Loki's Renard

Arc 1 Chapter 1 - A New Life in Orario

Hey there guys, hope you're having a good day. This is the first chapter of Akihide's story, which I will be calling the 'New Life Arc'. Read to find out how our little fox is going to be making waves in the world of Danmachi. But for now, onto the story.

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Akihide Okami did not open eyes for two days and a night, finally awakening from Riveria's bed just before dinner time in the Loki Familia household. Despite the fact he had slept for more than 35 hours straight, Akihide woke up exhausted and with no energy. When he tried to leave the bed that he had occupied for his whole time in the Familia household, he fell immediately forward and landed on his face.

The thump was heard in a few of the ajacent rooms, so as soon as she could, Riveria entered her room, finding the poor boy still on the floor, seemingly kissing the wooden floor. The boy moaned in pain, before he began to sob as many young children would.

Not knowing how she knew what to do, Riveria stepped forward and took the boy, Akihide Okami, in her arms. She lifted him up so his chin rested on her shoulder and held him against her chest, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. Maternal instincts were kicking in, just like her mother had promised would happen when she was a young elf.

'It just clicks in place like magic.' her mother had said long ago. 'Trust me, my daughter, when I say that when the time comes, you'll know what to do.'

And damn it, she was right. As usual.

Once the young boy had calmed down enough, Riveria took him away from her chest and placed him back on the bed, before sitting next to him, keeping a supportive arm on his shoulder. "You've been asleep for 2 days now. Are you feeling any better?" she asked the boy. Shyly, he nodded his head, cheeks tinted red and eyes slightly puffy.

Riveria pondered her next move. She wanted to grill the boy for information, as Loki had adamently refused to relinquish any information she got about the boy from giving him a Falna. She only told them his name and his age. Akihide Okami, age 7. Riveria and the others did do some research on the Okami Clan, seeing as Loki made it a point to stress his last name and that he was the Clan's sole survivor.

The Okami Clan were nobles of a province out in the Far East, where their main duty was that of shrine priests and mikos. They had a magic that was passed down in their clan, called Kaizen no Mon. Their research only concluded a few details on it, and only that it was supposedly support magic of the highest tier when used by an experienced practitioner. What exactly that meant, neither Riveria, Finn nor Gareth had the slightest clue. It was either a form of enhancement, or some sort of healing and mind recovery magic. Given the translation of 'Gates of Improvement', Riveria was placing her money on the former option.

Other than a rough idea of what the Okami Clan was, Riveria had no information on the boy. Why he was here, how he even got here from all the way in the Far East, when he arrived or any aspect of his journey, such as companions that they should be looking for. Riveria wanted the information so bad it was killing her. But that would be bad for the boy.

Despite the fact she held him in her arms, which most would consider affection. He had only just met her and there was no real bond there. He was most likely latching onto her because whilst there wasn't a bond there, she may very well have been the closest thing he had to a maternal figure, which was a scary thought. The thought of a young boy living like that, all alone for so many years, was terrifying to think about.

Riveria put that aside for now. She could get the full story another time. For now, she had to focus on his health. And that meant food. "Dinner's almost ready. Would you like to eat it with us?" she asked the boy, once more only recieving a nod. She simply sat up and walked over to the door, looking back to check that the young boy was following her. He had managed to stand and walk over to her, desipte being slow. She sighed as she knelt down, picking the boy up once more before opening the door and making her way to the dining hall.