After several checks confirmed that he was perfectly healthy—aside from some lingering mental exhaustion—Amid agreed that Roland could be discharged.
Following behind the group, Roland listened to their bickering, not daring to interrupt. His future housing and protection depended on this. Orario was currently in its most chaotic era; without strength or a Familia, one could easily be harassed or harmed on the streets.
They crossed several main roads and turned through a few winding streets before entering a quiet residential area.
In a corner of the northern district, they arrived.
"We're here! This is the home of the Astrea Familia: the 'Starlight Garden'!" Alise pointed to a small but beautiful manor.
It was primarily white, surrounded by sturdy walls, with a spacious courtyard featuring a sea of flowers in the center. The manor had a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
"It's beautiful," Roland remarked.
He had assumed a small Familia of only eleven people would live in something like a flat or an apartment, but he hadn't expected a full manor. Clearly, the Astrea Familia was a powerful force.
"Hehe, surprised? This is the result of everyone's hard work under my brilliant leadership!" Alise boasted, hands on her hips.
As they opened the doors to the white manor, a beautiful goddess rose from a sofa to greet them.
One look was all it took for anyone to know: she was a goddess of justice—gentle, compassionate, yet possessing unshakable conviction.
Her walnut-brown hair exuded warmth and elegance, and her eyes were a deep, celestial blue. They were even clearer than Ryu's sky-blue eyes, drawing the observer in like a starry night sky.
The flawless white garment traced the feminine curves of her body while gently enveloping her supple limbs. Every gesture she made exuded noble elegance, with only the deep cleavage of her bust hinting at a hidden sensuality. She carried an overwhelming aura of maternal grace.
"Everyone, welcome home." Her gentle voice lingered in the air like a haunting melody. A faint, serene smile played on Astraea's lips.
"Lady Astraea!" Alise was the first to speak, her voice ringing out with unrestrained joy at the sight of the goddess waiting to greet them.
She looked like a child yearning for her mother, her expression filled with an "affection" that went far beyond mere loyalty or respect.
"We're back, Lady Astraea," the others chimed in one after another.
Roland stood rooted to the spot, caught in an awkward limbo between stepping forward and retreating, unsure of where to look.
"Oh my, and who is this child?" Astraea asked, her eyes resting on Roland with a kind smile.
"Ah, Lady Astraea! This is a kid we picked up outside. His name is Roland. He's just as unlucky as Lyu!" Alise said, grabbing Roland's hand and pulling him forward.
"Alise!! Must you always bring that up!?" Lyu groaned in embarrassment.
In truth, before receiving the Falna (God's Grace), Lyu had nearly been cornered by a gang of slavers. Had she fallen into their hands, she would have suffered the tragic fate of being sold as a "beautiful elf" to the Pleasure Quarter.
Gazing at the goddess before him, Roland was so nervous he could barely find his voice. "H-hello, Goddess Astraea. Thank you very much for your Familia's help."
Suddenly, a delicate fragrance wafted toward him as Astraea stepped closer.
She reached out and gently ruffled his hair. "Do not be nervous, child. Protecting the innocent is the justice we pursue. I am truly happy that you were able to receive our help."
Roland felt a sudden heat rise in his chest, and a flush crept across his pale face. He hurriedly took a step back and blurted out, "Um... Goddess Astraea, I want to join your Familia. I want to become a member of Justice."
He felt like he might faint if he didn't say it now; the goddess was simply too breathtaking.
"I welcome any child with justice in their heart," Astraea said, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face. "However... my Familia consists entirely of girls. They are the ones who worked hard to build it up; I have provided very little help in that regard."
"Therefore, if you wish to join us, you will need the consent of every single one of them. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand. Thank you for your support," Roland said gratefully. With the goddess's blessing, he felt his chances were solid.
"Hehe! So that's how Lady Astraea sees me? You're right! This Familia was built up by me, the Captain!" Alise flipped her hair, striking a proud pose.
"Ugh, having a captain who's a boastful, hot-headed idiot is such a pain," Kaguya remarked with a sharp tongue. "Lady Astraea said 'all of us,' yet you're hogging all the credit. How shameless."
The prum, Lyra, whispered to Lyu, "What do you think, Lyu?"
"I don't mind either way," Lyu replied softly.
Astraea clapped her hands together. "Well then, let's gather everyone for a meeting."
Once they learned of Roland's desire to join, all members assembled in the conference room.
The Astraea Familia consisted of eleven members: Alise, Kaguya, Lyra, Lyu Leon, Neze, Noin, Aste, Ryana, Celty, Iska, and Maryū.
The bolder girls immediately swarmed Roland, surrounding him, patting his head, and pinching his cheeks while chatting incessantly. The shy ones stood back, observing and asking the others about the situation.
"Finally, a newcomer? And a cute boy at that!"
"His hair is so soft. It's black, just like Kaguya's and Iska's."
"Look how red his face is! He's blushing! Hahaha!"
Roland stood there with a numb expression, wondering if joining an all-girl Familia was going to be more difficult than he had imagined.
Kaguya walked over to Astraea, watching Roland being teased. "Are you sure about this, Lady Astraea? We are all female here. Having him join might be troublesome for both him and us."
"Why not give the boy a chance? I can see that he is a well-behaved, honest child with a sense of justice buried within him. He won't let us down."
"Exactly! Kaguya is always so suspicious; that's why no one likes her," Alise teased, making a face at Kaguya.
"Hmph. You're all too naive. What if he's a spy sent by the Dark Factions?"
"Oh, come on, Kaguya-chan, don't be like that. Right, Lyu?" Lyra asked, nudging the quiet elf.
"Correct, you sharp-tongued woman," Lyu added.
"Ha! You want to go, you useless elf!?"
A physical scuffle was on the verge of breaking out.
"Now, now. You all agree to let Roland join, right?" The goddess's gentle voice instantly quelled the chaos in the room.
"Agreed!" the eleven voices shouted in unison.
Astraea walked to Roland and took his hand. "Then, welcome to my Familia."
The Goddess's Bedroom
"Now, please take off your clothes, Roland."
"Okay." Roland sat on a chair and removed his shirt, turning his back to the goddess.
"You missed a spot—all of them."
"Um, okay... Wait, all of them!?"
"Fufu, I'm just joking."
Astraea smiled as she pricked her finger with a needle. A sliver of divine power leaked out as a drop of shimmering ichor emerged.
Her finger began to trace patterns on Roland's back, and a divine light flickered.
"Using the 'Hieroglyphs' as a guide and the blood of a god as the medium, we gods depict your abilities in a concrete, visual way. This is why the Falna is also called 'Status.' As long as one can read the sacred script, anyone can verify the power of those who have received the blessing."
Astraea's voice became profound and ethereal.
"Upon receiving the grace of a god, your potential, talent, body, and soul will all be manifested."
"I cannot grant you great strength, nor can I change your fate."
"You are who you are; even after receiving this grace, you will remain the same. It does not add even a shred of power to your being."
"What you long for, what you hope for, how you choose to act, and the path you decide to walk—these are the things that will eventually forge your true self."
"As your goddess, I can only offer my blessing."
Grace is simply grace. Every god bestows it without requiring any innate talent, yet it changes nothing instantly. There are no "strong" gods who give better effects, nor "weak" ones who give worse. Its only function is to unearth and manifest stats based on the experience accumulated.
What a Familia member sees, hears, and does is evaluated by the god and recorded onto their back. They wait for a turning point in their adventures to unearth the latent power within—the true potential for infinite growth. This is the "Grace of God."
Astraea smiled as she looked at the emblem that had formed: a sword and wings, along with the engraving of the Familia's name. Roland had taken his first step toward becoming "Justice."
The ritual was over.
"Lady Astraea, is it finished?" Roland asked as he felt her fingers leave his back.
"The ritual is complete. I... I'm just surprised by you."
"Surprised?" Roland wondered if the "modification" he underwent was real. Otherwise, how could his ordinary talent shock a goddess?
"Yes, very surprised." The goddess showed an unmistakable joy, her long fingers lightly brushing his back. "You have awakened one magic and three skills—all of them are incredibly powerful."
"That sounds quite exaggerated." Even though Roland knew his body had been modified, he couldn't help but be shocked.
Few people obtained skills at Level 1, let alone multiple. Such individuals were undoubtedly geniuses. For instance, Finn, who spent four years honing his skills and strategies in the mountains, received one magic and three skills when he met Loki at age fourteen.
"This kind of talent isn't about training; it's deeply connected to your experiences, your interests, and what you identify with. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the power to manifest one's inner fantasies and thoughts."
'No, I'm just using cheats, even though it hurt like hell,' Roland thought to himself.
Once the grace is bestowed, everything—known or unknown—is visualized by the sacred text. By looking at the script on a child's back, a god can clearly see their hidden potential.
"Skills can be acquired through training, but magic is a miracle—a proof of receiving the world's blessing and one's own potential."
"Especially the magic and skills you've obtained this time; they are extraordinary. Roland, you are undoubtedly born with the potential of a hero. Even Lyu is overshadowed by you."
The praise was so high it made Roland feel slightly embarrassed. "Lady Astraea, if you keep talking like that, I'll start getting arrogant."
"Hehe, you're so cute."
Though elegant and gentle, Astraea wasn't a stiff or old-fashioned goddess. On the contrary, she felt more like a mischievous, motherly older sister. (In the side stories, she would greet her returning children with: "Would you like a bath, dinner, or your new 'wife'?")
Astraea then took a piece of parchment and pressed it against Roland's back. A flash of light followed, transcribing the sacred text into the Common Tongue.