Danmachi: Westward Cloud [Complete]

[Vol.4] Quest 358- Wisdom & Dinner

Callisto went to her mother’s tent to tell her about Fels and the family dinner.

"Mom! Mom!" She came into the tent to see Ai, Malion, and Ryuu.

All three of them were dripping wet.

‘They must have just come back from diving.’

"What is it, sweetie?" Artemis asked.

"I met Grandma Fels!"

"!?" Their eyes widen.

"You met Fels!?" They were all shocked.

"Yeah! I asked if they could stay for din—"

"Did they come to get Cirrus back!" Ai said, walking up to Callisto with desperation in her eyes. "Tell me Calli! Did they bring anything to help find him? Anything!"

"U-um…" Callisto was scared by the look in her eyes.

The grip she had on Callisto frightened her a bit.

"!" Ai could see it in her eyes. "I… I am sorry, Calli. I… I’m sorry I scared you."

"I-it’s fine. Um… can we have dinner with Grandpa Fels? You guys haven’t eaten in a while?"

They look at themselves, and they realize how long it has been since they last ate.

"We can do that," Ryuu said, placing a hand on Ai’s shoulder. "We need our strength. I know from experience that if we wish to find him, we will need to rest and eat."

"…Okay." Ai nodded.

"Tell us, Callisto," Malion said. "Did Fels look a bit, um..."

"I know they're all bones."

"Ah. I see." Malion looked at the others and nodded. "Then did they bring their magic tool?"

"Um, no, they said they came here in a hurry."

If Callisto knew she could lie to the gods, she would thank her father dearly.

"Then we will eat in the woods. Art, shall we go and hunt?"

"Yes, it has been a while." Artemis took out some rations and ate them.

"I’ll go and bring Nox," Ai said. The last time she was like this was when... I’ll make sure to bring her."

"She has been doing well-ish." Said Ryuu. "She and Ais have been searching together. Bell, Haruhime, and Lili made sure the two of them ate everything on their plates."

They all left the tent to go and prepare when they found that night had snuck up on them.

"This sight," Artemis said. "I would have loved this if not for circumstances."

Before them was the same sight as when Cirrus died. The sea and night sky blended into one as if you were on an island in space.

Whoosh~

Whoosh~

Whoosh~

Many would describe it as beautiful and serene, with the sound of the ocean waves and the fresh smell of the sea. But when the day comes, it disappears and returns to normal.

They get their stuff, and they go to where Callisto met Fels, where Fels, Fafnir, and one other are waiting. A goddess with brilliant red hair and eyes.

"Ah! Callisto Zephyr! Child of my good friend Artemis!" Metis walked up to Callisto. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Metis! Goddess of Wisdom, and this one." She glanced at Fels. "This one’s former goddess."

"It is an honor to meet you, Lady Metis," Ryuu said as she and Circe bowed a bit. "What brings such a goddess like you here?"

"Did you come to see Grandma Fels?" Callisto said.

"…I am sorry, but you are far too cute!" Metis bent down and pinched Callisto’s cheeks. "You have Artemis’s cheeks and her cute little nose!"

‘She’s growing.’ Metis noticed. ‘Her clothes are starting to get a bit too small on her. Hm. It seems basking in Elpis’ radiance caused some change within Callisto?’

"Ugh! Was this why mom and dad hid I was a god's daughter!" Callisto brushed her off.

"Yes. But when we eventually return to Orario, it will be far worse." Ryuu said.

"Lady Metis," Fels said. "We should get ready for dinner."

"Alright." She stopped playing with Callisto. "We should get a firepit ready. Knowing Artemis, she should be back here with a—"

"Metis!?" Artemis shouted in surprise.

Next to Artemis was Malion, carrying a large boar.

"Ah! Speak of the devil! You are faster than what I—"

"Why are you here!!" Artemis shouted, coming up to her. "You were sent to heaven hundreds of years ago!!"

"!?" All but Fels and Fafnir were surprised.

"I thought gods couldn’t return if they were sent to Heaven!?" Ryuu said.

"We can’t. Once we are sent up, that is it. So why are you here? Or what I should say is, how are you here?" Artemis said, standing right in front of her.

"Hmmm…" She placed her index finger on her cheek, tapping it in thought. "I got permission from the head gods in heaven!" She said, smiling. "But enough about me. I want to know more about you all! Come now, and let's cook that boar! All I have eaten up until now are mushrooms and berries! Fafnir if you could!"

"Yeah, yeah." Fafnir walked along, and a long table came out of her hair as she walked.

"So? What are you all standing around for? I wanna eat some boar!" Metis said it energetically.

Late at night.

Crackle!!

Crackle!!

Crackle!!

"Hmm~ doesn’t that smell great?" Metis said. "The ginseng and berry rub smells great, doesn’t it? By the way, where is Ai?" Metis looked around. "I wanna see who brought light to that dark cloud."

"She is getting Nox, Metis." Said Artemis. "Now are you gonna tell me why—"

"Nope! Why I am here is for me only. Fels, are you still good spinning the boar?"

"I have no muscles, so yes," Fels said, spinning the boar.

"Fantastic! So tell me, Ryuu Lion-Zephyr, how is Astraea doing?"

Metis rested her head on her arm, looking at Ryuu with a slight smile.

"She is doing well." Ryuu nodded.

"And what about little Alise?"

"Doing good as well, Lady Metis."

She then looked at Malion.

"And your child, Malion Dökk Zephyr? How is Auberon doing? Has his aim improved?"

"He has. But how do you know such things—"

"Ah! Welcome back, Ai Zephyr!" Metis said, looking to see Ai dragging Nox along.

Everyone looked to where Metis looked to see Ai carrying Nox over her shoulder.

"…Art, who is this goddess?" She said this, sitting down and putting Nox next to her.

"She is—"

"Metis," Nox said. "Goddess of Wisdom. What are you doing here? Does it have to do with that conversation you had with mom?"

"!" Artemis quickly looked at Metis, but she still had on a perfect mask to hide her intentions.

"Now, now! That’s something for later!" She waved it off. "So tell me, Ai. She looked at Ai. "How is Hakushika? Has his swordsmanship gotten as good as Callisto’s spearmanship?"

"Well, enough to hold down a fort against a small army." Ai rubs her shoulder. "That is without a Falna."

"How very methodical you are with your teachings. I'm sure it helps. He’s naturally talented with the sword like you." She looked at Callisto. "Callisto are with the bow and arrow. Tell me, Calli, if you don’t mind me saying, but is it because you find archery too easy?"

"You can call me Calli, and maybe." Callisto looked keenly at the red-headed goddess.

"Is that why you have been running off into the dungeon when our archery lessons were scheduled?" Artemis said with a sharp glare, looking at her daughter.

"Uhh…. No?" She shrugs.

Callisto could tell from her mother's glare that she was gonna go through some very intense lessons.

"Fufu." Metis smiles again, earnestly. "Don’t blame her, Artemis; after all, if it weren’t for Nox’s soul, her love for her father wouldn’t be so high!"

"Heh~ that’s something! So you like Cirrus more than your mother, hahaha!!!" Nox laughed joyfully.

"Nox, when you say mom, are you referring to Nyx or Artemis?" Metis gave a sly smirk. "After all, Artemis did give birth to you along with Callisto."

"Haha—Eh?"

"Hmm~" Artemis looked at Nox with a smug look. "I expect you to call me mom, Nox."

"Geh!? N-never!! Look at what I’m wearing!! Mom—Nyx gave me her veil!! Look!! I am ornate in gold and shit!"

"Ooh!! I have another sister!!" Callisto said it with stars in her eyes.

"Yes!! And you’re the older one too! So Nox has to call you big sis!!" Metis said, furthering the teasing.

"This is fucking bullshit!! I’m the third oldest here!!"

"Language, Nox!" Artemis said.

"Yeah, you can’t say fucking bullshit! As the little sister, you need to mind your tongue." Callisto said.

"Neither can you, Callisto!!" Artemis added.

"Ahh, fuck you all!! When is the food ready so I can eat and leave?" Nox said it agonizingly.

"It’s ready right now. Fels." Metis said.

Fels stopped rotating the boar and placed it on a plate on the table.

"Sniff!! Sniff!!"

Growl~

The smell of the cooked boar was incredibly delicious, especially considering they were all hungry.

"Well, go on, eat!! Tomorrow is gonna be a big day!" Metis glanced at Callisto and winked.

‘H-how much does she know!? Did Fels tell her!?’

They ate dinner, and that was that.

"Bye-bye! See you all back in Orario!" Metis waved.

Metis shortly left with Fels on Fafnir.

Artemis knew Metis was up to something, but even with all of her experience, she was still far from being able to understand how Metis’s mind works.

"Haa…" Artemis breathed out a sigh.

‘If only Athena was here. If only she wasn’t so stubborn to ask for help, I would have come and helped push Ares back.’