20 - Finally, Formal Training Begins
Cecil acted quickly. In no time, she obtained permission from Julius to teach Ray magic, and they were to begin instruction the following day.
\"Then, shall we first examine Kamui-sama's aptitude?\"
Cecil spoke to Kamui with a joyful smile on her face.
\"Ah, yes.\"
For some reason, Ray found that smile a little frightening.
\"Then, we shall start with the fire attribute.\"
\"How do you examine aptitude?\"
\"I will explain that now. Please wait a moment while I prepare.\"
Saying so, Cecil began to spread out the things she had brought onto the table. From among them, she picked up a candle. After standing it up on a small plate, she began to mutter softly.
\"Convert the power of my body into fire. Fire.\"
A small flame lit up in Cecil's palm. After lighting the candle with that flame, she turned her gaze toward Ray and spoke.
\"Now, please hold your palms so that they sandwich this flame.\"
\"Yes. Like this?\"
\"That is fine. Now, please activate your magical power and focus on gathering it in your palms.\"
\"Yes. Something like this?\"
\"Already?\"
\"I think it's gathering in my palms.\"
\"...It certainly is. The flame is flickering.\"
Just as Cecil said, the flame between his palms was wavering.
\"Then, let us move to the next.\"
\"Is it already over?\"
\"Yes, the fire attribute has been confirmed. Next is the water attribute. This time, sandwich this glass.\"
\"Should I gather my magical power in the same way?\"
\"Yes. Please do so.\"
\"Then, like this.\"
\"...It is about the same.\"
Cecil seemed to judge the swaying of the water on the surface of the glass as being about the same. To be honest, Ray couldn't tell if there was a difference or if it was the same.
\"Next is this.\"
This time, soil had been piled into a neat cone on a plate. When Ray held his hands over it in the same way, the surface of the soil crumbled slightly.
\"...I see.\"
\"Next is wind, right? How do you do wind?\"
Wind between his palms. Ray couldn't imagine how that could be done.
\"Yes. It is a bit tedious. Please extend your arms and face your palms toward each other.\"
\"Yes.\"
He extended both arms straight forward. It was the posture of \"attention.\" Just as he wondered what to do from there, Cecil brought out a tube shaped like a thin straw. She put it in her mouth and blew air between Ray's palms.
\"Eh? Like this?\"
\"Wind is difficult. Is your magical power alright?\"
\"Yes.\"
\"Then...\"
This time, while blowing, she extended her own hand to the tips of Ray's palms, actively searching for something.
\"Yes. It is done.\"
\"What were you confirming just now?\"
\"To what extent the direction of the blown breath was bending.\"
\"By any chance, are there few mages who excel in the wind attribute?\"
Ray was appalled by the unexpected method of examining aptitude.
\"Do you really think so?\"
\"I mean, with this method, it depends on the sensation of the person examining, doesn't it? To be judged as having aptitude based on something so vague...\"
\"That is correct. Unless it is overwhelmingly obvious, people choose other attributes.\"
She was using this method while knowing it was problematic. Ray was further appalled by that fact.
\"Is it alright to be so haphazard?\"
\"It is merely aptitude. Moreover, people who truly have aptitude show an obvious difference even with this method. Those who do not will not find much difference regardless of which attribute they choose.\"
Even though it was called aptitude, not everyone had it. Those with talent excelling in a specific attribute were special people. Even with a test like this, their results would be clearly different from those of an ordinary person.
\"Is that how it is. Then, what about me?\"
\"None of them differ.\"
\"Ah, I see...\"
In other words, he had no aptitude. Ray felt a little depressed by this.
\"Therefore, please choose an attribute you like.\"
\"Even if you tell me to choose one I like... you said just now that there isn't much difference, so why must I choose one?\"
\"First, progress is faster if you narrow it down to one. Also, it allows you to increase the power of the magic further.\"
\"I understand the speed of progress, but why the power?\"
\"If you narrow your attribute to one and continue training, your magical power naturally becomes suited for conversion into that attribute. Conversely, it becomes harder to convert into attributes that repel it.\"
If one continues converting to the fire attribute, the proficiency increases, and the conversion is carried out efficiently. It is believed that magical power remembers the attribute.
\"Because the efficiency improves, the power increases by that much, right?\"
\"Yes. You will be able to use higher-level magic. As long as one is a mage, they naturally want to master magic.\"
\"If there's no need to master it, then it's fine to practice various attributes.\"
This was an excuse. While listening to Cecil's explanation, Ray realized. He already had aptitude for one attribute. If he wanted to develop it, he would need to keep other attributes to a moderate level.
\"Kamui-sama. With such half-hearted ambition, you will not become a fine mage.\"
\"No, I'm not exactly aiming to be a mage.\"
\"Why not aim for it? Being able to use magic is precious in itself. I am sure you would be permitted to join the Mage Corps. If you did, you could stay...\"
\"Excuse me?\"
\"Ah, yes.\"
\"I have the goal of searching for my own origins, so I cannot remain in one place. I want to learn magic so that it will be useful during my travels.\"
\"That was right... Then, let us set the goal of acquiring the basic magic of all four attributes. Even so, you must choose what to start with first.\"
\"That's true. It's better to pick something easy to imagine... water, then.\"
What came to Ray's mind was the water springing up at the water spot in the depths of the cave. Water that made him feel mysteriously healed when he drank it while suffering from poison and hunger.
\"Water? I see.\"
\"Is it strange?\"
\"It is just that many people choose the fire attribute. But there is no problem. It is important that it is something the user can easily imagine.\"
\"By the way, what about you, Cecil-san?\"
\"I am also the water attribute.\"
\"Then we're the same.\"
\"We are the same.\"
\"...Um, what should I start with?\"
Cecil, who reacted to every single one of Ray's words, began to make even the dense Ray feel a sense of unnaturalness.
\"Ah, that's right. Let us begin immediately. First, we will do something similar to the aptitude determination. Please wait, I will prepare.\"
Saying so, Cecil placed a small plate on the table and transferred a bit of water from a glass into it.
\"Gather magical power in your palm in the same way, and focus on the water in the small plate. Use the real water as a medium to convert your magical power into water. That is the feeling.\"
\"Use it as a medium... I don't quite understand the sensation.\"
\"I see. Feel the water with only your magical power without touching it. Expand that sensation of water. How about this way of putting it?\"
The activation of magic is a product of imagination. Cecil changed her wording to convey it in a way that would be easy for Ray to imagine.
\"That is easier to understand. I'll try.\"
He brought his palm close to the small plate and gradually concentrated his magical power. Overflowing magical power leaked out from his palm. However, the water only wavered in the small plate, with no sign of expanding at all.
\"Now, please do not give up. It is natural not to succeed at first.\"
\"Yes.\"
\"Listen. Do not move it; capture it.\"
\"Yes.\"
\"The water does not increase by itself. Your magical power assimilates with the water.\"
\"...Yes.\"
\"Also...\"
\"Um, my concentration...\"
To Ray, who was trying to concentrate on the magic, Cecil's advice felt bothersome.
\"Ah, sorry. But, Kamui-sama. That is also a misunderstanding.\"
\"A misunderstanding?\"
\"Yes. It is not something that can be done just by concentrating or spending time. How should I put it... it's like grasping a knack.\"
\"A knack. I don't know how to grasp that knack.\"
\"Honestly, in Kamui-sama's case, I think you will struggle a bit.\"
\"Why is that?\"
\"It is a matter of age.\"
\"Is it too late to acquire it?\"
\"Generally, the acquisition of magic is done at the age of five or six.\"
\"That's early.\"
Acquiring magic at five or six was faster than Ray had expected.
\"There are two reasons. One is that the path one should take changes depending on whether they have a talent for magic or not. If they have talent, they naturally aim to be a mage. If they are uncertain about their talent, the path of a knight. If that is also no good, then a civil servant. Considering the future, it is better to determine it early.\"
\"...Civil servants are last? But the ones who conduct national administration are civil servants, right?\"
Thinking about career advancement, it seemed correct to Ray to aim to be a civil servant. But naturally, there was a reason in this world for the order to be that way.
\"Yes. But there is a limit to advancement as a civil servant. It is decided that only families of Marquis rank or higher can hold high-ranking positions.\"
In this world, family lineage was more necessary for advancement than talent.
\"How many Marquis families are there in this country?\"
\"Four families.\"
\"Does that mean those four families monopolize the major positions of national administration?\"
\"And then there are the people of the Duke families.\"
\"Hm?\"
Both Marquis and Duke were the same koushaku. Ray didn't understand what Cecil was saying.
\"Duke families are those who descended from royalty to subject status. Such as the siblings of His Majesty the King.\"
\"I understand. Not Marquis, but Duke... it's hard to tell just by speaking, isn't it?\"
\"They are rarely used, but there are other ways to say it. The Dukes, who are former royalty, are called Dukes, and the Marquises are called Marcuses.\"
\"I see...\"
The peerage titles also had katakana versions. Certainly, it was more convenient in this case, but Ray found himself troubled by the language barrier once again.
\"For your information, Earls are Earls, Viscounts are Viscounts, and Barons are Barons. Knights are also called Knights.\"
\"I see...\"
Due to the strangeness of the language, the feeling crossed his mind that this world might not be reality. But Ray immediately shook off that thought. The pain and suffering of almost dying that he had experienced many times. Ray could not believe that those were dreams.
\"We've gone off track. The other reason for learning magic when young. That is the reason I said Kamui-sama would struggle. When shown magic before their eyes at a young age and told, 'You can do it too, so try it,' a child just does it as a matter of course. Without thinking about unnecessary things.\"
\"...I understand. Believing completely that I can do it is important, right?\"
\"Yes.\"
\"But believing completely and innocently like a child is also difficult. That's why Cecil-san was changing her expressions to tell me.\"
\"Yes...\"
\"I'm sorry. I said that the things Cecil-san did for my sake were a hindrance to my concentration.\"
\"No. I do not mind.\"
\"Well, for Cecil-san's sake, I must work hard to master it.\"
\"Kamui-sama is...\"
\"What is it?\"
\"You are mature. To be able to show such consideration for others at your age.\"
\"Eh? I just apologized for being insensitive. I still have much to grow.\"
\"Even so.\"
\"...Then, I'll continue.\"
While finding Cecil's atmosphere strange, Ray cut the conversation short and decided to start practicing magic again. The water in the small plate. He brought the image of filling it with water to his mind.
\"Ah!\"
\"What happened?\"
\"No, a good image came to me. Yeah, that one is good.\"
\"Then, try it immediately.\"
Just as the image solidified and Kamui braced himself to try it.
\"Hey! Kamui, I've come to pick you up!\"
Miria called out loudly from the entrance of the room.
\"Miria...\"
\"It's time for the morning drill! Let's go to the training ground quickly!\"
Miria invited Ray to training joyfully. She was actually happy. Not as a fake maid, but that she could perform her duties as a knight even if her appearance remained the same.
\"Don't interrupt. We're at a good part right now.\"
On the other hand, Cecil, who had been interrupted, was showing her displeasure openly.
\"A good part? What, were you two whispering words of love?\"
\"There is no way that's the case!? We are practicing magic right now!\"
\"Then do it later. From here on, it's my time to teach the sword. You can do magic again in the afternoon.\"
\"You!\"
\"Ah, it's fine. Was it already that time? Then, magic again in the afternoon.\"
Just as another fight was about to start, Ray stepped in. For Ray, the time spent fighting was a waste.
\"But...\"
\"It's okay. The image is ingrained in my body.\"
\"The image is already that far?\"
\"Well. Then, Miria-san, shall we go?\"
\"Oh, let's go.\"
◇◇◇
Not only Ray and Miria, but even Cecil followed them to the training ground. To those around them, it looked like he had come to train bringing two maids along. The gazes directed at Ray had become even colder than before.
\"I feel like I'm being watched.\"
\"A spoiled brat training while being accompanied by two older sisters. That's the feeling.\"
\"Sisters? Then Cecil would be pitiful, wouldn't she?\"
\"Miria. Don't say unnecessary things. I am sorry. It is because I followed along as well.\"
\"The gazes from around have been harsh since before. Please do not mind them.\"
In reality, Ray didn't mind. It didn't matter to Ray what those around him thought. Once he fulfilled the goal of saving Rui, they were people he would never meet again.
\"I don't mind either.\"
\"You should mind your surroundings a bit more.\"
\"Who can stand being a female knight while worrying about the eyes of others? More than that, I'm curious about that barrel.\"
Ray had brought a small barrel into the training ground. He had been given a leftover barrel from the head chef.
\"This? I thought I'd start formal training from today.\"
\"Formal? Then, what about until now?\"
\"It was more like building the body for formal training. I thought I was almost done with that. Also, since you two are here, I thought I'd be fine even in the event of an emergency.\"
\"What do you mean by emergency?\"
\"Like if I overdo it and collapse. Well, just in case.\"
\"Hee. So what kind of training will you do?\"
\"The content is the usual training. First, going up and down the stairs. Please give me guidance on the practice swings after that.\"
\"That's fine, but what about the barrel?\"
\"It's to increase the load of the training I usually do. I'll do the same training while holding this. Well, here I go.\"
\"Where to?\"
\"The spectator seats. I usually go up and down the stairs there.\"
\"...I don't quite get it, but I understand.\"
Then, the three of them headed toward the spectator seats of the training ground. In the training ground, mock battles or tournaments were occasionally held to showcase the results of training. Spectator seats were provided in one location for such times.
\"These stairs... looking at them up close, they're steeper than I imagined.\"
\"Well. But it won't be training unless it's at least this much. Then, I'll start lightly, warming up the body. Ah, please just sit wherever. It'll be boring, after all.\"
\"A-ah.\"
Leaving the two there, Ray began to run up the stairs slowly. He went to the top and turned back. This time, he ran down the stairs. He repeated this many times.
\"...This is boring.\"
\"Just watch in silence. But, the body building is really finished, isn't it? In the beginning, even walking up seemed to make him suffer.\"
\"Now that you mention it, that's how it was reported. This in three months. Well, is it something impressive?\"
\"It's only just beginning. He hasn't used the barrel yet.\"
\"I see. He intends to go up and down these stairs while clutching the barrel.\"
\"Look, he's gradually getting faster.\"
Perhaps because his body had warmed up, Ray's feet gradually became faster.
\"He's fast. At that rate, he's not far behind the rookie knights.\"
\"No way, with the barrel at that speed?\"
\"That's impossible, right?\"
But Ray was about to attempt that impossibility. As Ray stopped and began to shoulder the barrel, Miria called out to him.
\"Hey? Are you seriously going to run while shouldering that?\"
\"Yes. My body is already warmed up. Also, it seems I'll be fine even with the load.\"
\"...I see.\"
Then, clutching the barrel under his arm, Ray began to run. The expressions on the two women's faces changed as they noticed his speed was even faster than before.
\"Miria, can you do that?\"
\"I can. I've trained that much myself.\"
\"I see.\"
\"But... hey, how long does he intend to keep this up?\"
\"Until now, going up and down the stairs took about two-thirds of the time.\"
\"He's not going to continue for the same amount of time, is he?\"
\"Who knows? Since it's Kamui-sama...\"
With a momentum that made them think so, Ray continued going up and down the stairs. A full sprint, and he did not intend to slow down at all. But naturally, it was impossible to keep running forever in such a state.
\"He's become considerably slower.\"
\"Yes. But... she doesn't stop.\"
Drenched in sweat all over. Even when he reached the top step, Ray's pained breathing could be heard by the two watching below. Still, Ray did not stop moving. He simply continued going up and down the stairs. However, as if he had finally reached his limit, Ray stood still on the spot and stopped moving.
\"Kamui-sama!\" \"Hey! Are you okay!?\"
The two rushed over in a panic and called out, but Ray was only panting heavily, unable to utter any words.
\"Kamui-sama, are you alright?\"
\"...A, a little, re-rest.\"
\"Are you okay?\"
\"Re-rest.\"
\"Ah, right. For now, why don't you sit and rest?\"
Ray remained standing even at Miria's words. However, as his shortness of breath calmed down a bit, he began to take deep breaths. After repeating this many times, Ray finally opened his mouth.
\"Training failed. It was impossible to want two things at once.\"
\"What do you mean?\"
\"The load on the cardiopulmonary system and the load on the muscles. I thought I'd do them simultaneously, but it was impossible.\"
\"I don't understand what you're saying.\"
In the first place, Miria had no knowledge of terms like cardiopulmonary system or muscles.
\"When you run, you get out of breath.\"
\"That's obvious.\"
\"I tried to train so that I wouldn't get out of breath even when running for a long time, and to train the strength of the legs themselves simultaneously, but I ran out of breath first and became unable to move.\"
\"In other words, are your legs okay?\"
\"They're painful in their own way, but they still move.\"
\"Your standards are strange. Is 'still moving' the marker for the end of your training?\"
\"That's right, but?\"
\"...I'd heard about it, but...\"
Miria's expression was half surprise and half frustration. To avoid being looked down upon as a female knight, Miria intended to train reasonably hard herself. However, she had never pushed herself as far as Ray did. And Miria knew that other knights were the same. The training Ray was doing was abnormal.
\"Well, that's enough resting, I'll start the continuation.\"
\"Already?\"
\"My breathing has mostly settled. I've gained confidence in that regard. With this, I think I can train properly. I'll use the remaining time to focus on training leg strength.\"
Saying so, Ray went down to the bottom of the stairs and then ran up them again at full speed. The descent this time was slow. And then he ran up again. Sometimes skipping a step, sometimes taking small steps.
\"I wonder what he's doing?\"
\"Probably, she's checking which method is the most grueling.\"
\"I see... can I be honest?\"
\"About what?\"
\"I'm thinking that taking on the sword instruction for Kamui-dono might have been a mistake. I am not suited for it.\"
\"Why?\"
A rare, lacking-in-confidence statement from Miria. Cecil was a bit surprised by it.
\"That is not normal. Even I wanted to become strong and trained reasonably hard. But I cannot push myself to the point of being unable to move in training I do myself, rather than training imposed by others.\"
\"That's true. One inevitably becomes spoiled.\"
\"If he continues this training, won't Kamui-dono become comparable to the Three Pillars of Knighthood? At least in terms of strictness toward himself, I think I'm no match for him even now.\"
\"My, it's surprising that you would put Kamui-sama on the same level as the Three Pillars of Knighthood.\"
\"Don't tease me. I'm actually depressed. I wanted to be able to fight beside the respected Sieg-sama someday. I thought so, but I haven't made any effort for that. Looking at Kamui-dono, I realized that.\"
\"Then, why not just make an effort? So you don't lose to Kamui-sama.\"
\"...I see. That's right. Alright!\"
\"Stop right now.\"
Cecil stopped Miria, who was about to dash off immediately.
\"Why?\"
\"Do you intend to run in that outfit?\"
Miria's outfit was still that of a maid. She couldn't run up the stairs with her skirt fluttering. Doing such a thing would only attract gazes in various senses.
\"Ah, that's right. Then I'll do it from the afternoon.\"
\"But, the Three Pillars of Knighthood, huh. If that really happens, it will be quite something.\"
While saying it would be quite something, Cecil was inwardly pleased by Miria's words. The Three Pillars of Knighthood referred to the three knights whose abilities were most recognized within the Kingdom's Knight Order. Originally, the generals of the three armies in the Kingdom's Knight Order were called the Three Pillar Generals, but because one of the current powerhouses did not hold a general's position, the name was changed to the Three Pillars of Knighthood. To be comparable to them meant becoming one of the strongest knights in the kingdom. If Ray had the talent to acquire such strength, he would never be able to go on a journey. As for Cecil, whether he were a mage or a knight, she wanted him to remain in the royal capital forever.
\"Ah, he fell!\"
\"Oh, goodness.\"
This time, Ray, whose legs had stopped moving and was tumbling down the stairs, was rushed to by Cecil. In that moment, she didn't care at all that she was wearing a skirt. Despite the fact that she should be worried, Cecil could not stop a smile from leaking out.