WARNING: Spoilers are in this story.
Disclaimer: Based on the characters created by Fujino Omori. This is NOT Omori's vision, nor is it canon in the Light Novels. This is a story built on the world developed by Omori, expanding it with my own ideas. I do NOT own the rights to Danmachi: I simply saw a perfect fit with this universe and my own ideas.
Synopsis: In this untold romantic epic, Riveria Ljos Alf's interest in Bell Cranel shifts from academic to romantic, transforming her from a stuffy executive to a lovestruck elf maiden. But the fate of the entire world depends on her bond with Bell Cranel: the ancient monster Medusa has been reborn as the Xenos Demon Lord and threatens to engulf the entire world in darkness. Riveria and Bell, along with the so-called Wives of Bell Cranel, must clear Medusa's Fortress of Nightmares, Cor Vilgium, and save the world. But what sacrifices will they have to make?
Prologue: Is It Wrong for a High Elf to Fall in Love in a Dungeon?
Bell Cranel.
His name has certainly captured my attention and piqued my curiosity.
Mysterious, heroic, kind. He's inspired so many, particularly a certain girl.
But his flame could never quite light my heart encased in ice.
That is, until I got close enough to him to thaw it.
My fellow executives Finn and Gareth once gave me the moniker "Ice Queen." I did not take kindly to it, but it stuck.
My lofty temperament estranged others. My romantic life was non-existent. Secluded in my youth, I was bound to royal duty and was denied a childhood. During those extended, solitary years, the only individual I truly considered a friend was the Chamberlain, Aina.
I never had time for romance. My head was always buried in books and a longing to see the world outside.
I was always the kind of elf who would rather study.
Ever since I arrived in this city, I diligently studied as many books as I could collect. I yearned to ascend as the most powerful mage in Orario, and ultimately, no rival endured.
For many years, I resisted changed.
Then a certain boy changed me forever.
It all begun with one executive of my own familia making a scene at the tavern.
The purpose of our gathering was to celebrate our safe return from a dangerous expedition into the Dungeon's deep floors. Inebriated and belligerent, Bete Loga, a junior member of our familia's core group, ridiculed a young fledgling adventurer he had crossed paths with during the journey back to the surface world. His mockery was met with laughter from many of his peers. Never before had I felt so ashamed of this familia.
And then, he caught my eye.
The aforementioned fledgling adventurer, having hear every word of Bete's cruel jeer, stormed out of the establishment, the hurt evident in his pure face. His hair was stunning, as white as freshly fallen snow, and his eyes were a warm rubellite hue. His remarkably striking features could make any woman fall for him. But I couldn't help but pity him.
My motherly nature stirred. I yearned to hold him in my arms, to comfort him, to assure him that all would be well.
Aiz raced after him, leaving me to sort out the mess and take care of an inebriated Bete Loga.
My heart was desperate to find the snowy-furred rabbit, to know if I would ever see him again.
Aiz was troubled by what happened that night. I did my best to reassure her, but my interest in the boy also began to grow.
The next time I crossed paths with the youth, he lay unconscious in the Dungeon from Mind Down. The first thought that came to my mind was to give him a lap pillow. Aiz sought my guidance on how to make amends with him, and I proposed the idea of a lap pillow.
Only for him to run away from her in a panic, his rabbit ears twitching nervously as he fled. I found it absolutely hilarious watching the flustered boy try to escape from Aiz's innocent attempt to make amends.
Yet, his spirit truly ignited when he confronted the imposing, blade-wielding Minotaur. Defying all expectations and amidst staggering peril, he mustered every last bit of his courage and prowess to best the monster, validating his worth as a genuine adventurer.
There was something special about him, an innocence and purity that shone through his every action. His unwavering determination and kind heart had caught Aiz's attention, a feat I had never seen before. Even my Familia and the other Familia's in Orario had taken notice of the boy.
I saw a glimmer of potential in him, a spark that could ignite a change in Aiz. I'd seen the way she was drawn to him, something in her changing after his appearance. I had observed them talk to each other and even train with him. I'd seen Aiz laugh. She was a different person around him.
Aiz's reputation as the War Princess has done nothing but damage her mind and self image. The looks of fear and discomfort on the faces of her Familia and others who see her is an everyday occurrence. She was a prodigy, a sword princess, but beneath that stoic exterior, I knew there was a lost little girl yearning for connection.
Bell Cranel gave Aiz a chance to be who she wants to be, not what people have made her out to be.
His presence changed Aiz and as a result, it has changed us too. For so long, I had watched Aiz struggle with the weight of her past and the expectations placed upon her. She was a prodigy, a sword princess, but beneath that stoic exterior, I knew there was a lost little girl yearning for connection.
One boy had the power to break through those walls, to show Aiz a world beyond the battlefield. His genuine admiration and respect for her had already begun to chip away at her guarded heart.
It was the most beautiful thing to watch.
He inspired me to change the way I viewed her. Perhaps that is why I found myself, ultimately, unable to stay away from him. Every time I saw him, I was reminded of what he meant to Aiz. As much as I hate to admit it, there were moments when I let the jealousy get to me, moments where I wondered what it was about him that captivated Aiz so.
And yet, every time he was in danger or at risk, Aiz would leap into action. At the time, I couldn't understand it. Why would she do this for someone she barely knew? This went beyond loyalty to one's Familia - this was something deeper, something personal.
I had never seen her like this before. It was like she was a different person entirely. Gone was the emotionless, unfeeling Aiz and in her place was a young woman full of passion and life.
Her face would light up whenever she heard his name and her smile would widen when she saw him.
And yet, Bell Cranel would continue to do great things. I could see his growth even with my limited interactions with him. Aiz was destined to play an important role in Bell's future.
It was time for Aiz Wallenstein to become someone more than the War Princess. And it was up to Bell Cranel to help her, whether he realized it or not.
As much as I wanted to guide Little Rookie, to nurture his growth and help him navigate the treacherous waters of Orario, I knew I had to step back. This was a journey he needed to take on his own, to find his own strength and forge his own path.
But the boy was changing the people around him, the flow of fate and destiny seemingly at his fingertips. I could only guess where Bell Cranel's presence would lead me or my Familia. I believed my role was to support him from the shadows, to ensure he had the resources and opportunities to flourish. I would watch over him, protect him when necessary, but ultimately, it was up to him to carve out his own destiny.
I found myself getting lost in my thoughts once again, picturing Bell's kind smile, his desire to do right by others and the fire that burned deep in his soul. I had only known him for a short while, but there was something about him that drew you in and made you want to do everything you could to help him.
Eina also began to talk about him all the time. She was so proud of him, of his accomplishments and his growth as a person. He really was something special. Bell Cranel was affecting those I cared about in a positive way. He had an uncanny, natural ability to charm the opposite sex. It was easy to see why Eina and the others had grown so fond of him.
Even Lefiya had started talking about him non-stop. The last time I had seen her she couldn't stop going on about how strong he was, how determined he was. She was so incensed by how fast he was progressing through the ranks.
I suppose I felt the same way, I couldn't help but be proud of him. But at the same time, it worried me. What if something happened to him? What if he got hurt?
And I knew if I had gotten close to him, I may have fallen for him, too.
As much as I loved the boy and his fiery spirit, as much as I admired his desire to better himself and his Familia, as much as I respected his courage and determination, I had to remain at a distance. I couldn't let my affection for him distract me from the challenges that lay ahead.
The Familia was a family after all and that meant looking after each other. They had to come first. That meant I had to make some difficult decisions, ones that I later regretted. I had always been the hard-headed pragmatist, and often rejected Bell Cranel's idealism. But I did not always disagree with him. I saw his potential and admired it, though I tried not to show it. I could see how far he was willing to go for the sake of his Familia and his ideals, even when it came at a cost to himself.
What I did know, however, was that Bell Cranel was meant for great things. His presence had already begun to shape the Familia and the path forward.
But little did I know that destiny would bring our hearts together. The more time I spent with him, the more my heart began to race. I sighed, remembering the day I first met Bell in the Dungeon's Under Resort. His wide, curious eyes and eager smile had struck a chord within me. From the very start, I could feel my heart opening up to him. I'd seen that spark in his eyes, that same determination to succeed and better himself, just like me.
I also remember my encounter with him in the plaza. He couldn't even look me in the eye, but I found him so endearing. I wanted to reach out, to connect with him somehow, but I didn't know how. I wanted to find out everything I could about him.
There was no denying his unwavering spirit and potential. His aura, his drive and dedication - they were infectious. I found myself drawn to him.
But there was more to Bell than his outward appearance. There was something deeper, something that only few got to see.
He had an inner light that seemed to shine brighter with every passing day. It drew me in and made me want to be near him. But I never got the chance. Fate seemed determined to keep us apart.
I would be lying if I said I hadn't found myself fantasizing about what it would be like to be with him. I knew deep down that he was special, that he could be the one to change my life, but I pushed those thoughts aside. I didn't want to get my hopes up only for them to be shattered.
Yet, despite everything, my heart still yearned for him. My feelings were growing stronger and stronger, but I feared that I would never get the chance to be with him.
Until destiny intervened.
After all this time, the fates had finally given me a chance to be with Bell. And our bond would unlock an ancient power that could not only save Orario, but the entire world.
Our adventure together not only changed me forever, but also the entire course of history. A modern heroic tale that would be passed down thousands of future generations.
I had always thought that Bell Cranel and I had nothing in common. But apparently, I was wrong.
Because I know him. And I love him.