(14 years and 6 months after reincarnation)
[Kyrielle's POV]
(Training Ground, Weekend)
In school, we don't get summer vacations. However, we do have a single week of holiday at the end of summer, which is right now....
During the holidays, student can come back to school to do their club activities. Since I had nothing to do back at home, I went back to school to join the Dance Club's activities.
As the club activity finished, I decided to head back to home.... On my way back I stumbled across Garnet who just so happens to have his claymore with him.
And that's why we are having a light sparring session now.
'Tink! Tank! Clank!' The clashes of our blades vibrated through the school during our spar. A few people are watching our little practise session in the middle of the training ground.
"Helm Splitter!"
'Tank!' "Urgh!...." I was knocked away from his attack as I slid backwards on the ground.
"Ignis!" 'Bang!' He fired out a bolt of lightning at my face, and I leaned sideways to dodge it.
"Woah!" The bolt of lightning glances at the end of my hair, ruining it.
"God damn it, my hair!"
"Hahaha, score up two for Garnet, it's 11 vs 9 now!"
"Grr.... That's it, time to die!!!"
I rushed in blindly and swung at him.
'Tink! Tank!'
"You're like an open book,-"
Stinger!
'Tank!' He easily parried my stab to the sides.
"-I can read your every move! Yah!"
He swung his sword at me, I raises my Blaze Edge to block the hit. 'Tank!'
"Urgh!..." The attack from him knocked my feet down to the ground....
"Yep, I think we should call it a day here."
"Hah.... Hah.... I can still fight...."
"No way, you seem to be out of shape today."
"Hah... Fine...." I sat down on the ground, tired but satisfied with a good workout.
He sat down right next to me. "Phew... How many times have we fought now?"
"Hard to say.... It's the only thing I know about you since I came here."
"Haha, I guess that's true huh? Maybe we should hangout somewhere else then and try not to kill each other?"
"Urgh, you flirting with me again? Disgusting..."
"With an attitude like that, you are never gonna get a boyfriend...."
"Sounds like a win to me."
"Kyrie! Garnet!" Said a girl from the sides, it's Diana.
"Well if it isn't Miss Trickster."
Months has passed since we became friends.... But it's a bit of a stretch to say that these two are friends.
"Shut up." She replied in a hostile tone.
I looked at her and said "What do you want to fight as well?"
"No way I can even defeat you two.... I was just thinking of chatting." Garnet sat down right next to me.
"That's very nice of you, do you have a fever or something?" Said Garnet, in a hostile tone as well.
"Please drop in a ditch somewhere, I'm only here to talk with Kyrie."
"Oof, now that's the usual Diana I know. Can't you be nicer to your friend?"
"We are just two person with a mutual friend, we aren't friends by any means."
"And when I'm gone, you two will just be two persons.... Can't you two at least try to get along with each other?"
"It's not like I don't want to, it's just that seeing this guy makes my blood boil."
"Took the words right out of my mouth."
"Sheesh.... You know, I'm thinking maybe we should all hangout somewhere as a way for you two to make amends. Oh I know, how about we go on an adventure together to spice up our summer holiday?"
"Why an adventure?" (2x)
"You see, I have another duo of friends who have recently got their adventurer cards done.... We were planning to go on a short adventure and do somethings together, it's like a picnic."
"I'm out." Said Diana.
"Count me out as well." Said Garnet.
"Huh? Why?"
"It sounds like a pain, and I suck at fighting monsters. My illusions are meant for combat with humans, tricks doesn't work on beasts."
"And I fought countless times already during my time in the school, most of them against you.... I want to take things easy and rest during this holiday."
"What?!... Please come with me, just this once as a way for you two to get along!"
"No." (2x)
"Pretty please?"
"No." (2x)
"If I buy us some drinks?"
"....Well, I'll consider it." (2x)
"What, you two are synchronized! You two DO get along, you just refuses to believe it."
"It was a total coincidence, Kyrie."
"Synchronizing with this little mutt is like blinking at the same time.... It just happens and it's not because we get along."
What a pain in the ass these two are.... Hanging out with Michael and Gerdur never leave me feeling this tired.
____________
(New Klada, City Outskirts)
"Why the hell did I ended up coming along with you four?...." Diana contemplated her life choices as she walked with us out of the city towards a snowy woods nearby.
"Well, it was kind of fun getting to know Kyrielle's former friends." Said Garnet as he stands besides Michael.
"Aww don't be like that. As seniors we can even teach you a thing or two about magic!" Said Gerdur as she wraps her hand on Diana's shoulders.
It seems that introducing my school's friends to Gerdur and Michael made a large group of friends....
And to be honest it is very chaotic to be the one friend that connects two friend groups.
During my time at school, Gerdur and Michael finally got their adventurer card after a bit of convincing to the guild.... As they are only 2 years underage, and had an Adept ranked magic certificate, they qualified to be registered as mages.
Without me, they took on a few D ranked quests already like fetching lost pets or helping out the elderly, but nothing too grandiose.
Today is the first time they will be taking on a C ranked quest. Specifically, a request to kill a pack of Wolves. Since they aren't Dire Wolves or Great Wolves, it shouldn't be too difficult even though there might be a lot of them.
As the bunches chat on, Garnet draws closer to me. "Don't you prefer to use your Blaze Edge? Why are you bringing along that curved sword of yours?"
He looks at the katana that I'm carrying besides my waist.
"Oh, this? I had a passing interest in learning swordsmanship and it is a memento from a friend...."
"I see."
Michael chimed in on us as well. "That reminds me, I remember you said you wanted to travel to the Moonfall Continent after you've graduated right?"
"Mm Hm. I wanted to go and visit that place because I am a big fan of their culture and their mythology. Although I'm not a religious person, I do want to visit the shrine of Amaterasu-sama as well...."
"So you want to visit the holy land of warriors huh?...." Said Garnet, with a somewhat acknowledging look.
"Somehow I don't feel proud when you give me that look.... It feels like you are acknowledging a fellow battle maniac."
"Aren't you one yourself?"
"Don't lump me in with a muscle head like you. Besides, I am not going to travel to Moonfall Continent just to fight monsters."
"Then are there any other reasons you want to go there then?"
"Aside from sight seeing, nothing in particularly."
"I see...." (2x)
We continued walking without much talking.
Ever since I have gotten Blaze Edge, I have never found much use for the katana even though I do wear it constantly.
That being said, even back in Japan I had always been a big fan of japanese swords so I was very glad that I got to use one.
"We're here." All five of us looked forward at the cabin in front of us, a hunter's house nested by the wolves that we are told to kill.
"....Remember, Garnet and Diana will be here to watch over us but we shouldn't treat those wolves lightly.... They can maul humans down like prey for lunch, there's a reason they are still thriving among monsters."
"We know, Kyrie. We came prepared." Michael and Gerdur readied their mage staves that can increase the range of their magic.
"It's 3 vs 10 for now, Diana and Garnet is skilled at combat so please stand by and provide backup if we need it."
"Wait, you are fighting as well Kyrie?"
"Yep."
"Wouldn't the fight end too quickly if you join us?"
"Well I'm going to use this." I said as I tapped on my katana.
"I haven't actually used this a lot in real fights so I'm just as terrible as you two if I equip this....."
"That is just bragging...." (4x)
"Whatever. What's more important here is that we can work together and have fun hunting down predators that took over the hunter's house like they owe the place. This is afterall a little picnic of us right?"
"Haha... you got that right."
"Then, shall we begin?"
_____________
Garnet and Diana stayed at a distance while Gerdur, Michael and I cautiously approached the hunter's cabin.... We have reached within 10 meters from the cabin now, we don't see any signs of wolves around.
"....They may be inside." Said Gerdur
"I'll peek over the window, wait here."
I slowly crept up to the cabin's wall, and peeked over the window. Through the window, I saw about 5 and more wolves napping inside.
I turned around and went back to them....
"Multiple wolves inside. We will have to flush them out, we can't destroy the cabin."
"What idea do you have, Kyrie?"
"Hmm...." Collateral damage is a real headache....
If I make noises, we can lure the wolves out from the house. Once the wolves are out, we can create a large earth wall to block the house from damage and prevent the wolves from running back inside. So....
"...Combo A huh? Wind Gush to blast the enemies into an Earth Wall, and then finish them off with a Wind Blade. Once the combo is done, I'll pick off the strangglers."
"So three spells huh? Got it." (2x)
"Gerdur is better at wind magic so you'll be the combo starter and ender. Michael is good at earth magic, you'll be the middle man."
"Alright."
"Just cover up the house with the wall, it doesn't have to be huge. Gerdur, you need to cast two spells in quick succession so you better get ready."
"We are ready."
"I see. Start your chants."
"He who sour the skies, drive away this one's enemy...."
"Within the very lands lies an impenetrable wall...."
"Alright, now I'll go in. Only start the combo once I give the signal."
I got back over to the cabin. I peek through the windows to make sure the wolves haven't woken up yet....
"Alright. Here goes nothing!"
I punched into the window, creating a loud shattering sound. 'Shatter!'
"Gro?!" (?x)
"Come and get me, stupid dogs!"
"Woof woof!" (?x) It's scary when I could hear multiple wolves barking inside the cabin..... If I get attacked by all of them now I'll be mauled to death.
I hid next to the window waiting for the first one to jump out....
'Thud!' A grey wolf came barging out of the window.
Shadow Draw!
'Slash!' "Gro!!!..." With a quick draw, I sliced up the wolf through its body in a clean cut.
This thing is sharp! I didn't expect it to be so good at cutting.
"Woof woof!" (?x) But before long, countless more wolves barged out of the windows and the door. There's no way I can fight so many of them.
"Oh shit!" I immediately turned tail and ran back to Michael and Gerdur....
"Woof woof!" With the wolves close behind, I ran until we are about 10 meters away from the cabin, all the way over to Gerdur's side.
'Thud!' I immediately dived to the ground and yelled "Now!"
"Wind Gush!" "Earth Wall!"
'Bwuom!' 'Thump!'
The powerful blast of winds blew most of the wolves behind me backwards. Michael's Wall rises up just in time for the wolves to slammed into, stunning them with the impact.
"Saint of the air, guide my path and grant me the ability to slice through my obstacles, Wind blade!" Gerdur chanted as quickly as a professional rapper, and in an instant....
'Slash!' A big cut sliced up all of the wolves that were caught in our little trap.
'Gro!!!' (?x) About eight of the wolves are down, and there's only two more strangglers who didn't get killed.
"Eyah!" Before the wolf can run away, I lunged forward and stabbed my katana at one of the wolf using a Stinger. 'Stab!'
"Roar!" The other wolf who was behind me lunged forward in a desperate attempt to bite me. I immediately turned around and raised my katana to block him...
"Hell no!" 'Tank!'
I deflected the lunge of the wolf, and threw it to the sides.... It is much easier to block and deflect with a katana compared to Blaze Edge.
"Earth, grant me a bullet that shall pierce all, Rock Sling!" 'Bang!'
Michael quickly fired out a single rock bullet and shot the wolf in the chest, dealing a serious injury.
"Nice one you all, give me a high five!"
"Yeah!" (2x) 'Clap!'
Suddenly, I felt my head started to get a bit dizzy. Shit, not again.... I took my medicine so why am I having one now?
"That was a nice combo, Gerdur!"
"It was, and it's all thanks to Kyrie's incredible planning- Kyrie?"
"Urgh...." I can feel my head spinning as I dropped down to the ground.
"Kyrie!" (2x) The two caught me before I could drop down....
"!" (2x) Noticing me having some sort of problem, Diana and Garnet rushed over as well.
"Kyrie, did you hit your head or something?"
"I will be fine after a little while.... Just a little dizzy headed...."
I haven't had one of this episode in months already.... I never expected this to happen at all.
"What's wrong?!" (2x)
"Kyrie dropped to the ground all of a sudden-"
"Awooo!!!" The wolf that Michael shot screamed out in pain. It's howl echoed through the entire forest
It's crying? Wait, this one is a grey wolf.... That means it's a subspecies of Great Grey Wolves!
Oh.... Oh shit....
"Hey, it's crying out, we should finish it off."
"No.... It's not crying...." I said, barely able to keep my consciousness.
Garnet brings his greatsword up. "Just hold still Kyrie, I'll finish him off-"
"Run!.... The great wolf is...."
'Thump....' (?x) The ground vibrated loudly as a large footstep comes.
"...here!..."
'Boom!' A gigantic cabin-sized wolf bursts through the cabin.
"Roar!!!"
"What in the world?!..." (4x)
"Thunder-"
'Thump!' With a single swipe of it's paws, Garnet was slapped and thrown all the way to the sides.
"Urgh!..."
"Garnet!" (3x)
Shit.... Garnet is thrown away, no one here can possibly defeat this thing other than him!
"Get Kyrie away! Within the very lands lies an impenetrable wall-"
"Grah!" 'Thud!'
The Great Wolf lunges forward at us with it's jaw open, intending to end it all with a single bite.
"Earth Wall!" 'Thump!' An massive Wall rises up and blocked wolf's lunge.
"Urgh...." I can't.... I'm losing it....
"We need to retreat over to Garnet! Only he can deal with this-"
'Thump!' The wall collapses from another shove of the Great Wolf.....
"Shit!"
It lunges forward at us once again with its jaws, this time no one is prepared to do anything....
I can't.... do anything?.... No wait, there's still something....
Dragonic Burst!
"....Rraghh!!!" "Kyrie?!-"
'Boom!' Immense pain overwhelms my body as the air around me distorts and blasts everyone besides me off to the distance. The Wolf was knocked back from the blast as well.
"Rraghh!!!.... Urgh!!!.... Hah!!!..." Red aura from my dragonic burst comes out of my body, and started to wrap around me to create a form with dragonic features.
"Argh!.... Hah.... True Dragonic Burst!"
After a while, all the pain subsided. What was left now is me, in my dragonic form with a pair of wings and horns, scales and claws, and two golden colored serpent eyes.
"Growl.... Woof!!!" The wolf kept its distance cautiously, eyeing me down.
"Hah... Power...."
How should I destroy it? Last time I tried to use magic, and it was immensely powerful. Now I want to test out my physical power in this form.... That's right, I can try out my katana.
"Rah!!!" The Great Grey Wolf swiped at me with it's claws.
'Thump!' I easily blocked the swipe with just one of my arm.
"....You are not worthy as my opponent." I spoke out in a distorted voice.
"Gro?!"
'Thud!' 'Fwuom!' With the help of my wings, I leapt up to the air.
Pouring mana into my wings made me bursts forward at a speed that rivals my thruster flight, and in the blink of an eye I had flew up at the wolf's neck.
Shadow Draw.
'Shing!!!' In one slash, I cleanly cut through the wolf's neck without any resistance. Not a single drop of blood is stuck on my blade.
'Thud!' I dropped back down to the ground.
"What just happened?!"
"She moved so quickly that I was barely able to see her!"
I put my sword back to it's sheath, and timed the click of my sword to the demise of the wolf....
'Chink!' 'Thud!' (2x)
The wolf's head came clean off when I sheathed my sword, and it's head dropped to the ground alongside it's body.
So this is my physical power while in this form.... A great wolf like this can't even survive a single slash from me.
This power is so tempting.... I feel so in control of my body now.... I want more power....
No... stop it. Stop talking in my mind!
As soon as I start to fight back against the urge to destroy everything in sight, I started to get a headache again.
"Urgh... Gerdur.... Michael.... Are you safe?"
"Kyrie.... D-don't come near me...." Gerdur said, with a terrified look.
"You.... What are you?!" Michael yelled out to me.
"Diana... Stay behind me." Said Garnet as he readies his claymore.
"O-oh...."
They are all scared of me.... That's right.... I'm a monster in my True Dragonic Burst form....
"Please everyone.... I can explain...."
"Kyrie, are you friendly?..." Said Garnet as he raises his claymore which is sparking with electricity.
"I won't... harm anyone...."
"Alright.... I trust you. But what the hell is that form?"
"I... urgh...."
'Thud!' I dropped on my knees as my legs loses strength, my dragonic body starts turning into red aura and disperses back to mana.
"Kyrie!" (4x)
'Thud!' I dropped once again, face first into the ground.
God damned it.... how do I.... tell them....
.....
.....
(Chapter end)