Chapter 10: Heated Rescue Pt.1

Chapter 10 Heated Rescue

(Twilight manor night 17 after minotaur)

Almost every single Loki familia member was sitting in the dining hall of the twilight manor staring up at the captain table where Finn, Loki and a very angry Riveria was standing. Every member could feel the aura of anger emanating from her.

"What the hell is wrong with you all!? Why did nobody stop that fight?" Riveria yell filled the hall.

"He voluntarily sparred with Hod." Orba responded from up front.

"A spar?" Riveria glared in disbelief and anger. "Hod was clearly out for blood. Almost murdered him while all of you just stood around placing bets."

"Ah so what?" Bete barked out. "Why should we care about weaklings?"

Finn stepped in front of the seething Riveria. "You have any idea of the penalties our familia would face for the death of anybody. Let alone somebody else outside of our familia. The guild would crack down hard and our reputation would be destroyed."

"This is now the second time, Hod try to kill Bell." Loki added in sitting on the middle of the table. "First time was over Bell bringing Eina back to the manor unconscious."

"Hod said he probably drugged her." Orba spat out.

"NO! Do you want me to send you through the gate next Orba!?" Riveria responded angrily.

"Do it!" Tiona encourages cheerfully before being hushed up by her sister. Earning a few chuckles from around the room.

Riveria rolled her eyes and tried to calm herself. "Eina wasn't use to strenuous exercise working at the guild for the last three years. She fainted due to heat exhaustion and over exertion, while training with Bell. He rushed her back here."

"How strenuous could a level one's training be?" Orba stared in disbelief.

"Well almost every morning he runs the entire wall adding in strength training, before going into the dungeon." Loki responded. "Looked like he could barely move this morning. Is that why you asked him to come over?" Loki stared at Riveria in curiosity.

Riveria stared back. "Yes, he was gonna test out his bow on floor 8 all alone. Didn't think it would be a good idea, so I invited him over to train with Alicia."

"That was nice of you." Finn chuckled.

"Bullshit. No way he's on floor 8 alone. That weakling was sniffing around here just a month ago." Bete said annoyed.

"We found him on floor 8 the other night. Eina even took him down to floor 9 and said he was handling himself very well." Riveria glared at the werewolf.

"How?" Lefiya responded yelling out in shock.

"He's, extremely motivated." Loki tilted her head back. "Surprising a fresh level one could keep pace with a level two even if Hod's abilities scores were low. Is that why the fight got out of control so fast?"

"Yes, Goddess Loki." Cruz stood up. "Looked like he was fighting evenly until Hod got desperate."

"Was it over Eina again? Hod has been harassing her. Even when she rejected his creepy ass twice." Riveria asked.

"Yes Riveria, he was talking about teaching him a lesson and was desperate to show the kid as a weakling. He was practically drooling in the lounge over Eina and Ais." Cruz recalled.

"Gross." Some of the girls yelled out.

Loki shakes her head. "Well, that's all evidence I need. When Hod wakes up from his coma, he will no longer be part of my familia." The familia was split on the decision. Some groaned while others agreed.

"Oi Elf, why do you care about this runt from a nobody familia?" Bete yelled out towards Riveria.

"For starters he would have been in our familia if you didn't rough him up and scare him away Bete. Still not sure how to feel about that considering he saved my life and prevented me from being defiled in some back alley. He held off three other adventurers after just gaining his blessing that day." Riveria spoke to the stunned familia.

Loki sat up on the table and starting kicking her feet. "Anybody hear about an interesting event during monsterphilia, apart from Aiz-pu clearing monsters outside the colosseum?"

Line Arshe raised her hand. "Was he the white-haired kid that killed and infant dragon in the arena?"

"Bullshit."

"Yep Line." Loki shook her head to the speechless familia.

"He saved Eina from an infant dragon and a silverback. He also helped free Alicia from one of those weird plant monsters. Held onto life by a thread but he pulled it off with a little backup from Eina. Even helped her come back to us."

"The three of us owe our lives to him. I suppose I been worrying because he continues to go into the dungeon at an incredible pace all by himself, regardless of what or who tries to kill him."

Lefiya stood up. "How do you know he's not using you to get to Ais, Lady Riveria? Eina said he is after some girl in our familia."

"Huh" Ais tilted her head.

"Yeah" Many of the men yelled in agreement.

'In the familia.' That thought surprised Riveria. Her brow twitched until she focused onto the young elf. "I don't believe for a second that he planned any of those events Lefiya." Riveria glared at the younger elf. "Being humble, honest and courageous wouldn't just appeal to me. Surprising so many of you are scared of competition from a level one."

"Nobody is getting Ais-pu. She's, my girl." Loki threatened.

"Think again Loki." Riveria stated sternly with her arms folded.

"WHAT!? Loki glared back with widened angry eyes.

"Every woman in this familia to include Ais chooses who they want to be with Loki. You own our backs and our allegiance. Not you or any man owns our bodies. I will spend the next 28 years in your familia to prevent any woman from being forced on." Riveria warned.

"Alright I think we spent enough time on this subject." Finn interrupted to prevent a fight. "In less than two weeks we will be going on another expedition, but for the next two days we will be spending a lot of time in the sewers around the city to find and eliminate any more plant monsters."

Audible groans and worries from around the room. "Lets eat."

Finn spoke low to Riveria as people started getting food. "Unless your boyfriend is gonna keep causing problems." Riveria glared down at the snickering prum.

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FLUSH!

The swirling water rang out in the middle of the night from the bathroom as Eina went to the sink to freshen up and change into a purple nightgown. "I can't believe I am sleeping with him." Eina face was bright red as she held her face embarrassed. "Kind of hoping he would be awake." She giggled to herself imagining a more intimate situation. "Innocent like a rabbit but manly. Far better than that creep."

"Nyah. Nyah. Ahhh." Yelling from the bedroom alarmed Eina and she hurried out of the bathroom. The sight from inside the bedroom worried her. Bell's feet were spinning like he was sprinting. He was panting and full of anxiety and fear.

"Bell!" Eina raced over to the bed where his unconscious body laid. "Wake up." No response. Eina gripped Bell's body in close to her ample bosom. Feeling his rapid heart rate beating against her chest and breathing making her ear tingle. Her leg was sore from the contact of his leg. 'He wasn't lying about the nightmares. Bell!' Eina's faced strained in pain seeing him in this state. She continued to hold Bell for a few minutes until his heart rate calmed down and his breathing regulated.

"I will get stronger to be able to stand by her side." Bell unconsciously spoke out to the shock of the half elf. "zzzzzzz."

'He really is in love with her.' Eina's brow raised with her mouth half open. 'Why not me?' Eina pouted in jealousy.

"Zzzzz I love you Eina. ZzzZzz." The gentle voice of Bell rang out in the dark bedroom. He shifted his head around her breasts, still unconscious and slipping into a deeper more relaxed sleep as her face face reddened more from embarrassment an and arousal.

'What am I gonna do with you, Bell?' She shook her head and smiled. Eina cuddled closer to his body before passing out embracing in the warmth coming from his core.

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(Day 18)

7am in the morning the captains were all seated around Finn's office, except for Riveria who stood with her back against the wall, Loki sitting cross legged on the desk and Gareth hunched over recovering from a hangover as his body obscured a small chair.

"What time are we setting out to survey the sewers for those monsters?" Riveria asked.

"After lunch Riveria." Finn sat in his chair with his fingers folded above his desk. "We are going to start the north side of the city today and see how it goes and maybe follow up tomorrow. Gareth are you gonna be okay to lead a group."

"Huh. Sure." The bulky dwarf was managing a hangover and drinking coffee.

"Why did you have to get so drunk last night, Gareth?" Riveria scolded the dwarf with her arms crossed.

"Aww not so early, Riveria." Gareth held his head in pain.

"Calling me by my name?" Riveria was taken aback. "What's the special occasion?"

"Request from your boyfriend." Gareth chuckled

"Why is everybody calling him that?" Riveria clenched her fists angry at the laughing trio.

"Cyclops seemed rather convinced when you helped him get those knives. Said he switched from an eastern to an elvish blade." Gareth scratched his chin.

"Swear we can't go a day without mentioning him." Loki shook her head. "Rabbit boy does like elves, Gareth."

"He did call her young in the dungeon. Seems to always be around you outside of the dungeon. Why did you help him get knives?" Finn laughed holding his gut.

"He's just very nice and actually smart enough to understand the lifespan of an elf. He found a minotaur horn from that incident in his bag and returned it. I rewarded his honesty by helping him find a new smith to craft him weapons out of the horn. I didn't use familia funds at all. I help him out because he saved my life and I feel horrible that he's in another familia all by himself, because of Bete. Now drop it!" Riveria fired back.

"Alright! Alright Riveria. Geez." Gareth held out his hands to calm the high elf. "Still not fair that lover boy got a growth skill that affects elves. I got drunk because I heard that from Eina and wanted to take on Uduaes. Though I am glad Ais leveled."

"Were not completely sure if it's just elves, or even just women. We don't know the conditions behind it." Riveria calmed down and scratched her head. "Ais has been getting small boosts lately too. Lefiya has been progressing normally and I didn't get much lately."

"Interesting. We should try to have him over more to test it out. He at least seems reasonable." Finn stated.

"He doesn't even know about the skill." Riveria scratched above her nose.

"What the hell? That's messed up." Gareth looked up to Riveria surprised.

"Itty-Bitty is afraid of something. She has been unusually possessive over him." Loki responded. "Also, I don't think that would be good idea to have him over. Already expecting some fallout from all these attacks on him by us and tensions are still high. Even though I don't like Itty-Bitty. I am not gonna force a conversion unless it's an emergency."

"We wouldn't let you anyways." Gareth spoke up a little agitated.

"True." Loki shook her head. "When are you and Eina going to Melen?"

"Probably the day after tomorrow unless something comes up." Riveria shrugged her shoulders. "I actually have something very important to talk with you three about Ais and that red head tamer."

"Yeah, Finn told us about those plant monsters showing up again at Riviria on floor 18. Bugging me how she was able to beat Ais and keep up with you two. Not like she's Ottar." Loki stared up concerned. "Think you could take her one-on-one Finn."

"I would prefer to avoid a fight alone but I wouldn't plan to lose. Weird part is she didn't know who we were and we have no idea who she is, Loki." Finn stated.

Loki gave a weird stare at Finn. "Surprising by how famous you guys are making my familia."

Riveria stared at the trio with a serious expression. "This is information I only recently obtained from Ais. That tamer woman called her Aria."

The captains and Loki stared bugged eyed and worried. "Are you sure Riveria?" Loki said alarmed.

"Yes, as soon as she used her wind magic. She called Ais, Aria."

"I don't think anybody but us knows of her identity." Gareth sat up straight and folded his arms.

"Then how does she know her mother's name?" Riveria raised her hand to dismiss the dwarf.

Finn sat back in his chair. "Maybe she doesn't know all the details. Maybe she mistook the daughter for the mother. We should probably ask Ais what she thinks -."

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Come in."

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The older amazon twin entered the room. "Captain." Her usual flirtatious tone was diminished in a nervous expression.

"Is something wrong Tione?" Finn looked up at her surprised.

"Yes, we have an annoying guest Captain."

"Who -?"

"Blast it. Move aside Amazon." Older male voice of Hedin yelled out from behind her.

"Shut the hell up Hedin." Tione mocked the blond elf.

"Oh, are you gonna do it Jormungandr?" Hedin stared down the amazon at the doorway.

"I will Hedin!" Riveria growled in a threatening tone.

"About time we skip to the foreplay my love." Hedin smirked up to the high elf as he entered the room.

"You wish!" Riveria said sarcastically staring daggers at the male elf. "What do you or shall I say your goddess want?"

"Yeah, you're bothering us." Loki eyes narrowed into slits.

"My apologies Goddess Loki. Lady Freya has been noticing a series of attacks lately coming from your familia." Hedin announced.

"Why is she keeping tabs on her Rivals? She worried." Gareth laughed.

"As if dwarf. Funny you dare to call us rivals." Hedin mocked.

"You're nothing special without the Boaz, ya cranky little elf." Dwarf fired back agitated.

"Enough. We have enough problems as is?" Loki intervened. "Just a few rowdy members that will be dealt with soon. Why is that pervert spying on us?"

Hedin clenched his fist. "Lady Freya sees all from atop of Babel, Goddess Loki. She was worried about what is going on in your familia because it looked lik-." Hedin was interrupted by shouting outside.

"What's going on now?" Loki rolled her eyes before going over to the window. "Dam it, why is Itty-Bitty here?" She shakes her head. "Tione might as well bring her annoying ass up here. We can knock out two pests in one argument."

Hedin calmed himself to prevent from lashing out. 'Whew almost lied. Timed that well. My lady did say to not start anything regardless of Loki's taunts. Plus, this could be very informative about my lady's lover.'

A few minutes later, Tione entered the captain's room with a very angry Hestia behind her.

Loki sat back onto the desk. "What is it now Hestia?"

"Where is my Bell!?" Hestia said angrily.

"How should I know? Didn't Eina take him home?" Loki held out her hands dismissing the small goddess.

"No, he never showed up last night. He begged me to agree to let him over here to train." Hestia gritted her teeth.

Loki paused and stared at Riveria. "Do you think Eina and Bell are you know?" Loki form a circle with a pointer and thumb and thrusted her right pointer finger threw the hole.

"WHAT!?" Hestia shouted out

Riveria covered her mouth with her left hand to hide her smile. "I don't think so Loki. Tione, where is Alicia?" Riveria asked the amazon.

Tione chuckled. "I just bumped into her outside of the breakfast hall. Give me a few to track her down."

Again a few minutes past before Tione knocked and entered the room alongside Alicia. "Whew, all this work so early in the morning. Might want a kiss as a reward, Captain."

Riveria giggled at Finn's face. "Maybe later Tione. Thank you. Alicia where did Eina and Bell go last night? I asked you to watch them get home."

"Oh." Alicia blushed. "Eina let him stay at her place."

"I knew it. Your heathenish elves are trying to seduce my Bell." Hestia was in tears.

"Oi shut up." Loki barked. "So, what if they go make some quarter elves? Then you get to be an Itty-Bitty grandma."

Hedin cleared his throat to stifle his anger before turning to goddess Hestia. "My lady. No elf woman would lower themselves to the standards of an amazon. Surely you're joking."

"There always around him. Tell your elf women to stay away from him." Hestia pouted.

"You don't seem to help him at all Goddess Hestia. Bell saved our lives and I am glad to help him." Riveria folded her arms to stare down at Hestia. "Plus, this fool is not part of our familia."

"I am visiting as a member of Freya familia. Nice to meet you goddess Hestia. Lady Riveria would never allow that kind of behavior. I assure you. I must thank him sometime for saving my betrothed." Hedin smiled at Hestia.

"Sure you seem nice." Hestia face lightened up in a huge smile. "You two would make a great couple. Hope I get a wedding invitation." Loki familia noticed the dramatic reversal in Loli goddess's demeanor.

"Again, for the hundredth time, Hedin. I will never marry you, nor will I be used as a tool for Goddess Freya." Riveria said annoyed.

"It is our destiny to be wed under the moon. You can even bring this blonde elf as a concubine to help you adjust." Hedin smiled wide at the wide-eyed Alicia.

"I would never condemn somebody as wonderful as Alicia to a life with you Hedin." Alicia face went red. "My only destiny is going to be vomiting really soon." Riveria said angrily clenching her fists.

"Freya's not getting my girls." Loki's eyes formed slits in anger.

"You would rather be in this familia that attacks random people. I am guessing Lady Hestia's child was the one that was attacked last night by your familia." Hedin said outraged.

"WHAT!? My bell. Why after he begged me to let him over here to train?" Hestia said with tears in her eyes.

"Relax. Bell is alive and well. He was healed up. Eina was angry at Hod's attack. She walked away from the manor to take him back home. Her apartment is closer. Probably just recovering there." Loki said in a calm voice.

"What about this Hod guy?" Hestia said worried.

"Riveria put him into a coma for attacking Bell and he will be out of my familia when he wakes up. I will not allow him to attack Bell a third time." Loki stated.

"Third?" Hestia looked up with wide eyes. "He attacked Bell before."

"Surprised he didn't tell you about that. Just one or two people jealous of his relationship with Eina." Loki smirked.

"There is no relationship." Hestia folded her arms angrily pouted.

"Sounds like Loki familia is full of degenerates." Hedin walked up to Riveria and took a knee. "Please reconsider. Your father accepted me. My lady desires your comfort as well Lady Riveria."

"My answer will never change. Go marry your goddess. I do not care what my father and your goddess wants me to do Hedin. Go away." Riveria pointed out the door.

"But I -."

"You heard Riveria." Gareth spoke up. "Get the hell out Hedin, before I toss you pretty boy."

"This is absurd." Hedin got up. "What barbarian deserves your hand over mine?"

"At this point I would choose a dwarf over you." Riveria held her temple.

"You wish." Gareth laughed.

"I will inform your father of this affliction of the mind you are suffering, my lady." Hedin bowed and left the manor tailed by Tione.

"Make that three Loki. Any luck getting my father off my back will be a fourth." Riveria said holding her head.

"Still think you would make a wonderful couple." Hestia added.

"Why do you care about other people's love life, especially when you know nothing about what their like or care for what they want?" Riveria talked down to the Loli goddess.

"Just an observation. How dare you talk down to a goddess? Take me to Bell. Now!" Hestia ordered.

"You do not order my children around Itty-Bitty." Loki threatened.

"Its fine Loki. Alicia, would you do me a favor and take her to Eina's apartment. I have a headache and need to lie down for a bit."

"As you wish, Lady Riveria. Follow me Goddess." Alicia escorted goddess Hestia out of the manor west towards Eina's apartment."

"Did she seem overly excited when Hedin said you were to be married?" Finn stared up to Riveria.

"Ahhhh. Knock it off." Riveria stormed out of the captain's office up to her bedroom. She jumped in her bed and forced her head down into the pillows. 'Why would she be that excited? Surely, he can't be. No, I am way too old for him and somebody would kill him. He's too smart for that. Their all just messing with me.'

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Ais was getting ready to leave the manor wearing her normal attire with the brown jacket. She was waiting for Lefiya and Tiona in the entranceway by the door when she saw a frustrated Alicia leading a small goddess out of the manor.

"Everything okay Alicia."

"Yep, just taking Bell's goddess over to Eina's. What are you up too Ais?" Alicia smirked seeing her wearing the brown jacket.

"I am waiting on Lefiya and Tiona. We were gonna get Jaga-Maru and go see the Gobinu familia smiths to make a down payment." Ais tilted her head and stared at goddess Hestia. "Hello."

"Ackkk! Kenki where did you get that jacket?" Hestia was wide eyed.

"Bell!" Ais said in a gentle voice.

"Are you trying to seduce my Bell, too?" Hestia stared wide eyed at the flawless blond knight.

"Huh." Ais tilted her head confused before eyeing Alicia for answers.

"Goddess Hestia that is inappropriate and we do not appreciate such accusations." Alicia spat out.

"Then why does she have his jacket." Hestia eyed the two blondes suspiciously.

"Bell gave it to her in order to cover her up. The battle she was in damaged her shirt and he noticed when we found him in the dungeon the other night." Alicia said annoyed by her accusations.

"I wanted to give it back to him and thank him." Ais stated devoid of emotion.

"I will give it back to him. Hand it over." Hestia ordered thrusting out her hand.

Ais pouted to the surprise of Alicia and hesitantly took off the jacket and gave it to goddess Hestia. Alicia started getting mad and had an idea. "Since you can't get Jaga Maru until goddess Hestia opens her stand. How about you come over and thank Bell yourself, Ais? I believe he is at Eina's apartment."

"Okay." Ais smiled

Alicia smirked at goddess's face. "Let's go. We can tell the guards to notify Lefiya and Tiona you will be back soon." Ais shook her head in agreement.

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(Eina's apartment)

My conscious started to return to me. My eyes were slowly opening to darkness as my mind and body felt well rested. "Is it still night?" I shake my head back and forth thinking my face was buried in a pillow and caught a glimpse of sunlight. "Wow these pillows are so incredibly soft and warm." I continue to shake my head not wanting to let go until the heavenly softness shook at my touch.

"Bell" A soft moan rang out from Eina.

"Eh." I pushed off the body of the red faced Eina. "Ehhhhhhhhhhh." My face was equally as red realizing where my face was buried. "E-Eina!" My heart rate was beating out of my chest as my eyes were wide scanning the beautiful half naked half elf. For a minute we just stared at each other too nervous to speak. "G-good Morning." I gulped.

"M-Morning Bell. Are you feeling better?" She smiled back barely able to contain her embarrassment.

I rotated my hips to hide my erection. "M-much b-better." I stared back at her.

"I am sorry. I should have put you in the other bed or at the manor. We were both exhausted and fell together. Then later I got up to change and you were having a nightmare, so I held onto you." Eina said alarmingly fast.

"E-everything is alright Eina." I held my hands out to calm her. "T-thankyou very much. I-I got the best sleep of my life. Sorry for touching your ummm….." Eina noticed my nervous reaction.

She smiled. "It's fine. I-I enjoyed holding you a bit too much." She confessed making my smile widen nervously. "I am sorry if I am pressur-?"

"OPEN UP BELL!" Loud voice shouted up from outside. Goddess Hestia was trying to bash down the door. Until Alicia and Ais stopped her.

My eyes were almost bulging out of my head. "Oh crap. Whatever happens you are incredibly beautiful and lovely Eina." I got up and raced downstairs.

Eina jolted as her heart rate sped up. "Oh my." She got up with a huge smile on her face and started to change into something appropriate.

Slowly I opened the door to face the music. "G-good morning Goddess." I said in a nervous smile.

"You two timing rabbit, Bell!" Goddess was so angry that her ponytails started to float from barely containing her divinity.

"Goddess nothing happened."

"Nobody can lie to a god!" Hestia dropped the jacket and jumped through the doorway and tackled me to the ground and started beating on my chest.

"Okay, okay. We …... slept together." I started to get scared seeing her angry face.

"What!?" Alicia screamed behind her.

"I didn't do anything weird. I promise. All we did was sleep."

"Goddess Hestia get off of him." Eina yelled out as she raced down the stairs. Alicia and Ais pulled her off. "It's my fault. We were both exhausted and I brought him back here. We collapsed on the bed together. Nothing else happened."

"But you wanted something to happen, didn't you Eina!" Hestia stared full of rage at the scared speechless blushing half elf. "The moment you do anything else with Bell, I will unleash Hell." (1)

My face widened into a smile at this realization. Hestia gritted her teeth and grabbed my collar. "Bell all unnecessary contact is forbidden. That includes relationships with other familias!" She ordered. (2)

"Huh?!" The last part got my attention really quick.

"What's with your surprise, Bell? There's no way you'd want to be in a relationship with either of them, right?" She fumed staring down at me as I sat up. (2)

"How is that fair? There are no other women in our familia. All the women in Loki familia are amazing." I looked down nervous unaware of the other women's faces before trailing off. "Especially her."

"Well, she's getting married." Hestia lied. My heart felt like a dagger was lodged into it. "Inter familia relationships are taboo."

"That includes yourself, goddess Hestia. You force yourself on him all the time." Eina fired back anger filling her beautiful face.

"One of these days he will notice my love for him; I will make him notice me….!" Hestia clenched her fist, trembling as she stood up. (3)

"That is absurd goddess Hestia." Alicia spoke from behind her. "He can find love apart from you. He clearly wants a family."

My face brightened due to Alicia defense. Eina noticed.

Goddess turned around to face the older elf. "I am all the family he needs. I knew you were all trying to seduce my Bell. I don't want him anywhere near you -." I jumped up and covered the goddess's mouth.

"Don't!... Don't finish that sentence or I will leave your familia tonight and go back to my village goddess." All four women were shocked at my serious tone. "Nothing happened. Eina just helped me recover after Hod's attack. If you continue like this you will lose even my respect."

"Bell!?" Goddess started to cry and raced off in the direction of her jaga maru stand.

I got up and lowered myself into a bow. "I sorry for the actions of my goddess. I think it would be best for me to not bother you all for a while."

"Bell you're not -."

"I am Eina. I am causing problems with my foolish heart. Thank you for all your help and kindness. I will welcome you if you decide to go down in the dungeon with me." I raised myself up from my bow. "I-I have to go." My faced pained to leave them. I walked off to the church to get my gear for the dungeon.

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Alicia shook her head. "Geez I am starting to feel bad for him." Alicia took a step forward and noticed the jacket under her shoe. She bent down to pick it up and held her hand out to Ais. "Here Ais. If you still want to thank him on another day."

"Thank you." She reached out to grabbed the jacket hesitantly. "He didn't even acknowledge me." Ais said with a stoic expression betrayed by her eyes.

"I am sure he was just too embarrassed by his goddess. You are also kind of quiet Ais." Alicia smiled back at her. Ais returned a barely registerable smile.

"Do you two want to come inside while you're here?" Eina offered.

"Maybe some other time." Ais said. "Lefiya and Tiona might be upset at me. Would you like to stop by tomorrow morning and train with the sword? There is a secluded courtyard on the roof where we can get a little more privacy."

"UH. Ah. Sure Miss Ais."

"Just Ais." She tapped Eina on the head lightly. "No mean person will bother you tomorrow with me."

"Thank you." Eina blushed lightly. "I will see you tomorrow morning Ais."

"7am. Bye Eina." Ais waved before walking off towards the manor.

Alicia gave an evil smile staring at Eina. Eina jolted under her stare and lowered her head slightly embarrassed. "Follow me inside."

A few minutes later an embarrassed Eina was sitting next to Alicia on one of the couches. "So bold of you to invite him to your bed Eina." Alicia joked.

"I-I was telling the truth. Nothing happened." Eina defended red in the face.

"You have an extra bedroom though, Eina." Alicia giggled.

"He collapsed on the way home exhausted. I used a lot of mind and he's heavier than I thought he would be. I think his ability activated because I stumbled and picked him up in the direction of my bedroom. We kind of fell asleep in each other's arms." Eina recalled getting more embarrassed with her hands by her thighs as she shifted back and forth.

"He didn't try anything." Alicia looked stunned. "He was with you all night long."

"He slept like a baby. He was exhausted. He did say he had the best sleep ever." She blushed.

"I can imagine. Still surprising." Alicia giggled.

"Swear that man is a saint." Eina forced a smile. "Only disturbance from him was when he was having a nightmare."

"Aww. That's horrible that he's suffering from our mistake." Alicia ears lowered.

"Probably gonna get worse now. He looked devastated when his goddess said she's getting married."

"She's not. Lady Riveria is still refusing Lord Hedin. Still can't let him get close to our princess." Alicia started to get agitated. "He needs to knock off this infatuation."

"It's more than infatuation. He is in love with Lady Riveria. He yelled out for her unconsciously." Eina shook her head lightly to the shock of Alicia.

"No Eina." Alicia refused. "Lady Riveria will eventually marry an elven lord. Probably Hedin if he really got King Larfal's permission."

"You don't think she has a good reason to keep refusing. You should trust her judgement, Alicia. How long until he gets desperate like Hod?"

"He did say something weird about me being a concubine." Alicia got nervous.

Eina stare at Alicia and shook her head. "Just because Lady Riveria is your idol and you left the forest to meet her. Doesn't mean you should be forced into an arrangement like that. Freya familia is bad news."

"I guess you're right, Eina." Alicia blushed.

"Even Bell thinks she should be allowed to find love on her own and not be forced into something." Eina recalled.

"Lady Riveria doesn't really have much choice outside of a lord, because the high elf population is diminishing. Still, he needs to stop, but you can keep trying to snap him out of it Eina, you're clearly falling for Bell." Alicia encouraged.

"I was until you bunny blocked me by bringing his goddess over." Eina pouted.

"Bahahaha" Alicia held her gut laughing hard in the opposite direction avoiding Eina's face.

Eina started beating on Alicia's back. "No fair, you're so mean."

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Swish. Swish. Swish.

Three goblin elites were impaled in the chest, neck and skull as they spawned from the walls. Another group of three goblins closed the distance and started to rush me to avenge their fallen comrades. "Firebolt." I held up my hand and scorched the first attacker in mid lunge.

I dodged the next goblins blade. I reached out for its arm and brought my armored knee into its chest to disorient it. I knocked an arrow and placed my drawn bow over the narrow head of the goblin elite and aimed at the third. The bowstring decapitated the goblin and the arrow pierced the skull of the third. "Ehh….gross. Not doing that again." I wiped its blood off on the fallen body.

Noticing two more from my left flank. I jumped and rolled forward to get distance before bringing my bow up again. I waited for them to line up when they changed directions to close in on my new position.

Swish.

I shot another arrow throw the neck of the first goblin. The momentum of the second ran into the limp body of the other goblin. Impaling him as well. Both collapsing forwards on top of each other.

I retrieved my arrows and started digging out monster crystals and drop items and filled my pack that I laid against a wall. 'I am so dumb to think I have a chance with her. Feel like my only choices are to stick it out and keep getting stronger, leave to go back to my boring village or rush into a relationship with Eina which I would feel horrible not giving her every part of my heart. Cause a huge problem with goddess regardless what I do?' I tilted my head back. 'Still, I didn't think Eina liked me in that way.' My face blushed.

'Stay true to your wishes. Cry out your desires.' Deep voice of my grandpa speaks a passage from a true hero.

"Why do I keep hearing my grandpa? Fine I will tell her the next time I am alone with her." I shake my head.

'Harem is a man's romance!' grandpa yells out.

"Why did that old man put that stuff in my head?" I face palmed not paying attention to my surroundings. "How does one even go about starting something like that?"

"OW!" I recoiled as pain came from my arm.

A goblin snuck up on me and landed a narrow cut on my right arm. Thinking quickly, I grabbed its hand that was about to stab me again. "Do you mind? I am having a little crisis of conscious here." I yelled at the startled goblin before raising my hand up to its face. "FIREBOLT!"

"I am going to floor 9 tomorrow. Need to focus on getting money today so we can eat and pay for my weapons."

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I surfaced out of dungeon many hours later with a full pack in my hand. Night had already set and Babel was nearly abandoned. I went up to the exchange clerk to cash in my drops. A middled aged human male I didn't recognize.

"You carry your pack in your hands. I think you need a supporter buddy."

"Tell me about it." I nervously agreed as I dumped the contents of the bag into the exchange box.

The man counts all the stones and drop items. "Looks like you got 30,000 valis. That's pretty amazing by yourself."

"Thank you, Sir." I bent down to retrieve my earnings and stared up at the deteriorating bounty on the wall.

The man noticed. "Still don't know why they keep this bounty up here. It's been five years. Gale wind probably fled the city a long time ago."

"Probably right about that. What did she do anyways?" I asked out of curiosity.

"From what I understand Gale Wind went on a rampage and single handedly destroyed an entire familia and anybody associated with them by traps and assassinations." The clerk recalled.

"Wow that is crazy." I said stunned.

"You're not thinking about tracking her down, are you?" The man asked.

"No, I could never hope to match somebody that could pull that off. I wonder why she did it?"

"I think that familia might have been connected to a criminal organization Evilus, that made Orario a living nightmare five years ago." The man shrugged his shoulders. "Not completely sure."

"Wouldn't that make her a hero if she destroyed them?" I shifted nervously.

"Never thought of it like that." The clerk looked back at the bounty. He scratched his chin and released his hand outwards. "I don't know. Not like our opinions would sway the guild or the gods."

"True, Gods are weird." I sighed thinking about goddess's behavior.

"Agreed." He shook his head and laughed.

"Good night Sir." I waved back at the clerk and walked west up the main road.

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"…" My stomach growled. I rolled my eyes. "I guess I can stop at the hostess." A few minutes later I entered the busy hostess and took a seat at the bar.

Mia stared at my nervous face. "You actually have money this time Bell."

"Yes, Momma Mia. Starving too." I smiled up at her.

"Suppose you do need to eat more. You can't maintain your gains if you don't." Mia turned her head to the elven waitress Ryu. "Hey Ryu your boyfriend is here." A few whistles and jeers from patrons who heard sang out.

"Momma Please stop teasing us." Ryu pleaded

My face went red and smile widened. "Ha-Ha" Mia shook her head at both of our reactions. "Whatever? Take his order."

Ryu shook her head and approached me at the bar. "What can I get you to eat?"

"Can I get spaghetti and meatballs? Ryu"

"Sure." She said in a plain expression.

"Its nice too s-." I tried to start a conversation but she walked off to the kitchen. 'I feel like she's mad at me.' I turned around watching all the different townspeople and adventurers interact. Feeling lonely by myself as I got the feeling I was being watched.

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"He really does look like a rabbit." Young cat woman tilted her head staring at the white hair kid.

"I don't think he likes being called that Aki." Alicia shook her head.

The blond clienthrope placed his sandwich down. "Watch it that rabbit's got fangs. You should have seen him fight off Hod. I wouldn't have believed any of those feats Riveria listed without seeing him go. Still have trouble believing the dragon part. They give level two adventurers trouble."

"Or one of those crazy plant things." Aki added.

"He was riding the dragon by impaling his knives into its back and the dragon was distracted and in pain by Eina's magic. He slit the things neck and was near death from that alone. As for the plant." Alicia winced to the surprise her peers. "He cut one of the weaker vines to free me. He started running away with me and was impaled right below the heart. Literally a miracle he lived through that experience."

"Wow." Aki covered her mouth.

"That is brutal." Cruz was taken aback.

"Top it off he's all alone living in some abandoned church with a goddess that doesn't recruit and obsesses over him." Alicia shook her head.

"Well, I did make some valis betting on him yesterday. How about we invite him over? Looks a bit lonely over there and we have room for a fourth since Raul and Narvi didn't want to come." Cruz suggested.

"Okay" Alicia nods.

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Ryu came back thirty minutes later with my meal. "R-Ryu. Did I do something wrong?"

She stopped herself mid turn and faced me with her head low and her hands together. "No Bell, I thought you might be ignoring me for ratting you out to Momma."

"Never. My mind has been all over the place lately." I grabbed the back of my head trying to massage away my troubles.

"Problems with your goddess." She looked at me curiously.

"Yeah" I sighed. "And I seem to be making enemies of late." I flashed a fake closed smile towards the elfess.

"Do you want me to train you again?" Ryu stared at me with a serious expression. "I have a few days off later this week."

"I don't want you to waste your days off training me, Ryu."

"Nonsense, I can push off my task for another time. Rather focus on keeping you ALIVE! Tell me how are you making enemies?" She changed back into a serious tone.

The blonde clienthrope male walked up to us. "I hope were not becoming enemies. Alicia wanted me to invite you over to eat."

Ryu looked up at Cruz before staring back at me. "Loki familia."

"We won't let one of ours hurt him again Miss." Cruz turned to me. "How about it, Bell? Want to come on over to the table with the others? I will pay for your meal." Cruz offered.

"Are you sure, Sir?" I looked at him surprised.

"Just Cruz. You did make me money when I betted on you." He smirked towards me.

"Ok." I grabbed my plate and followed him back to the table.

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"Hello again. Alicia. Aki." I smiled toward the beautiful elf and cat person.

"Hi." Both of them waved.

"Are you sure you want me to sit with you three?" I asked nervously.

"Yes Bell." Alicia smirked and rolled her eyes. "Sit down already."

"Just watch the meatballs." Cruz said sarcastically and chuckled seeing my face.

"I-I will." I suppressed a laugh and sat down across from Alicia.

"Bete deserved it for being an ass." Aki stated. "Ballsy of you to do it to a first-tier adventurer."

"It was an accident." I scratched my head nervously.

"Rrrriiigggghhhtt." The three Loki familia members said in unison.

"It was!" I try to defend myself. "I kind of… slammed the table and it launched towards him."

"Guess it was fate." Aki giggled. "He does say a lot of horrible things. Especially when he's drunk"

"Or luck." Alicia stared into my surprised face and smiled before looking down at my wrapped arm. "Did you get beat up again?"

"Nah, I was kind lost in thought when I was collecting drop items and a goblin snuck up on me on floor 8. It's not that bad." I shrugged my shoulders.

"You don't have a supporter." Cruz looked surprised

"No, she tried to kill him." Alicia replied to her speechless familia members. "How's the bow feel?"

"M-made floor 8 seem easy." I smiled to the shocked elf. "Just awkward with a pack too. Still going back to floor 9 tomorrow." I started spinning my noodles and jabbed a meatball before eating it.

"That's crazy, but seeing how you kick Hod's ass yesterday. I think you will be fine. Just don't get distracted in the dungeon." Cruz warned.

"I will try not, too." I looked down nervously. "W-where is everybody else in your familia?" I asked wondering the whereabouts of the jade haired high elf.

"Most are back at the manor by now. We spent a lot of time searching the sewers today for those plant monsters that showed up at monsterphilia." Alicia stated.

"Even after taking a long bath. I can still smell that place." Cruz complained. "Was hoping to get more to come out but need to clear the senses with alcohol."

"Are there more of those monsters?" I said worried.

"We didn't find any in the sewers but we were ambushed on our last dungeon dive." Aki said before drinking her beer.

"Is everybody okay?"

"Yes." Alicia assured me.

"How come you don't recognize them? I am sure you have gone down way lower than me."

"We been to 58th floor but we just encountered a similar creature on the 50th during our last expedition." Alicia stated casually. "Monsterphilia was the first time we seen these plants."

"Woah." My eyes go wide hearing those incredible numbers. "How are they getting to the surface?"

"Were not hundred percent sure yet." Aki shrugged. "Probably shouldn't keep talking about it publicly."

A few more minutes passed as we started finishing our meals. Ryu came up to the table to refill our drinks. Ryu gave me a curious stare. "Is everything alright Bell?"

"Yes Ryu." I smiled up to her.

"Ryu everything is fine we just had some more problems with troublemakers in our familia." Alicia assured her. "Your training really helped Bell kicked Hod's ass though."

"I just showed him a few things." Ryu held her head.

"Get to meet the person that taught him how to fight off a level 2. Don't worry Miss Ryu. Hod will be dealt with when he recovers from his coma that Riveria put him in." Cruz smiled up to her.

"Why am I not surprised you pulled something weird off again Bell?" Ryu blinked slowly to clear her thoughts and stared down at me.

"Sorry."

"Give me five days. I will train you some more." Ryu smiled and shook her head. "Can I collect your plates?"

"Sure" Everybody stacked their plates and I pushed it over to her. One of the forks wasn't position well and fell to side. Me and Ryu reached out to catch it.

I accidently grabbed her close-fisted hand due to her faster reflexes. "S-sorry Ryu." I said wide eyed still holding on to her hand to the surprise of the other three.

"B-Bell." She blushed red. "T-this is a bit a-awkward."

I pulled my hands back fast. "Sorry." I blushed red. The flustered Ryu grabbed the dished and walked away to grab another tables dishes. A man reached out for her hand. Immediately without hesitation she kicked his outstretched hand with her right foot causing the man pain, before she walked back into the kitchen.

"Player." Aki chuckled along next to Cruz.

"He's not like that. Well intentionally." Alicia shook her head before her expression turned more serious. "Bell, I am sorry for leaving you all alone in the courtyard. That fight would of never have happened." Alicia apologized to Aki agreement.

I stared back to her. "It's my fault. I didn't want to be seen as weak or cowardly. So, I accepted it."

Cruz spoke up "No, he was planning something earlier against you. It's better that it was exposed then in the courtyard. He was jealous that Eina was one of your girlfriends."

My face blushed red. "E-Eina and Ryu aren't my girlfriends. I don't have anybody at the moment."

Alicia rolled her eyes. "They both seem to like you, especially Eina. Why not ask her out already?"

"I do like Eina a lot." I shifted around nervously. "I thought she just looked at me like a kid or a little brother and my goddess has been causing a lot of problems for her. Plus, I didn't think it was right with my mind elsewhere." I shifted nervously.

"Oh geez, are you after Ais?" Cruz rolled his eyes.

"I definitely thought about Ais. How does somebody even get that beautiful?" My eyes go wide out of reflex. "Difficult to even form sentences around her. Plus, I think goddess Loki would start hating me."

"Yeah, Ais has that affect and she is Loki's favorite." Cruz snickered. "Hod thought you might be buttering up Riveria to get to Ais."

"I wouldn't abuse Riveria's kindness like that. I don't want to keep causing your familia problems."

Aki shook her head. "You're not a bother. More like the other way around. Riveria even got a bit scary last night and yelled at the whole familia at dinner in your defense."

"Really!" My eyes go wide and a smile formed on my face.

"Yeah, she was telling us how Heroic you been." Cruz added.

"Heroic." I tilted my head sideways and narrowed my eyes confused.

"With saving us Bell." Alicia smiled. 'Way to humble.'

"I just did what I thought was right. Sure, either of you would of did the same. Most likely with ease." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Well, the three of us are level 4, but it's a lot more impressive with you being a level 1 and almost dying each time is a bit crazy. Cruz stated. "One would think you have a death wish."

"No, I would prefer to live and make a family eventually. Just don't want people getting hurt. Especially beautiful women." I blushed before jolting in my seat.

"Sorry accidently kicked you." Alicia coolly played off.

"I-Its Okay." I stuttered out.

Aki and Cruz gave a suspicious stare at each other and smiled suppressing the desire to laugh. "We cat people like fish. Do elves like rabbits?" Aki chuckled staring at our faces.

We sat around eating and joking for another hour before they all had to go back home to the manor. I waved good bye and started to walk off.

"Bell."

I turned around to see Alicia shyly holding her hands behind her back rocking back and forth. I smiled toward her. "Y-yes Alicia."

"Let me heal that for you."

"A-Are you sure?" I said red in the face.

"Yes. I noticed the other night when we used one of your potions. It didn't heal you correctly. Might be something wrong with them."

"Seriously."

"Might be. Stand still." Alicia started her chant. "Sacred light of Mani, cleanse the broken and wash away the corruption that afflicts them. – Ithildin's Blessing." The wound sealed up on my arm.

"Never gets old seeing the beautiful green light of an elven spell. Thankyou." I smiled wide.

"A-anytime." A light blush forms on her face. "Be safe. Please."

"I will try Alicia. Good night."

"Night." She waved and headed toward her friends as I headed west toward the church.

Alicia caught up to Aki and Cruz. "That's the second time you snuck out to see him. Something I should know." Aki gave an evil grin towards Alicia making her eyes go wide.

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