Marvel Multiverse System

Besides them, there were three other members of the Loki Familia visibly unsettled by the sword training between Leon and Ais.

Tiona, the bold Amazon who always expresses her feelings without restraint, watched the Sword Princess with a downcast gaze and a sense of defeat. Beside her, her sister Tione stood in silence. For reasons even she couldn't fully grasp, she too felt a strange sense of loss.

A little farther away, a young elf with long orange hair bit the handkerchief in her hands, torn by inner conflict.

"I admire Miss Ais so much… I want to be by her side. But I also enjoy being near Mr. Yuri… When he pats my head, I feel so happy and relaxed..."

"They're both my idols. If they got along, it would be wonderful..."

"Then why am I so... confused?"

"I wish I could be with them… leaning on Yuri to the left, and holding Ais to the right..."

Whatever Lefiya was imagining, a puff of steam erupted from her head, and she fainted in embarrassment, her eyes hazy and unfocused.

Watching from a distance, in a shadowy corner, stood a tall, mature elf. Riveria observed the scene silently, her expression hard to read.

"What is going on here?"

"Ais, you and… your future stepfather, are you really that close?"

For the first time, Riveria looked shaken. And as she noticed the dreamy look on her disciple Lefiya's face, her expression turned even stranger.

"And you, Lefiya…"

"Don't you like Ais? Then why are you blushing while staring at Yuri?"

Riveria furrowed her brow, exasperated, and let out a long sigh.

"Our relationship has come to this… and now, what should I do?"

---

Later that night…

Riveria didn't show up at the dining hall to eat with Ais and the others. She chose instead to stay under the covers, lost in thought. No one knew exactly what was going through her mind.

Meanwhile, at Hephaestus' home, Yuri, Hestia, and the forge goddess shared a pleasant dinner, accompanied by several bottles of fine wine.

As night fell, Hephaestus found herself unable to sleep. The familiar sounds coming from the room next door made her restless.

Only when the sounds began to fade did she, guided by some impulse, silently get up and walk to his room.

Hestia was fast asleep, curled under the covers.

Hephaestus looked at Yuri, who was resting peacefully. Then, without a word, she undressed and slipped under the sheets beside him.

"I'm sorry… Hestia…" she murmured.

"But… I can't hold back anymore..."

Sensing something different, Yuri opened his eyes abruptly and met Hephaestus' crimson gaze, burning with a strange flame.

"Hephaestus…?"

Yuri whispered, surprised. But before he could say anything else, her lips clumsily met his — not graceful, but full of intent.

In that moment, he understood what she wanted.

Without a word, he gently picked her up and carried her to her room.

The moonlight slowly moved outside the window.

The room was bathed in dimness, lit only by the gentle glow of the moon filtering through the curtains.

Yuri laid Hephaestus down on the bed with care, observing her strong yet vulnerable features. Her crimson eyes, usually as hard as molten metal, now trembled with raw emotion.

She reached out, touching his face with affection, her calloused fingers brushing his skin with unexpected tenderness.

"I love you, Yuri," she whispered, her voice hoarse, almost trembling. "With every strike of my hammer, every creation… it was you I saw in my mind. But only now do I have the courage to admit it."

Yuri didn't answer right away. He simply held her hand and kissed her — with both respect and passion. Their bodies drew close slowly, as if trying to memorize each gesture, each touch.

Hephaestus melted before him, opening up completely, like molten metal shaped by someone who understood her worth.

Their kisses grew deeper, longer. He traced every curve with his lips, each of her sighs echoing like another heartbeat in his chest. Their clothes became unnecessary, falling away like veils undone by time.

There was no rush — only sincere desire and long-suppressed love. Hephaestus arched her body as his warmth met hers. Her fingers gripped his back lightly, their breaths growing heavier.

Their movements were slow, rhythmic, like an ancient dance. No urgency — just need. Every motion from her said stay, every gaze from him said I'm here.

Tears welled in the goddess's eyes, not from pain, but from relief — the relief of finally allowing herself to love and be loved.

Yuri wrapped his arms around her as their bodies moved in sync beneath the sheets. The room pulsed with the energy they shared.

When they reached their peak, her voice broke the silence like a sacred prayer.

"Yuri…"

And he responded only with a kiss — deep, sealing that night as something beyond desire. A promise.

The silence that followed was comforting. Only their slowing breaths filled the room. Hephaestus lay on Yuri's chest, tracing small circles on his skin with her fingertips.

He looked at her with a soft smile, his eyes still glowing with the intensity of their shared connection.

"Tired… or ready for round two?" he asked, voice low and hoarse with lingering desire.

Hephaestus raised her head, a mischievous smile curving her lips. Her red eyes sparkled with a sweet kind of wickedness — a side of the goddess few had ever seen.

"You really think I'd be satisfied with just once?" she replied, slowly climbing onto his lap, her red hair cascading over her shoulders, their bodies still joined by recent intimacy.

She moved atop him with a natural rhythm, as if her body had been crafted just for his. A sigh escaped them both as they felt that deep connection once again — this time even more intense.

Hephaestus began to move, slow but deliberate. Her hips rose and fell with conviction, each thrust filled with passion, longing, and pent-up emotion. Sweat began to bead on her golden skin, low moans escaping as she kissed along Yuri's neck.

He held her by the hips, following her pace perfectly, never taking control from her hands. This was her night — a night where she was not a forge goddess, but a woman in love.

"Yuri..." she murmured between motions, his name falling from her lips like a sacred chant, as if each utterance etched his name onto her soul.

Yuri looked at her as if witnessing something divine, his hand reaching up to pull her into another heated, tender kiss.

The rhythmic sound of their bodies echoed softly through the room, mixed with the rustle of sheets and the gentle breeze from the window.

Hephaestus picked up the pace, feeling herself surrender more and more. In that moment, there were no gods or families — just her and Yuri.

---

(End of chapter)

"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."