"Oh good. You're awake."
"Ah!" She was startled by my sudden words.
"Now that's some deja vu. Found you knocked out next to a prancing mad bull. If it was any later then you would have been flattened to death."
"Uwwehh. T-Thank you. Y-you saved me... A-again." She thanked me, her voice trailing away. "I-Im sorry, I-I b-bothered you again. I'm a baggage... e-even my team abandoned me... I'm useless." She had her head down, her shoulders were trembling.
"H-Hey now. Don't say that. You're not useless. You're just... out of practice. Yes that's it. You're just out of practice." I began to comfort her. "What you really need now is a way to use your spell properly."
"Really?"
"Yep. With how strong that explosion was, it'd be a force to behold when it reaches bronze." Unlike me, mages get their personal spell upgraded when they rank up.
"B-But, no one would want to team up with me."
"Well. You're just in luck. I happened to be here for training as well. So... how about partying with me?"
"Really? Can I really?"
"Yup."
"Glesisha." She muttered, barely audible.
"What?"
"That's my name, Glesisha."
"Well then, Gles. Let's have a good hunt." I held out my hand. She hesitated before shaking it. I smiled and gripped her hand firmly. With a tug, I pulled her up.
"Yes!"
****
A thunbull stood before us. It strayed far from its herd and was about to become our practice dummy.
"I'll tank him and you ready your spell."
"Yes."
I equipped my daggers. This battle was about honing my close combat skills. Using [THUNDERING GREATSWORD] was detrimental to my purpose.
MOOO
The bull saw me coming and bellowed. It stomped a few times before rushing towards me.
I casted Guardian to slow down it advance. Its horns pierced the barrier. I quickly brought my daggers overhead and swung downwards violently before the horns could skewer me. A strong shock traveled up my arms after the impact. The force threw me backwards. At the same time, the bull skid to a halt.
"Now!" I shouted at Gles.
BOOM
A loud explosion shook the air. I hurriedly stood up and glanced at the bull's direction. It was still standing.
"Oh no." I turned my gaze to my teammate worriedly. She was knocked out and wounded.
I pulled out the greatsword and flung two shockwaves at the bull before sprinting towards Glesisha.
I casted a few heals before her breathing stabilized. I sighed in relief and sat down to recover my MP.
Practice won't be enough to right a faulty spell. She needs a new spell to make up for this.
Gles opened her eyes and remained lying down. She turned her head to a side. Tears streamed down her face. "I'm useless."
"No you're not."
"Yes I am. I can't even cast a spell right."
"Yes you can. Tell you what, why don't you tell me about your elements and well try to find a suitable spell."
"There's no use."
"Why?"
"I. I don't... don't have... an element."
"Oh. So you don't don't have an element. Does that mean you have all the elements? That's so envious. I also wish I don't don't have elements."
She giggled at my petty attempt of a joke.
"Don't worry when I reach bronze rank I'll give you a powerfull spellbook."
She sat up and wiped away her tears. Shaking her head, "I won't be able to use it."
"Of course you can," I assured her. "The spell I'll get you doesn't need any elemental affinities."
Sniff. Sniff.
"W-Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?" I wanted to hold her shoulders but held myself.
She shook her head, "I'm sorry. It's nothing."
"That's good. Mom would kill me if she heard that I made a girl cry."
She giggled.