Master and Disciples (2)
“My body feels so light…. It doesn’t hurt anymore…. No more stuffiness…!”
Vivian couldn’t stop staring down at her transformed body, her mouth hanging open. Her hair color had changed, horns had sprouted, her skin had smoothed out just a bit…. Aside from those tweaks that gave her an even cuter look overall, there didn’t seem to be any major outward changes. But inside? Her body had been remade from the ground up into something entirely new…. Well, not like anyone could peer into her guts to check. No way to know otherwise.
“That’s what a healthy body feels like, Vivi.”
“To feel this…. refreshed…. It’s like I’ve gained back half my life….”
Whoa there! That’s dangerous talk! I couldn’t explain why exactly, but it was dangerous!! Ahem. Anyway, the seal inside Vivi’s body had been safely released, and her flesh reforged anew. A physique close to my own human form. An overwhelming reservoir of mana leaning more toward dragon than human. And those horns. Resembling a dragon’s, they marked her as something other than merely human. Sure, plenty of beastkin had horns like that, but none sported just horns without other animal traits. And those horns? They came packed with functions! Like an antenna to hear the words of the Life Goddess, or drawing in ambient mana to recharge the Dragon Maiden’s reserves, or helping her wield her own mana more efficiently. Just slapping on decorative horns felt too boring, so I loaded them up with extras—and now they were ridiculously overpowered.
“Vivi. Can you feel the mana inside you?”
“Y-Yes? Oh, yes! I can’t believe this incredible power was inside me all along….”
“That’s because it was sealed away in your body. An ordinary human frame couldn’t handle this much mana. Shoving that volume into a normal body would’ve shattered it to pieces.”
At my words, Vivi’s face paled slightly. She was picturing her own body exploding into fragments, no doubt.
“Nothing like that will happen to a Dragon Maiden. Don’t worry—your body transformed to accommodate the mana.”
“R-Really?”
Vivi let out a sigh of relief, stroking her chest. Her expressions flipped so quickly it was entertaining to watch.
“With that much mana at your disposal, you can do all sorts of things with it. So as your master, I’ll teach you how to wield it. Follow along diligently.”
“Y-Yes! I’ll do my best!”
And with that, I began teaching Vivi how to use her mana.
─────
“Thank you for making Vivi healthy again.”
“It was just what needed doing. No need for thanks.”
I couldn’t ignore a kid with the makings of a Dragon Maiden! Of course not! Besides, it was about time for another one to show up besides me! Like handing off a subcontract, more or less!
“Now, next up is Arthur. Your turn. Let’s see….”
I examined Arthur closely. His body was impressively toned for his age. Probably from consistent training for his future as emperor. Not that it was enough on its own.
“Ever swung a weapon before?”
“Weapons…. I’ve learned a bit of swordsmanship for self-defense.”
“Sword? Not a spear?”
What about the Unbreakable Aura? If you’re using that as a weapon, most folks go for spears, right?
“Spear…?”
“You know what Knight King Lucius’s weapon was?”
Arthur paused to think, then replied. “I’ve heard he wielded a spear with a banner attached. He didn’t usually fight directly, but in emergencies, he swung that spear in battle.”
“And you still learned the sword?”
“W-Well, spears are…. too long to carry for self-defense.”
He gestured to the single sword at his waist.
Hm…. Fair point. Spears weren’t practical for everyday carry. Great for war, sure, but too unwieldy. Still! Most kids idolize their grandpa’s weapon and try to copy it, don’t they?! …I didn’t say that out loud. Emperors rarely swung spears in battle anyway. A self-defense sword was plenty.
“Well, can’t be helped.”
At least he had basic sword skills—not starting from zero. I’d just hone them. Oh, right. Should I make him a weapon? A sword to match his training. And teach him to control the hefty mana slumbering inside him. Like building inner strength in wuxia novels to toughen the body. His goal was reclaiming the throne from his uncle, after all. I’d cram in everything he’d need! Swordplay, rhetoric to win hearts, command knowledge. Since he’d be outnumbered, stealth and evasion too. Hm…. This training might get brutal. Could Arthur handle it?
Time to ask.
“Arthur. Are you prepared to do anything to reclaim the throne?”
“Yes.”
Instant answer. Ready for anything. Reckless words, but if he meant it, he had his reasons.
“Even make sacrifices?”
“Yes.”
No hesitation. His thirst for revenge must run deep. A bit pitiful, really. But that was that. This was this.
“I see. If your resolve is that firm….”
I smiled faintly.
“Then you can endure training so grueling you’ll wish for death, right?”
“P-Pardon…?”
Seeing Arthur’s dumbfounded face, I continued.
“Even major wounds, or if your heart stops—Dragon Maiden Vivi can heal you right up.”
I could too, but she needs the practice.
“So even repeated near-death experiences are fine. I’ll push you hard.”
Arthur’s face drained of color.
─────
And so, I took Arthur and Vivi as disciples, teaching them all sorts of things. Arthur got combat training: swordsmanship, stealth. Rhetoric, body reinforcement with mana. Harsh methods were involved, but we crammed it all in! What’s done is done! A few brushes with the afterlife for Arthur? Minor details.
Mana control was especially tough. Elves with high mana affinity pick it up fast, but Arthur struggled. Waking his mana and getting it to move took…. three years. Not that we spent all that time on it. He learned plenty else too. His swordplay became top-tier for a human, his knowledge stuffed to rival scholars’. He was emperor material from the start—naturally gifted.
To such an Arthur, I presented a gift.
“This is….”
“A sword, as you can see.”
A blade of deep black, devouring all light like the night sky. The black hue screamed adamantium alloy—not pure, but blended just right. The core axis was mithril for mana conduction, linking hilt to edge. Channel enough mana through the hilt and….
Vmmm.
“Whoa!”
“It manifests a blade of pure mana.”
A glowing mana edge erupted from the pitch-black blade. I swung it lightly.
Shwick!
The sound of slicing soft flesh.
“Its cutting power is superb. It carves boulders like butter.”
Too sharp—kinda dangerous. Eh, he’ll manage.
“And if you pour in excessive mana….”
The black blade sucked it up greedily, like parched sand drinking rain, extending the edge. At the limit….
Krummmble!
The mana blade destabilized, quivering like a breached dam. The surge became a beam, lancing skyward from the aimed sword.
“It fires a beam like this.”
The pillar pierced clouds, revealing blue sky beyond. Any sword demands a beam ultimate, right?
“It also accelerates mana regen, wounds from it resist normal healing, and the sheath has owner-healing magic.”
“Incredible….”
“Only a hero’s blade from legend could clash with this.”
I put real effort into it!
“Its name is Dainsleif. A demonic sword that grants the owner’s wishes—at the cost of their most precious thing.”
A lie, of course. No such curse. Just testing him.
“If you’re truly ready to sacrifice anything for your dream…. Draw it. It’ll become your power.”
I sheathed Dainsleif and handed it over. Arthur hesitated long, then gripped the hilt.
Shing.
Faint metal song. A black blade swallowing light. Arthur stared, utterly entranced.
