Orario and the Ghost of Sparta
Chapter 5
"The Grimoire"
At a tavern one night, Hestia was drowning her broken heart in a mug of beer while pouring her sorrow out before Miach, who was sitting at the same table as her. "Can you believe that, Miach?! All this time, my Bell was...he was cheating on me! What's wrong with him, darn it! He belongs to me!" she said as her mood went from angry to sad. "Come on now, Hestia, the boy doesn't belong to anyone. Besides, you're not married to him as it's against the rules for a human to marry a goddess." Miach pointed out.
"Don't you think I know that he's not my property? It's just an expression. He just doesn't get it! And neither do you. He's the only human that I ever felt a connection with!" Hestia responded as she drank down the rest of her beer before ordering another mug, then another, and another, and drinking them all down, separately. "Why?! Tell me! I'm begging you not to leave me, Bell, I'll do anything!" she cried out, drunkenly, before falling onto the table.
"I think it's best if you return home now, Hestia. You're making a scene being this loud." Miach suggested. "Why'd he do it? I love him, Miach. I LOVE HIM!" Hestia continued on in her drunken stupor. She felt just as bad from the hangover the next morning after Bell and Mordecai brought her home. "Are you okay, goddess Hestia?" Bell asked before she grabbed the cup of water he was holding for her and gulped it down. "Is something wrong? You're acting kind of weird." he asked.
'That's what happens when you get a hangover like she did. Another reason why tavern drinks make me sick to my stomach.' Mordecai thought. "I'm fine." Hestia said at last. 'Whatever. Who cares what you think, dirty cheater.' she thought as Bell put a cold compress on her head. "Oh, goddess? This might be a bad time, but when's the next day you're off of work?" Bell asked. "Off work? What do you mean?" Hestia asked back.
"Well, see, Bell has been making plenty of money from his Dungeon diving recently, and he figured that he should use the money to thank a certain someone for all they've done for him." Mordecai explained. "He's right. So, would you, maybe, like to go out for a fancy dinner sometime? Just the two of us?" Bell asked. "You mean, like, a date?" Hestia asked back. "If that's how you want to put it." Bell responded. "How's today?" Hestia asked. "Isn't that a bit soon?" Mordecai asked.
"Maybe, but no time like the present, right?" Hestia responded. "Wait a minute, I thought you weren't feeling well. After all, I found you outside a tavern and had to bring you here." Mordecai pointed out. "Well, you know us deities, we don't stay down for long." Hestia stated before heading to her closet and smelling her wrists. "Bell, meet me at six o'clock sharp tonight at the southwest main street of Moor Plaza. Okay?" she said. "Well, since I have work to do down in the Dungeon with Vego, I'll let you two get along with your, excursion." Mordecai said, glad the whole ordeal was over.
Later, Mordecai and Vego were down in the Dungeon, picking up their spoils after a battle. "I must admit, you seem to know exactly when and where you're opponents are going to strike." Vego pointed out as he collected some magic stones. "Well, it's all due to my skill, my friend." Mordecai responded, referring to his Enemy Tracking skill. Soon, he saw, not one, not two, but three oncoming creatures on the ceiling and walls called Dungeon Lizards. Instinctually, he grabbed his javelin, knowing that they were ambush monsters.
"Vego, behind you!" Mordecai shouted as he threw his javelin. But as he threw it, he noticed electricity sparking from his hands, onto the weapon. And when the javelin struck one Dungeon Lizard, the other two were electrocuted along with the first, destroying all three of them, essentially, in one shot. Vego looked behind him just in time to see the electricity leaving the javelin and then looked to Mordecai, staring in bewilderment.
"Was that you?" Vego asked. "I think so. I think, I just...I just used magic!" Mordecai answered as he looked at his hand, which still had some electricity crackling between the fingers. "I also think my javelin was thrown faster than usual." he added as he grabbed his weapon and pulled it down from the ceiling. "I bet lord Kratos will be amazed." Vego said. "Maybe. I also wonder how Hestia and Bell will get along with their dinner date." Mordecai responded.
Later that evening, Bell was at the designated place, waiting for Hestia while also looking nervous as he saw several couples having moments together. That's when he heard her call. "I'm so sorry. Did I keep you waiting?" she asked as she ran up, looking more human than usual. "No, not at all. I actually only got here just a minute ago." Bell responded. But before Hestia could take Bell's hand, something unexpected came about. "Is that him?" asked a woman. "That's the boyfriend Hestia told us about at the temple baths?" asked another, indicating that they were goddesses.
The next thing they knew, Bell was surrounded by several goddesses and Hestia was pushed aside by said mob. "What are you ladies doing?" Bell asked as they started trying to cuddle with him, to Hestia's shock. "Oh, Hestia, we just couldn't resist. I'm so sorry, this is all too much." one of them said. "Demeter, you and the others should've kept your noses out of my business!" Hestia shouted, clearly upset at the goddess of the harvest before her look turned to shock as Bell ended up falling right into her arms, almost like he was hugging her.
"Well, isn't he simply adorable?" Demeter asked before hugging him. "Get. Your. Hands. OFF OF HIM!" Hestia yelled before grabbing Bell and running off. For the rest of the evening and into the night, Demeter and the other goddesses searched around town for Bell and Hestia before the two finally lost them. "I think we finally lost them." Bell said, completely exhausted. "The other goddesses always act like that. You pack of drooling hyenas!" Hestia shouted. "They kept us running around all day. So much for our date, huh?" she added, sadly.
"I don't know, it was still pretty fun. I mean, just look out there. It's not all that bad." Bell replied as he and she looked out and saw the view of the entire city from the bell tower they were inside of upon standing up. "Its beautiful." he said, to which his date nodded in agreement. "Hey, Hestia? Let's do this again sometime, only next time we should probably get dinner first." he suggested. "Yeah." Hestia replied before leaning her head on his right shoulder. "I'll be looking forward to it, Bell." she added.
Out at Mordecai's familia home, Kratos was updating his stats. "So, it would appear that you've learned some sort of magic." he said. "Yes, I have. I saw a Dungeon Lizard approach my supporter, Vego, from behind, so I knew I had to throw my javelin faster than I ever threw it before. As fast as lightning. And the next thing I knew, electricity flowed from my hand into my weapon and made the javelin fly faster than it had ever been thrown before." Mordecai explained as Kratos engraved his stats. "Well, it most certainly be useful. It is known as Electrojolt." the bald warrior said as he handed Mordecai his stat sheet.
"You have my word, I will only use this magical power for combat situations." Mordecai said. "Good. Now, I suggest you eat something. And you can tell me about this elf supporter of yours." Kratos replied, to which Mordecai nodded. 'What will Bell think when he finds out that I gained lightning magic?' he thought, curious about how his friend would react to the news.
Meanwhile, down on the city streets, Lili was cornered by a trio of adventurers. "Is that for me?" asked the leader of the gang, a raccoon-man named Canoe Belway, before taking a bag of Valis Lili was carrying. "So, then..." said Canoe before shaking the bag of Valis. "You say you got more than usual. Well, sorry, but it still ain't enough, though, is it?" he continued before chuckling. "You're lucky. A twerp like you wouldn't have a chance to join the Soma Familia." he said before putting his boot on her forehead. "You know who you have to thank, don't you?" he asked.
"It's, it's all because of the adventurers." Lili replied. "Darn right, little lady. Don't you forget that, and keep bringing in that cash!" Canoe responded before kicking Lili down the stairs, causing both him and his pals to mock and laugh. Lili soon rolled over to look up at the sky. "Who cares about those stupid adventurers? Seriously. Doesn't matter, anyway. I've almost got enough money saved up at this point. And I swear, I will get that knife back, too." she said softly before remembering how nice Bell was to her. "That guy is...so strange." she added.
The next day, at the Adventurers' Guild, Eina and Misha were hard at work. "So, did you hear about what happened, Eina?" Misha asked. "Another adventurer from the Soma Familia was able to rake in a ton of Valis out of nowhere." she explained. "Why are they always so preoccupied with making money?" Eina asked. "No idea. I mean, they've been selling so much alcohol, I don't see how that familia could possibly be hurting for cash." Misha replied. This caused Eina to wonder about something.
Meanwhile, down in the dungeon, Bell, Lili, Mordecai and Vego were battling some Killer Ants. "Master Bell, look out!" Lili shouted as a trio of horned rabbits called Almirajs, or Needle Rabbits, sprinted towards him. While Mordecai and Vego took out two of them, the third knocked Bell down, allowing a Killer Ant to prepare to strike. "Leave him alone!" Lili shouted before she pointed a red dagger at the creature, setting it on fire and allowing Bell to take it down.
"More Almirajs coming from the rear!" Vego shouted. "I've got them! Electrojolt!" Mordecai shouted as he let out an electrical bolt from his right hand, shocking all of the Almirajs in one shot. All the while, Lili was relieved that Bell was alright, only for her to realize what she did before putting away her knife. "Shoot, I wasn't supposed to use that." she said, to which Mordecai overheard with his sharp ears. 'I didn't see what, but Lili's hiding something in her cloak.' he thought.
Soon, three more Almairajs were destroyed, leaving the quartet of dungeon divers in the clear for the time being. "Are you okay, Master Bell?" Lili asked. "Uh huh. You saved me. Thank you." Bell replied. "Oh, sure think." Lili said. "Wait, did you used magic to attack that Killer Ant?" Bell asked. "You never mentioned anything about having magic, Lili." Vego pointed out. "No, I have a magic knife." Lili replied. 'So THAT's what she's hiding in her cloak. But magic weapons are pretty unreliable after a couple uses.' Mordecai thought.
"You really chose to use something that valuable for me? Thanks a lot." Bell said, grateful. "Don't mention it. I wanted to help you out, so..." Lili replied. "I think we get it, Lili. Speaking of magic, I have some of my own. It's called, Electrojolt." Mordecai said as he showed his hand was still sparking. A bit later, the group was having lunch. "Wow, magic sure is something, isn't it?" Bell asked as he opened his bento box and shared half the sandwiches with Lili. "Here, I thought you might be hungry." he said.
"Just like how I used to share my lunch with you, eh, Bell?" Mordecai asked as he and Vego split their own lunch. "Thank you very much." Lili said upon taking the other half of the lunch Bell had in his bento box. "Hey, Master Bell? Would it be okay if I took a day off tomorrow?" she asked. "That's cool. You've got something planned?" Bell asked back. "There's this big familia meeting, and I sorta have to be there." Lili replied. "But I know it's a breach of contract, so I'm prepared to pay the price." she continued.
"No, no, you don't have to do that. I should've said this before, but, I'm not like that, okay? If you ever want to take a day off, just let me know." Bell replied before taking a bite of his sandwich. Lili was, once again, confused by Bell's kindness towards her, despite the fact she called him strange and weird. Later, on the surface, Bell and Mordecai were returning their bento boxes to Syrr at Mama Mia's.
"Thank you for the sandwiches, Syrr." Mordecai said. "You're welcome. Taking a little break today, boys?" she replied. "Yeah, so now we've got some free time. What do you like doing on your days off, Miss Syrr?" Bell asked. "Let me see. I guess, read books." Syrr replied. "You never crossed me as a bookworm." Mordecai joked with a chuckle. "I'd do some reading myself, but goddess Hestia's books look a bit too complicated." Bell pointed out. "Speaking of books..." Mordecai said before pointing to one on a shelf behind Syrr. " 'Modern Magic That Even a Goblin Can Do'?" Bell read, curious.
"That sound like something you'd like? A customer left it here a while ago. I doubt they'll be back to get it, so you can borrow it, if you're interested." Syrr offered. "Wow. Are you sure?" Bell asked. "It's not trouble at all." Syrr replied as Bell took the book. "Just be sure to return it once you're finished reading it." she added. Later, Bell returned home and pulled out a stool to begin reading the book.
"Magic, huh?" he said before sitting down and opening the book. "Let's see... 'There are two types of magic; inherited magic depends on your race, and acquired is determined by a falna, or a blessing from a god or goddess.' " he read. " 'Acquired magic must be self-actualized. What interests you? What do you love, hate, desire, grieve, respect? Where does your devotion lay? The trigger always manifests from within.' " he continued.
As Bell pondered various questions that the book presented to him, other spiritual/mental versions of him asked them, like what the word magic meant to him, which was great power, a weapon against weakness, his own weakness. What magic looked like to him, which was fire, blazing hot and the opposite of the weak person he was. What it was he sought to become, which was quick as lightning, so he could be closer to the one he was pursuing, which was Ais Wallenstein, and so he could become a hero like the ones in the stories he used to read and be told by his grandfather, so he could be called a hero by his grandfather's spirit, at least once.
All the while, as Bell was facing these questions within himself, he fell asleep. Soon, Hestia arrived and called his name twice, which woke him up. "What's with you?" she asked. "Huh? Oh, goddess Hestia. What, what happened?" Bell replied. A bit later, Bell explained what happened as Hestia updated his stats. "So, you were reading some weird book and then you fell asleep?" she asked. "I guess so." he replied, causing Hestia to giggle a bit. "You're so cute." she said before looking more closely at his stats and getting a big surprise.
"What's the matter?" Bell asked. "Magic..." Hestia softly replied. "You can...use magic." she added, totally surprised, causing Bell to sit up in shock, knocking her backwards. "Oh, sorry about that." he said. A bit later, he had his stat sheet. "It's called Firebolt. I really never thought you'd pick up a magic ability." Hestia said, though Bell still couldn't believe his eyes and ears. "I bet it's because of that skill." she added, thought lowly so that Bell wouldn't be able to hear her.
"Wow! I can't believe I can actually use magic now!" Bell said with glee and jubilation. Hestia then took the stat sheet and motioned for Bell to sit on the sofa with her so she could better explain. "Look, Bell. I assume you've heard the only way to make magic work is by reciting a spell, right?" she asked, to which Bell nodded. "Usually, when you first gain a magic ability, an incantation or spell will appear along with your status. However, somehow, your status isn't telling me anything, except for Quick Attack Magic." she continued. "Yeah." Bell responded.
"I'm just guessing here, but I'm thinking that your magic doesn't require a spell at all." she said, surprising Bell. "Well, you should probably test it out when you go down into the Dungeon tomorrow." she suggested before handing him his stat sheet. "Tomorrow?" Bell asked. "Don't you worry, its your magic. Its not going anywhere, there's no need to rush." Hestia replied. Bell simply sighed and looked at his stats again before looking at Hestia.
Later that night, Bell snuck out of the church he and Hestia called home. "I hope you can forgive me, goddess, but there's no way I can wait to try it out." he said as he ran toward Babel and the entrance to the Dungeon, all the while, Hestia was dreaming about eating potato croquettes. Down in the dungeon, Bell spotted a Goblin not too far ahead of him and pointed his open left hand out. "Firebolt!" he shouted. Right then and there, a blast of fire came out of his open hand and destroyed the Goblin in one hit.
"Oh, Yeah! SWEEEEEET!" the boy shouted before he kept going from floor to floor blasting every monster he saw with Firebolt after Firebolt. Ultimately, he stopped to catch his breath on the fifth floor. "That was pretty dumb. I wound up pretty far in. I guess I should be heading back out now." he said before suddenly losing consciousness and collapsing. At the same time, Ais and her ally, Riveria, were just heading back up.
"Wait until they hear this. You've defeated a floor boss all by yourself." Riveria said with Ais behind her, part of her outfit torn from the battle. They soon reached the area where Bell was and saw him unconscious. "It looks like Mind Down. He must've used magic without actually knowing what would happen to him if he used it too much." Riveria said as she examined the boy.
"It's...him!" Ais said in soft surprise. "What's the matter, Ais? Do you know this guy?" Rivera asked. "Well, we haven't exactly spoken, but I've seen him down here, the day I saved him and his friend from the last of the minotaurs we accidently let escape that day." Ais answered. "I see. He must've been the one Bete was teasing and making a fool of at Mama Mia's. He and his friend are the poor souls who paid for our unfortunate mistake." Rivera said. "That's correct. So, I...I would like to make it up to him, and his friend, if I ever see him." Ais replied.
Inside of Bell's head, he felt himself sinking into water as Ais and Riveria spoke. "Then why don't you tell him what you told me?" Riveria asked. "I'm sure that'll be more than enough." she added. "Do you really think so?" Ais asked. "Trust me, it will. I'll go on ahead." Riveria replied. Soon, Bell regained consciousness and, due to his blurry vision, mistook Ais for his mother. "Mom?" Bell asked. "No. I'm sorry, but, I'm afraid I'm not your mother." Ais replied. "Am I dreaming?" Bell asked. " This isn't a dream, either." Ais replied as she stroked his head, only for Bell to freak out and roll away like a rock.
"Why does he always end up running away?" Ais wondered as she stared in the direction he went, perplexed. The next morning, Bell was in his home, ashamed at how he ran away from Ais for the second time just as Hestia woke up. "What's the matter, Bell? Have a bad dream?" she asked before seeing the book Bell read on the table. "Is this because of that book your read yesterday?" she asked before picking it up and looking through the pages before getting a look of shock on her face, with her reaction catching Bell's attention.
"What is it?" he asked. "Bell, that book you read wasn't any ordinary book. It was a grimoire." she replied before sitting down. "A grimoire?" he asked. "Yeah, it's a book that makes you able to use magic just by reading it, so its super powerful." she explained. "How did you get your hands on this thing?" she asked. "Hey, what's going on down here?" Mordecai called.
"Mordecai, what are you doing here?" Bell asked. "Well, I figured I'd drop in and wake you up a bit earlier than usual. What's going on?" Mordecai replied. "Well, it seems Bell got his hands on a grimoire yesterday, completely by accident. But the question is where." Hestia explained. "Wait, that book is a grimoire? And Bell READ it?! That means..." Mordecai replied in shock, knowing just what a grimoire could do. "Yeah, I can use Quick Attack Magic now, it's called Firebolt. And I can do it without a spell, apparently." Bell replied.
"But where did you get this thing?" Hestia asked. "Well, Bell and me saw it on a shelf at Mama Mia's, Syrr said that someone left it by mistake so she let us borrow it. I doubt she even KNOWS it's a grimoire." Mordecai answered. "Somebody LEFT this?! And the owner and/or waitresses had NO IDEA that it's a grimoire?!" Hestia asked, surprised before shrugging.
"Wait, what's the matter, goddess Hestia?" Bell asked. "I think you have no idea how rare something like that is and how stupid it was for someone to just 'leave' it lying around at Mama Mia's." Mordecai stated, thinking someone purposefully left it for him to find. "Okay, here's the thing, Bell, so listen up. Once one person reads it, all the power in the pages disappears without a trace." Hestia explained. "Meaning those pages are blank and empty. That grimoire may as well be an unwritten book now." Mordecai added as Bell flipped through the now blank pages before running to the door.
"And just where do you think you're going?" Hestia asked as Bell hit his nose against the wall. "I have to go apologize and tell Syrr what this book really was." Bell explained. "Well, if you're hoping for a way to reverse the effects of that thing, forget it. Obviously, you have no idea how much a grimoire is worth. It's practically the same price as a top-class item from Hephaestus herself, maybe more!" Hestia pointed out.
"Well, the best thing to do is to explain everything to Mama Mia and Syrr." Mordecai suggested. "I agree. You tell them that someone clearly didn't know how to be careful when they left it. There's no use trying to make the owner thing the book still has its power because if they reclaim it, they'll know someone read it the moment they open it." Hestia concurred. Later, Bell and Mordecai were doing just that.
"So, in short, I'm really sorry." Bell said. "Oh, dear, Bell. This is seriously terrible." Syrr said. "I agree, it's all the fault of whoever 'left' it here, though I highly doubt this was an accident." Mordecai stated. "What do you mean, not an accident?" Syrr asked. "Of course, who would leave a rare and powerful magical object like this in a restaurant, unless it was on purpose. I bet someone WANTED Bell to pick it up and read it." Mordecai replied.
"Well, if you think someone planted it here hoping for someone to read it and gain the magic inside, well, mission accomplished." Mama Mia said. "Yeah, but why would someone WANT someone else to read their grimoire? Who would want Bell to gain magic?" Mordecai asked. "I'm sure that'll reveal itself sooner or later." Mama Mia replied. "Well, Bell, there's nothing we can do about it now. Better head off to the Dungeon, huh?" Mordecai said to his young friend, who nodded before they both headed out.
Meanwhile, at a general store, Eina was looking around for something. "Let's see. Where can it be?" she wondered before she heard a voice, which turned out to be Loki, who was busy shopping with Riveria. "Aha! Check it out, Riveria! A jar of wine from the Soma Familia! Come on, let's get us some! Pretty please, mama?" she begged. "Don't call me that." Rivera replied. "I came to restock our supplies, not to buy you a bunch of alcohol." she stated.
"Lady Riveria!" Eina said in surprise. "Eina, what are you doing here?" Rivera asked. A bit later, Loki was outside the general store with the jar of Soma Familia branded wine in hand. "Thank you so much for buying her that. I didn't know how else to get her attention." Eina said as Loki cuddled the jar. "I would've been forced to do so anyway. At least this way, I can take comfort in knowing that it'll be useful to you." Riveria replied before turning her attention to Loki. "Okay, you promised. Answer her question, please." she said, bluntly.
"Okay, okay. So, you want to know what the Soma Familia is all about, right?" Loki asked. "Yes, please." Eina replied. "Well, how shall I explain this? I know what those guys worship, and it sure ain't Soma. Its wine." Loki said, causing Eina to seem perplexed by the revelation. Meanwhile, Lili was on her way to the dungeon, unaware that she was being tailed by someone. A bit later, she arrived there before Bell, Mordecai and Vego.
"Master Bell must be running late. He usually comes here along with Mr. Mordecai and Mr. Vego." she said. Suddenly, she was pulled away by an unseen figure. A moment after, Bell, Mordecai and Vego arrived. "Shouldn't Lili be here by now?" Bell wondered. "I agree, it's not like her to be the last one to show." Mordecai concurred. "Wait, there she is." Vego said after spotting her in between some nearby trees and being harassed by Canoe from the night before. "And she's got some bad company." he added. But as they go to try and help her, Ged blocks their way.
"Hey, there." he said. "What do you want, Ged?" Mordecai asked, suspiciously, as Bell recognized Ged from the day he and Mordecai first met Lili. "So, you hired the little street meat, did you? I guess you must've figured out what's going on, then, huh?" Ged asked. "What are you talking about?" Bell asked back. "Oh, don't even. Now check this out; I can help you get back at her and save your two friends the trouble." Ged replied, but Bell was seemingly hurt by Ged's proposal.
"Come on, what's that look for? I mean, you do want a piece of everything she's been stashing away, don't you?" he asked. "Think about it, it's just a few guys making a couple bucks off of some scheming little pack mule, am I right?" he suggested, which made Bell a bit angry. "No way." the stoic lad said before pushing Ged away. "No! Never." he said firmly. "Fine. Suit yourself, kid. You and your friends." Ged replied before walking away.
"Well, Vego, you had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting Ged the hothead." Mordecai said. "Master Bell." Lili said before all three of them realized she was behind them. "Were you standing there this whole time?" Bell asked. "So, that adventurer guy, what were the two of you talking about?" Lili asked back. "It was nothing important, just nonsense was coming out of his mouth." Mordecai replied. "Anyway, what about you? We saw you speaking to what looked like a raccoon-man and it looked rather serious. Are you alright?" Vego asked.
"I'm fine, Mr. Vego. It was nothing." Lili replied before walking toward the tower. "You ready to go, guys?" she asked. Without any other words, Bell, Mordecai and Vego followed behind Lili. 'Well, looks like it's about that time, huh?' she thought to herself, knowing she had to do something drastic.