ch - 5: moving days

--

On the way back during twilight, a sea of wheat spread all around us. The stalks of fruit and cool breeze made a soft rustling sound as they swayed. The golden light of the setting sun made the scene feel like a fairy tale.

Bell, who had been looking around lazily, suddenly looked up at the person beside him. A beautiful woman, as if just waking up, with long gray hair that she didn't like because it looked dirty, but Bell found it beautiful. Her eyelids were always closed, and she claimed it was exhausting just to open them. Her black dress was odd for the mountains. The more Bell looked at her, the more beautiful she seemed.

It was just the two of us, holding hands, walking together.

Bell looked at her profile and spoke up, "Nee, Aunt…"

A sudden thunk rang out as a dangerous sound echoed from his head.

"I'll hit you," Alfia said.

"You already hit me!!" Bell cried, clutching his head in pain.

It wasn't a light tap; it was a Gospel Fist, faster than any chant, and Bell had no chance of dodging. Stars danced before his eyes, tears pooling as the pain surged through him.

"Didn't I tell you to call me by my name?" Alfia asked, looking at him sternly.

"... Alfia Mother," Bell said meekly.

"Good," Alfia said, squeezing his hand. "Now, what were you trying to say?"

"... You won't hit me?"

"If I don't like it, I will."

"Scary…"

"Then I'll knock you."

"That'll probably hurt too!"

Bell knew all too well; since meeting Alfia and Zard four months ago, he'd never gone a day without some new wound.

Alfia was a sensitive "queen" who loved silence. She didn't hesitate to punish him when necessary.

"Don't make too much noise, or I'll 'dekopin' you again."

"Hi!" Bell shrieked, remembering past incidents.

Alfia didn't like noise. "Only report what needs to be reported."

"Yes, Ma'am! I'm sorry!" Bell replied quickly.

"Who taught you that?"

"Grandfather."

"That damn old man…" Alfia muttered. "He's a bad influence on your education. I should've used my magic to blow him away…"

"Please don't! Grandfather will die!" Bell panicked.

The tension between Alfia and Bell's grandfather was legendary. She had once buried him in the field to prevent him from joining their bath. Another time, when he tried to share a bed with Bell, a single word from Alfia sent the entire house flying.

"I won't raise my hand, just tell me," Alfia said, snapping Bell back to the present.

Bell hesitated, then asked, "What kind of person was my real mother?"

Bell had no memories of his mother, only his grandfather. Though he didn't feel sad, he sometimes felt lonely. Now that he had Alfia, that loneliness was fading. So, he asked her about the woman he knew so little of.

Alfia paused, her face serious. "She was kind. She had a smile that made people feel at ease. She was sick, but not fragile. She always made you realize your mistakes, even with a gentle word. Strangely, everyone loved her. She was very pure."

"Pure…"

"But she had a terrifying grudge against food."

"Eh?"

"One time, I ate a sweet she was looking forward to. Her mood shifted, and I thought I was going to die."

Bell was startled. "Really?"

"Yes. Hera, a certain goddess, learned the hard way too."

Alfia's voice was calm, but Bell could hear the hint of a smile. It was a memory of love.

"She couldn't live without help, so she never forgot how precious life was. She smiled through her pain and lived with gratitude. That's why she was kinder than anyone."

Bell listened carefully. "That's why I'm healthy?"

"Yes, your mother's strength is why you're so strong."

Bell was quiet, processing everything. Alfia was the one who gave him a sense of family.

Then Alfia revealed something surprising.

"I didn't want to meet you," she said softly.

Bell blinked. "Huh?"

"I didn't want to appear in front of you. But when I saw your white hair, I couldn't resist. I came to take a look, and before I knew it, I was standing before you."

Bell could still remember that day. The setting sun, the moment Alfia stood before him. She asked his name, touched his cheek, and quietly hugged him. Bell felt her tears, even though she didn't cry.

"You look like your mother," Alfia said. "Your face, your smile, even your hair... everything is from her. Except for your eyes. Those are from your father. Every time I see those red eyes, I want to gouge them out."

Bell shivered, frightened by Alfia's unsettling tone.

"I don't want to be separated from you and Zard," Bell said softly.

Alfia smiled faintly, though it was filled with sadness. "We can't stay together forever. Goodbyes are inevitable."

Bell's heart sank. He knew the time was coming. Alfia's coughs were getting worse, and Bell could see blood when she thought no one was watching.

The time for goodbyes was approaching.

As the twilight deepened and the mountains glowed with the setting sun, Bell squeezed Alfia's hand, though she didn't squeeze back. They continued walking, not far from home.

Desperate for any words to break the silence, Bell asked, "The god that came yesterday... was it good that he left?"

Alfia didn't answer immediately, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

The evening sky had deepened into shades of purple and navy, the last of the sunlight barely touching the tips of the distant mountains. The wheat fields stretched out around them, and the cool evening breeze whispered through the stalks. Bell continued walking alongside Alfia, her hand still gently resting in his.

He had asked about the god who had come yesterday, but now that Alfia had responded, his mind was awash with thoughts. He was no closer to understanding the mysterious god's purpose, but there was something in the way Alfia spoke that caught his attention.

Alfia's gaze remained fixed on the horizon as she spoke, her voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of something deeper. "Gods... they are unpredictable. They come and go as they please, and their motives are often not as pure as they seem."

Bell looked up at her, his curiosity piqued. "But… wasn't that god just passing through? He didn't seem like he meant any harm."

Alfia paused, her expression unreadable. "That's the danger with gods. They don't always show their true intentions. They can appear kind and harmless, but they often have their own agendas. We're just pawns to them."

Bell frowned, feeling the weight of her words. "But you... You're different, right? You care about me, about Zard, don't you?"

Alfia's expression softened for a moment, her gaze meeting his. There was a tenderness in her eyes, a softness that contrasted with the sharpness of her earlier words. "Of course I care about you," she said, her voice steady. "But it's not because I'm a god or because I have some divine duty. I care because I chose to."

Bell looked down, processing her words. Alfia wasn't a god, but she had more than enough strength and wisdom to know the dangers the gods posed. Her presence in his life had been a constant, unlike the fleeting gods that seemed to come and go at will.

"I don't want to be caught up in their games," Bell said quietly. "I don't want to be used like that."

"You won't be," Alfia assured him, her voice firm. "You're stronger than that. You just have to keep your eyes open and make your own decisions. Don't let anyone else decide for you."

Bell nodded, though there was a lingering unease in his heart. The more Alfia spoke, the clearer it became that the world he was stepping into wasn't as simple as he had once thought. It was full of gods, familia politics, and battles for power—things far beyond his understanding.

"I don't know if I can do it," Bell admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You can," Alfia said, squeezing his hand lightly. "You already are."

Bell's heart fluttered at her words, the warmth of her support giving him strength he hadn't known he was missing. He looked up at her, meeting her gaze, and for a brief moment, everything felt right. Even though he was still uncertain about the future, he knew he wasn't facing it alone.

They continued walking, the silence between them no longer heavy but comfortable, as the last light of the sun dipped behind the mountains. The night was drawing near, and with it, the uncertainty of what awaited them.

But Bell wasn't afraid, not as long as he had Alfia by his side. She had shown him what it meant to care without expectation, to choose a path for himself—and for that, he would keep moving forward, no matter what.

Alfia looked at him one more time before they reached the edge of the fields, a faint smile on her lips. "Don't let anyone control you, Bell," she said quietly. "The only one who decides your fate is you."

Bell's chest tightened with emotion as he nodded. The path ahead was unclear, but with Alfia's words in his heart, he felt ready to face whatever came next.

The two of them walked on, their footsteps soft in the twilight, the future waiting just ahead.

--

Belle's POV (Future Bell)

The town I had arrived at was small, nestled quietly to the west of my village, far enough that I could take in the stillness and the scent of pine in the cool evening air. The town was peaceful, almost too peaceful, given the weight of my task. I had come here for one purpose: to gather the resources I needed for five essential things. Three of those five I couldn't make on my own.

The most urgent was the medicine for Zard and Alfia. The concoction I needed was meant to freeze all kinds of diseases and poisons—an emergency remedy that could save lives if the worst came to pass. After weeks of searching, I had finally found the last ingredient. It was a rare herb, one that I hadn't been able to locate until today, and with it, the medicine would be ready.

As I collected the herb, a memory surfaced from four months ago. I had seen Zard and Alfia passing through the village. They weren't just travelers; they had come to see Bell—the Bell from this timeline. My younger self. They had arrived with a quiet but serious presence, and I'd noticed the way Alfia looked as if she were constantly weighing something, her eyes heavy with unspoken thoughts. Zard, too, looked worn, as if the journey had taken more out of him than he let on.

I had spoken to Zeus about them back then. I told him I was going to bring the medicines with me, that I was going to see them soon. The plan had always been to help them. It wasn't just a promise—it was a responsibility I felt deep down, one I couldn't ignore.

With the last ingredient secured, I sighed and set my sights on the next stage of my journey. There were still two items I couldn't make: the Soul Bind Amulet, an artifact capable of disguising one's soul, and the Elysian Lure, a charm that enchanted the user's senses. Both were found in the magical city of Altena, a place known for its powerful enchantments.

--

The road to Altena was long, but it had become something I could bear. As the days passed, I grew used to the solitude, to the quiet of the path, my thoughts my only companions. When I finally reached the gates of Altena, the city greeted me with the hum of magic in the air. The streets pulsed with an energy that was at once foreign and familiar, the stone walls and towering spires teeming with life.

It was there, amidst the hum of the city, that I saw her.

Artemis—the goddess he had been seeking. Her long, flowing blue hair cascaded down her back, with two long bangs framing her face and two strands delicately hanging at the sides. A small portion of her hair was tied back in a partly braided tail, adding an elegant yet wild touch to her appearance.

Her green eyes, sharp yet filled with compassion, glowed with an inner light that stood out against her white and pale blue attire. The dress clung gently to her figure, providing both grace and mobility. She wore long brown boots with a light brown design, complementing the overall light, yet practical style of her clothing. Around her waist, a belt held a piece of white cloth and a dagger, symbols of both her warrior and divine nature. Gold bracelets adorned her wrists, and various gold hair accessories shimmered in her hair, giving her an ethereal, almost otherworldly presence.

Belle's heart skipped a beat. This was the goddess he had heard so much about—the one with whom his fate had once been tied.

As he stood there, staring at Artemis, Belle's mind drifted to the fourth item he had planned. He had wanted to give her a ring, something that symbolized his love and admiration. He hadn't decided on the details yet, but his thoughts were consumed with the possibility of this gesture.