At Warrior's Rest, West-north-western Orario
"Here's my application," she said, "may I ask that you bring it to your god?"
The pallum with the bags stopped, turned around and looked at the human. Confused. her expression was that of being both puzzled and amused at the same time. Without a word she trotted back to the black haired human girl, set down one of her bags and then plucked the scrap of paper. She didn't so much as glance at, or take a peek, at what was actually written - but rather just put the little paper-piece down into one bag, before picking up the one she'd set down.
"Alrighty, if that's what ya want." She said, smiling gingerly, then turned on her heel and went on to proceed inside the building.
For what felt like a long time, but was actually at most a couple of minutes, nothing happened. Then there was some sort of noise or commotion from within the building in question - though exactly what was causing it or why was unclear. Regardless, it simmered down ventually, and soon the front door swung open again. However, this time it was not the pallum girl, but rather two other figures who emerged out of the doorway. One was a rather large, old-looking man dressed in dark clothes, with an eyepatch over one eye and a grim expression on his face. The other was a young looking woman in a stylish and elegant ensemble, with long blonde hair and a serene expression on her face.
The two walked out of the building and approached the girl in the many-layered clothes. The bigger man trailing slightly behind the woman. As they got closer, it was apparent that the woman was holding the girl's scrap of paper in one of her hands, the paper slightly creased and wrinkled though - likely from the pallum's careless handling of it. Once within an agreeable distance from the applicant, the pair stopped and gave her a once-over, eyes taking in and judging, measuring and analyzing this newcomer.
"So, you want to join our Familia?" The elderly genetleman said, voice low and deep, but still clear and audible. "Why'd you choose this one?" He added, almost as an after-thought.
The blonde woman said nothing however, merely standing next to her much taller cohort and listening, waiting.
"Here's my application," she said, "may I ask that you bring it to your god?"
The pallum with the bags stopped, turned around and looked at the human. Confused. her expression was that of being both puzzled and amused at the same time. Without a word she trotted back to the black haired human girl, set down one of her bags and then plucked the scrap of paper. She didn't so much as glance at, or take a peek, at what was actually written - but rather just put the little paper-piece down into one bag, before picking up the one she'd set down.
"Alrighty, if that's what ya want." She said, smiling gingerly, then turned on her heel and went on to proceed inside the building.
For what felt like a long time, but was actually at most a couple of minutes, nothing happened. Then there was some sort of noise or commotion from within the building in question - though exactly what was causing it or why was unclear. Regardless, it simmered down ventually, and soon the front door swung open again. However, this time it was not the pallum girl, but rather two other figures who emerged out of the doorway. One was a rather large, old-looking man dressed in dark clothes, with an eyepatch over one eye and a grim expression on his face. The other was a young looking woman in a stylish and elegant ensemble, with long blonde hair and a serene expression on her face.
The two walked out of the building and approached the girl in the many-layered clothes. The bigger man trailing slightly behind the woman. As they got closer, it was apparent that the woman was holding the girl's scrap of paper in one of her hands, the paper slightly creased and wrinkled though - likely from the pallum's careless handling of it. Once within an agreeable distance from the applicant, the pair stopped and gave her a once-over, eyes taking in and judging, measuring and analyzing this newcomer.
"So, you want to join our Familia?" The elderly genetleman said, voice low and deep, but still clear and audible. "Why'd you choose this one?" He added, almost as an after-thought.
The blonde woman said nothing however, merely standing next to her much taller cohort and listening, waiting.
Meanwhile, the pair before the human girl had stood in complete silence and listened to what she had to say. Once she finished her blather and myriad reasons, desires, wishes and subpar praise, the two looked at each other. The blonde woman raised a single eyebrow at the large, elderly chienthrope, who's face was the same as when they had first spoken. He nodded slightly and looked at the girl with black hair once more, narrowing his eyes and speaking more sternly this time.
"You could write a book in any Familia, the blessings of the Gods are all equal in the end." He folded his arms. "What you offer are duties and talents that Lady Athena already has and performs personally." The large, muscular senior citizen seemed to loom over the poor girl, like a towering goliath looking down upon something small and insignificant.
however, before the behemoth completely squashed the poor woman with his immense pressure, the blonde woman raised a hand and looked at him with a... Neutral, expression on her face.
"Come now, Grent. She wishes to do something that benefits everyone who delves into the dungeon. And an extra pair of hands never hurts to have." She spoke calmly, but not necessarily kindly. "Dear girl, if you want to become one of my Children, I won't turn you away. Your goal is a most curious, but welcome, one indeed." She smiled slightly. "However, I must know what you are capable of, not in words or writing, but by your actions and efforts." The Goddess moved closer to the young woman before her, looking her square in the eyes. "I will offer you my blessing, and you'll in turn spend 7 days proving to me and my other children what you're capable of. Prove to them, and to me, that you're someone we'd be proud to call a member of, and someone who'd be useful to our little Familia."
The old man either growled or grumbled something under his breath. Athena's eyes subtly slid to give him a glance, before returning to the girl before her once more.
"But it'll be up to you to figure out how to prove this to us on your own. That will be your trial and initiation. So what do you say, girl?" The Goddess' smile was only ever so slight, but she spoke with sincerity and offered the black-haired mess infront of her an extended hand.
Despite the large man's pressure, Dahlia was... unfazed, to say the least. His threat level had gone completely over her head. Really, if he outright stated that she was ineffectual, weird, or any other pejorative, then Dahlia would be shrunken into herself. His stern voice was, to the book-dwelling woman, just his ordinary speaking tone. If only he were a touch more direct, then Dahlia would respond with more than a confused shrug.
"Oh, uh..." Dahlia sputtered. Really, it was that easy? Had she known, she wouldn't have studied so much on the various gods. Oh well. "I will say yes."
The offer was indeed a fair one. A week to prove herself was more than enough. Really, it was more in order to not absolutely moff everything up and show that you weren't about to be a level-0-for-lifer. Dahlia had the confidence. Even if she had very little practical experience, her theoretical experience contained lifetimes of knowledge. Blessed be the books that she read in preparation for her labyrinth runs.
Still, it was time to seal their deal. With her gloved hand, she went and extended her hand out to the woman, er, goddess. Though, it wasn't exactly a handshake. Rather than that, Dahlia had responded with the opposite hand. Usually, for a hand shake or anything of that sort, the two parties would both use their left or right hand. Dahlia didn't and, as a result, sort of had her hand placed upon the goddess' like a wet noodle. It was a gold star for effort as she fumbled around on top of her hand a bit trying to figure out how a handshake worked.
"So, uh, what now?"
The Goddess laughed lightly, covering her mouth with her free hand in an effort to not offend. The fumbling handshake and the young girl's rather socially awkward behavior was apparently somewhat charming or endearing to Athena.
"Now we head inside, so I can bestow the Blessing of the Gods upon you. After that-" She paused and turned on he heel, gesturing towards the house - which the large chienthrope was already walking back towards. "-you're fre to choose whatever you want to do in order to prove yourself over the next few days."
With that, the Goddess too began walking back towards the large house, at a slow and unhurried pace.
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