Is it wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon?
Fanfic: Familia plus One
Chapter 6: first meeting
Do I own it? No….I still don't own it.
...Familia Plus One...
-6 months earlier-
Bell sat on the porch of his neighbor's home, looking up at the sky and feeling the wind on his face. It move his hair slightly, and he was reminded of how his grandfather had tussled his hand through Bell's hair after playing a joke on him, or saying something that went over Bell's head. It let Bell believe for just a moment that his Grandfather was still here.
Just that morning, His neighbor had come and gotten him while he was working on his chores around the home, to tell him that there had been an accident. Over the last few months, monsters had been roaming closer to town. A call had already gone out for one of the neighboring towns to send an adventurer, but the one they asked for hadn't come yet.
Last night, while on the way home from the bar in the next town over, Eagle, the name his Grandfather went by most often, had been attacked by one of the monsters.
Bell had yelled in anger, then cried, and now was just sitting, feeling numb as his emotions were spent.
As he sat on the porch, noises from the small collection of farms and houses that passed for his small village in the mountains washed over him. This town was so small, it didn't even have a proper name, just being 'that town in the mountains'. Of course, since there were dozens of such small establishments, the directions sometimes got confusing for people who didn't know the area. As such, no one was overly surprised that the adventurer hadn't made it yet.
The smell of baked goods from two houses down, mixed with the smell of cows from the nearby pasture.
The smell of fresh cut lumber from the makeshift sawmill that had been converted from an old barn several decades ago mixed in with the smell of fresh laundry hanging on the line.
Conversations drifted to his ears, talking about the monsters, trying to figure out what was terrorizing the countryside, and what manner of adventurer would come to slay it.
Monsters were rare in places like this, but they were not entirely unheard of. Sometimes a monster made it to the surface, and escaped the dungeon. These free roaming monsters had the ability to reproduce by breaking their own crystals, and making new monsters.
The downside for a monster doing this, is that each generation of monster after the first one was progressively weaker.
"It's about time you got here!" came drifting over the town, from the watchman, a lone farmer with a crossbow who sat on one of the houses watching around as far as he could see.
Looking in the direction of where the watchman was facing, Bell saw a figure on horseback approaching the town.
Pushing back his hood from his cloak, the young man looked up confused. "Am I expected?"
…Familia Plus One….
After finding a place to tie his horse, the figure introduced himself as Wyntir Sharp, a would be adventurer on his way to the Dungeon city Known as Orario. He was wearing a suit, with a travelers cloak over top, to keep dust and dirt from the trail off himself.
The town watch had mistaken him for the one who was coming to kill their monster, because as the old man had said. "..Well, I figured weren't no reason fer no one else to be comin' this way."
As it happened, Wyntir had gotten lost because the rains from the last season had washed out part of the road, and knocked some trees down. He had needed to take a new path, and had wandered into town quite by mistake.
Deciding that the damaged roads were likely what was keeping the monster slayer they had sent for from arriving, the townsfolk called a meeting, and began to discuss what to do.
Wyntir was walking around the town, and looking at the few things there were, trying to find a way to spend his time, when Bell approached him in front of the old barn/sawmill.
"You're really going to the Dungeon? To be an Adventurer?" Bell started in, asking questions with his eyes wide and fists clenched.
"Good morning to you as well." Wyntir said with a soft smirk. "Yes, I'm going to Orario, to be an Adventurer. I plan to join a Familia, and follow in my grandfather's footsteps."
Bell looked like he was midway between breaking down and bouncing on his feet. "My grandfather used to talk about being an adventurer also. Until…."
Wyntir had heard that there was a new victim when he came into town, and was berated for taking so long. Once he had explained that he was not the person they were looking for, the overly proud woman who had done most of the berating just turned her nose up and walked off, without ever apologizing.
Stepping up to Bell, the older teen placed a hand on his shoulder, and simply nodded, showing he understood. As he opened his mouth to speak, a loud roar echoed from behind the two boys.
Turning, the pair of them saw a Minotaur, his horns stained with blood, and holding a gnarled tree root for a weapon. Barely the size of a grown man, the creature bellowed again, and began to run at the two teens.
Wyntir quickly grabbed Bell, and dove to the side, getting both of them out of the way. The Minotaur charged and its horns slammed home into the timbers of the century old barn.
The wood held fast, and the bull headed monster fought and twisted, trying to get its horns loose.
Checking to make sure that Bell was ok, Wyntir began to look around for his weapon. The cane sword he had used for so long was still on his horse's saddle, lashed there where he could draw it if he needed to while riding.
It would do him little good now, as the Minotaur was already beginning to splinter the wood, and had nearly freed itself from the timbers of the barn.
Several of the townsfolk had come out upon hearing the monster's bellows, and now stood, shocked in horror at the beast that had been terrorizing them.
Reaching down and picking up the makeshift club that the Minotaur had dropped, Wyntir raised it high, and brought the weapon down on the beasts back, trying to snap the bones there.
A powerful kick sent the young teen flying back, and landed him on his back. He groaned, glad for the first time, but definitely not he last, that he had such a well-made coat for his suits. He tried to stand up, only to feel vertigo and dizziness overwhelm him for a moment.
At the same time, the Minotaur freed itself, and turned to charge. Bell looked on, shocked from where he had been pushed by Wyntir, and watched as the beast bore down on his new friend. An arrow sped down, and landed in the beasts eyes, making it stop it's charge and rear back, roaring in pain.
The lone watchman sat up on his roof, trying to reload his crossbow.
Recovering enough to move, Wyntir quickly got to his feet, and looked over at an old ax, used to cutting wood, sitting in a stump by the mill.
Pulling it free, Wyntir swung hard, and landed a blow to the side of the Minotaur's head. Blood gushed out, and the monster roared again, as it burst into soot and ash, leaving a pale blue crystal behind.
….Familia Plus One…..
The townsfolk had all been very appreciative of Wyntir, but since they didn't have a lot of money to give him, they instead made sure he had provisions for the road ahead, and a map that would show him how to get to Orario.
Setting out on his horse, and waving at the well-wishers, He suddenly heard him name being called.
Looking up, he smiled as he saw Bell running towards him, with a small backpack and his few possessions.
"Waaaait!" Bell cried as he got closer. "I want to come too!" Some of the farmers smiled, and a few traded coins and shot Wyntir a knowing look, as there had apparently been some speculation upon the men as to whether or not Bell would be going with the Adventurer.
…Familia Plus One…..
-Monsterphilia—
Wyntir stood his ground as the Hardarmor rolled towards him, the new fencing saber in his hand, it's scabbard held in the other hand, as well as the wooden part of his own cane sword. Having used Agility storm a few moments before, Wyntir was unable to do it again just yet. He stood, ready to riposte, or defend and counter the first attack made by the monster.
From the stall he had dodged into, two metal balls shot forward, and collided with the hardened armor of the Pangolin-esque monster. The first one bounced off, but the other seemed to find purchase in the creature's eye socket, as it suddenly uncurled and grasped at its face with its sharp claws, trying to find the source of the pain.
Not wasting a moment of time, Wyntir lunged forward, and thrust the tip of the saber deep into the Hardarmor's unprotected underbelly. It was odd, and Wyntir had to focus to prevent a misstep. This sword was a fair bit longer than the one he was used to using.
The blade went deep, but Wyntir didn't feel the strike of the crystal. Stepping into the strike, he twisted his hand, and slashed upwards with a mighty swing.
Slicing the Monster open, it hissed weakly, before bursting into silvery dust.
Looking around in wonder at the oddly colored specks, Wyntir was caught off guard when the Bazaar erupted in applause and cheering.
Suddenly grabbed by the Mother of the Catfolk child he had saved, Wyntir found it hard to breathe as the woman gripped him tightly, sobbing 'thank you's again and again into his tie.
…Familia Plus One…
"You did it!" Hestia cheered loudly, as the square where Bell had fought the silver back erupted into applause. Running forward, Bell found himself being hugged tightly by his Familia's Kami.
Looking around as he pulled the last bit of Laundry off his head, Bell smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head. The scent of the laundry being hung out to dry took him back to that day, and he couldn't help but feel his smile grow as he thought about how far he had come in the few months since then.
"You know Bell, I feel. Really. Really. Tir…" Hestia collapsed into the lap of her first Child, and fell deeply asleep, never hearing Bell shout her name, or call her as he shook her gently, trying to rouse her.
…Familia Plus One…
-Hostess of Fertility—
Syr covered her face with the serving tray, running back downstairs with a blush at having just told Bell she was falling for him. She passed by Wyntir, who leaned against the wall, where he had gone to allow her to speak to Bell alone for a moment.
Zig and Zag had been taken home already to the Miach Familia's home. So Wyntir was here, keeping Bell company while waiting for their Kami to wake up. At his hip, was the new saber, which the shopkeeper had given him, saying that it was the best Monsterphilia performance he had ever seen in 20 years of coming to Orario for the event.
Nodding to Syr, Wyntir stood to join Bell once more, only to feel his sleeve pulled slightly. Turning, he saw Chloe, the tall dark haired Catfolk woman looking not quite at him and blushing.
"Thank you Mister Sharp, for today." She said softly.
Blinking several times, Wyntir looked at the waitress confused. "Um. Thanks for what? And my name is Wyntir. Mister Sharp is my dad."
"Wyntir then." Chloe seemed to relax, and become slightly more certain of herself. "The boy you saved in the square today, he's my Nephew. My sister's son, so. Thanks." Leaning forward, she gave him a kiss on the cheek, and turned, following Syr back into the main room of the pub.
Not sure what to think, Wyntir went and sat on the top step as Bell leaned over the edge of the landing. Neither boy seemed to know what to say.
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and followed this story so far.
I'm sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out, I must have rewritten it a dozen times by now.
I plan to have the next chapter out much quicker, so stay tuned y'all.