conviction

-Bell pov-

Feeling the sun on my face, huh, Sun? I opened my eyes to find myself in an unfamiliar room, a cold breeze from my body. I looked down to see myself shirtless.

But in the corner of my eyes made my eyes wide, a long-haired Xian sleeping with a peaceful face sleeping next to me.

"HAAAH!!" I was so shocked I fell out of the bed.

Xian felt movement on her side and slowly rose and turned her attention to Bell.

Red dull eyes looked back at me, and only one thought preoccupied my mind, 'Beautiful.'

"Good morning, Bell," Xian said while rubbing her eyes, snapping Bell out of his trance.

"Ah, good morning, Xian, why am I in your room?" I asked nervously.

"You took quite a bit of a hit last night and needed some medical attention, and because you were passed out, I could not ask you about where you live, so I brought you back to my room," Xian said, explaining what happened last night.

The memory of last night floods my mind, from defending Xian to failing miserably and finally seeing Xian pulling a sword from her chest and killing both the adventurers effortlessly.

Even remembering the sword gives me chills; it must have been a powerful sword to exude that much pressure.

"Anno, are you maybe an adventurer?" I asked Xian, expecting a yes for an answer.

"I never once was an adventurer; I just know how to wield a sword," Xian gave me a surprising answer.

"Then how did you pull a sword out of your body?" I answered the most perplexing question I've had in my mind.

"It's magic or, more specifically, soul magic, where you attach your weapon to your soul, giving you the ability to store your weapon in your soul," Xian explained how her magic works.

"Oh, so it's magic," I put my head down, knowing magic is related to unique skills, being that you can't teach each other unique skills.

Suddenly, an idea popped into my head.

"Xian, can you teach me how to wield a dagger?" I said in anticipation.

"Your conviction," Xian said.

"What?"

"What is your conviction? I do not accept any disciple with weak conviction," Xian firmly said.

Crossing my arms and legs, I thought about my conviction and came to a conclusion.

'Our princess saved him, and he ran away from her. Hahaha, how pathetic is that!' his voice rang in my head again, reinforcing my conviction.

"I want to stand above everyone else. I don't want to be saved again. I WANT TO STAND BY AIS SIDE," I shouted.

"Well said, I'll accept you as my disciple," Xian gave an approving nod.

"No screaming in the morning," Mama Mia shouted back to Bell as footsteps quickly approached the door.

Realizing my mistake, I tried to get up from the ground to look for my shirt but made a mistake and slipped in the direction of the bed, pushing Xian as well.

"I know being young is to be youthful, but at least tone it down," Mama Mia's voice was accompanied by the opening of a door.

Mama Mia saw a shirtless Bell pinning down Xian on the bed.

After some silence, Mama Mia slowly closed the door.

"WAIT, IT'S A MISUNDERSTANDING," I shouted to clear up any misunderstanding.

"Don't mind me, just don't be too loud; it's still in the morning," Mama Mia fully closed the door, leaving us alone.

Looking down at Xian, she looked at me with her red dull eyes, expressionless to the commotion that happened.

"Bold of you to pin me down, the first thing in the morning. Some people would kill to be in your place right now," Xian said with a slightly teasing voice mixed in.

"You know it was an accident, Xian," I looked at her with pleading eyes.

"Then if it is unintentional, please move out of the way. I need to get ready for work."

I quickly got up from the bed, and Xian rose and put on her blindfold from the table.

"Do you want to stay for breakfast, or is anyone waiting for you at home?" Xian said while preparing her work outfit.

"AH, goddess Hestia!" I remembered who would be worried about my disappearance, especially when I was gone all night. After searching for my shirt, I dashed out of Xian's room after thanking her.

Rushing downstairs, I saw Mama Mia looking at me with a grin. "Bell, do you want to stay for breakfast?" Mama Mia said.

"No, thanks. My goddess is waiting for me," I replied and rushed to the door. Opening the door, I saw Chloe was about to enter the door.

"AH, sorry Chloe, I'm in a hurry," and dashed through the street, quickly disappearing.

"Mama Mia, why was Bell in here in the morning, nya?" Chloe asked.

"Ah, Bell was sleeping with Xian last night."

"NYA!? WHAT," naturally Chloe reacted surprised.

"Hahaha, but the most surprising thing is, I saw Xian being pinned down by a shirtless Bell!"

"Would you believe me if it was an accident?" Xian said while walking down the stairs.

"Even if you tell me it was an accident, you can't fool what I see with my own eyes," Mama Mia said.

"Ah, good morning, Chloe. It's rare to see you in the morning."

"Good morning, is what Mama Mia said true, nya?" Chloe asked.

"I cannot deny that Bell did push me into bed," I dismissively said.

"NYA, I'm gonna tell everyone this, nyahaha," Chloe merrily said.

"Mama Mia, let us eat breakfast," Xian said, already feeling a bit tired from today's event.