single nod which seemed to please Miach.
"Well then," the blue haired deity clapped his hands, "I'm guessing you're here for your usual, correct?"
Wiene jumped at the sudden sound, having forgotten Bell and Miach's presence. Naaza caught her again, this time with both hands on the pale girl's shoulders, her having been startled enough to leap onto the counter itself. Miach bit back a cackle, cowed only by the admonishing glare his child was sending him.
"Yes," Bell chuckled out, "I'm taking the day off, but tomorrow I… we need to be ready for a long run."
Miach rubbed his chin in exaggerated thought, "I see. Perhaps you'll require a little more than the usual? Naaza," he raised his hands high, clapping loudly in what was clearly becoming a favored maneuver, "see what you can do for our favorite customer!"
The dog eared girl rolled her eyes mightily at the theatrics. Regardless, she began to automatically reach beneath the back of the front counter.
She made it halfway through the motion before abruptly freezing. At this point, Miach had disappeared into the back to retrieve more concoctions for the shelves. Wiene tilted her head cutely at Naaza's sudden lack of movement and Bell was beginning to reach out towards the crouched cashier.
Naaza spun and stood with a dancer's grace, taking a few brief steps towards the large, open cabinets dominating the wall behind the front desk. Now Bell looked on curiously, having never seen the pharmacy worker pull his "usual" stock from the display case. The brunette swiftly snatched what she needed from the shelves, moving with speed as she slapped down a trio of bulb-bottom vials onto the service counter.
"Here. I think it's time you moved up a little to these."
Bell practically "Ooo'd" at the "new" potions being presented to him. He could certainly feel a difference in quality from what he was used to, the glass-housed, lime colored brew seeming to glow slightly.
He readily sobered as reality hammered back against his thoughts. "Ah, I don't think I can afford something this hi-"
"Five hundred valis."
The boy's jaw almost hit the ground. "Th-That's so affordable! It was three just for four of the basics!"
Naaza immediately adopted a look of embarrassment and – for some odd reason – shame. She spoke before Bell could comment further, "Just think of it as a loyalty perk. I'm not exaggerating when I say that your business has literally been keeping us afloat. This is the least we can do to thank you."
She never met Bell's eyes throughout that exchange.
Wiene leaned over towards the trio of vials. Hovering her face over it, the blunette gave a few audible sniffs. She then grasped the neck of the glass, her other hand pinching the cork and dragging it slowly free of the vial's top. Naaza and Bell were both frozen, each with both palms raised, ready to snatch the girl if need be.
When the cover was partway out, Wiene inhaled deeply. She capped off this prolonged breath with a satisfied sigh. Then she sharply turned to Bell, "This is good! Smell is just right!"
With childish exuberance, Wiene slid off the side of the table, simultaneously scooping up the batch of vials and drawing them into her chest. She bounced lightly as her feet touched the floor, turning the motion into a wiggly little jig. Wiene halted all at once, her features suddenly alert as a thought entered her mind. This time she turned to Naaza.
"We can have these?" She glanced swiftly, and repeatedly, between the canine woman and the potions.
Naaza held out for a second longer before letting her arms flop to her sides as her posture sagged. "Yes Wiene, you and Bell can purchase them."
At that, the dragon girl turned hopeful eyes on the white haired boy. "Papa?"
Bell almost clutched his heart at that. Instead he reached for his pants pocket, digging out a few hundred valis.
And so, Wiene remained undefeated…
Naaza continued waving as the pair left the shop, the door swinging shut behind them. Her motions slowed until eventually stopping. She then dropped both arms onto the counter, her hands balled into fists and her head lowered.
Silence reigned for a long interval, the muted sounds of citizens passing outside the only break in the stillness. It thusly caught Naaza off guard when Miach's arms wrapped her up from behind, the god laying his head across her shoulder.
"That was a good first step," he assured, tightening his hold as tremors began to wrack the girl's frame.
"He'll never forgive me-"
"You do the right thing because it is right, not to achieve a reward."
Naaza sniffed, grasping one of Miach's encircling arms with her left hand. They stayed in place for a while, one supporting the other.
Hestia did not know what she was walking into. She had some apprehensions when Hephaestus' children directed her to a concrete dome at the far back of the property. But she had a goal in sight, all she could do was trudge forward.
The heat emanating from the stone structure as the door was pushed open was not enough to deter her. The state of Hephaestus herself as she emerged, clad in a heavy shirt and blacksmith apron, her hair and features matted in sweat, gave Hestia only a moments pause.
But the look on the red head's face as she registered Hestia's presence struck a cord of fear in the twintailed goddess. This was not helped by the words that passed her dear friend's smiling lips.
"I'm glad you made it! You're going to regret that for the next seven hours!"
An interlude with Ouranos and Fels to start us off. As basically the "Chief God" of the dungeon city, his capabilities are a cut above the others. Acting as the seal on the dungeon itself does lame his powers some, but it also connects him to the city, allowing a wide scale sensory second only to Freya's sight. A useful trait for the Overseer of Orario and someone who can't really venture beyond their chair.
I'm sure that, and his little league of shadows, will be put to good use monitoring Hestia's children.
One thing I changed in the revised edition was maintaining the "they/them" in reference to Fels. I don't believe we're ever given a proper gender for the immortal mage so I figured I'd be consistent with that.
Establish here that Ouranos and Odd are in close communication. If Hermes and his group act as the more "direct" hand of the old god (albeit The Messenger has his own goals that supersede Ouranos') Odd's familia are more congenial, volunteering information and aid but not being under Ouranos' "command." They're more like friends than accomplices.
Wiene gets her first taste of sunlight! She really is just too bright a person for anyone to hold distaste for. Well, any normal people, at least…
I'd felt a little cheated from the moment I learned about it, just how diminished Naaza's role is in the first season of the anime. I don't think she even gets a speaking line until the second season, which had her appearance come near out of nowhere. She's a good deal more prominent in the light novel I hear and I find it interesting how her earlier story has her kind of taking advantage of Bell. Though I'm nipping this somewhat in the bud right out the gate in this story, her manipulation of their most frequent customer still weighs on her mind.
The big reason why I knew I needed to have Naaza here was Wiene. Having a person so traumatized by their encounter with monsters that she can no longer venture into the dungeon meeting one of the Xenos is just too there. Actually kind of similar to how Ouranos mentions the humor of Ais Wallenstein, known monster slayer, being among the dragon girl's "first contact" with the surface world.
It's a shaky encounter at first but, inevitably, Wiene's charm (and lack of awareness) sees her through to victory once more! A big part of Naaza treating her deals with Bell more "properly" is that he's now responsible for Wiene. "Papa" indeed…
Miach is a big tease. How else could he survive being in Hestia's inner circle if not for a developed sense of humor. He's also an imparter of wisdom, guiding those around him. And he's good enough to pull of both roles simultaneously, a true deus deia!
"Papa" indeed…
Made the relationship between Miach and Naaza a bit more blatant. None of this beating around the bush stuff, they've been through too much with just the two of them for there to be much awkwardness.
And Hestia dives headfirst into the fire. It'll be worth it in the end, I'm sure…
Coming up: more preparations inside Orario and some further movement outside Orario. Plus, Bell's least favorite amazon makes another appearance!
