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Loki, who was staring closely at Shirou, narrowed her eyes, catching something unusual behind the young man's gaze. There was a shadow of stubbornness, an ember that refused to die even after his body had been forced to kneel.
This kid... if I leave him be, he might do something stupid that causes trouble for everyone, Loki thought, clicking her tongue. She then turned to Riveria with a mischievous grin. "I'm borrowing your guy for a bit, Riveria."
Before the high elf could protest, Loki tapped Shirou's shoulder, a light gesture yet full of authority. "Come on, follow me."
Shirou was still catching his breath, his forehead damp with sweat. Though confused by Loki's intentions, he only nodded and stepped forward to follow the goddess, their footsteps echoing softly as they moved further into the quieter part of the garden.
Riveria, still seated, was stunned, her face flushing. She opened her mouth, but her words came out haltingly. "W-wait... he's not... not mine... n-not yet..." Her voice was soft, as if swallowed by the wind, yet her ears burned upon hearing her own words.
The two figures gradually moved away, leaving Riveria, who could only watch Shirou's retreating back. Her slender fingers unconsciously clenched her long skirt, a jumble of emotions churning in her heart.
Why do I always feel... like this...
Her emerald eyes kept watching until their shadows disappeared among the trees, a faint sigh escaping her lips. "...Shirou."
Shirou walked beside Loki, following a garden path still damp with morning dew. Green grass spread out to the left and right, adorned with blooming wildflowers, while lush trees cast cool shadows. The air was filled with the scent of damp earth mixed with the fragrance of flowers, occasionally punctuated by the chirping of small birds perched on branches.
The atmosphere was tranquil, but Shirou's heart felt slightly restless. He glanced at Loki; the red-haired, ponytailed goddess seemed to be walking leisurely, her hands crossed behind her head as if she hadn't a care in the world.
Finally, Shirou spoke, his tone awkward. "Why...?"
Loki glanced sideways, her narrow eyes gleaming mischievously. "Heh, I'm the one who wants to ask. What did you feel when I ordered you to kneel? Did you feel like rebelling? Pissed at me?"
Shirou frowned, considering his answer. He let out a long breath before staring straight ahead. "Hah? Even if I felt annoyed... it wasn't at you."
"Hoh?" Loki raised an eyebrow, waiting.
"That feeling... was only for myself," Shirou continued quietly, his voice firm. "Because I'm still too weak, to the point I have to submit just because of a single command."
Loki let out a soft chuckle, her shoulders shaking as if genuinely amused. But her laughter soon subsided, replaced by a rare, serious tone. "All those feelings... just keep them to yourself, or better yet, forget them. There's no use holding onto them."
Shirou immediately shook his head, his face stubborn. "I can't. If I ignore them, I'll never improve."
Loki stopped walking. She leaned in, coming so close that her usually narrow red eyes were now wide open, piercing Shirou's gaze. "Just what are you thinking so far ahead for? You won't be fighting a god. It's impossible."
Shirou clenched his fists, his voice heavy. "But... what if the one ordering me to kneel was a god like Thanatos? An Evilus god. I'd be powerless, wouldn't I?"
Loki stared at him for a long time, then sighed with a wry smile. "Even if he could do that, it feels... well, not fun."
"Fun?!" The word echoed in Shirou's head. His heart beat fast, as if that simple word had stabbed his heart. Only now did he remember the fact that the gods who descended to the world, sealing their power, did not do so out of pity for humanity... but to seek entertainment.
Loki grinned, continuing her sentence in a relaxed yet confident tone. "Although I doubt Thanatos would bother doing that to you, still, if you face an enemy god... I'll be the one accompanying you myself. So don't overthink it."
Shirou turned with a worried expression. "But isn't that dangerous? If you get involved, wouldn't the risk be greater?"
"Pfft." Loki spat to the side, her face clearly mocking Shirou's fear. "Listen here, kid. Divine Authority can only be countered by another Divine Authority. So as long as I'm here, no god can arbitrarily force you to kneel or obey their words. You're overthinking unnecessary things."
Shirou fell silent, his heart trembling between relief and fear. His eyes looked at the ground, then a faint voice came from his lips. "But... if something were to happen to you... if you had an accident and were forced to return to Tenkai..."
He paused for a moment, clenching both hands tightly, as if holding back a dark image. "The Falna of Loki Familia would surely be sealed. Everyone... all those who rely on you... would lose everything." His words were so gloomy, like a dark shadow swallowing the morning garden's atmosphere.
Loki, however, burst out laughing. "Pffft—hahaha! You really..." She slapped Shirou's shoulder hard, almost making the young man stagger. "I'm a goddess, get it? We've existed since long before ancient times, and it's not the first time we've faced risks like that. You think I'd fall that easily? How funny, Shirou."
Her laughter echoed, full of confidence, but there was a strange glint in her eyes—as if Loki was thoroughly enjoying the worry of the human child before her. Shirou could only remain silent, staring at the goddess with mixed feelings of admiration, wonder, and a little annoyance because Loki's laughter truly belittled his concerns.
The morning sun slowly rose, its rays piercing through the gaps in the leaves of the Twilight Manor garden, making the dew on the grass sparkle like tiny gems. The air was still cool, and the birds began to chirp noisily.
Loki stretched her arms out with a lazy stretch. "Yosh, enough playing around. Come on, kid, time for you to get back to your duties. Don't forget to cook breakfast for everyone. Otherwise, a certain elf might throw a tantrum on an empty stomach."
Shirou turned, his face serious. "But... Loki, I have one request."
Loki tilted her head, her narrow eyes opening slightly. "Hee? Don't make it something troublesome, okay? I'm a busy god, you know."
"I want you to use your Divine Authority on me again."
Instantly, Loki's expression stiffened, then turned into a dumbfounded mix of a gape and a smirk. "Huh... what for? Weird kid!" She slapped her own forehead, clearly not understanding Shirou's train of thought.
Shirou took a deep breath, his eyes staring straight at Loki. "Not just today. I want to make it part of my training. If I can resist the influence of Divine Authority, maybe I—"
"HAH?!" Loki immediately cut him off, her voice rising sharply, and she even stopped walking in her surprise. She pointed a finger right at Shirou's face. "You have some stupid plan to fight a god, don't you?!"
Shirou fell silent, his shoulders tensing slightly. The silence was answer enough.
Loki clicked her tongue, her usually relaxed face now looking genuinely annoyed. She leaned in, her red eyes staring sharply at Shirou as if trying to see through his skull. "Listen, kid. Don't do anything reckless without me. I don't care how hard-headed you are; you're no match for a god without an intermediary. Understand?!"
"But—"
"NO BUTS!" Loki's voice was loud, resonating enough to startle several birds perched in the trees into flight. "Just let that god go, no matter how evil he or his Familia is. It's not your business! If you stubbornly push on, you'll just drag others into trouble!"
Shirou clenched his fists tightly, his nails almost piercing his palms. Loki's words stung, but there was a fire in his chest he couldn't extinguish. However, facing Loki's truly serious gaze this time, he could only lower his head, his lips pressed tightly together, holding back his response.
Loki let out a long sigh, her expression turning half-serious, half-teasing—but her message was clearly no joke. "Listen, you are indeed a stubborn, hard-to-control person," she said, staring intently, "but there's one thing you must remember and must not take lightly: if you ever raise your hand to fight a god, for whatever reason, never—and I emphasize once more—never intend to finish them off with a blow or a dagger from your own hand."
Shirou turned, his eyes widening slightly. "Why is that?" he asked, his voice low, with a hint of curiosity.
Loki stepped closer, her voice softening yet full of weight as she explained, "You're not from this world, right? There's much you don't understand about the ancient laws among the gods. There is an unseen taboo: when a god is forced to return to Tenkai—the gods' home world—with their body wounded by a mortal, it incurs a cosmic sin. That curse isn't just a temporary punishment; it can bind your fate even after death, through repeated reincarnations. Misfortune that extends to your next soul. You understand what I mean, right?"
Those words made Shirou bow his head. An unwanted, vague image surfaced in his mind: the figure of Archer, who became a Counter Guardian—bound to an endless task, burdened with suffering to atone for a great consequence. The idea that a single action could ensnare a soul forever sent a chill down his spine.
Loki observed Shirou's reaction, then gave a small smirk, partly mocking but also full of calculation. "Even if you find a truly dangerous god and think 'I must stop him right now,' listen to this: you don't need to kill him yourself. If that idea seems crazy in your head, there's a safer way—just project your noble phantasm or whatever weapon you have, and hand it over to me. I can be the intermediary."
She shrugged one shoulder, relaxed. "If you prepare the weapon and leave the decision of its use to me—that's different. They can't easily demand my blood in return. Gods have their own rules when dealing with fellow gods, and I know the loopholes. The point is: if you want to act, plan it; don't do something stupid that will only trap you forever."
Shirou stared at Loki for a long time. On the goddess's face, between arrogance and concern, he saw certainty: Loki loved to play around, but she also knew how to play the game within the greatest risks. Shirou sighed, replaying everything he had just heard—the warnings, the subtle threats, and Loki's offer to act as an intermediary if needed. In his chest, the fire of his idealism still burned, but now accompanied by a handful of new caution.
Above their heads, the sun climbed higher, its rays growing warmer. In the garden, two beings from different worlds stood—one a human who wanted to atone and save, one a goddess who knew well how to maintain the balance between divine amusement and divine intrigue. They understood each other a little more than before.
***
In the dining room of Loki Familia, the atmosphere was quite lively. Plates filled with hot soup, bread, and roasted meat covered the long table. Yet, among all the members heartily eating breakfast, only Shirou seemed to be spacing out, his spoon having stopped moving long ago. The soup before him was starting to cool, its warm steam disappearing bit by bit.
Lefiya, sitting next to him, frowned. She glanced at Shirou's bowl, then looked down with a slightly annoyed expression. "Even though we worked hard to cook this together, Shirou. How come you're just sitting there like that..." she muttered with a sulky tone, the corners of her lips turned down as if wanting to protest more strongly.
Loki, who was sitting in a chair leaning slightly near the two, just grinned. Casually, she propped her head up with her elbow on the table. "Just leave the kid be. He's having an enlightenment," she said in a teasing tone, as if knowing something others didn't.
That word made Lefiya turn her head, full of curiosity. "Enlightenment? What do you mean? Is it some kind of... secret training?" Her voice trembled between wonder and a hint of jealousy, because Shirou hadn't told her anything.
Loki chuckled, her eyes narrowing mischievously. "Ah, it's nothing important, nothing important," she said, waving a hand as if shooing away Lefiya's curiosity. "It's more fun if we talk about something truly interesting... like my upcoming Denatus. Wahaha, now that's a hot topic!"
Lefiya could only sigh, her cheeks puffing out because she felt brushed off. Meanwhile, Shirou, who finally realized he was being watched, hurriedly began stirring his soup awkwardly. But his expression remained somewhat distant—the remnants of his conversation with Loki still lingered in his mind, though he couldn't just talk about it.
Loki leaned back comfortably in her chair, playing with her drinking cup with her fingertips. She grinned widely and then spoke in a teasing voice, "Actually, I'm too lazy to go to the Denatus later. They'll probably just discuss that pipsqueak Hestia, whose member just reached level 3. But now... hmhm~ My cute, proud elf has also reached level 4." Her mischievous hand reached for Lefiya's light brown hair, tied in a ponytail, and ruffled it playfully.
Lefiya instantly scowled, her cheeks reddening. "Loki! Stop it, my hair's getting messy!" she protested while fixing her disheveled ponytail. Yet, deep down, that annoyance was mixed with a blossoming pride—because she always compared herself to Bell Cranel, the human who always stole Aiz's time, and now Lefiya felt she had stepped further ahead of him.
Loki raised an eyebrow, her expression full of mischief. "Besides, at the Denatus later, I'll have some entertainment. I'll incite the gods to give the most ridiculous alias to that bunny kid. Hahaha! His face will be so funny when he finds out."
For a moment, Lefiya was silent, but then a sly smile formed on her lips. "Heh... that's a good idea too. I'd fully support that," she said with a satisfied tone, imagining Bell's panicked face upon hearing a weird nickname from the gods.
"Bwahahahaha!" Loki's laughter erupted, echoing in the dining room. Lefiya, who was usually cheerful and polite, joined in the sly laughter with the goddess, her shoulders shaking as she got too caught up in her imagination. The other members of Loki Familia could only glance over with expressions mixed between confusion and amusement, while Shirou looked at the two with a weary gaze as if thinking, When these two agree on something, it's bound to be something strange...