One evening, after an intense training session, Baillie and Ajax sat together in the training room, discussing their progress. "You're getting better every day, Ajax," Baillie said, her tone genuine.
"Thanks to you," Ajax replied. "I couldn't have done it without your guidance."
Baillie looked at him, her eyes softening. "We're family now, Ajax. I'll always be here to support you."
Ajax felt a warmth in his chest at her words. "And I'll always be here for you, Baillie."
In that moment, surrounded by the quiet of the training room, Ajax felt a sense of belonging that he had never felt before. He had a family now, a purpose, and a future filled with possibilities. And he knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, he would face them with the strength and support of those he loved.
Ceil interrupted his thoughts, her voice tinged with jealousy. "Stop getting closer to that woman."
Ajax, startled by the interruption, sensed Ceil's jealousy and asked, "What is it, Ceil? You seem unhappy about something."
Ceil answered sharply, "Stop giving credit to that woman, saying she was a good teacher. Or did you enjoy her touching you all over?"
Ajax, puzzled and trying to be patient, replied, "I'm giving credit to Baillie because she was teaching swordsmanship beautifully to me."
In an angry tone, Ceil retorted, "It's not because she's a good teacher, but because you have the ability to learn anything from anyone, even if the teacher is not qualified. Baillie was the worst teacher in my opinion," she added, her jealousy apparent.
Ajax smiled at Ceil's outburst. Now he could confirm that Ceil had developed its own will. To confirm something else, he asked, "Ceil, was your old creator male or female?"
Ceil replied, "My creator was a first-generation god. They didn't have a gender, so you can call them neutral."
"So in other words, your creator was single, right?" Ajax laughed.
Ceil responded, "Yes, you're right. My creator didn't have the luck to have a partner. When they were about to die, they made me like the partner they wanted to have."
Ajax asked, "So you were created by the first generation of gods. Do you know anything about the second generation?"
Ceil replied, "No, I don't. The first generation of gods didn't bother with the second generation. They thought all second-generation gods were born with incomplete or mixed abilities, so they despised them as incompetent."
Ajax said, "So that's why the war must have broken out."
Ceil continued, "Yes, wars started here and there, but the second-generation gods were newly born and inexperienced. They lost all the wars initially. But as time passed, they gained experience and became as strong as the first-generation gods."
Curiously, Ajax asked, "So how did the first generation of gods know about the inner universe?"
Ceil explained, "The first god created a race called dragons. They were his messengers, law keepers, and peacekeepers. But one day, the first god disappeared without saying anything. We waited, thinking he would return, but he didn't. The dragon race, his loyal servants, went to the other gods and made a pact to revive the first god. During this time, other universes and the second generation of gods were created."
Ajax asked, "Did they succeed in reviving the first god?"
Ceil replied sadly, "No, they didn't. Instead, they created chaos in the world."
Ajax said, "Okay, let's forget about it for now. Let's talk about my learner ability."
Ceil explained, "Your learner ability depends heavily on how much you battle. You improve your understanding through experience."
Ajax asked, "So I have to battle everyone and steal their skills?"
Ceil clarified, "No, it's not like that. Learning is like a flowing river; each drop of water helps it flow from one place to another. How you experience battle and how you participate will perfect your skills."
Ajax, disappointed, said, "I can learn without the learner ability. Why do I have to battle so much? Does that mean the learner ability is useless to me?"
Ceil reassured him, "It doesn't mean that. It means that by participating in battles, you can learn and perfect skills faster. You can learn theory by observing and practice the exact moves with little effort."
Ajax, excited, asked, "You're telling me I can learn something that usually takes years in just months?"
Ceil confirmed, "Yes."
A broad smile appeared on Ajax's face. He knew his biggest weakness was his slow learning ability. Now, he saw a path to reach heights he never thought possible. He was happy.
Ceil suggested, "Ajax, when you complete the basics, start practicing with Baillie."
Ajax agreed, "Okay."
The training continued, and Ajax's skills improved rapidly. Baillie noticed his progress and pushed him harder, determined to make him a formidable swordsman. Despite her strict demeanor, Baillie cared deeply for Ajax and wanted him to succeed.
Ajax, who completed his basics of swordsmanship with the help of his ability, surprised Baillie. She thought he was a genius and said, "Okay, you've learned all the basics. From tomorrow, you will participate in the main swordsmanship training. You have to prepare yourself for pain, Ajax," she said, looking at him with the obsessive gaze of a step-sister who always wanted her brother to be by her side.