Kibble Scribble: Alright, it's been a while and I apologize for that. Parts of the chapter were causing me grief, but I finally got through it so we have this chapter. It's a bit, odd I admit with some parts of it, but I hope you can keep an open mind as, especially for abilities written on falna, they will not always make full sense in these situations.
Also in other news, I have finally make a AO3 profile under the name Corruption_Kkibble, where I will post things that may not be proper to post here on FFnet. It has a Konosuba story if you are interested, and I might migrate a story or two over to there, but I'll give info those stories specifically when I do it.
I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Bella shuddered as bare hands ran down her sides, gently caressing her through her shirt before gripping and yanking her shirt up till it was sitting atop her breasts as she leaned against the wall. They then slipped the shirt off the rest of the way and paused before reaching up and cupping her heavy breasts, making her gasp from the unfamiliar but pleasurable feeling.
"You really are so cute," Welf said as he knelt in front of Bella, towering over her with his hands cupping her breasts and giving them very light teasing squeezes. "May I see them?"
Bella said nothing as she turned her head to the side in embarrassment, though a second later she gently nodded, pushing her chest out a bit and making their shape more noticeable even under the fabric.
Welf wasted no time, his fingers slipping underneath the fabric and pulling the somewhat stretchy fabric out and then up, causing Bella's breasts to seemingly fall out into the open. He let go, the sports bra sitting atop her breasts and around her collarbone as his hands returned to them, gently cupping, groping and squeezing, each action and motion making Bella fail a little bit more to hold back her voice each time. He then moved one hand, shifting it to grope her breasts from the front more roughly, while his other hand trailed down her side and landed on her lower back, pulling her lower body closer to his own.
He licked his lips, looking into Bella's eyes as he did, before then lowering his head down to her free and perky breast, his intention clear as he moved his mouth toward them.
Before suddenly the world turned upside down and Bell found herself lying on her back on the floor of her room in the Hostess of Fertility. Her heart was beating a mile a minute, her body felt uncomfortably warm, and then the ramifications of the dream hit her like a minotaur's punch.
"What is wrong with me!" She nearly shrieked in embarrassment as her face turned as red as her eyes. It was like that other dream she had, only this one had been even more, even more. . . . Bella stopped her thoughts and shook her head, trying to remove the thoughts from her head to little effect. Welf was her friend, both in the past and now, so why was she having such strange thoughts about him? It didn't make sense!
"Bella, you okay?" Came the voice of Chloe from the other side of the door to Bella's room.
"I'm, I am fine," Bella said nervously as she climbed off the floor using her bed as a crutch. "I just, had a weird dream."
"Was it perverted?" Chloe asked without missing a beat.
"Wha-, n-no , of course not!" Bella denied as she shook her head as the memories of the dream returned to the front of her mind.
"So it was perverted, heh," Chloe giggled from the other side before a squeak came from the door. "We can explain it to ya, but you probably want to get dressed and get breakfast with everyone first, yeah?"
"uh, ri-right, I'll be right down."
"Okay, don't be slow, I want to hear what you got up to yesterday!" Chloe called out before the sound of footfalls dissipating made it clear she had run off, leaving Bella alone again in her room.
"Haaa, I should get changed," Bella mumbled to herself as she moved to start changing out of her sleepwear that had been bought alongside most of her other clothes, only to go red in the face again as she recalled the dream. "Err, I guess I'll take a bath first."
"Finally decided to come down for food huh?" Momma Mia said with a smirk as Bella came down into the Hostesses main room, all the other girls already sitting down with food on the table.
"Sorry, I was really tired from yesterday and I had a weird dream," Bella said apologetically, causing Chloe to snicker to herself.
"You mean a perverted one."
"No, it was just-"
"You do not need to hide it," Lunoire suddenly said seriously with a warm and caring expression. "It is normal at thing time of year and something we need to explain to you anyway."
"Um, what?" Bell asked in confusion, not quite understanding what was going on.
"Sit down and eat first," May spoke up next with a light sigh. "We'll explain once we all have food in us."
Bella looked to Mia, who simply nodded at her glance, and then sat down without another word, setting off everyone to give their thanks and dig into breakfast. It was a simple and quiet affair with everyone eating rather than talking. It did not however take long for most of the girls to finish their food, prompting Lunoire to put down her cup and look to Bella a the first to finish.
"We have noticed over the last few days that you have been acting a little bit different and have occasionally looked a bit uncomfortable. "Chloe is right and you have been having odd dreams as well, haven't you?"
"Um, maybe, this last night, a bit," Bella said in embarrassment, looking to the side at nothing in particular.
"Let me guess, a dream of getting intimate with a man You know, Nyaa?" Anya said in an odd tone. Bell did no respond, but instead blushed heavily. " Yep, right on the head!"
"To put it simply, you are entering Heat, just like the rest of us," May stated simply.
Bell looked at her blankly for a second before speaking. "Um, what is that?"
The girls, except for Mia and Syr, all looked at her in shock and a bit of disbelief.
"What how can you not-" Anya began to say until Mia cut her off.
"She was a man until just recently. Of course she will not have an inkling of what that means. Men often barely register a woman's issues after all," Mia stated as she stepped up to the table and looked down at Bella." You know that some women will sometimes seem irate once a month or so, correct?"
"Y-yes," Bella said, recalling that when she lived in the village some of the older women would be a bit easier to anger and loud arguments did happen at about that often sometimes.
"Good. That would have been them being on their Period. Human, Elves, dwarves and Pallum Women once a month for about three to seven days have periods, a time when their body bleeds and they have stomach aches. It is their bodies way of telling them that in the coming weeks they will be most fertile. Animal people, Chienthropes, Cat people, Werewolves, Hume Bunny's and Boaz instead of having monthly periods have a Heat Cycle that last about two to three weeks twice yearly, in spring and fall."
"So, I've been feeling warm because my body is in heat?" Bell asked innocently, her expression making it clear she was hoping that was all it would do.
"No, that is just the tip of the iceberg," Lunoire answered with a heavy sigh. "One can tell they are entering heat by their body warming and by their thoughts starting to become more erotic in nature but it gets worse. As the body is in heat thoughts of a more sexual nature will become more common and your body will become far more easily aroused. Your body will also become more sensitive and the warmth that your body feels will eventually become your body releasing pheromones that can cause male animal people to become aroused as well."
"Which can be a problem because while we are in heat, males go into rut and have similar effects. Doubly bad because when we are in heat is the only time we animal people can become pregnant," May added.
"So, I'm in heat, which means I'll keep having p-perverted thoughts, and it will only get worse?" the cat girls all nodded. " And this last up to three weeks?" they nodded again, faces covered in understanding expressions. Seeing this Bella looked down atr the table, her ears drooping as thoughts swirled in her head. "Is, is there a way to stop it?" Bell then asked, her tone slightly hopeful.
"It is a natural part of our bodies and reproduction, so there is no way to stop it permanently, but there are many ways to deal with it," May answered, causing Anya to almost bounce out of her seat.
"That's what we need to prepare you for, nyow!"
As if on cue, Both Syr and Ryuu got up from the table and began gathering everyone's dishes. "Um, what do you mean, prepare me?" Bell asked nervously, unsure if she liked where the conversation was going.
"We are not going to do anything to you, just explain what your options are," Lunoire explained as she crossed her arms on the table and began looking extremely serious. "The most common answer is a combination of potions and, self gratification. All potion makers make potions that can suppress the effects of heat, and while taking them if it still is too much you can simply please your own body to cut off the last bit of edge. The potions come in packs of twelve, enough for the duration of heat if taken every two to three days, and only cost about 1200 Valis." Lunoire then paused and looked at Bella, who was extremely red from embarrassment, making it clear she understood what she was being told, but was highly unused to the concept. "Given your knowledge and naivety, this is probably the best and least, uh, unnerving option for you."
"Uh, there isn't anything less um," Bell stopped and stared down art the table." I mean, I haven't um . . . beyond bathing I mean."
"Yeah, that was pretty obvious really," Chloe said with a grin, causing Bella to look at her in shock. "The walls here are pretty thick, but we Cat people have good noses. Don't let it bother you even if you do decide to pleasure yourself a bit, it's normal this time of year."
"Ah, um, there isn't any other options?" Bell asked hopefully, not looking any of the girls in the eyes.
"There are others, but they are awfully unrestrained, nyaa," Anya said.
"The main other option is to have intercourse itself; Sex," Chloe said with a lewd grin. "Potion shops sell potions that prevent pregnancy, and at this time of year the red light district opens up a section of it known as the orange district, where Animal people can use their facilities to meet up with people, whether known, or not. The charges are pretty minor, barely a hundred Valis per use of a room, and as doing the deed makes your body calm down for about a week it is a pretty common answer for some."
"It does come with it's own share of issues however, as there have been cases of some people getting a bit too use to the feeling, or straight up addicted to it," Lunoire added cautiously.
Bell shivered at the thought, but then her expressions shifted to realization. "So that was what he was talking about."
"Who, Welf?" Chloe asked.
"No, we, encountered some people yesterday that attacked us," Bella said seriously before shuddering. "And now that I know about Heat, some of the things he said are making more sense."
"You looked tired yesterday and said you would explain today," Mia suddenly spoke up, making Bella notice that Ryuu and Syr were now standing nearby looking worried. "Why don't you explain what happened to you yesterday?"
Bella simply nodded before doing just that. She explained their encounter with the swarm ants and the traps, how they got down to the seventh floor and how she protected Welf while he mined, and ultimately, their encounter with the two people. She could remember what was said perfectly, but try as she might she could not describe either of the men beyond their height and what weapons they used. She expected someone to yell when she finished, but instead everyone in the Hostess looked dead serious and was utterly silent.
After a few minutes of silence, Mia let out a sigh and looked to the table. "Chloe, Lunoire. How hard would it be to get one of those cowls nowadays?"
"Being that the Guild destroyed all record on how to make them, Very difficult," Lunoire answered darkly.
"Not good then," Mia said seriously before suddenly blinking and looking at Bella. "Wait, you said they were after both you and the Crozzo? That one of them said something about making him drink something?"
"They did yes," Bella said as she recalled the day before. "The one was very interested in me, while the other was interested in Welf."
"Dammit, Chloe you and Anya go report this to the Guild. Lunoire, go Warn Hephaestus her kid is in danger," Mia said quickly as she moved to behind the counter. "Do you know where the Crozzo lives?"
"I do, yes," Bella answered in a worried tone, confused by Momma Mia's sudden serious and commanding tone.
"Good. Syr, update her Falna right now. Don't care about the window, this is not the time. Once your updated We're heading over there!"
"What?" Bella asked in confusion as everyone got up and began moving. "What is going, wah-!" She gasped as Ryuu suddenly came up behind her, pushed her over onto the table, and began lifting up her shirt to bare her back.
"Do not struggle Cranel, Syr needs to work quickly," Ryuu said seriously as Syr stepped up, pricked a finger and began updating Bella's status.
"Something similar has happened in the past, a Familia aggressively forcing others into it and causing chaos. It likely means your smith friend is going to be attacked by those same people who attacked both of you yesterday," Mia said as she took off her apron and took out a pair of leather gauntlets from behind the bar counter. "Last time this sort of thing happened was right after the Zeus Familia fell."
"What, then I need to-" Bella tried to say.
"We are going to save him if we can," Mia interrupted. "That's why Lunoire and Chloe are gong to inform the ones that need to know," She states as she finished tightening the gauntlets. "Syr, you done?"
"Yes, just now!" Syr replied as the warm feeling on Bella's back disappeared.
"Good. Bella, take off your apron and go get your weapons. If you think you can change to your dungeon gear in less than a minute do so, otherwise come straight down. Time is of the essence."
Welf awoke to the distant sound of birds and a small skewer of light slipping through the cracks of his window onto his face.
"Not the worst way to wake up," Welf mumbled to himself as he sat up on his bed and stretched his arms before moving to his chest and pulling out some clothes to get dressed.
The day before had been so tiring it was almost unbelievable. He was almost guaranteed to have the smithing skill now, but running from swarm ants, and fighting off a rogue criminal Adventurers was tiring. Worst though was that they had no idea who they were because of their hoods and the guild had accepted his report in a kind of half hearted manner, likely meaning the one he had spoke to had not taken him seriously.
"Maybe I should go and talk to Hephaestus after I go get something from a food stall," He muttered as he finished putting his clothes on. That was the biggest issue with not living with his Familia, was getting his Falna updated was a bit more complicated, and he often needed to schedule when it would be done, unlike others who could just ask and get it done in the evening.
With a huff he rolled his shoulder and opened the door out of his bedroom and into his workshop, and immediately froze as he recognized that something was seriously wrong. His forge was unlit, because leaving it lit during the night was a recipe for disaster, but his tools were all over the table beside the forge, and his main hammer that he normally set on his anvil was instead on the same table. A number of smithing books from a shelf were all over the floor as well, but the biggest thing that told him something was wrong was that the door to his home was ajar, and that he could not hear any birds outside. Which was bad because right outside his home across the street was a large tree that birds loved, and birds only stayed quiet when people were around and not going anywhere. Glancing to the side he saw his sword, still missing its tip, leaning against the wall, so he very slowly picked it up and as soon as he heard the crunch of gravel outside he threw the sword at the door, causing it to be pushed fully shut as he dashed across his work area and yanked on a chain that caused all of the shutters over the windows to close.
"Shit, he knows we're here!" Someone said from outside.
"Yeah, make it clear to him we know that, that's a great idea," another voice argued before speaking up even louder. "We know you are in there Crozzo, we just want to talk about a business opportunity with you. Why don't you come out and speak with us?"
"I'm not open right now, come back later," Welf responded loudly as he moved to his door and threw the wooden brace over it before picking up his blade and stepping away from the door itself.
"We can't do that Crozzo, we need to finish this business up, so come out and lets talk about this."
"What's your name?" Welf asked out loud, as he backed up to a wall and pulled on another chain, causing the shutters to fully tighten down and lock in place.
"I can't tell you that until we have come to an agreement Crozzo, this business is rather important after all," the voice called back. " Lets be reasonable about this."
"I am being reasonable, but if you wont state your name, we have nothing to talk about, so get lost," Welf exclaimed as he pressed an ear to the wall and could hear hushed noises from the other side. It appeared his home was surrounded on at least two sides.
The voice from outside let out an annoyed grumble that sounded like it came from the other side of his front door. "Look Crozzo, I have friends here who would rather do this the hard way and force the matter. I want us to have a proper working relationship however. So come on outside and lets talk about what you can offer us, and what we can offer you. This doesn't have to be hard."
"You're right it doesn't," Welf called back. "I told you im not interested, so go away. This doesn't have to be difficult after all."
There was silence for a few moments before Welf swore he heard someone sigh outside his door. "That's a shame Crozzo. I know that the idiots yesterday were a bit too forward with you, but you could have had so much more should you have willingly joined us. Don't blame me for what is to happen now," The voice said alongside the sound of crunching gravel, making it clear he was walking away before he then loudly said one last thing out loud. "Bring him in people, but don't hurt him too much. It'll effect his new form otherwise."
In the next second a heavy object crashed against the door to Welf's home, shaking it so much the crossbar over the door actually splintered slightly. A second later an axe head went into the opposite wall from outside, then a another, and another, and in mere seconds it became very clear that Welf did not have a way out of the building, and that those outside were intent on forcing their way in even through the walls.
"Well, this is not good," Welf muttered to himself as more axe swings came in to the walls alongside the front door being pounded on again. In fact whatever was hitting the door was really heavy sounding. So heavy it had to be a person slamming the door itself, not using a weapon against it. Thinking of an idea, and realizing that he couldn't stay, Welf used the end of his now broken sword to carefully lift the crossbeam off of his door and then moved to the side if the door with his sword at the ready. A second later the door burst open and a man, very surprised, came through the doorway and quickly met the flat side of Welfs blade.
The man fell to the ground unconscious and in that same moment another man came in behind him, brandishing a mace with a wild expression on his face.
"Get out of here!" Welf cried as he swung his blade at the man, who then brought up a buckler on his free arm to block the blade.
"Not without you as a part of our Familia Crozzo!" The man exclaimed as he swung the mace and almost got Welf in the side, only missing by Welf jumping backwards.
"Yeah, not likely!" Welf exclaimed as he took an extra step back and reached a hand onto the nearby table. As soon as his fingers touched something her gripped and threw it at he man, resulting in the man needing to throw up his shield once more to block a smithing hammer, a small one, from hitting him in the face.
"It is you- ack!" The man tried to say as he lowered his shield, only to have Welfs tip less blade to slam into his knee. Edge first. The man fell right to the ground with a groan and a snarl, trying to swing his mace at Welf as he fell to no avail. "Damn you, this is, only going to make things worse for you!"
"Yeah, sure it will," Welf said as he noticed a shadow near the door, telling him someone else was about to come in. Glancing around he saw another tool on the table, a pair of blacksmith's tongs, picked them up and waited, throwing them as a male cat person entered the doorway with a pair of knives in his hands.
He fell to the ground from the iron tongs colliding with his head with a heavy and slightly wet thud. Seeing his chance, and seeing that a number of holes were now in his walls from the axes still tryign to cut through them, Welf leapt over the two downed adventurers and rushed out of his home.
Only to suddenly regret his decision.
Standing in a half circle on the road outside his door were seven adventurers, all holding various weapons at the ready and looking right at him. Worse, on a few houses nearby there were adventurers holding bows and crossbows, aiming them at him, and there were even a couple of mages with staffs pointing in his direction.
"Oh crap," Welf muttered as he looked and tried to see a way out of his predicament, right as a wall in his house behind him was shattered into splinters and a large man in armour with a huge axe stepped through it.
"This could have been easy Crozzo," The same voice as before suddenly said from no discernable direction. "You could have joined us and had an amazing life of work and revelry. You still will I suppose, but you won't be in control. You will make what you are told to, and join in with whoever asks when told. Don't make this any harder than you already have. Last chance, just stay still."
"What exactly are you planning?" Welf demanded to know as he brandished his tip-less blade in front of himself."
"You already know, you did fight two of our elites yesterday after all," The voice said simply. "Just hold still and you can begin your first step to your new life."
"Yeah, not a chance you-" Welf stopped as he saw a glint out the corner of his eyes and then grinned. "Word of advice. Duck."
"What? Do you think we are dumb enough to fall for-" the voice began to say before being suddenly interrupted by something crashing into the road nearby, sending up a cloud of dusts and a spattering of gravel over everyone in front of Welf's home.
And as the smoke cleared everyone in sight let out gasps of shock or fear as Momma Mia stood before them in all of her towering glory. She was wearing nothing abnormal, with just her hostess uniform on, but in one of her hands she held the largest cleaver than anyone had ever seen, and the expression on her face made some people immediately fear for their lives.
"The, the Demi-Ymir!" someone in the group exclaimed in horror. "What is she doing here!?"
"Arriving to defend the friend of one of my girls," Mia said as she took a step forward and lifted the cleaver to rest it on her shoulder. "Surrender and I guarantee you won't lose any limbs."
"What?! Shouldn't you be telling us to scamper off instead of threatening us?" another person yelled in outrage, just as Ryuu and Bella landed behind her in clear view.
"No. I've heard what one of your people tried to do to one of my girls. Your choices are surrender and be dragged to jail, or regret your life choices for however long you still manage to live for," Mia stated seriously, prompting Ryuu to draw her sword, an act Bella followed a second later with her knives.
Silence permeated the area for a number of second as the variety of thugs and adventurers weighed their options. Till the one unseen person spoke up, their voice like an echo across the entire area. "Take Crozzo and Scatter! Anyone who surrenders will be dead by the end of the day. Use the smoke!"
As soon as the words were heard a number of pops rang out from every direction, sending up large clouds of whitish smoke that began to drift over and obscure vison from every angle.
Including Welf's.
"Aw crap," Welf said to himself before hearing a noise behind him from his house and moved to the side, seeing a large form pass by where he had just been with a roar. Just because they could see, apparently did not mean that those thugs were not going to still go after him. "Where the hell do I go?" he then muttered to himself just as a cacophonous blast of noise air and debris blasted down the street, making it difficult to hear, but strangely not getting rid of the smoke all around.
"Alchemical eh?" came the loud exclamation of Mama Mia from somewhere to Welf right in the smoke. "Ryuu, go get the alchemist responsible for this mess, Bella, get Crozzo and get out!"
"Right!" Bella acclaimed, sounding somewhere behind Welf. "Welf, where are you?"
"Over here!" Welf replied quickly, before in the next second realizing his mistake as a thug jumped through the fog toward him with arms outstretched.
"Crozzo!"The man yelled as he collided into Welf, one hand grabbing his clothes while the other wrapped around his throat and pushed Welf into the wall, hard. "Stop resisting you fool, it will only make things worse for you!"
"Y-yeah, no, s-screw that," Welf struggled to say as he struggled against the thugs grip, throwing up a leg to use his knee and hit below the belt. Only when he did, his knee struck a plate of metal, not his intended target. "Heh, going for my junk huh? Don't worry, we'll give you it soon enough!" The man exclaimed in a very creepy way.
Right before a blur of white slammed into the man and threw him, and Welf, down to the dirt.
"Ah, get off me you-" The man tried to yell before he was stuck in the head and went silent, allowing Welf to get up and look to see Bella partly straddling the man chest, and having wacked his head with the pommel of her offhand dagger.
"Are you okay, Welf?" she asked as she climbed off the man and helped elf to his feet as the sound of combat, and lots of screaming, began to seem to echo from all directions around them.
"Yeah, I, why are you here?" He asked. After all, his argument with those outside his house hadn't lasted more than a couple minutes. There was no way word of such an attack in this area of Orario would travel anywhere fast.
"When I was telling Everyone what happened to us this morning, Mama Mia suddenly sprung to action and ordered us to move out," Bella explained as she grabbed Welf's hand. " Come on, let's get out of here. Is your Familia's place close?"
"No, it's pretty far. The Hostess is probably closer honestly," Welf answered as a blast of some kind shook the very street, cries of pain echoing out after it.
"Okay, is there anyplace nearby that is safe?" Bell asked as she began pulling Leading Welf through the smoke and away from the ruins of his home.
He couldn't see much, but he could see Bella's backside, including her very appealing rump, and the way her ears were perked up and would dart from side to side a second before he heard noise from the same direction. He shook his head, moving such improper thoughts out of his mind. "There's an alchemy shop just outside of this area by the main road."
"Okay, we'll head there to get away and then," Bella suddenly stopped, her ears perking right up and angling in different directions for a second before she suddenly spun around, and pushed Welf away. "Get down!"
Welf had no time to even consider what was going on, for as he was pushed backwards and was falling towards the ground, the wall beside him, right where he had been standing and where Bella now was, Exploded. Stone bricks and shards, noise and smoke, fire and ash all collided into her and obscured her as Welf hit the ground. "Bella!" Welf cried out in a panic as he winced and tried to sit up, only to see a person walk out of the hole in the wall and toss a glass bottle towards the ground beside him. It crashed into the ground and exploded sending a yellow mist all over him, and Welf could feel his body begin to seize up, making it clear the mist was a paralytic.
The person in question was wearing a cloak that make it impossible to tell who or what they were, but then they pulled down their hood, and Welf instantly recognized them as the alchemist that had attacked them the day before, the Hume bunny that had attacked Bella specifically.
He walked out and over to where Bella was lying on the ground coughing, her skin and uniform covered in small cuts and scrapes, and knelt down beside her with a strange and wild smile. "So beautiful, even when injured," He said before suddenly grabbing Bella's hair and partly pulling her up and making her yelp. "But you will be even more beautiful once I make you mine!"
"Get off, of me," Bella said with a cough, clearly still a bit out of it from the blast.
"Not a chance!" the grey haired man said as he pulled some kind of rope out his gear and grabbed Bella's hands, quickly trying to tie her wrists together. "This fog is perfect after all, even if someone hears you scream in pain, and howl in pleasure, it will be too late! I just need to make sure you cant resist like yesterday," he proclaimed as he yanked the rope tight around Bella's wrists and then held them above her head with one hand, while the other hand went lower and grabbed the cloth of her hostess uniforms skirt. "Time to feast. Do try to enjoy it!"
"Get off," Bella said again as she tried to squirm and resist the mans forced advance as he threw her skirt up over her torso and ran a hand over her left leg.
"Not a chance," he responded with a dark chuckle as his hand went lower and began caressing Bella's thigh. Don't worry, by the time I'm done with you, you wont be able to resist me!"
Bella continued to squirm in discomfort until the mans hand touched further down and made her shiver in horror as it truly dawned on her just how far he was willing to go. " I said, GET OFF OF ME!" Bella then demanded, her tone strange, loud and strong, powerful, commanding.
And much to her and Welf's surprise, The man seemed to stop and slowly get up off of her, standing up and taking a step back with a dull, disconnected look on his face. He simply stood there for a second in silence before his eyes seemed to return to normal and he blinked in confusion. "What the, why did i-" He began to say, just before a brick struck him in the back of his head, knocking him unconscious, and none other than Mord Latro stood there with a grin.
"You okay girlie?" Mord asked as he walked over and offered a hand to her, his gaze looking to the side and not directly at her.
Bella was confused for a second until she realized her legs were apart and her skirt flipped. In an instant she threw her skirt down in embarrassment and moved her hands to Mord, who took them and pulled her up before taking out a knife and cutting the rope that bound her. "what, what are you doing here?"
"Dealing with our enemies," Mord said with a chuckle. " I wasn't expecting to see you here honestly, but we can deal with the specifics of why after we help your friend," He said as he walked over and knelt down beside Welf. " Kid, can you hear me?"
Welf tried to answer, but his voice only came out stuttering noises as he looked at Mord.
Despite this Mord seemed to understand something and searched through his vest for a second before taking out a small vial of orange liquid." This is an Anti-Paralytic, should counteract the stuff you inhaled," He said as he unplugged it and brought it to Welf's lips. "Drink slowly."
Welf said nothing as he did as he was told, and a minute later the vial was empty, but Welf did not seem to be moving.
"Calm down girl," Mord said as he got up and saw Bella's expression. "It just takes a minute or so to start working."
"Oh, I see," Bella said still in worry as she looked around and then noticed that the smoke cloud they were in was finally seeming to disperse.
Revealing a very worried looking tan skinned Half Dwarf moving through the cloud, who then saw Welf on the ground, and instantly grew angry. " Get away from my Familia member!" She roared as she began stomping toward Welf and Bella, drawing a large Naginata off her back with clear intent to use it.
"Wait, now hold on, we didn't do anything!" Mord tried to explain as he put his hands up.
"Ruffian, I should've known you were part of this, I'll make sure to-"
"Tsubaki,"
Tsubaki stopped and looked over to Welf, as did Bella, to find him waving an arm limply in the air. "They are friends," he said slowly as he seemed to try to get up, only to fail.
"Welf!" Bella said as she ran over to him and helped him sit up.
"Thanks Bella," Welf said with a nod to her before looking back to Tsubaki. "Bella here is the one I made those blade for, she works at the Hostess of Fertility, and this guy is an acquaintance of her I'd guess from how they talked. He game me an Anti-paralytic just now."
Tsubaki seemed to think over his words for a moment before looking at Mord, as if silently demanding clarification.
"Hey, my Familia came here to deal with the maniacs causing this, I just came upon these two and knocked out that bastard," Mord said as he pointed at the grey Hume bunny on the ground.
Tsubaki stared at him for a moment before her expression shifted to understanding and disgust all at once. " Alright Ruffian, let's tie him up while Welf gets up."
"Yeah, alright," Mord said as he took out some rope and handed an end of it to Tsubaki.
And while they tied him up, Bella was seeing to Welf, who was still sitting on the ground. " Are you okay?"
"Yeah, body just aches from the paralytic," Welf said as he rolled his shoulders before the sound of a distant crash made him flinch. "Uh, do you know what is going on? I saw you and your boss but,"
"Mama Mia is pretty strong, but no, it sounds like there is a lot of fighting nearby."
"Lady Hephaistos mobilized all of us capable of combat here when one Mia's girls came and told us what was happening," Tsubaki spoke up, answering part of Bella's question as she and Mord seemed to finish tying the grey haired Hume bunny up in seven different ways. She then looked at Mord Warily. "I assume you're here for a similar reason?"
"Similar, but not for anyone specific,"Mord admitted. "When we heard these assholes were mobilizing, we went after em."
"You have a grudge then?" Tsubaki asked, making it clear she was not aware of the grander situation.
"Something like that, but a lot more serious," Mord stated grimly as he looked willing to explain more, but stopped when Ryuu suddenly dropped down fro the air and landed to the side silently, though not without making herself noticed.
"Are you all alright?" She asked simply, looking at Bella and Welf, and then to Tsubaki and Mord.
"Just a bit stiff, but alright," Welf spoke up first.
"Yes, were fine, though uh, it was a bit close," Bella admitted nervously.
Ryuu looked at her in a way that made it clear they would talk, before lightly sighing and looking to Mord and Tsubaki. " Mama Mia is requesting anyone taking Part this event to come to the Hostess tonight with their leaders and Gods,"
"What about?" Mord asked with absolutely no tact.
"About dealing with this situation and understanding it as a whole," Ryuu responded simply.
"Alright, I'll pass that on once I've dragged this sorry asshole to one of the Guilds Cells," Mord said as he knelt down and threw the unconscious Hume bunny over his shoulder. Roughly.
Tsubaki looked like she wanted to say something, but looked at Welf and Sighed. Can you stand?" He simply nodded and finally got up with a little help from Bella. "Good. Were returning and speaking to Lady Hephaistos,"
"Right, uh, Thanks," Welf said as he turned to Bella. "Thanks for the save, I'll probably see you later if Lady Hephaistos agrees to meet at the Hostess,"
"Right, stay safe," Bella responded with a smile as Welf headed off with Tsubaki, leaving her alone with Ryuu as the sounds of conflict seemed to now be barely a dull distant rumble.
"We should leave as well, this way," Ryuu said a second later aa she turned down a different road, and as soon as she saw that Bell was following her, spoke up again. " What happened?"
"What?"
"You are agitated and are bleeding a bit from your head, and there are rub marks on your wrists," Ryuu stated simply before reiterating her question. "What happened?"
Bella was silent as the two of them moved for many moments, but finally spoke up as they came onto a nearly empty street just adjacent to one of Orarios's main streets. "I found Welf, we began moving away, trying to get away from the fighting. By that wall you found us at though, when we stopped for a second I heard something and pushed Welf away. All I remember is a blast, pain across my body and head, and when I could see straight again that Grey haired Hume, the same one from yesterday, Was overtop of me and Welf was on the ground unable to move. He pinned my arms and tried getting under my skirt and-" Bell stopped and shook her head. "He tried to rape me right then and there but something, odd happened."
"How so?"
"I told him to get off and he didn't, but the third time I did, when I yelled it, he suddenly stopped, got up off of me and just stood there. That was when Mord Showed up, and Tsubaki showed up a minute later."
"Was anything about him strange?" Ryuu asked.
"Um, his eyes seemed a bit unfocused?" Bella suggested, not fully recalling much of the mans details. Honestly she wanted to forget them. She had heard some rumors in the past after all, of lesser adventurers attacking women, of crimes of rape against women, but now that she was one and such a thing almost happened to her, she realized that they likely had been far more than just passing rumors.
"Do not forget those details,"Ryuu then stated as they continued down the road. "I know it was likely scary, but those details may be important for the meeting later, and Syr may know what caused such a thing to occur."
Bell simply nodded in reply.
The rest of their journey back to the Hostess was in silence, and when they arrived Bella was surprised to find that the Hostess had a sign on the window stating it was closed for the day for a private event. When they came in however it did not feel like they were preparing for a private event as the tables where shifted around to be more organized. Everyone but Mia herself was present and gleeful that both Bella and Ryuu had returned and looked mostly unscathed.
What concerned Bella most was that there was a person in a cloak that completely covered their whole body and face siting by the bar.
"Um, who is-"
"I'm just an old friend of Mia's for right now," The cloaked person, a woman from their voice, said before glancing under the hood in Syr's direction. Though Bell did not notice this.
"That's nyaat right, you are-" Anya began to say, right up until Lunoire came up beside her and placed a hand over her mouth, giving her a death glare as she spoke. " She clearly does not want to introduce herself as of yet."
"Bella, are you alright?" May suddenly asked as she came over and offered her a cup of juice which she easily took a drank from, finding out it was apple.
"Yes," Bell said simply, before then noticing that May was staring at her.
"Are you sure? You seem a bit, shaken."
"Um, a few things happened when going to help Welf, that's all,"
"So I've heard," Mama Mia exclaimed as she entered the main room through the back doorway, a tired expression plastering her face while she held a sack of some kind in her left hand. She dropped the sack onto the counter with an almost glasslike bumping noise before looking to the cloaked woman and Sighing. " Freya what are you doing here?"
"I cannot just come and visit an old friend and my daughters workplace?" The now named Freya responded coyly.
"Answer my question or I am throwing you out," Mia said sternly, clearly not in the mood for games.
"Boo, you are no fun," Freya said with a huff as she removed her hood, revealing a beautifully immaculate face and brilliant hair. " I was coming to visit for a purpose when I saw you and many of your girls leave on the warpath. I figured I would simply wait here for you."
"And what is your business?"
"Well, I wanted to meet the newest friend of my daughter,"
At this point Syr let out a sigh. "If you told me I could have made it known you were coming,"
"That would not have been as fun," Freya admitted before her smile darkened slightly. " Though it is now clear that my presence may be able to help in other matters, perhaps?"
Mia shook her head in annoyance and went behind the counter, dragging the sack with her as Syr turned to Bella. " umm, Bella, this is my mother, The Goddess Freya. Mother, this is Bella, who I told you a little bit about."
"Oh, uh, it- it's a pleasure to meet you Lady Freya!" Bella suddenly said as she bowed to her a bit in a panic.
Freya let out a short giggle. "It is a pleasure to meet you as well Miss Cranel, and please, do not feel the need to be so Formal. Right now I am here as Syr's mother, not as a Goddess."
"We will see how long that lasts," Mia commented with another shake of her head. " I need to Debrief her and Ryuu over what they did earlier. I know you wont want to leave, so can I get you to promise not to speak of anything you hear outside of here?"
"Of course," Freya said with a nod. " I would never break your, or my daughters, trust in me."
Mia nodded and looked at the Girls. "Alright, get comfortable all of you. "Ryuu, Bella, I want to hear what the two of you did out there."
Both Girls nodded before Ryuu began to explain what she had done. It was a short but still impressive story of leaping across the buildings and taking out a number of Alchemists, including the one making the smoke, and anyone that got in her way. She explained that she merely went to incapacitate them however, and a number of them likely managed to escape the area but would be in great pain for days in all likelihood. Then she told of finding Bella, and stopped and looked at her.
Taking the hint Bella readied herself mentally and explained what happened from when she followed Mia's orders and prepared to find Welf. It was not a long retelling, but when she inevitably had trouble finding her words, and then did find them and explained what the Hume bunny tried to do, and what happened, the other girls were understandably worried for her and interrupted a couple times to make sure she was alright. She then managed to quickly finish the story of what occurred, including Mord's appearance and Tsubaki and Ryuu's, but then paused. "I still don't understood why he suddenly got up off me and just stood there though. Was it something Mord did maybe?"
"Doesn't sound like something he would be capable of doing," Lunoire said with a self assured nod. "It almost sounds like a skill of some kind."
"It does, yes," Freya spoke up with a strange smile. "In fact, it sounds like a Charm spell."
"A charm spell?" Bella asked in confusion, " but I don't have any magic that could do that. All I have is my Firebolt."
"And what about skills?" Freya asked simply. " Do you have any skills that could charm someone?"
" . . .i, don't think so. I have one skill, but we don't' know what it does."
"Freya," Mama Mia suddenly spoke up, her tone strangely hard. "Do you know something?"
"Not for sure, but I have a hunch," Freya said as she stood up. "Syr told me that you had a skill she never had seen before. She was hoping that perhaps I had heard of it, and while I had not, I did promise not to speak of it to anyone. However, hearing your story, I believe that it may be related to charming, or have the ability to charm as a part of it."
"Okay, but how do we find out if it does?" Syr asked, before then looking sheepish and turning her gaze to Bella. "If you want to I mean."
"I do," Bella said with a nod. "I, don't think I would want to charm people, but since it probably saved me from, that happening, I should know what the skill does."
"Then the way to proceed is quite simple," Freya said with a smile at Syr. "Update her Falna and while doing so, focus on that skill and think of the concept of charming. If it can indeed, the skill should then say so when transcribed as it will have been discovered."
"Wait, it's that simple?" May asked In surprise. " I thought understanding skills was supposed to be hard for adventurers?"
"Understanding new skills can take a long time on ones own," Mia spoke up, making it sound like she was speaking from experience. "Most don't realize their Gods can help them if they want to, and properly ask."
The room was quiet for a few moments, with both Lunoire and Chloe looking like they had just missed a chance at something important while Anya simply looked at them both with a smile,
"We have time, right Mama Mia?" Bella asked after a few seconds.
"Until?"
"That meeting you called. The one you wanted Welf's Famila and Mords to come for."
"A meeting? Whenyaa?" Anya asked curiously.
"Tonight," Mia said simply before nodding at Bella. "There is time yes, though I will state now that you are being present for the meeting. So is Ryuu and Syr at minimum."
No one seemed to want to argue Mia's words, so Bella looked at Syr and nodded, "Syr, can you please update my Falna again."
Syr looked conflicted for a moment before glancing at Freya. "Uh, would I be able to use the sheet I updated on this morning?"
"No, sadly you will need to properly and fully update it on her back and transcribe a new one," Freya stated simply. "I could help if you would like, but that might violate your agreement with her."
"Drat," Syr muttered with a sigh before she stood up. " Alright, here, or upstairs?"
It took a second before Bella realized Syr was asking her where she wanted to get her Falna updated. "Oh um, upstairs I guess?"
"Alright, then get up and updated and being the sheet down here," Mia said. "We'll likely need Freya to look over the skill to make sense of it as unknown skills tend to often be worded strangely."
"Okay," Syr said as she motioned for Bella to follow her and went out of the room.
Bella quickly followed and went up to Syr's room to find the door open and her already fishing out a piece of special parchment Aa soon as Bella entered the room however Syr stopped and turned around, her expression serious. "How much did that Hume bunny touch you? How far did he actually go?"
"I, uh, I told everyone, he tried to get under the dress, but didn't get any further," Bell responded in slight confusion. "Why?"
"Because, when a God updates a Falna, they see what gave the person all of their Excelia. I don't see everything but I just, wanted to be sure, wanted to prepare myself for what I could see if you hadn't admitted something. I'm sorry, I'm being a bit selfish."
"No, it's fine," Bell said as she came up and nodded to Syr. "It was, scary, I admit, but nothing happened beyond what I said."
"Okay, I'm sorry for bringing it up I was just, worried I guess,"Syr admitted before patting the bed, "Lay down with your back bare as before. Then I can update it and maybe we'll learn about that skill of yours."
"R-right," Bella said nervously as she did as she was told, still not sure how she felt about her body being visible even to a girl.
Syr was as careful as always though, not commenting on anything as she began to update her Falna. She was silent the entire time, though Bella could somehow feel her tense up a couple times, and after a few moments she climbed off of Bella's back with a paper in hand and heaved a sigh. "This is, going to be a bit extreme for everyone. You ready to go down and show off your absurd growth?"
"Is it really that bad?" Bella asked as she began slipping her clothes back on. She knew after all that her growth was usually a bit strange, so maybe it was just the same?
"Not bad, just, if everyone sees it there may be questions," Syr admitted as she looked at the sheet in slight awe, and a bit of confusion. " you could probably just let my mother see it if you want to keep some of it hidden."
"No, I trust everyone, it's fine," Bella said as she finished puling her uniform back on. "So uh, The Goddess Freya is your mother?"
Syr let out a small sigh. " Yes, she is. And no, you don't need to worry about her charming you."
"She can charm people?"
Syr whipped around to stare at Bella in surprise. "You, didn't know?" Bella shook her head. " Her natural beauty is like a charm, it draws people to her. The only ones who can truly resist it are people with skills that protect them. Everyone under contract with me is protected as well as I'm her child but . . .you didn't know?"
"No, I had never met her in my other life."
"Oh, I see," Syr stated before going quiet for a few seconds, then shaking her head as if to dispel unwanted thoughts. "I, don't know what she would have been like in your old world, but if Gods cant have children there, then she was probably a lot more, direct and forceful in her methods and actions than she is here."
"Oh. So, we can trust her though, right? I mean, she's your mom."
"Yes, we can trust her," Syr said as she held out the paper to Bella. "Here, have a look, and you can show it to who you want downstairs."
Bella took the sheet with a nod and took a glance a it before it felt like her eyes would bug out of her head. She definitely needed to show everyone this.
Name: Bella Cranel
Race: Hume Bunny
Gender: Female
Level: 2
Strength: G-221 G-284
Vitality: E-456 E-491
Dexterity: S-903 SS-1003
Agility: S-999 SS1029
Magic: G-271 F-417
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 also have resistance to Magical effects and Damage.
Luck – The owner of this skill has amplified Luck, and all that it entail for good and Ill. They also gain a small boost to Excelia gain.
Red Eyed Rabbit Queen –
Races similar to the owner will find attraction to /Respect them innately, augmented by the effected own thoughts and opinions as well as environmental factors. Those immune to charms are unaffected. [Error]
Skills (Active)
Argonaut – The ability to amplify effect to achieve a desired result in combat. Requires Charge up.
Magic
Firebolt – An Accurate Bolt of fire that requires no chanting, but is not wholly powerful on it's own
Everyone stared at Bella's sheet in confusion and disbelief as they all were gathered around one of the Hostesses largest tables, allowing everyone present a look.
"Is, this even possible?" Lunoire asked carefully. "Statuses beyond 999?"
"Uh, well, I had it happen a couple times in my old world, but it was from a skill that I no longer have," Bella said awkwardly.
"If that has happened before it may have become a part of your being," Freya mused out loud with a strange smile.
"That is hardly what is important here," Ryuu spoke up next, orienting the sheet so she could read it over again. "This skill, is this the one you had no knowledge of? The one that said nothing about itself?"
"Um yes," Bella answered as she looked at Syr hopefully,
"Um, I don't know what it means," She then admitted as a few more eyes turned to her. "It's worded more strangely than I expected it to be."
"Here, may I?" Freya asked as she held out a hand, requesting for someone to hand her the sheet in full. Without even a pause Syr did so, allowing Freya to look over it at length. Her expression tenses, her eyes narrowed, and a barely noticeable silvery glimmer seemed to come away from her hand that held the page. After a few minutes of tense silence she let out a sigh and put the page down, and hen looked at Bella. "I believe that I know what this visible part of the skill entails. Do you believe yourself ready to hear of it?"
"I am," Bella said simply, not understanding what Freya was meaning with her words.
"I don't think you are. Not with how adorably innocent you are," Freya said with a delighted giggle as she leaned back in her chair and tightened her cloak a bit, hiding her body and even her neck from sight before continuing. "I believe that skill, or at least the now known portion is a very specific form of Passive Charm. It only effect those of the same race as you, so Hume Bunny's, and appears to make them either feel respect, or attraction to you, and declares that their thoughts about you may shift or enhance the effect upon them."
"W-what?! But I would never try to charm someone!"
"It is passive, so you have no control over it, just like how I have little to no control over my own form of beauty related charms," Freya stated carefully. "I also believe it may be responsible for what occurred to you earlier today, and perhaps yesterday."
"What do you mean?" Syr asked in confusion. She was stalked by hat man yesterday."
"Yes, but from the sound of it they were also after the young Crozzo Boy. I believe he was likely their main target, but when the Hume Bunny saw you he found your, bountiful body to be to his liking, and alongside the charm it began shifting his desires to a much more domineering state, that of obsession."
Everyone was silent for a moment as Freya's words sunk in, Chloe being the first to speak up after a moment. "That, sound less like a skill and more like a curse."
"It is not." Freya declared almost instantly. "I am rather sure that under normal circumstances it would simply make other Hume Bunny more friendly. Women might say hello more often or be more polite, while men may perhaps try to get to know you or compliment you. A case such as this one with a man going so far to attempt to rape one into submission to them is both outlandish, highly difficult, and exceedingly rare. I can only assume he was scum to begin with."
"Um, so it wont happen again then?" Bell asked hopefully.
"There is no guarantee of that, but I would think it unlikely. Though as you become more well known the kinds of attention you may receive might shift. Truly though, I find the ability itself strange."
"How so?" Mia asked seriously.
"It is far too narrow of an effect," Freya said simply before explaining in more detail. "Most Charm effects either affect a persons perception of the one using it, or manipulate who they think they are. This one does the former, however it is too narrow, having an effect only on Hume Bunnies, who are easily he least numerous race in most places, seems strange. I believe there is much more to the skill than is easily visible."
"Well that will be something she has to look into on her own time, and not now," Mia said as she moved over to the counter and grabbed the sack she had brought in earlier and pulled out what appeared be a couple bundles of very dark cloth.
"What's that for Nya?" Anya asked curiously.
"The meeting," Mia said as she walked over to the windows and began hanging the sheets of cloth, making so no one could see out or in. "I suggest everyone get some rest. Once this meeting happens, I cannot say what will occur, but I don't expect it to be good.