Danmachi: Fated Hero or Foolish Demise?

Chapter 4 RW: Bell Cranel (A Boy's Desire)

Author's Notes(A/N): Hello everyone! Sorry for the delay in this chapter rewrite. Hurricanes suck. Aside from that "slight" issue, this rewrite has been MUCH smoother than the others. There have been no major alterations, unlike Chapter 3 RW, and any additions are nominal at most.

Chapter 5 RW might take a while as well because... Sparking Zero, and I've started playing Fire Emblem: Awakening (I just finished Path of Radiance as well). And in case anyone asks, I will be running Future Gohan, Future Trunks (teen, sword), and the one and only Goku (Mid) in Sparking Zero.

Just understand that I am very... very eager to continue the narrative with all the lessons I've learned while doing these rewrites. I can almost guarantee that the first arc finale will be legendary (if I do it right). But I think I've rambled on long enough. I hope you all enjoy this much-improved Chapter 4.

[Start SoundTrack: Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance -- Father's Back]

"He'll live Riveria. I... I know he will."

She had uttered that phrase toward her mother figure whilst by his side, her golden hair hanging low as she sat upright in her seat. Eyes of the same golden shade honed in on him, spectating his toughest battle to date.

This trial of his took no interest in testing his physical capabilities; they had been challenged earlier. Rather, he was against the foe of his own passive desire, the desire to step into that light. It was a longing that all those whose minds achieved a state of peace following the breakage of their bodies experienced. And broken was too shallow of a word to describe his.

More of his body was wrapped in bandages than not, and there wasn't a part of him that flinched, let alone moved. It had been that way ever since she stumbled across that... horrid sight. His unintentional performance of masquerading as a corpse convinced several members that he, indeed, was one. If it weren't for the faintest of wheezes accompanying his shallow breaths, she would've been fooled as well.

Her hands were clasped together in front of her, sweat traded between them. There wasn't a moment when her muscles were at ease, and her body remained tense. How could she relax when her gaze attached to the face marred with pain buried beneath an empty expression? She brought her left hand to her chest, feeling the heavier beating of her heart.

"I know you'll live, but... why do I still fear that you won't? You've faced and overcome so many things, so why am I nervous? Was it because of what Riveria said?"

Raising her left hand to her face, she stared deep at her palm. At the center, a portion of black wind dispersed from where an ember housing an equally dark flame was.

"Ever since you've got here, this disgusting flame rages on. Why is it messing with my wind like this? It... shouldn't be doing that-"

Through the gaps in her fingers it was like her fears started to manifest into reality. His already troubled breathing continued to slow; the wheezes became less common and even quieter. She squeezed her hands together, and her expression remained blank, emotions boiling underneath.

"Bell... who did this to you?"

"..."

The wheezes ceased, and she waited, holding her breath. Each passing second made her eyes twitch, and she displayed her teeth. She felt the ember gaining heat, increasing the amount of black wind exiting her body, gathering by her feet. A minute of waiting made everything, except the impure wind, stop. She leaned forward, sight falling to the ground, and her hair became a curtain, obstructing what her heart did to her face.