Chapter Two: Isn't it easy to have misunderstandings?

One of the culinary gods had likened the concept of Karma to a meal: You get served what you deserve. Of course, he was likely justifying his utter failure to make a palatable dish out of bananas with pasta, and subsequent food poisoning, but the point stood.

Karma had not been much of a concern before they had descended, but with their powers restricted to mere cantrips, some say they were finally getting their just deserts.

Ouranos was curious as to what he'd done to deserve this five-star rabbit dish though. As the god of the Guild stared blankly at the boy's back, he hesitantly dismissed the thought of rubbing it in Loki's face in favour of asking his new favourite mortal a question.

"What life did you lead before your travels to Orario, Bell Cranel?"

"Um, a pretty normal one I think? I tilled the fields, fed the animals, trained with my dagger, explored a few caverns and played tag with Sylphy every day."

He raised an eyebrow.

"You were on the verge of becoming level four before even delving into the Dungeon. One does not simply walk into caverns and gain such power."

"Ah! There were always a lot of monsters in them. Mostly goblins and hobgoblins. Our village couldn't afford to hirer adventurers, and they always ravaged my farm, so I did my best to take care of them. It was hard at first, but I got used to it!"

Monsters outside the Dungeon were weaker than their Dungeon counterparts. Goblins were the weakest monster in the Dungeon, so besting one was not beyond the ability of a villager. But a Hobgoblin? As in the one that spawned on the twenty-fourth floor of the Dungeon?

Did you wrestle with bears too?

"I was really lucky! Deep in one of the caverns, I found this enchanted dagger and managed to defeat a Goblin Champion with it! They never bothered my village again afterwards."

A boy, without a falna, managing to kill a Goblin Champion. A monster that might as well be a floor boss. Was there something wrong with his truth detection ability?

"…Would you regale me with your tale, from the beginning perhaps?"

"Yes, Guildmaster!" The sincerity behind Bell's smile all but blinded him. Seriously, how hadn't a Goddess picked him up?

"I think it all started when I saw a girl jump off a windmill…"

"What aspect of that do you consider normal?"

His foot hit the ground and he sped towards her faster than he had ever moved before. Yet it was clear that at the pace he ran he would not make it in time. But Bell would not take no for an answer.

He steeled himself. With a leap, he hurdled himself forward, arms stretched out as far ahead as he could reach. For but a moment, Bell felt weightless. In the next, gravity resumed its hold.

He tasted dirt. He felt an oddly light weight settle in his arms. Dirt had never tasted so sweet. Shaking off the sand and soil, Bell lifted his face off the ground.

Ruby eyes met emerald green. The nearly weightless girl had long flowing hair, coloured a brilliant green to match her eyes. Her clothes were unlike the coarse overalls the village farmers wore, a silky looking white sundress covering her form instead.

Yet none of those things were what caught Bell's attention.

"Wow! You almost flew!" The girl's tone was bubbly.

It was the I've-done-nothing-wrong expression and let's-do-it-again smile on her face that left him stumped.

Grandpa, despite all your advice, I don't think I understand girls.

"Um, are you alright?" He attempted to re-establish some measure of common sense.

"Eh?" She seemed shocked.

"You can hear me?!"

She then realized that a pair of hands separated her from the ground.

"You can see and touch me too?!"

"Yes?"

She hugged him. Naturally, he hugged her back.

"Amazing!"

Bell kind of liked this feeling of closeness. It felt right. Was this the feeling grandpa told him he'd get by befriending girls? Grandpa was truly wise!

"It's been like years since someone saw me! You know what that means? We can play tag!"

Every word she said felt like a sledgehammer to his common sense. Wait.

Inexplicable lightness? Shouldn't be able to touch, see or feel? Jumping off a windmill blade for what seems like fun?

"Um, are you a ghost? Actually, are ghosts real?"

"Nope, I'm a Wind Spirit. Also, I hope not."

"Oh. Alright then. What's a Wind Spirit?"

"That's a good question. I guess we're the wind itself given form? One day, a bunch of us spirits just started floating together. We sang the same song, found resonance and we ended up like this. I'm not complaining though, it's more fun than just floating around all day or sticking with those elves. Many of us aren't too happy with them."

Bell had the feeling that he was just told something important.

"Anyways, wanna play tag?"

"Sure! I'm Bell Cranel by the way."

What was he thinking about again? Something about elves?

He held out a hand. She shook it gingerly.

"Eh. I've got a bunch of names, but I like Sylphid a lot."

A Cheshire grin grew on her face.

"Anyways, what's that behind you?"

He turned around, nothing but dirt and grass as far as the eye could see. Suddenly he knew what was coming. Oh no. Sylphid you cheat—

A light palm to the back, and the wind itself shoved him forwards.

"Tag! You're it!"

It wasn't a bribe. She was just returning something that did not belong to her.

"Ah. I'm re—"

Riveria glared at her.

"Would you like to take a swim in the deep end of a lake, Ais? Speak another word and you will."

Her lips were sealed. Her anger at being interrupted yet again was fleeting in the face of danger.

Ais Wallenstein was scared only of three things in life. The loss of family, the Black Dragon and any body of water that went above knee-level. She was truly thankful for the communal baths within the walls of the Loki Familia. She would never admit it but bathing alone was scary. What if she drowned?

"It's a gift. The Loki Familia would like to pay for your dinner, for your difficulty in locating us. It was most certainly not a bribe."

Riveria? What are you saying? I'm just returning his property. You of all people should know that—

"Um. Only the Guild is allowed to exchange Valis for magic stones. It would actually be illegal for both the Hostess of Fertility to accept this stone and for you to attempting selling it to them."

She wanted to interfere, but all thoughts of that was lost the moment she saw Riveria's face. A light gasp escaped her lips.

Ais had never seen this side of Riveria before. She was so expressive. Her eyes averted Bell's gaze, conveying panic. A droplet of sweat ran down the side of her face. Her lips were parted just wide enough for a soft squeak to emerge.

She needed to ask for lessons. Her stoic expression was great during poker night but made it hard to convey how she felt.

"I'm sorry, I know it was done with good intent, but it's my duty to report this to the Guild."

Ah. Now she was fading into the background. Amazing. Elves were known to be able to blend into the woods and hide among the leaves, but this was on another level completely. As expected of Riveria.

"Oi! Bastard, don't you know who we are?!"

Bete, you're not helping.

Without saying a word, Ais looked Bete in the eyes and held a finger to her lips.

"Shhh…."

The werewolf's jaw hit the table.

Shushing someone did not count as a word, so she was safe.

Okay. One problem solved. Time to put her body language skills to the test.

She waved at Bell.

"Yes?"

She pointed at the magic stone.

"The magic stone?" She nodded.

Ais brought her hands up to the sides of her head and jutted each of her index fingers forward.

"Grr!"

"Minotaur?"

She nodded. Two for two. She was either really nailing this body language thing or Bell was just good at understanding her.

She slid a finger across her neck, then pointed at him.

Bete burst out laughing.

"You're killin' me Ais! Don't even need words to say you'd gut him like you did the minotaurs and collect his 'magic stone'!"

Recalling her sequence of movements, it dawned upon her exactly how any adventurer would take it. The look on her face was just like Riveria's. That was not what she was saying. Not at all.

She waved her hands from side to side and rapidly shook her head.

"Oh! I get it, you're saying this is the stone from the minotaur I killed. That's why you said it's mine!"

Bete's jaws broke through the table, joining his legs on the ground. A certain hostess added two zeros to the bill then doubled it for good measure.

Yes! He understood! Three cheers for Ais! No thanks to you, Bete! Next time a sword stag sneaks up on you, it'll get one free stab in before I rescue you!

She flashed Bell a relieved smile and a thumbs-up. It was unfortunate that it wasn't her skills that were good, but she was still happy to find someone able to understand her pretty well.

"I see. So Riveria had just overreacted to what I thought was a bribe. Sorry for jumping to a conclusion."

Riveria faded back in, the light returning to her eyes.

"Yes." Riveria coughed lightly. "Quite right, quite right."

The High Elf shot her a thankful look. A poker face stared back. You're not off the hook either, miss know-it-all.

"Eh? You, pipsqueak, killed a minotaur?!"

Two free stabs.

AN: Hey there. It's been quite some time since I've written anything. As usual, my studies and life in general have ensured a lack of free time. I need to work on my scheduling. Ugh. I'll try my best, but I can't promise frequent updates. Anyways, let me know your thoughts.

Till next time,

A Silver Dolphin.