Forbidden Love

Familia

"Status" refers to the blessing of receiving a Falna from a faction's patron deity. Without it, one cannot claim the title of adventurer in Labyrinth City. I gather all my energy and resolve before approaching the headquarters of one of the city's numerous Familias, each distinguished by its unique emblems. That was, at least, my initial intention.

*SLAM! *

"Rejected again..." is all I can manage to say, having lost a great deal of my confidence.

It's already afternoon... I went to a nearby avenue rest after being rejected ten times in a row.

I sit on a stone curb, my head hanging gloomily.

The desire to join a familia is not as straightforward as it seems. Despite my intense determination, the reception from all the familias I have approached has been decidedly cold.

Most of them turned me away on sight.

Arriving directly from the countryside, I find myself completely unarmed, without a single weapon to claim as my own. My appearance undoubtedly screams "peasant." It's hard to imagine any familias seeing me as a desirable recruit.

"Race probably plays a role in this as well..."

As I walked away from my tenth rejection, I saw a male elf approaching the very familia that had just dismissed me. They welcomed him warmly.

The barriers of race are perceivable in the cold shoulders and scornful looks I encounter at nearly every turn. It's commonly understood that humans and prum are often viewed as less desirable adventurers compared to other races.

After sighing for the umpteenth time, I slap my cheeks and look up. There's no point in wallowing in self-pity. If I have enough energy for that, I can muster the energy to find a familia willing to accept me into their familia. I've asked around for a bit, and it appears that most established familias are not open to new members. My focus should be on a rising familia in need of adventurers.

To satiate my hunger, I purchased potato puffs from a stall intriguingly named Jyaga Maru Kun. They're priced at only thirty valis, a relief to my coin purse, and surprisingly satisfying.

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The past two days have passed more swiftly than I anticipated.

Another uneventful day passes with familias rejecting me; none of the rising families are willing to accept a country bumpkin like me.

I returned to my room feeling depressed after a long day.

I've hurried to all the groups with flyers at different street corners advertising openings for new members, but I'm rejected as soon as they compare me with other applicants.

Today's the third day of my stay, so I go to inquire about extending it.

"The extension fee will be twenty-five hundred valis," he states.

"What...?" I respond, taken aback by the steep price.

"You've only paid for three days in advance. I could have rented that room to someone else. I need to recoup the lost income. It's a charge for the inconvenience," the innkeeper explains curtly.

I guess he's correct. Upon checking my wallet, I realized I don't have sufficient valis to rent a room for even one night.

"Another day of disappointment..." is all I can think of as I walk out of the inn with my belongings.

It seems I will be spending the night on the streets, with the hope that tomorrow I will be able to join a familia.

Before that, I returned to the Adventurers' Graveyard. There was no one else in the expansive area where I emerged after descending a lengthy staircase from a side street. Whispering in astonishment at the vast number of white gravestones, I headed towards the center. Eventually, a colossal jet-black monument appeared. My eyes widened as I take in the five-meter-tall monument.

The great heroes who appear in the story of epics, risked their lives to turn back the tide of monsters that flowed endlessly from the underworld—and it is before the grave of those heroes who I've idolized for so long that I now stand.

After spending a few minutes admiring the monument, I descended the stairs back to the graveyard, where I encountered a beautiful figure accompanied by the warlord himself—the only level 7 adventurer in Orario.

As I walked past, trying not to draw attention to myself, I suddenly heard a beautiful voice say, "Wait..." Glancing back, I saw a beautiful figure that brought a blush to my cheeks. Then, she asked me a question asking me if I belong to any familia. The question brought a pang of heartache as I reflected on the rejections I faced over the past two days. I looked down and shook my head from side to side to indicate a 'no'. Then she followed up, asking, "Why don't you join my familia?"

I gazed upward as the Lady Goddess extended her arm toward me, a gesture of acceptance. I swiftly grasp her hand, seizing the opportunity to join a high-ranking familia.

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Freya's POV

"Ottarl," said the goddess.

"Yes, m'lady," he replied.

"I want you to company me to the adventurers' graveyard to pay respects to our recent losses following the expedition."

"Yes,m'lady," he replied

Freya seized this opportunity to alleviate her boredom by stepping out of her room.

They arrived at the graveyard

I visited the newly established burial and noticed the tombstone bearing the name of a child I am quite familiar with.

"Ottarl, I want you to intensify their training to prevent such casualties from happening again." I said with a sadden face.

"Yes, m'lady," was all he could muster, feeling a deep sense of remorse.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching from the south side, where a staircase leads to the hero's monument.

I glanced back at Ottarl to signal him not to attack or threaten this unknown individual.

A figure emerges, resembling a young man aged between 14 to 15 years old. My eyes widen as I peer into his soul. His soul color is pure and transparent. But it's quite dull

It seems different from the first time I saw his soul.

He has white hair and crimson red eyes, yet he appears quite down...

He passed by me and Ottarl, his gaze lowered, making no attempt to initiate a conversation.

Perhaps it's because he arrived in Orario just a few days ago, as I've never come across a soul as dazzling and pure as his. I thought to myself, "He probably got rejected by many familias".

I muttered "Wait," unwilling to let this opportunity slip away. I asked him if he had any join any familia. He shook his head from side to side to indicate a 'no'.

I was feeling a sense of excitement filled my body as I licked my lips. I can take this beautiful soul without stealing from another familia.

I invited him, saying, "Why don't you join my familia?" as I stretched out my arms in a welcoming gesture, and he took my hand.

I looked into his soul, and it had become pure once more, even more beautiful than when I last looked at it.

I thought to myself, it must be fate to meet this boy here. He could be my Odr.

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I smiled joyfully at my new goddess, taken aback by her beauty, and began to blush, avoiding eye contact with her.

I heard her say, "Ottarl, come, let's head back to Fólkvangr." I silently followed them, feeling grateful that I wouldn't have to sleep on the streets tonight.