Chapter 19.3 – Training Day with the Accidental Harem

I turn serious and nod at Ilina.

"Yeah, let's start with gravity spells. Those are spells that alter the pull of the planet on you. You can make someone feel like their weight increased a hundred-fold and crush them into the ground, or you can send people flying backwards or forwards by shifting that 'pull' to different places around them. This is how I fly. Nina knows this ability now, and it's how she makes her arrows change direction to always hit their targets. So, does that sound like something you're interested in?" (Mizuki)

Ilina nods vigorously. I smile at her and nod my agreement.

"Alright, Alto, you're welcome to try this as well, but don't get your hopes up. Ilina already knows what a form of spacetime manipulation feels like, so she'll have a much easier time. Ilina, with your item box spell you're imagining that cloth being stretched and torn. However, gravity magic will feel like compressing it. Imagine the very space under my feet as a fabric or sponge, and then start trying to squeeze it. The harder you squeeze, the harder I should be pulled towards it. Whenever you're ready!" (Mizuki)

I apply max body enhancement to myself and the ground, just in case. Ilina nods with a determined look on her face, and she begins focusing on me. For several minutes, I can't detect anything. However, eventually I start to feel like my body is getting slightly heavier. It's very subtle, but it's there. Ilina seems to be grimacing.

"Ilina, I'm starting to feel it! Whatever you're doing is working, so focus on refining that feeling!" (Mizuki)

Upon hearing that, Ilina's eyes widen in surprise, and her expression transitions to a hopeful one. She seems to narrow her eyes in focus, and after a moment I feel the weighted sensation begin to increase. I give her a thumbs up, and she presses on. My weight is almost inconvenient at this point, which is saying something for me.

I glance at Ilina just in time to see her collapse backwards onto the ground in exhaustion, then the spell on me breaks. I jog over and sit down by her. She looks elated.

"Mizuki…thank you so much. I know it wasn't enough to bring you to your knees, but I could feel it working. With enough practice, I think I could get better. That try, it felt like I wasted a lot of effort at first trying to do what you described. However, once I overcame the resistance to that squeezing sensation, I got better at doing it." (Ilina)

She's sweating heavily, but she has a huge smile on her face as she looks over at me. I smile back at her approvingly.

"I think you'll get better at it, too. Plus, I put a body enhancement on that was so strong that Nina can barely even hurt me. The fact I could feel it at all on your first try is impressive. Maybe you should practice on Alto next, or practice trying to make yourself float? That way, you have clearer results." (Mizuki)

Alto buts in at this point.

"Yes, Princess Ilina, please try it on me next! I want to feel this gravity spell, it might help me learn something about them!" (Alto)

Alto is begging to be a test dummy with the utmost enthusiasm. For someone as reasonable as she normally is, Alto might have a few screws loose when it comes to flying magic.

Is she so desperate to feel closer to flying that she's willing to get crushed into the dirt to experience the sensation of gravity manipulation?

Ilina seems to have recovered some, and she stands back up. She nods to Alto and takes aim at her. I should interject.

"Ilina, start slowly! I'm not kidding about how much easier it will be on Alto than me. Don't underestimate yourself or you may kill her by accident." (Mizuki)

Ilina looks at me skeptically, but she nods her agreement. Then, she turns back towards Alto and starts focusing, with her hands stretched forward. Almost immediately, Alto starts to look like her knees are going to buckle and she calls out.

"Woah, Princess Ilina, I can barely stay on my feet that's incredible! You can turn it up more, though, until I hit the ground!" (Alto)

No doubt…Alto is the first ever gravity spell junkie. No sooner than Alto yells her challenge is she mercilessly slammed into the ground with enough force that her body compresses the earth slightly. Then, I see a trickle of blood around Alto's lips. That's not good.

"Ilina, stop!" (Mizuki)

Ilina stops right as I call out, seemingly coming to the same conclusion, and I see a flash of fear and guilt on her face as she calls out.

"Alto, I'm so sorry, are you alright!?" (Ilina)

I rush to Alto and immediately begin healing her, and after a moment her wheezing breath returns to normal. She sits up shakily, then turns and…smiles at me!? What a nutjob.

"Oh, Mizuki, that was incredible! Princess Ilina, that was an impressive spell, I wouldn't have been able to fight you at all!" (Alto)

I shake my head at Alto disapprovingly, then glance at Ilina. She looks relieved that Alto is okay, but she is also staring at me intently now.