Hestia sighed, wondering how this escalated as the stadium was brimming with numerous people who were excited for the fight.
*Two Weeks Earlier…*
What Hestia didn't expect in the early morning was Loki lounging on one of the podiums in the church half-asleep before Hakuno's voice spoke up. "Mother why is Loki here?" she had asked before said goddess woke up and launched herself at Hakuno, gripping her shoulders and had a rather serious face.
"Haku-tan, join my Familia!" the goddess shouted at her as her veil fell from Hakuno's head revealing her bemused face.
She tilted her head in confusion.
"Cute!" Both goddesses thought before Hestia snapped out of her stupor as she instantly recalled what Loki just said.
"Hold it right there Loki, just what are you saying to my daughter!?" Hestia demanded as Hakuno swiftly broke free of Loki's grip, pick up her veil and hide behind Hestia.
"Like I said Chibi, I want Haku-tan here to ditch your poor Familia and join mine!" Loki smiled as Hakuno narrowed her eyes.
"I refuse." The response was quick and cold as Loki felt the ruthless rejection hit her before quickly rebounding.
"How about making it a War Game then?" Loki asked with a smirk before Hestia paled and Hakuno tilted her head quizzically again.
It was super effective! Loki definitely wanted her in their Familia now!
"Isn't that a bit excessive Loki? And a War Game at that!" Hestia scolded her as Loki merely shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, it'd be more civil than sending you back to Tenkai and taking her in before others do." Loki reasoned as Hestia felt her temper rise at the hidden notions. Sooner or later people will find out which Familia Hakuno belonged to and then harass them both to get to her. But she was not going to give up her daughter that helped found this Familia and worked so hard to help her.
"…What's a War Game?" Hakuno asked. The two goddesses looked to her as she looked lost at the term as she placed her veil back on as Hestia sighed, recalling how a few things were still too new for her smartest child.
"A War Game is a dispute between two Familia, their children compete in combat of sorts to settle them. The other gods use them as a means of entertainment when they get bored. They're rare but help promote the reputation of a Familia that wins. Both gods wager something of equal value to make sure everything is fair." Hestia explained as she watched behind the veiled girl's face while the gears in her head were running.
"But what do we get if we win besides fame?" she asked as Loki shrugged at that, clearly not expecting a response to that while Hestia could already see the gears inside her daughter's head running. Hakuno was developing a plan, one that would bite Loki later in the long run. "How about something of equal value to me?" she suggested as Hestia picked up on that rather quickly as she realized just how devious her daughter was. "If I, a precious child of Hestia am of value to wager in the War Game, then you should wager a child you value from your Familia as an equal value." Hakuno stated with a sweet sugary smile that Loki had no defense against. The girl had her cards and was playing the game of deception well.
"…She does have a point." Hestia admitted as Loki clicked her teeth in frustration. The logic was sound, and she needed to get Haku-tan into her Familia fast before the others (namely Freya) claim her into their own.
"…I'll discuss this with my Familia first." Loki told them and turned to leave while Hestia looked to Hakuno that was in deep thought. She knows when her daughter is in deep thought when she has a hand resting her elbow and another hand on her chin as she swayed her head left and right slowly. It was a cute point Hakuno had besides her head-tilt.
"Goddess?" Bell's voice came from the secret passageway with a sleepy Haruhime right behind him rubbing her eyes.
"Kids…we need to talk." Hestia told them.
"…For real?" Finn asked as Loki's entire Familia looked at their goddess with disbelief. Loki had her arms crossed and for once she was utterly serious.
"For real. We'll need her for the deeper floors with her talents." Loki told them. The entire Familia had begun to ponder, for Hakuno Kishinami was a wildcard that could tip the balance of power if she chooses a side in stronger Familia instead of a poorer one like the Hestia Familia. They didn't tell Loki in the first place at Ais' request since they were friends and enjoyed their privacy. Bringing her into their Familia was quite the boon, especially when the time comes to confront the Freya Familia. But there was one problem, surviving an onslaught of Hakuno's chant free spells. They know she can siphon energy to replenish her reserves and that was problem they can't face head on.
They needed to fight Hakuno in melee if they want that edge. Long range is suicidal and her absolute domain. They needed to make it their advantage and finish her off fast since she's still level one. With that, a duel was decided for this War Game Loki sprung up for Hakuno.
Then there was a price to pay if they lose, someone must join Hestia's Familia. Bete was livid at the notion of joining a weaker Familia, Tione and Tiona did not want to be separated from each other. Raul looked troubled, while several others were worried about which one has to leave but Ais whom had a rather calm expression, but on the insider her inner child was fretting if she had to fight Hakuno.
It was later that day when Loki declared a War Game to the Hestia Familia, which the Goddess of the Hearth agreed upon as everyone was getting excited, wondering what was happening. But Hestia managed to buy Hakuno two weeks of preparation. There was something rather ominous with Hakuno's request to Haruhime though, something about unlocking a chest she entrusted the Renard with.
What Haruhime brought out was a wrapped weapon, and a set of unfamiliar clothing. Even with the weapon wrapped up, everyone in the Familia felt an ominous pressure from the weapon Hakuno took as she prepared a long training trip in the Dungeon. Bell and Haruhime were only allowed up to the fifth floor until she returned and gave Bell a rather stern warning if he tried to go to the sixth floor. Something he took to heart as he remembered the scolding both she and Hestia gave him for that stunt last time.
*Present*
"Ah, that's how…" Hestia sighed. She prayed for her child's success after her return and updating her Status. They were good growth rates, and Hakuno politely declined Hestia's request to level up. Even then, Hestia was uncertain if even a level up will give Hakuno the edge she needed. The Loki Familia was a group of monsters, on top of the food chain in Orario when it came to adventurers, how was she going to survive them with her other combat method?
"I AM GANESHA!" shouted one elephant masked god in his seat at the top of the stadium acting as one of the announcers as another of his Familia began to make the announcements of this duel.
"And there she is, the top ranked adventurer that everyone knows and loves, Ais Wallenstein!"
Everyone cheered for the Sword Princess who drew her sword Desperate out and held it to her side as the gates to the other side of the stadium opened to reveal a figure walking in.
"Her origins were unknown, her magic unknown to even the best of mages, heck, even until now her Familia was unknown! She was an enigma in many aspects that many want her for her cuteness. Ladies and gentlemen, the Holy Witch…Hakuno Kishinami!"
The outfit she wore was not that of the dress and veil, but a school uniform. Dark navy sailor styled school uniform to be specific. A red scarf, pleated skirt, black knee socks, and brown shoes. This was the clothing Hakuno once refused to wear again due to the pain it caused her in the past. Memories of the Far Side of the Moon. A Mystic Code Hakuno wore most of her time in the Moon Cell during the CCC Incident. There, facing the notorious Sakura Five and BB, she risked her very life to win her freedom and humanity's future.
The katana she had by her side had been her faithful companion that whole incident. Feasting on the lives of the foes she vanquished as the spirit within the sword evolved into a terrifying thing that made even the Alter Ego of Pleasure wary of. Gekkō Ryūjin Muramasa. A weapon crafted solely for her and her most cherished blade before she was sent to this world by the Moon Cell.
As Ais regarded her with a nod that she returned in kind, Hakuno saw the area around them change. It wasn't Orario anymore, but the Coliseum the SERAPH uses in Elimination Rounds. It reminded her of the fight against Julius Harway, separated from her Servant, armed with blade and whatever Mystic Codes she had on, and death staring at her. She shook her head of the dark days as the Holy Grail War was over. She won, the conflict was over, she was alive.
She began to slowly breath, letting oxygen flow into her lungs as it made her blood circulate through her veins as it reminds her of her mortality. The image of her and Ais in the Coliseum was gone, an illusion from past trauma no longer haunting her. She would live with the blood she had spilled as she made a promise to make sure the deaths of the other Masters in the Holy Grail War had meaning. She would ensure mankind would continue to exist; such was her wish upon the Holy Grail.
Ais got into her stance, and Hakuno did with hers, the wind picking up as Hakuno cleared her mind and focused on only cutting down her foe, just as her sensei had taught her.
Live or Die by the Sword
What power do you hold in your hands…?
Dancing flames, decaying Earth, withered ocean.
Stats
Bell Cranel
Level 1
Strength: G 203
Endurance: G 224
Dexterity: F 378
Agility: F 389
Magic: I 0
Skills
Liaris Freese: Accelerated growth stats depending on desires. Stronger desires result in stronger growths.
Sanjouno Haruhime
Strength: I 57
Endurance: I 24
Dexterity: I 78
Agility: I 81
Magic: H 176
Spells
Uchide no Kozuchi: A rare level boosting magic reflecting Haruhime's nature desire to support heroes in her fairytales she grew up reading, any ally she selects gains a level with it, but she cannot use it on herself.
Skills
Mikuzumenohou: Increases the effects of magic and mind usage.
Hakuno Kishinami (Updated before War Game)
Level 1
Strength: D 654
Endurance: E 510
Dexterity: D 614
Agility G 363
Magic: EX 1500
Skills
Memoria Freese: Accelerated growth of oneself and others by important memories. Due to her Amnesia Syndrome in the past, this skill manifested as her desire for precious memories to cherish with loved ones. The more beloved memories she has cherished, the stronger the growth rates become.
Legacy of Albion: A skill that is the manifestation of Hakuno's bloodline. A black mana said to be the symbol of kingship to a certain land, it inherits the memories of certain wielders of the black mana that preceded Hakuno.
Spells
Spiritron Boost: A support spell specializing in both refining magical energy to be more precise and powerful in spells, and to increase fighting technique when using a melee weapon. Can only be used on a person once with a 15-minute cooldown before reapplying.