Chapter 82 - Learning about Teleportation Circles

When Asia got tired of swimming, she returned to the couch where our things were and was surprised to see that neither Akeno nor I were there.

"They must have gone for a walk. Shall I go look for them?" She put her hand to her chin and wondered.

Luckily for me and Akeno, we were a bit early. Seconds later, we appeared from behind the kiosk, where Akeno had placed a magic circle for us to return quickly.

"Where did you go?" Asia asked curiously.

I put my hand to the back of my head and looked away. "We went to see if there was a good place to eat. We want to have lunch."

"Oh, I see!" Asia replied, her expression instantly softening. "I was really getting hungry. I hope you found a good place." She smiled, radiant as ever.

"Yes, we did." I lied quietly to avoid further questions, and Akeno agreed with a quick nod.

After the beach, we returned to the beach house. The house was impressive, a large mansion that stood out on the seafront, with its large glass windows offering a spectacular view of the ocean.

Akeno was enjoying the swimming pool of the house, lying peacefully in the water on a floating chair.

Koneko, on the other hand, was more reserved as usual, even though she was lying on a duck-shaped float wearing sunglasses.

The reason for returning home so early, however, was that this three-day trip to the beach wasn't going to be all rest and relaxation. Rias, always astute and aware of the needs of her [Pieces], had organized this trip as an opportunity for some of us to hone our talents, especially Asia and I, who were still getting to grips with magical energy.

At the bottom of the pool, Kiba and Xenovia were engaged in a training session in which they repeatedly swung glass swords. The pressure of the water slowed them down, so the goal of this training was for them to wield the sword in the water with the same speed as outside.

In particular, even though my strength and skill had grown considerably, I still felt that there was so much to learn, so much to master. Basically, all the power I got came from Ddraig and the system, not from actual training.

Rias stood with her arms crossed in front of Asia and me when she said, "Listen, I know this trip is supposed to be an opportunity for us to relax and enjoy some leisure time, but we can't forget that we are devils. And as such, our training cannot be neglected. I must admit that I made a mistake. In fact, I made so many mistakes that I can't even list them. I believed that with time, the two of you would learn everything you needed to know about magic and combat. I thought you would have that time to develop your skills. But I was wrong."

Asia looked up, her lips trembling slightly. "I... I'm sorry, Rias. If I had tried harder, if I had been more useful... maybe I could have helped more in the fight against Kokabiel. I feel like I've let you all down."

Seeing Asia blame herself like that disturbed me deeply. I knew how dedicated she was, how much she cared for all of us, and how much she wanted to be a useful part of the group. So before Rias could respond, I stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on Asia's shoulder.

"Hey, Asia, you helped more than you know. It was your healing power that left everyone without a scratch when it was all over. You didn't let anyone down."

Asia's eyes filled with tears, and she looked at me with a small smile. "Do you really believe that, Leo?"

"Of course I do!"

"Leo is right, Asia. You did your part by bringing the fragments of Excalibur to Sona, and you even healed everyone after the battle. It made me proud."

Asia's smile widened, and she nodded, quickly wiping away the tears that threatened to fall. "Thanks, guys. It means a lot to me."

"You both did very well that day. Now, what the hell, you need to learn even more so you can do even better when it's time for the next battle. The first thing I'm going to teach you is how to use magic teleportation circles. This will not only give you mobility for your devil duty, but it can also be a vital tool in dangerous situations."

She gestured with her hand, and a soft red light began to emanate from her index finger. Slowly, she drew a circle in the air and it began to glow, floating slightly before expanding and settling on the ground in front of us.

"The process is simple in theory, but can be complicated in practice. You have to draw a magic circle in a place you want to use as a teleportation point. Then all you have to do is wish that you were there. However, there are nuances. If you want to create your own magic circle, it will be more difficult. It requires much more control over magical energy and a deep understanding of the principles of teleportation circles. Most demons choose to use already established magic circles, like the ones in my family. These circles are easier to manipulate and use."

She took a step back so we could get a better look at the circle she had drawn.

"Each magic circle also requires a password," Rias continued, "a riddle that must be mentally answered before the teleportation can be activated."

Rias closed her eyes for a moment, and suddenly a word formed in my mind, a random word: Sirigre. It was as if she had implanted it directly into my mind.

"Now I want you to try. Concentrate on the circle in front of you and try to teleport to it. It's a short distance, but it requires a lot of concentration. Asia, try it first."

Asia seemed a little nervous about going first, but nodded decisively. She closed her eyes and began to concentrate. A soft light began to emanate from the ground beneath her, and I almost thought she would succeed on her first try. But suddenly the light intensified too much. The ground where the magic circle had been drawn exploded in a flash of light, and the energy released made Asia's hair stand on end as the circle on the ground fell apart, blurred by the explosion.

Asia let out a small cry of surprise and looked at Rias. "I... did it?"

Rias smiled slightly. "No, but it's through mistakes that you learn. That's why we train. Don't worry, Asia. You'll succeed next time."

"I'll try again! Thank you!"

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