Ganesha, still sitting there, used a tissue to blow his nose, being one of the more emotional gods in Orario, it was hard to hear the torment for a second time. "Hathor, I think you'd be a great fit for him. Maybe Astraea could do it too, but she's pretty serious about not having any men in her familia, which is definitely what that boy will grow into."
"That story, I can't imagine what it must have been like."
Baldr sighed. "The only other thing I can say about what happened, is how long it went on for, it was easily a few hours." He reached for a cup of tea, then paused, and nearly drew his own blood with fury. "That sight, is that really a sight we should have even made possible in the first place? When we created this world, were things like that meant to happen?"
"It's harsh, but, now that it's happened, we can only do our best to prevent it from happening again." Idunn said, trembling as she held and massaged her husband's injured hand. "So, Nernatti, what do you think about-"
Nernatti was embarrassed, she'd been using tissues to wipe tears that never seemed to stop, and blow her nose. "I- If he joins my familia, I swear to be the best big sister. And never let that happen to him again. It's so sad, his childhood, cut off so early."
The door burst open again, this time it was Shurry, on his own with a fork in one hand. He ran in and healed Baldr's hand. "Daddy, you shouldn't hurt yourself like that. Self harm is bad." He said, then took another bite, looking over to the guests, and tilted his head. "What's wrong with all of you?"
"Young Shurry, what do you fear most? Or, what's the scariest thing to you?" Hathor asked.
"Oh, that's easy, Amazonesses are easily the scariest thing in this world." Shurry said, super casually, and shoved whole roasted meat in his mouth, chomping down. "Can I ask you a question now?" He asked, after swallowing his food, Hathor nodded. "Why do you feel like mommy does?"
"Huh?"
"Like, it's almost the same feeling. Ah, comforting? I think that's the right word."
"Oh, all of us have our own quirks. Though some of them overlap with different ideals. I am a goddess of love, motherhood, and to a lesser extent fertility. Perhaps that's why there's a similar sensation?"
"I learned about that before… I don't really get it, but I can tell that you're not a bad person, it's impossible for someone with that scent to be a bad person."
"Idunn, I think I love this child, he's so cute."
"Isn't he! He's just the cutest!" Idunn squirmed, nuzzling Shurry's cheek. Shurry giggled, smiling along with Idunn.
"Baldr, Idunn, I'd like to offer Shurry a place in my familia, as my child." Hathor spoke up, no longer beating around the bush.
"That was fast. What do you think, Son? Do you want to be Hathor's child?"
"Will I stop being your son?"
Baldr smiled warmly, and shook his head. "No, I'll never forget you, and I'll always claim you to be my son. That will never change. However, you would convert to the Hathor familia, and I'd no longer be able to update your status."
Shurry's eyes quivered. "I don't want to leave yet. You promised me that you'd stay with me for as long as possible!"
"You'll still be in our hearts forever-"
"Shurry, I don't mean to take you right away. You can spend as much time with your mommy and daddy as you like. But could I have a time frame? The anticipation of having such a cute child in my familia-"
"I swear I'll be a good big sister! You won't have to worry about that!" Nernatti burst out, and ended up hugging Shurry.
Huh!? This doesn't feel bad? She's actually warm? "Uhm-" Shurry blushed, confused about what to say. "My birthday. Once I turn 5 years old, I can convert… I just don't want to lose any nights with mommy's warm hugs while I sleep. It's hard to sleep without her." He answered, super shyly.
"I'd bet that's a wonderful feeling. Idunn is a really nice person, she's a good mommy, isn't she?"
"Yep! I love her!" Shurry said, perking up with excitement.
"Pfft, well then, when you turn 5, that'll be in a few weeks then?"
"Yep! And I'll have daddy give me my last status update." Shurry added, then looked over to where Legi was standing. "What about you, Legi? Legi?"
Legi had run away crying when she saw another dark elf hug Shurry so passionately. She was now in her room, crying… I'm staying with the School District. "I'm just going to hold him back." She cried into her pillow.
A fellow student looked at her, almost with disgust. "You know what, if that's what you want to do, I won't try to convince you otherwise. But know this I'm certain you'll regret it later."
…
Days passed, and the Hathor familia had finished their hunt of Goliath, and returned to the surface. Meanwhile the School District had gained their own passage rights to enter the dungeon. All of them would return home with various injuries, all healed in a snap by Shurry's magic.
And so, the day had eventually come, it was Shurry's 5th birthday. The School District had each saved a small amount of their funds to help pay for the large pile of meat in the shape of a cake… Leon did most of the heavy lifting on the funds department though, single handedly going down to some of the more dangerous floors.
"Happy birthday, Shurry!"
The surprise, well not much of a surprise when it comes to scents of various meats combined with a werewolf's nose, but they still did their best. Five large stacks of meat had been prepared.
"Some of this was sponsored by Hera, as well as Hathor." Baldr smiled. "But everyone here pitched in to make this as fun an experience as possible for you, son."
Shurry struck a happy pose both hands in the air, a giant smile on his face, and a tail that never stopped moving. "I LOVE IT!" He jumped up, resting on a light platform, he chomped away at the meat in the shape of a cake.
"Woah, you need to make a wish, what is it you want?"
"Hmm? To be strong, never to let it happen again." He said, and went right back to eating.