Bell walked away from the Twilight Manor and through the streets of Orario, the earlier fiasco behind him. His thoughts right now were torn in two parts. A part wanted him to join the Astraea Familia, while the other wanted him to keep searching for a suitable Familia in Orario.
He calmly walked to a wooden bench near a central fountain and sat on it quite casually, His mind going through other Familia's in Orario.
Ishtar was a hard-no, since she was a public bus. Anyone could ride in whenever they wanted.
Hermes was also a hard-no, since he was obsessed with the so called last hero.
Takemikazuchi and Miach already were or were about to be deep in debts for their Familia children.
Ganesha Familia was also a big no, since Evilus kept a close eye on them and he didn't want to be on the hit list of Evilus so soon.
As he was agonizing over his thoughts. His mind flashed once again to the memory of the Loki Familia guards looking at him like a homeless dog.
His knuckles turned white from clutching his hands after remembering that. Apparently, it had affected him more than he would like to admit.
I understand. Being weak is not a sin. But staying weak and not trying to change and get stronger is the sin. Whether in this world or in other worlds.
He concluded. His decision crystallising after some long and agonizing minutes.
He would fight.
To become stronger.
To no longer be bound to the whims of others.
Not only for strength. But for the growth of himself as a person too.
.
Guess it's time for a brief goodbye, Orario. Bell thought with calculation while keeping his gaze on the Tower of Babel piercing the sky.
He got up from the wooden bench with a stretch after finalising his choice. Starting to walk towards one of the outer gates of Orario.
Now, that he had made a decision, he would go through with it till the very end.
...
..
.
10 minutes later.
"Hello, are you going to the Sword-Smithing city, Solingen?" Bell spoke curiously. Looking at a carriage coach who looked like someone from the Far-East.
"Hmmm, you want to hitch a ride to Solingen? The one in the Far-East?" The Far-Eastern man asked after taking a look at Bell and hearing his question.
"Yes, that one, though I only have about 100 valis. Would they be enough for a one sided trip?" Bell asked with a hint of anxiety, knowing that 100 valis were nowhere near enough to hitch a ride all the way to the Far-East.
"Well, it wouldn't be enough...but our contingent can still take you, if you do some menial tasks for us during the trip, like cleaning the carriage, washing the dishes and even hauling some supplies for us. What do you say?" The man from Far-East asked with an honest expression while rubbing the back of his head with a goofy smile, extending his other hand for a shake.
"It would be nice to work with you... By the way—I'm Bell Cranel—fifteen years old. What about you?" Bell said with a slight smile, taking the Far-Eastern man's hand and firmly shaking it.
"My name is Koenji. You can call me Koenji, Bell." Koenji spoke. Feeling the kindness and joy radiating from Bell and returned it by shaking Bell's hand with even more enthusiasm.
"Bell, you have everything you'd need on you right? Cause the whole contingent is leaving in about fifteen minutes. You can get anything you might have left behind or might need in the journey from the streets, because we won't stop in any village before reaching Solingen." Koenji wrapped one of his hands across Bell's shoulder like old friends and reminded him to get anything he might need during the journey.
"Umm... I have everything I might need for the journey Koenji. I just don't have any food and water, you won't let me starve amidst the journey, right?" Bell felt a bit awkward by the enthusiasm of this Far-Eastern man but teased him nonetheless to see how he'd react.
"Bell, you just broke my heart with your words, how can your I let you starve on the journey to Solingen? There is no need for you to think about food and water. If I couldn't even cover that, then I'd really feel that my hospitality is lacking." Koenji spoke with mock hurt. Clutching the left side of his chest, acting like Bell's words really got to him. Patting Bell's shoulder reassuringly with a moment later.
...
..
.
15 minutes later.
"Let's go Bell, it's time to move." Koenji spoke. Sitting on the driving seat of his wooden carriage as the contingent of wooden carriages started to move in a line towards the outer gate near them.
Bell quickly jumped into the back of Koenji's carriage. A lot of goods were stored inside.
He turned back and looked towards the Tower Of Babel one last time.
When I first came to Orario, I was weak, so weak that any passing adventurer could fold me in a pretzel in moments.
Now that I'm leaving it, I'm still weak...
But, the next time when I come back...
I'll be stronger, stronger than now.
So what if I don't have [Liaris Freese]?
So what if I don't have [Argonaut]?
So what if I don't have [Argo Vesta]?
I...myself am enough, to someday overturn this whole Orario.
Unbeknownst to Bell,
Somewhere deep inside him.
*Click*
The sound of a wheel turning resounded.