(POV - Daniel)
(King Finder's Kingdom)
When I asked Sara about the secrets to mastering spells, I was fascinated by the depth of her knowledge. She explained that learning spells involves following a series of meticulous and precise steps. First, it's essential to know the name and purpose of each spell. With this knowledge, you're ready to attempt casting it, though most spells require prior preparation.
Sara told me that some spells need a preparatory ritual, like surrounding your hands with magic or focusing on specific parts of your body. These rituals awaken and channel the magical energy needed to cast the spell effectively. She also emphasized that constant practice and training are crucial for mastering any spell. The more time and effort you dedicate to refining your technique, the better your results will be.
That's why she was pleasantly surprised when I used the "Bolflou" spell perfectly on my first try. It seems I have an innate and powerful magical gift. However, Sara clarified that my case is exceptional, as most people require exhaustive and rigorous training, meticulously following the step-by-step process.
Of course, there are more complex and subtle aspects to mastering magic, like learning to feel the magical energy flowing through your body while casting a spell or discovering where to focus your magical power to achieve the desired effect. These advanced aspects of the magical art require dedication and continuous practice.
But the most important thing in this magical system is knowing the spell's name and purpose. Though it seems basic, this foundational understanding lays the groundwork for developing greater magical mastery. In this world, the magical system is surprisingly accessible and easy to understand, which is a relief. Perhaps the creator of this world sought to simplify the magical system to make it more accessible to everyone, and for that, I'm grateful. Now I can approach studying magic with greater clarity and confidence.
But honestly, I don't need to study that much. My magic allows me to use any spell perfectly, but this information will definitely be useful in the future, I'm pretty sure of that.
•
•
M-my face feels hot because of the sight before my eyes.
D-damn it. This is awkward!
"Wow, wow… I wasn't expecting this."
There are 10 female adventurers with Sora. They're all very pretty, and most are wearing just bras and miniskirts. There are wooden swords, shields, and other items on the ground.
… Female adventurers in skimpy clothing… Arghhh! I can't focus like this!
"Uh… Well… Couldn't you find any male adventurers?"
I'm trying to avoid getting involved with so many women, but fate hates me.
"These are the adventurers who best know how to use magic. Male adventurers mostly rely on physical strength. I assure you, these are the strongest adventurers I know," Sora says.
Oh… Well… If Sora says so, I'll believe her. That girl scares me, but she's the King's bodyguard, so I shouldn't distrust her.
"Alright… It'll be a bit awkward… Fine."
Rose arrives, flying in and landing in front of us.
"I'll help you, Daniel."
Rose's help is invaluable; she'll be a great asset. The more help, the better!
"Thank you so much!"
Alright, we're all ready.
Sara went to translate the books and will come back when she's done, so for now, the others will train on the basics.
•
•
Each of my companions is paired with two adventurers for training. Sonia and Cris will train with Sora.
"Alright, Rose, you're training with me."
"Of course."
I approach the adventurers paired with my grandma.
"Listen, this is her first time fighting. Don't go all out, please."
"Sure, don't worry."
"We won't be too hard on her."
I turn to my grandma. I need to confirm if she can also use spells easily.
"Try using a spell."
"Yeah… Alright…"
She extends her right hand.
"I think it was like this… Dex Sword!"
…
…
…
Nothing happens… The sword doesn't appear.
"Nothing happened?"
Did the spell fail?
"I guess you need more training… Try another spell."
"Okay, alright… Angel conver!"
Wow!
A slightly bright light emanates from my grandma's body. Part of her blouse, at the back, tears, and two huge angel wings sprout… It's… It's so… awesome, she looks truly beautiful! My grandma turned into a real angel! An angel!
The light fades as her wings appear.
"A-amazing!" I say, filled with excitement and joy.
I pull out my phone and take a picture of her.
"Look!"
My grandma looks at the photo, and her eyes sparkle a bit.
"I look cute!"
More than cute, you look incredible, Grandma!
"I have to try it! Angel conver!"
Yes, I feel something on my back; it's working!
A light emanates from my body, part of my shirt tears, part of my vest tears too, and two wings sprout… Same thing happened to me… Incredible!
It's a shame about my clothes, but I'll fix them later.
"It worked?! Take my picture!"
"It worked!"
My grandma takes a picture with her phone and shows me.
Awesome, I look like a real angel! Hahahaha! No one will dare call me a demon now!
"Fabulous…! Can I move them?"
I try moving my wings… They feel like part of my body… I can… I can move them.
Just a little, but I can.
Come on, Daniel, you can do it. A bit faster… More…
"Huh?"
I start moving my wings faster and… I begin to float!
"Can I fly without the flight spell?"
I land, and my wings disappear.
"They're gone?" my grandma asks, confused.
Her wings disappear too.
"Yours too. When you no longer need a spell, it disappears."
"I see."
"I'll leave you to it; memorize the spells. Girls, do your best."
I head to Rose.
"You're really incredible!" Rose says, her eyes sparkling… I guess seeing an angel is exciting… Of course it's exciting!
"Thanks… Though there's an angel-type spell for flying, but when I turn into an angel, I can fly. I don't really get it."
"It's normal. For example, Liz was born without wings and uses the flight spell. Maybe there were angels born without wings."
"Wow, wow… I get it… Let's start."
"We'll start with the basics: the sword."
Rose picks up two wooden swords from the ground.
"Here."
She hands me a wooden sword.
"First, you need to learn to dodge and attack."
"Alright… Though with the 'Muslar asio' spell, I can dodge attacks… How about you teach me to attack?"
"Sure, alright."
•
•
(POV - Sandro)
I was defeated. A crushing defeat.
I couldn't even scratch that demon.
She toyed with me.
She treated me like a mere plaything.
She completely humiliated me.
… I lost… I lost completely.
But I won't give up. You learn from defeats. I'll use this loss to improve. To become a better version of my past self. I won't get better if I keep dwelling on my defeat; it's time to move forward.
"Hey, Sandro, we got a… Sandro?!"
"Oh, hey, Natie. What's up? By the way, could you get me a sandwich?"
"Me too, please. With lots of lettuce."
"What do you mean, what's up?! What are you doing?!"
"Training."
"You're supposed to rest!"
"I've rested enough."
That demon woman completely outclassed me in speed. Speed is my strongest asset, but I've been surpassed not only by Daniel but also by that demon.
It's time to stop taking missions and focus on improving my speed and reflexes.
That's why Max is attacking me mercilessly with his sword while I have my eyes closed, dodging his attacks.
If I can improve my hearing and touch, when I use my eyes, my reflexes will be much better.
Plus, training this way is far more exhausting, and that's what matters most. There's no point in training without pushing yourself to exhaustion.
But of course, I'm not used to training like this, and I'm taking some hits. Nothing serious, but I'm losing a lot of blood.
No pain, no gain, so all this pain will be worth it.
I don't want to be humiliated again.
I refuse to lose to a demon again.
I'm exhausted and beaten. The defeat against that demon has left a deep mark on me. I've always considered myself a swift, fast, and powerful adventurer, an unbeatable adventurer, but the demon and Daniel completely outclassed me. I faced their power, and it was a crushing defeat. I was defeated twice in a row, but I refuse to give up.
"Stop, that's enough!"
"I can keep going."
"No, I agree with her."
Max stops attacking me.
"Sandro, it's not worth training if you end up dead. Rest, let your wounds heal, and we'll train again."
"Ugh… Fine."
I sit on the floor of the spacious room, in a pool of my own blood, feeling the sweat soaking my body and my ragged breathing. My mind is cloudy, filled with doubts and unanswered questions. How can I improve? How can I strengthen myself to face those demonic beings? Can I ever surpass Daniel?
I close my eyes and let the silence of the room envelop me. Slowly, calm takes over, and I sink into deep thought. I reflect on my weakness and my determination to be better. I can't let this defeat define me; I must learn from it and turn it into my motivation to grow.
Images of past battles and encounters with other enemies flow through my mind. I recall every time I pushed my limits, when my speed saved me from dangerous situations. I cling to that memory and remind myself that demons are powerful but not invincible. I've defeated demons before; they're not immortal.
I stand from the floor with renewed determination. I walk to the room's mirror and meet my reflection. My eyes, once filled with despair, now spark with resolve. I see myself, the defeated adventurer, but also the potential within me.
"No more."
I whisper aloud.
"No more crushing defeats. I'll be stronger, faster, and braver."
"That's the spirit, Sandro!"
"Can you guys leave me alone for a few minutes? I need to be by myself."
"Alright, I'll be back soon."
"See you later."
They leave the room.
Ugh… Finally.
I resume my training, but this time with a renewed mindset. I push myself in every movement, making the most of my speed and agility. I challenge my limits, emulating the demons' movements in my mind, learning from them, and seeking vulnerabilities.
Every strike, every movement becomes an opportunity to grow. As I continue training, I feel my confidence strengthen. Doubts fade, and my determination solidifies. If demons are strong, then I must be strong too.
I hear the echo of my footsteps in the room, resonating with a promise of self-improvement. I'm determined to become an adventurer who doesn't falter before any adversity, who rises stronger after every defeat.
The defeat may have weakened me physically, but it has strengthened my spirit.
The path to greatness may be tough and dark, but I'm willing to walk it without hesitation. I won't give up, because now I understand that true strength comes from personal growth and unwavering will.
I'm Sandro, the defeated adventurer, but also Sandro, the man who rises and strives to be better. And this time, no demon will stop me.
"Not even Daniel."
I slip out through the window to avoid anyone trying to stop me.
I head to the training hall I built in the forest.
I escape as fast as I can until I reach my training hall.
Alright, Sandro, we can't neglect daily training.
"And it's time to increase the difficulty."
Ugh… Alright…
"I'm ready."
Sweat drips down my forehead as I prepare for my daily training. Today, I'll focus on improving my reflexes and speed, two critical aspects that failed me in my last encounter with the demon. I know I must surpass my limits and find new ways to strengthen myself.
I stand in the center of the training hall, surrounded by training equipment and strategically placed obstacles. I take a deep breath and close my eyes for a moment, visualizing the fluid, swift movement I aim to achieve. Then, I open my eyes and focus on the goal.
I start with a series of warm-up exercises to prepare my body. Dynamic stretches that activate my muscles and help prevent injuries. I feel the stretch in my legs and arms, letting energy flow freely through me.
Next, I move to agility exercises. I place cones on the ground, creating a winding path I must navigate at full speed. My legs move with precision, dodging each cone with agility and speed. My goal is to minimize the time it takes to complete the circuit, aiming to beat my personal records.
I continue with hand-eye coordination exercises. With a ball in hand, I bounce it against the wall and catch it repeatedly, gradually increasing the speed and difficulty. My eyes track the ball's every movement with intensity, while my hands move in perfect sync to catch it without fail, switching hands each time.
To further challenge my reflexes, I use a technique I learned from an old martial arts master. I place several flashing lights at different heights and positions in the training hall. My goal is to hit each light with my hand before it turns off, forcing me to react instantly and precisely, jumping almost immediately to strike the light.
The sound of my strikes echoes in the hall, blending with my heavy breathing. I'm immersed in the training, focused on every movement, striving for perfection in my speed and reflexes. I don't allow myself to get distracted, letting the outside world fade as I dive fully into the training.
As I progress, my movements become smoother and faster. My body adapts to the frenetic pace, and I feel my reflexes sharpen. Increasingly, I can anticipate movements, reacting instinctively and accurately.
Time passes without me noticing, but I keep training relentlessly. Every repetition, every jump, every strike is a step toward improvement. As I advance, fatigue sets in, but I don't let it stop me. My determination is stronger than any exhaustion I might feel.
When I finally finish my training, I'm drenched in sweat, and my muscles are fatigued. I take a moment to catch my breath and feel satisfied with my effort. I know I still have a long way to go, but every training day brings me closer to my goal of becoming the swift, agile adventurer I know I can be. An unbeatable adventurer… or at least I'll try.
I leave the training hall with a smile, knowing I'm one step closer to surpassing my limits. My reflexes and speed will improve, and when the time comes to face demons again, I'll be ready. With determination and consistency, I'll become the hero my past defeat denied me.
The hero… my little sister deserved to have.
"Sandra…"
I'll be someone capable of protecting the innocent.
A reliable person.
A… powerful person.
"The person we needed most, I'll be, little sister."
I promise.