School was over, but I wasn't waiting for Ariane to come to me today.
Instead, I was currently making my way toward Diom Magic Academy.
She’d mentioned having unavoidable business at her academy today, so I decided to head over there myself.
Although Physical Reinforcement Week hadn't ended yet, I was gradually transitioning into individual training sessions. Since I’d entrusted Amelia to Lise, I was taking charge of Ariane’s instruction.
"I’ve arrived."
I’d been told it would take a while for her to get free, so I’d walked there at a fairly leisurely pace.
After leaving a few things with the dormitory staff, I took up a position in front of the main gate of Diom Magic Academy—our meeting spot—and waited patiently.
As I stood there, the students passing by kept stealing glances at me. It definitely wasn't my imagination.
According to what I’d heard from Elisa and Clarice, our team had become quite famous—and not in a good way.
The presence of an Ordinary like Ray White mixed in with two young ladies from the Three Great Noble Families was seen as a bizarre anomaly.
I’d been the subject of those stares since the first semester, however. I wasn't going to let it get to me now... though being gawked at this much still left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.
While I stood there waiting and lost in thought, she came running toward me, looking flustered and out of breath.
"Ray! I am so sorry to have kept you waiting!"
"No. I just got here myself."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah."
That was a lie, but my Master had taught me that was the only proper thing to say when meeting a woman.
"Well then, shall we go?"
"Understood."
I followed Ariane into the Diom Magic Academy training grounds. Some areas were already occupied by students participating in the Magics War, but she’d managed to secure a spot for us.
After we both changed into light, flexible gear, it was time to begin the training in earnest.
"Ariane trainee!"
"Ranger!"
"Starting today, we begin individual training."
"Ranger!"
"Good. A fine voice. First, I want to reassess your current abilities."
I proposed a hand-to-hand combat session with both of us utilizing physical reinforcement.
She responded with another loud "Ranger!" and a salute. The surrounding students looked over to see what the commotion was about, but I couldn't afford to worry about them.
"The time limit is ten minutes."
I set the timer on my wristwatch, and we squared off.
It wasn't quite bloodlust, but Ariane was projecting a clear, focused Fighting Spirit. One look at the Prima Materia swirling around her made that much obvious.
"Now, begin."
The moment I spoke, she struck.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
Attempting to seize the initiative, Ariane charged. She put her full weight behind a right fist aimed directly at my solar plexus. I read the movement clearly and avoided the blow with a simple backstep, but—
"I’m not done yet!!"
Ariane planted her left foot firmly and swung her right leg high into the air.
She brought her heel down in an axe kick aimed straight at my head.
I could have dodged it... but I chose to catch it head-on.
"Hup...!"
"Wha...!!?"
She let out a stunned cry, evidently not expecting me to actually stop the kick.
I moved to grab her leg and throw her as I’d done before, but she had clearly learned from our previous encounters. She skillfully wrapped her supple leg around my right arm, using the momentum to drag me into a grappling match.
"I won't lose this time!"
"Heh... very well."
I accepted the grappling challenge. Surprisingly, Ariane was quite adept at it. She anticipated my every move, skillfully using her limbs to pin my joints and cut off my escape.
I felt her soft body pressed firmly against mine, but I had no time to be distracted by such sensations.
Ariane finally locked in her technique, wrapping her arms around my neck in a chokehold, but...
"I see. You truly are a natural close-quarters combat type."
I muttered a quick assessment of her performance, then instantly popped the joints she was locking.
I slipped out of her hold as smoothly as a snake.
After resetting my joints, I lightly tapped the ground with my boots.
"...You really are a monster. Grappling is supposed to be my absolute specialty, you know?"
"So it seems. However, let me show you what real grappling looks like."
"I wouldn't have it any other way!"
And so, we resumed our battle.
◇
"Guh... gueh... I yield... I yield...!"
Ariane, now perfectly pinned, tapped the ground in submission. Taking that as the signal, I slowly released the hold.
I hadn't applied full pressure, of course, but I’d suppressed her vital points perfectly to ensure there was no way out.
Strength isn't everything. Technique is just as vital in this kind of combat.
"Pant... pant... pant... You really are strong... pant... I can't even imagine a way to beat you... pant... pant..."
Ariane lay sprawled on the ground, and I walked over to her.
"No. You have excellent instincts, Ariane. I'm certain you'll become an incredible sorcerer in the future. In terms of close-quarters combat alone, you're already at the top level for a student."
"...I am honored by your praise."
She reached her right hand up, and I gripped it firmly to help her up. She wobbled slightly as she stood, so I caught her to make sure she didn't fall.
"Ah... um, I am sorry."
"Don't worry about it. You're exhausted."
From there, we held a review session to discuss the battle.
"Your instincts are good. However, Ariane, your movements are a bit too linear."
"Should I incorporate more feints?"
"If you overdo it, you’ll lose your natural strengths. The best course is to develop a few variations to complement those strengths. Even sorcerers who specialize in a single discipline often learn other magics specifically to make their primary skill more effective."
"Is that so... I see. I hadn't thought of it that way."
Ariane's strength certainly lay in her close-quarters combat skills.
However, I believed her greatest asset was her mental fortitude. Fighting at cross-range is naturally terrifying.
It's only human to hesitate.
Even Amelia took a long time to overcome that fear.
Ariane, on the other hand, never lost her offensive edge, charging forward with focused aggression. It was likely a natural-born trait.
That talent, combined with a personality perfectly suited for it.
Ariane was a product of all those elements working in harmony.
"Alright. Let's talk more while we eat."
"Eat...? I don't mind, but where are we going?"
"I’ll cook. Your room has a kitchen, right?"
"Well... I haven't used it, but yes, it’s there."
"Good. Let's go then."
"Wait... I don't have any ingredients at my place...?"
"Actually, I've already prepared everything. I left them with the dormitory staff earlier."
"Haa... you are certainly thorough."
She seemed a bit stunned, but I felt that sharing a meal was an essential part of the process.
Communication.
When fighting as a team, building a relationship of mutual trust is indispensable. During my time in the military, we were a disjointed group at first, but we found our unity by getting to know one another.
Drawing on that experience, I wanted to close the distance between Ariane and myself.
"Alright. Let's head out."
"Understood. But, what are you making?"
"Heh. There’s only one choice. Curry."
"Curry! Oh, that sounds wonderful!"
"Doesn't it? Leave it to me. My curry is exceptionally good. My Master gave it her highest seal of approval."
Walking beside me, she began to hum a little song. "Curry, curry, dinner is curry tonight~♪"
She seemed to be looking forward to it. I’d have to put my heart into this meal.