C114: Aftermath, Paternal Care p2.

C114: Aftermath, Paternal Care p2.

Overall Word count = 1410 on 7/16/2024.

After a few kisses too many, Syr had to set Sabrina down and Freya couldn't resist picking the child up like a doting grandmother even though it's also her baby. Axel continues keeping a finger on the child so the goddess is not killed by Sabrina's power.

Freya ponders many things as she gazes at the adorable Sabrina in her hands. Her random little walk brings her outside, into the trashed reception area. Freya is forced to sit down as Sabrina gets one of her hands free from the blanket and she reaches up at Freya. A wave of emotion flows over Freya with her divinity resonating with it at this moment. Love. True Love.

A mothers love, a baby's love. She comes to understand that if she wishes to maintain this state of being, she must take action herself instead of being some prize that is won by others, even if it is her Odr. No, she refuses to be a simple bird stuck in a cage, she will…no, must snap apart the cage that binds her of her own volition.

"Ottar" she whispers, the hunk of a man can be seen already kneeling beside the Goddess the moment she has sat down. The ever present guardian from the 'wretched' stares of others, even his fellow executives.

"Yes goddess" He responds to his 'mothers' words.

"I wish to hear your truths, the truths of your heart. Are you happy as you are now?"

".....I am"

"Why are you happy?" She asks again but for a reason now.

"....There is no greater joy than seeing you smile like this"

Freya nods as if she expected such an answer, her expression turns melancholic shortly after. "I shall be dissolving my familia Ottar. I shall grant freedom to all of you to follow your own paths."

The Boaz man trembles from her words as he resolves himself. Yet her next words brought utter clarity to his mind. But that clarity is dashed away by the comforting hand placed against his cheek by Freya as she holds the baby with the other arm.

"Ottar, I had taken you in when you were but a child. I had taken you in, under my wing. You were my pride and joy back then. Soon enough you became the strongest, and my ever loyal protector. I can not keep you here against your will any longer."

"Yet if you would humor my request. I'd like it if you would be willing to bare the mantle of this childs big brother. Please guide and protect her in her chosen path. If she had inherited anything else from her father then I am assured that the future will be tumultuous." Freya has a soft smile on her face as she hugs Sabrina against her. Ottar himself retains his stoic expression but hidden within his fur is a single tear that drops down the left side of his face.

"I shall remain ... .Mother" Ottar makes his decision known. Freya can't help herself become emotional as she stops hugging Sabrina to toy with her.

"Did you hear that little glutton, you have a big brother now. Oh look how handsome he is" Freya shows Ottar to Sabrina and even goes so far as to have the rough well built man hold the child. Ottar, naturally panics but smartly decides to just become a statue. Yet the baby's little joyful squeal broke down the stone holding him together and Freya also guided him to hold the baby closer.

This puts him within arms reach of sabrina who waves at him whilst giggling as she brushes the tuffs of his hair or strokes the edges of his chin.Ottar decides to introduce himself, "I am Ottar"

"Hehehe" Sabrina giggles once he finishes his words. This only warms the gruff man's heart as he learns to care for the child.

The other executives looked on with longing expressions, but they all came to their own realizations. Seeing such a scene, Allen Fromel reminisces about his sister and decides to visit her before he makes any major decision. The Gulliver brothers are a bit more resistant to the idea of leaving Freya as she holds their complete adoration but today's events have shown them that they are not enough.

They move to ask permission to be Sabrina's servants but when Freya provides no concrete answer, they are quite demoralized. They decide to better themselves as they leave in the sunset.

Hogni and Hedin share talks of what their future path is. They realize the truth of what they had been doing the past few years and decide to return to the Hjaðningavíg in potentially rebuilding their fallen home. They would be kings of nothing and no one but it would serve to be a sanctuary for elves in the future.

Unbeknownst to either of them. During the great war between the elves and the dark elves, a group of soldiers had preemptively hidden their families during the war and faked their own deaths, only to come out once the two dumb kings had left with Freya. They had rebuilt their home and thus didn't welcome the two of them when they returned.

Throughout the years, Hogni and Hedin worked hard to gain the trust and acceptance before they settled down and had families of their own but that is a story for another time.

The various other members would scatter around Orario, joining various familias or join Mia Grandes pub if they were women. This is the case for Heith Velvet who would join Miach as she still pursues her healing duties but much more lax. She had gotten a chance to clean up her sleep schedule and became a renowned but slightly hot-headed woman within the Dungeon City. She settled down with one of her patients who was a newbie adventurer but his kind heart provided her with the true calm that she needed in her life.

As for the current time, Axel and co would return to the mansion where they quickly set up a proper baby room using the items that Freya had already obtained beforehand but now has to move since she cant very well retain her home up at the top of the tower of babel if she has no actual familia anymore in essence. It would take a bit of time before the city learned the news of one of the top 2 familias disbanding but they also realize that it didn't really matter since Axel alone holds the top position.

If anything there is anything to judge by is that rumors of Freya walking around the city pushing a baby stroller while Ottar AND Axel follow along like normal. The guild was forced to send multiple letters to Axel's home regarding Freya charming random citizens during these walks. It also doesnt help that Axel openly plays with the child. A few civilian mothers doted on the child which was how it was revealed that the child is his.

The city went crazy about the implication of a half divine child even though Sabrina is 'technically mortal' as Axel was only level 2 or 3 when he conceived Sabrina with Syr. But with her high affinity for gluttony, she is very likely a goddess in her own right.

….

….

Far off in the distance, a set of two cloaked people are walking through a dark and decrepit forest that had long been plagued by vile machinations.

"Are your preparations finally complete? I can't stand the work i'm doing right now. The sooner we get rid of him, the better."

"Patience mortal, his final days are arriving soon enough. Afterall, he has kindly offered up a weakness for us to exploit. Multiple if we consider the goddess and our lovely hostage."

"They are not to be touched. That was our arrangement"

"Arrangements change darling. But don't worry, ill keep my word as long as you finish your task before we begin"

A creepy smile adorns the faces of both hooded figures as they arrive at their base to continue their work.

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A/N:

I hope you all enjoy the chapter and mayhaps had your heart strings tugged, if I did a good job of that.

Drop a comment if you have any recommendations for me and my writing style so that I can continue improving.