Authors note: Alright second chapter to help finish setting the stage and answer the myriad questions people had. Didn't expect people to be so curious about this idea honestly so I hope this chapter answers people's questions to some extent.
Also, if you like my work and would like to support it, I have a and ko-fi on my profile page. The ko-fi also has commission options, so if you really want a certain story to be updated, you can force my hand XD
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"And here we are, the adventurer city of Orario," Eros said as he climbed up a ridge and smiled in disgust at the scene before him. "The Tower you can see, that's Babel, and beneath it the Dungeon. What do you think?"
"I, think I'm ready to try," Bell said as he stepped up beside Eros and could not help but stare at the distant sight of Orario. Its huge walls circling the whole thing, the Tower of Babel rising up out of it as if trying to pierce the sky. This, is where adventurers were made.
And often lost.
"You only think you are ready?" Eros asked with a smile. "Think you need more training, maybe?"
"No, I think three years of your training is enough," Bell said simply as he turned his gaze from Orario to Eros and smiled. "If we kept going you'd have tried to make me work at-"
"Hey, just because you would've done good work there is not my fault," Eros interrupted with a smirk as he repositioned the pack slung over his one shoulder.
"It is entirely your fault," Bell stated with a sigh as he looked back at Orario."Have you, been to Orario before?"
"I have, though it was many years ago," Eros said as he gesture for Bell to come along, the two of them then walking down the road toward the city. "Babel had not been built back then, and the wall surrounding the city was much smaller. It was more a town than an expansive city."
"So, what, like, six thousand years ago? Before all the stories of heroes?"
"More like Ten thousand or so? Something like that," Eros said with a shrug. "Some of those stories were passed down the generation and modified to match what people thought of the past you have to remember."
"I guess. It just seems so, odd. It's hard to think about that much time," Bell said as he glanced up into the sky for but a moment. "These last three years felt so long . . . yet also short."
"Time is like that sometimes. Memories of joy feel fleeting, yet those of difficulty feel like they last for longer," Eros explained before glancing at Bell. "Do you regret it?"
"What?"
"Me taking you in and training you? Do you regret it?"
"I . . . still miss Grandpa," Bell admitted with a nod. "Some of these last three years. . . I don't regret them, but I do have mixed feelings; especially about some of the things you decided I need to learn."
Eros let out a laugh. "Please, some may have felt awkward at the time, but you cannot deny the effectiveness. You know more than most boys ever will."
"I'm fifteen now. I'm a man, not a boy," Bell said with a bit of annoyance in his tone.
"I'm aware of that, but many will not see you in such a way. You will need to prove yourself as an adventurer before many others will even consider you worth looking at. All they will see without achievements to flaunt, is a young white haired man. Or-"
"And I can't exactly flaunt skills that they haven't seen, can I?" Bell asked, stopping Eros from continuing, though he didn't seem to notice.
"Correct. You may have had a Falna for two years now, but . . . "
"But?"
"Monsters outside of Orario, those not formed by the dungeon, do not give nearly as much excelia as those within. With your stats as they are, they are probably only equal to an adventurer that had been one for a few months. Five at most."
"That doesn't sound like a lot," Bell grumbled as he looked at the gravel beneath his feet and kicked up a small stone from the side up into his hand. It was a modest size and rather flat with one side that was sort of pointed. Shifting his grip her held it like a skipping stone and then threw it at a nearby tree. The rock did not bounce off the bark, but instead embedded itself point first into it, causing a number of leaves and such fall off it onto the grass at its base.
"It isn't, however most adventurers rely solely on their stats, so they think of them as all that matters," Eros said before letting out a short rather dark, chuckle. "They go in over and over again, fighting the same monsters the same way nonstop until they feel like they can go deeper, and then they flail about, and sometimes die, against enemies that their prior techniques no longer work against."
"Which is why you wanted me to learn so much, right?"
"Yes. A solid platform for you to expand your skills off of. Merely knowing how to swing a sword is useless if that is all you have. It's the same as-"
"Love, I know," Bell said with a scowl before he sighed. "I feel like you've taught me a bit too much about some things though."
"Nonsense," Eros said with a smile as he held a hand out in front of him, his fingers moving in a way that most people would find absolutely lewd. "The way one moves their fingers to please a partner shows skill and dexterity, and that same dexterity can be used to shift ones grip on a blade, to easily slip into a lock, an even manipulate the muscles of another."
"Some people consider that Sexual Harassment, Sir," Bell said with a sigh. "You're lucky that woman yesterday didn't think it was."
"Oh, she was much too focused on other things," Eros said before grinning at Bell. "Just like you were."
"I wasn't-"
"Yes, because I totally didn't see you seducing that-"
"Can we drop that please?" Bell almost begged, though his tone was far calmer than one would expect if they overheard such a conversation.
"Aw, is my Little Bell embarrassed?" Eros cooed as he stepped closer to bell and ran a hand through Bell's hair, ruffling it.
"Only at you almost getting taken in for Sexual harassment and trying to bring up what happen behind closed doors," Bell sighed with a faint smile. He had long gotten use to his gods antics after all.
"Yes, but we both know I'd never get caught for anything like that. I am after all Eros, I know when to stop, and when to let out a bit more string."
"Right," Bell again deadpanned as he looked at Orario, now looking slightly closer, yet still far away. "Will Orario have more rules on that sort of thing?"
"Curious?" Eros said with a lewd smile as his hand on Bell's head went back and trailed a light circle on Bell's neck. "Worried about finding some action?"
"No, I'm worried about you," Bell said as he bushed Eros's hand away.
"Well you don't need to worry. I know a few people in Orario, and things like Brothels and Taverns are on every street."
"In other words, your lecherousness will be common, great," Bell said with a sigh. "Should I be worried?"
"Only of alleyways and Amazons," Eros said as the pair reached a small bridge over a creek, and Eros stepped to the side of the bridge before even approaching to cross it. "Let's clean up here before we head further."
"Okay," Bell said with an odd as he followed Eros over and dropped his own pack on the grass before stepping up to the creek. It was filled with clear water that lazily flowed around rocks and small reeds, and little fish swam about happily. Splashing a hand into the water Bell used it to wipe his face down before looking to see Eros kneeling down to do the same. Though in his case Eros likely intended to wipe down his whole bare chest as well. "I take it Amazons are common in Orario then?"
"There are some Familia comprised of almost nothing but them, but yes, they are common," Eros said as he cupped his hands and splashed his face and chest, the water glistening as it hit him in a way as if to entice ones stares.
Not that it affected Bell anymore.
With a shrug Bell wiped his face and turned to move away from the creek, only to see a pair of young women seemingly frozen halfway across the bridge, their gazes stuck on Eros with expressions of lust and longing.
Eros smiled at them as he flicked some hair away from his face, making them squeal and run off. Bell merely sighed and stepped over to his pack.
"Bell."
"Yes?" Bell asked as he turned back to Eros, only to see that Eros was now an absolutely gorgeous looking woman. Her clothing was no different, meaning her ample breasts were covered only by long locks of hair. ". . .why?"
"Because I needed to confirm," Eros said as her body inexplicably returned to being male, the shift so quickly that Bell barely even noticed. "Your immunity to Charm is nearly perfect now, and that is important."
"You think adventurers would try to charm in one form or the other?" Bell asked as he turned back to his back and took out a comb, running it through his hair before stowing it again.
"No, But there are a number of Goddesses known for having natural charms like my own," Eros said proudly as he took out a comb of his own, a majestic thing of carved wood and inlaid silver, and ran it through his flawless locks. "I do not know which gods currently reside in Orario, as I'll be a bit out of date since I came down, but let me make this very clear Bell. Most gods come down to Gekai solely for their own amusement. Few come down for other means, and there are few gods who act solely or the benefit of others."
"There are some that do though, right?" Bell asked as he picked up his pack and slung it back over his shoulder.
"Yes," Eros said as he picked up his pack and the two of them began crossing the bridge and continuing toward the Gates of Orario. "You can Trust Aphrodite, Ganesha, Demeter and Njord intrinsically. They are all friends of mine, especially Aphrodite."
"So, I could trust them, alone?" Bell asked carefully.
Eros smiled.
"Good man. Yes, they can be trusted. Their Familia members however, may be a different story," Eros stated as he seemed to stare at Orario's walls, seeming larger and larger as they got closer. "I suppose that will be one of the first things I need to do once we settle in."
"Lord Eros, do we actually have a, plan?" Bell asked a bit anxiously.
"Of course I have a plan," Eros said with a smile. "Granted a little bit of it is dependent on luck, but I'm sure it will be fine."
Bell let out a sigh, long past used to this sort of thing. "What am I to do then?"
"Once we get into Orario you should go and head to the Guild hall to register as an Adventurer in Orario. It's a requirement I hear. Should take a couple hours I reckon," Eros said as the two of them could make out the gates, and a small group of people near them. "So, you only get to enter Orario once yourself, so which side you going to take?"
"Does it matter?"
"Not to you, or to I, but to those that see us, and recognize me, they will make assumption about who they see with me."
Bell looked at the gate and sighed. "Twink or whore, huh?"
"Not so extreme, but yes, some may make such assumptions," Eros said with a smirk. "The question is which form you want to be seen more often, or which one you want hidden?"
"I'm assuming I should hide it in the first place?" Bell asked as he noticed that a guard from the gate was approaching them."
"Ultimately up to you, though some may consider that little gift more than an adventurer should have," Eros said as he too noticed the approaching guard. "I'll handle this."
"Morning," the guard, a middle aged woman by her face, said as she approached the pair. "And are you, uh . . . uh, are you looking to enter?"
Bell had to stifle a sigh as he recognized the way the woman was looking a Eros. Eros had once explained it as similar to a charm, like what some other gods, spiffily those of Fertility or live might have, yet different. His did not affect a person's ideas and thoughts, but instead effected emotions and perceptions and lust. He claimed the difference was important, but as Bell had never seen another form of charm, he couldn't really tell.
"That is correct. Though, we do not seek simple entry, as we are looking to move in," Eros said with a soft smile that, if Bell was not wrong, was likely making the woman before feel very naughty. Granted it could be worse. He could tell Eros was holding back his effects on others quite a bit.
"O-oh, I see. Well, the Tax for prospective citizens is different, depending on the reason," the woman said, clearly having trouble focusing.
"Of course," Eros said as he placed a hand on Bell's head. "I'm looking to Move My Familia to Orario, though it just me and my first little one here."
"You are a god then?" The woman said before wincing. "Yes, of course you are. May, May I ask you to limit your Arkanum? I am feeling, odd."
"Sadly I already am," Eros said with mock worry as he shook his head. "Truly unfortunate as it is, the only way to limit more would be to wear more clothes, but I overheat so easily,"
"O-oh, yes that is, unfortunate. " Well, the entry for a new Familia is, dependent upon numbers, so . . . uh, it'll be, about err . . . does 5000 Valis each sound right?"
"I am sure it is," Eros said with a soft smile as he took out a money pouch and counted out some coins, handing them to the woman. "I'm sure a lady such as yourself knows her job."
"I, y-yes, just as you say."
"Excellent, I presume you would like to report my arrival then to your superiors? Will you require my child's name, or just my own?"
"J-just your own, sir," The woman said, her yes drifting to Bell and sticking to him for a second. "Though, I, no never mind. Your name sir?"
"Eros, God of love, and Sex," Eros said in a tone that so sweet sounding Bell was pretty sure he start making cookies from it.
"I- I see. Then, then Welcome to Orario," The guard said as she took the money with a nod and began leading the pair toward the door shaped hole in the gate. "I would suggest, you head to the Denatus hall to report your arrival for other Gods to learn of, and for your Child to head to the Guild hall."
"That was my plan," Bell spoke up, finding the woman seemed surprised by his voice somehow. In fact she seemed to be staring at him with flushed cheeks. "Could you direct me to where the Guild Hall is perhaps, Miss?"
"M-Miss?" the woman said in surprise, her face flushing a bit. "I, ye-yes, it is down the Northwest main road. Just head down toward Babel, and then take that road . . . there are signs."
"Thank you for the assistance miss," Eros aid as they reached the door, then smiled at her. "You look tired; I hope you have a break soon. It wouldn't do for you to fall over from a lack of, relaxation."
"N-no, it wouldn't. I will see if I can rest, soon," the guard said with a nod. "Please, stay safe within the city."
"Of course, thank you kindly!" Eros said as he and Bell stepped through the gates entrance, and into Orario itself.
Traveling with and Training under Eros for the past three years Bell had seen a number of places he had never though he would have before. Simple village's in forests, badlands, coasts, and islands. Towns built into trees and overtop of hundreds of rivers, towns were the roads themselves were made of wood. Large cities of wood and stone with walls to protect it from monsters and roving bandits.
Orario was similar, but much different, even at a quick glance. Almost all the buildings seemed made primarily of stone, and the number of Races he could see walking amongst the others just with a glance was startling.
"So, we are here," Eros said simply, ignoring the many stares of varied intensity being directed toward him as he and Bell began walking down the road. "Do you want me to wait here so you can go back and talk to that guard?"
"I'm not asking her address for you," Bell deadpanned.
"Silly boy, I was meaning for you," Eros said with a smirk. "She was looking at you almost as much as me. She likes those smaller than her, and you like these taller than you after all."
"Not in this form, particularly," Bell said with a sigh. "I'm not going to try to sleep with a woman over double my age."
"But you wouldn't say no if it was offered."
" . . . . I blame you for that," Bell grunted as he stared down the road ahead of them, to Babel itself, rising from the stones of the city. "I don't suppose that Denny place is close to the Guild Hall?"
"No, that would be too easy," Eros said with a laugh as he patted Bell's shoulder. "Head to the Guild and get yourself set up, I'll meet you there in a few hours."
"Understood,"
"And Bell?"
"Yes?"
"Remember to be careful, your abilities are rare; don't go showing off unless you are sure you can trust them. Implicitly."
"Of course," Bell said with a nod, understanding completely as he took a few steps forward and then began running of down the streets of Orario.
The grand cities design was actually rather decent Bell figured as he ran down the street as a leisurely pace. With Babel in the cities center one could always tell where it was, and with a number of large main streets coming away from babel like the spokes of a wheel it sectioned the city and made it easy to get where one wanted.
As such Bell reached the center of the city quicker than he expected and, once he found the signs and the road he needed, headed down it to find the guild. He could stare up at Babel all he wanted later after all.
The Guild hall, a building covered in markings that made it clear it was the guild building, was a large two story building of stone with a surprising amount of decoration upon its exterior. Yet, upon entering, Bell was showered with an interior that was much more sensible. Seating's areas, a doorway with a sign that told of Showers for adventurers use, as well as two different counters, one covered by wooden sheathes and covers, and the other open where a number of Guild personnel seemed to be doing work both with adventurers and alone.
It seemed the outside of the building was decorated so it couldn't be missed by people in all likelihood, and seeing as hoe there was an empty place at the counter, Bell strolled up to it.
"Hello,"
A Guild worker, a young looking elf with silver hair, turned to look at Bell and let out a slight sigh that she probably though Bell did not notice, and stepped over. "Hello and welcome to the Guild, how can I help you today, young boy?"
Bell did not openly react, but he could tell from her tone that she did not want to deal with him. Maybe she was having a bad day or something, but ultimately it didn't matter, and pushing about tone, or correcting her way of addressing him would be a waste of time. "Yes, I am here to register with the Guild as an Adventurer here in Orario."
The woman seemed to stare at him before sighing. "Look kid, are you sure you don't want to do something a little safer? The guild can help you find work with the city doing cleaning or something you know, right?"
"I did not, but no thank you," Bell said politely. "I will become an adventurer, and have been training for it."
The woman looked at him, seemingly trying to judge him in some way before sighing again and doing nothing to hide it. "Look, if you are new to Orario, I would suggest finding room and board first, before-"
"My god is dealing with that," Bell said, causing the woman to blink at him in surprise. "Also, I already have a Falna, if that is a concern."
The woman stared for another few seconds before sighing. "Let me guess, you just got your Falna within the last couple of weeks?" She said dismissively.
"Two years, actually," Bell said simply. In the past he might have gotten annoyed, complained or something similar, but after years of being with Lord Eros, he knew that that sort of thing was pointless. Everyone had lives, and it was impossible for everyone to have a good day at the same time. "Miss, if you would not like to help me, perhaps someone else would be able to? I can wait if necessary."
The woman looked at him, her eye widening not in anger, but surprise. "I . . . one moment I-" the woman stopped for a moment before sighing and pointing down a nearby hall. "Head down the hall and into room 4. One of my fellows will be down to speak with you shortly."
"Thank you, I hope you have a better day," Bell said as he moved to the hall, feeling the woman staring at him as he went. "Some people really need to learn when to relax and take a break," Bell mumbled as he reached the room and stepped in. it was a simple room, large enough for the small rectangular table that sat in its center and the chairs on either side of it with a couple more stacked in the corner. A magic stone light was beside the doorway, and a small window in the wall provided additional light.
Simple meeting room, and little else.
With a sigh Bell placed his back o nth table close to the wall so it would not get in the way of any paperwork he was going to have to do, and sat down. Waiting.
Luckily it was only a bare couple minutes before he heard the click of the door and looked up to see it opening, a young woman with light brown hair and pointed ears, entering with a smile.
"Hello, I apologize for the wait," She said as she fully entered the room and closed the door behind her, giving Bell a chance to get off his hair and step up to her an bow slightly.
"No harm, I apologize if I caused some issue with your coworker."
The woman blinked in surprise, probably from Bell not assuming he could shake hands with her, and smiled. "No, actually I should thank you. " Sophie has been having a hard time these last few days, and you bringing it up made it known to the rest of us," she explained as she sat down and gestured for Bell to do the same. "So, to start this off properly, I am Eina Tulle and, should this meeting go well, I will act as your Guild Advisor going forward," she introduced as she held her hand across the table. "I am a half-elf, so thank you for allowing myself to initiate contact."
Bell took her hand and shook it with a smile. Bell Cranel. And you don't need to thank me. My God drilled it into my head that one must be respectful to other races. So long as they are respectful back of course."
"Sophie did mention that you said you already had a Falna," Eina said with a nod as she placed a case on the table and opened it, reveling its contents to be a large stack of forms, as well a number of quills and a full and sealed inkwell. She took out one of the stacks of paper, then the inkwell and quickly and prepped hem both. "So, Bell Cranel. Are you new to Orario?"
"Yes, I just arrived with my God today," Bell answered with a smile. "He suggested I come here to deal with this paperwork while he sees to our lodgings."
"Smart," Eina said with a nod as she wrote on the paper. "You have a Falna already . . . may I ask if you would be willing to tell the Guild your current Stats? It is not required if you do not wish to."
"No, its fine," Bell said with a nod. "My last update was a couple weeks ago as we have been traveling, But my Strength is F, Endurance is D, Dexterity is D, Agility is C, and my Magic is F. Do you need to know other abilities as well?"
"If you are willing to share, things like abnormal resistance and the like would be nice to put down," Eina said with a nod.
"Okay, well . . . I do have Abnormal Resistance, but it's a bit odd."
"Odd?" Eina asked curiously.
"Yes. Abnormal Resistance (Charm), and it's Rank A."
"I see, that sounds rarer," Eina said as she seemed to think to herself for a moment. "May I ask a few questions relate to your status?"
"Yes."
"Level one?"
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"About two years now since I got my Falna."
"And you have been living where?"
"Nowhere specifically. My God wished us to travel and train as we went all over, mostly in the north. I think the longest we stayed in one place for was . . . five months?" Bell answered not fully certain.
"I see," Eina said as she marked something down. "May I ask what sort of monsters you fought while traveling?"
"It matters?" Bell asked in surprise.
"Not normally, but it has been proven that an adventurers Excelia, and therefore their status, will rise much faster while fighting in the dungeon. Yours are, rather impressive for two years without ever stepping foot in the dungeon. If that is indeed the case. I'm mostly curious."
"Well, I started with training my Endurance and strength with things like laps around villagers and weight training before I even got my falna, and I've continued doing that when I can as we travel," Bell answered before starting his list. "I've fought wolves, bears and forest cats, and as for monsters I've fought Goblins, Kobolds, Giant Ants, a couple of wild orcs, and . . . I'm not sure if they were monsters or animals, but I've also fought a giant spider, a River monster, and-"
"River monster?" Eina interrupted.
"Uh, I don't know if it had a name, but it was like, a cross between a fish a snake and an octopus?" Bell answered uncertainly. "Oh, and I just a few months ago held a small group of other adventurers deal with a local Manticore, but all I did was provide a bit of support."
Eina stared at him for a moment before shaking her head and putting the quill down. "Well, that does explain your stats. Monsters outside of the dungeon tend to be far weaker than those within it, but still. . . .The guild, may need to get some confirmation from your God about those feats. It is not that I do not believe you but, pardon me, you do not look capable of that much."
Bell shrugged and then slid his jacket off, allowing Eina to see his mostly bare arms. In the jacket he didn't look like much, but with his arms bare, it was clear they had muscle that was prominent, though not even close to the excessive muscle that some large men had. "If my Status doesn't make it clear, I do have some muscle, but I am mostly a mobility fighter."
"Y-yes, I can see that," Eina stuttered a bit as she picked up the quill and began writing, before suddenly stopping and apologizing. "I am sorry, I should not make assumptions based upon ones looks. That was inappropriate of me."
"No its fine, I'm used to it considering my God," Bell replied with a smile.
"Oh, and who is your God, I will need to mark down your Familia for the paperwork anyway," Eina said as she held her quill just above the paper, ready to write down the information.
"Eros,"
Eina's finger twitched and then dropped the quill as she looked up from the paper at Bell. "I'm sorry, whom?
"Eros, God of Love and Sex . . . and a whole bunch of other things that he likes to talk about but I'm too lazy to repeat," Bell said honestly with a smile.
Eina seemed content to simply stare at him for a straight minute before speaking. "You mean, you are being serious?"
"Yes. I am the sole current member of the Eros Familia," Bell said before smiling. "And no, Lord Eros is not planning on opening a Brothel or getting into that sort of business.
" . . . .Really?" Eina asked in disbelief.
"Yeah," Bell said with a nod. "I've seen some places outside of Orario before, and while some are very good, a lot of them are very predatory and he doesn't like that. Lord Eros says Sex must be the choice of both parties, and must be proper and fair and consensual."
Eina simply blinked and stared at Bell, making him then sigh.
"Sorry, he's drilled that into my head,"
"No, it's a nice idea," Eina said with a nod as she picked up her quell and began to write. "If everyone had such ideals, I think the world would be a far nicer place. Does Eros have a plan for Additional income if you cannot bring enough for the both of you right away?"
"Yes, unless he's changed his mind he's planning on doing a bit of herbalism, making contraceptive medicines and the like."
"I see," Eina said, making it clear from her tone, and awkward expression, that she wanted to change the direction of the conversation. "Alright, you said you are the only Member of the Familia, so you would be its captain technically. Would I be correct in assuming that you both plan to have more join the Familia?"
"Maybe, it's not something we've really discussed."
"Alright. You do not need to answer if you do not like, and do not need to be specific if you do answer as it's unlikely, but do you know any magic of skills?"
Bell opened his mouth and paused before speaking. "The Guild information is kept confidential, right?"
"Yes, only Guild members have regular access to the information, and Gods only get access During a Level up Denatus so that they can think of a nickname for the adventurer."
"There are exceptions though, right?"
"Only in extreme cases such as Extreme crimes," Eina said with an understanding smile. "Your information is safe with me, and as your Advisor I can put a block on it so only myself or my superiors could look it up."
"Alright. I have one skill, and two magic spells," Bell admitted with a sigh. "Though the skill is, kind of odd.
"You don't like it?" Eina asked, noting the odd tone Bell was using.
"No, I do. It has helped me learn a lot, and has helped me gain my status, it's just a bit, unique, Lord Eros Tells me."
"I see, I will mark that down then if you don't wish to speak of it more," Eina said with a quick motion of her hand. "And two spells you say? At level one?"
"I only was able to learn them because of my skill, and I can only use one spell when using the skill."
"I see," Eina said as she marked it, then stopped and looked at Bell, finding him seemingly staring at his clasped hands on the table. "Is everything all right?"
"Yes, I just. . . I should probably show you my skill now so it doesn't surprise you later," Bell said as he pushed his chair back and stood up before glancing to his back. "Can I put something from my bag on?"
"What for?"
"It's my weapon. It, changes, when I use the skill, but if I use the skill without it on, or right beside me, I'll be stuck without it until the skill undoes itself."
Eina seemed to think to herself for a moment before nodding. "Very well, I can mark down your choice of weapons as well while we're at it if you are alright with that?"
"That's fine," Bell said as he open his pack and pulled out a belt with a pair of small sheathes for knives or daggers on it and strapped it around his waist. He then, much to Eina's surprise, took a step back from the table. "Alright, please don't scream, or shout, or panic,"
"I assure you I shall not so long as I am not put in danger," Eina said, now both curious and a bit tense, making Bell realize he shouldn't have asked something like that.
"Alright . . . SHIFT," Bell said strongly, and in that instant Bells body was covered in a film of light that at first was faintly red, then became faintly blue and seemed to shift in size slightly before breaking apart from him like a magic circle that was shattering from strain.
What resulted was not a young man with white hair and red eyes who seemed a bit younger than he probably was, but a young woman of the same height. Her hair was still white, but was now long and tied into twintails that flowed behind her. Her red eyes were the same, but her clothes were not, shifting from black pants and shirt with a brown jacket, to a black shirt and white shorts and a jacket with blue edging. Additionally, the pair of sheathed blades were now gone, and in their place the girl before her held a Long Spear made of black metal with an odd bluish hue to parts of it.
"You, you, turned into a girl?" Eina said in surprise, though she did not raise her voice. "Is it an illusion then?"
"No, I'm fully a girl," Belle said as she leaned her spear against the wall behind her and did a quick twirl, allowing Eina to see that she did have a very feminine body shape, and that her black top was actually a Leotard or something similar. "I got turn into a girl by Eros's Arkanum when we first met, but turned back after a few days. When I got my Falna though, I had this skill."
"I . . . I see," Eina said, clearly a bit baffle by it. "And, what does it do?"
"Well, my skills and affinities change when I am a girl," Belle said as she sat down and held out an open palm, a small piece of ice forming above her hand "My spell changes its element, which is why I said I have two, and my status shifts my points around a bit. I'm not as fast, but I can hit harder, and instead of being skilled with knives I can use a spear really well."
"It changes all of your skills around?"
"Yeah. " Lord Eros told me it was like . . . Possibilities being inverted or something like that."
"And you are sure it only moves your stats around?" Eina pressed in worry.
"Yes, we've confirmed it before. It just shifts the totals around into different places; I don't have any status loss when I do this."
"I see . . . . so in simple terms, it allows you to focus on one form of combat, and then switch to another without having to keep extra equipment on you?" Eina asked as if to confirm her thoughts.
"Basically yeah,"
"How long does it last?" Eina asked, expecting Belle to turn back already since he, she, had shown her.
"Usually lasts till I go to sleep,"
"So, you are stuck like this till tonight?" Eina asked in a worried way.
"Basically."
"You could return from being in the dungeon and come to speak to me the next day if you wanted. Why show me now?"
"Well, sometimes I shift in my sleep and wake up as a woman," Belle said with a shrug. "Figured you'd want to know so it isn't a bigger surprise when an unknown woman comes asking for you,"
" . . . I see you have given this thought. Past experience I take it?"
"Yes," Belle said with a nod. "So, what next?"
"Well, normally I would give you the choice to buy some guild provided gear to get you started, but you seem to have that handled," Eina said as she moved to a different groping of papers. "So, all that is left is some more of the paperwork, contracts with the guild and liabilities and the like, ns you will be all set."
"Great!" Belle exclaimed as she pulled her seat closer to the table, allowing Eina to note that her posture was just like a girls, very proper.
It was a bit strange, but she tried to move the thoughts away with a light shake of her head. "There is one other thing I would like to suggest. Few adventurers agree to it, but would you be willing to come by and speak with me regularly so that I might teach you about the various levels of the dungeon, the monsters, and the environments so that you are best prepared for the Dungeon?"
Belle looked at Eina in a truly neutral way, making her worry if she was about to be shot down again. "So, you want me to come by and do research on the Dungeon. You basically want to teach me what you can, right?"
"Yes. If it isn't too much trouble," Eina said nervously. She had offered such a thing to many adventurers, every adventurer she advised really, yet only a small number came back, and they didn't do so for long. She still occasionally saw some of them entering the guild to hand over magic stones, but few even offered her a hello, and so many of them had left to never be seen again.
"Yes, that would be fine," Belle said with a smile.
"I see, are you sure you don't want to-" Eina began to say, having expected a no, only to stop and stare at Belle in surprise. "Did, you just say yes?"
"Yes," Belle said with a nod. "Lord Eros made it clear when he took me in that knowledge could be applied to everything and that there was no such thing as too much learning," She explained proudly. "Though, I can still go into the dungeon, right?"
"Yes, I won't stop you, though you will be limited n how far down you can go until it is clear that your experience is real," Eina said as she grabbed some paper, but did notice that Belle looked a bit worried. "How about this. You come and see me in the mornings where I'll give you a bit of reading, quiz you, or the like, and then you can head into the dungeon in the afternoon or sooner if you finish quickly. This will likely only last a few weeks to go through all that I can teach you about the upper floors and other things of interest and use to you."
"What sort of things?" Belle asked curiously.
"The upper levels of the dungeons, the monsters that live there, their ecology," Eina said before a thought came into her mind. "I can also tach you about Orario itself, like what can be found where, its history and a bit of culture if you would like as well."
"That . . . would be a good idea," Belle admitted with a nod. "Lord Eros and I will be staying in Orario for a long time."
"Alright, then," Eina said with smile full of renewed vigor. "Let's finish these up and make it official!"
