Author's Note: Special thanks to Rexias for reviewing this chapter and my questionable grammar. Thank you all for the kind reception on the previous chapter as well.
"Slow down!" Yells a golden haired elf girl named Lefiya Verdis. She's panting furiously while running as fast as she can in chase of two panicked Minotaurs. Screaming in terror, their path is now leading up to the 5th floor of the dungeon. Running isn't usually her strong suit, but this goes doubly so, now that she's chasing a Monster that's running for its life from a familia of high level adventurers.
"This entire expedition I've been dead weight." Lefiya thought grimly to herself.
I've only managed to blast off my magic one time, while everyone else was risking their lives since the first monster showed up. I have to show everyone I'm not just a one trick pony." Thought the elf girl as she continued the chase with steadfast motivation.
She was fully entering the 5th floor now. The roars of both of the now stationary beasts are ringing in her ears. Suddenly, a high pitched scream that was akin to a rabbit in the sights of a predator, drew her attention.
"Aiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeee?!" She heard from a white haired boy she barely saw a glimpse of.
Just as she thought she caught up and could catch a breath, the two beasts took off in different directions. With absolute faith that her comrades were right behind her, she took off in the direction of the bull that chased the boy. Weaving in and out of multiple pathways at a quick pace, she soon lost sight of the monster.
"How was this boy so fast!?" The exhausted elf muttered wearily.
"URRRRRRROOOOOOARRRRRRR!" rumbled the beast from a hallway close by.
As quickly as she could, Lefiya switched directions and arrived in front of the boy and the beast.
"Stop it right there! There you are… finally." gasped out a fatigued Lefiya, finally able to catch her breath.
Looking at the massive bull, towering over the fear stricken boy, a feeling of righteousness flows into the girl.
Finally, I'm acting like a proper Loki Familia member. Somebody who's worthy of respect, someone that's actually useful. Lefiya thought to herself. A clear image of her comrades in her mind, with a special focus on a beautiful golden haired adventurer that she reveres.
However, in this brief moment of indulgence that she allowed herself, the beast flung itself at her, horns flared. She reflexively brings up her staff to block, expecting to overpower it with their clear difference in level, locking it within the bulls horns. Before she can process her next move, the Minotaur follows its own animalistic instincts and flicks its neck with a quick turn, sending the staff flying from her grip.
As Lefiya watches her staff clang against the wall, bouncing to the ground, pure panic washes over her. All of her self defense lessons come crashing into her mind simultaneously. On a good day, she's barely proficient in any real time hand to hand combat at all. This especially goes for a creature that's double her size like this.
As all of this takes place in the flash of a second within her mind, the beast raises it's arm towards a blank stared Lefiya, and swings it down towards her.
In almost that exact same moment, she's in mid air, pushed back by the boy she was supposed to be saving. As she falls backwards, never once looking away, she makes eye contact with the white haired human and sees a look of acceptance in his eyes.
The fist that was meant for her makes contact with the boy's stomach, creating a gruesome scene in front of her as he's smashed into the wall of the dungeon. Bones broken, blood pooling around him, as he tries to cough only for it to come out as a sickening choke. The overwhelmed Lefiya can't take her eyes off him, completely oblivious to the beast's victorious roar taking place directly in front of her. She's seen adventurers get injured plenty of times through her past expeditions, but this? This was nothing like that. It was like the Minotaur shredded through paper.
As the bull moves its eyes towards her again, a familiar dwarf releases a superhuman punch that explodes the beast in an instant.
"RIVERIA!" shouted the Dwarf that the elf girl knew as one of the Loki Familia executives, Gareth Landrock.
She sees him hurriedly rush over to check on the boy. As he carefully checks the pulse of the mangled young man's body, a minor look of relief arrives on his face.
"Yer a fighter boy, that's for sure." Mumbled the dwarf as he pulled out a potion from a pouch on his side.
"It ain't much, but hopefully it'll keep ye alive till Riveria gets here." The veteran adventurer spoke as he poured the uncorked potion on the boy. Sparkling red liquid covers his broken body, knitting what little it can back together. While not looking quite as close to death's door as before, a real healer is still needed urgently to confirm his survival.
"RIVERIA! Get yer ass over here!" Shouted the dwarf louder this time, now going to check on Lefiya. "How're ye faring?" He asks the still frozen young elf. A few seconds go by with no response from her when an older looking, green haired elf they know as Riveria comes rushing in.
"Gareth! What's wrong?" Said the regal elf, quickly scanning the room. Seeing the bloody remains of the minotaur on the walls and the young boy struggling to breath, she quickly puzzles together a good idea of what's happening.
"We have a near casualty on our hands. I used one of my potions but it's not enough, the bull really did a number on him." Stated Gareth seriously.
With a reserved nod, Riveria immediately kneels down beside the boy inspecting his wounds. Her expression is grim, as she sees just how injured the boy actually is. Her staff starts to glow as a soft green ball of light drops from it, washing over the boy.
Fil Eldis*
After a second, his bones start to move back into place with nauseating cracks sounding from all across his body. Wounds then begin to close as his breathing finally steadies.
Right around this time is when a small blonde man with a serious aura walks in the hallway with them.
"I told the others to wait a little ways back while this is handled." Spoke Finn Deimne, the Prum who is the primary captain of the Loki Familia. "How bad is it Riveria?"
"It's a miracle, but somehow he'll manage. He was on the brink of death when I got here. If Gareth didn't provide him with a health potion, I would've been too late." Reported the Vice-Captain of the Loki familia.
"Do we know what familia he's from?" Finn said, rubbing the bridges of his eyebrow. "This is not going to look good for us once word gets out." Sighed the Prum.
Riveria gently lifts him to his side to see if she can view the familiar markings on his back. Upon doing this, her expression becomes even graver than before.
"He… he doesn't have a blessing." The elf somberly said.
The other three's eyes widened in shock at this realization.
Lefiya begins to tremble, snapping out of her stunned state.
"He… he doesn't even have a status." she spoke, barely in a whisper. "He… protected me… when I was supposed to save him…" she began to sob, as she brought her hands to her face. "I'm sorry *hic* I'm so pathetic." Now coming out in full sobs. Riveria quickly comes over and wraps her arms around Lefiya. "It's okay." She gently said to her.
"Grab the boy, we'll take him back with us for now. It's the least we can do." Finn softly says to Gareth.
"Aye." Said the dwarf with a stern look as he walked over and picked up the boy.
Both Finn and Gareth walk out to meet back up with the rest of the familia while Riveria remained behind, with a crying Lefiya in her arms.
Back at the twilight manor*
At the top of the manor is a large room that's typically recognized as the goddess Loki's office. There's multiple bookshelves against the walls along with whatever other knick-knacks the trickster goddess collected over the years since her descent from heaven. Sitting in the center of the room at her desk was the goddess herself with a serious look on her face, and across from her, were the three top executives of her familia that she's familiarized herself with over the years.
With an exasperated sigh, Loki finally spoke after listening to their report of their recent expedition.
"So let me get this straight. After you came back from fighting never before seen acid spewing slugs on the 50th floor, you guys chose to come back early. Then after running into a party of Minotaurs, you guys terrified them so badly that they somehow ran all of the way to the 5th floor, and a rookie that doesn't even have a blessing was almost killed after protecting one of our own?"
Loki rubs her eyes tiredly, "If this is a joke it's not a very funny one." She finished with.
Finn steps up with his head slightly bowed. "I take full responsibility for this Loki. While the first class team did go against my orders to blow off steam from our failure in the depths, I should've intervened immediately." Spoke the Prum.
Riveria gives her head a shake of disagreement. "Don't be so hard on yourself Finn. None of us expected any of the Minotaurs to actually make it all of the way up to the 5th floor." She said.
Gareth gives a gruff nod in agreement.
Loki's eyes looked each individual in front of her up and down before releasing a breath that calms the tension within the room.
"How's Lefiya doing?" Loki asks, looking towards Riveria.
"She's… fine physically but still hasn't recovered from the shock of it. She's taking it really hard that the boy almost lost his life because of her. Luckily I got there when I did." Riveria said, carefully choosing her words.
"The lad has guts." Gareth chimed in with a rough voice. "He was shaking from his boots, but didn't hesitate a second when he pushed Lefiya out of the way."
Loki intakes this information with an inquisitive look. Based on the innocent young man she saw on Gareth's back during their arrival, she would've never guessed this, but Gareth rarely speaks of anyone like that.
"Well at the very least, I'll give him my personal thanks for putting his life on the line for Lefiya." Stated the trickster goddess as she stood up.
"Also, I'm sure we're in agreement here, but let's keep what happened to Lefiya a secret from the rest of the familia unless she decides otherwise." Loki said with a hushed finger to her lips. The three captains all gave a nod in agreement.
Bell is sleeping soundly in a guest room at the twilight manor. It's been several hours since Gareth and the others unloaded him here at the manor.
Creeeeak*
As the door to the room is casually opened, Bell wakes up immediately with a fright. Still vividly thinking about the dungeon and his inevitable death, he frantically looks about the room until his breathing soon steadies, realizing he's safe. He makes eye contact with the figure in front of him who just walked in, a small red haired, red eyed woman, with a height similar to his own.
"A bit frantic, aren't ya little rabbit?" Smirked the woman. "Well, not that I can blame ya, after hearing how that Minotaur had his way with you. How're you feeling?" She said looking at him intriguingly.
"Um, I feel great actually." Responded a still slightly confused Bell. Looking down at his body, he sees no remaining injury at all. "Did… you heal me?"
"Not me, but one of my kids did. It's the least we can do after ya took a hit for Lefiya. Thanks for that by the way." She answered.
A flash of realization appears on Bell's face as the golden haired elf is brought up.
"Is the girl fine!? Did she make it out?!" He quickly asked.
"Haha easy there kid, yeah she made it out without a scratch, physically at least." She said, breathing out a chuckle. "You're a wild one aren't ya? What's the world come to where someone without a blessing is worried about a full fledged adventurer? What were you doing down in the dungeon without a blessing anyway?" Finished the crimson haired woman.
Bell paused for a second, searching for the right words.
"I arrived at this city less than a month ago, planning to gain a blessing and explore the dungeon." He explained with hope in his voice.
After another brief pause, his expression dropped a bit.
"That was the plan at least. Every familia I applied to wouldn't even give me a chance to introduce myself." Bell explained further. "So with funds running out, I wasn't going to let that stop me. I decided to venture down anyway. I was doing okay until the Minotaur showed up." Bell finished explaining with a shudder.
"I'll continue my search for a familia soon, I still haven't given up." Spoke Bell with a resolute look in his eye.
The woman scanned Bell's expression as she listened to his words, thinking to herself. It's not completely unheard of for people to venture down to the dungeon without falna, though typically that's a suicide wish. Is he an idiot? She focuses on the resolute look in his eye. Or is he just determined? Gareth did speak up for him. This kid looks like fun.
A few moments passed after Bell finished his explanation. He begins feeling a bit squeamish as the woman he only just met is inspecting him up and down.
"Well kid, consider it your lucky day! How'd ya like to join my familia?" She enthusiastically said, holding out her hand and breaking the silence.
Bell's face that was disheartened only a moment ago is filled with excitement after hearing the offer. His month-long search is finally over!
"Thank you so much! I would love to!" He exclaimed, grabbing her hand and shaking it up and down.
While he's in the middle of doing this, a thought suddenly struck him hard.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" He nervously asked, rubbing the back of his head.
Frozen, the woman just blinks at him a couple of times like a deer in headlights, before she starts laughing hysterically.
"Hahahahaha, kid you're great! You're gonna be so much fun!" Spoke the goddess in between fits of laughter.
"I'm Loki, the Trickster Goddess. My familia is one of the strongest in Orario. You really haven't heard of me?" Responded the woman, wiping away her tears from laughing so hard.
Bell sheepishly just nods in agreement.
"What's your name, boy?" Loki asked.
"Bell Cranel." He answered.
"Well, welcome to the Loki Familia, Bell" Said the goddess with a mischievous grin spread across her face.
Bell can't take his eyes away from the sheet of paper in front of him,
Status Level 1
Strength: I0
Dexterity: I0
Endurance: I0
Agility: I0
Magic: I0
Finally! The next chapter of my journey has started! Bell thought, grinning to himself like an idiot. Loki watches this and chuckles to herself slightly.
"Calm down there, rookie. You'll have plenty of time to use that excitement in the dungeon." The goddess said, snapping him out of his stupor.
"For now, just try to familiarize yourself with the familia. I called Gareth over to give you a tour. He'll give you the full rundown." She gestured over to the aged dwarf that was walking towards them in the hallway.
As the dwarf continues, he stops a few feet away from the goddess and the familia's newest member. He hovers at 151cm, which is about chest height to the boy in front of him. Despite this height difference, the boy felt that the dwarf's presence was massive, almost crushing. The white haired boy briefly recalls the dwarf wiping out the minotaur in a single punch before he fully lost consciousness. Even now, in spite of his relaxed posture, he was like an impenetrable fortress. Bell started to get a bit nervous, with this being his very first proper introduction to a Loki Familia member. He started to understand what being in one of the strongest familias in Orario truly meant.
"The names Gareth Landrock. I'm one of the Top Executives in the Familia." Said the dwarf, now known as Gareth, to Bell.
As the conversation starts, Loki casually walks away, back to her office.
"Have fuuun! I expect a lot from you Bell!" The goddess said flimsily, waving her hand in goodbye.
"Ahem… Don't worry about her. She can get… excited." Gareth said, clearing his throat, gesturing for Bell to follow.
From here, Gareth proceeded to give Bell a brief tour of the manor and the facilities they used. This included the floor of the building he would be staying in, with all of the other low level members of the familia. Bell introduced himself back to his now senior, and explained his journey starting from the farm, to his time in Orario with how he ended up in the Dungeon. Gareth just accepted most of this information with a few gruff nods. From what Bell could tell, he seemed like a man of few words. As the dwarf showed him around, he would introduce Bell to any familia members that they happened to come across. Though it seemed like a majority of them were out in the city, completing post-expedition tasks since they just got back.
Gareth took this opportunity to explain that this was how the minotaurs ended up on the 5th floor as the beasts were running away from them. The dwarf looked carefully at Bell to see if he held any sort of resentment at this, but it looked like Bell only blamed his own weakness for the situation that happened. With an internal nod of approval, they nearly finished their tour when a familiar golden haired elf approached them. Still severely downcast, she had a puzzled look on her face, not quite understanding why the boy who saved her was walking around with one of the Familia's top executives.
"Lefiya, this is Bell Cranel. He's the newest member of our familia as of today." Gareth stated. "Bell, this elf is Lefiya Verdis." The dwarf finished.
A mixture of emotions come across the elf's face at the news. Some surprise is there, but mainly the relief that he's up and walking in good health prevails.
"Nice to meet you! I look forward to working with you!" Bell says a tad bit louder than he was expecting to, as he gives the same deep bow he's been giving the other members he's met today.
Bell looks up and sees that the elf is a bit red faced as she's nervously holding the hem of her dress.
"Tha… Thank…" The elf begins to stutter out uncertainly, getting more embarrassed by the second.
"Tha…" She shakes her head, changing her mind at the last moment. "I will return the favor! Next time… when you need help, I'll be there!" She finally gets out, almost shouting.
Bell stares blankly for a second, not exactly sure what's happening here.
"Thank… you?" He speaks out, more of a question to himself than the girl in front of him.
Watching the exchange, Gareth gives a chuckle seeing how the newbie is already getting known to some of the higher level familia members.
"Lefiya, are you attending the banquet later today?" The dwarf inquired.
Still a bit flushed from her exclamation to Bell, she looks a bit hesitant. Still reeling a bit from what happened in the dungeon.
"It won't help staying cooped up in yer room. Get some fresh grub." Gently says the dwarf with a hand on her shoulder.
"You come too boy, Loki's request." He added, looking over to a confused Bell. "You'll get to meet the rest." He finished. This left Bell with immense anticipation, thinking about what the other high level adventurers would be like.
The sun is setting on the city of Orario. Lights powered by magic crystals found in the dungeon, begin to light up the beautiful city as the night life begins to pick up. One popular bar called the Benevolent Mistress is buzzing with activity. While the bar is usually packed at this hour, tonight is an exception. With it being the Loki Familia's favorite celebration spot, the bar is filled with the entirety of their members.
The inside itself is exciting to Bell. At almost every table are seasoned adventurers being served by extremely cute waitresses. Cat girls, humans, and even a beautiful reserved elf, are moving efficiently through the bustling crowd not messing up a single order.
Is this the garden of beauties that grandpa told me about? He seriously ponders to himself.
In the center of the room, at the largest table the bar has to offer, sat all of the Loki Familia Executives. Bell was in awe of them. Twin Amazon's, a beautiful golden haired girl, a small but serious Prum, and an older but more regal elf that's sitting alongside Lefiya, who he met earlier. There's even a werewolf with them sitting next to Gareth. Of course Loki herself is sitting along with them as well. Almost every one of them is chugging down drink after drink in celebration of their successful expedition. He vaguely hears the goddess Loki shout something about the right to enjoy the older elf's breasts. The innocent boy's face reddens a bit, still not used to his new goddess's shameless behavior.
At a small table off to the side sat Bell, with a few other minor members of the familia. From his brief introductions with them, they seemed to be mainly supporters with some minor magics specializing in things such as healing. That's what a human girl called Line Arshe explained to him at least. Despite them doing their best to make him feel included, Bell still somewhat sits on the sidelines of their conversation as they've known each other for a long time, and they're talking about an expedition he wasn't a part of.
As the rabbit-like boy drifted away from the conversation, his eyes lingered on the executives table again. These adventurers are at the peak of Orario, almost modern day heroes! How lucky was I, to be able to join this familia and stand beside them! For a few seconds his gaze wanders to the beautiful golden haired girl, and he wonders why she's the only one at the table not enthusiastically chiming in. In that same moment, he makes brief eye contact with the werewolf sitting across from her. He gives him a dirty look and Bell quickly looks away.
"Tch!" Says the werewolf, as he clicks his tongue. "Is this the new weakling I've heard so much about?" he sneers.
The man speaking is a First Class Adventurer who Bell heard is named Bete Loga.
Clearly far drunker than he should be, judging by his red face, his voice was loud enough to echo over the rest of the conversations. He sloppily gets up and starts walking over to the boys table.
"You're minotaur boy right? The bulls loved your scared ass so much, they chased you all of the way up to the 5th floor." He slurred, getting closer to Bell with each step.
Like a cornered rabbit, Bell anxiously looks around the room unsure of how to respond. Conversations all throughout the bar begin to slow, other tables wondering what the commotion is about.
"I hear, by some miracle, Loki let you join us. Don't think for a second, that weak trash like you is even worthy of picking up after us." Bete said, now standing directly in front of the seated boy.
Close enough to smell his alcohol reeked breath, Bell begins to tremble.
"After all, a coward who can't even take on a weak, measly, Minotaur, isn't worth much." Continued the werewolf, looking directly in the boy's eyes with a predator-like gaze.
Lefiya, freezes up back at the center table. Looking down at her lap, she balls her firsts tightly with a tortured look on her face. Riveria sees this and interrupts sternly.
"That's enough Bete. You should keep your nose out of situations you know nothing about. Letting the minotaurs escape was our fault. If anything, you should be apologizing to that boy for your mess up. Your behavior is shameless." rebutted the elf.
The bar is quiet now with everyone enraptured by the scene taking place.
"Ooo-ooo, great manners, as expected from the Elf Mom. Did you not see this brat staring at us earlier? Thinking he was one of us? He needs to understand that trash like him doesn't have the right to stand beside the strong." He rebelled, beginning to enunciate each syllable more clearly as his sentence went on.
"That's enough Bete, the wine's turnin' bad." Warned Loki, with a dangerous glare.
The rest of the familia are shocked from the goddess' rare burst of seriousness, but to the drunk werewolf, this warning fell on deaf ears. Still blinded by his own ego, he bends down, his mouth inches away from the shaken rabbit's ear.
"You're pathetic, give up." Rumbled the First Class Adventurer. The words, while quiet, resonated throughout the entirety of the bar.
Right as the last word falls from Bete's mouth, Gareth stands up and, like a blur, connects his fist to the werewolfs mouth as he goes crashing to the floor mouth first.
Almost simultaneously as this happens, Bell abruptly stands up and dashes to the exit, his red face filled with embarrassment and shame. He doesn't look back as he bursts through the doors with a slam.
"Listen to your elders, runt." The dwarf spoke, looking down at Bete distastefully.
A single tear rolls down Lefiya's cheek as Riveria rubs her back, with her still looking straight down at her lap. The amazoness twins, equally as concerned, were trying to ask her what's wrong.
Bell is sprinting down the streets of Orario, straight towards the tower of Babel that's shining bright in the night sky. His legs are burning and his vision is blurred from tears threatening to fall.
His mind is repeating those words over and over.
You're pathetic, give up.
He thinks back to minutes ago, how happy he was when he felt like he was one of them, and now he only feels nothing but shame and embarrassment.
He's right. I've been in this city for an entire month and haven't accomplished anything. I was a fool for thinking I would magically earn my spot by their side.
Even in the werewolf's drunken state, Bell could feel it. He could sense the sheer difference in level between himself and a real First Class Adventurer. He wanted to stand up to him. He wanted to scream in his face and tell him he was wrong, but how could he in his current state?
I'm so weak. He thought to himself in anguish.
As Bell continues his run through the bustling city, he's never felt more alone.
The 5th floor of the dungeon. The walls are damp and the light is dim. Within the center of the room, covered in numerous cuts and bruises, is Bell ripping his knife out of the eye of a dungeon lizard. The creature shrieks with one last defiant attack flailing its arm out against the newly blessed child. Easily with another slice of the knife, the arm goes flying. In that same fluid motion, Bell impales its chest, dispersing it away.
Trailing behind him, lies a trail of magic crystals and blood. He takes a deep inhale and looks down at his almost unrecognizable bloody knife. He's been down here for hours. As the thought of heading back for the night enters his mind, those same words from earlier flash in his mind.
This isn't enough. I need more.
Coldly focused as he walks forward, Bell feels the difference in his body since the blessing. The world around him feels more clear, the cuts that normally would have made him retreat, now only burn. Before, where it would take him multiple precise hits to kill a monster, it now only takes him one.
The dungeon is silent. Bell realizes he hasn't seen a single other adventurer for hours. He may very well be the only adventurer on this floor.
Crack*
As if the dungeon could read his thoughts, sensing how vulnerable he was, the walls all around the room started to crack. Numerous frogs and lizards started emerging from the dungeon, fully grown and ready to pounce.
Despite being surrounded and not recognizing the frog monsters, his mind didn't panic. In fact, he was surprisingly calm. He felt the status on his back burning, as if calling for him to rise to this challenge.
With a fast dash, he sprints to the nearest monster spawning. The second the beast is free from the wall, a sharp tongue pierces out of the frog's mouth. His momentum still carrying him, Bell just barely gets nicked as he steps out of the way. Right after his first dodge, two more tongues come flying towards him, one behind and the other to his left. The white haired boy nimbly dodge rolls away from them all to gather distance, but right when he steadies himself, he hears a noise from above.
Pop*
A dungeon lizard releases its suction feet from the ceiling and falls towards him at full speed. Bell meets the lizard with one quick slash that cuts it into two. A splash of blood hits the wall from its wounds, before it poofs into dust. Now with his vision returned to the frogs, he slowly steps towards them. This time as the closest frog darts its tongue out towards him, he swiftly jumps to the side and slices the tongue off with his blade. As the beast screeches in pain, he rushes it in response. Leaping out of the way of the other two frogs' attacks, Bell finally reaches his target and plunges his blade deep within its single bulbous eye, gushing black liquid from its wound as it disperses.
Bell locks his vision on the remaining monsters, his knife, still dripping with the black liquid from their brother.
This is only the beginning.
He resolutely promises to himself as he charges the rest.
