Chương 64: Chapter 56. Asha's Sword

Anna and I made it to the Dining Hall before dinner had been served. Warrick seemed to have worked his magic and Aqua was in a great mood. She even greeted us happily. Anna went to stand with the Servants who were waiting to serve the food from the kitchen. I was seated next to Sarah, who was on my left. Who was on my right usually changed every day. Today though, it was Cynthia. The meal was great as always. the main course was a black and purple fish the size of a lion.

The rich taste of the fish was cut with an acidic sauce that caused me to want to eat more and more. After the meal was finished, I was sitting and letting the food digest. While I sat, Sarah started to speak to me." How was your Meditation, John?" I turned to her and started to speak with great difficulty from my full stomach." There wasn't much progress... Though there is something I'll need to explain when we have some alone time tonight though."

Sarah looked puzzled, I thought she may have been worried about something. I quickly started to speak to make her relax." It's not necessarily a bad thing, in some ways, you may even be happy about it." Sarah looked at me for a moment and smiled. She began to speak in an upbeat voice to me." Well, I guess I'll have to take your word for it and wait till tonight. You have your forms to do, don't you?" Press... Grip... Feeling thankful for how understanding Sarah was, I placed my hand on the top of hers.

She turned her hand around and grasped my hand. We smiled at each other." Well, don't you both just seem so close." And while enjoying our moment together, I heard Cynthia speak to us from my side. I turned to see Cynthia looking back at me with her light-pink eyes. They were staring at me with a difficult emotion to discern in them. I spoke to her while separating my hand with Sarah's. Release." Sorry, I keep forgetting that Gaia has issues with something like this in public."

Cynthia continued to look at me strangely. I turned to look at Sarah for an explanation, she was just staring at my hand like it took a prized possession of hers. She began to speak not long after she noticed I turned my head." Cyn, I understand you may feel some type of way, but frightening my Fiancé from bonding with me is a bit much. Don't you think?" Sarah spoke with a bit of annoyance in her voice and a bit of a glare in her purple eyes. This seemed to fluster Cynthia a bit.

I decided to go to bat for her since I didn't find much harm in what she did and I didn't want the sisters to have a fight because of it." Now, now, Sarah. I'm sure she didn't mean to make you mad. Since all of the Maids and Butlers are here, it is a good idea to not be too intimate. Granted, they've already seen you hugging me, but too much of it might cause rumors to spread and hurt our reputation." Sarah pouted at me, no doubt a little upset that I didn't take her side.

Cynthia, again, had a strange look on her face. She also was blushing, maybe she isn't as used to me as I thought? Feeling a bit awkward, I decided to excuse myself. I used my homework as an excuse to leave the table. Sarah looked lonely as I stood up. Cynthia also looked like she had something to say. I assume she wants to talk to Sarah., so I left to let the sisters talk in peace. Anna saw that I was leaving and decided to come with me. Before long, we made it to a familiar balcony.

The night breeze was nice on my skin. The light from the torches on the walls of the castle and the light from the moon made it possible to see everything I was doing. Anna sat at a nearby table. She began to watch me as I started going through my workout. When I was about a quarter of the way through, we were joined by a familiar face. Asha and her Maid came and joined us, along with a rapier I didn't recognize. When she greeted us, she was all smiles and began to excitedly talk to us about her new sword.

"Hey! John! Anna! Look at this! I found this sword in the armory! Uncle Warrick and Aunt Aqua said it was okay to take it!" Asha proceeded to draw the sword from the sheath at her waist with excitement. When the blade was fully unsheathed it glowed with a yellow sheen as it reflected the light of the torches from the castle and the moonlight. Anna and I were both awestruck by the thin blade shimmering in the light. I started to speak to Asha in surprise." Wow Asha, what a pretty blade.

Have you been going through the armory these past few weeks to find the perfect sword?" Asha looked at me with a look of a pride, she began to speak." Yes! Since Mr. Crest helped me find the correct weapon for myself, I have been searching for a real sword to use, instead of the training sword I've been using. I found this last week! It took till today to figure out if anyone owned the weapon! But it turns out it hasn't had an owner in about 100 years! When I use it, the blade can act as a catalyst for my Magic!

So, in a way, it's like a sword and a staff for my Magic!" Anna and I both looked at her with smiles. Anna was the first to speak with joy for Asha permeating her voice." What a great find, Asha! It's also so unique and Rare! It's almost like Destiny that it can be used as a staff for Spellcasting!" I agreed with Anna as well, so I decided to speak." Yeah, Asha! It fits you so well!" Asha proceeded to have a wide smile on her face for a while.

After she felt she was praised enough, Asha and I began to practice our sword techniques. When I was finished, Asha took a small break. She seemed to be extra tired. While she was resting during her break, I asked if she was okay. Asha began to speak after catching her breath." For some reason, I feel extremely fatigued tonight. Is it because of our sparring sessions with Uncle Warrick and Aunt Aqua maybe?" The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there."

Well, you've had a good amount of time to recuperate, right? Or did you do something like cast Magic between then and now?"" No, I haven't." As I look at Asha, I remembered about her sword. I mean how could I forget it after all? She just showed it to us. I began to ask her a question."" Asha, can I use your sword for a moment?" Asha looked at me puzzled, but agreed none the less to my request.

I spent the next few minutes thrusting the rapier and I noticed the sensation that I was being drained of my mana by the sword. As the fatigue came over me the sword began to glow an even brighter yellow. I decide to see if I can return the mana to myself. It worked when I used a similar method as a Mana Blade. I should be able to teach Asha this method if she doesn't already know it. I turn to Asha and begin to explain what I discovered." Asha, the blade draws out mana as you use it.

It's similar to the activation of a Mana Blade. I can return the mana it takes from me though. If you know the mechanics behind the Mana Blade Technique, it seems to be possible. So, do you know how to do it?" Asha looked at me with an amazed look. I waited for her to speak." John, you figured that all out, from a few thrusts of the sword. When I had no clue it was happening?"" Well to be fair, you wouldn't have noticed the effect unless you've used a Mana Blade before.

I'm assuming from what you just said, you currently don't know how to use it?" Asha looked at me with a look of indignation. And began to speak while pouting." I don't know how to use a Mana Blade. It can't be helped, I have a Spellcasting Job after all!" I smile at her outburst. And I start to speak in a teasing tone." Just where, oh where did that Proper Lady from our first meeting go?" Asha saw me start to smile and she looked away from me. I started to speak to her again." Relax, don't be too upset.

I can teach you how to do it. If you don't mind that is?" Asha began to fidget and look around the balcony. After she was able to calm down, she started to speak in a shaky and quiet voice." Are you sure it's okay to teach me?"" What do you mean? We're Friends, aren't we? Even if not that, we're Teammates for now. And more than that, you're Sarah's Friend. That's more than enough of a reason to teach you." Asha looked at me stunned and then started to mutter to herself. I couldn't hear her though.

Anna seemed to have caught something Asha said, and her expression changed as a result. Asha started to speak to me again." Do you actually view me as a Friend? Even though I chastise you and Sarah so much?" I smiled wryly and started to speak." To be fair, I feel like we do need someone around to tell us to break it up when we go too far. And yeah, of course I view you as a Friend. After all, you're helping me out by fighting the Hero Party." Asha smiled and began to speak with a light blush." Okay, John!

I can let my Friend teach me if he's going to go to so much trouble!" Pull... Grip! After she spoke, she began to rise to her feet. I offered my hand, she blushed and I went to retract my hand, but she took it before I could. I raised her to her feet without much difficulty and began to explain the idea behind the Mana Blade. After handing her sword back to her. It seems my teaching didn't get through to her. She began to speak with a frustrated look on her face." Why can't I do it!?

I haven't had such trouble with a Spell before!" I felt bad about not being able to explain it well. I mean I have only been at this for about 3 months. Maybe I got too cocky? While I contemplated my failure, Anna walked beside me and started to speak." Master, perhaps instead of verbally explaining it. Why not show her how through doing it?"" Do you really think she can figure it out by watching me use Mana Blade?"" Hmm... Maybe your right?" While we all felt puzzled. Asha began to speak to us."

Anna, John, please don't wear yourself out thinking about how to get this talentless body to learn such a simple Spell like imbuing mana into a sword." At Asha's words, a lightbulb went off in my head. I started to speak." Wait! Asha! I think I know how to teach you it!" Asha looked at me in surprise. I continued to speak." The only thing is that the positioning will be awkward. If I hold your hand, I can direct my mana through you and use Mana Blade on the sword!

You should be able to get the feeling down if I do that!" Asha looked at me embarrassed and started to speak." But, John, touching a woman's hands isn't something an unmarried man should be doing!"" Well, it's not like I'm doing it with impure motives. And besides, this could make this whole learning process really fast!" Asha looked confused and was blushing heavily. Anna started to speak to her." Asha. Don't think of this as something dirty. This is to help us all with the fights to come.

Think about how much more of a force you can be if you can properly control your new sword." Anna's words seemed to calm Asha down. She was still red as a tomato. She looked at me in the eyes and then at my hand. She took a deep breath and began to speak to me." Okay, John! Come and take my hand!" / Step. Step. Step. / Grip. I obliged her. I went around her and held her right hand from behind her body, since it is the hand holding the sword. She was shaking before I held her hand.

I tried to touch her as gentle as possible. After I had made contact with her, her face reddened even further. She began to whisper to me shyly." John, do you have to grab me from behind?"" Sorry, it's easier to direct it if I don't have to think about the sword from a different perspective. If you don't like it, I can try doing it the other way." Asha's ears wiggled as I spoke close to them. She continued to blush and was muttering words under her breath.

After she calmed down, she asked me to start, so I did as I was asked. I brought my mana through her arm into the sword. While I was channeling it, Asha muttered " Warm" while I was halfway through. Once the mana was fully in the blade, I started to explain to her that the first part was done." Ok Asha, Focus on this next part. This is the important bit. This is how you return your mana." Release. Asha simply made a noise that was pretty cute and nodded. I finished the exercise and separated from Asha.

I then started to speak to her." Okay, that was the whole technique! Can you give it a try for me, Asha?" Asha seemed to be in a bit of a daze. I guess holding her arm for that long was too intimate for her? After calling out to her a few times with no response, Anna approached Asha and began to speak to her after grabbing her hands and gaining her attention." Asha, I understand the way you feel. That feeling is very unique and addictive. We can speak about it later with everyone.

For now, focus on the task at hand. Otherwise, you may scare him and make him blame himself." Asha looked at Anna in the eyes and nodded. Asha attempted to do the Mana Blade Technique without having the Skill. She nailed it on the first attempt. Granted she had a bit of difficulty with it. Make's sense since she isn't supposed to be able to do it. Now the hard part. She begins to return the mana. After a few tries she did it! I was so happy for her!

I started to speak with a sense of accomplishment like I was the one who did it!"" Great job, Asha! And to think I was about to ask if you wanted me to show you how to do it again!"" Again?" Asha responded to what I said. And then a look of disappointment started to show on her face? Anna began to speak to me." Good job, Asha! Also, congratulations, Master! Your teaching worked. Now let us head back, before the baths close for the night!"" Huh? Oh uhm.. Sure, Anna? Uhm... Asha!

You should practice that technique until it becomes second nature to you. I do it 10 times back-to-back 3 times with 5-minute breaks in-between. Don't stress yourself out. It'll be easier the more you do it!"" Okay. Good night you two." Asha answered me as Anna pushed me to leave. I looked back at Asha as I was being taken away. Asha was being approached by her Maid. I left while seeing Asha was staring at her arm in the moonlight, the same one I held.

Her strawberry blonde hair being brushed gently by the night breeze. As I wondered if I had hurt her, She looked at me with a determined look in her pink eyes. They were nearly glowing from the light of the torches on the wall, but the farther I walked away, the only light I could see was from the torches on the wall and the 2 moons that were high in the middle of the sky.