Chapter 9 (1/2)

Chapter 9: Cloaking

「How's your body, Redius?」

「I took it easy for a whole month, so I can now pretty much move around as well as before getting injured」

Before I knew it, one month had gone by. Although I became Mistrea-san's temporary pupil, I hadn't been able to move at all. I had to stay in bed until I could.

And then, since I could finally leave the bed, the week of temporary training began. I faced Mistrea-san. Standing beside her was Helen-san. It appeared that Helen-san would help with the training.

Ropo was yawning and dozing off under the Sun. It went up to me earlier and tapped my leg as if saying, ”Well, do your best,” then went to sleep at a sunny spot. It somehow became really attached to me during this one month. Helen-san said that it could be because of our similar hair colors.

「Before we start… Redius, can you use magic?」

「Ah, yes. It puts a big burden on my body, though」

I demonstrated with Body Strengthening. It was the only spell I could use.

「Fumu. Well, let's begin with that, shall we. Redius. I'll teach you the basics of cloaking.」

「'Cloaking,' you say?」 (think naruto's chakra cloak)

I asked Mistrea-san about the word which I wasn't all that familiar with.

「That's right. Well, kids these days call it Body Strengthening. What Redius is doing right now is also one of those basics」

「I see」

「What you're doing right now is called 'Magic Armor'. You're basically enveloping yourself in magical power which enhances your defensive strength. However, your Magic Armor is still very rough; the difference between parts where the magical power is too dense and parts where it's too thin are obvious. If you don't fix this problem, your enemies will aim for those spots where your Magic Armor is thin, and you'll be done in」

What the! Is Mistrea-san actually able to see the layer of magical power I put on? How does she do that?

「Mistrea-san! Can you see my magical power?」

「Yeah, it's also one of the Basics. But we'll leave that for later. Right now, know that Magic Armor is the most basic of all kinds of magic. We'll spend this week helping Redius attain the perfect, full body Magic Armor」

Evenly distributing magical power across my body, huh…… Doesn't it sound pretty difficult? I feel like I'm already doing it, but if I focus a bit more, I can feel the difference in density at a few places. Then…

「This place and this place are too thin!」

Mistrea-san slashed at the spots where magical power density was lacking. She went easy on me, but pain is pain. When I focused on those painful spots…

「Redius! Distribute your magical power more evenly! You'll lose the fight very quickly if this goes on!」

…she slashed at other spots with thin magical power. I see. I now understand why children of n.o.bles would dislike this kind of training. It's nothing but pain. But there's no way I'd give up. I'll definitely master the Magic Armor in this one week and become an official apprentice. All for the sake of becoming strong.

Albast, the royal capital.

「Fuu~ It seems like I've gotten quite used to life at the academy」

It had been two months since I, Elicia Gremond, enrolled in the Royal Academy in Albast. Having separated from my parents, I came here with my two attendants, Clena and Mia, to live in a dormitory; it was quite tough getting used to living here.

In the academy, we were all allowed up to 2 servants to come with us, regardless of our social standing.  For that reason, I brought two people with me. Had this not been allowed, maybe I would've been unable to familiarize myself with school life.

While thinking about such things, I was hanging out in the dining hall by myself. Clena was busy cleaning the room, and Mia had gone out to receive the luggage sent to us from home.

……Come to think of it, I wonder if Redius is doing well. He said that he'd send me a letter once things settle down, but it's been two months.

<>

If I recall, he was going to become an adventurer in the neighboring town of Reclium, which belongs to Count Kentry. From there, it'd only take around two weeks for letters to arrive.

「Haaa. I wonder if I'll get one soon~」

I let out a sigh.

「What's troubling you, Elicia?」

My senpai, Prince William Albast, approached me with a smile.