In front of Bell Cranel stood two creatures who were emanating an aura that made a level one adventurer like him scared.
Bell had been in the dungeon only today but somehow these two creatures were more scarier than anything he had ever faced.
It does not help that he also knew he was powerless against these two.
The first one brought his face close to him.
"Bell-kun…" A sweet voice and a sweet smile, one would think the person was happy if not for the sweat dropping down Bell's face. "What is this about encountering a Minotaur?" Hestia asked the kneeling Bell.
Yes, right now, Bell Cranel was getting chewed out by his Goddess and his captain.
It was definitely his fault, he got complacent and went down to the fifth floor in hopes of picking up some cute girls but he didn't think he would run into a Minotaur of all monsters there!
Bell Cranel liked to believe he was a responsible man who would take responsibilities for his actions, so he immediately did what his grandfather said to do whenever an angry woman was staring down at him.
"I am very sorry, I have no excuse!" He went down in a dogeza position.
"Ah!" Hestia was taken aback. "Tha-that's not fair Bell-kun. You can't just apologize so earnestly and expect me to forgive you… even though I now really want to forgive you for some reason."
His Goddess was really amazing.
"What are you saying Hesty?! You are suppose to be telling this boy off." It seems like his captain was not in for it though… his grandfather did say it only worked on women.
"Y-yeah, y-you're right, Cass… look Bell-kun." Bell raised his head to meet her eyes, eyes that were full with worry, and not just hers but the eyes of his captain as well. He felt a knot tie in his stomach. He had not been in the Familia for a week and he was already causing trouble for them, making them worry. He felt disappointed in himself.
"The problem is not about you apologizing, it's the fact that you tried to bite off more than you can chew… the dungeon is a very dangerous place, doing things on a whim like that is…" She held his face in her hands. "I know that you want to get strong, just… just don't overdo it okay? I don't want to lose you."
Ah.
Bell felt warm all over from the sincerity in her voice, here was someone who was genuinely worried about his well-being, Bell didn't know if he deserved such gentleness but right in that moment, he promised himself that he would do his best not to make her worry again.
He smiled at her. "I won't overdo it. I'm sorry."
Bell heard his captain sigh from where he stood, watching them. "Stop apologizing Bell… while it was your fault for going to the sixth floor, I don't think it was your fault for getting attacked by a Minotaur. But let this be a lesson, the dungeon does not care about you, there is danger lurking in every corner and anything can happen at anytime so never let your guard down." He crouched before him and ruffled his hair. "But more importantly, you did good in making it back alive, Bell." His captain that usually had a lazy expression on his face smiled at him.
"C-captain…" Bell's eyes watered. He didn't deserve these people, he hadn't even done anything for them but yet they were treating him like this. Like family. "I won't let you down!" Bell said as his determination fueled.
He would not overdo it but Bell would make sure he got stronger… not just for himself, not just for Ais Wallenstein but also for this two people in front of him… his Familia members, his family… he would do his best to not make them worry again.
"Wow!" Hestia had stars in her eyes.
"What is it?" His Captain asked as he stood looking at her with raised brows.
"Cassie, you just said words befitting of a Familia Captain."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?! You know I'm the Familia Captain right? Could it be that you are dissing me, Hesty?"
Bell watched as all of a sudden his Goddess leapt at the captain, hugging him like a koala as she pressed his head into her bosoms.
He blushed.
Even the normally dense Bell could tell that his goddess was infatuated with the unmotivated captain of the Familia.
"No way, that's not true at all. In fact, I am very proud of you right now." She said in a happy voice.
"Proud enough to become maid-san?" Bell could hear the smirk in his captain's voice.
Maid-san? What was that?
Hestia stepped back on the floor, her face red. "I'll th-think about it."
Bell felt like he was missing some context here.
His goddess response only served to make his captain happy though.
"Yay score!" Cassie said as he did a guts pose.
"Anyway, we are kitting you up tomorrow, Bell. An armour or two should help your dungeon crawling."
Bell blinked.
Dungeon crawling? He was pretty sure he didn't crawl inside the dungeon, was there perhaps a floor that needed someone to crawl? Before that.
"Ehhhh, but captain, I don't have any money for gears."
His captain smirked at him then pointed his thumb at himself. "Don't worry, your captain's got your back."
"Captain…" Bell looked at his captain with sparkling eyes.
Was this guy a God?
"Captain, I'll follow you for the rest of my life!" Bell exclaimed as he stood up with balled fists.
"Fuahahahahaha." His captain started to laugh with his head raised to the ceiling.
"Fuhahahahhahahaha." His Goddess joined in as well.
Well, it wouldn't be cool if he was the odd one out.
And so Bell joined them in laughing.
•••
As Hestia and Cassie stepped into the bedroom, the furnished since a while ago bedroom, Cassie sat on the bed and tapped beside him. "Come here, Hesty."
"Ehh? Why all of a sudden?" Hestia asked, a bit surprised.
He sighs. "No need to put on a brave face Hesty. Come, I'll let you rest your head on my lap."
Hestia's happy expression fell then she silently walked over and sat beside him. Cassie scooted away then brought her head down to his thighs.
"Are you okay?" He asked, his voice gentle.
"C-cassie, how much do you know about the Falna?" If Cassie noticed the stutter in her voice, he didn't mention it.
"Not much honestly." He said.
"The thing is, Gods can see the adventures of the one who has their blessing as they update their status… it's like watching those movvys thing you told me about." She said.
"Oh…" Cassie realized what had happened. "And you saw Bell's adventure… or more like his run-in with the Minotaur." It was not a question but Hestia nodded anyways.
She faced his midsection as she held onto his shirt. "I was scared. I am scared. I know how dangerous the dungeon is, I am the one that gave Bell the Falna, I know the dungeon is unpredictable but seeing Bell running for his life, the fear on his face as he ran from danger… seeing Bell almost die… what do I do Cassie? The Falna I gave him is the very reason why his life was in danger, if I didn't—" Before she could continue, Cassie's hand rested on her head as he started to pat her gently.
He let the silence linger for a few moments before he started talking.
"I've been to the dungeon only once, I've never met a Minotaur before, I don't even know if I would survive and encounter with one, it's true that due to having a Falna, people put themselves in danger in order to get stronger, it's frankly absurd, why would anyone want to risk their life like that? In a place where bloodlust is targeted at you from every direction, it's ridiculous isn't it…? That is the same for Bell as well, his goal is to get stronger and that is why he must put himself in danger. But there is one thing you are overlooking here, Hestia." He called her not with the usual nickname but her actual name as he raised her into a sitting position to stare at her face.
Sky blue eyes stared into blue ones.
"Yes, the one who defeated the Minotaur was the girl called Ais but there is also one reason why Bell survived today and that was because of your Falna. Your blessing."
Hestia's eyes widened.
"R-really?" She asked, hesitantly.
"Really." Cassie confirmed without hesitation.
"You're not just saying that to make me feel good right?" She pressed.
"No, I'm not." Cassie, said chuckling as he cleaned off the tears forming in her eyes. "If you want… I could start going to the dungeon with him."
"No!" Hestia replied frantically as she hugged him with force, making them lie on the bed. "No. I d-don't want you to do that Cassie… please don't do that."
Cassie hated he that he made her scared like that.
He wrapped his arms around her. "Mhm. I won't." He whispered as she nestled closer into him.
"Sorry Cassie, your Goddess is such a pathetic one, isn't she?" She whispered.
"What are you talking about Hesty?" Cassie was offended. "You're the most amazing woman in the world. And I won't let anyone talk trash about my Goddess, not even said Goddess herself."
Hestia raised her head to look at him then she smiled, it was not a happy one but it was not a sad one either.
"Cassie, thank you for being here with me. I really mean it."
Cassie shook his head. "I am the one who should thank you for being here Hesty. Home is where the heart is… so thank you for being home to me."
Hestia didn't hold back her emotions this time. She hugged him tightly with tears in her eyes.
Cassie returned the hug.
He felt right at home.