AN:
Chapter Title: The second serving
Hestia was thankful for her new child as he had come to her with information regarding some adventurers from the town of Rivira that had become increasingly jealous of her first child's progress and ability, they had been planning to kidnap her to use as bait to draw out Bell so they could 'teach him a lesson'. As her second child has called it.
Something she had noticed very quickly about her new child was his unwavering devotion to helping others, be it her, Bell, Bell's party members or even the children of Loki's Familia that were down here. Though she had begun to feel a familiarity to his presence and Falna that was unlike a normal person and somewhat closer to a gods, she supposed that might have just been the territory of her newest member being the spirit of a Hero from a different history.
However he had been right on the Valis about Bell receiving magic from him being summoned and now had a second magic that gave Bell a chant for summoning more Servants. She was very interested to see who and what else might be summoned, Alcides had made it clear to them that they may not necessarily summon heroes but people who had made it to the 'Throne of Heroes' as confusing as that was.
She felt safe having such a strong and loyal child around all the time that was for sure.
Hopefully when they arrived back on the surface and could return to their home in the church, her first child could see about another Servant then. According to the Pallum from Loki's Familia she had spoken with they would be able to leave within a few hours, which was why Hestia was currently spending time with her new addition while Bell had been whisked away by Hermes for a reason he wouldn't share with her.
The goddess had made good use of her time with Alcides and learned as much as she could about him in the short time that had passed as to get a better judgement of his character and past.
Alcides' good nature meant he was open to telling the tale of his life to the goddess not leaving out any of the details no matter how painful they were to recollect. It was because of this that she found out that she and many of her other friends were also deities where he was from but were significantly worse. It made Hestia wonder how the man was so calm and could trust gods after all that happened, but was glad that he wasn't worse for it.
"Thank you for telling me all of that Alcides." She said when the man finished.
They were sitting across from one another at the campsite where few remaining members of the Loki Familia were remaining to be the final group to leave.
"You needn't thank me Goddess, I am in need of thanking you for taking interest in my life." The large man bowed his head. "I have only been summoned twice like this and am grateful for such a… mundane experience."
Bell finally returned with his party members, without Hermes, half an hour later when the conversation between the two divine entities had begun to slow down as Hestia exhausted all the information she could be from the man. When they returned she went about helping them to get ready for the expedition back up, she had wanted to take her new childs offer on running them back to the top but declined it so he could get a better layout of the dungeon for helping Bell in the future as suggested by the Pallum in Bells party.
Both her and Crozzo, having met the man proper and been informed by Bell about his nature, were quite baffled but thankful either way for what he had done for them, and had thanked the white haired boy for summoning the Hero on accident.
Finally they set out on the six hour long journey through the Dungeon ascending through the floors at a faster pace that expected by the leader of the group due to the unseen influence of the Heroic Spirit giving updates to his Master and now Goddess who had in the formation of the contract been giving some level of similar connection as the one he held with his summoner. This allowed for the two to telepathically communicate with the Spirit as well as provide him with more than enough mana to sustain him.
It was as the group arrived on the fifth floor that Hestia had a chance between the fighters and her Bell defending them that she was able to ask the boy about what he had been doing. This led to Bell telling her about the Elf Ryuu who was helping them and had played a great part in getting her and Hermes to the 18th floor in the first place. Finding out about what the woman had spoken to him about when they walked around after Hermes had dragged him off to spy on some of the women as they bathed.
Believing that her child would never do anything like that on his own, she understood completely that Hermes had put him up to it and had likely already paid the price from his Captain.
[The Long Walk]
It wasn't until a day and a half later when the Hestia Familia was well rested and had cashed in all the Magic Stones that earned them a hefty sum of Valis, was when Bell and Hestia began setting up for the summoning of another Servant following the ritual detailed in Bell's recent Status update.
Having set up the supposedly infinitely powerful wish granting device upon a pedestal in the Churches main hall and moving the old broken pews out of the way and drawing out the magical circle on the floor. The degraded and worn stone now painted with a silver design that shimmered under the sunlight that shone upon the ground through the cracked and half shattered panes of glass murals.
"Are you ready Master?" The large Servant asked as the white haired boy took a deep breath looking to his Goddess hiding behind the Heroic Spirit to keep safe from whatever might happen.
"I am."
Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill.
Let each be turned over five times, simply breaking asunder the fulfilled time.
Let silver and steel be the essence.
Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation.
Let my great master ■■■■■■■■ be the ancestor.
Raise a wall, against the wind that shall fall.
Close the four cardinal gates.
The air became stagnant in the Church as the silver design sank in the stone and began to glow an ethereal light unlike anything the Goddess and Boy had ever witnessed. With his arm outstretched over the circle Command Seals glowing he continued reciting.
Come out from the crown.
Rotate the three-branched road reaching the Kingdom.
– I shall declare here.
Your body shall serve under me.
My fate shall be with your sword.
Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail.
As the magical energy gathered it sparked and writhed arcing out wildly causing some worry in the goddess and Master.
If you will submit to this will and this reason… then answer!
– An oath shall be sworn here! I shall attain all virtues of all of Heaven. I shall have dominion over all evils of all of Hell! – From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power, come forth from the ring of restraint, Protector of the Balance!
There was a enormously loud and large explosion of magical energy that crack and matted the stone floor as chunks were sent flying around the room, Alcides grabbed ahold of his Masters' and pulled them aside behind one of the pushed aside pews where he covered them with his form as tens of shattered stone tiles smashed into his back.
After the explosion cleared and heavy thick smoke and dust began to settle a childish sounding yell could be heard drawing the attention of the three skyward as the sound came from above getting louder until ultimately-
"AH!"
A voice shrieked as the clatter of ceramic tiles being broken filled their ears and a small form crashed in through the ceiling landing directly on top of another silhouette amongst the settling dust.
"Ow..." the pained groans of two voices met the ears of the three that were now looking back to where the circle had been.
"That's certainly a first." a young voice said as they all watched a boy with very distinct blonde hair and odd dress stand up from the messy state of the floor.
"Quite" another voice commented as the form of a person with long flowing green hair stood dressed in similarly flowing white robes that almost billowed in the breeze that went through the church.
"Do I know you?" the green haired individual asked the child before noticing the others with them.
"Hello Master!" he said with a sudden change of tone sounding more jovial. "My name is… well you can call me Gil." He said rocking back and forth on his heels the grey hoodie he wore swaying around over his blue t-shirt and cargo shorts.
"!" The green haired individual remembered why they were there as well and introduced themselves. "Servant, Lancer. Enkidu."
"Your call has activated me. Please use me as you wish. Mercy is unnecessary, Master." The now named Enkidu said easily.
"Whoa, I summoned two Servants!" Bell cheered in excitement with his Goddess as they bounced around all the while Alcides stood by idly watching his new comrades with a furrowed brow.
"You… you're..." the man said, feeling a sense of familiarity with the child in front of him.
Gil smiled "I don't know what you're talking about Mister, I'm just me and I'm here to help my new Master."
"It's nice to meet you Gil and Enkidu!" Hestia said cutting in before whatever response Alcides could come up with. "I'm Hestia and I would like you to join my Familia." she extended a hand to the pair which both accepted and shook separately.
"It seems the world isn't much different from during my life if gods still walk the earth." Enkidu answered.
"You're from a time when gods walked the Earth?" the goddess asked.
"Yes I am a tool created to reign in a certain man, but that is not the case now I am here to serve My master."
"You're not a tool Enkidu… or Lancer? Which do you prefer?" Bell asked his new Servant unsure how to address them.
He was finding it difficult to ascertain whether or not his new servant was a female or male as well, which reminded him of the time he saw Loki in the Hostess of Fertility. He wasn't sure what to make of Gil yet, but the boy seemed younger than him and wasn't sure what would qualify a child to be a hero.
"You may call me what you like Master." The Spirit said, making things a little worse for him.
"We'll call you Enkidu then! A name is the most important thing to a person- it defines who you are as much as your soul does!" Hestia said with determination and conviction.
"Your name suits you." The blonde haired boy said, adding his own thoughts into the conversation.
"Now that we've sorted that out, would you like to join my Familia?" The dark haired goddess asked with a smile.
"Of Course!" Gil answered without hesitation and a grin.
"If that is what Master wishes." Said the tool looking for confirmation.
"If you would?" Bell responded.
"It's settled then." Hestia said, asking the new Servants to follow her down a set of stairs leaving Bell with his first Servant.
"Would you like to eat something Master Bell? You look quite worn out from the ritual." Alcides said with a soft expression.
"Yeah..." Whatever energy had been in the boy had seeped away as he started to feel the fatigue of supporting so many Servants. "Is it normal to summon more than one Servant?"
"No, I believe there is something foul at play… as I understand it, the boy didn't say his class did he?" He pondered to his Master as the Servant found some food the Goddess had brought for breakfast.
"Oh that's weird he didn't did he..." The white haired boy said with a furrowed brow. "Do you know what Class he is Alcides?"
"I do not."
"We'll have to wait for them to come back then I can ask." Sitting down on one of the pews as he rested waiting.
Alcides dematerialized as not to drain his Master any more. While Bell waited for his Goddess to return he thought about what his first servant had said as he began to feel the strain of Servant upkeep lessen as he presumed his new Familia members finished their contracts.
[Old Friends]
High above the city called Orario was the Goddess Freya alone in a chamber with a view of the ongoings of the people, though the common people were not what had her ire but the white rabbit of whom she was infatuated with.
"Why dear Bell" The woman's voice quivered as she spoke his name. "Not only have you passed my Ottar's challenge but you've found your own unique power to collect Heroes..." Her voice trailed off as suddenly the view was cut short and she could no longer view Bell.
"What!?" She almost yelled in confused frustration.
Her view had suddenly cut off in the middle of the boy chanting the words of a spell to summon spirits. Freya cursed out in anger as an hour passed and still nothing, she was completely unable to view her pet project any longer leading to an explosion of emotion as she tore the room apart with a great fury calling upon Ottar to come to her.
[Bitter Torment]
"Wow you Spirits really are amazing!" Hestia said as she handed off the sheets to her newest members allowing for them to read their status'. "Like Alcides' both of yours have these unreadable pieces."
Gilgamesh of Uruk(Child)
Level 1
Strength: I0
Defense: I0
Dexterity: I0
Agility: I0
Magic: I0
Magic:
Gate of Babylon:
Treasury of humanities oldest hero.
_-_-_: Binding chains.
Sha Naqba Imuru: The Omniscient Omnipotent Star -
Able to discern truth from lies and see the eyes of all creation.
Skills:
Divinity: Proof of heritage
Independent Action: Gives large boost to parameters when acting alone
Magic Resistance: Small resistance to spells cast against person
"These aren't that different from our parameters." The child offered looking at his own with mild interest.
"I see, these are an actualization of our strength and connection to you then Goddess?" Enkidu asked, tilting their head.
"Sort of yeah!"
The green haired Servant looked at their sheet reading over its details.
Enkidu/Chain of Heaven
Level 1
Strength: I0
Defense: I0
Dexterity: I0
Agility: I0
Magic: I0
Magic:
Enuma Elish:
Transforms their own body into a Divine Construct becoming the ultimate weapon.
Age of Babylon: The creation of weapons, such as swords, spears and chains, from the ground, with each being the pinnacle of craftsmanship.
Skills:
Magic Resistance: Quarters effects of spells cast against person
"It's really amazing some of the Magic you have too!" the goddess commented. "Though I'm not sure how to understand them since they aren't specific."
"It appears you are just as I remember." Enkidu suddenly commented reading their close friend's sheet over his shoulder. "Even rescinded in age you are never without your treasury."
"Wait, do you two know one another?" Hestia asked, she had seen the similarity in magic names but just assumed they may not have known one another.
"He and I were friends in life." Enkidu commented a soft smile crossing their face as they looked at the red eyed boy.
"I see that's why you seemed so familiar then." Gil responded. "You must have known my older self?" he asked, feigning ignorance to their connection.
"What are the odds of that?" Hestia asked no one in particular as she led the Servants back to her first child showing him their status sheets.
After showing Bell the status sheets the Goddess suggested going and properly enrolling the new Servants with the guild, so that they could join the boy in the Dungeon when he went down with his party the next time. Once they had arrived at the Guild building and caused a deal of interest to arise with Eina Tulle the Hestia Familia's advisor who was thrilled to see an influx of members that appeared competent and strong enough to support Bell as well as their Goddess who had been hanging off her first child the entire trip as they walked through the city.
During this time Bell got to know his new Servants better by conversing with them as they traveled until eventually they ran into Welf who had been looking for the boy, having had a new idea for some armour he wanted to make the boy. Leading to the new members of the Familia introducing themselves to the blacksmith who was amazed at the fact of Bell managing to summon more Spirits, but didn't speak on the matter much more at the request of Lady Hestia as she didn't want anyone to find out about the issue if she could help it.
As celebration for the events of the day all the members of the Hestia Familia, Welf and Lily went to the Hostess of Fertility. The Goddess of Hearth and Home was more than happy to ask the members of her child's Adventuring party along to the event as they used some of the money they had been saving up to buy a massive feast for them all to enjoy with much fanfare and mirth.
The whole event making the newest members feel right at home in their new situation even if there wasn't a war to fight in they'd at least be able to help a boy all the Servants could see was destined for great things.
In Hestia's eyes the highlight of the night was when she showed off her new members to Loki and her children when they came in for dinner as the two goddess' got into a shouting match over who had stronger members when they became intoxicated beyond belief. Though they would be pulled apart from one another by their children amongst the fighting the red eyed blonde haired Gil found the whole ordeal immensely hilarious almost cheering them on as several older women brought him drinks as his charm worked in his favour to make his own experience more enjoyable. Alcides found the ordeal problematic and unworthy of his Goddess as he wished not to see a once great and widely beloved being brought down so low as to get into unnecessary squabbles with others.
Bell found peace in talking with his friends before the Goddess' almost started brawling which had been stopped by him, Alcides, Ais and Mama Mia.
As the day drew on Bell found the strain of his Servants lessen rather than become harder, he asked his first Servant who assumed it was something to do with Falna and the goddess taking on the part of also sustaining them. He still wasn't very informed about the Spirits but had decided to spend all his spare time learning about them when he wasn't with Welf or Lily.
[Party after Dark]
"Good morning Master." Alcides greeted Bell as the boy left the bed he and the Goddess slept in.
"Morning 'cides..." Bell yawned as he groggily dressed himself and slowly got into his clothes and then armour. Putting his special knife in a sheath under his right bracer and the Minotaur knife on his hip.
The little rookie noticed the lack of his Goddess which was fine because he knew she was still working for Hephaestus, but his new Servants weren't around.
"Where are the other two?" he asked the large archer.
"I believe Gil got permission from Lady Hestia to see about finding better lodgings for the time being until we have earned enough to purchase a new home." Alcides answered.
"Where's Enkidu then?"
"They went with Lady Hestia to make sure she stays safe after I informed them about the incident where those adventurers almost kidnaped her in the Dungeon." The Archer walked along with his master as they left the church heading out to the street in the dilapidated part of the city with all the old destroyed buildings.
"Right… so you'll be coming into the Dungeon with us then?" Bell asked, looking up to the man.
"I will, yes."
AN: Like I said at the end of the last chapter I wasn't really sure whether or not I'd peruse more chapters or not so just understand that, otherwise my choice for the Servants this chapter are purely based on my thinking that Kid Gil would be fun to have and Enkidu was one of the easier to write lancers of the ones I decided between.
Also I am aware that Kid Gil is an archer, if I do more then it'll get explained why he's there.