Shino disappearance stunned everyone in place, with the supposed to be one man army gone their plan crumbled apart and so they are still, stunned and don't know what to do
But before we proceed, moving back a few hours before Shino's disappearance, Ayame are resting on the side road under a tree beside their carriage while Hiroko, Crocus and Murakami are being trained
Clashing in the open field with their heart content, it was one versus two, Hiroko and Crocus vs. Shino
With a great teamwork between Hiroko and Crocus, they are able to withstand Shino's blows and be in par with Shino who is barely holding back
While Murakami on the other hand are sparring against Kuro who are holding back his strength but not her agility
With a miss punch and a hit front kick from Kuro Murakami was sent banging into a rock not far from her original position
Standing up while in pain Murakami said, "AaHh… that hurts, Kuro-san! Please hold back a little, I'm barely holding here!"
"No way, master said I should not hold back" Kuro replied as she brushed off the dust on her maid uniform
"I'm going to die you know! Please dial it down a bit" Murakami shouted in desperation
"You'll be fine, master gave you a protection gear to soften every attack and fall" Kuro replied and dash toward Murakami
Murakami was shocked as she see Kuro rushed toward her and dodge immediately shouting, "Kuro! Are you going to kill me?"
As the rock she hit earlier crumble apart, Kuro replied, "No… It's just that I'm a bit jealous master gave you one of his hand made accessory, what more it's a ring"
Murakami sense the danger and run away shouting, "Borrowing! I'm just borrowing it, calm down Kuro"
Kuro chased Murakami relentlessly saying, "Why are you running?! Come here"
Kuro chased Murakami in the open field while Murakami fight back by firing a few magic spell at her occasionally
Ayame on the other hand watch them train as she resting under the tree and thinking, "mmm… they are really lively"
"Come on keep going! Move those muscles!" Shino shouted
Sparks fly everywhere every time their sword and shield clash, with great speed and coordination, they are keeping up with Shino
Tired from swinging and blocking, Shino are pushing them past their limits and encourage them while giving some advice
"Make as little movement as possible"
"Use every part of your body to move your sword and block the attack"
"Keep an eye on the opponent"
"Control your breathing to control your stamina"
"Use light blows to lower your opponents guard…"
Hiroko followed up Shino's teaching and raised his sword ready to deliver a heavy blow and said, "And use a heavy blow as a surprise!"
"Two-Handed Sword style: ˹Vertical drop˼" Hiroko added
Shino was caught off guard by Hiroko's surprised heavy blow and smiled, blocking Hiroko's attack with his sword and saying, "Great job, but…"
Coming out of nowhere Crocus are rushing toward Shino's side shouting. "Never relax until the battle are over"
"Eh? When did you…?" Shino asked in confusion
"Shield Style: ˹Bull's Ram˼" Crocus added
Crocus was able to surprised Shino and rammed him successfully, sending him flying towards where Ayame are resting
Seeing Crocus and Hiroko landing a blow at him Shino was smiling as he is sent flying
Flipping like a cat to land in his feet Shino stopped himself from hitting Ayame by a few feet and said, "Sorry about that Ayame-sama"
Ayame was surprised and said, "You are very agile Shino-san, flipping and landing on the feet, very impressive"
Ayame looked at Shino's face and giggles saying, "For someone who get launched, you seemed happy"
Shino can't help but smile and said, "Well, I guess it's what you call a teacher's joy"
Ayame was confused and asked what he mean on which Shino replied, "Seeing your student improve, you just can't help but feel happy"
Ayame sulked and said, "hmm… I don't get it, you humans are weird"
Shino was bothered by the sudden change of emotion of Ayame and called the training over for today and rest before they began to travel again
Murakami catch a breather out in the fields as Kuro stopped chasing her, Hiroko and Crocus started to rest at their place and discussed their success in training
While Shino sat near Ayame and said, "If I'm in your situation I would feel the same, I know that feeling, being worried to death about the people you love and care"
Ayame felt a connection and asked, "Say Shino-san, what do you mean by 'Listening to the voice of your heart'?"
Shino was surprised by the sudden question and said, "Listening to the voice of your heart huh… well, doesn't that just mean to know what you want?"
"Yeah, I know that but why can't I save them, I don't understand why I can't use that skill properly" Ayame replied
Shino asked Ayame to tell what happen to her on which Ayame do and kept it to them and to them alone, Ayame also told him the Territorial Magic that was passed down in their clan
"You done well, great job holding it to this point" Shino sympathize
Ayame just crawled up on which Shino notice and added, "What your uncle told you, I think I know what he means"
Ayame was surprised and said, "You do?! Then tell me! Please!"
"Yeah~ well~ I think what your uncle trying to tell you is to bring out your desire" Shino replied
"Eh? What do you mean by that?" Ayame asked
Shino pick up a tree branch and started to fiddle around with it and said, "well, you see after a year of studying the laws of this world I came into a conclusion that the main purpose why this magic thing exist is to bring what we want into reality, create what we desire with our own two hands, and this Territorial magic you are talking about is heavily relying on that just like the Alchemy Magic"
Showing the tree branch clearly to Ayame, Shino pressed it down between his two hands and said, "Alchemy magic allows the user to turn anything into something and the most famous example of it is turning a rock into gold"
Opening his two hand a small grain of diamond was there and Shino added, "Or turn a tree branch into a Diamond, just like the alchemy magic, territorial magic materialize what you want into your very own reality in large scale"
Ayame was surprised to see the diamond and said, "Wait how did you?"
Shino get up and gave Ayame the small grain of diamond and said, "Whether it is money or fame, War or Peace, to live or to die, everyone has their own desire, and the only one who can answer that is you, your very own self"
Ayame was quietly looking at Shino as he speak, listening carefully to every word he said
As the others came back towards the carriage after resting for a while Ayame was captured by Shino's word and said, "Shino-san, it is sudden but will you…"
Before Ayame finish what she wanted to say, a bright light struck down towards Shino tossing everyone around him a far
"What?! What was that?" Hiroko said in shocked
"Eh?! No wait?! Shino-san!" Ayame shouted
As the light became dimmer they see Shino are okay but frantically trying to break the light surrounding him
"Hiroko!" Crocus shouted
"I know" Hiroko replied and draw his sword trying to help Shino escape
Ayame was relief to saw Shino okay and also draw her sword, helping to break the light that is surrounding Shino
Not seeing any progress in destroying the light barrier Shino look around and saw3 the magic circle at his fit
"Stay back!" Shino shouted
Putting his sword back to their sheath, Shino clench his fist and surge his fist toward the magic circle in the ground, breaking the ground his standing but it did not affect the magic circle
A piece of Shino's body start to vanish slowly and out in desperation Shino point the tip of his toward the circle and hammered it down using all his strength creating a small hole in the light barrier
Hiroko saw Shino slowly disappearing, can't get out, and in desperation he drop his sword and started to punch the barrier shouting, "Wait a minute Shino! I help you get out"
Crocus joined in and said, "Just keep trying to break inside Shino, We will try to break you outside
Ayame saw the hole Shino made and fit her hand inside it and said, "Shino-san grab my hand! I'll pull you out"
With his body almost gone Shino just smiled and remove his necklace, Shino then placed it at Ayame's hand and close it before pushing it away
Shino sheathed his sword and said, "Sorry, but I'll hear it next time Ayame-sama, what you are about to say at least"
And as the last bit of Shino's body disappear, the magic circle and barrier also vanished