"He's asleep," Hestia whispers, careful to wake up the boy that cried his heart out just a few moments ago. "Poor child, the reality of losing his entire family and loved ones took its toll on him. He looks barely older than Bell-kun. To be all alone in Orario is a tragic fate."
Hestia glances back up to Hephaestus and asks, "Hephaestus?"
Hephaestus's lone eye remains closed to reflect her deep contemplation as her hand cups her chin.
"When I found him on that day, I tried my best to stop him from bleeding out. As I came in contact with his blood, I could feel something in his soul, Hestia."
Hestia gapes at Hephaestus. "You mean, a resonance with you? Something within him that pertains to your Authority?"
"We're both Goddess of Fires, Hestia. Do you feel it too?" Hephaestus motions towards Issei.
With her curiosity piqued, Hestia hovers her hand over Issei's heart and closes her eyes to focus. She expands her senses and pulses her divine authority over him, just enough to envelop the very shape of his soul.
It is almost akin to throwing a rock into a deep pool of water. Her essence sinks deeper, sending ripples that cascade further and further until they too begin to fade away. Hestia frowns, slightly disappointed as she could not quite feel anything until — something answers.
Hestia's divine essence evaporates away.
It is warm — no, it is scorching and bright — a fervent flame that burns unrestrained, untamed, unburdened.
Defiant and resolute like a rebellious child who rejects Authority.
Unlike her flames that seek to drive away the coldness, nor like Hephaestus's flames that seek to forge anew.
Before her is a flame that seeks to dominate, to challenge, to sear away the chains of fate!
Hestia's eyes snap open, her composure breaks as she breathes out, "Why is that in him?"
Hephaestus nods as if she anticipates Hestia's response. "Never have I seen such in a child. Even the best of my children would not have such affinity towards fire."
"If he were to be blessed by either of us, he would definitely possess a rare skill," Hestia observes. "Are you looking to recruit him into your Familia then?"
"Yes, I would, even if you need him more, Hestia," Hephaestus declares before her gaze softens. "Still, we'll give him a choice. If we force him to join any of our Familias, it would be no different than how he arrived in Orario."
"Indeed, we have to show him that there are Gods that still care for mortalkind."
Hestia gingerly wipes away the slight sweat on Issei's forehead, no small part caused by her divine probing, with her handkerchief. She had tried to be gentle with her intrusion into his soul, but all the same, Issei stirs and begins to awake.
A few blinks to rouse the slugginess away as Hestia's gaze catches his own.
"Sleep well, Hyoudou-kun?" Hestia teases.
"Eh, it was the best I had for a while, but why are you here, Lady Hestia? Wait a moment, I'm on your lap? Is this the legendary lap pillow? I never thought I would get one from a cute girl in my whole life! It's so soft and wonderful!" Issei exclaims, almost snuggling deeper into Hestia's stomach — he pauses, his eyes flick between Hestia and Hephaestus before a marvelous flush rises in his cheeks. As realization settles in, abrupt horror drains away his previous jubilation.
He jumps out of her lap and prostrates to Hestia.
"Oh, it's the dogeza that Takemikazuchi taught me," Hestia comments, amused.
"That was blasphemy, right? To lay a hand on a Goddess? I'm sorry, Lady Hestia!"
Hestia struggles to hide her snickers before coughing to clear her throat. "Hmm, I don't know. After all, I promised to offer my body to one man only. Whatever shall we do, hmm, Hyoudou-kun?"
Issei bows even further down; his forehead almost grinding on the floor. "I'll take responsibility! I'll do anything!"
"Enough teasing him, Hestia. The poor boy had enough going on tonight," Hephaestus sighs before pulling Issei up from the ground, patting off the dust from his clothes.
Hestia sticks her tongue out at her. "Psh, you're just jealous that he enjoyed my cute thighs."
Hephaestus rolls her eyes. "Right, right, no one would think I'm cute."
"That's not true!" Issei pipes up, startling the two with his fervor. "Lady Hestia is cute with her twintails, but Lady Hephaestus has her own unique charm to her — like a cool, older sister type that's strict but very caring underneath! No one in their right mind would say that gap moe isn't cute!"
Issei snaps his mouth shut again —- fearing he put his feet in his mouth again — while the two Goddesses could only do nothing but stare at him in amazement.
"Wow, we have such a lady killer here. If Bell-kun meets Hyoudou-kun, I can only imagine what would happen." Hestia elbows Hephaestus teasingly, only to turn around and find Hephaestus dumbstruck and frozen.
Hephaestus then realizes that the two of them are staring at her.
"Uh, right," she stammers, fanning away the heat on her cheeks. "That's the first time I've been called cool and cute like that, it's a bit surprising."
"Is that so?" Hestia smiles like a cat catching the canary, causing Hephaestus to tell her to knock it off with just her glare.
"Anyway!" Hephaestus exclaims, eager to change the subject. Levity slowly eases off her face as she puts a hand on Issei's shoulder. "Hyoudou, you can stay with my Familia until you can decide on what to do in the future."
"Eh? Just a moment!" Hestia objects, "I can take him to my Familia!"
"Hestia, you have barely settled into the Church. Your own 'Bell-kun' is still inexperienced as well," Hephaestus reasons, "I was planning to have Tsubaki or one of my own to help guide him around first."
"Right, Hyoudou-kun is still new to Orario as a whole," Hestia admits reluctantly before grinning mischievously. "But anyway, you promise to take responsibility, right, Hyoudou-kun?"
Issei could only flinch at her sudden closeness before she pats his head and heads towards the door. "Before making a choice to pick a Familia, make sure to check my Familia out!"
Issei returns her smile and promises, "I will, Lady Hestia!"
"Well, it's getting late, Bell-kun will worry if I don't head back! See you, Hephaestus, Hyoudou-kun!" Hestia waves a farewell as she rushes out.
"Lady Hestia is very much in love with this Bell guy, huh?" Issei remarks, still staring at the door.
"That she is, surprising with how reserved she was in Tenkai," Hephaestus sighs, heading towards the front window and flipping the sign to 'Close'.
She beckons Issei to follow her out. "We might as well head off to my Familia's housing."
"Lady Hephaestus," Issei bows to her, but this time, he did a standing bow instead of his earlier "dogeza". "I never got a chance to thank you for saving my life. I will always be your debt, no matter what."
"I'll hold you to that," Hephaestus replies with a smile as she then murmurs to herself, "If only Hestia was just as diligent."
Through the corner of her eye, she notices Issei gazing at the passerby with a childlike wonder. Everything and everyone in Orario must be a new experience for him, she concludes.
Hephaestus decides to keep her and Hestia's revelations a secret for now. It's best for Issei to realize his potential by himself, rather than for them to influence him too much. Just like her other child Welf, she didn't want to force him to become something he was not.
Though she could not deny her own curiosity and excitement over what he can accomplish.
As she locks the storefront, she hears a loud, gurgling sound, and she turns around to find Issei, flush with embarrassment as he stammers a nervous laugh. Hephaestus joins with her own laugh.
"I bet you haven't had much to eat since you were recovering at Dian Cecht's. Come, I'll show you to the Hostess of Fertility."
"Yes, thank you, Lady Hephaestus!" Issei exclaims as he follows behind her attentively.
"If you find yourself lost in Orario, then use Babel to orient yourself," she points towards the great tower that overlooks the entire city. "Not only that it's the direct center of the city, you'll also find the Guild there for assistance. And if you need to contact me, there are several shops from my own Familia there too."
"I see, it almost feels like the city was built around Babel," Issei observes.
Hephaestus confirms, "You're correct to notice that. Before the Gods descended to Genkai, Babel was built to stop monsters in the Dungeon from escaping. Heroes had fought against the monsters alone until the Gods were able to bless them with the Falna and gave them the strength to fight back. And so Babel was rebuilt by the Gods to better monitor the Dungeon."
"A city with a Dungeon, huh. Is Orario the only city with one?" Issei asks.
"As far as we have seen, yes. Why do you ask?" Hephaestus wonders at his train of thought.
Issei rubs the back of his head, feeling sheepish. "Ah, it'll sound stupid, but usually in the stories I read, there's usually more dungeons than one. I mean, it doesn't make sense to just have only one dungeon, right?"
Hephaestus supposes his conjecture did have some validity to it. No one knows for sure why the dungeon under Babel exists, and she suspects even Ouranos might not know the full details.
"But in any case, I'll still have to remind you that before you're blessed with a Falna to not enter the Dungeon," Hephaestus warns.
Issei nods and says, "Yeah, Shakti-san told me the same. I'm assuming all adventurers join Familias to enter the Dungeon?"
Hephaestus explains, "Not every Familia seeks to explore the Dungeon, but the ones that do can support each other as they go further in. The Falna allows Adventurers to gain Levels. Fighting monsters and achieving great feats will let them acquire enough Excelia, which will allow them to accomplish feats in order to rank up to the next Level."
"Gaining EXP to level up? I really Isekai'd into a RPG world, huh," Issei sighs. "Before I'd be ecstatic, but I guess my near death experience puts it in a different perspective."
"It's good that you learned a bit of caution, but all the same, don't be afraid to move forward," Hephaestus advises, though she ponders over what this "RPG" meant. "Whatever you choose to do, as long as you do what you want, you'll have no regrets."
"Yes, Lady Hephaestus, though if I may ask, how could I join your Familia?" Issei asks.
"Since I'm the Goddess of Blacksmithing, my children are also blacksmiths and crafters of their own volition," She answers.
"I see. The most I crafted are Gun-pla — I mean assemble toy models," Issei responds, though Hephaestus could sense the disappointment that creeps up into his posture.
Hephaestus didn't want to discourage him before he could even apply.
"Don't worry, you don't have to be skilled in crafting to join my Familia," She quickly reassures,
"Even if I don't use my divinity to craft items here in Genkai, I can still teach and guide my children. Also, when an adventurer ranks up to Level 2, they are able to choose a developmental ability that best fits their temperament. For example, most of my children chose Blacksmith, which allows them to further improve their smithing ability."
"Like specialization into a Job, huh. Though I suppose it can't be changed once selected?" Issei asks.
"Indeed, it can be hard to figure out what to choose, but for some, it could be a means for them to determine what to do," she pauses as they reach a large building where the rambunctious clamor of patrons speaking and reveling can be heard inside.
"The owner here is Mia Grand, try not to get on her bad side else you find yourself thrown across Orario," Hephaestus warns to which Issei responds back with a gulp.
She had to stifle a laugh at how easy it was to tease him. Maybe she could understand why Hestia was so enamored with fussing over her child.
"Don't worry too much, she's generally a kind person. Even if you made a mistake, as long as you're honest and take responsibility, she won't hold it against you."
They both entered the pub, and the smell of the delicious meals entices the senses even more..
"Welcome! Ah, Lady Hephaestus, it's good to see you again!" A maid with light silver hair approaches them and offers to show them inside. She glances at Issei and smiles before she asks, "Is this a new member of your Familia? I haven't seen you here before, Mister?"
"Ah, no, I haven't joined any Familia yet, I'm new to Orario. My name is Issei Hyoudou," Issei says, introducing himself.
"Greetings Hyoudou-san, I'm Syr Flora. Welcome to the Hostess of Fertility, the best pub in Orario." She gives a slight curtsy, and they follow her to a table for two, next to a wall.
Syr pulls out some menus and asks, "Would you like to order now, or would you like some time to consider the menu?"
"We'll look at the menu, thank you, Syr," Hephaestus says, passing it to Issei as Syr leaves to attend to other customers. "Feel free to order anything, it'll be my treat."
Hephaestus catches the slight frown on Issei as he flips through the pages. "What's wrong?"
"Sorry, Lady Hephaestus," Issei apologizes, "But I can't read the language used in Orario."
"That does make sense," Hephaestus says, but something confuses her. "Though we've been speaking to each other in Koine all this time."
"Are we?" Issei exclaims, surprise raising his eyebrows. "All this time, it feels like I've been using 'Japanese' to speak to everyone here. I didn't question it until now though."
It is another curious thing with his circumstance. She knows Issei has never lied once to her so far. Perhaps whatever God that brought him to Orario had enough sense to give him the ability to speak the common tongue?
"It's something we'll have to look into later, but for now, do you have preferences?"
"I'm fine with anything Lady Hephaestus," Issei smiles, but then he slumps down. "Man, do I have to go back to school to learn how to read here?"
Hephaestus is no less curious than any other God would be about life in another world. "Oh? Were you just a student back then too? What were the subjects you focused on?"
"Mathematics, history, science, and language are some. Though I wasn't a stellar student to be honest," Issei admits with a depreciating laugh.
"Not many do get the chance to study here in Orario," Hephaestus notes, "Those that do, they could enroll in Hringhorni; though the School District of Orario isn't here right now."
Issei tilts his head in confusion. "How could a District not be in the city right now?"
"It's because Hringhorni is the largest ship built in Genkai," she explains, "Therefore, it's known as the Maritime Academic Institutions Special District. They left port a few years ago, traveling to enroll potential students."
"That's amazing in a way," Issei marvels.
Syr returns to them, and Hephaestus orders for the two of them the special for the day.
"The Guild would have resources for you to learn as well," Hephaestus continues, "Many adventurers require the help of personal advisers to better learn more about the Dungeon and other information that could aid them."
"I see," Issei contemplates, cupping his chin with his fist. "I suppose I'll start with the Guild first, though I'm curious to see how your familia works, Lady Hephaestus."
"Some Familias like mine specialize in a craft or service, often pertaining to their God's specialty. Just as you like how you received healing from Dea Saint from Dian Cecht's Familia."
"Dea Saint?" Issei wonders before realization strikes him. "Oh, you mean Teasanare-san? Is that like a special title?"
"The gods give titles to Adventurers who have done notable things every three months. Often in their boredom and to their own amusement, they would love to give an unfortunate nickname to unsuspecting ones." Hephaestus sighs.
Issei could only show silent horror on his face as he hopes not to be on the receiving end one day.
"As for my Familia, we're one of the major suppliers of arms and equipment to Adventurers," Hephaestus slightly boasts as she could never be anything but proud of them. "My children don't often go down the Dungeon, but they could work out deals with other adventurers — such as exclusive crafting in exchange for rare monster materials."
Issei smiles, "It sounds like everyone is working together, one way or another here in Orario."
It is a small and innocent sentiment, but one that Hephaestus hopes Issei will still believe in after his trials and tribulations. The purest ones are often the first to be crushed by Orario's dark side — and the Dungeon is equally as punishing and cruel.
"Here's today's special!" Syr passes them two piping hot plates of pan seared fish. "Also, here's something a bit extra to make sure you'll come here again, Hyoudou-san."
Syr winks at him as she passes a plate of pasta to both of them.
"That girl really knows how to market for Mia. Feel free to eat," Hesphaestus chuckles.
"Yes, thanks for the meal," Issei expresses his gratitude before digging into the fish. "Wow, this is the best food I ever had!"
"First Hestia, and now Hephaestus? How did Hephaestus come across such an unique individual? His soul — just like Bell Cranel — is pure. But unlike Bell Cranel's devoidness of color, Issei Hyoudou is a Red. Though the shade is reminiscent of Hephaestus' own hair. Did she already lay a claim to him? But that only makes me want them ever so more."