Chapter 10

Remain calm. Stick to what you know... I can do this, all I have to do is prove my skill. I'll do just that.

Effie:

"I may not have my shield nor my armour, but don't doubt my defences one bit."

Her pride in her own strength is incredible. Holding this training sword, it already feels like my strength is gone. If he defense is so high, will I be able to win this?

Effie:

"Do your best, Keshin."

I nodded, breathing to strengthen my focus. This isn't going to be easy at all, but I'm not going down without a fight. It may not feel good, but I might have to resort to using some cheap tricks to win this.

It goes against my fighting spirit- but... No, I shouldn't. I'll stick to using this training sword only.

I lunged at her, but it was no surprise that she was able to block so easily. No, it was more than blocking. The moment we locked swords, I could feel her dominating strength overpowering mine fast.

Effie:

"I already see one flaw."

She remained calm, but more than that- she's blocking this with only one hand. Even with both of my hands, she's easily beating me. Her strength is beyond amazing.

But I won't give in that easy. Moving my body to the left, I left her force to carry her through, causing her balance to shift heavily. With that, I went in for another outward strike. Though as I suspected- she was easily able to block. My left arm isn't strong enough.

Effie:

"Did you somehow forget how to swing a sword? I've seen the strength of your swings. Fight with your spirit!"

She yelled, to which she turned aggressive. She swung- to which I attempted to block, but my sword was easily moved away. Each attack I tried to block, I couldn't hold a stable ground- nor did she let up. Rather, it felt impossible to get close. I could potentially use a Sword Art, but is this sword strong enough for me to use one?

'Don't think, act.' Hyou told me those words before I was fully capable to perform Connecting Arts. Alright.

I shifted my body, once more to go in for strike- but this time, it was charged with a Sword Art. The light was dim and even flickering- and as it collided with Effie's sword, the light completely dispersed.

Keshin:

"Wh-what..?"

Effie:

"You... I see."

She muttured, pushing me away before her training sword glowed a bright orange. This has to be the third skill that one can unlock.

Effie:

"Sword Art, Break!"

She yelled. That's when it hit me- I forgot to activate the Sword Art with my words. I attempted to block once more- but instead- my training sword broke in half- before she brought her own sword towards my neck.

I lost. Swiftly at that.

Keshin:

"Ah... I yield."

With that, I lost. Sheathing her sword, she picked up the broken parts of the training sword we just broke.

Effie:

"Looks like we'll have to pay for this. It's on me. Go, take a break and I'll let you know the results of the evaluation."

I was a bit disappointed. No, saying a bit is an understatement. I know she's above level 10, but I couldn't even land one hit on her body. I forgot to activate my Sword Art properly... Does activating it with your voice truly necessary though? I have been experimenting for a long time yet and I had pulled it off once without saying it. But maybe that was a stroke of luck?

Regardless, I could've been able to turn the tides had I worked hard enough. Her strength was amazing- a height I could never reach. The fact that I could barelg stand up to her- maybe the difference in strength between I and everyone else is large.

Effie:

"Keshin, heads up."

I jolted up, Effie walking over to which she then sat down next to me. I hadn't realised it, but I was sulking. I'm defeated, not because I lost, but because I feel like my strength is nothing compared to everyone else.

Keshin:

"How's the evalutation?"

Effie:

"Well, it certainly is hard to say whether you're good or reaching excellent."

Keshin:

"H-huh..?"

Effie:

"Without a doubt in the world, I would say you're an excellent fighter. You even experiment a lot despite being so keen on keeping to your single handed style at the start."

Keshin:

"Well I am trying to learn how to use a dagger too."

Effie:

"Well I will recommend you keeping things up. In all honesty, I was shocked at the fact that you almost activated a Sword Art despite not activating it with your voice."

Keshin:

"It doesn't change the fact that I didn't activate it. I need to improve big time."

Effie:

"Heh. You're a true realist. That'll get you far, but don't forget your own goals, okay?"

Keshin:

"Yeah. I'll keep that in mind."

I guess she started the evaluation when we were with Hyou. When I pulled off Connecting Arts, she must have been surprised something so fierce was pulled off.

The biggest issue is the fact that it drained my mana big time, so really- it should be a last resort skill if we're in a dire situation. I guess I do have some gimmicks.

Effie:

"Keshin, I want to ask you a few things. Remember the first day? When we talked about Sniper. She changed after that day, what happened between you two?"

Keshin:

"A-ah... I don't think it's in my place to talk about it."

Effie:

"How about you just tell me the things you did instead?"

I breathed in, before exhaling.

Keshin:

"I have to be honest. I didn't like her at first. I followed after her the first night since she looked pretty suspicious. I followed after her- to which she suddenly let loose an arrow at me, mistaking me for an enemy. We cleared things up, but her attitude was all wrong."

Effie:

"How did you two end up becoming so close?"

Keshin:

"Well, while we fought at first, we ended up having to fight off a strong boss together."

Effie:

"A boss..! That would mean you would've had to fight something around level 14."

Yeah, well it was actually level 24 but I won't go into detail about that.

Keshin:

"Well in the end, we both saved each other. I haven't been able to use my right arm since that wolf broke my shoulder. I may have cured it, but it still pains me by the day. But on the other hand- if I had not continued the effects of my burn, the wolf would've survived by a slither of HP, killing off Sniper who was vulnerable from using skills."

Effie:

"That sounds like my kind of fight. Maybe we should do something like that someday. I was shocked to hear how you levelled up to 6 so fast, but I see why now."

Keshin:

"Yeah, it was a tough fight so shooting up 5 levels definitely did compensate for me losing the ability to use my right arm."

Effie:

"Is that why you want to use a dagger on your right arm?"

Keshin:

"Yeah. A dagger is light and easy to handle, perfect for my weakened right hand to support my left hand."

Effie:

"Maybe you are an excellent. You still think about improving despite the injury you've sustained. But you should get that treated by Santos."

Keshin:

"Well... Maybe later. I think this pain represents my growth. So I'll keep it for now."

Effie:

"How... odd."

Keshin:

"I'm just kidding, that would be highly appreciated. This has been killing."

Effie:

"Well let's get going to them then."

Keshin:

"Lead the way, sensei."

Effie:

"W-what?

Keshin:

"Nothing."

She seemed a bit flustured from that. She may act properly around others but she seems to be opening up to me. That's a score, now the last two I need to open up to are Santos and Hyouketsu. That'll be a real team bonding exercise.

Nino:

"Hya!"

Letting out a viscious roar of flames, it didn't seem like Santos' barrier was going to break any time soon. Rather, I felt more defeated with each bursts of flame I threw at him. My mana was at a grand total of 500 and I have a mana reduction ability which skills mana requirements are reduced by half. I've launched so many bursts of flames but he just negates each one I throw at him. Am I really this weak..? Even Keshin, someone who recemtly joined is getting much stronger than me.

Hyou:

"Alright, take 5. Nino needs to regenerate her mana."

Santos:

"Hoof..! I need to regenerate my stamina."

Sniper:

"You both seem to be doing well."

I was still panting, unable to breath from the amount of heat that's gathered around me. Exhausted is an understatement, and I just... I feel like giving in.

Hyou:

"Nino, time for your evaluation."

Nino:

"... Did Effie take Keshin to do his evaluation too?"

Hyou:

"I sent them off just now actually. They won't be back for another 30 minutes, or maybe 5 minutes. Depends on how harsh Effie goes on the lad."

Nino:

"Alright... Well, I need my mana to regenerate first."

Hyou:

"No, Nino. Use a dagger."

Nino:

"I... I don't need one. I have my magic."

Hyou:

"What about when you need to use a back up weapon? You have limited mana, keep that in mind. You can't exactly damage anyone with something like a tome."

Nino:

"But everyone besides Santos and I are already using weapons that will keep us all safe. I can't just use a dagger when my strength is so weak. I'd much rather just wait until my strength is at the suitable levels to equip mana swords."

Hyou:

"You won't be able to use one until you're higher levelled. Don't try to walk your way around this. Please, Nino. I'm asking you to do this for your own benefit. Not as a leader, but as your friend."

Nino:

"... I don't have the agility nor strength. If an enemy gets me, then that just means I was too weak."

I muttured that. Keeping quiet so that Hyou didn't hear me as he walked away. I can't be as good as the others in that department. So please... just let me be useful elsewhere... No. Even Santos is over taking me in magic.

This is ridiculous. What am I doing wrong? I learnt all kinds of mana boosting magic, mana regeneration, mana reducing arts. I even invested so much to my wisdom stat. I don't want it to be all wasted efforts. I spent years studying magic... years. Yet Santos, who was just a beginner mage, is already beating me. Keshin- who was a level 1 adventurer has already caught up and overtaken me.

It's almost been five minutes. My mana has recovered a good amount. Is there another way to use my magic? I'm just... not sure if I can break that barrier he's putting up.

Hyou:

"Begin!"

I was quick to charging my flames- which he put up that annoying barrier once more. With a fierce swing, I launched flames that held all my remaining mana within. Hitting Santos in one quick burst... Well. I didn't do a thing.

Nino:

"But... how..?"

Hyou:

"Sigh. Nino, don't do a burst like that."

Nino:

"But how else am I meant to break the barrier?"

Hyou:

"That's something you need to figure out. Nothing grows easier from the start. It gets harder and harder, and Santos has finally been able to block your magic. You'll end up slowing down the team Nino. That's something I want to avoid."

So that's my evaluation huh... A big fat F. Saying this leaves salt in the wound is too generous. I really do want to cry. I just do. But I can't.

Sniper:

"I see what you were trying to do. In a way, our actions resemble each other quite a bit."

I turned to Sniper, putting up a jolly smile. Yeah, like always. I'm a hyper and energetic girl as they see. But reality just shows that I'm weak. That my efforts are just going to waste.

Nino:

"Awe, c'mon. You're a million light years better than I am!"

Sniper:

"Well, I would like to give you a few tips. I feel that will help in your growth."

Nino:

"You'd do that?"

Why is she trying to help me? Oh wait, that's right. Keshin somehow changed her, he somehow brilliantly brought Sniper and the rest of the group together. A newbie did that in one day, yet I haven't been able to do something so grand.

Sniper:

"Of course. I think long ranged fighters need advice like this."

Right. Not because we're friends, but because she's sympathizing with someone weak.

Nino:

"If you don't mind. Oh, hang on! Let me take notes!"

Sniper:

"Heh. As hyper as always. I'll be waiting over there. Be sure to come over."

She pointed towards town. Just far off in the distance, I could see the blonde haired knight and the black haired swordsman. Judging from the looks, his evaluation went well...

I remember earlier... I stopped my launch of flames and caught sight of what Keshin was able to pull off. That ridiculous skill that certainly must have required a high level mastery. That fire skill, that seemed to match my level of fire power.

He's learning fast, and the fact that he can pull off a two-hit Sword Art mixed with flames... That's ridiculous. Why am I so envious..? When I talked with Keshin last night, I was so happy. I felt like I was teaching him something... I felt like I was useful to him. But he seems to already have surpassed me. Honestly. Where's my spot in the team? Do they even need me..?

Keshin:

"Sniper! The evaluation went well."

Hajikeru:

"I'm glad to hear. It was out of nowhere, but Santos is getting his evaluation now."

Looks like Nino just got hers and is recovering too. I wonder how it went? She seems to be jolly right now.

Effie:

"Want to tell her about that new skill you created?"

Hajikeru:

"New skill?"

Keshin:

"A-ah. Remember when I tried to connect two Arts? Well, I call this Connecting Arts. Watch this."

I silenced my thoughts once more whilst closing my eyes, drawing my special sword Hajikeru gave me. The weight felt like something I got used to pretty quickly. First, I imbued the sword with mana. Then I begin the activation of both Arc and Fire.

Opening my eyes, I unleashed the skill, a great light coursing through the air followed along with flames from the first hit- to which I then quickly activated Vertical whilst the flames are still combusting. With a follow-up slash, I swung up- letting go of the mana in my sword which let built up combusted flames release in giant waves in front of me. That consumed around 150 mana. It was a grand skill, certainly something that matched Hyou's incredible skill. 'Vorpal Glacier' or something like that.

Hajikeru:

"Wh-what? Is that what Hyou was trying to teach us?"

Effie:

"Not quite. More like he simply combined Sword Arts with Sacred Arts- cancelling the delay of the first Sword Art through the casting of magic and then unleashing the second Sword Art which he then releases the magic. The way he activates it should make it so that his enemies stagger- so he kept it as one skill that consumes a lot of mana. He called it, Connecting Arts."

She explained it perfecyly for me. Wasn't that meant to be something I were to explain? Sheathing my sword, I turned to Hajikeru and in the background- I could see a shocked Nino. But that wasn't just what I got from her. It felt like instead of a surprised look, it felt like the opposite. She was shocked as in she saw something she didn't want to see. It reminds me of my sister. That scared look she had on her face when we were kids. When I came home injured from a wild animal attacking me. Had I not scared it off with fire magic, I would have died. To think I've came all this way since then.