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She truly was a goddess, Though his opinion of her was still mixed, she saw her familia's banner, the crescent moon and a hunting bow... The irony was not lost on him.
Though his moment of thought about the currently alien nature of his very being was interrupted by the cute squeak of the azure haired girl in front of him.
"Ah, you are awake."
"W-were am I?! She yelled
"Relax, I have indeed taken care of most of your wounds. You are in the same forest, I just made a quick camp."
"Y-you... Thank you..."
"Please, you are injured... drink this."
He slid the knife across his palm and offered his hand to her, revealling the milky white liquid that left the wound.
"I know it may look bad... however it is necessary."
O-Orion?!
She did as he asked, though reluctant at first. She felt the thrill of such substance, and later the healing effects.
"H-how..."
" I don't know... I still look for answers for that and more questions I have... both about my nature and experiences."
He had a scarred look in his eyes that spelt of regret and fear, and she picked up on it.
"Then let's speak of other things, I don't belive I know your name young man."
"Bell, Bell Cranel."
"My name is Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Bell, I'd like to ask for help from your familia... mine has been slayed in a mission for the guild..."
"I'd like to help, however I'm in no familia."
"Y-you are not an adventurer... But... That strength..."
"I am still searching for one."
Then... Orion... You will accept won't you...
"Would you like... to join mine... I'm afraid that I have no members currently... however, I'd still want you to join."
"I would not be opposed to it, however, I still have some mistery that surrounds me... Things that could very well be damaging to the familia."
"I assure, whatever it is that you would have my full support as your goddess."
P-please accept... I...
"Then, I accept. Though I never had a falna before..."
"No problem, Just... take off your shirt..." She said with a creeping blush on her face, he did as ordered.
She pricked her finger, though as she concentrated on drawing runes, her mind was wondering about the unnatural blood that flowed within his veins.
Then, as she looked intto his back, she saw a great anomaly in his falna... His race.
Bell Cranel
Level: 1 / Race: ?
Stats:
Dexterity:0
Agility:0
Strength:0
Endurance:0
Magic:0
Magic:
None
Skills:
Host of the dream:
Allows one acess into the hunters dream.
So, the falna was ready, and their shaky cooperation was about to start... She had to resist the curiosity to spy his very life from the excellia that he possesed... Though she would not break his trust.
"That is rather unusual Bell... You already... have a skill. Those manifest usually by past experiences... And to the other thing you wished to know... You are indeed not human, however I cannot translate what appears on the race slot of your falna."
"Then... Is there anyone who can..?"
"I do believe so, Ouranos, the master of the guild may be of use... You truly are interesting... Orion..."
"Who?"
She was caught on the act, to her shame.
"Think of it as a title! Hmmmm... More likely to a nickname!..."
"I... Accept it." He was called many things... Treacherous outsider... Good hunter... A Wretched foreigner... Most of those names however were bad, however, Orion definitively had a ring to it that he indeed liked, even if he didn't know why.
"But... Are you not freaked out? Even a little bit... Someone you never met before... Who doesn't even know what he is?"
"Bell, grab that spear over there."
"...Okay?"
He did as ordered, he grabbed the spear, and just as he did, she noticed the runes changing color, to an unnaturally pale red, in fact she could better say it was white with red accents.
"That... Is the arrow of Orion... A holy weapon that was to be wielded by my champion... Make no mistake of our rather quick introduction, I don't let men into my familia, neither woman I just met, you are an exception... and were not able to hold that spear... I doubt I would give you any chance at all."
That was a lot to thunk about... The weapon did behave rather similarly to how his moonlight greatsword did... The part that puzzled him was how exactly did the spear know who was it's wielder, it wasn't as if it had unseen tiny eldritch beings surrounded the wielder.
"How excatly does it work?"
"Well... Only those who are of pure heart may wield it... I know it sounds..." She stopped when she saw his reaction, he was shacking lightly as if afraid or perhaps moved by the sudden declaration of his qualities.
"...Then... T-there must have been a mistake, I'm afraid that those qualities do not describe me..." It was a serious and rather emotion-less tone of voice, hiding the self loathing within.
"We will see, for now, I wish to learn more about you... If you wish to tell me, of course."
"...I was a farmer... Lived with my grandfather... Yet I was always sick... Though I'm not comfortable to share more..."
Oh! Of course Artemis... You have reason to trust him... But he doesn't even know you!
"I can tell you on the way to my camp... We can understand each other more this way!"
"Seems reasonable."
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The unlit chamber was massive, just as the throne within it's center, solid stone carvings lined the walls as the underground room was filled by the scent of mold and incense that burned by the throne, there, an ancient being pondered the sudden surge on the world's natural order, arcane had been liberated somewhere, the primordial essence that arcanum derives from... Yet it was concealed... Such a power could seldomly be used by gods... Much less a mortal.
"Lord Ouranos, do you believe that whatever god used this power hasn't been sent back?"
Spoke a mere shadow on the side of the room, It's thick dark cloak was similar to the guard of the Pthumerian queen... Yet Yarnham was not there.
"Yes, However it's not clear to me what he did with the essence of our power..."
"Arcane wasn't it?"
"Yes... An energy abundant between the mortal realm and heaven."
"But to utilize it is rare?"
"In the pure sense yes... However, us gods can use arcanum, that is, a controled version of arcane, and mortals can use magic, which is powered by arcane energy, just incredibly weakened."
"Then it is as troublesome as you say..."
"Indeed it is, Fells."
"So what are we to do?"
"For now? Wait, and gather intel on the state of the mortal realm... Such power brings change, and great change at that..."
"Well that is troublesome... And to make matters worse, Antares is yet to be taken down..."
"Any contact with Lady Artemis?"
"No."
"Then we must not act carelessly, wait before sending out any help... Perhaps this events are indeed linked... Though if orchestrated by another hidden player, that is speculation..."
"Of course my lord."
A Primordial perhaps... The control over it was precise... Too much for any of the newer gods... Perhaps one of the younger ones... I would need a better opinion... Though the only one I can think of is far too fickle to ask for help...
"May I suggest that we send Hermes' network to look for Artemis?"
"No need, I expected her hunt to take some time... As long as we don't received any bad signals for the next few days... Antares is, however, unpredictable and extremely durable."
"Since that is your wish..."
"Fear not Fells... I have trust in Artemis."
"But do you trust the creature's reported level?"
"...That... I do not..."
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The sun was setting in the woods, The chill air of the night crept up, and the once lively camp of the Artemis familia was deserted, save for two figures by the tents.
"These were their things..."
"...Do you wish to take them home...?"
"...No..."
"You loved them, right..." He asked, with some degree of knowledge on consoling people... Mainly bestowed upon him by the shining pillar of stability that was the doll.
"Y-yeah... Bell... I know I should probably take care of dinner... That is the least I could do but..."
"Of course, you wish to be alone, that is alright." He said with a understanding tone.
Well then... Have to take care of dinner... I wonder... Deer would do nicely...
He grabbed the bow and arrow and slowly walked around the forest while reflecting on the rather quick nature of his encounter with Artemis...
I like her... And was quite quick to do so... Yet she could at least have chosen a better domain... Failure of a hunter I am ...
He was light on his feet, and his instinct as sharp as when he was on the hunt, his well trained ears were quick to pick up the faint traces of the animal, yet despite his stealthy movement, he walked normally.
One step, he came closer.
Two steps, he prepared the arrow.
Three steps, he pulled back the string.
There was no fourth step as the arrow was released into the deer's head. Precise and poweful, even if a hunter in his trade scarcely employed any bows, mainly firearms.
Ah Simon... In a way I thank you... for freeing Gehrman from his sleepless... Nights? Perhaps days? Who cares... Time was inconsequential in that god forsaken place.
After all, how could he not think of his friend, and the weapon that he gave him, along with it's burden.
He grabbed the corpse and once again calmly walked back to the camp, in a manner so relaxed that only a hunter could walk, at least while blood slowly dripped down his back, right where he held the animal.
Silent footsteps that allowed one to hear everything around him. A level of paranoia only a hunter could achieve yet sometimes that same paranoia would save him, in fact, it did time and time again.
*Creak*
A simple sound that alerted him to the danger surrounding the camp. He scanned the area, after finding the sneaky goblin who in vain tried to hide itself away from the hunter.
An arrow flew full force into it's head, but all was not good, he knew that weaker monsters liked to walk in packs... Artemis could very well be in danger...
Crap... Just like before... I will not fail her... Not like I did with that poor girl.
He ran as fast as he could, though not with the full strenght he had on the hunt, as his body was weirdly not accustomed to it.
Yet it didn't matter, when he did return to the camp, he saw it.
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"So...? Any more of those... Spooky dream prophecies of yours?" A tired redhead said.
"N-no..." Responded her friend.
"Did that rumored... Bunny who cou- *yawn*... Bunny who could kill giant monsters appear?"
"I-it doesn't w-work like that!"
"Oh please... Go to sleep Cassandra!"
"O... Ok Daphne..."
The small fight that would happen every night was once again ended by the two friends, and while one was terrified of dreaming tonight, the other only held thought about the state of her closest friend.
But not everything was well, for Cassandra's fears were indeed correct...
The same bunny, yet different in nature, perhaps forever changed by it's harrowing experiences, or perhaps by something greater.
He was not alone, fighting against a dark shadow... A great terror looming over the moon, yet not the same blood red moon he faced before, a gentle one, with a slight blueish but pale tone.
She wondered what provoked the changed but nothing could be done, soon she would wake up... But perhaps not to forget everything.
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Scarlet veins were visible from the hard, pitch black carapace. Lenghty claws and a giant tail which ended with an enourmous stinger, it appeared by the line between the campsite and the proper forest, ravaging the tents as it seemed to search for the faint presence of arcanum that a godly entity was sure to emit, and it did find her, oh yes it did... It roared when it's dark red eyes like crimson pearls that were shining down it's prey.
"O... Orion!?" She screamed for help, but the monster just came closer and closer... Stopping any hope from reaching her.
It raised his claws and wrapped it around her body, a single squeeze and she would be gone... The thought of reuniting with her followers was a happy one... But to abandon her new Orion... She could only cry as despair took over her mind... Yet even when the darkest of thoughts took over her, just when she closed her eyes accepting death... A green shining light appeared, small as it was, it calmed her even amidst the chaos of the surrounding monsters.
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He felt to his knees seeing the scene he could do nothing... No equipment as the spear was with her, no tools, no trick weapons... Not even a single messenger's help...
"N-No!... It was supposed to be a new begining... Free from my mistakes... I can't save no one... A failure of hunter, hero and follower."
Anger at his past, at himself, he was useless, he was nothing, he was a murderer, a nobody and his new goddess was going to die for it... He cursed himself, the world, the hunt, But it wasn't untill he remembered from the bottom of his mind the echoing words of the doll:
...Oh good hunter, you speak too lowly of yourself... You are kinder than many others who came before... Never forget that kindness, that drive to help others...
Then he heard a silent moan, one that he recognise as from the bubling ground that a messenger appeared, it's pale tiny hands clutching the greatsword that he was so used to.
"T-thank you..."
He grabbed it once again, as it was wielded, the blade once again emited it's glow...
Bell charged forward, raising the blade as the full moon was behind it's form, charging all his energy into a single strike.
A heavy slam cracked the ground and from the cracks a pale abyssal fire raged on, an arcane attack that no simple hunter could perform.
"GRUUOUGH!?" The monster screamed when the flames of light hit him, melting the carapace and preventing it from finishing off it's prey.
"Away from her you vile beast!"
Arcane was being used, she could feel it. Shacking her very core as she saw the wielder of such power... Bell, her Orion... wielding the power that was said to be only for the gods... Yet not anymore...
What...
Though that was a thought, that would be considered heretical... But not anymore, for now it was only a fact, plain and simple.
But she would not sit idle while her Orion was in danger awe stuck as she was, she grabbed the spear that belonged to her beloved and threw it against the dark creature, though it bounced back.
Bell threw out one last attack with the greatsword before giving it to the messengers. With a jump in the air he got to the arrow of Orion, and spinning it to the correct angle, and full force stabbing the legendary monster between it's many eyes, though that was not it, in a moment of complete despair it tried to take one last target down.
It tried again to crush Artemis between it's claws, but as it tried to do that, a striking sound was heard.
A gunshot, a simple hunter's blunderbuss, but powerfull enough to make the creature roar in pain as it's last ditch effort was crushed by the experienced hunter.
Bell was tired... So tired... To use the Moonlight greatsword like that took a great toll on him... After all, arcane was a powerful force... Even to an ascended one.
He collapsed to the ground. His goddess was quick to move to him and check on his state.
"A-arcane... How the hell did you pull that off..." A very childish way to put it, though perhaps denial still had it's roots in her head. Perhaps the idea of arcane utilized by a mortal was not unheard of... Maybe theorised by the bored immortals.
A sweet loving smile had crept up her face as the body of the slayed creature laid there on the ground surrounding them, in a sweet but otherwise terrifying moment.
The sword he used was nowhere to be seen, though she could see that the cilindrical tool he used was still being clutched by his hands...
Who are you... My Orion...
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He didn't dream, or at least, what he did remember was hazy at best, betraying his slight hope of seeing the doll though after all why would he go there, he hasn't been killed, neither did he allow the messengers to take him.
Bell woke up in the arms of the woman he protected, the sun was up, and though the camp was in complete ruins, no monster would even dare to approach it, not after such display of power.
"L-lady Art-"
She cut him off, hugging him even tighter.
"Y-you... How... Bell... How did you..."
"You want the whole story?"
This time, there was no indecision, o hesitation, only a serious tone.
"Everything."
Just remembering was painful enough, though he needed to speak.
"I wish to tell you... But it's a long story..."
"Then, If you allow me, I could see it for myself."
"W-what?!"
"Your memories are ingrained in the falna, though to acess them is a pratice that we seldom use without the conscent of the child."
"Then... Do it... And see it for yourself... Though I will warn you... What I've seen is best kept a secret..."
"Then, as your goddess I shall swear on my very own blood that your secrets are to be kept as such. Orion, please take your shirt off."
"Very well..."
He did as such, and Artemis went on to do the practice she almost never used, though perhaps to know his traumas would be useful while helping him, after all, he wasn't good at hiding his feelings.
A simple rune seemed to float above his back, usually it would be a simple job for a god to see their child's life, though the density of memories would make it harder though he is just a 14 year old boy, surely it couldn't take more than a few seconds...
It took a few minutes for her to proprerly strighten out the boy's latent excelia, of course, the visions that she had were wothy of an entire headache, from the crucified corpses of beasts to the towering buldings and the claustrophobic landscape, Artemis was sure that she would not forget what she saw. Then came the revelation number 1: Yarnham.
"...A-a city... On a-another r-realm?"
"You seen Yarnham then... It's indeed not present here... neither are the chalice dungeons... Who are another can of worms..."
"I-I... I can live with that... After all... many gods did try to replicate the mortal realm... though it was all just a try..."
"...So... You see why I spoke so little of my past?"
"I do... Yet it still pains me to see you... After knowing what you have been through..."
"The little girl I presume..." Bell said, with a hollow smile and an feeble attempt at playing it off.
"Not just that! Everything else too! You have been mistreated, called a wretched foreigner, had to see the collapse of an entire city... The plague... The corpses and even their... 'Cure'..."
"Yarnham was doomed to fail."
"Then why did you still tried so much? Bell... I know you are trying to distance yourself from me... But this is something that requires trust, I need you to trust me, and to tell me what you feel."
"... I don't know if I even should feel anything... I killed those beasts... Even knowing their nature, I sent that girl to her death... Even let Alfred down by joing the vilebloods..."
"Why shouldn't you have the right to be sad? Bell, you are kind hearted soul... Even if you don't see it."
Artemis was sure that just a talk wouldn't solve the problem... Yet it was still worth it to try.
"Because I can't pity myself... Not after-"
Artemis put her finger to his lips, stopping him from further humiliating himself.
"We can talk later... You will forgive yourself with time... Though for now, I still have to show you your new status, an impressive jump."
Bell Cranel:
Level: 1/ Race: ????
Stats:
Agility: 55
Dexterity: 60
Strength: 40
Endurance: 20
Magic: 35
Skills:
Host of the dream:
Allows one to acess the hunter's dream.
"Is it supposed to go so high?" Bell asked, rightfully so considering the effort it was to level up a stat with the doll.
"Not really... Though I suppose it is faster than your... Echoes of blood? I really... need to get used to it."
She could barely hear him whispering a sad sorry, but paid no attention.
"Now, another thing is that I did not see all of your memories, they are highly personal, and the excelia there is weirdly enough difficult to understand."
"Thank you... Though you probably skipped over some of my worst moments..."
Poor boy... Though I don't believe he is as young anymore...
"What about your age though? do you have an exact number?"
"N-no idea there too... I guess I should count only my age here? as in the mortal realm."
"...Probably..."
An awkward silence started, Bell understood he should change the topic considering Artemis' discomfort.
"So... Where do we go now?"
"Orario, after I give my girls a proper grave, I will need to recruit more people... Besides, I have a great captain and an even better warrior to train them."
"That is high praise..."
"It is..."
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Unmovable stone walls, towering over the pair, a heavy metal gate and a few guards were all lined up, inspecting those who entered the city. There Artemis and Bell would have to go through the steps to enter the city, not something that bad... If not for the questions of any of the surrounding gods who, starved for entertainment, would sometimes hound the area, be it for new possible members or just for the gossip.
So of course, when the goddess of a relatively known familia appears, and says that her members were anihilated... Well most gods would still be somewhat civil about it... But were a virgin goddess as strict as Artemis to allow men in her familia... Gossip would follow.
So when they did approach the gates, Bell, remaining ever vigilant, called for the messengers, giving him another weapon, the rakuyo this time.
"Orion, let me handle the guards. It will be quick."
"NEXT!" Screamed one of the gatekeepers, as the line to enter was moving along.
"Okay lady Artemis." He responded, though she knew he was still a bit uneasy, the city was in a few ways eeriely similar to Yarnham, though not victim of any decaying scourge.
The process was fast, having already been to Orario and being an ally of the guild had it's perks. After that, all they needed to do was go to the guild and rest. The streets were calm and the way to the guild was open, after arriving there, she would request a meeting with Ouranos later in the week, and filled in the paperwork for her familia shocking almost all of the employees.
The poor half-elf forced to work herself to the bone was not happy, though she knew that she had no reason to complain about someone's death for such a petty reason.
After that both made their way to the familia's home, a house modeled after a hunting cabin.
"Today was a bit rough..."
"Yes it was. Though I would still prefer an unending day than an eternal night."
After sitting on the sofa next to his goddess, both would spend the rest of the day speaking, be it about the hunt, Artemis' life in the mortal realm or the city in general, as tragedy struck as their lives were, they seemed to have something going on for them, even if it was just eachother's company.
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Ok chapter down, took me a while to write this one, again any reviews are helpful as I will probably need it in the future.