What You Can Do For Now Pt 2

"I want you to help me train my magic."

"Come again?"

Not exactly what I was looking for. Tanya sweatdropped. Picking on the little guy is perfectly fine when the situation is life or death, but I have absolutely no desire to knock Mary Sue down another three pegs. A few lives ago, I would have already brushed her aside. But, back then I also assumed fault-ridden subordinates were the type of people to never improve.

"I said, I want you to help me train my magic." Sue crossed her arms. "Weren't you listening?"

Is this better or worse than when I was a salaryman? Hard to tell. Sure, I'm aware others can improve, but even so, having to deal with things like this is… Tanya mentally sighed, She's as abrasive as always. Honestly, I don't have time for this. There are more important things I could be doing than playing 'skill checkup'.

"Right, I thought you said that." Tanya tilted her head, "But why-"

She trailed off. Hm?

Sue's jaw was set, her expression a level of fierce determination Tanya hadn't seen since their previous world. It was the closest thing to "interesting" Tanya had seen out of the other woman since their mutual death.

That's a different look in her eye. Come to think of it, it has been a while since I've checked on her improvement. Did something happen? Hakurou, maybe Gobta said something to her?

A sense of déjà vu struck her like an artillery spell.

…No. I've seen this sort of thing before, haven't I? Yes, alright. No one is allowed to interrupt a metamorphosis in progress. Isn't that right, Visha? I suppose I can make some time.

"Well, sure." Tanya's expression turned thoughtful.

Actually, I can kill two birds with one stone here.

-=-=-=-

A Few Minutes Later

Northern Training Field

Tempest, Jura Tempest Federation

"I thought you wanted help with your magic." Degurechaff pointed out, dropping the satchel she'd grabbed from their house on the ground beside her.

"Fighting is a good way to test my magic."

"That is… technically true." Degurechaff heaved a sigh. "Well, I've been meaning to practice more with this, so it's not a total loss."

As she said this, a magic circle appeared above one of her hands. With her other hand, Degurechaff reached inside the circle and pulled. Slowly, a handle of a reddish wood emerged.

Degurechaff continued to pull, until eventually she was brandishing a brilliantly crafted… pole with a blade on the end?

"What is that?" Mary blinked. "Actually, no, how did you do that?"

"This is a naginata I asked Kaijin to craft for me." Degurechaff's voice switched into the tone Mary had recently learned to recognize as 'lecture mode'. "Technically, you would refer to it as an ō-naginata or a ko-naginata depending on the wielder and the length of the weapon. But I don't think it's that important, truth be told. It's basically the same weapon in this case. And as for how I hid it…"

Degurechaff briefly let go of the handle, catching the naginata closer to the blade.

"We'll leave that in the dark for a bit longer." She crouched down and reached into her earlier-dropped satchel. "I'll tell you if actually land a blow on me this time. How's that?"

"…Fine." Mary huffed, "Let's go already."

"Hold on now. I don't exactly want to dissect you today." Degurechaff looked up. Mary blinked, belatedly recognizing what was happening.

"You're tying the sheath down with… bandages?"

"More like cloth wrappings, but yes. It might come off otherwise."

"Is that necessary?"

Degurechaff stood, ignoring her question. "You're being awfully impatient, aren't you? Are you that eager to spend time with me?"

She spun the naginata idly, testing the wrap's security.

Stupid question.

Mary rolled her eyes. "Yes, obviously."

I need to learn more. Who else would I be eager to spend time with now?

Degurechaff paused for a second.

"Pardon?"

Mary blinked. Did I say something wrong?

"I said 'yeah'. You're the best mage I know." Mary shot her an odd look. "Of course I'm eager. How else am I going to get stronger?"

No one else can teach me magic like her, since we're both from the same world. This is also a good opportunity to ask about her Skills. So, how else am I supposed to feel besides eager?

"…Right. Just… watch how you phrase things. You don't want other people getting the wrong impression. Me included."

The wrong idea?

"How so?"

"I-" Degurechaff's cool mask slipped for a second, her expression pained. "No, I refuse. This isn't worth it anymore. Let's start already."

Degurechaff stood up straight, again spinning her weapon. The naginata sung as it moved through the air, cutting circles around her body as it switched sides and moved from left to right without issue.

Then, she dropped it.

"Oops." Degurechaff bent down, picking it back up. "Too fancy?"

She's not taking this seriously at all. Knowing her though, it might be deliberate.

Mary gripped tight the handle of her sheathed bokken.

It's been a month and a half since we last fought. I need to know more about her abilities, but first, I need to be strong enough to force her to use them at all.

"We'll go by the usual rules." Degurechaff called out, settling into a loose stance, "No maiming and the like. I have a potion on me, but I'd rather not waste it on something avoidable. If you would have died from an attack, then you lose."

Degurechaff turned her body sideways, holding the naginata near the blade. She held her other hand out, palm up in the classic 'bring it on' position.

"Start whenever you're ready."

Mary nodded.

She has a longer reach with that naginata of hers. Which means I need to close the distance.

Her tightened her grip even more.

But, she has to know that too, which means I'll have to work even harder. Is it better to use it now, or later on? But what if I need it? Would saving it for a later moment be better?

Mary breathed deeply. Her magic flowed like a river, rushing throughout her body and into her bokken.

No, I might not get the chance later. I'll use it now and improvise if that doesn't work.

She pressed her thumb against the guard of her bokken, getting ready to flick it from its sheath. Water began to flow around the blade, hidden inside.

This kind of trick will only work once. I'll have to make it count.

-=-

She's up to something. Tanya thought, observing Mary's tense stance with an eyebrow raised. She's being patient. She's hasn't done that before, as sad as that is to admit. And that stance is… iaijutsu? Quick draw? Some Hakurou's teachings seem to have stuck. That's a good sign as well.

Suddenly, Mary's stance loosened, her bokken flowing swiftly from her sheath like water.

No, that's actual water! Tanya's other eyebrow shot up as well, She picked up Hakurou's "Water Arts" as well?

Mary slashed the bokken across her body, water flowing behind the blade and filling the air. Then just as quickly, she redirected the movement downward, slamming it into the ground. More water rushed from the impact, spreading out and up in a swirling water spout.

That was Crestwater Slash. And… a modified Whirlpool Slash? Tanya crouched slightly, holding her naginata at the ready. The water, seemingly being manipulated by the other woman's magic, hung in the air for longer than it should have. Instead of carelessly closing the distance, she used the water to obscure my vision. Clever-

Magic Sense pinged, as something approached her at high speed from behind the liquid curtain.

Tanya reacted completely on autopilot, swinging her naginata up in a defensive swipe.

Thunk!

Her bokken?

The wooden sword spun as it was knocked away, sunlight glinting off its metallic handle guard and spine.

Did she channel her magic into it? But why-

Magic Sense pinged again, this time directly behind her. Realization sparked in her eyes like fireworks.

A distraction. That's right.

Tanya spun around as quick as she could.

I have the range advantage, so naturally she'd want to close the distance. An area she'd have an advantage in over most opponents. After all, Mary Sue has always been powerful. Her magic was S-grade back in our other world, and that itself was further enhanced by Being X's "blessing".

She was just a split second too slow. Sue was nearly on her already, her arm pulled back for a palm strike. Tanya held up her naginata to block, making sure to reinforce herself with her magic.

Being X's influence was removed when we reincarnated here. My curse and mental corruption disappeared, and I received TLE in exchange. Meanwhile, Sue kept most of her natural magic pool, but lost the overwhelming boost from Being X's "blessing". And in exchange for that…

Mary's palm crashed against her naginata's handle, splintering the wood. A split second later, her magic rushed in.

Crack!

Tanya's naginata split in two, the force of the double impact blowing her backwards and off her feet.

…is a level of physical enhancement bordering on superhuman.

She twisted in midair, backflipping and landing lightly on her feet several meters away.

It normally wouldn't be a problem, but I also have to deal with her Unique Skill. Not to mention her magic itself, which she seems to have gotten a greater grasp on. Tanya glanced down at the broken ends of the naginata, absentmindedly noting the slight shaking in her hands, Still, what's with this time lag? It's like she hit me twice… well, it's not like it matters now.

-=-

I… hit her? Kind of?

Mary stared at her outstretched hand incredulously.

…It worked?

"Damn…"

Mary looked up, gauging the distance between them.

Degurechaff paid her little mind, instead staring at her broken-in-half naginata with annoyance.

She clicked her teeth. "I've only had this for two weeks…"

Mary winced, before mentally shaking her head.

No, we're not done yet. Don't worry about that!

She pulled her hand back, settling into a loose boxing stance she'd seen Gobta take up once or twice. Not that it had worked out well for him, since his opponent had been Hakurou, but her options were somewhat limited at the moment.

Do I rush her? She's off guard, but without my bokken I'm at the disadvantage. What do I do? Should I-

"And now you've lost!"

"Huh?" Mary blinked. It was only her magically enhanced reflexes that allowed her to duck in time, the lower half of Degurechaff's naginata ruffling her hair as it rocketed overhead.

She's throwing-! Mary dove forward, the upper half of the naginata burying itself in the ground at her former position. She tumbled into a roll, barely recovering and landing on her hind end.

"And now, you're dead."

Degurechaff's voice came from directly in front of her. Mary looked up, immediately seeing the other woman's glowing palm a few centimeters from her face.

"Looks like it's my win, then."

The glow dissipated.

Degurechaff turned her hand over, extending it slightly. Mary stared at the proffered hand for a moment, glancing between it and Degurechaff's face multiple times. After another moment of hesitation, she took it, letting out a surprised squeak as the other woman effortlessly hoisted to her feet.

Mary jerked her hand away like it'd caught fire, a small blush rising to her cheeks.

"…Thanks."

Degurechaff blinked, before having the nerve to let out a laugh.

"What has my life come to? Mary Sue, accepting my helping hand up, and then thanking me for it. I really must have died back then."

"Piss off. We're supposed to be allies, aren't we? Don't act so high and mighty about it."

"Allies don't have to like each other, Sue. I'm sure you're well aware just how much the Federation hated everyone that wasn't themselves."

"Even if you hate your allies, you should help them to the best of your ability." Mary countered. "I disagreed with the Federation completely, but they were on our side."

"And you see me the same way, huh?" Degurechaff said nonchalantly, "Well, we've hated each other for so long, so I can't really blame you."

"No, that's not-" Mary coughed into her fist, looking away, "That's not it. You have some… qualities that aren't terrible, you know. So, to say I hate you is… not really true anymore."

An awkward silence filled the air.

"…Huh."

Mary turned back, noting the slightly puzzled look on Degurechaff's face.

A few seconds later, the blonde shrugged, "That is a more reasonable response than I'd expected."

Mary blinked. "What did you expect?"

"In general? Screaming, maybe some angry crying. A fistfight. You know, the usual." Degurechaff gave her a once over, "Right now though, perhaps a 'you damn devil' or two. Our previous encounters have only given me increasingly lower expectations."

"That's… fair."

As much as I hate to admit it.

"Or maybe some sort of cliché 'hate you, hate to love you' type of confession, I'm not sure." Degurechaff continued, with surprisingly little concern for her own life, "Was it my roguish charms and fine aristocratic features that brought you around?"

"Consider going somewhere and fucking yourself." Mary rolled her eyes, refusing to rise to the bait, "Honestly, you're always so annoying. Do you never shut up?"

"That's more like it." Degurechaff crossed her arms. "If you started getting any more familiar, I might have accused you of liking me."

"I already said I don't dislike you."

"Well, you say that now, but after I'm done training you that might change."

Mary did a double take, a startled look overtaking her, "What?"

"Don't 'what' me. You've improved enough to land a blow on me, which means you're ready for more advanced magical instruction. You'll be continuing your morning training with Hakurou, of course. But for the next month at least, you will attend afternoon training sessions with me. I'll also organize a few spars for you, with… hm, Shion, definitely Rimuru, maybe Youm- no, his troupe left the other day."

"Wait, wait. That's not- hold on a moment!" Mary waved her hands frantically, "Isn't this a little rushed? And aren't you busy with work?"

"Why waste time? That wouldn't make any sense. And I changed occupations recently, so I have more free time." Degurechaff gestured in her direction, "You still want to help others, yes?"

"Of course!" Mary's answer was quick, "That's what I want. I don't know what else I would do."

I don't know what else I can do.

"The strength to stand for others first requires the strength to stand alone." Degurechaff stared at Mary passively, taking in her mildly upset expression, "While you may not be strong enough yet, you will be. Don't get hung up on worthless emotions like regret and doubt. Just focus on what you can do for now."

-=-

It was quiet for several moments.

"What about you?"

Tanya blinked. "Eh?"

"Sorry, I mean, what can you do? I guess?" Sue shook her head, "No, what I'm asking is… Hakurou Sensei said I was focusing on the wrong thing. He also said to ask you about your Skills."

"My Skills…"

How would knowing my abilities help her at all? Does this have something to do with that self-deprecating nature she's seemed to pick up? How could knowing about my Skills help with that, besides- oh. Well, that makes sense.

"I assume you mean my Unique Skills."

Sue nodded.

If she's comparing herself to me… well, with the incomplete information available to her, naturally she'd feel unaccomplished. I suppose the TLE easily creates the wrong sort of impression when it comes to powerscaling.

"Fine, I'll tell you. Don't tell anyone else, got it?"

"I won't."

It's clear she's been working hard lately. If you want your employees – subordinates, allies, whoever – to stay properly motivated, you have to reward them occasionally. It wouldn't do well for her to get disheartened now. Not when she's so close to becoming genuinely useful. Plus, she needs to realize she shouldn't be comparing herself to others with incomplete information.

"You already know about my Unique Skill: Formulaic Casting. It lets me mimic the magic of our old world. It's extremely versatile, and it allows a much more precise casting of magic than otherwise possible. You know just as well as I do that magic here is incredibly different. Instead of mana, it uses magicules, or aura, or even a person's internal life energy. It's generally more diverse and powerful as a result, which makes precision suffer for it."

Tanya held her hand out to the side. Her hand glowed briefly, two small explosions of dirt erupting a few meters away. Left behind were two pits in the ground.

"You'll notice one hole is larger than the other, despite me putting approximately the same amount of magic into each casting." Tanya pointed to the first, "With the mimicked formulae of Formulaic Casting, I can calculate my magic expenditure exactly. Often, this means I'm trading power for consistency, but it's a case by case basis. Understand?"

Mary nodded.

Good, she's picking things up quicker as well. A true test of her growth might be in order soon.

"But what about your other one? You said 'Unique Skills' earlier. As in, more than one."

She caught that? Interesting, considering she should have already known I had two Unique Skills. The only reason she wouldn't is if she can't distinguish between them. So, does that mean she thinks I blasted Milim with that giant optical spell with only my own magic? No wonder she's doubting herself.

"That's right. I actually have two Unique Skills." Tanya brought her arm back in, clenching her hand into a fist. "The second is called… well, it's a mouthful. Just call it TLE. Basically, it lets me store my own magic inside the Skill and use it to enhance my abilities."

"Magic storage…" Mary's eyes widened as the implications hit her fully, "So, it's like another magic pool that keeps growing? That's insane!"

It was Tanya's turn to be surprised.

"What? No, it doesn't work like that." She activated TLE Level One briefly, letting the magic flow across her body, "Unlike our internal magic pool, the magic inside TLE doesn't regenerate after use. Once I use it, it's gone. It's pretty much just a battery."

A functionally limitless magical battery, but yes, that's essentially it. That's not mentioning the physical drawbacks from using too much magic at once, or the difficulty in using the Skill at all above Level Two. She doesn't need to know that, thought.

"A battery. Okay, that makes sense." For some reason, Sue looked relieved. "How often do you, uh, fill it up?"

This might be the most normal conversation we've ever had. Is that improvement I see?

"I usually put in whatever I have left at the end of the day-" Tanya froze.

"Tanya, we have a problem."

Souei?

Tanya activated Magic Sense, spreading it's range as far as she could let it go without giving her an aneurysm.

…Shit. Sue's test might come sooner than I thought.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Known Skills List

Tanya:

Common Skill: Thought Communication

Extra Skill: Magic Sense

Extra Skill: Magic Aura

Extra Skill: Voice of the World Communication

Unique Skill: Formulaic Casting

Unique Skill: Tetrabattery Limit Enhancement

Mary:

Extra Skill: Magic Sense

Extra Skill: Magic Aura

Extra/Intrinsic Skill: Physical Enhancement

Other Skills Unknown