Back in the Castle of the Ever-Burning Will, a new day started for a certain village girl, for she woke up at the sound of someone knocking at her door.

*yawn*

"Mmm...so sore...five more minutes..."

Still, that was clearly not enough. For the girl yawned, sleepily let out such words and buried herself in her pillows once more.

How did a village girl who usually woke up by daybreak turned into someone that sleeps past that?

The answer is quite the simple one.

It was all thanks to the training she was going through.

Indeed, it was a training capable of leaving her body more sore than entire seasons of tiling the fields or tending to the crops.

Every single muscle in her begged for rest and she was happy to oblige.

So much so, that she completely forgot of the person behind her door.

A person that waited no more.

*SLAM*

"...!"

A person that slammed the door open, surprising the girl.

But that was not all.

"Wake uuup, Sylvie!! It's time for your morning run!!"

So exclaimed the woman as she grabbed the girl's feet, which were sticking out of the blankets, and pulled her.

The woman had brown skin, red hair, and was wearing a maid uniform. One unique to her.

"Hyaaa!! G-Got it! I got it! Stop pulling my feet, Kris!"

In response, the girl quickly clung to the headboard of her bed with all her strength, all while exclaiming that.

"I wouldn't be doing this if a certain greenie had woken up on her own!! Now up, up! "

Said Kris as she let go of Sylvie's feet, motioning with her right hand to compliment her words.

Following that, the girl sprung up from her bed while raising her hands.

"I'm up! I’m up! Now, let me change!!"

Certainly, she was in no way dressed to engage in physical activities. After all, Sylvie was still wearing her usual pajamas.

'They may look really plain and not cute, but they are comfy!'

Such were Sylvie’s thoughts about her pajamas as she was about to take them off.

"Ah…! I-I’ll wait outside."

Seeing that, Kris got flustered and started to turn towards the door, clearly not wanting to stay there while Sylvie changed. Something that said girl noticed.

"Hm? You don't need to leave Kris. We are girls, right? I have nothing you haven't seen before on yourself.”

"Ahahaha...what are you saying?”

Kris laughed awkwardly at Sylvie’s words as she turned with the intentions of telling her to stop fooling around, but instead she found a dejected Sylvie looking at her with a hint of envy.

“...actually, you have more than me in certain areas..."

Such were her words while comparing her chest with Kris'.

“Where are you looking at, you—!?"

Something said maid realized as she followed the direction of Sylvie’s gaze, immediately covering her chest with her arms as she did.

Still, her bashful reaction was suddenly interrupted by Sylvie, who had begun to take her pajamas off.

"You...! Wait until I get out at least!!"

With that, Kris started walking towards the door once again and without knowing that her curious reactions had given Sylvie an idea.

One that made her smile playfully.

"Could it be that you are actually a pure maiden, Kris?"

Asked Sylvie teasingly, stopping Kris in her tracks.

"Who's a pure maiden?! I am the farthest from—!"

Irritated, Kris turned to face Sylvie a third time, but was stopped once again by the view of Sylvie unbuttoning her pajama's long-sleeved shirt.

"There goes another button."

Sylvie smiled as she did that, declaring with it that her teasing of Kris had just begun.

And her victim was aware of it.

"Ha! Pure maiden, as if! See, I am looking at you change with no problems whatsoever."

“I’ll just continue then.”

With that, Sylvie unbuttoned her long-sleeved shirt slowly. All as she glanced at Kris, who uselessly tried to act strong, but was betrayed by her own 'confident' smile.

It was twitching.

Something that almost made Sylvie burst out in laughter.

Meanwhile, Kris was trying her best to not look away.

After all, she was called a pure maiden and that had hurt her pride as a former male.

Yes, she was a woman now.

Yes, she had accepted that.

She had accepted such thing to the point that she no longer reacted to looking at herself in the mirror.

Her 'new' body had become her 'own'. A process that started shortly after her match with her Master.

But that was still not the case with looking at other women, or with being told beautiful, or with the many other things that seemed to bring out a certain side of herself. One that she thought she had buried back at the village where she grew up in.

Yes, a side that belonged to a child who lost all bravado the moment the other side took initiative and made advances.

That was the type of woman Kris could not deal with back then.

One that teased, one that got too close, one that moved in an unreadable way.

Still, Kris had learned to deal with that side of herself after going to the academy and reaching adulthood.

But just deal with it.

She had not gotten rid of it completely.

So, there were times when that side of herself would come out and be noticed.

And now she was being teased for it, again.

Just like Gabrielle had done so before, not too long ago.

Not only that, the one teasing her was someone she was training, a greenie, and a teenager.

How could she call herself her superior after being that easily teased by her?

As such, she wasn't going to lose.

"And another one."

"I was just leaving out of simple politeness!!"

"One more."

"A-also it’s because you are fifteen. Girls your age are normally touchy about privacy!!!"

"Here comes the last one."

"Ahahaha, see? I-I'm still here!!!!"

"Now off it goes—!"

With that, Sylvie threw her pajama's long-sleeved shirt away and something within Kris erupted.

"Uoooooooo!"

"Eh?!"

Confusion was the only reaction Sylvie could muster before Kris’ rapid movements.

Movements that were over in an instant as Kris stood right in front of Sylvie, staring at her with a piercing gaze.

Furthermore, she was also grabbing her by the shoulders.

Then, Sylvie realized that something comfy was covering her.

"...!"

It was her long-sleeved shirt.

Kris had not only caught it, but she had also put it back on Sylvie with an unbelievable speed.

Leaving Sylvie as if she had never taken said shirt off.

"Sylvie."

Said Kris in a clearly intimidating tone, making the girl shiver.

"Y-Yes!"

"You are going to run double the distance today."

"Y-yes, I will!!"

"Battle training will have double the intensity."

"O-of course."

"And..."

As Kris said that, she let go of the girl’s shoulders, but only to raise her arms at her.

"Eek!"

To which Sylvie closed her eyes in fear of her punishment.

That's when she felt it.

A pressure on both of her cheeks.

She then opened her eyes and indeed, Kris was grabbing them.

"...this will be your punishment."

"Feh?!"

Kris then started to pull them upwards, downwards, and outwards, only stopping until they were red.

"Ow..."

After that, Kris left the room without saying a word, but Sylvie knew that she didn't want to be late ever again.

________________________________________

"Come on, Sylvie! One more lap! Or are you going to give up?!"

"Never!! Ow..."

As if I would throw it all away after almost three weeks of training!

I am Sylvie Lute! I chose this!! Giving up is out of the question!!

Even if my cheeks still hurt!!

"Then keep running! Miss Nerinne made this field, you can’t let it go to waste!"

"I know!!"

I really know.

Nerinne created this big field under the castle a couple of days after Lady Auros left.

It even has a forest surrounding it, which makes me a little homesick.

When I asked her why, she said that it was a surprise for Lady Auros, and she asked us to keep the secret.

She also said that Lady Auros was the one who was actually going to make this place…

Just how powerful is Lady Auros?

Hmm…I feel the answer to that is something crazier. So…I won’t think about.

Running like this makes me remember when Nerinne gave me a tour of this place.

She seemed like a girl my age getting all giddy about the gift she was going to give to her partner.

Only to then get all worried in the middle of it.

She asked me if Lady Auros was going to get mad at her since she went and made this place without her.

I told her that Lady Auros would obviously like it, so she didn’t need to worry.

Even if I don’t have any experience in relationships myself! She asked me to be her friend, so that is what I will be!

And as her friend, I will support her!

Still…

“Ha…ha…”

The finish line is close...

"Nnn…and finished!!"

Finally, some rest…I'm so tired that I just threw myself to the grass…but I don’t dislike this.

After all, Kris said that this is to improve my stamina.

Yes…despite all the work I did on the fields, my stamina for combat was low…

And yet, I can’t deny it…

I mean, I just need to remember how tired I felt after using [Woodcutter] in that testing match…

But with Kris' training that is changing.

I am changing.

I am getting stronger.

And I will get even stronger so that I can fulfill everyone’s expectations!

"What are you doing resting on the grass, greenie?!"

"I-I finished."

...please let me rest a bit more...

"Didn't I tell you that you needed one more lap?"

"Y-yes and I did run another lap around the field."

"Ah, sorry. I misspoke. I meant to the whole place."

"…eh?"

D-did I hear that right…? The whole place…? I-Is she still mad about this morning?

"Get up. Now."

She is still mad...

"Don't worry, I'll be right behind you, Sylvie."

Oh no.

Not that smile...

Not that big sword...

"3..."

"…!! I'm up! I'm going!!!"

"2..."

"I’m running, Kris! See?! No need for that kind of training today!!"

"1...here I goooooo!!!"

"Nooooooo!!!"

I really don’t like this part of the training! Evading attacks while running is not fun at all!!

"You know the rules, Sylvie! Try not to get hit!! Ahahahaha!!"

"YOU ARE CLEARLY ENJOYING THIS MORE TODAY!!!"

"It's just...whatever you call it…? Hmmm...ah! It’s just some skinship! We are girls after all!!"

"I AM SORRYYYYY!!"

_______________________________________________

"Ha...ha...ha...[Head Splitter]!"

"gROwlgh!"

Of course, battle training comes after that crazy lap…and it is not sparring!

Because no Knight looks like the Brute Bear that is slashing at me!

For Nerinne's sake! I just plunged my axe into its head, and it shook it off like it was nothing!

"Nice progress, Sylvie! You’re now getting the timing right consistently! Keep at it!"

"If I don't, I'll be minced meat, Kris! And what happened to the usual dire wolves, Miss Max?!"

I was already getting used to them!

Not counting Nerinne, she’s the only one who can summon the beasts I need for my battle training.

That is why I asked her…

"I'm sorry, but Kris told me to take it up a notch."

Instructor Kris!!

"GAAAAAOOOORGH!!"

AAAH!!! THIS BRUTE BEAR IS SCARY!!!

"Are you sure she was ready, Kris?"

"She needs to be. Life will throw you into a fight whether you are ready for it or not. Also, it is good for her. Getting too used to an opponent is bad for a warrior's growth. You should know that Max."

"Yeah, I do. Watching her reminds me of the time when you trained me."

“Haha, yes! I still remember that time when I threw you into a pack of dire wolves. It was full a moon night, so they gave you quite the fight.”

“Ahaha…you say it so casually Kris...but yes. In hindsight, that was a good learning experience."

"Of course, it was! It also helped you add more beasts to your summons! And yet, you looked really angry, Max. You even summoned lots of them into my tent when you returned."

"Hmm, I wonder why."

"Erevain got angry because of the destroyed tent, you know? Anyways...greenie has not noticed it, but she’s been showing signs of awakening a trance skill."

"What? This early? Are you sure, Kris? Didn't you say a few days ago that she needed some more time to even awaken to her class? How can a skill that reinforces the traits of said class come before it?"

"Then, I’ll ask you this. Have you seen a three-week newbie evade a Brute Bear's attacks like her?"

"Now that you mention it...no.”

“Right? That’s her potential as a Skirmisher coming out.”

“Huh, you sound too sure about that specific class. Why?”

“Heh, that’s because some of that class’ skills are already showing up.”

“I see. So that’s why you’ve been pretty excited about training her recently. Still, Roni will get her if she just keeps doing the same thing. He is smart.”

“Well, we can always count on a certain someone if it comes to that, right? It’s not like she’s been keeping an eye on Sylvie’s training for nothing, heh.”

“If only she did it without hiding behind the nearby trees, teehee~.”

“Tch…shut up.”

““Hahahaha!””

Those two they are not just casually talking…they are laughing?! I’m fighting for my life here!

'Up a notch' she said! ‘Up a notch’!!

"And this is supposed to be it—OOFF!"

This brute bear…! He almost got my head!

That's it! I'm mad!!!

"[Opportunistic Acceleration]!!"

I used to get dizzy when I started using this skill but now...!

“GaOor…?!”

"Haaaa!!"

It can be used as it should be!! Leaving you wide open!!!

"[Leg Chopper]!!"

“gAORhG!!”

There goes your leg with my axe!

“GrrO…”

Yes! Stumble like that!!

With that, your heart is...

"[Heart Stab]!"

...mine!!

“GrAOoOrG!! GrAOoO!!”

I need to keep pushing my knife in!

"Nnngh!"

Come on! Come on! Stop struggling!

"Graaurlgh—!"

*fwiiiish*

Finally...he disappeared…

"Ha...ha...ha...ha..."

I'm beat...

“*sniff*…”

I stink...

“Haaa….”

I will never tease Kris again...

"See?! That was a nice axe and knife combo! I knew you could handle it, Sylvie!”

"It was a great fight; you should be proud, Sylvie!"

They are both clapping as if I was part of some show...

I think…I think I’ll do a bow. Because why not?

"Yay me!"

______________________________________________

After some rest, a well-deserved bath, food, and weapon maintenance, it’s now my favorite part of the day.

The sparring training!

Huh?

Why is Ilya here?

"Hello...Sylvie..."

"Hello there, Ilya. Amm, why are you here?"

"Big sister...Kris...asked Ilya...to..."

"Kris?"

What business does she have with Nerinne's and Lady Auros' daughter?

Moreover, why here in the field?

"Yeah, I asked lil’ Ilya to come here. She’s gonna help me show you something as a reward."

"So…sparring is cancelled today?"

I mean, I really want to spar with Kris because I always learn so much from fighting her.

She really is a great teacher and opponent.

Despite her…methods.

"That will be your choice after seeing this. It is something I've been training for in my free time.”

“O-Ok…?”

Why do I have a bad feeling about this…?

“Ilya, shoot when I tell you."

Shoot…?

"Yes...big sister Kris..."

Eh? Ilya seems to get it perfectly...has she done this before?

Wait...why is Kris running that far?

"Ilya!! Shoot!!"

"Sylvie...get back..."

"Eh? Ah...yes?"

I don't know why, but I will follow her advice and get back a bit.

"Shooting...big lava ball..."

What did she just—A REALLY BIG LAVA BALL IS COMING OUT OF HER FINGER!!

"Go…"

SHE JUST SHOT IT AT KRIS!!

"Kris!!!"

I have to help her!! That thing is too much!!

"Ilya let go of my hand! I have to help!"

"No...Sylvie...wait. Big sister Kris…is going...to be...fine. Promise..."

"Really?"

“Nn…”

She really seems to be telling the truth. But...

"Look..."

"AHAHAHAHA! THIS IS IT! NO SKILLS! NO MAGIC ENHANCEMENT! JUST A PURE, SIMPLE, BRUTE STRENGTH SLASH!! ORAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHH?!!!!!"

She just...! She just...! SHE JUST CUT THAT LAVA BALL IN TWO?!!

She is crazy!! Kris is crazy!!!

But…!!

"Big sister...Kris...is awesome..."

Yes, she is, Ilya!!

I want to do that!!!

Oh, she is coming back! Ah!

"There’s a fire!!"

"Don't...worry...Sylvie...Ilya will...make it go away..."

*fwoooiiiiiish*

*poof*

She…she just raised her little hand and all the lava…and the fire…it just went into it...

Her hair is glowing too…

Also, there is no damage to the field...it's like it never happened...

Ilya…she is as outrageous as her parents...

Well, my instructor is like that too. Just look at her, she looks like she is having the time of her life!

"How about that, Sylvie? Are you going wake up late again?"

"No!"

"Are you going to abandon your training?"

"No!!"

"Are you going to postpone the sparring match after seeing that?"

"Absolutely not!!"

"Ha! Just what I wanted to hear! Let's go!"

"Yes, Instructor!!"

I will become as strong as her! Lady Auros, Miss Erevain, Nerinne…I won't just fulfill your expectations!! I will blow them away!!

 

 

1 day before the ball...(cue illustration of Kris slashing that lava ball!! Also, who was that mysterious maid?!)

Thank you for reading! I hope that you enjoyed the chapter! If you are hungry for more, then head over to patreon! There you will find the first bite of "Waifu Bites!" in which you'll get to read Nerinne's first meeting with Ilya and vote for the idea that will be adapted for the next bite! Also, if you just want to support me and the story, you can also do so via Ko-Fi! Either way, it will help me keep writing Auros' shenanigans!

With that out fo the way...let's check the results for the first Scribble Hub-RoyalRoad character poll! First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who voted! And if you couldn't, don't worry! There's going to be one more poll when this volume ends!

Now here is the winner with a total of 53 votes between both sites...GABRIELLE!

"My, my! To think that I would be the one to be chosen by so many of you, dear masters. I am truly thankful to all of you. I swear to not squander your support and to keep delivering victories against…Leader dearest. Ohohohohoho!”

Next we have the runner up with a total of 49 votes between both sites...Erevain!

“First and foremost, thank you all for your steadfast support. For all you kept pushing forward regardless of how things seemed. I shall carry your valor in my heart, and I swear that I too will never bend the knee. As for you, Gabrielle…she who rests on her laurels is bound to be surprised.”

And in third place with a total of 35 votes between the two sites...Luca!

“…thank you…for your…support! I…do…my best…and…not…disappoint…any…of you!”

As for the fourth and fifth place...they were Ilya and Sophie!

Thank you once again to those who voted! As you know, the winner will be sketched by LARH and will obtain an all new short story at the end of this revised volume! Please look forward both things!

Special thanks from the bottom of my heart to: EmbraceTheSleeb, Lord-Hollow, YukisoraRin, LordInquisitorSteele, Anon, Anon2, Tikku, Teresa and Ayth!

Please do not translate my work without my permission. Favor de no traducir mi trabajo sin mi expreso permiso.

See you all tomorrow!