A/N
And I'm back! My god, I don't know why, but I felt like I didn't know what I was doing half the time in this chapter, hopefully I didn't forget anything this time! That leads me into my next thing.
I wanted to let you guys know about some things.
(I won't mention anyone in particular, incase they don't want to be mentioned.)
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First, I wanted everyone to know that Bell's main weapon will always be the knife, regardless of if he had others, like his new bow.
Just in case anyone was worried.
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Second, I wanted to clarify some things that confused one reader, and possibly others, so I will address it now.
Bell ages differently from normal Elves in Danmachi.
While a normal Elf seems to age like a human till they hit their 30's to 40's.
Bell doesn't and is 2,200 to 2,300 but still looks, and IS by Snow Elf standards, young. Specifically 18.
Also, the forms Bell just filled out probably said he was 18 or something, IDK, it's a minor oversight which I will try to prevent from happening again.
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Third, I noticed that in chapter 1 I spelled Riveria's name 'Riviera'.
I will not edit it to fix it though, as I think it's funny.
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Spoiler warning for a later chapter.
Skip to the Italic words.
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After a guest commented that they had a… strong dislike of when people break the -only three magics are possible- rule for falna, I realized some of you may possibly share 'guest's' views, so I will tell you what I had planned so you guys understand why.
In a future chapter, Bell would learn that the spells marked 'Utility' were unique perks of being born before the descent of gods from Genkai to Tenkai, and that all three of them take up one magic slot.
So there, you have your answers.
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End of spoilers.
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To repeat what I said in Chapter 1 : This is my story, I will not change it to get more appeal or whatever, I will write the story I want to write, nothing less.
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I hope you all enjoy it.
Edit: I forgot the word count.
4,504 words in total.
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It had been two weeks since Bell joined the Hestia Familia, and as per normal, he started his day by going to his now regular spot on the Third Floor, it was his warm up of sorts, ever since Eina had cleared him for the Fourth.
After that Bell would eat his lunch, refill his canteen with 'Pure Spring' if need be, then begin snooping around on the Fourth Floor.
But today isn't normal, he had finally hit 'G' in all of his stats, albeit barely in endurance.
To say Eina was surprised would be an understatement, Bell himself was very embarrassed from all the extra attention, he even had to bring an update sheet (with only the stats) to prove it.
So, reluctantly, Eina gave her permission to venture down to the Fifth Floor.
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Now we open on our hero.
Is he strutting boldly through new lands?
Far from it.
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Bell ran at full speed, pushing himself off the walls as he made turns; how the minotaur was keeping pace was beyond him. He made every effort to move away from other adventurers as he went, preventing unnecessary incidents.
As he barreled around another corner, Bell came to an abrupt halt, finding himself stuck between a wall and a murder machine. Having no other choice, Bell put himself into a fighting stance, drawing his knife.
The beast came crashing around the corner, Bell fought his instincts as they told him to try and run, but he knew there was no running, and would go down fighting if he had to. Bell recounted the many times he'd fought against great odds, but this was the dungeon, there was no way for him to know if he could survive, little lone win.
He eyed up the enemy, it had no weapon, and would likely try to grapple- Bell had no time to think as it launched its left hand at his head, Bell only dodging by pure instinct, just fast enough to feel the thumb of the minotaur scrape his right cheek.
Bell swung for the minotaur's hip as he passed the extended arm, it fell to a crouched position.
Bell readied himself again as it poised to leap at him. But before that, Bell's hairs stood on end as a cool breeze passed from behind him, the minotaur suddenly froze in place, then became coated in a thin layer of ice.
Bell stood in wonder for a short moment before collapsing to his knees, panting as he let out the breath he was holding.
He soon turned from the frozen beast, happy at first to greet his savior. Until he laid eyes on a woman with locks of emerald green, his heart stopped. Bell then took in her face, or its features.
'Emerald green hair and eyes, long elven ears, the aura of nobility.'
Bell's mind went blank as his mind ran into the only conclusion possible, 'High Elf… oh no…'
"My apo-" Before she could even truly begin, Bell went from on his knees, to down the hallway and out of sight, leaving a bemused maiden in his trail.
"What…?"
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Bell speed walked down the main road of Orario half in the moment, half on the events of the Fifth Floor.
'That - That was most certainly a High Elf.' He stumbled a bit as he walked.
'Why was there a High Elf?' Bell absentmindedly opened a large door.
'Emerald green hair and eyes, an Alf…' He approached a counter.
'But why would an Alf be here?' Stopping at said counter.
"BELL!"
He woke from his thoughts, only to find himself face to face with his adviser Eina.
"Eina?"
"Bell, are you okay? I've been trying to speak to you for a while now…" Eina had a look of worry across her features.
Bell investigated his surroundings, finding himself inside the guild hall. It was the first time he had seen the beams of light coming through the front windows since getting his new bag, no longer needed to make a midday stop to cash in.
"Uh, no, or well, yes a guess… You don't happen to know anything about an Elf from the Alf family being in the city, do you?"
Eina was surprised. "Hmh, well yes I do, Miss Riveria Ljos Alf happens to be a first class adventurer in the Loki Familia, in fact, she should be returning from an expedition in the next few days, should everything go as planned. Why do you ask?"
Eina did her little head tilt, and for some reason, it always made Bell stumble in his mind.
"Well, um, I think I just saw her on the Fifth Floor, just an hour ago or so…"
Eina's eyes widened. "Huh? What was she doing on the Fifth Floor?"
"Well, killing the minotaur that was attacking me for starters."
Eina took a second to think, just baffled by what she was hearing. "Sh-She saved you from it I assume."
"Oh, yes." Bell put his hand to the back of his neck, dawning a sheepish smile. "Just after I began to fight it."
And that was the point of no return.
This would not be the first, and certainly not the last time that Eina could be heard screaming at Bell Cranel through the sound proofed walls of a meeting room.
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After a short time, though for Bell it felt like a short eternity, Eina finally let up on him.
"...Sorry…" Bell squeaked
Eina pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing. "No, its fine, I'll ask Lady RIveria sometime how it happened, nothing about that thing being there is normal."
Bell remained sitting bolt upright on the opposing couch from Eina.
"So, Bell, what did you want to know about her?"
"Huh?"
"Sorry, Lady Riveria, you asked about her."
"Ah!" Bell remembered, "Um, I was curious why a member of the Alf royal family was in Orario, I already know from you that she's a member of the Loki Familia, but why when she could be home, in the Alf forest?"
Eina sat back up straight, Bell slacking his posture a little. "Mh, Lady Riveria left due to her having a different... perspective from that which is common in the Alf Forest. They typically look down on other races, including half elves; she stood up to those beliefs, leaving to seemingly never return."
Bell sat shocked slightly. "That's amazing."
Eina looked down to her hands as she moved them around trying to find something to do with them. "Actually, she and my mother both came to Orario together, they were good friends, still are in fact."
Bell looked down in contemplation, before raising to look her in the eye. "I guess I owe her a lot more than I thought."
Eina shifted into a more confused expression.
"Without her leaving with your mother, I never would have met you."
There was no reaction for a few seconds, then it hit like a brick.
Eina turned crimson as Bell realized what he'd said.
"Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-"
"N-No! I m-eant that without your guidance, I wouldn't have made it ten minutes in the dungeon, and I'm thankful!, h-honest!" Bell was also growing a few shades redder than his normal complexion.
It was too late though, the damage had been done. They sat in silence for several moments before Eina tried to steer them away from… That.
"P-Perhaps we sh-should leave that for today… yeah?" Bell nodded.
Eina led him as they made their way back to the main hall, both losing their blush over time, but not before some of Eina's friends caught the tail end of it.
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Bell went to the guest side, while Eina remained behind the counter as they both made way to cash Bell's stones in. He had done well for the few hours he had been in there, making 2,200V for his efforts.
That should have been the end of it, but unfortunately for Bell, a certain Chienthrope had just walked up to the counter beside Bell.
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"Hello Bell."
Bell stopped cold, he knew that voice, his instructor on the art of archery, the voice of torment, and more recently, the person he began to see as a dear friend, if not a… Sister.
"N-Naaza…" Bell now made eye contact, he regretted it immediately. What he was met with was, in his mind, the most demonic grin he'd seen in his life, all because he still had a bit of his blush from earlier.
"Hehehe, you're blushing Bell~" He immediately turned, cupping his cheeks trying desperately but in vain to stop.
"So you must be Eina, I've heard so much about you!" Bell turned so fast he nearly broke his neck.
"Ah, yes, you must be Naaza, Bell has mentioned how you're training him to use his bow. If I may, thank you for taking care of him, it's greatly appreciated." Eina did a slight bow.
Bell was pleading desperately with his eyes, but Naaza wasn't about to let up. "Of course! How could I not when he's got a cute as a button girlfriend like you to come back to."
Before anyone could react, Rose at the exchange station did a spit take with her coffee. But soon, Eina reacted the same as Bell, with a violent blush.
"Na-" Bell was cut off.
She turned to Bell "I see why you are so adamant to see her before and after the dungeon, who wouldn't." Eina was about to overheat, while Bell just stood staring at Naaza with his mouth open, blushing all the same.
Rose was off in the distance now trying her best not to bust a gut laughing.
The Guild Hall was filled that midday with the sounds of what one would think were arguing siblings and an embarrassed attendant.
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After his devastating visit with Eina, Bell had made his way home. Upon arriving, he found a note saying that Hestia had run off to a 'Banquet of the Gods' and brought Trje along with her.
'Maybe she wants to show him off to her friends?'
Bell was left with a decision to make, prepare his own food, or to go to the Hostess, in the end, he chose the Hostess.
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Bell sat in his regular seat in the corner of the pub, and as usual, Ryuu sat beside him. Normally she'd be allowed to because the evening was slowing down, but on this occasion, it was a few hours before the rush would start.
"Ugh… Ryuu, how do I even face her again…" Bell sat with his chin on the counter.
Once Bell had been seated, he was finally able to fully comprehend what Naaza had done just a few hours ago.
'All this trouble from her (Naaza) going to post some quests.'
"Perhaps you should act as normal." Ryuu was maintaining her calm demeanor, but was quietly fidgeting in self inflicted embarrassment, thinking of her being in Eina's position..
They sat in light silence while Bell suffered internally.
Ryuu turned to Bell. "So, why are you here so early?"
He lifted his head but remained slouching. "Oh, I fought a minotaur today." Bell found it suspicious when he didn't hear a response, then realised what he'd said and to who. A clatter was heard when Ryuus fork hit the ground, not only that, but a small "Huh?!" was heard from Mama Mia.
"You. did. what?" Ryuu spoke in a low and slow tone, while Bell began to sweat bullets. "Explain. Now."
"Uh-" Bell squeaked, just before Ryuu slammed her hand on the counter, making Bell almost fall off the stool.
"I WAS ON THE FIFTH FLOOR, I don't know how but I was on the Fifth Floor!" Bell had his hands up in a defensive manner.
Ryuu was taken aback at that. "The Fifth… How?"
"I don't know, that's part of why I was meeting with Eina!" Bell was relieved to not have Ryuu at his throat.
She didn't say anything after, only sitting in contemplation.
'The only way it could have gotten there is if it had come all the way from the Fifteenth Floor, but such a distance...?'
"Is it still down there?" Ryuu asked.
"No, another adventurer came along chasing it."
"Good."
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The pair finished their food shortly after Ryuu had gotten a clean fork.
Switching to lighter, more comfortable topics. Bell was quite proud to inform her that he had been okayed for the Fifth Floor, which Bell realised he'd told her when talking about the 'incident'.
They made plans to study as they always did when he progressed a Floor.
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Bell was happy and full after he and Ryuu were finished, he had been tempted to try a new menu option, only to get the same order of spaghetti like normal.
The sun began turning the first shades of orange while Bell gathered his money. The pub was starting to get it's first adventurers of the night, Ryuu needed to get to work, but first she awaited the payment from Bell.
The doors opened and in walked a band of merry misfits turned family.
The Loki Familia Executives had arrived.
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At first, Bell only looked on in curiosity from the back corner with Ryuu, until his eyes landed on an emerald haired Elf near the front of the pack.
Bell felt a tinge of panic in him as he watched her follow the short red head in front of her, who was acting rather rambunctious already.
He was about to release the money into the waiting hands of Ryuu, when a head of golden locks came into view.
Bell's eyes widened, losing his breath when he saw her face for the first time.
Ryuu leaned around to see what caused him to stop. "Is there something wrong with the Sword Princess?"
"...S-Sword Princess..." To Bell, air began to feel heavier
"Yes, the Sword Princess, Ais Wallenstein."
Bell's hand slacked, dropping the money into Ryuu's . "...Ais...?"
Ryuu was growing concerned, but with money in hand, she moved behind the counter towards the safebox.
Bell was staring, lost in the sheer existence of the person before him, casually sitting as though nothing was wrong.
'...Ais…'
He stood transfixed until all rationality finally left him, as he saw Riveria notice him from beside her.
Bell dashed for the door, hearing several sets of feet just as suddenly run after him, but stop just outside the door.
He ran all the way to the dungeon, never stopping.
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A cool breeze hit his face.
'Why… Why…'
Bell felt a warm splash on his hand.
'It can't be…'
He slashed, not losing pace.
'How… There's no way…'
He moved erratically.
'They told me they died… She died...'
Something snapped when he hit.
'I looked for years…'
A cold chill ran over him when it missed.
'How did I not find her…'
His eardrums threatened to burst from his agitated pulse. Bell knew not where he was, but only that he was confused. Everything was perfect, he had a family again, friends, for truly the first time in a millennium, he felt happy.
'How long has she been here…'
He sat down for the first time since the Hostess.
'I could've been protecting her this whole time…'
'Can I protect her…?'
Bell could feel heat from his back.
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Riveria stood just outside the doors of the 'Hostess of Fertility' besides a shorted blond Elf.
'He ran again…' Riveria was pouting slightly. 'He looked like he'd been scared to death.'
'Maybe I really am scary.'
Riveria stood there looking down a relatively empty street leading towards Babel, she was slouching a bit, before a red-headed headache on legs hollered at her from the pub's entrance.
"Oye, Mama, what just happened?" Riveria made an effort not to throw something at her, it helped that she didn't have anything to throw.
"Lady Riveria." She turned her head to the shorter Elven waitress, nodding to her to go on. "My apologies, but do you know why he did that?"
Riveria took a moment, before a look of sadness leaked into her eyes. "Am I scary?" Her voice was shaking a bit in worry.
Sadly for Ryuu, Riveria's question would not only catch herself off guard, but the goddess standing in the doorway as well, causing her to drop her full mug of ale onto the entryway down the stairs.
Ryuu, distracted by the falling mug, recalled the Hostesses' active policy of 'you see it, you clean it.' and immediately scowled at the bewildered goddess.
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Now back inside, Riveria sat still in her seat, bringing looks of concern from those sitting beside her.
"Oh, cheer up lass, I'm sure the boy isn't scared of ye." Gareth was trying his best, sitting beside her.
Riveria had calmed down, she was a mature woman after all, but also had just experienced a moment of weakness. It kind of hurt though, having seen him twice in the same day, and not even being able to say a proper hello.
Loki decided to pipe in. "Maybe you intimidate him." Those involved in the conversation, Garethe, Finn and Riveria looked to her, the other executives having their own talks.
"Perhaps." Finn spoke. "It's definitely possible with you being a level six, and not to slander the poor boy, but I don't think I recognised him."
They all sat in contemplative silence, before the slamming of a mug was heard.
"Ah! Than-!" Loki's words were caught in her throat when she saw the look on the Elfs face who brought her the ale, that being Ryuu, whose hands still smelled of the soapy water she used to clean the stairs.
"Ah, Miss Ryuu." Riveria stole her attention, knowing her name from years of coming to the pub. "Do you know that boy from just a bit ago?"
Ryuu nodded. "Bell Cranel, and to confirm your suspicions, yes, he's a level one, he's been at it for about two weeks now."
The others were passive in their responses, but Riveria was shocked.
"Wait? The Fifth Floor, after only two weeks?!" Riveria, being the only one of the four to know how high up the minotaur got.
The other three suddenly understood and joined Riveria in surprise.
"Yes, Bell is moving rather fast for an adventurer." Ryuu said, the corner of her mouth arching up.
"How, if I may ask, did he pull that off?" Gareth asked.
"Unfortunately, even if I did know, I wouldn't tell you, he deserves his privacy after all."
Gareth only then caught his mistake. "Oh of course, forgive me miss, I'll wait to ask the lad myself, should I get the chance."
Loki picked up her ale. "So what Familia is this 'Bell Cranel' in anyways?" She started to drink.
"The Hestia Familia." Ryuu said bluntly, not realizing the relationship between the two gods.
Loki nearly did a spit take, but forced the dry liquid down, coughing after. "You've-*cough* Got to be kidding me, the-*cough-cough* Shrimp caught someone like that?! How?"
Ryuu had no answer, but bid them goodbye as she had duties to attend to.
"Ehh, No sense in wondering when we'll probably never know, bottoms up." Loki raised her mug, tipping it back more and more till it emptied.
"Mama! Another!" Loki hollered.
Riveria wasn't about to let her. "No, you have things to do later."
"Like what?" Loki questioned.
"Like the banquet of the gods, later tonight." Riveria looked upon Loki, as she slowly sank into the chair. "Let me guess, you were planning to skip it, weren't you."
Loki refused to make eye contact.
"You're going." Riveria said.
"Why do I gotta?!" Loki pouted.
"Because you are the face of our Familia, and we happen to be the number two seat in case you've forgotten, so you're going, AND you're cut off."
Loki's eyes bulged. "WHAT! This is cruelty!" Riveria didn't care, she simply sat eyes closed, with her arms crossed.
'I think I see why he was so scared now…" Loki had attempted to speak under her breath, but unfortunately, the ears of a level six adventurer were enhanced greatly, and Loki would suffer greatly.
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Trje rested on Hestia's lap as she lazed on a couch off to the side of the large room. She had already eaten her fill, but contemplated taking some home so Bell could try them. She loved the look on his face when he tried something new.
That idea was quickly abandoned since she had plans for the evening, should she achieve her goal.
Hestia was patiently waiting for her long time friend Hephistus to show, passing the time by playing and feeding Trje, glowing with happiness the whole time, though a bit nervous.
"Good evening Hestia."
Hestia raised her head in surprise, having not noticed the approaching god or goddess, even more so when she saw the goddess of love and war standing right infront of her.
"H-Hello Freya."
Freya smiled. "May I sit?"
"Ah, yes, of course." Hestia scooted a bit to the left.
Freya sat down. "That's quite the adorable little one you have there isn't he."
Hestia lost her sense of surprise instantly, overcome with overwhelming happiness to get to talk about her 'second child'. "He's just a big fluffer ball, and Bell's first sibling."
Hestia Held him up just below his front legs, dangling while she swung him gently, Trje not caring. Before setting him back on her lap, only to jump onto the couch between the two.
Freya raised a hand to touch him, with Trje meeting her hand, rubbing his face against her. Freya swooned, loving the attention she received. "What's his name?"
"Trjegul, but we call him Trje." Freya looked up from him, slightly surprised. "Don't ask why, my child, Bell, named him."
Freya was practically beaming with the size of her smile, finding the name to be touching in her own special way. "Lovely."
But before long, a tick, in Hestia's own words, arrived.
"Oh, Freya~!"
Being too distracted with Trje, Hestia was the one to acknowledge Loki.
She was short. "What are you doing here Loki?"
"Can it shrimp, I just came to see Fre-..." Loki turned to see Freya, or more importantly her dress for the first time that night. "Freya… Whatcha wearin."
Hestia looked, not having had any interest before, but Freya was wearing something definitely odd, specifically for her that is.
She wore a light grey dress consisting of a top which hugged her snugly, but wasn't tight. Her shoulders and collarbone were exposed, crossing her aforementioned shoulders by the neck to meet the dress again, covering most of her back. Next, the skirt of the dress went down to her ankles, with a slit up to just above her left knee.
Freya looked herself over, then back to Loki. "What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing-nothing, it's just the most conservative I've ever seen you dress before."
"Hm, perhaps." Freya assessed her clothing further, before returning to Trje who was swatting playfully at Freya's hand.
"Ah, this is weird, I'm out, where's the booze?" Loki walked off, shouting a bit on the last part.
"What's wrong with her?" A second red head appeared.
"Hephaestus!" Hestia jumped up.
"Hello Hestia." She sipped her cocktail.
"I need your help."
"No." Hestia flinched hard.
"But you don't even know what I need your help with!"
Hephaestus sighed. "I'm not giving you money."
"I don't want money!"
Hephaestus was reluctant, but gave her a chance. "What then."
"I need you to make a weapon."
"Forget it." She was turning to leave, before Hestia grabbed onto her arm.
"Please, it's for my child, Bell, he's getting stronger, fast, TOO fast." Freya started listening, not leaving Trje. "I'm worried about him, can you atleast hear me out?"
Hephaestus was upset she was asking for something, but Hestia was her friend, and she was nothing if not reasonable.
Hephaestus sighed, sounding irritated. "Fine." Hestia beamed. "Come along, we'll talk in private."
Hestia quickly turned towards the couch, meeting the eyes of Freya. "You can leave him with me." Freya picked Trje up. Hestia nooded, then began following Hephaestus.
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The two Goddesses made their way into a nearby hallway, some ways from the main banquet.
"So, what's the deal with the kid?" Hephaestus wasn't really in the mood, but she knew what it was like to have a trouble maker.
Hestia looked down a bit, lost in thought as she tried to sort her coming words.
"He's not progressing normally." She began. "It's only been two weeks and he's already up to 'G' on all his stats. I've never heard of anyone doing that before."
Hephaestus Though for a moment. "Hmm, maybe his Falna is trying to catch up to his Excelia, did he do much before joining up with you?"
Hestia listened carefully, before thinking. "Yes, he's always telling me about things from before he came to Orario."
"That's it then, typically one's Falna is constrained by their experiences, but if he's already got it, then he should grow faster than normal." Hephaestus was happy with that answer, but something didn't sit right. "But all the way to 'G'? Are you sure?"
Hestia nodded. "And he's not slowing down either…" She looked increasingly worried.
Hephaestus fought with herself, wanting to help her friend, knowing the pain of worrying for her own children's future, but also knowing that Hestia needed to deal with the cards she was dealt.
Eventually though, her softer side prevailed.
She sighed heavily. "Fine, I'll help, but we need to get started as soon as possible." Hestia's smile brightened up the entire hallway. "Go get your cat." Hestia nodded so fast, her head almost flew off.
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Loki was on her way home from the banquet, when she suddenly remembered something.
"Damn it! I forgot to ask that pip-squeak about her kid! And that Riveria asked for him to come by and see her! She's gonna kill me!"
Loki would walk the long way home, in order to prepare herself for the potential torment.
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It was the early morning as the sun's orange beams made their first showing, illuminating the clouds above and Babel, but not the city itself.
Eina was naturally the first to arrive at the guild, wanting to organize her schedule for the day before relieving the night shift. Her hand now slick with dew from the door handle.
She didn't open the door though, something in the back of her head was stopping her, she felt an irrational urge to turn around, so she did.
Eina found a sight which would be burned into her memory forever.
Bell, stumbling as he walked soaked clear down his right side in blood, both his and not, jacket in tatters or outright gone.
But that's not what shook her to her core, it was his face.
Splattered in blood, his face held a gentle smile, and eyes filled with an unfamiliar type of relief.
Still holding his injured right arm, he spoke gently to the shocked Half Elf.
"I'm back, Eina."
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A/N
Hello again!
Most of you probably noticed I spliced a few events together, that being the day Bell goes to the Dungeon after the Hostess incident, and the Banquet of the gods.
The reasoning for this is that there is none, I kind of just did it, no real reason other than I thought it would be cool and interesting, I guess.
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This chapter was originally supposed to have the start of Monsterphilia, however I felt the last scene should end the chapter, so I pushed it to the opening of the next.
Either way, it gave me the opportunity to try out writing for Riveria, I had been feeling like she should show up already, so I hope nothing felt to forced.
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Thank you all for giving me this piece of your day! I hope I made it worth it!
My best to you all!