By the time Ais and Lefiya returned to Twilight Manor, the sun had already dipped low. While both girls were respectful toward their goal to grind, neither of their minds was actually into the task.
The one person who remained in both of their minds was Orion. Especially Lefiya.
They had not stayed long in the Dungeon after meeting Orion. Both of them were distracted—though for very different reasons.
Lefiya barely removed her cloak before rushing through the halls.
"Riveria-sama!" she called, knocking quickly before entering her mentor's study.
Riveria looked up from a stack of documents, one elegant brow lifting. "Lefiya. You are unusually loud."
"I need to ask something important!"
Riveria closed the file calmly. "Very well. Speak."
Lefiya stepped forward, serious. "Is chantless casting possible?"
Riveria blinked once.
"That is a rather basic question," she replied evenly. "High-level mages may shorten or compress chants. Some can even chant while moving and doing other motions. True chantless casting, however, is—"
"I saw someone do it!" Lefiya interrupted.
Riveria's expression shifted slightly. "You saw it."
"Yes! No chant, no trigger words—he just cast it!"
"He?" Riveria asked carefully, her interest now piqued. Being the best mage in Orario, she knew how significant it would be for a mage to skip chants. Both the time and the entire preparation phase were the biggest limitations for mages. During that time, anyone could attack them, close the distance. Any mage who found himself in such a situation was as good as dead.
"Who did it?"
Ais stepped into the room quietly behind Lefiya. "Orion."
Riveria's gaze sharpened. 'That boy again. He is a mage? Eina never told me that.' Riveria frowned for a second before her mind snapped back to what Lefiya had just said.
The boy was a mage. If earlier Riveria had only been interested in the boy because of his potential connection to elven royalty, then now her personal interest was attached as well. As a mage.
Lefiya nodded rapidly. "Twice! A projectile spell and then—then he formed a blade of pure magic from his staff and fought like a swordsman!"
Riveria's fingers laced together thoughtfully.
"A blade… of magic?" She blinked, trying to imagine what kind of magic it could be.
Ais stepped forward when this topic came up. She personally was interested in that spell. "It cut cleanly. Stronger than most forged weapons."
Riveria looked at her. "I see that interests you."
"Yes," Ais answered without hesitation. "Can I learn something like that? A sword made of magic."
"Most magic is inherited, or someone gains it by leveling up. It's impossible for you to use the same magic." Riveria shook her head.
Ais looked confused at this, her little cute face stiffening just a bit, which Riveria caught.
"But he said there is a possibility I can learn it."
Riveria blinked at that. 'He said that?'
"But he said I can't do it without a staff," the girl added after a pause.
Lefiya turned to her in disbelief. "Ais-san, that's not the point!"
Riveria stood slowly, thoughtful.
"Chantless casting… and a manifested magic blade," she murmured.
Her interest in Orion, already present, deepened further.
"Maybe I should meet this young man sooner rather than later," Riveria murmured. She had intended to do so anyway, but not until she had proper proof about his lineage.
But perhaps there was more reason to do so now beyond his lineage, wasn't there? she mused.
—-<>—-
The afternoon sun warmed the street as Orion approached Hestia's small food stall.
Hestia was standing behind it, energetically promoting her beloved snack. At least that was currently her only source of income, so she had to do it.
"Fresh Jakamarukun! Hot and fluffy Jakamarukun!"
Orion walked up casually and placed a coin down. "One."
Her face brightened instantly upon seeing her regular customer. Even after earning enough money to dine inside Hostess of Fertility every day, Orion still came here from time to time just for Hestia's snack.
It wasn't just cheap food, but it was rather tasty. Not the best to fill his belly, especially after breaking his bones inside the Dungeon—adventurers needed good food intake to keep going after all—but still, he preferred eating out here at times.
"Ah! Welcome back!" she chirped.
He took the snack and bit into it without ceremony.
Hestia leaned forward slightly. "Back from the Dungeon already? You're not hurt, are you?"
"I'm fine," he said simply. Then, after another bite, he added, "Get ready."
"Huh?"
"Let's go out."
Hestia blinked.
'Go out?' Hestia repeated to herself, and it sounded like a proposal…
"…Go out?"
"You forgot?" he asked.
She stared at him blankly for two seconds.
Then her eyes widened.
"You promised!" she gasped. "You said you'd take me out!"
"Yeah. I'm free now."
"You're really taking me out. I thought you were just saying it to console me back then…" Hestia's eyes lit up when she realized he wasn't lying.
For a moment she just stood there, stunned.
Then—
"W-Wait here!"
She rushed inside her small room behind the stall.
Orion calmly finished his Jakamarukun.
A few minutes later, Hestia emerged, freshly changed, hair brushed, ribbon adjusted perfectly. She looked far more prepared than someone who had supposedly forgotten.
Honestly speaking, she didn't look that different at all. Her dress was the same, her hairstyle was the same, and being a goddess, there was no need for her to use any makeup. Her natural beauty was just like that, perfect.
Orion glanced around once. Marika was not present. She had been gone ever since he was done with the Dungeon. She had been enjoying her freedom ever since they came back from the Konosuba world.
Hestia noticed.
"…She's not coming?" she asked carefully.
"No."
Hestia's mood visibly lifted.
"Good," she said a little too quickly. "I mean—ah—good, we can relax!"
Orion just chuckled, resisting his urge to agree with her. "I was thinking Hostess of Fertility."
Hestia froze.
"…There?"
"Why not?"
Actually, he only brought up the name since he had taken Eina there too. Taking Hestia anywhere else would feel wrong. Personally, he didn't wish to go anywhere close to there.
Hestia just laughed nervously. "W-Well, last night was expensive. Very expensive. Even if you paid, I don't want you wasting money on me when I can't even pay for myself."
Orion looked at her for a moment, once again realizing how thoughtful this goddess was.
'Bell really is lucky, huh…!'
Orion waved his hands. He didn't want Hestia to think about money. Yes, he was frugal. He had money. He wasn't broke anymore. "…You're overthinking."
"Maybe," she admitted, pouting slightly. "But still. I know a better place."
She grabbed his sleeve and pulled him along enthusiastically.
They stopped at a modest inn tucked between two larger buildings. It was cozy, warm, and far cheaper than the famous tavern.
This was usually where Hestia came with her friends who weren't as financially free.
"I come here sometimes," Hestia said proudly. "It's comfortable!"
Orion nodded, remembering the place. He had long needed a cheap enough place to dine without breaking the bank. This was exactly like that. Now he just had to test the quality of the food here.
They stepped inside.
Almost immediately, a familiar blue-haired god looked up from his table.
"Miach." Hestia's eyes lit up and she waved enthusiastically toward one of the few godly friends she had gotten here in the mortal world.
Miach too froze when he saw them. He had come here partly to meet Hestia and talk about that child of his, and here she was—with the person no less.
His expression shifted instantly.
"…You."
Hestia blinked. "Miach? You know Orion?"
Miach stood up quickly and approached them with his usual calm, humble expression.
"You must allow me to express my deepest gratitude," he said seriously, bowing his head.
Hestia looked confused. "Gratitude?" Of course she didn't know anything.
"This young man healed Naaza's arm."
Hestia gasped, snapping her head fast enough to vibrate the old inn's walls. "What?!"
Miach looked at Orion warmly. "You have done my Familia a kindness I can never repay. As Hestia's child, your virtue does her credit."
Orion blinked. 'Hestia's child…?' Did Naaza not tell him? He wished to explain but didn't for the time being.
Hestia puffed her chest proudly anyway, not even thinking about explaining. For her, there wasn't much difference anyway.
"Of course he's amazing. He's mine," she exclaimed with all the grace of a goose out for battle.
"Cough… Cough…" Orion thanked the heavens that Marika wasn't here.
xXx
A/N : Man… writing while traveling is so so…Sorry for any mistakes if I did here, and slow moving plot. I'll move faster once my travel is over. Thank you for understanding.
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