[author] Screw it. I don't remember the plot, so we ball until the plot makes sense again. At the rate I'm rereading, it's going to take another month to update a new chapter, so we'll just run and pray it lines up by the time I catch up.[/author]
Artemis watched the chaos unfolding in front of her eyes with a warm smile.
'This is nice.'
Watching Bell run around in a panic to grab Miach to check on Bella.
Seeing the newest members of their family laughing at how ridiculous the situation was.
Then observing how Freya was acting like a concerned mother, hugging Bella close and checking her forehead with a flustered look...
'I wonder. Was this how it was like before?'
Artemis- No, the mortal woman who was now called 'Selene' didn't remember.
It had been quite some time since that day she had been saved by Bell and Ryuu, appearing at the Hestia Familia church. But despite everything, there had been no traces on what had unfolded.
No one truly knew what occurred. And Selene likely would never recall it.
Bell had hypothesized that whatever occured, Artemis's children had likely given up their lives to keep her safe.
Selene didn't know. But from the anguish she felt in her chest when she thought about that time... and the bittersweet warmth that came after...
'It was likely that.'
A goddess whose children gave their very lives to protect.
A goddess who stripped her authority away in desperation to save them.
Both, failing in part and succeeding in part.
Artemis was dead. The goddess had vanished, leaving behind only this mortal body and this soul that carried the echo of authority long lost.
The Artemis familia itself had perished, every member dead to the last. But Freya had confirmed that those heroic children had at least entered Heaven, granted another lease on life eventually.
Although it would have been best if their goddess was there to guide them...
'This is enough.'
There was no changing the past. Even if there was, Selene had lost the right to do anything about it when her memories vanished. And considering the ruins themselves had been erased in her salvation...
'Life just unfolds as such at times.'
What is lost will be replaced with something just as precious.
Losing everything will end with obtaining a whole new world.
Love, even if forgotten, persisting until a new one can take its place...
Selene felt a slight tug on her shirt. She blinked and glanced over to see Fina looking up at her with those mismatched blue and red eyes.
"Auntie Selene? Why are you crying?" Fina frowned, looking concerned. "Are you sad?"
"Crying?" Selene blinked and then felt warmth running down her cheeks. She reached up and then realized that she was indeed crying. But as she realized that, she smiled. Kneeling down to pat Fina's head, Selene said, "I'm not sad, Fina. I'm happy. Very happy."
Fina frowned and reached up with her small hands to brush away Selene's tears. "Well, you shouldn't be crying even if you're happy, Auntie! You're prettier when you smile!"
Selene laughed and then put on a bright smile. "Like this, dear?"
"Yes! Like that!" Fina smiled back. Then her eyes widened and she giggled. "Oh! I know! Here!" She reached into a small bag she wore on her waist and pulled out a glittering silver ribbon. "For good luck! A gift!" Sticking out her tongue, Fina took the ribbon and wove it into Selene's blue hair.
Selene lowered her head, letting Fina do her work. And when Fina finished, Selene reached up to feel her hair.
Despite being a small child, it seemed like Fina had an eye and coordination for fashion. Selene felt that her long blue hair had been woven into a neat braided ponytail, with the silver ribbon tying it together.
"Here, Auntie!" Fina pulled out a little pocket mirror and showed Selene. "See! You're pretty now!"
Selene took the pocket mirror from Fina and looked at her reflection.
A delicate woman with azure hair and matching eyes. Unlike the loose waves she usually kept her hair in, now it had been tied up in that braided ponytail, making her look like a young noblewoman.
Overall... it made her look put together. Like someone who knew who she was instead of the goddess who had lost everything including her name.
It should have made her feel sad. Realize just how much had changed.
But instead...
"Thank you, Dear."
...All Selene felt was warm.
Because despite everything, she was still here.
And despite everything...
'I still have people to protect.'
It might not have been her children anymore. She was no longer a goddess, so she didn't have a familia of her own to care for.
But she DID have a familia now. And family. So...
Selene smiled and patted Fina's head. "Since your Papa, Mama, and Mama Freya are busy... do you want to practice archery with me?"
"OOOOOOOHHHHHH! YES!" Fina jumped up and then dashed around in a white blur. "Archery~ Archery~ I get to do the pew pew!"
Selene giggled and then held out her hand for Fina. "Come on. I'll set up a range for us."
"Kay~"
===
Welf's private workshop in the back of the Hestia Familia church. Sunset.
Although it had been chaotic, everything ended up being resolved without issue, so the members of the Hestia Familia scattered to their own devices for the evening.
That, of course, meant that Welf was back in his element, working on the latest experiments and trials to support his found family.
'I have to make sure of it this time.'
Welf had lost everything once before already. Back in Rakia, his goddess gave everything up for him to escape.
And while he hadn't lost Hephaestus yet, he couldn't stand on her level. They loved each other, but couldn't be together. Not yet.
'...Bell isn't the only one that needs to win this War Game.'
Placing a shard of adamantite into the forge, Welf let out a slow breath and wracked his mind on solutions.
A Magic Sword was out. Not just because it was an unfair advantage, but because it wasn't HIS.
The Crozzo name was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing, because it allowed him to walk through doors to places he wasn't qualified to stand. And a curse because it was so legendary that it subsumed his very name, leaving his works as just 'Crozzo.'
No matter how much he improved upon a Magic Sword, no matter how incredible a blade he constructed... at the end, it would be chalked up to being a Crozzo, since they were known for that.
'No. That isn't the solution.'
Although he had created
...No, it COULD. But it wasn't meant to be replicated.
A one-off. A unique gift to embody the feelings he had towards the goddess who took him in after he lost everything. To the mother of his child. And to the one he swore to match.
So...
'Not a blade. Armor.'
Welf took a copper ingot and put it into the forge, watching as the flames turned blue from the metal.
It hurt his eyes to look at. The light was too bright, the heat too intense.
But Welf persisted.
Because he had proven it once already.
'It's possible.'
Ordinarily, the
But due to Welf's recent status change and the skills he gained... skills no doubt born of Bell's influence...
'I can do it.'