In the middle of a flower field as the sun set, cascading layers of color on the world, a lone teenage elf stands in front of a young Japanese man, the last of his kind. However, this Japanese man wasn't a man, but a God. A God who had lost everything. A God who was kind, smart and trustworthy, but is now bitter and filled with sorrow.
"I no longer have the will to live," the man said, a faint breeze ruffling his clothes. "Sora, you are the last of my familia. I will free you of your duties."
The elf shakes his head violently, tears running from his melted-blue eyes. His golden hair is stained with blood, wilting the exotic color.
"I won't leave you, Kami sama!" The elf shouted. He was trembling from head to toe. "I've already lost too much. If I lose you too, then I'll…"
The Japanese God pulls the katana from the elf's scabbard and presents the blade to his last family member.
"I have lost everything," Susanoo-no-Mikoto said sadly. "I have lost my familia and home here. There is nothing to gain from living in the lower world."
"Then what about me?" The elf cried out. "What am I supposed to do?"
Susanoo closed his eyes and fell to his knees.
"Seek out Zeus and invoke my name," the God said. "He will take care of you."
The elf looked at the blade with anger mixed with hesitation before grasping it in his hands.
"Take my blood in vials before you leave," Susanoo said softly. "It will allow you to grow despite my absence. You will only require another God to complete the ritual."
"Where will you go when you die?" The elf asked hoarsely, his voice but a whisper in the wind.
"To the upper world," Susanoo stated, opening his eyes. "There is nothing left here for me. As a last gift before I leave."
Susanoo placed his hand on the elf's chest, raw power transferring to the elf before his arm fell limp.
The elf tensed and began to shake even more, his tears like mini waterfalls as they cascaded down his face. Raising the blade high, the God pulled his katana from the sheathe before reversing his grip, the blade pointed at his chest.
"Goodbye, Sora," Susanoo said, a sad smile gracing his features. "May we meet again without my selfishness ruining our lives."
"Its not fair," Sora muttered as he swung his blade at his God's neck as the God's blade pierced his own heart.
Silence filled the field as Sora watched Susanoo-no-Mikoto kiss the earth, his head slowly rolling away from his limp body.
The elf falls to his knees and howls in grief, sobs racking his body. Night falls and the stars rise into the sky, yet the only noise was the wailing of an elf who thought he had already lost everything, only to lose something even more important by his own hands as the corpse began to disintegrate into golden particles.
The weight of his grief intensified tenfold and descended upon his mind in a wave of hell. Every memory, every loss and emotion embedded in his mind was brought forth, pouring salt into the ever growing wound.
Eventually, the elf stopped sobbing and pulled out a singular glass vial, his eyes now jaded. Slowly, he filled it with his God's blood, what they called Arcana, from the small puddle staining the grass as the body finally disappeared. His hands coated red, the elf heard the boom of thunder before a lightning bolt crackled behind him, revealing a man in white robes and an aura that only belonged to certain people.
The elf watched in despair as the man approached closer, only for a hand to rest on his head.
"This is not your fault, young one," Zeus said, sorrow clouding his face. "Susanoo-no-Mikoto told me beforehand. I'm sorry his selfishness had you caught up in this mess."
The elf looked at the God standing in front of him.
"Can I trust you?" He asked weakly.
A cry for help, for guidance, for someone to take care of his broken form as a simple question.
A question that held the weight of heaven and hell that could destroy him entirely if rejected.
"Yes," Zeus simply said.
And in that moment, the elf broke down in despair, being comforted by a God he had never met before.
The bells of Heaven remained silent and Hell followed suit as a glimmer of hope shimmered in the form of a God.
The elf had not lost everything just yet.
He had hope.
And he would believe.
A year had passed and the elf no longer grieved every night. Now, Sora was standing in front of the Greek God Zeus, his weapon at the ready.
His exotic golden hair was free of a deceased God's blood, and his once alive eyes were now jaded ice-blue.
"Are you sure you wish for this?" Zeus asked, his voice heavy. "There's no backing out after this, and there's nowhere you can hide in Orario if you decide to run."
Sora nodded.
In a flash of silver, the elf locked blades with a tall man. Struggling in the blade-lock, Sora dislodged his katana and took the offensive on his opponent.
"What level are you?" Sora asked, his attacks furious and precise.
"Level five," the man replied, grinning. "Thunder!"
A boom of power emanated from the elf's opponent before lightning surged through Sora's body.
Screaming in pain, Sora gasped as the lighting ended, panting heavily.
"This is just the beginning of your training!" Zeus chuckled. "You'll never be able to pick girls up like that, Sora!"
The elf grit his teeth and tightened his grip on the katana.
"I can still fight," he declared, eyes glowing fiercely.
His opponent looked at him in surprise before shrugging.
"As you wish."
Another year had passed.
Sora looked up as the door opened, revealing the man who took him in and a child.
"Who's the kid?"
Zeus chuckled sadly, ruffling the kid's hair. The kid looked around the age of 9.
"This is Bell Cranel, the son of some members of my familia." Zeus' eyes clouded over in anger and sorrow. "I'll be taking care of him for now."
Sora glanced at Zeus before crouching in front of Bell.
"I'm Sora Itsuki," the elf said. "Pleased to meet you."
Bell shrunk away, his red eyes filled with sadness. The elf glanced at his hair and grinned.
"Rabbit," he said, making the child perk up. "Don't be sad, little rabbit."
"I-I'm not a rabbit!" Bell pouted.
Zeus laughed, his voice booming throughout his home.
"Pack your gear, Sora. We're leaving Orario."
The elf looked up at Zeus and frowned. Looking around, Sora noticed that none of Zeus' familia was present and remembered their expedition into the dungeon earlier that month.
The puzzle pieces clicked, and Sora stepped towards Zeus, wrapping his arms around the God.
"I'm sorry."
A simple exchange, but Zeus took it in stride and ruffled Sora's hair.
"I'll be fine, child," the God said. "Come, let's prepare ourselves for our next adventure."
Sora looked around at his new home: farmland and mines in a cozy little village
"You intend on becoming a farmer?" The elf asked Zeus.
"This is the best place far from prying eyes where I can teach Bell the ways of being a man!"
Sora sighed before adjusting his grip on the sleeping child on his back.
"He better grow up well, Zeus."
"You need to put more power into your strikes, Rabbit," Sora said, holding his knife in his left hand. "And balance it with speed and precision. Swinging wildly won't do you justice."
The elf watched as the kid took a few practice swings with his knife before rushing him. With an expert-level of technique, Sora deflected all of Bell's attacks before disarming the kid with the flick of his wrist.
"Again," Sora ordered.
"You're getting better, Rabbit," Sora said, only to disarm Bell again. "But you're still lacking something. Again"
"Zeus, when I was hunting, I noticed something strange."
"Hmm? Did you perhaps find a maiden in distress?"
"No, but I found this."
The elf placed a ragged piece of cloth on the table, a symbol etched into it.
"Bandits," Zeus said, eyes narrowing. "I'll begin preparations for defense. Spread the word to the other villagers."
"Bell, this is a gift for you. When in great peril, hold it tight and shout out Blitz."
I let the charm fall in young child's hands and smiled. His white hair was untouched and his red eyes fiery, making the flames around us dull in comparison.
"Kid," I said. "If you do become an adventurer, then there's no doubt we'll meet again, but just in case…"
I knelt down and placed an insignia in the kid's hands.
"Take this as well. If you ever need my help, crush this. I'll come to your aid, no matter how dire the situation."
"Damned bandits! Go back from whence you came!"
I glanced at my saviour and nodded. It was time.
"Listen kid, once we open that door, you need to live up to your name, 'kay?"
"I'm scared."
I grabbed his shoulders and shook him lightly.
"It's alright to be scared," I said gently. "You'll be fine, Bell."
"It's getting closer. Bell, you must get moving."
"O-Oji san…"
Pulling out my blade, I kicked the door open.
"Go!" I shouted.
A blur of white shot out as I felt a smile grace my features.
Go kid. I'll see you when you get older.
CRASH!
"Move!"
. . .
. .
.
. .
. . .
. .
.
"What will you do now, geezer?"
"I'll take care of Bell and make sure he grows into a strong young man capable of having a harem! What about you?"
"I'm heading to Orario and entering the dungeon. Since my God is no more… well, it's time to start new. I'll be fine- my status is locked as well, just in case."
"Good. I'll send you a message when I send Bell on his way there. Keep in touch, Sora."
"Thank you for these past years, Zeus. I'll never forget my debt to you."
"Heh, look at you, already twenty-two. The years sure fly by."
The two men smiled.
"Goodbye. May we meet again."
Shaking his savior's hand, Sora smiled sadly as Zeus merely nodded, his eyes twinkling fondly.
"Of course."