I continued to look at the guy in front of me. Not saying a word as I mulled over his question.
Can he join our familia?
From the way he acted just now to protect his mother from those thugs I want to say yes. But even though I am the captain I can't.
Not unless Athena and the others voice their opinions first.
"To answer your question, I can't say yes or no right now." I responded to the boy. "Not until I discuss things with my fellow familia members and our patron god." I explained to him.
He nodded. "That's fine." He told me.
"Great." I responded. "By the way my name is Morax Lapis, and you are?"
"Rogue Cheney." The boy told me.
"Reina Cheney." His mother said.
I nodded at their words. Once I did so moved to retrieve the bag of magic stones I placed on the ground earlier. I then moved over to Leonmitchelli and Ryuu who were keeping watch over the unconscious thugs. Ready to put them down again if they so much as twitched the wrong way until the Ganesha familia arrived.
Though none of them did.
The Ganesha familia arrived within ten minutes of being contacted.
Once they did so the three of us plus Rogue and his mother all gave statements and explained events. But it wasn't only us.
Several people who weren't even part of the altercation came up to the members of the Ganesha familia and explained things.
Upon seeing this I raised a brow at their actions.
"Those are other stall owners who also use this street to sell their merchandise and conduct business." Rogue explained, stepping up beside me. "And just like me and my mother those thugs were extorting them for money, and if they didn't pay they would get beat up and their merchandise destroyed." He explained. "Just like my mother and I were about to before you and your friends saved us. Once again, thank you."
"Don't mention it." I told him. "Also, why don't you and your mother come by my familia's home tomorrow so we can discuss you joining us?"
"Sure." Rogue said.
Once he did so I told him the location of our familia home.
Just after I did so the Ganesha familia members wrapped things up.
Having gathered more than enough testimony the thugs were taken away in chains, the whole street letting our cheers as they were.
Seeing this I put a bright smile on my face. As did Leonmitchelli and Ryuu.
Maybe fighting for justice won't be so bad after all.
--------------------
*Knock Knock*
Hearing a knock on the front door I stood up from the couch and went over to open it.
In doing so I saw both Rogue and his mother Reina.
Just like he told me yesterday Rogue has come by.
"Please, come in." I said.
As I did so mother and son came in, and I closed the door behind them. We then moved to sit where the others were waiting for us.
Since after Leonmitchelli, Ryuu, and I returned home yesterday from the guild after exchanging our magic stones I explained what happened to the others. Especially about Rogue wanting to join our familia.
We discussed it and decided to give him this interview.
Athena looked at Rogue and his mother the moment they sat down. Both of them getting nervous expressions on their faces after she did so.
Not surprising.
Getting up close and personal like this with a God for the first time is an experience. Even I was a bit thrown off when I met Athena for the first time.
And I actually met the real god before her.
"Be at ease." Athena told the two of them. "Also, welcome to my family's home." She said.
"Thank you for having us goddess." Reina said.
"Yeah, thanks." Rogue said.
"You are welcome." Athena retorted. "She then focused her eyes onto Rogue. "So then young man, my captain tells me you asked him yesterday if you could join our familia?"
"Yes." Rogue answered.
"May I ask you why?" Athena questioned Rogue.
When she did so he looked her directly in the eyes. "Because, I want power. Power to protect my mother." He spoke. "Those thugs Morax and the others took down yesterday have been terrorizing that street for months. Yet no matter how many times we reported them to the guild, nothing was done. Nothing changed." Rogue explained. Clenching his fists as he did so. "I'm tired of waiting for people to get off their ass and do something, so I've decided if no one is going to help then I'll just become strong and handle things my damn self." He said.
"I see." Athena mused. "You want the power to protect. But is that your only reason for wanting to join a familia?"
Rogue shook his head.
"Not at all." He mused. "The truth is I've wanted to become an adventurer ever since I was little." Rogue said.
"Fufu, don't you mean hero?" His mother added.
Rogue got a blush on his face as she did so. "Mom!" He cried.
Seeing this the rest of us shared a small laugh.
"I see, so you want to become a hero?" Athena questioned.
"Something like that." Rogue grumbled. The blush on his face getting deeper as he did so. "But first and foremost I want to be able to protect my mother and myself. As well as those I come to care about."
"I see." Athena said. "While I understand where you are coming from I must ask, why do you want to join our familia? There are many others out there, one's that could help you achieve your goal of obtaining strength faster than we can."
"To be honest with you the way some of the gods act makes me sick." Rogue said seriously. "And trusting my life to them is not something I am comfortable with."
"Oh." Athena mused. "And despite your opinion of us gods, you want to entrust your life to me?"
"Well I like you, and I can tell you and your familia are good people." Rogue said. Looking at all of us as he did so. "Mind you this is just a feeling I have, but I'm deciding to go with it. So if you will have me, I would be most grateful to become one of your children goddess Athena." He said.
Putting a smile on her face Athena nodded. "I would have no issues with you joining our familia. However my opinion is not the only one that matters. What say you my children?"
"You know, we're going to be doing more things like we did yesterday in the future." Leonmitchelli spoke up. "Fighting thugs, and people even more dangerous than that. Are you sure you're up for that?" She asked Rogue.
"Well I can't say I'm not scared." Rogue admitted. "But if we're going to be beating up pieces of shit like you guys did yesterday then I am in."
Hearing this Leonmitchelli put a smile on her face. "Ok, you've got my vote."
"Same with me." Gaul said.
"I see no reasons not to let you join at this moment." Ryuu said.
"Sure, you can join us." Ryner said.
"Yes." Millhiore said.
Moving up to Rogue I offered him my hand. "I'm ok with it as well. So then Rogue, welcome to the Athena familia." I spoke.
He moved to shake my hand. "Thanks, I won't let you down." He told me.
I know he won't.