Orario, central square, a few minutes after declaring the end of the battle. Despite his exhaustion, his natural ability to recover was nothing to scoff at, in those few minutes, he'd recovered enough to walk on his own again.
"Yeah, I'm tired." Shurry chuckled, and stretched out his muscles. "That final barrier really took a lot to break through, I can see why a thoughtless beast wouldn't be able to break through it."
Hathor smiled…
"Son…"
"Mother…"
There was a moment where nothing was spoken, but a lot was said.
"It looks like you've got your hands full."
"I do?"
"Yeah."
"I do."
The simple back and forth had little to no meaning for everyone else. But it sure meant quite a bit to Ardee, Hathor and Shurry.
"Mother, there's a lot of work on all of our hands. This city… The scars of hell will never be fully healed. Yet, even so, we should do what we can to make things right, with everything we have."
"Before that, you should go get some rest." Hathor smiled. "Ardee, go with him, and make sure he actually rests."
"I will, Mother Hathor." Ardee cheerfully stated, and was about to leave…
However, she stopped, noticing a rather uncomfortable woman… We've been friends for a long time… I really want him to myself… But Neze really did everything she could… Maybe… Just once? So long as she knows that she's number 2.
"Neze, won't you come with me?"
Neze's ears popped up, like she'd smelled the best slab of meat ever… and… her tail beat side to side. She looked to make sure Astraea was alright with it. And then… She ran forward to join Ardee.
"I- I- I thought you'd never ask!"
Shurry sighed inwardly, but kept a warm smile on his face. I had a feeling this might happen one day. But it would take something gargantuan to make it happen. Ardee really is the only one I have romantic feelings for. But, I suppose, if this is to become a thing, I should start making room. But this is it, any more and… A shiver ran down the length of his spine as another memory came to the forefront of his mind… I suppose I'll have to explain about this earring, and make room for another.
Ardee took Shurry's right arm, and wrapped herself in it. She was a little too short to reach all the way up for a kiss, but now wasn't the time for it.
Neze nervously reached for Shurry's left arm, attempting to copy Ardee to some degree, but with her own wolf-like charm.
The three turned, and walked towards Hathor familia's home, which, fortunately, while damaged it avoided anything major. Once out of sight, Hathor turned to her familia captain, and dungeon captain.
"What's next?"
"Well, we should start cleaning up the city, and begin the rebuilding process." Bokhoir suggested.
"There's so many who've lost everything, is there even enough housing left for people to live in? Daedalus Street was practically demolished during the battle." Nernatti said, wondering what should be done.
"Yeah, sorry about that, Evilus was relentless over there. They'd try demolishing the buildings just to trap us." Alise said, with a smile that made it hard to get angry at her.
"On the plus side, we discovered that hidden entrance to an underground fortress… What did they call it? Knossos? Or something like that?"
"Yeah, seems like that was the case."
With so much destruction everywhere, much of it a result of the concentrated explosions, the rest was caused by the fires. Well, the vast majority of it was… There was the occasional building falling down due to Shurry's fight with the evil gods.
"If I may, I have a suggestion." Finn spoke up, sensing this was the last chance he'd have to save his, and his familia's asses from Shurry's wrath.
"Hmm? Watcha got in that head of yours, Finn?"
"I… I think our first priority should be to establish housing. But to do that will take a while. So, familias with captains at level 3 and below should begin aiding in the reconstruction as fast as possible. My familia will split up, and aid in the reconstruction, as well as gather resources from the dungeon."
"Better get to it then…"
"Wait just a minute. Something's happening…"
Another golden light descended from the sky and then vanished, to reveal a busty little goddess. She rolled her shoulders, and walked forward.
"That big stupid head! Why'd I let him goad me into this…" She complained.
"Hestia?"
"Astraea? Astraea!"
Hestia ran over, excited to see her old friend again, enthusiastically hugging her.
"Hey, how are you, it's been a while." Astraea giggled.
"Oh, I was doing alright till someone told me they wanted me to come down here. There I was, just reading my books in my temple. And in waltzes one of his messengers to tell me to go out and see him!"
"Pfft. Then what?"
"Well it was super loud and annoying, but he said I should come down here. Even teased me into it, can you believe that?! My own brother, so mean."
"Pfft… I think that's because he knew you'd be a wonderful help to the city's recovery."
"Huh? Why? It's not like I can use my powers down here. Seriously how do you do it, I feel so stuffy!"
"Pfft, you'll get used to it." Hephaestus giggled, deciding to show up and pat her friend's head.
"Oh? Hephaestus, long time no- WHA-WHA-WHAT! Your eye!? It's all better now? What? How?"
"Oh this, it was the work of a boy, now a young man, and the very same who killed Erebus, for all of us."
"HUH?!" Hestia's expression was riddled with shock. "A mortal killed him? What did Erebus do to reach a point where that was even allowed, let alone possible?"
"You have some research to do, but if you look around, every bit of the destruction around you is his fault."
Hestia looked around, and used a few mirrors, to see everything, only using the mirrors because she saw others using them still.
"What… This is horrible. None of this should have happened. It's so terrible."
"Yes, and now that you're down here, Hestia. How about you start up a familia? A construction familia."
"Oh!? That actually sounds like fun… Alright! Who wants to build lots of nice cozy homes. Ones you can just curl up and read a good book by the fire."
The hands that shot up were the majority of those having already had lots of construction experience. Hestia could see the valis signs already.
"Hestia, once you're done I'd like to contract you to build something for me."
"Yeah, oh, that's right… Where's this puppy at? Someone wanted to tell him something…"
"You're not going to see him for a few days. He's probably already sharing his bed by now."
"Ugh, fine… I'll come see you in a few days then."
…