Chapter 46: Erza POV

Chapter 46: Erza POV

~Erza POV~

[July 20, X784]

*Klang*

*Clang*

After quickly parrying a swift sword strike from Silva I merely sidestepped swinging my blade down as he countered showing his swordsmanship immediately in my direction with his sword coming off lightest blue again.

"<Slash>."

Seeing that attack coming I merely twirled my blade with my own Sword Magic spell as my blade shined pure white countering his own, "<Moonslice>."

*Shiii*

*BOOOM*

Our blades collided again causing a small shockwave with his next move already getting into a piercing position focusing on me managing to hear his next step, "<Stab>!"

*WOOSH*

Like that, he vanished to the normal person but using my <Magic Sense> I can tell where he's going to strike next as I merely made an open circle swing all around me using <Moonslice> to create arcs slashes.

Seeing it move around I merely waited till – now.

Sensing someone going to strike I merely moved aside side stepping as I saw for a brief moment a figure and no hesitation went in with another against Silva, "<Sonic Claw>."

*SHING*

*Klang*

*THUD*

Using <Sonic Claw> I can briefly enhance my own speed with the spell as my sword strikes are high speed and hard to avoid unless you are good reaction time or better reflexes which Silva is getting the hang of it for the last 5 days.

Grunting from the sudden strike as he moans in pain, I merely cocked an eyebrow at the man if he gives yet, "You want to call it quits Silva?"

He shook his head as he mumbles to himself taking care of his injuries standing up and holding his Rune Sword replying, "Nope… agh… not gonna give up just yet. Not till at least I land one strike on you is what I aim for…"

Good goal.

From my standpoint, Silva should be around a C-Class Wizard in terms of magic but his strength is somewhere near upper C or just entering B-Class Wizard standards.

Trying to land one clean strike on me is a good goal to place yourself in when fighting me despite how beat up he gets from each encounter trying to become stronger. Sadly, though that alone striking me is nearly hard for him.

If anybody were to merely defeat me then I would've lost my life a long time ago. Smirking taking my stance at the very least he isn't complaining about the hard training regimen I placed him under, "Good. It takes a strong will to come back against the odds. Fortunately, we're testing the limits of your abilities and helping increase them. If I were an enemy that would've been a kill shot with one cut to the head. Try again."

He nodded as he rushed at me again going towards my sides as I used <Requip> to summon up another sword parrying his first followed with my own as he has his Magic Power active enhancing his physical aspects.

At the very least he hasn't once complained about the arrangement beating him to near death each day. Natsu and Gray would've begged for mercy under the abuse but frankly despite moaning or groaning in pain he never once relented such excuses.

*Shinng*

*Klang*

*Klang*

*CLANG*

Merely parrying his every move at the beginning his swordsmanship was lacking for a better term… horrible.

Atrocious even considering the fact that he merely held a sword stance of an amateur in the beginning, but I see his progress the more we spar the sharper his form is along with his swordsmanship growing along with it.

Constant fighting of blades and Sword Magic practice. Usually, I don't go ahead complimenting others often, but Silva is getting a better hang of his fighting style.

But then again maybe I'm giving him too much praise since it is helping a family member out as well as repaying the favor, he assisted me with ending the Eisenwald Guild with no issues or concerns.

Although from what I can see he only has been doing enhancements as his main form of combative magic no other offensive magic with the exception of his Eye Magic and his weapons to which I can admit I'm envious of his Ricochet reflecting magic and physical attacks.

*Woosh*

Avoiding another thrust strike directed at me moving away slightly feeling Silva's boosts fading with him determinization in his eyes narrowing to what he has planned as he suddenly rushed at me in a burst of speed covered in Ethernano.

I think he called this one <Mana Burst>.

Cute.

*Woosh*

Moving backward at the right moment seeing Silva let go of the swordsmanship of his blade going to hand-to-hand combat I let go of my Requip of my swords returning the favor. I'll admit when it comes to blades, I'm rather better with them than my fist…

Clenching my fist together I swiftly landed a blow to his stomach as he ached back while I grabbed his head and bringing to my knee as he backed off followed by a roundhouse to his mid-section, sending him flying back.

*Bam*

His body slammed into a tree as he managed to get himself up again bruised and beaten holding his stomach seeing a green light on him, "Ack… damn it… I thought for sure I had you when it came close to hand-to-hand combat… damn that hurts there."

I merely expressed a coy smile as I wave my hair out with one hand replying to him, "True. In most times I would prefer my blades or weapons. Despite favoring the use of my various weapons, I can be a skilled hand-to-hand combatant when I need to be."

He merely nodded standing back up before he finally falls back it seems while he won't give up mentally his body on the other hand knows when to give up as I sighed, "Sigh… it seems like your body has taken quite the punishment. But it seems like will call it quits for today's training."

After I said that I saw he frowned at that while I try to cheer up my fellow colleague encouraging him, "Don't feel ashamed. You have shown great signs of improvement fighting me as you are. Each passing day you manage to stay around longer standing at the very least. Not only that your swordsmanship is improving the more we spar."

At that, he smiled briefly but then I spoke out in a stern tone getting his attention immediately honestly replying to him, "But despite that however from the most spars we have you lack firepower in your spells. With only Eye Magic as a support spell. From what I gather you merely have that supportive spell with no offensive ones except for your swordsmanship. You understand what I'm getting at right?"

Silva only nodded as he sighed in a defeated tone noticing a weakness that needs to be remedied quickly, "Yeah… I hardly have any offensive spells to use and all I have are support spells. That's what you're getting at right?"

I nodded while sternly speaking to him about updating his current arsenal of options to get stronger in a strict tone, "Correct. While you could play support, you would also need more powerful weapons to have at the ready to defend yourself to also which…. That is something you also lack."

Silva flinched at that getting my point across.

From the whole encounter and sparing with him all he has done is play support which is not bad but not having enough Magic Spells to defend or at the very least decent armor and weapons would be helpful.

It's not a bad style but it's that his lacking in power is what's concerning. Did he really expect to power through everything to what he has currently?

Maybe or maybe not.

But ultimately though I'm merely giving out what I pointed out to him as a flaw that could one day come back to bite him for not being prepared.

He can choose to listen or not what advice I give out to him as I merely looking out for his wellbeing as someone from his guild looking out for one another.

He has the potential to grow a lot faster if the last 5 days are any indication of his growth and training under me. Unlike him, he's not as powerful as some of the members with his low magic output.

I can sense the Magic in his body is really lower than most mages I've ever seen. It was only after sparring with him I finally noticed how low his magic in him truly is that I have been training him harsher.

Despite that, he never gives up no matter the punishment something of which I noticed how much I beat him it seems like the damage he takes lessen. I don't know if it's because of his Magic or merely just seeing things there's no doubt his improving.

Although despite having the weakest output for a mage his potential within is a whole other matter…

It's like he has an unlimited reserve of power within but doesn't know how to bring it out. For now, though I'll focus on what we can improve.

I was surprised by a laugh coming out from Silva as he began to meditate excluding a calming breath replying to me, "Hahaha! Man, Erza you got a point! Whew… Maybe it's because I've been somewhat delaying it trying to find a Magic that works for me. Maybe… Hmm…"

It seems like Silva has an idea of what type of Magic he wants to add to his arsenal or get better weapons as I helplessly shook my head at the idiot in front of me.

Whatever the case maybe though I'll try to help him train as agreed to at least be able to land a strike at me.

That's the criteria we agreed upon when he lands one good strike at me in combat when the training session is over.

Since it was over, I do expect to be rewarded for not holding back as my eyes gaze at him expected before sighing in defeat, "Sigh… yeah, yeah. Here you go Erza as promised for every end of the week."

*Poof*

Bringing out of his own storage space he soon handed me my reward of properly training him by the end of the week glorious sensation that is strawberry cake as he responded, "So then how's the cake flavor this time oh mighty glutinous Fairy?"

I'm gonna ignore that and simply dig in testing the cake he made.

Once I found out that he could cook these with some help god bless that maid's celestial spirit he made a small wager with Lucy borrowing her for a favor that she would hand him the cooking book of her life watitering her previous masters.

But at the end of every week, I get rewarded extra for eating his homemade cakes and test tasting the food.

And when his done landing one hit on me I'll teach him one of my Sword Magic spells that I developed so long as I help him improve. So long as he fails, I get cake but if he manages to land on me once I give him one of my spells and still get the cake in the end.

It's a win and-win situation!

And to make it even better it's strawberry cake flavor!

How could I possibly refuse this deal and also have free cake expected by the end of the week? I could only hope he fails at times so that I could enjoy this for free but if he manages to win, I will feel happy that I helped him get stronger and get cake with him having one of my spells…

But it's cake so that's a win in my book!

*Chomp*

Mmm….

Giving it a professional strawberry cake taster opinion biting down and savoring the flavor I replied what he was missing, "Hmm… 7/10. The flavor is good, but the cake texture could be improved more. But otherwise, you got the flavor just right!!"

He only sighed as I enjoyed the cake, but I may have lied saying it's more of an 8.5/10 to me yet he still needs improvement to perfect this cake!

But if he improves in sparring as in cooking then it's all for the betterment of me – I eh, mean the guild!

Right for the guild!