Edit- 03/04/2021- spelling, punctuation and some sentence structure improved.
Bell sat back in the consultation room of the guild, going over his thoughts as he waited for Eina to come back.
Though, they were not his thoughts anymore, they were hers technically now. And his name wasn't going to be Bell, but Bella.
"This, is going to be hard to get used to, isn't it?" she muttered to herself before leaning back in the chair and up at the ceiling.
"Some things will be," Eina said as she came into the room, clearly having heard Bella's mumbling. "But as long as you keep trying to learn and accept the situation it will be easier I would think."
"I .. . hope you are right. . . what is that?"
"Oh, these?" Eina asked as she held up a stack of papers and placed them on the table as she sat down. "This is the unfortunate result of Oranos declaring we would help you. Its only right to help someone in trouble, especially in your situation. But the result is paperwork, and as you do not technically exist at the moment according to the guilds records that has to be fixed."
"Oh. I guess that makes sense. Since when did the Guild do that though?"
"It always has as I am aware. Most large cities keep track of their citizens in some form or another, Orario just has a lot more to keep track of, so the guild is the only organization aside from a Familia with the manpower to do it," Eina explained as she sorted the papers into three piles, took out a quill and inkwell, and put them together to the side. "Now then, most of this can be filled out by myself and Oranos later, but some parts I will need you to give me the answers so that you are aware of the background you are being given."
"Like what?"
"Well, first off. Your personal and family name please," Eina said as the quill in her hand hovered barely above the page.
"Oh, uh . . . .Bella, Cranel," she replied nervously as she stared down at the table.
"That was the family name you had before, yes? Are you sure you want to still use it?" Eina asked calmly.
"Yes, I . . even if my name is different, I don't want to forget where I came from!"
"I respect that," Eina said with a nod as she wrote on the paper. "And your age?"
"Um, fourteen," Bella said nervously, Figuring that Eina might not believe her.
"I take it that was your age before arriving here?" Eina asked to Bella's surprise. Upon receiving a nod she nodded back and wrote the paper. "So you were fourteen when you fell over. What about your current bodies age? Do you need me to take an educated guess?"
"Uh, that would probably be best if I do look older," Bella admitted with a downcast expression!
"Well you clearly are. Could you please stand up and step to the side of the table for a moment?"
"Err, okay. But what for?" Bella asked even as she did as she was asked.
"I just need an objective look at your body to help guess your physical age," Eina said as she looked at Bella's body with a very neutral expression for a few seconds before humming to herself. "Judging by your breast growth and your hips, I would guess you to be in the area of sixteen to nineteen. So does seventeen sound good?"
"How did you come to that age?" Bella asked curiously.
"I judged your physical growth and development along with the fact that Hume Bunny's mature physically a bit faster than other races. Their girls especially."
"Does that mean I don't have to worry about my body changing anymore?!" Bella asked hopefully.
"No more than I will," Eina said with a sigh. "Your Butt, hips, and breasts may grow a small bit over time as you get older, but you should not have to worry about any drastic changes to your sizes unless you become pregnant."
"P – p – p – pregnant?!" Bella exclaimed in horror and shock, as if the idea was foreign.
Which technically, it probably had been, Eina thought for a moment before letting out a sigh. It seemed there would be much to explain to Bella before she was allowed out of the guild building. "It seems there will be more to speak of, but later. So, you are a seventeen year old Hume Bunny named Bella Cranel. Does that sound correct so far?"
"Uh, I guess so," Bella replied, still a little shocked by the revelation that, yes as a girl she could get pregnant.
"Good. Now we decide the rest of the publicly available information, " Eina declared as she began going over it with Bella, spinning a story of her past, both true versions and very vague versions. That alone took almost an two hours, and then the actual explanation of the contract with the guild to help get back on her feet took another hour all on its own. With the contract signed and Valis in her possession Bella figured she would finally be free to begin the painful process of looking for work.
Unfortunately Eina had one last batch of information to impart via a very in-depth and sometimes explicit explanation of things girls needed to remember and know. How to act and stand, how to move in a skirt, what to do in certain situations, how to use the bathroom and take care of her body. The list went on and on, and even Eina admitted that Bella would probably have to actually learn most of it on her own as she wouldn't remember most of it. Especially since a number of topics made Bella turn red in the face and try to wipe her mind of the subject matter.
Finally, after learning about her situation, far more about women than she ever figured she would need, and some basic knowledge, Bella was standing in the lobby of the guild with Eina. The sun starting to dip below the walls that surrounded Orario, painting the sky a brilliant tangerine.
"I believe that is everything we needed to go over. It is a little late now, so I would first find a room at an inn, and look for work tomorrow morning, alright?" Eina suggested with her usual friendly smile as she walked out of the Guild building beside Bella.
"Right, uh, I can use this money for food too, right?" Bella asked as she looked around, seeing the streets far emptier now due to the time.
"Of course, it may be a stipend, but it is your money, " Eina said with a smile before she leaned down a bit toward Bella. "As I said before, if you run out you can come speak to me and receive more, but if it becomes too common I will demand to know, down to the Valis, what you are using the money on. Understand?"
"Y-Yes, I won't waste it!" Bella exclaimed quickly, finding it calming that this Eina was exactly like the one she knew before.
"I'm sure you won't," Eina said proudly as she stood back up and then pointed down the street. "You are aware of how Orario is split with its eight main streets that come off of Babel, yes?"
"Yes, I am."
"Good. If you head back to Babel you can head down the East, west, or north streets. These have the best and most known Inns as well as a number of Cafes. The north street is the market road, and you should be able to find most normal items and needs there. I would suggest the Quilted Lily inn on the north street, or the White Lantern on the east street. They both are very good with reasonable prices."
"Thank you Eina!" Bella said as she bowed to Eina.
"What's this? You don't need to bow Bella."
"No I, you could have turned me away or ignored me when you didn't know me. If you had I . . . . So thank you!" Bella said as she bowed to Eina again. Much to Eina's mild embarrassment.
"Goodness, please stop that, I understand where you are coming from, so please stop already," Eina insisted, noting the odd looks from some people on the street around them. When Bella stopped the stares did as well, and Eina felt normality return. Along with one last piece of advice. "Also, if anything happens to you, feel free to come speak to me, alright?"
"Of course, thanks Eina!" Bella called as she ran off down the street towards Babel.
And as soon as she was sure he was out of sight, ducked down into an alleyway and began weaving down the streets. Yes, Eina had suggested she find an inn, but there was something she had to check first!
With the streets organized in the same way she knew Bella quickly made it to the small area of ruined stone buildings and monuments. And more importantly the ruined church she and Hestia lived at. The church seemed to be as it always had been, but when Bella pushed over the door and looked inside she felt crestfallen. The inside was filled so much dust she could not make out the remains of the stained glass window on the back wall, or even the color of the wood Benches and their remains.
Stepping in the pushed forward and walked up to where the door to underground room would be and tried for the handle, only to find it not there. She looked all over the wall and found nothing, even looked on the floor, the opposite wall, and the wall underneath the dust and grime covered window. To find nothing. It was like the underground room did not exist!
With a sigh Bella left the ruined church and went for the main road. The sun was now behind the walls of Orario, creating shadows and making the lights from buildings, businesses and homes illuminate the streets with warm glows. Shopkeepers who worked during the day were closing up, while other business catering to adventurers were now opening and in full swing. The streets were not filled, but had a mix of adventurers and other people going every which way, whether it was to turn in and go home to family, or to party it up.
The sights and sounds were both familiar and confusingly different, and after a few minutes of walking Bella stopped as she could see one business in particular standing out from the others around it.
The Hostess of Fertility pub.
The sounds of adventurers enjoying meals and speaking of their exploits could be hard even down the street where Bella stood, and the smells of Mamma Mia's food wafted on the air, tickling her nose. It smelled the same but, did it taste the same?
"Guess I know where I'm getting food," Bella muttered to herself as she walked right towards the entrance to the Hostess of fertility and in.
The inside looked exactly as she knew and felt the same as well. A jovial atmosphere, the smell of food and drink, and the green uniforms of those who worked there.
"Hello, we're only open to adventurers in the evening, if you didn't know,"
Bella blinked for a second and looked to the side to see Chloe, the black haired cat person who worked at the Hostess standing and smiling at her with her hands holding a tray of empty dishes. "Oh, uh, I am an adventurer," Bella replied on reflex. It wasn't wrong, just a bit hard to explain unless a damaged Falna was as normal as Oranos made it sound.
"Oh?" Chloe said as she looked Bella up and down for a second before shrugging. "Alright. We are very busy today so there are no table spots, but there's a couple spots by the counter if you'd like to take one. One of us will be with you presently!"
Bella watched Chloe turn and all off toward the back of the pub before she looked over at the counter to find not just any seat, but her own usual seat by the wall open. She quickly took the seat and plucked a menu off the counter and smiled at the almost perfectly same similarities.
"What'll you have?"
Bella looked up to see the familiar face of Mia Grande on the other side of the counter looking down at her with a huge smile. "Um, the special please," Bella replied as she placed the menu back on the upper counter.
"Good choice!" Mia stated as she turned around while writing down on a paper. Only to appear again a couple seconds later. "What about drink? Would you like a pint, or something lighter?"
"Um, can I have a glass of the fruit liquor? " Bella asked hopefully.
"Of course! I'm surprised you know about it as I don't recognize you. New to Orario?" she asked as she turned around to a large keg and began filling a full sized mug.
"Uh, kind of," Bella answered right before Mia placed the mug before her.
"Oh? Been here before huh? That's good. So, becoming an adventurer, or do you already have a Falna? Or is that why you're in Orario?" Mia asked as if it was the simplest question in the world. For most people it probably would be too.
"I have a Falna already, " Bella said as she took a drink and then looked down into her mug at her reflection. "It's just, damaged. And I have to find a room to stay in, and work for a while before I'm allowed to get it fixed, I guess."
"Well I feel sorry for you. A damaged Falna is very annoying. I know from experience. Why doesn't your deity fix it though?"
"She's . . .gone," Bella said solemnly as the wonder if Hestia would even recognize her like this crossed her mind.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I take it that's connected to why you need a job to get your Falna repaired?" Mia asked as she continued to pour drinks and place them on a nearby tray.
"Y-yes."
"Well, don't let it get you. Just enjoy the evening and the food will be right out!" Mia stated as she picked up the absurdly sized tray and came around the counter, heading to a very full table. Her food came moments later as promised, carried by Anya the cat person, and it tasted as good as it always did. And as it was the first thing of she had all day it didn't last long. Something that did not go unnoticed by Mia. "Guess you are an adventurer, most people that are not couldn't finish a daily special that quickly!"
"Um, I was hungry."
"So it seems. What is your name girl?" Mia asked as she leaned on the counter.
"B-Bella. Bella Cranel," Bella said, finding it hard to speak when being stared down at by Mia.
"Hmm, a good name. What level are you?"
"Two."
"Better than one I suppose. You planning to go back to the dungeon once you get your Falna repaired?"
"I hope to, yes."
"That's good. Want a job?"
"Well yes I do but I need to find one still."
"Good, you're hired!"
"Yes I . . . " Bella stopped speaking before the words finally clicked, making her lookup at Mia and away from her mug. "What?"