Chapter 1.
Disclaimer: I don't own Danmachi. But I wish I did so I could've kept the whole Astrea Familia alive.
Bell's POV.
The lady with long and flowing crimson hair and emerald green eyes stood in front of me with a smile that was so bright, I almost forgot that I am currently broke and homeless. She is like the sun itself, she looks so bright and dazzling and she makes everyone around her feel a strong sense of comfort, as if telling everyone with just her smile that everything will be alright.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue or something young man?" she grinned at me as she leaned down and placed her hands on her hips. "C'mon, you can tell me what's bothering you." She said as she gently patted my head.
"I... Actually, I just became homeless just now. I was looking for a familia and didn't have a permanent residence since I just arrived here at Orario almost one week ago. No matter where I go, Familias just won't accept me even the smallest ones." I lowered my head as I tried to hide my face from her, on the verge of tears.
"I see, tell me young man. Can you define justice?" She asked me in almost a whisper as she sat down on the bench beside me.
"Why the sudden question miss?"
"Nothing! I just felt like asking this question to you!" She beamed at me with her solar flare smile.
"I think Justice is like the stars themselves. Because of how many interpretations it has, I doubt there is a single absolute answer to it. Mortals and Gods alike have their own type of justice that reflects their very soul. But I do believe that despite how different we all view it, I think all of our justice is connected in a very special way and will unite one day to topple a great adversity." I said as I looked at the blue sky, imagining a night sky full of beautiful starts as I slowly closed my eyes.
"Boy, follow me." Was all she said before she grabbed me by my hand and dragged me somewhere I don't know.
Alise's POV.
Is this fate working its wonders? I don't know, but him coming up with an answer that is like a carbon copy of mine and Lady Astrea's is something I would never consider a coincidence.
It's just too perfectly aligned to what I've said before and what lady Astrea said to lord Erebus during the great feud. No, it is the same. Every single word, it's like he stole those words right out of our mouth that it sent shivers down to my spine.
That's why I decided to drag him back home, I want lady Astrea to hear his answer. I want lady Astrea to let me have it my way just once and allow him to join our familia. I feel like this is a once in a lifetime encounter, like we will never find someone like him ever again. That if no one accepts him in this city, we would've lost someone so valuable it would come back to bite us in the near future.
That's how I feel.
"We're here. Welcome to our home, shall we enter?" I let go of his hand, giving him a warm and welcoming smile. "Sorry for dragging you around so suddenly but I feel like you must meet my goddess no matter what or I will regret it for the rest of my life."
The boy scanned our home and was surprised by the size and design of it, though Apollo Familia has a bigger manor than us despite them being a lower class Familia, when it came to appearance, ours could rival the likes of Twilight Manor and the now abandoned Olympian Manor of the disbanded Zeus Familia.
"Is it fine? I mean, isn't it very rude of me to enter your home despite being a member of your Familia?" The boy shrunk himself.
Maybe the countless rejections he received have lowered his confidence, still. I believe that if we would ever allow a male in our ranks, he should be the first one.
"I am recruiting you so hurry up and come with me!" I smiled at him and grabbed his hand again before I opened the gate, entering the Stardust Garden. The home of Astrea Familia.
"Everyone, I'm back!" I announced as I immediately ran through the hall and the corridor with the white haired kid, earning a confused look from both Celty and Maryu who we walked passed by.
"Wait, Alise. Who is he and where are you two going? You should know too well that lady Astrea doesn't allow boys inside our home." We were stopped by my vice captain, Kaguya. Her sharp gaze scanned the boy thoroughly, inspecting everything about him.
"Kaguya, I want to recruit him." I smiled gently at her.
When everyone heard my declaration though, they all came rushing to our location. With Lion being the first one to arrive.
"Alise! You know that what you said just now is impossible right!? Staying in the same roof with a boy that isn't your lover or husband is impure! Also! We are all girls here! what do you think will happen if he decides to assault us or something!?" The boy beside me was terrified of her when she pointed her wooden sword towards us. Demanding him to leave immediately.
"Really? Staying in the same roof with the person of the opposite sex is impure? Then, living with your father or brother is also impure." My pink haired financial manager Lyra grinned at our elf huntress.
"Ohohoho... That was a good one Lyra." Kaguya laughed while hiding her lips with the sleeves of her Kimono.
"That's different! Anyway, that's impossible Alise. Even if this is your wish, I will never allow you to proceed any further. Not like our goddess would accept him anyway." She lowered her sword before she was grabbed by Kaguya which I didn't expect. "Eh-what are you doing!?" she protested, trying to get out of her grasp.
"Go on Captain, but remember you owe me one. Though I am also quite interested in him so I want to see what he can do. With those hands of his." I looked at his hands and noticed something that I didn't the first time I held it.
It looks like the hands of a seasoned adventurer for some reason, his skin is thick and his grip was so firm. As if he has held something like a sword for a very long time.
"Let's go then before Lion manages to break free from Kaguya." I said before earning a nod from the shy boy. My goodness he looks like an Al-miraj.
Knock Knock.
"Yes? Please enter." After hearing the gentle voice of the best goddess in the whole world, I twisted the knob and entered her office with Bell in tow, earning a confused smile from her.
"Alise, may I ask who this young man is?" She smiled, to him. Noticing that he is a little scared and shy.
"Oh, come to think of it. I haven't heard your name yet either!" I said while rubbing my chin.
"My name is Bell Cranel, I just turned 15 years old." The boy introduced himself with a slight shade of pink on his cheeks, he is just too adorable to be left alone!
"I see, my name is Astrea. The Goddess of Justice and the patron god of Astrea Familia." She introduced herself with a small bow.
"W-Wait... You are THAT Astrea? One of the 3 virgin goddesses of Tenkai?" His eyes widened in both admiration and recognition. Well, I couldn't blame him. Lady Astrea is just too famous and awesome after all!
"Indeed, it was me." She smiled in return to his enthusiasm which warmed my heart as I saw that the two of them could get along.
"My apologies." I went down on one knee as soon as he snapped out of his trance. "It was extremely rude of me. I am ashamed to have shown this side of me during our first meeting." I was surprised by his actions and the way he speaks. He's like a different person when he acts formal.
"Please stand up, it is fine. There is no need to be formal sir."
"I can't, it would tarnish the name of my grandfather and his teachings if I didn't show you any form of respect that you deserve."
"Ehehehe..." My eyes widened when I saw my goddess giggling because of his actions. Is this for real? I asked myself, because this is the first time I saw lady Astrea showing this side of her to a perfect stranger.
"Really? Can I ask his name if you wouldn't mind? So that I can thank him for raising such a wonderful man like you."
There was a long pause, he looked really hesitant before finally answering our goddess' question. "... Zeus." His answer earned another giggle from her. As well as from me.
My luck couldn't be any greater than this as I have brought someone from a legendary Familia that defeated the beast of the land Behemoth.
"Sounds like something he would do... May I ask how he's doing? It's been so long since I've last spoken to him."
Smiling at the two of them, I fetched a chair and offered one to Bell. I sat beside him as I continued listening to him and my goddess and their topic, laughing here and then whenever the lord of thunder tried to teach Bell something inappropriate only to be thwarted by his mother.
"Oh, sorry for getting side tracked. May I ask for your reason for bringing Bell here Alise?" Good, she already refers to him by his given name! That means he might have a chance!
"I brought him here to recruit him in our Familia." I was then met by an apologetic look from my goddess. No good I guess?
"Sorry, but I can't go against the rules I enforced on you girls myself. I can't call myself a goddess if I did such a thing, even though I really wanted to. Please understand, and sorry to you too Bell. I didn't mean to get your hopes up." The boy had a very pained expression on his face for getting rejected again. Still, I can't let him leave yet.
"Please Goddess, can't you reconsider? I can't just leave him alone. He has no money nor a place to stay, and the answer he gave me when I asked him that question... I think you should hear it."
Astrea's POV.
How many years have passed since I last heard her call me Goddess? 7, 8 or maybe 10? Maybe even longer.
That could only mean one thing. She must be serious about recruiting him in our Familia because of his answer to the question that we always ask to those who want to join us.
"Let me hear it then. Bell, to you. What is justice?"
My eyes widened at his response, as if the whole scene of Erebus asking me what the meaning of justice is, and if there is an absolute one.
I see.
Maybe it is fate doing its wonders, now I understand Alise's decision on recruiting him despite us not allowing boys in our Familia for a long time now.
"I love your answer, you have been raised very well by your mother if that's how you define Justice. You are more than welcome in our Familia. Please allow us to have you." As soon as I said that, the two of them made an O expression before celebrating.
"YES!!! WE DID IT BELL!!!!" Alise embraced the boy who did the same in return.
"THANK YOU ALISE-SAN!!!" The white haired boy cried on her shoulders.
The door then burst open after their loud cheer, revealing Ryuu with an unamused expression and a smiling Kaguya.
"I can't believe this... What did you do to Astrea-sama!?" Ryu approached him but I stopped her halfway, giving her an apologetic look before shaking my head.
"Alise has found someone that will become a great asset to our Familia, I know it is hard to believe but still. After witnessing it, I can't just allow him to leave. That's why I broke my own rule. I am so sorry Ryuu."
After a few more minutes of him celebrating with Alise, we decided to hold a small banquet for him. Even though Ryuu still doesn't like the idea of him joining, she stopped protesting and decided to observe him and give him a chance, earning a thank you from both me and Alise.
"Thank you everyone, I know that this is not what you all expected but I do promise that I would never just allow any normal male to become a member of our Familia, this boy here is just too special. So please welcome him with arms wide open." I looked around and was pleased by the positive look on everyone's face aside from Ryuu.
"By the way Bell, you said earlier that you just turned 15. When is that?" Alise asked in curiosity.
"It was actually today..." We were all silent for a few good seconds before a very drunk Lyra slammed her mug on the table and stood up on her chair.
"THEN WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR!? LET'S CELEBRATE!!"
Everyone cheered with her as they all introduced themselves to our birthday boy and newest member, Bell Cranel.
At the end of the day, everyone was so exhausted and full after eating and talking to Bell nonstop with the exception of Ryuu who excused herself after the feast.
Now it was just Bell and Kaguya talking.
"So my hunch is right, you've been practicing your sword skills for a long time." They sat beside each other on our couch while Alise was sleeping on Bell's lap, mumbling how he looks like an Al-miraj in her sleep.
"Yes, I was trained everyday by my uncle. He was a retired adventurer and is very strong, though he is not as strong as he used to be because of his illness, just like my mother. But still, I believe that they are the best." I smiled gently as I heard him describing his family, he must have loved them dearly for him to be able to say that they are the best.
"I want to test your skills sometime, but it can wait. For now, please do escort that sleeping captain of ours back to her own room." She poked Alise's face which earned another mumble from her. "No... I won't let you escape Lion... Hehehe..." I wonder what she was dreaming though.
I decided to offer him a hand and led him towards Alise's bedroom. He was carrying her in his arms as we traversed to the halls of our home before finally arriving at the bedrooms.
"This is her room, please carry her inside. Just lay her on her bed and put a blanket on her, it should be fine." He nodded and placed her on her bed but when he was about to pull the blanket on her, the sleeping Alise pulled him down to the bed with her making the boy blush.
"Alise... Let me help you Bell." I unwrapped her arms from him and replaced Bell with one of her pillows for her to hug.
"Thank you Goddess, can I ask where my room is?" The boy asked me after we left the room.
"I'll show you later, first. I should give you your falna before you sleep." I ushered him to my own room located at the right side of Alise's room.
We entered the room and I immediately asked him to take his shirt off and turn his back on me.
I was surprised to see his well toned body when he removed his top, I usually only see this type of proportions to seasoned adventurers or those who need strength in their line of work.
"Is something wrong Goddess?"
"Nothing, let us proceed shall we?" I pierced my index finger with a needle and dropped my blood on his back, bestowing him my blessing before reading through his stats that are still empty. But as soon as my eyes landed in the skill department, I was surprised to see a rare skill. A skill that could throw the whole Orario into chaos.
Bell Cranel
Level: 1
STATUS
STR: I0
END: I0
DEX: I0
AGI: I0
MAG: I0
Skill
Liaris Freese: Fast growth as long as the user has a strong desire. The strength of the effects corresponds with the level of the user's feelings. As a side effect it makes the user immune to charms.
I handed him the paper, showint him everything as well as the effects of his skill.
I then noticed the tears forming at the corner of his eyes before holding his status tightly to his chest.
"Finally... I can finally fulfill my promise to you because of this... Mom..!"
A/N: Hi! I have already rewrote a lot of chapters but I don't want to drop them all in a single go.
For those who are confused as to why this story has so many reviews and favorites despite being empty, I just removed the previous chapters I have written and will replace them one by one.
Thanks for reading this chapter, as always criticism is appreciated because I know that I am not a good writer. If you want to suggest anything, I am open.
That's all for now! Bye!