Chapter 2: The change
Twilight Manor:
Aiz P.O.V:
I'm in a green place that looked like a forest.
I looked around and saw a young woman and a little girl on the lap of the older one, both of them had golden hair and golden eyes and wearing white dresses.
The woman was holding a book that "The Legend Of Argonaut" on its cover and reading it to the little one. Then, the girl said.
"Mommy, I love this story. "The girl was innocently smiling and the older one smiled at her and replied.
"Me too, my dear. Do you know why? "Then the young one asked.
"Why? "
"Because the girl found her hero without even wanting one like I found your father. I hope you do too."
Then the room became dark and the girl was all alone in a cave-like place and a minotaur-like monster attacked her and when it was about to reach her the monster was killed by a swordman with black hair and ocean blue eyes.
"Daddy. "The little girl screamed at the man that saved her while hugging him and the man patted her head and said to her.
"I can't be your hero. I have your mother. You'll find your own. "When he said that the place became dark.
...
...
...
...
I opened my eyes and found myself in my room.
'So, it was all a dream. It's been a while since I dreamt about them 'I thought as a small smile came to my face.
I got up and washed my face.
I walked out of my room and went to Loki's room so she can update my status because I couldn't yesterday.
I walked for about 5 minutes and when I arrived I noticed that Lefiya and Tiona just arrived in front of the room.
"Hi there, Aiz. "Tiona said with her normal energetic voice.
"Good morning Aiz-San. Are you here to update your status as well. "Lefiya said with a smile on her face.
"Yes. "I replied with a low voice then, Tiona approached me and looked at me with a very 'interested in something' look on her face which confused me until a smile was brought into her face and she whispered to my ear with a little mischief in her voice which was unnatural for her.
"Yep, you look so happy. "
'I look happy?. Was it because of the dream? Or was because...' I was thinking until Loki's door opened from the inside.
"Did you come to see little old me? Give me a hug. "Loki screamed at us and jumped at Lefiya until Lefiya punched her on the face.
"Stop doing this. This isn't funny Loki. "Lefiya screamed with a lot of disgust in her voice. Loki got like nothing happened and said with her calm voice.
"Okay. You're here to update your status, right. Then, get in and strip up. "
We entered the room together and Loki was updating the status of the three of us at the same time.
"Wow. You three have been working very hard..." Loki said that until she suddenly stopped for no reason and then.
"What the..." She creamed and copied our status, put it on a desk, and left while saying.
"You three wear your clothes before looking at your status and I will get Finn and the others. "
After saying that she left which confused us.
We wore our clothes and went to the desk and flipped our status which revealed a very interesting development.
Ais Wallenstein Level 5
Strength: D561-D587
Defense: D550-D569
Utility: A815-A827
Agility: A814-A854
Magic: A896-S909
Hunter: G
Abnormal Resistance: G
Swordsman: H-G
Mage: I
Magic
Ariel: Tempest.
Aria: Heal US Great Wind Spirit.
Skills
Avenger: Heavily increases the user's attack power against monsters, massively increases the user's attack power against dragon-type monsters. Effect rises based on the user's hate.
Liaris Freese: Fast growth as long as feelings last. The strength of the effects corresponds with the level of the user's feelings. As a side effect, it makes the user immune to charms. (+29%)
Ariadne: The user status is boosted when fighting with a sword. While fighting with allies with a sword the effect increase and affect them as well.
Aria: Increase wind-magic effect and reduce the mind used as well.
Lefiya Viridis Level 3
Strength: I86-H106
Defense: H184-H196
Utility: G210-G231
Agility: G271-G295
Magic: S960-S985
Mage: H-F
Abnormal Resistance: I-H
Magic Resistance: I
Magic
Arcs Ray: Unleashed streak of light, bow limbs of the holy tree. You are an expert of the bow. Shoot, sniper of the fairies. Penetrate, arrow of absolute accuracy
Fusillade Fallarica: Proud warrior, snipers of the forest. Take up your bows before the advancing plunderers. Answer the call of your brethren and ready your arrows. Tinge them with flame, the lamplight of the forest. Release them, the fire arrows of the fairies. Falling like rain, burn away the savages.
Elf Ring: I wish upon the name of Wishe. Ancestors of the forest, proud brethren. Answer my call and come to the plains. Connecting bonds, the pledge of paradise. Turn the circle and dance around. Come, ring of fairies. Please - give me strength.
Skill
Fairy Cannon: Increases the effects of Magic. The effect doubles when used with attack Magic.
Double Canon: Lets the user keep the magic circle of magic they'd finished chanting as a ring on their left arm by using mind. Allows the user to use it whenever they wanted. The user is only able to keep one magic. Active trigger.
Liaris Freese: Fast growth as long as feelings last. The strength of the effects corresponds with the level of the user's feelings. As a side effect, it makes the user immune to charms. (+27%)
Feena: Decrease the amount of the mind used for elven magic and gain multiples magic circles to increase the effect even more or the number of the magic targets.
Celdia: The user can use a Summon burst magic affected magic without a chant as long the magic has been used before.
Tiona Hiryute Level 5
Strength: A880-S918
Defense: A863-A896
Utility: B765-B778
Agility: B794-A811
Magic: I0
Fist Strike: G
Diving: G
Abnormal Resistance: H
Crush: I
Mage: I
Magic
Hippolyta: Give me strength, queen of amazon.
Lariat of Truth: Reveal what's hidden, oh Golden Prefect.
Skill
Berserk: Strength rises every time the user takes damage.
Intense Heat: Raises the strength of all abilities by a large amount in a pinch.
Liaris Freese: Fast growth as long as feelings last. The strength of the effects corresponds with the level of the user's feelings. As a side effect, it makes the user immune to charms. (+24%)
Olna: Increase status while being happy during fights. The effect increase while being not being scared of death during a hopeless situation. (Max:+3%)
Evelda: Increase status while fighting using body or weapons that need physical contact. The user gets healed while inflecting dealing damage to opponents depending on the damage. (Max:+5%)
We looked at our status and were surprised at this change and I'm sure the other two were thinking the same as me and then we said in unison.
"Breakfast."
We left to think about this change and make sure that we're not hallucinating and Loki isn't making a prank.
Finn P.O.V:
I took a look at the status of the Aiz, Lefiya, and Tiona and was terrified, to say the least.
"Aiz went up by 137 points. Lefiya went up by 102 points. Tiona went up by 101 points. This is interesting...or better insane."Riveria said with an understandable fear and excitement in her voice and Gareth, Loki, Tione, and Bete nodded at her.
"This is rather unbelievable. " I said with a little voice so the other pay attention to me.
"Yeah, this skill is crazy. I mean that they went up by more than 100 points in one expedition." Tione said with a little jealousy in her voice. That jealousy may be because her sister got a leap on her by those skills.
"You're right. This growth skill is crazy but that is not what he means by it." Bete
"What do you mean ?" Gareth asked with a curious stare that the werewolf noticed something that he couldn't.
"What Finn-San and Bete-San mean is this skill seem to boost by less than 30% for each of them. So, they were supposed to gain only about 25 points at best, not over 100 points." The one who answered was the Level 5 Half-Elf or Half-High Elf to be exact "The Midnight Witch" Eina Tulle who has just entered. I took a look at her and she return that with her normal warm smile.
'I'm glad this girl is our Familia. She might be a Level lower than Riveria but her abilities could easily exceed her, after all, she can use all of Riveria's magic plus 3 others that could destroy an entire nation. If not for her, Riveria's successor would've been Lefiya.' I thought as I remembered her almost vaporizing the entire water capital to stop monsters three months ago.
"Anyway, I suggest that we keep this growth skill only to ourselves and not tell a single member of our Familia about it, at least until we know how they got or if any other can. " I said to stop this and look at the other skills and magic they got.
"So, what about those other skills?" Riveria asked but I know she want to keep the others out of the talk about this Aria skill.
"The effect seems good but the names are funny. I mean those names look ripped off of heroes' stories. I mean Ardiane, Aria, Feena, Celdia, Olna, Evelda. "Tione said that and me and the others noticed that she was practically burning with jealousy.
"Also, Aiz and Tiona gaining new magic after this long is kind of insane. " Eina said with a calm expression.
"We can ask them what happen to them during this expedition tomorrow when they calm down but how did they get development abilities without a level up? Do you know something Loki?" I asked Loki hoping to put some light about is happening.
"No, I don't. First time seeing something like this. "Loki said with her normal smile.
"Well, you all are dismissed. "I said that as the others left for me to think about this situation.
'This a very interesting development. If those three grow this much we may have 3 level 3 in no time. The only problem is that Riveria wouldn't allow Aiz or the others to do more work than necessary. 'I thought as I left to get some breakfast.
Bell's house:
I woke up and made some banana and chocolate cookies and hot milk with citron for breakfast and some sandwiches for me to eat in the dungeon today.
I put the cookies on the kitchen table and sit on the chair and when I was about to put a cookie in my mouth, a hand took it and was put in the mouth of the white-haired girl that just appeared out of nowhere.
"Your coking is as good as always, Bell. "
"Thanks. But, you know what was thinking about right? "I asked Meteria which she nodded and responded by asking questions of her own.
"How am I back into existence? Well, I don't know how I'm back. But, I shouldn't be. You've lost all that power, right. "
"I did. No one will ever have that power again. But, we should catch up. It's been 7 years and we'll only talk in our minds because I don't have enough soul amulets to hide souls from that whore on the top of Babel. I have one and can hide when you're inside me but don't ask until we're alone so people won't think I'm crazy. "I declared as she disappeared into my body. When she did that, I finished my breakfast and wore my armor, and took one of the blades that were being kept in the basement by members of the Hera Familia when they were using it.
Orario' Streets:
I was walking on the street thinking What Floor should I go to today while making sure that no one sees me using my magic and I was looking for the bar to meet the girls until I heard a voice.
"Excuse me, did you drop this?"
I turned around to a medium-length woman with beautiful light grey hair and eyes, and an eye-catching smile holding a magic stone
'Bell, this girl is... 'Meteria was about to say something with an angry voice.
"A magic stone? I thought I turned all of them in yesterday. Sorry for the trouble. Thank you very much." I received it to make sure that this girl doesn't suspect anything.
"You're an adventurer, right? Are you heading for the dungeon? "She asked with a warm smile.
"Yeah, of course, I going to right now."
"Did you have your breakfast yet if not, here, it's not much, but please take it." She gave me a packed lunch but I know better than to trust a stranger and especially not this girl.
"This isn't right! I can't take the lunch of a person I just met! Besides, I already had breakfast. "I said trying to keep myself as calm as possible.
"That's too bad. Well, then goodbye. "She said as she was about to leave.
"Please wait, do you know a bar named 'The Hostess of Fertility'? I'm going to meet some friends there but I don't know where is it. "I asked the girl with a polite tone.
"Well, sure I will tell you. As a matter of fact, I work there. My name is Syr Flova. "The girl responded by giving her name, the fake one anyway.
"My name is Bell Cranel. "After giving our names to each other, the now named Syr told me the location of the tavern.
"I have to go to work now. Nice to meet you, Bell-San. "Syr said with a smile on her face.
"Nice to meet you too, Syr. See you later. "I said that as I walked away slowly so she won't notice my panic.
'Bell, you need to calm down and go to the dungeon and kill as many monsters as possible until you calm down for tonight. 'Meteria told me with a calming voice.
'You're right. I should do that. Also, she can't see my soul and she didn't pressure me into coming into the bar. It is good to talk to you again. Sorry for forgetting about all of you for 7 years. 'I said while being ashamed at the end of my speech.
'I know. That wasn't your choice. That was just a piece of the price you paid for... 'She was about to say with a lot of regret in her voice.
'Don't worry about it. We all decided that as a group. So, I should test my magic so I will go to Floor 12 today. 'I told her my plan for today.
'It will be better that you focus on drop items more than magic stones, today. Tomorrow, hire a supporter. 'She gave me another one of her advice
'I'll do that. Also, tonight go around the city and search for any spirit magic and tell how if you find some powerful ones especially f you find a Renard, we don't want some god use something they shouldn't. 'I said as she disappeared from my mind.
I caught up with Meteria until I reached Floor 1.
While was walking, I heard a voice.
"Coo, Coo, Coo. "The voice belongs to about a few dozen monsters that look like a rooster with fluffy yellow-green feathers.
"Are those...? " When I was about to say something the monsters were turning around to run away from me.
"Firebolt. "I used that spell without thinking while pushing the palm of my hand forward and a red magic circle appeared at my feet at the same time as a meter-sized red flame with lightning appeared and in mere seconds killed all the monsters while leaving a burn marc on the ground that hit along with the drop items from the dead monsters.
'Well, I will have to work on my magic but I'll make sure that I don't foolishly have a mind down. 'I noted to myself as I was walking to the items to make sure that if they are what I think they are or not.
I reached the drop items which was fit the description of Jack Bird's Golden Egg.
"It's official that "Luck" is way cheating. The first thing I got today is 26 Jack Bird's Golden Egg and Jack Bird is supposed to be a rare monster that spawns once a year. "I told myself as I was reminded that I was lucky enough to begin with.
"Well, I will add that to my keep to yourself list. "
I picked the drop items as I went to go down to Floor 12 and see if I can find an Infant Dragon.
First, I won't explain Bell's ability to summon spirits from himself until later on in the story.
Ryuu, Lunoire, and Chloe work at The Hostess of Fertility.
In the next chapter:
Ais, Lefiya, Tiona, Haruhime will live with Bell.
Welf, Mikoto, and Lili will join Bell's party.
Bell's sword is made from the One-Eyed Black Dragon's scales and teeth and a bit of its eye which is harder than Orichalcom and has the ability of Mythril but much better and the piece of the eye is like undestroyable and almost eternal magic crystal.