In the borders of the city, was a medium sized fifty square meter battlefield where people could spare and train every now and then. And currently, the fighting zone was drowning in the strong attacks emitted by two swords women fighting each other relentlessly.
Normally, you'd use wooden swords or at least be careful when using real blades, but these two teenage girls were going all out without giving a care in the world. They trusted each other's strength and knew that even if they were to get hit they'll just heal it if it's a deep cut.
"You're getting better, Saeko-san!" Said the first girl known mostly as 'The Conquer of Flames'. A young woman of average height with black eyes and black hair, as well as red burn scars under one of her eyes ; Her name was Shizue Izawa.
The other girl fighting against this talented adventurer was Saeko Busujima, she had grown stronger thanks to Shizue's teachings. They had met a few weeks ago and since then, they had became great friends. And with Saeko revealing herself as japanese, Shizue had became even more attached to her.
(A/N: While Akira was in the Outer Void, a few weeks have passed in Reality. It can range from seconds to decillions of years but he was lucky with it. Or else he could have just rewinded time)
Saeko pressed against Shizue's blade before jumping back in retaliation. She focused her vision on Shizue to not let her move anywhere with her inhuman speed. 'Damn she's fast..' Was what she thought while rushing towards Shizue.
The two exchanged a few hits and Shizue was clearly overpowering Saeko with her inhuman saint abilities but even for an experienced person like Busujima she was still able to keep up the rythme even with the struggle.
"Thanks for the compliment, but save your breath because I'm just getting started!" Said Saeko while hardening the grip around the sword and giving Shizue some empowered swings.
Shizue did not expect such strong attacks and she quickly dodged the first one before jumping backward with a sweat on her forehead. She grinned and looked proudly at Saeko, "That was well done Saeko-san! i did not expect you to use magicules to empower your strength! Is this your ace? Or is this your first?" She asked with a passionate expression.
Saeko grinned back at Shizue while also feeling a bit proud this first achievement, "Not really, it's the first time I do something like that. But i think I've got the hang of it." She replied while going towards her again.
Regarding that, Shizue had explained to Saeko the functioning of this world and the world system. She also shared all the information she knew about this world with her and told her some of her memories.
When Saeko crossed to Tensura thanks to Akira's omnipresence, she was registered into the Akashic Records and granted the basic elements such as vitality, magicules reserve and skills.
Not only that, but she was also registered as a good friend of the god of this world ; Akira. Which gave her some additional benefits such as a total immortality in this world as well as an absurd strength and potential, but unfortunately she still does not know how to use that strength since the skill system is still a mystery to her.
[[ Night Time ]]
After a few hours that passed by without even noticing, Saeko and Shizue ended the friendly duel and started regaining their strength. Exhaustion was clear on Shizue who was panting and drying the sweat off her face with a towel, unlike Saeko who seemed to have more energy for some couple rounds more.
"You got even better with the sword Saeko-san! It like you're a prodigy of the sword!" Said Shizue congratulating her still energetic friend.
"Well, i can't say that I've developed this much without you Shizue-san. Thank You for everything." She said brightly as the orange light of the sunset faded slowly from the azur sky.
Shizue giggled and gave Saeko a bitter smile as welcome. She sat on the bench at the edge of the battlefield and grabbed a water bottle to hydrate herself. Saeko sat beside her and started a conversation.
"So, Shizue-san.. I never got the chance of asking you because i thought it might be a bit uncomfortable talking about.. But what were you doing that day in the reception?" She asked her.
Shizue flinched a little, "I-I'll tell you if you want. It's not that big of deal."
She then started, "I came here to this city to meet someone I'm heavily in-depthed to." She said with a neutral yet smiling expression while looking down.
"Can i know who that person is?" Asked Saeko, receiving the answer only after a few seconds, "Hehe~ I don't know myself. All I know, is his name.. She told me her chief and the one who saved her and her entire tribe from extinction, not only that but he also helped her and her fellow tribe members avenge the dead ones including her own mother.." She said while keeping the same expression.
"By the way, who is 'She' ?" Asked Saeko making Shizue open her mouth gently in surprise, "O-Oh silly me, i didn't tell you about her.. It's the Ogre Princess, she saved my life from a painful and imminent death while making a heartwarming smile, which was enough to dry out my tears as i was slowly falling into despair..—" She said with an emotional face before continuing.
"—I was assigned into an adventuring party by my superior a few months ago, they were nice and gentle people with a great sense of humor. We were given the mission of scouting the newly established city in the middle of the Jura Forest..—" She stopped once again.
"—As we walked down the clear and safe paths of the forest, we were suddenly attacked by a horde of red giant ants. We were able to eliminate a few but these monsters emit an inodore smell at death, which attracts other ants.. In that moment, while I was trying my best to compensate for the lack of strength our party had.. Ka-Kaval got eaten by an ant..." She said stopping while forming a slight tear on her eyes.
Saeko held her shoulder while feeling sad, "Please stop if you feel uncomfortable about this." She said while caressing her.
Shizue smiled again and removed the tear from her eye, "I'm fine..." She replied before continuing.
"Wh-When that happened, something inside my head broke, my mind got completely blank and I went berserk.. The spirit inhabiting me and keeping me alive got the best out of me and took over me in that moment of mental weakness.. Ifrit was out and he started attacking everything he saw with destructive fire magic..—"
"—Because of my distorted emotions, he attacked even my partners, but luckily, he switched quickly into the ant who ate Kaval..."
"..He slaughtered it.....And that's not even the worst part.." She started shaking and getting more unstable.
"—..I.. Enjoyed it.. I enjoyed watching that poor ant getting butchered by my spirit.. That's not me..—" She glares at her shaky hands remembering that feeling, "—i'm not like that.. I don't enjoy that kind of scene... I'm lost.."
Saeko was shocked by what Shizue had just said. After all, Busujima had experienced the same thing, the same emotion after going through a similar scenario of supposed powerlessness.
But unlike Shizue, Saeko enjoyed that pleasure, that feeling of ruthlessly crushing someone after giving them the impression of being powerless and weak was ecstatic for her. This had driven her almost insane and addict to that pleasure.
Normally, she'd just hide that side of her, but seeing how such a light hearted person like Shizue Izawa reacting to such thing, made her question herself, and if she was really worthy of being her friend.
"—But then, as i watched the ant being crushed to death by Ifrit.. She appeared.. Long pink hair, two horns on her forehead, a very white skin and a smile capable of melting the driest of hearts.. Ifrit tried attacking her.. But his attacks did not have any effect on her.. It's like her kindness was so strong it melted Ifrit's malicious attacks..—"
"—And in a single movement, Ifrit disappeared as he turned into a blinding light fading away slowly. As far as I remember, i fell down on the ground with force, feeling like i was going to die of exhaustion. The spirit protecting me was dead, i was already feeling my body slowly dying.." She lifted her head and looked up with determination and not a single tear.
"..I accepted it. I was not ready to face death yet but I had to accept it... But as my consciousness slowly faded away, i see myself resting my head on the lap of the pink haired Ogre princess, who was gently caressing my hair.. Those simple touches were enough to wake me up and look at that bright smile with stars in my eyes.."
"A giggle was the only thing she mumbled.. And with her delicate voice, she whispered to me, a line that was so powerful it revived me completely even though I was thinking of death a moment ago."
(Everything will be just fine. You and your friends are now safe. There's nothing to be wary of. I, and my Lord won't let anyone come hurt you, you can rest in total security)
"Her voice was so smooth i couldn't hear its gorgeousness entirely. Her words made me feel so safe i ended up sleeping without even feeling it." She ended with a small smile.
"....", Saeko was left speechless by Shizue. Who would have thought someone like Shizue could go through such a thing.
"The last thing i remember was me and my friends, waking up completely unharmed in one of the Ogre Princess's apartments. It's the staff who told us about her. Shuna had told them to take a good care of us until we've fully recovered."
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