Ciel: <>
Voice of the World: <<>>
******
When Shizu took Rimuru's hand, she wasn't sure what to expect. Some would even call her naive and foolish for trusting someone whom she had only met a few hours ago; however, in her opinion, that kind of thinking was reserved for people who led normal lives and had time to judge others. Shizu's reality, however, was far from typical, with her having very limited time left of that world. More importantly, she had a gut feeling that trusting Rimuru might not be a wrong decision.
So, without wasting any more time, she took Rimuru's hand, and in the next moment, the world went white.
******
The next time Shizu opened her eyes, she found herself back on the same cliff. However, this time, tears streamed down her cheeks, and her hands were tightly gripping Rimuru's clothes.
"Shizu, are you alright?" Rimuru's voice, tender and concerned, cut through the heavy silence as he gently brushed away her tears with his thumb.
Meeting his gaze with watery eyes, Shizu didn't utter a word in response. Instead, she slowly wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his chest. Rimuru was startled for a second by her sudden gesture; however, he immediately composed himself and wrapped his arms around her, gathering her into his embrace.
They stayed like that for a few moments until Shizu gently pulled away, a soft smile gracing her lips. "Thank you," she murmured, though unsure exactly what she should thank him for. Should she thank him for showing how her homeland built itself back after the war? For granting her wish to offer her students a chance to live a life? Perhaps for actually punching Leon (even if it was part of a ruse to fool an enemy)? Or for building a nation that she would have loved to be a part of? There were so many things that she didn't know where to start. So she simply allowed her heartfelt words to convey the depth of her gratitude. "Thank you, for everything."
"What are you thanking me for? I just kept a promise to a friend," Rimuru reciprocated her smile, though his expression shifted to seriousness once more. "Shizu... returning to my earlier question, do you want to live?"
Shizu's smile softened, and she nodded gently. "Yes, I do."
Upon hearing Shizu's reply, Rimuru's face lit up with joy, but it quickly dimmed with concern as doubt crept into his mind. "Shizu, you're not saying this because you think you owe me something, right?" he asked with a voice tinged with worry.
Looking at Rimuru's genuine concern reflected in his eyes, Shizu couldn't suppress a soft chuckle. "You know, Rimuru-san, before today, I had all but given up on this world. The only thing that kept me going was the promise I made to those children. But you... you've changed everything." With a tender smile, Shizu reached up, her hand coming to rest on Rimuru's cheek. "You've shown me that with you here, there's still hope for this damned world. You've shown me that this world can become a safe place for children to grow. And if you'll allow me, Rimuru-san, I want to stand by your side and help you."
"Shizu..." Rimuru's voice wavered, emotions swirling as he struggled to comprehend Shizu's heartfelt words. He couldn't believe she had agreed to this, to stay with him. "Shizu, do you really mean it?"
"Absolutely, Rimuru-san," she affirmed, their faces drawing closer until their lips met in a tender kiss.
Breaking away from their kiss, Shizu felt a sudden drain on her strength, causing her to falter. Looking up at Rimuru with concern etched on her face, she asked, "Rimuru-san? What's happening?"
"Stay calm," Rimuru reassured her with a gentle smile, his hand resting comfortingly on her head. "I've got you."
"Shizu Izawa, meet your new companion..." he said as Shizu's body glowed for a moment, merging with the Greater Flame Spirit, "... Agni," Rimuru named the spirit and evolved it into Flame Lord.
A few minutes later, the glow surrounding Shizu's body faded, leaving her stumbling on unsteady feet. Before she could collapse, Rimuru swiftly caught her in his arms. "What's happening? I feel so sleepy," Shizu murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's okay. Your body is adjusting itself to the new spirit I have given you, and since this new spirit is stronger than Ifrit, it is taking more energy to accommodate itself with you," Rimuru explained.
"In that case... I'm taking a nap," Shizu declared with a faint smile before succumbing to exhaustion and falling asleep in Rimuru's arms.
Meanwhile, Rimuru looked at her with a gentle smile, wondering what kind of change it would bring to the timeline now that Shizu was alive. Well, he had already crossed that line when he summoned Testarossa first and scared the shit out of Gazel, so he wasn't really that worried about it. Then he chuckled again, thinking about what kind of reaction Hinta would have upon seeing her teacher alive and stronger than before.
******
When Shizu's eyelids fluttered open once more, she found herself gazing up at an unfamiliar ceiling. Startled, she bolted upright in bed, her hand instinctively reaching for her sword, only to find empty space beside her. A rush of panic surged through her before she remembered the events of the previous evening and all the tension drained from her body as she sighed in relief.
As her mind quieted, Shizu turned her attention inward, realizing with a sense of astonishment that she felt more powerful than ever before. More importantly, for the first time in so many years, she felt completely in control of her own body. It was a sensation she hadn't experienced in what seemed like an eternity, a feeling that brought unimaginable relief along with it.
Then she remembered the person who made it possible, immediately bringing a warm smile to her face. She got up from the bed and made her way to the window, casting her gaze upon the village nestled in the distance. "Hmm... this must be Rimuru-san's house," she mused to herself. "I suppose I should speak with him."
After tidying up her clothes, Shizu descended the stairs and found Rimuru already seated, savoring a cup of tea while reading some papers. As she walked closer to him, Rimuru noticed her and smiled. He got up from his chair, enveloping her in a hug.
Initially taken aback by the unfamiliar gesture, Shizu soon relaxed into the embrace, savoring the comfort of Rimuru's touch. Moments later, he released her, leading her to the dining table and pouring her a cup of tea as well.
"Well, Shizu, how are you feeling?" Rimuru inquired, placing the papers away so that he could focus on her.
"Honestly, better than I've ever felt before," Shizu replied, her smile radiating warmth. "So, can you tell me exactly how you helped me?"
"First of all, I removed Ifrit from your body and replaced it with another spirit," Rimuru began to explain.
"And what kind of spirit did you replace Ifrit with?" Shizu inquired with curiosity laced in her voice.
"Well, considering your title as the 'Conqueror of Flames,' I opted to maintain the flame element. So, now you're housing a Flame Lord named Agni," Rimuru explained calmly.
"A Flame Lord!?" Shizu exclaimed, nearly spilling her tea in shock. "I was barely able to keep a Greater Flame spirit under my control. How am I going to handle a Flame Lord?"
"Shizu, calm down, take a breath," Rimuru said, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. Once she had composed herself, he continued reassuringly, "Listen to me. You won't have any problems with Agni. I created it, and I've given it a name. It won't cause you any trouble unless I specifically command it to do so."
"You created an Elemental Lord?" Shizu asked, disbelief evident in her voice.
"Don't worry about it," Shizu frowned, clearly dissatisfied by Rimuru dismissing her question. "Instead, why don't you try summoning Agni?"
"Summon a Fire Spirit inside your house?" Shizu frowned, casting a doubtful glance around the wooden structure.
"Just do it," Rimuru urged her, his tone unwavering.
"Fine, if you say so..." Shizu conceded reluctantly, her apprehension palpable as she called forth the spirit dwelling within her.
In the next moment, a woman materialized before them, her long hair and gown formed entirely of flickering flames. With graceful movements, she bowed before Shizu and Rimuru, her demeanor regal and polite. "Hello, Lady Shizu, Lord Rimuru," the spirit greeted respectfully, taking a knee before them.
"Hello, you must be Agni," Shizu greeted with a smile.
"Indeed, Lady Shizu. Lord Rimuru created me and bestowed this name upon me to assist you," Agni confirmed.
"In that case, I look forward to working with you," Shizu said, returning the smile.
"Likewise, Lady Shizu," Agni replied with a gentle smile before vanishing and returning to Shizu's body.
"You know, it was refreshing to meet a spirit who doesn't threaten to take over my body and harm my loved ones," Shizu chuckled softly to herself.
"Moving on," Rimuru interjected, gently steering the conversation away from Shizu's somber past. "The next step I took was to create a soul corridor between us, strengthening both your body and soul so you can harness and utilize the power of Flame Lord," he explained. Shizu nodded along, as she had given up understanding Rimuru's words. The only thing she knew was that he had saved her and made her extremely powerful. "And lastly I have gifted you an ultimate skill," he added, passing her a piece of paper.
Still reeling from Rimuru's last words, Shizu accepted the paper and began to read it.
******
Ultimate Skill: King of Flames, Igneel.
Sub skills:
Thought Acceleration- allows the user to greatly increase the speed of their thought process.
Universal Perception- allows for the perception of nearly all things within a wide radius.
Hero's Haki- allows the user to exert a powerful spiritual pressure over their targets.
Flame Domination- gives user the total control of flames in a given vicinity.
Divine Flames- allows the user to generate and manipulate the highest rank of flames that can damage the opponent's soul and body while ignoring all resistances and immunities.
Spirit Dive- allows the user to assimilate an elemental spirit into their body giving them enhanced control over the power of the spirit, dramatically increasing their own power.
******
"Rimuru-san, this is utterly absurd!" Shizu exclaimed, her disbelief evident as she scanned the list of skills. "[Hero's Haki]? [Divine Flames]? [Spirit Dive]? I have no idea what half of these even mean."
"Allow me to enlighten you," Rimuru responded with a self-satisfied grin, giving an exaggerated bow. "First, [Hero's Haki]. You've been granted this skill because, at this moment, you're as strong as the newly crowned Hero."
"Wait! You are telling me that I am as strong as Hero-sama!?" Shizu asked, unable to believe the words that left her own mouth.
"Nope, not even close," Rimuru clarified, his tone sobering Shizu's expectations. "The Hero you're thinking of could defeat you before you even blinked. However, you'd certainly give Leon a run for his money in your current state. It wouldn't be an easy battle, but I'm confident you'd come out on top."
"Well, I suppose that's something," Shizu muttered, feeling a twinge of disappointment.
"Now, now, don't let that dampen your spirits," Rimuru chided gently. "After all, Ms. Hero had plenty of time to hone her skills," he added, chuckling at his own joke, knowing that Shizu wouldn't be able to catch the humor behind it... well, not just yet, at least.
"Moving on, let's discuss [Divine Flames], one of my masterpieces," Rimuru declared proudly. "You see, Shizu, there's no such thing as naturally occurring Divine flames in this world. I melded the aspects of [Stardust], [Black Flames], and [Holy Magic] to create these flames that defy fire immunity. I tailored them specifically for you, given your title as the 'Conqueror of Flames.'"
Shizu was speechless for a moment, but then she smiled, shaking her head with an amused expression. "Rimuru-san, I think you may have gone a bit overboard."
"Not at all," Rimuru countered, his confidence unwavering. Finally, he understood why Ciel enjoyed creating such overpowered skills so much.
"Lastly, [Spirit Dive]. Now, this is a skill you will need to work for," Rimuru grinned at Shizu. "The [Spirit Dive] could become one of your strongest trump cards in a battle. However, for you to get to that point, you will have to create a bond with Agni."
"And is there any particular reason why you gave me this skill?" Shizu asked.
"Because I want you to experience the joy of working with your spirit," Rimuru explained. "I know you really had a bad time with Ifrit, so I was worried that you might subconsciously ignore Agni and hamper your own growth. That's why I thought of making a skill that will at least give you a little push to actively interact with her."
"You really thought this through, huh?" Shizu said, with an amused smile on her face.
"Well, don't get used to it," Rimuru replied, prompting both of them to share a laugh. "So did you like your gift?" he inquired.
"Hmm, at first, I was really overwhelmed upon seeing the functions of this Ultimate Skill. However, now that I think about it, I had really gone stagnant with my skills over the last couple of years, so this gives me a chance to progress my skills," Shizu said. "In short, I loved it."
"Great," Rimuru smiled, feeling warmth upon seeing a genuine smile on her face.
Then Rimuru looked at her and placed his hand upon hers. "There's something else I wanted to talk about."
"What is it?" Shizu asked.
"Well, I wanted to talk about us," he began, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Specifically about what happened between us yesterday."
"Oh..." Shizu said as a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. "I'm not sure, Rimuru-san. My life before coming here wasn't exactly filled with pleasant experiences, so I've never really given much thought to things like relationships or love. I don't know where we go from here."
"In that case, would you be willing to give us a chance?" Rimuru asked earnestly.
"Wait, are you asking-"
"Yes, Shizu. I'm asking you. Will you be my girlfriend?" Rimuru interrupted, his eyes reflecting hope and affection as he waited for her response.
Shizu was stunned for a moment as she heard Rimuru's question. She had never imagined anyone would ask her such a question in this lifetime. Hell, she wasn't even sure how long her life would last until she met Rimuru, who offered her another chance at life. Yet, his question filled her heart with warmth. The nervous look in his eyes as he waited for her answer stirred butterflies in her stomach like she was a teenager again. And honestly, she loved that pleasant feeling, not to mention, the moment they shared yesterday was too addicting for her to not want to experience that again.
So instead of answering his question, Shizu leaned in closer, capturing Rimuru's lips with her own. They parted moments later, leaving Shizu gazing at him with a giddy smile. "I would love to be your girlfriend, Rimuru-san," she declared, before closing the distance between them once again, interlocking their lips with one another.
******
It had been a week since Shizu accepted Rimuru's proposal, and although they hadn't made their relationship public, nearly everyone in the village suspected that something was going on between them. The way they interacted with each other spoke volumes, and it didn't go unnoticed by the villagers. Eren and Framea, in particular, took great joy in teasing their respective elder sibling figures about it.
During that week, Kaval and his party spent an eventful time at Tempest as they enjoyed all the good things that the village had to offer to them. However, it was time for them to return to the Kingdom of Blumund. Despite their reluctance to leave Tempest, they still had to show their faces back at the Free Guild before they start sending the search parties for them.
So, at that moment, Kaval, Gido, and Eren stood at the village gates, donning new and improved gear crafted by Kajin and his brothers, ready to bid farewell to Tempest.
"Thank you for everything," Kaval and his party bowed respectfully to Rimuru.
"Don't worry, you guys are my friends now, so there's no need to thank me," Rimuru replied warmly. "Besides, knowing that you're protected well will also keep Shizu's mind at ease."
"Oh, already taking care of Shizu's wishes, huh?" Eren teased, sporting a mischievous grin.
Shizu rolled her eyes at Eren's remark, choosing to ignore the teasing as she stepped forward to hug the girl, bidding her farewell.
"Framea," Rimuru called out, drawing the attention of the rabbit girl. "Take some of our goblin riders and safely escort them out of the Jura forest."
"Of course, Niisama," Framea nodded in understanding, immediately setting about gathering the necessary goblin riders for her assigned task.
"With that out of the way, Eren, Kaval, and Gido, I have a favor to ask," Rimuru began, turning towards the adventurers, who were taken aback by the notion of someone like Rimuru asking for a favor from them. "Now, now, don't make that face. I'm not going to ask you to do anything dangerous," Rimuru assured them, waving his hand dismissively. "All I'm asking is for you to spread a false rumor."
"What kind of rumor?" Eren inquired, curiosity piqued.
"Nothing major," Rimuru replied, a devious smile playing on his lips. "Just spread the word that the Conqueror of Flames, Shizue Izawa, has passed away."
To be continued...