Story idea by Eidos and writing by Astrid M (Fiverr)

Now Hestia had two "children" under her care. She still felt quite conflicted about Campanella's identity, and part of her wanted to believe that her words weren't true… However, there was something about Bell in her that she couldn't deny, and for that very reason, she felt a deep affection for her.

It was very strange! But she wasn't going to ask questions whose answers she perhaps didn't want to know.

In the morning, the girl still hadn't woken up, so she did her best to let her rest.

Didn't human children need more sleep?

That was what she had always heard… But she had an urgent matter with Bell, so as soon as she found him, she approached him to update his status.

She began to observe his back on the couch… And there were many things she didn't expect (nor did she say them out loud). The first was that his growth rate had increased exponentially, all thanks to… his need to protect the girl.

Huh?

Well, she could understand it: that was the kind of person Bell was. His family was the most important thing to him, and knowing who the girl was could only trigger a desire in him to become better… But it would be best to keep it a secret for now; she didn't want the gods to find out about this.

She had to do something to help him.

"Everything's looking good, Bell. How are you feeling?" asked his goddess with a smile as she finished. Bell didn't have much to say, honestly. He was just very curious about what was going on.

"Fine… I think. I feel like I need to bring home a lot more things now that there are three of us," he said with a laugh. "I have to go out and… Oh, I also need to settle a debt I forgot about yesterday."

"Please don't do anything reckless! I know you want to get stronger, and I can see it in your stats: you're growing at an incredible rate," Hestia said as she hugged him, her hidden expression becoming a little sad despite her smile. "I know there's a lot that's important to you… And as your goddess, I'm going to help you."

"Thank you so much," he replied, returning her hug. At that moment, they realized they weren't alone.

"Good morning…" Campanella had just woken up, and her presence caused them to break the hug. There was nothing wrong with what they were doing, but they didn't want to give the wrong impression to a child, although Hestia had a small urge to scream inside.

"G-Good morning! Did you sleep well, Campanella?" Bell asked, approaching her, thinking she looked adorable with her messy hair and sleepy eyes.

"Yes… Were you measuring Bell's power? Could you measure mine?" Both Hestia and Bell exchanged curious glances at her request. The goddess could do it, yes… but she wasn't sure if she should.

"Hmm, I can do it, but are you sure you want me to?"

"Yes, I haven't felt like I've progressed much since I got here, but I also haven't trained much…"

"In that case, let's see how you're doing, and we can compare your progress from now on. How does that sound?"

The girl's eyes lit up as she nodded. Hestia found this very adorable and asked Bell to leave the room.

"I'm not doing this with you here! Shoo, shoo!"

"Haha, okay… You'll have to tell me how it goes later, alright?" Bell asked with a smile before heading to the room where he rested.

"Alright! Let's get started," said the goddess softly as the girl nodded and lay down on the couch, feeling much more awake.

Hestia would use this opportunity to learn a bit more about her… And she sure did! She had so much power, even more than Bell! Though that was to be expected, considering she had been trained for a long time, possessed a unique weapon, and had excellent combat skills.

Still, much of that power leaned more toward defense… She knew there were children of Loki who could seriously harm her in battle, so the best thing would be to protect her as much as possible.

Bell also had that same desire… So, it was time to get him a proper weapon that could help him fulfill his goal.

"Wow, Campanella! You have really good stats. You're a very strong girl, which is why your weapon protects you so well."

"But it doesn't do too much damage, right?" Hestia tensed a little but nodded her head. "You don't have to feel bad about that… It's okay. I managed to make it here, but I also want to be able to protect them. So, I'll work really hard!"

"Bell wants to do the same, so I'll make his wishes come true," the goddess said with a smile.

"What do you think about accompanying him today? I have some things to take care of, so I'll see you both later," the girl also smiled. They were giving her the chance to go with her father, so she eagerly accepted. What things could they do together? She couldn't wait!

-] [-

Bell walked hand in hand with Campanella through the city. The truth was, the girl didn't show much emotion on her face… but she felt very happy, the happiest she had been since the last time she could speak normally with her mother, whom she also longed to see again…

He seemed a little worried, so when she had the chance, she decided to ask him what was wrong.

"Me? It's nothing," he replied nervously with a laugh. "It's just that I left a debt at a restaurant… well, at a place. That's not good, so I'm going to pay it off. Would you mind waiting outside? I don't think it's a place for a child to enter."

"If you ask me, it's fine," Campanella was such an understanding girl… Bell felt a strong urge to hug her, but for now, he wanted to set a good example for her.

They arrived at the place, and… Campanella understood why her father didn't want her to go in: adventurers were coming and going, and some of them didn't look at her kindly, but she was used to that. Besides, she knew how to defend herself. Still, she was quite curious about what was happening.

What she didn't expect at all was for one of the workers to come running out of the place and stop abruptly upon seeing her.

The girl only managed to tilt her head slightly in curiosity, and a few seconds later, she was wrapped in the woman's arms.

"Is this your little friend, Bell? She's so cute!" Friend? Well… she supposed her father hadn't revealed the truth, and that made her feel quite at ease. "Wait a moment! Don't move."

The woman went back inside, and the girl noticed her father holding something that looked like a small box. He laughed nervously, and a few minutes later, Syr returned with a similar box, handing it to the girl.

"I've prepared the right portions for you. I hope you have a wonderful day." The waitress bowed in front of them and returned to her work. Campanella had many questions, but Bell could sense that.

"She… has been very kind to me. I don't really understand her motives, but it's nice to have people who help you a little, don't you think?" The girl thought for a few moments but then decided to nod; if her father said it was okay, she could easily accept it too.

Meanwhile, the goddess Hestia was trying to get a favor.

After fighting with Loki (she couldn't understand how Freya thought they were friends! She would rather go through multiple tortures than be liked by that self-centered woman!), she finally managed to speak to her target: she needed a weapon for her boy, and she needed it right now. She knew he couldn't handle something like the MMU, especially with his current power… and the fact that it was a unique weapon for an adventurer. But he needed something to defend himself with, especially now that he had another important person to protect.

She knew Bell very well, and she knew that now that he had such a strong will to protect them, he wouldn't rest for a second. He needed something that matched that strength, and only Hephaestus could accomplish such a feat.

"Come back when you have money," was the other goddess's response in the middle of the party. But Hestia went so far as to kneel on the floor, drawing the attention of all the guests around them.

"I'm so sorry, but I can't wait! I know this is a problem for you, and I'm not asking for a freebie! I promise I'll pay you this debt! I can't leave him alone!" This was the first time Hephaestus had heard Hestia speak like this, considering how selfish she had been in the past… She couldn't ignore her genuine distress.

Hephaestus sighed deeply. She might regret this decision in the future, but for now… she would give her the benefit of the doubt and help her.

"Get off the floor and come with me. You're embarrassing me in front of everyone."

Hestia took her words as a yes and joyfully accompanied her to her workshop. Now, that was a true friend!

-] [-

"How do you train?" Bell felt it was time to learn a little more about Campanella as they finished lunch. The girl thought for a while but then decided she wasn't going to hide anything from her father, not at all. Besides… it was very sweet that he cared about her.

"That depends. When Mother trains me, she always focuses on my ability to endure and provide support. Our goddess helped me be more assertive in what I would like to do. Sometimes we practiced my attacks, but not too much… because they didn't want me to get hurt."

"That sounds very much like Hestia," Bell replied with a smile… then blushed. He couldn't ignore the fact that she had mentioned a mother, and he wasn't stupid: he and Campanella's mother… Was this a good time to ask?

"What is your mother like?"

"Hmm…" Campanella thought seriously. The normal thing would be to tell him who she was, right? Especially if she didn't want to keep it a secret. But at the same time, that could ruin many things about the future too. He would surely try to win her mother over, and she knew that wasn't a good idea: forcing how something happened might make it change for the worse… "She's very beautiful, strong, and smart."

At that description, Bell immediately thought of Miss Ais… She fit those words perfectly! He felt a certain thrill at the idea that she could be the future mother of his daughter, but seeing Campanella, it seemed unlikely that a girl like her would come from the two of them, as she was clearly an elf. No matter how much he wanted to fool himself, it didn't make sense.

The best thing he could do was let things flow.

"She sounds like a wonderful person."

Campanella's eyes lit up as she nodded eagerly. "She is! She's wonderful and loved both of us very much!" She still longed to speak with her… although the last time didn't go very well, and she had noticed her mother was distant.

No wonder, after all, her mother knew nothing and didn't recognize her, but the warmth of her words and love… she really wanted to interact with her like before.

But now wasn't the time to feel sad; she was in the middle of a mission, and she would fulfill it no matter what.

"She is! I want to do everything to make sure she's okay," Bell realized that his little girl was just like him: always looking out for the well-being of her family. He smiled with deep pride for her; it was his duty to protect her so she could achieve her goals and not feel sad in this unknown past, regardless of the outcome.

-] [-

He also hoped that the results would be the best for everyone…

The girl once again took his hand as they walked deeper into the city. One of the workers from the place they had visited earlier caught up to them and asked her father if he could please take Syr's wallet to the Monster Festival.

Bell couldn't refuse; after all, Syr had been very kind to him. Although the workers couldn't help but notice the girl at his side.

"… She looks a lot like you," commented the tallest one, making Bell feel a little on edge.

"Y-Yes, we're family…" Well, that wasn't a lie, and he didn't have to be too specific when it came to giving explanations, right? It wasn't something he owed anyone, after all…

Both workers exchanged glances and shrugged. They were sure Syr wouldn't mind that, if she didn't already know, and they expected Bell to fulfill his errand.

"Do you always do favors like this?" asked a curious Campanella. Bell couldn't help but laugh.

"Not really, but in this case, I couldn't refuse… After all, she's been very kind to us, don't you think?"

"Yes…" That made the girl thoughtful as she walked. She had been told that this was the kind of person her father was, but seeing it for herself was very sweet… and endearing. She really liked that sense of justice he had, even in small things: doing good for those who helped you, no matter how big or small the favor might be…

Meanwhile, in Hephaestus's workshop, despite not having had much sleep, the young Bell's weapon was finally finished.

Hestia gazed at it in fascination… It was truly a unique weapon for her boy! With it, he could grow at the pace of his will. He would no longer have to stare into shop windows, wondering what he could achieve with a different tool. Now, he could take destiny into his own hands, just as he wished. She didn't care how long it would take to pay off this weapon to her friend; she was willing to do it.

-] [-

Campanella was fascinated by what she was seeing! There were so many people present! She had never imagined that a "celebration" like this could bring so many curious things like what she was experiencing at this moment.

Many people were walking around, laughing, and even cheering on the adventurers who were seeking glory. There were also many vendors selling dolls and balloons… which inevitably made her eyes sparkle a little.

Bell noticed this and felt a bit guilty for not being able to buy her something.

"I imagine you like these things a lot, right? I'm sorry I can't give you anything, but once we deliver Syr's wallet, I could get you a treat…"

"N-No, don't worry!" Campanella responded, shaking her head and clasping her hands into small fists under her face. "I don't need anything; I just think it's really nice…"

"Besides being strong and adorable, you're also very humble. How did I get so lucky to have such a lovely daughter?" Bell lowered his hand to gently pat the top of her head. Campanella felt extremely embarrassed… but also very happy. She couldn't help but smile; it made her very happy that her father saw her that way.

And he wasn't lying… She didn't care much for material things: what she desired most was to learn from him and spend more time together. So far, she had enjoyed herself a lot, although she wondered when they would be able to train properly—after all, her father didn't have a weapon yet…

"Guys!" A familiar voice was heard in the distance. A few seconds later, Hestia jumped on them, hugging them tightly. "I finally found you! Did you miss me?"

"Goddess! Where have you been?"

"That's not important right now. Have you noticed where we are? This is a really fun place, and I want us to enjoy it to the fullest!" Hestia seemed quite convinced of her own words as Bell and Campanella exchanged glances… It looked like she wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"Alright, but I have to…"

"No buts! Let's go!" Hestia didn't let Bell finish speaking and just started walking, pulling both of them by the hand. It was very amusing to see her act like this, Campanella thought, as Hestia had always been more dignified in front of her.

She could also be quite fun at times, but never to the extent she was now.

Maybe there were still things Hestia hadn't fully matured… And Campanella liked knowing that behind her goddess, there still existed a person so full of curiosity. It made her want to learn even more about herself.

Hestia had given Bell permission to spend whatever money was necessary, and at first, Campanella refused any gifts. But it seemed that Hestia wasn't going to accept a no for an answer.

As they watched the beasts come and go, with various adventurers trying their luck, they ate ice cream while sitting in the shade. Hestia told Bell to pay close attention to everything happening around him, and what he could learn from it, which he did almost immediately. Campanella decided to follow the same advice since there were many things she wanted to learn as well.

It didn't seem like a place where reason ruled: in fact, it seemed that those present acted more on instinct than knowledge… and that was fine.

She knew she wouldn't always be in control of a situation, and for that reason, she needed to follow her heart when necessary. Although she couldn't help but find it a little frivolous that they had monsters at a festival, exposed in a way that could harm any normal or weak person.

Still, she didn't want to ruin the fun for her companions, and… Wow! The crepe with ice cream she was eating tasted so good!

"It's delicious," said the girl as her eyes sparkled with delight.

Hestia couldn't help but laugh in amusement, while Bell nodded.

"Isn't it? It's completely delicious, definitely worth trying from time to time."

"Yes, and we found it at a good price… I hope I can get enough work to treat you both more often." Hestia was moved by Bell's determination.

It was thanks to that determination that he would become very powerful! She couldn't wait to give him the gift she had for him…

"I'm glad we could bring Campanella here. How have you felt walking around with Bell?"

"Very good… He's taught me a lot of things I didn't know about the city and other stuff. I've also met some people, although we didn't talk much," Hestia tilted her head slightly while Bell nervously laughed. He didn't think he needed to give too many explanations about that, right? Still, he was glad to see that the girl hadn't gotten bored. Honestly, he wasn't sure how he would've felt if she had.

"I'm sure there's still much more to see! Oh dear… Did you bring your weapon with you?"

"Yes, I always carry it with me, though Dad held it for a while. I-I mean, Bell…"

Well, it didn't matter if she called him that as long as it was just the three of them, right? Although she could see Bell blushing at her words… He definitely hadn't expected that, but it made him feel very good. He had asked her to leave the weapon at home, but now that he thought about it, maybe she was better protected with them watching over her.

"It's not too heavy, and it can be very useful… But I wouldn't like to see Campanella fighting without being able to help her," Hestia made a slight sad face as she finished her own dessert. Maybe this was the best time to give him the gift; she sincerely didn't want to see him sad any longer…

But behind them, things were happening that they weren't aware of.

On a balcony, Loki and her protégée Ais were standing next to Freya, who seemed very eager to claim someone from another family. It would be obvious who they were talking about, at least to someone who knew them, but no one from the Hestia family was aware of that dark desire or the tragedy that would unfold as a result.

"Alright! Campanella, let's say your father could train you. What would you like to do first?" Of course, this question was to test the waters: as their ruling goddess, she also wanted to propose strategies and methods for her children to become stronger and achieve their goals.

"I…," The truth was, she hadn't thought about that. Just being useful and being able to accompany him felt like enough, but she wanted to answer that question wisely. "I think being able to act in sync… would be very useful."

"Hmm…" Bell now felt pensive: he hadn't considered that, but it seemed like a very good idea! Yes! They didn't have to do the same thing; they could focus on what the other was lacking… Although he still didn't know what he excelled at, as he wasn't particularly good at anything.

"I'd really like to fight by your side, so I'll do everything I can to match you soon, okay?"

The girl's eyes lit up upon hearing those words, and she nodded several times in enthusiastic agreement. Hestia thought they were adorable! Without a doubt, they would make a very capable team! Now, all that was left was to give him his new weapon so he could fully develop his potential…

And that was precisely what she was going to do.

Until a huge beast appeared in the middle of the crowd without any prior warning.

The eyes of the three opened wide as they noticed that a Silverback seemed to have no control over its movements: it was clumsy and uncoordinated! They didn't know what it was doing there!

The worst part of the situation… was that it was heading straight for them.

Bell grabbed the girl, lifting her onto one of his shoulders while his free hand reached for his goddess to hold her as well. They didn't understand what was happening, but they began to run to avoid the possible strike. A few seconds later, Hestia noticed that the beast was chasing her! Why?

"Bell! It's after me!" she said, very certain of her words. He couldn't understand it either, so he started zigzagging through the path in front of them to test her theory.

Meanwhile, Campanella kept her eyes closed and held her weapon close to her chest. She wanted to fight! But now that her father had picked her up and was carrying her like a sack of flour, it was quite difficult…

These kinds of creatures were very problematic, but she trusted her goddess completely when she said it was chasing her: there was a magical trace coming from the beast whose origin she couldn't identify, but it was causing it to act without free will. She already had a pretty good idea of who might be behind this, but she had to be careful about what she said or did… She didn't want to complicate the fight for her father! Quite the opposite!

They ran through the narrow streets while the rest of the people tried to escape in the opposite direction, although at the same time, many noticed that the beast seemed to be only after the three of them…

The Silverback ran, bloodthirsty: all it did with each step was destroy everything in front of it. The impression it gave was that anything between it and its target was an obstacle that had to be destroyed. It was terrifying on many levels. How much would a monster of that size be worth?

There wasn't much time for that question, as it was likely that everyone would end up crushed.

"Summon Aqua!" Campanella recited a spell despite being lifted, which created a protective barrier around the three of them. She thought this would be a perfect time to practice her attacks… But it was quite difficult while everyone was in motion, and she wasn't able to aim properly at her target. Bell felt relieved… and even lighter, thanks to the protection that had been granted. Now, he wasn't sure how to begin attacking because if they stopped, they would surely be overwhelmed by the beast…

The worst part was not only its strength but its sheer size! He had barely managed to handle smaller monsters. What could he do against something ten times larger than him?

He needed great skill and a weapon… at the very least. Surely Loki's family wouldn't have any trouble with something like this, and he couldn't help but feel a little helpless about it. He desperately wanted to get his goddess and daughter out of there alive…

The more he thought about it, the more he felt the power swirling inside him.

At this point, he realized that he didn't care what happened to him: the only thing he wanted was to be able to save both of them. Everything else faded into the background. Somehow, the girl noticed that in his gaze…

They arrived at a street that seemed to lead nowhere beyond huge walls in front of them that appeared to lead to some sort of enclosed underground passages. Hestia thought that if they stayed still, the beast wouldn't be able to detect them… But she was very wrong. The creature had indeed been enchanted with a powerful spell, as it continued to pursue her with the same intensity. Was it following her scent? What made it so persistent?

"I… I have to do something," Bell exclaimed, both worried and exasperated, until he spotted a gate…

Yes, there was no other option.

He looked at Campanella for a few seconds. It was likely that with her abilities, they would be able to escape. After all, those tunnels always had an exit; that's what they were made for. If they hesitated too long, they wouldn't be able to complete their mission, and he had two people to save.

"Let's go!" Bell told them to follow him through the gate, but a few seconds later, he almost pushed them through before he stayed behind a little to close it after them.

Of course, both Hestia and Campanella followed his plan, running as fast as they could through the tunnel while they heard the beast smashing into the wall where the gate had been.

"Do you think it'll catch us?" Hestia asked, a little desperate about the creature's persistence. Bell couldn't be entirely sure… but he couldn't let them lose hope either.

"It hasn't been able to get in yet, plus this space is really small…"

"Then we'll have to run faster," Campanella suggested, picking up the pace, which both Bell and Hestia decided to mimic. After all, they had to do something to stop the beast. Hestia doubted it would leave them alone, even if they managed to escape the tunnel alive.

What was she thinking? Of course, they would make it out of the tunnel alive!

Curiously, as she tried to inject herself with some positivity, they heard the sound of the beast successfully knocking down the gate. Now, they could hear its body crashing loudly against the walls around them.

The three of them felt a surge of anxiety: it was going to be very difficult to defeat it. However, maybe this space would help slow it down, as its mobility was reduced due to the narrow passage.

"I think we'll have a chance if we manage to trap it in here or make the place collapse," Bell explained, still running, but now guiding his goddess and Campanella. He wasn't sure exactly how to achieve that. He thought the beast's sheer size would be enough, but perhaps it would need one final blow.

Campanella held her weapon tightly in her arms. For a moment, she guessed her father's thoughts and wanted to offer her help: an attack combined with the beast's uncontrollable strength could lead to its own demise, and also be their ticket to escape. However, she had bittersweet memories regarding the spell she wanted to use…

"Why are you crying?" her mother had asked her in a hug, while the girl tried to calm herself down.

"The arrows… They didn't follow the line… I-I hurt those little birds…"

Campanella pointed to a nest that was now on the ground. Riveria also felt distressed, but she knew very well that this wasn't the girl's fault. If anything, it was more her fault as a mother and mentor.

"Sometimes, without meaning to, we can hurt those we care about or those we love… Of course, we should minimize those situations, but you shouldn't judge yourself too harshly. You're still learning, remember?" Riveria then placed a kiss on her forehead while trying to dry her tears. "And besides, when we make a mistake, the best thing we can do is correct it."

The girl nodded at her words as she tried to calm down. Seconds later, she watched as her mother gently picked up the birds in her hands and, after casting a healing spell, they looked as good as new. It would be hard to tell if they could fly, as it was clear they still needed their mother's care.

"See? Everything's fine. They're like you; they're also learning what to do. Now, as an apology, how about you put their nest back where it belongs?"

"Y-Yes, mommy, I'll do it right away!"

With much care and with her mother's help, she placed the nest back in its place, happy to see the little birds safe and sound. Without a doubt, using magic was a huge responsibility. There were many innocent people and creatures who didn't have that ability, and the best she could do was try to give her best.

However, at that moment, her mind understood that now she needed to help her father, so she would have to try again! And this time, to win!

"I have an idea… But I need your help," she explained to Bell, her voice trembling slightly. He shook his head immediately.

"I'm not going to put you in danger; I'm trying to do the opposite."

"But I won't be in danger! You have to trust me…"

"Listen to Campanella… She may be your daughter, but she's also very powerful and could end up teaching you many things when you start training! If you want everything to go well and for her not to get hurt, then do what she asks!" Hestia added, supporting the girl's plan.

The girl smiled at her goddess's words, also pleased to have her blessing. Noticing that the beast was once again moving aggressively in search of them, Bell made a decision.

"…Alright, I'll do whatever it takes to make sure we get out of here."

The girl smiled in his direction and then asked that they split up: on one side were her and Bell, and on the other, Hestia. In such a narrow place, this didn't make much difference, but any space that allowed her a better range for her arrows would be helpful.

"Over here!" Hestia tried to attract the beast's attention, hoping it would cause even more destruction. This tactic seemed to work perfectly, as the Silverback began to grow frustrated with the lack of space and its inability to move freely: it crashed into the walls, causing large stones to fall onto its head. They could hear the creature's groans as massive chunks of the walls collapsed on it.

The three did their best to avoid being hit. Bell used his body to shield the girl so that not even the smallest bits of debris could touch her. Once again, she realized that her mother's words about him were true. She felt extremely protected, although she was also afraid that the creature might somehow escape from the confined space… It was angrier now than ever, but it also seemed exhausted.

Both of them could see that they were very close to the exit, and that was when Campanella realized her opportunity.

"Let's run over there!" the girl asked Bell, who immediately nodded. Desperate, he glanced at Hestia. After seeing the looks on both Bell and Campanella's faces, Hestia understood the girl's plan.

Faced with their worried expressions, she winked at them. As their goddess, she wouldn't allow anything bad to happen to them! Besides, they were handling the situation quite well.

Bell found her gesture very reassuring and ran toward the exit with the girl. They had come a long way through the tunnel, and it seemed incredible that they might actually make it out…

They could perfectly hear the beast still thrashing about in frustration. When Hestia joined them, Campanella knew it was her moment to act. She took her weapon and set her sights on the top of the tunnel's exit.

She knelt in front of a tree, one knee raised, her arms holding her weapon tightly, her eyes fixed on the large stones positioned at the top of the tunnel as part of its structure.

Please, listen to me when I cast my spell… Dad is in danger! And so is our goddess.

The weapon understood her words and began to glow as the girl concentrated.

For his part, Bell watched closely as the beast approached, though it looked significantly weakened from the amount of damage it had sustained in the confined space, where it could no longer walk upright.

"Guided Arrow!" the girl shouted loudly as the arrows began to fly toward the wall.

The tunnel started to collapse piece by piece, as the Silverback's growls turned into cries of pain and agony. Finally… nothing more could be heard.

Had they won?

Hestia and Bell had shielded themselves with their arms but soon realized that the structure had completely fallen… Leaving the Silverback buried beneath the rubble.

Of course, the first thing they did was run toward the girl, who still had a surprised expression on her face before being lifted by both of them, caught in the middle of their embrace.

"You did it!" they said almost in unison. She could only smile.

"Yes! I mean… thanks to all of us, we did it," she finally corrected herself, but she allowed herself to savor the feeling of satisfaction.

The three of them started laughing, but then Hestia remembered something important. She couldn't delay this any longer! Especially since they didn't know what other dangers they might face…

"Bell, I wanted to give you this gift earlier, but we were interrupted. Now that we're safe, I don't want you to spend even one more second without protection. This weapon is for you," she said as she handed him the knife made by Hephaestus, to the young adventurer's surprise, who in that moment was at a loss for words. "I know what you're thinking! And we'll talk about it, but I want you to understand that this is my gift to you as your goddess, so you can achieve your goals. It's made by Hephaestus herself! I know how much you admired her shop."

"I…" Bell wanted to ask many questions, but right now, he was overwhelmed by his own emotions. "I swear to both of you here and now that I will protect you from now on! These things won't happen again, at least not without me doing something about it."

"Well said!" Hestia praised him, smiling this time in Campanella's direction. "Look, now you'll be able to train together like a real family. I hope you both reach the stars soon."

Campanella felt like crying, but this time from happiness. She also hugged her father, finally seeing him with the weapon she had heard so much about… They could grow together this time, and she truly hoped to help him every step of the way. "I'm so happy for you."

"Thank you so much, Bella," he replied, hugging her back and realizing what he had just called her. "S-Sorry, is it okay if I call you that?"

"Yes, please!" she responded eagerly, thinking nothing could make her happier right now.

Alright guys and girls, that's it for today's chapter. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this chapter.