Arc II: Paradise (Lost)
Having a (Ball)
"..." My head was completely empty as I stared into a cup of juice. I was completely ignoring what Bell, Welf and Lily were speaking about, most likely our progress into the dungeon today. I suppose it was serviceable, given that we'd gained a new member in our Party. I think her name was Makoto. I felt a little bad for not bothering to get to know her but I had other things on my mind. "One month..."
"Viole, are you alright?" I looked up from my cup to see Bell, Lily and Welf looking at me with pity filled eyes. Only for Lily to immediately slap Bell on the back of the head.
"Are you an idiot?! Of course he's not alright! This has been going on for three days you idiot! Prostrate yourself in front of Lord Zeus for your trangerestions!" Lily was obviously exaggerating, trying to get rid of the tension. It failed. "Sorry."
"It's fine. It's my fault anyway. I should just resign myself to this and prepare mentaly but..." Ever since I accepted the bet, I've been stuck in my own mind. Hell, the reason why we were in a bar that we've never been in was in an attempt to cheer me up. A 'change in scenery' they said. "Abby..."
The bet was simple. Some time in the next month, Ophis will come to me with some sort of challenge. Should I win then the Susanoo familia will let go of Abigail. Should I lose... my life is forfeit and my sister will be forced to join the Susanoo familia. It's a terrible bet, where the opposing side holds all the cards. But I wasn't thinking at all when I agreed. I fell into the palm of their hand. I'm screwed. "Yeah, I get it, you're screwed."
"Welf!"
"Hey, I'm just telling the truth." My red haired companion took a rough bite out of steak with a shrug. "But, isn't that the best part?" Now he piqued my interest. "They've got the advantage and they know you're gonna fall into despair. So, they aren't gonna expect a fully confident and strong Sir Viole when it's time. Hehe, they'll shit their pants with how much they've underestimated you."
"You... you have a point."
"Hell yeah! Don't sulk, get strong and show em why you're Magenta!" I'd hate to admit it, but Welf's stupid brovado was infectious.
"Hell yeah!" I jumped up from my seat and slammed a foot on the table. "Screw Susanoo and his lackeys! They can come at me any time, I'll devour 'em like any other monster!"
"Yeah! Now that's what I'm talking about" Welf held his drink in the air as Bell and Lily joined in with a smile.
"Haa? So the little Capped thinks they can take on the world, just cuz they got a name, huh?" An annoying high pitched voice came from in front of us. A small man, probably a pallum, in a black and red uniform stood in front of our table. "I guess having the conman of a Record Breaker in your party gives retards like you a big head."
"Hey, who lost their child? I think this brat needs their nap." I snipe back. I was fine with whatever came at me. But calling Bell a conman... unforgivable. Apollo's emblem, brat's got an ego just because he's a part of a large familia.
"Hey, just ignore 'em, you two." Welf lost all of his energy and went back to his meal. I sucked my teeth and fell back into my seat. Just when I was starting to feel normal again, too.
"Haha! What a hodgepodge of a group ya got there! A failure of a blacksmith, a shrimp for a supporter, a cheating rookie and-" I was already getting pissed off but my friends were ignoring him. So I kept my cool ."The son of a failure!"
My body moved on it's own. Before I knew it the brat's body was embedded in the wall and my fist was covered in dark magic. "Say that again you bastard!" I screwed up, immediately three of the brat's friends were on me. Grabbing the first guy by the face I kneed his stomach and threw him into the ground. Luckly for me, my party had my back as Bell and Welf were taking the other two. The second bastard stood up from the ground and tried to throw a punch at me only for me to dodge and punch him back into the ground. "You guys picked this damn fight, don't come crying to me after!"
"Is that so?" Back at the table that the Brat came from, a single tall man in the same uniform was still sitting. His long brown hair was the only thing holding the man back from looking utterly normal. Like a man you'd see walking down the street and never see again. "You're so sure that you won't be the one crying?"
"Huuuuhh? Well, you can try. Come at me." Before I could even blink the man was in front of me. Fast! Even faster, my body slammed into the wall behind me, landing me next to the unconscious brat. "Gh! H-How!" Part of my dinner spilled out of my mouth as I landed. Looking up, Welf was already on the ground and Bell was being held up by the man, beaten to a bloody pulp. Incredible. It couldn't have been more than five seconds since I was attacked. But I didn't have time to think. I had to save bell. But my body just won't listen to me. "Dammit!"
A single fallen chair caught everyone's attention. Sitting at the bar, a white haired wolf man kicked over the seat. "You damn wimps need to shut the hell up. You're making my drink taste like shit. Get lost." His voice was calm, something I'd never expected. Every time I spoke with Bete the man was either growling or yelling at me. Though we never did get along. The Apollo member stared at Bete before dropping Bell on the floor, who Lily immediately ran to. Bastard doesn't pick fights he can't win, huh?! Coward...
"You've ruined my mood." With that, the man left the Bar along with his beaten up friends. I tried to stand up to check on Bell only to be picked up by my collar.
"Hey, let me go you neutered dog!"
"Don't get so cocky, damn brat!" Without another word, the wolf man from my familia dragged me out of the bar. Ignoring my screaming and kicking.
SSS
"So you picked a fight, hehehe. Guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the idiot tree!" The damn piss dog dropped me off in Loki's office and went about his business. Leaving me in a room with a fairly drunk Loki and a recently woken up Riveria who looked like she was going to personally rip off my limbs, just as she'd threatened two weeks ago. "So what was it, did they make fun of your Loli girlfriend?"
"Don't call Lily that and she isn't my girlfriend." I corrected her as I apologized to Riviera once again. "Sorry. It's just...those bastards called my dad a failure." The two women flinched, something I didn't understand but continued on. "What the hell kind of thought is that?! Just because someone retires doesn't count them as a failure?! What is he supposed to do, die in combat? Screw those bastards!"
"Y-Yeah! You were right! Screw those damn Apollo kids!" Riviera gave Loki the stink eye before shaking her head.
"Coward."
"Huh?"
"Nothing that has to do with you. But you should be healed now. Be thankful to Bete for stopping the fight when he did. If it went any further then it would have been grounds for a war game."
"Ugh, please I already feel bad enough. Bell and Welf got beat up pretty bad because I started a fight. I feel like swallowing my own tongue right now."
"Now now, you'll have the chance to make amends so don't worry! Loki's apprehensive expression turned into a large grin.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Her grin only widened. Oh no.
SSS
I hate this. It felt like my body was being held captive. "Do I have to wear this shit?" I was currently stuck in a red and black suit with a grey tie on. For some reason Loki had dragged me to a party and the three of us were standing outside of a honestly disgustingly large mansion. I don't exactly have a good experience with guys in suits.
"Hey, do you have any idea how much I spent on the suit?! Be grateful!" Loki, in a red and white suit of her own glared at me and mocked spitting on me. Her long hair flowed as she turned her back to me.
"I think you look nice." Looking to my left, Ai was in a nice green dress with a large green gem in a necklace and detached black sleeves. She was honestly pretty stunning but I couldn't show that on my face, otherwise Loki would tease me to death. Her smiling at me didn't help.
"Thanks, so do you."
"Ugh! Stop flirting! You two are my dates, not each others!" Loki-sama, you are quite selfish aren't you? And so, we followed Loki into the mansion, seemingly missing a speech from the host themselves, Apollo. Honestly I was thankful for that, it'd be pretty awkward for me to stare at the god of a guy who I nailed to a wall. We made our way to the table of food before Loki stopped in her tracks and stared at a woman from across the room. "Ahhh, she's always so beautiful!"
I looked in the direction and saw a white haired woman in a purple dress being led by a building of a man dressed in a blue suit. "Who's that?"
"Goddess Freya of the Freya Familia." Ai said under her breath, some hostility in there.
"So she's the goddess of beauty, huh...I don't see it."
"WHAAAAAT?!" Loki's yell pulled all the attention from Freya to us. "How do you , 'not see it'?! It's Freya!"
"I mean I guess she's cute? I don't know. I don't think she's that beautiful. I think-" Nope, not saying that. "Uhh, I mean I think the other goddesses I've met are more beautiful. Lady Dia, Lady Hestia, hell even you Loki."
"Now what is that supposed to mean?! 'Even' me?! I'll rip your asshole out!" Before Loki could pounce on me, a small giggle caught my attention. It was coming from behind Loki herself. Dodging the goddess, I was met with her once more.
"Granny Dia!" In front of me stood a short woman with long black hair, which was covering one side of her face. She was wearing a long green dress that perfectly went with her green eyes. I ran up to the goddess and scooped her up into a hug. "I can't believe it! I'm so glad to see you! Granny!"
"Vy, put me down, you're making a scene!" Even with her reprimanding words she was still giggling. Letting the woman down onto the ground I couldn't keep the smile off my face. "I'm so glad to see you are alright. How's Orario been treating you?" Her motherly tone of voice instantly calmed me down.
"It's been rough, but I'm fine. Thanks!"
"AHEM!" The throat clearing sent a shiver down my spine. I turned to see an angry Loki with a bruise forming on her forehead and an emotionless Ai. "Why don't you introduce us to your granny?" Ugh, scary...
"Loki, it's been so long." Not missing a beat, Lady Dia walked to my goddess and gave her a hug. "I'm glad that Vy was able to join your famila. If anyone could take care of him, it's be you."
"Awwww, of course!" Her hostile attitude immediately melted away in the hug. So I turned to Ai.
"This is Gr- Lady Dia. She's the goddess whose Familia my mom used to be a part of. She's like family to me."
"I see. It's a pleasure to meet you." Ai gave a respectful bow. Before I could explain more however, I was grabbed into a headlock. "Vi-"
"Ohoho! So you got yourself a girlfriend, huh? A cutie too! Guess a year of travel really changed you into a ladies man! Hehehehe!"
"You sound like an old man, gross. Get off me, your fugly chest is shoved into my face!"
"Hehe, Say thank you."
"I'd rather die!" Pulling myself from the headlock, I was face to face with my childhood friend, Grey. She was about a year older than me and taller than me by about an inch or two. She had long red hair that she kept in a ponytail. At the moment she was wearing a matching green dress with Lady Dia but she usually wore lighter clothing. In fact this is only the second time in my life I'd seen her in a dress. Sure the dress accentuated her overly large...features but she was never the kind to care for fashion. Not that it mattered, no matter what she wore she was always just Grey. "Glad to see you again."
"Hehe! Yup, good to see you don't have that thousand yard stare anymore." Grey patted my shoulder before looking to my left. "Uh oh... Hey! I'm just his friend! Nothing more nothing less!"
"Huh?" Suddenly I felt it, intense bloodlust. Coming from directly to my left. Turning, I saw Ai with her completely neutral face. But an intense feeling was flying off of her. It was so intense, just standing next to her felt like I was drowning. Is this the power of a level 6? Her eyes were sharply staring at Grey. "T-This is Gretel, I call her Grey! She's my best friend from childhood and the current captain of the Dia familia! A-Are you okay, Ai?"
Hearing her nickname, Ai immediately returned to normal and bowed to Grey although her eyes were still wide. "Pleasure to meet you." She didn't sound like she meant it this time.
"She and the rest of the Familia saved me after... the incident. So it's been a while since I last saw them. Thanks for that again."
"Haha, yeah...uh I don't know what I did but I don't want the sword princess as an enemy. I'm sorry!" Grey dropped onto her hands and knees and begged for forgiveness. She was always the type to over exaggerate, but after feeling that intensity, I don't blame her.
So here I was, stuck with what seemed to be a ticket off Lady Wallenstein. " So Ai..."
"Let's find somewhere to sit, Viole."
"A-Alright."
SSS
I never truly understood how awkward it was to simply just sit. Ai and I were both at the balcony of the giant mansion sitting on a couch they had outside. And while the air of anger around her was wavering away, it was still present. "...I apologize. I allowed my feelings to get in between your reunion. Please forgive me."
"It's fine, Ai. To be fair, all you did was save me from more harassment from Gretel. I'm sure she was going to tease me for what happened the last time we met." Ai looked at me with a curious look, well, what counted as one from someone like her. I don't know how but it's been getting easier to read Ai's emotions. Guess I've been getting used to her. "Well, after they rescued me from the attack. I was sorta stuck in a trance for a bit. The shock of the event made me unable to eat by myself, let alone move. So Dia and her familia looked after me. After a week... I woke up. This everlasting need for strength and vengeance filled my body and wouldn't leave me alone. I tried to ignore it and stay with Lady Dia but... the night after I woke up, I ran away and made my way to Orario. It took me a year to get here on foot along with training myself." I looked down at myself as I told her this story. "A part of me still hates the fact that I betrayed them like that. I was sure that they'd hate me or at least be angry with me next time I saw them, but nope. Just goes to show how nice Lady Dia and Grey are!"
"I see..." Ai stared at me for a moment before giving me a small smile. "I'm sure they understood why you did what you did. Family always understands family, correct? It's only natural they would forgive you."
"I suppose...doesn't get rid of the guilt though. I really do hate the old me."
"It doesn't sound like much has changed; however, you are still quite impulsive."
"It hurts even more when you point that out." The urge to be eaten by a Violas rose within me until a young man appeared before the two of us.
"L-Lady Ais! Viole! H-Hello!" Bell had appeared! I had a feeling Lady Hestia would drag you here. If I had to suffer in a suit, so should you, my friend. Sure enough, my friend's face was completely red as he tried his best not to look at Ai. "Y-Y-You look nice L-Lady A-Ais!"
"Thank you Bell. You look nice as well." I didn't think that Bell's face could get redder but it indeed did. It was impressive to say the least.
"Hey, Bell." remembering Bell's feelings for Ai, I stood up from my seat. "If it's alright, could you keep Ai company while I get something to eat? I'm a bit famished." Bell gave me an excited nod while Ai just continued to look at me with a blank face. "Have fun you two.
And so... Some time passed as I was looking for food to eat. I could feel countless eyes on my back but I tried my best to ignore them. I didn't know what they could be for, whether it was my reaction to lady Freya, my excited greeting for Granny Dia or... the fact that I'm a capped who gained an alias. Whatever it was, I didn't get a chance to confirm. Every time I stood within five feet from someone they stepped away. So this is what it's like to be shunned. There was music being played in the background and people were enjoying a dance. In the corner of my eye I could see Ai and Bell awkwardly dancing together. "Your welcome, Bell." However, the music and dancing was cut short all of a sudden, when a red haired man entered the room through the large stairs. He had two women behind him, one with short red hair, the other with long blue hair. "Aw, and we were just getting to the good part." I joined the rest of the crowd that surrounded the two to see what was the reason for the interruption.
"So, is the party to all of your likings?!" The red haired man's voice was strangely smoothing... but there was something underneath that rubbed me the wrong way. Like it was a way to lure in prey. It reminded me of... that red hair... RED. No. Calm down... Everyone in the ballroom just stared at the man as he slowly walked towards Ai and Bell. Huh... A strange feeling crept into my body. It hurts... It hurts... The red haired man stopped in front of the two and gave a polite bow. "Good Evening, Little rookie. It was brought to my attention that you had caused some trouble with my familia the other day."
"Tch. Of course!" I went to walk towards the three before a hand grabbed my shoulder. Looking behind I was greeted by Granny Dia, who slowly shook her head.
"Don't. It never ends well for people who interrupt Apollo." I wanted to just shove her hand off of me, but how many more times do I betray her till she hates me? That thought slammed into me, making my legs feel like they were tied down.
"My children were badly injured by you... I demand compensation." I kept my back turned to the whole confrontation, but I was glad to hear the sound of heels rushing towards there.
"HEEEY! Apollo! Sorry bout all that, but Bell came hurt to, you know! So lets call it even." Lady Hestia ended her little excuse with a small laugh. Turn Around. I just kept my eyes on the ground. I had the horrible feeling that if I turned to the situation... I'd regret it.
Turn Around. "I'm told that your Bell had thrown the first punch." No he Turn- "I'm sorry Hestia, I really am. But I demand a War game!"
It's all your fault. Yet again, you do nothing but inconvenience others. And when the going gets tough, you just keep your head down. How utterly repulsive. Disgusting...wretched, atrocious. Father should have let you die.
"Yeah, you're right." You always are.