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Shadowy figures loomed over the terrified boy, a streak of silvery moonlight reflect off his dirty white hair as he stared into his captors. A man with a grey coat that was covered by fresh blood, his face was obscured by bone white a mask that scared the poor 10 year-old, the other was a woman with copper toned skin and used few clothes that covered her body.
"Ahhhh... It's your turn now little one! are you not exited! I can't wait to see how a child of Zeus will turn out as a monster! AHAHAH! Perhaps I should use a special stone for your conversion!"
"P-please D-don't!" He pleaded, Unsure of his fate.
"If you would be so kind my dear..." He looked a the amazon, , who just shrugged and brough out a syringe filled with a purple liquid.
"Do not worry child! This is made from purple moth and other paralysing agents, you will feel everything! Just won't be here to stop me!"
The woman grasped his arm and jammed the needle in his arm, the effect was near instant as his muscles froze and his head was hurting, he couldn't move and the woman just grabbed him and threw him over her shoulder, carrying him like that over to another room.
The smell of chemicals and blood was far more present here, and his mind could do nothing but to watch as he was restrained in an operating table.
No No No No!
"You know, you should feel honored! this is a modified stone that I've made personally! An artificial juggernaut's stone! Of course, augmented with other enhanced species hunted by my associates! You will be part siren, a bit of an spartoi and even a special type of dragon! Then the cherry on top is the actual juggernaut part! Courtesy of the late Astrea familia!" He shouted excited as he waved around a magic stone in his hands, it had various fragments of different colors that combined within a pale red transparent shell.
A scalpel opened his chest, and Bell felt everything, as the man broke part of his ribcage and inserted the heavy stone.
Bell's body felt weird a burning sensation that he felt even with the blinding pain in his open chest, it was nauseating and intoxicating.
"I'm sorry but this part you won't be awake to experience... I don't want to risk my prized stone in a weakened vessel!"
He injected another type of sedative, this time making Bell trully pass out.
"That seems interesting... He is reacting to the Stone much faster than other subjects... Though I wish he was awake to see the transformation, the added instability would be too prejudicial... "
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He woke up, the child, hungry and desperate, but with no where to go outside of the cage he was in, something he did notice however, was the unnatural light that was present in the room, it seemed brighter but no lamp was lit.
His clothes were on a pile near the edge of the cage, and that was when he realised the slight bump in the middle of his chest, touching it made all the memories of the surgery resurface.
He wanted to cry, but would not. He could not, not untill he was out of there. He changed into his clothes and went to inspect the door but was interrupted by the amazon.
"You, back, now!"
He obeyed, but then she surprised him, throwing another stone at him and motioning with her hand pointing to her mouth, saying:
"Eat!"
He refused at first but nevertheless obeyed when she threatened him with a punch, She is blessed... I can see that...
He picked the small stone and pinching it between two fingers took a bite:
Blergh! It's sweet... so sweet... this taste terrible!
But the foul taste transformed into an even sweeter sensation, a surge of energy that seemed to make everything around him clearer, he felt stronger even! Untill he realised that what he was doing is something he heard from his grandpa.
I-I am an enhanced species!... So I really have become a monster. this means that... Were I to hurt my chest or an attack pierce it... No! It can't work like that! It cannot!
He banished those thoughts for now, though that was increasingly difficult, he waited before the amazon finally leaved and tried to pry open the door with whatever he could find, only to then realise that, with enough strentgh he could bend the metal, bit knew that perhaps it is better to wait, and gather strength untill trying to escape.
Hours passed after that, the stone he ate did it's job to keep him satisfied, it seems as though magic stones could sustain him, though he would not stop eating normal food.
After hours, the man came back, quickly expressing his surprise at the creature's quick recovery.
"Haa, already eaten one stone... I've suppose the one you call 'She' has already been taking hold huh!"
Bell stayed silent, just observed.
"Then my associates will take you tomorrow, There you will be trained and gorge upon as many as you encounter... We have high hopes for you, defiled little creature!"
His words cut deep, but he held his tongue, then the man threw him another stone, a much bigger one.
"This is a minotaur's, to celebrate the birth of an abhorent hybrid, soon you will be huntimg your own, but for now..."
He left the room, leaving the child to his own thoughts, Bell, disgusted as he was, greedily devoured the stone and tried his best to remain calm, though his grandpa and village may be gone, he still could not help those horrific people.
Eventually by nightfall he managed to pry open the door, he sneaked around the old house that Evilus had repurposed into a research hall of sorts.
The halls were dark and dusty, mold infested the corners and the wallpaper was peeling off the very building. The creaky floorboards were difficult to navigate, but he made it to the front hall, the entrance door was right there, though sealed by a heavy padlock.
No! It can't be!
He tried to open it with scrap metal he found laying around but could not, he tried shaking it but to no avail.
He was determined to not be foiled by a lock however, and mustering up an almost primal strength hidden deep in his chest, he broken the lock and slammed open the door, running into the night, right into the woods that surrounded around the abandoned house.
His captors, surprised at the gesture of defiance were still hesitant to pursue him, considering that all creature's weakness was the control that 'she' had over them.
By the time that they reached the front door he was long gone, and considering the dark night that blanketed the woods were he hid in, finding him would be impossible, specially when your prey has enhanced night vision like a high leveled monster.
"Damn it!" The man who experimented on the most profane and nefast things shouted.
"Go and contact our benefactors... This might have unforseen consequences, still he should be under 'her' control..."
The amazon beside him nodded and ran back inside. Her expression spoke only of worry.
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A brown haired goddess travelled on the country side, her mind still lingered at the poor child she still had in Orario, though she had wandered around the world, even staying in Altena for a while, yet now that enough time had passed, she hoped to reunite with Ryu, at least to check on her.
The path she walked on was surrounded by red and orange leafed woods, Fall had arrived and the weather was pleasant enough to walk.
Then it happened, a presence she felt, a wild and uncontrolled magic, it usually was from high level monsters.
What, I picked my path safely, there shouldn't be any monster nests nearby and certsinly no monster that powerful...
She hid behind a rock, hoping it wouldn't find her with her divine presence hidden, but it mattered not.
Astrea saw, with the corner of her eyes the source of the terrifying aura, a little boy, with dirty clothes and dark marks under his eyes, a thin frame and pale skin, complementing his white hair and blood red eyes.
The boy barely stood when he walked, and soon gave out, passing out cold in the dirt.
The goddess approached him and saw that, whoever this child was, he was kept in poor conditions, she noticed cuts in his torso and treated then, taking off his tshirt she notice the giant scar in his chest, and the bump on it too.
What!?
She remember experiments made by Evilus that were very similar, but those ended up with the subject dead, she knew what the child was then, a creature.
Hybrid between human and monster, a 'race' only theorized about, untill now.
She took him out of the road and into a riverside glade.
There she washed his shirt and kept watch, hoping he would wake up soon, and to his merit, he did.
"Urgh... G-Grandpa!?"
"I'm sorry little one I'm not your grandfather."
"W-what? W-were am I?"
"Slow down, what's your name?"
"B-Bell."
"Then Bell, My name is Astrea, Goddess of justice."
"Lady Astrea I-"
"If you wish to tell me about what happened, that would help, I recognise the scar in your chest, the aura you give also gave you away,"
"Please I'm no-"
"I know, what happened to you is unforgivable, though I'm sure that you have a family out there, for now I'd like to ask you about your story."
"My village was raided, My friends were captured with me but few survived... I was the last one, the adults were slaughtered and my grandpa went missing but... I..."
"I understand." She said, reassuring the child. "If you wish, then you can come with me, your case is unique and I'm afraid many gods would take advantage of you, my child."
"I don't have anywhere to go..."
"That is true, if you wish however, I can guide you to Orario, there I cannot guarantee your fate, but I'm sure Ganesha might protect you considering what you are."
"C-can I s-stay?"
"Of course, Though my plans for Orario might have to change a bit, I am happy to help you."
"Thank you!" He almost shouted, happy to be free and have at the very least somewhere to go.
"Then rest for a while, you need it."
"O-ok."
"If you wish then, we can speak for a bit more, I wish to learn more about you."
"Yes!"
The two then, talked about their life, Astrea couldn't help but be reminded of Alise's cheerfulness, though she suspected it was more thanks to how happy he was to be free, she had seen a similar effect on hsotages her familia had freed, specially the children, honestly she was thankful for her experience in dealing with orphans and victims of Evilus' crimes.
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"Hey Bell, I need to speak with you, this is serious."
"Yes lady Astrea?"
"Do you understand anything about your condition? If not then we will have to visit some friends of mine."
"I don't have much..." He thought for a bit. "My stone is artificial... Made from bits of others, so I don't know much."
"Is it based around any monsters?"
"... Not one I've heard of."
"Well then, what was it?"
"A juggernaut." The boy's words were a surprise. She knew very well of what the monster was capable, though it did seem odd, why copy a monster who has no magic stone? She would need to investigate, her entire existance as a goddrss of justice demanded it.
"Then Bell, we need to go to Orario, I have a few conditions though."
"What are them?" He answered curiously.
"The first, is that you must keep my identity as well as your... 'race' hidden, at least for now. The second is that you, join my familia."
"Join your familia? Of course." The child's eyes were shinning, though Astrea could still sense that he was progressing a bit too fast, perhaps he too stubborn to speak openly, or perhaps denial was still gripping him...
"Then turn around, you will have to take off your shirt too."
"Okay."
She took a look at the boy's back, it had been bruised and cut, mainly thanks to wild animals and the abuse he suffered in the hands of Evilus.
The goddess wrote and drew her familia's symbol, the act reminding her of many good times with her familia, though now she needed to concentrate.
When the Falna was made, she could see how abnormal it was
Name: Bell Crannel
Race: Hybrid Juggernaut
Stats:
Agility: 0
Dexterity: 0
Strenght: 0
Endurance: 0
Magic: 0
-Magic-
none
-Abilities-
A creature's nature:
Able to transform into primal form, enhanced by the consumption of magic stones. [Current potential: 10%]
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Time had passed since the two were on the road, Babel had appeared on the Horizon but the path was still long, the end of fall and start of winter was approaching, and while Bell was surpisingly resistant to cold, thanks to his 'enhanced anatomy', though Astrea would need to find shelter quickly, if the snow threatened to block the pathways, it could take months before a safe passage appears.
"Lady Astrea, won't other gods realise what I am?"
"Not exactly, they will know something is wrong, but the falna can mask it, to other adventurers you would appear high leveled, though that can be blamed on a skill."
"Okay then..." He was still unsure, Fearful that his existence may cause problems for the goddess that was so eager to help him, even knowing what he was, judging him not by his horrible fate, but by his character.
"There is no need to worry, the Ganesha familia is sure to let us pass, and even if we did get discovered, Ouranos is already in far more debt than he likes to admit..."
"Who is Ouranos?"
"The god who guards the guild and pacifies the dungeon."
He looked down to his chest. Perhaps he might have answers... or at least more experience with the dungeon...
"Ok then... Lady Astrea, and what about that person who you wanted to find?"
"Oh, she is your Ryu, your familia captain."
"But I thought you disbanded the familia?"
"Yes, however, I wish to restart, and finding her is an important part of my plan, however, cleaning her name might be difficult..."
"Why would that be the case?"
"Bell... She did things... How can I put it... Her justice didn't exactly fit in with most people's, though she may regret the means she employed, she is a good person."
She used terms that Bell didn't really understood, being a child raised on the countryside his education was not the most complete one.
"I guess?"
"In time you will meet her, for now we need to meet up with my friend and have him find a way to hide your aura."
"I wonder, how will he do it?"
"Either an amulet or perhaps a special cloak... otherwise gods will know you are a mon-" She stopped her mouth, rephrasing her thought to not hurt the child more. "-hybrid."
"Oh that sounds cool, can it be a cape? like Argonaut?"
"Hehe, you want to remain hidden, with a bright red cape?"
"..."
"Pffff... Come on, we have some ground to cover before the next stop."
He said nothing, pouting his lips and trying to distract himself from his thoughts that still lingered on her slip up. M-monster... Am I just that... No I can't be! Though the layer of denial he had shrouded himself in might be breaking.
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They reached the gates of the giant wall, Astrea, avoiding prying gazes, managed to lead Bell past security with a special token she was given by Ganesha, and entered a tunnel that would lead them straight to Ouranos himself.
"Why are we underground Lady Astrea?"
"So that until you are properly hidden, you won't attract attention. I know what you are thinking, but we cannot risk it, after that I will show you what Orario has to offer."
"Hmmmm."
They stopped, a massive door blocked the tunnel, onced Astrea knocked, Ouranos' voice was heard.
"Please, enter, Lady Astrea."
"Ouranos."
The child said nothing.
"And you child, what is your name?"
"Bell."
"Don't be afraid Bell, welcome to Orario, I am sure that your.. condition is welcomed here, though it is better to hide it for now, there are people that you Bell need to meet."
"..."
"And you lady Astrea, I need to speak to you, Fells, my assistant will come to show you where to stay."
As he said that, a robed man appeared, his frame was thin and his face obscured.
"Lady Astrea, young Bell, you must be tired from the journey, though we didn't expect your return we have kept the stardust gardens in good condition."
"Thank you Fells."
"Fells?" The boy asked curiously.
"Yes, that is my name, If you ever need something, know that my bones will be happy to help."
"Your bones?"
"Oh pardon me, It's just an expression."
"Hmm?"
"Fells." This time Astrea had spoke up. "Please, I need you to help him hide his magic signature, you may have already realised that he is unique."
"Of course Lady Astrea."
"And please Bell, follow him, He is to be trusted."
"O-Okay?"
While both went on their way, Astrea and Ouranos had much to talk.
"So, why is it you are back? from what you told me, it would be a long time before you set foot in the city again."
"The boy is one of them... a victim of Evilus' schemes, his very anatomy was changed by experiments... I gave him my falna, and he didn't even count as a human anynore."
"...A literal bridge between humanity... and monsters..." The old god guessed.
"Perhaps, Though I am more interested in helping him... He is a good child, who could've been ruined by Evilus... I have realised that I cannot let the progress that my girls died for just dissapear."
"Very well, I want to offer my assistance as well... The boy has suddenly became a possible key piece in a plan that has been long in the making."
"I won't allow you to put him in danger Ouranos!"
"Worry not, besides, it shall be well worth your while. Agree to let him make his own choice on whether or not he takes part in this plan, and I will personally lift the Gale wind's bounty, and clear her name from any missunderstandings."
"Why haven't you done this before then."
"I may not abuse the power I have... The outrage would have been far too great, and without Zeus or Hera..."
"Then... Do it... But his will is absolute on this matter." The otherwise warm and friendly figure spoke with a cold and fierce tone of voice, clearing up that she was serious.
"That is guaranteed. I will not force him."
"Then may I know more about the plan?"
"I'm afraid not, atleast, not for now, the boy must learn about their identity first.:
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Sage and Hybrid entered a dark room, though before the robed man could say anything he heard the exited voice.
"Wow! There is a whole lab in here!"
"H-how are you able to see it? It's pitch black!"
"Ah!... Well... I have great eye sight?"
"Well then child, let me light the place up, we need to find a way to supress your magic signature."
"Magic signature?"
"It's the aura that comes from one's magic, either natural or adquired by a falna, your case is a strange one though, It's not the one of a high leveled aventurer, and human's shouldn't have any natural aura."
"It's a skill!" He said, alarmed, he simply lied, terribly of course, yet Fells was not one to look into the allies of Ouranos.
"Well, it's an interesting skill indeed, Perhaps normal magic supression won't work... I wonder if full specialised clothes might be enough, I can fashion it in any style you like, though it would be better to keep it simple."
"Oh... don't know..."
"Then I will make a coat, it will be easier to suppress the aura."
"Sounds great!"
"Any color you want?"
"Black maybe...? My hair always stood out when I'm wearing dark clothes..."
"Great choice! makes it easier to clean too! You know I didn't choose my robes by chance."
"Now, I will take your measurements and with my Enigma ability we will make something great. I think I have the materials in here..."
He said as he paced around the room, opening a chest with some rolls of cloth of different colors such as red and blue, then he took out a dark purple one and began to place all materials needed together.
"This here is Umbral fiber, Made with the help of darkness spirits, should help you keep hidden, though I will need to work the pattern a little bit..."
"How will this work?"
"The fiber is really light, so all I need to do is line up the inside of a coat with it, then adjust the pattern so it covers more ground, and finally adding a failsafe or two."
"Hmm"
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The night had set and the Hostess was in full swing yet even then a lonely elf had time to look out to the window, lost in thought... About those she held dear... and the goddess whose justice she abandoned.
I'm sorry Lady Astrea... I hope you may forgive me one day...
Syr had done it's best to take her mind off her old familia, but it seemed to no longer work, she would still try not to show it, but the grey haired witch knew of her secrets...
"Ryu! Go back to working you useless elf!" Syr said, appearing behind her while presenting a surprisingly accurate Mama Mia impersonation.
"Syr! what are you doing?"
"Thought you could run away and sulk while we worked ourselves to the bone!"
"I'm sorry! I-I will make it up to you all!" She spoke out before returning to help others, oblivious to Syr's worries.
In the end, the cheerful sound of customers drinking away their worries drowned out the sorrows of the waitress.
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Yeah, that's right, another fic, this time focusing on a concept I have been keen on writing for a while, though the base of the story has changed a bit since my original idea. Needless to say he will be having some interactions with another creature and friendly monsters soon enough, My Loki Familia story is the next on the update queue, just remember that this story here will be a bit rarer and probably be worked on between updates.