Extra: Rafael’s Special Training
“Sixty seconds left, everyone! I’m turning the gravity up! Do your best!” Principal Miriela called out with a smile in the school courtyard of the knights’ academy. Students played tag with rock golems in the stone ring.
Silva raised his voice, cheering on the students who hadn’t succumbed to the pull of gravity yet. “Go for it, everyone! Tomorrow we’re Rangers! Tomorrow we leave for Alcard! Gotta get your training in now!”
The students had split up into groups, and of course he’d survived the entire time limit during his turn. But it wasn’t enough for just him to be sharp. His role, both as a senior and as the holder of a special-class Rune, was to bring everyone together. Their mission to Alcard was a political one, one not at all expected to carry danger, but one never knew what might happen. Their preparations needed to be perfect.
“That’s right!” Miriela said. Then she added with a grin, “And those who stay standing will get single rooms!”
“This training is always so tough!”
“We’re headed off to Alcard tomorrow! We should get a break today!”
“You there! Pay attention, or you’ll get bounced!” Silva barked.
“O-Okay!”
“Sorry, Silva!”
Silva was thorough, his admonitions extending even to Yua, who was dozing off after her turn. “And—Yua! I know your turn is over, but that doesn’t mean you can go to sleep!”
“Hwah?”
“Cheer them on! Tell them how to stay in the ring!”
“Just bash ’em until they break. Simple as that.”
“We can’t do that!” a student yelled back.
“We’re not absurd like you, Yua!” another shouted.
“You’re not supposed to break them regardless!” Silva protested.
Yua ignored them all and drifted off to sleep again.
“Looks like Inglis isn’t the only rule-breaker here,” Rochefort observed.
“Yeah... It’s not good for students to sleep through lessons,” Arles added with a half smile, half wince. As new instructors, part of their job was to attend to training sessions like this.
“Then why don’t you wake her up, Arles?”
Arles was a kind, gentle lady, not suited to scolding or admonishment. Yua would be good practice for her—it was already well known that Yua wouldn’t take the reprimand personally.
“Please, Miss Arles,” Silva said. “If you scold her, maybe she’ll learn for once.”
“I... I guess...” Arles nodded. She went to tap Yua on the shoulder, but before she could, Yua’s eyes snapped open. She suddenly spun around and began to run away from Arles.
“Oh, you are awake, Yua—wait, where are you going?!”
She was running toward two newcomers: one with a demihuman’s ears and tail like Arles.
“Ripple! And—”
The other was a young man with a fearless expression, dark hair, and a special-class Rune—none other than the holy knight Rafael. Yua scampered up to Rafael and greeted him with a bow. “Hi there, Huncules.”
Rafael chuckled. “Ah, hello, Yua.”
“And hi, Lady Dog-Ears.”
“Hello, Yua,” Ripple said. “I see you’ve come up with quite the name for Rafael.”
“Ha ha ha...” Rafael laughed it off with a quiet smile, but Arles couldn’t help feeling anxiety and a good amount of guilt. This was the first time they’d met face-to-face since the battle along the border between Karelia and Venefic. She felt like she needed to make a proper apology.
“Ah, Rafael, Ripple... Are there new orders from Prince Wayne and Ambassador Theodore?” she asked.
“Oh, no, not really,” Rafael said.
“We were just thinking we could join in the training!” Ripple said.
Silva beamed. “That would be excellent, Sir Rafael, Lady Ripple!”
“Yeah. If it’s just gonna be li’l ol’ me training with this guy, I’m gonna get all worn out.”
“What do you mean, Lady Ripple?”
“Lately, Rafael’s been all hung up on training. It’s never overwhelmed me before, but now suddenly he just wants to keep going and going...”
“I’m a holy knight. I can’t afford to just rely on Chris whenever anything happens,” Rafael said. “We need to focus and bring ourselves up a notch!”
“See what I mean? He’s been worked up since Inglis said she’d only consider a relationship with someone who could beat her. And especially with one of the Triumvirate with his eyes on her...”
“L-Lady Ripple!” Rafael protested.
“Oh my. Well, if it gets her to act more grown-up, I certainly can’t complain. Good luck, Rafael,” Miriela said with a grin.
“So,” he said, getting back on track, “may we join in, Miriela?”
“Yep, go right ahead! That works for us too.”
Rochefort laughed. “So you fell for a girl, and now you want to polish yourself up and get stronger? Can’t say that’s a bad motivation. At least as a person, the holy knight bit aside. Right?”
“Uh, thanks.”
The conversation between Rafael and Rochefort was tense. That wasn’t surprising. The last time they had met was on the battlefield, crossing blades with their lives on the line.
“Er! I’m really sorry about—!” Arles tried to interject, but Rochefort stopped her.
“Hey, there’s something I’ve gotta say first. If you’ll excuse me.” He stepped toward Rafael, then folded down to the ground and bowed, his hands and head pressed low. “I recently caused you quite a bit of trouble. I’d like to apologize.”
“M-Me too!” Arles added. “I’m so sorry!” She lined up alongside Rochefort, bowing in the same way.
Rafael was silent.
“Rafael, Mr. Rochefort and Miss Arles are serving as instructors now, so...” Miriela began.
“It’s fine,” Ripple added. “The more people on our side for what might be coming, the better. It just freaked me out a little when Arles transformed into a weapon and they attacked. It’s okay. They’re not bad people.”
Rafael sighed in relief. “I understand. I’ve heard what was going on. I can’t just hold things up myself. And besides, Dragon Claw is an Artifact that’s a match to my Dragon Fang. You’d be the perfect sparring partner—if you don’t mind, Sir Rochefort.”
“Man, that’s all you people want me to do, isn’t it? Reminds me of before I got my big break. Ah well, guess it’s a good chance to get both my mind and my body back into shape.” Rochefort shrugged casually.
Miriela turned to the rest of her students. “Then, everyone, why don’t you take a breather while you watch Rafael and Mr. Rochefort spar? It will be a good learning experience.”
“Whoo! A break!”
“I needed that! Phew!”
The students had little attention to pay to Rafael and Rochefort climbing into the ring as they sat down for their rest.
“You’re not here to just relax, everyone!” Silva insisted. “Watch closely how Sir Rafael fights, and try to take something from it! See, like Yua is! She’s actually paying attention for once!”
Yua was already set up right next to the ring, ready to take in every detail. “A little bit of eye candy before it’s back to the grind tomorrow won’t hurt.” Even as she stared at Rafael, her eyes looked as bored as always despite her clear interest.
“Ha ha ha, don’t get too close and get yourself hurt, though.”
“It’s fine. If he gets blown away, I’ll catch him, so bring it.”
“Er, Yua, I’m not exactly planning on that,” Rafael said. “I can’t let myself lose to an Artifact that’s a matched pair with mine.” He drew Dragon Fang, and its crimson blade shimmered with light.
Rochefort laughed. “Well, if you’re not in danger, I guess that means I am. If I get blown away, will you catch me?”
“Nah.” Yua shook her head.
“Gee, it sure must be nice to be popular with the students,” Rochefort said.
Rafael sighed.
“Ross, I’ll catch you. Go ahead and give it your all,” Arles said.
“Of course. That’s exactly what I was going to do.” Rochefort unsheathed Dragon Claw, and its azure blade shined beautifully. “I’m gonna really put my back into this. No holding back!” He held his sword out in front, ready.
“Gwoooooohhhhnnn!”
To the sound of a dragon’s roar, azure winged armor encased him.
Rafael gasped. “You’ve already mastered what even Leon gave up on!”
“Your lucky day, ain’t it? Smile while you can.”
“Yes, thank you! Then, it’s my turn!”
“Gwooohhhh!”
Rafael was sheathed in crimson winged armor. “Shall we?”
“Yeah, let’s get it on!”
They both took off flying at once, before coming together to clash in the middle. Their speed was equal, as were the blows they unleashed.
Clang!
With a raucous sound, crimson blade clashed with azure.
“How do you like it? Think I’m up to the job?” Rochefort asked.
“Very!”
They were red and blue blurs, flitting around each other wildly in the air. As they momentarily intersected, the sound of blade on blade filled the area.
“Wow!”
“Incredible!”
“Pay close attention! That’s how we should try to fight!” Silva said.
“But I can’t see a thing!”
“Then work on that! Learn from Yua—she’s watching seriously for once!”
“Hmm, do I want to be here or there when it starts raining men?” Yua said.
“I don’t really think that’s what Yua has in mind...” Ripple chuckled.
Meanwhile, the combatants returned to above the ring, clashing even faster and more forcefully than before.
Rochefort grunted in surprise.
Rafael roared, “I can do this!” He seemed to have the upper hand.
Rochefort fell back a pace and took a defensive posture.
“Grrraaaauhhhh!”
As their intensity reached a peak, the crimson and azure light surrounding them mingled and swelled explosively.
“What?!” Rafael gasped.
“What is this?!” Rochefort barked.
The explosion of light sent them both flying.
“Whoa?!”
A shadow flitted into Rafael’s trajectory. “Sweet. Here’s my chance.”
Yua caught him tightly and held on, not letting go.
“Y-Yua? Thanks, but, uh... I’m okay, you can let me go now...”
Meanwhile, Arles had caught Rochefort, as she’d said she would. “Ross! Are you all right?!”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry about that.”
“But... What just happened? It seemed like the power of the two Artifacts combined and exploded?” Rafael asked.
“I couldn’t really tell either, but that sounds about right.” Rochefort got to his feet before approaching Rafael to hold Dragon Claw out to him. “Just going back and forth with me isn’t gonna catch you that girl you’re after. I don’t know if these went wild or what, but what just happened... You’ve gotta figure out how to do something with that, right?”
“I see. So you want me to use them both at once and try to control the effect...”
“Not like I can regift something that came from His Majesty, but letting you give it a spin during training shouldn’t be a problem, right? We’re off to Alcard tomorrow. Hurry up and try it now while you’ve got the chance.”
“I will! Thank you.”
“Principal Miriela, do you have another Artifact I can borrow?”
“Of course, Mr. Rochefort. Just hold on a moment.”
“All right! I’ll get in on the fun too!” Ripple cheered. “That gave me a chance to rest up.”
“Then I’ll join in as well,” Arles said.
Silva joined the growing chorus. “Sir Rafael! Please allow me to participate too!”
“Thank you, everyone! Then, Yua, could you finally let me go?”
“Nah.”
It took some time longer before she could be peeled away and they could resume.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login