Growing Up
Nah I don't own anything related to Danmachi
Bell Pov:
"Stop, please don't hurt Bell-kun anymore!" Said Wiene falling after tearing off her own claws and wings to prove she's not a threat.
"I- I can't let a monster live no matter what" said Aiz monotonously while moving to stab the monster.
"NO STOP" I said, covering Wiene with my body only for Aiz to stab through me in a non-vital point and hitting Wiene's heart.
"It's okay Bell no… dad I'll a..always be w..with you and just know that you're m..my Hero" Wiene said shaikly with tears and a smile on her face.
'Why does she get a hero and I don't'Aiz thought, only to say "It's done," gritting her teeth with a frown on her face.
"WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY DAMN IT AIZ I CAN'T BELIEVE I LOVED YOU" I said with tears in my eyes not even realizing what I said. The only response she had was to freeze at my confession.
'Wait he said he loved me' Aiz thought before running away to calm her mind her racing and to regroup with the other members of the Loki Familia
'I can't believe she killed her, Wiene was like a daughter to me. Why just why couldn't she understand that they had feelings like we do, they cry like we do, they love like we do. She was blinded by her hate that she couldn't see past race.' I thought while weeping for someone who I cared for like my own child. Then I heard a gigantic crash coming near babel.
"Damnit I need to cover for the rest of the Xenos I need to go." I said drying my tears, drinking a health potion and wrapping Wiene's stone in a silk cloth and putting it in my Bag. I stumble a bit waiting for the potion to heal me to go to the battle.
When I arrive at the scene I see a giant minotaur with a missing arm and a crowd gathered around. Then it starts charging into the crowd and my feet move before I could think, pushing Eina out of all people, out of the way of the minotaurs' way. I brace for impact and get hit while hanging onto it's horns while it's putting me through multiple walls and smashing me into the floor leaving a crater.
"For a long long time I've had a dream of fighting a person in a bloody battle of unparalleled strength that I am destined to face, now I stand before you in the hopes of meeting said person. My name is Asterious and I would like to know yours." Said the minotaur
"Bell, Bell Cranel" I stated
"Will you grant me a rematch?" The humanoid bull says. The only response I could muster was pulling out both of my blades and getting into a battle ready stance it charges at me roaring.
*Cue original battle of Bell vs Asterious*
I put up a valiant effort breaking the dagger Welf made for me, all my armor and Ottar's Sword in the final clash ending in my defeat.
"I lost, I really lost… I'm no hero, I couldn't beat him when it mattered most" I said laying on the ground in the 1st floor of the dungeon. I was about to start crying when a sudden memory came to me "It's okay Bell no… dad I'll a..always be w..with you and just know that you're m..my Hero" Wiene said with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes.
I reach into my bag and feel her stone in my hand smiling with tears in my eyes. 'I'll be the hero for everyone who needs one thank you my daughter'
*TIME SKIP 1 WEEK*
I'm laying in bed when I can't get a certain blonde swordswomen out of my mind. I decide to go for a walk to clear my mind since Goddess Hestia isn't letting me go into the dungeon for another week. I end up on the wall that we always trained on and I look into the sunset and make up my mind and I was about to head to Twilight Mansion when I heard footsteps and looked to see the person that was on my mind.
"Aiz I was about to go see you I need to talk to you" I said in a serious voice.
"Me too, I just had a feeling I would see you if I came here." Aiz said shyly
"I'll let you go first I have something really important to get off my chest and I'd rather hear what you have to say first" I said
"I just wanted to explain that at first I trained you because you piqued my interest, you were the first person to run away from me, then you leveled up faster than anyone else and I was even more interested in you and wanted to see how you go so strong so fast. You were growing so much and the time we spent together made me feel some type of connection to you. I didn't realize what they were until you confessed and my heart leapt out of my chest. When I asked Riveria what I was feeling she said it was love and I can say without a doubt. I am in love with you, Bell Cranel!" Aiz shouted at the end walking up to me and gave me a passion filled kiss, her cheeks showing an atomic blush. I was shocked and didn't expect that response, but I steeled my heart.
"Aiz you don't know how long I've wanted to hear you say those words or all the dreams I've had of you. I can say without a doubt you were the love of my life, but I realized that I was a young naive newbie that got saved by a beautiful woman on the 5th floor from certain death and every time I saw you, you took my breath away and just your presence left me a stuttering mess. Then I realized that you were just a crush and I needed to truly understand someone to fall in love and I never truly got to know you. I was infatuated with the idea of you not you yourself and I…I can't be with someone who can't see past did nothing wrong and there weren't simply monsters they had feelings like you and me, so I wanted to save them to be their hero. I won't judge you because it's not my place, but you killed someone who I thought of as my own daughter, my own child, I know I can't change your mind so I'm sorry, but I can't be with you and I don't know if I can forgive you." I said walking back to Hearth Manor with tears in my eyes.
Aiz Pov:
I was stunned by his response and could only stand there, when I finally processed what happened I fell on my ass and brought my knees to my chest 'He said he doesn't want me, I…I'm not good enough, I poured out my heart and I wanted to get my own hero just like mom and dad always told me to get and he said no. I'm a failure that doesn't deserve my own hero. I had my chance and I wasted it.' The only thing I did was cry knowing I won't get my hero. It soon started to rain and I just sat there until I felt something cover my body. I looked up and saw my 'mother' figure looking at me with a comforting smile.
Riviera Pov:
'Aiz left over 3 hours ago and she hasn't come back yet. I'm worried something happened, but what?' I got up to go look for her and saw it was raining so I put on a raincoat and took an extra just in case. I should start with the wall knowing she'll most likely be there. When I arrive I see her sitting there in the rain with her knees buried in her chest and looking like she was crying. I put two and two together, so I walked up to her and put the extra coat over her and gave her the best smile I could and picked her up taking her back to the manor to get some rest.
Aiz Pov:
The next day in the morning I woke up and didn't want to get out of bed, but a few minutes later I heard my door open and a green haired high elf walked in.
"Wake up and get out of bed we need to talk, because I know if you don't get it off of your chest then it'll keep eating at you." She said in a motherly tone. All I could do was huff in response and get ready to leave my room.
Once we ate we went to the library to have a talk so I can get worries off my chest. What we didn't notice was the two curious amazons and a black haired cat.
"So what happened? I assume it didn't go well given how I found you." Riviera asked
"I made a mistake and I regret it. I killed that talking monster and I felt terrible, but I acted in rage seeing him protect her like I wanted someone to protect me. When I stabbed her she called him her hero and said that she loved him like a dad. After that he said he loved me and I couldn't handle all the emotions so I ran back to the group and after that we had that talk and I went to confess. After I poured my heart out, I kissed him and I loved it. I wanted to do it again and again and scream out at the top of my lungs that I loved him. But he said he didn't feel the same. He said all it was just a crush and infatuation that he was young and naive and that he didn't really know me and to truly love someone you need to truly know and understand them. He also said that he doesn't judge me because it wasn't his place, but that he doesn't forgive me for killing someone he saw as his daughter and left." I said tearing up.
"I want to say I'm sorry that I know I made a mistake, but I don't know how to explain myself. I just want him to hu me and kiss me, while telling me everythings going to be okay, but I broke his trust and I just don't know what to do." I said heartbroken
"Aiz if he's the one your hearts set on without a doubt you can't give up nothings set in stone, the only advice I can tell you is to apologize and hopefully he can forgive you and you can get past this as a better person recognizing your faults." Riviera said sagely.
The three people eavesdropping are shocked and instantly left, the twins not saying anything knowing it was bad news however, the other black cat going to gossip which soon the news would spread across the city like a wildfire.
Bell Pov:
After arriving back at the manor I dried up my tears and was confident in my decision to not only be focused on one person. I ran into Haruhime in her maid dress that now that I pay attention made me have thoughts that I didn't have before.
"Welcome home Bell-kun, did something happen?" the beautiful blonde renard asked. Seeing his slightly red puffy eyes.
"I made a decision that I think is for the best." I said with a bright smile on my face that made her blush.
"Well what did you decide?" Asked a curious Haruhime.
"I turned down Aiz, for multiple reasons one because she killed wiene just for being a monster despite seeing her act to protect me and that's something I don't think I can forgive. While I never wanted it to happen I think that helped me get over my infatuation. I realized that I was strung up and obsessed with her and that I didn't look around and see the others already by my side that can help and support me with my true goal. I want to be a hero like no other. When I arrive on a scene I want people to thank the gods that I arrived and to inspire hope that tomorrow will be a better day wherever I go. I don't think I can do that chasing after Aiz singlemindedly. I know I can't save everyone, but to those I can I want to be their hero." I said with a fire in my eye and a content smile on my face. The look of shock that went to awe with a blush on her face alone fills me with reassurance that I made the right decision.
"I think that's great Bell-kun and I can say without realizing it you've become a hero for a lot of people and I know a lot of people are interested." she said with a smile while walking away.
On my way to my room I ran into Goddess Hestia who suggested that I update my Falna since I was too busy healing from the fight, so I agreed.
"Okay just lay on your stomach" Hestia said so I complied. Once I felt a warm drop land on my back I waited until I felt her stiffen.
"WHHHHAAAATTTTT?!" she screamed, getting my attention, but I didn't want to throw her off, so I patiently waited. Once she calmed down and wrote my status she turned to me before giving me the paper.
"Bell, I have something I want to say before I show you this. First I need you to promise not to tell anyone else this." to which I just nodded my head.
"Next is that you had a skill that you got after you were saved by wallensomething that improved your growth based on your feelings for her that's why you grew so quick, but somehow your skill changed also you just leveled up again." she said in a quiet voice.
"Hmm.. well if you think I'm going to be mad I'm not, I'm a bit upset that you didn't tell me before, but I can never be mad with you. You're the one that took me in when I had no place to go and I will always be by your side no matter what." I said in reassurance and I asked to see my status.
Bell Cranel
Lv.4
Race: Human
Title: (True Hero)
Str: SS1001- I0
End: SS1100- I0
Dex: S989- I0
Agi: SSS1291- I0
Magic: S976- I0
Developmental Abilities:
Luck: H- G
Abnormal Resistance:H - Universal Resistance: F
Escape: I
Skills:
Liaris Freese- No longer active
Verum Heroica Voluntas- The will of a hero decides the future the stronger the will the bigger the rewards. Rewards increase during heroic moments. Skill also leaves user immune to charms because of increased mental fortitude. Current Bonus (1372%)
Argonaut- allows him to greatly empower his attacks on critical situations, born from his desire to become a hero, current charge time 4 minutes. In dire situations, the removed power grows exponentially, as well as gaining the passive effect of restoring and raising the morale of those who hear its chime.
Spells:
Firebolt- No chant magic that can be used quickly
Aged Hero- uses remaining mind to age hero closer to prime state the more mind used the greater the results.
Chant:
For whom the Bells toll nobody knows
When it strikes midnight
And you think no one will come
When their hopes are dashed
Turn forward the hands of time
I shall be there to save the day
"Holy Moly, how did I get these?!" I was shocked that so much changed just because of one decisions.
"Well, your goals have changed and I'm guessing it has to do with Kenki killing someone who was like family to us." Hestia said with irritation in her voice.
"I guess so, it seems like I made the right choice and this proves that I'm on the right path. Hestia-sama know that with this I pledge that I will never leave your side and that I shall bring pride to the Hestia Familia by becoming the hero I always wanted to be." I said with a bright smile on my face while hugging her.
"Of course Bell-kun I'll always support you no matter what even if the world is against us." Hestia replied with a blush on her face.
I head to my room to get a good night's rest.