Store in Danmachi- Side Story: 4 (Patreon)

Title: The Elven Heritage

{A/N: This is AU Territory. It won’t change in this fic even if we learn new things about Loki's familia from Cannon.}

***

Her day starts with a rejuvenating mixing of syrups and saps. And unlike what others continue to think—No! No syrup is too thick. Again, Riveria is not a professional Mixer. The profession does show in her Level-up since Level 3, but she has had a chance to acquire more useful Developmental Skills relative to her role as a Mage Adventurer.

There are times when she had to survive the day on an hour’s sleep, so only getting three hours in after last night’s laughable experience, she is ready to face the day just like always.

The tallest tower of Loki’s Twilight Manor belongs to Loki and houses shared rooms and dining regions. Needless to say, Finn discarded the idea of public baths in the manor due to the lack of space during the creation of their Familia’s house. The rest of the towers separate the men and the women of the familia.

The Loki Familia isn’t against inter-member relationships. Far from it, there are many married couples in the Familia.

Again, many in-house rules apply to their Familia because of their Goddess.

Her spine quakes despite the morning chill incapable of doing so as she recalls the degenerate parties Loki tried promoting in the Familia to earn a quick buck. Riveria shakes her head, glad about Finn’s existence in hindsight and a little unnerved by how stressful her life would have become if there wasn’t anyone to reign Loki in.

The late dawn’s light illuminates her bedroom, reflecting off the surface of a thick, syrupy elven ‘sap’ in her prized mug. Riveria returns to her bedside with a relieved smile. While she is relatively ‘young’ by Elven standards, her Falna makes it possible for her to look even younger. But what she wouldn’t give to grow a few years older or rather look a few years older to get that distinctive elven scowl. Ah, teaching others would go readily well with that expression.

She muses with a smile, sipping, nay, slightly chewing into the gelatine-like concoction as the thick taste of Elven Wood Milk fills her mouth.

As Dwarfs have the ritual of downing mugs of ale early in the morning or any time of the day, Elves have some rituals, too.

They don’t brush their teeth. At least, Riveria doesn’t. And she taught her ways to Lefiya, too.

The concoction in her hand cleans an Elf’s mouth, tongue, gums, and teeth with ease—the gelatin-like texture only stays firm for a second before coming in contact with any possible contamination and neutralizing it like an Elven Concoction is supposed to do! The sweet taste of wood milk is to veil the bitter elven medicines in the concoction.

‘Heh.’

A chuckle escapes her lips as Riveria reminisces the day Lefiya and Ais—her students—tried this for the first time.

Lefiya was fine. She looked a little strained, but she eventually got over it and swallowed the thick morning syrup admirably.

On the other hand, Ais has some issues even after years.

She would make a cute, slightly pouty face while letting the thick juices fill her cheek before swallowing it indignantly.

—‘Damn right, you love to swallow!’—

Riveria deadpans.

Spirits know why she thought of those words in HIS voice!—his deep, persistent voice.

Oh, so persistent.

‘Like Loki,’ scowls Riveria, recalling the lengths Loki went through to get her. Loki’s efforts would warm Riveria’s heart if not for the Goddess trying to sneak a grope or two at any presentable chance—public or otherwise.

‘But now that I think about it,’ Riveria finishes swallowing her wonders, contemplating, ‘Has Loki gotten a little modest about molesting other girls? She still gets Lefiya sometimes and tries Ais, but things have gotten relatively tame.’

She shakes her head.

Who is she kidding? It’s Loki! She will get over whatever is troubling her and start molesting any woman that enters her—married or otherwise.

Riveria doesn’t waste her time with idle thoughts and gets up, placing her prized royal mug—something Loki stole before they left her home—on the nightstand.

Unlike what others may believe, while appropriately spacious, Riveria’s room is not the most elegant or the most expensive one. Those honors belong to Finn and Loki, respectively. The former has his office in his room, and so many costly items fill the latter’s room their sum value has fallen to filth.

Riveria decorated her room by collecting and commissioning bits of wood from near her home forest, working for it painstakingly until her simple room had the scent of Elven wood.

Yes, different woods have different scents, even after processing.

—‘Hnn! Yeah, it does!’—

Riveria stops in her tracks, looking at the mirror near her cupboard.

Why did she imagine his voice again?

Her scowl deepens as she scoffs at herself.

Silky blue gown slips down her slender body, her elven features exposing themselves to the mirror as the woman calmly reaches out for the clothes already prepared on her study table last night.

Never let anyone say old tradition and fashion shackles Riveria as she surprisingly wears a beige training bra before slipping into her panties, trousers, robe, vest, and a caped cloak as she combs her hair into a plain, low ponytail. And naturally, she stuffs her rope in her sleeves.

She nods to herself in the mirror, an encouraging smile stretching over her cheeks as she steps out of the room to grace the day with all her passion—

“Tiona-san! Please stop!”

Lefiya runs through the corridor with the giggling Amazoness chasing after the young elf, her anklets and bangles clink along the way as she extends her arms, holding a green worm in her hands.

“Hey, you two!” Tione erupts from the room not far from Riveria’s, complaining, “Let me prepare myself for captain in peace! Truly, how childish!”

‘I can say the same about you.’ Riveria glances in Tione’s direction.

It IS incredible how devout an Amazoness can become once they set their hearts on something or someone.

But not all Amazoness turn out as kindhearted as the twins, relatively speaking.

Riveria sighs and ignores the din they are making.

“Look, how cute it is!”

“Please!” Lefiya begs. “Stop!”

“Good morning,” a quiet voice greets Riveria, who turns to look at the shorter blonde with a smile and a ready question. “Did you swallow your drink?”

Ais puckers her lips, mustering a sad sigh as if she’s been asked the worst question imaginable in the morning.

“Yes.”

“Good,” Riveria smiles. “You guys are free for the rest of the day, so don’t let me bother you. And if you and Tiona still want to train, just tell me.”

Ais blinks before a short smile graces her fair face, her golden eyes brighten unimaginably brighter as she nods, and her voluminous golden hair bounces behind her.

“Thank you.”

Riveria’s smile widen as she reaches out to pat the young girl’s head, claiming. “Come, let’s eat something before the dining room becomes congested.

“Riveria-San! Ais-san! Tell Tiona-san to stop!” Lefiya rushes past them.

“Aha-ahahaha!” Tiona laughs, knowingly maintaining her speed just enough to chase the elf instead of reaching her. “I promise I’ll stop once you look at it once!”

‘I was right,’ Riveria narrows her eyes, recalling her conversation with Jackal. Tiona doesn’t give up easily. She is more stubborn than a Minotaur but doesn’t force Jackal to hear more about Heroes.

“Ready?” Riveria looks at Ais, who nods with a smile before she stops.

“Um, my Bento?”

“Jackal did not give any to me. He said you girls should come to him instead because he is not a delivery guy.”

Ais walks beside Riveria, tilting her head curiously, “He isn’t?”

All signs point to the opposite!

More delighted for her admittedly petty reasons, Riveria nods, “Men like him are contradictory. Don’t let his words affect you.”

“Hmm,” Ais nods. “Can we go to the Dungeon today? The both of us?”

Riveria pauses briefly, glancing at the girl questioningly as she admits, “I felt a little scared of his Magic. It’s not like mine or yours. I want to train more before meeting him on the walls.”

“Of course, as long as you take things steadily.”

Riveria chuckles. Her last bit of worry eases seeing such positive growth in Ais.

Being scared is good.

Staying scared isn’t.

So, as Ais works to deal with her worries, Riveria will do the same!

She should never have been worried by someone like Jackal. Chances are, he doesn’t even have the same ambitions as her worries—his intellect isn’t up to the task.

---

“If it looks like jizz, tastes like jizz, and feels like jizz—it’s probably jizz.”

Jackal nods, spreading his knowledge as Eina trembles with a red face.

“It’s just a mouth-cleaning concoction! God, I can’t imagine I told you about something so great my mother taught me!”

She and Lili follow Jackal as they make their way toward Rose’s house before they pick up Misha and be on their way for their day.

But Lili is wise!

She always has been.

So, as she pats Loid, the Pallum questions, “Jackal-sama, how do you know the taste about… that stuff?”

Jackal flinches.

‘Damn you, Loki!’

***

Alternate Title: No Wonder Elves Aren’t Lewd—It’s Their Culture!; Riveria Teaching the Path of a Guzzler!; Lefiya Looks Like the Kind of Elf to Swallow; Jackal Must Take Over Ais’ Training… in a Few Years; Jackal Living Rent Free in Riveria’s Mind; Loki is a Menace to Reality; Riveria Got Some Push-Up Stuff; Tiona the Tamed?; Let Tione Doll-up for Finn!; Lefiya Must Touch The Long Worm; Jackal is No Delivery Man; Ais Swallowed It This Morning; The Blonde Princess Practicing For Her Prince?; The Prince of Night’s Amazing Knowledge; Lili Asking The Important Questions!; Eina, Too, Swallows!; Eina’s Mother Training Her Daughters the Right Way!; Ah, yes! The Horny Elven Lore