Authors Note1: Everyone trust me, I feel as sad about Ryu as you do. And I feel bad that I had to write this...but for it to be realistic it had to be done, since I don´t believe that the girls would be happy to be part of a harem...even though I write a harem story with Bell on the side...(the naughty one).
.
.
.
.
.
Augh...I can´t...move...
Bell groaned, slowly drifting from asleep to be awake. It was the fourth day of that truly hellish training, even with the constant healing and use of potions, his whole body hurt. At least he got a delivery from Naza and another one from Fels. .
.
.
Naza was truly a genious when it came to making potions, she was probably the best potion maker in all of Orario now, her potions came together with a note.
Hey Bell.
I created a few new potions that might help you, I added a few ingredients that prevent potion poisoning.
Oh by the way, I have reached level three now!
Lord Miach praised me so much.
Good luck with your training, I´m rooting for you.
Oh and there are a few potions in there that will not heal you, but give your body vitamins and other things it needs to work, I guessed you don´t have much time to eat.
.
And the delivery from Fels was something that helped him with his enormous headache, due to overuse of poison. It was a stone that looked a bit weird, but came with an explanation.
Bell Cranel.
Since you are fighting continuous, I send you this Bezoar to help you.
When you use too many potions in a short time, your body slowly gets poisoned.
It isn´t meant for the body of an adventurer, especially a human body to go so far.
Put this stone into your mouth and wait around five minutes, it will neutralize the poison in your body.
.
The stone didn´t only looked weird, it tasted weird too, but it really helped Bell. His headache vanished mostly, but he had to use the stone every day, twice.
One time Riveria had watched the fights, when Bell was down on one knee and gritted his teeth, a fierce look in his eyes while he pushed against Tiona´s enormous sword. She didn´t liked what she saw, the training was brutal...nothing that any adventurer should go through. But this training wasn´t meant for an adventurer, it had nothing to do with the dangers and joys of an adventure, to see unknown things and unknown places.
Bell had to get as strong as possible in a short time, but Riveria was still worried. It wasn´t good for his body what they did, at least they used any option possible to lower the burden of his body.
Ais didn´t looked much better, but she had the advantage of an higher level. But what Riveria really was amazed about, was Bell´s adamant mind, he didn´t asked them to stop even once...not even when two of his fingers broke during the fight. Whenever he was staggering...one look to Ais was enough to get him back into the fight.
He loves her so much...
Riveria was happy that Ais had found such a good body...or rather good young man for her.
One time Bell was about to collapse, they had stopped the fight for a moment, his eyes were out of focus. He hadn´t reacted when they spoke to him, just turning his head into various directions, confused. That´s when Ais gently took his hand, turned his face towards her with her other hand and...kissed him...in front of the others. Riveria was more embarrassed than the others, Tione and Tiona had squeaked in joy. The change was dramatic, Bell´s confusion had stopped and his eyes focussed again.
"Ais..."
"Bell...fight."
It was like a fire was rekindled inside Bell, no one knew that he had longed for a long time to hear these words from Ais. After getting healed they continued to fight, it was very clear for Riveria...Bell fought for Ais...for their love.
Like a knight...fighting for his princess.
.
Bell groaned again while he slowly woke up...it felt like a weight was pressing down on him.
It feels...heavy...
But also...heavenly soft...
Blinking, Bell opened his eyes, he could see the ceiling of Ais´ room above him, it seemed to be early morning.
What is th-
When Bell lowered his eyes, he saw familiar blond hair. Now he heard soft breathing next to his own...and felt the soft, warm body on top of his own. The body of the girl he admired so much...he loved so much...his girlfriend.
Ais...
She had pretty fast developed the habit of crawling on top of Bell in her sleep, it was just too comfortable for her to sleep snuggled up to him...or on top. Not that Bell was complaining...he just thought it would take a much longer time for him and his girlfriend to do something like that.
"Mmmmh..." Ais moved her face a bit, she had burried it in Bell´s neck, like most of the nights.
Ah...what a wonderful sight to wake up to...
Bell´s arms were put around Ais, like her arms were around him. Whenever Ais crawled half asleep on top of Bell, his body reacted on its own and they hugged each other.
"Mmmh...Bell..."
Her head moved and soon he saw her face, she had her eyes halfway opened but it didn´t looked like she was awake.
"Ais?"
"Mmmh." She pursed her lips and closed her eyes again, her arms squeezed him lightly, he had learned pretty fast what that meant.
Ehe...too cute...
Bell kissed her, both were still half asleep, Ais purred happily for a moment, before she burried her face into Bell´s neck again and fell asleep.
I´m so tired...ah...what...ev...er...
He closed his eyes too and both continued to sleep, Bell only lightly adjusted the blanket on them. They were so tired that they needed the sleep, the one who wanted to wake them up later when they didn´t reacted to knocking on the door, was Riveria.
She carefully opened the door and looked inside...and nearly fainted when she saw Ais lying on top of Bell. Ais´ shirt had slipped down a bit and revealed her shoulder, due to the blanket and Ais wearing short pants for sleeping with Bell, it looked for Riveria like they were sleeping naked, since Ais´right naked leg peeked out from under the covers...that was too much for her.
My little girl...ha...as long as...she is...happy...
Riveria´s maternal instincts were strong...but she also feared one of "her girls" growing up.
.
.
"Bell...have a safe trip."
"Thank you, I will be back soon."
"Don´t make me wait too long..." Ais looked at him with puppy eyes, she noticed instinctively that Bell was weak against her puppy eyes...and she would use that in the future to get what she wanted...mostly potato snacks...even when Bell would´ve bought them for her anyway...
.
.
Even the amazon twins were a bit embarrassed how cute these two looked together...and how they acted. When they had fought against Bell and Ais, Tione had knocked Bell out by accident. Before someone could react, Ais had jumped to Bell and placed her thighs under his head, giving him a lap pillow before his body hit the ground.
"Ahm Ais...what are you doing?" Tiona had looked confusied.
"Hm?" She looked up to both sisters, then down to Bell. "A...lap pillow?"
"But why...we are in training."
"I always do that during training when Bell gets knocked out."
"But Ais...this isn´t your usual training..."
"Geh!" She looked shocked, Ais had forgotten it and her body had moved by instinct...
With a deep red face, Ais got up and they used healing magic and a potion on Bell to get him back to his feet. While he stood up, Bell wondered why the twins were smirking and Ais blushing strongly.
It wasn´t the last time during the training that one of them got embarrassed. Riveria watched the fights some times and one time Tiona moved too fast and broke Bell´s balance. He staggered to the side, right into Ais´ direction, who had her arms raised to block Tione´s weapons with her sword.
"Wuah!"
Bell couldn´t stop himself and slammed into Ais, not hard enough to break her stand...but his face...or more his lips...were pressed into her light sweaty armpit... He couldn´t help but notice her wonderful scent...
But when he breathed in...his lips pressed into her armpit...
"Aaahn!"
Ais didn´t knew where it came from...but she made a sound when Bell did that. Tione, Tiona and Riveria all blushed by that noise from Ais...never had they heard something like that from their beloved airhead.
"B-B-Bell Cranel! What are you doing?!" Riveria rushed forward to "save" Ais.
"Ah, S-sorry! It wasn´t on purpose!"
While Bell moved away from Ais, she lowered her arms hastily, wrapped her arms around her shoulders and looked at Bell with a very flustered face. What was embarrassing for Ais and what was not, was a bit off when it came to Bell. While she had no problem to hug him without her shirt or doing what she did in the bathroom...she got embarrassed when he touched her armpit with his face. In the past...well and in present times...when Loki tried to see or touch Ais´ naked skin, she slapped her or threw her around...but Bell was different...Bell was...Ais´ special someone.
All these little accidents during the harsh training were precious memories for both of them. Still...some of the accidents were done on purpose by the amazon twins when only the four of them were at the training place. Like when Tiona circled around Bell to make sure he looked into Ais´ direction, then Tione kicked up and "accidentely" flipped up Ais´ skirt.
To see these two act so embarrassed about that, let the sisters laugh in joy. They would always remember how Ais squealed, dropped her weapon and pulled down her skirt...and how Bell averted his face in panic.
"Bell...did you..see?..."
"N-No! I didn´t see any blue horizontal stripes, I swear!"
"Mmmmmh!"
.
.
.
Bell walked through the streets in the direction of Babel, today was the day that Hephaistos had told him to come. He didn´t needed to glance over his shoulder to notice the shadows moving on the rooftops. They didn´t belonged to the Loki Familia, but the Hermes and Ganesha Familias. He didn´t knew it, but the executives of the Familias had talked, it would be better if Bell was watched and "guarded" by the other Familias, or it would look like the two big Familias of Orario really wanted to go to war. Some people looked at Bell, the word had got around that a big duel would be fought. The gods always searched for entertainment and the people of the city weren´t different. It would become a show like a Monster Filia, many people looked forward to see strong adventurers fight to their full potential.
And some crueler people...desired to see one of them die, especially the well known adventurers. Some people didn´t liked or rather hated the Loki Familia, they they blamed them for things that happened to them in the dungeon, that they farmed all the lucrative monsters. And they were many people in the city that hated Bell...because he was everything they would never be...and they thought he had cheated to become so strong so fast. Of course these people could start to look for their mistakes by themself...but it was easier to blame Bell.
He couldn´t really enjoy the warm sun, not because his body hurt, but Bell was really nervous about the duel...even frightened a bit. If they wouldn´t give their all, they might lose...might die. While he walked, Bell thought about what had happened yesterday during the training, a skill of him had shown it´s effect for the first time.
.
It was Tiona´s and Tione´s time again to train with them. Tiona used her Urga to fight to her full potential with Ais, and Tione attacked Bell merciless. Fighting against the twins was harder for Bell than to fight Bete and Finn. They only wore light clothes and even when Bell was in love with Ais, Bell was still Bell and weak to women.
One time, Tiona had rammed him to break his balance and Bell made her incredibly happy as he got flustered when her chest touched him. She couldn´t help but do that on purpose from time to time...until they switched partners. Tiona shocked him even more during a break.
"Hey Argonaut, you know...I wouldn´t mind giving birth to a child of your someday!" She said that with a happy grin.
Bell nearly choked on his water when he heard that.
But it was Ais who answered. "Y-You can´t...Tiona...Bell´s..*mumble mumble mumble*...is...mine..."
The problem was that Tiona already liked Bell very much, and fighting against him like that was like a mating dance for amazons.
After the break, Bell had to fight Tione...and that wasn´t easy too.
"If you touch my body like Tiona´s or Ais´, I´ll rip "him" off! My body is only for the captain!"
In truth she wouldn´t do that, Tione thought that Ais would get really mad then. Also...even when she acted so openly and tough, when Tione would come together with Finn in the future...and experience her first night at some point...she would be as shy as one could be.
"I-I-I-I w-would n-never!" Bell stammered.
Tione attacked him without using weapons, there was a possibility that he and his opponend would disarm each other during the fight. Bell had experience in unarmed hand-to-hand combat, and even when Ais was never squeamish with him, Tione was a whole other level. Bell had the advantage of speed, but Tione was stronger than him...and more ferocious. He tried to deflect most of her blows, but a few got through...and that was good. Bell had to take damage during the training to increase his endurance. Tione hit him against the head, shoulders, arms, chest, stomach and legs...at least she didn´t punched or kicked between his legs.
The goal of the training was to make Bell stronger and not hurt him seriously. Since they couldn´t allow themself to hold back, the training was very brutal and they decided to never to this kind of training again after the duel...if there would be an after the duel...
"Ooooraaa!"
Tione dealt a straight right punch, Bell blocked with his left fore-arm, at least the armguard absorbed some of the force...it still hurt very much. On the first fight, Bell hadn´t punched back once...he had to overcome his problem of attacking women. And Tione helped him very much in that matter.
"If you won´t attack me, I will beat you to a pulp! If you act whiny and weak, you are not worthy to be Ais´ partner!"
Ais was a bit troubled, but she didn´t stopped Tione when she howled at Bell like that...she knew she just wanted to help. Also, Tione couldn´t fight her amazonian blood, she had to make sure that Ais had a good man at her side...it had also something to do with strong children.
She had gotten used to Bell´s fighting style pretty fast, so he surprised her when he did something unfamiliar. His face was extremely focused as he started attack after attack, not only using his fists, but also his feet and legs. When he stomped with his right foot after Tione´s left, she stepped backwards, brought her right arm up and punched at him, Bell turned to the side and thrusted one arm upwards. Tione made two steps back, tried a low kick against his leg, blocked a fist with her fore-arm and jumped to the side when Bell made a step forward. Faster and faster they attacked and countered the other, some attack went through to their bodies, Bell silently thanked Ryu for all the time he had also trained with her. Ryu had a very similar style she used some times, in honor of a deceased Familia member of her.
Both lost count how many times they had evaded or countered the other, Bell was good enough to give Tione a hard time, both were sweating and panting. In the small gaps between the attacks, they glanced to their surroundings to not get surprised. After a quick succession of blows, Bell surprised Tione by dropping down, making a fist with the knuckle of his middle finger advanced and punching at Tione´s wrist. A muscle reflex opened her fist and changed the punch to his face into a loud slap..it burned on his cheek but was better than taking the fist literally head on. In a normal fight she would attack even more ferocious and aim for his vital points...but that was not the point here. Tione whirled around, brought her fists together and hammered from above with as much strength as possible. Bell risked everything in blocking with one hand, moving with the force of her hammer punch. At first he wanted to deal a straight punch...but the only spot he could hit right now, was a spot he would never hit on any woman.
Praying to all the gods out there that his fist wouldn´t hit too heigh...Bell aimed for her solar plexus, using the raised middle finger knuckle again.
A sound like a tiny thunder clap was heard and a strange sound came from Tione. Not one of the four got what happend in that moment, there was something like a flash and Tione was catapulted backwards. She hit the grass and didn´t even screamed, she just twitched there like crazy and made a series of strange noises.
"Hnnn! Hnnn! Hnnn! Hnnn! Hnnn! Hnnn!"
"Tione!"
"Ah! Tione!"
"Ms. Tione!"
All three rushed to her...now they could see that a very tiny lightning ran along her body and disappeared into nothingness. The sound she was making came from her teeth clenched by the electric shock as she tried to scream but couldn't. Thankfully, the effect vanished shortly after it happened.
"Puah!...Man...that hurt!"
"I-I´m so sorry Ms. Tione!"
"No! That was great!" She rubbed her head and patted dust off her body. "What was that? A skill of you?"
"What?! What?! What happened? What was that?!" Tiona looked extremely excited...and confused.
"It felt like...I was hit by thunder...like...back then...with that damn cow."
Tione reffered to the time where she, Bete and Tiona had fought against Asterios. And indeed, in the moment that Bell´s knuckle hit Tione´s solar plexus, the second part of "Blood of Zeus" reacted and Bell unleashed lightning elemental damage onto his opponent. It wasn´t something he could control...there just was a chance that it happened...increased when he managed to attack a weak spot. She shook her tingling hand, the effect of the elecricity was strong but short lived. Ais noticed that a smiliar small lightning danced around Bell´s fingers for a moment after he punched her.
"Woooaaah! Awesome Argonaut! Hey, Hey! Try that with me too!"
"Ms. Tiona?!"
"Ah just say Tiona now!" She grinned. "C´mon, do it!"
Tiona stood there with an completely open defence and grinned at him. Not sure what to do, Bell looked at Ais.
"Bell, try it, we have to see how it works and how often it does."
"Okay..."
"Shall I take my top off, so you can better aim?" Tiona looked at him smiling.
"No!"
A flustered Bell took aim and readied his fist. He dealt a soft straight punch at Tiona´s solar plexus...but nothing happened.
"Mou Argonaut...c´mon...your punch right now was like a kitten...punch like a man!"
"I don´t want to hurt you..."
"Aaawww you are so cute...now do it!"
Bell took a deep breath, focussed on his punch and...
.
.
"*Cough cough cough* That huuuuurt!"
Tiona didn´t fell down like Tione, she had just stood there, spasmed and twitched like crazy, while small lightning washed over her body. She was more paralyzed than shocked by the lightning elemental energy. Now she stretched her tense muscles, getting shocked was an interesting experience.
Tione tapped her chin while she looked at them. "That sure looks useful."
"Bell, how do you feel? Your mental strength?"
"I don´t really know...maybe...a little bit lower?"
"We should ask Riveria for advice...man it is like you are a thunder rabbit now." Tiona grinned.
As if to protect Bell...or her claim on him...Ais hugged Bell while she looked at Tiona...as if she wanted to say...
"My rabbit..."
"Ais, why don´t you try it too?"
"Hm..."
Ais looked at Bell´s face, it was close since she still hugged him.
"I...couldn´t attack Ais´ weakspots...on purpose...please don´t ask that of me..."
Ais blushed a bit by Bell´s words, her heart grew really warm. For a short moment, both were lost into each others eyes...their faces moved closer...their lips pursed...
"Ahem! Okay you two love-birds, we should continue." Tione coughed lightly.
Bell and Ais moved away from each other, no matter how many times they hugged each other...and they did that for hours while they slept...they didn´t got enough of it.
"Oh I know!" Tiona beamed all over her face. "Argonaut could just spank Ais´ butt! Maybe that will work!"
"Mmmmmh!"
"M-M-Ms. Tiona!"
"Idiot..." Tione sighed. "That is something they should do at night in bed."
"Tione!" Ais yelled, flustered.
"Mmmmh!" Bell nearly squeaked.
Ais and Bell couldn´t become more red...sometimes...or rather often it was not so easy to deal with these two amazons. Even when both were absolutely pure and innocent...compared to other amazons.
Some Loki Familia members looked from time to time out of the entrance of the training ground...due to that, Bell got a reputation that he threw women around...or punched them away...
But the one who really suffered from that training, was Riveria again. Since she was an elf, her ears were really good and she heard every single thunder clap when Bell´s skill activated...and that while she tried to read.
.
.
.
The titanic tower of Babel loomed before him, it was as masjestic as always. He went into the normal entrance to the shopping district of Babel and used an elevator to move upwards. The message had told him which floor it would be, Bell was a bit nervous, just what would it be that Hephaistos wanted to give to him.
When he arrived on the designated floor, Bell left the elevator and looked left and right, he wasn´t sure about the direction.
"Yo brother, here!"
Bell looked to the left side from which he heard a familiar voice. Welf leaned out of a door and waved to him.
"Hey Welf!"
He was too happy, Bell hadn´t seen his Familia for days, they kept their distance to not disturb Bell, Hestia would update Bell´s status the evening of the penultimate day.
"How is everyone? Are they all okay?"
Bell and Welf grabbed each other by the wrist, Bell´s favorite way of shaking hands, since it was what warriors...or heros had done in the past.
Welf gave him a sign to follow him. "Well they are all worried about you, but we are all very busy, I´m working non stop on your armor. Lady Hestia, lil´ Lily and Ms. Haruhime help Lord Miach and Ms. Naza with the work to make potions for your training.
You should thank Ms. Naza later, she has even more dark circles under her eyes than usual and looks extremely tired. She surely would have collapsed by now...if not..."
"If not?"
Welf winked. "If not for her god, I heard from the girls that Lord Miach finally noticed how Ms. Naza feels. The girls were absolutely over the moon when they heard that...so it was hard not to notice."
"Lord Miach...and Ms. Naza...are a couple?"
"Well...yes."
"Wow...so much happened."
Welf shrugged his shoulders. "Well thats not the only new couple."
"Not?"
"Don´t remember Ms. Mikoto and her god?"
"Them too?!"
"Yeah?...It happened three weeks ago...don´t you remember?"
"Ahm...no?"
"It was on her birthday."
"Ms. Mikoto had birthday?!"
"Yes...it was during the time when you had shut yourself in."
"Oh..."
"Ah don´t worry brother, you can congratulate them after your little fight for your lady."
Even when they were worried about Bell, Takemikazuchi had demanded that Mikoto celebrated her birthday, so the Takemikazuchi Familia, plus Mikoto and Haruhime had a small party. And there it had happened...Mikoto wasn´t able to mumble a single word when Takemikazuchi talked to her, he had given her the other dagger, that was meant to be given when she returned to the Familia. Mikoto would still do that when the year was over, what didn´t meant that she would leave the party. Hestia, Takemikazuchi and Miach formed a small alliance and it all would become a "big" party for the dungeon.
"Wait...wait wait wait...does that mean...lord Takemikazuchi...and Ms. Mikoto are..."
"Engaged."
"Holy!"
"Hehe, you should see how much she beams now...when she is not worried about you."
"Oh man...I can´t wait to come home..."
"Ha, don´t tell me you don´t enjoy that much time with your girlfriend."
"My...girlfriend..."
"Hehe Bell, you are deep red."
"Mmh...don´t tease me..."
"Ok, come now, lady Hephaistos waits."
"How are things going between you and her?"
Welf´s grin only got wider. "Good...very good." He winked again.
.
"Bell please close your eyes."
He did as he was asked and heard Welf doing something at the shelf they had walked to.
"You can open."
Bell watched amazed when the shelf swung to the side and revealed a secret room behind it.
So cool!
The room that became visible was a forge made from stone, the walls were covered with fire marks as if something had sprayed massive sparks. The furnace on the side only had a small fire lit in it, it was mostly black due to even more burn marks.
In the middle of the room, there was an enormous anvil with something on it, covered by a cloth. The goddess Hephaistos waited next to the anvil.
"Ah, Bell Cranel, you finally came."
"Lady Hephaistos, I´m sorry for making you wait." He bowed lightly.
"Ehe, you are as polite as Welf said."
Bell wasn´t experienced enough with women, or he would have noticed that Hephaistos spoke Welf´s name not like a god that of her follower, or a mother that of her child...but like a woman...that of the man she loved.
The experience with forging the sword had changed how both looked at each other, for them it was almost like...their child...sort of.
"Welf and your note told me that there is something you want to give me."
"Indeed." She nodded and pointed with her hand onto the object that was hidden by the cloth.
"This here, is a gift from your grandfather."
"My Grandfather?! HOW?!"
"Bell...your voice..." Welf had covered his ears.
"Oh, s-sorry."
"I will explain, it was sent here to Orario by someone that knows your grandfather. It was meant to be a gift to you when you have become an adventurer...or a hero with your own harem."
"What?!"
"Words of your grandfather." Hephaistos shrugged her shoulders.
"Wait...did you know my grandfather?"
"Yes, from a long time ago."
"Oh."
"So, if I may continue...?"
"S-sorry...please go on..."
Welf chuckled when he saw Bell flustered.
"It will probably be easier to show you!" Hephaistos grabbed the cloth and pulled it away.
Bell´s eyes widened more and more.
A blade was the object that was hidden under the cloth...and not just an ordinary sword. All in all, the sword was about eighty centimeters long, it looked like he could wield it in one hand or two.
A white gemstone was embedded in the pommel of the sword, the hilt was wrapped in leather of a kind that Bell did not know. Instead of a quillons, the handle turned into a kind of ornamented cloud, the lightning bolts that shot out of the cloud formed a kind of quillons.
The cloud was more whitish gray and the lightning golden. Two more gemstones were set in the cloud, also in white. If he squinted his eyes, the cloud looked more like the bearded face of a man with the gems for eyes ... it resembled Bell's grandfather ...
Two ornate blades rose from the cloud instead of a single blade. The middle of the blade was completely hollow, the metal there was also golden and only the cutting edges were silver instead of gold. On the upper third of the blade, both part blades combined to form the tip.
Sometimes it looked like small lightnings were flicker inside the gemstones...this blade looked too familiar for Bell.
To say it simple...Bell was...a hero story...nerd. Not only admired he those stories, loved them...he knew every detail of them. And his grandfather had told him about the history of the gods, how all came how it is.
So...Bell knew this blade...
"The "Blade of Olympus"!" He was shocked.
"Oh you know it?"
"Yes! How could I not?!"
Hephaistos smiled. "Well to be precise...it is a replica of that sword."
"But that is the sword of the king of the gods...THE BLADE OF ZEUS!"
"I know...you don´t need to scream..."
"Sorry..."
Bell needed more than a moment to process this situation.
"But Lady Hephaistos...you said...this is...a gift from my grandfather?"
"I will explain. It is a gift from your grandfather, but it is made by me...and Welf...with help of Tsubaki. Your grandfather was a friend of the Zeus Familia...or rather the old man himself."
"My grandfather...knew...the god...Zeus?"
"Well yes." She shrugged her shoulders. "Old man Zeus knew many people."
"Ha..."
"I don´t know how or when, but Zeus gave your grandfather two special ores, known as Elementium."
"The legendary ore?!"
"Hehe, you know your stuff."
"Ha..." Bell didn´t even looked shocked anymore...it was too much for his brain.
"First let me say something, I´m very sorry for your loss...about your grandfather."
"Thank you..."
"Someone who knew him was asked by him to take care of the ores until the day would come where you should receive your gift from him. It may have been the day when you come of age...or become an adventurer...or form a harem..."
She looked at him dubiously be the last words.
"Did my grandfather say this?"
"According to the message...yes."
"Ha..."
"I start to get why he was friends with Zeus." Hephaistos smiled.
"Ha..." Too much for Bell.
"Since he can´t give it to you himself, I was asked via the letter to forge it for you anyway."
"But why...this design?"
"Oh your grandfather was good friends with Zeus, and he simply thought..it looked cool like this. Zeus gave his permission to forge such a Replica if he wanted to."
"My grandfather...and lord Zeus...got along well?"
"Pretty well, one could say he was as similar to the old man as a mortal could be."
"Ha..." Bell couldn´t help but make these noises and sigh.
Welf had to hold back his laughter by Bell´s reactions.
Hephaistos cleared her throat. "So Bell Cranel...no...Bell. I hope you will accept this gift from your grandfather. He wanted you to become a free man that can enjoy adventures...become a hero if you want to do that."
Bell could only look at the blade, tears gathered in his eyes. "Grandfather..."
Welf looked into the other direction when Bell started to cry for a short while. Hephaistos waited until Bell calmed down again.
"Bell, this is by all means your sword. It doesn´t have a name yet, will you take it?"
Taking a few deep breaths, he nodded. "I will...thank you...grandfather."
It was easy to see that Bell was deeply moved, Hephaistos was a bit sad that she couldn´t tell him the whole truth...but it was not up to her to do so.
Bell moved his hand closer to the handle. "Can I...touch it?"
"It is yours."
.
.
His eyes wandered for a moment over the sword, very carefully he brought his hand down. For a moment his fingers stopped before touching the hilt..then they closed around it.
It was like a strong lightning rushed into his hand and body, he felt immense energy from the sword. Unbridled, elemental energy. He blinked and without thinking about it, closed his other hand around the hilt. He got goose bumps and his hair stood out slightly, it was like static electricity was building up. Bell´s mind was empty when he raised the sword from the anvil.
With an apocalyptic roar, the blade came to life. Actinic blue lightning rushed down the blade, coming out of the cloud. They were so focused it almost looked like blue fire.
Bell heard a roar and thunder, almost like a voice roaring with joy. A voice filled with nothing but elemental energy ... elemental anger. The Elementium came to be when Zeus´ lightning had hit the ground in the past, shot down in anger. So the sword was filled with the pure energy of an angry storm, burning to be unleashed. A picture filled Bell´s mind, he was inside an titanic storm cloud, lightning and thunder hammered around him...then the biggest lightning bolt he had ever seen shot down to earth...and the silhuette of a man in the cloud above him.
The blade awakened in Bell´s hands...it greeted it´s master...it´s owner...as far as the sword could do something like that.
Lightning washed over the blade and beyond, the roar and thunder grew louder.
"Ah Bell! Stop that! You are destroying my forge!" Hephaistos had to scream on the top of her lunges to be heard.
"How do I stop this?!"
"It is your sword! Feel it! Concentrate!"
That was the least helpful explanation he had ever received ...
Bell tried to concentrate on the blade...but how?
Stop that! Calm down, Olympus!
Gong...
The name that the sword would get came naturally into his mind. The picture of the cloud filled his mind again, he noticed that the three white gemstones were now actinic blue too, as was the whole blade. It looked almost like lightning energy covered the whole blade...it was beyond beautiful...and so dangerous.
As if a spark jumped over, Bell´s back got hotter and hotter...the "Blood of Zeus" on his back reacted to the blade in his hands.
Gong...
The old words of his grandfather filled his mind.
"Bell...if anyone has the right to be called a hero, it is not the one who took up the blade.
Gong...
It´s not the one who raised the shield, nor the one who healed the wounded. Only one who truly risks his life may be called a hero.
Gong...
The sound of the bell filled the forge.
Protect your friends, save the girl, and face danger. It doesn´t matter if you fall, cry over it and get up again.
Gong...
Bell too started to shine in white light.
Stay true to your wishes...Cry out your desires...
Gong...
And if you do so...That´s...what will...make you the coolest hero!"
Gong...
"Let your longings burn." The voice of his grandfather in his head.
Gong...
"Scream out your wishes."
Gong...
The sound of the bells didn´t only filled the forge...it was heard in all of the floor...then all of Babel...then all of Orario. It was an exclamation of a young boy...by each ring of the bell, more people turned around and looked at Babel. Clouds gathered around the tip of the tower. A certain small goddess with an enormous rack looked out of her window when she heard the sound.
"Bell."
The sound of thunder and a roaring storm filled the forge...and between this sound, the shimmer of light particles that gathered in Bell´s hands. Welf moved by instinct and covered Hephaistos with his body, her face pressed against his chest, the light from the blade and Bell were too bright to look into it, only Bell could see something.
Olympus! Stop that! Help me!
His heart raced and the desire was in him, he couldn´t stop himself anymore.
"I WANT TO BE A HERO!"
Bell´s voice was accompanied by a last loud gong and a thunderclap, unseen by the three in the forge, a lightning bolt shot out of the chimney into the sky. Olympus announced the union with it´s owner to the whole world...not that the sword had an actual consciousness.
He didn´t knew where the knowledge came from, but Bell felt how he could stop the magic of the blade. Little by little, the lightning around the blade got smaller and sank down back into the cloud part. That was what Welf was needed for during the forging, it was a unique magic blade that could use it´s magic again and again. When the magic ran out, the blade would simply needed time to recharge. What Bell didn´t knew...this blade was probably even more valuable than the sword of Ottar, but only in Bell´s hands.
When Hephaistos could see again, she didn´t believed her eyes, in the last moments before the magic calmed down, she saw Bell standing there with small lightning running along his arms.
He looks like...a..lightning...rabbit.
.
.
.
.
Authors Note2: So Bell has his sword now, let´s see how he uses it. For those wondering, the sword doesn´t really feel wrath or anger, it is just part of it´s being due to the lightning that gave birth to the ore, will this affect Bell...who knows...
Edit: I changed the thunder elemental energy to lightning energy, it makes more sense as written in the comments.