Artoria Pendragon POV
Perhaps, this was not what I expected when Wilhelm agreed with the young man's request to join in on their 'training.'
I had no qualms about staying to watch. I felt it was very beneficial for Wilhelm to take a breather and to spend time with others around his age.
I was aware of the pressing concerns he was currently facing, but just as well, it was not something that required immediate action.
However, I did not expect this in particular.
"Aquamenti! Aquamenti! Aquamenti!" He used his wand to continuously shoot a stream of water at the young youkai girl.
"Nyah!"
I briefly considered if I should intervene, but it was truly unwise for her to shoot Wilhelm in such a way, even if he wouldn't be harmed.
He looked to be enjoying himself either way, and it was pleasant to see him acting carefree with everything he normally carries on his shoulders.
Even if he was using his time to seemingly bully a young girl ten years younger than him.
"Aquamenti!"
"Stop throwing water at me!"
"It's called training; learn to dodge."
"Nyah!"
…he was not incorrect.
"Uh…how long does Wilhelm intend to spray water at Koneko?" I looked at the one who asked; it was Venelana's daughter.
"He will get it out of his system shortly." I informed her.
It was amusing to see them all.
Nostalgic.
These children were still young and training.
It reminded me of my own youth.
"Yosh!" Sairaorg clapped his hands. "Alright guys, get warmed up. Stretching is important, and do some running to get your body nice and loose. Don't want to get a strained muscle so close to your rating game!"
"A wise sentiment." I nodded in praise. "Many with such strength overlook basic thoughts."
"Haha." He laughed happily. "Well, they're going to need it. Gotta push them as far as possible, and a healthy body is needed for that."
The small group began to run around the field.
"Are you not going to join them?" I asked.
"I was already training before I came over. My body is good to go!" He gave a thumbs up.
He is excitable.
He reminds me of Wilhelm's other friend.
"Oh, you want to come out, Rege?" He spoke, and I was confused for a moment.
With a burst of light, another figure appeared next to him. I tilted my head as I scanned the new figure. It wasn't human; it seemed to be a cat-like creature but didn't seem to be a youkai either.
Ah, I recognized him.
"Yo." The Nemean Lion waved politely.
I believe he preferred to be called Regulus. "Greetings."
"Mind helping me with something?" He asked.
I furrowed my brow. "I am unsure what I am capable of assisting you with."
"I just need you to talk some sense into this idiot." He jabbed his thumb at Sairaorg.
"Huh?" Sairaorg looked confused too.
"He's focused too much on 'punching harder' or 'getting stronger.'" The Nemean Lion explained. "He hit a wall, and I keep telling him to practice his skills, but he just keeps taking it as getting 'stronger.'"
"And you believe I can help?" I asked him.
"Yeah, I could smell it a mile away." He nodded. "You're really strong. I'm pretty sure you could kick his ass without even using your full power."
"Really!?" Sairaorg looked… excited more than insulted.
I furrowed my brow again because I wasn't entirely sure what he meant when he asked for help. "I apologize; I am still confused."
"He means Sai seems to be stuck in the mindset that 'more power is better.'" Wilhelm came over, holding the Youkai Girl by the collar.
"Isn't it?" Sairaorg looked confused this time.
"Yeah, what Ddraig's host said." Regulus said. "I'd ask him, but he's a lot like this idiot, so it might not sink in."
"I believe I understand now." The realization came to me. "You have trained yourself well, focusing on getting as 'strong' as you can, gaining power. But you have yet to temper it finely."
"Yeah, that." Regulus snapped his fingers. "Didn't know how best to say it in human terms. A lion isn't just strength; it's a predator!"
"Hmm, he should be at about that point where it's what he should be doing." Wilhelm rubbed his chin. "I heard that you unlocked your Touki by training, which, according to Yasaka, is a feat in and of itself. It's not strange that you trained yourself to be able to unleash as much of that power as possible. But physical training isn't the same as refining it."
He speaks the truth.
"I do not mind spending a few minutes to assist." I stood up.
Some exercise would not be remiss, and the atmosphere was pleasant.
Dare I say, it sounded…fun.
Rin has told me that I should focus on having more fun.
Is this what she meant?
[Line Break]
Wilhelm POV
Artoria looked oddly happy.
But I wasn't surprised that Sai already hit that kind of wall.
Everyone takes different routes forward. Some take technique all the way to the peak; some just take pure power.
Sai was more the pure power type, and he's hitting a wall, so Regulus seems to want him to start honing himself skill-wise.
It's more a natural instinct for someone like Regulus, so he couldn't express himself well in that regard.
It's basically the question: does it matter how many mountains you can punch through if someone that can't destroy a single mountain can defeat you?
Apparently, Sai has been focused too much on the 'wanting to increase how many mountains he can punch through' type of power seeking, so he's sort of out of balance.
Actually, it reminded me of how I met Lancelot in the France Singularity. He had two instances of Mad Enhancement layered on him, and it completely dulled his skills to the point where he was actually weaker than if he had no Mad Enhancement despite it giving him significantly more power.
Both he and Artoria stepped a bit away as she took out a random sword she seemed to keep inside her bracelet.
A good-looking sword, but not one of her Noble Phantasms or Caliburn.
She summoned her armor, looking ready for a fight. And while she had a serious look on her face, I knew her enough that it was one of enjoyment.
"Hey, Ddraig's host." Regulus looked at me.
"Yeah?" I tossed the cat girl I was still holding away. Not hard; I made sure her fall was caught before she just face-planted into the ground, but her surprised hiss was rather funny. I had to flick my wand at her and shoot another stream of water because she was going for her gun.
"Why does that girl smell like Ddraig?" He asked.
"...well, when a man and woman love each other—"
He scoffed. "I know the difference between that and the smell of Ddraig by itself."
I pursed my lips.
He glanced at me and then shrugged. "Well, whatever. I guess it's not really any of my business."
Hmm.
Sairaorg charged at her, and she casually sidestepped his powerful bounce. The force of it kicked up a gust of wind that blew my hair back from here.
He threw a flurry of punches; each of them was probably enough to demolish half the school if they landed, yet Artoria gracefully navigated between each one. Sometimes she used her blade to deflect them, or to poke at an opening to force him to shift his punch, or just plain dodged.
"He is really good, you know." I commented. "He didn't have a proper teacher, yet he got to this point."
I couldn't imagine where I would be if I never went to find Scathach.
"Of course. That idiot only knows how to train and fight." Regulus snorted.
"...but that has its own set of problems." I said quietly. Yeah, I could see the problem more in depth after Regulus pointed it out. Artoria, with a fraction of her strength, was picking him apart with ease.
Pure skill was one issue, but not the entire thing.
Sai was just too focused on power.
It was an honest mistake to make, especially for someone who is self-taught.
I would help, but I don't think I'm a particularly good teacher for this. Things like this, I had to have them very thoroughly beat into me early on. Now, if it were a magic problem or something like that, I'm your man.
"Tell Sai that he can go to Asgard for training if he wants after this. They'd be happy to help him out, Odin too. They owe him a bit of a debt regardless, but even so, just drop my name and it shouldn't be a problem. He can bring his peerage for training too."
"I'll tell him, but he's a stubborn idiot. As long as he knows what's wrong, he'll probably figure things out himself." Regulus shrugged.
Yeah, he is stubborn from what I know of him.
"Is Sai fighting?" Rias and her group seemed to finish with whatever warm-up they were having.
"Sai is a little preoccupied for the moment." He was really focusing now. There was a look of frustration on his face. It wasn't directed at Artoria, but at himself. "Don't distract him."
Rias let out a sigh. "He was supposed to train us."
I looked at her and the others and let out my own long sigh. "I'll help out this once."
I had no plans to help, to be honest. I didn't want to help; I was…uncomfortable being here this long.
But…Sai always treated me like we were friends. I could swallow my own annoyance this once to help him out.
"And I thought today was going to be boring." Regulus chuckled, lying down on his side as he yawned.
"You'll train us?" Rias seemed surprised.
Well, I guess for her it is surprising. I never made it a secret how I didn't…enjoy their presence, even if I was trying to be nicer.
"The Handsome is going to train us? Compared to your cousin, he doesn't seem like he trains as much." Issei grumbled.
"And you volunteered to be first."
"Uh…."
"Flare your aura and try to punch me."
He hesitated.
"Go ahead, Issei." Rias reassured him. Partly out of encouragement, and I think partly because she wanted to smack him upside the head.
The kid had a habit of not holding his tongue when he should. It was really going to bite him in the ass one day. Not that I had any room to talk, but I was generally able to take responsibility when I ran my mouth.
"Fine, alright." Issei took a stance, like he was ready for a fight.
The nervousness was written across his face.
He swallowed and charged at me, throwing a punch at my face. Credit where it was due, he was significantly improved compared to the last time I saw him 'fight.'
Granted, the significant improvement didn't mean much to someone like me, but he wasn't absolutely hopeless.
I caught it with ease.
I raised my leg and kicked him. He went sliding across the grass as I controlled my strength, and his aura took the blow.
"Up again." I gestured to him. "If you stop, you're dead. If you stay down for more than a breath, I'm going to have Koneko shoot you." I pointed to the girl who had snuck away to take her gun back.
"Pew pew." Koneko said with a blank face, aiming at Issei.
His eyes widened, and he leapt at me again.
"Rough," I told him as he kept throwing punches at me. "And you don't use kicks; you're acting like a brawler. Considering you were a normal kid not long ago, I can't really fault you there, but it's going to fuck you over the further you go." I kicked the back of his heel, making him fall on his butt. "And your use of Aura is still at the novice level."
He jumped up at me again as I pointed to Koneko.
I let him swing a few times before he was knocked back on his ass.
He got back up and charged at me again, but this was repeated over a dozen times before he started to get winded.
"Get up or get shot, your choice."
He got up again, and I knocked him on his ass again.
I wasn't actually just being an asshole.
I was trying to teach him a lesson.
He got much slower as his breathing increased, and he was sweating hard. "Damn bastard!" He gritted his teeth and swung at my jaw again.
"That's the spirit." I chuckled and knocked him on his ass again.
How many times was it now?
I lost count.
Eventually, he completely tired out and couldn't push himself up off the ground.
With a resounding boom, Koneko shot him. I didn't even have to tell her to do it.
"Koneko!" Rias cried out as Issei was blown away by the cannon in her arms.
Good job, Koneko.
Issei groaned from a few dozen feet away, lying prone on the ground.
They ran to his side, but I rolled my eyes. "His Aura took it; stop worrying."
I wouldn't actually let her seriously harm him.
"Alright, Kiba, you're next." I pointed at him.
He was much more…reserved. Frankly, he was the only one in Rias's peerage that I had a modicum of appreciation for. He had proper training, and he had well-earned skill in swordsmanship.
It was still a bit immature all around, but that wasn't entirely his fault, just a consequence of his age and lack of experience. Someone who trains too much and lacks actual combat experience, I would guess.
"Are we going to spar?" He asked, using his Sacred Gear to produce a sword in his hand.
"You're probably the most skilled out of everyone in your group." I crossed my arms. "But did you know you have the same problem that everyone else in your group does?"
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow, seemingly taking silent offense to that statement. Well, I think he was mad I was belittling his group rather.
I released my spiritual pressure on him and only him.
His eyes widened, and his legs trembled.
He couldn't move.
I could more or less measure how much he could withstand, and I did about 50% more than that.
The ground beneath him cracked and flattened.
The sword in his hand dropped as I increased it ever so slightly. And I began to gradually let it increase as I walked up to him.
I leaned on him as he was forced to kneel. "Lay one hand on me. Touch me at all with any part of your body, and I'll consider it your win. If you do, I'll give you something that will help you in your little rating game to win."
I increased the spiritual pressure another notch.
He struggled.
I could see it in his eyes, he was really trying hard, but he couldn't move a muscle. I think it took a moment for my words to settle in under the mental and physical strain he was experiencing.
But even so, he trembled and grit his teeth, but his body seemingly wasn't responding how he wanted.
He collapsed to the ground, and I released the pressure as he began to gasp for breath.
"Next." I pointed at Koneko.
"My turn. I'm going to punch you in the face." She held up her little fist with a deadpan expression still.
She definitely didn't hesitate; she was more than willing to punch me in the face.
With a small burst of Shunpo, I appeared behind her and yawned. "How are you going to punch anything with that slow speed, kitten?"
She growled and tried to punch me again, but with another burst of Shunpo, I avoided it.
Would it be offensive if I called it cat and mouse?
She couldn't lay a single hand on me as I purposely narrowly dodged every attack of hers at the last second.
Oh, her frustration was growing, and funnily enough, she was putting out more power with her growing anger.
"Stay still!" She growled, huffing as she missed again.
"How about you stop being so slow? Do you think every opponent is going to sit still and let you hit them? Your strength that you pride yourself on is pointless if you can't land a blow." I lightly kicked her little butt, making her hit the ground. "You have the exact opposite issue as the stupid swordsman in your peerage."
"Don't call Kiba stupid!" She jumped at me again, but I caught her wrist and flung her to the side.
"He lacks stamina and strength. You lack speed and agility." I looked at Rias. "Do you see the problem here, Rias?"
She bit her lip and didn't answer, but she wasn't stupid; she understood what I was getting at.
Koneko was a 'Rook,' which increased her physical strength. Kiba was a Knight, which increased his speed.
Rather than shore up their weaknesses, they just further improved their 'strengths' and neglected everything else.
It's not wrong to focus on one's strengths, but if you only focus on them, then you give yourself a weakness.
I grabbed Koneko out of the air as she tried to leap at me again. I grabbed her and held her up to where Artoria and Sai were still 'fighting.'
"Look at them. Look at Artoria; is she fast to you?" To Koneko's eyes, her movements must have looked like a blur half the time.
But it wasn't wrong to say Artoria was very fast.
"Here's a little secret for you. Artoria isn't a speed fighter. Her type of swordsmanship relies on overpowering her opponent." I dropped the cat girl to the ground.
I flicked her forehead. "Your turn is over."
"Akeno, you're up next."
"Ara Ara, are you going to be rough with me too~?" She looked at me coyly.
I took out my wand. "I'll only use three different spells of the lowest level."
Her eyes twitched a little; I just hurt her pride significantly.
"Fine." She clearly was keeping her easygoing smile up forcibly. "Then let's see if you can handle me with three spells."
She held her hands out. "Lightning Rush!"
The magic circles emerged and glowed bright as a wave of lightning danced across the ground at me.
A wide area attack that made use of the terrain to stop someone from dodging, or at least that was the intention I could glean from it.
"Finite Incantatem." I countered as my counterspell collided with her lightning spell and dispersed it into nothingness. "Locomotor Wibbly."
I hit her with a little jinx spell, something Kunou is probably learning during classes.
It made her legs wobbly, like jelly, and she fell over.
She looked honestly astonished.
I don't know why. It was no secret that at this point, I was a very good spellcaster to much of the world.
"Lightning Barrage!" She shouted as she pushed herself back up; the Jinx physically dispelled.
This time, it was like many bolts of lightning that were shot at me.
I walked at her. "Finite." It was the same spell as before; just an altered phrase changes it from an area of effect to a single target.
I used my wand to bat them away with each cast of it.
Her magic circles increased, and she continued to throw lightning spells at me as I approached.
But I continued to jinx her with the Jelly Legs Jinx.
Until I got right up into her face.
"Ebublio." I cast around us, encasing both of us together in a big ball of water.
Another 'low level' spell. Something Kunou would also be picking up sometime soon. It was a jinx, like the jelly-legged spell. Jinx, Hex, Curse. That's how they defined the levels of 'offensive spells' in the world Kunou is staying in, more or less.
Kids threw jinxes at each other for amusement.
She focused on lightning spells; I could relate. I wouldn't fault her for focusing on one element. But right now, we were both encased in a bubble of water, both of us running out of oxygen.
She hesitated to cast a spell.
Fly up?
I grabbed her collar and didn't let her leave the ground.
Either blast us both, or drown.
She didn't cast any spells. The bubble around her picked up, and she looked like she reached her limit as I dispelled the water bubble, and she gasped for breath as she collapsed onto the ground.
I flicked my wand, casting a household charm spell from that same world; it basically encased me in a burst of warm air, drying me off.
"Next." I said casually as I looked at Rias.
"....." She looked a little intimidated. "So…how are we doing this?"
I considered it.
"You're basically the same as Akeno, and I think Sai has pointed out your flaws in a fight already. Same with the others."
She nodded. "Yeah…we've been working on that."
"That's not my purpose, but just a bonus of what I'm doing. So I'll do the same to you as what I've done to them." They were all up, recovered from our little 'fights,' watching hesitantly towards Rias. I took out Mirage and tossed it onto the ground in front of her. "Cut off your arm and I'll guarantee you a win in your rating game. I'll temporarily join your peerage and beat all of Riser's team with ease."
Her eyes widened. "W-what?"
"You heard me. Cut off your arm, and I'll grant your biggest desire. Isn't that all you want? To be free of the marriage agreement? Freedom?"
She was genuinely startled and shocked by my words.
Her brain shut down.
Was I being serious?
Am I making fun of her?
Why was I taking my anger out on her?
Regulus let out a laugh, a full belly laugh, as he fell onto his back. "I was wondering what you were going to do, but this is great. You really are a big softie, aren't you?"
I felt my lips twitch as I shot him a glare.
I let out a sigh as I mentally called my sword back to me. "You failed too."
"Did you expect me to cut my arm off!?" Rias let out a near scream. "What kind of training is that?"
I unbuttoned my shirt and pulled it open, pointing to a scar on my lower abdomen. "Do you see this?"
"...did you get that from a fight?"
"I got that from training a few days ago. I let Scáthach run me through so I could land a hit on her."
"What!?" Rias blurted out in shock.
"It'll heal fully by itself soon." The scar will go away in probably a couple more days. "I didn't honestly expect you to cut your arm off, but you didn't even consider it, did you?"
She was quiet.
"Just spell it out for her; she's too much of an idiot to get it otherwise." Regulus said casually.
I rolled my eyes. "Do you know the biggest weakness of your peerage?"
"Experience?" She asked.
"Sure, that's one of them. Experience, proper training, and tenacity. I could name plenty of things you guys need to improve on. Things I'm sure that Sai has been teaching you. And I won't lie, you all are much better than you were months ago. But at this rate, answer me honestly, do you think you'll win against Riser? I heard about Riser; he has much more experience than you. He also has more peerage members."
Rias looked down.
"What you lack most is ruthlessness." I finally told her.
"Ruthlessness?" Rias repeated. "Isn't that…"
"Are you going to say bad? That's it—it's a bad character trait. That it's something you would expect from the villains in your Saturday morning cartoons?" I cut off her train of thought. "Do you think your mom isn't ruthless?"
She was silent.
I could tell she wanted to argue.
"You're mistaking ruthlessness for vileness. If your mom heard that someone killed you, how do you think she would react?" I didn't give her time to answer; it was rhetorical. "She would gladly rip off her own arm if it meant she could beat the person responsible to death with it. If she had no arms, she would bite at their throat. She would blow herself up if it meant killing them."
I gave her a moment to let that sink in.
"You will lose out in numbers. You will lose out on experience. You will lose out in power. So, you need to be more ruthless."
That's the only real help I can give. They had what, days left before their rating game? There was no 'secret training' that would win them the day. I pointed out their real weaknesses as I should, but it would take them months to fix those properly.
That, and I'll send some arm guards and leg guards over.
For Venelana's sake.
I felt Artoria's arms wrap around me; she was smiling happily.
Looks like she had her own fun.
"Sai, how do you feel?" I asked him.
He scratched his head. "Like I was stabbed a bunch of times."
"I'll heal you; come here." Artoria released me and held her hand out.
Avalon worked through her if she wanted. Granted, it was slightly less effectual if she didn't put it inside someone, but it was still a miraculous healing effect the way she used it.
"Ah, thanks, that helps a lot. I feel rejuvenated." Sai thanked her.
"What is that?" Regulus pushed his head between them as he stared at Artoria. "That healing—that's not normal healing."
Artoria furrowed her brow. "It is the effect of my Sheath."
"...can it heal diseases?"
"Yes?" Artoria responded, slightly confused.
I then saw Sai's expression.
"How well can it heal diseases?" Regulus reiterated.
[Line Break]
Sai was always super… nice? Polite? Considerate of other people's feelings, basically.
So, it was strange to see him so aggressively ask for help.
Of course, Artoria was not one to reject someone in need, especially if it were a simple gesture on her part to assist.
The Teleportation Circle flared to life as I followed along.
We were definitely in the Underworld; I could taste the air here.
And I think…Bael territory?"
"This way." Sai's expression was very, very serious.
He was the most serious I've ever seen him, and he didn't even pause a moment for the usual niceties.
He all but blew the doors off the hinges of the house we walked to. It was…empty, for lack of a better word. Decorations, decor, and people—there wasn't anyone I could see at a glance.
But I barely had time to register that because Sai was moving with a purpose, and I wanted to keep up.
It was when he opened the door to a bedroom that I understood.
"Hey Mom, I brought some friends." He called out, but there was no answer.
There was a woman lying on the bed, eyes closed, and in a deep sleep. She didn't flutter awake; she remained completely comatose.
"I see." Artoria said softly.
"Can…you heal her?"
"What is her affliction?" Artoria asked.
"It's called the sleeping disease. Everyone says it's unhealable, and it makes a devil go to sleep and not wake up ever again." Sai's voice trembled ever so slightly.
Artoria pressed a hand on her own chest, and a faint light emerged as Avalon presented itself and fell into her hands. "I do believe I can assist."
The anxiousness in his tone made it obvious, and Artoria didn't waste any more questions.
She walked over and gently placed the sheath on the woman's chest and pushed it inside of her.
Avalon was a holy object, but it didn't reject anyone based on species.
I was evidence of that.
I did not expect her to start glowing.
Like Avalon was working against something. Avalon wouldn't lose out against something like a 'disease,' but whatever it was, clearly Avalon was putting work in.
The whole room filled with its light.
Avalon was a sanctuary, a utopia.
There was no room for disease.
I could see the glowing outline of Avalon through her body as it burst out with another surge of light before settling down.
It was quiet for a moment before her eyes trembled and opened.
"Sai?"
"Mom…" He whispered back as he grabbed hold of her and began crying.
I turned away with Artoria as we both quietly left the room.
Neither of us wanted to impose on their private reunion. I didn't know how long his mom had been 'away,' but from the looks of it, it had been a very long time.
Artoria grabbed my hand as we headed outside.
"This has been a lovely day." She said with a smile.
"Beating up kids, then healing someone's mom."
She puffed her cheeks at the first part, I think. "I'm proud of you for helping them."
Hearing her say that did make me feel better.
"Do you want to wait to get Avalon back…?"
"I can retrieve it after a bit; I do not wish to spoil their time." She shook her head. "I do not believe it will disappear anywhere."
"Want to go bother Venelana then? She said that there's someone at home that's wanted to meet me."
"I would be more than happy to accompany you."
Alright, well, I suppose we can go see what 'family member' she was talking about.
[Line break]
A/N
Sai gets his mom healed, and Wilhelm goes off to meet the 'mysterious' family member.
If it wasn't obvious, it's Runeas.
Of course, this is after he slightly traumatized Rias's peerage…again. But with good intentions this time.
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