AT THE SAME TIME
VESTA
Eina Tulle adjusted her glasses like she was about to defuse a divine bomb.
"Alright, Mr. Michael… if you could please, uh, lift your shirt slightly so I can verify your Falna?"She asked.
Michael looked uncertain, glancing my way for permission. I waved a hand.
"Go ahead. Might as well get the official shock over with."I said.
He did as asked, revealing the faint golden mark still warm against his back, the symbol of my hearth, softly glowing in intricate loops. The kind of divine craftsmanship that made even other gods jealous. Eina gasped.
"By the gods… it's genuine."She said.
The entire guild lobby went dead silent. Even the scribe two desks over stopped pretending to work. Eina leaned closer, her tone switching from disbelief to full on fascination.
"The runic structure, it's completely different from standard Falna matrices. This pattern it's alive. Like it's responding to his current state!"Eina said.
"Of course it is." I muttered. "It's cooking based. It keeps track of his nutrition and warmth levels."
Eina blinked.
"…His what?"She asked.
"Nutrition." I repeated flatly. "If he skips a meal, his stats drop. It's called consequences."
Michael laughed under his breath.
"Guess I can't skip breakfast anymore."Michael groaned.
"Not unless you enjoy stat penalties." I said dryly.
Eina's eyes darted over the glowing script again.
"His status says… Level Two, yes, but his vitality and endurance are higher than expected. And oh, this can't be right. There's a note here that says 'enhanced regeneration after eating'."Eina said.
The guild hall collectively gasped. Someone dropped a pen. Eina turned to me, wide eyed.
"You, you're granting status buffs through food! That's that's revolutionary!"She said.
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"Please don't say that too loudly."I sighed.
Too late. A group of nearby adventurers had already formed a semicircle, whispering furiously.
"Did she say buffs?"One of them asked.
"She feeds her Familia power ups!"Another asked.
"Wait, is that why her stew costs so much?!"Third one sasked.
"I'd pay anything if it boosts agility!"
I groaned audibly.
"No. It doesn't work like that. Only Familia members get that effect. The rest of you are just eating lunch."I sighed.
A rookie raised his hand timidly.
"But if we, uh, hypothetically joined-"He began.
I slammed my palm on the counter.
"No."I said.
The entire room flinched. Eina, ever the professional, cleared her throat.
"Lady Vesta, if I may… this kind of divine blessing is extremely rare. You might find yourself getting a lot of attention."She said.
"Wonderful." I said. "Exactly what I wanted, a fan club of overeager carb enthusiasts."
Michael tried not to laugh.
"Hey, at least they're admiring your cooking."He said.
I shot him a look.
"You're on thin ice, dish boy."I sighed.
He grinned wider.
"Still worth it."He grinned.
Eina set the parchment down, exhaling like she'd aged ten years.
"Alright, registration complete. Michael is now officially recognized as a member of the Vesta Familia. Congratulations… I think."Eina said proudly.
"Thanks." I said. "Now if we could just quietly leave before-"
"LADY VESTA?!"I heard familar voice.
I froze. That overly familiar voice could only belong to one goddess. Hestia came sprinting across the guild floor, nearly tripping over her own sandals. Bell and Lili scrambled after her, looking half apologetic, half exhausted.
"Oh no." I muttered. "Not again."
"VESTA!" Hestia squealed, skidding to a stop beside me. "I knew it! You really did it! You have a Familia!"
"Unfortunately, yes." I said. "Try to contain your joy before the building explodes."
Eina looked like she wanted to disappear into the floor.
"Lady Hestia, please, inside voice-"Eina tried to calm her down.
Hestia ignored her completely, grabbing Michael's hand like a proud aunt.
"And this must be your first child! Welcome to the club!"I said.
Michael blinked.
"Uh, thank you?"He said.
The crowd started buzzing again.
"Two goddesses in one guild hall-"One of them asked.
"Hestia and Vesta know each other?!"Another asked.
"Does that mean their Familia might ally?"Third asked.
"Imagine the buff combo!"Fourth one said.
I exhaled slowly through my nose.
"If one more person says 'buff combo,' I'm frying them."I sighed.
Hestia just laughed, clapping me on the shoulder.
"Aw, don't be so grumpy! You're glowing! Literally and emotionally!"She sighed.
"Those are heat fumes." I deadpanned.
Meanwhile, Michael was practically glowing himself standing tall, proud, Falna mark still faintly visible as half the guild whispered about the 'handsome adventurer blessed by the goddess of cooking'. I felt it before anyone even spoke. That surge of eager hands, that chorus of 'Can I join?' 'Please bless me?' 'I'll cook too!' A rookie adventurer nearly tripped over a bench to get closer. Another held up a petition like it was sacred scripture. The whispers grew louder, crawling across the hall like wildfire.
"Nope." I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose.
Michael looked around, a mix of awe and slight panic on his face.
"Uh… I think they all want to join us."Michael said.
"Yes." I said flatly. "And that's exactly why we're leaving."
Before anyone could react, I grabbed his hand. The golden warmth of my Falna surged briefly, humming along his skin.
"Wait, what?!" Michael said, but I didn't answer. I tugged him toward the nearest exit, weaving between clusters of stunned adventurers.
"Lady Vesta! Where are you going?!" Hestia squealed, still ignoring Eina's horrified glare.
"Somewhere with fewer idiots!" I shouted back, not slowing down.
A cluster of would be recruits reached out, half pleading, half desperate. I swerved, dragging Michael behind me.
"Please, let me join! I'm strong!" One shouted.
"NO." I said firmly, my voice sharp enough to echo. "He's mine. Only mine. You get lunch like everyone else!"
Michael stumbled slightly, still holding my hand, his cheeks flushed from the sudden sprint.
"You're… really fast for a… goddess of… cooking?"Michael said.
"Fast enough to escape fan clubs." I muttered, eyes forward. "And yes, I'm that serious."
We burst out into the Orario streets, the sun striking the stone rooftops, casting long shadows behind us. The sound of distant shouts, questions, and Hestia's delighted squeals faded behind the corner. I finally stopped in a quiet alley, tugging him gently into a doorway to catch our breath. Michael's hand still gripped mine, slightly warm and trembling from both exertion and adrenaline.
"Okay." I said, exhaling slowly. "You officially have a family. But this is not a recruitment drive. Ever. Understood?"
Michael nodded, blinking, his chest rising and falling.
"Understood. You… you really protect your own, huh?"Michael asked.
I gave a faint smirk, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear.
"Always. You're mine, Michael. And don't you forget it."I sighed.
He smiled, faintly awestruck, staring at the faint glow of the Falna mark on his back.
"I… I won't. Thank you, Lady Vesta."He said.
I shook my head, half amused, half exasperated.
"Quit calling me that. You're in my Familia now. That's enough titles for one lifetime."I said.
He chuckled softly.
"Yes… Chef Goddess, Mother of Hearths, Keeper of My Sanity…"He said.
I groaned and shoved him gently.
"I said enough titles! Now come on. We've got a tavern to run, and lunch service doesn't care about divine drama."I sighed and kept walking.
He laughed, following close, as we slipped through backstreets and side alleys, leaving the chaos of the Guild, and the crowd of would be recruits far behind. Quiet. Finally.