The Song and Bells of Hope
Chapter 2
If I'm being honest, I was seriously not expecting all the positive feedback from that first chapter, like wow. Thank you so much for all of that and firstly I'd like to say I am incredibly sorry for my lateness in releasing this chapter. I had intended to do so a lot sooner but I ended up falling into a bit of a slump and it was hard for me to continue to write something I genuinely enjoyed, a problem that you will probably be able to see with the beginning of the chapter. Anyways I'll go into a bit more detail at the end of the chapter note about this particular one, along with the future of this story.
Lotta love for Bell x Lefiya though, which I found very nice, the pair just kind of compliment each other well so it's nice to see so many of you agree. Honestly the big challenge for the two I feel will be diverging their attention from the same damn girl, which is sort of funny when you think about it. Anyways I have ideas in mind but that's for me to know and for you to read in the future, okay now let's begin shall we?
"Wait, your rival?"
"Yeah! What? Think I'm not good enough to be your rival?"
"No, no, I just didn't think someone as skilled as you would ever consider me to be your rival."
Lefiya and Bell had sat upon the wall talking for a little close to two hours now, each thoroughly enjoying the other's company as they told of their respective adventures. Bell told her about how when he first came to Orario every familia rejected him, to which the girl had a hard time controlling her laughter. She told him about her first time on the Deep levels of the Dungeon and how she kept making mistakes, and while she was expecting to hear the boy laugh at her mistakes down there he instead seemed to be understanding and a bit excited to hear her talk more about her experience down there. They talked about their various adventures since coming to the center of the world, that is the dungeon city. Of course both avoided telling the other about a few of their adventures in which they were specifically ordered not to tell anyone about them by either their familias or the Guild . Neither could think of a moment in the last few weeks when they were able to just be this carefree and have a genuinely nice time.
"I'm pretty sure that they're might be a considerable number of people who consider you a rival."
"Eh? What makes you say that?"
"...Are you an idiot Bell?"
"What did I do?!"
"You've been in Orario for how long again?"
"Uh I think around six months...?"
"And what level are you now?"
"Level Four...oh…"
"Hahaha Bell you seriously might be a bit of an idiot!"
While Lefiya was laughing at the boy's slow realization, Bell could only let his head fall as he sighed in defeat. He had completely forgotten that his growth was, in fact, abnormal, and that there were probably more than one adventurer out there who was envious of him. When he did raise his head up though he could only muster up a small smile when he saw the beautiful girl, who not that long ago had been in so much pain, laughing at the boy's oversight.
"I honestly didn't think my fast growth would be enough to make me your rival though...even though we are now at the same level…"
"To be honest that wasn't the main thing that made me want to be your rival."
"Eh? What was it then?"
"...Miss Aiz."
The two hadn't directly brought up the topic of Aiz Wallenstein for their own respective reasons up until this point. For Bell, he knew by this point that whenever he was around Aiz or she came up in past conversations between the elf and him, she would often get upset with him and even go so far as to threaten him. He figured that if he cherished this new found friendship he should tread lightly unless he wanted to end up getting a face full of her infamous Arcs Ray. Lefiya on the other hand didn't know if she really wanted to talk about the Sword Princess with the boy. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she knew that Bell admired and possibly even fell for Aiz and got jealous when she saw the two of them training together in secret, which gained him the position of being her rival in the first place. While this thought would usually bring out her anger with the boy all she could really say now is that she didn't want to ruin this little moment between the two. With this in mind she decided to test the waters and see how he would react to hearing Aiz being brought up in the conversation.
"What about...Miss Aiz?"
"Oh! I uh…"
Lefiya overlooked a single fact.
Wait! How do I just say "I saw you two together and got jealous that she was spending her time with you?!"
She realized that the answer to Bell's question could very well out her for her adoration towards Aiz. Now she was put into a bit of mental anguish here. Does she just come out and say it or does she try and lie her way out? She knew the latter was a bad option just for the plain fact that she wasn't the best liar, though not nearly as bad as Bell. The former option was equally, if not even more, terrible. Not only would she have to tell Bell, someone who most definitely had feelings for the Sword Princess, about her own feelings, but she would also make the exchange between the two super awkward.
Beginning to feel a bit of distress as she tried to desperately come up with an answer that wouldn't result in some awkward outcome, Bell noticed the girl's expression shift ever so slightly as a silence soon overtook the two. A silence that wouldn't last too long.
Maybe she doesn't want to bring up Aiz either? Or maybe she just doesn't know how to answer that question…? She seems to be trying to figure out what to say...and having a hard time with it, that's for sure...um what do I do in this situation...?
Bell watched Lefiya wrack her brain trying to come up with a good answer to her question, he finally decided to speak up.
"She...Miss Aiz has helped me so much."
"...Eh?"
"I'm not sure if you know...or if I should be telling you...but she has trained me a lot. Right before your expedition a few months back she trained me until you all left and then she also trained me prior to my War Game against the Apollo Familia...honestly if it weren't for her help I would have died a long time ago...I just hope one day I can help her as much as she's helped me…and maybe...maybe I can stand beside her..."
The boy decided to talk about Aiz since she was brought up and of course he left out the fact that he might have fallen for the Sword Princess but right now he thought it would be rude to try and push Lefiya to answer him. Plus totally changing the topic would be a bit weird, he wanted to be open with her, of course he didn't want to admit to his crush on Aiz but regardless being upfront was the best option to him.
Clouds passed overhead as the two sat there in a bit of an awkward silence, one thing Lefiya wanted to avoid. Bell looked up in the sky, partially to avoid any eye contact with the girl, and admired the beauty of the weather. He knew talking about Aiz was a risky move but he didn't want to see Lefiya in any more mental anguish. Bell would always put the well being of someone else, especially a pretty girl's, over his own. That was just the way he was raised to be. That didn't mean he wasn't afraid Lefiya would get mad at him for talking about Aiz though, he was actually ready to start running as soon as he heard the beautiful fairy start to sing.
"...We really are alike."
"Huh...?"
As soon as the words escaped Bell's mouth that was all Lefiya could really say in response. For once she wasn't mad about hearing how the boy felt towards Aiz Wallenstein, well that wasn't completely true but right now she mainly felt like she understood something about Bell Cranel.
He wants to be able to stand by her, to fight with her, to help her...to protect her. That's just like me. He's...not all that bad of a person...he's just a foolish, and yet very kind boy. He's open about how he feels, he puts others before himself, and he doesn't know when to stop. I think it's only fair if I'm just as straightforward.
"That day you first started training with Aiz, you ran into me and I chased thinking that you knew something about where she had disappeared to that day."
"Oh yeah...I remember that."
"When you escaped me I was actually able to come across the two of you training. I saw you and her fighting right at this very spot, that's actually how I know about this place."
"You saw us?"
"Yeah I did, and when I did I was upset. I thought some no named adventurer was taking advantage of Aiz's kindness or that you were just a filthy human trying to take Aiz away from us."
"Wh-what?!"
"More than anything though I was...jealous. When I first found out I decided to confront Aiz and made a deal with her. I wouldn't tell the familia as long as she trained me too, I thought then I would be able to get closer to her. But...but over that week whenever she would talk about you and how fast you were growing I felt so jealous! She always seemed to have a good time talking about the training between you two and it made me always want to push further than you, go faster than you! That's why I made you my rival!"
To say Bell was shocked would be an understatement.
He listened to Lefiya's honest and true feelings, a part of him looked at the girl in awe and another part in guilt. She was honest, upfront, and passionate, in truth it was hard not to feel some sort of amazement when he looked at her. Simultaneously though he knew that he was the cause of her jealousy, he was the sole reason behind her strife and he couldn't help but feel terrible about it.
"Lefiya...I'm sor-"
Before he could get out the words he was cut off by elf in front of him.
"I wanted so badly to hate you!"
Lefiya wanted to be upfront with Bell. After all the times she insulted him or tried to blast him with magic she felt like this needed to be done. Here he had given her nothing but kindness and care, she felt this was the least she could do.
"I always knew though…"
"...Knew what?"
"I knew that I could never really hate you, as much as I wanted to I couldn't. At first all that I had was just burning jealousy but when I first talked to you on the Eighteenth Floor...well I was still angry at you, especially when you decided to peep on the girls when they were bathing..."
"I-I didn't mean to! Lord Hermes had-"
"Haha don't worry about it...at this point I feel like you would never purposely do something like that...actually if anything I feel like you'd most likely accidentally stumble onto a sight like that more than anything…"
It was at that moment Bell suddenly recalled running into a certain green haired elf on the Eighteenth Floor. In the middle of bathing. Running into her by complete accident. And then a certain goddess came into memory. One bathing under the moon. Who he had also run into by complete accident.
M-maybe she has a point.
"Besides your perverted nature...I really can't say I hate you. But on the Eighteenth Floor when I first had the chance to meet you, and to talk to you I knew even then that you were just an incredibly kind boy but all I could focus on was my jealousy and anger."
"..."
"Now though...after talking like this with you, I can't try and lie to myself anymore. Of course I also can't deny that I am jealous of you...after all you adore Miss Aiz as much as I do and you two have gotten so close. But don't feel sorry about that. I can't let my jealousy blind me."
I-I told him pretty much everything! I can't believe I was able to do that! But...I'm glad that I was able to get that off my chest. I want to talk more to him, but I had to say this to him, we have to talk about Aiz, otherwise I don't think we would be able to truly come closer...ugh was this really the right thing to do...what do you think Filvis?
As Lefiya continued to get lost in her own thoughts after her confession Bell could only look at her. She had laid out her heart to him, she didn't hold anything back. Even though the two of them were in the place known as the center of the world, and said city was beginning to bustle with activity as the residents of Orario began about their day, to Bell and Lefiya it felt as if everything else around them disappeared, as if the two of them on that wall where in their own separate world.
Bell took every one of her words to heart. He understood that this was something she wanted to say and at that moment he didn't know exactly how to respond. Those true, heartfelt, and earnest feelings left him speechless, with each word that left her mouth Bell swore she was absolutely glowing. In his eyes there was only one word to describe the elven girl that sat across from him.
Beautiful...she's so pretty.
Yet another silence had befallen the two, Bell was currently questioning his own course of action, while on the other hand Lefiya sat there a bit embarrassed to say or do anything else.
He...still hasn't said anything, maybe he doesn't want to talk to me anymore?
Worry soon flooded her mind, various negative thoughts came to her. Noticing her anxious behavior Bell finally came back to his senses.
She must be worried about what I'll do...what am I doing? I can't just leave her without saying anything after she told me her true, honest feelings.
"Lefiya thank you!"
As the aforementioned elf heard the words leave his mouth she looked directly at him only to be greeted by that radiant smile of his. She was absolutely captivated by it. In her eyes, the rabbit before her was stunning. She couldn't take her eyes away even if she wanted to.
"Wh-wh-what are you thanking me for?"
Trying to get out some words in her transfixed state she slightly stuttered. Honestly as it happened Bell thought it was quite unexpectedly cute.
"Thank you for opening up like that to me...I know it must have taken a lot to tell me all that so I want to thank you for that!"
"I-I just felt like if we are ever really going to be clo-I mean friends, then I needed to say all of that!"
"So then...Lefiya I hope we really can become great friends then."
"Y-yeah I do too…"
"...So then what now?"
"Eh?"
Lefiya had expected him to have some sort of stronger reaction, she had thought he would question her more about her feelings towards Aiz but nothing like that came.
"You...you're not going to ask me more about my feelings towards Miss Aiz? Or ask me about my jealousy or something like that?"
"Well you basically said everything yourself. Plus when it comes to Miss Aiz, we both care about her and strive to be able to stand by her side. That's the most important thing, isn't it?"
"I suppose so…"
"Still though I have a hard time believing I could be your rival…"
"That's what you're still hung up on?! What makes you say that anyway?"
"You're an incredible mage! I still remember when we fought together on the Eighteenth Floor, you were so cool and the ferocity and power of your spells was amazing, I just don't think I could ever measure up to you."
"You're already at the same level as me though! But honestly you are pretty incredible yourself, Not only have you already reached Level Four in such a short time but you've faced so many challenges and you never backed down. Actually when I saw you fight that strange Black Rhino a while back I couldn't help but cheer for you. We all knew that monster was probably Level Six or even Level Seven and that it was practically a calamity in itself. But you stood against it, and you fought with everything you had. You were like a hero out of one of those stories."
A slight blush appeared on Bell's face as he began to laugh quietly. Being praised by such a pretty girl does have that effect, especially when it comes to Bell Cranel.
"Thank you Lefiya, I just do what feels like the right thing to do, but I won't deny that fighting Asterius was a really tough fight…"
Bell had let his mind wander to the memories of that fight against his destined rival, the sheer power Asterius had possessed was on a completely higher level than Bell, if it weren't for his agility he knew that fight would have ended much differently. He remembered his defeat that day as well, and his desire to get stronger, to give his worthy rival a good fight, to win the next time the two crossed blades.
Lefiya had noticed his eyes had begun to burn with determination. She knew exactly what that look had meant.
"Thinking about getting stronger, right?"
"Yes! But right now I decided to calm down a bit."
"Is it because of that arm?"
"Well that has a part in it but I also want to grow with my familia. I don't want to leave them behind so I've decided to slow down a bit and wait before I level up again."
"I think that's a good call, then again I suppose you have to think of things like that when you're the captain of the familia."
"Ahaha, yeah I want to be there for everyone."
"You know though…"
As Lefiya began to say something it seemed like she was about to ask him a question. As Bell looked at the elf sitting across from him, he began to have the strange feeling that he was about to get yelled at by the aforementioned girl.
"When you said you're gonna wait for them it almost makes it seem like you're about to level up again."
"Ah well my Goddess said I wasn't too far away from being able to level up."
Bell had replied without giving too much detail into just how close he was to leveling up, Lefiya seemed to be filled with a sudden anger.
Is...is she about to yell at me?
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE CLOSE TO LEVELING UP?!"
Ah. She did it.
"You just got to Level Four not that long ago! What exactly did you do this time?!"
"Eh well…"
When the words left Bell's mouth he began to recall the events of the 37th Floor. He began to remember the utter darkness of the White Palace, the horrific Colosseum, and last but not least, the Juggernaut. While quite some time had passed since that incident, it was still difficult for him to remember and talk about.
Lefiya watched as the boy's demanor shifted, upon seeing this he anger was settled down but now a different emotion began to stir up inside of her. To her eye's, he seemed rather anxious, like he was recalling memories that were rather unpleasant. She was filled with a sense of worry and concern for the rabbit.
"Bell...are you okay?"
"Yeah...I'm fine Lefiya, thank you for asking."
Flashing her with a sincere smile, Bell felt a bit relieved that there was someone else there to shake him away from thoughts of the 37th Floor. Lefiya, though, felt like there was clearly something more.
"Liaaar!"
"Eh?!"
"You are obviously not fine!"
"Wh-what do you mean?!"
"You look so anxious and nervous, you have dark circles under your eyes, and every time you sit back and relax you fidget a bit, like your body doesn't know how to sit still!"
"?!"
He stared at the girl in bewilderment, as she listed everything she had noticed during their time together.
She...she noticed all of that? She was paying that much attention to me…
Before Bell knew it a warm feeling enveloped him. It was comforting to know that she cared enough to pay that much attention. At the same time though it was a little embarrassing but he was more focused on the reassurance.
"D-does it have something to do with your expedition...? I heard that it was a failure...but I also heard that...some people saw you being carried out of the dungeon in a pretty bad shape...d-did something bad happen?"
"I...it doe-"
Upon trying to confess to Lefiya, he was suddenly cut off by a distinct noise. Or rather two noises. Bell immediately picked up on one of the sources of the noise, and let out a small dry laugh with a blush tinting his cheeks. The elven girl was even more flustered as she held her stomach with both hands as she put her head down both in embarrassment and in order to hide the red hue that appeared on her face and ears.
"W-would you like to get something to eat with me Lefiya?"
Without bringing her head up to look Bell in the eye she let out a small and quiet reply.
"Y-yeah…"
Meanwhile in another part of Orario, five members of a certain familia were all together discussing their favorite rabbit.
"I think we should let Bell have some time to himself."
"But Master Welf he's still injured he should be at home recovering rather than moving around, we don't even know where he's at, for all we know he could be in the Dungeon or getting beaten up by some random adventures now that he's injured!"
"Lil Lili he's Level Four, even with an injury like that he still won't go down easy, and Bell isn't an idiot, even if he did go into the Dungeon it's not like he'd go far. Besides what's the good in smothering him and forcing him to stay here?"
"At least he's safe here!"
Lili and Welf continued to bicker while the three other people present continued to mull over the situation. Each of them knew that Bell had been through quite a bit as of late and while they each cared for their familia captain, none wanted to see him get into any more trouble for the time being.
"I agree with Sir Welf, I think it is important that we let Sir Bell still have the freedom to go about Orario, and while I do care for his health I also believe that he is strong and wise enough to look out for himself."
"I worry quite a bit for Master Bell, but these last few weeks have been very hard on him...I believe he deserves time to himself."
Haruhime and Mikoto voiced their opinions on the matter as well. Both understood that Bell needed to take it easy but they also knew he isn't the type to stay laying around all day. This however did not sit well with Lili, so she turned to the last person, or Goddess, in the room.
"Urgh you all...what do you think Goddess Hestia? Wouldn't it be better if he stayed here at home?"
They all turned to their Goddess, hoping to get her insight.
"I care deeply for Bell, and while I would like him to stay here I know he wouldn't be happy if we tried to force him to stay put. I want to go run the streets of Orario and hold him and never let him go but right now he's taking the time to recover and I know Bell wouldn't go into the Dungeon without telling us."
"But Goddess Hestia…"
"Right now there's something else we should all be focusing on!"
All members of the Hestia familia looked at their patron Goddess with confusion. To see Hestia diverge a conversation away that was about Bell Cranel was almost unheard of. Mikoto decided to bite and be the first to ask what she meant.
"What do you mean Goddess Hestia?"
"Right now we should be focusing on growing! I know you all know that Bell's growth is abnormally fast due to his rare skill, but right now he wants to wait before he continues to keep running at full pace towards his goal to grow stronger. I want to be there for each and everyone of you and help you succeed in your own goals and I know none of you want to be left behind by Bell either. I care for each and every one of you, you are part of my familia, you are my children and I want you all to take the steps towards the future together and Bell wants you all to stand right beside him, so right now let's leave him to recover and let's all focus on moving forward together, okay?"
While Hestia was usually acting mainly obsessive and possessive over her first familia member, she did have her moments when she acted like a kind, caring Goddess who only wants the best for her children. It was times like this when the members of the Hestia familia saw their goddess shine.
"Miss Supporter, I know you only want the best for Bell, but he is able to take care of himself, he's grown quite a bit himself. You want to stay by his side too don't you?"
Lili understood exactly what Hestia was telling her, and without any further doubt in her mind she answered her Goddess in earnest.
"Yes!"
The Hearth Mansion was filled with a sense of determination that morning. None of them would be left behind by their captain, each wanted to stand by him and help him in any way they could. Every member of the Hestia familia went off their respective ways to figure out what they could do to grow even more, leaving Hestia by herself.
"Still though...AH BELL WHERE ARE YOUUU, YOU BETTER NOT BE CHEATING ON ME WITH WALLENWHATSIT!"
The members of the Hestia familia could only sigh when hearing Hestia.
"Lefiya wasn't in her room and no one saw her leave so she must've been trying to get out without any one following her."
"But Tioneee why would she leave us behind?"
The Amazon sisters, Tione and Tiona were going back and forth for the last few minutes with the main topic of discussion being Lefiya and her morning disappearance. While the majority of the Loki familia decided that it was best to let her have some time to herself, Tiona was still a bit upset that the elf had left them behind to go off into the city.
The sisters, along with Aiz, had decided to take it easy themselves after Riveria told them all to not worry about Lefiya, and that the high elf would take it upon herself to talk to her apprentice. This put them at ease, which immediately led to Tiona mentioning something about "not wasting a great day" then dragging Aiz and her sister away to roam the streets of Orario.
"Ooh maybe we should do some clothes shopping today!"
"That might be fun, besides we'll be able to pick out some more outfits for Aiz."
Tiona and Tione decided that shopping for clothes would be next on the agenda for today while the blonde haired girl following them slightly shuddered at the thought of being their doll for the day as it was well known that Amazons had some rather peculiar taste in clothing. As they continued forward to the nearest clothing store Aiz couldn't help but wonder where exactly Lefiya was.
Little did she know that question would soon be answered.
The two began to walk towards the stairs leading down the wall as they talked about where to get food.
"Do you have any places in mind Bell?"
"Not really, I may have been in Orario for six months but I don't really know of many other places to eat at other than the Hostess of Fertility...and I'd like to avoid going there for now."
Lefiya tilted her head in confusion as she looked at the rabbit. Although staying away from that place worked out in Lefiya's favor as she too had her own reason for wanting to avoid the establishment, she was still curious to hear Bell's reasoning.
"I honestly don't want to run into my Goddess or supporter, they'd probably drag me home and force me to stay in bed."
"That works out for me, I would also like to get out of my familia's way for today. Still though shouldn't you be in bed resting?"
"I'm mostly fine now, Miss Amid insists though that I take things easy so I'm doing that...I don't want to make her angry again."
Bell suddenly remembered the look on the Dia Saint's face after the Knossos invasion and just like that he felt a slight wave of fear hit him.
"I don't think I've ever seen Amid angry...oh but as for where to eat, leave it to me, I know a cafe we can go to."
"Sounds great Lefiya, lead the way!"
When the two began to walk the streets of the Labyrinth City, Lefiya suddenly turned to face the white haired boy.
"I still want to continue our conversation from earlier so...stick close to me, I'd hate for you to end up as a lost rabbit!"
Bell, at that moment, had to admit that the elf in front of him was undoubtedly cute and as she quickly turned around, walking towards her destination. As he soon snapped out of his thoughts Bell caught up to the girl and walked beside her.
"Y-yes Lefiya!"
Neither of them knew that a red hue had developed on both of them as they walked to the cafe Lefiya had mentioned. Unfortunately for them this was immediately noticed by various citizens of Orario.
As Aiz, Tiona, and Tione continued their stride to a clothing store, the energetic Amazon noticed some white hair in the corner of her eye. Immediately she turned to see if it was the white haired adventurer she had come to know over the past few months.
"Hey, hey it's Argonaut!"
"Oh you see Rabbit Foot nearby?"
"Bell…?"
Aiz and Tione looked over to where Tiona had now begun pointing at. Before she could call out to him, her sister stopped her before she could get the words out of her mouth.
"Stop that idiot, it looks like he's with someone and it would be rude to bother them both."
"Isn't it better to have more people to talk to though?!"
"Moron can't you see that smile on his face, it looks like he's having a good time talking to that person...hey wait a minute isn't that...?"
"Lefiya?"
Just then Tiona let out a very audible gasp as she reached a very rushed conclusion seeing the two together.
"Is Argonaut on a date with Lefiya?!"
Gotta say I feel like this chapter is definitely not the best, however I'm not really upset with the outcome of it you know? I mean it is definitely a bit rough around the edges but overall I think it could have come out way worse. I have decided to look at this as any experience is better than no experience.
So let me get this out and say I had a bit of a tough time mapping out where I wanted this story to go, so to clarify, yes this does mean I will be continuing this series. However, like I said figuring out how I want to go about this story and deciding how long I want it to be has been the main thing on my mind. This is my first time writing a fanfic so I have some things I still need to work on as a writer.
Honestly I will admit I also got a bit distracted with other things...forgive me.
You know I'm curious, for any of you who have made it this far, do you have friends you talk with about Danmachi? For any writers, do you have someone you talk to in order to bounce ideas off of? I'm just kinda curious cause I'm a loner who has no friends who like the series.
No I'm not crying.
Anyways I hope you all have a wonderful day, and any comments or criticism is greatly appreciated. Till the next chapter!
