Bonus Short Stories
Just for a Little While
The place was the spirit folk village, in the house where everyone lived together while Rio was in the village.
One morning in the spirit folk village, in the house where everyone lived with Rio before they all returned to the Strahl region...
Rio himself woke up and left the house to do his daily training routine. “Good morning, Sayo.” He spotted Sayo swinging a wooden training sword all by herself.
“Ah! Good morning, Sir Rio.”
“Looks like you’re first today,” Rio said after checking no one else was around.
Rio’s morning training routine was originally something he started alone at a young age, but after coming to the spirit folk village, he was joined by Sara and the others. After growing older and returning to the Strahl region, Miharu and Celia joined in; now, after reuniting with Sayo and Gouki’s group, they all participated together.
Their routines were all customized for their own specialty areas: Rio and Sara with their weapons, Miharu with spirit arts, and Celia with magic essence control.
In Sayo’s case, she worked on both her weapon and spirit arts. Her training had apparently started back in her home village, but Gouki’s group had given her full-blown training on their journey to the spirit folk village. Her growth was shocking to Rio.
“Yes! I woke up early. I only just started,” Sayo replied energetically, smiling from ear to ear.
“You’re working hard. I’ll join you in swing practice.”
“Please do!”
The two of them swung their swords in silence for a while. But several minutes later...
“...” Sayo stopped swinging and started watching Rio’s movements instead, captivated.
“Is something the matter...?” Noticing her fixed gaze, Rio paused his swings.
“Huh...? Oh, no! Umm...!” Sayo gasped and began to panic. “I just thought your movements were wonderful...” she admitted in embarrassment.
“I’m just swinging my sword like normal.”
“No! When I watch you from the side, your sword comes to a stop so quickly. You’ve perfectly erased any signs of your movement. Now that Sir Gouki is teaching me the proper use of weapons, I understand how amazing you really are...” Sayo said, emphasizing Rio’s skills.
“Ahaha. Thank you,” Rio said bashfully.
“N-No, not at all... Umm, could I watch you swing your sword for a little longer?” Sayo blushed and looked down, her eyes peering upwards at Rio’s face.
“Sure, but it really isn’t that impressive.” Rio nodded with embarrassment, then resumed his swinging. That being said, he wasn’t the type to let himself be flustered enough to mess up his movements.
And so, for some time after that...
“...” For some time after that, Sayo sent Rio a heated gaze of captivation as he swung his sword. Her face in profile was precisely that of a young maiden in love—it was a look of pure bliss. While the moment between them continued, there was someone secretly watching over them quietly. It was Sayo’s older brother, Shin. He was probably examining the mood in the air for the sake of his sister. He had his own wooden training sword in his hand, yet he didn’t move from the shadows of the trees.
“If it isn’t Shin. What are you doing there?” Gouki arrived to participate in the morning training and discovered him.
“Nothing much...” Shin replied awkwardly.
“Hmm...” Gouki spotted Rio swinging his sword in the distance, and Sayo standing next to him. He seemed to catch on to the situation with just that.
“Haha. I see, I see,” he grinned.
“I said it’s nothing,” Shin snapped to hide his embarrassment, then marched off towards Rio and Sayo.
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