"I've finally made it. Damn...my legs are aching." Bell spoke after finally reaching Orario on foot—it was deep in the evening and the sun was about to dip behind the horizon—not much time was probably left before night fell.
The city walls of Orario were massive from up close. Climbing them would take forever for anyone, though he understood his "take forever" was according to average human standards. Not including those monstrous Level 1 and Level 2 adventures, or those even beyond.
"The vibe here is really different compared to the countryside." He mumbled under his breath. Watching carriages go in and out of the main gates of Orario. They looked like a pair of castle gates from the medieval era.
People stood on foot in a single file line from the city gates... All the way to the place he was standing at.
Without another word, Bell quietly fell in line and waited for his turn. His thoughts turning towards the most optimal and best choices for his future.
'So, the question now is... Which Familia should I join?' He thought while looking absently at the back of a burly man standing in front of him in the line. The guy was grumbling under his breath about feeling cold...since the sun was about to go down soon.
...
When Gods came down to the mortal world they call 'Genkai'. It was not merely to guide and help humanity against the ancient monsters that roamed the lands in era's long gone.
It was also a way for them, who were eternal and changeless beings to experience the transient changes of the mortal world.
Similar to how most mortals want to become immortal and changeless, Gods... who were born changeless and immortal also wanted to experience what changing and living in a world fraught with ceaseless change felt like.
It was natural for the mind to seek what It does not have... Apparently it was true for mortals and Gods alike.
Hence, the Gods descended from their home—Heaven or 'Tenkai' and gave mortals a chance to increase their strength and awaken skills by themselves, by bestowing a special inked tattoo to them, referred to as the 'Falna' of the divine.
It inner workings were a mystery to him. Basically in normal language, it worked similarly to stat panels like those from MMO's, where you could increase your physical stats and magic by killing monsters.
Though it was never clarified in the *Danmachi* anime about how it was made or it's deeper inner workings.
Anyway, when a God grants you their Falna, you are considered their Familia, or family.
A person could only have the Falna of a single God at a time. And it was required to get their Falna's constantly updated from their Familia God by mortals to quantify and merge the gained Exelia (EXP) into an adventurers body.
Now the question came... Which God's Familia should he choose to join?
At this time, as far as he knew, the story had yet to start. There were the two kings of Orario—Freya Familia and Loki Familia. And then there was even the Hestia Familia of Goddess Hestia, along with some other choices.
The first to leave his list was the Freya Familia. Since it was a Familia of simps who simped over their Goddess Freya, and there was always infighting happening inside Folkvangr—the headquarters of the Freya Familia.
The second to leave the list was the Hephaestus Familia. That Familia was a production one, basically made up of blacksmiths. Which was not what Bell had in mind for a Familia he would like to join.
That left the Loki Familia, along with Hestia Familia and some other minor Familia's like Takemikazuchis' or Hermes'. Among them... Hestia Familia was a great choice, since it was also the Familia his predecessor chose. Or rather...the only Familia willing to take him in.
But, Bell had to think critically. As much as Hestia was a sweet and loving Goddess, when it came to responsible and serious things, she was sadly not up to the mark. Even though she got better after his predecessor joined.
That for him...was still was not enough. Because his upcoming Familia choice could be the difference between his life and death.
He had to remind himself constantly. This was no longer a story but his reality, and he had no illusions about having any kind of plot armour like his predecessor. Just look—he died by slipping and planting his head on a rock.
Where was his supposed plot armour as a protagonist at?
Hestias', Freyas' and Hephaestus' Familia's were not suitable for him.
Loki Familia was indeed the best choice among them all, but there was a teeny tiny problem with choosing Loki Familia. He was realistic and knew himself well. His body and strength as of now were below average, with no training in martial arts, nor any innately awakened magic.
As of now...even if he wanted, Loki Familia would probably refuse to take him in. Since right now, he wasn't worthy.
"Watch where you're walking, kid!" The burly man ahead of him grunted in surprise after Bell accidently bumped into his back. The guy tilted his head back towards Bell and warned with a growl.
"Ah!.... Sorry about that Uncle. I was lost in my thoughts." Bell was jolted awake from his thoughts and spoke. Apologising for bumping into the back of the burly man ahead of him.
His eyes wandered ahead after a moment to the guards in medieval adventurers clothing asking questions and checking people at the gates just some paces ahead of his place in line.
He waited for some time in the line for his own turn. Letting the guards at the entrance ask him some causal questions and check his sachet for any weapons. Following which... He was finally allowed inside Orario.
As he stepped into the city, his mind once again echoed with the same thought.
'Which Familia should I join?'
His thoughts churned as he set his first step on the soil of Orario.
This was the beginning of everything.
His first step against fate.
His first step on the journey of finding himself.
His first step of defiance against a story whose ending was already set in stone.