The night sky over Orario sparkled with countless points of light. Stars twinkled, and Magic Stone lamps glowed brightly. On an open field not far from the banquet, the evening breeze ruffled the girl's golden hair.
"Ais-san?"
Bell knew the Sword Princess meant no harm, so he went along with it, finding himself drawn to this spot. Yet he couldn't fathom what Ais was truly thinking.
"Ais-san... this banquet is a dance... correct?"
Ais blinked, asking softly.
"Yes."
As far as Bell knew, the gimmick Ganesha had promoted was a grand dance where gods and mortals mingled freely. The male gods who loved festivities not only hoped to invite beautiful maidens to dance but also longed to witness the passionate dance of the Little Rookie and the Thousand Elf. Naturally, this was also one reason why Lefiya had shut herself away.
"Then shall we... dance?"
Ais smoothed her golden hair, her amber eyes radiating warmth.
"..."
Bell stared at the beautiful girl who seemed to have stepped straight out of a fairy tale, momentarily speechless. Ais wore a pale green strapless gown, her slender shoulders and fair skin exposed. Exquisite floral patterns adorned the dress, complementing the emerald gem at her neck. Part of her golden hair was swept up, framing the stunning floral design. Rosy cheeks, a slender neck, proud breasts, a delicate frame... all these elements composed the unfamiliar yet stunning young woman before him.
This was not the Ais Bell knew, yet he accepted her invitation.
"I'd be delighted, Ais-san."
The next moment, Ais, having received his answer, smiled softly and assumed a fighting stance.
"Ais-san?"
Bell sensed the unusual aura emanating from her. Forget dancing—if he rashly stepped forward, he feared he might collapse before even reaching her hand.
"I don't know how to dance... so... training should be similar, right?"
Ais explained. Neither of them carried weapons due to the banquet. With bare hands, training and dancing were indistinguishable. Ais voiced this absurd notion.
"I see... This dress is expensive, so please go easy on me..."
Bell smiled helplessly. The dancing this airheaded girl spoke of was clearly not as pleasant as he'd imagined.
"Mhm..."
Ais nodded. The next instant, Bell charged forward. A heavy punch shot straight out, a sweeping kick sliced through the air. The girl stepped back, spinning her body like a ballet dancer. Swift offense and defense flowed continuously. As the aggressor, Bell dictated his opponent's movements. Ais's toes lightly tapped the ground; each evasion seemed like a dance step.
Beneath the star-strewn sky, two figures intertwined and shifted positions in a ceaseless dance. White and golden locks fluttered in the wind, weaving a duet of agility and grace. In the night's embrace, Ais danced with abandon.
This unseen dance drew to a close as the youth collapsed unconscious.
…
When Bell opened his eyes again, dazzling golden strands of hair drifted beneath the starlit sky. Ais's beautiful, well-defined features were tinged with a faint blush. A refreshing fragrance enveloped the youth as he returned to the familiar lap pillow.
"Ais-san, I hope you'll learn what it means to show mercy."
"But... your clothes aren't even torn?"
Ais insisted she had deliberately held back. Like a child seeking praise, she gazed earnestly at the boy.
Though his clothes were intact, Bell was utterly exhausted, completely knocked out... Meeting her golden gaze, he simply couldn't bring himself to scold her. Bell smiled and replied,
"Not a single tear in the clothes—Ais-san really did try hard."
"Hmm..."
Ais's cheeks grew increasingly flushed. She shyly disengaged from the lap pillow and lay down beside the boy. Like an inexperienced princess, Ais paid no mind to the dirt staining her dress. The scent of fresh grass enveloped them both.
"Let's practice sleeping, Bell..."
Ais suggested.
"Proper rest is essential for recovery... In the dungeon... we must ensure we can fall asleep anywhere, anytime..." Ais emphasized the importance of this training.
"Ais-san, I bet you were brought here by Loki-sama right after returning from the dungeon, and you must be absolutely exhausted now, right?" Bell called out the lie of this naturally absent-minded girl.
"..."
Ais hadn't expected her fatigue to be noticed. She glanced at the boy, then turned her crimson cheeks toward the starry sky. The nightscape was strikingly beautiful. Stars danced like fireflies, the evening breeze carried the scent of grass, and warmth brewed in the silence. They listened to each other's breaths, speechless for a long while.
"Ais-san, why did you want to dance with me?" Bell replaced the word "training" with 'dance' outright.
"Because of the war game... I was able to help..." Ais answered truthfully.
"Yes... Those two's combined attack was formidable. Thanks to Ais-san and Ryuu-san, I was able to defeat them." Bell spoke with sincerity,
"You really helped me a lot. Thank you."
Ais lifted the corners of her mouth, her golden eyes sparkling like stars. It was just a small favor. She still hadn't repaid the debt of saving her life in the Dungeon. Suppressing the joy in her heart, Ais decided to ask the young lovers how she could repay them. As her thoughts reached this point, she suddenly recalled the final scene of the War Game.
"Bell... why did you hold Lefiya like that?"
Ais had once asked Riveria this question. The emerald-haired elf had merely smiled faintly and casually remarked,
"Perhaps he wanted to use love to unleash Lefiya's power."
What was the power of love?
Ais had pressed further.
But Riveria had only laughed more brightly, offering no answer. So Ais decided to ask the boy herself.
"That was just an accident. Did Lefiya-san get upset after returning?" Bell recalled the blushing golden-yellow haired elf, feeling some concern for her state.
"No... I think she was happy..."
Ais might be slow to catch on, but she excelled at observing details. Lefiya's appetite had noticeably increased these past two days. Not only that, but Ais, who maintained her morning training routine, noticed the elf girl had also slightly advanced her training start time.
Ais didn't know what drove Lefiya to push herself so relentlessly. She only knew it was an emotion diametrically opposed to the black flames within her own heart. Unable to peer into the other's mind, Ais grew ever more curious and envious.
Bell gazed at the girl's somewhat desolate expression and spoke:
"Ais-san, if you have time, shall we continue our morning training?"
"Even if it's only a short while, as long as you're willing, I can meet you at the base of the Loki Familia before sunrise."
"..."
Ais stared at the star-filled sky, lost in thought.
"Hmm... It's settled then..." After a brief silence, she softly opened her lips and made the promise to the boy. The evening breeze was cool, yet oddly warm.
When Loki and Hestia found the two of them later, a faint blush still lingered on Ais's cheeks. The meaning behind it was known only to the two of them.