Author´s Note: So this is the start of the second route of "Are you my Odr?" The first story was Route Syr, this one is Route Freya. This means Bell´s true love is Freya(including Syr's personality), but he also goes along with her shenanigans and a few ideas of her. So in some ways, he will be a bit similar to her. And yes that also means harem elements, but with Freya familia members and the Hostess, and her as his number one. So the first chapters will be similar to normal AymO? but will get different soon. Also, it´s mostly slice of life, a few fights may happen (and maybe one or two big ones). It´s mostly about Bell x Freya because I want to see her get the love and happiness she wants and deserves. (My Odr will get continued in time, but next is CoF rewrite and Like a Fairy rewrite.)
There will be a separate version uploaded, where Freya and Bell spread the love over Orario (that means an Ero version, Duh!)
A few ideas for the story are inspired by "Under the Courtesan´s Veil" from SBahamut. Give it a read, it´s a really awesome story about Bell in Ishtar's familia and slowly changing the goddess. (one of my absolute favorite stories). Other ideas are inspired by Jas´ "And so Bell became a hero".
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"Woah...so big..."
A boy...or maybe already a young man of seventeen years of age gaped at the Titanic tower in front of him. Others would maybe wonder why he wasn´t as mature as his age would suggest, but he was a country bumpkin, and this was his first time in a big city. And compared to most of the world, he was completely innocent. This was truly the center of the world, the labyrinth city Orario with the tower Babel in the middle of the city.
The center of the world.
Bell Cranel had finally made his way to Orario. After losing his grandfather and having nothing left in the village, he went on his way. His dream was to become an adventurer, a hero.
And to have a fateful encounter, preferably in the dungeon.
But at first, he had to find a familia, there were many in Orario, but that didn´t mean that one of them would take him in.
Eight main streets went away from the main plaza, the question was now which street to take and search for a familia.
Bell Cranel couldn´t know that this simple decision would change his fate in one direction or the other.
One direction would lead him to wander around and not find a familia that would take him in until he met a very small goddess with an enormous rack.
If he went west, he would maybe find the blue pharmacy and end up in the Miach familia, Bell would become happy there and find many friends.
Taking the northeast main he would by chance meet the Takemikazuchi familia, he would fall head over heels for the black-haired beauty, that was a ninja and a samurai at the same time.
If he took the southwest main, he would wander from one familia to the next, not finding one that let him join, until someone else found him instead, someone that wasn´t a deity. It would lead him to one of two possible fates. In one of them, he would fall in love with a very unusual woman, a woman with wings instead of arms. In the other, he would meet a beautiful half-elf, get in a relationship with her...and later her little sister too.
If he would go to the east, he would arrive at the Colosseum. He would then be so amazed by this place, that he would wander around until he noticed a small event that was held there, by a blue haired-goddess.
If he went northwest, Bell would get caught in an accident, would be seriously hurt, and would be close to dying. Depending on when he went, one of two possible fates would await him there. Either it would be a living saint appearing before his eyes...and stealing his heart forever. Or it would be a golden witch.
Whatever direction Bell Cranel took, it would lead him to a different fate.
But not only the choice of the street could change his fate, but also when he would choose this street.
Since he came from the north of Orario, Bell decided to go into the south first. He had heard about a mansion from a pretty big familia there, maybe he was lucky. He couldn´t know that the person who told him that, was just making fun of him, finding it hilarious that a newcomer would even dare to ask this familia.
Choosing this street directly would change everything for Bell Cranel.
Since a certain someone would still be at her home.
And out of pure coincidence, today...was Friday.
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"Hmmmm~Hmmmm~~Hmmmm~~~. What lovely weather, I´m sure it will become a great day."
The goddess Freya had slept in her room in Folkvangr for once, she got a bit tired from sleeping in Babel all the time. And she had to show her love for her cute children.
"Hah...I´m glad that you enjoy the day... my lady..."
"Oh my, Heith, you look so tired, are you resting well?"
"Not really, how could I when the others insist of nearly killing each other all the time?"
"You have to take care of yourself, my dear."
Freya smiled and put a hand on Heith´s head, which let the young woman twitch for a moment and smile in bliss.
"But you are doing a really good job, I´m proud of you."
"Haaaah~~~."
It was rare to see the healer of the Freya familia smile like that, it looked like she was filled with energy.
"You should take the evening off. Why don´t you go to the pub for once? Mia really makes the best food."
"But the others need me here."
Freya smiled in a really special way. It could be a sympathetic smile, maybe a slightly sad one...or maybe even a very, very slightly desperate one.
"Only doing your duty all the time and not taking time for what you want to do isn´t good. This can destroy you...Heith."
Heith looked at her goddess, a bit surprised about the advice.
Freya smiled in her normal way and gently touched Heith´s right cheek. "A good rest will also keep you pretty."
"But I..."
"Do you intend to go against Lady Freya´s advice?"
A giant shadow loomed over Freya and Heith, but the healer didn´t shrink away one bit.
"You can try to intimidate me all you want, Ottar. It won´t work."
Freya giggled. "I think Ottar didn´t mean it that way, or do you, Ottar?"
"I don´t, lady Freya."
Heith looked up to the captain of her familia. "Why are you even here? Isn´t this the time where you all punch each other nearly to death?"
"I accompany Lady Freya until she leaves our home."
"Ah, hm."
"Don´t be so harsh with Ottar, he is doing his best. Now Heith, promise me that you will take the evening off and go to the pub, to enjoy yourself a bit."
"I will, my lady."
"Hehe, such a good child."
Freya patted Heith´s head again, which let the young woman blush and smile. Now she was bursting with energy.
And of course...
"Heeeeith! Heeeeeith! We need you here!"
"*sigh* Coming! Please excuse me, lady Freya. And have a safe trip."
Freya smiled shortly before she went in the direction of the exit.
"Shall I accompany you towards Babel, my lady?"
"That won´t be necessary."
"But the people..."
Freya flashed him a mischievous smile. "I will use a disguise."
With disguise, Freya meant her travel coat with the big hood. Ottar didn't have the heart to tell her that you could recognize her in it when you got close. After all, Freya was so proud of her "disguise". Ottar was one of the few people who knew that his goddess had a really playful side in her.
Especially a very special side in her, which was very playful.
A few minutes later they had arrived at the entrance to Folkvangr. The giant mansion was built a bit like a northern-style temple, fitting for a goddess like her.
"So Ottar, I will go then, make sure that Heith keeps her promise and don´t work her to the bone."
"As you wish, lady Freya."
Ottar would make sure that Freya´s will happen, and Heith would go to the pub. She would soon go more often there, finding time to relax, and eventually becoming friends with a pretty small, yet stacked cat-girl.
Freya smiled again, it looked a lot like her usual smile, but there was something special in it, something meant for Ottar. Since Ottar was special and Freya was very special to Ottar. She was his everything, she had given him his current life and a purpose.
For him...Freya was in many ways like his mother. That was why his love for Freya was different than the love of other familia members for her.
And that was why no one would ever live long after insulting or harming Freya.
Freya hummed while she put on her coat, pulled the hood up, and went on her way.
There were two possible ways to arrive at the entrance to Folkvangr. Taking the street to the left and then turn north. Or to go a bit north at first, then turn left and then north again. Freya changed the street she took every time, so it wouldn´t become boring.
Today she went west at first, like that she didn´t see a certain, white-haired boy coming from north.
Freya didn´t see him, but she heard Ottar´s voice behind her.
"What do you want here?"
"Ah...ahm...I...ahm...I am...l-looking for a f-f-familia."
She heard no reply, but judging by the voice, it was a young man in his puberty. Freya knew all too well how Ottar looked like for someone like that.
Hm?
Freya turned around...exactly at that moment when the young man got frightened by Ottar´s appearance and turned around, ran to flee.
Today was Friday, it wasn´t a special day for most people, but for the Freya familia. In the northern territory, from where Freya´s part of the mythology came, came the origin of the name Friday.
In the north, this day was called "Freytag" or "Freya´s Day", later shortened to "Freyday", which was then changed to Friday.
It wasn't exactly a holiday, but some believed that the day always held something special for Freya. Many of her followers believed that good things happened to her that day, or at least should happen, she deserved it in their eyes.
And this Friday, indeed had something special.
Freya just wanted to turn around and look at the person who stood in front of Ottar. But what she saw then, shook her very core. The first thing she always saw in a mortal, was the light of the soul. Ottar´s soul had a brown color, a natural color that suited him quite well. Since Ottar was built like a brick wall...his soul was also like that.
Many people had various colors in their souls. Heith´s soul color was a mixture of red and white, red probably not because of her hair color, but because she was most of the time so angry at her familia members.
But the person who tried to flee from Ottar had a soul color that Freya had never seen before.
It was colorless.
Wha...
Every mortal had a soul color, every mortal she had seen so far, but not this one.
His soul was pure, not even white, but like a crystal.
Freya was so fascinated, that she didn´t react in time when the frightened boy turned in her direction and tried to make a quick step forward. Her coat wasn´t closed, so her usual, deep cleavage was open to the air. Her purple eyes met the red ones of the boy, who had less than a second to realize that a person was standing in the direction he was trying to run.
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Wobble!
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"Mufu!"
"Oh, my?"
Freya looked down, the boy had stumbled...and dived head first into her bosom. Her truly divine and heavenly mounds cushioned his fall and stopped him. Many men would´ve paid a lot or even considered dying for this chance.
But after a second, Bell Cranel´s brain understood what he was just doing and he staggered back hastily.
"S-S-S-S-Soooooorryyyyy!"
Bell tried to dash off, like a frightened rabbit, but he was stopped. Not by Ottar, but by Freya´s hand. As a goddess, she was easily stronger than a mortal boy without a blessing. And even more, since she was a goddess that had experience with fighting.
"Wait."
"S-Sorry! Please forgive me! It wasn´t on purpose! I swear!"
Ottar wanted to make a step forward, but Freya glanced in his direction and slightly shook her head.
"Calm down, young man. You won´t be punished."
Bell struggled for a short moment, but Freya wouldn´t let go of him.
"I will only let you go when you calm down and we had a talk."
"Uuuuuuhh."
Something squeezed Freya´s heart for a moment when she saw his teary eyes. He looked like a sad rabbit, it awakened the wish in her to comfort him. Freya liked rabbits, they were her special animals in mythology after all.
He looks so cute.
The goddess smiled gently to calm him down. "Don´t you want to talk to me, young man? I would really love to talk to you."
Freya blinked sensually one time, at least he calmed down a little bit.
Strange.
This wasn´t the reaction that Freya expected, most mortals reacted in a different way when she blinked like that.
"I´m sorry..."
"Ehehe. I forgive you, would you tell me your name?"
"Bell Cranel.
"Bell Cranel...that is a nice name. So, what brings you here?"
"I ahm...I..."
Freya leaned a bit closer. "I won´t bite you, don´t worry. And Ottar over there didn´t mean to scare you."
"I want to become an adventurer."
"And so you came here?"
"Yes, I thought I had to start somewhere and I heard that a big familia is living here."
"This is correct, my familia lives here."
"Your...you are a..."
"Oh my, didn´t you realize that I am a goddess?"
"I didn´t! I´m sorry, lady goddess!"
It was highly unusual for Ottar to be so surprised, but his eyes widened a bit. Freya´s beauty was divine, literally, but the boy didn´t notice that she was a deity. One look at Freya would charm most mortals, men and women alike.
And Freya giggled...then she laughed.
"Ehehe~~~ehehehehe~~~~Ahahahaha!~~~~~~ Now this is truly unusual."
"I´m really sorry for not noticing."
"Ehehehe~~~~, don´t worry, I´m not mad. Why exactly did you come here to my familia?"
"I just heard it is a big familia."
Freya raised an eyebrow, even that looked elegant. "So it has nothing to do with the fact that my familia is one of the two leading familias of Orario?"
"What?! You are one of the strongest?!"
"Yes, we are, my dear Ottar here is even the strongest adventurer in Orario, maybe the whole world."
Bell glanced to the side, Ottar returned his gaze, it looked like Bell would faint any moment. So Freya moved her body a bit and made sure he looked at her face again.
"You really didn´t know that my familia is the strongest and came out of that reason here?"
"No, lady goddess."
Freya saw no lie in Bell´s eyes.
"Do you even know which familia this is?"
"I´m sorry...I just arrived in Orario today..."
A pleased smile appeared on Freya´s lips. Was it just a coincidence? That this unique boy came straight to her as soon as he entered Orario?
"So you are looking for a familia that lets you join."
"Yes, I´m sorry that I don´t have much to offer. But I really...really!...want to become an adventurer."
Freya saw fire in his eyes, in his very soul, many people were determined to become adventurers, but she had the feeling that he had a different reason than the other people had. His determination looked similar to Ottar´s, even when their goals might be different ones.
She was fascinated by him, especially by his soul.
"Hm...hmmmmmmm~~~~."
"Mylady goddess?"
Freya smiled a beautiful smile that would win nearly everyone over. "Then I will fulfill your wish, Bell."
"Huh?"
She let go of his wrist and held her hand out to him.
"I will give you my blessing and let you join my familia, will you come to me?"
The formerly sad and frightened bunny´s expression exploded into a bright, happy, pure smile.
"Thank you! Thank you so much, lady goddess!"
"Ehehe, Freya is fine."
"Thank you, goddess Freya!"
"Mh, a little too formal."
"Thank you...goddess?"
That sounds very different from how the others address me.
"Hm, I like that."
Bell´s smile widened a bit, and Freya´s heart felt warm from his gaze.
"Then follow me, Bell. I will give you my blessing."
"Yes!"
"Ottar, can you send Horn a message that I will come a bit later?"
"As you wish, lady Freya."
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"Ahm..."
"Bell, you need to take your shirt off, otherwise I can´t give you my blessing."
"Y-Yes...but...please don´t stare."
Oh my, he is really as pure as snow.
It had been a long time until Freya was so...amused?...about a new familia member.
After Bell took off his shirt and sat down on the chair, Freya performed the ritual. After it was done, she handed him the paper.
"So, Bell, welcome to my familia."
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Bell Cranel
Belongs to: Freya familia
Level: 1
Strength: I 0
Endurance: I 0
Dexterity: I 0
Agility: I 0
Magic: I 0
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Bell beamed all over his face. "A blessing! I have a blessing! Thank you so much, goddess!"
"Hehe, I´m glad you like it."
"Of course I d-Eeek!"
Bell was startled when Freya leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead, he got as red as a tomato after that.
"G-G-G-Goddess?!"
"This is my welcome to you in my familia, Bell."
"Mmmmmmh!"
Oh my, he reacts like that to a simple kiss on the forehead? Ehehehe, how cute.
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Bell Cranel´s dream became true, he was an adventurer now. So of course he would soon go into the dungeon and have adventures! Right?! Right?...
Bell was all too soon introduced to the baptism of Folkvangr...
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A week later.
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"Mmmmh, that was a good sleep. I wonder what I wi-..Oh, Heith, good morning."
"What?..It is...morning...already?..."
Freya noticed that Heith swayed slightly. "Oh, my dear. Did you work too much again?"
"I can´t help it...there is so much to-*Yaaawn*-I´m sorry milady...so much to do."
"Hehe, you really are a hard worker. Do you know where Bell is?"
"You mean the new boy, Cranel? In my small hospital."
"What? Why?"
"They went too far with him yesterday, it was really close this time. Hogni broke his right arm and leg."
"Why did he fight against Hogni?"
"Hogni seems to take a liking to him or something like that, I don´t know."
"Is Bell awake?"
"Yes, he didn´t sleep at all."
"But why?"
"I guess they broke him already."
"Let me see him."
"Of course, lady Freya."
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"Bell?"
Freya opened the door to the small hospital since she got no reaction when she opened the door. She noticed him sitting in the bed, looking with empty eyes out of the window. His eyes were always red, but it looked like he had cried...a lot.
She didn´t need to ask if something was wrong, his soul orb was completely dull. Before it had shone like a crystal, so bright and pretty like a diamond. Now the edges became gray and it was dull, something serious had changed inside of Bell.
"Bell?..."
His eyes turned slightly in her direction.
"Goddess...morning..."
What did they do to him...
Freya went inside and closed the door. Slowly she approached the bed and sat down on the edge.
"Bell, is everything okay?"
"Mmmh..."
She noticed that his lower lip quivered, the expression in his eyes was without any kind of hope or joy.
They went too far with him.
"Bell, come here."
"Goddess...I...I...*Hic*"
Seeing Bell like that hurt Freya, she wondered why she felt so special about him. She turned towards him more, leaned forward, and pulled him slowly and gently towards her, to her chest. As soon as Bell´s face went there, he suddenly hugged her and started to cry. His whole body shivered as all of his emotions burst out of him. She looked surprised, then she gently hugged him and let him cry his heart out.
How strange...
Freya had never done this for any of her children. While she was a goddess of love, it wasn´t in her nature to comfort someone like that. At least not like that. But there was something special about Bell, about his soul, that fascinated her.
Did it just take one week here to break him?
"Bell, will you tell me what happened?"
"Goddess..I..."
"Is the training too hard?"
Bell finally looked up to her. "Is being an adventurer like this? Was I wrong all my life?"
"What do you mean?"
"All that fighting, all that beating. All they do is hit me, cut me, hurt me. *Sniff*"
Freya had to remind herself that Bell only come to Orario a week ago. He grew up in a nameless village in the north, so he never fought before in his life. And Freya knew that her followers were very hard on each other. It was probably too much for him.
Even if he had said nothing, Freya saw in his soul how he felt. To see such a pretty soul ruined like this in just one week wasn´t something she wouldn´t allow. Bell was now one of her followers, so he belonged to her. She wanted to see how pretty his soul could become one day, for that he had to bloom in his own way.
"The training here doesn´t bring you joy, it isn´t fun for you, correct? You want to go into the dungeon instead, right?"
"Yes...I´m sorry, maybe I was a bad choice after all."
Freya´s hands twitched for a second. "No, no you are not."
"Goddess?"
She was in thought for a few moments. Freya wanted to keep Bell, she had gotten interested in him, and once this happened she wouldn´t let go anymore. But what to do? Her familia didn´t have a dungeon party. Sure a few of her high executives and even a few lower members sometimes went in the dungeon, but mostly alone.
Letting Bell go alone would look a bit strange, and it could be dangerous for him. Some people might attack him just because he belonged to her familia.
So what to do? Letting him go with a high executive or other member would bring nothing, Freya knew her children very well.
A few thoughts more wandered through her mind, the guild kept bothering her with requests to have her familia explore the dungeon more.
So...maybe combining these two problems...
How about a separate branch within the familia, focussing on dungeon exploring? Of course, training would be necessary, but not the baptism. Sadly her children were unable to hold back...so finding a trainer outside of her familia.
Did she know someone who could fight? Yes...yes she did.
Am I willing to do this for him?... Absolutely.
Freya gently patted Bell´s head. "I will talk to Ottar, rest now, Bell. You won´t fight here anymore, but go to the dungeon and do it your own way, okay?"
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Crack. Crack. Crack.
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When Bell´s expression brightened a bit, Freya saw the cracks that went through his soul. The dull cloudiness got cracks and she saw the shine she had seen before through them. So the pure boy was still inside him.
I can´t lose something that precious, I want to see how beautiful you become, Bell.
"Bell?"
"Goddess?"
"Please rest for the day, alright? I will ask Heith to look after you again. Don´t worry about the baptism anymore."
"You will do this...only for me?"
"Of course, Bell."
"But...why?"
She smiled. "Because you´re my precious follower, Bell. And I love you just as I love all my other followers."
It looked like he was about to cry again, but this time for a different reason. Freya leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead. "Rest now, Bell."
"I will, thank you...Goddess."
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Following her wish, Ottar called her high executives together, for a meeting.
"Ottar."
"Yes, Lady Freya?"
"Thank you for calling everyone so quickly."
"Name your wish, and I will make it happen."
She smiled slightly. "I know."
Then she turned to the round, talking to all of them.
"I want to make a few small changes here in Folkvangr, regarding Bell. I also want to silence the guild with their constant demands. So I will create a separate branch inside the familia. A branch that focuses on dungeon exploring, like this the guild will become quiet."
Hedin moved his glasses slightly up. "And who is to join this branch?"
"For now, Bell. The baptism isn´t something for him, so he will get strong in a different way. For other members, I have to see and find some, since I doubt the Einherjar will be happy in there."
"Why going such lengths for him?"
"Because I feel like it, Hedin."
"I understand."
This got the adult elf curious, he had to keep an eye on Bell.
"I want to name this branch "Sessrumnir", it will also be the name for their rooms. And they will become my Skjaldarleiðangur, my shield expedition."
Allen didn´t look too happy about this news. "Why shield?"
"Because you are my spear, Allen."
"Hm." Despite not showing much emotion, Freya noticed the twitch of his tail, he was happy about this statement.
The Gulliver brothers exchanged looks. """Do you expect us to help him?""""
"No, Bell will go his own way."
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Bell woke up from his nap in the hospital bed when he heard slight noises. Only after Freya said these things to him, did he calm down and was able to find some sleep.
"You´re awake."
"Ms...Heith?..."
"How are you feeling?"
"Tired...numb..."
"Good, better than feeling pain."
Bell couldn´t really get a hang out of Heith, she always looked so strict and stern. Heith usually looked exhausted and complained of having to constantly heal the other Familia members during their daily training. Despite her numerous complaints, she took her role very seriously and went to great lengths to heal those under her care. And she also seemed to be understanding of others and has shown compassion to Bell.
Was it her nature or because he was different from the others?
Also, she was the head of the Andhrímnir. A group of herbalists and healers, were in charge of healing the Familia members, as well as cooking and preparing meals for them. The meals that Bell got in the hospital, were all made by Heith personally, but he didn´t know that.
"Thank you so much...for healing me..."
Heith raised an eyebrow, Bell was the only member who constantly thanked her, and let it sound like he really meant it.
"Lady Freya informed me that you will quit the baptism and go into the dungeon."
Bell smiled tired. "Yes...she is the best."
"That she is, the absolute best. I hope when you go into the dungeon, you will be careful, don´t increase my workload."
"I will be careful, Ms. Heith. But..."
"Yes, yes. If you get hurt, of course, I will heal you. But make sure to return before 9 pm. I stop working at that time and leave the rest to the night shift."
"I can ask them too."
"No, Lady Freya asked me to personally heal you, since I´m the strongest healer we have. So I will be your personal healer."
He showed her a thankful, warm smile. "This puts me at ease. I will do my best to let you have as little work as possible."
"We will see. Sleep now."
"Yes.."
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Bell slept until the morning of the next day. After having a light breakfast and taking a shower, Heith told him that he now had to leave the hospital and go to Freya. His goddess then ordered him to follow her into the city.
"Goddess, is this really necessary?"
"Absolutely. The rules of the guild demand that a new familia member gets registered. And since you will be going to the dungeon, this needs to be registered too. And you will need an adviser."
"I didn´t know that."
"Well, your start was rougher than it is for most people. But maybe there was something good in it."
"Is that so?..."
Ah, there is this sad bunny look again...
"I mean that in the dungeon, the monsters won´t stop from attacking you, the others in Folkvangr did. It might´ve been a harsh experience for you, but it is better than to underestimate the dungeon."
"Lady Freya is right, as always."
Bell gulped slightly and moved out of instinct a bit away from Ottar. He was the reason why no one bothered them on their way to the guild, even when they got curious looks.
Freya smiled at Bell. "See? I´m sure you will do good in the dungeon. But I will only let you go if you promise to me that you will be careful, and run to the surface if something unusual happens."
"I will, Goddess!"
"Hehe, good."
They continued their way.
"Hm, Goddess?"
"Yes, Bell?"
"Why aren´t we going to Babel, isn´t the guild there?"
"No, it would be too crowded with all the people going into the dungeon."
It didn´t take too long to arrive at the guild building, there were guards here with elephant masks.
"Ganesha´s familia guards the guild buildings, in case adventurers don´t behave or cause a ruckus."
"I heard this familia is larger than ours."
"Oh, by far. Ganesha has the biggest of all familia´s. But my cute children are stronger."
Freya looked very proud of this fact.
The guards of course noticed them, and all the people noticed them. It was rare for Freya to come to the guild building. As soon as they entered the building, Freya walked in a certain direction, as if she knew exactly where she wanted to go.
While they went inside, Bell noticed another god and his followers leaving the building, they looked how he imagined people from the far east. Among them was a raven-haired beauty, with a katana at her hip.
"Bell, eyes forward."
"S-Sorry!"
When he looked forward again, Bell blinked surprised. At the counter they were heading to, stood an insanely beautiful, red-mained werewolf maiden.
Freya smiled and spoke in a sort of sing-song manner. "Good morning, Rose.~~"
The werewolf looked up from her paperwork. "Hm? Oh, lady Freya!"
Bell saw that the ears and tail of the woman perked up. Freya was the only person that Rose reacted to in that way, but that was because of Freya´s nature.
"*cough* Wh-What can I do for you?" The woman clearly fought to keep a normal expression.
"I would like to register Bell here as a new member of my familia, and he will focus on exploring the dungeon."
Rose´s eyes wandered to Bell, he only didn´t blush because Freya somehow outshined Rose. She outshined every woman he saw.
"Is that so? So your familia will now explore the dungeon more?"
"Yes, I intend to create a branch that will only focus on exploring the dungeon."
"The higher-ups will surely be happy about this."
"Is that so? I´m glad, ehehe~~~"
Bell saw that Rose fidgeted a bit, but managed to take the form out from under her desk. When she put it on the counter, Freya slightly touched Rose´s hand when she took the note from her. Again her ears and the tail twitched.
"You know, Rose. I would gladly welcome you in my familia...do you maybe have interest in joining? Exploring the dungeon with Bell here?"
"D-Don´t tease me, recruiting from the guild isn´t allowed."
"Such a shame.~~ We have a really big and luxurious bath at Folkvangr.."
Rose´s ears perked up again, she could only shower at home or the guild.
"Don´t tempt me..."
"I promise nothing."
Freya hummed softly while Bell filled out the form and handed it back to Rose.
"Ahem! Do you need an adviser from the guild or d-"
"I want you, Rose."
"H-Huh?!"
"As his adviser."
"O-Oh, ahem! *cough* I already have enough to do, we don´t work like t-!"
Rose was startled when Freya leaned forward with an amorous smile, gently touching Rose´s cheek and chin.
"Pretty please...Rose?~~~"
Rose got as red as her hair, the tail wagged heavily.
"I...I..."
"Fuh." Freya blew softly into Rose´s right ear, letting it twitch heavily.
"Hyan~~"
"So...?"
"A-Agreed..."
"Hehe, you´re a good child, thank you...Rose.~~"
Rose looked insanely happy when Freya patted her head.
"So, Bell. I hope you will get along well with Rose!"
Freya´s carefree, happy smile let his heart beat faster, his goddess was really something else.
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Bell went to the dungeon for the first time that day. He wore a simple armor that he got from his familia, an equally simple shield, and a single sword. At first, he only wanted to use armor and a sword, but Freya insisted on him using a shield too. It was for his own protection, and the exploring group was called Skjaldarleiðangur after all.
When he entered the dungeon, his mood got much better, finally he was in the dungeon and would have the chance to fight monsters! With armor, sword, and shield, he looked like a young hero!
I will do it, I will become a hero!
And soon, the first "vile beast" appeared in front of Bell.
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About twenty minutes later, Bell ran through the gates of Folkvangr again, he knew where Freya´s room was. He knocked loud and waited for an answer.
"Come in, Bell."
He opened the door and went inside.
"Goddess, how do you know that it was me?"
"Ehehe, no one knocks so loud on my door."
"S-Sorry."
"So, Bell. I thought you wanted to go into the dungeon?"
"I was!"
"Did something happen?"
"I did it, goddess! I slew my first monster!"
"Oh?"
"It was a goblin! A goblin, goddess!" Bell held up a tiny magic stone.
"So?..."
"Eh?"
"Isn´t a goblin-like the weakest of all monsters? Is that really an achievement?"
"Eh..."
"Bell?"
"*Hic*"
"Bell?!"
"*Hic* *Hic* *Hic*"
"B-Bell?!"
"Wääääh! Goddess, you meanie!"
Bell ran crying out of the door and back to the dungeon.
"Eh?! Bell!"
Freya was at a loss for words...this was something she never experienced before.
I made him cry...my cute bunny...cried...
Bell was completely different from all of her other children.
Hah...Bell, what is this feeling in my heart when I look at you? You are so cute...yet so...determined.
He reminded her a lot of Ottar when he was young.
I just have to make sure he doesn´t turn out like Ottar in the end..
Freya shivered when she imagined Bell being as tall and buffed as Ottar, locking arms with her captain, while flexing his muscles.
She could hear Bell with a deeper voice in her head, growling. "Muscles are righteousness! Sido Chesto!"
Freya shivered again. I can never allow that!
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Bell would return in the evening, beaming all over his face and telling Freya about his first day in the dungeon. The fights were pretty easy for him since the monsters were completely different from his "training" in the last week. His soul almost looked completely normal again, Freya was glad about her decision.
"And, Bell. How was it to fight in the dungeon?"
"Awesome! It was so exciting and intense!"
"So you had fun?"
"I did! Thank you for letting me go, Goddess! You´re the best!"
Ah, this pure smile, it´s so precious.
"Then I´m glad. So, Bell. Off to Heith with you, let her take care of your bruises, then shower and eat something."
"I will!"
"Oh and before that, do you still have the magic stone from the first goblin?"
"I do."
"May I have it? I would like to place it on a special spot since it was your first monster."
"I-I thought a goblin wasn´t that special?"
"Maybe, but it was your first monster, and it was you slaying it."
Freya winked in a cute way. "If one day you become a mighty hero, we can look back at it and say "This is how it all started.", wouldn´t you like that?"
"I do!"
The magic stone was very small, but it still looked impressive in Freya´s eyes.
May you feel glad about it, Goblin. If any other adventurer killed you, the stone would just get exchanged for money and be forgotten, like this, you will be remembered forever in a way.
It was the highest praise a god or mortal would be willing to give to a monster.
Bell was about to leave the room after handing her the stone.
"And be careful not to make Heith´s hospital dirty."
"I won´t! Good night, Goddess!"
"Good night, Bell."
He closed her door a bit too fast and loud, but Freya didn´t mind.
Hehe, I´m really looking forward to the next few days.
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Bell knocked shyly at the hospital´s door and waited, eventually the door was opened and one of the lower-ranked healers looked out of the door.
"You´re..Cranel, right?"
"Yes, Goddess told me to have Ms. Heith look at me."
"Understood, come in."
The healer looked at Bell from the side, he was the only young member of the familia that would knock and wait politely. The other Einherjar would simply barge in and report about the deep wounds.
Which would upset the Andhrímnir very much, especially Heith. So Bell was already liked quite well among the healers.
Bell found Heith cleaning the room she worked in.
"Good evening, Ms. Heith."
"Hm? Ah, Bell, come in."
Heith was also the only one of the others who called him by name so easily.
"I hope your day wasn´t too hard."
She raised an eyebrow. "You went fighting in the dungeon and hoped that my day wasn´t hard?"
"I mean, you always have to work so hard, and look exhausted."
"Such is my life, sit down here. Did you get hit anywhere?"
"My left arm tingles and feels stiff."
"You aren´t used to a shield yet, right?"
"No."
"Anywhere else?"
"My back, ribs, and my left leg."
"Then take off your clothes and let me take a look."
Bell already knew how it would go, it was still embarrassing for him to strip down to his underwear and socks in front of Heith. A male healer would maybe easier for him, but the Andhrímnir had only female members.
"Hm, doesn´t look like much, but let me heal you."
Heith took her healing staff and mumbled.
She has a pretty voice.
She looked up at him, raising her eyebrow.
"N-Nothing."
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"Earth Gullveig"
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Bell shivered and made a slight noise when he felt the healing magic pulsing through his body. Earth Gullveig worked differently from Zeo Gullveig, it healed him constantly but was better than the more bombastic healing magic. Bell had once noticed Heith using Zeo Gullveig on the training field, easily healing ALL Einherjar at once. It took a huge drain on her, leaving Bell, who was only half conscious at that time, shocked. She really was a powerful healer.
"Better now?"
"Yes, I thank you so much, Ms. Heith."
"I should probably be the one thanking you, this isn´t much work compared to your wounds before."
"Yeah...I will continue to be careful."
"Good to hear. You can dress yourself now."
Bell moved his left hand for a moment, smiling. "I feel so much better and refreshed now."
"Then get going, I still need to clean here."
"Shall I help you? It´s the least I can do."
Heith blinked surprised. No one of the Einherjar or high executives had ever asked Heith or one of the other healers that.
"Do you even know how to clean such a place properly?"
"I don´t...but is there anything I can help you with? I feel bad if I just go into the dungeon, come back, get healed, food, a shower and a place to sleep. Without doing anything in the familia...this isn´t right. So I should at least help a bit cleaning up."
Heith would test if he was just polite or really wanted to help.
"You can take this bundle of bedsheets there and bring them to the big washing room."
He would surely decline now...
"Alright, leave it to me!"
"Eh?"
Bell´s smile caught Heith off guard. He did as he said, took the huge bundle, and carried it out. Some of the Andhrímnir exchanged looks with each other and their leader, it looked like Bell was truly unusual.
And so a few days went by, Freya wasn´t there every day, but when she was, she wanted to hear Bell´s heroic tales. Each evening when Bell returned, Heith healed his minor wounds, the worst she had to treat for him was a shallow cut. And each evening he would help a bit in cleaning up the place.
Not even two weeks had gone by after Bell joined the familia, and the Andhrímnir already started to like him the most out of all the Einherjar...
After Bell got healed, showered, and ate something...the Andhrímnir really were also excellent cooks, even when he got told that the true cook had left the familia before he even joined, he enjoyed the food, Bell went to the empty training field.
It was already dark outside, most Einherjar retired for the day, but Bell saw marks and dark spots everywhere on the training ground.
No one seemed to be there, so Bell slowly walked over to the training field, looking up to the first shy stars, the moon started to rise.
Bell had a side in him that he couldn´t let out anywhere, not even in front of Freya. It was pretty embarrassing at his age to have such a side. But when he saw the moon rising, three words came to his mind.
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""Ave Dominus Nox.""
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We greet the king of the night. And...Bell wasn´t the only one who spoke these words just now.
"I greet thee, fellow traveler of the night."
"Eh?"
A dark figure appeared out of the night, wearing black clothes. He had dark skin, which made it hard to see him in the darkness, but his white hair was easy to spot. Bell´s last training partner before he quit the baptism.
Hogni Ragnar.
"Thee are traveling in the darkness, for what are thee purpose?"
Strangely, Bell understood what Hogni meant. With the ability to understand him, Bell was the second member of the familia who could do that, after Hedin.
"I just wanted to have a bit of peace, before I go to bed."
"Thee are a wise fledgling, the sanguin dance in the brightness has stopped for the cycle of darkness. And thee are stepping into the depths of Hel now."
"I do, the dungeon is really a fascinating place."
"Thee never finished the sanguin dance, fledgling."
"I know...the baptism wasn´t mine..."
"Shame, thee has potential."
"Do you think so?"
Hogni held a hand in front of his face, the fingers spread, his cape waved slightly behind him, he nodded.
He looks so cool.
Bell couldn´t help but think so.
In her room, Freya felt an icy chill running down her spine.
And since she knew that Bell had trouble in the dungeon at some points, a week of baptism wasn´t enough to train him properly, so she decided to find a training partner for Bell soon! Otherwise...he might find the wrong one...
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Aside from the Andhrímnir, there was only one member in his whole familia that Bell could talk to a little, the others all showed him the cold shoulder. Those who knew Hogni were surprised at how much he opened up to Bell.
And so, in his third week in Orario, Bell was busy moving through the 5th floor, when it appeared...a minotaur. A monster like this shouldn´t be on this floor, but no matter how his fate changed, he would always encounter one of these beasts in one way or the other.
He remembered Freya´s words, he wasn´t ready to fight this thing, so he had to escape. But the minotaur didn´t make it easy for him. He tried to make it take a step back, but when the minotaur punched and he could barely evade it, his arm flew up.
Out of sheer luck, the tip of his sword slashed at the minotaur´s right eye. A spark of hope grew up in Bell, maybe if it was half-blinded, he could fight back!
But the minotaur just snorted, there was only a shallow scratch in the eyelid...the eye itself was fine.
"Wha-?!"
The fist collided with his chest plate like a siege ram, throwing him backward. His back met the wall behind him, hammering all air out of his lunges. Bell fell to the ground and coughed, trying to suck air in again. The roaring monster came closer, since Bell was used to such abuse from the baptism, he managed to fight himself up to his feet. If he would remain on the ground, he would die.
Everything happened at once. To surprise the minotaur and slip past it, Bell dashed forward, slicing with his sword again. The minotaur was faster. Its fist came forward, opened, and grabbed Bell´s neck, lifting him up. Spit flew in his face when the minotaur roared at him. It grabbed his sword, and snapped it easily in half, Bell clung to the rest that came out of the hilt.
Then came the pain. The minotaur rammed the snapped blade in his right thigh.
"AAAAAAH!"
The monster´s maw opened wide, it would probably bite Bell´s head off.
It was the most fearsome sight of his life, even going past the baptism. Would it end like this? So shortly after becoming an adventurer?
No! Not like this!
Bell wouldn´t just dangle there and accept his death, as much as he could scream out with his throat pressed together, he rammed the broken sword forward, to the eye again. It didn´t do much again, mostly angering the monster further.
Dammit!
The minotaur punished him, by sinking its fangs into his shoulder. Bell managed to scream out of pain, dropping the sword. The minotaur pulled its head back, the fangs red with Bell´s blood, then it leaned forward to devour his head.
This never happened.
A gigantic blade came from the left side, hacked down, and sliced the minotaur in half, diagonally.
Bell got showered from head to toe with blood, as got his savior.
The hand that held him twitched, spasmed, and opened as he fell to the ground. Bell could only cough, his ears rang, and pain was all he felt.
There was a noise, maybe a voice? He couldn´t hear it, but his savior called for help. More people arrived, and one of them screamed when she saw what Bell looked like, especially because of his wounds. It was a young elf, with a pink dress.
He got pulled up into a sitting position, and after a few moments, the blessed feeling of healing magic pulsed through his body. Bell groaned when the pain slowly stopped, his vision eventually became clear again.
Crouching in front of him was the young elven maiden, there was some of the blood on her dress now. He couldn´t know that it was his fault, when her magic healed his shoulder wound, his arm had twitched and splattered minotaur blood on her.
"Hah..Ack..."
A voice came from behind him. "Are you alright? Still hurt? Lefiya, did you heal him properly?!"
"I did."
Bell slowly turned his head, and while his neck got healed, it still hurt. The young woman behind him may be an amazon, judging by her clothes. Since she was red from hair to toe, it was hard to see it otherwise.
"You...saved me..."
"Only barely, did you fight back?"
"Yeah..."
"That´s so brave!"
Before Bell could answer, the elf in front of him shouted. "That was dumb! You should´ve run away!"
"I couldn´t.."
"Ungh..." She looked more than just uneasy as if she was feeling sick. And not because of the sight and smell around them.
More adventurers appeared, a pallum, a dwarf, another elf, a blond human, and a werewolf.
The werewolf snorted. "Two human tomatoes, ha!"
Bell looked weakly up to him. The elf, Lefiya, whirled around, shouting.
"Mr. Bete! He got heavily injured and almost killed because of us! And he fought back against a minotaur!"
"Hm, not bad for a newbie."
Bell´s armor gave it away that he was a new adventurer.
The pallum stepped forward. "Young man, I apologize that you got hurt this way. To which familia do you belong?"
"F-*cough*-Freya familia..."
All of them fell dead silent, this was bad news. Really bad news! Out of all the familias he could belong to, the Freya familia was the worst to get a member hurt and almost killed like this.
Freya would most likely be more than just upset, rather angry and furious.
The question was now, what to do? A cruel, sinister familia would now quickly kill Bell and pretend they never saw him and it wasn´t their fault.
Lefiya looked at the pallum. "We have to apologize! It is our fault!"
The blood-soaked Amazon helped Bell onto his feet. "I agree with Lefiya, we should go and apologize."
Finn groaned, now that they said it, questions would come. Why was it their fault? What happened? Aside from Freya´s wrath, the guild would punish the Loki familia too. And that after an Expedition, that got so much of their equipment destroyed.
But if he thought about it, the guild´s anger would be nothing against Freya´s wrath. Almost getting one of her children killed? Her property? Freya never forgave someone for hurting what was hers. And since they didn´t know about Bell, and he looked so new, he had to be the newest member of her familia. Which meant, the latest person she put her eyes on, so currently the subject of her interest and desires...
This could easily mean...war.
"Riveria."
"Yes?"
"Can you go with Tiona and Lefiya? I have to report to Loki, but I think if you of all people would go to talk to her, maybe her anger will not flare up as much."
"Very well."
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The guards of Folkvangr reacted in the exact way Loki familia thought they would. An alarm rang, and the mass of Einherjar, with Allen at the front came charging to the gate at full force. The gate itself was unguarded and not locked, since no one was usually dumb enough to march in there. Bell was the only person who went in and out every day.
Allen had already readied his spear, and the three Loki familia members and Bell, who still leaned on Tiona, were quickly surrounded.
"Marching in here by yourself, huh? You looking to start something?!"
His spear was pointed at Riveria. "What do you want, Nine Hell? What did you do with him? You have two seconds to explain yourself!"
Lefiya looked uneasy back and forth between Allen, Bell, and Riveria. Tiona tried to keep a neutral expression, she didn´t take her weapon with her.
Before Riveria could even open her mouth, they heard quick steps, from a light, and a very heavy person.
"What happened here? W-Bell!"
Freya had to pretend she was surprised to see Bell, of course, she already knew he had come closer from a large distance. But the fact that three other souls were next to his, souls that she knew, confused her.
Ottar came behind Freya, looking like a living brick wall as always. The Einherjar made room for Freya as she walked quickly forward, taking Bell away from Tiona.
"Bell! What happened? What is all this blood?! Are you hurt?!"
"Goddess...I´m sorry for worrying you, I´m okay now."
"Now? Now?! So you did get hurt! Your armor is completely destroyed! Where is your shield?! Why is your sword broken?!"
"Goddess, I..."
Riveria couldn´t help but gulp when Freya looked at her with an angry expression. "Explain. Now."
And so Riveria did, about how they returned from the Expedition, how some of them went at the minotaurs to vent frustration and stress, and how they escaped to the upper floors.
Then Bell explained how he got attacked by the minotaur, tried to flee, and fought back to get room at the same time.
Ottar watched him. Scratching a minotaur´s eyelid at his strength, not a bad start.
Freya looked at one of the Einherjar, an Amazon. "Lilia, get Heith, now."
"As you wish!"
Then she looked at Tiona. "You saved him?"
"Just barely."
Now Freya looked at Lefiya, who looked very uneasy to have the attention of the goddess. "You healed him?"
"Y-Yes..."
"Amazon, you were part of what caused this incident, but you saved Bell´s life, I hereby forgive you. If Bell does that, it is up to him. Elf. You didn´t cause the incident and you healed Bell, you have nothing to fear from me."
Lefiya almost slumped to her knees, exhaling loudly.
Then Freya looked at Riveria, angry. "But you "Nine Hell", tells Loki that this will have consequences. Your foolishness almost got Bell killed, I will not forgive this."
"I understand."
Allen stopped next to Ottar. "Lady Freya, do you declare war?"
"No, Allen. I´m not some barbarian queen, but Loki will answer for this."
When he saw her expression from the side, Allen didn´t say anything. Right now, Freya was in her queen mode.
Hasty steps broke a bit of the tense atmosphere. "Lady Freya, I´m here! Bell!"
Heith immediately went to work.
Lefiya made way for her. "I already healed him."
Heith clicked her tongue. "Oh then everything is absolutely fine! I´m sure he doesn´t have any problems at all anymore!"
"I´m sorry, I..."
"Silence, let me work."
Normally elves wouldn´t take such a tone lightly, but Heith could be pretty intimidating. And also the fact that most of Freya´s familia was here.
Freya stood there, with blood on her dress. "Go now "Nine Hell", you will hear from me. But be warned, if something like this ever happens again, you will get war."
For the first time, Bell saw this side of his goddess, and understood why she was also a Goddess of War. And if he was honest...really honest...she looked wonderful like this. He wasn´t scared, wasn´t taken aback, no matter which side of her he saw, she was wonderful.
When the Loki familia members started to leave, Tiona and Lefiya looked at Bell for a last time. He returned their look, both formed a last apology with their lips.
When the gates closed with a loud noise, the Einherjar started to go back to the training area, they didn´t say something, seeing that their goddess was clearly agitated.
"Ottar."
"My Lady?"
"The cost for Bell´s equipment, twenty times its amount, as well as the cost for my dress, the interruption of the training, Heith´s extra work, a large amount for the pain Bell had to endure, his treatment, and my anger. Have Hedin calculate it all and send the bill to Loki."
"Any other order for further steps?"
"I have to decide on them. Heith?"
"Yes, Lady Freya?"
"How are Bell´s wounds?"
""Thousand Elf" healed him to the largest amount, it looks like only bruises and stiff muscles are left, but I can´t say with all this blood on him."
"Bell."
"Yes?"
"Get yourself washed up and let Heith take a look at you. Afterward, please come to my room."
"Yes...I´m sorry for making you worried, Goddess."
"It isn´t your fault at all, I´m just glad you´re safely back."
"Hm."
It hurt Freya that Bell had to suffer so much.
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"Ahm...M-Ms. Heith..."
"Yes?"
"Is this...really necessary?"
"I have to check if you´re hurt anywhere."
"But..."
"You´re naked, so what? Bear with it."
They stood next to a bed at the small hospital, Heith had pulled the curtains and ordered Bell to strip down completely after he had showered and put on fresh clothes.
"Where did it get you? Show me."
"Here..here...here...here...and here..."
"There is no reason to be ashamed, I will be quick about it."
"Yes..."
"Did it get your crotch too?"
"No!"
"Then why are you covering it?"
"B-Because..."
"You´re not the first familia member I see naked, I´m the head healer."
"Mmmh..."
Thankfully, Heith was fast and professional, and she didn´t even glance at his special body parts helped him a lot.
"Alright, you can dress now."
"Thank you..."
"How is your shoulder?"
"After Ms. Thousand Elf´s, and especially your healing, everything is good again."
Heith raised a hand and put it on Bell´s hair. "And here?"
"I didn´t get hit in the head?"
"I mean your mind, such an experience is traumatic for most people."
"I...didn´t have time to think about it."
"Then go to Lady Freya, she will be worried."
"I will, thank you, Heith."
It was the first time he called her just by name, Heith didn´t mind it.
"Not for that, Bell."
While he left the small hospital, other Andhrímnir asked if he was alright. Bell was well-liked among the Andhrímnir.
He knew the way to Freya´s room, but before he could knock, the door opened and a young woman came out, Horn.
"Cranel. Are you still hurt?"
"No."
"Pff, not that I care!"
"Eh?"
He blinked confused when Horn left.
What was that just now?
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"Ahm...Goddess?"
"...Yes?"
"Ahm...is this..necessary?"
"It is..."
"But..."
"What?"
"C-Could you let go?"
"No."
After he went into Freya´s room, she had ordered him to take place on a couch, then she sat down next to him, put her arms around Bell, and pulled him to her chest, hugging him.
"I got scared when I saw you like this..."
"Goddess...I´m sorry."
"Don´t be, it´s not your fault...my cute Bell. My strong warrior."
"Strong warrior?"
"You fought back against the monster, tried to get room to escape. So you tried your best to keep your promise to me."
Bell felt that Freya was slightly shaking, she couldn´t explain why she reacted so strongly toward him.
Slowly, carefully, Bell put his arms around Freya and hugged her back. She too felt him shaking a bit.
"Bell...it is alright...I´m here, you´re safe...you returned."
"It was..."
"Hm?"
"Scary..I´m sorry for being so weak."
"I would be disappointed in you if you weren´t scared."
"You would be?"
"Yes. Knowing no fear would lead to an early grave."
"Oh."
"So it´s alright to let your fear out, no one outside this room will ever hear about it."
"Goddess..."
"Yes?"
"Can we stay like this...for a while?"
"Of course, as long as you want."
Freya kept Bell company as long as necessary and held him in a gentle hug. Eventually, the exhaustion kicked in and he dozed off, waking up later, with his head resting on Freya´s thighs.
Her soft, warm, divine, heavenly, voluptuous, good-smelling...thighs.
She gently stroked his hair while looking down at him.
"Go..ddess?..."
"Are you feeling better now, Bell?"
"Yes..."
"You can continue to sleep if you want."
"I...don´t think the others would like that."
"So?"
Freya was a bit sad when Bell slowly sat up again. "Thank you, for being there for me, Goddess."
"Any time, Bell. If you have more troubles, come to me, or talk to Heith, she knows how to deal with these things."
"I will."
Before he could leave, Freya leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead. "Welcome back, Bell."
"Thank you, Goddess."
When he left the room, Freya could still feel the warmth of his body on her thighs, a nice feeling.
He needs to get stronger, so this won´t happen again. I need to get him a training partner...even when "that person" has trouble holding back. But first...he has to meet someone.
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Bell was forbidden from going to the dungeon for the next two days, Freya and especially Heith strictly ordered him to rest, he would also get a new, better, set of armor and weapons. In the morning after the incident, Freya left Folkvangr with Ottar, her destination was the Twilight Mansion. She didn´t tell Bell what happened between her and Loki, saying this was something between gods.
The new armor had a better quality than his old, the shield was a bit bigger and sturdier, and the sword was very similar. Yet Bell kept the shattered remains of his first sword, telling Freya it was something important to him. Bell´s image grew in Ottar´s mind a bit for these things, he was a promising, growing warrior.
Bell wasn´t scared when he was allowed to go into the dungeon again, he was really eager and left early in the morning. For the days he had to remain at home, Bell took his time to help clean, mostly in the small hospital. In a way, seeing so many wounded warriors, and how some of them shrugged these wounds as something that happened off, helped him a lot. One of them even told Bell grinning, that he should be proud of it and keep it in his memory, it showed he was a true follower of Freya and a warrior. And who knew, maybe Bell would give a fine Berzerkyr.
Heith made this man wince in pain afterward for these words.
"Don´t put weird ideas in Bell´s head, I don´t want to heal one more meathead."
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Mmmh, I´m a bit tired.
He sighed to himself as the brisk morning air chilled his skin. The south main in the morning was very different from how it was in the afternoon. The streets felt much wider at sunrise, without all the people and noises. All of the shops were still closed, and the sky in the east got brighter, Bell liked this time of the day. He saw only a few people, a few pallums setting up their store, a group of dwarven adventurers that returned from the dungeon, he wondered why they did it in the early morning.
"*Growl*"
Mmmh, I maybe should´ve eaten more.
He was too excited to go into the dungeon again, so Bell only ate a single apple. Also mostly because he didn´t want to bother the Andhrímnir, who needed their sleep, so the big kitchen was still closed. And Bell absolutely wouldn´t dare to "invade their territory", they had no mercy with those Einherjar who made their kitchen dirty and didn´t clean up properly. Bell only noticed now just how hungry he was, would this become a problem in the dungeon?
Huh?
Bell looked over his shoulder, he had the feeling that something was right behind him, but there was nothing. But he seriously felt the eyes of a predator on him, something or someone was definitely staring at him before!
He continued to walk towards Babel, maybe he could find a shop that had opened early, to buy a piece of bread or something like that. Bell was so hungry that he didn´t pay attention to the female figure that walked past him, coming from Babel.
"Um, excuse me..."
"!"
Bell spun around quickly, the person was much closer than he had noticed.
"Kya!"
It was a girl, a human girl, maybe one or two years older than him. She wore a white blouse with a light green knee-length skirt. On top of that came a salon apron. Her simple blue-gray hair was tied into a tight bun on the back of her head, but a cute ponytail stuck out from the center of it. The eyes had the same color as her hair, looking innocent and very cute. Bell had never seen such smooth, milky skin before at a mortal woman.
Bang!
Bell felt his heartthrob, never before in his life did he see such a beautiful girl.
"Woah..."
"Ahm, Mr. Adventurer?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Y-Yes, can I help you?"
Bell only noticed now that this girl carried a giant backpack, not as big as the ones that supporter adventurer used, but pretty big. Much bigger than he would´ve thought she would be able to carry.
"Oh...yes. Here, you dropped this."
The girl raised her hand and showed Bell a bluish-purple crystal.
"Huh, a magic stone? I thought I sold all of them yesterday."
"It fell to the floor when you walked past me."
"Oh, thank you! This is really kind of you!"
"No, it wasn´t much."
And then...she smiled. Bell felt his heart throb again, he would never forget this moment. Even his goddess didn´t have a smile that...beautiful might be the wrong word. Carefree? Free? Happy? His face got a bit red when he returned her smile shyly, why did he feel so weird when he looked at her? She chuckled slightly when she saw his face.
"Are you already heading to the Dungeon this early?"
"Yes, I think it is better to start to work early. The home of my familia becomes pretty loud in the morning."
Their conversation stopped, and the silence was a bit awkward. Bell would love nothing more than to say something, but he didn´t know what.
To his luck...or bad luck...he didn´t have to come up with something.
His stomach did it for him.
"*GROOOOOOOOOOWL*"
Mmmmmh!
Bell went bright red.
"..."
"..."
As her eyes went wide, Bell wanted to sink into the ground and vanish.
At first there was a chuckle, then a giggle, then a little laugh. His face felt hot enough to cook eggs on it, but to see her laugh was really precious. Bell didn´t know if he blushed because he was embarrassed of his growling stomach or because of her.
"Ehehe. Are you hungry by chance?"
"Ahm...yeah."
"Didn´t you have breakfast?"
"Only a small apple. I went so early that the kitchen was still closed."
It was just too awkward, he couldn´t look into her eyes.
"Hehe, here."
"Huh?"
The girl put down the big backpack and opened it. On top of the stuff inside was a small box. Bell could smell bread, cheese and some sausage.
"I made a few sandwiches if you want."
"But isn´t this your breakfast?"
"It is okay, the café slash pub that I work at isn´t open yet, so I can only offer you my breakfast."
"Eeh?! No, no, no. That´s your breakfast?! I can´t accept it!"
And then she did something that Bell immediately fell for. She looked a bit shy to the side and bit her lower lip slightly. Her beauty wasn´t something divine like his goddess´, this girl had a lot of inner beauty. Yet she looked cuter the longer Bell talked to her.
He wondered if the strange feeling in his stomach was hunger or butterflies.
"I can´t leave you hungry like this, it would make me sad and it can be dangerous in the dungeon, I think. So please, Mr. Adventurer, accept it, okay?"
"But I..."
She glanced shyly up to him. "Is it...no good?"
Hnnnnngh!
Bell´s heart got squeezed by a minotaur´s fist when she looked at him like that. The girl closed her eyes for a moment, while Bell was busy thinking of a reply. When she opened them, a mischievous smile crept over her face, she leaned forward until her face was just centimeters away from Bell´s.
T-Too close...!
"Mr. Adventurer, I´m making this sacrifice for you, so in exchange..."
"In exchange?"
"You have to eat dinner tonight at the bar I work at."
"..."
Bell didn´t know how to react, the girl didn´t just crack the ice between them, she obliterated it! It was the first time they met, yet she laughed and smiled as if they knew each other already. It was a smile that made it impossible for Bell to say no...
"You´re...not playing fair, do you..?"
"Tee-hee. No. Here you go, don´t worry about me, I will get something to eat once the bar opens. So please come this evening and spend a lot of money! I have the early shift, then free over the afternoon and start working in the evening again."
He couldn´t say no to such a happy grin...
"Ahm, well..."
"Hmmmmmmm?"
"Th-Thank you...I´ll be seeing you tonight."
"Hehe, I´ll be waiting!"
As he left, she giggled slightly and turned around to walk in a different direction. Maybe he should feel manipulated, but Bell felt something completely different.
He had the feeling that he just met the one. The one and only.
Before he went into Babel, Bell remembered something important. He turned around and took a deep breath.
"My name is Cranel, what is your name?"
She slowly turned her head around, his heart was beating like a jackhammer.
She smiled.
"I´m Syr Flover, Mr. Cranel."
When her smile widened, Bell saw something that let him mutter a single word, something in her eyes.
"Goddess?"
"Huh?"
He blinked a few times, surprised looking at her...now purple...eyes. Or not really purple, from the front they looked grey, but when she turned sideways, and even sometimes from the front, they looked purple. The exact same purple as Freya´s eyes, her hair then looked the same.
"Goddess...is that you?"
She giggled in a strange way and blushed. "Mr. Cranel, you shouldn´t call me a goddess, Ehehe~~~"
"But your eyes...your hair...your tone..."
"Mouh, Bell, what are you saying?"
He blinked.
"How do you know my first name?"
"Eh?" Syr blinked.
"Goddess...it really is you, isn´t it?"
Syr´s expression changed, it looked like she was half in panic. She made a quick step forward and whispered.
"Bell, come with me, quickly. Please."
"Eh? Oh eh, r-right."
Syr led him to a side alley, taking a small mirror out of her bag.
"What did you say about my eyes and hair?"
"So it really is you, Goddess?"
"Shhh! Not so loud."
"I´m sorry...what is going on?"
"Syr" moved her head from side to side, looking at the mirror. "I see nothing..."
"But your eyes are purple..."
"I...Ottar. Allen."
Bell flinched when a huge shadow came down to the street, followed by a smaller one.
"Look into my eyes, tell me the color."
""Grey.""
"My hair?"
""The usual.""
"Thank you, Ottar hide again. Allen you can go ahead, Anya should come out soon."
Both vanished again.
She looked at Bell. "How?"
"Hm?"
"How...can you see through it?"
"Goddess...what is going on here?"
"Hah..mouh."
Bell´s heart skipped a beat, Syr...his goddess...pouted.
"I practiced so much for this morning..."
"Go-"
"Syr, for now."
"R-Right. Ms. Syr...what is going on?"
"Bell, listen to me for a moment, will you?"
"Alright."
The moment turned into half an hour, while they slowly walked in a direction that Bell wasn´t familiar with, she told him something about a pub. Freya explained to him what Syr was and why she looked like this.
It broke his heart to hear her reason. And...there was a different emotion in him.
"Cute..."
"Bell?"
"It´s...cute...it lets you look...really adorable..." He muttered the words without thinking.
"M-Mouh, Bell!"
Irgh!
When she pouted again, she stole his heart even more. To see this side of his goddess too...just how adorable and lovingly could she become?! There had to be a limit, right?..right?!
"I-I´m sorry, G-Ms. Syr!"
"Making me embarrassed like that, have some shame."
"I´m sorry..."
"Bell, the deal still stands, you have to come in the evening, understood?"
"Y-Yes!"
Then...she smiled so brightly, so lovingly, cute, adorable, and beautiful, that she stole his heart even more. "And make sure to eat your lunch! I made it personally!"
He could barely reply, his mind went empty. "I-I will..."
Two and a half weeks after he joined her familia, Bell had fallen in love with his goddess. Not with "just" Syr, but with everything she was.
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.
.
Which was his luck, since it made him taste deaf...
The sandwiches in the small box were the best food he ever had, for him, it was filled with the taste of love.
Syr´s female colleagues would be shocked that someone could eat this food and still call it...tasty.
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.
When Bell returned to his home in the afternoon, he had to hurry a bit. He would take a shower, clean his equipment, and then head off to the pub. Freya had thankfully told him the name and it was famous enough that he got information on where it was.
Before he could leave his familia´s home, Heith the healer walked past him.
"Lady Freya wants to see you."
"Eh?"
A few minutes later, Bell knocked at her door.
"Come in, Bell."
"Goddess, I didn´t knock like last time, how did you notice?"
"Because I asked Heith to send you to me, obviously."
"Oh..."
Bell got a bit red and Freya giggled.
"Ahm...about this morning..."
She crossed her arms under her chest, lifting her breasts slightly up this way. "I asked many people that I could trust, but no one saw anything different."
"Oh?"
"So I wonder...why can only you see through my disguise?"
"I...don´t know."
"So we need to do something."
"Ahm, what do you need of me?"
"Updating your status."
"Oh, okay."
Bell slowly got used to taking off his shirt in front of Freya, when he turned around to sit down, he felt the eyes of a predator on him again for a split second.
Must´ve been my imagination..
The update of his status went fast, but Freya was confusingly quiet afterward.
"Goddess?"
"Bell, here."
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Bell Cranel
Belongs to: Freya familia
Level: 1
Strength: D 503
Endurance: E 442
Dexterity: E 420
Agility: D 569
Magic: I 0
Skills: Heroic Desire
Admirer of Love
Heroic Desire, Admirer of Love: Increased Growth. Continued desire to become a hero and feelings for special person will result in continued growth. Stronger feelings will result in stronger growth. Grants immunity to any form of charm, ****** ******* ******* ****** **** ****
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.
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"Woah! My status went up so much! This is amazing! And a skill! Two skills! Amazing!"
Freya had never heard about someone growing so incredibly fast. "Not two, a double skill if you want to call it that."
He didn´t have this skill yesterday, what happened? Who is this special person?! Why is he immune to my charm?! What is the meaning of this?! Who did he meet tod-...Syr?! Is this because of Syr?!
"You did good, Bell."
"Hehe, thank you!"
"But hm."
"Goddess?"
Freya smiled in a loving way. "I do wonder, who might this special person be, and an Admirer of Love?"
To her surprise, Bell went deep red. "I-I don´t know."
She saw a strange pulse in his soul, a fascinating sight."
Freya couldn´t help but tease him a little. "Did you meet someone interesting by chance, Beeell?~~~"
"P-Please don´t tease me! A-Aside from that, what does increased growth mean?
"What it says, but I don´t know how fast you will grow, we have to see that."
"Yes, it sounds awesome!"
"It surely does, I´m proud of you, Bell."
"Eheheh~~~ Oh right, ahm Goddess?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you here? I thought you were...or rather Ms. Syr...you know..."
"I have currently a break and knew you would come back here at this time."
"So ahm...shall I still come?"
Freya´s eyes glow for a moment, literally. "Absolutely. You "ruined" my fun of teasing you, so I will have to show you this side of me, show you what it means to me. So you truly understand."
"Understood."
"Really?"
"No..."
"Then I hope you will after this evening. And don´t forget, Syr is the name."
"I won´t forget it."
"Good. Now before you leave, since I need to go ahead, help Heith for a moment in the hospital. Arriving at the same time would be a small problem."
"Hay. Ahm...does she know?"
"Except for one member, which you will see this evening, all of my children know about it. So keep this secret, will you?"
"I will, I won´t disappoint you, Goddess!"
"I trust you since there might be a chance that I am that "special person", right?"
He went even more red. "G-Goddeeeess!"
"Teehee~~"
He went up to his feet. "Th-Then...see you later?"
"I´m waiting eagerly for you, Bell."
Freya felt strangely relieved when he left her room, her heart beat like a jackhammer.
Oh Bell...what are you doing to me?
The evening promised to become very interesting.