[POV: Hestia]
After escaping Hephaestus's clutches and, only getting EIGHT bonks on the head, by the way, I was finally free!
I swear, if people keep hitting my head like that, I'm going to end up even shorter.
The sun was high, the air warm and pleasant. With Luki already heading down to the Dungeon, there wasn't much left for me to do. So… I decided to distract myself a bit.
First stop: a few clothing stores. Not because I needed anything, of course, but let's be honest, window shopping for cute outfits is basically a form of therapy.
Among the many stores, one display caught my attention: a red set consisting of a tight dress and lacy lingerie with… an opening.
Just looking at it made my face heat up.
'Who in their right mind would wear that?!' I thought, turning my gaze away… only to look right back at the mannequin.
For some reason, my mind insisted on forming an image, one that involved me wearing that… and a certain elf watching.
— Ahn- no! What am I even thinking?! — I muttered, covering my face with both hands.
But the more I tried to shake the thought away, the more tempting it became. The red really did suit me, and that neckline… well, maybe just a little…
In the end, my better judgment won. I went inside, only to find out the dress didn't even exist in my size.
The only clothes that fit me were in the children's section.
My hand clenched into a fist.
'Those heretical manufacturers! How dare they humiliate a goddess like this?! I won't forget this insult…'
After trying on, twirling, and pretending I'd buy things I absolutely knew I wouldn't, I ended up purchasing only a simple wool coat.
The season was changing, and while it didn't snow in Orario, the nights were getting colder. At least it was a decent excuse to spend money.
On my way back, I ran into some fellow goddesses. The kind of encounter I'd normally avoid, but well, sometimes it's nice to catch up.
We sat down at a café, and of course, "catching up" turned into gossip in less than five minutes.
We badmouthed a few goddesses (with all the love in the world, of course) and laughed about the men in our Familias.
'Sorry, Luki, but this is one of the few chances I get to complain about you. Why can't that idiot elf be just a little more assertive?! Just a bit!'
We also threw a few subtle jabs, each trying to prove our lives were more interesting than the others.
In the end, I lost.
My latest "accomplishment" was a single elven adventurer.
That did spark some surprise, elves were rare in Orario, after all; maybe one in every hundred people you meet in street CAN be an elf.
But beyond that? Practically nothing.
After a few more fake laughs and suspicious glances, I decided it was best to leave before my mood soured completely.
I walked to my favorite library, yes, Orario has a library, and no, it's not completely empty. It was a quiet place, with tall windows that let in the soft afternoon light.
I sat by a window and grabbed a random book. A romance, obviously, my favorite genre.
It told the story of a young elf chosen to protect a human princess. They fell in love in secret, defying fate and prejudice between their races.
Curiously, the elf's name was Luki.And the princess? Short and… well-endowed.
ANY RESEMBLANCE TO REALITY IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL!!!
I kept reading, already picturing the happy ending, until the story started falling apart.
First came the princess's "best friend," who decided to fall for the same elf, even knowing the princess loved him! What kind of friend does that?!
Then appeared her worst enemy, a flat-as-a-board twig who tried to ruin their relationship and, for some inexplicable reason, also ended up falling for him!
And to top it off, every time a steamy scene was about to happen between the elf and the princess, there she was, the nuisance, barging in, tripping, or coming up with some stupid excuse!
But the worst… the worst was the little Pallum maid.
A pitiful creature with no family, no future, whom the princess took into the castle and treated like her own blood.
And what did she do in return?
She fell in love with the princess's lover!
— OF COURSE THAT WASN'T GOING TO END WELL! — I shouted, slamming the book on the table.
— A BETRAYAL OF THAT LEVEL DESERVES DIVINE PUNISHMENT!
People turned to stare, but I didn't care—I was too enraged.
— AND THOSE OTHER HUSSIES?! Thinking they can just show up and say, "if there's two, there's room for one more?!"
— There's room for my foot on your faces, that's what!
I stopped to take a deep breath, fighting the urge to throw the book out the window.
In the end, the princess's great love became just another name in a ridiculous harem full of fools of every race, shape, and personality.
The poor princess, the true protagonist, was reduced to background decoration, a trophy, remembered only when useful for someone else's plot.
— Did they forget the castle belongs to her?! That she's the princess?! That with a snap of her fingers, she could kick all those freeloaders out?! — I yelled, almost standing, my face burning with indignation.
People whispered. The librarian coughed loudly.
I slammed the book shut.
— Stupid Luki.
I stormed out, my coat fluttering behind me.
Maybe I was mad at the author…
Or maybe I was projecting just a tiny bit.
But of course, any resemblance to real relationships is pure coincidence.
AND IT BETTER STAY THAT WAY!!!
— Huh? It's night already? — I muttered as I stepped outside.
— Time really flies when you're having fun, huh?
I must've gotten so absorbed in the story I didn't notice the light fading. The lamps inside the library were already on, that's probably why I didn't realize night had fallen.
— I should head home… Luki's probably on his way back. — I murmured, a dreamy smile forming.
— I want to greet him with a really tight hug when he gets here.
'Is he okay? Of course he is. He's careful… and strong… and smart. I shouldn't worry.'
Sigh.
Alright, maybe I'm a little worried. Just a little.
'Now that I think about it… maybe I should try that new little thing, huh?'
A while ago, Hephaestus had lent me the Falna Manual, the very same one I completely ignored when I descended to the mortal world.
I'd forgotten about it so completely that when she handed it to me, I didn't even recognize what it was.
But honestly, after seeing how many pages it had, I perfectly understood why my past self pretended not to notice.
'Damn it, Ouranos! Who in their right mind writes a manual with thirty-seven thousand, eight hundred and forty-two pages?! Does he really expect anyone to read all that?!'
Honestly, I have no idea how a physical book can even hold that many pages. Probably divine intervention… or maybe just a disguised punishment from Ouranos for us copying his hobby of visiting other worlds.
Anyway.
I started "reading" that book, and by "reading," I mean one or two pages before bed… maybe less.
But recently, I found some interesting information in it, so I decided to take it a bit more seriously.
It's actually been useful to understand my role as a goddess of my Familia better. I've felt much more helpful since then.
One of the countless functions of that divine tattoo on their backs, besides awakening mortal potential, was something called the Observation Function.
In practice? Eavesdropping.
It allowed us gods to see through our children's eyes, feel what they felt, and know when they were in danger inside the Dungeon.
'If only I'd discovered this earlier…'
I looked around, searching for a quiet spot. The street was nearly empty, and the night breeze gave me a small chill. I found an old wall hidden by shadows and leaned against it.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
'Alright… this is how the manual said to do it, right?'
Feel the divine blood stored in the Child's Falna you wish to observe.Project your consciousness toward it.
I repeated the instructions word by word, trying to relax. Trying to feel.
Minutes passed. Nothing.
'Am I doing this wrong…? Or maybe it doesn't even work?'
I was starting to feel ridiculous when suddenly… I felt something.
A faint, distant light. Like a soft heartbeat echoing deep underground.It was familiar. It's my blood.
'Luki…'
A smile crept up. 'What are you up to, my Luki-kun?'
My chest filled with curiosity and excitement. I focused harder, imagining my consciousness being drawn to that small point of light.
And then-
— LILI!!! HOLD ON!!!— LUKI-SAMA!!!
A blinding light exploded inside my mind. A scream. A flash. And then, absolute silence.
I felt the connection snap, like a thread breaking inside my chest.
My eyes flew open, my heart pounding.
'What… what was that…?'
My hands trembled. Fear rose in my throat, panic taking over confusion.
— Luki…?
I clutched my chest, gasping.
— LUKIII!!!
I screamed without thinking. Before I realized it, my legs were already moving—running. Running aimlessly.
'I have to get help…'