Meeting the spearheads

You know what to do

Can you put it?

******************************

"Hello there."

I waved my hand in front of the frozen nanny standing like a petrified elf.

"Merissa?"

I swear she does this every time I visit the orphanage, is it really that shocking to see me? Even though this is the sixth visit?

"ANDREW!"

I felt my head sway as she picked me up and spun me around while suffocating me inside her mountains.

'Life is Daijoubu'

-Not!

"Let me go!" I flailed my arms around in protest and it didn't work as expected.

Instead, her hold on me tightened, further burying me inside her cleavage.

'Now, life is Daijoubu…'

I smiled in content and hugged her back.

"Why didn't you come sooner. You always say that you'll visit every month but don't show up."

"Sorry about that, I got caught up on some things."

I said with a smile on my face.

"Hmm…..well you do live in the palace. I suppose it is hard to adapt in that place."

"Ah…..yes."

I didn't try correcting her and went along with it. It's all good as long as she's happy.

"So how are you!?"

The enthusiastic probe was sent at me with unbridled excitement.

Eh….I guess I'll have a talk with Tessia to let me bring Merissa for a visit. I'm sure she'll appreciate a tour of the palace…

"I'm doing okay as usual, the princess has become a lot calmer than she was before so it is more peaceful."

"Hehe, you're the only one who could say that out loud and get away with it."

"Well, I am her teacher."

We gossiped for a little over two more hours before having lunch with the other kids.

It was fun to see the bright eyes glittering in excitement to hear a story about my adventures.

Do they think I'm a prince on a quest like those in fairytales?

But I could never drop the bucket in front of such kids, so I fabricated a grand adventure across the seas in search for a treasure called one piece.

It was most definitely my original work!

My journey with trusted crewmates was a fun story that even intrigued the other nannies. They all sat in a circle as I told about the gear 3 of my stretch stretch fruit.

See. It is my own story since it's not like the rip off version oda made by naming it 'gOmU' fruit!

"Come again Big Bro!"

The kids waved me farewell as I rode the carriage and arrived at the grimestone streets facility.

It was built with the purpose of making infrastructure. The factory was soon shut down due to embezzlement and money laundering.

Now, it was just an empty factory.

At least that's what the general public know….

Underneath the factory was a huge room, larger than the neighborhood, previously used as a food reserve for emergency purposes like siege warfare. The food was reallocated by the command of our majesty after the discovery of another continent.

A little project to raise stronger soldiers due to the emergence of possible hostilities from the other continent.

"Get inside the elevator."

It was a heavily funded project that put a significant burden on the kingdom's resources…...enough for sapin to notice it.

In the day I was a tutor of Tessia and disciple of Virion, but my real job started at night when everyone was sleeping.

--Creak!

The small door opened after four consecutive knocks. Revealing the dark and gloomy interior.

Flickering lamps giving off a rusty scent of smoke.

'I knew what Virion meant when he said he wanted to monopolize me back then'

I'm just thankful I won't be held hostage like the other lances in the future….

I put on my uniform and got in line with the rest of the cadets.

Raise soldiers with a completely different routine from the military. That was the aim of this project.

The battle mages, proficient in both and swordsmanship. Strong enough to contend against an S-class adventurers.

This was the facility designed to pick the future lances.

"ATTENTION!"

A loud yell resounded across the large hall filled with 300 cadets.

"BATTLE FORMATION!"

By now, a few keywords were needed to give instructions to the cadets in my age group.

We all neatly divided into unequal numbers, one side bearing 200 and the others in another side of the hall.

"Get in position!"

From the other side of the thick mana barrier, the commands were relayed and we set off into action.

A mock war, with overwhelming numbers against us, and all of them equal in strength.

Whooosh—!

A giant wooden spike launched itself, embedding itself inside the soldier, spilling a puddle of blood and shocking the enemy troops.

Aya Grephin, according to the script she will become a lance in the future…..I could see why that would be the case.

Had I not noticed the unusually stable behavior of her magic, even I would've been fooled by the illusions she was casting on the field.

What? You think I'm all knowing? Magic defies all the logic I derive yet also support it!

"Watch your six!

She heeded my waring and ducked at the last second to dodge the overhead slash, and kicked the soldier away.

"Thanks Andrew!"

  I didn't reply and focused back at my opponent….or more specifically, my opponents.

"Five against one is shameful you know."

I smiled at the person behind me with a whip behind her.

"Ufufu….everything is fair in love and war, isn't that what you said last time."

Alea Triscan, the elf spoke with a strange tone that sent shivers down my spine….

"I'm even younger than you."

"….That's what makes it even better."

…..Even though I couldn't see her face, I could stake my soul that she was licking her lips in anticipation.

"It's impossible to take you down without this." Another cadet spoke before I could reply to the future lance doomed to die in Agrona's hands.

"Knowing you limits is a necessity in war, our ego can to hell if it means we can survive."

Whapck—!

I dodged the thorny whip wiped with poison and sent my barrier to block the other four from approaching.

"Grease"

The floor became slippery around me, forcing the cadets to focus more mana at their foot to act as a suction cup.

"You learned from our last fight"

I acknowledged all of them and sidestepped to avoid the lightning spear thrown at me from my 11.

"Come here , Andrew~"

Goddamit, you're a teenager Alea! Stop acting like a thirsty milf!

I Jumped up to avoid the vines sprouting from under me and launched a fireball mixed with 'Gale' magic to boost the speed.

It wasn't enough to take them down but it was enough time to draw out my sword.

"Let's get started, shall we?"

*************************

Drop a comment y'all