[POV: Rain.]
"Ah~!" she moaned softly, biting her lip as the finger in my mouth began to bleed.
"Why~?" she asked, looking at me with wide, pleading eyes.
"We need your blood as well. This sword will be able to grow alongside you, after all," I replied, guiding her hand toward the floating bubble containing the sword.
As a drop of her crimson blood fell onto the bubble, it slowed dramatically as it descended toward the tentacle crab core infused with my own blood. The sword shimmered brightly, and then—pop—the bubble burst. The light was so intense that she instinctively closed her eyes.
When the brilliance faded, she opened her eyes again, gazing at the completed sword in confusion.
"First, you need to give it a name," I instructed her. She looked at me in bewilderment.
"A... name? Isn't that… a big thing? Shouldn't you be the one to name it since you made it?"
Naming an object carries profound meaning; once named, your soul connects with it in an eternal bond. Her expression clearly communicated that she felt I should be the one to bestow a name upon this magnificent sword.
However, there was no reason for me to name something that belonged solely to her.
"Zora," I said firmly. "This is your sword. Although I crafted it, you are the one who desired it. No one but you can name it."
I was serious, and she understood my intent.
Looking deeply into my eyes, she grasped the sword firmly. "SeaAd. Hmm... from a person with sea-like eyes." As she spoke the name, a red magic circle appeared on her hand and around the sword's handle before vanishing quickly.
-Blip!
In that instant, the previously unremarkable sword revealed its true form: a gleaming blade of silvery brilliance. The three gemstones embedded in its blade radiated vibrant light, and the core, infused with our blood, shone with a golden hue.
"Amazing..." she exclaimed, her gaze shifting back to me with a hint of uncertainty.
"It's yours," I assured her. "This is its active form, which grants you access to its full powers. However, you won't need those powers until you face something like a Divine disaster." I smiled at her.
She was already strong enough to fight a no-rank threat with that sword, so it was "So? Shall we begin?" I asked earnestly as I regarded her.
"Is your sword training... merciless too?" she hesitated, recalling my serious demeanor.
And I was indeed serious. "You should consider yourself fortunate to receive my teachings earlier than many others. It will be challenging—hellish even—but I believe you can endure it."
I was confident in her ability to survive this training. While I could transfer basic knowledge directly into her mind, mental fortitude was equally essential. Just qualifying for such advanced magic demonstrated her prowess; however, safety was paramount. Thus, actual training would be most beneficial.
"Alright then," I said as I stepped into the center of the open area. "Let me show you the basics of wielding a sword."
I lifted my hand and summoned a tree branch that flew into my grasp. She looked surprised but maintained her focus on my movements.
The fundamentals of wielding a sword were straightforward:
Know how to hold the sword properly.
Keep track of your surroundings.
Swinging a sword in all directions asks for flexible movements.
Knowing when to avoid an attack, and when to charge right at it.
Though most difficult, knowing how to redirect an attack.
And, as for attacking, it depends on you.
One will have to find what path they walk with the sword and how they need to proceed in it. Basics help you understand yourself so that you can find a path to walk on, and that applies to all other fields as well.
"You are a mage," I continued, "so you're familiar with passive detection magic; this will aid your awareness of your surroundings. Your body is already well-conditioned for flexibility; now all that's left is learning how to properly hold a sword and reading your opponent's movements."
I paused briefly to assess her understanding before proceeding. "Let's start with a two-handed grip; we typically wield great swords and heavy weapons this way."
Holding the tree branch with both hands, I swung it down with considerable force. After mastering any weapon, anything can become that weapon for you—even this branch—creating a gust of wind as it sliced through the air.
"This demonstrates pure power," I explained as I showcased mastery over even such an ordinary object.
The force generated from a mere stick was the same as someone swinging a great sword, war hammer, or great axe.
There was pure power in it and the light, one handed grip on that branch showed the profoundness of the art.
"You have a slender build," I noted thoughtfully, "so a one-handed style might suit you best—not fencing with a rapier but perhaps utilizing either a longsword or shortsword would be ideal." It was fortunate that the sword I had created could shift forms according to its wielder's preference; this would allow her to practice various styles.
[Four hours later…]
"Ha... ha... w-who would have thought just holding a sword could be so exhausting?" She panted heavily as she collapsed onto the ground from fatigue.
The sun had set completely by now, casting darkness around us.
"A one-handed style with a longsword? Do you realize how impressive it is to grasp something that most talented swordsmen take months to master in just half a day? You're amazing, Zora." I complimented her sincerely while giving her an encouraging pat on the head.
Though her cheeks flushed crimson like a rose, she beamed with pride—a smile reflecting unparalleled achievement. She had finally discovered what she had felt deprived of for so long.
I was right, and she was as talented as I hoped she would be. This was a good sign. And... she was happy on top of all the other things.
"Thank you," she thanked with a helpless smile.
I was different when it came to teaching something.
Everyone needed different types of training, and Everything had a unique method of teaching. I knew about the academy's teachers from Yuri, and I had no doubt they were good when it came to teaching other things.
But the basics were different.
Just mastering basics to perfection could turn a simple thrust into a deadly attack and a simple slash into something that can cut space itself.
She would become much better with my teachings than when she had learned it from any academy professor.
"This is just the beginning..." I paused dramatically as an impish smile spread across my face—one that made her hands sweat suddenly in apprehension.
"It will become increasingly difficult starting tomorrow. So prepare yourself~." I declared cheerfully as I observed her reaction.
There was no doubt that fear flickered within her; however, she knew by now that hardships often lead to fortune in unexpected ways.