The next morning after breakfast, their group fighting routine continued, but fortunately for Rias's peerage, only until midday.
By the time Arthur finally called for a break, everyone was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. Even Akeno, who usually kept her composure no matter the situation, was fanning herself lightly.
"In the afternoon," Arthur said, stretching his shoulders, "we'll switch things up. For the past two days, you've learned how to fight as a group. Now I'll teach you a little of what I know so you can defend yourselves on your own."
Rias's eyes lit up slightly, while Kiba straightened his posture immediately. Koneko remained quiet but attentive, her tail swaying faintly with interest.
"I won't overwhelm you," Arthur continued. "Today, I'll teach you only three things. Basic Stance, Taebaek, and Fist Strike."
He glanced at each of them as he spoke, his gaze lingering just a little longer on Koneko.
"With the right foundation, even simple techniques can become deadly."
They moved to an open section of the training ground, where the sunlight filtered through the trees and illuminated the clearing.
"The first thing," Arthur said, "is the basic stance. Every technique starts here."
He demonstrated, feet planted firmly apart, knees slightly bent, hips lowered just enough to keep balance, arms relaxed but ready, gaze steady and forward.
"Watch carefully. Don't rush. Try to copy it as precisely as you can."
They circled him, observing from different angles. After a moment, each of them attempted to replicate the stance.
Arthur walked among them, evaluating silently.
Koneko was the first he approached.
He crouched slightly and adjusted the angle of her legs with a light touch to her shin and ankle.
"Like this. Your balance is already good. You just need to distribute your weight more evenly."
She nodded.
"You're very good," he added. "You have talent."
Koneko's expression remained composed, but a faint blush crept onto her cheeks, and the corner of her lips lifted just a little.
"Thank you, Senpai."
Next was Akeno.
To be completely honest, her posture was terrible.
Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Your legs are too close together."
Akeno tilted her head innocently.
"Ara~ I don't really understand. How about you help me properly?"
Rias, who was nearby, stiffened slightly.
Arthur sighed.
"…Fine."
He placed his hands lightly on Akeno's thighs, carefully adjusting her stance. The moment his hands made contact, Akeno's shoulders relaxed far too much.
"Like this," he said calmly, though he was very aware of how close she suddenly felt. "Wider stance. Stable base."
He moved to correct her waist, guiding her hips into the proper position, then gently lifted her arms into place.
"Keep your shoulders relaxed. Don't lock your joints."
Akeno's cheeks turned pink, and she leaned just a fraction closer than necessary.
"Hehe~ you're very hands-on when you teach, aren't you?"
Arthur stepped back immediately.
"Remember the posture."
Rias looked away, her ears slightly red as she adjusted her own stance a bit more rigidly than before.
Akeno smiled to herself, clearly pleased.
Kiba was next. Thanks to his background as a swordsman, he adapted quickly.
"You're quite good," Arthur said approvingly. "Your balance and posture are solid."
"Thank you very much, Arthur-san," Kiba replied with a respectful bow.
Finally, Arthur stopped in front of Rias.
Her posture wasn't bad, but it wasn't optimal either.
"Lower your hips a little," Arthur instructed. "Feet slightly inward. Arms closer to your core."
Rias hesitated for half a second, then followed his instructions. When he gently adjusted her elbow and shoulder to correct her form, her breath caught slightly.
"…Like this?" she asked softly.
"Yes," Arthur replied. "That's much better."
Rias looked up at him briefly, their eyes meeting for just a moment before she looked away again, her face faintly flushed.
"Not bad," Arthur added with a small smile. "You might have talent too."
That simple praise made her heart beat just a little faster.
The rest of the afternoon was spent drilling the three techniques repeatedly.
Taebaek was taught slowly, with Arthur explaining how to generate force from the ground rather than relying purely on strength. Fist Strike focused on precision and timing rather than raw power.
As expected, Koneko excelled. She copied movements almost perfectly after only a few repetitions, her compact frame making her strikes deceptively fast and heavy.
Akeno struggled more, often exaggerating movements or turning corrections into playful excuses to get closer to Arthur.
Rias worked quietly but diligently, asking thoughtful questions and applying each correction seriously, even if her cheeks warmed whenever Arthur demonstrated up close.
By the time the sun began to dip, everyone was exhausted but satisfied.
Arthur looked over the group, nodding.
"This is only the beginning," he said. "If you keep practicing, you'll all become much stronger."
Akeno stretched dramatically.
"Oho~ does that mean more personal lessons?"
Arthur pretended not to hear.
Rias smiled softly, watching him with an expression she didn't quite understand herself.
---
At night, Arthur and Rias were training again in the quiet clearing. The forest was silent, broken only by the faint hum of energy and the soft crackle of Anti-Magic dispersing in the air.
Arthur had finally managed to stabilize his Anti-Magic zone to a usable level. Tonight, he was experimenting with its size, slowly expanding and compressing it while carefully monitoring the strain on his Dragon Heart.
Rias stood a few steps away, watching intently.
"You're improving much faster than me," she said with a small, self-deprecating laugh.
Arthur shook his head.
"Maybe, but keep in mind that my power isn't as volatile as yours. If I lose control, I won't make the entire area disappear."
He wasn't downplaying her strength; he was stating a fact.
Rias sighed softly.
"You're right… still, I've been wondering something."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"Do you have any unique talent related to power control? The way you handle your energy is far beyond normal. I've been training for years, and you've only had your abilities for weeks."
She glanced away slightly.
"If it's a secret, you don't have to tell me."
Arthur turned to face her fully.
"It's not a secret," he said calmly. "It's an innate ability tied to my eyes. They're called the Six Eyes."
Rias blinked.
"Six Eyes?"
"They allow me to perceive the flow, density, and interaction of all forms of energy," Arthur explained. "It's mostly passive, but it lets me push my control close to the absolute limit."
He paused, then added honestly,
"It's not always a blessing."
Rias tilted her head.
"You mean…?"
"Too much information," Arthur said. "Sometimes it feels like my brain is being flooded. Headaches, sensory overload. If I don't regulate it, I can't even think properly."
Now she understood.
"That's why you limit it…"
Arthur smiled faintly.
"Exactly. If I didn't, Keen Insight would also start interfering with fate itself. That would cause… problems."
Rias shivered slightly.
"That sounds terrifying."
They both laughed quietly, the tension easing.
"I was envious of your power," Rias admitted, her voice softer. "But now… maybe I'm only a little envious."
Arthur chuckled.
"That's probably for the best."
They resumed training for a bit, until Arthur suddenly stopped and looked thoughtful.
"Rias," he said, "why don't you use magic circles?"
She thought for a few seconds.
"I suppose it's because manipulating my power feels… natural. Like breathing. I've never needed a framework."
She hesitated.
"There's another reason, but—"
"You don't have a control-oriented magic circle for it, do you?" Arthur interrupted gently.
Rias stared at him.
"…No. I don't."
"I suspected as much," Arthur said. "I tried making one for myself."
Her eyes widened.
"You built a magic circle from scratch?"
He laughed.
"More like… attempted to."
Arthur raised his hand. A magic circle formed in midair, engraved with unfamiliar runes and complex structures. For a moment, it stabilized—then cracks spread across it, light flickering wildly before it shattered completely.
Rias gasped, instinctively stepping closer.
"It… collapsed?" she asked, eyes fixed on the fading fragments of light.
"Yeah," Arthur replied, lowering his hand. "That's the problem. The very nature of Anti-Magic interferes with structured spells. Magic circles rely on stable energy flow and symbolic reinforcement. Anti-Magic erodes that structure from the inside."
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
"It's like trying to build a house out of ice while standing in a firestorm. No matter how perfect the design is, the foundation keeps melting."
Rias frowned slightly, clearly thinking hard.
"So that's why your circle cracked instead of exploding outright," she said. "It wasn't rejecting the power. It was being… eaten."
Arthur nodded, a little impressed.
"Exactly. You catch on fast."
She looked up at him, then down at her own hands, slowly curling her fingers.
"That means my situation is almost the opposite," she murmured. "My power is too explosive, too emotional. Yours is too absolute, too hostile to structure."
She let out a small, frustrated breath.
"We're both missing something different."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The forest felt quieter than before, the night air cool against their skin.
Then, without really thinking about it, Rias stepped forward and hugged him.
Arthur froze.
Her arms were wrapped around his torso, her forehead resting lightly against his chest. He could feel her warmth, her heartbeat, steady but a little fast. The contact was gentle, almost hesitant, as if she might pull away at any second.
"I'm glad it's you," she said softly.
"Glad…?" he echoed, still not quite processing it.
"Someone who doesn't look at me like a symbol, or a weapon, or a clan heir," she continued. "Someone who sees my power as something that can be understood, not feared."
Her voice wavered just a little.
Arthur hesitated, then slowly lifted his hand and rested it on her back. The touch was careful, respectful.
"I don't think there was ever anything wrong with you," he said. "You just didn't have the right method."
Rias's cheeks warmed. She was very aware of how close they were now, how steady his voice sounded, how safe she felt standing like this. After a few seconds, she reluctantly pulled back, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"S-sorry," she said quickly. "That was sudden."
"It's fine," Arthur replied, just as quickly. "I didn't mind."
An awkward silence followed, thick with unspoken things.
Rias cleared her throat.
"About your problem with magic circles," she said, regaining some composure. "I think… I might know someone who can help."
Arthur's attention snapped back fully.
"A mage?"
"Yes," she nodded. "A specialist in theoretical magic frameworks and adaptive spell structures. She's… eccentric, but brilliant. If anyone can design something that survives Anti-Magic interference, it's her."
Arthur's eyes lit up with interest.
"That's exactly what I need," he said. "Someone who understands structure deeply enough to bend the rules instead of following them."
Rias smiled.
"I'll arrange it when we get back. Just… don't expect normal solutions."
He chuckled.
"At this point, I'd be disappointed if it was normal."
They both laughed quietly, the earlier tension replaced by a comfortable warmth.
As they resumed training, Rias stole a brief glance at him, her heart beating a little faster than before.
Arthur, focused entirely on regulating his Anti-Magic output, noticed nothing at all.