A Team?

They attacked Madame Miyu several times. However none of them were able o get a hit in other than the lucky hit Aria had gotten in during the first match. All of them were beaten under a minute. 

No matter how hard they tried their teamwork was not helping due to the shared animosity amongst each other. Egeria did not like Aria and Aria absolutely despised Egeria. Only Vex was somewhat okay with everyone.

As everyone was battered, they settled themselves on the ground. Egeria was panting heavily, blood trailing down from his nose. Madame did not even spare a glance of worry towards them.

"Pathetic. You're all suspended from this week's hunt. If you can't work as one, you don't belong in the field. Out there, disunity gets you killed."

'Great..' Egeria wanted to snort, but he didn't have the guts to do it in front of the woman. The others were rather unimpressed too, but no one dared to voice out their opinions.

Egeria was aching all over, especially his face. He could not keep count of how many times that brute had slapped him on the face.

Not that he hated it.

As he rubbed his sore cheeks and stood, he felt a sharp gaze burning into the back of his skull. Turning, he found Madame Miyu staring at him with those cold, predatory eyes.

'What's wrong with that look..? Did I do something..?'

She walked up to him and stood right in front of him. Despite being the same height, Egeria felt like he was being stared down at. 

"Drop your petty contempt for Lady Aria. She's your teammate now. That makes her your responsibility."

Egeria narrowed his eyes. "No one is my responsibility. I don't care as long as I achieve my goals."

Her stare sharpened like ice cracking under pressure. But she didn't lash out. Instead:

"I've seen people like you before. Self-centered, clever, talented. But alone. Always alone. You're the kind who'll end up dying with their sword in the dirt and no one left to remember your name."

She turned sharply, voice slicing through the air behind her.

"Dismissed."

A jagged smile twisted on Egeria's face. He couldn't help himself.

"You talk a lot about being alone," he said, voice laced with sarcasm. "Maybe that's because you are. Aren't you, Madame? Just another Lancaster with no one left to care if you vanish."

Miyu stopped mid-step. Vex's face paled as he looked between them.

Egeria took a step forward, his tone rising. Almost like he wanted her to hit him.

"I mean seriously, do you even know what it's like to give a damn about someone? Or did your lovely family train that out of you along with whatever warmth was left in that dead heart of yours?"

The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on.

Madame did not turn to look at him, she did not seem to be affected either.

"So loud for someone so empty." She said coldly, then walked away.

The smile dropped from Egeria's face. He simply looked at her treating self with a cold gaze. Vex approached him from the side.

"Man.. are you nuts..? Why would you provoke her like that?"

Egeria did not bother to reply, he turned to walk away, heading home. He had successfully argued with his instructor on the first day of the training. And he was not looking forward to training anymore. He did not sleep well that night.

***

In the morning, all 4 squads had gathered in the training grounds once again, each group on their own sides. On the fourth squad, the tension amongst them felt like it could be cut with a knife. Egeria, Nymphia and Vex were fighting against Miyu like yesterday, and Aria was focused on physical training so she could be stronger and faster to make up for the lack of it.

Vex dodged a slash coming from Madame, his do skill allowed him to detect slight shifts and disruptions in the air. That way he was more successful than the others when it came to dodging.

As Vex dodged the attack, Egeria emerged from behind him and slashed against Miyu in a wide arc with a large amount of force. But Miyu raised her claymore and blocked it easily, when she raised her claymore to strike back, she was suddenly hit with an invisible force that made her stagger back.

Even though she did not show it, she was surprised. It was Egeria's first time using his do skill against her, and he had successfully executed it. His slash had repeated itself just half a second later when she lifted her claymore, hitting her in the stomach. Although the damage was minimal due to the sword being wooden. 

'Interesting skill.'

Nymphia's chains suddenly appeared from a distance and tied itself around her claymore and arm. However this time, instead of holding the chains herself she had tied the end of it to a tree trunk.

Vex was already going for a hit onto her side, if she blocked the attack Egeria would once again use the same strategy and attack when she was in the middle of finishing with Vex. The teamwork was splendid, but it was not enough.

She considered activating her Re skill, which consisted of summoning three swords and being able to combine them. Each sword had a unique enchantment to it: Rapier, Katana and a Saber. Their combination was a great sword that had all the enchantments of the three.

But she wanted to show them the difference between their strength.

She immediately pivoted backwards and raised her chained arm, which Vex struck it, not being able to change his slash's trajectory. He was met with a vicious front kick into the ribs that send him flying backwards.

When Egeria emerged from her side, she used her Re ranked harmonic physique to her advantage and immediately dashed around Egeria in the blink of an eye to restrain the chains around his neck. But as she was done, the chains turned into yellow sparks as Nymphia unsummoned them. 

Egeria used this moment, while Miyu was distracted he immediately swung his wooden longsword against her head. But it was immediately blocked and he was hit with a slap once again, he fell to the ground.

"Stop slapping me dammit!"

In response Miyu kicked him in the ribs when the tried to get up, sending him rolling on the grass. "Whine later pup."

'The fuck did she call me..?' as he sat up, breathing heavily. The strength of a Re ranked harmonic was no joke. Even if they continued assaulting her with surprise attacks, she was simply getting out of the situation with sheer force.

"Get up." Miyu commanded and Egeria complied with no resistance.

She took a stance with her claymore. "Attack me, use your skill continuously, I will only defend."

Without any warnings Egeria exploded forwards to slash against her, she blocked it easily. However this time, instead of immediately countering she waited half a second and the delayed attack came. She had blocked it too, however she had staggered just a step back due to not being able to put enough force behind her block. It was because she did not exactly know when the delayed attack would come.

While she was pondering, Egeria slashed against her from the side. She turned her body sideways and avoided it, however she was half a second late as the phantasmal slash hit her arm. She narrowed her eyes slightly and raised her arm to strike him in the face once again. Egeria staggered backwards and did not fall this time. 

"Great skill, it will be useful if you master it."

Then she noticed something else.

Egeria was not trying to dodge her slaps. Was he enjo..

Her eyes narrowed as she threw the claymore away and cracked her knuckles.

"Uh.. what is going on..?" He raised his wooden sword. As he sensed killing intent aimed towards him. What the hell was happening..?

Things did not go well for Egeria after that.