9 Chapter 9: Revelations and Anger

Danmachi Heart of Alfhiem

Note1: Sorry for the late upload. Still doing overtime *eyeroll* and got a little distracted by the Ero series.

Note2: This chapter is very dialogue heavy. Was a bit confused about how to work this one out. I will try to get Chapter 10 Recuse out a lot faster. Bit jealous of writers that can do 15k like nothing in a few days lol.

Chapter 9 Revelations and Anger

(Flashback night before)

At 3am me and goddess arrived at the church basement after my late-night dungeon run. I went to prepare for bed and sat down with the goddess standing in front of me. "Bell, I told you to wait until tomorrow. Not sneak out in the middle of the night and almost get yourself killed." Hestia pouted with tears in her eyes.

"Goddess, I am sorry. I have always wanted to use magic and I just got excited and couldn't sleep."

"You ignored my orders. I forbid you to go into the dungeon for today." She ordered.

"Goddess we're almost broke. I have too." I urged her.

"I don't care. You ignored my orders last night and almost died." Hestia put her foot down.

"Sorry Goddess I didn't know you could overuse magic."

"How could you not? Don't you read hero stories all the time and have been obsessed over getting magic for the last month." Hestia asks.

"I didn't know about mind down. Good thing Loki familia found me." I smiled nervously.

"You should stay away from them. Those women just want to steal you away." Hestia pouted.

"Goddess they rescued me from my mistake and even helped trained me on using my magic more efficiently and noticing signs of mind down. If they wanted to steal me away, they would have done it already." I said adamantly.

"Then why are they always showing up around you Bell."

"Luck." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Not funny Bell." Hestia said angrily. "It's too convenient. Their probably just want to use you."

"For what?" I tilted my head.

"Uhhhhhhh, to seduce you to get one over me." Hestia hastily changed the subject before exposing the skill.

"Elves are not like that. Is it so wrong for me make friends and find love? I already told you goddess, that I want a family. If you want to act like a mother figure. I would welcome that but this jealousy is ugly." I shook my head seeing her teary eyes and lay down to sleep on the sofa with my body turned away from her.

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I slept in late through the day to recover my energy from my late-night dungeon run and woke up to an empty basement. "Goddess." No answer from her room. "She must of went to work. I need try and talk with Eina again." I quickly got dressed and raced out of the church.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.

Loki looks out the window and stared at the newcomer. "Pfft. Well, that's cute." She snickers. Riveria looks down at the entrance and tilts her head in agreement.

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Standing outside Eina's apartment in the middle of the afternoon, I was nervously knocking on the front door dressed in my cleanest pair of clothes. Fear was gripping my heart, desperate to make things right. I held up a bouquet of red and white roses and continued to knock on the door.

As soon as the door opened up, I took a knee, stared at the ground and thrusted the roses outwards. My face was red and my eyes strained expecting to hear yelling. "I am sorry Eina. Please forgive me. I will do anything to make it right."

"Hehe." A cute laugh sounded out in front of me. "Why not come in and tell her that Bell?" The mature voice of Riveria spoke out to me.

I looked up into the beautiful jade eyes of the high elf who holds my heart. My eyes bulge in shock looking up at her as my heart rate started to pick up. "Y-yes Riveria. Good afternoon."

"Afternoon to you, I was wondering if you were gonna stop bye. Come in and have a seat on the couch." She smiled down at me. She backed up a little and held the door open for me to walk into the apartment. "She will be down in a few minutes. She is getting dressed."

"Thank you R-Riveria." I took a deep breath to calm myself down and went into the neat and organized elven designed living room. Took a seat on one of the green and brown couches and stared around looking at the homey apartment. "Wow it's nice in here."

Riveria took a seat opposite from me. "Was a bit of a mess when we came over last night. Thank you for letting me know about Eina."

"Feel like it's my fault. Is Eina okay?" I look up into her eyes worried.

"She is fine. Eina is just upset after losing her job. I don't think it's your fault at all." She continues to stare back in mine trying to assure me.

"Belll!" The half elf yells out rushing into the living room dressed in white top and blue skirt. Trailing behind her was the blonde-haired elf Alicia and the red head goddess Loki. To my surprise, Eina rushed over to the couch and practically jumped on me. Bringing me into a hug. "I am sorry."

Eina's arms wrapped around to my back with her head laying on my shoulder. My face was as red as my eyes as the floral aroma from her perfume permeated my nose. My hands fumbled the bouquet in my hands under the heavenly soft assault of her curvy body mashing up to mine. I caught the flowers with my feet before it spilled out onto the floor. "H-hi E-Eina." I said shocked and wide eyed.

The three women behind her giggled looking on at us.

"Eina you're gonna smother the rabbit into a coma at that rate." Loki snickered feeling slightly jealous of the close contact with the curvy half elf.

Eina backed away feeling slightly embarrassed and a tinge of pink on her cheeks. "I am sorry for last night. I didn't mean it."

I stared at her stunned. I shook my head adamantly. "How could you not? Misha and Rose said it was my fault. I have been stressing you out Eina. You even used your day off to go in the dungeon with me."

"I will talk to those two. I didn't listen to orders. I shouldn't have gone into the dungeon." She confessed.

"Why would Royman care what you do on your day off?" Alicia questioned with a brow raised and sat down next Riveria.

"Royman and Sofia have never liked me. Sofia jumps on anything to get me in trouble. Royman always talks down to me and assumes the worst." Eina explains.

"Why is that Eina baby?" Loki sits down on the right arm of the opposite sofa next to Alicia in order to calm herself.

"Because I am half elf." Eina looked down. Her ears droop low.

"Like that fat oof of an elf has any room to talk. That is disgusting." Riveria brow furrows in anger.

"Why does that matter whether you're an elf or half elf? Your Eina, that's all that matters." Eina stared up into my face to see my gentle smile.

"I agree Bell." Riveria smiled at me.

Loki giggled staring at my face. "What did he think you were doing Eina?"

Eina released me from her grip and turned around to goddess Loki. Her face turn to pain and sadness. "Royman assumed I was helping Bell in the dungeon this whole time since the arena. Guess I was going into the work tired a lot and late a few times. He thought I was helping you to steal Bell from Goddess Hestia."

Loki face turned to anger. She growled. "What does Itty-Bitty have to do with you getting fired?"

"S-she filed a complaint against me. That was the final straw." Eina confessed making all three women angry.

WHACK! My body hit the floor. Alarming all 4 of the Loki familia women.

"Did he just?" Loki face went from angry to bewildered.

"Bell. Bell. He's out." Eina shouted.

"He fainted." Riveria bent over to examine my body. Riveria and Eina help sit my body up on the couch. Eina noticed the flowers and picked them off the ground. She smiled smelling the white roses with two red ones in the middle.

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Ten minutes later, I woke up slowly to find myself resting in a sitting position on the couch. I shook my head to regain my composure. My head was throbbing more because of a migraine then the pain of hitting the floor. "Eh my head."

"I didn't think you hit your head that hard." Riveria asked.

"It's not from the floor." I turned to Eina still holding my head. "Is this true Eina?"

"Y-yes, apparently she came into the guild drunk the other night and reported me." Eina strained face in pain seeing my condition.

"That explains why she went there. Mr. R-Rehmer dropped her off yesterday morning. It is my fault." I said feeling depressed.

"It's not your fault Bell. You were worried about me going down there with you. I don't blame you." Eina held out the roses. "Are these for me?"

I bring my eyes up to stare into Eina's beautiful emerald eyes. "Yes, I wanted to apologize." My eyes strained. "I want to make this right for hurting you. Anything I can do. If you want me to pay your rent or go back in the dungeon with me. Please name it."

She smiled. "I will be fine for a few months. Rose ended that bet and gave the money back." The other three women stared at each other confused before going back to watch us. "Give me a few days to think it over."

"O-okay." I smiled back. "I don't want to force you back in there."

"We're gonna go see Eina's mother sometime this week. We will be away for a few days to help her decide." Riveria stated.

"We can look after her in the dungeon. We are her familia." Alicia spoke up.

"Alicia." Riveria glared over at her. "That's for Eina to decide. Not gonna force her on a deep level expedition right away."

"Sorry." Alicia looked down embarrassed.

"Aww crap." Loki face palmed. "This is my fault then."

"Why?" Riveria furrowed her brow.

"I got carried away on a prank against Itty-Bitty." Loki stated with a sigh.

"No Goddess Loki." I cut her off. "Goddess might have been following me again. I didn't tell her I was going into the dungeon with Eina. Getting drunk doesn't excuse getting Eina fired." Loki smiled.

Amazed, Riveria spoke up. "What exactly did you do Loki?"

"Itty-Bitty was bragging about forcing Bell into a date in the divine bathhouse. Me and Hesphaistos interrupted it. Though I did not predict six other goddesses from pouncing on him. I tripped her up and they all took him on a date." Loki started laughing. "I swore they were gonna take him back to their place and have their way with him. Hestia ran around the city desperately searching for him."

"7 goddesses!" The three elves yelled out shocked.

"So that's what goddess Hestia meant last night at Babel about you running around with more women?" Alicia eyes narrowed towards me.

"No. No. NO. Nothing happened." I pleaded with my hands shaking back and forth desperate for her to believe me.

"Would have been 8 if Bell didn't run away?" Loki laughed harder at my red face. "I wasn't gonna miss out on all the fun."

"He ran!"

"I know right. Demeter was trying envelop his head with her breasts and even Hesphaistos wanted a piece.

Riveria pursed her lips in a smile at me trying to suppress a laugh. "Why on Gekai did you run? I would think that would be any man's fantasy."

"All eight goddesses were very lovely, but I want to be f-father someday." I nervously shuffled around in my seat. "Gods can't have children." I trailed off in a low voice. Feeling the surprised stares of all four women.

"Surprising you didn't take advantage of situation to at least gain some experience." Loki Shrugged her shoulders. "The woman you're in love with must something special."

"Is this true Bell?" Riveria raised an eyebrow out of curiosity.

"Y-yes, she is very special. I would never want to dishonor her or have her looked down on me." I confessed.

"What's her name?" Riveria gave a warm smile.

"Lady Riveria." Alicia tried to distract the high elf.

Eina chuckled. "He hasn't told her yet."

"Oh, why is that, Bell?" Riveria asked out of curiosity.

I was starting to break out in a nervous sweat. I averted my gaze and stared at the table. "I am not strong enough to tell her yet and I am only human."

"So, what if it were a bunch of elves that forced themselves on you instead of goddesses?" Loki laughed staring at my face. "Hehe."

"Loki stop harassing -." Riveria stopped when she saw my face. Go redder than my widen eyes. Eina giggled. Riveria twisted her head to eye level with me and narrowed her eyes. "Bell."

"Got an elf fetish rabbit." Loki snickered out.

"I would be incredibly happy with one woman in my life. I would be too worried about hurting any others." I stared up at the trio.

Riveria felt a warm sensation in her chest. "As far as strength you are progressing at an amazing rate. Eina said you were already on floor 9 and that was before you got your magic last night. Just learn to control it so you don't have a mind down again. That would be a death sentence all alone."

"I will."

"If you really do like an elf. Just act yourself. I am sure she will find you." Riveria smiled warmly towards me. "Though your goddess might be a problem."

"H-How?" I stuttered out. I took a deep breath to calm myself. "How does one go about switching familias?"

"Want to join me do you Bell?" Loki smiled.

"If it wouldn't be a problem. I would be honored to join. R-Riveria did ask me before." Eina and Alicia stared at Riveria in curiosity.

Loki smirked at Riveria. "Sorry, I would like to Bell. Takes a year to convert normally and you need the god or goddess's permission. I don't think she will let go anytime soon. I am not looking to start a war force a conversion."

"Oh, okay. I don't want to be a burden." Sounding defeated.

"You're not a burden. Actually, like you. You did rescue these three and I value my girls quite highly." Loki smiles. "If anything, forcing a conversion would cause too many problems both internally and externally."

"All three of them have saved me too." I smiled back. "I can see why you value them so highly."

She giggles scanning the faces of the three elves. Loki pointed to Eina. "Maybe you an Eina can go to the guild tomorrow to straighten things out." Loki suggested.

"Definitely."

"Great. I think we cleared things up. Need to check on some things back home. Aren't you going to the dungeon?" Loki said curiously.

"I am not allowed to go back in for today. Goddess was mad that I snuck out last night."

"Alright, she will see you tomorrow." Loki said.

Eina walked me to the door to say good bye. I turn around to apologize again. "Eina I am -." She places a finger to my lip.

"Shhh, it's not your fault, Bell. I don't blame you at all for the actions of your goddess. Your progress sure scares me and I may have showed favoritism out of fear for your safety, but that is not your fault either. You're just working extremely hard and you are still my hero." She takes her finger off my red face. "I will see you tomorrow Bell.

"S-see you t-tomorrow Eina." I said slightly flustered. Before waving goodbye and going back inside the apartment. I walk off to the southwest slowly towards the church.

Eina went back into the living room and sat down across from the other Loki familia women. Riveria eyed the half elf. "What was that about a bet earlier?"

Eina strained her face in pain. "The girls at the guild were betting on how long it would take for Bell to die in the dungeon."

"What the hell is going on at the guild?" Riveria shared outrage with the other two women.

"I felt horrible and told him. Rose put an end to it when Bell confronted her. He even tried to join the betting pool to show them up." Eina dryly smiled remembering that incident.

"He's something else." Alicia responded before turning to goddess Loki. "Loki was everything he said true?"

"Yes, rabbit boy wants to be a father and likes elf booty. You gonna leave me Alicia." She teased the stunned Alicia.

"No. No. I am not." Alicia defended. "I-I meant about paying Eina's rent and leaving his familia."

"Yes, I have yet to sense a lie from him. He did try to wriggle out of showing us where he lived, but that's it." Loki smirked as a thought came to her head. 'Wish my girls would be as truthful as him.'

"Can we not just force him into our familia?" Eina spoke up.

"No Eina. I will not be like that pervert Freya." Loki stopped again to ponder something she remembered from monsterphilia.

"Everything okay Loki." Riveria thought it strange that Loki was lost in thought about Freya.

"Oh, it's nothing." She shook her head slightly. "Anyways, Eina do you want to go back into the dungeon."

"I am still not sure. Still scared of that place. Also having trouble with fitting my armor." She blushed.

"Don't tell me those things grew." Loki snickered driving Eina further into embarrassment.

"We can stop off and have Tsubaki alter the chest plate tomorrow." Riveria started to giggle. "What is your bust size?"

Eina face was as red as Bell's earlier. "36F."

"Geez how did the rabbit survive in the dungeon with you?" Loki laughs hard along with the two elves. "We can get your armor fixed. Meet us at the manor tomorrow. I will update all three of your statuses in the morning. I want to get home see if Ais-pu leveled."

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"Goddess I'm home." I shouted out entering the basement. "We need to ta-!?

I came across the weird sight. Goddess Hestia was standing around a burning trash can. Her face full of worry as the smoke permeated throughout the basement.

"Goddess what are you doing?" I tilted my head in surprise.

"Bell where did you get that book? She stared at me with worried wide eyes.

"A friend at the pub gave it to me. She said somebody left it behind and that I could read it. I need to return it soon." I was still confused.

"Listen Bell. I was interested in looking it over. I noticed that it was a Grimoire." She said calmly.

"What's a grimoire?" I was oblivious to that term.

"It's a book that forces somebody to learn magic, Bell."

"Don't tell me. It's really valuable." I stared at her in a panic.

"At least as much as a 1st class weapon from Hephaistos Familia smiths. Possibly more…."

"EH." I yell out at the top of my lungs. "Where is it? I must give it back."

"You can't. After one read it becomes nothing more than a paper weight."

"We have to return it and explain." I cried out in desperation. Hestia stared with a pained look on her face and pointed down into the trash fire. "That's wrong. Why goddess?"

"Bell, this world is not all sunshine and flowers. There are many dark things." She says in a panic.

"I need to go tell them immediately and apologize." I turned towards the door.

Goddess Hestia reaches out and grabs my arm. "Don't! You're being too honest! This world is too unpredictable."

"Don't try to sound wise at a time like this! Sorry goddess. I have to go." I broke her grip and ran out of the church as fast as I could to the Hostess of Fertility.

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I opened the door to the Hostess in a hurry. Alarming the waitresses right before the lunch rush. "Good afternoon Bell. Is something wrong?" Syr came skipping over

"S-syr the book you gave me….." I stopped to catch my breathe. "It was a Grimoire! I didn't know and read it."

"That's a very sticky situation you're in Bell." She made a cute face to distract me.

"Your very cute, but you're the one that lent me the book." My face scrunched up into a pout.

"You're hitting a nerve boy. Rushing in here right before the lunch rush with some outlandish tale about a Grimoire." Mia stomped out to meet us and growled staring down at me.

"Momma Mia my goddess burnt it."

"She burnt it." Syr pouted.

"If it really was a grimoire then it's the owners fault. The moment it left his sight. If you read it then at least you got something out of it. Real men don't brood over nothing." Mia stated angrily.

"But Momma Mia…."

"But nothing. I have a business to run. Either buy something or get out." Mia yelled.

"I don't have any valis." I said still reeling.

"Then get out and don't come back to you do." Mia pointed to the door.

"Yes Ma'am." I left in a panic went back to the church.

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Later that night in the top of twilight manor. "AIS IS LEVEL SIIIIIIIX!" Loki shouts out happy that her favorite child got stronger. Many in the manor heard and shouted up to Loki's room in celebration. Loki goes up to pinch Ais distracted face. "Congratz Ais-pu."

"Thanks" Ais meekly replies at the good news. "Goddess Loki why did my defense go up way more than the others." Ais was confused.

"I don't know. You did have a huge fight against the floor boss, Uduaes." Loki shrugs her shoulders. "You also got an advanced ability, Spirit healing. Would say your second after Riveria, but Eina got it through a skill."

Ais's mind was elsewhere. Seeing the white-haired boy Bell lying unconscious on floor 8 worried her. She wanted so much to hold him like Alicia was doing but was happy she got to share. 'His desire to get stronger is almost blinding. I can see it in his smile that he hides scars like mine. His pure desire to get stronger. His passion floods through me, washing over the black flames in my heart. He blew them out for me.' Ais smiled to Loki's amazement. 'I want to find out how he is getting strong so fast, but why is Riveria and the other two always around him.' Mini Ais pouted. (1)

"Looks like there's something other than increasing your strength on your mind, Ais. Isn't every day that you level up." Loki tried to distract Ais. "Ack, it can't be love sickness. Is it a man!?" Ais was still drifting off in her own world.

'How did he get to floor 8 already? Took me 4 months and I did that with help.' Ais mind was spinning.

"Don't ignore me!" Loki shouts out. Ais snaps out of it when she felt Loki's hands start to wonder.

"Loki do you need fingers for future status updates?" Ais warned when she caught the goddess's fingers.

"Y-yes I do!" Loki screamed in panic.

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8am the next morning Eina nervously entered the courtyard of twilight manor wearing the same uniform she wore yesterday. She still felt out of place at her familia home. In her right hand she was carrying her chest plate. She asked a girl she just met. Line Arshe to tell Riveria she was here. She stood around in the entranceway by the stairs, as Line walked off to check the mess hall where the rest of the familia was getting breakfast.

"Hello, Miss Eina right." A brown-haired human man came walking down the stairs.

She recognized him as Hod. The creepy guy that almost killed Bell. "Yes. What do you want Hod?"

"I wanted to apologize for how I acted last time. I did not mean to try to hurt your friend. I was only worried about your safety Eina." Hod faked a smile to appeal to Eina.

"Thank you."

"Maybe I can make it up to you and take you out to dinner sometime Eina." Hod requested as his eyes shifted back and forth toward her breasts.

"No thank you, Hod." She bluntly refused.

"Oh, come on Eina. I am strong and attractive. What's not to like?" Hod bragged as he approached closer to her.

"I am already seeing somebody else." Eina lied as she backed up and brought her chest plate up to cover herself noticing where he was looking.

"Surely you can't mean that little pipsqueak white haired kid. He's from another familia. We can spend countless hours getting to know each other here." Hod tried to suppress his anger.

"Hod! Leave Eina alone." The high elf entered the entrance way and started to get angry.

"Lady Riveria. I am only trying to get to know a familia member." Hod deflected.

"Maybe I would believe you if you weren't eyeing her body up like a creep. She said no. Shall I have Gareth teach you another lesson." Riveria threatened.

"No." Hod's face went pale.

"She refused you twice. Leave her alone." Hod stormed off to the mess hall. Riveria noticed the angry scowl on his face as Alicia came out of the mess hall. "Let's go upstairs to see Loki, Eina. Alicia."

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A few minutes later, all three women were sitting on Loki's bed with their backs exposed. Loki's eye was half swollen as she finished updating their statuses. "Eh, Interesting." Loki placed the sheets of paper on a nearby table.

Eina Tulle

Level One Race: Half Elf Age: 19

Strength: F362 E400 Defense: F320 F352

Dexterity: C601 C644 Agility: F325 F371

Magic: B745 B799

Magic ()

Dio Luna (Healing)

Midgard's Twilight (Earth)

Skill ()

Peredhel's Canon

Alicia Forestlight

Level: Four Race: Elf Age: 25

Strength: E466 E472 Defense: G220 G222

Dexterity: D538 D545 Agility: C622 C640

Magic: E482 D 504 Mage: H Abnormal Resistance: H

Magic Resistance: I

Magic ()

Niflhem's Shackles (Ice)

Ithildin's Blessing (Healing)

Skill ()

Ranger's Grace (Escape)

Riveria Ljos Alf (2)

Level: Six Age: 99 Race: High Elf

Strength: G284 G286 Defense: G302 F305

Dexterity: C675 C678 Agility: B705 B715

Magic: S995 S997 Mage: E Treatment: G

Abnormal Resistance: G Spirit Healing: G Magic Resistance: H

"Eina went up 213 points. Alicia went up 55. Weird I only went up 20." Riveria recited the status update totals. She looked back to the giggling goddess and shy Eina. "Did I miss something?"

"Eina want to tell her?" Loki eyed the half elf.

"I actually came in earlier a few days ago and had another 150 points." Eina said nervously putting her blouse back on.

"So, he does have a growth skill?" Riveria and Alicia were taken aback.

"Yes, Eina confirmed it." Loki ratted her out.

Riveria stared over agitated towards the half elf. "I told you not to Eina. It's not proper to look at somebody else's status."

"Lady R-Riveria, he voluntarily showed me his back." Eina squealed out.

"Eh" Both Alicia and Riveria stared shocked. "Why?"

"I told him I was worried about his growth. He was asking to go deeper than seven at the time. He took his shirt off in the training room and showed me." Eina stated.

"Serious, what did it say?" Riveria brow raised in curiosity.

"His stats qualify him for floor 10. I told him to take it slowly to master each floor first. I couldn't read the skill."

"That's good thinking. Crazy though to believe his stats are that high. Wonder what the skill is and how he got it?" Riveria asks

"What's weird is he doesn't seem to know about the skill? He told me that his magic and skill slots were empty. I didn't think it was my place to tell him." Eina shared with the shocked elves.

"Why on Gekai would Goddess Hestia not tell him what's on his own back? That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard." Riveria yelled loudly thinking of the small goddess.

"Itty-Bitty's obsessed over him and probably scared somebody will snatch him up. Probably why she still hasn't recruited." Loki said irritated.

"I stand corrected on the dumbest thing." Riveria face palmed to the surprise of Alicia and Eina.

"Riveria stared up into the laughing face of the goddess. "Eina that wasn't the only weird thing on his back."

"No, he had an advanced ability called Luck." Eina stated to the dumbfounded faces of Riveria and Alicia.

"How!?" Alicia said outraged.

"Beats me." Loki shrugged her shoulders. "I don't think he was modified by Arcanum. Ouranos would have been all over that."

"So, the dragon incident and the minotaur horn? Were affected by that ability." Riveria calmly brings up.

"Most likely." Loki acknowledged. "So nice of you and Eina to take your boy toy out shopping for gear."

"Goddess Loki that is offensive. There is no way a high elf would do such a thing with a human." Alicia yelled at Loki while at the same time assessing Riveria's response.

"Enough Alicia. I did help him find a smith for those blades. I didn't think Tsubaki would give it to a Crozzo though. Need to ask Bell to let me talk to his smith."

"Well, I was gonna take Eina over and yell at Itty-Bitty. You two can steal him away for a date." She giggles again at the three elves faces.

"Not gonna leave you unescorted, Loki." Riveria retorted.

"We can bring Lefiya or Ais along." Loki suggested.

"Did either of them get a boost in their abilities?" Riveria asks.

"Lefiya only went up 10 points. Ais leveled up, her total was around 50, but there was a weird 25 point boost to her defense. The other half can be explained with fighting a floor boss." Loki answered

"So, Eina's getting boosted like crazy. I didn't get much of anything, but still more than Lefiya. Ais got a boost in defense and Alicia magic went up. Interesting conditions on this skill." Riveria looked over the evidence.

"Well Alicia saved him with magic I am assuming. Eina's been fighting and training with him. You weren't around him at all. Lefiya wasn't either and seems to hate him. Why Ais-pu?" Loki questioned.

"The only thing I can think of is he knocked himself out on her armor when he rounded a corner." Riveria shakes her head and giggles. "Guess that's the luck ability at play."

"Maybe its proximity based and dependent on what he's fighting." Eina suggested.

"That wouldn't explain Alicia or Ais getting boosted that much over goblins." Riveria held her temple. "I don't know."

"Well let's get going then." Loki ordered. All four women got up and left the room and made their way out of the manor. Riveria ordered Lefiya to come along.

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My body was sore as I stumbled east up the western road from the wall. The new exercise was extremely demanding physically. "Ehhh, maybe I pushed myself too hard this morning." My pained face drew many stares as I walked a few miles towards the intersection leading to the church ruins.

"Bell!" I heard Eina's voice call out toward me. My eyes went wide in shock and stopped in place, before turning my head to see Eina trailed by three other elves and goddess Loki.

"Hello." I said with a nervous smile. "W-what are you all doing here?"

"I want to speak to your goddess. Don't worry. I won't send her back to Tenkai." Loki smirks at my worried face.

"Okay….."

"Did you get beaten up again?" Riveria looked my body over.

"No, I am just trying something new for my morning training. Just really sore Riveria." I looked up to her.

"Human call her Lady Riveria. She is royalty." Lefiya barked loudly. "You would do well to show her respect."

"Eh please don't kill me, Miss Lefiya. I don't think I could outrun your magic currently." My face scrunched up worried.

SMACK

Riveria smacked Lefiya on top of the head. Enough for her to feel it. "Eh." Lefiya held her head in pain. "Why lady Riveria?"

"This jealous rage needs to go away. I have already told him to not call me that and I don't care if either of you use my title." Riveria brought herself down to eye level with the young elf. "Speaking of respect, you didn't apologize did you."

"Why do you care about him? He's not even in our familia." Lefiya stared up wide eyed at the high elf.

I interrupted. "It's fine. I guess I have been lucky enough to run into you all a lot lately." I smiled scratching my neck. "You sure you want to meet here Goddess Loki."

"Yes Bell. Lead the way." Loki chuckled. All of them noticed my face wince. Before leading them up north to the church ruins.

We all entered the church a few minutes later. "Ummm, Goddess Loki would you be able to give me a few minutes. I need to go get cleaned up and tell her. Goddess will probably overreact."

"That's fine." Loki agreed as they watched me enter the spiral staircase leading to the basement.

"How is this better than the street?" Lefiya looked around stunned by the broken-down church. Even she felt bad.

"Could you be a little more tactful, Lefiya?" Riveria held her head. Her gut agreed to Lefiya's response. "Not everybody joins the strongest familias."

"Sorry Lady Riveria."

"Bete is the reason he's not in our familia." Eina said saddened that her offer was declined for this place.

"Eh." Lefiya looked up surprised.

"That asshole tossed him out of the courtyard over a month ago. Even Finn is starting to like him." Riveria sighs leaning up against a wall. "What's done is done?"

"Aww my elves like cute rabbits." Loki teased.

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.

Ten minutes later, I walk out of the staircase with nervous smile on my face. As the four and half foot goddess trailed behind me looking miserable and angry.

"Morning Flatty." Hestia barked.

"Itty-Bitty want to get punched." Loki threatens.

"Please stop." I tried to intervene.

"Should pay attention to your child." Loki squinted down at the Hestia.

"Yes, my child. Stay away from him." Hestia shouted.

"We need to have a discussion in private. Me, you and Eina."

"Then why bring all the other elves, Loki." Hestia stared up at the trickster.

"Momma bear and Alicia want to take Bell away for a little bit to talk. Eina will meet him later at the guild. Lefiya is just here for me." Loki informed. "Bell, you want to go with them, right?"

"Uhhh, t-that would be great." I blushed a little bit.

"I forbid it." Hestia ordered.

"You're not really in the position to forbid anything. Anyone of my girls could grab him and run." Loki threatened. "They're not gonna do that. I already told you I am not like Freya and Apollo."

"Errrr." Hestia pouted angrily. "Fine go."

"Thank you, goddess." I followed Riveria and Alicia out of the church.

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We started walking up the north side streets to the North west district. I noticed Alicia was carrying a Eina's armor. "Uh, where are we going?"

"We're going to Hesphaistos shop. I want to meet your smith." Riveria stared back at me. She noticed I stopped in my tracks.

"So, he does know about Crozzo." Alicia started getting agitated.

"Are…. Are you going to hurt him?" I asked worried for Welf.

"No Bell I am not." Riveria held her hands together at her thighs. "I just want to know why he was the one who made those blades."

"D-does Alicia know that?" I stared into her red angry face.

"Enough Alicia. I am not gonna make an enemy of lady Hesphaistos by allowing you to hurt one of her smiths." Riveria ordered.

"Whew." I sighed in relief.

"Surprised you're not bothered by it, Bell." Riveria tilted her head in curiosity.

"At first I was worried. I was talking to Ryu about it. She didn't seem bothered by him."

"Eh" Alicia eyes were bulging out of her head. "But she's an elf."

"Ryu said as long as he doesn't make those weapons. She doesn't care. Her forest was never affected by those past events." I recalled.

"Surprising." Riveria Acknowledged

"How can anybody believe that?" Alicia spat out.

"He hates those weapons, Alicia. He refuses to make them. As for his normal weapons and armor. They are keeping me alive."

Riveria shakes her head. "Interesting. Let's get going. We need to get Eina's armor repaired too." She turns around and leads the way to the smithing shop.

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(Hestia v Loki and Eina)

"What do you have to say for yourself Hestia?" Loki growled her name out through her teeth. "Why did you get Eina fired?"

"Eh." Hestia looked confused.

"Don't play dumb. Royman told Eina you filed a complaint and got her fired. Bell confirmed you were escorted by a guild representative because you were drunk off your ass."

"Why was Bell with you?" Hestia eyes widened in rage.

"Unlike you. He takes responsibility for his actions. He was practically heartbroken that Eina lost her job and blamed himself." Loki stared down at the loli goddess. Her eyes forming slits.

"It would of never of happened if you stayed away from him." Hestia barked up to her.

"Speaking like a mother or a wannabe lover?" Loki questions.

"He's mine to love and hold. Not gonna let any of your girls have him." Hestia pouted.

"Some virgin goddess you are Hestia." Loki shakes her head.

"What!?"

"You ignore every man in Tenkai and throw yourself blindly at the first human boy that joins your familia. It's clear that he's already in love with someone and you obsessively keep him to yourself. On normal circumstances, I wouldn't let him near my girls but I won't lie I have developed a soft spot for him." Loki rolls her eyes at Hestia's face. "Still not gonna destroy my reputation for one boy."

"He's special. More so than any other man that I met." Hestia huffed out her chest. "Your women are not deserving of him. His chastity is under my protection."

"Funny he seems to think the other way around. Always a blushing mess around my girls." Loki smirked.

"I will not let him." Hestia stared up angrily at the trickster.

"Might not be your decision for long. He has already asked me how to change familias? I already know you won't let go."

"Eh" Hestia started to tear up. "Impossible."

"It's true." Eina spoke up. "You are the one driving him away with your obsessive behavior and negligence. I have been worried sick about him going into the dungeon by himself. I may have gotten too close, but I have also been drilling information about the dungeon into his head to keep him alive."

"I knew you were using your position to take advantage of him."

"I have been trying to keep it professional. I went down in the dungeon out of fear for his safety. Especially after his supporter tried to kill him."

"Liar." Hestia shouts.

Eina face went red at the accusation. "I have been trying. I admit it's been very difficult around him. His desire to get strong and his heroic perseverance make me want to go in the dungeon with him."

"I refuse Einasomething."

"Eina Tulle. My last name is Tulle. I am still scared of the dungeon, but I enjoyed our date in the dungeon the other day as well as when I helped him get armor." Eina stood firm in front of the wide-eyed goddess.

Loki chuckles at the blushing half elf before turning back to Hestia. "I admit my prank contributed to this mess and we will take care of Eina. You caused this Hestia, if she wants to go into the dungeon with Bell. You're gonna let her."

"No."

"You will let her or I will convince the rabbit to leave you, by telling him the secret you're hiding from him." Loki ordered the speechless Hestia. "I do have an extra room in my home."

Alarm bells were ringing in Hestia's mind. She caved in. "Fine!"

"Good. Eina is in no rush to go into the dungeon yet. She will eventually be gone for a few days to see her mother. How about you start recruiting and actually make a proper familia, so you can afford a nicer place and not get him killed. Let's go Eina. Lefiya." Loki turned around towards the half elf and walked out of the church.

Eina, Lefiya and Loki were walking along a back alley in the direction of the guild. Lefiya sat back and watched the whole exchange quietly in the church and was reaching a boiling point. "Why do you want to go in the dungeon with that human? His goddess is so disrespectful and he's a womanizing pervert."

"Bell is not like that at all, Lefiya. He's just easy to like. Besides. I am not brave enough to go deep into the dungeon yet. I was barely keeping it together on floor 9." Eina was starting to get agitated.

"How is he on floor 9? He just killed a goblin a month ago." Lefiya shrieked.

"He's been pushing himself incredibly hard to reach the woman he's in love with." Eina confessed

"Swore he was in love with you by the looks he gives you." Loki smirked.

"Eh." Eina face was bright pink.

"You haven't noticed it. When you hugged him. He looked like he was gonna melt at your touch. Hehe. So, who is he in love with?" Loki searched for the answer.

"Lefiya would overreact if I said her name."

"Why?" Lefiya stared at the half elf wide eyed.

"Because she's in our familia. That's all I will say." Eina stood firm.

"He should look elsewhere." Lefiya dismissed.

"Knock it off Lefiya." Eina said agitated.

"I get it." Loki giggled. "So are you Eina. Already took him out on two dates already. You're not his advisor anymore. Though I would rather not lose any of my girls."

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(Riveria/Alicia/Bell at Tsubaki's Shop)

Ring.

The door chimes at the Hesphaistos shop door rang out as I entered the shop with Riveria and Alicia. The half dwarf Tsubaki looked up from the counter.

"Hehe. Two elves this time. Didn't think the rabbit was a stud." Tsubaki giggled at my face.

"Tsubaki knock it off." Riveria said calmly approaching the counter.

"No fun. So, what can I do for you Riveria?" Tsubaki stood up from the counter.

"First I would like to get this armor modified for Eina." Riveria made way for Alicia to put the chest plate on the counter.

"I remember making this a couple of years ago for a heavy chested elf girl. What do you want done to it?" She smiled up to Riveria.

"It's a little snug after three years. I was wondering if you could alter it to this size." Riveria gives a piece of paper to the Tsubaki.

"Dam! Surprised you didn't bring her along with the rabbit. He seems to know something." Tsubaki stares into my speechless red face. "I can do it. Give me a few days."

"Hey Welf. I asked you to restock that shelf twenty minutes ago."

"Fine keep your pants on woman. I will do it." The red-haired man Welf came out of the back room staring at the Tsubaki.

"Here takes this back to my forge for our customers you disappointment." She points to the counter.

"CROZZO!" Alicia bellows out full of rage.

Welf looks up to see the two elves. The one angry blond and the passive high elf. He jumps in fright behind Tsubaki. "You trying to get me killed Cyclops."

"Aww you trying to cuddle up next me." Tsubaki teases.

"As if. Lady Hesphaistos is the only woman I desire. I knew making those blades was gonna make them angry. Why didn't you tell me?" Welf spat out.

"They came in with him." She pointed towards me.

"Bell did you sell me out to your elvish girlfriends?" Welf cries out. Tsubaki giggles at the three stunned faces before her.

"We're just friend's Mr. Crozzo." Riveria stares at the red headed man. "We are not going to kill you."

"I would like to believe you, but that blond has other ideas." He spoke from behind Tsubaki's shoulder. Tsubaki reaches back and grabs Welf's head and mashed it into her right breast. "Let go of me Tsubaki."

"I am just keeping you safe, Welfy boy." Tsubaki smiles. "I forced him to make those blades for Bell, Riveria."

"Why?" Riveria questioned.

"You wanted a beginner smith and Welf's been having trouble finding customers, because he refuses to use his gift to make magic blades. He disowned his family and fled Rakia." Tsubaki holds him tighter. "Waste of a talent compared to his normal stuff."

"So, you're not making those weapons anymore." Riveria questioned.

"I don't want anything to do with my family or those blades. Theirs are only two blades left in existence and I refuse to make another." Welf replied to the high elf.

"Fine then. I won't bother you anymore." Riveria stated.

"Eh." Welf stopped fighting back and stared up in shock.

"I trust in Bell's judgement. As long as you don't make those weapons. We won't have any problems." Riveria stated.

"You can't be serious Lady Riveria." Alicia says outraged.

"The problems in the past should remain there Alicia."

"What if he goes back to Rakia?" Alicia questioned.

"There is no way I am going back there ever." Welf adamantly refused as Tsubaki released him. "Short of an army showing up at my doorstep. Even then I will refuse to make those blades."

"I will hold you too that Mr. Crozzo." Riveria acknowledged. "Tsubaki how are those durandal coming a long for our expedition."

"Still working on the order yet."

"Alright then. We will get going."

"Oi Bell. Did you want your bow?" Welf calls out.

"I can't really afford to pay you at the moment, Welf."

"Just add it to the debt for the blades. Only charging for the arrows and the drawstring." Welf shrugs.

"If, you're sure. That would be great."

"Give me a minute." Welf picks up the armor and takes it to the forge before retrieving a twisted black short bow and quiver.

"Wow it looks nice Welf." I said in admiration looking over the new weapon.

"Thanks. The material was tricky, but it was fun being the first to mess with those ant legs. The drawstring is made from a crystalline mantis wing and the arrows are made from an irontusk horns. Should hold up for any level 1 or 2."

I picked up the bow and practiced drawing the bowstring. "Wow its surprisingly light."

"Only a few pounds. I was thinking about a hip mounted quiver at first. I figured it would get in the way since you use two knives. You can equip the bow and the arrows on your back. There is a small magnet that will hold the bow in place when you store it away in the case."

"Thank you very much."

"No problem Bell. If you find any other rare drops let me know.

"I will." I retrieved the bow and hung the quiver of arrows around my back. "Gonna be a little weird carrying a backpack too, but I like it a lot."

"What happened to that supporter?" Welf asks. Riveria and Alicia turnaround from the door to listen in to the conversation.

"At first, she was locked up with Ganesha Familia, but they were forced by the guild to release her back to her familia." I said in a pained expression.

"Probably for the best." Welf shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't think so. She was rather desperate to get away from them."

"Probably best to move on Bell." Riveria called out. "You can't save everybody. Especially from themselves."

"If somebody needs help. Why not at least try?" I look back to the high elf.

"Eina told us what happened. I don't believe it's worth risking your own neck to help somebody that tried to hurt you. Even if it was out of desperation." Riveria said in a stoic expression.

"I don't know. I wish I was able to sit her aside to talk. I liked having her around as my supporter."

"Maybe welf can carry your bags to make money." Tsubaki joked "He sure isn't making any money selling his normal stuff."

"Ah quiet cyclops. I will never get to level 2 and get that forge ability if I am stuck carrying the bags." Welf yells at the half dwarf.

"At the pace you're going its gonna take a full decade to level. Hehe." Tsubaki giggles at the angry red head. "Alright I think you crowded my shop enough. Bad enough that Gareth has been hounding me all week about his gear. Shoo."

"I will see you around." I turned around and left the shop with Riveria and Alicia to head west towards the guild.

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On our way to the guild. "You have experience with a bow." Alicia looked at me surprised.

"A little. I use to hunt small game around my village. My old one would never hold up in the dungeon."

"What did you hunt?" Alicia asked curiously.

"Mostly deer and rabbits."

"Oh, no you're a cannibal." Riveria laughs in front of us.

"Not funny." My face formed a pout.

"Surprised you never mentioned that, Bell." Riveria asks suppressing her laughter alongside Alicia.

"I guess you never saw that part of the application when that wolf ripped it up."

"I gave it to Loki. That part must of slip my mind Bell."

"It's not that big of deal. I am sure you have far more important things to think about Riveria. I feel bad I am taking up so much of your time." I replied nervously.

"Don't be. I needed to go to the shop anyways. Plus, you are giving me a reason to not hold up in the library."

"Must be some amazing books consume all your time."

"Not really." Riveria shakes her head.

I tensed up feeling an angry pair of eyes looking down on me. I stopped to look around in every direction.

"You okay." Riveria asks.

"Its fine. I just thought somebody was staring at us."

The two elves looked around and sensed nothing. "I don't sense anybody. Think your goddess is following us." Riveria asks.

"No she should be heading to the jaga maru stand. Been getting a weird feeling lately like somebody is watching me."

"How would you feel if somebody is staring at you?" Alicia stares at me confused.

"I don't know. Guess I am just paranoid." I shrugged my shoulders.

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(Guild hall)

Eina was waiting around outside the guild hall all alone. She waved us down when she saw us. "Where is Loki and Lefiya?" Riveria asks.

"They went back to the manor. Loki did get two passes out of the city for us Lady Riveria."

"Good. We can go in a few days Eina."

"I wanted to go too." Alicia pouted.

"Only be gone for a day or two max Alicia. Maybe next time."

"Fine." Alicia sighs in frustration. "What did you want to do at the guild hall?"

"I wanted to talk with Rose and Misha. I doubt Royman will listen." Eina suggested.

"We will wait out here and walk you home, Eina."

"Okay Lady Riveria." Eina led me inside to the guild hall.

"Lady Riveria."

"Yes Alicia."

"I think it would be best if you distance yourself from him."

"Are you trying to give me an order Alicia?" Riveria eyed up the blonde elf a little agitated.

"Never my lady. I just think he will try something if you are around him alone. He fancies you." Alicia confessed.

Riveria stared at Alicia in disbelief. "Just because he likes elves doesn't mean he would do something to me, Alicia. Besides he probably thinks I am some worried old lady."

"He does not think that at all." Alicia protested. "No reasonable person would call you that lady Riveria."

"Alicia, I trust he would never try something like that. He did save me from being defiled in that alleyway." Riveria glared at Alicia

"But he is in lov-."

"Enough. I don't know if this is a joke or you're picking up on Lefiya's overprotectiveness. I will not tolerate these accusations. Bell has done nothing to earn my distrust and I will continue to offer help if he needs it." Riveria ordered. "Plus, he seems smitten with Eina." She shakes her head slightly. "Though he did seem to enjoy your lap pillows." Riveria giggled at the red-faced Alicia.

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Rose stared up from the exchange to see Eina leading Bell into the guild hall. They approached the counter where Misha stood. She abandons her empty stand to walk over to the counter. "Eina what are you doing here?"

"I want to talk with you about what happened. I want you to apologize." Eina ordered.

"Its his fault that you got fired." Misha stared at me with anger.

"It was a combination of things. None of them being directly his fault." Eina defended.

"His goddess filed a complaint against you Eina." Rose looked confused.

"I know. His goddess did. Bell did not. She got drunk and has been extremely overprotective of him. I didn't help things by being worked up over his progression and I even volunteered to train alongside him making me sleepy or late at work. The Lily incident made me want to go down there in the dungeon on my day off. Bell was even worried about me going. Though I still don't know how they spotted me."

Rose spoke up. "Sofia was the one that reported you. She is probably mad about that bet ending. I am sorry for everything, Bell. It was pretty cold heart of us to do that."

"Sorry for hitting you." Misha added.

"Its fine."

"No, it's not Bell. Anything I can do to make it up to you." Rose stared me down with a regretful look.

Eina suggested. "How about you be both of our advisors?"

"You're going back in there." Rose stared wide eyed.

"Thinking about it. Not ever doing what that pig of an elf suggested." Eina cracked her knuckles while clenching her fists. Eina calmed herself. "I am not going down right away."

"I still think you should go with my suggestion." Rose giggled at Eina's red face. "Still hope." She winks. "Fine will get your file out next week. Still don't want you going back down there. Nor am I really looking forward to getting gray fur though Bell."

"I don't think you have to worry for a few decades. Miss Rose." I smiled up to the beautiful werewolf.

"Charmer." She chuckles.

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.

A few minutes later me and Eina walked out of the guild towards Alicia and Riveria. "Done already. Sure you don't you need help talking to Royman."

"No Lady Riveria. I don't want to talk with him or for you to waste your time with him. I just wanted to speak with Misha and Rose to make them apologize and asked Rose to be our advisor." Eina stated.

"If you are sure Eina, do you want to come over to the familia today and tomorrow for training. I have some reading for you to help with your magic and I might be able to persuade Ais to spar with you." Riveria offered.

"I don't know." Eina says Hesitantly

"If Hod bothers you again. I will deal with him personally." Riveria added before scanning my panicked face.

"O-okay as long as I am around one of you two. I am still not use to everybody else." Eina agreed.

"Good." Riveria looked over to me fidgeting in place. "What are you planning to do today Bell?"

"I was thinking about going into the dungeon and make some money. Maybe mess around with my new bow on floor 8."

"You say that so casually like its normal." Alicia rolled her eyes.

"I would go deeper but I need to focus on making some money." I shrugged my shoulder and tilted my head to Alicia.

"You're not paying my rent Bell." Eina stared me down.

"I know. I just need to get out of a hole. Momma Mia did not go easy on us with Goddess's tab." I nervously smiled.

"Eh" Three elves responded in unison.

"Don't worry about it. Sure, things will work out. After all I didn't think I would be so lucky to run into you three this early." I deflected away from my troubles.

"How about coming over to the twilight manor?" Riveria suggested.

"Eh" I was stunned by the offer.

"I been noticing you have been limping from whatever you did this morning. I don't think it would be a good idea to over exert yourself before you solo the dungeon. Alicia here is a masterful archer. She can help you sight in your bow and work on your aim." Riveria glanced over to the wide-eyed Alicia.

"I would be honored, but I don't want to keep bothering your familia. Especially with goddess -."

"Come on Bell, please." Eina pleaded.

"Just do as Lady Riveria asks you." Alicia objected. "Safer to get use to your bow under guidance anyways. I can teach you."

"I-If you're sure." I said red faced.

"We can stop and get some lunch. Maybe talk to your goddess at the jaga maru stand afterwards, to ease your mind." Riveria offered

"I don't really have the money to pay." I scratched my head.

"Bell it's not a date. It will be fine." Eina snickered.

"O-okay sounds like fun." I smiled up to the three elves and proceeded south west to Babel before stopping off for lunch at a diner at the north side of Babel.

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(Wishe Café)

Thirty minutes of walking around the city, we checked into the Wishe Café in the southwest district. The elderly elven owner came up to greet Lady Riveria. "Good afternoon, Lady Riveria. Do you want the usual table outside on the patio?" Aymar bowed to Riveria and stared her in the eye.

"Yes Aymar. That would be great."

"As always it is a pleasure to see you." Aymar signaled for a waitress to escort our party. Aymar held out his hand when I was about to follow. "You are not welcome here man whore."

"Eh." I stared at the elf confused.

"What is the meaning of this Aymar?" Riveria turned back around confused.

"My lady this womanizing delinquent almost made this place into a brothel with the number of women crawling on him. He caused quiet the ruckus and disturbed my patrons." Aymar recalls.

"He is our friend and those were all goddesses forcing themselves on him." Riveria stated.

"Surely you jest, my lady. Why would goddesses do that and why would you associate yourself with him?" The elderly elf was wide eyed.

"Aymar I am not lying and he is our friend. He escaped their grasp. Do you want me to continue eating here or should we go to Mamma Mia's instead?" Riveria started getting agitated.

"That dwarf's food is not suitable for a goblin. Let alone an elf. I will do as you wish my lady." Aymar bowed again and stared daggers at me.

Riveria smiled down to me. "Never boring with you around Bell."

"Uhh, Thanks." I laughed nervously feeling pained at my reputation.

An hour later, we were finishing up our lunch talking about current events and past adventurers. "Seriously you're climbing the wall!" Eina yelled out.

"Eina quiet down. Were in a restaurant." Riveria warned Eina.

Eina glanced over seeing the many eyes watching them. Aymar holding his temple. She sat back down. "Sorry. Why?"

Still wary of the jealous eyes seeing me surrounded by three beautiful elves to include a princess. "I am not climbing. Just holding onto the battlements and jumping side to side keeping my feet off the ground."

"You were seriously gonna go into the dungeon after doing that for twenty miles. Why are you doing that?" Alicia looked up at me as she was digging into her salad.

"I thought it would be better than pushups and I wanted try something new. Kind of miss climbing the trees around my village too."

"Surprised you left your village for this city of stone." Riveria added.

"I really wanted to be an adventurer and there's nothing left for me at the village." I trailed off. "How about you why did you leave the forest?"

She noticed that I was eager to change the conversation. "I got tired of being caged by my overprotective father for 71 years. Loki and Finn found their way into the forest and helped me and Eina's mother escape almost 28 years ago, but don't ever call me old." Riveria warned.

"I-I would never dream of it. If anything, I am slightly jealous of the lifespan of elves. I will probably be old and gray before either of you age much at all." All three of them stare at each other.

"T-thank you Bell." Riveria stutters out. "You know you can extend your life by leveling up too."

"Don't encourage him." Eina held her temple.

"I would probably have to get to level 10 to make a difference." I replied nervously.

Riveria giggled.

"Eh." I stared up at her.

"Nobody has ever gotten level 10 Bell." She informed me suppressing a laugh. "The highest level ever achieved was level 9."

"Wow I would love to meet that person."

"She is unfortunately dead. The empress was part of the Hera familia. Hera and Zues familias were wiped out over fifteen years ago." Riveria informs me feeling nostalgic about that age of Orario.

"Oh, that's awful." I responded with empty smirk.

"You trying to be a hero still." Riveria giggles gaining the stares of Eina and Alicia. "I remember that from your application."

"I have always looked up to those stories. My grandpa use to read them to me a lot when I was younger. Especially fairy tales."

"Sounds a bit reckless trying to fill your mind with thoughts of being a hero. You almost died a few times helping people." Alicia spat out.

"I agree it may have been a bit reckless, but doesn't make it wrong Alicia." Riveria eyed the blonde elf up before shifting back to me. "Don't exactly want you getting yourself hurt. The life of an adventurer in inherently dangerous already."

"Compared to the other stuff he tried to fill my mind with, hero stories were the part I enjoyed the most." My face went a bit red suppressing the voice in my head about a harem.

"Like what?" Riveria tilted her head sideways to study me.

"Let's just say my grandpa was a bit of a pervert." I tried to change the subject back noticing the judgmental glares. "Besides just taking up the sword doesn't make a person a hero." I shrugged my shoulders. "I would have helped regardless of some childhood stories."

"Most people would run in the face of overwhelming odds or freeze up in terror." Eina replied shaking her head.

"That might still happen. I kind of get nightmares about that minotaur." I gave a plain smile to the worried faces of Riveria and Alicia.

"I am really sorry about that Bell." Riveria replied.

"Don't worry about Riveria. That was just a freak event of the dungeon. I would never blame you or Loki familia for that incident." I shake my head slightly sideways. "Besides things have been looking up since then."

Eina giggled uncontrollably to my embarrassment.

"What is it Eina?" Riveria asked.

"N-nothing, just remembering something funny. We might want to go before Mr. Aymar gets mad at him." A few minutes later we finished up and left the café towards the twilight manor.

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(Twilight Manor)

"Hah king me Bete." A blonde clienthrope male shouts out in the twilight manor lounge.

"Whatever." The wolf growls and moves his piece up the board.

"Are you even trying Ha-Ha?" Cruz moves his king over three of Bete's pieces.

Click. Click. Clack.

"Shut up Cruz. If you tried this hard in the dungeon. You might be more than second string." Bete barks out

"If you stopped getting drunk and taking naps. You might be fast enough to catch a meatball, wolf." Cruz mocks.

"Stack the freaking board before I send you through that dam wall." Bete threatened.

The brown haired human Hod entered the lounge room. "Whose got next?"

"Nobody. Aren't you supposed to be on latrine duty, Hod?" Cruz asks.

"Old mans drunk off his ass. I don't feel like doing it. Should be a job for a level one." Hod clenches his fist.

Cruz setup the checker board. "Your fault for attacking that kid."

"Some loser nobody comes in carrying that gorgeous busty half elf from our familia. He probably drugged her to get some brownie points as a hero in order to get into her pants and I get punished and beat up for wanting to rescue her." Hod yells.

"Not what I heard from Tiona." Cruz moves a piece.

"You still angry about Eina rejecting your weak ass?" Bete says annoyed before moving his own piece.

"Yes Bete, some stupid rabbit looking weakling steals one of our women. Not fair, I want to kick his ass." Hod yells at the wolf taking a seat next to them.

"Can't believe you let him get one over you." Bete laughs out. "Ha-ha you lose that one Cruz."

"Same kid that made you look bad at the Hostess, Bete." Hod stares at Bete's angry scowl.

"Errg." Bete growls. "Like to punch him myself but the hag is protecting him."

"Let's teach him a lesson." Hod encouraged.

"No." Cruz responds annoyed. "That would just make our familia look bad." Click. Click. "King me."

"He's making us look bad by taking our women. How long until he snatches up Ais?" Hod said frustrated.

"Never happen to a crotch sniffer like him. He wouldn't live that long." Bete jumps another. Click.

"Yeah well, momma elf is buttering up to him. How long until she hooks him up with the daughter?" Hod replies

"Bete crushes a piece in his hand. "Oi piss off weakling."

"Man up, Hod and go find somebody else." Cruz shooed him away. "There are plenty of other women in our familia."

"None of them have that curvy innocent figure that she possesses." Hod started to day dream. "Apart from Ais."

"Oi, stop your drooling." Cruz yells at Hod

"Like you haven't thought about it." Hod interjects

"Unlike you, I don't have trouble getting women and don't need to sneak out to the pleasure quarter." Cruz mocks Hod.

Hod angrily gets up from his chair and moves to the window. "Arrrgh, I don't fucking believe it! Little bastard is here."

Bete jumps up and walks over next to Hod at the window. "Uggh freaking weaklings like you two piss me off." Bete storms off outside.

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.

.

After having a weird discussion with goddess at the jaga maru stand and gaining her permission to train. The four of us entered the twilight manor gates into the courtyard. I was feeling hesitant sensing a few nasty stares coming from the guards that recognized me as well as one piercing my essence. More jealous and confused looks leered at me as I followed Riveria and the others past the sparring, training or chatting Loki familia members of all races.

Riveria turns around to face me. "Don't mind them. Just stay with Alicia while you're here."

"I will. Thank you for allowing me to come over." I bowed and smiled up to her.

"Not a problem. Eina, can you come with me to the library?"

"Sure thing, Lady Riveria."

"Up to you Bell, but you can stay for dinner." She turned to the blonde elf. "Alicia, make sure trouble doesn't find him."

"You can count on -." Alicia was interrupted by the angry grey haired werewolf Bete storming up toward us.

"What is this runt doing in our home?" Bete barked.

"Bete he is a guest. I am allowing him to train with Alicia." Riveria brow was furrowed in agitation towards the wolf.

"Why bother with this weakling? He's not even in our familia." Bete yelled angrily.

"Whose fault is that Bete?" Eina yelled up to him gaining a surprised brow raise from Bete.

"Enough if you want to watch. You can Bete. You might even be pleasantly surprised. I will not allow you to hurt him or I will house break you puppy." Riveria threatened.

"Urrrg, Fine, should be funny to drink too." Bete roared with laughter.

Riveria turned back to me. "Any problems at all. Let me know. Let's go Eina." Eina followed behind Riveria inside to the library.

"Bell, follow me to the northside of the courtyard. There are a couple of targets up there." Alicia smiled.

"Okay Alicia. I look forward to it." I beamed a smiled towards Alicia. She turned her head fast to avoid my stare and followed after her. 'Wow she's beautiful.'

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I stood in a ready position at the mini archery range where three targets were setup one hundred feet away. Alicia turned back around to me. "Here we are Bell."

"Thank you again Alicia."

"Was a request from Lady Riveria?" She shook her shoulders.

"I don't want you to feel forced to watch over me."

"Its fine Bell. Rather not see you unconscious or near death again." She strained a smile. "Let lose a few arrows at the center one so I can see what I have to work with here."

"Choke." Bete calls out sitting behind us with a flask in his hand, as I knock an arrow.

"Shut up Bete." She screams out. "Try to block him and the others out."

"Okay." I held the bow outstretched and pulled a white tipped arrow out of the quiver. Swish. Swish. Swish. I let lose three arrows. Two hit the outer blue ring and the third hit the tree behind the target.

"You sure you were a hunter before." Alicia giggled as she mocked me.

"It's been a few months." I nervously hearing Bete's laughter and feeling an angry stare piercing my soul. My thoughts were running wild. 'What is this feeling? Why is it angry and so far, up?'

"Yoo-hoo, Gekai to Bell. You home." Alicia teased.

"Sorry."

"Focus on training. Block out the distractions, draw and arrow and hold it." Alicia instructed.

"My apologies." I pulled an arrow and knocked it with my fingers holding onto the drawstring.

"First relax your grip under the sight. You're torquing it and don't tense up. Make a slight V-shape with your grip. Keep both your eyes open and remember aim small miss small." She instructed.

"Ha watch him Zing another brick shot," Bete mocks from behind gaining the attention of others in the courtyard.

"Shut up Bete." Alicia screams out.

Swish.

The arrow hit the inner yellow circle and I was about to fire another until I felt Alicia's hand raise my arm. I jumped at her touched and fired early sending the arrow into the sky. "Watch out!" Alicia cried out in shock trying to find the runaway arrow.

"Ha. Ha. Ha." Bete rolls over to laughing unaware that the wind carried it down on him.

"Firebolt!" A stream of red lighting released from my hand. Destroying the arrow above Bete's head. The blast alarmed many nearby and singed Bete's fur.

"Oi. Oi. Oi. You want to die little bastard." Bete jumped up and raced toward me. Grabbing my collar and raising me into the sky with his teeth barred. "That sound hurt my ears too."

"Let him down you mutt."

"You saw what he did Alicia?"

"It was an accident. Look at your feet. He shot the arrow." Alicia screamed and pointed at the white arrow head on the ground.

"Sorry Bete." I apologized staring the wolf in the eyes.

He tossed me five feet to the ground. "Next time I am sending him to a healer." Bete barked and went back to his drink.

"You okay Bell." Alicia bent down to me.

"Fine. Was only half as far as the last time and I didn't have a falna then." I painfully smiled up to her.

She shakes her head. "Let's get back to practice. Please hit the target this time."

"I will, but I thought elves only touch if th-." I was interrupted by a red-faced Alicia.

"Go back to practice!" She squealed out embarrassed.

"O-okay." I gave a nervous smirk. "I think I am use to it now Alicia."

"Uh-huh." Alicia rolled her eyes.

I knocked another arrow and released. Swish. The arrow impacted the red center. "Luck" Bete called out as Alicia stared in disbelief.

"Try the other two." Alicia ordered.

Swish. Swish. Swish. Three red centered bullseyes. Bete was quiet. Alicia stared at me in shock. "Were you messing with me Bell."

"No, I was just a bit rusty."

Bete got up and walked over to us. "Alright Mr. Smartass, you can hit stationary targets. What about in the dungeon when a monster wants to eat your innards?"

"I was gonna go down there until Riveria and Alicia offered for me to come here. I don't see any monsters around here." I looked around the courtyard.

Alicia rolled her eyes. "There is a feral beast in front of you." She giggled.

"Watch it elf." He growled.

"You been trying to distract him this whole time. Either help or leave Bete." Alicia ordered.

"Fine try to shoot these in the air without killing the townsfolk." Bete went up to the right target. Pulled out the arrow and kicked it into the sky.

Swish. An arrow pierced it in the sky and spun around like flipped valis coin. Swish. Another arrow impacted the other side. I turned around and shot the other two targets, before Alicia caught the target. Alicia stared at me bugged eyed. 'He might be a better shot than me.'

"There really wasn't much to do at my village." I nervously scratched the back of my head.

"How did you not over hunt the forest?" Alicia stared in disbelief.

"I wasn't allowed to go deep into the forest. Too many goblins and my bow was very poor quality."

"Ha you were scared of surface goblins." Bete laughed.

"Go away Bete." Alicia yelled at the wolf.

"Whatever?" Bete walked off to the other side of the courtyard.

Alicia places the target back. "Let's continue Bell."

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An hour later a very beautiful catgirl came over to the archery range. "Hey Alicia. We have to start preparing for dinner."

"Sure thing, Aki."

"Is your boyfriend joining us?" Aki teased.

"He's not my boyfriend Aki." Alicia stared wide eye in anger toward the cat girl. Unaware of my red face.

"Uh-huh" Aki rolled her eyes. "What's your name?"

"My name is Bell Cranell."

"Are you a new recruit?" Aki tilted her head in surprise.

"No." Alicia responded. "He's just a friend of Eina's and Lady Riveria. He joined Hestia familia."

"Surprised he's training here." Aki questioned.

"He is the only person in his familia." Alicia responded.

"Oh, wow. Hopefully that changes." Aki commented. "Want to stay for dinner?"

"I don't want to be a burden. There is already a few that don't like me being here." I bowed. "Thank you for the offer." My stomach growled. " - "

"Nonsense. It's only one more plate of food. We can sit next to you to prevent any assholes from starting something."

"Just join Bell." Alicia rolled her eyes as she folded her arms around her chest.

"O-Okay. Thank you."

"I am gonna tell Lady Riveria first Aki. I will meet you in the kitchen soon."

"Ok" Aki walked off.

"Bell just stay here. I will come back out soon."

"Okay Alicia." She walked away as I continued shooting by myself.

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From the other end of the courtyard, Hod had been watching for a little bit. He was jealous of how close he was to the other women. He had been denied by for years. "Orba, I am gonna have a little fun."

"Don't get carried away, Hod." The level 3 beast human shook his head and chuckled at his level 2 human friend. Orba walked over to Bete. "Hey wolf want a good laugh."

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"Hey how's it going runt?" A rough voice came out behind me as I unleashed another arrow into the target.

I stared back at the browed-haired human man. "Can I help you?"

"Yeah, why don't you use a man's weapon. Not some silly bow." Hod taunted.

"I just got my bow today. I usually use knives." I pointed at the single knife at my hip. "Riveria and Alicia have been kind enough to help me train."

"You should stay away. This isn't your familia." Hod warned.

"They offered. I accepted. Plus, Eina begged me to come over, because she's worried about my safety." I strained a smile towards Hod.

Hod's anger started to boil over. An idea came to his mind. He smiled "Why don't we have a friendly sparring match?"

"Rather not cause any other problems. Alicia and Riveria just wanted me to train archery." I dismissed his offer.

"You afraid Eina is gonna dump you when she sees you as a weakling." Hod taunted with an evil grin.

"Only been an adventurer for a month. How long have you been Hod?" My heart rate was slow and deep as I tried to calm my anger.

"Few years. I am a level two. I can go easy on you. You wouldn't want Eina seeing you be a coward." Hod mocked.

"I am not a coward. Rather not use real weapons."

"There are some practice blades over there." Hod pointed to the front of courtyard.

"Alright." I reluctantly agreed and followed him over to the weapon stand.

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We both picked up practice blades from the rack. He picked up a longsword, as I did a few practice swings of two shortswords to try and get a feel for them. The points were blunt and their edges were dull.

"Getting greedy with two blades Bell." Hod chuckled.

"I usually always fight with two blades. No point to an idle hand." I shrugged my shoulder.

"Bete want to place some money on this fight." Orba shook his head.

"Who would place money on a greenhorn level one Orba?" Bete laughed.

"How about 5,000 valis, the rabbit is on his knees in two minutes." Orba joked.

"Fine I will do four minutes. Hod isn't gonna go all out. Gonna be funny watching two weaklings go at it." Bete held his stomach as he placed his money into the pot. A few others came up and added to the pot.

Orba called out. "Don't go too easy on him Hod."

"I will have him down on the ground at half strength Orba." Hod laughed.

I took a deep breathe to focus my mind. 'I will not embarrass myself in front of her.'

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(Library)

Riveria was teaching Eina in the library about magic, advanced uses and mind consumption. For over an hour. "Eina when do you think you want to level?"

"I was hoping to get my magic to S to make Loki happy."

"What advanced ability do you want? You might unlock mage or healer. You would most likely have to wait to level 4 to unlock the other one though."

"I am not sure." (3)

"Mage will help empower all of your spells and mind consumption for every level. Healer will use less mind for healing spells and will make healing magic more effective.

"Let me think it over. Lady Riveria, I feel bad about using Bell." Eina pained a smile.

"I am sure he would be overjoyed to know he is helping you whenever he finds out about his skill. It's still shocking that he doesn't know about his skill. Still have trouble believing that." Riveria stated.

"He didn't hesitate at all to show me his back in the training room. He kept wishing for something to show up in skills and magic. Feel like I should tell him and get him into our familia." Eina looked down at the table.

"I think that would just cause more problems. I honestly wish he was in our familia even without a potential skill like that. I am curious what the conditions are for it. He's seems incredibly driven." Riveria stroked her chin.

"Yes, I swear he's gonna grey my hair with his progress." Eina shook her head.

"You care for him don't you." Riveria looked over at Eina.

"I-I do."

"Why not just confess?"

"I know who he is in love with. That is what's driving him." Eina confessed.

"Who is it? …Ais?" Riveria looked up to see Ais enter the library wearing Bell's brown jacket.

"Hello." Ais waved and sat in a chair across from the two elves holding her knees up to her chin. "What are you two doing?"

"I am just helping Eina with her magic. She can level up at any time." Riveria smiled seeing her so comfortable in Bell's jacket. 'Smooth Bell.'

"Are you going back into the dungeon, Eina?" Ais tilted her head confused.

"I am still having trouble deciding to go back in there." Eina replied.

"Do you need help?" Ais offered.

"I was actually gonna asked you that Ais." Riveria spoke up. "I was wondering if you could help train her on sword techniques."

"I can do that, still having trouble getting use to my level up." Ais responded.

"Congratulations on your level up Miss Ais."

"Just Ais." She smiled toward Eina.

"Just take it easy on her whenever you get a chance to teach Eina." Riveria looked at Ais.

"I will."

"Umm Ais, why does that look like Bell's jacket?" Eina looked over the familiar brown jacket.

"It is." She responded in a low voice.

"How?"

"Ais shirt was torn after her fight with Uduaes. Bell noticed her chest was sticking out under her armor and offered to cover her up." Riveria giggled.

"How did he notice under her armor?" Eina eyed up Riveria with suspicion.

"He was scared waking up on Alicia's lap from a mind down and ran right into Ais's chest plate." Riveria's cheeks tinged a light shade of red. "The three of us may have helped him recover in our lap."

Eina laughed out loud to the shocked of Ais and Riveria. "Oh, my Loki that's hilarious. He probably thought he was in heaven. HAHA!" Eina held her gut ignoring the embarrassed faces.

"I need to give it back." Ais tilted her head looking confused.

"He is actually outside in the courtyard with Alicia. Training. Why not go say hello Ais?" Riveria giggled, stunning Eina.

Alicia entered the room with a smile. "What's everybody laughing about?"

"Oh, just talking about the other night. Where is Bell?" Riveria questioned.

"He's outside at the archery range. Aki wanted me to come into prepare for dinner. I thought I would tell you first Lady Riveria." Alicia informed.

"Oh, you shouldn't have let him alone, Alicia." Riveria grimaced.

"I am sorry. I will go outside immediately." Alicia bowed.

"Why are people shouting outside!?" Eina inquired. Before racing over to the window. "Bell." Eina yelled out before racing out of the library.

The Riveria, Alicia and Ais went over to the window and stared down at the fight. "Dam it Hod!" Riveria and Alicia ran off after Alicia through the busy manor.

Ais tilted her head admiring the scene. 'How is he doing that?'

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Two minutes passed in the sparring match. Blow after blow from Hod's onsalught were parried or deflected with relative ease, in the courtyard.

"What the hell Hod? You made me lose money." Orba yelled out.

"I told you that weakling was gonna take his time." Bete rolled his eyes.

Cruz came up to the two beast men. "What's the bet on?"

"How long the rabbit lasts against the weakling? You want in on this action Cruz." Bete laughed.

Cruz stood their watching the fight. He noticed Hod was getting frustrated and angry as each attack was deflected. Hod's footwork was stationary where Bell was continuously moving. Hod came in for another overhead strike. Bell parried Hod's blade upward to his shock and swept his leg with a back kick sending Hod to the ground. "10,000 on the rabbit to win."

"Hahaha. You serious Cruz. Fine. I will match that. I will bet on the level two weakling over the level 1." Bete mocked holding his gut laughing harder. "Hey Hod stop going easy on him already you weak piece of shit."

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Hod was fuming with rage. "How the hell is he keeping up with me? He's brand fucking new greenhorn."

"Are you done?" I stopped to watch Hod get off the ground looking embarrassed and angry. I tilted my head confused and placed my blades at my side.

"Kick his ass rabbit boy." The flat chested amazon yelled from second floor window. Alongside her sister and the younger elf. I got distracted by her praise and stopped to smile at them.

Hod clenched his fist in anger and launched after me with his full strength. Hod jumped and brought his blade down into a downward slash. I barely dodged out of the way in time to avoid a small crater left by his attack. Many in the courtyard noticed Hod was furious and trying hard. "How the hell did you dodge that Rabbit?"

'He's angry now. I think he wanted to kill me.' I looked at him in shock. "I moved sideways."

"Time to put you down for a long nap." Hod threatened. He recovered quick and charged again. He lashed out with a sideways slash from my left with both hands on his longsword. The shock from the attack rippled up my arms making it temporarily go numb as I stopped the blade with both of my own. Before I could respond, Hod twisted his grip and brought the pommel up into my stomach, sending me to the ground. Spitting out blood.

"HAHAHA" Hod laughed out as I held my stomach on all fours on the ground, temporarily stunned by the attack. He raised his blade up in the air in celebration. "Pathetic, I don't know why either of them like you." He yelled out. There were mixed reactions in the courtyard. Orba and Bete along with a few others were laughing. While some were debating on stopping the fight.

"Looks like I win Cruz." Bete laughed out loud holding out his hand for the money.

"Look again wolf." Cruz crossed his arms.

"Eh" The wolf stared back at me as I jumped back off the ground with an angry look on my face.

"Back for some more rabbit." Hod laughed out loud.

"I never left." I crouched back down into a fighting position with one blade above and below my head.

"Fine I will show her how weak you are rabbit." Hod charged again with another horizontal slash coming from the right side.

CLANG

The metal sound rang out as I stopped his blade with my own two inches below the grip making his eyes bulge in shock. I dropped the blade in my left hand and brought my hand up to grab his wrist. I twisted my body in towards his body and slammed him over my shoulder.

"Phay" Hod spit out, as his body impacted the ground to his shock and everybody watching. I used the toe of my boots to launch the shortsword back into my hand and lowered myself in stance waiting for him to recover.

"Get up, you're embarrassing us." Bete shouted at Hod, as he looked disgusted seeing the level two on the ground.

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.

I stared at Hod on the ground. "Are we done? I am kind of hungry."

Hod jumped back up. "Gonna, make you eat my sword brat." Hod charged again in a blind rage. Aiming for my head with thrust after thrust, gaining small lacerations along my face as I barely dodged out of the way. I spun around into a cartwheel kicking his chin with my left boot.

"ahhh. He shook his head distracted from the pain in his chin. As I landed on my feet and charged. Finally on the offensive I pushed Hod back with a flurry of blade movements from both shortswords. Barely deflecting each blow. Hod's level two senses were the only thing helping him from keep up with two weapons. "How the hell are you doing this brat?"

"I don't want to lose in front of her." I yelled out as I landed a narrow slice on his right thigh.

Again, I backed away, not wanting to push my luck or earn the contempt of Loki familia. "Let's stop this before it goes any further."

"You really think you won." Hod fumed in rage as he ran even with his injured leg toward me with a downward vertical slash.

CLANG

The blade was caught in a vice like grip between both shortswords. I used all of my strength to hold him in place. He was holding his blade down with all his might hoping to break my guard and split my skull. My strength was giving way under his assault until my knee started touching the ground. "Submit weakling." Hod called out in a strained voice.

"NO!" I yelled out and bounced off my knee and tensed up my leg muscles to forced myself upward to break his guard. His practice blade split into two pieces. His eyes bulged out in shock completely blind to my foot racing towards his skull, as I spun around into a back kick. He fell to the ground rattled but not out. My breathing was ragged and hard as my sore body was screaming out in pain.

I stood back up exhausted and shaking my head trying not to pass out. "Bluh." I felt a stabbing sensation impale into my shoulder. The broken shard of the blade was sharp where it snapped. Hod threw it at my shoulder. I was doubled over on my knee holding my bleeding shoulder.

"Stop this at once." Eina yelled out seeing me in pain.

"Why do you like this weakling from nobody familia?" Hod yelled out as he picked up the other sharp shard from the broken blade. "He is not worthy of being here." Hod turned around and started his charge towards me. I raised my blade to defend.

BOOM

The elven princess raced up at full speed and launched herself at Hod. Landing a kick directly into his side.

GAH. BOOM.

Hod's body rag dolled from the level 6 kick as his body flew back into the manor gates. Bending the iron bars with the impact from his body.

Riveria's face was fuming angry and red. "EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU INTO DINNING HALL, NOW!" Every familia member felt the raw anger in her voice and ran off to the dining Hall within a few minutes. A few others branched off to retrieve Hod's broken and unconscious body and dragged him inside to the lounge.

Eina ran over to me. My breathing ragged, my consciousness fading as my shoulder pulsed in pain feeling the steel edge embedded into my shoulder. "Bell. Bell. Stay with me." She called out with both her hands on my cheeks. She bent down and tore a little strip off her skirt and gripped onto the blade. "Sorry, this is gonna hurt."

Eina bent over to kiss me on the cheek. My eyes bulged in shock. My surprised face was instantly drowned out by pain when she ripped the blade out of my shoulder and covered the bleeding wound with the cloth from her skirt.

"Respond to the contract, light of the forest. Follow my order and heal the wounds of those that seek your Mercy. Dio Luna." The green light of her magic flooded my body. Mending bone and repairing torn flesh, muscles and blood vessels in my shoulder, stomach and face. Eina spent a lot of mind to heal me with her magic. She shook her head to fight the effects of the mind usage, as she felt her skill activate.

"T-Thank Y-you." I forced out still breathing hard.

Riveria and Alicia bent down around me. "Are you okay Bell?"

"F-Fine Riv-Riveria. Nice kick." I smiled still catching my breath.

Loki and Finn walked out of manor. Looking worried. "Get him inside." Loki called out.

"NO!" Eina yelled back. She stood up. "I am disgusted. I will take him back home." Stunning the other four. "He's the reason I came back. Maybe I should have stayed away." Eina slung my arm around her shoulder and helped me to stand.

"Eina." Riveria called out for her.

"No Riveria. I refuse." Eina turned her head back to me. "Come with me Bell." Slowly we started walking out of the courtyard. The guards opened the gates. They were as speechless as the captains.

Riveria took a deep breath and turned to Alicia. "Alicia, follow them home and make sure they get somewhere safe. If you don't return within the hour. I will send people out for you."

"Y-yes Lady Riveria." Alicia bowed before jumping over the gate and scaled a nearby two-story building. Watching us limp off to the west as the sun lowered beneath the horizon.

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Eina turned in the direction of her apartment. "Bell, do you mind sleeping at my apartment. You are a bit heavier than I thought you would be."

"Sure Eina. I don't want you racing across the city in the dark." I responded in a tired voice.

Ten minutes later we made it to her apartment, hearing a few cat calls along the way as Alicia scaled the roofs and watched us go inside the apartment to her shock. She smiled, but felt a small pain in her chest. She dismissed that feeling and made her way back to the manor.

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As we entered the apartment. Eina closed the door with her foot. "Bell you can sleep in the guest room."

"Okay Eina. Zzzzzz." I started to snore.

"Must be from the blood loss and the over exertion." Slowly Eina carried my body upstairs. When we got to the top of the stairs, Eina stumbled and accidently dropped me. She was pulled down my body on top of me. Her curves pressed up against my body. 'Was that his Luck ability or is this divine intervention?' She giggled at the thought.

Eina sat up and helped me get back up. She realized we were faced in the direction of her room. She shook her head and walked slowly into her room. "Bell you should sleep here tonight. In exchange for worrying me, I will sleep on the bed with you."

"Sure Eina. Zzzzz." I replied mostly asleep and fell forward carrying her down with me.

"Eh. Ehhhh!" Eina shook in shock as she fell down onto the bed with me. She struggled at first but realized I wasn't responding. "I guess he did agree. I will hold him all night to keep him warm." She gripped my unconscious body closely against her body. 'He's starting to get very manly body and feels so comfortable.' Eina smiled and passed out in my arms.

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(Soma)

Lily was caged up in the Soma familia cells. The level two captain stood at the gate to her prison. "How are you enjoying you welcome home, Erde."

"The Ganesha familia prison was much more comfortable and they fed Lily better, Zanis."

"Like I care. I have a use for you Erde. I have heard of a sticky fingers prum robbing people." He gave an evil smile down toward her.

"Let Lily go. I don't want to be in this familia. Let Lily speak to Lord Soma. I am not worth anything." Lily pleaded.

"Oh, I know your hiding money somewhere. Thanks for the free stuff in your bag. I am not letting you leave for anything less than ten million valis. Ha-ah." Zanis cackles

"Lily is useless."

"No you have a special transformation magic that I am gonna put to use. There's a project in which I would love your participation. Just a new business venture capturing monsters."

"That's insane! Monsters have no value."

"I intend to find out. I want Lord Soma's Divine Wine. I want money and women. I want every pleasure this world can offer!"

Bam! Zanis slammed his boot against the iron bars. "I love this familia. Our god doesn't say a thing regardless what I do. It's the ultimate freedom." Zanis cackled in laughter. His glasses falling down his nose.

"Lily can see your true colors."

"Oops."

…..

1)Sword Oratoria Manga page 14-16

2)Just reference Riveria's status sheet for the rest.

3)Leaning towards mage.