Back at the Hathor familia home, the expedition members were doing their regular training, even going as far as to help Ardee make some of her own improvements. This was a slow, yet steady process… Slow only in comparison to Shurry, but when compared to others, even the likes of Ottar and other members from Freya, and Loki familia… It was slightly faster than them.
"This training is amazing!" Ardee cheered, wiping the sweat from her face using a towel provided by the Hathor familia's hired maids. "Thanks! For the towel miss."
"Would you like something to quench your thirst as well? We got Honeymilk, and Date or Gourdberry juice. Of course, it's all freshly squeezed too." The maid said with a cute smile, holding a new finger up with each of the drinks she listed.
"Date… Date…"
"Pfft, you're too cute. Alright a fresh cup of date juice, here, enjoy." She said while offering the cold cup.
Ardee, took the cup in her hands, she sipped the juice, eyes lighting up again at the familiar flavor. "I love it! Fresh date juice is the best! Thank you!"
Nernatti giggled seeing the expressions changing from afar. "Ardee, if you're done we can start the next bit of training."
"Alright!"
They started training again, this time was the winding down session. It was clear to see because even regular people could see their movements. One may even mistake it for some kind of dance… They wouldn't exactly be wrong either. Since the dancers of the familia were doing their best to capture the movements for a play they were going to put on in the coming months.
"Nernatti? Where did this training come from? It feels familiar but I can't really place it very well."
"It's good that you remember even that much." She answered with a slight giggle, then grew solemn. "It was the Zeus and Hera familias final gift to Shurry before they left the city. He wrote a complete copy of the methods and principles, it is this copied format that we train. Of course we've changed a few things to make it a little less dangerous, and more in line with Lady Hathor's image. Then again, it wasn't much."
"Wow! No wonder it felt so familiar. I hope it's not too much to have me training with you."
Nernatti smiled. "It's not. You're going to join our familia in the future anyway, when you and Shurry get married." Ardee blushed, and smiled, slightly shyly. "Of course Lord Ganesha will be hesitant to give you up, at the same time, he won't be able to say no, I don't think he has it in him to go against the masses." She giggled.
"Yeah, you're right! Marrying him… I wonder how many we can have."
It was right about then that Alise and the Astraea familia showed up. Alise heard the marriage talk and ran over.
"Alright Ardee, spill it. What happened to the two of you down in the dungeon? Come on, you can tell me!"
Ardee, still smiling, started laughing, and then eyed the three girls who seemed to be interested in Shurry as well. "Well, I guess I can tell you."
Relaying everything, Ardee made sure to put heavy emphasis on her new position over the other girls, teasing them a little bit as she did. Nernatti struggling to hold in her laughter as she watched the odd mix of emotions swirling.
Soon a guard came running. "Captain! Dungeon Leader Bokhoir! We need help at the gate immediately. Freya familia's here-"
"Level 4s gear up and prepare for the possibility of combat. Level 3s, protect the noncombatants with everything you've got." Bokhoir ordered way faster than Nernatti could.
""Right!""
…
The front gate… Currently all of the Freya familia's strongest members, with their goddess present as well. It looked like they were attempting to make an assault against the Hathor familia. However, Bokhoir's quick order made that thought, even if it was present, a rather dangerous prospect for them.
"What do you hope to gain coming to our familia's home in full force like this?" Nernatti asked, while Bokhoir was sizing up the Freya familia members.
"If you attempt to fight, I can promise you this, it won't end well." Bokhoir declared, already prepped for the potential combat that might happen.
Ottar sized up Bokhoir, and let out a faint sigh. "We're not here to fight. We have a request. My goddess wishes to speak with Lady Hathor."
"Lady Hathor isn't here right now. And even if she was, I'd need to know what this is about before we could set up a meeting."
"And where's y'ur letter at? Y'ur supposed to send one of them first."
"That was my order. This is a matter of great importance, and there's not much time."
Hathor, Shurry, and the other member returned to see what was going on. "Freya, what is the reason for causing such a scene?"
"Ah, welcome, home. I have a matter of importance to speak with you, as it's urgent, I couldn't wait for a letter."
Shurry was instantly on guard, Bokhoir, and Nernatti both relaxed, but still remained vigilant. Soon a table was set up outside, just in case a fight broke out. Hathor, and Nernatti sat down, Shurry was watching the Freya familia like a predator just waiting for the prey to fuck up.
"So, what is it you want?"
"I'd like to have my children have Balor this time. And I'd like to know who it was that leveled up yesterday." Freya asked, sipping the tea she was extremely reluctantly served by a maid completely covered in a barrier to protect from the annoying natural charm. "But now, I have another question… Does that barrier your child made actually work? And if it does, can it work in the opposite direction?"
"You want my child to wrap you in his magic?"
"Well, I'd of course only allow it if he became my child-"
"NEVER!" Shurry interrupted… Causing many to glare daggers at him.
"That answers that question. And I suggest you tell your children to stop those glares, they can't hope to beat him anyway."
Freya laughed it off. "Anyway, about what originally brought me here-"
"Shurry, do you need Balor?"
"No, he's too weak to give me anything but a small stat increase."
"How about you Bokhoir, Nernatti?"
"We could use him, but it's not like we care enough when there's other ways to level up."
"I agree with Bokhoir, so long as the price is reasonable, we can give them our allotment for Balor this time." She smiled, wiggling her ears up and down.