"THAT'S ENOUGH!"
Mama Mia's voice crashed through the tavern like a warhammer. The chaos both goddesses were causing was enough for the owner of the Hostess of Fertility to finally intervene in person.
And this big woman wasn't just any innkeeper. She was a former adventurer — and not just any adventurer, but a former Level 6. She might have been retired, but even today she could put any rookie or seasoned adventurer in their place.
Both Loki and Hestia froze mid-argument.
"You wanna fight, take it outside. You wanna drink, sit down. You break my tables, you pay double."
Instant silence.
Loki coughed and slid back into her seat. Hestia huffed but obeyed. The adventurers slowly returned to their meals, though every ear remained tuned to the commotion.
Orion had barely relaxed when Loki leaned sideways in her chair and crooked a finger at him.
"Oi, kid. You. Get over here."
"…Me?" Orion pointed at himself.
"Yes, you. Don't make me repeat myself."
Before he could protest, Finn gave him a polite smile. "If you don't mind, we'd enjoy some company."
Eina stiffened. Hestia's eyes narrowed instantly.
"Why does he need to sit there?" Hestia snapped.
Loki smirked. "What? Afraid I'll steal him?"
"You flat board—!"
"Hestia," Orion said quickly, standing. "It's fine. I'll just talk."
At that, Hestia pouted internally. If only I were his goddess, I would have dragged him out of here by now. Hmph… where is that golden cow when we need her? she snorted.
Eina grabbed his sleeve lightly. "Be careful," she whispered. As an advisor, she knew exactly who Finn was — arguably the most famous Pallum in Orario, and perhaps in their entire race.
He was a man of great feats. For someone like him to show interest in Orion, that was either extremely good or extremely bad. She didn't know which, and that worried her.
Hestia leaned toward her and gave her the hardest stare imaginable. Eina swallowed. But for the time being, she ignored the goddess. Loki was the main problem here.
Orion walked to the Loki Familia table and sat in the empty seat Finn offered.
Up close, the pressure was different. Strong. Calm. Dangerous.
Finn rested his chin on his hand. "You're Orion, correct? It is rather interesting to see Riveria take interest in a new adventurer like you…"
Orion blinked. "Nine Hell did." He looked confused. Why would the best spellcaster in Orario be interested in him?
Then suddenly his mind clicked. Perhaps it was the same reason as Eina.
Bete snorted. "Why's the old lady interested in a rookie?"
He immediately earned a deadly look from said old lady, which shut him up.
As for Riveria, she had not looked away from Orion since he sat down. The moment he settled, her emerald eyes remained fixed on him.
"There is something about you," she said quietly.
Lefiya leaned forward. "Yes! That's what I was thinking!"
Tiona tilted her head. "He does kinda look cute—"
And immediately, the Amazon was on Hestia's radar.
"Th-that's not what I mean!" Lefiya sputtered, her face red. Though to Lefiya, the boy was indeed very cute.
But it wasn't that — it was the pull. Like standing beneath a vast tree with sunlight pouring through its leaves.
Riveria spoke again, her tone measured. "Do you have elven lineage?"
The entire table went quiet.
"What?"
Everyone's attention snapped to her as if she had spoken in Elvish.
Eina, still seated at her own table, leaned slightly to listen.
Even other Loki Familia members leaned in, half confused and half curious as to why Riveria would bring that up.
Orion shook his head. "Not that I know of. I'm human, last I checked." He pursed his lips and replied stiffly. He might know why she brought that up.
Riveria studied his face carefully. His features were sharp but soft in the right places. His posture straight but relaxed. His presence ancient and steady.
He was indeed human. However, there was something about this boy. She felt a very familiar sensation from him.
Like home.
Lefiya whispered, "He even looks like—"
"Lefiya," Riveria warned gently.
Looks like? Come on, don't stop midway. Now you're just making me curious, Orion thought with a stiff smile.
Finn's eyes glinted with curiosity. He had no idea what the elves were talking about, but if this boy had caught Riveria's interest, then he wouldn't underestimate him.
Orion raised an eyebrow. "Similar to what?"
Riveria hesitated before answering calmly, "To the elven royal bloodlines."
That made even Orion pause — let alone the rest of the table.
"I assure you," he said, half amused, "no elf king raised me."
Loki leaned back, grinning. "Wouldn't that be fun though? Secret royal human."
For a goddess, loyalty meant little compared to amusement — let alone the possibility of some long-lost royalty. Only she could treat Riveria's statement so lightly.
Hestia slammed her cup down at her table. "He's not your royal anything!"
Loki shot back, "Why are you so defensive if he's not even in your Familia?"
That question hung in the air.
Finn glanced between them. "Ah. That is a good point. Which Familia do you belong to, Orion?"
The tavern grew quiet again.
Most people had assumed the answer was Hestia, given the way she had been acting.
However, her expression after that question wasn't reassuring.
Orion wasn't hers.
Eina's eyes slowly shifted toward him. She was the only one who knew, besides Hestia and Orion himself.
Orion exhaled. "It's… complicated."
"Complicated?" Gareth rumbled.
"You're not in Hestia's Familia?" Tiona asked loudly.
Loki blinked. "Nope… the shorty was trying to steal him."
Hestia's face immediately turned red. "Who said anything about stealing him?!"
"So it's not like that?" Loki's eyes narrowed further.
Hestia sputtered. "W-Well— he just hasn't— it's—!"
Riveria's gaze sharpened again. "Then who is your god?"
Orion opened his mouth.
Nothing came out. Should he mention Marika?
Explaining Marika was not simple. Not politically. Not spiritually. Definitely not mentally.
He hesitated just long enough for suspicion to bloom around the table.
Lefiya leaned forward again, almost unconsciously drawn closer.
Riveria's voice lowered. "Your aura… it is not normal. It feels like an ancient tree. Like the forests of old."
Eina's heart skipped. That was exactly how she had felt.
Orion looked down briefly. "Huh. Really? Thanks, I guess."
Before Riveria could press further—
The door opened.
It wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
The entire tavern went silent anyway, subdued by the aura alone.
A woman stepped inside.
Golden hair flowed down her back like solid sunlight. Her presence was calm yet overwhelming. Her beauty did not scream — it commanded silence.
Even the air seemed to part around her.
Several adventurers stood up without realizing they had.
Syr, behind the counter, stopped smiling for the first time that night.
Even Loki blinked.
"…Who the hell is that?" she muttered, snapping her spoon at the sight of the woman's chest.
The woman's eyes scanned the room once.
They found Orion instantly.
Then she walked forward.
Orion could only gape at the display.
It was, of course, Marika — who had manifested in physical form outside the tavern without informing him and walked in front of everyone.
But why? Orion desperately wanted to know.
Every step she took was graceful. Unhurried. Certain. Almost as if she were playing with mortal hearts.
Freya was known as the most beautiful goddess in Orario.
But this woman rivaled her.
No.
To some — she surpassed her.
She reached the Loki Familia table.
Orion slowly stood.
"Goddess…?" he asked stiffly, almost accusingly, his eyes narrowing at her display.
Gasps spread through the tavern.
Goddess?
This is his goddess?
Did she forget to seal her Arcanum or what?
What is this golden, holy grace?
Marika said nothing at first.
She stepped behind Orion's chair.
Then, gently — possessively — she wrapped her arms around him from behind.
Her cheek rested near his head.
"This child is mine…"
Her voice was calm. Warm. Absolute. Hypnotic.
My child.
The words carried a possessive allure that made many swallow hard — even some of the women.
Hestia's jaw clenched.
Loki's eyes widened as if she had seen a ghost. Those breasts…! It's unfair. So unfair.
Finn went very still. The aura she commanded even sent chills down his spine. This was nothing like Loki. This woman truly felt like a goddess.
Riveria felt the aura fully now — vast, ancient, rooted in something far older than Orario.
Marika's golden eyes swept across the table.
"Is there a problem with my follower?"
xXx
A/N : Alright, I wished for Marika to stay hidden, but the goddess has other plans. What can I do about it. Lets see what storm comes out of this…
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