Danmachi: The Quiet Reincarnate

Hephaestus's eye widened, genuine surprise washing over her face. She straightened fully, putting down her hammer.

"You actually got one? Finally! After all these years! That's... that's wonderful, Hestia. I'm genuinely happy for you." She looked at Cael with a kind, if still assessing, gaze.

"And not just any Familia member!" Hestia continued, practically bursting with pride, leaning in conspiratorially. "He just joined, and he's already Level 2! I haven't told anyone but you, because you're my friend, and I know I can trust you with this."

Hephaestus froze. Her visible eye snapped from Cael to Hestia, then back to Cael, scanning him with divine perception. A sudden, sharp intake of breath.

"Level 2? In a single day? That's... that's simply ridiculous." A dry, sardonic giggle escaped her lips, a glint of amusement in her eye. "He must be a hero then."

Her expression then immediately morphed into one of deep concern, worry for her happy naive friend.

"Hestia, this is incredibly dangerous. The other gods... they'll tear him apart trying to get him. Especially Freya, Loki, Apollo... you need to be very careful. This must be kept secret. Hide his level for a few months, at least. Don't spread it."

As she spoke, Hephaestus felt it. The subtle, unexplainable warmth. The gentle pull. A deep, resonant serenity that emanated from Cael, drawing her in, making her want to simply bask in his presence.

'What is this feeling? It is as if I am being drawn to this child.' Hepasteous said to herself as her gaze met with Cael, who smiled at her politely.

Her usual gruffness melted away, replaced by an odd, involuntary fascination.

Hepasteous didn't know but she was being affected by The Grace of the Hollow Star, even gods couldn't escape it.

This feeling entranced her for a few seconds, the feeling of warmth and being loved.

She felt an unfamiliar ache in her chest, a sudden, powerful urge to have him, to make him her child.

She violently pushed the thought away. He's Hestia's. And my friend's happiness matters more. But the fleeting, possessive desire was undeniable.

"Yes, yes, I know, I know," Hestia said, waving a dismissive hand, though her eyes held a flicker of deep appreciation for her friend's concern.

Then, with that familiar, annoying grin, she said, "Now, Hephaestus... I wanted a favour from you!"

Hestia said as she rubbed her hand while she looked at Hephaestus.

"I knew you were here for something, tell me what do you need?" Hepasteous said as she placed her hand on her forehead, her little friend took advantage of her a little too many times.

"Well... I wanted you to make a weapon for Cael, specifically a sword for him, please! Hepasteous I would do anything for you..." Hestia shamelessly grinned.

Hephaestus narrowed her eye, a long sigh escaping her lips. "Hestia, you know, custom made weapons are very expensive, sorry to say it but I don't think your Familia can afford it."

"Oh, come on, Hephaestus! For me! Your best friend!" Hestia pleaded, pouting and practically bouncing. "I want a weapon for him, he's my first familia member... And he's the only person that wanted to join my familia, just for me Hepasteous, please?"

Hephaestus rubbed her temple, then looked from Hestia's insistent face to Cael, who stood patiently, observing. The lingering subtle pull of Grace of the Hollow Star was a constant presence, a soft warmth in the back of her mind.

She let out another heavy sigh. "Fine," she grumbled, her voice still gruff but a touch less firm. "Just for you, Hestia." She met Cael's gaze, a slight nod of commitment, her single eye assessing his raw potential. "Cael, right? Come with me, you will assist me."

"Hephaestus are you going to make it yourself?" Hestia exclaimed, excitedly.

"Of Course." Hephaestus said as she sighed

Turning to Hestia, "I can't get my familia involved in a private matter between you and I."

Hestia with a childish excited expression, "Wow! Even in heaven, you're known as Divine Smith! And you're gonna make it personally for me!"

Hephaestus smiled at her childish thinking, "Did you forget? This isn't heaven, we can't use any of my divine power."

Hestia without caring jumped excitedly, "I don't care, the thing that makes me happiest, is that you're the one, that's making it." 

Seeing this, Hephaestus smiled, happy that her friend was happy.

And so, the weeks began.

Hephaestus, driven by her professional pride and the subtle, threw herself into the monumental task. She worked tirelessly, the clang of her hammer echoing through the forge day and night.

She stayed awake for the entire week, her resolve unwavering, fueled by passion and a strange, quiet fascination with her new assistant, she was a Goddess, so she could stay awake as much as she can.

But a mortal would be sleep deprived in a day.

Cael, ever diligent, stood by her side, assisting with basic tasks like passing her the right hammer, fetching water to cool the metal, or simply observing her divine craftsmanship.

He tried valiantly to match her tireless pace, but the sheer physical and mental demand was overwhelming, and by the second day, he was extremely sleep-deprived, his eyes heavy, fighting to stay alert.

While Hestia would observe the two, especially Cael, she didn't know why but seeing him working with Hepasteous made her jealous,

'Why is even near her?'. A thought suddenly appeared in her head, it was as if the thought was placed by someone, she instantly shook her head, trying to get rid of such a thought.

Hestia involved herself into reading a story book, trying to busy herself.

Finally, after a week of relentless work, the masterpiece was complete.

Hephaestus held it up, a weapon forged not just from metal, but from tireless effort and a subtle, divine inspiration. Its polished surface gleamed, radiating a restrained power, she used Hestia's blood and her strands of hair, she even included some of her blood, she didn't know why but during her time with Cael, she would notice her eyes going from the things she loved or was practically obsessed with her blacksmithing..... to Cael.

A sudden and unnatural feeling of closeness to this child made her add a part of herself in this sword so he may hold a part of her.

Hephaestus looked at Cael, her voice now filled with a deep, almost reverent pride for her craft, even though she looked more towards Cael, than at her craft.

"The kind of growth you exhibit... a normal weapon wouldn't suffice for long. This will be a weapon that adapts, that becomes an extension of the wielder. It's the first of its kind I've ever created, it shouldn't exist but...." Her eye softened slightly.

"I hope this helps you Cael."

Her voice softened surprised herself.

Then, her business side returned, though with a hint of dry amusement. "This sword will cost you 300 million Valis, but I guess since it is for your first child, maybe I can lower the price."

Hephaestus said her eyes looking for a reaction from Cael.

Hestia who just woken up gasped, her jaw dropping. Cael remained stoic, though a faint flicker of surprise crossed his face. 300 million Valis was too much even Bell's knife didn't cost that much, an extra 100 million Valis?

"Now the binding remains, Hestia come here and take off your glove." Hepasteous said as she placed the sword on a cloth which was on the table.

Hestia came forward and did as Hepasteous said.

"Now, slide your finger on the sword." She said as Hestia held the glove in her mouth and slid the finger on the sword, the dark metal shined briefly before suddenly divine blue engraving appeared on it.

She looked at the sword as the engraving were left and the divine blue light fleeted, she raised her eyes to Hepasteous, as she looked at the sword with thinking expression before she lifted her face and smiled at Hestia.

"It's done."

Hestia was so happy that the glove in her mouth dropped as her eyes shined with excitement.

"It's done! it's done!" Hestia happily exclaimed as she without thinking jumped at Cael happily, who caught her in his arms.

And instantly as soon as they came into contact, Hestia's Divinity nulled. 

Hestia who forgot about Cael's ability, felt vulnerable, but it felt ok, it didn't surprise as much as before, and what was good, she wasn't bleeding from that place.

Hephaestus looked at the Hestia, her eyes wide, the smile on her face was replaced by a shocked face.

"What—?!" Hephaestus gasped, her voice hoarse, her eyes snapping to Cael, then to Hestia, demanding answers. "Hestia! What is happening? Your divinity I cannot feel it!"

Hestia, witnessing her friend's utterly bewildered reaction, let out an awkward, nervous laugh.

"Ah, well, Hephaestus... remember how I said he's... special? He has a Development Ability called Veilpiercer. When he touches a god or goddess, their divinity is completely negated, as long as the touch remains." She chuckled weakly, trying to lighten the monumental revelation. "I had the same reaction, hehe!" She said with a giggle.

Hephaestus stared, a slow, dawning horror mixed with a potent, sudden realization spreading across her face. Her eye widened further, her jaw dropping.

"Negated divinity... meaning... meaning if a goddess is touched by him and if they have intercourse... then they can have a baby!" The words blurted out, unfiltered, a primal, universal desire of beings, even goddesses, to create life.

The thought of bearing a child, of truly bringing forth life, was a powerful, inherent longing within every goddess, even her, who had a disfigured face.

She looked at Cael before blushing as He smiled at her as he lifted his Goddess who was now hugging him profusely, seemingly addicted to his touch.... perhaps.

Will he be willing to impregnate me, even if I am this ugly? The question, startling and raw, flashed through her mind, a direct consequence of the shocking revelation.

But the thought immediately made her blush.

'I won't mind if he does.'