24 Expedition start!
Bell used his new staff to hover a couple of feet above the ground, the Palismen on his staff had his wings spread as if he was gliding through the wind. Everyone gave him odd glances as they marched toward the dungeon.
It's not every day that you see a kid flying by riding a stick.
The most curious however wAs Lefiya who was staring intently at Bell who was floating beside her, as if taunting her with his power of flight.
"How?" The elf finally gave in and asked the question that's been bugging her ever since she saw her friend float on his new staff.
"How what?" Bell feigned ignorance.
"How are you using your staff to fly!" She shouted, losing the composure of a proper elf lady that she always tried to maintain.
Well, not that it matters now. Bell was flying! He was doing this with his new staff, but that didn't matter! Flight was such a simple yet common desire, everyone dreamed of being able to fly at least once! As a child who simply wanted to fly for fun, as an adult who wanted to experience the freedom of flying around!
And Bell was doing it! And she wanted to know how!
"Secret." His response made her want to murder him and feed the corpse to monsters. The smug smile on his face made her consider that idea even more.
"Might share a spell that allows the caster to fly in the future, but im not sure if I will." Lefiya perked up at that, Riveria who was listening to their conversation quietly also did. Everybody else who heard him started to spread rumors about how Bell will teach the Loki familia how to fly, making the boy nervous.
'This is bad…' he thought.
{Fly} is indeed a spell from the Tier magic system, but Bell didn't know which Tier it was, and how long it would take for him to get it. It was a Tier 6 or below since humans could use it, but that's all he knew.
Seeing what his bragging has done, Bell decided to end this topic and stop showing off. He hopped off and landed on the ground, while Flapjack returned to his resting pose. He then twirled his staff while making it shrink, making it seem as if it disappeared.
Lefiya took a deep breath. She already knew that the disappearing staff trick is also something that Bell wouldn't share. They managed to walk only a couple of steps before Lefiya started speaking.
"I'm not sure if I should scold you or compliment you." Lefiya sighed.
"I don't follow…" Bell response earned him a smack to the back of his head. Which hurt him more than it should thank to Lefiya LV3 physique.
"You country bumpkin! Lady Riveria has declared in front of our entire familia that you are her teacher! She did it accidentally when she got excited but the damage is done!" The idea of her lady getting excited enough to make such a simple mistake was still weird to her, but she knew it was the truth. She was there when it happened after all. "Rumors are most likely already spreading, and when we will come back from this expedition, I guarantee that everyone in Orario will know about it!" Bell was still looking at her confused while rubbing the spot where she hit him.
The implications of her words were not understood by him.
Lefiya took a deep breath and calmed herself. "I will say it as clearly as possible." The elf stopped her march making Bell do the same. "Bell…Lady Riveria is a prodigy when it comes to magic, she never needed any teacher, she taught herself by books. Every man who tried to teach her was outdone by her in less than a day! And yet, she willingly asked you to teach her something, and even t-t-to-touched you when doing it!" The memory of Riveria cupping Bell hands with her own made the elf blush.
"Alright, I get it. Elves and anyone else who cares about Riveria as much as you are surprised weirded out and wondering something along the lines of 'how can this simple human male be our Lady Riveria teacher?' But what that has to do with you being undecided if you should praise or scold me?" He questioned and started walking once again, Lefiya following after him.
"Because showing off your skill only serves to lessen the number of tricks up your sleeve that can be life-saving in a battle. If people know your abilities, there is a chance they will be able to create a counter to them." She explained her reason for wanting to scold him. Then she sighed and continued. "And it's because you're a 'simple human' the reason why it's good that you show abilities that are unheard of by mages and adventures."
Bell once again realized that he most likely broke another thing that was considered "common sense" in this world. Huh, you would think that flying is not a big deal in a world filled with Gods, and magic, but it apparently is.
"We are prideful people Bell. Sometimes too prideful for our own good." Bell looked at Lefiya with wide eyes. Is this happening? Is an elf acknowledging his own people's flaws??!?
Not caring for his shocked face, Lefiya continued.
"I know for sure that at the very least one of the elves in our familia doesn't like the idea of you teaching Lady Riveria. And all others are either doubtful or concerned about your qualifications…rumors will spread and I assure you that sooner or later my people will want a confirmation of your abilities, and I can promise you that some will try to duel you with the intent to either humiliate you or make you stay away from our princess."
Just the thought of the future events that her friend will be the center off made her gain a headache.
"But that's why it's good you are showing off such abilities. After all, who better to teach our lady than someone who so far defies common sense and knows ancient lost magic?" After a pause, she added one more thing "And is an adventurer mage at 14 years old"
Bell let out a low hum as he contemplated her words. 'I will have to slap the faces of many cliche prideful arrogant elven bastards, won't I?' He wondered 'The fact that she touched me may even make some believe that we are Lovers, which would be kind of funny' He almost chuckled at the possibility of pissing off some jealous elf guy who will most likely challenge him for "Lady Riveria hand" or some shit like that.
Maybe he should just reinforce those kinds of rumors from the shadows just to make this scenario more likely?
Tempting…very tempting…
"Meh" Bell shrugged. "I'll just make everybody question reality with my mindblowing magic power. Boom! problem solved."
When she heard him, Lefiya facepalmed harder than she ever did in her entire life.
This guy…she can't believe she is friends with him…
Friend? Since when has she begun viewing him as a friend?
It was not long until the large group reached the dungeon, the newbies at the front. They will guide the group up to the 12th floor or deeper depending on their capabilities.
Bell didn't do much. A buff spell for a comrade in need, a {firebolt} to a monster face, a {lesser shield} to protect some careless newbies…he was waiting. He was saving energy for his prey.
The 10th floor was reached. Out of curiosity he tested his spells against the monster and noted that it did seem more durable, being able to withstand more spells than any other monster he encountered so far. But nothing a Rasengan to the face can't fix. The fellow newbies worshiped Bell like he was a demigod, he could slaughter any beast they had problems with and offered good protection with his shield and buffing spells.
11th floor. Nothing.
12th floor. Here the group stopped, and most of the newbies, now exhausted got to sit down and gather their breath. The Lv 2 and 3 members of the familia were protecting them from any monster stupid enough to approach them.
The area they were resting was a large plain of some kind, thick white mist all around them, but torches and wind spells from mages managed to make the area clear.
Bell found this place oddly beautiful. He liked the vibe of this place.
It happened at random, at a moment when he was relaxing and enjoying this very dangerous yet beautiful place.
THUD!
He blinked. The sound was from far away, that much he could tell on his own.
THUD!
The familia members guarding them seemed to prepare for something.
THUD!
Bell eyes widen slightly. The edges of his lips went up ever so slightly as he understood what was happening. What was coming.
THUD!
He got up, the Necronomicon in his shoulder bag already in his hand. He first eyed the magic circle made with norse runes on the first page, a lone eldritch symbol in the center of it.
Something Loki made when she "edited" the Necronomicon when she found it under the bed. A magic circle that draws power from…something, or somewhere, one that allows him to gather eldritch energy for the spells in the Necronomicon.
Mind mana was simply not compatible with them. So Loki made a spell that allows exchanging a part of his Mind mana for the energy needed for this otherworldly magic system.
THUD!
Bell marched forward toward the noise while focusing on the magic circle in the book.
The magic circles needed for his Tier spells were put into his head by the system, he can summon a perfectly clear and detailed mental image of them because of that. But this one was different, it's not something the system gave him so Bell had to engrave this one into his mind by himself.
While not exactly perfect, the image formed in his mind. His Mind mana disappeared, unknown energy taking its place as it filled up his body, but curiously enough, it either refused or couldn't enter his skull where his brain was.
THUD!
"Where do you think you are going?" A random level 2 asked when he saw Bell foolishly walking toward the now visible silhouette of a very big lizard.
"Oh y'know…" Bell started and flipped 3 pages finding the first spell he wanted to test out. "...on my way to becoming a dragon hunter." The lv2 was about tk argue. But…
"Let him go." Anakitty said making the guy stop and look at her, unsure if he heard her right. "Believe me, if it's him…he can do it."
"Isn't that Lady Riveria teacher?" A random elven archer noticed, this drawing attention to what was happening.
A lone lv1 newbie marching toward the infant dragon lurking in the mist. Most would call that suicide, but they recognized Bell, he was that young mage who had a match against one of their lv4 member, Anakitty, and won.
She was obviously holding back, but it's still an amazing achievement.
Their curiosity was peaked, and they all watched the fight that was about to unfold.
Meanwhile, Bell was staring at the beast who seemed to walk left and right while eyeing the little white-haired human before it.
It jumped! it was fast! Amazingly fast!
Its teeth were mere inches away from Bell when everyone grabbed their weapon and was ready to dash at the monster, trying to save their familia member.
"Hold!" The voice of their captain made them stop. Nobody had time to question Finn decision as what happened next made them hang their jaws.
A wave of energy slammed into the infant dragon mouth, making it jerk its head back so hard that it got flipped on its back and slammed to the ground.
Bell smiled.
"{Eldritch Blast}" he declared and flipped the pages on the Necronomicon to find his next spell while a furious infant dragon got up and glared at him.
'Call me donkey, cause im gonna fuck that dragon up.' With that thought, the battle began
