To Be Civilized: Chapter 1

What Now?

Once more, he found himself in an all too familiar position as consciousness returned to him. As his left eye pried itself open, he found himself lying prone on the ground, unable to move as his aching muscles protested from even the slightest of movement. Even lifting his very fingers was a monumental challenge as it felt like the weight of the world was bearing down on him. Try as he might, he could not muster the strength to push himself up.

He laid there unmoving waiting for his ears to stop ringing and his vision to clear up, he tried to remember how he got there. He could not for the life of him remember why his body felt like one throbbing mass of bruised flesh. He swallowed dryly, his eyes stinging as he tried to open both his eyes but he’d quickly find that his right eye was swollen shut, unable to see as the flickering of shadows and torchlight dancing across his vision slowly came into focus. As the sound of shouting reached his ear, he ceased all attempts to move to listen to the figures before him.

“Kobeni, get away from the Minotaur,” An armored woman ordered threateningly, her face hidden behind a great helm, as she stood there gripping her sword’s hilt tightly. Despite the shadow masking their face, he could feel their glare upon him, their hateful gaze filling him with dread.

“No! I won’t let you kill him!” an all too familiar voice shouted back as the figure of a young mage stood between him and the warrior, shielding him with her body. Even as the people around them shouted, baying for his blood, she stood there defiantly. Who was she?

As he gazed up to her, his good eye focusing on her trembling form, he remembered. He winced as the memories of yesterday came to him unbidden, his heart hammering away as visions of the biting and clawing horde that threatened to tear him apart came back to haunt him. Screwing his eyes, he forced himself to take deep calming breaths as he recalled what happened.

Despite everything that he had experienced after he woke up, despite his mind telling him to run, he still came back to become the hero of the girl who was now standing up for him. Stilling his frantically breathing heart, he opened his eyes once more, hoping that his faith was not sealed.

“Why do you insist on trying to save him, Kobeni! You know just how dangerous they are! Hell, Rodrick died because of a Minotaur!” The woman shouted as she stepped forward, her anger barely restrained as she gripped her blade till her knuckles were white. Pointing her blade at him, she then added, “He looted his corpse, Kobeni! He has his shield!”

He felt dread fill his guts as the familiar weight of the shield he had looted laid atop his hands. He had looted one of their comrades and now, they were out for blood. “H-he saved me! He can’t be the same beast! I know he’s not!” The girl tried to reason but the woman merely pushed her aside, knocking her down as she got up to him.

“No, he dies now,” The woman growled out as their gaze met before she drew her weapon free. Her shadow loomed over him, her blade glinting in the torch light from the others behind her. Their eyes locked onto each other and all he saw behind those cold blue eyes was anger and hate that burnt with the intensity that shook him to his core.

He felt the ground beneath him give way, his senses swimming as she raised her sword up high like the blade of a guillotine. He could feel his heart threatening to burst in his chest, his blood roaring in her ears, as he tried to push himself away, abandoning any attempt to look asleep. He was going to die, he really was going to die was he?

In the end, all he did was exhaust himself further, his movement but feeble clawing upon the hard unforgiving ground yet he kept struggling, refusing to give up. This can’t end now, there is still a way out, he didn’t want things to end like this. He wanted to live! He cried out in terror as the blade descended, his eyes locked on to the razor's edge as it fell down yet it did not bite down on his flesh.

The woman stumbled, nearly losing her balance as the mage jumped onto her back and wrapped her legs around her. The length of the staff pulled against the armored neck as the they staggered around. “Persephone, please don't do this. He tried to save my party, he protected me!”. The woman struggled to pry her off but the girl clung to her, refusing to let go. “Please, please, just give him a chance. Just let me bring him to our goddess! Please don’t deny him the chance to live!”

With a roar, Persephone grabbed onto Kobeni before she pulled. The girl squawked as she was tossed once more, landing quite roughly this time yet she still picked herself up, pushing herself up with her staff. “I-I won’t let you harm him,” The girl gasped out as she hobbled to him, wincing as she walked with a limp. “I won’t let you!” She roared out, drowning out all the sound in the cave as silence descended on the cave.

The woman froze, her gaze slowly turning to that of the young mage. The armored woman stood there, shaking, growling as she gazed back at him. With a roar of frustration, she tossed her blade at him, the blade spinning in the air before it struck the ground just inches away from his face. He lay there, trembling as he gazed back at his bruised and broken visager reflected upon the blade's surface.

“Of all the time for you to grow a backbone,” the woman gritted out before she turned away, walking to the crowd that parted before her. Turning back to the mage, she then said, “... I swear, this will bite us in the ass. Fine, we’ll bring him to the surface. But first, knock him out. He might not want trouble but he’s going to bring us a lot of it if he’s awake.”

He barely had any time to react as a sharp pain exploded behind the back of his head before unconsciousness took him again. Things after that became hazy, his ears picking up bits and pieces of conversation as he teetered between the living and the dreaming world. His mind drifted on and off as he felt himself being carted off somewhere else.

“We should just kill him, his core would better serve you Kobeni…”

“Woah there! That’s a big one and I, Ganesh, have seen thousands of them in my time here…”

“You can’t be serious my Goddess! You can’t honestly be thinking of …”

His senses swirled as he lost himself, his body distant and their voice echoing through his ears like he was submerged in water. He felt cold and numb, his mind awake yet at the same time not. He did not know if he was dreaming or not but it did not matter as he tried to pick himself up, to move his heavy limbs and get up.

He struggled as he reached out, his movement sluggish. It felt as if his body was submerged in molasses while his head was filled with cotton. Panic slowly sets in as he tries to get up, his senses becoming more distant each time he struggles harder. Was this how one died? Slipping away till one couldn’t feel anything at all?

As his limbs became feeble with terror taking root in his heart, a warm touch pressed up against his chest and pushed it all away. Taking in the last dreg of strength still left in his limbs, he reached out, grabbing onto the dainty hand with all his might, refusing to let go. He felt them tug away for a second, before their hands pulled him close and held him. He never felt hands so soft and warm before.

The sound of soft laughter echoed in his mind as an overwhelming sense of bliss blossomed from his heart. He felt the aches and dullness melt away as his senses returned to him. He could hear the sound of birds and the soft blowing of the wind while the scent of wild flowers and fermenting fruit filled his lungs. He was… at peace.

Any fight he still had quickly left him as he collapsed into the warm embrace, his body finally giving in and relaxing as a woman whispered to his ears. “You’re a long way from home, Asterion but everythings all right now. Rest your weary soul and do not fret. So long as you are under my care, no harm shall befall you.”

With those words, he finally stopped struggling, his mind finally succumbing to the sweet embrace of sleep.

-x-x-x-

His eyes flew wide open as he jolted awake, waking up once more to a place he did not know; a recurring theme that he was growing to hate each time he opened his eyes. He winced as the light of an open window shone down upon his eyes while his head throbbed from the pain of the blow he received. Still, he felt far better now as his body no longer felt broken while his strength returned to him. As he stirred, he froze when the smiling visage of a red haired woman suddenly filled his vision.

He felt his cheeks heat up as he felt her laying atop him, her body pressed against him as their eyes locked together. He was at a loss of words, his breath stolen from him as he gazed up to those warm golden eyes framed by her heart shaped face and locks of golden hair. He tried to speak up but words failed him, finding himself tongue tied, as the woman’s soft laughter filled his ears. His apparent lack of clothes, aside from his loincloth, made the experience all the more mortifying as he swallowed thickly.

“Someone woke up quite early,” She greeted him as she gently bopped him on his snout, making him blink in surprise. “How are you feeling? Any discomfort, broken bones or pain still left?” She then asked as she started checking him, feeling his forehead with the palm of her hands.

“I-uh, no?” he stuttered out, unable to comprehend what was happening right now. “Have I gone insane? Was this all just a fever dream after all?” He questioned himself. Still, he found that his body was whole and hale, the ache being but a distant memory.

“Kobeni is amazing isn’t she?” The woman then said as the squawk of embarrassment could be heard behind her. He wasn’t in the cave any more?  Forcing himself to tear his eyes away from the beautiful woman before him, he looked around, finding himself inside a large barn. The sound of farm animals milling about along with the creaking of wood as windmills turned filled his ears.

He gazed out to the rolling hills just outside the wide open doors, his mouth hanging widely in disbelief. He blinked, waiting for the vision to fade away back to the cold dreary walls of the caverns but it remained. He was no longer trapped beneath the ground, he was… free.

“Please, my Goddess, this is too dangerous. He’s a minotaur, he can seriously hurt you!” A voice then called out from behind them. Cold sweat dripped down his neck as he remembered the rough and angry tone, those hate filled eyes burnt into his mind.

“Oh nonsense. If he wanted to harm me, he would have already done so, not stare like a schoolboy meeting his first crush just minutes earlier~” The woman replied, causing his cheeks to burn. Had he been staring at her for that long? Maybe it was best that he get up and cool his head as well as get away from the armored woman before.

As he tried to get up, the goddess pushed him back, leaning on him as she whispered “Now now, you’ve just woken up from a rather nasty blow to the head. Let me take care of you~” he felt the blush spreading from his cheeks crawl down to his neck as a shiver ran up her spine. To make matters worse, his stomach decided it was time to make itself known as a loud rumbling echoed in the room, shaking the goddess atop his stomach.

“Demeter! Now is not the time,” The warrior hissed out, the younger woman's embarrassment palpable in her tone.

He could only hide his face in shame as saw the blonde reach for her mouth, covering them as she struggled not to laugh. “Well, someones hungry. Why don’t we talk over a nice and hearty meal, hmm?”

He could only reluctantly nod as the woman ordered her companions to bring her some food. He’d soon find himself sitting cross legged before a table as a large feast was laid before him. Sitting before him were adventurers who eyed him with various degrees of hostility and curiosity, with Persophone glaring at him through her helmet. The only friendly gaze he had was from Kobeni, who sat beside him, and the woman from before clinging to his back with her arms around his neck.

He felt his ear burn as the woman’s hand petted him, ruffling his shaggy hair while all of them ate. The silence that descended upon the barn was almost palpable, the tension in the air thick enough that one could slice it. He felt a bit underdressed and under-armed with all the adventurers around him with their armor and personalized weapon. They really weren’t taking any chances around him.

“I do have to apologize for not being able to give you a room to stay in while you recover. My mansion, as big as it may be, is not equipped to handle something your size. The only place big enough to handle your bulk was the stables,” The blonde told him as she gestured at the door. He could not really fault her there as the spoon and knife he held looked comically small in his large paws. Thankfully, they weren’t stingy with the serving as they gave him the whole pot.

“No worries. You did take me in and provided a roof over my head and that’s more than enough for me,” He replied as he wiped away some of the soup that dripped down his snout. He was still getting used to eating in this new form and it was proving challenging given how his mouth extended forward. Looking up at her, he then asked, “Though, I do have to ask. Where exactly… am I?”

“In one of my private Villas of course. We're currently on the outskirts of Orario so if you’re worried about adventurers, you don’t have to worry,” The woman reassured him as her hands combed through his black locks.

He flinched as he heard a loud snap, Persephone’s spoon mere splinter as she glared at him. Her helm might hide her eyes but he could feel them on him, forcing him to look away. “Awww, you poor thing. Did my child scare you? Persephone can be quite scary but don’t worry, she’s a softie once you get to know her more,” the woman cooed, hugging him tightly. He wasn’t sure if he should bolt away or just stay still but one thing was clear, Persephone hated his guts.

“Demeter!” The helmed girl hissed out, “And can you please get off him!”

“But he’s so soft! I just had to pet him. You should really try it as well,” the now identified Demeter giggled as she nuzzled up against him. That at least confirms his suspicion that he was in the presence of the divine.

“Not the time,” the girl admonished the goddess, making the older woman pout as she started to slowly slide off his head.

“Oh fine,” The blonde grumbled as she got off before occupying the empty seat beside, crossing her arms and pouting as she did so, “Spoilsport.”

Sighing, she then said, “You have to forgive my child, she means you know harm. She’s just rather protective of me and my children.” He really couldn’t blame them as he wasn’t currently human. Looking back at her, he watched as her face scrunched up before she clapped. “Oh silly me, I forgot to introduce myself. My name's Demeter and this is my familia. Say hi everyone!”

She was met with silence and he was left there hanging as he faced off a hostile crowd. “Ummm, hi?” He waved at them, tucking his arms close to his body and making himself as small a possible. Only Kobeni waved back and even then the silence had her shrinking to herself after a bit.

Getting close to him once again as she cupped her chin and leaned down on the table, she then asked,  “Well, that’s enough for us for now. How about you? What can you tell us about yourself? You have to excuse me as it’s not every day that a Minotaur saves one of my children.”

He nodded as he looked down on his soup, seeing the bovine starting back at him. This was really his life now huh? Taking a deep breath, he then sighed out as he rubbed the back of his head. “Yes… would you believe me if I said I was once human?” He started, looking back at them as he was met with looks of disbelief but any voice of dissent was cut off as the goddess beside him raised his hands. Allowed to explain his situation, he continued “One moment, I was just myself and the next thing I knew, I woke up inside a wall like this…”

He barely held anything back, telling them how he had woken up inside a wall, how he had to fend off Minotaurs like him and how he was forced to loot the corpses around them. There were some disapproving and judging stares but others meanwhile started to soften up as they sent sympathetic looks. With the goddess as his witness, he told them of his tale up until he was knocked out before he was knocked out by the party that had come to rescue Kobeni. The only thing he held back was what little knowledge he had of this world.

“Clearly he lie-!” Persephone spoke up but she was quickly silenced by Demeter.

“Unfortunately, he does not lie Persephone. As fantastical as his accounts are, He truly believed that was ripped from his world and transformed into a monster,” The goddess replied as she added, “A goddess like myself can detect lies, even attempts of twisting the truth like white lies or omissions… but he does not lie.” He felt himself tense up at the words of the goddess before he relaxed as she dismissed his little lie.

“This sounds so much like… no,” One of the adventurers, red headed woman with a big witches hat, spoke up before she shook her head. “This is quite different, unprecedented if I say so myself but there’s a first in everything I suppose.”

He grimaced at that. He did not know of any spell to the already limited magic here similar to Polymorph so he might just be stuck. “Is there anything you can do? Is there any way to send me back?” He asked regardless, not giving up just yet.

“If I am going to be honest, I’m not sure. There are tales of transformation yes but never to this scale. I’m not exactly a goddess known for the healing arts myself and even among my peers, I have doubts that they have something short of an Arcanum,” The goddess explained, making him hiss out as he deflated. “It’s still far too early however to say so for certainty. For now however, for saving my child, I offer you sanctuary in my villa. No harm shall befall you so long as you are under my care. Unfortunately, we only have this barn for now.” she then offered.

As much as it pains him, he had at least the pity of a goddess. Bowing to her, he then said, “Thank you and like I said, it’s not a problem. It’s actually quite cozy here.”

However, there were some that did not take kindly to the offer as they voiced their opinion. “My goddess, I have to protest. We can’t have him stay near so many people, especially not so near to your main residence,” Persephone argued. “Even if he was once human, that certainly doesn’t change the fact that he has been turned into a monster. Who knows if he has developed new instincts that could cloud his judgment!”

He frowned at her words yet he kept his mouth shut. He was however not one without a champion for his cause as Kobeni spoke up, “B-but he doesn’t have any place to go! N-no one in Orario would take him in and we can’t just toss back inside the Dungeon,”

There were nods amongst the crowd before a foxy looking man countered, “Even if he is peaceful, he’s going to attract unwanted attention. There is still the matter of dealing with the other divines. He’ll certainly become their latest point of interest once his story comes out. It’s not a matter of if his background would be revealed but when. Even if we do have him hide in this barn, words would eventually spread.” Rubbing his scruffy beard, he then added, “His extraction from the Dungeon wasn’t exactly a secret.”

A wizened dwarf grunted in agreement as he then said, “He’ll be more trouble than he’s worth and the resources necessary to return him back to normal, if that even is a possibility, would be astronomical. Whatever his cure may be, it would be the first of it’s kind and that means Valis, lots of Valis”

Things were looking grim for him. He really could not afford to alienate the only familia he knew so far that tolerated him. He did not have the luxury of being a race that was accepted above ground. To the people of this land, he was a pest, a creature that was only good dead. He will be dead before the end of the day if he was to be tossed out and forced to fend for himself.

Kobeni then shot up from her, her trembling form struggling to stay up as she argued for him, “T-then I’ll do it myself! I-I’ll search every shop and c-collect every scrap of knowledge. I-I’ll even follow you deeper into the dungeon if it means I can get more valis to pay for everything!” As hopeless as things were, he couldn’t help but admire Kobeni. This girl, this shy and delicate girl was standing up for him when he couldn’t.

The dwarf raised a brow at her before he questioned her, testing her resolve, “You certainly can try but are you really ready to do such an undertaking? It would take time, decades or even centuries. Are you really going to throw your life just for a stranger you met?”

Their gaze met, Kobeni’s tearful eyes looking back at his defeated own. He had little to hope for but… maybe he should not burden her. He shook his head slightly, asking her to give up but it only strengthened her resolve as she shouted resolutely, “Y-yes!”

“Kobeni, it’s alright. I don’t exactly need the cure. It’s not like I got any uglier and besides, I kinda like being so big though it certainly comes with an appetite…” He joked, trying to lighten the mood even if he knew that he could very well be tossed out. He had accepted the possibility and now, he just needed to face it. It’s best that he trouble her any longer.

“You are still a danger to our familia however. If it was up to me, I would have killed you to grant you mercy but that’s not for me to give,” Persephone spat out venomously, hiding little of her disdain for her before she turned to her goddess, her tone softening, “My goddess, what is your verdict? Are we really going to take him in even after all that has been said. ”

“You do make some great points my children. The risk he brings does outweigh what good he might do,” The goddess cautioned and he felt his shoulder sag. He then jolted in surprise as the goddess stood up on her chair and hugged him as she declared “However, would it really be just for me to toss out someone in need, especially one who saved one of my children? No, I will not change my mind. He shall have a place here in my home and that’s final.”

“But-!” Persephone argued but once more, Demeter cut him off.

“No buts!” Demeter insisted, refusing to back down as she glared at her child. Looking up at him, she then said, “I do not, however, impose this upon you; You are free to choose. Just let it be known that my doors are open for you no matter what.”

-x-x-x-

In the end, despite the hostilities leveled at him by the familia members, he still took Demeter’s offer. There was simply too much uncertainty and he wasn’t a fool to think he could strike it out on his own; He simply was a nobody. He was no great hero nor a genius and he was certainly not like Bell who could grow to such insane rates. Hell, he wasn’t even human anymore which certainly limited his options.

He could go out, yes, find people who could take them in, but he felt indebted to Demeter as is. She took him in and defended him before her entire familia. Would Freya defend him from her familia? Would Loki? Anyone else is just uncertain and he wasn’t even sure if Hestia could be a possibility. He could join her but she can’t protect him, and as much as it pains to admit it, he’d bring her trouble. Demeter meanwhile had the manpower and prestige to protect him and shrug off any repercussions his presence might bring.

It’s not like choosing Demeter wasn’t ideal, her place was certainly nice. Far away from civilization and surrounded by fields of grain, vineyards and orchards as far as the eye could see; he had all the privacy he could want. “So, how are you liking it here so far? Peaceful isn’t it?” The goddess asked as she stood beside him on the foot of one of the hills overlooking one of the many fields, this one dedicated to grains. The trees of the fruit orchard planted behind them provided ample shade as the sun hung in the sky with the clouds drifting lazily by.

“Yeah… it is.” He admitted, admiring the work placed upon the field. Hearing them rustle from the soft breeze and smelling the sweet scent of cereal was a calming sight.

His musing would be cut short as the shouts and laughter of children caught his attention. Out from the treeline came a gaggle of children, their features a mix bag of every race from elves to the races with animal ears, running straight for him. He backed away, lifting his feet as one particularly brave little fellow started hitting him with a wooden sword. “H-hey! Don’t grab that!”

He danced around the tiny terror, backing away as they played, seeing him as a monster to slay in their little game. The goddess giggled, feigning terror and dramatically pressing the back of her palm of her hand against her forehead as she encouraged the hellions, “Oh no, the minotaur has captured me! Save me oh brave ones.”

Seeing no choice, he reluctantly played with them, letting them hit him before he slowly toppled over. “Arggh… you got me. Blegh,” he declared, lolling out his tongue much to the delight of the children. Maybe now they’ll leave him be.

Unfortunately for him, this only served to embolden the tykes as they started climbing on him. He winced as they yanked his fur a bit too hard but he held back, just laying there and waiting for them to eventually get tired while sending an annoyed glare at the woman who encouraged these kids.

Thankfully, Demeter would come to his rescue as she shooed them off him before saying, “Now children, best to go along. You don’t want to miss Persephone’s pumpkin pie do you?”

These little demons couldn’t resist the temptation of sweets in the kitchen as they immediately took to running, arguing amongst each other who would get the first slice. He had to admit, they were cute if they weren’t pulling on his fur. He rubbed the spots where they were particularly rough, a reminder that he might need a haircut to make sure his fur doesn’t get caught on anything or grabbed by anyone.

“Is it always like this here?” He asked as he looked up at the sky. It was so… peaceful here. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city and with an air so clean, it almost made up for the fact that he might no longer see the people he held dear to him.

The goddess sat down beside him, tucking her legs close to herself as she answered, “More than you can imagine. They can be quite the handful but watching them and helping them grow makes up for all the headaches they cause.”

Silence soon descended between them as they sat there by the hill side, enjoying each other's company while they watched the sea of gold swaying in the gentle breeze of summer. It was a beautiful sight yet his eyes were drawn elsewhere as a tower loomed over at the distance. It stood proudly, its height reaching up to the heavens above, a reminder of where he came from.

“Does it still call to you? The dungeon I mean?” The goddess then asked, looking at him with worry.

“I… It does in a way. I was ripped from my life and found myself in that place. It took alot of me, my body, my belongings, my family and friends? I was stripped of everything and was left with nothing and no one. For the first time, I found myself truly alone,” He admitted, remembering the desolation he felt inside the dungeon. It was so hostile, so alien, so unwelcoming. That place was a reminder of what he felt right now, this hole that now sits in his heart, “That loneliness, it scares me.”

He closed his eyes, trying to remember their faces but even now they were starting to fade away, their faces, their voice and even their very names. Eventually he will no longer remember them and it hurts. He felt tears welling up his eyes before he looked up as he felt Demeter lift his head up and have them rest upon her lap. Singing softly to him and stroking his hair, he felt the burden lightening as she held him tenderly in her arms.

As the song ended, she then whispered to him, “I'm truly sorry for your loss. Having a loved one taken away from you, even if it’s as simple as being separated from them, is truly a terrible thing. However, you don’t have to be alone,” He sniffed as he rubbed his eyes, refusing to cry now before her. “I might not have a way to send you back nor a way to transform you back to what you once were but there is a place for you here.”

“Thank you. Really, I mean it,” He choked out with a smile on his face, his heart feeling a bit lighter at her encouraging words.

Smiling back radiantly at him she then said, “You might have to do some chores and errands here and there but I will not impose too much. You're starting out a new life after all. I’ll only start charging you for rent once you pick yourself up and you better!” She gave her a warning glare, making him laugh out loud as she added, “I don’t like free loaders.”

“Of course, I have a new lease in life and I don’t intend to waste it. I was also meaning to ask you for employment. I don’t want to be more of a burden.” he chuckled, feeling better already. She was truly a goddess worth worshiping.

“There’s plenty of jobs you can take up in my farm. There is more to farming than just tending to the crops and animals after all…” Demeter then started to list off, letting him know all that he could do in the farm before she went off on a tangent with every job. He laughed softly, just listening to her as his mind wandered.

A new life in a new world, something he thought he’d never get a chance to do but that did raise a question. Now that he was starting all over again, what was he going to do? Yes, he could try and find a cure but did he really want to go back and become human? Gazing down on his large meaty paws, he marveled at his body moved with ease that far surpassed his old self. He had been remade, perfected even if he dare say, while keeping himself.

What could he do? He could stay here, volunteer himself and work as a farmer for the goddess yet… as he gazed towards the tower standing proudly in the distance, he felt the dungeon call to him. He had escaped its grasp with its tail tucked between his legs and he felt a burning shame settle inside his heart. He could run away from it but there inside that dungeon was the answers to why and how he got here. He woke up in that dungeon for a reason and he was going to find it. Even if there was no way home, at least knowing how or why he got here would be more than enough.

Clenching his fist, he felt determination fill him as he found a new goal in this new life. Turning to the goddess, he then asked her, “How about dungeon diving?”

The goddess paused, looking back at him before asking for a clarification, “I beg your pardon?”

He nodded before he started to explain to her, affirming the decision he made,“I know this might be a bit fast but is there an opening in your familia? I want to go back to the dungeon to earn my keep.” Was it mad? Yes, but he needed closure, he needed to know if there was anything that could help him go back. He rather do something than to not do it and regret it for the rest of his life. He had already allowed so many chances to go but not this time, not when he had nothing else.

“If this is about you thinking of a way to repay me, there’s plenty of other things you can do. Being an adventurer is quite the commitment and not something one should take lightly. You can be a farmer, a potter, even a teacher if you want to, we would certainly love to have more hands tending to the young ones,” The goddess softly admonished him, trying to dissuade him as she clarified, “What I meant to say is that I helped you because I could, not because I wanted something from you. I want you to remember that alright?”

“Which makes me want to repay you even more,” He answered back. He hated the feeling of being indebted. He was going to pay her back whatever way he could. “You said I was free right? I’m free to choose my own path? What if I want that path to be with your familia?” he asked as he slowly got up, sitting up before turning to him.

She frowned, meeting his gaze but he did not back down. Sighing, she then asked, “You know this isn’t taken lightly. To take my blessing would bind you to me in more ways than you can imagine. To be an adventurer requires dedication and the willingness to dive straight into danger. Are you really going to go back down to the depths of the dungeon just to show me that you got what it takes to be one of my children?” To become a member of a familia is to become the child of a god or goddess in the metaphorical and maybe even physical sense. Only the same being he dedicated his life could free him.

He acknowledged it fully as he stood up and knelt before her like a knight of old taking a vow to the ruler of the land. “There’s nothing I can do to change your mind about this, can’t I?” she asked as she stood up as well, standing before him as she cupped his cheeks.

“To be honest, I want this partly due to my own selfish reason,” He freely admitted. While his intentions weren’t truly pure, he really wanted her as his goddess. “Before all this, I was ordinary but now that I am reborn as a Minotaur, I have the chance to become extraordinary. I am given the chance of a lifetime, a once in a lifetime opportunity to answer the call to adventure. The fact that I can repay a debt to such a beautiful goddess and serve her is just cherry on top,”

The goddess smiled as she lifted his chin up, making him look up to her as she asked him, “Many adventurers before you claimed such things. Adventurers far stronger and wiser have come and gone in search of glory and wealth yet they all met their end in the dungeon of Orario. Do you claim that you are better than them? Are you ready to put everything on the line to become the strongest there ever was?”

Smilingly back at her, he replied, “I intend to reach the bottom of this dungeon or die trying,”

“You foolish child but this is exactly why I am here,” the goddess whispered before she pulled him in, pressing his forehead against her chest as she held him closely. “From this day forward, you shall become one mine and I shall watch you closely.”

Their tender moment was suddenly interrupted as a giggle suddenly erupted out from her lips. As he gave her a questioning look after he was freed from her hold, she then replied, “I just realized something but I haven’t really asked for your name this entire time.”

He blinked before snorting and chuckling at the simple mistake he made. “I’m… not exactly sure anymore. I don’t even know if I am still myself,” He answered. Was he really still the same him or was he just a simple copy, a facsimile of what once was.

“Would you like me to name you then?” She then asked him.

He hesitated for a bit as his name was his last connection to his old life but… he could no longer see it as his own. Could he really be the same being after what had happened. Was he still him if he had taken this form? No, he just couldn’t, not when his name reminded him of the pain that he felt so he nodded, letting the woman before him give him a new name.

Laying her hands atop his head, she then said, “I think… Asterion would fit you nicely.”

“Asterion…” He replied, letting the name roll off his tongue. He smiled at the fitting name as he was a being of a labyrinth. “From now on, I am Asterion and I’ll serve you till my dying breath,” he then declared whole heartedly as he accepted his new identity. Was this really the right choice moving forward? He did not know, what was certain was that he had a clear path ahead of him and he was going down it’s path no matter where it takes him so long as he had her to support him every step of the way.