Is It Wrong to try to pick up Girls in a Dungeon? Aftermath (Short Story) Part 1
Characters:
Bell Cranel
Hestia
Ais Wallenstein
Lilliluka Arde
Welf Crozzo
Mikoto Yamato
Haruhime Sanjōno
Loki
Finn Deimne
Bete Loga
Riveria Ljos Alf
Gareth Landrock
Tione Hiryute
Tiona Hiryute
Lefiya Viridis
Eina Tulle
The Disbanding a Familia:
Bell Carnel could not believe what he was hearing and he guessed neither did the others. Hestia, their Goddess had just made an announcement that caused them all to stare at her in shock. She was disbanding the Familia. He slumped onto the couch and was unable to speak. 'W...W...Why?" He stammered out as he shook his head in disbelief that perhaps he misunderstood what his Goddess had just said. She smiled at him.
"I have been asked to by Ouranos. There is something that I must attend to and...and it requires that I be away for a time. A very long time." Hestia told them feeling tears well up in her eyes. Ouranos had informed her that what she had to do could take possibly fifty to a hundred years to accomplish. She could not leave her Familia that long with the hope that it would or could function without her.
"We could go with you?" Mikoto Yamato suggested and Hestia shook her head.
"No. Where I have to go...it is not a place Mortals may tread. I am sorry but I need to go on this errand. I wish I could tell you where I am going and why I am doing this. But I cannot." Hestia glanced at the others and noticed each one had tears running down their cheeks. She felt her own tears streaming down her own cheeks and had an overwhelming urge to burst into tears. She inhaled and held back her sadness.
"But Goddess...please don't leave us." Bell asked and Hestia tried to smile over at him. She exhaled with a sigh and lowered her gaze.
"I need to Bell..I know it is hard...but I really need to go. I shall return and perhaps by then if the Fates will it. I can reform my Familia and have your Grandchildren join my Familia." Hestia said thinking about the future. By the time she returned if she could in fifty years, if they are still alive would be too old to rejoin her Familia as active members. "Now I have asked. Mikoto..Saki has offered to take you back and if you Haruhime want to join his Familia he is willing to take you as well. Welf...Hephaistos has offered the same to you. Lili she is willing to take you as well." She swallowed back her grief and looked over at Bell. "They, Maich and Hermes all want you Bell. So...I cannot do this." She ran from the room crying uncontrollably. Bell stood there for several moments unable to even believe what Hestia had just said. He went to speak with her and try to convince her not to do this, but she was gone. Disappeared without a trace.
"Shes gone." Bell whispered and turned to look at the others. Tears streamed down his face in buckets as he noticed all the others were crying as well. None of them knew what to do and since he needed to be alone. He left and went to the Wall were he would meet and train with Ais Wallenstein from time to time. Needing to mourn and think.
The Wall:
The Sun was setting as Bell stood on the Wall and peered at the Tower of Babel. He had no idea what to do now. In all intents and purposes, he was no longer in a Familia. In fact after another week he would not even have a home anymore. Hestia had signed over the Family Home to Hephaistos to pay off the debt that was owed. Soon even his Friends would have to leave as well to join other Familias. Though they would still be his friends. So in essence he was back to square one, except he still had the Hestia Knife and his Armor. Beyond that he had nothing. In his musing he did not even hear the other approach. "Is there something wrong Bell?" Ais Wallenstein asked as she stepped up next to him. He closed his eyes and turned slightly. Not wanting her to see that he had been crying.
"Have you heard, Miss Ais?" Bell asked her back and Ais shook her head.
"Heard what?" Ais asked, he inhaled deeply.
"Hestia has disbanded...the Familia." Bell replied sadly and then felt her hand rest on his right shoulder.
"Your Goddess disbanded...your Familia. Why?" Ais asked completely shocked and confused. He shook his own head and exhaled with a deep sigh.
"She said she had to...now I...I have no idea what to do." Bell gazed downward and slumped slightly in despair. "Gods Takemikazuchi, Miach, Hermes and Goddess Hephaistos has offered to let me join their Familias. But I...I do not know if I should." He bit his bottom lip and sagged down to sit on the stone Wall floor. "Which one do you think I should join now that there is no Hestia Familia?" He asked her and she smiled slightly. Sitting down next to him.
"I could ask Loki to let you join the Loki Familia." Ais suggested and he looked over at her. She noticed his red rimmed eyes and her heart went out to him. Wanting and needing to comfort him. He smiled coyly and shook his head.
"I doubt that Finn Deimne would accept me, not after that fiasco with the Monsters. Actually I doubt that Loki would either, because she probably knows how I feel about you." Bell said softly and Ais nodded subtly. Suspecting that Loki also knew how she felt about him and that meant that her Goddess would never let him be that close to her. But she was not ready to give up on that idea. She wanted him in the Loki Familia and she intended to have him there. She needed him there. For he was important to her.
"Let me speak with them both. If they both agree...will you join the Loki Familia?" Ais asked him with a small encouraging smile. "Please Bell if they agree...join the Loki Familia. I would like you to." She pleaded slightly and with a small nod, he agreed. Taking him back to her Familia's home, she escorted him past the two Guards that for a brief second considered stopping them. But one placid glare from her and they were smart enough not to try. Once inside she had him sit and wait in one of the side rooms. "Can you wait here. I should be back in a few minutes." She shut the door and as she began to climb the stairs one of her closest friends was coming down. "Lefiya. Could you do me a favor?" She asked the young Elf, who beamed at her happily.
"Of course Ais. Anything you want." Lefiya Viridis said with a huge smile. Ais smiled back at her.
"In that room there. Bell Carnel is waiting. Could you keep him company and make sure he does not wander off?" Ais asked her and the Elf scowled. Then nodded. Grumbling inaudibly as she went to the door and with a final grumble opened it stepping inside then she shut the door. The Sword Princess climbed the stairs and headed for the Meeting Room that Finn used as an Office.
When Bell looked over at the opening door, he was not expecting for the Cute Elf to come in and scowl at him. Yes he thought she was cute, even when she made it apparent that she did not like him. "Ais asked me to keep you company." Lefiya stated then stood at the door with her arms crossed in front of her. Still scowling at him. He exhaled softly and looked back out the nearby window. "She did not tell me. Why are you here?" She finally asked after several uncomfortable moments of silence. He turned his head to look at her and then she noticed small tears running down his cheeks.
"My...My Goddess disbanded...the Familia." Bell chocked out and then returned to looking out the window. "Miss Ais wants to see if I can join yours." Lefiya stiffened.
"You have some nerve to ask Ais to let you join the Loki Familia." Lefiya stated and he shook his head.
"No I did not ask her. In fact I doubt that Goddess Loki or Finn Deimne will let me anyhow. So I...I should just go." Bell stood fully intending to leave.
"You are not going anywhere. Ais told me not to let you wander off." Lefiya declared sternly, but she smiled warmly at him. "Not until she tells me you can go." He halfway smiled and then closed his eyes. Accepting that he could not just leave.
0
Upstairs Ais laid out what she wanted to Finn, Riveria and Gareth. That she wanted them to help her to get Loki to accept Bell Carnel into the Loki Familia. She suspected that Bell had been right about Finn. The Commander of their Familia was still holding a small grudge against Bell for role that he had played to help the Monsters escape back into the Dungeon. In essence Bell had wounded the Pallum's pride. Something she knew that he would not forgive quickly. "I have to know. Why do you want Bell Carnel to join our Familia?" Riveria asked and Ais looked over at her.
"He...He is important to me." Ais replied, blushing as she lowered her gaze down to the floor. She then began to twirl her thumbs around each other anxiously. The three chuckled and she glared at them.
"Well I for one think he would make a fine addition to our Familia." Gareth said and Ais smiled over at him.
"As do I. Mainly due to that if Ais likes him this much and willing to ask. Then there is hope that she may become closer to him." Riveria said then winked over at Ais who blushed again.
"My thumb is twitching. I would have to believe that he does need guidance. A lot of guidance. From what I have observed he is too brash. He rushes in without considering the consequences way too often." Finn remarked debating whether or not to actually accept him. Yes he still felt a bit discomforted about the recent fiasco with the Monsters that had escaped his Familia. He did not like to lose and he had lost the chance to regain the Loki Familia's pride and honor.
"We should consider the benefits of having him join us. He has leveled up rather quickly and I for one would like to discover how he was able to do this. With him in our Familia we could discover the reasons for such rapid growth." Riveria commented and she noticed that even Ais would like to learn that secret. "There is also the fact that if we do not accept him. Ais there may become upset at us for a long time." She smiled again at Ais who again blushed.
"There is one thing we are all are forgetting about. It will take a lot of convincing to get Loki to go along with this. She knows that you Ais have feelings for him. She may not want you two to be within the same Familia." Finn said, all there knew that their Goddess had a serious infatuation with Ais. So much so that she had openly threatened to tear anyone apart that showed any Romantic interest in Ais.
"I will handle Loki." Ais stated firmly.
"How Ais?" Riveria asked and Ais looked over at her.
"If she declines..then wherever Bell goes...I will go with him. I will leave the Loki Familia." Ais declared and the three others gasped. Riveria chuckled finding it funny that Ais had finally started to act like a normal Girl for once. She wanted to encourage that.
"Then let us go speak with Loki." Finn stood and the four of them left the room. Finding Loki in another room, drinking some of the Soma Wine that was another reject batch.
Downstairs Bell kept debating whether he should not just leave. He was still believing that neither Loki or Finn Deimne would even consider Ais's request. Not with his aiding the Wiene and the others as he did. Sure after his fight with the Black Minotaur he was essentially cleared of being considered a traitor. But some would never forgive him and Finn Deimne was clearly one that would hold him responsible no matter what public opinion stated. He tensed and considered just jumping out the Window. "Do not even think about it. Ais told me to keep you here and you are not leaving until she says you can." Lefiya said with a small coy smile. She had noticed him eyeing the Window a lot and knew he was debating just leaving that way. If she had to, she would subdue him with a spell to make sure he did not escape.
"I am having second thoughts about this. I do not want to inconvenience Miss Ais as much as I probably am." Once more Bell braced himself to stand, but the young Elf gave him a placid intimidating glare and he relaxed back onto the couch.
"She told me to ensure you do not wander off and I am not about to let you wander off. Now sit there and wait for her to come back." Lefiya ordered him, removing her Magic staff from behind her and pointing it at him threateningly. "If you even try to leave..I will blast you with one of my most devastating spells." She told him with a small smirk.
Loki downed two more filled glasses one right after another. Finn had just told her what Ais wanted and she did not like it. Did not like it at all. Though she was curious like them about his rapid growth. Not even Ais had progressed as fast as Bell Carnel had in such a short amount of time. Then there was the fact that he was Hestia's favorite. "I have one question. Why is Hestia allowing him to join my Familia?" She asked.
"According to Bell...Hestia has disbanded her Familia. She has left and he has no idea where she went." Ais said and Loki gasped.
"She left? Does he know when she will be back?" Loki asked with concern. Sure she outwardly liked to torment Hestia. But without Hestia around then who would she torment and have Hestia torment her back. Ais shook her head.
"What he told me. It could be fifty years or longer. That is why I..I would like him to join our Familia." Ais said and decided it was time. "If you do not allow him to..then wherever he goes..I will go." She stated firmly and Loki glared at her.
"Does this Bell Carnel mean that much to you?" Loki asked now really not liking the prospect of him joining her Familia. Ais nodded. "Fine! But if he pulls anything like he had done before. Then I will kick him out personally." She poured herself another cup and drank it down. "Bring him here and I will give him my blessing." That was all Ais had to hear, she left and headed down to get Bell.
Kneeling with his Back to Loki, Bell looked about to see Finn Deimne, Riveria Ljos Alf, Gareth Landrock, Lefiya and Ais all watching as Loki gave him her blessing. When done she looked over his Stats and then gasped audibly staggering back away from him wide eyed. "It cannot be." Loki whispered. Then looked again. "It is..It is..Liaris Freese. One of his Skills is Liaris Freese. But that is impossible. That skill has not been...there it is right there." Finn stepped closer as did Riveria.
"What is this Liaris Freese?" Gareth asked and Loki looked up from staring at Bell's back.
"In simple terms it basically is Fast Growth, spurned by his Emotions. The Stronger his Emotions the faster he grows." Loki said and Bell looked back at her. She could see from his confused expression that he did not know about that Skill. "Hestia never told you?" She asked him and he shook his head. She was breathing hard as she looked back at his Stats. "What is even more amazing is that he also has the Skill Argonaut. Otherwise known as Heroes Aspiration. None have ever had both of those Skills that I have heard of." She smiled picked up a piece of paper and copied everything upon it. Then handed it to Riveria so she could look at it as well.
"Can his Skills be transferred to another?" Finn asked, he had once heard it was possible for certain Gods and Goddesses could do that. Loki shook her head.
"Not these...I do not know anyone who can do that. Sure if it was something else...I probably could. But these...no they are...they are generally bestowed upon those that are extremely special." Loki walked over and after several minutes found a book. Flipping through pages she found the passage she was looking for. "Okay I was right. Geez kid..I got to say I was reluctant to let you join...now I am more then excited that I listened to Ais." She put the book back. Smiling broadly at him and Ais. Bell put his Shirt back on and swallowed heavily.
"Uhm...Goddess..I would like to ask a favor." Bell said wondering because he had just became a Member of the Loki Familia if he actually could.
"Already. Well go ahead and ask. I may do it or I may not. It all depends on what it is." Loki sat down on the desk and waited with her arms crossed in front of her.
"I would like to continue to go on Adventures and Quests with my friends. Lilliluka Arde, Welf Crosso, Mikoto Yamato and Haruhime Sanjōno. I know they all are going to be in different Familias..but they are my friends and I..I just want to continue going on Adventures and Quests with them." Bell did not know how to explain it completely so he just hoped that Loki would understand.
"Hmm that is quite an interesting request or rather Favor. Let me think about it for awhile." Loki looked over at Finn who simply shrugged. She could tell that he did not have any problem with that. Though if she did allow him to, she would want to assign someone to make sure he stayed out of trouble. Ais would be a perfect choice, but she was reluctant to let them be that close. She dare not separate the Twins and Bete was too unstable. Her eyes fell onto Lefiya. "She will do. If I agree." She began thinking that perhaps she could sway it that Bell become interested in Lefiya. That would keep him and Ais from getting closer. "That might work out perfectly."
"Ais please show Bell to a Room if you will." Finn said and before she could, Loki stopped them.
"I need to speak to you Ais. Lefiya could you show him to a room and then give him a tour of our Famila Home." Loki stated and she noticed Lefiya's reluctance then with an audible exhale walked over to Bell.
"Right this way." Lefiya said evenly, gesturing to the door. Once they were gone, Loki smiled.
"I am going to grant him his Request after I speak his friends Familias to make sure they will allow it. To that end I am going to have Lefiya keep an eye on him." Loki said and Finn smiled liking the idea. He also was reluctant to just let Bell Carnel continue to go on Quests and Adventures without any supervision.
"That is a good idea Goddess. We need to ensure that Lefiya reports any times that Bell Carnel does something questionable." Finn added and all but Ais agreed. She wanted to be the one assigned to him. "Ais I do not believe you would be able to be as subjective as Lefiya would be. As I had said before you have supported him too often and that may not be acceptable right now. We do need to ensure he does not do anything questionable since he is now a member of our Familia." Ais hung her head.
"I understand. But still I would like to join him and his friends when they do go on Adventures. When I have time and we are not going on any ourselves." Ais said and Finn nodded.
"That can be arranged. As long as you abide by that Lefiya will report any problems." Finn looked over at Loki who was not happy with the idea. But agreed.
0
Lefiya showed him a Room and it was about the same as the one Bell had back at the Hestia Mansion. He looked about the room and then went to the window. He was at least five stories up. So he could not sneak out if push comes to shove that way. "Here is the rules." Lefiya opened a drawer in one of the stands and removed a piece of paper. On it was a list of rules. "The most important one is that unless you are on an Adventure or unless it is authorized by Finn, Riveria or Gareth. There is a curfew." The young Elf glared at him. "So do not even think about breaking that one by sneaking out anytime soon." She handed him the paper and turned to leave. "By the way. I still do not like you." With that she left.
With an audible exhale, Bell sat down on the bed. He would have to go back home or rather what was once his home to get his gear, clothes and Armor. At the same time talk to the others in case Loki will let him and the others still go on Adventures together. It made sense to him that he should be able to, since in the beginning that was how it was with Welf and Lili. They all were from different Familias. But they were his friends and he wanted to continue being their friend. Right now though he was trying to figure out why Hestia never told him about what was essentially his first real skill. Liaris Freese. It confused him why she would not tell him. A knock on the door interrupted his musings. Opening it he saw Ais standing there. "I came to see if you are doing alright." Ais said and he shook his head.
"I am not sure if this was a good idea. I do not feel comfortable here." Bell admitted and Ais smiled at him.
"In time I hope you will. You are now part of the Loki Familia and I will help you as much as I can so that you feel at home here. Now if you would like. I would go with you to get your things from.." Ais trailed off noticing his sad expression. He nodded and with her besides him they walked to what was once the Hestia Familia Home. After talking to the others who immediately agreed to the idea of still going on Adventures and Quests together. Promising to ask their new Familias about it. He went to pack his meager possessions. Ais stood at the door and watched him. She believed she would feel the same if she had left the Loki Familia to live somewhere else. So she did not say anything while he packed. She could tell he was unhappy about the whole situation. When he was done and had a medium sized bag slung over his left shoulder they walked back to the Loki Familia home. Where he paused at the Gate. She reached back and clasped his right hand in hers, which caused him to gasp audibly. "Come Bell. It will be alright. Trust me." She gently pulled him inside and continued to hold his hand until he was back at his room. She remained for a time chit chatting, so that he would not feel lonely.
Laying on his bed, Bell tried to sleep but just could not doze off. Ais had left a good hour ago and he still was feeling a giddy that she had held his hand. It was like a dream come true. During while they talked, she had inquired about the other day. When Naaza Erisuis first petted him, then Aisha Belka hugged him inappropriately while an Elf she knew was Ryu Lion tried to separate them and finally Eina Tulle said something about him taking her for granted. Only seeing her when he needed something from her. All of it made Ais think he was some sort of Playboy or Womanizer. While he stuttered and stammered about it being all a misunderstanding, he soon discovered that Ais was just teasing him to make him feel better. Which in a way it did. Though he did notice something he had seen in Hestia's eyes several times now in Ais's. A small glimmer of jealousy. That had to make him wonder and gave him a huge glimmer of hope that he could have a chance to be more then just friends with Ais.
The End to be continued later in another Story
