Danmachi: silver lining

(Author note)

fluff in this chapter

In the future, I'll be using the fanfiction.net rating. So rated M for more explicit writing(lemons).

Sorry once again that it took me so long to update.

More info at the end.

(End of notes)

Alicia slowly woke up, her senses coming to life as the dull throbbing in her head reminded her of the battle. The dim light from a lone candle flickered across the room. It was late at night, and as her vision cleared, she realized she was in her room. Her body felt heavy, her limbs sluggish from the exhaustion still lingering. She must have been carried back here by her familia, she thought.

She began to push herself up, her thoughts immediately turning to Asriel. Did they get him too? As she shifted, her hand brushed against something warm beside her. Alicia froze, her heart skipping a beat. What...?

Her fingers lightly roamed over the surface of the warmth, feeling the distinct texture of skin beneath her touch. Her brow furrowed in confusion, and with a sharp inhale, she turned her head to look.

There, peacefully sleeping beside her, was Asriel.

Alicia's heart raced, her face flushing a bright red that traveled to the tips of her pointy elf ears. "W-What?!" she gasped, her voice barely audible. To her surprise, she scrambled back, slipping off the bed and landing on the floor with a soft thud. She stared wide-eyed at Asriel, who remained undisturbed, his breaths deep and even, utterly oblivious to her panic.

Her thoughts raced, her mind scrambling for an explanation. Why is he in my bed?! She quickly pieced it together—her mischievous goddess. Loki! Alicia inwardly cursed. This had Loki written all over it, and she knew her goddess did this to tease her.

Alicia sighed, still flustered, but the panic slowly subsided. She braced herself on the edge of the bed, carefully pulling herself back up and sitting beside Asriel once more. Her eyes softened as she gazed down at him, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he slept. His face was calm and serene in his slumber.

"Saved by you again, huh, Asriel?" she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.

Her hand hesitated in the air for a moment before she gently grasped his, feeling the warmth of his skin against hers. A soft blush crept up her cheeks again as she ran her thumb over his knuckles, marveling at how natural it felt to hold his hand.

Without fully realizing it, Alicia slipped back under the covers, inching closer to Asriel. She felt a strange sense of calm wash over her as she nestled against him, her body gently pressing into his. Her arm draped over his chest, her fingertips tracing small circles against his side. Her slim figure molded against his, her soft breaths matching his rhythm as her chin rested against his shoulder. She could feel the steady beat of his heart beneath her palm, grounding her in the moment.

She lifted her head to Asriels lion ears, "I'll never let you go," Alicia whispered, her breath warm against his lion ears.

She snuggled deeper into his side, her legs brushing against his beneath the blankets. Every part of her body tingled at the contact, but instead of pulling away, she found herself melting into his warmth. The weight of her earlier exhaustion seemed to disappear as she lay there.

Her eyes fluttered shut, her grip on him tightening slightly as sleep began to pull her under once more. The last thing she felt before drifting off was the comforting presence of Asriel beside her.

.

.

.

"Asriel~" a familiar, teasing voice echoed through his mind, stirring him from the depths of his sleep.

His eyes felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion, but with a deep breath, he forced them open. The scene before him unfolded slowly. The rolling hills, the majestic castle, and the golden plains, all basked in the warm light of the afternoon sun. It was a place he had spent countless hours protecting—a place he had once sworn to defend with his life.

And then there was her.

Mimosa.

Her brown hair framed her face in loose waves, the same as he remembered it, her lion ears twitching playfully atop her head. She stood tall, exuding a natural grace, her eyes filled with warmth and mischief. Her tail swayed lazily behind her, its rhythm familiar and comforting, as if no time had passed between them. She was everything he had held dear in his memories—steady, strong, and fearless.

"Mimosa?" Asriel said, his voice low. He hadn't spoken her name aloud in what felt like years or to be more precise thousands of years.

"Finally, you've woken up," she said, stepping closer, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she bent down to meet him at eye level. "Did you forget it's our turn to patrol the kingdom?" Her teasing tone matched the playful poke she gave his forehead.

Asriel blinked, still struggling to shake off the confusion, his heart caught somewhere between joy and aching sadness. Everything felt so real—the warmth of the sun, the familiar scent of the fields, and Mimosa's presence—but a deep weariness clung to him. "Of course, I haven't forgotten," he murmured, his voice betraying his inner turmoil as he stood up from the tree he had been resting beneath. The very tree where he had often sought refuge from the responsibilities of being a protector.

.

.

.

They walked together, side by side, the cobblestone paths beneath their feet soft with the echoes of their shared past. The sun cast long shadows over the gardens and courtyards as the day began to wane, and yet, everything was vibrant and alive. Asriel's eyes moved over the kingdom, taking in each detail with a quiet nostalgia, every building, every stretch of the land tied to the memories he had locked away for so long.

But as much as the kingdom called to him, it was Mimosa who held his attention.

His gaze traced the familiar curve of her smile, the confident sway of her tail. She was bold, as she always had been—spirited and unafraid. A pang struck his chest, the ache of memories that resurfaced after so much time buried deep within. The weight of her presence, the weight of everything they had shared, was almost unbearable.

"Is something wrong?" Mimosa's voice broke through his thoughts, light, and teasing, though there was a hint of genuine curiosity beneath the surface. "Or…" She cast him a sidelong glance, her eyes gleaming with playful mischief. "Have you finally fallen for me?"

Asriel's heart skipped a beat, caught off guard by her words. "Huh?! What are you talking about?"

Mimosa chuckled softly, the sound like music in the quiet afternoon air. "Oh, you have, haven't you?" She walked ahead, her laughter trailing behind her like the wind itself, leaving Asriel flustered, and speechless. He had never been able to best her in these moments, not then, and apparently, not now either.

He sighed, watching her figure ahead, the rhythm of her steps as familiar to him as his own. The words slipped from his lips before he could stop them, a quiet admission. "Maybe I have," he whispered, though whether he was speaking of Mimosa or someone else he wasn't sure.

There had always been feelings he had never voiced to Mimosa. A part of him had always believed he was never worthy, that he could never protect her the way she deserved. How could he tell her how he felt when, in the end, he had failed her?

Mimosa slowed, her eyes drifting across the horizon to the golden expanse of the lion kingdom. The lion pride in her gaze was unmistakable. "Isn't the kingdom we protect beautiful?" she asked, her voice soft, reverent.

Asriel followed her gaze, taking in the sight of their home, the place they had fought so hard to protect. "It is," he said quietly, though the words felt heavy in his chest.

Silence settled between them, a comfortable one at first, filled with the warmth of shared memories. But as they walked, that silence grew heavier, charged with unspoken truths. Asriel's thoughts drifted back—back to the times when they had stood side by side, protecting the kingdom, defending it from countless threats. They had been inseparable, a team, each one relying on the other.

But it hadn't always been equal.

"You know," Asriel began, his voice low, almost hesitant. "You were the one who always protected me."

Mimosa blinked, turning to look at him with a curious tilt of her head. "What are you talking about?"

Asriel's gaze remained fixed on the path ahead, but the memories flooded his mind—memories of her standing tall, strong, unwavering when he had faltered. "Every time I stumbled, you were there to catch me. Every time I hesitated, you pushed forward. I…" He paused, his throat tightening. "I needed saving more often than not, and it was always you who saved me."

She stopped walking, turning fully to face him now. "Asriel," she said gently, her voice carrying a warmth that only she could offer, "we protected each other. That's what we do. We're partners."

Asriel shook his head, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "But when it mattered most… when the kingdom was falling apart when everything was crumbling around us…" His voice wavered, thick with emotion. "I couldn't save you."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with the weight of regret. Asriel's chest tightened, the guilt gnawing at him, relentlessly. The image of Mimosa—strong, brave Mimosa—fighting to the end as their world collapsed around them played over and over in his mind. And he had been powerless to stop it.

Mimosa's expression softened, her brown eyes filled with an understanding that only she could offer. She stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and reached out to place a hand on his arm. "Asriel," she said, her voice steady, though it trembled with the echo of the past. "None of us could have stopped what happened. We fought together, right to the end. That's what matters."

Asriel closed his eyes, the familiar warmth of her touch grounding him. "But I—"

"You were there," Mimosa interrupted gently. "That's what matters. You were there when I needed you. We protected each other, just like we always have." Her smile, though tinged with sadness, was sincere. "We did our best, Asriel. That's all we could have done."

Asriel wanted to argue, to tell her how much he regretted not being able to save her, how deeply it hurt even now, but the world around them began to blur, fading at the edges. The warm glow of the kingdom dimmed, and Mimosa's form began to slip away, becoming less tangible with each passing second.

"Mimosa…" Asriel reached for her, but his hand grasped at nothing as the dream dissolved around him, the world he once knew slipping from his grasp.

And then, darkness.

He drifted further, the dream world giving way to a deeper slumber.

.

.

.

.

.

Asriel's consciousness gradually returned, pulling him from the hazy remnants of his dream. His eyelids fluttered open, greeted by the soft darkness of a quiet room. It was still night. The air was cool, and his entire body ached, a dull numbness creeping through his limbs as he attempted to move. But something—or rather, someone—was holding him in place.

A slight movement from his side caught his attention. His legs felt strangely entangled with something soft, the warmth of it pressing gently against him. Then, he felt himself being pulled, sinking deeper into two soft, warm globes. A soft, rhythmic breath brushed against the nape of his neck, sending a shiver down his spine.

He looked down, blinking in the dim light to make sense of the situation. That's when he saw Alicia.

She was nestled against him, her arms wrapped tightly around his torso, holding him as if he were a pillow. Her chest rose and fell gently with the rhythm of her breathing, her face peaceful, framed by the cascade of her hair.

"A-Alicia?!" Asriel loudly whispered, startled, his voice catching in his throat. He tried to move, his body instinctively pulling back in surprise, but her grip on him was much stronger than he anticipated. He couldn't move an inch.

Alicia stirred, her eyelids slowly fluttering open as her gaze met his. For a moment, they simply stared at one another, the silence between them thick with unspoken words. A faint blush crept across Alicia's face, her cheeks tinged with color that spread to the tips of her elven ears.

"Hello, Asriel," she said softly, her voice thick with sleep, laced with a timidity that matched the pink hue blooming on her face.

"Hello, Alicia," he replied, equally flustered, his heart racing as he tried to make sense of the situation.

Alicia's gaze lingered on him for a moment before she rested her chin back on his shoulder, her grip on him tightening slightly as though afraid to let go. Despite the confusion swirling in his mind, Asriel couldn't deny the warmth that spread through him, the comfort in her closeness. His face flushed, but he found he didn't mind the contact.

"Could we stay like this a little longer?" Alicia asked her voice barely a whisper, her eyes closing once more as she nestled back into his shoulder. There was something vulnerable in her tone, a quiet plea that tugged at his heart.

"S-sure," Asriel stammered, but his agreement seemed to bring her peace. A small, contented smile graced her lips as she shifted slightly against him, her embrace growing just a little firmer as if grounding herself in the warmth between them.

For a long moment, Asriel lay still, uncertain of what to do. His heart pounded in his chest, his thoughts a flurry of questions and emotions he wasn't quite ready to face. But as the seconds stretched into minutes, a strange sense of calm began to wash over him, dissolving the tension in his muscles.

Tentatively, his hand hovered over her waist, unsure of himself. But then, with a quiet breath, he allowed his fingers to settle against her, feeling the warmth of her body beneath his touch. Alicia's eyes fluttered open briefly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face as she registered his touch. But rather than pull away, she relaxed further into him, her embrace softening as if in silent approval.

They lay there in the stillness, their breaths falling into sync, the room filled with the gentle rhythm of their closeness. At that moment, words seemed unnecessary. There was something about the quiet, the shared warmth between them, that spoke louder than anything they could have said. It was a rare, fragile peace that neither of them wanted to break.

Asriel's hand remained on her waist, his fingers tracing small, reassuring circles against the fabric of her nightgown. He could feel the steady beat of her heart, the subtle rise and fall of her chest with each breath, and it grounded him in a way he hadn't expected. His own racing heart began to slow, matching the calm cadence of her breathing.

Alicia sighed softly, the sound filled with a quiet contentment. Her grip on him tightened ever so slightly, as though she feared he might slip away if she let go. Asriel, in turn, gently pulled her closer, feeling the weight of her head resting comfortably against his shoulder. It was strange, this closeness, but it wasn't unwelcome.

As their breathing grew slower and more relaxed, Alicia's hand slipped from Asriel's chest, resting gently by her side. Her soft breaths warmed his skin, and before long, Asriel's eyelids grew heavy once again.

.

.

.

Blam!

The door burst open, revealing none other than a certain red-haired goddess with a wild grin on her face.

"Gooooooood morning, lovebirds!" Loki crowed as she stepped into Alicia's room. The sudden, loud entrance jolted both Asriel and Alicia awake, each scrambling upright.

A sly smile spread across Loki's face as she took in the sight before her—Alicia and Asriel, so close together, flustered and disheveled. She raised a mischievous eyebrow, clearly ready to make all the wrong assumptions.

"Well, well, well, it looks like you two have gotten much closer—" Loki began, only to be cut short by a swift smack to the head, courtesy of a jade-haired High Elf.

"Knock it off, Loki," Riveria said, fixing the goddess with a sharp glare as Loki rubbed her head in mock injury. Riveria's gaze shifted, lifting to where Asriel and Alicia sat close together, both still flustered by the intrusion. Something flickered in Riveria's jade eyes—a faint, unspoken tension she couldn't quite place within herself. Seeing the two of them so close stirred a strange feeling deep inside her, one she quickly masked.

"That hurt, Mama!" Loki whined dramatically, her voice laced with mock anguish.

Asriel blinked, his mind struggling to reconcile Loki's playful cry of "Mama" with the youthful elegance of the High Elf who had dealt the blow. Riveria looked far too young to be a mother figure, he thought, and undeniably beautiful. His gaze drifted, once again mesmerized by her jade-green eyes, much like the first time he had met her and Alicia.

"Oh, hello, Lady Riveria," Alicia greeted, flustered but still maintaining her courtesy.

"Good morning, Alicia," Riveria replied, her usual grace tinged.

However, Asriel's unblinking stare did not escape Riveria's notice. She shifted her attention to him, tilting her head slightly. "Hello there, Asriel," she said, her tone calm, though a hint of curiosity laced her words. Her eyes held his for just a moment longer than usual, revealing a trace of warmth.

Asriel's lion ears twitched at the sound of his name, pulling him from his trance. Forgetting himself entirely, he replied, "Oh, hello, Riveria."

Loki flinched, her eyes widening as she registered his choice of address. Hardly anyone outside of Riveria's close circle, and certainly no outsiders, dared to address her without some form of honorific.

A sharp elbow to the ribs from Alicia quickly reminded him of this. "That's Lady Riveria to you, Asriel," she said, her tone firm yet not harsh, accompanied by a steely glare that made him shiver.

Asriel winced, instinctively shrinking under Alicia's gaze—a look that reminded him all too well of the fear he dreaded from elves. Scrambling to recover, he stood up hastily and gave a deep bow. "I apologize, Lady Riveria!" he said, his voice full of sincerity.

Riveria's expression softened, though there was a hint of irritation in her eyes. He was overdoing it, offering her exaggerated respect, and she found the formal treatment unnecessary, almost bothersome. A small part of her had enjoyed the sound of her name spoken plainly by him—but she wouldn't admit it.

"It's all right, Asriel," Riveria replied, stepping closer to where the two sat. "Anyway, how are you both doing?"

"We're doing well, Lady Riveria," Alicia answered, nodding politely.

"Yes, we're doing well, Lady Riveria," Asriel echoed, but Riveria's brow twitched subtly as he added the honorific once again, though she kept her irritation well-masked.

"That's good to hear," she said, her tone warm but precise as she extended a hand, gently lifting Asriel's chin and tilting his head to examine him. Her fingers traced his skin lightly, checking for any remaining wounds from his encounter. The soft touch made him flush, his heartbeat quickening as he felt her fingertips against his skin. His gaze dropped to her eyes once more, captivated by the striking green that held him in place, and he found himself blushing even more deeply.

"Wait!" Alicia interrupted, her eyes widening with realization. The events of the previous day came rushing back. "Asriel, you were punctured three times by that plant creature!" She sprang to her feet, worry tightening her expression, and pulled up his shirt to inspect his injuries. But to her surprise, there were no puncture wounds on his body, just the faded scars he had carried.

"How?" Alicia muttered, utterly baffled. Her fingers traced his unmarred skin, looking for any sign of injury. "This doesn't make any sense."

"Uh… I don't know," Asriel replied, equally puzzled.

A burst of noise in the hallway drew everyone's attention to the doorway, where two familiar voices grew louder, heading straight for them. Loki let out an exaggerated groan, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, yeah, Artemis got word of your location, Asriel," she said, giving him a smirk. "And she's here in the Twilight Manor. With… ugh, Itty Bitty."

"Itty Bitty?" Asriel asked, raising an eyebrow. "Who's that?"

Before Loki could reply, two figures burst into the room with expressions that left no question as to who they were.

"Asriel!" Artemis called her tone a mix of relief and reprimand.

"You stay away from him, Loki!" Hestia added, glaring daggers in Loki's direction.

"Oh, Goddess, hello—" Asriel started, but his words caught in his throat as Artemis practically threw herself at him, the force sending him backward onto the bed. Her arms locked around his shoulders, and her face was closed, blue eyes flashing with fierce concern.

"Asriel, where were you?" Artemis demanded, her voice wavering between anger and a pout that softened her expression. She shifted even closer, her hands clutching his shoulders as she searched his face.

"Uh… I… got injured and, well…" Asriel stammered, momentarily stunned as Artemis pressed herself against him, leaving him flushed and unable to think clearly.

A subtle clearing of the throat drew their attention. Riveria's calm but pointed voice broke the tension, her jade eyes fixed on Artemis with an unreadable intensity. "Asriel was injured and unconscious, so we brought him here to recover. Nothing more."

Artemis, noticing the unspoken challenge, narrowed her gaze at Riveria in return, unwilling to look away.

"Hello, Asriel."

The quiet voice was so soft that, in the commotion, it almost went unnoticed. But there, in the doorway, stood Ais, her golden eyes leveled on him. She looked at no one else in the room—her gaze remained on Asriel alone. There was a calmness in her stance, a subtle quiet that contrasted with the others' open emotions. Munching on a potato snack, she was a still presence amidst the loud exchange, her attention fixed solely on him.

"Uh, hi?" Asriel said, caught off guard. Does everyone here know my name? He wondered.

"Have you gotten stronger?" Ais asked, her words simple yet direct, though her eyes held something deeper, almost like a question she hadn't voiced.

"You… could say that, I guess?"

A faint, nearly imperceptible smile tugged at her lips, half-hidden by the snack. "Good to hear," she replied, her voice barely a murmur but sincere. Then, just as calmly, she resumed munching on her snack, her gaze unwavering.

"Enough talking," Hestia cut in sharply, crossing her arms and fixing Loki with a determined glare. "We're leaving. Let's go, Artemis. Come on, Asriel."

"Oh? Why the rush, Itty Bitty?" Loki asked, her mouth curling into a mischievous smile.

"You know exactly why, No chest," Hestia replied bluntly, her words sharp and unfiltered, deliberately pointing out what Loki so often ignored. Loki's smirk slipped.

Hestia crossed her arms, standing her ground. "You only brought Asriel here to trick him into joining your Familia and try to take him away from Artemis."

Loki held up her hands in mock innocence. "Wow, you wound me, Itty Bitty! Unlike some gods, I don't stoop that low. Asriel here saved one of my children, so I brought him here to my place to rest as a simple favor to Artemis."

"Yeah, right," Hestia muttered, clearly unconvinced. She glanced at Asriel and Artemis with resolve. "We're going."

"W-wait," Alicia's voice broke in, tentative but resolute. Everyone turned to look at her, varying degrees of curiosity and surprise on their faces.

Alicia hesitated, eyes downcast, then looked up, meeting Riveria's gaze before gathering her courage. "Lady Riveria, Lady Artemis, Loki… could I speak with you in private for a moment?" she asked, almost sheepishly.

"Is something the matter, Alicia?" Riveria asked, a slight concern in her calm gaze.

Alicia gave a nervous nod. "I… have a request. It's important. Could we talk in private, please?"

Loki raised her brows, curiosity flashing on her face. "Sure, Alicia."

Artemis looked reluctant to leave Asriel, but she gave him one last look and sighed. "Alright." She stood and released him, The weight pressing down on Asriel's chest lifted with her, though he noted it hadn't been entirely uncomfortable.

"I'm coming too," Hestia added, her tone wary as she shot Loki a suspicious look. "I'm not leaving you alone with them."

With that, the goddesses filed out one by one, their footsteps fading into the hall as they moved out of sight, leaving only Ais and Asriel in the quiet of the room.

The door clicked shut, and silence settled between them, stretching out into a moment that felt almost heavy. Asriel shifted his gaze toward Ais, who stood with her half-finished potato snack in hand, watching him with quiet, unhurried attention. Her golden eyes, calm and unreadable, held him in a way that felt strangely disarming, a gaze both unassuming and intent.

"Would you join?" she asked, her voice soft but direct, the question slipping out in the quiet room.

Asriel blinked, her sudden question catching him off guard. "Huh?"

Ais met his gaze steadily, the curiosity in her expression softening slightly, as though this question mattered in a way he couldn't quite understand. "Would you join the Loki Familia," she repeated, "if Loki asked?"

His reply came without a thought, blunt and certain. "No."

Ais's gaze lingered, unreadable, yet there was a flicker of something, like a subtle surprise, and perhaps a shadow of disappointment. She gave a small nod, accepting his answer without argument, and resumed munching on her snack, her golden eyes shifting back to him, though her curiosity seemed softened.

The room grew quiet again, the air between them stretching into something slightly more comfortable, though edged with a hint of awkwardness.

.

.

.

After a while, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway, growing louder until Alicia, Riveria, and the three goddesses re-entered the room. The group seemed lighter than when they had left, though traces of tension lingered on certain faces. Alicia, however, was radiant. A bright, uncontainable smile lit up her features as she walked straight to Asriel.

Asriel, still seated on the bed, looked up at her, his ears twitching slightly in curiosity. "So, what was the request you wanted to talk to them about?" he asked as she came to stand beside him.

Alicia paused, glancing at Riveria as if seeking reassurance. Riveria offered her a calm nod, her jade eyes steady with approval. Taking a deep breath, Alicia turned back to Asriel, her smile unwavering.

"I've asked to join your Familia," she said, her voice carrying a mix of excitement and determination. "And… they said yes."

Asriel blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Oh. Are you sure, Alicia?" he asked, his tone more surprised than doubtful.

Without hesitation, Alicia stepped closer, her vibrant hazel eyes meeting his mismatched blue ones with unwavering resolve. "I've told you before, Asriel," she said softly but firmly. "I've chosen to be with you. I want to be by your side."

Her words left him quiet for a moment. Slowly, a small, genuine smile spread across his face. He nodded, his gaze warm as it lingered on hers. "If that's what you want, then I'm glad to have you with me."

"It took some serious consideration to let go of one of my best Familia members," Loki cut in, her tone playfully dramatic as she leaned lazily against the wall. Her crimson eyes sparkled mischievously as she continued, "But Alicia here was very persuasive. Well," she added with a sly grin, "at least to most of us. Let's just say there was some serious convincing needed for a certain someone." Her gaze flicked meaningfully to Hestia, the corner of her mouth quirking upward.

Hestia huffed, crossing her arms with a sharp glare in Loki's direction. "Don't act so smug. I had every right to question her intentions! You're not exactly the most trustworthy of gods."

Artemis, standing silently beside Hestia, shifted slightly at the comment but kept her gaze elsewhere, unwilling to meet Loki's teasing eyes. Loki, naturally, caught on instantly, her grin widening.

"Well, isn't that interesting," Loki drawled, leaning against the wall as if she had all the time in the world. Her crimson eyes gleamed with amusement as she turned her attention to Artemis. "Speaking of intentions, I've gotta admit, I'm a little shocked. Letting Alicia into your Familia so easily, knowing full well her intentions with asriel? I'd have thought you'd be the hardest to convince, especially knowing how particular you were about love back in Tenkai." She let the last word linger, her voice dripping with playful mockery.

Artemis stiffened but didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she gave Loki a brief, dismissive glance. "It's nothing," she said simply, her tone cool and final.

Loki let out a small laugh, clearly unsatisfied but willing to let it go for now. "If you say so," she said with a shrug, though her mischievous smile remained firmly in place.

.

.

.

Outside, under the soft glow of the late afternoon sun, Alicia, Artemis, Hestia, and Asriel stood near the edge of the Twilight Manor grounds. Alicia had a modest collection of belongings gathered in bags and bundles, distributed evenly among the group.

"I'm sorry for making you all carry my things," Alicia said, her voice tinged with guilt as she adjusted a bag on her shoulder.

"No, no, it's fine," Artemis replied, shaking her head. Her voice was gentle, lacking any of the tension it had held earlier.

"It's no trouble at all," Hestia chimed in, her cheerful tone catching Asriel slightly off guard. She seemed like a completely different goddess compared to the sharp-tongued figure who had been bickering with Loki moments ago. Now, she was practically glowing with energy, a wide smile on her face as she balanced a small bundle in her hands.

Asriel, on the other hand, remained alert. His mismatched eyes flicked around them, scanning the area. He couldn't shake the feeling of being watched—no, not just watched, scrutinized. His sharp gaze quickly picked out the culprits: a cat girl perched on a railing, her tail lazily swaying as she observed the group; the same wolfman standing by the same tree he was during Asriel's first time visiting the twilight manor, his arms crossed and eyes narrowed; a human girl peeking out from behind a pillar, pretending to be inconspicuous; and two Amazonesses not far off. One had an energetic, almost childlike grin, while the other bore a fierce, predatory expression that made his ears twitch uneasily.

Despite the stares, Asriel didn't let it show, instead he adjusted his grip on a large box, "Well," he said finally, breaking the silence. "I think we should get going."

"Right," Alicia agreed, her voice steady but carrying a hint of lingering emotion. She had just said her goodbyes to the Loki Familia, and though she was resolute in her decision, there was a bittersweetness in parting with those she'd fought alongside for so long.

Artemis and Hestia both nodded, the former offering Alicia a small, encouraging smile. Together, the four of them began to make their way down the road, leaving the looming structure of Twilight Manor behind.

(Author note)

The chapter was getting very long so I decided to split it into two parts.

It was getting around 10k words and counting but if you like long chapters, Next time, I'll keep it long and see if you enjoy reading it more than shorter chapters.

The other half will be posted probably this weekend or the next.

By the way, I appreciate all of you that comment and give support on my story. thank you.

Also thanks for being patient with me and waiting for me to update my story.