Chapter 8 Dungeon Date and the Night of Magical Lap pillows
Chapter 8 Dungeon Date and the Night of Magical Lap pillows
(Day 14 from Minotaur, 1 month as an adventurer)
Knock. Knock. Knock. Somebody was pounding on the church basement door. I opened my eyes slowly to see the magic clock read 730am. "One minute." I shouted out before getting up to opened the door.
To my surprised Ryu was behind the door. "Aw-ahaaw. R-Ryu." I nervously spat out surprised to see the beautiful elf showing up at my home this early in the morning.
She stared at me silent for a few seconds looking me over with a raised brow. "You look like you had a late night."
"Eh" I looked at her surprised. Then looked myself over to see my ragged damp clothes, smelling of perfume and felt lipstick clinging to my face. I tried wiping it off. "Night was weird. I don't think you will believe me."
"Oh, try me." She says with a stoic face.
"My goddess wanted me to take her out. We got ambushed by eight other goddesses. They kind of forced me into a group date." I scratched my neck nervously.
"So, what actually happened Bell?" She stared at me in disbelief until my cheeks reddened.
"N-nothing happened. I managed to get away. Spent all night running away from them." I tried to desperately to plead my case.
"Serious, doesn't look like it. Might explain the bad news I got for you." She shook her head sideways slowly.
"Huh" I looked up at her blinking at her slowly.
"Goddess Hestia got really drunk at the Hostess last night. I seen her go into the guild hall and not come out so I am sure she is safe." She tried to calm me. "She may have damaged a few things and pissed off Momma Mia. Leaving you with a pretty hefty tab of 50,000 valis."
"Eh." My eyes go wide. "I think I am gonna be sick." I held my gut in shock. "Think that's just about all I have right now."
"S-sorry." She squealed out seeing my face go pale.
"I-its not your fault Ryu." I bowed to the elf. "Please tell Mia I will stop bye before going to the dungeon to drop off the valis. Suppose to meet somebody there at 9:30."
"Do you trust this person?" She stared at me.
"I do Ryu."
"Okay then. Please don't make Momma Mia wait. I don't want her to take her anger out on you Bell." She half smiled before turning around to leave the basement.
I took a deep breath to calm myself down. Started to get myself cleaned up and equipped for the dungeon and retrieve my pack with the valis.
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An hour later. Knock. Knock. Knock. "Please don't be bad news." I stare at the door with a blank expression. "One minute."
I open the door up to see a middled aged brown haired clienthrope man in a guild uniform holding onto goddess Hestia. "Uhhh, good morning Sir."
"Good morning Bell Cranel. I am Rehmer. Your goddess showed up drunk in the middle of the night." He stared down at me with a scowl.
I bowed to the Clienthrope man. "Sorry Mr. Rehmer. I hope she wasn't any trouble. Is she okay?"
"She's fine -."
The guild employee was interrupted by goddess Hestia stumbling forward landing against my chest armor. "Goddess are you okay? I asked concerned.
"Why Bell? Why?" Her eyes teared up as she spoke in a gentle voice and started hitting my armor lightly.
"Goddess nothing happened last night. I spent the whole night running away." I showed a dry smiled down to her nervously trying to push the thoughts of last night away.
"I don't believe you." She pouted.
"That is the truth. I escaped at the first opportunity. Let me help you get to bed. You need to lie down. You're still feeling the effects of the alcohol." I looked up to the guild employee. "Thank you for bringing her home safe sir."
"Whatever, do not make this a habit?" He barks before walking away.
Slowly I moved the goddess back to her bedroom. I tried to lie her down and was almost dragged down with her. "Rest with me in bed Bell. Don't go to the dungeon please."
"Goddess were just about broke now. I need to make sure we can eat and pay for my weapons. Plus, I need to go see Momma Mia at the hostess before going to the dungeon." I help lie her down and get settled.
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9am I nervously entered the hostess of Fertility. Ryu smiled as walked past her. The others had mixed feelings about the night before. The dwarf owner was staring me down as I slowly walked toward the counter of the bar and placed a sizable bag of coin next to her. I backed up and bowed.
"S-sorry Momma Mia." I nervously say still looking at the ground.
"I was expecting your goddess to stop bye. Not you Bell. Where is she?" She questioned.
"Goddess Hestia is still sleeping off her hangover. I wanted to make sure to pay you before going into the dungeon." I apologized before raising my head.
"Goddess was lucky I didn't smack her." She says annoyed before lighting up. "You weren't kidding when you told the girls she would blow up the bar. She drank so much she leaked out her divinity scaring half my customers. Why she get drunk off her ass alone?"
I scratched my chin nervously. "Other goddesses." My face blushed.
"Pfft." Ryu gave an uncharacteristic snort from behind me.
Mia just moved her head side to side. "I can imagine some."
"Sorry I have to meet somebody at Babel in a few minutes Momma Mia. I won't allow this to happen again."
"Fine get going. Don't forget Ryu's lunch. She puts a lot of care into them for you." She teases causing my face to go red.
"Momma. Stop." A wide eyed Ryu comes up and gives me a small lunch box.
"They are amazing. Thankyou." I walk out of the hostess and start running off to the dungeon.
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I was waiting near the north entrance of babel nervously looking around for Eina.
"Good morning Bell." I turn my head to the familiar voice of Eina.
"Good m-morning E-Eina." I stuttered out seeing Eina in her battle attire. She was dressed in a short sleeveless green battle skirt. Her chest was surprisingly hidden behind a white form fitting metal chest piece. Small white cape with a hood attach. She held a small shortsword on her right side and a wand on the left of her waist. (3)
"Are you being a little pervert and staring again?" She chuckles looking at my face.
"S-Sorry you l-look amazing." Her cheeks tinge pink at my nervous reaction. "That is a really nice adventurer outfit."
"Thank you, Bell." She smiles back at me. "It's actually 2nd tier adventurer armor and the sword. Lady Riveria bought it for me five years ago when I first joined Loki familia."
"Wow that is amazing, Eina." I said admiring her armor.
"I really don't deserve to have it." Her ears lower a little.
"Of course, you do. Shows how deeply Riveria cares for your safety. Your still young for an elf. You can always reuse." Tried to reassure Eina. Her face brightens back up. "Are you okay with going back down? I know it's been a few years for you."
"I am little rusty and I admit I am afraid. I want to see how well you fight and you inspire me to try." She voices gently making my face redden. "Can't believe it's only been a month since you started adventuring."
"I still feel like I am weak after a month." I shuffled around nervously.
"Hardly." She rolled her eyes and shakes her head. "Do you want to go to floor 8?"
"Sounds great Eina." I said a little worried. "As long as your confident. I just don't want you to get hurt."
"Guess I will need a hero to save me." She giggles. "Let me carry your backpack since I will be the supporter." I take off my backpack and give it to her. She pulls her hood over her head and we begin to enter the dungeon, unaware of the guild employee that was watching us the whole time.
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At the bottom of the stairs Eina stopped me. "Bell let me be the vanguard for first six floors. I need to get use to being down here. After that you take the lead." She requests.
"Sure, thing Eina. I will cover your back." I flashed a big smile towards her.
"Don't get too distracted back there. I am a bit rusty." She chuckles at my red face.
"O-okay." I barely manage to get out.
Eina smiled and turned around and took a deep breath. She pulled out her blade and approached a kobold. The kobold notices her nervousness and launches off its back legs to cut Eina.
Eina focused her mind on the fight and blocked out her fear being on the first floor. She nimbly dodges the claws and swipes horizontally with her shortsword slicing the stone underneath the armpit. "Oops sorry about the stone."
"Its fine. Kobold stones aren't that valuable. We can wait to floor 6 to start collecting stones at least." I said admiring her technique. We walked through the first six floors in two hours with Eina leading the way. Only stopping to pick up drop items. Eina cleared out the majority of the Kobolds, goblins and war shadows without much difficulty. I only killed the stragglers. At the entrance to floor 7, six more war shadows fell from the ceiling and began take shape into bipedal black shadowy apparitions.
"Stand back bell." She raises her wand and begins to chant. "Earth split asunder. Sheen of iron. Upheave the very rock and stone beneath my toe. Gnome, Incarnate of the land. Rain down your missiles and extinguish the light. - Midgard's Twilight." Two mounds of earth raised from the grounds and were hurled towards the group of War Shadows. She used a little bit of mind to shatter the mounds into smaller shrapnel. Instantly obliterating the monsters.
"Wow that was bigger than in the arena." I was happy by the beautiful display of magic.
"Testing out my new skill. Makes my attack magic a lot stronger than before." She says feeling the effects of her spirit healing kicking in to help her recover mind. She wipes her face nervously in relief. Until her waist is grabbed by a tongue from a frog shooter. "Ahhhh." She instantly felt the tongue go limp and release her. I sprinted immediately to sever the tongue with my right hand and spun around to impale the frog in the eye with my left, in two seconds. "Whew."
"Want to take a small break before going down further?" I asked as I cut open the frog and grab the stone. "We can split my lunch." I offered.
"Sure." She smiled. She turned around as I withdrew the small lunch box with chicken cut up on top of lettuce with a small portion of rice. "Wow this is amazing. Did you make it Bell?"
"No, my kitchen isn't that big and well stocked. Ryu's been helping me out. I pay her for the price of the ingredients." Then took a bite.
"Mean Bell stringing along women." She chuckles.
"No, she's just a friend. She's very nice." I defended myself.
"You sure she's not seeking something more." She questions with her brow raised.
"Hard to tell, she's really quiet. I don't think she sees me in that way. Syr was doing it at first but Ryu feared her lunches would kill me." I chuckled nervously before grabbing a piece of chicken with a fork.
"Another girl. Ha-ha."
Another frog shooter comes crawling across the room. I picked up a stone with my off hand and threw the stone with a lot of my strength. Killing it on impact. 'Still have a lot to improve to be able to replicate Ais feat so easily.' I went back to bite my chicken and chomped on thin air. "What the? Where did it go?"
"Y-you must of threw it." Eina says suspiciously gulping something down. I check the ground around me. 'Hehe, small step with an indirect kiss.' I heard a giggle coming from her and then my face went red realizing she ate it. "Let's go down to the next floors Bell. That was a good meal. Pfft."
We continued on to floor 7 with me leading the way. Eina still giggling at my nervous face.
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The next two hours were an eye opener for Eina. She always wondering how Bell soloed these floors when usually it takes three-to-five-man cells of level 1s.
On floor 8 we were surrounded by seven elites, five in front and two behind. Before the goblins could react, I charged forward and gutted the first one ahead of me. Then spun around and back hand griped a knife into the skull of the next one. Before launching off to intercept a third.
Eina nervously challenged one of the elites. Her strength and agility were a little low to be fencing on this floor but she managed to parry each stab from the goblin. The goblin overextended itself and thrust forward. Eina grabbed the goblins knife hand and pulled it down out of the way. Before bringing her blade up to impale it in the neck.
Woosh. Thunk.
A knife flies by her head impaling a goblin in the head going in for the sneak attack making her eyes go wide. "Eina four more are spawning to the right. Want to take them?" I shouted jumping off the dungeon floor and stabbed a killer ant in the skull on the roof.
Eina starts her chant as the four goblins break out of the wall. "Midgard's twilight." Her barrage of earth magic annihilated all 4 fresh spawns. "Whew." She took a deep breath before staring over to me. Slicing goblin's neck and dodging a lunge from another. I sweep the leg with my arm and bring the knife down into its gut missing the stone.
Her eyes went wide in shock. Not expecting all of them to be killed so easily. "How do you do that?"
"Do what?" I turned my head confused, before pulling my knife out of its body.
"Jumping around like a rabbit killing monsters like nothing on floor 8. Isn't it your second time down here?"
"Huh, guess it is only my 2nd time." I shrugged my shoulders. "Is that good?"
"You're kind of redefining good." She shakes her head.
"Thank you." I smiled as both of us started to collect monster stones and drop items. I looked around out of curiosity. "Any idea where those blue butterflies spawn. I haven't seen any down here."
"The blue papillio are a rare monster but they spawn on floor 7. Who told you here?" She asks.
"Miss Laurier from Hermes familia, the elf woman that helped me out with Lily's ambush said she seen everything. She was waiting around for those monsters apparently." I bent down to cut out a stone of an elite, the body disappeared into ash seconds later.
"Hmm that's weird. Hermes familia should know where it spawns. Their captain is a famous item maker. Curious." She gets lost in thought. She puts it aside for later and changes topic. "Do you want to go into the first room of floor 9 to get your bearings?"
"Sure, I am ready to challenge an irontusk." I smiled up at her as I pulled out another stone. "After that we can make our way up."
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We descended to the 9th floor. The floor had bluish green lights and was littered with stalactites and stalagmites obscuring the sides of the floor. We met no monsters in the hallway leading to the first room. The room was empty. Slowly we walked up to the center of the room.
THUD! Thud! Thud! Loud hoofs of a giant boar enter the room from the opposite hallway. The pig was 4 feet tall. Thick brown skin and round Belly. On its head was a black main and two giant foot long tusks protruded from its snout.
OINK! The boar roared out and began its charge forward with surprising speed. It's thunderous footsteps shook the ground lightly. I managed to dodge out of the way with Eina. Hearing a crash breaking the stone outcroppings. The boar shuffled its head and turned around to face us, it charged again at full speed.
"Bell." Eina screams watching me race out to meet it. At the last second, I slide on my knees avoiding being impaled by a tusk. And slice off one of its hooves. The boar topples end over end in front of Eina. Thinking quickly, Eina raised her sword and impaled its chest above the stone.
"Nice. Teamwork." I smiled at her causing her to return it and shake her head. Behind Eina the wall birthed another.
THUD! The beast landed on all fours behind her. Eina jumped in fear as it started its charge towards her.
I raced as fast as I could too push her out of the way. It was too late for me to dodge. The boar lowered its head and thrust its tusks out to impale me. To the boar's surprised, I used all my strength and dexterity to catch the horns.
Still being pushed back with amazing force. My hands cried out in agony under the extreme force. I gritted my teeth and dug my feet into the ground slowing the boar's advance towards the wall.
Noticing Eina started her chant worried about my safety. Before she yelled the spells name. I finally managed to stop the irontusk boar in its tracks, using all my strength to stop its thrashing about wildly.
The boar raised its head to shake my grip, before I rolled backward kicking my feet into its chin. Throwing the 400lb boar over top me into the rocky wall. My wrists were sprained at least and throbbing in pain. The boar was surprisingly worse off and laying on its side squealing in pain.
I raised after the boar and jumped to the ceiling kicking a stalactite on the ceiling down onto the boar. Impaling it with the stone column. "Whew. Eeep." My hands were screaming in pain.
"Bell." Eina races up to me to check my condition. "Hold still." She grabbed my hands.
"Respond to the contract, light of the forest. Follow my order and heal the wounds of those that seek your Mercy. – Dio Luna." She finishes her chant. Her spell started to slowly mend my bones as she poured extra mind.
The magic did wonders for my hands. They were still sore but it was manageable. "Thank you Eina."
She gripped me in a hug. "Thank you, Bell." She says sounded a little exhausted.
"I think we had enough of the dungeon today." We both chuckled. Slowly we got up. I went to get my knives. Spent the next three hours making our way out of the dungeon as the sun was setting. I went over to cash the stones and drop items at the babel tower exchange receiving 40,000 valis.
"That was a lot fun having you around Eina."
"I had fun too. Don't get me wrong I was scared to death a few times." She gave a cute laugh.
I handed her half the coin to her surprise. "Bell why are you giving me half? You did most of the work."
"I wouldn't have gone that far down without you. Plus, it's only fair that we split it. You risked your life just like I did to go into the dungeon."
She grabs the valis. "Thank you, Bell. Hopefully our next date won't be as painful." She chuckles.
My face goes red. I was speechless.
"Just teasing. I got to get home and rest up for work tomorrow. I am a little sore from all that extra movement. Stop bye sometime before you go to floor 10. Please."
"I will. I promise. Good night Eina." We waved goodbye to each other. I walked west towards the church. Stopping by a busy Hostess of Fertility to drop off the lunchbox.
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"Goddess." I called out when I entered the church basement.
Surprisingly she was midway through cooking dinner. I smiled seeing her prepare a meal of eggs and shredded potatoes. "Evening Bell. I was wondering when you would get back."
"Sorry had fun in the dungeon. I tried out floor 9 today."
"Wow that's amazing. Do you want a status update tonight?" She asks shuffling the food from the pan to a plate.
"Maybe tomorrow night." We sat down to eat.
"Bell." She winces a little before continuing. "You didn't do anything with those other goddesses did you?"
"No goddess. I ran away like I said when I found an opportunity. I spent most of the night trying to get away from them. That was a weird night." I took a bite of the cooked potato.
"Whew. Sorry, I caused you so much stress with the money and with me getting drunk last night. I promise, I won't do it again."
"It will be okay, goddess. Please trust in me to make the right choice." I smiled back to her. We finished meal talking about my adventure in the dungeon. Leaving Eina out of the conversation.
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(Day 15)
Again, I am staring out at the western wall getting ready for my daily routine. "Eina's probably too tired from the dungeon. Maybe I pushed her too hard." I laugh nervously and start my morning stretches. "I need to push myself harder and be my own supporter. I can't force her in there with me. I need to catch my strength up to my speed though."
I started to ponder my training for the day. "I don't think pushups are gonna cut it. I can't leave the city without a pass and there aren't many trees to climb around here." I scratched my chin before locking my eyes on the battlements. The parapets were about shoulder height while the crenellations were waist level. A weird idea came to my head as I stare at the battlements.
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Freya stared down at her beloved bunny rabbit. She was entranced if not confused by the action he was doing along the wall. She smiles over to the giant boaz. "Ottar."
"Yes, lady Freya." The boaz came to her side by the balcony.
"What is he doing?" She asked the boaz with a curious smile.
The boaz found the rabbit hugging the parapets of the battlements. His feet were braced against the wall. He was jumping side to side all the way around without touching the ground. "That's a new one my lady. Even for me." He tilted his head watching the weird training regime.
"Fu Fu Fu. Marvelous." She stared down at the rabbit in hunger.
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A few hours later, in a Hesphaistos shop in the north west district. The dwarf Gareth was shouting at his blacksmith the half dwarf Tsubaki. "Look Gareth I am gonna need another day or two. You did a number to it on your last trip and I am swamped with orders."
"I need to get back into the dungeon immediately Cyclops." Growled the annoyed dwarf.
"Gareth, you told me to take my time you old drunk. What's got you all worked up of late?" She responded back a little angry.
"I got a date with a floor boss." Gareth scratches his beard.
"That's a first you think your gonna level soon." She was stunned.
"Have to before that hag beats me to it?" He puffed out his chest.
Around noon I was moving my sore body towards the Hesphaistos shop. My hands were roughed up so much that I had to pour a few potions clear the many cuts. My bones ached. "Next time I am wearing gloves."
I saw Tsubaki arguing with a dwarf at the counter. The door chime announcing my entrance. Tsubaki cut off the frustrated Gareth and looked up with a smile. "Ah good morning Bell."
Gareth half turned around to eye me up. His brow raised looking at the innocent looking teen that's been of interest to the Loki familia. "Good morning Tsubaki." I smiled toward her. A little intimated at the muscly dwarf's stare.
"What can I do for you today Bell?" Tsubaki asked giggling at my nervous face.
"I was wondering if Welf was in today. I need to get my gear fixed and make a deposit." I stated shifting around nervously.
"He should be here any minute. He was talking with Lady Hesphaistos." Her eyes lingered on the black leg like drop items in my hands. "What are those things Bell?"
"Oh, these are killer ant legs." I placed them on the counter for her to inspect.
"Eh?" Both half dwarf and dwarf recoiled in shock. Tsubaki continued. "You found a new drop item. How did you manage that?"
"One kind of fell on me." I scratched the back of my head.
"How did you know about the legs?" Her eyebrow raised.
"I didn't I was kind of desperate. My supporter tried to kill me on floor 8 and stole my knives." I stated in a low voice.
"Ho-ho. How the hell did you survive that Lad?" Gareth raised his voice slightly. His mood slightly improved.
"I ripped it head out of its body and used the legs to kill the elites." I started shifting in place nervously.
"Dam boy that's amazing." The dwarf laughed heartily.
My face goes a little red. "T-thank you Sir."
He approaches with his hand out. "Here I was still thinking Loki was full of shit when she said you killed a dragon in the arena."
"Eh" Tsubaki eyes were wide in shock. "Surely your joking Gareth."
"Loki said he did with a little help from Eina." He shrugged his shoulder towards Tsubaki.
"Dam maybe I should hold onto you tightly." She teased making my face goes even more red.
I tried to change the subject. "How do you know Loki and Eina, Sir."
"Ha-ah." Tsubaki Laughed. "Wow you don't know Gareth Landrock. One of the Vice captains of Loki familia.
"My apologies." I bowed.
"Knock it off Lad. Were all adventurers. Makes me regret drinking all night or I would have sat with the shrimp and the hag." He strokes his beard.
"P-please don't call her that." I begged.
"Eh" The dwarf was surprised as Tsubaki giggled behind him. Before the conversation continued the door opened up and the red-haired smith Welf Crozzo entered the store.
"Morning Bell. Sorry I am late." He apologized.
"It's not a problem. I am not going into the dungeon today." I stated.
"I can't blame you after that mess with your supporter. Glad you cleaned the guts off the armor. Be easier to fix it." He joked.
"Hey Welf." He turned to Tsubaki. "Take these." She throws the legs to him. "See if he wants something made out of those killer ant legs. I will buy them for 10k if you don't want to be the first to tinker with them." She offered.
"Do you think you could make something Welf?" I wondered.
"Hmm. I can try. Want to go to my forge in the east side of the city." Welf suggested
"Sounds like fun." He escorted me out of the shop to his blacksmith workshop on the other side of the city.
Gareth turns to the busty half dwarf Tsubaki. "Did he seem defensive of that elf, Riveria?"
"I think he has a crush on her. She came in with him to find a smith too. He changed the design of the knives immediately to an elven variant when I mentioned them." Tsubaki chuckled louder.
Gareth felt like he just found a gold mine. He held on to his gut and laughed hard alongside her.
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Eina entered the guild hall to begin her shift. When the section leader Rehmer came up to her. "Eina." He raised his voice to her causing her to jump.
"Yes Mr. Rehmer." She spoke a little fearful.
"Report to Royman's office immediately." He stared down at the Eina.
"Yes Sir."
Eina nervously knocks on the door and enters Royman's office, as the fat elf guild head is pouring a glass of soma wine for himself. The pungent smell filled the senses. He takes a swig of the wine. "About time. Sit down Eina." He goes over to his desk and stares down at her with an evil smile.
Eina felt a cold chill down her spine as she sat down. "What can I do for you Mr. Mardeel?"
"Want to explain yourself Eina?"
"What do you mean Sir?"
"Is it in your blood to be stupid? I received information that you are going into the dungeon. I thought I told you to stop being an adventurer." Royman raised his voice.
"W-who told you this?" she tried to deflect.
"Goddess Hestia filed a complaint against you, calling you a cheater. So, I am assuming you are working to steal the boy for your goddess Loki. You seem to be forging his progress too. There is no way an adventurer has made it to floor 8 in one month unless you been helping him this whole time. Tell me is that why you been late and tired at work?" He stared down Eina.
"I only went down one time since I have known him. It was during my day off, I felt horrible that his supporter tried to kill him." She explained. "Loki would not steal anybody." She added. "Bell is able to go down to that floor and lower."
"That's absurd. You have clearly been neglecting your duties for your boy toy." He barked.
"I keep things professional with all my adventurers. He's just been worrying me with him being the only person in familia. That's why I –"
"I don't care for your lies. As of today, you are fired from the guild."
"What? That's not fair. What am I am going to do?" Eina started crying.
"Go down the dungeon or use those ridiculous things at the pleasure quarter. Just clear out your stuff immediately." He laughed being under the effects of the alcohol.
Eina got mad and jumped up. She grabbed the glass of wine and splashed it on the fat elf. "Don't ever say that again. You corrupt pig of an elf." She walked out of the office. Cleared out her stuff and walked home with tears in her eyes.
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About an hour later me and Welf were inside his blacksmith shack in the east district. "Welcome to my shop Bell. Sorry it's a bit of a pigsty." Welf placed his great sword against a wall. "Sit down and make yourself a home. Give me your knives. I will sharpen them for you. "
"Oh, ok Welf." I handed the blades over to him and he goes over to a grindstone. "I have the 20,000 valis too for the payment."
"Just place it on the table." Welf takes a seat at the grindstone. Starts pumping the petal. The stone wheel starts spinning. One by one he starts grinding the blades against the stone sending sparks and a loud metal screeching sound. Trying to fix any imperfections from my many battles.
As he was repairing the blades. I was looking at the many weapons on the wall. "Mind if I pick this one up."
"Go for it. None of them sold." He said in a disappointed voice.
I grabbed a great sword off a rack and gave a few practice swings with it. "Don't understand. Seems pretty awesome to me."
Welf finished up on the grindstone. "Nobody wants my normal weapons. They all want a magic sword. Surprised you're not asking for one."
"I would rather have magic of my own. Also, I don't want to upset any elves." I placed the sword back on the rack.
"I second that. Man, I thought that waitress friend of yours was gonna kill me. Seemed to have a greater interest in your well-being." He chuckled at my reddening face.
"Ryu is very nice. She's been helping me out a lot. I owe her a lot for keeping me alive."
"Surprised you didn't return my weapons and armor. You seem to have a couple elven girlfriends. Ha-ah." He smirks at my reaction.
"My mind is kind of focused on somebody else. I like both Ryu and Eina. They are both beautiful elves. I don't want to lose them in my life trying to be selfish." Nervously tell him. "I did speak to Ryu. She at least doesn't seem to be bothered with you being my smith as long as you don't make those magic weapons."
"T-that's a first." Welf stared surprised. "Here give me your chest piece. Need to fix those dents." I took off my damaged chest piece. He takes it over to a blacksmith bench and starts hammering it to patch up the dents.
"Ryu talked about those blades being used to destroy elven forests. She didn't seem to care much because they were past events and her homeland wasn't affected." I recalled. "W-why do you not make magic blades?"
"I hate them for many reasons. Do you know why the Crozzo bloodline can make magic blades?" He says inspecting the armor for any faults.
"No"
"There was an ordinary man who was my oldest ancestor Crozzo. He risked his life to save a spirit from a monster. Spirits are the favored children of the gods. The spirit used its blood to save my dying ancestor."
"So that means…?"
"Yes, the Crozzo family has the blood of a spirit running through our veins. The blood saved his life and gave him the gift of magic and the ability to create magic swords." He starts hammering the chest piece. "These abilities weren't passed down until the gods descended and gave their blessings to mortals. The blood activated via a skill." Sweat starts to trickle down his face as he started hammering the armor harder.
I was drawn in by his story and stood there as he continued. "The Crozzo family got greedy. They sold their gifts for nobility and wealth in the Rakia kingdom. The elves watch their homes burn and spirits cursed those blades. All of the blades shattered during a battle and the elves got their revenge. The crozzos lost their ability to create more weapons."
My face went pale, "But you can make those blades."
"No idea why?" He dismissed the skill.
My head was spinning, 'Did the curse run out or is it just Welf?'
"I enjoyed my granddad's lessons on forging weapons. Once my family found out they forced me to craft them. They wanted to make me into a tool to regain their nobility. Weapons are not political tools. Also wielder is supposed to trust their weapons. Magic swords always break eventually leaving the wielder behind. Dream of a weapon clearing the path, rots people from the inside. I hate them and refuse to make them."
He fixed the armor over the next hour. "Looks great Welf."
"Thanks, so what do you want to do about those ant legs. Any weapon would not be as strong as the minotaur knives. I could make throwing knives or try to reinforce your armor. Have to experiment."
"Would you be able to make a bow?" I suggested.
"Got skill in archery, do you?" He smiled surprised.
"A little bit. I use to hunt small game around my grandpa's farm. The bow I had would not be good against monsters."
"Hmm. Let me tinker with the new drop items. Only charge you for the arrows and the cable. Probably take a few days for me to figure out what can be done with it." He scratches his chin.
"That's fine. Thank you very much." I picked up my blades and armor and shook his hand before leaving his workshop.
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I was starting to walk south on a side road from the Hephaistos familia workshops, still in the north eastern district. "Ganesha familia base is by the Colosseum. Wonder if they will let me see Lily?"
Twenty minutes later, I found the Ganesha familia home by the giant elephant masked statue of Lord Ganesha.
"Halt state your business." Guard at the entrance stops me with his spear held outwards to bar the way.
"Hello, my name is Bell Cranell. I was wondering if I could visit a friend. Liliruca Arde was imprisoned a few days ago." I inquired.
"Let me ask the captain stay here." He ordered and went inside.
A few minutes later, to my surprise, the Azure haired captain Shakti and the Lord Ganesha came outside to greet me.
I bowed seeing the god. "Afternoon Lord Ganesha and Shakti."
Lord Ganesha came up to hug me. My eyes bulged out in shock. "I am Ganesha. My boy I am glad you recovered from the dragon fight. You have elephants sized pair of balls on you. What can Ganesha do for you Bell?"
"A-aha-aahh, Lord Ganesha could I speak with Lili. I want to try to get the charges dropped on her." I nervously asked.
Shakti spoke, "Lili was unfortunately taken back by her god. Sorry."
"Oh no." I said defeated.
"Why are you trying to save somebody that tried to kill you?" Shakti asked.
"She has been desperately trying to get out of Soma familia. She has been abused by other adventurers. That is why she tried to steal my knives. According to my advisor they force new recruits to drink a wine that corrupts your soul and gets you addicted." I recalled.
"I am Ganesha. If you could prove that then we would be able to step in, but the guild has bound our hands." The elephant god strokes his chin. "I am sorry we can't do nothing right now child of Hestia, especially with our familia in morning over dear Hashana. He went out like a man. Oof." Shakti elbows Ganesha in the stomach.
Shakti stared at Ganesha with anger. "He was murdered by a woman, while in a defenseless position."
"Hashana!" I say shocked.
Both of them looked at me. "Do you know something Bell?" Shakti looked at me suspiciously.
"No. I don't. He was the first nice person I met in Orario. He gave me a lot of helpful advice when I arrived last month."
She smiled towards me. "Yes, he was a nice guy. Misguided sometimes, but he did not deserve that fate. Sorry we can't be of help."
"I-its Fine." I bowed. "Thank you for your time."
"I am Ganesha. Be strong young one. Look forward to seeing you grow." They both walked inside.
I started walking in the direction of the guild along the main roads. My thoughts shifted to my meeting with Hashana. 'Did I convince him to meet a woman in the dungeon that killed him? He laughed when I said I was hoping to find somebody while in the dungeon. What am I gonna do about Lily?'
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(Floor 18)
Loki familia was packing up their camp on floor 18 to start making their ascent through the dungeon to the surface. "Finn." Riveria pulled the captain aside.
"What now?" He stared at her annoyed. Still mad about floor 38.
"I want to pull Ais aside and spend a few hours and talk with her down here. I need to figure out what she knows about the red haired tamer. Something clearly triggered her."
"Alright Riveria. We will see you tonight." Finn goes back to notifying the other five members of the party and start heading to floor 17.
Riveria walked over to the blond. "Ais follow me. Were gonna spend some time alone down here."
"Okay Riveria." Ais tilted her head confused.
"Can I stay?" Lefiya yelled out.
"When did Ais shrink and grow elf ears? I will speak with her alone. Go up top Lefiya." Riveria scolded the young elf. Lefiya pouted with teary eyes but knew better than to talk back to a high elf.
"Come on Lefiya. Its floor 18. They can handle it." Tiona tried to consul her
"What about last time?" She pleaded. The twins and Alicia practically had to force her not to disobey.
Ais and Riveria walked into Riviria to check in with Bors. Bors begged to try out smithing the Uduaes black sword to the point that Ais felt bad and gave it to him. A little later Ais and Riveria walked back to the floor 17 entrance. "Ais follow me into the tree line for a little bit."
"Okay." She followed after her adoptive mother.
Riveria sat down against a tree near the river and Ais did the same. Riveria patted her lap. "Lay your head Ais."
"Eh" Ais said softly confused.
"I want to talk. I want to know what's bothering you. Clearly that woman got to you." Ais hesitated but laid her head down on the comfortable lap of Riveria. It was a sight that nobody on Gekai would witness the mature elf princess giving a lap pillow to an equally beautiful blond sword princess.
"What is this?" Ais asked innocently.
"A lap pillow, it can help with head injury, mind down or just for people you care about a lot." She started running her fingers through Ais's golden hair. "Surprised you gave that sword to Bors."
"He really wanted to be a blacksmith when he was little. And since he asked me like that." Ais scrunched her face up into a nervous pout.
"Suppose we can always come back and get it another time." Riveria giggled. She stared down at Ais with worried eyes. "Ais what is troubling you? I haven't seen you like that in years."
"She called me Aria." Ais said with saddened eyes.
Riveria held her face in shock for a minute before resting her head against the tree. "Ais you are not alone anymore. You are family. Tiona, Tione and Lefiya consider you to be as well. Never forget that."
"Yes. Sorry Riveria." Ais says before passing out resting on Riveria's knees causing Riveria to smile.
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I walked slowly over the guild. I wanted to see if Eina or Rose could do anything. I entered the guild hall and looked around for Eina. She wasn't anywhere in sight. I thought it was strange that Misha and Rose were giving me wierd looks, so I walked up to confront them. "Hello Rose. Misha." I said with a smile. "Is Eina in at all?"
Both of them looked at me surprised. "You don't know Bell?" Rose questioned.
"Know what? Did something happen?" I looked at her confused.
Misha came around the counter looking angry. "You got Eina fired idiot." She punched me in the face. It didn't hurt much because she didn't have a falna. Still felt like a blade to the heart.
"How?" I looked at them wide eye with tears in my eyes. Misha walked away outraged.
"Maybe you should go ask her Bell? She has been so worried about you that she's been getting into trouble helping you." Rose states.
"I w-will." I ran out of the guild hall the fastest I could and raced up to Eina's apartment.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A few minutes later a teary eyed Eina answers the door. "Eina." I was mortified looking at her sad state.
"Get away. *Hic* Don't w-want to see you again." She cries out. Drawing the attention of her neighbors.
"Eina please tell me anything I can do to help?" I begged.
"Go away!" She slams the door in my face. Once the door closes, she crouched down to the floor holding her head in between her knees. "Bell."
I stood there for a minute hanging my head low. My heart felt cracked open like an egg and my body was cold. "What happened?" I started walking south slowly.
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I continued to walk down the street to the south until I found my way to the Hostess of Fertility. It looked slow still being mid evening. Syr was standing out front. She noticed me shuffling down the street. "Hello Bell, are you okay?"
"Not really. I don't want to bother you with my problems." I gave a dry smile towards her.
"Nonsense, I don't mind. Come on in and get a drink." She implores me.
Didn't feel like doing anything else so I followed in after her to the near empty Hostess. Ten minutes later we were sitting across from each other sipping tea. "I was getting worried not hearing from you in a while. Last time I heard anything was when we ran into your supporter."
"Thank you for that Syr. Ryu said how helpful you were in capturing her." I stared into her eyes.
"It was to help you out. Glad Ryu noticed the blades. Is your supporter the reason your down? You don't seem yourself." She stares back concerned.
"Partially. I heard she is back with her familia that she's desperately been trying to get out of, so much so that she felt the need to steal my knives to pay off her debt. Leaving me alone in the dungeon. I somehow got my advisor fired and she hates me now. My goddess tab practically bankrupted me and I heard somebody was murdered in the dungeon that helped me out a lot." I rested my chin on the table with my hands outwards. Looking depressed. "Feel like I should just go back to farming."
"No, I can't allow that." Syr reaches out with her hands to grab mine.
"I can't figure out what to do. I want to help Eina and Lily. Feel like Hashana dying was my fault because I told him my grandpa's perverted wish when I came here and he was murdered by a woman in the dungeon." I said still depressed feeling the warmth of her hands.
"Bell somethings are just out of our control. The last two especially weren't your fault. I don't know enough about the other two to understand why. Maybe you just need to clear your head." She suggests.
"I don't feel like going into the dungeon." I said to her confused.
She taps me on the head softly. "No dummy. They are more things than the dungeon. Maybe escaping into the world of a book will help you gain another perspective on how to solve your problems."
"Thank you, Syr. Do you have a book in mind?" I smiled at her.
"How about that one over their on the shelf? A customer left it here." She suggested.
"Then I shouldn't if it belongs to somebody."
"Its fine. Momma Mia doesn't like it here either. Maybe something in the book can help you out. I don't know any other way for me to help you out. Please will you take it." She gives off an adorable pout.
"Okay I will take your advice Syr." I agreed desperately wanting to make somebody smile today.
She stands up to get the book and bring it over to me. Embraces me into a hug. "Wish I could do more to help you, Bell."
"You have done a lot for me Syr."
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Thirty minutes later, I walked home to the empty church basement. I got cleaned up and placed the book on a table.
I stared down at the book nervously. "I can't believe I took it. Mise well read it, since I have it." I cracked it open to start reading.
I look it over trying to understand the language. "Looks like it's about magic." My eyes started to feel heavy like they were being forced shut. I felt like my mind was being sucked into the book. My consciousness was stripped from my body and I collapsed overtop the book onto the table.
"Let's begin." Says an apparition that looks a lot like me in the dark void. Speaking in my own voice. "What is magic to me?"
"I don't know. Something great and mysterious. Something I've always yearned for."
"What does Magic mean to me?"
"Power. Great power. A grand weapon that will inspire my weak self. A heroic power to clear obstacles in my path."
"What kind of thing is Magic to me?"
"Fire. A strong ferocious flame that will never die. A beacon of hope to send out to the woman I love."
"What do you seek with magic?"
"To become strong like her. To reach out for her heart with the speed of the divine. Faster than anyone else. To catch her and share my world with her."
"Is that all?"
"If I can. If I can. I wish to be a hero. For the one I have been chasing with my foolish heart. I want to be heroic enough for her to notice me."
"Such a child."
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"Bell. Bell."The small goddess was starting to push me to wake up.
"G-goddess." My eyes slowly flashed open as my conscious starting coming back to me.
"Of course." She smiled. "Who else would it be?"
"Sorry goddess."
She giggles. "Not use to reading and got drowsy. Eh?" Her thoughts trailed off. 'Not like him to read a book.'
"Sorry I must have gotten carried away." I raised my head off the book.
"Still want your status updated." She tried to raise my spirits.
"Yes goddess." I started walking over to her bed with my shirt off. She straddled her small body across my back and retrieved a needle she switched out after last time.
"Can I read the book after you're done?" She asked.
"I was gonna give it back to a friend soon. She thought it might help clear my mind." I nervously replied back.
"Ah come on. I haven't seen a book that old in a while." She stabbed her finger and a droplet of divine blood fell to my back.
"Sure. You really love books don't you goddess." I giggled until jolted in pain. "Ouch was that a needle?"
"You're a stubborn one. Growing as fast as ever. Your basic abilities are approaching S rank. Surely you can't keep growing like -" She cut off staring down at my back.
"Everything okay goddess." I look up at her face.
"Magic. There is magic in your status." She said shocked.
"What?" The information didn't click right away. Then. I jumped up really fast with her still on my back sending her toppling over on to the bed. "WWWWWWHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTT!"
Bell Cranell Age: 15 Race: Human
Level One
Strength: B767 A801 Defense: C685 B702
Dexterity: B749 B782 Agility: A817 A899
Magic: I0 Luck: I
Magic ()
Firebolt – Swift strike magic
"Magic!" I stared down at my status sheet amazed. "I finally have magic. Fireb-." Goddess Hestia place her hand across my mouth.
"Don't say it bell. There is no chant listed. You might destroy our home." She warned.
"Oh, okay goddess." I was smiling ear to ear. Finally, some good news of late. "I can't wait to try it out." I eagerly pull my shirt back on.
"Calm down Bell. It's not gonna go anywhere. Just wait until tomorrow."
"Eh tomorrow." I looked disappointed. "I guess your right Goddess." I said in a low voice and prepared for bed. A few hours later, I woke too eager to use my new magic. I snuck out to the dungeon without armor and only one knife.
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"Ah fresh air." Tiona stretched out her body after exiting the dungeon with the rest of Loki familia. "Nothing better."
"I thought you were a battle maniac." Tione addressed her younger sister.
"It's always stuffy in there after a week or two. Plus leaving it means we were successful." She smiled back to Tione.
"Guess you're right. I can't wait to get cleaned up and sneak into captain's bed." She got lost in her lewd thoughts.
Finn got goosebumps hearing her say that. He nervously addressed the familia. "Good job everybody. Let's get back home and report to Loki."
They started walking north. When Alicia noticed the white-haired boy running into the dungeon late at night. "Finn."
"Yes Alicia."
"Do you mind if I wait for Lady Riveria at the tower? I wanted to check something too." She asks timidly.
"You sure. You don't have to do that for her." He eyed her up suspiciously.
"I will be fine."
"I guess but I will send guards after you if you don't show up in a couple of hours."
"Okay Finn." Alicia split off from the group and walks back to the tower.
"Wonder if she is going to meet a boy?" Tiona joked causing Tione and Aki to giggle.
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Out of sight from the familia. Alicia sped off to the dungeon. She arrived on floor 1 to see a curious sight. A nervous Bell on floor 1. She hid around the corner. Keeping her eyes on him. 'What is he doing? Why doesn't he have armor on?' She thought looking him over.
My heart was beating out of my chest in anticipation. One hand gripped around a knife. The other clenched up in a ball looking for a target, until a familiar green mass shifts across the room. Its yellow eyes lock onto me.
I smiled and controlled my breathing and calmed my heart. I thrust my arm up and spread my fingers and yelled out at the top of my lungs. "FIREBOLT!" Scarlet flames erupted from my hand into an electric inferno. The goblin was consumed in fire and burst into ash when the flame seared the stone.
"YAHOOOO!" I jumped up in triumph.
Alicia was completely bugged eyed. Her eyes felt like their gonna fall out of their sockets. She pulled back in time to avoid my gaze. "No way. There wasn't even a chant. What have I been doing all my life? Riveria has a 100-word chant for one of her spells and he just instantly destroys something." She collapses to the ground shocked.
"Firebolt, Firebolt, Firebolt." I destroy three more goblins and start racing down the hall excited like a kid with a toy. I jumped and sliced a Kobold's neck and launch another spell at a scared goblin. "Firebolt."
Alicia's eyes go wide hearing me cast it endlessly down the dungeon hall. She looked around the corner. The boy was gone. "How long can he keep that up?" Concerned for his safety. Alicia started racing after trying to find the path he took. "Surely he's not going deeper."
An hour later she found me racing through the 8th floor. "This needs to stop now. He's gonna have a mind down." She says watching after me.
A small horde of goblin elites appeared before me. "FFIREBOLT!" I launched a blast in the middle that was bigger than others. It blasted two apart and shocked a few others. I raced forward and jumped on the shoulders of one of the elites. Impaling its skull through the top before jumping off its shoulders launching a firebolt at another jumping at me before slashing a third one's throat.
I caught myself in a roll and landed in front of the last one and raised my hands up. "Firebolt." I said weakly. Still killing the monster with the flame. I was starting to get dizzy. "Whew maybe I should take a br-." Before my vision went dark and collapsed on the 8th floor.
The wall summoned three more goblin elites from the right side. They started racing to my unconscious body. "That idiot!" She screams out. "Freeze, binding chains of winters – Niflheim's Shackles." Three small pillars of ice impaled the goblins. Killing them instantly.
She wanted to kick him so bad for doing something so reckless. Alicia was pissed. "He would be dead if I wasn't here. Lucky asshole." She looked at the rabbit like boy lying innocently on the dungeon floor. Her cheeks started to get red. She had to admit he was a cute rabbit. "I swear if anybody sees this, I am gonna hurt him."
She sat down on her knees and nervously grabbed my head and placed it upon her lap. 'Is this how that waitress did it? She did speak of him as being worthy of her time. Surely, he can't be as bad as I have treated him. He did help save my life and, in the arena, -.' She remembered seeing Bell being impaled by the plant thing and shook her head to prevent her eyes from tearing up.
She regained her composure and started running her fingers through the soft white hair. Looking down at me. "Wow floor 8 already. You been working extremely hard."
Unknown to Alicia she was being watched by a giggling high elf and a confused blond. They rushed to the scene when they heard the magic and were amazed to see Alicia giving Bell a lap pillow. Little Ais was started to get jealous and started to walk forward, until Riveria tried to keep her back. "Just give them a few minutes…. Ais stop."
Alicia saw the red tint of the knife and picked it up. "Mino-taur." She was surprised by the elvish design. Her cheeks reddened more. She tilted her head sideways confused looking at the knife. Her eyes traced down to the smith's mark. Her eyes went wide in shock and anger. "Crozzo." She started feeling a rustling of my head against her lap.
My head started shifting back and forth as my consciousness started coming back to me. My head was pounding, my eyes were fuzzy and half open. I started seeing the neck and ears of a beautiful elf. "An illusion." I speak out slowly still trying to regain my composure.
Then my heart started to sweat and pound heavily. Alicia turned her head. The beautiful elf was full of rage and pointed the knife at me. "Explain." She shouted.
"Whaaa" I pressed my head back farther into what I thought was the soft ground to try and get away. The pressure against her thighs made Alicia jolt in surprise and threw the knife a few feet away uncontrollably.
Sensing my only chance to escape this weird dream. I jumped up and rolled to the nearest path that was going deeper into the dungeon.
BAM! My head came in contact with something hard and my body collapsed. Causing Alicia to run over in fear.
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Riveria was holding back the frustrated blond. "Ais stop already."
"Explain." She heard Alicia yell out causing her to release Ais from her grip. Ais fell forward surprised at being let go.
BAM!
Ais felt something impact her armor. The boy bell came in contacts with the weirdly shaped adamantite breast plate and was knocked out cold. Alicia ran up and jumped seeing the two first tier adventurers. "Ais. Lady Riveria."
All three of the women stared down at the unconscious body of Bell Cranell. Alicia and Ais looked down worried until they seen the high elf bend down to touch his face. Alicia eyes went wide in surprise. "Lady Riveria what are you doing?"
"We have to help him." Riveria patted the pockets of the jacket and felt a vial. Pulled out a red health potion. She poured the potion over top expecting it to close the small head wound completely. "What the?" The potion didn't completely heal the small wound. "Alicia, heal him." She ordered.
"Yes, Lady Riveria." Alicia started her healing chant. "Sacred light of Mani, cleanse the broken and wash away the corruption that afflicts them. – Ithildin's Blessing(1)." The wound sealed up on my forehead.
"Hmm. He's still unconscious." Riveria looked over my body.
"He just recovered from a mind down." Alicia added.
To Alicia and Ais surprise, Riveria grabbed the boy's head and brought it over her knees. "Lady Riveria! What are you doing?" Alicia screamed out in shock.
"Should help him recover. Besides it's been 90 years since I held a rabbit." She giggled at Alicia's shocked face. "Want to help your boyfriend, Alicia?"
"He's not my boyfriend." She protested.
"Nice of you to watch after him and give him a lap pillow after a mind down." She suppressed her laughter with her hand.
Alicia got closer to help and Ais was feeling left out so she joined as well. All three women were a little red in the face. "So, he got magic and came all the way down to floor 8 to test it out." Riveria look surprised.
"His spell is absolutely absurd." Alicia commented. "He's been using it since floor 1 like a kid with a toy."
Both Riveria and Ais were taken back. Riveria was about to say something when all three women starting hearing a drum. Each of them looked around and saw nothing and then stared down into my bulging eyes and red face. "You okay Bell."
My heart was racing and loud and my eyes felt like they were gonna roll out of my head seeing all three women sitting around me. I took a deep breath. "This is clearly a dream." I closed my eyes to go back to sleep.
The two elves giggled why Ais just stared confused. "Wake up Bell."
"Wait! This is r-real." I yelled out as my heart started racing again.
"Do you have a heart issue?" Riveria questioned.
"N-n-no just gets overwhelmed by b-beauty." I stuttered out. Causing Alicia to shake her head and smile.
Riveria smiles and reaches into her pocket. Pulls out a blue potion and hands it to me. "Drink this and try to sit up."
I sat up and gulped the syrupy blue liquid down. My headache started to fade away. "W-what h-happened?" I questioned nervously.
"Seems you had a case of mind down." Riveria stated.
"Mind down?" I looked confused.
"You overused your magic. Idiot rabbit." Alicia looked annoyed.
"S-Sorry." I got up and bowed to the three women. "Thank you for saving my life again."
The three women stood up. "Don't worry about Bell. Just glad you're alive. How about you show us your magic." Riveria asks.
"O-okay." I blushed nervously. I noticed another goblin lurking down the hall. I aimed my hand towards it. "FIREBOLT!" red crimson flame shot out and enveloped the goblin.
Riveria and Ais were speechless for a moment with their eyes wide in shock. "Wow there was no chant at all."
"See it is absurd." Alicia spouted.
"Enough Alicia." Riveria turned back to me. "I can see how you could get carried away with that spell. Need to conserve your mind better or you will fall unconscious again."
"I will try Riveria." I remembered something I saw earlier and started to remove my jacket. "Um Miss Ais."
She tilted her head confused. "Yes Bell."
I offered her my jacket still blushing. "You might want to cover up."
All three women looked confused until the two elves looked under Ais armor to see half her breast was sticking out. "Pfft." Riveria chuckles uncontrollably. "Ais he's right your missing part of your shirt."
"I am sorry." My face still blushing still holding out the jacket
Her face goes red in embarrassment. "T-thank you, Bell." I turn around while she takes her chest plate off and puts on the jacket.
Riveria shakes her head and smiles. "Want to make up for worrying us, Bell?"
"Anything!" I begged.
"I don't really feel like fighting, a little tired. Get us out of the dungeon with just your magic." She orders. "Think of it as training."
"O-okay." My face still red as I go to find my knife.
Alicia whispers into Riveria's ear. "That blade is made by a Crozzo."
Riveria's brow was raised in surprise. "We will talk about it later."
Over the next hour I escort the three Loki familia women out of the dungeon yelling firebolt. The whole way out of the dungeon I was nervous and embarrassed being watched by the three women. Riveria was giving me pointers along the way to conserve mind and tips for recognizing symptoms of a mind down.
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We arrived at the top of the staircase under Babel. It was abandoned except for us four. "That spell is something else Bell. May not be powerful but its utility and speed are undeniable." Riveria congratulated me.
"Thank you. All three of you for helping me out with the training. Thankyou Alicia for saving my butt." I bowed again to them.
Alicia just smiled. "Don't mention it. Rather not see that again."
"I will try everything to avoid that happening again." I assured her.
"BEEEEEEEELLLLLLL!" a familiar loud scream came from the west side of babel. Goddess Hestia was waiting outside.
"Goddess." I said alarmed. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought I said wait to the morning not sneak out with more women." She screamed.
"More." The three women looked stunned.
"Goddess that was a misunderstanding and nothing happened that night." I pleaded.
Riveria was bewildered but chose her gut and trust Bell. "Goddess Hestia, all that happened is we found Bell in the dungeon. Everything is fine."
"Why don't I believe you Riversomething?" she looked up at the high elf suspiciously.
"How dare you offend lady Riveria?" Alicia had enough. "After we save Bell's life, finding him unconscious on floor 8 from a mind down."
Goddess Hestia's eyes flashed wide in fear and anger. "Bell." She directed her anger at me.
"S-Sorry Goddess I was just excited to finally have magic." I pleaded for lenience.
"I told you to not leave me alone. Not get yourself killed or run off with some girl." She scolded me.
"Enough Lady Hestia." The high elf was upset and spoke down to the Loli goddess. "Maybe he would have known about mind down if you actually recruited people. Instead of sending him in there alone day after day. I am not happy to see Bell almost get killed again, at least we found him. As for his love life, I don't think any of us have the right tell him what he can do or not do."
My heart felt like it was being knocked around. I was sure she misunderstood.
"Come Alicia. Ais, we have to get back to the manor." Riveria ordered.
"Uummm Riveria." I asked timidly.
"You have something to ask me Bell." Her brow raised.
"Are you really gonna ask Lady Riveria after all that Bell?" Alicia stared at me annoyed.
"Enough Alicia. Is something wrong bell?" She looked down at me worried.
"I was wondering if you could check on Eina." I bowed my head.
She tilted her head sideways confused. "What happened?" She noticed my somber mood.
"I am not sure. I heard Eina lost her job. I don't know what I did but her friends blame me and she threw me out earlier when I tried to ask her." Looked up with teary wide eyes.
"You don't know a thing." She questioned in a serious tone.
"No, I don't. If I had known she was in trouble I would not have allowed her to go to the dungeon with me."
"Dungeon that's surprising." Both elves were taken a back.
Riveria looked over to the Loli goddess to see her jolt in fear. She noticed the nervous goddess and took a guess at what might have happened. "I am sure it's not your fault Bell. I will go check on her. Thank you for bringing it to my attention."
"If there is anything at all I can do to help. Please name it." I offered.
"We are her familia. We can help her out. Thank you. Good night." The three women walked up the north road in silence. Until they got to the intersection to Eina's house.
"Ais, can you go report to Loki and Finn of our safe return. I am going to Eina's apartment." Riveria stated.
"Okay Riveria."
"Can I go see Eina?" Alicia requested.
"Fine let's get going." Riveria and Alicia moved west to the apartment while Ais made it back to the manor to report in to Finn and Loki.
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Riveria and Eina noticed the lights were on. Some of the furniture was pushed over or out of place. The interior looked like it was in disarray with things thrown all about, unlike the usual organized and proper Eina.
Riveria and Alicia pounded on the door for a while. "I'm worried." Riveria was debating on breaking in to find her. Until finally the door slowly opened up to see a depressed Eina who look like she was crying all day, smelling like Alcohol and her appearance was roughed up like she didn't care.
"Eina are you okay?" Riveria's nose was overwhelmed by alcohol.
"W-wah you want River Lady?" She mumbled out slurring her speech. *HIC*
"Bell told us what happened. He is worried about you Eina." Riveria was saddened to see someone so close in such a state.
Eina started tearing up. "I made bunny man sad. *HIC* She stumbled backwards and was caught by Riveria.
"Come on Eina. Alicia, let's help her get cleaned up and into bed to sleep this off."
"Okay." Alicia helped her into the shower. Riveria slept in the extra room while Alicia shared a bed with Eina
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Sunlight was shining on Eina's face. She started stirring hearing people moving around outside. Her head started pounding as a hangover was starting to afflict her. She started rolling around holding her head and found herself up against something soft. She started patting at the soft mass with her free hand.
"Explain Bell." Alicia whispered in a soft affectionate voice still asleep.
"Eh. Ehhhhhhh." Eina shrieks out in surprise causing Alicia to finally stir from her slumber. "A-Alicia what are you doing here?"
Alicia pulled away from Eina's touch with a red face. "S-sorry we just got out of the dungeon last night. We were worried about you when we heard you lost your job. Me and Lady Riveria came to check on you and found you drunk."
"My apologies." Eina held her head still holding her head.
"Don't be."
The door opened up and jade haired Riveria came in holding a tray with three cups of tea. "Good morning. Or should I say afternoon. You two finally awoke."
"Lady Riveria, why didn't you wake me? I could have made tea." Alicia looked alarmed seeing the princess taking over a lower role.
"Don't worry about it. You two needed rest. One of the few times I get to act like a housewife or a mother." She smiled at the two shocked elves.
"Why not accept Lord H-?" Alicia was cutoff.
"No, you already heard my thoughts on that pompous prideful ass of elf. Already wasted almost a century turning down unworthy men that do not fit my criteria. I can wait a little longer until I find my hero." She laughs softly remembering something causing the two elves to go wide eyed with awe at the sight. She walks over to the bedside next to Eina and places the tray on a table. She hands the two women a cup which they sip slowly. "Are you okay Eina?"
"No, I am not Lady Riveria." Her ears lowered. "It's been a stressful week and B-"
"Oi." A yell came from outside. Riveria stuck her head out the window to see the red haired trickster waiting outside. "You gonna let me in or what?"
"It's unlocked just come on up Loki." Riveria shouted down to the goddess. A few minutes later Loki entered the bedroom.
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"Ais-pu said you were all over here. Heard that you lost your job at the guild Eina baby." She pouted seeing her child in a saddened state.
Eina gave a dry smile. "It's my fault. I should have listened to Rose. I been too worried about Bell going into the dungeon all alone, that I ignored orders."
"Bell told us you went into the dungeon with him. Never expected you to go back in after all these years." Alicia stated.
"Eh that's a surprise. Rabbit boy helping you conquer your fear." Loki looked at Eina with interest.
"Hardly, but seeing him jump around killing hordes of monsters on his own was quite the experience to see. Especially with the iron tusk." Eina took another sip.
Riveria almost spits out her drink. "He's on floor 9!" She yells in shock.
"Serious." Alicia and Loki look at Eina.
"If anything, he's overpowered for floor 9. Glad he's been listening to me. He grabbed an iron tusk with his bare hands and threw it." Causing the two elves to go wide eyed at that feat.
"Dam I want to see that." Loki snickered. "So why did you go down with him?"
"It was my day off and worried about his safety. The last time he went his Soma supporter tried to kill him on floor 8." Eina recalled causing Riveria to take a seat holding her head.
"I think I gonna be sick." Riveria stared at Eina. "How did he get out of that one?"
"I don't know. His armor was covered in dents and blood. The prum supporter threw a smoke bomb and monster lures at his feet and stole his knives." Eina said with her head still hurting. "His smith noticed she had his knives and that she has transformation magic."
"Where's the supporter?" Riveria asked the half elf.
"Rose locked her up, last I heard. Bell's trying to free her."
"Whyyyyyyyy!?" Alicia shouted outraged.
The loud shout worsens Eina's headache as she held her head in pain. "Eeeewww, she confessed that she's desperately trying to get out of her familia, to pay her way out of Soma familia. He wanted to help her."
"He clearly has a death wish. Just like last night." Alicia stated.
"How did you meet Bell last night?
"He had a mind down on floor 8 alone. Idiot." Alicia muttered.
"He has been desperate to get magic, he's gonna give me gray hair before I am twenty." She held her head.
"Don't worry Alicia caught her boyfriend in time." Riveria joked. "Found her holding him tight until he awoke."
"Riveria I was just watching him. He charged down there like an kid with a toy."
"Not a lady anymore." She giggled at the horrified Alicia.
"Can we steer this conversation away from the rabbit or am I destined to lose all my elves to him?" Loki says sarcastically and rolled her eyes at the three red faced elves. "What do you want to do now Eina? Want to level and go on the next expedition?"
"I am not ready for something like that Goddess Loki. I was barely able to control myself in upper floors." She looked fearful.
"No rush Eina. I am sure your parents would like to know if you are going back in or not." Riveria tried to assure her. "Why don't we go see them?"
"I suppose it has been a few months since I went to see them. They moved to a small elven village outside of Melen. Mother was getting sick being inside the city." Eina explained.
"Let's go see her. I would like to know if my oldest friend is doing well." Riveria turned to Loki. "Loki do you think we can get a few passes for a couple of days?"
"Should be fine. We don't have anything important scheduled for a while. Though Gareth found out about the bunny's skill and wants to challenge Uduaes. Doesn't want you to level up before him." Loki recalled.
"That might be a little difficult. Ais soloed him. She will probably level when she gets her status updated." Riveria smiled.
Eina spit out her tea as Loki jumped for joy. "Ais-pu gonna be a level 6. What brought this on?"
"It's a very sensitive conversation. I am gonna have to talk with you, Finn and Gareth about later. Let's just say something inspired the opening of an old wound in her heart." She turned to Alicia and Eina. "Sorry."
"Gotcha. Riveria." Loki's excitement vanished as she walked over towards the window to reflect on her troubled child.
Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Loki looks out the window and stared at the newcomer. "Pfft. Well, that's cute." She snickers. Riveria looks down at the entrance and tilts her head in agreement.
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