Chapter Eight

The training grounds were eerily silent after the clash, save for the occasional whistle of the wind weaving through the barren trees. Kaede remained seated on the ground, her shield resting beside her. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving behind the ache of exertion in her arms and legs. Her thoughts lingered on the fight, dissecting every move Shogo had made, every strike she had deflected. It was a habit Risa had forced on her after her fourth loss to Payne and she had taken to it well.

A shadow fell over her.

"Impressive," Razen's voice cut through her thoughts, his tone laced with both approval and something she couldn't quite place. "For all his rantings, Shogo wasn't nearly as strong as you when he was just summoned."

Kaede looked up at him, her cheeky grin gone completely. "He shouldn't have been summoned at all. None of us should."

Razen's lips twitched into something resembling a somber smile. "In an ideal world, you would be right. But this isn't an ideal world. This is a world where monsters with too much power can do whatever they want, bearing the title of demon lords." He turned sharply on his heel, his heavy boots crunching the dirt beneath him. "Tomorrow, we'll begin your training. It seems you work well with a shield, we'll see about the smiths customizing one for you."

Kaede groaned softly but nodded, the faint frown not leaving her face. She knew better than to argue. "Monsters with too much power huh?" She whispered. "The irony." Her voice carried in the wind.

As the sun began its descent, painting the horizon in hues of gold and crimson, she forced herself to stand. Each step back to her quarters felt heavier, her body reminding her of every strike, every deflection, and every moment she had fought to hold her ground.

---

The next morning came faster than she would have liked. The chill of dawn hung in the air, biting at her skin as she made her way back to the training grounds. She was early, the sky still painted in soft grays and blues, but she wasn't alone.

In a section of the field, a group of knights went through forms and drills.

Taking a closer look, she noticed that these knights didn't look like the falmuth knights she had seen prior.

They wore white surcoats emblazoned with an eight-pointed blue star, a stark contrast against the cold, gray morning.

Their shields stood propped up in a neat line at the edge of the field—oval-shaped, split into bold quadrants of blue and black, bordered in steel. Some knights broke from their drills to retrieve the shields, incorporating them into their exercises. The shields moved with them as though extensions of their arms, blocking phantom strikes and countering with swift, calculated force.

Kaede found herself staring, for a few seconds before stopping. She put herself through some stretches, focusing on her joints.

Running was originally Risa's thing, but a few months before they'd gotten together, Risa had gotten Kaede to join her for her runs. Running had quickly become a hobby for Kaede. Watching Risa in running shorts wasn't so bad either, especially the cuddling that came after.

She took off at a steady pace, her breath visible in the cold morning air. The stretch of the training grounds felt endless, her boots crunching against frost-coated grass with each step. Kaede pushed herself, letting her legs find a rhythm, her mind drifting as her body fell into the familiar cadence of running.

The knights' drills echoed faintly in the background—clanking steel, shouted commands, the occasional dull thud of a shield meeting an imaginary blow. The structured chaos of their training contrasted sharply with the solitude Kaede sought in her run.

As her muscles warmed, the chill in the air became less biting, and her focus sharpened. She imagined Risa running alongside her, her partner's teasing voice egging her on, pushing her to quicken her pace. The memory brought a small, fleeting smile to her face, but it faded just as quickly when the reality of her situation set in.

Kaede veered off the main path, circling around the training field. Her gaze flickered back to the knights. She noted their footwork, the way their bodies shifted to absorb impact or deliver a strike.

She couldn't help but wonder how much of their skill came from raw training and how much she could learn from them. She shelved that thought in the back of her mind for later.

By the time Kaede completed her sixteenth lap around the field, she realized she had surpassed her previous record of five miles—or at least she thought so. Yet she barely felt winded. Pushing herself further, she made eight more laps before her breath became uneven, exhaustion creeping in.

"W-whoa... That's cold." She felt a chill in her gut, and her breath evened out, entering a rythm. "This feeling."

"I fell like I can go even further." The cool energy flowed in the deepest recesses of her stomach, seeping into her body, her exhaustion already abated.

"I wonder how far I can push this energy- magicules right?" She tried feeling for the energy, grabbing for it as it seeped cooly into her body. It proved slippery for her to get a hold of.

"C'mon... Just move it a smidge." Her voice strained a little bit as the energy returned back to its previous actions once again like an elastic liquid. "Damnit... How about this then?"

She extended her thoughts to the energy again, but this time instead of grabbing it, "Just by flowing into my body, I feel rejuvenated." She pushed more of the energy to flow into her body, making it flow even faster through her body.

"Whoa" Kaede's body felt lighter, and she unknowingly picked up speed. Wanting to test it even further, she changed from her steady pace to a full on sprint, increasing the speed of the flowing energy as she did.

Back with the knights training, in the center of the field, a few of the templars had already noticed the girl who had been running around them in circles for the past fifteen minutes or so, moving at speeds that would rival a newly trained knight.

Then she suddenly sped up, shocking the knights greatly as she slowly became a blur.

"I wonder who she is." One of them murmured.

Kaede almost felt like she was flying, with the way winds rushed past her. "This feels so awesome!" She cried. "This must be how Sally feels." She grinned as she had the sudden urge to run on the walls. "Hehehehe."

<<Extra Skill [Magic Surge] has been successfully acquired>>

The words echoed in her mind, clear and concise, though she wasn't entirely sure where they came from.

[Extra Skill: Magic Surge]

Skill floods all of host's magic pathways with magicules, doubling all stats the more magicules are expended.

Kaede eventually stopped as the texts appeared before her. "Seriously? I was in the middle of something. You can't just appear abruptly like that. What if I'm in the middle of a fight?"

[...]

"Hmph. Nothing to say huh?" Kaede smirked. "Now what's this about an extra skill?" She moved to a tree and leaned on it. In the distance she could see some of the knights staring at her. Awkward.

<Answer: Magic Surge allows host to supercharge host's body by forcing massive amounts of magicules through>

Kaede flinched as a voice, different from before sounded within in her head. "Ehh? You can talk now?"

<Answer: Yes>

Kaede eyed the knights, who now looked concerned, understandably, since she was acting incredibly weird. "How are you talking to me... What are you by the way, isn't your job just to tell me when I activate some weird power that's just normal but my friends will scream that they're not?"

<... >

<Answer: This is an effect of the Ultimate Skill [Artificia. Lord Machines] For sake quickly utilizing your skills, a response function has been added.>

"Ok, like an artificial intelligence? What's the difference between you and that other voice?" Kaede asked.

"Ah, I understand." Kaede nodded. "So you're like a personal assistant that can answer anything huh? Does everyone possess a personal assistant like you?"

<Answer: No. A skill that answers any questions does not exist. This function is only possible due to Ultimate Skill Artificia.>

"So you're one of a kind? Gosh, I'm such a lucky girl." Kaede cupped her face between her hands. Regaining herself, she smiled"Nice to meet you Artificia. Let's be friends."

<... >

<Yes... Master>

Stealing a glance toward the knights, she realized they had stopped their drills entirely. Several of them were staring at her, some whispering among themselves, their expressions ranging from confusion to awe.

Kaede's cheeks burned, embarrassment swelling within her. "Well... that's not awkward at all," she muttered under her breath, her voice nearly lost in the wind. "So Artificia, about magic surge?" Kaede's voice trailed off as the artificial intelligence—Artificia—responded with its calm, matter-of-fact tone.

<Answer: Magic Surge drastically increases the flow of magicules in your body, allowing you to temporarily enhance physical and magical abilities depending amount used. Each use, however, leads overstrain or damage form if not properly controlled.>

Kaede blinked. "Wait, damage to my physical form? What kind of damage?" She crossed her arms, her tone now tinged with concern.

Kaede froze. "So you're saying... I could literally fall apart if I go too hard?"

<Correct. Moderation is advised, Master.>

This is in fact correct... for most people. Indeed, this Berserker type skill is a double edged sword. Unlike monsters, humans are not made up of mostly magicules, hence forcing magicules through the body is dangerous for a normal person as the human body cannot restrain such a torrent of magicules.

Kaede however is not a normal person. Her body is currently adapting to that of her game avatar, including her insane defense. Magic Surge would need to be pushed far beyond its normal limits to even begin causing her harm. However, Artificia remained silent on this point, allowing Kaede to explore her newfound power cautiously.

Kaede sighed, her hands resting on her hips as she tilted her head toward the horizon. "Great. Another thing to worry about. Guess I'll need to test it out properly before using it in a fight."

"Yeah, yeah. I get it." She waved a hand dismissively, though a grin tugged at her lips. "You're like a nagging mom already."

<... >

One of the knights, a tall man with a square jaw and a scar slicing through his right eyebrow, stepped forward, calling out to her. "Hey! You there! What are you doing?" His tone wasn't accusatory, but it carried enough authority to make Kaede slow her pace.

"Uhm- me? I just came out for a run." Kaede stammered.

The knight stared at her.

Kaede shrinked into herself. "I'm Kaede. Nice to meet you." She whispered.

"You must be an otherworlder." The knight said, disdain creeping into his voice.

Kaede bristled at the tone in the knight's voice but forced herself to remain calm. She knew better than to rise to the bait, especially when surrounded by people she didn't know—or trust. The last thing she wanted was to escalate an already awkward situation.

"And if I am?" she asked, straightening her posture and meeting his gaze. Her voice was even, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of defiance. She wasn't about to let someone belittle her without reason.

The knight hesitated, clearly not expecting her to stand her ground so firmly. His brow furrowed, but before he could respond, another voice cut through the tension.

"Enough, Garen." A woman stepped forward from the group, her armor shining even in the muted morning light. Her white surcoat was pristine, the eight-pointed star on her chest gleaming like a beacon. Her long, auburn hair was tied neatly behind her head, and her green eyes were sharp but calm.

"She's done nothing wrong," the woman continued, her voice firm but lacking hostility. "Otherworlder or not, she's training just as we are. There's no need for hostility."

Garen clicked his tongue but stepped back, muttering under his breath. Kaede caught the words "reckless" and "unneeded" but decided to let it slide. She had no interest in proving herself to someone so eager to judge.

The woman approached Kaede, her steps measured and purposeful. When she stopped a few feet away, she extended a hand. "I'm Sardyne, captain of this unit. I apologize for Garen's behavior."

Kaede stared at the outstretched hand for a moment before shaking it, her grip firm despite the awkwardness she felt. "Kaede," she said simply. "And it's fine. I've dealt with worse."

Sardyne's lips quirked into a small smile. "I believe that. You've been running circles around us for the better part of an hour. Quite literally." Her gaze flickered to the path Kaede had carved into the frost-coated ground. "Impressive stamina for someone who doesn't look like a knight. Even with your otherworlder status."

Kaede shrugged, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "I like to keep active. Besides, running clears my head."

"Good habit to have," Sardyne replied. She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Kaede more closely. "Though that burst of speed earlier... That was a skill was it not?"

Kaede shifted uncomfortably, her earlier excitement over Magic Surge now tinged with unease. "Sort of. I was experimenting, I guess. It's... new."

"New?" Sardyne tilted her head. "I won't pry, don't worry."

"Thanks," Kaede admitted, scratching the back of her neck. "i guess."

"Of course." Sardyne's smile returned, softer this time. "You're welcome to join our drills if you'd like. It might help you learn in a more controlled environment."

Kaede hesitated, glancing back at the group of knights. Most of them had returned to their exercises, but she could still feel the weight of Garen's glare. The idea of training with them was tempting, especially if it meant gaining better control with her shield.

"Actually, I was hoping you could help me get better at using a shield." Kaede blurted out quickly. "It's just... I use a shield."

Sardyne smiled. "I don't see why not." She turned, Kaede behind her as they headed towards the knights. "Just a shield though?" She wondered aloud.

"Maybe a dagger, if you don't mind." Kaede murmured.

Sardyne barked a laugh. "Do not worry. It's of no consequence.

And so the rest of the morning was spent, Kaede learning more about how to wield a shield from the Templar knights of the faith of luminous.

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