Ria took a deep breath. She found herself facing the ground on her knees, unable to remember how she got into that position. Slowly raising her head, a pair of humongous feet wearing flats came into her view.
For a brief moment, she thought she heard a brief giggle from above. She then looked up and saw Hikari's poker face.
"Are you alright, my lady?"
Despite her groveling pose, Hikari made no attempts to tease her.
"Yes, I'm fine." Ria slowly got up and dusted herself off, still trying to get used to being in her presence.
Hikari just walked towards her corner of drillhall where her specialized training gear was. After unloading her claymore and leaning it against the wall, she picked up the spare pair of shoes and began burning gratings on the soles with her finger before changing into them.
Then she put on her arm and knee guards and began her stretching routine. Simple and basic exercises. Shoulder stretches, triceps, neck, followed by hamstrings and the calves. Then she picked up the claymore, holding it steady with just one hand in an uncomfortable stance for minutes before switching hands. She continued with this simple exercise, getting her body accustomed to the weight of the sword as though it was an extension of her own body.
This is followed by the basic strokes. She raised the claymore up with both hands, holding it over her head and swinging it downwards, halting it before the tip touched the ground which would have certainly caused a crater. Ria felt a slight gust brushing against her hair from the shockwave of the swing from across the drill hall.
Then she lifted her sword, preparing another swing, and then executed with almost exactly the same arc as the previous one. And like clockwork, she repeated the same movement several more times, each with the same level of precision.
Ria stood on the other half of the drill hall and watched. It was an incredible sight. The movements themselves were nothing special. If she did them, not even her own father would be impressed. It is simply the sheer force behind them that could shatter the gates of fortresses.
Then the air changed. Hikari began channeling her mana. It was Hikari's mana form, reinforcing her physical strength to even more absurd levels. The overwhelming build up of energy pierced Ria's skin.
Hikari began what could only be described as a mesmerizing sword dance. Horizontal sweeps, the full half crescent. A whirlwind of slashes, using the constant spinning momentum of the blade. A dash into a sweep, her range easily reaches the ends of the guild hall.
She ends the dance with dash from one end, a whirling sweep in the middle, a full sweep at the end of the dash followed by a sudden backward dash into a sweep to obliterate any foes who may attempt to backstab her, ending with another forward sweep, finally landing in the middle, ending the routine.
Hikari leaned her sword back in the corner. She took several deep breaths to calm her breathing before picking up a water tank the circumference of a well. As she gulped down its contents, her eyes turned and caught Ria staring at her.
Ba dum! Ba dum! Ria's heart pounded against her chest as her mind processes the display she just witnessed.
"My lady. Are you alright"
Ria blanked out for a brief moment. When she came to, Hikari was suddenly standing right in front of her, startling her.
The overbearing stench of the sweat Hikari accumulated over the course of her full workout, squishing below her foot in her flats, escaping into the air whenever Hikari scrunches her toes in discomfort. The trapped and tortured air from inside her flats engulfs Ria, filling her nostrils and her lungs.
Ba dum! Ba dum! It triggered something primal in Ria. "Face to the ground…" she heard the echo in her head again, causing her to drop to her knees and grovel.
"Please stand"
After wobbling for a bit, she was able to stand straight, arc her neck back in a steep angle and look Hikari in the eye.
"Huff* Huff* Please don't speak of this to anyone."
"Of course"
"That was quite an impressive display. My heart could barely take it."
Hikari tilts her head in confusion.
"It's my daily routine."
"That's not what everyone else's training routine looks like, including giants. That looked like a display of force one might find in the spire colosseum. It's no wonder those cultists were no match for you."
The corner of Hikari's mouth lifted.
"I believe My ladyship didn't come to the drillhall just to watch me"
"Erm! That's- well-. That's quite astute of you. I had originally came to get some training done. You know-. If you hadn't been the one to escort me, I would have certainly been carted off to some freakish ritual in the swamp or perhaps even killed on the spot."
Hikari squatted down, the air that she displaced pushed Ria down onto the ground.
"If I may. Could I offer your ladyship some instruction?"
Ria's eyes lit up
"oh? That'll be most welcomed. A knight of your calibre. I only fear I might not be the most competent to receive your teachings."
"Don't worry. It's just some basics."
"Alright then. What do you have in mind?"
Hikari stops to study her, stumped as to what training she could recommend. She wasn't sure either as to why she blurted out an offer to train her. Perhaps it's just that her petite Lady looked rather cute at a size that could probably squeeze into her shoe if she curled up.
"Start with the physical, I guess"
"That's a great idea!"
Ria felt odd at her quick reply. She hates physical exercises with every fiber of her being and even sweet talked her father to get out of it, to the drillmaster's annoyance.
Hikari continued pondering for a bit. Then a smile appeared across her face that appeared uncharacteristically mischievous.
"How about crawling?"
An outrageous suggestion. Ria wanted to protest. But there was something about Hikari's gaze that seemed to command absolute obedience.
"Umm…! That's Interesting. But isn't that quite., uh… unfitting for a knight. Knights are supposed to stand tall and proud, like you Hikari."
"Not so. I used to crawl in the trenches a lot. The RazenHeir scouts often eat the dirty to remain hidden. In the face of death, pride and honor means nothing"
Ria was silent for a moment.
Then, she assumed her position on her hands and knees without further question.
"You are quite right. I had been arrogant. I will follow your teachings from now on."
Hikari stood up.
"Let us begin."
Ria began crawling. It wasn't as strenuous as running or sword drills as she only has to contend with a fraction of her meagre weight.
Meanwhile, Hikari walked alongside her like an owner walking her tiny pet. She wore a smile on her face, a sight that few had witnessed. She was starting to enjoy toying with her lady. It made her feel more powerful than crushing foes weaker than her with her boot.
They made it to the end of the drill hall and back. Ria was panting, her arms and legs were sore. The drillhall appeared much bigger when she actually had to cover the distance. For Hikari on the other hand, it was nothing but casually pacing around in a bedroom.
"How did I do?"
"Again. You are still too weak."
After only a brief pause, they started another round. Ria's arms were starting to hurt. If this was the drill, she would have tried to talk out of it.
"Continue." They reached the starting point again, but this time Hikari did not allow her a break. And another round, and another. Ria's arms were feeling soft. She feels like fainting, but she dare not defy the titan above who could crush her into paste with just one misstep.
By the end of the tenth round, Ria collapsed flat onto her stomach. As she rested, she felt something press down on her back. A warm energy flowed into her, dissipating the fatigue in her arms and legs.
"Continue."
Ria got back on her hands and knees. As she started crawling, Hikari's massive shoe swung forward and stepped her full body length in front of her.
"You're too slow. Follow." Ria scrambled to catch up to the shoe. Then it swung away again, moving way ahead of her. She worked her tiny arms and legs as fast as she could just to keep pace with Hikari who was still giving her generous pauses in between steps.
"Faster." The order came from above, the strides widened as the pauses shortened. By the time Hikari reached one end of the hall, Ria was already three steps behind. Just that short sprint drained her energy again as she limped towards Hikari's shoe.
"Pathetic, I just healed you."
That scolding pierced Ria's heart like a spear. She had never been so brutally humiliated before. She looked up at Hikari's pleased face, her piercing glare thrusting another spear into her heart.
But strangely it felt good. Really good, arousing even.
"I'm sorry Hikari! I'll do better!" She tucked her arm in and bowed her head in submission, shivering in exhaustion and terror.
"Tsk, Tsk, looks like you need more training. "
"Yes, Hikari!"
"How do you expect to survive out there if you can't even keep up with my feet?"
"I'll try harder! I'll give it everything!"
"Move"
Hikari's shoe flew right over her, landing with a loud thud. It was markedly different from her usual foot steps where she took care to conceal her sound either out of politeness or to gain a tactical advantage. Now, it seems she wants Ria to feel the force of her footsteps which she definitely does.
"Move"
Ria got into another scramble, but it was a hopeless task. Even if she were to stand up and run, she would not be able to match Hikari's stride. But she plowed forward, in spite of the aching in her arms which was turning into numbness nor the nauseating stench of foot odor emanating from the gigantic pair of flats she was chasing.
Because Hikari's command was absolute. The force of her command alone pushed her beyond her physical limits.
At last, Ria collapsed at Hikari's feet. She had reached the other end of the drillhall.
"That is all."
—- Ria —--
Physique : 6 -> 6.5 ( training with Hikari)