The Roots Of Hope
is a High School D×D fanfiction story by Dunedan.
The story follows Dorian Held, an Ordinary High-School Student who dies saving a girl in a fire started by a fight between a stray devil and a priest. He soon finds himself reborn in Asgard among the gods of the Norse Pantheon. With an uncertain future ahead, he strives to find a place in this new world under the overly watchful eye of Freyja, Queen of Asgard. She ensures he is well versed in their ways, trusting him under the tutelage of her husband Odin's bodyguard… the Valkyrie Rossweisse.
Tropes:
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: All over the place!
- Rossweisse in canon, while starting with a student-teacher relationship with Issei, eventually fell in love with him, becoming one of his fiancées. Here she falls in love with Dorian and remains amicable with Issei.
- Similarly, Xenovia doesn't pursue Issei to have a strong child, her target being Kiba instead.
- In canon, Sona, while aware of Saji's feelings for her, only sees him as little brother. Here she eventually returns his feelings.
- Instead of Issei, Kuroka and Koneko fall for Dorian and Gasper, respectfully.
- Yasaka begins a relationship with Azazel.
- Adaptation Species Change:
- Rossweisse is never reincarnated into Rias' second Rook, remaining a Valkyrie.
- Instead of being reincarnated into a Devil by Rias, Xenovia is reborn as a Einherjar by Rossweisse after being killed by Freed.
- Aika Kiryuu remains human throughout canon. Here, after shenanigans involving a special Evil Piece that can turn humans into Nekomata, she becomes one in Chapter 91.
- Adaptational Early Appearance:
- Rossweisse and Odin appear in the first chapter, well before their canonical debut in Volume 5/Season 3.
- The Grim Reaper Bennia didn't appear until Volume 14 as Sona's newest Knight. Here she appears during the fic's second volume, months before. Consequently, this also means she's a case of Adaptation Species Change as she has yet to be reincarnated as a Devil.
- Suzaku Himejima, Akeno's cousin, appears during the events of Kyoto, instead of Volume 24 in canon.
- Ingvild Leviathan appears during the Demonic Beast Riot.
- Ascended Extra: Seekvaira Agares is given more screen time compared to canon and eventually joins the Crossroad team.
- Chick Magnet: Dorian is this by default, being the protagonist of a High School D×D fic.
- Death by Adaptation: Cao Cao is killed by Hecuba following his defeat at the hands of Issei during the Demonic Beast Riot.
- Dies Differently in Adaptation: Freed is killed by Kiba during the Excalibur Arc.
- Multinational Team: The Crossroad team has representatives from several mythologies; Norse, Heaven, Hell, Fallen Angels, Olympus and Youkai.
- Original Character: The story's protagonist, Dorian Held, is the most prominent example. Other examples include Thrud, Thor's daughter, and Catherine, Diodora's former Knight who replaces Xenovia as Rias' second Knight.
- Spared by the Adaptation: Katerea Leviathan survives the events of the Peace Conference and is captured during the Gremory-Astaroth Rating Game.
