Pain. That was the first sensation of my new life. Oww... My head throbbed as if I'd face-planted into a wall. With a groan, I cracked my eyes open. My vision was blurry, but I could make out dim shapes and eerie flickers of light. The air was cool, damp, and smelled of earth and... blood?
I sat up slowly, my body protesting with a dozen minor aches. As my eyes adjusted, panic jolted through me. I was in a dark, cavernous space illuminated by pale bluish light from crystalline outgrowths on the walls. Rough-hewn stone, twisting tunnels... This wasn't Orario's city streets. Was this the Dungeon?
"Great idea, drop the newbie straight into the Dungeon," I grumbled under my breath, voice higher and softer than I remembered (well, I was ten now). The higher being hadn't exactly specified where I'd land. Perhaps it found this amusing. My Divine Luck clearly hadn't kicked in yet—or maybe it had, and I was on an upper safe floor instead of somewhere deeper. I fervently hoped for the latter.
I struggled to my feet, wobbling a bit. It was a strange feeling—my body was smaller, lighter. I glanced down and saw my hands: small, childlike, with a light brown complexion. I caught a few locks of hair falling into my face—white as fresh snow. It wasn't a dream; I was really in my chosen form. For a split second, despite the perilous situation, I felt a spark of triumph. I'm Cain now. I'm alive.
A distant growl snapped me out of my reverie. My heart leapt into my throat. I was in the Dungeon unarmed and unprepared—basically monster fodder. Move, Cain, I urged myself. I needed to find an exit or at least other adventurers. Given the bluish light level, I guessed I might be on the Upper Floors—hopefully the first floor. On floor one, the weakest monsters (goblins, kobolds) spawned, and the exit to the surface wasn't far.
I patted myself down quickly. I was wearing simple clothes: a rough brown tunic, short pants, and flimsy shoes—like some poor kid's hand-me-downs. No armor, no weapons. Divine Luck, don't fail me now. I picked a direction and started jogging, ignoring the sting of pebbles under thin soles.
As I moved through the maze-like corridors, my mind raced. Mind's Eye, do I have that yet? I tried to focus, to sense my surroundings beyond sight. For a moment, nothing. But as I took a deep breath and rounded a corner, I felt a faint prickle at the back of my neck. My instincts screamed danger! A shape lunged out of a shadowed nook in the wall.
I yelped and ducked. SWOOSH! A whoosh of air above me—something had swiped at where my head had been a split second earlier. I scrambled back, pressing against the wall, eyes wide.
A small humanoid creature emerged into the crystal light. It was a Goblin—short and scrawny, with sickly green skin and a mouth full of needle-like teeth. It snarled, drool dripping, clutching a crude stone knife. The creature was barely half my height, but in that moment it felt enormous and utterly terrifying.
"Stay back!" I shouted, voice cracking. My heart hammered. The goblin hissed and came at me again, slashing wildly. Adrenaline surged. I managed to twist aside—the blade grazed my tunic, tearing the fabric but missing flesh. Rapid muscle development obviously hadn't done much yet; I was just a kid and untrained. But panic lent me speed.
The goblin was upon me in a frenzy, and I did the only thing I could think of: I kicked it. Hard. My right foot connected with the goblin's knee. There was a crack and the creature shrieked, stumbling. I felt a jolt of pain in my toes—ugh, I might have broken one kicking that hard stone-like joint. But the goblin fell on its rear, howling.
"I-is it down?" I muttered, limping backward. The goblin wasn't dead, but it was momentarily hobbled, clutching its leg. The knife lay a foot away from it, having dropped from its grip. A chance. I lunged and grabbed the stone knife off the ground. The goblin snarled and threw itself at me in rage, claws out. I swung the knife in blind fear.
Blood spattered my face. The goblin went silent mid-scream, its momentum carrying it past me. I turned, shaking, to see it sprawled on the ground, my trembling hand holding the knife that was now slick with dark blood. I'd slashed its throat in sheer desperation. The goblin twitched once, then dissolved into black ash, leaving behind only a small purple crystal—its magic stone—amidst the ash and a foul stench.
I stared at the monster's remains, chest heaving. I'd killed it. My first monster, taken down with one lucky swipe. My hands began to shake harder, and I dropped the crude knife. The adrenaline was ebbing, replaced by nausea and shock. "I... I'm alive," I whispered to myself. If I hadn't sensed it or moved a hair faster, that knife could've ended my second life right there.
Maybe my Mind's Eye had given me that split-second warning. Maybe Divine Luck guided my panicked strike to a lethal spot. Either way, I was both relieved and horrified. Calm down, Cain, I thought, trying to steady my breathing. You knew this world was dangerous. You survived your first encounter. Now get out before more come.
I wiped the goblin's blood off my face with a trembling sleeve and forced myself onward, picking up pace. My foot ached with each step—possibly sprained, but I could move. I kept the direction that sloped upward, recalling that the Dungeon's first floor had a gentle ascent toward the exit.
However, the Dungeon wasn't going to make it easy. I soon heard distant chittering and growling echoing through the tunnels. More monsters were roaming. I was utterly exhausted just from that one fight—curse this child body's stamina. Fear gnawed at me.
At a fork in the path, I hesitated, unsure which way led out. The left tunnel flickered with slightly brighter blue crystals—maybe signifying near the entrance? Or was it a trick of the Dungeon? My Mind's Eye was too rudimentary to map the maze. I bit my lip, choosing the left path, and pressed on.
The sounds of pursuit grew behind me—goblins, maybe kobolds too, attracted by the scent of blood or the noise. My breathing was ragged; I was on the verge of collapse. Please, anyone, help... I prayed silently.
As if answering my plea, I saw a glow ahead—daylight filtering down a wide stair-like tunnel. The exit! A sob of relief caught in my throat. I mustered the last of my strength in a desperate sprint. My vision blurred with tears of exhaustion and hope.
I broke out of the dungeon corridor into a broad area of worked stone—the base of the spiral staircase that led up to Babel, the tower in Orario that sat atop the Dungeon. I could actually see the foot of the giant stairway bathed in sunlight about fifty paces ahead. Just a bit more—
Suddenly, a shadow loomed in the corner of my eye. With a guttural snarl, a kobold—a wolf-like humanoid monster—leapt from a side passage. It tackled me full-force. We went down hard. I screamed as its claws raked my shoulder, pain blooming hot and wet. The kobold snapped its jaws at me, frothy spit flying.
"No—get off!" I yelled, struggling. The monster's weight pinned me; its fangs gnashed inches from my face. Its feral red eyes filled my vision. A horrid stench of wet fur and blood clogged my nose. My hands flailed, trying to push its snout away, but it was far stronger than the goblin had been. My limbs felt like lead; the adrenaline was spent.
Was this it? So close to escaping, only to die here?
My chest burned with panic and desperation. In that moment, something inside me snapped—or perhaps awoke. A wave of pressure burst out from deep within me, like an invisible pulse. Haki? It was raw, unrefined, but it exploded from my being in a surge of will.
The kobold suddenly flinched, its red eyes widening in confusion. Its snarling stopped as it whimpered, momentarily disoriented. I felt the weight on me lessen just enough. Summoning every ounce of willpower, I drove my knee up into the creature's stomach and heaved. The kobold tumbled off me, yelping.
At the same time, I heard a fierce voice ring out: "[Luminous Wind]!"
A streak of emerald light slashed through the air, striking the kobold. The monster howled as the magic sliced clean through its torso. In a burst of ash and a clatter of its magic stone, the kobold was dispatched before my eyes.
I lay there panting, vision swimming. That voice... I knew that voice from the anime. Light footsteps approached rapidly. A moment later, a figure knelt next to me. Through my dazed eyes, I saw a girl with forest-green hair and clear blue-green eyes. She wore a green skirt and white blouse under a dirt-streaked white apron. A pair of long, elegant elf ears protruded from her hair. On her forehead was a smudge of blood—was that mine or from something else? I couldn't tell.
"Are you hurt?" she asked urgently, her tone cool but laced with concern. She gently pressed a hand against my bleeding shoulder. A soft, pale glow emanated from her palm—she must have used a simple healing potion or spell, because the sting of the claw marks eased slightly.
I blinked slowly, trying to form words. "I... I think I'll live," I croaked. My shoulder still ached but the bleeding had stopped, I realized. My entire body felt heavy as lead now that the danger was over.
The elf girl let out a small breath of relief. Up close, I saw that she was young—probably in her late teens. Her fair skin and beautiful features were marred by worry. I also realized with a jolt who she was: Ryuu Lion, the elf waitress from the Hostess of Fertility, formerly an adventurer of the Astraea Familia. Four years before Bell's story… at this point, she must have recently started working at the Hostess.
"Foolish child," came another voice, gruff and irritated. A second figure stepped into view above me—a dwarf woman with wild brown hair and muscular arms crossed over an ample chest. She looked to be in her forties or fifties, with laugh lines and frown lines etched into her tan face. She wore a simple blouse and long skirt, and an apron stretched over her broad frame. She was glaring at me, but there was relief in her eyes, too. This could only be Mia Grand, the owner of the Hostess of Fertility and a former adventurer.
Behind her, I glimpsed a third person—a young woman with grey hair tied in a cute ponytail and a matching maid headband. Syr Flova, the sweet waitress (and secretly goddess Freya in disguise, though of course, I had to pretend ignorance).
Ryuu spoke up defensively, still kneeling by my side. "Mia, he's injured and exhausted. Let's get him somewhere safe first." Her voice was soft but firm. I sensed a quiet strength in her—she radiated an aura of disciplined power, and I realized in awe that my Mind's Eye was probably picking up on her level. She was far, far above me (well, that's not saying much—I'm level 0 and she's, what, level 4 at this point?). Her presence felt like a calm, sharp breeze in my senses.
Mia grunted. "Aye, you're right. Lecture later." The dwarf woman bent down and, with surprising gentleness, scooped me up as if I weighed nothing. I was cradled against her strong arm and for once felt utterly like the child I appeared to be. My face flushed at the sudden shift—it had been years since anyone carried me like this.
"Found him at the very entrance, did you?" Mia asked Ryuu as we started moving. I think they were carrying me up the long staircase of Babel now; Mia's heavy footfalls echoed, and I could see bright daylight above. My head lolled against her shoulder—I was so tired.
"Yes," Ryuu answered quietly. "We heard screams and commotion near the entrance. When we arrived, he was under attack by a kobold." I felt Ryuu's cool hand on my arm, steadying me as Mia climbed. "He's lucky to be alive."
"Lucky indeed," Mia agreed, giving me a sideways look. "What in ten hells was a kid doing alone in the Dungeon?" She shook her head, clearly perplexed and not a little angry on my behalf. "I swear, if someone pushed him in or dared him—"
"N-no one..." I mumbled, trying to speak. My consciousness fluttered. I knew I should explain something, but I could barely string a thought together. "I... just woke up there... didn't know..."
Syr's face appeared on my other side, walking in step with Mia. Her grey-blue eyes were wide with concern. "You just woke up in the Dungeon?" she repeated, voice soft and incredulous. She reached over and gently brushed some of my blood-speckled white hair out of my eyes. "How, why ?"
"Questions later, Syr," Mia barked, though not unkindly. "Let's get him to the Hostess first. It's closer than any Ganesha clinic and I've got supplies."
Syr bit her lip and nodded. "Right."
Cradled in Mia's arms, I felt safe for the first time since arriving. My eyes drifted to Syr's as she walked beside us. She gave me a reassuring smile. Under that kind, ordinary-girl facade, I knew, was the Goddess of Beauty herself, and it was bad that she saw me already. Did she recognize anything about me? Freya could see the souls of people—my soul wasn't normal, that's for sure. But at the moment, Syr's expression was simply gentle and worried, like a concerned big sister.
My head lolled against Mia's shoulder again as my energy drained. I allowed my eyes to close, the sounds of their voices fading into the background. I'd made it. I survived my chaotic birth into this world. Divine Luck, if you did this, thank you. Safe... I was safe now...
Darkness took me, not of death this time, but of much-needed sleep. I felt a pair of eyes on me, multiple ones, one of silver and one of black as the abyss, both looked at me and then faded away.
(Syr's Perspective)
Syr walked a step behind Mia as they hurried through Orario's midday streets toward the Hostess of Fertility. Her heart was pounding in her chest—not from exertion, but from excitement and shock. She kept sneaking glances at the boy in Mia's arms. His eyes were closed now, face slack in unconsciousness. He looked so small and frail, smudged with dirt and blood. Yet, yet...
That soul.
When Syr (the goddess Freya behind those silver eyes) had first spotted the commotion at the Dungeon entrance, she hadn't expected to find something so precious. Freya had sensed an unfamiliar presence—like a beacon in her mind's eye- and convinced Mia and Ryuu to investigate with her. And there he was: a lone half-elf child, beset by a kobold. The moment Freya laid eyes on him, even before she called out for Ryuu to cast magic, she saw it.
Hovering around the boy's small form was an aura in the shape of a great tree, translucent and glowing with a spectrum of colors like a rainbow. Its trunk was stout and roots sunk deep (into what, she could not tell—perhaps metaphorical), and its branches arced high above him, vibrant leaves shimmering with every hue imaginable. It was as if Yggdrasil—the World Tree of legend—had taken root in this child's soul, condensed into a radiant, ghostly image.
Freya had seen countless souls in her eternal life. Each was unique in color and brightness, telling her of a person's nature and potential. Heroes shone bright; cowards' souls were dull; But this boy's soul was beyond anything in her experience. A translucent rainbow Yggdrasil tree – it was majestic, complex, and brimmed with latent power. And the colors… it wasn't chaotic; they harmonized in a mesmerizing spectrum. It spoke of infinite potential and growth, as if this child could become anything, reach any height given time.
Syr's fingers trembled slightly as she held the door of the pub open for Mia and Ryuu. She forced herself to maintain the persona of the worried waitress, but inside, Freya was practically giddy. What are you, little one? she wondered. How can such a young soul appear so grand? Normally, a person's soul grows brighter as they experience life and overcome struggles. This boy was clearly only about ten, yet his soul already had a presence that could rival a seasoned adventurer's.
And that pulse she felt earlier… Freya was almost certain it was an emission of willpower, not unlike a weaker form of her own aura that could subdue others. When the boy was under the kobold, he released a burst of spirit so intense it rattled her, a goddess, for a split second. It had even momentarily stunned the kobold. That couldn't be an accident—he likely possessed some kind of innate skill or force. It intrigued her deeply.
"Lay him here," Syr said, guiding Mia to put the boy on a long bench in the tavern's empty dining area. It was still a couple of hours before they opened for afternoon business; not a soul was around but the staff. The other waitresses—Anya, Chloe, and Lunoire—were out shopping at the market, and would be back later. Good, Freya thought, the fewer people who see this, the better for now.
Mia gently set the boy down, they hadn't gotten his name yet, down on the bench. Ryuu immediately went to fetch the first aid kit and some potions from the back. Syr knelt by the boy's side, checking him over. His shoulder wound had reopened a bit (the quick magic Ryuu used at the dungeon entrance had been just a minor spell), and there were bruises on his arms and legs. Syr winced at the angry red claw marks on his shoulder. "Poor thing," she whispered, dabbing at the wound with a clean cloth and some disinfectant. Even unconscious, the boy flinched slightly at the sting. "Shh, it's okay," she murmured soothingly.
Mia stood by with arms crossed, her stern face softening as she watched Syr tend to him. "He's a tough kid, surviving that," Mia muttered. "Most would've been ripped apart by that kobold." A flash of anger crossed the dwarf's face. "If I find out someone threw him in there, I'll—"
Ryuu returned with a vial of healing potion. She uncorked it and carefully tilted it to the boy's lips. "Just a little," Ryuu said, dribbling a small amount into his mouth. Healing potions were potent and not meant for children normally, but a diluted dose would help. Syr supported his head gently as he reflexively swallowed. The magic liquid did its work—within moments, the claw wounds began to close, the bruises faded to yellow. His breathing grew steadier.
Syr watched in quiet fascination. Even in unconsciousness, the boy's soul glowed steadily. As Freya, she could hardly tear her eyes away. The more she observed, the more details she noticed: at the base of that soul-tree, coiled around the roots, was something like a translucent serpent or dragon—dormant for now. And scattered among the branches were faint motes of light, as if fruits waiting to ripen. It was as though his soul held hidden facets that had yet to bloom. Freya's blood quickened. This child… he's like an uncut gem of limitless worth.
A small smile crept to Syr's lips. How fortunate she had decided to accompany Ryuu on that grocery errand near Babel today. If she hadn't been there... Well, Ryuu might not have saved him in time.
Mia's gruff voice broke Syr's reverie. "He's stable now. Syr, go fetch a blanket from the storage, will ye? He should rest."
Syr nodded and hurried off to comply. As she retrieved a blanket, her mind raced with possibilities. She had to learn more about him once he awoke. Where did he come from? He claimed he just woke up in the Dungeon—teleported, maybe? He could be from some remote region, or perhaps… could he be a rogue experiment of the gods? Freya's eyes narrowed slightly. A soul like this wouldn't go unnoticed by other deities for long. If another god found him first—no, she wouldn't let that happen.
Returning with a soft blanket, Syr draped it over the sleeping boy. He instinctively snuggled into the warmth, a lock of white hair falling over his forehead. Freya's heart gave an unfamiliar little squeeze. She genuinely liked children (something that had developed as part of her Syr persona, perhaps, but it was real nonetheless). Seeing this brave, foolish boy lying here tugged at her mortal guise's heartstrings, even as the goddess in her coveted his soul for far grander things.
"He'll be out for a while, I wager," Mia said, uncorking a bottle of ale for herself now that the emergency was handled. "Syr, Ryuu, mind watchin' him? I need to check on preparations in the kitchen. We've got customers soon enough, and I've spent half the day on this little detour." Her tone was brusque, but Syr knew Mia was anything but upset about saving a kid's life. It was just Mia's way to pretend nothing phased her.
"Of course, Mia," Ryuu said calmly. The elf had been quiet, but Syr noticed the way Ryuu stayed close to the boy's side, eyes trained on him as if standing vigil. Ever the protector, even now.
Once Mia left the room, Syr took a seat on the bench opposite the boy, propping her chin in her hands, elbows on knees, and simply watched him sleep for a minute. Ryuu glanced at her, a faint knowing smile tugging at the reserved elf's lips. "You look as if he's a new kitten you've found," Ryuu teased gently—an extremely rare bit of teasing from her.
Syr put on an exaggerated pout. "Can you blame me? He's adorable. And how often do we rescue a mysterious child from the Dungeon?" She allowed genuine curiosity to seep into her voice. "I wonder what his story is..."
Ryuu nodded, her expression clouding. "I'm wondering that as well. If he truly just woke up there with no memory of how, it's troubling. Perhaps some cruel deity's game..." Her hands clenched slightly on her lap. Ryuu had seen the worst of gods through the Evilus incident; she naturally suspected foul play.
Syr considered. As Freya, she didn't recall any specific god's ability to toss a child into the Dungeon for kicks—none that wouldn't break the rules of the lower world, anyway. Could it be the Dungeon itself spat him out? Unlikely. Perhaps a teleportation magic gone awry, or an experiment from the Zeus or Hera Familia remnants? But those Familias were gone. This was a mystery indeed.
One thing was certain to Freya: Cain Dawnstar (she rolled the name in her mind—she'd heard him mumble it softly as he'd drifted in and out earlier) was special. She would keep him within reach, observe him closely. If nurtured properly, he could become a radiant jewel in this city... one that Freya herself might claim for her Familia someday. The thought made her blood stir in anticipation.
But first, the boy needed care and rest. Syr decided she would treat him kindly (not that it was a question—she genuinely wanted to). She'd make sure he felt safe here. Perhaps she'd even get him to open up to her about his past, since people often found Syr easy to talk to. She had a talent for coaxing secrets out with a warm smile and a listening ear.
As Syr sat lost in thought, she suddenly noticed the boy's golden eyes fluttering open. He blinked groggily, confusion evident as he took in his surroundings. Quickly, Syr schooled her expression into a gentle smile.