"Huff! Huff! Huff! Clang!"
Ai drops her sword and falls flat on her back, catching her breath.
"You did well!" Cirrus said. "Maybe if you reach level 2, you can at least get close enough to graze me, but for now I’d say you’re a cut above half of Orario." He said with confidence.
"T-thanks!" she said with a big smile.
"Here, let me help you up." Cirrus lent out his hand.
"Next time, I’ll be sure to at least cut you!" She said, grabbing his hand and pulling her up.
"I’m sure you will, but for now, do you wanna wash up inside?"
"Hm, do you have spare clothes?"
"I have some old clothes that should fit." Cirrus then gets close to Ai and compares his size to hers.
"!!" he faces blushes as he gets close and compares themselves.
"Hm, yea, they should fit you if not loose." He then messed up her hair before turning his back to go inside.
Quietly, Ai says to herself.
"… Don’t get so close…" She then fixed her hair and followed Cirrus.
After entering the kitchen, he found Eupheme inspecting the weapon.
"So how’s Brilliant Nightmare?" said Cirrus.
"It's fine, no need for any serious maintenance, just a bit dull. Are you not confident in your sharpening yet?"
"I am. I was just bust helping the village get rebuilt and getting training in archery from Lady Artemis."
"Hm… archery, huh? Well… I never tried to make a bow. You got any monster drops to make a good bow!" She said this with a fire in her eyes and an upbeat tone of voice.
"Uhh, none from the mountain-sized monster you saw me fight."
"Hm… well, that’s a shame." The fire died down a bit. "Oh well, either way, I’ll work on a bow for you. You don’t mind if I take Nightmare and sharpen her upright?"
"Not at all."
"Good, now—"
As she was going to leave, Ai entered with her weapon.
"Um, could you also work on mine?" She said, holding out the weapon.
"… Well, if you’re not making your smith cry, you aren’t doing your job. Alright, hand it over." Ai hands it to Eupheme and inspects it. "Ah, Brilliant Flash you're scuffed up. I’ll get it back to you tomorrow." She nods and takes her to leave through the front.
"The shower is on the top left, the second door down."
"Wait, a shower? I thought you had a bath!" she said angrily.
"Uh… no? we don’t have a bathtub. The closest thing we have is that cauldron. "
"Hmm… do you wanna meet up later?"
"Sure, I was just going to spend that day walking around."
"T-then do you wanna meet up at Central Park?" She said she was fidgety with her tail swinging rather fast.
"… Yeah, how about in oh, 2 hours? Is that good for you?"
"Yup!" she said happily. "I’ll see you there!" She quickly left through the front. "See ya, Lenoa!" she shouted out in the distance.
"You should bring her around more; she brings a lot of energy," Lenoa said from her chair. "Maybe one day she’ll even call me Aunty Leno-"
"Don’t you start!" Cirrus pointed at her.
After Ai had left, Cirrus went out to the back to test out his new skills.
"Hmm…" Cirrus takes out the status paper and re-reads the skills.
[Orpheus Megaleíologia]
- When playing an instrument, all will be charmed.
[Skiés Voí̱theia]
- Able to summon the versatility of The Hecatonchires.
- Its essence empowers you.
"Hmmm, Orpheus… guess that’s because of my guitar skills? But he played the lyre? Well, let’s see if I’m as skilled as the legendary poet."
Cirrus crossed his legs and took out his guitar from his shadows, and played a tune.
"♪♪♪♪♪♪"
He plays it for a good while. As he was playing, birds started to come and listen as they all came in close to him. Then even smaller insects gathered as well.
"Well, call me Snow White. This is pretty cool!" He stopped playing and took out some bread crumbs and waved the birds away as he closed his eyes to use his other skill.
"Okay… let’s see…"
He focused his thoughts on the Hecatonchires and envisioned one of their arms stretching its arm above him.
Suddenly, a shade went over him. Cirrus opened his eyes to find a familiar red and black familiar arm that was far smaller than before. He looked to see that it was coming from his shadows.
"Huh? That's pretty cool." A smile grew over his face as he thought of what he could do.
He practiced a bit before getting himself ready and heading to Central Park with a dagger hidden behind his back.
As he was leaving through the front, he saw a familiar face.
"Ah it’s been a while, hasn’t it," said Riveria. "You must be pretty busy." She said.
"Yes, he has. He’s been fetching me various herbs and the like." Said Lenoa.
"She sent me to Melen to get some stuff as well. Lord Hermes has been kind enough to let me take time to help Aunty Len," Cirrus said with a slight smile to hide his lie.
"Ah-wait, is Lord Hermes your god?" she asked. "I think this is the first I heard of it?"
"Well, since I’m busier with the store, I’m not very active as an adventurer, so in most cases he would just have me report to him on the current state of the city, seeing as most would ignore children who-" Cirrus then grabs an old ragged cloak and covers himself. "Are orphaned."
"I see… and where is your granddaughter, Lenoa?" Riveria asked.
"She’s out and about. Here’s your order, a rather pricey set of magic crystals." She took out a silvery-white staff and handed it to her.
"Oooh," said Cirrus, upon looking at it.
"Like it?" said Riveria, showing it off to him. "It put me in 340,000,000 valis in debt after reaching level 5."
"That’s pretty cool! I mean the staff, of course. "
"And the debt!" Exclaimed Lenoa with a smug smile.
"Fufu, maybe one day if you study enough to be a mage." She noticed the daylight and her eyes slightly widened. "Ah, look at the time. I need to get going. Thank you again, Lenoa. If your god does anything sketchy, do not be afraid to deny it alright!"
Cirrus simply nodded.
"Well again, goodbye!" She bowed and took her to leave in a hurry.
"… So, would you want a staff like that? With your magic, I’m sure it’ll boost its overall intensity," said Lenoa.
"No, any more and it’ll be too destructive. That’s why I stopped using a wand. Well, that, and I got better at chanting it."
"Yes, yes, I know with Nox you did not need a staff when you had her, but you still need that weapon you forged with Lord/Lady Fels and Eupheme to focus on it."
"True, maybe one day I’ll ask you to replace some magic crystals. The one for Brilliant Nightmare is pretty sturdy for now."
"Kihihihi very well, oh, and make sure Ai enjoys herself!"
"Hm, I’ll see you later."
aww whether they call it that or not its like they are going on a little date and with how our ai was blushing when cirius got close something tells me its not only him that is going through puberty
I don't read for fighting I read for fluff