This was made half out of spite the fact that we didn't get the denatus in season 4. We would have got it if I owned Danmachi but I do not.
"I am Ganesha! More importantly, I am the facilitator of this meeting!" A well-built man with an elephant mask shouted. He was currently standing up perfectly straight in a large, marbled room found on the thirtieth floor of Babel.
"Ugh, if Ganesha is moderator, I'm going home…" More than a few gods grumbled, not seeming overjoyed by the fact that this month's Denatus was being chaired by the very loud God of the masses. Though they were quickly persuaded to stay by the drooling thought of naming the adventurers who have recently levelled up, especially cause of a certain Rabbit.
"Now then, let's get right to giving Bell his new nickname!"
"Wait, let's save the main dish for last!"
"That's right, Loli has two others that need to be named, doesn't she?"
After defiling Welf's proclamation of love to Hephaistos, all the gods shifted through the parchments laid out in front of them. Simultaneously, they all found the same piece of paper that the guild had printed. It showed the picture that instantly brought back memories of the War Game between Hestia and Apollo. A young boy with ears that showed his half-elf race, straight bleached hair that was a bit messy but not bad looking. A dark blue mask covered his eyes and a neck muzzle was wrapped around his neck, exposing his almost feminine chin but with the ever so slightest jawline that showed he was a boy. Every other item of clothing was black, from the neck muzzle down to the boots. A sword in each hand, showing they were a matching pair. It was this picture that brought up the first of many questions about Nathan that Hestia didn't think she would be able to answer.
While all the other Gods were busy etching the sketch of the half-elf into their minds, Hestia looked up towards Hermes with a pleading look in her eyes. The Traveling God, almost having the same thought as the small Goddess, shared the look. The only other two deities who truly knew about Nathan saw the small interaction between the pair. Freya gave her usual smile of pleasure, knowing this would be a satisfying meal before she got to the main course. Loki on the other hand, having just learnt about the boy and forming somewhat of an alliance with him for the battle against Knossos could only join Hermes in looking at Hestia. When the Goddess of the Hearth met the trickster's gaze, Loki gave her a quick nod, symbolising that she would keep quiet throughout this. It was only two days ago that Hestia arrived with the half-elf to discuss what was happening. Hestia breathed a sigh of relief knowing she wouldn't have to worry about the truth getting out and so she settled into her chair, preparing for the barrage of questions she knew she would have to deal with.
"Oi Loli big boobs, is this kid really only a level 3?"
"Yeah, he completely wiped the floor with Apollo's kids like it was nothing."
"Why would I lie about that." Hestia nervously said. She wasn't the best liar, not liking it at all. She had already told the truth to Loki, not being able to properly hold a straight poker face up close to the Goddess of lies and trickery.
"Well he did come from Hermes, didn't he?"
"That's right. You expect us to trust that info merchant!"
"I am offended you would give such a bad accusation that I would lie about my children's level" Hermes spoke up, defending himself with all his charm and charisma.
"Well, now that you are listening too Hermes, answer us another question."
"Where did you find him?"
"Where did he come from?"
Hermes, not one to crumble under pressure unless it was from a beautiful lady, spoke calmly.
"As the description says, I found him outside Orario while on one of my many travels."
"You're saying you found a level 3 outside of Orario."
"Do you know how rare that is!"
"Don't bullshit us, Hermes! Who is he?"
"I just told you, didn't I," Hermes said with a smile. However, one astute God fired off a question that he was sure would catch the blonde God out.
"Ok then, how did he get to level 3? Who was his previous deity before joining you?"
However, this was Hermes they were dealing with. He wasn't just going to roll up with no material and wing it. No, he had covered every basis.
"I found him when I was visiting Nike's arena. He hit level 3 after defeating an amazon who had come from Telskyura to also fight there. When he learnt I was going back to Orario, he asked to join me and here we are."
It seemed this backstory was enough to quell the curiosity of the Gods around the table. It even impressed Hestia, Loki and Freya that Hermes came up with such a believable past for Nathan. Nike's arena was known for creating strong warriors. It was only second to the Amazon island of Telskyura for producing high levels quite quickly outside the dungeon.
Hermes had actually just used the memory of how he had gotten Falgar, already talking with Nathan about the backstory, making sure he knew as well, but from Hermes could see according to the surprised look on Hestia's face, Nathan seemed to have forgotten to tell her about it.
"That would explain his fighting ability."
"It is believable I suppose."
It was at this point Ganesha stepped in as chairman and took control of the meeting.
"I am Ganesha, let's hurry this along, shall we. Let's pick a nickname for the boy and get on to the next one."
"Ganesha's right, I want to get to Bell too."
"Ganesha didn't mean..."
"""Agreed""" A chorus of agreement spread around the room, interrupting the elephant God.
The room fell silent for the first time since the start of the meeting. The gods and goddesses were looking at the picture and description of the half-elf while thinking of what Hermes said. It was the first time since the start of Denatus' that the deities were not throwing out names that would bring as much shame and pain to the child's deity.
"I can't get a read on him."
"""Agreed"""
"Is this really all we have to go on?"
"He seems rather..."
"""Boring"""
"My cute kids once saw Hestia's lot in the dungeon once, all they said about this kid was that he stayed at the back and did little fighting, letting poor Bell do all the work."
"That's what I heard."
"Same here."
Nathan seemed to be an anomaly with the deities in that they couldn't get anything to pick up from him. There were little rumors about him, the only rumor being that he was a mystery. As Hestia described how they got his name, Nathan smiled at the thought he wasted the time of the gods of Orario.
"I've heard he just appears out of nowhere."
"Or that he disappears sometimes, like he just up and vanishes. That's what I've heard from some children i like to drink with."
Loki thought about how her girls were talking about Nathan when they met him in Daedalus street once and how he just appeared out of thin air, even Ais didn't notice him. Freya too knew how Nathan could just vanish. When she tried to watch him a few times out of boredom or curiosity after first meeting him at the Hostess, his already darkish green soul would just poof out of existence.
"Almost like he just poofs out of existence." A goddess said, also sharing what their children have apparently heard or seen, or not seen in this case.
It was at this time, that it was almost like every single deity shared the same mind. All the different pieces of information slowly slotting into place. They had all thought back to something they all knew of. It was only Hestia that seemed to not be with it. Freya and Loki had thought of what Nathan resembled before this meeting was even planned. They were the first thing that Hermes had thought of when trying to describe the half-elf when he first met him, especially since he was a fan of stories as well.
How he seemed to just appear out of nowhere, wielding some form of strength from an unknown origin. How he can just disappear like he is erasing his existence. His black clothes also exaggerated how this description fitted him so well.
"""WE'VE GOT IT!""" They all shouted at the same time.
"-eh" Hestia flinched surprisingly at the uproar.
All the Gods said the same thing in unison. Miach, Take and Hephaistos flinched at the name. Freya only a gave a slight smile. She had known of what it was as she too thought of them once to describe the half-elf. Loki was also guilty as she too thought the boy resembled tthem well with how he acted whenever he just appeared for the meetings, bringing his almost emotionless personlaty along, only a bit anger was ever seen. It would seem only the child's very own Goddess was the only one to not like it.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"
""""IT'S DECIDED!""""
"Dammit! They really messed with me in there!" Hestia said, trying to calm herself down after being riled up over the God's relentless teasing about Bell. She especially didn't like what Freya said about her Bell being Freya's companion. What bullshit is that?
As Hestia was leaving the room with Take, Miach, Hephaistos and Hermes alongside her, she continued to think of the three names she acquired.
"Ignis the ever burning. Don't fret Hephaistos, it could have been worse." Hermes teased the Goddess, enjoying watching the blush form on her face.
"Quiet Hermes, I didn't think it would make its way here."
"Really, of course, it would."
"You did boast about it to almost everyone." Take and Miach added on.
"Well, I'm just glad Bell-Kun got a nice name," Hermes stated
"You think it's a good name, Hermes?" Hestia said, being dragged out of thought at the mention of Bell.
"I think it suits him quite well."
"It does sum up young Bell very nicely."
"Indeed"
The other three deities added their own thoughts on Bell's name.
"Yeah well that may be true, but he doesn't really like being referred to as a rabbit constantly."
"Well, he shouldn't look like a cute rabbit," Hermes said.
"Hey Hermes? How did you…" Hestia said, almost asking about how Hermes came up with Nathan's backstory but she remembered that Take, Miach and Hephaistos don't know about Nathan.
"Yes Hestia, what is it?" Hermes asked
"Never mind"
"How do you think young Nathan will respond to his new name?" Miach inquired.
"He told me he wasn't bothered much about it. Apparently, he doesn't care about it but…"
"But?" Hephaistos said, wanting to know why her friend stopped.
"He kinda… doesn't like… to be seen… as an elf," Hestia said, realising this could be hard to tell the half-elf.
"Well he definetly won't like being called that then," Miach said, the others agreed.
"Oh dear, would you please excuse me? I have just remembered I have something I need to attend to."
With that sudden statement, the travelling God departed from the group. The other four followed him with their eyes as he walked around a corner, not allowing himself to be watched any further. They would not be able to know that behind that corner stood a waiting Dionysus and Loki.
"So how do you think he will react then?"
"Hmmm?" Hestia was still spaced out wondering about where Hermes went, not hearing what the Goddess of the Forge had said.
"Hestia!"
"Huh, oh Uhm, sorry I wasn't listening."
"I could see that!" Hephaistos grumbled.
"She said how do you think Nathan will react to his nickname if he doesn't like being called an elf," Take asked the question again now that Hestia was focusing.
"Oh, I'm not really sure. As I said, he told me that he wasn't bothered about this but if people start calling him that from now on, I don't how he might react., especially if other Elves realise what it means."
"Which they will," Take said, not really helping with the situation.
"I don't know if this is bad to say but from what I've seen it kind of suits young Nathan,"
"I have to agree with Miach on this one," Take stated.
"Same here," The goddess of the forge agreed.
"I don't," Hestia proclaimed. " He isn't some emotionless monster or ruthless murderer out of an old children's story."
"I'm not saying he is exactly like it but you have to admit, he doesn't show much emotion," Take responded
"He is just bad expressing it. He has gotten a lot better recently and now I fear this might hinder his progress."
"I can agree with you there Hestia as when he sometimes comes and buy's potions, he actually has talks normally with the other person he comes with or even sometimes with Nahza," Miach explained.
"I can see why you wouldn't like it but it's happened now."
"I suppose you are right Hephaistos but I really don't like it, I mean calling him that, what if other children get scared by it. I don't want my child to be feared."
"Skias Aelf,"
Hestia had just got back home from the Denatus. After she walked inside, the Goddess gathered everyone in the living room. She didn't stall for a second and went right into the new nicknames for Welf, Nathan and Bell. All things considered, Welf wasn't too fussed about his name as it showed his passionate love for Hephaistos, but he would soon come to regret that as it now gave more material for the others to tease him, which they did.
Bell also wasn't that fussed about his name. He could see how he got it. Rabbit's foot basically showed how he was fast on his feet, somewhat lucky and, begrudgingly, how he looked like a Rabbit.
When Hestia said Nathan's nickname, everyone got a different reaction. Nathan scowled slightly as he didn't know what the first word meant but he definitely understand the second one and, just like Hestia had predicted, he didn't like it. Mikoto and Lili were in the same boat as Nathan. They too didn't know what Skias meant but they knew Nathan wouldn't be best pleased cause whatever it meant it was followed up by the word for Elf. Welf seemed to think it sounded cool but were alongside the two girls in the Elf part of the name.
However, it was Haruhime and Bell that froze up at the name. Unlike the others, who focused on the second part of the name, they immediately recognised the first part. Being Hero story encyclopaedia's, they knew what a Skias was. And even though they hated themselves for it, they couldn't help but see the resembalance.
"First of all, Nathan I'm sorry for the Aelf thing but if I spoke up about it, they would have just latched onto it even more."
"Lady Hestia, It's fine. Don't worry about it, I expected it would happen anyway as I don't really have much else going for me. I would actually like to know what Skias means?" Nathan said, lessening his scowl as he spoke.
They all saw as Hestia now joined Bell and Haruhime in freezing up. This led to a few raised eyebrows from the others.
"Judging from your reactions, Lili guesses it is something from a story judging that Miss Haruhime and Master Bell know it, and that something isn't a good thing."
"Yeah, you are right Lili," Bell said, thinking of the best way to describe it.
"A Skias is something that shows up in a few hero books…" Haruhime tried to start but struggled to find the words
"We gathered that; can you just say what it is. I can't really get mad at you for just telling me what it is," Nathan coolly stated, not really caring what it was as he was still annoyed at being called an elf.
"It is what we call…"
"It's something similar to a shade."
It was Bell who broke the deadlock, deciding to just say what it was.
"A shade, what's that?" Welf asked but now it was only for Lili, Nathan and himself.
"Hey, that's not fair. They can't call Nathan that!" Mikoto said, now realising what it was that the Gods meant. She had learnt about that as Takemikazuchi had used the far eastern word for it when telling the story
"Is it that bad?" Nathan asked.
Bell let out a heavy sigh and began to explain.
"A Shade is what is known as a… thing of some sort. It was seen as either a dead person's soul or just a resident of the underworld. A Skias is something like that except different. A simple shade is just seen as a dead person's soul residing in the underworld. They housed only negative emotions. They were known for appearing out of thin air, and as their name suggests, hid in the shadows. They were seen almost every time a hero went into the underworld to do something and almost every time they were something that Hero had to beat or overcome."
"They were seen as the bad parts of what people left behind but they were mainly known for grabbing people and disappearing into the shadows, undetectable," Haruhime added
It was then, after hearing the explanation of what a shade was that Nathan realised what this truly meant.
"So what, are they just calling him a dead person or a thing that is only made of bad emotions like anger and greed!" Welf exclaimed.
"I don't know. Truthfully I don't understand it myself. It basically means..."
"A shade Elf," Nathan said quietly.
"Nathan, are you alright?" Haruhime saw the displeasure on the half-elf's face
"I think I've figured it out, haven't I Lady Hestia."
"I believe you have, I'm so sorry Nathan. I couldn't do anything about it, even if I knew you wouldn't like it. If I said you hated being called an elf they would have latcehd onto it.
"Don't worry about it. Honestly, you can't really argue with them on this, it kinda does sum me up well."
"But you aren't a bad thing. You aren't just negative emotion. You not just some ruthless killer who stalks innoncent people at night, you don't want to destroy the elves." The Goddess tried to argue back.
'Lady Hestia, I think you will be surprised at how well that sums up my past.' The half-elf thought as he just shrugged his shoulders.
"What are you on about Goddess?" Bell asked.
"Hav we missed something?" Wellf also looked puzzled alongside his friend. It was Nathan who decided to explain what his Alias meant.
"I've been called Skias Aelf. That translates to shade elf. Do you know how there are two different types of Elves?"
"Yes, light elves and dark elves." Mikoto answered for everyone.
"Well, there is another race that used to exist but only now exist in old stories. These stories are really only told in Elven culture. There name was thought to be so cursed that saying it would bring misfortune to whoever said it. So instead they were known as night elves, or elves of the night. The stories in which they appeared were ones where they seen as a dark group of trained assassins that hid in shadows. They would take out Elven Villages and kill everyone in them. They were seen as the direct enemy towards the high elves. The most well known story is how they tried invading the high elf forest, causing the long feud between the light and dark elves to stop so they could join forces to stop the night elves."
"How come I've never seen a story about them?" Bell asked.
"That is becuase they were never written down, as it was thought it would bring bad luck to those that read their names. As I said, there names themselves were feared, which is why they are called night elves, so it was thought to never write about them. According to my mum, the only known written document of the night elves are in the Alf forest palace library."
"So what does this have to do with your name?" Welf asked.
"Well I've been called Shade Elf, which might as well be calling me an Elf of the night/dark. Most, if not all, Elves will interprut it this way."
"So your name is something bad then for the elven communtiy?"
"Well basically I've been named after a fictional race of elves that are seen as the sworn enemy of the high elves. So yeah, I'm sure I'm even less popular now with the elves."
"That's horrible. How could the Gods do this."
"Becasue they didn't think of it like that!" Hestia said, raising her voice that quietened everyone down.
"What do you mean Goddess, of course the Gods would know." Bell said, confused at what Hestia said.
"Oh Bell, the Gods aren't all knowing. You see, the Gods latch onto stuff like the stories of the night Elves as that is what they find entertaining. They don't actaully think of the consequences or fall out of what happens after. They had a good laugh at naming Nathan after something they used to find interesting. It would be like naming your child after a character you used to like but without remembering the story. I remember the discussion about them a few centuries ago. They were popular because of there attack on the alf-forest for less than a decade and afterwards they were forgotten about. This is bascailly a nostalgia high for the Gods."
"So what now, Nathan is gonna be the enemy of all Elves?" Lili bluntly stated.
"Are some of them going to try to attack him because of it, I wonder?" Haruhime nervoulsy thought.
"Guys, don't worry about it. If any seriously attack me I will be able to take care of it and I'm sure you guys would have my back." Everyone nodded their heads at what Nathan said.
"What about the stronger ones, like Hedin and Hogni from Freya Familia?" Mikoto asked.
"Those two only care about their Goddess, meaning they probably don't care enough to trouble me."
"What about Nine hells?" Welf asked.
Nathan clearly froze at the mention of the Allias of his Aunt. He hadn't thought of her reaction to this. Everyone turned to look at Welf who realised it may have been a mistake to bring up Nathan's family issue at this time.
"Well I'm already the Cursed Prince who is known for killing her sister." The half-elf said, trying to sound light-hearted but failing miserably if his clenched fists were anything to go by. "Though this won't help me if I ever want to try and... ha, yeah I guess it has made things harder."
Seeing the face the half-elf was pulling hurt everyone. One of resignasation, that showed that he was ready to give broke Hestia's heart that she hadn't done anything to stop it even though she could have refused it.
'First the lies about me killing mum, then her finding out I used to be in Evilus and now this. She will never forgive me or listen to me.' Nathan's irrational part of brain was in full control at this point, only being able to think how there was no hope with getting what he dreamed. But his mental fortification kicked in and allowed him to see some sense again.
"That's it, I'm going to change it!" Hestia said.
"Lady Hestia, please."
"But Nathan. It's a horrible name for you. It's made your life even harder now." Hestia cried
"Lady Hestia, listen to me. I was never popular with the elves and I don't like them. Besides, I'd like to think my Aunt wouldn't be so childish in believing those old stories. If she can forgive me for being part of Evilus and not focus on my title as the Cursed Prince, then I'm sure she can over look something simple as my adventurer alias the Gods gave me. It's fine, don't worry."
"Ae you sure you aren't bothered by it then?" Haruhime asked.
"Yeah I'm fine, it doens't bother me that much, besides I always thought the night elves were cool. However, if you still aren't satisfied then i ask you this, do you guys see me as this Skias Aelf thing?
"No!"
"Of course not!"
"Like Hell we do"
The Familia immediately stated their view
"That's all that matters then, isn't it." Nathan said with a smile
Though the smile was small, it was a genuine one and that comforted the Hestia Famila, knowing that everything was alright. With that now settled, the Hestia Familia went back to organising the upcoming expedition that was only a week away. The three who were nicknamed thought about their new Alias as they went about their day. Welf used his to only boost the flame inside him and he went straight back into his forge and promised to make the best stuff he could to protect his Familia. Bell and Nathan showed that they earnt their new nicknames when they began a new session of sparring. The Rabbit foot used his agility to pounce at the Skias Aelf, who evaded the strike with a parry of his now drawn swords to push the Rabbit away and quickly jumped into the shade of the house, telling his Captain it was time to train his senses for unseeable enemies.
As they watched the half-elf lean against the window, all of those in Loki Familia's office could only think of how his new nickname fitted him perfectly. As the sun spread into the room, they all saw how he just stayed next to where the shade had been created and how it seemed he could just mould into it with no effort.
After hearing what a Skias was from Tiona, most of the people who had had an encounter with the half-elf could only agree that it suited him, especially Tione. As she thought back to their fight in Daedalus, she couldn't describe him any better. It wasn't until Alicia and the rest of the Elves joined the conversation and truly explained to everyone what the Alias meant.
"I mean why else would he have his hair like that, it's obvioulsy dyed to hide his true black coloured hair," One of the elves whispered to her fellow elf.
All of those in the fairy group that felt that dark emotion that the masked boy gave off saw this as a proper explanation for why he was like, why he was so ruthless at killing. All the elves of the Loki Familia saw this as what the Gods have called him as the truth that he is a descendant of the night elves, meaning he was now their enemy. Their biggest fear was now the safety of their beloved Princess, who they now thought could be in danger from this newly titled shade elf.
"What was their actual names?" Tiona asked.
"We don't actually know and if we did we still wouldn't dare speak it." Alicia explained. "Thankfully their name was lost to time and only the Gods probably know of it."
"Oi, kid. I don't get to ask this much?" Loki said, pointing her wine bottle towards the newest entry in the room. "What da ya think of ya new nickname then?"
By now, everyone in the room was fully aware of what it meant as they all had heard from an Elf of the apparent true meaning being the name. Some looked at the boy for a response, others looked at Riveria to see what she thought of it all. However, the two who were now the centre of attention were both looking at the Goddess Loki.
While Riveria glared daggers into the Goddesses back, the fully masked boy simply shrugged.
"Aaaarrrrrr, come on, don't be a killjoy." Once again, the boy said nothing.
"Ok then, what do you wanna be called then, cause I like your new Alias." To the main three that knew Loki, they could tell she wanted to get a reaction out of the boy. Before any of them could shut up their Goddess, the half-elf spoke.
"This isn't what I came here to discuss," The quiet voice bluntly stated.
"He is correct." Finn said, quickly latching onto it. "Let's get down to businness."
And so the Braver, Nine hells, Elgarm, Vanargand, Jormungandr, the Amazon, High Novice, Alchat, Ankusha and Skias Aelf began another meeting on their upcoming invasion of Knossos.
That was a fun side chapter to write. I really like the Denatus and I'm still bummed about it no being in the anime but hey ho, what can you do.
I hope you like Nathan's Alias, It's just another thing to add to the pile of shit he has to deal with. But this isn't a one off thing. I've made it so it will be used in the story and that it will hold significance later on.
Reviews:
jank7457: I hope the Alias is up to your liking. I didn't want it to be a really cool one as the GOds don't do that unless it is a very strong person from a very strong Familia. Instead, I took the other approach to fearsome title in that it genuinely causes fear in some.
Phantom-Zero-v2: I'm glad you have questions as that means im writing an interesting story and when I one day finish this all of them are answered. As for the two you asked, Sometime soon and sometime soon, both will happy around the same time.