AN: Hello all and welcome to the Rabbits Warren, a nest I have prepared for all plot bunnies that keep appearing. Rather than make multiple one-shots I have decided they need a family and will now all make their home here. I do not know if I will make any of these into stories but I'm more than happy if any of you wish to, just make sure you mention me.
Trails of the Argonaut
In Orario under a massive Tower dubbed Babel lay the Dungeon, the source of monsters worldwide. Many adventures have come to make a name for themselves in there and to do so they join with Gods and Goddesses in Familas who bestow their blessings in the form of a Flana which gives them the strength needed to combat the monsters that roam the Dungeon. In a recent year, Bell Cranel, a young boy with white hair and red eyes started his journey as the first member of Hestia: The Goddess of the Hearth's Familia. He was a 14-year-old boy inspired by the tales of heroes and his grandfather's stories.
On the fifth floor of the Dungeon, Bell quickly moved as he finished removing a magic stone from the last monster he was able to defeat remembering he promised that he would become a hero like those of old and perhaps he could pick up girls just like the old man wished. Still, he wouldn't tell his goddess that it was far too embarrassing to admit. He needed to get stronger and go deeper but as of right now, he had just planned to finish a room or two more before returning until he heard hooves on stone moving his way. Trying to remember what monsters were common on this floor Bell prepared for what was on its way but flattered as he saw the lumbering form of a Minotaur barreling towards him.
"What's a minotaur doing here?!" Bell screamed in fear as it grew closer. He attempted to attack it when it was close enough but his guild-issued knife just bounced off its skin and he had to roll out of the way when it swung its arm his way shattering rocks in the process. 'I can't let it hit me I can't leave my goddess all alone, but if I run to the fourth floor more adventures could get hurt. I have to lose it before returning.' He ran into another hall making as much noise as possible for the beast to follow. Barley dodged a few more attempts on his life his legs started to feel heavy and his lungs burned, but no matter what he did the beast was just out of range chasing him. He made a quick left turn only for his heart to stop, a wall met his vision. He had run into a dead-end.
"No…no it can't end now…" Bell pleaded with anything that was listening. "Please… I can't die here…not until I fulfill my promise…" The Minotaur slammed its fist into the wall and prepared to charge, Bell sighed and prepared his knife knowing it would do nothing. "I am going to do everything in my power to be a hero!" With a last desperate howl, the two combatants charged, and in the ensuing clash, Bell's knife found purchase in the beast's eye as it slammed him into a wall his vision faded and one last thing ran through his mind. 'I'm sorry Hestia you're going to be alone again…' After a long time, Bell felt someone move him and, fading back into consciousness, could barely hear what was being said.
"You…he's…them?" a male voice asked.
"No… uniform…match." A more regal-sounding voice responded.
"...explorer…injured." A younger more deadpan voice suggested.
"...could you…arte…heal him?" Another questioned.
"I could…Tearal!" Bell felt his pain start to fade and his eyes slowly opened only to be blinded by the light of a brazer and then quickly covered them.
"Where's… the…Minotaur?" Bell choked out his throat was so dry.
"Hold on I've got some water on me." A boy a little older than him wearing glasses responded. He slowly poured some water for Bell. "Now could you tell us who you are?"
"I'm Bell Cranel I'm with the guild." Bell looked around there were five of them surrounding him but it didn't look like he was on the fifth floor anymore, was he moved? He didn't know.
"A Bracer, what's one of them doing here?" A boy with red hair asked the others. What was a bracer? Was it some term for a new adventurer?
"I don't know I thought the guild was shut down." A boy with dark hair answered. "We can ask Sara when we are out of here, for now, we need to catch up with the kidnappers."
"Bracer? Wait, KIDNAPPERS?!" Bell screamed. He tried to get up but his body was still weak even if it didn't hurt anymore.
"Clam down, don't worry about it for now. Just stay put we have backup coming and they'll be able to help you get out of here." The boy with glasses placed his hand on Bell's broken chest plate.
"No! I've likely kept you all too long you need to catch up to these kidnappers. I may be new but I know those types of people need to be stopped." Bell pushes the boy's hand away. "Let me help please."
"You're still weak it's not wise to push yourself. Fie can you escort him to a rest area?" A Tall beautiful girl asked a short white-haired girl.
"Mhmm. That won't be too hard Laura." Fie answered. "I'll report back as soon as he's safe."
"I-I-I uh ummmm o-o-kay." Bell stumbled over his words looking at the two girls. Laura was beautiful but held herself like a knight and Fie was adorable if a little quiet. He swore he could hear his grandfather's perverted giggle as he stared at the two girls in red jackets and skirts.
"Alright. Elliot, Machias, Laura, and I will continue after the kidnappers while you get him to safety. Don't worry Bell those kidnappers won't escape us so just get better." The dark-haired boy nodded with a confident smirk and left with the others.
"So uhh, I'm sorry you're stuck with me during this. Can I ask you something?" Bell asked as the group passed out of sight.
"It's no problem I've had to do similar jobs before. I'll answer questions once we reach the rest area, it's too dangerous to be standing about. We shouldn't encounter any dangerous monsters but keep that knife and your battle orbment ready just in case." Fie explained walking off and forcing Bell to go after her.
Bell couldn't help but wonder what a battle orbment was but figured it was something high-level Familia's had. Bell's skin crawled in this place but it wasn't like the same sensation he got when he first entered the Dungeon. They must have been very deep and he was worried about how long it would take to get out of here. He worried that his Goddess would do something that could get her into trouble if he was gone too long. He had told her he'd be home for dinner. They avoided some odd monsters and passed by a few open chests to finally make it to a room that felt different from everything else with a fountain of some kind. He thanked whoever was watching over him and made his way to the fountain but as soon as he touched the lip of it a light emanated and he felt his exhaustion wash away.
"Good, you already used the recharge station. Take a seat anywhere monsters avoid these areas so we'll be fine until either group finds us." Fie sat against the wall and Bell followed suit. "So what did you want to know?" Fie wondered.
"Uh, what floor are we on?" Bell asked.
"Well, when the kidnappers attacked the park we followed them down the hole they used, and from there we've gone straight. So I'd say the first floor of the sewers." Fie explained. "You ok? You're pretty pale, er well paler than before."
"How?" Bell wondered allowed.
"How what?"
"I was on the fifth floor of the dungeon how did I end up in the sewers? The last thing I remember was a Minotaur slamming me into a wall." Bell felt like something was wrong.
"Who knows maybe you found a connecting path to the sewers while stumbling around half unconscious. I know Bracers can be pretty sturdy." Fie offered her explanation.
"What dungeon are you talking about?/There's that word again what's a Bracer?" they both asked at the same time.
"Wait what dungeon? The Dungeon!/ You aren't a Bracer?!" They replied at the same time. Fie's hand drifted to one of her Gunswords in case she needed it.
"No, I'm an adventurer from the Guild you know the group that works with the Familias and guards the Dungeon," Bell explained. "How do you not know about the Guild or the Dungeon? The Dungeon is known worldwide as the birthplace of monsters!"
"I've been all over and I've never heard that. Maybe it's not as well known as you thought. The Bracers are a non-governmental organization acting to keep the peace and protect civilians worldwide through various branches, does that sound familiar to you?" Fie explained more nervous than before.
"That kind of sounds like the Guild but I don't know if the Guild has other branches outside of Orairo. You should know that since we are in the sewers of the city." Bell points out.
"Orairo? We're in Heimdallr." That single sentence made Bell's chest tighten and his breath came in short gasps.
"Co-Could you re-repeat that?" he asked in fear.
"The city we're in, it's Heimdallr the capital of the Erebonian Empire."