Primo was nervous as she walked through the caverns of the first floor behind Hakuno. She was on her first venture in the Dungeon and yet this place wasn't bringing any alarms to her senses. She was only worried about upsetting her mother and godmother with her first bout inside the Dungeon. Even when said mother is right in front of her, eyes darting around the place with keen insight. Primo had to do the same, be vigilante, and pay attention to every detail to your surroundings.
This was what her mom was talking about, and she focused on what she can see and hear as her ears twitched at the faint sounds of footsteps. Footsteps in boots, and a few bare feet ones as well. She turned to the source of the sound and Hakuno, being observant of her daughter turned to see what caught the elf child's attention.
It was the Loki Familia, led by the High Novice Raul if the small group was of indication as there was no sign of Riveria, Gareth or Finn. Perhaps they were busy hunting as well? Hakuno walked up to them, and the two groups stopped and stared at each other. "Heya Hakuno-san! How's Ais-san been?" spoke one gossip girl of the group named Elfy as Hakuno merely smiled behind her veil.
"She's been good. She's giving one my new members of the Familia lessons on combat. I'm here taking my daughter on her first venture into the Dungeon to get a feel of the place." She gestured, affectionately rubbing Primo's head as the elf child politely bowed her head quietly. The Loki Familia group looked at Primo with surprise as one other elf, one by the name of Alicia Forestlight spoke up.
"Daughter?" the elf asked as Hakuno nodded her head.
"I adopted her, and Riveria is her godmother." Hakuno answered as she explained Primo's situation as the girl in question was staying close to Hakuno's side. Those listening to the tale felt bad for the child and Alicia made up her mind.
"You guys can head on back; I'll stay and help Primo and Lady Hakuno." The older elf woman decided as Hakuno gave her an appreciative smile for that. She could tell that Alicia is the big sister type, especially to other elves younger than her.
Bell opened his eyes, seeing the face of Ais Wallenstein looking down at him. Now, one must be wondering what was going on here right? This was Hakuno's idea, of having Ais train Bell in combat as he was knocked out by the level five girl in a heartbeat. What we are witnessing now is Bell getting a lap pillow from the Sword Princess as he shoots up screaming his heart out. A regular occurrence and one of mischief by Hakuno.
She knows Ais has little interaction with others, and Bell, being the emotional type that causes one to care for since he's a sincere and nice boy, was compatible in terms of bringing out Ais stunted emotions. The lap pillows were a ploy in bringing out the hidden nice side Ais has, and it was apparently working.
Of course, Bell was incredibly shy because one of his crushes was giving him this rare honor and Ais liked the lap pillows as it had a calming effect on her. But Bell being Bell, always gets away the minute he wakes up and Ais has her hidden disappointment. Of course, Bell admits he likes the lap pillows but said something incredibly stupid that sealed his fate.
"─it's really only something you do when you're passed out and there's no other option, right─?!" Bell all but shouted on top of the wall they were training on.
"So…as long as I only do it when you're unconscious, it's fine, right?" Ais asked as Bell blinked at the question as warning bells rang in his head. Ais was already up and her scabbard at her side with eyes boring into Bell with an intense desire. Child Ais on the inside was letting loose her wish to the Sword Princess of her wish to hold the small white rabbit and ruffle his soft fur to be a peace.
The distance was already closed off between the two. "A-Ais-san? Ais-san?! Why are you looking at me like that?!" he squeaked out nervously.
"You're imagining things." The Sword Princess replied as her shadow loomed over him as he held his little knife like a lifeline as he trembled like the cornered little rabbit he was. Few seconds later his screams filled the sky as only the gods remaining in Tenkai looked down at the scene and laugh as the unconscious Bell was now having his head on Ais' lap as she brushed his hair with her fingers and a content look on her face.
All was right in the world.
Welf hammered the steel into a piece of armor, examining the piece carefully. It was a test type for armored robes on Hakuno's request. He's heard of the duel between her and the Sword Princess and speculated that in case magic was not optional, close combat was the alternate option. Mages dressed lightly and seeing Primo's armored robes gave him an idea of something even better. Sure, robes having metal plating here and there was good, but it looked uncomfortable and could be a hinderance at times. But an absurd idea was in motion, and he needed to consult with Hakuno about the idea of clothing as durable as steel armor being feasible with the use of magic.
For now, he focused on making the armored gloves for Hakuno, one piece of metal for the back of the hand, the other for the forearm. The first piece of her 'Vivian's Cherished' set she had designed and commissioned. This was a prototype, to see the craftsmanship in its basic form and then slowly improve the design and quality as they explore more floors. His pride as a smith was accepting of the challenge, the forge burning equally as hot as his passion to create new works.
To think there was a mage that not only uses magic, but swords and spears as well. He thought he'd seen everything the Dungeon had to offer, and this girl just one-ups it every other day he's with them.
Lili usually stays in her in one of the numerous safehouses she's made over the years, in one of these, she's procuring certain items to help in exploring the Dungeon with Lady Hakuno. The little pallum didn't expect such generosity when she was hired by Hakuno when she posted that request several months ago. When Lili first met her, she was in a light brown uniform that was of excellent quality and a first-time beginner in the Dungeon. Armed with only a Guild issued spear, she followed that girl with the intent of robbing her of anything of value and selling it.
She was lucky she waited to see if she had anything at all when she saw Hakuno launch spell after spell against monsters and killing them with such brutality. It honestly scared her at first and then the floor littered with magic stones became routine ingrained to her years of practice as Lady Hakuno was in deep thought.
"What is the strongest monster right now in the upper floors?" she had asked.
Lili, being the faithful Supporter she was, replied that the Goliath, the Monster Rex of the 18th floor was, and its giant magic stone was worth a decent fortune. The minute she said that Lady Hakuno was making her way to the lower floors much to Lili's alarm. She ignored any protests Lili made as she was a woman on a mission. Even the monster parades were wiped out with such ferocity and Hakuno did not blink an eye as Lili was permitted to collect the stones.
Once they reached the floor with Goliath, Lady Hakuno's magic kicked in as she stabbed the air with her spear, causing a giant ghostly spearhead to manifest as it impaled the Goliath in the torso as the attack made its way to the magic stone inside, causing the Monster Rex to be reduced to ashes. The only thing left was the giant magic stone and its tooth as drop items.
It was here that Lili witnessed a Level One mage destroy a Monster Rex that was considered Level Four with one attack. Suddenly, Lili was feeling lucky she wasn't an enemy of Lady Hakuno whose magic terrified her with its appearance as black and blue mana. Just seeing it was wrong and then Lady Hakuno turned to her and smiled. "I forgot to mention, I'm a witch, so keep it a secret for now." She told Lili with a shush gesture and playful wink.
Lili shuddered at the recollection, but at the same time appreciative of the warning when she did other ventures with Lady Hakuno. She would be asking for minor things, like locations of certain monsters that drop specific materials, the latest news in Orario, and even how Lili's own Familia was like.
That was one subject Lili did not want to recall anytime soon. Lili never saw Lady Hakuno so angry before as Lady Hakuno expressed her displeasure towards Lili's Captain. Needless to say, the Soma Familia needed a new Captain and most of the others kept their distance from Lili out of fear that Lady Hakuno might target them next.
That was in the past, and now she had saved up a decent amount of Valis for her main objective, to request her god Soma to release her so she could convert to the Hestia Familia. To where the Holy Witch that treated her kindly and helped change her situation around. Lili could do this; she's been fighting her whole life using dreg's strength to survive. Scavenging and looting any possible value to help her escape from a cruel life. The pallum prepared herself for this, she knows Lady Hakuno would be delighted in having her in the Hestia Familia and Lili would do her best making her proud to be a Supporter!
The god Aeshma frowned at Enoch's report. The girl, Hakuno Kishinami was a treasure beyond words. He recognized that magical potential was of a lineage, a powerful one at that. His attempts to convince the Holy Witch to join his Familia have been naught. But one day, Apollo approached him with the proposition of an alliance. An alliance to take down the Hestia Familia for those they want.
The Passionate Phallus wanted Bell Cranel, and Aeshma wanted the Holy Witch. So, the two planned of utilizing a War Game in their favor. The first step was to prevent Hakuno Kishinami from attending the War Game. A special collar designed to seal off magic was made solely for Hakuno, the second was Status Seal, an illegal item that uses a god's blood to temporarily negate the Falna so Hestia cannot sense her and seal off any skills.
They would keep Hakuno locked up in a place far from Orario until the War Game was won. After Bell was secured, Apollo would send Hestia back to Tenkai so her Falna is canceled out and Aeshma could forcefully place his on Hakuno.
They had it all planned out, observing and calculating the Hestia Familia's behaviors but then the Sword Princess was added into their fold and several roadblocks popped up. They were planning a way to get past her when the Aeshma Familia was being attacked. Attacked by a bloodthirsty lunatic of red hair and purple eyes as he laid his sight on the alarmed god.
"So…you thought to turn my precious Violet into a breeding stock?" the man hissed, his eyes glaring at Aeshma with utter contempt. "As bloodthirsty as I am, even I cannot tolerate such primitive and disgusting methods."
"Who are you!?" Aeshma demanded, angry that this man was killing his Familia, his children he carefully selected and bred to perfection be reduced to bloodstains on the walls and floors of his home.
"I am a Roman, where the word romance originates. I will win my beloved Flora's heart as any true son of Rome would. Through RRRRRRRRRROMMAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNCEEEE!" Lucius trilled out with a passion as his demonic sword glowed ominously in the darkening room as fear etched itself on the face of a god.
That day, a pillar of light burst forth and an entire Familia was in ruin as the rumors of a bloodthirsty ghost searching for his beloved haunting Orario began.
Haruhime wasn't expecting this, but it was a pleasant surprise as she bumped into the Takemikazuchi Familia and reuniting with some dear friends. They too were surprised by her appearance here in Orario as she explained her situation.
She had been disowned by her father due to being framed by eating an offering when she really didn't. A Pallum guest offered her a chance to escape, and she accepted, only to be separated by a monster attack and being captured by bandits and sold into a brothel and later into Ishtar's Familia.
That had shocked the Takemikazuchi Familia and infuriated them at the treatment Haruhime faced as the girl smiled sweetly. "Then Lady Hakuno appeared one day and changed everything."
They all froze a that statement; they heard the rumors of the Holy Witch personally destroying the Ishtar Familia and considered that impossible for a Level One to pull off. Yet Haruhime here was saying she witnessed it happened up close.
"So, what happened!?" Yamato Mikoto asked out of the blue. Wondering how it happened in the first place.
Haruhime just smiled and slowly moved her lips. "Let me tell you all a story of how it all began from her perspective with the formation of the Hestia Familia." She answered as she gestured everyone to find a seat as she began to recite it as a story, a story she wrote about the hero who came from the stars and changed everything.
"Upon a moonlit night, a witch descends from the stars…"
»─To Be Continued─»