Leo's eyes shoot open as he quickly sits up, and sweat drips down the sides of his face as he looks off with an unfocused stare. He glances at his hands and stares with wide eyes. Small arcs of purple lightning bounce between his fingers before they disappear into his hand.

"It wasn't a dream?" He whispers, confused, and he lets his hands fall onto his lap as his brows furrow. 'Wait, where am I?' he thinks as he takes in his surroundings.

He currently sat on a large canopy bed, its frame carved from rich mahogany and draped with sumptuous silks and velvets in shades of deep blue and silver. A plush mattress, adorned with soft pillows and fine linens, invited one to sink into its embrace and drift off into dreams of distant lands and forgotten realms.

Nearby, a writing desk nestled against the wall, its surface cluttered with scrolls and tomes filled with the knowledge and wisdom of ages past. A quill and inkwell stood at the ready, ready to write down on a blank scroll.

On the opposite side of the room, a small sitting area beckoned with its inviting armchairs and low table. A delicate tea set, adorned with intricate designs and delicate porcelain, stood ready to be used.

Throughout the room, shelves lined with books and large tomes filled with knowledge. Paintings and tapestries adorned the walls, depicting scenes of natural beauty and elven lore, their vibrant colors adding warmth and depth to the space.

The large oak door slowly opens, and someone familiar walks in. She has long, flowing green hair with sharp ears peeking out of each side of her head.

"Ah, you're awake. How are you feeling?" She asks, and Leo glances at her and gives her a friendly smile. "I feel fine; I haven't slept that well in awhile." He says this while stretching his back.

The jade-haired elven beauty smiles slightly. "I'm glad nothing seems amiss. You gave me quite a shock when we found you unconscious in the dungeon. Leo, do you remember anything?" She asks curiously, and Leo puts on a thought-filled expression before nodding his head.

"Yeah. I thought it was a very real dream. I was using lightning magic and killing monsters. Towards the end, something strange happened. It felt like I exploded; lightning came out of every part of my body. It felt like the dungeon was coming down on top of me." He explains that, and Riveria puts on her own thought-filled expression as she thinks about all the knowledge she knows about magic.

"Intresting, I was curious as to why you were emitting small bolts of electricity from your body." Riveria says, and as she begins to rack her mind around it, Leo once again takes in the room with a small smile.

"This is a nice room. Am I in your familia home?" He asks, and she nods her head and gives him a small smile. "Yeah, I wanted to watch over your condition since it had to deal with magic. So me and Ais brought you here; you are currently staying in my room."

"That explains why it feels more refined. Like I said, nice room, I like it." He says this while smiling and looking around. Leo gently takes off the sheet that was covering his legs and slides them off the side of the comfy bed.

"Thank you for the compliment. I cleaned the wounds you had; unfortunately, your shirt was in tatters when we found you." She says, slightly turning red from seeing his uncovered torso, and Leo rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Sorry, I know it must be uncomfortable for you to see me like this. Also, thank you. I would have probably been monster food or worse by now; once again, you two saved my hide." Leo says it with a wide smile. The tips of Riveria's ears slightly turn red, but she gives him a friendly smile.

"It was no problem. Now, some of the others want to meet you."

She began to lead Leo around the Loki estate, which was much larger than his familia's since they lived in a basement. Some rookie recruits keep glancing at the two curiously before hushed whispers break around them. Riveria stops in front of a door and knocks a few times before opening it.

Walking in, a few noticeable people can be seen sitting around. A small, blonde-haired young man gives him a friendly smile.

He stands next to a brown-haired, burly-looking dwarven man; he has a small snake skin in his hand and gives Leo a friendly smirk.

Sitting on a table with a bottle of alcohol in hand is a woman with flowing red hair tied in a ponytail.

"Oh, if it isn't white hair! I remember you when you punched Bete in the face." She says it cheerfully before taking a long swig from her bottle.

"How do you do, ma'am? I'm Leo Cranel." He says bowing towards the three, the dwarf lets out a hearty chuckle.

"Good to meet you, lad. You gave that pup a nice punch. Good on ya!" He says it heartily. Leo gives a strained smile, not wanting to remember the insults he received that day.

"My name is Finn Deimne; everyone calls me captain or Finn. How are you feeling?" Finn asks with a concerned expression. Leo waves his hand dismissively.

"Better, I wasn't even aware I was in the dungeon. I thought it was all a dream." Leo states. The others glanced at him curiously at the new information.

"That is interesting."

"Ms. Riveria said you all wanted to see me." Leo asks curiously. The red-haired woman chuckles before hopping off the desk and walking over to him. She throws her arm over his shoulder and gives him a wide grin.

"We just wanted to make sure you're okay. When Mama Elf and Ais came back with you, we were concerned. We didn't think you'd wake up for a few days, but it's only been a few hours; you impress me, boy." She says, looking directly into his eyes, Leo tilts his head slightly.

"How long have I been here?"

"It's early morning still. I'd say around 7:00 a.m. They brought you back around 3:00 AM." Finn explains. The dwarven man lets out a hearty chuckle before taking a swig of his snake skin.

"Knife ears over here was worried; should have seen her here pacing the halls, muttering to herself." He says, shooting Riveria a wide grin, the jade-haired elven beauty rubs one of her temples.

"I was trying to think of an explanation for what happened to him in the dungeon. It's not uncommon for young mages to experience such things, especially when their abilities are still developing. With Leo's case, I've never seen a spell backfire to that extent."

"Don't worry about that now; you've been working all night! Go and get some rest and relax." The red-haired woman says, Riveria sighs and shakes her head.

"I have to begin teaching Lefiya her lessons soon; I was just making sure nothing was wrong with Leo's magical flow. Now, if you'll excuse me, Loki." She says this while bowing to the red-haired woman. She gives Leo a friendly smile before leaving through the door. Leo glances at the woman, who has her arm still draped over his shoulder.

"Shit, forgive me, Lady Loki."

The goddess looks at him confused; she raises one of her eyebrows.

"Why are you apologizing? You didn't drink all my mead, did you?!" She questions loudly, and he watches as the goddess runs over to a cabnit and opens it, revealing rows of sealed bottles of mead, rum, whiskey, and wine.

"Uh, no. I just didn't realize you were the goddess Loki. What I did could have started something between my familia and yours." Leo says as he sheepishly rubs the back of his neck. The dwarven man laughs heartily and slaps his knee.

"Lad, are you now just thinking about that? I like you; I hope we can work together in the future." He says it with a wide smile.

"We're at fault for that whole incident. Bete is known to get routy when he drinks. As the Loki Familia captain, I would like to apologize for what one of our members said about you and your brother." He says, while bowing deeply towards Leo, the young man gives a dismissive wave.

"You don't have to bow, besides; I did punch him, so we're even." Leo says with a small smile, Finn stands up and nods his head.

"You're free to leave whenever you like; we're just glad you're okay. I hope in the future our familia's can work together." Finn says.

"Likewise. I should probably leave; my brother is probably wondering where I am. Thank you for saving my hide again; it seems like I owe the Loki familia two favors." He says this before walking out of the door Riveria had before.

15 Minutes Later...

Opening the door to the basment where Leo lives, he is greeted with the sight of Hestia updating Bell's status. She stares at his back with wide eyes as his points fluctuate to the correct combination.

"Magic! You developed magic!" Hestia shouts in shock. Leo smirks and leans against the nearby wall.

"Wha-" Bell shouts as he quickly sits up, knocking Hestia off his back. The small goddess rolls backwards and lands on her head, too stunned to move.

"Goddess?" He asks, wondering if she's okay. Leo snorts in amusement. "It looks like you've got what you've always wanted." Leo calls out, making his presence known.

"Leo?! Where have you been?! When I woke up, you were gone!" Bell shouts towards his brother.

"You're not the only one with magic, little brother. I guess I was sleepwalking and ended up in the dungeon. Something weird happened to me, but luckily Ais and Riveria saved me and brought me back to the Loki familia manor." Leo explains. Stars seem to form in Bell's eyes as he quickly appears in front of his brother with childlike glee.

"You got magic too!? What kind is it?! How big of a spell is it?!" He asks multiple questions rapidly. Leo laughs and ruffles Bell's hair.

"I'm not sure; I think it might be lightning-based. Electricity seemed to explode out of me in the dungeon. Anyway, let goddess Hestia update your status; I want to see how much you've improved." Leo says. Bell rapidly nods and kneels in front of the still-shocked godess. The small goddess quickly sits up and glares over at Leo.

"Wait! Flat-chest's familia helped you?! No, I forbid either of you from interacting with them again." She declares, and Leo sighs and shakes his head.

"You can't do that. As long as the children of a god or goddess don't trade familia secrets, they are allowed to interact with anyone they want. Now, update Bell's status, please."

Hestia grumbles under her breath and quickly updates his status. She puts a piece of paper against his back and draws an infinity sign a few times before peeling it away.

Leo makes his way over to Bell, peers over his shoulder, and reads his status update.

Bell Cranel

Level 1

Strength: I 82 - G 202

Vitality: I 13 - H 159

Dexterity: I 93 - G 289

Agility: H 172 - F 387

Magic: I 0

Luck: I

Skills: ...-..

Magic Spells: Firebolt

Bell begins trembling in excitement as he stares at his new magic spell. He quickly looks up at Leo and holds out the paper with childlike glee.

"Leo! Magic! I have magic!" Bell says it excidedly as he hugs the paper to his chest. Leo nods his head with a small smile.

"I'm happy for you, Bell. Goddess Hestia, can you update my status as well?" He asks, to which he gets a small nod. He kneels in front of the small goddess and lets her do her magic. The young man glances up at his brother to see him still fixated on his status page.

A few minutes pass, and Hestia finishes with Leo's status. She glances at the page and sees that he also has magic, which surprises her.

"You both really do have magic." She says with a serious expression. She hands Leo his status paper, and he looks it over.

Leo Cranel

Level 1

Strength: H 162 - F 387

Vitality: I 40 - G 202

Dexterity: I 63 - H 189

Agility: I 81 - G 200

Magic: I 0 - H 140

Skills: ...-...

Magic Spells: Lightning Bolt

"Firebolt and Lightningbolt. I never thought either of you'd develop magic!" Hestia says she looks down at the floor and begins to mumble under her breath. "It's because of those skills, too." She whispers to herself.

"Leo! W-We can both use magic now!" He says it excidedly. Leo chuckles and shakes his head, amused at how Bell is acting.

"Yeah, now we can kick even more ass!" Leo says, pumping his fist. Hestia silently stands up, walks over to the little couch, and pats the seat next to her with a serious expression. Bell gets up and sits beside her, while Leo leans against the wall to her right. She examines both of their status papers with a furrowed brow; her eyes bounce between the two magic spells her children have.

"Bell, Leo. You know you need a chant, a spell to use magic, right?" She asks, both brothers nod, letting her continue. She sighs as a serious aura covers her. The usual carefree goddess is unnaturally serious.

"Normally, when you first become able to use magic, the spell is displayed along with your status. But in your case, there's nothing there except the note, "Swift-Strike Magic." Hestia says looking between the two.

"My guess is that maybe your magic doesn't need a chant. Either way, when you go into the dungeon tomorrow, give it a try on something." She says, smiling, before handing both brothers their status pages.

"Tomorrow?" Bell questions confused. Hestia smiles at him and gently pats his hand. "Don't worry, your magic isn't going anywhere."

Leo shakes his head and shares a look with Bell; both would be going into the dungeon later that night.

Later that night, both brothers quietly left the warm confines of the basement. Bell glances back towards the door that leads to their home with a regretful look.

"Sorry, goddess.." Bell whispers quietly, and Leo lightly pats him on the back with a small smirk.

"Don't worry about it. I'm just as excited as you are!"

Bell smiles and closes the door behind them. Slowly, they begin to make their way to the dungeon.

"Hey, Bell." He calls out. Curiously, Bell glances at him to see a mischevous smile on his face. Leo lightly pushes Bell back and begins running.

"Race you to the dungeon!" He calls out before running down the street. Bell chuckles and begins chasing after him.

The cool breeze whipped through their hair, their laughter echoing through the quiet streets of the city as they raced towards the dungeon.

With each stride, their spirits soared, their laughter ringing out. With speed and grace, both tried to overtake each other. Leo would leap or flip over objects in his path, such as closed carts, wagons, or barrels. Bell chuckles at seeing his brother nimbly jump over closed shops for the night. The young white-haired teen slides under the open stalls before rolling to his feet.

"Come on, Leo, you're falling behind!" Bell called out, his voice filled with playful competition as he surged ahead, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Leo laughed in response, and his own competitive spirit ignited as he quickened his pace to keep up with his twin brother. "Not a chance, Bell! I'm right behind you!" he shouted back, his voice filled with determination.

And so they raced on, their laughter and shouts reverberating around the quiet streets as they made their way towards their destination. They passed by the bustling Hostess of Fertility and winding alleyways, their surroundings a blur of color and motion as they raced towards the looming silhoette of the dungeon on the horizon.

As they neared their destination, Bell and Leo exchanged a knowing glance, their eyes alight with excitement and anticipation for the adventures that awaited them within the depths of the dungeon. With a final burst of speed, they surged forward, their laughter echoing through the air as they crossed the threshold.

Both were breathing heavily as they slowed down into a jog and continued into the depths of the dungeon.

"I think it was a tie." Leo said, and Bell nodded his head as he tried to regain his breath. "I think you're right; that was fun." Said Bell with a large smile on his face, Leo chuckled and clapped him on the back.

"Now, let's use some magic!" He shouts excidedly, and Bell shouts in agreement as they make their way deeper and deeper into the depths.

As the brothers round a corner, a small, hunched-over green humannoid mosnter can be seen. Both stop and stare. They watch as the small creature slowly stands up and faces them; it growls as its pirecing red eyes glare at the two adventurers.

Leo nudges Bell forward, signaling for him to use his spell first. The white-haired young man steps forward and slowly aims one of his open palms at the green creature. It growls and begins jogging at them, brandishing its long claws and sharp teeth.

Bell takes a deep breath before focusing on his opponent in front of him. He tightly holds the wrist of his open palmed hand.

"Firebolt!" He shouts. His palm glows bright orange before it explodes out and shoots forwards towards the creature. The spell slightly knocks him backwards, but he stands his ground.

Leo and Bell watch as the Firebolt speeds through the air before colliding with the goblin's chest; instantly, the small green humannoid is turned to ash. The only thing left behind was his monster stone. Bell starts to tremble slightly as he stares at his hand in awe.

"It worked..." He trails off, and a wide smile graces his face as he jumps in pure joy. "All right!" He cheers excitedly. Leo laughs and smiles, seeing his brother so happy.

"That was awesome, Bell!" Leo cheered, and Bell glanced back at him and gave a nod before speeding down the open hallway.

"Firebolt! Firebolt!" He shouts repealedly as he destroys any monsters in his path. Leo sighs and chases after him while grabbing the monster stones left behind.

"Wait up, Bell! Don't use up all your magic!" He shouts, but it falls on deaf ears. Bell is too excited and keeps shooting his magic over and over.

30 minutes later...

The two brothers have ventured deeper into some of the lower floors; currently, they are on floor 10, the furthest they have ever been. Leo quickly put up his guard and followed behind his excided brother as he kept shooting off his firebolt.

After one final firebolt, Bell comes to a stop and is breathing raggedly, sweat dripping down his head.

"I didn't mean to run this far down. Sorry about that, Leo. We should head back up." Bell says. Leo. The young man shakes his head and smiles at his brother.

"Don't worry about it. I take it, you like your magic?" He asks, and Bell nods his head with a tired smile. "Y-Yeah, it's awesome! I can't wait-" He trails off as his eyes roll into the back of his head and he falls to the ground. Leo quickly reacts and catches him.

"It looks like you got a little TOO excided, little brother." He whispers quietly, and he glances to see Bell asleep with a wide smile on his face. Leo chuckles and shakes his head. Bell has always been like this since they were kids, easily excided at things he's interested in.

"Let's get you home." Leo says as he lifts Bell onto his back and begins his slow journey back.

-XXX-

High above Orario, Freya can be seen watching the two brothers with a smile. Everything was going according to her plan, she takes a small sip of her wine. She watches as Bell passes out after using all his magic, she turns her head towards the side to see a large man standing off to the side.

"Ottar." She said loud enough for the Boaz to hear, the man takes a few steps forwards before kneeling on the spot.

"Yes, lady Freya?" He asked her.

"Is my present ready?" She asks sweetly.

"Yes, it should be making it's way up to floor 10."

"Ufufufu~ This excitement is getting me hot, I can't wait to see what my Odr does~" She says as a large blush makes it's way onto her face, one of her hands slowly slide down her stomach and towards her nether region as she watches with bated breath for what happens next to Bell and Leo.

-XXX-

As Leo staggered through the dimly lit corridors of the eighth floor of the dungeon, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he carried his unconscious brother on his back. A gleam of sweat drips down his chin, as the weight of Bell's body pressed down upon him, each step started to become a little more difficult than the last. The encroaching darkness had begun to feel like it would swallow them up, the only sound that reverberates around the damp corridor is Leo's quick breathing.

Suddenly, a deep, guttural roar echoed through the shadows, sending a shiver of fear down Leo's spine. Instinctively, he tightened his grip on Bell's unconscious form, his senses on high alert as he scanned the darkness for any sign of danger.

And then, emerging from the shadows like a specter of doom, came a minotaur—a towering behemoth of muscle and fury, its pircing red eyes gleaming in the dim light as it charged towards them with a primal roar of rage.

With a surge of adrenaline, Leo's mind raced with fear and uncertainty. He knew that he was still no match for a minotaur, exhaustion slowly began to catch up to him. But with Bell's life hanging in the balance, he had no choice but to stand his ground and face the creature head-on.

Summoning every once of strength in his body, he tensed his legs, and squared his shoulders as he braced himself for the impending clash. With a firece cry, the two figures clashed, his heart pounding in his chest as he felt his muscles flex to their limit to battle the primal power of the minotuar.

The large beast gritted his teeth, the veins in his head flexed as he let out a primal roar and lifted Leo and Bell into the air. Like throwing a rock, he launched the twins into a nearby wall. Without thinking, Leo quickly shifted Bell to his front and held him tightly against his chest shielding him from the impact.

Leo slammed against the wall slightly embedding into it, saliva and bile spewed out of his mouth before he began breaking out into a coughing fit. His body began to tremble as the blade of death hangs over his head.

His eyes glance down to Bell's body, he checks him over for any wounds but doesn't see any. A deep snarling growl snaps him back to the dire situation the two are in, Leo gently sets Bell against the wall as he takes in quick, deep breaths. The minotuar titls his head curiously as he glares down at the two before setting his eyes on Bell.

A wave of anger filled Leo, he instinctively stepped infront of his unconsious brothers body and glared at the towering beast.

"I won't let you touch him." Leo growled out.

The minotaur snorted, pawing the ground as it prepared to charge. Leo braced himself, every muscle tensing in anticipation.

The beast lunged, and Leo met it head-on. The impact was jarring, the force nearly knocking him off his feet. He threw a punch at the minotaur, his fist slamming into its body. But the behmouth barely seemed to notice, its rage only intensifying.

Leo danced around the minotuar, using his agility to stay out of its reach. He struck whenever he saw an opening, each blow calculated and precise. But the minotaur was relentless, its attacks growing.

In a desperate move, Leo aimed for the minotaur's legs, hoping to slow it down. He slammed his leg against the creatures large thigh hoping to break the bone under all the muscle, and the beast roared in pain, stumbling.

But it wasn't enough. The minotuar recovered quickly, its massive fist swinging towards Leo. He barely managed to dodge, the force of the blow brushing past him. He needed a new strategy, and fast.

Leo's mind raced as he fought, trying to find a way to defeat the minotaur. He couldn't afford to make any mistakes. One wrong move, and both he and Bell would be finished. He feinted to the left, drawing the minotuar's attention, then lunged to the right, punching at its side.

The minotuar bellowed, swinging its arm wildly. Leo ducked and rolled, coming up behind the beast and striking again. The minotaur's rage reached a fever pitch. It charged at Leo, its horns aimed to impale. Leo sidestepped at the last second, he spun his body and slammed his foot into the minotuar's neck.

The creature howled, but instead of retreating, it turned with surprising speed, its hand catching Leo and sending him flying. Leo hit the ground hard, pain radiating through his body. He struggled to his feet, his vision blurred. The minotaur was already closing in, its eyes filled with murderous intent.

Leo's fists tighten, his resolve hardening. He couldn't let the minotaur get past him. He had to protect Bell, no matter the cost.

As the minotaur charged again, Leo stood his ground. At the last moment, he leaped to the side, and unleashed a flurry of hard punches. The beast grunted from each hit, a deep growl emenated from its throat as its rage increases.

But Leo wasn't finished. He pressed the attack, his movements a blur of speed and precision. He struck again and again, each blow aimed to wear the minotaur down. Blood began to drip down the minotuar's snout and nostrills, but it faught on, driven by a relentless fury.

The battle seemed endless, each second stretching into eternity. Leo's body screamed in protest, every muscle burning with exhaustion. But he refused to give in. He couldn't fail. Not now.

Finally, he saw his chance. The minotaur, staggered and bleeding. Leo lunged, his arm cocked back ready to land the final blow. The minotuar seemed to have a second wind because it was a faint.

It's blazing red eyes seem to glow in fury as it weaved past Leo's punch, the beast grabbed the young man by the arm and tossed him like a pebble being skipped across a river.

Leo felt the impact of the stone wall as all the air was knocked out of his lungs, bile mixed with blood drips down the side of his mouth as he looks up with blurry vision.

The minotuar turns its attention away from Leo and towards Bell, the large echoing steps getting closer with each passing second. Leo tries to force his body up to protect Bell but he remains motionless on the ground.

'Get up. GET THE FUCK UP!' Leo roared in his mind, yelling at his body. He watched as the minotaur towered over Bell, his heart stopped at the sight. Time seemed to slow down with the only sound being Leo's heart beating in his ears.

The minotuar just stood their looking down at Bell's unconsious body, its eyes flashed a deep purple as it turned towards Leo, its once red eyes now completely purple as it stared at the wide eyed Leo.

The young adventurer watched as the beast slowly turned and began to walk down the dark corridor. For what felt like forever, Leo slowly stood up on shaky legs. His vision swam, and he felt his strength draining away. He staggered over to where Bell lay, collapsing beside him. With his last bit of energy, he reached out, touching his brother's hand.

"Your safe, Bell," he whispered, before darkness claimed him.

As Leo lay on the cold dungeon floor, his consciousness fading, memories began to flood his mind. He saw himself and Bell as children, their bond as strong as ever. They had always been inseparable, two halves of a whole.

A younger Leo and Bell, no older than ten, ran through a sunlit field. Their laughter filled the air as they chased each other, carefree and happy. Leo was always the protector, the one who watched over Bell, even then.

"Come on, Bell! You can do it!" Leo encouraged, his eyes shining with pride as Bell attempted to climb a tree. Bell struggled, but with Leo's guidance, he made it to the top. They sat on a branch, looking out over the fields, feeling invincible.

"We'll always be together, right, Leo?" Bell asked, his voice full of trust.

Leo smiled, ruffling Bell's hair. "Always, Bell. I'll always protect you."

The memory shifted, and Leo saw himself and Bell, older now, standing in the dark cabin reading the note sent to them from the guild telling them of their grandpa's death. Bell had tears dripping down his face as he read, Leo stood strong but deep inside he was heartbroken from the loss.

"H-He's gone, isn't he Leo?" Bell whimpered out, Leo pulled his brother into a tight embrace trying to sooth his sorrow.

"It seems like he is gone. But we still have eachother, don't worry."

Bell tightly held onto the only family he had left in the world worried he'd dissappear.

Back in the present, Leo's heart ached with the weight of those memories. Bell had always been his priority, his reason for fighting. And now, as he lay on the verge of unconsciousness, that bond gave him the strength to keep going.

He forced his eyes open, his vision blurry but focused on Bell. He couldn't give up. Not now. Not when Bell needed him.

Leo's consciousness flickered, but he forced himself to stay awake. He couldn't afford to pass out. Not yet. The minotaur had left them for an unknown reason, but the dungeoun was still full of dangers. He had to get Bell to safety.

Summoning the last of his strength, Leo pushed himself up. His body protested every movement, but he ignored the pain. He ripped the tattered remains of his shirt and carefully lifted Bell onto his back again. The journey out of the dungeon seemed impossibly long, but Leo refused to give in to the darkness creeping at the edge of his vision.

He moved slowly, each step a struggle. The weight of Bell on his back was both a burden and a reminder of why he couldn't stop. Every time his knees threatened to buckle, he thought of Bell's smile, of the promise he made to always protect him.

The dungeon's monsters seemed to sense their vulnerability. They appeared from the shadows, eyes gleaming with malice. Leo raised his shaky arm and spoke in a deep shaky voice.

"Lightning Bolt!" He shouted, the crackiling sound of lightning shot out of his hand and slammed into the group of monsters blocking their path, shrieks of pain reverberate around the walls before they dissappear into dust leaving behind the magic stones.

A group of kobolds ambushed them, their snarls filling the air. Leo gritted his teeth and fought through the pain, he raised his arm and fired off another lightning bolt. He had to keep going, he had to protect Bell.

As he stumbled through the dungeon, a faint light appeared in the distance. Hope surged through Leo. They were close to the exit. He pushed himself harder, every muscle screaming in protest.

Finally, he emereged from the darkness into the dim light of the dungeon's entrance. The sight of the familiar path filled him with relief. They were almost home.

-XXX-

A small giggle can be heard before it evloved into a fit of laughter, Freya covers her mouth with one hand as she stares out into all of Orario, a deep blush on her face but a small tinge of dissapointment in her eyes.

"My lady, was it really a good idea to push him to that extent?" Ottar questioned. The goddess of beauty tured to her favorite child and smiled as she picked up a glass of wine.

"Oh, Ottar. It was magnficent, he's getting stronger. I now know what drives him, it's my Odr." She says lightly licking her lips, her eyes are drawn to Leo and Bell. Their souls shine an even brighter shade of white, but a mix of green is mixed into Leo's soul.

"What would you like me to do, my lady?" Ottar asked as he kneeled before his goddess, Freya stands up and smirks as her eyes shine a bright purple.

"It seems our present needs more work, please see to it." She says before walking over to the window to look out at all of Orario, Ottar nods before quickly leaving behind a laughing Freya.

"You will be mine, but not yet."

-XXX-

Leo's strength was nearly gone, but he refused to stop. He carried Bell along the main path, gaining many stares. People looked at his appearance and slightly winced but kept to themselves's. Leo's steps faltered, but he kept going, driven by sheer willpower.

As they neared a familiar building, a girl could be seen sweeping the front steps. She looked up, her eyes widening in concern as she saw Leo's condition.

"Leo! Bell!" Anya called out, rushing to their side. She helped ease Bell off Leo; her touch was gentle but firm.

"He's unconscious," Leo said, his voice weak. "He used too much mana; can we rest in the hostess?"

Anya nodded and helped Leo carry Bell into the hostess. Upon entering Mia, Ryuu's eyes widen at seeing Leo's appearance and Bell's unconscious body.

"Anya, Ryuu, take em upstairs. I'll be up in a bit with a bucket and warm cloth." Mia said as she disappeared into the kitchen.

The journey upstairs was a blur. Leo's vision swam, and he could barely keep his eyes open. The comforting presence of Anya and Ryuu reassured him, and he allowed himself to lean on Ryuu for support.

Letting himself relax, Leo succumbed to the darkness that was at the sides of his vision. The last thing he saw was a bright green glow before everything went dark.