Before we start some clarifications:
1. thank you for pointing out that Riveria is level 3 at the time, i tried making the story very close to the original and this was a mistake i overlooked, so she IS level 3 for now.
2. i'd like to ask for pairing options excluding some characters(more details at the back)
3. to the guy named "Uma simples capivara": tu acha um em cada canto, ser br é foda.
Now onwards with the show:
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A white haired boy was slowly making his way across a beaten old path, his thin limbs were shaky and he held his cane with an iron grip, he had an interesting relationship with the object, it had bestowed him a great deal of mobility and independece, both things which he so desperately fought for, but it was also a reminder, a simple fact that probably wouldn't change, for now his life was chained to others, he absolutely depended on the familia who helped him when he was dying, the same people he was hiding from.
His mind was in total disorder, a sad mess that originated by the discovery of the truth:
W-why would they... m-mom...
The child was walking through a cemetery looking for a specific grave that has been long kept hidden from him. There among the countless gravestones of fallen heroes disgraced by those they protected he found another, not a grave of a hero, but that of a simple person.
"Meteria Cranel..."
That was the secret that Riveria, Loki and all the others hid from him... his origin... and their role in the death of his family... yet he was not mad at them, he hated the fact that he was kept in the dark for so long.
But not them... he couldn't, for all they did for him, he couldn't help it, he would forgive them for doing what they did. But that still didn't make it any less dificult in his mind.
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"Finn! where is he?" Shouted a worried high elf, inside the executives office at the twilight mansion.
"Riveria calm down, Raul said he was at the library."
"Yes that's why i'm worried!" She said as she slapped the records that she found on Finn's table.
Finn quickly scanned the records and recognised his critical mistake, those were the records of the Hera familia that were aprehended on the night of the banishment of the Hera familia, they were of course, researching the rumors regarding the return of Alfia, since those rumors were now of their particular interest.
"He saw them..."
"That is the most probable possibility."
"And he ran away..."
"Yes..."
"I am sorry Riveria... i... i should have put those documents away..."
"I will go see Loki, if she isn't drunk she will be needed later."
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The boy stared at the grave of his mother, thinking about what to think of the revelation, when suddenly another person walked by his side, she too stared at the gravestone, although her gaze was almost loving, but hollow.
He turned his head to the adult beside him, she was woman who shared a similar hair color, dressed in a dark and detailed robe and he could only recognise her from the records and documents he saw.
"Y-you..." He whispered, his voice was naturally quite low, he could not stand loud noises.
"Don't bother speaking... i too dislike the sound... however, i must ask now that you discovered the truth, what will you do now?" Her voice was beautiful but he felt it wasn't appropriate to speak of it.
"I... don't hate them..."
"Then don't. it is your choice."
"... Thank you... can i-" a series of rough coughs stopped the sentence midway. "... can i ask you a question?"
The silence between them was heavy and absolute, only broken when the thin and frail young child asked.
"What was she like?"
The woman's eyes widened beyond the usual half lidded stare, her lips curled upward and she decided to answer her nephew's question.
"She was beautiful."
"I've seen her photos... she was but... what type of person she was?"
"Unlike me she was kind... and pure... she was loved by all in the familia, and no one would dare touch her... except..." Her smile turned into a irritated grimace and her eyes turned angry.
"W-was he...?" the child spoke, feeling the magic build up around his aunt despite his lack of falna.
"Your father?... yes... you have his eyes you know? oh... how i wish i could pluck them out of your face..."
The boy was not scared of the clearly non empty threats.
"Although... there was one thing about your mother l should tell you... she was fiercely defensive of her food, even Hera herself cowered before her when it came to it..."
"That seems... scary... *cough*" The child once again broke into a coughing fit, however this time there was blood that flew from his throat.
"...You haven't taken your medicine..."
The child's widened at the realization, i forgot it today was the day i was supposed to take it!
"I-I forgot..."
"Then turn back now, there will be other opportunities to visit if you so wish..."
"I d-don't know the way back..."
"What?" Were it not for the fact that she hated loud noises she would surely have screamed by now.
"H-Hermes had found me and guided me here..."
"...Then follow the main road to the north, you will find the wayback..."
"Thank you... but before i go... i won't be seeing you again, am i?"
Bell for all his stoicism "inherited" from the high elf was a highly perceptive kid, he knew this was a farewell, everytging about it said so, as if his only living family member was just an aquaintance he met along the way.
"Yes... i have made that choice long ago..."
"I understand." The poor child truly did not, however, he had faith in her judgment, even if just because of the fact that she was his family.
Alfia realised this, she could clearly see through the child's thinly veiled lie, but it's only purpose was to make her choice easier, that selflessness resembled her sister so much, and even if he just wanted to help he accidentally made it harder for her to just abandon the child to the hands of Loki's familia.
"... Take this before you go... your mother gave it to me, have something to remember her by..." The high level swordswoman then took off her emerald green pendant and gave it to him.
"...Remember from where you came from..."
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Bell was a fragile kid, his limbs were bone and skin, his abdomen had black and purple spots and his breathing was shallow, he couldn't est much and had to be watched over for even the simpler tasks... Despite that, like his mother before him, he never complained.
His role model didn't, neither did Ais or Gareth, much less did Finn. There was no point in crying, nor did he wish to cry, while Riveria would still blame herself for his nihilistic personal philosofy, he would still assure her that he was okay with it, much to her dismay.
Unlike a certain rennard however, Bell would not resign himself to his ill fate. Loki may have said that he would only receive a falna after his 10th birthday, anything earlier and he would put his body and life at risk, he understood that very well.
The books at the library said so, the place where he would spend days at a time when the familia went on expeditions, Riveria had shown him an entire world full of books and legends of which he never saw before. At first it was hero stories, then books about the basics of magic, healing and everything he could get his hands on.
Despite growing in Orario he rarely left the house, the biggest distance he ever walked before the graveyard was a potato snack stall, where Ais tried to make him eat one despite him knowing it would not end well. That was one of the reasons that Riveria when seeing an almost collapsed Bell arrive at the manor's gate besides an amused Hermes, she knew she would have to show him a piece of her mind.
"HERMES!"
She would have used her status run after the god but the child that fell on it's knees took priority.
"Belll..." she whispered as she took the kid in her arms, lifted him up and carried him back to his room at the manor.
The place was a bit bleak, it had a few books that Bell borrowed from the library and the containers for his medicine that were tidly organised in his desk, the wardrobe had only the essentials and a few more cloths that were there for emergencies.
She put the boy gently on his bed, and turned away to get the medice he should have taken before, it was meant to prevent his body from having another episode, when that happened, he would go in and out of conciousness, his coughs would expell blood from his throat and his limbs would be in mind numbing pain.
She helped the boy drink his medicine and stayed by his side on a wooden chair kept close by his bed.
She watched him closely, the irregular movement of his lungs caused by his shallow breath, the light twitch of his small arms and the erratic coughs that followed a distincive lack of breathing.
"I'm sorry Bell..." She whispered, knowing that he disliked noise as much as his aunt.
She spent about half an hour there before the boy woke up, his weak voice was almost too quiet for the adventurer to hear.
"...I'm sorry... Miss Riveria... i shouldn't have gone outside..."
"What, you shouldn't apologise, y-you... you learned the truth right?"
"Y-yes..."
"I'm sorry... we have taken so much from you..."
"It's not your fault..."
"WHAT! how can you say something like that!"
Bell grimaced thanks to the loud shout, but still delivered his answer.
"I-I... not entirely but... I just can't blame you... that's all... I don't want to loose you all because of what ifs..."
He was honestly scared, not that he wanted to show it, but Riveria knew, everything in his life is so fragile, he simply didn't want to loose the little he had anymore. That much was obvious despite the stubborn child not speaking his mind.
She did whatever she could to reassure him in that moment, even if that means throwing the elven pride she had to the side for a while. Wrapping her arms around the small child, like her own mother did for her, and banishing the image of the dead woman holding her son from her mind, that one image had scarred her badly, to a point where the boiling guilt inside her still plagued her nightmares.
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A few hours had passed already when their moment was interrupted, both were asleep, although only one would wake up thanks to the knocking on the door. The high elf quickly fixed her clothing and opened the door to see the distant golden haired girl that entered the familia.
"Hello Ais."
"Dinner is ready."
"W-well thank you."
The girl was a mistery, and while she talked about herself just as much as Bell, he at least held normal conversations other than arguements about excessive dungeon trips and getting stronger.
"Is Bell alright?" She asked, luckily for Riveria, the girl had started to open up to Bell, they were very similar in their tragic stories, but what set them apart was Bell's lack of desire for vengence.
"Yes he is... he just needs some rest." Said the high elf as they descended the stairs to the dinning hall.
As she reached the executive's table, Finn glanced at her, almost too scared to ask about what happened, luckily for him, Loki already did.
"Sooo... Riv?"
"He knows..."
"W-what was his reaction?" asked the trickster with a concerned face.
"Abnormal... but not bad..."
"And what exactly was it?"
"He dislikes the fact that we hid the truth from him but... he doesn't hate us... he can't afford to do so..." Riveria said with a serious face that hid the pain of telling them this.
"He... can't afford to hate us?" The confused Palum said.
"He doesn't want to loose us... we are his only family..."
"So in a way... the kid is forced t-"
"It's not like that, he does not want to hate us..."
"That... is a relief..." Affirmed Loki.
"Yes but it is not the end of our problems." The captain explained. "We have confirmed that his aunt is still alive, and while we cannot confirm her intentions, it's safe to say that we may be meeting her in the future."
"Uhhh it's been a while since i saw that beauty... heheh."
"That is the same "Beauty" that hates our guts..." Said the Dwarf executive who was untill now quietly eating his fair share of meat and potatos.
"And what do you think of the situation?"
"What? with the boy?"
"wha- Yes! have you been listening you rock brained individual?" shouted the High elf with red hot anger.
"Well... he doesn't hate us, doesn't want revenge, and didn't have any seizures today so..."
The rest of the evening was spent eating and planning for the future, especially because of their new responsibilities as the city's new guardians, surely despite the challenges the future looked bright.
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The plain child bedroom was silent as if tragedy had struck, and to one white haired boy perhaps it did. Evilus had struck far sooner than anyone had expected, While Astrea familia had to take Zard down, which they only suceed at thanks to the help of Freya's, Loki's however had another great task to do, for before them was the woman known simply as the "monster of talent".
It was an ambush, but a poorly timed one at that, she had waited untill they all left for their expedition, that meant fully armored and armed adventurers, and even them she was alone, to the shock of many in the familia who were leaving.
She used her quick spells to knock out all of the weaker members of the familia, leaving few whose levels were above fresh level 2, those who did not back down however, were in a terrible ragged state.
Riveria was the first who spoke, since she was the one that Alfia had been staring at, with indifferent but slightly angered eyes.
"So... you finally decided to make your move..."
"If it's him you are worried about then do not, he knew that this was coming."
"W-what...!"
"Speak no longer, or i shall make you silent... if you truly wish to prove yourself capable of raising him... then you already know what to do."
"It doesn't have to be like this... you are the only one he-"
"GOSPEL!"
The magic was lightning quick hitting slightly in front of Riveria, though her legs were still hit by the stone splinters that rose from the sidewalk.
"Riveria fall back NOW!" ordered the prum beside her while the bulky dwarf that accompanied them both put himself in front of them both, with his shield already in hands.
The adventurers stood in front of the their biggest challenge yet, fiercer than any normal dungeon-born monster, and far more powerfull too.
But in contrast to the battle happening at the mansion's gate, a sad gaze fell on the scene, one that belongs to the white haired child watching their deadly dispute.
So that's what she meant... why... why... have you chosen this... what... what about me! Bell's thoughts instanly stopped, he hated thinking selfishly, even if the wish for a family was but the bare minimum to a child.
No... that was her choice... i have no right to wish of something different... It was a way for him to cope with the world around him, and himself, he never said he hated his life, nor did he wish for something different, internally fearing that even the longing for more might ruin in his eyes what little he had.
"I shouldn't... I shouldn't think about it... but..." he harbored much turmoil inside of him, too much for anyone his age.
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The fighting raged on, Alfia was dashing through their ranks as the few who could fight back struggled to do so, eventually Finn had made a plan to truly end the fight.
A sound wave crashed through the air near the high level prum, but he held himself steady and moved his feet to prepare his attacks.
His spear was launched against the mage who scoffed at the idea that a simple trick like that would get her, she reached her hand to the spear, grabbed it and spun around to conserve it's momentum, preventing the prum from attacking her in the opposite direction.
She threw the spear towards the elven mage who was casting her spell of destruction, Though shielded by Gareth and her Veil breath, Alfia's attacks were not to be taken lightly and could very well crushed through the protection.
The spear was sent flying through the air, however, what truly surprised the duo was the magic swordswoman's next action.
"Gospel!"
She used her spell as the spear flew out and it only served to push it forward even faster before smashing through the shield that Gareth was holding and crushing his chest plate with the full force of the attack and launching him towards Riveria who had, by some miracle, just finished her chant.
"REA LAVATEINN!"
The spell hit the silver haired menace and burned the outline of her dark clothes and certainly did it's fair share of damage, but nothing she couldn't withstand.
"That was it... dissapointing... if you can't defeat me HOW CAN YOU PROTECT HIM FROM EVILUS... HOW WILL YOU DEFEAT THE BLACK DRAGON!"
The sheer volume from the uncharacteristic shout was enough to make it across the city block and definetively made it's way to the ears of the white haired boy looking down from the upper floor of the familia home.
Aunt Alfia... he now knew she cared about him... she truly did, despite choosing death over the chance to watch him grow he now knew why. It was because she in her own twisted way still loved him, her sister's beloved son, the one named after her own magic, the reason she fought was for a world were he would never have to raise a sword, were he wouldn't live in fear of the black calamity.
That meaning was lost on the executives however and they used the chance to attack. Gareth went in with a great axe, that she dodged, then Finn tried stabbing her with a short sword that used to be in Raul's hand, even though he now laid on the ground defeated and unconcious.
That was a similar situation to the rest of the familia, other than a few guards who fell back, the only ones standing were the executives, others that escaped the first wave already reinforced the guards' position but didn't dare to attack and Ais who was being held back only by the sheer aura of the woman's magic.
She blocked the sword with her own despite not being in the best conditions to dodge or counter. Then the dwarf behind her followed up and brought the axe down. She continued evading it but it began to be more difficult as the dwarf and the prum's attacks mixed together in a rather impressive display of teamwork.
She knew that those two however, were distractions, the next spell that would hit her might be the strategic victory they need to end the battle.
The swordswoman jumped back and prepared another spell, however as she jumped back, Finn was quick to intercept her while Gareth blocked her path.
"Such tactics won't work against me! GOSPEL!"
The spell was aimed at the prum's chest, hitting it and launching him backwards, just before the skirt of her dress was caught by the cutting edge of the dwarf's axe, which she narrowly avoided by spinning in place and pointing her sword at Gareth's neck.
The dwarf had to fall back, however bought enough time to finish his mission, sending a barrage of ice towards the silver haired swordswoman, Riveria had cast her spell.
She was trapped in ice, her legs were frozen and her hands were weak, the disease has taken a toll on her body as the fight had continued for well above 20 minutes.
Then the golden spear that Finn had used many times was brought back into the fight as it threatened to pierce her very hear.
"Surrender now Alfia, you know that the fight is over."
The woman looked up, to see her nephew watching what was to be her execution, however, it wasn't sadness or rage that appeared in his eyes... It was determination, a fierce look that also had a lot of care, as if he meant to say, "I undertand now, thank you." He decided there and then that he would not let her sacrifice be in vain, even if that horrified her, praying that he never pick up a sword in his life, but perhaps his choice had been the right one.
What happened then was a creepy scene, instead of anger and rage, or sorrow for her defeat, she simply smiled, a small curve of her lips to the boy who watched from above.
The spear pierced her heart as they knew she would not cooperate, to the horror of the high elf as she realised what she had done, to the dissaproval of Gareth who would never abandon his family like that, and to the ever stoic leader, a faint sadness appeared in his heart, he knew what must be done, and did it, and yet that victory was almost hollow.
As her conciousness faded, she could only pray to the same gods who gave her and her beloved sister such lives, that Bell would have a chance against what is to come.
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The battle had ended and Riveria rushed inside, while she knew that Finn and Gareth could handle the explaining to the Ganesha and Astrea familia, the high elf had someone more important to see.
The door was opened and her hear sank as she saw Bell watching from the window, What has he seen!? Was her first question to herself. But as she stood by the door wondering how coulf she talk to him, he simply got out of the stool he put besides the window and went up to her, instead of any bad reaction she figured, he simply put his frail arms around her legs, and hugged her. As if to comfort the woman.
"Thank you..." was his only words.
And Riveria, for one of the first time could fully cast aside her pride and hugged him back, tears falling from her eyes as she could only guess what the child was feeling...
"Bell... can you please be honest with me...? How are you feeling?"
"I'm... not sad... she made her choice and i knew she wouldn't... I-I wanted her to be around before but..."
Riveria could barely bear to hear what the child had to say, she discovered his previous encounter with his now dead relative and how he actually feels about it, in his own words "That... was her choice to make."
His resolute face certainly make it's impression, to the despair of the high elf, she already had problems with Ais but now... I am a joke of a parent... W-what am I saying... I'm no parent at all... I don't deserve to be one...
"Bell, please... speak to me a bit more. You don't need to be so silent, you need to have say in more things!"
"W-why...?"
"Wh-what? WHY? You matter... that's why! Why can't you understand this! You might be sick but your condition does not change your value as a living being!"
"Huh?..."
Oh yeah... he is still a child after all... it's scary how many times i forget that...
"Don't think too much about it... you will understand it later."
"Miss R-Riveria?"
"What?"
"You are bleeding... You didn't just come up here running before getting treated first right?"
Riveria touched the lower left side of her abdomen and felt the large gash still leaking blood. She had just finished a fight with one of the greatest oponents she could ever have, looking back at herself, she had cuts all over, and she was lucky to not be hit full force, Finn was not much better, having broken a few ribs and large cuts, Gareth was the worst one having received a full beating, probably had broken a few bones, even then she held back, that much was obvious, perhaps the condition she shared with her nephew had drained her last bit of energy, or she simply did not want to risk blowing him up along with the entire Loki familia.
"T-thank you... i will see the healers later, i can stop the bleeding for now. But before i go please go see Ais, Alicia managed to drag her away from the fight but she-"
"I understand... she is gonna be mad at you for a while..."
"I didn't ask for her to be taken out of the battle."
"Did that ever stop her?" The snow haired child asked asked in the most nonchalant way possible.
"You are right..."
"You are *Cough* well- *Cough* *Cough* wellcome."
Riveria then went to the healers in order to patch up, as Bell grabbed his cane and made his way to Ais who was likely in the courtyard.
Descending the steps towards the first floor however proved to be a bit more difficult, the strenght in his legs seemed to dissapear as did the air in his lungs.
He stopped a bit to regain his senses and after heavy coughing, he sensed from the moisture in his hand that this was at least a bit serious, although he decided to go see Ais before saying it anyone.
He did find her at the courtyard, sword in hands forcing herself through another training session, she briefly nodded at the boy once she saw him, just to acknowledge his presence.
"Hi."
"Hmmm" The blonde swordswoman was not one that spoke much, if at all.
"How are you feeling?"
"...Bad..."
"...Want to talk about it?"
"...Yes..."
The girl went over to him and placed her sword in the scabbard.
"You still want to get stronger."
"Yeah..."
"Then why risk your life?"
"That's how we grow stronger... you are not an adventurer... you wouldn't understand."
"Not yet..."
"E-either, i could take her on! maybe not alone but i could help..."
"You would not... But if i may... can i ask what motivates you?"
Her eyes widened as did her
"...M-my... parents d-died to a monster..."
"...That is the first time you spoke about it..." Bell said, quite surprised.
"I... yes..."
"If you wish, i can *cough* i can tell you a bit of my story. What happened to me is similar... my dad died fighting against the black dragon..."
The girl's golden eyes imediately focused on him.
"My mother was no adventurer, so she wasn't there but, she too died quickly afterwards... disease took her..."
"I-is it same one..."
"Yes... the same one i have."
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't be, please, i hate it when people pity me. Alicia might not realise it, but i see the way she looks at me when i'm not looking... By the way, how is the training going?"
"Better... but i don't feel more powerful."
"Hmmm i wonder... could you... teach me a bit?"
"Huh?!"
"Just the basics, i know i can't handle anything more."
"O-okay... wait here and i will grab a spare sword!"
"A wooden training of if you could, i can't hold a heavier one steady."
Ais then left the company of the sick boy to look for her old training sword, excited to have someone to train with but at the same time a bit jealous, He doesn't want revenge? it was as if the black flame that burned inside her did not exist inside the boy's heart despite their similar situation.
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That is the end of the second chapter, thank you for all the reviews and kind comments, as i said before, i'd like to ask for pairing suggestions BUT those cannot involve Riveria (for obvious reasons) and i don't think i will write more than maybe 2 lovers at max. Other than that i'm sorry for possible bad grammar, i write on a phone and english is not my first language.
