The next day.
In the morning.
Inside the basement of the abandoned church.
Kael sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his hands.
'They were steady or rather too steady'
Like nothing in the world had happened to him yesterday in the dungeon.
But he could still feel it under his skin.
A warmth of her blessings that hadn't faded with sleep.
Goddess Hestia stood by the small stove, humming while stirring soup. Her hair was messy., her ribbon crooked.
She doesn't look like a goddess but a normal housewife cooking for her husband.
Kael watched her for a moment.
'Should I tell her about that dream and what happened in the dungeon yesterday'
After hesitating for a few seconds, Kael decided to tell her what happened yesterday.
Then—
"…Lady Hestia,"
Kael, sitting in the bed, called her from behind.
She turned. Still holding the spoon in her hand.
"Mmm? Morning, hero."
He hesitated for a little while to say it.
"I had a dream yesterday when I passed out in the dungeon."
Her smile softened:
"A good one?"
Kael shook his head. And said in a heavy voice.
"No. Not bad either. Just… little heavy."
Goddess Hestia walked over and sat beside him, crossing her legs and hanging them down from the bed.
"Tell me."
Kael took a breath and proceeded to tell her about his dream slowly.
"First, there was nothing in my dream, not even ground or sky. Then light suddenly came from all directions. Not like fire or like magic. Like… moonlight from the moon shining at midnight"
Goddess Hestia blinked her big eyes cutely.
"…That's very specific."
Kael gave a small, humourless smile.
"There was a woman. Or something shaped like one. She had silver hair. A bow made of light."
Goddess Hestia froze just for half a second.
Then her expression focused as she asked carefully—
"…Go on."
"She said she blessed my blood before Orario existed. When even gods haven't descended to the mortal world, my ancestor made a contract with her."
Goddess Hestia's fingers tightened on her skirt.
"She said she's not a goddess anymore."
Raising his head, Kael looked at her eyes and told her more about the women in the dream.
"She said when she was alive and descended to the mortal world in the form of a spirit, she bears the name of Artemis."
Silence descends on the underground basement.
The soup stopped bubbling and the church felt very small.
Goddess Hestia finally spoke.
"…That's not something a mortal dreams."
Kael swallowed and asked little nervously.
"So I'm not crazy?"
Goddess Hestia shook her head slowly.
"No. You were visited."
Kael laughed weakly, his shoulders sank down. He replied to her in a low voice.
"Somehow that feels even worse."
'I don't want to have anything to do with spirits or heroes, they are alleyways surrounded by troubles '
Kael thought to himself wearily.
She smiled a little, then leaned her forehead against Kael's shoulder.
"…Kael. Spirits don't reach out unless something in you resonates with them."
She looked up at him, her face becoming serious as she said to him:
"You didn't imagine that."
Kael stared at the floor.
"She said I'd awaken the light fully when death reaches for me again."
Goddess Hestia's body stiffened when she hears word death.
"…Again?"
He nodded.
"On Floor 3. When Miri was about to die."
She closed her eyes.
"…Of course."
Kael whispered slowly:
"She asked me to remember her when I draw my sword."
Goddess Hestia exhaled slowly, then her lips lifted in a soft smile.
"Then don't forget to remember her when you draw sword."
Kael finally looked at her.
"Aren't you scared? What if we get into unreasonable trouble because of my contract with her"
Goddess Hestia met his eyes.
"I'm a goddess."
Then she added quietly:
"And you're my child."
She stood up and offered Kael her hand.
"Eat your soup, Light-Bringer."
Kael blinked.
"…That's not my name,"
Goddess Hestia smiled warmly.
"One day, that would be how the world will call you."
Kael gets up.
———
After eating breakfast, Kael started to prepare his equipment for repairs.
The blade cracked apart in his hand.
"…It broke," he muttered.
Goddess Hestia stared at the pieces.
"…No. It didn't break."
She looked up.
"…It couldn't handle you anymore."
She added in a cheerful voice:
''Don't worry, I have already taken care of your new sword"
Kael's eyes widened in shock
''A new sword?''
''That's right, you are getting a new sword next week''
Goddess Hestia raises her chest, her hand placed on her waist.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Kael's face, her expression as if she was begging to be praised.
Kael raised his hand and patted her head gently with his palm, while asking her what happened last night.