9.5K words
.
.
.
—
/BOOM!/
Tione and Riveria arrived at the source of the trouble, only to see Ais, Lefiya, and Tiona already overlooking the chaos from afar.
Even Rakta stood next to them, hiding behind Ais as flinching whenever a large explosion rang before her.
They climbed onto the same hill, gazing down at the chaos below.
"What's happening here?!" Tione exclaimed as she ran to her sister
Tiona hesitated, looking down as she closed her eyes, "Just see for yourself."
/BAM!!/
"!"
They all looked down to see another unusual scene. A heavily bloodied Silver, a deep gash on his forehead, stood again a serious and quiet Bete, his arms loose as he shook the blood from his fingernails.
Bete spat on the ground before taking on a fighting stance, and Silver dashed once more!
Tione's eyes flared with indignation, "That… are they fighting?! Why aren't you stopping them!"
But Ais shook her head, "I tried, but he refused."
"Just beat Bete up then…"
"Not him… Silver."
"What?!"
/BOOM!/
Silver and Bete traded blows, but for as explosive as everything was, Bete was holding far less than he should've.
Every strike left deep wounds on Silver, cracking his bones and tearing his body, Bete held nothing back as he kicked and tore at him with his sharp nails.
It didn't look like a fight because it wasn't, and rather, it almost seemed like Bete was relieving his pent-up frustrations by beating Silver up, as if trying to prove a point that didn't exist.
Despite that, Silver kept rising from the ground, dashing against Bete with increasing energy, and never once did Bete step out of his way.
Somehow, at least for a moment, Tione saw something she had never seen in him. Bete's eyes, throughout the entire clash, were utterly serene, carrying a maturity and calmness unlike that of the rude werewolf she knew and held a mild distaste for.
"They've been like this for half an hour." Ais added as she calmly watched the battle with little reaction
Rakta joined in, "I-It was worse before… Bete… cut his arm off."
"Don't even make me remember that." Lefiya said with a pale gaze as she stood next to Ais, holding onto her arms
""?!""
Not only Tione, but even Riveria and Tiona's expressions changed in ways rarely seen.
Riveria's gaze tensed, "How did this happen?"
But Ais shook her head again, "I don't know. When I came here, they were already punching each other… or is it training?"
"After Bete cut his arm, he let go of his weapon, but so did he."
"And then…"
Lefiya spoke as she covered her mouth, holding the urge to retch, "He put his arm back on again and… it connected!"
/BAM!/
"… This is no training." Tione blurted out as Bete's fist slammed against Silver's clavicle, breaking it, "He's just beating him up… this is unbelievable, even for him!"
She turned to Riveria, "Put a stop to this madness…"
But Riveria was far calmer than her, "…"
'Does he want to grow strong this badly? Or is there more to this than just an unhealthy obsession?'
Riveria had already understood how things became like this, but what she couldn't understand was where Silver's determination came from, if it could even be likened to something as grandiose as that.
She deemed him smarter than most, or better put, more prudent than most.
At least compared to those around her, but everyone here was an outlier in their own manner.
Nonetheless, Riveria saw nothing to praise in his bravery. Battling and training to the point of extreme physical harm. Even if effective, how could she praise such reckless actions?
It was far beyond anything she'd be willing to accept as justifiable. It was a crude, barbaric method of training she could not, in any way, shape, or form, view in a positive light or reinforce with positive feedback.
Because her opinion carried weight far beyond the confines of her own body, and the last thing she wanted was to see those she held dear descend into a never-ending pursuit of strength, returning bodied every day from the Dungeon.
If that were to happen, she wouldn't know what to do or who to blame.
/BAM!/
"… It doesn't look like it'll last much longer. His healing is slowing down, and Bete only seems to be ramping up." Tione said with a sigh as Silver was sent flying back, crashing against a nearby tree
This wasn't training, it couldn't be. Even if Silver ran and tried to engage Bete, all he'd do was evade his movements before slapping him back, a process that repeated well over a dozen times.
If anything, this was akin to watching a man slap a cockroach to death. She wondered if Silver was using Bete to raise his stats through a beating, for while effective, if that were to be the case, she'd be between praising him for his courage, and feeling disappointment for his stupidity and desperation for strength.
But Riveria noticed something odd. Silver didn't seem to utilize his abilities, but merely his body to clash with Bete.
'Is he trying to train his endurance and strength by breaking his body again and again? Does he not feel pain?'
To her, fighting and training to such a ridiculous degree wasn't just unhealthy, it was beyond any level of decency.
'It's even worse than when Ais was young.'
She cringed slightly, 'Is this how he usually fares when alone? I noticed his combat pattern against Hogni… Is it the true reason behind his explosive growth?'
A warrior must be fearless and willing to make sacrifices to achieve triumph. It was usually in those instances where victory and defeat were decided.
Where one would hesitate, Silver acted without fear. To a level of action even Finn lagged behind.
But the two could not be compared, for Silver acted as the sole holder of his life, while Finn moved with concern for a hundred others, and an entire species he wished to inspire onward.
'Because of his magic, he fights in a manner completely antithetical to what most would consider regular. He trades wounds for fatal ones, and strikes when one drops their guard…'
'He is a walking disaster. Someone whose proficiency in their magic has reached a level of completeness few could match… No, a level beyond what most are even able to conceive.'
'The right magic awakened within the right mind gave birth to something perhaps better left unknown.' She determined as Silver attempted to bunch Bete, only for him to kick his stomach, sending him flying back once more
His fanatical battle method often reminded her of things she'd often leave buried. Years ago, during Orario's darkest times, there were individuals who too fought in a manner equal to his.
But where they failed, he succeeded. Those people threw themselves into a pyre to kindle the fires that consumed the city, but Silver mixed his control over his magic with his sharpened martial arts and combat training, creating something unlike anything any of them had seen before.
He had no intention of killing himself, but what could she say? It wasn't like anyone went into Dungeon hoping to die either.
/Bam!/
Silver crashed against the same boulder he had been slammed against for the twentieth time, and this time, as he bled from his nose and lips, he didn't move again.
"… We're done here." Bete said as he turned around
His words were calmer and more composed than his usual tone. For once, Bete seemed to be acting his age.
Bete momentarily glanced at the hill where the others observed their fight, but did not linger for much longer. He soon walked into the woods, not sparing them a second glance.
And just like that, he disappeared once more.
/Jump!/
Ais immediately jumped down, sliding down the hill before approaching Silver with a potion in hand.
"Cough!"
Silver woke up from his daze, spitting blood as Ais approached him, "Ugh…"
She did not let him think for long, "Don't speak, drink this potion first and…"
But Silver shook his head, "N-No… need."
In real time, Ais saw some of Silver's superficial wounds heal, but not all of them, as he remained covered in bruises and scratches.
Clenching his teeth as he tolerated the pain, he pulled his arm from the rock, "I must… recover on my own."
"What?…"
It was Ais' turn to lose composure and act confused, but Silver smiled at her actions, walking out of the boulder with a slightly pained expression before landing on grass.
"So you can feel pain." Riveria said in a deep tone as she stood behind Ais
Before they realized, the others had approached them.
"Of course I can… what made you think I couldn't?" Silver replied as he tried to recover his breath amidst his gasps
"#!!"
Once again, his words left the sage with a tense forehead, her cold smile a hint of what would happen if he kept pressing her for it.
Ais helped him stand, "Are you okay? You're seriously injured."
"Huff… I know how mangled up I look. Don't worry, compared to that guy, Bete's punches are like massages."
""…""
Ais and Riveria shared their expressions, knowing full well who Silver was talking about.
Or did they? For once, Ais thought about Leon, and the training he had with him.
"Hm?"
But the Amazons and the Hume Bunny looked at them in confusion, "Are you talking about Hogni?" Tione asked as Silver let got of Ais, standing by himself.
Silver looked at the ground, smiling helplessly, "He isn't even in the top three."
'Compared to everyone who trained me, Hogni was far more tolerant. If not been for me pressing him for more, wouldn't the battle have ended in a much quieter note?'
After taking a deep breath, Silver looked at everyone, "Phew… Thank you all for being here. I appreciate the concern, but my body is absolutely fine."
'Fleshly wounds heal, either on their own, or external means. This much is fine.'
He tapped his chest with a proud smile, "I've gone through far worse training before becoming an adventurer. I know the limits of my body better than anyone and know full well when to rest and call it a day."
/Swirl…/
The air swirled, purple fog manifested from nothing as a wristwatch was spat out from within the chaotic vortex.
After checking the time, Silver threw it back inside before cracking his neck, "Not exactly late, but I'll call it a day for my training."
Riveria raised an eyebrow, "So you know restraint, maybe just a little though."
"Nonetheless, that's better than many."
Ais recoiled to the side, looking away as she felt the High Elf's words were not for Silver but herself…
Silver coughed faintly, "Rest is an intrinsic part of training. Eight hours of sleep every day and some downtime for my usual activities and I'll pull through."
"My favorite parts of the day are those where I stop to eat and rest, I would never skip them."
"Ugh…"
Ais felt as if both Silver and Riveria were throwing arrows at her heart… Lefiya looked at her with curiosity, but didn't question her behaviour.
He then looked at Ais, "If you're up for it, how about we continue where we left off?"
"Just come find me at my home after an hour if you're up for it, otherwise… see you all later."
'I need another shower.'
Waving at them, he walked past them into the hills, making his way back to camp.
Watching him leave, Tione sighed out loud, "I just can't figure him out. Sometimes its almost like I'm looking at a ghost."
"But ghosts aren't real… right?" Rakta asked as her ears dropped
"Why are you asking me that?…"
Lefiya tilted her head, "Would Spirits count as Ghosts?"
Tione rolled her eyes, "Anyway… Tiona, weren't you going to ask him something?"
"… Even I know when to stop."
""…""
"What? I can read the room!… Sometimes…"
Riveria stepped aside, "Since there's no trouble, I'll take my leave as well. There are still some things I must do before Finn's arrival."
Seeing Riveria leave, Tiona scratched the back of her head, full of pent-up frustration "Haaa… guess its back to waiting." She said as she turned to her sister, "Are you going to sleep again?"
"I wasn't sleeping. It was…"
"Yeah, yeah… the same thing…" She scoffed as she waved at her
"#!… Just don't disturb me this time." Tione said as she left aswell
Ais and Lefiya looked at her leave, "… I'll go clean my equipment then." She said after putting in some thought.
'Proper maintenance makes the bill cleaner with one less zero.'
"Ohh! There's that! Let me join you, Ais!" Tiona exclaimed with wide eyes as she finally found something to do… even if it was something as boring as cleaning their equipment
Lefiya was quick to join then, "M-Me too!"
'I don't want to be left behind! And it's definitely not because I have nothing to do!'
They all walked away…
"…"
'I guess I should go to sleep too or something?' Rakta thought as everyone left her behind, 'Maybe draw something like he did?'
Rakta thought of Silver's drawing and was compelled to do one herself. She usually didn't have the time to dwell on such things, but maybe it was worth the effort.
"Rakta! Aren't you coming?" Tiona asked as she waved at her from uphill
"Hm? Yes!"
Rakta ran after them, leaving behind the disorderly fields of trampled grass, flowers, and overturned dirt.
…
/Well over an hour later…/
/Knock knock…/
/Creak…/
"Excuse me…"
Ais stepped inside Silver's home after knocking for a few minutes, but after no one answered her, she stepped inside with slight hesitation.
'He did say it was fine to come and go as we wished… but its not right to enter someone's home like that, right?'
She tilted her head, golden hair falling off her shoulders, 'Does it even apply here?'
Ais looked left and right. He wasn't there, but the fireplace was still hot, crackling with burning firewood.
/Snore…/
Of course… that was because a certain big-headed Dwarf was sleeping next to it as if he weren't in the most dangerous place in the world…
Even after seeing it numerous times, she still couldn't get used to it. Everything just felt so bizarre to her.
'It's almost as if he's more comfortable here than outside… Is it because he's a Dwarf and we're underground? He's in his natural habitat.' She determined with a simple nod as she walked past him
She walked as lightly as she could, unwilling to wake him up… but she did put on a blanket she found over him as she did so.
Ais had a lot of respect for this old Dwarf, but deep down, part of her was utterly unwilling to admit or even associate what he truly was to her, and as those thoughts passed down her mind, she walked past him, stepping into the second floor.
Gareth opened his left eye as she walked past him, scoffing faintly before closing his eyes and going back to sleep again.
/Chatter…/
On the second floor, echoes of a conversation reached her ears, and with mild curiosity, she sheepishly approached the first door to her left, which had been left half-open.
"… and that's what I'm currently studying."
Silver's voice was the first to reach her, and a response came immediately after, "So you're doing the basic cycle still? I imagined you'd be a senior by now."
It was Lefiya, and hearing her calm devoid of her usual… "energy", it only made Ais that more curious to overhear them…
They sat next to each other, Lefiya on a plain wooden chair next to a table full of exotic glass utensils, while Silver sat next to a counter, legs crossed as he held a book in his hands.
"You misunderstand. I studied many years outside of the School District; it's only recently I've begun studying their curriculum."
"I'm still far behind. Especially in the Magic Theory department, which is something I'm deeply interested in."
"However, if you were to ask my majors, then I'd say its Alchemy, followed by Smithing, Combat, and finally, magic."
He smiled as he was reminded of the students he saw during his time at the School District, "I'm particularly interested in the projects of the Department of Engineering, or was it something else? I don't remember now."
Lefiya nodded half-enthusiastically, for rare were the times she could speak with another student of the academy such as herself, "But how long have you been part of the School District? Did you join outside or…"
Silver smiled helplessly, "It seems I gave you the wrong impression. I haven't joined in for long… no more than a month, in fact."
Her eyes oppened wide, "What?! So… you're a freshman? But you are…"
She looked him up and down, unable to accept reality, "Aren't you already over twenty? I've never seen a student over the age of eighteen… Are you an extracurricular student then? Maybe a graduate…"
Silver's lips twitched, "My birthday was a bit over last week in the New Year… I'm eighteen years old."
"Haaah?!"
"?!"
Even Ais' eyes opened wide at this ridiculous revelation as she almost fell backward, frozen, 'I thought he was twenty-five…'
Silver's attitude reminded her of the older members of her Familia, never did she think he'd be just a little older than her.
"Your expression is quite insulting…" He said with a sigh as he put the book away
"You just… always acted so… erm…"
'Old? That's not the exact word…'
As her words were stuck in her throat, Silver continued, "Professor Leon accepted my application as a temporary student. Given the School District's rules, me being accepted at this age isn't too far-fetched; it's just unexpected."
"Besides, if we're talking about time, there were students who graduated within a few months, so I have a lot of time to graduate."
'Not that I plan to. The problem isn't spending a few months in there, but mingling with kids, some almost half my age… I'm not in the mood to go through school again.'
"There were… but how did this even happen?"
Silver chuckled faintly, "How else? I wanted to study, to improve… so I sought them out."
"But the exams haven't even started!"
His smile intensified, "Sometimes, going somewhere is only a matter of getting noticed."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Quite simple… I sneaked inside myself."
"PFFT!"
"Gehhh…"
Lefiya choked on her own saliva while Ais' jaw hung loose.
Now Leon's words about Silver seemed to make a bit more sense…
The young Elf got to her feet, pointing at his face, "Y-You can't do that! I'll report you to the authorities!"
Silver looked at her with a teasing smile, "Feel free, they already know. I was busted quite fast, you see… I can evade the eyes of young kids who know no better, but I can't evade the discerning eyes of a deity."
He closed his eyes, thinking of the "past", "Lady Idun found me quite easily, and she let me go after some… community service." He said awkwardly as he adjusted his shirt
"But after that, I got in with no problem. The School District wants children who desire to improve themselves, and what better than one actively seeking such knowledge?"
"Don't make your actions sound noble! You broke into one of the most secure institutions in the world!"
Silver raised his chin slightly, "And I didn't even break a sweat."
"#!! I'm not praising you!"
…
After another short bunter as Lefiya's face continued to redden, Silver calmly waited for her to sit down again before continuing, "Regardless of my original reasons, I'm now a provisional student, and I take this role very seriously."
"Just because I'm down here, it doesn't mean I'll let go of my studies." He said as he showed her the book in his hand
She was stumped. Lefiya wanted to bicker more, but what else was there to say?
Bickering now would only affirm his own superiority over her. How was he not an exemplary student, working even here, in the depths of the Dungeon?
Compared to him, what had she done ever since they got here? She fought a little, showered… that was about it.
As for Silver… what hadn't he done today?
Her gaze fell, she had been defeated in the face of someone far more hardworking than her. It was the plain, cruel reality…
'I've thoroughly lost in every manner possible. There isn't even a point to…'
But his words cut through her thoughts, "Since we're on the subject then, would you mind helping me clarify some issues?"
He tapped on his book, "I usually gather my questions for later, but it's not like we'll be back to the surface anytime soon, so…"
She raised her head to face him, and as their gazes locked, she realized that Silver held no contempt for her or anything of the sort.
Despite the teasing, annoying smile he had on his lips, his tone was as honest as it could've been.
He respected her for what she had accomplished, regardless of her age.
A small, hesitant, smile formed at the corner of her lips, 'This guy… is so weird.'
But… that didn't mean she would accept his questions so easily…
"Well… I suppose it's my duty as a senior to help the juniors." She declared proudly as she brushed her hair aside
"… Kid, you're still a century too early to call me junior." Silver replied with a smug smirk as he rested his elbow on the counter
She puffed her cheeks, "Humph! Quit talking big when you're just two years older than me!"
"It's closer to three than it is to two if I'm not mistaken."
She waved her hands in the air in protest, "The details are irrelevant! Just call me Senior Viridis, and I…"
Silver's emotions died, "I'd rather go blind and deaf then to say that."
She finally reached her final level of redness, "It's not that serious!"
"…"
Ais looked at them from the door crack and scoffed faintly; maybe it wasn't her time to butt in after all.
Even she knew when to stop and read the room. If Riveria were there, would she praise her for her maturity?
Indeed, as Lefiya's "senior", it was her duty to give her "juniors" the space needed for bonding.
She tapped her chest in self satisfaction, wasn't she quite considerate? The little 'her' thought as she posed inside Ais' mind…
"… What are we looking at?"
"???"
Only for everything to come crashing down at the appearance of an unplanned bystander…
/THUD!/
""…""
Ais' momentary lapse caused her to trip forward, pushing the door open and startling Lefiya's whose expression went pale as she saw Ais with her back bent, face planted on the ground.
"A-Ais?!"
Silver raised an eyebrow, "Got enough from spying on us, I see."
Lefiya's gaze went between Silver and Ais.
"She was spying on us?! And you knew?!"
"For quite a while. She's not exactly subtle."
"… Is it a bad time?" Tiona asked as she stood on the hallway awkwardly
Silver got to his feet, "Not at all, you arrived just at the right time."
"I've sat down long enough, let's warm a little one last time before dinner, shall we?" He asked as he walked to Ais, reaching out to help her get to her feet
"Ready to resume your training?"
She raised her head to meet his eyes, and with a quiet gesture, reached up…
/SLAM!/
Only for Lefiya to kick Silver away, "Don't try to abuse the situation!"
"!!… Ahem…"
"I was only helping her get up… Also, next time you kick me into a table, I'm kicking you out of my home." Silver said with a stern gaze as he slowly drifted in the air back onto the ground
'Almost fell face-first into a bunch of glass. And although this glass is quite resilient, it won't break even if I fell on it, she needs to learn some restraint.'
"Ah… I-I'm really sorry…"
She looked down, her ears falling further than Silver thought possible.
Feeling a little guilty from being too serious with the kid, he put his hand on her hand, ruffling her hair, "I'm just playing around, don't take it too seriously."
'That's why I never wanted anything to do with kids. Back then, I inherited quite the mess regarding that, and even after so long, I never… sigh.'
Silver cleared his thoughts by stepping forward.
"… You coming too?" He asked as he walked outside
"Can I?"
Silver smiled as he walked past Tiona, "We can get you a spot if you want."
Raising her hands in the air, she followed Silver downstairs, "Then let's go!"
Ais and Lefiya were left behind, with Ais getting to her feet on her own as she turned to look at Lefiya, who was still embarrassed at what she had done.
"It's okay, Lefiya." She said as she put her hands on Lefiya's head as well, "He's not upset, so you shouldn't be either."
"I'm not upset… not with him… But how do you know if he's upset or not?"
Ais scratched her cheek with a pensive gaze, "Gut-feeling?"
"…"
…
/Clack!/
/CLACK!/
Within the field of flowers, Ais resumed her training. Wooden sword in hand, she clashed against the famished Goblin, holding nothing back as it displayed its desire to rip her apart to all.
/Clack!/
She blocked its strikes with ease, her movements flowing around the field as Ais guided the creature's actions into a more organized form.
Compared to when they first started earlier this morning, the Goblin's movements had grown considerably sharper, even if only at the level of a child mimicking an adult.
Even so, it was growing at a considerable rate.
On a nearby hill, sitting over a white blanket, her audience watched in silence, "… What's the point of this?" Lefiya asked as she sat on the grass.
"Depends on how you see things." Silver replied calmly, focused on their battle
"I just can't see it, Ais doesn't need such training!"
Silver did not show an inch of emotion, "You're right."
"Huh?!"
"The Sword Princess is one of the greatest warriors in Orario. She doesn't need to go through something as measly as practicing swordsmanship with a Goblin."
"Then why?"
Silver finally turned to Lefiya, "Have you ever broken your staff?"
"A few times, yes, but its been a long time since it happened."
"Why did it break?"
She tilted her head, trying to remember, "I think… it was when I was still a Level 2 and had joined the Loki Familia… we were diving into floors I hadn't been before and…"
"Can you cut the story short? I'll end up forgetting my point at this rate…"
"#!! Asshole! I bashed my staff against a monster and it shattered! How about that? Happy now?"
Silver smiled faintly, "Right, a mage just doesn't bash their staff against monsters. This is exactly the kind of thing she lacks."
"But she uses a sword?"
Silver snickered, "Her swordsmanship is tailored to fight monsters; it's an excellent style reliant on knowledge about monsters and a great combat sense few could match."
"She mastered her blade to be as efficient as possible, to strike down a monster with such precision that she can shatter its magic stone with one move. The issue, however, is her obsession."
"To accomplish her feats, she uses her blade as if she were wielding a hammer. All for the sake of driving the nail down as fast and efficiently as she can. Even if it means using the same part of the hammer every time."
Lefiya said nothing as he continued, "She is dead-set on killing monsters regardless of circumstances, on growing stronger. We might not have known each other for long, but I've seen enough from the way she battles."
"I also know enough about smithing and materials to understand that a Level 5 adventurer just doesn't shatter an Adamantite Sword with the Durandal attribute."
"She never did that! M-Maybe not completely… but that's because of her magic that pushes her strength beyond her level!" She exclaimed proudly
Silver didn't deny her points, "That is a secondary issue at the end of the day."
"What…"
He gazed at Ais' movements with a judgmental expression, "I've seen the edge of her blade. She's not that far away from shattering something meant to be indestructible."
His gaze alternated between her, Ais, and Tiona, who listened to their conversation in silence, and added, "I'm trying to teach her patience."
"The self-control needed to make her blade something beyond a mere tool. There is strength within composure, that is a key aspect of Martial Arts."
"And she has almost none of it. And the little she has… was likely taught to her by others."
'I can't even begin to imagine what it took to drill that little patience into her. And I feel as if at the slightest hint of instability, she'll lose herself completely.'
'This only means she never learned composure, she merely fakes being in control to keep up appearances, even if she herself thinks otherwise.'
/CRACK!/
After exchanging almost a hundred blows with the Goblin, Ais' blade finally began to give away as she clicked her tongue. But never once did she hesitate as she parried the beast's strike once more.
"… I understand what you're trying to say and do… but what does a Goblin have to do with all of this? You could've fought her yourself!"
Silver scratched his chin, "But then… it wouldn't be as fun, would it?"
"I'm deeply interested in monster studies. Pardon me for using this chance to learn a thing or two more."
"So is this just an experiment?!"
"I never said that."
"But what are you trying to learn here?" Tiona asked as she grew curious
Silver's smile grew a little cryptic, "I'm a bit curious about their intelligence, so I wanted to see if a Goblin can learn swordsmanship. I just so happened to find a pretty decent instructor."
That said, Silver's thoughts differed from his words, 'There was once an Evil Familia who partook in research like that as well, so I'd rather not say my ambitions out loud and end up being the target of resentment from those who suffered under their hand.'
'Scientific advancement can many times slow down thanks to vile acts of others… and all are in the right to resent those that persist in pursuing it given what they experienced from those who tried it in the past.'
'Even most medical breakthroughs were purchased with mistakes, desperation, or cruelty long before they were celebrated as progress, if at all. People would rather look at the results then willingly face the dirt that it took to get there.'
Lefiya couldn't understand, "Their… intelligence? How can someone end up curious about that?"
Silver scoffed at her words, "Don't we all have dreams, aspirations, and goals? Isn't that why work hard to fulfill them? It's nothing different."
"I still don't…"
/SHATTER!/
Finally, at the 148th exchange, the sword cracked as the Goblin chopped down with its own.
/Kick!/
Ais kicked the Goblin aside, to which Silver quickly moved, trapping it in the air.
He looked at her from above, "Good work, you've lasted far longer than before and the Goblin's alive, you're improving."
Ais raised her nose high, feeling pride. But Lefiya exhaled, "That's not something to be happy about, Ais…"
'And I don't think it's solely her own merit…'
"Let's continue then."
"Hm… can we do something else?" Tiona asked as she "melted" on the ground
"I'm booored…"
Silver looked at Ais and then at her and sighed, "Very well."
"Really?!"
"The more I'd like to keep this training going… I'm afraid our poor little Goblin over here can't keep fighting."
'Last time I fed it was yesterday, so its about time. When I first captured it, I fed it a few dozen magic stones, and ever since then it has never eaten another. Maybe it'll eat them again now that it's starving.'
"I asked Bete so I think its just fair I asked you too." Silver said as he got up
He raised his fist, "How about a little spar?"
She smiled widely, "Alright! Let's go!"
She jumped energetically, full of energy, running downhill while Ais walked past her, confused.
…
/Meanwhile…/
"… Oi, Dwarf, wake up."
"…"
"I know you're awake, stop pretending."
Gareth grumbled as he scratched his belly, "… Are they fighting again?"
"No."
"Did monsters climb up from the lower floors?"
"No."
"Then leave me be, Elf. I'm taking a rare rest. If its about the kids, leave it to themselves to solve it."
She crossed her arms, "This is unlike you, aren't you usually the first one to step up to them?"
"To most matters, yes, but when its kids interacting with one another, old folks like us have no business getting in between, unless things get too awkward between them."
Gareth opened one of his eyes, "So? Do you still need me, or can I go back to sleep?"
"Sigh, just keep sleeping, old man." Riveria replied as she turned around
'Not everyone wants to act old like you!'
He got comfortable on his couch, "That's what I plan to."
/BAM!/
The echoes of a large impact reached their ears. Gareth opened one of his eyes again, looking down at Riveria.
"Do me a favor and go check what's happening. If you need me, you know where to find me."
She looked at the lazy Dwarf and furrowed her eyebrows, yet said nothing as she stepped away.
'Is this another side effect of his presence? With everyone having so much free time, even he can't escape going a little lazy.'
'I suppose I can leave this matter to when Finn arrives… and at the same time, if Gareth can relax like this, then there isn't much I should worry about.'
/BAM!/
Riveria did not linger, making way to the source of the echoes…
…
/BAM!/
"…"
Riveria watched from afar as Silver sparred with Tiona.
'This was bound to happen. Gareth was right, there's no point in getting between them.'
Her gaze fell on Silver as he tried his hardest to defend against Tiona's barrage of punches, smiling faintly as she turned around.
'For the future, they'll need to get to know each other well.'
/BOOM!/
But then, a loud explosion rang behind her… When she turned around, she saw a slightly panicked Tiona running forward as Silver stood unmoving on the ground.
"…"
'Maybe the one I should worry about isn't them but him…'
…
/Meanwhile…/
"Why did you do that?!" Tione exclaimed as she ran to her sister
"I-I forgot he was Level 1."
"How does one forget that?!"
"He… uh… was keeping up quite well, so I… got a bit serious."
Blood dripping from his lips, Silver was rescued by Tiona and the others.
After being nursed with potions and magic, he was dragged to his room before being put back in bed to rest.
Slightly discouraged by how quickly their spar had ended, and after being scolded by Riveria, Tiona spent the next hour in utter boredom as everyone returned to their usual activities, only to realize that without him, there wasn't much to do at all.
At least for Ais, she found Silver's chessboard tucked away in the living room, and spent the remainder of her time playing with Lefiya, Rakta, and even Riveria after she returned from the central tent.
She did not win a single time.
…
/Fuoooon!/
The bellowing of horns marked the arrival of Loki's children. It was the triumphant descent of her Familia into the 28th Floor!
Silver sat on a couch in the living room, hands over his stomach, "… Ugh… I think they're here."
Tione checked herself in the mirror as she brushed her hair, "They sent a messenger about twenty minutes ago while you were sleeping, so it isn't surprising."
"I see…"
/TAP!/
Gareth slapped Silver's shoulders, "Enough whimpering, boy. It's time to work."
"ARG! Don't slap me… my whole body is in pain."
"Says the one who was beaten down by Hogni. Like throwing eggs down a rock, and yet here you are. You'll be fine." He said as he pushed Silver off his couch
Silver grunted as the others followed them outside.
…
Not long after his arrival, Finn stepped inside the central tent.
"… Oh?"
"You're here Finn. Sit down, she's eager to talk."
Riveria pushed her paperwork aside, "There's much to say."
"Don't try to hide it, you're dying to share everything with him, aren't ya?"
"Shut it, Dwarf."
"Buwahaha! Elves aren't honest at all, are they?"
The corner of Finn's lips rose, "Glad to see you two are fine."
There were a lot of things on his mind, such as the strange house he saw on the hill, but he knew all of it would be answered as soon as he stepped through the curtain.
And just as he expected, Gareth and Riveria were there, waiting for his arrival.
Finn took a seat while the two looked at him, "So? How was it?"
His question wasn't directed at Gareth, he already knew how the man felt. Instead, he looked at Riveria, who he could tell was eager to share her thoughts, if Gareth's words weren't enough of a hint.
"Difficult." She replied without hesitation
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but he might be harder to manage than Ais was back when she was a child, and in an utterly unique manner beyond my wildest thoughts."
Gareth grunted, "She's exaggerating… slightly."
"Seems quite a bit more than I expected occurred… alright, let's hear it."
The moment she had been waiting for, "He's a very disciplined adventurer with a vast array of practical and theoretical knowledge. Coupling that with his formal training and composure rivaling that of a mage, he has the necessary qualities to become a first-class adventurer."
"More than that, even." She completed as she crossed her arms
Finn's eyes opened slightly, "That's some high praise coming from you. I don't think I ever saw you utter that string of words."
"Isn't that right? Even to poor Lefiya she was quite strict, and lets not talk about what she said when Bete joined in…"
"Humph."
Finn's eyebrows narrowed, "But I feel as if there's more to this story."
She exhaled, eyes serene, "He stresses me out."
Gareth chuckled while Finn sighed, "He must be quite the piece, then?"
"No, he's batshit insane!" She exclaimed as her eyes sharpened, shocking both of them
""…""
Riveria almost lost composure as her forehead tensed even further, a vein popping on her skin, "I've never seen someone like this!"
"A Level 1 adventurer that fights without armor, that poisons himself, puts on weights, and actively makes things more dangerous to himself just for the sake of it! Just because it gives him more Excelia!"
"Someone who carries with him magic that defies the very notion of everything I thought possible, doing things I once thought mere absurd legends on a whim or for fun."
She tilted her head as she clenched her teeth, "And don't even get me started on that! He's usually serious and focused, but whenever he isn't, I feel as if Loki's around pestering us!"
Her gaze fell on Finn as she put her right palm over the table, "Have you ever seen a Level 1 defeat a Minotaur? What about multiple at once? He treats them like warmups!"
"He goes around doing ridiculous things, getting bashed and bruised as if it wasn't his concern, and the biggest issue is that he somehow always acts with "reason", calculating his actions within some incomprehensible realm of thought!"
"I've seen him butcher entire parties of Level 2 monsters with his bare hands and in ways that made me question whether he truly was a Level 1 or not. Just in pure skills alone, he overshadows Ais and the others in several fields, which is yet another incomprehensible thing I can't wrap my head around."
"And he takes it all as a matter of course! I simply do not understand where someone like that came from."
"It's just an unreal assortment of traits that shouldn't be put together, yet I cannot deny reality as it stands. I've heard that he defeated Goliath, and for as ridiculous as his claims are, I've often noticed myself thinking that it might not be that far-fetched of a claim after all."
""…""
Riveria's sudden outburst was something neither Finn nor Gareth had seen in years, and it wasn't something they expected to see from her at all.
"Woah… he did leave quite an impression on you."
Gareth coughed lightly, "She went a bit far, but she didn't lie. I'm with her on that one."
"The boy is simply too much of a wildcard. And I have to admit, but I don't know how to tackle this issue."
He looked at Riveria, "My worries are the same as hers. The boy is versatile and fully aware of what he wants, but I fear for the impact he'll have on the others."
"They aren't kids, they can take care of themselves… but you know…"
Finn went into deep thought, "But we can't just let them go astray either."
"Right. Astray is not the word I'd like to use here, but its fitting enough."
Gareth put his hands on the table, "He's not something they can ignore. He comes forth too strongly, which somehow makes them look up to him despite everything."
"It hasn't been long, but he's already had a considerable impact that won't be going away anytime soon."
"Hm… Seems like there's still a lot more to discuss, but from what I've heard, he's not a bad guy."
Gareth smiled, "He's quite eccentric, but I think the two of ya would get along just fine. The boy has a lot of thoughts he keeps to himself, but he seems genuine enough about his interests."
Riveria also added her own thoughts, "Knowing you, you'll only end up with a headache after talking with him for a while."
Finn smiled awkwardly as he put his fingers together, "That does seem to be the case…"
"Before we move on, there's one thing I'd like you to clarify. When you spoke of his magic…"
"He lied to us." She said frankly as she closed her eyes
"So it was true. He was hiding the truth from us."
"At least clarify so he doesn't get the wrong idea." Gareth said as he tapped on the table
"The details don't matter as much, but either way, we'll talk about them later."
Her eyes sharpened, "We have more pressing matters at hand."
Finn also grew serious, "Something happened?"
"The Freya Familia has its sights on him." Gareth replied, "Hogni was waiting for us at the entrance to Under Garden. He and the boy squared off in a quite spectacular spar."
Finn was baffled, raising an eyebrow at this bizarre sequence of events, "That… is not within what I expected to hear at all."
"You should've been there to see it." Gareth said with a hint of pride, "It was excellent, even though I missed most of it."
He turned to Riveria, "She can give you a better count of it than me. And just about everyone else, minus Lefiya."
"Don't blame me for being curious… Just what happened, Riveria?" Finn asked as a thin smile formed on the corner of his lips
"Sigh…"
…
Riveria recounted the entire battle without a single detail out. It took a little while, but as they neared its end, even Finn, who was usually composed, got his back against his chair and put his right hand over his eyes.
"He utterly surpassed my expectations." He said with a helpless smile as he imagined the scene, only to realize that he couldn't
It was simply too ridiculous for him to visualize.
"Heh, I told you. You should've been there." Gareth said with a nod as he thought about the battle
Just thinking about it made his blood heat up a little… although that might've been the food he ate moments before…
Riveria sighed, "It's not like you can't. Knowing him, it wouldn't be beyond him to come ask you for a spar."
"Oh? Do you think so?… Well, looks like there's something for me to look up to."
"I was joking." She added without a change in expression
Gareth raised an eyebrow, "Really? I can never tell. Half your expressions look the same."
She threw him a cold glare, but Gareth didn't pay it any heed, "All jokes aside, everything was manageable to me until those folks stepped in."
"I don't wanna bring the mood down, but Finn…"
He merely nodded at Gareth's words, "I understand, there's no need to say it."
"Getting into a conflict with the Freya Famila over a single adventurer isn't wise. It's the very opposite of that."
But… he smiled soon after.
"However, he isn't just any adventurer."
After a moment of silence, he continued, "I think this isn't the kind of discussion to be concluded in a single meeting."
"I'd like to hear what the others have to say first before anything else, and at the same time, hear what he has to say."
"Don't be rough with the boy, his reasons were… very reasonable. His magic is… I don't know."
It was Finn's first time seeing Gareth struggle so much to put his thoughts into words, and that seemed to be something Riveria shared, albeit mildly.
"He's right. And what I said before stands. His magic is an enigma even I can't put into words… he calls it, -Physical Magic- or something along those lines, but you're better seeing it for yourself."
Finn smiled, "He's quite the onion. We peel the layers, and each time we think we've reached the core, another layer reveals itself."
"Boys his age are usually very direct, so I'm quite interested in hearing his thoughts myself."
Finn jumped out of his seat, "If that's all, shall we get moving?"
"Quite eager are we? This is usually the time you sit down in this tent until dinner." Gareth joked as Finn walked towards him
Riveria scoffed, "You're one to talk." Her gaze fell on Finn, "You should see what he did these past few hours… sleep."
"In my defense… I took a warm shower and ate plenty. Together with those couches, they hit me harder than a bull! Buwahahaha!"
Finn smiled slightly, if the two of them were this relaxed, joking as always, was there truly any point in worrying?
But… he wouldn't be him if he didn't take precautions…
/Shake…/
For even now, his thumb itched strongly.
…
With the advent of their arrival, the camp quickly expanded.
Dozens of tents were raised as their supplies were unloaded and unpacked. The area was cleared, cleaned, and the smell of cooked food slowly spread around them as their dinner was made.
The echoes of metal ringing spread around as smiths quickly heated up their mobile forges, repairing their equipment as quickly as they could, their sweat falling on the grassy ground as red-hot metal sparkled with renewed sheen.
Everyone went to their own devices, and the once calm flowery hills were welcomed by the hurried chatter of a hundred adventurers.
"Phew."
After helping the others move their supplies along, Silver stepped aside before he was dragged along for more involuntary work.
'I slept for too long and missed my chance to finish that report… I have to find the time to sneak away too; there's one little thing I'd like to do on the surface before calling it a day.'
'And then from then on, I'll have to resume my training and finish up some other things until this expedition is over… The experience and the pay are definitely worth it, but I don't like being tied down like this for long.'
While the distant chatter vanished within the shallow woods, Silver stepped away from the hills into a remote grove with a small river passing by his feet.
/Splash!/
He crouched down to clean his face, taking a short breath as he reached out for his back, "Ugh…"
'I'm sore all over. I thought I got used to it, but each time I'm reminded there's no escaping this pain.'
His scarred palms had grown softer, but the skin underneath was unbelievably hard.
'The blessing of the Gods that helps one transcend their limits…'
He shook his head, those thoughts were not healthy to have. He had told himself that many times before.
He sat on a rock near the splashing waters, letting nature wash away some of his fatigue as its sounds drowned the distant commotion.
/Sha sha…/
But even that didn't last long. In a mere few minutes after his arrival, Silver's ears twitched as he turned his head to face someone he didn't expect to meet out here.
"There you are." Finn said with a faint smile as he stepped forward
He wasn't alone, for beside him stood two more. A burly Dwarf, and a tall, beautiful Elf.
"Having fun all alone here?" Gareth asked as he stopped beside Finn, crossing his arms
Riveria knew he was up to no good, "Trying to skip work, is it?"
Silver, however, smiled, "Can't a man take a leak?"
"#!"
Riveria knew his mocking words were meant only to poke fun at her, but Gareth couldn't help but laugh aloud.
Finn smiled as well, but remained grounded as he reached out to Silver, "I'd like to talk with you if you don't mind."
Silver shook his hand as he got up as well, "How can I help you, sir?"
"Yes, Sir Finn, what did you need this lad for?"
"Stop it, Gareth…"
As Gareth smiled, Finn grew a little more serious, "I heard there's something you've kept from me."
"No beating around the bush, huh. That's not so bad either."
He gave him a bow, "I apologize for my actions. I simply believe that being too upfront about it wouldn't have helped us get acquainted."
He touched his own chest, "I want to build a strong and honest connection with your Familia, but there's simply too much I must consider on my own as well. I've already decided to be more authentic about it, so ask away."
Finn and the others smiled, Gareth even scoffed faintly as if knowing this would be the end result, nonetheless, Finn felt the need to be present.
"Allow me to be brunt. Just what is your magic?"
Silver was caught slightly off guard, "I thought she already told you a little about it."
"It's only been so long, I haven't had the time to share the entire story." Riveria replied calmly
Finn continued, "I got the gist of it from her recounting of your… encounter, but I wanted to hear it from you directly."
Silver nodded, "Fair enough. But I'll keep it brief, going through it all again is a little… embarrassing."
/Crackle…/
He put his arm forward, having it transform right before his eyes.
The skin, muscles, and the flesh underneath crystalized, becoming one solid block of ice… yet even so, it moved as if nothing had changed.
Finn watched it all with a cold gaze unlike any he had shown so far, letting Silver continue:
"My magic revolves around the transformation of my own body. I alter it, allowing it to perform beyond its previous limitations, and even function beyond our physiology."
"I can tap into multiple forms to perform complex ideas. Everything I showed you before, my telekinesis, my ice manipulation, and even the moving storage, are all applications of what I can do."
His arm transformed again, the ice "melted", leaving behind nothing but white bones.
The three experienced adventurers barely reacted to his display, but it was still a bizarre thing to witness with their own eyes.
The melted ice floated back onto his bones, covering them as they regained their former tone and consistency.
He closed his eyes, shaking his head, "It's arrogant of me to say, but rather than sharing what I can do, it's easier to think of what I can't do… Within the limitations of my Mind reserves, of course."
"Hmm…"
Finn was pensive, but after a moment, he sighed, a helpless gaze as he shook his head, "Indeed… it's as you said."
"I didn't get it at all." He added after exhaling out loud
"Buwahaha!"
Riveria smiled faintly, "I understand how you feel, it was the same to me when I first heard it."
"…"
Silver stood there, quietly looking at the three before Finn broke his awkwardness, "Can you give me a proper example? I just need to… better contextualize it."
"Sure."
/Crack…/
The ground trembled, grass rose, and small plants were uprooted as if the very ground had become a flowing tapestry.
Even the small river defied gravity, flowing upward as it followed the bending dirt…
"This…"
Finn watched, together with the confused Gareth as a door made of stone and grass took shape before them.
"You asked for a demonstration, this is my best answer."
Silver touched the door's knob, "Let's make a short trip to the surface."
'And hopefully I won't lose my consciousness while we're at it.'
"The surface?…"
Riveria walked past Finn, "Don't get too surprised." She said as she followed Silver.
/Step../
Silver stepped forward, followed by Riveria who showed little reaction to everything that was going on.
Gareth and Finn looked at each other, there was simply no way she wouldn't react to it, and her words were strange… Thus, an answer reached them…
'She must've already seen it…' They thought as they nodded at each other
Without further ado, they stepped through the gate, the blinding light beyond welcoming them.
…
/Chattering…/
The first thing that reached their ears was a rather familiar, yet unexpected sound.
The echoes of the busy streets, the markets, and the distant church bells under an orangish sky.
Seeing it all with his own eyes, Finn immediately put the dots together, yet was still unable to process the truth for what it was.
Even Gareth showed immense awe at this unbelievable sight, yet this didn't remain for long.
Riveria stepped back, "We should leave before someone sees us. You've seen enough, I presume."
"… Have I knocked myself out again from overwork?" He asked as he tapped his forehead, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheeks
"You're very much awake." Gareth replied, tapping the Pallum's arm
"… Damn."
"That is… a very fitting answer."
Silver said little, merely clenching his head as the immense Mind drain tugged at his mind.
/Fall!/
Somewhere around their return, as soon as he stepped through the gate once more, he lost consciousness from Mind Zero, being caught by Gareth as the portal collapsed behind him.
"The kid's blacked out. He's sweating cold."
"Hm… When he showed it to me before, he was already suffering from Mind Zero, I'm surprised he was able to move all of us together."
Gareth grunted, "So you saw it before, so much for a heads-up."
She smiled, "Sometimes, seeing for yourself is better than hearing about it."
"So? How was it?" Riveria asked as she turned to Finn, "Have some of your worries been resolved?"
Finn looked at the sky as he put his arms on his waist.
After a few seconds of deep contemplation, he answered, "For once… I don't know what to do."
Gareth exhaled while Riveria chuckled. But Finn continued, "Still, I'm certain of one thing."
"We can't let go of him that easily."
'His potential… just thinking about what he could become and what we could accomplish…'
"So its decided." Gareth said with a nod as he put Silver over his shoulder
"I'll go put the kid on a sack. Tell me the rest later."
As Gareth walked away, waving at them, Finn went on with a pensive gaze, "If you have the time, would you accompany me to the others? There's a lot I'd like to ask them."
"Very well, I do have the time to spare."
Finn smiled as he walked ahead, "As if you had anything to do at all."
"Say that again, I can't hear you from up here."
"Hahaha…"
The two made their way through the woods, gathering with the others in the distance.
…
.
.
.
Notes
I was going to continue, but I cut the rest and left it for the next chapter.
Next chapter will end this arc and will move into their ascent, together with a slight timeskip that will go over the character's actions in this period.
I predict somewhere around 2-3 chapters before Silver's Level Up.
Character interactions are interesting and all, but I think its time we moved on a little further and let these events ruminate in the story.
I was even thinking about leaving some other interactions and events for the side stories I usually put at the end of the Volume.
For those unaware, there'll be a few "side-events" filler chapters after this arc is over that will add interactions between characters that will lead to further events later down the story.
I do plan to show a few more interactions for this arc, but many of them are planned for other situations, so we'll see.
Thank you for reading, I'm out.
Peace!