Chapter 17
It has been a good week for Bell. He was able to get more used to Orario thanks with permission from Finn. He was able to walk in and out the Twilight Manor on normal times and has been announced as Loki member to the public.
After the day he was introduced he and Riveria headed over to the guild to talk to a half-elf a good family friend of Riveria's. She was surprised that Bell and Eina had already met each other. Eina was sure Bell left Orario since he hadn't come back for a few days but was wrong, however she is confused on how he is here with Riveria, a good family friend of hers and her mother.
Rivera requested a private booth for the 3 of them so they can talk more privately without people hearing. After talking for an hour Eina had gotten all the information and details on how Bell has 'joined' the Loki familia. She was shocked herself since she's never herd of someone get this strong without falna. With falna it's possible since there's a familia out in the seas currently dealing with the monsters there since it's been getting overpopulated with it. She doesn't what familia it is but all she knows is that they aren't a force to be reckon with.
She was hesitant to agree on the terms Riveria gave her and was about ask a question if Royman or Oranous was going to be informed about this, Riveria reassured her with positive answers making her feel more relaxed. Eina accepted and was going to make sure Bell is well informed about the dungeon so he won't end up like the past adventurers she 'failed' to advise. Ever since they're deaths she kept feeling that she was the one who led them to their deaths but her friends and co-workers were there to comfort her and tell her it wasn't. Besides she was going to have to deal with it since it's part of being a guild worker, deal with the deaths of young or old adventurers that sadly passed away due to the dungeons sharp fangs. Besides, like everyone who first sees Bell, he looked young and dying at a young age is something Eina wants to prevent from happening.
After that day Loki and Finn went to the guild to talk with the old and first god that descended to Gekai the lower world, Oranous, the head master of the guild.
Loki was a bit nervous since Oranous was very strict when it comes to postponing adventurers statues to the public. Hiding is one thing but lying is whole other. The punishment were either the familia gets disbanded or is banned from entering Orario again, which is why people don't do it. Instead they only post level updates instead of the whole statues for obvious reasons. However with Bell's case it'll be difficult but Finn had found a way to work it out.
Both of them were walking down the hallways which is leading towards Oranous praying chamber. The place where he uses his acranam in order to keep the dungeon in check if not monsters would be released and cause rampage to the lower world.
Finn could see Loki's nervousness. He wouldn't blame her since what there about to ask is something shady like. Especially for a top familia like them.
"Here he is, waiting for you two." Royman said, bowing down to them and to the entrance of the praying chamber before leaving them.
Both entered the dark room with only fire torches as light. Which leads to a big old stone looking throne where an old man is sitting on wearing a hood. A dark shadow appeared out of the darkness, a figure wearing a black cloak and under that black cloak was skeleton. A person who has lived around 100 years.
"Hello Oranous." Both Loki and Finn bow down to him. Oranous greets them with a hum. Both rise up before commencing the conversation.
"Oranous I have a serious request from you." Loki started off the bat, showing her vermillion eyes to him, he was looking back with his old white ones. Both didn't back down, an old stare down between gods.
"You never request anything from me? If there is something then shouldn't it be from Royman instead of me?" Oranous finally spoke.
"True, but Finn suggested it was best to request it from you for better understanding." Oranous moved his eyes to Finn who nodded in confirmation.
"Well what is it? Surly it isn't something it can't be anything crazy?"
Loki gulped, making Oranous raise a brow. She takes a deep sigh before telling him, "You see we have a new adventurer that is new here,"
"…"
"he is insanely strong, able to keep up with Finn... without falna,"
"!"
"he was able to push him a little to the edge but the results ended in a tie."
"So he's a level 6." Oranous thought out loud. Finn nodded and was next to speak.
"We thought a new familia came to Orario but we were wrong, he asked to join us and we agreed but..." Finn trailed off since he didn't know how he was going to explain this.
Oranous being a god didn't detect a lie from Finn nor Loki, not that she could. So again he raised a brow on why he trailed off. His only member beside him was listening to the conversation in silence. If he wasn't a skeleton then he would've showed his raised brow as well.
"... The usual falna ritual for mortals to become adventurers... didn't work on him." Finn said slowly so the words could seek in.
The room was real quite. Oranous eyes widened for a second. He didn't detect a lie and Loki's vermillion eyes not going away is showing more proof. However he wanted to know, "How?"
"When I tried to give him my falna red lightning would spring out of his back and shoot me away and would hurt both of us." Loki spoke.
Oranous now understood why they wanted to talk to him personally. If they were to explain this to Royman then he sure wouldn't have believed it even if Loki was there. Before Oranous could speak once more, Fels, the hooded figure finally spoke.
"So you would want to fake his statues so the public won't find you guys lying or suspicious."
"!" Finn
"Fels.…" Oranous
"... Wow... just wow." Loki
Fels heartily laughed before adding, "It's just an intuition."
"So is this the request your asking of me?" Oranous asked. Loki and Finn nodded.
Loki had her hands behind her back hiding her fingers being crossed. 'Please say yes!' She screamed in her mind. She didn't know what to do if he said no.
"Before I say my answer what is the boys name?"
"His name is Bell Cranel."
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Loki and Finn swore they saw Oranous and Fels slightly jump from the mention of his name
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"... I will accept your request on this and will help you 'hide' Mr. Cranel's statues so that the public won't have discreet eyes on you." Oranous laid out his answer. Loki's toothy grin was appearing as Finn's smile was. Both bowed down to the old god after saying their thank you's.
After they left the room, ending up in the hallway a laugh and sigh could be herd before footsteps were herd then slowly fading away...
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"So... what Hermes said in his traveling letter is true." Oranous filled the silence in the room once more.
"Yes..." Fels answered to his god.
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""The last member of Zeus and Hera familia is still alive.""
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After those days passed Bell was announced a new member to the familia in the public. Everyone in Orario were shocked finding out that Loki familia's strength has increased even more. Especially the middle strength familia's like Ganesha, Hephaestus, and Demeter.
(AN: Please inform me if I missed anyone!)
The lower strength ones like Apollo and Soma didn't really care since they're strength is nothing compared to them so what's the point of even trying to compete with them.
Anyone lower than them didn't really care as well except one goddess who felt a like a loner for the past few months but nevertheless she kept her resolve high and will keep finding a member to join her familia. It didn't matter to her what type of person they would be, just as long as they will come back to her alive and well.
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The white haired boy was walking down the streets still trying to get used to the huge city. He explored almost every part of Orario. The only places he hasn't explored were Deadalus street and enemy turf. Which were Soma manor, Apollo manor, and Red light district.
He still doesn't know what the red light district is, probably because of Eina hiding or scratching that out of his map.
When he kept walking until his stomach growled. Obviously hungry. He knew a good food stand not far from where he was and proceeded to walk again.
"Hmm~ if only I came to you instead of staying up here little rabbit." Freya was displeased by hearing the news of Bell joining the Loki familia.
The time when she was there in the pub she was planning to get him undressed so she could check him out and be able to see what familia he could possibly be in. However hearing the news of him joining the Loki familia made her shock. Including Ottarl.
He felt great potential strength in the boy so he had to be in a familia, just like his goddess he too was shocked.
It was very difficult for her to find where Bell is. Since she couldn't see his soul she would have to look every corner and dark alleyway in Orario. With a little help from Ottarl she was able to find him a few times before he gets out of her sight again. Ottarl would sweat drop every time he sees her get in a fit like a child.
He asked her if it was okay for him to bring him here but she said to hold on it. It wasn't time. She would want a proper introduction with him. After sending Ottarl and a few members of her familia to find information about him all they could find was the place he came from and... that's it.
Not birth date.
No parent lineage.
No relatives.
No previous familia.
Nothing useful for her.
It was almost as if he was... being kept secret from the world. Something she finds a little unfitting for a boy like Bell however if she has to play the hard game then she will. Even if it means she has to use her charm in the end.
Every time he glances at her she would smile and blush. She would squirm around from him just looking at her. When his eyes would move to Ottarl the stare down would last less longer than it did the first time.
"Hmm~ I will see what you will do then, Bell Cranel~" she sips her wine after losing track of Bell for the tenth time of today.
Bell was contemplating to himself if he should tell Finn and the others about the weird stare he was getting at from atop of Babel tower.
If it wasn't for his father's big scary red eye, looking at him almost the entirety of his life then he probably wouldn't know he's been getting stared at the entire time being in Orario.
The weird stare he was getting from the beautiful woman was really weird for him. Never in his life has he gotten attention stares like this one. Only hated, concerned, confused, and some heart warmed ones. Like Aria and... Jeanne.
His eyes flashed slight sadness. The clothes she picked out for him had to be thrown out due to the holes and how tattered it got. The scarf was perfectly fine so he took deep care for it. Wearing it right now even. With his black wear he has on for now.
The sad look in his eye vanished away after smelling the amazing smell from the food stands he was getting closer to. There were many to chose from. The one he came for though was a few steps from him.
"Hey Hestia!" Bell waved his hand to the raven haired virgin goddess who waved back.
"Hi Bell!"
Both created a friendly bond after Bell gobbled almost all her food and paying for it. She was thankful for the pay but would end up being a little gloomy since he always pays a bit more than usual. She didn't mind it but still, she felt like she didn't deserve it.
"Are you here to order more food?" Hestia was answered back with a rapid nod. Bell's whole demeanor changes when it comes to food.
Even the dragon himself would find it amusing seeing the little rabbit chomp his meal down. Aria... would act concerned for Bell like a kind mother she is.
"Any new flavors you got!" Hestia nodded yes, Bell eyes showed more light in them.
A little far from them 4 girls from the Loki familia were walking down the same path Bell was walking. Heading over the food stands. They were none other than Ais, Tiona, Tione, and Lefiya. All of them were having a nice chatter until Lefiya laid eyes on Bell.
"Hey isn't that Bell?" Lefiya said pointing to his direction.
The three girls looked and saw that it was indeed him. How? His white hair and dark red scarf were what stood out the most on him. The black cloak and clothes he had on as well.
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"Start working on yourself before coming back to me." His words were ringing back in Ais' mind.
"How did you get so strong?" Ais didn't mean for her to sound mean or demanding. She was just curiously asking and if she could, would like to learn but from Bell's ears it sounded harsh.
He frowned, this further proves for him that... she did fail to keep her promise to her own mother. His eyes were shadowed over his white hair. He walked pass Ais leaving her there in the hallway. She was going to follow him and 'ask' him again until... she herd it
"Start working on yourself before coming back to me." That was all Bell said, and the last time those two talked with each other.
Ever since she was been trying to search for answer to his words. She felt a deep meaning in them, almost as if he had to go through something like that as well. So lately she has been trying to find the answer but couldn't.
Right now seeing him right there, maybe she could introduce herself a little more and maybe find out a little more about him.
As she was opened her mouth to call out to him– a black and white blur went past her and the girls, running swiftly to a peaceful area where the boy could eat.
"Come back again Bell!" Hestia waved goodbye to the white haired boy.
All the girls were looking behind them wondering where he would wonder off to. Ais especially since... she smelled the Jagamarukun he had on him.
'Maybe when we go to the dungeon together I could talk to him more... hopefully...' the blonde airhead thought to herself.
AN:
I like how this chapter ended out. Poor Ais she was just trying to ask for help but ended up being confused. Little airhead. XD
Well there goes this chapter. Next chapter should be Bell's first time going into the dungeon and see how far he goes. I'm probably going to need a little help from you guys since the dungeon is big and I really don't pay attention to it.
So if you guys can please inform me the dungeon terrains, monsters, and stuff like that. I'm pretty sure a level 5 adventurer can be able to go down to floor 38-40 right? Im probably wrong.
Bell did went rage state against Finn so let's the surprised faces of the others when the floors he ends up were not calculated right.
What do you guys think of the chapter? Good? Bad? Horrible? Great? Only you guys know so leave down your thoughts down in the review section.
Any grammar errors let me know and I'll fix it as soon as I can.
See you guys next time and peace! :-)