Plans in Motion
"Another Spirit huh…I wonder what they will be like." Lily said as all five members of the Hestia Familia stood around the alter. Archer had made the magic circle at the foot of where the alter stood. Her expression gave off a deep sense of concentration while her fellow Familia members talked amongst themselves.
"I just hope that they agree to join my Familia." Hestia muttered before turning to Caster with a sly smirk on her face. "I don't know what I'd do if another one like Silence shows up.” Hestia teased, annoying the silver mage.
"I'm sitting right here, my Goddess-in-debt." Caster growled drawing Bell’s and Archer’s attention while causing Hestia to freeze up.
"Goddess-in-debt?" Bell slowly repeated, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Hestia’s shaking form.
"Just how much do you think we had to paid for your swords, Nephew?" Caster irritably asked as Hestia crawled on her hands and knees toward Caster, begging for her forgiveness. However, Alfia was not all amused by this shameful display.
"As a result of going over budget, this useless goddess will be working until she pays it back."
"…How much was it?" Archer, who had just finish setting up the magic circle, asked. She didn’t show it, but she slightly feared the answer.
"…valis…." Hestia spoke in a hushed voice that couldn't even be called a whisper. In fact, calling it a whisper is an insult to the very name.
Although Bell couldn't hear what Hestia said Lily, with her heightened hearing thanks to her magical disguise, and Archer, who was a Servant, froze.
Bell suddenly felt extremely worried since what Hestia said was enough to make even Archer freeze, so he decided to ask again.
"Goddess Hestia?” Bell began, his face turning even more pale as sweat started to pour out from his hands and the two swords he was carrying on his back suddenly felt immensely heavy. It was like he was carrying the entire world, but keeping one side of it from interacting with the other.
"How much were they?" Bell slowly asked, dreading whatever number came from Hestia’s mouth.
The "…Four Hundred Million." This time, Hestia’s voice was loud enough for Bell’s ear to picked up on, and upon hearing that number, Bell couldn’t help but scream.
"Ah…aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh…." Bell had let out a rather pathetic sounding scream similar to that of a dying dog before said dog collapse backward, falling to the floor.
"Hmm, the reaction was a bit different than what I was expecting." Caster sighed, rubbing her aching temple. "Well, I have already paid half of that amount. The other half will be up the goddess, however, I doubt she will be able to pay all that by the time my nephew leaves this mortal coil."
"I promised to pay you back Caster. That is my pride as a Goddess of the Hearth, I will pay back every valis." Hestia declares as she stood up and looked at Caster in a defiant manner. "I swear on my name. Just don't hold it over Bell’s head too much."
Caster simply sighed again, it’s not even the afternoon yet and she already has a headache. She turns her attention from Hestia to Lily.
’It’s time to set up the plan Archer and I have made to help her.’ Caster thought as she addressed Lily.
"Arde," Caster said and Lily snapped to her attention. "I will tell you the plan to release you from Soma Familia."
"Yes." Lily nodded as her posture tensed up.
Caster took Lily off the side, leaving only two members and their goddess. Before Bell could follow, Archer had put her hand on his shoulder.
”Archer?” The emerald huntress merely shook her head. “It’s best not to involve ourselves unless your aunt calls for it. Come on now, we still need to summon the third servant.” Bell wanted to argue, but once he saw the look Hestia gave him, he dropped it in favor of not having to experience her wrath.
”Okay, let me get ready. Goddess Hestia, once I finished, can you please update my status?” Bell’s request confused Hestia so she asked him to clarify what he meant. “It’s just to be safe, by summoning a third servant, it could push my body over the limit of what my Level 1 body can handle.”
”…Alright Bell, as soon as you finish with the summoning, I want you to take off your shirt, is that okay with you?” Bell smiled, to which Hestia smiled as well as she affectionate pat his back.
”We’ll get going, I want to see my new Familia member.” Bell laughed, shaking his head while he held out his hand with the red command seals.
Let silver and steel be the essence.
Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation.
Let red be the color I pay tribute to.
Let rise a wall against the wind that shall fall.
Let the four cardinal gates close.
Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate."
"Let it be filled. Again. Again. Again. Again.
Let it be filled fivefold for every turn, simply breaking asunder with every filling.
My dreams form the body
Your Spirit shall show me the path as I walk it by my own power
And so I hereby swear,
That I shall be all the good in the world
That I shall defeat all the evil in the world.
You seven souls who reside at the fate I wish to reach
Come forth from the binding circle
Oh Keeper of the Balance!
Like before, with each verse the circle began to shine and a gust of wind began to blow from it. Behind Bell, Archer stood in front of Hestia to shield the goddess from the bellowing winds as Bell continued undaunted. In a rather impressive show, the fire of the alter did not fizzle out by the strong winds. Instead the flames remained headstrong and unwavering
The lights began to shine in a golden color as Bell sang the final verse. Once that verse was said, the light exploded, kicking up a huge swath of dust. Bell held his arms up instinctively in front of his eyes to shield himself from the dust. As the dust began to dissipate, he lowered his arms and saw someone in front of him.
It was a young male dressed in detailed knightly armor. He has short, messy blond hair and bright green eyes, giving him a confident and friendly appearance. His outfit consists of a white and blue armored suit with gold accents, including a chest plate with intricate designs, gauntlets, and a flowing cape lined with gold trim.
He holds a beautifully designed sword with a golden hilt and a glowing blade, exuding a sense of power that is familiar in some way to Bell.
He could ‘feel’ that something was very familiar about the young man standing in front of him. It was the same feeling he had when he saw that woman wearing a white and blue armored suit
that was highly reminiscent of the one that the young man was wearing. ‘The mystery adds on, I see.’ Bell thought as the young man gave him a smile when his bright green eyes
“I ask of you, are you my master?” Bell couldn’t help but smiled back, the servant in front of him was showing such strength and warmth. Bell, even though he was Level 1, could tell that the person in front of him was strong, stronger than Archer and his auntie.
”I am, nice to meet you. I’m Bell Cranel.” Bell introduced him and held out his hand to the young man. “I’m Saber, a servant who will protect you and the world.” The young man spoke with such intensity that Bell couldn’t help but believe in what Saber is saying.
”Nice to meet you Saber, how about I introduce you to Archer and my Goddess. They will help clarify things you don’t understand.” Saber nods his head, clearly looking at Archer who stood just a breath’s away from a small black hair lady with aquamarine eyes. It would appear that he has been summoned to a very interesting place.
A sense of adventure fills the Heroic Spirit as he thought of all the possibilities this world has to offer. Despite the Grail granting him some limited information, it was enough to fill him with a sense of adventure that he could partake in with his master.
“Understood, Master. Let’s not make them wait.” Bell nodded as he and Saber walked over to Archer and Goddess. Following her pervious instructions, Bell took off his shirt and showed his back to Hestia. Much to his confusion, Saber looked at this scene with an eyebrow raised, while Archer quietly giggled. The man’s face was one of complete shock and confusion.
”It is a strange scene, come now, I’ll be explaining just where you have been summoned.” Saber showed Archer a smile and thank her. Back to Hestia and Bell, she picked her finger and dropped it onto Bell’s back
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Bell Cranel
Level 1
Strength : A-823-A-878
Defense : S-901-S-998
Dexterity : S-964-S-999
Agility : S-989-SS-1001
Magic : SS-1022-SSS-1230
Magic:
Boost: The ability to ignite, control, and utilize flames from his feet
Boost
Crimson Semblance: Summon a keen-edged weapon, luster dazzling as the crimson moon made from the blood of the user.
Weapon Summoning: Summons forth the Lance That Shines to the End of the World.
O Light of the Eternal Horizon, Bearer of the Spear. By the stars' decree and the earth's whisper, I call upon thy radiant power. Manifest thy brilliance, Lance of the End, And guide my hand to victory!
Fusion: Bring two bodies together for ten minutes and forge a completely new being that retains aspect from both people.
Join these bodies and souls Bend their powers and talents, May they be united evermore, Unleash thy power of harmony!
Servant Summoning: Summon a Heroic Spirit. Requires upkeep once servant is summoned. Chances of summoning the same class twice is likely to occur
Let silver and steel be the essence.
Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation.
Let red be the color I pay tribute to.
Let rise a wall against the wind that shall fall.
Let the four cardinal gates close.
Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate."
"Let it be filled. Again. Again. Again. Again.
Let it be filled fivefold for every turn, simply breaking asunder with every filling.
My dreams form the body
Your Spirit shall show me the path as I walk it by my own power
And so I hereby swear,
That I shall be all the good in the world
That I shall defeat all the evil in the world.
You seven souls who reside at the fate I wish to reach
Come forth from the binding circle
Oh Keeper of the Balance!
Skills:
Desire to be the King:
Description: As long as user desires to become a hero and Artoria’s Successor, growth of stats will increase exponentially. Increases by intensity of determination and desire to become the King’s successor. Makes the user immune to all charms and seductions.
Spirit Surge: Temporarily boosts users parameters when in close contact with spirit's.
Mana Burst: Increase in basic abilities caused by infusing one's weapons and body with magic energy and instantly expelling it
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Haha….Bell…you have officially broken all rules that I know of.” Bell could practically hear the broken tone in her voice. When Hestia handed him his status, Bell’s jawed dropped immediately and understood why Hestia had that broken tone.
’…What the hell is wrong with me?!?!?!?’ Bell shouted in his head, but no answer would come to him.
Meanwhile, with Caster and Lily
"Caster…this is…" Lily stopped speaking, her body shaking at the sight in front of her.
"Ten Million Valis." Caster said leaning back slightly. It made Lily feel insignificant, despite training with her for two days, it would take a lot more for her to regrow her self confidence.
"This is my plan. You will take that money and deliver it to your god. You will then ask to leave the Familia. If he refuses, ask for a drink of Soma. Not one of his many failures either, but the real deal. Once you drink it, keep your mind clear, steel thy soul and demand once again to leave the Familia. I have high hopes for you, Lily. Failure is not an option."
Caster stood up from the wall and walked around to where Lily was frozen, she leaned in close to whisper into her ear.
"Do not disappoint me, Liliruca Arde." Caster’s tone was clear and precise, she had laid out the goals for Lily. Now, normally, Caster would choose to sit and remain on the sidelines.
But Lily wasn’t just anyone that Caster could ignore. She had talent and skills, but something more too that she couldn’t quite place what it was yet.
For now, she will observe this development and see what happens.
"Archer.” Caster said, drawing Lily’s attention. "She will go with you to make sure that you and the money reach the God properly. If something goes wrong…"
Lily stared as Caster gave the order and Lily couldn't help but feel the dread creep up on her back. It felt as if a predator had suddenly appeared and was watching her every movement.