A/N: Yo wys. So it seems I have run into a problem with this series. See, I had the cringy names for all the moves in '13 passages of the moon' written down in a notebook.
Yeah...see, about that notebook...I may or may not have...lost it? I'm sure I used at most like 6 moves in the last 4 chapters so...shit.
Well that's fine. I can wait until a day I'm actually bothered to re-name the missing names, but until then we shall recycle the moves already shown.
Update: Suahtloh my friend, I'm sorry if you felt like I was pushing for you to release a new chapter of your series. I didn't know that you were working on illustrations and backstories until someone told me in the reviews, but anyways thanks for dropping a new chapter. I love your stuff man keep up the work, and work at your own pace. Besides that, I'll see you all in the next chapter of whatever series I manage to post.
Tata~
Chapter 5: Goddamn it!
'Why? I know I have sinned, but why do I keep meeting this guy?' Bell internally whined as he laid his eyes on Finn.
Now don't get him wrong. Bell was a very patient person, one that never had issues with annoying people. He lives with Zeus for goodness sakes!
But Finn Diemne, while had potential to be a fun guy, was just not the guy Bell wanted to look at 4 times a week.
"Oh hey it's the salty guy." Finn called out.
"Oh hey it's the guy suffering from crippling ED." Bell quipped back. Sparks seemed to fly off between the two. "You know what? No. I'm not gonna let you have a successful conversation with me this time.'ve got be-"
"Captain!" A voice called out from behind revealed to be a very panicky Raul Nord, " we have counted a total of 74 people that have been poisoned by the peludas, have you - Oh."
Finn chuckled, "oh indeed. Bete," he turned to face the werewolf, "go get as many antidotes as you can."
Bete nodded with a serious expression on his face before running past Bell, not before snarling at him a little but soon he disappeared.
"So Raul...why has it increased by 1?" Finn asked turning to Raul, who seemed to fidget a bit.
"Um...it turns out the sword princess was hiding her injury, but now she has collapsed due to the poison." He reported.
Before Finn could reply, he heard the dungeon floor crack. Turning back around, Bell Cranel was nowhere to be seen.
Not having time for such a thing though, he returned back to camp to control everyone's anxiety and lead them properly.
Meanwhile Bell's POV
'God damn it.' Bell sprint with all his speed towards the surface. The fact that Ais was struck by the poison of the peludas wasn't anything he could ignore.
From the guide he had memorised, the peludas were known for their strong poison that abnormal resistance and a high level stood no chance against. It was simply a death sentence if ignored for too long.
And in typical Ais fashion, she tried to hide it and now what? She freaking collapsed.
Bell was sprinting at his top speed, the air crackled as the lightning tore the ground he was running on apart.
He began running to the surface and jumped into one of the secret passages. Truth is, there was actually a short cut from floor 14 to floor 1, it was a straight run up, and it had zero monsters. Most likely unfound to this day.
As Bell came out in only 15 mins of running he ran to Amid's place immediately.
If any place were to have antidotes, it would Amid's place. So expect his surprise when he managed to get only 20 potions!
That was nowhere near enough! Sure Ais only needed 1, but still it didn't sit right with him to ignore the other 73 people that may end up dying.
So he began going around town trying to get antidotes before a chientrothope intercepted his path.
"So..heard yer looking for strong antidotes for pedula poisoning... I got some on me." The woman spoke.
Bell looked at them skeptically and asked, "how many?"
"However many you need buddy. We do produce large stocks y-" The dog-girl was speaking but Bell cut her off.
"I want 54."
The girl went silent. Bell just stared at the shorter girl.
"What? If you don't get me 54 in the next hour, I'll leak everything from how a Hermes dog is trying to scam people in broad day light to even what the bottom floor of the Traveler's Inn contains."
The dog girl's eyes widened before she gazed into Bell's evil grin.
"You chose the wrong person to do this to. Now...chop chop." Bell clapped his hands.
"Grr...this isn't how it's meant to be."
Bell let out a smug smirk, "I know. But what can I say? I'm used to his shit already, you are just an addition. Oh and this reminds me..." Suddenly a very dark aura enveloped Bell, "If you tamper with the potions. I'll know. And if I do know...not even Asfi will be able to stop me, is that clear?"
The girl retreated with a shiver, "c-crystal."
As if by magic the dark aura around Bell dissipated and the girl ran off to do her thing.
As promised or threatened in this case, 54 full undiluted and un-tampered potions were brought to Bell in the same alleyway.
To the girl's surprise, Bell checked through every single one of them and nodded, satisfied by her work.
"Ok scram."
The girl looked at him wide eyed, "Wha- what about payment?"
"Well I'm letting you live aren't I?" Bell responded with a questioning look. And from the looks of it, she wasn't going to get much better.
Was he being mean spirited?
Yes.
Did he have anything against the poor victim?
No. He didn't even know who she was. But darn did it feel good to get back at Hermes in one way or another. He would personally vent out his years of anger at the man himself, but Hermes, the messenger was sly and slippery as a fish in water. Literally, trying to grab him like a fish in water, was impossible, even if you did manage to grab onto him, he would eventually slip away.
Nah you have bait him here. You have to bait him to you, so he comes for you himself, and then you can dish out whatever torture you want to. That's the way Bell has learnt to punish Hermes, and torturing his familia members, while yes is horrible to do, but it's one of the only ways to bring that son of a gun out without getting in trouble.
Regardless, after having pulled off the biggest rip-off of the century, Bell didn't waste anytime.
"Good that I managed to snag this from Asfi last time," Bell grinned smugly. Back in the days, when he used to be slightly younger he often had some level of interest in creating devices. Sure he was just about average but he would often get some helping tips from Asfi. One thing he had managed to create by "Borrowing" something Asfi had made. A little cluster that could store objects and preserve them for a solid while.
Sure she may have found out later, but she took back the 'fake' that he had made, while he kept the original.
The difference?
The one he made could store only a tiny fraction of what the original could, and God's is it going to come in handy. He took all 70 ish potions and basically stored them into a small pocket like object.
Then he immediately took off.
At Rivira
"What's the situation on the ones that were hit?" Finn asked as he stood in his camp. They were coming back from the expedition, and this did set them back quite a bit but it was necessary.
He didn't even know if Bete could successfully bring back enough of these potions. His mind moved rapidly thinking of different ways to compensate for the inevitable lack of potions.
Surprisingly however, his thumb didn't ache. Under stressful situations such as these he probably would be willing to chop his thumb off, for some reason however, the lack of any pain seemed more unsettling to him.
Until...
"DELIVERY INCOMING!" He heard a booming shout come from outside.
'What in the fu-?' Finn couldn't even get to finish his thought as a member of his familia rushed in, but stumbled on the curtain of his large tent and tripped onto the ground.
"What happened?" Finn asked taking charge of the situation. The man seemed shocked, and most of all worried for some weird reason. Yet still, even then his thumb didn't ache.
"H-H-He..." The man was clearly a stuttering mess as he pointed to outside the tent but his finger kept shaking. Finn realising that the man was practically frightened went out and saw someone he didn't think to see in this case.
"Bell Cranel?"
"Yo." Bell greeted lifted his hand in greeting, "Seems you're in a tough spot huh?"
Finn's thought went towards a bad direction, "did you come here to say that while my familia is dying right now?" He asked seething with rage.
"No." Bell replied immediately. "I came to help?"
Finn raised his eyebrow inquisitively, as if to ask 'what in the world can you do in this situation?'
Bell sighed as he took out his magic pocket thing and shoved his hand in deeper than it should've physically been possible.
As if by magic, he pulled out crates. 5 crates of just blue potions.
"75 orders of high healing and antidotal potions. They gave a couple extra, nice!" Bell smiled. Before Finn could reply once more, Bell took one of the potions and then looked at Finn. "Where is Ais nee?"
'Ahh, now it makes sense.' Finn realised. Bell clearly had some sort of attachment to Ais, obviously, and it seemed that he didn't want to let her die.
But that made another question rise up.
"You would only need 1 potion to cure Ais, why bring more?" Finn asked. Don't get him wrong, he knew Bell wouldn't stoop low enough to sabotage the rest of his familia and bring them tampered potions.
But it made no sense to Finn.
"3 reasons," Bell began by holding three fingers up, "One. It doesn't feel right to simply let people die when I can prevent it," one of his index finger went down, "Two. I wouldn't just bring 1 potion, it'd make me seem selfish which I am not." Finn snorted but Bell ignored, instead his ring finger went down and Bell seemingly shoved his middle finger into Finn's face,
"and finally, I get to make you owe me a favour. That's one of the most priceless things to have in Orario, not weapon or potion could ever measure up to that."
Finn stared into Bell's eyes scanning for deceit and finding none, "You hold such high opinion of me?"
Bell rolled his eyes, "Pssh, you're THE Braver, I ain't no pushover that wouldn't admit that there are people better than me. Especially, the guy who's noggin' always is cooking up something annoying, grand and probably harmful to the Zeus and Hera familia even if they are death."
The last bit seemed to be an attack from Bell but he for some reason muttered it in a really low voice, "You realise I have nothing against those guys right? That was an one time accident."
Bell began walking past Finn, "sure it was. That one "Accident" cost their lives, not that you can do much more. Now, I'll ask someone else where Ais-nee is, otherwise, you'll keep wasting my time."
Finn felt his eyebrow twitch and looking around he saw that several of his familia members had heard the entire conversation and were only staring at him wide eyed.
It seemed Bell was at the very least kind enough to make sure the others couldn't hear the last bit, but that did nothing to ease the annoyance of Finn.
'This guy literally can't spend a single day without mentioning that decision we made!' He huffed internally before turning to face the others, "Alright people! Take a few of these potions and give them to the ones that are poisoned. Healers, after the potion is consumed provide some light healing."
The familia members shuffled about trying to get to the right places at the right time. In the meanwhile, Bell had approached a tent guarded by the two women he recognised as the Hiryute siblings.
"Oh hey! What are you doing here?" Tiona asked waving at him.
"Nothing much, just here to see Ais nee." Bell replied as he waved back at her. However, as he got near the entrance, the other sibling, Tione, lifted her arm to block him off.
"No-one outside the familia is allowed in." She told him.
Frankly, even if he was in the familia, she wouldn't of allowed him. He seemed to have a grudge against Finn, and Finn seemed annoyed at him. So that was plenty reason for her to be slightly hostile to him.
If he decided to take up his arms, well then a fight would occur.
"Move." Bell monotonously told her, not even bothering to look at her.
"No." She replied curtly. "I don't trust you, for all we know you might be kill her."
"But Tione, he calls her Ais nee! There is no way he would do that," Tiona looked at her. Tione only glared at her sister.
"You dolt, there are plenty of people who would stoop low enough if an opportunity arises." Tione scolded her sister. She then returned her attention to Bell, "Now leave."
Bell seemingly tired of the shit, sighed deeply and finally looked at Tione. His ruby red eyes met her own eyes, "Don't make me do this."
Tione's glared only intensified, "And what can yo-" She tried to speak but was cut off, as somehow she felt her head shoot up, and a sharp pain in her chin became apparent.
Her world spun a bit as she fell on her backside, she could hear Tiona call for her. But that was drowned out as she heard in the faintest whispers, "- 3rd Race- Elven Crescent Rise..."
Bell POV
After having hit Tione, Bell felt surprised. Usually the hit to the jaw, was enough to knock out most enemies. Even if they were a high level 5 like Tione, he was a level 4 himself yet this problem still stood.
Not that he cared much, he wasn't necessarily looking to knock her out anyways, without wasting any more time he walked into the tent to see Ais laying on a bed. Her complexion was pale, whiter than usual. She seemed to panting ever so slightly though it was obvious she was suppressing it.
What's worse was that through the her armour's gaps, he could see tinges of purple on her thighs as they slowly spread throughout the body.
Peluda poisoning was a real tough issue and one that needs to be cured within 24 hours lest, someone wanted to die.
He kneeled and lifted her head to his lap, so that it was angled from the ground. Despite being gravely poisoned, Ais opened her eyes.
"B..ell..?" She spoke out barely louder than a whisper. But Bell simply hushed her down.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine. You don't have to tough it out. I'm going to pour something in your mouth right now, I'm going to need you to swallow it alright?" Bell asked. Ais didn't speak but he felt her head give the faintest of nods.
Slowly he unscrewed the lid of the vial, from the corner of his eyes he could see Tiona had entered, with Tione right besides her.
Ignoring them he poured the liquid down her throat, as Ais slowly swallowed the entire potion.
"Good. Now, rest for a bit. Your body is weak right now, I don't care what level you are. Don't push yourse-" He was speaking but cut himself short as light snores began to ring out in the silent tent.
Ais seemed to have fallen asleep anyways, Bell simply smiled fondly as he laid her head back down and quietly tucked her in.
He went out the camp with Tione and Tiona in tow.
He turned to face the two, "I am no doctor, and I'm sure you all know the type of person Ais-nee is. Don't let her push herself. She may be strong, but she isn't invincible."
They nodded in response, Bell turned around, "well I've done my job. Brought all the necessary potions, patched up Ais-nee now I can take my leave."
"Wait. You brought potions for everyone?!" Tiona asked, her eyes widened.
Bell simply stared back at her as if she was a madman, "well yeah? I'm not a selfish prick, so I have no reason to let people die for no reason."
"huh..."
"Yeah."
"by the way?" Tione called out. Bell turned around only to feel the air be blasted out of his lungs. He didn't wheeze thankfully but he felt winded. "That was for punching me. Hard as well, that hurt."
" Yup. D-Deserved that one." Bell let out a weak chuckle.
"Think twice before hitting me again." Tione warned.
Recovering a bit, Bell could finally remove his hand from his belly, "Meh. M-Might do that again..."
"I dare you." Tione narrowed her eyes.
"Not now. Later,"
"Aww...you're leaving already?" Tiona joined in.
"Sorry Tiona san, but it'd be better if I left. I don't think your familia would think so highly of me." Bell smiled.
"What's your beef with Loki anyways?" Tione asked raising an eyebrow. From Finn's interaction a few days ago with Bell, it was evident that there were many things they didn't explicitly speak about. Perhaps, it was an attempt of at least giving them some level of respect or so she assumed?
But some things didn't add up. The shell-shocked appearance of Gareth. Riveria constantly trying to earn this person's forgiveness. And some new guy, turning out to be the sole member and captain of THE Zeus familia and giving no fucks to anyone?
Bell adopted a downtrodden look and seemed to be in thought of how to phrase his words, "Let's just say your familia and mine...are a bit more linked that I would like. Going to even before I was born, regardless, that is nothing for you guys to worry about. You guys are still part of a younger generation of the familia, so it doesn't concern you much."
"Hey is that Finn there?" Tiona asked. Bell saw Tione's face swing so fast, that it would've flown right out.
Looking behind them, he indeed saw Finn walking towards their camp.
Bell sighed heavily once more, "Looks like I'm not leaving for a good while..."
...
"Ah Cranel san, you're still here good." Finn smiled, "Setting aside our little arguments, as captain of the Loki familia, I would like to formally thank you for your actions and would like to promise that we would never forget this day. If someday you're in need of our support, we will assist."
Finn was no fool obviously. He knew when to set aside his personal emotions, when to stop being just the adventurer Finn Diemne. Those are the times where he becomes the Captain of the Loki familia. He acts professionally and with restraints on his behaviour.
"So I can rely on you guys for anything?" Bell asked grinning.
"Within limits of course." Finn adjusted. "and while I would like nothing more than to simply allow you to go, I would like to ask for 2 more favours if possible."
"You do realise you'll owe me 3 in that case right?"
Finn nodded in affirmation, "I'm aware. But these 2 will be personal favours. I am requesting this as Finn Diemne, not as the captain of the Loki familia."
"As I said before, making you owe me favours is already a big play," Bell grinned, "sure go on."
"You are such a lowlife, Jeez! What happened to not being a selfish prick?" Tione asked with annoyance in her voice.
Bell chuckled in response, "I never said I was some benevolent entity, that helped everyone like I was breathing."
"Right, so one thing I would like to ask is how in the world did you get such a massive supply for high potions like these? I do understand if it's some sort of secret, but if its from a specific source then you understand the rest right?" Finn asked.
Bell nodded, but his smirk never disappeared, "It was simple really. I just found some of Hermes's dogs, who tried to scam me, so I reversed it onto them and made them bring the potions to me. Hermes familia, if you were to know have a really well connection to just about everywhere, except from very specific places where they are not allowed."
Finn, and the two hiryutes looked at him flabbergasted, " And pray tell how you 'reversed' it onto them?"
"Nope. Not telling."
Finn sighed. It wasn't enough information, but should what Bell say be actually true, it meant one of either 2 possibilities.
Either, Bell Cranel was a hell of a lucky man, who stumbled across the right people at the right time and took advantage of that.
Or,
he was a cunning player that tricked the Hermes familia and is hiding a lot of things both of who he is and what he knows.
"The second favour?" Bell asked snapping Finn back to reality.
"Third you mean?"
"Nah I'm not counting that little question as favour, so go on."
"Ah right, I was going to ask, although it's a bit embarrassing to ask this and-"
"Stop beating around the bush, it isn't like you."
"Well it's a dumb thing to owe you a favour for, but can you cook?"
It had been 4 hours since Ais had conked out. She awoke to there being basically no light in her tent. The only source was a flickering orange light from outside her cave which insinuated that there was a firecamp in front of her tent.
She remembered that she had been hit by Peluda poisoning, and at some point...Bell had come to see her?
Although it seemed impossible, because what were the chances right?
But she is forced to take back her words as soon as she opens her tent, to see a massive bonfire outside with food being cooked besides it.
The chef for all this is none other than the one person she didn't want to admit was here,
It was Bell Cranel.
Surrounded by a massive groups of people eating in a jolly mood that didn't seem fitting for the dungeon. Ais stood baffled for a second before the smooth yet rich aroma a stew hit her nose. It felt like she was being slapped across the face with the heavy, creamy flavour.
Her tongue could already taste yet she hadn't taken a bite. Hell, she wasn't even near it that much. Her senses were just sharp for a level 5 at the time, and it only means that she picked it up from afar. Another thing was that was picked up however,
*GROOOWLLL*
Her stomach growled. Loud. Enough for Bell to hear her anyways along with a few other second class or more adventurers to hear it. Then silence ensued.
All heads had turned to face Ais, and even with as aloof Ais could be, she still managed to blush a little.
Just a little.
Thankfully, under the artificial crystal light, her light blush couldn't be seen, but Bell seemed to smirk.
"Say Ais-nee," He began, "I've been hearing this little rumour here you see, it says that your favourite food was this potato snacks called 'Jagamarukun'"
Ais twitched ever so slightly, and she felt like something very ominous crept into her mind.
"I remember as if it was yesterday," Bell sighed exaggerating his nostalgia, "you told me that you loved my potato dish the best. You said that it was the best and the only one you would ever eat!" Bell pretended to be a heartbroken damsel, he went down to one knee, gripping his chest, the other snickering at how Ais was being ever so slightly bullied.
"Bell- you're being mean." Ais pouted slightly as she "Tried" to glare at him. It only seemed to like a normal stare.
However Bell, who had understood what she had been trying to do, guffawed before chuckling silently.
"I'm kidding. Want some?" Bell asked. and that seemed enough of an incentive to make Ais to shut up and sit down. She began to hungrily yet elegantly devour the meal. Bell never saw anyone use their levels agility to shove food in their mouth so fast.
Bell gently smiled but soon got his own portions and sat down, noticing Ais stared at him the entire way.
"What?"
"Bell...since when were you a cannibal?" Ais asked. This statement sent many of them into spirals as each began thinking that the meat they have eaten was the unforgivable.
"What?!" Bell's reaction was similar in nature, "This is a rabbit stew! Rabbit! Not human." He explained. Ais stared at him silently before saying,
"Exactly."
It took a moment for people to make the relations. Soft white hair. Red eyes. Where has this been seen before?
"OH I get it, he's like a rab-" someone tried to say before being cut off by Bell.
With a deathly aura surrounding him, "finish that sentence and that stew would become the last you ever had." He threatened.
The man went pale, sweating bullets and trying to think of something else to say, "u-uh...the wea-weather is very nice today."
Of course the others began laughing, Bell went back to doing his thing and suffice to say they learnt to never compare Bell with a rabbit. Especially, not with the way he reacts.
Thus dinner continued with one person writing up their will in fear that they won't live to see the next day, and the others getting to know their chef. After all, only some people could brag about the fact that the captain of THE Zeus familia cooked for them.
However, with all meals, this one came to a close as well. Bell never expected to have to almost wrestle Ais to her tent for her to sleep, but for all it was worth, he got her to sleep.
'I can't believe that she wanted to go fight monsters, now of all times!' Bell sighed exasperated. After getting out, he spotted Tiona with Tione on watch duty for a bit.
"Hey!" Tiona greeted in a hushed but still energetic voice. Tione looked at Bell momentarily before rolling them away.
"Hey. How are you guys holding up?" Bell asked approaching the two sitting on a log near a small campfire.
"Well it's about as well as night duty can get. Boring, cold and annoying now that I'm stuck drawing crosses onto the walls." Tiona complained much to Bell's amusement.
"Well it should only be for a couple hours right? Unless you guys don't do rotations."
"We do." Tione replied, not even looking his way, " What are you doing this late?"
The way she spoke was obvious to Bell, although her words held no venom it was aware she was indirectly saying that Bell was on thin ice. One mistake and she would pounce to kill.
Bell, not one to be bothered by such hostility since he's heard and seen worse, just sighed, "Look, I get that you clearly don't like me. That's fine, I was just about to leave and I spotted you two, so I came to say bye."
Tione didn't reply but now she looked at him at least, Tiona jumped in however, "What? You're leaving? Aww, your cooking was delish as well, I wanted some more..." She pouted adorably.
Bell just laughed, pleased that his cooking was liked, "Thanks, I'll cook for you some other time. It was nice meeting you guys, either way, I should leave before your sister decides to rip my throat into shreds," Bell pointed at Tione who let out a 'hmph', chuckling once more Bell turned around and walked away.
Now that silence was what accompanied him, Bell took the time to take in the sights of the 18th floor. The paradise in the hell called a dungeon.
Truly, it made sense. It was a crime for such a place to exist in this hole in the ground. The ceiling that was simply crystals that rained down light, was praised by all the previous captains of the Zeus familia. While Bell had been here during the day time, the night time was only that many times better.
The soft moon like glow that shone from the crystal above, little twinkling spots imitating stars, they were captivating in their own right. So much so that Bell had frozen on the spot and simply stared up, not even noticing the person walking towards him.
"Quite the sight, isn't it?"
The voice bringing Bell back to his sense, turned out to be Finn's. Bell looked at the prum, who was smiling at him, not in an arrogant or sly manner, just a standard smile.
"Yeah." Bell nodded looking back up, "This is nothing like what the book detailed."
"Ah the Zeus familia records." Finn understood, "Many have described this sight to be one that could not be described by words. It is a very good hotspot of surface activity, as evident by the number of people that settled down here."
"I can imagine. Adventurers would typically have to pass through here, and night gazing in here? Oh boy..."
"Are you leaving?" Finn asked.
"Yeah. I wasn't meant to stay down here for so long, but well I guess times like this occur." Bell shrugged.
He then looked to see Finn extending a hand towards him, "As the captain of the familia, I must thank you once more for everything you have done. From bringing potions to cooking when our chefs were poisoned. We will not forget this."
Bell grinned cheekily as he shook Finn's hand, "Oh I bet you won't. You owe me 2 favours now."
Finn laughed, "So long as its nothing too extreme." And for a moment the two seemed to chat as if they had never had any altercations. The two captains, who seemed to be in a fight were now talking like old buddies of war.
"Say Bell san, what is your alias?" Finn asked.
Bell cocked his head as he looked at him, "Alias?"
"Well you are a level 4, I imagine you have been granted at least an alias by your deity." Finn clarified. He had wondered how someone had gotten to the strength of level 4 with no access to the dungeon but knowing that Tione and Tiona had gotten to level 3 by the time they even arrived at Orario, he didn't ask for any details.
Especially, since he knew that there was a method of getting stronger even without the dungeon, Finn would rather not ask anything Bell wouldn't want to say.
Bell seemed to be in thought after his question and smiled, "Well this wasn't granted to me by Gramps but this was what someone very dear to me had referred to me as,
'Spades'"
The name seemed to echo even though they weren't in anything that was hollow. A strange feeling of unease and power struck Finn but it couldn't of been from Bell. Had it been Bell then he would've felt this tingling in his thumb earlier.
No.
It was the name.
But what was special about it. Why did it feel like this was an important detail he wouldn't want to forget. Finn was never the type of person to shake aside any sort of uneasiness he felt, especially when it came from his thumb. But this time, with no action that he could think to take, for once he decided to brush aside the fact that the surroundings themselves seemed to acknowledge the fearful name.
But why?
After Bell finished his conversation with Finn, he had made his way back to the surface which thankfully didn't take much time. He had already had some stew but was feeling a bit peckish.
From the clock right outside the guild, the time was about midnight, which reminded him of just the right place. Smiling he traversed through the quiet streets of the city.
As he walked, he felt the nightly cool breeze flow past him, the quiet calls of owls ringing out, reminding him once more just how he had missed quiet nights. When he had to break the silent peace as a shrill rung out.
"KYAAAA!"
(Iconic Scream IK.)
Bell followed its direction, being led to a certain alleyway with a dead-end because of course that's what happens. As he leapt up to the house by the alley, he could spot two women being hounded by a bunch of thugs. The two women seemed more than unique,
the shorter one being at an average 5'5" with crimson red hair, a red eye and an eye patch on the other eye. Wearing a white shirt, and black tight leggings with boots.
The slightly taller one was of a slightly darker complexion, at about 5'7", also with a red eye and an eye patch. Instead of red hair however, she had a matte black hair. She wore more or less revealing clothes, a white shirt that rode above her belly button, and loose red leggings that looked almost like a dancer's except they weren't see through.
What was the strangest thing however, was how she had a katana in her hands.
What was even stranger, was how the goons had ended up on the floor, with one of them having pissed his pants, they were staring up at her with fear in her eyes. She smiled devilishly,
"Go to hell!" She said as she brought down her sword down onto him.
"Tsubaki, Stop!" The woman behind her told her but it was almost too late.
Bell leapt in, a loud 'clang' emanated as he barely managed to block the sword with the back of his falcata.
"Huh? Who are you?" The black haired woman known as Tsubaki asked him. Bell looked at her to see somehow she had amusement dancing behind her eyes. "Are you one of them too?"
Bell snorted, "No, I'm not." He replied. He lifted his sword up, forcing the katana to rise up too, before he turned back to the man, and crouched down.
"Y'know...he was threatening to touch us up." Tsubaki spoke behind him.
"Mhm. Did he succeed?" Bell asked.
"Nope. Too weak and his sword was made by some crappy blacksmith, shattered in one hit." Tsubaki criticised.
"Yup. Not enough to kill the damn guy though," Bell replied, looking at the man straight in the eye. He looked like he had seen the reaper himself, his eyes were darkened as if fear manifested physically and he was shaking like a leaf, "I trust that you won't try to do what you just did right?"
The man nodded his head fiercely, as he got up to his feet and scampered off.
"Aww, guess I'll have to make do with you." Tsubaki said as she leapt at Bell.
"wha-" But Bell was cut off as he saw the sword coming down towards him, reacting quickly he blocked it with both his falcatas. He only realised the impressive strength Tsubaki had used when the ground underneath him cracked.
"Oh? You're quite strong." Tsubaki complimented.
"Tsubaki, stop this immediately!" The woman behind her shouted.
Tsubaki looked behind and pouted a little, "Hephaistos sama I'm trying to have some fun. You saw the guy, he can clearly handle a hit. Let me play around a bit."
"That is no reason for you to try to attack someone you've never met," Hephaistos reprimanded. "Apologise to him immediately."
Tsubaki grumbled although she didn't seem truly angered, "My bad stranger. If only my Goddess wasn't here, I would've been able to go against you ."
"Pity." Bell sarcastically replied. "Why the hell were you screaming when you could handle them?"
Tsubaki let out an amused huff as she grinned at him, "You gotta fool them so you could toy with them."
'What the...' Bell never finished his thoughts. Before shrugging and sheathing his weapons, and turning around. Orario had its fair share of freaks and shit shows, he didn't need to get involved with them.
Even if they happened to be part of the Hephaistos familia.
...
Hephaistos familia.
"Wait..." Bell spoke turning back around to them, "What is your name?"
"Tsubaki."
"Full name."
"Tsubaki Collbrande." She replied.
"Assuming you are part of the Hephaistos familia and a blacksmith, what sign do you put on your weapons?" Bell asked sweating a bit.
" T.S baki, gotta make it a bit original don't I?"
Bell froze for a second. Before looking down at his falcatas by the sides of his hips. Drawing one out and looking at its hilt, there it was. The initials.
T.S baki.
Tsubaki seemed to understand what he was reading, before gaping, "YOU'RE ONE OF MY CUSTOMERS?!" Bell winced under the loud noise.
" You're my blacksmith? What the hell gramps, couldn't you find a less crazy one?" Bell spoke in response.
"Gramps..." Hephaistos repeated before her eyes shot wide too, "YOU'RE ZEUS' BOY?!"
Suddenly before any of them could speak a window from above their head opened, "Hey! You lot shut the fuck up, some of us are tryna sleep here!" a man shouted from above.
They stared up to see some man wearing blue pajamas holding a teddy bear. As funny as that sight should've been, it's the truth that they were being extremely rude so Bell told them to follow him to the Hostess.
Normally he wouldn't just bring random people together with him or be kind to someone shouting like that. Being sensitive to loud noises and all, it already was giving him a splitting headache.
As he went into the Hostess, his face was already marked with a scowl. See the last time he had been to the Hostess was before it even opened, thus no customers and no noise. However, on a typical busy night in Orario, the Hostess was one of the loudest places ever.
Drunkards. People talking to each other. Noise. More noise. And finally, even more noise.
But...it was too late to back out. He had just brought two people, perhaps the most important blacksmiths in the city of Orario with him because turns out, he was a secret customer of theirs and both sides didn't even know.
Before Bell came to Orario, Zeus wanted him to have a full set of armour and weapons, so he asked him what he wanted. Bell described the weapons and Zeus assured him of the quality, and he got the order through Hermes.
It was one of the few times that Zeus was actually a bit serious, considering it was about adventuring.
"Ah welcome, would you like a table for 3?" A waitress came up and asked them. She wore the same green and white dress-code for the pub and had brown hair and eyes. She adopted a small smile on her face.
Bell looked at her tiredly, "At the bar please." he told her. He recognised her too but didn't bother to speak to her, because well he felt his headache become progressively worse.
As she guided them to the bar, Mia looked up to see Bell.
"Yo, you look like you've been through shit." she said as she kept cleaning a glass. Bell looked at the glass with downtrodden eyes.
"Have you been wiping the same glass ever since that day?" Bell asked not evening responding to her previous statement.
Mia laughed at that, "It's part of the image. Now, I imagine yer gonna spend some big bucks 'cause I ain't letting ya leave otherwise."
Bell turned to Hephaistos and Tsubaki, "well you heard her. Just order as much as you want."
"And now he decides to address us," Tsubaki rolled her eyes but took a seat.
"Well I hate loud noises, and at the time I thought that this place was good to come to unless I wanted two women shouting into my ear the entire conversation," Bell spoke but ultimately sighed, "But...I forgot that this was a pub and not just some restaurant, so of course there's going to be a bunch of loud drunks."
As Tsubaki seemed to order a mountain of food to Lunoire, who was noting it all down furiously, Hephaistos turned to him, " You didn't have to treat us to food, granted we were about to have dinner back at the base."
Bell waved it off, "These swords have been the perfect weapons for me for a while, It's the least I can do. Besides what were you two doing out there so late?"
Hephaistos seemed to hold back the urge to rant as she shook her head and held her forehead as if to figuratively say 'it was a dumb reason' but ultimately she chose to elaborate on it, "Tsubaki got into an argument with a buyer, and then I had to go and smoothen somethings out, but then it just dragged on for hours."
"Meh, makes sense. Seems like something she would do." Bell looked at Tsubaki.
"Hey! I heard that,"
"And?" Bell raised an eyebrow. " You literally attacked me for no reason, I deserve to get at least this much." he replied.
Soon Lunoire had taken all their orders. Tsubaki order piles of food, Hephaistos seemed a bit hesitant but after being told its fine to order stuff by Bell, she got some spaghetti and an ice tea. While, Bell just got some ale.
"You seem a bit too...young, to drink." Hephaistos told him, but Bell shrugged.
"Age is just a number, I don't mind it, but I'm only doing it so I can get slightly buzzed enough to replace the headache that's trying to kill me."
"Ah I see."
"Well, let's the conversation underway, I'll tell you guys what I know. A year ago, gramps asked me what kind of armour and weapon I would like. So I told him what type of things I wanted and he sent that...Hermes to take the order from some blacksmith from Orario." Bell started.
"I must say, when Hermes came into my office and asked to buy a full set and weapon from me especially for someone he referred to as 'Zeus' boy' I was more than a little surprised. I agreed because it didn't seem like bad choice, especially since for payment Zeus had offered some of the...rarer ores and materials they had in the store of the Guild. I handed the order to Tsubaki, who did the rest of the job. I only handed the crate to Hermes, who gave me some note that allowed me to go get the materials."
Tsubaki chimed in after that, "No wonder, your sword was so strong. It was a beauty made by me of all people!" She spoke with pride in her voice.
"So humble," Bell retorted.
"Cranel san?" a voice spoke up from behind. Turning to see who it was, Bell just saw a pile of food.
"I must be going crazy because no way did a bunch of spaghetti just spoke to me." Bell said aloud.
"I'm over here," Ryuu's head popped up from besides the food.
"Ah it was you Ryuu san, I thought I had gone mad for a second there."
Ryuu took it in stride. Knowing that she would rather not question how he even came upon the conclusion that a bunch of food was talking to him. Knowing most likely, he was messing with her.
She set the food down to Tsubaki's side and Hephaistos, putting the mug of ale by Bell's side. Her nose scrunching as she set it down.
"Thank you." Bell thanked.
"What are you doing here so late at night? Zeus sama had come back asking if we had seen you a couple hours ago," Ryuu told him. After hearing that Bell turned to see Mia, smirking but not saying anything.
"You didn't tell me about that." Bell pointed out.
"If I did, you would've left to go back. Why the hell would I allow a customer to leave before eating something?" Mia asked.
"You mean spend money," Bell narrowed his eyes but not out of malice. Mia chortled pridefully as she had accomplished some great mission, "Well not that it matters, he can have the maids cook up something. As for your question, I was busy helping out some...people at the dungeon."
Ryuu's eyes glowed with respect, "That is very noble of you to help out people in the dungeon."
"Well there were just stuck at Rivira so may as well. Besides, it was a favour, nothing special."
" Even then, you spent your time going around the entire city in search for high potions, that is a very big favour to do especially when you have to go into the dungeon." Ryuu insisted.
"We're totally being excluded from this conversation aren't we?" Tsubaki spoke with a mouth full of food.
"Hush and eat. We need to get back, let him finish his talk." Hephaistos told her.
"How did you know I was searching for high potions?" Bell asked confused. He had searched the city sure but he never told anyone from the Hostess.
"Boy, you'd be surprised to know how quickly word travels round here." Mia added, jumping into the conversation.
"Ok that's all well and good," Bell paused, "But can you at least wipe a different glass? I feel uncomfortable just watching you."
Mia stared at him before sighing, as she put that glass down and picked up another one.
"Anyways girl go back to work, yer familia are gonna be visiting soon remember?" Mia told Ryuu, who promptly went back to work.
"Familia? The Astraea's are coming?" Bell asked her.
"Yeah, they do that every friday night. They come here with Astraea, and then drink themselves silly. Tomorrow's their rest day so they sleep in, that's also part of why the elfy here works fridays. Wednesdays is because she just feels bad." Mia told him.
Bell made an 'O' face before proceeding to take of his gloves. Something little that people would ordinarily gloss over but they picked up on it. Especially it's unique design.
Seeing a topic of conversation pop up, Tsubaki jumped on and asked, "Hey. Those look cool, any real meaning to them...skull crowns?"
Bell paused and looked at her, "Yeah. Just a little personal thing. But it's a bit in the past, It's kind of like a tribute I guess?"
"Tribute huh. I'm guessing they..." Tsubaki motioned a slash at the neck. Hephaistos gasped,
"Tsubaki! That's incredibly rude." Hephaistos admonished. She quickly turned to Bell, "I apologise. She's a dimwit, who stays locked up in her forge, so social interactions aren't exactly her...forte."
"Don't worry, it's not mine either." Bell replied as Hephaistos stared at him, "In the morning. It's different," he clarified. "And to answer you question, yes they are dead. Most of them at least."
While it suggested that it was a group of people, Tsubaki jumped onto her next question,
"Say when did ya come to the city?"
"A few days ago."
"What level of the dungeon have you explored up to?"
"Floor 24. I plan on going to 25."
"Ooooh, be careful there is a boss monster on the 27th."
"The amphisbaena I know."
"Cool seems like you did your re-search. What level are you?"
"4."
"Ah that's one less than mine, guess I would win in a fight."
"Who knows."
" How did you grow so strong without any access to the dungeon?"
"..."
For that question, Bell offered no answer. Not that he couldn't but rather because he didn't want to.
"Private."
"aww, but you can tell me other things right?"
"sure."
"Can you guys stop this back and forth? I want to go home." Hephaistos interrupted.
Tsubaki ignored it and moved onto her next question, "Has your hair always been white?"
"Yes."
"Are you single?"
"Y-"
Hephaistos stood up and promptly dragged Tsubaki out of the Hostess, only giving a quick apology and thanking Bell. Of course she would be in a rush, she has left the familia home in the morning and it was past mid night now and she was no-where to be seen. Her children will be worried for her, she can't exactly spend her time there leisurely.
She just wanted to go home.
Mia seemed to have soaked up everything in that conversation that was going back and forth as she looked at Bell.
"Ya didn't finish yer answer." Mia pointed out.
"She got dragged out before I could." Bell replied.
"So...ya single?" Mia asked.
"You interested?" Bell retorted.
Mia seemed to snort at that but shook her head, "Sorry about that but I'm past my prime, and I ain't looking for romance. Not sure I could find it anyways. But ya never know, info is money after all."
"Shouldn't I be charging you for this then?"
"I'm keeping the fact that you blackmailed the Hermes familia into finding the high potions a secret ain't I?"
Bell's eyes widened at that. Even he didn't predict that. "How-" He tried to ask but Mia cut him off.
"did I know?" She finished but smiled at him, "I told ya. Word travels fast around here."
And that was the night Bell learnt that there is always someone better than you in every case. Especially if they could obtain information that you wanted to keep secret.
A/N: And that's a wrap.
Another one done, I gotta admit. It helps that I slowly worked on them all so now I just finish the chapters off and post them. Hope you enjoyed and next chapter I'll be posting the character count, you know just to let you all know which character is currently winning.
I won't be making any official ships just yet since its only chapter 5 but you best believe that I'm checking, so if you haven't voted yet, you can do so in the reviews. Last I checked there was an overwhelming amount of Ais, Ryuu and Tiona I think. But we'll have to see, maybe some different character will get a lot of votes and they would be an underdog or something.
Either way,
Bless.