A Dream of Blood and Steel

Ashen joined Braun and Seraphine on their way out. 

His gaze drifted toward Seraphine, whose sweat-dampened shirt clung to her figure, accentuating every curve, especially around her chest.

For a moment, he was dumbfounded.

'This girl's charm is going to get her into trouble sooner or later… We need to do something about this.'

Even now, passersby kept stealing glances at her… some discreet, others far less so. A few were downright unsettling.

Feeling a lingering gaze, Seraphine glanced around, only to meet a pair of intense, fiery golden eyes. Ashen.

Instead of looking away, she held his gaze, her lips curling into an enigmatic smile.

"Ash, is something wrong~?" she teased, her voice light but knowing.

Ashen shook his head. "I'll tell you later. Let's have a chat at my apartment this evening—it's important."

Seraphine raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued, but she didn't press. "Oka~y, I'll be there after I take a bath."

They continued walking, chatting idly, until they reached a large cafeteria. The scent of freshly cooked food filled the air, making Braun's eyes light up.

"Let's go, I'm famished. Plus, I hear the food here is amazing," he said eagerly, already taking the lead.

Seraphine chuckled but shook her head. "It does smell great, but I'll pass this time. I'd rather head back and take a refreshing bath. Besides, I still have ingredients, so I'll cook something myself."

Braun shrugged. "Well, your loss." He turned to Ashen. "What about you?"

He shook his head as well. "Too crowded for my taste. I also want to check out the academy's layout. I'll eat later."

Braun sighed dramatically. "Well, suit yourselves. I'm too hungry to care. See ya later!"

Ashen smirked while Seraphine let out a soft laugh. With that, they parted ways.

*

As Ashen strolled through the academy streets, he stumbled upon a peculiar training zone. 

Despite the sign labeling it as such—written, to his relief, in English rather than some incomprehensible Serravellian script—the space seemed far too small for any actual training.

His curiosity got the better of him, but as he approached, a woman in a maid's attire stepped forward, blocking his path.

It was none other than Sabrina, the composed and ever-professional woman, and his previous guide when he had just arrived at this place.

She gave a slight bow before addressing him in her usual refined tone.

"Greetings, Mister Hart. What brings you here at this time?"

Ashen smiled sheepishly. "Well… honestly, I was just wandering around and got curious about this so-called training ground."

He composed himself before throwing a question back at her. "What about you, Miss Sabrina? Do you work here?"

She gave a small nod in her standard polite smile. "Precisely. I am tasked with overseeing several facilities, this training ground included. Are you perhaps interested in learning more about it?"

"Yeah, the place looks too small for any real training. Is there something special about it?"

Sabrina gestured for him to follow. "Rather than explaining, why not see for yourself?"

Raising an eyebrow, Ashen shrugged. "Well, don't mind if I do."

As they stepped inside, he was met with the sight of a dozen sleek, pod-like beds, each accompanied by a small terminal.

"...I'm guessing these aren't for napping?"

Sabrina shot him a strange look but answered nonetheless. "Of course not."

She gestured forward while explaining. 

"These are state-of-the-art training devices that allow a person to enter a controlled dream state through deep sleep."

She added as a matter of course.

"However, these dreams aren't ordinary—they're constructed using a specialized spell to simulate tailored combat scenarios."

Ashen blinked, caught off guard by the sheer absurdity of what he'd just heard.

Sabrina, unfazed by his reaction, continued in her measured tone.

"This system is designed to train combatants by immersing them in realistic battles without the risk of actual injury or death."

She approached one of the terminals, running her fingers over the interface as she explained further.

"Users can customize their training environment—selecting terrain, enemy types, difficulty, and even numbers."

Ashen exhaled sharply, a smirk forming on his lips. "Haha… You guys sure are ahead of the curve. Back home, people would kill for something like this."

Sabrina shook her head, her expression turning contemplative. 

"Actually, the Experian Continent is leagues ahead in technological advancements."

She didn't have any of the usual disdain typical among Serravellian as she said that. 

"Here in Seravelle, we prioritize mana development over machinery for our civilization's progress." 

She paused, her gaze drifting upward, her voice softening slightly. "Of course, there are… exceptions. This device, for example, was constructed largely thanks to an Esperrian genius in the art of machinery."

"It would never work if not for the integration of mana technology, however." She finished.

Ashen noted the shift in her tone but didn't pry. Instead, he gave her a sincere smile.

"Well, thanks for showing me around, Miss Sabrina. I really appreciate it."

Despite likely possessing enough power to crush him with a flick of her finger, she always treated him with respect and professionalism. It was almost surreal.

"It is my duty to assist. No gratitude is necessary, Mister Hart," she replied with a small bow.

'Still role-playing as the perfect, dutiful maid, huh?'

As she escorted him toward the exit, a lingering question nagged at him.

"By the way, are we allowed to use these pods?"

Sabrina gave him a slight nod. "Each trainee will have a limited amount of access per day, but not until two weeks later. For now, I recommend focusing on your classes and physical conditioning."

"Right. Thanks for your time, Miss Sabrina. I'll be heading out now." He waved casually as he turned to leave.

"Have a pleasant day." She watched him go, her posture as composed as ever.