Training Schedule

"Mh, you were indeed missing something, steps, to be precise. But without any knowledge of them, you would have to be extremelly lucky to find them out on your own." Akeno put a finger to her cheek and explained to Julian in answer to his problem regarding demonic magic.

They were alone in one of the many living room in the manor. Julian had tasked Issei and Asia to take back the others to the manor and care for them until they woke up.

It was shitty, but hey. He just told them that it was part of their training. Which was totally valid. Some endurance training for Issei and nursing for Asia? Was there a more efficient training method present out there for them? Julian didn't think so.

The man in question watched attentively his temporary teacher, noticing the slight awkwardness she displayed. Probably because they were just the two of them, and that his gaze was inquisitively trained on her. Something Julian thought couldn't be helped, as firstly. It was rather normal after the previous showing. And secondly, they weren't that familiar with each other.

Storing another of his random existential thought for later — the fact he wasn't sure of who he was himself — Julian stopped watching Akeno and sighed, closing his eyes. "If it isn't too impolite. Could I have some tea? I'm rather parched after my little warm up. If I'm being honest, one of the reason I keep frequently coming back to the ORC is to have a taste of your homemade brew."

There was a silence for some time before Akeno answered him. He could picture her arching an eyebrow at him. "Little warm up?..."

He heard the sound of hair swishing in the air in what could only be a shake of her head. "I guess it was, I hope it was a case of you being too strong. And not the other way around... Either way, Rias will be devastated when she learn that we were defeated that easily." A bitter yet soft chuckle emanated from Akeno's overall direction.

Julian opened his eyes and shrugged. "A bit of both honestly, you guys doesn't seem to train very much besides doing contract."

"As for Rias, well. It was neccessary." Julian sighed again. A bit frustrated, caring and having emotions was hard man. No wonder living was so easy when he was mostly going on autopilot for the past 17 years. Nonetheless, it was a fact that he had to learn to deal with it and stop being a pussy about it. Because he could as well go off himself from a cliff already if he didn't. Not that it would work, mind you.

Akeno nodded, stood up and smiled softly, her eyes turning into crescent. "You are right. We underestimated you, and we wouldn't listen. You did the right thing. Now, I realise how weak I truly am. And I'm sure the rest will too."

Julian grimaced at that, that sounded wrong. Like she was putting him on a piedestal. Not only he found it profondly distasteful, but it was one of the last thing he wanted for anyone to do.

"Ara Ara, I don't know if you are aware of it, but you are a very hard boy to approach, Julian-Kun. And an even harder to figure out. But no matter how strong and confident someone is. In the end, it seem everyone has their buttons." Akeno covered her mouth to hide a predatory smile and winked at Julian. Leaving to go prepare some tea. Her waist swaying elegantly all the while.

Julian simply followed her with his eyes and a pensive expression. A wry smile replaced it shortly after. He had to admit, this was unexpected. At the same time, he felt a bit uncomfortable at someone trying to figure him out. But that was just his misplaced insecurities speaking.

That put aside... Was he really hard to approach? He didn't know that, but it certainly explained some things.

—————

"When people say demonic magic is about imagination, it is indeed true. But this is not all of it. As there is in total 3 steps to cast spell above the level of instinctual like simple barrier."

The first is vizualisation, this is the initial step where you imagine the effect of the spell. Be it summoning an element, or anything else. Beware because the less detailed your vizualisation of the effect is. The greater the basic cost is." Akeno pictured her explanation by summoning flames, sparks and ice above her palm.

"The second is configuration, it is also a form of encoding. This is where you will create your own magic circle using geometric forms to create your own language. It serve the purpose of giving form to the spell and hiding what they will do from your opponent."

Akeno smiled and conjured a small yellow magic circle, pointing toward the 6 pointed star that composed it. She explained. "This is one of my personal symbol, it mean 'throw'. Channeling my demonic magic along with vizualising the effect through it will combine the two. Meaning, for exemple. The effect 'lightning, with the symbol 'throw' will combine in the spell, 'throw lightning'."

Demonstrating the principle, a tiny lightning bolt was launched out of her magic circle and fizzled out without doing any damage on the table.

Akeno pursed her lips. "To create a magic circle, you only have to imagine it in your head and project it in the air afterward. Just be sure to attribute a meaning to any symbols you put on it. Or else they will be useless."

Seeing Julian not attempting anything yet and waiting for the end of her speech made the smile on her face widen a bit.

"Now, for the final step. Controling the ouput, this is where things complicate a bit. I will keep it short, but all in all. The size of your magical circle determine the power of your spells. Only, both extreme of making it giant and extremelly small will equaly add to the cost of magical energy. The base cost start from half the size of the average human being. And triple everytime you either double or halve its surface area."

"Well, most spellcaster will not only play with the size, but also the symbols of the magical circle itself to amplify the power of their spells. For exemple, creating a symbol meaning either overcharge, amplify, or combine. There isn't really any rule beside that the more symbols there is on your magical circle, the more costly it is. It also scale with the size. So you should be careful."

Akeno thought for a bit before adding. "Last thing, your spells cannot be bigger than the magical circle itself. That's why lightning is my favorite element as it is still very powerful even in a small size... That and it's very painful." Akeno grinned.

Julian ignored Akeno's comment, too focused on everything he just learned. He was at the same time enlightened and floored by the magical system. This was indeed way more comprehensive and logical than in canon. You could still technically do everything you could think of with it. But it would be costly.

Finishing his cup of tea, Julian smiled genuinely. "Thank you Akeno-San. You were a big help. With that, I'll be able to help you all even more in your training. Oh, and thanks for the tea. It was delicious."

Akeno nodded and blushed slightly, more because of his smile than anything else. "My, it is very much my pleasure Julian-Kun. And I have to say, you are much more pleasant in private than I thought you would be."

Julian rose an eyebrow, shrugging. "What, did you think I would stay an overbearing douche like I was with Riser and earlier today?"

Akeno chuckled and admitted. "To be honest, a bit. But now that I know you a bit better. I realise that I was wrong in thinking that you and Issei were polar opposite."

Julian squinted his eyes, was she accusing him of being a pervert? Because if she was... Well, she wasn't wrong. "What do you mean?"

It was at this moment that Issei and Asia entered the room with everyone else who just woke up. They seemed more embarassed and ashamed of their defeat than anything else. But a determined glint was nonetheless present in Kiba's and Koneko's eyes. While Rias had something else in her's: relief.

Akeno sent him a glance and stood up to go greet the others, but not before smiling sweetly at him. "That Issei is not the only one who is my cute little kouhai. You are too."

Julian didn't know what to make of it, nor did he know what tipped her of. So he just assumed it was Akeno's Onee-Sama intuition.

Wait, did she really just call him cute?

—————

"Now, is there someone still doubtful of my capabilities to train you all?" Julian asked as everyone sat around the dining table they would all use in the near future.

Seeing nobody answer. Julian smiled in aprouval. "Good, now. I will explain what I had in mind for you all. Firstly, I will assign each one of you a task at the beginning of every days. Secondly, I will spend two hours each days to personally teach you whatever I deem necessary at the time. Thirdly, the entire group will gather on everytime the clock shows 6 PM in the central area. There, we will spend 1 hour training stealth, 1 hour training your coordination, 1 hour training your strongest attack and 1 hour where I will help you restore your stamina."

"The day begin at 7:AM, breakfast last 30 minutes. Same things for dinner at 12:PM. And you have one hour for supper at 5:PM. Curfew is at 10."

Julian gazed upon everyone and brought his hands together, grinning. "Not gonna lie, I will run you to the bone. But don't worry, no matter how exhausted you are at the end of the day. I can assure you that with my magic, you will be as fresh as a newborn to go at it again the next day."

Seeing how surprised and disgruntled they looked like. He waved them off, one of his eyebrows rising. "Oh, not happy with my arrangements? I get it, I really do. But you do realise that this is merely the minimum you need to even have the tiniest chance of winning right? I don't think you do..."

His easygoing expression vanished and was replaced by a severe, cold one. "I did not even go all out on all of you. And I am not officially considered Ultimate-Class yet. Riser is assured to be even more powerful than what I showed. At this point, this is do..."

"Or die..."

In answer to their grim looking faces. Julian' mouth twitched. "Okay, I admit that perhaps I went a little overboard. In the end, It's not for me to decide if you guys will win or not. The result can only be determined by you younglins. By how much efforts you will pour into this opportunity. Now is high time that I end my speech. Thus, I'll end it by a piece of advice..."

"Everyone, let me ask you this; Do you guys want to be winners, or losers?... Do you want beat the crap out of that douchebag named Riser and teach him the meaning of respect?... Or do you want to have to grovel at his feet for the rest of your life?..."

Julian met eyes with Rias and calmly added. "That's your call to make."