"Airmid?"

The young girl jerked up from her sweeping, the monotonous work having lulled Airmid into switching her brain off from the outside world. The sudden cry of her name had jolted her mind awake.

"Y-Yes, Mrs Jenny?"

Airmid looked over at the middle-aged woman, on the older side, as she walked up to the young healer. The woman wore a plain white Dian Cecht Nurse uniform, with blue accents running down both sides, a symbol of her authority. Jennifer Doss, Jenny for short, was the head Nurse at the Dian Cecht Clinic. She was also the one who had allowed Amanda Ferne to take Airmid as her apprentice.

The older nurse had silky grey hair, having not bothered fighting the ageing look. However, even for a woman almost hitting her 60s, she would still be considered attractive. That is just the power of the Falna. However, one thing that the blessing from the Gods couldn't help with was a person's height. And Mrs Jenny was short.

Airmid didn't have to look up much as the head nurse trotted up to the now 7-year-old girl. Airmid was at the woman's shoulder already.

"My dear, someone is requesting you?"

Airmid gave a puzzled look. "Does someone need me to sweep somewhere else?" Jennifer couldn't help but laugh slightly. "No girl, you can put down the broom. I believe your more prolific skills are needed this time."

Airmid couldn't help but give a confused look at the older woman. She thought it was Miss Ferne's day off today, which would also make it her day off as well. She only ever healed people under Miss Ferne's supervision. It was the vice-captain's orders that she had to be nearby when the young prodigy used her immense healing capabilities.

"How about you come with me child, apparently you know this person."

This only confused Airmid more. She didn't know people, even when you included people in her own Familia.

"Would a young boy with black hair ring any bells?"

Jenny couldn't help but find it immensely cute as she saw the realisation appear on the young girl's face. The way the girl's purple eyes light up was adorable. She had heard from Amanda that Airmid had taken a shine to a young boy.

Airmid trotted through the hallway, having found a skip in her step. She hadn't seen Percy in a while, which she supposed was a good thing since she spent most of her time in a hospital. She wondered what the boy had been getting up to.

Airmid turned the corner and into the main lobby area. She scanned the room but she couldn't spot the boy. After a couple of seconds, someone spotted her first.

"Amid, the young boy that asked for you is over here," The woman at reception said, speaking out to her. Airmid pouted slightly, annoyed at Miss Ferne's stupid nickname beginning to stick. She would correct the receptionist later but she had something more important to deal with. Due to her attention being taken up, the young girl didn't notice the receptionist try and grab her attention again.

Airmid would be lying if she said she hadn't thought of the boy since they last met almost half a year ago now. She wanted to know how he was going. What was his relationship like with the Astrea Familia since his panic attack? How far in the dungeon had he gone, he was a level 2 adventurer.

As Airmid rounded the corner that had previously blocked her view, it didn't take long before she spotted the young black-haired boy.

'Still the quiet type,' She thought as she noticed the boy was basically on his own. He seemingly had chosen to sit away from everyone else. He was huddled in the corner, aimlessly looking around the lobby area.

Airmid started making her way over to Percy but before she could speak out, he noticed her. The boy's greens lit up as they spotted her and she couldn't help but crack a smile as he smiled at her. But then the boy gave her a weird look, his eyes slightly narrowing as his head tilted to the left. Airmid couldn't help but emulate the look as she continued to walk up to the boy.

"What?" Airmid asked, slightly annoyed at the weird look the boy was giving her. He slightly jolted at slight edge in healer's voice. He sat up straight again, rubbing the side of his head.

"S-sorry, it's just that I'm a bit confused."

"Confused? Confused about what?" Airmid said, raising her eyebrow. She went to cross her arms but she realised she couldn't as something was in the way.

"Erm, do all the doctors help clean?"

Airmid's eyes went wide as she noticed the broom still in her hand. She had forgotten all about it. A dust of red settled on her cheeks. She quickly reverted back to her normal standing position, trying to remain professional.

"G-gimme me a moment... please," She muttered, unable to hide the stutter. Her embarrassment wasn't helped as when she brought her broom to the reception desk, she was met by a giggling pair of Miss Jenny and the receptionist. They had been watching her.

Airmid firmly propped the broom next to the desk before spinning around in a flashy show of childish anger and walked back over to Percy who was now quivering slightly under the small death stare.

Airmid and Percy remained looking at each other. Airmid began tapping her foot while Percy struggled to look at the girl, choosing to look anywhere else. Airmid quickly grew impatient.

"So?" She remarked. Percy jumped at the noise, his eyes darting back to look at Airmid. His eyes showed confusion once more, as if he wasn't the one who had asked for her presence. Airmid sighed as she took a step closer.

"Why did you ask for me?"

Almost as if a light had turned on in the boy's head, his eyes widened as he stood up.

"I need your help, can you come with me?"

The sudden request startled Airmid.

"H-Help, with what? Is someone hurt?"

At the question, Percy once again rubbed the side of his head. Airmid couldn't help but find the action kind of cute. "Well, sort of."

"What do you mean sort of?"

"He was injured a while ago but he still suffers from it now."

"How long ago?"

"H-he didn't say," Percy finished off with a slight laugh. Airmid thought about it for a second but was interrupted at the giggling from the women behind her. She wanted to take this conversation somewhere else. What was so amusing about her talking with Percy anyway?

"Why didn't you bring him here?"

"W-well, I tried to but he said he doesn't trust you."

"What do you mean he doesn't trust me?"

"N-No, no, no, no. Not you, you but you know... you."

As if to explain his point, he motioned to the Dian Cecht clinic. Airmid understood that but she didn't understand why this person didn't trust a place that wants to help people.

"A-anyway, can you help me?"

Airmid wanted to refuse, to tell the boy to just bring this person here. But with the pleading look in his green eyes and the giggling and murmuring behind her growing more and more annoying, she was considering it.

"Miss Ferne is off for today. She will be back tomorrow so if you request her, then we can come."

"Well actually, it's you specifically I want," Percy said, struggling with long word but managing it. The personal request made Airmid blush slightly as she hid her smile with a small cough. She was being requested to help someone.

'It is a doctor's duty to help anyone in need.'

"If I get permission... I will come."

To Airmids surprise, she was granted permission almost instantly. With a quick talk of staying safe and not going to any dodgy place, Miss Jenny was almost willing her to do this. Little did Airmid know, the pleading look in the boy's eyes behind her as she made the request had almost definitely swayed the verdict. Percy was the child of the Goddess of Beggars after all.

After rounding up a small bag of supplies, her staff and smartening up her uniform, Airmid met Percy at the front door.

"You ready?" He asked as he noticed her small satchel of medical supplies.

"Yep, please lead the way," Airmid said with an almost smug look. It was her first mission without Miss Ferne, she had to be professional and courteous. That all went out the window when Percy grabbed her hand and began running down the steps, dragging the poor level 1 girl behind him.

"W-Wai..."

That was all Jenny and the receptionist heard as they watched the black-haired boy drag Airmid out of the lobby. It almost occurred to the two women that it was probably incredibly irresponsible to allow a 7-year-old to leave with a stranger they had only just met but they were too busy giggling at the hilarious look of bewilderment Airmid expressed just before she recognised what was about to happen.

I dashed through the city square, the city having fully woken up now. What was just the warm orange sunrise I had been greeted by as I left the dungeon earlier had now blossomed into crisp autumn day. A soothing breeze hung in the air and with the warm hue from the sun came together to make for a perfect temperature.

I quickly made it out of the town square and with a quick check of my senses, I confirmed Airmid was still with me. I barely noticed her behind me. She felt really light and she must have been almost galloping as I barely heard her shoes on the floor.

In hindsight, I definitely should've checked to see if she was alright but I was too caught up in my excitement of helping Brant. The images of Dungeon diving with him hadn't left my mind. But they had now been replaced by the image of an uncomfortable sight.

Airmid was red-faced, breathing heavily and her usually pristine silver hair was a mess. She looked like she was about to collapse as she gulped for air. I really, most definitely should've looked behind me.

"Wh... wh...I said... wait," The girl said in-between gulps if air as she finally managed to regain her posture. I had frozen up, only able to watch the girl recompose herself with wide eyes. I was thinking of a way to say sorry but I couldn't find the words as I still hadn't fully taken in what I was seeing.

Airmid had managed to recover to a point where she pushed her hair out the way of her eyes and what greeted me sent a small shiver down my spine. Two narrowed eyes with unbridled anger and annoyance glared at me.

"Why did you do that!" She began, making me step back instinctively. "I can walk just fine by myself you know. Just because you are faster than me doesn't mean you need to drag me like a toy!"

With each comment, Airmid slowly got closer to me, her finger pointed out at me. I had almost forgotten we were in the middle of the street until I noticed that we were starting to attract attention.

"Uhm, Airmid," I muttered out but I was quickly stopped.

"I'm still shouting at you, let me finish!"

My lips curled inwards as I struggled to hold focus. My eyes kept darting between the girl scolding me for not paying attention to her, which was valid, to the numerous adults that were surrounding us, all with small grins on their faces.

'What's so funny, I'm in danger here. Aren't adults supposed to help kids!'

"Airmid, p-please wait a minute," I began to plea.

"What!" She remarked, emphatically folding her arms as her foot began to tap on the street. I didn't say much as when she finally went quiet for a moment she realised the situation that had surrounded us.

"Oh lad, you've upset your missus,"

"Can't be doing that!"

Two men gleefully teased us, turning me into a tomato as I feel my face get really hot. I wasn't the only one in danger.

"You tell him darlin,"

"Keep your man in line,"

It was Airmids turn to blush with embarrassment as the women began teasing her. It seemed the adults had already decided on our relationship and didn't seem to care about the context. I could see Airmid trying to stammer out an explanation but she was only met with more teasing. I was even worse, I couldn't even speak, my lips quivering as I tried to think of a way out of this. Only one idea came to mind.

'She's gonna get even angrier,' I thought with a grimace as I took the course of action I could think of.

"P-Please j-j-just list... huh?"

With my level two speed, I once again grabbed Airmid and began running as fast as I could, interrupting any chance she had of giving an explanation. From my experience with adults, they wouldn't listen anyway. She must've experience the same things as this time, I kept looking behind me and there seemed to be no complaints from Airmid. Maybe because I hoisted here onto my back this time.

"How long is that brat gonna take?" Brant gruffly muttered to himself as he leant against the dusty back-alley wall. His dingy brown trench coat had soaked up some moisture from a bit of hanging moss but the man wasn't bothered by it as he was too busy lost in his mind.

"Wait here, I need to go get something."

Before Brant could even stop the boy, Percy had darted out of the alleyway and down the high street, with little regard to being spotted. Since then, most of Brant's time had been spent pondering if he should even entertain the young boy's sudden brashness and instead brush it off as a simple childish act. But to treat that child as normal would be even stupider, so the man waited.

He wished he had some tobacco to smoke or something to drink to pass the time, at least he had his money to count. Brant knew there would a hike after Percy's level up but to such a degree. Brant could see why the boy was levelling up so fast if he was dealing with this many monsters on a weekly basis. He struggled to remember if his old Familia in its infant days pulled such numbers.

Brant had counted through the bag of Valis almost five times now. He wished he had something else to do, something else to occupy his mind. His subconscious knew why. Brant grumbled as he looked down at his right leg once again. Even with ratty trousers covering his skin, he could still see the massive scar that riddled his flesh. He could still the magic imbued weapon that caused it.

Brant cursed the high elf's name under his breath as he remembered the feeling of the bastard's sword slice his leg open. Brant could only blame himself though, what did he expect, taking on a level 5 and for what.

'What was I thinking, protecting them ungrateful cunts.'

The pitiful look of those red eyes that stared down at him as he writhed in pain. Brant would never forget that look, that feeling of pathetic weakness.

Brant wanted to punch something or even better, someone. To release his anger on something else, he had already burnt out hurting himself that it meant nothing now.

Just before Brant lost himself in his wrath, he was brought out of his self-loathing by the scampering of feet followed by heavy breathing. Brant swivelled around and found the black-haired boy that had kept him waiting all this time. The shabby man didn't have time to register the full picture before Percy clutched his knees, panting for breath, his hair slick with sweat. Then a random girl jumped off the boys back, her purple eyes having a haze over them as her cheeks were unusually red for a normal person.

"...eeeeerrrrrr?" Brant croaked out as he looked at the two children. Why had the lad brought a child with him? His noise had attracted the attention of Percy, who took a lungful of air before looking up at the man.

"This... Airmid," Percy managed between breathes before facing Airmid. " This... Brant." With that, Percy walked over to the brick wall and slumped down, his bum hitting the floor as the tension released from his body.

Brant just raised his eyebrow at the almost comical scene. He looked over at the young girl, Airmid, his raised eyebrow being his only question.

Seemingly composing herself, the young girl smoothed her hair out before patting down her white nurse's dress and looked up at Brant.

"Hello, my name is Airmid."

"Errm... I'm Brant."

"I just said that." The two looked over at the slumped boy who was looking back with confusion. It was true, he had just introduced them.

"You mind explainin' to me why ya brought a girl with ya?" Brant asked. Percy rolled his eyes at the man, seemingly with frustration.

"I said I was going to get help; didn't you listen."

"And you brought, and I'll say it again, a child."

"Excuse me, I'm a nurse," Airmid interjected, not liking being referred to as a child.

"A child nurse," Brant quickly retorted back.

"Still a nurse."

"Still a child."

Airmid clenched her fists in annoyance at the rude way the man was speaking to them. She stared at Percy, wanting an explanation. Had he really dragged her all this way to just deal with some old grump.

"Brant, remember when I came back from my level up adventurer and my first time in the middle-floors?" Percy asked. Brant nodded, with a slight hum. "Well she was the one who healed me both times."

Airmid grew slightly embarrassed at the praise as Brant turned to face her, his eyes lighting up with interest.

"Is that so. So she's a good healer, what's that got to do with me?"

"She's a great healer, the best in Orario," Percy said back. Airmid's face only grew hotter at the praise, not that she would interrupt it. Miss Ferne rarely praised her for her efforts.

"I ain't ever heard of her," Brant murmured but seemingly trusted the boy's words. From his experience the boy was a decent judge of strength, normally down-playing his own feats and that of other monsters. If he said someone was very good, Brant couldn't simply dismiss it. But he wouldn't take it as gospel. Apart from the dungeon, Percy had little to no experience with literally everything else. He had relied on Brant, Reg and recently the Astrea Familia with everything apart from hitting monsters really hard... his maps were decent as well.

"It don't matter anyway," Brant said with a sigh, making Percy look at him with a hint of sadness. "Look kid, I appreciate the effort, I really do, but I got this injury over 6 years ago now. It's rotted in my skin and down to the bone, it can't be healed."

"B-but we don't know that."

"Trust me lad, I do."

"We should still try?"

Brant sighed again at the boy's insistence. "Why are ya set on getting' me healed anyway. I thought I'd taught ya not to do anything for free?"

Percy's eyes looked down slightly as he twiddled with his fingers. He was too embarrassed to admit why he wanted Brant to be healed. He hoped that Brant would get healed, start to feel better and want to go into the dungeon on his own and then Percy would offer to go with him. That was how it was meant to go down.

"Look, I ain't getting' treated if ya don't spill it, ya hear?" Brant said in an unusual adult voice. Percy seemingly enclosed on himself even more before managing to mutter out a response.

"So that means if I tell you... you'll try it?"

Brant couldn't help but smile at the way the boy had managed to get the conversation there. Brant shrugged his shoulders and stood up straight. It's not like anything would happen; nothing would change if he indulged the boy a bit.

"Fine, I'll let ya girlfriend treat me if ya tell me."

Airmid had stayed about 3 paces away from the conversation between Percy and the adult male. She had recovered from the praise and was also curios why Percy was so set on getting the man healed. From the way he had explained it, she would struggle to heal Brant. If the likes of Miss Ferne or head nurse Jenny hadn't been able to help, she doubted she could.

But as she looked at Percy's eyes as he accepted Brant's proposal, Airmid tightly grasped her staff, determined to do whatever she could.

With a steel gaze in his light green eyes, Percy stood up and faced Brant. He didn't murmur it out in an incoherent mess and he made sure not to stutter. He clenched his hands tightly.

'I promised I wouldn't run away,' He told himself for confidence.

"I want to go adventuring with you."

Brant was not expecting that. To help more with training or to teach him better fighting moves, or maybe it was just out the goodness of the boy's heart, that was about it. Anything but this. Brant had to take a few seconds to process this, a few seconds that made Percy very anxious about what the man's response would be.

"Is that it?"

It was Percy's turn to be caught off guard. What did Brant mean by, is that it? Surely this was a big deal to ask. When the Astrea Familia and himself had agreed to it, it seemed like a big deal between two factions coming together as comrades. It all felt very professional. Brant's lack of care did not feel professional.

"Why do ya look so dazed? Look, I didn't expect it if that's what you are hopin' for but don' make it out like it's a massive thing.

"It...It isn't?" Percy muttered out in utter confusion.

"Course not, people go into the dungeon all the time with those they just met. We've known each other for over a year."

Brant didn't want to say it, but they were basically a Familia with how they acted together.

"So... does that mean you'll let Airmid help you?" Percy said nervously, a hopefully smile slowly forming on his lips.

Brant sighed and scratched his ragged brown hair. "Sure kid, if it means that much to ya."

Before Percy burst with excitement, Brant turned to face the young girl that had been standing behind him. "Alright girlie, let's see what ya can do?"

Having been brought back into the conversation, Airmid took a second to let her the red colour from her cheeks settle before trusting herself to speak. She stood up straighter, smoothed out her nurse's outfit and gripped her staff.

"O-ok, may I see the injury first, please," Airmid calmly spoke, having now gone into her professional mode. Miss Ferne had drilled it into her since the start that no matter the circumstances, the doctor must always remain calm and professional.

It seemed Brant was cautious about showing his injured leg but with a quick look at the bubble of excitement in Percy's eyes, Brant finally caved in and accepted his fate. He didn't believe anything was going to come of it and it seemed Airmid could handle looking at it.

Brant removed his right boot, the leather slumping to the floor as the man began rolling up his trouser leg. Airmid remained calm as the scar came into view. She had seen worse before. As Brant finally exposed his full leg, Airmid eyes widened slightly.

A hideous scar crawled up the man's leg. Starting from the left side of his shin before crossing the knee and then finished at the top of his leg. It was imbedded deep, with the knee being slightly misshapen. A slight discoloration was imprinted on the perimeter of the mark. If Brant didn't have a falna, he wouldn't be able to walk.

Airmid took a second to compose herself, breathed slowly through her nose before beginning everything she had learnt over the past year.

"When did you get this?"

"About 6 years ago I'd say."

"Have you already had it checked?"

"Multiple times."

"What did they say?"

"I'm lucky I can walk and that it ain't getting better than this."

The blunt responses from Brant told Airmid that he had long given up on getting it fixed, having succumbed to his fate. She assumed he had seen professional doctors and healers and they had already asked all the questions she wanted to ask. If they hadn't fixed it then, she wouldn't get anywhere now.

But as she continued to look at the scar, she caught a glimpse of Percy standing behind Brant. She looked into his green eyes and saw hope and belief. Belief in her, belief in that she was different.

Airmid had been told countless times by countless people, plus her deity, that she was special. That she was a prodigy and that one day she would be the best healer the world had ever seen. If it wasn't for Miss Ferne taking her in, Airmid was certain she would've let all that go to her head.

She had told herself every day that it was hard work that mattered, not her talent. She needed to focus every day and not get over-confident. She had made sure that it wouldn't be her special magic that would define her as a doctor.

Because of this, whenever she was getting praised she looked away slightly. She didn't want to get all the praise, scared of what it would do. But this time, she looked in the eyes of the boy that had his hopes in her.

He had specifically asked for her, believing that she would make a different. It made her feel good. It made her feel that maybe there wasn't something wrong with being special sometimes, if it meant helping people. That was her main goal, to help people and now would be no different.

Airmid nodded to herself once before grasping her staff with both hands. She then closed her eyes and brought her hands closer together as if she was almost praying. She didn't see the confused looks from her patient nor the boy behind him. She focused on one thing as she began to sing.

"Is she... praying?" Brant murmured as he turned to face Percy, only earning a shrug in return.

"I don't really remember what she did but she made my broken ankle go from, well broken, to completely fine in a matter of seconds."

"Really?... that good aye?"

As Brant turned back around, he noticed a faint glow underneath him. He recognised this as basic healing magic, already assigning himself to the same fate as before. But then the light only continued to grow, getting brighter and the magic circle getting larger.

"Oi Oi, hang on a sec," Brant remarked as he staggered back slightly at the ever growing magic circle as Airmid continued to chant. Percy only smiled as he saw Brant taken aback by Airmid's magic.

"I told you she was good."

"It ain't healed yet."

Airmid had blocked all the sounds at as she was concentrating on her chant. She was almost done now and as she opened her eyes, she looked at Percy one last time.

'I'll make this work.'

"Dia Fratel!"

Airmid finished her prayer as she pushed her staff upwards, the bright light emanating from the tip as the magic circle exploded with power. The bright light forced Brant and Percy to cover their eyes but Airmid remained firm, looking at the scar.

"Hey! What ya think ya doin', I can't see a pissin' thing!"

"A-Airmid, are you finished?"

Both Percy and Brant cried out on confusion as the struggled to see anything as the heavenly light continued to blind them. After another 10 seconds, the light began to dim and soon the magic circle faded away.

Brant and Percy started blinking, allowing their eyes to re-adjust to the normal daylight as Airmid's magic dissipated.

Percy was the first to recover and the first thing he did was look over at the healer. He immediately rushed over to her, catching her before she collapsed.

"Airmid! Are you ok?"

The young girl was barely managing to stay awake; the healing having taken a large toll on her mind but she was smiling, a twinkle in her purple eyes.

"That's my new record," She said with gleaming expression before she slumped in Percy's arms, her soft breaths and the slow rise and fall of her chest the only indication she was alive.

Percy had figured out that the young nurse had suffered from a mind down. He began carefully placing her down, not wanting to disturb her.

Percy turned his head to look at Brant, the man not having said a word since Airmid had stopped healing. He noticed that Brant wasn't concerned with Airmid or himself, the man solely focused on his leg. Percy followed his gaze and soon a smile broke on the boy's face.

"...no way," Brant muttered in disbelief as his fingers grazed his skin. His smooth, not deformed, normal coloured skin. Percy wanted to shout in excitement and jump for joy but he didn't want to wake Airmid nor did he want to ruin Brant's moment of clarity. The boy still couldn't help but beam with happiness.

Brant stared at his leg. He was in utter shock. For six whole years he had suffered with this scar. Not only had it incapacitated him from ever having a chance to fight again but it always served as a reminder to his greatest failure, his biggest regret.

And in a matter of a minute, it had gone. Brant couldn't believe it. So he slowly extended his leg, then pulled it back in, then extended again. Nothing.

He put pressure on it, placing it on the ground. He even started lightly stamping. Still nothing.

Brant gave it a flick, a tap, a light punch. Nothing, nothing, nothing.

Brant's head went light. He stumbled backwards, his back hitting the alley wall behind him as his body slowly slumped to the floor, all the while his gaze never left his right leg.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Brant slowly turned his head to look at Percy and Airmid. Lying asleep was the girl who had done the impossible, a young child that defied all odds and had done what everyone else thought, including himself, was out of the realms of possibility. She had performed a miracle.

And sitting next to her, a radiant smile greeting him, was the boy who had brought the miracle to him. The one who had believed when no one else wanted to. Brant almost believed it was Percy's sheer will and determination that fixed his leg, not the magic.

Brant kept straightening his leg and pulling it back in again. Over and over, expecting pangs of pain or strokes of aches. There wasn't even an itch.

Brant wanted to say a thousand things to the both of them. He wanted to hug the boy and break down in tears; to shout to the heavens how much he was in their debt. But he didn't. The man could only muster a weak smile as he held back the tears, his body quivering with joy as he muttered out two words.

"Thank you."

Reg was tinkering again. It was a habit he had picked up over the last couple of years of isolation. His mind in his youth had thought of thousands of weapons and other contraptions that could help in the fight against the dungeon.

They were still there. A crossbow that didn't need to be reloaded after a single shot or a sword that could keep its hilt and replace its blade. These ideas always emerged whenever the dwarf wasn't busy.

He had thought of bringing these concepts to Hephaestus or Tsubaki but whether it was his dwarven pride or he still had some childish hope, Reg held onto his ideas with the dwindling belief that he would be the one to create them.

This time he was tinkering with his next project to give to his Goddess. Every month he gave away a brand new blade or hardened shield. The dwarf had grown a level of infamy in the Hephaestus Familia as some of his designs had been used as blueprints by the high ranking smiths that looked past the basic materials the retired adventurer used.

Recently, the ginger-bearded dwarf had been occupied with his only client, having to repair some armour after a hazardous trip to the middle floors where Percy fought against a gaggle of Crystal Mantis', though it was worth it as it gave the dwarf a bit of decent smithing material.

He was planning on making some new add-ons to the boy's gauntlets, crystal spike tips or even just an extra layer of hardness for defence. But that was on the back burner for now, the crystal was a tiresome material as it took a while to smelt. So as it was simmering above the kiln, Reg was screwing together a new weapon.

He had finished the head of it, a large hammer with a flat square face at one end while at the other end, a pickaxe like spike poked out. While it could be used for combat, Reg had thought of it being more for mining. A heavy flat end to smash away any hardened rock, then with the other end, you could pick your way through the small cracks to get at the minerals that are deeper.

Reg was polishing the handle. When he started his smithing, no matter what he created, Reg had enjoyed the minor details the most. Small, intricate patterns that swam across the handle of every sword or axe. He had lost this joy, for some time now. Gone had the days where he would add fire emblems or wooden vineyards to his designs. He had lost his passion.

But after he gave Percy his first set of armour the dwarf had crafted in years, Reg felt that light burn again. He felt his inner forge re-ignite. He was glad the boy liked his armour but Reg was already planning him a new batch along with his weapon upgrades, and this time he would do it right. And this new weapon was the perfect way to start again.

Perching a monocle over his one good eye, Reg traced his pencil down the wooden hilt, the rigid timber keeping the lead at bay, all the while the dwarf sculptured a pattern that lead all the way from the hilt to the bottom.

He held up it up, opening his curtains to allow the midday sun to shine through. It wasn't his best work but it would do for now.

The dwarf's ears perked at the sound of his shop bell ringing as the wooden door creaked open. The sound of a pair of hardened leather boots marched up. Reg didn't get many customers, in fact he only got 4 visitors that could be considered regulars. The Goddess Hephaestus who checked on him now and then, and her captain would come around as well, saying she was scoping out the competition. The other two were the young boy that had restarted the dwarf's passion and then the last was the man who had introduced the young lad to him.

Because they were the only four who visited, he had picked up on their footsteps. He couldn't help it; his past life as an adventurer had wired his brain in such a way to pick up on things. The hardened leather boots with a hard step ruled out the Goddess of the forge and Percy. One walked with grace and while firm, her footsteps were still light. Percy was too small to make such a noise, not that he wanted to anyway due to his sensitive ears. Reg knew when it was Percy because the only indication that the boy had entered was the doorbell followed by silence.

The cheeky half dwarven captain was the next to be ruled out. While she did stride about with her level 4 strength, she never wore leather boots. Either wooden shoes from her far-eastern homeland or sometimes it was barefoot. And while Brant was the closest, his injury on his right leg prevented the balanced steps that had entered Reg's shop, the dwarf could hear the limp the man carried, no matter how he tried to hide it.

'A new customer then?'

Reg stroked his ginger beard as he put down the wooden handle and pencil. He removed his monocle and black durag, wiping off a few beads of sweat from his balding forehead. With a stretch of his back, the cracking of pressure releasing coinciding with a soft grunt, Reg picked up a towel to wipe his hands, the dwarf brushed through the red curtain that draped over the gap between the counter and the forge.

There, stood in front of him, a ruffled white shirt with a tanned leather jacket over it and a shit eating smile on his face, stood Brant. Reg raised his eyebrow slightly, maybe he had misheard it.

"What ya want lad?" Reg asked as he shrugged his shoulders and put it down to age. Brant didn't really answer, instead he walked over to the counter, the same smile on his face. No, Reg hadn't misheard it. Had Brant taken some crazy drugs to subside the pain, that would explain the almost deranged grin.

"Ya alright?"

That made Brant chuckle as he made his way around the counter. Reg was now slightly concerned at what was happening. But he stayed silent as he watched his younger friend stop in front of him, his whole body in view. Then what happened next made Reg's good eye go wide.

"Oi, old man," Brant said before stamping his right leg on the wooden floor twice. "I need a weapon, something sharp will do."

/

I just dropped of Airmid at the clinic. Her healing spell had seemingly sapped her of energy. I had cradled her on my back and taken the backstreets before leaving her with the reception lady. I wanted to stay and wait for her to wake up to thank her once more but the lady said she would inform Airmid of my gratitude. I gave a quick bow of thanks before rushing back off. Brant had said he wanted to meet at the square.

I was fidgeting nervously as I sat on a bench near a large marble statue. I had never really stayed in the main square at night, and this time I was out in the open during the middle of the day. The Tower of Babel that dwarfed me and everyone else that was here blocked out the blinding sun as all I could do was try and stay as small as possible. This is where Brant said to meet, so this is where I'm staying.

I'm unsure what his plan is. Maybe he wants to go to see Airmid and thank her personally or he wants to go shopping again. Maybe he wants new clothes for when we go into the dungeon.

I couldn't help but get giddy at the thought. I could tell Brant had thought of it as soon as he found his leg was healed. He said he would fulfil my promise and I trusted Brant. I wonder when we are going to go.

"Oi, kid!"

I swivelled my head to the right as I saw Brant approach me. I smiled at the way he was walking. It was confident and balanced and there was no limp. Judging from the man's own smile, he was clearly enjoying it too. But then I spotted it.

"woah" I mumble out in shock.

"What do ya think?" Brant says as he twists his body slightly, giving me a better look. This allowed me to see it fully. A large, black sword. The hilt poked above Brant's shoulders, while the tip almost reached to his knees. It was a giant sword, I had never seen one so massive.

"I'll tell ya about it when we're in there."

I raised my eyebrow slightly. "In where?"

At that, Brant smirked as he raised his hand and pointed behind me. I do a 180, spinning on the bench. My mouth opens slightly as I'm struck with disbelief. Brant was pointing at the Tower of Babel.

"In the dungeon, where else."

We're going back in the dungeon and this time, Percy has a partner at last. I wonder what kind of adventurer Brant will turn out to be, judging by his big ass sword, a good one at that.

We got some cute Amid and Percy moments and I may have gotten carried away a bit with Reg near the end but god damn it, our guy needs some love too. But of course the main part of the chapter was healing Brant and bringing him into the story properly and not just a simple side character who appears every couple chapters.

Reviews:

Jose Blas - Alfia and Zard have made their packed with Erobus, as for when they properly enter the story, we aren'y far off. Percy is only 6 and that doesn't happen until he is nearly 8 but we won't linger like we did when he was 5.

Brendan1479 - I'm glad you enjoyed it, I thought it was the right time for Percy to sort it out.

Roland Tepes - Happy you liked the last chapter. As for Bell, while it will be the same year as it is in canon, 15 years after Zeus and Hera, 7 years after Evilus attack and 5 after Astrea Familia death (Not saying these are set in stone in my story ;)), I've aged Bell and Perseus up by one just to make them 15. This means Bell is the same age as Lili and one year behind Ais. It is a minor detail I had to make as in canon Bell is born outside Orario and that would mean Percy would be too and can't have that for story to work so I aged them up a bit.

As always, thanks for reading and I'll see ya next time, Peace!