Are you my Odr? Route Freya

by Ventanus

So this is the second route of Are you my Odr? This time with Bell loving Freya, not only Syr. Rating MA

3. Training and dungeon time!

Author´s Note: Hello everyone, thank you so much for these Reviews, especially again these really long ones.^^ Some people wrote they were looking for a story that gives Freya love, I will do my best, since I too like her very much.

A small note, I had to change the name of Bell´s base to "small Sessrumnir", I thought I came up with a good and unique name from the northern myth of Freya...turns out the high Executives of Freya familia have a room where they gather to discuss stuff...this room is also called "Sessrumnir"...

Damn you, Omori!

So, for now it´s "small Sessrumnir", until I find a better name.

Also, I decided that "My Odr." won´t be part two of this story, instead it will go it´s own route. So that I have all three possible routes I could think of for Freya covered.

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"Haaaaaaaaah!~~~~~"

Hestia had the exact same reaction as Rose had when she first saw the "small Sessrumnir".

Freya giggled. "I take it that you like it, Hestia?"

"Of course I do!"

Hestia looked down at her new outfit, tears of happiness in her eyes.

"Thank you so much, Freya!"

"Now, now. Don´t make your outfit wet with tears, Hestia."

Since it was fun to dote on Hestia, and also because Freya held her very dear for a special reason,...and of course because she would represent her in a way, Freya went all out and bought a few outfits, that looked very good on Hestia, but were at the same time as chaste and innocent as the small goddess.

Her main outfit as the housekeeper, was a long, white tunic, with bare shoulders and arms, there was no cleavage at all. She had a golden belt, with a blue cloth hanging down from her hip at the front. The tunic stopped a hand wide above her feet. So, Hestia could walk around inside the house barefoot or with shoes. Freya made sure to buy her comfortable shoes to go outside, fluffy slippers for her own room...and of course a fancy dress and fine shoes for parties.

But right now, with her attire, Hestia looked very much like the Goddess of the Hearth that she was.

The question was, why was Hestia so special for Freya?

Hestia was one of the three great celestial virgins. Athena, Artemis, and herself.

There were other virgin goddesses, like Astrea. But Astrea was a minor virgin goddess, it wasn´t one of her main topics to reside over. The three celestial virgins were immune to Freya´s nature as a Goddess of Beauty and Love, like some other gods called, "Anathema". If Freya ever decided to rule supreme over heaven, by charming everyone, these three could and would stop her.

Yet, among the three celestial virgins, Hestia was special. Because she wasn´t repelled by Freya´s nature. Artemis was disgusted by her on a natural level because she was the exact opposite of Freya, the Goddess of the Hunt, who couldn´t even stand being close to Freya...something that Freya pretended to never hurt her. Athena was more in the middle of acceptance but still didn´t like Freya at all. Not because Freya ever did something bad in heaven, just because it was possible that she could do it.

And Hestia...she didn´t have a problem with Freya at all. She was by far the most innocent and pure among the three virgins, Hestia would probably even get deep red if she saw a man without a shirt.

Hestia never held back with teasing Freya when she deserved it, and since she was immune to Freya, the Goddess of Love knew, that when Hestia spoke nicely of or with her, it was genuine. Demeter was also mostly immune to Freya´s nature, but not completely. Yet these two were the only true friends that Freya had among the gods.

"Can I go and see my room now?!"

"Of course, it is on the second floor. Only your room and Bell´s are there, so make sure you don´t walk in the wrong one, alright?"

"Won´t do!"

Hesita ran like a happy child up the stairs.

"Bell, would you be a gentleman and carry Hestia´s bags up? I don´t think she is strong enough to handle them."

"Of course."

"So, Rose, I will take my leave, I still have things to do. I´m sure Hestia would love it if you could show her all the functions in the bathroom."

"And I will gladly do so!"

Freya chuckled when she saw how her newest follower was easily influenced by the bath.

"Then take the evening to get to know each other, starting tomorrow will be harsh for you."

"I will do my best."

The goddess nodded. "Don´t do it to impress me, Rose. Do it for yourself, and for Bell, who is your partner in the dungeon. But only in the dungeon. I don´t want one of you to get hurt. And in case you do, out of the dungeon and immediately to the Andhrimnir, understood?"

"Yes, of course. Also, I don´t have feelings of affection for Bell, I barely know him..."

Freya smiled. "Then I won´t have to be worried, that one of you gets distracted in the dungeon."

Rose shook her head. "I know how dangerous it is in there, enough young adventurers died early!"

The werewolf clapped her hands in front of her mouth when the outburst came way more emotional than it was intended, shocked that she talked like that with the goddess.

Freya just smiled.

"Good, good evening then, Rose."

"G-Good evening, Lady Freya. And thank you, thank you for everything!"

"Ehehe~~ Oh, by the way, Rose?"

"Yes?"

"Could I ask you one thing regarding me?"

"What is it?"

"Please, never lose the sharp tongue you use, how you talked towards adventurers. I find it quite refreshing having someone talk to me like that."

"I´ll try my best."

"Just be natural, yes?"

Rose nodded.

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The only reason why Bell wasn´t commonly disliked by his familia, for gaining a lot of Freya´s attention these days, was the fact that he threw himself between her and the boiling soup. Well...and the fact that the Andhrimnir liked him, so every Einherjar that would make Bell problems would get a problem with them.

In the evening, after Bell took a quick shower since he wanted to give Rose and Hestia time to have the bath for themself and take a long bath, he went down to the living room, looking at the various couches and armchairs. Freya told him as the leader of the dungeon group, it would be his right to claim the first armchair for himself. But Bell had seen how Hestia and Rose had looked at two specific ones, so he wouldn´t take these. He didn´t care too much about a personal one.

A soft knock came from the door.

"Coming."

He wondered who might it be at this hour, Bell got his answer when he opened the door.

"Heith, good evening."

"Good evening...Bell..."

"Dear heavens...you look so exhausted! Let me take these bags from you."

"Thank you...I´m very tired..."

He opened the door more, took the two bags that Heith carried, and invited her inside. "But why did you come here instead of going to sleep then?"

"Lady Freya told me none of you can really cook, so I brought some of the stuff that the Einherjar didn´t get, so you would have something too. We don´t throw food away here."

"I could´ve come over and take it, you shouldn´t have come here...a girl like you shouldn´t work so hard."

Heith raised an eyebrow. "That again? I did what Lady Freya asked me to do, don´t question my loyalty towards her."

"I would never do that."

Heith smiled tired. "I know, you´re not like the others."

He noticed her outfit. "Did you come here directly after cleaning up the hospital?"

"No, first we had to feed the Einherjar."

"Then...would you like to use our bath? It´s pretty luxurious, Rose and Lady Hestia are already in there, so there is plenty of hot water."

"Ngh...I don´t know..."

"And maybe we could all eat together then? I´m sure it is more fun than doing that alone in your room."

"Mh..alright."

It was good that Heith had a small bag of fresh clothes with her since the Andhrimnir also washed their own clothes in the small hospital.

Bell showed her the way to the bath, and then he went down to the kitchen, taking the food out of the two bags. Up in the bath, Heith was introduced to Hestia, and again to Rose. She would get along quite well with both. With Rose as a fellow redhead and bath enjoyer. And with Hestia as a strong believer in pig-tail supremacy.

And truly, this bath was pure luxury...maybe...if Freya allowed it...Heith would come here more often. Of course, Freya would allow it, all too soon Heith would come every evening, making it so that when Bell and Rose came to get their check-up and get healed.

Since Freya liked the idea, she would make Heith an official member of the Skjaldarleidangur, which meant she could come and go to "small Sessrumnir" whenever she wanted. Even using the luxurious bath when the party would be in the dungeon, or later on an Expedition. This way, Hestia also wouldn´t be alone these days.

And the goddess would have plenty of fun joining her children on a nice evening in their "small" home.

In the end, Heith was so tired from her work, that after a long bath, and a good meal, she almost fell asleep at the table. Bell offered to carry her back to her room, but Hestia crossed her hands in a gesture that meant to stop him.

"Nope, can´t do, won´t do, Mister! Freya ordered me to keep things chaste here."

Bell blinked. "Eh? I didn´t intend t-"

"What do you think the others would see if you carry an exhausted, sleeping woman out of your home, back to her room, after she was here for two hours?!"

"I can´t follow..."

"They might think little Heith is just a convenient food deliverer for you. Also, you would have to go into the part that is reserved for women. And Rose doesn´t know the way. Just let her sleep in one of the rooms, it would be the best."

"I...alright."

"But you won´t carry her there, Rose, help me. Can´t let him carry a young woman into a bedroom, this might shame her."

"I don´t intend to do anything to Heith!"

"That is not what I mean. But she is asleep, she might misunderstand the situation if you put her on the bed and she wakes up at this very moment. How would your developing friendship then end?"

"You...you are right..."

Hestia smirked and puffed out her...enormous...chest. "Hehe, of course I am! Leave it to me, Freya! I will do my job perfectly!"

The small goddess was very eager to do a good job.

Yet...it turned out that Rose, with her fresh blessing, and Hestia, didn´t have the strength to carry Heith properly. So in the end, Bell did it, carrying her like a princess, while Hestia accompanied him, just in case Heith woke up and misunderstood the situation. It was a bit awkward to carry Heith like that, but the healer always had taken good care of Bell, and...it looked almost like she enjoyed it a bit. If he could repay her like this even a tiny bit, he was glad.

Still, Hestia shooed him out of the room after he gently lay Heith down on the bed, the exhausted healer didn´t wake up.

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In the morning, Heith would wake up in a quite pleasant, yet surprising way.

Someone was stroking her hair.

"Mnghl?..."

"Ehehe~~~ Wakey, wakey, sleepyheaaad~~~~"

The one who was gently stroking her hair was Syr.

"Huh? Eh...wha...Lady Syr?"

"Hehe, you slept very long today, Heith."

"Why are you in my room, Milady?"

"This isn´t your room, you didn´t return after going to Bell´s house last night...you naughty girl."

Heith went deep red. "I-It´s not like this!"

"Ehehehe!~~~ I know, I´m just messing with you. The other Andhrimnir are already preparing breakfast. I came to get Bell and Rose, and to wake you up."

"I...I have no excuse for this..."

"Awwww, don´t look so down, you little cutie pie! It´s good that you got a long night of sleep.~~~"

As usual, once Freya took Syr´s form, she always acted in this cheerful way. Which...was very nice in its own way. And unlike Allen, Heith didn´t dislike it when Freya showed this side of her.

"Hehe~~ Did you enjoy the bath last night?"

"I...did..."

"That´s good. I already talked with Lady Hestia, telling her Lady Freya would allow you to come and use it whenever you want."

Freya was very good with her disguise, never did she have a slip of the tongue. But..it was a bit weird hearing her talking about herself.

"How can I thank you for all that?"

"Thanking me? Lady Freya said you deserve this since you always work so hard. Now I have to go, don´t work too hard today, Heiiith!~~~"

Syr waved while she left the room.

Heith rubbed her face, then she got out of bed, a knock came from the door.

"Heith?"

"Lady Hestia, good morning."

"Good morning, I prepared the bath for a morning shower."

"Thank you."

Hestia nodded and went out of the room, so she could start working on her job.

It wasn´t the worst morning Heith ever had.

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"And you belong to the familia too?"

Rose looked at Syr, who walked with her and Bell in the direction of the pub.

"Jup! But I have a room somewhere else."

"Why that?"

"Personal reasons, Folkvangr is too rough for me."

"And yet you came to pick us up, why?"

"Because Bell is a friend, I was curious about you. I had to talk with Lady Freya about something and came to see Heith. Also, I work at the hostess too."

"Oh, I didn´t know that."

"Weeeeell...how should you?~~~ Ehehe!"

Rose quickly got that Syr was quite a cheerful person.

"By the waaay...you look pretty good in that armor, and the white clothes suit you."

"Oh, thanks..."

Rose noticed how curious Syr looked at her ears and tail, her hands twitched slightly...probably very curious to touch them. Her tail curled to the other side, making sure Syr couldn´t touch it, the girl pouted slightly.

Then Syr looked at Bell and smiled. "And you look pretty fancy too, that white and grey outfit, together with your armor and that shield."

"I´m very thankful to Goddess for everything, I will make good use of the shield."

"That´s good. Equipment can be replaced, you two can´t."

Syr´s warm smile even touched Rose´s heart.

The werewolf looked over her shoulder, she could´ve sworn that someone was somewhere behind them...or was it at their side? In front of them? It was strange.

Allen made sure he remained hidden, not only to continue his job but also to keep his distance from the red-haired werewolf woman. On a natural level, he was repelled by werewolves. And to think both of them would now train with spears...the wolf even with Anya!

Tsk.

Allen didn´t like it at all.

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"Sooooo, you two!~~ I will leave you in the very professional hands of Anya and Ryu! Listen to everything they have to say. E~~ve~~ry~~thing!~~~"

Anya yawned slightly, rubbing one of her eyes. Her ears and tail hung down, it didn´t look like she was a morning person...cat. But then again, it was even earlier than intended. Freya had exchanged a message with Mia, that Bell and Rose would get two hours of training in the morning, not only one. In exchange, Ryu´s and Anya´s payments would get doubled.

Ryu on the other hand wore a light training outfit, fitting for an elf. While Anya carried a golden ornamented spear, Ryu had two short swords, of a far-eastern style.

"Mr. Cranel, Ms. Fannet, good morning."

"Good morning, Ms. Leon."

Rose nodded. "Good morning."

Anya yawned again. "Mornin´...Bell, Rose..."

Since Bell had given her a delicious dessert as a snack, Anya already liked him enough to use his first name. And she had known Rose long enough.

"Anya, behave yourself."

"Sleepy..."

"I would like to apologize for my friend, Anya isn´t good at getting up early."

Bell smiled gently. "It isn´t a problem."

"Yes it is, as a teacher, Anya should behave better."

"Nyu...too earrrly for nyour scolding...*yawn*"

Syr´s voice came from the inside.

"Anyaaaaaa~~ Shall I tell Lady Freya that you´re slacking off on your first day alreadyyyyyy?~~~"

"Unya! Meow is awake!"

"Hehe, gooood~~~"

Ryu sighed but smiled slightly. "Alright, then let us begin. Mr. Cranel, how much experience do you have using a spear?"

"None."

"Then you will have to later spar with Anya too."

"Understood."

"Ms. Fannet, do you have any experience in fighting at all?"

"No."

Ryu nodded. "Then I will take care of your sword training, while Anya teaches you about spears. We will train for an hour, then switch partners."

Bell and Rose nodded with determined expressions. ""Understood!""

The two-hour training session would only last for the first week, then they would go down to one hour, as intended.

It looked like Anya was now becoming awake. "Alright, meow."

"Anya, just be careful that you don´t damage the building by accident, or Mama Mia will get mad."

"Meow knows that..."

The inner courtyard was separated into two halves, one for Bell and Ryu, the other for Anya and Rose.

Ryu rolled her shoulders slightly to relax them, Anya playfully whirled her spear around in a complex manner around her body. If Bell or Rose tried to do this, they would cut themself with the spear blade. For Anya it looked so easy and natural to do that, she even held her eyes closed!

Both remembered one thing that Freya told them and mentioned in the pub. According to Freya´s opinion, Anya was the second-best spear user in Orario.

Right after Allen Fromel, a bit before Alfrik of the Gulliver brothers, then apparently came a long time nothing, then a few other people...then around place twenty or so, the captain of the Loki familia. All the other people were members of Freya´s familia.

At least...this was Freya´s opinion on the skills of her followers. Bell guessed that there was maybe a slight joke or jealousy in her words since the captain of the Loki familia surely was strong and good.

But when he saw how Anya moved...not only Rose gulped.

"Ms. Fannet."

"Yes, Ms. Leon?"

"Anya is a bit bad at holding back, be warned."

"U-Understood."

Bell went pale. Wait! Didn´t Goddess say that Ms. Leon was bad at holding back?! That no one of the others wanted to train with her anymore?! And she says Ms. Anya is bad at holding back?!

Maybe...just maybe...did Bell upset Freya in any way...so that she got Ryu and Anya as their trainers for a reason?!

Ryu nodded to the part where she would train with Bell.

"Take your shield and sword, we will begin. Time is of the essence."

"Understood!"

Anya leaned her spear onto her shoulder. "Follow meow, we will begin with the basics. You use a shield too, Meow?"

"Yes, Lady Freya ordered us to do it."

Anya nodded. "Alrrrright, Meow."

Bell had to focus on Ryu now, he would get his lessons from Anya afterward.

"At first I will test how well you react with your shield. Defend yourself!"

Ryu moved forward, it wasn´t a sudden dash or jump, and she wasn´t even close to Hogni´s speed, then again she probably held back a lot. The sword strike from the side was easy to block with his shield...

But he almost broke onto his knees from the strength and sheer impact! Ryu was much stronger than she looked like!

"Sword!"

Hastily, he pulled up his sword to parry her weapon. His sword was a bit longer and wider than that of her, but that didn´t mean parrying her weapon would be easier.

Ryu moved in a circle around him, forcing Bell to move on his own. She didn´t really attack him seriously, it was more that she was testing out what he could do so far, how much experience he had.

Anya on the other hand didn´t attack Rose, at first she showed her what pose to use, how to thrust her spear forward, and how to block with the shield, without risking it blocking her field of view. While she explained it, Anya casually whirled her spear around, maybe it was a habit?

Rose had a few problems, since it was her first training, her sheathed sword got in the way more than one time.

"Sorry...I stumble again and again..."

"It´s nyour first training, Meow. All good." Anya smiled in a friendly way.

"Now try attacking Meow, don´t worrrry, nothing will happen, Meow." It sounded strange how Anya sometimes pulled the letter R long as if she was purring.

For now, Anya focused on the basics, easily parrying Rose´s spear, never countering.

Ryu on the other hand... moved now faster and stronger, attacking Bell with a whirlwind of slashes, he didn´t even have a chance to counter.

Every few minutes, Ryu increased the pace of her attacks, forcing Bell to go all out. Soon he started to sweat. Ryu never went too far, and went on the perfect level to make it very challenging for Bell, but not impossible. The way she managed to draw out everything he knew and was capable of, was amazing.

He didn´t have any time to look how Rose did, only saw Anya´s golden spear blinking now and then, and Rose´s red mane. This training was...perfect. Ryu was an amazing trainer, it was far better than the baptism in Folkvangr since this here was actual training!

The hour went by quickly, it was almost over when...

Ryu spun around backward...and accidentally hammered the pommel of her sword against Bell´s cheek, sending him fly into a few empty barrels. Just for a second, Ryu got too excited about having a new training partner, who was promising...

"Ah, Mr. Cranel!"

The crash was loud enough to alarm the people in the kitchen. But it wasn´t Mia who came out. Slowly...very slowly...and in an almost creepy, frightening way, slid Syr´s head out into view from behind the doorframe.

"Ryyyyy...uuuuuu...whaaaaat diiiiid youuuuu doooooo?..."

"I´m sorry! I´m sorry, Mr. Cranel! S-Syr! Please don´t look at me like that! You´re scary!"

"Is that sooooooo?..."

Bell got groaning up to his feet, Anya and Rose came to them as well. Anya had her spear leaning at her shoulder, sighing.

"Silly Nyu...are nyou an airhead, Meow?"

"B-Be quiet, Anya! Mr. Cranel, are you hurt?"

"No, it´s alright...and in case, we have a few healing potions from the Andhrimnir..."

Syr looked pretty upset and pouted. "But these are meant for the dungeon, and only in emergencies, right? Nothing you should use in training. Ryu, how could you hit him like that? Seriously...Anya can hold herself back way better..."

"Ungh...I´m a useless elf..." Ryu slumped down to her knees.

Even when Anya was one of her best friends, to get compared to that natural airhead and lose...hurt her elven pride.

"Ryu, now, now...you should heal Bell. See? His cheek starts to swell."

"You´re right...please accept my apology, Mr. Cranel."

"Ish ishn´t a phrohblehm, weahhy."

For a second, Lunor and Chloe glanced out of a window, shaking their heads before they continued their work. Ryu´s ears got even more red.

Anya looked at Rose, who panted slightly. "Nyu did good, Rose."

"Thank you, Anya."

While Ryu raised her hand and mumbled in a low voice, Syr looked at Bell and Rose. "No talking about Ryu´s magic, okay? It´s a secret that no one outside of here should know."

Both nodded.

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"Noah Heal."

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Green light enveloped Bell´s face, giving him a pleasant feeling, similar to Heith´s healing magic. The others could see how his face got normal again.

"Thank you for healing me, Ms. Leon."

"Don´t thank me, I hurt you, it´s the least I can do to take responsibility."

"Understood. Then...we switch partners now?"

"Yes."

Bell followed Anya to the other side of the inner courtyard, while Rose remained with Ryu, putting the spear aside and unsheathing her sword. Ryu would show Rose the basics first, letting her do test swings, and showing her how to attack.

Anya let Bell hold his spear, walking around him for a moment...sniffing him. "Ms. Anya?"

"Nothing. Do nyou know how to use a spear, Meow?"

"No, I saw a few in..." Bell stopped himself, Freya told him not to mention Folkvangr´s or the baptism´s name in Anya´s presence. "A few at home using them."

Anya nodded for a moment. "All brutes, no brain like the smart Anya! Meow will show you!"

Bell noticed Syr´s face for a moment, looking out of the kitchen, she smiled happily.

Anya´s training was as exhausting as Ryu´s but in a different way. After showing him the basics, Anya let him attack her, easily deflecting all attacks.

Ryu´s training was exciting and intense, Anya´s, while also hard, was...fun. It was really fun to train with Anya for some reason. And he noticed one thing, even when Anya only sweat very slightly...she smelled really good! Really good!

After she was sure he understood the basics, Anya carefully attacked on her own, so that he would get used to defending himself with his shield, while he held his spear and had his sword at his hip.

Bell had similar problems as Rose since he wasn´t used to it. But he managed well enough.

Eventually, Syr leaned out of the window. "You four, time´s up. Come in, breakfast is ready!"

Bell slowly lowered his spear, taking a deep breath, he did sweat quite a bit, but not as much as Rose, who panted, shaking her weapon hand to relax it.

Anya hummed, now that the training was over, she would receive two special dessert snacks today.

Two!

It promised to be a good day, she was humming and swinging her spear a bit...making herself trip backward.

"Meow!"

Of course, she would´ve been able to catch herself, but Bell was behind her.

And well..Bell already developed a habit.

He immediately let his own spear and shield fall down, catching Anya in his arms. His left arm went around her hip to her front, below her chest, the right arm below his left, but above Anya´s hips, her behind even got pushed against his lap...

And dear heavens...

Anya was soft! So soft to touch!

"M-Meow?!"

"Are you alright, Ms. Anya?"

"Oh, thank nyou, white hair!" She smiled brightly, not one bit flustered.

"Not for that."

Before he could let go of her, Bell again noticed just how good Anya smelled, even more now than before. And to his surprise, Anya moved her face closer to him, sniffing.

"Nyou smell really good, Meow!~~"

"You also smell very good, Ms. An-"

Before he could finish his answer, the abashed voice of a certain elf came from the side.

"What are you two doing there?! Anya, that´s rude to sniff Mr. Cranel! Mr. Cranel! Where do you have your hands?!"

Anya grinned and went away from Bell. "Nyu, he just caught meow."

Bell couldn´t know how close he came to getting killed or maybe at least beaten up...a bit away on a rooftop, Allen´s fists clenched hard when he saw how Bell held his little sister...

After Bell let go of her, Anya thanked Bell and went to her room to put her spear away.

Syr looked curious out of the door. "Did something happen?"

"Ms. Anya made a misstep, and I caught her in my arms, hugging her, she got pushed against me, I had no ulterior motives."

"Is that so? Well, then that´s alright!~~~"

Ryu looked flustered. "S-Syr!"

"It´s alright, Ryu. I trust Bell, he doesn´t have naughty thoughts. In fact, you should praise him, for catching Anya and dropping his equipment for that. Remarkable."

"You´re...right..."

"Hehe, see? Bell isn´t a bad boy.~~"

Bell noticed on the side, that Ryu didn´t sweat at all, and she was in perfect balance.

"Is something wrong, Mr. Cranel?"

"No, nothing."

Syr led them into the main room of the pub, tables had been pushed together so that all the staff members could sit there and eat.

Rose held her stomach. "Irgh...I´m starving..."

Bell nodded. "Me too..."

Syr showed them two empty seats. "Then sit down, breakfast will come immediately."

"Thank you..."

"Yeah...thank you..."

The waitresses moved with great skill and coordination around them, placing many plates on the table, as well as bowls with bread, vegetables, eggs, and all the other things one could wish for at breakfast. Mia was the last to come in, together with Syr, who carried a single plate.

Mia placed a plate in front of Rose, it was filled with the most delicious breakfast she had ever seen. It was accompanied by a small bowl, containing a special pudding with sweet fruits, drizzled with chocolate.

"Haaaaaah!~~~~" Rose´s tail started to wag heavily.

Syr looked very interested at the tail again, then she smiled and placed a plate in front of Bell.

"Since you saved me from the boiling soup, here is your reward, I made your breakfast personally!"

Personally!

Personally...

nally...

nally...

Like an echo wandered Syr´s words through the main room, every single staff member froze.

"Oh, except for the dessert bowl, that was made by Mama Mia."

He received the same kind of bowl as Rose did, but Bell´s eyes were fixed on the plate in front of him.

It contained, burned toast, burned eggs, burned salad...how did Syr get it burned?...burned orange juice in a glass, a bit of burned tea in a cup, brown butter, Mia was actually happy about Syr accidentally discovering how to make brown butter, it was quite delicious.

For Bell, it looked like heaven, since the girl...the woman he had a crush on, his beloved goddess...made this for him.

"You made all that by yourself?"

Bell noticed a few small wound plasters on Syr´s hands.

"Oh, it wasn´t much. The bread is an invention of Mama Mia. It´s made with Thyme, other herbs, garlic, and mountain cheese."

The only difference was, since Mia made the same bread, her bread wasn´t burned...yet..both loaves of bread went into the oven at the same time...how did Syr manage to burn it?

She could see how his soul lit up.

"Thank you so much, Syr! The scent is to die for! I love garlic, herbs, and thyme!"

Good to know!

Freya made herself a mental note.

The others misunderstood this sentence completely.

"I can´t wait to taste it!"

With a horrified expression, the other staff members looked at Bell...but they had to admit that Syr´s expression, how she blushed and giggled...was very cute.

"It isn´t that much..."

"Still, thank you so much!"

It made Freya genuinely happy, Bell was completely honest, and even his soul looked happy!

Everyone sat down, Syr next to Bell. But before they started to eat, Bell looked a bit unhappy.

"Is something...wrong?..."

"Ahm...the dessert...would someone else eat it for me? Maybe you, Ms. Leon?"

"I thank you for the friendly offer, but no. I´m fine with my breakfast."

"But..Ms. Rose and I are the only ones with such a dessert."

Mia nodded. "That goddess ordered breakfast for you, so I´ll give you only the best breakfast since you go into the dungeon. So eat up, fill your bellies."

"But...isn´t that expensive?"

"Pretty much, but not your problem, she pays for it."

Bell didn´t dare to glance at Syr, but she didn´t seem to be upset, she looked rather happy right now.

"Then...would one of the others may-"

Anya´s hand shot upwards before one of the others could even think about it. Not that they would´ve tried to "steal" it from Anya. Since she was such a smart cat, she wouldn´t order two dessert snacks this evening, despite the doubled payment. Instead, she would now have these desserts for five weeks, instead of four!

And now, for four weeks...even have dessert in the morning!

Bell smiled. "Here you go, Ms. Anya."

"Whaaaaa!~~~ Meow, loves nyou, white hair!"

Ryu got quite red. "Anya! What are you saying?!"

"Meow?" Anya tilted her head, confused about Ryu´s outburst.

Syr giggled. "Ryu, I don´t think Anya meant it in a romantic way, right Anya?"

"Obviously, Meow. Nyu is such an airrrhead these days. So many pervy thoughts, Meow."

"Nah!" Ryu got even more red when the other staff members started to chuckle.

"I´m not perverted, take that back!" Bell had never before seen an embarrassed elf, and this one was extremely embarrassed.

Mia knocked on the table. "Girls, eat."

"""""""""""""""""""Haaay.""""""""""""""""""""""""

Rose...forgot her table manners a bit, she started to wolf her breakfast down because she was so hungry...and the taste was just too good.

Mia grinned. "There is plenty of food, don´t worry."

Rose cried, she couldn´t help it, the taste was so good...she couldn´t help but cry.

As did Bell.

He cried.

The staff members thought it was because the taste now got to him, and indeed it did.

He swallowed.

"It´s...so...so...goood! Ms. Syr, this tastes amazing!"

Love was a powerful ingredient in food...and thankfully it made Bell taste-deaf.

And also...

The sounds that came from his stomach, let some of the girls shiver. It sounded like his body fought an all-out war against the food, yet he smiled. Even when his skin turned more and more red, and he sweat more than during the training...he smiled.

Syr glanced with an abashed expression at him, the others saw it, the birth of the true Maiden Syr.

"So...you really like it?"

"Yes, it´s wonderful! I love how the scrambled eggs tingle slightly on my tongue, and the garlic you put in it, also the crunchy feeling!"

Syr didn´t use any garlic.

The other staff members could only watch in horror how Bell ate the breakfast, his stomach soon became quiet, it looked like his body defeated whatever had attacked it from the inside. Maybe...maybe Bell´s stomach was a bit like the dungeon?

But none of them said anything, Ryu especially was happy about how joy-filled Syr´s expression was.

"Oh, Bell, that makes me so happy!~~"

"Hehe, I could eat this every day of my life."

"Mmmh!" Syr clapped her hands in front of her mouth, getting deep red.

None of what she did was just acting, which surprised her. Freya never felt like this before for someone.

Mia knocked on the table, getting Bell´s attention. "Even when you´re happy with the food, you´re making my other girls depressed when you flirt with Syr like that."

"Mouh, Mama Mia!" Syr hid her red face behind her hands.

Bell blushed. "I-I´m not flirting! It´s just really good! At the same level as the food I ate here the other day."

Now Mia´s eyebrow rose dangerously a bit. "Hoooh..."

Most of the staff members went stiff, insulting Mia was a quick way into an early grave.

Syr now lowered her hands a bit, looking really adorable as she glanced at Bell. "Would you...maybe...like to try a brownie I made?"

"Is it...sweet?"

Syr beamed all over her face. "Don´t worry! I made it without sugar!~~"

"Oh? Then gladly."

"Ehehe~~~ I´ll be back in a minute!~~"

Lunor leaned to Ryu and whispered. "Didn´t Syr make you try these brownies?"

"She did, and they were delicious. A bit charred, but not bad."

"Ryu...your expression tells me you stared too long into the void...and the void stared back at you."

"Just your imagination."

.

.

.

Ryu remembered this moment...it was like yesterday to her.

Well...it was only two days ago actually.

Syr had come with a basket to her. "Ryu, do you have a moment?"

"Syr?"

"Could you taste-test something for me?"

When Syr opened the basket, Ryu saw something...black.

"What is this?"

"Ehe, I got fired up and tried to make a pie by myself, you know, since we sell a lot during the upcoming Monster Philia. But they were a bit too complicated, I guess...Mrgh...I don´t get why they ended up charred..."

Ryu looked at the table behind Syr, there were a lot of recipes there. So even when Syr hid it behind a joke, Ryu knew she was actually serious.

She must´ve tried many different times, I can´t let her get depressed over this...I have to cheer her up.

Ryu took one of the brownies and bit into it, she managed to hide the shiver of her body.

"Ryu?"

"It´s a little charred indeed, but it isn´t bad."

Ryu had turned to the window as if she was just looking outside.

"Ryu?...Ryu, what is wrong?! Your face looks really bad reflected in the window!"

Her body had shivered all over, she was sweating, barely managing to keep at least a stern expression.

"I-It´s nothing, it´s alright."

"Ehehehe~~~ You´re too kind.~~"

"Huh?"

"By the way, there are other ones, would you like to try a bite?"

"!"

"I´ll make something more delicious next time.~~~"

Ryu almost fainted, but she didn´t say anything.

.

.

.

Her "trauma" returned when Syr placed a brownie in front of Bell.

Anya made sure that her dessert wouldn´t even get close to this...THING!

Syr watched curious as Bell took a bite, and made a face.

"Oh...it isn´t good?"

The others could feel with him, but making Syr sad...wouldn´t be forgiven.

"The sweetness is perfect, I like the general taste. Just the chocolate..."

"So you don´t like anything sweet at all?"

"No...I´m sorry. Otherwise, it´s really good."

Syr smiled, and her heart raced. "Ehehe~~~"

.

.

.

After breakfast was over, Syr handed Bell and Rose two small packages. "Breakfast here comes with a packed lunch for the dungeon. Mama Mia made yours, Ms. Rose. And Bell...I made yours..."

He smiled. "Thank you, I will gladly eat them."

"Th-Then have a safe trip, you two."

"Thank you, until later."

She wished them goodbye and closed the door behind them. As soon as they were a few meters away, Syr turned around, leaned against the door, and slowly slid to the ground, her heart was beating like a jackhammer, and her face was crimson.

What is this...what is this unknown happiness in my heart?

Chloe, Lunor, and Ryu noticed Syr sitting at the door, squealing.

"Nya..."

"Oh man...she´s head over heels for him."

"Syr..."

Mia shooed them to do their work. "Let her cool down, she won´t be good for anything right now."

"""Yes, Mama Mia."""

While they went to work, Ryu looked over her shoulder to Syr, whose expression changed between a slightly mad grin, a happy smile, and other expressions. As if her brain didn´t know which expression was the best right now.

Syr pressed a hand over her heart, it felt like it was trying to escape from her chest.

Not only were her cheeks red, they were extremely hot.

She gasped and panted.

No one.

No one had ever reacted like that to her food before!

While Ryu had tried to be kind, she felt the "lie". Anya, Chloe, Lunor, and the others simply collapsed!

Allen even had the nerve to almost die as if she had poisoned him!

But Bell...he had enjoyed it...he had been honest.

"Oh Bell...what are you doing to me..."

Ryu decided to keep an eye on Bell, not that he actually turned out to be a bad guy, this would break Syr´s heart.

.

.

.

.

Bell noticed that Rose was nervous, which he could understand.

"The monsters on the first floor aren´t strong and are mostly alone. At maximum, there are three of them together, but this is already rare."

"It´s my first time in the dungeon..."

"I´m with you, Rose. We will keep it safe."

"I hope I can do this."

"I´m sure of it."

Soon, the first monster came into view. Unlike Bell´s first encounter, this one wasn´t a goblin, but a kobold. Rose´s expression changed a bit, Bell heard that a few types of animal people, especially werewolves, deeply despised kobolds on a natural level.

"I´m behind you, Rose."

"Understood."

She moved carefully forward, holding her shield and spear as Anya had shown her.

"Grrrrr." The kobold growled as soon as it noticed Rose, this one didn´t even have a dungeon weapon, just its claws.

With blind aggression, the kobold charged at Rose, she thrusted her spear forward, and the kobold ran right into it.

The surprising resistance, the sucking smack as the tip of her spear penetrated the kobold's chest, the brief scrape over bone, then the slip in and pierce the heart...followed by the monster's subsequent gasp...and the way it went limp on her spear ...

Rose dropped her spear, backed away, and covered her mouth with her hand, almost throwing up, she shivered.

Bell gently put his free hand on her shoulder.

"Rose, it´s alright, I´m here."

"Urgh...I...just took a life..."

"No, you slew a monster, not a person."

Rose swallowed hard.

"It´s better if you turn around for a moment, I will cut out the magic stone."

"Thank you..."

Bell ripped Rose´s spear out of the kobold´s chest, handing it back to her. Cleaning it up, so that she wouldn´t slip due to the fat and blood on the blade, distracted Rose from the noises when Bell dug out the magic stone. As soon as he pulled the stone out, the kobold crumbled to ash.

"So...that´s what it looks like..."

"Yes, when you take the stone out or destroy it with your weapon, no corpse remains."

"That...lets them somehow look...otherworldly?"

"I heard that in ancient times, and still today in some places, they aren´t called monsters, but demons."

"Demons?"

"Yes, since they are so different from people...and those in the dungeon don´t even seem to have a mind. On the surface, a bit away from Orario, monsters like blood saurier are more like giant, aggressive animals."

"Hm...thank you, Bell. For being there for me."

"It´s no problem, Rose. Shall we continue?"

Rose took her helmet off for a moment, she got one with extra holes for her ears. She checked her hair if the ponytail was still holding, and then she put the helmet back on. With a mane like hers, she had to make sure it didn´t get in the way.

Apparently, the design came from Freya herself. Rose would become what Freya called "Her second Valkyrie", both didn´t know who the first one was.

"Yes, let us continue."

He smiled. "If something happens, I will protect you."

Rose smiled too. "Then thank you, Leader."

While they continued their way, Bell explained what he knew about monsters, about the myths about them. Rose´s face got dark.

"That about Goblins...is that true?"

"There are ancient stories where they did these things, it's one of the reasons why elves especially hate them."

"Which I can understand!"

And Bell explained to her what kobolds did in the past, and why especially werewolves hated them.

"Bell...I feel myself getting more mad and angry at these monsters, than I ever became with adventurers. But I´m allowed to vent my frustration with these monsters."

"I heard adventurers come often into the dungeon, not to sharpen their skills or make money, but just to vent stress, frustration, and anger."

"Then I will do exactly that! These monsters will pay for every adventurer who ever pissed me off!"

"I am, will cover your back. Please don´t rush in too eagerly."

"I won´t."

Rose took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, rubbing her hands over her face, her expression changed. If Bell had to give it a name, he would call it "Game On".

She followed all the advice that she got from Anya and Ryu, never rushed in without thinking, and acted very well, probably also due to her enormous theoretical knowledge.

But Bell still made big eyes, Rose made herself very good!

.

.

.

.

Since Rose was, according to Freya, the guild´s best...well former...adviser, she knew how deep they could go with their current strength. Bell alone probably to the fifth floor without problem, she herself only first or at maximum second floor. But with Bell, Rose would go as far as the third floor today.

He also wore a backpack, so that Rose could focus on fighting. They went from one fight to the next, taking their time to rest in between, but after three hours, it was time to take their lunch break.

"Phew...I never had this much exercise before..."

"You´re doing good, Rose."

She had taken off her chest armor, opened the leather jerkin, which revealed her white shirt, and fanned herself. Out of courtesy, Bell didn´t look in her direction, Rose had sweat quite a lot.

"Even with just a fresh blessing, I have somehow more stamina, I doubt I could´ve fought so long without a blessing."

"Well, we took breaks."

"Still."

"Maybe, I noticed myself getting stronger whenever Lady Freya updated my status, it will be the same for you."

"I have to say, undressing my upper body in front of her was quite embarrassing, even when she only saw my back."

"I get what you mean."

Rose ate slowly and carefully, the lunch was just big enough to satisfy their hunger, but not too big so that they couldn´t continue. Bell´s was a bit bigger, and she was glad she didn´t have to eat...that.

Her sensitive werewolf nose caught the scent, something seemed to be wrong with the sandwiches that Syr had made for him. But he ate them happily.

"Bell?"

"Yes?"

"As your former adviser...why did you go down to the 5th floor when I told you not to?"

"Ahm...Just because...ahm..."

"My eyes are here, Mister."

"R-Rose, you´re too close."

"So?" Her eyes were...cold.

"I swear, you adventurers are all the same!"

"You´re now an adventurer too..."

"Don´t get cocky on me, Mister!"

"S-Sorry!"

"And why aren´t you looking at me when we speak?"

Bell still averted his face but blushed. "Y-Your shirt!"

"Hm?" Rose looked down at herself.

"Oh..right."

Even when the feeling was a bit unpleasant, Rose closed the leather jerkin again, which took a moment.

"Also, don´t put me in with you and other adventurers, I will be something different! Like a combat adviser!"

"Is that so?"

Their lunch break was interrupted by a female voice.

"Rose?"

Her red mane moved when Rose turned her head. "Hm? Oh, Riveria."

"What are you doing h..."

Riveria stopped and looked at Rose´s outfit. The white, grey, and black colors...as a member of Loki familia, she knew these colors. And the crest on Rose´s chest gave it away anyway.

"You...joined Freya familia?"

"I did."

"I only heard you resigned from the guild..."

Quick steps came closer.

"Lady Riveria, I´m sorry, I fin-Ah! It´s you!"

It was the young elf who had healed Bell after the incident.

She immediately came closer. "Are you alright? Not hurt?"

He smiled slightly. "I´m alright, thank you."

"That´s good then."

Rose ignored that Bell seemed to know this elf.

"Riveria, yes I joined Freya familia."

"But...why?"

"I have my reasons, personal reasons."

Riveria looked against her will at Bell for a moment.

Rose rolled her eyes. "No, not him."

"Hm..."

Rose sighed. "Look, I don´t care about the rivalry that the two familias have. I was your adviser for years, and even when you sometimes had weird questions for a pure Maiden like me..."

She moved her hair through her red mane, which she had opened from the ponytail.

"Even with that, I won´t see you as someone from a "rival" familia."

"Enough people in your familia would get angry for these words."

Rose shrugged her shoulders. "Won´t repeat these words in front of them."

Riveria nodded. "Good."

Then she looked at Bell. "You will protect Rose, right?"

"Of course."

"Good. Lefiya, come."

"Coming."

Riveria looked a last time at Rose, then she went in the direction of the exit. Lefiya looked curious at Rose, then at Bell, she waved slightly smiling, and followed Riveria.

"I wonder why our familias are apparently on bad terms?"

"Oh, I can explain that to you. In the guild, I heard enough about all the clashes of both familias in the city."

"They clashed?!"

"Over a dozen times, sometimes blood flew."

"Oh...But why would they fight each other when there are monsters as a threat?"

"You still have to learn about what makes adventurers into adventurers. And about politics."

"I´m sorry for giving you more work, Rose."

"No problem, let us continue."

Rose bound her hair into a ponytail again, Bell helped her with the chest armor, and then she put on her helmet.

The deepest floor they would go to at this day was the third. And on this third floor...they would experience what a monster train was...at least as far as one could happen on the 3rd floor.

Which meant only twenty monsters coming at them.

Rose would soon find out one crucial problem that Bell had.

.

.

.

"Bell..."

"Yes?"

"You will pay for this..."

"I´m sorry..."

"Sorry...won´t save you."

Rose was drenched from head to toe in monster blood, fat...and a few guts.

When the monsters came charging, after following three young adventurers, Rose was the closest one, so they went at her. Bell had jumped in to protect Rose, throwing his spear into the first monster...missing completely since he wasn´t used to it. Then he used sword and shield, not hearing Rose´s claims to fight together...he was too eager to protect her.

He...hacked the monsters apart...and Rose got showered in it.

"DO. YOU. HAVE. ANY. IDEA. HOW. EMBARRASSING. THIS. IS?!"

He couldn´t blame Rose for yelling at him, the way to Folkvangr was long..and every person on the street eyed Rose. And the long stench on Bell´s upper body. In a moment of fury, Rose had wiped her soiled tail around and flung everything that stuck to it at Bell.

Still, he looked much better than her...and smelled better.

"Urgh...I fear losing my lunch...I stink so badly..."

"Sorry..."

"If only one adventurer or former colleague sees me like this, I will make you scream."

When they arrived at the main gate of Folkvangr, Bell carefully pushed it open, there were no guards here, as usual, but he knew someone was watching the gate from afar. Since they still had to follow the orders, they would at first go to the small hospital. The Andhrimnir at first reacted in their usual way, when it looked like someone was badly hurt...annoyed.

But when they heard that Rose was mostly fine and it was all monster blood and gore...and that it was Bell´s fault...the Andhrimnir looked at him with cold eyes.

"Now he is giving us more work too..."

"I thought Bell was different..."

"Yeah..."

"Me too..."

"It was an accident!"

Still, the Andhrimnir forced Bell to clean the bloody mess that Rose left behind. At first, they thought about forcing him to wash Rose´s clothes, but since she was a woman, that wouldn´t be right for her. So Bell would clean her equipment instead.

Rose groaned when she used a special shower in the hospital, the water smelled a bit different, as if medicinal herbs or something like that were in there.

One of the Andhrimnir was outside of the shower stall and picked up Rose´s messy clothes, leaving fresh clothes and underwear for her there.

"Won´t the blood and fat clog the drain pipe?"

"Don´t worry, the stuff in the water prevents this, it will also help to get it out of your hair."

"Thank you so much..." Rose massaged her scalp and hair.

"When you´re done, come to me, I need to check on you."

"Understood, thank you."

"That´s my job."

Rose smiled slightly in the shower, she had used the exact same tone in the guild, whenever an adventurer she thought of as annoying had thanked her. But since she now gave the Andhrimnir more work, even when it was Bell´s fault...of course they would find it annoying.

While Rose showered, Bell stood in the room that Heith used when she wasn´t outside on the field to heal the Einherjar. At least this time she only let him bare his upper body.

"These scratches and bumps aren´t from monsters."

"No, it´s from the training."

Heith looked at him, as if she wanted to say "Et tu, Bell?"

"At least it´s only minor, let me heal you quickly."

"Thank you, Heith."

"That´s my job."

"Still, thank you."

"Hm, stay still for a moment."

While he didn´t have wounds on his skin, Bell felt much more relaxed when the golden light of Heith´s magic enveloped him, easing the feeling in his muscles.

"It always feels so good to get healed by you."

"And I will always heal you, I´m your personal healer after all."

Bell wanted to do something to repay Heith´s kindness, from a minor mention from Freya, Bell knew that Heith had a birthday in two weeks. Even when it wasn´t widely celebrated in Folkvangr, the Andhrimnir made a small celebration for their...often fearsome...leader.

"That reminds me, when is your work done today?"

Heith raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to flirt with me?"

"No. I just thought, since you said you would bring food over again, I should instead come and pick you u...I mean pick it up."

He didn´t want to sound as if he was hitting on her...

"That´s nice of you, I won´t say no."

Bell smiled. "And I´m sure Lady Hestia will have the bath already heated up then."

A small spark appeared next to Heith´s eye. "Good. Now go and let me do my work."

"Understood, until later, Heith."

"Until then, Bell."

A feeling spread in Bell´s heart, whenever he was with Heith, he felt safe, felt healed...which was obvious since she often healed him. It was a different feeling from what he felt for Freya, but being close to Heith put his mind at ease. That as long as she was there, he would make it.

His trust in Heith´s healing skills was absolute.

.

.

.

.

"Puh...this stuff stinks..."

"That´s why Bell will take good care of it and clean it thoroughly, right...Bell?..."

"O-Of course!"

"And you surely will make sure that it surely never happens again, riiiiiight?"

"S-Sure?"

"Good."

Hestia looked worried. "You two aren´t hurt, right?"

Rose shook her head. "Our muscles were a bit sore, only a few minor scratches from training, but everything is already healed."

"Then I´m glad, as long as you come back safely from the dungeon, I´m glad."

Rose took her time to talk with Hestia a bit, while Bell used the small armory to thoroughly take care of Rose´s equipment.

After a few hours, he was done.

Hestia waved him close as he entered the living room again. "So now, come you two! I will show Freya what an awesome housekeeper I am!"

Bell was at a loss for words, their home was already clean before, and Hestia had cleaned the little that was necessary. But the living room looked much different now. A fluffy carpet was in the middle, she had moved around the furniture, and a small fire crackled in the fireplace.

Only one word was fitting to describe everything.

Home.

"This looks amazing, Lady Hestia."

Rose nodded to agree. "Truly wonderful."

Hestia got a bit red, happy with their praise. "Hehe~~ Thank you."

A knock came from the door, Bell to a bit pale. He had forgotten to pick up Heith! And the food.

With an apologizing expression, Bell went and opened the door.

"Bell."

"Goddess?!"

Freya stood there with her arms crossed beneath her chest, Bell spotted red hair behind her.

"You promised to help Heith carry the food, and then you left her hanging."

"I´m sorry..."

"And I heard you gave the Andhrimnir more work, got Rose sullied all over, and made a mess in the hospital."

"I´m...sorry."

"Such a behavior deserves a punishment."

He gulped.

She raised her right hand and flicked against his forehead one time with her index finger...and not very hard.

Freya smiled. "This was the first part of your punishment, as for the second, you will entertain me the whole evening, and help Heith."

"Understood!"

Bell went past Freya to take the bags from Heith, the healer didn´t look mad.

Freya went inside first, which led to a reaction from Rose and Hestia.

Rose got up. "Lady Freya?"

Hestia smiled. "Freya, welcome!"

"Ehehe~~ Good evening, Rose. And Hestia, you welcome me in my own home?"

"I´m the housekeeper, so...yes!"

Freya chuckled. "We...Heith brought lots of good food. And Hestia, would you join me for a glass of wine?"

"Hm, wine.." Hestia looked at Heith, Bell, and Rose.

"Don´t worry, the young ones won´t get any alcohol."

Rose frowned slightly. "I´m twenty-eight."

"But you have to get up early tomorrow. So at maximum one glass of wine for you. Bell is too young for now, and Heith doesn´t like wine."

Hestia looked curious. "What kind of wine did you bring?"

"Hm? Ah, nothing too fancy. I think it was...Heith, what did the bottle cost again?"

"Twenty million Vals."

Hestia would´ve spat out her drink if she had sipped on one.

Rose got a bit pale. "I think I will pass...I can´t expect you to share something so exp-"

Rose stopped when she saw Heith´s dangerous glare. "Lady Freya invited you to drink a glass of wine with her, surely you won´t reject her kind offer...right?!"

The werewolf gulped. "O-Of course not."

Freya giggled. "Heith can be a bit straightforward at times."

Hestia grinned. "First let us set up the table. Freya, will you eat with us?"

"Gladly. Heith, you will sit down and relax for a moment. Bell, you will massage Heith´s shoulder as an apology."

""Understood.""

Freya wondered if Bell even knew how to give a good shoulder massage. Judging from Heith´s reaction...he did. Maybe he was just lucky, but Heith almost turned into pudding in his hands, looking more than just relaxed. If the food wasn´t put on the table, Freya was sure Heith would´ve fallen asleep any minute now.

Hestia looked at Heith´s expression, then at Bell´s hands.

Freya smiled. "Hestia, I will have the next turn of Bell´s shoulder massage."

The small goddess shook her head. "No, no. I don´t want one...really..."

"You look like you do."

"I can´t let a boy that I don´t even know for three days touch me..."

"Oh, Hestia. Didn´t you come down from heaven to experience what mortal life is like? Trust me when I tell you this, Bell massaged Heith and didn´t even have the slightest naughty thought."

"How can you know that?"

"Because I know Bell, and I´m good at judging people."

"Hm...then maybe?"

When Bell moved away from Heith, he remembered something.

"Oh, right. Lady Hestia?"

"Yes?"

"I bought something for you as a welcome gift."

"Huh?"

Bell took two simple, blue ribbons out of his backpack. "I thought maybe you could bind up your hair during your work."

"But...giving me a gift just like that..."

"I thought for a goddess, it should at least be this much."

Hestia´s eyes sparkled. "Really?! Thank you!"

Never before had she gotten a gift from a man without any intention! And it didn´t feel like Bell had any nasty intentions.

"Bell..."

He turned to Freya when he heard her voice...and she...pouted.

Then Freya grabbed his cheek and pulled it slightly, looking "upset", while still pouting.

"How dare you have the gall to stand in front of the literal Goddess of Love, who even gave you her blessing, and give another woman a gift, a goddess on top of that! You never gave me one before!"

"Ow, ow, ow! I´m shorry!"

It didn´t hurt at all...

She let him go. "Honestly..."

Bell noticed that Heith had a dangerous glare in her eyes right now.

"But, Goddess...I just don´t know what I could gift someone like you."

When she saw how uneasy Hestia looked, Freya winked. "No, honestly, you gave me the best gift possible."

"Huh, I did?"

"Yes.~~"

Freya leaned to him and whispered something in Bell´s ear, the way it looked, let Hestia blush. So lovingly, so...sensual!

"It made me really happy when you said my food is delicious."

"That´s because it is."

For a moment, visible only to him, Freya´s eyes glew.

Hestia looked extremely flustered. "Hawawawa! F-Freya! You´re so close to him!"

"So?"

"Y-You said I shall keep this house chaste!"

"But hugging my Bell is alright for me, isn´t it?"

"Y-Your Bell?!"

"Of course, he is my precious follower. Someone dear and special to me."

Then Freya looked at Heith. "Just like Heith is special in her own way."

The healer blushed heavily, as weak to Freya´s praises as everyone else in her familia.

Rose coughed slightly. "Ahm...the food is ready."

"Ah, thank you, Rose."

The werewolf had finished setting up the table, and re-heating the food in the kitchen. As someone who had lived alone, she had much experience with re-heating food...

Since the home belonged to her, normally Freya would sit at the head of the table. But following her wish, they didn´t sit at the big table. Instead, they sat on the couches and armchairs, with the small table between them.

"Hehe, it´s more cozy this way."

Freya smiled as if she had everything under control. But the truth was, since she sat next to Bell on the couch made for two people, her heart started to race again.

The goddess smiled, but only Heith noticed that the smile looked a tiny bit stiff. "The food is really good, Heith."

"Thank you, Lady Freya."

Hestia looked like she was about to cry. "A warm home, warm food...hah. Bliss."

Freya raised her glass of wine to Hestia. "Then, let's toast to keeping it that way."

"Gladly!"

When Hestia took a sip from the wine, she smiled in bliss. "Hauuu~~~ So good."

Rose´s reaction was far stronger, her tail wiped around and her ears twitched. And...she actually cried.

"This...this...something so good exists?"

Freya giggled. "Oh Rose, you almost make my heart ache when you react like that to something that simple."

"I wouldn´t call such a wine simple. This is the best wine I ever tasted."

"Ehehe~~ You will still only get one glass."

"And I will enjoy it. You have my thanks, Lady Freya. And you, Ms. Heith, for the wonderful food."

Hestia sighed. "I wish I could cook like that..."

Freya´s eyes glew for a moment. "Oh, Hestiaaaa?"

"Y-Yes?!"

"I have the perfect idea."

"Huh?"

"I will talk to my super cute Mia. When Bell and Rose go to their morning training, I will ask Mia to teach you how to cook."

"Oh ah, n-no thanks."

Freya smiled like the cute town girl next door. "That wasn´t a request, my friend.~~~~"

"But I heard the owner of the pub is scary."

"Only if you waste food and break something."

Hestia tried her best puppy eyes on Freya, but it didn´t work.

"Hestia...I´m the Goddess of Love, do you know how often in my life I used puppy eyes to get something I wanted?"

"About three times?"

"Two. So I know how it works."

"Hah, fine. I will do my best."

"I´m sure when the time comes for you to start your own familia, they will love you even more for giving them a wonderful home, and being able to cook well."

"I accept!"

"Ehehe~~~ Then maybe one day we two could have a cooking contest."

Freya noticed how Heith flinched at these words. When the goddess looked at her precious follower, Heith averted her eyes.

"Well at least according to Bell, I can. Even when everyone else says otherwise..."

"Your children are that mean to you?"

"Oh no, they say it tastes good, but I can see their reactions...some even pretended to almost die..."

"O-Oh..."

Hestia glanced at Heith, who slightly shook her head.

Rose frowned. "Doesn´t that mean that your cooking skills just might be lacking?"

Heith dropped her fork when she heard that, even Hestia´s eyes widened.

Freya put a hand over her heart. "How hurtful, Rose."

Bell looked a bit troubled. "I think it tastes delicious."

Hestia noticed how special Freya smiled when she heard Bell´s statement. "Thank you, Bell."

Then Freya turned to Rose. "I really appreciate it that you speak your mind and tell me the truth about how you see it. Except for Ottar, rarely anyone does that. Please remain like that, Rose."

The adult werewolf smirked. "As you wish."

By herself, Freya wondered if Rose was partly immune against her charm, or if it was just her nature, similar to Mia.

Freya noticed how Heith looked at Rose, so she gently touched Heith´s chin, which let her squeak loudly.

"Heith, don´t glare like that at Rose, I really like it when she is so honest."

"H...hauu~~~"

Hestia knocked on the table. "Freya, we´re eating."

"Ehe, sorry."

They continued their meal and had only praises for Heith´s cooking.

After the meal was done, Bell offered to wash the dishes, since Freya intended to join the three women in the bath. She had explained while whispering in Hestia´s ear, that her presence might be necessary for that. Since Freya´s natural beauty could be like a curse sometimes, it might overwhelm Rose and Heith. But since Hestia was the opposite of her, her aura of purity and chastity might counter Freya.

And she was right. When Hestia was present, Heith and Rose could bear with Freya´s presence. Even when the Goddess of Love offered to wash the backs of her followers, or Hestia´s. Freya had so much fun, that she didn´t tease them or did anything even slightly naughty. To spend time with them like that, just simply spending time, was a great joy.

Hestia almost melted in the enormous bath, overwhelmed by the luxury.

Freya giggled. "You know, Hestia, this bath is more luxurious than Loki´s."

"Really?!"

"As is the home, since I have quite the money."

"Hehe! Gonna rub that in her face!"

Freya giggled again. "Then make sure to work hard and save up money, so that when the day comes and you will make your own familia, you can give them also a bit of luxury."

"I will!"

"Good. And in case someone might cause you trouble, you could become my vassal for a while. Like this, no one, especially not Apollo, would dare to mess with you."

Normally, a god offering another god this, would offend them extremely, but Hestia was different.

"Buwwääääh! Freya! You´re shooo nishe!"

"O-Oy, don´t cling to me like that."

Heith looked a tiny bit jealous because of the skinship. So Freya put an arm around Heith´s hip and pulled her close, letting the healer blush heavily.

Even when Hestia´s presence countered Freya´s nature mostly, Heith would never forget one thing. Aside from Horn, and one of Freya´s female attendants, she was the only one who had ever seen Freya naked! And she was just...perfect, in every way possible.

Hah, take that, you stupid core members!

Rose cared more about the bath, she wasn´t the type for such a skinship.

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"Goddess, Heith, are you going back now or will you stay for a while?"

Bell awaited them in the living room.

"Hm, I think we still can stay for a bit, but only an hour, you all need your sleep."

Bell noticed that Heith was almost glowing, as was Rose, the bath seemed to work wonders on them.

He fidgeted slightly. "Ahm...I thought...maybe we could play something?"

"Oh?"

Hestia looked curious. "Play?"

"Yes, my grandfather told me that deities often have problems enjoying a game, since they can see if a mortal lies or bluffs. So I thought for a few days now, which kind of game could Goddess enjoy and have fun with?"

Freya´s expression got warm and soft. "You thought about that, Bell? For me?"

"I did."

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In the pub, Horn suddenly felt her heart getting really hot, and a strong wash of emotions came from Freya. She didn´t know what the goddess did, but it made her very happy.

Ryu looked at her when she stopped. "Syr?"

"E-Everything is alright, my nose is just itching."

"Oh, alright then."

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""Dungeons and Gods?""

"Yes, my grandfather taught me about this game. The rules aren´t hard to learn, but the most important part is, you use dice against each other. So even when you can see through my strategy, the dice could still let you lose."

Hestia smiled. "How interesting!"

Freya nodded. "Truly. Heith, Rose, will you join us?"

Heith looked at the board game that Bell had bought and set on the table. "I will."

She wouldn´t miss a chance to play with her beloved goddess and see her having fun.

Rose yawned. "I´m sorry, I will go to bed, the training exhausted me...and it will start early again tomorrow."

"Then good night, Rose."

"Good night, Lady Freya, everyone."

They decided to play all against each other, without forming teams.

And it seemed like Bell had quite the hand for gaming.

"Kuuuuuh! To think you force me to fight against Lady Freya, how cruel of you, Bell!"

Heith almost cried, when the game went on, Heith lost an important fight against Bell, since he decided to spare the life of her figure, a dice roll would decide her fate. She became Bell´s subordinate, supporting him from behind, and also healing his figure.

Freya chuckled, it was a bit like Heith became his personal healer in the game too.

And it turned out, the former Neet goddess, Hestia, was a master at board games, even when she often had bad luck with her dice.

"Hah! Take that, Freya! A stalemate!"

"You really enjoy butting heads with me, Hestia."

"I will not lose to you!"

"Hestia, you are aware that Bell is coming for us, right? If we continue to fight, we will both lose."

"*gasp* You´re right! What shall we do?!"

"A temporary ceasefire. Let us work together as long as the danger remains."

"Alright, I will follow you!"

Freya turned her "Goddess of War" figure to face Bell´s "Hero", with Heith´s "Saint"...it was quite funny that Heith of all people was the saint now...behind him. Hestia´s "Goddess of Purity" lined up with Freya.

But...

"Kuuuuuh! Young Bell beat me! I can´t fight anymore! You´re cruel, Bell!"

Hestia almost cried, he defeated Hestia but spared her too. The dice decided her fate into...house arrest...so he forced her to become a Neet again!

Bell and Freya rolled many dice against each other, normally Freya should´ve been able to see through his strategy and position herself to get the advantage...positioning meant a lot in this game...but she couldn´t see through his tactic!

In fact, she couldn´t even see his soul!

Well technically she could, but she was too enchanted by his face and especially his eyes!

Those beautiful, rubelite eyes...staring at her...deep into her being.

Freya blushed heavily again, she just couldn´t beat him!

The outcome was clear at the end.

Hestia groaned. "He won! He won against all three of us!"

A bit agitated, Heith poked Bell´s side with her index finger, even pouting slightly...mostly because he "used her" to win against Freya. Hestia seemed to have a lot of fun, even when she lost.

But Freya...she was quiet.

Normally she hated to lose, it was more than a bit childish, but such was her nature. She didn´t mind losing against Bell...but the dice that decided the fate of her figure, let her become quiet.

"Wife"

After losing to Bell, her figure would marry him...

Oh, Bell...

He smiled abashed and scratched his cheek, he didn´t intend to defeat all three of them THAT hard.

Freya smiled. "Hehe~~ Looks like I´m yours now, Bell."

"G-Goddess?!"

"L-Lady Freya?!" Heith looked terrified.

"What? You won, look at the dice."

To get back at him a bit, Freya had decided to tease him a bit, but...

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"Syr, are you really alright? Your cheeks are so red, your face looks so hot."

"I-It´s alright, Ryu...m-maybe I should just take a short break."

"Then do so." Ryu and the others looked a bit worried.

Horn went to a different room, where the staff members could relax a bit. Never before was she bombarded like that with Freya´s emotions.

It made her insanely jealous that someone else made the goddess this happy...

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"So then, Bell, Hestia, I wish you a good night."

"Good night, Goddess."

"Nighty, Freya!"

Heith nodded, wishing them a good night.

"Oh, right. Bell?"

"Yes?"

"When your training in the morning is over, Rose will have something important to do. So I would like you to come back home, I would like to give you something, it´s important."

"Then I will do so."

Freya smiled, then she looked at her fellow goddess. "Hestia, and I need to tell you something then in private. Something that Bell and Heith already know, it's important that you know it too...and be quiet about it."

"Huh? Ahm...sure?"

"You will see tomorrow."

"Alright."

She showed them a serene smile. "I really enjoyed this evening, I hope there will be many more."

"It was fun."

Hestia nodded to agree with Bell.

"Oh, right, Bell. I need to give you the last part of your punishment, for sullying Rose like that. And to let you pay for letting Heith suffer so much today during the game."

"Yes?"

"Tomorrow, you will help the Andhrimnir a bit in the kitchen, cutting stuff and these things."

"I will do that!"

It wasn´t really a punishment, Bell had asked Freya if he could do anything to help Heith or pay her back. And since she made it a "punishment", the Andhrimnir wouldn´t send Bell away no matter what.

"Now, good night."

Heith´s ears were delighted when she heard Freya humming on their way back to the main house.

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The second morning of the training already went better, but for this day, Anya only trained with Rose. While Ryu...had Bell for herself to "train" with him...at some point she got too excited again. She did her best to control herself and hold back, but he slowly got what the others meant that she was bad at holding back.

So when he returned home after breakfast, he was already exhausted, but in a good way. While he walked through the city, Bell noticed how people looked at him, some even mumbled to not talk to him or evade him, they didn´t want any trouble with Freya familia.

Since Freya awaited him, he went to her immediately. Horn, who just left Freya´s room, looked at him.

"Cranel."

"Ms. Horn."

"You look tattered."

"The training was hard."

"Are you injured?"

"No."

"Tsk."

"Eh?"

Horn showed him her backside and walked away, he didn´t understand what was wrong with her. He still caught the door before it closed, and knocked against it.

"Bell? Come in."

He closed the door and noticed that Freya wasn´t alone when he went into the main room.

"Goddess, I came as you asked of me."

Then he bowed slightly towards the other person in the room. "Mr. Hedin."

"Little rabbit."

Freya smiled. "Bell, I would like to give you something, to give you a push forward. Hedin, please explain it to him."

"As you wish, Lady Freya."

Hedin turned his stern expression to Bell and held up a book.

"This is a Grimoire. Lady Freya gives this to you as a gift. Once you read it, the grimoire will get used and become empty, awakening the magic that sleeps inside you. Normally it would come out one day on its own, but it the best if it comes out as early as possible."

"Oh? I never heard of something like this before."

"Most people don´t talk openly about Grimoires, since they´re expensive."

"About how much?..."

Hedin told him the cost.

"WHAT?!"

"Don´t shout in Lady Freya´s or my presence, rabbit!"

"S-Sorry."

He looked at Freya like a lost baby bunny, it squeezed her heart.

"But Goddess...why do you give this to me? Something so expensive?"

"Because I want to, Bell."

Hedin pushed his glasses up, and they flashed. "As a member of Freya familia, you need to be strong, magic will make you stronger."

"I...I understand."

"Good, then go and read this book, your magic will then come to you, in case you have magic slots."

Freya smiled with a warm expression. "He has two."

"Hm, not the maximum, but at least more than one."

"What does that mean?" Bell looked confused.

"You can have up to three magic slots, some people have none at all, their deity can see if this is the case."

"And what kind of magic will I get?"

"That depends solely on you, it doesn´t matter which deity gave you the blessing, it comes from the soul, from your longings, your personality."

Freya nodded. "Hedin is right with everything. Bell, go and read the book, you will probably fall asleep afterward, this is normal. Do not, and I repeat, DO NOT try your magic in the dungeon. Go to Hedin, he will teach you about magic and overlook your magical training."

The way she emphasized the last words made it clear to Hedin.

Training, not baptism.

"How long will I fall asleep?"

"Two or three hours. I will be in the field then, come to me immediately after Lady Freya updated your status, so you can see what kind of magic you have."

"Understood. Thank you for your help, Mr. Hedin."

"Master."

"Huh?"

"Since I will train you, you will call me Master. Even when your true master is Lady Freya!"

"Understood, Master!"

Hedin nodded pleased, Freya chuckled.

"So then, Bell, you can use my couch over there, and read the book. It will save time instead of letting you walk home and then come here again anyway."

"But, won´t I disturb you when I sleep here?"

"No."

Hedin bowed slightly towards Freya. "I will take my leave then."

"I´m counting on you, Hedin."

"Your trust honors me."

"Ehehe~~ You look really cute today."

"Pardon?"

"Oh, nothing. Aren´t I right, Bell?"

"Oh ah ehm...I-I´m gonna read the book!"

Hedin´s eyes went a bit small when he looked at Bell, he guessed maybe Bell made a joke about him...

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Freya glanced at Bell out of the corner of her eyes, she saw how his lips moved slightly as he read, his soul started to pulse stronger, to sparkle...and something inside it, flashed up.

Eventually, she saw how his head nodded forward again and again, he was unable to keep his eyes open, he sunk to the side and fell asleep on the couch.

How adorable and pure he looks, like a sleeping baby rabbit.

Freya got slowly up from her chair, walking over and gently taking the empty book from Bell´s hands. He was so vulnerable and defenseless right now, she could do to and with him whatever she wanted.

But she only gently caressed his hair one time.

"Sweet dreams, Bell."

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Three hours later, Bell mumbled again in his sleep, slowly waking up. He couldn´t remember his dream completely. There were shadowy figures, looking like him in different forms, asking him for what reason he wanted to have magic, what magic was for him. Also, two figures that were completely dark, like shadows of people. An adult woman with long hair and a dress, as well as a tall, sturdy man, clad in heavy armor.

He didn´t know these two, but for some reason, the woman looked very upset with him. Maybe they were how he imagined parts of his mind? Maybe the woman was his pure side, upset that he slept in the same room as the woman he had fallen in love with so soon?!

The woman had mumbled something.

"Our will..."

Then the man.

"And your decision..."

"Carry it."

"Make it yourself."

""Bell.""

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When he opened his eyes, Bell noticed that he lay on the side of the couch, a blanket draped over him.

"Eh? Where...Go...ddess?..."

"I´m here, Bell."

He saw Freya sitting in an armchair at the side, quickly hiding something behind it. For a split second, it looked like a bunny plushy with red eyes...but it might just be his imagination.

"Did you put the blanket on me?"

"I didn´t want you to get cold."

"Thank you, Goddess."

"How are you feeling?"

"A bit weird...but...excited."

"Then, shall I update your status or do you want to wait a moment to wake up?"

"It is fine."

As usual, he took off his white jacket and black shirt.

"You´re starting to become muscular, Bell."

"I do?"

"Yes, I like that sight."

"O-Oh." He blushed slightly.

"I didn´t mean to tease you, come, sit down."

When he sat down, it didn´t feel like the eyes of a predator were on him, it was much warmer, lovingly, gentle.

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Bell Cranel

Belongs to: Freya familia

Level: 1

Strength: D 550 - C 602

Endurance: D 530 - C 655

Dexterity: E 469 - D 512

Agility: C 601 - C 643

Magic: I 0 (+50)

Skills: Heroic Desire (Admirer of Love), Magical Heritage, Burning Love

Magic: Firebolt, Genos Ambrosia (Heroic Will)

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Magical Heritage: Increased magical power, depending on level.

Burning Love: Burning hot feelings of love culminate in flaming strength, increasing the power of fire-based spells.

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Firebolt: Short-chant magic, releases a bolt of electrical fire, can be used to charge a weapon up with fire element

Genos Ambrosia (Heroic Will): Long chant fire-starshard magic, form depends on the user´s desire.

Chant:

Blessing of the root of evil, you were cursed at birth, I will free you.

Your original sin that devoured half of your body. I am your purification. I am your salvation.

Guide me, great god, I will partake in the banquet of the gods.

The resonance of this heavenly sound is my love. The trumpet of gods, the lyre of spirits. Melody of light, I free you from your sin.

Loved by Love, my destiny is my own. I love you. The compensation is here. Destroy everything with the flames of love.

Hungry flames, entrapping tongue of fire. Devour all, fangs of scorching heat. My burning desire.

Sing, holy tower.

Genos Ambrosia.

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Freya´s face got redder and redder by the second, her heart tried to burst out of her chest again. These...these skills and magic were basically a confession of Bell´s feelings towards her!

She was cursed...he would free her?! Her purification and salvation?!

Partake in the banquet of the gods?! Did...did Bell intend to "devour" her?!

Free her? He was loved by love? Loving her?! The flames of love?!

"Goddess?!"

"D-Don´t turn around, Bell! I´m not done yet!"

"Alright?.."

If Bell turned around now, Freya would die of shame, she couldn´t look into his face right now, but Bell heard her panting. She was sweating, never before in her long life did she feel like that! She couldn´t even see in his soul if he truly loved her, since she was blinded by its radiance...and her own feelings.

So instead of knowing it, Bell had to tell her how he felt!

And if he would turn around now, see her red face, her overwhelming desire to confess her love and kiss him...she gulped.

Mouh, Bell! What are you doing to me?! You´re turning me into a complete maiden! A love-struck good-for-nothing! Hah...I love you...

It took Freya a while to calm down.

"Goddess, is something wrong?"

"N-No, it´s always like that when someone gets magic! And your status made quite the jump."

"Oh?" He started to turn around.

Freya wasn´t ready to look into his eyes yet.

"Don´t move! Please!"

"S-Sorry!"

Hah...I want to hug him...Bell...you´re stealing my heart...

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After another five minutes, Freya allowed Bell to finally turn around, she had herself under control again.

"Goddess, you´re quite red in the face, is really everything alright?"

"I´m just excited that you got magic, it´s always interesting to see what goes on in your minds and souls."

"Oh, I don´t really understand that."

She winked playfully, just like Syr would. "Just a deity thing."

"Alright."

Freya let Bell take a look at his sheet. While he read, she sat there, her hands clasped between her thighs, fidgeting on her chair a bit. Instead of cheering loudly, Bell got more and more red by the second.

When he glanced at her, both were quiet.

Completely quiet.

Silence.

Heavenly silence, like a certain ash-haired witch, would´ve enjoyed it...

If it weren´t for the silence between her super cute nephew and THAT goddess!

Freya felt like a teenage girl who sat with her crush in the same room.

"Bell..."

He looked at her with a flushed face, only his expression gave something about his feelings away, and he didn´t look repelled.

Bell was immune to her, to her very nature. Yet...he seemed to be attracted to her...the real her...not Freya...not Syr...not one of the halves. But to her, to both sides, to what...who she truly was.

Freya could hear her blood rushing in her ears, she had to swallow, so hard beat her heart.

"Goddess..."

The expression in these rubelite eyes let Freya shiver with anticipation...would he say something?

Should she say something?

Please...don´t reject me...

He wouldn´t reject her, Freya was sure of that.

"I..."

But...sometimes fate, coincidence, or maybe even the whim of the gods up in heaven could be cruel.

"Y-"

A loud knock came from the door, startling both. They backed away from each other immediately.

"-YES?!"

Freya was about to only normally say yes, but the knock startled her so that she said it louder than intended.

So the door opened, and a familiar dark elf came inside.

"Lady Freya, Hedin asked me to come looking if the rabbit is awake since I was going into the house anyway."

"Hogni..."

"Yes?"

"As punishment for what you just did, you will walk to the pub and back, without your cape. Right now."

He went pale and cried out. "What did I do?!"

"Interrupting. Accept your punishment, go now."

Hogni cried..really cried...as he left. He didn´t know what he did wrong! But it surely was Hedin´s fault! He would punish his mortal rival when he returned.

If he would ever return...

If he wouldn´t crumble on the streets, from all those stares.

For Hogni, to pay for making Freya upset and startling her in a vulnerable moment, was the cruelest punishment of all. When he returned home, he would shut himself in his room, wailing and writing cringy poems...

But this punishment, and hearing about Hogni´s personality, would give Bell an idea.

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"Bell...g-go to Hedin now...train your magic...but be careful."

"I will...thank you..."

Before he went out of the room, Bell looked over his shoulder to Freya, as she looked at him.

There was a longing, loving gaze in their eyes.

With a click, the door closed after he left.

Freya sat there for a moment, then she took the bunny plushy, hugged it to her chest, and threw herself onto the couch, kicking her legs and squealing.

Stupid Hogni! Why did you interrupt?! Hedin, I won´t forgive this! Aaaaaaah!

The poor Horn felt her cheeks getting hot in the pub, she got bombarded with shame and flustered emotions.

What did he do to her?! I will cut his manhood off with a rusty knife if he dared to touch her body!

Freya couldn´t get up from her couch, squealing the whole time, hugging her plushy...and noticing Bell´s scent on the couch, this made her situation only worse...threatening to overwhelm her maiden heart.

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Meanwhile, Bell was on his way to the training field.