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3rd Pov
The addition of new abilities again were unexpected, Aiz Wallenstein had reached a parameter never reached before, she became the sole person to do that and after a brief spar that induced the attention of the entirety of the Loki Familia present, they concluded," She is as strong as a Level 6", the fact was shocking and Finn couldn't help but admit," She will surpass me in parameters if she was to rank up now."
He couldn't help but feel... jealous? He is 40 years old and older than the "King", who had just entered in his early thirties, even if he wasn't talented, he reached the place where he is because of hard work and time, and then came Aiz Wallenstein, he had never been jealous of her... till now. He knew the girl better than anyone.
Aiz Wallenstein was talented but her record of having the fastest rank up wasn't because of it. No she was hard working, so much that it won't be wrong to call her a maniac. She worked harder than anyone, trained harder than anyone, her face was full of desperation to become stronger, her sword full of cracks as she trained herself till her body gave up.
Funnily her biggest leap of strength wasn't because of hard work or talent, but simply because it could be. A skill that appeared out of nowhere, a luck that had declared everything was in her favour. A Handsome man who was screaming ideal Husband, and just like that she surpassed the Loki familia in days. That's all took to crush his entire life's effort.
" Haha, it would seem Finn is jealous", mocked Loki and Finn said with a dry laugh," Jealous? You are funny Loki- Because I am jealous!!", he shouted, he behaved like a child. It was a scene you wouldn't see every day after all. It took a lot to make the perfect leader behave not so perfect. " Anyway, I guess we have to wait for Aiz testing out her new magic, also she still had falna left... And I came to conclusion the skill doesn't generates High Rank Falna."
Should he be happy? That the cheat skill had a limit? He could just put himself into the dreaded paperwork to take his mind away from those thoughts.
...
"Blaze", muttered Aiz and a torrent of hellish flames surrounded her," Aiz! Are you okay?", a worried voice came as she was surrounded by the swirling hell," Yes, I am fine", Aiz replied and manipulated the flames. " This", she muttered feeling familiar, it was just like Ariel, these flames gave her no harm. Heck, they didn't even burn her clothes while she could see nearby rocks melting.
She tried to manipulate and just like Ariel she could manipulate it, even if briefly and to a limited extent. Anticipation came over her, what else she could do? She drew her sword and started running, she tried to use it to increase her speed, and they did. However, it wasn't as significant as Ariel, maybe because she wasn't proficient in it or rather she was using it wrongly.
Whatever the case, it didn't bother her and she swung her sword, and a torrent of flames followed her attack decimating the dungeon wall. She swung again, and a torrent of flames followed her attack. She focused and slashed again, this time separating a rock from middle, with a thin line of molted lava dividing it. Best? She was like fifty metres away.
" Powerful", she muttered and canceled the magic as she could feel her Mind having drained significantly. Once canceled she could see Riveria looking at the destruction she had unleased. She used her Ice Magic to lower the temperature and could finally approach her. " So, how it is?", Riveria asked with unbounded curiosity.
After hearing the details from Aiz, she was surprised," I see... It is like Ariel but with flames, while your speed isn't increased significantly, but while using magic other than providing defense, and powerful attacks it also has ranged attacks and gives the user heat resistance, and your flames don't harm your", she muttered, her eyes gleaming.
" So do you want to try anything else?", Riveria asked, and Aiz shook her head, she had already tested her skill against Udaeus, and the result was insta-kill. She was eager to fight the boss, and the top three agreed, she was strong, a lot stronger than before. For insurance Riveria was still here, Aiz just followed what her skill described and Loki's advice, and desired to kill the monster in front of her.
And it was killed, in an instant. After that they tested the magic and she was content," I want to meet him", she said, leaving no room for argument and Riveria nodded," Hmm, this time I will follow you", she said as she too wanted to meet the man. Aiz nodded and they started returning, without wasting they soon returned to the surface and met someone on their way.
" Ottar", Aiz muttered as the figure of man hulked over them, he was grabbing a heavy weapon and looked at them, Aiz couldn't help but grow weary and grab the hilt of her sword while Riveria stared at him. The people around them quickly made distance, everyone knew even if the top two weren't enemies they were at odds with each other.
After a stare down, the King walked and passed by their side," You are lucky, Aiz Wallenstein", he said before leaving the place. They finally breathed in relief. While the chances of him attacking were low, no one can know what their crazy goddess might decide upon next moment. The words however did make Riveria worried, but Aiz just ignored the event walking quickly towards Arthur's house.
Arriving before his house she knocked with anticipation, while Riveria looked at Aiz,' While I know it, still makes me shocked that Aiz is like this ', she thought, she considered the girl her daughter and wanted to know her soul mate. However, they were disappointed as Arthur wasn't at home, just when they were about to leave, they saw a white-haired man coming with groceries.
" Oh, Aiz you have come", he said in a gentle tone and the girl leaped at him," Careful!", Riveria said as Arthur somehow caught her and didn't drop the groceries, Aiz rubbed her cheeks against him and sniffed his scent,' Arthur's scent ', she thought. While Riveria blushed at the brazen display of the intimacy, she couldn't help but analyze the man.
' His body has muscles if seen carefully, in fact his body is skeptically perfect for a none-adventurer, maybe he does exercise? His face is unnaturally handsome... If I didn't know he was Aiz's soulmate I would have thought, he was some Supreme Deity pretending to be human. Also, Aiz! Why are you doing such embarrassing act?! Sniffing his scent? Seriously?! ', she thought and looked around seeing the place empty make her breathe in relief.
She quickly pulled Aiz off Arthur, and the girl pouted, Riveria said," I am Riveria Ljos Alf, from Loki familia", her introduction was plain, and she bowed gently. " I know of you Miss Riveria, after all who wouldn't know the Orario's strongest Magician?", he said, and she nodded. " Would you both like to come inside?", he asked, and she nodded rapidly, she didn't want to feel much more embarrassed because of Aiz's antics.
Coming inside, she felt relieved, despite being Mature and ninety-nine years old she was a virgin and total newbie in matter of romance. So seeing Aiz doing such embarrassing things, not only she felt embarrassed she even felt jealous. Can't she have her own dashing soul mate who would empower her and love her unconditionally?
Though she washed the thought off and observed Arthur carefully and soon realized something,' He is a womanizer ', she frowned. He was being unusually intimate to Aiz Wallenstein, and even if the girl loved him, in Goddess Freya's own words the man would take time to realize the connection unlike the woman, and Arthur was a married man for Alf's sake!
There were only a few cases when a man acted like this, either he was cheater or a playboy, and considering his daughters were living with him and well aware of everything, she thought it was latter. ' I guess they are already used to his antics ', she thought and sighed. " Miss Riveria, I will be making Dinner and my daughters should return shortly as well, is there anything you would like?", Arthur asked.
" Well I am fine with anything", she replied and then asked," By the way Sir Arthur I heard your wives are adventurers", Arthur nodded and replied," Yes they are adventurers of Minerva Familia", Riveria then asked," Although it might be a bit rude for me to ask but why aren't you an adventurer?", her eyes focused on his face, looking at his expression intently.
" Well, I never had any need to be adventurer", his reply was disappointing to say the least. With his expression she realized he was speaking truth and sighed,' Well whatever, he will be a perfect match for Aiz... eventually, now I just need information about his wives ', she thought and then looked at Aiz who was busy hugging him.
Her eyebrows couldn't help but twitch,' Here I am trying to find about his wives for her sake and this brat! ', her face turned into emotionless and suddenly Aiz's danger senses suddenly went haywire and when she looked at Riveria's face, she couldn't help but tremble, because it clearly said,' You will be drowning in water ', Aiz couldn't help but hug Arthur tighter.
" Aiz, I need to make the dishes", Arthur said, and Aiz looked at him pitifully," Fine, you can help me with it", she nodded and her eyes glistened and she focused on Arthur. For now she had dodged the bullet, Riveria looked at Arthur with not so kind smile, and Arthur returned a gentle smile, for first time in the century she lost as Arthur pulled Aiz into the kitchen leaving her waiting on the couch.
Mommy Riveria lost and looked baffled,' What a terrifying playboy! I could understand now why he can woo those adventurers ', she thought with a blush, A blush? She shook her head in embarrassment. " We are back!", announced Norn as she entered, her blonde hair swayed while she reeked of blood.
" Oh, we have guests", said Aisha as she entered behind her sister, looking at Riveria whose eyes lit up. ' Now I can get some information! ', she thought slyly, she can't have the girl that she had raised as her own daughter get caught up in a mess, especially a love life which is a mess. " It's Miss Riveria!", said Norn as she recognized the green Elf.
Riveria stood up and said," I am Riveria Ljos Alf, pleasant to meet you", her words were short, and the girls nodded. Soon they started chatting, and finally Riveria asked," Can you tell me about your mothers?", Aisha was the first one to reply," My mother is both maid and concubine of father, though my father treats her same as my other mothers."
' That means this bastard has more than two wives ', Riveria's eyebrows twitched." As for my mother she is very close friend of Aisha's mother and one of his wives", said Norn, making Riveria's eyebrows twitch even more." Are they both adventurers?", asked Riveria calmly and they nodded,"Yup! They are proud adventurers of Mommy Minerva's Familia", they had a smug look.
Soon Riveria came to a grave realisation,' This Minerva familia is a fucking harem familia of that man- What kind of Bullshit did Aiz end up into? ', she sat with despair on her face. " Miss Riveria, are you okay?", asked Aisha and Riveria gave a pale smile," I am fine, just a bit hungry", she replied. " Well, we are going to wash up, otherwise Daddy will be angry", Norn said as they left to the bathroom leaving Riveria who was in deep thought.
To be continued...
(Author's Note: Here is the discord link-->https://discord.gg/WwDEqqmA)