9 Time Skip

Once Bell started training again time quickly passed. It's true what they say. Time flies when you have a blast. In this case, Bell became a workout machine. With a goal firmly set ahead. He didn't get bored often and if he did then he'd go out and kill some beasts and monsters. All was done within reason of course. He was still without a blessing and no matter how many subtle winks and nudging, Zeus never came clean about being a god so that he could get a Falna early. Bell could only sigh.

Seven years saw Bell improve greatly. He mastered the basics so his grandfather began teaching him more advanced sword skills. He was also drilled on hand to hand combat as you wouldn't always have a sword handy. The repeated training and hunts saw his sharingan develop the second tomoe, but no matter how hard he tried it wouldn't develop the third. Something was missing.

Nia was of course still the same. Sassy and smug, but helpful. He knew that he was dependent now and he didn't care. She was there for him and he took advantage.

When he turned 14, Zeus threw and big party for him. It was larger than all the previous and when he asked why it was so large considering they were just poor farmers, he said, "You only turn 14 once!". Of course this wasn't the real reason. Bell knew why it was so excessive. This was around the time he was suppose to go out hunting a pack of monsters too close to the village and disappear. The original Bell thought he died, but this sly geezer just wanted to run off.

And much like the story, he did. One day he went out and didn't come back. Even though Bell knew I'd would happen, it still made him depressed. The memories of the last 7 years were hard to just brush off. A family member leaving abruptly on anyone would be depressing. The only solace was that he knew his grandfather was still alive. Now 14, Bell decided it was time to spread his wings and obtain that freedom he always wanted. He was considered an adult by this worlds standards.

He was able to choose his own path now and it was refreshing. Liberating. Within a week Bell has packed his things and left with the caravan to Orario. There was no goodbyes to be had. Bell didn't spend much time with other kids in the village because they were farmers. They had no adventurous spirit so there was no point.

Within a few weeks of leaving the village Bell arrived at the gates of Orario and his future.

<•>

Today was like any other day for Eina Tulle. She was at the front desk helping those that came

in to turn in magic stones or completed requests. It was a weekday so it was quite busy. Many adventurers were coming in and out of the dungeon trying to earn Valis.

After completing a transaction, the next customer to approach caught her off guard. Their face was subtly angular and half covered by long bangs enough so to make one look closer to determine their sex. Their one visible eye was as black as the night sky with a small nose and thin lips. The rest of his hair that was not covering his face was pulled into a pony tail that reached his mid back. From what she could tell he was probably around 14, but he was a little taller than average.

He was wearing a black duster with black shin and forearm protectors and his Katana was tied to his left waist. This was No doubt Bell. (looks similar to the hunter armor on the cover of bloodborne. Just no hat or face cover.)

"Ahem," trying to get her attention.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I haven't seen you before so I was a little lost in thought. How may I help you?" She quickly recovered.

"Yes, I'm new so I'd like to register or get information on familia's that are accepting new members. I don't know the process so I figured I would come to the guild office for details," Bell explained.

"Well, you came to the right place. Registering an adventurer can be done now, but it'll need to be updated when you join a familia. Also, entering the dungeon is forbidden without a Falna so keep that in mind. Here is a list of recommended familia's to join. Is there anything else?" She asked.

"Can I exchange these?" Bell asked.

"Of course. One moment please," she smiled taking the magic stones and heading to the back. She returned with the Valis and handed them over.

"Thanks. I will probably return within a few days," and Bell left with his money in hand.

At the end of the day Eina was preparing all the documents for filing when her coworker approached her. "Eina, that white haired boy was a boy right?" This was Misha Flott.

"Hmm," Eina was absent minded nodding before realizing Misha asked a question, "Well, I think so. His face had masculine aspects but also had a feminine side. Maybe it was the long hair."

"I thought he was pretty for a boy," Misha giggled.

She thought the same, but now was not the time for this. She didn't want to have to stay late. "Hurry and finish your work Misha. I don't want to hear you complain about staying late again," scolded Eina.

"Ugh, fine but help me Eina! There's so much!" This continued for sometime, but ultimately Eina left her to finish her paperwork alone saying she reaped what she sowed.

<•>

Currently Bell is walking through the street. He just finished reading the list Eina gave him. Most of them are big guilds which have their plus sides, but he would be forced to do grunt work for a while and he didn't want that. There were smaller guilds like Miach. The problem with that familia was that he knew they had a huge debt from the novel and they mostly work as a store for healing potions. The more he thought about the guilds the more Hestia's sounded best. In the story, she had no debt until she had the knife made and he didn't want that knife. Also, he'd be the first to join so he'd have free reign to enter and level in the dungeon.

'What do you think Nia?' Deciding to ask his partners thoughts.

*User Bell always goes on and on about freedom. Hestia gave Bell from the story full discretion. The others are unknown so the logical choice is to go with what is known.*

'True. We'll look for her. I'm sure we'll bump into her. Until then, show me my stats. I want one last check before joining a familia.'

*

Name: Bell Cranel

Age: 14

Race: Human

Familia: None

Level: 0

Strength: G 334

Endurance: G 367

Dexterity: H 297

Agility: G 322

Magic: H 232

<Magic>

[Sharingan (2 tomoe): increased visual preception. Eyes of Insight]

<Skills>

[]

*

Looking at his current baseline made him frustrated. 7 years of grinding himself to dust didn't give him what he wanted to get by this time. His magic especially irritated him. It increased the slowest of all the other stats and he used it with his eyes the most. When he got his second tomoe, the perception made things slower so much that his bodies reaction time could barely keep up as is. He could see far better and picked up techniques in training quicker. This was apparently because it evolved and he unlocked the eyes of insight. He can still do subtle illusions to trick monsters, but he figured learning things quicker was far more beneficial.

Rummblee~ his stomach interrupted his thoughts. 'Well, lets get some food. There are stalls everywhere,' he thought. Walking to the nearest one. "Huh, look at that. She's right there," he mumbled to himself. The stall he was heading to was being worked by None other than Hestia.

'Well, maybe fate had it that Bell would always join Hestia's familia no matter what was changed about Bell,' he thought and chuckled to himself as he approached.