After a rather heartwarming reunion with Shurry, and learning all about his accomplishments, his friends, and even some of the more embarrassing stories like how he kept on crashing Denatus so frequently that Hathor just started bringing him along with her.
His title was rather cute too, Moon Pup. A name that she refused to give up on, she all but demanded a cute one. However, it wasn't Hathor's influence that caused her to win out the cute name… No, Shurry had been there that day, and the gods couldn't help themselves but agree with it as they watched Shurry act so much like an adorable little puppy… Though it did come with a ton of confusion like: Is he really a level 4? He's a kid…
"My little Moon Pup!" Idunn coddled the now 9 year old Shurry.
"What do you mean by that Idunn? Surely you aren't suggesting I just let him out of my familia now?" Hathor's response was quite forceful, and had a tinge of worry in it.
"No, I won't do that. It would defeat the purpose of having left him here in the first place."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Hathor drank. "Alright, Shurry, why don't you go ahead and take Ardee out on a little date around the city."
Shurry jumped down from Idunn's lap, gave her and Hathor a kiss on their cheeks. "I'll see you later, mommies!" He spoke with a cheerful smile, then reached for Ardee's hand. "Let's go have some fun!"
Still embarrassed, and now hit with the triple whammy, Ardee gave up trying to hide it. "Yes, let's have some fun!" She grabbed Shurry's hand, and the two of them ran out of the home, into the streets, and vanished into the crowd.
"He's grown so much. I'm jealous, I didn't get to see it. But those two…"
"Even if Ganesha didn't act to keep those two together, they'd still be inseparable."
"Really? They must have been together for a while now."
"They have, It was Shurry who gave her, her smile back. And it was Ardee who reflected her smile in his world… That's what started everything… But what's more, is when Ardee's mother died in the dungeon to a member of Evilus. Shurry hunted them down, killed the entire group, and then, he didn't leave her side until she could smile again."
"Yeah, they're inseparable. Only death would part them… No, they'd find each other again."
"Indeed. I think even that fool Ganesha noticed that. I don't see him willingly allowing a healer to go out on her own with someone from another familia otherwise… Well, there is the whole god of the masses thing he's got going on…"
"I think it's mostly that. Not really a good plan to just ignore the pain he'd cause by forcibly separating those two… On another note, Hathor, why is he only level 4? It's been 4 years. I'd have thought with his potential he could be level 6 or even 7 by now."
"He's much stronger than anyone else, save for a small number of the Zeus & Hera familia members. He has this funny goal where he wants to kill the following bosses far ahead of himself before leveling up. But, I report it as him killing a weaker one, can't be having the others trying to steal him out from under me."
"Smart. Alright then. It's time to go. Baldr has probably finished talking with Zeus & Hera by now." The sudden shift towards seriousness…
"Why so serious?"
"Behemoth has made some unexpected moves. Leviathan as well. And worse the seal keeping the worst one at bay… Is cracking under the pressure. There isn't much time left before that seal breaks."
"You're serious?"
"Yeah, Aria did a good job holding it back on her own, but 1000 years should be her limit. Give or take some. She lost her lover after all, that heart break definitely didn't help."
"You'd know best about something like that."
"Really? Is that why your reverse harem hasn't taken off yet?"
"Nope, I was taking care of my son. No way I'm having a bunch of horny men in that bed at the same time."
Idunn laughed. "Alright then, Malik is here to escort me, I'll talk to you again, best friend. And, thank you… Thank you for being a good mother to my son."
…
Ardee & Shurry ran through the streets, hitting up all the stalls, and shops. They'd become a regular occurrence around this part of the city, so much so that basically everyone knew the two of them were close enough to be a couple. It didn't take a god's level of intuition to make that distinction. And of course, like clock work, Shakti would be tracking their steps in search of her sister… An almost weekly occurrence.
…
Maxim, and Empress along with all of the high level members of the Zeus, and Hera familias were gathered, Baldr, with a still level 7 Leon, had just finished explaining the situation.
Maxim tapped the table, with his finger, looking around the room, his eyes fell upon Leon. "I see, we've pretty much reached the apex of our power… If Leon's injuries are still like that, it means he's sparring the boy from seeing that expression."
"Zeus, Hera, this isn't a matter that can be pushed off any longer. We need to destroy those monsters, and clear the three quests." Baldr explained, in plain, simple language. "I'll do everything I can to help. Whatever is needed, the School District will do."
"Having a platform to deal with the Leviathan would be essential. But as for fighting it… Leon, you are not to interfere. I don't doubt your ability. You're almost as strong as an unserious Zald, but that's it. There's no time to whip you into shape for our familia's requirements, and getting you worked into the battle formation would open more holes than fill."
"I- I understand. I did what I could, but I was unable to develop that skill you mentioned. Even after all the dragons I've killed…"
"Don't beat yourself up about it. It isn't as easy as slaying a bunch of dragons. Mine comes from single handedly defeating a single powerful dragon. One can begin attempting this with Cadmus, but floor 58 is far more suitable towards it… Its boss is way harder…" Maxim waved his hand, then looked at Empress… The two shared a nod.
""Begin making preparations to slay the Behemoth, Leviathan, and the One Eyed Black Dragon.""
The two familias didn't waste a moment, this is what they had been training for, living for, they all knew it. And thus began the stir within the city. Even the guild forced all businesses to give priority to the Zeus & Hera familias. The time line, a month… A single month of high focused training. And for one very specific problem to be solved.
…