17 Let's Imagine: My First Sparring Match!

I rush outside the backdoor to meet Higashi facing the sunset with a long sword stationed between his palms.

"Mr. Saki sir, I'm ready for training!"

Higashi turns around and rests the sword on his shoulder.

"As agreed upon you running a full lap around town, I will now teach you swordplay, Momoko."

"Aw, yeah!"

I jump into the air and raise my fist.

"It's time to learn to fight!"

"... Ahem."

Higashi holds a hand underneath his mouth.

"Before we began you need to know what type of sword fits your build and strength."

What should I choose… What should I choose… Oh yeah!

Higashi turns around and studies a group of blades on a sword display.

"We may need to start with something small like a short-blade, but perhaps you could—"

"MY GODDESS HELENA, GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO WIELD A FANTASTIC BLADE SUITABLE FOR A RIGHTEOUS AND STRONG KNIGHT!"

Higashi turns around to see my body start to shine with vibrant lights.

Silver-white armor gleaming brilliantly materializes on my body. A cape of red appears covering part of my right arm, and on the left side of my back, a gold shield encrusted with the Japanese kanji 'Courage' in black in the middle.

The same sword from the tavern appears in rays of light but this time I'm able to hold it steadily in my hand without it touching the ground.

I open my eyes and look at my hands.

"W-Woah, I-I did it!"

Okami, Sakuma, and Aiyoma watch from the sidelines and gawk in amazement

"Y-y-your a …"

Higashi drops his sword, with the handle landing cleanly into the dirt.

"... A holy knight!"

. . .

Sakuma steps forward.

"Dear, she's wearing similar armor to the one that knight wore all those years ago ..."

Aiyoma marveled at the gleaming silver.

"I saw the sword before… but I didn't know it came with armor."

Higashi turned to Aiyoma.

"You knew about this?!"

Aiyoma tilted her nose up.

"Yep! I got to see part of the transformation the day we first met!"

Okami looked up to Sakuma in confusion.

"Mommy, what's a Holy Knight?"

Sakuma bends down and rubs Okami's hair.

"W-well it's a class only given to knights deemed righteous and holy…it's quite rare, and not a lot of people obtain it."

"In fact, there are only two people who were ever known to have it—General Calina and Valer the Weapons Master."

That must be Calina, the lady Seraphina mentioned.

I scratch my head.

"Is it really that big of a deal?"

Higashi turns to me in astonishment.

"Well of course it is! Each class has a specialty that is obtained once the person reaches a certain threshold. A fighter can become a Berserker, Knights can become Valkyries or Guardians, and so forth."

So there like special classes that are only given to incredibly strong people… I'll be sure to remember that.

"However, they're very hard to obtain, and some adventurers find death while pursuing the greater power they wield."

Aiyoma nods.

"I've known some knights go out and fight powerful monsters to try and awaken their latent potential to no avail."

Higashi picks up his sword and points it toward me.

"Well this is great, if you really are a holy knight there's no need for the basics. Let's see what you can do!"

I clench my sword and grin.

"My first fight as a Holy Knight with the esteemed knight Higashi of Lanier! I'm honored you've chosen me as your opponent."

Okami laughs joyfully.

"This will be awesome!"

Sakuma cheers.

"Don't get too rowdy now, no blood on our nice lawn!"

Aiyoma beckons with her hands raised!

"Give him hell Momoko! Show that old man no mercy!"

The ground beneath my feet cracks as I lunge toward Higashi.

He braces his sword in front of him with a wide smile.

"Come on girly, let's see what you can do!"

. . .

Rushing toward him I bring my sword to clash with his. It produces a circle of air around us. A shock wave breaks the ground slightly beneath us.

"Not bad."

Higashi holds his sword steadily, sparks fly as our swords collide.

Okami eyes glow in wonder.

"Momoko and Papa are so cool!"

Higashi breaks the clash and pushes me back.

I catch myself on the ground and he rushes toward me raising his sword in the air.

He brings it down with such brute force that my body readily shields with my sword.

"D-damn your strong!"

I struggle to hold my sword against him.

Higashi chuckles.

"You don't think they let anyone become a knight, do you?"

He twists his sword and slams me to the right and I stammer back.

Higashi runs towards me for another lunge. I dodge swiftly to the right and prepare my sword.

"You're mine, old man!"

I rush my blade into his back.

He casts his blade over to his left arm with ease and blocks the blow plowing his sword into the ground. The force moves me to tremble with my arms flying back.

Before I could gain my footing he turns and drives his sword near my side.

"Seems like your the one who's mine, Momoko."

"Heh,"

I drive my sword into the ground and use the momentum of his last attack to maneuver myself into the air.

"Special Move,"

I extend my leg out for a powerful kick.

"Full Counter!"

Seraphina looks at the fight from a magic mirror and scoffs.

"God, what a nerd."

Before I could land my kick, my armor shines brightly and disappears into rays of light.

"W-wait what?"

Gasping in confusion as my bare foot lands a kick on his back.

"OW! OH, OH MY GOD," I flail on the ground holding my foot.

What is this musclehead made of?! Steel?!

Higashi scratches his head, "Well that was… anti-climatic.. "

. . .

"You aren't human! Why is your body so dam hard!"

Aiyoma walks over to us and puts her hand on her chin.

"Well, a transformation and a materialization of a sword do take a bit of magic."

Okami runs over to me and bends down.

"That fight was so cool, again, again!"

Sakuma walks over to her side.

"I don't think she'll be doing any more fighting for the day, I'm afraid."

I stand up and survey my body.

"My beautiful armor, gone... "

"Well,"

Aiyoma points over to my left.

"At least your sword is still here."

A white-steeled claymore stands triumphantly in the ground.

"Yes, come to mama!"

I immediately grab it and it turns to rays of light in my palm.

"N-no...NOOO,"

Aiyoma blinks.

"Annnd, there it goes."

Higashi walks over to me and puts a hand on my shoulder.

I look over at him with tears in my eyes and snot coming down my nose.

"M-master, what the hell happened? You said your training would make me stronger!"

Higashi rubbed his stubble.

"It appears that you lack mana control. But something like that just comes with time."

"Mana? But I thought knights didn't use magic?"

Aiyoma steps forward.

"Everyone has mana, but that doesn't necessarily translate to magic usage."

"You see there's a huge tree in Euphoria that gives off mana to every living thing. When a woman and man have an offspring, their mana is combined and given to the child. In a sense, the longer your generation, the more mana the child will yield."

"Offspring?" Okami says in puzzlement.

Higashi gestures hysterically.

"I, uh, well, you don't need to know about that now. I'll tell you when you're older!"

Aiyoma chuckles.

"We don't know your current mana control level so you should stick to only conjuring your sword,"

Dammit, just when I thought I was getting somewhere. Another limitation!

Sakuma stands up and pats her dress.

"Well, that's enough training for today, why don't we have some dinner. You two must be hungry from all of that fighting!"

Aiyoma rubs her stomach.

"I got hungry just watching!"

We all laugh and head for the door.

"... Hey, Momoko, listen up!"

"Seraphina is that you?"

I look up into the sky.

The family enters the house and Aiyoma stands at the door gazing at me.

"Momoko, you coming?"

"O-oh! Give me a moment, gotta stretch after that fight, feeling a bit sore!"

Aiyoma shrugs.

"Well don't wait too long, or your food will get cold!"

She closes the door and I stare back into the sky.

"So now you finally talk to me! Do you know how many things I've found out by myself that I could've used your help for?"

Seraphina groans.

"Oh pipe down, it's not like I haven't been watching you. Semed you have been doing pretty well on your own."

"And I heard that little move you used in your fight. What was it called? Full Counter?"

My entire face turns red.

"SHUT UP DAMMIT! No one knows about anime in this world so I can say whatever I want!"

"Full Counter my ass! Did you even watch the show, you nerd? The only thing you need to counter is some new clothes, you look like one of my characters from Ganshin Unpact, not like anyone would want to play you!"

The nerve of this brat!

"While we're on the subject of games, why didn't you guys tell me that the Holy Knight class is exclusive? I would've liked a heads up!"

Seraphina sneers.

"Oh please, and what? You go off and think you're some type of badass? I saw your run-in with that thief and let me just say if it wasn't for your friend you would've been killed!"

I graze my teeth together in anger then look onto the ground.

She's right, and that's the reason why I need to get stronger.

"H-hey! I didn't mean it like that, I'm sorry."

"No, you're right. It's the reason I decided to train and work my ass off every dam day in the first place."

Seraphina sighs.

"Just be careful, ok?"

Aw, so she actually does car—

"I wouldn't want to get fired because of your ass dying pathetically again!"

And here I thought she cared about me, dam this angel!

"I hope you use up all of your wishes in Ganshin Unpact and get nothing good!"

Seraphina gasps.

"H-how dare you, that's worse than a curse!"

"... B-but thanks for your concern."

Seraphina laughs,

"I am your designated angel after all! It's only proper that I care about my 'lost lamb'!"

I wave into the air and walk into the house, greeted by the smiles of the family that graciously took me in.

Aiyoma bites a roll of bread and pulls up a chair beside her, "Saved you a seat 'Holy Knight'!"

Taking I seat I reach for the delicious-looking pot of stew.

Home, Sweet Home.

. . .