They locked eyes with one another, and for a brief moment, time itself seemed to slow to a crawl. The noise of the world faded into the background, leaving only the two of them standing there, unmoving. To an outside observer, the scene could have easily been mistaken for something drawn straight out of a love story, an instant of perfect stillness, reminiscent of love at first sight.
However, that could not have been further from the truth. Whatever thoughts crossed their minds in that moment, they were far from romantic. Beneath the silence and the illusion of tenderness, neither of them was thinking about love at all.
Both of their faces now carried serious expressions, each of them lost in their own thoughts as they silently gathered their resolve. The air between them felt tense, as though something important was on the verge of being said.
'This is my chance to ask him.'
'This is my chance to ask her.'
Somehow, despite neither of them speaking, the exact same words echoed within their minds.
Just as they were about to open their mouths, a sudden female voice rang out from the distance, cutting through the moment as it called out the green-haired girl's name.
"Zephyra! Where are you!" the female voice shouted, unmistakably addressing the girl standing in front of Aurelius.
Both of them turned their heads toward the source of the sound at the same time.
There, they saw a girl with pink hair tied high into twin pigtails. She was dressed in a nurse-like outfit, its design practical yet distinct, with a subtle hint of a wizard's flair woven into it. Her presence was impossible to miss as she stood there, having clearly been the one who called out moments earlier.
"Oh! Heith! Right over here!"
The girl, now confirmed to go by the name Zephyra, called out loudly to her comrade, her voice carrying clearly through the area.
Aurelius watched her as she finally noticed the two of them standing together. His gaze lingered for a moment, a familiar sense of recognition stirring in his mind.
'Isn't she that crazy healer from the Freya Familia from Season 5?' he thought. 'What is she doing with he—'
His train of thought abruptly halted as realization caught up with him. Aurelius blinked once, mentally correcting himself as he recalled the obvious detail he had momentarily overlooked.
'Oh right. She's from the Freya Familia as well,' the titan thought.
Heith soon approached the two of them, her steps slowing slightly as she took in the sight before them both. A flicker of surprise crossed her expression when she recognized the one her goddess was particularly fond of standing right in front of her, alongside his lazy yet overwhelmingly powerful friend.
'What's he doing here?', Heith wondered, confusion surfacing at the unexpected appearance of her apparent target for a future kidnapping. 'Wait… is he—'
Her eyes subtly shifted as she took in the situation the two were currently in. Thoughts raced through her mind as she ran through possible theories and summaries at a rapid pace. After only a moment, she arrived at a single conclusion.
'Is he trying to seduce her?!'
Indeed, that was the guess she settled on.
Her face suddenly contorted into an expression of suspicion, which quickly deepened into a frown. In that instant, her actual first impression of the target was already slightly sullied.
As she approached their position, she moved swiftly to the side of the green-haired girl. Even then, her attention did not waver, her eyes lifting to look at the massive man standing before them, her frown still firmly in place as she regarded his towering presence.
'What's wrong with her?' Aurelius thought as he noticed the pink-haired girl's visible displeasure. 'What did I do?!'
Zephyra quickly noticed the confused look on Aurelius's face. Following his line of sight, she turned her head, only to see her friend openly frowning at the titan-like man standing in front of them.
Realizing the misunderstanding almost immediately, she wasted no time in stepping in to clear things up. "It's not what you think, Heith," Zephyra said calmly. "Me and him accidentally bumped into each other."
"Is that so?" Heith replied, her expression tightening further into a deeper, more intense frown, her eyes still filled with doubt as she continued to scrutinize him, clearly not fully convinced by the explanation.
Zephyra let out a small sigh, shaking her head as she watched her friend's antics. "I'm sorry for her actions," she added apologetically. "She's a bit overprotective of things."
Rising from her position, Zephyra straightened herself before bowing slightly toward the titan. "And I apologize as well for accidentally bumping into you," she said sincerely.
"Oh no, not really," Aurelius responded quickly, waving his hands in a flustered gesture as he tried to decline the apology. "I should be the one apologizing. I was daydreaming in the middle of a crowded area."
Zephyra watched his actions closely. Upon hearing his words, she let out a soft giggle, the sound escaping her lips almost unconsciously.
"Alright then," she said lightly, a small smile forming. "Apology accepted."
She then re-adjusted the groceries she had safely recollected, ensuring everything was properly secured in her arms. Once she was done, she looked back toward the titan, her expression calm and composed.
"We'd better get going now," she added. "We're kind of late for our training session with our Familia members."
Aurelius nodded in response, acknowledging her words.
"Alright," he said. "I'm sorry for taking up your time here by accident."
Zephyra nodded once more at the titan's words before turning her head toward her companion standing close beside her. She reached out, holding onto her arm gently.
"C'mon now, Heith. We should head back."
"…Okay," Heith replied, though her tone remained hesitant, her thoughts still lingering in a state of suspicion.
The two of them began to walk past the titan, moving steadily through the crowd as they headed straight toward their headquarters, their figures gradually blending into the flow of the bustling street.
Aurelius, now alone once again amid the crowd, lingered in his thoughts.
'Well, there she is', he thought to himself. 'Meeting her here by accident was something I never expected life to throw at me.'
He continued walking slowly, his mind wandering. 'I figured I'd meet her sometime in the future, especially with how fast my Familia is growing. But I didn't expect it to be this early.'
His gaze drifted briefly in the direction they had gone. 'Still… I can feel it. She emits a strong aura of power, even though she was clearly suppressing it.'
His thoughts deepened as he contemplated the anomaly that was Zephyra.
'Wait… is she like me? An isekai person?'
The titan pondered the idea, his mind caught in the dilemma it created.
'Or maybe she's just someone native to this world, someone born from the consequences of my own wish? A butterfly effect, perhaps?'
…
…
…
'Honestly, I don't know,' Aurelius concluded internally, leaving the question unanswered. 'Maybe if I get the chance to meet her again, I'll think about how to properly choose my words to pry into her identity.'
'Though, not to mention…'
He glanced back once more, his eyes following the two figures now far from his location. 'Her body is unrealistically curvy. Guys from my past life would've gawked, mouths wide open, jaws hanging at the sight of her figure.'
'But in this world…'
He lingered for a moment longer before turning his head in the opposite direction, toward the path he had originally been strolling down. 'I guess being a Level 8 and a member of THE Freya Familia is more than enough to make sure that doesn't happen when she's present. Good for her, I suppose.'
With that, he let his thoughts settle and resumed his walk, taking in the cheerful, rowdy atmosphere around him, along with the pleasant weather that accompanied the lively streets.
He continued like this for hours, moving through the streets, meeting people and greeting them warmly. He engaged in small talk with various individuals. Some were vendors selling their wares, while others were simply townsfolk passing by. Occasionally, he bought something for himself, little treats to enjoy along the way. Though, what he chose to purchase would hardly be called a "snack" by the majority of people; to them, it seemed far too substantial to earn such a simple label.
After a while of leisurely strolling and enjoying the bustling atmosphere, he eventually decided it was time to head back home. Yet, unbeknownst to him, his two little comrades had news that would soon reach him. A mess that would inevitably spiral into a future fight that would be a turning point for his familia.
For either good or for worse.
______________________________________________________
Evening had settled over the city, and Aurelius had just returned from his stroll. He walked leisurely through the streets of Orario, unhurried and at ease, having spent his time simply taking in the sights around him. The calm of the moment lingered with every step he took. One of those days where rare sense of relaxation washing over him.
It was a feeling he seldom experienced, true peace amid the bustle of the city, especially considering the life he led as an adventurer and the circumstances of his arrival in this world. For once in many, there was no urgency driving him forward, no danger pressing at his back. Instead, he allowed himself to enjoy the quiet satisfaction of the evening, appreciating a brief respite that his usual days rarely afforded him.
As he arrived in front of his home, the abandoned church where his Familia's headquarters were located, he came to a stop. He stood there in silence, staring at the rundown structure before him, taking in its worn walls and weathered presence. For a moment, he simply observed it, letting the sight settle in his mind as he reflected on his journey since arriving in this world.
'It sure is surreal how I reincarnated into this world,' the titan thought. 'Here I was, thinking that when I died, I'd go nowhere.'
A gentle wind blew past him, brushing softly through his hair as his gaze shifted toward the horizon. The setting sun hung low in the distance, its warm light illuminating the outline of the church and casting long shadows across the ground. 'Quite a few memories I've made here with those three,' he mused quietly. 'Honestly, it feels like my past life's home.'
He slowly turned his head, letting his eyes wander around the surrounding area. He took in the atmosphere, absorbing the familiar vibe of the place he stood in at that very moment. 'Even though I can say with full confidence that what I've been through in this world has mostly been smooth sailing, there's no denying that my wishes played a huge part in all of it.' His thoughts continued steadily. 'That doesn't mean I was completely gifted, though. I still had to work my ass off to get where I am now, even if it might not look that way from another perspective.'
His gaze returned to the church, this time focusing more specifically on the entrance. The door that marked the boundary between the outside world and the place he called home. 'Still, I'm glad,' he thought. 'Honestly, this world would be much worse for me without the "gifts" I gained. Though…'
A slight frown formed on his face as his eyes lingered on the same spot. 'Wasn't this church destined to be destroyed by a Familia at some point?' he wondered. 'It's been a long time since I last watched the series. I only really remember the later seasons.'
Closing his eyes, he let out a quiet sigh. A small smile followed as he shrugged his shoulders, his concern easing just as quickly as it had appeared. 'Meh, we'll see what happens. If it's some kind of weak Familia, I can always just one-shot it.' His thoughts shifted casually. 'The only Familia members in this city who are currently stronger than me should be the Loki and Freya Familias. There are a few others, sure, but I don't think they're relevant enough right now. Just side characters working behind the scenes… I think.'
He opened his eyes once more. 'Those are problems for future me to deal with,' he decided. 'For now, I'll focus on getting stronger alongside those two kiddos, so future me actually has the resources to work with.'
Aurelius let out a quiet chuckle at his own words. "Kiddos, huh?" he muttered to himself, amused. "Heh… I'm starting to sound like an unc already."
With that, he began walking towards the church. Pushing the door open, he stepped inside the building, hoping to find his Familia waiting for him within.
Upon entering the church, he headed straight toward the basement of the building, where their so-called "room of operations" was located....at least, that was what the prum liked to call it.
As he made his way inside, by gods (or goddess) on how he managed to squeeze through the narrow entrance, he soon found himself inside the room. It wasn't long before he stumbled upon the three of them, standing together and facing one another in a small circle they had formed.
Well… it looked less like casual conversation and more like they were discussing something important.
"I'm home," Aurelius announced his arrival casually, his voice breaking the silence. "What's with all the fuss?"
All three of them turned toward the direction of his voice at once, only now realizing that their beloved titan of a man had returned. Their eyes settled on him, but instead of greeting him, they simply stared.
"…Not even a welcome home?" Aurelius asked jokingly, raising an eyebrow. "And what's with the looks you guys are giving me?"
The three exchanged glances with one another, clearly contemplating something. After a brief moment, they turned their attention back to Aurelius as Hestia finally spoke.
"Well," Hestia said, hesitation evident in her voice, "we were talking about an invitation that we received."
Bell and Lili nodded in agreement beside her.
"An invitation?" Aurelius asked, confusion creeping into his tone. "From who?"
"Well…" Hestia began, pausing slightly before continuing. "I'll let you see it for yourself."
She then handed him an envelope that had already been opened. A clear wax seal was still visible at its center, marking where it had once been used to seal the envelope shut.
Aurelius took the envelope from his goddess's hands. Carefully, he removed the letter from inside and began to read its contents.
==================================
To the esteemed Goddess Hestia
and the members of the Hestia Familia,
I extend my warmest greetings to you all.
On behalf of the great and radiant Apollo, it is my honour to formally invite the Goddess Hestia and her beloved Familia to a banquet hosted by the Apollo Familia. The gathering will be held in celebration of fellowship between Familias and as an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding within the city of Orario.
The banquet will take place at Apollo Familia's manor on the evening of the upcoming full moon by tomorrow. Fine food, music, and entertainment have been prepared, and we sincerely hope you will grace us with your presence and allow us to extend our hospitality.
Lord Apollo has taken a particular interest in the Hestia Familia and has expressed a strong desire to speak with you personally during the event. He believes this banquet will be a wonderful chance for both Familias to enjoy a pleasant and memorable evening together.
We kindly ask for your attendance and look forward to welcoming you.
Also, We would kindly asked to bring a maximum of three of your adventurers with you to our banquet for it will truly make the atmosphere more wonderful. If you decide to bring less, then that is fine as well. This applies to other familias that would be attending the banquet.
May the light of Apollo guide your steps.
With the highest regards,
Hyakinthos Clio
Captain of the Apollo Familia
=================================
"…"
Aurelius remained silent after finishing the contents of the letter. His gaze lingered on the parchment for a moment longer than necessary, his expression unreadable. Confusion stirred in his mind as he processed the sudden and unexpected turn of events laid out before him.
"Why did they invite us, of all Familias?" Aurelius finally asked, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, yet laced with clear suspicion. "It seems strange that they specifically want us to attend."
Bell and Lili exchanged uneasy glances before turning their attention toward their captain. The tension in the air was unmistakable. Bell shifted slightly, his unease written plainly on his face, before deciding to speak up.
"Honestly, I don't know either, mister," Bell admitted. "But… the adventurers we know of, after—"
Aurelius turned his gaze toward the white-haired boy, one eyebrow rising in quiet expectation. "Those adventurers are?"
Bell hesitated, his words catching in his throat. It was clear that he was reluctant to name them outright, unsure of how his captain might react. Before the pause could stretch any longer, Lili stepped in, unwilling to let the moment drag on.
"It's the ones we fought at the tavern, sir," she said plainly.
Aurelius's eyes widened slightly at her answer.
'Ah, I see', he thought, the pieces finally falling into place as old memories surfaced. 'So it's about to be that time, huh?
The events of the War Game with them.'
He looked at the three of them intently, his mind already turning over the situation. 'There's no real need to worry,' he reasoned. 'It's not like their Familia poses a serious threat. Even without outside assistance like in the original, At our current strength, this Familia is more than capable of handling it.'
'Still… being cautious wouldn't hurt. Who knows what might happen.'
After a brief pause, Aurelius voiced his conclusion. "I'd say we go."
Bell's eyes widened slightly, confusion evident on his face. "Why?" he asked. "They were the ones who provoked us in the first place."
It was clear that Bell still held a strong grudge against the Apollo Familia after what had happened the night before. Lili, however, saw the situation from a different angle.
"Captain's right," she said firmly.
Bell turned toward her, looking even more confused than before.
"It's simple, Bell," Lili explained. "If we don't go, we risk being targeted, possibly harassed, by them. Sure, our captain would be fine dealing with it on his own, but what if they have connections with other Familias? Don't you think that risk isn't worth taking?"
Bell considered her words carefully. After a moment, he nodded in understanding. "If you put it that way… yeah, you're right."
Up until then, Hestia had remained quiet, listening closely to the discussion. Finally, she spoke.
"It's settled then," she declared. "We're going to the banquet tomorrow night."
Everyone nodded in agreement at their goddess's decision. After a bit more discussion about what might possibly occur at the banquet, the group gradually dispersed, each heading off to rest for the night, mentally preparing themselves for the events that awaited them the following day.