Night had fallen on the goddess Ishtar's quarters, but her mind could not rest. Sitting on her jeweled throne, she peered into the shadows of the room, pondering recent events. Freya, her eternal rival, seemed to have a particular interest in Bell, a mere human whom Ishtar had once considered a promising pawn. The detail troubled her. Why would Freya, a goddess as calculating as she was imposing, care about him?
Phryne entered the room, interrupting his thoughts. The blunt and often unpleasant captain announced gruffly that their search had yielded no results. The intruder, the one who had dared to attack their family, remained nowhere to be found.
— Forget it, Ishtar growled. We have other priorities.
The next morning, a new wind blew through their neighborhood. Tammuz, the sub-captain of the Ishtar family, finally returned from his long journey to the East. Known for his sharp wit and fearsome pragmatism, his return was a momentous occasion. The Amazons gathered to greet him in orderly formation.
Bell, standing tall among them, stood out among the warriors. Tammuz stopped in front of him, his piercing gaze lingering on the young man.
"You," he said in a calm but sharp voice. "A man here? How is that possible?"
Bell, unperturbed, replied with studied politeness:
—I am Bell Cranel, humble servant of Ishtar. The weapon she will fashion for her ambitions.
A cynical smile touched Tammuz's lips.
— A weapon, really?
He continued walking, his attention drawn to the state of Aisha, who stood aside, marks still visible on her skin.
— What happened to him? he asked.
"A useless question," Ishtar replied, cutting short any further discussion.
Inside her chambers, Ishtar greeted Tammuz with a calculated smile on her lips.
— So, what did you think of our new member? she asked.
Tammuz, still wary, leaned against the wall, crossing his arms.
— Who is this boy really?
Ishtar told him how Aisha had brought him to her. A young man desperate for power, willing to do anything to rise through the ranks. She also mentioned his unique ability, The Rise, which made him immune to her divine charm, a fact that intrigued even the gods.
"He's bold," she continued. "He even stirred up trouble among Soma to get my attention."
But Tammuz remained skeptical.
—There's something wrong. His loyalty seems feigned to me. He's playing a role, but for whom?
Meanwhile, Bell, discreetly using his Ethereal Vision ability, analyzed Tammuz's thoughts and emotions when they had crossed paths earlier. The man was a rock of distrust, and Bell understood that he represented a threat.
For now, though, another priority occupied his mind: Aisha. Every day, he went to her room to tend to her wounds and watch over her. Spending time with her. He read books out loud, played chess or strategy games; he loved to disconnect from the world and just be Bell.
"You're cheating again," Aisha muttered, frowning after a game of chess she had just lost.
Bell laughed softly.
— Not at all, you're the one who imagines impossible shots.
Aisha rolled her eyes, but a faint smile lit her face. For the first time in days, her injuries seemed a little lighter.
Yet even in these quiet moments, Bell felt the noose tightening. Tammuz was now a potential obstacle, and Ishtar, though blinded by her desire for victory over Freya, was not to be underestimated.
Bell knew he had to play more finely than ever. Not only to protect Aisha, but also to survive in this nest of snakes where the slightest mistake could be fatal.
When they played chess, even though she hated losing, or shared rare moments of calm. Bell knew there was a chasm between their unspoken feelings, but he didn't dare bridge it yet.
He looked at her sometimes, a subtle sadness in his eyes. Her strategies, her ambition, all of it seemed insignificant compared to the pain she had suffered to protect her secret. And if he had to choose between her and his plans, he already knew what his choice would be, even if he didn't admit it out loud yet.
Chapter 54: An Alliance Forged in Fire
The next day Bell was training at the court; Bell was deep in thought, hearing a quiet throat clearing behind him. Lena, one of the usually aloof Ishtar Familia Amazons, stood there, her gaze serious.
— "Be careful, Bell. Tammuz has his eye on you," she said quietly. "He's keeping a close eye on you," she added.
The young adventurer arched an eyebrow, surprised. then narrowed his eyes, intrigued.
— "Why are you warning me?" he asked, suspiciously.
— "Because I see you're not as bad as you try to make out."
Bell stood there frozen for a moment, caught off guard by this unexpected observation.
Lena left without another word, leaving him alone to face a question he didn't yet dare to ask: how transparent was his mask of manipulative strategist becoming?
The next day, Bell, feeling the need to clear his mind and prepare for possible confrontations, decided to return to the dungeon. A month had passed since his last foray. His weapons, worn and ineffective, would no longer be enough to face higher level enemies and he needed to better equip himself for the challenges to come.
The store was overflowing with weapons of all kinds, from gleaming blades to shields engraved with protective runes. Bell was pacing the aisles, examining each piece with a critical eye, when he heard a grumbling voice.
A casual-looking man wearing a worn scarf was chatting with the vendor, insisting on selling a suit of armor.
— Welf, I already told you that this armor is unsellable, the seller growled.
The name made Bell flinch. Was this Welf Crozzo the blacksmith who had created the armor and dagger he carried? he thought; intrigued, he turned toward the source of the voice and saw a man with flaming hair and soot-stained clothes.
Excuse me, he said, looking at the blacksmith. Are you Welf Crozzo? approaching cautiously.
— Yeah, it's me. Why?
Bell answered without hesitation:
— "I am Bell Cranel. And I am wearing one of your works."
Welf narrowed his eyes, intrigued.
— "Really? Show me that."
Bell slowly drew his dagger, a beautifully crafted piece, but tarnished by constant combat. Welf watched him with an approving smile.
— "Not bad, huh? This dagger has seen blood, it shows. But it needs to be replaced."
Bell nodded.
— "That's why I'm here. I'm looking for a dagger and a sword. Not just any daggers. The best ones you can make; can you help me?"
Welf burst out laughing, a raspy but sincere sound.
— "Do you think that's how it works?" Come on, let's talk outside" said Welf.
Outside the shop, Welf eyed Bell with a mixture of interest and suspicion.
—So, kid, you want an exceptional weapon. Why should I bother helping you?
—Because I need the best weapons to accomplish my goals, Bell replied confidently.
Welf laughed again before crossing his arms.
"If you want me to forge something exceptional, you're going to have to do something for me." Welf said.
Bell remained calm, analyzing the situation.
— "And what do you expect from me?"
— "Come down into the dungeon with me. I need to gather rare materials and test my creations in real-world situations. And if you agree to let me become your exclusive blacksmith, I'll take care of your weapons."
Why would you be willing to sign a contract with me asked Bell?
"I've heard of you little bunny as a legend some say you took on a silverback and a minotaur all by yourself and also that you even stood up to the soma family even though you're only a level 2" Welf said scratching the back of his neck.
Bell surprised that he had been discovered for his actions with the Soma family, he used ethereal vision to see if he hadn't lied but he just saw admiration and a slight hint of embarrassment that made Bell smile.
Bell nodded without hesitation. Having a blacksmith at his side was a golden opportunity, but it meant placing his trust in a new ally. Finally, he held out his hand.
— "Okay. You have a deal."
— Deal said Welf, holding out his hand.
Welf, satisfied, motioned for him to follow. They left the shop and headed towards Welf's personal forge, tucked away in a secluded corner of the neighborhood. There, they were greeted by the goddess herself, a towering and charismatic woman, wearing an eyepatch on the right and flaming red hair, Bell was introduced.
—Who is it? Hephaestus asked, observing Bell with a piercing gaze.
"A promising adventurer," Welf replied with a smile. "He wants me to forge him a high-level dagger and sword."
Hephaestus looked at him
— "So, you're the one who wants a dagger and a sword of an exceptional level? You realize that this kind of request is not to be taken lightly?"
Bell bowed his head respectfully.
_ "Goddess Hephaestus, I know it," Bell replied, his gaze fixed. "And I am willing to pay the price,
Only Welf is capable of such a feat."
Welf smiled embarrassed by such confidence.
Hephaestus smiled. She saw in Bell a rare mix of ambition, confidence, and determination, a balance she appreciated, before walking away, leaving the two men to discuss the details.
— "Very well. I will help you. But prepare yourself, Bell Cranel. Getting what you want will not be an easy task." said Welf
Bell nodded, his mind already turned to the future. In his heart, only one thought persisted: he had to become stronger and never again be vulnerable to his enemies, never again see Aisha in this state because of him.
Bell and Welf spent the rest of the day discussing plans for the weapons. Bell stressed their durability and ability to evolve with him. Welf, for his part, seemed delighted to take on such a challenge.
"You'll see," Welf said, tapping his anvil. "These weapons will be legendary. Get ready, kid."
Bell nodded, a smirk on his face. A new alliance had been born, and he felt that this collaboration would take him to heights he had never explored before.
To be continued