An unconventional note from the author!
So, this note is a little longer than usual. But I have it broken down into three parts with each one being titled. Feel free to read or skip ahead to whatever section draws your attention... or skip them altogether. I usually do whenever I read notes.
1. Dragoon Characters in Paleblood
You've all voiced it and I've heard. Some, a very small margin at that, enjoy Issei and Chase appearing in this story. But the vast majority, some of which took exceptional grit, did not enjoy their involvement at all. I understand completely and wish to clarify something.
I have no intentions at all in them getting involved with the plot. While I had planned on them interacting with Bell in gag conversations, I will be taking them out completely. Other than the occasional explosion in the background, they won't make much of an appearance. They were, actually, first seen a few chapters ago (I forget what number exactly) where Bell was reunited with the Doll. Their cameo there will be as little interaction as they will display in this story from here on out.
So chill out. There WILL NOT be High School DxD hijinks in a Danmachi story. I have To Harass an Adventurer for that reason instead.
Oh. And thank you, Master Fang, for telling me where exactly I went wrong and what I should have done. Hmm... I should probably tell you this in a PM instead. You know what, I should answer your message at some point...
2. Adventurers as Hunters
I've gotten mixed reviews regarding certain DanMachi characters having pseudo lives as Bloodborne Hunters. Some positive, some negative, and some that made me laugh. I listened to all of them since the first speculations with Lyu. While some plans are already in motion and can't be altered, I'd like to share one thing yet to be revealed and leave it up to you (read: the grinder). If you don't want spoilers, please skip to the next category.
First, I only have intentions of NPCs you can have conversations with in-game as these characters. The list includes Djura, Eileen, Voltr, Simon, and Brador. Other characters like Alfred and the Bloody Crow (though you don't talk to the second) are not in this list for plot purposes that will be shared as the story progresses. Now, my concern, is the adventurer who had become Voltr. The best candidate I had in mind was Ottar.
Please let me know what you think.
3. Fanart Links.
It's apparent Fanfiction updated its policy while I wasn't looking. I hadn't updated my bio and nearly two years. Seriously, did one random kid post a lewd or something on his bio and got the entire membership shafted?!
I'm sorry if the links don't work. All I can do for the time being is ask you to go to Deviant Art and search Oslight. He did a fantastic job. Seeing Bell with the Doll took my breath away.
Oh. And he does other fanart. There's that too. Check him out.
4. Cainhurst
I swear, every time I look into this lore do I find something new and contradictory. It's infuriating! You'd not believe how many times I had to rewrite some of the conversations based on some of the things I found. I like how Cainhurst is only ONE level with ONE boss yet has its lore spread out through the entire damn game. It's like a grenade blew up with the shrapnel going everywhere!
So, my interpretation of Cainhurst might not be what other "lore experts" believe. They might agree with me. They might argue with me. And I actually welcome it because I love these topics. But what I composed for the sake of the story is based on the flavor texts in the game as well as the original source of inspiration: Dracula.
You know, I meant for this arc to be just a few chapters. Three at most. But I might have shot myself in the foot. This might take me until the New Year to conclude. I might have to rethink my schedule if I'm going to finish BR and Seventh... ugh.
Alright that's everything!
Without further ado, BLOOD FOR THE QUEEN!
Beyond the gates of Orario came two marching armies.
Arriving from the north-east was the invading force of 100,000 soldiers. They were all knights in full plated armor, donning the crest of their singular familia. While the grand majority of the knights were stagnant as Level One adventurers, those leading each of their legions as captains and lieutenants and donned in different colored capes were at Level Two. And leading the entire army were the prize of this marching kingdom, the three generals at Level Three.
Arriving from the far north, as north as the known map could allow, came a miniscule force in comparison at 10,000. However, hardly half of this collective force were soldiers. These were also knights, but donned not in armor but in flourishing and extravagant suits and dresses of red and black. These knights, rather than carrying and preparing their own things for war such as the other force, had brought their retainers and slaves to do it for them.
Of course, while the two came from different directions, they would eventually meet at the one road that would lead to Orario.
At the crossroads, Rakia and Cainhurst clashed. Just so they could determine who could use the road first.
Finn ran a hand through his hair as he watched the two kingdoms bicker. Of all the things to spill blood over…
The elite of Loki Familia, as well as several other upper-tier familias, were gathered under tents at the high road a few kiloms away from the city wall. While emissaries of both kingdoms had arrived some time ago to forewarn Orario of their arrival, the Guild sought it best to present the best familia to greet them. Or, which was more likely to happen, to get rid of their unwanted guests.
It should be mentioned the number one familia, Freya Familia, was not present. There wasn't even a representative.
"Captain," Tione sighed as she threw herself on top of him. Her chest rested on the top of his head as she threw her arms over his shoulders, feigning laziness. He knew better. "This is so boring. Why can't we just kick them out and go home?"
It was difficult to keep an eye on the battle through the binoculars with her like this. He had to put his arm down. He also couldn't move with her like this. But… he knew how she would act if he didn't play along. She would get fussy. She'd probably make things a lot worse.
"We have our orders," he offered. "While I would want to finish preparations for the raid against the Hunters, we can't ignore this problem either. Nor can we 'kick them out'. It'll cause issues if the other familias see us as bullies."
Tione sulked further. He didn't miss how she was using this chance to embrace him. He would allow her only a few seconds before brushing her off. She either learned of his habits or sensed his discomfort because a moment later she released him.
He kept watch on the battle. Hardly anyone disturbed him— if anyone needed anything, they could direct their questions to Gareth or Riveria. He kept track of time, used the binoculars when something peculiar caught his attention, and checked the map sprawled on the small table in front of him.
Rakia believed in an outdated method of fighting where quantity triumphed over quality. Even after a thousand years and trying to overrun Orario five times (and failing to the point the city became bored with their arrival), they never changed.
As a Level Six, Finn himself could take out two-thirds of their army before starting to get weary. With Gareth and Riveria at his side, there was no hope Rakia could do anything. Combined with the other Level Six adventurers, the dozen Level Fives, and a hundred Level Fours… why even try?
But then… there was Cainhurst.
In its entire history, Cainhurst had been an enigma. It never involved itself with Orario other than the occasional merchant trading rarities. It was a kingdom no older than a century and had managed to keep itself hidden in its affairs from even the nosy Hermes Familia.
Yet, Rakia, who liked to pick fights with anybody, had been able to poke at this sleeping bear long enough to start a war with it. They had been fighting for nearly a decade with no obvious victor in sight. With news of this war spreading through Rakian channels, curiosity arose. Just who was the god that controlled Cainhurst that could challenge Rakia?
No one believed it when the ruler of Cainhurst was mortal, a human queen at that. Even less when the warriors of Cainhurst were not adventurers.
While no one knew anything about Cainhurst, Finn knew them exceptionally well as a Hunter. He knew about their heretical methods. It wasn't his business to get involved with that side of the world, but even he had to disagree with them. They, who had stolen the secrets of the Forbidden Blood from the Church, and had concocted a miracle elixir of their own. Their queen, who mixed her cursed blood with it, gave this elixir to her chosen few.
They were neither adventurers nor were they Hunters. They were called Vilebloods.
100,000 Rakian soldiers against 4750 Cainhurst Vilebloods… and Cainhurst had been the victor after taking 6000 lives with their casualties being a few dozens. The leading general of Rakia called for a ceasefire, no doubt infuriating the Rakian god with this humiliation. Finn could play it all in his head; the numbers of casualties would have been significantly smaller if the god had listened to his advisors and just let Cainhurst pass.
Cainhurst quickly gathered their things and continued their march, ahead of Rakia.
Finn's eyes narrowed as he saw something towards the front of the army. While there were several coaches for the highest ranking of knights, this box in particular stood out. Not because of the golden Cainhurst crest (every knight tried to outdo the other with how much they spent on their trailer), but because of those who surrounded it.
There were knights in dark silver, nearly black, armor carrying the flag of Cainhurst. At their side were the weapons forged for only those who had consumed enough blood to activate the cursed blood within them. These were Cainhurst Royal Guards.
Which meant the one being escorted within that box was…
Cold sweat flashed through him as the thing hidden behind those curtains stared back.
Finn lowered the binoculars and pretended to study the map. He raised his thumb into his lips, a habit of his that always triggered his mind to think critically as well as to calm his nerves. He couldn't allow any of his teammates, or even his rivals in other familias, to see him like this.
"Captain?" but, of course, the one who admired him the most would notice his distraught reaction. "What is it?"
"Just a thought," he put up his best smile to ease Tione. "Cainhurst is such a small army. Yet they were able to make Rakia bend. It makes me wonder what sort of monsters they have up there."
Tione frowned as she watched him. She didn't call out on his bluff. She wouldn't press it either.
"But what?" she asked instead. "Monsters that escape the Dungeon are so much weaker than those inside. Even if they're the same type. Maybe if they were big monsters. But without the Dungeon to respawn more, I would think they would get hunted to extinction."
She made a good point. Even supposing those strong monsters could breed to create more of their kind, she wasn't wrong in saying they would still be hunted to extinction. The numbers simply didn't add up.
Of course, he knew the terrible secret about the Vileblood and their thirst for blood. Cainhurst weapons weren't designed for hunting during the Beast Scourge. They were designed for dueling.
"Who knows?" he said in a thoughtful tone as he went back to watching Cainhurst march.
The royal carriage broke away from the army. Rather, the army moved off the road to set up camp in the fields. The carriage kept going, heading its way towards Orario.
With Cainhurst setting up camp so close to the road, Rakia was forced to move elsewhere. They backtracked and began to set up camp on the opposite side of the plain. Things quieted down as both armies were locked in a staring contest with each other.
…In actuality, Rakia was glaring daggers while Cainhurst was cackling smugly.
How long until they were at each other's throats again?
0-0-0
It was a strange chain of events that landed him here.
He had to apologize to Iosefka. She had promised safe haven to anyone he found. But, given how those few civilians he found were so much closer to Oedon Chapel than her clinic, he led them to the former instead. He learned his mistake with Gascoigne's children.
Yet, her door was always locked.
He didn't manage to get into her clinic until he go hopelessly lost. At one point, he was fleeing in terror in the middle of the woods, found a cave, was then running through a poisonous swamp and being chased by worms and giants, and had then managed to find himself in the back alleys of Yharnam.
The map he had been meticulously drawing no longer made sense. He crumbled it and tossed it away.
It was only by climbing onto the rooftops (the only path he could take when he ran into too many dead ends else chance the cave once more) and running away from those rabid wolf-crows, did he crash through the windows of Iosefka's Clinic.
He had two reasons to apologize to her this time.
"H-Hello…?" he called out. His voice echoed throughout the vacant hallways. "Miss Iosefka? It's me, the Hunter. I'm sorry about your window…"
No answer. He kept walking, entering deeper into her clinic.
What he found was not a facility of medicine, but a house of horrors.
People were strapped to tables, cut open with their skin peeled apart and vitals removed into glassed jars. And as the deeper he got, the less they resembled human beings. Their bodies were warped, mutated into grotesque, bulbous forms. Their skin was an unnatural blue, their limbs stretched, their heads enlarging.
This was nothing like the transformation of the Beast Scourge. Whatever abominable feat was taking place in this medical ward was something worse.
"Ah, moonlit scents…" he heard the voice of Iosefka as he drew to the back of the facility. "How did you worm your way in here? Well, I won't make any excuses. Would you mind leaving us alone? Things need not change… You'll do the rescuing, and I'll do the saving."
He froze. His eyes widened.
It was only due to convenience had he not told anyone about this place. The safe haven of Oedon Chapel was closer to anyone he found. But what if this clinic was closer instead? What if he had sent them here?
He looked around once more. The mutated people bolted to the tables. She had done this. And she dared to call this saving?!
"If you refuse to leave…" he heard when he came across the double doors leading to her office. "Ah, well… I always wanted to try my hand on a Hunter…"
The laughter he heard thereafter made him reach for the Blade of Mercy. His mind was made up.
He kicked open the doors, drew his weapon, and Quickened just as a blast of arcane energy sailed through him. This night, the Good Hunter prowled on the fake doctor.
This is not the end of the story. Merely the beginning. This was one of the few steps he took to reach his current endeavor.
Upon searching the remains of their battle, trying to find any record of the victims she had tormented with experimentation, there stood something that he couldn't ignore. It had captured his eye as though a mysterious hand had placed it atop of everything else and in such a way he couldn't have missed it. Throughout the carnage of knocked over furnishings and shattered bottles of liquids, a withered envelope lay over a pile of other documents.
Nameless Hunter-G was printed on the front. It was addressed to him.
The cruelty of Iosefka was put behind him. There was naught he could do for the victims. Not while the night of the Hunt resumed. Yet, he took a detour, returning to the witchwoods just as the letter within the mysterious envelope requested.
There was a carriage awaiting him. It was being drawn by two black horses without a driver. There was no one within the carriage to greet him, yet the door swung open as though the carriage itself was welcoming him.
He climbed in, never thinking or questioning the series of events. Nor had he pondered about returning to his task as a Hunter and resuming the night. It was as though he had been mystified ever since seeing the envelope.
His sense of time became eschewed— more than it was with the Hunt. He did not know how long he had sat within the carriage carrying him to parts unknown. It was as though he were… stirring into consciousness after a long dream and falling once more into another dream.
At his destination, he was in awe as the carriage drove him to a grand castle with high walls and spired towers. The metal gate rose to welcome him.
The air was cold. It was a frozen tundra, completely different from the mucky swamp and dryness natural in Yharnam. If he had to say, it was as though he were in a completely different part of the world. A place that should have taken him weeks to traverse rather than a single dismissive sitting.
He became petrified as another singularity froze him to his core.
When he glanced at the carriage that had brought him, it was in ruins. The carriage was ripped asunder as if a cannon had blasted into its side and shredded it to pieces. What's more, the two horses that had pulled it lay dead. Their bodies had decomposed but were left mummified by the bitter cold and a thick layer of frost on their carcasses. These things had been left like this for a great deal of time.
…Plus the bridge that carried him was gone.
He gulped and began to shiver with new fears. He tightened his coat around himself as he faced the gate. It was the only direction he could go. So venture forth he did.
Through the gates was what remained of a courtyard. Rubble was spread around in part of the ruined castle collapsing downward. Statues were spread around in decoration with many of them shattered or knocked over. And the walkways and bridges connecting other sections of the castle together were destroyed.
There were also bodies littered everywhere. They had been frozen solid and as mummified as the horses outside. He could make out the faint colors of red and black on some of them. And, despite them being in horrendous condition, he could recognize the same white robes belonging to Church Hunters like Alfred.
This had been a battlefield, he realized.
He didn't know how long these bodies had been here. But they had drawn in unwanted attention.
The beasts that had wandered through were, as best he could describe, humanoid mosquitos. They had the body of the insect in question while maintaining the face of the elderly and long silvery hair.
They were also taller than he was. And… there were at least a dozen of them.
…Staring at him with hunger.
Naturally, with so many of them surrounding him, he fled. And, naturally, driven with starvation after harvesting the last dregs of this forsaken battlefield, they pursued.
He carved several of them, but he was outdone by their sheer numbers and their ravaging hunger. They fought as ferociously as he did for the sake of survival. His escape onto the bridge would be the death of him; his only salvation was to enter deeper into the courtyard and reach the inner castle.
As if anticipating his arrival, one of the grand doors to the castle opened. Just enough for him to dive through. It did not shut, but the beasts outside didn't dare to follow. They retreated. It was as if whatever they feared within was enough for them to rather die of starvation.
He didn't question it. He was just glad he was alive.
…He should have questioned it.
What next transpired consisted of him screaming in terror, running, slashing into the open air, more running, more screaming, and… more running.
Ever since entering the castle had he faced against things he had never seen before in the Hunt. He faced against the likes of monsters only found in the worst of horror stories. He was being chased by the ghosts of beings who haunted the castle and the gargoyles that defended its highest towers.
At some point, he had managed to escape all the ghosts by breaking free onto the rooftop rafters of the main tower. Unfortunately, he was not safe as it housed a new breed of gargoyle.
…One that knocked him off the roof.
He crashed as his back slammed against the stone floors of an adjacent wall. He was afraid he would be knocked down to the snowy floor too many meters below. But this wall was here to break his fall!
He wanted to cradle and rock himself in comfort. He was ready to cry. But the monsters were still present. He had to stay moving else everything he had done to this point would be for naught.
He kept moving. He climbed up to the next rooftop when the path was barred from him. There were no gargoyles or ghosts or ghoulish servants to haunt him. For the time being, he was out of harm's way. But he was still not safe. Who knows when next they would come?
As he ventured forward, this high up for the winds to blur his vision, he began to make out a figure in the distance. As he approached, he could have sworn to have seen it move. He readied himself, preparing to face another gargoyle.
It was no gargoyle. Nor any monster he had faced thus far.
It was a man, or the remains of one. A shrunken corpse petrified by the cold had come to life. It was dressed in the robes of a Church Executioner, a golden crown shimmering with arcane energy, and wielding a scythe in one hand and a sword in the other.
It attacked him without warning. He had no choice but to raise his weapons and fight. This was not one of the monsters he could flee from. This was something that called out to him to face as a Hunter.
The Blade of Mercy sang.
Thus, we come to his current state.
The Blade had pierced through the corpse's corpse and shattered whatever curse bound it together. It wailed one last time as its body was reduced to ash and was blown away by the bitter winds. Its weapons, its robes, and the crown toppled to the floor.
It was the crown that rolled towards his feet, as though guided by the winds itself. Even he noticed how unnaturally it moved towards him on this uneven rooftop. Still, he could not ignore its allure. With careful fingers, he picked up the crown and eyed it at arm's length.
His eyes widened as the energy from the crown came alive and entered through him.
An illusion had been placed on the rooftops. Wielding the crown had allowed him to see through them. At the far end of the roof stood another tower, perfectly preserved and mounted to the building he stood atop.
Something was drawing him towards it.
When he entered, velvet carpeting of a grand stairwell welcomed him. Statues of knights in armor wielding swords and spears, mounted on horses, had their arms raised in salute. He climbed the steps, in awe of the difference in these parts. This tower and its interior was not in shambles like the ruins outside. Life thrived here.
"Visitor," a voice called out to him, echoing throughout the chambers. "I claim no subjects, but here lieth Our throne. Kneel afore us… or get thee gone."
He froze.
The monster he just fought… it had been an Executor of the Church. It had remained here, on this specific spot, wielding the crown in his hands. It had a purpose here. It was… guarding this place.
Was it to protect whoever lay within? Or to make sure no one made contact with it?
He looked down at his Blade of Mercy.
He made his choice and climbed the next step.
0-0-0
"Bell was WHAT?!" Hestia shouted.
The two adventurers, Aiz and Tiona, found the little goddess at her daytime job. Rather… since they would have to pay for their own dinner they decided to make other plans. Aiz wanted to get a quick snack at her favorite stand before heading back to the Twilight House, the Loki Familia home. It was here where they ran into Bell's goddess and decided to tell her what happened.
"Kidnapped?! And you just let him get taken?!" she shouted next.
Tiona gave a dry laugh as she rubbed the back of her neck. She gave no excuse.
"We were told to not start trouble with Cainhurst," Aiz offered. "We didn't want to start a war unintentionally."
Really, she was reciting the words both Finn and Riveria— repeatedly— crammed into Tiona's head. They weren't allowed to leave to go train until the two elders were satisfied.
"Can I have my order now?" Aiz asked while she felt her stomach growl.
The goddess Hestia glowered at her but complied. She was still on the clock and Aiz was still a paying customer. A batch of sweet potato puffs were wrapped in paper and handed to Aiz, who munched on them quietly to herself.
"Do any of you know where they're taking him?!" she demanded next.
"They still have to be inside the city…" Tiona muttered while she thought hard. "Bell's an adventurer, so it's not like he can leave even with Cainhurst officials. And they were coming into the city, anyways. So… maybe the Guild?"
Hestia glared at the Amazon, letting her know with her eyes on how useless this information was.
"Loki mentioned having to go to a gathering…" Aiz recalled. She remembered her goddess whining about being away from Aiz… and then tried to grope her to make up for time lost apart. "It seemed important. It might have to do with the Cainhurst representative."
"Oh! Good call!" Tiona looked at her teammate with praise.
"I'm coming too!" Hestia interjected before the two adventurers could leave. She was in the midst of removing her apron and bonnet. "Boss lady! I'm leaving early! My child is in trouble!"
"Your child is always in trouble these days…" groaned an animal person working the other stove. "If he can't deal with himself then he shouldn't be doin' this line of work. Fine, fine. But this is the last time, Hestia."
"Understood!" Hestia saluted and went to walk around the counter.
"Eh?" Tiona leaned over to whisper into Aiz's ear. "Were we planning on rescuing the bunny or something? I thought we were going to grab a bite to eat…"
Aiz eyed her partner. They had already dug themselves in this deep. While she was confident Bell can manage on his own, it would be problematic if a political fiasco started just because the two of them didn't keep an eye on him. They were responsible… in a cosmic sort of way.
So, with great reluctance, as if surrendering water in a barren wasteland, Aiz extended the second half of her potato puff for Tiona.
Tiona understood the sacrifice and accepted the potato puff. Tears threatened to fall as she knew how much this meant to Aiz. She took a bite. Never before had the deep fried potato with red bean paste tasted so good.
And Aiz was looking at her as if she had bitten off the head of a puppy. Even if she was the one who offered it.
"Let's go, ladies!" Hestia urged them on, ignorant of the moment preceding. "Bell must be so scared being in their clutches! I can hear him now, crying out for his goddess to save him! Hold on, Bell! Your goddess is coming!"
She paused as a thought occurred to her.
"By the way…" she eyed the two adventurers through narrowed eyes. Those eyes briefly examined their womanly proportions. "How is it you two know my Bell so well?"
"Did he not tell you?" Aiz questioned with a tilt of her head.
Tiona had her face stuffed with the potato puff to provide anything.
"Tell me what?" Hestia's eyes narrowed further.
"He and I are training together for the next two weeks," Aiz answered simply.
Hestia didn't react at first. But then, all of a sudden, her body jerked. Even her twin tails bolted outright as if struck by lightning. She became petrified.
"B-Bell… and you? Alone? Together? Sweating it out for hours on end? For two weeks?!"
It was an unnecessary detail layout of what they would be doing. But, yes, Aiz would have to agree. She nodded back at the goddess.
"I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!" Hestia turned and began to march up the road. "You didn't tell me you were going to be alone with Aiz Wallensomething for TWO WHOLE WEEKS, Bell Cranel! You better hope Cainhurst hasn't tortured you for information! Because your goddess will! Do you hear me?!"
"…Should we stop her?" Aiz asked.
Tiona's eyes were full of playful wonder. It was the sort of look she and her sister had when they had a prank in mind. "In fairness, we didn't stop the guy from taking the bunny rabbit."
Aiz knew something was up. But she considered the statement for a moment. She couldn't argue against it. She eventually nodded in agreement and went to retrieve the goddess.
She tapped Hestia's shoulder and pointed down another road. The goddess was going in the wrong direction.
"Oh, thank you," she muttered, turned, and began her march anew.
The two adventurers could only follow, often guide the goddess towards the right direction.
0-0-0
The conference room set to hold this meeting had been decorated to satisfy the ludicrously high standards of the gods. Marble pillars were positioned along the walls for eying pleasure rather than to uphold the ceiling, tall windows allowed sunlight in, and the floors had been waxed to reflect everyone who walked along its granite floors.
A grand table had been placed at the center. Every chair for the gods had been hand carved, patted with velvet, and gilded with gold. In every placement was a goblet for refreshments as well as any tool necessary to keep track, take notes, or doodle, per requisite of this meeting.
The gods gathered were the unofficial rulers of the city. While it was in understanding the Guild was the de facto government ruling over Orario, these gods were the ones who ran the city, its citizens, the adventurers, and, to a certain degree, the economy as a whole. So great was their influence a single word could cause the city to implode. So great in power were their familias should any two parties enter conflict would it create a civil war.
Gathered was Hephaestus, Loki, Freya, Hermes, and Ishtar.
"I am Ganesha!"
…And Ganesha.
Sitting on the other side of the table was the Guild representative, a man of no remarkable worth or impression. His sole purpose in this meeting was to record all conversation in this meeting and forward the document to his superiors. He was a witness and a witness only.
At one of the heads of the table sat the Rakian representative, the leading general, Prince Marius. He was a young man at the peak of his age, donned in majestic decorative armor and a floral wreath fit for his office. Though he sat poised, a single finger continued to tap against the armrest.
He kept staring at the chair at the other head. Specifically, he was wondering why it was still empty.
"What's takin' so long…" groaned Loki. She propped a leg up onto her chair while leaning half of her body on the armrest.
"Cainhurst only regards their selves above all else," Marius nearly growled out the words. "Their arrogance believes themselves more important than the gods."
"Evidently," Hermes noted while he eyed the empty chair. "Weren't they the first ones to reach Orario? Main Street was flooded with the kids watching their parade."
No one else offered a follow-up comment. Ishtar was checking her nails, Freya was deep in her own thoughts while swishing her wine around, and Hephaestus was grimacing over the amount of paperwork piling up.
"I… am Ganesha!"
And Ganesha was posing dramatically in his chair.
Marius tapped his finger a few more times before abruptly stopping. His hand gripped the armrest. A few seconds passed as he came to a decision. His body shifted as he began to rise out of his seat.
The door swung open. Just as he was about to cancel this meeting did the other party finally arrive. Of course. They had purposely kept him waiting until the literal last second.
Several heads turned to observe the Cainhurst party.
A tall woman walked with an inhuman grace towards her seat. Her skin was as white as snow and hair, long and wavy and braided, was as shimmering as platinum. Her beauty was without peer, outclassing the mystifying elves and even some gods of beauty. Alas, her eyes were covered by a silk handkerchief which hid the upper half of her face. She was in a pure black dress which bared her shoulders and collar.
She was Queen Annalise, ruler of Cainhurst.
Following in her shadow was another tall man with white hair, dressed in the reds of Cainhurst upper-nobility. At his left was the cursed blade, Chikage, and at his right was a projectile weapon with twin barrels. This was the High Chamberlain of Cainhurst, the advisor and bodyguard to the queen.
But the third to enter… Marius had never seen him before.
"Hah?" Loki was the first to voice her feelings. Her brows scrunched at the sight of the boy accompanying the queen and chamberlain.
Snow-white hair, eyes as red as blood, and the modest skin of a peasant. And yet, he was dressed in the same Cainhurst reds as the chamberlain. He did not, however, wear his weapons like prized armaments. He kept his sword tucked underneath the overcoat. And he looked uncomfortable with the attire; his hand kept twitching as though to wanting to reach for the frilly tie and pull it off.
He looked like he didn't belong here and knew it. He looked like he didn't want to be here. He kept giving glances to the chamberlain and the queen. Whatever he saw in them compelled him to stay.
The rest of the gods had mixed impressions. Hephaestus raised her brows in just as much surprise as Loki. Hermes looked… amused. And Freya was giving the boy a piteous look— a sort of motherly look of wanting to embrace the boy as though he were a dying child.
While the boy held no impression to Ishtar at first glance, it was her sharp observation on Freya that altered her opinion. She eyed the boy curiously.
"I am Ganesha!"
Ganesha stood from his chair and posed dramatically at the arrival of Cainhurst.
"…Charmed," Queen Annalise regarded the god before taking her seat.
The gods did not show their displeasure at her disregard. She did not introduce herself nor did she acknowledge their presence. It didn't matter; while annoyed in their own way, they were all happy to get the meeting started.
"It would seem I owe my god a bit of coin," Marius opened as he eyed the queen. "I had believed with the importance of this armistice would your god reveal himself."
"Cainhurst has no god," the queen commented casually, if not bored. "This I have spoketh towards thou before. It matters not when thou covers thine ears. But speak not to us about gods when Ares does not present himself to us."
"If Cainhurst's god refuses to meet with Rakia's," Marius spoke in a tired voice, "then Lord Ares sees no reason in being present. He's sent me in his place just as your god has sent you."
"Then thou'st speaketh on behalf of Rakia?" Annalise questioned with a tinge of amusement. "Thou shall claim the authority to make all decisions on its behalf?"
"I am here to discuss the terms of the accords and review them with my god. In the end, it will be up to him to decide whether to sign or not."
"Then I speak to a mere messenger…" the queen lost the hint of amusement. "So be it. Thou'st demand the return of thine fallen yet continue to peck at our walls like crows? Ares is as presumptuous as he is childish. Shou'st he not cease his pointless blundering, we will take the offensive."
Marius did not look threatened. He did, however, pause to consider her words. "Cainhurst has always hidden itself behind its walls. Not once have you staged an assault. You lack the experience. Should you even manage to surprise us, there is no chance you have in taking Rakia. We have been defending our home from invaders long before your arrival."
"T'would be all the more humiliating when we do surprise thou," Annalise countered. "This morning's defeat is reminder enough. Mayhap Rakia possesses great age, but it fairs no better than a withered husk. Greater things hath crumbled whilst in the hands of an oaf like Ares. Tell us, young prince, how many a widow hath Ares created by throwing his thrall at our guardians?"
Marius did not react to the insults to his god and to his soldiers. He would not be provoked. He had heard worse from his colleagues… and thrice more from his own god.
"That's what this is about?!" Loki slammed her hands onto the table.
"Didn't you get the memo?" Freya asked. "I can only assume you did if you're here."
"I thought this was gonna be important!" Loki flailed around in her seat like a child. "I thought the future of Orario was at stake! This is just some lil' spat they 'otta sort for themselves! Why do we hav'ta be here?!"
"This concerns Orario gravely," Ganesha spoke firmly, leaving no room for argument. "We have been requested to witness this armistice and to act appropriately as a neutral party. We hold a responsibility to not just our own familias but to all who dwell within Orario. The war between Rakia and Cainhurst has made their children strong. The excelia they feed off of each other is cause for alarm. Should things continue at this pace, there is a likely chance one or both kingdoms will become a threat to Orario. One day, their children will be able to match our own."
The gods were left speechless. They always forgot there was a reason why Ganesha deserved a seat here. There was a reason why he had the largest familia in all of Orario.
There was much truth to Ganesha's words. Prince Marius had become the leading general at Level Three. But since starting this crusade against Cainhurst, he had ascended to Level Four after slaying one of the queen's Royal Guard. Since the start of the war, what would normally take a soldier a lifetime to reach his level was taking only a few skirmishes. The average time-expectancy to achieve each Level was being cut into a small margin.
Their numbers and power would be significantly higher… if not for the purpose of this meeting.
"Yeah," Loki snorted as she waved a hand in dismissal. "Like in a million-bajillion years. Orario gotz the Dungeon. Ain't no tougher threat out there than that."
"It pays well anyways to be friendly to our neighbors," Freya offered with a friendly smile at Annalise and Marius. "You never know what they might have to offer."
Loki sulked in boredom but didn't say anything else.
"Young prince," Annalise resumed the conversation as soon as the gods were finished, "thine request goes against the foundations of Cainhurst. We treat our dead with utmost ceremonious care. To do so otherwise would blaspheme against our beliefs. Thou'st request is denied."
Marius' grip on the armchair tightened to the point of cracking the wood. "Those bodies are not yours, witch. They belong to Rakia, its god, and its people. Those are fathers and brothers and sons. I can tolerate your butchery of the unarmed, the disregard of surrender, and the barbaric acts of indecency. But you go too far when you take our dead behind those walls. Everything Cainhurst does goes against the code of conduct of warfare."
The queen was silent as her lips thinned.
"These are thine rules," she spoke softly. "Not mine. I did not agree to follow thine ways of life. Do not maketh demands upon my part when thou and thine god desires the continuation of this war. We are not daft. We see through Ares. He is no different from us and our kin."
Rage flashed through Marius. He did not reply as he sat still to gain control over his feelings. After a quick breath, the coloring of his face returned to normal. But his eyes remained just as fierce, burning with silent wrath.
"I will be the first to agree Lord Ares is a bloodthirsty warmonger," Marius said in a deceptively cold voice. "However, he is no bloodsucking monster like you Cainhurst vampires. Ares is a god of war, never a god of death."
"War hold'st the banner of death," Annalise interjected with a slight smile.
"Despite that," Marius nearly hissed, paused to regain himself, then continued, "my god is still the head of his grand familia. Every citizen of Rakia is his child. The soldiers who fight for him are his pride and joy. To not send them off to the next world tortures him. He is willing to… compromise to secure their return."
The queen was silent. Marius had expected another snarky retort but welcomed the silence just the same. He could only sit patiently as the queen thought of her next move.
"Good Hunter," she turned her body slightly around in her chair. Her attention never fully turned towards the young man behind her, but the gesture was enough to signify she was addressing him. "Tell us, shalst anyone siege thine home, would thou'st easily forgive them? And should they promise to return amore, would thou'st sit idly or prepare adequately? By any means needed?"
Heads had turned. The gods, who had pretended to care about the engagement between Rakia and Cainhurst, now paid full attention towards the boy. They knew him someway or another.
Marius' brows knitted. Did the queen favor his voice because of his young age and inexperience? He could have been a fresh voice with newfound insight, outside of her usual court of vipers. It would explain his discomfort for the Cainhurst attire. But… why did the gods eye him in such a way?
It was as if the queen had picked up the boy off the streets of Orario itself!
Yet she spoke in a new tone as if she had known the boy… intimately.
"I…" the boy muttered as he looked around. He understood his position. He understood the point of the question. He understood he was being tasked with choosing his morality or the better good. He understood whatever he said would dictate how the queen would react thereafter. It was a struggle he wasn't accustomed to.
"Who is this?" Marius demanded in a booming voice.
Heads turned back his way. This was good. He couldn't allow the fate of Rakia to fall under the uncertainty of a child. The rising of his voice forced the conversation back onto him… or at least prolong the boy's decision.
Whether the boy realized this or not was unimportant. But, the boy gave a sigh of relief, only visible to Marius as all eyes were drawn upon him instead.
"His name is Bell Cranel," the goddess Hephaestus answered among everyone. Marius blinked; while he knew the gods were aware of this individual, he expected the queen to answer who stood among her court. "He is an adventurer of Orario, belonging to Hestia Familia."
Even more questions sprang to Marius' mind.
"I thank thee for enlightening us, goddess," Annalise was the one to respond. "We were not aware of his status in this world. Nevertheless, the question was not addressed to thineself. The young prince asketh who resides within our company."
Hephaestus' brows rose not in insult but in acceptance. As in, she accepted the words Marius shared earlier regarding Cainhurst and its arrogance.
The queen raised a hand, palm raised, gesturing to the boy, Bell. She spoke clearly and with the authority befitting of a ruler, "Let it be known here and now, I present upon thee—"
"BELL!"
Heads snapped around and some stood in alarm. Marius had been one of them with a hand at his sword. He had to double-take once he realized who had interrupted the meeting had been a small goddess.
A goddess with black hair and a scandalous white dress with her... modesty— the term being used as loosely as possible— upheld by a silken royal thread. She held the height and proportions of a child… sans the bosom that thwarted even the most alluring of grown women. She had kicked open the double doors sealing the conference chamber and stormed inside without announcement.
There were two adventurers behind her. One, a blonde, with a raised hand as though attempting to stop her and failing to do such. The other was a lithe Amazoness who had her arms crossed behind her head and a look unsure if it should be amused or terrified.
"G-Goddess?!" the young man spun around in alarm.
Ah. Then this must be the goddess Hestia, his patron goddess.
"I've come to save you!" Hestia pronounced boldly with two fists planted on her hips. "I came running here as soon as I heard you were kidnapped by some Cainhurst hoodlum!"
…When Marius suggested the boy had been picked up on the streets, it was an example. He didn't realize it had been literal. Even more questions were storming through his head.
"You have a lot of explaining to do, mister!" the goddess shouted as soon as she approached her child. Never mind she was interrupting a conference that decided the course of history. "What's this I hear about private meetings with Wallenwhatzitface?!"
"WHAT WAS THAT?!" Loki shouted, slamming her hands onto the table and standing abruptly.
"Apparently our kids have been meeting each other in secret!" Hestia shouted back.
"Aiz! Explain! Now!" Loki barked at the blonde adventurer.
Said adventurer gave a slow blink. She didn't reply. Her expression showed she was accustomed to her goddess' antics and had no intention of playing along.
Bell wasn't at that level of understanding with his goddess, or perhaps his understanding with his goddess was a whole different category. Either way, he was on the verge of having an anxiety attack.
"W-What are you doing here, goddess?" he tried to appease her by distracting her. "This is a very important meeting. You shouldn't break the doors like that and march in here. Hestia Familia can't afford to repay the damages."
Hestia looked like she had something else to say based on how wide she opened her mouth for the next screaming rant. But his words struck a chord. Her face whitened as she eyed the doors she had kicked open. There was a large imprint of her foot planted in the wood.
While this debacle went on, Marius took his time gathering his thoughts and savoring the wine the Guild had offered. He knew he would need this moment when he reengaged with the queen.
"…It was like that when I got here," Hestia looked away from everyone and began to whistle, as though to shirk off the blame.
"Cainhurst shalst pay for the damages," Annalise said dryly. She turned her body enough to peer at the goddess but did not greet her respectively. "Thou'st must forgive our indulgence. We hath taken this one's consult without prior warning. Hath we known he was here, a proper message would'st thou receive in advance. This confusion is ours alone to fault."
Hestia was flatfooted by the queen's words. She blinked a few times, eyed the woman, and bowed her head in both shame and gratitude. "Thank you very much. And don't worry about it. I was just surprised is all. Can you just tell me why you took Bell? He didn't do something like having you innocently falling to his charm? He's been doing that a lot lately."
She said those last few words while giving her child a vicious glare.
"G-Goddess…" the boy blushed with embarrassment. He kept glancing back at the blonde adventurer his goddess had come with. "I don't know why you keep saying that. I don't know what you're talking about."
Marius raised a brow when he saw the queen's lips curl into a smile.
"Innocent," she tasted the word. "T'would be the most appropriate word to use."
Both boy and goddess looked her way and muttered a single syllable in perfect unison. "Eh?"
Annalise raised her hand once more to gesture at the boy. She spoke clearly, making sure she had the full attention of everyone (including the unwarranted guests). "I present here and now upon thee, my dear husband and future king of Cainhurst."
The room fell into a deeper silence. It was as if the city itself paused to consider her words. Marius had no idea what it meant. He understood little of Cainhurst politics. But to choose an adventurer as a husband? One who resided in Orario at that? There would no doubt cause problems on her end. So for what reason would she announce this?
…Surely she didn't pick up any boy off the street and decide to make him king. Perhaps. No, it seemed like the conniving Cainhurst way. If anyone was going to become an idol, who better to become a puppet ruler under the queen's thumb than some witless lad? Combined with his status as an adventurer, it was possible she would open connections with Orario?
Was that her goal? To get Orario to assist her? Was Cainhurst being crippled by Rakia's constant sieges? But if such were such the case, then why not choose a husband from any of the familia gathered here? Marius had heard of Hestia only once… Ares had called her the laziest person in all of Genkai.
Marius couldn't wrap his head around Annalise's schemes. He sat in his chair going through hundreds of scenarios.
The gods, with their great wisdom, must have come to similar conclusions to him. Some looked amused, others irritated, some worried, and one (Ishtar) held no interest.
The goddess Hestia hadn't come to any of these conclusions. Time itself froze around her. Her body was as stiff as stone. Her hair defied gravity with how petrified the queen's announcement made her.
"H-H-Husband?" the boy in question spoke as quietly as a mouse. He looked on the verge of fainting.
"…Why'st thou most surprised?" Annalise turned more than she ever had towards Bell. She fully regarded him— which spoke volumes considering she never glanced at the gods. "Were it not thineself who presented I with this ring?"
She raised her other hand with the knuckles extended. There, on her ring finger, was a band of silver clasping a diamond.
All eyes moved in unison from the ring, to the boy, to the ring, and back at the boy.
He was reduced to a gaping fish. His mouth was open and noise was coming out— protests and arguments and excuses but none he could voice. It was all pointless jargon.
Then, all of a sudden, as if struck with an epiphany, he shut his mouth so hard his lips began to implode. It looked more like he had swallowed a lemon. Everyone in the room watched as all the blood in his face washed away and cold sweat beaded his brow.
"Wow," the Amazon girl whistled, breaking the spell of silence. "You really struck out there, Aizu."
Aiz Wallenstein, a name Marius knew well, did not react to her teammate's words. All of her attention was locked on the boy. She was watching him intently.
"W-W-What's the meaning of this?!" Hestia screamed, snapping back into reality. "Bell?! Husband?! No way! No how! I don't approve of this! I won't hand over my Bell to you… You… You… YOU HOMEWRECKER YOU!"
In a fit of blind rage, the little goddess leapt at the queen.
Her child was there instantly to snatch her out of the air and hold her back.
"Bell, let me go!" the goddess squirmed in his arms. Yet, he held her still like a small child, her feet dangling off the ground. "Someone needs to teach this lady some class! You don't steal a goddess' child and expect to get away with it!"
"Goddess!" Bell held her tight. "Please calm down. A-Annalise is joking. She's joking! Please tell her, Your Majesty…"
He was more begging for his sake rather than hers.
As… distracting as the scene was, Marius was paying more attention to the chamberlain. It was not missed by him, the gods, and the two adventurers at the door.
The sound of a click. It belonged to a sword being placed back into its sheath. The high chamberlain meant to unleash the Chikage onto the small goddess in defense of his queen.
"…I jest not," Annalise, ignoring all else around her, especially the taboo she nearly committed by her name, continued to give her full attention to Bell. "Time hath passed much between us. Near a century awaited us for thou. I am not one to forget promises, Paleblood."
There was meaning behind that title. Nobody understood it. It was a term Marius had never heard of before.
It meant something to Bell. His eyes widened slightly.
Annalise returned to facing forward. She waved a hand at Bell, "Thou'st dismissed for the time being. T'would seem there is ought to reminisce. We will call upon thee when the time is right. Take thine goddess before she maketh a mistake none may remedy."
"…Y-Yes," Bell said in a squeaky voice. He continued to carry his goddess as he hurried towards the door. He paused only to briefly say, "Oh, t-thank you again for the clothes. Um… I don't think I can repay you but I'll try."
"Worry not," she said, almost sweetly. "Tis a gift. Thou must present thyself appropriately for such occasions."
He bowed his head (still holding onto his dangling goddess) and scurried out of the room with haste.
"This isn't over, you hear me?!" his goddess continued to shout. "I'll never hand over Bell to you! Never! He's mine! MINE!"
"Sorry for interrupting," the Amazon put up a hand and a flimsy smile.
"Please excuse us," Aiz Wallenstein offered a more formal bow of apology. Together, they walked out of the room and shut the door… as best they could. The goddess Hestia had left an impression at the locks and the doors couldn't close fully.
Aside from Hestia's distant shouting, the only noise being made was Annalise's… giggling.
"That was a cruel joke," Marius commented. "Even from you."
"T'was no jest," Annalise retorted, though the smile remained.
"You expect me to believe you weren't making a fool of that boy?" he raised a brow in scorn. "He couldn't be any better than a peasant. He looks too green to be a competent adventurer. He's probably never been in possession of anything more expensive than that ring. So why not give it to royalty? Kings and queens deserve only the finest of jewels. The boy clearly didn't know the significance of the offering."
Annalise's smile shifted as a tender hand caressed the ring on her finger. It was almost loving. Almost. He wouldn't dare to be fooled by this witch.
"Oi."
Their attention was distracted once more by the outspoken Loki. The goddess had a piercing glare directed at Annalise.
"Don' think yur off the hook with that stunt there," Loki said with a voice as cold and as sharp as the finest steel. "Itty Bitty might be reckless when it comes to her only child, but that don' mean yur dog should cut her down."
There was a taboo all followed in this world. One must never harm a deity. It mattered not if they belonged to another familia.
A deep enough wound inflicted onto a deity activated the power of their divinity, their Arcanum. While it would heal them of all energy, it would also rob them of their physical forms and send them back to the heavens. Once there… a god can never descend back into the mortal plane again.
"I care not," Annalise gave a dry rebuttal.
"…What was that?" demanded Loki.
"Cainhurst doth not bend to the will of the gods," Annalise said. "We share not respect for those who abandon their divine duties in the name of sport. If thou insists on walking amongst us, then we shall treat thyself as one of us. If thou desires blood, will blood be shed in turn."
Marius folded his hands together while leaning back in his chair. If things played out accordingly, he wouldn't need to make peace with Cainhurst. Their prideful queen would ruin her entire country by declaring war on Orario.
"Now, now," Freya spoke up. Though she held a friendly smile, her eyes shone its true colors. "There's no need to get so upset, Loki. The child here is only saying she's willing to defend herself. Isn't that right?"
The hidden meaning behind her warning wasn't missed.
"It is so," Annalise was not visibly intimidated in her response. "However, as it is thou who grants quarter during this conference, we will abide by thine rules."
She turned her head slightly and spoke towards the chamberlain. "Should'st one of the divine threaten us, immobilize them."
The chamberlain gave no response. His eyes only flicked to his queen's briefly before going back to watching the room.
"Will this suffice?" Annalise returned to the table, speaking in clarity as though to mock the gods.
"That'll do just fine," Freya replied before anyone else. The other gods looked like they had something to say but fell back, not wanting to argue with Freya.
Marius almost let the frown show. He shouldn't have hoped Cainhurst would topple so easily.
"Queen Annalise," he cleared his voice. Now that he had time to regain his patience and fortitude, he was ready to face her once more. "Make your demands. It is clear you desire something if you have traveled this far to meet with me."
She put up a hand to stop him, "No, young prince. I craved not to meet with thee. It was Ares who started this war. It was Ares who maketh these demands. And it was Ares who demanded here, to neutral grounds, when he refused to meet us between our lands. My first demand, young prince— young messenger— is to tell Ares we will not speak of the matter any further until he sits at this table."
"He will argue the same," Marius countered. "He will demand to meet with your god."
"Then more of his children shalt not return," Annalise rose out of her seat, concluding the meeting on her own. "How many more will we claim before Ares lowers his pride? If his intentions lay true, he will meet with me. Or… mayhap his intentions lie elsewhere?"
She offered him a smile before turning and leaving. Her bodyguard followed like a shadow.
Marius let the frown show this time. Of course. Cainhurst was the last to show up and the first to leave. No courtesies were given.
"That's it?!" Loki screamed at the door. "All that squabble and nothin' got solved?!"
"This… might drag out longer than anticipated," Hermes commented as he picked up his hat and donned it. He was preparing to leave.
"No duh!" Loki argued back before turning to Marius. "You! I don' know what Ares' big deal is, but we have better things to do than to sit around all day with yur armies outside our walls! Most o' my familia is out there playing overqualified patrol guards! There's a Dungeon that's needin' to be explored!"
"Believe me, Goddess Loki," Marius had a weary voice, "nothing would please me more than to reach peace as soon as possible. My men are tired and… frightened. I want to be rid of Cainhurst once and for all. It is the pride of my god that keeps this war going."
"Ares always had a thick head, even back in Genkai," Hermes lifted his head at a distant memory.
"He has tried to attack us five times," Freya commented, receiving nods from the other gods. "But, Prince Marius, was it? Something you said caught my attention. You said your men were frightened. Is it because you don't know what Cainhurst does with your dead or… something else?"
Marius' lower lip twitched.
"There is a reason why we call Cainhurst and their knights… vampires."
0-0-0
Nameless Cainhurst Knight-T7M1, we shall henceforth address him as Theodore of House Mosby, was a newly ordained noble after completing his twenty years of extraordinary service in honor of the queen. Just as all else who gained the title of nobility, he started as a chevalier. He held a small piece of land at the furthest edge of Cainhurst territory with the pig farms as his main source of income. So poor was his land, he couldn't properly tax his people without ruining the farmers out of their homes.
More oft than not, rather than being the rich and elegant noble he dreamed of becoming since a small child, he assisted with the manual labor.
It did not matter if he was the center of mockery for the other nobles. He had joined in their ranks, was acknowledged by the queen, and was able to partake in the sacrament of the hunt.
His spirit was elevated to new heights when the queen had called upon her entire armed forces to rally to her. Theodore had gathered the young lads of his farm, donned his one and only Cainhurst set, and marched along his fellow nobles. Never could he have been prouder.
But this was not the end of his dream. No, this was merely the beginning. By being part of the army, to venture to the greatest hunt of all time, to fight against Rakian soldiers and bring their blood before the queen… this was the sole purpose of a Cainhurst Vileblood. And, one day, he will be the one who presented the queen with the blood she needed to bear an heir of blood.
"Oh look," Nameless Cainhurst Knight-C4T2 had snickered at him. "Ted is spotless again."
But never could he fight. His superiors would give him orders to stand back and guard. To sit idly and fiddle his thumb over his Reiterpallasch while the rest of the nobility took arms and fight the Rakian soldiers. Only rarely, rare enough to count with one hand, had a stray soldier made its way towards him and could he dip his weapon in their blood.
It was enough to satisfy his needs. He needed blood just as much as the queen. But he could never find enough bodies to have his own fill and presenting the extra for the queen. He could only fight enough soldiers to not give into the bloodlust.
"How ever will you find enough dregs, Ted?" cackled another Nameless Knight.
To bathe in the blood of the enemy was the greatest honor to any Cainhurst Knight. The more drenched were their suits, the more blood they had claimed for their queen. To have little blood was probe to mockery.
To be spotless, like Theodore, was to insult the queen.
He knew they were doing this on purpose. They were purposely making sure he would not participate in the sacrament. It infuriated him. But he had not been blessed by the queen enough to challenge any of them to a duel. Not they, who had been in servitude years before him.
"Wasn't it you who wanted to give the queen a child?" another sneered. "Or are you just a liar? Don't tell me you just wanted the honor like some pretender!"
"I think he misunderstood the oath," another whispered but purposely loud enough for him to hear. "Mayhap he wanted to give the queen a child that way."
They continued to laugh at him. They continued to belittle him. They continued to rob him of his honor and prevent him from fulfilling his sacred vows. How can he not serve his queen if his fellow countrymen shafted him?!
He shed no blood since marching. Not against the stray monsters, not against Rakian soldiers, not even against wild game. If he continued to go without partaking in sacrament any longer… he may have to cut down one of his own retainers to stay sane.
Then approached Orario. Once more were they met with Rakian soldiers, colliding at the same time at the crossroads. Here he had to save his honor!
Yet, his blade tasted no blood.
He was losing his mind! He was so thirsty. It itched at the back of his throat and gnawed at his brain. He was beginning to look at his countrymen like food. Not once since setting up camp could he release his Reiterpallasch. His grip was leaving an impression on the leather.
At dusk came the third skirmish against Rakia since arriving at Orario.
And here was where he broke.
"VAMPIRE!" screamed several Nameless Rakian Soldiers.
They did not try to save the man Theodore had embraced. They fled in terror. The soldier flailed around, trying to break free, screaming at his comrades to save him. He continued to scream even as Theodore sank his teeth into his neck and tore apart the flesh. He dug his face into the wound, drinking the rich ichor and bringing his senses into a euphoria.
Theodore dropped the man only when he needed to gasp for air. His heart was hammering as his mind was a cloudy mist. He needed his next fill. He was searching already for his next prey.
The sound of gunfire went off as something sharp stabbed into his back and knocked him off his feet.
"Oh Ted."
He rose to his knees. Surrounding him, encircling him without an inch of space, were several Cainhurst Knights. They were looking down at him in pity, in disgust, and with glee.
"Couldn't control yourself?"
"You're disgusting, letting yourself fall that deep into bloodlust."
"If you were that thirsty, you should have said so!"
"A beast is what you are."
"You are no knight."
"You are not worthy to be a Vileblood."
"Such a shame. You'll never be the one to give the queen her child."
He could only look up at them in horror as they drew their weapons.
And that was the end of this Nameless Knight.
0-0-0
"Bell, not that I don't mind this that much, but can you let me down now? It's kinda embarrassing being handled like this."
"Um…" Bell said but didn't release her.
They were back on the streets of the city. The sun had already set, magic lanterns lit the roads, and the crowds had thinned with the flock heading to the night service establishments. There were still a good number of people in these parts, mostly consisting of merchants and part-time workers getting off and heading home. A lot stopped to stare at his foreign garments as well as the goddess he was carrying like a stuffed bear.
"Thank you for coming, I think," he said to the two adventurers still following him. "I didn't need saving… but I still appreciate it."
"Eh… it's more like we didn't have a choice," Tiona muttered lowly while looking away.
Aiz didn't respond, only nod.
"It… It might sound rude but…" he fidgeted where he stood. "I'm sorry to ask, but can we call it a night? I'd like to be alone with my goddess."
"Ehhhh?!" Tiona shrieked. "But we went through that hassle so you could— gwawh!"
Aiz elbowed her partner in the ribs, "We understand. Have a good night. See you tomorrow."
She bowed politely before turning to leave. Tiona rubbed her side before giving Bell a more cheerful departing wave. She turned to follow Aiz.
Bell watched them go. He waited until they were out of hearing distance. He caught Tiona glancing over her shoulder to look at him. Aiz seemed to understand his intent and kept walking without doing the same as Tiona.
Hestia could only hang limply in Bell's arms. Really, she didn't mind him holding her like this. But couldn't he have done it behind closed doors? To be manhandled like this in such a public setting was embarrassing! She already had a laughable reputation as it was already.
Bell still didn't release her as he walked a few paces and took a seat at a nearby bench. She sat between his legs, somewhat relieved she had something else to support her. The blood was starting to flow back to her legs and giving her prickling tingles.
Bell was silent as he buried his face into her hair.
She was about to ask what came over him when she felt him start to shake. The sounds came next. Small, withheld, but as clear as ever to Hestia.
"Goddess…" he was crying. "Please don't do something like that ever again."
She didn't understand. "What're you talking about? I'm your goddess. If someone kidnaps you, I'm going to get involved."
"N-No, it's not that," he lifted his head slightly, just enough to pull his face away but kept his brow rested on the back of her head. "Maybe you can fight with your fellow gods. But Annalise is… different. The man she was with… he was about to kill you."
Her eyes widened, "Eh? Kill? Bell, be serious. No one would harm a god. It's against the law!"
Orario's law, she left out. But even Rakia followed it. Why shouldn't Cainhurst?
"He would have," Bell argued and squeezed her tighter. Her back rested against his chest. "That man… I don't know who he is. But he's a Hunter like everyone else. And… he has as much of a bloody aura as Lady Maria."
She understood this reaction now. He was wholly terrified for her sake. That was why he had panicked, why he hadn't let her go since then. He didn't want to let her go in fear of a man from another realm getting to her.
"Okay," she said softly. She raised her hands until they rested on the arms embracing her. "It's okay, Bell. I'm safe. I know you would have protected me. I know you always will. That's one of the things I love about you."
They remained like this in silence. Minutes passed as they breathed in the other's company, even after he had calmed down.
"Bell," she spoke up when she thought the time was appropriate, "I think we need to continue that conversation from earlier. You know the one. There's more to the story you haven't told me, isn't there?"
"…Yes," he said eventually. "I'm sorry, goddess. I couldn't tell you everything that evening. There's a lot to tell and… I was afraid you wouldn't believe me."
"It's a big pill to swallow," she admitted. "Honestly, an infestation turning people into monsters based on a parasite of alien origins? It sounds like one of those horror stories I used to read! But, if you say it's the truth, I'll believe it."
…There was also the horrifying fact that no one can lie to a god. Everything Bell had said had been the absolute truth. He either believed it to the point of being completely insane… or it was genuine fact.
"First thing's first!" Hestia raised a finger. "Cainhurst and that homewrecking queen of theirs. You clearly know something about them. I want to know everything.
"And you can start with why you gave her an engagement ring."
"Let's… let's go home first," Bell offered with a nervous smile. Only then did he release her.
Hestia hopped onto her feet. She pulled Bell onto his and they shortly began their walk back home. His story could wait. It was something best discussed in isolation.
"By the way, Bell," Hestia thought of something to pass the time. "When were you going to tell me about your private affairs with Aiz Wallensomething?"
"E-Eventually," he scratched at his cheek. "And please don't say it like that. Aiz and I are only training. That's all!"
"Oh? Aiz now, is it? Since when did you get so chummy to call her by her given name?"
"She insisted! I can't say no to a high-class adventurer like her!"
"And you're sure your crush with her had nothing to do with it?"
"…"
"Well whatever. So this means you'll be spending a lot of time with her. Should I be worried? You're already blind to the charms of the goddess you live with."
"Sorry, I didn't hear any of that. What was it?"
"Nothing, nothing! Oh! Bell, wanna stop and pick up some food? I haven't eaten since lunch."
"Yeah, food sounds good. Hmm?"
"Think of anything you want?"
"I'm fine with whatever you want, goddess. It's just… I can't help but think I'm forgetting about something…"
"It's probably not that important. And if it is, you'll remember it eventually."
"…I guess. I'm sure it's nothing."
A pause.
"Something wrong Bell?"
"Just… Just a shiver. I hope I'm not getting sick."
