章節 43: Freya.
The past few days for Freya, the Goddess of Beauty had been straight out of a fairy tale, so much so she had trouble sleeping no matter how fatigued she may be.
And the reason being the two anomalies her Discerning Eye had detected- her innate ability to see the color and brilliance of the souls regardless of the distance.
The first one was of course Bell Cranel- to her Active Magic, the young adventurer was a bright yet transparent silhouette she would greet every morning.
While the second was strange… special. He was there at the same time he wasn't.
He shone so cheerfully at the same time he was pitch black.
He was everything at the same time, he was nothing.
Special.
And ironically enough, Freya found him at the same place she met Bell for the first time. But sadly, he ran away before she could even utter a single word.
No, he didn't run away- he vanished like he was never there.
Even so, Freya remembered every second of that moment- his suffering yet innocently curious eyes, and how spooked he was when her little friend unintentionally glared his way.
It was only a moment- a glimpse into his soul and every ounce of her being declared- She had found her kindred spirit.
Her Discerning Eye never allowed her to see her own Devine Soul. So curious, she once, a very long time ago asked some Gods with the same ability to describe Freya's soul to her. And their answers only baffled her more - one said it was bright and silver, while the other said dim and white.
Add on to the bafflement- each God's answer was different.
For eternities Freya could only ever imagine what her soul was like, and she imagined it to be exactly like his- a soul that had every color in existence, every form of brilliance there is… and nothing at all at the same time.
She had found her kindred spirit.
From there on, it was her and her throne atop Babel, gazing at his silhouette all day long with his File in her hands as she planned their first genuine encounter.
The File contained his every activity since she first caught sight of him and a portrait of him smiling bright- a portrait she drew herself, activities she recorded herself.
But Freya wanted to learn more about him before she made her move. Things like what are his likes and dislikes? Does he have a talent for melee combat or is he a mage? Does he even have talent at all?
He doesn't have a Falna. So, is there any other God with his/her sights set on him? Although, that was the least of her worries.
And the more she knew about him, the more she wanted him.
Sometimes, lost in her whimsical thoughts, she'd wonder who she craves more between the two of them.
She'd always giggle and say Bell.
But that changed the day he entered the Dungeon with that muddy brown silhouette.
Every day he'd triumph in a way no Non-Leveler ever could, not even Ottar back in the day- He, someone who never touched a weapon before, slaughtered 45 Goblins on an everyday basis- He pulled himself from death not once but thrice in a single day- He ventured into Floor-2 fatally wounded, and survived… no, he thrived.
And that Magic of his made him all the more alluring.
He was a never-been-read-before book with a synopsis whispering Legendary.
This was it… Freya couldn't hold herself any longer- tonight she made her move.
Donning her disguise, she waited outside the Guild for him.
There she stood a maiden- a jittering heart and butterflies in her belly. For once she concocted no schemes, no chaos, no tests- in all sincerity she would walk up to him ask, "Hey, would you like to be friends with me and join my Familia?"
When was the last time she felt this way?
For the life of her, she couldn't remember.
Freya didn't even realize since when her 'kindred spirit' grew so much on her. And the fact that he had no Falna only intensified her crave for him.
As she was fixing the hem of her leafy skirt, the lad walked out- all smiles and laughs beside that muddy brown soul.
'Smile for me!' a thought floated.
Freya couldn't wrap her head around the sight before her. It was akin to watching a fly buzzing around a gorgeous butterfly, staining its unmatched beauty.
But she had no qualms with it if that's what it took… so long as he agreed.
And just as her feet flinched for a step, it happened- she happened, killing the butterflies as they danced.
That massive azure silhouette of a certain Goddess she couldn't be more familiar with.
It was as though an azure sun had descended onto the streets for a stroll, engulfing everything and anything it came across into its cruel blaze of blue.
What followed was exactly what Freya feared the most.
That unfeeling azure sun scorched him with her blaze the second he got close, just like it did to everything she ever touched.
Shattered and hurt, he then vanished, just like everything she ever touched since The Heaven's Massacre
But it didn't end just there, that blue sun- that Goddess, she too, felt it- felt just how special he is, but not quite like how Freya did.
'Traversal through the fabrics of existence', Freya saw her lips whisper.
'So that's his magic! Special indeed is my kindred spirit!' Freya thought as she clutched the hem of her dress- a smile so enchanting bloomed on her face, freezing the dozens who gazed her way.
But the smile so beautiful was only short-lived- frozen, as a sinking pressure of the heavens descended like a mountain on her shoulders.
Freya's frame involuntarily shivered- eyes snapping to the source, and there it was…
An unfeeling pair of dark eyes, gazing deep into her's.
As if by instinct alone, Freya's back arched a small bow her way, and just as her lips parted a greeting, the Goddess spoke first.
No… she mouthed, "I warn you."
Three words- just three words her lips signaled, but they exploded a thunder in Freya's ears as the Goddess turned away, on toward Babel in quick steps.
'My… how classic of her.' while Freya could only force chuckle, massaging the headache her sheer voice inflicted. For she knew better- that one is better off left alone… at least for a while.
That one's like a volatile chemical, one-single wrong poke, and she'd explode right on your face.
But this unexpected turn of events cleared three things-
1. Even if not the kinder sprit she thought, Argus is still precious.
2. That One was now interested in Argus as well, which was a miracle by itself. For as long as Freya could remember, nothing ever caught that walking cruelty's eye.
3. Claiming Argus was no longer just a matter of walking up to him.
'She will ruin him…' was Freya's last thought as she turned away, every gear in her mind spinning at the highest speed possible.
And as she turned away, her eyes glazed past that muddy brown soul, and many others surrounding her from the shadows.
'So… the Soma Familia makes its move… Well, at least that fly won't be buzzing around anymore.' She mused, gazing as Lili dashed into dark alleys trailed by tens of others.
'But he smiled so brightly he was with her… Will it disappears if that Pallum did?'
'Certainly not! Will I not be reason enough?'
'But what if… what if I'm wrong?'
Freya chuckled aloud at her own silly wandering thoughts.
'My… what have you done to me, my love?' she giggled, cupping her pinked cheeks.
Took her a few moments of deep breaths before…
'But at any event…' she sighed, taking her eyes off the alley and turning home.
But the night was still young, and as luck would have it, Frey's eyes caught sight of her second favorite slowly heading this way.
Her eyes winded a little while the turning gears clicked- her lips parted a saucy smile, dazzling those around her.
But only for a second.
Her expressions flicked- eyebrows scrunched, a rush of panic in her eyes- she jogged to him, "Mister Bell! Mister Bell!" she called out, a hand waving up and high, jolting his exhaustion awake.
"Eh? Miss S-" but her tearing eyes forced his words back down.
"Mister Bell! Some shady looking people are chasing a little girl! Please, you must save her!" She pled, a hand clamping his while the other pointed at the alley as she panted.
Bell wasn't even given a chance to utter a single syllable before she pulled the tired-limp boy towards the alley.
"Please hurry, Mister Bell! I beg you!"
And, well… Mister Bell being Mister Bell, he nodded and broke into a mad dash into the alley. No questions asked- No second thoughts.
While Freya sighed, eyes following him into the darkness before turning to her home atop Babel Tower with a mind full of thoughts, a new pebble in her way, and the throbbing excitement for what comes next.
For she'd witness firsthand what her kindred spirit would do when pushed to the brink- to see whether he'd cower or take action.
What actions would he take? Will he validate her belief and act the way she would've, or something even better.
And so she stepped on toward home, giggling even though she didn't acquire what she came for.
Freya took what she deemed to be the best course of action and set Argus a stage.
Now all that's left was for him was to step up and dance.
'Now… my dearest, show me your best. Show me… make me go against her.'
創作者的想法 
An_Imperfectionist
An_Imperfectionist Just when you think you have it all figured out... just when you think it's all set, and you have the power... just when you think you finally got rolling you always wanted- you open your Gmail, and three new assignments snarling at you.
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