Chapter 6

Bell's POV.

After explaining everything I've felt under goddess Freya's gaze, Riveria-san and the others called for an emergency meeting and after a few seconds of us moving to a much spacious place, Goddess said how she felt about things until we heard a knock from the door.

"Are we late? Finn?"

When Raul-san opened the door, I saw the very first friend I had when I entered the city.

Her beautiful emerald eyes and fiery long hair tied into a ponytail that's dancing as she walks towards us caught my attention. I don't know why I only noticed this now but she looks really pretty. Her cheerful smile and small round cute face, and her very kind and lively personality fits her appearance very well.

"Nope, you two are on time. Come on Hange join us as well"

The person behind Alise-san was revealed to be Hange-san. This is the first time I saw her in her full adventurer gear. She had her usual glasses replaced by a goggles and she also had a jacket over her white long sleeves now.

"Please excuse meee..." She said playfuly but when our eyes met. We blushed and turned our gazes away from each other.

"Okay... I'll be frank... Alise, Hange. I need your Familia's help... I don't think we could face the Freya Familia even with our overwhelming number. The experience of their adventurers are way too high compared to our executives and since me, Gareth and Riveria will have to face Ottarl. Allen Fromel and the others will run unchecked. Even if Aiz could hold her ground against them, I don't think the others can... They are all in the peak of being a level 6, I don't think we have a chance against them..." Finn confessed.

"Sorry Finn but you know I can't do that... Even if you and Bell are my friends, I have a responsibility as a captain of our familia to be on the neutral side if a war breaks out... Even though I don't want Bell to experience what it's like to be under Freya's spell, I can't do anything about it... We as well as the ganesha familia are forbidden to side with either of you... Not only will the power balance crumble but it will also confuse the civilians... I'm so sorry especially to you Bell... I'm sorry that I can't protect you..."

An old memory then visited my mind when Alise-san uttered those words. A memory of me and my mother when a group of bandits invaded our village.

Flashback.

I was still a child back then and was playing with the other kids outside. We were just running in the planes when one of my friends suddenly bumped into a shady looking man.

She apologized but the man soon hung her up. He then ordered us to go and find her parents before he called his allies and start terrorizing the village.

Luckily uncle Zard and mom came back from the mountains when things were already turning dire.

I started running to them with all of my strength but before I knew it, mom was already embracing me tightly.

"Ack!!" She cried in pain when she got slashed by one of the bandits.

For me, it didn't make sense how a person without falna could wound her like that but she then said to me that the urge to protect me even with the cost of her life overtook her senses as an adventurer.

"Being a mother really does not suit me... Sorry that I arrived late Bell but don't worry... I'll protect you now...!"

Flashback end.

"I also can't help you since the Freya Familia is just like you, a regular customer on my shop... You and Ottarl are both my friend so-"

"Captain... When do you think will they start their assault on us...?" I unknowingly interrupted Hange-san which surprises her and everyone.

"Since you are aware of her presence, I'm sure she knows it too and she will probably start her moves sooner."

"Then can you all please train me...? I want to level up as soon as possible... I want to get stronger as soon as possible... It just doesn't sit right with me... I didn't come here to become a sheltered boy that needs to be protected... If you are going to fight then I am going to fight as well... I can't let the familia that took me in while everyone was being harsh to me go to the battlefield themselves without me... I-I WANT TO FIGHT WITH MY FAMILY! WITH ALL OF YOU!!"

Normal POV.

His sincere thought and message to everyone washed away all the tension surrounding the room, replaced by a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Everyone has a smile on their face when they heard their newbie call them his Family.

"Bell..." Alise whispered to herself as she slowly makes her way to where Bell was standing. With her eyes hidden under her bangs and it's shadow covering her whole face, no one could read her expression.

"What is it Alise-san...?" Bell got nervous by her unusual movement and behavior since he can't imagine her having a gloomy expression like this.

"Bell, I'm sorry I can't stand and fight with you if this war starts... I'm really sorry but that doesn't mean I can't help you in other ways... That's why leave everything to me Finn. You should go and plan everything out while I train him until the day of the time is right for him to come out. Don't worry, I'm not the only one who'll do this. I know they are watching and listening to us right from the very beginning. Right?! Lyra!? Kaguya!? Ryu!?" She smiled and glanced at the windows.

Ryu, Kaguya and Lyra all showed themselves to their captain.

"What a troublesome captain you are Alise, dragging all of us top executives into this... What will you do if Astrea-sama got into trouble?" Kaguya smiled with a hint of anger.

"This is the second time I agree with you Kaguya... Even if I hate to admit it... Anyway, we're with you Alise, even our goddess is with you so who am I to oppose you?" Ryu sighed.

"Well, I got dragged into this even though I'm busy so let's get this over already shall we?" Lyra said in a very lazy tone.

Everyone agreed to their proposal and they started to talk about what they are going to do while Bell was getting trained by the Astrea Familia's top executives but Loki suddenly interrupts them.

"Wait, I've got an Idea. Instead of having an all out war with the risk of the civilians getting caught and having casualties in both sides that could upset the power balance here in Orario. Why don't we challenge her into a war game...? If she really wants Bell, she'll accept him as a winning price aight?? And we could ask her anything if we won!"

Top of Babel.

"Ottarl..." Freya called her most powerful and loyal child while gazing at the Twilight Manor carefully.

"Yes my lady?"

"I changed my mind about this, instead of an all out war, why don't we just challenge them into a war game... With that, we don't have to worry about the Ganesha Familia and Astrea Familia interfering in our plans."

"I also share your opinion, and we also don't have to worry about the townspeople getting caught in the middle of the two most powerful familia's clash."

"Then it's settled, we will then hold a banquet with a little gimmick on it... Inform everyone to arrange the Folkvangr. We will hold the Banquet of the Gods there." Freya finished before taking a sip from her wine.

"Is that all my lady?"

"Yes... And I also don't want you to kill your friends from Loki Familia..." Freya said but she said the last part weakly that Ottarl barely heard it.

Twilight Manor

Alise's POV.

Our discussion took longer than expected thanks to a gray puppy's yapping. But it was over now, luckily Astrea-sama seemed to know where I'm headed earlier and sent Ryu and the others to follow me and now, we are to train Bell until the day of the war game if lady Freya agrees.

"Wait, Before you start I need to give you something Bell. Alise I also need you to accompany us for a bit. Do you mind?" Miss Riveria asked me.

" Wooow she looks suuupeeer beautiful no matter how many times I see her... If I were a boy, I would probably fall head over heels for her... " I said inside my head before processing her question which made me shake my head before following them.

We arrived at their library or to be precise, the place where they keep all of their grimoire.

"Bell, in order to become more efficient not just at the upcoming fight but also in the dungeon, I'll give you one of this and read this before starting your training. This will help you acquire the magic you desire. Take it."

"Yes..."

"Take care Bell... Don't overdo it okay?"

"Yes! Thank you! Let's go Alise-san."

" Oyoyoyoyoyoyy!!! Am I going insane!!?? Or Riveria's eyes just became... NONONONO... That's impossible I mean it's THAT Riveria-san... But I can't shake the feeling that there's something... Nope I better focus on training Bell!! Get a grip me!! "

I screamed to myself internally when I saw Riveria-san's look. She looks genuinely worried about him, but it could be just his motherly instinct taking over her.

"Let's go Bell, let's not keep the others waiting okay?" We ran outside where my friends are waiting for us.

They suggested that we head towards the Stardust Garden, our home and train him there and check if there are anything that needs to be polished in his fighting style.

We arrived shortly and we were welcomed by Astrea-sama herself. She opened the gate for us and let us inside since she said she has something to say.

"Please sit down everyone."

"""Yes""" We said in unison before we sat at our sofa.

Bell tried to find another chair but to my surprise, Kaguya was the one to drag him to sit with us and now, he's siting beside me and her.

"Quite the harem you have don't you kid?" Lyra said with a teasing smile on her face which made smokes to come out of his head. This almost made him pass out.

"Ehem. Thank you for coming here, it was actually my suggestion to bring him here in case you need to train. Since I've wanted to meet him the moment you told us about him Alise." Our goddess said calmly.

"Eh? So this is my fault..!?"

"""That's right""" The three girls added.

I could only smile but when I think about it, it was probably a perfect thing since we don't have to worry about bothering Fynn and the others about their preparation.

"And now, I can finally see why Freya was so addicted to him. Your name was Bell right? You have a very pure soul, you see seeing the color of one's soul was one of her natural abilities even when not using arcanum, that's probably why you attracted Freya, after gazing at you the pure color of your soul reflected hers like a mirror, she then became charmed by you... In other words, you've brought this to yourself unconsciously, and there is no way to remove it. That's why the only choice you have is to win the war game and wish that Freya does not bother you anymore."

As our goddess explained everything to him. We can't help but wonder how the hell he knows every ability of the top gods in Orario easily, luckily Astrea-sama finally asked why but his answer surprised us.

"My grandpa was the one who taught this to me, his name is Zeus. And he said to never lie to you if I ever meet you, he even said that I should respect you." He said with a huge smile on his face.

Astrea-sama paused before laughing. And it really caught us of guard, she was always smiling but we never really saw her laugh like this which made us jealous and happy at the same time.

"Thank you very much... Can you please give me his address? I want to send him a letter sometime, anyway how is he doing? Is he the same old Zeus who always thinks about pretty girls?"

Their conversation went off from the topic and they are now in their own little world. None of us could interfere with their talk so all we can do is wait for them to finish.

But then, evening came. That's when Kaguya interrupted them which pissed Ryu but seeing her point couldn't do anything but shut up.

"Astrea-sama, I don't mean to be rude but the sun is setting already, if we don't start our training soon. We'll have to postpone it until tomorrow which is not ideal since he needs to get as strong as possible." This is the first time I saw Kaguya not being firm with her action. I can't blame her though since even I would feel bad to interrupt Astrea-sama.

"Oh..! I'm sorry Bell, it looks like I got carried away..! Please go ahead don't mind me..."

"It's okay goddess, it really is fun talking with you about a lot of things..."

"Is that so? Then please do visit me when everything is over, let's have a nice chat again okay?"

Their conversation ended and after that, we made our way to the garden. We were already about to start to check him for ourselves but I suddenly remembered the grimoire that Riveria-san gave to him earlier.

"Bell, aren't you supposed to read and acquire magic from the grimoire? Why not read it while we discuss what to do? Sounds good right?" I smiled and winked at the boy and I expected him to blush or something but instead, I got a very warm and gentle smile with a nod.

I spaced out because of it, my thoughts are filled by nothing but his smile and before I knew it, my cheeks started to get red until Kaguya made me snap out of it.

"Alise??? Are you blushing??? Hmmm ...??"

"Nnnnnno!! I'm not! Anyway where are we?"

Bell's POV.

I opened the book and started to read it.

It explained how magic is acquired, how it is used and explained the basic elements, their weaknesses and strengths.

Fire is weak against Water and is strong against Wind.

Water is weak against Lightning and is strong against Fire.

Lightning is weak against Earth and is strong against Water.

Earth is weak against Wind and is strong against Lightning.

Finally, Wind is weak against Fire but is strong against Earth.

Those are the five basic elements but there are actually the rarest two. In order to appear, they need a very strong affinity from the user. This magic cannot be taught or copied. It could only be acquired by an adventurer with a strong affinity to them after reading a book like this.

" Is it just me or the letters are starting to fly...? Maybe I'm tired... " I thought to my self before I fell.

I fell inside the book and there was confronted by seven versions of me. Each of them has a color of their own. Red, Blue, Yellow, Brown, Green, White and Black.

"Let us begin. What is magic to you?"

"To me, magic is an incredible power. A power that my mother wields, a power that cover anyone's weakness."

"If you are to be given a magic, what form would you like it to be?"

"Anything, anything that could help me in every possible way. A power that I could be proud of and a power that I can use to protect what is important to me."

"Final question, why do you seek this power? My power? What is it that you want that you can't do on your own?"

"It's not something as grand as defeating the one eyed black dragon nor to save a whole city. I... I just want to save my mother from her regret and protect her smile. She was everything for me after all."

"I see... I was moved by your will and determination. That's why I won't hold back, I will give you all of my power! Use it to the fullest! Protect what you must protect! Defeat those you have to defeat! Keep moving forward and never let the others drag you down! Remember at the end of your journey, your mother is there to congratulate you. Now go on myself! Show them everything that you've got!"

"Thank you...!"

A/N: Hey! I'm back sorry for the delay.

If you don't know why I'm gone, please read the author's note of my other fic, HAHAHA!

Thanks for reading this, see you again next week after I upload the BellxAki fanfinc's next chapter.

I AM THE CLAIMER OF MY NAAAAAMEEEE!!!

HAHAHA I just can't get enough of Vergil's theme on DMC 5 Bury the light. It was so fucking cool and if I didn't know the game, I would mistake it for a normal metal song.

That's all good bye! Stay safe guys!