The goddess standing before them had immediately called out 'Furina' instead of 'Focalors.'
Instantly realizing something, Daphne's attitude grew even more respectful. She said politely, "Understood, please wait a moment."
Then, grabbing Cassandra, who was still standing to the side, she pushed open a small side door next to the main gates and walked in briskly.
At that moment, in the spacious living room of the Palais Mermonia, Aiden and Furina were playing a simple board game he had taught her called "Jungle Chess."
"Elephant eats lion, lion eats tiger, tiger eats leopard... Haha, Aiden, your rat is about to be eaten by my cat! You're going to lose!"
Furina was gloating triumphantly over her supposedly god-tier move.
Aiden just smiled, completely unbothered.
Just then, Daphne and Cassandra hurried in from the entryway.
"Yo, did you buy everything we need?"
Aiden greeted them with a smile, but upon seeing their serious expressions, he couldn't help but sit up straight. "What's wrong?"
Daphne took a deep breath and spoke rapidly. "Captain, there is a goddess outside requesting an audience. She... she specifically asked for Lady Furina."
She intentionally placed heavy emphasis on the name "Furina."
Hearing this, Aiden froze slightly, then asked uncertainly, "She asked for Furina? Not Focalors?"
"Yes," Daphne and Cassandra both nodded in confirmation. "That goddess specifically said, 'I am looking for Furina.'"
Aiden immediately turned his gaze to the goddess beside him. "Furina, is she an acquaintance of yours?"
"Huh?"
Furina tilted her head, her beautiful heterochromatic eyes blinking. Tapping her chin with her index finger, she put on an expression of deep thought. "Someone who knows me and knows the name 'Furina'... Let me think... It couldn't be Astrea, could it? But hasn't she left Orario a long time ago?"
"Astrea? The Goddess of Justice, Astrea?" Aiden was truly a bit stunned now. "You know her well?"
"Of course!"
Furina puffed out her chest as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "We are both Goddesses presiding over 'Justice'. When we were in Heaven, the nature of our work was quite similar, so we naturally interacted a lot. She is also one of the very few gods who knows my situation."
She actually knew very few gods in Heaven. Most were mere nodding acquaintances, like Artemis.
But there were also a few she had deeper interactions with, such as Astrea, who frequently worked alongside her in Heaven since they were both Goddesses of Justice.
Moreover, while in Heaven, she never participated in those boring "Faction Games" or "War of the Gods" that the other gods organized.
Otherwise, with her status as a Great God, she would have been fully qualified to establish her own Pantheon and become a Pantheon Head on par with Zeus, Ouranos, and Odin.
"I see... Then it must be Goddess Astrea, no doubt about it."
Aiden frowned slightly, ripples of shock stirring in his heart. "She actually returned to Orario. What kind of incident happened?"
In his memory, Astrea was only supposed to return to Orario from the City of Swords during the Faction War period, all so that Ryuu could participate in the battle.
But right now, they were still a long way from that point in time. Why did she suddenly come back?
Had the Focalors Familia, acting as a butterfly, flapped the wings of fate?
Soon, the image of the red-haired girl in the Dungeon—the one who looked identical to Alise Lovell—flashed through Aiden's mind, his eyes turning pensive.
"It's Astrea! I haven't seen her in so long!"
On the other side, upon confirming the visitor's identity, a thoroughly delighted smile bloomed on Furina's face.
She jumped up joyfully from the sofa, abandoning the chessboard entirely, and ran excitedly toward the main gates on her little legs, ready to personally welcome her old friend.
Meanwhile, outside the Palais Mermonia.
The members of the Astrea Familia were sizing up the magnificent palace.
"To think it would be the Focalors Familia... I heard this goddess is also a Goddess of Justice," Cecil said, looking at the grand gates with eyes full of curiosity. "And their reputation lately has been massive. Even back in the City of Swords, I heard about their War Game with the Apollo Familia. And that 'Saint of Battle Rhythm' is also a member of their Familia."
"The 'Saint of Battle Rhythm'!"
Beside her, the Prum girl, Shion, immediately revealed a look of envy and longing. "I heard from the adventurers that adventuring with her grants you more Excelia and boosts your leveling speed!"
"Yeah, yeah." Uranda, the black-haired human girl, lowered her voice, her tone laced with disbelief. "I heard their Captain leveled up to Lv.3 and became a Second-Class Adventurer in less than two months after joining the Familia because of her! That speed is practically like using cheats!"
"Hey, hey, hey! What's with the hood? Is that you, Astrea?"
Furina dashed out the door like a gust of wind, instantly locking onto the only deity in the courtyard besides herself.
She leaned in curiously, like a little cat discovering a new toy, circling around Astrea and trying to peek through the gap in the hood to see her true face.
"You're still the same as ever. As lively as always. It's been a long time, Furina."
A helpless, doting chuckle came from beneath the hood. Astrea slowly pulled it back, revealing a gentle, beautiful face that could rival any Goddess of Beauty.
"It really is you, Astrea!"
Seeing that it was indeed her old friend, a smile of absolute joy blossomed on Furina's face, and she was about to cheer loudly.
Quick on the draw, Astrea reached out a pale index finger and gently pressed it against Furina's soft lips. "Furina, keep it down. I don't want news of my return to spread."
"Oh, oh, I get it already."
Furina somewhat discontentedly pushed Astrea's finger away, muttering softly, "I'll just keep it down, stop treating me like a child."
Despite her words, she obediently lowered her voice.
Astrea put her hood back on, a somewhat doting smile on her face as she looked at her friend, who remained as full of energy as ever despite the years apart.
"Let's catch up later, hurry up and come inside with me!"
Furina grabbed Astrea's hand, excitedly pulling her into the palace. As she walked, she showed off like someone presenting a prized treasure, bragging triumphantly, "Hehe, Astrea, did you know? I've only been down in the lower world for a few months, and I already have my own headquarters! The Palais Mermonia! Grand, isn't it? Hehe, it seems developing a Familia isn't that hard after all. I'm really amazing, aren't I?"
"Yes, you are incredibly amazing. Furina is much better than me," Astrea chimed in with a smile, her tone utterly sincere.
Receiving her best friend's affirmation, the signature ahoge on top of Furina's head bounced happily. Her small face was practically screaming, Praise me! Praise me more!
In the spacious living room of the Palais Mermonia, everyone took their seats according to host and guest.
Robin served fragrant black tea one by one to Astrea and her Familia members who had traveled from afar.
"Thank you," Astrea took the teacup. When her gaze landed on Robin, her eyes couldn't help but light up, and she praised sincerely, "You must be the 'Saint of Battle Rhythm,' correct? Even in the outside world, I have heard of your great name. Seeing you in person is even better than the rumors. I'm almost envious of Furina for having such an outstanding child like you."
"Lady Astrea praises me too highly. I am simply a bit luckier than most."
Faced with the praise of another Goddess of Justice, Robin merely shook her head modestly, her posture elegant and composed.
"Hehe, right? My Robin is amazing! She's the Vice-Captain of our Familia!"
Being able to show off her children in front of an acquaintance was the happiest thing in the world for Furina right now.
She couldn't wait to point to the other side, introducing her proudest, first Familia member. "Over here, this is Aiden. My first child, and the Captain of our Familia."
"Lady Astrea, it is an honor to meet you. I am Aiden, Captain of the Focalors Familia."
Aiden stood up and gave a slight bow to this legendary goddess.
"'Flamescion'..."
Astrea softly recited Aiden's alias. The gentle smile remained on her face, but the gaze she directed at him carried an indescribably peculiar nuance. "I've watched the recording of your War Game. You practically defeated the entire Apollo Familia single-handedly. Your performance shocked many people across the world, you know."
Her words were full of admiration, but ripples surged in her heart.
----
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