[X] Train, and get your new skills under your belt
[X] Visit one of your gang members:
-- [X] Stern
You decided to train, and to train by battling your latest recruit; Stern. You made the call and left a message with your address for her to meet up with you when available. As you waited, you put yourself through your standard workout routine, only this time you were practicing the new forms and techniques you saw in your dreams. Notable among them was the defensive technique that would not only make you nigh unbreakable, but would force the enemy to feel all the pain and damage their spell would've normally caused you. The technique, Fang Mountain, was originally made to deal with physical attacks; however, the memories you've witnessed last night showed Klaus using it against heavy bombardment magic without any issues. And if he could do it, then so could you.
The memories and training also helped you refine the Spinning Break to the next level; allowing you to catch and return physical ranged attacks as well as you could magical shooter spells, if you're assessment is accurate. In other words, you had master the techniques to overcome and conquer the...Stahl Jäger that forced to to flee. The next time you face the giant of steel, you will show it the strength you have acquired; that you are no longer weak and so pathetic as to cower or be crushed by its heel.
It was at that moment you heard the doorbell ring; opening the door, you found that Stern had finally arrived, staring you down with a blank expression that revealed nothing. It frankly made you a bit nervous; you knew that you yourself tended to be closed off, but Stern took it to a whole new level. Such a cool, collected demeanor that was steadfast no matter what; such a thing was something you personally desired for yourself. Perhaps this will give you some insight into acquiring it for yourself?
Regardless, you wave hello to her and start talking, "Thank you for coming. Follow me, I'll show you where I train for my more...explosive techniques."
"...Understood." Stern solemnly replied, quietly following your lead as you directed her to the open expanse outside town you use to train yourself. Once there, Stern raises a barrier and you enter your Armed Form, and the battle begins.
It's one that's completely different to what you're used to; in stark contrast to the other strike arts practitioners, Stern keeps to the skies and is content to barrage you with shooting spells. Volley after volley of her Pyro Shooter is sent at you, only for you to retaliate with Spinning Break to send them right back at her. She's nonplussed; simply shielding and raising up a barrier to tank the attacks without any issues. Then she points her staff right at you, with it wickedly calling out, [Rubellite]
You're immediately caught in a bind, one you can't break out of even with all your strength, and you can already see Stern charging up a powerful bombardment spell while you were trapped. Well...since you couldn't break out, you might as well see if you've managed to get your other new technique down. You being channeling mana throughout your entire body, putting yourself in the Fang Mountain, right as both Stern and her staff declare the name of their attack: "[Blast Fire]"
A wave of pure fire and energy crashes into you, but you feel no pain; no force of impact or burning from the flames, at most you just feel some warmth and your mana steadily being exausted keeping up your defense. Finally, the spell and binds end, and as the dust settles you see Stern visibly exhausted and beaten up, as if she took the spell's impact instead of you. Perfect.
Stern flies down and looks you in the eye, her composure still the same despite the beating she took. "That was...impressive. And unexpected."
You nodded in thanks and replied back, "It was a new technique; I wanted to fight you to see if I had truly learned it properly, which it seems like I had."
Stern nodded in reply, "So it seems..."
Just then, you hear a
ringing tone, to which Stern replied to by checking a message on her device. She then turned to you and spoke, "I have to go. Urgent family matters."
"...Ah, I see. Very well, thank you for your time." With that, you waved Stern off as she flew back home; taking note in your mind that Stern had a family and considered it important, judging by how quickly she reacted to a message from them.
You spent the rest of the day going through stances and cooling down, as well as preparing for school tomorrow.
School was...well,
school. It wasn't something you enjoyed, but nor was it something you dreaded either; it simply
was. You didn't really interact with your peers if you could help it, and in turn they mostly left you alone. You answered any questions you were asked, cooperated in any group projects, and ultimately were as unobtrusive as possible. Mainly because you had more important matters to attend to, matters regarding your ambition and what has been passed onto you by your ancestor.
However, your school, St. Hilde Academy of Magic, did possess a key asset in attaining said goals; it was the premiere school under the auspices of the Saint Church. As such, it has the most comprehensive collection of books, literature, and other records pertaining to Ancient Belka than any other school would. You had used the library before in hopes of stoking your ancestor's memories or to better understand them, but to no avail. However, with recent events having broadening your perspective to yo-
his mind, you decided that another go around may prove to be more fruitful this time around.
You begin to scour the shelves, pulling down book after book to go over; all in the hopes of getting some manner of results. As you do, you end up brushing up against someone else's hand, as it appears that someone else was looking for the same books you were.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't realize you were reaching for this one; I though you were grabbing
A Perspective of Currency Over the Centuries: An Analysis of the Economis of the Belkan Empire. If I had known I wouldn't have-"
You cut her off, "O-oh, it's no problem, really! I should've actually paid more attention to my surroundings," you then turn to her and continue talking, "By all means, I can wait until-"
The rest of your brain finally catches up with your eyes as you actually take in who you're looking at; hair like woven gold, eyes of ruby and emerald, and
a presence that's bright as the sun, and subtle as a flower.
"At that moment, you knew that your life had forever changed by meeting the Saint Princess; but it wasn't until many years later that you have fully realized that it was because you had fallen in love with her"
You hand gently laid over hers, you could feel how delicate and soft her hands were; how fragile and transient they felt in you own, even as you could feel the pulse and warmth from them.
"When you first took her hand, you were shocked at how...cold it was. Later, you learnd of what had happened, and how it robbed her of her hands and forced her to use such cold and lifeless imitations."
"Even if Eremiah's work was exquisite and surpassed any others; the puppet limbs he offered were but a pale copy of what should have been..."
"Um...you can, uh, let go now?" Hearing Olivie her speak snapped you out of your stupor, and your hastily removed your hand from hers. You took note of her uniform; the grade school one, which put her a year or so under you judging by her appearance. You quickly got down and started to leave, but the girl called out to you. "Wait!"
She ran up to you and proceeded to introduce herself, "Hi, my name's Vivio Takamachi! What's yours?" She then noticed the books you were carrying. "Ooh, I was actually looking to pick up Chronicles of the Unification Era, Vol. VII; do you mind if I borrow it after you? And you're the first person I've seen who's also picked up Shutra and Belka: A Bond Between Kingdoms Past, Fourth Edition, have you read it yet? What are your thoughts on..."
Appearance, demeanor, presence...you could not deny it; the one who was standing before you must be Olivie in one form or another. Being in her presence, looking upon her in reality and not in the visions of ages past causes a surge of emotions through you. Looking at her, you feel you must...
[X] Protect her; look at her, she is soft, delicate, and clearly a scholar first and foremost given how swiftly she's rattling off facts from such illustrious texts. And why wouldn't she? This isn't an era of war, but of peace; there was no reason for her to take up the Kaiser Arts, especially if she wasn't haunted by the past as you were. No...you could not allow anything to stain such purity and innocence; where Klaus had failed, you will succeed. You will keep her safe, and away from the horrors that had consumed Olivie in the past; you will accept nothing less, and will gather all the power and strength you could to do so.
[X] Defeat her; it would be...so easy, for you to just fight her and prove that the Hegemon has surpassed the Sankt Kaiser. You have trained and bled every year for such a moment, and she hasn't appeared to even recall what the Kaiser Arts even are. Maybe this will put the past at rest, perhaps this victory will overwrite the defeat of ages long gone, and help to assuage the eternal guilt of your ancestor. Klaus could not surpass Olivie, but you could; you could do so here and now.
[X] Cherish her; maybe it was the memories influencing you, maybe Klaus's wistful regrets were stronger than his ambitions, but it ultimately matters not. Maybe it was running from reality, but the happiest moments of your life revolved around the brief moments of joy that your ancestor had with the Sankt Kaiser. Now that the opportunity to repeat those happy days with Olivie has shown itself, you have decided to selfishly indulge yourself in creating your own. Klaus my be spinning in his grave at your foolishness, but damn it all you couldn't resist...you were just too weak...