On the 18th Floor, inside the forest of the Safe Zone, Roland raised his hand and condensed a blast of gale-force wind, piercing through a tree stump.
"Ais, can you do that?"
"Awaken!" Ais concentrated, but her unleashed gust only buffeted the trees, carving cracks instead of piercing through. Her magic was usually for self-buffing, but theoretically, she should be able to perform long-range attacks.
Roland watched her and pondered. With the blood of a Spirit in her, her control should be better. "It's not a problem with the magic, but with your manipulation," he noted.
He placed his hand under her palm, using his mana to guide hers, rotating it to form a wind sphere. "Can you feel the change?"
Ais nodded happily and tried again. "Awaken!!" A breeze gathered but wouldn't condense. She looked dejected.
"You did great. Now, the next step." Roland placed his hand over hers, forming a basketball-sized wind sphere. "Try it."
Ais fired the sphere like a cannonball. It struck the woods and expanded into a violent vortex, shredding trees. Roland's wind wall blocked the debris.
"Now, practice that method, and you'll be able to integrate it into your sword." Roland drew his sword, unleashing a four-meter-long wind blade that leveled the trees ahead. "Since you lack long-range moves, this should help."
Ais's eyes lit up. She tried it, and though her emerald wind blade only traveled a few meters before dissipating, Roland was impressed for a first try. "Well done, Ais! Don't rush."
They spent the afternoon sparring and practicing. By the time Ais's mana was nearly depleted, they prepared to leave.
"Don't change your style for the wind blade; just integrate it," Roland advised.
Ais nodded tiredly and reached out her arms for a hug. Roland realized her mental fatigue was high. He let her climb onto his back, and she immediately fell asleep against his neck. "What a strange kid... Achoo!"
When they reached the Guild Hall, whispers erupted. "Isn't that the 'Sword Princess'? Why is she with the Astraea rookie?"
Roland ignored the gossip and ran to the Twilight Manor. The guard was shocked but let him in. Inside, he found Riveria.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Roland said.
Riveria smiled at the sleeping Ais. "It seems you two got along well. Thank you for carrying her back."
"She was exhausted from practicing magic," Roland explained.
In the hall, Roland handed Ais over to Riveria. As Riveria tucked her in, her face softened. "Roland, thank you. I'm happy to see her act spoiled with someone outside our circle. It's a good change."