One day upon the forest, the home of the Cranels remains as peaceful as possible. Their dependence to the nature had given them enough support in their solitary and tranquil lives.
Nothing much was occurring in the rural home as it is just peaceful, unlike what is currently occurring in the forest surrounding it.
In one part of a forest, there is a small group of deer roaming around an area filled with berries and nuts. The mammals ate the produce of the woods while being cautious of the surrounding area that may or may not have predators lurking by.
One of the deer is a large male with antlers, it was bigger than the rest of its group and looks to have a certain level of dominance. The male Deer bites and chews upon some berries on a nearby bush before it perks it head up and twitches its ear a few times.
The buck slowly looks side to side as it is checking the surrounding before going back to eating the berries.
The group of deer continues to eat upon the berries and nuts of the forest while not knowing that they were being watched by a pair of red eyes from above the trees.
"with my bow and arrow, I will take your life.." a soft voice whispers as an arrow was pulled upon the string of a bow that tenses. "I honor your life as I honor your mother and father before you."
The deer just keep on eating and didn't know about their lurking company who looks down at them before an arrow came flying from the air and instantly pierced the head of the male buck that let out a loud scream of a grunt that caused its kin to run away in fright before it fell dead.
With the big buck dead, rustles from the trees are heard as a figure came jumping down with the help of a rope.
The figure is the hunter and the shooter of the arrow who is actually revealed to be Bell Cranel who is now 14 years old.
12 years had passed as Bell had grown up into a young teenager with a slightly similar facial appearance to his father, Zagreus.
Bell wears a black shirt with a brown coat on top that is strapped with a bow and quiver, black pants with a gray leather belt, and brown boots. He also has a hunting knife sheathed and attached to his ankle.
The young boy went near the dead buck as he kneels and pulls out the arrow he had fired to kill it before he close its opened eyes.
"I'm sorry and I thank you so much." Bell said in a prayer as he apologizes for killing the buck and thanking it for leaving its body upon its passing. He prayed for a moment before he looks up and sees the buck's herd that is watching nearby.
Bell looks at them before he did a bow of gratitude and apology to the group of deer who looks at him before they turned and began to move.
Watching the group of deer leaving, Bell nods with a smile before doing another bow then turns to look at the dead buck.
"alright…" Bell muttered out as he reaches a hand to his back and takes out a folded cloth that he swings to the side to let it spread out like a blanket.
Placing the blanket to the side, Bell grabs his hunting knife and began to harvest the dead buck of its valuable parts. Its antlers, fur, and meat.
Each part of the deer was harvested and placed to the blanket as Bell gets a bit bloodied from doing the work.
"done." Bell said as he wipes his forearm to his sweating forehead. He looks down as he had harvested every part of the buck, only leaving its organs aside. "now for the organs."
Bell dug a hole as he made it big yet deep enough for him to bury the organs that will become compost for nature.
Afterwards, Bell tied up the blanket as he made it into a portal bag sack which he hoisted and carried on the back of his right shoulder.
Bell began to walk away as he had finished hunting for the day and only plans to head home.
"this much is good…" Bell said while looking at the bag sack before he hears rushing water. He turns and could see a small river nearby. "hmm. Mom did say that it's in the season for the fishes to come."
Bell walks to the river as he placed his sack to the ground by the stream and then readied his bow and arrow. The young boy closed his left eye as he focused his right on his right eye that looks upon several freshwater fish swimming around.
Pulling the arrow that tenses the bow's string, Bell focus to the fish as he sees a few going in line with one another that instantly made him fire.
SWOOSH!
A few minutes later, Bell returned to his home as he carried the bag of the hunted buck and an arrow that has several freshwater fish sticked right through. The young man is also cleaned of the blood as he had taken a quick wash in the water to clean them up.
He walks to the cabin and goes right in while taking off his shoes.
"I'm Home!" Bell hollered as he pushed his shoe to the side while walking in with his hunt.
"welcome back!" a voice hollered back to Bell who went to the kitchen and finds his mother, Meteria in the middle of cooking. The white haired woman wearing a simple white and blue dress with a white apron on top. "how was your day in the forest?"
"it was nice as always." Bell replied as he went near his mother while placing away the bag and the arrow with the fishes. "I caught a buck and some fishes by the river."
"good job, Bell." Meteria said with a smile as she went near and patted her son's head. "you're getting better as a hunter like your Papa."
Bell smiles to his mother's praise as he rubs a finger under his nose.
Afterwards, Bell helps his mother in cooking as he is cleaning the fish of its scales and taking out the organs.
"When will dad come back?" Bell asks while cutting off the head of a fish and then cutting out its meat that he placed to a wooden bowl beside him.
"Possibly by the evening." Meteria said as she is watching and stirring a wooden ladle in a metal pot that is boiling up stew that has cut up vegetables and buck meat that Bell had brought home. she then turns and smiles to her son. "but since today is a special day, I'm sure he'll be back sooner than we think. Right~?"
Bell instantly blushed in embarrassment as the special day that his mother is talking is actually his birthday.
"I'm not a little boy anymore…" Bell mumbled out as he is embarrassed and a bit happy that his parents goes to several lengths to make his birthday more special than the last.
"but you are a little boy." Meteria asks with a smile as she stops stirring the stew before going to her son whose face she cups and caresses. She closed her eyes and tilts her head to the side while continuing to smile. "you're Mama and Papa's special little boy, right?"
"Mom~!" Bell moaned out in embarrassment as his face going more redder. The young man is clearly a child who has been given lots of spoiling love by his parents, more from his mother though.
Meanwhile, in a dark chamber where the only light is coming from a glowingly large circle medieval mirror that has the frame made of pure gold and silver while it is also floating. The object remains hovering from the ground while making multiple whispering noises that comes from its mirror that reflects light each second.
Footsteps are soon heard from the darkness as Zagreus appears.
The Half Elf man who is the husband to Meteria and father to Bell went and stands before the mirror that shows his reflection. He is wearing an all-black jacket of a suit that has the emblem symbol of a skeletal head that is in flames imprinted on his back.
Zagreus looks at his own reflection as he slowly reaches a hand to it.
"I do not advise you to use it again." A voice spoke out from the shadows as Zagreus glanced his eyes to the side and sees a pair of sharp glowing red eyes appearing in the darkness. "what has been set in course by fate cannot be changed no matter how much you try and intervene."
Zagreus hardens his gaze for a moment before he looks at the mirror before him.
"it is better if you accept the fact that your child will become what he is meant to be." The voice continued to speak as Zagreus looks at the mirror that shines a few times before revealing a reflection of Bell who wears a blueish black suit with light adventurer type gear as he wields a black dagger and single red bladed knife. 'his fate can only be changed by his own decision, not yours.' The glowing red eyes started to disappear as they fade into the shadows. "just like how you change your own years ago."
Zagreus looks at the reflection of the mirror before he pulls his right fist back and then punched it straight at the object in front of him. the glass of the mirror cracks and spreads to its entire shape.
"pathetic.." Zagreus spoke out as he grits his teeth hard before he turns and walks into the shadows, not noticing that the mirror is still showing the reflection of Bell in its cracked state, but it shows the young teen in a burning city and in a dying state.
Time goes by as the day turns from the morning to the afternoon and slowly to the evening.
Bell sits on the porch on the back of his home as he is currently doing maintenance to his hunting gear. He sharpens his hunting knife on a whetstone, he moves the blade's sharp edge up and down as he did it carefully as to not accidently get himself cut.
The young man silently sharpens his hunting knife as he did so with focus that lasted for a minute as he held the weapon up and checks its bladed side.
"good.." Bell said with a smile as he is proud of his work before he decided to give maintenance on his bow and arrows.
Bell checks the strappings and the string on the bow while Meteria came near him from the side of the house.
"Bell, it's dinner time." Meteria calls out to her son who stops his work to look at her smiling. "and also, Papa is home with guests."
"guests?" Bell asked confused as he blinks his eyes twice.
Bell left the back porch as he follows his mother who goes to the front side of their house and when he arrived at the front, he was bombarded with popping confetti from all side.
"SURPRISE!" A cheerful congratulatory cheer was shouted out in unison by many people as Bell staggers back with a surprised face from the sudden action, but he soon realized and smiled to who were giving him congratulatory wishes. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BELL!"
"Dad….everyone!" Bell cheerfully called out as he looks upon a group of 10 people who are smiling to him, his father being among them.
Meteria went to Bell as she holds up a white and blue birthday cake with a cute image of Bell along with the number 14 written in frosting.
"happy 14th birthday, Bell!" Meteria said with a smile as she held the cake near her son who looks at it for a moment before smiling even more because of the special birthday surprise.
Bell soon blows out the candle and got a round of applause by the guests who are his family members who came to celebrate his birthday.
Wooden tables were sorted at the front of the wooden cabin as there are deliciously warm cooked meals set upon them with many drinks that are alcoholic and non alcoholic.
"you're really growing up faster than we thought…" a guest of the party spoke out as he is a half elf man who looks identical with Zagreus but he has wildish white hair that reaches his shoulders, blueish white eyes, and slightly tanner skin. He wears a white shirt with a black and grey opened overcoat, and black jeans with military leather boots. This man is Helios and he's Zagreus' older twin brother.
Helios held up a glass of wine and his lips formed a small smirk.
"to think you grew up from the little boy who was so clingy to his parents." Helios said before he chuckles. "and always be happy when his Mama tells stories."
"U-Uncle Helios!" Bell cried out in embarrassment as the people around him gave laughs and chuckles to Helios' words.
"like you and Zagreus were any different, Helios?" another person in the group, a half elven woman with long brown hair that reached her back, her attire consists of a red and white zip opened leather jacket with black line markings around the back and arms, a red shirt underneath, grey tight jeans with a silver belt, and red heels. She also has some accessories that consists of several black and gold bracelets around her wrists, and red and black fingerless gloves upon her hands. This one is named Makaria and is another sibling of Zagreus. "I mean you two are currently clingy to your wives, right?"
"at least I try to be discreet about it." Helios replied with a smile before he turns towards Zagreus who is sipping a glass of water in silence. "unlike Zagreus who was incredibly clingy back to Meteria on their first date, right?"
"hey.." Zagreus let out a small growl and gives a hard silent glare at Helios who chuckles while shrugging his shoulders.
"now now, Zagreus." Meteria calls out to her husband as she went near and leans close to him. 'this is Bell's birthday. No fighting with Helios-san.' she smiles to him. "okay?"
Zagreus glance at Meteria for a moment before he sighs while closing his eyes.
"I'm seriously believing that your true talent is to be Zagreus wife and Bell's mother, Meteria." Makaria said with a smiling chuckle. 'you got him to calm down in just a second' She then glance to the side and smirks a bit. "why can't you do that with your own husband when he goes off, Alfia?"
"because it is an annoyance." a woman replied as she looks very identical with Meteria but the main difference is that she has she wears a goth dress and has heterochromia, her right eye is green while her left is grey. She also wears a jade pendant necklace and a white diamond encrusted silver wedding ring. Her name is as stated by Makaria as Alfia who is Meteria's twin sister. She held up a glass of wine and took a sip while closing her eyes that she opens a second later. "and besides, I can just knock him out with ease if he dares goes off without my permission."
"uwah… glad I'm not married to her." A man in the group whispers as he looks to be a man in his middle 20s, has long black sleek hair with long side cuts and a few lightning bolts like scars under his eyes, his attire is that of a white and yellow jumpsuit with several lightning bolt designs, he also wears silver and black gloves, and black boots of shoes. He is Ploutos, a brother to Zagreus, Helios, and Makaria. He looks to the side and looks a bit sympathetic. "you sure have it rough, Polemos."
"that's just how I like it." Another man spoke out as this one looks to be in the same age as Ploutos but he has spiky black hair, wears a black shirt and brownish black jeans, silverish grey overcoat, black heavy duty boots, bandages wrapped around his fist like gloves, a chain belt wrapped around his waist that acts to keep his shirt down, and a red ragged looking scarf wrapped around his neck. He is Polemos, another brother who is also the husband of Alfia. He smiles and holds up a mug of beer. "Meteria is a nice person, but I prefer Alfia who is way better."
"hey, you're being rude to your own sister in law." Makaria told Polemos with a deadpanned face as the man shrugs his shoulders before taking a sip of his beer but soon yelps in pain when his wife steps on his right shoe with the pointed back.
"ow! What was that for, Alfia?!" Polemos exclaimed to his wife as he turns and soon pales.
"apologize to her." Alfia stated with a very stern voice with a cold glare directed at her husband. "NOW"
"o-okay.." Polemos replied a bit weakly as it can be seen who is more dominant in the marriage. The man soon apologized to Meteria with a bow. "i-I'm sorry, Meteria. Please forgive me."
"it's fine, Polemos-san." Meteria said with a kind smile to the man before she looks with a huff to her twin sister. "geez! Onee-chan! You should stop doing that to Polemos-san! he's your husband now, right!? Don't you feel bad from doing that so much ever since you both got engaged!?"
"it's because he is my husband who tends to be too carefree in everything that I need to be stern in my actions on him." Alfia replied while closing her eyes and looking to the side. "also, he needs to fix his rude behavior and language if he is to be an uncle to your child, remember?"
"well that is important…" Meteria muttered out while thinking before she shakes her head and huffs a bit more. "but it's still bad!"
The two twin sisters begin to bicker with one another as the others stay back from it.
"great…" Helios whispers as he takes a sip of his wine and sighs before looking at Polemos. "thanks a lot to reviving the old bicker between those two, Polemos. You really outdone yourself this time."
"I was just saying that my wife is better than Zagreus'!" Polemos exclaimed before he yelps because he got a kick to the back by Zagreus who looks annoyed.
"mock my wife again and I'll assure you that you'll get more than a kick next time." Zagreus said with a growl.
"huh!?" Polemos growls in return as a vein mark appears around the side of his forehead.
"and those two are doing it now." Makaria said while facepalming as Zagreus and Polemos glared at one another. "why is bickering so common in siblings?"
Bickering came from two sides that were soon stopped by a loud clap by someone in the group.
"alright, that's enough, you four!" a voice called out as the bickering people turned towards a woman with red hair that reaches her neck, has a crimson left eye but her right eye is covered with an eyepatch, wears a white t-shirt, black jeans, knee high boots, black gloves, a necklace with a golden locket resting on her chest, and a ruby encrusted gold wedding ring that is worn over the gloved left ring finger. She sighs while shaking her head and having her hands on her waist then looks at the group who had bickered. "we came here to celebrate Bell's 14th birthday, right? So don't bicker to each other on his special day! Don't you feel bad to do this on his birthday!?"
The group looked at Hephaestus for a moment before to Bell who is with Makaria, the young boy looks a bit awkwardly nervous and scared because when he was still little, everyone always gets along and there was no bickering. Therefore he is a bit overwhelmed from the little scuffle of the family.
Seeing Bell's face made the people who were bickering instantly feel bad.
"sorry… Onee-chan." Meteria went first in apologizing to his sister who she bickered to. She frowns while looking down. "I was just trying to…"
"I know." Alfia replied while nodding her head once and showed a small sincere smile to her sister. "I'm still learning how to be his wife and I'm still learning how to hold back when dealing with his occasional rudeness. It's me who is supposed to be sorry."
"no, I'm sorry too." Meteria said as she went and hugged her sister who hugs her back.
Zagreus and Polemos looks at each other before away and sigh then shake their hands once. Both men not wanting to apologize with words, but instead with actions.
"you saved the birthday with your domineering maternal power yet again, Hephaestus." Said another red haired woman who is the only full elf while clapping hers hands a few times. "all hail the most mature person in the group."
"hey, that ain't a compliment for my wife, Melinoe." Helios said with a stern gaze at the elf who is a sister sibling of the family who goes by the name of Melinoe.
Melinoe is an elf with long scarlet red hair that reaches her back, her eyes are scarlet, wears a red and white jacket and jeans with a few metal guards around her arms and knees, along with black fingerless gloves and high heeled boots, her accessories consist of a red ruby earring on her right ear and a neatly wrapped red scarf around her neck.
"Will you two just stop?" Makaria said while patting Bell's head a few times. "we just stopped the bickering and we don't need more."
After the situation was dealt with, the birthday celebration continues for the birthday boy.
"ahem!" Helios coughs into a fist once as everyone looks at him. 'with today being Bell's birthday, I suppose we should give grace and cheers for he turned 14 and soon to be 15 in another year!' he raised a hand holding a glass of wine as everyone did the same. "so to Bell! cheers and happy birthday yet again!"
"happy birthday!" everyone cheered in unison before they drank their drinks in one go.
"alrighty! Let's get the presents out!" Ploutos exclaimed while placing down his empty mug of beer to a table.
"Thalia and Baku are way ahead of you, Ploutos-nii." Makaria said as two people in the group had left already in going to the wooden cabin before coming out 2 minutes later with a stack of wrapped up presents.
"first up is my present for I was the first in preparing it a month's ahead." Another person spoke out as she is a half elf with similar appearances to Makaria but she has short purple hair, wears a white shirt, blue jeans, white heels, and has silver armlets. She is Thalia, who is actually a triple sister of Makaria herself. She takes one of the carried out present and presented it to Bell. "for Bell's 14th birthday, I got him something I'm certain he'll like."
Bell takes the present and opens its wrapping to see that he got a story book.
"the Adventures of Argonaut!" Bell said with a big smile as the young man still has his love of stories even in his current age. He looks and show an excited yet thankful smile to Thalia. "how did you get it, Aunt Thalia!?"
"a secret." Thalia replied with a wink while placing a hand to her waist. "take good care of that book, Bell. it's one of the last few copies that is still in good shape."
"I will!" Bell said with a nod. "thank you so much, Aunt Thalia!"
Thalia nods before she turns and looks to the side as the person who carried the presents with her goes next.
"my present is next!" a big voice called out as the next person is a young man with short and nearly bald black hair, has a large and highly fit muscled body, wears a black and blue pattern tight shirt, blue shorts, and black boots. This big man is Baku who is actually Thalia's son and Bell's cousin. He held up a big present and presented it to the birthday boy. "well to be more correct, it's me and the other's turn. They couldn't come, but they got their presents and asked me to combine them with mine. so here you go, Bell! your VERY SPECIAL birthday presents!"
Bell checks how large the present as he slowly opens it while Baku still held it. he takes off the wrappings and soon sees it as a box that he opens.
"wow!" Bell looks wide eyes as he opened the present and reveals it to be a set of uniform and gears for hunting. There were even weapons like throwing knives and a dagger. "so cool~!"
"everyone picked the best of the best for your birthday!" Baku said with a big grin. "you like it?"
"I love it!" Bell said as he picks up the uniform which is an all black one piece suit that feels very smooth. He looks amazed at the gifts he received before he smiles at his cousin. "Thanks, Baku-san!"
"you're welcome!" Baku grins and laughs in return. "and just call me Baku! We're cousins and family, remember!?
Bell nods and smiles in reply before seeing Ploutos come by.
"guess it's my turn now!" Ploutos said as he went and picked up one present then goes to Bell. "here you go, Bell! a special present for a special boy!"
Bell takes the present from Ploutos and looks a bit surprised because it feels a bit heavy.
"What is this, Uncle Ploutos?" Bell asked while slowly opening the present.
"you got to open it to find out." Ploutos said with a grin
Bell looks curious to his uncle before he focused on opening the birthday present and soon made a noise of surprise and amazement because he sees that he received suitcase that has silverish white armor with red line markings stored within as a present.
"I got you a special set of light armor!" Ploutos said. 'I personally handcrafted themselves!' he then did a thumbs up. "With these bad boys, you'll be more protected when you go hunting for the big boys!"
"they're cool!" Bell said as he picks up the chest piece of the armor set and sees how smooth the surface is as it could even reflect his own face like a mirror. "so cool."
Ploutos grins with a snicker as he soon moves away to let Makaria to come next.
"the next present is from me." Makaria said as she picks up a present and hands it to Bell. "it's something you've been wanting ever since you were just a little boy."
"what is it?" Bell asks as he opens the next present and find it to be a book. "another book?"
"not just any ordinary book." Makaria said as she leans down a bit and taps a finger to its top. "this is a Grimoire, a magic book."
"a-a magic book!?" Bell said in surprise. "b-but isn't this like something mythical and expensive!?"
"mythical? yes, expensive? Not so much." Makaria replied with a smile. 'you always wished that you could do magic when you were little, remember?' she then taps the book a few more times. "I granted your wish by getting you this grimoire."
"but is it safe, Makaria?" Meteria called out to her sister in law with a worried looking expression. "I'm thankful that you got Bell something he wished for, but that is still a Grimoire and.."
"relax." Makaria stated with a smile while waving a hand up and down a bit carefreely. She turns and looks at Bell who is checking the book from all sides. 'the Grimoire I got for him only has a very simple magic that isn't very dangerous.' She looks back at Meteria. "besides, I got him this Grimoire with Zagreus' approval, after all."
"really?" Meteria asks while turning towards her husband who nodded in reply.
"h-how do I use this?" Bell asked a bit cautious to the grimoire as he looks scared of it.
"your father will help you with that and don't be scared of it." Makaria chuckles in seeing Bell's action. "it's just a magic book, it won't bite you."
"o-okay…" Bell replied with a hesitant nod towards the grimoire before he looks and a smiles a bit to Makaria. "thank you, Aunt Makaria."
"your welcome." Makaria nodded with a smile before making way for the next person in line to go and give Bell his present.
"it's my turn, huh?" Melinoe said as she went to Bell while carrying her present that she soon gives to the young boy. "here you go, Bell."
"thank you, Aunt Melinoe." Bell said as he receives the present and soon began to open it.
Bell opens Melinoe's present and finds it to be scarlet red dagger with black rune like markings engraved to its blade and is encased in a metal and glass casing.
"since you've been using Zagreus' old hunting knife that he had given to you for your 10th birthday. I believe it's time for something of your own usage." Melinoe said with a smile while crossing her arms under her chest as Bell opens the case and held the weapon up. "what I have for you is a special dagger made from the toughest materials and is specially blessed to stay sharp no matter what. its name is Sunset Edge. you can hit it against rock, and it won't lose its edge."
"do you think Bell would do that with a dagger?" Ploutos said in the background while having a deadpanned face.
"it looks sharp…" Bell said as he checks the blade of the scarlet dagger.
"it should be." Melinoe stated with a nod and a smile. 'be careful when using it, ok?' she then leans closed and whispered. "your father was really nagging at me when I told him I was getting you this dagger. So do your best to not get me in trouble, ok?"
Bell nods slowly as Melinoe leans away and rustles his hair with a smile before going away to let the next person come with their present
"Aunt Sotares.." Bell spoke out as the next person is another one of his aunts who is named Sotares.
Sotares is the last triplet sister of Makaria and Thalia, her facial appearance matches her sisters, but she has short purple hair, violet eyes, wears white and gray one pieced short dress that has white lines on top, gray jeans, and white heels. She also sports silver bracelets on her left wrist and wears a white headband on top of her head.
"I believe this will balance your present from Makaria." Sotares said in a small yet polite tone as she gave Bell her present.
Taking the present and opening it, Bell takes out a small box that has a glass case which seals a white and black bracelet that has three sapphire gems.
"this is?" Bell asked while looking at the item in curiosity.
"a Magic Item called True Sense." Sotares replied. "it's a magic item that helps you know if you have danger coming your way, and it'll also help point your way if you get lost. To be conclusive, it's a Protective Magic Item."
"ooohh.." Bell looks at the magic item encased in the box as he sees the gems shining for a moment. He then smiles and nods to Sotares. "thank you, Aunt Sotares."
Sotares nodded with a smile before making way for Polemos and Alfia who went for their turn together.
"this is our present." Alfia said as she gave her nephew a paper bag instead of a wrapped up box present.
Bell takes the paper bag and looks inside then made a slightly confused face because he reaches in and takes out a small purple pouch bag that has golden strings and markings.
"a pouch?" Bell checks it and looks inside to see nothing. He then looks at Alfia and Polemos. "um… this is?"
"that is your present." Polemos said with a smile while pointing at the pouch. 'but don't get offended. It's not an ordinary looking bag.' He takes the item and reaches a hand inside then pulls out a sword from out of nowhere. "it's a magic bag."
"how did you? But it's… that sword… I mean." Bell started to look very confused as his mind is processing the fact that his uncle pulled out a long sword from a very small pouch.
"this puch is called an Inventory Pouch." Alfia stated in explanation while Polemos slides the sword into the pouch where it disappeared into. "it's a magic item that allows the user to have a numerous of items stored within it. this will help you if you are out hunting and foraging food of any sort."
"we already stored up some stuff in there for you." Polemos said while handing back the pouch to Bell. 'spare weapons, food and medicine supplies, the whole set.' He then points a finger at the item. "it's very easy to use. You just reach in while thinking of the item you want to take out and it'll pull it out for you."
"wow…" Bell looks amazed at the small item that could do something he couldn't even believe with his own eyes.
"your father will tell you more of this item's capability." Alfia stated while closing her eyes. "do not lose it. this item is rare and very complicated to make."
"I got it." Bell said with a nod before he went and hugged Alfia with big smile. "thank you, Aunt Alfia!"
Alfia looks a bit surprised to the hug for a moment, but she soon smiles and strokes Bell's head a couple times before taking hold of his ear and pulls it.
"do not call me aunt." Alfia said with a stern voice as she is a person who is very sensitive about her age.
"o-okay! Sorry, Aunt Alfia!" Bell cried out a bit in pain and soon cries even more when Alfia pulled his ear even harder when he called her by 'Aunt' again.
"hey, Alfia. Stop that." Polemos said while stopping Alfia from pulling their nephew's ear too strong. "he calls you Aunt because you are his aunt, right? Give him a break, will ya?"
"I'm still in my early 30s and should not be called an aunt by my own nephew." Alfia said with a huff as she closed her eyes and looks away while crossing her arms under her chest. "if anything, I should be called by my name and with formality of -san. being called an aunt is just too much of an annoyance."
"even after getting married at 18 and becoming 31, she's still so sensitive about her age and stuff, huh?" Helios said with an amused smirk while Zagreus closed his eyes and tilts his head down while shaking it side to side.
While Polemos takes away Alfia to tell her to accept being called an aunt by her own nephew, Helios and Hephaestus went on next to give Bell their present.
"our present is something we've been meaning to give on the day of your birth." Helios said as he holds a small rectangular present box that he handed to Bell. "but Zagreus insisted that you should have it on your 14th or 15th birthday."
Bell opens the wrappings and checks out the present from the two as it is a small metal case that he opened, and his eyes widen a bit to see that inside and resting in small leather clothing is a gold and silver medallion with 8 colored gems that are formed in an octagon symbol with a flaming skeleton carved marking in the middle.
"this is?" Bell asked as he takes and held up the medallion to look at it more closer before turning towards Helios and Hephaestus in confusion. "this Medallion is?"
"it's a protective charm." Helios replied while waving a hand to the side and smiling. "and also a special item for a special place."
"a special item for a special place?" Bell spoke out very confused. "What does that mean?"
"you'll know more after your father and mother gives you their present." Hephaestus replied with a smile while patting Bell's head a few times.
Bell looks very curious as he could tell that the medallion was something very important.
After the guests had given their presents to Bell, it was finally Zagreus and Meteria's turn as the two parents stood before their son together.
"Bell, happy 14th birthday." Meteria said with a loving smile to her child. She went and leaned down to give a peck on his forehead before caressing his cheeks. "for this birthday, Mama and Papa got you something very special."
Bell blinks his eyes twice as he looks at his mother who smiles before she turns and receives something from Zagreus that she soon presented to him.
"Here." Meteria said as she held a bronze oval locket that has two black and white gems in the shape of a raven and a dove. She then went and put it on her son's neck. "this is your special birthday present."
"this is…?" Bell looks at the locket as he holds it up and pressed a switch on top that opens the lid to reveal a hidden compartment. "isn't this?"
"this is Mama and Papa's special present." Meteria said with a smile as Bell looks at the inside of the locket that shows a photo of the young boy's parents together with him when he was still an infant along with the rest of their family members together in a big group photo in some sort of big mansion. "a locket to commemorate the day of your birth, and a locket that shows Mama and Papa's gratitude for you."
"gratitude… for me?" Bell spoke out in confusion. "gratitude for?"
"for being our son." Meteria replied with a smile as she went and gently hugs her son close. 'Mama and Papa have never been more grateful to the world when we had you as our little boy. You gave us happiness on the day of your birth, and you made us proud to how you grow up.' She caresses his son's head and strokes his back a few times. "you filled our lives with happiness and joy every day. that is why we are grateful to you, Bell. our precious little boy."
"mom…" Bell looks a bit surprised to his mother's words as he looks at her before to his father who just nods with a small smile on his lips. He soon smiles back and nods before hugging back his mother. "Thank you, Mom."
Meteria soon separates from Bell and let Zagreus come to give his own hug to their son that only lasted a few seconds.
"with this, everyone has given their presents." Helios said while crossing his arms on his chest as he looks at the others before to Zagreus. "how about we begin with the last present, Zagreus?"
"yes." Zagreus nods to his twin before he looks at Bell who had blinked three times after hearing what Helios had spoke then turns to the black haired half elf with a confused expression.
"Bell, we have something to tell you that you deserve to learn now that you are 14 of age." Zagreus said as he held up a hand to the side. "it is something that we… no, I have been keeping from you for years."
"eh?" Bell blinks twice and looks confused after seeing that it was a serious kind of a talk.
Everyone soon sat together around a table as Bell sat in between his mother and father while looking very confused of the situation.
"Bell, have you ever heard of Orario before?" Helios spoke out first as Bell made a noise and soon nods.
"I have… Mom once told me a story of the city when I was little." Bell replied while glancing at his mother before to his father's twin. "it's the city in the story of the 8 Kaisers, right?"
"yes, it is." Helios said with a nod. "and do you know anything else of the city?"
"w-well…" Bell mumbled a bit as he cups his chin and looks down in thinking. 'the stories said that Orario is the City that is in the center of the world and is called the Labyrinth City because of it having the Dungeon.' his mind began to vision a city somewhere in the world. "a strange and very complex labyrinth that had once appeared thousands of years ago but was sealed underground by the heroes of the past who received blessings from the gods."
"very good." Helios nodded. "you know anything else than that?"
"umm….it's the city where various races from around the world gathered to become adventurers." Bell stated with a finger pointed out. "Mom once told me a story about races of Elves like Aunt Melinoe, Dwarves, pallums, beastmen, and many more just coming to Orario to become adventurers who explore the Dungeon and conquer it."
"You sure didn't skip the important details, huh?" Hephaestus said to Meteria who smiles while patting her son's head a few times.
"umm… what does talking about Orario have anything to do with this?" Bell asked as he looks confused. "I mean, it's a city of adventurers and heroes, right? Just that?"
"not just that." Baku stated with an arm placed on the table. "Orario is real and you were born there, Bell."
"e-eh?!" Bell looks confused as his jaw dropped.
"that's true, Bell." Meteria said while looking at her son. "you were born back at Orario."
"b-but if I was born there… why am i?" Bell spoke as he wonders the reason why he was brought away from his birthplace.
"it was because Orario was under war at the time." Zagreus stated out as Bell looks at his father who spoke out. the half elf man looking a bit serious to his son. 'back then, there was an ongoing war between Orario and Rakia.' He then glance away. "I'm sure Meteria have told you of that country before, right?"
Bell looks at his father before he gulps and slowly nods his head.
"R-Rakia is the place where… vicious soldiers wielding powerful magic swords would go and cause destruction upon the world." Bell said as he recalled the story of the kingdom, his mind imagining the land burning and chaos everywhere caused by soldiers marching from a kingdom with a tyrant king. "the stories said that they were close to conquering the world when.."
"When the Kaisers of Orario appeared and stopped their conquest." Alfia said with her eyes closed and her arms folded on her lap. "Rakia tried to invade Orario years ago but was utterly destroyed by the Kaisers."
"eh?" Bell looks confused as he looks to his mother. "but Mom, you said that Rakia's forces were destroyed by heroes from Orario."
"I did" Meteria nods. "but those heroes are the Kaisers, Bell."
Bell blinks his eyes twice and becomes more confused.
"I believe he'll understand when we reveal who we really are." Sotares stated as she looks at the others. "don't you agree?"
"I guess we don't got a choice there." Polemos said while Ploutos shrugs his shoulders.
"Bell. What would you say if we were to tell you that those Kaisers are real, and you're related to their descendants who are around you?" Melinoe asked with a raised eyebrow as Bell looks at her confused for a moment before his eyes soon widens and his jaw dropped.
"EEEHHH~?!" Bell let out a confused and surprised shriek as everyone around him looks calm cause they look like they had anticipated an obvious reaction from him.
"w-w-w-w-w-w-what do you mean!? I-i-i-I'm related to the Kaisers!?" Bell stuttered out like crazy. "a-and I'm a descendant!? Or wait! You're their descendant who are related to them!? Eh!? Ah?! Uh?! Ah!?"
Bell began to freak out as his mind begin to go for a rollercoaster while his eyes were swirling and spinning because he couldn't comprehend on what was going on.
"I knew that it was going to be like this…" Ploutos said with a sweatdrop to see the steam flying off Bell's head. "but it must be a real shocker, huh?"
"any normal people would have the same reaction if they were told that a story was real and he's related to descendants of heroes." Hephaestus said in an obvious tone.
Meteria calmed Bell down as it took a minute but the young boy was calm enough to continue listening to what his family members are saying.
"this may sound like a lie, but the 8 Kaisers from the stories? They are real and you're a descendant of one of them." Helios stated while waving a hand to the side before he points a finger around the people. 'everyone here besides Meteria, Alfia, and Hephaestus are direct descendants of those 8 Kaisers.' He then points at you. "that also includes you since your father; Zagreus is also a Kaiser's descendant."
"r-really!?" Bell said to Helios before he looks at his father who merely nodded in reply.
"and just like with the story you've read and heard." Melinoe stated while folding her arms on the table. "we, the descendants of the Kaisers have duties to accomplish from our ancestors."
"Duties?" Bell asked.
"you must've heard of what the original 8 Kaisers did after they defeated the dark entity in the story, right?" Baku asked as Bell nods.
"then it's shouldn't be such a surprise if we, their direct descendants have the same job as they had those centuries ago." Thalia added in.
"w-would that mean…" Bell mutters as he looks at his uncles and aunts.
"I, Zagreus, Melinoe, Polemos, Ploutos, Makaria, Thalia, and Sotares. The 8 of us are the current Kaisers of Orario." Helios stated as the 8 mention individuals look at Bell with a rather serious gaze. "we're the Kaisers of the current era."
Bell blinks his eyes three times before his head wobbles around and he fell back but was caught by Zagreus who sees that his son had fainted.
"I think we overloaded his mind." Baku said in seeing his cousin having fainted.
"you think?" Hephaestus stated as Zagreus held up Bell and let Meteria hold him.
"I guess we should've just used a magic spell to reveal the truth to him." Makaria said while waving a finger that is glowing white. "made it more easier for him and us."
"shouldn't you have mentioned that from the start?" Ploutos said with a sweatdrop.
The day goes on into the midnight as the entire forest became quiet.
In the wooden cabin, Bell is found asleep on his bed as he stirs for a moment before he opens his eyes and looks at the ceiling of his bedroom.
"wha?" Bell mumbled out as he looks a bit in a daze.
"you've awoken?" Zagreus' voice called out to Bell who turns to see his father standing near the bed and is looking down at him.
"dad? what?" Bell muttered out as he sat up. "what happened?"
"you've fainted after learning that you're a descendant of the 8 Kaisers." Zagreus said as he walked to a table and filled up a wooden cup with water from a jug. 'afterwards we brought you to your room and waited for you to wake up. But it was almost night and I had your mother and the others rest while I wait for you to wake up.' He came back and handed it to his son. "are you still aware of what we had told you before you fainted?"
"i-I guess so.." Bell replied as he takes the cup of water and looks at it. 'it's just so… so surprising that I'm actually related to legendary heroes from stories..' he then turns to look at his father. "why did you never tell me about this, dad?"
Zagreus remains silent for a moment before he sighs and close his eyes while tilting his head down a bit.
"it was because of my own decision." Zagreus stated as he slowly opens his eyes a bit. "it's true that you and I have the lineage as the Kaiser's descendants, but I have revoked my lineage years ago."
"Revoked?" Bell asked while blinking his eyes twice.
"myself and my twin brother, your uncle; Helios are descendants of the Kaiser who became a King in the past." Zagreus said while closing his eyes and tilts his head a bit. "to be correct, we are of nobility and Helios is Orario's current King."
"eh?" Bell blinks his eyes three times before his jaw dropped while his mind imagines his uncle as a king wearing royalty-like outfit. "EEEHHH!? U-U-Uncle Helios is a King!? R-r-r-really!?"
"it is the truth, Bell." Zagreus stated as he crosses his arms. "Helios is Orario's Current King and I was a former candidate to become one as well."
"b-but that means… I'm also…" Bell muttered out before having a confused expression. "wait a minute, you said that you revoked your lineage and that you were once a candidate to become Orario's King, right?"
"that is correct" Zagreus said with a nod while opening his eyes to look at his son.
"if you could've become king then….why are you?" Bell spoke out as Zagreus glance to the side once before he close his eyes and sigh.
"it's not I could've become King, Bell." Zagreus stated. "It's that I didn't desire to be one."
"eh?" Bell made a confused noise as he looks at his father who takes a few steps to the side and went near the opened window.
"being a King would be mean leading and protecting the citizens from outside harm. It's a task that requires someone's entire being to be sacrificed for the sake of others." Zagreus stated as he looks to the moon in the night sky. 'I had prepared myself to become a King, but on the day of the coronation of when the next King would be chosen' He then turns to glance at Bell. "I had decided to leave instead."
"eh? But why?" Bell asks. "was it because of something important happened that suddenly caused you to leave your choice to become king?"
"not quite." Zagreus said while shaking his head lightly as he turns to look back to the moon outside. "it was because I found a new and more meaningful reason than becoming king."
"new meaningful reason?" Bell muttered out before he made a noise and looks at his father. "is it….Mom?"
Zagreus nods in reply as he closed his eyes and had a flashback of himself meeting Meteria at a fountain in a city, the young woman was smiling all happily with the half elf who had a happy smile in return.
"if I had become King, I would've never been able to be with her nor would we both would ever had you." Zagreus said as he slowly opens his eyes that has nostalgia filled within. 'I have done many things in my life but leaving my chance to become king so that I could be with the woman I love with all my heart?' a chuckle came from the half elf whose lips soon forms a smile. "it was a decision that I'm so grateful to have taken."
Bell looks at his father and was a bit surprised from seeing a certain level of happiness that he has never seen before.
Zagreus stays looking out the window before he closed his eyes for a moment and then opens them when he turns to look upon his son.
"the reason why you were brought here after your birth in Orario was because It was to raise you in a safe and peaceful environment." Zagreus stated as he turns and walks around the room slowly. 'just a week after the day of your birth, Rakia had tried to invade Orario and caused a war. I took you and your mother here to keep you safe.' He went near a table and looks upon the many small photo frames of his son when he was still little. "but just after we finished the war, there was another war that occurred within Orario. A coup occurred and caused so much chaos that I decided to keep you and your mother here until I was sure that there won't be anymore danger." He then turns around to look at Bell. "and now, after 8 years. Orario is now safe and prospering."
Bell blinks his eyes as he watches his father who came near and stands beside the bed.
"Bell, it has been decided that I am to return to Orario to give aid to the city and therefore I won't be able to return here like I always do." Zagreus said as he squinted his gaze a bit. 'my brothers and sisters need my help to keep the peace and tranquility of the city. there are still scars left from the war that needs to be healed.' He turns and takes a nearby chair that he placed near the bed to sit down while closing his eyes. "i along with Helios and the others have told Meteria of the situation and she understands the reasons and my choice of action. Now I'm telling you this to ask of you if you wish to join me or not?"
"eh?" Bell made a surprise noise before looking confused. "join… you?"
"yes." Zagreus nods. 'if you wish to join me in coming to Orario, I will allow it as you will become an adventurer who will be trained into a warrior worthy to be called a Kaiser while expecting danger of any kind to come to you. but if you do not wish for it; I will ask you to stay here and look after your mother in my stead.' He then crosses his arms. "depending on your decision, the rest of your livelihood will change for you can only choose one path and you cannot retake it."
"W-Wait a minute, dad!" Bell cried out while waving his hands around. "this is too sudden! I'm just!"
"I know, and I wished I told you this earlier, Bell." Zagreus stated as he closed his eyes and turns his head to the side. 'but I don't have the leisure to do so.' he opens his eyes and get off the chair while looking down at Bell. "Bell, I will give you a week to choose your decision. If you do not have an answer by that time, i and the rest of my siblings will leave for Orario and you will have to stay here and take care of your mother in my stead, understand?"
"w-wait! Dad!" Bell cried out as Zagreus turns and walks towards the door.
"Consult with your mother if you wish to." Zagreus stated as he slowly opens the door before turning to look at his son. "your decision lies an impact upon her livelihood as well."
Zagreus leaves his son's room as he closed the door with a shut.
Bell remains on his bed as he looks bewildered and baffled by the two choices that his father left just a few hours after his birthday.
"I have to… choose?" Bell said as he looks down and have a complicated expression on his face.
While Bell remains in his room, deciding what choice he will make, Zagreus went to the back of his home as he goes to the back porch where he finds Helios sitting by as he is drinking a glass of wine.
"well?" Helios asked with a glance to his twin. "did he decide yet?"
"I gave him a time of a week to choose what path he wished to take." Zagreus stated as he went and sat beside his brother then hunches a bit back so that he could gaze at the moon in the night sky. "right now, he's still pondering of which choice to take."
"you really intend to make him take the second choice, don't you?" Helios said with a smile to his brother before he turns and takes a sip of his drink then sighs. "it's bad, you know? pressuring your own son to make a choice that will change his life."
"I do this to prevent what happened back then from happening again." Zagreus replied as he looks at the moon with his eyes just hardening in its gaze. His mind showing a flashback of a city under siege from within as he sees himself bloodied and looking enraged while wielding a bloodied and dark demonic sword against an army, the half elf faces them while protecting Meteria who is behind him and is cradling a crying child in her arms. 'never again..' he then glance at his brother. "you of all people should understand the reason for my actions. That war caused so much damage that I can't bear letting Meteria raise our child there. They won't survive at all."
Helios glanced at Zagreus for a moment before he sighs and sips his drink yet again.
"just know that those of our lineage tend to go beyond our expectations, Zagreus." Helios said as he place his emptied glass to his side before refilling with a bottle of wine beside him. 'you placed a bet upon yourself in thinking what Bell's decision would be.' He takes the glass and held it to his face so that he could see his own reflection. "I placed a bet of what Bell's decision won't be. Would that be fair for you?"
Zagreus stays silent for a moment before he closes his eyes and stands up from the porch.
"see yourself to your room for the night, Helios." Zagreus stated as he turns and began to walk back into his home. "it's almost time for the next season to come."
Zagreus left Helios in his place as he entered his home and planning to rest for the night.
Helios smiles as he twirls his glass of wine that he soon drinks dry in one gulp. He held up the empty glass and hold it towards the moon.
"I'm going to miss coming here.." Helios said with a sigh before he placed down the glass of wine to the side and gets up to go back into the house.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye