BRS and Danmachi belong to their rightful owners.
Warning: (Possible) Grammar Issues ahead.
XXX
Awakening
She was standing amidst the white plain filled with rainbow light from the sky mixing with one another as they touched each, staring into the horizon emitting a brilliant light, a light that would soon take her in the void as the person she adored the most slowly fading from the world. It was a forthcoming event she knew that would transpire in the far future. She anticipated it, she waited it, and she accepted it. She accepted the fate that awaited her after her passing. Once all set and done, after a long journey from the struggles of life, she finally reached her limit. An inevitable event that would soon to befall to all of them and even to her, whose face still retained the youthful self of the former appearance of her beloved.
She had fought many battles; she had bled a lot of blood. All to which was for her and for herself. She so adored and loved her that she was willing to bear all the weights of her emotion, even if it included hurting herself in the process just to see that person happy. She was willing to kill anyone for her and fight through this eternal battleground of their world. But now? Now that her end was near and so was her existence, there was nothing much else to do, but to accept her inevitable fate. Just like the otherselves that had long since disappeared after the person they adored the most had died.
Stoic and strong as always she was, she stood on her ground, cannon in her left, a black sword to her right. The tail of her black hooded coat fluttering in slight from the wind that was passing her along with her hair. Her bangs were barely covering her deep, blue, white-ringed, white concentric patterned eyes.
'You have done well.' The voice spoke in a soothing way, echoing to her empty world.
'You have protected me after all these years and for that I thank you.' She remained silent, listening and savouring all her last words.
'I know that I was unfair and stubborn, but still you chose to fight and bear the weight of my emotions. I couldn't have thanked you more than that. I am deeply indebted to you.' Wrong, she was not in her debt; it was her who was in debt to this person. The person she adored through the years of her existence. All of this was for her and her alone, an unconditional love.
'If ever I would be given a final wish or two for you, then I will wish for you to be happy, to see you in joy and feel the amazing experience life could offer, from the other side.' The voice spoke, filled with melancholy yet filled with hope at the same time.
'They were already gone and soon you will follow them, we will follow them.' Her eyes still remained staring at the white light that was slowly engulfing her surrounding, her world, and soon her too as the person she loved barely clinging to the remaining minutes of her life.
'You had always protected and carried my pains, now it is time for you to protect the others and carry their pain. Save them, love them just like what I did to the people around me.' She did not react as that thought of her words sounded so ridiculous to her. How will she protect the others and carry their pain? How will she save and love them? All of this grief, all of this agony, and sorrow, she held them, a very unselfish act that she did and stubbornly chose it until the end, even her own pain that was not for her. But she had known her well; it was only her that knew what she was from deep inside, her inner thoughts streaming in her.
'My friends had already passed away. It hurts knowing that they had left me here. But I know, soon, that I shall follow them.' The voice croaked, coarsely trying to spill every last word she wanted to say.
'I wish for you to see them on the other side.' The light was now unto to her, reaching where she stood, consuming all in the white void. She had known this would happen, yet, the pang of pain had found its way through her, recognizing true dread and despair for the first time in her existence.
'Don't be afraid. We all know that it would come to this.' The voice reassured her fear, causing her fear to dwindle a bit from the soft voice.
'I will always be there with you. This time I will guide you, I will protect you just as you always did for me. You won't be alone. I wish the same for the others.' She was confused from the riddle of her words. Raising her head and spreading her arms, she dropped her weapons and closed her eyes as the light had finally reached her.
'You won't be alone. Enjoy your new life, Black Rock Shooter. Goodbye.' The voice bade farewell to her as the bright light had finally consumed all leaving nothing behind, not even specks.
XXX
Bell was currently in the fifth floor, hunting monsters for his newly established familia while dreaming to become a hero like from the old stories his grandfather told him when he was little, and also, pick up a girl in the dungeon, to save a damsel in distress. A dream he had longed after his arrival in Orario, the center place of the world where the anomaly known as the dungeon exist. Here, countless people and god had erected familia for various businesses and purposes. Either to seek glory or to simply have a stable life, all of which can be considered when one chose this place to venture and live. Like the people who chose the life of an adventurer, he, too, sought acknowledgement and experience to become a hero like those from the fairy tales, while of course, meeting girls and creating a harem!
However, this time around, as he ventured to the floor that he was not supposed to venture, a luck kicked in for him as he found a girl, probably still in her teens, though clearly a bit older than him it seemed, lying flatly over her stomach and into the cold ground. Bell could tell that it was a girl because of the hair and body shape she had. What intrigued him, however, was why the girl was lying down here unconscious, in the most dangerous place in the world. He assumed the girl had probably passed out from the exhaustion or something. As caring as he was, he ran to her to wake her up from her unconsciousness while being curious at her appearance.
The girl was wearing a long, black hooded, short-sleeved coat with long sleeves inside of it, running there and up to her gloved hands. A long white outline was also running from the top and down to her gloved hands. The back of her coat had a white star drawn over it. A vertical white outline running across down to her lower hips and down to the end of the tail of her coat can be seen. Her black hair was tied in an uneven twin tail. She also wore a pair of high boots reaching up to her knees.
Bell brushed the hair covering the face of the unconscious girl and gasped slightly at what he saw next. The girl in front of him had a pale yet very cute face, similar to that of a mannequin. Deciding to see her full appearance, he spun her body and slightly blushed at what he saw next. Apparently, the girl was only wearing a black undergarment underneath her coat and a black short with white belt that had a black outline in the middle. The front of her coat also had outlines running down to her lower hips and a small star was drawn on the upper left part. She also wore a choker of sort around her neck. Judging by the height, Bell assumed that she was around above 155 celches, a couple celches smaller than him.
Bell then shook his head after briefly examining her full appearance and checked if she was still alive. Fortunately, she was much to his relief. In all honesty, if she was lying down in the street instead in the dungeon, he could have mistaken her as a mannequin that had been thrown by its owner due to her appearance. Oddly, Bell couldn't find any weapon near her somehow, a thought he removed out of his thought before addressing the really important matter. Reaching out to her, Bell shook her body to try and wake her up.
"Miss, miss, miss, wake up!" He told her, yet there was no response. He tried and tried and tried for a couple of minutes, but the girl refused to wake up.
"Okay, I'll just carry you back to the upper floors." He said to the unconscious girl as he heaved her over his back and began walking to go the guild and help the unconscious girl. He hoped that he could find adventurers along the way while meticulously traversing the floor, trying to avoid any possible monsters, not that he really mind though.
As they progressed, Bell had heard a loud beastly roar echoing through the dungeon. He turned his head and saw, out of all monsters he could face, a Minotaur had gone through its way from the lower floors up to the upper floors, and was charging right at him.
"ROAAARRR!"
"Eekk!" Bell yelped as he ran in all his might for his and for the girl's life.
He sprinted as fast as he could to outrun the Minotaur; however, it was still in pursuit of him. Without the girl on his back, he could have possibly outrun the notorious beast. No, he wouldn't let go of her just to fend for his self, it will be so… unheroic. He hadn't expected the sudden appearance of the monster, he was barely new in the dungeon and it only had been two weeks since he became an adventurer and he just already made his way to the fifth floor. He had messed up, he knew it, and he now only did he realize the importance of the reminder of his Guild Advisor, Eina Tulle. Never go the lower floors and stay with the upper ones, the first and second floors, the floors that were for the new adventurer.
Bell wondered if this was somehow a price for his luck as he hadn't encountered any monsters yet, and along his way, he found a girl lying unconscious on the ground. He assumed that an adventurer or a group of adventurers had cleared the area. Although the dungeon spawned monsters constantly, there's always a time and area designated for the monsters to be spawned again after being cleared.
"So much for picking up a girl in the dungeon!" He yelled in frustration as he retraced his steps back to the upper floor while a Minotaur still on its chase with him.
The roar and guttural huff of the Minotaur was getting louder and louder, meaning that it's gaining its way towards him. He still had a dream to fulfill and a girl to save! He won't let this monster get them! However, it was easier said than done, the self-encouragement he gave to himself barely did or nothing at all. His breath was getting heavy, he felt his legs were about to give up despite the girl being lighter than he expected. Well, she had a frail frame so?
"Help! Help us!" He yelled out while still running.
"ROAARRR!" The monster bellowed up him and had finally on its reach for its fist to swing at him.
"Ahh!" Bell accidentally fell on the grounding, sending him and the girl skidding and barely dodging the fist that was about to hit them both.
The Minotaur abruptly halted after gaining its momentum from running at full speed. Its eyes were focused solely on them. With a roar it let out, the Minotaur hunched forward and charged blindingly at them with its horns pointed to kill them. Bell quickly stood up and grabbed and pushed the girl away from him before being rammed by the Minotaur's head. Though luckily enough, he had raised his knife to block the oncoming horn that was meant to impale him, but that did not help him as the force of the collision of his dagger and the Minotaur had sent him flying and skidding on the floor.
Bell coughed hard; his status had barely saved him from the onslaught. Without a warning, he felt his instinct kicked in, but it was too late to react as a fist had hit him and was sent flying again. In spite of his awful form, he didn't look at his state and instead looked at the girl. Fortunately enough, the Minotaur had its attention to him, it was good. He could use his self to lure the monster away, but that would only endanger the girl from the other preying monsters. He took a firm stance and let out a deep breath before facing the monsters again. The Minotaur began its charge again and started swinging its fist at him. Bell tried his best to dodge and block the brutish attacks. His efforts were all for naught as his body had given up from the attack.
"AHHH!" With a renewed vigor that seemed to have come out of nowhere, Bell let out a yell in defiance as he saw the fist was about to him. He remained on his ground prepare to hold the monster again as a rapid footstep can be heard closing into their position. In a span of a blink of an eye however…
"GRR?!" The Minotaur let out a confuse gruff.
Bell quickly blinked his eyes, and again, rapidly, and saw a familiar form standing between them and the towering two meders Minotaur was the girl he had picked up which his eyes and mind refused to believe. The now awakened girl took ahold of the Minotaur's fist, almost bigger than her own body, with her bare own hands, which was hard to believe considering that he just saw the girl lying unconscious in the fifth floor. Suddenly, the footstep he had been hearing that was growing closer silenced and the girl before him used the fist as leverage before giving a kick to the face powerful enough for the Minotaur to withstand, causing the beast to step back.
The pale girl then looked at his state and Bell saw the beautiful blue eyes of the girl that could rival the color of the sky and ocean. It was truly… elegant to say the least. The white rings around the irises just made them more surreal.
"A-ah..ah I!" He stuttered as he tried to stand up on his feet.
The girl barely moved her head and eyes to examine his state that he wasn't sure if she really did examine him at all. Bell decided to stand beside her left so that the two of them could face the monster at the same. He then saw the strange girl raised her right hand when suddenly, the Minotaur who had recovered its footing was sliced into pieces, spraying blood at both them. The girl tilted her head and seemed to look over the sliced body of the Minotaur.
Standing before the Minotaur's dead was a girl with a hair as bright as gold and bare a face that only a man could only dream of having to marry with. She had yellow, no, golden eyes that were as beautiful as the girl's sky, blue eyes that stood at his side and had a mannequin-like face like hers. She wore a black and white fitted dress under the breastplate and hip guards of hers, black arm covers that were covered by arm guards and a pair of boots reaching above her knees and to her thighs with the addition of knee guards. She also had a metallic band over her head.
While the black-haired girl beside him did not react and was looking at him right now, Bell stared in awe, admiration and deep gratitude to the beautiful blonde girl. She was like a hero to him and he could only do was to stand in shock. The blonde warrior then turned on them with a worried look in her face.
"Are you two alright?" She asked.
Not knowing what to do in the situation due to him still under in shock and admiration from his savior, Bell had instinctively grabbed the girl beside him and bolted away from the area, leaving the blonde girl who saved him and the girl from the monster in confusion.
XXX
During his way out, Bell felt a strong pull and fell, now only realizing that he was dragging a girl with him all this time.
"Urfk.." He uttered in surprise and stood up again, only to find the girl staring blankly at him. The mannequin-like girl in black coat had caused Bell to blush, embarrassed at what he had done while also remembering the fact the he actually forgot to thank the blonde warrior who saved him and her. Returning to his senses, Bell then bowed and apologized to the twin-tailed girl he had been dragging along.
"I-I am deeply sorry for dragging forcibly you without your permission." Bell said to her sincerely and waited for her reply. However, the reply that he waited from her was for naught and never came as he looked up and saw the girl still staring at him.
"Uh-uh…" He stuttered, not knowing what to say as the bored eyes still staring at him. "Do you have a familia?" That was a stupid question as he knew it was one of the main requirements in order for a person to get in the dungeon.
The girl shook her head in sideways, implying that she didn't belong in this familia thing the boy in front of her was talking about. She was still confused about what had just happened earlier after waking up in a place so unfamiliar to her and the creature that she also saw did not help much to her confusion, rather it fueled it, only in small amount at least. From what she could tell, they were still in a cave of sort, a cave that she felt so unnatural as her instinct, from years of constant battle had honed, warned her to prepare from any danger that might occur like that creature that she had faced.
"Are you alright? I saw you blocked the Minotaur's fist with your own hands, does it not hurt?" The boy suddenly asked with deep concern of her well-being.
She nodded as she felt his uneasiness replaced by relief.
"That is good to know. Don't worry a Minotaur only spawn in lower floors so the chances of meeting one again would be low." He let out a chuckle. "Moving on, you said that you were not in a familia, right? Then how did you end up in the dungeon in the first place?"
The girl that Bell had been asking on with questions did not answer as she still retained that bored face of hers. She looked away and shook her head, unsure what to answer. She can't answer anything right now as she was deeply confused at her current situation.
"You don't know, probably a memory lost, hmm?" Bell folded his arms and think for a moment before a bright idea came to his mind. "In that case, since you do not have any familia, would you instead like to join mine? We are not as great as compared to the Freya and Loki familia. There is only the Goddess Hestia and me! But I think we would able to achieve that goal and become a great familia like them!" The boy gave her a toothy grin which slightly reminded her of – she couldn't remember the name anymore. The images and scenes in her mind were in a daze.
"Uhm, so what is your answer?" Since he was the person who helped her, not that she actually need help in the first place as time and time again, she had proven that she can stand on her own, accepted his invitation by nodding her head, causing the aforementioned boy to leap with great joy. She could choose to refuse his offer, but the way the boys act brought odd familiarity to her which was nice as she still couldn't figure out her memories.
"Yes, a new member for our familia! Goddess Hestia would be really happy with you being with us now! But… she's still in her work." Bell then sniffed and smelled the tang of iron from the blood he and she were still covered with. "Uhm, let's clean first before heading back to the guild, but are you sure you are not hurt?"
The girl shook her head in confirmation.
"Come on then!"
XXX
Along the way to the guild, she, and the boy seemed too, had noticed the looks that the people were giving to her. It wasn't the look of disgust, hatred, anger or any of those, they instead gave her a curious look as they observed her movement and appearance before shrugging off and returning to their work. She had slightly wondered, like them, due to their odd appearance and additional appendages like ears and tails for a human. Though she had faced numerous things in her entire, this sight, however, was new to her. Even from her fragmented memories, she hadn't seen people like them. The women, the one with green and the one with red eyes suddenly flashed through her mind. And yes, they were like them in sort of appearance, but those things did not attract her curiosity, maybe mildly, but somehow, now she felt a little. The tall tower somehow didn't catch her interest however. She and the boy stopped after they had reached their destination, the Guild. She stared at the building with the usual neutral expression. Both of them entered at the same time and the boy beside her waved at the woman over the desk.
"Miss Eina!" The boy called out to the woman who currently browsing through the folder she was carrying.
She looked at the brown-haired woman wearing glasses and sporting emerald eyes and had a pair of short pointy ears. She was wearing the standard uniform of the guild, a set of black vest and pants with white collared long sleeve underneath and grey bow tie like the rest of Guild people, receptionist, that she saw, but the only distinguishing factor on them was their footwear, boots for the men while shoes for the women. Her name was Eina Tulle, a half elf.
"Oh, welcome back, Bell." The woman named Eina said to Bell, giving him a warm smile while adjusting her glasses. She then looked at the sight of the stranger who was walking beside the new adventurer, Bell Cranel, before turning her attention to Bell. "So, Bell, I see that you have returned earlier today. Did you change your mind today and why are you soaked? Did you run all the way- wait, are those bloods?!"
Bell scratched his cheek shyly as he let out a dry chuckle.
"Well, I was in the fifth floor when I encountered a minotaur- " Suddenly, Bell paused after he saw the reaction of his guild advisor.
"You have encountered a Minotaur? And not only that, you also went to the fifth floor!" Eina infuriated at Bell. "And who is she, Bell?" Looking at the strange girl in black behind him, she was curious and mesmerized at her, not to her revealing outfit that wasalmost similar to the Amazons, but to her eyes that had white rings around the iris. And deep blue that could compete with the sky and ocean. Now she had wondered where Bell had met her, also, judging by the appearance of her coat that was slightly tinted red, Eina had assumed that it probably came from Bell, but the question on how she ended getting stained by blood will be unknown to her unless she asked Bell for it. However, she felt that asking him about it will only cause further headaches to her so she let the thought to fly away.
"She, uhm, she is our new familia member! She is, uh…" Bell realized that he actually forgot to ask her name. He looked at her asked. "Uhm, what is your name?"
The girl tilted its head in confusion, causing both him and his advisor to be confused too at her.
"That is very irresponsible of you, Bell." She told the boy, folding her arms. "How did you even forget to ask the name of this beautiful maiden with the face of a doll? Wasn't also that part of your dream, Bell?"
"M-miss Eina, please, don't do that." Bell blushed at him as she let go of her teasing and sighed.
"Uhm, do you know your name?" He asked again, but the girl shook her head.
"Let me try, Bell." Eina offered. "Miss, do you know your name? Or the place you came from? Do you remember anything?"
The twin-tailed girl only shook her head as always before returning to her neutral expression which Eina found it odd since the girl had not let or made any reactions at all. Her face was still the same, almost as if she was a literal doll, which reminded her of a certain Kenki, The Sword Princess, Ais Wallenstein.
"How about we talk about this elsewhere?" Eina offered to Bell which the boy gladly accepted.
XXX
Bell had wondered if choosing to accept her advisor's offer was a good thing or bad thing as he was currently in a room with her and the girl that he had saved, getting bombarded by her endless sermons and reminders from the recklessness he had done. He apologized profusely from the bottom of his heart and engraved those words in his mind. Eina might be strict at a time, but her strictness was an important reminder to Bell as he recalled his first two weeks being adventurer. Not knowing what to do, he asked her guidance and knowledge about the Dungeon which helped his way through the never ending monster spawning labyrinth.
Once all said and done, Bell suddenly asked Eina about the person who saved them.
"You mean Ais Wallenstein?" She raised a brow. "And you want information about her?"
"Yes! If you may, miss Eina." Bell pleaded, but Eina only gave him a smile that was closer to a smirk.
"Oh, Bell, you already have a beautiful maiden with your side and here you are, asking information about the Sword Princess. Tsk, tsk, aren't you already satisfied with her? Such naughty boy~ "Eina teased little, causing the innocent boy to blush deeply in embarrassment.
"Please, miss Eina, it's not like that! Right!" He begged to the girl sitting beside him to agree, but she didn't react to his pleas.
"Alright, I'm going to stop." Eina said to him. "She is part of the Loki Famillia. Currently at Level 5 and she is said to be one of the strongest swordsmen in Orario and the gods had given her the title 'Sword Princess.'"
While the two continued their conversation, the girl was listening intently at them, swallowing every bits of information that might be useful for her survival in this unfamiliar world she had found herself in. Although apparently, more things had created questions rather than clarifications as they proceeded. Minor terms that were used had caused her curiosity to spark and there was the fact that her fragmented memories weren't helping either as she needed to deal both at the same time.
"So, let us talk about you."Eina said, eyeing on the twin-tailed girl. "You said you don't remember your name, am I right? Even the name of the place you came from, haven't you?"
The doll-like girl nodded.
"Even the very last thing before you lost your consciousness?" The girl nodded again, causing Eina to deeply sigh. "Well, that would be troublesome for you. I have no experience in dealing with people having their memory lost so I'm very sorry because I may not able to help you and to you Bell because I do not know how. Maybe, I can ask some people here who can deal with her memories. I let you know if I found one, Bell. For now, you can her lead back to your home. You said that she was willing to join your familia, isn't that right? Meaning that you will not dungeon diving alone anymore and your Goddess would be happy for a new addition."
"My goddess will be, Miss Eina! And thank you very much!" He bowed at her, contemplating his gratitude.
They were out of the room now after the intensive counseling he had given to him. Eina reminded Bell what girls like her wanted from a guy and told him that to press forward and become strong. Little did Eina know, however, it will be the cause of misunderstandings in the guild as the boy spoke again after giving him a motivational speech, causing her heart to flutter.
."Thank you again, Miss Eina! I love you!" He told her before he and the girl departed the building, causing small chuckles amongst the people in the guild.
"Maybe I was a little too nice." She said while a hand was over her cheek.
XXX
The two had reached their final destination today, Bell's home, her Goddess's home, their home. It was an old abandoned church covered with plants. The walls were crumbling and the roof was filled with holes.
"We're a poor familia so it's our only home and I know it wasn't much; at least it still has its basic needs working so that's a plus." Bell said jokingly, trying to lift up the mood, but as always, the girl didn't react and was just staring and waiting to come in. He then decided to offer the door. "Lady's first?"
The twin-tailed girl headed inside, scrutinizing the interiors of the rundown building. As far as she could tell, it was preferable, and a good home despite the clear structural damage it had compare to her own home, if that can be considered as home as far as her fragmented memories could provide. It was more like a large domain of a home rather than this. On the corner, Bell had opened the door to let the girl enter first again.
"See? It wasn't that bad." Bell said to the girl who still didn't react nor reply to his comment.
"Bell~!" Both of them heard a voice.
"Goddess, I'm home!" After Bell said that, a figure, almost the size of a child, but with a bountiful chest, her hair tied in twin-tail by ribbons, wearing a white dress collided with Bell.
"Welcome back, Bell! You came back early!" She greeted him while lovingly embracing him between her arms before looking at the pale girl who was rather gloomy. "By the way, who is that dark girl with you, Bell?" She asked with the smallest hint of jealously in her tone that was barely noticeable at all.
Although she knew that it would lead into this soon, Hestia still hadn't prepared herself in receiving a female member to her familia sooner than she anticipated and not as closely young as Bell. Well, assuming that she was here to join that was. But, it was more likely if she were to consider the situation.
"I still don't know her name, Goddess. She had memory problems and she can't remember her name even her place, like anything, I think? I found her in the dungeon alone." Hestia's mood then suddenly changed after that, causing her to pity the state of the girl. She actually felt a little guilty after jumping into conclusion fast and thinking of her as a potential rival to Bell's affection.
"Oh, poor you. Worry not for I, Goddess Hestia, will welcome you to this warm abode of ours! Feel free staying here as long as you want!" Bell let a smile because of that. The nature of the gods was truly unbreakable.
"She will, Goddess, because she will be the new member of this familia!" Bell told his Goddess, causing Hestia to cover her mouth and gasp in surprise.
"Really?!" Hestia blinked.
"Yes, Goddess!" Bell confirmed as the girl nodded at him.
"Hurray!" Hestia was pleased and she leaped in joy. "So, you want to do it now?"
And as always, the girl used her head to answer simple questions, she nodded.
"I'm heading outside, Goddess." Bell then left the room to give them a moment.
"'Kay~ Now you can remove your clothes and lie down on the bed so I could bestow my blessing upon you." The girl did what she had said and removed her black hooded jacket and her black string-bikini to lie down on the bed as what she had been told.
"My, not really that developed, huh?" Her face was adapting an exaggerated studying expression as she looked at her chest. "Well, what could I say, mortals have different development rate." She commented as she climbed on top of her back to bestow upon her the blessing she spoke of in a form of a blood of the gods, her blood.
"This might be irritating to you or tickling so please hold on for a bit, 'kay?" She told her before tracing the symbol of Falna to her back after putting a small slit in her finger with a knife and continued the process of inscribing. Once she was done, she placed the parchment to her back and began tracing again. After that, she pulled the parchment back that had now the status of the girl.
Black Rock Shooter
Level 1
Strength: I-0
Endurance: I-0
Dexterity: I-0
Agility: I-0
Magic: I-0
Magic:
None
Skills:
Otherself: Due to the strange existence of the Otherselves in the Otherworld, they are granted with high physical prowess and attributes unique only to them.
Weapon Master: Can call and summon upon numerous deadly weapons with high caliber at will.
Flaming Eye: Triggers only when a person experiences a high amount of distress, boosting the person's performance.
Insanity: Triggers only when a person experiences a very high amount of distress, causing the person to transform into an insane, but a more powerful version of themselves.
"So this is your name and- Whoa!" Hestia gasped in total shock after reading the parchment as the girl named Black Rock Shooter (?) began picking up her clothes and wearing them while Bell was coming in afterwards. She couldn't believe that her new second child was already gifted with four sets of skills that were unknown to her. Oddly, according to the description, these attributes sounded like it belonged to Magic, but, hey, at least she's not complaining with it though. She found that the most useful skill probably would be her Weapon Master skill as it allows her to summon weapons. She grinned after realizing that they could save some budget for their familia because of this useful ability. However, the last one did not sound so good to her: The Insanity. According to the description, should the child experience a very high amount of distress; she would become insane yet powerful at the same time, a power boost that had a dangerous price.
"Welcome to Hestia Familia, Black Rock Shooter!" Hestia said to the girl who nodded in response.
"Goddess? Are you done?" Bell asked as he came in.
"Of course, Bell! Come in now!" Hestia said to him before looking back at the parchment.
"Can I see her status?" Bell asked.
"Sure, why not?" She gave him the parchment and he, too, was shocked, mouth agape at what he just read from the parchment. Hestia then looked at the girl who was now currently examining their home with the same bored or uncaring face she had.
"Amazing! She already had four set of skills, but how?" Bell had wondered.
"It's only natural, Bell. Skills can appear at any level, unlike Developmental Abilities." Hestia explained to him. "Don't worry; I'm sure you will develop yours when you level up so cheers!"
"I will certainly, Goddess!" He said to her, voice filled with determination. Bell then turned his attention to the strange girl. "…Black Rock Shooter…"
The girl named Black Rock Shooter then averted her attention from their abode to direct at them, she tilted her head as small fragments of memories suddenly surged again in her mind.
"It's really a strange name, I mean, who would even name their child like that? No offense to you, Black Rock." Bell turned his head at his Goddess. "What? It's kind of long, so I shortened it. So Black Rock, is it okay for you that we call you Black Rock, or just Rock?"
She nodded again, not minding whatever they would refer to her.
"How about Rock?" Bell asked this time and the same answer came. "Well, Rock it is then."
"'Kay, that's enough for now, and you, Bell, remove your clothes and lie down so I can update your status." As Bell did so, he decided to open up and told her what happened to him in the dungeon.
"Uhm, Goddess. You see, the reason I came home early was because I was attacked by a Minotaur that came from the lower floors." Hestia then lunged, clamping over his body and face.
"What?! Did I hear it right?! You were attacked by a Minotaur? Bell-kun~!" Hestia then comically scanned his body for any sign of injuries. "How did a Minotaur even end up in the upper floors anyways?!"
"They got scared by the high level adventurers, causing them to traverse the upper floor. It's what I have heard. But, don't worry miss Ais Wallenstein had saved me. She was from the Loki Familia!" Bell said to his Goddess, but that did make it any better.
"It was that flat-chested God's fault, hrmm?!" Hestia's twin-tail was wiggling aggressively. "I'm so gonna report her brats for causing this to you!"
"R-right, It turned out to be okay, so it's fine and I think you are forgetting what you are about to do, Goddess." Bell tried shifting the subject away.
"Oh, yeah, I need to update your status now." Hestia realized.
Bell laid down on the bed before his Goddess sat over his back and began doing what she did to Rock. After placing the parchment from his back that was now inscribed with Bell's status, her eyes went wide and she started fiddling with it. Bell doesn't know why, but he sensed that his Goddess was taking too long this time to update his status.
"All is done!" Hestia announced and passed the parchment to him.
Bell Cranel
Level 1
Strength: I-77 – I-85
Endurance: I-13 – I- 20
Dexterity: I-93 – I-98
Agility: H-148 – H-178
Magic: I-0
Magic:
None
Skills:
None
"Hoh, it is a little bit higher this time. Not bad, Bell." Hestia complimented to her child. "Maybe because you faced the Minotaur? Have you tried fighting it, Bell?"
"Thank you, Goddess, but no, not really. I just tried holding the monster in place while trying to save Rock that's all while also waiting for any adventurers to come and help us." Bell told his Goddess.
"Mumumhh… such heroic deed. But you should be careful next, do you understand Bell?!" Hestia reminded her child sternly.
"I understand, Goddess." Bell then turned his face toward Rock. "So, Rock, are you really alright? I just noticed that you never ever talk."
Hestia whirled around to the new addition of her familia, Rock, the strange girl, barely shorter than her first child. Like Bell had noticed, she was a little bit puzzled as to why Rock, the second child of her familia, had kept her mouth shut and had never tried to talk with them. She assumed that her second child must be simply too shy to talk with them, but Rock's eyes told her otherwise. From what she can see behind those bored eyes of hers, Hestia could tell that she had experienced so many… things in her entire life. She shook her head as she approached the child who was simply standing and looking at them; deep thoughts were hard to sway from looking at her.
"Rock, since you are a new addition of this familia, it means that you are like a family to us, you can share what bothers you. We are here, me and Bell. I wouldn't force you to be open with it so do not pressure yourself, but I still hope you open it with us, Rock. We will be right here, 'kay?" Hestia said to her second child like a mother who was worried to her own child despite not being blood related, such a nature can be expected from the Goddess of Hearth, it was the very fiber of her being.
Rock merely nodded at her.
"Good." Hestia muttered before continuing. "Moving on now, Bell~ can you prepare our table? It is time to have a dinner!"
"Yes, Goddess!" Bell quickly moved to arrange and remove unnecessary things from their table before setting the chairs.
"Rock, would you like to see your status?" Hestia offered her parchment to her that she picked after checking Bell's own status.
Rock went to grab her own parchment to see her status as Hestia was expecting to see if she will react. However, as it turned out, the silent girl barely- no… She hadn't reacted at all. The only thing she could see was her eyes that were moving left to right.
"Goddess, I just thought of something after looking at my status." Bell suddenly spoke from the table. "The skill part, I just noticed that there was something written on it."
"Oh, that? My finger simply slipped a little." Hestia answered as she picked up and placed the meal for their dinner, the usual food they, her and Bell, had been eating for days while Rock decided to sit on the sofa as Bell placed several glasses and a bowl which then Hestia filled with fried potatoes. She and Bell then sat on the sofa with Bell being in the middle while his Goddess was on his left. As the two began crunching over their food, Bell had noticed that Rock wasn't eating picking any. He offered her a piece, but she refused, seemed to be contented at her state.
After that, the Hestia Familia started a short usual conversation amongst them. While they often tried to make Rock join, the girl would only either shake her head or just nod, a weird quirk that Hestia considered. Well, at least she can understand them, however, she can't help but to think that her child seemed to be… air-headed? No, it was like she doesn't seem to be interested in anything at all, only looking and observing the things that slightly caught her attention.
"Bell~" She called out to her first child. "Tomorrow, before going to the dungeon, you can register her to the guild. Do not mind the expenses; I've got it all covered, got it?"
"Eh, are you sure, Goddess?" Bell asked, reassuring.
"Yes! At least you won't be alone anymore, Bell!" Hestia said happily, knowing that her familia was slowly growing larger. "I cannot believe that I gained a new member in just two weeks, isn't that great?"
"It's really great, Goddess!" Bell agreed. "Do you want me to train you before entering the dungeon, Rock?"
The girl shook her head in refusal.
"So, are you good?" She nodded at him.
"Still, as the senior of this familia, Bell, you should guide her in dungeon diving, understood?" Hestia reminded her child.
After that, they prepared the bed and sofa for their sleep. Bell tried to offer Rock the bed as, not surprisingly, Hestia also did so as an excuse for wanting to sleep with Bell. However, the mysterious girl refused again, but he insisted. Like him, Rock also insisted that it was okay and it was not like she needed to sleep in the first place. But, Bell, as a gentleman and a kind person he was, he simply chose to be on the sofa just like he always did. Rock did not mind that though as she transferred from the sofa to the bed while their Goddess was slumping over the bed after being refused by Bell.
As the night passed on and her familia went to sleep, Rock stared blankly at the ceiling, trying to remember and make sense of those fragmented memories she had. She felt a very familiar yet unfamiliar feeling at the same time; it was melancholy while also feeling that she was somehow incomplete inside as if she was missing something after her arrival in this strange world. While still in deep confusion, an unfamiliar sensation had come in within her, but she can't tell what it was or how to express it. She couldn't make sense of it either when suddenly a voice spoke inside her from the fragmented memories she had.
'You won't be alone. Enjoy your new life, Black Rock Shooter.' The voice said in her head ever so lovingly, causing her to slightly frown in sadness. She stared to the floor, downcast, reminiscing those last words. 'Goodbye.' Her face never contorted; instead it caused her inside to stir strangely. She remained there, silent and, seemed, alone.
XXX
Far above the church, as silence and lights filled the city of Orario, a tear in the sky seemed to open not far from the rundown building where the new Familia was sheltering in. A crimson eye that had white circular patterns in it appeared from the tear in the sky before its gaze fell down on the aforementioned building, staring eerily at it in the darkest of the night. It closed and disappeared as fast as it appeared after briefly probing the area.
XXX
To be continued…
Note: I just created this xover out of nowhere of because of boredom. It supposed to be a short prologue by trying to focus more in important things but ended up being a full chapter, or so I think.
I'm confused as to where I should put some of BRS's abilities whether in Magic or Skill. The Weapon Master (I couldn't think of the name of her weapon summoning ability) felt like it supposed to be in Skills yet in Magic at the same time, weird really, maybe before continuing for the next chapter I might change it (Which is very likely considering the nature of that ability.)
The two boost, Flaming Eye and Insanity (Like the Weapon Master, I still don't have good name for these abilities) gave me a little bit of difficulty due to their nature, especially Insanity. That's all I can say for now.