In the morning, I woke up at the usual time for my training with Ais.
Instead of taking the stairs, I directly jumped up, planting my feet on the wall once and made a jump, landing directly on top of it.
I looked up to find the familiar golden silky hair fluttering in the morning wind.
Ais is standing there, her golden honey eyes taking in my figure.
"Arin, good morning." Her sweet, soft voice fell into my ears.
"Ais, yeah, good morning," I said as I stood up.
"You Leveled up?" She asked more as a confirmation than anything else.
"Yeah, I am now level 2."
"Congratulations." She sounded genuinely happy.
"Thanks. So, should we continue our training?" I want to test how much being a level 2 would make a difference in our battle strength.
"Yeah, then let us begin." She drew her sheathed sword. Like usual, I did not mind as, even after leveling up, I don't think I can pose a significant challenge for her. Unless I use Astrum Cordis magic.
I burst forward with explosive speed, far exceeding my previous capabilities. The improvement was immediately apparent—my movements felt lighter, more controlled, each step carrying me further than before. My borrowed sword from Raul sang through the air as I closed the distance between us.
Our blades created a sharp ring that echoed atop the wall. Ais's blade intercepted mine effortlessly, sliding along the edge with practiced grace before deflecting my strike to the side. Her counter came immediately—a swift horizontal cut that I barely managed to duck under, the whisper of her blade passing inches above my head.
I spun low, attempting to sweep her legs, but she was already airborne, her lithe form twisting gracefully as she descended with a downward strike. Rolling aside, I felt the impact of her blade against the stone where I'd been a heartbeat before.
"Faster," she said simply, "But you are not used to your new strength yet."
That is true, this training also serves as a way for me to get used to my strength after I level up. I pressed my advantage, launching a series of rapid strikes—thrust, slash, feint, then a diagonal cut toward her shoulder. Each attack flowed into the next with newfound fluidity, my enhanced agility allowing combinations that would have been impossible before.
Yet Ais moved like flowing water, her sword work an elegant dance of parries and ripostes. She deflected my thrust with a minimal wrist movement, stepped inside my slash to render it harmless, ignored my feint entirely, and caught my diagonal cut on her crossguard before pushing me back with surprising force.
"Better," she acknowledged, settling into a ready stance. "But predictable."
This time, she took the initiative. Her blade became a blue blur as she advanced, each strike flowing seamlessly into the next. I found myself giving ground, my sword work reduced to desperate parries and evasions. Her footwork was poetry in motion—every step calculated, every shift in weight serving a purpose.
A particularly vicious combination drove me back several steps. Her blade came in high, forcing me to raise my guard, then immediately shifted to a low cut that had me leaping backward. Before I could recover, she pressed forward with a series of thrusts that tested the limits of my defensive capabilities.
"Focus," she called out between strikes, her breathing still perfectly controlled while mine was becoming labored. "Your strength increased, but your technique needs refinement."
I nodded, my sword technique, while no longer amateurish, thanks to my extreme growth, but it was still not good enough.
Instead of overwhelming force, I began to focus on timing and precision. When she came in with another combination, I didn't try to match her speed. Instead, I waited for the right moment, stepping inside her guard and attempting a pommel strike to her midsection.
She twisted away, but I'd forced her to break her rhythm. For the first time in our sparring session, she looked genuinely surprised.
"Good," she said, and kicked me straight on my chest, sending me flying and rolling on the ground. I did not faint this time, but I was dead tired, so I just lay there.
"Are you okay, Arin?" Ais came closer to check up on me, seeing that I was not getting up despite being conscious, she nodded to herself like she understood something, and sat next to bringing my head to her lap.
"Thanks." I simply said my gratitude, even if I don't plan it. I am not the one to say no to a good lap pillow. She gave a nod and started patting my head.
"It looks like it would take you a little more time to get used to your new strength."
"Yeah, that's exactly why I will be going to the dungeon with Ryuu and Alise tomorrow."
"I also wanted to go, but Loki said I need to act like her bodyguard until the other don't return from the expenditure." She said, while pouting.
"Is that so? Don't worry, I think they will be returning soon. Then it will be you and Riveria who will go on the expenditure, right?"
"Um. I… want to level up this time." She said, looking at me.
"I don't want you to get hurt like that day. And I also wanted to thank you for protecting me."
I felt a warmth spread through my chest at her words, but also a familiar protective instinct rising within me. "Ais," I said softly, reaching up to gently touch her hand that was still patting my head. "We're adventurers. Getting hurt is part of what we do—it's inevitable when we dive into the dungeon."
Her expression grew more serious, but I continued before she could respond.
"But that doesn't mean we should accept it carelessly. What I want... what I really want is to become strong enough to protect you, to protect everyone I care about." I paused, looking directly into her eyes. "You don't need to thank me for protecting you, Ais. It's not something I did because I had to—it's something I wanted to do."
A faint blush colored her cheeks, and her hand stilled in my hair.
"I understand your desire to become stronger," I continued, my voice growing more earnest. "I feel the same way every day. But promise me something—when you do go on that expedition, don't try to shoulder everything alone. We're strongest when we fight together, when we watch each other's backs."
"Arin..." she whispered, her voice softer than I'd ever heard it.
"I know you're already incredibly strong. But that doesn't mean you have to carry every burden by yourself. Just like how you're helping me grow stronger now, let others help you too." I hope my words can make some change, even if just a little, towards her view of life.
She was quiet for a long moment, her fingers absently stroking through my hair as she processed my words. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely audible above the morning breeze.
"Arin, you are just like Riveria, but more gentle."
"I don't think Riveria will be too happy to hear it." She seems to realize that as well.
"Don't tell her. Please." A cute frown was masking her forehead.
"Oh… whatever shall I do?" I said a little teasingly.
"Please? Otherwise, I will have to hit your head so you forget this conversation." She said in that same soft voice, her hand going towards her sword.
"Ok, ok, fine. I won't tell her." I said while getting up hurriedly.
"Really." Ais' face beamed at that. "Thank you, Arin." Crap, she really can be dangerous sometimes. But the way she gave a small smirk while getting up, I got the feeling she caught on to my teasing.
"Then let's go back home. It's almost time for breakfast." I just sighed and started walking as well.
With a small smile on my face.