Tanya stirred from her sleep. “Where, am I?”

She was in an odd, clean, well lit room. She sat up in the soft bed, lifting the covers from herself. Looking she noticed a dark elf woman who seemed to have fallen asleep while watching over her.

“Um, excuse me.” She lightly nudged the woman.

It’s almost like looking in a mirror…

Tanya thought as she felt her neck, verifying the collar that enslaved her was gone. Tears began welling up in her eyes. The dark elf woman stirred before opening her ruby red eyes and looking up at her, still half asleep. Upon realizing Tanya was awake, the dark elf rushed forward, embracing her in a hug.

“T-thank goodness, you woke up!” She cried through tears.

“Um, I…” Tanya’s words stopped in her throat.

It can’t be…

Tears began rolling down her cheeks as she moved the dark elf’s face so she could look into it.

“My little Micah?”

Micah smiled, nodding happily. The two of them embraced, tears and cries flowing from them like tsunami washing away all of their sorrow, their pain and loneliness. A dead mother and lost daughter, finally reunited.

After several minutes, the door burst open and Lady Lucia jumped into the fray of tears and joy.

“Mother! I, I never thought I would see either of you again. But, how did this happen?! I thought I was going to die in that arena after Reno betrayed me. Then before I knew it, I was near a strange house, where… I think a beast-kin girl helped me?”

“We can explain everything mother. Do you think you can walk?” Micah asked.

Tanya felt better than she ever had, so she stood, noticing the strange attire she was wearing.

“What kind of clothes are these?”

“Oh, those are pajamas, do you not like them?” Micah asked.

“Opposite really, they may look a little silly, but they are quite comfortable. Let us go.”

Micah led her out of the room.

Luna, Ruby, Rorroco, and the maid Laura were playing a couple of board games on the large, stone meeting table as Micah, Tanya, and Lady Lucia came out of the house.

“Checkmate!” Luna announced.

“Ah! Again!?” Rorroco cried.

“Heheheh! Do not underestimate the wisdom of a mighty goddess!” Luna said, puffing out her chest arrogantly.

“Tch, maybe I should call Senior Goddess here to see how haughty you continue to act?” Rorroco replied.

“Please don’t do that. My apologies. I’m sorry.” Luna immediately lowered her head.

“Ah! She’s awake! Papa!” Ruby stood and headed toward the workshop.

A minute later, Eric and Ruby returned.

“Please, take a seat, I am sure you have many questions.” Eric said with a smile.

Tanya sat down at the table with her mother and daughter at her sides. Eric, Ruby, Rorroco sat across from them, and Luna was at the end of the table.

“Um, so, who are you sir?” Tanya asked.

“My name is Eric Bison, but I also go by the name Duke Hephaestus.” He said with a smile.

Tanya slammed her hands on the table and stood in surprise,

“You’re Duke Hephaestus?!”

Her statement only caused Micah and the girls to puff out their chests in pride of him. Tanya swallowed hard and sat back down.

“I’ve heard the stories of you. You are akin to a legend. I wish I knew which god to offer thanks to for bringing me such help.”

Luna’s nose seemed to be getting longer as she puffed her chest even more outward.

“If there was any god to thank, it would be the god that my husband takes his namesake.” Micah said with a smile.

“Oh, there is a god named Hephaestus? Then I will be sure to offer my than-…” She paused.

“I feel like you said something really important there.” Tanya said, furrowing her brow.

“He’s my husband mother.”

Tanya’s jaw dropped. After she got over her shock get grabbed her daughters shoulders and gave her a thumbs up.

“Good job daughter!”

Everyone ended up laughing.

“Now then, heheh, let me get through introductions here.” Eric laughed.

“Ah, Laura, could you see if Leros is awake, I am sure she would like to meet him too.”

Laura nodded and headed inside the house.

“Now, the woman here is the Mountain Giant Rorroco, my second wife. This adorable little rabbit-kin is my daughter Ruby. The one over there at the end is Luna, somewhat of a little sister to me, and someone I owe all of my success to.”

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Luna teared up at his comment and rushed over to hug him.

He lightly patted her head.

She doesn’t seem that dependable though…Tanya and Lady Lucia thought.

“Ah, and there is one that I am sure you would love to meet. Micah, you go ahead and introduce him.” Eric said.

Laura handed Leros over to Micah. Leros looked up at Tanya with curious eyes. He looked between his mother and the new woman a few times before Micah spoke up.

“Come now, introduce yourself.” She said with a smile.

“Le-ros.” He turned his face to his mother.

“Auntie?” He asked.

“Not auntie. This is your grandmother. Mama’s mama.”

“Eh?” Tanya was surprised again.

“Would you like to hold him?” Micah asked.

Tanya nodded eagerly while tears welled up in her eyes once more. She carefully took Leros into her arms.

“Mimi?” Leros asked, causing Tanya to choke up.

“Yes, I’m your Mimi. Sniff. Nice to meet you little Leros, my grandson.” She hugged him and he did his best to hug her back.

“Thank you all, so much. For so long, I dreamed of something like this. Hoping that one day, just one day, I would see my family again. Yet, the blessings do not stop, praise to lord Hephaestus. I am so happy I could burst…”

The tears flowed endlessly, a bright smile on her face.

While Tanya was recovering inside the Haven with the others, Eric had moved them back to the kingdom of Moona. Though they were in the Haven, they were inside House Yuldo. The three generations of House Yuldo’s women lounged in the Haven hot spring. Eric was being kept prisoner on the giant sized Rorroco who was in the deeper section of the hot spring.

“My, that is quite a bit of woman to compete with Micah, will you be alright?” Tanya asked.

“I will be fine. We share equally.” Micah replied.

“I must admit though, this place is amazing. I am surprised you even leave this place.” Tanya commented.

Micah’s face changed to one of seriousness.

“Yes, this place is like our own personal heaven, but we have to do what we can.”

“Ah, yes, you explained about the Church of Light. I was not surprised when you told me the truth about them. Ah, we need more gods like Lord Hephaestus, than that made up god of light. Oh, by the way, what kind of god is Lord Hephaestus?” Tanya asked Eric.

“He is the God of Fire, but at the same time, he is a god of crafting.” He answered.

“Hmm, then he would be a perfect god of House Yuldo. We may produce many great warriors, but it is tradition that we craft and maintain our own equipment.” Lady Lucia commented.

“Is there a symbol we could use as worship Eric?” Tanya asked.

“I will have to ask. I sure he would be happy.”

Both Tanya and Lady Lucia stared at him.

“You can speak to a god?!” The asked in unison.

“Several actually!” Micah said with pride.

Eric shifted out of the hot spring and changed his clothes in an instant.

“I will check with him now.” Eric shifted to his workshop.

Standing before the god anvil, Eric gave a prayer.

Master Hephaestus. If you have a moment I would like to request your help.

A moment later Hephaestus appeared in the workshop.

“Heya Eric, I got your call. What’s up?” A wide grin came to his face.

“Sorry if you were in the middle of something.” Eric apologized.

“Gahahah. No need for that. Besides, no one in my family can really relate to what I do. Haaaah, not a single one of them into crafting.” Hephaestus scratched his head in frustration.

Eric smiled warmly at the god. I know the feeling.

“So, what you be needing advice on.”

Eric brought him over to door and pointed out the dark elf women who were in a heated Q&A session.

“Hmm. I sense a craftsmen spirit from them. So what about them?” Hephaestus asked walking back to the anvil.

“They are looking for a god to worship, and since you had a hand in the rescue of Tanya, they were wondering about a symbol they could use.” Eric explained.

“I see. Not really something I expected, but I am flattered. Hmm. I don’t really have a symbol per se. I know, let’s make one together!” Hephaestus grinned widely.

Hephaestus was fashioning a cast by packing a sand mix into a wooden frame. Eric started his furnace.

“What do you think we should make it out of?” Hephaestus asked.

“Bronze would be a very Greek idea, but I feel like iron would be better.” Eric replied.

“Iron huh? That is the core metals in forging things… But I kind of want to do something a bit more, flashy.” Hephaestus countered.

The two craftsmen decided not to use the god anvil and will forging to enjoy the most out of their cooperative project.

“Flashy huh? Oh! Nordic gold! We can make it with that! It will look a lot like gold but isn’t at all.” Eric offered.

“Nordic gold? That alloy of copper, aluminum, zinc, and tin? Hmm. Yeah, I like it. Let’s go with that.” Hephaestus agreed.

Eric measured out the quantities of mostly copper, a small amount of aluminum and zinc, and a pinch of tin.

“Metal is ready to be melted, how is the cast coming?” Eric asked approaching Hephaestus.

“An anvil huh? Seems appropriate for you. What about the open hole in the middle though?” Eric asked.

“I was thinking of installing something like an oil lamp there.”

“Ah, a homage of fire.” Eric chuckled and they continued their work.

The molds were finished and Eric began melting the metal.

“Heh. That is nice furnace.”

“Gift of the bumbling goddess.”

Inside the house Luna sneezed, wondering if someone was talking about her.

They poured the liquid hot metal into the molds.

“Easy, easy now. Perfect.” Hephaestus said.

As they waited for the metal to cool, they prepared the tools needed to clean up the surface of the metal and finish making the oil lamp insert.

“What is this tool?” Hephaestus asked about a power tool.

“That? You can chance the pads to sand, buff, or grind things. It is very convenient. I think I have an extra one around here if you want it.” Eric offered.

“Really? Huh. I accept. I should probably look into the tools of the world again.”

Eric handed Hephaestus his spare tool and they broke the metal out of the molds. After spending time cleaning up the two halves, they brought the two together and Eric used his [Welding] spell to join the two pieces together. It looked like a small golden anvil with an elaborate design on the sides of a hammer. They slid the oil lamp container into the hollow space.

“Now for my touch.” Hephaestus lit the lamp using a bit of his divine power.

“That looks good.” Eric admired their work.

“That is does son.” Hephaestus said.

Eric noticed what Hephaestus said, but before he could say anything, the dark elf ladies entered the workshop.

“Waaaah! That is beautiful!” Lady Lucia seemed to have abandoned her normal refined behavior and regressed to a young, excitable lady.

“Truly fine work Eric. Who might this be?” Tanya asked.

“Oh, this is Hephaestus.”

Lady Lucia and Tanya froze for a moment before dropping to the ground in reverence.

“Ahh, please don’t do that.” Hephaestus asked them.

“Lady Lucia, Tanya, most gods don’t really like that kind of behavior, just treat him like you would a respected elder.” Eric explained.

Micah helped her family up to their feet, though they seemed to still be apprehensive about speaking to him.

“Alright. This here is something Eric and I created for you. It is not divine or anything, but if you pray to it, I will hear your voice. I thank you choosing me as the god of your family. I will bless your family to have a decent starting talent in crafting and have a minor resistance to fire.”

“Thank you Lord Hephaestus!” The two tried to bow in reverence, but Eric shifted the two of them into a set of chairs nearby.

“I don’t think they will learn. Thank you Hephaestus for the gift for my family.” Micah thanked him.

“You are very welcome! Now, I best be gettin’ back home. Aphrodite told me that she is waiting for me. Take care Eric. I had a lot of fun working with you.” Hephaestus said putting a proud hand on Eric’s shoulder.

“Likewise.”

With a wave goodbye, Hephaestus vanished in a flash of orange light.

“Anyway, mother, what do you plan to do now? Are you going to stay here in Moona?” Micah asked.

Tanya seemed to get over her initial awe of meeting a god and turned to Micah.

“I, think I would like to come to Lenmos with you.”

“Tanya?” Lady Lucia asked sadly.

“Mother, I love you with all of my heart and I will be sure to come visit. But I have missed so much time with Micah, and then I have a grandson too. I wish to be a part of their lives as much as possible.” Tanya said while hugging Micah.

“I understand. Seems as though you had the same idea as I.”

Everyone turned to look at Lady Lucia.

“The king made a decision the other day that we will be joining the allied kingdoms in an alliance. We will be needing to setup an embassy, which my house was chosen to be ambassador, and what better place than Lenmos?” She said with a teasing smile.

Eric sighed, not looking forward to being teased by three generations of Yuldo ladies.