Hello everyone, and thank you for tuning into this story! I've been having a bit of writer's block recently with my main Danmachi story Last Hero's Vow, so I thought I'd try out a Danmachi x Bloodborne story to get my creative juices rolling again.
Funnily enough, this crossover story actually served as the main inspiration for Last Hero's Vow, and you'll eventually see the Soulsborne inspirations within it as I add more chapters. Hell, Last Hero's Vow was actually planned to be a Danmachi x Bloodborne story before I decided to make it a Danmachi-only fic. So it's kind of poetic for me to go back and work on that story's predecessor to help me improve on it further.
Huge shout-out to the fanfics Paleblood by user Arrixam and Moon Scented Hunter by user Mistalenny, both of which have been huge sources of inspiration for this story. Both of these guys have written some of, if not THE best Bloodborne stories out there, crossover or otherwise, and they both deserve all the praise, follows, favorites, and views that they got and more. If you haven't checked out either of their works, what the hell is wrong with you? Go and read them! Their stories are just top-tier amazing, and definitely give them a try and your support! You won't regret it, I promise you!
And as a last note, when it comes to Soulsborne-inspired stories, I try to be as accurate to the lore as possible, and try to make it match as close to the crossover's canon as much as I can. That said, it has been a while since I've played Bloodborne, and I sold my PS4 long ago. The majority of lore I mention in this story will be based on videos by YouTubers Last Protagonist and Charred Thermos, who have some of the best Bloodborne lore discussions out there. If I do make any mistakes or if you have a question on how I interpreted some of the lore, leave a comment in your review or PM and I'll address it in the next chapter's Author Note.
Without further ado, let's jump right in!
And remember, Fear the Old Blood.
The echoing gong from the morning bell roused her from her slumber.
Her eyes squinted as a foreign warmth seeped through her eyelids, and with a grimace, she covered her face with an outstretched hand.
Only to suddenly open them at the realization that she had no idea what this sensation was.
Opening her eyes slowly, a blazing white light peeled out from over the rooftops as the loud bell continued to resonate in the surroundings, signaling the dawn of a new day.
That warmth she felt earlier came from no other place than the sun in the sky, and yet, why did it feel like it had been years since she last felt its rays on her skin?
In fact, where was she?
She shakily stood up on her feet and looked around. She was resting on a chunk of broken concrete and debris that was scattered all over the alley she was in. Right behind her were the remains of a temple or chapel, one that looked as if it was blasted by several bombs, its ceiling completely collapsed and rubble dotting the area.
Reaching out her hand, she gently stroked the small bits of debris from the fallen building with a somber look on her face. For some reason, seeing the carnage in front of her left her in a state of lamentation. This building seemed to bring feelings of nostalgia and fondness in the young woman.
But why? Why couldn't she remember why she felt so sad?
Why couldn't she remember anything?
And yet no matter how hard she racked her brain, nothing seemed to resurface. Her earliest memories, her past life, her hobbies, likes and dislikes, even her name were all scrubbed from her mind. Like a bad dream that she desperately tried to forget.
Looking down at herself, the young woman noticed that she wore almost pitch-black leather attire, with a coat that extended below her knees with a small cape fluttering on her back. A matching black bandana covered her mouth and nose, and a cape with withered feathers on each side covered her head and her flowing, pure white hair that reached past her shoulders. Various belts decorated her waist and pants, with a long, double-cylindrical mechanism strapped to her waist alongside a long, wickedly curved blade that eerily harbored small traces of what appeared to be dried blood on its edge. Lightly patting herself, she discovered a small pouch containing a variety of medical instruments from syringes, vials of blood, tourniquets, sedatives, and… pebbles?
It was a strange assortment of items that she couldn't make heads or tails of. The curved blade at her side almost looked like it belonged on a sickle, and on her back was a folded up wooden pole with an attachment at the end. At first she assumed she might be a farmer, but the presence of the medical instruments made her second-guess if she was a doctor instead. Indeed, the moment she saw her utensils, she instantly began recognizing and remembering their uses and applications on the human body. And strangely enough, she could easily recall all the major organs, blood vessels, pressure points, and the musculoskeletal system with pinpoint accuracy.
Reaching down to her waist, she unsheathed the massive blade and gave it several experimental swings. Sure enough, her mind may have forgotten what it was for but her muscles certainly haven't, and in no time at all she was swinging it back and forth, listening to the ringing of the metal as it sliced the air.
Was she a warrior then? A warrior and a doctor?
Sheathing her weapon, the young woman shook her head, letting her snow-white hair flutter down her shoulders. Closing her eyes, she sat down and took a moment to collect herself.
So far, she couldn't remember much aside from how to fight and how to treat and dissect the human body. As for what she didn't know, she had no recollection of her name, who she was, why she was sleeping in front of this dilapidated chapel, why she was dressed the way she was, or why she was able to fight and understand anatomy. The only logical choice she had left was to look around and maybe find someone who could point her in the right direction.
With her eyes closed, her other senses increased dramatically, and she began picking up other sensations. The smell of various animals, humans, food, blood, and sweat. The loud cluttering of feet, jubilant laughs, and random bits of conversation. All signs that pointed to an inhabited city of some sorts. And soon enough, as she stepped a few paces away from the chapel, she saw a long street that led deeper into a much larger city, with a massive tower that stretched to the sky itself. Looking down the road, she saw various people of all ages and races starting to walk back and forth, no doubt starting off the day to head to their jobs and occupations.
Maybe if she headed further in, she could find someone who might recognize her? Or at least point her in the right direction!
Pumping her hands in front of her, the young woman set out towards the tower.
"Syr, you've been smiling non-stop for the past few days now."
"I can't help it, Ryu! Every time I think about Mr. Bell's victory in the War Game, I keep on feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside! It was such an amazing fight! And you did so well, too!"
"It was nothing, Syr. I was just repaying a debt to Mr. Cranell. But I will admit that his victory against Hyacinthus was truly extraordinary. He's come a long way since he first came to our tavern."
Two young women, a silver-haired girl named Syr and a green-haired elf named Ryu, were walking across the street and into one of the nearby alleyways with a bag of groceries in their arms. The tavern they worked at, the Benevolent Mistress, had hosted a massive gathering of adventurers a few days prior to watch the War Game between Hestia and Apollo Familia, and when the underdogs in Hestia Familia won in a landslide victory, nearly everyone had broken down into tears and started to eat and drink in dismay at their lost savings. Mamma Mia made a good penny that day, at the cost of a nearly depleted pantry.
Ryu sighed at the annoyed mutterings of her coworkers as they complained of their increased workload, but she refrained from telling them off, as they had also been incredibly worried for her during her time assisting Bell in the War Game. And all of them had cheered with glee as they saw Bell's masterstroke victory over Hyacinthus, a Level 3.
She couldn't help but smile as well as she remembered his cherry face when he finally won. He worked hard and improved so much in so little time, and she felt pride in his growth. He would soon become a nightly adventurer with enough time, and a man worthy to take Syr's hand in holy matrimony as they pronounced their undying love to each other in the middle of the night, under the foliage of the Elven trees and illuminated by the light of the full moon.
Truly, the ultimate form of romance, no matter how much Syr and the others giggled at her.
But as they exited the alley, Ryu accidentally collided with someone walking right past the corner, and to her shock, she was knocked into the ground while the stranger remained standing.
"Ryu! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Syr. It was just an-."
"I'm so sorry!" The stranger replied, clasping her hands together in prayer and apology.
"Ah, it is nothing, Miss?"
Ryu made to offer her apologies, but when she looked up at the person she collided into, she couldn't help but stare in open-mouthed shock.
The stranger, who appeared only a handful of years older than her, was a young woman of unparalleled, heavenly beauty. Even though she never harbored feelings of affection to the same gender, Ryu couldn't help but clam up at the sight, easily rivaling that of other Goddesses of Beauty. She had skin as pale as the moon, and matching snow-white hair that cascaded down her shoulders in flowing waves. Her eyes were the color of the deep sea, a serene blue color that made her want to stare into the very depths.
But her awe was soon replaced by horror and anger.
As the woman's beauty took hold of her, Ryu's eyes soon traveled down and she noticed the curved blade on the woman's waist, including the splotches of dried blood on the edge.
Jumping to her feet in less than a couple seconds, she pulled out a knife and moved in front of Syr, adopting a battle stance.
"Ryu!?"
"Stand back, Syr! This person could be dangerous!"
Though the woman in front of her wore a look of confusion and hurt (which strangely made her feel like she had kicked a sick, little rabbit), Ryu noticed that she walked like a seasoned fighter. Thinking back, she found it odd how she couldn't hear any footsteps from around the alley, even with her heightened senses as a Level 4. For someone to easily sneak up on an Upper-class Adventurer like herself, it brought a shiver down her spine, thinking how easily this woman could have sneaked up behind Syr and stabbed her with that blade.
"I-I'm sorry, but there has to be some misunderstanding here! I wouldn't hurt her, or anybody!" The woman spoke, raising her hands up in the air in surrender.
Ryu narrowed her eyes and paid close attention to her face. Thanks to her experience and training in Astraea Familia, she could easily tell based on a person's facial expressions, eye movements, pulse, and rate of breathing if they were lying.
The woman radiated innocence and confusion, and she lacked any of the killer instinct that most crooks or would-be-assassins had. Still puzzled, Ryu nonetheless refused to lower her guard for a second. Even if the woman was able to fool her with her face, that didn't convince her of her innocence.
Especially since the woman before her reeked of blood.
"Ryu! Don't act like that towards strangers! You were the one to bump into her first after all! You should apologize!" Syr said angrily.
"But-!"
"No buts! She's done nothing wrong this whole time!" Turning towards the woman, Syr bowed in apology. "Please forgive my friend! She's just very protective of me."
"N-No, it's fine, I understand! It was also my fault for not paying attention!" The woman bowed in return, and Syr giggled at the perfect bow she performed.
"See, Ryu? It was just an accident."
Well… Ryu guessed that the danger must have passed. If this person truly did mean harm, then they would have attacked the moment they were distracted. The woman's apology seemed genuine, at least.
But why did her body scream danger at her when she saw her? The moment her mind was no longer distracted by the woman's looks, her instincts instantly screamed at her that she was dangerous. And true enough, when she went into a battle stance, her heart rate spiked dramatically, and sweat started to pour down her face.
As ludicrous as it was, this woman in front of her brought out a fear and sense of doom that she hadn't felt in years. Not since it.
"Those are some strange clothes, miss! Are you from around here?" Syr asked.
"I'm not sure honestly. I've only just woken up and I can't seem to remember a single thing about myself. Who I was, what I lived for, not even my blessed name." The woman sighed. "I'm guessing you two don't recognize me at all?"
"Hmm, I'm sorry, but I don't recall seeing anyone like you before, although you do seem a little familiar…." Syr mumbled, her eyes closed in deep thought.
"Well, if you are having trouble with your memories, then maybe you should try the Guild." Ryu added, pointing towards the Tower. "The Guild is the de facto ruling body of Orario, and if you're a citizen then there should be a record of you in the Guild office. I do apologize for my behavior earlier, I just was startled by the blood on your weapon."
"Oh, believe me, I felt just as put off by it as you were. I woke up with no memories only to have a bloody weapon strapped to my waist." The woman let out a scared chuckle. "Oh, I hope that I wasn't some kid of miscreant before I lost my memories! I don't want to go to jail!"
"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about! You don't seem like a villain to me." Syr said, earning an incredulous glance from Ryu. "Just follow the road down and head to the bottom of the Tower to reach the Guild."
"Oh, thank you so much!" The woman clapped her hands in glee and gave a smile that made even Syr turn slightly red in the face. "Ah, let me help you with the groceries!"
"That isn't necessary." Ryu added, already bending down to pick up the scattered fruits and vegetables. But the stranger didn't relent, and when they both reached out to grab an apple on the ground, their hands made contact.
Ryu froze in place, her eyes locked down at her hand. A hand that did not reject the young woman's touch.
"And here we go!" The woman added, placing the groceries in Ryu's bag. "Hmm? Is something wrong?"
"N-Nothing!" Ryu squeaked out, shaking her head.
"Well then, I better head out then. Thank you for the advice!" The woman smiled at them again and ran out into the street. Once again, her footsteps were completely silent, even as she went at a full sprint.
"What a strange woman…." Syr muttered, her face furrowed in both curiosity and worry.
Ryu didn't comment any further, still looking down at her outstretched hand.
Only 3 people before had been able to touch her bare skin without rejection.
The first was Alizé, her friend and former Captain who brought her into Astraea Familia.
he second had been Syr, her best friend and fellow co-worker who brought her out of her initial depression following her course of vengeance.
The third had been Bell Cranel, who won her admiration, respect, and a bit of affection (something she adamantly denied whenever Syr tried teasing her), and who Syr pined for.
And now, this stranger was her 4th.
Staring at her as she raced down the street, Ryu couldn't help but harbor mixed feelings on the matter. On the surface, the woman seemed like an innocent little rabbit, but her body and survival instincts never lied to her before, and that stranger gave off dangerous vibes. If she was truly proficient with that deadly blade, then Ryu could have been easily killed by her given the chance.
Someone so dangerous, yet so innocent at the same time, and someone who could hold her hand without rejection.
Just who was she? And why did she seem so familiar?
The snow-haired woman sighed in embarrassment, still flustered from her meeting with the two young girls a while earlier.
She couldn't fault the Elf for reacting the way she did. Anyone would have had a similar reaction if someone approached you with a bloody weapon and blood-splattered clothes. Sadly, she lacked any money on her person to get her clothes cleaned, and she didn't even have any spare ones either.
She could only hope that she wasn't living like a bum before she lost her memories. Though that didn't explain the stench of blood that wafted from her clothes.
Running down the street towards Babel, she suddenly heard a cacophony of excited voices from the area to her right. Pausing, she took a quick detour and eventually wandered into a large residential area.
Over a hundred different people, from drunkenly excited Dwarves to immensely muscled Amazons gathered in front of a massive manor, with several groups already past the main gate and eagerly waiting around near the front door. From their garments and weapons, it seemed as if there was a gathering of warriors waiting to be inducted into a group or hunting party.
She walked through, curiosity getting the better of her as she observed the men and women gathered all around. Most of those gathered wore typical heavy armor, or chose to forgo protection entirely and focus solely on aesthetics. A choice that she found herself puzzled by, but coming from someone who wore only leather clothes, she could only shrug her shoulders.
A bloodcurdling scream drew her attention and the alarmed gasps of others. Acting on instinct, she drew her blade and bent her knees to dash forward at a moment's notice. As other Adventurers also brought out their weapons, she narrowed her eyes at the source of the scream.
What greeted her was a pair of women, one with auburn hair and trying to disentangle herself from her other companion, a woman with dark hair who hugged her fiercely and buried her face into her shoulder.
"Cassandra!? What the hell is going on with you!?"
"Daphne! We should leave! We need to leave this place!"
"Weren't you the one who wanted to join Hestia Familia in the first place!? Why are you getting cold feet now? And get off of me, you're embarrassing us!" Daphne's face turned bright red as she noticed the annoyed stares from the Adventurers around her.
"Um, are you two okay?" The stranger asked, sheathing her blade as she saw no conflict or wounds.
Daphne turned her head to answer back, but Cassandra only grabbed onto her tighter.
"Cassandra!"
"No! Don't come near her! She'll bring calamity upon us all!"
"Cassandra, she's literally done nothing this entire time! Stop freaking out over nothing!"
"YOU DON'T GET IT! SHE'S A BAD OMEN! BEASTS WILL START PROWLING THE STREETS, AND THE PALEBLOOD SKY WILL COME FORTH! THE LINE BETWEEN MAN AND BEAST WILL BLUR! A WOMB WILL BE BLESSED WITH CHILD! ONE HAS ALREADY COME FORTH!"
The stranger raised her eyebrows at Cassandra's erratic behavior.
'Might be a classic case of sudden mania.' She thought to herself. An idea then came to her, and she reached into her pouch, pulling out a small, red bottle. Uncorking it, she moved closer to the duo, and before Cassandra could retreat further, the snow-haired Hunter wafted the smell towards her.
Almost immediately, the girl's frantic screaming began to diminish, and in a matter of seconds she fell asleep on Daphne's shoulder.
"What did you you to her!?"
"Don't worry, this is just a small sedative mean to calm the nerves. Sometimes, people can fall into bouts of madness, and to stave off any psychological or mental harm, doctors can apply a small anesthetic to calm them down. She should wake up in a couple of minutes." The Hunter stated, talking as if she were reciting from a textbook.
True to her words, Cassandra lightly stirred awake, and began rubbing her head with her palms.
"Cassandra? You alright?"
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine. I-I'm so sorry for acting like that!" Cassandra turned red in the face and bowed low.
"It's alright. May I ask why you started freaking out like that?"
"I'm not sure. I was just idly daydreaming, and then I started having these horrible nightmares." Cassandra shuddered in disgust. "It was one of the worst dreams I've ever experienced."
The stranger gave her an odd look. "You have these dreams often?"
"Don't put too much thought into it." Daphne added. "Cassandra always has these crazy dreams every now and then. First it was that pillow of hers, and then when she took a small nap in the afternoon she started talking about babies and a red moon for some reason." Daphne then frowned at her companion. "Don't tell me you were having that kind of dream."
"What!? No! You've got it wrong, Daphne!" Cassandra yelled, turning beet red. "I wasn't thinking anything like that!"
Daphne sighed. "Cassandra, I don't mind if you have those kinds of dreams, but please keep those details to yourself. I don't want to hear how lovestruck you were just because Bell Cranel found your pillow."
"Daphne!"
"Well, if you two are fine, then I'll just be on my way." The Hunter replied. "By the way, why are so many people gathered around here?"
"Hah? You didn't know? Hestia Familia is currently recruiting new members, and Cassandra here," Daphne gave her friend an exasperated glance. "Thought that it would be a good idea to join them. Though if she wanted to join because of her crush…."
"Daphne, please stop!" Cassandra's face had turned dark red, and she now buried her face in her palms.
The stranger laughed at their antics. "That sounds quite lovely. But… what is a Familia?"
This time it was Daphne who gave her an exasperated look. "Are you new to Orario?"
"Yes, I… don't have any memories, aside from how to fight and treat wounds. Are all fighters and hunters part of a Familia by any chance?"
"Well, it's not necessary to be a combatant to join a Familia, and it all depends on the god or goddess. And we don't call them hunters here, they're known as Adventurers."
The Hunter wanted to inquire further, but an even bigger commotion drew their attention. The front doors opened up, and a small woman with a massive cleavage held up by a blue string (she had no clue how on earth that was possible) walked out with a triumphant grin, followed closely by a young man.
Her breath caught up in her throat, and she found her heart racing at over a hundred beats per minute. Her gaze was focused solely on the boy in front.
He looked no older than 14, with pale skin, hair as bright as snow, and eyes the color of blood. He walked out with the small woman with immense awe on his face, in a rather cute manner.
Her heart skipped several beats, and a throbbing pain pulsed at the back of her head.
Something seemed strange about this young boy.
Something strangely familiar.
She didn't know why, but her heart yearned to be near this person, at all times. To watch over him, see his growth, to protect him at all costs. Her very being demanded it.
er earlier plans of finding the Guild would have to wait. She needed to see this boy, to be by his side.
Was he the key to unlocking her lost memories?
She was so lost in thought with her rampant emotions that she barely noticed the Far Eastern girl collapse in front of the buxom woman, clothes and hair wet with a look of despair on her face as she held up a piece of paper. She barely registered the '200 million Valis' that spread throughout the crowd like wildfire, nor did she notice how said crowd immediately left the vicinity.
By the time she finally regained her senses, the morning had already turned to midday, and the young man and women had already returned inside the manor.
She took a minute to calm herself. She might not have regained any memories, but her body couldn't lie to her. Something about this boy was important to her, and this was the first clue to finding the truth about her past. Maybe this was fate, maybe this was divine coincidence, but either way, she couldn't let this opportunity slip past her.
Curling her fingers into a fist, she bravely marched toward the front door.
"Sigh, well this day turned into a disaster. Not only have we learned that our Familia has a 200 million Valis debt, we lost any chance of gaining new members. Word will have spread by now about our debt all over the city."
"My apologies!"
"Relax, it's not your fault." Welf said to Mikoto, who still hadn't forgiven herself for yelling out the contents of Hestia's loan contract. "If anything, we'll just have to increase our reputation and hope that everyone forgets the rumors."
"And until then, we'll have to go diving into the Dungeon even more from now on." Lily added, earning a sigh from everyone at the table.
"A-Anyways! What's done is done, and besides! This is a contract between me and Hephaistos. None of you are obligated to help pay it back, and don't worry, Bell! I got that knife to help you in your Adventures, so all I need you to do is to help grow strong and support this Familia!"
"Yes, Goddess!"
"And with that out of the way, let's stuff our faces in tonight!"
"Are you serious, Lady Hestia!? What happened to saving our funds!?"
"Oh, relax Ms. Supporter! Tonight let's forget about the bad stuff and get ready for tomorrow!"
With urging from Welf, Lily sighed and set out to ready the table. Bell eagerly got the food on the table, and was just about to raise a toast to the new Hestia Familia when he heard a knock on the door.
All eyes turned towards the door in surprise.
"Hmm? Who could it be at this hour?"
"Maybe it's someone from Takemikazuchi Familia?"
"Or maybe someone finally decided to join us?"
"This late in the day? It better be a miracle then."
Lily grumbled and tried to sit up, but Bell waved her down.
"Don't worry, I'll answer the door."
Leaving his seat, he made his way to the entrance of the manor and gently opened the door.
His jaw then hit the floor.
Waiting in front of him was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen in his life. Standing around his same height, the woman had skin as pale as the moon, and hair that matched his flawlessly. Her eyes were pure sapphires, and with those same eyes she gazed at him with the same kind of awe that he had for her.
Something about her brought forth a strange assortment of feelings with him. A gripping nostalgia, followed by a heavy curtain of melancholy. He felt his throat clog up, and a part of him wanted to pull this stranger into a bone-breaking hug.
A cold sensation ran down his cheek, and when he wiped his face, he was shocked to see a tear on his finger.
The two continued to stare at each other for what felt like hours, until a blue blur tackled Bell and grabbed onto his back before covering his eyes.
"Wha? Goddess!?"
"I had a funny feeling something was off when you were at the door for the past 10 minutes! Why did a pretty lady have to come to our doorstep now of all times!?" Hestia yelled, refusing to remove her grip.
"Wah! Master Bell! Why!? Lily knew this would happen sooner or later!" Lily stepped forth and pulled on Bell, forcing him away from the door.
"Lily!?"
"You two-timer!"
"Pervert!"
"U-Um, Sir Welf? What's going on?"
"Sigh, just the usual stuff. You'll get used to it sooner or later."
Welf and Mikoto then moved to separate the trio, while the woman still remained at the door, clutching her chest while she stared at the boy, who struggled to free himself from the two girls holding on to his body.
…
…
…
…
"So… who are you, and why are you here?" Hestia asked the woman, who sat at the edge of the table.
Hestia sat at the chair facing the door and in front of the fireplace, showing off her position as the patron deity of Hestia Familia. Bell sat at her right, still awestruck by the woman before him. Lily grumbled at his expression, sitting at his left, and Welf and Mikoto sat with tiny hinges of red on their faces as well as they saw the woman's beauty.
The lady herself swallowed and fidgeted slightly at her seat. "Um, I heard that Hestia Familia was recruiting new members, and I thought about joining?"
"R-Really!?" Bell exclaimed excitedly, drawing heated flares from Hestia and Lily.
"Are you sure? Did you not hear about the loan that Goddess Hestia took? Doesn't that bother you?" Lily said.
"And most importantly, why do you want to join our Familia?" Hestia added, eyes locking on to hers.
The woman sighed. "To tell you the truth, I've… lost my memories. And I've been searching for clues about my past and who I was. I saw this young man here, and it sparked something in my mind. I thought that maybe if I joined the Familia then I could maybe find out more?"
"Hah!? Is she telling the truth, Goddess Hestia!?" Lily roared.
Hestia never broke eye-contact with the woman, and after a few seconds shook her head.
"No, she's not lying. But this whole story is giving me bad vibes. For one thing, why were you staring all lovey-dovey at MY BELL?"
"Who said he was yours!?"
"Cough, anyways, it's nice to see that someone decided to join us regardless of the loan." Mikoto added in a friendly manner. "But if you're telling the truth about your amnesia, then what will you do in our Familia?"
"Um, while my memory may be a bit botched, I do remember how to fight. And I'm a doctor too… I think?" The woman added, pulling out her curved blade.
Welf immediately honed in on the weapon and gave an appreciative whistle. Ignoring the patches of blood on it, the weapon itself was crafted with immense expertise. Beautifully serrated, and shining with a metal he had never seen before, the blade was a work of art, and could only have been forged by a master craftsman.
"That's a really impressive weapon you got," he said, resisting the urge to get up and inspect it further. "Any idea who made it?"
"Sorry, I only remember waking up outside a destroyed chapel with it on my waist. I don't remember anything before that." The stranger said sorrowfully.
Hestia closed her eyes and sat in deep contemplation, while the rest of her Familia tried asking her questions about herself. Eventually, she opened her eyes and gathered everyone's attention.
"Wwhat do you guys think? Should we let her in?"
"Goddess?"
"Her story about amnesia is strange, but so far nothing she said was a lie, and it is good to have another member. What are your thoughts, Miss Supporter?"
"Well, if she does know how to fight, and if she's telling the truth about her being a doctor, then I suppose it wouldn't be a bad decision to bring her in. After all, none of us knows how to heal wounds, and it would be a blessing if we could get an Adventurer who can treat wounds or even craft potions. It would be a waste if we turn her down now, especially when the odds of us getting new members is practically zero." Lily finished.
"Eh, where's the harm in it?" Welf added. "She doesn't seem like a bad person to me, so why not give her a shot?"
"You all were gracious to accept me, even after what I did during the pass parade. It would be wrong of me to deny a new Familia member a chance to prove herself. I say that we accept her, Goddess Hestia." Mikoto said.
"And Bell?" Hestia said, turning her attention to the Familia Captain.
Bell gave another quick glance at the woman, and seeing her forlorn expression made him decide on the spot.
"I think we should accept her into the Familia, Goddess." Bell answered, without any hesitation in his voice.
"Alright then, it's decided. You are now a part of our Familia. BUT! There are rules you must follow, and the most important one is to not stare at MY BELL, or try to seduce him in any way, shape, or form! Is that clear?"
"Goddess!?" Bell screamed, his face turning red at the implication, one that was equally matched by the woman in the front.
"O-Okay?"
"Alright then! Just follow me, and I'll give you your Falna! Once I give you one, then maybe I can help regain your memories."
"You can!?"
"Yep! As a Goddess, once I bestow a Falna, I can gain a glimpse into your life, and when I give you your Status Sheet I can find your name as well!"
"Oh, thank you Goddess Hestia!" The woman smiled with unrestrained joy, making everyone turn slightly red at her infectious smile.
"Grr! Don't bewitch Bell with that smile!" Hestia grimaced, but beckoned the woman to her bedroom. Ordering her to strip her upper clothing, she grit her teeth in jealousy as she saw the woman's pristine and slender back, and her rather large cleavage.
'Grr! She's pretty, she's older, has nice breasts, AND she gives off "innocent village girl" vibes! She's totally Bell's type!' Hestia bit her lip, restraining herself from yelling in jealousy. It wouldn't do to scare off a potential member because of her ranting.
Pricking her finger, she let a drop of her blood touch her back.
A sharp pain pierced her head, and Hestia gripped her face in agony as the sensation of a thousand spears piercing her brain assaulted her senses. She moaned in agony, writhing on top of the woman, her thoughts grinding to a halt as foreign mutterings and the feeling of cold, skeletal hands grabbing at her body, draining her of cognizance.
The pain eventually became too much for her to hear, and she started to scream in agony, her senses overloaded as claws, talons, and teeth shredded her skin and brain.
She had to escape! She had to fight back! She had to-!
"Goddess Hestia?"
Hestia opened her eyes, and she jumped off of the woman's back as the events of the past few minutes flooded her memory once again. Taking a quick glance at herself, she saw that her clothes remained the same as ever, without a single scratch or drop of blood staining them. Even her arms, face, and hands were bereft of injury.
'What… what in the world just happened!?'
"W-W-W-What happened?"
"? You've been sitting on my back for the past few minutes now. You haven't moved an inch this whole time. Does it normally take that long to give a Falna?"
The snow-haired woman raised her head from the bed, still lying face down with her back exposed to the air. As Hestia looked up from the ground, she saw the characteristic black ink that marked her Falna, including the insignia showing the Hearth.
The woman covered her chest and raised her body up, giving her a concerned glance. "Is something wrong? You look all pale and clammy. Do you need me to get you something?"
The woman's voice held no lies, and she seemed completely ignorant of what had just transpired. Could she have just been imagining things? But everything seemed so real, and the pain….
"N-No, no, it's okay! I just thought I saw a mouse scurrying about, hehehe! We j-just moved into this manor after all!"
The woman raised her eyebrow before then deciding to lie back down on the bed again. Hestia shakily stood up from the floor and crouched over her newest Familia member, this time carefully inspecting her Falna.
And what she saw imprinted on her back would haunt her and her Familia for the foreseeable future.
She had to find answers. This was not normal.
"A-Anyways! Congratulations, you're now a new member of Hestia Familia!" Hestia cheered, trying to mask the panic in her voice. Giving the woman time to change, she exited the room and headed towards the common room, where the rest of her Familia waited.
"That took a long time. What were you doing in there, Goddess Hestia?" Lily mused.
Just in time, the young woman finally came back, dressed in her black leather attire again. Shelving her fear for the time-being, Hestia put on a cheerful face and addressed the room at large.
"Well, things may have started off bad this morning, but cheer up everyone! Allow me to introduce our newest Familia member…."
She then shoved her arms into the woman's direction, inviting her in and giving a dramatic pause.
"Meteria!"
Meteria.
That was her name. That was her name! Her real name!
"Meteria." She kept muttering to herself, whispering the word reverently. A grin formed on her face as she cheerfully started speaking her name out loud. "Meteria! That's my name! Meteria!"
"Congratulations, Miss Meteria!" Bell said with a smile just as large, feeling utter joy as Meteria reveled in the discovery of her name.
Meteria gave off a reading smile and then sank into a deep bow, one that Welf, to his surprise, recognized as one practiced amongst nobility. "Well then, I, Meteria, am thankful to be a part of your Familia everyone!"
And the rest of the Familia, even Hestia, wore grins on their faces as they drank in her joy.
"Is the water the right temperature for you, Lady Meteria?"
"It's perfect, thank you for asking Mikoto!" Meteria said happily as she wrapped a towel around herself.
Following her acceptance into Hestia Familia, everyone had prepared an incredible feast for the celebration of their newly formed Familia and their newest member. Though she had only recovered her name, Meteria's immense enthusiasm and glee had livened up the dinner, and with the festivities concluded, everyone had decided to enjoy a nice, warm soak in the baths.
Bell and Welf relaxed in the men's bath, conveniently located a few feet away from the women's bath. Meanwhile, Mikoto, Hestia, and Lily had already washed themselves and were lounging in the warm waters as they waited for their newest member to freshen up.
"Ah… I can never get tired of this feeling. Lord Takemikazuchi, everyone, forgive me for enjoying this bounty without you."
"You're as dramatic as ever, Lady Mikoto." Lily replied. "By the way, Lady Meteria, are you okay over there?"
"I'm fine! I'll be there in a second!" Meteria answered as she finished scrubbing herself. For some odd reason, ever since Goddess Hestia gave her a Falna, her body started giving off a peculiar scent. It wasn't anything unpleasant, but rather it smelled sweet. Sickly sweet.
If anything, the smell seemed to remind her of the moon for some reason.
Hopefully a long soak in the bath could help wash off that scent. Wrapping a towel around herself, Meteria walked towards the bath, where Mikoto, Lily, and Hestia were already lounging.
"Hmph! Looks like I'm still the winner after all!" Hestia said with glee, puffing out her chest for all to see and drawing a sigh from Lily.
"Why are all the women so much bigger than me… even Lady Meteria's are bigger than Lady Mikoto's. Why is life so unfair?"
"? Lily, are you okay?"
"I'm fine! Anyways, come join us! It'll get chilly soon."
Meteria nodded, and she carefully removed the towel from herself and stepped into the bath, letting the hot waters soothe her body.
A trio of horrified gasps prevented her from dozing off.
"Huh? What's wrong everyone?" Meteria asked, puzzled by the looks of horror on each of the girls' faces. Mikoto covered her mouth with both her hands, Lily visibly winced and tried turning away, and even Hestia hastily backed away from her.
"Is something wrong? Did I not wash myself enough?" Meteria gave a cautionary sniff of her arm, and failed to notice any abhorrent odor aside from that sweet smell.
"L-Lady Meteria, can you please look down at your stomach?" Mikoto answered.
"My stomach?" Meteria looked down. "Oh…."
Underneath her navel, extending past her belly button (which was completely absent with the scarring) and down to her groin, was a massive + shaped scar, brutally stitched together and still bright red in color. Reaching her hand down, she carefully traced the scar and the various stitches keeping the wound in place. Miraculously, the wound managed to stay intact despite the messy manner in which the stitches were added. Had this been even more sloppily sutured together, her wound would have reopened for sure, her intestines spilling out with the slightest touch.
"…."
"L-Lady Meteria? Before you came to us, before you lost your memories, were you… pregnant… by any chance?" Lily asked cautiously, not wanting to offend the older woman.
"I don't know." Meteria muttered, still in shock at the discovery. Her hand still lightly traced over the scar, no doubt the result of a messy and gruesome Cesarean Section. "I don't know…."
The 4 sat in the onsen in an uncomfortable silence, none of them able to say anything in response.
"Oh, gods…." Meteria muttered in horror. "Was this why I lost my memories in the first place? Did I… did I give birth, and something went horribly wrong? Oh no. What… what happened to the child!?"
"Lady Meteria! Try to calm down!" Mikoto yelled, reaching out to pull the older woman into a comforting hug as Meteria started hyperventilating in panic. "I'm sure things will be okay!"
"Lady Mikoto is right!" Lily added, also moving closer to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We'll head to the Guild first thing in the morning to look for clues. Don't try to think about anything bad! Things will work out fine, and besides, this might not even be a pregnancy scar in the first place!"
"That's not true!" Meteria yelled, shocking the three and even alerting the two boys on the other side of the wall. "This is a C-section scar! I know what it is! There's only one reason it would be there in the first place! Oh gods… what happened to my child!? Are… are they-!?"
"Wahh! Quick, get her dressed and take her to the bedroom!" Hestia yelled as Meteria collapsed in shock, her pale body floating in the water. Mikoto and Lily nodded and quickly wrapped her in towels before carrying her and taking her to Hestia's room. As the two ran off, Bell and Welf quickly exited their bath and knocked on the door to the women's onsen.
"Goddess? Is everything alright? I thought I heard screaming just now!"
"I-It's fine, Bell! Just try to get some rest tonight. I'll explain everything in the morning!"
Bell and Welf exchanged worried glances, but they both hesitantly nodded and went back to their rooms to retire for the night.
A while later, everyone was fast asleep save for Hestia who sat on a nearby chair and watched her newest Familia member shudder and twist in her sleep.
She felt horrible for the revelations that happened tonight, and for her earlier jealous behavior a few short hours ago. People may laugh at her for her short stature and lack of money or influence, but there was no denying her importance in the nature of things. She may be poor and a little over her head, but she was the Goddess of the Hearth, of home, and most importantly: family. And any sacrilege done against a family was a sacrilege done to her.
She too had easily recognized the scar on Meteria's lower abdomen, and like her had quickly guessed its origin. The thought that this woman had not only lost her memories, but her child as well, tore through her heart, and she looked on in unrestrained sympathy at her newest member.
"Don't worry, Meteria. I'll help you look for your child. I swear it upon my name, Vesta."
As a Goddess of the Hearth, family, and home, she would not let this transgression pass lightly.
And then there was the other elephant in the room.
Looking down at the Status sheet in her hand, Hestia let out a worried sigh. The thing was almost completely illegible, even to her, and most worryingly of all, Meteria's back, which showed off her Falna, also showed several strange tattoos.
These markings were completely foreign to her, and she doubted any other god could decipher them or find out their origin.
After all, these symbols were not of this world.
The source of their power was clear as day. They came straight from the abyssal cosmos...
"And the Dungeon…."
Hestia shuddered at the implications. "But why? Why did they appear now? Maquia isn't supposed to start for a long time now. Not until the Black Dragon is slain. Our vow is still intact, and Ouranos's prayers still working."
Looks like she had her work cut out for her. Carefully folding up Meteria's Status sheet and hiding it in her pocket, she resolved to come up with a convincing cover story for her, as well as find a way to find Meteria's child and the mystery behind her amnesia.
If she failed, then the whole world would be in danger.
Meanwhile, Meteria drifted off into a restless sleep, constantly turning and grimacing. Her dreams were a haze of fog and blood, but one thing stood out to her clearly in the depths of her subconscious.
The sound of a blade falling. And an old man's haunting final words.
"FEAR THE BLOOD."
Meteria
Level ? ? ?
STR: ? ? ?
END: ? ? ?
DEX: ? ? ?
AGI: ? ? ?
MAG: ? ? ?
Magic: ? ? ?
Skills:
[Coldblood] (Dying Wills of Blood): Allows user to increase their Status by imbibing blood from enemy combatants. Blood imbibed from stronger opponents will result in a larger Status increase.
[Blood Rapture] (Queen's Desire): Imbibing blood allows the user to regenerate and heal from damage. More blood required for increased healing effect.
[Eucharist] (Communion): Allows user to share their blood to heal others. Will also cleanse all negative Statuses, curses, and poisons.
And that's a wrap! Thank you again for giving this a read!
I wonder if anyone expected Meteria to be the Hunter in this story? I wish that this site would have added Meteria or Alfia as characters to tag, but what can I do? I didn't want to add the Hunter character tag out of fear that I might confuse you all into thinking this is an OC-centric story, which I try to avoid like the Scourge of Beasts. I have no confidence in ever writing a compelling OC, and I'm not even going to try,
Don't know if I'll continue this story or not. If enough people take a look at it and say that they want more, then I'll definitely keep this story going. I'm a die-hard Soulsborne fanboy so anything FromSoft I'm down to write.
Apologies if there wasn't quite enough 'Bloodborne' elements in this chapter. This was mostly written as a one-shot in case nobody wanted to see this story continue, and this was more of a set-up chapter anyways. More will be introduced, and I have a ton of ideas I want to write down in case you guys want more. (And yes, technically an actual C-section scar is shaped like a ( but I wanted to make it look like a + to highlight how messy the procedure was).
And apologies to those who were waiting for an update on my main Danmachi story Last Hero's Vow. Like I said, I got hit with a massive slob of writer's block, and thankfully working on this story has helped me get past that a bit. I've mostly just been winding down and finding time to relax since I managed to survive one semester into my Master's program, and oh boy has it been a ride. I don't care how important it is for med school, fuck Biochemistry. That class can go kiss my ass.
Small rant aside, thank you for taking the time to read this, and please feel free to leave your thoughts and feedback in your reviews!
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P a treon . com (slash) Agopessimist