Protagonist Drift? (3)
Zeke placed his hand on Iriel's back and meticulously probed her Mana Road.
The width of her mana pathways was average.
But they wound through her body so briefly that the total capacity they could hold was extremely low.
"Ngh!"
Iriel let out a groan laced with pain.
Zeke's brow twitched.
Why's the flow so damn fast?
The mana he'd infused into her interior slid through her like it was greased, racing back and forth at breakneck speed.
Cold sweat beaded on Zeke's forehead.
He was adjusting it as carefully as a seasoned rider avoiding the walls, but there was nothing he could do about the mounting pressure.
This has gotta hurt like hell...
He cracked an eye open and glanced at her. She was sweating bullets but enduring it all the same.
She's holding up better than I thought. Looks hot-headed, but she's got some real patience.
Zeke continued examining her mana pathways.
Going over every section he'd missed in the rapid pass, bit by bit.
Low total mana capacity, inversely proportional to an overwhelmingly fast mana transmission speed.
Longsword's out of the question for her.
Sustained mana infusion on a longsword would drain her reserves in seconds flat.
Sure, Zeke had a similarly meager mana pool, but he wielded a baguette nearly as long as a longsword.
That was just brute-forcing it with experience from the dark fantasy world.
He couldn't expect Iriel to handle mana with that kind of finesse.
Hmm. Short dagger it is, then.
A short dagger wouldn't burden her as much even when infused with mana.
Suddenly, a sword style came to mind.
Short Thunder.
If Serena's Heavenly Flow Sword was an all-rounder rapier style balancing offense and defense,
Short Thunder was a dagger art that weaponized lightning-fast speed.
It prioritized burst output over mana quantity, perfect for someone with her rapid mana rotation.
A sword like a sprinter.
It had the drawback of burning through stamina and mana in a flash,
but its instantaneous striking power surpassed even Serena's.
Problem is, the Short Thunder training method and matching mana circulation technique are brutal. Wonder if she can handle it?
She'd needed to steel herself just to remove her top.
And she didn't seem particularly passionate about swordsmanship either.
Even Zeke, desensitized to pain, called it agonizing—the suffering would be beyond imagination.
"Iriel."
Hah—
Hah—
She exhaled ragged breaths.
She didn't look good at all.
Zeke gently stroked her back.
"Hnnngh!!"
Cool mana touched her overheated mana pathways.
Iriel shuddered violently.
"It's cooling you down."
"A-Ahh!!"
Hm? Her temperature keeps rising?
Stroke, stroke, stroke.
"Aaah!!"
As Zeke swept from her back down to her waist, cooling her entire body,
Iriel's temperature finally normalized.
"Huuuuh—."
A lazy breath escaped her lips, like a contented cat.
Zeke removed his hand from her back.
"All done. Hurt a lot?"
"Done...? Already?"
Huh?
Iriel spoke without looking at him.
"F-First time feeling something like this!! So!"
"Figured. The searing pain must've been intense. Mana pathway pressure is no joke."
"I-It wasn't that bad...! It hurt, but then it felt... g-good..."
"Good?"
"N-Nothing!"
Zeke gave her a puzzled look.
"So... how's my mana road?"
Iriel changed the subject, asking Zeke.
"Narrow. But fast."
"Don't call it narrow... Fast is good, right?"
"Well, not purely good, but not bad either. Like a double-edged sword."
Zeke elaborated.
"Fast mana rotation means it's wild like a mustang—hard to control. But master it, and it's a huge advantage. Especially the burst speed and power."
"B-Better than Serena...?"
Zeke nodded.
"Assuming equal skill, you're at a disadvantage in prolonged fights, but you win short bursts."
"!"
Iriel perked up, shoulders lifting slightly in delight.
"Anyway, dagger arts suit your traits. I mentioned teaching you daggers before."
"Yeah, you did."
"Hm. Good call on my part."
But Zeke didn't immediately say he'd teach her Short Thunder.
He knew how grueling the required mana circulation and training were.
Even with iron will, it was tough. Dropouts piled up like mountains.
So he decided to test her first.
To see if she was truly ready for this dagger art.
If not, he'd drop it and teach basic self-defense instead.
"...The dagger style you'll learn is called 'Short Thunder.'"
"Short Thunder?"
"Yeah, short lightning."
Zeke eyed her complexly.
"...This style's dangerous. The training pain is nightmarish."
"That bad...?"
"Yeah, it pushes your body to the brink. Doesn't take years, but feels like cramming a decade of agony into one. And it's primal—you'll take a lot of hits from me."
"...You'll hit me?"
Iriel's eyes sparkled for a split second.
"Yeah, no choice."
"Th-Then after... like earlier... you'll stroke me again?"
"...Didn't like it? No helping it. Overheated pathways need cooling—essential step. First time, it'll take a while."
Zeke figured she'd bail.
No scenario in his head had her sticking it out.
"I'll do it!"
But Iriel answered instantly after he finished.
Huh?
Even after that warning, no hesitation.
Zeke was stunned.
That desperate to beat Serena, huh. Even though she hates my touch...
Yeah, maybe rivalry would drive her more than willpower alone.
He was satisfied, sure, but...
She hadn't felt the real pain yet—just youthful bravado.
"You'll regret it."
"...Won't."
Haa—
Zeke sighed.
"Then experience it firsthand. I'll ask again after."
Zeke placed his hand on her back again.
The pattern on his hand glowed blue.
Alright, minimal level. If she can't handle this, no way she'll learn it.
Crackle—
Mana converted to azure lightning.
"KyaAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!"
Her mouth gaped wide, a piercing scream filling the room.
Iriel convulsed, thrashing wildly.
Shit!
Zeke yanked back the mana and caught her collapsing body in a tight embrace.
"Iriel, Iriel!"
He looked at her frantically.
Too rash. Her body had never known such pain—shock was a real risk.
Even minimal, he'd misjudged the control.
"Nghhh!"
Blood trickled from her clenched teeth.
Flash.
Iriel's eyes snapped open.
"Huuuugh!!!"
She hyperventilated, gasping huge breaths.
"You okay?!"
"Nghhhh..."
Tears streamed from her eyes.
Zeke wiped them with his hand.
"Sorry. Messed up trying to test you."
He apologized right away.
Iriel shook her head vigorously.
Then she hugged him tight.
Burying her face in his chest, she said,
"I-It's fine! Zeke! I'm okay! J-Just startled, that's all! I can do it! I will!"
This is 'fine'?
*
Iriel buried her face in Zeke's chest, thinking.
Can't let him see my face right now.
Probably a mess—laughter and tears mixed.
The sensation that pierced her whole body was excruciating agony, but also like a blocked dam bursting open, refreshingly clear.
Tears poured from her eyes, pain she'd never get used to.
Just recalling it made her teeth chatter in fear.
But an inexplicable thrill and pleasure dyed her entire body.
It hurts, definitely hurts... Feels like dying from pain... So scary...
This was leagues beyond the heat from the mana road check.
Even that had been hard to contain.
No, bad. This is dangerous...
Iriel twisted her heated body.
She thought her head was a bit off.
Drenched in cold sweat, and...
Gulp.
Saliva slid down her throat.
Haa—
Haa—
The warmth she clutched like she couldn't let go.
Glancing up, Zeke's worried frown met her eyes.
"...?"
His stoic mask cracking made her heart pound.
Childlike, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
More.
More.
More.
Haa—
Haa—
Excitement blurring her mind like it might fly away,
instinctively, she met Zeke's gaze.
She licked her lips lightly.
And then.
"...Instructor?"