Chapter 28: Heroic Will
"Protect Orario's future?" Caster repeated, an eyebrow raised incredulously. "What sort of fairy tale are you involved in, Magus?"
"One where the legends of old appear to walk amongst us once more," the one called Fels replied simply.
"I see…" Caster muttered. "Well then, for what reason do I have to humor your request…and your silence to our little secret will not be enough. I would sooner bring down Babel Tower and crush the entire city myself than listen to any threats that would come out of your mouth."
"I would never dream of it," Fels replied simply. "I would offer regular compensation in exchange for completing my request. Either in items that can be traded in for Valis or with information."
"…You are the one who contacted Hermes Familia before."
It was a statement of affirmation rather than a question seeking confirmation.
"Yes…although their quest ended in success, the losses they suffered in the process were irreplaceable and the reward I prepared for them would never be enough to compensate for it."
Caster frowned at that. Gina had told him that after the other Hermes Familia members had returned they had received jewels, Drop Items and artifacts worth several hundreds of millions of Valis including several Grimoires for their efforts…but something like that meant nothing to a young girl who lost her friends without being told why and she had chosen to leave the Familia in the first place.
However, such information was now valuable to Caster, telling him that the one in front of him had the backing of a powerful figure…or they themselves were capable of acquiring such things relatively easily.
"Then answer me this, Magus. How did you come to believe that we are Spirits?"
"Ais Wallenstein," Fels replied. "She had on her an Oculus I lent her during the Loki Familia expedition to the Fifty-Ninth Floor. It is a magic item I have created that allows me to see through to the other side through the use of its twin. There it saw the magic the one known as Archer performed that is beyond human ability or understanding. I am also aware that you and the one called Saber also possess ability beyond that of what the Falna can possibly give to the mortal races. Thus I came to the conclusion that you all are some form of Spirit instead. Stories of Spirits that created weapons for heroes to wield date back to the first Legend of Argonaut, the Radiant Dawn, after all. The fact that she still had it on when she spoke to you on the Eighteenth Floor also helped."
Caster resisted the urge to massage his forehead. That cursed child was as slow as she looked it seemed.
"And I trust only you and the god praying below the Guild know about us?" Caster asked as he saw Fels twitch slightly, telling him that they had not expected him to know about them. For a moment, Caster wondered if Fels would try to deny it but to his pleasant surprise, the figure nodded, albeit rather hesitantly.
"Yes. As far as I am aware, no one other than myself and the one you speak of knows about your identities…aside from Ais Wallenstein of course. A few others have made their own assumptions but that is as far as I know."
"You are rather more open than I anticipated," Caster admitted. "Are you truly in such dire straits?"
"Yes," Fels said again. "Although we have several allies amongst the Familia, it is useless if the enemy's first blow succeeds."
"You speak of the use of the so-called Demi-Spirits that Loki Familia fought down in the depths of the Dungeon?"
"Indeed. My patron already believes there is already one close to the surface of Orario but they do not know where its exact location is…but that is not the topic I wish to discuss with you tonight."
"Speak then. You have my attention…for the moment."
"There is a certain group of scoundrels that are about to make their move within this port," Fels explained after lowering their head to thank Caster for hearing them out.
"Evilus."
"Yes. Though their ally, the figure called Enyo is more dangerous in the grander scheme of things, this sect of Evilus deals in the absolute worst kind of trading. Males and females of all races are targeted and moved beyond our reach. I request your help in removing them and recovering our lost one."
"Such a boring request…" Caster sighed. "Is it really necessary to involve outsiders in such a meagre thing?"
"Unfortunately I do not have the strength to mount a rescue myself," Fels replied. "I am more of a researcher and a healer than a combatant. I cannot ask Loki Familia or Hermes Familia for their assistance at this time and no other allies will be able to reach them before they are moved."
And therefore Fels and their god had decided to ask for help from those connected to both Hermes and Loki Familia.
Hestia Familia.
"There is only one captive that is being moved," Fels continued when Caster didn't say anything. "I humbly request that Hestia Familia…no, that you or your fellow Spirits take on this request to save them."
"I promise nothing, but let us hear where they are located," Caster replied as Fels looked up at him in surprise. "I care little for your little captive…but it would be remiss of me not to share the information with the rest of the Familia. Though you shall not be receiving my direct assistance…I suspect that there will be at least two among Hestia Familia that will jump at the occasion to assist you."
"I thank you for your generosity!" Fels replied with another bow. "Then allow me to share what I know…"
X-x-X-x-X
Bell and the others, aside from the young girl trio anyway, were still awake when Caster returned. As the three girls were sleeping in the female section, the others gathered in the male section to listen to Caster, who told them about Fels, their patron god, and the captive that was being moved tomorrow night.
"A god living underneath the Guild…" Hestia repeated after Caster repeated the information he learned to them.
"You have an idea who it could be, Lady Goddess?" Lancer asked.
"If I had to make a guess, it would be Ouranos," Hestia replied. "Though I haven't seen him for like a thousand years or so…not since he, Zeus, Hera, and a bunch of others became the first ones to leave Tenkai and live in Gekai anyway. Hephaistos said that Ouranos was one of the ones who first built Babel to seal the Dungeon up in the first place before setting up the Guild as the mediator between the Familias that stayed in Orario. Though I thought he left the city ages ago. Then again, that old geezer's not really one for public appearances."
"It would seem we are being dragged into the darkness of the city despite your best efforts, Caster," Saber said as Caster simply growled in response.
"But…we are going to help them, right?" Bell asked. "We're not just going to let whoever these people are make off with this person, right?"
Bell's gaze found itself upon Archer as the man raised an eyebrow.
"Putting me on the spot there," Archer said with a laugh. "You're our Vice Captain, Bell. Just say the word and we'll do it."
"Well, perhaps not all of us," Rider said quickly. "If something happens, we need at least one or two people here to make sure it doesn't drag Lady Hestia, Emma or the other girls into it. Oh, and Welf too, of course."
"Gee…thanks," Welf said with a chuckle.
"Do be aware that our enemies will most likely be of the same group that controls those Violas," Caster said to Bell. "A group that can control monsters of around Level 3 and 4. You will be of minimal assistance in this fight, mongrel."
Bell made a bitter face at that. New Level 3 or not, they were still pretending he was only Level 2. Even so, Bell wasn't entirely sure he could handle something like that trap monster on his own.
"Even so…I want to help in some way," Bell insisted.
"Then, perhaps we should split our forces?" Lancer suggested. "Archer and Saber will handle our enemies while Bell and I shall flee with their captive? Rider should remain behind to keep guard over the others."
"I have no objections to that plan," Saber replied with a nod. "We do not know the enemies' numbers nor their fighting strength. It is also unlikely that they do not have allies within the city itself so it would be best to strike in force."
"…You think they're with the Kali Familia?" Welf threw out a suggestion that caused everyone to look at him.
"It…does seem like a rather huge coincidence that they are moving the captive when Kali Familia is in the port," Lily agreed. "But then the plant monsters did attack their ship so they might not actually be aligned at all."
"Even more of a reason not to take any chances," Rider said before turning to Caster. "What will you be doing, Caster?"
"I will remain in the suite and watch over the entirety of Melen from here," Caster replied. "I have no desire to play hero but I shall intervene should I am needed."
"…Is this situation something so dire that Lord Caster might need to move?" Lily asked.
"It is best to prepare for anything when the plans of several parties will come clashing together at the same time," Caster replied. "It is likely that whatever Loki Familia came to find will reveal itself soon as well."
"Right…" Archer muttered. "If whoever these people are are connected to the Violas, then they might use them as a distraction and move the hostage under the cover of the commotion."
He then glanced over at the sleeping trio.
"For the time being let's turn in for the night," Archer suggested. He then pointed toward himself, Saber, Rider and Lancer. "Then starting tomorrow morning we move in groups with at least one of us at all times."
"The three of you are planning to go shopping near the docks, correct?" Rider asked as Bell, Emma and Welf nodded. "Do you mind if I tag along?"
"Are you sure?" Welf asked. "We can hold it off for later if you guys are going to be mounting a rescue operation."
"There's no need to be overly cautious," Rider replied. "They won't be moving until nightfall and we could get a good idea of the town's layout. If someone else has been watching us, it would be strange for a Familia that has gone sightseeing to suddenly hole up in their hotel all day, right?"
"You got a point there…"
"Then I'll take the rest of the girls with me for our own sightseeing," Hestia said as she glanced toward Assassin and the other two before looking toward Lily. "What do you want to do, Miss Supporter?"
"Lily will…" Lily began as she glanced at Caster.
"There is no need to turn to me," Caster said simply. "This is a time of merry for those who have succeeded in surviving the Floor Boss. You need not spend it catering to me. That is what the staff of this inn is for."
"Then…if Lily can join Bell and the others?"
"Of course!" Emma said with a smile. "If you're around then I won't have to worry about being overcharged for anything."
"Then you should come along with us as well, Lancer," Rider said as the woman turned to her, surprised at the sudden invitation. "Let's leave it to the men to look after the goddess."
"T-then…if you will have me," Lancer replied with a nod.
"Will you be all right holding down the fort on your own, Caster?"
"I shall find my own entertainment here," Caster answered. "I need not repeat myself but I shall do so anyway. Avoid the Kali Familia Amazons at all costs. If they are indeed involved in this, then alerting them even further will be a foolish action."
"…You know…" Hestia began. "The more you say that, the more I am absolutely convinced one of our parties will run headfirst into an angry group of Amazons without even trying."
At Hestia's words, the king released the most defeated and resigned sigh that Bell had ever heard. As if he knew it was already hopeless with Bell and the others in front of him.
X-x-X-x-X
As they had entered the port town rather late the previous day, no one really had a chance to look around before checking into the inn.
Now that it is morning, Bell and the others could experience what the entirety of what Port Melen had to offer.
"…Look at the size of that dodobass…" Bell said as he and his party stared at a massive fish hanging on display.
"It's…bigger than Lily…" the pallum muttered in awe.
"That's the fish we ordered at the Hostess, right?" Rider asked examining it a bit more closely. She then glanced up and down the market area. "It seems to be a rather popular and delicious fish despite looking like a monster."
Indeed, it looked like a moss covered log with fins and several rows of teeth and yet it tasted so good. Bell couldn't help but be amazed at whoever was the first person to look at the fish and think, "I'm going to eat that."
"Perhaps the fish in this lake evolved to look similar to monsters to avoid being eaten by them?" Lancer suggested. "I have heard that monsters do not feast upon each other outside of abnormal events."
"That's right," Lily nodded. "Some Adventurers who have seen monsters eat another monster's magic crystal say that they become an enhanced species…or was it only enhanced species eat other monsters? Lily can't remember."
"Speaking of which, is fishing really that enjoyable?" Emma asked looking at all the fishing boats and fishermen in the distance. "I never had the patience for it so I never managed to catch anything myself."
"I believe it is more of an acquired hobby," Rider admitted. "Though it is a good hobby to take up to pass the time and you can catch dinner while you are at it."
"More grilled fish does sound pretty good," Welf admitted. "Not that the food at the inn wasn't good but all that fancy stuff is wasted on me. Just grill some fish or meat over a fire and that's plenty for someone like me."
"My, such a 'manly' way of cooking and eating, Welf."
"Hahaha, what can I say?"
From there, the party ended up near various merchant stalls that were selling materials like ores and monster parts that appeared from their corner of the world.
"Lily thinks we should avoid any monster parts when browsing," Lily said. "Drop items from surface monsters can't compare with the ones from the Dungeon."
"Sounds about right," Welf agreed as he examined some hide from some unknown monster. "The Al-Miraj furs we got a while back is better quality than this."
"Master Welf never did finish any cloaks with those, did he?" Lily asked as Welf looked the other way.
"H-hey, I've busy, all right? I mean, I followed you guys right into the Dungeon for the Floor Boss right afterward and then I got caught up in designs for Emmy and Primo and now we're on vacation."
"So Master Welf admits he is procrastinating."
Welf let out a grunt before slumping in defeat, unable to refute Lily's words as the girl smiled in victory.
"A-Anyway!" Welf said as they moved to the next stand where ores were being sold. "Let's see if we can't find any treasures here!"
"I think that's more your specialty, Welf," Bell admitted with a wry smile. "They all look like the same kind of rock to me."
"No problem! Leave it to me!"
After a half an hour or browsing with only Lancer being able to offer any suitable suggestions for Welf in terms of which of the product might be useful, and Lily helping in haggling down the price, the party left the stand with a sack full of ores.
"So…what are you planning with these?" Emma asked.
"Well, these are going into your new breastplate," Welf said, taking a few of them out and setting them aside. "And this baby's going into a sword."
It was a bright red metal still lodged in the rock. It was supposed to be some rare Far Eastern metal according to the merchant and Welf became interested in it immediately.
"It probably won't do me or Bell any good but it could work as a better starting weapon than those basic Guild swords, Emmy."
"Eh, really?" Emma asked, looking rather surprised. "Well…I won't say no if that's what you recommend."
"You use two swords though right?" Welf asked and Emma nodded. "Mmm…I'd love to be able to get on some more but that merchant only had enough to make one. Well, I'll think of something else to go with Emmasuke."
"…Excuse me?"
"Emmasuke. That's the name of your new sword."
"Please no!"
Rider couldn't help but giggle into her hand at Emma's desperate refusal of the proposed name for her new sword.
"While I don't think there's anything wrong with naming weapons after their wielder," Rider began. "Why not let Emma name her first real weapon herself?"
"Yes, please!" Emma agreed immediately, looking more haggard than Bell had ever seen her.
"Mmm…well if you insist."
"I do!"
"Uhh…your eyes are looking rather scary there, Emmy…grk!"
"Emma, calm down, you're gonna strangle Welf if your hands move any closer to his neck!" Bell said as he and Lily grabbed her hands.
"No…as a new Level 1, Emma should not be strong enough to harm a Level 2 like Mister Welf, right?" Lancer asked.
X-x-X-x-X
After Emma managed to calm down, they decided to take a break at a park with some grilled fish on a skewer that they bought from a nearby stall.
"Come to think of it, why did Miss Emma come to Orario in the first place?" Lily asked, making conversation. "Was it just to be an Adventurer and dive into the Dungeon?"
"Heh? Ahh…" Emma sounded surprised at the topic as she looked around to find a place to start. "Well, not exactly. I came here to look for someone."
"Looking for someone?" Rider repeated with a teasing. "As in finding someone who went missing or finding love?"
"M-my family!" Emma stuttered, blushing a bit at Rider's words. "I'm looking for my older sister. Last I heard, she was somewhere in Orario."
"Is she working as an Adventurer?" Lancer asked. "If so, would the Guild not have some record of her existence?"
"I thought that at first but when I asked them on my first day in Orario, before I joined the Familia, they said that they there wasn't a registered Adventurer with her name," Emma replied sadly.
"What's your sister's name?" Welf asked as he was picking his teeth with the skewer.
"Sophia. Sophia Flores."
Welf turned to look at Bell who shook his head. The name wasn't familiar with either of them.
"Honestly, I hadn't planned on joining a Familia at first," Emma admitted. "I was planning to just find work normally for my stay in Orario until I bumped into Primo who got kicked out of the inn she was staying at due to running out of money as she couldn't find a Familia to take her in. Not wanting to leave her alone, I invited her to share my room while she looked for a Familia to take her in. During that time, we talked a bit and her stories of Familias and Lady Riveria Los Alf got me thinking of joining a Familia too."
Bell remembered the trouble he had with finding a Familia and his shock that the inns in the city cost over ten times as much as the ones in his home village that he suddenly felt a bond of kinship with the young elf girl.
"Lily thinks she understands," Lily muttered. "If Miss Emma were to join a Familia and become famous then Miss Emma's sister might hear of her and come to her instead."
"Haha…yep that's what I ended up thinking," Emma admitted with a laugh as if embarrassed at being found out so easily. "That and I didn't want to leave Primo alone since she looked so heartbroken after being rejected by every Familia she came across until we ran into Lady Hestia working at her stall."
"The goddess does have a habit of picking up lost kids," Bell admitted with a warm smile as Lily nodded her head in agreement.
"Let's see…" Rider muttered as she counted off her fingers. "First was Bell, then Lily, then Jack, then Emma and Primo and finally Gina. Indeed, she does make a habit of picking up children with nowhere else to go."
Across the city, a certain goddess sneezed, causing her to drop her treat with a wail.
"Well, I suppose you picked the perfect Familia then," Welf said with a smile. "One crazy enough to fight a Floor Boss with only seven people and win."
"Did you not willingly join them yourself, Welf Crozzo?" Lancer asked with a smile. "What would that say about you?"
"That I'm as crazy as the lot of ya," Welf replied with a laugh.
"It sounds as though you all had quite the adventure together before we came along," Rider noted with a laugh. "It's almost enough to make me jealous."
"I think it's amazing that you all want to keep going into the Dungeon every day," Emma said.
"It's just something you get used to over time, Miss Emma," Lily said. "It's tough but as long as Miss Emma goes in often then Miss Emma will get used to it."
"I wonder if getting used to going into a deep, dark underground cave every day to fight monsters is a good thing though."
"Of course it is," Welf replied. "For Adventurers."
"Ahaha…I wonder if I'm cut out for it after all…"
"Ahh…but we still don't know what your Skill does, right?" Bell pointed out. "Maybe it's a good time to get started with that?"
"Oh, you got a Skill too, Emmy?" Welf asked sounding surprised. "Then you're definitely cut out to be an Adventurer. Getting a Skill right off the bat is practically the Falna saying you got what it takes. Maybe."
"'Maybe,' huh?" Emma repeated with a wry smile.
"Well it could be something like my Crozzo Blood or Lil'ly's Artel Assist, right? Those are more for supporting roles than for a regular Adventurer. I can't say anything for certain if you don't even know what it does."
"Mmm…I haven't really had the opportunity to figure out how it works though. There's no trigger or anything listed in the Status but the description didn't sound like it was a passive effect."
"Ahh…one of those. A pain in the ass to figure out but once you do, they're pretty flexible in the ways you can use them."
"Well, the best way to figure it out is in the Dungeon so we'll have to wait on it," Bell said.
"I suppose so," Emma agreed with a nod.
"Anyway, let's decide where to head next," Welf said as he looked around.
"I wonder if anyone's selling any books on foreign legends?" Bell said as they followed after Welf.
"Would you even be able to read it?" Emma asked. "It might not be in Koine after all."
"Ahh…maybe I could ask the goddess to translate it?"
"It would be rather interesting to see what kind of stories one can find around here," Rider nodded with a smile.
"Miss Lancer? Is there something wrong?" Lily asked as Lancer was staring off to the side.
At Lily's words everyone stopped to look at Lancer and then toward where she was looking at. Several Amazons were walking around in a group. Although their outfits were as skimpy as one would expect from their culture, their outfits also gave off a rather sensual vibe. It was the difference between an outfit that said that they did not care to be seen and one that wanted people to look at them.
"…They don't seem to be Kali Familia Amazons," Rider noted. "From what I got from Gina and Goddess Loki's words were that they were warriors. And I don't think they would be the type to dress in such a way."
Gone were the colorful patterns that adorned most Amazons with their tribal wear and instead were soft silks that were nearly translucent as they blew in the wind.
"Indeed," Lancer replied with a nod. "I believe those would be 'night workers.'"
At Lancer's words, both Bell and Welf gulped and tried not to stare.
"…Lily thinks…those are Berbera," Lily muttered looking rather worried.
"Berbera?" Bell asked as Welf let out a noise of recognition.
"Amazons of the entertainment district," Lily replied with a frown. "Ishtar Familia."
Bell blinked in surprise as he and Emma shared a glance.
Rule Two of Hestia Familia: Do not mention Ishtar in front of Caster.
"But why do you call them 'Berbera?'" Emma asked.
"Because those 'night workers,' as Miss Lancer puts it, are also warriors and Adventurers in their own right," Lily explained. "Most of them are Level 2 or 3 but Lily has heard that plenty are also Level 4 with their Captain being Level 5."
"As expected of Amazons I suppose," Welf muttered. "Think little Gina will end up Leveling soon as well?"
"Hmm…her Status are pretty decent I think," Bell muttered. "I wouldn't be surprised if she did if Caster makes all of us do something crazy again."
"I really hope that doesn't happen any time soon…" Emma muttered before glancing toward Bell. "On the other hand, what you're going to be doing is already crazy, isn't it?"
Bell gave her a wry smile but neither Rider nor Lancer look happy to see the Berbera in town.
"Ishtar Amazons showing up en masse at the same time as Kali Amazons arrive in town?" Rider muttered. "Can one really simply pass it off as a coincidence?"
"Indeed," Lancer nodded as she turned toward the others. "Everyone…perhaps we should head somewhere else?"
"Well, considering we probably won't find anything else with this high quality, I don't mind," Welf said. "But do you have a place in mind?"
"Hmm…I have an idea," Rider replied with a rather mischievous smile.
X-x-X-x-X
To Bell's surprise, Rider had led them out of the port and back to the inlet where they played the other day.
"Are we going swimming again?" Welf asked. "Cuz I kinda left my trunks back at the inn."
"Nothing like that," Rider said as she tugged on a nearby branch with an inquisitive hum before quickly drawing her sword and slicing it off. "We're going to do a little training for Emma!"
"…Huh?" Emma let out a noise showing that she had no idea what Rider was talking about.
"Your Skill, dear. Your Skill. We're going to practice a bit until we find out how you trigger it!"
"Eeeeeeh!?"
"Oh, so that's why we bought all these snack foods on the way here," Welf said as he looked down at the bags he, Bell and Lily were holding. "We're gonna watch Emmy get smacked around for a bit I guess?"
"W-wait a minute," Emma said trying to back away from the smiling Rider, only to back into Lancer who placed her hands on Emma's shoulders to keep her from running. "S-should't we save the training until at least after the vacation? Or at least until after tonight?"
"Hmm? But it's not like you're going to go along with them, right?" Rider asked as Bell and the others sat down on some logs, food in hand, and ready to watch. "Don't worry, I won't be hitting you that hard. Just hard enough that you don't want to be hit a second time."
"That's plenty hard already!" Emma said as she tried to wriggle out of Lancer's grip. "Lancer! Please say something!"
"Please wait one moment, Rider, Miss Flores." Lancer said as she pushed Emma to the center of the inlet before drawing several runes in the sand with her foot.
A moment later, the sand suddenly hardened and smoothed itself out, causing a small arena to rise up in the sand, causing Welf and Emma's eyes to boggle and for the former to choke on his snack a bit.
"Koff koff! That's the same kind of magic as Saber's isn't it?" Welf asked as Bell rubbed his back.
"I would expect so," Lancer replied with a nod and a smile. "After all, I was the one who taught it to him. Would you like to learn as well, Mister Crozzo?"
Welf held a hand to his chin, looking as though he was seriously considering the offer.
"Let me get back to you on that," Welf said as Lancer nodded in understanding. "I don't want to say 'yes' unless I'm one hundred percent sure that I'm committed."
"I understand. Please speak to either my husband or myself once you make your decision. There are also plans to teach Miss Flores and Miss Gwen as well."
"But for now we're going to try and trigger your Skill, Emma," Rider said, one arm around Emma's shoulder to keep her from fleeing. "So prepare yourself, Emma."
"P-please give me a break!" The girl cried as she was dragged up onto the ring.
"Good luck, Miss Emma!" Lily called out. "Lily will save Miss Emma a potato puff for when she's done!"
"Ahhh geez! I don't care anymore!"
X-x-X-x-X
Back in town, Hestia led the girls plus Saber and Archer down the main road, stopping at almost every concession stall on the way to buy some of the local food for herself and her precious children.
"Is this trip going to solely consist of us sampling the town's specialties, Goddess Hestia?" Saber asked as he held up a skewer of breaded fried shrimp.
"Of course!" Hestia replied without any shame. "The inn food was pretty high class but you just can't beat street food when on a vacation!"
"Will you be able to eat dinner when we get back if you fill up on these snacks?" Archer asked.
"Archer, it's because you act like that that Miss Supporter calls you 'Mama' all the time, you know?"
Her Second Child let out a grunt at that remark.
"I think I prefer this over the inn food to be honest," Primo admitted as she nibbled on the fried onion ring skewer. "I think it was good but I spent so much time thinking of how expensive it must have been that I don't know if I really enjoyed it."
"I completely understand!" Gina nodded earnestly. "I was the same way when I first joined Hermes Familia. Asfi's tastes were much more high class than I was used to. As expected of a former princess I suppose. Well, I think I got used to it pretty quickly though~"
"What about you Jack?"
Assassin stopped taking big bites out of the fish in her hands and swallowed before answering Primo.
"We just like being able to eat as much as We want!" Assassin replied with a smile. "Ahh…but We don't really like the big pretty rooms."
"Well, it's that person's tastes after all," Archer noted with a wry smile. "It's as much his vacation as everyone else's so of course he'd pick the most expensive option available."
"'Of course,' huh?" Hestia repeated. "I always played around with the idea of what I would do if I suddenly came into a boatload of money but now that I have, I feel like it's scary spending so much at once."
"We have already spent quite a bit on just the street food, Goddess Hestia," Saber pointed out.
"I don't mean spending little bits at a time that it amounts into a grand total or something like that. I mean casually dropping several million Valis in a single transaction like it's money to buy candy!"
"I wonder what kind of candy the Captain would buy in the first place?" Gina asked, falling into the tangent.
"Maybe he's the kind that would buy as much candy as he possibly could rather than buy a little bit of high class candy?" Primo suggested.
"Having a lot of good candy is better than having a little bit of great candy!" Assassin said with a smile.
"Should we ask him?" Gina wondered.
"Do not, under any circumstance, accept any candy he offers you," Archer said quickly.
"I'm sorry I brought it up," Hestia mumbled as she rubbed her forehead. "Anyway! Let's move onto the next place!"
As they walked a bit further, Hestia noticed Primo tapping Gina on the shoulder.
"Hey Gina, you've been an Adventurer for a long time right?" Primo asked.
"Well, only a little over a year but longer than everyone else in our Familia I suppose," Gina replied with a nod.
"Then, do you know why some people don't join Familias? Normal people can't fight monsters without it, right?"
"Ahh…that's because if you join a Familia you have to listen to what your god tells you to do, you know?" Gina explained. "Not every god is as nice as Lady Hestia after all. Some will make you do bad things or things that you don't want to do and you can't really go against them."
"Ohhh…like how that other goddess made everyone wear swimsuits even though they didn't want to?" Assassin asked, referring to Loki and her Familia from the other day.
"Yep yep. And if you don't listen to your god, you'll be hated by the rest of your Familia and bad things will come from it. Well, unless the majority of your Familia don't like your god more but then that wouldn't be much of Familia in the first place. Most people can't help but do what a god asks them to do after all."
"Oh, does that mean we should prepare for war with Loki Familia, Goddess Hestia?" Saber joked.
"It wouldn't be that difficult," Archer joined in with a smirk. "I can snipe Loki while she's in town then the rest of her Familia will lose their Status, right?"
"D-don't even joke about things like that!" Hestia said quickly. "I might not like Loki but her kids are one of the main reasons that Orario isn't a complete lawless zone. With so many gods and mortals looking to get rich quick, we need them to maintain order."
"Oh, but didn't you want to be the next big player? We're just following your wishes, right?"
"Don't use my words against me, Shirou!"
As the goddess started punching Archer, who was holding out his hands to block her ands, Gina leaned in closer to Saber.
"Hey Saber," Gina began. "Is there really nothing we can do to cure Lancer's curse?"
Saber seemed rather surprised at the change of topic but shook his head nonetheless.
"Unfortunately, I do not believe it would be possible by any conventional means," Saber replied. "Her curse is a part of her very being and identity. Just like how being an Amazon is part of yours, Brynhildr…Lancer's attempts on my life are part of hers."
"That's not fair! Love stories are supposed to have happy endings! No one wants to read one that ends in tragedy!"
"No, I think most love stories tend to end horribly for all involved," Hestia spoke up. "It's the 'drama' part of a 'Love Drama' after all."
"You're not helping, Lady Hestia!" Gina shouted with a pout.
"It is all right, Gina Gwen," Saber said as he crouched down to get on eye level with Gina and placed a hand on her head. "I thank you for your concern but Lancer and my love story is not over just yet. We managed to get a sudden sequel after all."
"Geez…how can you say such things with a straight face all the time?" Gina asked with a giggle as she turned away from Saber.
"I have had plenty of practice."
"Hmm…I just remembered something," Archer said as he pounded his palm. "According to some of the girls in Loki Familia, Amid Teasanare of Dian Cecht Familia has a spell that can remove curses. I don't know if it'll help considering the true nature of it but…"
"Dian Cecht, huh…" Hestia mumbled with a rather displeased look. "That old fart's potions are the real deal but he overcharges like hell. Miach's stuff is way more affordable and just as good, if not better…that said I don't know if a spell would be enough to stop something like what Lancer has. I really don't want to see how much that guy's gonna charge us if it works though."
"We will consider it but I do not hold much hope in that regard," Saber replied with a bitter smile.
"I heard that curses will go away if you destroy the source," Gina suggested. "Would that work?"
"Unfortunately not…but let us not dwell on this. This is a vacation, is it not? This is a problem between Lancer and myself. I do not wish to burden anyone else with this."
"…Is that what it means to be an adult?" Primo asked looking down with her feet. "To keep things to yourself and not ask for help from anyone?"
"Primo?" Assassin called out her name as she leaned forward to try and look at her face but the elf turned her head away in response.
"No. That's what it means to be a Hero."
It wasn't Saber who answered but Archer.
"To take on not just one's own burdens, but the entire world's upon their own shoulders and continue to strive forth without fail. That is a Hero."
Primo looked up at her senior but the man was staring off to the side.
"Hero."
Pillars of hope for the children of the Lower World. They had to be strong, steadfast, and above all else, inspiring even in the face of certain death. Hestia had forgotten about it due to the sight of Archer and Rider in matching frilly aprons, Saber and Lancer flirting with each other every waking moment, Caster acting like a tsundere parent, and Assassin clinging onto her and Bell like a baby…but half of her children were not just merely Spirits. They were Heroic Spirits. Manifestations of legends that gave people hope in the era of darkness…and an enigmatic existence completely unknown to her.
"But…what's the point?" Primo asked, hands clutching onto the front of her dress. "What's the point of being in the same family…the same Familia if I can't do anything to help you?"
Hestia was sure Primo already knew the answer. What exactly was a ten-year-old elf girl going to do to help an ageless Spirit who has yet to solve a problem plaguing them for who knows how long?
But Saber simply smiled and reached out and affectionately placed his hand on the girl's head.
"I'm grateful for your concern, Primo," Saber said. "If I have something I need your help on, I will ask. I promise you."
"You better…" Primo sniffed.
Hestia smiled at the sight. Just because a "Hero" was what they were doesn't mean they can't change into something else upon interacting with the mortal races. After all, the gods themselves, once considered to be stagnant and eternal, have changed tremendously due to their lives in the Lower World, Hestia included.
X-x-X-x-X
Emma's blades once again bounced off Rider's shield and Emma herself was bounced back by a powerful push from the woman, sending her flying off and landing flat on her butt. Again.
It was painful and just a little bit annoying how she couldn't get pass Rider's defense but Emma didn't complain. Although she had been less than enthusiastic about the impromptu Skill Training Session, she knew that the sooner they figured out how to activate it, the better she would perform in the Dungeon.
And the less Bell would have to worry about her.
"Hmm…perhaps this isn't going anywhere?" Rider asked as she tilted her head to the side.
"It did not activate while attacking, while being attacked, or while being injured," Lancer reported. "Successive strikes, and successive damage taken also does not trigger it. Frustration and anger do not either."
"I-I'm not mad!" Emma denied quickly as she stood back up while rubbing her back.
"Hmm…active Skills are always a pain to figure out after all," Lily muttered as she looked over toward the horizon. "Especially when they don't tell you how to activate it. Lily was lucky in that regard."
"Hey Emmy!" Welf called out. "If you don't hurry all the snacks are going to be gone!"
"Don't you guys dare eat them all without me! Wait, isn't this bullying? Aren't I just being bullied right now!?"
"Becoming flustered and impatient doesn't seem to work either," Lancer noted as Bell let out a rather dry laugh.
"Maybe just one more bout before we head back?" Bell suggested as Emma brushed sand off her clothes. "It's getting late after all."
"G-got it!" Emma nodded.
Using ones emotions. Attacking in a certain way. Defending in a certain way. Calling out its name. Eina had explained that most active Skills could be triggered using those conditions and yet nothing seemed to be working.
As Emma prepared herself for another bout, the words of her goddess echoed in her mind.
"Think about what motivates you and maybe that will activate it."
It was just like the goddess to give vague and unhelpful advice and tell Emma to have "fun" as she tried to figure it out herself. Well, she definitely wasn't having fun right now, that's for sure.
"But…what exactly is it that motivates me?"
Her long term goal wasn't something grand like Bell's. It was merely to be reunited with her sister, Sophia. To that end, she wanted to use Hestia Familia and in return be of use to them as well. And to do that…
Her eyes fell on the younger boy who was cheering her on from behind Rider. The boy who had dreams of being a Hero. Ones that were so strong that he could actively call them to his side and learn from them. So where did that put her? What did she want to do? How did she want to grow?
The answer came to her as she flipped the sword in her left hand over into a reverse grip.
"I want to catch up and stand beside him too."
"Oh?" Rider let out a gasp of surprise as she raised her shield up.
"I don't want to make him worry. I'm not a little kid that has to be protected by my older sister anymore…and definitely not someone that can only make people younger than me worry!"
She felt something burning against her back where the Goddess Hestia's grace had been inscribed onto her back. Her body felt lighter…like there was a surge of energy flowing through her. No, something was really flowing through her body!
Bright pink lights were slowly rising up from her body. This has to be it! Her Skill must have finally activated!
With her newfound power, she lunged forward towards Rider. To her great surprise, and Rider's as well judging from her face, Emma found herself right in front of the woman within a blink of the eyes, only for the woman to step to the side…and for Emma to be unable to stop herself.
"KYAAAAAAHH!"
"EMMAGAAAH!?"
Unprepared for her newfound speed, Emma flew right out of the ring and crashed right into Bell, sending both of them flying back before crashing into the sand.
Lancer, Welf and Lily were immediately at their side and quickly pulled the two of them apart.
"You two okay?" Welf asked. "…Probably not huh? You kinda knocked your skulls together there."
"I…think I'm okay?" Emma replied as she rubbed her forehead only to wince as she felt a bump there. "Ahhh…ouchie…"
"T-that hurt?" Bell groaned as he rubbed his own forehead. "I didn't think someone crashing into me would actually hurt…"
"Then it is likely Miss Flores's Skill increases both her strength and speed to rather…uncontrollable degrees," Lancer said as she knelt down in front of Emma to examine her forehead, causing the girl to wince. "But at the very least we know that it can be activated and that it will be useful for when you are in the Dungeon."
"I'm so sorry, Emma! Bell!" Rider apologized as she ran up to them with her hands clapped together. "I probably shouldn't have dodged like that and caught you instead."
"It's fine, Rider," Bell replied as Lily held out a potion for Emma. "I should have been fast enough to dodge that too but I was too surprised. Saber's going to be disappointed in me, haha…h-huh?"
As Bell tried to take a step, he suddenly fell down to his knees.
"Bell!?" Lily called out, turning away from Emma just as the girl went limp in Lancer's hands. "Miss Emma!"
"Is this a side effect of the Skill?" Lancer muttered as she picked up Emma in her arms.
"Let's worry about it later!" Welf said as Lily helped put Bell on his back. "For now, let's get back to the inn!"
"Agreed," Lancer nodded before turning to Rider and holding Emma out to her. "Rider, if you'll please."
"No problem," Rider nodded as she took the girl into her own arms.
Lancer then walked over toward Welf, hand outstretched.
"One moment, Mister Crozzo."
"Y-yeah? What?" Welf asked, stopping just before breaking out into a full sprint.
"This will help you get back faster," Lancer replied as she held out a single finger and swiped it across his chest. Immediately, several runes lit up in the space above his clothes before sinking into his clothes.
"Yikes! Hot! And…whoa…"
A soft light began to emit from Welf's body as he let out a gasp of awe.
"There, you should be able to keep up with us now," Lancer said as she picked Lily up. "Let us make haste."
"Right!"
With that, the three of them and their passengers made a beeline back for the inn. And yet, even as Emma felt her body sway listlessly in Rider's arms, pure joy was filling her body. Her Skill worked properly! Even if it felt like it drained all the energy out of her body, she still had a proper Skill! It'll probably take more training until she could use it properly though.
X-x-X-x-X
When they arrived, they found the rest of Hestia Familia already back, staring at them as Welf threw the door open.
"Bell! Emma!" Hestia shouted as she quickly stood up and ran over. "What happened?"
"We tried to get Emma's Skill to work," Rider replied as Caster sat up from his reclining position. "Well…'tried' implies that we failed so…I guess that's not really accurate."
"Then how did it end up like this!?" Hestia demanded as they set Bell and Emma down on the Far Eastern style beds.
"It is merely fatigue, Goddess Hestia," Lancer replied. "When Emma's Skill activated, her speed jumped up to a level beyond her control and she ended up crashing into Bell outside of the training area. Although they were more or less fine aside from the bump on their head, the two of them suddenly collapsed."
"Something happened with the Skill then…" Hestia mumbled before looking toward Emma. "Emma, can you get on your stomach and show me your back? Boys turn around!"
At her order, Welf, Archer, Saber, and Caster turned their backs toward Hestia and Emma as flipped onto her stomach and allowed Hestia to pull her shirt up. Lily also sat down between Bell's head and Emma to keep the boy from seeing anything but Lily's back.
"Uuu…this is a bit embarrassing…" the girl complained.
"Sorry but just bear with it for now," Hestia said as she looked around. "Does anyone have a needle or a knife?"
"Here!" Welf said, reaching into his pocket and tossing something in her direction. Snatching it out of the air, Hestia saw that it was a sewing kit.
"You carry that around with you?" Gina asked in surprise.
"Hey, you never know if your coat needs a quick patch job," Welf said, patting his shirt.
Hestia simply smiled as she pricked her finger with the needle and allowed her blood to drop down onto Emma's back, unlocking the Falna with a faint light.
"Let's see, let's see…" Hestia said as she scanned the hieroglyphics for Emma's Skill section. "Here we go…oh and Welf…"
"Should I leave?" Welf asked quickly without turning around.
"No, it's fine…" Emma replied. "You'll probably just worry if you don't hear what's happening with this Skill."
"Well I won't deny that but…"
"If you're okay with it Emma then I won't say anything else," Hestia said. "What about you, Caster?"
"I have no objections as well," Caster replied with a nod.
"Right…so Emma's Skill's effect says that it 'causes a Rhapsodia among those with the same Falna for a short time.'"
"Rhapsodia?" Archer repeated. "Like a song?"
"Lily didn't hear anything like a song or anything," Lily replied. "Just Miss Emma glowing…kind of like how Bell does when he activates his Skill. Except pink instead of white."
"Hmm…" Hestia let out a low hum as she relocked Emma's Falna and pulled down Emma's shirt, allowing the boys to turn back around. "Bell, how are you feeling?"
"A bit drained but it's getting better," Bell replied and Emma nodded her head in agreement.
"Emma getting drained after using her Skill isn't anything weird but it's strange for Bell to also be tired," Hestia muttered. "Rhapsodia…a collection…I got it!"
"Then by all means, share your wisdom," Caster urged her.
"I mean, I probably won't know for sure unless I see it happen in front of me but from the sound of things, when Emma activated her Skill, she took on Bell's Status or at the very least a bit of his parameters. That's why she suddenly moved so fast. Because she went from newbie to High Class Agility in a blink of an eye! As a result of that Bell, being the one who had their Status borrowed, felt tired since a part of his grace was gone and Emma becomes tired because she was running with two different Status overlapping each other!"
And the fact that Bell lost his high Magic parameter for the Servants' upkeep for a moment.
Silence hung in the room after Hestia's declaration as everyone just stared at the goddess with Bell even sitting up to get a better look.
"That is…potentially amazing, is it not?" Saber asked.
"That's crazy!" Gina shouted, slamming her hands on the mat excitedly. "I never heard of such a Skill! Wait, does this mean if Emma had joined Freya Familia she would have been able to copy Ottarl's Status!? We would have potentially two Level 7s running around Orario?"
"If I can barely move after taking on Bell's Status…I don't want to know what will happen if I took on the Status of someone like that…" Emma muttered with a dry laugh.
Off to the side, Caster was leveling a glare at Archer who glared back with a look saying "Don't blame this on me."
"Hey hey, Emma?" Assassin spoke up as she crawled over toward Emma's head. "Do you think you can copy more than one person at a time?"
"…That actually scares me more than copying a Level 7," Emma replied, voice barely above a whisper.
And to be honest, it scared Hestia too. Like this, once the drawbacks were minimized from familiarity or from further training, it wouldn't be too farfetched to say that Emma would become the literal embodiment of Hestia Familia. If Emma was some day able to "collect" all of Hestia's children's Status into her own container and use them as her own…forget Bell's amazing growth, Emma might overshoot that by a mile. Even that small impromptu training session burst made Emma's Agility grow by a full fifty points…and her Defense by ten but that wasn't as important.
"I suppose the next test would be to see if she could copy Magic and Skills as well," Archer spoke up. "Maybe we should have Emma take on Lily's Status?"
"Oh right!" Lily nodded. "Lily has both Magic and a few Skills! It should be easy to check how much of the Falna Miss Emma borrows."
"Even so, we will have to put it off for another time in a more controlled environment," Caster said as Rider clapped her hands together in apology again. "For now, the ones that will be out tonight should rest properly."
Archer, Saber and Lancer nodded in unison before Archer turned toward Bell.
"You sure you still want to come with us?" The man asked.
"Of course!" Bell replied. "I want to help as well."
"I'm not asking if you wanted to help or not Bell," Archer said with a shake of his head. "I'm asking if you are sure you want to come along. We aren't going to be fighting Dungeon Monsters. We're going to be fighting other people. I'm asking if you are prepared for that."
It was as though the temperature dropped down several degrees at Archer's words.
Their target this time were not mindless beasts but people who actively chose to commit crimes and were doing so under orders of their god.
As Bell fell silent to Archer's question, Hestia turned toward Caster.
"Hey Caster," the goddess began. "We're sure that this Fels person is telling the truth, right?"
"My method for detecting falsehoods is different from the gods but there were none that arose from their mouth," Caster replied. "Our enemy is currently the same one as the one the boy fought on the Eighteenth Floor. There will be no problems in removing the nuisances with the blessing of the Guild."
"No, that's not what I mean…"
Hestia knew she was overprotective, but she didn't want to put Bell in a position that could have him killing other people or seeing them killed by his beloved Heroes.
"I'm fine."
But of course, the boy in front of her could not remain a child forever.
"I'm not someone who can weigh the differences between the lives of an innocent person and that of a criminal when I haven't met either of them," Bell said. "All I know is that I want to save that person."
Archer's eyes remained on Bell for a short while before he turned his head to the side and let out a sigh.
"Really now, who exactly are you taking after?" Archer wondered as Bell let out a smile.
Watching the scene before her, Hestia found a smile on her face as well.
X-x-X-x-X
As night fell over the port, four figures were moving silently across the rooftops, their footsteps not even clanking against the wood and stone rooftops despite their heavily armored forms with full face helmets bearing the visage of various birds of prey.
"Keeping up all right?" The one in red with the visage of a hawk asked as he look over his shoulder toward the smallest form in the rear.
"Y-yes!" The smallest one in black with the visage of an owl replied with a nod. "I think we can go a bit faster too!"
Although it would seem that they were speaking to each other normally, an outside viewer would not have heard any of the words exchanged between the two.
"Still…this is really amazing," the owl muttered as he looked at his arms and at his companions. "I can't believe runes can do something like this."
"Please keep in mind that there is a limit to everything, Master," the one leading the charge, clad in black with the visage of an eagle, cautioned. "Though the runes will protect you should you be struck by weapons, it will still hurt."
"If things go well, that situation should not arise in the first place," the figure in white with the visage of a falcon pointed out.
During their preparations, Saber proposed the use of disguises so that the chances of their actions being traced back to Hestia Familia could be minimized. Thus through the use of runes, both Saber and Lancer created these false armors to hide their faces while also using them as some minimal protection for Bell who had yet to get a new set of armor from Welf.
Of course, it wasn't something Bell should overly rely on in any case. His strengths relied on not getting hit in the first place after all.
The four of them did not stop until they made their way toward the warehouses lining the edge of the lake. As it was rather late at night, only a few guards were around and only about two pairs of them were patrolling inside the complex itself.
"The guards are rather sparse," Archer noted. "Is this how it usually is or is it just for tonight only?"
"We should not make any assumptions just yet," Saber suggested and Archer nodded in agreement. "Do you see our target?"
"Yeah. Smack dab in the middle of all these buildings."
Supposedly, the building had been marked with a star by Fels beforehand. Although the mysterious figure had been able to get close and find the criminals udetected, they did not feel confident about their ability to escape while protecting the hostage. Though the mark was small and the clouds were blocking both the light from the moon and the stars, Archer's eyes could see it even at such a distance.
"This Fels person worries me," Lancer muttered. "Were it not for Caster and Gina's words, I would not be sure about taking on this Quest to begin with."
"They did claim that their strengths lie in research," Saber pointed out. "Perhaps they created some Magic Tools to keep themselves hidden?"
"Wouldn't mind getting my hands on some of those after we finish this Quest," Archer muttered as he scanned the area. "The guards' patrols don't seem to hang around our target warehouse for very long. Either they've been bribed or they've been told to ignore it."
"Wait…but isn't this area owned by the Guild?" Bell asked quickly. "Does that mean the Branch here is working with Evilus?"
"We can't be sure of that," Lancer replied. "It might only be the guards acting on their own."
"Let us worry about that later," Saber said. "Although it would explain why Fels chose to contact our Familia for help. Aside from our battle with the Floor Boss, we are still relatively unknown after all. If a larger Familia like Loki Familia were to move, the Guild Branch would be put on guard and if they were aligned with Evilus, they would misdirect them as much as possible."
With another round of nods, the four of them silently made their way closer to their target before Archer held up his hand to signal them to stop.
"There really are no guards outside this place…" Archer muttered. "Now I'm the one starting to get worried."
"Fortunately we have a foolproof way of scouting before we strike," Saber said as he turned toward Bell and Lancer. "As planned we shall strike first. Please keep watch."
"Yes…be careful," Bell nodded as the other two dematerialized and faded away from the world.
"You have nothing to worry about, Master," Lancer said with a quick nod of her head. "The only one who would be able to kill that person would be me."
"…I really wish that wasn't the case though," Bell sighed.
Silence settled between the two of them for a few minutes until Archer reappeared by their side.
"It's done," he said.
"Were they actually human traffickers?" Bell asked.
"From what we overheard of their conversations, yeah," Archer replied with a nod. "They've been neutralized."
Bell flinched at the word "neutralized" but he didn't say anything as they hopped to the target warehouse which Bell noted had been marked by a star on one of the tilings, causing Bell to gape in awe at Archer's ability to spot such a thing.
Lancer traced a rune on the roof and the tiles burned away, creating a hole big enough for Bell to slip through while the other two dematerialized and reappeared at the ground floor where Saber was examining the bare back of a body.
"How is it?" Archer asked.
"No good," came the reply as Saber shook his head. "I cannot remove the lock of the Falna. It is sealed by the blood of a god after all."
"Were you trying to find out which Familia they belonged to?" Bell asked and Saber nodded his head.
"Yes. But a lock sealed by the blood of a god can only be undone by the blood of a god…and I doubt our goddess will be pleased with us if we skinned the man's back to take back with us."
"I wouldn't be pleased with that," Bell pointed out as Saber chuckled and stood up.
"We must hurry," Lancer said as she looked around. "Lady Hestia said that the gods are connected to the Children who received their grace. If these people were acting on orders of their god then they would no doubt know of their deaths."
"But…where do we start?" Bell asked as he also glanced around. There were crates stacked all the way to the roof. It would take too much time to open up and check each one.
"We have to start somewhere," Archer said. "And calling out that we're here to rescue them probably won't work."
"Leave that to me," Lancer said as she traced a rune in the air, creating a small light. The light hovered in front of them for a moment before it floated off, prompting Bell and the others to follow it.
"…Ngh!"
Lancer let out a grunt of disgust as she stopped right in front of a large metal crate that had been pushed off to the side with several tiny holes that no doubt acted as air holes. However, there was currently a foul stench coming from inside it…as if whoever was inside it was forced to stew in their own filth without any care by their captors.
Carefully, Lancer raised a hand and tapped the side of the crate. To Bell horror and relief, a weak knocking sounded back. And then…
"Help…" a voice called out. The voice was rather weak and high pitched. A child or a woman perhaps? "Please…help me…"
"How cruel," Lancer said as she placed a hand on the crate only to stiffen and freeze.
"What's wrong?" Saber asked quickly.
"I…do not know," Lancer replied as she stepped away from the crate. "I feel…apprehensive all of a sudden. As if I do not wish to see the inside of this crate."
Although Bell couldn't see it, he could tell Saber was frowning behind his helmet as he drew a rune over the lock, causing it to melt and then placed his hand on the lid.
"…I see," he suddenly said. "I understand what you mean, my love. It feels as though my instincts are screaming at me to step away."
Curious, Bell placed his own hand on the crate. Immediately he was overwhelmed with the desire to avoid looking into the crate and leave as soon as possible. Like if he were to look inside, his entire world would turn upside down and everything he knew would come into question.
But even so…he couldn't let whoever it was inside suffer like this.
Bringing out his will, Bell forced opened the lid, and felt his breath hitch as he stepped back, eyes wide in horror.
Inside the box, shivering in a corner and staring back up at him caked in a layer of refuse and blood wasn't a human like he had first thought. Nor were they an elf, a dwarf, an animal person or an Amazon. The one in the crate was not one of the races of humanity.
It was a harpy. A monster found in the Dungeon. Looking just like a woman from the waist up, to the point that it even had breasts, the harpy instead had large wings the size of shields forming at their forearms. Everything from the waist down was covered in red feathers caked in a layer of filth. While normal harpies had hideously wrinkled old faces like witches from fairy tales meant to scare children, the one in front of them looked closer to that of a young woman that one would find walking down the street…filth notwithstanding.
The harpy stared fearfully at them for a moment before the faintest signs of hope appeared in its eyes as it stretched one wing forward.
"Help…please…" it begged.
Bell felt that all three of his Servants were as speechless as he was. Trapped and captured by those criminals from earlier, the monster was now speaking to them…begging them for help..and it was only now that Bell remembered what that Fels person had said to Caster.
"Males and females of all races are targeted and moved beyond our reach."
They had been referring to monsters…intelligent monsters that could speak to people.
"Please…" the harpy begged once more before its wing fell limp.
Before Bell could fully comprehend what he was doing, he reached out and grabbed her body before she could fall.
"Don't worry…" he found himself saying even though the harpy wouldn't be able to hear him. "It's going to be all right."
It was slight…but Bell could swear that a little light returned into its…no, her eyes.
Whatever happened, no matter how much trouble his act of selfishness would bring him and the others in the future, he wanted to believe in his own path.
