Prologue

The evening was a gloomy one. Gray clouds with the musty air of impending rain masking the city. In the center, was an overbearing tower of stone. This was Oario, the city of adventurers and the center of the world.

The city itself was complex with many different businesses and places to go on a normal day; however, today few chose to go outside. It was too late for adventurers to start going to the dungeon yet too early for them to return in triumph or misery.

Only two cloaked figures could be seen moving along the dim streets to attend to what seemed to be a very serious matter.

In a 2 story building on the street which lay west of the great tower was a store on the first level.

One the walls were large shelfs of various items from crystals to weapons with a variety of prices. The most expensive were all secured by magical chains and locks.

Sitting at the counter was a young feminine figure with short and silver hair. Her height and maturity made her appear as if she was around her mid teens.

Her attire indicated that she dealt with magic. A distinct black robe lined with silver patterns covered her entire lightly colored torso except for the shoulders, collarbone, and neck.

On her face, however, was an oddly shaped silver mask.

A crescent like shape covered the left end of her face with only the eye showing through. An additional piece surrounded the area around her right eye and was connected to the first at the upper end of her nose.

This mask removed any thoughts that she was a plain girl. No, she was truly a unique being.

The door creaked open.

The silver haired girl was shocked out of her thinking and instinctively made a noise.

"Eh?"

The unknown figure in the dark cloak walked in with a certain level of grace. She was slightly taller and her body was noticeably more mature than the figure at the counter.

The second figure followed. This person was of a gargantuan statute towering over the first figure. Held by his muscular arms was a comically massive chest with a secure magical lock.

"Oh… Freya… jeez I didn't think anyone would come here today."

"My my it seems my enchanted cloak cannot escape your eyes. I suppose there's no more reason to have it on."

The cloaked figure took off the shadowy hood which had been enchanted to deceive the common person. It revealed a pale lady-like face with long and neatly groomed silver hair.

"I'm here to pick up my order." Immediately Freya smiled eerily. "Ottarl."

The massive figure behind her nodded with a huff and placed the massive body-sized chest on the ground at the side of the room then opened it with a magical stone.

Inside it was a ridiculous sight. It was filled with Valis, the currency of the city, as well as other magical items and drops from the dungeon worth hundreds of thousands to a few million each.

"Ooooo good to see the full payment in one. Sheesh it's always annoying when people pay over the years for one item." The female at the counter could be seen smiling from behind the mask at the value of the massive container.

The chest's door suddenly slammed, hiding its valuable contents once more. "Eeeee!" the masked figure jumped startled by the sudden action.

"My item? I don't have all day… Hecate."

The masked female, now revealed as Hecate and breathing heavily, had been so focused on the chest that she had forgotten why it was even here. "Right… yes…"

Hecate reached into the counter and lifted up something which did not appear to be worth anywhere near what had been paid.

It was a book. A rather large one in the area of its cover. Sealing it from being opened were 4 different chains with magical locks. Hecate, with her light and exposed arm began to use 4 different magical stones unlocking the chains one by one.

The book was exposed on the counter, free for anyone to read it.

"Thank you. I shall be going now. Ottarl…"

"Yes, Lady Freya." The massive figure, Ottarl, walked to the counter and placed the key to the extremely valuable chest on the counter.

As Freya turned and put her hood back on, a slight erotic smile lit her face as she seemed to daydream about the contents of the book.

Hecate observed with a the 2 infamous figures left.

"Heh, so it really is because she has her eye on someone eh?"

She looked at the overweight and man-sized chest at the corner of her store.

"Meh… I'll have the children deal with it."

Placing the key in a secure container and the chains back behind the counter, Hecate leaned back and rested her leather boots on the counter with a sigh.

"Welp… that Grimoire should cover up our expenses for a good while. Sheesh, she even paid double for on demand creation. That lady really is after someone."

As she leaned back comfortably, Hecate began to forget where she was and for what purpose. In her position, she closed her eyes and slowly drifted into a silent rest soon to dream of her dark past.

...

7 years ago…

It was a large wooden building in the darkness of midnight. Surrounding the location was the complex network of streets and alleyways known as Daedalus Street.

Hecate sat at a square wooden table pushed to the wall across from 2 other females. The room itself was quite large and the tables were filled with other beings or various nature and appearance. On one edge, an empty stage took up much of the space. Doors led to exits into the hallways or the outside.

The 2 females across from Hecate looked almost identical except for one very obvious difference. One was 9 and the other 16. Despite the height difference, the purple hair, light skin, and skinny composure made it obvious the 2 were sisters.

Even the pair's clothes were of the same nature. Black skirt, dark leggings with straps, black boots, a silver tube-top, and open black jackets lined with silver decor.

The pair were 2 of the 3 children in the Hecate Familia. The third's lack of presence was what made Hecate nervous. Even with her mask she still had the still and grim expression of worry.

'Could something have gone wrong? Oh gods he's only a kid. Not even 13!'

As if being able to read Hecate's mind, one of the girls spoke up. "Drink, Miss Hecate. He'll be fine with the progress he's made."

It was the older of the girls. Circe DeNihila, level 4 and known as 'The Dark Witch'. She pushed Hecate's cup towards her in an attempt to ease her.

Suddenly, a door slammed. It was the one that led onto the stage. A group of 3 walked forward onto the platform causing everyone to quickly cease their discussions and pay attention.

In the center was a very well known figure. She looked around 20 and was of average stature. A tight yet hole-ridden pair of black pains covered her legs. She wore elevated sandals with nothing hiding her feet. Her belly was fully exposed, but her chest and collar were covered by a piece of black clothing. She wore an exquisite black jacket with gray wool lining it; the inside was maroon with knives being held within. Her right hand held a large sword with 3 jagged teeth on each side. What truly gave her identity away was her hair. The distinct short and ruffled bright pink indicated that she was none other than Valletta Grede, one of the group's executives.

On that same side as the large sword stood the second figure. Apate, the Goddess of Deception and Valletta's patron. She was a tall figure measuring around an impressive 200 celches. Her body was noticeably mature with plump yet symmetrical breasts that would catch the eyes of even the most loyal husbands. On her pale hands were 2 leather gloves covering the entirety of the body part. She wore a long pure frilled black dress which began with straps on her shoulders and stopped only below her knees. On her feet were a pair of pitch black heels. Her hair was dark red and smooth running over her shoulders and onto her chest from both sides. Her eyes were yellow like a serpent's and she wore a terrifyingly sly smirk on that pale face. The reason for that smirk was because of the person on Valletta's left.

Charon Luxum, the child Hecate had been so worried about. He measured around 150 celches, quite tall for his age of 11. His hair was black and groomed to point to his right. Covering his upper body was a silver-lined black jacket with silver froggings keeping it closed. On his hands were black gloves which had no sleeves for his fingers exposing his pale and white hands. The entirety of his lower body was covered in black. On his feet was a pair of short black boots that only went shortly above his ankle.

Attached to his left hip was a curved scabbard from which a curved handle and guard could be seen. It measured around 90 celches, thus the sabre was rather large for Charon's size being meant for full-grown adults to carry. On his other hip was a smaller scabbard that was straight rather than curved. It measured around 50 celches and a curved grip with a hilt protruded from the opening.

He was only 11 yet had already gained so much recognition.

Hecate breathed a sigh of relief, he was alive. He was also unharmed showing no signs of wounds or injuries.

"See goddess, he is perfectly capable. The dungeon wouldn't ha-"

A shout from the stage interrupted Circe's words. The voice was all too familiar to everyone in the room.

"Shut up everyone! This kid just helped us complete a major task. Not only that, but he took down and killed 3 level 2s in the Ganesha Familia… ON HIS OWN!"

Hecate's eyes widened upon hearing the news as the crowd began to murmur and speak on the announcement.

'K-k-killed? This wasn't what she was told. Apate had said Valletta was escorting him in the dungeon. H-h-he was just a kid! Wh-how could someone have him kill another person?'

'Apate, it must've been Apate. Damned Goddess of Deception'

Just as Hecate thought that, she noticed the wicked grin on Apate's face which stared directly at Hecate confirming the theory. Hecate had been deceived and lied to; Apate promised that she would not involve Hecate's 2 young familia members in ill activities.

"You hear that you disgraceful shit spurting weaklings? Let's toast this little guy and maybe one of you schmucks can be as good as a kid."

"Oh really!" A fist slammed on one of the tables. "That kid ain't shit and you know it."

"Bwah! You're level 3 as well right? Go on ahead. Try him."

Valletta and Apate backed to the edge to the stage, inviting the adventurer who had challenged the idea of Charon being capable of such a feat to challenge the young boy himself.

Charon stood motionless, cocking one eyebrow out in confusion at the occurrence. "Miss Valletta, is this what you want?"

"Yea kid. Show us you're strong. Only the weak back down."

Hecate watched in horror powerless to stop it. Her influence within the group was rather minimal compared to Apate and Valletta.

Circe clasped her hands over the eyes of her younger look-alike sister, Sombra. The latter was only 9. She and Charon were well acquainted with each other as child-like friends but not as adventurers. She was too young to see a close friend involved in such violence and Circe intended to guard that innocence.

"Like hell I'm scared of a little kid!" The adventurer, who was wearing a full set of metal armor that covered his entirety, stood up with his large broadsword. He was gigantic compared to Charon, at least 25 celches taller. "You're dead meat little twerp. You aint shit."

The 2 stood a good distance apart on the stage. Everyone was silent in anticipation. Hecate could barely watch while Valletta looked on deviously and wickedly.

Charon unsheathed his sabre and held it forward at an angle with only one hand. His right foot stood in front facing forward while his other foot was at an angle facing outwards at a diagonal. In all honesty, it was a miracle that a blade that size didn't weigh him down.

Right as the large adventurer made his move, Hecate felt sick.

She couldn't bear the watch the result of the slash nor could she. Her seat's hind legs inexplicably bent and broke with a snap. She felt herself fall onto the ground with a painful thud on her head.

"Goddess!"

It was Circe. She frantically looked over and shouted for Hecate.

"Goddess! Goddess! Are you alright!"

"Goddess…"

The voice of Circe slowly molded and quieted as Hecate started to black out from the impact.

"Goddess... wake up."

That voice was not Circe's for certain, but it was still recognizable.