With everyoed in the cozy living room, Draco began their first familia meeting.

  The young captain’s expression was calm and posed, betraying none of the excitement he felt at this momentous occasion.

  "First of all, gratutions to everyone for receiving the blessing of Falna," he began, his voice steady and authoritative.

  "I know how eager you all are to test your new abilities in the dungeon, and I share your enthusiasm. However, we won't be entering the duoday." he said.

  Draco paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of his familia members.

  "There are several important procedures we o follow. First, we must report our familia to the Guild, but I've decided we'll hold off on that for today, after the... ihis m." he expined.

  At this, Bahamut sitting at his side, leaned forward, her eyes alight with curiosity.

  "What happened in the guild, Draco?" she asked.

  Draco gave a small sigh, running a hand through his silver hair.

  "While I was looking for you at the guild, there was an.…. Argument of sorts with one of the adventurers. Apparently, they took issue with me skipping the lio briefly return a book." He shook his head, a slight frown creasing his brow.

  "I'd rather not go back there today, not after the attention we have drawn. I believe that several adventurers have taken an i in us and by extension the familia’s behind them.” Draco expined.

  The others nodded in uanding, the weight of Draco's words sinking in.

  Creating a successful familia was no easy feat, and they could hardly afford to make missteps, especially this early on.

  "So, what _will_ we be doing today, then?" Vasiliki asked.

  "We'll be going shopping," Dranounced, a small smile tugging at the ers of his lips.

  "We o outfit ourselves with neons, armor, and other essential supplies to aid us in the dungeon." he said.

  Vasiliki's eyes widened, and she practically bounced in her seat.

  "Finally, I get a magic staff!" she excimed, her voice ced with joy.

  Draodded, his expression turning slightly wistful.

  "Yes, you were due for one a long time ago." he replied, his gaze shifting to Eleni.

  He was aware that even if Vasiliki mimicked his magitrol method, she would eventually hit a wall.

  Vasiliki simply cked the necessary an to advance beyond a certain point, unlike him, who was a dragon kin.

  ‘But with magic tools, she could perhaps make the skill her own and create a version of it that would fit her,’ Draco thought.

  "I am assuming that this shopping trip will include the promised dies," Eleni interjected.

  "Of course, we'll be sure to pick up the promised dies for Cleo." Draco specified.

  Eleni's brow furrowed, and she leaned forward, her lips pressed into a thin line and ears twitg as she spoke.

  "Promised dies for Cleo? What about me?" she demanded, her voice rising slightly.

  Draco chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

  "Oho, Is this an inner fession I hear from our dear Eleni. If I recall correctly, the idea for the getting dies for Cleo was _your_ suggestion in the first pce." he tered.

  Eleni's face flushed a deep crimson, and she opened her mouth, no doubt ready to unto a heated rebuttal.

  But before she could, Draco raised a hand, cutting her off.

  "Now, now, Eleni, let's not get too carried away. I'm the one in charge of the finances, and as such, I'll be the oo decide if we get the dies or not." His tone was firm, yet there yful edge to it.

  Eleni's expression darkened, and she crossed her arms over her chest, her lips set in a stubborn pout.

  "I challenge you to a duel, then," she decred, her eyes narrowed.

  "The loser has to fulfill one request from the winner right." she added.

  Draco chuckled, shaking his head slightly.

  "Ah, I see you're pulling out the old standby. Very well, Eleni, I accept your challenge." he replied.

  When someone was challeo a duel, the loser had to fulfill one request of the winner.

  It was a little fun game they pyed on a while when they lived in the forest.

  So far, Draco hadn't lost once; he was the one who came up with the game.

  It was a way he made to get them used to each other's fighting styles and e up with clever ters.

  It also served as one of the few ways they used to stave off boredom, siraining was quite monotonous.

  Michalis leaned in, whispering to Nikoos, "She's about to throw a tantrum. Why do all our sisters act like kids around Draii?" he said.

  Nikoos shrugged, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

  "It's just the way it is, I suppose. Draii has a way ing out the child in all of us." he replied.

  “Aren’t we still kids” Vasileios asked.

  “……..” Nikoos didn’t reply.

  "She actually went and did it. Just how much does she want those sweets?" Dimitra muttered, curiously watg how this would all unfold.

  Draco raised a hand, sileng the others. "While I would love to duel you the normal way, Eleni, we have a lot to aplish today. How about we settle this with a game of rock-paper-scissors instead?" he suggested.

  Vasiliki nudged Cir, a mischievous grin on her fabsp;

  "Pff, Draii's got her. She will not refuse this deal." she said.

  odded, a knowing smile spreading across her features.

  "Yeah, she tends to get impatient when she wants something. If she thought it through, she'd realize she only o wait a few days until we start earning our own money." she replied.

  Eleni's expression wavered, the fire in her eyes dimming ever so slightly.

  She knew Draco had trapped her, but the lure of those tantalizing dies was to to resist.

  Relutly, she nodded, her shoulders slumping i.

  Drailed, his gaze warm and affeate.

  "Excellent. Now, let's get started. The sooner we take care of this, the sooner we start shopping." he said.

  “You all get along quite well. It an iing experieo witness. I am very happy right now, and will be even more thrilled if you all remain like this in the days to e” Bahamut ented, a bright smile on her lips.

  “I believe we will” Draco replied.

  As the Rock, Paper, Satenced, Eleni's hand formed into a fist, her will to win shining in her eyes.

  Draco's fingers spread out, f the shape of paper.

  A moment of silence hung in the air before Eleni's shoulders slumped i.

  "I lost!!" she excimed, pouting.

  "Alright, fine. You win this round, Draii. But I'm not giving up on the sweets!" she said, quickly boung back.

  Draco chuckled and ruffled Eleni's hair affeately.

  "I wouldn't expeything less from you.” Draco replied.

  Soon after their little game everyone began freely talking with Bahamut.

  She was easy to talk to and quite easy going, a bit different from what most of them were expeg from a goddess.

  They began talking about their likes and dislikes, along with some other iing topid Draco didn’t want to interrupt this.

  Looking at the sky, it was still early into the day, so Draco decided to postpoheir shopping pns for a bit.

  He could see that everyone was bonding well with their goddess Bahamut, and Bahamut seemed to be having a lot of fun iing with them too.

  …………………………………………

  A few hours ter………

  When it was around 2pm iernoon, Draco determihat it was time for them to depart.

  Amidst their banter, It was also decided that Bahamut would introduce them to the owner of the house door the following day.

  Bahamut couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappoi as she watched her newfound familia leave without her.

  She desperately wao join them on their shopping excursion, shopping being a joyful hobby she had picked up since arriving in the lower world.

  However, fate had other pns for the divine being.

  "Don't worry, we will be back soon. We agreed to have lunch here before returning to our inn," Draco reassured her, sensing the subtle sadness in her expression.

  Bahamut nodded, her lips curving into a small smile, though her heart yearo be with them.

  As the group departed, Bahamut found herself alone in her humble abode, the silence almost palpable.

  She had grown aced to the chatter and ughter that apanied her new familia, and now, the absence of their presence left her feeling somewhat adrift.

  Bahamut was expeg a guest, something that used to be an unon occurren her life as a god.

  In the upper world, she had a few true friends and many acquaintances, who only left their temples to visit her every few years, or eveuries.

  This was something she was used to.

  The cept of time was vastly different for the gods, whose existences spanned eons, in trast to the fleeting lives of mortals.

  This familia, this newfound e, was a unique experience for Bahamut.

  She had never before been surrounded by so many individuals that she genuinely wao care for, mortals though they may be.

  It was a revetion, a glimpse into a world she had ruly known.

  As she waited patiently for her guest, Bahamut's mind wao the versations she had shared with her friend, Hephaestus.

  "When you gain your first familia member, things would be very different," Hephaestus had said.

  At the time, Bahamut had not fully grasped the depth of her words, but now, she could feel a strange, unfamiliar sensation blossoming within her chest.

  'Is this what Hephaestus had referred to? This sense of warmth, of belonging, that I had rarely experienced in the upper world? Is it, perhaps because they are children’ Bahamut pondered, her brow furrowed in ption.