Danmachi: Purpose

Chapter 1

Author Note

In celebration of my publication of my work I've decided to post this chapter early. Hopefully you'll enjoy it, but the next chapter will take quite a while as I would like to make it longer.

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The boy was strange. Incredibly so, and while strange children weren't a rarity, Now and again, a few would catch the attention of the crowd. While the city was a mesh of strange individuals living shoulder to shoulder in what little space the city provided, a few of these unique characteristics would set them apart and attract the attention of the people. As for this particular boy, his eyes were what caused many to take notice of him. They were a startling shade of violet. Hiding a beautiful yet dangerous swirl of chaos beneath. His eyes would bore into the heads of anyone who was willing to match his gaze. His figure was anything but intimidating, and it looked as if a small gust of wind would topple him over. However, his eyes spoke of horrors within the world—scars that would never mend, never heal, and never be forgotten. As he walked past me with a limp in his step, I took notice of his fairly plain clothes, which contrasted with his distinctive eyes. From a long distance, the small markings on his white T-shirt and black shorts were obscure; however, as he came closer, the crest of a shield came into view on his left sleeve. Becoming a little more intrigued with this individual and staring a little more overtly, I noticed his small frame and how large his clothes were, as if the wind could pick him up and drag him for miles.

I sat on the wooden cargo box next to my stall as he walked past and cast his gaze upon me. Swiftly turning my trembling eyes away, I hoped to the gods he didn't see me staring, a slight shiver running up my spine. Glancing to my right, the boy continued to discreetly limp towards the imposing image of Babel Tower, the dangerous glint in his eye leaving a lasting impression on the various civilians scattered across the outdoor market stalls. The boy's resilience was admirable, but his recklessness would get him into dangerous situations, maybe even killed; it seemed the Familias would need to keep an eye out for him. A newcomer, especially one with an aura like that, could shake Orario to its core.

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The wall was made of stone. It was cold, hard, and unforgiving, but its coolness comforted me, grounding my senses and consciousness into reality. It reassured me that this place was not an illusion and that my unexplained appearance in this new place was concrete. Just as I had overcome the emerging panic that came with my sudden arrival, a hurricane of emotions began to overwhelm me, the dryness of my eyes falling away at the oncoming storm of tears, dampening my eyes and senses. I hadn't opened my eyes yet. The uncontained fear of the oncoming uncertainty is becoming palpable. I felt my hands vibrate, trembling and shaking under the intense stress of this new place. The tears had started to fall now, and no amount of breathing would get me to calm down. First, it was slow and shallow, like the small waves at the edges of the beach, but my amalgamation of fear, anger, and stress was soon overtaking me, attacking the corners of my consciousness and about to take over. In my fear of being overwhelmed, I opened my eyes, and for the first time in this world, I was in awe. My face no longer scrunched up in pain, finally relaxing and settling as the scent of mouthwatering bread, fried food, and varieties of spices wafted into where I sat, which I now realised to be an alleyway. Although not all the scents were pleasant, Sweat and body odour reeked past the darkness of the streetside. The mixture of smells creates a unique scent in concert with the city's atmosphere. If this was a city.

Regaining my bearings, my heart's increasing heart rate began to slow, and the staggering number of emotions just a moment ago dissipated until calmness settled. My heart's tempo became regulated as my chest moved up and down at a constant humming tempo, and the tears I felt on my face cleared, no doubt leaving a puffy mess adorned by the redness of my eyes and cheeks. I let my hands slowly grip my shirt's neck, a small habit I picked up after long hours of wearing stuffy suits in order to help me breathe correctly, only to realise the lack of a shirt collar and tie. Placing my hand on my neck, I felt the smoothness of my skin and the uncomfortableness of my limbs. Looking down, my breath shortened as I came to realise the shortness of my hands and arms. My eyes widened as my pupils contracted in surprise. My skin was never this smooth, nor were any of my appendages this short, according to my vague recollections of my life. The callouses on my fingertips, worn out by countless hours of typing and guitar playing, vanished; in their place, milky white skin, flawless to an unnatural degree and unblemished by years of working innumerable months, could be seen. Shocked would best describe my feelings; it was electrifying yet terrifying at the same moment. My youth was returned. My appearance, however, was a mystery; mirrors would hopefully assist with that, if they existed, as the disturbing feeling of being in someone else's skin sent shivers down my spine. Nevertheless, putting aside the up-and-coming case of imposter syndrome, my eyes once again darted to the streets, narrowing themselves to make out any familiar shapes or buildings. Anything that would provide bearing in overcoming this situation

As I began to stand up for a closer look, my youthful body seemed to betray me. While all seemed fine on the surface, one of my legs was suddenly assaulted with a sharp zap of pain, quick like a flash of lightning. Gripping the wall's crevices and hunching over to regain my balance, I recognised my right leg as the source of pain. Gritting my teeth, I resolved my will and prayed to whatever god brought me here to help alleviate the pain and get through the day to finally accomplish something that would benefit me towards surviving in this strange place. Standing up, I tried as best I could to practise walking in a dignified manner, walking back and forth within the alleyway in hopes of masking my limp. After a few minutes of enduring the painful jolts of my right leg, I was finally satisfied with my effort. Any weakness in my posture was meticulously eliminated, creating a domineering persona to hopefully eradicate any thoughts of assault from potential attackers. Breathing in, I readied myself for the oncoming onslaught of stares and curiosities. Finally, I lifted one foot forward into the light.