Danmachi: Rise of a Fallen Hero

Bell had been training relentlessly for days with Riveria. Every word of the incantation was etched in his mind, but he knew that only perfect mastery of mana could bring forth this divine light. That evening, as the stars pierced the dark night, he whispered the incantation once more, this time with unwavering determination:

"Lumen sacrum, purga tenebris, lux divinae."

A soft, almost ethereal light formed between his hands. It intensified, wrapping itself around him like a blessing. Riveria, who was watching him, nodded, satisfied.

"You did it," she said simply, but there was a hint of respect in her tone.

Bell, out of breath, stared at the light before it went out. An indescribable warmth filled his heart.

— Thank you, Lady Riveria. Without you, I would never have been able to...

She raised her hand to interrupt him.

—You did the work, Bell. Sacred magic requires more than just talent; it requires a sincere heart. Perhaps that sincerity, and your connection to this person, allowed you to succeed.

Bell blushed slightly but nodded gratefully. He left the training area at full speed, his mind fixed on one thing: healing Aisha.

Tammuz, who had been discreetly observing Bell for several days, stood in the shadows. The pieces of the puzzle were coming together in his mind. This boy, who seemed more manipulative than sincere, was training to master a sacred magic. And all this for what? To heal Aisha?

—Noble, perhaps, he muttered to himself. But I don't think that's the whole truth.

His gaze remained fixed on Bell, disappearing over the horizon towards the palace.

Aisha trained in the courtyard, her whip vibrating in the night air. She was sweating lightly, but her expression remained proud and stoic, even if the lingering pain from her injuries sometimes betrayed her movements.

Bell arrived, out of breath, his hand on his knee.

— Aisha! he called. Come with me... It's urgent.

She raised an eyebrow, but the serious expression on his face prompted her to follow him.

In her room, Aisha closed the door behind them, crossing her arms warily.

"So what do you want, little man?" she asked, a mocking smile on her lips.

Bell pointed at the bed.

— Lie down.

Aisha blushed violently, staring at him with an expression that mixed surprise and confusion.

— You... You want us... now?! Listen, Bell, I'm not ready for this, and neither are you probably...

Bell burst out laughing in spite of himself, realizing the ambiguity of his request.

— It's not what you think! I'll heal your wounds. Trust me.

Still skeptical, but seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Aisha complied and lay down on the bed. Bell positioned himself beside her, raising a hand above her.

— Get ready, this might hurt a little, he warned.

"Lumen sacrum, purga tenebris, lux divinae."

An intense light burst from her hand, enveloping Aisha's body. Her dark wounds began to react. Aisha screamed, her body writhing under the effects of the magic.

"It hurts!" she cried, in spite of herself.

Bell gritted his teeth, focusing all his mana into the spell.

— Hold on, Aisha. It's only a moment!

The light seemed to fight against the darkness imbued in his skin, until, slowly, the curse faded. The wounds left by the whip were still there, but they were no longer black, no longer cursed.

Bell, exhausted, took out a healing potion and handed it to Aisha.

—Drink this, he said softly. It will help heal the wounds.

Aisha, still panting, drank the potion. Gradually, the wounds began to heal, and the pain faded. She ran a hand over her skin, realizing that the curse had disappeared.

She slowly straightened up, staring at Bell.

Bell looked away, a soft smile on his face.

Bell, exhausted but relieved, settled into a chair next to Aisha's bed. His breathing was heavy, and his body seemed drained of all energy.

Aisha, still sitting on the bed, stared at him intently, her thoughts swirling. The pain was gone, replaced by a strange warmth in her heart that she felt.

— Bell, why...? Why are you going to all this trouble for me?

Bell looked up at her, his eyelids heavy, but a soft smile lit up his tired face.

" Because I love you ," he whispered before falling into a deep sleep, unable to maintain his strength any longer.

Aisha stood there frozen, her eyes wide in shock. Her heart was beating at a speed she never thought possible. She looked at him, this man who had just risked his life, pushed his limits for her.

A genuine smile, rare for her, appeared on her lips.

— Little man, she whispered softly, you are truly amazing...

She slowly got up, took a blanket, and placed it on Bell before sitting down next to him, watching over his sleep.

Chapter 60: The Secret Revealed

The night shrouded Orario in its shimmering cloak, and the lively atmosphere of the pleasure district intensified. Aisha, radiant and without the bandages that previously concealed her injuries, headed to her post at the cash register, a subtle smile on her lips.

The Amazons, accustomed to seeing their sister covered in bandages and always on the defensive, remained frozen for a moment. Their gaze oscillated between surprise and curiosity. Lena, the most observant of the group, approached her with a question hanging on her lips.

— Aisha, what happened? Just yesterday, you were wearing those bandages. Now, your skin… it's perfect.

Aisha shrugged slightly, an enigmatic smile lighting up her face.

"It's a secret," she replied simply before resuming her work.

This answer only fueled Lena's suspicions, who, in the back of her mind, suspected Bell of being behind all this.

Throughout the evening, Aisha remained smiling, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor. Even the customers noticed her light and pleasant mood. The Amazons, for their part, exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what to make of this sudden change.

Yet in Aisha's mind, a whirlwind was raging. She finally understood the "surprise" Bell had spoken of, the long days when he disappeared and returned exhausted. He had trained, pushed himself to his limits to master a sacred magic capable of healing her wounds.

He did all this for me... she thought, touched.

But every time that thought came back, another, more disturbing, took over. Bell's words, spoken in a whisper before he fell asleep: "Because I love you."

Those words played over and over in his mind, repeated over and over again, like an echo.

"I love you... I love you..."

She bit her lip lightly, her heart beating faster every time she remembered his exhausted, yet sincere face. Was that really what he thought? Or was it just an impulse born of fatigue and exhaustion?

She wanted to believe it. And yet, she hesitated, unsure of what she felt or what she should do.

For the first time in a long time, Aisha, a proud and strong woman, felt unsettled.

She looked up, observing the starry sky through the room's window.

"My little bunny… why do you have to be so complicated?" she thought with a mixture of affection and frustration, as a soft smile played on her lips.

To be continued...