The Hostess of Fertility bustled with its usual evening crowd, the air thick with the scent of ale and hearty meals. Syr Flova weaved through the tables with practiced ease, her gentle smile never wavering as she attended to the patrons.
"Here you are, sir," she said, placing a frothy mug before a rugged adventurer. "Our finest ale, fresh from the barrel."
The man grunted his thanks, already lifting the mug to his lips. Syr's eyes twinkled with amusement. People were so easily pleased by such simple things. Still, there was a charm to their straightforward desires.
As she turned to fetch another order, she caught sight of Mia Grand giving her a pointed look from behind the bar. Syr nodded, understanding the silent command to attend to the rowdy group in the corner.
"Good evening, gentlemen," Syr approached the table, her voice lilting with warmth. "What can I get for you tonight?"
The men's eyes lit up at her arrival, their boisterous conversation dimming to appreciative murmurs. Syr listened attentively as they rattled off their orders, her mind cataloging each request with effortless precision.
"My, what appetites," she giggled, the sound like tinkling bells. "I'll have that right out for you."
As she made her way back to the bar, Syr allowed herself a small, private smile. It was almost too easy, the way these mortals hung on her every word, every gesture.
Syr was in the middle of relaying the order to the kitchen when it happened. A chill ran down her spine, electric and familiar.
A small burst of directed Divine Magic.
Her head snapped towards the entrance, eyes growing wide and serious. The sounds of the tavern faded away, replaced by a high-pitched ringing in her ears.
The air around her grew colder, charged with an energy that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Something was *very* wrong.
"Syr?" A hand grasped her own, startling her out of her trance. "What's the matter?"
Ryu's concerned face swam into view, and the Goddess of Love blinked rapidly, forcing her features back into their usual mask of innocence.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, Ryu," she laughed, the sound only slightly strained. "I must have gotten lost in thought for a moment there."
Ryu's brow furrowed, clearly not entirely convinced. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Of course!" Freya beamed, giving Ryu's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an order to deliver."
As she bustled away, tray laden with drinks, her gaze lingered on the tavern entrance. Her thoughts, hidden behind her cheerful exterior, raced with possibilities.
'Which fool of a deity would dare enter the dungeon now of all times?' she wondered, a hint of derision coloring her inner voice. 'Did Dyonisus' little games finally get him killed?'
With a simple though, she allowed Horn to tap into her feelings all the way from Babel's top floor and dismissed the urge to investigate herself. What good was having a clone if one didn't use it for annoying work?
Instead, she plastered on her brightest smile and turned back to her customers. Whatever was happening in the dungeon would have to wait. For now, she had a tavern full of mortals to charm.
.
.
.
.
Across the sprawling city of Orario, a ripple of unease spread like wildfire. In grand manors and humble abodes alike, deities from countless pantheons suddenly stood stock-still, their attention drawn to a single point.
The Dungeon, pulsed with an unmistakable energy. A spark of divinity, bright and defiant, flickered within its depths.
Hestia, preparing a small meal for her little Rabbit, nearly dropped the pot she was holding. Her eyes widened, a mix of confusion and concern etched across her youthful features.
In the opulent halls of the Ganesha Familia, the elephant-masked god ceased his boisterous laughter, his jovial demeanor replaced by an uncharacteristic seriousness.
Even Loki, sprawled lazily across a couch in her familia's manor, sat up straight, her perpetually squinting eyes opening wide for a brief moment.
Each deity felt it—a tremor in the carefully maintained balance of their world. The spark was but a speck of dust compared to the true might of their divine powers. Yet, it shouldn't have happened. Not unless one of their own had broken one of their self-imposed rules.
As the moment passed and the spark faded, a tense silence fell over the city. Gods and goddesses exchanged meaningful glances with their closest confidants, minds racing with speculation and suspicion.
Who among them had dared to violate their agreement? What could be so dire as to risk the wrath of their peers and the delicate peace they had cultivated in this mortal realm?
One thing was certain: the next Denatus would be far from boring.
But for now, life in Orario continued. Adventurers returned from the Dungeon, blissfully unaware of the divine disturbance. Merchants closed up shop, and families settled in for the evening meal. The mortals, as always, remained oblivious to the celestial currents shaping their world.
And in the depths of the Abyss, a monster kept on growing.