With our return to the shoreline and the tension on Lilia-san’s end finally subsiding, it seemed like the perfect time to check in on the other pairs.
I looked around, wondering where to head next. I could see Isis-san and Fate-san in the distance, but they were quite far down the beach.
Alice and Anima were by the water’s edge. Anima wore a look of deadly seriousness as she listened to Alice—or rather, it looked like she was earnestly seeking guidance.
Then there was the pair of Kuro and Sieg-san. They were standing on a slightly secluded patch of sand. Wait, what were they doing? Kuro stood motionless while Sieg-san performed a series of unusual movements in front of her.
Curious about their odd behavior compared to the others, I made my way toward them. As I drew closer, their voices drifted over.
"Don't worry about speed or strength! Focus on how your magic power flows through your entire body!"
"Yes!"
"Good! You're getting the hang of it. Let’s do another set—oh? Kaito-kun?"
I had approached because I couldn't make sense of what they were doing from a distance, yet being closer only made the situation more confusing. What exactly was going on?
"Um... Kuro? Sieg-san? What are you two up to?"
"Ah! That’s right, we came here to have fun, didn’t we?" Kuro said, looking as if she had just snapped out of a trance.
Sieg-san stopped in her tracks, looking embarrassed. "I-I am so sorry. This is my fault..."
"No, no, don't worry about it," Kuro said with a smile, waving off the apology.
I tilted my head, still completely lost. Noticing my confusion, Kuro gave a wry grin and explained.
"Ahaha, well, we intended to just hang out at first. But while I was talking with Sieg-chan, she mentioned she's been hitting a plateau in her growth lately."
"Chrome-sama offered to critique my form," Sieg-san added, "so I was practicing some basic footwork drills."
Everything clicked. Kuro loved helping people grow, and her instructional skills were so legendary that even Alice admitted defeat to her. For Sieg-san, who had been feeling stagnant, this was an opportunity she couldn't afford to pass up.
"So, Kuro, what’s your assessment of Sieg-san?"
"I think she has incredible talent! Among the Elves I've seen, she might be the most gifted... which makes this such a waste!"
"A waste?"
"Exactly. Despite her talent, she's growing in the wrong direction. That’s the real reason she's hit a wall."
"P-Please, Chrome-sama! Tell me more!" Sieg-san pressed forward with an intensity that was rare for her. It seemed she was more bothered by her lack of progress than she usually let on.
Kuro nodded, then summoned a blackboard out of thin air. Sieg-san and I sat down on the sand to watch. Using a piece of chalk, Kuro began sketching caricatures. While they weren't quite as artistic as Alice’s drawings, she captured their features perfectly; I could tell exactly which ones were Sieg-san and Anima.
"The reason for Sieg-chan’s slump is simple: she used Lilia-chan and Anima-chan as her benchmarks. It’s understandable, since they're the superior fighters she sees most often, but they’re fundamentally different types."
"Different types?"
"I'll keep it simple," Kuro said, drawing another figure on the board. "Lilia-chan and Anima-chan are Power-based fighters. They grow by taking the shortest path possible to increase their magic power and output. Sieg-chan, however, is a Technical-based fighter. She flourishes by diversifying her skills and expanding her repertoire."
"Technical-based..."
"Lilia-chan and Anima-chan grow through simple, repetitive drills. If Sieg-chan tries to do the same thing, she’ll hit a ceiling. Her growth rate won't match theirs, and she’ll inevitably be left behind."
Sieg-san looked down, lost in thought. After a long moment, she looked back up at Kuro.
"If I focus on broadening my skills... will I eventually be strong enough to catch up to—and even surpass—Lilia and Anima-san?"
"I understand your concern. You’re worried that a Technical-based fighter can’t stand up to a simple, overwhelming Power-based one, right? But this is just about growth tendencies. In an ultimate sense, the goal is to eventually train every ability to its limit."
Kuro pointed down the beach. "Look over there. That girl is the absolute pinnacle—the very extreme—of Technical-based combat."
She was pointing at Alice. It was undeniably true. Alice wasn't a Power-based fighter, yet she was so strong that even those types couldn't lay a finger on her. There was no better proof.
"For the record, I'm more of a Power-based fighter myself. So, Sieg-chan, you should look to Shaltier's style as your goal, not mine. Now then, considering all that..."
Kuro offered a hand with a vibrant smile, her eyes full of life. "If you can find the time, would you like to receive personal instruction from me?"
"...Huh?"
It was a reminder of just how much Kuro truly loved watching others flourish.