21 Bell's magic
I need coffee rn as I'm writing this, unfortunately, I can't get one
~~
-Xian's Pov-
On the way to the Hostess of Fertility, I noticed Syr, Ryuu, Anya, and Chloe walking in the same direction as me. Syr also noticed my presence and approached me.
"Good morning, Xian," she greeted me, drawing the attention of the others.
"Ah, good morning, nya!" "Good morning." "Good morning, Xian, nya," they all greeted me individually.
"Good morning. Could I ask why you're all walking to the Hostess of Fertility?" I inquired.
"Oh, you didn't hear? Mama Mia called us all to help her feed the workers who are reconstructing the pub," Syr provided an answer.
"I see," I acknowledged the answer and walked alongside the group.
"I want to ask, where were you before this, nya?" Anya asked with a hidden smile, knowing full well where I had been.
"I went to Bell's residence to spar with him," I made no effort to hide the fact. Anya smiled mischievously, Chloe smiled with amusement, and Ryuu glanced at Syr to see her reaction.
"Nye hehe, are you sure it was just a spar?" Anya tried to pry further, grabbing the full attention of the three others.
"Indeed, it was only a spar. I have no interest in Bell whatsoever," I firmly stated, trying to establish it.
"Then why do you care so much to train him with a spar?" Syr asked me with a serious gaze as if I were her competitor.
I sighed tiredly at the big misunderstanding.
-
-Bell's POV-
After showering and putting on my armor, I bid farewell to the sleeping goddess and headed out with the hair tie I had washed. As I walked, I eventually reached the Hostess of Fertility, which was in the midst of reconstruction.
Upon entering the Hostess of Fertility, a small bell rang as I opened the door, and Syr, who was distributing water to the workers, noticed me and came over to greet me.
"Ah, good morning, Bell. What are you doing here?" Syr greeted me with a warm smile.
"Well, I'm looking for Xian. Is she here?" I asked.
Syr's mood seemed to drop, and she pouted while crossing her arms.
"And why are you looking for Xian?" Syr asked with a serious expression.
"Um, I'm just returning a hair tie she lost while we sparred," I explained. Internally, I was trying to figure out why I had seemingly angered her.
I showed her the long blue hair tie, and Syr accepted it, placing it in her pocket.
"I'll give it to her when I see her. You don't need to see her," she replied.
"Alright," I said, somewhat puzzled. My attention then shifted to a book lying against the wall.
"How to learn magic even a goblin could use?" I read the title out loud.
"Huh? Oh, that book," Syr followed my gaze and retrieved the book.
"A customer left this. However, the last time we accepted customers was before the reconstruction. Either they forgot about it or where they put it," Syr casually explained and lent the book to me.
"If you want to read it here, you can. If the customer who had the book comes back looking for it, I can call you to return it," she offered.
Glancing at the title of the book once more, I felt a hidden excitement growing inside me with the possibility of learning magic.
"Thank you, Syr!" I bowed and quickly left, making my way towards the dungeon entrance.
"Good luck in the dungeon, Bell!" Syr waved goodbye to me, and I waved back at her.
-
Reaching the entrance of the dungeon, I sat on a nearby chair and opened the book.
Taking a deep breath, I focused my mind, opened the book, and began reading the contents inside.
"There are two types of magic: inherited magic and acquired magic. Inherited magic is determined by your lineage and race, while acquired magic is determined by your mana or a blessing from gods.
Acquired magic must be self-actualized. Tell me, what interests you? What do you love, hate, desire, and grieve? Where does your devotion lie?" The more I read, the less I paid attention to my surroundings, and everything seemed to blur.
"What does magic mean to you?" a voice rang inside my head.
"Power, a great weapon to hold, to purge my weakness," I unconsciously replied.
"What does magic look like to you?"
An image of Xian flashed through my mind.
"Fire, a symbol of strength to some and comfort to others."
"And what do you seek to become?"
"To stand by Ais's side and surpass Xian's strength."
"Is that not asking for too much? Magic to surpass a goddess's might," the voice inquired.
"Then, magic that will grow with me, magic that grants me the strength to tip the balance."
"Is that all?" the voice asked.
"No... I want to be a hero, one of those people who are immortalized in myths and legends, and whose stories are told in scripts and books. I want to be like them someday."
"That's a lofty aspiration," the voice remarked.
"Sorry, but that's just who I am," I replied with a smile, accepting myself and my dreams.
-
-Xian's pov-
After distributing the last batch of water to the workers, I went to the kitchen to take a break there
while resting I sensed a gaze somewhere, turning my attention to it I saw Liliruca peeking through the doors of the kitchen, I wanted to call her but a sudden voice interrupted me
"Xian" Syr's voice came from behind me as she walked through the back door of the kitchen
"Hm? Syr" I turn my attention towards Syr ignoring Liliruca's gaze for a moment
"Bell came by and wanted to return something you lost" Syr handed me an unfamiliar hair tie
"But I never wore a hair tie" I received the hair tie, a completely normal hair tie without anything special about it, though the fabric was still in good condition, it was a waste to throw it away
Syr, walked back to the pub to help the workers again and I put away the hair tie and turned my attention to Liliruca, gesturing for her to come inside
"Um, I wanted to say thanks for bringing me here. Everyone has been so kind to me since I started staying around." Liliruca sat in the chair next to me and said with a hesitant tone
"You're always welcome here. If you need food or a room, come look for me, and I'll pay Mama Mia to provide them." I offered a slight smile and reached over to pat her head.
"B-but I can't impose that much." Liliruca hesitated, expressing her concerns.
"But I will do this on one condition!" I paused for a moment to see her reaction
Liliruca's face shifted from uncertainty to fear, but she turned serious, focusing intently on what I was about to say.
"You will never steal from anyone ever again," I declared my condition.
Liliruca's shaken reaction was priceless, and I couldn't help but let out a little giggle.
"You thought I was going to say something more serious, didn't you?"
Liliruca saw through my little prank and pouted, looking away, while I continued to chuckle at her reaction.
-
-Bell's POV-
Opening my eyes the first thing I saw was a figure sitting beside me, the figure saw me wake up
"Oh, you're finally awake," a serene voice said
rubbing my eyes to take a clearer image of my surroundings it was almost nighttime, and I turned my attention back to the figure, she had golden hair flowing behind her back and a familiar voice
Realizing who it was my heart rate and my mind raced on what to do next, and I decided to have a conversation
"A- Ais w- what are you doing h-here?" I stuttered badly as I tried to calm my beating heart
"I saw you sleeping on the bench here when I was about to enter the dungeon, there are thieves always looking for opportunities to steal, so I decided to guard you while you were asleep"
"Ah! Why was I sleeping in the first place?" I tried to find a reason and my gaze landed on a book that lay beside me
opening its contents again, it only appears empty
"What is that book," Ais asked
"Nn- nothing" I put the book down and turned my attention to Ais once again
"Thank you for guarding me, I didn't realize I fell asleep" I thanked her
"Be careful next time, sleeping in public places will only get you in trouble" Ais said and departed
leaving me dazed and confused, trying to recall what happened before I was only left empty-handed
and looking at the time, the only reasonable thing to do is go back home as the guild will no longer be operating during nighttime
