Another week slips by as the Guard commander's team meticulously interrogates the captured officers and interviews the newly freed soldiers. Meanwhile, Kazu's team immerses itself in an intensive regimen of training, their bodies and magical talents stretching and evolving with each passing day.
Arwain emerges as the most remarkable during this training period. Her nature magic has grown so refined that she can now sense the twins' stealthy approach from 40 meters away, even when they employ their intricate light and shadow magic techniques. With a mere thought, she can summon vines and grasses that writhe and twist, entangling her would-be ambushers until a 'mock kill' can be executed. Her extraordinary progression swiftly elevates her to the advanced magic class.
Petal delves deeply into the nuanced realm of body magic, becoming an expert in strengthening magic and an advanced practitioner of healing magic. Her breakthrough in understanding the intricate connection between healing and strengthening allows Orelfa and Orolfie to grasp the fundamentals of basic self-healing.
Not content to be left behind, Lina and Rask also intensify their magical pursuits. Rask achieves advanced mastery in both Earth and Metal magics, her control over these elemental forces becoming nearly intuitive. Lina, while still a novice in Metal magic, demonstrates remarkable aptitude in Earth magic, rapidly ascending to expert level.
Despite their impressive magical developments, the week's training reveals limitations in their combat skills. To Kazu, only Rask qualifies to advance beyond a Rank E hunter. Recognizing the raw potential yet unrefined fighting techniques of Lina and Petal, Kazu dedicates himself to a day of intensive hand-to-hand and weapon combat training, determined to transform their potential into prowess.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the training ground as Kazu meticulously assessed his team's combat progress. The rhythmic sounds of practice strikes and shuffling feet were suddenly interrupted by the arrival of Guard Commander Behlah Bon Chevalier, his weathered leather boots crunching against the gravel drive. Eight guards escorted him, their armor glinting in the sunlight. With a crisp gesture, the commander beckoned Kazu over, and Lina and Petal instinctively followed.
Commander Behlah's voice was grave yet tinged with a hint of cautious optimism as he spoke. "Our extensive interrogations of the captured soldiers and officers have yielded some promising intelligence. We've discovered that most enemy units are relatively compact, numbering no more than 1,000 soldiers. The recruitment units, like the one you previously encountered, are uniquely top-heavy with officers—around 30%—while combat units maintain a leaner leadership structure of roughly 15%. These battle-hardened units include more skilled soldiers, which means we cannot assume they will surrender as readily as the group you liberated."
He paused, his fingers tracing an imaginary map in the air. "Our initial intelligence suggested 30 separate units of 1,000 soldiers and a reserve force of 20,000. However, our latest interrogations reveal a different composition: five recruitment battalions of 1,000 soldiers, one hundred nimble scout squads of ten soldiers each, and a reserve regiment of 2,000. Your mission is to conduct a careful, strategic reconnaissance. We need you to verify these unit numbers, sizes, and diversities—all while maintaining maximum stealth and safety."
Kazu nods, his voice resolute and unwavering, "We can do that, but we cannot guarantee that we will only scout. If we encounter anyone under attack, we will defend them without hesitation. We might even feel compelled to liberate more conscripted soldiers from their morons, I mean officers."
Commander Behlah's weathered face softens with understanding, a mixture of respect and concern etching his features. "I would expect nothing less from you and your team. I'm not asking you to suppress your innate sense of justice. I simply ask that everyone return alive and intact."
Kazu's eyes glint with a challenge as he asks, "Would you permit your men to engage in a mock battle with one of these young ladies? They currently have the least combat experience in our group. If either can hold their own against your seasoned guards, it will demonstrate the potential of the rest of our team."
Commander Behlah's lips curl into a knowing smile as he signals his guards to form a precise, disciplined formation. Kazu steps forward, handing Petal a wooden sword with confident ease.
"Only one?" Behlah queries, a hint of skepticism in his voice.
Kazu responds with calm assurance, "She knows how to spar without causing serious injury. Lina has bested her in four out of six training sessions, so we may not need to test both. If she struggles, Lina can step in."
Behlah's smile broadens, a mixture of curiosity and amusement dancing in his eyes. "You believe she can defeat eight of my trained guards?"
Kazu returns the smile, his confidence radiating like a tangible force. "I ensure my team reaches at least C-Rank proficiency. Petal is currently D-Rank in combat, but I'd wager she'll prevail in less than a minute. Shall we find out?"
Commander Behlah turns to his men, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife, "Sheathed swords only, go for the hit, not the hurt. Got it?"
The guards bellow their affirmation, their armor glinting in the sunlight as they move into a precise, predatory formation. Petal skips forward with a dancer's grace, her wooden sword held with unexpected confidence. The eight guards encircle her like wolves, four pairs positioned with surgical precision just beyond her reach. With a synchronized movement honed through countless drills, they launch their attack.
In a blur of motion, Petal disarms two guards before their strikes can fully extend, the sheathed swords spinning from their hands with surgical precision. The remaining six guards press forward, the disarmed men stepping back and nursing their stinging wrists. Petal's movements become a lethal ballet - her sword sliding like silk across one guard's neck, then diving to 'slice' another's inner thigh. When a guard slashes at her, she redirects his momentum, grabbing his wrist and using his own weight to somersault overhead. His wayward strike accidentally strikes another guard in the chest.
Landing with feline nimbleness, she 'cuts' across another guard's lower back, just beneath his armor's protective edge. Pulling a second wooden sword with a predatory smile, Petal faces the final two guards. As they charge, she springs upward in a gravity-defying leap, 'slicing' their necks mid-air and landing behind them in one fluid motion.
Behlah groans, "Alright, I'm pretty sure she won that. How long have you been training her?"
Kazu walks over to Petal, pride radiating from his stance. "She started training... the day after we got back from the mission. So, just about a week."
Behlah's eyes widen in disbelief. "No training before that?"
Kazu looks at Petal, who shakes her head. "She was a slave when I rescued her from some Orcs, then she decided that she would join Lina as a maid for me. Until we got back from the mission, she had no interest in fighting."
Petal adds, her voice soft but determined, "Arwain, Lina, and I decided while everyone was on the mission that we did not want to be away from Master and the others, so learning how to fight was important."
Kazu's voice swells with emotion, "And learn they did. I am proud of my girls." He pulls both of them into a fierce, protective embrace.
Behlah steps close, his voice a quiet, urgent whisper, "Can I get you to train some of my men to fight like that?"
Kazu contemplates for a moment, his brow furrowing with concentration, "I can't replicate her extraordinary fighting style. Petal moves like lightning, finding the path of least resistance. Her body was a blur of impossible flexibility and raw, primal strength that would make most seasoned guards look like clumsy children. I would need to meticulously evaluate potential trainees and craft a specialized training program. Moreover, I will only invest my time if you can guarantee these men embody honor and compassion, unlike the brutal invaders who invaded my home."
Behlah's face softens with understanding, "Of course. The two I have in mind are men I've watched grow from earnest young recruits to principled leaders. I've known them since they were scrappy children wrestling in the courtyard, and I would trust them with my life."
Kazu nods, a sharp, decisive gesture, "Once our mission concludes, I'll dedicate time to assess their potential and develop a comprehensive training regimen."
Commander Behlah leans forward, his voice dropping to a grave whisper, "Regarding the mission, our captured officers revealed something critical. Deep within enemy territory lies a location where they warehouse human beings like cattle - a village called Weslam in the Frostmaine Fiefdom. According to their testimony, an unassuming inn serves as the central hub for their slave trade."
Kazu's eyes flash with sudden intensity, "Lina, fetch Anna. This concerns her directly."
Moments later, Lina returns with Anna, both breathless and expectant.
Commander Behlah repeats the chilling details about the slave house, each word laden with barely contained rage.
Anna's face transforms, a storm of fury and determination brewing in her eyes, "We must act. They're perverting my hometown into a den of human suffering."
Kazu pulls her into a protective embrace, his voice a low, resolute murmur, "This is your village. We will find a way. There is no alternative."
Commander Behlah's final revelation lands like a thunderbolt: "Before seizing the village, the lord of Frostmaine pledged allegiance to Casimir, and in a grotesque decree, declared all women under thirty in the fiefdom as Casimir's property."
Anna's eyes flash with a mixture of rage and newfound determination, her voice trembling with a barely contained fury. "That means if I hadn't left when I did, I'd be nothing more than a commodity for some depraved officer's twisted desires... Wait, that makes him an officer, right?"
Kazu pulls her into a protective embrace, his voice low and reassuring, "Yes, sweetie. He will indeed be an officer... and that makes him fair game."
Anna buries her face into his chest, her words muffled but laden with a chilling resolve, "Good... That coward is mine."
They delve into a detailed discussion about the upcoming mission, Kazu having been granted unprecedented autonomy to navigate the enemy's territory at his discretion. The remainder of the day is spent in meticulous preparation, each team member carefully selecting and packing equipment with surgical precision.
As the sun begins its descent, Tara and her team arrive. With Commander Behlah's and the Lodge's blessing, they request to join the mission. Seeing no compelling reason to refuse, Kazu welcomes their assistance with a nod of solidarity.
Once all the gathered gear is stowed in Kazu's spatial bag and everyone has refreshed themselves with a warm bath, they decide to unwind with a movie night. Kazu chooses to introduce them to an animated series featuring a white-haired protagonist named Bell, who navigates a treacherous dungeon alongside a divine companion.
Four episodes pass in rapt attention, but fatigue gradually claims its victims. Midway through the fifth episode, Kazu notices four of his companions have succumbed to sleep, their rhythmic breathing filling the room. He calls an end to the evening, gently guiding each drowsy team member to their respective beds.
Finally, Kazu and Anna retreat to their own sanctuary. After exchanging a few tender, intimate kisses, they intertwine their bodies, finding comfort in each other's warmth, and drift into a peaceful, synchronous slumber.