A New Story! So a pretext to set expectations is due, First, I won't have a set schedule for updates. If I finish a chapter I will post it. Second, I started writing the first chapter about a month ago but wanted to focus on Sylphid's Happiness which is not going well. That being said I will finish that story eventually. I will give credit and thanks to various other authors at the end of the chapter. This chapter will be a test to see if people might be interested in Riveria being the main character and as a fresh adventurer. Anyways like always let me know what you think and criticisms you might have. Enjoy - EG

P.S. The XX will be a change in perspective while the three dots will be a passage of time. Word count for Chapter 4342

Chapter 1 A Fresh Beginning

The great walls of Orario towered in the distance, even as I stared they spoke of power and strength, but the night was quickly falling and that can wait for the morning. "My destined familia probably won't go anywhere," I whisper and begin to set up a small camp in the woods about an hour away from the grand walls. "My last taste of nature before I enter a world of stone. Growing up in the Alf forests didn't prepare me for this, that's for sure."

XX

An empty plain filled with the acrid scent of burning leather and hair. I swished my head back and forth in confusion. Rushing forward I was met with sight, the one person I truly loved laid with a leg bent at a ninety-degree angle at the mid-thigh, a voice spoke showing no sign of the pain he must have felt. "Run! It's still after us."

I heard snapping from behind me breaking the dead trees like they were nothing but toothpicks. Fear flooded once more as I rushed it with my chipped blade. Only to hear him yell again followed by a wave of lightning.

XX

My eyes snapped open, panic-filled my heart as my head snapped left and right, then realization and relief, "Just a dream, thank the gods above and below." Rubbing my eyes I find them damp with thin trails running down my cheeks.

"I was crying?" That was all I could muster as the morning sun started to peek through the branches of the tree I was sleeping under. Taking a moment to gather my thoughts and collect myself I started to put everything into the pack that I carried with me. Looking out towards the great shining wall, "Already really!?" I groan out seeing a large line already forming at the gate entrance.

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*Scratch*

"How long will it take for me to find a familia, one that I feel won't judge me based on my lineage?" I sat in a room she had been renting for the last two weeks. Sitting on a small chair shoved into the corner of the room next to an oaken writing table, even as she crossed another familia off the list she eyed what was left on the considerable list she obtained from the guild house. "Freya is a no, from what I've heard in the city they may be the strongest but they seem to have a shadow-filled court." Another name on the list crossed off, "I could try Loki familia but again the information I've heard… well let's save that one as a last resort." Instead of crossing another name off the mighty list she instead placed a small symbol next to the name. "Ganesha familia is extremely tempting but I'm willing to bet there are too many elves in that one, It would be like I never left home in the first place." Another strike on the list.

Half an hour passed as I went down the list of hundreds marking off many, either they didn't fit her personality or were so wrapped in shadow that it felt wrong to even think about it. She was about to take a small break from the list and head into the city for some exploration, but her eyes fell upon a name, "Dia familia, they were a familia that had been quickly rising through the ranks. But it seems to be plagued with misfortune." She sighed as she proceeded to scratch another name off the list. "Even the Hestia familia is a no… their goddess seems a bit… off." With another sigh I stood adjusting my royal green outfit, 'Another day… let's get going.'

'I wonder if I'll even get used to this size and number of buildings. Alf forest was always so quiet.' Another sigh escaped my lips as I proceeded down the road with my head held high. "Today is the day, the entrance fee was a lot more than I imagined. Well, it's no use complaining." I whispered as another long day proceeded. As I followed down the mental list of Familias I would prefer to join, only a couple would be a great fit. "Dia familia seemed to be among the best fit but…" *sigh* "Let's check with the Artemis familia first today."

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"Another familia another dead end. While the majority of the familia idea's aligned with my own, the main caveat being never to find a lover… Well, that is too much for me. I would like to one day." More thoughts on the subject filled my head to the point I was blind to my environment, it took many minutes for me to realize the mess of streets I found myself in an unfamiliar area, "Wait… where am I?" No landmarks in sight, not even the tower in the center of the city was visible. "This is bad." As I turned around in an attempt to reorientate myself I spotted him. A slim figure of above-average height, a broadsword slung on his back.

"Oh… what do we have here? An elf, not just any elf either… a high elf. I wonder how much you would be worth? Maybe it will be enough for another…"

I ran, the moment I realized the situation I was in. I was always quick in the forest I call home dodging through the trees was an easy task but now… it was completely different, I was in an unfamiliar alley with an unfamiliar threat. I turned to look to see if I was being followed. With a sigh of relief, I turned back towards the direction I was running. My blood froze, the same person his shock of blue hair glimmered as he smiled.

With a smile of an easy victory plastered to his face, I threw a punch only for a blur as my hand was caught with no effort. "Tisk tisk, before I can sell you I need to teach you respect." A squeeze then pain as my caught fist was crushed. A scream of pain filled my throat and was shortly silenced by his other hand covering my mouth. "I guess I really did get a lucky catch, you don't even have a blessing. Judging by your speed and strength."

Then I heard it, Lampsi Astrapís then with a flash of lightning I was released.

XX

"Bell, remember you need to grab the fruit on your way back." A slender goddess reminded him.

"I know Goddess, I got the list and should be back in an hour or so." I shouted back while running off towards the market district.

"Let's see, it would be best to have meat delivered to our home instead of carrying it there myself. I should check on the prices of the fish from the Njord familia first." Running down the road wanting to get the shopping done as fast as possible, dodging through the mass of people was an easy task having been in the city for two years.

"Ah Bell! How can I help you today?" A tall human asked as I approached their stand.

"Hey Morthak, just want to place an order to be delivered to my familia. How could I get for two thousand valis?"

Doing a few mental calculations, "That would be roughly 8 pounds (Roughly 3.6 kg)."

Pulling out the coins I had to ask, "Wow, that went up a little bit." Placing the coins on the counter, Morthak couldn't help but sigh.

"I know, but with the state of the city, I have no choice. But you know what, I'll throw some more in there for you as thanks for saving my daughter last week." In nearly a whisper that I could barely hear thanks to my falna, "I also feel bad for your familia."

Surprised by the words, "Please that won't be necessary, besides I didn't do much if it wasn't for Ryu I wouldn't have been able to do anything on the matter." Choosing it was best to ignore the last part.

"Even so, I insist. She was nearly sold to the pleasure district after she had been missing for a few days."

"Alright but only if you're sure you can afford the slight loss. Thank you very much." Giving a slight bow, having placed the order I left to head to the open market on the main road where the majority of produce is sold.

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It had been an exhausting day of going back and forth through the city placing various orders and picking up various items for my next trip into the dungeon. "Ah I finally get to head home, still need to prepare dinner for Ryu and Goddess."

Deciding on the best options with what I had on me and what was left at my home. But I didn't get the opportunity to consider for long as a scream tore through the air immediately I started my chant heading in the direction of the scream. "By the lightning of in my blood I call upon my oath to grant me the speed of lightning." Even as I finish my chant I rounded a corner, "Lampsi Astrapis"

Lightning flicked around my frame as the word became a blur, a swift kick ended the problem before it got any worse.

XX

Just like that my assaulter was gone slamming into a wall near us unconscious. "Wh…" I tried to say as I was cut off by the piercing pain in my crushed hand.

"Here allow me." Her savior said as he gently put a hand around her wrist and started to pour a dark red liquid over it.

All I could do was watch in fascination as my hand reformed to how it was before, 'A healing potion?' I have heard of them but they never existed in my home forest. Just relying on natural salves, as I watched the skin regrow a dull ache filled the hand.

"Sorry, but you should probably be going. This area isn't safe for those without a blessing. Let me escort you back to the main road." Releasing my wrist he started to move slowly towards the nearest bend in the alley. "You coming? Don't worry he will be out for a little while. I'll come back and take him to the Ganesha familia."

Releasing I was standing stiller than a statue I slowly left the scene of the incident and only now took a good look at my savior. His hair was a human with snow-white hair, a gentle smile on his lips, and a set of piercing Ruby eyes. 'Kinda looks like a rabbit I used to take care of.'

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I had been resting in my room for the few remaining hours of sunlight mentally exhausted from the day's events. I looked at my healed hand still filling a dull ache, "Why didn't I try to remove his hand while grasping my wrist. I didn't have a chance when my attacker grabbed my hand, but I had plenty of time with that person. I didn't even get his name or familia. Tomorrow I think I will stop by the guild to see what I can learn." I whispered as my eyes grew progressively heavier. Eventually succumbing to mental fatigue.

XX

Bell arrived well past the time he was planning on returning to his familia home. "Bell where have you been? You should've been back three hours ago. The meat and everything have already been delivered." A worried and upset voice flowed from an elf with long blond hair and sky blue eyes moved in my direction.

I could only gulp slightly, trying to fumble out the words to ease my captain, "R-R-Ryu please l-l-let me explain." She stopped and narrowed her eyes but didn't say anything.

Nervousness made the words pour out of my mouth with no restraint, "After I finished ordering everything that needed to be delivered, I heard a scream and went to investigate. I saw a female elf with emerald green hair being assaulted so I stepped in to stop it…" As he spoke his face flushed slightly red at the memory of grabbing her wrist, which as an elf should've slapped the hand away, "I noticed her hand was crushed so I used one of the potions I had on me and escorted her back to the main road warning her. After that, I helped Ganesha familia with the arrest of the adventurer that I stopped."

Stunned for a minute, Ryu placed her hand on her chin, "Do you know which familia the attacker was from? Can you also describe this elf? I think I might know who or what she is."

"I'm not sure which familia they belong to but my suspicion is on the Soma familia." Ryu nodded in understanding my guess, "As for the elf she was roughly as tall as me, maybe an inch or so shorter, she had emerald hair and jade eyes. She wore something of a royal green outfit, the last main thing I noticed was her ears while being an elf they seemed longer and more angled than yours." Bell spouted everything he could remember from their brief interaction.

"An Alf then… so you're saying you ran into a royal high elf here in the city. I'm sorry Bell but that is hard to believe, they never leave their home forest." Ryu sighed and started again, "Well with your delay I already started dinner so you can do extra tomorrow after you finish."

"I'm not lying about the elf." It felt like a punch in the gut.

"I never said you were." That was all she said, turning and making her way down the hall to our left where the kitchen and dining room are.

"Darn, I forgot to ask if she wanted to join me tomorrow. But I doubt she would even if she wanted to. Maybe I'll ask later." I whisper as I make my way upstairs towards my room.

XX

I woke earlier than I had expected, falling asleep so early would do that. Looking out the single frosted window of the room I had been renting, the sun was barely beginning to peek over the vast wall that surrounded the city I had hoped to call home. My memory flashed like lightning to my savior the previous night.

"Alright, I need to get ready and head to the guild," I mumble as a yawn bubbles from within. Slipping into a similar royal green outfit I wore yesterday, after cleaning up from sleeping. I left the inn I had been staying in, noticing the sign hanging near the door. 'The Jack Rabbit is it…'

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The guild had been as busy as the last time I was here. A few lines of people winded from the counter where a handful of people worked. To the left of the building was a section the was glassed off with a tray to pass things through, with a sigh I got into the line nearest to me. Standing a comfortable distance from a black-haired human.

Time passed about an hour to be exact, slowly shuffling in line. As I was called forward I noticed a face I recognized behind the counter, "Eina?" I softly said as I took a few steps closer catching the half-elf's attention.

"L-L-Lady Riveria what are you doing here?" She stuttered out. The glasses she was wearing nearly fell off in surprise.

"Please Eina I have no title here, I left the forest to search for a familia to join. I came in two weeks ago. I must have missed you then." I say with a gentle smile crossing my lips.

"Sorry about that, I was probably talking with an adventurer I'm in charge of. I swear he enjoys worrying me. But that's beside the point you said you were looking for a familia? Surely that wouldn't be hard for someone in your position, Lady Riveria." Shaking her head in surprise as her shoulder-length hair swayed.

Only letting out a sigh, "Alright we can talk about why I left later, yes I have received several offers and I turned most down for one reason or another. But that is not why I am here, I was hoping to get information on a specific person I ran into yesterday."

"Of course, I can only tell you public information. If that's alright, meet me back here in about an hour." Eina bowed slightly, giving me a warm smile.

"Alright, I'll hold you up to that." A small smile grew on my lips, as I turned and left the building.

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The hour turned into four, as I started to grow impatient I noticed Eina starting to make her way from the counter. With a straight posture she walked closer, "Alright, we should have some time to talk now."

Following her, we went deeper into the guild hall where individual rooms were located, each used for private conversations between advisors and adventurers. Eina opened the dark oak door and waited for me to enter.

As soon as I sat on a bench and put my arms onto the small table in front of me. Eina sighed and collapsed onto the bench across from me. "A-are you alright?" I manage between fumbled words surprised by the sudden change.

"Y-Yes just tired, it takes a lot out of me. That and all the paperwork I have been doing due to recent events. But that aside, you said you wanted information on a specific adventurer?" Giving a tired yet professional smile, she took out a small pad of paper to begin taking a description of them.

"Right, if you would like we can wait until later. Maybe take this opportunity to rest?" A hint of concern lairing my words.

She just shook her head from side to side. "No I'll be alright, I'm going to take my break once we are done."

As much as it hurt to see the daughter of my best friend in such a condition, I started to describe the human. "Well, I don't have a name or a familia only a description." Eina only nodded having expected that, "He was a human standing around an inch taller than me. A slender build with a mess of white hair and sharp red eyes." Focused on giving a description, I almost failed to notice a wide-eyed Eina no longer taking notes.

"Is something wrong?" I asked slightly nervous.

Eina started to giggle at my expression, "Sorry, it's not you. It's just you're the third person this week asking about him."

"Do you know this person?" I asked, barely able to contain my bubbling emotion.

"Yes, I do. His name is Bell Cranell. Currently, he is level 2, almost level 3." She took a deep breath before continuing, "His nickname from the gods is Raijue because of his lightning-like speed and generally calm demeanor."

Stunned by the sudden onslaught of information, a single question escaped before I could restrain it, "Do you know him?"

Eina took a moment to reply before nodding, "I do. I'm his dungeon advisor. Although he has been a massive headache with a complete drawer on his file."

"Well, what familia is he from?" I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me.

The half-elf only sighed, "Dia familia," those words felt like getting hit in the head with a hammer.

"Wait the Dia familia? I was planning on joining them but I have heard they have been plagued with misfortune." I could feel my ears droop slightly.

Eina seemed to struggle with some internal conflict, "That… that is only half the truth. They have helped a lot of people over the last two years, people in sticky situations." I look up at her in confusion then realization, "That's all I am allowed to say. If you wish, I can give their familia home location, but I would ask you not to join that familia."

"But he seemed so cheerful…" I whisper as a sigh escapes my lips.

"He… never mind, it's not my way to speak unprofessionally of people when they're not here." Cutting herself off, writing a location on a small piece of paper and handing it to me. "Now is there anything else I can help you with?" Her downcast face brightened up again as she asked. To me it seemed she was hoping to change the subject. Lost in my own dilemma I only shook my head in the negative.

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'By helping people they made enemies with those who would take advantage.' I think to myself trying my best to keep track of where I am. I didn't want to get stuck in another situation like last time. He wouldn't save me again.

The laughter of children fell upon my ears, curiosity flooded me as I peaked around a nearby corner not wanting to disturb their fun. But I did not expect to see fifteen children playing around a mess of white hair.

Only after the flash of white hair filled my mind for a second did I finally notice the condition of the children around him. All wearing ragged and dirty clothes. All the females had a small white flower in their hair.

They were a mix of almost every race, two prums, three animal people, a dwarf, even the pointed ears of two half-elves, the rest being human.

I was staring for longer than I intended to and Bell noticed. He looked over with a sharp and dangerous flare on his eyes then recognition the sharpness vanished as a softness replaced it.

"This is the second day in a row I have run into you. Are you following me?" He called out, causing me to jump slightly.

"No… just a coincidence." I tried to hide my thoughts, but I was startled and didn't do the best job at it, i fully revealed myself from behind the corner of a stone building.

"Well come on over, it's clear you want to say something at least." He voiced out, waving me over.

Before I could say anything, he started to introduce the various children. "Why don't you all go play over there, don't worry I'll keep an eye out." Waving over to a small courtyard squashed between the dozens of surrounding buildings. "So what do I owe the pleasure?" Saying after the children had gone far enough away as to not be heard.

"Who are they?" I asked the first question that popped into my mind.

"Orphans mostly, children abandoned by their parents or no longer have parents at all." He spoke softly. Was that a hint of regret in his voice? I couldn't tell. "I take a day off once per week to play and watch over the children nobody cares about." He stood tall, his eyes were shrouded by the mess of white hair making it harder to read his emotions.

A small silence formed a barrier between us. "Can I confess something to you?" I ask softly. He only nodded, obvious that this wasn't the first time this had happened, "After you helped me yesterday, I wanted to join whichever familia you were a part of. So I went to the guild to find out. But I was told in a vague manner what was happening and was told that it would be the best idea."

I noticed his fist tightening slightly, but I continued. "To be honest I am hesitant to even now as I stand here based on your reaction when you noticed me watching."

"I noticed the moment you started to stare at me, I only acted when your eyes started to move away from me." He explained, "When I'm here their happiness and safety are my only concern."

"I understand, after what was hinted to me I'm not surprised by the way you reacted. I had wanted to join your familia before I even heard about what had happened and I still do, but…" I was cut off by Bell before I could finish my thoughts.

"But you are afraid of the potential consequences of joining my familia?" He voiced what he knew would come next.

"No…" I take a moment to try to collect my thoughts and how best to explain them, "No… I just want to join a familia where I won't be judged for what I am." Bell was about to say something but seemed to decide it was best to remain silent. As his eyes wandered over the children.

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Time passed as I stood with Bell watching the children play in safety having nothing more to say. The sky began to change from a bright blue to a dusky orange, I was surprised by the seemingly sudden change in atmosphere, not realizing I had spent the majority of the day with Bell and the children. But I had to admit it was probably time for me to leave as I had overstepped my welcome. "Tomorrow if you are still interested come and talk to Goddess Dia. I'll let her know that you might becoming. I have to make sure these children get to safety before night fully falls. As a mischievous smile showed under his gleaming red eyes, and if you do decide to join you won't get treated any differently than the average person your highness."

But I couldn't reply, as he had already left to the children as a few of them looked exhausted from running around all day playing the various games that they would play.

I left slightly flustered, "How did he know who I was?" I whisper as I rejoin the main flood of bodies as adventurers filled the streets after returning from the dungeon.

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Falling onto the bed of the room I had rented out, my mind went back to if I should. But I already knew my answer as I resigned myself to my fate. My eyes grew heavy once more as I fell asleep dreaming about what might be and what will be.

I would like to mention that I did notice similar themes to another story Role Reversal by Suahtloh for an established strong character being changed into a much weaker version of that character. As well as Fate of a Choice by Nixo010 for having Dia being the goddess for Bell.

Special thanks

Argonaut32: The idea of Riveria being pushed into a corner for questionable means was straight from his story Heart of Alfheim but with my own little twist. Hopefully, it wasn't too bad.