Chapter 7 Golden haired Girl

At night, lying on his bed with his hands behind his head, he stared at the ceiling.The boy was thoughtful.- "It was the first time, since I joined Family, that I saw Loki make that expression..."The memory of the afternoon hovered in his mind.- "I wonder what happened to leave her in that state?"He pondered curiously.Bell, during these two months, learned about the balance of power that existed in Orario. Therefore, I knew about the rivalry that took place between the factions, especially between the Loki Family and Freya Family. Both were the most powerful, arguably.Turning on the bed, he lay on his side with his right arm under his head while his gaze fixed on the set he wore.- "I'll need to go to the Corporation tomorrow to change the items I got and ask if they can offer me one more sword."The sword was unbarreded and leaning against the wall. There were small cracks in the blade, a few more battles, a maximum of five, and the sword would break.- "This sword is very slutty... But I'll have to settle for using it, at least, until I get enough money to buy a decent one."Bell sighed.- "If I asked, I'm sure Loki would buy a decent weapon, but... Even if this Family is successful, I'm still not a 'true' member of the Loki Family."Even if I was almost trusting Riveria, the same could not be said to the other members.Therefore, for Bell, the person who was suspicious of the members of the Loki Family, there was no reason to enjoy the Family's assets.- "I'd better go to sleep..."Bell pulled the sheet covering his body.And slowly sleep embraced your body.◇◇◇◇In the morning, before the sun was in its full splendor, a golden-haired girl woke up. She quickly bathed, put on a white dress with blue side stripes and took her sword that was next to the bed. Aiz left the room noticing that once again the corridors were empty, she went down the stairs - her room was on the second floor - and headed to the courtyard at the back of the huge mansion to train.- "I need to train... to get stronger."She silently repeated this phrase for much of the way towards her training 'center'. The girl had a stoic expression adorning her beautiful face, Aiz had put on that unwavering mask so that she could fulfill her promise.Everything so that he could realize his revenge against that monster that could devastate a village with just a simple breath.The Black Dragon with One Eye was his target.And for this target, she would get stronger, so strong that she wouldn't need a hero to save her.Even because who would want to become the hero of a revenge-hundry girl who could not see an inch in front of her when she was immersed in her revenge?She knew that she could never be saved and that she could never be a hero because of her heinous desire.Aiz was not becoming strong to protect someone important. She was becoming strong so she could kill that monster and fulfill her promise.She could be anything but a hero.A hero does not seek power for revenge.A hero protects the weakest and the most needy.A hero doesn't let himself be overcome by hatred.A hero is always smiling, even if the world is against him.She's not like that.It could never be like that.Therefore, Aiz Wallenstein, was not qualified to be a Hero.The golden-haired girl crossed the bridge reaching the courtyard with her very distant thoughts. Aiz was freed from her daydream when a characteristic noise of moving feet flooded her ears.Looking up, his eyes widened as he witnessed that scene.The darkened hair swayed gently as their movements flowed between agility and calm. The boy, known as Tatsuo Himeno, who joined Family two months ago, was training in the same place where Aiz commonly trained. Either alone, or with Finn when the pallum had time, or even with Gareth when the dwarf wanted to 'move' his bones.Aiz watched the boy with a certain curiosity.His eyes were closed while his movements alluded as if he were facing someone. The work of feet was so consolidated that it induced Aiz to see a translucent image of someone attacking while the boy skillfully defended himself.- "He's good..."Aiz immediately noticed.Even to his inexperienced eyes, it was remarkable how well that boy was versed in hand-to-hand combat. The actions and reactions made everything more than clear.- "He is an excellent fighter..."The boy proceeded with his eyes closed, quickly raising his arms in front of his face seeming to defend himself from a frontal kick. His body was 'forced' to retreat by the 'power' of the blow, Aiz witnessed the boy lose his balance.The boy was falling on his back, his posture was completely open prone to receiving a counter-coup.— "... He lost it."Whoever was the person he imagined fighting him, that person was stronger. But, to the girl's surprise, the imaginary fight was not over yet.In an instant, the boy raised his right foot with all the speed and strength he had in his body, just before falling on his back to the ground. The blow was 'certain' on the chin of the 'opponent'.Aiz widened her eyes in disbelief.- "Quick!"She would never expect a scam like that. The boy took advantage of the occasion to use a surprise attack. A counter-coup that would easily overthrow an adult without Falna.A chill caressed the back of his neck.Aiz swallowed his saliva.- "If I fought against him... If it happened, I would lose..."Because she is watching, the girl realized that even though she was a Level 2 adventurer, she would most likely lose in a hand-to-hand fight with him.Your strength could be a power, but there are no techniques. On the other hand, the boy could be a Level 1, someone weaker than her, but he had techniques to compensate for the lack of strength. If the boy hit a good blow, Aiz would erase it.Even witnessing a little of the techniques, the ones she contemplated were more than enough for her to have the science she would never win in a one-on-one fight with empty hands.- "How can I be as good as him?"Aiz asked herself. She began to observe him more intensely so that she could learn something, which would certainly make her stronger.As he continued to observe, Aiz realized that there was no unnecessary expenditure of energy in his blows. They were precise, fast and conscious.— "So concentrated..."With that vision, the golden-haired girl remembered a very old memory, a memory she hadn't had for a long time.(...)Golden eyes watched his father's back when he brandished his sword.She was sitting with her mother in the shade of a tree while the warm rays of the sun penetrated.He seemed embarrassed by people who watched him practice, so he didn't like to do it in front of others. But when Aiz's mother persuaded him to let her watch, he would always give in. After his initial embarrassment, he would soon be absorbed in shaking his sword, and his mother would watch his gallant face with a smile. And Aiz's cheeks always ran up when vision captivated her.She couldn't keep up with the blurred blade. But she could still say how beautiful her techniques were. His lower body barely moved when he swung his sword freely in all directions, as if it were the baton of a conductor. Sometimes he would take a big step and rotate, making a silver bow in the air. She could remember the melody of the sword whenever she wanted by simply closing her eyes.She loved to see her techniques.She knew that her father's sword was used to hurt things. And the flash of a sword without hesitation calling a blood mist was a frightening thought for her. But that was a sword to save everyone.A sword to protect her mother.When she thought about it, she was proud of her father. She aspired to be like him.He was the hero she dreamed of. The swordsman your mother loved.(...)That memory made her smile.A simple and adorable smile that adorned her lips, her normally stoic expression unfaded giving way to a mild expression, as if she were really the child she was.Aiz saw the boy sweep the ground with a clean attack.The boy was so absorbed in what he was doing that he hardly noticed her presence. He remembered her when her father changed completely when he was training. It seemed like he was in another world because of the concentration he lauded.- "They are similar."The words that should be a thought have become a very audible sound.Aiz didn't realize that her thoughts were leaked. Because she is so focused on her father's memory, she didn't realize that the local atmosphere has changed.She herself didn't understand when her body reacted.It was a matter of seconds.In a second she had her head upright and then her head was tilted to the left side.- "Huh...?"Aiz didn't understand. All she saw was the boy who watched come towards her with a very worried expression.- "Are you okay?!"◇◇◇◇Bell woke up unexpectedly, in a good mood.Sitting on the bed, he stretched out, raising his arms.- "Hmmmmmmm."He grunted as he took a deep breath.Bell got up, did his morning routine and left the room wearing a T-shirt and black pants, on his feet, the same low shoe.- "I'm going to walk a little before breakfast... Then I'll go to the Corporation to exchange the items I picked up and ask for another sword."He wandered through the silent corridors of the mansion. The others were still sleeping and would only wake up in a few hours.Bell continued to wander inside the Mansion until he stopped at the back. He arrived in a completely new place.The boy looked at the bridge that connected the tower to the courtyard, also noticed that that place was much more spacious and quieter than the front courtyard.- "It's a great place to train or spend time alone."The magic stone poles had not yet been lit, leaving the courtyard grass still bathed in darkness.- "Since there's no one, I'm going to exercise a little."Bell crossed the bridge going to the other side.He took a deep breath to start warming up, he brought his left arm close to his chest, a little below his chin, leaving him erect. With his right hand, he rested on his elbow and lightly pressed his left arm against his body. Bell remained in this position for ten seconds and after the seconds, he repeated the movement with his opposite arm counting another ten seconds.The boy, after finishing the warming of his arms, moved his shoulders in circles so that his joints would warm up.- "And now..."He tilted his head to the left side placing his right hand on the side of his head. Bell pressed slightly down causing the neck to also flex the muscle making it more prone to head turns, he held for the same fraction of time. Bell reproduced the exercise with the opposite side.After exercising the region, Bell shook his head slightly. He continued with a few more warm-up series so that his body was fully prepared. The boy took a deep breath making two jumps, and the following second, he kicked the floor cutting a distance of two meters in a matter of four seconds.— "Wow!"The boy widened his eyes for the distance traveled in such a short time. Bell was impressed with the performance of his body.- "The Status update should have something to do with this speed. Even if I was already fast, my physical capacity has improved."Bell remembered the basic attributes that were updated.Force: I 60 —> H 170Resistance: H 100 —> H 140Dexterity: I 60 —> H 139Agility: H 100 —> G 230- "Interesting. With this speed, I can increase the variations of attacks and defenses by a more comprehensive amount."He smiled with the existing sea of possibilities.- "My Agility Status can be the best among Level 1... which means that, in a fight, I can, quietly, have more diversity of blows thanks to my Status..."The corners of his mouth bent up.- "But... In a fight against a Level 2, I may be at a disadvantage. Hm... I would have to fight one to know if I could turn around or not."Pondered.Because he is a member of the Loki Family, hardly anyone would have the courage to fight with him.Bell sighed.- "As I don't know how much the difference of a level can influence a fight, for now, it's better to leave it aside."He sighed resigned.Bell looked at his own hand.He didn't feel anything special change in his body. It wasn't like he felt a power growing in his heart. But, for sure, the force was there. The speed he reached is the living proof.- "Hm... Let's test this 'power'."He smiled on his side.Bell closed his eyes and took a deep breath.The boy imagined an opponent. The figure that appeared in front of him, two meters away, had a female profile.- "Please help me..."Bell thought melancholy.The feet separated slightly, leaving the center of gravity more solid. Raising his arms and closing his fists, Bell brought his right fist closer to his face, positioned it on the side of his chin and the left one inch in front of his face.- "One... Two... Three!"And in unison, the boy and the imaginary opponent advanced.An intense exchange of punches happened. With his eyes closed, Bell tried to hit his 'opponent' while his 'opponent' skillfully dodged.- "Even if it's an imaginary fight, it's getting on my nerves not being able to hit it..."Bell thought with a slight frown on his face.In sequence, the boy repelled a punch from the right 'her', managing to hit the inside of his arm with the palm of his right hand. At the same moment that 'she' momentarily lost her balance, Bell firmed her left leg on the floor, slightly tilted her body to the right and turned her waist to kick her head-high. His blow would probably hit, but his imaginary opponent raised his left arm intercepting the blow.The boy closed his jaw slightly frustrated. Bell quickly lowered his leg to, the next instant, move away making a steeback. The boy analyzed in thoughts.- "My body is lighter, I'm also stronger... I feel that my blows are heavier and faster... But because you are imagining 'her' at the same level and with the same status as me, this imaginary fight is too even."Bell frowned.- "The Level 1 ones do not have the same Status as me... Better to imagine her weaker so that I can have a better understanding of my strength..."Imagining the necessary demerits, once again he advanced.An intense exchange of blows began. Bell attacked and defended himself skillfully. At one point, his imaginary opponent kicked with the sole of his foot trying to hit him in the chest. Bell put his arms in front of the xis-shaped body, he 'felt' the blow. Bell ended up apparently losing his balance and his body fell back.But it was part of the boy's plan with black hair.Bell purposely dropped and raised his right foot with all the speed and strength he had in his body, just before falling on his back to the ground. The blow was 'certain' on the chin of the 'opponent'.- "It's over."Bell smiles internally.- "Again..."He got up and once again started an imaginary fight. Bell was so immersed in his mental training that he did not notice that he was being watched by a pair of golden eyes.Bell threw his head to the side escaping an 'attack' while with his right hand, he made an attack on the 'rib' of his imaginary 'opponent'. He continued attacking until, in a surprise attack, he made a foot sweep. Bell dragged his foot on the ground 'drown' his 'opponent'. When he was going to truly finish that training fight, a voice freed him from his stupor.It was a female voice.- "They are similar."His instincts dominated his body.A small murderous intention leaked.The eyes opened looking for the 'enemy'.Still on the floor, Bell took advantage of the fact that his dominant hand was free and used it to pick up a small pebble. His eyes became sharp, his iris dilated while the place where he would hit was locked. For a moment, in a matter of seconds, his gaze crossed with the gold of the girl who appeared in that place.Bell felt his heart beat faster. But the movement of his arm continued. As if it were a whip, the left arm moved instantly to throw the pebble. The launch force was so great that there was a sharp noise cutting the air.The pebble went towards the girl's right eye.Bell instinctively aimed at that place. His mind, in a few seconds, judged the best place to reach himself to have an advantage in a possible fight.The girl, instinctively, dodged by leaning her head to the side.Some strands of his golden hair were cut due to the pressure and strength that the pebble had.Bell came back to him a moment later.His eyes widened in disbelief.- "Shit! What did I do?!"He immediately regretted it. Bell quickly got up and ran towards the girl who was standing in the same position, she was totally static and with a surprised look stamping her face.- "Are you okay!?"He exclaimed worried.◇◇◇◇Aiz looked at the boy running towards him with a worried expression.Due to the shock, she had not yet reasoned what happened.All she did was get stunned.- "Are you okay? Aren't you hurt?"The boy approached so fast that she, once again, had no reaction. She looked up slightly. The black-haired boy was taller than her, about a head taller. Because he is close, very close, Aiz felt, for the first time, shy.She looked at the floor, slightly embarrassed.- "I'm fine... I think..."- "Are you sure?"In your arms, a warm feeling. The boy gently held his arms while his voice was trembling.Aiz raised his head, to reaffirm that he really had no problems, but when his gaze met the crimson, his eyes widened slightly.Although there was concern, something caught Aiz's attention.- "The scarlet color is stained by a darkness..."It was as if he had lost something... No... It wasn't that.It was as if he had lost everything.For a brief moment, she saw herself in it. A lonely child in search of power so that she could move forward in favor of a goal that might kill her.- "But... He doesn't want to be able to..."He just wanted a place to call home. Or she interpreted it that way.- "Yes... I'm not hurt..."She finally answered.- "That's good..."He sighed lowering his head while still holding her by the arms.- "Hm... can you let me go...?"Aiz asked quietly.- "Huh...? Ah... AH! Yes, sorry! I didn't want to invade your personal space, sorry!"The boy, Tatsuo, quickly walked away with pink cheeks.- "All right..."Aiz said quietly. She refused to look him in the eye. For some reason, she didn't want him to see her face, too, pink.◇◇◇◇Bell noticed the strange weather being born, but the boy had no idea how to avoid that strange feeling. But for now, he decided to put that impression aside.A wave of relief invaded his heart.- "Thanks to the gods that her instincts are up to date... I don't want to imagine the damage that would have happened if the pebble had hit..."I'm glad the girl managed to dodge.But another problem involved the boy's mind.- "Okay... Now, how do I start a conversation with the person I tried to incapacitate?"The questioning flew by, but to to trim it was extremely difficult. Bell didn't know what to do.◇◇◇◇The weird silence also made Aiz uncomfortable. Unlike Bell, the reasons behind Aiz's silence were not related to what happened moments ago. She simply did not know how to start a conversation, because in all cases where she talked to someone it was to the other person who took the initiative. She sighed slightly, her communicative skills were terrible, negative to be quite sincere.- "What do I do?"Aiz questioned herself sighing softly.While both did not know what to do, a velvety and well-known voice resonated in the place where they were.- "What are you doing here?"Aiz looked back immediately recognizing the owner of that voice.A beautiful woman with emerald hair and eyes of the same color appeared on the other side of the bridge, she wore a mantle and clothes of dark green predominance. Riveria had a hand on her waist as she looked at the two children who were standing on the lawn.The girl sighed relieved.Riveria, for sure, would solve that strange climate that was established.The boy then took the initiative to explain what was happening.- "So..."◇◇◇◇Bell began to explain the situation. He told in detail what happened to Riveria. The woman listened carefully where, from time to time, she made some expressions due to the boy's report. The High Elf looked at Aiz who looked away, realizing that, most likely, she would also have to give an explanation. And she wasn't the best person to pass on information.Riveria sighed as she massaged the temple.- "I don't know, I'm impressed with her ability to do imaginary workouts or with Aiz's reflex for having managed to dodge a totally unexpected attack."Bell frowned. He had already heard that name... Somewhere, in fact... Where did you go...?- "Aiz?"- "Yes. This little girl's name is Aiz. Aiz Wallenstein."Riveria pointed to a girl who seemed to be frightened by the sudden entry of her name into the conversation.He had heard that name from Loki's mouth. Only in a different way.Aiz... Aizu...And with that, the understanding came.- "Ahhhh... so she's Aizu?"- "It is."Bell looked at the girl who contracted her shoulders slightly bothered by the boy's face. However, what happened next surprised both.Bell laughed.The boy who, until then, had only shown an empty and serious expression, was laughing with one hand on his belly.- "Aizu... Aizu... Really? What a simple nickname hahahahahaha."He was laughing at the nickname Loki had given to the golden-haired girl. For him, it was funny that his employer goddess was so horrible at putting nicknames on people.An important fact he didn't know was that Aiz was Loki's favorite and, therefore, this nickname could be even more hilarious if Bell knew this little information.Riveria saw the boy's cheerful laughter with great emotion. She had a mild smile on her lips looking tenderly at the boy who kept laughing. Aiz, however, had his cheek slightly swollen. She got sulky because she's the reason for the boy's laugh.This vision also impressed Riveria, who by having a much greater conviviality with the girl, knew how extremely difficult it could be to generate an expression on Aiz's face.- "Is it possible that these two...?"Riveria thought of something that could be a small fantasy of a mother wanting the best for her daughter, but her thought would come true. Not now, not tomorrow, not next month, but in a few years.