10 Clashing Flames
『The more and more I learn about Nova, the more ridiculous I think he is.』[Oswald]
『I think we can agree on that.』[Sarena]
『To be honest, he'd be a monster if he was born to nobility.』[Oswald]
『Who said he wasn't?』[Reischneid]
『He is?』[Sarena]
『He might be.』[Reischneid]
Nova began to anxiously eye Reischneid.
『What are you talking about, Reischneid?』[Nova]
『You're the descendant of the First King. There's no way you can JUST be a commoner.』[Reischneid]
『Is it.. My mom?』[Nova]
『...No. I was the king only in name. I ditched the name to be with the ones I loved.』[Reischneid]
『Then.. The entire current royal family..?』[Oswald]
『A friend of mine. He's the king you all know of as the first. My political advisor and best friend. Lucifius.』[Reischneid]
『My god. I.. don't think we should tell anyone.』[Sarena]
『Of course not! Come on, kids. If I wanted people to know, I would've stayed king!』[Reischneid]
『So, even though my father is a commoner, he had the blood of nobility?』[Nova]
『Yeah.』[Reischneid]
『Then.. Wouldn't he have awakened his seed in a similar way?』[Nova]
『..Do you know what your father does every day?』[Reischneid]
『..No. He just sends money every month.』[Nova]
『Then... Let's find out. I'll be at your side all the way, partner.』[Reischneid]
Nova stood there speechless.
『Nova..』[Oswald]
『...』[Sarena]
『Thanks. Let's do it, for the truth and our dreams.』[Nova]
『Couldn't have said it any better myself, kid.』[Reischneid]
『Nova.』[Oswald]
『Yes, master?』[Nova]
『We're always here for you too. Don't forget to rely on us.』[Oswald]
『Master..』[Nova]
He moved his gaze to Sarena, who quickly averted her eyes.
『...I guess it can't be helped.』[Sarena]
Nova smiled.
『Then. Let's begin our training!』[Oswald]
『Yeah!』[Nova]
-------
『Since Sarena taught you her trademark technique, I've got to teach you something nice too. Unfortunately, I'm a caster- so I can only teach you something simple.』[Oswald]
『Her trademark technique?』[Nova]
『Yes. It's the spell that gave her the nickname "Witch of Hell".』[Oswald]
「How many nicknames does she have..?」[Reischneid]
『If its her trademark technique why did she teach me it?』[Nova]
『It's her way of acknowledging you. She's an awkward person in her own way.』[Oswald]
Nova glanced at Sarena, who has already turned around and ignored everything that Oswald said.
『So, master can be cute in her own way.』[Nova]
She walked further away, before crouching down and quietly mumbling to herself.
『Alright. Good job, Nova.』[Oswald]
Oswald held his thumbs up.
『Alright, I'll be teaching you a Mana Shield.』[Oswald]
『That sounds.. basic?』[Nova]
『This is a caster spell with no circle, cast, or chant.』[Oswald]
『Then how do you cast it?』[Nova]
『I'm sure Sarena taught you about imagination having a lot to do with mana?』[Oswald]
『Yes. I have to use my imagination and intent to direct Reischneid around.』[Nova]
『It's that same concept- you're going to imagine your mana all around you, and put certain properties on it. They say that a mage is measured by their mana shield.』[Oswald]
『So, is it so necessary that you have to teach it to me?』[Nova]
『Yes.』[Oswald]
『Actually, he just wants to make sure you don't get hurt.』[Sarena]
『Oh. Okay. Thank you, master.』[Nova]
『Hmph.』[Oswald]
「Why is my student so amazing?」[Oswald]
『The difference between a good mage's mana shield and an amateur is like night and day.』[Sarena]
『Isn't it just based on mana?』[Nova]
『No. Using the same amount of mana, a good mage can stack multiple effects and use his mana more efficiently.』[Oswald]
『With the amount of mana you can control, you can keep up a shield for maybe an hour- if inefficient. With good control, you can have it on all day.』[Sarena]
『We're going to teach you how to stack maybe 2 effects at the same time, and maintain your shield while fighting.』[Oswald]
『WOAH! I thought you said we weren't going to rush him?』[Sarena]
『Well, I made a bet with Hanzo, and Nova's going to be fighting Rai in next week's training.』[Oswald]
『Oh? What's the catch? Nova has 2 teachers, isn't that enough of an edge?』[Sarena]
『So does Rai. Do you remember Derenne?』[Oswald]
『..That bitch?』[Sarena]
「Woah. I'm not sure if I want to know what's up with that.」[Nova]
Sarena sighed.
『Okay, Nova. We're going to beat this into you.』[Sarena]
『Huh?!』[Nova]
Nova was.. worried.
...........
Nova sat cross-legged in a white room.
『Today's the day.』[Nova]
A slight invisible film hovered around Nova.
Projectiles were coming from all sides of Nova. Physical and magical.
『I've spent all of this week training my mana and mana shield technique.』[Nova]
『It looks like your teachers finally got the exact growth rate for you. No more surprises for them, huh?』[Reischneid]
『Yeah. I've been brainstorming a bunch of plans to beat Rai too.』[Nova]
『But, the fact of the matter is- neither of you knows each other's kit.』[Reischneid]
『Yeah. You'll be my ace in the hole.』[Nova]
『You sure that'll be fair?』[Reischneid]
『Yeah. He has a "guardian" of sorts too.』[Nova]
『..A deific manifestation?』[Reischneid]
『Yeah.』[Nova]
『Then, to keep it fair- I won't tell you any info about how they work.』[Reischneid]
『Just the way I like it.』[Nova]
『Man, you must really hate this Rai kid, huh?』[Reischneid]
『Not at all, he's like a brother to me.』[Nova]
『I see.』[Reischneid]
He stopped talking.
An alarm started beeping.
『It's been an hour of training. I've done it!』[Nova]
『Not bad, an hour of mana shield with those two augments.』[Reischneid]
A man walked into the room.
『It's time to get started.』[Hanzo]
『Hey, what's up, Nova!』[Rai]
『Nothing much, just ready to win our fight.』[Nova]
Rai smirked.
『...Oh? Then let's do it.』[Rai]
They moved to a room with grass and vegetation everywhere.
Sarena and Os were already waiting.
『Wasn't there a 4th person?』[Nova]
『Yeah, she's over there.』[Oswald]
Oswald pointed over at a big rock that hid a woman wearing pink pajamas.
『Is she.. hiding?』[Nova]
『Yeah. She's pretty shy until she goes.. crazy.』[Sarena]
『What?』[Nova]
『Eh, don't worry about it- let's begin.』[Hanzo]
『Huh? Alrea-』[Rai]
『BIRTHED FROM THE STARS- BURNT TO ASHES, BURN MY ENEMY TO ETERNAL-』[Nova]
『..YOU'RE JOKING!』[Rai]
He quickly formed a needle.
「Using his Extend already? Isn't it too early?」[Nova]
He stabbed himself somewhere in the leg.
「That's not where it was be-」[Nova]
In a short 2 seconds, Rai was already in front of Nova.
『Shock Burst!』[Rai]
Suddenly, Rai's arm was coated in a sparse layer of coiling red lightning.
It flashed to his palm and hit Nova.
..Or at least it seemed to.
A moment later, Rai was sent flying about 60 meters back.
In midair he managed to hit the ground a few times, fixing his position.
『FROM ASHES TO ASHES..TO STARDUST TO NOTHING! INCINERATE THE ENEMY INTO ETERNAL NIGHT!』[Nova]
『No way! The "Queen" herself taught him her special attack?』[Hanzo]
『Looks like even virgins have their boy-toys.』[Derenne]
『Woah! When did you get here Derenne?』[Hanzo]
『Just now.』[Derenne]
『I see you're still as much of a bitch as always.』[Sarena]
『You two, focus on the fight. This is where it heats up.』[Oswald]
As he said that, a barrier was erected all around Rai.
『What..?』[Rai]
『INFERNO PURGATORY!』[Nova]
『Shit! DRAGON SCALES!』[Rai]
Multiple red scales appeared on Rai's skin, before his silhouette was engulfed in flames.
