When Ais Wallenstein woke up, it was in the early morning. Her first morning seeing the sleeping face of Hakuno as she subconsciously pulled the Sword Princess closer to her and snuggle her. That was when she noticed Hestia was awake and was looking at them with some sort of knowing look.

Oh no.

She wanted to say something, but she didn't want to risk waking Hakuno up before she heard Hakuno mutter something as she slowly began to open her eyes.

…

…

…

"…Morning." Ais shyly greeted her as Hakuno blinked and her cheeks were dusted red before releasing her grip on Ais and sat up. All while Hestia giggled at her daughter's expense.

Now, you must be wondering, why are Hakuno and Ais sharing the same bed, right? Well, that was because there were only three beds in the church's basement and two couches (one Bell sleeps on) and Hestia suggested to Ais to share Hakuno's bed, much to the witch's dismay. It was her Mother's antics of teasing her because of Ais' accidental and implied confession when she didn't really know better. Now Hestia was having a field day teasing Hakuno of winning over Ais' heart, much to Bell's chagrin (or secret delight? Boys will be boys.).

But today was special, for it was Ais Wallenstein's first day as a member of the Hestia Familia.

"Well, it is time for me to start heading to work." Hestia noted as she opened the wardrobe and put on her work uniform. It was one where she works at a Jagamaru-kun stand, one that Ais frequently visits and buys.

"Hestia-sama, can I work with you today?" Ais requested-no, pleaded as she surprised her new goddess that was instantly confused before recalling how frequent Ais came to her stall specifically and realized how much the girl loved her Jagamaru-kun.

"Alright, I'll talk with the owner about giving you a uniform and let's see what goes from there." Hestia agreed as she gestured Ais to follow her while Hakuno smiled. It was the perfect opportunity for both her Mother and Ais to develop a proper bond, out of both their fondness of the universal genius food Jagamaru-kun.

"Ah, are you going herb gathering again today?" Hestia noted, looking at a certain corner of the room that had a small cauldron, a shelf with several tomes and jars of herbs and remedies in them and numerous empty vials and flasks stacked neatly on a small table.

Hakuno nodded, confirming her task of the day. During her days off from hunting in the Dungeon, Hakuno lived up to her reputation as a witch by collecting herbs outside of Orario and brewing potions with interesting effects even without the Development Skill Mixing. She became involved with the Miach Familia sometime back, asking for lessons from Naaza Erisuis. Of course, since she was aware of their financial situation, Hakuno bargained by paying tuition fees for potion making lessons and the Chienthrope agreed easily. Then it went from there that Hakuno would help the Miach Familia in terms of business by handing in some of her own unique potions, under the condition she gets twenty percent of the income her potions sell for.

Given how effective they were and how on demand by adventurers, Hakuno got thirty percent as thanks. Of course, not all the potions she makes are given to the Miach Familia to help with income, she would give potions to the sick and poor that need them most. It paid off in the end as everyone loved her caring nature and have taught her the streets and secret pathways in case of emergencies. She had it all mapped in her mind as she used them to her advantage to avoid attention. This was where she was going to go outside of Orario besides the main gates, especially since the Hestia Familia grew in fame with the inclusion of Ais to their Familia. She didn't want to deal with the many adventurers asking to join and needed some time to herself.

As she reaches the field of flowers and herbs, she began kneeling and start her harvest with basket in hand. Humming all the way as she failed to notice a lone figure walking up behind her. As she stood up straight, smiling at her collection did a pair of strong arms hug her from behind and a voice whispering to her ear.

"Found you, my Flora."

Oh no.

No.

No. No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!

Why is he of all Servants here?!

"Lucius Tiberius!" she hissed out in alarm as she was spun around to see the Roman Emperor of King Arthur's time smiling at her with a smug smile.

Oh, she remembered this particular Servant well. Saber once said his bloodlust was so horrible, he was practically erased from official records of Rome's history and reduced as a minor page in King Arthur's tales of protecting Britain. He had a rather disturbing admiration for Hakuno.

He viewed her as his own version of the flower goddess Flora, and due to his unstable Spirit Core in the past, his personality was rather unstable and disturbing in his obsession with her. Now don't get her wrong, she's alright with touchy-feely Roman Emperors thanks to Nero, but this man reeked of blood. He was a demonic beast in human flesh that would kill anything that got in way of his desires, and he had his sights on her once again.

Hakuno cursed the Moon Cell for this, speculating it was involved with the man's appearance here. The Regalia on her finger responded, admitting that the Moon Cell too was baffled by the man's appearance. So, if it wasn't the Moon Cell, something else was responsible and she was not amused by her sudden bad luck.

He was as strong as Ais was as a Servant, and his arm wrapped around her waist made it impossible to break free as she was at this man's mercy as he looked right at her with a longing desire. "Tell me my beloved Violet-"

Great, a nickname from a man of flowers. Hakuno sure felt special now.

"Of which god have you bound yourself to so I may liberate you from their foul shackles?" he asked as his face drew closer to hers. Oh no, she was not going to kiss this animal in this lifetime.

"…You would attack Lady Vesta herself?" Hakuno asked as the emperor froze at that name.

"Pardon?" he asked, suddenly felt unnerved by what Hakuno was saying.

In Roman culture, Hestia was known as Vesta, Defender of the State, Keeper of the Sacred Flame and the one of the most important gods, surpassing even the Holy Progenitor Romulus in terms of praise and worship. Going against her is going against all the gods and ignite their ire, the god Priapus was one such fool and he suffered for that.

Instantly he let Hakuno go as a frown was on his face, "So you're a Vestal Virgin then." He concluded and said nothing more as he crossed his arms in disappointment.

"I am forever thankful of Nero's lessons on Rome's history right now." Hakuno thought with appreciation. Vestal Virgins were revered in Rome for their duty and were to remain chaste for thirty years in service and held power and authority in their prime. So, Lucius cannot woe her if she is under Hestia's protection, and frankly, she has no interest in this…Murderous hobo as Anderson would say even if he were handsome. Gilgamesh was the better option, at least he kills with reasons even if they were absurd or flimsy and his demands were unreasonable and exhausting!

But then again, she did want her vacation from the Moon Cell to be quite and sane.

King of Nudists.

Deciding she is needed elsewhere, she turned to leave. "Make a contract with me my precious Violet. So that I can be by your side when you need it." Lucius demanded of her as she turned her head to glare at him.

"I have no Command Seals, so that will be impossible." She replied as she left the field, her good mood sullied by an admirer soaked in blood. With that, Lucius went into astral from and proceeded to follow her close by, undetected. The Stray Servant determined to keep her alive in a den of vipers. Preferably eliminating any other of these Familia seeking to claim her as theirs.

*Church*

Hakuno sighed as she fell onto her bed, exhausted by her encounter with a Servant that desired her and was bloodthirsty by nature alone. She was going to take a small nap to clear her mind when Haruhime walked in. "Hakuno-sama is something wrong?" the Renard asked as Hakuno kept her eyes closed.

"Going to take a small nap, wake me up in an hour." She replied as she let her mind drift and sleep take her. Haruhime smiled as she organized the room for a bit but looked around in confusion, wondering why she felt a pair of eyes looking at her when no one was there. She walked up to Hakuno's sleeping form and carefully adjusted the blanket and pillow while the girl slept and smiled.

"Happy dreams." She politely told Hakuno before leaving the church to go grocery shopping. That was when Lucius manifested himself and observed the room's details. Small and humble, with a small atelier that belonged to Hakuno if the basket of herbs from earlier was over there.

She looked lovely as she slept, and there was a reason he decided to call her Violet, for both she and the flower itself were plain as day, yet wonderfully beautiful at the same time. Rosemary was another flower that complimented her symbolically with remembrance for the dead, as she cared for those she had killed in the past. A gentle soul bound with the nature of two lovely flowers, and they complement her looks. She truly was his own Flora, and she would be his by right as emperor. Gently, he brushed a strand of hair from her face and went into astral form.

He could wait a bit more to change her mind. She will be his, and any foolish god apart from Lady Vesta will pay for any transgressions in their vain attempts to claim her. For now, he'll indulge on the sight of her sleeping face, awaiting the day he could taste her lips and have her to himself.

When Hakuno awoke, she felt a chill down her spine, slowly sitting up and looking around wearily. She felt as if someone was watching her as she rubbed her eyes and stretched. It was a good nap, and those potions needed to be made before the day ends as she got up and prepare.

When Hestia and Ais returned, a proud smile on the goddess's face and a content one on the Sword Princess, they paused to look at Hakuno at work. They watched her mix and grind herbs together, measuring the required amounts before she put it in a small cauldron and hold her hand over it, seeing the strange green circuits manifest on her arm as she channeled magical energy into the cauldron. A small eruption of colored smoke and Hakuno smiled before carefully pouring into a spare jar with a strainer to remove physical impurities and pumped her fist in success.

She was cute when she was focused and pumping her fist in success like that.

"Lady Hakuno, what kind of potion is that?" Ais spoke up, snapping the witch out of her thoughts before turning to smiling at them.

"It's a Mind Regeneration potion, meant to be used by spellcasters to help recover mind at faster paces. These ones I made are actually worth ten thousand valis since I refined it mid-process with magic, so they are more potent." She explained as Ais when 'Oh!' in awe.

"So, who's the client paying for these?" Hestia questioned with hands on her hips as Hakuno had the jar in ice to help with the cooling process before the final phase of bottling them up. Some Familia have been known to use her services to try and recruit her. While she shouldn't worry because Hakuno could take care of herself with her magic, there are times she should worry because some fewer savory people would use forbidden methods to steal a child from another Familia.

"A man by the name George Doe, the dead loyal type to his god." Hakuno replied, earning a frown from Hestia before making her decision.

"Have Ais accompany you tomorrow then. Let her see what you do in your Dungeon free time and bond." She ordered as Hakuno turned and nodded her head in understanding.

To Lucius, still in his astral state he could not believe that this was Lady Vesta. Sure, she was a humble goddess as depicted in the few descriptions of her in Rome, but she was also responsible for those under her care. Even he with his hunger to spill blood felt no need to do so and was at peace. Her very Divinity was pacifying his bloodlust and he was at a loss of words but felt a great deal of respect for Vesta. No wonder she was the most important amongst the gods of his pantheon, she calms everyone and helps maintain order in everything. Truly, he must have been a fool to not be as respectful of Vesta as he should have been in life.

*Next Morning*

There in the city square right at the fountain was her client, George Doe, blond hair, purple eyes, slightly pointed ears despite not being an elf as Ais was Hakuno's escort. "Here you are sir, one half-dozen vials of Mind Regeneration potions as promised." Hakuno politely presented the case containing the vials as he merely looked at her quietly. He pulled out a pouch of valis and handed them to her as they exchanged.

"You shou- "he began.

"I belong to the Hestia Familia, and your god should not try to mess with our Familia if he is truly wise." Hakuno replied with a friendly smile to her face, said smile was filled with teeth as the man felt a bad chill down his spine. He immediately nodded as he noticed that Ais was next to her and decided to make his exit quickly.

"How many…?" Ais inquired.

"Fifty-seventh attempt. They never learn." Hakuno sighed as she playfully tossed the pouch of valis in her hand. "Well, I got what I needed, how about visiting some orphans?" she asked her companion who tilted her head quizzically like Hakuno does at times.

*Orphanage*

"Hakuno-Onēsama!" the orphans cried out the minute they saw her trademark witch garb walking to them with a wave of her hand as they ran towards her. They all hugged her, asked her this and that, and one even got a piggyback ride while a little girl got to wear Hakuno's veil as they all get to see Hakuno smiling and laughing with them. Ais looked from a minor distance, unsure how to interact as Hakuno looked over to her and urged her to come closer.

She did so and the kids paused to look at her and then they smiled. "The Sword Princess!" they cried out, rushing over to her as they were admiring her and some even wanted to hold her hand.

"Take it easy everyone, she's shy so she needs time to get use to you all." Hakuno told them with a clap of her hands as they kept themselves behaved before one child asked Ais a question.

"Are you Hakuno-Onēsama's knight?" they had asked, causing Ais to blink as she looked uncertain.

"I have yet to knight anyone Cleo, it's traditional that they prove themselves first before being knighted. Besides, I'm not even qualified to knight anyone, that's for nobility and royalty." Hakuno explained to the child who asked that question as another child spoke up.

"But the Sword Princess wants to be by your side, she said that during the match!"

That was true, Ais had said that and to be honest, Hakuno didn't know why as she looked at said girl with an inquiring look. Ais clutched her arm as she looked troubled by something before looking at Hakuno with her answer. "For some reason, my blood reacts to you. A desire to protect and be saved by you…I don't know why I feel this way and I'm confused by it." She admitted as Hakuno slowly dawned it as she let loose a chuckle and walked towards her.

"Your fairy blood is reacting to mine." She whispered to Ais as the girl's eyes widened and slowly looked at the brunette with shock and surprise while Hakuno had a small peaceful smile on her face.

"Oh, Hakuno-Nēsan! I have something to report!" an older orphan kid called out, seemingly returning from some mischief if his grin was going by anything.

"Alright Kyle, what did you find?" Hakuno sighed with a fond smile before the boy, Kevin frowned as the next words wiped the smile from her face.

"Bad guys in the underground, carrying cages. People in them." Kyle told her.

Slavers, and then everyone backed away when black mana surged around Hakuno. Slowly she turned to Ais and gave her a bone-chilling smile. "Ais, go get your spare sword. Kyle, tell the Ganesha Familia of this discovery and that me and Ais are going to apprehend them for them." She told the boy who saluted her and dashed off with renewed vigor.

From his astral state, Lucius smiled as he felt Hakuno's bloodlust, and it made her even more wonderful to look at. He had to see her in action, the carnage she could unleash would explain why she's his Flora, his flower goddess that bloomed only in bloodshed.

She had no idea where she was, all she could remember was the fire. The fire that destroyed her forest. Of bad men coming with steel and chains, and blood, precious lifeblood dripping from her mother's body as she called her to run. The cold chains, binding her, her everything gone. Her dreams were erased in the embers of that flame, and she could only be haunted by that cruel smile looking at her in the dark.

It had been a month, her body was failing her, she longed for home, of warmth, of mother. These meager scraps of food could not fill her belly, the rags she wore could not provide her peaceful sleep in the cold of night, there was no one there to comfort her and reassure her everything was going to be fine.

She had given up, there was nothing left but the deep sleep slowly drawing near.

"*********!"

A furious voice, one of majestic might that a ruler would have. A power behind it that demanded your absolute attention as she opened her eyes and looked from her prison of bars. Magic, magic in the color of darkness as the humans that took her mother were afraid of this new human.

The human girl with stars for eyes that glowed coldly in the dark, revealing a righteous fury at the perpetrators responsible for this. She watched the human girl and her blonde friend at her side effortlessly defeat them. The grace, the powerful magic they wielded, and even the focused glare at their terrified foes caught her awe.

They opened the cages, one by one as the culprits were rounded up and tied in magical chains the sorceress in black conjured up before her own cage was opened as she was pulled into the sorceress' arms. They were warm, her eyes too had lost the rigid coldness in them as a tender kindness. She was weak, but the girl was speaking in a lovely gentle voice full of concern as she slowly blacked out. But it was not the deep sleep she had initially desired, but the soothing dreams under mother's embrace.