321 The next student, and so on… (2/2)
Juni marched in, saluted, and said, ”Ready for armorer lessons, sir!”
Gary's jaw dropped. ”All of these?! At the same time?”
”Sort of.” Remian shrugged. ”It all begins at the same place, actually, and since I want you guys all to get along and work together in the future, I figured it was best to have you all learn together first.”
”And… what are we learning, exactly?” Gary had to ask.
”Language and speed reading, to begin with.” Remian stretched. ”And memory exercises. Oh, and if you have any questions… ask Alani.”
Right from the start, he made her their go-to person. This was only her third day, and Gary's second, and the first for all the rest, but it was enough that she knew more than they did, and within an hour, Remian had her explain things to them in her own way, as if she was his teaching assistant.
As he gave them their framework and left them to practice, he caught Xiao Yan and Eriane spying on them from the windows.
”What are you two up to?” Remian asked, in humor.
”Shouldn't we be in there?” Xiao Yan asked. ”Learning stuff?”
Remian shot her a look of disbelief. ”Ten years of studying formations not enough for you?”
”Not entirely. Your ten years was my two, and I had no datanet restrictions.” Xiao Yan shrugged. ”Including their top-of-the-line entertainment virtual experiences.”
So… not exactly a formation master, but at least wiser and more mature. Remian thought for a bit, then opened a cabinet and took out a black headset. ”Know what this is?”
”A Psionic Interface Visor?” Xiao Yan guessed immediately. ”The style looks Quarin.”
”It's something they left behind in their ruins when they abandoned this world in a hurry. It's got some stuff pre-loaded, including some basics of space magic. It's actually where I learned about space magic from. I'm thinking if you can combine that with your formations, we might be able to do something with the Spatial Rift when the seal wears off in a couple of years.”
”Gimme.” Xiao Yan held out her hand imperiously. What else could Remian do but surrender the headset?
”Um…” Eriane looked at the headset longingly.
”I'm sorry, there's only one.” Remian winced. ”How about we leave that with her and you and I go play together?”
He'd really been neglecting his family, he felt. He owed his little sister at least some time together.
But Eriane turned to Xiao Yan. ”I want to borrow your crossbow.”
”No.” Xiao Yan refused immediately.
”But it's for Remian.” Eriane said shortly.
”Oh.” Xiao Yan hesitated, then slowly nodded. ”Okay.”
Remian frowned. That crossbow in question was undoubtedly the black Assassin's Crossbow that Remian picked up back in Xiao Yan's world. ”Xiao Yan, you don't have to lend anything you don't want to, even if it's for me.”
”It's fine. You won't be able to compete with her without a shooting weapon.” Xiao Yan shrugged.
”Compete…?” Remian blinked.
”In shooting, of course. That's how she plays.” Xiao Yan had only met Eriane recently but already she had a lot of experience in that particular area.
”Ah… right.” Remian felt even more guilt all of a sudden. Even Xiao Yan knew his sister better than he did. ”Actually, how about we play something different this time?”
Eriane didn't object. She just looked at him quizzically. ”Like what?”
”I don't know. Let's go try everything and see.” Remian suggested.
***
Three hours later, they ended up designing sniper rifles together.
Eriane worked hard at this new 'game'. She drew out a huge gun laid on a four-legged stand that included spring-loaded mechanisms for reloads and a triple magnification scope…
But in the end, it was simply a crank-loading gunpowder-based machine gun with a scope, very bulky, and not exactly practical for any specific purpose.
Remian drew out a laser-scoped railgun.