Returning to the surface felt surreal after the encounter with the shadowy entity. The familiar sights and sounds of Orario were almost a comfort, a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere of the Dungeon's depths. But the unease that had taken root in my mind refused to dissipate.
I made my way to the guild, intending to exchange the magic stones and drops I had collected. Eina, my guild advisor, was there, her usual warm smile greeting me as I approached the counter.
"Bell! I was worried, you were down there longer than usual," she said, her concern evident in her tone.
I forced a smile, trying to appear as though nothing was amiss. "Got a little carried away, but I'm fine. Just here to cash in my loot."
She nodded, her eyes scanning the haul I had brought back. "This is… quite a lot for a single trip. You must have really pushed yourself."
"Yeah, something like that," I replied, my mind already drifting elsewhere. The exchange was quick, and I pocketed the hefty sum of valis that came from the sale. But as I turned to leave, Eina's voice stopped me.
"Bell… I've been hearing strange things. About disturbances in the Dungeon. Rumors about something ancient stirring. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
Her question caught me off guard, and I hesitated before answering. "I… might have encountered something unusual," I admitted, carefully choosing my words. "But it's nothing I couldn't handle."
Eina's eyes narrowed slightly, a mix of worry and suspicion. "Just be careful, okay? The Dungeon is unpredictable, and there are things down there that even the gods fear."
I nodded, her words echoing in my mind as I left the guild. The gods fear… That voice I had heard—it couldn't be a god, could it? The idea sent a shiver down my spine. But I had no time to dwell on it. There were other matters to attend to. A wild theory went through for a moment 'could it be Gaia, and she is pissed at us all?' but as soon is the thought came, it went away in the same instant.
Back at the Hestia Familia's home, I was greeted by Hestia herself, who seemed more flustered than usual. The moment she saw me, she rushed over, her face a mixture of relief and something else—something more primal.
"Bell! You're back! I was so worried," she exclaimed, throwing her arms around me. The warmth of her embrace was comforting, but I could sense the tension in her body.
"I'm fine, really," I assured her, though I could feel her heart racing against me. "Just had a longer trip than usual."
Hestia pulled back slightly, her eyes locking onto mine. There was a heat in them that I hadn't seen before, and it took me a moment to realize what it was. The kiss I had sent her through our telepathic link—it had affected her more deeply than I intended.
"Bell… About that… um, kiss," she started, her voice trembling slightly. "It was… intense. I've never felt anything like it before."
I swallowed hard, realizing the implications of what I had done. I had sent my feelings to her without filtering them, and now those feelings had manifested in a way I hadn't anticipated. "Hestia, I—"
But before I could finish, she pressed her lips to mine, the kiss filled with a passionate urgency that left me breathless. I could feel her divine energy intertwining with my own, the bond between us growing stronger in that moment. When she finally pulled away, we were both flushed, our breaths coming in short gasps.
"I don't know what's happening," Hestia whispered, her voice trembling. "But I can feel something changing, not just in me, but in the world around us. Something big is coming, Bell. And I'm scared."
I held her close, my mind racing. The shadowy creature, the voice, the disturbances in the Dungeon—it was all connected. And somehow, I was at the center of it all. But one thing was clear: whatever was coming, I wouldn't face it alone.
"We'll get through this," I promised, tightening my hold on her. "No matter what comes our way, we'll face it together."
Hestia nodded against my chest, her fear slowly giving way to determination. We stayed like that for a while, drawing strength from each other. But in the back of my mind, the ancient voice lingered, a dark reminder that the Dungeon's secrets were far from fully uncovered.I asked Hestia out and she agreed. Now during dinner we sat next to one and other and I noticed she was still very affraid and I just had to calm her down.
''Hestia, no matter what you don't have to worry, because,'' I paused the cringe but strange timing for this allowing for the next words out of my mouth. ''I AM HERE!'' I said in a grand heroic tone.
'And I won't let harm befall us, what a strange world, now I'm dating a goddess' with those last thoughts of mine, Hestia and I drifted of into the loving embrace of sleep.