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CA : 109 Essence
🕑 Added 2025-01-26 16:00:06 +0000 UTC“Ais, you’ve got remarkable talent, especially as a swordswoman. No wonder you’re known as the Sword Princess. Your understanding of the Gale Swordsmanship is exceptional. You’ve already grasped nearly all of its essence—only the ultimate move remains unused,” Altair said with a smile.
“Oh? You mean Ais learned everything in just one day?”
“That’s right. She’s a true prodigy. Just like Bete, she understood everything I explained almost instantly,” Altair replied confidently.
In the top-floor conference room of the Loki Familia’s headquarters, Loki, the captain Finn, and the vice-captain Riveria gathered around. Across from them, Altair leaned casually against the sofa, holding a cup of coffee and chatting with ease.
“The Gale Swordmanship… It’s incredible. To harness the power of wind without using magic is truly something,” Riveria remarked.
She and Loki stood by the window, observing Ais in the courtyard below as she demonstrated the technique to her companions.
Before their eyes, Ais swung her sword at a wooden target. Though her blade never touched it, a hole cleanly pierced through the wood. The onlookers in the courtyard, as well as those watching from above, were visibly stunned.
White arcs of wind visibly swirled around Ais, their power intensifying. With a layered strike, she was already close to generating a whirlwind with her next move.
“This is a swordsmanship technique from my homeland,” Altair explained. “The warriors there don’t rely on magic. Instead, their techniques come from a deep understanding of nature. They believe that by forming a connection with the wind, they can guide it through their blades, creating techniques like the Gale Swordsmanship.”
“Your homeland must be a fascinating place,” Finn commented.
As if to prove Altair’s words, Ais unleashed another strike toward the courtyard wall. A massive tornado appeared out of thin air, tearing up the stone tiles like a plow before slamming into the wall. The impact left a gaping hole in the structure and debris scattered everywhere. The audience, both in the courtyard and the meeting room, stared in awe.
“This…” Riveria was left speechless.
Initially, she assumed the technique merely enhanced sword strikes with wind, but summoning such a devastating tornado defied her expectations.
“Is this also part of the Gale Swordmanship?” Loki shouted, turning to Altair.
“Of course! A tornado is just wind, after all,” Altair replied nonchalantly.
“This is insane! The destructive power surpasses most magic spells—it’s practically a large-scale magical attack,” Loki exclaimed.
“Does it consume anything?” Riveria asked, her instincts as a mage prompting her to focus on potential drawbacks. For her, the cost of magic was always a critical concern, as overexertion could lead to collapse, like what happened to Lefiya earlier.
“No, it doesn’t consume anything. This is just natural wind. The user simply guides it with their sword, allowing it to gather and unleash devastating force,” Altair explained.
“That… That’s not magic!” Riveria blurted out.
“But it’s fun, isn’t it?” Altair shrugged with a grin.
“This is a jackpot!” Loki said, her initial shock replaced by excitement. She gave Altair a sly look.
“Altair, thanks a lot. You’ve helped our Ais learn such a powerful sword technique.”
“No need to thank me. This was part of our agreement—a collaboration, wasn’t it?” Altair replied, sipping his coffee.
“True, but this kind of power can help Ais reach Level 6. Collaboration or not, giving her such a gift means we owe you one,” Loki said with a grin.
“A favor from the goddess Loki? That’s a reward in itself,” Altair said, clearly pleased. A favor from one of Orario’s most influential figures was no small thing.
“As for Lefiya,” Altair continued, “she’s already on a clear developmental path. There’s nothing more for me to teach her, but I believe Riveria is fully aware of that.”
Riveria nodded.
"Yes, Lefiya’s abilities are not the issue. It’s her mindset and personality. But today, I was surprised. She pushed her magic until her mental energy was completely depleted, yet she wasn’t hurt nor in a dire situation. How exactly did you manage to get her to use her magic so smoothly?"
"It’s quite simple," Altair replied, pulling a small notebook from his coat and handing it to Riveria.
"And this is?"
Riveria opened the notebook and glanced through it, her face soon filled with confusion.
"Ais and Lefiya?"
"Exactly. Lefiya is very strong, but to make her perform at her full potential, a specific approach is needed. Ais is the key to unlocking that potential," Altair explained.
He had written down all the methods for motivating Lefiya in the notebook. In short, it boiled down to pairing Lefiya with Ais. Whenever Lefiya needed encouragement, Ais could simply say a few supportive words or make an affectionate gesture, and Lefiya would be ready to perform at 100%—even 120%—of her abilities.
As for whether Ais would agree to such a role, her straightforward nature meant she wouldn’t hesitate. Even if Ais jokingly told Lefiya, “Be my dog, Lefiya,” Lefiya would eagerly respond with, “Yes!”
Looking at the various strategies detailed in the notebook, Riveria couldn’t help but massage her temples. While Ais might be unaware, Riveria understood exactly what this entailed—it was essentially asking Ais to use her charm to motivate Lefiya. Still, Riveria reasoned, if it was for family, there was no real harm. Ais was like a daughter to her, and Lefiya was her chosen successor. It wasn’t an issue.
Nearby, Loki, who had been sneaking a peek, suddenly jumped up in protest.
"What? You’re telling me Ais-tan has to do all this? I’ve never even been hugged or kissed by Ais-tan! How can Lefiya get such special treatment? I want it too! If Ais-tan kisses me, I’ll go fight in the dungeon myself!"
Riveria immediately shot Loki a sharp look, the kind that screamed, Are you an idiot? This promptly silenced Loki, though she couldn’t help muttering under her breath.
"That damn Lefiya, trying to steal Ais-tan’s affection from me. I won’t let this slide…"
Riveria heard every word and sighed, rubbing her temples again.
"Loki, you’re such a fool. Lefiya is also your child. What kind of parent competes with their own children for attention?"
"Fine, fine, I was just joking," Loki said, waving her hands defensively after Riveria’s scolding.
Altair, watching the exchange, chuckled and rose from the sofa.
"Well then, that’s it for today. I’ll contact you again, Loki, once I’m ready for the next team-up."
"Okay! Thanks for today," Loki said cheerfully, waving at him.
"I’ll take my leave now," Altair said, bidding farewell to Riveria and Loki before leaving the Loki Familia’s headquarters.
However, as he departed, he failed to notice a pair of eyes quietly watching him from the shadows.
