After finishing their meal and reporting the successful completion of the swamp mission to Makarov, the group headed straight for the Eastern Forest.
Ur was very interested in Erza's new "Special Training Plan" and brought Cana and Kagura along to watch.
In a clearing near the lake, Erza stood ready.
She had changed into her Clear Heart Clothing. Her long scarlet hair was tied back into a high ponytail with a green ribbon.
Her upper body was wrapped only in white sarashi bandages, and she wore red hakama pants with a flame pattern, her feet bare against the grass.
She held a single katana—Benizakura—in her right hand and a standard longsword in her left.
"Then I'll begin, alright?" Raizel said from his perch on a floating rock.
"Take Over: Jesmon."
A pillar of crimson light erupted. When it faded, the silver knight stood there.
Three glowing data spirits—At, Rene, and Pol—materialized, floating around him like satellites.
'You three, attack her,' Raizel commanded mentally. 'Control your speed based on her progress. Push her, but don't break her.'
"Huff~" Erza exhaled deeply, centering herself.
She gripped her blades tighter. "Come on."
"Go."
Whoosh!
At, Rene, and Pol darted forward, surrounding Erza in a triangular formation.
They began their assault at a moderate pace.
At slashed from the left, Rene thrust from the right, and Pol dove from above.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Erza moved in a blur of scarlet and steel.
She parried At's strike with Benizakura, ducked under Pol, and blocked Rene with her longsword. It was a seamless flurry of motion, but the pressure was immense.
As her stamina and magic power drained, her movements slowed.
The Clear Heart Clothing sacrificed all defense for speed and attack power; she couldn't afford to get hit.
Clang!
At struck with a bit too much force, hitting the flat of her longsword. The recoil numbed her arm, sending the blade flying from her grasp.
Rene and Pol halted their attacks instantly.
"Huff, huff, huff." Erza dropped to one knee, gasping for air.
Sweat poured down her face.
"Was it... still too much for me?" she wheezed.
"No," Ur said softly, stepping forward. "You were amazing."
Ur shook her head in disbelief.
To wield dual blades with such precision at age of ten, unfazed by the overwhelming odds... she realized she had underestimated Erza's potential.
"I don't think I could last as long as you did without using ice," Ultear agreed, nodding respectfully.
"She's... incredible," Cana whispered, clutching a tarot card.
'Is she really ten-year-old? She's a monster. What have I even been doing with my training?'
"Thank you, everyone," Erza smiled weakly.
She could tell they weren't just comforting her; they genuinely acknowledged her strength.
"They're all praising you, so I won't add to it," Raizel's voice came from the rock.
He had reverted to his human form and was sitting cross-legged. "You can rest for a bit and then continue. You can communicate with the spirits directly. Just tell them if you want to speed up. I'll tell you a secret: they were going very slow just now."
"Aren't you just trying to discourage me?" Erza glared at him with a dark cloud hanging over her head.
She knew they were holding back, but hearing it out loud was annoying.
"Hahaha! Keep working hard!" Raizel laughed, turning to face the lake. "I'm going to meditate now. Feel free to do as you please."
...
"Kagura wants to try it too."
The small, black-haired girl let go of Ur's hand and ran up to Erza.
"How about Kagura tries with just one spirit first?" Erza smiled, stroking the girl's head.
"It's safer."
"Can you lend me your sword?" Kagura asked, eyeing Benizakura.
"You want to use a real sword?" Erza was surprised.
Kagura usually stuck to her wooden practice blade.
Kagura nodded firmly.
Erza hesitated, then reversed her grip on the katana and handed the hilt to Kagura. The blade was almost as long as the girl was tall.
"Rene," Erza addressed the spirit. "Please, go a bit slower this time."
Ur moved closer, magic flaring in her hands, ready to intervene instantly.
Clang!
Rene swooped down at a speed he thought appropriate for a seven-year-old.
To everyone's shock, Kagura actually blocked it!
"Too slow," Kagura muttered, her eyes narrowing.
Rene, apparently having an ego despite being a construct of data, sped up.
Clang! Clang!
Kagura didn't flinch.
She parried, sidestepped, and even launched a counter-strike. Her form was raw but perfectly balanced.
"Are all children these days so terrifying?" Ur whispered, watching Kagura hold her ground.
It was like seeing a miniature Erza—someone who hadn't practiced much magic yet, relying purely on instinct and technique.
"So this is why Raizel said their talent is frightening," Ultear murmured.
She recalled her conversation with Raizel at the Rosemary Village entrance months ago.
"Her talent is exceptional." He wasn't joking!
"I've decided," Cana stood up abruptly, fire in her eyes. "I need to work harder too. I can't embarrass my father!"
She ran to Raizel's side, sat cross-legged, and began meditating aggressively.
"I'm going to train too," Ultear nodded to Ur and went to another part of the clearing to practice her Arc of time.
When Kagura finally couldn't lift the sword anymore, Rene stopped.
Kagura leaned on the blade while panting heavily.
Erza stepped forward and gently patted her back. "Good job, Kagura."
"Kagura," Ur said, evaluating the girl. "I think you're ready to start meditating to awaken your magic container. Your physical foundation is solid enough."
"Thinking about it, it is about time," Raizel agreed without opening his eyes.
"Alright," Kagura nodded, too tired to say more.
"She'll follow Raizel's routine later," Erza explained to Ur. "Half a day for training, half a day for meditation. And knowing her, she'll practice sword techniques at night too."
Ur smiled. "She's diligent. Just like you."
"I'll continue practicing then." Erza had already rested enough and was ready to resume her special training.
She then smiled at Kagura and said, "Kagura, you can go with Ur or continue practicing with your sword. Go ahead."
Kagura ultimately decided to keep practicing with her sword, beginning to swing her wooden blade toward the lake.
"At, Rene, Pol, let's continue. Please."
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