10.5K words long.
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"… Is this the place?"
Silver stopped before a large house at the corner of the street. It was quite decorated, its wood carved and its windows painted, gathering eyes from all passersby.
He read the plaque near one of its entrances, and nodded to himself before he climbed the stairs, reaching for the door, 'This is the place.'
{Traveller's Inn}
(Image)
/Knock knock!/
He waited for a response, and it took a while…
/Creak…/
The door opened, but rather than a person, he saw… pure muscle. A figure so tall its head stood hidden behind the door frame…
"Hello, how may I help you?" The mountain asked in a surprisingly feminine tone
(Image)
Silver was momentarily stunned, but he quickly cleared his throat, "Hello, miss. I'm here for…"
"Elily! Who is it?… Hm?… I know this dude!"
A voice echoed from inside as a dog-eared girl with tanned skin jumped from behind the muscular lady, "It's the talk of town, the boy who broke the Sword Princess record!"
Elily raised an eyebrow as she clasped her hands together, the wind pressure of her palms colliding strong enough to blow Silver's hair back, "I knew I recognized the handsome face!"
Elily's femininity was only hidden by her outbursts of force that eclipsed even Silver's… He smiled awkwardly as he closed his eyes. Focusing instead on the newcomer.
For the lady behind her, he recognized her by voice before he even saw her.
She had been part of Asfi's team when they were commissioned to investigate the Middle Floors. It had been a few days since they had last seen each other, but it was nice to meet someone familiar.
Silver greeted her with a thin smile, "Hello to you too, glad to see you're doing well."
Lulune smiled, eager to know the reason behind his unscheduled visit, "What brings you here, today? We don't usually get visitors around this time of day."
Elily sighed, "I was about to ask that until you interrupted us."
"Haha… my bad."
Silver chuckled faintly as he continued from where he left off, "I'm here to request a commission from Perseus. There are some magic items I'd like to see made if possible."
"Then you're in luck." Elily said as she smiled, her head finally visible, "She's home today."
Lulune put her arms behind her head, "Not long for long, though. With Hermes coming back soon from his trip to Rakia… our little vacation is about to go up in smoke."
"Rakia? Just when did Hermes leave for such a far-off place?" He asked as he raised an eyebrow
'So the rumors weren't a lie. I heard Hermes was prone to skulking in and out of Orario. For someone like him, it likely means nothing good if he's going somewhere personally.'
She tapped her chin, "A few days before the New Year. He'll be back soon, unfortunately…"
"You don't seem to like it that much…"
Lulune waved her hands before him, "Bah! He just shoves a bunch of work on us whenever he's around. With him, there's no such thing as overtime… because the entire day is ordinary work hours!"
"If you don't sleep that day, then that becomes your overtime…"
Silver could understand her pain, thankful he had a cute and understanding deity who pampered him instead, "Sounds rough."
"… But how is he coming in and out of Rakia in such a short amount of time? I thought going by boat alone took months, much less a week or two."
Lulune sighed, "He didn't exactly stop at Rakia… you see, he's going to meet our informant and return with her. They usually meet…"
/BONK!/
"HUAAA?!"
"Don't you think you've said enough? Elily! You have to stop her whenever she's like this!" Asfi said as she approached from behind them, smacking Lulune's head with a rolled-up newspaper
Elily chuckled cutely, "She seemed so happy. Who was I to stop her?~"
Asfi let out the greatest exhale Silver had seen in quite some time before she turned to him, "I heard part of it on the way down… I'm sorry, but I'm full for the time being."
She pushed her glasses forward, partially hiding the dark circles around her eyes. As always, she looked tired and overworked… or maybe this was how she usually looked?
"When aren't you full, Captain? Even during your rests, you…"
She turned to face her with a glare like a hissing cat, "You shut up for the rest of the day!"
"Eeek!"
Lulune ran away, vanishing from sight as Elily turned around as well, "I'll leave him to you, caps."
"Thank you for your time, Elily…"
Silver joined in too, "Have a nice day, Elily."
She smiled, happy to be acknowledged before leaving soon after.
"… Anyway, I'm packed with work. But I'll mark you on my schedule… just what is it that you want me to do? If its not too complicated, I can always refer you to others." She said as she took a notebook from her shirt
Silver reached for his pockets, taking a note from his pants, "Here it is, hopefully it's nothing too complicated to make."
'Who can you even recommend me to, anyway? In Orario, there are probably just a handful of item makers that can be mentioned alongside you… why would I want my things made by anyone else?'
She took the note and gave it a read, "These are… mostly training equipment, correct?"
"Yes, I've looked everywhere for anything similar, but no one makes anything like those." Silver replied
"… That's because practical training doesn't go far in helping you raise your Status…" Asfi said as she lowered the paper sheet
"Honestly, this is pretty easy to make. Some might be a bit harder, but its nothing beyond my abilities."
He nodded, "That's great to hear. When you have the time, just send me a letter with the budget, and we'll settle it from there. I'd be more than happy to provide you with the materials if necessary."
She crossed her arms, "There'll be no need for that, I can start now. For something this simple, I can finish them in a few days at best in my free time."
But he rejected her, "There's no need for you to waste your free time on this. Do it at your own pace."
"… Pfft… It's not every time I hear someone ask me to take it easy. But don't worry, to me, working on magic items like this is the best use of my free time… when I'm not being forced into it, that is." She said as she looked away, almost as if looking for someone to glare at…
She took the paper and put it inside her notebook, "I'll send you the details later, just don't be late with the payment, else next time I'll really throw you to the back of my schedule."
"Of course!"
And after a short greeting, Silver departed… under the gaze of several others.
"… The handsome boy is out." Said a black-haired catgirl as her tail swayed behind her
(Image)
Another girl climbed onto a box, watching him leave from afar, "Is this the guy who ranked up recently? The one everyone's talking about?" She asked as she turned to face the others.
(Image)
"That would be him, indeed. He broke her record by several months, becoming the fastest-ranking adventurer of all time." Said a brown-haired human girl as she turned to another Pallum beside her
(Image)
She smiled, "Do you need help to see him?"
"If you grab me, I'll bite your fingers off!" She replied with a frustrated glare as the girl chuckled
(Image)
/THUD!/
"… Don't leave me behind, I want to gossip too~" Elili said as she stepped inside the room
She put one hand on her cheek, "He's quite the gentleman-looking boy. Face and mannerisms just right." Elili said with a chuckle as the other girls exhaled.
"Go ask him out then, you can still catch up to him." The cat girl said with a chuckle as her friend… slumped down
Elily almost seemed to cry, "If I run after him, he'll most likely think I'm a Minotaur… that's not the thing for me…"
The brown-haired lady approached her, hugging her, "Don't say that Elily! If he doesn't accept you, if any man doesn't… then they're the ones missing out!"
Everyone nodded, even the quiet Elven lady on the side who hadn't spoken a single word.
Almost crying, Elily turned to hug her friend, almost cracking her back in the process…
It was just another ordinary day at the Hermes Familia.
…
/Later…/
Silver stopped by a small park, legs crossed. He opened a small journal and crossed another line directly beneath, -Sort out the loot with the Loki Familia-.
"… Now what?"
Immediately after leaving the Hermes Familia's home, Silver found himself with a significant dilemma.
With his contract with the Loki Familia concluded, and with the Familia within their own rest period, all he could do on that front was wait until they had something else lined up for him.
That said, even if they had something for him, Silver would be forced to refuse in the face of his own accumulated injuries, which couldn't be healed properly either through magic or potions.
His procedure, the "mysterious" knight who he fought deep in the Dungeon, and his last battle prior to his Rank Up all accumulated damage inside his body, preventing him from venturing into the Dungeon once again.
Even if it could, all healers would likely say the same thing: that he needed some time to rest, and sometimes, the best healing was doing nothing but staying in bed…
He had absolutely nothing to do… mostly. And not being in the mood to research, given everything that had happened, Silver walked around the place without a direct goal.
He explored the city, and in no particular order, visited some minor and major landmarks he hadn't had the time to see, even stopping by places he had already been to before.
The first inn he had ever been, the bar he hadn't gone into in a while, the Dwarf he used to visit to have his equipment repaired before he joined Hestia… it was important to see those people and remind them of that fact that he was very much alive and kicking.
He also stopped by some other places, such as Takemazuchi's workplace, where he manned a cooking stall near Babel, burning quite some time with the deity of war and martial arts.
His time to further his own martial capabilities was near, but today wasn't that day. Silver departed with a smile, holding a few snacks as a light gift from the deity.
He went to the Guild to visit his advisor, who was more than happy to parade him around and brag… though it didn't seem like the others appreciated his actions as much as he found joy in it…
Not that it would've stopped him… Though that was a story for another time.
Silver continued on his aimless walk, going through shops, ruins, places, and even considered going to the entertainment district for a moment… but realized it was best not to.
All it would take is one person recognizing him, or one word to reach Hestia's ears… and it would be over for him. A virgin goddess' wrath was the last thing he wanted to face.
So instead, he moved on, even passing through Babel to visit Hestia at work, and to see if there was any decent equipment on sale.
Though, as always, he winced at the values, 'Fifty million Valis for… a bunch of daggers? Who buys throwing daggers for this much?…' He'd think more then once as he moved on.
The prices made him flinch as much as they made him realize a significant factor about adventurers, the idea that the value of one's life was truly high, for there's little they wouldn't spend to get a little edge over the reaper's scythe.
Silver also thought about having something of his own, equipment that upon a mere glance could be said to be his, like Tiona's ridiculously large blade, or any of the Executives' weapons for that matter.
Nonetheless, he wasn't ready yet to fork out hundreds of millions and request that such be made. Until then, he was more than happy to punch things down himself, with or without a pair of gauntlets.
…
As the sky grew heavy with orange, Silver passed by the Hostess of Fertility… but was promptly kicked out by Mia who didn't want a single speck of trouble as they transitioned into their nightly form.
He spent a minute or two talking with Syr, but it seemed like things weren't going well for him today, so he left, feeling left out…
Arms in his pockets, 'Is the only option to go back and study? Man…' He thought as he followed Eastern Road down to the gates, the sun shining behind him.
After multiple days of excitement, going back to this felt rather sudden for him. He wanted to do something, anything… but he had to hold it in… He just felt like doing nothing for once.
Recovery wasn't meant to be entertaining by itself, but it was a necessary step, nonetheless.
His absent-minded self led him further east, beyond the gates of Orario as he ignored the rather clear rules of not leaving the city… and right into the School District.
…
"Yawn… might as well continue from where I left off." He mumbled to himself as he stepped out of an alley
'I'll continue scanning the documents at the library. That's the least taxing activity I have in mind.'
Silver looked around with heavy eyes, 'Maybe I should give those deities a visit. I suppose I did leave Idun hanging after I promised to work for her, given my past transgressions… She wouldn't be upset about it, would she?…'
He exhaled, tired, "Haa… I don't feel like being dragged as a deity's assistant either…"
But then, perhaps in response to his loud mumbling…
"Oi, you there, the bastard adventurer walking mumbling to himself like a crazy person. How about you turn back and go back to that trash heap of a city where you belong!"
A young, but stern voice echoed behind him. Condescending and rude, it held a certain sharpness to it, as if trying to jab at him from behind.
Silver didn't immediately turn back, instead, he tilted his head faintly to gaze at the mildly starry sky… and smiled… He wanted to thank them… thank the gods for finally giving him something to do.
For throwing a worthy sacrifice down his path…
So he turned back, a smile on his face, one so twisted even the boy who approached him flinched for a moment, "Yes? How can I help you?"
That would be the first encounter between the 7th's Squad, the School District's most elite combat class, and the man who would one day be called a demon by the students from generations after…
…
Silver turned back to face a young man in a student uniform, one slightly different from the others he was used to, for it had a unique chest protection like a small black armor plate, albeit Silver didn't find it very practical.
The badge on his chest told him all he needed to know. After spending a few days coming and coming, he had memorized what each meant, 'That's the badge of the Combat Department.'
(Image)
His gaze moved around his body, 'Which squad is he from? Is he on patrol?'
But Silver's silence only seemed to aggravate the boy's anger, "I'm talking with you, white-eyed freak."
"… That's a new one." Silver replied not with scorn, but with a laugh, throwing him off
As the boy grew awkward with how to respond, Silver continued, "Which squad are you part of, kid?"
The boy's right hand rose rapidly before him, "I'm the one asking questions here! Do you know where you are? Get the hell out of here! This place isn't for the likes of you!"
Silver raised an eyebrow at his aggression, "That's strange, I'm very much allowed to be here."
'Why am I even bickering with a kid? This one clearly has issues… actually… he reminds me of Bete.'
Once he put two and two together, it became difficult to distinguish both. They were similar, from their mannerisms to how to stood, even their speech was oddly familiar.
The boy gritted his teeth as Silver put one hand on his left pocket, 'I feel as if this kid is upset with something. Sigh, I'm not here to look over a brat… should I look for a deity to come fetch him up?'
He was still silent, as if contemplating how to respond, which Silver found quite comical.
'Looks like he wasn't expecting me to act like this… Oh well, it's yet another one of those kids who don't like adventurers… Maybe I should make this easier for him, give him a reason to get angry.'
'That'll make his day, I'm sure. Hah, what a nice guy I am… But is it right for me to bicker with a child?… Wait a minute, I'm a kid too… It's completely within my right to bark at another kid in response.'
His smile deepened as he reached enlightenment… Alas… not for the right reasons.
Silver threw him a glare, "… You lost, kid? Should I call someone to get you escorted back to your kindergarten? I'm new here, so I don't know the way."
After throwing his most childish insult forward, he didn't expect much from the boy…
"!"
But upon seeing Silver's mocking eyes, the boy's eyes finally cleared, as if his confusion had all but gone away, "I knew it… you damn adventurers aren't worthy of being here!"
"Whoever gave you a pass… they're severely mistaken, and I'm going to remind them of that! That even Gods can make mistakes in judgement." He said as he reached out for his sword
Silver's smile widened, it seemed things were heating up quite nicely. He couldn't let it all be for nothing… so he raised his left hand, "So what? Can you do anything about it?"
The boy's eyes sharpened severely as he drew his sword in one bout! "I'll take you out myself!" He exclaimed as he vanished from Silver's sight!
/SLAM!/
Before Silver could properly react, the boy kicked him in the chest, sending him flying into a large metal dumpster, caving it in as they slid off a few meters, sparks flying around!
"… Cough!… Okay, I didn't expect that." Silver said as he coughed faintly, groaning as he reached out for his chest, tapping the footprint as he tried to clean it off
His eyes sparkled as he too grew a little serious, 'Looks like I underestimated this kid too much. The School District actually teaches kids how to fight, and this one… seems to be around Level 3.'
After spending about a week with the Loki Familia on the 28Th Floor, Silver had more or less of an idea of how his skills measured up against a multitude of Level 2 and 3 adventurers, enough for him to determine how strong this boy was.
With his recent Rank Up, he felt even more confident. He pushed himself off the ground, brushing off his pants before stretching his sore back, "Hupp!… Phew, everything's so damn sore…"
"Stop moaning, old man… and get the fuck out! Before I kick you into the sea myself!" The boy exclaimed as he walked in his direction
Silver closed his eyes with a chuckle, 'It's almost cute to some degree. I feel like a bully for doing this…'
He coughed slightly, "Someone needs to teach you how to behave and respect your elders… have your parents not taught you that?"
"…"
The boy's silence was precisely what Silver was waiting to hear, "Oh, wait… you don't have parents? I'm so sorry… it was quite apparent, I should've known." He added with a laugh as he opened his arms wide.
/FLASH!/
The boy vanished, reappearing before him, blade drawn as he cut down at him with its blunt side!
/SLASH!/
The blade struck against Silver's shoulder, but to the boy's utter shock… it went right through him.
"Clench…" Were the only words he heard before pain flared under his chin!
/PUNCH!/
Silver punched the boy's lower jaw, sending him flying upward as he adjusted his collar and clothes.
/CRASH!/
The boy crashed against a nearby building's ceiling, immediately prompting the lights inside to turn on as Silver could hear others scrambling in response.
'… Better wrap this up before I'm surrounded by the School District's army and thrown in jail. That would be quite the embarrassing thing to explain later.'
"… Damn you…!!" The boy said as his eyes flashed open! Somehow, Silver had stepped before him, covering the entire distance between them in the blink of an eye!
He reached out for the boy, "Let's change places for a moment…"
"DON'T MOVE!"
/Swish…/
Silver's movements came to a sudden halt before he even heard the voice.
'Seems like we already have bystanders.' He thought as he felt the cold sharpness of a blade on his neck
"Luke! Are you okay?!" A young girl exclaimed as she ran forward, a young Elven lady standing behind, bow drawn as her eyes stood there, locked tight on Silver
(Image)
Behind him, a young boy with ears on his head, a werewolf, held a knife against his neck, his breathing rapid and regulated, but somewhat unstable.
(Image)
"Tche! I'm fine!… I was just about to deal with this… invader." Luke said as he refused the help from the young girl
"Quite the party." Silver said, as his eyes darted around
'Leon told me that each squad has four members. I suppose this is his squad then…'
"Shut up! Where are your companions?!" The Elven girl asked as she threatened him
But Silver didn't even pay her attention, annoying her, "Hey!'
"… This has grown a bit beyond my expectations." He said as he stepped forward, phasing right through the werewolf's knife, who was baffled as Silver walked away from him
'It seems the others have mistaken me for your regular invader. This might work in my favor.'
The Elven girl burst with anger, "OI! What are you doing, Cole?!"
"I-I… H-He passed right through my weapon!!"
"WHAT?!"
The only one who wasn't surprised was Luke, who had already experienced it before. But rather than say anything, he stepped forward, standing between Silver and the girl.
/SLASH!/
He cut down at Silver, this time without mercy, but like before, he phased right through him, even stumbling forward as he crashed on the ground.
"Arg… damn it!…?!"
"L-Luke…"
But as he turned around, he was shocked to see Silver holding a blue, freezing knife against her neck!
Luke's eyes turned bloodshot as his teeth grew stiff, "You… crazy fucker, get away from her."
The other two also moved around, positioning themselves around Luke, their eyes full of rage and concern for their friend.
Yet Silver wasn't even looking at them, his attention focused elsewhere… and this moment was exactly what they wanted.
/FLASH!/
Cole threw a small bag forward, which burst with light, blinding Silver while the girl in his arms…
"GET AWAY!" She exclaimed, head-butting Silver with so much force his head jerked back, blood splattering as his nose shattered like a wafer…
She ran forward, jumping into the elf's arms as Silver got to his feet, blowing the blood through his nose and cracking his neck, "That hurt." He said as his smile faded.
'There I go again, underestimating these kids. She looks no older than fourteen, but she too is Level 3…'
/Tap tap tap…/
With their commotion attracting the attention of nearby houses, Silver exhaled, 'This is a bit much for an afternoon venture. I'll get quite an earful from Leon when we next meet.'
So he reached forward, his nose cracking as it reconstructed itself, "Enough playing around."
/PULL!/
"Wh—?!"
The young lady who smashed his nose felt her body grow light, an invisible force tugging at her, lifting her towards the skies!
/Jump!/
Silver also jumped high after her, shocking all…
"I-Is he floating?!"
"That's not the point here, Cole!"
/FWOOSH!/
An arrow was shot at Silver, but it stopped in the air shortly after going right through him again, "There you go, and don't do it again. You could hurt somebody." He said as he threw the arrow back at the girl.
"Anyhow, I'm taking her, come find me in the arena… the biggest one, bye."
The girl tried to say something, but as she shouted, no voice came from her lips. When she turned to face Silver, she noticed his smile as gestured for her to be quiet.
Luke, however, was about to implode, "YOU! Come back here!" He exclaimed as he jumped upward, only to be sent crashing down as Silver waved his hand.
/THUD!/
As the others ran to check on him, Silver and the girl vanished into the distance…
…
/Fwoosh!/
Silver landed on one arena at the higher rings, gently lowering the girl down, who promptly drew some distance between the two of them as she raised her staff.
"You villain! Once everyone runs off here, you're finished!"
Silver rolled his eyes, "Maybe, I've played along a bit too much this time. Professor Leon will probably throw me somewhere to cool off for a few days."
"Professor…?"
"Of course. Isn't it obvious?… I'm a student too."
Silver's voice was so resolute it stunned her for a moment. Before she could even deny anything, Silver raised his student card, not his fake one, but a real one he had been given not long after he began training with Leon.
He pointed at the card as he gave it to her, who didn't even react properly as he walked to her, "See? This is me. I'm a newly enrolled student… Mellios Silver, ta-da~"
She was frozen stiff. She looked between the card and Silver, who was smiling at her, and bowed down, "I'm so sorry! I… I just attacked you without asking!"
Silver laughed, "You don't need to apologize for anything, kid. I was the one who added fuel to the fire with that friend of yours… Anyhow, he looks like the kind of fellow who is easy to piss off."
She was quick to defend him, "Luke isn't like that! He's… a bit hot-headed, but he's kind and cares for others, even if he doesn't say it!"
Silver shrugged, "I'm not here to lecture any of you… I'm just bored, really."
She sat down, her staff over her knees, "Huh??"
Silver sighed, tilting his head as he closed his eyes, "My day has been utterly monotonous, so when your friend came to me, I knew… that he'd be my source of entertainment for the next hour."
"So I'll ask you to sit tight and cooperate with me for a moment, okay?" He asked as he clapped his hands together
"N-NO! I'm not going to toy around with Luke's feelings!" She claimed, stepping up as she stomped the ground
Silver raised an eyebrow, a smirk creeping up on his lips as he lightly pointed at her, "You like him, don't you?…"
Her face turned beet red, "I-I-I don't know…"
Silver leaned back, laughing as he thought of his village, "What's there to be embarrassed about? Listen to me. If you keep this up, your chances with him are as low as the grass on this arena."
She looked around, "… There's no grass here?"
He gave her a shrug, "Heh... You have to up your game. Guys like that will never stop to think about romance unless you go out of your way to remind him of it." He said as he crossed his arms.
She gulped dry as her red face calmed down, "I'll keep that in mind… A-Actually I won't, because I don't like him!" She added as her face went red again.
As she said that, Silver took out a pamphlet from his shorts, "Here, take him out to check this place."
She took the pamphlet, "This is?…"
"It's a sweet shop that has something called, a "milkshake". Bring him there on something called, a "date"… You could ask a deity about it. They'd be more then happy to…"
Her face went red again, "I know what a date is!"
"Then go have fun. If you don't, you'll regret it." Silver said as he brushed his non-existent beard
She looked at the pamphlet and hid it on her uniform before giving Silver a light nod of acknowledgment.
He laughed again as he got up, "Thanks for the short conversation. Now, let's welcome the newcomers… make sure to act a little frightened, I'm still not ready to drop this act."
Silver stretched his hands, "Also… what's your name again? For the record, I'm Mellios Silver, Captain of the Hestia Familia." He said as the stone seat behind him retreated onto the ground.
"… I'm Natalinoe Cladfield, 7th Squad of Baldr Class..."
'What was that?… And didn't he say he was a student, how come he's also part of a Familia already?'
Silver frowned at her, "What a strange name…"
"Yours isn't any better!"
/SLAM!/
"… Natalinoe? Where are you?!"
Luke's voice echoed in the area… "It's time. Throw out your best scream."
"Scream? I don't…"
"Then I'll have to step up." Silver said as he put his right hand on his throat, "HELP! Help me, Luke!"
"?!?!"
Natalinoe's eyes shook as she heard her own voice come from Silver's mouth, but as she tried to scream, nothing came out as Silver lifted his left hand, saying:
"You're watching from the sidelines. Stay there if you want your little romance to come out in one piece."
She wanted to scream, 'It's not like that!' But nothing came out of her lips…
/PUSH!/
He pushed her back into the distance, and her cries of complaint fell on nothingness.
Silver turned around as a figure approached in the distance, "Now then, some fun, at last."
A very angry boy ran in his direction…
"YOU! You're not coming out of this boat alive!" Luke exclaimed as jumped high, holding his sword with both hands as he crashed down on Silver
Silver brushed his hair back with his left hand, "Don't disappoint me either."
/Crack…/
A large sword broke through the hard ground, rising faintly before Silver took its handle…
/CLANG!/
…
/Meanwhile…/
Leon calmly walked on the streets of the School District, having spent much of his day going through the reports each of his students had sent regarding their ventures around Orario.
Soon enough, it would be time to fully open the school's doors, and allow the children to intern across Orario and experience firsthand what it meant to be part of a larger Familia in the city of Heroes.
Especially now with the Loki Familia's return, he could now push things forward without having to deal with an upset red-haired deity… though he usually threw such things onto the academy's dean to deal with instead.
/Clack clack clack!/
The sound of sandals slapping on stone echoed behind him as a blond-haired woman approached him with a furious gaze.
The sound alone made Leon's lips twitch, but he quickly regained his composure as he turned back to face her, "Lady Idun…"
"What are you doing here? Aren't you aware of what's going on?!" The deity exclaimed, almost reaching out for his cheek and pulling it like a child as he stepped back instinctively
Leon smiled awkwardly, "Of course I know, I'm going there right now."
"At this speed? You'll get there by tomorrow morning! Aren't you worried about what might have happened?! I know you dote on that boy, but he caused quite some trouble this time!"
He looked away, "You know him well enough to tell he wouldn't attack a student. Most likely, it was Luke who started it… the boy doesn't hide his disdain for adventurers, and I can't blame him for it."
Idun scoffed, "I know him well enough to tell that boy would play along with things just for the sake of it. Don't you forget why he entered the School District in the first place."
Leon's smile grew stiff as he thought of the past. Right, a boy who infiltrated the School District to study at a library, and after that challenged him for a fight… was it too much to think he wouldn't pick up a fight if provoked?
He closed his eyes, "This is all my fault, not his." Leon said after a moment.
Idun let him continue, even though she could tell what was going on.
"After the rumors that I was giving preferential treatment to a student spread, several others have approached me to inquire about it… I refused at first, but it seems that too didn't last long."
"Luke was one of those students… he too requested training, but I refused him, for there isn't any training I can give him he already can't get elsewhere. Doing that would truly be preferential treatment."
She sighed, "I understand where you're coming from. Not all students can bear that… not after what happened to the last one you tried to train like that…"
He put his arms behind his back, stepping away from Idun as he continued his silent march to the arena, "That too was my mistake… but that changes little. I failed to see and help him resolve the resentment that built up in his heart, and that has led to a confrontation between them."
"… If you get that… Why are you walking so slowly?!"
Leon coughed faintly, "Let's just say… I'm a bit curious about the result…"
"You want them to fight, don't you? Do you even realize the difference between the two of them?! Luke is Level 3, the boy is a newly blessed adventurer! Do you want him to be beaten up?"
But Leon's expression wasn't so certain, "I don't think he'd lose that easily. Silver is a kid full of surprises… but above, I think he'll teach Luke a thing not a single one of us can."
"And that is?"
Leon's expression startled her, "The feeling of having someone his age he has to look up to. A feeling of having something almost like a rival… the feelings are there, he just needs to realize them a bit more."
Idun crossed her arms, but in the end, she merely walked after him, "If anything happens, it's on you."
Leon's smile returned, "Even if Luke beats him up, he's going to be okay. The kid is far more resilient than you could imagine… There's nothing Luke can do to him to take him down."
"Yeah, right… tell that to the nurses that had to heal him every day after the beatings you gave him. They came crying to me more than once because of what you did to him. It's not a good look, Leon."
He laughed awkwardly… but what could he say? He was just mirroring the way they trained their own people…
It was the only surefire way he knew to create heroes; after all, it was the method that created the greatest adventurers of their generation.
Leon followed the path with the deity behind him, ready to face the boy he hadn't seen in a week.
…
/Fwoosh!/
Luke's sword cut down horizontally where Silver last stood, but it only cut through air as he sidestepped to the side.
He tried to follow through with a diagonal cut through Silver's underside, but before he could do so, Silver's large sword was already in place, catching the strike as he stepped back again.
Luke clicked his tongue, "Tsk!"
'What's up with this guy? He's clearly slower and weaker than me!'
It was a rather uneventful battle, for no matter how much Luke tried, he kept failing to reach Silver, and whenever he felt like he'd strike him, something strange would happen!
After his first strike, he hadn't touched him even once!
First was the ground, it shifted and turned like sand and water, tripping and moving him around, then would be the air, sometimes it felt denser, as if he were swinging inside a jar of honey, and other times, he'd feel as if he were underwater!
Silver looked at Luke's movements, "You remind me of myself, without the kick that makes me special." He said with a scoff as Luke raised his blade, "You're a reckless one, charging in with little thought."
"You had formal training, but where will it lead you if you don't give it the time to shine?"
"Humph!"
Luke stepped forward, but the moment Silver was about to evade, he kicked the ground, raising a splash of dirt right into Silver's face!
As he closed his eyes, Luke took the chance to strike down at his chest!
/SLASH!/
"?!"
Only for his sword to pass right through again!
/KICK!/
"Ugh?!"
Silver twisted his body, kicking at his stomach while he was distracted, taking the chance to push the dust off his eyes, "I'll give you a two on the ten score range, but commend you for the attempt."
"So? Anything else to show me? I'm growing disappointed."
Luke almost seemed to growl, "Damn you…"
He looked beyond Silver to see his companion, who looked at them from afar. Seeing her safe made him relieved, but that gap wasn't something Silver would let pass.
/POKE!/
"ARG?!"
He stepped before Luke, crossing half a dozen meters in the blink of an eye, and poked both of his eyes as the boy blindly swung his blade forward, only for it to be parried away by Silver.
"Have you ranked up recently, also? You're not half bad for most Level 3s, but your cohesion is severely lacking… Do you understand what I mean? It means you can't perform to par."
'He's stronger and faster than me. It feels like the difference between when I first received Hestia's Blessing and a Minotaur… For certain, I wouldn't have been a match for him before I ranked up…'
'But that's not the case anymore. Not if he continues with this mild performance.'
Silver's gaze turned to him as he wiped his bloodshot eyes, "… I'll have to ask Leon about this…"
Those words seemed to greatly irritate Luke, so much so that he immediately opened his eyes and dashed back at him, surprising Silver, "Oh? Is this your weak point?… I see, perhaps our meeting wasn't so accidental—"
/CLANG!/
/SMACK!/
Making use of his superior strength, Luke pushed Silver's blade aside before smashing his knee against his chest, sending him flying aside as he ran past him, now standing between him and Natalinoe.
"Luke!" She exclaimed, wanting to step forward
/CRASH!/
But Silver interjected, his large sword flying in the air before crashing between them, "That's where you stop. This is between him and me. Outsider interference won't be accepted."
"He's right." Luke said as his grip steadied, "You'll just slow me down. So don't get in the way!" Luke claimed as he ran forward, taking the chance while Silver was unarmed.
Silver laughed, "Let's spice things up." He said as he snapped his right hand forward:
/Flash!/
"?!"
/CLANG!/
Luke barely had the time to twist his blade as an airwave slashed through the air, crashing against his sword and cutting into his clothes, drawing blood from underneath as he was sent flying back!
"LUKE!" Natalinoe exclaimed as the boy got to his feet, "Don't!" He exclaimed, wiping his lips before stepping forward again.
Inside his mind, he ignored everything but Silver, 'Something isn't right.'
'Everything he has done so far, this bizarre magic… when did he cast it? Is it already in effect, and if so, are those hand gestures the triggers?'
He stepped forward while Silver welcomed him with his hand, taunting him…
/PIERCE!/
/SPLAT!/
An arrow pierced the air, lodging itself inside Silver's left tight! From the bleachers, an elven girl stepped forward while the werewolf boy ran to Natalinoe to protect her.
"Luke, we're here! Let's…"
"Step back." Luke snarled, "Don't interfere. If you do it again… I'll knock you down myself." He claimed as he ran after Silver, resuming their clash as she stood back, flabbergasted.
"You… now's not the time to prideful!" The girl said as she stomped the ground
"Mil! Over here!" Natalinoe said as she called for her
The Elven girl stood between her and Luke, but in the end, seeing as the battle seemed under control, she ran back to her, unable to shake off the feeling that something wasn't quite right…
"… WHAT?!"
Her screams of confusion echoed soon after as Silver's and Luke's battle continued.
…
/SLASH!/
/CUT!/
Luke had been sent to the defensive despite Silver's utter lack of a weapon. He dashed and weaved through the area, trying his best not to be struck by his opponent's "invisible slashes".
Luke's thought stirred, 'Whenever he moves his hands, a cut follows through in that direction. It moves in a perfect line, and it seems to expand as it goes away from him while retaining its full power.'
'It cannot be blocked. Even if my blade stands between, it'll just cut through a tiny portion of it… Like water, it just moves unimpeded.' He determined while Silver swung his palm downward
/SLASH!/
A horizontal cut that cut the stone beneath him as he rolled to the side, not caring about dirtying himself in the slightest as he rolled to his knees.
'… He's toying with me.' Luke believed, much to his utter dismay and fury, 'Either that or leaving one hand behind his back is a condition for his magic.'
He had never been put in such a position before. An enemy of skill that could decipher his moves like the professors… Before him, Luke felt as if everything he did was nothing short of meaningless.
'Could he have been a mage all along? But what's with this nonsensical magic?!' He thought as he twisted his head, evading another slash as it cut into his shoulder
The cuts weren't enough to take him down, but they were starting to get in his way as his once white clothes were stained red… This couldn't go on. Anymore and he wouldn't be able to stand.
/PIERCED!/
Silver jabbed his hand forward, and Luke evaded it by shoving his sword down and using it as a pole, vaulting over it as the ground was punctured by an invisible strike.
/Land… DASH!/
Once he landed, he dashed forward! 'There's always a delay between his magic. It's not long, but I've been closing the distance… If I get to him, then it's over!' He believed as he reached Silver, raising his sword high before slashing down.
Game over…
/SPLAT!/
Or it should've been…
"Din din din~ You did something right for once. Good job." Silver said with a smile as his hand reached out for the blade lodged inside his flesh
Rather than evading or blocking, Silver did the unthinkable… and blocked his strike with his palm!
Luke's blade drew deep into his arm, going all the way to his forearm and out, but as the shock faded and he realized he had "won", he tried to pull it, but realized too late he couldn't.
Silver twisted his arm sideways, causing Luke's entire body to twist after it, "You've come this far, I suppose you can take a bit more of a beating." He added as he suddenly jerked at his arm, pulling Luke with him as his right fist fell straight into his face!
/SMASH!/
Luke was sent flying back as his blade slid out of Silver's arm with a wet slosh without even as much as a whimper… all the while the realization that Silver had been fighting all this time with an arrow stuck in his leg dawned on him.
'This guy… is insane.' Was Luke's first understanding of Silver as he crashed down, slowly lifting his head as his face burned with not only pain, but shame
Silver, however, stared at the damage to his arm, "What is Leon doing giving kids weapons like these?" He thought aloud as his forearm… slowly came back together as the spilled blood flowed back into his wound.
/Slosh…/
The sound of flesh reassembling was a strange one to hear, one none of them had ever heard before…
"Blerg… w-what the hell is that?" Cole, who had the strongest hearing of them all, asked as he noticed Silver's arm heal itself, groaning as he held his lips in place and everything that wanted to flow out
Mililia, who had the greatest sight, felt her body freeze over, "I don't know… I only know it's disgusting!"
"It looks like healing magic… just a bit too graphic." Natalinoe said as she tried analyzing it
Either way, the battle was still going…
/PULL!/
Silver raised his left hand, pulling Luke back as he swung his arm sideways, sending another strike at his stomach, leaving a deep gash across it!
"ARG!" He screamed, but his eyes remained resolute and locked on Silver
/THROW!/
Silver threw him aside, walking after him, "Your wounds have gone too deep. If you don't close them, you'll lose consciousness soon enough."
"Have you shown me everything you can do, or is this the end of your skills?"
Luke gnashed his teeth, almost screaming how unfair it was.
But that would lead nowhere. The Dungeon wasn't fair, it would never be… Its goal was the annihilation of all who invaded it, and if not for Ouranos, it would've plunged the world into flames as it did before.
He had to find a way, a way to succeed… but how? Silver, from one moment to now, has seemingly become an insurmountable wall. One he could not quite envision taking down.
'His wounds healed in the blink of an eye… Healing magic too? Did he whisper the chant before anyone could listen?…'
'So this is the guy Professor Leon has been training?'
He had to admit it. The man before him had the skills needed to justify his attention…
Not looking much older than him, Luke himself was one of the greatest talents of the School District, acing almost every exam, every trial, all for the sake of becoming the Hero he wished to become.
He poured his all, in the world outside, he faced knights, battalions, and the armies of multiple nations together with the School District, and in Orario, ventured into the Dungeon whenever he could, going deeper than he was allowed to, even if it meant risking himself.
But never had he been able to receive Leon's full attention, not in the way this man did… So what was so different between the two of them?
Just what did him, the greatest of this world, see in him to do what he never did to any of them?
An adventurer, no less?
He raised his blade, he would find out.
…
/Clang!/
/SLASH!/
/Crack!/
With everything he had left, Luke struck down at Silver like an enraged berserker. A continuous flurry of strikes from all directions, forcing Silver to never move his hands and only defend.
Without a blade of his own, Silver had to block with his palms and wrists. His skin hardened, scales forming on his forearms, cracking and splintering with every clash.
Luke couldn't understand the principle of his magic, and he knew it was too late to try, so he pushed forward, cutting, piercing, and slashing at every exposed section of skin he could find.
/SPLAT!/
Silver's blood splattered around the field, but the man's expression never wavered, as if his wounds were secondary. He took it all head-on, eyes locked on Luke, even as his blade danced before his eyes.
/CLANG!/
However, Luke's stamina quickly drained. Silver's wounds closed and healed, but his did not. It was a ridiculous idea for a lower-level opponent to outlast a higher-level one, but Silver made it look effortless.
/SPLAT!/
Silver raised his palm, "catching" Luke's blade and locking it in place as he let it sink deep into his arm once again, "I'm starting to lose my interest."
He smiled, "Let me teach you something, kid. Most battles end in an instant, at the pivotal moment of decision… Fear and hesitation are often the leading causes of defeat and victory."
"One must master both emotions, for a warrior is nothing without consideration for his own actions… but one too must be fearless, and face danger when no one else can, and grab opportunity even where it shouldn't be…"
Silver tapped his chest with his right hand, "Our greatest resource is our body. In a world where magic can twist everything back in place, is there a need to be so fearful about a little cut?"
"Of course not." He said as his head jerked back
/SLAM!/
Silver head-butted Luke, cracking his nose as he fell to one knee… even so, the boy did not let go of his blade as it slashed further through Silver's arm…
But like before, every droplet it drew returned to his wounds, and the little expression Silver seemed to show was one of annoyance, "You're better than most. But let's stop this here."
"Huff… we end this… when I say we do!" He said as he pulled a dagger from his waist, shoving it onto Silver's chest!
/SPLAT!/
Despite having a hand-sized dagger through his chest, Silver's expression did not change in the slightest, "There is a fine line between bravery… and recklessness. And that line only grows thinner in the absence of skill." He added as Luke's eyes shook.
"You—"
Silver didn't let him finish; he wasn't interested in talking any longer.
His right hand plunged onto his face, closing his mouth shut. At the same time, his skin parted open, blue crystals rising from the depths of his bones in both a brutal and fascinating scene…
Luke could see it, something gathering inside them through the gaps in Silver's fingers…
/BZZ!!/
A bolt of lightning flew from his forearm, traveling the length of the blade. It jumped to Luke, electrifying his body as his skin smoked and he fell limp before him.
/THUD!/
The boy collapsed, utterly exhausted of everything he could muster, while Silver pulled his hand closer, pulling the blade out of his wound before closing it without much thought.
He also took the dagger out of his chest, throwing it aside as if it were a toothpick.
"As always, cuts are the easiest wounds to heal." He mumbled to himself as a weak chuckle escaped his lips, 'Even as my body grows stronger, the effects of my Plasmids do not lose effectiveness.'
'If anything, they grow… My healing power has greatly increased with my Rank Up, and the difference is night and day.'
He looked back at the sword, which wasn't even stained with blood, 'The sharper a blade is, the easier it is to stitch back together. Compared to fighting monsters, people lose their composure far more easily in the face of the unexpected… and compared to monsters, people fall far more quickly as well.'
'Then again, I haven't had the chance to fight that many people to the death before… Leon used to grow surprised, but with our recent training sessions, his hand has only grown heavier…'
"Luke!"
The other three finally had enough, they ran after the two of them as Silver walked away to tend to his wounds. As for the man himself, he was already on his way outside.
But things wouldn't end so easily…
…
"… Going somewhere?"
Silver's lips clenched as he sighed. As he turned around, he noticed Leon, his half-smile plastered on his face… but what stood beside him was far scarier.
He greeted them, "Professor Leon… and Lady Idun…"
"A bit late for formalities, isn't it?" She said as she approached him
/GRAB!/
"AGH!"
Without hesitation, she held his cheek like a mother disciplining a child, "What were you thinking? Kidnapping a child and having a bloody battle in the arena?! Do you know the trouble you've caused?"
Idun shook Silver left and right as he smiled awkwardly. Leon, on the other hand, remained stoic on the side, "Thank you for handling things in this matter." He said as Idun's eyes sharpened.
"Why are you thanking him?!"
It was Leon's turn to smile awkwardly, "Things could've gone far worse. He held back and even tried to teach him. To me, that much is enough disciplining for this matter."
"Either way, I've been meaning to speak with him. May I have a minute of his time?" He asked, smiling faintly as Idun let go of Silver with a frown
"You are too soft sometimes… Don't you think you've escaped punishment, you hear?! You still owe me a lot of community service, and it keeps rising!" She claimed as she walked past him
Silver and Leon watched her leave, and before he could say anything, Leon broke the ice:
"This reunion didn't go as I expected, but since we're already here, I was meaning to ask you about your experiences. Did you learn anything of value during your expedition with the Loki Familia?"
At this moment, Leon positioned himself as he did with all others. A teaching figure, eager to see the growth of his students.
Silver tapped his cheeks, which burned faintly, before exhaling a response, "I did. It helped me solidify my ideas for the future. I think I'm ready to develop my Familia more, though right now, I'm on vacation."
Leon chuckled, crossing his arms as he looked back into the arena, "We're all busy to some degree, which leads to what I've wanted to say."
"Our training sessions… I'm afraid we'll have to cut them short. For all the interest I have in testing your progress, I'm in no condition to spare the time, no matter how short."
Silver smirked, "Being a professor is no easy task, it seems."
"The hardest part is keeping the kids in check. Just like a certain someone, they tend to have divergent ideas, finding themselves in trouble at a moment's notice…"
Silver looked away, scratching his chin as Leon continued:
"… With the third week of the School District's arrival, and with most of the initial reception of the academy to Orario. It's now time to move on with its true purpose behind this exchange."
"The trainee program, you mean?"
Leon nodded.
He gestured outside. At the end of the hallway, the ocean and stars could be seen stretching into the horizon, "This is the culmination of our journey. It is time for the students to experience working with their dream Familias head-on and to see for themselves if that is truly what they wish to do."
"We were merely waiting for the Loki Familia's return. While its uncommon for students to be accepted into their ranks, ever since a top student of ours succeeded, the reception has risen significantly."
Silver understood the meaning of his words. With every cycle, the School District grew in both influence and power, its scale continuously expanding as they cruised the world.
Talents from all over the continent gathered, their methods became refined, and the techniques they imparted onto their students deepened… And even larger Familias now had to pay attention to the students rushing into the city.
"I'll be spending the next few days reviewing and approving the requests for internships. I hope you can understand my request to postpone our training for a while."
Silver nodded, "In the first place, you're doing me a favor, not the other way around."
"I truly thank you for everything. If you have the time to train with me in the future, know that I'll be there." He added as he bowed to him
Silver really meant it. The chance to constantly clash with a figure of his stature was rare. To receive training from someone so experienced and patient was difficult, if not utterly impossible to get in Orario.
Leon smiled, "It won't take too long. Things will pass quickly, we'll be back at it in no time… We have a lot to review, after all."
"Haha…"
'I have a feeling he knows about my Rank Up… I'll tell him about it directly next time we have the chance.'
After exchanging a few more words with Leon, Silver left the arena, flying out of the School District before he was caught up with Idun once again.
He returned home, finally deciding to fulfill his part of the "resting"…
…
Night arrived, and Hestia returned from her work, visibly tired.
"Haaaa…" She exclaimed as she closed the door behind her, "I'm beat… mn?"
/Sniff…/
The smell of food quickly reached her nose, and like a man entranced by a mermaid, she followed it to the living room, where Silver was slowly arranging a small feast.
He noticed her before she saw him, "Welcome back, how was your day? Did things flow smoothly after I left?" He asked as a chair moved before her, welcoming her to sit.
"Silver? What's all of this?… Ahh, my day was fine… a bit tiring to say the least."
Silver put down a plate, turning to face her, "How so? Another difficult customer?"
"No… strangely enough, Hephaestus herself was the problem."
"Oh?"
…
"Ugh… I'm starting to regret telling the Guild about your Rank Up. We could've waited a few weeks or months before that. Hephaestus couldn't stop asking me about it… she almost accused me of cheating!"
Hestia stuffed some cake in her mouth, "Howsh dos she evbn know?!"
"… We can't change the past, so there's no point agonizing over it." Silver said as he smiled at Hestia, "Nonetheless, with how things are, people would've found it stranger if I hadn't ranked up by then."
'With my growth rate, its very likely I would've ranked up again in the near future. I can't be Level 1 officially while being Level 3… everyone would be suspicions of me then.'
"Sometimes its best to get the truth out then to let rumors fester."
"Once the Guild shares the news, adventurers will quickly pass it along to their deities and companions… Before long, even someone who works at a forge would learn about it."
Hestia gulped down and exhaled, "I wish things were simpler."
…
Silver ate a bit more with her before wiping his lips and clearing the table.
As he cleaned the dishes, he reached out to her, "Since the week is closing tomorrow, how about we take our time to explore the city a bit? Since I'm on a short vacation…"
She didn't even let him finish, "Yes! I'm too tired from working all week long! Let's go do anything!"
"There are so many things I want to do! Places I want to visit, things I want to buy… this house is amazing, but its still pretty bare, so I was thinking of going around and buying a few things!"
She put her hands on her waist, "Hephaestus just gave me my first payment, so I was thinking of using a bit of it!" She claimed, visibly proud.
"Then we'll do that."
Hestia helped dry the dishes and put them aside, but as she did so, her eyes brightened, "Oh yeah, I heard Aphrodite is still around, which I find odd given her personality… so how about we stop by the theater and see how she's doing?"
He nodded, "Another theater play doesn't sound half-bad. The last one we went to was quite something…"
…
Their conversation bled into the hour, and before long, Silver found himself stepping out of the shower, and closing the door behind him… another dilemma right before him.
Crossing his fingers as sat at the edge of his bed, he stared straight into the wall… "… I want to go there again."
The urge to explore the unknown was far too great. His heart pushed him to it, even though he knew he needed some rest first… to return to such a dangerous age, he couldn't do so without some precaution.
'Last time I was unlucky enough to meet quite a dangerous woman. I don't think its right for me to step back in there so soon… Sigh, I should listen to myself and skip it this time.'
"… But after I wake up and have a good meal, spend some time with my goddess… I don't see why I couldn't give it a try."
Silver closed his eyes and jumped back into his bed, crawling into his blankets before reaching into the air and closing his hand.
/Fwoosh…/
Gentle wind blew on the side, extinguishing a faint candle by the wall.
And before long, Silver drifted into unconsciousness… as another man opened his eyes.
…
"… Mnn… I should… I… what was I…?"
A man awakened in a familiar yet alien room. He looked around him, confused, but certain that everything was where it should belong… yet, something felt off.
He reached out for his head, gray hair spread around it, and pulled at his worn-out skin, which had once been rosy and full of vitality, "I feel as if I had quite the dream… but I can't remember…"
/Chuckle…/
"It's been a while. The last time I dreamt was… a long time ago." He mumbled aloud as he pushed the blankets off his body
The elderly man stumbled his way to the window, coughing faintly, his trembling hands reaching out for a counter where he opened a drawer, revealing an extremely extensive collection of… medicine.
One by one he separated them on the side, before putting them all together in a cup of water he poured himself a second ago and gulping them all down at once!
"Huaa… sigh… I've lived so long…"
'That now I look like my grandma… Hah…'
He put on a robe to cover his body, and walked to a nearby window to reel in the morning sun… 'The creation of my life granted me great power, but paradoxically, it also doomed me.'
He raised his eyes, staring at the scene before him: A city rose amidst the darkness, lights beaming into the skies, illuminating the void of night…
/Bubble…/
Bubbles blew from below, rising into the skies as a fish swam past him…
"I wonder how many more times I can repeat this…"
Antonoine Guilios, ruler of Rapture, stood before his life's accomplishment, wondering if this was truly the end of the line.
…
.
.
.
Notes
We'll soon move on into the timeskip I wanted to make, which will lead to... hopefully... more interesting arcs.
The next chapter's layout is already finished, and I'll try not to take another two weeks to post it.
That's about it from me. Peace!