danmachi : the journey of a hero ( volume 17 fancfic )

Until the end (1)

After cleaning themselves in the lake , the two rested by the fire. Now after sorting his thoughts bell decided it was time to ask Aiz about that Altar

" so , what was that Altar about ?"

Aiz was sitting while holding her legs , she rested her chin on her knees and kept looking the fire . she knew she had to tell him. About herself, and about her past the moment they found that altar.

Aiz:" bell , how much do you know about Spirits ?"

Bell :" apart from that they are rare and has strong elemental magic, my grandfather used to tell me stories about them , the Age where spirits walked alongside humans , but their numbers started dropping for unknown reasons"

Aiz:" yeah ,you are right. in fact my mother was a wind spirit , she was my idol alongside my father , however their strength wasn't enough"

Aiz:" 15 years ago , they failed their attack on the black dragon . In order to keep that monster away my mother sacrificed herself to seal it away and buy time , she kept using her magic to finish the seal despite the black flames that were eating her , I watched hopelessly while that monster killed my family in front of my eyes, i wont rest until i kill it with my own hands. " then Aiz turned to look at him .t her expression was totally different , a deep killing intent and rage was on her face and determination. it was an expression bell saw only once before ,when they were in that mountain village when Aiz was standing by the big scales of the black dragon

Aiz:" the black dragon also killed your father back then Bell"

Bell:" what?"

Aiz:" I heard it from fells , your father was a member of Zues familia , he died with his party fighting that monster, alongside many others , he was a hero just like you want to be"

Shock , hopelessness, sadness , happiness all these emotions filled his heart.

Bell :"but my grandfather said"

Aiz:" he was hiding the truth from you , so you don't grow up with hatred filling you heart like me "somehow  knowing that made feel a little at ease. his family always cared about him. until the very last.

Bell :" I see "

Aiz:" aren't you sad ?"

Bell :" I am , but I am also happy , because my father was a hero , just like the ones in  my grandfather's stories , I am proud of him. Because I am his son , I have to work harder so they can be proud of me too"

Aiz smiled back to bell , all the turmoil in her heart died down, something about bell's voice made her always at ease

Aiz:" they are proud of you bell"

That night ,under the lights of the crystals that were reflected on the lake surface , two figures sitting side by side .their faces got closer to each other until no gap was there. That was the couples first ever kiss. He was experiencing what his grandfather always talked about. How to start his love story in the dungeon. That was what adventures are about.

Aiz:" that Altar was a spirit tomb , it is built to honor a fallen spirit .under that plate are the remains of the fallen , probably an old adventurer died there and her friends made it for her "

Bell :" but the Altar we found was "

Aiz:" broken , I have an idea about who might ve done that" then she turned back to bell who was waiting for her to continue

Aiz:" but that's a matter for another time , we need to take care of you first "

Bell :"yeah , I understand" despite bell holding on all this time , he couldn't help but feel bad about dragging Aiz down here, it was a great adventure , he never imagined it would be like this , but at the end of the day , he was the dragging her here with him.

That guilt and the idea of something going wrong down here kept bothering him for a while.

Aiz :" we are finally out of the forest, and yet again"

Bell :" no traces of monsters " they were looking around the exist of the 66 floor , many strange things can happen in the dungeon , but the lack of monsters was always a bad omen.

*GRUUUUUU*

A deep howling came from the front , just were there map indicated the path to the next floor.

Bell :" Aiz! This is bad"

Aiz :" A boss , it must ve been nesting on both floors , that's why there was no monsters around!"

Bell :" we need to find another way around it"

Aiz and bell were on guard , they backed off and waited the arrive of this monster with terrifying killing intent , however time passed and only the howling can be heard.

Bell:" why its not coming out ?"

Aiz:" be careful"

Bell kept looking around the Area , and soon he noticed something. On the corner of the floor between rocks , a figure of a monster with torn armor can bee seen.

Bell :" that cant be!"