As Bell was returning to Midnight Garden, he was accompanied by Ryana and Maryuu who had been the ones to accompany him into the Dungeon today. They passed by rows of shops with their charming facades and well-kept displays, but the tranquil atmosphere boke ahead.

  Ahead, a small flower stall lay in ruins. Vases were shattered, petals from once vibrant flowers scattered across the street. The scent of crushed blooms hung heavy in the air. In the midst of it all stood a prum girl with chestnut hair, her small frame trembling as she stared at the destruction, her face wet with tears.

  An elderly couple loomed over her, their stern glares filled with a cold judgment stared her down. Bell's eyes narrowed as the couple shoved the girl away. She stumbled, her gaze flicking back and forth between them before bolting down the street.

  Without a second thought, Bell sprinted after her. "I'll go after her," he called over his shoulder, his feet already pounding against the cobblestones before either Ryana or Maryuu could respond.

  "Wait, Bell—" Ryana started, but the words fell away as he disappeared around a corner. She sighed, shaking her head before muttering "Typical. Always running off."

  Maryuu cast a glance after Bell but quickly turned her focus back to the scene in front of them. The flower stall was a mess of broken stems and smashed pots, once-lively decorations now wilted and stained with dirt. But more than the wreckage, what drew her attention were the injuries on the elderly couple. The old man, especially, was worse off—his face twisted in pain, the corner of his mouth stained with dried blood that ran down the side of his mouth.

  Maryuu stepped forward, her hands already moving as she began the chant for healing. She pressed them against the old man's wounds, the golden glow of her magic stitching together flesh and easing the bruises. The man grunted, his anger not lessened by the relief he was feeling.

  Ryana, standing beside her, addressed the couple. "We're from the Astrea familia," she said, her voice calm and steady. "Can you tell us what happened here?"

  The old man spat at the ground, the gesture filled with venom. "A bunch of adventurers came through, knocked everything over," he growled, his voice thick with resentment. "Made a mess of our shop."

  Ryana's eyes flickered briefly with sympathy, but there was a sharpness in her gaze. "Did you see any familia insignia? Something to identify them?"

  The man shook his head angrily. "No, I didn't. I was already being beaten by then. Useless adventurers, all of you. You cause more trouble than you fix."

  Maryuu clenched her fists at his words, but she kept her mouth shut. There was no use arguing with people who are the victims. Instead, she focused on the task at hand, her magic soothing the old woman's wounds as well. Despite the bitterness of the frustration in her throat; she swallowed it down.

  Ryana nodded slowly, processing the man's words as she promised: "We'll look into it."

  As Maryuu finished healing the elderly couple, she straightened up, the warm light of her magic fading.

  "We'll get to the bottom of this," she said quietly, her voice tight with restrained emotion. She hated the feeling of helplessness, the way people looked at them as though they were the source of every problem. Ryana gave her a reassuring nod, though her own thoughts mirrored Maryuu's frustration.

  "We are terribly sorry this happened to you," Ryana said, her voice steady but soft, holding back the frustration she felt, "Please, if you can recall anything that might help us identify them, it would mean a lot."

  The old man scowled, his lips curling "Tch. Fine. If I remember something. Not that you'll actually do anything about it," he spat, his glare cold and unyielding.

  Ryanna held her ground, though a faint tightness pulled at her jaw. She and Maryuu both bowed their heads, offering what respect they could to someone who clearly held none for them.

  "Thank you," Ryanna said, even though it felt like a hollow gesture. "We'll do our best."

  The air between them hung heavy, filled with the unspoken resentment the old man held for all adventurers. Maryuu could feel the weight of it pressing down on her shoulders, but she kept quiet, following Ryanna's lead as they asked a few more questions. It didn't help. Every answer they received was laced with bitterness or disdain.

  Finally, they turned to leave, feeling the man's seething gaze bore into their backs as they walked away. Neither of them spoke, the tension lingering like a shadow as they moved through the winding streets in search of Bell.

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  After several minutes of searching, they found him. He was sitting on the edge of a small fountain, a familiar figure cradled in his arms. The prum girl from earlier. Her tiny frame shook with each sob, her face buried in Bell's chest as he gently patted her back. His voice was low, filled with calm assurance as he whispered words of comfort. The girl clung to him, her sobs ragged and uneven, but slowly growing quieter.

  Maryuu's heart softened at the sight. Bell had a way of cutting through the noise, offering kindness when others would simply move on.

  Ryanna stepped forward, careful not to startle the girl. "Bell, is she alright?" she asked softly.

  Bell glanced up, his expression a mixture of concern and relief. "She's fine now," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "She was scared… thought they were going to hurt her. But it wasn't her fault."

  The girl, still sniffling, looked up at Ryanna and Maryuu with wide, tear-filled eyes. There was a flicker of fear in her gaze, but also a glimmer of trust, as though Bell's presence had given her the strength to hope for help rather than more hostility.

  Part 2:

  As Ryana and Maryuu tended to the elderly couple, Bell chased after the crying girl as he wove through the bustling streets. He didn't let the noise or the crowd slow him down. She was running out of desperation, not knowing where to turn, but Bell had to catch her—he felt that couldn't let her face this alone.

  He caught up to her just as she stopped in a secluded alleyway, gasping for breath. Bell slowed his pace as he approached, mindful not to startle her. She flinched when she saw him, her wide eyes filled with fear, expecting the worst—another reprimand, more judgment. Bell, though, only smiled warmly, holding out his hand in a gesture of peace.

  "Are you okay? What's wrong? Can I help you?"" he asked gently.

  She hesitated, glancing between Bell's extended hand and his face. Her defenses were high, but she was clearly worn down. After a moment, her trembling voice broke the silence.

  "I-I'm Lili... the flower stand… it was attacked by my former familia," she stammered.

  Bell's expression softened with understanding. "I am Bell. Why did your familia attack the shop?"

  "Lili's familia charges a lot of valis to leave. Lili didn't have enough, so she ran away. They came after Lili to make sure she knew… there's nowhere safe," she said, her voice quivering.

  Bell's heart sank as he listened. "Can I ask why you wanted to leave?"

  Lili bit her lip, looking down at the ground. After a pause, she spoke again, her words filled with quiet pain. "Lili was a supporter for them, but… it was more like being a prisoner. They treated Lili like nothing. I had to run. They beat Lili for being slow. For being weak."

  Bell felt a rush of anger—not toward Lili, but toward the people who had done this to her. No one should have to run from their own familia, and no one should feel this much fear.

  "Lili," he said softly, "no one should be treated like that. Not by their familia, not by anyone."

  Lili's eyes remained downcast, her hands trembling slightly as she spoke. "Why should Lili trust you? You're just another adventurer… no different from them."

  Bell knelt beside her, keeping his voice calm, steady. "You're right. I am just another adventurer. But I promise, I'll be better than the ones you've known. You don't have to decide now. You can come with me, and if you ever want to leave, I won't stop you. No one should force you to do anything."

  Lili looked at Bell, trying to find some trace of falsehood or deception in his face. But all she saw was kindness. It wasn't something she was used to—certainly not from an adventurer.

  "You… you really mean it?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. "You'd protect me? Why?"

  Bell nodded, his hand still resting gently on her head. "Because no one deserves to be mistreated by their familia," he said. "And… because I want to be a hero. And heroes don't abandon people who need them."

  Lili blinked, surprised by the simple honesty in his words. For so long, she had only known adventurers who saw people like her as tools to be used, as burdens. But Bell was different. He wasn't offering her help in exchange for something—he was just it.

  It was all too much for Lili. Her body began to be wrecked by sob and she buried her face in Bell's chest as he gently patted her back. His voice was low, filled with calm assurance as he whispered words of comfort. The girl clung to him, her sobs ragged and uneven, but slowly growing quieter.

  "O-okay," she said quietly, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I'll come with you."

  Bell smiled; "Thank you," he said softly, rising to his feet and offering her his hand. "Let's go find my friends. They'll be happy to meet you."

  As Lili's sob subsided, Bell heard the approach of two steps of footsteps and looked up to Maryuu and Ryana looking down at him kindly.

  Ryanna stepped forward, careful not to startle the girl. "Bell, is she alright?" she asked softly.

  "She's fine now," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "She was scared… thought they were going to hurt her. But it wasn't her fault."

  Lili, hearing the new voices raised her head from Bell's chest which is when she saw the two new faces and though she trembled she did not back away.

  Maryuu immediately knelt down, meeting Lili at eye level.

  "Hello there," she said warmly. "I'm Maryuu, and this is Ryana. What's your name?"

  Lili gripped Bell's hand a little tighter, nervous under their attention, but Bell gave her a reassuring squeeze. "It's okay," he said gently. "They're my friends. You can trust them."

  Taking a breath, Lili stepped forward slightly. "I-I'm Lili," she murmured, her voice still fragile.

  Ryana's expression softened at the sight of her. "It's nice to meet you, Lili," she said. "We heard about what happened. Are you alright?"

  Lili nodded, though she kept her gaze on the ground. "Lili's okay. Just… scared."

  Maryuu reached out and gently patted Lili's head, offering the same reassurance Bell had. "You don't have to be scared anymore. We'll protect you, and I am sure Bell will too."

  Lili looked up, her eyes widening slightly as she took in their kind faces. For the first time in what felt like forever, she didn't feel completely alone. There was still fear, still uncertainty, but there was also a flicker of hope that she had long thought gone.

  The group began to make their way toward Bell's home, Midnight Garden, walking side by side. As they neared the entrance, they spotted Alfia, guiding a girl with silver hair and striking purple eyes toward the gates. Bell's pace quickened slightly; his curiosity piqued.