110 Resolve

He stood in the field, his hair drifting with the wind.

『Yeah. How were you, Nova? Did you get along oka-』[Reischneid]

Nova hugged Reischneid, surprising him.

『...Aww, geez. You're like a kid nephew.』[Reischneid]

『...Shut up.』[Nova]

He hit Reischneid's side with a punch.

『GUGH! HEY! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!』[Reischneid]

Nova continued to smack him on the side before letting go of him.

『The heck did you disappear for? You were gone for so long, too!』[Nova]

Reischneid sighed.

『Well, you know how it takes mana for me to take a physical form?』[Reischneid]

Nova nodded.

『When you pulled that little stunt of exploring a place that was too high level for you, I basically pulled aggro-』[Reischneid]

Nova's face distorted a bit.

『...More video game slang?』[Nova]

Reischneid gave a thumbs up and a big smile.

『Of course! Also, how do you like the new look?』[Reischneid]

『...You have an earring now?』[Nova]

A contrasting black stalactite of an earring was worn on his right ear.

『Yeah. It came with my awakening, whatever that entails.』[Reischneid]

『It… doesn't really match your style, but it does at the same time?』[Nova]

Reischneid pressed his fists against his hands, making cracking noises.

『Forget about it. How about some long awaited training instead?』[Reischneid]

Nova thought of the long awaited sleep that he longed for.

『...How about I take a long awaited nap instead?』[Nova]

Reischneid seemed to emanate a cold aura.

『...What's that? I couldn't hear you over your terrible form, singular technique, and weak attacks.』[Reischneid]

Nova felt attacked on a personal level.

『...Ha...ha…. I was… just joking… I guess...』[Nova]

He could see the relaxing dreams of playing with a swarm of Sir Fluffles vanish into the air.

.....

Nova sat panting on the floor in less than 5 minutes.

『Haah…. Haah… Why does it feel even more tiring than last time…?』[Nova]

『Because we are trying to perfect your form and flow of mana, of course.』[Reischneid]

He stretched, before yawning.

『It sure has been a while since I went to sleep. I wonder what has changed?』[Reischneid]

Nova stood up, feeling like the energy in him was re-energized.

『Not much.』[Nova]

He also stretched, causing cracking noises to resound around as well.

『Just some club stuff.』[Nova]

Reischneid nodded his head.

『Ah. Just club stuff…』[Reischneid]

He suddenly did a double take.

『Club stuff?!』[Reischneid]

He grabbed hold of Nova by the arms and shook him around.

『I missed your club arc?! What is this cruel world?!』[Reischneid]

『Huh? What do you mean? It's just clubs. They weren't anything too special..?』[Nova]

He continued to shake up Nova.

『Nova! Clubs are the epitome of the afterschool life!』[Reischneid]

『H-H-Huh?! Wha-What about Raidagems?』[Nova]

Reischneid let go and had a weird look on his face.

『Raidawhat?』[Reischneid]

『Raidagem?』[Nova]

『What's that?』[Reischneid]

Nova forgot that Reischneid wasn't there with him for a long chunk of the Raidagem missions.

『Uhm… It's a group of people that do missions for the Kingdom. We like… uh… subdue monsters for the people's safety?』[Nova]

Reischneid pinched the bridge of his nose.

『...Isn't that a job for the military? Why should kids be fighting monsters… for what?』[Reischneid]

『Points? Prestige? Cryst?』[Nova]

『But.. What about the freaking military?! The entire point of them is to protect the nation! 』[Reischneid]

『Uhh… I'm not sure. I'm not really sure what they do. I'm sure it'd be more important things, right?』[Nova]

Reischneid paced back and forth before looking at Nova.

『...Nova.』[Reischneid]

『Yes…?』[Nova]

『What is your goal?』[Reischneid]

『...My goal?』[Nova]

『Your dream, your wish, etcetera.』[Reischneid]

『...I guess it would be to find out what my dad does and to find my mother.』[Nova]

『How far are you willing to go into the military to meet that goal?』[Reischneid]

Nova's eyes suddenly began to faintly glow, right as he looked at Reischneid.

『As far as it takes.』[Nova]

Reischneid's mouth suddenly gaped out a little bit before his mouth turned into a smile.

『...Alright. Then, can you do something for me?』[Reischneid]

Nova nodded his head.

『Sure. I'll do it.』[Nova]

『Hahaha! Not even waiting for me to tell you what?』[Reischneid]

『It has to do with what I'm planning on, right? Also, it'd be great if I could repay you like this, too.』[Nova]

『Pfft. Repay me? We don't even have the first circle of infusement and you want to repay me? I'm just a spirit of a dead man, you know. You don't have to worry about that.』[Reischneid]

Nova shook his head, with a sad smile on his face.

『No, Reischneid. You're more than a spirit or a ghost. You're Reischneid.』[Nova]

Reischneid looked at Nova for a moment before he turned away.

『...I guess I'm Reischneid, then.』[Reischneid]

Nova didn't manage to see Reischneid's tears running down his face.

『...Anyways, what did you want to have me do?』[Nova]

Reischneid quickly wiped his face with the sleeve of his suit and turned back to Nova.

『...I want you to get an inner working of it before we do anything, but it's likely that they aren't fighting monsters most of the time.』[Reischneid]

Nova thought about that for a moment before he shouted.

『...Then, humans?!』[Nova]

Reischneid nodded his head.

『Good chance. If I recall, Reagan said something about enemies across the border.』[Reischneid]

He looked to Nova with a cold, serious look on his face.

『Are you resolved to kill someone, for the sake of your goals?』[Reischneid]

Nova shook when he saw Reischneid's stare.

『...I don't think so. I couldn't..』[Nova]

『Even if the military requires that you do so?』[Reischneid]

『...I don't know. I don't think I could be selfish enough to do that.』[Nova]

Reischneid held a bittersweet look on his face.

『...Then, you should forget about your dream.』[Reischneid]

Nova suddenly looked up and began to shout.

『Huh?! I can't!』[Nova]

『Then, get stronger.』[Reischneid]

『...Get stronger?』[Nova]

Reischneid nodded his head.

『Get so overwhelmingly strong that you can suppress any enemy that you encounter.』[Reischneid]

The blue of Nova's eyes suddenly flared up in brightness.

『...I'll do it.』[Nova]

『Then, you'll have to get access to stronger techniques, spells, and maybe even create your own abilities. Are you fine with that?』[Reischneid]

Nova began to shout enthusiastically.

『I'll do it. It shouldn't be a problem!』[Nova]

『Hmm… Then, maybe let's try to unlock your Raiment first. Though, you'd have to almost die for that… Are you okay with that?』[Reischneid]

Nova heard that familiar ability and gave Reischneid an enthusiastic thumbs up.

『Raiment? I already have that, don't worry!』[Nova]

Reischneid gave Nova a look that looked similar to one of disgust.

『...What?』[Reischneid]

『I have my Raiment!』[Nova]

『...Prove it.』[Reischneid]

『Raiment!』[Nova]

The robes that looked like a portal into the deepest reaches of space appeared onto Nova with a blaze.

Reischneid had a blank look on his face.

『...What?』[Reischneid]

The overwhelming feeling suddenly pressed down on Nova, causing him to struggle a bit.

It felt like his mana reached slowly toward the void of a new space, yet was too slow to reach it on time.

『...Gnng!』[Nova]

The Raiment dissolved into a blue blaze, causing Nova to fall over.

『I… Haah…. Managed to keep it on for a little longer this time!』[Nova]

『...Oi! Stupid!』[Reischneid]

He smacked Nova on the head, causing Nova to clutch at his head.

『Ow! What was that for?!』[Nova]

『You aren't supposed to almost die every single week like it's normal! What the hell?!』[Reischneid]

Nova began to laugh hysterically.

『It's not my fault, Reischneid! The monsters are out to get me!』[Nova]

Reischneid began to laugh too.

『Then, run! Run so far away that the monsters can't smell you!』[Reischneid]

They both continued to laugh until Nova woke up from his nap.