[POV: Hestia]
I wanted, from the bottom of my divine soul, to march up to those floozies and show them who's in charge here. Oh, how I wanted to.
But unfortunately, I couldn't. I had other commitments that afternoon, important plans, and, as usual, I was already late.
So, swallowing all my disgust and fury, I left in silence. But my eyes... ah, my eyes didn't leave them for a single second.
Maybe my gaze was sharper than I thought, because they noticed. They turned slowly, as if feeling the weight of my presence.
Lyu, as always, kept that unbearable poker face and simply returned to what she was doing, as if I were invisible.
But Syr...
The shy one. The sweetie. The bar's darling. Miss "Oh, I'm so sweet that I give people cavities."
She looked at me.
With a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
And then, the audacity, she threw me a disdainful smile, gave a playful wink... and went right back to chatting with my Luki-kun as if nothing had happened.
I froze.
Eyes wide. Jaw dropped. Pure shock.
That bitch challenged me?!
A goddess?!
Aaaaah!!! HOW I WANT TO KILL HER!!!
...
Completely ignoring what had just happened, I went on my way without looking back.
Now I was in the poshest part of Orario, where the wealthiest Families live like kings. It was the kind of place that oozed status even from the pavement.
What I liked most about it were the wide, clean streets. It didn't even feel like Orario. No trash, no noise, no smell of beer in the air... It was as if the city had had a makeover just to please the gods with full pockets.
Ah, if I could live here…
But that's a dream for later. For now, I had a clear goal.
— I'll never get used to this view... — I murmured without realizing, staring at the building in front of me.
A mansion. One hell of a mansion.
It followed that fancy style whose name I always forget. The sophisticated white stone bricks that probably told me their name but I forgot. And a roof of red tiles whose name I certainly didn't bother to remember.
And on the gate, in gold-plated letters, because of course they had to be gold-plated:
"Familia Hephaestus."
I sighed deeply.
Now that the peak of envy had passed… for some reason I felt like I was going to get scolded.
...Nah. Must be paranoia.
...
Normally, any visitor would be greeted by a maid or a Family member, led to the anteroom, and instructed to wait patiently until Hephaestus was available.
But me? I'm practically furniture here.
Nobody stopped me, nobody questioned me — I simply walked in and went straight to her office, as if I owned the place. And well... for a while, I almost did.
Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I'd spent a few weeks staying at this mansion. And... let's say some memorable things happened during that time.
Like... who hides a cellar of expensive wines behind such a poorly concealed fake door? That was practically an invitation!
It's not my fault I drank it all in one night.
It's her fault for not hiding it properly.
BONK!
— Ow! Why did you hit me?! I didn't even say anything!
BONK!!
— And you think I don't know what's going on in that head of yours? I hid that collection better than I hide my own forge. The only way anyone would find it was if they were actively searching, you pest.
Speaking with all the authority of an angry goddess was none other than the Forge Goddess, Hephaestus.
One of my few true friends from the Celestial Realm — part because of affinity, part because of proximity (we were temple neighbors and used to go out together often… or at least until I caused a little incident).
Long red hair always tied up in some messy way. But always stunning.
Her body was sturdy but toned, the perfect mix of muscle and well-placed curves. What a envy.
Her only issue was a black eyepatch that covered almost half her face. Many wonder what's under it, but as her friend I already know.
All I'll say about it is that it's not as bad as she makes it seem. But I understand, everyone has their fears, so I avoid bringing it up.
Other than that, simple, practical clothes. She was never the type to care about appearances — which didn't stop her from owning more beauty products than I do.
— B-b-but that's all in the past, right? You said you forgave me for that!
— And I forgave you. — she replied, with a calm little smile.
My heart even warmed. I almost cried from emotion. A divine forgiveness like that, who wouldn't be touched?
But before I could actually feel at peace...
BONK!!!
A divine smack. Literally. Much harder than any I'd taken today, and believe me, Mia's hit made my brain reboot.
I fell backward with my eyes rolling, my soul exiting my body for a few seconds before stumbling back in.
'What now?' I mentally complained, already seeing stars.
Apparently my thoughts were broadcast live, because Hephaestus replied with the merciless calm of someone with a long list:
— That was for the time you knocked down all the weapon racks in my main shop and made me lose an entire day of sales.
— And also for the barbecue you threw on MY rooftop without telling ME. You used MY brand-new grill and didn't even invite ME.
— There's also the day you swapped my shampoo for blue dye! BLUE, Hestia! On Denatus Day! I was humiliated in front of all of Orario!
— Ah, and now that I think about it, there was that time when-
— OK! OK! I get it! I'm sorry! I'm sorry, alright?!
— If it were up to me, you'd be paying back even the hairs on your head, Hestia.
— But...
— But the fact that I'm not charging you for every penny of the damages you caused is more of a miracle than any blessing you could give.
— I...
— And don't be fooled. Just because I forgave you doesn't mean I won't rub these stories in your face every time you show up here.
She crossed her arms, triumphant.
And I there, all hunched, feeling once again like the true victim of the situation.
Maybe moved by my expression of pure suffering, Hephaestus let out an exasperated sigh and, reluctantly, sat on the sofa across from me.
— Enough drama. Say why you came here, before I kick you out again.
— Not even a cookie? — slipped from my mouth before my brain could filter it. I regretted it the instant it left.
She shot me that look. The Hephaestus look. Cold, direct, with the power to cut my soul and freeze my liver. A shiver ran down my spine.
'How does she do that?!'
I sighed. Time to get serious. I straightened my posture, channeled the last shred of divine dignity I had left, and faced my friend head-on.
Hephaestus adjusted herself too, as if sensing the conversation was getting serious.
There was an invisible tension between us. I knew it wasn't much, but... still, it was funny. We looked like two completely different people. Would my Lukizinho recognize this professional version of his goddess?
'Hestia, focus.' She cut through my daydream with surgical precision.
— Yes, yes... well... I have a favor to ask...
— And?
— And you might refuse... so I'm afraid to ask.
— How can I refuse something I haven't even heard yet?
— But I know you'll refuse...
— Then why did you come ask me?! — she put her hand to her forehead, already tired of the conversation.
— Because... it doesn't hurt to try. And... honestly, I have no other option.
His image passed through my head. The first and only boy who made my heart beat differently. Now with a broken arm, unprotected and unarmed.
And still, I knew: as soon as he's better, he'll go back to the Dungeon. He'll throw himself in even deeper, deeper... And worse: he'll find something even more dangerous.
He doesn't tell me what happened last time. He doesn't try to invent excuses. He just falls silent — because he knows he can't lie to me.
As if he knows that, if he told me the truth, I would forbid him from going back.
Maybe I should. But after seeing that skill on his Falna, Tireless Explorer, I understood. He was born for this. He lives for this. I can't stop him.
So... all that's left is to support him. Make him stronger. Make him come back alive.
Maybe, without meaning to, some of that slipped into my expression. I was never good at hiding emotion. But for the first time, Hephaestus seemed less defensive. More... receptive.
— Just say it already. The worst that can happen is I say "no." You've got nothing to lose.
— True...
I took a deep breath.
— Hephaestus... in the name of all our years of friendship... even if this goes against some of your principles...
Her eyes suddenly shone. I saw it. I clearly saw the gears turning in her mind. Connecting the dots. Anticipating what was coming.
— Hestia... no.
— Please, forge a weapon for my Son!!! — I shouted, already throwing myself to my knees in front of her like a supplicant in the middle of the temple.