Bell dreamed that night.
The kingdom of Orario was a special place in the world, often called the center of the world. All kinds of races were to found here, sturdy dwarves, intelligent pallums, noble elves and many other races. The country was ruled by a single queen without a king, rarely seen by the people but loved by many, guarded by eight elite Knights who always watched over her. The city was encirled by enormous walls with towers here and there. The country was famous for its magic stone production, some kind of special ore only found under the city, in the far past maybe the city was build on top of the veins for that reason. But the walls weren´t build to fend of attacks from another nation but...monsters. In the lands around Orario finding monsters wasn´t that rare even though the bigger ones lived far away from the city. Orario had a good relationship with the mighty dwarfen kingdom in the mountains and the elven kingdom in the great forest.
Many dwarfes came to trade into the city and some elves to study at the great academy of Orario to learn about magic stones. In that special city lived a certain young man who had fulfilled his dream and became a knight.
In the barracks said young man stood before a body height mirror and looked at his armor clad image for the first time. Under his amor we wore a black body suit trailor-made for his body.
From toes to his chin he had a full plate armor made of lower quality adamantit in a silvery color, drapped over it was a bone colored tunic with his personal symbol as a knight, a bell surrounded by flames, hold in place by a leather belt. For now he hold his helmet under his right arm, the face part reminded of a Ploughshare with a slit visor to see something, on both sides of the helmet were white wings standing upright. At his side he hold his longsword, a black blade with runes engraved over the full length and a parrier bar in form of two wings, in a leather scabbard, he would wear it at his hip.
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This would be his first mission as a knight. One of the princesses of the elven king Lion had been captured on her way to Orario...by a minotaur. She and her escort were attacked, the maiden guard she had with her, stood no chance against the beast. The problem was the elven custom, no man was allowed near the princess and even though her maidens were good with magic, they were surprised. After the incident they rushed to Orario to alarm the knights. Most of the knights were somewhere outside of the city and the royal guard had sworn an oath to stay by the queens side at all time. So it was Bells duty to go and rescue the princess from the evil monster...his dream had come true.
After saddling his horse he lead it to the city gates. His direction was east, they told him after arriving at the attack spot he would surely see where to got. The ride only felt like seconds before he arrived at a dark cave. Bones lying around the entrance and sometimes a howl came from the inside, he should hurry. After putting on his helmet and unsheathing his sword he walked in carefully, the tunnel had a few curves and he followed it deeper and deeper. Before long he heard a voice.
"Let me go you vile fiend!" The voice of a woman.
"GROWL!" That was not the voice of a woman.
"Iyaaah! Don´t you dare touch me!"
Bell gripped his sword and stormed around the last corner. Before him was the main cave, around fifty meters in diameter with bones here and there and a haystack in the corner. A fire burned in the middle. At the wall was the princess, trying to defend herself with a long stick. Despite the circumstances Bell was stunned by her look. Long blond hair framed the most beautiful face he had ever seen. The princess wore a long green dress which was dirtied at the bottom. Her shoulders were naked but she wore long leathern gloves that reached over her ellbows. Due to her hasty movements he saw that she also wore long leathern boots with heels, a bit strange but maybe her taste. In front of her stood the minotaur, holding a broad battleaxe in his right hand.
He was easily two heads taller than Bell and seemed to consist only of muscles, it would be a hard fight
"Princess!"
Bell shouted, the helm muffled his voice a bit.
The Princess as well as the Minotaur twirled around. She looked relieved, the Minotaur angry and almost immediately he raised it´s axe while storming towards Bell. He only had a few seconds for his chant. Bell hold up his sword with both hands in front of his face.
"I am the hammer of justice!"
"I am the point of her spear and the blade in her fist!"
The runes in the blade started to glow.
"I am the bane of her foes and the woe of the treacherous!"
"I am the end of injustice!"
"Heros Argonaut!"
All runes shone now. It was the magic chant said to be taught by the country´s Goddess of Justice, Lady Astrea. Bell tapped his helmet with the blade befor taking it to the side and facing the minotaur.
Bell jumped to the side as the axe came crushing down, a few stone splinters hitting his armored leg, blocking it was no option. He thrusted his sword forward but the minotaur blocked it with the bracer on his other arm. The minotaur swung his axe sideways but Bell whirled around to evade it. With the minotaurs defence open he used a downward blow to slice the arm of the monster.
Panting angrily it tried to bodycheck him, but Bells strong side was his movement, he jumped backwards with the momentum of the minotaur, avoiding most of the impact.
Knight and monster looked at each other for a second before attacking each other again. Stab. Slash. Block. Kick. Evade. Duck. Punch. It was a back and forth, a wild mess of black fur and silvery armor. Blood dripped from the minotaurs chest, Bell slashed him two times but had taken a punch on his shoulder. Readying his blade Bell dashed forward as the minotaur tried a diagonal upward blow, he ducked and slashed the side of the monster. Both whirled around, the axe coming back down again, Bell moved his sword with the direction, half evading half deflecting the axe downward.
Enraged the minotaur yanked the axe up again missing the helmet by centimeters, Bell twisted himself into the thrust, stabbing the minotaurs wrist. Missing the strentgh do hold he dropped the axe staggering backwards, Bell followed up, slicing the chest again, blood sprayed on his armor. Maddened the minotaur used his other fist to punch him but he evaded again, dealing another slice. The princess could only watch in awe. But now Bell was to close, the minotaur tried to headbut him, expecting his evasion. Right as Bell jumped back the minotaur jumped forward ramming his head into the chestplate. With a scream Bell was thrown back and landed at the wall.
The princess clapped her hands over her mouth. "Sir Knight!"
Bell was struggling to get up again, the blow felt like...like...like a minotaur had rammed him head on. Through his visor he looked at the monster which was panting heavily.
This is my first adventure...I refuse to give up !...I want to be a hero!
A white light started to emit from his fist, crawling up the blade. Something like the sound of bells could be heard.
The minotaur had enough, he got down on all fours and tensed his muscles. Time to end it.
Bells sword shone in bright light as he jumped forward with a scream, the same moment the minotaur did. They rushed towards each other, only one outcome was possible.
Filled with fear the princess screamed. "Sir Knight!"
In the last moment before the horns could impale him, Bell let himself fall on one knee, thrusting up his sword, stabbing the chest of the beast and unleashing his magic.
"ARGO VESTA!"
With a loud detonation the upper half of the monster was obliterated.
Panting heavily, Bell got up after a while, tumbling over to the princess. She sat on the ground, apparently she had sprained her foot at some point.
"Princess, are you alright?"
She looked up to him smiling. "Yes thanks to you Sir...?"
"Bell...Bell Cranel."
"Thank you Sir Bell, I´m Ryu from the house Lyon."
Trying to be a gentleman and not getting her dirty, Bell took off his read cape...since when did he have a cape ?...gingerly wrapping it around the princess and lifting her up in a princess carry.
She blushed and he was thankful for his helmet, so she only could see his red eyes. Carefully he carried her out of the cave, to his surprise a unicorn waited right next to his horse.
"Ah he came back."
"Is that your mount?"
"Yes."
He helped her getting in the side saddle, then climbing his own horse and riding off in the elven kingdoms direction. No way he could bring a wounded elven princess to Orario. The ride again felt only like seconds, they arrived at the kings hall built in a giant tree. Maiden guards came to help the princess get inside, Bell was escorted alongside her. As the gates opened he saw a hall much bigger than he had anticipated. On a throne at the end sat a queen, no king insight. The queen had long brown hair, down to her waist, an voloptous bosom and a friendly smile on her face. Her name was queen Astraea Alfr Lyon, after the Goddess of Justice.
"You are the brave knight who saved my daughter?"
"Yes, your majesty!" He bowed down to show his respect.
Princess Ryu stood right next to the throne and eyed him.
"You deserve a reward, what is it that you desire?"
He hesitated not. Bell stepped right in front of the princess, got down on one knee, took her hand to her surprise and kissed her back of the hand.
"I want to be your personal knight, Lady Ryu."
Silence followed but he heard a few gasps from the crowd. Ryu looked shocked and was bright red in the face.
"Sir Bell...do you know what you just did?"
He looked over to the queen in confusion.
"The tradition demands that no man is allowed to touch the princess´ skin...only her future husband."
Bells eyes widened and he looked up to the embarassed princess, then back to her mother.
The queen sighed but smiled. "No helping it...you will take responsibility for what you just did and become her personal knight...until the day you two marry."
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Eeeeeeeh?!
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Dreams can be strange and Bell was not the only one dreaming that night.
The labyrinth Orario, most influental city in the whole continent...and home of the demon king Bell Cranell.
The city was surrounded by gigantic walls topped with catapults. Four gates were the only option to enter or leave the city, one in the north, one in the south, one to west, one to east.
Many people came here to try their luck or wanting to life under the rulership of the most powerful being in the lands. The people in the city were from various races and had a good life.
The city was save and no injustice was tolerated, defended by the army of the demon king. Armored Al Miraj patrolled the city, making sure no crimes were happening. The big gates were guarded by more Al Miraj and the big Mirajtaurs, as big as a minotaur and build like them, but with the head of a bunny and white fur. They looked strange but never did someone laugh about their appearance...at least not if they wanted to live another five minutes.
In the middle of the city was the mansion of the demon king. Build from stone in the color of sand topped with red shingle roofs, it had a main wing and a few side wings. It was called "Hearth Mansion." because the demon king liked that name. All could be good and nice in this city if the demon king had not the habit to collect women. Or to be more precise, when he found the in his eyes most beautiful woman in a countries royalty he "asked" the king of that nation to give that woman to him. Behind closed hands they were rumors of what he might do with the woman.
No one beside him was allowed to enter the mansion, maybe they were his playthings? Maybe his mistresses? Nothing was certain, but many pitied the newest acquisition, the elven princess Ryu Lion.
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Ryu walked down the hall in her new outfit, she looked almost like a waitress you could find at noble pubs. She was told her job would be to become on of the demon kings personal maids. Just how did she ended up like this ? The good thing was, the mansion didn't look anything like she imagined it. She thought it would be dark, with spikes and stuff like that, that she would get embarassing clothes and be treated like a toy. She expected to be unhappy, that every girl here would be unhappy, but it was quite the opposite.
The other girls she saw were relaxed, chatted or laughed together. All together with Ryu there were nine maids and the headmaid Mia. Ryu had seen a pallum girl named Lyra who didn´t really do much, a demihuman wolf girl named Neze who cleaned the carpets, she had the first buttons of her top open, showing a bit of cleavage, out of her own free will. When she was in the kittchen she met the headmaid who insisted to be called "Mama Mia" even by the demon king.
Two human girls helped her, one with short brown hair named Runoa and one with long gray hair that was tied to a knot named Syr. In one of the bedroom Ryu saw two catgirls lying on the bed snoring, one had short black hair and was called Chloe, the other brown hair and looked carefree, her name was Ahnya. At the first floor a human girl with long black hair named Kaguya was changing sheets on a bed. And then there was the one who showed her the mansion right now, a red haired beautiful human girl named Alise.
"So what was your name again?"
"Ryu Lyon."
"That´s too hard...I will call you Lion!"
From the first moment Ryu had a strange feeling with Alise, being a proud elf it was not easy for her to open up to strangers but this girl had something on her thad made it hard not to like her. After two hours Alise had shown her all parts of the mansion.
"It´s time for you to meet our king." Alise smiled.
Ryu was nervous. "O-Okay."
"Ah don´t worry, he´s a nice guy, he won´t devour you...probably."
"Probably?!" Ryu was alerted.
Alise grinned wide. "I´m joking, come."
Ariving at he door to the main living room they stopped, right as Alise wanted to knock they heard some voices from inside.
"Aaaaahn! That feels good...you became much better with your hands...yes right there! A bit harder...aaaah that´s great."
W-What are they doing inside?
Ryu was shocked.
Alise sighed. "Ah he is at it again...doing what he wants with one of the maids..."
Ryu´s head shot around to her. "Huh?!"
But Alise winked only and opened the door.
"My lord, I bring you your new maid!"
There was a big carpet in the living room, bookshelves filled the walls and in a fireplaces burnt a small fire. A handsome young man in a bathrobe sat in a armchair, holding a glas with...juice in his right hand, he had white hair and red eyes...and two horns growing from his forehead. Right now he got his shoulders rubbed by the wolfgirl Neze who grinned as she did as demanded. He opened his eyes and looked at Ryu and Alise who smiled bold. .
"Ah welcome Mylady, you sure are as beautiful as I heard you are. I´m happy to have such a lovely flower in my house."
Ryu felt herself blushing, his behavior was not what she expected. But before she could answer the demon king winced a bit as Neze pinched his shoulders.
"You have nerves, Mylord...saying to another girl how good she looks right when I´m rubbing your shoulders."
"Ah I´m sorry Neze...of course you´re very pretty too."
The wolfgirl grinned. "Thats better."
Ryu was perplexed...this was the demon king? The smile he showed the girls was pure and...innocent.
"I´m sure the lovely Alise showed you the house?"
"Ah my king you flatter me!" Alise put her hands to her cheeks and smiled blushing. "Of course I have and I´m sure the will make her work great."
"Great, now for your job...just help the other maids taking care of whatever is needed to do in the house."
Thats...all?
Ryu expected much worse, but this sounded not so bad...maybe it was okay to be here? As she went out of the living room again Alise whispered to her.
"When you have the chance to get your hands on him, take him." And winked.
Ryu´s face was flushed in a second. "A-Alise!"
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One month later.
.
It was bad...really really bad...or better to say, Ryu´s skills were miserable. Be it helping in the kitchen, cleaning the rooms, or dust off vases, Ryu always made a mess or went to far.
She had broken more plates than any maid before her, spilled more drinks on the carpets and bowed down apologetically in front of Mama Mia and the demon king than all the other maids summed up.
Mama Mia was already angry with her and even the demon king seemd to be displeased sometimes. Maybe they thought she did it on purpose. Whenever she wanted to help another maid she was waved away, they didn´t want to have more work to do. The exception was Alise who treated her like a clumsy little sister. But today might be the worst day of all, by mistake while dusting the windows she had bumped against an expensive vase with her ellbow, before she could react the vase shattered on the ground. .
The pallum girl Lyra came out of a nearby room. "What did you do again you good-for-nothing-elf?!"
"I-It was an accident!" Ryu stammered.
"Oh thats not good...the lord really liked that vase...I´m sure you´re going to be punished this time."
"Huh?!"
And Lyra was right, about an hour later, Mia called together all the maids to the main living room. The demon king was angry, as angry as none of the maids had ever seen him. His eyebrows were squinted and his mouth twisted. The maids all stood in a row before him, Mia already gone back to the kitchen.
"So Ryu...any explanation?"
Ryu stood before the Demon King, her head hung low. "I´m so sorry...it was an accident."
"Hmmm...hmmm...I heard much about you over the last month...and I think it´s time to show you how malicious I can be..."
She shuddered...what would he do with her? Hit her? Torture her? Worse?
"Ryu come here." He waved with his hand while he got up.
Ryu threw a quick glance over her shoulder to Alise in fear. But Alise only showed her a thumps up and winked.
Go get him Lion!
Alise! That´s not helping!
For the first time standing right in front of the Demon King, Ryu noticed that he was around half a head taller than her.
Bell looked at her with a grim expression. "Now...take them off..."
Shocked, Ryu clasped her hands in front of her chest...he demanded her to strip...here?
"Your gloves that is..."
Slowly and shivering Ryu took of her gloves, she always wore them, no one except Alise had touched her skin until now. Bell pulled of his own glove and took it in his other hand.
Would he hit her hand with his glove? Ryu looked into his eyes frightened.
"You aren´t allowed to move or break eye contact with me."
Slowly his right hand came near her left hand, a strange shine is his eyes. Then he layed his palm against hers and started to entangle their fingers, one after another and that very slow.
Ryu´s heart pounded like crazy, he took her hand ! He had to be aware of the elven custom how shameful that was for her.
Bell had a smug grin on his face. "An now...we will stay like that...for...five...whole...minutes..."
Haawawawah! No way...no way I can´t do this for so long!
Ryu´s knees were shaking, she was fully aware of the other maids watching her punishment, little did she know that at least one half of them was pretty jealous right now.
After what felt like an eternity Bell separated her hand which caused Ryu to break down on her knees. He squatted down, smiling at her and whispering into her ear.
"The next punishment will be much harsher...imagine it yourself."
Harsher? What will he make me do? D-double handholding?...h-hugging..? Touching my ear? Nibble on it? Demanding a l-lap p-illow? Or.. K-k-ki-kiss.. NO!
Ryu´s mind refused to complete such a lewd word.
He will turn me into an lewd elf!
"Y-you may toy with my body! But you will never get my heart!" Ryu was pretty flustered.
But Bell only smiled. "That´s too bad...I will try everything to win your heart...my lovely Ryu."
He leaned closer and whispered with a seducive voice into her ear.
"I will...make you my bride."
Haaaauuuuuu!
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And so Ryu´s dream ended.
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Warmth...
Comfort...
Softness...
Bell hasn´t felt that good in weeks, nor had he such a deep sleep. He even had a pleasant dream of hugging something soft and good smelling. He laid in bed with closed eyes, slowly drifting from sleep to be awake. Light patter of rain against the window was to hear and a pleasant smell filled his nose. No sudden loud noises, just comfiness and his warm pillow which he had put his arm around and his hand enclosed. When he stretched his legs a bit and pressed the pillow lightly against him he heard a soft squeak. Why was a pillow squeaking ? Blinking sleepy Bell started to open his eyes, due to the rainclouds outside it still dusky in the room.
Is that...breathing?
His vision cleared and he saw...green colored hair before his eyes. Hair? His mind was still hazy, his eyes closed for a few seconds again while his brain processed the information.
...
Bell opened his eyes again, this time fully awake. He got all the informations at once. This was not his room, this was not his bed...and he was not alone in it. The memories from last night flooded his brain. What he thought was a dream, was reality. Bell laid on his side right behind Ryu, snuggled up to her, his arm reaching around her and he held something in his hand...something that felt like a hand. When he moved his fingers a bit, the other hand responded also with moving fingers. He took a deep breath and like it was an answer Ryu´s body moved a bit.
He heard a soft voice. "Bell...are you awake?"
Now he was certain that Ryu was awake, but she stayed where she was. "Yeah...I think so."
They remained lying there for a few moments.
"Ryu...did I...do this?" Bell started to panic a bit.
"Yeah..last night." He still could only see the back of her head.
"I-I´m sorry, I didn´t mean to-" Bell tried to move away from Ryu, but she still hold his hand.
"I don´t mind."
Bell blinked a few times. "Huh?"
"I don´t mind."
He leaned on his right ellbow and leaned forward a bit, but Ryu turned her head away so he could only see a very red ear.
"Please don´t look at my face right now..."
For Bell she sounded very calm, but from above someone would see that both of them had a flushed face. And although they knew they had to get up, neither of them was in a hurry. From the corridor outside they heard the first tired steps of someone and a quiet "Nnyaaaaahn.." .
Slowly Ryu moved her head and looked in his face. She had a red shade under her eyes. .
"Bell..."
"Ryu..."
"I think...we should get up now."
"Y-yeah."
They started to separate, both not aware that the other was unwilling to do that.
A few minutes earlier.
Warmth...
Comfort...
A muscular chest against her back...
Ryu was starting to wake up, fully aware she was still cuddling with Bell. When her eyes opened it was still dim in the room, she only heard the rain outside and the soft breath behind her.
Ryu was...happy. Not one night in the last weeks she had such a relaxing sleep. But how to get up now?
Alise...and everyone else in heaven...I hope you aren´t watching over me right now.
Maybe she should separate their hands. Right as she hoped Bell was still asleep his arm pulled her up to him a bit and a soft squeak escaped her lips. Ah now she had done it, now he just had to notice. Lying still Ryu thought what to do, right when his fingers moved a bit against her hand and her fingers reacted like it was the natural thing to do. She felt his chest rising and falling stronger than before.
Steeling herself Ryu whispered. "Bell...are you awake ?"
Still lying there Ryu heard his answer. "Yeah...I think so."
They remained lying there for a few moments until Bell spoke again. "Ryu...did I...do this ?" .
.
She heard a bit of panic in his voice. "Yeah...last night." Thank to whoever god he could not see her face right now.
"I-I´m sorry, I didn´t mean to-" Bell tried to move away from Ryu, but she still hold his hand.
Why am I stopping him from getting away? What will he think about me? I-I have to say something!
"I don´t mind."
Nooooo, why did I say this?! What is wrong with me ? That was embarassing!
She could hear his confusion. "Huh?"
"I don´t mind."...Argh I said it again! Just kill me now!
She could feel Bell leaning up on his ellbow and tried to look in her face, but she moved it away. Her face felt like it was lit on fire.
"Please don´t look at my face right now..." Ryu managed to sound calm but inside her head all thoughts raced around.
From the corridor outside they heard the first tired steps of someone and a quiet "Nnyaaaaahn.." After calming herself a bit Ryu moved her face to Bell.
"Bell..."
"Ryu..."
"I think...we should get up now."
"Y-yeah."
They started to separate, even though Ryu was extremly unwilling to do that.
.
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The breakfast downstairs later was very awkward...especially after Anya mentioned that Ryu and Bell both smelled a bit like the other. Ryu´s head steamed so hard that Mama Mia could fry eggs on it.
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