Orario.
We left the Prayer Room in the evening, when the sun had almost set behind the horizon and the streets of the city began to be lit by magical lanterns. On the way to the place where I felt the presence of Hestia and Bell, my thoughts kept returning to Ouranos' words about the Biblical God. I think the same was true for Griselda, but for a slightly different reason.
Just before leaving, I asked Ouranos a couple more leading questions, and the answers I received finally dispelled any doubts that the local version of the Biblical God had something up his sleeve.
That is, initially, there should not have been a word like 'Babel' here. It was formed in the Akkadian language and literally meant 'gate of God', as if reflecting the connection between the earthly and the heavenly. And in this world, there was a single alphabet, which, moreover, did not resemble Akkadian at all. Based on this, the Biblical God definitely hid some meaning or function in this name, as well as in the building of this particular shape, but what was it?
In theory, I could try to resonate with the tower using the rings, and perhaps that would provide some answers, but at the moment, such an action was inappropriate. After all, I needed the Beast to materialize, and such an action would have a chance of scaring her away.
There was also the option of Clairvoyance, which I always keep inactive. This was because I had absolutely no desire to put my sanity at risk, as visions of the future and the past for THOUSANDS OF YEARS definitely sounded like something very painful.
In the end, we reached our destination, which turned out to be a half-ruined church. The architecture of the building was clearly biblical in nature, which added a couple more notes to my mind and also somewhat upset and puzzled Griselda.
- "A church? Didn't Lord Ouranos say that the Lord did not descend into the Lower World?"
- "I know as much as you do."
- "And your friend lives here?"
- "More of a good acquaintance than a friend," I smiled and, without much ceremony, went inside. Of course, I was immediately noticed, and in addition to the already familiar Bell, who was putting on armor and checking her dagger, and Hestia, who was helping her with this, there was another petite girl who exuded Hestia's divinity. "Good evening, may we come in?"
- "We're already in, Mr. Archaman," Griselda commented with a hint of irritation in her voice.
- "Mr. Archaman?!" Bell exclaimed in surprise.
- "Romani?!" Hestia exclaimed in surprise and ran up to me. "I thought you had all left! What about Tiamat? Morgan? Where are they? And who is this with you? Is she also part of your Familia?"
- "My name is Griselda, Lady Hestia. I'm new to this city," Griselda greeted us. "It's nice to meet you."
- "Calm down, Lady Hestia. That's too many questions at once," I smiled. "I see your Familia has grown?"
- "Yes!" Hestia nodded, immediately forgetting her questions, and struck a proud pose. "Meet Liliruca Arde. She transferred to us from the Soma Familia, where she was treated very badly. But now she likes everything, and Lili helps Bell in the Dungeon. It's easier for Bell and more peaceful for me!"
- "Nice to meet you," Liliruca bowed. "Bell and Lady Gestia have told me a lot about you."
- "I understand," I nodded.
- "Are children allowed in the Dungeon too?" Griselda asked anxiously.
- "I'm not a child!" Liliruca declared. "I'm a hobbit, and I'm fifteen. This is my normal height."
- "As you can see, everything is fine," I shrugged and, noticing something, sat down on the sofa. While Griselda was still considering the situation with doubt, I said, "I would like to know what has changed since we left, Lady Hestia. And I think that while we are talking, Griselda could test herself in the Dungeon, since your children are going there. Despite her appearance, she is quite strong."
- "We are always happy to welcome Mr. Archaman's friends," Bell nodded in agreement, as did Liliruca behind him.
- "I wouldn't mind," Griselda said after a moment's thought.
- "What about the Guild? Has Griselda already registered there?" Hestia asked.
- "No, but she can do it on the way," I said, discreetly leaving a trace of my divinity, disguised as Tia's, on Griselda's body. "After all, she is already part of the Tiamat Familia, so there shouldn't be any problems."
- "Okay," Hestia nodded, and after a few more minutes of preparation, Bell, Griselda, and Lililuka left the church, leaving the two of us alone.
- "Now you can speak freely, Lady Hestia," I said, leaning back on the old sofa. "I don't think they'll hear us."
Hestia clenched her fists on her knees and lowered her head, remaining silent for a while longer. Then she looked at me and smiled, but her smile revealed only sadness, fear, and anxiety.
- "Romani, I... I don't know what to do," she began, and I raised an eyebrow. "Orario has changed. It used to be the safest city, but now it scares me. It scares me so much that I want to leave Orario, as several Familias have already done. But..."
- "But Bell doesn't want that, does he?" I smiled.
- "Yes," Hestia nodded sadly. "I've already talked to him about it, and that's why he's going to the Dungeon even at night. Bell wants to save as much money as possible and become as strong as possible to protect me when we leave the city. I understand his thinking, but... But I know there's another reason."
- "Hmm? And what is that?"
- "Ais Wallenstein," she said. "He doesn't want to leave the city because of that girl from the Loki Familia, even though she doesn't pay any attention to him."
- "And the Loki Familia itself, as I understand it, plans to stay in Orario?"
- "They are strong and wealthy, Romani, just like you, and for that reason, they are not particularly frightened by the current situation. I understand that Loki offered me her help, even despite our childhood animosity towards each other, but that only makes it more painful," said Hestia and lowered her head, after which I noticed drops of tears falling onto her tiny hands. "If I were stronger... richer... more confident... Would my Familia not be afraid of this city?"
I decided not to comment on her words, because I didn't really care about her.
- "I can't protect Bell... I can't protect Lili... I can't even protect myself... I'm such a useless goddess..." Hestia continued, her voice already breaking. "I... What should I do, Romani?"
I made a cup of coffee and took a sip, giving her time to cry a little more, then closed my eyes.
I suppose "almost" still gives her a chance to get out of this situation. Tia would certainly not approve of my actions, but I will follow my principles nonetheless.
- "Lady Hestia," I called to her, opening my eyes. "Do you regret your choice?"
- "No," she shook her head. "I don't regret coming down to the Underworld, nor do I regret creating my Familia and meeting Bell and Liliruca. My only regret is that I wasn't strong enough to not be a burden to them..."
Hearing this, I smiled.
Well, Hestia from this world isn't bad, I'll give her that. And I already have one specific way to help her. Since I had already given the inhabitants of this world one Noble Phantasm, why not give them a second?
Thanks to the 1st Magic, a magic staff appeared in my hand, its shape lacking in severity but not in fairy-tale charm and refinement. It was a long branch of black wood, bent twice at the end. Attached to its middle with multicolored ribbons of fabric was a golden ornament, the end of which wrapped around the staff itself, as if it had naturally grown together with it.
I casually threw the staff to Hestia, who caught it awkwardly and looked at it with incomprehension, then at me.
- "There is only one spell in this staff that only you, Lady Hestia, can use. And it is not for attack, but for defense. The defense of those dear to its owner. Fairy-tale realms that are alien to the concepts of loss, grief, and sorrow," I said. "That's what you wanted, Lady Hestia, isn't it?"
- "This..." Not knowing what to say, Hestia froze, then examined the staff with her divine powers. "I can't accept this, Romani! I can't even imagine how much such an artifact would cost! And..."
- "Oh? But I didn't give it to you for nothing," I smiled. "In return, you must grant me one request."
- "I'll do my best!"
- "Find out everything you can about this Ais Wallenstein," I began, and Gestia's face immediately contorted. "You see, Morgan was interested in this person because she sensed the blood of spirits in her. That's why I would like you to find out more about her."
- "Oh, I see," Hestia nodded and, pressing her staff to her chest, jumped up abruptly. "Then I'll go to Loki right now and find out everything."
- "Thank you," I said, and Hestia flew out of the church like a bullet, leaving me alone.
Well, that's that taken care of, and now it's time to go to the Dungeon. I'll see how Griselda is doing and, at the same time, meet with the xenos. After all, I was curious to know how they were doing.
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