A/N - What is poppin my fellow losers. Sorry for the late chapter I was a little swamped this week with IRL shit, as well as having no fucking idea what I wanted to do with the story specifically for the second chapter. If you have any recommendations where you want this story to go please PM or review me. As always Leave a follow and favorite. Leave a review if you enjoyed it and if you didn't leave some constructive criticism, thank you very much for your support and I hope you enjoy the chapter. Have fun BBBBYYYEEEEE!!!!!!!

Chapter 10

Bell pauses and looks down at Syrikka, he says. "It's a little exciting isn't it, even Kanon is level three and we didn't get to see him grow much. But this is true progress, this is the birth of a new adventurer."

Bryan smiles and nods, he looks over to Kanon and signals him over. "Hey come heal her would you."

Kanon straightens up and says. "Uh yes sir." Kanon walks over and begins chanting his spell.

Syrikka wakes up upon the ending of the spell. Her eyes flutter open as she adjusts to the light of the crystals. She sees Kanon blush as she wakes up and he pulls away and scurries back inside. Bell leans over and reaches out his hand "Welcome back,"

Syrikka grabs his hand and pulls herself up. As she sits up she takes notice of Bryan's presence but doesn't say anything. She turns to Bell and asks "So, do we go again?"

Bell laughs and says "Gods no, anymore of that and you might not wake up. We'll be sparring for the rest of the session."

Syrikka's eyes widened with excitement, from not having to go into the box or fighting with her master it did not matter. All that matters now is that she is face to face with someone much stronger than her. If she wishes to come back to her family stronger this is something she must do. Bell takes her to a room in the castle. It is decently big and completely empty, Bell walks to the other side of the room after closing the door. Syrikka walks to the opposite part as him and she takes a battle stance while smiling. Bell smiles and says "one rule, no magic."

Syrikka looks at him disappointed, questioning his motives. She pushes down on her curiosity , remaining silent. Bell follows this by getting in his stance, frankly he is excited to see how strong the daughter of the sword princess is. He looks in her eyes and says "You ready?"

Syrikka reciprocates the eye contact and says determinedly "Let's go."

Bell chuckles but quickly parries the blow targeted at his head. Bell hadn't known they had started but he didn't care much. It was a good lesson to attack when they least expect it, so he was happy she already got the spirit of the idea. Bell jumps to his side, Syrikka follows him and once again swings for his head. But as she does Bell plants his foot in the ground stopping his sideward motion making Syrikka lose her target, in this moment of uncertainty from his opponent Bell scanned Syrikka for any weak spots. He sees about five which is truthfully far more than he had hoped, but seeing as he is five levels higher he chooses the strongest of the weak points that being the ankle. He kicks it with the non planted foot, she spins from the force and falls down. Bell points his dagger at her face as she lays there defenseless. He smiles and helps her up, he says to her. "You weren't horrible, decent for a level two. But we have a lot of work to do."

Syrikka grumbles annoyed at how quickly and effortlessly she was defeated. She walks over to her starting position and once again gets in her battle stance. Bell smiles and does the same, 'I didn't think this would be so fun' he thinks to himself. He looks her in the eyes and says "You ready?"

Syrikka smiles and launches herself at him. Their knives clash with sparks flying in every direction.

Multiple Hours Later

Syrikka falls to the ground, this feels like the hundredth time she has been down here. Her body is aching from being hit again and again. She picks herself up and walks to the same spot again. Bell looks at her with pity and says, "we've been going at it for quite a while. How about we stop for today."

Syrikka, angered at how overpowered she is, looks at him and says "One more."

Bell sighs and walks over to his spot in the room, he felt a little bad after the fiftieth go or so. He looks at her and asks in a monotone voice "you ready?"

Syrikka bruised and broken smiles and charges at Bell. Bell looks at her and punches her in the side. She falls to the ground in heaps of pain. Bell walks over and looks down at her. He asks with a chuckle under his breath, "You done now?"

Syrikka groans in pain as she rolls over, she talks and says "Yea, maybe you're right."

Bell smiles and says "Well, at least Kanon gets to use his magic." He turns to the door and says "I'll go fetch him,I'll be right back." He does as stated and finds the nervous little healer and brings him to the young girl. Kanon heals her, unable to look at her properly, still very uncomfortable with her presence. She gets up and Bell tells her "Go take a shower, Kanon will show you where. Come and join us for dinner when you're finished."

Syrikka nods and looks towards Kanon. "Show me the way."

Kanon blushes deeply, his face turning red, he turns and walks out the door leading Syrikka through the castle. Syrikka runs up beside him and he faces his head to the other side of his body. Syrikka asks him, "so how does a guy like you end up in a guy like this."

Kanon, seemingly surprised by the conversation, looks at her. He explains whilst blushing "Um unlike the others I didn't really have some bad past. When I was in Orario, Bryan was a teacher of mine. We were in the same familia, and he helped me when I was just starting out. But then Freya took an interest in me, and…. Well I had to run and Bryan came with me. We eventually found Bell and lady Blodeuwedd, they took us in eventually doing the same with Toxis, Alora, and Ari."

Syrikka's ears perk up, she looks at him confused and says "Ari, who's Ari?"

Kanon looks at her blankly and asks, "Bell hasn't told you." He rubs his chin and looks up, he continues "I guess that isn't too weird, she is only here for short amounts of time." Syrikka was going to question him further but was interrupted "We're here, there's towels inside, you can come join us once your done."

Syrikka smiles and says "Thank you very much Kanon."

Kanon smiles and walks away, as Syrikka was about to walk into the room Kanon turns and calls out to her. "Hey Syrikka." She turns to look at him, he smiles and says "Thanks for listening to me." She smiles and he blushes. His ears flush red and he quickly turns around and scurries away. Syrikka giggles and turns to enter the room. She sees a large room, a rack of towels and other miscellaneous things are in a small entrance of the room. Beyond that are rows of showers seemingly powered by some sort of magic. She rids herself of her clothing and walks over to the showers. She cleans her body in the shower and comes out about a half hour later, she heads to the dining hall to eat with the others. She finds everyone including the goddess sitting there eating dinner.

She walks in and Blodeuwedd smiles as she acknowledges the presence of the new stray. As she smiles she says "Finally done in the shower?" Everyone turns to see the new person in the room.

Bell smiles and says "Come, sit, we saved some dinner just for you."

Syrikka smiles and proceeds to sit next to Bell. She may not like Alora that much but she has to admit, she's a damn good cook. As she digs in Toxis looks at her and asks "Training went well?"

Syrikka lets out a breathy laugh and says "I guess you could call it that, I spent most of the time on my ass though."

Toxis laughs in return "Yea I kinda figured. One nasty machine that, unlucky you have to use it."

Syrikka looks at her as if in fear of using it again. "It was pretty tough." She rubs the back of her head. "I was able to dodge one or two by the end, I was hit right after though."

Toxis looks at her wide eyed "Wait what, you dodged a blow already!" Everyone looks at her shocked. Each of them had at least attempted it, and Blodeuwedd had heard how hard it was. They couldn't believe some fresh level two who tried it out maybe a handful of times figured it out when it took tens of attempts for the rest of them. Bryan and Bell both smile already knowing the feat the girl pulled off. Toxis losing the shock in her eyes, raises a glass and smiles. "Well, then here's one for the new prodigy, CHEERS!!"

"CHEERS!" everyone shouts out, Bell pats Syrikka on the back with a proud look in his eyes. Syrikka smiles in return and returns to eating her dinner. The night continues on but… Syrikka soon released, Every. Person. Here. is very very drunk.

"No way I'm way stronger than you, you idiot!" Alora yells an angry look in her face.

Kanon stands up with liquid confidence flowing through his veins "No way! You couldn't even withstand one of my spells, how could you ever beat me in a fight."

Alora glares at him and screams "Fine lets go right now, cmon shy boy let's run it!"

Toxis encourages the fight with sounds of affirmation initiating Kanon and Alora to stand up. They both walk to an open area in the room and take what is most likely supposed to be battle stances. But to the sober Syrikka it looks like they're just standing awkwardly, Toxis who is playing along also in an intoxicated state walks over and raises her hand to the best of her ability. She yells out words slurred "Okay, here we go. 3, 2, 1, Go!"

Alora screams a battle cry and she starts to run forward, she trips over her own feet and falls to the ground. Kanon laughs and swings his arm forward preparing a spell aimed at the drunken chientrope, but apparently he swung his arm too hard as the momentum carries his body forward also landing on the ground. Toxis bursts out laughing at the top of her lungs eventually falling to the ground gasping for air as she can't stop laughing. The remaining people look on at this spectacle in varying emotions. Humor, embarrassment, annoyed, and confusion fill those who remain at the table. Blodeuwedd enjoying the spectacle turns to Bell and says "Would you like to play something for us?" She gestures towards a piano on the side of the room.

Bell looks at it and sighs, "I don't mind but it's been awhile, so don't make fun of me if it's bad." He gets up and walks over to the piano. He cracks his finger and takes a deep breath, he begins to play. The song is a stark contrast of the emotions of the room moments ago. Syrikka recognises it as the song Rain by some pianist who comes by and plays at a couple balls and galas for some of the more popular familias in Orario. (It's Rain by Tony Ann if you're curious.) The room goes silent as they are swallowed by the sound of the storm produced by the piano. Bell's head sways side to side as he plays, emotions being carried by his music. The gentleness of the rain and the anger of the rising storm. Syrikka stares in amazement as she watches her master play what can only be described as a masterpiece. The song finishes and Bell sighs once more. He walks back to the table as they stare at him silently. Bryan gets up and says, "With that I'm heading off to bed, if I have anymore it'll be a problem." Bryan gets up and walks over to Kanon who is either unconscious or asleep on the ground next to Alora. Bryan picks him up and puts him over his shoulder, he walks out the room and heads to bed.

Toxis stands up still wiping tears from when she was laughing and says "I'll be doing the same, I have some things I need to do tomorrow."

Blodeuwedd smiles and says, "Take Alora off to bed will you, it'll be bad if she sleeps on the floor."

Toxis nods and follows by Bryan's example. Blodeuwedd gets up and begins picking up all the dishes, Bell does the same picking up the dishes in front of him. Syrikka finishes eating from a small plate in front of her and hands it to Bell. He nods as a form of thanks and continues cleaning. Syrikka looks to Bell and says "I didn't know you could play."

Bell smiles and looks down to her "I've known you for maybe a month, there's still a lot you don't know about me." He pauses "Did you like it?"

Syrikka smiles and says "Yes it was very beautiful. Where'd you learn to play?"

Bell laughs under his breath and says "Once Blodeuwedd found me and took me in we had a lot of free time. I figured I might as well learn since we had one at our old home."

Syrikka looks at him and says with a little bit of shock. "Wow, you sound very good for someone who taught himself."

Bell, still smiling, says "Thank you."

Blodeuwedd walks out the room and into the kitchen. Bell, still picking up, remains silent, but Syrikka after thinking for a bit asks. "What was Ais like when you knew her?"

Bell stiffens for a bit but soon begins again. He says "Well, she was strong, she was admired by all in Orario. She wore a mask though, not physical but emotional. It's like she was scared to get close to people." He pauses for a second "I think, by the time I left she took off the mask a little bit. I always wonder what would've happened if I stayed, if things were different. But we both know it's too late for that now."

Syrikka frowns and says "She misses you you know. I think she'd really like it if you came back."

Bell looks down almost in shame and says "You should go to bed, we have another long day tomorrow."

Syrikka looks at him thinking and then listens to his command heading off to bed. When Bell hears her footsteps walk upstairs he puts the plates down on the table. He walks over to a window in the room and looks up at the night "sky" (Remember it's crystals like the 18th floor). He thinks to himself 'Go back huh.' He stares and thinks for a while remembering the good times he had back in his old home. He eventually shakes his head and puts the plates away, heading off to bed like the others.

Chapter 11

The morning came, most of the members hating themselves for the night before. As Syrikka wakes she walks into the dining room. But unlike yesterday it was not filled with laughter and happy spirits, what she saw was Bryan and Bell looking pitifully at a hungover amazon, with glasses of water surrounding her. As she walks in she hears Toxis groan and say "I don't even remember what happened last night."

Bell, still looking at the amazon says "That makes sense, you've never been able to handle alcohol."

Toxis looks up, focusing her gaze on the rabbit man says, "Well at least you two don't have to deal with this. I wish I had Abnormal Resistance like you too."

Bell chuckles and says "Don't blame me, you had the option, this is the consequence for your choice."

Toxis sighs "I would I know it would end up like this, by my age I thought I'd be some captain leading a group in the dungeon. Not some washed up archer in hiding."

Bryan sighs as well and says "Well there's nothing you can do about it now." Toxis looks at him annoyed and then puts her forehead on the table. Bryan calmly asks and says "Are you still able to do that scouting thing?"

Syrikka enters the conversation and asks, "What scouting thing?"

Bell looks up to acknowledge the new presence in the conversation. He says "Remember those Onikuma we saw on our way here. They were traveling in a pack which isn't normal, so I'm having Toxis go scout to see if see can figure anything out."

Syrikka looks up blankly trying to remember the referenced encounter, she seemingly understands and then sits down. Bell turns again to Toxis and says, "Well, can you do it today?"

Toxis sighs "Yea, yea just stop bothering me about it." She gets up and walks over to her bow and arrow. She picks them up and hangs them over her shoulder, she turns to the group and says "I'll be back around nightfall, tell Alora she needs to cover my guard shift again." She walks out of the room head hanging low in misery from her hangover.

Syrikka watches in curiosity and then asks Bell, "Are we training again today?"

Bell nods and says "Yes we'll train six days a week from now on. Here I have some breakfast, I'm going to go shower. Meet me outside in half an hour." Syrikka nods and she does so accordingly.

Toxis sighs as she walks out the mountain. She doesn't hate scouting, hell she enjoys it because she can use her bow. She just wishes that she didn't drink so much last night. As she walks through the surrounding forest she comes upon a tree with scratches in it. She looks at it, remaining silent. She thinks to herself 'What caused you to do this?' she rubs her hand along the tree feeling the scratch. She begins searching the ground for footprints, trying to see what way it could've gone. As she searches through the forest following the scratches in the trees she sees them. Footprints, not from one or two or three but tens of them. Toxis finds this very alarming, she heard from Bell that he saw multiple onikuma which was odd enough, but to actually see it was something else.

She follows the footsteps seeing that the quantity of steps keeps rising, she picks up her pace. She sees more and more scratches on trees, all of them getting deeper and the tracks more fresh. She chases and chases, seeing more and more, and then she finds a cave. Tracks coming in and out of the cave, it is very clear that whatever was happening the answers would be found within this cave. She takes a deep breath and brings the bow off her back, she takes an arrow from the quiver she has and prepares to shoot it. She takes the arrow and lights the tip on fire, she enters the cave the only thing illuminating her path is the dying light weakening as she enters further in. The burning arrow is the only hope in the case of observation, she hears the sound of the earth within the cave. Wind gusts throughout the cave in different directions, water drops falling onto the cave floor as she hears heavy pounding on the ground akin to footprints.

She travels further and further into the cave until she sees something, light. She stops at the sight of it, she has been traveling for at least three minutes in a general downward direction. She decides to put out the arrow that has been serving as a torch in case she is noticed by something. She walks now completely on edge, with no idea what may lay ahead. She walks forward bow and arrow at the ready, she turns the corner to see a string of lights illuminating the cave. She smells something horrible, like dead flesh rotting. She continues on and eventually comes to a small fork in the road, one with a very large path which she decides is for the onikuma to use, and a smaller tunnel which she writes off as a random opening. She takes the larger of the two paths, as she walks further down she starts hearing the noise of the monster she came here for. She keeps walking and then eventually comes to an opening, in the cave it opens up to reveal a massive stadium like structure (Kinda like the colosseum). Hundreds of onikuma are within the center, but that is not the problem here. It's that these onikuma are not known to be very friendly creatures, but not only are they with each other there are other monsters with them. Orcs, kobolds, goblins, silverbacks, and lizard men too many to count. 'What the hell is this?' Toxis thinks to herself. She walks in and sees a small path along the outside of the large area below, she decides it's best to look for any more information she can find. As she walks along the outside keeping as quiet as she can she eventually makes it to the other side. Her eyes widen in shock, and realisation as she starts to breath quickly and short breaths she whispers to herself "Oh my fucking gods."

She immediately starts to hurry out of the arena-like area, but apparently she moves a little too quickly. As she starts to hurry out the area she kicks a rock that was lying on the ground, and as if the gods are tormenting her it lands on the head of a silverback. It looks up and soon acknowledges the presence of the archer, it screams of anger looking at the prey. Hundreds, thousands of monsters turn to look at her, all of them screaming in anger. She sees this and starts to pant heavily as death stares her in the eyes, she picks up her pace into a full run with the monsters doing the same now hunting their prey. She runs out the passage and followed by the army of monsters, she sprints at her full pace. She is a low level six and can easily outrun these monsters, she reaches the edge of the cave and runs out. She can still hear the monsters screaming behind her, she looks around and then finds a small gap in the rocks at the entrance of the cave. She takes a small red and green arrow and sticks it in, she mutters something and then runs away. She sprints and sprints, she sees the sun is already beginning to hide itself behind the mountains. She keeps running for about ten minutes, she's not super fast but still far faster than some normal level five.

After ten minutes of running she enters her home mountain very out of breath, she runs down to the beautiful calm castle residing in the middle. She runs up to the gate and she finds Alora still a little messed up from yesterday, she yells to her "Open the gate you idiot."

Alora sits up from the chair she was on and sees her superior yelling. "Hello Toxis, you find anything on your scouting thing?" she asks in a cheery voice.

Toxis yells "Open the gate, get me Bell and goddess. We're all in danger." Alora doesn't get very nervous much but seeing the terrified look on her friend's face worries her.

She opens the gate and yells out "What's wrong?"

Toxis immediately runs through and Alora sighs. She listens to the command given to her and finds Bell training and their goddess who was in her quarters. She takes them to the dining room where they find Bryan and Kanon sitting down and Toxis pacing back and forth. Bell walks in and looks at the panicked Toxis. He hears her say "We can't stay, this is bad, this is bad, we have to leave."

Bell walks over and talks to her. He grabs her shoulders and says "Calm down, calm down, tell me what happened."

Toxis slows her breathing and says "I-I was going on the scout. I found some tracks and I followed them. I tracked them down into a den, I entered it just to see what I could find. And then," She pauses as her hands start shaking. "Then when I moved further in I came to a structure. Like-like an arena of sorts. I found thousands of monsters, silverbacks, orcs, onikumas every monster you can think of that you can find above floor eighteen, it was there."

Bryan scoffs "If that's all there is we have no need to be worried, we have a level seven and two level sixes. We could kill all of them in a night if we wanted."

Toxis turns to look at him and says "You don't get it, these- these monsters weren't there by some accident. They were tamed. This isn't some gaggle or herd, this was an army."

Bryan turns to look at Bell, and he scratches his chin. Toxis continues "That's not the worst of it though. When I found them I looked around for information, I went to the other side and- and then."

She starts to tear up and Bell quickly stops her from falling down. Bell asks "What Toxis, what did you see?"

Toxis looks up, tears start flooding from her eyes and she starts shaking violently "I went to the other side and when I looked back I saw them. Five flags hanging on the side of the wall."

She pauses, prompting Syrikka to ask "What, flags?"

Toxis looks at her captain and says "I saw four flags, on each a symbol representing five gods. Thantos, Vito, Apate, Alecto, and. " She pauses, her breathing becoming harder as she looks into her captain's eyes. "And Freya"