With the sparring match concluded, the group began to make their way into the Bahamut familia manor, the setting sun casting long shadows behind them.
Draco, Bahamut, their guest Ais, and the two members of the Miach Familia...Miach himself and Naaza.....walked the short distance, the scent of the garden flower blooms perfuming the air.
As they stepped inside, the cooler air of the foyer was a welcome relief.
"Make yourselves at home," Bahamut instructed, with a warm tone.
"Lunch will be served shortly. Draco, a quick bath and change of clothes might be in order." She added.
Draco, acutely aware of the lingering sweat, dust and injuries from his rigorous workout, nodded. "Indeed," he said, a brief, sheepish smile gracing his lips.
Walking bare-chested in front of guests, especially when he was already feeling a bit self-conscious, made him uncomfortable.
But before he could retreat entirely, Miach had approached him, his eyes alight with interest.
"Draco," Miach began, his gaze sweeping over Draco's torso.
"Those marks… they're fading already. Fascinating."
He gestured to a burn wound on Draco's side, a remnant before his spar with Ais, which was visibly shrinking, the skin knitting itself together at an boggling rate.
Draco felt a blush creep up his neck, a sensation he found entirely irritating.
"It's… just how my body works, Miach," he mumbled, trying to turn away.
But Miach was undeterred, leaning closer, his brow furrowed in curiosity.
"The regeneration rate is truly astounding, almost like you are constantly producing an elixir within your body. Ah, and these wounds here too," Miach muttered, lightly poking a sensitive spot on Draco's ribcage.
Draco winced, not from pain, but from the sheer awkwardness of being prodded and scrutinized. The questions Miach posed, though innocent in intent, felt ridiculously embarrassing.
Are your bones denser?
Does your blood clot faster?
What's your average body temperature?
Can you… can you feel your scales growing?
Draco felt his discomfort skyrocket with each query.
He glanced quickly at Ais and Naaza.
Thankfully, neither of them seemed to show any hint of improper interest for his body.
Of course they didn't.
Naaza currently only had eyes for her patron deity, Miach, her gaze never straying far from him, a soft adoration in her eyes.
And Ais, bless her emotionally immature soul, was probably just trying to mentally catalog the details of their spar, if she was paying attention at all.
"Miach-sama, please!" Naaza interjected, stepping forward, her cheeks faintly pink.
"Draco-san needs his privacy. You can't just… poke everything you find interesting!"
She gently but firmly pulled Miach back by the sleeve of his shirt, her expression a mix of embarrassment and protectiveness.
Draco seized the opportunity.
"Thank you, Naaza. I'll be right back."
He practically bolted for his room, the privacy of his bath a welcome thought.
After a quick, refreshing soak and a change into cleaner clothes, Draco returned to the dining room.
Bahamut had already set the table, a simple yet inviting spread laid out.
It wasn't anything fancy, just spaghetti and meatballs, generously sprinkled with freshly grated cheese, the aroma filling the room with a comforting warmth.
The atmosphere was surprisingly endearing, given the diverse group gathered.
All the people present, despite their differing allegiances and backgrounds, were amicable.
As they began to eat, Bahamut cleared her throat.
"Before we get too deep into this deliciousness," she said, her gaze flicking to Ais, "Draco has some news to share."
Draco felt a bit flustered.
"Oh, it's not much," he demurred, but then decided to just get it over with.
"Ais, during our sparring match earlier, I noticed… you've broken the barrier for your next level up." Draco said.
He had already said this to Ais during their spar, but she likely wasn't paying much attention then.
A stunned silence fell over the table.
Ais paused with a forkful of spaghetti halfway to her mouth, her golden eyes widening.
Miach gasped, nearly dropping his own utensil.
Naaza's jaw dropped.
"Level… up?" Ais whispered, her head cutely tilting to the side.
"Hmm," Draco affirmed with a nod.
"All that's needed now is for Loki, to update your status and it will be officially confirmed. Congratulations on becoming a level 6 in advance and taking a step closer to your goal" he said, offering a toast.
No one bothered asking how Draco determined this, despite being extremely curious.
The implications were immense, of course, but the immediate reaction was one of pure celebration.
"Ais, that's wonderful news!" Miach exclaimed, his eyes beaming.
"Congratulations!"
Naaza clapped her hands together, a genuine smile radiating from her.
"That's amazing, Ais-san! You truly are incredible!"
Ais still stunned by the announcement, looked slightly overwhelmed but managed a small, grateful smile.
"Thank you, everyone." she said, and began to pick at her spaghetti again, a renewed determination in her eyes.
However, Ais didn't get to enjoy the celebratory atmosphere for much longer.
Just as the conversation began to flow freely, a sudden thump echoed from the manor's entrance. A moment later, a figure strode purposefully into the dining room.
It was Riveria, the Vice-Captain of the Loki Familia.
Her jade eyes, usually calm, held a rare spark of irritation.
She wasn't looking at Draco or Bahamut, but directly at Ais.
"Ais Wallenstein," Riveria's voice was crisp, holding just enough edge to make it clear she was not to be trifled with.
"There you are. Do you have any idea how long we've been looking for you?"
She then turned to Draco and Bahamut, offering a curt bow.
"My apologies for the rude intrusion."
Ais, already rising from her seat, looked down, a hint of panic on her face.
"I'm sorry."
Riveria sighed, a hint of weariness in her voice.
"Enough. We need to go. Our goddess is… quite agitated."
She didn't wait for an elaborated response, simply taking Ais firmly but gently by the arm. "Thank you for your hospitality, Bahamut-sama, Draco-san."
And with that, she steered a docile Ais out of the dining room and, moments later, the manor.
Barely a few minutes after Riveria's departure with Ais, an entirely different, much more dramatic commotion erupted from the direction of the Bahamut familia gate.
A high-pitched, almost feral wail pierced the evening air.
"MY AISUUUUU! WHERE HAVE YOU HIDDEN HERRRR!"
The voice, unmistakably, belonged to Loki.
She was howling, practically vibrating with frantic energy, claiming that Draco had seduced Ais and kidnapped her.
It seemed she was entirely unaware that Riveria had already taken her away, or perhaps she was simply too far gone in her panic to register anything but her perceived loss.
Draco felt his cheeks burn.
He started to rise, intending to go and explain the situation.
But before he could utter a single word, Bahamut intervened.
She and Loki were like oil and water, or perhaps more accurately, like a hungry dragon and its chosen prey.
With her petite frame, she walked with an almost predatory stance towards the gate.
Her slitted pupils dilated in amusement, catching the light of the setting sun.
She flicked her tail against the flimsy metal of the gate, rattling it with a sharp clank, a clear provocation.
"Oh, Loki," Bahamut drawled, her voice dripping with mock sympathy, yet carrying enough volume to be heard clearly outside.
"Did you lose something? Perhaps a certain girl with golden eyes?"
She paused, letting the implication hang in the air for a moment.
"If so, I do recall her leaving here five minutes prior. She came to see my Draco quite eagerly, and was quite reluctant to leave after their intense personal session, one might say."
Draco buried his face in his hands.
This wasn't completely true, of course.
Ais was as far from 'seduced' as one could get, and her 'eagerness' was purely to spar.
But seeing Loki nearly have a heart attack, judging by the sputtering sound coming from beyond the gate, was undeniably entertaining for Bahamut.
"WHAT?! YOU… YOU DRAGON-WOMAN! YOU DEVIL! I KNEW IT! I KNEW YOU WERE UP TO NO GOOD! AISU! MY POOR AISUUU!" Loki shrieked, her voice cracking with indignation and what sounded like genuine despair.
The situation, as expected, quickly devolved into their usual petty squabble.
Loki grabbed and shook the gates, the metal groaning under her grip, screeching like some deranged monkey behind bars.
Bahamut leaned against the gatepost, a smirk playing on her lips, tossing out exaggerated details about Draco's supposed charms and Ais's alleged swooning.
Draco wished the ground would swallow him whole.
He didn't know how to face Naaza and Miach, who were both witnessing this spectacle firsthand.
It was shameful seeing two of the five most powerful goddesses in Orario acting like overgrown children in a schoolyard brawl.
But Miach, surprisingly, wasn't shocked by the behavior of the two goddesses.
He simply watched, a faint, resigned smile on his face.
He knew of them in heaven, long before their descent, and had seen their squabbles then.
To him, it all seemed perfectly normal.
"Ah, yes," he mused softly, as Loki threatened to set Bahamut's home on fire.
"Some things never change, even amongst the divine."
Naaza, on the other hand, just stared, her eyes wide with shock.
Her hands were clasped over her mouth, her eyebrows practically disappearing into her hairline. She was unsure of what to make of everything, her polite, orderly world momentarily turned upside down by the chaos emanating from the gate.
However, before the situation could devolve any further, a pair of new figures arrived at the gate. Finn and Gareth, appeared as if from thin air.
Finn sighed, a sound that spoke of long-suffering and weary familiarity.
Gareth simply grunted.
Without a word, Finn reached out, a barely visible, precise movement, and administered a sharp, non-damaging but highly effective chop to the back of Loki's neck.
The goddess went limp, slumping against the gate with a surprised squeak.
"Ah, Loki-sama," Finn said, catching her before she could hit the ground, his expression neutral. "It seems you've had a rather trying evening."
He then turned to Bahamut, offering a polite but strained smile.
"Bahamut-sama, Draco-san. My sincerest apologies for our goddess's… exuberance. She can be rather… excessive."
Gareth simply scooped up the unconscious Loki, slinging her over his shoulder with the ease of lifting a sack of potatoes.
"Hurry along, Finn. Before she wakes up and tries to bite someone."
Finn gave a quick bow.
And with that, the two high-level adventurers of the Loki Familia disappeared into the crowd, carrying their troublesome deity away.
The whole spectacle had drawn a large crowd of onlookers by now…..passersby, neighboring familias, even a few street performers who had paused their acts to gawk.
Murmurs and hushed exclamations rippled through the gathered throng.
Draco knew, with a sinking feeling, that this would be the gossip of the day, well, until something even more ridiculous occurred, which, in Orario, was usually not long.
With the dramatic spectacle finally over, the crowd, deprived of further entertainment, soon began dispersing.
Bahamut, who wasn't in a good mood anymore, her amusement having vanished with Loki's departure, let out a frustrated growl.
She stomped off towards her room without a word, leaving Draco, Miach, and Naaza alone in the now eerily quiet scene.
Letting out a deep sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the entire day's absurdity, Draco turned to his remaining guests.
"My apologies for all that," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Please, follow me to my office. We can discuss business now that the… distractions have cleared."
He led them back through the dining room, quickly clearing the table of the spaghetti remnants before guiding them to his office.
The next hour was spent in a far more productive, albeit still somewhat delicate, discussion: the potion business deal between the Bahamut and Miach Familia.
Draco sat across from Miach and Naaza, a detailed proposal laid out between them.
"So, as we discussed previously, Miach," Draco began, his tone now crisp and professional, "the Bahamut Familia would provide the initial capital, access to rare materials that we source from our explorations, joint research facilities, and critical market exposure through our connections."
Miach nodded, listening intently, while Naaza diligently took notes.
"And in return," Miach said, "the Miach Familia would cheaply provide our potions, and a significant portion of the profits from the new store that would be established under this partnership."
"Precisely," Draco confirmed.
"We would handle the logistics of setting up and managing the retail front, leveraging our established infrastructure. Your focus would remain on quality and innovation."
There were, of course, several parts that needed adjustments, especially since the Miach Familia currently consisted of only two members...Miach and Naaza.
Their production capacity, while impressive for their current scale, would need to expand dramatically to meet the projected demand.
Naaza, looking up from her notes, considered this.
"This will be… a significant undertaking," she admitted, her brow furrowed slightly.
"But not impossible, especially with the resources you could provide for materials and a proper workshop setup."
Miach beamed.
"Indeed! Imagine the possibilities for new medicinal advancements!" His eyes gleamed with the pure, joy of creation.
The overall direction, however, was clearly decided upon.
It was an undeniably good deal for the Miach Familia.
They were currently barely making ends meet, struggling to keep their tiny, benevolent familia afloat with their current limited resources and market reach.
This partnership offered a lifeline, a chance to not only survive but thrive.
As for what the Bahamut Familia would gain, in the short term, it was access to top-tier potions….more reliable, potent, and cost-effective than what they could currently acquire on the open market.
In the long term, the potential profits were immense.
With Aasterinian, another deity whom Draco trusted implicitly, heading the research part of the venture, Draco believed it was entirely possible to pioneer new types of potions, even entirely new uses for existing ingredients.
This was more than just a business deal; it was a strategic, long-term investment for the future survival and prosperity of Orario itself, bolstering the overall strength and health of adventurers.
With most of the deal fleshed out, the fine print would be handled at a later date.
Naaza and Miach eventually bid their farewells, leaving with huge smiles on their faces, their steps noticeably lighter.
Watching them from the window of his office as they disappeared amongst the bustling evening street, Draco let out a deep sigh.
The day's events, had taken their toll.
"I really need to quickly finish making those grimoire's" he muttered to himself, his gaze drifting towards the stirring magic lamps.
"Money seems a bit tight."
Since his return to Orario, all he had done so far was spend, spend, and spend, without adequately replenishing the familia's coffers.
Although he was the captain, it didn't feel right spending the familia funds like they were his personal savings.
'Well, as long as I pay it all back from my own ventures,' he thought.
Then, he remembered the state of the training ground.
Although it was extremely sturdy, designed to withstand the rigors of high-level combat, he alone had still managed to make a significant mess of it.
The costs for repairs and, more importantly, the cost to further upgrade its durability to safely handle future training sessions of that magnitude, suddenly loomed large in his mind.
Draco let out a hollow chuckle that held no humor.
Turning away from the window, Draco made his way to Bahamut's room.
He hadn't checked on her since her earlier squabble with Loki, and he knew a slighted dragoness could be… temperamental.
He opened the door quietly, finding Bahamut draped across her massive bed, a picture of exaggerated sulkiness.
Her tail flicked idly, her back to him, as if she hadn't noticed his entrance.
She was wearing only a floral patterned silk robe, the dark fabric clinging to her petite frame.
"Rough day?" Draco asked softly, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.
Bahamut finally turned, her eyes narrowing slightly, still holding a hint of pique.
"Hmph. That wretched flea-bitten mongrel Loki… always ruining things. And you, you just let her get away with it!"
Draco walked over, sitting gently on the edge of the bed.
"Weren't you the one who further complicated things?. And Finn and Gareth were there. What was I supposed to do, fight the Loki Familia too?"
He reached out, gently stroking her hair, which was the color of moonlight.
She leaned into his touch, a soft purr building in her throat, her pique slowly melting away, replaced by something warmer, more sensual.
She looked up at him, her eyes heavy-lidded, a mischievous glint returning to their depths.
"You could have made me feel better for having to endure such an insult first," she murmured, her voice a low, seductive rumble.
She shifted, her body pressing against his side, her hand tracing the line of his jaw.
"You look stressed, my captain. This whole day has been quite the ordeal for you too, hasn't it?"
Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling his head down.
"Come here, Draco," she whispered, her breath warm against his lips.
"Make love to me. Make me forget all about that annoying goddess. Make us forget everything else."
Draco felt the day's stress, begin to dissipate under her touch, replaced by a growing heat.
He looked into her eyes, seeing the invitation, the deep well of affection she rarely showed to others.
He knew she wanted to soothe him as much as she wanted to be soothed.
Indulging her, indulging them both, felt like the most natural thing in the world.
He leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that was both tender and hungry, a soft moan escaping her throat.
Her hands slid beneath his shirt, her sharp nails barely grazing his skin, sending shivers through him.
He deepened the kiss, his own hands finding the soft silk of her robe, pushing it aside to feel the warmth of her flesh beneath.
He lifted her easily, laying her back against the pillows, her tail tangling with his as she pulled him closer still.
With a shared sigh of relief and yearning, the world outside faded into oblivion, leaving only the two of them, melting into each other, bodies and souls entwined in the passionate act.