Bloom moon 17
The morning sun spilled gently across the cobblestone path outside Hearth Manor, catching on the dew that clung to budding leaves and garden blooms. Spring's breath lingered in the air—cool, fragrant, and just lively enough to coax the city into motion.
Near the manor gate, Bell double-checked the straps of his armor, humming quietly to himself. A few paces away, Narissa stood with her usual quiet poise. The half-elf's dark cloak swayed slightly as she adjusted the dagger sheath at her hip, the slim blade now a regular part of her gear since training under Felis.
"They're late," she murmured, not looking up.
Bell gave a small shrug, trying to smooth his hair down as a breeze tousled it again. "They said they'd be back sometime this morning... Maybe they got caught up?"
Narissa exhaled through her nose. "Wouldn't be surprised."
A moment later, the sound of footsteps echoed softly from the garden path beyond the gate. Two familiar figures came into view, walking side by side—Felis, carrying a small travel bag slung casually over one shoulder, and Hestia, bundled in a light sweater and soft skirt that gave her a relaxed, homey look. Both looked... different. Subtle things. The ease in their movements. The way their glances lingered just a moment too long.
"Ah—Bell-kun! Narissa-chan!" Hestia called out with a wave, beaming as they approached. "We're back!"
Bell smiled brightly. "Welcome home, Hestia-sama! Felis-san!"
"Didn't think you'd cut it so close," Narissa said, arms folded loosely, brow lifting. Her gaze flicked briefly between the two—curious, but not suspicious. "You look... rested."
Felis chuckled as he stepped past the gate, golden eyes gleaming just a bit too knowingly. "Vacation does wonders for the soul."
"I'll bet," Narissa muttered, but she let it go, shifting her weight as she adjusted the strap on her bag.
Hestia smiled a little too sweetly. "Don't worry, we didn't bring back any trouble. Just a few memories..."
Bell nodded quickly, ever the innocent buffer. "It's really good to see you both back. We're just about to head to the Dungeon."
Felis gave a light clap, his ears giving the faintest twitch. "Perfect timing, then. Go make some Valis—we'll hold the fort."
"You mean lie on the couch until lunch," Narissa said, brushing past with a faint smirk. But there was no heat to it.
Felis made a show of mock offense, but didn't deny it.
As the pair walked off toward the city, Bell glanced back once, just for a second. There was nothing obvious. No kisses. No embraces. But the way Felis rested his hand briefly on the small of Hestia's back—barely a touch, almost habitual—it made something click faintly in the back of Bell's mind.
'They've gotten even closer, haven't they…?'
He didn't say anything.
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The door clicked shut behind them with a soft finality, cutting off the rest of the quiet house. The basement room was dim and cozy, the stone walls wrapped in soft tapestries and shelves stacked with mementos. A plush bed—clearly made for two—waited at the center.
Felis tossed their small travel bag onto a nearby chair, but Hestia had already made her way to the bed, flopping backward with a contented sigh. Her hair splayed across the pillow like spilled ink, cheeks still tinged with color from the morning air—or perhaps something else.
She turned her head slightly, eyes following Felis as he joined her, boots already off.
"…You should be careful," she mumbled, voice muffled slightly by the pillow.
Felis arched a brow. "Careful?"
Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her skirt. "Narissa and Bell. If they notice something's… different. I don't think I could look them in the eye. Narissa especially. I'm still her goddess, you know? If they found out we've… done things, I'd just die of embarrassment."
He chuckled low in his throat and shifted closer, propping himself on an elbow beside her. "You say that like I'm the one making it obvious."
Hestia narrowed her eyes. "You are the obvious one."
"Oh?" Felis twirled a strand of her hair around his finger, golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "I'm not so sure. You remember what I told you about memory, don't you? Scientific research says women are more easily aroused by memory and emotion than by sight alone. That makes you the real risk, my dear goddess."
She blinked. "…That's not fair. You always bring up weird facts when you're about to do something."
Felis' smirk deepened. "Like this?"
His tail slid slowly beneath the folds of her skirt, the velvety brush tracing along the inside of her thigh. She stiffened, breath catching with a soft, involuntary gasp. The warmth of his touch and the teasing motion sent a ripple through her, just enough to make her press her legs together—too late.
"Mmh… F-Felis…" she whispered, her face flushing crimson.
He leaned down just a little, voice a whisper against her ear. "Although our room's in the basement, and theirs is up on the second floor… I wonder if they'd still hear your moans if they happened to come back early."
Hestia covered her face with both hands, flustered beyond belief. "Don't say that! Now I can't stop thinking about it!"
Felis chuckled softly, tail still gently flicking, enjoying her squirming.
Her breath trembled as she tried to push his tail away, fingers weak with laughter and lingering tension. "Y-You're the worst," she muttered, still hiding half her face behind her hands.
Felis let his tail slide back, retreating slowly like a cat satisfied with its mischief. "Mmm. But you like me this way," he whispered as he curled around her, arm wrapping gently beneath her shoulders to pull her closer.
Hestia gave a small huff, cheeks still pink. "…I do."
She nestled into him, her head finding its familiar place beneath his chin, her hand resting lightly over his heart. The teasing burned away, leaving only warmth in its place—quiet and steady, like the glow of embers after the fire.
For a few moments, neither spoke. The silence wasn't awkward—it was full of unspoken things: the sound of their breath syncing, the soft rise and fall of his chest, the faint rustle of fabric as she tucked her legs against his.
"…You know," she murmured eventually, voice barely above a whisper, "If you keep teasing me like that… I might actually start thinking about it even more. Even when I shouldn't."
Felis smiled against her hair. "Then I guess you'd better be extra careful not to let your mind wander, my dear goddess."
"You say that like it's easy," she grumbled playfully, pressing her face into his chest. "You're unfair. Handsome and clever and—" she gave a little sigh "—very good at using that tail."
He chuckled again, the sound deep and comforting. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Another beat of silence. Then Hestia whispered, softer this time, almost shy: "…I'm really happy, you know."
Felis tilted his head just enough to kiss her temple, his voice velvet-smooth. "Me too."
She smiled into his chest, fingers curling slightly into his shirt. The soft beat of his heart echoed against her palm, and outside, the gentle sound of leaves rustling in the spring wind filled the air. Bloom Moon had begun—and for once, the world felt quiet and whole.
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The executive common room of the Loki Familia home carried a rare sense of calm that morning—Bloom Moon 17, just one day after their expedition's return.
The scent of polish and fresh linen lingered in the air, a quiet reminder of post-dungeon cleanup. With no immediate need to sharpen weapons or plot routes, the atmosphere had eased into something lighter. The mood was bruises slowly healing, idle conversation over warm drinks, and the luxury of a breath taken without urgency.
At the round table in the center, Finn Deimne cross-checked tallies—earnings, injuries, casualties. Beside him, Gareth puffed silently on a pipe, sparing occasional glances toward Riveria, who sat in the corner levitating a teacup in one hand while flipping through a Guild dossier with the other. Tione leaned a bit too close to Finn under the guise of looking over his shoulder, while Bete lounged against the windowsill, arms crossed, eyes half-lidded but ears quietly attentive.
Loki had made a predictably dramatic entrance earlier, sidling up to Ais with a wine glass in hand and a teasing grin.
"How 'bout we skip the boring reports and go on a little date, huh~?"
Ais, seated at the far end of the couch near Lefiya, didn't react. Her gaze lingered somewhere distant. Unbothered. Silent.
Lefiya, by contrast, jumped at the opportunity. "A-Ais-san, did you hear about the bloom in Daedalus Street? They say the ivy on the old tower glows at night like starlight!"
Ais tilted her head. "...Does it?"
Lefiya's face lit up. "Y-yes! Maybe we could go see it sometime... together?"
Before Ais could respond—or Loki could wedge her way back in—Tiona burst through the doors, parchment in hand and a wide grin on her face.
"Hey everyone! You're not gonna believe this!"
Finn looked up, alert. "A report from the Guild?"
Riveria's attention shifted as well, eyes narrowing. "What is it?"
Tiona all but bounced into the room. "About that guy we ran into on the 17th floor—the one escorting that girl from the 19th. I asked around, and guess what? He already ranked up!"
That earned the room's full attention.
"Ranked up?" Gareth leaned forward, intrigued.
Tiona slapped the parchment onto the table. "Felis Veltheris. Level Two!"
The parchment rustled as Tiona laid it flat. A shimmer of magic caught the eye—at the top, a mageograph printed in silver-blue hues.
A young man stared back.
Black hair, feline ears, and eyes the color of burnished gold
Felis Veltheris
Level 2
Stats
Strength: I0
Endurance: I0
Agility: I0
Dexterity: I0
Magic: I0
Development Ability: Arcane Wellspring I
Magic: Aqua Benedicta – Heals wounds proportional to the user's Magic.
Riveria's brows lifted. "Only one spell... a healing type. Yet he was fighting on the front line?"
Finn tapped the parchment. "Those are his post-rank-up stats. Fresh reset. We can't tell how strong he was before."
"Exactly!" Tiona beamed. "And guess how long it took him?"
Finn blinked. "...How long is it?"
"Forty-three days!" Tiona shouted, grinning. "Amazing, isn't it?!"
Gareth gave a low whistle. "That's faster than anyone recorded. Even Ais."
Tiona nodded. "Yeah. Ais took a year to reach Level Two—and she was already terrifying."
Bete scoffed. "Tch. Probably just a lucky punk. Bet he picked off some weaklings and rushed the update."
Riveria's gaze flicked toward him. "You saw them too, Bete. On the 17th floor."
He clicked his tongue but didn't respond.
Loki groaned, slumping into the couch and clutching her head. "Why'd you have to say that?! Now she's gonna get interested..."
Sure enough, Ais turned her head slightly. "Forty-three days...?"
Lefiya blinked. "A-Ais-san?"
Riveria gave Loki a pointed glance. "You planned to keep it from her?"
"Of course I did!" Loki threw her hands in the air. "You know what she's like—next thing you know, she'll be stalking some new kid around town trying to figure him out!"
Ais stared at the parchment in silence. The name. The spell. Aqua Benedicta. A healer...?
Her memory drifted to the calmness in his stance on the 17th floor. The way the girl behind him had clung to his sleeve—not with fear, but trust. Something about him had left an impression. Not power. Not charisma. Just... composure.
Loki bolted upright. "NOPE. Nope. Ais, I forbid it. That's final!"
Ais didn't respond right away. Her gaze had settled on the mageograph.
Golden eyes.
Black hair.
Cat ears.
Ais lowered her voice. "...I want to know how he did it."
Lefiya blinked. "You mean how he ranked up so fast?"
Riveria studied her. "You're wondering what you might have lacked."
A small nod.
"If he could reach Level Two in forty-three days… I want to understand why I couldn't."
Loki slumped over the armrest, defeated. "Why is it always the weird ones?"
Finn chuckled. "What can we do? She's always chasing strength."
And this time, no one disagreed.
---
The gentle rustle of parchment and distant chatter filled the Guild's central hall. Ais and Riveria stepped through its doors side by side, their presence drawing a few glances but no interruptions. The expedition had only ended yesterday, and already Ais moved with intent.
Riveria glanced sidelong at her. "You're certain?"
Ais nodded once. "I want to know how he did it."
No protest came from the High Elf. She knew Ais too well to argue.
They approached the front desk, where a familiar half-elf was sorting documents behind the counter. Eina Tulle looked up and blinked in surprise before offering a warm smile.
"Ais-san. Riveria-san. Welcome back."
"We returned yesterday," Riveria said smoothly. "You've been keeping busy, I imagine."
Eina gave a small chuckle. "The usual chaos."
Ais stepped forward. "Do you know where Felis Veltheris lives?"
The question came without preamble. Eina blinked again, more at the directness than the subject.
"Yes," she said after a pause. "Is something the matter?"
Ais shook her head. "I just want to understand how he reached Level Two. In forty-three days."
Eina's expression turned more thoughtful. "He reported the rank-up on Frost Moon 28. He hasn't returned to the Guild since Bloom Moon 8—when he registered Bell Cranel as a new member of the Hestia Familia. That makes three now."
"Just three members..." Riveria echoed softly
Eina nodded. "Yes. The second member is Narissa. She joined on Frost Moon 24."
"And Felis?" Ais asked. "He fights on the front line. But he's a healer."
"He's not what most people expect," Eina said, a touch of quiet pride in her voice. "He has good combat sense and his swordsmanship should be very good too. He's reached the 19th floor on his own. Rather than a healer who can fight, it's more accurate to call him a fighter who can heal."
Riveria's eyes narrowed slightly. "A combat healer. Rare."
"Very," Eina agreed. "But that's how he operates, Sometimes I worry he'll get carried away—just because he can heal himself doesn't mean he's invincible."
She reached beneath the counter and pulled out a folded map, circling a section in the northwest district.
"He still lives at the old church, though it's no longer what it was. He renovated the place—it's now called Heart Manor."
Riveria accepted the map, inspecting the mark. "Still in the same place... That speaks of roots."
Ais remained silent, her gaze on the circle.
Eina studied her expression, then added softly, "If you plan to speak with him—he'll listen. He sometimes speak teasingly so please be patient when talking to him"
"I understand," Ais said quietly.
Riveria glanced to her. "Shall we?"
Ais gave a small nod.
As they turned to leave, Eina offered a parting smile. "Tell Hestia-sama I said hello, if you see her."
Her golden eyes lingered on the map's circle. 'A fighter who can heal...' It wasn't what she expected. But that only made her want to see it more.
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The scent of damp earth hung in the air as Felis crouched by the garden bed, fingers carefully patting soil around a newly planted herb. Beside him, Hestia knelt with a tiny trowel, sleeves rolled up, her dark hair tied loosely back with a ribbon. A streak of dirt painted her cheek, but she looked proud of the little patch they'd cultivated together.
"You really think these will bloom before Rain Moon?" she asked.
"If they don't," Felis replied, brushing his fingers clean on a cloth, "I'll blame the goddess who overwatered them."
"I sprinkled them!" Hestia huffed, puffing her cheeks. "Delicately!"
"You know," she muttered with a frown, "this would go faster if your attention wasn't split between gardening and watching my legs."
"I'm multitasking," Felis replied smoothly without looking up. "Admiration is free labor, technically."
Hestia swatted his shoulder with a soft "pervert cat," just as a firm knock-knock-knock echoed from the front gate.
His ears twitched once, tail giving a small sway behind him. Hestia glanced toward the sound, then at Felis.
"You expecting someone?"
"No."
He stood slowly, brushing the dirt from his gloves, and made his way to the gate. As he opened it, his golden eyes met two familiar figures.
Ais Wallenstein. Riveria Ljos Alf.
Both in light attire, though unmistakably adventurers even outside their armor. Ais stood calm and quiet, her golden gaze locked on him. Riveria wore her usual composed expression, but there was a trace of intent in her eyes—not hostile, but direct.
Felis inclined his head politely. "Well. That's a surprise."
Riveria offered a slight nod. "You remember us."
"Seventeenth floor. You asked questions." His tone was calm, steady. "I gave just enough answers."
A faint smile touched Riveria's lips. "You did. And now that I've seen the reports... I thought a proper conversation was overdue."
Felis stepped aside slightly, the faint clink of his tail brushing the gate. "You came all this way for a chat?"
"Not just me." Riveria glanced toward Ais, who hadn't spoken yet.
Ais stepped forward, eyes focused. "I wanted to see you."
A beat.
"Congratulations," she added quietly. "On your level up."
Felis blinked, then gave a small smile. "That's rare praise from Orario's Sword Princess."
"I don't say things I don't mean."
Behind him, Hestia peeked around the open doorway, wiping her hands with a towel. Her eyes widened as she spotted their visitors.
"Oh... wow." She blinked. "Ais Wallenstein?"
Ais turned slightly toward her. "Yes."
"And you must be..." Hestia's gaze shifted to the tall elf. "Riveria-san, right?"
Riveria gave a polite nod. "I take it we haven't met."
"Nope. But I've heard of both of you. Hard not to when you're the talk of every corner in the city." Hestia stepped forward with a light smile, then glanced toward Felis. "You didn't tell me you made friends on the 17th floor."
"Acquaintances, I'd say," Felis replied smoothly, stepping aside. "But they're welcome."
Riveria arched a brow at the title friends but didn't challenge it.
"Come in," Felis offered. "We've got tea. Or at least garden dirt and awkward timing."
"I'll take the tea," Riveria said dryly, stepping through the gate.
Ais followed, her gaze drifting once to the flowerbeds—fresh, newly tended. Then to Felis. "You're different than I expected."
"Likewise," he replied.