Quest 66

Astraea Familia home, the Stardust Garden.

"Well, you were right. Fighting that monster was the trick to get you to level 6," said Astraea. "You don't have any new development abilities, so do you really wanna go with Blacksmithing?"

"Yup, I have enough fighting power, plus it's making helping Eupheme easier," Cirrus said as Astraea updated his status.

"Very well, but this is the oddest set of development abilities I have seen."

She hands him his last stats as a level 5.

Cirrus Zephyr

Lv. 5

Strength: D550→SS1005  Endurance: B700→SSS1100

Dexterity: C621→S999  Agility: S902→X1210

Magic: SS1003→Z1801  Mage: F→D

Immunity: H→D  Martial Arts: G→F

Crush: I→H

"Seems like raising my stats will be far harder."

"From your previous stats before. I wager it will take about 4 or 5 years to reach such heights."

"Well, so long as they are in the S rank, it's all fine."

She hands him his stats as a level 6.

Cirrus Zephyr

Lv. 6

Strength: I0  Endurance: I0

Dexterity: I0  Agility: I0

Magic: I0  Mage: D

Immunity: D  Martial Arts: F

Crush: H  Blacksmith: I

"So, level 6… it's a bit unreal to see. "

"Well, it's all thanks to that skill of yours and your reckless actions of going in solo in dungeon exploration. Are you planning on going down there again for the next 3 weeks?"

"No, I'll be working on something with my blacksmith. Seeing as my weapons are in need of maintenance, I'll be working on them."

"Hm, I'll be sure to find Nox if anything comes up."

Leaving Astraea's home, using his invisibility cloak, he went to Eupheme's workshop.

When near enough to her workshop, Cirrus removes his hood.

As he's walking, he looks at the condition of his sword, made by the Udaeus's black sword. The weapons were slightly damaged, if not significantly duller, and chipped.

"Ugh… she going to chew me out."

As he was looking at his sword, he sheathed it right in time for a meeting.

"!"

Thud!

Thud!

Cirrus bumps into a person covered from head to toe.

"I'm sorry!" He said as he picked himself up and reached out his hand to the girl he had run into.

"No, it's alright." She said with a lovely voice.

As Cirrus had his hand out to help her up, he noticed she had a divinity of that of the gods. She grabbed his hand to get up when he saw her face.

Thump! Thump!

His heart skipped a beat.

She was a true beauty, a beauty that could easily launch a thousand ships-no every ship on the planet, cutting down each tree for construction. Her silver hair and purple eyes were enchanting, her skin was as flawless as fresh snow.

Cirrus could only compare her to his first meeting with Nox, but with Nox, whose beauty, he would say, is more ethereal. This goddess, however, he could only say, is more cardinal desire taken form. Her very presence was enough to get anyone's soul drunk and act to solely gain her affection.

"Thank you for helping me up!" she said with a smile.

"Y-yes! I'm sorry for staring! "

Her voice was so sweet and sultry that he almost got lost in them.

It's quite fine, I get that a lot! That is why I take these unpopulated paths and such conservative clothing."

"I-I see! Well, I can see why if a goddess of such stunning beauty walked out suddenly in front of me, I would be breathless!"

Cirrus tried to re-centered himself, but she really was getting his soul drunk. It was as if whatever she did made him love her evermore. He was even unintentionally giving her compliments.

"Fufu… you seem to still have air in your lungs." She said, leaning in. "Tell me, what is your name?"

"M-my name is Cirrus! Can I-I ask of yours? "

Cirrus felt embarrassed with her so close that he stuttered.

"My name is Freya."

"!!"

When she said her name, it clicked inside Cirrus's brain, as well as an odd emotion in his heart that slowly fought off her charm. Cirrus himself doesn't know what it was, but regardless, he stands before the Norse goddess of war, death, love, sex, beauty, fertility, gold, and magic. She was in some texts known as the wife of Odin, the All-Father, and in some not, though most would find this rather debatable.

"Oh? Seems you know of me?"

"Y-yes, of course, you are Freya, the goddess of…" Hearing those words, Freya knew what was coming. She had heard it several times before, but not this time. "Beauty, love, war, death, fertility, gold, and even magic. With such a diverse set of attributes, it's no surprise you have one of the most powerful Familias in the world! One must have wit and courage to make it as far as you! "

That feeling in his heart tried to fight it, but Freya's beauty overwhelmed it.

  '!?'

Freya was taken aback because he knew she was more than just a goddess of beauty, love, and fertility. Most people don't know she is a god of war and death, something which is overshadowed by her reputation as the goddess of love and beauty, even more so for gold and magic.

"Fufu, you are a clever child, Cirrus. It's a shame I must be going. "

"Y-yes me as well! It was nice to meet you, Lady Freya." Cirrus said, giving a polite bow.

As Cirrus bowed and looked up at the goddess, he could see a smile on her face as she reached over and played with his hair.

"I hope we meet again, Odr."

She took her leave, disappearing into the alleyways.

"… Fuck, I think she made me go through puberty." That feeling in his heart, now having Freya leave, it sprung forth. "… Mm?" It now had Cirrus's attention. "I didn't think I had these feelings deep inside?" Thinking of Freya now brought upon his birth mother's sorrowful expression.

'I guess the bonds between mother and son aren't so easily lost. Next time I won't fall for her. '

Later that night, in the Freya Familia's home.

"How was your meeting with the boy?" asked Ottar.

"He was far more than what I expected! The White Beast! His soul gave off such a radiance that it reminded me of those two old gods, Zeus and Hera's children! "

"Does he truly have that much talent?" Ottar said, surprised.

"I'm afraid so Ottar. He may be even stronger than you."

"… Do you have a drawing of him?" he asked.

"Oh? Do you wish to see the face of a child I have an interest in?"

"Your love is equal to all of your children, Lady Freya." He said in his usual tone of voice.

"Well, here if you really want to see him."

Freya did a quick drawing of him and handed it to Ottar.

Hearing his goddess say those words and now seeing the face of the child his goddess had shown interest in, Ottar remembered the times he faced the members of the Zeus and Hera Familia, or more particularly, Hera's captain.

"… Lady Freya, does he not remind you a bit of Hera?" He asked while looking at the drawing.

"Hm?" She takes the drawing back and looks at him. "Seems I'm not a good drawer, as I would like to think. I feel a bit bad that you think he looks like that delusional old hag."

"My apologies. I shall take my leave."

Ottar took his leave to go train, but right before he left, he took another look at the drawing of Cirrus.

'I wish to see your face for myself.'