Disclaimer: I do not own DanMachi or any of the Omori's original characters, nor do I make any profit off of my writing.

Whispers filled the void of silence that followed in the horseman's wake, families bunching closer to one another and shuffling their children behind them as the figure peered over them with a lifeless gaze.

".. who is that?"

".. why are they here?"

".. nobody ever comes to our village, why now?"

Slowly, methodically, the armored knight reached behind their back. Leaning back ever so slightly, there hand disappeared into their horse's saddlebags and returned with a scroll.

A scroll baring the mark of the royal family of Rakia.

Another wave of hushed voices broke out accompanied by several step backs.

Still, the figure did not speak, giving no indication on why they've arrived.

It was supposed to be a good day, a quiet day, a day of rest. The time had finally come for the annual Firith Festival and the entire town had gathered at the center to celebrate the time of fading, when the autumn season slowly creeps away and the winter months take hold over their valley.

It was a time for family, for friends. A special day devoted to take a moment to appreciate all those who surround you. It had been that way ever since Bell could remember, even before his grandfather's death.

He supposed it was only fitting it would be the day they were all torn apart.

"Orario has fallen."

With a single sentence, a simple three words, a chill swept through the valley. The man, either not knowing or not caring, continued on with his announcement.

"Three days ago, an unsourced earthquake was felt over the entirety of the continent. The Dungeon City was leveled by an explosion of unknown origins. Babel has fallen. The walls have fallen. And monsters now have free reign over the prairies that surround the city."

Bell was vaguely aware of the small hands of a child gripping at the hem of his shirt, the girl not even fully aware of the severity of the man's words, only of the fear encapsulating the town square.

"All able-bodied men and women over the age of thirteen are to report to the nearest kingdom for conscription into the army."

The world was silent, all Bell could hear were the words slipping from between the slits of the helmet of the harbinger and the pounding of blood through his ears.

"Under normal circumstances, you would fall under the sovereignty of the Alf's, however Elven nobility has all but refused the placement of humans into their armies, so High King Ares of Rakia has graciously extended an invitation."

Slowly, the man peered over the crowds, his gaze not lingering on anybody for more than an instant yet feeling far longer. The scroll in his hands was rolled up tightly before being tossed to the village elder.

"Gather here by dawn. Anybody not there will be left behind."

Nobody moved as the man pulled on his steed's reigns. Nobody breathed as his back turned to fully face them. Nobody spoke as the horse slowly cantered away, disappearing into the forests that lined their village.

A dread collectively pooled in their stomachs as they turned their heads to face where the sun was setting over the eastern horizon. A horizon that once led to the walled city. A horizon that would soon be overrun with monsters.

Bell tugged the front of his jacket tighter over his chest but it did nothing to dispel the chill in his bones.

He doubted he would be feeling the warmth of a home for a long time.

It changed nothing.

All those months ago, Bell had made a choice. One he now couldn't help but think had been the wrong one.

He gave up on trying to be a hero.

He returned home.

Nobody had known where he was going, he had left in the dead of night, so when he had mysteriously turned up three weeks later it had been a time of joy. One of their missing sons had come home. They'd thought he'd been taken by monsters, stolen away into the night never to be seen again.

They had no idea he was simply a coward too weak to become an adventurer, much less a hero.

But.. what if?

What if he had stayed? If he had tried that much harder to find a god willing to take him under their wing? If he had managed to get that little bit of help he needed to begin his new life?

Would this have happened?

Would Orario have fallen?

Would– would all of those people, those innocents, have died?

He didn't want to think it, didn't want to consider the possibility. A city of millions. Gone. Disintegrated.

The man hadn't mentioned any survivors, Bell couldn't imagine there were any. What hope would there have been? A city reduced to ruin in a single night, the likes had only been seen once before in the Abandoned World.

But that was the Black Dragon.

This wasn't.

Something else had happened, something Bell maybe could have stopped had he just been there. Had he just gotten the one thing he needed. He could have helped. He knows he could have.

And know they were here.

Stood at the edge of a village sitting at the base of the Alv mountains – as parents attempted to calm crying children even as they fell apart themselves and as the elders snuck extra provisions and clothes into the packs of unknowing villagers – Bell couldn't help but mourn. Mourn for the city that was lost, mourn for those who would fall in the fight to come, mourn for the grandparents he knew already planned to sneak away from the village at night to prevent themselves from slowing down the convoy.

Now was not the time for greed, Bell understood that. He would give his everything in this war.

It did not make it any easier.

He wondered, briefly, just how many of those around him would survive. How many of the friends and family he had surrounded himself with his entire life wouldn't make it to see the end of this conflict. How many of those who grieved for him when he disappeared and cheered when he returned would one day fall beneath a monster. Would they make it?

.. would he?

Author Notes:

So, Bell leaves Orario and is not there for the raid on Knossos; Nidhogg detonates and the city falls. No, I'm not writing any more on this topic, if you feel inspired by it then by all means go ahead and take the idea and run with it.

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