Who ready for a hotspring scene? o.o
Giliath demands your power stones!
*
"There we go.", Emma said, only to effortlessly take off her wrapped orbal rifle off her back, placing it the corner of her seat. Thankfully the train was big enough to fit it.
The train had set off a few minutes ago, and now Emma and I were alone, on the train.
Well, I wouldn't say alone. Thanks to the size of the train, four other people could be seen seated with us at the same seats. It was big enough to have a table centered in the seating room.
The perks of being able to choose first class over the normal cabins. Rean himself was a noble, as well as Master Kafai hailing quite a name. It makes sense for them to ride first class too.
And there weren't that many passengers today in first class. Besides Emma and I, it was just Master Kafai and three of his disciples. They decided to bunk up with us to pass the time, and we weren't against it either.
Seeing us accept their invitation, Master Kafai let out a chuckle.
"Hoho, it is nice for us to be able to pass the time like this. Thank you for letting us take the seats beside you.", Master Kafai responded politely.
"It is no trouble. It is always nice to meet some new friends.", Emma responded happily.
"I agree. You guys seem to be heading up north like we are.", I also said. We immediately saw the brown haired girl give us a thumbs up in response to me saying that.
"Bingo~. We are on our way back home. We'll have to take a connector since we're further up north though.", The brown haired happily answered.
"That we will. But it will still take an hour or two for us to reach Roer. Why don't we introduce ourselves for now?", Master Kafai suggested.
"Works for us.", I answered, giving Master a simple hand gesture.
Hearing this, the silver haired girl took the chance to speak first, only to interrupt the brown haired girl who was about to speak first.
"The name's Shizuna Misurugi. You can just ignore this airhead next to me. we may both be intermediate level in the Eight Leaves One Blade school, but I'm still stronger than her.", Shizuna said first as she proudly introduced herself.
"H-Hey! Totally uncalled for. You know I've beaten you many times, and you know it.", The brown haired girl retorted, only to shift her head a bit to look at her, and ended up sticking her tongue out a bit in disapproval. She then looked back our way before continuing to speak. "I'm Anelace Elfread. Also an intermediate level in the Eight Leaves One Blade School. I'm also Grandpa's very cute granddaughter~.", Anelace said, introducing herself as she stuck out her chest.
I couldn't help but blink for a brief moment as I looked at her chest. Boy do I know that's something I'll have to deal with again...
I delt with it growing up in my past life before becoming a young adult. I didn't think I'd have to deal with it again.
At these times I wish I'd have the Gamer's Mind to help cope with it again. I am indeed referring to that. Puberty will soon hit me, and hormones will start to run rampant. And not just me either...
I couldn't help but glance back toward Emma. She was only a year younger than me. And yet her chest was already somewhat big. I couldn't let these thoughts linger though, so I quickly shook it away.
"So you two study martial arts huh?", I asked. Hearing me ask that, we saw the black haired boy next to Anelace and Shizuna nod his head.
"Yes. We all study under the same dojo with Master here. I am far away in terms of skill from these two though. I'm still at the Beginner level. Rean Schwarzer. Son of a local Barony further up north.", The black haired kid said, introducing himself as well.
Shizuna blinked at Rean for a moment before responding.
"That's right I always forget you're a noble too, Rean.", Shizuna said. "You definitely don't act like one either.", She continued to say.
"Haha, I get that a lot. Many people back up in Ymir make us feel welcomed instead of the other way around. I'm sure its thanks to the support I've received from my parents and Elise too.", Rean answered.
"Ymir? Isn't that town famous for it's hotsprings? And you're saying you're the son of its lord there?", Emma's eyes started to sparkle the moment Rean uttered his hometown.
"The very same. Master's dojo isn't far away from it, just further into the mountains. It's in a rather secluded area.", Anelace said, also chiming in.Hearing that, I let out a chuckle, only to see the sparkle in Emma's eyes.
"I know that sparkle when I see one. You want to go to Ymir, don't you?", I asked Emma.
"Is that alright? I know we are going to Roer to see our friend, but maybe we can invite her too.", Emma suggested..
"That idea isn't half bad at all. I bet she would love to come.", I said. Knowing Angelica, there is no way ahe would miss out on a hotspring visit. I then looked back to the other three and introduced ourselves.
"That's Emma, by the way. You can call me Naoto. We both come from a rather secluded village around the Ordis and Saint-Arkh area. Through a stroke of luck we managed to befriend the lord's daughter here in Roer.", I said, introducing ourselves.
However, the moment I uttered my name, Rean suddenly felt a pang strike against his heart. He then suddenly saw a shadowy image appear inside his head, but it was not clear enough for Rean to see it. It also vanished the moment it appeared. He felt an urge to clutch it, but resisted.
"That name...", Rean tried to utter, only to look back at me. "Have we met before?", Rean asked..
Hearing Rean ask that, Shizuna looked at Rean
"Are you saying you met this guy before?.", Shizuna also asked.
I gently shook my head to answer him.
"I doubt it since we've rarely left our village."
"Yeah. You're probably overthinking things, Rean. How can you know a person who we just met?", Shizuna also doubted him.
"You're right. It's nice to meet you two.", Rean said, feeling a bit apologetic.
"It is of no issue.", Emma happily responded.
"Hoho. Still, it is good to be young like you youngsters. I'm their Teacher, a master in the Eight Leaves One Blade school. As my dear granddaughter pointed out, the dojo is quite secluded behind Ymir. It does sound like you two have interest in heading to Ymir at least?", Master Kafai said, introducing himself as well.
"Thats right. We won't head there immediately though. We'll go see our friend and then go there as a detour to our visit.", I answered him.
"I see. If you do have an interest, our dojo is open for such capable individuals.", Master Kafai responded, only to look back at me.
"Right. You did have a thin blade being held at your waist. You also study an art like us?", Anelace questioned.
"Oh you mean this thing?", I said, only to remove a rather beautiful sheath from my waist, embedded in spotted gems and the like. With a shing, I slowly removed Radiant Starlight from its shesth. Everyone saw a very thin yet durable silver-lining blade..
"That's a rapier, isn't it? I hear it's one of the more popular weapons used in the military.", Shizuna said, blinking her eyes.
"Indeed it is. You've served a master similar to my own disciples, yes?", Master Kafai asked.
"I have. He isn't quite known but for those who hsve come across him, they say he's the Demon Commander. Used to serve Liberl's royal army. But when Master taught me, he was already retired.", I answered.
"The Demon Commander...", Master Kafai. "Never thought he'd ever be willing to take in an apprentice.", Master Kafai continued to say.
Hearing him say that made me raise my eyebrows.
"Have you met Master before?", I decided to ask.
"Only once,, and we had a single bout. He was quite relentless but at the time he was still lacking in skill.", Master Kafai answered, only to comb his white beard with his hand a bit.
"Hmm, if you do plan to visit Ymir after you've settled your business with your friend in Roer, why don't you have a spar with Shizuna or Anelace here? I'm sure they'll be able to learn a thing or two from it.", Master Kafai suggested.
"Oooh! I like the sound of that Grandpa.", Anelace happily responded with a clap of her hands.
"I wouldn't mind that either.", Shizuna said with a nod.
"Haha. From the way it sounds like, you are more of their level, Naoto. I would probably lose rather quickly if I sparred against you.", Rean said as he scratched his cheek.
"Well, if we're talking about a spar now, while it would be nice to fight Shizuna or Anelace, I actually would want to go against you, Rean.", I suddenly suggested, which caused a wave of surprises to reach everyone's eyes.
"Y-you want to go against me?", Rean responded in disbelief with a slight stutter.