— Aiz Comes to the Rooftop at Night
Aeron remained beneath the fig tree long after Freya disappeared into the moonlit sky.
He closed his eyes, breathing in the quiet.
Footsteps touched the roof softly.
He didn't need to look.
"Aiz."
Aiz stood at the top of the stairs, hugging her sword to her chest, golden eyes uncertain.
"…I saw Freya leaving."
Aeron blinked.
"You were watching?"
Aiz stepped closer.
"I was… worried."
Aeron's expression warmed.
"Aiz, you don't need to be."
She shook her head lightly, hair shimmering.
"But I am."
Aeron raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Aiz's lips parted slightly.
Her voice was soft — fragile in a way she rarely was.
"…Because gods take things."
Aeron tilted his head.
"And what am I to be taken?"
Aiz looked away, but only for a moment before meeting his eyes again.
"…Someone important."
Aeron's chest tightened.
He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Aiz. Freya won't take me. Not now. Not ever."
Aiz's posture relaxed, tension leaving her shoulders.
She stepped beside him, sitting close enough that their arms brushed.
"Can I stay awhile?" she asked quietly.
Aeron nodded.
"Of course."
Together they watched the stars, silence comfortable between them.
After a long moment, Aiz leaned her head lightly against his shoulder.
Aeron let her.
Her breathing calmed.
Her eyes softened.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
"To thank me for what?"
"For not leaving."
Aeron smiled faintly.
"I wasn't planning to."
— Riveria's Inner Battle (Private, Emotional)
While Aiz sat under the moon with Aeron…
Riveria sat in her room at the Loki Familia home, staring at a book she wasn't reading.
Her thoughts were tangled.
Why did I go to him so easily?
Why does he unsettle me?
Why does it feel natural… to stand near him?
And why… why was Aiz on the roof with him tonight?
Riveria pressed a hand to her forehead.
"Compose yourself… you are an elf, Riveria Ljos Alf."
She closed the book.
But her heart refused to settle.
She stood abruptly, walked to the window, and stared toward Aeron's Emporium in the distance.
The lights on the rooftop were still on.
Riveria let out a quiet, resigned breath.
"…This is becoming complicated."
She didn't smile.
But she didn't frown either.
— Haruhime Gaining Confidence
At the Emporium, Haruhime was cleaning up the break room when she heard faint laughter from outside.
She peeked through the window.
Aiz and Aeron sat together on the rooftop.
Haruhime froze, tail stiffening.
But then… her eyes softened.
"…Aiz is kind," she whispered to herself. "She deserves warmth too."
Haruhime pressed a hand to her chest.
"And I… I'll become strong enough to stand beside him as well."
Her tail lifted a little higher.
She wasn't giving up.
She was simply choosing confidence over insecurity.
— Demeter Visits at Dawn (Soft, Warm, Unexpected)
Before the sun rose, Aeron was already awake — he always was.
He walked down to the fourth floor, preparing the morning displays, adjusting the enchanted lighting, rearranging potion sets with methodical calm.
Then—
The bell rang softly.
"Aeron?"
Demeter stepped in, wearing a simple white dress, hair loose, holding a small basket of warm bread.
She smiled gently.
"You're up early."
Aeron returned a soft nod.
"Good morning, Demeter."
She walked toward him, warm and bright like a sunrise.
"I guessed you would be awake," she said. "So I baked something for you."
Aeron raised an eyebrow.
"You didn't have to."
"I wanted to," she murmured.
She handed him a loaf wrapped in cloth.
Aeron accepted it.
Demeter watched him with soft eyes.
"…You're carrying a lot," she said quietly. "Women chasing you. Freya circling you. Rumors spreading."
She stepped closer.
"If you ever need rest… or a place to escape… you can come to me."
Aeron's expression softened.
"You're too kind, Demeter."
She smiled gently, touching his shoulder.
"I know," she whispered.
"And I don't mind being kind to you."
Her fingers lingered — but not possessively.
Warm.
Supportive.
Steady.
Aeron didn't pull away.
Demeter exhaled softly.
"…Good."
She left the shop with a peaceful smile.
— Aeron Expands the Underground Base (Business Focus)
Later that morning, Aeron descended into the hidden floors beneath the Emporium.
His voice echoed through the chamber.
"Let's add a potion assembly line. High efficiency. Automatically refilled ingredients."
Blocks materialized, forming glowing machines that automatically brewed potions at inhuman speed.
Aeron nodded.
"Now an enchanted storage vault. Protections against gods included."
A shimmering vault formed instantly — unbreakable, invisible to divine detection.
Then he expanded the chamber deeper.
"More space for future projects…"
A whole new level grew beneath the others.
He smiled faintly.
"This will be useful."
— Freya's Next Move
In her palace, Freya stood at her balcony, silver hair fluttering in the wind.
Her eyes were locked on one point.
Aeron's shop.
She held a small crystal.
A gift meant for him.
But not yet.
Freya whispered:
"Aeron… I won't rush."
She smiled, a dangerous but beautiful smile.
"I'll let every woman in Orario fall for you first."
Her fingers tightened slowly.
"And then… when the moment is perfect… I will take you."
— Aiz & Riveria Morning Encounter (Tension)
Later at the Loki Familia home, Aiz entered the dining hall.
Riveria sat drinking tea.
They met eyes.
Aiz bowed politely.
"Good morning, Riveria."
"Good morning, Aiz."
Silence.
Riveria glanced at her.
"You were with Aeron late last night."
Aiz paused.
"Yes."
"What were you doing?"
Aiz thought.
Her answer was simple.
"…Sitting."
Riveria set down her teacup.
"Sitting."
Aiz nodded.
"Yes."
Riveria exhaled very slowly.
Aiz looked confused.
"…Did I do something wrong?"
Riveria rubbed her forehead.
"No. Absolutely not."
Aiz blinked.
"Are you… upset?"
Riveria nearly choked on her tea.
"No. No. Not upset. Merely… observing."
Aiz stared at her.
"…I like being around him."
Riveria froze.
Aiz added softly:
"But I think… you do too."
Riveria went completely still.
Then she sighed, closing her eyes.
"…This will be troublesome."
"A little," Aiz agreed.
— The City Reacts to His Business Success
The Guild Office
"THE EMPORIUM SOLD MORE POTIONS THAN THE ENTIRE GUILD YESTERDAY!"
Eina: "HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!"
The Ganesha Familia
"He's drawing in half the adventurers in the city!"
Hephaestus
"He built a park next to my shop… and it's attracting customers… and I'm not even angry."
Random Adventurers
"I bought a sword from him—my strength jumped by 20%!"
"And the potions? They feel… divine!"
"Is he secretly a god?!"
Rumors only grew.
Aeron remained calm through all of it.
— Nightfall: Aeron Sitting Alone… Until Riveria Appears
As the city settled, Aeron stood on the roof again.
Quiet.
Still.
Peaceful.
The rooftop door opened.
Riveria stepped out.
Her expression composed, though her eyes were uncertain.
"Aeron," she said softly.
Aeron turned.
"Riveria."
She walked toward him, the moonlight catching her elegant features.
"…May I stay here? For a little while?"
Aeron nodded.
Riveria stood beside him at the railing.
"…I spoke with Aiz today," she murmured.
"Oh?"
Riveria inhaled slowly.
"She told me she enjoys your company."
"Mm."
"She also said… she thinks I do too."
Aeron smiled faintly.
"Do you?"
Riveria's breath quickened — only slightly.
"…Yes," she whispered.
Aeron didn't respond immediately.
Instead he gently took her hand.
Riveria stiffened — only for a heartbeat.
Then she allowed it.
Her fingers curled around his.
They stood in silence.
The city below.
The moon above.
The breeze weaving between them.
Riveria whispered:
"Aeron… be careful."
"With what?"
"Yourself."
She looked up at him.
"It is far too easy to fall for you."
Aeron smiled softly.
"…Then fall."
Riveria's heart jolted.
She didn't pull away.