Chapter 1: Justice

"Bell, I know you have no proper place to live right now, but you need to calm down! You can't just go in the dungeon without a falna, that's the same as asking for death!"

"But Eina-san, I-"

"No buts! Did you forget the number 1 rule I told you when wanting to become an adventurer!? Adventurer's shouldn't go on adventures! And why are you still even trying to be an adventurer! Just take a normal job already!"

It was loud in the guild hall, so not many could hear or tell what was happening, but those who did hear just ignored it. A brunette half-elf— could be told because of her pointy ear, with emrald green eyes a pair of glasses and a guild uniform seemed to scolding some random boy.

The boy himself looked to be about only 14 years old. His looks were quite unique as well, pure white hair which stood out among normal people, ruby red eyes which felt as if could be seen in the dark without any poblem at all, and slightly feminine face with a hint of masculinity in it.

The half-elf's name was Eina Tuelle and the white haired boys name was Bell Cranel.

The reason Eina was currently scolding Bell was because of the fact that he refused to listen to her. She knew that he was currently in a bad situation but doing what he was doing would just make it worst.

The boy had come to Orario in hopes of becoming an adventurer since his grandfather had died recently and he had no one else to live with, but not a single Familia was willing to take him in, taking him as someone weak and probably deadwieght during dungeon dives.

And the he had soon ran out of all the money he had after trying to find a Familia for over 3 weeks now.

He had pretty much tried every single Familia which he was capable of trying to join. Other Familia's have different criteria's to join them so he could not try to join them.

So the only thing in his mind now was to make money to survive atleast, but he knew that it's impossible to make enough money for a living with some sort of normal job on the streets, so he did the only thing he could think of, and that was going into the dungeon without a Falna.

While yes it can be very dangerous to go in the dungeon without a falna, you can still possibily survive in the upper floors, mainly from floor 1-3, only if you were skilled and talented enough. And that was something which Bell had. 

After bowing down in front of his advisor to be allowed to go in the dungeon for a while until he finally found a familia. Which after days of begging, he was able to accomplish, but he would sometimes go too far. Bell would— just to save up enough money to be able to live properly, sleep in an abandoned church, and be in the dungeon for way too long.

His advisor couldn't take his recklessness anymore and told him that he should just take another job now, since he should have enough money to be able to get one while living properly for a while.

But the boy refused to listen, causing her to scold him and that's how they are here now.

Eina was scolding Bell since he once again stayed inside the dungeon for too long and was heavily injured. She kept on repeating him that adventurer's shouldn't go on an adventure, which might sound stupid, but for Eina it was a must, ever since one of the adventurers she was in-charge of had died which had filled her with guilt of not being a good enough advisor.

Unbeknown to them, while Eina was scolding Bell, some people had approched them.

"Umm— Excuse me, are you busy right now?"

A soft voice spoke from behind Eina, and when she looked back to see who it was her eyes widened in surprise.

"A-Astraea-sama!?!"

That person was Astraea, the Goddess of the Astraea Familia or what other people called them, the 'Justice Familia'. 

Behind her were two other people, the first one was a girl with long red hair in a pony tail and green eyes, that person being Alise Lovell, the captain of the said familia or what other people referred to her as 'Pheonix', a level 6 adventurer, and next to her was an elf with long blonde hair and saphire blue eyes, that was Ryuu Lion, otherwise also known as 'Gale Wind', a level 5 adventurer.

Eina stumbled from where she was standning as she instantly asked the goddess why she was here.

"Astraea-sama, is there a reason you are at the guild right now? Please tell me what you need— I will get it right away!"

Eina was stumbling around— as this was very sudden for her it seemed. With a slight chuckle, Astraea calmed her down.

"No need to be in a panic, I was just here to meet the Guild Head right now. We wish to talk to him about something." Astraea explained in a calm and kind manner as she spoke to the Half-elf.

"Ah! Then P-please follow me. I'll take you to meet with him. Bell! don't move from here, I will be back in 10 minutes, our talk still isn't finished."

Eina requested Astraea as she ordered Bell to stay here only, making it very clear with her tone of voice that they aren't done talking yet.

As Eina was leading Astraea and her Familia members to meet with the Guild Head, Astraea started asking Eina about how her work has been, and if she is living properly. Eina was someone who she met a while ago when they needed some work to be done at the guild but there was no one  but her to help them.

While they were talking, suddenly Alise who was had been surprisingly quiet the entire time— as she is a loud and energetic person, questioned Eina about Bell.

"Ne~ Eina, who was that white haired kid you were talking to, actually scratch talking, it looked as if you were scolding him or something."

Eina didn't know why she was questioning about Bell but she didn't mind much and answered as truthfully as she could.

She told the three everything about Bell, about how he dreamed of becoming an adventurer— but wasn't accepted in any Familia, and that he had soon ran out of money so he had started going in the dungeon without a falna to make some, and how he was pushing himself too far and was going to die at some point if he didn't stop soon.

Eina also talked some positive things about him, including something which he hadn't told her but she was able to learn about a while back.

"Bell thinks I don't know it but I recently found out that he sometimes uses the valis he has earned to buy food and toys for some children in a nearby orphanage. He tries to hide it from me thinking that I will be mad at him, but— I honestly feel like that boy is too kind for this world with the things he does."

Astraea listened to every word the Half-elf said, as she and Alise were looking at each other for a few seconds then before showing a small smile as they nodded their heads. They now had something else which they will be— no they must do.

After around 20 minutes, Astraea and her children were finally done with their work with the guild head as they started making it back into the guild hall. While walking, Astraea had asked Eina if she could talk with Bell at some place where no one would disturb or spy on them, knowing full well how many Orario citizens can be.

Eina didn't know why they wanted to talk to Bell but didn't question it.

When they finally got back to the guild hall, Eina called for Bell, who looking up at the Adventurer's board, heard her her as he made his way back to her. When Eina told Bell that Astraea wished to speak with him, he was quite surprised since he didn't expect a goddess— especially someone as famous and powerful as her, speak to him.

Bell still remembered the day when he was thinking about trying to apply for the Astraea Familia, but didn't since it was one of those familia's where they had certain requirements, one of which included the member being a girl.

So as the five people decided to walk to a nearby park which is usually empty around this time, Alise kept on asking him some random questions, like what is his favourite, who is his favourite adventurer, whether he has a familia or not— even though she already knew the answer to, and what he thought of Orario.

But when they reached the park, Astraea was the one who this time spoke up as she asked a question which both Alise and Ryuu knew too well, with the elf being quite surprised but then knowing that this would have happened eventually.

Eina on the other hand was just confused as to why the goddess would ask something like that— or what her purpose was.

"Say Bell-kun, what is 'Justice' for you?"

"H-Huh? What is 'Justice' for me?"

"Yeah as in what do you think Justice is? I ask this question to many people since everybody has their own form of justice, so I thought that I might as well ask you too." Astraea's smile never left her face as she kept on speaking, if what she was hoping for would be said by the boy, then she had found the person she was looking for.

"Well uhh..... I think... a smile."

Astraea, Alisa and Ryuu, all three of them were surprised at the answer which the white haired boy voiced out, and also wished to hear more about.

"What exactly do you mean by 'a smile'?"

Bell looked up in the sky as a small but kind small showed up on his face when he started speaking.

"Whenever I see someone smile, I think of how it would even make me smile—

of how it would be when they would say 'Thank you' for whatever reason they are smiling or are able to smile for. Seeing the way the person smile's makes me feel happy as well— and I can't help laugh happily."

Astraea was surprised at the boy's words, she had never heard anyone represent their justice like that ever. It was even different from not only her own idea of justice, but from also different from any other Familia member of hers.

Eina looked at Bell with a soft smile, knowing that answer is something only Bell can think of.

But suddenly Bell's eyes widened as he looked toward's Astraea while flaring his arms around embarrassed at what he just said.

"Uh—uhm sorry I wasn't thinking what I was saying. This isn't e-even remotely close or related to justice! Y-You can ignore me though! It's just something I rando— Wahh!"

Bell wasn't allowed to finish what he was saying as he was suddenly pulled by Alise as she started to press him into her... bossom, not noticing what she was doing, as she was filled with joy after hearing him.

"Yes! Yes! I knew it! The moment I heard about you— no! The moment I saw you, I knew you were going to the person I was looking for. Ne~ Bell-kun! You aren't in any familia right? How about you join us! We are always looking for new members!"

Alise spoke out with a joyfilled smile as she offered Bell to join the Astraea Familia, which neither Ryuu nor Astraea objected to, as they already knew this was going to happen.

It took Bell a second to regain his breath... because after all Alise had of the sudden pulled his head into her chest, but just as he had processed what Alise had just said, he and Eina— who hadn't spoken a single word till now— suddenly shouted.

".....Wa-Wait! Me!? In Astraea Famila?!?! B-But I thought only girls were allowed in the familia?!"

"Y-Yeah! Astrea-sama! Aren't only girls allowed in the Astraea Familia? why are you all inviting a boy all of the sudden?!"

Astraea let out a slight chuckle at the outburst of the two in front of her as she explained why Alise invited Bell to her Familia so suddenly.

"Well you see.. My Familia was never supposed to have only girls to begin with...it just sort of happened I guess. While looking for members, the early members which we found were exactly the people we were looking for and who we wanted but just so happend to be girls, so we eventually decided that the Familia is going to allow girls to join as to not make them uncomfortable."

"Th-Then why are you inviting me?! Isn't it too late to invite a boy now since you only invite girls?"

Bell voiced out, feeling confused as to why the Goddess in front of him was going against the rule she herself— with the help of her Familia had created.

"Well while that is true— we before implementing that rule had already decided that if we ever met a boy who also happened to be someone like all the members we were looking for, we would invite him as well.

Every single one of our Familia member accepted that as well, but there is something which I will have to tell you— but we can talk about that after we hear your answer."

Bell looked towards Eina, hoping she could help him but she herself was so confused that she couldn't tell him what to do at all. This was the only chance he was going to get to join a Familia, no other Familia was willing to accept him, and if he refuses this offer, then there will probably— no most definietly be no hope for him in the future.

But there was something else he needed to tell her before she accepts him, something which he needed to tell her right now.

"Eina-san, could you please go somewhere else for a few minutes? I'll come back to get you once I have asked what I wanted to."

Bell was requesting her, meaning that it was ok if she listened to. But seeing how serious Bell was when he said that, she guessed that it was something personal, as she did remember Bell telling her once how his parents once used to be adventurers, but didn't tell her their names or Familia's. She guessed that it was related to that only.

Eina walked away and decided to wait outside the park as a way to respect Bell's privacy.

Once Bell made sure only the three people in front of him could hear what he was about to say he asked Alise something which got her attention and surprised her.

"Lovell-san, do you by chance know a person— or have met someone who people also used to call  'Silence'.

Alise remained silent for a while, which Ryuu and Astraea knew as to why, since that name was related to some dark times in the past.

"Yes. Yes I did know someone who people called 'Silence', but how do you know about her, and why are you asking me this?"

"Well— if I told you that I am probably— no most definitely related to her by blood, would you still let me join you guys?"

Now this was a surpise to the three girls. The person who the boy was talking about and was saying is related to by blood was someone who had caused fear in Orario at one point. Just speaking her name sent shivers down people's spine.

Alise, wishing to know more asked Bell what he is to her.

"Bell-kun, can you explain how exactly are you related to her, and why are you asking us this so suddenly?"

Alise's voice was soft as she spoke, trying not to scare or make the boy nervous as she questioned him.

"We-well, Eina-san probably told you how my Grandpa died a few months ago, but just a few days ago before I was about to leave my village to come here in Orario, I found a book that he seemed to have written. He wrote it to me, but in it he had written in the first page that he wished that I do not read or find that book, but its my choice whether I wish to know about my family and past."

"In the book he had written some things, which included his real identity as the God Zeus, and the reason why I had no parents. He also wrote things related to my family, including that 'Silence', or her real name— Alfia, was my aunt. He also wrote things about what she had done 7 years ago in Orario."

Bell took a deep breath before saying the last thing he had to say.

"I was asking this because would you still want me to be a part of your Familia— after knowing that I am the nephew of one of your biggest enemies?"

"Yes, we will."

"I knew i—  Huh?"

Due to how blunt Alise was with her answer, Bell was left speechless. He believed that there is no way he would be taken in after what he told them. Astraea was the one who this time started speaking.

"Bell, if you think that we will be judging you because of someone else, and putting the blame for all their wrong doings on you, then you are wrong. The past is the past, and even though Alfia was someone who did terribly wrong things, we still have some respect for her."

"Plus Ryuu over here once almost walked down a similar path to her if it wasn't for the fact that we were able to stop her."

"A-Astraea-sama!?!"

Astraea reassured Bell that they don't care about the fact that they did not care about him being related to an enemy, and they would still take him in their Familia.

"U-uhm I still have one last question I wanted to ask you."

"What is it?"

"D-do you think that if I try hard enough, I-I can become a hero? It's my dream to be able to become one to help others."

Bell's face was slightly red due to embarassment as he looked down on the ground, trying to hide it. This was a very childish dream— but it was his dream and he would do anything to accomplish it.

"Well, only time will tell, but if you try hard enough and have the will to do it, then you can most definitely become a hero."

Bell looked up at Astraea as she spoke the words, his eyes showing joy as heard what she had to say.

"T-then I hope to be of good help in your Familia Astraea-sama!"

Bell had a cheerful smile as he said that. Finally he was going to be able to get in a Familia, and may be even complete his dream of becoming a Hero.

Of course not the kind his grandpa wanted, where he had to save some damsiel in distress, but the kind who can help everyone.

Bell told the three to wait as he ran back to get Eina, who was still waiting outside the park. Astraea couldn't help but smile as she saw the look on Bell's face as he ran back to get his advisor.

While waiting for Bell to come back, she spoke to Alise and Ryuu about something which they didn't tell Bell yet, but will be as soon as he comes back.

Bell didn't know this yet, but he was about to go through some big changes in the future.