Hello dearest readers and welcome back. Well, Tiamat, Queen of the Skies and Herald of the One-Eyed Black Dragon has been slayed and our heroes have taken a giant step forward towards the great goal of finishing the Great Quests. However, the journey is far from over. Our heroes must get even stronger, feelings must be addressed, and terrible secrets must be revealed. So let us delve back into the story and see if, perhaps, some of those secrets find their way into the light.
I do not own Danmachi
Almost there. Almost there, Aria thought as she sat quietly on the bed.
They had made it to the port of Ostia where, the following day, they would take a ship to Melen and then rush as quickly as they could to Orario and her son.
Just a little longer Bell. I'll be there soon.
"Here."
The spirit looked up and saw Zeus's understanding eyes looking down upon her. Her own gaze fell and she discovered a bowl of warm stew before her.
"I can't remember what they called it here, but it has shrimp and smells really good, so it should at least be appetizing," he commented.
She smiled and took the boy.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," he said before he headed over to the equally quiet Hera and handed her a bowl.
"Thank you," the usually strict goddess said.
"You're welcome sweetheart," he replied before bending over and kissing her forehead. Hera was surprised by this display of affection and showed it. "I don't like us fighting. I know I'm usually the one who causes the arguments, but I hate it when you're afraid of me."
"I'm not afraid of you," she quickly said, but seeing his disbelieving look, she sighed. "You only get like that when I push you too far, which means I deserved any fear I suffered."
"You know I don't agree with that," the god countered.
"I know," she looked up and smiled softly at him, "which is one of the reasons why, despite everything, I love you, oaf that you are."
Zeus and Aria smiled and the King of Olympus leaned down to kiss his wife properly.
"I love you too."
"I know," Hera returned.
Smiling, Zeus prepared to grab his own bowl when a familiar portal opened before him and Hades's black hawk appeared before him.
"Oh please…please don't be anything bad," Aria begged as she rose to her feet.
The bird flapped over to Zeus and held out its talons, revealing the black orb it was holding.
"Shit," he cursed as he took the orb. The hawk cried then disappeared back into its portal, leaving the immortals alone. "If Hades wants a face-to-face conversation than something very serious has happened."
A cold that should not have been possible for an immortal to feel, passed through the women's veins.
"But there's no point in holding off. We need to find out what's going on," Zeus continued before pouring his power into the orb.
Achilles exitted the elevator, carrying an emaciated, but smiling Bell in his arms. Ais and Uriel followed behind, both smiling alongside the young man and his proud father.
"Bell!"
It was impossible to tell who had made the first cry, but soon the cry became a chorus as the adventurers all rushed towards the Hestia captain.
"Oh gods! Bell!" Lili cried as she and the others looked at the boney young man.
"Good job guys," Bell said weakly while smiling as if they weren't all freaking out before him. "I'm really…proud of all of you," his head began to bob and his eyes began to close.
"Don't you dare die now!" Ryuu demanded as tears filled her eyes.
"I won't," he assured her, cracking open an eye, "I'm just…really…tired."
That simple reply, so casually said by a young man who had just undone one of the most powerful monsters in history, made them all pause. It was so utterly ridiculous in its innocence and casualness that, once they regained their wits, everyone burst out laughing. Even Ottar cracked a smile and shook his head.
"That might be the most 'Bell' response I've ever heard," Mikoto stated.
"Yeah. Fight a giant dragon then shrug it off with a smile and a nap," Welf chuckled.
"And we wouldn't have it any other way," Haruhime added as she smiled adoringly down at her beloved captain's face.
"No we wouldn't," Ais agreed.
The adventurers all headed towards the Hearthfire Manor, ready to inform their deities of their victory as well as get the sleeping Bell the food he so desperately needed.
"There they are!" the voice of Hestia cried out from the manor as they opened the gate. Soon enough, all the deities rushed out.
Like the adventurers, when Hestia saw Achilles carrying Bell, she assumed the worst and froze as tears threatened to spill.
"He's fine," Achilles assured her and the other deities, "he just gave the fight everything he had."
Relief filled Hestia and the other deities, though the sight of the young man's skeleton-like body shocked them.
"I've only ever heard of someone ending up like this in stories," Mania said as she looked at her grandson.
"It is a rare occurrence that only happens when an adventurer pushes past their body's regular limits and uses up all their strength," Hades explained.
"Does that mean he's going to fall into a coma like Imilce?!" Alfia asked, instantly filling those around her with fear.
"No, Imilice suffered from an extreme overstretching of her Mind. Bell's body managed to prevent that outcome by drawing strength from other sources, in this case, as we can all see, his fat and muscle reserves," Hades calmly informed them. "That does mean he's going to be the single hungriest young man in the world when he wakes up though."
Mania beamed.
"Then I'll fulfill my grandmotherly duties and fatten him up good and proper!"
The others, reassured that Bell would be alright, smiled and quickly agreed to aid her in the endeavor.
The foodie promise made, the adventurers and deities headed inside, except for Hades who was waylaid by the appearance of a giant werewolf woman and several individuals clad in black.
"Ah Cerberus. Everyone," the God of the Underworld greeted. "I'm glad you all could make it and at such a dire moment. Are you all alright?"
"Nothing to fear, Hades-sama," the booming voice of Cerberus replied.
"Good good," he replied, affectionately rubbing the werewolf's muscular belly, making her tail wag wildly. "Let's head inside, I can introduce you all while we prepare a feast for my great-nephew.
The Hades familia headed inside, however, upon entry, Hades felt a familiar pulse of energy in his pocket.
Pulling out the black orb from his pocket, his previous smile dropped and was replaced by complete seriousness.
"Uriel, would you mind introducing the family to everyone? I need to discuss something important with my brother."
Noting the seriousness in his voice, his lover nodded.
"Oh course, my love."
He nodded his thanks and headed upstairs as his familia watched on.
"What's that about?" Cerberus asked.
"I don't know," Uriel answered, "and I fear it's best if we don't know."
Hades entered the room he shared with Uriel and then pulled out a slip of paper which he placed on the door.
"Secure."
A wave of light passed over the walls, securing the room from any outsiders who might wish to listen in on the conversation which would determine the path the very world walked down.
Hades held up the black orb then pushed his power into it. A moment later, the familiar face of his thunderous brother appeared before him.
"Zeus," he greeted.
"Hades," the King of Olympus replied seriously.
"Are you alone?" the dark god questioned.
"No," a feminine voice answered as Hera appeared in the image before Hades.
"Hera. I'm glad to see you're doing alright."
"I'm not sure that's the word I would use given recent events."
"Understandable," Hades replied.
"Where is Bell?!"
Hades's eyes snapped towards the side as someone he was not expecting appeared before him.
"Aria."
"Is Bell alright?! Please…please tell me he's alright!" the spirit begged.
Hades's heart grew heavier.
"Can I confirm that you are Bell's birth mother?" he asked.
Desperate as she was, Aria understood that the death god needed her to answer this question and so, holding back her tears, she took a deep breath and nodded.
"Yes. Bell is my son. I used my Soul Split to create him just under 16 years ago."
Hades's fist clenched.
"I figured. But now, I need you to answer the obvious second question, and keep in mind, I know more than you believe and I will not…I cannot tell you more about Bell until you answer this question."
The three tensed and a bead of sweat dripped down each of their temples.
"Who is Bell's father?"
Aria swallowed then, with confidence, answered.
"Achilles Caesar."
Hades frowned.
"Do not try to dodge this question Aria. I am aware that Achilles is Bell's adoptive father and while he loves that boy as much as any of us, I need to know who sired him. Who gave Bell the other half of his soul?"
"Hades-" Zeus tried to interject.
"The world itself is at stake, brother, and if I am to help you prevent a true catastrophe, I need to know the truth. Who is Bell's father?"
Aria's fists tightened and she bit her lip hard enough to draw blood until, at last, she opened her mouth to give the horrible truth.
"Chaos. The One-Eyed Black Dragon."
Dark, foreboding silence. That was all that filled the space between all of them for an eternity until, at last, Hades sighed and nodded.
"I thought as much."
Zeus eyed his brother warily.
"What do you plan to do with this information?"
"If you're asking whether or not I'm going to harm my great-nephew, the answer is no," Hades stated firmly, "but it will not be easy to keep him safe given this truth." Especially not from himself, the god thought as recent memories overwhelmed his mind.
"We can help!" Aria proclaimed. "We are in Ostia right now and are about to set sail for Melen. We should reach Orario within days!"
"NO!" Hades bellowed, startling the three other immortals. "You must not come!"
The three before him did not respond for a few moments, but when they snapped out of their shock, it was Aria who shot back.
"Why not?! My son needs me!"
"He needs to heal! Something which you cannot help him right now, not without severe risk of destroying him!" Hades roared back.
That stopped the desperate mother and, seeing her confused, anxious face, Hades realized his mistake.
"W-What does that mean? W-What's happened to my son, Hades?"
The underworld god sighed again and began to pace the room before the others as he tried to keep his own emotions in check.
"A great deal has happened since I sent you that letter, Zeus, little of it good," he finally confessed.
"What's happened?" his brother questioned as he took Aria's hand, squeezing it to try and reassure himself.
Hades did not immediately reply. In fact, he could not even meet their eyes.
"H-Hades?" Aria called as her eyes turned glassy.
"This will not be easy for any of you. In fact it will be horrible," the god finally replied, turning his tearful eyes to them. "Prepare yourselves as best as you can, for there is much for me to tell you."
Zeus and Hera shared a look before gently coaxing Aria, whose gaze refused to leave Hades's sorrowful gaze, onto the bed.
"We're listening," Hera said.
"Then I shall begin following Bell's capture at the hands of the Evilus," Hades stated. "Naturally, given his capture and the attack by the Evilus, Ouranos decided it was time to rid ourselves of the Evilus once and for all and so summoned a council. He chose those who would participate, which included the Loki familia, a member of the Freya familia, the Hestia familia-"
"Bell's familia," Aria interrupted.
"Yes," Hades confirmed, unperturbed by the interruption. "As well as several other familia, my own included."
"Why wasn't the entire Freya familia sent? They're the greatest familia in Orario, aren't they? Matched only by that lecherous trickster, Loki?" Hera asked.
"I did not mention it in my previous letter, but before Bell's kidnapping, Lancelot Chevalier and an army of knights attempted to assassinate Achilles and were captured for their trouble. In order to ensure Lancelot could not do any more damage, the Freya familia was denied the chance to participate in the fight against the Evilus beyond her vice-captain. Much to Freya's chagrin."
"Freya wanted to destroy the Evilus that much? What did they do to her?" Hera questioned.
"Freya was far more concerned with saving Bell than destroying the Evilus for she has fallen quite hard for my great-nephew."
"What?" Hera asked as Aria and Zeus looked on in shock.
"It's true. And she is not the only one. Many young ladies are quite taken with him, and while I would love to dive deeper into this far more pleasant topic, we cannot diverge from our most dire topic."
Though surprised by this revelation, the other immortals, needing answers about what transpired, readily set aside their curiosity, allowing Hades to continue.
"I do not know everything of what transpired during the Expedition, but there are several, extremely important events that you three need to be informed of," the God of the Underworld continued, his voice dark and foreboding. "The first occurred while the Expedition was on the 50th floor. While there, an earthquake occurred, one powerful enough for even us on the surface to feel, but that is not the truly great concern. Uriel informed me that immediately following the earthquake, innumerable voices from the deepest recesses of the Dungeon cried out in unison."
Once more, all three of the immortals before him froze.
"You…you can't mean…" Zeus tried to say.
"Yes. Our parents cried out from Tartarus," Hades answered.
More dreadful silence until Hera's shaky voice reentered to ask her terrified question.
"Why? Why would they cry out now?"
"The answer to that question begins with what they cried out," Hades answered, his own voice wavering with fear. "They cried out, 'liberator'."
Hera fell onto the bed beside Aria as fear overcame her.
"T-They felt the boy," she said. "They know the key to their salvation exists."
"Yes," Hades confirmed.
"But…how? Hermes informed me that Bell has gone into the Dungeon countless times! If it was simply him being there, why didn't it happen sooner?!" Zeus asked.
"Because of the first horrible revelation."
"What does that mean?" Hera asked as Aria grabbed her hand and squeezed tightly enough to cause the goddess pain.
"The Evilus…were not kind to Bell," Hades answered as his own hand clenched.
"W-What…what did they do to my son?" Aria asked.
Hades closed his eyes and took a few agonizingly slow breaths to calm his emotions. Even then, he could not answer while holding Aria's gaze and so answered with his eyes shut as tightly as possible.
"They tortured him. Relentlessly."
Aria slid from the bed to her knees, releasing Hera's hand so that she could grab her head as tears streamed down her face.
"Bell…Bell…" she began to hyperventilate and it was only by pulling the spirit into her arms that Hera managed to keep the broken mother from completely shattering to pieces.
"They…tortured…my…grandson?" Zeus questioned as his eyes disappeared into a mass of divine power and lightning began to dance along his arms as if he was ready to go to war.
"Unfortunately…it gets worse," Hades answered as his own dark power poured from his fingertips as he imagined tormenting Dionysus.
"What could possibly be worse than torture?!" Zeus roared.
The answer came immediately and without mercy.
"The Imperator Monstrorum."
Zeus's power disintegrated and horrified shock replaced his wrath and snapped the two female immortals out of their own despair.
"That's…not possible. We destroyed that infernal device!" Hera cried.
"I know Hera. I was there remember," Hades said as calmly as he could with his own warring emotions. "It appears that there either was a second one or, more likely, Dionysus got his hands on the blueprints for that horrid machine."
"Dionysus?" Zeus questioned.
"He was Enyo, the leader of the Evilus," his brother informed him.
"Dionysus," the King of Olympus repeated in disbelief before his fury returned three-fold. "I will tear him asunder!"
"Dionysus and Thanatos have both been sent back to Heaven," Hades told them, "but you can trust that none of us let him off easily. That I can promise you," the God of the Underworld vowed.
Denied his vengeance, but knowing how capable his brother was in making the wicked suffer, Zeus nodded.
"What does the Imperator Monstrorum have to do with Bell though?" Aria asked once things had calmed down again.
"You already know the answer to that, Aria, you just don't want to admit it to yourself."
Aria looked confused and a fresh wave of painful pity passed through Hades's heart.
It was Hera who provided the answer that so alluded the poor mother, though it was an answer she did not want to give.
"They used it on Bell."
Aria's world shattered before her eyes.
"No," she whispered. "No. N-No. No no no nonononono, that can't be. They wouldn't. No one would do that to my Bell. No one. They couldn't! They wouldn't! He's too good! They can't have-!"
This time, it was Zeus who pulled her into his arms, pouring as much of his strength into her as possible, even as his own seemed to be failing.
"No. No. It's a lie. Isn't it Zeus?" she begged. "They couldn't have done that? Right? Right?!"
The god did not answer, instead pulling her head into his chest as his own tears slipped down his cheek.
Unable to deny the truth any longer, Aria's eyes overflowed with tears and she screamed into Zeus's chest as her power pulsed, sending their belongings flying all over the room.
It's a damn good thing I sealed the room, Hera thought before she joined her husband in holding the spirit, giving her old friend as much comfort as possible until she calmed down.
Hades watched it all in silence, his ice blue and fiery eyes taking in all the pain as if he were a statue.
At this moment, I wish I was made of stone, for I am not sure how I will be able to tell them what else happened to Bell without breaking to pieces myself.
Finally, after shedding more tears that even an immortal spirit should be capable of, Aria parted from the two deities and focused back on Hades with bloodshot eyes.
"Why?"
He did not need to ask for clarification, he knew what she meant.
"Bell's draconic power has manifested in a skill called 'Wrath of the Dragon' and on several occasions he has displayed this power. Dionysus wished to enhance this skill and then unleash it on Orario itself. In order to do this, he forced many monsters onto Bell and nearly forced the soul of an adventurer into the poor boy as well."
Rage returned to Zeus's eyes, but he kept himself in check in order to focus on aiding Aria.
"It was apparently at that moment that Bell managed to break free, destroying that accursed machine in the process. However, in doing so, his power was discovered by our parents, prompting their cry."
Hera nodded, it was about all she could do.
"Have you spoken with Ouranos about this?" the goddess asked.
"No, but I suspect he's been pouring his power into the Dungeon in order to quiet it as much as possible. He may have even called upon Gaia to aid him," Hades answered.
"Now there is a troubling thought."
"There is another troubling thought with regard to that machine, one that may see our history exposed."
That startled them and filled every corner of their bodies with concern.
"Explain," Hera all-but demanded.
"I suspect that Achilles Caesar may be aware of our true history," Hades replied.
"Achilles?" Zeus questioned.
"Yes. When discussing the Imperator Monstrorum he was the only one who did not seem shocked by its existence nor did he seem surprised by the voices. Indeed, Uriel informed me that Finn Deimne questioned him on the voices and though Achilles did not answer as to who the voices were, that mere statement-"
"Suggests he knows perfectly well," Hera finished.
Hades nodded.
Hera then spun around to her husband, eyes flashing an accusation.
"I never told him! That is one secret I wouldn't tell anyone, not even my most loyal and beloved child. I never even planned to tell Bell!" Zeus swore.
"I do not think you told him," Hades defended, "but that means that the information is out there somewhere and none of us have any idea of where it is, meaning we can't control or destroy it."
"So what do you suggest be done, brother?" Zeus asked, his voice holding a silent threat.
"I am not suggesting we torture Achilles for information. Even if I thought that would work, I respect the man and all he's been through. Besides, Bell would never forgive us if we did."
The mention of the young man at the center of everything brought their discussion back on topic.
"We can figure out what to do or not to do about Achilles later, right now I want to know what happened to my son," Aria pressed.
"As you should be, but be warned Aria, as hard as it is to believe, things only get worse from here, and you know I would not say something like that lightly after discussing a young man's torture."
Aria swallowed as her breath began to shake and her heart began to thunder.
"Tell me."
Hades nodded though his shoulders sagged as the weight on his soul returned heavier than before.
"The Expedition reached the Evilus on the 60th floor and battled them. It was a difficult battle. Indeed, from what I've heard, it was more like several separate battles, complete with a horde of some 10,000 monsters and a miniature Black Dragon."
The shock and horror the three immortals just kept compounding on itself, filling them with ever more dread each time they thought themselves unable to feel any more.
"Yet the Expedition overcame these hardships, leaving Dionysus and Thanatos exposed…except for their final, most terrible trump card."
Aria began to shake again for, though she hoped beyond hope that she was wrong, she saw where the underworld deity was heading.
"W-Which was?"
"Bell himself."
Aria's nails broke through her skin as Zeus's eyes widened to inhuman proportions.
"Bell…Bell would never," the thunder god tried to say.
"Not willingly, no," Hades immediately agreed, "but Dionysus's cruel machinations have evidently bore many evil fruits for he created a device, a crown I am told, that controlled Bell, forced him to activate his Wrath of the Dragon skill and become the White Dragon."
"Don't you dare call him that!" Aria roared causing the deities, including Hades, to jump.
"My apologies," the dark god replied sincerely, "but I feel it is important to dissociate Bell from the monster that Dionysus unleashed against the Expedition."
"I am well aware that my son was not in control when he fought the Expedition, Hades," the spirit threw back.
"Very well," he sighed, "but I shall reiterate my warning. This is about to get worse, Aria, and you may find that separating Bell as much as possible from what I am telling you is for your benefit."
She simply glared at him and knowing she would not change her mind, Hades continued.
"Bell, in his draconic form, battled the Expedition and pushed them to their utmost limits and came extremely close to annihilating them. While they eventually managed to subdue him, it did not come without cost as, unfortunately, Bell killed the vice-captain of the Freya familia. One Allen Fromel."
"H-He," Aria tried before stopping herself and taking a deep breath. "That wasn't his fault and if Freya-"
"Freya doesn't blame him, nor do I, nor does his own familia. However," Hades paused as he fought to hold back his tears, "there is one person who does. The only person who matters."
Silence reigned again for one brief and terrible moment before Zeus, knowing his grandson as well as anyone, revealed that one person.
"Bell."
Hades closed his eyes and nodded.
"Sometime after Bell awoke, the Expedition heard a dragon roar reverberate through the Dungeon. Fearing an attack, they all rushed out only to find Achilles carrying back an unconscious Bell."
He let his words sink in, hoping beyond hope that the spirit wouldn't actually make him say it.
"Hades…what are you getting at?" Aria asked as a sense of dread greater than all the other anguish she suffered that night began to seep into her heart and soul.
Hera and Zeus both grabbed her shoulders, though the latter was barely keeping himself in check as his own dread began to grow.
"As Uriel tells it, Achilles placed Bell on his bed and then asked Finn Deimne-" Hades voice broke as one tear of ice and one molten tear descended his cheeks.
"Asked…him…what?" Aria demanded as her golden eyes turned glassy.
"To…to put Bell on suicide watch," the God of the Underworld finally forced out.
Not since the death of her beloved Albert and the loss of her beautiful Ais had Aria's world been so obliterated and turned to dust. She did not even have the strength to hold herself and collapsed to her knees as the two gods by her side wrapped their arms around her, even as, in Zeus's case, his own world felt aflame with grief and horror.
"I'm…I'm so…sorry, Aria. Brother," Hades said, his words coming out in agonizing bursts.
"Brother," Zeus repeated as he used all his strength not to break. "Please…Please tell me that Bell…that he's still…"
"He's alive," Hades replied immediately and with his own great relief, "and he is, thank everything good, doing much better now."
Light returned to Aria's eyes and she dared look back up at Hades.
"H-H-He is?"
"Yes," Hades confirmed. "It was not an easy journey, but he's doing much better now, in large part due to Mania."
"Mania?" the spirit questioned.
"Through Achilles she has become an adoptive grandmother to him. She understood what the rest of us did not, that Bell would not accept forgiveness or clemency but required some sort of restitution for what he viewed as his crimes or, at the very least, the crimes of his wrath."
"I see…" Aria returned as she slowly began to smile again. "Then I will thank her profusely when I next see her."
"I'm sure she will reply that your thanks is unneeded, but I don't think she will be offended," Hades stated with his own small smile. That smile lasted but a moment though as he was soon deadly serious again. "Something else happened to help pull him from the darkness of his heart. Something nowhere as wonderful as a grandmother's love."
"What's that?" Hera questioned, noting the change in attitude.
"Today's battle with Tiamat."
Once more, the eyes of the three immortals widened in unrestrained shock.
"Tiamat attacked Orario?!" the Queen of Olympus cried.
"Yes, and it was very clear that her goal was to capture and escape with Bell," Hades answered.
"That..." Zeus tried to say.
"That means-" Aria began.
"That Chaos sent her, yes," Hades finished. "Meaning that he is both aware of his son's growth and wishes to claim him."
"Then why are you telling me not to come?!" Aria bellowed, jumping to her feet. "I am one of the few entities that has any hope of holding back that beast and if he's after my son! I need to be there to protect him."
"If the Black Dragon truly wanted Bell, he would have come himself, and unless our goal was to destroy the world, we would have all been hard pressed to defeat that monster ourselves," Hades pointed out, quickly silencing the raging mother. "As of now though, I think Tiamat was only a test that Chaos sent to Bell."
"You mean that Bell…?" Zeus asked.
"He did not kill Tiamat himself, no, but his part was instrumental in her defeat," Hades explained. "I myself watched as he held back all five of Tiamat's heads with his own power, though it did push him well past his body's normal limits. Don't worry, he's alive and last I saw him, smiling."
That did ease the mother and grandfather significantly, but only for a moment as Aria's burning eyes were soon boring into Hades once more.
"Then tell me, Hades, given all you've said, why shouldn't I come to Orario? Why shouldn't I be there to help my son through his pain and to protect him from all these dangers?"
Hades held her fiery gaze for a few quiet, but tense moments before replying.
"Because of the one question that will invariably arise once you arrive. Who is Bell's father?"
Instantly, Aria's eyes lost their fire and were replaced with fear and understanding.
"If you come, people will ask that question. It is only natural that they would. You can try and dodge it all you want, even lie, but people will wonder and I doubt Achilles will simply sit by and let the question hang in the air. Nor will he be deceived by your lies. He'll want answers and, if he's capable of finding out the truth about our past-"
"He's capable of finding out the truth of Bell's origins," Hera finished. "Assuming, of course, that Dido or Imilce don't just tell him."
"They are aware?" Hades questioned.
"They helped me rescue Aria and Bell all those years ago, so yes. Galadriel was there as well, but she wasn't around long enough to hear the truth of Bell's father, so only those two know the whole truth of his birth or...his parentage, I suppose is more accurate."
"Can we trust them not to tell Achilles?"
"We can trust them not to go out of their way to inform him," Hera answered, "but if Achilles directly asks them who Bell's father is I doubt Imilce will have the heart to lie and I doubt Dido will be inclined to protect Bell as she's always seen him as a threat."
Rage returned to Aria's eyes, though it was controlled and she remained silent.
"Well, even if they don't say a word, Achilles Caesar is a very capable man. He will find out the truth once the question is presented and while I don't doubt his love for Bell, I also do not doubt his love for his familia, including his fallen fellow captain."
"Briseis," Hera whispered in sorrow before turning her eyes to Zeus. "You know him best. How would he react to this information?"
"Briseis knew him best," Zeus corrected, "followed by Mania and Chiron. Still," Zeus rubbed his neck, "I'm not sure if even they'd know how he'd react to the truth. Briseis's good heart would probably pull him back from any action against Bell, but her loss and the loss of everyone else hurt Achilles deeply," he sighed. "And he hates that damn beast. Hates it as much as he fears it. Having the son of the Black Dragon next to him might be a constant reminder of his loss as well as an unrelenting source of fear. That said," he turned his eyes to Aria, "if he's made Bell his own, that means he loves him dearly, and that love should not be discounted or underestimated."
Aria nodded, though with a great deal of trepidation.
"No it should not be," Hades agreed, "but neither should the effect of this revelation on Bell's mind be discounted or underestimated. He's recovered greatly, but if there's one thing that will make his mind crack or break, it will be the truth of his birth, and that's not counting what will happen if the truth gets out. His mind and body will both be in incredible danger. Which is why you cannot come, Aria. Not because I wish to deny you your son, but because I do not want my great-nephew to crumble into pieces from a truth that only the strongest can contend with at the same time the world turns against him. That's why, if I must, I will personally keep from Orario, at least until such time as I am confident in Bell's strength of mind."
Hades was prepared to fight the wind spirit on this matter, but he was surprised when she nodded.
"No, that won't be necessary," she said quietly. "You're right. I can't risk Bell breaking under the strain of the truth, so I will have to wait. It hurts me," the tears in her eyes confirmed this, "but I can accept it if it keeps my boy safe. I would, however, like to ask something in return."
"Name it," the underworld god immediately replied.
"I want to send him a letter."
"A letter?"
"Yes. I've actually been meaning to send one since Bell sent me one but-"
"I beg your pardon?!" Hera cried. "When the hell did that happen?"
"Just before I started demanding we go to Orario," Aria answered calmly. "Bell sent me a message through Galadriel. She sent it under my code name, Meteria, and she apologized profusely, but that matters little now."
"It matters a great deal. When did Galadriel even meet your son? And how?"
"Be glad that she did. Galadriel's assistance was vital to the success of the Expedition," Hades cut in. Though her actions against Achilles were severely unjustified in my opinion, he added to himself.
"And getting a response letter to Bell is vital to me. So, will you do that for me, Hades?" Aria asked, ignoring Hera's continued grumbling.
"I shall. Roc shall take it. Though it would probably be best if I pass it off to Galadriel given it was she who sent the original letter."
"How will you explain all this to her?" Hera demanded.
"By simply admitting I know Aria as well. Given who I am, it would hardly be shocking."
The goddess begrudgingly accepted this.
"Then I will get started on the letter right away," the wind mother affirmed.
"Very good. And Aria…thank you."
Aria sighed as her fists clenched.
"Don't thank me for this Hades. I want to see my son desperately. I haven't seen him since he was a toddler and when it comes to physical threats I don't trust anyone to protect him as well as myself. I am only conceding because the very last thing in the world I want to do is shatter his perception of himself or worse yet, utterly break his heart. But the very moment I don't think my coming will put his mind at risk, I am coming, Hades."
"The moment I can be sure of that, I will personally send for you," the God of the Underworld replied.
"Good. Until then, keep him safe, do you hear me?"
"I will do everything in my power, Aria. I promise."
The moment Hades left the room, his strength evaporated and he fell against the door.
I'm not sure a conversation has ever drained me like that one did.
"My love?"
His icy eye opened and he found Uriel quickly striding towards him, looking worried.
"Are you alright? You're not hurt are you?" she asked.
Her worry was touching and warmth returned to his heart.
He pushed off the door and strode towards her without a word. He knew this only increased her concern, at least until the moment he leant down and claimed her lips.
It was a soft, but drawn-out kiss, one in which he poured all his adoration into until, at last, he pulled back and rested his forehead against her hair.
"I'm alright, Uriel. I'm just…afraid. The world is getting more dangerous with each passing day and I don't know if any of us are prepared for the dangers ahead."
Though many perceived her god as some mass of darkness and pessimism, the truth was that Uriel always found him an optimistic man. As such, hearing him now upset her even more than it scared her and she wrapped her arms tightly around him.
"Whatever challenges lie ahead, we will face them together and overcome them."
"I hope you're right, my dear. I hope you're right."
The two parted and slowly made their way back to the others who they found cooking, feasting, and laughing.
My my, Mania took her grandmotherly vow very seriously, the god noted with a small smile.
Hades's eyes turned to the center of all his worry and froze.
He's…
Bell was smiling. He was smiling as largely and as brightly as he could as those around him commended him, hugged him, kissed him, and fed him food far too quickly yet somehow not nearly fast enough it seemed. It was a truly wonderful scene and Hades found himself nearly transfixed by all of it.
"Here's another batch!"
Hades turned and found Achilles at the stove, the human's smile nearly as large as his son's. He was plate after plate of pancakes. Indeed, he was making enough pancakes to feed a village which, with all the gods, adventurers, and children running around, he effectively was. The man seemed so utterly relieved, so utterly at-ease, so utterly and simply happy that it brought a tear to Hades's molten eye.
"Beloved?" Uriel asked worriedly.
The god smiled and turned to her.
"The future is terrifying, my love, but I think we have much to be hopeful for."
Seeing his optimism return, she beamed up at him and pulled herself to his side as tightly as possible while those before them continued their celebrations.
And there it is ladies and gentlemen. The truth. Many of you already successfully guessed it, though there are a few details that haven't been fully explored yet, namely how Aria can have children despite being immortal. That will be delved into in the future, along with all the other mysterious both revealed and still tightly under wraps.
With that said, it's time for you guys to share your thoughts. Did you guess the truth? Are you utterly shocked? Confused? Disgusted? Share it all in the reviews.
Whelp, it's that time again. Time for me to bid you a fine farewell and shill myself a bit. So, if you like my work, please consider either purchasing my book or finding me on SubscribeStar, both of which are linked in my bio. I do have a few rewards set-up for patrons and by supporting me you make it easier for me to dedicate time to writing and encourage me to turn out work faster, so keep that in mind. Anyway, enough arm twisting. I hope you all have a lovely day/weekend/etc and I'll see you all in the next chapter. So, until then, bye for now.