Hello good people and welcome back! We are now deep within the Dungeon as Bell's suffering continues at the hands of the Evilus. On the other side of the world Aria and Zeus worry and rage at the news of his capture and are prepared to bring the world to its knees to get him back, and if the voice in Bell's head was any indication… they may not be the only ones. Our heroes are delving into the abyss and who knows what challenges they will face? Well…of course I know, that's sort of my job. Then again, not everything goes to my original plans and recalculations are often needed. Heck, I figured this story would only be 50 chapters, yet here I am nowadays thinking it's not impossible for it to be 150!
Anyway, getting back on track, things are moving along and the danger is rising. However, we should not forget that things above ground have not simply stopped while our heroes descend and that the threats in the great Labyrinth city are no less real than the monsters below. So, let's delve back into our story and see what's happening in Orario.
I do not own Danmachi
Down the adventurers went. Further and further into the great abyss below the city at the center of the world as dark forces array against them. However, these are not the only stories worth mentioning, for in the world below the sun the pieces were moving and revealing that, even should the Expedition succeed in vanquishing the Evilus and rescuing young Bell Cranel, that did not mean they would receive a warm welcome back. In fact, if the scene outside the Guild was any indication, many hoped that Bell Cranel would not come back. Ever.
"This is his fault!"
"Why should anyone risk their lives for him?!"
"Leave him in the Dungeon! It's where that monster belongs!"
"Let him die in there!"
"Good citizens of Orario, please!" Royman cried out desperately while Shakti and her familia attempted to keep things under control. "Please remain calm! You have every right to state your concerns, but-"
"Concerns?!" a woman cried.
"That white-haired bastard is a monster!" a man cried.
"He's caused nothing but trouble since he arrived!"
"Yeah!"
"Yeah!"
"Call back the expedition! We don't want him back!"
"Good people, please!" Royman shouted more desperately. "The expedition's primary concern is the defeat of the Evilus, Bell Cranel is a secondary concern at best!"
Shakti and the Ganesha familia frowned.
"So they are going to rescue him!"
"We knew it!"
"Leave the White Dragon down where he belongs!"
Royman's shoulders slumped as things devolved even further. He turned his eyes to Shakti who caught his gaze and nodded.
"Disperse! By order of the Guild! Disperse!" she ordered.
"Hey!"
"You can't send us away!"
"You are interfering with Guild and familia business," Shakti shot back.
The protesters continued to resist and it appeared as if things would devolve into a riot.
BOOM!
Everyone froze, then turned to finding the terrifying sight of Ottar's burning eyes and steaming flesh behind them.
"Leave. Now," he commanded.
The protesters fled at the sight of him, tripping and falling over each other in their desperation to put as much distance between them and him as possible. Within three minutes, there was not a single protester in sight.
"Normally I would prefer not to be anywhere near you when you're enraged, Ottar, but at this moment, you have my thanks," Shakti stated.
"They insulted my lady's beloved and a young man I hold in high-esteem," he replied, "no thanks is necessary."
Shakti smiled.
"Even so. Now, I imagine you're here to ensure that Lancelot Chevalier is still in our custody?"
"Indeed. Given your familia's failure to hold him led to the endangerment of Bell Cranel, it is only right that I inspect his holdings."
Shakti lost her smile.
"The circumstances were quite extraordinary that night, even you have to agree."
"Perhaps," he conceded, "however it cannot be allowed to happen again. As such, should you find yourself so short-handed or in need of aid, you will call upon my familia."
That surprised her.
"Freya-sama is offering us aid?"
"No, I am," he answered immediately, further surprising her, "I would be a poor captain if I did not understand my goddess well enough to know what she desires to occur."
"Quite right," Shakti replied slowly, before her smile began to reappear. He must really like Bell Cranel if he's willing to make an executive decision like that without Freya's permission.
"Shakti-sama." She turned to her familia member. "Royman is heading back inside." She turned again and found the fat elf retreating back into the safety of the Guild, making her sigh.
"I guess spending half an hour dealing with protesters was too much for him," the Ganesha captain said before turning back to Ottar, "though, to be fair to him, we should head inside as well."
His unwavering gaze was enough of an answer and the adventurers all headed inside.
As they entered, Shakti and Ottar noted that a familiar half-elf looked extremely pale and shook nervously at her counter.
She's Bell's advisor if I remember correctly, Shakti thought. I'll speak to her later.
Eina barely noticed the adventurers pass by, heading to the back of the Guild for she was far too focused on the words she had heard from outside.
They want him dead. They all want him dead, she thought as her fists tightened. What…what if the Guild does recall the expedition? What if they leave him down there? Bell's strong, but even he…even he can't…
"Eina!"
She jumped, turning to find Misha's worried eyes boring into her. The pink-haired young woman wasn't the only one either, as most of the Guild employees stared at her with worry.
"M-Misha?"
"There you are," her friend said before suddenly pulling her into a hug.
"Misha? What are you-?"
"It'll be alright. Everything will be alright," Misha vowed.
Eina, still trying as she was to completely return to the conscious world, couldn't manage a response, which actually proved beneficial as the other Guild employees approached.
"Of course they will be," Sophie stated from behind Eina.
"That's right," Rose said, stepping forward, "while I have made no secret that I think you're foolish for getting so close to your adventurer, I can say with confidence that your Bell Cranel will make it back safe and sound."
"Yeah, he'll be back!"
"We're sure of it!"
"Everything will be fine!"
"Guys," Eina stared at her coworkers, shocked by their words and smiles.
"Bunny boy will be back," Misha affirmed, grabbing her best friend's attention, "I promise."
With that promise, Eina finally felt her worries fade away as she smiled.
"Thank you," she said, "thank you all."
The others smiled or nodded.
"You're welcome," Rehmer said, "but seeing as you're now back to your usual self, I think it's time we get back to work."
"Geez chief, she just started feeling better," Misha complained.
"And she should get back to work, especially since it will probably do her some good to keep her mind occupied," he replied.
"It's alright, Misha," Eina jumped in, "Rehmer-san is right, we should get back to work, and having something to distract me should help."
"Well…if you're sure," her friend replied skeptically.
"I am," the half-elf said with a smile.
"Hm. Fine. But we're getting drinks later!"
Eina laughed and nodded.
"Deal."
Everyone went back to work, with Eina smiling as an adventurer approached her counter.
"Hello there, how can I help you?"
"Good morning, I'm glad to see you're open. I was worried that those protesters would prevent normal operations from running," a handsome half-elf adventurer said as he reached her counter.
"They were…quite loud weren't they?" Eina replied, doing her best to smile.
"That's one word for them. Irritating is another," he replied.
Her smile turned more genuine as she thought, perhaps, that most of the city really wasn't on the side of the protesters who were arrayed against her favorite adventurer.
"Lazy is another word," the half-elf male continued.
"Lazy?" she inquired curiously.
"Yeah. Or maybe cowardly. I mean, protesting isn't going to get rid of that crazy Bell Cracker fellow, or whatever his name is."
She did not like where this was turning and tried to shift the conversation.
"Well, they're gone now, so it's of little consequence. Now, what can I-"
"But they'll be back won't they?" he cut in. "Back to complain and demand that 'something be done' about that Cracker guy, but never actually volunteering to take action themselves."
By now, Misha and the other Guild employees had taken note of the half-elf adventurer, not that they could have easily ignored him, given how loud he was getting.
"You say that like you'd be willing to do something," Misha jumped in, neither she nor the other employees caring that her tone was anything but professional.
"For the right price, I'd be happy to," he immediately responded. "If you're good at something, never do it for free, my mother always said."
Eina was shaking again, as all her previous relief evaporated, not that the half-elf noticed.
"Let's see. If I remember correctly, this Cracker guy is the captain of a familia and a level five or six, which means he's pretty tough. He's also got the Father On Top with him, so direct attack wouldn't work."
At this point the Guild was in shock. Not only the employees, but the adventurers and the visitors as well.
Is this guy seriously planning an assassination out in the open? Rose thought, not believing her red wolf ears.
"So I'll have to be sneaky. Poison would probably be best, but there's still a lot of risk to that and it would have to be high quality poison, which is expensive. So, if I was to take the offer, it would have to be for 20, no 25 million valis, minimum," he finally finished, before finally focusing back on a now frozen Eina, "so how about it, miss? The Guild offering a reward for the White Dragon's head?"
Before Eina could completely break down, a whip suddenly wrapped around the adventurer's neck and pulled him a good ten feet to the right.
Everyone turned to see a fuming Shakti by the entrance to the back rooms and watched as she stormed over to the downed adventurer.
"You will not speak such vile ever again if you know what's good for you, Eryx" she warned.
Eryx choked on the whip and tried to free himself, to no avail.
"I will also have to bring this to Aphrodite and have her explain your actions today. But for now, guards!"
A pair of her familia members ran forward.
"Put him into a cell until I can get a message to Aphrodite to come and explain her child's cruel and preposterous behavior," the azure captain stated.
Her subordinates quickly saluted and dragged the half-elf away, allowing Shakti to turn and approach Eina.
"Such self-serving, vicious people do not deserve our tears nor our attention, Eina-san. Let his words go in one ear and out the other," Shakti comforted, giving the Guild employee a small smile.
Eina, after a few moments, smiled back and nodded.
"Good. I need to have a quick word with Ganesha-sama and then I'll be down in the prison if you need me."
"Thank you, Shakti-san."
The Ganesha captain departed and, after taking a deep breath, Eina smiled again and turned towards the still quiet crowd.
"Next person in line!"
Weaklings, Freya internally hissed as she watched the protesters scatter before her captain. Vermin. Cowards. Who are you to judge Bell? You all combined would not equal one tenth his strength. Nay, one percent!
Her glass cracked in hand.
"Freya-sama, are you alright?"
She turned, finding the worried eyes of Gumi and her familia behind her.
She sighed and gently put down the glass.
"No, I'm afraid not. I am quite upset," the goddess answered honestly.
"What can we do to alleviate you, Freya-sama?" Hedin immediately asked.
"Whatever it is, we will do," Hogni added.
"Unless you all have the power to rid the world of jealousy and cowardice, I fear you cannot help me, though your offers are appreciated."
"We can kill the jealous people and the cowards," Gumi offered quickly.
"No!" Gumi and the others jumped and Freya sighed again. "No," she repeated more calmly, "I do not wish to be the woman who turns to violence out of rage and disgust any longer. I understand now that it is wrong."
Gumi's head bowed in shame, feeling both that her lady now thought ill of her and that she had failed her goddess. However, her eyes lifted when she felt a soft hand on her head.
"I am not condemning you, Gumi, or any of you," Freya said to her familia, "I have simply shifted my perspective. However, your loyalty to me and willingness to serve me still warms my heart and I thank you all for being my children."
"We wouldn't want to be anyone else's!" Gumi cried as she and the Freya familia bowed.
"Thank you, my darling girl," Freya replied softly, stroking the prum's colorful hair with affection.
"Hehe," the girl cooed as she fell into her lady's ministrations.
A calm fell over the room high in the great tower, along with an unfamiliar, but very welcome warmth.
Bell's influence is already changing me for the better, she thought as she soaked in the warmth.
She finally pulled away from Gumi, who beamed and joined the others, before turning her divine eyes down on the city again, this time, focusing on the Hearthfire Manor where, like the Guild, she found protesters arrayed outside, hurling abuse.
Instantly, all her warm feelings were gone and she scowled.
"Miserable wretches," she hissed.
She was prepared to depart and head straight for the Hestia familia home to scatter said wretches, when an unexpected face appeared at the edge of the crowd.
Aphrodite?
The blonde goddess, along with a dozen members of her familia, began to push their way through the crowd, their gestures indicating threats that Freya suspected were not lightly made.
But why is she heading to the Hearthfire Manor in the first place? The silver-haired Goddess of Beauty wondered.
"My lady." She turned around to Hedin. "The representatives from the Holy Kingdom have arrived."
"My that was quick, they must have come via dragon mounts," she noted. "Do we know who it is they've sent?"
"We do, my lady. Alexander Al Andromeda, the older brother of Captain Asfi is with them, along with Queen Guinevere."
"Queen Guinevere came herself?"
"Yes, my lady, along with 50 knights," the light elf answered.
"Hm," Freya responded, before chuckling, "that won't do anything to help with the rumors that she and Lancelot are lovers." A few of her familia chuckled or smiled. "However, I suppose given this is the Knight of Knights we're talking about, it isn't completely unreasonable. I assume the Guild has asked that I join them in welcoming the entourage?"
"Yes, Freya-sama. Word has also been sent to the Loki familia as well."
"Naturally," Freya turned her eyes back to the Hearthfire Manor and watched as Aphrodite forced her way inside.
What are you playing at, Aphrodite?
"I suppose it would be rude to keep two royals waiting," she said, turning away. "Gumi dear, please fetch my cloak."
"Right away, Freya-sama!" the cheerful prum declared with a salute.
To say Aphrodite's arrival was unexpected was a severe understatement.
"What? You're not going to offer me refreshments?" Aphrodite questioned sternly the moment she sat down on the couch before Hestia as her familia took their place behind her.
The other deities looked at each other.
"I can go get some tea for us," Take offered.
"Why would you go get it? Have Hestia's kids get it," Aphrodite replied.
"My children are all in the Dungeon," Hestia said.
"Why?"
The air in the room immediately got colder and Hestia couldn't even muster a response.
"Surely you've heard of what happened to her captain?" Hephaestus quickly jumped in, placing a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Duh," Aphrodite replied rudely, "I'm not deaf Hephaestus, but surely you didn't send all your children down to go get him. I mean, you had to have kept a few around to serve you, right?"
"My familia is not as big as yours, Aphrodite," Hestia stated quite firmly, "and even if it was, I'm sure they'd all want to go down and rescue their captain."
The force of the reply gave the goddess of beauty pause and she eyed the burning sapphires of her fellow goddess.
"Yeah sure, whatever, I suppose it doesn't really matter, it's not like I'd expect anything really satisfactory from this place anyway," she finally threw out.
"Careful, girl," Mania warned, stepping forward, "this familia heavily outclasses yours and could destroy you easily."
"Says who?"
"Says anyone with enough sense to recognize you have no chance against a level eight adventurer," Miach stated, his own patience wearing thin.
"You mean Achilles? Hm, I suppose you got me there, but if I Charmed him to my side they would easily put me in the superior position," Aphrodite avowed, smirking triumphantly.
"If Freya couldn't succeed in Charming him, what hope do you think you have?" Mania demanded.
"Freya's nowhere near as sexy as I am," Aphrodite replied immediately.
"Aphrodite." The goddess froze and turned her eyes to a certain God of the Underworld.
"Hades," she said warily, "I'd heard you come to Orario."
"And I'm sure you're just as happy to see me as I am to see you," he replied coldly, "but the arrival we should now be discussing is yours," he continued, "so please do us the honor of informing us why you have come."
Hades was a calm deity. Painfully calm, in some cases. It was a requirement for someone who was related to Zeus and had to deal with the thunder god's antics for literal millennia. However, at this moment, it was beyond clear that he had absolutely no patience for the goddess before him. He wanted answers and he wanted them now.
Aphrodite, for all the foolishness of her personality, was not an idiot and recognized this and so, with a deep breath, she refocused on Hestia and leaned in.
"I'm here to give you some advice," she said to Hestia, "one goddess and one woman to another."
"That advice being?" Hestia asked, already sensing, deep in the pit of her stomach, that she would not like what it was.
"Drop your captain."
The room fell deathly silence.
"Excuse me?" Hestia replied.
"You heard me perfectly well, Hestia. You need to drop this…Bell Cranel, and you need to do it fast. For your sake, your familias sake, and for Orario."
"What the hell are you on about girl?!" Mania roared as she moved towards Aphrodite, forcing Miach and Take to restrain her.
"You've all seen what it's like out there," Aphrodite pressed on, "what the city's become."
"You think I'm going to abandon my captain, my first child, because of some protests?" Hestia shot at her.
"It's not just the stupid protests, annoying as they are, it's everything!" Aphrodite cried, throwing up her hands. "You're familia has been going completely nuts since the moment it began. Upending the calm and making even the easy-going, entertainment-hungry gods antsy. A broken record here and a War Game there aren't a big deal, even if we all get a little jealous, but it's gone far further than simple jealousy or greed!" The goddess jumped to her feet. "Monsters on the surface! An explosion over the city! Your captain turning into…into…that thing!"
Mania was practically frothing at the mouth now, trying to get to the Goddess of Beauty, and Hephaestus had to join the two gods to stop her.
"And now," Aphrodite shivered, "now there's a rumor going through the city that he…killed…Ares."
Mania finally stopped at that and the room became quiet again, though only for a moment as Aphrodite wasn't done.
"You know what that means…don't you? To kill one of us?" she gestured at the other deities. "The others already wanted him gone, now they'll want his head! Think Hestia!" Aphrodite exclaimed, a bit of desperation in her voice as she stared in Hestia's deep blue eyes. "This boy, powerful as he is, cute as he is…is going to cause you nothing but trouble from now on. Not just trouble, WAR! The other gods will go to war to get to him! Once the rumor really starts to gain traction, which it will, the other gods will batter down your gates and charge into here to take him and if you try and stop them, they'll tear you apart! Hestia!" She took the virgin goddess's hands. "You have to give him up! I know that we've never been so close, it was really only Artemis that tied us together, but please listen to me now. Your captain is dangerous. Dangerous to you, to the city, hell, apparently he's quite dangerous to himself from what I hear!"
Hestia said nothing in reply to all this, she just continued to stare up at the passionate goddess.
"He can't help you anymore, Hestia. No matter how strong he is or how powerful his abilities are, he can only bring danger and fear and rage now. Just look outside!" Aphrodite pulled away to gesture towards the street. "The city doesn't want him to return! They want him to die down in the Dungeon! And if he does return, what do you think will happen? They'll come straight for you! So please, Hestia. Please! Pull the Expedition back or, if he somehow comes back alive, send him away. Do it for Orario. For yourself. For your familia. For him. And…" she choked up for a moment, "for Artemis, who I know is scared so much for you right now."
The other deities all turned to Hestia, expecting a quick refusal. However, it didn't come. In fact, nothing came. Nothing, not even a peep. For the longest time, not a word or sound came out of Hestia and a fear began to sink into the hearts of the other deities.
She can't be…she wouldn't- Mania thought as tears filled her eyes.
Hestia…you aren't actually considering sending him away. Are you? Hephaestus thought.
If she sends him away, what path will he be forced down? And whose hands…or claws…will he fall into? Hades asked himself as a shiver crept up his spine.
"Hestia?" Aphrodite called gently, hoping the other goddess was heeding her words and simply coming to terms with what she had to do.
Hestia suddenly arose from the couch, making everyone jump.
"Hestia?" Aphrodite repeated.
CRACK!
Aphrodite's head shot around as Hestia's glove hand hit with all the force the petite night-haired woman could muster without calling upon her Arcanum.
"Aphrodite-sama!" Her children called, ready to defend their goddess, only to be stopped by a now free Mania, glaring at them.
"Don't. Even. Try," she commanded.
As the adventurers froze, Aphrodite looked up to meet Hestia's eyes.
"Don't you ever use Artemis against me like that again. Do you hear me?" the Goddess of the Hearth commanded.
"Hestia…I was just trying to help you," Aphrodite replied meekly.
"And that's the only reason I'm not slapping you again and dragging you out by your hair," Hestia immediately shot back. "I will never abandon Bell or any of my children. No matter what or comes my way. Besides," she suddenly smiled, "if you knew anything about this familia, you would know that we specialize in trouble."
"Hestia…please see sense. Please-"
A hand on her shoulder stopped the Goddess of Beauty's pleas and made her to turn once again, this time, into the fire and ice that were Hades's eyes.
"It's time for you to go," he told her.
There was no mercy or room for argument in his voice and Aphrodite could not even attempt to stop the shiver that shook her body and so only nodded.
She and her familia made their way towards the entrance and her captain, a handsome young man named Paris, opened it for her.
"This can only end badly," Aphrodite said at the door, "for all of us."
With that warning, she departed, leaving the other deities behind.
When the door closed, all eyes returned to Hestia.
"Are you alright?" Hephaestus asked.
"Yes, I am actually," Hestia assured her with a smile. "In fact, I'm more determined than ever to get Bell back and to welcome him with the tightest hug he's ever had…after giving him a scolding for worrying me, of course."
The others smiled and nodded.
"Then we should start making preparations for him and the others," Mania said.
Freya and her children entered the Guild from the back and were immediately ushered into a room where Loki, Ganesha, and Royman, were all waiting. However, it was not only Orario residents present.
The Holy Kingdom knights shined in their spectacular armor which looked as good as any found in Orario, however, they were of little consequence and Freya immediately turned her eyes to the two emissaries.
"Freya-sama," Alexander Al Andromeda greeted with a graceful and polite bow, his aqua blue hair flowing gently.
"Prince Alexander, how lovely to see you," Freya greeted as courteously, holding out her hand for him to kiss. The goddess then turned to the other emissary whose jade eyes shone with a deep jealous desire, resentfulness, and disgust. "And what a surprise to see you here as well, Queen Guinevere."
"Only a fool would be surprised that I would come to demand the release of my country's greatest and most noble defender," the queen spat.
The Freya familia growled and grabbed their weapons, causing the knights to do the same.
"Peace everyone! Peace!" Royman pleaded.
"Calm down," Loki added, "let the snarky queen snark, it's not like Freya can't handle it."
Freya smiled as Guinevere turned her sneer towards Loki.
"Quite right," Freya agreed, signaling for her familia to calm down, which they immediately did. "So," Freya took a seat, "what is this about?"
"Are you serious?" the queen demanded.
"What Her Grace means is that we are here for the only real reason we can be," Alexander cut in diplomatically.
"Ah yes, your precious Knight of Knights," Freya said, her voice sickenly sweet. "So, are you here to apologize for his actions?"
"Apologize!" Guinevere roared.
"Easy there, Gwinny," Loki said calmly, a bit annoyed at Freya's obvious provocation, but also attempting to hold back a laugh as the queen of the oh so noble Holy Kingdom, acted like anything but a lady. "Don't forget where you are and who you're talking to. We're not your subjects and after all the trouble you've given us you should be glad we're even having this meeting."
"You'd be a fool to deny me," the queen shot back, "to do so would have been an act of war."
"Your Grace!" Alexander cried, only for Loki to burst out laughing and Freya to chuckle.
"Now who's the stupid one?" Loki inquired, further making Gwen prickle. "You'd declare war on us while we hold your one and only trump card in prison?"
"No, no of course not!" Alexander quickly assured, not giving his queen a chance to retort. "War is the last thing we want from Orario. No one would be served with such a conflict."
"At least we can agree on that," Ganesha agreed, finally entering the conversation.
"Then what do you plan to do to make up for all the trouble you've caused us?" Freya questioned. "Or do you deny that you sent an army, under the command of Lancelot Chevalier, to assassinate Achilles Caesar, the members of the Zeus and Hera familias, and Bell Cranel?"
"Who?" Guinevere asked.
"Sir Lancelot sent us a message about him, Your Grace. The son of Achilles Caesar, remember?"
"Ah yes, the Monster Adventurer."
Freya's face and eyes turned cold and even her own familia backed a step away from her.
"You will never call him that again, you hypocritical bitch," she ordered.
Now it was the knights who grabbed their weapons and the Freya familia that responded.
"Enough!" Ganesha roared, jumping to his feet. "We will act like civilized adults, not ill-tempered children!"
The knights and adventurers were unsure of what to do for a few moments, but after a quick look to their respective mistresses, they pulled back.
"Good," Ganesha said before sitting back down.
Ironic that it was you being the mature one, Ganesha, Loki thought with some amusement.
"Now, getting back to the matter at hand," Ganesha continued, "you obviously want Lancelot Chevalier and the other knights returned to you, however we cannot and will not release them until we have assurances of Orario's safety as well as some sort of recompense for their incursion into our territory."
"If it's money your mercenary city wants, the Holy Kingdom will gladly pay for the safe return of our loyal servants," the queen stated.
"That's not what we're talking about Gwinny," Loki said, earning another glare, "money isn't the problem here. You invaded our lands, attacked our kids, twice, and scared the daylight out of the city."
"I didn't realize that Orario was so full of cowards," Guinevere replied smugly.
"From what I hear, we're twice as brave as most of your so-called knights," Freya shot back, destroying the smugness queen's smirk.
"Ladies," Ganesha warned, bringing the conversation to heel.
"By all rights, we could lock up Pretty Boy and his pals for years, decades even, for what they pulled, on your orders," Loki pressed on.
"I will never accept that."
"That's why we must come to some sort of a deal," Ganesha countered, "one that we can all swallow so as to avoid further issues or, worse yet, war."
"Which the Holy Kingdom does not want," Alexander quickly reentered the conversation. "We too wish for a diplomatic, peaceful resolution."
The fire in Queen Guinevere's eyes did not scream "diplomacy" and "peace", but after a few moments she finally nodded.
"Of course we do, my previous comments were simply statements to show our kingdom's willingness to protect our subjects."
"Good, then you will also understand our willingness to protect our people and our children, both of which are very dear to me," Ganesha replied, revealing the true strength of his character.
Again, the queen nodded.
"Wonderful! Then let us start working out the details, shall we?" Alexander said with great relief.
The prince began to speak with Royman, Ganesha, and Loki, all of whom did their best to ignore the two women in the room who refused to stop glaring at each other.
Hours later the Orario and Holy Kingdom representatives left the room, having concluded their talks.
"I'm glad we could solve things diplomatically," Alexander said with a smile.
"We solved nothing! This…deal…is an insult!" Guinevere cried.
"And yet you'll abide by it, Gwinny, or at least your husband and Hygeia will," Loki threw back.
The queen sneered before departing with her guards, not even looking back to see if the aquamarine prince had followed her.
Alexander sighed and rubbed his temples.
"It seems your queen is running you ragged there, pretty boy," Loki joked, attempting to lighten the mood.
"Her Grace can be very…unrelenting, when she wants something," he replied diplomatically.
"You mean she's a stubborn stuck-up bitch," Loki corrected.
Tired as he was after having to deal with his queen and the talks, Alexander could only sigh and nod.
"Well, I think I speak for all of us when I say we appreciate your restraint, Alexander Al Andromeda, and I would be happy to lodge you at my home as an honored guest," Ganesha said.
Alexander smiled, though it was still a tired thing.
"Thank you, Ganesha-sama, I will take you up on that offer. Now, if it's not impertinent of me to ask, how is my sister? I half expected to see her here when I arrived."
"She's as well as anyone can be when they have Hermes as their god," Loki replied, making Alexander laugh and nod.
"She does complain about him quite a lot in her letters. Is that where she is now? At the Hermes familia headquarters?"
Things suddenly got tense, which was not missed by the prince.
"No. Currently she is a member of an expedition that was sent into the Dungeon to crush a group of Evilus who recently attacked the city," Freya informed him.
"The Evilus attacked Orario?" he asked in shock.
"Yes, a mere two days after your own Knight of Knights."
Alexander was clearly disturbed by this information, which the deities appreciated as they suspected that Guinevere would have been quite pleased to know her country's greatest rival was in a weakened state.
"That explains the damaged buildings I saw, and the lack of people in the street. But Asfi is alright, correct? At least as far as you know?" he quickly asked.
"Yes, she was quite alright when she and the others departed," Ganesha quickly assured him, causing the older brother to sigh in relief, "and she is with some of the strongest adventurers in the world. Loki's familia," Ganesha gestured to his fellow deities, "a member of Freya's familia, as well as Achilles Caesar."
"That is comforting to hear. I am sad that I won't get to see her though. It's been so long since we've communicated through anything but letters."
"Who says you won't see her?" Ganesha questioned.
"Her Grace will want to depart as quickly as possible, so I doubt we will be here for more than two, maybe three days," Alexander replied.
"Perhaps you can convince her to let you stay? You could act as an ambassador to…look after the Holy Kingdom's interest and ensure there are no more diplomatic incidents," Ganesha suggested.
Alexander pondered this for a moment.
"Hm, that might work, especially after today. I suspect Her Grace is quite upset with me after all my attempts to restrain her."
"Then tomorrow I will make the suggestion to her myself so that you can nobly offer yourself for the position!" Ganesha boomed.
Alexander chuckled and nodded once more.
"Thank you, Ganesha-sama."
With that, Ganesha escorted the young prince out of the Guild leaving only the two goddesses and Freya's children, Royman having left the moment the meeting was over.
"You think the Holy Kingdom will abide by the deal?" Loki asked, not even turning to Freya.
"King Arthur and Hygeia are both noble fools whose principles can drag them into troubling situations, not too unlike Bell if I'm being honest," Freya responded with a small chuckle. "However, like Bell, they both are also peaceful people at heart and won't want to start a war if they can avoid it. The question we need to ask is whether or not Gwinny will be able to convince her husband to save her lover boy."
Loki snorted.
"She does make it clear how much she wants to jump his bones, not that I hear he's much better. If it wasn't for that trick Elaine pulled he would probably have started a war to claim his little queen."
"I suppose then that King Arthur should be glad for Elaine's intervention," Freya replied before turning down the hall.
"Where are you going?"
Freya stopped and turned back, her cold smile instantly making Loki tense.
"Someone needs to tell the Knight of Knights and his comrades what's transpired today, and he and I need to have a few words."
The Goddess of Beauty turned back around and departed with her children.
"Yeesh, lover boy's in trouble," she said before shrugging, "but hey, better him than me," she brought her arms up and behind her head as she headed for home.
Freya descended down into the prison below the Guild. It was rarely used as there was little reason to with War Games and battling familias often exiling each other or criminals simply dying within the Dungeon. However, it had seen more activity lately. Starting with Phyrne, who Freya noted with some pleasure was cowering in the corner of her cell as she passed, the prison had seen a splurge of activity.
Which explains why it's so clean and appears to have been reinforced, she thought as she noted both the upgraded cells and the many guards. Though, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised given our most recent guests.
She arrived at the end of the prison, finding her own beloved captain and Shakti standing before a large cell.
"My lady," Ottar greeted.
"Ottar," she returned warmly, "Shakti."
"Freya-sama. May I inquire as to why you're here?"
"I am here to inform you and our dear guests that emissaries from the Holy Kingdom arrived today."
Lancelot met her eyes with an unusual lack of fear, which confused the goddess, but she did not dwell on it long.
"Who has come?" Elaine asked, rising and approaching the prison bars.
"Alexander Al Andromeda and, interestingly enough," Freya turned back to Lancelot, "Queen Guinevere herself."
"Her Majesty is here!" he cried, rushing to the bars.
The subtlety of a warhammer to the skull, the goddess thought.
"Yes, she has. She was quite adamant in her demands for your release," Freya revealed.
Lancelot smiled with a mixture of loving joy and absurd confidence that enraged her.
"So that means we are to be released?" he inquired though it was more a statement than a question.
The other knights began to stir and excitedly talk amongst themselves.
"Yes," Freya answered, surprising her captain and Shakti and causing the knights to begin to cheer and excitedly chatter, "all of you will be released," she then smiled, destroying Lancelot's confident smirk, "except you," she finished, pointing at the Knight of Knights.
All the cheers and chatter stopped.
"What?" the great knight asked.
"All your comrades, including your wife and son will be allowed to leave in exchange for paying a large indemnity for invading Orario lands and reassurances of the Holy Kingdom's peaceful intentions," Freya explained, stepping towards the cell, "but you, Lancelot Chevalier, will remain here. In Orario. Under heavy watch until such time as we decide to release you."
"Her Majesty would never agree to that," Lancelot hissed.
"Oh she was very resistant, I fully admit, but she was forced to concede or else risk leaving all of you to rot."
Lancelot growled at the goddess, who simply continued to smile. However, just as Freya had turned things around with a smile, so too did Lancelot at that moment.
"Very well," he suddenly said as he smiled, "that is acceptable."
"Husband," Elaine gently laid a hand on his arm.
"It's alright Elaine," he reassured her, "if I remain in Orario then I will have ample opportunity to complete my great mission."
Rage filled Freya's very being and she grabbed the bars, not caring for an instant that it put her in danger.
"You will not touch my beloveds, boy. Do you hear me? You will not lay a single hand on their beautiful heads."
"Hmph," Lancelot lifted his chin, "if you are attempting to Charm me into compliance, don't bother," he reached into his tunic and pulled out a necklace, "Hygeia-sama gave me this to ensure you could not use your lustful power against me."
Lancelot expected the goddess before him to be shocked or even afraid at the loss of her power, but once more things turned and, to his surprise, she began to laugh.
"You think that trinket would stop me from using my Charm?" she laughed again. "That would, at most, be an inconvenience to me should I wish to Charm you, Lancelot, and unlike Achilles, I severely doubt you have the strength of character to resist me."
Lancelot's dumbstruck expression changed to one of rage at the insult, but Freya ignored him and continued.
"Luckily for you, I have no intention of using my Charm on you or any of your little knights in shining armor," she stated, her voice sweet as a song and smooth as silk, "and do you know why, Lancelot Chevalier?"
"Because you think us too weak to warrant your power," he spat, his contempt growing with each syllable.
"No, though you are," she quickly replied, enjoying how the wrath within him continued to grow. "No, the reason I won't Charm you or the others is because my dear beloved requested I not use my power in such a way."
"Achilles asked that?"
"No, though I imagine he'd be happy to know of my restraint. It was my dearly beloved Bell, whom you so ruthlessly attacked and were so utterly defeated by that made the request."
Lancelot's glare somehow became even more intense.
"The monster adventurer."
Freya's knuckles cracked.
The Freya familia, hearing that oh so rare and oh so terrible sound, backed up, even Ottar looked at his lady uneasily.
"I grow sick of that insult. Those words spoken by morons and cowards. My Bell is no monster, Lancelot Chevalier," the wrathful goddess stated, her voice like a blizzard that froze the very souls of all present, "and if you do not wish for me to temporarily forsake my beloved's request and Charm you, before ordering you to kill your own son, you will never call him that again."
The knights, horrified out of their minds, shot their eyes between their leader and his son, who looked at his father with terrified eyes.
"You…monster," Lancelot cursed.
"You and I are both monsters, Lancelot Chevalier, especially in comparison to Bell," she replied simply. "We are willing to do things he would never dream of doing for the sake of what we want. So I warn you again, Knight of Knights, never degrade or attack my beloveds again. If you do I will temporarily put aside my dearest Bell's request to punish you, horribly. And believe me, if I have to risk seeing the disappointment in his eyes, it will be horrible."
She turned on her heel and quickly departed, leaving the stunned knights behind as her familia quickly followed after her.
"I always knew that Freya was someone to respect and fear," Shakti said to Ottar as they both watched the goddess depart, "but it is only now that I fully understand just how fearsome and terrifying she is."
"My lady is not one to be trifled with," Ottar responded, "a fact that it appears," he turned to Lancelot, "it is time to remind others of."
The boaz departed and rejoined his goddess and familia, plans already unfolding in his mind on how best to remind the world that neither his familia nor his lady were to be mistaken as anything but those who stood at the top of the world.
Freya and her children re-entered the candlelit halls of Folkvangr, which were just as busy now as they were during the day.
"My lady, I would like to begin the preparations immediately," Ottar said once inside.
"Of course. I shall leave you and the others to it," she replied, turning to him and lovingly stroking his cheek, "your loyalty continues to astound me, Ottar. One day I shall find a way to repay you."
"You already have, my lady."
She smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Then I shall leave you here. Oh, but no killing," she quickly said, "do enough damage to remind them of our power and to ensure their good behavior, but I don't want to hear of even a single death at your hands. That would not please Bell or Haruhime."
"Yes, my lady."
Freya left her captain and children to their preparations and headed towards her room.
Reaching her private sanctuary, she opened her door and made her way inside. However, she immediately stopped upon seeing who else was there.
"Syr?"
The gray-haired waitress, who was seated on Freya's giant bed, looked up then quickly rose.
"Hello, Freya-sama," she greeted quietly as she bowed.
"What are you doing here?" the goddess questioned as she approached.
"I…" she choked on her words, forcing her to take a deep breath before she could continue, "I have been unable to sleep and barely able to eat or drink since I heard what happened to Bell," she revealed.
She does have horrible circles under her eyes, Freya noted.
"And I thought," Syr continued, "that…seeing as you also love Bell…that…if I was this miserable and scared…that you might also need some comfort."
The poor girl tried her best to smile, though it was so forced that it actually hurt Freya to witness it.
"I see," the goddess replied, before she closed the distance between them and hugged the girl, "thank you, Syr. You're right, I could use some comforting. So," she lifted the young woman's chin, revealing her tear-filled eyes, "why don't you stay with me tonight?"
"I-I'd like that," Syr responded with a shaky voice.
"I'm glad. Why don't we start by getting something to eat and drink? We can talk while we fill our stomachs as I find myself quite famished."
This time, Syr could only smile and nod.
Freya quickly sent for food and drink to be brought for them, before sitting down on the bed.
"Come. Sit with me," Freya said as she patted the space beside her.
Syr sat down beside the goddess, who quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Now, while we wait, why don't we get some things off our chests?"
Syr nodded and began.
Endo.
Sorry guys that this one is a bit shorter than my usual chapters and the second short one (i.e. less than 10k words) in a row. I just thought we should see what was happening back on the surface before we get to the really juicy bits of the Evilus arc, and believe me, the next chapter will be JUICY. I've got something big planned that advances not only the arc but the Grand Plot of the story while bringing us closer to the truths Achilles has locked away in his mind.
But anyway, now I'm just teasing, so I'll stop being mean. In exchange though, I hope you'll tell me what you thought of the chapter. I know that some of you will be off put by Freya and Syr being confirmed as two different people in this story instead of one and the same as in canon, but that was the only thing I didn't want to happen in the series. It just seemed so predictable and overplayed that I really didn't want it to be true. Not only that, but it's quite confusing. I had to read the explanation of Freya, Syr, and Horn three times to understand it. So, I'm sorry if you don't like that, but it's just my personal preference, plus I liked the ending scene, so I think it's worth a little canon tinkering. Well, whatever your thoughts, please share them with me.
With that, I bid you all a fine day and I'll see you in the next BIG chapter. Bye for now.