Family Revelations
"Well…he is certainly full of surprises. From being save by a fellow Heroic Spirit to being able to summon a Caster that just so happens to be a relative of his." Atalanta muttered as she couldn’t not deny the striking similarities Caster had with her Master.
For one thing, having Bell as her master just brought one interesting thing after another. Not to mention the fact that he’s technically not human anymore based on what she saw of his Status.
Her master still needs to tell them the full story of what happened. Once she has the full story, she can decide where to go from there. Right now though, She will deal with the newly summoned Servant.
"To think I see this place again." Caster mutter as she looked around the broken down church with a sense of nostalgic. Her eyes appeared closed but Bell could feel that she saw just fine.
"I feared the day you would take up arms and become an Adventurer. I do remember telling Zeus to raise you as a farmer. But it appears that I couldn’t even trust him with the briefest of tasks.” Caster mumble angrily drawing the confusions of everyone present.
"I'm sorry, but what? Who are you? And why do you call me your nephew?" Bell asked, disbelief and confusion intertwine on his face while Hestia and Atalanta showed looks of wanting to know too. Caster sighed, her stoic expression being replaced with a sad smile.
"I’m not surprise he didn’t tell you about me. Not after the things I’ve done. Well, I’ll be blunt with you, I am your aunt, Alfia.” That revelation sent shocks through Bell’s entire body. His eyes honed in on Alfia. Hestia eyes widened while the huntress raised an eyebrow.
Archer felt a sudden drop in the atmosphere as her eyes look toward to her master. She couldn’t see his eyes, as they were overshadowed by his hair. If by all accounts, something happens, and that’s a big if, she would jump in and deal with the situation accordingly.
Meanwhile, for Bell, he did not know how to properly react to it….anger, confusion, shock, happiness, and a deep sense of sadness.
Those were the main emotions he was currently experiencing. It wasn’t just one at a time, no, all those emotions were colliding with each other. If one were to see it, it would be described as the emotions colliding and crashing together like stars. Eventually, Bell had a moment to ask one question before he was sucked back into his void of emotions.
“You’re my aunt?” His voice was devoid of any emotion that it sent shivers down Hestia’s spine.
The eight days he spent living with her, Hestia has seen Bell with happiness, excitement, anger, and determination. His happiness and gratitude for being accepted into her Familia. Excitement when he traversed into the dungeon and coming home to tell her of his adventures, anger when he gets injured or ridicule by fellow adventurers for looking like a rabbit. Finally, determination, it is his most defining part of his personality.
Her first child wants to be a hero, and she would support that desire with all her might. He was so determined that Hestia believe that there was nothing in the world that could shake that foundation. But hearing Bell speak with such a cold tone just made her want to cry.
”Yes, look I don’t expect you to-“ Before Alfia could continue, Bell rushed to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his head into her chest. Alfia, feeling something swell in her, instinctively wrapped her arms around his shaking frame.
The two fell to their knees, with Bell’s muffled cries being heard while Alfia gently rubbed his hair with her see-through glove. “I know Bell…I’m sorry…I am so sorry…I should chosen to raise you instead. I’m sorry.” Alfia kept repeating her words like a mantra.
Hestia, feeling that she was intruding on a very personal scene, glances toward Archer and whispered.
“I think we should leave these two alone for now. It would be best for the two of us to come up with a plan for the future. With you around, Bell won’t have to head into the dungeon by himself.” Having a legitimate reason to leave, the female spirit left with Hestia. They would need to sit down and discuss what to do while they let the two have their moment.
One Hour Later
Hestia and Archer both looked to door upon hearing the handle move. Bell came in first, his eyes puffy and red from crying. Close by was Alfia, her hand interwind with Bell’s as they took a seat from across Hestia and Archer. The green huntress could not see it, but to Hestia it looked like something seemed to snap in place between the two.
‘Most likely a Family Bond was born between the two. That’s good, now I’ll tell Bell what Atalanta and I came up with and see if he has any inputs to add.’ Hestia thought as she clapped her hands.
“Hello Caster. Is that okay to call you or would you like to be called Alfia instead?” Hestia asked. “Alfia when we are alone goddess, but out in public called me by my title.” Hestia nods at that before taking a deep breath and gazed at the spirit with her aquarium eyes.
”Alright then, Alfia, now I know you have some questions. But first, I want to know something about you. As you can see, I’m fairly new at this and I don’t know your relation to my brother. So can you please tell me how you know Zeus, and why you said you couldn’t trust him.” Hestia asked.
She needed to know as Hestia actually did not know much of what her brother did since his descent. She never watched him from Tenkai, which was mostly her being lazy and enjoying being cooped up in her room.
Eventually, Hestia chose to descend from Tenkai to the human world because, like other gods, she wanted to experience life in the lower world, seeking new challenges, adventures, and to eventually form a Familia by gathering them among the different races of Genkai.
Hestia was one of the few remaining gods to leave her home and descend towards the lower world. Did she ever regret her decision? No, she hasn’t once regretted her choice to leave the world above.
She has seen and experienced many things ever since her descent, and yet still feels like she has not see everything the world has to offer.
”I am a former member of the Hera Familia. I was a Level 7 adventurer and was known by my title as “Silence” even though I hated that nickname.” Upon hearing his aunt, Bell eyes were filled with stars, a smile gracing his face. To hear that his aunt was a Level 7 adventurer and was part of the legendary Hera Familia.
Alfia noticed this and showed a wryly smile before rubbing his hair. “Don’t look at me like that. Anyway, back in my time the Zeus and Hera Familia’s were renowned for their strength, and we were known as Orario’s strongest Familia’s.” As Alfia spun her tale, three pairs of eyes stayed on her the entire time.
As they listened to her story, Bell and Hestia responded quite fiercely when Alfia told them of how the remnants were banished from Orario for failing to save the world after their destruction at the hands of the One Eye Black Dragon. Archer didn’t show frustration, but if you looked closely you could have seen her hand grip her arms tightly.
Bell gritted his teeth at that and was tempted to punch something, but one look from his aunt and Bell took a deep breath and let the anger flow out of his system. He said sorry and motion for Alfia to continue with her story. Bell thought it couldn’t have gotten worse than that, but he was wrong.
Upon hearing that she willingly chose to join up with Evilus. Her reasons being that she and Zald were already dying from their own illnesses and decided that they wanted to do something with the remaining time they had left alive to prepare the upcoming heroes of Orario for the inevitable threat of the OEBD. She also chose to leave Bell with Zeus and raise him in a small village far out in the countryside away from everything.
It was rather shocking to hear that his grandpa was Zeus all along, but then it brought to light many key aspect as Bell remember him as a perverted old man who tried to have him peep on some of the villagers when they took a dip in the villages hot springs.
They were the few survivors of the Zeus and Hera Familia and they saw how despite the immense power their Familias had, they were utterly helpless against the power of the OEBD.
The main purpose for them joining Evilus was solely to bolster the power of the upcoming adventurers in Orario. From the very beginning Zald and her both knew that they would be defeated by their successors and they wanted to do what they could to make the next batch of heroes stronger for the trials to come. But that was not their only motivation.
For Alfia especially she wanted to create a world and an Orario filled with adventurers capable of stopping the OEBD and bringing peace to the world so that her nephew Bell could live peaceful and happy life.
They had hoped that the new heroes could succeed where Zeus and Hera failed, so that Bell can live a happy life. Alfia did admit that her and Zald were somewhat disillusioned by the power the Gods and their Falna gave since the Zeus and Hera Familias were the strongest in their generation and yet they still lost to the OEBD.
Once Alfia was done with her tale, silence had gripped the three leaving Alfia in total silence. Now, she preferred silence, but she didn’t like this type of silence. Just as things became too silent for her, Bell moved his hands onto her shoulders which drew her attention to him.
”Auntie, you don’t have to worry. I know when you chose to side with them, you just wanted what was best for me.” Bell started off, Alfia nodding her head as she grasps Bell’s hands with her own. Meanwhile, Hestia smiled while Archer raised an eyebrow. They had a faint idea of what Bell is going to say.
”But I plan to become a hero. I want to become a hero, someone who saves others with a smile on their faces. Someone that others could count on in their time of need. I want to save as many people as I can. I know I can’t save everyone, but I can try. Even if others may call me a fool or naïve, I won’t falter. If being hero means that I am a fool then I welcome it!!” Bell yelled, his eyes shining as bright as the sun. The boy’s determination filling his very being as he felt his back lit up with warmth.
Alfia could see no that there was not hesitation in his heterochromic eyes. Bell Cranel’s desires to be a hero reflects his childhood dream of being like the heroic figures he read about in books. He is fueled by the desire to protect others, wanting to be strong enough to face any danger.
She looked down and chuckled, he truly was Meteria and Arlecchino child. He embodies her sister’s kindness and Arlecchino’s strong desire for greatness.
‘If my nephew’s dream is to become a hero, then all I can do is support him. Besides, I’m nothing more than a ghost now.’ Alfia thought. While she did not like it, it was his dream and who was the ghost of the past allowed to judge him. That doesn’t mean she will make it easy on the boy. Oh no, she will show why she was so feared back in the day, even capable of showing fear to the only Level 8 and Level 9.
”Okay, Bell, I understand. To help you achieve that dream I will train you. You might come to hate me as your body could break." Bell eyes turn big when he heard that. Hestia could not stop themselves from chuckling at the regret appearing on the rabbit’s face. For Archer, she merely shook her head with a smile on her face.
"You might want to give up halfway, but that won't stop me. You asked to be soft but I won't compromise, as I wouldn’t be able to face your mother again with a straight face when I meet her again." Bell couldn’t help but sighed as he accepted his fate. He made that bold decision and now must accept the responsibility that comes with it.
"Really now…" Hestia sighed as she glanced over at Archer before looking at Bell and Alfia.
"I can already tell this one is going to be a handful."
(XXX)
With the contract finished, the four of them settled around the underground room where Hestia presented them with Potato Puffs that were given to her as leftovers from the food stand that she worked at while telling Atalanta a bit more about the world's history.
"What are these things…?" Alfia asked from her seat on the couch as she picked one up and sniffed it.
"Jagamaru-kuns!" Hestia explained as she sat down next to Bell on the bed. "They're very popular in town. Everyone in the city knows about them. I think they were introduced a couple years after the Dark Age ended, from what I’ve been told of course.”
"They’re quite delicious." Atalanta said as she ate standing by the wall, while Caster ate next to Bell.
Alfia didn't say anything as she looked at Archer for a minute before taking a bite and chewed it slowly before swallowing. Her eyes opened slightly before taking another bite.
"It is quite delicious, I expect as such from the Goddess of the Hearth." She muttered as she finished and reached for another one. “Might be better than whatever I had during my time with Hera.” Alfia said, making Bell smile.
"They're great aren't they?" Hestia asked as she puffed out her chest. Alfia merely smiled at her antics and shifted the topic.
“Tell me, is the goddess Ishtar still around?" Alfia asked. Immediately gaining the attention of Bell and Hestia.
"Ah…her…" Hestia muttered, her cheeks turning a bit red at the topic of a goddess of love when she herself was known as a virgin goddess.
"Yeah, she's around. She runs most of Orario's…naughty places.”’ At Hestia's words Alfia’s face twisted into a scowl as if she had heard ate something vile.
"Mhm" Alfia hummed before taking a violent bite into her potato puff.
Bell looked at Alfia in worry before glancing at Archer who shrugged her shoulders, telling the young Master not to ask about it as Caster look bothered by it.
"You okay, Alfia?" Hestia asked.
"I’ll be okay.” Alfia said softly. “For the time being, I’ll play this waiting game." Alfia smirked, cracking her hands. She looked towards Hestia who started shaking in anticipation.
"T-Then…?" Hestia asked with eyes full of hope.
"Goddess Hestia," Alfia said as she stood up. "I will grace your Familia with all of my skills and knowledge. I will help your Familia rise from the bottom all the way to the top.”
"Hurray!" Hestia shouted as she jumped to her feet.
"However," Alfia cut in before Hestia could do anything else. "My nephew does not yet have the experience to command me in battle yet." She gestured toward Bell with her finger.
"Bell may had summon me, but I do not trust him with the full extent of my power. Until he is properly trained, I will help lead this Familia for the time being." Alfia said. While she trusted Bell and could feel a maternal instinct that yelled at her to protect him at all cost, he can’t lead yet her or the mysterious Archer woman yet.
"So you will be the Familia Captain then?" Bell asked. "That's fine with me. As you said, I don't really know how to lead people yet and since you're more experienced than me I bet you can perform much better than I can." However, Bell’s response made Alfia make a “tch” noise before glaring at Bell.
"My dear nephew, just because I am leading this Familia for the time, does not mean I will let you grow lazy in your own abilities. From time to time, I will teach you how one leads." Alfia said, frowning at him. She took a deep breath before putting her hands on her hips, still looking at Bell.
"Based on what little information I have been given, you are human, you exist in this world without requiring an anchor. We…" She gestured toward Archer and herself. "…are Servants. Our time here is fleeting. By nature we are unable to make any true lasting change to this world. All of that would be up to you." Alfia made it clear to Bell just how this situation would go.
Herself and the Archer woman are merely Servants. Which is something that Alfia needs to address as well. Her entire life was spent getting stronger, so that she could better protect her twin sister. She never considered herself a hero, but did possess the hope of meeting one. Well, it would like she got her wish as the emerald head with cat ears and a tail was actually a ‘hero’ herself.
When Alfia stared at her for that single minute, only one thought swam through her head. ‘She is stronger than me then.’ Alfia wasn’t a Level 7 for nothing, she can feel when someone is either stronger than her or weaker than her. Based on her title, Archer is a woman who wields a bow. That much is obvious, and she wondered who would come out on top if they were to face each other. She subconsciously believed that Archer would come out on top, but Alfia rarely listens to her subconscious.
Despite wanting to know though, she knew that their time has long since passed and it is time for the new generation to take over. Alfia wanted Bell to surpass them in every way and correct their mistake. That is Alfia’s goal for Bell.
"Yes!" Bell nodded as he stood up straight. "I won't let you down, Auntie!" Bell declares with a smile that warms Alfia’s heart.
"I know you won’t." Alfia said as she leaned back into her seat while Bell looked excited at being given a task by his aunt. He doesn’t want to disappoint her.
"Do you want to receive my Falna now, after dinner or tomorrow morning before I leave for work?" Hestia asked Alfia as she sat back down on the bed.
"After we finish dinner, Goddess." She replied simply. "Despite dinner being somewhat good, I doubt it is healthy to eat this snack multiple days in a row.”
"I'm sure we'll be able to do something about it with the valis we earned from today’s earnings." Archer spoke up for the first time. "Do you have something else in mind?” Archer asked Caster.
"Yes," Alfia said. "If I am to lead this Familia with my skills, then it is only right we eat food that is healthy. Bell?" Alfia turn to Bell.
"Yes?" Bell reacted to the call, snapping out of…whatever was going on in his head.
"In the future, I will ask for you to help me visit the Hera Familia Home and acquire the last of our savings. Since I was the last executive left after our defeat, I was left with the key to our entire treasury.
"Oh? Nice, I get to see a home where legends once lived." Bell said as stars practically grew in his eyes. Seeing this made Alfia shake her as she smiled at his cuteness.
"Worst case, we will be forced to endure these snacks for a few more days." Alfia mumbled before turning back to group.
“Tomorrow, there are more some things to handle first."
"Yes…registration and orientation at the Guild may take a while too…" Bell said. "Bummer, I wanted to see just how amazing the two of you can be." This made Alfia chuckle.
"I’m afraid you’ll be waiting for a long time.” The silver head woman said. "There aren’t many things in the dungeon that require me to show off my full power."
Archer hum at the sentence. Caster was the most ‘experienced’ member having been down all the way to the 85 Floor. For now, she will follow what Alfia says until their master has grown up. Though she did wonder who was stronger between the two of them. Meanwhile, Bell just looked even more eager at the promise of strength from his aunt.
"Tomorrow, the three of you should go to the guild and get Atalanta and Alfia registered. Of course you still need me to give you the blessing.” Hestia said, looking at Alfia.
"Before sitting through Orientation, I think it would be best for Bell to bye some hair dye products. Based on what you told me, Alfia, I think it would be best to change your looks."
Hearing this, Alfia couldn’t disagree with it as if anyone saw her, then all of Orario would attack her. She had doubts they would be able to hurt her, but they would set their sights on Bell instead and she could not allow that to ever happen.
"I wouldn't mind accompanying Master." Archer said. "Along the way, we should see what we have to work with in terms of getting better food.”
"Can you cook, Atalanta?" Bell asked.
"I may have dabbled once or twice," Atalanta admitted. "At the very least, I can provide more dishes than just potato puffs. Not that they were not nice Goddess Hestia, but I agree with Caster when she says that you and Bell shouldn't relay on only potatoes."
"Just us?" Hestia asked. "What about you two?"
"Servants do not need to eat or sleep to survive." The huntress explained. "We can subsist solely though the connection between our Master and the grail. It does help with morale though." This made Alfia secretly happy. Despite no longer needing to eat it still would help her mood if she had different dishes every now and then.
"Come to think of it, how many more Servants do you plan on summoning?" Alfia asked, her gaze looking at Bell.
"Well…I don't think I'll try summoning any more until my Magic grows a bit.” Bell said.
“But I think it'd be great to summon the other five eventually. Not only to help the Familia grow but I want to learn how each Hero was a Hero." Alfia nodded at that, but added her own two cents.
"Learning from us ghosts is all well and good but don’t mimic us.” She said, folding her arms in front of her chest. "You need to find your own path of becoming a Hero, not walk down a path that has already traveled."
"Your Aunt is right Bell." Archer added. This in turn made Bell looked at her.
"Your reasons and ideals for becoming a hero must be your own. Not mine, not Alfia’s nor your grandfather's, but your own. Understand, Bell?"
"Yes!" Bell nodded with a smile.
"Good." Alfia muttered.
"Well, that's enough planning for the future for now.” Hestia said as she stood up from the bed and slapped her hand on it. "Now take off your top and get over here and I'll give you your falna."
Alfia didn't say anything as she stood up before walking over and sitting down on the bed. But she didn’t lay down like the others.
Hestia simply crawled behind her, pricked her finger with her knife and drew on her back as she had with Archer.
"The connection is now shared between the two of you." Alfia said, mentioning how she now feels two connections. One to her nephew and one to Hestia.
"Archer said the same thing," Hestia said as she placed some parchment on Alfia’s back and peeled it off along with her status.
"All right Alfia, you're done."
"Let’s see how my status looks this time" Alfia said before taking the sheet from Hestia.
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Alfia
Level 1
Strength: I0
Defense: I0
Dexterity: I0
Agility: I0
Magic: I0
Magic:
Satanas Verion: Super short chant magic that hits enemies with blocks of sound
Gospel
Silentium Eden: Super short chant enchant magic that covers the user's body in a magic negating armor
Ataraxia
Noble Phantasm: Genos Angelus: Super long chant magic that made a gigantic silver-grey bell manifest above the user's head and had an effect range of over 100 meters
Blessing of the root of evil, curse of birth. My original sin that devoured half of my body. Not hard. There is no purification. There is no salvation. The resonance of this heavenly sound is my sin. The trumpet of gods, the lyre of spirits. Melody of light, the seal of the sin. Loved by the miniature garden, my destiny is shattered. I hate you. The compensation is here. Destroy everything with a proof of my sin. Cry, holy bell tower
Skills:
Gif Blessing: In exchange for making their status be in the Limit Off State all the time, the user suffers multiple abnormalities and all their abilities decrease over time at an accelerated rate when in combat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Really now…Spirits are rather amazing after all." Hestia said as Alfia gave the paper to Bell after she finished reading it, allowing him to read it for himself.
"Even if your legends are based on humans, it's still completely different from how Bell started out. I'm going to have to ask Hephaestus how to lock and hide the Falna or anyone who can read the hieroglyphs will be able to understand your status.
I don’t want to have anyone wondering why a pair of Level 1 humans have skills and magic on their first day." Archer and Alfia both nodded at that notion.
They didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention to them for the moment. "By the way, about what time do you usually wake up, Bell?" Archer asked.
"Five in the morning sharp!" Bell said with a proud look on his face. "It's been pretty much ingrained into me ever since I lived with Grandpa."Upon hearing that, Alfia gained this distant look on her face as she quietly mumbled, “At least he was good for something.” Hestia heard her words and silently chuckle, amuse by what she said.
"Good then. In the morning I'll shall measure just how strong you are." Archer said. "I need to know what you can handle and what you can't."
"Got it, but may I ask why?" Bell nodded, brimming with excitement over the thought of being trained by Archer but wanted to know why she offered to. She sighed before summoning her bow and pointing it at Bell. “Because, Bell, I am a bowman, so you must not count on me for protection all the time. If it is a small group then I can offer my protection. But if we are swarm by a horde of monsters, then I will have no choice but to act in accordance and use my ultimate attack.” Hearing her with such a serious tone made Bell instinctively nod his head. "I see, well then please take care of me!"
"It’s getting pretty late right now. But before you head off to sleep, there is one more thing I have to ask, Bell." Hestia said.
Everyone’s attention was then drawn towards the 14 year old. This sudden attention made Bell let out a small squeak, but motion for Hestia to say what she wanted as he had a clue of what she wanted to asked.
“Did you nearly die in the dungeon.” Hestia regretted saying almost immediately as the atmosphere in the room dropped in a single second. Looking at Alfia, Hestia winced as she found her glaring directly at Bell.
”…Yes. Before I summoned Archer, I came across another minotaur while exploring the fifth floor. I was left with two choices, I could either run like a coward with my tail between my legs or fight it despite knowing I was no match for it.” Alfia listened to every single word that Bell spoke. She would deal with his idiocy in the morning but couldn’t help but roll her eyes when he chose to fight a higher leveler monster.
’He truly is her child, running into a fight and not once thinking of the consequences that it could bring.’ Alfia thought as Bell told them of how he was save by Lancer Servant ripping out her heart and inserted it into him.
“That explain’s your new skills and magic. It looks like I can take back my earlier statement. You’re not fully human nor spirit, you’re in between the two.” Hestia said, with Caster and Archer agreeing with.
“While I would like to address this issue now, it is too late to address it, so tomorrow we shall find out just how strong you are when you wield that spear.” With that part said, Alfia layed on couch before closing her eyes.
Archer absentmindedly nodded her head and headed back to the kitchen. Perhaps she could find some spare ingredients to practice her cooking as it has been a while since she last cook. She thinks of how to train Bell in the morning, wanting to see where his skill level was currently at.
"You managed to summon quite a pair, Bell.” Hestia said with a sigh while Bell could only let out a nervous laugh.