Chapter 7

My eyes drooped, the exertion of the day had caught up to me. I was tired, the only thing keeping me from falling into oblivion was that I was not in a bed. Though that was soon remedied as Atalanta brought me up to the room, her hand in mine as she guided me.

A click, it had jolted me from my sleepy state and back to reality. Atalanta had opened the door, the key already placed back into her pocket… did Atalanta even have one? I curiously looked at her. My eyes searched for any signs of a pocket but found none.

"Little one?" Atalanta questioned, her face glanced down at mine.

"Ah…" I didn't know what to say, embarrassed by my staring, I could only stutter. No words came out of my mouth.

"Is something the matter?" She questioned again, though this time she had kneeled down, her face level to my own.

"No, just… tired" I quietly said, making a show of yawning and dropping my eyes.

"Is that so" Atalanta murmured, her smile turning into a playful one.

"In that case…" before she had even finished her sentence she had quickly seeped me off my feet, placing me in her arms as she walked over to the bed.

The covers were folded over so as to reveal an opening.

I watched on as Atalanta took hold of my clothes and stripped me of most of them, leaving me in only my pants then placed me in the bed.

I watched further as Atalanta did the same, discarding her clothes revealing most of her body as the only pieces left were her underwear. With that she was done and entered the covers with me, her arms wrapped around me as she hummed a soothing lullaby.

My eyes drooped again, the music that echoed in my ears lulled me to sleep.

…

I woke to the feeling of my ears being pet, a soft lullaby being sung to me. The sun's rays pounded on my freshly opened eyes.

"Atalanta?" I questioned, my head turning towards her own.

"Yes, little Inari" She answers, a slight smile playing upon her lips.

"Why are you petting my hair"

"Do you not like it…" Atalanta softly asks, her eyes staring down on me.

"No…" I start, my voice barely a whisper. "It's just why… why treat me so well, like- like your own child."

I could feel the slight tears that started to form in my eyes but I sucked them back up. I didn't want Atalanta to see them.

"Thank you" I whispered, my voice tiny in tone.

…

I sat in the bathroom with Atalanta behind me playing with my hair. A comb in her hand as she brushed it down and styled it. I could feel the blush on my face as she stood in barely anything with me in the bathroom.

Though I couldn't help but be curious about what Atalanta looked like in the swimsuit like clothes that she was wearing.

"There… done." Atalanta stated, her back turning to leave the bathroom. It was then that I took a sneaky glance back at Atalanta and what I saw was beautiful. I couldn't describe it in words but I knew that it was more elegant, more pretty, more of everything than even the gods that I had currently seen. It was like perfection incarnate.

However, just as soon as I had seen that picturesque sight did it disappear. Atalanta had left the bathroom for me to change into comfortable clothes.

…

I took my time in the bathroom, still dazed by the beauty that Atalanta had shown me. My wandered in wonder, thoughts that I shouldn't have had at such a young age m. The doctors had said so but still I couldn't help my thoughts as they wandered towards what Atalanta would have looked like naked.

My cheeks flushed at the thought, my head filled with the sight of her naked.

My head shook under my command as I tried my best to shake those thoughts out of my head.

Water fell from my hair, a residual from the shower that I had taken. The styled hair that Atalanta had given me was shaken up. The general form was still there but it had this wild charm to it.

With that I put my clothes on and walked through the door where Atalanta was waiting for me.

"Finally ready?" She asked, her voice soft as she smiled down at me with a knowing smile.

"Y- yeah" I stuttered. Atalanta had ignored that though, not commenting on the slight stutter despite how obvious it was that she had seen it.

…

I walked down the street, my hand in Atalanta's own as she led me towards somewhere. I didn't know where we were going, all I knew was that after we had eaten breakfast I was dragged off to somewhere.

A tiny smile was on Atalanta's face as she seemed to be pleased with wherever she was taking me.

Eventually after some time of walking we found ourselves outside of Babel. Though instead of walking in towards the dungeon we instead went towards the shopping center.

At the end of the hall was an elevator. Sometimes I was truly shocked by the modern amenities that this world had compared to the truly medieval aspect that it had.

It had elevators, devices that mimicked the modern world with magic stones, yet no guns, bows and crossbows the closest thing.

Those thoughts were discarded as I found myself being led into the elevator, the cage like thing bringing us upwards.

In but moments the cage opened and I found myself face to face with shops that were full of weapons.

None of them appealed to me though.the swords, spears, and other exotic weapons were plain and uninspired to me.

It may have been because I wanted to imitate Atalanta, to be like her. However I wasn't concerned about that.

What I was concerned about was the store that Atalanta had led me to.

We had gone past all of the cheap looking stores and had been led into this expensive shop.

My eye may not have been trained for luxury but this was like a brick to the head. You couldn't not notice it.

The luxury and quality of everything around here was something that anyone could notice. Even one that had never been shopping.

The walls were decorated with swords and shields that were gilded in a gold like substance with elaborate patterns all around them.

Even to my undeveloped senses I could feel the magic flowing off of them. Enchantments, I was sure of it. Though for some reason they felt lackluster. As if they were lesser than they could have been.

Though that sense was drowned out by the distaste and discomfort that I felt at the steel of their blades. It was like I would be burned by just the sight of them.

My ears lowered to my head and my tail fluffed itself as I scowled unconsciously.

It was a facet of myself that I was just discovering. I didn't even know why I was like this.

I had been near metal things my whole life but it was only now that this happened. It confused me.

However that confusion was not long lived as soon after we entered Atalanta had noticed my discomfort and brought me into her embrace. Not mindful of the watchful gazes of the other customers in the store.

The looks of distaste at our state of dress, nor the lustful looks they gave Atalanta and strangely me. Though the ones that were aimed at me were met with a quick scowl from Atalanta that had them rearing their heads back.

Despite all of that Atalanta still brought me to the front of the store where the owner of the shop, a middle aged dwarf was sitting bored. Like he was waiting for something.

His eyes lit up at our approach though, as if something was interesting about us.

"I'll be right back with it" He said, his eyes glancing down to me as he stopped himself from saying what this 'it' was.

I looked up to Atalanta but she said nothing either. Whatever this was, it was meant to be a surprise.

In just moments the dwarf was back but now he was carrying something with reverence. It was a box that was shaped like a bow that also came with another package that looked like a quiver. I could quickly guess what it was but not why the dwarf seemed so happy.

When he sat it down at the counter I quickly glanced at it with curiosity, the discomfort that came from being near metal fading from me as my eyes shone with curiosity of what it was that Atalanta had gotten me.

It was obviously a custom made bow but what did it look like, feel like, and most importantly shoot like.

All of these thoughts flew through my mind like a hyperactive child as my tail not so subtly twisted around in excitement.

"I trust the payment was enough"

"Girly, I would have done this for free. Not all the time you get to see something crafted so beautifully, not to mention the enchantments."

The conversation continued on that way but my eyes were still glued to the package. It was like chocolate to a child. I wanted it.

…

We were back on the elevator, the package in my hand as we descended into the guilds space. I was so excited to open this and test it out.

As the fate opened into the guild again I couldn't contain the excitement and ended up held back by Atalanta.

She sighed, one of exasperation. However instead of reprimanding me just as the hospital staff would if I ever did anything wrong she just dragged me over to a bench outside of Babel.

"Go ahead"

I just nodded and opened the package. I couldn't help but gasp at what I saw.

It was a bow made of wood and some other thing. It was strong and durable but the most important part was that it was almost an exact replica of Atalanta's bow.

I jumped off the seat and held it in my hand. It was the perfect size for me at my current height.

Closing my eyes I imitated Atalanta's stance and breathed in. I focused and pulled the string back. An imaginary arrow being pulled with it.

I could feel the strain of something deep within me however I ignored that in favor of continuing with the mental exercise.

"Hah" I breathed out just as I released the imaginary arrow.

"Wha-" I gasped in pain, rods of molten metal pouring down my spine as I felt the pain increase and increase some more.

My teeth grit as if to lessen the pain but all it did was give me something to focus on.

Instantly I could feel the warm embrace of Atalanta but that didn't stop the pain that I felt. It only lessened it.

Drops of something wet poured down my face. 'Tears' I idly thought through the pain.

My brain tried to focus on anything but the pain but it was all that I could do.

Eventually it started to fade but by that point my body was exhausted, my eyes drooping as the adrenaline left my body.

Slowly the world faded to black.

…

My hands were immediately upon Inari as he started to writhe in pain.

For a second I couldn't identify what had happened. However it hit me soon after, inari had somehow unlocked his magic circuits. However with the concentration of mana in the air they were overwhelmed. If it wasn't for me siphoning the energy from him the excess mana would have killed him.

I watched as tears flowed down his face, how he tended when I started to let his ears.

It was harrowing seeing how the pain was affecting Inari and I could do nothing but watch.

I took solace in the fact that I had saved him. Inari may not have been saved from pain but at least he would not die.

It was only then that I looked around and scowled. There were several onlookers that seemed to be highly interested in my business.

I could even count a couple gods that seemed to think that Inari's suffering was worthy entertainment.

I wouldn't stand for that, he was my charge, mine.

Protective instincts flared in mind as I scooped him into my arms and started to walk away.

…

The door was opened silently, I glared at the waitresses and they just whistled, going back to whatever work they were doing.

Once I had seen them out of my way I walked up into our rented room.

Gently I laid Inari down onto the bed. Sweat poured down his face, as even in sleep he Inari was in pain.

I could only watch on in helplessness as Inari suffered. The only thing that I could think of to help was a small washcloth that had been soaked in cold water.

It would help to regulate the temperature. Every so often I would change it, making sure to wipe the sweat off of him before putting a new one on.

It was the only thing that I could do other than siphon more and more mana.

Eventually night fell, the sound of the pub opening passing through me. The rooms were halfway soundproof but it did nothing to stop the sound of the pub from reaching us.

To this I could do nothing either, it was their business and they were free to run it however they pleased.

"Guh" I unconsciously groaned. I felt helpless, as if all my strength meant nothing. I could not heal Inari nor could I even lessen his pain.

It was failure after failure today. This child, Inari, one that may practically be my own, was in pain and could never be forever unless his circuits adapted but what were the chances of that.

I scowled, not at anyone else this time, but at myself. I felt profoundly useless.

….

A/N: quick question, do you guys want them to join a familia or go without one?

Yes

No