Chapter 5 : this will be disaster

In the living room, Bell sank into the sofa, his body relaxed and weary from walking. Meanwhile, Hera bustled about in the kitchen, preparing a batch of cookies. The irresistible aroma wafting from the oven could make anyone's mouth water instantly. Bell, engrossed in his book while lying on the sofa, caught a whiff of the tantalizing scent. Intrigued, he stood up and made his way to the kitchen, where he found his grandma, deep in the process of baking the cookies. As he approached her, he couldn't help but stare at the cookies and feel a droplet of saliva escape from his mouth. Hera noticed this and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Haha, would you like to have a taste?" she asked playfully.

Bell nodded eagerly, a sheepish grin on his face.

Hera smiled warmly, observing her grandson's childlike behavior. "Please wipe your drool, sweetie," she reminded him.

"Huh? Ah, okay," Bell replied, hastily wiping away the drool from his mouth. He then looked up at Hera, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Grandma, your cookies look delicious. Are they ready yet?" he asked.

"Not quite yet," Hera shook her head. "By the way, how old are you?"

"I'm turning 12 this year," Bell answered, though in his mind he knew he was older than that.

"12? You seem younger than I expected," Hera commented, curious about Bell's age. "So, how old were you when you started training with your grandpa?"

"I began training when I was 6 years old. It's been a year since I started learning from Grandpa," Bell replied.

Hera nodded, her interest piqued. "So, what have you learned from him?"

Bell tilted his head, placing a finger on his chin as he pondered. "Um, Grandpa didn't exactly teach me, but..." Bell closed his eyes for a moment, trying to recall his experiences. "He showed me how to make my magic more efficient, and he taught me some dagger and sword techniques."

Bell couldn't quite determine whether his grandpa had genuinely trained him or not. While he demonstrated certain techniques, the rest was up to Bell to figure out. However, he appreciated the guidance his grandpa provided, pointing out areas where he needed improvement.

"Did you enjoy your time training with your grandpa? And could you describe how he taught you?" Hera asked, curious to hear about Bell's experiences.

"Yes, I did," Bell replied with a smile. "As for how he taught me... well, he used to throw me into situations with goblins or kobolds. At first, it was just goblins, but as months passed, it became more challenging. But don't worry Grandma, I'm stronger than you think, and goblins and kobolds no longer pose a challenge to me."

Hera's expression turned into a mix of shock and concern upon hearing Bell's account. She couldn't fathom why Zeus would subject their grandson to such dangerous encounters. Her inner thoughts raced, filled with disbelief and anger towards Zeus. However, she kept her composure and decided to address the matter later.

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HERA'S PERSPECTIVE

In the kitchen, Hera busily prepared cookies for her grandson, who had arrived earlier. As she placed the cookies in the oven, she caught a glimpse of Bell staring at them with drool forming at the corner of his mouth. Uncertain whether her grandson was a prodigy as Zeus had mentioned in his letter, she found his behavior rather endearing.

When she first laid eyes on Bell, she had an overwhelming urge to embrace and spoil him. However, she restrained herself, aware of Zeus' presence. She resolved to pamper him later when they were alone.

Returning to the kitchen, Hera engaged in a conversation with Bell, seeking to learn more about him. Zeus had never allowed her to meet Bell or shared any details about him. Observing Bell's innocent gaze, she couldn't help but chuckle.

"Do you want to have a taste?" she asked, noting his nod of agreement. Hera smiled and said, "Please wipe your drool, sweetie."

She watched as Bell wiped away his drool, an act that brought her immense joy. He then inquired about the readiness of the cookies, to which she responded, "Not yet."

While waiting for the cookies, Hera probed further, asking Bell about his age and the training he received from his grandpa.

Surprised by his response, as he appeared to be around 7 or 8 years old based on his height, Hera wondered if Zeus was providing Bell with sufficient nutrition. She made a mental note to ensure that he received proper nourishment. "Twelve? You seem younger than I expected. So, how old were you when your grandpa started training you?" she inquired, still harboring doubts about Zeus' commitment to training Bell.

After hearing Bell's explanation, Hera nodded, absorbing the information. "And what have you learned from him?" she probed further.

Bell's response made Hera tilt her head in curiosity, her finger resting on her chin. Sensing his hesitation, she could almost read his unspoken thoughts. Although his grandpa hadn't directly trained him, Bell shared his knowledge of magic efficiency, as well as teaching him dagger and sword techniques. Hera admired her grandson's determination and the way he applied himself to the training, despite the lack of direct guidance.

Curiosity piqued, Hera couldn't help but ask about Bell's overall experience and how his grandpa had taught him.

"Yes, I had fun," Bell affirmed with a smile. "As for how my grandpa taught me, he would throw me into situations with goblins or kobolds. Initially, it started with goblins, but as time passed, he made it more challenging. But don't worry, Grandma, I'm stronger than you think, and goblins and kobolds no longer pose a challenge."

Hera was both shocked and furious upon hearing Bell's account. She silently berated Zeus for subjecting their grandson to such perilous trials. Internally, she seethed, "Zeus, what were you thinking, throwing our grandson into battles with goblins? But Bell claims he isn't challenged by them anymore. How strong has he become?"

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Back in the living room, Hera settled down next to Bell, who indulged in her freshly baked cookies. Observing him enjoy the treats filled her heart with warmth.

"Bell," she called out.

"Yes, Grandma?" Bell responded, his mouth still partially filled with a cookie.

"You came here to learn magic, right?"

Bell nodded, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm.

Hera stood up and said, "Wait here."

She left the room briefly and returned with a stack of books in her hands. Bell looked at her curiously, sweat forming on his forehead.

"What are those, Grandma?" he asked, slightly puzzled.

"Books," Hera replied with a smile.

"I can see that, but why books?" Bell inquired, his curiosity evident.

"Because if you want to learn magic, you need to understand its principles. Read these books and try to memorize the content. I'll test your knowledge every week," Hera explained.

Bell stared at the pile of books, his mind racing with concern. "This will be a disaster," he thought to himself.

"Oh, and take your time. I don't mind if it takes you more than a year to complete your training. Just relax and don't push yourself too hard. Get enough rest and sleep well," Hera advised, her smile filled with genuine care.

Hera wanted Bell to stay in her house for as long as possible. She reassured him, "Don't worry about your grandpa's plans to take you away next year. I've informed him that he can only take you back once you've finished your lessons with me." Inwardly, she vowed to protect Bell from Zeus, harboring a sense of fierce determination.

Bell then brought up the subject of his archery training and how his teacher was scheduled to visit Zeus' house next year.

"If she's a woman, why doesn't she come here? I have no problem with being trained by a woman," Hera remarked.

Silence fell between them as Bell absorbed Hera's words. With that, Bell's training with Hera officially began.

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Somewhere in the desert, a figure clothed in black with white trim walked toward the village where Zeus' house was located. The person gazed in that direction and whispered, "XXXX, don't worry. I will return."

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Author here well I have nothing to say.

but do I need makes Bell Great at cooking?( Saiba Joichiro cooking skill)

please support me