Luciferis had stood on the balcony, lost in thought, about how he had to win against Mikael at all costs. But how?
Luciferis shook his head to calm himself down; those thoughts were for later. And he has to have confidence in himself to win.
'I wonder when the trainer will arrive.'
Almost as if on cue, he noticed that someone strong was approaching at a pretty rapid pace.
'Oh? They're openly showing off their Vitin? Pretty bold… Especially since there are strong nobles like Adamas here.'
Soon, that person came into view, and their appearance alone shocked Luciferis, whose jaw gaped.
They were armed to the teeth, with bows and arrows, swords, spears, and any other weapon one could name, all under a dirty robe.
The person had it, and they weren't cheap or low-quality ones. Every weapon was well-maintained and extremely expensive from the looks of it.
The guards let them in, their bodies showing that they were fearful of looking them in the eyes.
"Where's the shitty brat?! He should be greeting his trainer." The person shouted, their voice loud and uncouth.
Luciferis eyes widened a fraction. It couldn't be right? Adamas wouldn't have been crazy enough to get her, of all people, to be his younger brother's trainer.
'Oh hell no, hell no!'
During the Holy War against Mikael, Luciferis was the strongest, yes, but he wasn't the most feared. That title belonged to… Someone on his side.
'Come on, Adamas! Who told you to get that stupid woman?!'
Luciferis, panicked, ran down the stairs like his life depended on it. It almost did since his trainer was one of the most bloodthirsty people.
As soon as he reached the front gate, he bowed in front of the woman, no matter how much this hurt his pride. This was necessary.
"Oh?! Never thought I'd see a nobleman bow in front of me!" The woman proclaimed, grabbing Luciferis by the back of his shirt and lifting him up, almost like he was handling a dirty puppy.
"So… Leonidas, right? You carry a bit of a heavy name. Orchel. I'll see if you're worthy of that."
"Y-Yes, Ma'am."
Luciferis didn't really care about his pride anymore. Why couldn't Adamas just peacefully get a normal trainer?
"Well, I hate being called Ma'am. I'll tell you my name. Be honored, alright? If I think you don't like my name, I'll have your head." The trainer grinned, dropping Leonidas to the ground, taking off her robe.
"I'm Seraphimus Alize. Nice to meet you, little pile of mud. Just call me Alize." Those words were said with a little bit of curiosity; she really was intrigued by Luciferis.
Seraphimus Alize. That name almost made Luciferis run away.
'This Demon. Even though during the Holy War, all kingdoms were flooded from all sides. But the western frontier, with her and a few other monstrous humans. It was a haven. Not even Mikael wanted to fight against them all at once.'
Just then, Adamas stepped out, his eyebags a bit lighter and his body seemingly well rested.
"Ah… Alize." Adamas began, a small amount of nervousness hidden behind his calm expression. "Father wants to meet you before you begin training Leonidas."
"I refuse," Alize replied curtly, sliding her robe off completely. Brandishing all of her weapons. "After all, I'm not a guest of Vilkens. I'm here for Leonidas."
Adamas sighed softly, shaking his head. If he spoke any further, Alize, being the instigator she is, would start a fight.
"Very well then. I'll leave you both to it. Leonidas. Lead your master to the 3rd Division's grounds."
Luciferis nodded silently, thinking on how to escape this situation, if it was even possible. Alize was obsessed with things that had caught her interest. Akin to a mad dog.
He began walking towards the left of the Fortress. It was a bit away, since the fortress was the size of a small village, if not bigger.
"Uh, so. Leonidas right? I've heard about the fact that you've basically recovered apart from the itty-bitty bit of Negative Vitin around your radial artery. Forget about whoever was healing you. You're gonna get rid of that naturally."
Luciferis nodded. 'You haven't heard that… You saw it. Most people don't know this, but you've awakened the Mind's Vision. You can see for miles like a hawk and see into my body. That was one of the reasons why I was so strong in my old body…'
Alize smirked slightly, noticing the subtle look Luciferis gave her, in her twisted eyes, that seemed to be determination, not wariness.
"Oi pup, ya seem to know how to wield a sword… Or any weapon for that matter. Wanna fight?"
Luciferis froze in his steps. A fight? This early? He wasn't planning on this, but. If he refused, Alize would make his life hell.
"Of course, Master. I'd be honored." Luciferis turned around, his eyes narrowed, and almost out of habit. He smirked, no matter how weak he had gotten. He was still the strongest at heart.
Alize stared at the smirk of Luciferis with… A bit of dumfoundedness. She didn't know why, but she felt a bit of excitement. Usually, her days just passed by with her killing enemies. But. Now she's suddenly feeling the thrill of a battle.
"Choose your weapon, Pup. A sword? Bow and arrow? Dual daggers?"
Alize's voice began to speed up, and he began showing Luciferis all the weapons on her body, except for a pair of crimson and gold halberds on her back, both of them vibrating like they wanted to spill blood.
"I want a sword. A good, slender one. Nothing too heavy."
Alize paused, then smiled before unsheathing a black sword. It was basic, no special designs, but that's exactly how Luciferis liked it.
"Let me tell you something, kid. By choosing a sword like this, you give me the vibe of a Lethal Poet, you value speed and efficiency over-"
Luciferis didn't let Alize finish; instead, he lunged forward, sword already readied for Alize's neck.
But the woman simply sidestepped Luciferis slash.
"A perfect slash. My god. Am I against the God of Weapons? You haven't been trained before, right? Or is it just human desperation for respect? Either way, it's making you move like an aged swordsman."
"Nothing, Master. I just feel the urge to slice off your neck." Luciferis remarked, trying his best to land a hit on the wispy Alize, who dodged every slash and thrust of Luciferis' sword.
'My technique is picture perfect.' Luciferis thought to himself as he felt a bit frustrated. 'But there's no power behind my attack. I'll ask Alize to train my physical body as well.'
"Well, that's good," Alize murmured as she once again ducked below a slash. But now. She counterattacked, delivering an uppercut straight to Luciferis' stomach, making the Hero almost lose consciousness.
"I'm not gonna lose with just this! Leonidas!" Alize grinned, now beginning to pummel Luciferis, trying to bring him down to the ground.
"1! 2! 3!" The trainer counted every single punch she delivered on the barely standing Luciferis, who blocked any he could. "Wait, I lost count! Let me restart!"
'Just a bit… She's gonna get bored in a few seconds since I'm not putting up a fight.' Luciferis gulped slightly. He was in a lot of pain, especially since Alize was hitting him not with fists, but with slaps that moved like a whip. Crackling through the air and hitting him hard enough to bruise his skin.
'If it wasn't for the blessed physique that the Orchels have, I would've gotten beat instantly.' Luciferis once again tried to swing his sword, but his wrist got slapped by Alize, making him drop the sword.
Alize sighed, suddenly stopped, cracking her back, grunting as she did so.
"Fine. You're above what I thought you'd be able to do. You're worth my time." Alize smirked, raising 5 of her fingers. "Out of ten Nobles your age. You'll be able to beat 5. Without even having Vitin or a secret technique. That's the base you're starting with, huh? Nice… I'll have fun destroying it completely."
Luciferis grunted, rubbing his shoulders and the side of his ribs.
'Her training seems hard, but I haven't really seen it in action-' Just then, Luciferis remembered the task Adamas had assigned him, to get Alize to the 3rd Division's ground. But he was in no shape to do so.
"Um… Master, can you go to the grounds of the 3rd Division on your own? It's straight from here. People will recognize you anyway…"
"Sure? But before that." Alize cracked her knuckles before punching Luciferis straight across the face. Knocking the boy out instantly.
"I'm knocking you out so you train with the worst. Happy suffering."
Alize giggled maniacally to herself, hoisting the boy over her shoulders before walking towards the grounds of the 3rd Division.
'Most nobles don't know how it feels to be on the front lines, wasting your life away, in the dirt and mud, getting bitten by insects, and hunger taking over your senses, all the while, you scratch your nails away. I'll make sure this kid is tougher than that. No student of mine will be soft
(...)
Alize walked carefree, humming a lullaby to herself as she arrived at the open gates.
The sight before him flooded his heart with excitement. Rowdy and prideful, stripped of their confidence, on the ground, they lay barely conscious with their injuries. With a man standing in the middle of it all.
'He's out already? I thought he was cooped up in the main castle, not out and about.'
That man was none other than Yosen himself. Standing in all of his glory, fully armored and holding a large broadsword
"I assume Young Master informed you that Lord Vilkens wanted to meet you. Shitty Trainer." Yosen tilted his head, his words harsh and calculated, not like the scholarly man who helped heal Leonidas
"Heh.. Snowflake." Alize grinned, putting down the unconscious boy on the ground. "Well. I'm just putting my student through a ceremony. He's strong, I'll give you that. Which potion did Vilken drink before your honeymoon to have such a talented kid?"
Yosen grunted, digging his sword into the ground before walking toward Alize.
"Hm? He was strong? That's good." The man hummed, wanting to pick up Luciferis. But that would enrage Alize. So he abstained from it.
"I suppose that you had a proper reason. But you dare harm Young Master Leonidas to this degree? Tell me, would you rather have your head on a pike, or a sword shoved deep inside your stomach?"
The trainer smirked, her hands inching towards the halberds on her back. Her long black hair turned red as it began spiking towards the air ever so slightly.
"Uhh... Probably neither."
Yosen opened his hand, the man's sword flying into his palm as he readied it.
"Very well. Both it is."
Just then, Yosen stopped, nodding to himself, almost like someone was communicating.
"You're lucky. Alize. Lord Vilkens has summoned me. But I will pass on his message. Make Leonidas ready for the academy in 2 months. Or else you're legs will be cut off."
Alize shook his head in disappointment, wanting to fight but. She wasn't stupid enough to anger both Vilkens and Yosen.
"Fine, fine, stupid guy. I'll do that. Now hush up and leave."
Yosen didn't reply; instead, he bowed down in front of his Young Master, his armored hand glowed green as he healed the minor injuries of Luciferis.
His frown only got deeper, but he didn't talk. Instead walking out of the ground. Leaving Alize alone.
Alize remained silent. Looking at Luciferis as well. But alongside expectations, her expression held a bit of pity.
'Every Orchel is broken because of Vilkens, well. Let's see if you can hold up. None of my business anyway. I'm not even 5 years older than this kid. I can't do anything except make him strong.'
She turned her attention to the other trainees in the 3rd Division. There were an unknown number of divisions in the Orchel Fortress. This was the worst of the worst. Ex-criminals, young children. Anyone who could lift a weapon was allowed to come.
"Alright! From tomorrow onwards, you all will train with Leonidas! Be sure not to hold back! If I see any talented people, I'll train them too!"
No one replied; all of them were far too hurt from fighting with Yosen to even think about training anymore.
"Little shit, broke all of my toys before leaving."
She sighed, but her eyes picked up on a child, a bit older than Leonidas, who stood up, using his sword to balance himself.
"Thank you, Ma'am. I'll lead you to where we store extra tents. Please give us some time to recover, and we'll set up the tents for you ourselves."
That boy looked like any other commoner, but the color of the Vitin inside his veins. That made Alize grin out of excitement.
'Holy moly. I've struck literal gold!'
She jumped forward, almost spooking the boy into falling back, but he managed to balance himself again.
"What's your name? Brat?"
"William." He replied with awe. Now that he was up close to the woman, he could feel the immense Vitin that she was emitting from her body. It felt like he was comparing his own puddle to the great ocean.
"Alright, Will. You're going to be student number 2. Be honored."
William smiled, nodding his head fervently up and down. Before Alize knocked him out with a chop to the neck as well.
"Oh..."
She scratched her head in a bit of regret.
"Should've asked him about the tents. Oh well, sleeping on the ground will build character anyway."