The sun hung low over Orario, painting the buildings in warm gold as Hel made her way toward the Guild. Ereshkigal walked a half-step behind her, clutching her threadbare shawl, eyes darting nervously at every loud noise or passing adventurer.
“Why is it so bright?” Ereshkigal muttered, shielding her eyes dramatically.
“It is sunset,” Hel replied calmly.
“It feels personal.”
Hel didn’t bother responding to that.
They reached the Guild doors just in time to hear raised voices inside—well, one raised voice in particular.
“NO, MISS ROSE, THAT IS NOT WHAT ‘BASIC ITEM MAINTENANCE’ MEANS!”
“That’s what I thought it meant!” Ruby yelped.
Hel exhaled through her nose. “…I am almost afraid to open this door.”
Ereshkigal blinked at her. “Is it dangerous?”
“Statistically? Yes.”
Hel pushed the door open.
The classroom inside was… smoldering.
Not on fire this time. Just… smoldering.
A few desks emitted faint wisps of smoke. One rookie adventurer sat on the floor, staring into the middle distance like he’d seen the face of divinity and been disappointed. Eina was hunched over a clipboard, silently contemplating her life choices.
And in the middle of it all stood Ruby—frazzled hair, soot on her cheeks, Crescent Rose hugged against her chest like a guilty child clinging to a toy she definitely wasn’t supposed to play with indoors.
The moment Ruby saw her, her eyes lit up.
“HEEEELLL!” she cried, sprinting forward and skidding to a stop just short of tackling her. “I didn’t blow anything up this time!”
“That is objectively untrue,” Eina replied,
Hel sighed
brushing ash off Ruby’s shoulder.
Ereshkigal peered from behind Hel, wide-eyed. “...Is this the dangerous one?”
“Ruby,” Hel said gently, “this is Ereshkigal. She will be staying with us.”
Ruby beamed. “Hi! I’m—”
Ereshkigal flinched as a desk leg collapsed behind Ruby with a defeated clonk.
“…I can see why you wanted beginner classes for her.”
Ruby wilted. “I—I didn’t mean to break anything this time! The wood here is just really… breakable?”
No one in the room looked convinced.
Eina stepped forward like a soul who had transcended mortal frustration sometime around the second explosion. She held out a thick stack of papers to Hel with the robotic precision of a doll.
“Here is the bill for today’s damages.”
Hel accepted it without blinking.
“Bill it to the Loki Familia.”
From across the smoking room, a rookie adventurer whispered, “She’s doomed.”
Another rookie responded, “Better her than us.”
Hel folded the papers briskly, tucked them under her arm, and gently guided Ruby toward the exit.
“Come. We should return home before Loki arrives and begins… shrieking.”
Ereshkigal winced. “She screams?”
Hel sighed with the weariness of someone who has endured this many, many times.
“Like a banshee falling down several flights of stairs.”
Ruby nodded sympathetically. “…Yeah, that sounds about right.”
“Is it because of the bills?” Ereshkigal asks
Hel didn’t even slow her stride.
“It is always because of the bills,” Hel replied, tone flat as stone.
Ruby piped in helpfully, swinging her arms as they walked, “Or the fines. Or the ‘property destruction’ notes. Or the ‘please stop endangering the Guild staff’ warnings.”
Ereshkigal blinked. “…How many of those do you have?”
Ruby smiled far too brightly. “Uhhh… a meaningful amount.”
Hel tilted her head. “Endangering Guild staff? Don’t tell me the infamous Crater Face incident happened again?”
Ruby froze mid-step.
Her soul left her body.
“HOW— HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT NICKNAME?!” she shrieked, face turning as red as her cloak.
Hel continued walking without answering.
Ereshkigal stared between them, deeply confused. “Crater… what?”
Ruby covered her face with both hands. “PLEASE don’t ask!”
Hel remained serenely silent.
===
Ruby practically bounced up the stone steps to the manor, still dusty from beginner class but bright-eyed as ever.
“C’mon! I’ll show you around!” she chirped, tugging Ereshkigal by the hand.
Ereshkigal followed stiffly, gaze darting over the towering red-brick estate, the carved banners, and the faint sounds of shouting from somewhere deep inside.
“…Is it always this loud?” she asked cautiously.
Ruby blinked. “What? Oh! No, that’s just Tiona and Tione arguing with Bete again.”
A distant howl echoed through the manor.
Ruby corrected herself.
“Okay, that might be Bete winning.”
Ereshkigal shrank behind her.
Ruby pushed open the front doors with both hands.
Inside, the manor was lively—warm lantern light, long decorated halls, uniforms thrown over couches, adventurers chatting, sparring, or napping. The constant energy of a familia that never stayed still for long.
Ruby made a grand sweep with her arms.
“Welcome to Casa de Loki! Don’t touch the traps. Don’t pet Bete. Don’t spar with Tiona unless you want to lose a rib. Um… don’t go in the kitchen on Thursdays. And… try not to panic!”
“Wh—why would I panic?” Ereshkigal asked, voice dropping.
A wall shook from upstairs followed by Reviera screaming,
“WHY ARE YOU TRAINING INSIDE THE HALLWAY?!”
Ereshkigal clutched Ruby’s cloak.
Ruby grinned sheepishly.
“You get used to it!”
===
Hel shut the manor doors behind her and exhaled. Loki’s office was down the hall, and the distant sound of the goddess ranting to herself meant she was, indeed, awake.
Without knocking, Hel entered.
Loki looked up mid-rant, waving a page full of red ink.
“—and ANOTHER bill, can you believe—oh. It’s you.”
Her glare sharpened. “Come to dump more expenses on me?”
Hel sat in the chair opposite her desk, posture perfect.
“I wish to discuss living arrangements,” Hel said evenly.
“…For who?” Loki asked, one eyebrow lifting.
“For Ruby. And a guest who has no other place.”
The trickster goddess’s lips pressed together. She tilted her head, studying Hel with a careful, knowing look. “…You want… discretion,” Loki murmured, almost to herself. “I see. Not just any new quarters. Privacy. Space for growth.”
Hel’s expression didn’t shift, but her silver-green eyes betrayed a flicker of acknowledgment.
Ruby’s progress—already staggering—was only going to accelerate if left unchecked in a crowded household where interruptions, mischief, and curiosity ran rampant. Loki’s sharp mind pieced it together instantly.
“You’re worried about… the rate of her growth?” Loki’s tone was more observation than question. “I’ve seen the reports. She’s… well beyond a beginner already. That kind of progress will draw eyes.”
“Yes,” Hel admitted simply. “She must train without distraction. Without the pressure of… familial oversight. Without—” she hesitated briefly, “…constant interference.”
“Yes I would be worried about Freya aswell.” Loki states puting 1 and 1 together.
“Actually I have worked out a deal with grandmother and set her on another crazy path.” Hel states
Loki’s eyes narrowed, a slow smile tugging at her lips. “Of course. You’ve always been thorough. Always three moves ahead.”
“I learned from the best.” Hel states
Loki’s grin widened, sharp and knowing. “Indeed. You’ve inherited more than just my cleverness, it seems.”
Hel inclined her head slightly, expression serene.”I was referring to grandmother. While she was teaching me you were out pimping out uncle Thor to Þrymr.”