Hello! Nice to meet you all for the first time, as you may guess this is going to be my first story here! I do hope it goes well and that you all will enjoy
It however I am changing some things and adding some things as well to truly make this story work within this world however if you are here this won't be that strange.
Oh and if not obvious I don't own Danmachi or content related now with that all said and done let's get on with the Tales of Bell Cranel: Elven Fury
Prologue Chapter 1: Promise made in moonlight!
"Why... why did this happen.. What did we do to deserve this?!"
This was the only thought as the 5 year old Bell ran through the forest on this fateful night, running as fast as his legs could carry tears falling from his eyes for his grief, an arrow lodge into his shoulder its sting ever present as blood trickles down his arm.
He doesn't know how long he kept running or when the pain stopped Bell was only reminded when he tripped on a tree root, as Bell tumbled down hearing a snap as he fell he rolled next to a small pond it clear reflection in the moonlight. Bell sobbed as he got up and looked at his shoulder seeing the elven arrow push through his shoulder and ragged shirt, sobbing he gripped the arrow shaft and pulled it forward a muffled scream as Bell grit his teeth. As the arrow was removed Bell gasped a sigh of relief giving a tearful glance behind to see the other half of it snapped off during the fall.
Letting it drop to the ground Bell crawled over to the small pond, cupping small amounts of water attempting to wash away the blood. However as he noticed the water becoming slightly murky It wasn't till then did Bell noticed, how he smelled of smoke and ash he starts to breath heavily as he start to franticly to wash away the ash and dirt from his body.
His hands almost scrapping the muck and grime from his skin, leaving his skin grazed as the splashes are heard throughout the quiet calming down slightly. His breaths still deep and rugged Bell leans and peers into the pond pulling his hands away as it calms.
As the ripples settle Bell finally sees himself in the clear reflection of the pond he had light burns across his skin, still patchy due to the ash and muck with a slight redness to him washing so hard he glanced to his hair. It was a mixture of gray and white with freckles of black had all but set in, picking some strands in his fingers Bell rubbed it gently watching as the thick clumps of ash and debris fall away. Gently washing it more white started to show as more filth was washed away, looking slightly down Bell set his hands to his sides and looked to his eyes. They were a deep ruby red like his father's however they had became puffy from his sobbing and crying.
"BELL! GET YOUR MOTHER AND RUN! RUN MY SON!"
Bell quickly holds his head hearing clear as day the final words his father said to him as he fought off the attackers, the sound of wood cracking under flames as they roared through the night. Bell looks back into the pond and looking back to his white hair, still soaked mixed with ash and grime he looks somberly as he washes it gently again trying to restore its colour to be like his mothers white hair.
"Bell.. I will always love you, you have always been my greatest treasure, my adorable moonlight.. I'm sorry I can't go with you however I'll make sure you have the chance.."
She starts to sob into his hair as she lifts him out the window.
"Run Bell run as fast as you can don't look back don't turn back, and remember it's okay to cry, to feel sad and to be upset, but never lose that kindness.. Now RUN!"
As she finishes the door crashes open and a arrow fly's past and the sound of a thud.
Bell curls up next to the pond he clutches his shoulder at where the arrow hit him when he leapt out the window, it sting ripping him out of the memory of his mother Bells breathing begins to shake as he starts to sob again in his grief.
"I'm sorry father.. I couldn't save mother.. I'm sorry mother.. I want to come home.."
Bell felt lost as he just sobs to himself he doesn't understand why this happened, he couldn't understand it until he looks back into the pond for the final time. Tears still present in his eyes Bell scowls as he looks back in the pond to see his ears. They were thinner and pointed a trait shared amongst all elven children as he gently touched them.
Both his mother and father were elves his mother fair and kind with pale skin and pure white hair, with two bright sapphire blue eyes from what Bell was told by his father. She was too good for him but she chose him regardless and he treasured and loved her for all of his life.
Bell father was tall and strong looking he was scared along his left arm and face with sharp looking eyes of deep ruby red, and pitch black hair it was no secret that Bell's father wasn't treated well by other elves. But he never let it bother him and Bell always though he looked cool! Like he's as battle scared hero who made it back!
Oh the look he gave Bell when he first said that made Bell realized how much he farther needed it as he hugged him, in a tight embrace and started to teach him the way of hunting needless to say Bell was very happy!
Bell wiping his tears smiled meekly at those happy memories then as fast as the happiness came, so did the dread as Bell realized there gone.. Both of his parents his forest home everything as he stared looking at himself in the reflection as he got lost in thought.
"It was other elves who did this.. but why... WHY!"
Bell slammed the floor as his thoughts ran rampant remembering the elves that came to his village all in full armour and weapons, and before anyone knew anything they attacked arrows skewered anyone who ran. Homes set on fire by spells as everyone was put to the sword they were elves killing fellow elves. Like we were ANIMALS! Bell clenching his fists in the dirt feeling his anger building as tears threaten to fall again as he remembers.
"There was another leading them.. his ears were longer then mothers and fathers..."
As Bell tried to recall the night it was all so chaotic all he can see is his parents, fire and smoke wait..
As Bell remembers he felt like he's choking on the embers of his home and then Bell sees it his memory flashes to the elf his father's fighting, Bell closing his eyes remembers seeing his father fighting in his black armour with sword and shield. He was fighting the long eared elf the armour he wore was white with gold regalia with a long green cloak, his helmet only covers his eyes and upper head as long green hair flies around the upper back braided.
"Long ears... green hair mother only told me of one group has those distinct features"
Bell looking into the pond frustration clear on his face as his eyes widen in shock, his hands clench tighter not wanting to believe what he just realized.
"An Alf"
Bell said almost in disbelief his voice coarse and strained from his sobbing and crying, he keeps shaking his head slightly trying to understand closing his eyes.
"An Alf a high elf of the royal family.. They are the one who did this.."
Bell said as he stood up looking into the sky seeing a full moon shining back he starts to shake violently, he suddenly yells into the emptiness a hatred filled scream soon followed as Bell stops to gather his breath. He looked at the broken arrow walking over and picking up both ends in each hand squeezing tightly as he walked back over to the pond.
"They killed my family.. My father.. My mother.. MY ENTIRE HOME BURNT TO ASHES"
Bell grips both arrow half's tightly feeling his anger build up as he speaks despite of how much it hurts, all Bell can feel is anger and grief for those he's lost and those who caused this. As he calms down he takes a deep breath of the cooled air and looks back into the pond while he starts to think more calmly, he looks at the moons reflection as it shines with the stars dance around it.
"No.. I promised mother not to lose my kindness.. but.. Those who did this aren't elves I REFUSE"
Bell takes a few deep breaths trying to control this rush of emotions.
"My mother is an elf! My father is an elf! I'm an elf! Those who did this are not elves! I will never accept any elf who says they are! Or follow them! They killed for no reason they were cruel and viscous the elves I know are kind! Caring! Understanding those are true elves!"
Bell loudly proclaiming into the night as he looks up to the sky taken in an even deeper breath, raising his arms Bell holds out the broken arrow above the pond the moon shining down upon him.
"Mother... Father... I make you a promise here in this place sheltered by the moonlight, I promise to become kind and caring like mother, and I promise to become strong and brave like farther..."
After a short pause still looking into the sky Bell speaks again with a determined voice gripping the arrow more tightly.
"And I promise to be a true elf, to show every other elf that what we can be! And to strike down all those pretenders who say there elves! and I promise I will make the Alf's pay for what they did to you to avenge you both and our home"
Bell putting his arms down placing the broken arrow on the floor as he looks back up to the moon, a bittersweet smile creeps upon Bells face as he stands there and breaths.
"And I promise that I will become a hero! Just like you both!.. I'm sorry.. I love you mother, father"
The tears start to roll down Bells face again he raises his arms and wipes them away and looks into the pond and sees his look of determination, with another deep breath Bell picks up the arrow and looks where he was currently running. With a new found determination Bell again starts to run in the direction he was going and keeps running gripping the arrow tight not slowing down.
Before Bell noticed he had reached the end of his home forest Bell had never ventured this far, and as he looks out all he sees is grass fields and small hills with a marked stone road. however his gaze fell upon the side of the road were a cart with two horses and a small fire that's currently lit.
Bell approaches carefully trying to not make a sound however quickly forgets as the smell from the fire smelled amazing, as Bell sees a pot boiling something that seemed to just entranced the young elf until a cough startled Bell as he quickly looks towards the source of the noise.
As Bell looks now at the back of the cart he sees a human, the human is old from Bells first look however he towers over him even while sitting. The human is sat feet on the floor he is wearing blue overalls with a checker shirt and a straw hat upon his head, despite being old he's clearly defined and toned like Bells farther however he has a white beard and hair with a aged face, and what Bell can only describe as sky blue eyes.
He opens his mouth and speaks something however Bell can't understand it he only knows elven so is this human speaking human? Bell starts to look worried as he backs away slightly as the man stands up and walks over to him, only to kneel down and look at the boy with sympathetic eyes as he speaks again.
"Ah you only can speak elven I presume little one?"
Bell looks startled as the human speaks elven with such a odd tone like that of a elder of his village, before Bell can respond the human passes him a bowl with a wooden spoon as he smiles at Bell.
"Haha you look hungry little one how about you eat with this old man and we can think about patching up the wound on your shoulder?"
Bell just looks at the human with a look of bewilderment how can this human be so kind to someone he just met.. and yet his own race tired to kill him and nearly succeeded... Bell suddenly realized he had started crying and frantically tried to wipe them away but they wouldn't stop.
He suddenly felt himself being pulled into a warm hug by the human Bell confused at first just couldn't hold it in anymore and gripped the man's shirt, as he bawled his eyes out as the human gently stroked his back. It had been awhile since Bell had stopped crying the human had done his best to bandage his shoulder, even if it stung a bit Bell wouldn't admit it though however the human spoke as the fire crackled.
"Do you have a family little one? a place I can take you?"
All Bell could do is sniffle into his shirt and shake his head slowly as Bell speaks choked up.
"No.. my home and family are gone I have no one else.."
As Bell finished speaking he tried to pull himself up, just to find the humans arm around him keeping close and he speaks again softly.
"If that's the case.. Little one do you want to come with me back to my village, you can stay with me and we can figure out what you want to do"
Bell couldn't speak all he knew is that he is warm and so very kind, so all Bell could do is nod into his chest as he feels himself drifting to sleep exhaustion finally catching up.
"Okay little one let's get you home, wait do you have a name?"
He looks at Bell with a goofy smile waiting for Bell to reply to only give a half asleep response.
"I'm Bell Cranel.. What do I call you?"
Bell doing his best to stay awake to wait for the old humans name however the answer he got surprised him, as he lifted both of them into the cart and lays him down in a makeshift bed tucking him in.
"Ha a good name Bell as for me you can call me Grandpa! Only if you want too.."
He said in such excitement but in such a soft tone, Bell could only smile as the old man stoked his head as he drifted to sleep.
"Okay Grandpa.."
Bell found himself smiling softly as he fell asleep with his new grandpa making sure he was alright and settled before he went round the front, as he started to attach the horses to the cart. The old man now sat on the front he did all his checks make sure he didn't leave anything behind, now he found himself looking into the back where his new elven grandson lays asleep.
He sighed as he didn't fail to notice the boy was burnt not severely but enough to leave marks and the wound from the same arrow Bell was carrying, all he could assume it had something to with the fire he saw on the horizon all he can do now is look after his grandson.
He sat upon the cart seat and starts to drive as the horses start to walk down the road he looks up into the sky and smiles somberly.
"Maybe this is a second chance.. to grant this world what it's waits for.. bah that can come later for now let's get home.. hmm this should be interesting story to tell everyone back home"
He looks back again a smile appearing as he looks at Bell as he sleeps continuing along the road as he sighs, looking out wondering how is he going to convince he didn't just steal a elven child that can't speak human oh well issues when they arrive.
And done! Hope you enjoyed the introduction to the story! I know it's rather short however I do plan to do longer ones later on, As for Bell yes I've made him a elf because I feel like it's a good dynamic! As for him meeting up with the same grandpa I feel like it wouldn't be right to not have that and it also helps the story stay on track with the series as a whole however like I said before I am going to change some things here and there hope you enjoyed and see you next time!