This here is just a filler chapter to bridge the gap between the Silverback and the upcoming Minotaur fight. There will be a few time skips along the way in the next chapter, but the Minotaur fight IS coming and it's going to be beautiful. Bell will be learning magic in the next chapter as well and based on the majority of responses thus far before this chapter release, most people say Lightning. I am very much okay with that. Fire would have been good too and make him like Trevor Belmonte in the final battle against death with the chain. Oh yeah. But lighting is solid as now I can do some things from Infamous with it. He's going to be learning actual spells, which, I might have to request some help in creating a chant if anyone is interested in a slight collaboration with me for it.

Anyways, like I said above, this was just a filler chapter. It's just some fanservice with some character development for Bell as he grows. I noticed a few comments voicing their disappointment about the Silverback. I understand, but my reasoning for it is simple. I dont really care much for when Bell decides to fight the Minotaur, he refuses because Ais saves him. Once. According to those flashbacks I mean. There was the initial minotaur incident and then his mind down from his first magic use. I wanted to provide alot more than just him being saved once for him to finally grow a fucking pair. The Minotaur incident will be the huge fight that sets the tone for Bells future personality. He's gonna get the girl!

Anyways... Enjoy the slight chapter! I know its short. It's a filler until the chapter coming next week sometime probably thursday or most likely Friday. I probably wont have a chapter ready for the weekend though. Im doing a big six flags trip with a bunch of guys from work for Halloween.

'Bell. Please… I don't know if you can hear me… but I need you to wake up. It's Tuesday… and we're leaving for our expedition… I really would like you to see me off… please.'

Bell was floating in what could only be described as space. Stars all around him, but no close by sun. Just darkness lit up by the stars. He was floating, weightless, spread eagle without any movement from him except the rise and fall of his chest from his breaths.

'Bell.. Just… If you wake up and I am not here… just… I didn't abandon you… I've been here since the Silverback.' The voice sighed. Bell knew exactly who the voice was, but he couldn't recall the name or even the face. He just knew that the voice was familiar and he knew who they were.

'Who is that… why does my chest burn with a fire whenever I hear that voice? What happened to me?' Bell thought, only to open his eyes, looking out into the vastness of space. 'What happened… am I dead?' Bell thought, looking around.

'I love you Bell. I can't see you die… so please. Wake up and get stronger… I want you…' The voice stated.

'Love?' Bell thought. 'Who do I love…?' He asked himself.

"Tiona." He said, the first time he actually spoke. "Tiona…. TIONA!" Bell exclaimed, calling out the name of the one he loved. It was when he screamed that he finally awoke. With a sudden heave of breath, Bell's eyes opened and immediately took in his surroundings. The first thing he noticed, he was not in his bed. The second? He was alone. The third? It was quiet. The manor was silent. Bell groaned, slowly sitting up in the bed as he took in his situation. He was sore, but he didn't understand why.

'Why am I here…? What happened to me?' He thought, only for a flash of white fur to pass his mind. He groaned and moved to hold his head as his memories began to flash. Memories of a giant ape. Memories of being beaten to an inch of his life, pummeled and broken. Memories of being saved. Memories of being carried by the one who saved him. Memories of being in Tiona's arms. That made him flush for a good ten seconds, but his eyes drooped and his lips turned into a frown. 'Saved… again. Saved again by the woman I want to respect and notice me. Saved again! AGAIN! AGAIN! SAVED!' He raged, hating himself for being so weak. 'I can't let this happen. I need to be strong! I need her to notice that I am worth something.' He declared, shifting the blankets from his body as he prepared to get up. He groaned as he sat up, feeling his body ache and cry out from the exertion, but he had to stand up. He needed to get up and not be lying down like a damsel. A hero always stands up. He placed his feet onto the floor, using the bed to get up, but his legs were wobbly, struggling to hold his weight at this time. 'Come on! Get up! Tiona won't like you laying down!' He declared trying to motivate himself. It was successful. He groaned and took his first step, his right leg nearly buckling but he persevered. It was at that moment, with all the noises from his room, that the door opened and Loki would make an appearance. Loki immediately moved forward, grabbing Bell by his left arm, helping to hold him up.

"Oh jeez. Of course you would push yourself even now. Riveria is right about you. You are stubborn. You need bed rest."

"How long… how long have I been out?" Bell asked, his voice low.

"A few days. It's Tuesday now." Loki stated. "Why?"

"Then… I have been in bed long enough. I have had enough rest." Loki groaned.

"Riveria said not to push yourself." Loki scolded but Bell wouldn't have it.

"If I never push myself… then I will never grow. You must always push past your limits!" Bell declared, removing himself from Loki's grasp, taking a step forward and then another, his determination forcing him to walk. He growled and groaned in pain with each step, but he continued to do so, refusing to be bed ridden over his own weakness. Loki watched with fascination yet disappointment. She couldn't blame the kid, but he was nearly on deaths door. No matter if he took potions, he still needed to rest and let his body do the rest of the damage control.

"You won't listen to me, you won't listen to Riveria. Do I need to order you…?" Loki asked, looking at Bell with concern. Bell reached the door but collapsed against the wall, leaning his forehead and arms against it as he heaved.

"If… I… if you command me to… then I have no choice but to obey… but please. I can't be weak. I can't just lay there… waiting for death. I need to get up. I need to fight. I need to be strong. I need to be worthy." Bell exclaimed, looking back at Loki with the face that could only be described as as pleading rabbit. Begging. Loki let out a groan, seeing his face. She melted at the sight, before she nodded.

"Fine, but you will not be going to the dungeon for a few days and that is final. If you need to walk, I will make sure you are given a crutch. I will not budge on this. If you wish to be out of bed, you will walk with a crutch. Oh and if you hurt yourself even though I told you that I want you in bed, you will be forced to bed in bed twice as long next time. Do I make myself clear?" Bell nodded with a gulp.

"C-Crystal…"

"Oh and I will be telling Mama Riveria about this." Loki said with a grin. "She'll not be so… generous." Bell looked absolutely terrified, glancing back at his bed as he thought. Riviera was scary! Loki hummed and left his room, going to go find a crutch. This left Bell alone, who shook his head to clear the fear, before slowly standing back up straight, before slowly walking back to the bed. He needed to sit down as his knees were killing him.

'I need to get better soon. I need to get back into the dungeon… maybe another potion…? I think I still have one…' Bell thought, only for Loki to break that thought when she came in through the door, holding a wooden crutch that looked like it was nearly brand new. Loki smirked when Bell took a look.

"We don't get many injuries like yours in this Familia. It's been a while since someones ass got kicked." She teased, scolding him which made him look a bit dejected. Loki sighed. "You are just starting out and you are put into situations that are not common. You're going to be strong. Just persevere and you'll get there. I'm sure Tiona will be there to help you~" She cooed. Bell blushed and nodded.

"Thanks Goddess… I'm sorry for everything." Bell said quietly, though Loki heard him just fine. She sighed and picked her ear.

"I don't really need your apology. Things have been out of your control lately and for that, I am sorry. I know that it seems like you're just so weak, but you really aren't. You are just put into situations that a level one, especially a newbie, cannot handle. That Silverback, while a level one monster, was an irregular. It was probably level two at that point. Silverback's are high tier level one, and you aren't there yet. Don't worry so much about things and just focus on getting stronger. You'll see what you are capable of." Loki said, trying to placate the concerns of her newest child. Bell nodded and sighed.

"I… thank you Goddess. I will take it to heart and I will become stronger. I just need to get back into the dungeon." Bell said. "I think I have a leftover potion from the guild… It might help?" Loki scratched her head.

"Riveria said all you need is bed rest. You aren't injured really anymore, but, your muscles and all are sore. You cant cure exhaustion and overexertion with a potion. So when I mean rest, I mean it. Just be lazy. Enjoy a hot bath. Enjoy eating. Enjoy laying in bed. You going out and actually training will not help you." Loki said, giving him a small smile. "Just take it easy… In fact, I think it's a good time for a bath." Loki stated, a mischievous grin on her face. Bell immediately blushed and looked away.

"I… You go first Goddess. I can wait until you are done."

"Awww but I wanna bathe together~" She cooed, teasing her child. 'I could get used to teasing him like this. Plus, I do see what Tiona sees in him.' She smirked. Bell steamed at hearing that.

"Goddess… It's not right! I can't do that!" Loki raised a brow at that.

"And why not? Pray tell why you can't." She asked. Bell looked up at Loki.

"Because you are… You are a girl… and my Goddess… It has to be wrong…"

"Well, I don't know who taught you that, but if a woman wants to bathe with you, then you should take her up on that offer. Unless you don't like them~" She smirked. "Are you saying you don't like me Belllllll~" She cooed, leaning forward to tease her child even more.

"I! I could never dislike you Goddess! You are the one who gave me a home! It's just! I'd see you and stuff!"

"And?"

"And?! It's not right!"

"If a woman is offering to bathe with you, then shes not against you seeing her. You should enjoy that while you can. Are you not wanting to see women naked? Are you gay?"

"NO!" Bell said vehemently. "I am not gay! I like women!" He said proudly, as if offended she could even insinuate that he wasn't attracted to women. Not that there was anything wrong with being attracted to men. "How could you say that?!"

"Because you continue to refuse to look at me and any other woman! You get all flustered when even the possibility of bathing comes up. Grow a pair!" Loki said, giving him a huff, her hands on her hips. She didn't want to make him shut down, but she did want him to start acting like a man. Like an adventurer. To not be so timid. It was good to be respectful and want to do the right thing, but there is also a time to let go and enjoy life. Especially if its offered on a silver platter with no strings. Bell looked up at Loki, a bit terrified but she watched as his eyes unfocused. She raised a brow. 'Hmmm.'

'Bell. Being a gentleman and treating a woman like a lady is one of the greatest things a man can do. Treating them horribly, like they are nothing but toys or sheep makes one worthy of nothing but the deepest pits of the abyss. Even so, when you want a girl, sometimes it is okay not to be a gentleman. When a woman offers you something and denying them makes you a gentleman, then you are wrong. It's a tricky thing to navigate the world of women and dating, but remember. While being a gentleman is noble… sometimes taking a risk and being a 'bad boy' is the best thing to do.' Spoke Bell's grandfather in one of his many flashbacks.

Bell refocused back on Loki, who was staring at Bell with curiosity. He gulped and nodded.

"If you wish for me to… I'd be wrong to deny my Goddess…" Loki grinned at the timid response, nodding.

"Splendid. Let's go then." Loki grinned, helping Bell up from the bed before handing him his crutch. "This way I don't have to escort you unless you want me to~" Loki teased. Bell nodded.

"If you would be so kind as to… I'll take your offer." He said quietly, a still a shy and demure about it. Loki was taken aback from that, not expecting him to go for it. She hummed and helped him up, allowing him to use her as a crutch as they made their way towards the bath. "

"I'll have one of the maids bring a change of clothes for us." Loki said, heading up the stairs of the nearly silent manor, towards where the bathhouses were located. As they entered, Loki generously allowed Bell to go in first, while she waited outside the changing room for him to undress and put a towel on to protect his own modesty. Once that was done, she helped him into the bath and went to go change herself. After a moment, she came with and took a seat next to Bell in the bath, placing her towel down on a lounge chair nearby. She let out a loud groan and a sigh, enjoying the bath. "See? Nothing untoward going on here, no one is upset. We're just enjoying the bath right?" Loki asked, glancing over at Bell who was red in the face and looking down in the water, but he wasn't freaking out or trying to run. 'It's a start.'

"R-Right. Nothing… wrong here…" Bell said, stammering a bit. He was nervous. Sure, he was in this situation before but this time, he chose to be in this situation. He chose to listen to his Grandfather as well as Loki and say yes to her request. This time was different because he was voluntarily bathing with a woman. A Goddess no less. A Goddess, a beautiful woman had invited him to bathe with her. He had was beyond lucky as he knew that there were countless deitys and men in the world who would give their right arm to just get a glimpse of what she so easily offered. With a determination that suddenly flooded into him, Bell looked up and took a peek. He glanced over, looking at Loki's beautiful naked body. Her pale skin, her light red hair down along her shoulders instead of in a pony tail. Her red eyes, even though they were mostly narrowed. She had very small breasts, though she wasn't entirely flat. Her body was very slim and Bell thought she was really pretty. She had a tomboy-esque personality and she dressed like one too a lot of the time. He couldn't help but find her attractive. She was also extremely kind and caring, underneath all the teasing.

Loki smirked a bit, popping open a single eye to see that Bell was peeking at her body. She preened at such a thing, as she was like any deity, was subject to a desire to be worshiped. If he saw her as attractive, then that was as good as anything. It made her happy to know that Bell found her attractive, as it made her also feel like she didn't need big breasts to be beautiful. She decided not to tease him about it, closing her eye again to enjoy the bath. He earned it after all.

Bell was becoming a man.

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