(Riven POV – Hearth of Threads)
'My Goddess might be small… but she's terrifying when she's mad.' I sigh internally, staring straight ahead like a criminal awaiting judgement.
And worse—
'She's being smart.'
Going into the Dungeon to fight Goliath? Exposed.
Fighting Black Goliath? Exposed.
Nearly dying? Exposed.
Overusing IronHeart? Exposed.
Even my encounter with Freya?
…Exposed.
It doesn't matter how carefully I word things, or how casually I try to gloss over details. Because every single time…
"Is there anything else you're keeping from me?" Hestia asks it in the same tone. Calm, neutral, and tired of nonsense. "Whether you think it's important or not."
And as a mortal, unable to lie to a God without being caught…
I'm forced to talk, over and over, until there's nothing left to hide.
"…I see." Hephaestus exhales slowly from behind the counter, arms crossed, her single visible eye fixed on me. Her gaze carries a mix of disbelief and amazement.
"You fought that thing for hours, at Level 1…" She mutters to herself.
I give her a strained smile. "Yeah… running would've been difficult." I choose my words carefully, avoiding a lie.
"That's one way to put it." She snorts lightly, shaking her head. "You're lucky to be alive."
'Tell me about it.'
Her gaze lingers on me for a moment longer, like I'm a puzzle she can't quite decipher just yet.
Then, she sighs.
"Well." She pushes herself off the counter. "I can tell you two still have a lot to talk about."
She glances at Hestia. "…And I've done what I came here to do." She starts toward the door, waving lazily. "Now that you're back, she can finally calm down."
I meet her eye.
'Save me.' I try to convey through that single look.
She pauses, looks at me. …and smiles.
"Good luck." She says as she leaves, the door clicking shut behind her.
'…Traitor.' I think as silence falls over the shop.
I neither speak nor move, awaiting the inevitable, when…
A soft warmth envelopes my face, as Hestia suddenly pulls me down, wrapping her arms around my head, pressing my face into her chest.
'…Is this my punishment?' I think in confusion.
Is she trying to suffocate me? Not that I'm complaining, since I very much like this form of discipline…
But that can't be it, since she doesn't tighten her grip.
She doesn't scold me or yell.
She just holds me quietly and gently.
Her fingers slide into my hair, absentmindedly combing through it, as if she's simply enjoying the sensation.
"…Riven…" Her voice is soft, carrying none of the anger I expected. "I'm so happy you're safe."
Then I realise… she's feeling relief… and it hits harder than anything she could've said.
I open my mouth. "…Aren't you—"
But a small sound stops me.
A sniffle.
I blink, tilting my head up slightly, and when I see her face, my heart fills with guilt.
Her lips are pressed together, shoulders trembling slightly, as tears gather in her eyes as she tries to hold them back.
"…Idiot…" She whispers, but there's no rage behind it.
The words I was about to say die completely.
My hand lifts slowly and carefully. I reach up and gently brush away the tears that slip free despite her efforts.
"They don't suit you." I murmur softly. My thumb lingers for a moment against her cheek. "…I'm sorry I made you worry."
I mean it sincerely.
She leans into my hand as if enjoying my touch, while her eyes stay locked on mine.
"Even if you say that…" She murmurs softly. "…You'd still do it again… wouldn't you?"
It's not an accusation, and more a fact she's already certain of.
I hesitate for a moment, then exhale.
"…Yeah." I admit, my voice low. "I probably would."
There's no pride in words, only truth.
Because that's what it means to be an adventurer. That's how I get stronger, and make sure that she, and everything we care about, can remain safe.
Before I can voice my reasoning, she shakes her head.
"You don't need to explain." Hestia cuts in gently, her fingers tightening slightly against my cheeks. "I understand."
I blink. "…You do?"
That throws me off completely.
"Huh?" I stare at her, completely caught off guard. "Since when?"
She huffs lightly, turning her head to the side, cheeks faintly puffed in a show of displeasure.
"Don't sound so surprised." She grumbles. "I'm not that unreasonable."
"That's debatable." I mutter under my breath.
"I heard that!"
"Sorry."
She shoots me a quick glare before sighing, some of the earlier tension bleeding out of her shoulders.
"…While you were gone." She continues more quietly. "I was… worrying myself sick…" Her voice dips slightly at that, but she pushes through. "And Hephaestus came to cheer me up."
I listen attentively, wondering what wisdom Hephaestus imparted to her.
"She made me realise something." Hestia looks back at me, her expression softer now, but steadier too. "As much as I want to keep you safe… as much as I want you to stay where I can see you…"
Her hands shift, fully cupping my face now.
"I can't be the one holding you back."
Her words are simple, but I can feel how much it hurts her to accept them.
"So…" She takes a small breath, steadying herself. "I'll support you." Her thumbs brush lightly against my cheeks. "I'll always wait for you."
There's a quiet strength in her voice now.
"So no matter how far you go… no matter how dangerous it gets… you'll always have somewhere to come back to." Her gaze softens. "A place where you can rest. So you always have a reason to persevere and come back safe."
"Hestia…" I murmur, not knowing what to say.
What can I even say to that?
But before I can figure it out… her expression sharpens. "That doesn't mean you're getting away with it."
I freeze.
"…Ah."
Her fingers immediately dig into my cheeks.
"Idiot!" She snaps, stretching my face without mercy. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"
"Mmmph—!" I try to protest, but it comes out completely garbled.
Her eyes narrow, but there's a glint of satisfaction there now.
I'm glad she's feeling better, even at the expense of my face.
"For making me cry this much…" She continues, giving my cheeks one last punitive pull before finally releasing them. "You're grounded!"
'…There it is.' I sigh internally in relief. 'This is the Hestia I know.'
"As long as it's not too long…" I start cautiously, rubbing my face.
She pauses, thinking. "Hm…"
I brace myself for an unreasonable answer, thinking of ways to negotiate it down…
"Ten dates." She says simply.
"…What?"
"You're grounded until you take me on ten dates." She repeats firmly, nodding to herself like she just came up with a brilliant idea.
"…That's your punishment?" I blink.
"That's your punishment." She confirms.
I don't even hesitate.
"Deal."
"That was too fast!" She snaps, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "You're way too happy about that!"
"I'm being cooperative."
"Hmph…" She squints at me for a moment longer, clearly unconvinced.
"And…" She continues, raising a finger. "I get hugs whenever I want."
"Already happens."
"And kisses!"
"…Also already happens."
"Then more!"
"Sure."
"And you have to carry me around whenever I feel like it!"
"…That would be quite inconveni—" I start when she leans closer, smiling sweetly… which signifies danger.
"…Whenever. I. Feel. Like. It." She says.
"…Understood." I sigh.
"Good." She nods, satisfied.
Then pauses again.
"…Oh! And—"
And just like that, it snowballs.
One condition becomes two.
Two becomes five.
Most are small things I'd do anyway. Some are more… questionable. And some are just excuses to cling to me more than she already does.
And through all of it, I agree every single time.
Because somewhere between the "punishments," the pouting, and demands…
It became obvious.
'…She just wants more time with me.'
I was happy when I realised it, and without thinking, I smiled.
"…Alright." I say, nodding once more as she finishes listing off yet another condition. "I accept all your terms and conditions."
"Hmph." She crosses her arms, clearly pleased. "Good. You should."
Then, after a brief pause, she leans into me again, hugging me tightly and burying her face in my chest.
"…Idiot." She mutters, but this time it's softer.
I lie there in silence, my hand moving slowly along her back, stroking her gently.
For a while, neither of us speaks, until…
"…Riven?" She calls softly.
"Hm?" I answer, just as quietly.
"Why were you acting so weird when you got back?" She asks. "And… your eyes were red."
"I didn't want to ask earlier." She admits, voice dropping. "In case it was… something you couldn't say in front of Hephaestus."
I don't stop stroking her back.
"Oh." I say simply. "That was Great Sage. It's one of my skills, remember?"
She nods, listening with curiosity.
"If I lose consciousness in a dangerous place…" I continue. "I gave her permission to take control of my body and bring me back home."
There's a moment of silence as Hestia processes my words, then…
"Huh?!" She shoots upright, straddling my chest, staring down at me like I just said something crazy. "Y-You never told me your skill could do that!" She blurts out. "Wait—can skills even do that?!"
She looks genuinely shaken now, muttering to herself. "I thought they just boosted stats or gave abilities or—what even is that?!"
"You never asked." I reply, shrugging slightly beneath her. "I would've told you."
"How was I supposed to know to ask that?!" She snaps, pouting.
Then… she freezes, and slowly, her eyes narrow.
"Wait…" She says, her voice dropping low. "You said 'she,' didn't you?"
I stare up at her, expression flat.
"Is Great Sage… a girl?" She asks.
Each word is said slowly… and loaded.
"...Yes. And no." I answer.
She doesn't look convinced.
"Technically, she's part of my soul." I explain. "So she's… me. Which would make her male."
Hestia's eyes narrow further.
"Then why do you keep calling her 'she'?"
"Because…" I say dryly. "I'd rather have a girl in my head than a guy."
Silence. Absolute silence.
Her face twitches.
"…So," she says slowly, her grip tightening on my shoulders, "there's a girl… who's with you all the time?"
I don't answer. I don't get the chance to.
"She hears everything you think?" Hestia continues.
"…I guess?"
"She's with you in the dungeon?"
"Yeah. My trusted partner."
"Partner…?" Hestia murmurs, seemingly filing the word away, continuing her barrage of questions. "She's with you… even when we're together?"
"…Yes."
Each answer lands heavier than the last.
Hestia's head lowers slightly, shadows falling over her eyes.
"She's always there…" She murmurs, her voice is quiet. "She's with you more than I am…"
'Is this just jealousy.' I wonder, and when I try to reassure her…
"Hestia—"
"Bring her out." She cuts me off.
"What?" I blink.
Her head snaps up, eyes blazing with a mix jealousy, possessiveness, and competitive spirit.
"Bring her out!" She repeats, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me. "I need to talk to her!"
"That's not how this works—" I start.
"I don't care!" She cuts me off. "If she's part of you, then I'll just talk to both of you!"
I grab her wrists gently, trying to steady myself.
"Hestia." I say calmly. "We're the same person. Talking to me is talking to her."
"That's not the same!" She snaps immediately. "I need to make things clear!"
"…Clear?" I tilt my head.
"Yes!" She leans closer, eyes intense. "I need her to understand something very important!"
I stare at her for a moment.
"…You're not going to win this." I say honestly. "You're trying to compete with me, for me."
'That was the wrong move.' I realise as her expression darkens.
"Riven…" She says slowly. There's a smile on her lips. "This is an order."
She leans in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Bring. Her. Out."
'…' I stare up at her, before sighing internally.
'…GS.'
[Notice: Awaiting command.]
'…Just don't make her cry.' I think wryly, realising that exposing GS to be a girl might've been a huge mistake.
*********
A/N: Hello Everyone! How are you all? If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
So, this is the chapter. I'm sure you expected serious punishment, but Hestia's a sweetheart, and she's going through growth. Or, as I like to put it, character development through all the trauma Riven causes her.
Anyway, the chapter was quite sweet, before the jealous Hestia part. I just hope GS doesn't make her cry. I think, after sorting out this, and his Level Up, I'm gonna time skip quite a bit. Finally get to canon, where a certain little rabbit appears, and while plot has been moving forward, canon plot can begin progressing.
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
Regardless, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and have a wonderful rest of your day/night😁.