Azure's gaze snapped toward the familiar voice, the mass of acidic energy dissipating in a blink of the eye.
"Sheira?" She asked.
"I know, very unexpected of me to come, but I wanted to come practice my magic. I didn't expect to see you here. Did the beating Ilya gave you hurt that much?"
Azure inhaled sharply before nodding. "Yeah, I need to get stronger, I can't let my Aqua handle every single problem for me."
Sheira chuckled. She stepped forward and placed her hand on Azure's shoulder. Azure's newfound strength faded in the presence of the princess.
A glint of red caught her eye. Ah, her bracelet really is potent.
She couldn't help but glance back at her ring. Both items gifted by Aqua were incredibly powerful divinity-dampening artifacts, while her own was much weaker than Sheira's, it was still something most would consider an invaluable artifact.
"Azu, I am sure Aqua wouldn't mind fixing your problems," Sheira said, smiling.
The champion brushed Sheira's hand and stepped back. Her lips curled down. "I don't want to depend on her for everything. I want her to see me as her equal one day. Someone she can depend on when it's life or death. I refuse to be a liability to my beloved forever."
A chuckle escaped Sheira's lips. She took some distance away and peered at Azure. "I see,"
Before Azure could even react, Sheira launched a ball of fire at her.
Her instincts kicked in, forcing her muscles to pull the sword and cut the incoming fireball. As the [Mortal Hope] dug into the spell, her muscles strained and screamed.
The power behind the spell threatened to consume her whole. Her heels dug into the ground, and her blade burned black. The cursed fire spread and quickly consumed the spell.
"What is wrong with you?!"
Sheira tapped her nose. "Let's spar, what better way than this to get stronger and for me to learn control?"
Azure's hands shook. She really is strong.
There was one worry clawing at her mind. Sheira's control was far from perfect, she could not trust her like she could Aqua to not get killed.
Danger of death. She grinned. It was perfect, just like the old times of her youth.
There was no greater driver of growth than the possibility of one's life being extinguished.
Eh, Aqua's spell will revive me anyway.
"Just don't destroy the academy or the courtyard."
"Aye!" Sheira exclaimed before launching another ball of fire toward Azure.
However, unlike the previous spell, this time she cut through it like butter.
She dashed forward, her form melting into shadows. The earth reshaped and formed a hand of earth beneath the princess. Azure jumped into the air and swung her blade down, still making sure to avoid a vital spot.
Yet, instead of dodging, Sheira grabbed the blade and, with a flick, both Azure and her weapon were sent flying toward the academy building.
Azure rolled and quickly dug the sword into the ground, leaving a large trail.
"Sheira! That was stupid!"
She quickly shook her head and pulled the blade, then a crimson fire enveloped it, and soon after, an acidic glow wrapped around it, turning the crimson fire into a bright yellow flame.
However, she could not afford the time to enjoy the new color of fire.
She dashed forward, her form melding into shadows and striking toward Sheira's head.
The princess raised her palm toward her, and Azure's eyes widened. She put the broad side of the blade in front of her.
The immense heat washed over her, almost burning her uniform.
Azure's face turned bright red. "Sheira! You almost burned my clothing away!"
The princess chuckled. "Sorry! I didn't mean to."
Azure landed in front of the princess and quickly leg swept the nascent goddess. She then launched a punch toward her jaw and sent Sheira flying into the sky.
This feels like punching a mountain. She shook her hand before gripping her sword again. She waited for Sheira to land before making an upward cut, Sheira did not wait for it. Instead, she formed a hammer with her hands and launched herself toward Azure.
Her fists connected to [Mortal's Hope], her bones crunched, and her feet dug into the ground. The teeth grit.
This sword is amazing, anything else would break under this amount of power. She pushed the princess aside.
And launched a splash of Argussian Acid toward her friend.
Sheira dodged effortlessly. "You have to say, I am very impressive now."
Azure chuckled. The princess was within her rights to be proud. Someone who was considered the weakest in the family grew in power to crush even their champion.
All thanks to my Star.
"I am proud!" She exclaimed before conjuring a spike of earth above her and quickly launching it toward Sheira.
Sheira slapped it away, shattering it into fine dust, however, its innards were hollow.
Inside was filled to the brim with her acid, which splashed over Sheira's uniform, melting parts of it away.
The princess widened her eyes. "Naughty, I thought you only wanted to see Aqua naked!"
Sheira ripped the part of the uniform where acid splashed.
Azure's face reddened, and another strike connected to Sheira's forearm. "Hey, stop getting me flustered, mentioning Aqua is cheating!"
Sheira landed some distance away and pushed her tongue out. "Hehe~"
Not even this sword can wound her.
There was a possibility of using black fire, but she quickly dismissed the thought. Aqua did not teach her much about it, but even someone as great as her fiancé rarely used it.
It was not like she wanted to hurt Sheira, yet the sheer fact that she could not even scratch anything but her clothing irked her to no end.
She dashed forward and lunged toward Sheira, the yellow fire hitting her right in the stomach. Sheira's eyes widened, and she was quickly sent rolling away.
Sheira's clothing burned in acidic fire, leaving only scraps to cover herself. Azure melted into shadows and appeared next to Sheira, launching a slice toward her neck.
"Enough, Azure! Leave me with some dignity here!" Sheira shouted, her hands catching the blade.
Azure sighed and pulled her blade away. "I am sorry, I almost lost myself in the thrill of the battle. You are incredibly durable."
Sheira giggled. "I know right! I didn't expect it at all."
"What do you mean, didn't expect it?!" Azure exclaimed.
The princess merely shrugged. "I was ready to get a little hurt."
Azure blinked. "Are you insane?!"
She grabbed the princess and squeezed her shoulders. "What if Aqua's sword could cut through your new durability?!"
Sheira brushed off Azure's hand and smiled warmly. "You were avoiding any vital spot anyway, I would be fine. I really needed to practice a little, I can't remain a brute forever."
The princess turned on her heel toward the academy building. "One day, I want to be able to control my power on the level of Aqua."
Azure chuckled and wrapped her sword at her back. "As if."
"Hey, have some faith. I don't want to be just a powerful brute who can just punch and throw pure mana at enemies," She said, "I want to be a cool goddess like our heroine who can basically do anything!"
The silence descended between the duo, they looked at each other, both wearing warm smiles. "We should go get a new uniform." She spoke shyly. "I don't think these are up to code."
"Aye!" Sheira exclaimed.
As the duo headed toward their dorm, Sheira nudged Azure. "Would you like to be my first priestess when I become this nation's patron?"
"You say it like it's inevitable," Azure said, elbowing Sheira.
"Of course, it is inevitable. I am the greatest prodigy this world has ever seen." She stated proudly.
Azure chuckled. "Sure, why not. I will be your priestess. I need to keep your future followers safe from you after all."
Sheira stopped in her tracks, then placed her hands on her hips. "Hey! The second part was unnecessary. I will be the most amazing deity this world has ever seen!"
Azure stopped and turned toward the princess. "Well, your control is already much better. Just a couple of days ago, you would have probably erased me with that first fireball."
"Yes, praise me more. I will reach Aqua's level in no time at all!"
Azure snorted. "I didn't think you were that delusional."
"Excuse me, it's not delusion, I am just ambitious." She stated, catching up to Azure.
To think, only a little while ago, she was a helpless crybaby. Azure looked at Sheira and her lips curled slightly up.
"Hey! Don't give me that patronizing look, I am strong now!"
Azure couldn't help but chuckle again. "Whatever it is, you can count on me to be on your side, like always."
Sheira's face turned red. "You better be. Now I just need to convince Aqua to teach me how to do more intricate spells."
"You shouldn't rush. Both you and Aqua are immortal after all."
The princess sped up, forcing Azure to pick up the pace after her friend. "Eh, I was never overly patient."
I know. Azure rushed to keep up with Sheira as the duo made their way into their dorm.