A new face makes their debut here! Let's add one more to that character tag!
By her own efforts, Hephaestus' office was a space that seldom saw traffic other than herself. Perhaps a wanting family member from time to time, the occasional meeting with another deus deia. Where most may view their place of business as a seat of power to intimidate others, Hephaestus saw her little nook as a sanctuary, a place to finish her work without interruption.
Hestia, throughout her short tenure as a resident here, had seen her way about shattering that illusion of peace. On the rare occasion she came asking for something, the process was excruciating, it taking literal hours to pry tangible wants out of the tiny goddess. Hephaestus imagined this was what dealing with a teenage daughter would be like and was instantly grateful for the notoriously difficult process of impregnating even a sealed deity.
And of course this said nothing about the far more numerous instances of Hestia being brought to her office due to one mishap or another. And then there were the times she would just pop in for the sake of spending time with her "generous hostess," always becoming bored in minutes and whining for attention.
Hephaestus revised her earlier comparison of "teenage daughter" to "prepubescent brat."
Such thoughts led back to now, The Goddess of Smiths seated at her desk with the object of her mild ire resting across from her. Hestia looked all the more child like in the high back chair reserved for the rare visitor, the seat clearly meant for someone over twice her height.
It seemed to further contrast Hestia's resolute features. Staring at her one time roommate, Hephaestus could see very little of the needy girl she once knew. At the moment, anyway.
"So," Hephaestus started, her chin perched atop her clasped fists, "the long and short of it is: you want me to forge you a weapon."
"I want you to forge Bell a weapon."
Hephaestus sighed at the swift reply, her eye half lidded at the promise of exhaustion. Hums of laughter drew the goddess' gaze to the figure leaning over Hestia's chair. Tsubaki's presence was far from reassuring, the half dwarf taking a remarkable amount of glee in spectating the encounter.
Of course, there was some purpose in her being there. Tsubaki was her familia's captain and had a greater responsibility to support her goddess. There was also the fact that she was a level five adventurer looming within arm's reach of a foreign agent attempting "forceful" negotiations.
Yeah, that was probably very unnecessary. Also quite unappreciated as Hestia spoke frankly regardless of the "pressure" such circumstances would inspire in a normal, rational individual. Hephaestus was quite convinced Tsubaki persisted with the act because it put her in proximity with someone both small and cute. The fact that it irked her goddess was just a bonus.
Steepling her fingers, Hephaestus rested her lips against her pointers. "You do understand what you're asking, correct? Anything forged by one of my smiths is worth more than a passing fancy."
"I didn't ask for one of your children, I want you to make Bell a weapon."
Tsubaki sputtered, clearly caught off by how brazen Hestia was being. Her goddess took the twin-tail's statement about as well as could be expected, slamming both palms atop her oaken desk.
"Even more so! Do you have any idea how much something like that is worth!? My personal stock aren't the sort of thing even high class adventurers can afford – they're not really meant to be out in the public eye to begin with!"
If anything, Hephaestus' rant only seemed to further amuse her captain. Hestia, the actual target of her ire, appeared unmoved. The red haired goddess was given a moment to collect herself.
Hestia stood abruptly. Though she carried it more as a force of habit, Tsubaki did have a rather sizable falchion strapped to her upper back. The weapon was in easy reach and, coupled with the tiny goddess' sudden motion, the half dwarf was an instance away from grabbing the sword's handle before catching herself.
Hephaestus' eye widened as her former housemate marched forward, crossing the brief distance between her seat and the desk like an officer striding across a battlefield. She paused a short ways in front of the countertop. Tsubaki had walked around the guest chair, her arms now crossed and a curious glint in her gaze. The red haired goddess and her familia captain watched Hestia with bated breath.
When their not-all-wanted guest dipped down to one knee, Tsubaki quirked a brow. As she dropped into a full kneel, Hephaestus loosed a full on groan. In terms of people she was genuine friends with, she and Hestia ran in largely similar circles. The smithing goddess made a note to get back at Takemikazuchi for teaching her something like this.
Hestia leaned all the way forward, palms flat upon the floor and her brow set atop her knuckles. Her form was essentially fetal, her head bowed so low Hephaestus had to stand to see the back of it over her work desk. The eyepatch wearing duo stood by, waiting for the tiny goddess to address them.
Nothing moved and Hestia didn't make a sound. It was hard to tell if she was even breathing, she was so still.
Resigned to a future of many sighs to come, The Goddess of Smiths leveled a tired stare at her friend.
"Hestia-"
"Please."
Tsubaki's eye shot open. Even Hephaestus seemed moved, her drained expression turning to frank exhaustion.
There had been power in that single word, that simple plea for help. It was deeper than some sort of magic and, for a moment, Hephaestus thought her fellow goddess had tapped her arcanum somehow. The thought of Hestia managing that level of subtlety was laughably dismissed.
Hestia loved her child. It was a simple, obvious conclusion to make, what deus deia didn't have some affection for their children? But what existed between the tiny goddess and the white haired boy was different.
And to Hephaestus… it was also familiar.
The red haired goddess groaned, causing Hestia and Tsubaki to stare. Hephaestus had her face in hand, refusing to look at anyone. By now she had to begrudgingly accept that her friend had won her over, and likely not in the way Hestia had intended. Her genuine feelings and purpose were commendable, but what ultimately swayed Hephaestus was her relationship with one of her own children…
Judging by the grin slowly pulling at Tsubaki's lips, her most prestigious smith had already pieced together her intentions. And as expected, Hestia remained puzzled. That was good, the last thing Hephaestus wanted was her former housemate knowing she was in for an easy win.
Inhaling deeply, the red head said, "Stand up."
Hestia actually stayed still, her confused features hardening again. The red head herself got out of her seat and stalked around her desk. Only when Hephaestus was right in front of her did Hestia rise to her feet. The one eyed goddess leaned against the edge of her desk, staring down at her shorter friend.
"Ask me again, be specific."
The busty brunette blinked, some confusion leaking back onto her features. "I want you, the Goddess of Smiths, to make a weapon for my Bell. A knife, specifically, would probably be best."
Hephaestus nodded at Hestia's precise response. "Tell me why-"
"This is all I can do for him."
Both Hephaestus and Tsubaki blinked rapidly, taken aback at such an admission. It was rare, if not unthinkable, for one of the deus deia to admit to their own imperfection. Some piece of Hephaestus, far back in the recesses of her mind, beamed at the reminder that Hestia marched to a beat all her own. There was a good reason they'd become friends in the first place.
The Goddess of the Hearth continued, "I'm not wealthy, I'm not established, I don't have any senior members to show him the ropes. He's down in the dungeon everyday doing his best for my sake and all I can do in return is…"
Hestia trailed off awkwardly, her gaze turning down and to the side. Her cheeks had reddened as the silence persisted for a bit. She finished with a long shrug, though Hephaestus noted how her crossed arms lifted her large bust in an obvious display.
"Bell deserves more. He needs more. I want to support him in any way I can."
Hephaestus watched, even after Hestia stopped talking. With the little goddess not looking at her, the red haired smith allowed a warm smile to show. Her friend had certainly grown.
The Goddess of Smiths stepped forward, grasping Hestia's shoulder with one hand and her chin with the other. Kneeling down, she turned the smaller girl to meet her gaze.
"You will be helping me."
Hestia's expression brightened, her eyes like sapphires, "You mean-"
Hephaestus pressed her thumb over Hestia's lips, "I won't have you lazing about while I do such a big favor for you. If you're committed, show me."
The tiny goddess was nodding so fast she was practically vibrating. Hephaestus lost her grip on the girl, the show of enthusiasm drawing a full smile out of the red head. Tsubaki had stepped around fully to get a good vantage on Hestia's face. She could tell what was coming next.
"And just so you know, this isn't a freebie. You will be paying me back for this, however long it takes."
The way Hestia just deflated, her form stilling as a look of awkward nervousness overtook her features, was terribly amusing.
Bell dashed though the corridor at top speed, his earlier concerns for stealth almost forgotten. He doubted his somewhat softer footfalls would make much difference where he was going – the sounds of a struggle carried far in these tunnels.
Spying the closest gap between the hallways, Bell strafed across whilst maintaining his speed. He could hear the vexed howls of a minotaur ahead as well as the sounds of crashing rock and frenzied stomps. Bell couldn't even be sure at this point if he was racing in to rescue someone or to witness their untimely end.
His feet kept on regardless.
The boy perked up as he ran, his senses honed by adrenaline. Whatever skirmish he was rushing towards was moving, at least by what his ears told him. Bell's hope rekindled, whoever was up ahead still had some fight in them!
Bell ducked through another connector between corridors, trying to pinpoint his destination. He took a moment to pause and consider the fact that the sounds of conflict were growing louder. As though they were approaching…
A lithe form, childlike he would have to say, darted past the small connector. At least they attempted to before the dense frame of a minotaur charged into view with a wild swing.
The smaller figure dove forward as the half bull's fist flew through the space behind them. That same wide punch tore a trench through the wall of the tunnel, blasting debris into the gap between hallways. Bell hopped around the corner into the southern passage, ducking his head away from the shower of earth.
Through the deafening noise, Bell made out the shrill cry of a young girl. He tightened his grip on his knife.
Bell spun and dashed straight through the cloud of debris. He emerged back into the northern passage, his vision clearing just in time to spot the broad back of an enemy. Its left ear twitched and Bell knew then that his presence had been noticed.
As Bell strafed further into the center of the tunnel, he caught glimpses of a pale, trembling form through the monster's thick legs. The boy felt his breath hitch as the small girl came fully into view. It was definitely a child he was looking at, her frame just a little over half his own and her limbs thin and frail. Ocean blue hair cloaked her body in a tangled mess of unkempt lockes, its length from roots to ends easily a match for her height.
The cocoon of hair was probably for the best, Bell idly noted, because it was very clear even from a short glance that the girl was naked. By pure reaction Bell snapped his gaze towards a "safer" target. Their eyes met.
Utter terror stared back at him, her amber orbs alight with all consuming panic. His arrival hadn't stirred even a trace of hope in her.
Bell could feel that familiar heat scorch across his upper back.
"Hyyaaaaaaaarrrggghhh!"
His "warrior cry" had the desired effect on the minotaur. With a bellow of its own the horned beast spun in place, slamming a fist downwards.
The half bull wasn't ready for the boy's speed. Bell wasn't ready for how quickly he was moving, shooting between the monster's legs as its knuckles cracked the ground behind him. He kept his focus on the girl, reaching her was all that mattered. Something in her appearance struck him as odd, beyond just being naked and the fact that a child was crawling around the dungeon in the first place. But the boy didn't have time to think.
Bell sunk down, sliding across the floor. He all but crashed into the pale girl, arms wrapping tight around her middle. The young adventurer hopped back onto his feet and started forward at a swift dash. She really was a small thing, he barely even felt the extra weight.
He'd barely taken three steps when the rapid beat of hoof falls came stomping in his wake. Bell ramped up to a dead sprint, not daring to glance back. From what he could hear, he was barely outpacing his pursuer.
A pitiful, high pitched whine issued from the girl. She weakly struggled against Bell's tightening grip and the harsh jostling as the young adventurer raced down the corridor.
"Don't worry, I've got you." Through rushed breathing, his speech was brief and halting. It could hardly be called a comforting tone, but Bell did his best to inject a confidence he didn't quite feel.
The girl stilled, reaffirming her own hold on her white haired rescuer. Where her fingers pressed against him, Bell could feel something sharp poking at him. He could also feel her tears soaking into his chest.
Another gap between the corridors was coming up. Bell kept going straight at a dead sprint until the last possible second, juking into the lower tunnel. He only just made it past the cave wall, clutching the girl tight as his shoulder skipped over the rock surface.
Bell kept his eyes forward as the minotaur crashed through the edge of the dividing wall. The dashing adventurer ignored the stings as various stone shards pelted his legs and back. A thunderous roar, charged with wrath, belting out from behind caused Bell the slightest bit of stagger. The boy, if possible, pressed forward even faster.
Unfortunately, judging by the hoofsteps, the minotaur was also gaining speed.
The chase continued a short ways down the passage. Up ahead, Bell could spot the pile of boulders he had used as a hiding spot earlier. He sidestepped over towards the left wall of the tunnel, making the easy choice of running around the obstacle to keep momentum.
But then another rampaging half bull appeared from the intersecting hallway, opposite the rock pile. The beast's scarlet glare locked onto Bell with rabid intensity, enough to prick the boy's natural response to freeze. He might have entertained the notion if he weren't so deep into flight mode already.
Bell shot to the right side of the hallway. Both the minotaur to the front and his pursuer mimicked his actions. What the two monsters couldn't duplicate was when Bell started up the wall. The minotaur to the front paused momentarily at the display. Bell himself would have been confused by this feat if his own thoughts weren't consumed with escape. The strange heat smoldering across his upper back had grown intense, almost thrusting him forward.
His enemy's hesitation was all the opening Bell needed. As the front minotaur regained itself, striking out with an overhead swing of its arm, the adventurer lunged ahead of it. The crushing blow cratered the wall as Bell sailed past, landing on the rock pile and then swiftly launching off.
The minotaur turned as the boy dodged its attack. Its fury was so centered on this difficult prey that it was caught utterly off guard as the monster originally chasing Bell shoved it to the wall as it charged past. The thrown minotaur snatched its kin by the arm, grappling the half bull to the floor.
A brutal clash erupted behind the fleeing pair, the sound of something crashing against the crop of rocks booming down the length of the corridor. Bell pressed on at full speed, chancing neither a look back nor a moment of calm.
Echoes bounced around the walls of the passage. Roars, distant and near, rang out in an endless rhythm, the beat of charging hooves coming in from almost every direction. Bell jumped as some tremendous force slammed into the wall to his left, rocking the cavern with a single, harsh tremor.
The rogue monsters from the middle floors were going totally berserk. The normally muted glow that lit the upper levels, usually a soft green or warm orange, was now a sickly yellow. The lighting was so intense that the air was starting to heat.
Bell ducked past an intersecting hallway, a hulking form rushing by just behind him. The horned beast smashed full force into the opposite wall before throwing itself into pursuit, heedless of any pain or injury. The child in Bell's grasp choked out a desperate sob.
Speed. Bell focused only on speed. The staircase to the next floor was just ahead.
Bell stamped down on the lowest step. With a terrific yell he leaped the next four in a single bound. The horned beast slammed down with both fists, just missing its target and crumbling the base of the stairs. Bell mounted the top of the staircase and took an immediate right down the wide tunnel.
The minotaur below cleared the ascent mere seconds behind the young adventurer. It was joined by one of its kin coming in from the left passage, the two quickly trailing Bell in a relentless charge.
Leaping a small ledge, ducking under a stone outcropping, the white haired youth navigated whatever obstacles stood before him. The path ahead curved into a rough "S", a pair of wide pits breaking up the ground. Though it was hard to make out over the miniature stampede following behind him, Bell thought he could hear another set of steps racing along below. As he skirted the first pit, he recalled that these particular holes lead down to the floor he had just left.
A third monster caught the edge of the second pit, having jumped up from the lower level. Bell stumbled as the dangling minotaur swept an arm into his right leg. The boy slammed his shoulder into the wall, yelping at the sudden jolt. The girl clutched him tighter as one of his arms released its hold on her. Bell could now clearly feel her… claws sinking through his clothes.
With his now freed hand the dungeon delver pushed off the jagged stone wall. Before Bell could get moving again, the fastest of his pursuers reached him. Its muscular bulk struck the boy like a battering ram, sending him airborne. Bell skipped across the ground on his side, his pale passenger giving a sharp yelp as the rough floor scraped her arm. As they bounced up, tumbling through the air, Bell brought his arm around to re-secure his hold on the child.
The par of minotaurs kept on the two, jockeying for position to land a debilitating blow. Their ultimate goal was to kill their prey, but that would come later. Eager to join, the third beast began clawing its way over the lip of the pit. It took no notice of the lithe form approaching from its rear, gazing up from the floor below. Not until it felt the length of steel drive through the small of its back.
Bell rolled across the dirt, curling into a ball as his best attempt to shield the girl. Her claws were drawing blood at this point, though it was hard to differentiate the various pains across his body. His ears were ringing but he could feel the heavy thoom of stomps rapidly approaching. Bell would never get to his feet in time… so he just kept rolling.
One of the rampaging hulks jumped forward, fists cashing against the floor. The impact so close behind them tossed Bell and the girl into the side of the passage. Bell managed to get his feet under him as he bounced off the wall, one hand braced against the rock face as the other helped to prop him off the ground. His trembling passenger hugged him with desperate strength, clamping on with every means she had available.
The white haired boy was pretty sure she had the front of his jacket clenched between her teeth.
There was a "small" scuffle going on behind him, the minotaurs quarreling over prey. Bell scampered across the wall and floor as a half bull was hurled into the stone behind him. Its kin flung an elbow into the stunned minotaur, snapping the back of its skull into the cave's edge. The second monster caught sight of Bell as the boy scrambled upright, staggering his way along the side of the tunnel as quickly as he could.
All the while, none took notice of the third monster still clinging to the rim of the pit. A low gurgle left its throat, a surge of blood bubbling free of its parted maw. In an instant the horned beast was torn from its perch, dragged down into the tunnel below.
The dominant minotaur reached out for the young adventurer, its rough fingers dragging down the top flap of the boy's backpack. That second of inattention allowed the pinned monster to sail a right hook into its captor's jaw. Bell yanked free of the sloppy grip on his bag, skipping ahead a few steps. He had to escape, that was all he could afford to think about.
So it came as little surprise that he missed the figure clad in steel and white, an athletic frame which pounced up from the fallen minotaur's pit with the natural grace of a practiced hunter. The immense aura of strength radiating from this figure was enough to snap the half bulls from their brawl, their low level prey utterly forgotten. Bell himself picked up on this aura subconsciously, its presence further spurring his flight response.
A pair of now familiar roars flooded the saffron hallway. Bell stumbled as the air itself seemed to vibrate, his left arm keeping him from collapsing against the rock face. He scanned the width of the passage through blurred vision, heedless of the animal charge and its decreasing volume as the monster duo moved away from him. The dungeon's yellow glow was truly debilitating, a blazing plague on his senses…
There.
Bell limped forward, deaf to the cacophony of combat now raging to his rear. His left hand slapped against the wall in a desperate bid to propel him faster, right up until he caught onto it.
The edge of a crevice.
Against the lemon drenched borders of the passage, he'd spied a dark spot. A copper colored divot, a cool shade amongst the bright, vibrant hell that surrounded it. Bell wasted no time shimmying his way into the thin gap.
A spray of blood hit the wall behind him, the splash of red standing stark against the yellow background. A monstrous shriek tore free of the wounded beast.
Bell struggled through the narrow space. Were he alone, passing trough would have been a simple matter. His attentions instead were focused on the girl, Bell doing his best to keep her head from knocking against the jagged stones. His pack and coat caught numerous times.
Before Bell could get frustrated he pulled free, finding himself in a somewhat larger space. The crystals set into the walls and ceiling burned a soft amber, the atmosphere far calmer than the vibrant pandemonium of the tunnel proper. Looking back, Bell could see the crevice he'd crawled through was only about the length of a bedframe.
And looking back revealed a small glimpse of the scene unfolding outside.
The dense form of a minotaur staggered into frame. It held one arm out as though warding off something just out of view. Only one arm was raised… because only one arm remained. The bloodied stump beneath the creature's left shoulder leaked profusely, the cut straight and clean.
Something large smacked against the outer wall, shaking the small space Bell was in, before a large shadow shot past the opening. In that instance of darkness, a maiden appeared. Her long golden hair few about her, denoting swift movements. Her thin blade shined in the dungeon's sunkissed light. No sooner did Bell take note of the weapon that the minotaur's remaining arm ruptured in curving lines of gushing crimson.
Bell felt his breath catch in his throat, captivated by his cropped view of the scene outside. Braving a look herself, the child clutched to his front was also locked on the display.
The one armed minotaur reeled back as the blonde sword wielder rose from her crouched stance. And it was definitely a girl, her curves accentuated by her white garb and the various bits of metal armor that adorned her form. A lumbering hoofstep sounded nearby and a band of thick fingers grasped the edge of the short crevice. The second minotaur stepped into view, its face dashed with blood and rabid hatred burning in its eyes.
The half bull shot towards the swordsmaiden, its arm reared back for a powerful strike. Without looking back the blonde adventurer twirled out of the way. As the monster barreled past, her thin blade lashed out in a flash of silver. Blood sprayed from a long split carved across the abdomen.
Frenzied, the one armed bull stepped in with an overhead swing, its sliced limb serving as a bludgeoning flail. The golden haired warrior again spun out of the way, hardly even flinching as the slab of meat hammered the dungeon floor. A swift roundhouse to the back of its leg brought the one armed minotaur to a kneel.
Bell watched as the second beast stomped back into the fray. He was about to call out in warning but the sequence of events was faster than he could speak. The girl, without looking at her attacker, leapt into the air. She actually rolled over the shoulder of the downed minotaur, tumbling free of the wild charge. Uncaring for its wounded kin, the rushing half bull rammed its fellow monster off its knee and onto its back.
The stampeding monster's momentum carried it some distance away. Given the opening, the swordsmaiden stepped over her prone opponent. Another blinding flick of her blade sliced through the horned beast's throat, spraying blood across the ground. The downed minotaur gave a brief gurgle, its body already starting to ash.
This is when the atmosphere shifted, the blaring yellow of the hallway dimming some. The surviving minotaur regarded the still standing, still untouched woman with a degree of hesitation. When the blonde's eyes snapped to the frozen beast, a firm decision was made.
With speed belying its massive frame, the half bull turned and fled. At least, it attempted to.
The swordsmaiden flickered, her shape warping for an instance before abruptly vanishing. Bell heard his young charge's breath hitch, a sentiment he surely endorsed, as the blonde's form reappeared in the minotaur's retreat path. Her vibrant hair billowed out behind her like a bright flame.
There was a brief, fearful yelp as the monster turned, again showcasing its reflexes. This brought its face in view of Bell and the girl, the two getting their first look at an expression that wasn't blind rage. Sheer, animal terror consumed its inhuman features; Bell, in the back of his thoughts, saw a mirror of himself.
With its bulky frame between them, the hiding pair could not see the veteran adventurer behind the fleeing minotaur. The cry of rushing wind reached them just after the tip of the woman's blade pierced out of its chest. Bell and the girl flinched back at the suddenness, the boy steadying himself on an adjacent wall.
They had no time to react as the skewered minotaur shot forward. With his last flash of thought, Bell reasoned the blonde had caught the beast with a full body lunge. Apparently, she'd put too much strength into it.
The half bull slammed into the wall of the tunnel. Bell watched as its muscular form crashed into the thin crack leading to their hiding place. The impact shook the gap like an earthquake, tossing Bell from his perch on the wall.
Stumbling back, bouncing from wall to wall due to the tremors, Bell expended most of his efforts covering the girl's head. She, in turn, tucked herself as tightly against the young man as possible. Neither were aware of the sheer drop at the back of the space. When one awkward back step met nothing but empty air, Bell wasn't able to catch himself.
The two were already falling by the time they started screaming.
When Bell awoke, his first thought was that the air was oddly warm. There was a hint of humidity that lent a natural sense of coziness to whatever space he was in.
The ground was softer than it had any right to be, Bell's fingers curling over what he thought to be tufts of moss. His vision was still blurry, but the color green was very pronounced.
Shaking away his drowsiness, Bell's vision slowly came into focus. The chamber was indeed very green, the floor in its entirety and most of the surrounding walls covered in a layer of lichen. The usual dungeon crystals loosely dotted the space, themselves emitting a deep, emerald glow. Their sparse placement kept the area dimly lit.
Glancing upwards revealed the high walls of the chamber fading into absolute darkness. Not a trace of the amber light from the gap above could be seen. Bell released a soft groan, wondering on just how far they'd fallen.
Thinking in plural, the white haired boy scanned the space for his newfound charge. The room was smaller than the cellar beneath the church, so finding the girl was easy. She sat against a nearby wall, her knees tucked up against her chest. Her eyes were closed and her arms were wrapped around her legs, shivers wracking her body.
Bell rolled into a crouch, ready to make his way over. He shrugged off his pack as he moved, bringing it around to his front. When he was almost in arms reach, the young adventurer began, "Are you okay-"
His words caught in his throat as the girl turned towards him, her eyes sliding open. That familiar, exotic hue of topaz stared back at him, though without the threat of imminent death Bell was noticing more about them. The slit pupils certainly stood out.
Freezing in place, the white haired boy allowed his gaze to sweep across her face. The girl's features were marred with scuffs and streaks of filth, all the more apparent with how pale her complexion was. This also made the patch of dark blue scales on her left cheek all the easier to spot.
The girl's head shifted slightly and the low light gleamed against something over her brow. Though mostly hidden by her long, azure lockes, Bell could see the polished edge of a bronze colored jewel perched upon her forehead.
A vouivre is a very identifiable monster, even for a level one adventurer. Despite their rarity, they're well documented for the value of their drops. More specifically, the diamond shaped jewel that adorned their heads.
Her mouth parted, huffs of air escaping. Bell could see actual, pronounced fangs peeking out from the corners of her lips. This girl wasn't a girl…
Bell was sitting in front of a monster.
The boy flinched, his entire body seizing for a brief instance. The girl noticed, her eyes widening. Her breaths became more urgent, as though trying to push something out.
For Bell, the pack he held before him felt more like a barrier, the last defense between himself and the enemy. He entered a small frenzy as he tightened both hands upon the satchel, realizing he didn't have his knife. His eyes darted wildly, unwilling to turn his head away from the trembling creature. He could just catch the handle of his blade on the fringe of his periphery, the steel edge buried straight into the soft loam.
Bell weighed his options. Could he make it to the knife fast enough? Maybe if he tossed the pack as a distraction, he could feel his muscles tense in preparation. This thing hadn't shown much aggression, nothing beyond pricking him with those wicked looking claws of hers, and that seemed driven out of fear more than anything.
Why were they just sitting there? Why hadn't this thing torn into him as soon as it had its arms around him? Was it just a matter of survival, that staying with him was simply the better option in the moment? What would happen now?
Just as Bell was ready to make his move-
"P… P-Pl…"
The rookie adventurer twitched, his grip going lax and his pack falling forwards. His every ounce of focus was drawn to the amber eyed beast. The beast that was now crying.
"P-Ple… Please… h-help."
She spoke. The monster had spoken to him.
Bell's jaw hung open, his pupils shrunken into the whites of his eyes. His fingers curled and uncurled, not sure what to do with themselves. He couldn't stop the way his body was trembling.
But the mon- the girl was doing worse.
"P-Please…"
She was falling apart, tears cascading down her face in long streams. Her shivers were so severe now it looked like they might shake the skin off of her body. Desperate eyes refused to leave Bell's face, hoping for a reaction.
Bell raised his hands. The girl immediately recoiled, and he turned his open palms towards her. He couldn't say he was feeling calm in all this, but he had to put up some kind of a front. Anything to quell the absolute terror overtaking her.
Slowly, he reached for his bag. With one hand he flipped open the top flap as he drew the satchel towards himself. At the same time, hoping to be discreet, Bell slid a little closer towards his charge.
The girl noticed, folding her limbs in tighter. Bell didn't take his eyes off of her, reaching into his pack and beginning to blindly rummage around. His education under Eina was once more coming in handy, the boy quickly finding what he needed.
Bell pulled a folded square of dark cloth from the bag. The blue haired girl allowed a hint of question to cross her features. Attempting to lighten the mood, as well as alleviate his own nerves, Bell decided a little bit of flair was in order. With a flourish the young adventurer whipped the square of cloth open, revealing a brown cloak.
A sharp cry pierced the silent chamber as the strange child fell backwards. Bell's features tightened and he had to consciously fight back his own impulse to scamper away. Staring at this small girl and the obvious fright taking hold of her again, it was oddly easy for him to muster up a smile.
"I-It's okay," he chided himself for the stutter, "I'm gonna help you, but I need to come over there, okay?" Bell held the cloak in front of himself as he scooted forward a little bit. "Okay," the boy asked, pausing after moving a short ways.
The girl sat up, again scrunching her knees up against her chest. She didn't back away any further but she wouldn't approach on her own. It didn't seem like she was willing to meet his eyes anymore, her gaze drawn down to her toes.
But Bell caught the shaky series of small nods and took that as the go ahead. He moved within grabbing distance, keeping a careful eye on the girl. When she didn't move, Bell calmly wrapped the cloak around her shoulders. Her frame tensed, but Bell focused on getting her covered up.
The cloak, being meant for someone his size, wrapped the girl up like a blanket. Bell got to work smoothing out the fabric, making sure it covered her as much as possible. As he patted down her shoulders and arms, Bell chanced a look at her face. The girl's stare met his, salty trails marking long lines down her cheeks. Her fearful expression had turned to a curious one.
Bell maintained his easy grin, continuing his task. "There we go," he cheered, slapping his palms together as he finished, "all good and warm now, right?"
Wide eyed, the pale skinned girl held her gaze on his face before glancing down at the stretch of dark fabric that covered her. Her arms raised, lifting ends of the cloak that she looked back and forth between. She then pulled her limbs in, wrapping them around her.
"Warm," she breathed, eyes partly lidded.
Bell watched, a light laughter drifting from his lips. The thought that he was afraid of this child just moments ago seemed absurd. But then his features sharpened, a sudden notion taking hold. The boy leaned forward, tapping the girl on her knee.
"Hey… what's your name?"
The girl gave him an unreadable expression. After a pause, she dipped her head to the side, her midnight blue mane falling over her left shoulder. "Name?"
"Uh, yeah, your name," the young adventurer placed a palm against his chest, "Mine is Bell."
"Bell," the pale girl tested, "Be~ll, Bell~el."
A humored breath escaped him, "Yeah, that's me, what about you?"
Bell had cut her off mid way through her accented takes, catching her as she gave her tongue an exaggerated roll. One that was also highly visible since she had her mouth gaping open. Doing nothing to school her features, she copied Bell's action of patting her chest.
"Mhame? Mhy Mhame?"
She had forgotten to put her tongue away…
Her sight then fell to the floor, shifting after a second to meet his own eyes. She held her gaze, an expectant air about her.
It took Bell a rather embarrassing amount of time to realize she was asking him to name her, a moment denoted by his widened eyes and the drawn out "Oohhhh," issued from his mouth. The boy cleverly utilized his long vocalization as cover to think.
"… maybe… Welusine? Is that good?"
With her maw already twisted part way through annunciations, she got it working quickly on the new word. "Vee-woo… Le-lu… cee?"
Bell snorted. He really tried not to, but this girl was just too much. She hadn't even noticed he'd laughed at her just then, still visibly chewing her way through pronunciations. It brought back memories of his time in his home town, watching the younger kids while the adults were busy.
Holding up his hand served to make the girl stop. Of course, she did so with her mouth opened at an odd angle, her clenched teeth visible as she was in the midst of getting through the "vee" sound, eyes slanted and face scrunched with wrinkles. Bell held his stance for a short while, the girl not moving in accordance. Only when he dropped his palm did her features relax.
"Okay, maybe that was a bit much." Bell grabbed his chin and slipped into thought, "How about… what if… we shortened it to Wiene?"
The girl blinked twice, her lips parting in a small "o".
"Vee- nay… Wiene."
Bell watched over her as she again played with the new word, a warm smile firm upon his face. When she turned back to him, it was like the whole chamber suddenly brightened.
"Wiene! I am Wiene!"
So we start with a quick check in with Hestia and Hephaestus. Just using this as a chance to further show their friendship dynamic. I decided that what ultimately would persuade Hephaestus here is that she and Hestia have a similar situation: working out a relationship with their mortal children. The devotion Hestia shows towards Bell tips the scale enough that Hephaestus is willing to impart her services. For a "discount," of course. Some traditions must be observed.
The Goddess of Smiths make s a comment about how a god-forged weapon is "not something that should exist out in regular society." This little throwaway detail is just a loose little plot thread that I may or may not explore later. I like having these additional avenues that I could potentially return to down the line to flesh out the world/certain characters.
Ladies and gentlemen… we have Wiene!
Yes, Wiene's early involvement was always a big aspect of my writing this. And she is very much here to stay, as you'll see in upcoming chapters.
Through the end of last chapter and the bulk of this one, we've extensively lengthened Bell's initial minotaur encounter. We've gone from the stealthy approach to full on flight and evasion. Threw in a bit of personality for the dungeon itself, the normal glow of the tunnels turning to this sickly, oppressive yellow that permeates the air. Somewhat inspired by the atmosphere of settings like The Backrooms or The Stanley Parable.
And then we get the appearance of yet another figure from the Loki Familia. Yes, for anyone still questioning, that was Ais. Yet again we get that opposite viewpoint where the very beasts hounding and threatening our main characters are in turn subjected to their own nightmare. Even the dungeon seems to recognize that playtime is over, losing its "theatrical glow" as the scuffle draws to its inevitable close.
I liked having it so what ultimately fells our hiding duo into the pit behind them is Ais herself underestimating her strength once again.
Bell and Wiene's end interactions bring up a few essential points. One is establishing what Wiene is and Bell's obvious apprehension towards her. Unlike in canon, Bell is far from an accomplished adventurer by this point in his career. He's also just been through a rather harrowing experience and is probably still keyed up on adrenaline and paranoia. So understanding that he's trapped in a confined space with some dungeon born fiend is nearly enough to push him over the edge.
But then we get to the next point: building rapport between the two. The shared interest of escape/survival establishes enough of a bond (or at least enough apprehension) that Bell hold's his next action long enough for Wiene to ask for help. This display of "humanity" halts Bell in his tracks, further done in by the fact that the little beast is crying. Small trivia here: the "Please help" moment is a reference to The Fifth Element, specifically the scene where Leelu crashes into Corbin's taxi. Her mispronouncing Welusine as "Le-lu" is, of course, another nod.
And last but not least… we had to give our girl her name! In the anime, the reason for Bell's first choice getting rejected is that he has a full compliment of friends who tell him, flat out, that the name is terrible. I thought it would be fun here, since Bell has no one else to bounce ideas off of, for Wiene herself to be unable to pronounce "Welusine." And that had the added bonus of having her make stupid faces, just doing silly kid stuff. I like to think that Bell, with his love for heroes and his overall youthful outlook on things, would be good with children.
Next time: Boy and "Beast" ascend, pushing through a few encounters. And another duo continues their trek outside of Orario… and tries not to kill each other.