Bell POV
The city was currently on lockdown, and I was sitting in Rye's hospital room. He was stable but in a coma. His tiny body wasn't meant to receive trauma like that.
Airmid told me that the arrow missed his heart by an inch. It was also shot by someone with great strength. Whoever shot him is gonna pay.
"Bell" Artemis called out to me. I turned my head slightly to look at her.
"Oh hey, what are you doing here" I turned my head back to Rye as Artemis pulled a chair up.
"I was here to see if Airmid had any quests, then the city went on lockdown so I'm trapped here, Airmid also told me you were in here"
She took a look at Rye and then back at me. I felt her hand take mine.
"Bell, do you know this boy," she asked. She probably already knew the answer by social cues alone.
"Yeah, he's my adopted little brother, I was the one that brought him here" My hands and shirt were still covered in his blood.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, a boy his age shouldn't have to worry about this" She gently rubbed circles on the back of my hand.
"It's my fault, I had my guard down since we were in the city, if I had it up I could've stopped this" I felt tears welling up in my eyes.
She pulled my head and put it on her shoulder and ran her fingers through my hair.
"You can't think like that Bell, I understand you want to blame yourself but you were in a crowded street, no one would've expected that to happen, it's not your fault ok" she comforted.
"But-
"No buts, you didn't expect it no one did, don't blame yourself for something you had no idea would happen" she cut me off.
We sat there in silence for a while. I didn't say a word and neither did she. I watched the steady rise and fall of Rye's chest. I knew he was still alive and would make it. But it hurt seeing him like that.
"He wants to be like me" I mumbled.
"What was that, I couldn't hear you" Artemis leaned in closer.
"He wants to be like me, his goal is to be an adventurer, so he said he wanted to be like me, I've tried to dissuade him from that path by keeping him in school, but he stubbornly refuses, so I decide to prepare him, I gave him and spear and started to teach him how to use it, then he goes and gets shot"
"Sounds a little like you, stubbornly refuses to back down no matter what, then goes and gets himself injured beyond belief" she joked.
I chucked a little but it was a sad one.
"That's exactly what I don't want, I won't control Rye's life, if he wants to become an adventurer I won't stop him, but I'd wish he wouldn't, he's a smart kid who could go places other than the dungeon"
Again we sat there for a while before Artemis gently grabbed my hands and told me to look at her.
"Bell, I see a lot of you in Rye from what you told me, he may be stubborn but he seems to have a good heart, now come let's get you cleaned up, you're still covered in his blood" I stood up her hands still intertwined with mine as she led me out of the room.
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Zald POV
We were all sitting together in the living room. When Regis had bolted through the door with Maria and two kids I had a feeling something was wrong.
My suspicions were right as Regis had told me a boy named Rye was shot in the chest. The city was immediately put on lockdown soon after. Something like that hasn't happened since the Dark age. So this whole incident has the guild panicked.
"I don't think I've ever seen Bell that panicked before" We all looked at Regis who was sitting near Fena and Roux, at least I believe those are their names.
"I've known the kid his whole life, yet I can't remember a time I've ever seen him like that"
"Well Bell does care for these kids, especially Rye" Maria mentioned.
"That's because Bell doesn't want Rye to go into the dungeon, that's why he set the requirement of him keeping good grades if they're gonna train, but Bell also won't tell him no outright" Regis leaned his head into Fena's hand as she pet him.
"Why doesn't he outright refuse Rye" Miach inquired.
"He's following a lesson his grandpa told him, do not yield your will to others, this is your path, which pretty much means don't let anyone control you god or mortal" Regis explained.
I clapped my hands together getting everyone's attention.
"Why don't we get the kids to bed, I'm sure they've had a long day and need some rest" The two kids looked at Maria who nodded and they got off the couch.
"Mr. Zald" Fena called.
I looked down at the girl who had her ears pressed against her head and she was shaking.
"Is Rye gonna be alright, he's not gonna die is he?" she asked.
I patted her head to provide her some comfort.
"Don't worry lass, I'm sure Rye is gonna be ok"
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Bell POV
"He looks so peaceful," I spoke. Artemis grabbed my hand again and leaned her head on my shoulder.
"He does, do you think he could be dreaming, not even knowing what's going on"
"Airmid said it was a possibility, if he is I wonder what he's dreaming about, maybe he's dreaming about a peaceful life, one without monsters"
Her hand squeezed mine again as I spoke.
"What would you dream about, if you were in a situation like his," she asked.
"I'd dream of a quiet life, one without monsters or war and disease, my parents would still be alive, my grandpa and aunt, maybe have a girl to settle down with, maybe have a few kids of my own one day, just a nice peaceful life"
"That sounds nice, would you still have your magic," she asked.
"Yeah, it'd be a neat party trick" I joked.
"Bell, can you tell me about your childhood, if it alright with you of course," she asked.
"Well, for the first five years I was just a normal kid, then one day my mana core awoke, and since I was so young I accidentally blew up my house, scared the shit out of Gramps"
She giggled a little at that. Likely imaging a tiny version of me accidentally blowing up the house.
"Of course the reason why that happened was because I was so young when it awoke, not much changed after that, I just played with my magic and broke into the red stage at age seven, then one day when I was playing I came across two slaves in a cage"
I felt her grip on me tighten a little.
"So not knowing what slavers were at the time I freed the two and brought them back to my house, they were fed and clothed and we became fast friends, then they left for Orario, after they left my aunt showed up and my childhood was just training, all day every day"
"That must've been rough"
"It was, but it taught me a lot of things, taught me how to fight, how to think in the middle of a fight" I stopped and turned my head towards her. She looked into my eyes expectantly.
"Taught me how to lie to people who were kind to me, she taught me a lot of things, all are useful but I feel like her training stunted my emotional growth as a person"
"I'm sorry to hear that Bell, but just know I don't care who you're related to, you're not them you're you, Bell Leywin, the boy who wants to be a hero, I saw it firsthand during the wargame" she giggled.
"You mean when I almost had my eye sliced in half?" I joked.
"Maybe" she giggled.
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A few days passed. The lockdown was lifted after the first day when the guild and Ganesha familia deemed the city safe. Rye still hadn't woken up during these last couple of days.
Everyone came to visit and gave me a fresh change of clothes and some food. But right now I was the only one who remained as everyone went to play a party for Rye when he woke up.
When Miach and I were alone he asked why I didn't use Aether to help Rye wake up. When I explained that I would practically have to rewrite the signals in his brain to wake him up he understood. I had only used Aether twice. I wasn't gonna try something that risky that could either make Rye brain-dead or just dead. So I waited. I didn't leave his side unless I had to use the bathroom.
On the fifth day, he stirred.
"Mhh where am I" Rye grumbled as he tried to sit up. I put my hand on his chest and slowly lowered him back down.
"Easy kid, you're in the hospital, you got shot," I said as I grabbed a cup of water and held it in front of him. He drank from the straw greedily before coughing.
"So how ya feeling," I asked setting the cup back down on the table.
"Weak and tired" he yawned.
"Yeah that's what happens when you sleep for five days straight"
His eyes widened in shock as his head turned and faced me.
"F-five days"
"Easy Rye, you're ok, but yes it has been five days, you've had everyone pretty worried" I calmly said.
"Is everyone alright, no one else got hurt did they" he was worried that much was obvious.
"Yes everyone's fine, just take a deep breath for me and calm down"
I put my hand on his shoulder to help him relax. Sending a small calming spell I knew. It worked as his breathing slowed down and he relaxed.
"Were you scared?"
"A little, I think I'd be a shitty brother if I wasn't worried" I admitted.
We sat there in silence for a few moments, Rye just laid there processing everything that happened. He also asked for some water as well.
"Bell"
I turned my head to face him.
"Why was I shot?"
"I don't kid, sometimes people just do shitty things for no reason"
He looked down for a minute before looking at me again.
"Is this what you meant when people could be classified as monsters too?"
"Yeah, though I hoped you would've found out a different way however"
"Bell, if I become an adventurer, will I have to fight people" he turned his head toward me and looked directly into my eyes.
"Yeah probably, I mean I've had to"
We sat there in silence for a few moments before Rye broke it.
"I think I'm gonna go back to sleep now"
"Alright kid get some rest" I patted him on the shoulder as he closed his eyes.
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Another two days passed before Rye was released from the hospital, Airmid made sure to keep a close eye on me this time so I didn't break him out. Safe to say she was a little angry about last time.
"Honestly mr Leywin what we're you thinking" she angrily spat.
"Oh come on Airmid I was fine you said so yourself"
"I also said that I would check up on you in the morning, yet when I came back that morning you were gone" She sighed and put her hands in her head.
"And I was fine"
"That's not the point!"
I put my hands up in an attempt to calm her down.
"Alright alright calm down"
She looked even more pissed as her eyebrow was twitching. I spoke before she could tell again.
"Look how about this, you can yell at me all you want over dinner sometime, my treat" I saw her blush as I just realized what I did.
Oh shit, I just asked her out, why the hell did I do that, where did that even come from.
In the back of my mind, I could hear Zeus laughing.
"Very well, but I expect you to listen to what I have to say" she mumbled as she looked to the side her cheeks still red.
"Uh ok, I'll pick you up whenever you get off work sometime, once everything settles down of course"
She gave me a stern look.
"I get off at 8:00, now get out of here I have other patients to tend to"
She waved me and Rye off to the entrance and once that door closed Rye looked at me.
"What the hell was that"
"I don't know, and watch your language"
We then walked back to the mansion where everyone had gathered. Maria and the other two kids stayed there as the church just didn't feel right without Rye there.
We partied most of the night celebrating Rye's release from the hospital until the kids had to go to sleep. When I was in my room Aisha looked at me with a smug expression.
"So I have you have a date"
I groaned out loud. I was never living this down.
Well, that was a somewhat decent chapter I hope. Some relationships were furthered and Rye got a life lesson in what Bell told him about people. Somehow Bell was able to ask a girl on a date. His grandfather's teachings came in well there. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed and next time things are gonna pick back up into the action you all love. Also the reason I didn't describe the hospital room too much is because my hospital room was bland as hell when I was there. Also I just don't want think about the hospital. Was not a fun time