...
Two weeks had passed ever since the training pn of the soldiers of Sol Empire had begun. Noticeable results can be seen as both of the trainers held a mock battle
With swords cshing with one another, mages assessing and taking full control of the situation, and powerful squad leaders within their group taking the lead, they are showing promising development
"..."
Yet the two showed no signs of satisfaction
"They still have a long way to go"
"Indeed..."
Yet it was better than their first mock battle, where each squad only sted for two to three minutes
This time, they sted for half an hour
"The mages in each squad still don't know how to utilize their mana. Not to mention, they keep targeting those enemies that are in front"
"The knights also cks sense of awareness in battle. Its probably my fault because I haven't taught them how to attack multiple enemies with different combat range"
"I wouldn't say that Mashiro. I can tell that the Knights improved a lot on how they attack. Even the mages are struggling to nd a hit on some of them"
"I should be saying that to you Lura! Those mages are getting harder to get close to than it was before!"
"Well I did train them thoroughly on that one"
Mashiro chuckled on that statement
"Still, even if they reach to the point where they can really take on more enemies than what was expected, the number advantage still wins"
"That's if, its an all out war"
"..."
Mashiro then got reminded of something
"Oh right! Do you know where Rui sama goes off to tely?"
"Huh? How would I know? We basically go training together everyday!"
"Oh, that's right, I forgot"
Lura just gave a stare of "did you really forgot that" expression to Mashiro
"Everytime I ask Rui sama to come and watch us, he always says that he needs to do something"
"Same here, I asked if I can come along, but he said to prioritize training the soldiers"
"You don't think that...Rui sama is-"
"Did you really think that Leader will just go off somewhere to hook up with someone?"
"?! N-No! But-"
"Mashiro, don't you even trust Leader?"
"Of course I do! I just thought that what if another girl is with him right now!"
It was then that Lura smacked Mashiro on the head
*SMACK!*
"Ow!"
"We're in the middle of the forest! There's no way Leader would find a girl out here!"
"But...that's how he found us..."
"..."
With a valid argument like that, Lura got taken aback, creating silence between them
A few seconds ter, Lura spoke
"*Sigh*...even if Leader does, he will talk to us about it. He probably isn't saying anything right now because its nothing important"
"Maybe you're right...I just miss Rui sama whenever we're out here..."
"Isn't it enough that we see him before and after we're done trainin-"
"No. its not"
"-Uck! Such a straight answer..."
"Its because I wanna hang out with Rui sama even more!!!"
"Then why did you even agree to this arrangement..."
"I agreed because he agreed to it! Of course I'll do anything for him! Isn't that the same for you?!"
"..."
With her head turning away, Lura answered
"Of course it is...I couldn't even care less if Leader didn't say so..."
"? Did you say something?"
"N-Nothing..."
*BAM!*
While they were talking, another mock battle had ended
"Guess there's nothing else to do but to hurry this thing to finish"
"I agree...they did take away my precious time to Rui sama after all"
With mischievous expression written on their faces, the knights, mages, and volunteered adventurers felt a chill down their spine
Its as if they felt a storm within their trainers about to come
...
...
...
With some provisions and a new fun activity in store, I headed to the Cave to hang out with that girl once more
Right after I met her that day, I realized that I cannot break the crystal that's keeping her inside because the main flow is directly linked to hers
If I cut the main flow, which is her mana, there might be a chance that I may not restore her mana forever
Moreover, the Fatality skill cannot break the link within the crystal...which I do not know a way for me to alternatively cut it instead
I analyzed the flow once again, hoping to get a clue or two...
...yet to no avail
I could ask Lura or Mashiro if they knew something about this...but they probably gonna come with me to check it out
Which I cannot afford them to do so since they're helping on training Hikari's soldiers...
Right before the sun set that day, I bid farewell to that girl and promised that I will get her out in there, whatever it takes
Why am I helping this girl out? Why I wasn't skeptical? I don't even know myself
I just felt that she isn't a bad girl from the looks of it
Plus...my Spatial Awareness skill didn't catch her. There has to be a reason why...
...
Right as I enter to where she was, she was already awake, her eyes perking up the moment she saw me, with both of her hands touching the crystal
"Sorry if I was a bit te, were you waiting for me again?"
She nodded eagerly, there was no hint of smile nor happiness in her face, but the way she was before and the way she is now, definitely says that she's happy to see me at least
The first day I met her, she didn't even nod nor was this enthusiastic. I was just a stranger to her eyes and always had a curious expression to me
I even remember the first few days when I always walk in and she would still be asleep. The moment that she opens her eyes, she's tilting her head as if she's asking me why am I here
Now its different, I never catch her sleeping nor her ignoring my questions. Its like I leveled our retionship up from Stranger to Acquaintances
And the thing that she always eager for is...
"Right, another game of checkers, right?"
She nodded several times, which is her way of saying 'yes' to me
I created the board and the pieces from the materials that I prepared way back. Back then it was just us, talking about random stuff, but after some time, I asked her if she wanted to py a game with me
That was the first time I saw her nodding to me, which made me motivated to create it in just a day
At first, she was a total beginner at the game, considering that she had no knowledge of the game's mechanics. It was understandable that I had to be patient and thorough with her
I was winning the first three games with her, but after the fourth one...
...she completely destroyed me
I thought that was just a fluke, but after a few more matches, my chances of winning dropped down to 0%
Needless to say that it was frustrating to lose, but seeing her getting pumped up every time she wins makes me forget about it...
...but even so...I still want to win, with her being good at this game already
So, I am going to win today!
...
...
"..."
Zero to ten...
...with her getting ten wins...
"Do I really suck at this game...?"
Seeing me frustrated, she held both of her hand to the crystal, as if she's trying to console me
"Oh thanks, but I'm fine, really"
She then got pumped up about her victory
"Ahaha...by the way, do you ever get lonely here?"
"..."
Ah- I just asked a stupid question did I?
"Sorry, nevermind that, of course you do"
"..."
She then tilts her head at me
"Reminds me way back, the day I met Master Shin...ever since he left, I became alone again..."
"..."
"At first, I was used to being alone, minding my own business, exploring out on my own and whatnot, but now..."
"...?"
Meeting Mashiro and Lura, made me felt that being with someone makes it more fun for some reason...
...Someone who greets you everyday, can talk with, can hang out with, can train with, explore areas, keeping what's treasure to us...
...and forming a bond like a family...
"It feels suffocating to be alone..."
"..."
I can tell her mood changed the moment I let those words out
"Way to ruin the good atmosphere huh? My bad..."
"..."
I then walked up to her, putting my hand towards the crystal
"But I will get you out of here, one way or another. I promise"
Her eyes lit up from my words, giving me more reason to find a way to set her free
"For now, what I can only do is to be someone who you can hang out with"
Especially since I doubt no one has ever stepped foot in here...
"Plus it also makes me feel less lonely with you around!"
"!"
One by one, I packed my belongings, but left the checker board behind
"Last time, I instinctively brought it with me, but this time, it should be in here"
"...?"
"Think of the board as me, being by your side while I'm gone"
"!"
I ughed awkwardly, having no better ideas to left with her. She looked at it while her hands csped
"Its getting te, I should head back now, see you tomorrow!"
Without looking back once more, I made my way outside the cave...
...
...The girl within the crystal felt a loud, thumping beat on her chest...
...The beat that only she can hear...
...
