Edit-04/04/2021- spelling and punctuation fixes, wording changes.
Chloe, Bella found out, was just as fast, if not faster, than Ryuu was.
It was the morning after the clothing shopping spree that Ryuu had taken her on, and after getting up early and getting dressed Bella had come out to the vacant lot behind the hostess for morning practice as Ryuu had suggested, only to find Chloe waiting for her with a knife in each hand.
She had smiled, tossed a knife at Bella and then charged at her.
Bella had managed to catch the knife, and realized it was a dulled edge meant for training, but the speed at which Chloe rushed forced her to act on instinct and defend herself as if the knives were real.
Which inevitably led to the realization that Chloe was just like Ryuu was. Far and beyond Bella's ability to defeat. And after barely two minutes of blocking and barely dodging blows it was doubly confirmed when Chloe knocked the blade from Bella's hand, it landing point down in the dirt a few meters to the side.
Chloe smiler. "Ryuu was right, you are worth training!"
"But I lost my weapon," Bella replied, realizing early on it was a form of test.
"But you still could try to react to me, even if you couldn't block everything!" Chloe said with a smile as she tossed the blade in the air and caught it by the blade between two fingers. "Think fast!"
Bella immediately leapt to the side, evading the blade as it soared through the air where she had been standing a second before.
"See, you react quickly!" Chloe exclaimed as her posture relaxed, telling Bella she was probably done attacking her.
"Not quickly enough," Bella said as she noticed the lowest hem of her shirt had been caught ever so slightly by the blade. They were the clothes she had bought exploded it for practice and training, but for them to have cuts already seemed, like a bad omen.
"No one is fast to start, but I think well have to end it there for now," Chloe said as she looked over the fence and other buildings around them as orange light was peeking over the buildings, signaling that sunrise was soon to be upon them.
"Alright, thank you,"
"For what?"
"For training with me, for helping me, for a lot of things," Bella said as the two of them walked toward the back door to the Hostess.
"You don't need to thank me yet, we haven't really done any training yet," Chloe admitted before smiling wickedly. "If you really want to thank me though, I'm sure I can think of a few things while we take a bath before the morning work starts!"
"Err, I think I'll be fine, I'll just get changed and-"
"Nope! You're having a bath before work or Mia will be angry with both of us!" Chloe declared as she dragged Bella into the hostess and up the back stairs even as she tried to struggle out of her grip.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Ugh, my chest feels stuffy," Bella grumbled as she shifted her uniform a bit while wiping down tables in preparation for the day.
"Well that is what you get for not drying off completely before putting your undergarments on, especially with your choice of top!" Chloe said with a smirk from a few meters over where she was sweeping, her tone making it clear she was slightly miffed at Bella for rushing out of the bath first.
"Chloe, if your going to force kinship on her when she is clearly still not ready for such a thing of course she is going to get out first," Lunoire said from the other side of the room where she was setting up chairs around tables that had already been wiped down.
"That's no reason not to dry off your body properly!"
"I just didn't think it would be that big of a deal," Bella muttered with a sigh.
"Don't worry, the feeling will go away after a while once you're dry, Nyaa,"Anya spoke up with a helpful smile.
"Thanks, I'll remember to dry myself properly in the future," Bella said with a huff as she continued to clean then stopped a moment later. "Is Syr still gone?"
"Her mother sometimes insists she stays overnight, it's not uncommon," Ryuu spoke up as she came into the main room carrying a barrel over one shoulder. Though Mia who came in a second later had two, one over each shoulder.
"She'll be back soon," Mia grinned knowingly as she set the barrels down on the counter. "Need to ask her something?"
"Well, kind of," Bella answered as she was reminded when they first met and Syr had called her Bell, and not Bella. She could have just misheard, but something nagged at the back of her mind that that was not the case.
"Sorry I'm late!" Syr declared as she rushed in through the front door, breathing heavily and holding a very large bag in one hand. "Mom gave me more sheets than I figured she would just as I was leaving!" she explained as she put the bag on the closest table, the resulting thump telling at just how heavy it probably was.
"Its fine Syr, work has not started yet and it's normal. Why did you get so many sheets though?" Mia asked curiously as she pulled out a Spigot and jammed it into one of the kegs she had brought out.
"Well, I may have mentioned that Bella wanted to be an adventurer again, so she just gave me all of this," she explained as she took off her jacket, revealing her very cute casual clothing.
"Why would you mentioning me get you more paper?" Bella asked in confusion, causing both Chloe and Syr to chuckle lightly.
"Shall I explain it?" Syr asked as she looked to Mia hopefully
"Go get changed, well explain it," Mia responded curtly.
"Okay!" Syr said as she walked toward the doorway to the back, and as she passed Bella, smiled and whispered. "See you soon!"
"Huh?" Bella stopped and turned, only to see Syr heading to the back and disappear around the corner a second later.
"If she was being strangely prophetic or just plain odd do not let it bother you," Ryuu spoke up calmly.
"Yeah, it's normal," Lunoire added with a smile. "She gets it from her mom."
"Uh, is Syr's mother someone important?" Bella asks as she went to the last table that needed wiping down and began to.
"To an extent yes, she is a Goddess after all," Mia stated, causing Bella to simply stop and stare.
"B-but Gods can't have children right?" Bella managed to say after a few moments of stunned silence.
"Is that how it works where you came from?" May asked as she came out with a tray covered in boxes of utensils and placed it on the backside of the counters one end.
Bella simply nodded.
"Well that is not how it is here, so listen well girl," Mia said as she turned around from the kegs and placed her hands on her hips as she looked right at Bella. "The gods can have children, though it is difficult for them, and difficult for their children as well because while they are their children they are not gods. Their children are spirits born directly of gods, and only by proving themselves can they gain divinity and become gods. And that can take a very long time."
"So, Syr is a spirit then?" Bella asked to be sure.
"Yes, and just like many spirits can, she can update adventurers Falna. That's what those sheets are for, updating Falna," Mia explained as Ryuu walked over and took a sheet out so that Bella could see it. Is was unlike what she was used to as, instead of just a sheet of brown paper, it was gray and had ornate markings and symbols around the edges.
"Just normal paper doesn't work?" Bella asked, finding that to strangely be the first question to come to mind.
"No, specific paper is used so that not all spirits can update or give Falna. They have to have a God vouch for them and be trusted, as in the past there were problems of spirits who felt they had been slighted, making adventurers fight each other for revenge."
"Couldn't they just, choose not to listen to them?" Bella asked.
"No. When a spirit updates or gives a Falna it is like making a deal with them. Just like how the deal with a god is to be part of their Familia, but spirits can be far more varied in what deals they can make, and some can be more akin to a curse or a compulsion," Lunoire explained, her tone saying she might have had personal experience with such a thing.
"Not a problem with Syr though, she's really trustworthy, Nyaa!" Anya stated happily as she came over and picked up the bag of papers and began heading towards the back room.
"Hold on Anya, let Bella take that up to Syr's room, she'll need them later anyway," Mia said without even turning to look at Anya as she began looking over the assorted mugs and cups before her, checking any for grime or dust.
"Nyaa? . . Okay," Anya said with a shrug as she turned around and held up the bag while looking right at Bella.
"So, I'm supposed to bring it up then?" Bella asked as she stepped up and took the bag, almost dropping it from its surprising weight. After all, paper was heavy.
"Yes, just bring it all up to her," Mia confirmed with a slight smile.
"Alright," Bella said as she did as told and took the bag to the back and then up to the rooms, taking a second to find Syr's room, and knocked on the door.
"Yes?" came Syr's voice from within.
"Uh, Mia asked me to bring the paper up to you," Bella spoke up.
"Ugh, right. Doors unlocked, come on in!"
Bella swallowed and then gently opened the door, revealing Syr's room, and Syr herself. The room was simple with a small bookcase covered in a variety of odd things and old looking book. Syr was standing by her bed putting her uniforms apron on, but something about her seemed, off. After a second of stating Bella shook her head and held the bag of paper up. "Um, where do you want this?"
"Just put it down by the door there, I'll move it into my safe later. Though you can take one sheet out now," Syr said as she tied her apron tight and then sat on the bed to put her work boots on.
"Oh, uh, okay, here," Bella said as she put it down and took out one piece of paper, finding it thicker than she thought it would be. "Who do you need it for?"
"You obviously!" Syr said with a smirk. "You heard about my being a spirit after all right?"
"Well I did but-" Bella stopped as she realized what was off and then steeled herself. "Why did you call me by my old name before?"
"Hmm? Well that was the best way to tell you that I had what you wanted and, -" Syr suddenly stopped talking, her expression turning from happy to dour and crestfallen. "Oh, I did it again. sorry."
"What?" Was all Bella could say in response, having no idea what was going on.
"Err, this might take a bit to explain. Could you close the door?"
Bella nodded and closed the door.
"Thanks. . . . Uh, where to begin?" Syr muttered as she sat on the bed in thought for a few seconds. "Okay, you know how I am a spirit, right?"
"Yes, Mia explained a bit of it."
"Okay that makes things slightly easier then. There are two kinds of spirits, earthborn and Godborn. Godborn spirits like myself can eventually, if we work really hard for it, become gods ourselves, but just like earthborn spirits we often have abilities beyond what non spirits might. Does that make sense so far?"
"I'm think so. Spirits have powers? Like those of an adventurer?"
"Sort of, but not quite. Earthborn Spirits have abilities that mirror their existence. Like how minor elementals have some control over their element, or how gnomes can tell the value of something easily. Godborn spirits have more diverse abilities that are said to be weak versions of what their divinity would be if they became gods. My ability is that I can sometimes have dreams about people I am soon to meet."
"So, you knew about me working here at the hostess before you and Ryuu got back?" Bella asked, finding the idea of seeing people you had never met before in a dream to be a little odd.
"Uh no. I began getting the dreams about a week ago," Syr admitted, looking very nervous, and embarrassed, as she continued. "Normally the dreams would show me just one or two things about a person, but yours, I ended up seeing entire days of your life in a row leading up to you encountering a giant monster with black skin on the 18th floor. That's where it stopped."
"You, watched me for a week? Like, all of it, training, sleeping?"
"Not sleeping!" Syr exclaimed in embarrassment. "I only saw thing when you were awake, but I did see a lot. It was odd, normally I'd only see enough to understand a person's personality or their intentions, so seeing so much was new, and figured it had to be because you wouldn't just be one time meeting, and since I saw another version of myself, I knew you probably were going to fall over."
"I. . . .you saw my old life then," Bella said, sounding both sad, and relived.
"Yes, I'm sorry. Normally I don't bother with worrying as I don't see much, little more than the rumors of people in a sense."
"So, you called me Bell, to get my attention then?"
"Kind of. I wanted you to talk to me, because I knew that your Falna was damaged, they usually are when a person falls over I've heard," Syr said before shaking her head. "I'm sorry, I was selfish, and I left those sheets down there because I wanted to think over it more."
"I , don't understand," Bella admitted.
"When I started seeing you in my dreams I knew we would meet, so I figured that I could, that we could, make a deal. Godborn spirits, it's part of our nature to want to ascend to godhood, to join our parents and earn our divinity. Making deals with adventurers is the easiest way , and that desire made me act before thinking about how much pain you could be in immediately."
"I forgive you," Bella said, making Syr's head whip around to face Bella.
"What?"
"I forgive you," Bella said again, making Syr's expression twist into confusion.
"Why? I just admitted to be trying to take advantage of you!"
"But you feel bad about it, right? " Bella asked.
"Well yes, but-"
"And you would not have told me if you didn't feel bad about it, right?" Bella asked again
"I. . . . Suppose," Syr said as her head hung down. Then she let out a heavy sigh and looked at Bella, and chuckled. "You need to work on your naivety , if I wasn't so bad at lying, or just didn't feel guilt, I could manipulate you pretty easy."
"You wouldn't though," Bella said assuredly.
"No, I suppose I couldn't," Syr said with a sigh as she wiped at her eyes with her wrists.
"Can I, ask you two things?" Bella asked after a few seconds of silence
"Uh, okay."
"Were you, sorry, was the Syr where I come from a spirit too?"
"Sorry, I don't know. I only can learn things that those I dream about know," Syr responded.
"Oh, okay."
"What was the other thing you wanted to ask?" Syr asked, sounding a bit nervous.
"Well, what would your deal entail? The one to fix my Falna I mean."
Syr stared at Bella in complete shock. "I, I just admitted to almost using you for my own gains, and you still are willing to try to trust me?"
"I won't try to trust you, I will trust you!" Bella declared.
"Why? With what I've told you, you have no reason to trust me," Syr stated, almost angry sounding.
"I do have reason to trust you though," Bella began as she looked Syr straight in the eyes. You were willing to tell me the truth. Mia, Ryuu, Anya, Lunoire, Chloe and May all trust you as well. And I know I can trust you, because you felt guilty at knowing so much about me and thinking about using it on me. So I know I can trust you!"
"Haaaaa, I can't win against that honesty!" Syr said with a long sigh as she leaned back and placed her head in her hands. "That was embarrassing, just so you know."
"What?" Bella retorted before she realized that she had leaned further and further toward Syr when she had been speaking, causing her to leap back, slip, and fall onto the floor with a dull thud. "Uh, sorry."
"Its fine, as long as you remember that I'm not the same Syr you used to know. And I'll, do my best not to mention anything I saw from your old life, if you'd like."
"Thank you, but you learned it from your ability right? So it's fine," Bella said, much to Syr's surprise.
"Are, you sure?"
"Yes, it's fine," Bella said with a smile. "You can't just forget things after all, right?"
"Well, there are a lot of ways you can," Syr said Grimly before taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly to calm herself down. "Are you sure you want me to repair your Falna? I can, but it does require a contract."
"Um, is that like the same thing as getting a Falna by joining a Familia?" Bella asked curiously.
"Not exactly. Joining a familia is the cost for getting a Falna. Spirits can repair a Falna, but they have to use a contract of some sort to do so, and that contract can be anything the spirit wants or desires."
"What like food or a favor?" Bella asked innocently.
"Try having someone killed within a time limit or their Falna being destroyed, committing crimes, manipulating a person's personality or ideals, or even erasing memories, to name a few of the most unsavory stories," Syr explained grimly, making Bella look like she was about to become sick.
"Spirits can do that?!"
"Yes, and that is why which spirits can repair Falna is controlled, as much as it can be of course."
"Okay uh, what would yours be then?" Bella asked, now a bit nervous about what Syr could say.
"It would be the same deal I have with the others. To not make deals with other spirits, and that half of your Stat growth be converted to divinity and transferred to me," Syr said, before noticing Bella's very confused look. "Essentially your stats would grow at half their normal speed, that I can earn a little bit of Divinity over time whenever I update your status. It's something that my mother and I came up with to maybe speed up my ascending to Divinity."
"You can do that?"
"Yes, though the amount of Divinity I gain is, pretty small," Syr admitted.
"So, the cost is slower status gain, and just having you update it when needed?" Bella asked to make sure she understood.
"Yes, essentially. Ryuu, Lunoire and Chloe have the same deal with me as well, if you were wondering,"
"Then, I accept. I know I can trust you if everyone else does!"
"Alright, then I'll need you to take off your top and lay face down on the bed," Syr said as she stood up and picked up the sheet of paper, slowing her breathing noticeably.
Bella let out a groan immediately. "I figured that might be it. If it was just taking off my shirt it used to be fine, but now . . . ."
"Just be happy we are both girls, well now I mean," Syr said as the paper in her hands started to shimmer ever so slightly. "You will need to take off enough that I can see your whole back, but I'll stay facing away if you'd like."
"Please!" Bella said thankfully, Syr turning away right away. "Ugh, why are girls clothing so difficult to take off?"
"The uniform isn't that hard, there are kinds of clothes that are much harder to deal with, such as one piece strapless dresses, garter belts, and anything women would wear to a high class affair."
"That, does sound difficult," Bella said as she managed to take her blouse off, then pulled her Sports bra off and climbed onto the bed, gasping lightly as she laid on a cold spot of the sheets on her bare chest. "I'm, uh, ready."
"Alright, please excuse me," Syr apologized as she turned around and climbed on the bed, straddling Bella's back just above her butt so she had a perfect view of her backside. "I'll try to make this quick so your chest doesn't get to uncomfortable," she then said as she placed the paper on Bella back.
"Thank you. I'm not really used to, uh, the fact I can't comfortably lay on my front,"
"That is not the only thing you are not comfortable with either huh?" Syr said as she picked her thumb and let some clear grey blood drip onto the sheet, immediately Causing a reaction and forming a magic circle. "I might not be able to help with everything, but if you need to ask anything about your situation, feel free to ask. That goes for everyone else too. I don't think they would have a problem helping you."
"Thanks," Bella said with a nod before suddenly twitching. "Ah, that felt, is starting to feel weird."
"That's normal, it's the feeling or your Falna being repaired. I'm almost done, just a few seconds more."
"Alright," Bella said with a nod, her hands gripping the bedding as the feeling was bordering on painful, like her muscles were on fire.
"There, I'm done with repairing your Falna and-"
"Hey Syr! Is Bella with you Nyaa? The morning is going to start soon!" came Anya's voice from outside the room, startling both Bella and Syr.
"Ah, y-yes, we'll be down presently," Syr called back as she climbed off of Bella's backside. "Its fixed but it will take a few hours for all your strength to come back, so I'll mark the sheet so you can see it later, if we're late to start Mia will be angry!"
"R-right, I'm coming!" Bella said she got up and carefully put her bra and blouse back on before donning her apron and following Syr out. Leaving the sheet on the floor by the bed.
Xxxxxx
The morning and afternoon went well without any significant problems. Bella found that her muscles ached a bit, but when talking to Syr about it she said it was normal, and Lunoire who was nearby and overheard confirmed that it was from her Falna being repaired.
Which of course led to the rest of the Hostesses learning that her Falna had been repaired, and Mia pulling her aside and giving her a quick rundown on what was allowed in regards to throwing out customers in the evenings who got too touchy. They were simple regulations that were of little need to recall during the day.
Unfortunately the evening had to come.
For an evening shift it was pretty normal with the floor nearly full of adventurers enjoying themselves after a good delving of the dungeon. Feasting, drinking, and merrymaking were omnipresent, and as the night went on the aching in Bella's muscles disappeared as well, making her feel much better.
Then, as the night was about half over, Bella came around the corner to head back into the main floor, stopped and took a step backwards out of sight.
"Something wrong?" Mia, who was coming to the front with another keg said as she came up behind Bella.
Her ears perked up and twitched a bit as she turned to Mia, making it clear that even with the noise from the main floor she had heard her before she had spoken. "Um, someone I knew in my old life, that I had an, awkward meeting with before coming here, they just came in."
"And you are worried how they will respond to you, huh?" Mia asked with a smirk.
"Um, yes. Sorry," Bella apologized as she hung her head down, almost spilling the mug of ale in her hands.
"You were confused it's to be expected, that's all, I'm sure they will understand, you knew them well, right?" Mia asked.
Bella's ears drooped a it. "Um, not really. when I knew him as a man he hated me, and I think he was more um,-"
"I get it," Mia interrupted, seemingly able to understand what she was meaning. "Just explain how you want to and do your best to avoid them if you need to. There's still evening left."
"Right, sorry," Bella said as she turned and sounded back into the main floor with the drinks she had for patrons. And just as her luck would have it the patrons the drinks were for were seated adjacent to the table Mord Latro and his friends had sat down at. "Sorry for the delay, we almost had an accident in the kitchen," Bella said as she set down the pair of drinks on the table.
"Its fine!" "Yeah, I'd wait hours for this places food!" the two patrons said with smiles as they grabbed their drinks and took large gulps.
"Thank you for saying so, have you decided upon what you would like to eat?" Bella asked, silently hoping that Mord would not notice or recognize her voice.
"We'll both have the daily special!" one of them said with a grin while the other kept drinking.
"Okay, I'll be right back with it in a-" Bella began, stopping as her wrist was grabbed and she turned to see Mord standing there with a grin. "Um,"
"You can put me down for a special as well, but first, why don't we have a chat, miss rabbit!" Mord said with an arrogant grin.
"Uh, hello again, " Bella said uncertainly as she tugged on her wrist a bit. "I'm in the middle of work, so could you let go please?"
"Not until I have some answers from you!" Mord stated seriously, causing the ambience around them, and the entire pub floor, to darken.
"Um, I'm working, can we talk in the morning maybe when we won't get in other patrons way?" Bella asked again as she tugged on her arm more, feeling like she was slipping free.
"No, your going to answer me now or-" Mord stopped as a cooking cleaver embedded itself in the table beside him, drawing all eyes in the room to the counter where Mia stood.
"You will let go of my employee now, boy!"
Mord looked horrified as he glanced around realizing what the situation looked like. "Look, I was just-" he began to say until Bella slipped out of his grip. On reflect he tried to grab her again, but to his, and many patrons surprise, Bella fell against the table, bent over backwards giving an impressive impression of her chest against her stretched clothing and then kicked her legs up, catching Mord in the jaw. Her movement continued and allowed her to flip over the table and land on her feet, looking just as surprised as some patrons were, while Mord's body hit the floor with a thud, perfectly unconscious.
The entire room was deadly silent for full minute until one Adventurer at the counter began to laugh. "Wow, remind me not to piss off the lovely ladies here!"
Many adventurers joined in at laughing, both at the man's words and what they had just witnessed, and within seconds the normal atmosphere of the evening returned as Ryuu walked over to Bella.
"Are you all right?"
"Y-yeah, I'm just, surprised."
"That he was so forceful?" Ryuu asked as Mords friend grumbled something along the lines of the word 'idiot's while picking him up by his arms and slowly dragging him away.
"No, that I moved like that," Bella admitted quietly as Ryuu guided her over to the counter. "I moved around a lot in the dungeon, but I've never moved like that before, and it kind of came naturally."
"Then it could be numerous things. A racial thing, a natural ability, or even a skill," Mia said as the two of them got to the counter. "Do you have an idea which?"
"Um, no, Anya interrupted us so I have not actually seen my current skills and stats," Bella admitted nervously.
"I see," Mia said with a nod. "Get back to work. Once the night is over well talk and take a look at those statistics of yours."
Xxxxxxxx
"So, I think you should go and speak to the guild," Mia stated as she and everyone looked at Bella's stat sheet after hours.
"I agree,"Lunoire said as she looked at Syr, who was doing her best to not look at anyone. "You truly did not notice this?"
"Repairing a Falna is not like updating it. I don't really look at the stats themselves while doing it," Syr admitted as she anxiously poked her fingertips together.
"Well, for sure I think we'll have to speed up your training to get you ready," Chole said with a smile as she looked to Bella. "If these stats are any indication I might even want to go into the dungeon with you just to see how you can do!"
Bella simply nodded as she stared at the sheet of her stats, eyes filled with wonder at its contents.
Xx
Name: Bella Cranel
Race: Hume Bunny
Gender: Female
Level: 2
Strength: H-173
Vitality : F-391
Dexterity: B-774
Agility: S- 921
Magic: G-201
Abilities(passive)
Personal protection – the one with this ability cannot have their race, gender, mind, Alignment or body physically altered by magic boons or curses. They are also resistant to magical effects and damage.
Luck – the owner of this skill has amplified luck, and all that it entails for good or ill.
Red Eyed Rabbit Queen - Error( personal discovery required to understand ability)
Skills (active)
Argonaut- the ability to amplify effect to achieve required result. Requires charge up.
Magic
Firebolt- an accurate bolt or fire that requires no chant, but is not wholly powerful on it's own.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Kibble scribble: and another chapter done! This was mostly for some fleshing of the AU, and also to get Bella's Falna back, so I hope I did a good job on those fronts and that everyone enjoyed this chapter. Things will move forward more now that Bella has her Falna, so please look forward to it!