Training With Kids

Day of Thura, 7:11 p.m.

Vivian and the kids were inside a room at Graham's Lodge House.

"Okay, let's continue where we left off yesterday -- I mean, this morning," said Vivian.

She got up from her seat and then sat down on the floor in front of a metal slab used for training Magic Arts.

The metal slab was square-shaped measuring 12 inches on each side and 3 inches thick. It also had a small half-ball-like stand on each side to make it stand like a table.

Felize got up from her seat and sat down in front of Vivian.

The 2 boys, Gaze and Torr, got up as well and sat down beside Felize to support her.

Before this, they took a one-hour break after eating.

The last thing Vivian wanted was to have the kids, especially Felize, vomit out her food during the awakening ceremony.

And of course, Vivian bought the kids dinner and also paid for the lodging.

Although they tried to protest, in regards with the food, she told them that she was the adult. And as an adult, it was only fitting she paid for their meal.

She also couldn't bear the shame of having a kid or kids pay for her unless it was under special circumstances.

"I'm ready, Priestess Vivian," Felize said and stretched out her hand.

Vivian nodded and raised a hand.

[Wind Arrow].

Woooh!

"Argh!"

Felize gritted her teeth as an arrow made out of a green aura burst out of Vivian's hand and shot right through her palm, leaving a hole before disappearing on the metal slab.

Drip.

Drip.

Blood continued dripping down from her wound and both Gaze and Torr supported her by holding her back and shoulders.

Woooh!

"ARGH!"

Vivian shot another [Wind Arrow]. But this time around it was on Felize's wrist, leaving another hole.

Beads of sweat began to appear on Felize's forehead.

Woooh!

"ARRRGGGHHH!"

Again, another [Wind Arrow] came out of Vivian's hand and this time around it shot right through Felize's forearm, leaving another hole.

[Heal].

A faint yellow light enveloped Felize's body, closing her wounds and removing most of the pain she felt.

Felize then raised her hand with the help of Torr and activated a spell.

[Lightning Arrow].

Pscht!

The arrow made out of lightning shot out from Felize's hand and disappeared when it hit Vivian's chest. However, it still caused Vivian to twitch a bit and a few strands of her hair to rise from its electrocuting effect.

"I still have some mana. I'll go one more round," said Vivian

[Wind Arrow].

Woooh!

"Argh!"

***

Some time later…

Woooh!

"Ugh…" Felize groaned weakly.

Her face was pale and her body was covered in sweat.

Vivian was about to cast another [Wind Arrow].

"W-Wait…" Felize said weakly.

"You finally got it?"

"Y-Yes…"

[Heal].

A faint yellow light enveloped Felize's body and it healed her wounds.

However, just to be sure, Vivian cast another one.

[Heal].

Another faint yellow light enveloped Felize's body.

"Okay, show us. Cast it on the metal slab."

Felize raised her hand with the help of Torr and activated a skill.

Woooh!

An arrow made out of green aura burst out of her hand and disappeared when it hit the metal slab.

"Congratulations, Felize!" said the Gaze and Torr, their faces brimming with happiness.

"Congratulations," Vivian said and nodded before turning to Gaze.

Wait…!

I don't think I can ask any of these boys to bathe Felize…

They don't look gay…

She got up.

"I'll take Felize to the bathroom and wash her. We can't leave her in this state. Her body is already so weak and she's covered in dry sweat. She will only get sick."

"I-It's… okay… I can…"

"Stop being hardheaded."

Vivian scooped her up and turned to Torr.

"This will also allow me to recover some mana in the meantime for your [Fire Mastery]." 

She turned around and headed to the bathroom.

Hearing that, Felize shut her mouth and gave up resisting.

"Thank you, Priestess Vivian!" Torr said and bowed.

And as for Gaze, he bowed as well. However, deep inside his heart, he felt a tinge of envy starting to take root.

Unlike Torr and Felize, he was the only one who didn't have any Magic Art Affinity.

Growing up, since they were neighbors and became friends, they all looked up to him as their leader.

But ever since they took the path of becoming an adventurer, for some reason, he couldn't help but feel that the distance between them was slowly growing.

It first started when Felize opened her [Lightning Mastery] which cost 50 gold coins that left her family in deep debt even after his and Torr's family helped chipped in as well. And now, with their unexpected encounter with Vivian, she was able to open her [Wind Mastery].

Meanwhile, for Torr who had Fire and Dark Affinity, since [Fire Mastery] can easily be opened just by burning one's self, the money that was supposed to be used in opening his [Dark Mastery] went to Felize. With that, they all promised each other that they would grow strong together and support each other, including their families. And once they paid off Felize's debts, they would open his [Dark Mastery]. 

And as for him, Gaze, although he didn't have any Magic Art Affinity, he promised to himself that he wouldn't lose when it came to training Physical Arts.

***

Inside the bathroom.

The bathroom had a bathtub equipped with a faucet that produces water, a bucket with a pail along with another faucet, and a squatting toilet. There was also soap and a towel.

Vivian placed Felize in the bathtub and helped her strip.

Felize blushed and looked down.

"P-Priestess... I-I can do it myself…"

Vivian rolled her eyes.

"Why are you being shy? Do you have some sort of ugly-looking scar, birthmark or something?"

In her mind, yes, Felize was only 15 years old. However, just like Felize, she was also now a female. 

What am I going to do...?

Ravage her with my fingers...?

"No… It's just that…"

"Come on, let's just get this over with."

Felize gave up resisting and Vivian continued stripping her down.

A few moments later…

Vivian was sitting on the edge of the bathtub and watching Felize wash herself.

Given that she used to be a man in her previous world, she was trying to study how women, especially in this world, wash themselves.

And she was currently washing her pink hair.

"I noticed that you've shaved your armpits and it looks nice. What do you use?" asked Vivian.

"I use a cream that my sister bought at the apothecary."

"You don't use shaving blades?"

As a man in her previous world, she only used either shaving blades or an electric razor.

"There are, but it's mostly only used by boys. I prefer the cream because you just need to rub it on your skin and wipe it with a piece of cloth. You have to be careful not to rub it on your hair though."

"I see."

Damn the original owner of this body…

She was so broke that she couldn't even afford to shave her armpits…

I should go to the apothecary and buy one…

I'd die in shame if rumors spread that I have smelly armpits…

She glanced at her fingers.

I should also buy a nail cutter…

If there is one…

"Priestess, you prefer using shaving blades?"

Vivian's eyes blinked for a moment, trying to come up with an excuse.

"Personally, I think the cream is better. However, once you're out traveling for long periods of time, a shaving blade is better." 

"That makes sense..."

Vivian didn't continue the conversation and looked away as she thought about other stuff.

"Priestess…"

Vivian turned to her.

"Do you know anything about relationships…?"

Vivian almost coughed out blood.

Although she had some experience in dating, she wouldn't consider herself an expert. And plus, her only experience was from the perspective of a man.

"Well… I can't say that I'm an expert in that field..."

"But you're strong, beautiful and confident. How is that possible?"

"Well... like they say, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder."

"Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder? What does that mean?"

"Hmm… Basically, although in your eyes I may appear to be strong, beautiful and confident -- basically, perfect, to others I might not be."

"I understand now. It's such a beautiful saying, Priestess."

"Really? Well, I guess."

"Priestess…"

Vivian didn't say anything but she felt her stomach turned to knots.

"Do you think Gaze is handsome…?" she asked and her cheeks turned bright red.

Hearing her question, Vivian couldn't help but recall her life in her previous world.

And if that other kid has feelings for her, then…

"He's… Um…"

An image of a smiling Gaze without his two front teeth flashed inside her head.

"Well… he's not bad."

How could Vivian say anything?

Although Gaze tried to hit her on the face so she retaliated by shoving his face down and hitting it with her knee, even she would admit that it was too much for a kid.

Does teeth still grow at his age…?'

If not, once I learn [Greater Heal] I'll heal him…

Wait…!

I can just ask Criselle or Marie to heal him…

She shook her head mentally.

No, I can't afford to owe them anymore debts…

Especially that Marie…

Fucking nosy, ugly bitch…!

"Then how do I make him like me? Am I ugly…?" asked Felize.

Vivian's face suddenly turned serious and she stared straight into Felize's eyes.

"If there's anything I know about love and relationships, you can't force anyone to like you -- they either like you or they don't. And even if you somehow managed be in a relationship with a person where you like them more than they like you, it will be a one-sided one. It would be better to just move on and develop some self-respect. Life is too short to waste it over someone who thinks so little of you.

"And of course, as you move on and develop self-respect, continue improving your life -- looks, money and status. Because if you remain a loser, then that person who didn't like you made the right decision -- unless that person is also a loser. Then the both of you deserve to be together living a poor and miserable life."

Felize lowered her head and rubbed her shoulder.

"That's… I understand, Priestess…" she said and then murmured under her breath. "So I have to be better than my older sister…"

And as for whether Felize was ugly or not, if Vivian were to judge her, she would still describe her as cute.

Now that I think about it…

This kid reminds me of her…

A girl from her previous life flashed inside her head.

Tch.

She clicked her tongue.