Danmachi Familia from Hell

22

Belakher, who had sworn an oath of loyalty to Hades, would never break his command. The vampire, although he was not bound by such a vow to the king of the Underworld, also chose to obey. Was it out of fear caused by contact with the aura of death? Out of respect for divine majesty? Or perhaps simple curiosity about what a being from the Upper World might want to discuss with him? He himself did not fully understand what drove him. And so they both waited until the golden-eyed one descended to them from the castle standing atop the hill.
By then, Landgrave had managed to catch his breath and get back on his feet, and the bloodsucker’s face regained a human appearance after his anger and murderous urge temporarily left him. They stood motionless, boring into one another with their eyes, until Hades appeared.

- So then, allow me to begin by introducing myself - said the stoic lord of the dead as usual. - My name is Hades, the god of the Underworld, and this is a member of my familia. He gestured toward the elf, prompting him to reveal his name.

However, Belakher could not do so because of his crushed throat, so he merely pointed at his neck, dark purple like a ripe plum.

- I see - said the golden-eyed shortly. - My companion is called Belakher Landgrave. May I now know your name? - he asked with complete calm and a certain measure of courtesy.

The white-haired man, before he even opened his mouth, had to process what was happening here at all. This man… this god was speaking to him as if he were an ordinary human. Had anyone in the last seven hundred years spoken to him without fear, hatred, or contempt? That damned elf had tried to start a conversation with him earlier too, but this case was entirely different. Hades’ face resembled a statue, as if he controlled every muscle. His expression, devoid of any emotion, was also devoid of… judgment—completely neutral toward the bloodsucker.

- Vlood - he spoke after a moment in a quiet voice. - Vlood Teepashtee - he finished a moment later, a little more confidently. - May I ask a question?

- Of course - replied the dark-haired one at once, clasping his hands behind his back.

- What is a familia? - he asked, confused.

- Oh right, life in this enclave for such a long time has meant you know little about the outside world - he said more to himself than to his interlocutor.  -The gods who descended to this world gather followers around them, whom they bless with the help of what is called "Falna". This, in turn, allows them to accomplish things ordinary mortals could never achieve. It strengthens their power, speed, and endurance, and often grants special abilities. Those who possess the Falna of a particular god, together with that god, form a familia.

- So the abilities of that… so Belakher received his abilities from you.

Yes. The god of death and the power to raise the dead—that would make sense. At that thought, Landgrave only shook his head.

- Not entirely - Hades corrected him. - Belakher mastered his spells long before he met me. The same applies to his ability to reanimate corpses. I only amplified them, just as I did the physical aspects of his body. More precisely, I gave him the chance to develop.

- What does that mean?

- Falna does not make someone instantly gain the strength of a thousand warriors. It merely enables gradual growth beyond the limits of one’s own body through fighting, training, killing monsters, or some extremely demanding physical ordeal.

At that moment, Hades noticed a certain glimmer in the scarlet eyes. The king of the Underworld did not know it was caused by the vampire’s shame over what he had thought about Belakher.
He didn’t receive this power on a silver platter, Vlood thought. He earned it through pain and effort. Stop it! What are you thinking, idiot? Don’t forget how disgusting his magic is!