Danmachi: Fated One[s]

DISCLAIMER: Danmachi belongs to its respective owners. Everything else that occurs in this story is of my own creation and the characters abide by the fictional laws in the setting.

Description: Eternal loneliness? – Fate scoffed. Not for these five, no. These hearts were meant to be together, of that she would make sure of.

Tags: Harem [4 Goddesses] - Romance - Drama - Adventure.

Commissioned by: Palik

[Prologue]: What will [not] be.

Act 1 - Part 0

Whispers; sweet promises of unconditional love.

Echoes; of a united life forevermore.

To you, who's yet to arrive…

I promise the world.

My fated love[s].

[Chapter 1]: I'm Here.

Act 1 - Part 1

A parting gift and memories of time spent together were all his grandfather left for him.

Gone, in the dead of the night, without explanations or even so much as a goodbye.

Was it his fault?

He would never know.

But the fact remained – Bell Cranel was on his own, from that night on.

Or at least, that's how it should've been.

The parting gift was unique, and he held onto it every night since, whispering his feelings and seeking comfort from the presence within the item. It was his lifeline, his reason to wake up at night without tears of self-doubt.

It was his most prized possession, an invaluable article that resonated with him.

But he was alone in the world.

The villagers were kind to his lonely plight, to help and lift up his downed spirits after his grandfather's disappearance, but they could only do so much before Bell had to pick his life back together on his own.

Expenses were quick to tally up without the income of his grandfather, and the house they shared slowly lost materials as Bell peddled them for food with wandering merchants. He worked the fields, but that alone was not enough.

He was not at the age where he could venture out with the old folks and hunt or exterminate monster's nest on the surface as his grandfather once did.

His resources became scant as months went by; a birthday with no one else to chant and celebrate but the gift and the presence within it.

The loneliness never bothered him, but it did make his life miserable.

And it only became worse, when just like the night his grandfather was gone…

His only inanimate companion disappeared in his own arms.

He was utterly broken…

Until they arrived.

- 0 - Fated One[s] - 0 -

Their orders were simple, to exterminate a monster that plagued mankind on the surface. The journey would take them far away from the city, and they were even warned to not take the mission lightly.

The monster was named and had a fable to its name.

Such request was not accepted without its conditions, and all were easily granted due to the gravity of the situation. At the first call of support, the city would put out all the stops to complete the mission.

Justice went with the Huntress, to accompany a lifelong companion for a journey that she would not return to the city that had taken it all from her.

The choice was not an easy one to make, but a broken heart could not bear seeing others living with the happiness that was taken away from her. The Huntress understood well her pain, as she had lost her own half, and approved of her endeavors.

They would walk the road together, surrounded by the Huntress Familia, until they arrived at the foothold of the place where the named monster nested and preyed on humanity.

In a land so far away, with little resources to take care of their own, a decision was made to resupply at the nearest unaffected town or village, and to prepare for a fight that would be sang to mankind for generations to come.

They followed the only source of water coming down the mountain; a lush forest was crossed before they arrived at a small village hidden in the thick of forest, not far away from a split river path. Thirty houses at best, with a well preserved dirt path and a decently made palisade as the perimeter of the village.

A sentinel stood by the gates, a wooden watchtower barely twice his height beside him. The Familia approached, a banner with the symbol raised high made the sentinel stand at ease and greet them with a stony face.

Yet his eyes strayed.

"Welcome, to what do we owe the visit of one such renown Familia?" The sentinel's voice was thick, betraying none of the olden age under those home-made crafted gears.

From the group, a young woman stepped forward. Clad in well-crafted clothes that put the sentinel's to shame. Her reddish hair swayed as her eyes regarded the sentinel.

"We've received the request to exterminate the monster nesting in the mountains not far away; and after the long journey from Orario to here, we've come to resupply." Her voice was young, but the steel in her tone should not be taken lightly.

"Resupply?" The sentinel scratched his chin, "Well, I'd need to talk with the chief first. If ye' ladies would not mind waiting here while I fetch him?"

"Please do."

The sentinel left without another word, scratching the back of his head while his legs wobbled all the way into the depths of the village.

As one, many of the 'ladies' in the group frowned and crossed their arms.

"Did you see where he was looking?"

"The nerve of him!"

"IF we didn't travel so far, we wouldn't have to deal with men like him."

The Huntress' captain sighed at the bickering girls; a life surrounded by only women was sure to paint their views of men differently. She would've reprimanded the man had their words been true, but even in his olden age, his eyes strayed not for the gaps in their clothes but to study the weapons and intentions of her Familia.

But the captain was on her own, because even her Goddess looked with scorn at where the man had left.

"He's a good man." Their invited guest grasped their Goddess' arm, receiving a reproachful stare that led their guest to explain. "His intentions were born out of caution for such a large group."

"I refuse to believe any man can be good."

But explanations and reasoning meant nothing in the fate of an age old dislike.

The Huntress and Justice conversation was cut short by the sentinel returning with another two men, older than even he was, but unlike the sentinel' who surveyed them for ill-will, the chief and his companion's gaze surveyed them with ill-will.

Their intentions were short-lived, but first impressions were already made.

An 'I told you so' look at Justice followed by defeated sigh from Justice before the three men were at the gates, speaking with the captain of the Huntress' Familia.

"We can't share our winter rations for free, but we can make a deal as long as you're willing to buy them."

Negotiations started, one young serious woman versus three old men who ran a village together.

"We'll buy the rations and any supplies you have on hand for camping for a week. Name the price."

"A week worth of ration and supplies for 22? That'll be 440,000."

"Rations for 22, supplies for 11."

"300,000."

"Deal."

Sealed by a handshake, the reddish-haired captain signaled for the Familia to follow the three men to the village's winter storage.

The group got divided halfway into the village, half that would work with the sentinel and the rations, and the other half went with the chief and his companion to receive camping supplies. The two Goddesses joined the later half, keeping to themselves and in the middle of the Huntress' Familia in case anything happened.

And something did indeed happen.

From among the many villagers walking about, from among the children staring owlishly with mouth opens at the Familia, a whisper fluttered about.

An unfulfilled promise.

Green eyes searched around, seeing that the echo did not belong to anyone present, but the feeling was still there, at the back of her mind.

It was a call for help, a call to cease the loneliness –

– "Lady Goddesses," Rethusa –The reddish-haired captain interrupted her Goddess search, "Due to how dangerous the fight will be, I'd like to ask you to stay in this village until we're done."

"I will not let my Children go alone." The Goddess shook her head.

"Then will you leave your guest alone, Goddess?" Rethusa bowed her head at Justice.

"I will be fine on my own, that's why I came with you all. You do not need to worry, Rethusa."

Yes, her guest would be fine on her own… but not in a town where such ill-willed men abided. She knew her children were strong, her guest… not so much.

"… Very well."

"Thank you, Goddess. Your decision has put my heart at ease." Rethusa smiled and bowed to her Goddess before calling for the attention of the chief.

"Yes, what do you need?"

"We need shelter for two, for the entire duration of our mission."

"Ah, who will they be?" Ill intentions again.

"Our Goddesses, Lady Artemis and Lady Astraea."

Shame.

Remorse.

Self-repentance…

"O-oh… Yes, in that case… Ah," The chief coughed into his fist several times, the ill-will all but gone after realizing how close to death he had come. "That might be a bit hard."

"Why so?"

"The tradition of our village is to have children stay with their parents until they marry, only then do they build a new home if they wish to stay with the village…"

"So… All houses are occupied?"

"Not all of them, but there's… some who have lost and would rather not share their abode. I do not wish to put the Goddesses in harm's way."

Hypocrite.

"Then-"

"Chief, there's Bell…" The companion finally spoke for the first time, making the chief turn to him while rubbing his chin in thought.

"Ah yes, young Bell…" The chief hummed and looked down the path, to one of the most cast away houses. "Perhaps some divine company would lift his spirits…"

"What do you mean?" Rethusa prodded.

"You see… young Bell was abandoned by his grandfather a year ago and since he's been having a hard time living on his own. He's a good child, with a good heart, and while we wish to help him, he's been closing off more and more…"

Rethusa frowned, "Is there really no other home?"

"I fear not…"

"How old is he?" Justice –Lady Astraea– suddenly chimed in, startling them with her sudden addition into the conversation.

"15, give or take a few months."

"Then we'll stay with him," Astraea smiled like a doting mother would her child. "Perhaps, as you said. Some Divine company will mend the young boy's heart."

"Then, if you would follow me, Lady Goddesses. I'll introduce you…"

- 0 - Fated One[s] - 0 -

Bell had looked everywhere.

Under his bed.

Under the table, over the table, besides the table.

In the kitchen, the cabinets, the fridge, above and below.

The hearth, inside and outside.

The stack of logs for winter, around the house…

But it was gone.

His gift was gone.

But the presence remained, so it couldn't be far away.

So, he continued looking in what little he possessed in his home.

In the bathroom, in the bedroom, in the living room.

Then the presence moved.

From outside.

Its promise of company moved closer to him.

He didn't care how it had gotten outside, but it was coming back home.

He would be alone no more.

- 0 - Fated One[s] - 0 -

Whispers became louder the closer to they got to their supposed shelter.

Memories of what couldn't be returned in full; a melancholic notion filled Artemis's divine soul.

But why, why did her heart hurt so?

She had made peace with her loneliness; she did not cry at night for over a year.

So, why? Why were the tears threatening to spill, yet again?

"Hey Bell! You in there!?"

- 0 - Fated One[s] - 0 -

Here.

Right here.

It's right here.

This… this is where I should be.

- 0 - Fated One[s] - 0 -

"Yeah!? One minute." Bell hurriedly put an old shirt on, and ran to the door, where the presence became stronger.

And then he opened the door.

- 0 - Fated One[s] - 0 -

"Orion!?"

- 0 - Act 1 Part 1 End - 0 -

Author's Note: New commissioned story~ Please look forward to its development!

- Jas / Shiiva