The second day of training.
Having weathered the relentless assault from Stella and me, Ariane seemed to have grasped the nuances of forest combat. Her physical movements were now on a completely different level than they had been previously.
"Ariane trainee! You should have broken right just then!"
"Ranger! Yes, sir!"
Once again, we were engaged in fierce combat amidst the trees.
For this session, Stella and I rotated in thirty-minute intervals, engaging Ariane in hand-to-hand combat while incorporating magic. We allowed for ten-minute breaks between sets.
However, since she was required to listen to my advice during those intervals, she effectively had no rest at all.
Even so, seeing her struggle so desperately to keep up without a single word of complaint, I felt a deep sense of admiration.
It wouldn't have been surprising if her spirit had broken at any moment. I was prepared to step in and support her if it did, but there was no sign of that happening.
Watching her push forward even while battered and bruised... it reminded me of my younger self.
Eventually, her session with me concluded, and it was time for a break.
She came trotting over to me to review the fight we had just finished.
"Why did you evade to the left at the very end?"
"That was... my body simply moved on its own..."
"That is because you are relying entirely on magical defense. In that situation, the optimal move would have been to evade to the right while taking cover behind a tree."
"Mmm... it is quite difficult, isn't it?"
She seemed to be taking my words to heart in her own way.
"Even in the heat of battle, you must keep your surroundings within your field of vision. A bird's-eye view is essential. I will provide support as needed during the fight, but I expect you to handle the fundamental movements yourself."
"Ranger! Yes, sir!"
Precisely.
During the Base Defense portion of the Magics War held in Kafka Forest, Ariane and I would need to act as the primary combatants.
There was no doubt that our level of coordination would be a decisive factor. It wasn't that Amelia wasn't necessary, but for those of us tasked with both offense and defense, a certain baseline of combat technical skill was mandatory.
Furthermore, the stage was the forest.
This meant confronting opponents while using the trees themselves as cover.
We had to manage magical lines of fire while simultaneously engaging in close-quarters combat. Additionally, we had to keep the defense of Amelia—who would be stationed at the base—at the forefront of our minds.
Fighting blindly would get us nowhere.
This Magics War was going to be a battle of wits as much as a test of strength.
The person who devised these rules was likely Abby-san. It was a setup that felt very much like her.
"Alright! Next, you'll be going up against Stella!"
"Ranger! Yes, sir!"
"Ranger! I'm gonna give it my all too!"
With Ariane facing off against Stella next, I was able to observe the battle objectively.
"Time limit is thirty minutes. Begin!"
The moment I gave the signal, Stella was already in motion.
Ariane still had a trace of fatigue lingering from her bout with me. Stella, on the other hand, was heading into her first match of the rotation and was perfectly fresh.
However, Ariane’s growth was truly impressive.
"Mm... you're getting good!"
"I will not lose!"
Stella's close-quarters combat skills were already at a very high level, having been forged by both Master and myself. In fact, compared to the Ariane of a few days ago, I would have said Stella was the stronger of the two...
But now, they were perfectly matched.
The most shocking thing was Ariane’s rate of growth. Her talent had been unpolished, but through this focused instruction, her skills were improving at a visible pace.
Stella seemed to realize this as well, as she was finding it difficult to land a clean blow. While Ariane had an overwhelming advantage in terms of physique, Stella’s small stature granted her incredible agility.
It was common to find her suddenly circling around to one's back before they even realized she had moved.
Yet, Ariane was parrying Stella's attacks perfectly. Stella tried to create an opening through feints and distractions, but Ariane shut them down completely.
They traded punches and kicks in rapid succession.
When Ariane threw a punch, Stella ducked beneath it and used her legs like springs to lunge forward, wrapping her arms around Ariane's waist to drag her into grappling... but Ariane smoothly brushed the attempt aside.
I watched their exchange intently.
First, the analysis. Was Ariane moving exactly as I had just instructed her?
Ultimately, much of this came down to experience. Even if a person understands a concept intellectually, they will often revert to instinctive behavior in a split-second decision.
By repeating these drills countless times, one must train until the optimal solution becomes a reflex rather than a thought...
It seemed that part would take a little more time.
"Alright. That's enough."
When I called an end to the session, the two of them bowed politely to one another.
"How was that just now?"
"It wasn't bad. However, you were so wary of Stella's agility that you gave her too much space. In a fight at that range, you won't be able to land a decisive blow."
"Ugh... you are exactly right..."
She made a bitter face, clearly aware of the mistake herself. However, it was obvious that if she lunged in recklessly, she would be caught by Stella's counter.
I understood the internal struggle she was facing during the fight.
"Ariane-chan! You're seriously strong! You might be the most amazing person ever after Big Brother!"
"I-Is that so?"
"Yeah!"
Stella, for her part, was offering sincere praise. She seemed to have become quite fond of Ariane. It was a heartwarming sight for me as well.
"Alright. It's my turn again. I'll be switching my combat style to simulate a variety of different enemies."
"Eh... you can do such a thing?"
"Yeah. So you'd better keep your guard up."
"Ranger! Yes, sir!"
We continued to push ourselves through training until the sun dipped below the horizon.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
"Alright. That's it for today."
At my words, Ariane and Stella both saluted on the spot.
"Ranger! Yes, sir!"
"Ranger!"
By now, even Stella had fully committed to the drills, and she was just as worn out as Ariane.
I hoisted Stella onto my back first, then I draped Ariane's arm over my shoulder, walking with her leaning against my side.
"Ugh... Ray. I am so sorry..."
"Don't worry about it. I pushed you to the point where you couldn't move. Once we get back, you should eat and get into the bath. We have more training tomorrow."
"Ranger... yes..."
She was completely drained.
Today had been an endless cycle of fighting Stella and me, receiving advice, and immediately applying corrections.
It wasn't just physical exertion; it was combat that required constant situational awareness and positioning.
Factor in the use of magic, and the resulting fatigue must have been staggering.
"Suu... suu... suu..."
I heard soft breathing from behind me.
"It sounds like Stella has fallen asleep."
"She can sleep anywhere. She must have been quite exhausted."
Stella was sound asleep, clinging tightly to me. Even Ariane, who was managing to limp along beside me, sounded heavy with fatigue.
"Ray... have you always lived through days like this?"
"I suppose. Ever since Master took me in, I was desperate just to stay alive. This kind of training has been a daily reality for me since I was a child."
"...That is unbelievable. But..."
"? Is something the matter?"
After a brief silence, Ariane spoke without looking at me.
"I feel as though I have come to understand you a little better, Ray."
Her voice was gentle. It was a tone that carried more emotion than perhaps anything I had heard from her before.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I used to think you were a bit of an eccentric, Ray... but as I thought, you are truly a remarkable person."
"I'm flattered, but 'eccentric' is a bit much, don't you think?"
"Hee-hee. Not at all."
She leaned even more of her weight against me. As she did, the faint, sweet scent of a woman wafted past. Her soft form was pressed firmly against my side. Well... she was clearly exhausted.
I adjusted my grip and continued walking, firmly supporting her as we moved together.
"Ray. Let us win this."
"Of course."
We would definitely take the championship. I swore it to myself once more.