If someone asked, I would freely admit that I was angry.
I pulled my mask on tight as I thought to not show it on my face. Thankfully, my parents weren't the type to dismiss emotional outbursts; they simply propagated the idea of not showing them in public settings or such.
I wasn't some emotionless psychopath; I just learned to express it without making myself look foolish.
They were actually very concerned about my emotional and mental well-being from the memories of them I had. From what I recall them talking about, they've mentioned how a lot of other Magus families push their children too hard or destroy parts of their emotional growth in the name of academic and magical performance.
Combined with what I know now, I can genuinely be grateful, considering how many weird and unhinged Mage kids I could name off the top of my head.
By comparison, I was well fucking rounded.
So, a healthy emotional response.
I was sparring with Lancer.
Healthy venting has practical uses, as my parents would say.
Truthfully, I don't think I could quite call it sparring. More like…me angrily flailing my arms and legs around as Lancer politely acted like they were anywhere close towards her. Punches, kicks—I'm pretty sure she could have avoided them while quite literally sleeping.
Jab towards her left eye, blocked.
Knee towards her abdomen, pushed away.
Lower my center of gravity, sweep her legs, dodge.
For the last part of this four-move combination that Bazett taught me, I continued with my body's momentum and swung my entire body to aim my heel at the side of her head.
She caught it rather easily, as expected.
With a small flick, she sent me backwards, and I slid across the ground a few feet on my butt before coming to a stop.
I let out a sigh as I lay there.
Did I expect a different outcome? Most definitely not, and it would defeat the entire purpose of having her summoned if I could somehow land a blow even when she's being so casual about it.
I wasn't some insane martial prodigy or anything like that; I was…maybe above average.
Lancer stood over me.
She wasn't wearing her armor, and she wasn't wearing her new clothes either, not wanting to dirty them. She was wearing the blue leathers that she has on under her armor.
Don't stare at her chest.
I had to remind myself, because they were very much front and center in her current attire.
"You have many flaws and openings, Master." She commented bluntly.
"...yeah." And she doesn't even spare my pride.
"However, many squires your age would find themselves defeated in a match of fists if you engaged in a fight."
I sit up halfway, resting on my butt as I let out a sigh. "Weren't people in your time much more physically strong innately?" I questioned.
She casually sat down next to me. "Mmm, that is correct. There was no direct measurement for such a thing, but generally, I believe, many would be called what you refer to as 'superhuman' in this era. Before they honed themselves fully."
Right, her knights were just on another level from the 'squire' ranking that I currently have in her eyes.
"You too have your own gifts. Even during my era, magic was a fantastical concept that very few had the chance to encounter."
Ah, she was comparing me using my Magecraft, not just me at my base like now.
That's…fair, I think.
I let out a long breath and stood up. "A few more rounds with Magecraft this time?" I asked.
She nodded, standing up too. "Very well. It's important to also practice such things."
I took a deep breath. "Axis, turn." I said softly; the activation phrase I'd built up into my subconscious ignited my circuits as they flared to life.
The faint burning sensation inside my body was normal to me now. Every Magus has to live with the feeling of the dull pain when their Circuits are active.
Casting Reinforcement barely took a second. I wasn't particularly fast at it, nor was I slow. According to Bazett, I was about average, even when considering more experienced Magi.
That's still something to work on.
My reinforcement wasn't full-body reinforcement.
Legs, arms, and covering a few vital areas.
But partial reinforcement has the consequence of wearing and tearing 'normal' muscles connected throughout the body when used for extended times.
That's another facet I need to work on, probably at the top of my to-do list.
Time Alter.
Reinforcement.
Astrology.
Those are my three main focuses right now.
But this wasn't the time to think about it.
It was always exhilarating to have this newfound power coursing through me.
I took a proper stance before pushing off the ground. Just from that one movement, the air exploded behind me.
She blocked it again with her palm, but the room reverberated from the shockwave. This time, she didn't merely let me unleash a flurry of punches at her; she went to counterattack.
I could see it; therefore, she was holding back substantially, but even still. I raised my arm to block, and I almost felt my soul leave my body as I went skidding across the ground.
"No opponent would simply stand still and let you attack them, Master." She stated it as if knowing what I was thinking. "Come, show me what you are capable of."
I felt my pride challenged.
"Load." I chanted, and my right arm flashed blue as several magic circles overlaid across my skin, and one final one settled in front of my palm. "Trajectory set—Compress, Sun, release." I leveled my palm at her and fired several magic bullets.
Converting magical energy into heat value in the form of small bursts. It was a very basic spell; in fact, it was the spell The Blue was famous for, even if everyone else still treated it as basic.
They shot at her at the speeds of a real bullet. She gracefully stepped to the side of the first; for the second, she slightly tilted her head to avoid it; for the third, she raised her hand to block it. As soon as it hit her hand, it exploded in a burst, not quite a bomb, but more like a small fireball that erupted at the point of contact.
I reached my left hand into my pocket, putting on a glove I had prepared ahead of time, and shot at her again while she was 'blinded.'
She only regained sight of me as my right fist threatened to finally connect. However, just as easily as before, her eyes followed it, and she grabbed my wrist cleanly, stopping my hand from moving forward an inch.
I didn't stop pressing the only advantage I had.
My left hand shot at her stomach as well, and it didn't go unnoticed. She went to grab my wrist again as if to 'capture' me, but right as she went to grab me, the back of my glove lit up.
"Raidho." I chanted, activating the rune that was sewn into the back of my glove, and my fist accelerated. In that split second, the speed of my fist was probably double what it was before.
Even so, it came to a stop, caught gently in her grasp right before it would have connected with her stomach.
"That was a good attack, Master." Lancer commented rather casually. "If I had continued to hold myself to your speed and strength, it would have struck me. Well done."
She released me, and I let out a breath as I moved to deactivate my circuits. "Axis, Return." I always felt tingly after Reinforcement was also removed.
There was a sudden sense, like slamming on the brakes in the car, but from a mental perspective.
"Just a few small tricks." I responded to her.
She tilted her head. "Preparedness is strategy, Master."
Well, it was nice to hear the compliment.
I brushed myself off a little bit as my adrenaline settled down. "My teacher says that I don't use my legs enough, and I overly focus on my punches."
Well, she would chastise me for acting like a boxer.
"They would be correct." Lancer didn't mince words. "Your punches are predictable and speak of a lack of experience in true combat. However, they are precise and well timed, also showing a plethora of practice."
That sounds about right.
I am inexperienced in real fighting.
I've never been in a life-or-death fight before.
"We will train more in the coming days." Lancer spoke up again. "It is important for comrades to bond through shared combat. Sparring was a method that I used to acquaint myself with my knights in the past." She nodded to herself as she said so.
I was more than welcome to accept lessons from King Arthur, but likewise, I had a strange sense of dread at the idea.
"I'm going to go take a shower and get ready for bed." I told her as I felt a lot of my frustration had vanished. "I think I've covered everything so far? I showed you how to use the electronics in the house if you have the urge. The kitchen is open to you, and there's nothing in the house you're unwelcome to. This is just as much my home as it is yours now."
She smiled lightly. "Then I thank you, Master. I will entertain myself."
[Line Break]
Artoria Pendragon – Lancer, POV.
I watched Master head off to cleanse himself to prepare for slumber.
It was strange.
The whim that overcame me to accept this summoning and the subsequent meeting of my new master. I had not expected to find such accommodation and, dare I say, pleasant company.
His young age belies the maturity he seems to possess.
Is it merely a quirk of such a Magus upbringing, I wonder?
He reminds me of Agravain.
Someone who does their best to appear cold and distant on the surface but cares deeply for those around him.
He has been kind to me, and I sensed no deceit or hidden motive.
A rare quality I did not expect.
I much prefer when people are open about their desires and motivations. To tell me that they wish to use me as a means of deterrence, I was not insulted. And such knowing my new master's thoughts, it is much easier to establish a rapport.
I left the training room.
Truly, my new master has a vast wealth to build such sturdy constructions. In our small display of power, the room showed no visible signs of damage.
I left the room and wandered for a breath until I found what I was looking for.
He called it a 'computer.'
Yes, I was familiar with the concept, even if the modern era's notions were different. A computation device devoid of magic but using human logic and engineering to accomplish it.
In my free time, I will need to read up on such discoveries that have taken place since my era.
I remember how to operate it, even if I believe my proficiency was substandard compared to my master's.
His fingers deftly flew across the buttons laid out in front of me, but I carefully pushed them until I put together what I wanted.
A device that allows me to ask any question I want and receive an answer is quite beneficial.
I had a great many questions. I was still confused about it and did not wish to waste my master's day constantly pestering him.
I hesitated for a few breaths before I entered the final button that had my question posed.
'What are the small devices that people carry around and speak into?'
My query was answered immediately, with new information appearing on the lit screen.
A cell phone is a portable, wireless communication device that uses radio waves to make and receive calls and messages. It operates on a cellular network, which is divided into geographical areas called "cells," each served by a base station (cell tower).
How intriguing.
Master mentioned one of these 'cell phones' he wished to purchase for me; it seems it will be quite useful.
I will need to research more about it at a later date.
'How to acquire a motorized vehicle.'
I very much wished to try one of those contraptions. They looked…thrilling.
A spark of emotion that was still novel to me had taken hold in my chest at the thought.
I read the information provided.
License?
Titles?
Some type of specific training?
It appears that operating one of those machines needs more than I anticipated. It matters not; I will have plenty of time to pursue such fantasies.
I will ask Master about it at a later date. I should perform my duties first before asking for such rewards. He had already bestowed many gifts upon me, and I will feel guilty if I continue to ask for more.
A thought of curiosity overcame me.
I slowly entered the world of 'Who is Merlin?'.
The information appeared as I slowly read it. Most of it was vague but accurate; he was a wizard and could be argued to be 'powerful.' However, I snorted when it described him as 'wise' and 'intelligent.'
How amusing.
I refrained from asking the device about other names I am familiar with.
With my returned humanity came the negatives. The emotions that had been absent for so many years were now present. Regret was a predominant one, and I found myself hesitant to ask about others with close ties to myself.
I decided not to do so at this point in time.
There was another question I was curious about.
'Who is the current King of Britain?'
I was surprised.
How curious, it's a queen, not a king.
There was an outline of her life thus far, and it was pleasant to read about. Such detailed records of a reigning monarch's life were not something I expected. However, it appears that my homeland no longer answers fully to a monarch?
A Constitutional Monarchy? I read what that meant and how it worked.
Is that the path they chose over the centuries?
My country appeared to be thriving, so I had no complaints.
This was rather amusing, overall. Being able to ask this machine any question and have it answer me. There was another question I had on my mind, but I didn't ask it earlier.
'Why was my master taking glances at my breasts while we were sparring?'
'Men may glance at a woman's chest as a subconscious sign of sexual attraction. This is a natural display of interest, not necessarily disrespectful, and often happens involuntarily.'
Oh.
He is sexually attracted to my breasts.
I understand now why he was distracted during our sparring.
I was not aware my bosom was the target of such attentions.
I do seem to recall many of my knights commenting on the chests of various women as well as their behinds. I suppose that both parts are to be admired by men then?
"Lancer, are you in here?"
"I am on the computer device, Master." I returned his call from further away. He entered the room to see me and nodded.
His hair was wet; he had seemingly just bathed.
"Master, I must offer a scolding for your earlier sparring. You appeared distracted multiple times during combat as your eyes wandered to my chest." I looked at him.
"T-that …"
Did he not think I would notice?
Foolish.
I am skilled at knowing when squires are slacking during their combat training.
"To be distracted in combat is a taboo, Master. Please only do so before or after our sparring henceforth." I told him.
There, a verbal warning to not treat our spars lightly.
Hmm, his face looks flushed? Perhaps I should be more patient with my critiques; as a Magus, he perhaps hasn't had many harsh words said towards him and is unused to verbal scoldings.
"I…okay?"
The ability to take criticism without becoming defensive is a meritable trait. I praise the maturity he has at his age for not being disheartened by me scolding him for not focusing properly in our spar.
"... I came because I just remembered that I hadn't helped you settle in a room yet. There are plenty of empty bedrooms to choose from; you just need—"
"Master, what are you saying?" I looked at him in confusion. "I will be sleeping with you, of course."
How else am I supposed to be your protector if I am away from you at one of your most vulnerable moments?
Hmm, why was he holding such a strange expression?
[Line Break]
Frederick POV
Normally, I wouldn't skip school.
It would draw too much attention; I'm going to get a visit from my case worker, and they're going to grill me. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but a week or two from now, they're going to be on my ass about it.
It's how things work; it's their job.
And part of my early emancipation was finishing school and having very few absences.
I did call in to school, telling them I was sick, to start a 'paper trail' and all that to make it look like I was doing it the 'right way.'
But other than that, my mind was elsewhere.
There was a Dead Apostle in my city, and I needed the extra time to sort things.
Waking up was…interesting.
Beyond having a good night's sleep, well…Lancer had been unwavering with her argument that to protect me, it was best that she sleep at my side.
And that was after she explicitly told me that it was fine to look at her chest any time we weren't sparring.
I genuinely don't know if she's doing it on purpose at this point, and it concerns me.
Thankfully, there was some old stuff of my mom's she could put on for sleepweartemporarily.
I just shook my head, getting back to work.
The sun had already set, so it was getting about time.
I had been held up in my workshop all day, crafting this Mystic Code. I was by no means proficient in Mystic Code Crafting, but something simple and temporary wasn't beyond my means to create.
The benefit of Runecraft is that it was one of the easier crafts to utilize to make Mystic Codes. Runes had a lot of…staying power when it came to the deterioration of mystery in enchanted items.
It mostly came from the fact that it was a written language, which held a certain concept of longevity, even if it was mostly long lost.
Adding in the fact that this thing wasn't meant to last more than a few weeks, well, I could fudge some things in the name of saving time.
I carefully inscribed the last of the spell circle before it briefly flashed with a green hue and then settled down.
I flipped it over once, then got it up to my face.
It was a mask.
The irony wasn't lost on me that I was about to go gallivanting into the night in a mask when I had 'superpowers.' In fact, I could feel the cringe all the way down to my very soul, but my duties take precedence.
If I were going to go hunt a Dead Apostle, I very much did not want my face out in the open in case any idiot saw me and mistook me for a Cape.
Or if I inevitably got caught on some kind of camera.
But this should solve most of those problems.
The Mask was inscribed with several mystic properties now. It would 'kill' any of my DNA that left my body while it was on. A simple and widespread spell for Enforcers working in the field. Nobody wants some blood or hair to be left behind while in the midst of a fight, and they can't find it later to destroy it.
Essentially, it kills the 'connection' between discarded parts and the body. Or in layman's terms, it wipes the DNA of things that fall off my body.
Very handy.
It also disrupts cameras by slightly altering the light spectrum over me. If a camera catches me—as long as it's not one of those thousand-dollar cameras that can overcome this kind of thing—I'll be blurry.
Lastly, it altered people's perception of me. With a subtle bit of hypnosis, they'll remember me wrongly if they try to think about it later. My voice will be deeper or lighter, my height may be shorter or taller, and my eyes may be a completely different color.
That sort of thing.
Someone might look at me and think, why are you going to potentially fight a Dead Apostle in a suit?
The answer was, ironically, amusing because most Enforcers would answer the same way.
Because it looks good.
When you can move at superhuman speeds, when you can punch through solid concrete without problems, clothes aren't much of a restriction.
So why not look good while doing it?
There was also some sort of philosophical aspect about it too.
If I was going to die on this mission, why not look my best?
Like a reminder about how dangerous their jobs are, that any mission could be their last.
"I'm done." I called out, and Lancer appeared a few feet away.
She had been silently watching my work this whole time without a word of complaint.
"Are you prepared to leave, Master?" She asked, knowing clearly what our goal was for tonight.
"Let me get a few items, and I'll be good." I stood up, putting my mask on. It fit nicely, didn't restrict my vision, and I could even breathe through it easily, as if it wasn't even there.
She followed me out of the workshop and into the library and towards the associated 'armory' section.
I briefly glanced at the Broken Sword but decided against it.
"Let's see… I don't expect to fight, but in the worst case, I should get things that will either help me run away or take someone out sneakily."
Thankfully, she didn't say a word of complaint against my 'tactics.'
I think it was a different matter of not looking to be an Assassin but rather using such methods to protect myself.
You can't fault someone for using whatever they can to defend themselves.
It's the right of the weak to not care about things like 'honor' or 'fairness.'
"Oh, these will work well." I picked up a set of throwing knives, eight in total, with two wrist attachments to hide them under my sleeves. "They will seek out someone after activation." Heat-seeking knives are a good option.
I'm sure glad that my family made sure to organize everything appropriately.
"Smoke bombs?" I questioned, opened a cabinet, and found the small balls. "I'll take a few of these too."
There were even talismans from the East, but I wasn't very knowledgeable about that sort of thing, so I left it.
A few Black Keys attached to my belt.
I found my gloves, the same ones I used in my spar against Lancer, not the disposable pair I keep at school.
Hmm, poison bombs?
No, that's too much. I don't want to get labeled some type of bioterrorist if things go south.
"Ah, this is perfect." I found something in particular I had in mind. "This was my father's." It was a tie clip but doubled as a Mystic Code. "It will generate a bounded field around my body on activation to prevent harm."
The downside is that it will dissipate if I move away from the spot of activation.
Bounded Fields can't move once they're placed, unfortunately.
Unless you're cheating with a Reality Marble.
Otherwise, it's a very strong defensive Mystic Code; it can take quite a beating for it to break from the outside.
Lastly, I found a monocle owned by my grandfather. It basically worked like binoculars that you could control through magical energy.
"You appear finished, Master." Lancer commented. "It's good to be prepared." She nodded to herself as she said it. "It is reassuring to see you take your own safety so seriously."
"I'm a coward at heart, so I'd rather not be in a situation where I'm caught off guard." I grabbed my coat and swung it over my arms before throwing the hood up over my head. "Let's go hunt."
[Line Break]
A/N
Just had the motivation to do a bit more of this snippet. May do another chapter of it later today because this one was supposed to lead into another few scenes, but it ended up being longer than anticipated.
If you want to support me or read some early stuff of my other stories, check out my p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m / asotryforone
I also have a boosty if you can't use the above under the same name.