Now that I'm 4 years old, I have a little bit more independence. I think that Ash just doesn't really care enough about me to go looking whenever I wander off, so as long as I don't kill myself it works out for the both of us.
I feel like there is something seriously wrong with that maid...
My past life knowledge had actually shown some use for me. I had been planning on becoming a doctor when I grew up in my first life, so I ended up learning a bit of anatomy and biology. Using my past life's knowledge, I'd been able to successfully augment my muscles enough to jump over two feet in the air.
Not bad for a toddler, if I do say so myself.
It also seems that medicine isn't that advanced in this world so I'm sure that I'll be a prodigy or something at this rate.
My old world huh… I don't know if I miss it. I did choose to leave it myself, so I don't really have the right to complain.
I guess...
I did miss that woman in the white sundress though. Something about her had been so comforting, like the warm sun at the beach. Without her numbing my senses, things felt a bit off. Or maybe it just felt strangely quiet without her beautiful voice constantly in my ear.
But maybe this strangeness I've been feeling could simply be attributed to the absurdity of the reality I now face.
I watched the soldiers spar at the training grounds as I wondered if I'd ever see her again. All of the soldiers were Augmenters, so I'd thought that I could learn a thing or two from them.
Interestingly, some of the soldiers had furry ears and tails. It seemed that demi-humans were fairly common in this world. A man and a fox-person faced each other with wooden swords in hand. The man was significantly larger than the fox, but the fox didn't appear fazed at all.
???: [It looks like the Young Master decided to watch us today, so you'd better have a good clean duel today boys!]
The announcement from Captain Johnson was followed by cheers from the surrounding soldiers.
And so, the duel began.
The larger one charged in with an overhead strike, to which the smaller soldier responded with a graceful parry. As the larger one continued his onslaught, the smaller one continued parrying all of the attacks with apparent ease. Suddenly the smaller one disappeared for a moment, only to reappear behind the larger one with a heavy sword swing coming towards the larger one's neck. However, just when it looked like the fight was over, the larger soldier raised his sword with inhuman speed, blocking the hit.
Still, the larger one was pushed back several feet with a grimace. The fighting paused for a moment as the two sized each other up.
Even I could tell that if the larger soldier hadn't managed to block that strike, his head would have flown off his body. Wooden swords or not, this sparring was deadly.
Larger soldier: [heavy is the burden we share] -Lion's Strike
Smaller soldier: [sky shattering swing] -Pelugia
The two soldiers collided head on. Loud clanging sounds resounded throughout the training grounds as the arena was torn up around the two soldiers. After several rounds of attacks, half of a wooden sword flew through the air.
Larger soldier: [Hah, it appears to be my loss again, Pedro.]
Holding up his now broken wooden sword, the larger soldier admitted defeat.
???: [Amateurs. The whole lot of them.]
It appeared that a not very pleased maid had joined the audience at some point during the duel – Or perhaps she had been following me since the beginning.
Either way, I couldn't help but wonder whether or not Ash was strong enough to be making such a comment. On the surface, she appeared to be more of a beauty than a fighter with her large breasts, fair skin, and slim waist.
Ash: [I have nothing to prove to a brat.]
Noticing my gaze, but not the strangeness behind my eyes, Ash adamantly refused to show off her skills. This, of course, only served to spur my interest.
Using my cover as a child, I goaded her with everything I had:
Adam: [Show 'em what you're made of, Ash!]
Captain: [Well, I wouldn't want to force a lady to fight. But, I've always wondered how strong the personal maid to the next head of House Witherton was...]
Ash: [….]
Captain: [Or maybe Phoenixes have always been scared and weak little birds?]
Maybe the two of them have some bad blood between them, or maybe that comment just really pissed Ash off, because she and the Captain are facing off against one another now... With real blades.
Circling one another with an intense focus, the tension was palpable. Ash was wielding a single dagger against the Captain's longsword.
Ash: [Ballad of the Golden Phoenix] -Crimson Raindance
In an instant, the entire arena was engulfed with a raging fire. Fiery rain fell down upon both fighters and loud clangs marked that the "sparring" had begun. Ash, wielding both her blade and the surrounding flames skillfully, seemed to have the advantage and was pushing the Captain back. The Captain, however, was somehow avoiding all of the flames and was parrying all of Ash's strikes.
Captain: [Unmoving wave] -Sound Cancel
Ash jumped back in that moment and all of the flames in the battlefield were put out by a sharp gust of wind. The standstill was regained.
Ash: [Looks like I can turn up the heat a little bit without killing you too quickly.]
Ash grinned for once and the two readied themselves for the next exchange.
Ash: [On] —Raindance form I
A flaming blade appeared in her formerly empty right hand as she charged in.
Captain: [Shield true] –Unseen Armaments
Ash: —Horizontal Cut
Captain: [Reinforce Parry] –Siege Bank
Ash: —Blitz Field. —Scorched Power. —Spiral Kick.
The Captain was simply getting overwhelmed. For every single spell that he would cast, Ash would cast two or three. There was no escaping her onslaught and she showed no signs of getting tired or letting up. Like a cat playing with her prey, Ash wanted to see the captain struggle for his life. Soon enough, the Captain's sword was flung from his hand and he was forced to surrender.
The whole audience was rendered speechless in awe of such a spectacle.
Ash: [Watch yourself, rat. Next time you try something, your lackeys might find you on their next dumpster diving trip.]
After spitting on the captain and giving him that last comment, Ash briskly turned back towards me and began walking back up. Naturally, the rest of the soldiers did not take too kindly to Ash's behavior and were glaring daggers into her back. She clearly knew it was happening, but didn't pay any mind to it. I would not have been surprised if the soldiers had tried attacking Ash, but it seems like they let her walk away either out of fear or respect. Then, when she finally got to me she scoffed, saying:
Ash: [This much is nothing. You shouldn't be trying to learn anything from losers like them.]
With that, we began walking back towards the mansion. To me, all of those soldiers had appeared pretty strong. Though, I guess I didn't really have a good reference for what was considered strong in this world. Maybe some people even had enough power to blow up mountains...
Nah, that'd be a lil bit too crazy.
Adam: [Could you teach me magic then?]
Ash: [hmph. Calm down, kiddo, you haven't even had your divination ceremony yet.]
Adam: [Divination ceremony? What's that?]
Ash: [Seriously?] she asked, turning to look at me. [It's the ceremony that lets you know which Familia your magic is. All nobles go through this process when they turn five. Shouldn't your guardian have told you about this by now? …Wait that would be me. My bad, I guess, kid.]
Adam: [But I already know my Familia?]
Honestly, I know that I'm taking a risk right now, but my magic hasn't been getting stronger for a while now. Ash doesn't suspect anything wrong with me yet, so I think I can get away with this much without causing any suspicion.
Picking up a rock off the side of the pathway we were walking, I poured mana into my fist and shattered it with my bare hand.
Ash: [Rudimentary muscular Augmentation?! How the hell are you able to do that at your age?]
Ash seemed genuinely shocked– It was the first time I'd seen her like this.
Maybe I was a little hasty with this decision...
But then Ash's gaping mouth twisted into a smile.
Ash: [So you're something of a prodigy. I'd expect nothing less from my first student. Rejoice! I will turn you into the strongest mage in all of Artenia!]
She slapped my back and we walked together into the sunset.
Just what did I get myself into?