Hello! Welcome back to another chapter of the third story.
As I have said and you have witnessed the updates will be sporadic, so don't expect them after a week. It will happen if you're lucky, but probably won't.
After this chapter I shall work on the first story 'enslaved rabbit' whilst also working on a new story. The new story was a request and will be strictly BellxRay. My first only-one-girl relationship story.
This chapter was rather hard to do since I had to make up a completely different history for the story. Yes, there are some names borrowed by Genshin impact along some original stuff. There will be more revelations coming up in the future as not everything was explored in detail. I may have revealed too much maybe, but I didn't feel like doing like other stories where they reveal very small bits by bits across the story because it's hard and complicated. It is also hard to have it blend into the story to make it seem natural and reveal or give clues without being too explicit or making page breaks all the time to have a jump into the past. So for the convenience of not having flashbacks too often I have revealed a lot now and will have other small parts or key important stuff revealed later into the future as the story progresses.
With that said go ahead and read. I hope you enjoy.
EDIT: Sorry everyone, I didn't know that removing a chapter would send it up the list as if it had been updated. I had removed it to edit it a little. Nothingof major changed, just minor details and just grammar check, though there will still be errors. Chapter 3 is currently being written. I intended to re-release this chapter with the third one, but there are too many people who are confused so I'll just put it back on now that I finished the editing of this chapter.
Chapter 2 – The Lost Kingdom Of Khaenri'ah
"Right, this is Bell Wallenstein, my older brother."
As soon as Ais completed the sentence, a hundred incomprehensible shouts started to fill the pub. Everyone was shocked at the news, Bete and Lefiya sighed in relief, the twins jumped in joy while the top three, alongside with Raul and Aki looked at them with a fond smile on their faces.
Loki was the only one who looked at the pair of siblings with a raised eyebrow. As a Goddess she could see through any lies, but even without being a Goddess that had the ability to see through lies she easily noticed the inconsistency, after all, when she had first met Ais, the girl had clearly stated that she had no siblings.
Looking at the three leading members of her Familia, who were the only ones aware of Ais' background, it was clear to her that they were too elated to notice that the dots didn't align and that he wasn't truly Ais' brother.
This left Loki pondering on the reason for which Ais lied to them. Could Ais have made a mistake and be too embarrassed to admit it? Well that would certainly suit the airheaded girl, but it seemed like Ais did actually recognize the boy.
She took a glance at Ganesha and noticed that he seemed indifferent despite the lie meaning that he knew of Bell's background, considering that he is his God, or he was an idiot and didn't notice. However, that was impossible as Loki knew well that while Ganesha may seem like a clueless idiot of a God, he was actually rather cunning and perceptive, that his usual attitude is just a mask under which he hides his real intelligence, quite ingenious she had to admit. Loki then went back to wondering who Bell actually was but soon gave up, she'd probably find out from Bell himself rather soon anyways.
After everyone in the building recovered from the shocking news, the night went on. The Ganesha and Loki Familia merged tables and partied together all night long. Bell got a lot of questions from Hashana and Modaka on his weapons and armour as they had managed to catch a glimpse of it and were very intrigued by the design and quality though he only said that he'd show them tomorrow.
He was then pestered by the twins who asked countless questions about Ais, which he happily answered unless it had something to do with her past or her parents since it was clear to him that no one other than Loki and some selected people knew about it.
Many also noticed how he seemed to take particular interest in Gareth, Bete, Lefiya and the blonde elven waitress that was serving them. Particularly irritated by this was Ais, who didn't like the fact that she wasn't getting his whole undivided attention, causing her to pout at him. The night kept drawing longer as more questions kept getting asked, though many weren't fully answered.
"Loki-sama, wouldst thou mind if one borrows upon Ais' time? We wish to speak privately, and I would like to hear from her what this one must have missed in the few years lost in time."
She nodded giving him a cryptic look.
"Also I require that Ganesha comes with thee to the Twilight Manor, I intend to apprise thee with Ganesha-sama, Shakti and the three leaders of thine Familia about oneself and Ais."
She sighed knowing that she'd need an enormous load of alcohol prepared for this night before shooing him away. Ais was listening in and got up the moment Loki told him to go, startling everyone in the process. Bell chuckled seeing her excitement and had her lead him outside.
"Hmm? Where are they going Loki?"
Loki turned to her fellow God and signalled him to come closer. When he did she whispered in his ear to make sure no one else could hear.
"The kid wants you and your captain to come to the manor. It seems he wants to speak about his past."
Ganesha nodded and nonchalantly acted as if it wasn't anything of important, this made Loki on her side wonder if Ganesha was secretly a trickster God as well, seeing his impeccable acting skills.
.
Bell followed Ais as she lead him through the city, arriving in an abandoned area filled with ruins of churches and houses. Searching for a quiet and isolated area, the two climbed to the top of the tower of a church and sat by each other.
The ceiling and adjacent walls were weathered open by time, exposing the inside of the decrepit tower as a gentle breeze caressed the two who sat under the moonlight, feet dangling freely from the edge.
"I'm so happy to have you around me again Bell."
"I do share such feeling Ais. So, I'm your brother now?"
"I-I never really lied to them, it wasn't my intention, b-but, I was too scared to tell them of what you are, just as I am scared to tell them what I am. That's why they don't know that I am the daughter of Aria and Albert, that I am a half-spirit. If they were to discover that you are a dragonoid, what would they think? I-I don't want you to leave me. Besides, you've always been the brother I never had."
Ais blushed slightly and averted her gaze as she felt her heart thumping at the joy of being reunited with Bell. Secretly, Ais never saw Bell as a brother but much more than just that. With that thought, Ais recovered a memory of a time of when she was a child, of a long time ago.
.
~1000 Years Ago
She was around six, she was running in a green grassy plain. She wore a simple white one piece, her arms extended outwards. Suddenly she felt the flutter of wings and stopped as a white haired dragonoid landed next to her.
Her face erupted in a bright smile that could put the sun to shame. She ran up to him and jumped into his arms. The dragonoid returned her hug before placing her back down. Ais grabbed the hand of the white haired man and started running again, to which the man played along, until the sun was starting to set. Ais turned to the dragonoid and held his hand with both of hers.
"Argo onii-chan! Papa says you never marry because you live a long life like the Gods, is that true?"
"Yes, as a dragonoid we can live up to ten thousand years. Actually, I don't know how long a dragonoid can live up to, since no dragonoid has ever died of old age and now I'm the only one left."
"Then in the future when I grow up, I will marry Argo onii-chan!"
"Eh?!"
"My mom has a lifespan like that of the Gods as a Great spirit. Maybe as a half spirit I will also live that long. With me as your wife Argo onii-chan will never be alone again!"
.
Present
Bell turned to her and smiled softly at Ais, who was now burning red in embarrassment at the memory.
"But don't worry! No matter what I will always be with you!"
Ais spun her head around, her voice raising from her quiet whisper to a loud tone, looking at him with a resolute expression, she grabbed his hand tightly, though this only drew a chuckle out of him causing Ais to pout, her blush long forgotten.
"Thou are much like good old Al. Thou art uncertain yet headstrong and airheaded."
Ais felt embarrassed and looked down, but a question remained in her head.
"Was papa like this too?"
"Yes, he was brave but a fool, like most heroes were."
"What happened that day?"
Bell didn't need to ask for clarification as to what day she was referring to, a sad smile forming on his face as he looked up to the moonlit starry sky.
"Al deceived this one. The one time he came to reason to employ his brain to work, it was to send me away … to save me. Never had I believed the day would shine when that fool would outsmart me. Haa.
He had successfully put Celdia and Evelda on board with his plan to lure this one away from this bastion, Oratoria. Both him and Aria had seen it all along that in the coming of time the dragon would land before them, so they decided to send me away with Celdia and Evelda."
Bell lied down on his back as Ais followed suit and laid down next to him, watching the stars that shone in the sky.
"Evolved too accustomed to the peaceful life this fool was turned ignorant as a result. The consequence this one paid was heavy and by the time I had noticed it was already too late. Al had successfully bided enough time for me to not be present at the battle.
Once mine wings brought me back in Oratoria, the city was razed, you vanished, Aria was taken and Al … his sword was lodged into the ground, his usual red scarf fluttered like a flag from it. Only ashes remained of the old fool."
Ais sobbed hearing the story and hugged Bell tightly. The boy raised his hand and started patting her head gently.
"Bell?"
"Yes?"
"Please don't leave me. You're all I've got left, please."
"Thou needn't worry Ais. I will always stay by thee side."
"Even if-"
"Ais. Is the path that thou have taken what bothers thee?"
She flinched but kept clinging to Bell tightly.
"Yes."
Her voice returned to a silent whisper, she was ashamed to admit it and terrified that Bell might be disappointed and that he would abandon her … but that's not who Bell was.
"It is true that seeking vengeance is not what Aria or Al would want of you. Neither do I condone this Ais, it is a path that will consume thou and leave thee as an empty husk of what thou really are."
She felt her heart clenching, panic starting to settle in until a warm hand was placed on her own. The girl looked up at the eyes of the ancient dragonoid before her.
"Ais, while this one doesn't condone this behaviour, tis to say I don't blame thee. No one does. Thou have experienced terrible turns in life at what could be possibly the worst time for thou to experience them. Scarred deeply thou have, and rightly so, who wouldn't. A child witnessed the demise of her parents. All I can do now is to do my best to set thou back on the correct path and to keep thou from going astray. You need not fear the actions you take, for I will support thee, little one."
Ais started crying again as she once again clung to him but not out of desperation but out of happiness and joy. Bell turned his gaze back to the stars and sighed happily.
"Life and fate, such cruelty is what they bestowed upon me, ah to make me feel a repeat of Khaenri'ah."
Ais had stopped the flow of her tears and as she sniffled she looked up at him with a confused gaze.
"Khaenri'ah?"
"Yes, the land in which I was given life to. Where I first came to contact with light and warmth."
Ais was shocked to hear this, she had heard Aria and Albert talking about an old nation in which Bell was born but they never disclosed it to her, what had happened to his homeland and why did her parents refuse to talk about it?
"What do you mean a repeat of it?"
"I'll tell thee that later when we get back to Loki, mine self said I'd explain a few things to her. The moon is already about to rise and the sun has long since retreated, so how about we return for now. I'll tell thee the rest of my history, everything that Al and Aria knew but never told thee."
She nodded and got up, walking side by side. The simple appearance of Bell resulted in a massive improvement, as unlike her previous self, Ais now smiled brightly as she walked next to Bell, back to her home. On the way back to the manor another topic came to Ais' mind as a pout grew on her face.
"Bell. Why did you keep staring at Gareth, Bete and Lefiya instead of paying attention to me? You even eyed the blonde elf waitress at the Hostess."
Bell noticed the irritation in her tone and sweat dropped.
"Ah, Ais let your rage simmer down, allow mine self to explain. Does thou recall who I am most commonly remembered as?"
"Of course, you are the Argonaut. The hero that papa said to be the most glorious and powerful of all times as well as the first true hero to have existed."
Bell sighed as he discovered how his best friend had filled the daughter's mind with senseless stories, though there was a lot of truth to what she was told.
"Well, yes. It's just that they bring up memories of old times and bygone eras."
"You mean to say that they look like your old companions?"
Bell simply nodded.
"As I have mentioned before my first companions were Ariadne, Orna, Elmina, Ryuulu, Feena, Garms, Crozzo and Yuri. You Ais, remind me of Ariadne, as that waitress reminds me of Ryuulu, Lefiya reminds me of Feena, Gareth looks like Garms and Yuri looks quite identical to Bete. It had just dawned upon me now, but Orna and Elmina resemble quite closely to Tiona and Tione respectively."
Ais smiled seeing the gentle lips extending into a smile.
"Hehe, it means you're only missing Crozzo and you will have found your first party."
Bell turned to Ais nodded.
"That I will, though I do have an inkling that it won't be long before I meet Crozzo."
.
"What did you say Loki?"
The Goddess turned to Riveria as Ganesha and Shakti entered the room.
"That boy Bell isn't his brother, Ais lied to cover up something."
"To cover up what?!"
Ganesha interrupted the high elf before she got any more agitated than she was and killed Loki.
"Something you'll discover very soon."
Finn sighed from his chair.
"I can't believe that she lied, I didn't even see that it was a lie. But to be fair I don't think we need to worry about it. It did seem like Ais had a special attachment to that person."
"That is true. Though her lie was really convincing. Honestly the fact that she never lied before, makes you unlikely to think that she'd lie. Besides it came to her so naturally, if it wasn't for the fact that I was a Goddess and that I already knew that Ais didn't have any siblings I would have been fooled as well."
Then a knock at the door interrupted them causing all the heads to turn to the entrance. The door opened slowly and Ais peeked her head in before opening the door and entering with Bell next to her. Very noticeable was her bright smile which shocked both Loki and Ganesha members.
Bell and Ais walked over to the couches and sat down, though Ais seems to have opted to sit down on Bell's lap instead of sitting down on the couch further shocking everyone in the room. Even Bell blushed a little, as it had been long and had since forgot how it felt having a girl on his lap, especially an adult Ais who grew a lot in the few years in which she had awoken.
Loki would be lying if she said that she wasn't seething with jealousy. She would undoubtedly kill to get a chance to have Ais sit on her lap, not that it would happen anytime soon unfortunately. Finn stood next to Loki as he let out his trademark chuckle alongside Gareth and his boisterous laugh. Riveria had also calmed down significantly and resorted to simply smiling.
"My heartfelt apologies for making thee await for such a long time, Loki-sama."
"Ah, no biggie. So, you're going to answer our questions?"
"Yes, any that thou, Ganesha-sama, Ais or anyone else right now has. However, before that both Ganesha-sama and Shakti must know about Ais."
The top three of the Loki Familia looked uncomfortable but when looking at Ais they saw how she smiled. Normally she would be the most paranoid about revealing her origins but now she was calm and peaceful instead.
"As I have told Shakti before I do not share blood with anyone and my race is long gone, as such Ais is not my sister, though this one is certain the Goddess has told you three that I'm not truly her brother."
That piqued Finn's curiosity.
"You're not … human?"
"Hardly … I am not human at all, far from it actually."
"Allow me to introduce myself again, I am-"
"Bell Argonaut Cranel, a dragonoid."
Bell turned to the jade haired high elf as she unknowingly spoke her thoughts out loud.
"Hm? How do you know?"
The elf looked surprised as she hadn't realized that her thoughts had been heard.
"O-Oh, I-I read it in a book."
"Hmm, that is quite the mystery. One was confident that all of my mentions were abstained from any story or myth."
"I-It wasn't a story book. Your name and appearance were often mentioned in a diary that belonged to Queen Celdia, your name was written a lot particularly during the battle of the fields of Strea, the fellow hero who aided and saved Albert the Mercenary King.
There was also a picture of you along Celdia-sama and who I can only guess to be Empress Evelda, King Albert and the Great Spirit Aria. However, when I first found the picture I had expected Albert to be at the centre with Aria, but at the centre was Albert along with a white haired man that I didn't recognize, based on other sources there were no mentions of anyone else being in Albert's party. Behind the two men were Evelda-sama, Celdia-sama and Aria. Though rude, I took the liberty to read through the diary, where I learnt about you."
"Ah, Celdia of course. She has never listened and was always dominated by the goal to over glorify me and have everyone know about my existence."
"Yes, she appeared to be quite excited when she wrote about you. Actually, let me go get it."
Riveria left the room and came back a couple of minutes later. In her hands she held a white diary that had the name Celdia written in ancient elvish on the cover. Everyone gathered around Bell as Riveria showed the photo of Albert's party. At the centre were Albert and a white haired man that had large white wings, horns and a long tail. At the side of Albert was Aria and at the side of the dragonoid were Celdia and Evelda.
"How come you have it and no one knows about it?"
Finn had become very invested in the topic as new subjects and characters were introduced. He was particularly interested in hearing about Albert, since he also held a very positive view of the heroes of old.
"This diary was handed down from Celdia-sama down to her descendant. This went on until it reached the hands of my mother and eventually me. It is a great secret as not even my father knows about it. If he did, it would be a disaster."
Everyone looked at Riveria with tilted heads and raised eyebrows, Bell looked away sheepishly while Ais smiled brightly knowing why that was.
"The diary recounts the private life of Celdia-sama and there are mentions that our Queen had fallen for a dragonoid with which she ended up having a relationship with."
Everyone had a mental lag spike before slowly turning around to look at the boy who was looking away. A slight blush covered his cheeks as the topic of his love life was brought to surface. Riveria then approached Bell and stared him in the eyes.
"Is it true?"
"U-Umm … yes. We did have a relationship, well, her and Evelda."
The revelation shocked everyone, not only was he the lover of the greatest elf Queen to have lived but also the lover of the Amazon Empress. Finn then froze as he remembers how Riveria had called him.
"Wait, wait, wait. Did you say your name was A-Argonaut."
"Ah, yes. As thou have spoken this one here is named Argonaut. People now remember me as the Hero of Dawn, that has started the Age of Heroes."
Loki, Riveria and Gareth were shocked by the revelation while Finn seemed to glow in excitement.
"So what's with you there?"
Loki pointed at the picture in the diary, which Bell quickly realized what she was referring to.
"Ah that."
Ha patted the blonde girl's back and made to get up as Ais moved. He grabbed the artifact tied to his belt and undid the effects. His glowing wings sprung open, his unique horns regrew, pristine scales formed and covered his cheeks, the back of hands and forearms and a long scaly tail swished right to left and left to right. His hair grew longer and white, his eyes bright and rubellite. His face more handsome than he already was and his height now surpassed Riveria.
Everyone stared entranced by the being that stood before them. Even Ganesha and Shakti, along with Ais who saw it many times but couldn't help stare at him. Bell's tail stopped swishing and moved to Ais, gently patting her head, causing her to giggle and snuggle against the tail.
"What does the trickster Goddess believe of my true form?"
"Umm, I have to say that it's truly divine. A shame you hide it and a shame you aren't a girl."
"We have long before we leave each other's presence. What questions trouble your minds? This one will do his best to answer."
Shakti raised her hand and proceeded as Bell nodded at her.
"Well let's start with Orario I suppose. You said you came here to see how the city was faring after you heard of the dark age from Kami Zeus, right?"
Yet another surprise shocked the Loki Familia as they that he had connections with the God of the sky.
"Yes, I had come here after Zeus spoke of the dark age to me. The change that city has undergone from then and now is quite apparent, though not all hindrances have been fixed and removed, Evilus has yet to be exterminated."
Finn then interjected.
"You speak like you have seen the dark age?"
"Ah, I have not been clear. I did witness the cruelty of the dark age. This is not my first time here, as a matter of fact I came here seven years ago."
Finn's blood went cold as he instantly matched the events to the time period seven years before the current present.
"Erebus had extended an offer over to me. He wished for me to join him in his endeavour."
Finn sighed in relief, hearing that he wasn't affiliated to Evilus. As for Erebus, him along with Loki, Astraea, Riveria and Gareth, were all aware of Erebus' true intentions. His will for Orario to rise again and have heroes be born.
"My presence would have gone against the nature of his ideal. Besides, his plan failed at the end, just as I had foretold him."
"So that's what he meant when he said that 'he was right.'"
Loki had a finger tapping her chin as she thought of the last words that Erebus had given them before returning to Tenkai. Finn on his side was a bit hurt to hear Bell say that his plan failed as it meant that he saw no heroes amongst the adventurers of Orario. He decided to bring the topic to light without directly indicating to himself as he didn't want to seem childish.
"Surely there must have been some benefits that arose from that battle seven years ago."
"What benefits does thee mean? The only thing that was brought on by that plan of Evilus was the death of thousands of innocents and the near death of Alfia and Zald. I too, have personally reaped nothing but the loss of my power all due to Evilus' horrendous schemes. This one was there to witness as it all unveiled and nothing of good came out of that, a level seven which is hardly noticeable and the catastrophic damage to the city was the end result."
Everyone in the room including Ais flinched a little as none of their achievements were recognised and their powers dismissed as nothing of worthy of his attention.
"Well Ottar did beat Zald."
"A pathetic attempt if you ask me. Ottar was at the peak of level six and Zald was significantly weakened as a result of the poison that plagues his body. In his weakened state Zald only had power equivalent to when he was at the peak of level five yet Ottar was barely able to defeat him.
I cannot call that proof of his strength, it just shows how weak the mortal races have become in the past millennia. Whilst at his peak Zald alone would have been capable of crushing this city and all of its adventurers. Yet if he was to be compared to Albert's party, he would have barely been a match to Celdia in close combat who was a mage and was physically weak when compared to the rest of us. "
This caused everyone to look down in shame and stupefaction, particularly Finn as he came to realize the gap in power between him and his belief, the hero he aspires to be and the true heroes of old. They lived in a league completely different from them and they didn't have a falna.
"Wait, Bell, does that mean that Alfia and Zald are still alive? Also did something else happen seven years ago? Something that none of us are aware of?"
Everyone looked up in disbelief, not believing that Alfia and Zald had survived the ordeal seven years ago, as Ganesha suddenly started asking questions.
"Please slow down Ganesha-sama, as for the answers you seek … yes, Zald and Alfia live. Though thou shouldn't fear, as all of you are aware, they acted with the benefit of Orario in mind. After seeing their failure this one can assure you that they won't attack the city any longer."
Everyone sighed in relief to hear that they wouldn't need to fight a pair of level sevens, but also for their safety. Before they joined Evilus they were very respected and loved members, though Alfia could be a little extreme. Knowing that they hadn't turned evil was a weight off their heart and to hear that they were recovering made them happy despite what they caused seven years ago.
"As for the other question thou asked Kami Ganesha, yes, something did indeed happen, which probably none of the people in Orario are aware of. That event caused me to lose my powers. Had I not sacrificed my bo- powers, then the whole of Orario would been fulminated back to Tenkai."
Everyone froze terrified at the news that was delivered to them. Ganesha, Loki, Riveria and Finn noticed his sudden change in word but decided to pay it no mind. Evilus had nearly destroyed Orario and no one was aware of it, even after seven years.
"They aimed to make use of an ancient magic spell that used a spirit as a catalyst, activated through the sacrifice of a thousand young souls."
There was little way to misinterpret the term 'young souls' and couldn't believe that Evilus would be able to go so far and be so cruel, having the, or lack thereof, heart to sacrifice children in order to activate a magic spell.
"I'm honestly surprised that you can be so natural and carefree before a dangerous and ruthless creature such as me."
Everyone looked up with questioning gazes, Ais herself being horrified by how he described himself. Ais got up and hugged Bell from behind, as he now stood at the window looking up at the night sky. She snuggled her face in his back as the others looked on with sad gazes.
"Why do you say that, Bell? You are nothing short of a charming person if you ask me."
Loki had dropped her playful tone, calling the dragonoid Bell by his given name. But the white haired man shook his head.
"Would you be able to still say that if you discovered that Gekai used to be a much vaster land and that the cause of its disappearance was because of me?"
His gaze was stone cold and his tone lacked any of the joy it contained before. Ais wanting to change subject brought up the topic of Khaenri'ah, though that was a mistake since it was the origin of the disaster that came to be.
"Let's forget about that for now, tell me about Khaenri'ah."
Bell was about to speak up when Finn jumped from his seat.
"Khaenri'ah? You mean that great Kingdom that existed a few millennia ago?"
"Oh? Invested in my Kingdom are you?"
"Yes, of course it was a magnificent Kingdom, the biggest to have ever existed and said that it was unparalleled in all aspects, a sovereign nation that governed this whole continent. Its power reigned supreme and unparalleled for more than two millennia. Your Kingdom was … your Kingdom … your … !"
Everyone's attention slowly turned from the astounded captain of the Loki Familia to the winged man that stood at the window as he chuckled to himself.
"I suppose I shall tell you about my life and how the destruction of the other continents came to be, starting with the fall of Khaenri'ah."
Bell's eyes never left the big and shiny star that was known as the north star. It shone brightly amidst it's fellow celestial bodies making it easy to differentiate.
"The nation of Khaneri'ah, a Kingdom that came to existence around three thousand years before the dragonoid standing before you was born. The Kingdom claimed ownership of the whole of the main continent. At that time there used to be thirteen continents, now you only have six, one of which is charred earth and uninhabitable."
"Wait, can we backtrack a second. Not ta be rude, but how old are you youngster?"
Everyone turned to Gareth before nodding, agreeing with him. Even Ais had never discovered his age in the time that she spent with him.
"As far as I remember, I should be four thousand nine hundred ninety nine years old, five thousand this year."
Everyone literally fell off their seats, Loki who was sat at the table couldn't stop her head from falling and slamming onto the wooden surface. She was stupefied by the four digits. She expected him to be older than an elf, a couple centuries even, but five thousand years? That was not what she expected.
"Hey, the five thousandth birthday is really important. It is a tradition in Tenkai to hold a massive party every five thousand years. We'll have to throw a party for ya."
"… Loki, we want to listen to his story, stay quiet."
Riveria reprimanded the Goddess, bonking her down to her chair.
"As I was retelling, there are now only six of the thirteen heavenly lands that there used to be. However, we shall go in chronological order, starting with my life and how it lead to our present day.
Dragonoids age the same way humans do for the first fifteen years. After that, one could say that our aging is nearly if not completely frozen. At the tender time of my twentieth birthday, my power rose to the peak, even amongst my brethren few could match me. As such the King requested that I challenge him for the position of regent.
It is within our tradition that the strongest of our race is to be the one who leads their supreme reign over the others. Far too young and unworthy I had felt at that time. It wasn't until ten years later that I changed my way of thinking.
I chose to live by my own choices and beliefs, not to let fate hand me over the chance. This one shall motivate myself and not allow my mind to be manipulated by the wills of others. That I want to bring change to the world and listen my own voice not those of foreign souls. With that conviction this one challenged the King and won, thus inheriting his position and becoming the ruler of the nation."
Finn's curiosity always won over him when it came to heroes and legends of old. He couldn't help but ask having a live witness in front of him.
"How did your nation deal with the dungeon and wars?"
Bell turned to him briefly with a raised brow before returning his gaze to the north star, a chuckle escaping his lips, a soft smile adorning his face.
"Wars? Dungeon? Hahaha, there were no wars, there was no dungeon. They be but unknown terms back then. There were big beasts but no monsters, no villages were razed and slaughtered by the abominations of the earth."
That left everyone shocked, blown out of the water from their ignorance. A world with no wars and monsters, no dungeon that took the lives of hundreds on a daily basis? It sounded like an unattainable utopia to them, a paradise born from dreams and wishes only.
"Even the Gods don't know this since they only begun watching Gekai when the dungeon was born. Ever since the Age of Genesis, peace was all that the people knew. A thousand years after that, the Age of Kings was established, as nations were born and flourished, including Khaenri'ah. An age that lasted three thousand years with righteous and just lords.
With the end of that period came the Age of Magic, a period that started on the same day of my birth. Magic was the main source of development in a society. I peacefully reigned over the Kingdom of Khaenri'ah, coexisting with the other countries, there was no prejudice, no racism, no oppression. However, there is an end and a beginning to every story. Five hundred years after my birth, fate first started leading our countries to chaos."
That sent a shiver down everybody's back. They could feel it within them, that the story took a dark turn from there and on.
"A country, small and weak. With a weak King, that was overcame with greed and desperation, they raised their arms and attacked its neighbouring countries. That's when the term 'war' was first introduced. For the first time in history the people saw and experienced the horrors of war.
A little over a month after the Kingdom declared war, having witnessed the results of their actions they felt revolted. Dismayed by their own actions they surrendered and placed an end to that pointless conflict.
However, the damage was done and the seed planted. Hatred sprouted within the souls of people and from that day onwards battles and wars would be thought continuously. Kingdoms rose and fell. Few were the nations that persevered and withstood the test of time. It would take another five hundred years for the Ages to change, when chaos truly struck."
Everyone listened intently with bated breath.
"I personally saw the tragedy that war was. For that to not happen, strength was what I sought, to protect and guard the Kingdom was my will and desire. In order to become stronger I left the nation to venture into the northern mountains.
However, nothing is everlasting and even an overbearing power like Khaenri'ah did not withstand the trial of time. Nay, I feel that once it starts, the bigger one is, the faster one burns. I returned six months later, but what awaited me was no nation, no land, no home. The colossal and omnipotent Kingdom of Khaenri'ah, believed to be undefeatable, that ruled over the lands of Gekai, laid in ruins before my eyes.
Vanished into nothingness.
Destroyed to its core.
Obliterated overnight.
From the hill I watched a scorched land, cracked open, as fire ran rampant. The sky was blood red, the ocean was black. Cities and castles were destroyed and laid in ruin. The ten billion wisps of life were gone, nothing but their ashes were left of the little fires that were their souls. The proof of their existence.
Wherever this ancient one stumbled one found a barren land, filled with what once used to be beautiful buildings, the ruins were scattered across the once mighty nation. I arrived at the capital with hope, but it was no different in state.
No … it was worse. I arrived at the shattered throne room. The painful difference I had to withstand were my fellow dragonoids, they were statues, frozen into solid crystal by the mysterious power that crushed my nation. That is how my omnipotent race that never knew defeat was brought down, with myself being the only to still breathe."
Everyone gasped in shock at the terrifying revelation. Ganesha looked away with a pained expression. Riveria and Ais had hands covering their mouths as Finn, Gareth and Shakti looked down, lost in thought and fear as the mental imagery was enough to make their faces go pale.
"I collapsed on my knees and abided there. However, I could not reside there forever so after spending the night there, I decided to head over to the neighbouring Kingdom of Kalossia, for I had nowhere else to go. No more place to call home.
There was a prince there that I had helped in the past, during one of the many wars that raged over the lands in the past five hundred years. He received me with joy and I decided to settle down there, offering to become his advisor, guard and friend.
The next day, the prince called for me. He had sent soldiers to search the ruins of Khaenri'ah the very next day after it was laid to rubbles. The reason for which he had called me was because the soldiers never came back and the reports never came in. Worried of what might be happening he reported that to me and asked for my opinion, to which I answered that I would go there myself."
Loki raised her hand with a worried look.
"Um, Bell, before we move onto any more bad news I need to ask something, this is rude of me to ask really, but what happened to Khaenri'ah, like … what had the power to destroy your nation?"
Bell shook his head dejectedly.
"I … don't know. Nobody does. It is one of the greatest mysteries, all witnesses perished. Crumbled for unknown reasons from an unknown force. The only speculation was that it was the work of the heavenly principles."
Loki and Ganesha shot up from their seats, not believing their ears.
"You said heavenly principles?"
"Ganesha-sama, what are the heavenly principles?"
Bell also looked with a little hope in his eyes as Shakti questioned the God but it was extinguished when he shook his head.
"I'm sorry, but that is one of the few things that we don't know, not even Ouranos knows about that. The only theory we have is that it's the principle by which Tenkai lives. Just like Gekai, the world has its principles one which is upheld by nature.
Just like in Gekai, Tenkai has principles that are upheld by the nature of Tenkai and just as any mortal beings, we Gods are powerless against the nature of Tenkai. As such not even we with our Arcanum can go against the principles that are the pillars that uphold Tenkai. If it truly is or is not … we don't know. Though it does make sense, it is an otherworldly force that no one can go against."
Bell nodded with a slight smile.
"Thank you Ganesha-sama, even if it is a simple speculation, it lightens the burden over my shoulders."
The God nodded solemnly.
"Sorry for interrupting Bell, go on with the story."
"Right. This one reached the place that the soldiers were sent to. Situated at the centre of the celestial body that was known as the continent of Khaenri'ah from which came the name of my Kingdom. It was the place where Oratoria would be erected upon. Where there once was a mountain now was a gaping hole that had emerged from the depths of the earth, a tunnel that seemed to open to the deepest abyss of the earth.
It was the first time the dungeon appeared. No one knows why or how it appeared then. Was it due to the destruction of Khaenri'ah, the action took by the heavenly principal that terrified the dormant dungeon or if it was due to the world being furious with the various races waging war at each other."
That alerted everyone in the room. For the first time in history, they had the testimony of when the dungeon had first appeared. Four thousand years from their current time, the dungeon had first formed.
This was an ground breaking discovery for the adventurers in the room as they finally knew when it was created, a question that they had always asked themselves. Finn then asked a question that had been buzzing around his head.
"Umm, Argonaut-sama, what was the first monster that came out?"
"Please simply refer to me as Bell, Finn. As for the first monster to have left the dungeon … it is one that everybody knows well, far too well, particularly Ais. The first of those horrid beasts to see the light of the sun that emerged from the depths of the earth was a massive black beast … the monster that flew out was a massive black dragon clad in shiny scales."
"!"
"The black dragon was the first monster to have been born from the dungeon and to be unleashed onto the lands of Gekai. I did not give chase to the flying fortress that vanished over the horizon. That I would come to regret later in time when its power augmented and death and destruction would be the trail it left.
I would come to regret it when Albert fell before the sound of its beating wings. However, there was none of that at that moment as armies of monsters rushed out of the dungeon, quickly following after the black dragon.
I flew back to Kalossia and warned them all of the danger looming ahead. King and Prince mobilized their armies, sending word to the other neighbouring Kingdoms, informing them of the bleak foreseeable future."
Everyone could feel the sudden change in his tone, he went from soft and kind to cold and distant, those who were sat at enough of an angle to see his face, saw his eye burn with wrath and a frown forming, replacing the smile from before.
"However, that's when I learnt that the other races had grown arrogant, ignorant and selfish, believing their race to be superior to others. Some agreed, seeing the danger it presented, other narrow minded fools decided to take the chance of chaos and disorder to attack each other and expand their territories."
Riveria felt what was about to come and looked down in shame.
"The first to act were the elves. Conceited and proud, they waged war against the other nations despite having the knowledge of the danger that the monsters constituted. The continent on which the Kingdom of Kalossia was situated on, Arta, was now surrounded. On one side there were the monsters, on the other were the elves. Forced to fight a two front war alongside the other nations that lived on the continent, their strength started to flounder."
Everyone in the room felt a chill down their back, his tone and face grew dark. Finn swore he could feel the temperature in the room fall.
"I hope that what I tell thee now remains between us, though I would like to see if you can still think of me the same way you do now, once you discover the truth as to why the other continents disappeared."
They all nodded and prepared themselves, though they all had an inkling of what happened.
"This one intended to lead the armies but the honourable King of Kalossia said that this was his war to fight not mine, and that they don't have any right to ask for my help nor to accept it. So, I stood watching for two years as city to city, they retreated defeated.
Afraid to have a repeat of Khaenri'ah and losing everything I had … I-I … I destroyed the neighbouring continents, turning them to ashes or sinking them to the bottom of the blue oceans."
Everyone in the room had frozen, they gulped but had no words for the dragonoid as they heard of his actions. Several continents hundreds of times bigger than even Rakia were wiped out without leaving any trace of their existence. The only one that still lasted which provided any evidence of ancient race's strength was the continent of Yulan.
Half as big as Khaenri'ah, the continent now generalised as Gekai where Orario, Telskyura, Rakia and the empire existed on, Yulan was shattered by the strength of a single blow at the centre of its land. The other continents that were left were small and mostly abandoned, with only few small civilizations living on them, but due to their size they were recategorized as large islands.
"That is the truth and the Gods can attest to that."
Ais who had been listening from behind him, tightened her grip on Bell, hugging him from behind. She smiled softly as she snuggled her face into his back. Bell turned around and patted Ais' head as she tried to cheer him up.
"Honestly, who cares, they were foolhardy and arrogant attacking others despite the monster threat as well as knowing your strength. They forced your hand in this matter, don't mind it."
Gareth spoke his thoughts with a stern face yet a gentle tone in support of his actions.
"That's what the others thought as well. One who ruthlessly obliterated countries and lands, not differentiating between military and civilians. There was no mercy, only death and extinction yet the people cheered for me. They hailed me as a hero who brought justice and saved the world.
Conflicted by my actions this one decided to watch over the starting and final moments of the prince as he took over the Kingdom and lived his life. When his life came to a closure, I left the Kingdom and vanished from the eyes of the world. Regrettably not too long after that, the Kingdom of Kalossia succumbed to the mauls of the monsters.
With the fall of one of the strongest Kingdoms, the Age of Monsters started with monsters growing in both number and strength. For a thousand years I selfishly lived a quiet and peaceful life on storm spire a large mountain that pierced the sky, where no monsters dared to intrude.
While I, the one who used to be the guardian of peace for the various races, lived peacefully, the people of Gekai suffered terrible losses at the hands of the monsters for an entire millennia, before this one became the first hero of the Age of Heroes.
Obviously this is a very short summary of my story, I left out a lot of details and skipped many centuries of my life, to not discuss that I have yet to move onto the Age of Heroes. However, mine story as the Argonaut is for another day. It is getting rather late as of today."
Everyone nodded,
"yea, I think we also need time to digest what you told us, even for us Gods that was quite the discovery. If you were to tell us about the Age of Heroes as well, heh, I don't think that we'd be able to handle it … uhm, last question. It's a bit private really, and there is no need to answer it, but how many lovers did you get these past five millennia?"
""Loki!""
Everyone shouted at the nosy Goddess, but Shakti, Ais and Riveria would be lying if they said that they weren't curious about it as well. Mostly Ais and Shakti.
"Hmm, I had a dragonoid girlfriend before she was laid to rest alongside Khaenri'ah."
Loki frowned and immediately regretted asking looking down in shame, remembering how he lost everyone who was dear to him when Khaenri'ah collapsed. Everyone else in the room fell silent whilst Bell spoke with a soft smile adorning his face.
"Her name was Skyla. She had bright yet deep blue hair that reminded me of the night sky, always using some fancy hairstyle. She was truly unique, with one eye being a mix of a cyan blue and a dark navy blue, while her other eye shone with a mix of violet and jade green.
She was loyal, generous and kind but a bit of a battle junkie. After seeing her soul being extinguished I didn't fall in love with anyone, I refused to do so, until the Age of Heroes begun, in which as you are all aware I married princess Ariadne, Ryuulu, Orna as well as her sister Elmina. The only other people with which I had a relationship with and the last that I had a relationship with were Celdia and Evelda."
Bell spoke as he placed his hand over his chest as he reminisced. Ais hadn't moved from her place and kept hugging Bell from behind snuggling her face into his back as he narrated his story.
"Oni- Bell? Earlier before you looked really sad when talking about dad. What did you mean by that?"
"Hmm? As I have narrated, he was a great friend and brother to me. I still miss–"
"Not that. When we were alone before and were speaking about dad, you said that you experienced … a repeat of Khaenri'ah … w-why is that?"
"Haa. It's about my regret, about the dragon. I regret not killing the dragon when it was first born. That error of judgement came to strike me back nearly three thousand years later … and I still regret it to this day. That choice I made … was what lead me to feel again the wounds of the past. Fate had it so that I was put into the same situation.
I watched as the place I called home was set ablaze, the people turned to ash, Albert along them. It is ironic really … back then when Kalossia was in danger, I was afraid to lose everything, so I destroyed the nations which presented a threat, alongside millions of innocents.
When the dragon came I was afraid to lose everything again, however, I was also terrified of making the same mistake, to destroy everything and cause grieve to others. Albert knew that well and for that, he sent me, Evelda and Celdia away.
I did not know that the dragon would come, but they did, they knew all along. Whilst stuck in the swirling mess that my mind was, the dragon struck. I realized too late, unable to stop me, Celdia and Evelda followed me back to Oratoria.
I arrived but this one was too late and wailed on my knees as everything was erased before my eyes. Albert was gone, Aria lost … and you, little one, vanished. Oratoria was razed and the dragon had left. That's how Oratoria fell. Renamed, the new bastion that was born was Orario."
Everyone was yet again surprised to hear the history of Oratoria and how it had been destroyed in the past. That the reborn city was how Orario originated. This was particularly interesting for Loki and Ganesha as they too didn't know about this. No stories or mentions of this were found in any records of the last millennia.
Loki, Ganesha and the others were very curious. Right in front of them now was the only source and witness of the history before the end of the Age of the Heroes. However, they abstained from questioning him any further. Bell had talked a lot about the past and there were a lot of painful memories which weighed heavily on his mind and guilt. They too needed a break to digest and process the information given to them.
"Well, let's call it a night. It's late and we asked you a lot, you must be tired."
Everyone agreed at Finn's proposal as Bell activated his artifact and his appearance reverted back to his blonde version.
"Before we go though, let's sign an alliance between our Familias!"
Everyone turned to Loki, surprised at the bombshell of a news that she had just piledrove into the closing conversation. This made Ganesha and Shakti in particular very elated at the news. Loki was the second strongest Familia and Ganesha was by far the largest one. This alliance would have made the two Familias the strongest in Orario.
Freya only had one level seven, three level six and four level fives. Loki on the other hand had three level six and four level five. The rest of the lacking power could be compensated by Ganesha's eleven level fives. Unless Freya allied herself with Ishtar, which was the most impossible of occurrences then there was no one who could challenge them.
"I am Ganesha! And I approve!"
Ais' eyes shone like stars hearing that, as it meant that it would allow her to be closer to Bell. Without giving Bell enough time to brace himself, she tackled him down to the ground with her level five strength.
"Loki, can I sleep over at Ganesha's home with Bell?"
The Goddess didn't want to be separated from Ais but her cute expression and her never before seen happiness made it hard to deny her that request. Her head slowly turned to Ganesha who nodded causing her to sigh.
"Fine, but don't cause trouble."
"Yes!"
Finn, Riveria, Gareth and Loki were very interested to see how Ais would change now that Bell had appeared. Before today, she would barely smile, would shut up like a clam and never laugh. Never taking any interest in anything other than the dungeon and someone's rate of growth in strength. Now she shone like a sun, smiling and laughing, acting like a little girl. Though shy at times, she is straightforward, tackling Bell down whenever she is too happy to put her thoughts into words.
.
Ais, Bell, Shakti and Ganesha were now walking back to their Familia home together. The moon was high up in the sky and a gentle breeze swept through the streets. The surroundings were quiet and empty, most were now long asleep, settling for a very calm and relaxing environment.
Ais clung onto Bell's arm, glued to it half in fear of losing him again, half in joy of seeing him again. Bell smiled gently whilst looking at the blonde head that was leaning on his shoulder. Ganesha and Shakti were close in front of them, leading them back to their I Am Ganesha manor … or statue like home.
"Umm, Ganesha-sama?"
"Just Ganesha, Bell."
"Ganesha. Does one have to wear that orange uniform? It's a bit revealing for my likes."
"Normally yes …"
Shakti continued the God's sentence.
"All members have to until level four. Level fours and on, normally get personalised ones as they near the executive rank. Though we'll make an exception for you, especially considering those scars you have. Though I am curious, how you got those scars, most of them were fake this much I realised as they disappeared after you undid the illusionary spell right? However, those few that you do have how could anyone harm you?"
"Ah yes, that is most correct. The only scars on my body that are true are the large cross one over my chest and the diagonal one across my back. Other than that there is a scarce amount of small ones but they are insignificant. The small ones were procured by training and sparring with other dragonoids. The large ones are memories of old monsters before and after meeting Albert."
"There were monsters that were able to harm you?"
"Old monsters, born before the time of the dungeon's emergence. They were mighty powerful, much more than the ones today. In all fairness the Black Dragon somewhat pales when compared to those beasts and it wasn't anything of special when it was first born, a hardly noticeable monster. To put into context, excluding those that injured me, two average monster of those days, this one dares observe that they could bring down Ottar."
Shakti and Ais nearly tripped hearing that. Ottar who was considered to be the strongest and was known to be undefeated, could be taken down by just two ordinary monsters? Thinking on it, Ais and Shakti realised just how terrifying of a world Gekai used to be.
"Back then, the mortal races used to be much more powerful and mine self doesn't mean just humans. One speaks of humans, elves, dwarves and beast races alike. For thou to understand, it is now common knowledge that a dwarf can lift a boulder their size.
However that but a false fact back then. During the Age of Heroes that was the normal standard for humans, dwarves on the other hand could lift a boulder five times their size. One as long-lived as myself knows not the reason as to why the races of Gekai have grown so weak over the past five millennia, little have I paid attention to that. Before I knew it, the people of Gekai could barely defeat such weak monsters."
"So even goblins were that powerful?"
"Huh? What might a goblin be?"
Everyone stopped in their tracks and looked at Bell.
"Wait, you don't know what a goblin is?"
"Never heard or saw one I believe."
"Green little monsters, ugly and smelly."
Bell thought about it as Ais made a description of it but no memory of such a monster resurfaced in his mind.
"No, not really."
"Argo onii-chan? What monsters were there?"
Ganesha and Shakti snickered at the taken aback expression of Bell as he heard Ais use an old nickname.
"If little one is asking about the weakest and most common monster … then one would say that the black valgang dragons were certainly the ones."
That alerted both Shakti and Ais knowing how terrifying those dragons were, since they were the strongest known monsters that the dungeon spawned, yet he called their black version the weakest. It made their faces lose all their colour.
"T-then which was the strongest?"
"The strongest this one has faced was Nidhogg."
"You mean that monster of the legends?! Said to be more terrifying than the One Eyed Black Dragon?!"
"Yes, the monster that makes the Black Dragon pale when compared side to side. Even to this day, myself cannot imagine the Black Dragon to stand a chance against it. An abomination … the symbol of death and destruction. The strongest beast that I have thought, by far. Tis also the one that handed me the cross scar on my chest."
"Did you defeat it?"
"Yes, under the request of the six Great Spirits, I aided the ancient ones in subduing the dragon. An adventure that one left out when reviewing this one's past. Too long of a story."
Shakti held her head with her hand over her forehead as a headache started pulsating.
"Alright, I really need a break from all of this. Bell, tomorrow we'll register you at the Guild and will inform you on the dungeon and the monsters which will be unfamiliar to you. We'll also discuss what you will be doing. I'm not really sure what to make you do. Patrol? Guard? Send you in the dungeon like an adventurer or have you help the Guild. You will also have to meet Ouranos, he will be very interested in you."
"Very well, I shall go rest for a long day seems to await me."
As they arrived at the manor Bell and Ais were left alone as Ganesha and Shakti went to their respective rooms. Though Bell quickly took notice that Ais didn't seem to want to detach herself from him as her grasp on him was as strong as ever before.
"Umm Ais? I wouldst like to go and rest."
"I know."
"…"
"…"
"Wilt thou not let go?"
"What are you talking about Argo nii-chan. I'm sleeping with you."
"Eh?"
~To Be Continued
Hey~
I hope you enjoyed, do tell me your thoughts in the comments and now question time
So, how was it?
Surprised? Just in case some are still wondering, no Bell is not Ais' brother
What do you think Bell hid when he revealed his presence in Orario seven years prior?
Considering context and having read the story ... AisxBell?
What do you think about his relationships with the other characters?
Final question. Shall I bring Skyla back to life?