It was late in the evening in Orario, around 9 p.m.
That time marked the end of another day for most adventurers who ventured into the Dungeon. It was common for them to depart on their journeys between 9 and 10 in the morning, returning to the surface around 6 or 7 in the evening, carrying heavy bags of loot and exhausted, yet satisfied, bodies.
The city, during this period, gained a unique energy. The streets were packed, like rush hour traffic, with adventurers coming and going, merchants shouting their promotions, and taverns filling up with customers looking for food, drink, and stories to tell.
But this hectic routine wasn't part of Luki's life. Unlike most, he always preferred to leave at 5 a.m., taking advantage of the silence of the early hours to explore the Dungeon with caution. His more cautious style made him return before noon or, at most, shortly after, avoiding the busiest hours and, most importantly, the dangers of staying too long inside.
But today was different. It was already past 9 p.m., and Luki still hadn't returned. For Hestia, every dragging minute without news of him felt like an eternity. She couldn't hide the worry that consumed her heart. Sitting on the couch of their small home, her mind wandered through scenarios she preferred not to imagine.
— He's never late like this… Never. — Hestia murmured to herself, her eyes fixed on the door as if she could force it to open through sheer will.
The silence inside the little house contrasted with the sound of the bustling streets outside. Laughter, loud voices, and hurried footsteps echoed, but to her, it all seemed distant, as if the world outside was a separate reality. The tension was almost palpable, and the waiting made every second longer than the last.
'What if something happened? What if he faced too many monsters? What if he was ambushed by other adventurers?'
These thoughts assaulted her mind without warning, feeding a growing fear she couldn't push away. Hestia shook her head, trying to banish the pessimism.
— No… maybe he just got lost… — she whispered under her breath, clinging to that excuse even though she knew it was absurd. Luki was methodical, careful. He would never get lost, he has an incredible sense of direction. She knew that, but preferred the illusion to the idea that something truly serious might have happened.
— Please… come back home. Please, please, please. I've never asked you for anything…
Hestia clasped her hands together, resting her elbows on her knees and her head on her clenched fists. It was a posture that resembled someone praying or begging for a miracle.
Ironic, in a way, considering she was a goddess.
— You can't do this to me, Luki… not after everything. Damn it, Hephaestus, why did you have to reveal that? Why did you have to tell me that…
Hestia clenched her hands even tighter, her thoughts drifting back to earlier that day, when she visited her friend Hephaestus.
The two had been friends since time immemorial, and Hestia had always considered her like an older sister. Hephaestus was one of the few people she trusted completely, someone with whom she could be vulnerable, even when it came to something as confusing as what she was feeling now.
She had left the house right after Luki departed for the Dungeon, anxious to clarify the feelings that had been growing inside her. She didn't understand them. It was strange, unsettling, something she had never experienced before.
After all, as a goddess, the only feeling she knew clearly was boredom.
But Hephaestus, as always, faced her with characteristic frankness, shedding light on something Hestia had been reluctant to admit.
— You're in love with him, you idiot, — Hephaestus had said, without hesitation.
The phrase still echoed in Hestia's mind, as if it had been branded with fire. She had denied it at the time, of course, but now, sitting alone in that empty room, consumed by worry, she could no longer ignore it. Hephaestus had been right. And that only made the waiting more unbearable.
— Luki… come back to me, — she whispered again.
The silence of the house was dense, heavy, as if the very structure felt her anguish. She looked at the door, expecting at any moment to hear the familiar sound of his footsteps. But nothing. Only the quiet that stretched endlessly.
Door creak.
Then, finally, the sound of the door opening cut through the tension. Hestia quickly raised her head, her eyes lighting up as she saw Luki's silhouette in the entrance.
— Home… — Luki muttered, closing the door as if nothing had happened, his expression indifferent.
— Sor—
— LUKI!!! — Hestia shouted, relief flooding her all at once. Without thinking, she leapt toward him, arms wide, her heart racing.
— (Wait! Wait! Wait! Blargh!) — Luki, caught off guard, blurted out in his native tongue before being practically tackled by Hestia, who threw herself at him like a koala clinging to a tree.
The impact was so strong that they both lost balance and fell to the floor. Luki groaned, rubbing the back of his neck with a pained expression.
— (Ouh, my head…) — he grumbled, still dizzy, trying to get up while looking at Hestia, who clung to him tightly, with no intention of letting go.
— Luki! Luki! You're okay! — She cried, almost in tears. — Oh my gods, you're okay! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
He still seemed dazed by the sudden explosion of emotions, but the sight of Hestia, so worried and overjoyed to see him safe, made his heart warm.
He didn't know how to deal with the storm of feelings her presence stirred in him, and the best he could do was stay silent, wrapping one arm around her waist while his other hand stroked her long hair, feeling the soft strands slide between his fingers.
'Looks like she really worried about me. Now I feel even worse for lying… but it's not my fault, it's the Dungeon.'
He looked at her once more, and his thoughts grew even more tangled.
'Who am I kidding? Even I don't believe that excuse… Hopefully she goes easy on me this time.'
The two stayed like that for the next few minutes, Hestia letting out all the tension and fear she had been carrying, while Luki, silently, prepared for the scolding he knew was coming. She held him as if afraid he would leave again, and he could only think that, in some way, he deserved everything that was about to come.
...
— YOU IDIOT CHILD!!! — Hestia exploded in anger, her face red with indignation. She shouted so loudly that spit flew everywhere, and with a sharp tug, she grabbed Luki's ear. — I TOLD YOU TODAY! YESTERDAY!! AND THE DAY BEFORE!!! TO NOT DO THIS KIND OF THING! AND YOU DARE TELL ME YOU WENT TO THE FIFTH FLOOR?!!! DO YOU WANT TO BE DISOWNED?!!!!!!!!!!!
— (I'm sorry…) — Luki, sitting on the floor with his hands resting on his knees, could only apologize. His smile, meant to be cordial, looked more like an involuntary reflex, but his posture was one of complete submission, not daring to resist.
— WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH THAT HEAD OF YOURS?! — Hestia continued, her rage not dimming at all. — THAT YOU'D JUST TAKE A QUICK WALK IN THE PARK AND BE BACK SOON?! YOU COULD HAVE DIED!!!
— (I'm sorry…) — Luki repeated, with a tired sigh.
— AND LOOK AT YOUR CLOTHES?! — Hestia shouted again, now inspecting his clothes, seeing the many fresh tears and bloodstains. — LOOK AT ALL THESE RIPS! OH GODS, LOOK AT YOUR STATE! HOW MANY MONSTERS DID YOU FIGHT?! I WARNED YOU NOT TO DO THIS!
— (I'm sorry…) — Luki murmured, his voice dropping low, almost drowned in shame. He looked at his own wounds, but had no valid explanation. He knew the scolding was more than deserved.
— LUKI, YOU IDIOT!!! — Hestia screamed, her voice full of frustration, almost like an explosion. — STUPID! FILTHY UNGRATEFUL ELF! MISERABLE… — She began spitting out every insult and curse that came to mind, releasing all the anger she had bottled up.
Her eyes were wide, her face a mixture of visible exhaustion and overflowing concern.
Luki, lost in his own storm of emotions, didn't have the strength to defend himself. He stayed there, motionless, listening to Hestia's voice resound in his ears. Every word felt like a heavy blow against his chest, and he couldn't find the words to fight back. He knew he deserved it, but the weight of her accusations didn't lessen.
He knew he wasn't entirely wrong. After all, it was already past time he pushed himself deeper into the Dungeon. He thought that, despite the risks of death, he had a fair chance of returning safely.
In Orario, life itself was a constant risk, and the Dungeon, for all its danger, seemed like a more calculable one. But as he reflected, he couldn't ignore the fact that his actions caused suffering to the one who cared about him. Hestia, with all her kindness and vulnerability, worried too much for him, and that… that was more than he could justify rationally.
Logic, in that moment, made no sense against sentiment. He knew his decision was wrong, not because it was reckless, but because it ignored her concern. His actions only created more anguish, and even if necessary, he had to accept the consequences.
And while she continued yelling, not giving him room to respond, he just stayed silent. The best he could do was wait for her to calm down. He knew that, no matter how painful the scolding was, she was only showing how much she cared for him—something that, deep down, made him happy.
— DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID?!!! — Hestia shouted once more, her voice full of exasperation. With a violent pull, she grabbed his pointed ear, forcing him to bend closer to the floor.
— (I'm sorry…) — Luki answered almost automatically, his tone fading in the attempt to soften her fury, though he knew the words weren't enough.
— AND YOU STILL DARE TO DRIFT OFF, YOU DAMN ELF! WHO DO YOU THINK I- — Hestia continued, her voice cutting the air. She looked ready to explode again, but then a pause fell over her, as if she had begun to realize the impact of her own words.
Sigh. He sighed inwardly.
It was as if time itself had frozen for a moment. Luki could feel the intensity of her gaze still burning into him, as if she wanted to rip the tension straight out of his soul. He closed his eyes briefly, accepting the weight of the situation.
'This is going to take a while…'