A/N: Another take of "What If?"
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White Frost
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My body falls to the ground as cold and fatigue finally win over my body and my spirit. The only thing I am gladful is the fact that my fall was cushioned by the thick snow in this place, though it was not much as it only made my cold worse.
I wonder how I got to this situation. Did perhaps I do something unforgivable in my past life that the gods curse me in this new life.
I snicker, but it was cut short as the pain in my chest forces me to violently cough.
If my twin, Alfia, heard this thought, she probably would agree. Well … she probably, no, she will settle in the part where the gods curse us and not the part where I'm doing something worth for this penance. I don't even need to imagine it as the memory of the past flows into my mind. The tip of my lips twitches upward as the memory of that time plays in my mind.
"Oh, sister," a soft and ragged voice escaped from my lips and formed a white cloud. "I should listen to you."
I remember how she would argue, quite adamantly, that it was not my fault but it was her fault that I was born this way. It was her that took all my talent, my life, and cursed me into this state. Or so she said. But really, sometimes she takes the role of an older sister too seriously even though she was only born five minutes earlier than me.
Now that I think about it, the reason why I'm here, far from home in the wilderness that I'm sure is no were near Orario, is because I didn't follow her word. but is that wrong? I just want to help. I know that between the two of us you are always the stubborn one, claiming you are the healthy one even though both of us have the same sickness. Seriously sister, I know you feel the same pain as I do no matter how good you think you hide it. In fact, I know it was much worse as you force yourself to work.
"Hah." another white plump escapes from my lips as I sigh, "Oh, Alfia …why do you think you can hide it from your own sister."
It sweet sister, it truly is, but you need to stop treating me like every small push will break me like glass and let me help you. Let me take half the burden, you are my sister, how can I sit in that room, doing nothing but watching you do all the work while the sickness slowly crushes your body. You are my sister, the only family that I have. If you are gone then I will be truly alone in this world.
After begging her day and night, she finally relents. I was happy. Finally, I would not be a burden anymore. or that's what It should be. Instead, I was kidnapped.
Alfia was right, you should not trust someone with shady clothes. But to be fair, we are living in a slump, everyone here wearing shady clothes. So, should it be my fault to fall for those guys? I mean they say they going to help. It's not my fault when they suddenly tied me up, gag me and throw me into a box. How am I supposed to know that?!
After that, they threw me into a wagon, and when I realized it, I was far away from home. I never go too far from my home, let alone go outside the city. So despite everything, this new experience makes me very excited. Sister always says that my head is only full of flowers and never understand the real world. But that's not true, I know that not everything is always happy and sunshine. I just don't like to keep mulling over everything that we don't have and just think about what we already have and always see the bright side.
Yes, sister, I'm the naive one, while you become the cynical one
I sigh, "What even am I doing?" I slowly murmur.
I realize that I starting to ramble, maybe because I'm too tired. But I feel like if I give up, close my eyes, and embrace the sweet darkness that keeps bagging me to come, I know I won't be able to open them again.
So I push my body, but … it looks like I'm really at my end.
Darkness starts to claim my mind.
"I'm sorry … sister."
But before I embrace the darkness and cross the river of Styx, I heard something in the distance.
"Hey, are you alright!" Someone shouts at me.
I struggle to turn my head, but I can hear the crunching sound of the snow as he becomes closer to me. When I finally manage to look at him, I was great by his piercing red-ruby eyes, handsome face, and snow-white hair.
"You okay?" The man said as he start to check my body. His beautiful voice rang through my body.
While my head starts to form a word of gratitude, it appears that my mouth is having her own mind as the word that comes out will haunt me for the rest of my life.
"You have a beautiful face, sir."
The man stops what he doing. He look straight into my eyes and smiled, or maybe he was trying to hold his laughter. Whichever it is, one thing is clear.
I want to marry you.
When I see his eyes comically widen, I realize I was saying it out loud. But to be honest I don't care, because if I manage to wake up once more, I will do just that.
He open his mouth, trying to say something but I never heard it as the darkness finally claim my body.
And I fall to sleep.
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"Don't let them get to the upper floors!" is what I heard as my feet kicked the ground beneath and my body launched as fast as the wind itself.
Faster, is the only thing in my mind as I cut the nearest Minotaur in half. Saving the adventure that almost gets killed.
"T-Thank you," he stutters as he conveys his thanks.
I nod before moving away to the next target. Soon Bete joins me. He kicks the nearest Minotaur in the head. Its head twists in a wrong way before falling to the ground and exploding into a cloud of dust and Exelia with all is left is its magic stone.
The rest of the Minotaurs roar in fear as they run away from them. Each enters a different tunnel, hoping they can get away from this 'monster' and find more easy prey to kill.
"Tch," Bete clicks his tongue after killing his target, "They split up! Ais! Ya take the front, I will take the left!"
Giving him a nod of affirmation, we soon split into our own way. As I dash through the tunnel I heard a scream and roar.
"GREAAA!"
"UWAAA!"
'Oh no! someone is in danger!' I thought. Not wanting something to happen to those adventures, I began to chant my spell.
"[Tempest!]"
As the spell spilled from my lips, the magic started to take form. The wind answers my call and starts to gather around me, boosting my power, but more importantly, increasing my speed.
With my new speed, I dash forward faster than before. Dashing through the unwinding tunnel I finally arrive. There in front of me, I can see the Minotaur's silhouette. I raise my sword, intending to cut the monster as soon as possible
*Klang*
But instead of hitting the monster's body, my blade hit another sword.
Sparks fly as the two blades hit each other.
My eyes widen from the unexpected event. I take a few steps back and reposition myself to get a better defensive position and a better few. I take a closer look at the man in front of me as I raise my sword toward him.
White. Perhaps it was not the best way to describe someone. But somehow I feel like everything about him can be related to the color of white. His white hair, which I'm pretty sure is not related to his age, looks so soft as it sways gently from the slight movement of his head. His armor also has the color white as its base color, with some dark and golden lines here and there. And his unique red ruby eyes, which are currently glaring at me, make him really stand out from many people that I know. Though his eyes currently look cold and sharp, they remind me of a bunny doll that I used to have. I wonder how nice it would be if he looks warmly at me with those same eyes, I can imagine how he does it only makes him look cuter and reminds me of a snow rabbit.
… that last part makes me pause.
'Wh-What is that! Where did that thought come from!?' I can feel my face start to become red, not to mention the mini-me inside my head looks like she just wants the ground to open up and swallow her. Which is quite dangerous considering we are inside a Dungeon. But considering the situation, I can agree with mini-me as it will be easier than dealing with whatever is currently happening in my head.
But the question remains. Why does he look so tense?
Looking around I find the last three remaining Minotaurs have become a statue. Their body freezes as if time halts to its place while their body is covered in a thin layer of ice. These monsters have a position around the three novice adventurers, one even has its arms raised as if it is going to pummel them down. The reason I know they are novices is because they are still using the armor issued by the Guild. They look tired, and one of them looks heavily injured as he grabs his left hand.
I blink at that. Looking at them again I realize, the man in front of me is currently protecting them. My eyes widened as I realized what happened.
'Oh, no!' "Mm, are you –"
"Are you the one that is responsible for this?" But before I can ask about their condition, the man in front of me speaks first. His tone was cold and accusing.
I was shocked by his accusation.
'N-no! This was a misunderstanding! Older me, you need to fix this!' Inside my head, a mini-Aiz started to shake my imaginary body and tell me to clear up this misunderstanding.
"N-no! Its–"
"I heard that here, there is a thing called 'Pass Parade'." He raises his sword, "Is this one of them?" Again the man in front of me cut my word before I could explain.
'No! No! No! Somehow it becomes worse than before! You need to quickly fix this!' Inside my head, mini-Aiz is now begging me to fix this misunderstanding before it gets worse than there is.
I shake my head and open my mouth, "N-No! This–"
But once again, I never finished my words as another figure flew past me and kicked him hard enough that his body flew backward. His body skidded a few meters to the back before ice formed in his feet, stopping him from crass to the wall.
Someone stood beside me, and it was Bete.
"Ais, you okay?" He asks, his voice growls a little while his eyes still focus on the white hair Adventure.
'Ahhh! Bete you idiot!' It was the first thing that cross my mind the moment my eyes landed on him.
"Guh, your friend huh." Said the white-haired adventurer as he managed to hold against the level 6.
Seeing how he uses his power I can't help to wonder, 'What level are you?'
"Yeah, I'm her friend! Now, who the f*ck are you?"
His eyes narrow dangerously "I ask again," the air seems, no, it becomes colder as he begins to talk, "Are you guys the one that caused the Minotaurs on the top floor?"
"If so, why is it a problem for you, huh?" Bete snarled as he answered.
'Bete!'
"Did you not realize, that your action can bring danger to many people?" To prove his point he gestures to the three novice adventurers on his back.
Bete glances at them for a moment and his face looks annoyed. At that moment, I knew exactly what he was going to say. And it was not good.
"Hah, so what? It's normal for the weak to die."
'Dear Loki! Bete! stop it!'
"So you have no disregard for the life of these 'weak' people."
"Yeah, you got a problem with that?" Bete said with his usual snark comment.
'I swear, in the name of Loki, Bete! I'm going to punch you!'
"I see," said the white-hair adventurer with a nod as he made up his mind. He brandished his sword at us. "Please don't resist while I bring you both to the Ganesha Familia."
"hah," the look on Bete's face conveys what he thought about the white hair Adventures in front of him. "and why the hell are we going to do that?" Bete mockingly said while his body dropped in preparation to attack him.
The air becomes colder and colder. Ice forms around us, coating the entire Dungeon with a thin layer of ice while white clouds come from our breath.
'I need to stop this!' I thought as I start to form a plan.
But a moment before Bete and the white-hair guy start their deadly dance another voice breaks the tension.
"What's going on here?"
It was our captain, Finn, that break the tension. He calmly walked toward us and stood beside me. Then Riveria and Gareth also come in, I can also hear that the rest of the group is starting to get close.
For a moment there was a silence as the white-hair adventure looked at us. Finn looked around and with a nod, I know that he understood what was going on here. He looked toward the white-hair adventure with his signature smile and said, "I think there is a slight misunderstanding here."
"Misunderstanding?"
"Yes"
"Your friend claims differently."
"I assure you, he doesn't mean it, it was an accident." Finn give a side glance toward Bete and silently told him to back off. Bete who catches that look only can grumble as he does what he says.
"Accident? So you want to say herding a group of Minotaurs, a monster that came from floor 16 to the fifth floor, is an accident?"
"Yes, it was our blunder to let these monsters escape to the upper floors." Finn smiles, "We, from Loki Familia, will take responsibility for this. Can you give me your name and which Familia you came from, so we can send you the compensation?"
"It's not me…" The white-hair adventure quietly said.
"Sorry?"
"You should say it to them, not me," He pointed toward the three novice Adventures.
"Ah, my apologies," Finn turned toward the novice adventures, "I'm sorry for making you guys experience this, let me compensate for this incident."
The three of them can only nod as they watched, too shocked to react. But the white hair adventures looked still dissatisfied.
"How will I know that you will hold your word?"
"I will make sure the guild knows about this so you can ask them afterward."
Both Finn and the white hair adventure stare at each other eyes, waiting for each other reaction.
Finally, he sheath back his sword. With a click sound, the sword is secure in its place and at the same time all the ice around, including the frozen monster, breaks, and cracks like a piece of glass, leaving nothing but a small puddle of water here and there which the Dungeon quickly absorb and three magic stones lying on the ground.
He turns and picks up the three magic stones and gives them to one of the novice adventurers.
"Ah, this, I don't think we–"
They clearly have trouble with his action and want to politely decline, but the man cut them first.
"No, it was yours!" he said firmly.
The three of them can only nod and said, "Thank you."
The man turned back toward us and said, "I hope you keep your promise, Loki Familia."
"I swear in Loki's name. But, can I ask for your name?" Finn said while keeping his smile.
"Bell," He simply said as he turn around and walk away.
"Tch, who did he think he is!" Bete said after the men, no, Bell was gone.
"... Bete …" I quietly said as I stand in front of him.
"What is it A–GUHHH!" He never finishes his word as I throw a punch as hard as possible at his solar plexus.
The other members can only watch and gasped because of my sudden action, and I know that Finn will later scold me for my action. But to be honest, I don't care and I fill pleased as I watched Bete fall to the ground, grunting and clutching his body.
"Bete," I began, and while there is no ice that forms as I speak, I can feel my voice is as cold as if there is, "You idiot."
I turn around, leaving the stupid dog squirming on the ground.
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A/N:
… I fill motivated.
You know, there are a lot of stories here. But why isn't there a story about Bell as a Half-Spirit! I mean, come on guys, it's right there! We have Ais, so why can't we have Bell as one as well!
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Maybe if pray hard –loud– enough, some of them will answer my prayer and give us the story we –I– want.
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I mean sure we have Great Spirit of the Skies by Suahtloh, (go read it, it's good) but the story just feels so deus ex machina, I mean literally, Bell just basically just becomes a demigod minus the part where Zeus rape some random girl.
So that's the reason I write this. What if Bell, is a half-spirit just like Ais.
So that's the first step. The second one is, what kind of half-spirit is he? So I make the easiest choice. Because of his white hair, I choose something that is still in theme with it, namely snow and ice. So after that, we just need the spirit, and two names come to my mind.
Jack Frost. The personification/spirit of winter, ice, and snow; and
Yuki-onna. The spirit/Yokai from Japanese folklore with her association with snow and blizzard.
So that's the choice. In the end, I choose Jack because I just don't like the "Supporter" and want to add some father figure in Bell's life. I also make Bell older, so he's 17 rather than 14.
So how about the plot? Well, I was thinking something that is almost the same with Ais's back story. Happy family, a dragon comes in, and now Bell has thirsted for vengeance. A wandering Familia found him, after years of training and hunting monsters on the surface, Bell finally find its limit. Realizing this, He and his Familia go to Orario. And that's where the story begins.
Now for the gods. In the original, Bell gets Hestia as his goddess. This is fine considering she is a goddess of the hearth, the family, and the home, and Bell just lost his Grandpa, the last of his family, so he probably needs a home. Here, however, we need it to be more thematic to the story. So, it either:
Goddess Nemesis, the Goddess of retribution from Greek mythology. Because of, you know, the whole vengeance thing.
Gods Víðarr, the god among the Æsir associated with a vengeance. This also will make an interesting story considering it was also Bete's previous gods before he leave the city.
Goddess Morrigan, the goddess of death, destiny, and battle. Because of, come on, you see her domain. And also because of the story of her and Cú Chulainn, you know, doomed himself to glory and fame at the cost of a very short life.
Yeah, this fic is a tragedy.
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… So that's the idea.
Don't know if I want to make this a full-fledge story so I dumped it here.
Hopely this will motivate someone to make one … or maybe just me, I don't know, still waiting for the Muses to give their blessing.
Okay bye.
