Hello everyone! What is this? A new story and in a new genre no less? What is this madness?
Well to answer that is simple, I watched Danmachi a while ago and absolutely fell in love with the story and more importantly the world that was built. I love ancient mythos and an anime where they throw almost all of them together? Yes please. Not to mention the story is pretty solid as far as anime standards go.
So here we are, a new story for you all to enjoy. This story has gone through a ton of planning and brainstorming and I absolutely love this story idea and all of the elements it's going to explore.
A note here, this story is pulling its canon storyline from the light novel series, both the main story and the side, to which I am 100% caught up as far as the English releases go. There may be a few things here and there that don't make too much sense if you haven't read the books as they are A) further in the story then the first season and B) they go into way more detail about the world and certain character interactions.
Honestly there shouldn't be too much confusion as this story takes place directly after the anime ends but I can think of one or two interactions and character relationships that may be a tad confusing if you haven't read the novels. Just a heads up on that.
And without further ado, here, we, go.
How had things turned out this way?
It had been years since it had shown its vile presence. A shroud of darkness that had been beaten back through years of diligence and patience by not only her but the rest of her Familia. Finn, Gareth and herself had thought it gone completely, snuffed out once and for all. Then it all came rushing back, as overwhelming and destructive as she remembered.
Aiz's black flame had returned.
Alone in her room within the Twilight Manor, Riveria silently cursed herself for failing to react sooner. The signs were there for weeks and she had chosen to ignore them. Her own negligence on the matter, her heart compromising her judgement.
Aiz was more than just a Familia member to Riveria. Loki would often joke that she was the mother of their Familia but when it came to Aiz that joke would ring true. The girl had come to them a broken shell, completely consumed by a single mindedness to become strong.
Aiz had not been a person when she first joined them. She was more of a chipped blade that would continue to cut through its enemies until it finally shattered. Eyes devoid of any life, nothing but an empty desire to grow stronger filled her being.
It had been heart breaking to see a child reduced to such a state. The girl's detachment to those around her, the lack of caring for her own life. Few thought the little girl would survive the dungeon with how she threw herself into its depths.
It had been more than Riveria could stomach. Despite her peer's concerns, she took it upon herself to save Aiz from herself. The stubborn girl had resisted at first and rejected everything that didn't involve training. It had taken years to break through to her.
Aiz began opening up, taking a more active role with other members of the Familia but still remained guarded, distant even. That changed with Tiona and Tione's induction to the Familia. The outgoing Amazons cared little for Aiz's reclusive nature and forced their friendship onto her. Then Lefiya joined and Aiz started smiling more, she was finally becoming a true part of the Familia. She was becoming the person she was always meant to be.
And now all of that was threatening to be washed away. The cracks had started to form with Aiz's loss to the red-haired tamer, Levis. Aiz had been spurred by her loss and while her actions were reckless, they still held a degree of consideration. A rationality that showed Aiz was still the girl she had raised.
Riveria had done what she thought was best at the time, aiding Aiz in her recklessness in hopes that if things went too far, she could bring her back.
In a sense, she supposed that the flame had never truly gone away, it merely buried itself deep within Aiz. It had laid dormant for so long that Riveria had almost believed it gone. In reality however, it was only waiting for the right kindling to ignite it once more. Levis may have been the spark to breathe life back into that cursed fire but that boy had been the true fuel to the inferno that threatened to consume Aiz.
Bell Cranel.
An insignificant rookie from an even more insignificant Familia. The likes of which should have never registered on Aiz's radar but had somehow grabbed her attention all the same.
The only interesting thing about the boy was the fact that Aiz had sought him out at all. For a reason that Riveria still did not know, Aiz had chased after this novice to make amends for a transgression that existed only in her head.
As out of place as it was for Aiz, it was still a change that Riveria had encouraged. It was a relief to see Aiz act somewhat like a normal girl her age; excuses to seek the boy out or moping when he would run from her. It was relieving and dare she say, even cute to see Aiz flustered in such a way.
Riveria's mirth in the situation died on the 9th floor of the dungeon along with the Minotaur the boy slew.
In his fight against the raging bull, the boy's falna had been exposed. Aiz could read hieroglyphs but her eyes were not nearly as good as Riveria's own Elven eyes. Aiz had surely caught a glimpse of his basic stats and had no doubt seen the SS ranking under his agility. The look in her eyes, the desperation in her movements. The black flame within her had been reignited after watching that boy fight.
Her actions had been almost frenzied, a single mindedness revolved around knowing how the boy had obtained statistics that exceeded the limits placed on them by the gods themselves. It almost drove her to destroy the trust of someone she valued. If Riveria hadn't been there she wouldhave destroyed that trust, all in the hopes of understanding how he grew so quickly.
Strength was something Aiz had always zealously pursued. Her overwhelming desire to grow stronger was something that the leaders of the Loki Familia had tried to temper from the beginning and for the most part they had been successful. While the desire was there, it had never come at the expense of someone she cared about, until now.
The change was not a welcome one and she would do everything in her power to snuff it out. To do that, she needed to find Bell Cranel. But she couldn't approach him on this matter. She would never betray Aiz's secrets. But luckily, she did have a legitimate reason to search the boy out.
The irony was not lost on her that the reason she would use was the very same that Aiz had invoked multiple times. But unlike Aiz, Riveria did have reason to apologize to the boy.
Aiz may have wanted to know how Bell grew so quickly but it was Riveria who knew and by the gods she wished she didn't. She hated herself for knowing and the fact that she knew was the deepest invasion of privacy imaginable and one that shamed her still. If it wasn't for Bete's insistence she would have never looked to begin with.
But she had and she had seen his entire falna. Not just his basic stats like she had claimed on the 9th floor. She had seen his stats all rank S except his agility, which defied logic and sat at rank SS. She had seen his surprisingly powerful swift strike magic Firebolt. And she had seen his skill, Realis Phrase.
Rapid Growth. Continued desire results in continued growth. Stronger desire results in stronger growth.
A ludicrous skill but she had been forced to accept its existence. To accept otherwise would be to deny reality. She had seen the evidence for herself.
Six weeks. In six weeks, he had done the impossible and went from a complete novice to a level that surpassed half of the adventurers in Orario. He had reached level 2.
She had looked into his records through the guild once they had returned and very little was known about his process for leveling up, at least officially. All she had found was that he had started adventuring six weeks prior and was the only member of the Hestia Familia.
Given his skill, the logical next question was what was it that the boy desired? Did the boy have any motives involving Aiz or was all of this a huge coincidence?
Riveria's eyes strayed to the window and found a lithe form moving about in the garden. Aiz's golden hair fluttered through the air as the girl moved through her practice stances. She had already been out there for hours and she showed no signs of slowing down. But more than that, Riveria could make out the dark rings beginning to form under her eyes.
Emerald eyes narrowed and Riveria clicked her tongue in frustration. This couldn't be allowed to continue. She needed answers and she wouldn't be able to get them here. With a grace one would expect from an Elf, Riveria rose from her chair and strode out of her room, grabbing her staff as she made her way out of the Twilight Manor and into the Labyrinth city.
She had a rabbit to find.
/-/
"Bell, are you even listening to me?"
"Yes Eina! I'm listening. I just don't see why this is a big deal."
The Half-Elf sighed for what must have been the twelfth time in the last half hour. He might have been exaggerating a bit but honestly, he had stopped counting a while ago.
Normally he would've been happy to talk with Eina but he was tired from the dungeon and just wanted to go home and fall asleep. He had just successfully cleared the 14th floor of the dungeon with Welf and Lili and he was exhausted.
"Bell! There you go again! Can't you just listen to me for five minutes without spacing out?!"
Bell jumped at her voice, hands held in front of him defensively as she hovered over him. "I'm sorry!"
The Half-Elf kept her glare affixed to the younger adventurer that was placed under her supervision. She did relent however and softly sat back down on the chair across from him. "Bell this is serious. The Guild doesn't issue gag orders at random. For them to do this… it's serious. You understand that, don't you?"
He noticed the way her expression softened as she spoke, guilt welling up inside of him at the same time. He knew she had his best interests at heart, she always did. "I'm not going to go against the Guild Eina. I just don't understand why it even matters. Shouldn't people know about what happened?"
Eina sighed but not out of frustration like before. He hadn't realized it earlier, but she did seem more tired than usual. Had the Guild been overworking her again? "It's not that simple Bell. It's not just a matter of adventurers knowing about this one-off event. It has deeper repercussions than that."
Rubliette eyes scanned the room, taking in the throng of humans and demi-humans milling about. They were all adventurers of varying levels, many of them rookies, barely newer than even himself. Shouldn't they all know of the dangers that awaits them in the lower floors? "I… don't understand."
Eina sighed again and rubbed her temples, her brow knitting together in obvious frustration. "I'm not getting through to you at all, am I?"
"Perhaps I could explain it in such a way that he might understand."
Bell jumped at the sound of the new voice. He wasn't the only one, Eina's body went ramrod straight at the sound and whipped her head to the side, eyes wide. "L-Lady Alf!"
Any words of surprise died in Bell's throat as his eyes took in the radiant visage of the Elf standing behind Eina. It would be an understatement to say that she was beautiful. Most Elves were beautiful in one way or another but she seemed different than the rest. The air she gave off seemed almost regal. Her clothes only aided in the image, an elegant jade robe accented with white cloth that was dotted with intricate golden markings. The quality of the robe made his own clothes look pitiful by comparison, a mere beggar in the street. Dazzling jade hair cascaded down past her shoulders with twin strands framing her face, held in place by her long ears. Her eyes were just as captivating as everything else about her, like shining emeralds. In her hand was an equally elegant staff, designating her role as a magic user.
She wasn't a normal Elf, he could tell that by her looks alone. He had no doubt that she was a High Elf, a member of the Royal Elven Family.
It wasn't her undeniable beauty that made him stop and stare, nor the fact that she was royalty. No, it was because of who she was that made him all but stop functioning.
Riveria Ljos Alf. The dubbed 'Nine Hell' of the Loki Familia. Unquestionably the strongest magic user in Orario and potentially the world. A true top tier adventurer and one of the few to reach level 6.
As soon as his brain caught up with him, he tried to look anywhere but at the High Elf in front of him. How long had he been staring for? Had she noticed him staring? Of course she did! She was nearly in reaching distance and looking right at him! How could he just gawk at her like some idiot? Maybe because he was an idiot! Gods, today couldn't be any worse. He just knew that his face was ablaze right now.
Riveria clicked her tongue in what could only be mild annoyance but to his unending relief, it didn't seem to be aimed at him. Instead those emerald orbs focused on Eina.
"How many times have I told you, you need not be so formal with me. You may call me by my given name."
Eina for her part seemed to look a tad sheepish, an expression that he'd never seen on his advisor before. "Of course. I'm sorry Lady Riveria." Eina's eyes shifted nervously towards her charge for a moment before returning to the powerful magic user. "And while I'm happy to see you, I am currently in a meeting with an adventurer. I'm sorry. Can we speak later?"
Nine Hell bowed her head slightly at Eina's words, her lips slightly turning downwards. "Yes, I see that and I apologize for being so intrusive but I overhead the topic and your trouble in explaining the nuance of the situation. I thought that perhaps I would have a better time explaining it to him."
"O-oh. I s-see." Eina tried to laugh the explanation off but it rang hollow even for Bell. "Lady Riveria… how much of the situation do you already know about?"
Eina's words came off as cautious and Bell knew why. Despite the Loki Familia's position as the strongest Familia in Orario, they hadn't been involved in the events on the 18th floor. Whether he fully understood why the Guild put a gag order on the news of what happened there didn't matter, the fact remained that they had and if Riveria found out about it from listening to Eina, then the Half-Elf could be in a lot of trouble.
Riveria must have understood that as well as she put on a disarming smile. "Do not worry. We had been informed by Lady Hephaestus as to what happened. Apparently, one of her smiths was caught up in the event. I am fully aware as to what spawned on the 18th floor and why it is so important that the news does not spread."
Eina exhaled a deep breath and visibly slumped in her chair, relief washing over the younger girl. "Thank goodness…" she mumbled under her breath before her eyes snapped open and looked at the High Elf. "But even so! I can't expect you to do my job. It wouldn't be right. I could never forgive myself if I handed this task off to you! I must insist."
Riveria took Eina's words with a small smile and with the patience of one that fully expected such resistance. "It is of no trouble. I believe that I might be able to explain it to Mister Cranel in another way that he may be able to fully grasp why it is so important. From one adventurer to another."
Her voice was soft and calming, lacking any of the malice or superiority many Elves spoke with when talking with someone not of the same race. Bell would readily admit he didn't know much about Elven culture, only what he'd seen around Orario and what little he had been told by Ryuu. He did know however that Elves often treated people of other races poorly, Half-Elves being treated the worst of all, a blight on their pure race.
But there was none of that from an individual who should have been the worst of all given her obvious royal lineage. Instead, she spoke with a warm fondness. Did Eina know Riveria outside of the Guild?
Despite whatever relationship that the two had, Eina still looked uncertain in handing off the task to her. Her green eyes shifted between her fellow Elf and himself, flashing with indecision. "Maybe so… but still, I couldn't…"
"Nonsense, allow me to handle this. I was actually looking to speak with Mister Cranel myself on an unrelated matter so it is truly no trouble."
The gentle prodding of her staff was the final straw for Eina as she broke, a deep sigh escaping her as she rose to her feet. "If you insist Lady Riveria. Thank you. I'll take my leave now."
With a small bow Eina turned to leave but not before shooting him a menacing glare, one that spoke of untold pain if he misbehaved in anyway.
Like Eina needed to make that point! He wasn't going to make a fool of himself in front of one of the adventurers he looked up to. Well, anymore of one at any rate.
But didn't she say something about wanting to speak to him about something? What could Riveria possibly want with him? He had only met the High-Elf once and they hadn't even exchanged words. She had merely stood behind Braver while the two spoke, more interested in having a silent conversation with Aiz.
Any such thoughts vanished from his mind as the women took the seat Eina had just vacated. He couldn't help but follow her movements as she did so, the action itself so simple yet she moved with the epitome of grace that captivated him.
He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked away, the blush on his face no doubt intensifying. He tried to beat away any unsavory thoughts but that only seemed to make things worse for the poor boy. Why did Elves have to be so beautiful?
"I hope you do not mind me taking Eina's spot Mister Cranel, I know this was rather sudden. I do apologize for that."
With a snap he brought his attention back to the Elf across from him, his body far more rigid than he would have liked. "N-not at all. I-I'm just a little surprised is all. You said that you wanted to talk to me about something?"
He wanted to smack his head against the table at the stutter that he couldn't quite stop. His words came out as nervous as he felt. He had thought he had gotten past doing that around upper tier adventurers after being around Aiz as much as he had been. Maybe he had just gotten used to her presence instead? His Goddess had said something about familiarity breeding contempt or something to that extent.
She closed her eyes briefly before giving him a small smile, the opposite of what he expected from her. Aiz had spoken briefly about those in her Familia and Riveria had been described as a stern and unyielding force within the Loki Familia. A tough but fair disciplinarian. It was nothing like the woman in front of him.
She hummed to herself as she opened her eyes, a curiosity laid within those emerald orbs that made him sweat all the more. "I did but not now. First, I would like to finish what Eina has started. You may have made the decision to follow the Guild's wishes but without properly understanding the ramifications of the information you possess, you may not guard it as closely as you should."
"While the dungeon is unpredictable, there are certain things that most adventurers have come to take as absolutes. You are aware of what those things are, correct?"
Bell nodded his head vigorously. "Like how certain monsters will only appear are certain floors, right?"
It was one of the most basic hard rules of the dungeon. A place where at any moment it could bear its fangs to you and swallow you whole. The few 'laws' of the dungeon was something you learned quickly and took whatever comfort from as you could.
"That's right. The 18th floor being a safe zone where monsters cannot spawn is another law of the dungeon, or at least it was until now. You must understand, monsters have been known to travel between floors, as you yourself have experienced twice already. Thus, monsters appearing where they should not be isn't as unusual as it seems."
Bell didn't dare interrupt her despite being well aware of everything she was talking about. Even if Eina hadn't beaten the knowledge of the dangers of the dungeon into him, he had encountered two minotaurs on two different floors, both well outside the monster's natural range.
"That being said, monsters spawning on the wrong floor is something that almost never happens. A Monster Rex such as the Black Goliath spawning on a floor not designated as a known possible floor has never happened since before the Dark Age. For it to be on the 18th floor makes that reality even more frightening."
She paused to let that information sink in. While he knew it wasn't an everyday occurrence, it was hard to believe that something like that had never happened before. Hestia had said that the dungeon was reacting to the presence of Gods in the dungeon…
She must have taken his lack of questions as a sign to continue. "Adventurers see the 18th floor as a safe haven. While it's not uncommon for monsters to attack, they've never spawned there before. They've always traveled from the lower levels up to the 18th floor. Even if a normal species of monster spawned there it would be of no true concern but this was not the case. This was an irregular Monster Rex. Something like that… it's frightening, even to the most experienced adventurer."
And suddenly he could understand how truly unique the situation he was involved in was. Given it was his first time reaching the 18th floor, he hadn't thought to much on it. Everything about it was brand new so the appearance of the Black Goliath hadn't meant much to him, other than having to fight a fearsome foe.
But what about those that had been doing this for years, perhaps even decades? He could understand the fear that the mere idea of a Monster Rex spawning in the lower levels would cause. Any level 1 adventurer that would get caught in that fight would get destroyed, there were no two ways about it. Even the fight he was a part of had cost some people their lives and they were all upper-class adventurers, levels 2 through 4.
Monster Rex's were incredibly dangerous in their normal state. The Goliath was the weakest among the known ones and it was still classified as a level 4 monster. He had never fought the original but from what he had heard from Ryuu, the Black Goliath they faced was on a completely different level.
A level 5 monster spawning in the mid-levels. That was truly the stuff of nightmares.
"The guild, all of Orario even, relies on adventurers bringing magical stones up from the dungeon as well as many other items that can only be obtained from the dungeon's depths. If word got out that an irregular Monster Rex could spawn at any point in the upper levels, even the safe zones, then third-tier and maybe even some second-tier adventurers would stop going into the dungeon. Not to mention the number of level 1's that would outright quit. If Orario's economy is going to continue, that's something we can't let happen. This was a one-off event, nothing like this has happened before and hopefully will never happen again. There's no point in scaring everyone over something like this. Not unless it happens once more. And from my understanding, the Guild has a very strong suspicion as to what caused this to begin with."
Bell could only gulp at the not so subtle mention of his Goddess' actions. The message however was clear, as long as no Gods ventured into the dungeon again, this would never happen again. "I understand Lady Riveria. I won't say anything. But can the Guild really keep this covered up? A lot of people were in the fight and I've already heard rumors going around about it."
Riveria seemed to hum in understanding, one of her hands reaching to her delicate chin. "Hmm. While I cannot speak for any future plans that the Guild may take, I can say this. Officially, the Guild will deny any such irregular from existing. That being said, it would be impossible to stop the spread of all the rumors. But as long as the Guild maintains its story and enough well-known adventurers say the same, most people will write off those who are talking as making up tall tales. Something that is known to happen with quite regularity among adventurers."
He nodded along, not exactly liking the prospect of lying but at least knowing it was for the best. But even knowing that didn't do anything for the sour taste it left in his mouth. He couldn't help but feel like people had the right to know, even if it would stop adventurers from doing their job.
"Your emotions betray your thoughts. You do not approve?"
His teeth ground into his bottom lip as his eyes roamed over the room of adventurers, all of them going about their business and completely ignorant of what the dungeon could potentially unleash on them. But what Riveria said couldn't be ignored. The entire city depended on adventurers to bring more magic stones and drop items from the dungeon and if all of the rookies suddenly stopped, how devastating would that be?
But did that really justify keeping them all in the dark? "I…"
He didn't have an answer. Something like this was beyond him. Shame welled up inside him and he risked a glance at the no doubt disappointed Elf across from him. He expected disdain or contempt from her but instead all he got was a soft smile.
"Your honesty speaks well of you Bell Cranel. It is commendable that you care for your fellow adventurers so, even if they may not extend the same courtesy. It makes me happy to see that in you."
The genuine praise caught him off guard but her next words muted any joy he may have taken from them. "However, your good intentions could cause far more harm than good. As long as certain actors do not tempt fate again and venture into the dungeon, the Black Goliath should not spawn again. But if it makes you feel better, the Guild is not asking you to actively lie about what happened. They merely don't want you spreading that information to the rest of the adventurers. Given time, the rumors will die out and it won't be relevant anymore. Are you capable of doing that?"
He nodded, a small frown on his face. "I am. Sorry for causing so much trouble about this."
The sound of laughter filled the air between them. It was brief but it was almost musical to his ears. His cheeks flared up once again realizing that it had come from Riveria and more importantly, directed at him.
"You do not need to apologize for such a trifling thing. The younger generation always seems to be worried about nonsensical things. But if you feel like you've caused me trouble, then perhaps you will not mind answering a few questions that I have for you?"
Her words hung just long enough in the air that he caught the question. The invitation was clear but so was the opportunity to back out. It was strange in a way, that someone so important would seek him out for something, even more so given the bad blood between both of their goddesses. But just because their goddesses didn't get on didn't mean he needed to be antagonistic to everyone else in the Loki Familia.
"Sure, I don't mind. What did you want to know?"
A quick shake of her head made him give her a questioning look, one that she responded to by gesturing towards the door.
"Not here. I would prefer we speak in a more private setting. Will you walk with me?"
/-/
At first, he had been unsure of what to expect when Riveria had begun leading him through the labyrinth city. He had a vague idea where they were going, somewhere in the northwest of the city, far from Babel Tower and even farther from the abandoned church that made up his Familia's dwelling. Aiz had said that was where the Loki Familia's home was, the Twilight Manor.
His thoughts couldn't stay on that prospect however, instead his attention was focused on the Elf next to him. She had not said much since leaving the Guild Headquarters. Whether that was her reading his own nervousness and not pressing him or she simply had nothing to say in the open, he didn't know but it did little to calm his nerves.
Bell followed the far more experienced adventurer through the winding streets, doing his best to ignore the quizzical stares of anyone that looked their way. He wasn't surprised if he was being honest, Riveria was not only a beautiful Elf, but was famous in her own right as one of Orario's best. Someone like that would of course garner attention in public.
Not to mention it wasn't as if he was an unknown anymore either. Whether he liked it or not, his level up had earned him some notoriety among the populace. The sight of the 'Little Rookie' walking with someone of Riveria's status must have left plenty of people in confusion. He only prayed that Lefiya didn't happen upon them. He could only imagine what the young Elf's reaction would be.
Shaking those thoughts of certain doom from his head, he barely noticed the change in scenery. The cramped city streets gave way to a large iron gate and a stone rampart surrounding an impossibly large house. No, house was the wrong word to use here. The Twilight Manor was more like a miniature castle, complete with its own series of spires and what appeared to be the main keep.
It looked so out of place from the rest of the city, with how small and cramped everything else was. It bestowed a level of prestige that few could match. The Giant slaying Familia had earned their reputation through a number of heroic deeds, deeds that had in part inspired him to be an adventurer. The sheer size of their home was just one way that they showed their superiority over the rest of the Familias within Orario. Only the Freya Familia could hope to match Loki.
The gate itself was open but guarded by members of the Loki Familia, an Elf woman and a chienthrope man only a few years older than he was. He didn't remember either of their names, not even recognizing their faces. They must not have been with the expedition party on the 18th floor, which would make them level 1 adventurers.
"Welcome back Lady Riveria!"
The Elf greeted us with a warm smile, or perhaps she hadn't even noticed him and only focused on the family executive. The dog person on the other hand gave him as menacing a look as he could muster before turning to his commander. "I wasn't aware you were bringing company Lady Riveria. Should we notify the Captain that you've returned?"
Riveria gave them a small smile and held up a hand. "No, that is quite alright. Finn is aware of our guest so there is no need to bother him. If you'll excuse us, there is business that we must attend to."
Her words did little to remove the conflicted look on the man's face, but he didn't try to stop them, merely giving a small nod of his head and an affirmative. Playing every bit the solider that he was, the man returned his attention to the gate but not before shooting Bell one more suspicious scowl.
The Twilight Manor was a buzz with activity, no doubt still taking care of the fallout from their most recent expedition. It had only been three days since Loki Familia had returned from the 59th floor, previously uncharted territory that not even the Zeus and Hera Familias had explored.
He couldn't even imagine what kind of planning went into something like that. His own excursions into the dungeon seemed miniscule by comparison. Members ran too and fro without so much as a glance in their direction. It seemed everyone was too busy to pay much attention to them now. That at least was a small mercy.
Riveria stopped abruptly, her sharp eyes picking one individual out of the crowd and called to him. "Raul, do you have a moment?"
A human with short, spikey black hair and brown eyes came to a stop and looked at Riveria questioningly before he made his way over to them. Devoid of any armor, he was clad in a long-sleeved black top with large brown gloves and a pair of light colored brown pants. Despite not carrying anything, he appeared out of breath, no doubt busy with something.
"Ah, Lady Riveria, you've returned. I was just going to run to Hephaestus Familia for Gareth. Something about seeing if we could keep a few of the dragon scale drop items from the 57th floor. But if there's something I can help you with before I go I'd be happy to."
The human seemed exhausted but was taking it in stride, no doubt used to such ongoings. It took a minute, but Bell was able to place his face. He had seen him before, on the 18th floor. He was Raul Nord, the 'High Novice', level 4 adventurer of the Loki Familia. While not a true top tier adventurer like some of the other executives within the Loki Familia, Raul had earned his own reputation as a level 4 and a second-tier adventurer, putting him still leagues above someone like himself.
"I see Gareth still hasn't come to terms with parting with all of the drop items. Good luck with getting them from Tsubaki, I doubt she'll be so willing to part with them now that she has them. But what I need from you is a simple manner. If you could bring some tea to the foyer upstairs, I would appreciate it."
"Oh, uh, sure. I'll do that right now." Bell could tell that Raul was confused but didn't argue. He did give the younger adventurer a curious glance but nothing more before he made his way through the manor.
Bell followed closely behind Riveria as she begun moving again. This house was huge, and he had little doubt that if he somehow got separated he would instantly become lost. But more than that, he dared not stray from the High Elf for fear of what might happen if he did.
A Familia's home was something that was jealously guarded, and it was rare that anyone from outside that Familia would ever set foot inside. Only in the rarest of circumstances would such a thing be allowed. Riveria had been gracious enough to invite him here for reasons he still didn't quite understand but he wasn't under any illusion that if he tried to walk around unescorted he wouldn't face consequences. They could assume any number of things about his motives and punish him accordingly, not even the Guild would interfere given the circumstances.
It was the same reason the guards outside had given him such dirty looks. He was an outsider, someone that didn't belong. Unknowns like that could be dangerous to a Familia and you didn't get to the level that Loki's had without a certain amount of vigilance.
They made their way up a spiral staircase and quickly moved into one of the side rooms. The room itself was decorated with lavish luxuries that he could only dream of. The floor was a pristine marble while expensive looking artwork decorated the walls. Riveria moved to sit on one of the off-white couches and gestured for him to take the chair across the small mahogany table in front of her.
He carefully took his seat and tried his best to not dirty the furniture. Dried blood, sweat and dirt still clung to his clothes and the chair itself looked to be at least two weeks of dungeon crawling worth of valis, the rest of the pieces in the room would probably take him months to save up for if he damaged them.
A knock on the door was the only warning that they received before said door was opened. Raul came in carrying a ridiculously expensive looking tea set. Behind him another adventurer followed him, some tiny sandwiches on a silver platter in her hands.
The girl had slightly longer than shoulder length black hair and a pair of black cat ears on her head, marking her as a cat person. She wore a black top that left her shoulders bare with long black gloves that came to a stop at her bicep. She also wore a white skirt that ended right below her thighs and a pair of long black stockings and tall brown boots.
Her unusually gray eyes locked onto him and a scowl showed itself on her otherwise pretty features. Though never officially meeting the girl, he could feel her anger towards him. He knew that people didn't generally like outsiders inside their Familia's base of operations but her glare seemed a little over the top.
"Here you are Lady Riveria, if there's anything else you need let Aki know, I'll be leaving for awhile on that task for Gareth."
Riveria nodded to the human, taking the tea and pouring herself a cup and one for Bell as well. "Thank you, Raul. That should be all. I don't believe our business here will take too long. You may both go."
The cat girl continued to glare at Bell even as she put her own tray down before Raul elbowed her in the side. The glare was turned to the "High Novice" but was met by a somewhat disappointed look to which the girl's ears somewhat flattened on her head and she made for the door. Raul turned to him and gave a sheepish smile and a wave before walking off, a half apology for his colleague.
At least not everyone here hated his presence. He didn't want to think that the only people that didn't hate him in this Familia were Aiz and the two Amazonian sisters.
"I apologize for some of my Familia's behavior towards you. We normally do not have guests visit the Twilight Manor. Try not to let it bother you. It's nothing personal."
"It sure feels personal" he couldn't help but think.
Instead of answering, he just let out an awkward laugh while rubbing the back of his head. What was he supposed to say anyway? It wasn't like he was going to say the truth and make this situation any more awkward than it already was. Which to be honest, would be quite the feat since he felt completely out of place here.
Maybe if Aiz was here he could relax a little but as it was, he felt completely out of his element. Alone in perhaps literal enemy territory. But he had been invited and someone like Riveria wouldn't have done so without a reason, right? Now was as good a time as any to find out. "Umm, Lady Alf, what was it that you wanted to talk about?"
The woman set down her tea and let out a small sigh. While her posture belied little of what she was thinking, there was a slight hesitation in her eyes. "Yes, I suppose we are sufficiently alone now. First, I would like to thank you for meeting with me so quickly. I was afraid that you may reject me on such short notice."
He tried to wave off her apology, an embarrassed flush washing over his face. "You don't have to say that! I wasn't doing anything and I don't have any reason to say no. If anything, I should be the one thanking you!"
His voice came out a nervous wreck and he stopped himself from starting to ramble incoherently. It was something he often did when embarrassed. Instead, he took a moment to compose himself before continuing. "Lili told me that you found her when she was escaping from the Minotaur on the 9th floor. If it wasn't for you, she may not have made it out of the dungeon. You healed her when you had no reason to. Not only that, but you rescued us from the dungeon after the fight with the Minotaur. Not to mention everything you did for us on the 18th floor."
He fought the nervous blush that had spread across his face, her jade eyes now focused solely on him in a curious expression. He tried to find the words to express just how much she and the rest of the Loki Familia had done for him and his party in the past month.
Not finding the words, he settled for standing up and bending at his waist and bowing as low as he could. "Thank you for everything!"
The sound of laughter filled his ears. Soft and whimsical. He looked up to see the High Elf with a hand held in front of her face, preventing him from seeing her smile but it couldn't hide the mirth that danced in her eyes.
"It seems Aiz was correct when she said you were a very earnest individual. I accept your thanks."
The smile on her face died however and the mood seemed to go with it. He quickly sat back down as a frown made its way to her face. He couldn't help but feel a lump in his stomach as she closed her eyes. "But you brought up what happened on the 9th floor. That was one of the reasons I wanted to speak to you. I wanted to take this opportunity to properly apologize to you for my actions that day."
Rubliette eyes widened, disbelief filling him as he focused on the Elf across from him. Her eyes were closed and head slightly bent, a small bow of apology. While far more reserved than the far-eastern bowing that Lord Takemikazuchi taught him, the mere act of her apologizing was something that he never expected.
For one he couldn't think of anything that she needed to apologize for. But more than that, Elves didn't apologize for almost anything. Even more so to someone of another race. According to Ryuu, it was a part of Elven culture that she found repulsive. Elves, for the most part, felt that their race were above other races. That theirs was one that was closest to the gods and that everyone else was dirty and impure. While not every Elf he had met was like that, he had seen it first hand from many of them. This perceived superiority was the primary reason Ryuu had left the Elven Holy Forests to begin with.
And while he couldn't say where Riveria stood in that respect, he never expected to hear an apology grace her lips for her own actions, perceived slight or otherwise.
His confusion must have been written on his face because he heard her sigh and look away, her eyes looking out the window nearby. "On the 9th floor, after you defeated the Minotaur, I looked at your status without your permission. I… I am capable of reading Hieroglyphs, I saw your entire status. For that offense I am deeply sorry."
Ah. Suddenly, everything made a lot more sense. There were few things that were considered taboo ever since the gods had descended to the lower world. Reading the status of someone from a different Familia was among the worst taboos one could break. Not only was it a gross invasion of privacy, but more importantly, it laid that person's life story bare to those that could read it.
Excelia was what the god's used to turn one's life experiences into tangible things such as stats, skills, magic, etc. Hestia had explained it as an open book and each bit of Excelia was a page in your book. If someone could read your book, they could find out a lot about that person and most worryingly, how to kill them.
If it turned out a person didn't have a resistance skill then all it would take would be a weak poison to kill them. Vice versa, if you knew they had a high resistance skill you could forgo poison altogether and find some other weakness. Those secrets were guarded above all else in most Familias.
While it wasn't like Riveria knowing his stats would make it that much easier to kill him, the difference in their levels were so vast that it didn't matter, it could have been an issue if he had any skills he wanted to keep secret. But all she would have seen at that point was his base stats and his swift strike magic, which she had already seen him use against the Minotaur.
Hestia would be beyond angry if she knew that it had happened. She'd come to the Twilight Manor and start making demands of Loki. But was he upset about it? A part of him felt that he should be but he couldn't bring himself to hate the person across from him. He hadn't been blowing smoke when he told her she had personally saved not only his life, but the lives of his party members. If it wasn't for Riveria, Lili may have bled out in the dungeon. Welf's leg may have not have been healed properly, leaving him crippled.
"It… must have been unavoidable. I don't blame you for what happened. It was beyond your control."
Her eyes snapped to his, surprise and something else he couldn't quite make out looked back at him. Her frown was still present however as she shook her head. "No. I did not have to look. I do not want there to be any misunderstanding. I am sorry about what I did but it was no accident."
Silence reigned between them, his eyes finding his lap while his fists clenched. Why did she have to make this even more difficult? He gave her an out, one she more than deserved given everything she had done for him.
Swallowing, he met her gaze and tried to smile, it didn't quite meet his eyes. "Even then I forgive you. Just, try not to do it again, ok?"
Her lips turned upward at his words and she gave him a brief nod. "Of course, it won't ever happen again."
He smiled back at her, happy that the tension in the air had finally dissipated. He hadn't known that she had even done something like that but the fact she seemed genuinely remorseful over it was enough for him. His goddess might not see it that way but what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her.
Riveria took a sip from her tea before letting out a content sigh. "I'm glad we were able to clear the air on this. It had been bothering me for some time. But that wasn't the only reason why I wanted to speak to you."
He stopped mid bite into one of the sandwiches that the cat girl had brought, his hunger from dungeon crawling all day finally getting the better of him. Instead of responding with his mouth full, he opted to just nod.
She took it with a small smile, seemingly used to such actions. "You have been the subject of discussion across Orario as of late. It's all I've heard about since returning from our expedition. The miraculous 'Little Rookie' and his incredible level up time. Everyone is wondering how you accomplished such a feat. Granted, I am aware of how you managed it and I promise you that I will not tell a soul how. Not even Loki herself."
He could only nod at her statement. He didn't know exactly what she was getting at but he didn't want to clarify. Maybe she meant his S rank stats, or his SS ranked agility? The latter of which he still didn't fully comprehend on how that was possible. Regardless he kept his mouth shut, she was obviously going somewhere with this. She wouldn't have brought him out all this way if she wasn't.
"I know that your growth is due to a number of factors and I am not trying to diminish your hard work or what you've accomplished thus far. But I know that this growth is mostly a result of your desire to grow stronger. I find myself curious however, what is it that's driving you to such lengths?"
'Why is it you're able to grow so strong so quickly?'
Aiz had asked him a similar question not too long ago atop the city walls. Being strong was the last thing he thought he was. He was a weak-willed cry baby that barely got by only thanks to those around him. He had been nothing but a coward until recently and that only changed because of his idol. Even now he didn't feel strong.
Against the Goliath he was barely able to do anything. He may have delivered the final blow but if it wasn't for the hundred or so other adventurers there he would've never had the chance. If it wasn't for Aiz's training, he would've been wiped out by the 9th floor Minotaur. He wouldn't have even made it to the 18th floor at all if it wasn't for Lili and Welf.
In truth, he wasn't strong, deep down he knew that. He had so much work to do to reach his goal, to be able to stand by her side, to fight with her. Even now it felt like an ocean separated them.
But much like Aiz, Riveria wouldn't appreciate such an answer, he could tell by the way she looked at him. While he didn't think his leveling made him as strong as everyone thought, he did understand why everyone wanted to know how he did it. Sadly, he didn't have an answer for them, at least not a satisfactory one.
"I…" He paused, his mind failing to find a better answer than what he had given Aiz. "There's a goal I have, that I need to reach no matter what it takes. There's someone that I admire. I want to be as strong as them, to catch up to them. If I become strong, I might be able to stand by her side."
He had been told by so many people that he couldn't compare himself to Aiz. She was the sword princess. Someone favored by the gods as a bastion of war and power. Her strength was legendary, and her beauty rivaled that of the goddesses themselves. She stood above all others and he couldn't hope to reach her height.
Despite that, he struggled and fought for every celch he could muster. Be it pitiful or unsightly, he would do everything in his power to reach her. To be the hero that she was to him. It didn't matter what it took, he would crash through any barrier or die trying.
The thought of it brought a warmness to his cheeks, the mild blush spreading out as he realized just who he was telling this to. He brought his ruby eyes up to meet the surprised jade across from him. Why was she looking at him like that?
Bewilderment mixed with amusement danced across her face, her words sneaking through a barely restrained smirk. "You're doing all of this… for a girl you fancy?"
At her words his face erupted into an inferno. It contrasted horribly with his snow-white hair and only worsened his embarrassment. Had he said she? He'd always been so careful to avoid that. Oh gods, how could he have let that slip? She must have thought so little of him. Just some kid chasing after a girl. How pathetic!
Her smile was damning, and he could hear the laughter in her words. "It's not the worst reason I've heard. It's just not the one I expected."
The tips of his ears were on fire, shame welling up inside of him. She thought he was a joke. He couldn't think of anything more mortifying than an adventurer he respected thinking of how pathetic his reasoning was. "That's not it!"
His heart pounded in his chest, but he fought through it. He couldn't let it stand like this. He tried his best to hide the unadulterated panic in his voice but knew it showed through. "That's not it at all. My grandfather raised me outside Orario. He would tell me stories of heroes and their adventures. He always told me that if I wanted it, I could be a hero too. All I needed to do was go to Orario to make my dreams come true."
He sighed, an old memory of the only family he had known before Hestia. He wondered if his grandfather would be proud of him? "When he died, I decided to follow his advice and came here. I didn't know the first thing about adventuring. I bit off more than I could chew and was nearly killed, should have been."
He remembered that day. A completely silent floor, the feeling of foreboding. Then a roar. A monstrous roar that shook him to his core. The Minotaur should've never been in the upper levels. It would have completely annihilated him if it wasn't for Aiz.
"Then she came. Just like a hero in one of my grandfather's tales. She saved me and showed me what it meant to be an adventurer. As silly as it is, she inspired me to truly want to be an adventurer, to be a hero. I thought that if I put everything into that goal, that maybe one day I might be able to be as good as her. That I might be able to fight alongside her, to be able to stand next to her and be recognized by her."
He knew it was a long shot, a pipe dream if there ever was one. Aiz Wallenstein was special, someone that was meant to stand above everyone else. How was he going to realistically reach her level? But that didn't matter, he would keep going until he eventually reached her, or his body gave out.
But now it was all in the open. Despite his face still burning with his own embarrassment, he didn't regret saying any of it. It was refreshing to have that off his chest. He hadn't even told his own goddess how he truly felt, the topic of Aiz always causing her mood to go sour for some reason.
Riveria's face however made him gulp. Gone was the mirth and laughter from only a minute ago. Her visage was marred and complicated, a mixture of emotions that he didn't like to see on the normally beautiful Elf's face.
"You… you're talking about Aiz, aren't you?"
He swallowed but it did nothing for the lump in his throat. He knew that Riveria would be able to piece it together once he began talking. Riveria was a pseudo-mother figure to not only Aiz, but the rest of the Loki Familia as well from what Aiz had told him. He had little doubt that Riveria was at least somewhat familiar with Aiz saving him on the 5th floor from the Minotaur. Nor was Riveria stupid by any means, he knew she might have pieced it together even if he didn't tell her everything.
He nodded to her question, not trusting his voice at the moment. He knew admitting this to someone in Aiz's Familia was dangerous, but it was better that he fully explain himself than let her figure it out later and jump to the wrong conclusions. There were already rumors floating around the Loki Familia that he was only using Aiz to get stronger, he had heard as much when he stayed in their camp on the 18th floor.
"I see."
The silence following those words was deafening. There wasn't any condemnation nor words of encouragement. Simply a statement and one that left him anxious all over. He dared not push her for more however, he knew that the situation of their Familias alone would make things overly complicated.
More moments passed which felt more like an eternity before the High Elf spoke. "Have you told her this?"
Another shake of his head in the negative. The mere thought of telling this to his idol made him quake. "There's no way I could tell her that! Not yet. Aiz wouldn't ever look at me that way. I'm not nearly strong enough. Once I've reached her level she might be able see me that way."
Someone like him didn't have any right to stand by her side, someone as weak as he was. Those words from that werewolf rolled through his mind, taunting him with his own pitifulness. Of course, Aiz Wallenstein wouldn't be interested in a weakling in any romantic sense. The fact that she had spent as much time as she had with him so far was amazing enough, he wouldn't delude himself into looking any deeper into it.
Riveria however didn't respond with words, her thoughts a mystery to him as she closed her eyes. Only an audible click of her tongue could be heard but he didn't say anything about it. Was she disappointed? Annoyed? Her face made it hard to tell but whatever it was, it wasn't happy.
"I cannot say that this thought never crossed my mind, but you must understand why this complicates things, do you not?"
He nodded his head, fully aware of the complications behind his feelings. Hestia had thoroughly gone over every little detail that would make any meaningful relationship between them beyond difficult. Even friendly Familias had problems sorting it out. Where would the allegiances lay if they had children? What Familia would the child be assigned to? While he wasn't thinking about anything even close to children, it would become a major point of conflict.
Not to mention Hestia and Loki were infamous for how poorly they got along. They would often fight both physically and with their words any time they ran into each other. Hestia had gone on and on about how annoying the other goddess was. It wasn't a new development either, they had been that way ever since they had met in the upper world. Any chance of them making peace was probably slim to none.
But that didn't mean he wasn't going to try. He had made it this far and he wasn't going to give up just because things wouldn't be easy. Speaking of, he risked a look at his host, her sharp eyes were closed, and her head slightly bent, no doubt lost in her own thoughts. Riveria was someone that Aiz respected, more than almost anyone else. If anyone would have an idea on what Aiz thought, it would be her. But could he really ask her something like that? He barely knew her.
But…
What did he have to lose at this point? He already had told her almost everything. In for a valis. "What do you think, Lady Alf?"
Green eyes snapped open, almost as if she had forgot him still there. "I beg your pardon?"
His blush intensified as he tried to not look at the woman across from him. "About what I said. A…about her a…and me?"
Gods, he couldn't even get the words out without stuttering. How pathetic was he? Still, he managed to ask, and he waited on baited breath for her response.
She didn't say anything at first. She just sat there watching him until the tips of her mouth moved ever so slightly. He wouldn't call it a full-blown smile, but it was close. "I think that isn't something I should comment on. That is a question best answered by the one it is intended for. Though if your question is if I am opposed to you trying, then rest assured that I am not. Aiz is her own person, as long as it does not cause problems for the Familia, she may pursue whomever she wishes."
Relief flooded his body, so much so that he barely stopped himself from slouching over in his seat. He half expected a warning or even a threat to not go after Aiz. But while she hadn't said she supported him, she hadn't said there wasn't any chance. That it was up to Aiz and Aiz alone. That was more than he could have hoped for.
"But if I may. Do not let the foolish words of others effect how you move forward. Only you can decide when the time is right. Do not let any misconceived notions hold you back or it might cost you what you want."
"Thank you, Lady Alf. I'll keep that in mind." He said with a genuine smile.
"And thank you, mister Cranel. I found this discussion to be very informative. I hope that we may be able to have more in the future. I'll see you out."
/-/
The glow of the Divine Mirror ebbed before flickering out of existence completely. One of the only powers still granted to the gods and goddesses that descended into the lower world, their Arcanum being completely sealed off otherwise. It was a way to limit their own influence, a way to make an even playing field and to make the game truly interesting.
The only powers that were still available to them were those that were purely used for their own entertainment. The Divine Mirror, an extension of their godly clairvoyance, was just that. It allowed any god to open a one-way window into any part of the world. Although it didn't come without its own risks. Overuse of said power for anything other than entertainment would be cause for instant removal from the lower world.
Not only that, any nearby god or goddess could see what you were viewing through their own Divine Mirror, a self-check among the gods to make sure no one was abusing the power.
But Loki cared little for that, a growl escaping her throat as she launched herself from her bed. "Riveria! Just what do you think ya doing!?"
Some of her loving children had informed her of Riveria's strange houseguest. While many of them were concerned, none wanted to feel Riveria's wrath by getting too nosey. So naturally they came to her, someone above such reprisals.
She nearly didn't use her Arcanum to listen in on Riveria and that brat's conversation. If it wasn't for that feeling in the pit of her stomach she just would've questioned Riveria about it later. Given what she heard, she was glad she eavesdropped on the two.
How could Riveria encourage Itty Bitty's two-bit follower to pursue her Aiz!? Like Hell she was going to allow something like that! Aiz was hers and hers alone to enjoy, no one else was ever going to come between them.
And to go behind her back about this? Oh, Riveria was being a naughty child indeed. That could be dealt with later however, for now she had a rabbit to skin.
A sinister smile came to Loki's face, her eyes opening ever so slightly into small slits. The look was one that she was so well known for in the upper world, one that was embodied on her Familia's symbol. It was the look of the Trickster God.
And that's that. This had actually been finished for quite some time as a pilot but I wanted to wait until I had more flushed out and ready to go before I released this chapter. Now that the storyboard is completed and everything in the notes is flushed out to a significant degree I felt this was ready, and just in time for the second season of Danmachi to be released in a week's time.
On that note, there will be some similarities between book 6 and the intro arc but after that the story diverges into a completely original storyline. But don't worry, there are significant changes from book 6 due to this chapter's divergence. It won't be a simple rehash of canon.
As for my other stories, don't worry, they are being worked on and The Last of His Name is actually done, it's just being edited by my beta, once he sends it back it'll be updated so hopefully this week sometime, he's pretty busy so I don't like to rush him.
Anyway, let me know what you think in the reviews!