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The first golden rays of the sun crept into the room, gently illuminating the space with a soft, comforting glow. The morning light slid across Saito's face, waking him with a delicate touch. His green eyes, as vivid as emeralds under the daylight, blinked a few times as his consciousness slowly returned. He took a deep breath, taking in the faintly sweet scent of the sheets and the crisp morning air drifting in from the open balcony.
As he tried to move, an unexpected weight on his stomach stopped him. Curious, Saito lifted the heavy blanket and found Louise lying directly on top of him. Her pink hair was sprawled messily, and her breathing was steady and peaceful. Somehow, her shirt had ridden up, revealing a glimpse of her fair skin, and a thin trail of drool slid gently from the corner of her rosy lips. The sight was both unexpected and strangely endearing.
'So arrogant for a noble, and yet… who would've thought she drools in her sleep?' Saito thought, a small smirk playing on his lips. He shook his head lightly before carefully moving Louise's head onto the pillow, taking extra care not to wake her.
Since she was still lost in her dreams, Saito quietly got up and walked over to the balcony. The cool morning breeze brushed against his face as he drifted into melancholic thoughts. Images of his distant family flooded his mind. How was his mother doing? What about his friends? There were moments when everything felt like a dream—one he might wake up from at any moment. But reality was clear: he was here, in Halkeginia, bound to Louise as her familiar.
What he didn't realize was that Louise had woken up. Her pink eyes slowly fluttered open, and as she saw Saito standing there on the balcony, a new sensation washed over her. There was something in the way he stared at the horizon—something she had never noticed before. Vulnerability. He had always seemed strong, determined, someone who defied her authority without fear… but now, seeing him lost in thought, Louise realized how much she still didn't know about him.
"Maybe…" Her thoughts hesitated. Doubt crept in. "...Maybe we should take things slower. Saito could be in danger if my family finds out what we did."
A chill ran down her spine as she remembered Wardes, the swordsman she was engaged to. Her engagement was an obstacle, but something inside her screamed that her bond with Saito was different. More genuine. More intense. If she wanted to be with him, she had to do things the right way.
Determined, Louise got up—making as much noise as possible on purpose. The creaking of the bed and the rustling of the sheets caught Saito's attention, and he immediately turned to face her. A small smile appeared on his lips.
"Good morning, princess."
Louise felt her heart skip a beat. That smile… Over the past three days, she had noticed that Saito only smiled like that for her. It made her feel special in a way she had never experienced before. "I definitely need to talk to him about this… after this weekend."
After changing into simpler clothes that allowed more freedom of movement, they headed downstairs for breakfast together. Louise had made sure to buy Saito some normal clothes, trying to ease the feeling of being out of place in this strange world. The outfit he wore now looked natural on him, which made her smile secretly. (Picture.)
The clear, blue sky promised a beautiful day. It was Saturday, the start of the weekend, and a rare chance to take a break from the academy's routine. They would use this free time to explore something they both knew existed within each other: magic.
Breakfast was quick, filled with casual conversation and stolen glances. Louise, despite her usual noble refinement, seemed more at ease. There was a growing sense of familiarity between them. Saito, on the other hand, finished his meal with enthusiasm, eager for the tests they would conduct.
Before heading out to the courtyard, Saito didn't forget to grab his trusty talking sword. Derflinger rested quietly by the door, and the moment Saito touched it, a subtle vibration ran through the blade.
"Hey, partner! Looks like we're in for some action today, huh?" The sword's raspy voice rang out, clearly excited.
"Seems like it," Saito replied, adjusting it on his back. "You might come in handy, since you were the first one to notice this 'foreign magic' in me."
Louise rolled her eyes but couldn't help a small smile. Saito and his sword had a peculiar relationship, almost like old friends who spent too much time together.
With anticipation growing, the two of them made their way to the courtyard, ready to begin the tests.
.
.
.
The courtyard of Tristain Academy of Magic was bathed in the soft morning light. The well-manicured grass stretched around pathways of white stone, and a few trees cast scattered shadows where some students sat reading or chatting. A light breeze carried the fragrance of the flowers decorating the nearby flowerbeds. In the center of this peaceful setting, Louise and Saito stood ready to begin a rather unconventional training session.
Saito turned to Louise, his green eyes shining with enthusiasm as he explained his theory. His posture was relaxed, but there was a vibrant energy in his voice—like someone sharing a fascinating secret.
"Louise, in my world, even though we don't have magic, there are plenty of theories about how it would work. One of the most accepted ideas is that a strong body helps strengthen magic, making it more precise and powerful."
Louise frowned, crossing her arms with an expression of pure skepticism. "That's never been mentioned in any magic book," she said, her voice carrying the usual doubt. Since childhood, she had tirelessly studied the fundamentals of magic, and the idea that physical training could influence her powers was, at best, absurd.
But something in her hesitated. Her constant frustration with her magical failures made her consider any possibility, no matter how strange. Just last night, as she stared at her dormitory ceiling, she had already thought about asking Saito for help in finding new ways to unlock her magic. Maybe this was a sign.
Saito noticed her hesitation and decided to push a little further. "Isn't it common here for noble families to keep their magic and techniques a secret, calling them 'family magic'? What if this information was never shared for the same reason?"
Louise sighed, biting her lower lip. The idea made sense. Noble families were extremely protective of their bloodlines and magic, always avoiding sharing secrets that could give others an advantage. "Well, let's test this theory then. There's no harm in training either way," she thought before nodding.
Derflinger, Saito's magical sword, decided to chime in. Its raspy, seasoned voice echoed through the ancient metal. "Young Lady, what my bearer says has some merit. My first bearer, the one who created me, always said that body and soul are connected. And if magic is theorized to come from the soul... well, maybe he's onto something."
Louise raised an eyebrow. It was rare to see Derflinger backing Saito so directly. That made her consider the idea more seriously.
Saito grinned, satisfied that he had convinced her. "Hehe, let's get started, princess. I'll go easy on you, I promise."
Louise rolled her eyes, but without her usual arrogance. "Of course you will. I am your master, after all."
Saito's grin widened, and in one smooth motion, he pulled off his shirt, revealing a well-defined torso and an abdomen sculpted from constant training. Faint scars marked his skin here and there, reminders of his battles and the harsh life he had led since arriving in Halkeginia.
Louise froze. Her pink eyes widened, and for a moment, completely lost focus. The sunlight accentuated the tanned tone of Saito's skin, the contours of his chest and sculpted shoulders. A drop of drool threatened to escape the corner of her mouth before she quickly blinked, shaking her head to chase away the indecent thoughts creeping into her mind.
Her face turned as red as her hair, but she quickly tried to regain her composure, forcing a neutral expression. "Alright! If we're doing this, let's get started already!" Her voice was slightly higher-pitched than usual, but Saito just smiled, pretending not to notice.
...
The training started off simple. First, they ran around the castle courtyard. Saito set the pace, running effortlessly, which sharply contrasted with Louise's struggle to keep up. The young mage was already gasping for breath before they even completed the second lap.
"Come on, Louise, just a little more! Don't you want to get stronger?" Saito encouraged, glancing back at her.
"I'm... trying!" Louise panted, her pink hair sticking slightly to her forehead from sweat. She wasn't used to physical exertion, but Saito's presence pushed her to keep going.
After a few laps, they moved on to simpler exercises. Saito showed Louise how to stretch properly to avoid muscle pain, then taught her the correct way to do push-ups. Louise trembled as she struggled to maintain her posture, muttering curses under her breath while trying to complete even a single repetition.
As they trained, some students began to take notice. From a distance, a group of onlookers watched, exchanging bewildered glances.
"Is this... is this a miracle? Am I actually seeing Louise training physically?" one of them asked, rubbing his eyes as if doubting his own vision.
"No way. It must be an illusion, some kind of perception-altering magic," another replied, frowning.
A third student, holding a folding fan, peeked with curiosity. "Or could it be that commoner actually convinced her? How in the world did he manage that?"
Bets began to form. Some claimed it was a secret challenge; others speculated that Louise had lost a bet to Saito. But no one could believe she was doing this of her own free will.
Meanwhile, Louise pushed herself to the limit, her pride refusing to let her quit. Even exhausted, she wanted to prove that she could improve.
And soon, after finishing their exercises, they began their spell practice.
Saito wiped the sweat from his forehead and shot Louise an encouraging look. "Now, let's test your magic. Try casting the simplest spell you know..."
Still catching her breath, Louise nodded. Her heart pounded—not just from exhaustion but from anticipation. She closed her eyes and, for the first time, felt something different—an unusual ease in accessing her magic. Taking a deep breath, she raised her wand and spoke firmly:
"Flos crescere."
A moment of silence filled the courtyard before something unexpected happened. In front of her, a small flower sprouted from the ground—intact, with no explosions or destruction. The surprise was instant. The students nearby, accustomed to her failures, began whispering among themselves, exchanging incredulous glances.
"Did... did she actually do it?" one of the students murmured, unable to believe what they were seeing.
Louise's eyes widened in disbelief before she turned to Saito, who was smiling proudly. "See? Looks like the training helped."
She felt a warm sensation rising within her—a mix of joy and accomplishment. But she didn't want to stop there. Inspired by her small success, she raised her wand once more.
This time, Saito, without thinking, placed a hand on her shoulder in a natural gesture of support. The moment their skin touched, a shiver ran through Louise's body, and something else happened.
Their hearts seemed to synchronize, beating in perfect harmony. A soft, pulsating purple aura emerged around them, wrapping their bodies in an almost hypnotic glow.
Intrigued, Louise repeated the incantation: "Flos crescere."
What happened next was beyond anyone's imagination.
Flowers began to bloom uncontrollably across the entire courtyard. They emerged from the ground like a living wave, rapidly covering every inch of earth around them. Students watched in stunned silence as colorful petals swirled through the air, carried by the morning breeze.
Louise and Saito locked eyes, both astonished and captivated by what they had just done. The power they felt wasn't normal. Something had changed.
"That was... strange," Saito muttered, glancing at Derflinger, still sheathed.
The sword let out a thoughtful hum, almost as if it was deep in contemplation. "Hmmm... I've never seen anything quite like this, partner, but magic is full of mysteries. It could be that there's some connection between the two of you that amplifies Louise's power."
Louise furrowed her brows, processing the idea. "If that's the case... then maybe our bond as master and familiar is deeper than we thought."
Saito crossed his arms, thoughtful. "Well, there's only one way to find out." He smirked and snapped his fingers. "Now it's my turn to test something."
A spark of excitement flashed in Louise's eyes. "What do you mean by that?"
Saito didn't answer immediately. He closed his eyes, focusing on the warmth he felt within him—that same energy that seemed to respond to Louise's presence. The purplish glow around them returned, growing more intense, and then something happened.
The ground vibrated slightly, as if the earth itself was reacting to his will. In an instant, multiple swords erupted around him. But they weren't ordinary blades—each one shimmered with an ethereal, formless glow, as if waiting for Saito to shape them.
Louise held her breath, her eyes wide. "Is this... magic?" she whispered, unable to look away from the spectacle before her.
Derflinger whistled in admiration. "Kid, I've never seen anything like this before. You just stumbled onto something big."
Saito gazed at the swords surrounding him, both fascinated and cautious. He didn't know exactly how he had done it—he just knew he could. There was something inside him, something that had been dormant until now.
"I think... I just discovered my own magic." He paused, a name echoing in his mind, as if the swords themselves had whispered it to him. "It even told me its name... It's called Sword Birth."
Saito's eyes gleamed with newfound power as Louise stared at him, feeling that something much greater was about to unfold.
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Thanks to my friend Mysticwolf for the ideas.
- Abel Wizard