"So how do we go about our training?" Keiran asked.
"With regards to experience and ability, it would be best if less experienced Dream Knights like Ariel, Saito and Keiran, spar with more experienced Dream Knights like Mitsuki and I. That would be the best way to make the most out of our training sessions and your abilities, Saito, Keiran and Ariel should rise significantly within a relatively short period. For Mitsuki and I to make the most of our training though, we'll probably have to spar against each other" Concordia said.
Ciella and Arlene sat in a corner. While Arlene trained herself by analyzing various packets of info streaming into Christopher, her sigil, Concordia and Mitsuki prepared to battle Saito, Keiran and Ariel.
"I've heard that you three Saito, Keiran and Ariel specialize more in the utilization of elemental attacks than in the actual use of sigils" Arlene said without shifting her gaze from Christopher.
"Yes, in a sense, like Mitsuki, our sigils are most effective under special conditions so we mostly resort to elemental attacks which can be utilized in battles under varying conditions" Saito explained.
"You never told me that" Concordia said.
"There's a reason the Dream Knights ensure we stick together as a permanent team in battle you know?" Saito said.
"Let's begin already" Mitsuki was beginning to get impatient.
"But before that, we must be sure to minimize damage to this place. Keiran, can you shield the walls, ceilings and floors with a field of wind to minimize damage?" Saito asked.
Keiran obeyed.
In the next instant, a strong wind began to circulate around the areas in the library close to the ground, walls and ceiling.
"Keiran can use terrain alteration techniques?" Concordia asked as she and Mitsuki struggled to maintain their footing.
"Of course. Our Dad ensured we mastered terrain alteration techniques since its one of the predominant techniques Zanfar and his allies utilize. Even if we are not allowed to use them for harm, understanding them is the first step to countering them" Keiran explained.
"Ariel, you stay back for support" Keiran said as he generated an intense field of elements to shield Ariel.
"Impressive, Ariel isn't a combat type but a support type. It appears in their usual formation, they utilize Keiran's abilities to shield Ariel. Though support types do not play much of a role on the actual battlefield, they are a key component in determining the outcome of a battle. Losing a support type on the battlefield could immediately transform an advantageous situation into a disadvantageous one. Losing a healer for instance on the battlefield could cause the wounds of comrades to worsen and degenerate. Ariel specializes in eliminating curses and nefarious things of the sort. She's basically responsible for the overall health, especially mental and spiritual health of her allies" Concordia analyzed Saito, Keiran and Ariel's formation.
"Keiran, you know about Mitsuki's abilities right?" Saito asked Keiran telepathically via the family's Pyrostellis Luminares.
"Of course, I didn't assume the wind field would be enough to stop her" Keiran said seriously.
"Indeed. Just like you..." Saito said as her eyes assumed a serious gaze.
"...Mitsuki also specializes in the utilization of terrain alteration techniques and field type attacks of the sort. At the very least though, we won't need to worry about her ability to manipulate the waves of time surrounding us" Saito said seriously.
Ciella watched the unfolding battle in awe.
"Keiran, if you intend to get serious, it would be best to ensure that Ciella and I are not making contact with the ground" Arlene said with an amused smile without shifting her gaze from Christopher.
"The hell does that mean?!" Keiran roared in irritation.
"You shouldn't be giving anyone tips Arlene! That's unfair!" Concordia argued.
"I didn't tell them what they need to do. I only gave them a clue and I'm also taking Ciella's safety into consideration" Arlene said with a slight chuckle as she continued to analyze the data flowing into Christopher.
"Fine, I'll listen to you then. If your advice was enough to get Concordia rattled, it must be helpful advice" Keiran said.
"Well, it may or may not be helpful to you depending on how creative you can be" Arlene said.
"Mitsuki?" Concordia called.
"Right" Mitsuki said as she stretched her right hand forward.
"Here it comes Keiran! Brace yourself!" Saito warned.
Saito, Keiran and Ariel braced themselves.
"TORRENTIAL PUSH OF THE MOON'S GRAVITATIONAL FORCE!" Mitsuki roared.
In an instant, Saito, Keiran and Ariel were weighed to the ground. Mitsuki and Concordia seemed to have regained their footing.
"Keiran, you've noticed the variations in the intensity of gravitational force acting on our team and on Concordia's team right?" Saito asked.
"I'm impressed. Mitsuki actually has precise control over her ability to utilize the moon's gravitational force. It was obvious to me watching her weigh down the rampaging Nightmares without weighing San who was fighting them down" Keiran said with a smile.
"In a sense it's also scary" Saito said seriously.
"The force acting on us is strong enough to weigh us down but for Mitsuki's team, it's strong enough to allow them to regain their footing" Keiran noted.
In the next instant, Concordia's briefcase was in the air. It opened and her bow and quiver fell out. She caught her bow and slipped her other arm into the Quiver's strap before it could fall, pulled out an arrow and pulled her bow to full length.
"Keiran!" Saito called.
"I know!" Keiran roared as Concordia's arrow was released.
Her arrow flew towards Saito but just before it hit, its path was altered slightly and it missed. It fell to the ground.
"I missed?" Concordia stared in surprise.
"Keiran's altering the flow of wind around them. Accuracy in archery can be affected by the direction and intensity of the wind. The wind circulating around them must probably be flowing in a circular fashion around them. If he had merely created a wall of wind in front of them, the streamlined nature of the arrow would have dulled the wind resistance and your attack might have hit. By controlling the air in a circular rotation around his team, he managed to knock it off its trajectory" Mitsuki explained.
"In that case, it would be best to resort to brute force! KRAKEN ANDROMEDA! FORMATION DREAM REALM BORDER WALL DEFENSE!" Concordia called as thousands of arrows materialized in the space around them.
Ciella stared in awe. Her shock almost bordered on horror as she recalled the countless arrows that defended her from the rampaging Nightmares.
"That was Concordia?" Ciella realized.
Arlene laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"There's no need to be frightened. They're not aiming to kill. Saito, Keiran and Ariel wouldn't die even if Concordia's arrows hit them" Arlene said. "They wouldn't even bear a scratch though they might end up being stunned, immobilized or feel something akin to nausea" Arlene explained.
"I've never witnessed a battle of this nature before...not even in movies. If this is the level of combat required to be a Dream Knight..." Ciella appeared to be discouraged.
"If you believe you can never attain this level of skill, you're mistaken. No one is born a Dream Knight. Even Saito, Keiran and Ariel who were born Dreamweavers had to hone their abilities gradually. It's like learning to walk all over again" Arlene explained.
Ciella turned to look at Arlene.
"In the end how far you can hone your abilities as a Dream Knight is ultimately dependent on how much effort you put into comprehending yourself" Arlene said.
Ciella smiled but her smile was wavering.
"They're the same age as I am. Keiran, Saito and Ariel are even younger than I am. How can they face Nightmares without hesitation?" Ciella wondered.
"How can you be so fearless?" Ciella asked.
At that question, Arlene paused what she was doing and turned to face Ciella.
"Fearless huh? We're not fearless Ciella. On the battlefield, we constantly have to worry about our own lives and the lives of our comrades. It's kinda comforting to know that the strongest Dream Knights keep an eye out for us on the battlefield plus after fighting with comrades for a while, you begin to get more accustomed to the battlefield when you realize that your comrades are watching your back" Arlene said.
"So you aren't scared of the monster that rampaged in Dream City all those years ago?" Ciella asked.
"Why should we be when as powerful as that monster was...he was defeated by San, Keiran, Saito and Ariel's Dad. Just having their Dad watching our backs makes us feel like there's nothing to fear" Arlene said.
"I can sort of understand that feeling" Ciella said with a nostalgic smile as images of me flowed within her mind. "I've decided. I want to become a Dream Knight!" Ciella said with determination.
"Fine by me" Arlene said and returned to analyzing data on Christopher.
"You're not going to object? But earlier on you said..." Ciella was saying in surprise when Arlene interrupted her.
"I said for as long as you didn't fully comprehend the risks involved in becoming a Dream Knight, I wasn't going to train you. However I also said if after considering the risks involved, you still want to become one, I wouldn't object. I've explained the risks and you've made your decision. At this point, I doubt anything I say will change your mind so I will train you" Arlene said.
Ciella smiled happily.
"Thanks" she said and returned her attention to the battle occurring between the Nightbanes and Concordia's team.
Concordia's Kraken Andromeda was firing repeatedly from multiple angles.
"Concordia seems to be attacking your field of wind from multiple angles in hopes of discovering points where the wind resistance and degree of alteration in the trajectory of her arrows are less" Saito explained.
"Well in some of the books Mom and Dad keep in their library..." Keiran said.
"Which books?" Saito asked.
"You know, the novels Mom and Dad keep referring to as training manuals, the villains usually defend against attacks of this nature by doing this" Keiran said with a mischievous smirk as he increased the rotation speed of the wind.
Concordia's attacks were repelled and some of her arrows were even reflected at her team.
"You're resorting to a villainous technique?" Saito asked with a bored expression on her face.
"A simple rule of battle. Understand the villain's techniques to counter the villain" Keiran said.
"He just went cat mode" Saito said.
"Should that surprise you? After all...our family's totem is the lion which predominantly hunts by weighing down its prey and snuffing out their life force gradually by strangling them. We could also resort to the spider...an intricate web that turns our foe into their own enemy" Keiran said.
"Now you're just being malicious" Saito sighed.
"If we did that though, we'd be bordering on Zanfar's territory. For now, this should be enough" Keiran said.
"And I thought San was trouble" Ariel said.
"Concordia! Stop shooting! The powerful spin of Keiran's technique is hurling your attacks right back at us!" Mitsuki cautioned.
(Note: a spin can be clockwise or counterclockwise!)
"KRAKEN ANDROMEDA! ANDROMEDA MODE!" Concordia called as her sigil transformed into a bow and arrow.
"It's pretty impressive that they can defend so well against our attacks even while immobilized" Mitsuki said.
"The Nightbane Family sure is scary" Concordia said as images of the Nightmare King formed in her mind.
"Keiran, isn't there anything in your arsenal of elemental attacks that could negate Mitsuki's gravitational field?" Saito asked.
Keiran turned to look at Arlene and Ciella and saw them suspended in the air.
"Keiran, if you intend to get serious, it would be best to ensure that Ciella and I are not making contact with the ground" Keiran recalled Arlene's clue and smiled.
"So that's what she meant. For someone who's not a combat specialist, Arlene sure is scary herself" Keiran said.
"Well, in one of Dad's training manuals, there was something about nullifying one's natural limitations through creativity. I think the proverbial saying went along the lines of 'learning to fly without necessarily eliminating the force of gravity'" Keiran said.
"And how does that help us here?" Saito asked.
"I cannot erase Mitsuki's gravitational field...however..." Keiran said as he stretched his hands forward.
Iron panels began to coat the walls, ceiling and floor of the library. Iron vests materialized on Saito, Keiran and Ariel as well.
"...I can nullify the effects of her technique through magnetism!" Keiran declared as he began to flow intense electricity through the iron panels.
Concordia and Mitsuki had to suspend in the air by utilizing the moon's gravitational pull. Keiran and Saito stood up.
"In spite of how heavy our iron mail is...my body feels strangely light. I'm impressed...stupid big brother" Saito said with a smirk.
"They nullified my gravitational field?!" Mitsuki exclaimed in shock.