So it turned out the boy's guardian was letting him walk outside as a motoric learning process. He was two years old boy named Bell Cranel. His guardian, an elderly grandfather name Iovian Cranel, invited her to visit their house.
Ryuu definitely did not expect this kind of development. She couldn't hold back her grin at all. To think that Argonaut's possible reincarnation was here with her...
"So, what's a young Elven girl like you doing in this village? Actually, it's rare to see a young elf like you, miss."
Ryuu nodded. "Indeed. My name is Ryuu Lion, an aspiring bard. I am on a journey to enrich myself. I intend to book an inn for a day before continuing my journey tomorrow."
"A bard on a journey, huh...? Interesting. Can you perform for us?" The grandfather challenged her. Little Bell just followed his grandfather's claps without knowing the meaning.
And so Ryuu answered the challenge. For the first few songs, she used the original songs that she made in this life. It wasn't until after a while that she performed her past life's songs and poems. All the while, the elder Cranel looked at her strangely.
"A fan of Wishe, are you?" he spoke to her.
"Indeed, they're an inspiration for us Elves," she vaguely answered. "I plan to make it my specialty. Wishe is famous, after all. As I build my reputation performing Wishe's songs, so do I would spread my own original songs and poems."
Iovian hummed as he observed her. "Then, what's your favorite piece from Wishe?"
Hearing that, Ryuu had a melancholic smile. In her past life, everything she made into songs and poems was after her own experience. Being asked which piece was her favorite? That was like asking what was her fondest memories.
"There are too many to say. But if I have to pick one, it's a tie between Argonaut and Fianna," Ryuu answered, stroking Bell's head softly.
Indeed. Her fondest memories were seeing Argonaut's rise and Finn's heroic resurgence.
"Hear that Bell? She also loves Argonaut!"
Bell made excited noises as his grandfather raised him up.
"Though, I was a little surprised by your answer. Wishe's Argonaut was a little more dramatic than the one from Orna. It was as if there's something hidden underneath the comedy."
Ryuu's eyes turned sharper. There was something strange about the elder Cranel. How could she only notice this now and not before? She didn't know.
There was no mistaking the aura she felt from him, though. Iovian Cranel was an alias, that was for sure. After all, everybody knew the Gods couldn't have children, much less a grandson.
"Who are you?"
Her interest was piqued. Here she had a possible Argonaut reincarnation under the care of a God.
"I'm just an old man taking care of his grandson," the elderly Cranel said with a small chuckle, avoiding the question.
She did not believe it one bit. But she guessed everybody was privy to their own secret, so she let that slide this time.
"I have another question, Ryuu the Bard," Iovian asked her after he tucked Bell to bed later that evening. "Why are you journeying the land instead of going to Orario? After all, that's where the modern heroes are born."
Ryuu only let out a small laugh before she replied. "You won't believe how many times I've been asked that question. The short answer is that Orario is my goal, but I want to enrich myself first before going there."
"Is that so? I understand."
"Now that Bell isn't here, I have a confession to make."
Iovian blinked. "Yes?"
"The truth is, I am the reincarnation of Wishe."
There was silence before Ryuu continued.
"I'm surprised you're not skeptical. Then again, you are a God. Us mere mortals cannot comprehend what's on your mind."
"You're too mature even for Elves. I know there was something strange about you. Who would've thought that you are a reincarnation?" Iovian laughed. After a few seconds, he continued. "No wonder a child like you can remember every single verse of Wishe's collections."
"Indeed," Ryuu smiled. "There's no way I can forget my own creation, after all."
Another silence fell as Ryuu hummed another familiar tune.
"What was the purpose of telling me that?" Iovian finally asked.
Ryuu pondered the question, trying to construct a satisfying answer. After all, she didn't even think about the consequence of telling him her secret. She just did because of little Bell.
"I suppose I have to tell you something. Bell Cranel. His face really resembles someone else I know from my past life. Considering that my own appearance is identical to my past self, I decided to take it as a sign that Little Bell soon might recover the memories of his past life."
Iovian had a shark-like grin. "So you noticed that he's looking similar to Argonaut, eh? Is that why you sang the Clown's March to him?"
Ryuu gasped. Nobody else should know what Argonaut looked like except those that knew him in his past life! Who was this God in front of her?
"I must admit, Good Sir, that you caught me," Ryuu shook her head with a smile. "Now if you are benevolent enough to answer who are you, I would be really grateful."
"No need to be that formal! I've left everything to the new generations and now I'm just an observer." There was a melancholic look on his face, Ryuu noted. "But to answer your question, I watched the entire tragedy around Argonaut's rise and was mesmerized by how he turned it into a comedy. You can say that I'm the first fan of Argonaut."
"Then, was Bell planned?" She could picture it. Bell Cranel. A hero that inspired others just like how he did it thousands of years ago.
"Hahaha! No way! Although I pushed my boy Jason to go bang Meteria, the result was out of my hands. Our Arcanum is sealed, after all." Iovian laughed out loud. "I just thought it was a coincidence that he looked like Argonaut. To think that his memories might recover... I sort of regret my promise to become just an observer of heroes again."
"Then, why don't you train Little Bell?"
"No can do. That's not how heroes are born. He shouldn't walk my path, or yours, or even Argonaut's. Bell needs to walk his own path." Iovian then looked at her. "The same goes to you, Wishe's reincarnation. Your path isn't Wishe's."
Ryuu tipped the hat she wore and smiled. "I choose this because I still love heroes, Good Sir. I have no doubt that if I don't remember my past life, I wouldn't choose this path. Yet, I still love heroes. I can train myself, go to Orario, and join as one of the heroes, but then I wouldn't be able to feel goosebumps as I watch a hero's rise. If a bard isn't there, who, then, would spread tales of their glory? Who would tell the people that they exist?"
Ryuu looked at him.
"Take a look at Zeus and Hera Familia. Two of the strongest and greatest Familia in Orario a few years ago, and now nothing but names. Who could tell their past glory? Nowadays, all people remembered is how they lost against the One-Eyed Black Dragon. They don't remember how Zeus and Hera Familia slew the Behemoth and Leviathan, two of the three Great Quests. Don't you think it's a little heartbreaking?"
Finishing her explanation which also served as a rant, Ryuu saw Iovian laughing boisterously instead of being impressed.
"You're absolutely right! I should've hired a bard to chronicle Zard's fight against Behemoth!"
And at that moment, Ryuu realized exactly who was the elderly figure in front of her.
A/N: Right now we're twelve years before canon. Bell is a two years old kid and Ryuu, the crazy bard she is, roamed the land as a nine years old. She has self-defense training, though. Anyway, Ryuu left for Orario when she was eleven in canon, so nine years old is just two years in Elven years; in other words, insignificant.
Anyway. I took a short break to see if there's gonna be extra story, but nope. So let's continue!