Before we begin,, quick side note, i've accidently been calling our good mother Marie when she is actually called Maria. Fixed it in this chapter and I can only apologise for commiting such a heinous crime.
Now, on with show that is set in the world that I have no ownership of.
Penia woke up.
Her head hurt, banging as if the tax collector was at her door.
With a wince, she opened her eyes, barely managing them halfway. She expected to see some sunlight, clouds and the sky. Instead, a small tuff of weeds and fractured cobblestone was the first thing that greeted her.
In her drunken stupor, she hadn't even managed to get to her usual sleeping bench, instead passing out a couple of metres away.
A cool autumn breeze flew under her ragged black robe, causing a small shiver to run down her body. That was enough to wake her up enough to sit up. Rubbing her temple, trying to soothe her hangover, Penia did her best to try and become somewhat aware of her surroundings.
To her right was the abandoned church that usually accompanied her each night, ever a constant reminder.
To her left was an entrance into Daedalus Street's labyrinth of streets. She could walk through them blindfolded, even with this horrible headache.
Penia let out a small groan as she did her best to keep last night's drinking in her stomach, adamant it come out the bottom rather than the top. She didn't attempt to stand, prior experience telling her it would be futile.
"What day is it again?" Penia asked herself as she did her best to remember. Something in her mind tells her that something was meant to happen today but she couldn't recall it.
'If it ain't rememberable, it ain't important.'
Penia shrugged as she stopped trying to remember as it only hurt her head even more. But the headache would not be going away any time soon.
"Erm… G-God…Goddess?"
A quiet child's voice snapped Penia's head around almost a full 180. Behind her was the bench she usually liked to sleep on but in her place, a young boy was occupying it.
"-Ugh! Who's there!"
Penia narrowed her eyes, trying to make out the boy sitting on her bench. She didn't register the face she was making or the reaction it got out of the 5-year-old. It would haunt him for weeks.
"G-Goddess P-Penia…. It's me, your, erm… follower."
'Follower?'
"I ain't got no followers… do I?"
The boy sighed as he hopped down off the bench.
I go and walk over to Goddess Penia. I hope this wouldn't become a normal routine. I had come here almost an hour ago now. I had just finished dealing with Brant and now I was bringing my money to pay my promised tribute.
I have done decently over the week. I have made over the allotted 1,000 valis and a bit extra. I've even been able to buy some half-decent food. I'm looking forward to when I can comfortably afford some bread.
I know at some point I'll need to get some armour down the road, but that's still way off in the future. I need some new clothes first and I've fared well enough so far. I haven't fought any Kobolds yet but I'm not afraid of them. After watching others fight them a bit, I'm hoping that with my Falna updated, I can take them on.
'How much will my Falna go up with only fighting Goblins for a week? I think I've broken 100 kills, which I'm happy about but I'm not actually sure what that will amount to.
"H-here.. let me help you."
I grab Goddess Penia's hand and lead her over to the bench. After a bit of staggering and sloshing around while trying to regain her bearings, I manage to get her seated.
"Oh yeah, I remember you. What did I do again?" Penia says, still not in full control of her body and voice.
I tilt my head to the side, confused. I just stand by quietly as I let her do her own thing. I'm in no rush as I've got until night-time, then I need to be back at the dungeon.
I stand there for almost a minute. I rock back and forth on my feet as I try and be patient. I understand that I haven't seen her since she gave me a Falna but it's only been a week and I'm her only follower, it's not like she has much to keep track of.
In hopes of jogging her memory a bit more, I reach into my pocket and pull out my satchel. After last night's efforts, I have almost 1200 Valis. I know I can live off Jagams for a while and the water that drips from the leaky pipe, so I won't be completely broke when I give Goddess Penia the 1,000 Valis. I'm hoping I might even be able to save enough to eventually give to Maria.
When I brought out my small bag, the little jingle of coins immediately caught Penia's attention, almost as if she was starving and I just pulled out some freshly baked bread.
"I'm here… to p-pay my, erm, tribute."
"Tribute?" Penia gives a confused look before it finally dawns on her.
"Oh yeah, now I remember. You're that squirt who I gave me blessing, ain't ya?"
I give a brief nod, unsure if she even saw it.
"That's what that small feeling thing I was feelin'. I'm surprised ya managed to live through the week. Or have you even been in the dungeon yet?"
"I-I have."
"Oh, so have you made the money back we agreed on?"
Penia didn't care to ask about my time in the dungeon. She didn't care what floor I was on or what monsters I fought or how many. She only cared about the money. If that gets me an update then I don't really care myself, even though how much I struggled to make the quota.
I had already split my money. My 1000 was in the bag, with the rest pocketed away, wrapped in my torn piece of clothing.
I give the bag to Penia who wastes no time digging her wrinkly fingers into the bag. Her half-open, drunken eyes have been replaced by that of a hawk. Her mouth silently moves as she calculates the offering. I already know that it's right. The importance of money were one of the few things Maria fully taught me and I knew how to do basic counting. The coins make it easier since they have the number of their value on their face.
"Erm, I need the bag back, please." I manage to speak. It's going to take a while for me to get comfortable around this deity. I do my best to stop myself from fidgeting about and remain relatively still. However, the hawk's eyes seem to notice my nervousness as she gives me a look that paralyses me.
"Humph, well I'd be a liar if I said I weren't surprised but it's all 'ere and I ain't one to go back on a deal. Fair enough, ya brat. I suppose you want an update?"
I look down and shuffle my feet but I manage another nod.
"thought so," Penia sighs." "Aight, get rid of that sorry excuse for a top and let me see ya back."
I look straight up with wide eyes. I anticipated her to reject me or to try and barter a higher amount of money or something that would make this even harder but… it's worked.
Relief floods my body as I remove my top. Finally, the pieces have fallen into place. Even though I had already gotten my Falna, other issues that I needed to face have been overcome.
Getting into the dungeon, finding magic stones, and trading them for money consistently, getting enough money to get an update. Part of me had thought it would all fall apart, that something would go wrong. But even though they seem dodgy and they are obviously using me, Brant and Goddess Penia seem to be almost… reliable in a weird way. And I am using them as well so it's not like they are completely taking advantage of me.
Over this past week, I have only seen glimpses of the path that I want to take, almost as if my mind still didn't want to give in to the hope of succeeding. But now, I can see it. I know that I will be able to get stronger. As long as I keep up my end of the deals and I stay alive, then I can keep pushing forward.
I hand Penia my pocket knife and I turn around. As soon as her drop of blood lands on my back, the warm fuzzy feeling returns. It feels like I haven't felt this experience in years even though it was only last week. My back is pulsing as my heartbeat begins to quicken. I begin to get excited. I wonder what my stats will be. How much does one week's worth of work get me? And even if it isn't much, my first week was just practice runs. Now that I know I can consistently get updates weekly, I will be able to go deeper and fight stronger monsters and get better magic stones.
As Penia finished off the update and closed my Falna, at that moment in time, I felt almost invincible. But I reigned myself back in. Overconfidence is what led to my near-death experience on my first dungeon dive. I can't get ahead of myself… but maybe feeling a bit of pride isn't too bad now and then, right?
"Do ya have any paper on ya?"
I tilt my head in confusion and give a small shake at Goddess Penia's question.
'Why would I have paper?'
"Well then you're just gonna have to make do with me readin' out ya stats, that alright?"
I shrug my shoulders, not really bothered as long as I know how much I got.
"Fine then, 'ere's your stats."
Name: Perseus
Age: 5
Lvl: 1
Str: I0-I36
Def: I0-I27
Dex: I0-I22
Agi: I0-I20
Mag: I0-I0
Skill:
Magic:
As Penia finishes reading out my stats, we both sit in silence. The awkwardness that follows is a mixture of neither of us having any prior experience with what to do next. I didn't know whether to be happy with that level of growth. In future updates, it will be more as I will start fighting kobolds now and stay in the dungeon longer. But I can't ask Penia that question because she doesn't know. I doubt she keeps up with other Gods and Goddesses enough to know what a good first status update is.
It seems Penia hated the awkward silence and decided to do something about it.
"Suppose that's that then. I'll see ya 'ere next week. If I were you, try and get enough money to get some new clothes, ya look like you live on the streets."
I can't help but let out a small giggle as I hadn't bothered telling Penia about my current circumstances and how she was spot on with her assumption.
However, before we can part ways, we are both halted by a shout.
"PERSEUS!"
The shout of a woman brings Penia's attention to a side alley that connects to the small square. My head stays rooted on the ground. The shout of my real name is enough to freeze me but it's the voice that shouted it that makes it worse.
Apart from Penia, only one other person knows my real name and I would be able to recognise that voice anywhere.
I shakily look up and see Mother Maria running straight towards me.
Maria had been informed by one of Frieda's children, Eric, that he had spotted Perseus near an abandoned church.
When their search failed last week, Maria was distraught. Frieda had told her how Perseus had gone looking for the Goddess that roamed around Daedalus Street and what his plan was. The older woman had kept apologizing about how she had let him escape and how it was her fault but Maria had begged her to stop. She knew better than anyone that Perseus was hard to keep locked down.
Throughout the week, Frieda had kept the search going, determined to make up for her mistake. She had kept one of her children to keep watch of the Goddess Penia at all times and now it seemed to pay off.
Maria had not wanted to believe it at first. She had done her best to try and keep Perseus away from those thoughts, not wanting him to join all those that died in the dungeon. She knew he was the descendant of the great Zeus and Hera Familia, the ones her husband was a part of, but she also knew they would have wanted to keep their last remaining child safe and not follow in their stupid footsteps.
Maria knew what caused this. It was the hero book she had found in Perseus' bed on his 5th birthday instead of the boy. She had thought it would be a good way to teach him to read and also to stave away the tiniest bit of boredom. She should've noticed how much time he spent reading that book, almost as if he was examining every word.
She didn't know what to tell Carla or Jacob about their older brother running away. She managed to produce a lie but while the naïve 2-year-old prum believed it, Carla didn't fall for it.
"I want to help look for him!" She had requested but Maria told her the best way to help was to take care of her younger brother.
She had just arrived in time to see the Goddess perform the update on Perseus. She could only stand in shock at the sight of her 5-year-old boy being granted a Falna. She couldn't stop the tears from then on, knowing that her darkest fear had come to pass. Her legs wouldn't move until the ritual was complete.
So before Perseus had time to try and run away again, Maria darted out of the alleyway she and Eric were standing in, intent on making sure Perseus comes back home with her and never leave her again.
Maria at first thought she was going to shout at the boy, having put her and their family through so much distress. But as she neared him and looked into his still young, innocent green eyes, she didn't have the strength to.
Instead, as soon as she reached the boy she wrapped her arms around him. Ignoring the Goddess next to her, she just held the boy, her boy as close as possible, making sure he could never escape.
Perseus was also having a meltdown with his emotions. He had planned on seeing Maria at some point and he had missed her and his two siblings but he wanted to wait a few more weeks as his still naive mind couldn't comprehend the scope of Maria's sadness and anxiety at his sudden fleeing.
He twitched when she wrapped him in a hug. A hug he had missed so much. He felt her tears on his thin top as she squeezed him tighter. If it wasn't for his falna, Perseus was sure he would've suffocated to death.
However, Perseus didn't hug back. Even though he was naïve enough to realise the magnitude of his running away, he wasn't stupid enough to not know it didn't mean anything. He felt guilty that he had Mother Maria cry so much and he hated the look of fear and relief in her eyes as she ran towards him. He felt as if he didn't deserve the hug and instead some form of punishment.
"Perseus! Where have you been? What have you been doing?" Maria shouted as she pulled away from the boy and held him at arm's length. On his part, the boy could not respond but only look at the ground.
After releasing him, Maria now was able to get a good look at Perseus's appearance and it almost brought back tears as she stared in shock.
"Don't tell me…"
She couldn't finish her sentence. She saw his tattered clothes, his bruised knuckles and the faint scar on his stomach. She had seen these kinds of appearances before and she hoped to never see Perseus or any of her children like this.
Not being able to look at Perseus any longer or tolerate his lack of response as he continued to stare at the ground in guilt, she turned her attention to the deity next to her.
"How could you."
Penia was taken off guard at the sudden attention from the woman. She had been curious about how the interaction would play out. She had begun to walk away, wanting to go buy some booze with her newly acquired wealth before the crying woman directed her attention towards her.
"Ya talkin' to me?"
"How could you!"
"Oi don't ya shout at me, I'm a…" Penia didn't like how the woman had raised her tone at her, she was a being of heaven. But before she could finish her usual charade, Maria lost control.
"HOW COULD YOU LET A CHILD GO INTO THE DUNGEON!"
Penia was taken aback by the shout. She had expected some questions but not backlash to this degree. To say this wasn't helping Penia's hangover would be a gross understatement.
"Moth…" Perseus attempted to talk before being shut down with a glare from the overbearing Mother.
"What'd ya say? You wanna shout at me?"
"I said how could you allow such a small child to enter the dungeon!"
"I didn't make him, he wanted to."
"Why didn't you stop him, why did you bless him!"
Penia did not enjoy being yelled at. Her drunkenness hadn't fully gone away and she got into a gruesome mood whenever she drank, especially the morning after.
So Penia gave a sinister grin and held up the bag of money.
"He's paying for a service, who am I to not oblige."
If Penia was sober, she would've known it wasn't right to bring up their deal but at that moment she didn't care. She knew it would bring the attention back to the boy and allow her to slip away. She didn't care if he got shouted at or beaten because she got her money and she needed to find a drink before she became sober enough to realise the stupidity in her words.
"Paying? What do you mean?"
"Ask the youngin there."
Maria focused her attention back on Perseus, a look of abject horror at what she just heard. She was in disbelief that Perseus had not only decided to go into the dungeon but was paying to do so and even worse, the Goddess was making him pay for a falna.
She wanted to ask so many questions but all she could do was start crying again. That was enough to bring Perseus' eyes up to look at his crying mother.
"Perseus… why?"
'Please don't cry.'
"Why… do you want to do this?"
"Please… stop… crying."
"Answer me!"
Perseus flinched at the raised voice. Maria had gotten mad before but she had never snapped at him. Perseus unconsciously began to look at his feet again, his bad habit when trying to hide away but Maria wouldn't let him. She grabbed his face and pulled his eyes up to meet hers.
"WHY!"
Perseus began to tremble. He had never seen her like this… and it was his fault. He had made her like this.
Maria, on her part, realised what she had done. She let go of his face but didn't release her facial expression. She grabbed Perseus' hand and began walking away.
"Fine! If you don't want to tell me here, you will tell me back home. Let's go!"
Perseus was dragged along. He struggled to speak, only barely managing to mumble out apologies and begging her to stop.
Maria had never had to properly discipline any of her children, especially in the 5 years she had taken care of Perseus but now she couldn't help it. All the stress and anxiety of the past week needed a release. She hated doing it but she felt it was necessary.
Penia for her part had sat back on the bench, nursing her head with her hands as she continued to enjoy the spectacle. She had seen the boy's eyes a week prior, filled with determination, and was now waiting for it. The woman had not made a good first impression on the half-drunk Goddess and she was looking forward to this.
"Please stop." Perseus meekly murmured.
Maria kept moving forward as tears continued to sting her narrowed eyes.
"Maria, stop please."
She paid his pleas no mind, knowing she had to be stern with him, just this once.
"Stop!"
All of a sudden, Maria stopped. She couldn't continue walking, even though she kept moving her legs. She felt a great force on her right arm, the one that was pulling along the 5-year-old. She turned around and saw that the boy had fortified his stance.
Maria tried to give another yank but it felt like she was pulling on a loaded cart. The boy wouldn't move.
This was the power of the Falna. Even a young child could overpower a fully grown adult. Maria turned to look at the boy to yell at him again to stop being stubborn and come with her but then she caught her breath. While she was busy with her own crying and attempting to stay strong she had neglected to realise that the young boy had begun to cry. His eyes were puffy and red as tears stained his cheeks.
"Perseus…"
"Please, Mother Maria."
Maria was always weak whenever Perseus referred to her as Mother. Her grip slackened. She watched as the young boy used his free hand to reach into his pockets.
Perseus pulled out the torn bits of cloth that housed the remainder of his money.
"I want… to get *hic* get stronger. I want to help you." He said as he presented her with shiny coins.
"I don't need it." Maria had shrunken to a whisper.
"We were already struggling just us two and then Carla and Jacob came…"
"Don't blame your siblings for this," Maria said, getting the wrong impression.
"I'm not but you were forced to scrape by. Look, I can help that now."
Perseus moved his hand forward, doing his best for his mother to see the money. The money they both knew she desperately needed.
"Perseus, please stop. We don't need it, we can manage."
"No, we can't."
"Yes, we will. We will manage somehow, so please come home. I miss you; Carla misses you; Jacob misses you."
Maria hated herself for it but she wanted to do everything she could to get her baby home, even if it meant guilt-tripping him.
Perseus' face twitched in guilt at his mother's words. He knew they were true and wanted so badly just to fix it and go home with her. But he had already taken that initial step, there was no going back now.
"I can still live with you but just let me go into the dungeon."
"no…"
"I'll be able to make even more money than this later on."
"no…"
"Please. I've already done it and I know I can get stronger and make more money."
"You won't when you are dead!"
Maria shouted as she knocked the boy's hand away, showering the street with Valis. She was now looking at the ground, shaking. Tears poured out of her eyes, splattering onto the cobble.
"Mother Maria, ple…"
"I said, NO!"
Maria yanked on the boy's arm as hard as she could, hoping that even one more step closer to home would make him want to reconsider. Unfortunately, it had the reverse effect.
Perseus instinctively jerked at the force and with his recently updated falna, overpowered Maria, sending her backwards.
Maria fell to the ground hard, her arms barely managing to absorb the impact as her forehead grazed the floor.
Perseus just stood there, staring at the woman on the floor. Her usual neat brown hair was now a mess, thin and unclean. He was able to see her waist had gotten even thinner. Her dress was tattered and he could see how worn down her shoes were.
Perseus clenched his fists. He had wanted to reach out and help her but his mind told him to stop, that he didn't deserve to help her. That it was his fault she was like this.
As Maria held her hand to her forehead, she could already feel the sharp wind on the small cuts that had formed on her knees. While they did sting, it was nothing compared to the sight she looked up at.
"Perseus…"
She barely managed to get his name out before the figure of his small frame disappeared around a corner. Maria reached out her hand, hoping that her son would come back. That she would be able to apologize for her stupid behaviour. That things would go back to how they were before. But she wouldn't get what she wanted and she knew it.
'I pushed him away.'
As Maria blamed herself, she began to cry again but this time she openly wept. She hugged her stomach to try and console herself but it did little for her. After a while, she felt a strong hand clasp her frail arm and begin to take her back home. She barely registered it as she could not take her eyes away from the corner her baby boy had gone, forever changed.
As Eric slowly managed to get Maria away from the church square, the mother managed to get one last look at the Goddess. She wanted to blame her and see her as the root cause. But she knew that the Goddess was not the real reason this happened. She was not the reason things turned out like this.
Maria could only blame herself.
Penia watched as the almost inconsolable woman was walked off by the young man. She then turned her head to where her follower had run down, almost as if he was fleeing from a floor boss.
At the start of the quarrel, Penia was looking forward to some morning entertainment, especially after the woman had raised her voice at her. But then she sobered up and quickly found out she really didn't like this kind of entertainment.
She didn't intervene as she felt like it wasn't her place. The boy was only her follower by money. There was no emotion or attachment between them, they had formed a deal, a mutually beneficial contract. She had no desire to step in and help sort out the situation.
But it still left her uneasy on the inside.
"Tch, that brat's gonna be a handful, I can already tell."
Penia looked at the ground, the Valis catching her eye in the sunlight. She shrugged her shoulders.
"Be a waste to leave it 'ere."
'It's my fault.'
I didn't know where I was running to. I just kept running. As long as it was away from Maria, that was fine. The further away, the better. The further away I am, the less likely I am to hurt her again.
7 months later:
"There ya go, all finished."
Penia closed Perseus' status. He had been steadily growing over the past year. Recently he had hit a slow patch but that is to be expected. He had heard from other adventurers that after a while your status starts to stunt.
"So what ya gonna do about it?" Penia asked as Perseus handed her his tribute for the week.
Perseus shrugged. "Fight stronger monsters."
Penia read out his status like she did every week. She had come to almost enjoy these weekly meetings. She wouldn't admit it but having the feeling of a blessing was somewhat comforting. The boy had become to grow on her as well, even though she had tried to not allow it. It wasn't anything that could be considered affectionate but almost a form of respect.
The boy went out each week and came back with the money and more experience than before. From what she could tell, he didn't use a weapon, instead using his fists.
Penia watched him walk over to the cracked window off the church to examine his falna himself. She had taught him the basics like the numbers, saying that at one point she would be too drunk to read out his status so it would be best for him to learn to read it himself.
Seeming content, the boy zipped up his sleeveless hoodie. Penia remembered when he came back with some decent clothes.
For about a month, he had had to deal with rags and patched-together pieces of fabric. However, he suddenly came back one week with that zipped hoodie, some decent-sized shorts and some cheap boots. She knew he also had at least another pair of clothes as he had turned up in different clothes once or twice, and that he had learnt to sew, nit not very well judging from the clear lines in his hoodie.
When she asked about it, she was in for a surprise.
You know how I mentioned that guy who helps me."
"Ya mean the guy who gets ya our money?"
"Yeah, well he took me to a prum clothes shop. Said something about staying clean."
Penia was impressed with how the boy had managed to make another deal with an adult to exchange his magic stones for money and how it seemed their relationship had gone past two strangers helping each other, almost like their own relationship.
As Penia watched her only follower run back into Daedalus Street, she knew where he was going. He always went there after each update, her connections in Daedalus had not been hindered by the addition of the boy. She could tell from each update that the boy was doing more than anyone of his status would do, and it was especially hard to swallow since he was still a child and yet he had already experienced the cruelties of the world. Because of this, he had started to make enough money where he wasn't starving, had enough to pay her and also leave a small bit of money for his family.
Maria was walking back from a morning of shopping. She always went shopping on this day. Sometimes she brought Carla and Jacob along, or just Jacob but this time she was on her own. She did this for one reason. Hoping that her son would see her, healthy, happy, and come and join her.
She knew he came to visit each week and that he would come again today. The proof of this was the small bit of money wrapped in cheap fabric hidden in a crack near the door of their house. It was a place only she and Perseus would know about, as he was the one who made it when he accidentally fell into the wooden frame when he was 3.
She had wanted to reject the money to begin with but she couldn't. This was her child's hard-earned money and she would not waste it. She would not chuck it away like on the day when they last met. When they fought and she pushed him away.
She smiled a sad smile as she picked up the fabric. Every month, the amount slowly increased. This month was almost two thousand Valis, and that was massive for her considering she was planning on officially making an orphanage. Every penny would help and she knew it would make Perseus happy if she used his money for good.
"Thank you."
Maria pocketed Perseus' money as she entered her home. She always said thank you, knowing he was watching from somewhere. Call it a mother's instinct but she could sense he was near. She wanted to make sure he knew that she was happy and not mad at him anymore. But she didn't pursue him. She wanted him to come to her when he finally felt comfortable. She would not risk chasing him away again.
It was always a struggle to not cry this time of the week but the sight of Carla and Jacob always cheered her up and she would not cry in front of her children that needed her to be strong, no matter how many times they asked where their big brother was, though those questions had stopped now.
I watch Maria enter the house and then begin to leave. I still can't bring myself to call it home as I don't deserve to. I'm happy she is accepting the money and hearing her say thank you is enough to keep me going and strive further into the dungeon.
I want to go back, run into her arms but I know I can't, not yet. Not after what happened all those months ago. But one day, I'll be good enough to hug her again.
I start making my way to my own house. While not the best place to live, it's better than living in a damp, unhygienic alleyway. Nestled right in the corner of Daedalus Street right next to the giant wall that separates the man-made labyrinth and what I have found out is something called the red light district. I'm not really sure what it is but all I know is that it's loud and smells. But I can't complain.
The small house I occupy is on a second floor of a broken, abandoned first floor. It's small but so am I. The only things I have are my two sets of clothes that Brant helped me go and buy, a cheap sewing kit he told me to get, though he never taught me how to use, and where I store my money. It is the furthest possible point from the exit of Daedalus Street but my agility is currently my least used in the dungeon as I'm more hands-on, 'tanking the damage' as Brant calls it. The run from my house to the dungeon and back is also a good warm-up.
Tomorrow is a day off Brant said I should take. In some ways, he has become my mentor, if you can call it that. He has given me one training session, told me not to go past floor 12 and helped me go shopping twice. Apparently, it was because he was bored but I'm not bothered, I gained from it.
As I take off my boots, I lie on my cheap mattress. A mishmash of pillows covered by a thin blanket is enough for me. I can take my mind off the cold by thinking about how I need to get stronger and what to improve. Mainly what Brant taught me as it's the only thing I can look back on that isn't me fighting in the dungeon.
4 months before:
Oi, kid. You alright?"
I hear Brant ask me something but I'm not sure as the blood is still pumping in my ear. I had just hit F on my strength and I had wanted to go down to floor 8 for the past two weeks. I was not ready for the swarm of monsters that looked like ants, cleverly named killer ants if the adventurers fleeing from them were to be trusted. I managed to kill them all but just before I began digging out their magic stones, an ear-piercing shriek from one of the ants that I hadn't finished off shrieked in my ears. That was when I learnt that killer ants could call other killer ants when in danger. That was the second time I have fled from a fight, my first time with that Goblin.
"Had a run-in with some pesky ants?"
"How…" I manage to make out Brant's statement, struggling even more to talk.
"1, Experience. 2, I can tell from the cuts in your clothes I so generously helped you buy."
I don't talk after, still trying to stay conscious. I hadn't realised how much blood I had lost. Brant doesn't realise either until I faint and he catches me.
I wake up later in an unfamiliar place. I feel achy all over and as I look down to examine my body, I see a lot of bandages on me. My hoodie has been removed but my shorts are still on, though I can feel my feet are free from my boots. I taste a weird substance in my mouth, something… sweet. I'm not entirely sure.
"Finally woke up. I was about to start makin' ya pay rent."
I hear Brant a couple of metres to my right. As I turn to look towards him, I can see I'm in a small room. I'm sitting on a couch with a small table in front of it. To my left is a wooden door. To my right, where Brant is currently walking towards me is what looks like a small kitchen, with a few cupboards and I think an oven.
"What… happened?"
"Ya passed out on me. Lost a bit of blood, I'll tell ya that for free."
"Where…?"
"Ah, welcome to ma 'umble abode."
I stare at him in confusion. "Ab...ode?"
Brant sighs as he bends down to look at my bandages.
"You're in my home. Brought you 'ere after you fainted."
"-huh?"
"What, you think I'm that 'eartless, besides, can't go lettin' me partner die on me, now can I."
I give a groggy groan as he not very carefully removed the bandages. Seeming content with my now healed wounds, Brant bins the used bandages.
"Look kid, I understand ya want to get strong quick but it's pointless if ya go an die."
'Is Brant… giving my advice."
Brant looks back towards me and my puzzled look before slouching against the wall.
"How 'bout this? I, in all my generosity, will allow ya to stay over tonight. Then tomorrow, I wanna do something."
I go to object but then Brant goes and puts a bowl of stew in front of me. While Maria's cooking is better, this is the first cooked meal I've had since I started dungeon diving. It is enough to keep me in Brant's home for the night.
I struggled to go to sleep that night as I'm used to staying awake during this time and sleeping in the day, but Brant had a way to solve my problem.
One alcohol-soaked rag later and I'm waking up as the sun begins to peep through the small window. As I rub my eyes, I see Brant leaning against the couch I slept on. I think that he must not have a bed if he's here. Honestly, I'm surprised he has got this considering he is scrounging money off of a 5-year-old.
After Brant wakes up, he takes me outside and into the city. I can do nothing but follow him. I don't like being in the city, especially in the morning but late enough that people are out and about. The noise hurts my ears.
Brant must have noticed this as he sees me get closer to him as my body instinctively shrinks at the loud crowd.
"Don't worry, not long now."
His definition of not long is different to mine but maybe that was because of the limp Brant is carrying. While not completely noticeable, I can tell as I've had nothing to look at but the man's legs. The small hobble comes from his injured right leg.
When we make it to our destination, we have taken some turns down some narrow streets as we come onto a small patch of unoccupied cobble. Around us are large buildings with no windows or doors. As I look around confused, it seems Brant wanted to make up for his lost time during the walk.
I feel a sudden force in my back as I'm sent hurtling into one of the buildings. I bring up my arms to cover my head and they surprisingly take the impact well. Normally my wounds take almost a couple of days to fully heal and then the pain goes away but whatever Brant did worked well.
As I get up and turn around to face Brant, I want to ask why he hit me in the back but before I get a chance to respond, a boot is coming straight for my face.
I barely dodge it as I roll away. Brant's foot lodges into the brick building, making a small crater in it.
"Oh, nice dodge kid."
"What are you d-doing?"
Brant removes his boot from the wall and begins walking towards me. I jump back and get into my fighting position. Both arms raised. Right leg ready to push off with my left leg ready to deliver a swift kick if needed.
"So you're a brawler. Suppose that makes sense since I ain't ever seen ya with a weapon."
Now I'm confused, what is Brant even on about?
"Lookie 'ere. I can't have you going dying on me after our partnership has blossomed so much. So, I'm being nice enough to give a quick fightin' lesson."
"-huh?"
The moment of having my guard dropped was enough for Brant to attack. Even with an injured leg, he still got the jump on me. This showed me that he really is a level above me.
I can only bring up my arms to block my body as this time, Brant's leg connects with me. I'm sent flying back into the wall adjacent to the previous one.
An hour later and I'm panting on the floor. Bruises are forming all over my body as Brant sits down, having barely broken a sweat.
"Not bad for a Rookie but ya got a lot to work on."
He gives a sinister grin as he scratches his unkept beard, his brown eyes seeming content with his work as he moves his shaggy brown hair out of the way with a flick of his head.
5 months forward:
As I remember what Brant taught me and how I have used it countless times in the past months I realise something for the first time looking back on that memory as I link to something I hear a bit in the dungeon.
'That sweet taste… did Brant give me a…potion?'
I give a small smile as I allow myself to believe that maybe Brant is possibly a half-decent person as I contemplate his advice.
'Tomorrow is a rest day, huh… I might try it for the first time?'
Name: Perseus
Age: 5
Lvl: 1
Str: B717-732
Def: C698-B708
Dex: C647-C668
Agi: C677-689
Mag: I0-I0
Skill:
Stealth – Allows the user to go undetected when out of eye-line. Passive
Magic:
This chapter is coming out a bit earlier than usual but I just couldn't help it as I wanted to properly finish what was essentially the prologue to this story. Now we are getting into where we are going to be jumping forward in time to important events as if i wrote about every week, we would be here forever.
Keeping this brief and look forward to the next chapter, unsure when as I'm going to be writing for The Cursed Prince next, keeping both in tandom with eachother and not let one fall behind.
jank7475: Yh, he's going to be a lot stronger than Bell for most as Bell doesn't start until what would be his 15th year in this story as he is a year older, and by then Perseus would've had 10 years under his belt. Yes he is killing monsters, he doesn't have a choice. As for his skills and magic, well we shall see but hope you can deal with just the one for now.
Anyway, cheers for reading and I'll see ya next time, Peace!