Bell walked at a leisurely pace through the bustling streets of Orario, the dusk bathing the city in a golden light. He had decided to stop by the Fertility Hostess, the famous pub where Syr worked. It had been a tiring day, and he was hoping to relax a little. As he entered, his gaze was immediately drawn to a familiar figure: the elf he had helped earlier that day. She wore a waitress' outfit and moved with an almost unreal grace.
Syr, still smiling, approached to greet him.
— Bell, you came! Let me introduce you to Ryuu, our precious employee.
Bell bowed his head slightly in respect.
— It's a pleasure, Ryuu.
The elf returned a brief salute, his calm, piercing gaze seeming to probe his soul.
As he sat down to eat, Bell noticed something glowing faintly on a cabinet. He squinted to get a better look: a book with black binding and gold ornaments. Intrigued, he turned to Syr.
— This book, could I leaf through it?
Syr gave him an amused look before answering:
— Oh, that? Sure, take it. In fact, consider it a gift.
Bell, surprised but grateful, accepted without hesitation.
Back in his room, Bell set the book down on the table. The moonlight dimly illuminated the room as he sat down to open it. The pages, decorated with intricate symbols, seemed almost alive, as if they were pulsing with some mysterious energy. He began to read, and a strange feeling came over him.
Suddenly, everything went black. He found himself in an infinite void, surrounded by versions of himself, doubles with various expressions: some laughing, others menacing.
One of them, a darker version of himself, stepped forward.
— So, Bell Cranel, what magic do you desire?
Bell, surprised but resolute, replied:
—A magic that will make my vengeance burn... and another that will soothe my torment.
The doubles burst into laughter, sinister echoes resonating in the empty space.
—Very well, murmured one of them. Be prepared to carry this burden.
Bell woke up with a start, Aisha's face leaning over him.
— Bell! Did you fall asleep reading again, idiot?
It took him a few seconds to recover, the memory of the dream still fresh in his mind.
— I... I was reading this book, and then...
Aisha noticed the book lying next to him. Seeing it, her expression instantly changed.
— Bell, do you know what this is? This book costs a fortune! It's a magic grimoire. It lets you learn spells!
Bell, stunned, picked up the book. But the pages were now blank. Aisha frowned.
— Wait, have you used it yet?
He nodded, a slight smile playing on his face. The idea of being able to use magic excited him far more than the monetary value of the grimoire.
Bell rushed to Ishtar to ask for a status update. The goddess, surprised by his request so quickly after his confrontation with the minotaur, gave him a questioning look.
— Bell, do you seriously expect to have made progress after only two days?
But his persistence eventually made her give in. Ishtar placed her hand on his back and channeled her magic to reveal his status. Suddenly, she stopped, her eyes wide.
Bell Cranel
Level: 2
Strength: SS01
•Endurance: SS40
•Dexterity: SS24
•Agility: SS 31
•Magic: 0
•Intelligence: A
•Luck: C
•Abnormal Resistance: C
•Escape: G
•Chain Attack: I
Special Skill: Ethereal Vision: Allows you to see other people's emotions as colors
_[The Rise]
A unique skill that promotes accelerated growth. The harder the battle, the more Excelia you accumulate. Also grants complete immunity to any form of charm or mind control.
_The rising boost: Grants a slight stat boost.
Magic skill:
•Cryostasis of eternity:
"Oh icy storm that soothes and destroys, Embrace this world with your eternal breath, Forge a blade to punish traitors, A shield to defend the righteous, And chains to seal despair.
•Firebolt
Two new lines had appeared under his abilities:
Firebolt: A fast, no-cast fire spell.
Cryostasis of Eternity: A spell whose incantation seemed mysteriously written at the bottom, as if waiting for Bell to discover it.
But what disturbed her more was the mention of his ability: The Rise. Ishtar understood that this ability, combined with his new magic, made Bell extremely dangerous.
She closed her eyes, quickly composing herself.
— Bell Cranel, you are becoming an interesting man indeed.
Bell, ignoring the goddess's internal conflict, stood up with a satisfied smile.
— Thank you, Lady Ishtar.
He left the room, leaving Ishtar to ponder how she could still use this young man with his growing talents.
Chapter 26: The Discovery of Power
Bell left Ishtar's room without delay, a new excitement bubbling within him. The two spells newly acquired in his status fascinated him, but it was especially the enigmatic magic, inscribed under the name of "Cryostasis of Eternity", that captured his imagination.
This spell, judging by its vague description, seemed to blend icy offensive power, healing regeneration, and near-godlike defensive ability, while also having the potential to alter the environment around it into a frozen territory.
Bell found an empty space at the back of the neighborhood, away from prying eyes. He opened the book he had that had given him this ability, he had written the incantation of dedand and read the inscribed incantation again as if the words had been engraved in his soul. He took a deep breath and recited:
"Oh icy storm that soothes and destroys,
Embrace this world with your eternal breath,
Forge a blade to punish traitors,
A shield to defend the righteous,
And chains to seal despair.
Cryostasis of Eternity!"
The words left his lips, and a blue light filled his hands. The air turned frigid, ice crystals dancing around him like fireflies. The ground slowly became covered in a thin layer of frost, spreading in a circle around him.
Suddenly, a translucent barrier of ice formed around him, pulsing with energy. He felt that this magic was not just a tool of destruction, but an extension of his will: it protected, healed, and annihilated with surgical precision.
He raised his arms, and an icy wave shot out, creating a pillar of ice that rose into the night sky. Bell looked down at his hands, impressed by the instinctive mastery he felt.
Curious to test his other spell, he changed his posture. With a simple thought, he whispered:
"Firebolt."
A fireball shot out from his fingers, fast and lightning fast, striking a tree in front of him. Unlike the complexity of Eternity Cryostasis, this spell was direct, quick, and practical. Bell immediately understood that he could use it as a weapon of choice for quick fights.
After testing his spells, Bell smiled, his thoughts turning to his goal:
To bring down those who had betrayed his grandfather and leave his mark on Orario.
He returned to the Ishtar Quarter, his skills and ambition sharper than ever.
Chapter 27: An Unexpected Encounter
The next day, Bell went to the guild, his mind preoccupied with his ambitions. He wanted to explore the dungeon deeper, but he knew that levels 11 and 12 were not within the reach of just any adventurer.
— "Eina, I need information about levels 11 and 12. What should I know before venturing there?" he asked with fierce determination.
Eina looked at him with a mixture of worry and annoyance.
— "Bell, these levels are dangerous, even for experienced adventurers. You should not venture there alone. You need a supporter."
Eina's words fell like a cold shower. Bell slumped his shoulders, looking dejected.
— "A supporter... But I don't know any."
Eina sighed deeply, crossing her arms.
— "It's not only reckless, it's irresponsible. And that minotaur you faced... Why did you take such a risk alone? Have you thought about the state of your equipment after that fight?"
Bell hesitated before answering, scratching the back of his head.
— "My armor... It's in pieces."
Eina's face grew even more severe, but she eventually smiled slightly.
— "Alright, we need to solve this problem. Meet me tomorrow at the central square. I'll help you choose a new armor."
The next day, Bell stood at the central square, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The place was bustling with life, but he couldn't help but notice that many couples were gathered there. The thought of him waiting for Eina in such a place made his cheeks blush.
— "What am I doing? It's almost like a date..." he muttered to himself, imagining Eina holding his hand for a moment.
Suddenly, a familiar voice made him jump.
— "Have you been waiting for me for a long time?"
Eina stood behind him, wearing a light dress that accentuated her natural beauty. Bell blushed at the sight of her, desperate to hide his embarrassment.
Eina noticed this immediately and couldn't help but tease him.
— "Well, it seems like you're not used to this kind of outing."
— "That... That's not it!" Bell stammered, his face burning.
Eina laughed softly before taking his arm.
— "Come on, let's not hang around. Good armor won't wait."
Meanwhile, at the nearby market, Samira and Lena were shopping with Aisha. They chatted loudly, their bags full of fabrics and various objects.
But as they exited the shop, their eyes fell on Bell, accompanied by Eina. The young man seemed nervous, and Eina laughed softly at his expense.
Samira smiled widely, pointing discreetly at Bell.
— "Well, look at this. Little Bell is on a date with an elf from the guild. That's interesting."
Lena chimed in, a mischievous smile on her face.
— "He looked so embarrassed. We should keep an eye on him, just to see where this goes."
Aisha, who had come out after them, frowned upon hearing this.
— "What are you plotting?"
Samira and Lena turned to her, innocent looks on their faces.
— "Oh, nothing! Just that Bell seems to be having a good time with another woman."
Aisha raised an eyebrow, staring at Bell and Eina from a distance. A mixture of curiosity and annoyance crossed her gaze, but she said nothing.
— "You want to spy, huh? Fine. But don't do anything that draws attention. I just want to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."
Samira burst out laughing, while Lena nodded enthusiastically. And so, the three women began to discreetly follow Bell and Eina in their quest for a new armor.
Bell, unaware that he was being followed, continued to chat with Eina, his nervousness easing as they talked. But around every corner, Aisha and the others watched from afar, their thoughts varying on this strange outing.
To be continued