Author´s Note 1: Hello everyone. I decided to delete the original Burning Love! story and rewrite it. Originally it was planned as Bell x Alise, followed by Bell x Ardee and Bell x Ryu stories, with Bell x Tiona afterwards. Then I decided to put Alise´s, Ryu´s and Ardee´s together into one. But I came to a problem that was there from the beginning. I knew the beginning of Alise´s story and the end, but the middle was missing and I couldn´t really get it together, even with Ryu´s and Ardee´s story in it. I always wanted to write a story during the dark times. So here is the rewrite. But what about Revis? Is the idea gone? Nope. You will see how it turns out.
But why did I delete the original story and not just deleted the chapters and re uploaded the first one? So that people won´t be confused.
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Some things that happened were set in stone, no matter how the circumstances changed, these things would happen. Others weren´t and they would change when something was different. What was devastating for the fate of a certain, all female familia, could turn into something wonderful instead...at the same time become devastating for a certain ash haired magician with heterochromatic eyes. While a white haired woman, who also had heterochromatic eyes would find joy in these things.
But what and how would it happen? Time will tell.
Time...
Yes...
It was time...
What would happen if a certain someone was born a few years earlier? Would this make people happy? Prevent a tragedy from happening? Or would this cause an even greater tragedy?
And even if not, would all people be happy with the outcome?
The time would tell.
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Some things changed when the time was different, some would stay the same. Like which village would be the home of a certain someone.
A certain someone that some people would later call "The uncrowned prince".
And for many people, the uncrowned prince would be something different. For some, a companion, a shining knight, a hero, a monster, he would be called this and many more things.
The name of the uncrowned prince was Bell Cranel. But why was he "The uncrowned prince"?
Because he was the single descendant of the two most powerful familias ever. His mother had been a member of the Hera familia, his father a member of the Zeus familia. Both were gone now for years, but Bell enjoyed the short time he had with them.
Eight years ago, the enormous black dragon had attacked and the two familias had taken on the fight. Bell was eight during that time, he had cried a lot when his father said he would keep him and his mother safe. Meteria had given her husband a last kiss, before she left Orario with Bell. The one that forced Meteria to go was Alfia, her twin sister. Both strong familias knew this would maybe be their last fight. The fights against the Behemoth and the Leviathan had taken a great toll.
Bell had called his father´s name, the man had raised his sword and shouted to Bell that all would be good.
Nearly all members of both familias died during that battle, but they were able to drive the dragon away. A few days after the fight...he showed up...Zeus.
He told them what happened, the familias were gone. Meteria didn´t cry when he showed up, she told Bell with a smile that his father had become a hero, he should be proud of him. And Zeus told Bell that his father and the others were welcomed on Olympus, like all true heroes.
Bell still cried. And Meteria cried with him. Bell´s father was a coward for his whole life. But to protect his beloved and his son, he showed courage. For Bell and Meteria, he was a hero. All of them were.
And Meteria cried for her sister, she loved Alfia as much as her husband and Bell. Bell´s name came to be because Meteria loved Alfia so much. Because Alfia´s magic was a giant bell, that was why Meteria named her son like that.
Three days later, Alfia and Zard showed up, both looking pretty bad and injured. Meteria and Bell cried again, this time from relief and happiness that Alfia was still alive. And uncle Zard. For the young Bell, all members of the Hera and Zeus familias were his uncles and aunts. Except for Alfia, she was his aunty...
Bell had a talent just like his mother, no one could be mad with him, he was just too cute. Even the Empress had smiled friendly when Bell had looked at her. Because when she saw him the first time and had her usual, stern and pissed expression, Bell had started to cry. The Empress had felt bad and shrunk under the glares of Alfia and Meteria...mostly under Meteria´s.
Even Hera had treated Bell like she was his grandmother. And had forgiven Bell´s father for seducing one of her girls. Because Meteria told Hera she would become really mad if she started a fight because of that.
It was a hard time for Bell when the two familias died. He especially had like big uncle Maxim.
Bell had asked if they would go back to Orario, but Zeus shook his head. Saying that too many sad memories were there now. He couldn´t tell him the truth, that they were banished. Kicked out of the city by Loki and Freya. Zeus, Alfia and Zard felt a deep, imperial wrath inside them for that, but they never showed it.
Even without a healer or doctor, Alfia and Zard knew they would die in a not so distant future, so they would spend their last days in peace.
After a while they got used to live in a peaceful village. Bell could maybe consider lucky, he was able to spend time with his mother until he was eleven years old. His and Alfia´s tears knew no end when Meteria finally passed away peacefully in her sleep. She was able to withstand her illness much longer than they thought. The young Bell understood that his mother was slowly passing away, but this didn´t make it easier for him.
When Bell became twelf, he had asked Zeus, Alfia and Zard if he could go to Orario one day. He wanted to become an adventurer like all his familia members...Bell was treated like a member of both familias as a child.
Zeus said it was Bell´s choice and he would support him whatever he did. For Alfia this was not so easy, she wanted to keep Bell safe, he was all she had left from her sister. Zard had grinned and said he should go for it. They had argued a lot with Alfia, until she finally agreed to help Bell prepare himself.
So to prepare Bell for Orario, he would train until he was eighteen. Zeus would grant him his blessing until then, while Alfia and Zard trained Bell. At first Alfia had enormous problems to attack Bell during the training, until Zard scolded her that if she held back now, Bell would come in danger in the dungeon later.
Bell then learned a new side of Alfia. The reason why she was the strongest of her familia, even when the Empress had a higher level.
He enjoyed the time with them, even when he got sad when both got weaker and weaker over time.
Zard had cheered him up a bit one evening.
"Bell?"
"Uncle Zard?"
"Will you promise me something?"
"Of course."
"When I´m gone, please don´t mourn my death. Instead, I would like you to celebrate my life. I lived how I wanted and now I will pass on how I will, not everyone can do that. I´m satisfied with my life and you are a worthy heir of our familias. Maxim and the others surely agree with me."
"Hm...I try to do it, but..."
"I know you will be sad, but death is not the end. I will meet up with the others and tell them how strong you became, hm?"
Zard had winked, Bell felt a tiny bit better.
He had lived for two additional months, then one morning he didn´t get up anymore. Still, Zard had passed away in peace, after heaving one of the best meals in his life the evening before, made by Bell.
For Alfia...Bell lost her half a year later.
At the age of sixteen, Bell had already lost his family, both familias, his aunty and his uncle Zard.
But...at least he had met them and could spend time together with them.
All he had left was his grandfather. And what a grandfather Zeus was, he did everything for Bell. Without the old god, Bell wouldn´t have grown up in the way he had.
Bell waited for a month after Alfia died, then it was time for him to go to Orario.
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"I promise to you, Mama, Papa, Aunty, Uncle Zard and all the others. I will become a fine man and the hero I want to be."
Bell got back up to his feet after he knelt in front of the small graves for a last time. The grave of his father and mother were next to each other. Alfia´s was on the other side of Meteria, while Zard´s was on the other side of his father´s.
Just like they had asked them, they had cremated their bodies after they died. Meteria wanted to be the same as her husband, Alfia like her sister. And Zard preferred the old olympian style, for that he had the coins always with him.
In his father´s grave stuck his sword, Zard had found it on the battlefield. On Meteria´s grave grew beautiful flowers, Alfia´s was just calm gras. And on Zard´s grave grew hops and malt, this man had loved his food and beer.
"Please watch other me from above. I will make you all proud, I swear it."
Bell carefully took his father´s sword from the grave, now that he would go to Orario, he would use the sword, his father wanted him to have it anyway.
And watching over him they did from above. The god of death, Hades, had taken it upon himself to care for the souls of his siblings. He would give them a while to watch over Bell, until they were ready to move on. One by one, the souls would do that, until only Meteria´s, Alfia´s and the soul of Bell´s father remained.
Even when the soul of Bell´s father sat in a small cage, made by Hades. Because even as a soul, he had tried to harass his wife and her sister. These things weren´t allowed in heaven.
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During the one month after Alfia passed away...with a smile while Bell held her hand...he and Zeus prepared the house, since the god would travel around when Bell went to Orario.
Bell felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to his grandfather. Even with eighteen years of age now, he was still smaller than Zeus.
"Grandpa."
"It is as peacefull out here as it can be, they will have their well earned rest here."
"Yeah, it is really beautiful out here."
"Do you have everything packed?"
"I do."
"Then have a safe trip."
"You too, grandpa."
Both hugged each other before they parted ways.
His journey would finally begin.
And what a journey it would become.
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It took Bell a while, but eventually he arrived at the gates of Orario.
He traveled by cart, traders traveled the paths, and many were on their way to Orario. Incidents occurred twice during the trip. Once there was a group of bandits who preferred to run away when they saw what kind of weapon Bell had in his hand and he fired his magic once into the air
Bell was secretly glad that they hadn't attacked, his weapon wasn't really intended for him at that point. He also didn't know if he could bring himself to kill people.
And later there was a fight with the first monsters of his life.
Goblins.
Eighteen of the small creatures ran towards the cart to attack them.
This time he had to use his weapon. With the first attack he split seven goblins, but lost his balance slightly as the weapon was too big for him.
Maybe Bell could have used his magic to scare and drive away the monsters.
But they were monsters, he wouldn't let them attack anyone else.
Monsters outside the dungeon were far weaker than those inside, and goblins were the weakest monsters of all. The fight was short, intense and a huge mess.
Bell spent more time cleaning himself and his equipment afterward than actually fighting.
What he didn't know...and it was better that way...most of the souls of the two familias in heaven roared with laughter when they saw how much Bell had messed up.
The merchant thanked Bell over and over, demanding he should take his money for the journey back. Bell could decline, but that would hurt the merchant´s pride. He still insisted on only taking half of the money.
His founds weren´t small after all.
And now he stood here, Orario.
The city was bigger than he had imagined or rememberred, but during the last time he was here, Bell was just a small child...and it was more glum than he thought. The guards eyed him when he came closer, wary of his every movement. Bell held his hands away from his back, where the sword hang. It was a gift from Zard, as well as his armor...he really had adored his "nephew".
But the greatsword was made for the hands of a man that was roughly fourty centimeters taller than Bell and the armor also needed to be changed so that Bell could use it. So he carried the armor in a special backpack. Some of the guards actually chuckled when they saw the young man with the truly enormous sword.
For now he only wore a light, white armor that protected the important parts of his body, but wasn´t a complete plate armor, unlike the black one.
Zeus told him that Orario was currently having a rough time, Bell didn´t know how he knew that. Alfia and Zard had known it too, a black haired god had visited them in secret a few years ago. This god, Erebus, had asked Zard and Alfia if they would join his cause, to bring Orario a truly hard time and push them forward. Because after the two familias had vanished, Orario´s strength was nothing compared to the past. And they never knew when the black dragon would return.
Both had declined. Telling Erebus they would remain here and train Bell, they would put their hopes into him, because he wanted to become a hero. Erebus understood their reason, but he would still continue with his plan. If necessary, he would become the evil to give Bell and others the chance to move forward and become strong. Erebus believed that true evil was to be hated by everyone and, as the God who presided over evil, he was determined to always be that way. It was his way of caring about the lower world.
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The guards held their weapons ready. Bell was aware that they would probably attack him if he made a wrong move.
"Who are you?!"
Bell smiled. "If that would put you more at ease, I am willing to put down my sword."
The guardsman nodded. "Do that."
Bell carefully took off his travel cape, put it on the ground, he struggled a bit to get the enormous sword off his back, but he managed to put it on the cape. Then stepped away a few meters.
The guards relaxed a bit, but not too much, since it could be a trick. Bell saw smoke rising up in the city a bit away. Before Bell could say something, a woman stepped out of the gate. She was truly a beauty! The woman had short blue hair and eyes, wore a blue and yellow shirt, a black battle skirt and silvery armor parts on shoulders, hands, hips, legs and boots. In her right hand she held a spear, on her left hip was a...leather whip.
"Hashana, I´ll take it from here."
"Understood, boss Shakti."
The woman stopped in front of Bell, from his experience with Zard and Alfia in the past, Bell saw that the woman was experienced. She stopped exactly at the perfect distance to use her spear, in case Bell would suddenly jump to his sword or towards her.
"State your name and the reason why you´re here."
"My name is Bell Cranel, I want to become an adventurer and I don´t intend to do you any harm."
The guards looked a bit confused at each other, Shakti raised an eyebrow and looked at him with suspicion.
"You are aware about the current state of Orario?"
"I am."
"And you still want to become an adventurer?"
"I do."
"It´s hard to believe that."
"It´s the truth, I swear. I mean you no harm and I really want to become an adventurer."
"Hm."
A strong voice came from the gate.
"Shakti, it´s alright, the young man is speaking the truth."
A big, sturdy man with an impressive mask stepped out of the door, he came to visit the guards.
Shakti looked over her shoulder for a splitsecond, before she looked at Bell again.
"If you say so. Why are you here?"
"Gnihi, to visit you of course. To see how you´re all doing."
Bell smiled and turned to the sturdy man. "You must be Lord Ganesha."
He bowed slightly to show his respect.
"Oho? You know me, young man?"
"You are quite famous, even outside of Orario, Lord Ganesha."
The god grinned. "Mwahahaha! To be expected of me, Ganesha!"
At this point in time, Bell couldn´t know that he would hear the phrase "To be expected of me!" very often in the future, but not from Ganesha.
The god waved him closer and Bell followed the invitation, still keeping his hands away from his body to let the guards relax. Bell looked to the guards.
"Please, don´t touch my sword while I´m talking to Lord Ganesha, it is really important to me. It is from my late uncle."
The guards nodded understanding, something like that was quite common.
"You said you want to become an adventurer?"
"Yes, it is my dream ever since I was a young boy, I´ve trained a lot for this."
"You are aware in what kind of state Orario is? The city is basically a warzone most of the time."
Bell nodded with a serious face. "I heard about those that call themself Evilus."
"And you still want to come to Orario?"
"Yes, maybe I can do my part and help to make this city safe."
Ganesha smiled, he felt that everything Bell said was the truth.
"You said you trained a lot, but without a blessing that won´t do much."
Bell glanced to the guards.
"Lord Ganesha, may I talk in private to you for a moment? I swear I don´t have bad intentions and I don´t plan to bring any harm."
The god stepped a bit aside, then turned to Bell when they were far enough away so that the others couldn´t hear them. Actually, Shakti still could hear them, but she wouldn´t say a word. Unseen by his followers, Ganesha´s eyes widened under his mask.
"The old man is still around and kicking?"
"Yes, he told me you´re a god that is trustworthy...will it be a problem?"
"Of course not."
Ganesha smiled. "Maybe it will help Orario to have the last captain of the Zeus familia here."
"I am not the captain..."
"You are the last living member, that makes you the captain."
"If you say it like that."
"So you want to become an adventurer."
"And have a fateful encounter! In the best case in the dungeon! With a beautiful girl! While I rescue her!"
Ganesha started to laugh. "Ahahahaha! You really are one of Zeus´ boys!"
Bell wasn´t ashamed of his dream. He lived by a few principles.
The first one was: If anyone has the right to call himself a hero, it´s not the one who took up the blade. Not the one who raised up the shield, nor the one who healed the wounded. Only one who truly risks his life may be called a hero.
Second: Protect your friends, save the girl and face danger. If doesn´t matter if you fall, it´s just fine, cry your heart out over it. Within a defeated, a victor waits to emerge.
Three: Stay true to your wishes. Cry out your desires. And if you do, that´s what will make you the coolest hero.
Bell would always stay true about his wishes, speak out his desires. There were also other teachings from his familia members and others from Zeus. But something like "Form a harem if you have the chance" was not that important... Alfia had strongly disagreed, Meteria had laughed and said she would be happy to have a dozen or more grandchildren one day.
So he was a bit torn, he didn´t exactly long for a harem, but...his mother told him she wouldn´t have a problem with more than one daughter-in-law...
Ganesha leaned closer again. "But since you have his blessing on your back, you shouldn´t go to Loki or Freya, I would welcome you in my familia, but my children don´t have a dungeon party."
"Who would be the next strongest familia that goes into the dungeon?"
"Well..."
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After his talk with Ganesha and when the god gave him permission to enter Orario, the god turned to Shakti.
"You heard everything?"
"I did."
"Not one word about this."
"Wasn´t my intention."
Both looked in the direction of Bell for a moment, until they heard a cheerful voice.
"Shakti~~~ Ganesha~~~ !"
"What are you doing here?"
"Oh, what brings you here on this lovely morning?"
A young woman with also short hair stopped in front of the god and Shakti. Her hair was slate blue, her eyes had a cerulean color. She looked quite similar to Shakti, but was only half of her age.
"Hehe~~ You forgot your lunch packet at home, Shakti."
"Thank you...did you come here alone? That´s dangerous."
"Nope, Ilta is with me."
Then the young woman turned to Ganesha. "I made some Modaks for you, Ganesha."
The god beamed all over his face. "Ah, Ardee, you´re truly an eternal sunshine! I! Ganesha! Am very happy about this!"
Modaks were a form of sweet dumplings and the favorite food of Ganesha. Ardee really liked her god and this food always helped to bring him in a good mood.
While Shakti took the lunch packet and Ganesha his bundle with Modaks, Ardee looked in the direction that they had looked at.
"Who is that? Woah, what an enormous sword."
"A new adventurer as it seems."
"Oho? In this time? Is he aware of the dangers?"
"He is."
"Hm, then he must be strong."
Due to the hilt and length of the sword, Ardee couldn´t really see Bell´s head, only a bit of white hair.
"Ganesha, if he is strong, wouldn´t he fit good into our familia?"
"He wants to go into the dungeon."
"Oh, hm."
Ardee looked at Bell for a moment longer, before she turned to Shakti.
"I removed the green peppers from your lunch and put tomatoes in it."
"Thank you, but I would´ve eaten them."
"But you don´t like them."
"Ardee, I´m not a child..."
"So? Don´t need to force yourself about this. I like green peppers and you like tomatoes, which I don´t."
Ganesha grinned. "You have such a good little sister, Shakti."
"You are right, Ganesha."
Ardee smiled. "And I have the best big sister!"
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Bell followed the main street in the direction of Babel. Ganesha had described to him where he would find the guild´s office. He would find more guards of the Ganesha familia there, the office was heavily guarded. According to Ganesha, today was a quite peaceful day in Orario, since no smoke was rising up and there was no attack from Evilus.
But the people on the streets didn´t look relaxed or happy at all. A few looked at him, mostly his ridiculous big sword. For Bell it was pretty exciting, there were so many things to see in Orario!
He didn´t remember much from when he was still a child, so now he enjoyed it even more! All the various races fascinated him! Dwarves! They were so sturdy and strong! Zard told him in the past that if he didn´t get to be a human, he hoped he would´ve been born as a dwarf, Bell could understand that.
Beastkin! All these ears and tails! So fascinating! While he walked, he saw a cat woman about his age, wearing a waitress uniform and brooming in front of a pub! How cute she was! And when she yawned it sounded like a meowing cat!
Bell also felt an icy chill in his neck when he looked at the gorgeous cat woman, as if someone with murderous intend stared at him from behind and above. When he turned his head, he saw for a splitsecond the tip of a black cat tail on a rooftop. He couldn´t know the danger he had been in, if Bell decided to go and flirt with the waitress, he would get an enemy on his first day in Orario!
To his surprise, the cat woman didn´t seem to be bothered as much as other people in the streets. In general the people close to the pub looked more relaxed. Bell continued his way and then he saw one for the first time.
An elf!
And what a beauty she was! Her face was a bit stern and she wore glasses, but aside from that sh-
Wait...is that a man?!
Bell looked again, then he was sure...that was a man.
Nevermind...
But then! Then for real! Bell saw a female elf for the first time! An adult on top of that! She had long, jade colored hair and eyes of the same color. A small, blond girl walked at her side.
Is this her daughter?
What a beauty this elf was! She looked almost like a princess!
His mood increased, Orario was truly a wonderful place! And just like his Grandpa said, so many beautiful women were here!
When he got closer to the guild´s office, Bell saw the first pallum girl and female werewolf of his life. The pallum was obviously small, had pink hair and a cheeky grin on her lips. The werewolf next to her wore pretty short closes, had a tanned skin and beige colored hair and tail.
At first glance both looked carefree, but Bell noticed how they carefully scanned the area with their eyes and the werewolf with twitching ears. Also both had weapons with them and looked like they knew how to use them.
And both noticed him of course, most likely also because of his sword. After looking at him for a few moments, the pallum winked in a flirty way, which let Bell blush. Both women chuckled and continued their way. Bell wondered to which familia they belonged.
It seemed today was his lucky day...or maybe it was an unlucky one? Just before he arrived at the guild, Bell saw the first goddess since he entered Orario. Her beauty was something else, with her blue hair and green eyes. She wore blue and white clothes, fitting for someone that was going to hunt. In her right hand she carried a bow, a quiver and a short sword were on the back of her hip. The goddess was accompanied by several women, one of them was an elf. While the women were all quite pretty, they looked a bit dull compared to the goddess.
When the goddess noticed that Bell stared at her, she looked a bit angry and glared at him. He looked hastily away, not sure if he had offended the goddess or not. But he had no chance to apologize, the goddess walked away. By sheer chance, Bell had looked at one of the three celestial virgins...on top of that the one who hated men.
Eventually he arrived at the guild´s office and it was quite the sight. At least Bell thought it was the guild´s office, Ganesha was with his thoughts elsewhere and had described the wrong place.
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I think the best thing would be to register first.
He couldn´t stop being amazed as he came closer to Babel.
It´s much bigger than I thought.
The tower was truly gigantic, so high that it pierced the clouds. Bell seriously wondered why the tower didn´t collapse or fell over. It had probably to do something with magic.
"Time to go in."
Bell went through one of the entrances into the enormous tower. It really was fascinating, he saw more than a few adventurers and guards of the Ganesha familia. Also the stairs that went down in a spiral and let to the dungeon. The dungeon where he was sure his fate was, where he hoped to save a cute girl in distress! Or even a beautiful adult woman like the elf or goddess before! Bell was in that topic like his grandfather, he didn´t discriminate! But...something was missing, the reason why Bell came here in the first place, he didn´t see any office.
"Eh?"
He looked around, there was no one from the guild here, no stalls or something like that. Not even the bulletin for quests!
"Eh? Shouldn´t it be here? Did they move? Did I went in the wrong direction?"
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"Are you looking for something, young man?"
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Bell turned around and his jaw dropped.
A woman was standing in front of him...but not just any woman. In Bell´s eyes, the goddess before had already been a true beauty, letting all the other women he saw looking dull. He had seen other beautiful women on his way to Babel, even a few elves, these were extreme beauties! Especially that adult one with the aura of a princess!
But...compared to this woman...they all looked...well...
Whatever her age was, the woman in front of him was at the absolute height of her feminine beauty, her face had even finer features than that of any elf he had seen. She had long, walnut-brown hair, which fell openly over her back. Bell never had seen such beautiful eyes, they had the indigo blue of the deep sea.
She wore a long, white dress of a kind that Bell had never seen. Her shoulders and upper part of her back were naked, as well as a good part of her breasts. The arms were covered in wide, white sleeves, which were frilly at the end. Her chest was covered to around sixty percent, a golden ornament sat in the middle of her breasts, with slight openings in the middle.
To his shame, Bell rememberred a word that Zeus told him, it was a kind of the famous "boob window"...but it didn´t look slutty or naughty at all! Yet he didn´t look at it directly, only his trained perception allowed him to notice it.
Around her waist was a leather belt with golden borders, the cloth around her waist was blue, the rest white.
She looked very much like a virtuous noblewoman, but this woman was definetely a goddess.
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"Wow..."
"Young man?"
"So beautiful..."
"Hm?" She tilted her head slightly in a very cute way and smiled gently.
Bell snapped out of his state and rememberred his manners.
He bowed down. "I´m sorry! I was too fascinated for a moment by your beauty!"
The goddess giggled. "Ehe, it isn´t a problem."
She felt that he spoke the truth, which was pretty charming.
"It looks like you´re looking for something, may I help you find it?"
"Oh, y-yes! Thank you! I wanted to register to become an adventurer, I thought it would be done here at Babel."
The woman shook her head.
"No, you have to take the North-West-Main, this is where the guild is. Having guild employees here would make this place too crowded."
"Oh! But Lord Ganesha described this place to me. Thank you so much, Mylady!"
"Mylady?" She blinked surprised when Bell made a perfect bow in front of her.
"Was that wrong, Lady Goddess?"
"Oh? You can tell that I am a goddess?"
"I think so? You are so beautiful and feel so special, that I just thought "She is a goddess in any way!"."
The goddess chuckled and blushed slightly. "You certainly don´t hold back with your praises, young man."
"My Grandfather told me, the best way to make a woman happy is to praise her until she smiles. I have no other choice than to stick to his teachings."
"Then I hope he taught you well."
Bell smiled. "I think so."
"So you´re new in Orario?"
"Yes, I just arrived today."
"You are aware that the city isn´t that safe?"
"I am aware thank you, but this is one of the reasons I came here. If there are people in trouble, maybe I can help."
"Do you already have a familia?"
"No, I will start to look after I went to the guild and took care of something. The familia that would interest me the most doesn´t recruit men as it seems."
"Do you mean the Artemis familia?"
"No, Mylady. The Astrea familia."
Her eyes widened a bit, as did her gentle smile.
"Why are you interested in that familia? Is it because there are only women in this familia?"
Bell shook his head. "No, my reason to be interested in them isn´t that. My Grandfather knows a bit about Orario and told me about various familias. For personal reasons I won´t go to the Loki or Freya familia to ask. I heard the Astrea familia goes into the dungeon, they are brave, strong and defend the city, that they represent justice."
"All that is true, young man. And the fact that there are so many young, pretty women in that familia leaves you cold?"
"I...would lie if I said it would leave me cold. B-But it isn´t my reason to wish to talk to this familia. Not that they would recruit me anyway."
The goddess chuckled.
"May I ask another question?"
"Of course."
"You said you want to become an adventurer, but your equipment looks rather fine and expensive for someone new. Even when it doesn´t seem to fit your size."
"My sword and armor are mementos from my uncle. I also have other things like that from other family members."
"Ah, heirlooms?"
"Yes, my aunt l-"
Suddenly, Bell´s head jerked forward as if someone had slapped the back of his head.
"Ahem! I mean my very young aunty let me train hard for years to earn them."
The goddess looked up and down at Bell for a moment, surprised by his behaviour and why he suddenly changed what he said about his aunt.
"You are quite well trained, are you?"
"I...am...I reached level three before I started my journey to Orario."
The goddess looked really surprised when she heard that.
"You are level three? And you never went into the dungeon before?"
Bell smiled wryly. "My training was harsh. My uncle and aunt gave their best to prepare me for Orario and the dungeon..ahaha...heh..."
He rememberred the trainings days, after Alfia decided not to hold back so that Bell would be as good prepared as he could be, Bell understood why she held back before. Zard and Alfia made him realise something important, by having him face extreme dangers and got his life in danger. It was better to have it under controlled cirumstances, than to let him experience it later in the dungeon, probably freeze from surprise and maybe get injured or die because of that.
"Hah."
"Mylady, you said it isn´t safe in the city, is it safe for a goddess like you to come here alone?"
"I thank you for your worry, young man. But two of my followers escorted me here."
Their friendly chat got interrupted when a young woman came from the stairs that led to the dungeon, in a short top and a skirt, who waved towards her while she jogged.
"We´re baaaack!"
The goddess smiled towards Bell. "I must excuse myself now, young man. My familia returns from the dungeon. What you´re looking for is the guild building, use the west main street, you will find it fast."
Bell bowed down deep. At first he tried to take a knee, but the tip of the big sword stopped him. It was more than a bit embarrassing when people looked at them after they heard the loud clonk of metal.
"I thank you again, Mylady Goddess!"
The goddess chuckled. "Would you kindly tell me your name?"
"Bell. Bell Cranel."
"Bell Cranel, a good name."
She giggled slightly when Bell got red. "Th-Thank you. Th-Then I´m off, thank you again!"
The goddess watched how Bell left Babel.
"What an interesting and polite, young man."
The amazon stopped next to the goddess. "Who was that?"
"A new adventurer that asked for directions."
"Oh, then he is lucky to met you. He looks quite strong."
"Apparently he is level three."
The amazon clicked her tongue appreciatively. "He must´ve trained very hard to get that strong before coming to Orario."
"Indeed. Come Iska, let us greet the others."
"Yes, Lady Astrea."
The two went towards the stairs, as a goddess Astrea wasn´t allowed to go further, but her familia came up now anyway.
"~~~Lady Astreaaaa!~~~We´re baaaack!~~~"
The red haired captain of the familia jogged happily towards them, followed by the familia. After she one saw the Artemis familia do that, Astrea had asked her followers to always let one of them go ahead of the others, so she would know as soon as possible that everything was alright.
.
.
"Here is your form, you have to fill out where the small stars are, everything else is optional."
"Thank you, Miss."
Bell was really fascinated by the young woman that worked at the guild stall, she was a werewolf with red hair.
He started to write down everything, the level was required, the former familia not...which was a good thing.
After he was done, the woman took up the form and looked at it.
"Level three? And I shall believe that?"
"I can´t force you to believe it, but I won´t show you my back."
"Do whatever you want, if it turns out to be false, a familia that will take you in will punish you and kick you out anyway."
"I will keep it in mind. Am I allowed to go into the dungeon without having found a new familia? So that I can earn money?"
"The blessing of your old familia is still active?"
"It is."
"Which god makes a blessing so that you can change your familia at will?"
"I won´t answer that question too, Mylady."
"Mylady? Are you trying to flirt with me?"
"I don´t."
"Good. Relationships between guild members and adventurers aren´t allowed."
"But why?"
"You go to the dungeon and can die quickly. It could affect the work of an guild employee."
"Makes...sense, I guess."
"Do you need a dungeon adviser?"
"No, thank you. I know everything that there is to know down to the 28th floor. I hope I will find a familia soon, to go with them into the dungeon."
"Everything down to the 28th floor? Hard to believe, but it is your grave." She shrugged her shoulders.
"Ahm...why are you talking like that? I don´t intend to die."
"Experience. Many young adventurers run into the dungeon and think it is a nice place to play adventurer and become famous. They die all pretty fast."
"Then I will be different."
"Uhu, if you say so. By the way."
"Yes?"
"It would be nice if you could stop staring at my ears and tail!"
"S-Sorry!"
"Never seen a werewolf before?"
"Not before today."
"Then burn that into your mind, it is extremely rude to stare at the ears and tails of beast people, especially if it is a woman! If you would go further and try to touch them, I would chop your hands off, after breaking them."
"I would never do that!"
"Good. Anyway back to the point. You don´t want an adviser, fine. As long as you´re not in a dungeon familia, you´re not allowed to go into the dungeon. If you try to do it, the Ganesha familia will stop and arrest you, they are one of the four strongest familias in Orario, so don´t even try it."
"What? Why?!"
"Because we need to know where you are, which familia you belong to. In this time, where we don´t know a new face, we won´t risk anything. If you try to force your way into the dungeon and fight the Ganesha familia, they will use force and might end up killing you. Such is the state of Orario at the moment."
"Oh."
Bell noticed that other guards of the Ganesha familia were close by, not because of him, but because of the situation.
"If we´re done here, get going, I have a lot to do."
"Alright...thank you, I guess, Mylady."
"Mpf, stop it with the "Mylady" stuff."
When Bell turned around to leave, he heard whispers behind him.
"Rose, you don´t need to be so harsh."
"Better be harsh and scare him away from the dungeon, than see another corpse getting carried out."
"Heh, so you do care for adventurers."
"Be quiet."
"But he was quite the hottie, nothing for you? I mean you´re twenty-three already."
"Be quiet."
.
.
After he registered at the guild, Bell had to take care of something before he could go and look for a familia. This time his feet led him to Babel again. On his way he cursed himself for something, he should´ve asked the kind goddess for her name! Since she was so nice, maybe she would´ve allowed him to join her familia! But he was just too stunned by the situation...and her looks.
He noticed that wherever one was in Orario, they could always see Babel. People who lived here for a while could even tell the time, just by looking on which district Babel´s shadow currently was.
This time he went into a different direction in Babel, he wanted to go up. Bell had prepared himself to climb many stairs, but then he saw the special magic items called elevators. As far as he knew, he had to go to the 4th to 8th floor. There he could question someone to find what he looked for. The office of the goddess Hephaistos.
It took a bit of time, but Bell eventually found it. Yet he had to wait since Hephaistos was busy at the moment. He waited patiently for an hour, until one of the elevators opened and a woman came out of it.
She had brown skin, long black hair, red eyes, and wore an eyepatch, similar to that of the Goddess Hephaistos. However, her eyepatch covered over the opposite eye, her left eye. She had a well-endowed chest which she kept in a sarashi, and wore a red hakama and sandals.
"Oh? Visitor for the boss?"
"Ahm, hello."
She winked...or maybe blinked, Bell couldn´t tell. The woman carried several boxes of paperwork like it was nothing, she had to be quite strong. Her eye wandered to Bell´s enormous sword and the armor in the backpack.
"That´s not your sword, right?"
"It is now, it was a gift from my uncle, as well as the armor, I wanted to have it changed for my size."
"Oh? And why are you waiting for the boss to have time then?"
"I thought I have to ask Lady Hephaistos for something like that?"
"Nah, the boss takes care of the really important things. But she is busy at the moment, follow me."
"And you are, Mylady?"
"Mylady?" She blinked again and then laughed. "Oh boy, I was never called "Mylady" before. Trying to flirt with me?"
"I don´t! I was raised this way."
"Aww, such a waste, you´re quite cute and manly at the same time. May I hug you?"
"No."
She grinned. "Name´s Tsubaki Colbrande."
"The captain of the Hephaistos familia?"
"Yes, it´s your lucky day, I have not much to do. Come now."
"Ahm, alright. But I also have a letter for Lady Hephaistos."
"I will give it to her later."
"Thank you, Lady Colbrande."
"Ms. Tsubaki is fine."
"Alright."
Bell picked up his stuff and followed her. He wondered if she was an amazon, because of her look. Of course Tsubaki notices his eyes on her.
"33."
"Huh?"
She grinned over her shoulder. "I´m 33 before you ask and no you´re a bit too young for me."
"Th-This wasn´t what I had in mind! It´s just my first time talking to an amazon."
"I´m no amazon. I´m a half-dwarf."
"A half-dwarf?"
"That´s what I said."
"Is that the reason why you´re so tall?"
"Jup, pops always called me "his big girl"."
"So your father is a dwarf?"
"Jup, he got me interested in smithing."
"And I guess you´re really good, since you´re the captain."
"Only the boss is still better than me."
Tsubaki continued her casual chat with Bell, while she led him to her personal rooms. Only Hephaistos had more personal space than her. It looked half like a forge, half like an office, there were two doors leading away into other rooms, one of them was massive and made from metal. This door was open and let him look inside an actual forge.
She dropped the boxes with paperwork on a desk, then she turned to Bell.
"Put your stuff on the metal table over there, I have to take a look at it."
"Alright."
Tsubaki took care of her paper work while Bell took out the parts of the full plate armor and put the sword on the table. After he did that, Tsubaki came to him.
"May I?"
"Of course."
She tried to raise the sword with one hand, but needed both in the end.
"Uff, this sword is really something."
Tsubaki balanced it with one hand and slightly knocked against the blade with her free hand, before putting it back on the table.
"This is pure adamantium."
"My uncle said it is adamantium, with a few lines of mythril and a core of orichalcum."
"And y-"
Before Tsubaki could ask something, a knock from the door interupted her.
"Boss? Come in."
"Tsubaki, is your paper work done?"
"Jup. Perfect timing that you´re here now."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, the young man here has a letter for you and wanted to talk to you."
"Oh?"
When Hephaistos looked at Bell, he bowed down.
"Nice to meet you, Lady Hephaistos!"
"Hello, young man. What is this letter that you have for me?"
"I was told by my grandfather to give it to you."
"Your grandfather? Who might that be?"
"Please read the letter, he said he explained everything in there."
Hephaistos looked curious, but took the letter from Bell and opened it. Tsubaki watched how the expression in Hephaistos´ face turned to disbelief.
"Tsubaki."
"Boss?"
"Not one word about what I will tell you now."
"Hm? Sure."
Then Hephaistos explained what Zeus wrote in the letter. Tsubaki grinned when she heard it.
"Ah, now it makes sense that he has such a fine sword and armor, when it comes from that familia."
Hephaistos looked at Bell. "Your plan is to become an adventurer?"
"Yes. And finish what my relatives started."
She saw truth and determination in him.
"You don´t intend to take revenge on Loki and Freya?"
"No, Grandpa explained a lot to me. I shall go my own way."
"Hm, you don´t lie."
"Why would I?"
The Goddess of the Forge went to the table with the sword and armor.
Tsubaki pointed at the various things. "He wants it changed to match his body. There is orichalcum in the sword, the armor is pure adamantium."
"This wasn´t my by our familia or Goibniu´s."
"Uncle Zard said it was made by the familia´s smith."
"Hm, Tsubaki will have to remove metal so that it will fit your form, what do you want to do with the rest of it? And shall your sword remain a greatsword?"
"I just want the sword to fit my size. About the rest of the metal, I didn´t think about it so far."
"We can store it for you if you want."
"That would be nice, how much will it cost."
Hephaistos looked at Tsubaki, it was her decision since she would do it alone.
Tsubaki scratched her chin for a moment. "Will cost quite a bit, to shorten the sword will be a lot of work. I would say two million Vals at least. Do you have this money?"
"My aunt a-...my young aunty and my uncle gave me their sigils for a Gnome Vault. They said they have no use of the money and I should take it. I don´t know how much is in there, but I guess it should be enough."
"If not, I will take the metal that comes from the blade as payment."
"That sounds fair. How long will it take?"
"Two weeks, minimum."
"Alright."
"Do you have a spare weapon? Orario isn´t a place to walk around unarmed these days."
"I have my father´s short sword, it is meant to be used when I can´t use the greatsword."
"Alright. This will stay between us, boss and I won´t tell anyone that you´re the captain of the Zeus familia."
"Captain? I´m not the captain."
"You´re the last living member, right?"
.
After Bell left Babel, it was time to go to the Gnome Vault, to check if there was enough money there. The moment one of the gnomes would open Alfia´s vault for him, Bell fainted.
The uncrowned prince had come to Orario and he was immediatelly the richest person there...Bell had now more money than the four top familias of Orario...combined. Which wasn´t that hard since the Loki and Astrea familias were almost everytime out of money, due to their dungeon work.
.
Now that his equipment got taken care of, Bell had to find a familia.
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Author´s Note 2: So for this story, Bell will have more than one partner. Namely Ryu, Alise, Ardee and there will be two that he will have a special relationship with K***** and A*****. You can probably guess the names but it is a small secret, I don´t want to spoil too much.
There are some similarities to the Juggern(a)ut chapter in here. It will be a similar storyline, only that it isn´t such a massive harem and with more story.