At dusk, the distant town was bathed in twilight. Near the ruins, the Guild branch bustled with activity, faint cheers and clamor drifting through the air. Bell sat inside the carriage, journeying home alongside several young women.
"Is it really okay to leave all the driving to her?" Cecil asked.
Bell glanced at Laurier outside the carriage and smiled softly. "I told her I'd handle it, but Laurier wouldn't budge no matter what."
The blonde elf was remarkably stubborn. She had handled this task during their previous journey as well. Compared to the other girls, Laurier's abilities were limited, so she wouldn't pass up any chance to help the young man shoulder the burden. Naturally, Laurier demanded compensation—she requested Bell accompany her for the evening.
After completing the formalities at the Guild branch, the group set off before dusk. Judging by the distance traveled, reaching Orario would take a full day. The twilight painted distant clouds crimson, enveloping the carriage in a peaceful atmosphere.
"Your girlfriends are truly remarkable..." Cecil murmured softly.
As a blacksmith capable of forging Magic Swords, she had believed herself to have grown considerably. Yet, since joining the young man, she realized she still had a long way to go. Laurier, who could render herself invisible; Airmid, who wielded healing barriers; and Lefiya, whose magic power flowed like an endless spring.
These girls were not only captivatingly beautiful but also possessed formidable power. Cecil gazed at the Dea Saint who once chanted Dia Fratel, a pang of envy welling up within her.
Airmid clung to the youth's arm, her head resting on his shoulder as she fell into a deep sleep. Laurier's carriage-driving skills were exceptionally smooth, ensuring a bump-free journey. Amidst the rhythmic clatter of wheels, Airmid's lips parted slightly, her silver hair rippling with each breath.
"If you're tired, Cecil-san, you can rest your head on my shoulder too." Noticing the blue-haired girl's gaze, Bell responded playfully.
"Hm... What? Why are you suddenly saying things like that? You wouldn't have charmed Astraea like this too, would you?!" Cecil shook her head frantically, protesting.
"No, I just told Astraea that I like her." Bell answered truthfully.
"Huh?! So it was you who charmed that pure-hearted lady..." Cecil had intended to "teach" the boy a lesson, but glancing at the girls seated beside her, her temper instantly vanished.
Lefiya had produced a witch-like tall hat from somewhere, burying her face within it as she curled her body into a tight ball. Meanwhile, the two girls from Apollo Familia blinked awkwardly, saying nothing.
Faced with this peculiar scene, Cecil couldn't ignore them any longer and asked, "The Thousand Elf, is she alright? Could it be she's exhausted her magic power?"
"Lefiya-san, someone's concerned about you." Bell spoke softly.
"Mmm... Mmm..." Lefiya's muffled voice came from beneath the hat.
"She says thank you, Cecil-san. I'm perfectly fine." Bell relayed softly.
"You could hear that clearly? Truly, lovers..." Cecil murmured in admiration.
"Wuuu wuuu wuuu, wuuu wuuu!!" Lefiya suddenly grew animated, stammering out words.
"What did she say?" Bell chuckled softly. "She said don't misunderstand—I'm not this love-struck rabbit's lover."
"..." Cecil froze, speechless.
Lefiya immediately pulled off her hat. "H-How did you know that?!"
"Because I heard Lefiya-san speak?" Bell answered with a smile.
"Ugh..." Lefiya puffed out her cheeks, her face flushing crimson.
Cecil watched the couple, who seemed to share a silent understanding, and asked, "So you're embarrassed because of the War Game incident? I heard from them that you two ended up hugging."
"Th-that's not what it was like at all!" Lefiya protested hastily.
Originally, to escape that memory, she'd avoided the boy and planned to return to the city by caravan. But in the end, everyone Lefiya encountered was discussing how she and the boy had embraced while simultaneously firing magic. Left with no choice, Lefiya abandoned her plan to return alone. Rather than fuel the gossip, she'd rather follow Bell and have fewer worries.
Unfortunately, Cecil didn't seem inclined to let this go.
"I know, you two are still newlyweds. That's just the unique shyness that comes with it."
"Hmph? That's not it at all!"
Lefiya had lost count of how many times she'd defended herself. Pouting, she glared at Bell, venting her frustration at the young man. Bell had already explained that he'd been forced into the embrace by circumstances beyond his control. Though Lefiya accepted his explanation, she still seemed unable to reconcile with their current situation.
Cecil watched the two exchanging glances and, acting on behalf of the goddess Astraea, intervened to curb the scene that was making her seethe with jealousy.
"Why are the enemy's familia members coming back with us?" Cecil redirected the topic to the two girls in the corner.
"They are no longer members of Apollo Familia," Bell began to explain. Though no formal departure ceremony had been held, Daphne and Cassandra were now technically members without a familia.
"That's not really a reason for them to be riding in this carriage..." Cecil retorted.
"Well... because they're both adorable, so we accepted their request for a ride?" Bell offered another explanation.
"..." Hearing this, Cecil was momentarily speechless, while Lefiya shot him a look that screamed, "You're such a pervert!"
Bell glanced at the two girls sitting in the corner of the carriage and smiled softly. He didn't reveal the real reason.
Whether it was Cassandra with her flowing long hair or the rather composed Daphne with her phoenix-like eyes, both were victims of Apollo Familia. Before the War Game began, Hermes had helped Bell uncover their backgrounds. Apollo had set his sights on them. No matter which city they fled to, no matter which country they hid in, Apollo pursued them relentlessly. Thus, they had no choice but to compromise and join Apollo's Familia.
Of course, though Bell felt sympathy, that was all. What truly captured his interest was the Prophetic Dreams Cassandra spoke of. This long-haired girl had sought him out at the War Game's conclusion, pleading to be taken back with him. Her reason? She'd fallen out with Captain Hyakinthos and found it inconvenient to remain in Apollo's Familia. Cassandra foresaw the attack by the Firebolt, yet the other party paid it no heed. Bell found these so-called Prophetic Dreams quite intriguing and agreed to their request.
"The Little Rookie said we're cute... and promised to send us back. He really is a good guy, huh?" Cassandra whispered.
"Your definition of 'good' is pretty broad, isn't it? What should we do next?" Daphne felt no attachment to Apollo Familia and began contemplating their future plans.
"Your definition of 'good' is pretty broad, isn't it? What should we do next?" Daphne felt no attachment to Apollo Familia and began contemplating their future plans.
Cassandra blinked and spoke softly, "How about... joining Hestia's Familia?"