Bell panted, sweat dripping from his forehead, staring at the flickering light that danced at his fingertips before disappearing. He fell to his knees, exhausted.
Riveria, standing a few steps away from him, crossed her arms, her neutral expression masking a hint of encouragement.
"You're making progress," she said calmly. "Although it's minimal, you've managed to channel your mana and produce a light. That's no small feat for a beginner."
"It's not enough," Bell muttered, his fists clenched. "I have to master this spell."
Riveria knelt down beside him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
— Sacred magic requires patience and discipline. Two days won't be enough. But your potential is undeniable. Keep going, and you'll get there.
Bell looked up at her, finding some semblance of comfort in her words. He took a deep breath before standing up, swaying.
— Once again, he said.
Riveria nodded, admiring his determination.
The next few days, Bell juggled his training with Riveria and his work at the Jagamaru stand with Hestia and Lili. Every night, he returned to Ishtar's palace, exhausted but determined.
Bell went out early every morning, returning every evening exhausted, his clothes often wrinkled, the dark circles under his eyes. This behavior had not escaped Aisha, who observed him with particular attention. She had noticed the furtive shudders when he passed near her, as if he wanted to tell her something, without daring.
One evening, as Bell walked through the door of Ishtar's palace, staggering slightly with fatigue, Aisha intercepted him in the hallway.
— Stop, Bell, she said curtly. Where do you go every morning?
Bell looked up, surprised, but did not lose his calm. He answered with an enigmatic smile:
—It's nothing, Aisha-san. Just… personal matters.
Aisha crossed her arms, her dark eyes locked with Bell's.
— Personal business? I see you leaving at dawn, you come back almost on your knees, and you barely eat. And don't tell me it's nothing.
Bell, searching for words, tried to defuse the situation.
— I promise it's nothing to worry about. You'll know soon enough.
— "Soon?" Aisha repeated, her voice tinged with irritation. "You're a bad liar, Bell Cranel."
He hesitated, then lowered his head slightly, trying to calm his tone.
—It's not that I want to hide things from you. It's just… I'm working on something for you.
These words surprised Aisha. She arched an eyebrow, barely hiding her surprise.
- In my opinion ?
Bell nodded shyly, a blush rising to his cheeks.
— Yes, but… it's a surprise. So please, trust me.
Aisha stared at him for a moment, her breath slightly caught by his unexpected frankness. She looked away to hide a smile she didn't want to show.
— Hmph. Fine. I'll let you in on your little secret, but you better make it worth it.
"It will be," Bell said with calm determination.
Aisha turned around, letting him go. But deep inside her, a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time made her smile in spite of herself.
The next day, Bell was leaving Ishtar's palace, Tammuz intercepted him. The second captain, suspicious, blocked his path.
"Where are you going, Bell Cranel?" he asked icily.
Bell, sensing the aura of suspicion weighing on him, discreetly activated Ethereal Vision. Tammuz's emotions were a mixture of distrust, frustration, and a hint of curiosity.
"I'm going to work," Bell replied with a quiet smile.
— Work? In the Pleasure Quarter, you are non-existent. Do you think you are above the orders of our goddess?
Bell kept his cool, tailoring his response.
— On the contrary. I serve the Familia in a different way. Ishtar-sama has entrusted me with specific missions that require my presence elsewhere. If you have any doubts, you can speak to her directly.
Tammuz squinted, searching for a flaw in Bell's words, but found none.
— Hm. I'll keep an eye on you, Bell Cranel, he said before walking away.
Bell, hiding a sigh of relief, left to join Hestia and Lili at the stand.
Since he was here, Bell had been helping Hestia and Lili sell jagamaru. Despite his fatigue, he had a bright smile on his face, attracting a crowd of customers who looked at him with stars in their eyes.
Lili, annoyed, muttered to Hestia:
— It's not fair. He attracts all these women without even trying.
—Believe me, Lili, I feel the same way, Hestia replied, exasperated.
As they talked and Bell gave change to a customer, a familiar figure approached. A young blonde woman, carrying a sword, stepped forward.
—A whole bag of jagamaru, please, she said calmly.
Bell looked up, noticed her immediately, and blinked in surprise.
— Aiz-san?
The famous sword princess nodded, a slight smile playing on her lips.
— It's been a long time, Bell.
Bell, surprised, searched for words.
— Yes, it's been… a while.
Aiz placed a bag in front of him.
— A whole bag of jagamaru, please.
Bell quickly obeyed, packing up the order, but he noticed her insistent gaze.
— That's… unexpected. You… wanted something else?
Aiz continued, with a sincere look.
— I wanted to talk to you. Since our last meeting a month ago.
Bell, surprised, let out a nervous little laugh.
— A month? Well… I'm sorry. I haven't really had time recently.
"It's okay," Aiz replied with her usual calm. "Will you be free tomorrow?"
Lili and Hestia, who were watching the scene, exchanged a look heavy with innuendo. Bell, ignoring their reaction. Bell smiled, feeling the importance of his request.
— Yes, I can get away tomorrow. We can talk.
Aiz nodded, taking Jagamaru's bag before leaving without another word.
Hestia and Lili, who had observed the scene.
— Did you see that? Lili whispered.
"I saw her," Hestia growled. "Why her?"
Lili narrowed her eyes, glancing at Hestia.
— I knew he was extremely popular, but to attract her…
Hestia, arms crossed, grumbled:
— Can't she just stick to swords?
Bell, oblivious to the barbs, continued to serve the customers until it was time for his training. He apologized to Lili and Hestia before leaving to find Riveria, his mind already focused on his upcoming training with Riveria.
When Bell arrived at their meeting point, Riveria was waiting for him, holding a grimoire in her hands. She looked up when she saw him arrive, noticing his visible fatigue.
"You're late," she said neutrally.
"Sorry," Bell replied, slightly out of breath. "The pit work took longer than expected."
Riveria shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips.
—You're juggling a lot for someone your age. Let's hope your mind is as disciplined as your schedule.
Bell laughed softly, taking a seat in front of her.
— I'm ready.
Riveria, regaining her seriousness, opened the grimoire.
— Good. We will intensify your training. This sacred spell is not just a simple healing spell. It requires not only mastery, but also a deep connection with your mana. Are you ready to endure what it entails?
Bell, his eyes shining with determination, nodded.
— I'm ready for anything.
Riveria, impressed in spite of herself, did not answer. But deep down, she knew that he would succeed, no matter how long it took.
Chapter 58: The Shadow
Bell continued his intense schedule, juggling training with Riveria, working at Jagamaru's stand, and trying to keep his intentions a secret. But what he didn't know was that he had aroused suspicion within Ishtar's palace.
Tammuz, the sub-captain of the Familia Ishtar, had been watching him for a while. Bell's attitude, his mysterious comings and goings, and his ability to avoid the most thankless tasks in the Pleasure Quarter had intrigued him. Although he did not share this information with his goddess, he had decided to follow him to discover the truth.
Bell left the palace as usual, a bag on his shoulder, looking focused. Tammuz, at a distance, followed him discreetly, making sure to stay out of sight.
"This boy is too quiet to be honest," Tammuz thought as he adjusted his hood to blend in with the crowd.
Bell first headed to Jagamaru's stand to help Hestia and Lili. Tammuz, hidden among the passersby, observed him.
"Why does such a talented adventurer spend his time selling pastries? It makes no sense."
When Bell left the stand a few hours later, Tammuz resumed his tail. He followed the young adventurer to a large library.
Tammuz watched from a window as Bell entered the library and headed toward a secluded reading room. Shortly after, a tall, green-haired elf woman approached him.
"Riveria… A well-known figure in Orario," Tammuz murmured, his eyes narrowing.
He watched as Bell listened intently to Riveria's advice, clearly trying to understand the instructions she was giving him. Tammuz couldn't hear their conversation, but he guessed that she was helping him with something related to magic, perhaps training.
After several hours of observation, Tammuz left his post to avoid detection. On the way back, he reflected.
"This boy is up to something... but what? Why is Riveria Ljos Alf of the Loki Familia helping him? What is he hiding?"
Despite his suspicions, Tammuz did not report anything to Ishtar. He wanted to know more first. Misinterpreted information could backfire on him, and he did not want to risk upsetting the goddess for nothing.
In the evening, Bell returned to the palace, exhausted from his day. Aisha, still intrigued, looked at him questioningly, but did not ask a question this time. However, Bell felt another heavy gaze on him: that of Tammuz.
He briefly met the sub-captain's gaze, who was staring at him with a cold, calculating intensity. Bell quickly looked away, feigning indifference, but his heart was beating faster.
"Does he know something?" he wondered.
Tammuz, for his part, was increasingly convinced that Bell was hiding something. But he also knew that a misinterpretation could cause a storm he was not prepared to face. For now, he would choose observation and patience.
What Tammuz didn't know was that Bell was more calculating than he appeared. The young adventurer had noticed his presence, thanks to Ethereal Vision, and was already preparing his next response if the sub-captain were to question him again.
"I must remain cautious," Bell thought. "This play of light and shadow has only just begun."