Bell POV

"So it seems we're back to square one" Miach sighed.

"Seems like it, you alright Lili," I asked turning my head to face her. She was still shaking a little and her face was somewhat pale. But she nodded her head.

"Lili will be fine" She held onto Regis for comfort and he allowed it.

"Daphne, Cassandra you sure you're ok," I asked them.

"We're fine, Apollo did worse," Daphne told us.

None of us knew how to react to that piece of information until Miach spoke.

"While I won't touch on that I'm just glad you're ok, and if you need to talk about my door is open," Miach told them.

The two thanked him and we went back to talking about what he had gathered.

"So we know talking monsters exist and there's more of them, and the Ikilos familia is involved somehow?" Zald asked.

"Yeah seems like it" I then let out a sigh. "Well we'll figure something out later, right now I have something I need to do"

I got up from my seat next to Wiene. I patted her on the before walking to the door.

"Where are you going," Miach asked.

"It's a surprise, don't worry it's nothing dangerous" I reassured them. I stepped outside and felt the night air on my skin. I walked out the gate and onto the street seeing the magic stone lamps light it up.

I walked down Main Street seeing the hustle and bustle of the nightlife. I could hear the cheers and rowdiness from the bars. The common people I passed by. Merchants trying to sell late-night items and people heading to the pleasure quarter.

One thing I picked up on the most was that someone was following me. I didn't feel any hostile intent from the gaze and I know it wasn't Freya as she still watching the battle against Rakia.

So doing a few twists and turns I ended up in an empty alleyway. I waited for a minute before feeling the presence get closer. Then called out to them.

"You can come out now Ryu" I turned and faced the entrance to the alleyway and waited. A second later she appeared looking anywhere but at me.

I sighed and walked closer to her. "Why are you following me, Ryu, I promise I've been good and haven't broken any laws" I lied. Smuggling a monster to the surface is a big no-no.

"I know you haven't broken any laws, it's just, I'm worried about you" Her voice was quiet but I could still hear.

I quirked an eyebrow. "Worried, what for?" I asked.

She got closer to me, this time looking me in the eyes. Her sky-blue eyes were piercing and filled with concern.

"Laurier told us about the prophecy, she said you were gonna die"

I let out a sigh. Damnit Laurier. I wasn't mad because I didn't exactly tell people not to tell others. But people don't need to be concerned about me.

Using my earth magic I summoned a bench and gestured for Ryu to sit on it. I didn't touch her but led her in a way to it. We both sat down our backs leaning against the wall.

"I'm fine Ryu, no need to worry, although it is a little surprising considering what happened" I was referring to the hospital.

Ryu brought her legs up to her chest and put her chin on her knees.

"I didn't really care that you were related to her, it was a shock sure, but I just needed time to process it, I've been trying to find an opportunity to talk to you" she sadly mumbled.

I let out a long sigh. "Now that you mention it you never said a thing about her til I mentioned she saved your familia from the juggernaut, I'm not mad at any of you either, trauma works in mysterious ways, it also wouldn't be very hero like of me to hold a grudge against people who were nice to me"

She curled in on herself more. "I still have trouble believing she saved us, but when I asked Lady Astraea she said you were telling the truth"

I leaned further into the wall. "I can't tell you why she did, the Alfia I knew was cold and jaded but a kind side came out every once and a while" I looked down at the ground feeling sadness wash over me.

When was the last time I talked about Alfia?

"So do you know who this woman in black is," Ryu asked.

I shook my head. "No, the only person I could think of that wore black was Alfia, but I buried her before I came here"

Ryu picked her head up and looked at me. "How'd she die?"

I let out a sigh. "Sickness, one she had for her entire life, it could've been passed down to me, but people think my mana core saved me, Alfia seems to think my mother caused a miracle"

"Why did she say that?"

"I've only heard the basics of my parents, but apparently my mom was very gentle and sweet, just her presence was able to calm even the angriest person down, she was also Hera's favorite"

An image of my mother flashed through my mind. She was laying on a bed pale and sickly like Eina's mother was. But she had a smile on her face like her predicament didn't bother her.

"Wait, if Zeus was your grandpa, does that mean Hera's your grandma," Ryu asked.

I growled at the thought. "No, she abandoned me, I don't give a shit about her"

Ryu's ears drooped. "Oh sorry, I didn't mean to bring any bad memories up"

I sighed. "No, I'm sorry I shouldn't have snapped like that"

We sat there in silence for a minute. Neither of us knew what to say to each other. Do we pretend like nothing happened and move on? Or do we try and work past what each of us is going through?

"Bell, are you absolutely certain the woman in black won't kill you" her voice was hesitant like she didn't believe her own words.

I took a deep breath before looking her in the eyes again. "Ryu can I grab your hand," I asked knowing elves didn't like to be touched.

She shyly nodded her head. I grabbed her hand and held it letting her know I'm right here.

"I'll make you a promise, I've made this promise a few other times but this one will be ours, I promise not to die, if you promise we can go on the road to being somewhat friends again, deal?"

She didn't answer for a second. She then squeezed my hand and spoke. "It's a deal" she softly said.

We sat like that for a few more minutes enjoying the night's breeze.

"Your hands rough," she said.

I chuckled. "Well it has been broken a bunch of times, your hands softer than I thought it'd be after years of fighting"

"T-thanks" she stuttered.

I then let go and stood up. I still had something I needed to do.

"It was nice talking to you again, but you should probably go home now, your familia must be worried about where you are"

She then shot up to her feet her face looking pale. "I didn't tell them where I was going," she said in a panic.

She then took off running. "Sorry I gotta go Bell, it was good talking to you"

I chuckled as she turned the corner still in a full sprint. "Never change Ryu, never change"

I then desummoned the bench we were sitting on and walked away.

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It only took me a couple more minutes to reach my destination. It was an old run-down church. It used to be my mother's favorite place. I stood outside for a while, scared to go in.

But why? Was I hoping to see my mother in there? Holding on to the tiniest of hopes that my mother was alive and inside this church? That just maybe I'd walk in and feel the warmth of a mother for the first time.

Don't be ridiculous Bell, your parents are dead, just go inside and grab what you came for, then leave it's that simple.

I pushed open the door to the church. Seeing the broken pews and rotting wooden walls. The place was covered in dust as people haven't been here in some time. I walked up to the pulpit where the sermons would normally be delivered.

I went behind it and crouched down breaking the floorboard beneath me. I moved the broken wood out of my way and reached down the hole. I felt leather touch my fingers and I knew I got what I came for.

I pulled the book out from the floorboards and blew the dust off it. Looks like it was right where Alfia left it. I put the grimoire in my dimension ring and walked back to the entrance.

I stopped before I could walk outside and took a look back into the church. It would probably be the last time I would come here.

"Mom, I doubt you can hear me, but I'm doing ok, believe it or not, I actually have friends and a girlfriend, so I'll be alright, you don't need to feel bad because you weren't able to watch me grow up, love ya mom"

Before I could take a step out of the church I felt myself being playfully shoved out. I quickly turned around and saw the ghost of a woman with long white hair and grey and blue eyes smiling at me.

I blinked and when my eyes opened again she was gone. I let out a wry chuckle as a small smile broke out on my face.

"I must be hallucinating," I said to myself.

I then turned on my heel and walked home.

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I arrived back home about 30 minutes later. It was around 10:30 at night and everyone was getting ready to sleep. Except for Miach who's normally in his office doing paperwork. Zald also is still up around this time doing whatever he does. Welf's most likely making equipment and I know Haruhime's reading. The rest are probably asleep or getting ready to sleep.

So knowing my destination I walked to Haruhime's room and knocked on her door.

"Come in," she said. I opened her door and walked in. When she saw it was me she smiled and put her book down. Wiene was next to her sleeping on her shoulder, her hair covering her face.

I took a seat on Haruhime's bed. "I'm guessing you're taking her tonight"

Haruhime nodded her head. "Yeah, she wanted me to read her a bedtime story, and she just kinda clocked out" She chuckled.

I picked up the book Haruhime was reading and smiled at the title.

The tale of Achilles.

"I remember my grandpa reading this to me when I was younger" I put the book on her nightstand and pulled the grimoire out of my dimension ring.

"Master Bell what's that" Her curiosity was peaked.

"It's a grimoire, before you say anything it didn't cost me anything, my aunt hid one back in the day and told me where to find it in case I needed it," I told her before she could protest.

I handed it to her as she looked over the cover.

"Master Bell, thank you"

She went to open the grimoire but I stopped her placing my hand on top of hers.

"Just a reminder, once you read this you will pass out, but when you wake up you'll have another magic, are you ready"

She didn't say anything but just nodded her head.

I took my hand off and let her open the book. After about a minute her eyes closed and she fell forward. I caught her to make sure she didn't fall off the bed and leaned her back, putting her head on the pillow. I pulled the covers up and made sure she was comfortable before turning off her lamp and shutting her door.

I then started walking back to my room passing the windows as I did so. Until I heard something hitting the glass. I turned and saw that same wired owl that was watching Haruhime and me earlier today. However, I noticed it had something in its beak.

I opened the window and the owl flew in and landed on my shoulder. I held my hand out as it leaned forward and dropped a letter in my hand. The owl then flew away as I shut the window.

I looked at the letter in my hand and saw Ouranos's seal. I immediately took it to Miach for him to read. When he opened it his eyes were getting wider and wider.

"So what is it," I asked.

"It's a quest to go to floor 20, he says we'll find our answers there," he told me.

"Well off to floor 20, we go then, I'll make sure everyone's prepared, I'm guessing we'll have to take Wiene at night just to be safe"

"It'd have to be late, so make sure everyone gets enough sleep" Miach set the letter down.

"So make sure Welf stops building stuff got it" I joked.

I turned around and headed to his door before turning back around. "One more thing before I leave, check Haruhime's status in the morning"

He narrowed his eyes at me. "What did you do"

I shrugged my shoulders. "It's a surprise"

Well, it seems Haruhime will have a new magic. I wonder what it will be? It also seems Alfia is helping Bell from the grave and Bell and Ryu have mended their bridge a little.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the next stop floor 20. Also Hestia won't be in the story because if she was she would've been at the church when Bell and arrived and even then she only would've appeared this chapter as I have no plans for her.