A mysterious letter, percy must investiage.
I DO NOT own Danmachi, only my own characters... nya
'Happy 6th birthday, Percy.'
I read that line over and over again in my head. Had it already been one year since I made my decision on the cold autumn morning. To ask Penia for a Falna... to leave my home and family.
I continue to shuffle through Daedalus street. Last night had been a normal night. I spent a couple hours solo on the 14th floor, collecting enough magic stones to fill my new rucksack before mapping out the back parts of the floor. Having discussed with Brant, we thought it was best to map out the lesser known areas of the dungeon, since the guild already has maps covering the main routes which Brant can provide if need be.
Afterwards, I went to the Hostess to talk to Syr before they opened for an hour in which I got to try out something called bacon which I liked. I then met up with Brant to change my magic stones to Valis before heading over to Penia to pay my tithe.
The last thing I expected was to be handed this and I knew who it was from, Penia didn't need to tell me who gave her the letter.
"She basically ambushed me this mornin', waking me up while my head was still full of alcohol. I can't wrap my 'ead around that mother of yours."
I replay what Penia had said which only confirmed what I already knew. I'm not sure if Penia knew it was my birthday but, excluding me, she was the only other person who might've known that wasn't Maria.
'Happy 6th birthday, Percy.'
How was I supposed to respond to this, should I respond to this? Maybe I should ask for help from someone. I already looked at Penia but she gave a shrug and a look that said she was still recovering from a hangover and now wasn't the time for talking.
Brant maybe or Syr, but I'd just come from talking with them, it'd be weird to go back again so soon, wouldn't it? Maybe Reg would help, he seems mature and would know what to do.
I continue to make my way through Daedalus street, my body on free-roam as my mind was too busy focusing on my dilemma. While I knew my body could get back to my building on auto-pilot, I was yet to encounter other people when in this state. I thought it meant that my body could avoid others without thinking but I was just about to be proven.
"Oi!"
The shout from my left caused me to flinch as I'm broken free from my mind, frantically looking around for the reason I was interrupted. I swivel my head to the left and immediately spot who had shouted at me. Judging by the way they were briskly walking towards me with clear intent, my hope they weren't talking to me quickly dwindled out.
"Don't ya dare move youngin!" the voice shouted. I recognised the voice and the person it belonged to. Standing easily above 6ft, she was the second tallest person I've met with Mama Mia being the only one to beat her but she beats everyone.
Wearing a black dress that finished just below her knees with a white apron on top, her sleeves rolled up she almost resembled the large dwarven woman. She had a red, thin scarf wrapped around her hair that nestled her blackish, grey hair into a messy bun at the back. She wore brown boots that covered her feet that were quickly marching towards me.
As Frieda finally made her way up to me, I noticed the large crate of wood on her back. Most likely she had come from her collecting and was ready to sell her wood at her stall, giving it away cheaply to those that struggle to afford firewood for the cold autumn and unforgiving winters. She had been one of the first people Maria had introduced to me and I knew that she could be blunt and a bit rough, but she was kind. The last time I had seen her was a year ago when I lied to her face and ran away after pretending to do what she said.
I quietly gulp as the memory of that day only made the towering woman's figure seem more intimidating.
For a second, the woman just looks at me with her brown eyes as I shakily look at her. I'm supposed to be level 2. I've fought off a wave of Minotaurs and defeated an irregular ape monster. Brant never scared me nor did Reg to be honest.
Penia, Maria, Astrea, Miss Ferne, Freya, Mama Mia and Frieda. There's a pattern there I'm not about to say as Frieda continues to start down at me.
"Ya ain't gonna run away like last time?"
I bite my lip as I slowly shake my head.
"How do I know ya ain't lying like before?"
I'm polite enough to blush at that remark and break eye contact for a second, showing my shame for my previous actions. It earns a huff from the woman.
"Have ya spoken to ya mother since ya levelled up?"
I shoot a look up at Frieda, puzzled at how she knew about my last encounter with Maria.
"Don't look at me like that, us mother's talk to each other, 'specially when one of us needs to talk about something we can't mention in front of our kids," The large woman explains. I quickly understand what she means. I knew Maria and Frieda were close, Frieda having aided us so many times when it was just me and Maria. I'm sure we would've died the winter when I was 2 if it wasn't for her coming to our rescue. I wonder if Jacob still uses that blanket.
I can't help but feel a wave of guilt at how I've treated this woman who has helped not only me but my family. She has probably helped them more than I have by just giving them a bit of money wrapped in cloth every month.
"What's with that look in ya eye, ain't ya meant to be a great adventurer?"
I could hear the sarcasm in her tone but all I did was grip the letter tighter, struggling to find a word to say. Maybe I should just continuing walking but that would only prove that I've made no progress since I started. I said wasn't going to run, now was the time to prove it.
"What ya got there?"
I contemplate for a second before holding the paper to her, still not able to look her in the eye. She takes the letter from my hand as I can tell she's read the first line as I clearly see her body sag slightly, as if she had just released a large breath.
I hear her sigh as she brings a hand up to scratch her hair.
"I thought ya looked lost... come on youngin, ya look like ya need someone to talk to."
With that Frieda motioned in the direction she had come from and with a second of contemplation I walked after her, lagging a metre behind the woman.
Frieda brought Percy over to a bench she often sat with her younger children and fed the pigeons that roosted all around Daedalus Street. It was in a small opening with what was an attempt at a kids play park. Half a see-saw, one swing that scrapes against the floor and a slide that lasts about a metre.
Frieda looked back just to check to see if the boy was following her and she couldn't help but feel a bit of surprise when she saw him following her. His head was still pointed down and he was fidgeting but she would be lenient on him, it was his birthday after all.
"Sit 'ere-"
Percy went to take a seat before a large hand blocked his path.
"Ah, Ah; only do this if ya actually gonna do somethin'," Frieda remarked as she stared the boy down. She watched the boy contemplate for a second before looking up at her. That look was enough for the woman to let him through.
Percy effortlessly pulled himself on the bench, something all her kids his age and size always struggled with. She watched as he plopped himself down and waited for her to either talk or join him. Frieda chose to stand for now.
"So..." The woman said. Normally she would try and be a bit gentler with children but she knew that she wasn't dealing with a normal child. If Maria was to be trusted, and the kind young mother would have no reason to lie, then child sitting in front of her was arguably the strongest person in Daedalus street right now. Level 2 in under a years, only just turned 6-years-old and is turning in over 20,000 Valis monthly for his family, not to mention what he keeps for himself.
'He probably don't spare much for himself,' Frieda thought. She didn't like what had happened the last time they'd met. He'd lied to her and ran away, forcing the older woman to watch as someone she considered almost a younger sister slowly fall into a quiet depression, almost starving herself for a week when searching for him. It didn't sit right with the woman what the kid had done and she would speak to him on the same level he has earned. But she couldn't argue with what she had seen before.
Sacrificing meals for his younger siblings and also his bed just before a particularly cold winter hit them. He had a selfless nature but it was overshadowed by his one egregious selfish decision. But Frieda wasn't one to hold a person to only one trait, especially a child.
Percy bit his lip. While Frieda was thinking about the boy, he was thinking of what to say. He had sat on this bench; he had decided he was going to do something. He would not lie to this woman ever again... but how was he going to do it?
"I... want to talk... to her," the boy managed to mumble out.
"To who?" Frieda said, making Percy scrunch his face. The older woman wasn't playing fair.
"To M-Maria."
"Why?"
"...b-because I..."
"Because you what?"
Percy just sat in silence, scrunching his hands into a fist, the letter in his hand rustling as he wrinkled the paper.
"What did you do to her?"
"I hurt her!"
The quick outburst from the boy took Frieda by surprise, making her step back slightly.
"I hurt her, alright! I didn't meant to; I didn't mean to hurt her. I know I should've talked to her sooner, I should've gone to her, to all of them sooner but *hic* I didn't, Ok!"
The boy had begun to cry, hiccupping and sniffling. Frieda went into mother mode quickly, relaxing her body and kneeling down next to the boy. She pulled out a crumpled tissue, placing one hand on the boy's scrunched fists while the other went and wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Why didn't you go to them?" She said softly. She believed she knew the answer but she also knew the boy needed to say it himself.
"I...I *sniff*"
"It's ok, I won't get mad I promise," Frieda said cupping the boy's chin and making him make eye contact.
Perseus saw the brown eyes of the older mother. Gone had all the sternness and disappointment. In its place was kindness and understanding, a look he had long hoped to see in his own mother's eyes.
"I'm *hic* I'm scared," He sniffled out as he gave a quick cough to clear his throat of the tears.
"Scared of what?"
"What if... what if she doesn't love me."
"Don't say something so stupid, of course Maria loves you," Frieda said, trying to comfort the boy.
"B-but, I'm not her son, not her real one. A-and I abandoned her, and Carla, and Jacob. I left them a-and, and, and-"
Perseus' breathing started to quicken. Before he started to hyper-ventilate, Freida brought the boy into a hug.
"Of course you are her real son, don't say something so stupid ever again. And while you left them, you didn't abandon them. Week in, week out. You gave them financial aid they desperately needed, if it wasn't for you they could've starved by now."
Freida continued to comfort the boy who continued to silently weep. After a minute, Frieda broke the hug off and sat on the bench next to the boy. She carefully reached to his hand and slowly pulled out the letter.
"I'm not saying what you did was good, not by any means," Frieda started as she began smoothing out the crushed paper. "Take it from a mother who has had her kids go off and be adventurers. Every night ya wonder what's happening, will they come back safe. Some do... most don't."
Percy saw the sorrowful look the mother was wearing as she reminisced about all the children she had lost to the dungeon. Guilt swelled up inside of him at what Maria must have been feeling about him.
"But ya have done what all of them didn't, well all but one. Ya levelled up, you breached that unbreachable obstacle. That means you are stuck with this now, there ain't no going back. You can't continue to hide away and be alone, no one wants that, not even ya deity."
Percy shot her a look of shock.
"Of course I talked to that loony Goddess, how'd ya think Maria got this letter to her," Frieda explained as she waved the letter in front of the boy's face before handing it back to him, smoothed out and eligible again.
"Besides, ya can't expect to be an adventurer if ya keep gettin' scared now can ya?"
Frieda watched as Percy read the letter again, his fist tightening slightly. But Frieda could tell the difference from before. This was determination and the will to not back down. She gave a gruff smile before standing back up.
"Now, are ya gonna just sit there and continue to read that over and over again or are ya gonna actually do something?"
Percy looked up at her then back at the letter before jumping off the bench.
"Good lad," Frieda smiled as she ruffled the boy's shaggy black hair.
"Miss Frieda?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you... and," Frieda raised her eyebrow, wondering what the boy wanted to say. "I'm sorry... for lying to you.
Frieda was coloured surprised for a second before a small wave of pride and admiration for the small boy made her smile again.
"Thank you but that apology will only mean something if ya don't do it again," she said, finishing with a slightly rough edge as if she was daring the boy to try it once more and find out the consequences.
Perseus felt a small shiver run down his spine at the look Frieda gave him before he nodded to himself and began running off, leaving Frieda alone in a few seconds.
"heh, that's one 'ell of boy ya get there Maria," She whispered out to no one as she looked up at midday sun, wondering if all her lost children were up there and when she'd eventually go on meet them.
"Just wait a bit longer my darlin's, got to look after ya brothers and sisters for a bit while longer."
I raced through the backstreets. I tightened my grip on the letter in my hand, reminding myself why I'm doing this and why I won't give up, not this time. Miss Frieda was right, what kind of adventurer would I be if I got scared of something like this.
'Of course she loves you.'
I replay what Frieda had said to me, comforting my beating heart that was starting to race with every step, each one dragging me closer to my old home.
Whenever I came and dropped off money for Maria, I'd hop on the rooftops, not wanting to be seen, that was my excuse anyway. I knew that it helped me rationalise my fear of not wanting to return. By not taking the streets back, the way I'd done so many times, it helped me continue to play the coward.
I raced around a sharp left, up a small flight of stairs before leaping over to the ones on the other side of the wall that blocked the road. I looked up, knowing I was close. At my level 2 pace, I'd be there in under a minute.
I look up at the sky, the sun having perched at its highest point of the day. I wonder if they are in right now. Maybe they've gone out shopping or Maria is helping out somewhere in hopes of getting some more money.
No, Maria had stopped looking for work as soon as I had started my weekly, turned monthly, donations. And if they were out shopping, they wouldn't be long.
I continued forward, my legs racing. I leapt over broken crates and abandoned carts. I heard yelps of surprise at the people I passed but I paid them no mind.
'I can do this!' I willed myself on but I could already feel my legs begin to tremble as my pace slowed.
'Dammit,' I cursed to myself. No matter how many times I had tried to go back to my mother in the past year, I always failed. My fear and anxiety always got the better of me. I grit my teeth, trying to push past it.
I look up and see the naked mermaid fountain that had longed dried up. How many times had I made it here, ten, twenty, fifty, maybe even a hundred. Out of all those attempts, the ones where I'd gone further could be counted on one hand.
I felt a wave of nausea pass over me as I slowed down completely, trundling down to a walk. I scrunched my eyes shut, willing my body to continue.
'You've gotten to level 2, move!'
I felt my legs turn to jelly.
'You have reached the middle floors, grow up!'
I feel my stomach twist into knots.
'You've faced down the Goddess Freya, this is nothing!'
Sweat begins to bleed down my forehead as my palms get clammy.
'Stop being a cow-'
*Bang!*
"Ouch!"
My train of thought was quickly disrupted as I bang my head against something, making me stumble back. I open my right eye with a groan as I rub the imminent bump on my head. I quickly realise where I am.
I'd kept my eyes firmly shut pasted the fountain but my body had seemingly continued, even with all my nerves. I'd gotten so wrapped up in my own head that I'd walked all the way to the wooden door that separated the outside of Daedalus street and the inside of the house I had been so adamant of avoiding for the past year.
The wooden door I had just slammed into, almost as if I had knocked on it. Even with my head slightly disorientated, I could still make out the footsteps on cobble make their way to the door.
I sucked in a hard breath as I heard the latch rattle. I'd have thought she'd have tried to fix that by now but I guess food and firewood is more important than a rusty latch.
"Just a minute," My mother's voice makes me seize up. I feel half my body already trying to escape as my other half is fighting to remain still. My left hand grabs my right, forcing it to remain. My right leg is trembling while my left leg is holding firm, even though I know it could collapse any minute. My eyes are darting from looking of a way to escape and back to the door.
Then I hear it, the familiar sound of the latch finally unlocking. It's now or never. Fight or Flight...
'I can't...'
"Just a minute."
Maria got up from her wooden chair, the creaking of the wood showing the furniture's state. She looked over at Carla and Jacob. Carla had decided to have a lie-in this morning, cuddling up in the warm blankets. Jacob had gotten up early, already eaten his breakfast and now it was play-time, much to the annoyance of the sleeping black-kitten who was hissing him away.
Maria straightened out her grey dress, caressing the wrinkles back into the fabric. She had finally gotten a few new clothes that she might be able to think about getting a wardrobe. Of course that was all down to her amazing son.
She walked up to the door, her brown boots tapping on the cobble as she made her over to the door. She gave it a quick look before sighing. She gripped the latch and began the inevitable struggle to unlock it. It was always a nightmare but it did keep her children safe, for now.
"Maybe the wardrobe will have to wait," The woman mumbled to herself as she finally unlocked the wooden door. With another creak, she slowly pulled it open. To her confusement, she saw nothing. No one stood outside her little cabin.
That was until she happened to glance downwards. You see, Maria's house was weirdly structured, as are most things in Daedalus street. For some reason, only the Gods must know, to access her door you had to take a step upwards, only for you to take a step downwards on the other side. It made no sense and the amount of times she had almost tripped and her children had, it was such a hassle.
Because of this, she was alleviated to a position where she stood an extra 3 inches off the ground. While not much, it does mean her eyeline can pass over people if they are small enough, mainly children. And in front of her was a child.
Obviously a boy, he was dressed unusual for a child of Daedalus street. From bottom to top, he wore black boots that must've been a size to big as they almost reached up to his knees, with what was unmistakable armour covering the boots. Around his knees was black leather straps that must've been some sort of support.
His black shorts dropped just above these supports, nothing special about them at all. Covering his body was a black, sleeveless hoodie with a single zip running up the centre. The top half of his arms were bare, both biceps and triceps were skinny, mainly due to the boy's clear young age. However, they held the decorations of the discolouration of bruises and cuts.
His lower arms were more decorated. Metal plates rested on the top of the boy's skin, reaching his wrist. Underneath was some sort of white bandaging that circled his arm a few times. His hands were hidden by brown leather with his fingers still exposed.
His head was not visible as the boy was actively forcing his hood over his face, with only a bit of shaggy black hair being seen. Maria couldn't make out his eyes, mouth or ears, but she didn't need to see them to know what they looked like.
Maria stifled a cry as she saw how much Percy looked like an adventurer. She had never seen him like this. She knew what he had been doing all this time but to see him like this, armour and weapons, it made the hope of it being a lie crumble into dust.
'Wait a minute,' Maria shook herself awake. Standing in front of her was her son. The one she had barely seen in a year had now just knocked on her door. Her boy who had been avoiding her all this time had now willingly come back.
'Could this mean?'
Hope once again filled the mother's heart and she started to get excited and frantic. She struggled for a second on what to say.
"P-percy?" She managed to say, her eyes widened in joy, but that didn't last long. She saw it, the way her son's hand was shaking as he continued to force the hood to hide his face. His emotions was only portrayed more when he slowly and shakily raised his other hand. In it was a piece of paper. A piece of paper she had handed over to Frieda in hopes of giving it to the Goddess Penia in hopes...
'I'm glad it found you.'
Maria slowed her breathing, calming down her heart and her mind. She had jumped to conclusions, the hope of her son returning to her making her not think clearly. She wanted to reach out, touch his shaking hands in hopes of calming the boy's nerves but she didn't trust herself.
She remembered the last time she touched him, how she had yanked on his wrist, forcing him to comply with her wish. That had resulted badly last time, she would not make that mistake again.
Maria opened her body up and pulled the door out wide, slowly as to not make much sound. She knew how much Percy got bothered by sudden noise.
"Would you like to come in?" she said in barely a whisper, trying to be as gentle as possible. For a second, the world seemed to freeze. Maria didn't know why her son had returned or how her birthday letter had made him decide to do this. She knew it was a very fragile line they were both walking on and one wrong move could mean a horrible outcome. It had taken a whole year for Percy to work up enough courage to do this, what would happen if he felt like she dismissed it.
But to her complete relief, the direction the boy walked was forward. Up the small concrete step and up to the door frame. Once again, the boy lingered, hesitant to enter the place he once called home. But to Maria, Percy would always be able to call this place home and she was over the moon when he took the other step in.
Maria slowly closed the door behind. While she didn't want to make the boy feel trapped, it was still a cold autumn day and she hated the thought of her children catching a cold.
Maria watched her son as he lifted his head. He slowly looked around the small interior, his gaze lingering on the area where the noise of his younger siblings squabbling could be heard. Maria knew this would be hard for the both of them but she was the adult, the parent. As his mother, it was her duty to continue.
She graciously moved back to where she had sat before, sitting back down in the wooden chair. She looked over at Percy and she could now make out his face. His beautiful green eyes had followed her over as his lips pursed before they suddenly made eye contact. Maria put on her best smile but to her sadness, the boy quickly darted back under his hood.
"I see you got my letter, I'm glad," Maria gently spoke to her son as she continued to watch him. Slowly he raised his head once more.
"Oh, wait a minute. Let me get you a glass of water."
Percy watched as his mother got up from the table and walked over to the small kitchen counter. He watched as she reached to a jug that stored the water she had must've gotten from the nearby well.
As he heard the water pour into the wooden cup, Perseus looked over at the noise coming from the other room. He couldn't help but listen on with envy at the sound of laughter and playfulness. He had chosen to sacrifice that.
"Why don't you go join them?" Maria said as she walked back to the table, carefully placing the cup on the table in front of the boy. She had noticed him staring. Percy just shook his head slowly as he turned back to forward. He picked up his cup, drinking meant another excuse to not talk.
Maria decided to leave the silence for a bit, just enjoying the moment with her son. If he was to run off again for another year, she would bask in every moment she could. Maria just continued to examine the boy's body.
The small glints of armour and the clothes he wore truly made him look like an adventurer but now that he was inside and under a lantern, she could see the boy clearly.
He must've come back from the dungeon as he had small bruises and cuts on his arms. He had a small tear in his hoodie just around the shoulder area. Now that she noticed, she saw all the stiches sewn into the fabric.
She should've felt fear and worry at seeing this but for some reason she felt pride. Pride at her son surviving the dungeon with proof that he had fought and survived against the monsters. Evidence of his hard work and his determination to keep pushing forward. She found herself just smiling more.
Percy put the cup back down. He noticed Maria examining him, wondering what she was thinking of. He took this time to sneak glances at her as well. He clothes had relatively stayed the same but they were a bit better quality. He saw her hair seemed nice and healthy as did her face and she also seemed to be eating fine. From the sound of his siblings in the other room, they seemed to be doing alright as well. That made him happy.
"Would you like something to eat?" Maria asked.
Percy couldn't help but look a bit surprised. He knew his mother would've starved to death if it meant he could eat whenever he wanted but surely they would've just had breakfast, now wasn't the time to be wasting food. Maria seemed to see the shock on the boy's face and stifled a giggle as she got back up again.
"N-no please, I-I've already eaten, please don't waste food," Percy stuttered out, earning another smile from Maria.
"Don't worry, we have a bit to spare."
"S-spare?"
"Yes, spare and it's all because of you. Your money has been a gift from the heavens."
Percy looked at his mother with wide eyes at what he was hearing. He was... helpful?
"Because of you, Carla and Jacob haven't gone hungry once, not like we used to anyway. Because of you, we can afford clothes that keep the cold wind off our skin. Because of you... we are doing fine."
Percy saw his mother quiver slightly as she reached up to a cupboard and pulled out a jar. She took of the lid and Percy saw something he thought he'd never see. The snack jar that usually only housed one or two stale items was almost full.
He gripped his hands tightly as he watched Maria wipe a tear away and walked back. She sat back down and reached across the table and slowly grabbed Percy's hands.
"Because of you..." Percy felt his mother place something in his palm. "We are happy."
As Maria pulled her hands away, Percy looked down at his hands and slowly opened them. In it was a sole cookie. Just a normal cookie. To most kids, this would be almost a common sight. A cookie each day would mean almost nothing to them. But to Perseus, this was as much of a treasure as a giant magic stone. A normal, still fresh cookie and the jar it came from had other fresh cookies.
"...mmm."
Maria looked over at Percy who was staring at the cookie. She saw his eyes begin to water as his shoulder began to shake. She knew what that cookie meant to the boy.
"-so *sniff -rry."
Jacob couldn't remember it and Carla only experienced a couple harsh months with them and she was overjoyed to know that they could afford this stuff.
"I'm *hic* sor-rry."
For Percy, she knew it meant so much more and she wanted him to know it was all because of him. As he looked up at her, the dam finally bursting in his green eyes, she knew he finally understood that.
"I'm so sorry!"
At that Percy began to cry. Maria wasted no time in going over to hug the boy, to hug her son. The boy grabbed onto her dress, dropping his gauntlets as he pressed himself into her bosom. Her dress began to get wet but she didn't care as she pulled her son closer to her chest. She began to cry too as she finally felt like she got her son back.
The mother and son held each other, for how long they didn't know. A year of separation and pent up emotions had finally been released. It wasn't until Carla and Jacob came into the room after hearing all the noise.
"Mama?" Jacob muttered, taking the two hugging out of their moment. Both quickly went to wipe their tears as they looked over at the two children who had entered the room.
Jacob seemingly tiltered his head at the boy who had been hugging his mother while Carla just stared with shock at seeing her older brother.
"Carla, Jacob," Maria said their names but didn't really know how to explain it. An awkward silence settled over the room. Maria gave a glance at Jacob who was seemingly piecing stuff together, her main worry was the young cat-girl. She remembered the conversation a couple months back, about how she wanted to help just like her older brother. She had missed him just as much as Maria but she had also been upset about feeling abandoned.
Maria, quickly realising that this wasn't going anywhere and before a misunderstanding happened, took action.
"Percy, your hair is a mess."
"-huh?"
"Don't 'huh' me. You clearly haven't been cutting it properly."
Percy tried to mumble how he had been using a pocket knife for most of the year to keep the hair out of his eyes but he knew he couldn't and shouldn't argue back.
"Go take a quick bath, keep your hair wet and I'll cut it for you."
"B-but"
"No buts. Jacob, can you help your brother go take a bath please?"
After hearing the clarification from his mother that this was in fact his brother, the now 4-year-old prum smiled that stretched from ear to ear.
"Yes Mama!" He squealed out as he rushed over, grabbed his brother's hand and dragged him into the backroom.
Maria and Carla watched as the almost ecstatic prum child dragged the boy who was 3 times his height and a level-2 adventurer away, the mother with a giggle and the cat-girl with a muted expression.
"Carla,"
"Why is he here?"
"Carla please, just listen to me."
Maria saw the small hands tighten into fists as the cat-girl stared at the room her older brother went into.
I hesitantly start taking off my clothes. I'm in the small room that is used for washing clothes and ourselves. As I'm undressing, I see a few items of clothes hanging next to the window, attempting to dry in the autumn wind.
On the floor, there was a wooden basin and next to it was a wooden bucket of water. Maria must've collected some from the Well recently for it to be this full.
"How did you get that?"
I turn my head around and look down at the small Prum child standing next to me.
"W-what?" I mutter out. He lifts his arm and points at a place on my body. I had just taken off my hoodie and my body had gotten exposed. I strain my neck to try and spot the area on my back Jacob is pointing at.
"That thing that's green, black and yellowy," He says as I spot what he means. I see a nasty bruise nestled on my back. I quickly go back through the night and remember what happened.
"A Hob-Goblin punched me," I say as I place my hoodie on the floor before starting on my lower half.
"Ohhh... what's a hog boglin?"
As I begin to take off my clothes, Jacob begins to ask me more questions on the injuries I got on my body. By the time I'm naked and I've filled the basin with the water, I've explained about 5 different injuries.
"This bruise I got when I was pushed into the dungeon wall after dodging an Almiraj attack."
"Almerr-?"
"Almiraj," I correct him. "They are like bunnies but bigger."
Jacob lets out another quick "Ohhh," as I place my foot into the water. I shiver at the cold, wondering if there is such a thing as a warm bath. I waste no time as I quickly jump in, the quicker I'm in, the faster my body gets used to the cold.
"Hey?"
I look at Jacob who has sat down next to the basin with his legs folded.
"Y-yeah?" I ask back, wondering what injury he wants to know about next.
"Are you my older brother?"
The words stun me. I'm left speechless as I just stare at the young prum. I immediately want to say yes but I'm not sure if I have the right to be called his older brother.
"I think I 'member you, but I'm not sure. Mama talks about you a lot but big sis doesn't say anything."
The way the young boy so innocently talked almost made it bearable to hearing that Carla doesn't talk about me.
"Mama says you help us, is that true?"
I give a nod. If I want to make this work, I want to seem like a good brother.
"Are you an adventurer?"
"Y-yes..."
For a second the boy just looks at me again. I don't know what is going through his mind but after a moment he jumps up and throws his arms in the air.
"That's so cool! Does that mean you go into the dungeon?"
I tilt my head in surprise. I'm taken aback by his sudden enthusiasm but also by the fact he didn't realise that monsters that caused my injuries weren't from the dungeon.
"Yes... I do."
"What's it like?" He asks enthusiastically. I can't help but smile as I look at the stars in my younger brother's eyes. I begin to talk about the dungeon and what I've seen. I keep out the scary and dangerous parts, not wanting to scare him.
"That's really cool, hey do you think I could come an adventurer too?" He asks with a smile on his face. I quickly realise my mistake. I've made it seem like the dungeon is fine and not dangerous.
Mother Maria had told me the dungeon was always dangerous and even then I didn't know how bad it was until I experienced it first-hand. All I've done now is make Jacob think that it would a good idea to become an adventurer.
"I want to be like those cool people in your book."
I curse at myself, not knowing what to say. I want to say no but I know I don't have the right to say it considering what I've done. I know he'll just respond saying that it's ok because I've done it. As a big brother, I've really failed at setting a good example.
So I decide a different route. I look at his shining eyes before dunking my head into the water, getting my hair wet. As I resurface, I look at Jacob.
"The dungeon isn't cool."
"B-but you said-"
"I know what I said," I quickly interrupt him before this goes too far. "The dungeon isn't like what is said in my book. It's very dangerous, especially for children."
"But I'm almost 4. That's when you went in, right?"
"I was 5 and that was a bad mistake, like a really bad one. I shouldn't have done it."
I want to end this conversation. I want to go back to when he was giddily asking me about different injuries or how he looked at me when I talked about my adventurers. But that was what led to this mistake.
I look at Jacob, my younger brother. I see the joy in his eyes, the hope of being a cool hero, of following his older brother into the dungeon and being cool and strong. I don't want to hurt that. I want to remain the cool older brother... but I know that's not right. It's selfish.
"I'm sorry, but no" I mutter as I stand up, the water dripping off my body and back into the basin.
"But-" Jacob quickly tries to argue but I stop him.
"I said no!"
With that, I took the rest of my bath in silence, the only sound was the bar of soap being rubbed against my skin. I glanced at Jacob sulking in the corner. He seems close to crying. I just grimace and continue, not knowing what to say.
After I'm done, Jacob points out a towel for me to use before storming out of the room. I sigh, knowing what he is going to say to Maria. Will she blame me for making another one of her children want to risk their life in the dungeon. I begin to doubt whether I'm even going to get a haircut now.
I slowly breach the wooden door, creaking it open. I peak through and see Maria crouched down, talking to the young Prum. Carla is near them and she seems to be scowling.
I just sigh and enter the room, wanting this to be over and done with. I promised not to run away so I just accepted my fate and got ready for the backlash of my stupidity.
At the sound of the wooden door opening, the three people look over at me. I see Jacob's puffy red eyes from crying. Maria gives me a sorrowful, sympathetic look while Carla only seems to scowl more at me.
I just wait for the verbal lashing, knowing I'd messed up the only chance I'd ever have in making amends. I guess I was just destined to be alone.
"Carla... take your brother into his bedroom, I think he needs a nap."
I see Carla want to argue back but Maria gives her the look that doesn't allow any backchat. Begrudgingly, Carla takes Jacob and starts leading him over to another room. They pass me, neither looking at me.
I keep my head down as the door closes with a bit more force than needed, wincing slightly at the noise. I don't look up at Maria, silently waiting.
I hear the sound of wood scraping against cobble as I notice Maria dragging a chair out from under the table. I then hear a familiar noise of scissors snipping together.
"Well done in keeping your hair wet... come on."
I try not to act surprised as I slowly walk over to the chair. I quietly sit down and before long; Maria is snipping away at my shabby hair.
After about a minute of just the sound of my hair being cut, I break the silence, unable to bear the tension any longer.
"I'm sorry for telling Jacob," I mumble. For a second, Maria stops cutting my hair but she quickly continues.
"Don't worry, I almost expected it. Ever since you left, there was no one to read your book and so Jacob began reading. He is almost as addicted to it as you were. His eyes always light up when I talk about you, you know. Every time I mentioned you were an adventurer; he seems to listen with such intensity I think he is going to run straight into the dungeon every time."
I blush slightly, embarrassed at the praise of admiration from my younger brother.
"I guess what I'm saying, this was going to happen sooner or later and it's best to deal with it sooner and out in the open instead of letting it fester."
I knew she was talking about her regret in not stopping my plan in time to become an adventurer.
"So please don't worry about it. I'll deal with it and properly explain to him after he has calmed down... and to Carla as well."
It was as if Maria understood my worries, about both my siblings. So I just there, patiently waiting for my hair-cut to end. Just as Maria finished trimming down my sides, she spoke up once more.
"Do you mind telling my one of you dungeon stories?"
I flinch at the question. "You sure?" I don't really want my mother to worry more than she does, so telling her about the times I almost died doesn't seem like a good idea.
"Don't worry, I won't get mad. I can't promise to not get worried but I won't be upset... is it so wrong for a mother to want to know more about her son."
Hearing her call me her son made my heart swell with joy and I once again lowered my barrier. And so I began telling stories. As I talked, Maria continued to cut my hair. Now and then, she asked a few questions and to my surprise it was if she had prior experience with adventurers and wasn't surprised about some things.
She asked about my level up, and while hesitant at first, she managed to convince it out of me. I didn't leave much out of it and by the end of my re-telling, Maria had finished cutting my hair. I expected her to shout at me or faint in worry but she simply brushed the loose hair off my shoulders and directed me over to the mirror.
I examined my new look. It was simple, the top bit of my hair longer than my sides but it was relatively short all round.
"Perseus."
I flinched at my full name being used.
"I will never agree with what you do," Those words hurt. "But I won't stop you, it is far too late for that. So, all I ask is that you come back safe, to me and your siblings."
I look back at my mother, the scissors still in her hand. She held a sorrowful look as I saw the acceptance in her eyes.
"Ok," I mumble.
"Promise me!"
"I promise."
Maria nodded her head as she put the scissors down as she walked over to me. She slowly embraced me, pulling me into her bosom.
"You will always have a place here," She whispered in my ear.
Maria watched as her son left her home, this time with a brighter future for both of them. There was only one more issue to resolve before things could almost go back to how they were.
"You two can come out now."
She didn't need to look over as the wooden door to the bedroom was creaked open. Both Carla and Jacob sheepishly looked at her, not knowing where to look.
She had known they would listen to them, so she took this chance. She made her son talk about his real experiences in the dungeon, no matter how much it hurt her to hear them. Jacob needed to hear them.
"Did that really happen... Mama?" Jacob asked nervously. The story of Percy's level up had shaken the boy up. Maria didn't want her children to ever experience death if she could help it but they lived in a harsh world.
All Jacob's experience with death are the cool ways Heroes valiantly died or heroically slayed the monsters. It had been the same with Percy back when he read the hero book. Maria needed to teach Jacob the lesson she wished Percy had been taught.
'I guess that's the role of the older brother sometimes...'
"Yes my dear, it unfortunately did. Adventurers die all the time; your brother is lucky to not be..." Maria couldn't bring herself to finish that sentence, fearing if she uttered that word it might come true.
"But he didn't. If he teaches and helps me, we can both be adventurers... together."
Maria's heart hurt at the sight of desperation of Jacob wanting to be with his brother and help her but she wouldn't allow it. She walked over to the young Prum and knelt down, tucking her dress under her legs.
"Jacob listen to me, you too Carla," Marai gently grabbed her daughter's hand. "Your brother is risking his life every day so we can afford to eat and drink. It was very hard for him to come back today. If you want to help him, and me, Percy needs you to be here for him. He will face dangers you couldn't even think of but as long as you are here, rooting for him, I know he will only continue to get stronger... do you think you can do that for me."
Jacob bit his lip. Maria could tell that the boy still had conflicted feelings and he was struggling to agree with it. Maria hated the thought but if she wanted her other son still with her when he turned 5, she needed to compromise.
"How about this then. If you continue to help Percy, I will consider..." The mother closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I will consider you getting a Falna."
"REALLY!"
"Only getting a Falna, not going into the dungeon, do you hear me. You can train with your older brother, that's it," Maria quickly shut the prum down.
"REALLY REALLY. Let's go now!" Jacob hurriedly started running to the door but was stopped by Maria with a quick grab of the arm.
"Did you not hear me mister, I said when you are older and not a year older, I mean older."
Jacob groaned as he sadly looked up at his mother. "How much older?"
Maria would not fall for the puppy eyes this time. "When I deem you old enough, got it!"
Seemingly realising that this was as good as he would get, Jacob nodded, agreeing to the terms. In all honesty, the boy was just happy he would get to spend more time with his brother and learn more about the dungeon. When he got his Falna, he would be grown-up enough to go into the dungeon if he wanted to.
Maria looked at her son, unsure what he was thinking before she turned to her daughter.
"This goes to you as well Carla."
"-huh?" The cat-girl said, surprised. Maria had noticed the look of anger on Carla's face, knowing the cat-girl was thinking this was unfair. Carla had already offered to help and she had been turned down only for Jacob to get what he wanted.
"Again, only when you are older. You said you want to help and a Falna is always a massive help to a person's strength, no matter the age. As long as you also promise to not go into the dungeon, I will allow you to go and look for a Falna. But only when. You. Are. Older"
Carla looked at her mother for a second before giving a nod. While she was happy her mother was giving her the same treatment as Jacob, it was still unfair compared to Percy. But she wasn't interested in being an adventurer. Her main goal was to be strong enough so she could be depended on by her family... and show those who abandoned her that they were wrong for thinking she was a waste of food and shelter.
Maria knew Carla was the most mature out of all her children. She would give intelligence to Percy but the boy still had a long way to go in understanding the surface world. Maria couldn't help but smile as she realised if you combined the mind of Percy along with the maturity of Carla, with the eagerness and energy of Jacob, it would make a lethal combo.
I was now well into my sixth year and things had been progressing smoothly. I had started to go over to my family now and then for dinner or for a bath. I wasn't sure what Maria had told Carla and Jacob but things had become a lot more friendly, well with Jacob anyway. It seemed Carla had gone from hating me to tolerating me, which was a step in the right direction I suppose.
I picked through my porridge as I continued telling Syr about my latest dungeon week. I had finally finished mapping out the 16th floor and had just made decent headway into the 17th.
"I came across this really big wall of shiny rock and-." Before I could finish my sentence, the waitress interrupted me.
"Oooh, you've reached the entrance to the 18th floor," Syr mentioned as she took a nibble of her sandwich. I tilted my head in confusion.
"Have I? How do you know?"
"Are you kidding me, that giant wall you saw is really famous. It's called the Wall of Despair, even I know about it."
"Yeah Nya," Anya chimed in, stopping her sweeping as she joined our conversation. "That's where the Floor boss lives, Nya," she explained with a toothy grin, her cat ears jiggling in between her shabby brown hair.
"Floor... boss?"
"Nya haven't heard of the Floor boss?" I shake my head.
"Monster Rex?" Syr says but it means nothing to me.
"Let me tell ya the only thing ya need to know about that wall for now," Mama Mia said from across the bar, swirling out a wooden mug. "Stay clear of it until ya a hell of a lot stronger."
I slurp up the rest of my porridge as I digest Mia's warning. A part of me really wants to go there now and see what she means but the last time I ignored a more experienced adventurers warning, things didn't go well.
"Brant, what's a floor boss?"
I'm standing in mine and Brant's meet-up point where we trade Magic stones for Valis. Just because I've listened to Mama Mia's words, doesn't mean I'm still not going. I'm just going to get more info about it before I do.
Brant hummed as he flicked his fingers through my magic stone bag. "So ya did get to the Wall of Despair then?"
"How'd you know?"
Brant simply looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Do I look green to you, brat?"
I tilt my head, of course Brant didn't look green. According to Reg I look green sometimes and Mama Mia has called it me too. I don't know what it means, must be something you get in the dungeon since I'm the only one going in at the moment.
"Let me give ya a bit of dungeon trivia," Brant began to explain. "At certain points in the dungeon, there are areas dedicated to what is known as a Floor boss which spawns a monster rex. The Wall of Despair is infamous because it is the first place adventurers will encounter a Monster Rex, with the Wall itself being the spawn place for the Goliath."
I think about the information for a second before letting out a Woah. Now I really want to check out the Wall of Despair.
"Ah Ah, don't ya dare think of even going near that thing on ya own. If ya wanna see it, take the Astrea girlies with ya at the very least. I 'eard some of them hit level 3 recently, should be a breeze."
I lower my head when Brant says that as I kick my leg out aimlessly, grumbling.
"Oi, what's with that? Thought ya liked ya girlfriends."
"I do but they're doing something else right now. Alise said something about saving the city."
"Aye? The more ya tell me about the girl, she loses more screws each time. Anyway, look kid, ya just can't go to the Wall on ya own while at this level. Give it another level up and I'd give ya the go ahead."
"Why can't you just come?" I mumble out, regretting what I said immediately as I see Brant flinch.
"I... I wish I could lad, I do. But this bastard leg ain't getting me down there?"
I look at Brant, sad that I've upset it him. I then look at his leg. I have gotten used to it but there is a slight elevation on his right leg compared to his left. Brant must be in constant pain. He hasn't even told me what happened to it.
'I remember what it was like to limp, it wasn't fun and I knew I couldn't fight. Thank Penia that I...'
My eyes suddenly go wide as I realise something. How had I not thought of this!
"Oi kid, ya alright?"
I start moving around, slamming my palm into my head. I'm an idiot, a total idiot.
"Hey, you're startin' to freak me out 'ere."
"Brant!"
"Wow!... what?"
"What if you weren't injured, would you come with me into the dungeon?"
"I mean, yeah of course I would but I've told ya, this leg is busted. I've seen the doctors when it happened and even then it couldn't be healed."
"When was the last time you got it checked?"
"Calm down, what are you going on about? You're being real freaky."
"Just answer the question." I urge vehemently, jumping up and down.
"Alright, Alright. Let's see... must've been coming up for 2 years now."
At that news, I jump with joy. This could really work. I might be able to go dungeon diving with Brant, something I've wanted to do for so long.
"Hey, don't be too upset at my condition," the man begrudgingly says. I take no notice of his self-pity as I grab his hand.
"What if I said I know someone who could heal your leg, someone you haven't met, someone who has only been in Orario for a year."
The image of young girl with silver hair and amethyst eyes enters my mind as I gleefully look up at my mentor.
Alise was slumped on the side of a building, her eyes narrow and her lips thin. The recent level 3 adventurer was eyeing the site in front of her with caution and interest.
"What do you think caused it?" Kaguya said next her, the far-eastern girl talking to the pink-haired prum next to her.
"It looks like explosives and I can definitely smell sulphur," Lyra stated, her voice low and stern.
"Whatever it is, it ain't good news," Neze muttered as Ryu walked over to join the group. The Astrea Familia looked on at the bomb sight, as remnants of a fire crackled away at the factory that had been blown up.
"Who'd do such a thing?" Ryu asked.
"Whoever it is, I can't say I agree with their actions," Alise remarked. "We need to make sure that this doesn't happen again and if it does, we get here sooner."
Name: Perseus
Age: 6
Lvl: 2
Warrior – I
Str: C634
Def: C624
Dex: D595
Agi: C602
Mag: E425
Skill:
Stealth – Allows the user to go undetected when out of eye-line. Passive
Pain tolerance – Dulls pain. Activates after a threshold of pain is reached.
Magic:
Chant:
- Bestow upon me the strength to beat my foes.
- Gift me the power to withstand their attacks.
- Absorb their strength and make it my own.
After a whole year, it seems Percy is going in the right direction with his family though it isn't sunshine and rainbows. And will Maria see her promise through.
Do you think Amid will be able to heal Brant and if so... what then. What will Brant be like in the dungeon and will a certain dwarf allow the cheeky pair to leave him out of the action.
Also, I wonder what Alise and the other Astrea girls are looking into, she did say she was saving the city.
Reviews:
Jose Blas - Hermes is still an oditity with this story, still not fully sure how to use him just yet. I will see when he gets introduced fully, he's bound to start sticking his nose in sooner or later.
FillyDashie - Yeah it was heat breaking when he did last time but I hope this chapter has helped you recover but there is still more to fix.
Raphielle - I wonder how Freya would react if she knew of Percy's connection to Hera. As for her abandoning him for Bell... we will have to wait and see I guess.
Drake D Zero - I think Percy is still unsure on how to react about those involved with his family's exile. maybe on a subconscious level he doesn't like them and maybe Freya has noticed but I doubt the topic is brought up much, Freya is kind enough to not mention parents to an orphan.
DickWizard - Yeah the slow burn was getting a bit slow, and this review was in the back of my mind when writing this chapter. I'm going to start time skipping like with the end of this chap to get to important parts and as you mentioned, the main part next is the dark ages.
DickWizard (2) - You are correct about the talks with Freya, that is exactly what I planned them for. Lil recaps about where Percy is at at the current moment and helping introduce the next bit. But the Falna updates are important as shown with this one, Percy can effectively level up already to level 3, it shows that he is on an insance growth level but it will also show stunts of growth or whether he using his magic or what his most used attriubute is. It helps put a small bit of character building into Percy that I enjoy doing.
Roland Tepes - The Pub was, Is and will always be fun in any fanfic. WE LOVE MAMA MIA!
alex882 - That's a good way to look at it, that the Hera Familia is still fighting in Orario as long as Percy continues to fight.
anubis1650 - Well good news, I have progressed his magic in the middle floors arc and he is already halfway thorugh age 6, won't be spending nearly as long on it as age 5 as that was the age where everything began.
OFARiolu - Her full name is Airmid Tessanare but in the books, she is called Amid for short. I thought I'd have a bit of fun and make my own headcanon on how she got that name and thought it'd be even funnier that she actually hated the name at the start.
Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing. I'll see ya later, Peace!