As the sun started to set, we made our way back home.
"Anthony, …"
"Yes?"
I started to fidget with my clothes.
"Um, also, hm, um…"
"Either you say it, or you don't but stop stammering."
-Just say it Naomi! –
"I am really grateful that I have such a great brother, I love you big bro." I started to blush and could only look at the floor.
-That's what I get, this is the first time I said I love you to a boy, even though I love him as a big brother and not romantically. Why does it throw me of track this much? –
He looked at me dumbfound, that was something he wouldn't have expected in the least.
"Sigh, I like you to little sis."
I smiled at him and we continued our walk back home.
***
In the following month I started to reduce my sleeping hours. After breakfast I used lightning fusion and flew to my training's spot in the forest. This way I am a lot faster but at the cost of control and accuracy, but because of Zero it's doable.
I also only went twice to Tim and Nathalie per week. with my new free time I manage to become pretty good at what Anthony taught me about swordsmanship, but it's nowhere near mastering it.
My basic training with magic changed a bit too, I now train to keep as much runes active as possible. That requires a lot of focus, that in turn helps with getting faster at initiating fusion magic and generally casting spells.
My experiment with mana stones made some progress, I guess. The stone survives a bit longer and I understand a bit more where I have to make the paths.
***
On the evening before I went to the marked and see Luca again. I sat cross-legged on the bed.
-I need to make up my mind. What do I teach Luca and what do I get most likely in return? Also, what do I do with Tim.
I tough him some, but he can't store enough mana to advance anymore. So, should I look for a way to improve his mana reserves or should I teach him non magic related stuff? He probably wouldn't be too happy with the second, besides what do I get from him, he his unlike Luca just a regular human, nothing special.
On the other hand, a half reptile, I guess, his pupils were slits, that's also so by a cat, but he didn't have other cat features. Anyway, he is a good guinea pig. Not to mention Luca has a brighter future as a mage ahead of him, he as great magic reserves, if I had to guess than probably has big as mine. I need to confirm that tomorrow.
Seriously I always wanted to be a cold-hearted character who manages their life alone and can kill people without a second thought. And now I can't help it but want to support two people from who one doesn't give me any benefits and the other is a gamble if he manages to achieve something in the future from which I can profit.
Arg, why is it so hard to be egoistic? I just hope that I won't get into trouble because I helped someone. Back to topic.
For Luca would be the best course of action to teach him combined magic with a weapon. Which weapon? I'll just teach him swordsmanship. As for magic, basics will do.
As for Tim. Yeah, I need to find a way to get his mana reserves up. For starts the mana rune would suffice but that won't work for long, besides it takes longer to cast a spell this way.
I already have so much to do that I reduced my sleeping hours, but new things keep coming.
It's like in my last life when I had to work to support my mum, before we moved, I overdid it back then to.
For now, I'll just be happy that I have got two friends and I'll teach them. What have I got to lose?
So now to the training's plan for Luca. First, I need to take two practice swords with me, second, I should look for a sword he can use, third I need to ask Anthony to show me some advanced moves. I now the basics but if I want to seriously teach him, I should know them.
As for magic, I should first find out for which elements he has a high affinity and then teach him spells he can combine with his swordsmanship. After he learned some moves, for tomorrow I'll just teach him basic spells, at best some that can later be used as steppingstones for combined magic.
That should do it for today time to go to sleep. –
***
The next morning at breakfast.
"Anthony can I take two trainings swords and a real one from the storage."
"Sure, for whom is the sword?"
"For a boy with enchanted physique."
"You should take a heavy sword then, also think about what you'll teach him."
"Which sword stile would you teach him?"
"A fast one, he'd then surprise his opponent with his strength, I'll show you next time the moves of one, for the beginning you can teach him the basics. I'll look for an appropriate sword too."
-Anthony is the best, he doesn't pry but helps me. I'm really lucky to have such a great big bro. –
"Thanks, big bro, you are the best." My eyes sparkled.
"Naomi, can you think of some spell that would integrate well with my fighting still?"
"Hmm, I can think of some, but I'd rather consider it a bit more, I'll have some ready for our next lesson."
Afterwards I took the basked from last time, in it the items I want to sell, two practice swords and the beautiful book from last time.
Thereafter I went to the village and Nathalie and I flew to the market. Like last time we went to Benjamin and sold our stuff. I went to look for Luca and Nathalie spend her free time with Benjamin.
-I wonder if there is more to them than just childhood friendship. Anyway, how do I find Luca? No other choice but to wander around. –
***
After some time.
-Found him. Or I guess he let himself be found by me. I have a feeling that he followed me for some time. –
I spotted him on top of a house and walked into the side alley. He noticed this and climbed down.
"Took you long enough. I started thinking that all you know is from books and don't even know how to us it properly."
"I'll just pretend I didn't hear that. Let's go to a place with no people a forest preferred."
"Follow me. So, what are you going to teach me?"
"The basics of swordsmanship, next what affinity you have to the elements and some basic spells. I'm not sure how far we get today, but that's the plan.
As for what I get out of it, I'll try a diagnostic spell on you and simple healing magic."
He looked at me but didn't say anything, we went in silence the remaining way.
***
We soon left the marked and came to a forest after some walking, we arrived at a clearing.
"We're here."
I put the basket down hand threw a practice sword to him, which he caught. I also took out the beautiful book.
"I wort everything I want to teach you today in there. I'll show you a move then we'll practice it so long till you know how to do it then the next one, your responsibility is to master it till the next time."
I positioned myself and mad the first basic move Anthony taught me. Then Luca repeated it, the first time was completely wrong, but he improved fast. After about 30 tires he new how to do it and I taught him the next one.
"You're a fast learner."
"Otherwise I wouldn't have survived this long."
"Anyway, time for lunch."
He looked at me then concentrated on practicing again. "I won't eat anything."
"I already anticipated that you don't have anything, so I have enough for two, let's go eat."
He put the practice sword down. "Why are you so nice to me?"
"Don't now, just hope that you'll make something out of this opportunity, and it'll benefit me then."
We walked to a big tree sat down and I took the food out of the basket.
"Tell me if you feel anything." I used my diagnostic spell. It took some time to connect my mana to the world mana and then to his.
He looked at me expectant. As soon as it connected, I was flooded with so much information that it backlashed, and I blacked out for a second or two.
"Are you all right. Did you even do anything?"
"My head, this diagnostic spell is dangerous. Give a moment."
-Zero show me the information I just got and label it, Luca: 4 years. –
With that a hologram appeared inform of me.
-I only have a few seconds worth of info but nonetheless it shows me a lot. So, his mana reserves a as big as mine, his world mana to personal mana exchange is rather accurate too. Not as perfect as accumulation but still impressive. Not that I've a lot of comparisons but still. He shouldn't have to many problems with mana regeneration to.
As for his physique I can see why halflings have an advantage over normal humans. It'd be interesting to see how it reacts to an injury but I'm not sure that I can keep it active long enough.
I need to learn on how to concentrate on a small area or I won't be able to handle the info input. –
"After eating we'll continue with magic training."
"What about the diagnostic spell? What did you find out?"
"That you have a lot of mana, it regenerates fast and that you have an enchanted physique."
"Just the obvious, how disappointing."
"How can you just label it disappointing? If I can't see this with my diagnostic spell than something would be wrong! Besides it was only a few seconds active because of info overload, it was my fault that I can't see more. Don't go around and say that a spell is disappointing without trying it yourself!"
Luca looked shocked "Um, sorry."
"Alright, after we finish, we'll find out for which elements you have the strongest affinity."