Danmachi: Westward Cloud [Complete]

Seeing a goddess before him, Cirrus let go of the girl he had immediately and looked at Artemis straight into her eyes. He quickly composed himself as best as he can, not wishing to anger thee Artemis but also standing his ground against her.

"Artemis… as in the goddess that presides over hunting, the moon, and chastity who is well known amongst the gods as one of three virgin goddesses? That Artemis?"

"You know of me," Her lips curled into a faint smile but her expression was as calm as a frozen lake. "But not my appearance?"

"Well, Lady Astraea was light on the details, and I never figured I would meet one such as yourself way out here."

"A-Astraea!" Hearing that name Artemis' expression turned quickly to concern and fear.

Cirrus likened her expression to a worker shit-talking their boss to find them right behind them.

"That is what I said."

"You are one of her children!!" She quickly bowed in apology.

"Lady Artemis why are you—!"

She then grabbed her children’s heads and made them bow as well.

"My deepest apologies!" She really did not want to anger Astraea. "I had assumed you were the monster causing the destruction of the surrounding area! Please let me talk to Astraea to clear up this misunderstanding!!" she said with an urgency in her voice.

‘What the fuck did you do to her Astraea??’

Back in Heaven when Artemis was still a rather 'young' goddess she got herself into a lot of trouble. One such incident made Astraea very angry and punished her as a goddess of justice could. That event stuck with her.

Cirrus lowered his temper and pushed forward.

"She isn’t here. I am here with my partner to hunt and kill the monster on The Guild's orders." Cirrus turns and jumps down to the ground below.

"W-wait!" she said, coming after him. She slides down and quickly runs in front of him blocking his path. "At least let me—"

"I’m busy." He brushed her aside. "You assaulted me while I was investigating this ghost town. If you really wish to talk, go to the mansion over there. My partner is waiting there."

Cirrus then jumped onto another roof and quickly left towards the Loviatar Familia home.

Watching him quickly leave Artemis’s Familia came up to her.

"Lady Artemis, are you alright? You don't have any blood on you, do you!?"

"No, I am fine, but you, Rethusa, are you fine? He grabbed you pretty tightly?"

"Y-yes, I am fine… my neck is rather sore but that kid… he moves so quickly I thought my eyes were messing with me."

"He must be a powerful adventurer; Astraea must have sent her captain to come and slay this monster!"

"Well, we should meet up with his partner." One of the Familia members said.

"Let's."

Arriving at the home, Cirrus disengaged his armor and quickly put on his base armor to heal his injuries and then removed it quickly.

"Nox I’m at the home."

‘Got it, so um… another Familia is coming here, right?"

"Yeah, it’s the Artemis Familia along with their goddess."

‘Hmm… well, what did you find?’

"I found their Familia’s home here and." Cirrus opened the door and entered it to find it completely stripped. Of anything with just tables and chairs. "I hope something."

Cirrus looked around to see if there was anything. He searched the top and bottom and found nothing.

‘God dammit… at least I have a name to look for. That will be good enough.’

He then left the home and returned to the mansion.

 

Waiting in front of the mansion's entrance was Artemis. She had a calm disposition that fitted her well as a bow and quiver.

"Zephyr, was it?" said Artemis, waiting for him.

"That is my name." He nods. "Why are you out here?"

"Waiting for you and why are you wearing that mask?" she said in response, his appearance reminded her of her sacred animals back in Heaven.

"Cuz I can. Nothing else you wanna say?"

Her eyes went down and found the wound she dealt was gone. Even his running was back to normal form what she could see.

"What?" Cirrus said, walking past her. "That all?"

"… Did you use a healing potion?" She followed after him.

"I did."

"But that doesn’t explain the bones in your hands. I am sure my shots struck the bone."

"I'm fine."

"Nonsense, let me see! I do not want Astraea talking my head off from this incident." She then grabbed his right hand and held it. Her sharp green eyes carefully studied Cirrus' hand.

'She has nice hands.' Cirrus thought. 'Her fingers are pretty slender but firm with thick callouses, I guess she is diligent in her archery practice.'

"A slight scar." Artemis looked at Cirrus's gaze. "You didn’t use a potion, did you?"

Normally when one uses a potion it will leave no scars behind and for bones if broken need to be set accordingly or else the bone can be healed in the wrong place resulting in having to break the bone, again. As for Cirrus his armor heals him by boosting his bodies natural healing resulting in scars.

"… Well, a goddess of the hunt you truly are." Cirrus removed his hand. "I have my own way of healing." He made a sly smirk. "Now, shall we enter and discuss what we know?" He holds the door open for her. "Or are you going to shoot me again to get answers?" He looked at her with a wide smirk with a joking tone.

Her face slightly blushed in embarrassment. She never met a person like Cirrus who treated her like a person and not a god.

"F-fine! But!" she walked into the mansion and turned back to face Cirrus. "You must tell me how you met that spirit first!"

"Fine, we met in the desert." Cirrus walked ahead and brushed past her again. "There you go."

He left Artemis a bit surprised by this mortal's attitude towards her. She couldn't quite under this feeling. It was new and small, yet it beats in her chest as any other feeling before it.

"… What is this feeling in my chest?" she said softly as she places her hand over her heart. "So small yet so strong. What are you?" She asked herself.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

Her heart was beating slightly faster, so she took a few deep breaths and calmed herself down. Yet that feel remained in her heart.

"… What an unruly child you have, Astraea." She walked ahead deeper into the mansion.

 

Once everyone was gathered, Nox placed the Occulus. The magic crystal ball Fels gave Cirrus long ago. The orb glowed, and a voice came through.

"Hm! Hm! Hello Nox! Cirrus!" said Astraea in a tone Artemis knew. "So when did you think to tell me you left Orario Cirrus? Hmmmmm??"

"Uhh, about when Kaguya came back home pissed that I left without telling her?" He said in a nonchalant almost uncaring tone like it was a trip to the store. "I also planned to tell you, eventually."

"So clever! But when you come back, I will give you a stern talking to!"

'Oh he's dead.' Artemis thought.

"Whatever. So can we begin the sharing of information? Or do you want Artemis here to shoot me a few more times as a punishment for not telling you?"

As Artemis was about to apologize, Astraea shouted.

"Good job!! That’ll serve you to not come to me so I can update your status before fighting a monster that has currently brought ruin to 3 kingdoms!"

"I was planning on coming back once I have its location down." Cirrus replied. "I also didn’t plan on being away for so long if at all. What I am doing finding where the seal was broken and how."

‘Waaaah… he handles Astraea so well!" He was impressed by his bravery. "Usually, when she’s in that mood, she’ll stop at nothing till justice is served.’ Thought Artemis was amazed by how skillfully he curved her anger.

"Okay! That’s enough!" shouted Nox. "Let’s get this done!"

They all agreed and discussed the situation.

 

Up in the northern-western mountain range, the Loviatar Familia arrived at a dwarven settlement.