(Hestia POV – Hearth of Threads)
I watch him closely, searching for any signs that might tell me if Riven is still in control and trying to trick me.
Slowly… he closes his eyes, and when they open again…
They're crimson, flat, almost empty while glowing slightly.
Even his face flattens. The small expressions and subtle warmth disappear, replaced by something almost mechanical.
It sends a small chill down my spine.
"…Is it you?" I ask, narrowing my eyes.
There's a short pause, then he speaks. "[Answer: I am Great Sage.]"
It's Riven's voice, but carrying an almost resounding echo. It's calm… detached even.
'…Creepy.' I think, feeling slightly nervous at the huge change. But…
'I need to show her who's in charge.' I straighten, planting my hands on my hips.
"Listen carefully!" I declare, pointing a finger straight at him. "Riven is mine!"
My voice echoes slightly in the shop.
"I'm his Goddess, and the head of this Familia." I puff my chest proudly. "That makes me his boss. Which means…" I lean forward slightly, glaring at him with a smug grin. "I'm your boss too. So you have to listen to me."
My logic is flawless.
"[Answer: Affirmative.]" He says, and my lips curl upward instantly at the taste of victory.
And before I can gloat…
"[However, I only take orders from Riven.]"
My smile freezes.
"…What?" I stutter, but he doesn't react. He doesn't even try to explain himself, just stating at me blankly.
"Excuse me?" I say, my eye twitching. "I just told you, I'm the ultimate authority here!"
He shrugs indifferently, casually brushing my words aside.
My foot slams against the floor.
"Riven!" I snap, turning slightly. "Tell her to listen to me!"
For a moment, there's silence, then…
"[Acknowledged: Listening to Hestia's orders.]"
I turn back slowly, a smug smile spreading across my face.
"There we go…" I huff, crossing my arms. "You should've just started with that."
'Let's test it.' I think, finding the idea of controlling Riven to be oddly thrilling.
"Raise your hand." I say excitedly.
"[Answer: I refuse.]"
…
My brain stalls.
"Y-You—What?!" I sputter. "You're supposed to listen to me!"
"[Answer: I am listening.]"
"…That's not what I meant!"
"[Clarification: Listening does not necessitate compliance.]"
My eye twitches harder.
"Then what was the point of that?!"
"[Answer: You requested that I listen. I am fulfilling your request.]"
There's no change in tone. It doesn't even seem sarcastic or intentional. It's just a flat, factual response.
Which is somehow worse.
"You're doing this on purpose." I accuse, pointing at him again. "You're just trying to annoy me!"
He doesn't bother to answer me.
Which means he's not denying it, so…
"That means you are!" I snap immediately. "You're just like Riven, always messing with me!" I pout, and unlike with Riven, I get nothing back.
He doesn't console me, or reassure me… nothing.
"Ugh—!" I grab my hair, pacing in place. "If you weren't a girl, I wouldn't even care this much…"
"[Answer: I have no gender.]"
"Huh?" I freeze mid-step, looking at him. "Riven said you're a girl, though?"
"[As the manifestation of a skill, I am genderless.]"
My brows knit together. "Then why—"
"[My current presentation is influenced by Riven's preferences.]"
The words seems to freeze as her words sink in.
"[Clarification: Riven prefers a female voice and form, and I follow his wishes.]"
At that, something in me snaps.
"…I see." My hands clench at my sides.
'So this is all Riven's fault.'
It always is.
Who else would do something like this just to mess with me?
"Riven…" I say softly. "I'll deal with you next…"
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. 'Think, Hestia. Think.'
If the problem is that she's a girl… then—
My eyes light up. 'I've got it.'
I nod to myself, tapping my chin in thought before pointing at him again.
"GS. Just start speaking and acting like a guy instead of a girl." I say, confident. "That fixes everything."
It's the simplest and most elegant solution.
"[Answer: Denied.]" He replies instantly, making my eye twitch.
"…Why are you refusing?" I ask, my voice tightening. "This is the easiest solution!"
"[Answer: My current form and manner of expression are the result of Riven's preferences.]" She doesn't pause. "[Altering them would conflict with my intended purpose.]"
"What purpose?" I frown, furrowing my brow.
"[Answer: I was created in response to Riven's desire for a partner.]"
"…Partner?" I repeat slowly.
The word echoes in my head. Over and over, and the moment I can think again, my eyes widen.
A cold, creeping horror settles in my chest as I take a step back, pointing at him with a trembling hand. "Y-You're trying to steal Riven from me!"
"[Answer: Incorrect.]" He says, and my relief lasts but a moment as he continues speaking. "[I was present first.]"
"[I am a part of Riven's soul. By logical deduction, you are the one attempting to take Riven from me.]"
My mouth opens and closes over and over like a fish.
"Y-You're not even denying it!" I shout, panic rising in my chest.
But he doesn't even react or acknowledge the accusation.
"[Conclusion: Separation between myself and Riven is impossible.]" His voice remains logical and calm. "[Any attempt to do so will fail. It is recommended you give up the pursuit.]"
"B-But—!" I choke, scrambling for something—anything—"I'm his Goddess! We're dating!"
The words spill out before I can stop them. And then, it clicks.
"Yeah!" I point at him again, regaining some confidence. "We're already in a relationship! You're the one getting in the way!"
There's a brief pause.
"[Answer: Acknowledged.]"
"…Huh?" I blink.
Wait. That was easy. Too easy.
'Did… did I just win?' But reality isn't so kind.
"[However, I am Riven's other half. His constant, lifelong partner.]"
Each word lands heavier than the last.
"[I am irreplaceable.]"
"…!"
"Hey—!" I snap, anger flaring again. "I'm irreplaceable too! Riven loves me! And I'm the best Goddess he could ever have!"
"[Answer: Incorrect.]" He says plainly. "[There are numerous Familia within Orario with greater resources, influence, and stability than the Hestia Familia.]"
"[Objectively, they would have provided a superior environment for Riven's growth.]"
It feels like I've been struck, and my body goes still.
'…What?' The words echo in my head, and it's disorienting. But their meaning remains clear. 'So… I was just lucky?'
My hands slowly curl into fists.
'If he had a choice…' My vision blurs slightly. 'Would he have chosen me?'
My chest tightens.
The words shouldn't hurt… but they aren't coming from a stranger.
This is coming from her… a part of Riven.
Which means…
'…Is this how he really feels?'
My throat tightens, a small sniffle escaping as tears prick at the corners of my eyes—
"[Clarification: While alternative Familia may have been more advantageous in a general sense…]"
My chest tightens, not sure I can endure any more.
"[You, as an individual, are irreplaceable.]"
I stare at him in shock, not expecting a compliment.
"[Riven has chosen you. He was aware of alternate, better options, and chose you despite that.]"
The tension in my chest loosens slightly.
"…He… does?" I ask quietly.
His eyes blink and the crimson fades, returning to their beautiful blue.
The coldness fades away, and I recognise it instantly… my Riven is back.
"It is." He says softly, stepping closer before pulling me into a hug, and I melt into him instantly.
"Mhm…" I nod against his chest, holding onto him tightly, letting his warmth wash over me.
He's back.
But… my lips puff out slightly.
I didn't win.
I lost every argument, got completely overwhelmed… Almost cried.
And even when she did comfort me—
'It still felt like she was throwing jabs in…' Just remembering it makes me mad.
"…But," Riven suddenly says, and I freeze, recognising the tone.
Slowly, I look up, a bad feeling gnawing at me.
His hand is already raised.
"…Don't." I squeak, but it's too late.
Flick.
"Ah—!" I yelp, immediately letting go and crouching down, clutching my forehead.
"That hurt!" I glare up at him, eyes watering.
(Riven POV – Hearth of Threads)
I stare down at Hestia as she crouches on the floor, rubbing her forehead and glaring up at me like I just committed a war crime.
'Serves you right.' I muse, folding my arms. 'Doubting my love like that… unbelievable.'
I then shift my gaze inward.
'Didn't we agree you wouldn't make her cry?' I ask.
[Answer: Hestia did not cry.]
'She was about to.'
[Answer: That outcome did not occur.]
I exhale slowly. Technically, she's correct.
'…Fine,' I concede. 'But still. You went a bit far.'
'…Were you jealous?' I ask, a smirk tugging at my lips. 'You seemed so possessive.'
GS pauses for a moment before answering.
[Answer: You imagined it.]
'Sure.' I chuckle, hearing her signature line, before letting it go.
It's not like I can do anything to punish her anyway. Besides, GS is absolutely loyal, so it probably wasn't intentional.
I look back down at Hestia.
"Are you satisfied now?" I ask, hoping to finally move on. Instead, she looks up at me seriously, like she's trying to uncover some secret.
"…Hey," She says.
"…Yeah?"
"Does GS ever use your body to molest you?" She asks in absolute seriousness.
My brain shuts down.
"What?!" I stare at her, completely blindsided. "Why would you even ask that?! Of course not!"
I instinctively take a step back.
'…What kind of question is that?'
Then again…
'She's a greek god…' I rub my temple. 'When it comes to perversion, they're unmatched.'
Although…
'If GS did have a female body—'
Nope.
Nope.
I'm not going down that alley for now.
"Are you thinking something weird?" Hestia asks flatly, her eyes narrowing.
"I was thinking about your pantheon." I reply immediately.
"Hmm…" She hums suspiciously, clearly not convinced, but after a moment, she sighs. "Fine. I don't care about GS anymore."
"…You don't?" I tilt my head in confusion.
"Hmph." She crosses her arms, then suddenly grins. A bright, smug grin full of confidence. "Because I win anyway."
Before I can react, she hops forward and wraps her arms around me again.
"This is my advantage." She declares proudly, pressing herself against me. "She's stuck in your head." Her grip tightens slightly. "But I get this. All your hugs and kisses are mine!"
"There's no way a skill could ever have a body anyway." She looks at me with a satisfied smile.
I freeze for just a second, then… gently pat her head in silence.
I very wisely keep my mouth shut, lest I trigger her lie detection.
********
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.
Ngl, I'm probably never letting GS out again😭. At least, for things like this. It's so hard to have her act naturally, especially when during someone. But, hopefully it came out well.
A few things, mainly the alternating between he and she. No, I did not suddenly become a Chinese translator 👀. I used he for referring to his body, or GS in control of Riven's body, and she even referring to just GS alone. Hopefully it wasn't too confusing.
Not much left before the time skip. Just levelling up and the Freya issue. And finally, Bell can arrive!
As for other things, any suggestions for a Tensura skill he can get. Most of the ones that make sense have overlaps. So I'm open to suggestions. You miss a 100% of the shots you don't have, so...
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
Anyway! That's all from me. Hopefully you enjoyed the chapter, and have a wonderful rest of your day/night 🌃