3 Three

Hearth Mansion

*BOOM!*

The courtyard got blasted and a white-haired boy laying not far from it, again. Yeah, this incident is not the first time this already happens too often lately that even the resident of this mansion already considers it is normal now.

The boy, Bell Cranel since 3 days ago trying to control his new technique and try to make it stable. he realizes that he can't hurt The Black Dragon that its body is written to be huge as Loki Familia's castle.

Argo Vesta is Bell's new technique using Argonaut's dual charge that's named after Hestia. He first casts Firebolt on the Hestia Knife, then uses Argonaut on both of them to charge them at once, surrounding them with particles of light. Due to the skill, the magic envelops the dagger and spreads out, making the dagger as thick and as long as a short sword. The heat and brilliance increase the longer it's charged, making it give off a crimson light, and once he reaches the desired charge time, Bell slashes at his opponent. The power from the attack causes a bright flash of light and sends out both a heatwave and a shockwave.

He tried to make it stable become more like an energy sword than most of magic swords that crumble once being used. He also wants to make it longer so it can penetrate the magic crystal of a huge monster.

He feels his effort make no progress and always get it blasted at first hit. Even the consumption is small because he only uses a tiny portion of his reserve to minimize the damage caused by it, it is still slowly exhausted him.

Still, he never wants to give up because this is the only way for him if he really wants to fight it. Yes maybe he can dive dungeon and simply change his weapon to a sword but he will never abandon the Hestia Knife because, for him, it is like he abandoning his goddess.

'(So what if Hestia Knife is too short I only need to make it longer.)'

With his new determination, he gets up and prepares to continue training but a voice stopped him

"Bell-sama, Riveria-sama looking for you."

He notices that Haruhime already here with a green-haired elf, Riveria waiting for him to finish his training. He stopped his training and approaching them.

"Thanks, Haruhime. Hello, Riveria-sama. Is there something you need?"

"There is something I want to discuss with you. Is there a place we can talk?"

"umm… maybe my office. You can go there with Haruhime and wait for me. I will change my clothes."

"it's okay even if you don't change. This not an official visit anyway."

"no-no-no. I don't want to be rude to you. Haruhime can you please guide Riveria-sama to my office?"

After getting confirmation from Haruhime he runs to his room to prepare. Riveria who see this can only shake her head with a wry smile

"What a unique captain you have."

"hehe… Bell-sama is a bit lacking as a captain but he is very kind to us. Riveria-sama, This way."

Haruhime leads Riveria to the captain's office while introducing the mansion. Arrived at office Haruhime invite her to sit while she went out to make a tea.

Left alone, Riveria looks around only to find the room is vacant, lack of mountain of documents. Well, knowing this familia only consists of 5 members and a goddess also there a huge debt problem that makes people did not want to join. so it is normal if this office rarely being used.

Five minutes later Bell comes in different clothes. He bit out of breath from running which earned another wry smile from Riveria

"you don't have to rush like that you know. As a Captain of a Familia and a First Class Adventurer, you must have pride and don't let the other look down on you or they will take advantage of you."

"yes, I am sorry. Thanks for the lecture Riveria-sama."

"and don't apologize too fast. Well, lets back to the more important matter."

"yes" Bell sits on the opposite seat of Riveria." what Riveria-sama want to discuss?"

"before that let me ask you something. What do you feel about Ais Wallenstein?"

"a…ah.. that. I admire her and.. umm I want to stand beside her."

He answering while stuttering because the unexpected question caught him off guard. His red face and his way of answer make Riveria chuckle.

"so, do you love her?"

"umm.. yes" nod weakly.

"well, bell. I want you to listen to me now. Because of her life in danger"

Hearing that Bell's expression instantly turns serious and urges her to speak.

"you already know the danger that will come to orario from your goddess right?"

"if what you mean is The Black Dragon, then yes."

"well then. The short story is Ais has a grudge with it and wants to get revenge for her parent that died because of it. but as you know its impossible for her to do that and only ended her dead but she is still trying to find it whatever it means."

"so what must I do Riveria-sama?"

The instant decision makes Riveria smile, he is like what she imagined.

"well, before that. You all who eavesdropped until now can come in."

*BANG!*

"you! What you planned for my bell!"

The door forced open by Hestia who got caught eavesdropped, behind her is other members of her familia. Hestia accused Riveria of using Bell's feeling for her plan which actually, she is right. Hestia immediately comes to Bell and hug his hand while glaring at Riveria. One by one member of Hestia familia also comes in and stands behind Bell while glaring like Lili or only raising their brow like Welf, Mikoto even Haruhime.

Riveria that gets accused only can raise her hand in surrender.

"do you want to listen to my request?"

"no! I will not let you endangering my Bell! just get out!"

"...okay. I am sorry for disturb your morning. I will leave now"

With a sigh of defeat, Riveria gets up and wants to leave but Bell stops her

"don't leave, Riveria-sama. Please at least let me listen."

"stop, bell!"

"yeah, bell-sama. She only using your feeling for her plan."

The other member tried to stop him but they know from his expression it is impossible. He already determinate to do that. He looks at them then to Riveria.

"please"

"Okay, but we will here too. We will stop you if it is too dangerous."

Hestia gives up persuading him and glaring Riveria who already sits again.

"you! I will not forgive you if you endangering my Bell!"

"I will not. While I am sorry for using your captain's feelings, I don't know how to save her without hurting her and more efficiently than this. also, I need to improve my Familia's situation."

"hmph… let we hear what you request"

"my request is. Please challenge Ais to duel and defeat her."

The request is unexpected and too hard. While they have the same rank as first-class adventures but Bell still a new Level 5 while Ais is Level 6 and strongest of it. the difference of 1 Level is too hard to jump except with some special means like Haruhime magic because of level up buff. But all of the members of Hestia Familia know that Bell will never accept to cheat in a duel even more so with the person he loves. So they all think this request is too hard for him. and if he lost, not only it will break his self-confidence but he will also become laughing stock for everyone.

"no! I will not allow it"

"yeah, it's simply impossible for him" state Welf

"are you want to humiliate Bell-sama?!" accused Lili

"even if it is hard for him. Now, only Bell Cranel can stop her suicide. I am here not as vice-captain of Loki Familia but as her mother. Please, accept my request."

Even amidst the accusations, Riveria begged while bowing to them and making them speechless. after all, she is the vice-captain of one of strongest Familia and an Elf princess.

"Please, raise your head Riveria-sama. for this request, can I know why only I can do it?"

Ask Bell because he felt puzzled by Riveria's statement. Riveria smile while explaining

"because of you, she can become more alive. You know, this 1 year after meeting you she smiles more than 9 years before. I think she also has feelings for you but when I ask her she says she doesn't know. So please fight and stop her, show her how much you care for her. Because now, that girl will only talk with her sword."

After talking again with Ais his morning, Riveria knows that whatever she does, she can't stop Ais from thinking about the black dragon and how to get stronger to defeat it. even her answer for that night talk is 'I need to get stronger so I will not lose anyone.' but Riveria knows how impossible that wish is. so she makes a deal with Ais that they will not stop her if she can defeat Bell.

Riveria's statement makes serious Bell go red again and the other girls of familia pout. Welf laughs and slapping Bell's back.

"but it's still too hard for Bell-sama to win."

Mikoto's statement like pouring cold water at them.

"well, you are right. It is too hard for him. But Bell, if I am not wrong you want to condense your mana to become an energy sword right?"

Bell surprise she knows and nodded

"yes"

"if you accept my request I can teach you how to control your mana more efficiently and perfecting your technique because I also know a similar technique like that. With it, you will more confident defeating Ais. but, you must know, my training will very painful and you cant not give up after accepting this request."

The room went silent and all people looking at Bell who thinking. Suddenly his body starts to shine which makes everyone's eye go wide but it looks like Bell did not notice it. The other of Hestia Familia know what its and only can smile wryly knowing that he already makes a decision. Riveria who doesn't know anything amazed by it.

"yes! Please teach me! I will save her with everything I have!"

Bell staring at Riveria's eye with absolute conviction like there nothing that cant stop him from his desire to save his loved one. The light grows dim after he says that, which makes Riveria smile.

'(What an interesting boy, it is like him when he wants to protect us.)'

"thank you for accepting my request. then let's start from now. we will finish this in a week and you will duel her a day after we finish your training. I know it is too fast but I don't want to Ais get locked in her room for too long time."

"eh, she got locked in her room?"

"yes. She tries to leave Orario to seek it by herself but got caught and Finn ordered to lock her up with Tione and Tiona guarding her room while Lefiya accompany her so she not escape and I will never let her leave except she gives me a satisfying answer"

"ah... Yes! Let's start training as fast as possible."

Bell decides to train in the usual place so he leads Riveria to the courtyard. The others decide to see how they will train so they also follow them.

Riveria and Bell stand in the middle of the courtyard while the other watch from the terrace

"so what must I do now, Riveria-Sensei?"

"Sensei huh. like Lefiya. First, let me see what you can do now."

"okay"

<<Firebolt>>

Bell put his magic in Hestia Knife then started channeling his mana to both of them. The dagger starts to extend by red energy. when He thinks its enough, he stabilizes and tries to maintain its shape while making a slash.

*BOOM!*

but as expected the red energy instantly crumble and exploding creates another crate in the courtyard.

after getting up, Bell looking at the crater he creates while sighing in defeat and looking Riveria for her opinion.

"How is it, Riveria-sensei?"

"I think I know your problem. So you directly cast your skill to your dagger and only command it to maintain the shape while powering it up by infusing it more mana?"

"yes, is it wrong?"

"well, unfortunately, it is a bad idea. It's like you trying to hit a stone with an egg. while egg looked stable but, when there an impact it's shell will break apart that makes it explodes. I must praise your dagger for able to endure and not broken, if it's ordinary dagger then it will be cracked when you use it that way and even if it's can endure, then it's will turn to dust after your slash."

'(maybe it is a high-grade magic item.)'

"yes! Hestia Knife is incredible!"

"is that the name of the dagger?"

"yes, Hephaestus-sama forge it herself"

"ahh, so that's why. Is it also the source of your dept?"

"...yeah, it worth 200 million valis,"

Bell answers her guess with embarrassment.

"don't be sad. If you have a more powerful weapon then you can do more than other people. For an adventurer, equipment is like a second life. If you have better equipment then you can gain more and your chance to survive in the dungeon is higher. for now, you must know what is mana and how to control it."

"okay. Please teach me."

"mana is a spiritual force and what adventurer know as mind. Mana is everywhere from alive or dead. Inside of each person, there is Lifeforce and spiritual force. If life force is exhausted then that person is dead except if they use special means. For spiritual force, if it's exhausted then their consciousness will get stopped for a while until it reaches the minimum level to start again. this is what we call Mind Zero. You already experience it right, when you overuse your magic and wake up on Ais's lap."

After chuckling from bell reaction to her tease, she continues her explanation

" The amount of mana decide the power of the magic so usually, the longer chant means the stronger magic is because we can gather more mana. but there some exceptions like your magic which is chantless. Except for the amount of mana, the most important is mana control. Even if magic will still start despite we don't control it but the power will weaker than if we can control it. Mana control is important because if we can control our mana better then we can absorb mana more efficiently and it will easier to manipulate our magic which you need for your new technique. Do you understand?"

"yes, Riveria-sensei"

"well, we will start with meditation to feel mana within your body. Sit down and close your eye."

Bell sits with crossed leg then close his eye while Riveria sits behind him and place her hand on his back.

"Now relax your mind and try to feel your body. I will channel my mana to your body. Do you feel anything?"

"...yes, there strange energy that moving around in my body."

"it is your mana. now focus, You don't need to answer me just follow it and try to make it move following my guide"

Riveria guide Bell's mana to move in the route which she usually uses. Sweat start appears from all over his body. He trying to manipulate his mana to follow Riveria's path but his mana did not move as he desires. He feels uncomfortable and nauseous while his head starts to get dizzy because his body still not yet adapted to the sudden change of mana's movement.

Riveria stops infusing her mana to let Bell's body rest before repeat his training.

After a few hours, Riveria feels that Bell reaching his limit she withdraws her hand. Bell sprawled fully tired and sweated.

"Let's end here. You did well to endure it. if you want to go to Dungeon, rest your body until you can move more comfortably before going but I don't recommend it because you will not be able to use your full force yet. it is better if you continue your training until you can circulate it unconsciously. I will come here every morning to train you for a week. Goodbye."

After Riveria goes out. Bell carried to the mansion by Welf and sleep for a few hours.