6
The Dungeon's fifth floor hummed with life, its earthy scent and distant monster roars a stark contrast to the ashen silence of Lordran. Bell Cranel stood amidst the familiar stone, his heart pounding as Ais Wallenstein knelt beside him, her golden eyes searching his face. "Bell, what happened?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with concern. "You were gone for hours. We thought… we thought you were lost."
Bell's lips parted, but words failed him. How could he explain Lordran—the Undead curse, the First Flame, the choice that had reshaped a world? His hand brushed the Hestia Knife, its blade etched with faint runes that pulsed with an otherworldly light. The divine warmth was still there, Hestia's blessing intact, but the runes were new, a mark of his journey through the Kiln. "I… I was somewhere else," he managed, his ruby eyes meeting Ais's. "Another world. But I'm back now."
Ais's brow furrowed, but she didn't press. Instead, she offered a hand, pulling him to his feet. "You're safe. That's what matters." Her touch was firm, grounding, and for a moment, Bell felt the weight of Lordran lift, replaced by the warmth of Orario.
The rest of Loki Familia stood nearby, their expressions a mix of relief and curiosity. Tiona bounded forward, her grin wide. "Bell! You had us worried, Little Rookie! Where'd you vanish to? Some secret Dungeon floor?"
Tione elbowed her sister. "Don't overwhelm him, Tiona. He looks like he's been through hell."
Bell managed a weak smile. "Something like that."
Finn, the Loki Familia captain, stepped forward, his sharp eyes assessing. "You're different, Bell Cranel. Stronger, somehow. Care to share what happened?"
Bell hesitated. Lordran felt like a dream—or a nightmare—too vast to explain. But Finn's gaze was kind, and Bell sensed he'd understand. "I'll tell you later," he said. "Right now, I need to see my Familia."
Finn nodded. "Fair enough. Let's get you to the surface. Hestia's been frantic."
---
The journey back to Orario was a blur. Ais stayed close, her presence a quiet anchor, while Tiona's chatter filled the silence. Bell's body felt like his own again, the Undead curse gone, but his movements carried a new precision, honed by Lordran's relentless trials. Liaris Freese burned brighter than ever, his soul tempered by battles against Gwyn, the Four Kings, and the Bed of Chaos. The Hestia Knife's runes pulsed faintly, whispering memories of Anastacia's words: *Thy fire burns bright, yet it is not of this world.*
At the Guild, Hestia tackled him the moment he stepped through the doors. "Bell!" she cried, her arms wrapping around him, her face buried in his chest. "You idiot! I felt your soul vanish! I thought I'd lost you!" Her voice cracked, her divine aura trembling with emotion.
Bell's eyes stung as he hugged her back. "I'm sorry, Goddess. I'm here now. I promise I won't leave again."
Hestia pulled back, her blue eyes glistening. "You better not! What happened? Where were you?"
Bell took a deep breath, glancing at the Loki Familia members lingering nearby. "It's a long story. Can we talk at home?"
Hestia nodded, clutching his hand as if afraid he'd vanish again. "Let's go, Bell. Your Familia's waiting."
---
The Hestia Familia's home, a small church in Orario's outskirts, was a haven of warmth. Lili, Welf, and Haruhime greeted Bell with a mix of relief and scolding. "Lili thought Master Bell was gone for good!" Lili huffed, her small fists clenched. "Don't scare us like that!"
Welf clapped Bell on the shoulder, his grin lopsided. "You look like you've seen some serious action, kid. Spill it—what kind of monster got you this time?"
Haruhime's fox ears twitched, her gentle voice soothing. "We're just glad you're safe, Lord Bell. Please, tell us what happened."
Seated around the church's worn table, Bell recounted his journey. He spoke of Lordran's desolate ruins, the bonfires that tethered his soul, the battles against demons and gods. He described Solaire's warmth, Siegmeyer's bumbling courage, Patches' betrayal, and Anastacia's quiet guidance. The Hestia Knife's runes glowed as he spoke, and he hesitated before mentioning the First Flame and his choice—the Age of Dark.
"I let the fire fade," he said softly, his eyes on Hestia. "It felt… right. Like choosing humanity over gods. I thought of you all, of Orario, of what it means to be an adventurer. But when I did, the knife glowed, and I was back here."
Hestia's eyes widened, her hand brushing the knife's runes. "These markings… they're not mine. They're from that world, aren't they? Bell, what you did—it's changed you. I can feel it in your status."
Bell blinked. "My status?"
Hestia dragged him to her room, updating his falna with practiced ease. As she read the glowing text on his back, her voice trembled. "Bell… your level hasn't changed, but your stats—they've spiked. Strength, dexterity, agility… they're higher than they should be for a Level 4. And there's a new skill: *Ember of Resolve*. It says, 'Forged in the crucible of an ashen world, the user's soul burns with unyielding will, enhancing growth through trials of despair.'"
Bell's heart raced. *Liaris Freese* had always driven his growth, but *Ember of Resolve* was Lordran's mark, a testament to his battles. "Does that mean… I kept something from that world?"
Hestia nodded, her expression a mix of pride and worry. "You're stronger, Bell. But those runes… they're tied to something powerful. Be careful."
---
The next day, Bell returned to the Dungeon, eager to test his new strength. His Familia joined him, their trust unwavering despite his changed aura. On the seventh floor, they faced a pack of killer ants, their pincers snapping. Bell moved with a precision that startled even himself—his dodges fluid, his strikes with the Hestia Knife devastating. The runes glowed faintly, amplifying the blade's edge, and he instinctively cast *Firebolt*, its flames hotter and more controlled, as if infused with Lordran's *Chaos Fireball*.
Lili's eyes widened. "Master Bell, your magic—it's different! Stronger!"
Welf grinned, hammering an ant with his greatsword. "That's our Little Rookie! Whatever you went through, it made you a beast!"
Haruhime's *Uchide no Kozuchi* boosted their strength, and the party cleared the floor with ease. But Bell's mind wandered to Anastacia's words: The Flame is a mirror. The runes on his knife felt like a bridge between worlds, and he wondered if Lordran's influence lingered beyond his new skill.
That evening, he visited the Hostess of Fertility, hoping to see Ais. The tavern was lively, adventurers laughing over ale, but Ais sat alone, her gaze distant. Bell approached, his heart pounding. "Ais, can we talk?"
She nodded, leading him to a quiet corner. "You're different," she said, her voice soft. "Stronger. What happened to you, Bell?"
He told her everything, his words spilling out—the asylum, Anor Londo, the Kiln, the choice. Ais listened, her expression unreadable but her eyes warm. When he finished, she touched his hand. "You faced a god and chose humanity. That's… brave."
Bell blushed, her praise igniting his *Liaris Freese*. "I just wanted to come back. To my Familia. To you."
Ais's lips curved, a rare smile. "You did. Keep growing, Bell. I want to see how far you go."
---
Days turned to weeks, and Bell's life in Orario resumed, but Lordran's shadow lingered. The Hestia Knife's runes glowed during battles, enhancing his strikes, and *Ember of Resolve* pushed his growth, his stats climbing faster than ever. He trained with Ais, her saber clashing with his knife, and her guidance sharpened his Lordran-honed instincts. The Loki Familia invited him on joint expeditions, Finn noting his newfound precision.
But the runes worried Hestia. Late one night, she examined them, her divine senses probing. "Bell, these runes… they're tied to that world's fire. I think they're a link, like a falna but for Lordran's cycle. If you're not careful, it could pull you back."
Bell's heart sank. "Back? But I chose the Age of Dark. The Flame's gone."
Hestia's eyes softened. "Maybe. But power like that doesn't vanish. Just… stay close, okay? I can't lose you again."
He hugged her, his resolve firm. "I won't go anywhere, Goddess. I promise."
---
One night, Bell dreamed of Lordran. He stood by Firelink Shrine's bonfire, Anastacia's voice whispering. "Thy fire burns, Bell Cranel. But the cycle endures. Should thou need us, the embers remain." The Hestia Knife glowed in his hand, its runes flaring, and he woke with a start, the blade pulsing faintly.
The dream lingered, a warning or a promise. Bell didn't know if Lordran could call him back, but he knew one thing: he was an adventurer, a hero of the Hestia Familia. Whatever came—monsters, gods, or another world—he'd face it with the fire he'd forged in Lordran.
---