Yes, I know I've been gone for a long time. Many of you might even think that I've died, abandoned this book or something. I can't blame them, but please understand me, my exams start in a week, and I need to redo two term papers (or something like that, the volume is similar) on economics (I don't understand why a driver needs two subjects on economics), hand in one term paper on electrical machines and another one on microprocessor technology.
Yes, I'm in deep shit.
But I'll still be glad to receive your comments, reviews and reactions to this chapter. To be honest, I'm losing motivation a little because I hardly see any response from you. Chapters will come out anyway, but much slower. By the way, a review from a strange guy appeared in the reviews, you can read it. It's strange, I didn't even understand it the first time.
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Juvia slept very soundly, probably her first normal, full sleep in warmth and comfort in a very long time. Sigmund did not wake her up despite the fact that because of her his hand went numb, and Ciel complained directly in the chat that she was bored. Sigmund still felt some guilt for the fact that he could have caused the death of such a sweet and kind child.
The next morning, Sigmund and a very sleepy and lethargic Juvia , who was clearly ill, came to the headman of the village in which Juvia now "lived" .
to explain what was going on, "the unexpected arrival of light guild mages to replenish their ranks" was not something unusual in this world. People's faces even showed joy that Juvia would leave them.
It hurt Juvia , but she was ready for something like this . It once again strengthened her belief that no one loved her except Sigmund, she had seen those happy faces too many times, they had wanted to get rid of her too often.
It wasn't hard to fly to the nearest station, Juvia was happy to touch the clouds, even if they weren't as nice and white as she wanted. Well, after they got on the train, Sigmund started taking care of Juvia again . She was sick, seriously, so she was fed well, wrapped in a warm blanket and put to bed while Sigmund looked after her.
Despite her cough, Juvia smiled the entire time and clung to her savior's hand.
On the third day, Juvia and Sigmund were able to reach Spirit. Heart and meet other participants. First of all, Ciel .
- Darling! I missed you so much!
It was with these words that Ciel flew out of the guild's protective dome and pressed herself against Sigmund. Her words, her embrace, her gentle rubbing of her cheek against his, everything about her spoke of how intimate their relationship was.
And watching Ciel express his affection for Siegmund, as well as the growing smile on Sieg's face, Juvia felt anxious and jealous.
/ This girl... She's dangerous! In her presence, Zig almost stopped paying attention to Juvia ! If this continues, he might forget Juvia ! This can't be allowed!
And since Juvia had such a horrible experience with other people, she had absolutely no moral or emotional support except for Sigmund. She literally fell apart without him in her life, the very desire for this very life without him practically disappears.
And like any other jealous and scared child, Juvia hid behind Sigmund and began to hold him by his clothes.
- Yes, Ciel , I missed you too. I hope you weren't too bored alone?
- Yes! I'm always bored and lonely without you! I had absolutely nothing to do! I just walked around these huge corridors all day and looked at your clever gadgets.
Ciel wasn't interested in Sigmund's work projects in themselves, she could figure them out on her own, she was smart enough to do so, but she didn't need to.
The whole meaning of her life came down to one person; without him, she not only didn't know what she would do, she didn't know how she would live.
It was even a little funny that the first person Juvia met would be exactly as emotionally dependent as she was.
And feeling that she was being ignored, Juvia only grabbed Sigmund's clothes tighter, and the first tears began to appear in the corners of her eyes.
And since this isn't the first time Sigmund has interacted with a child, he knows exactly how to deal with such overly clingy individuals. He simply slowly prepares them for the fact that he, too, needs time for himself or for work.
- And this is Juvia , the same girl with incredible potential that I told you about. Juvia , introduce yourself to your older sister.
And since it wasn't just "someone" who asked for it, but Sigmund, she did it without hesitation, even though she felt some hostility towards Ciel .
- Juvia Locksar , a water mage, albeit an inexperienced one.
Ciel , on the other hand, had set herself the goal of becoming the best older sister/aunt for these children, and therefore did not pay attention to Juvia's somewhat prickly manner in communicating with her.
- Nice to meet you, my name is Ciel , I don't have a last name yet, but I hope to become Ciel Kronstein in the foreseeable future. I'm your big sister, if you have any questions or difficulties, feel free to contact me. Together with you, I'll try to solve your problem.
Ciel smiled her kindest and sweetest smile that she could show to anyone other than Sigmund.
Juvia looked at Ciel for a long time, for 5 whole seconds, trying to find at least something that reminded her of all those people who surrounded her before.
But she found nothing.
Ciel looked straight at her, not through her, as others did.
Ciel was clearly interested in her and nothing else when she looked at her.
/ Juvia finds it strange ... And is it normal, considering that Sigmund is in such a relationship with her? Sigmund wouldn't associate with bad people, would he?
And out of pure faith in Sigmund, Juvia believed Ciel's words , rather than mindlessly nodding her head as she had been doing for the past few months.
- Juvia ... has problems controlling her magic ... And because of this, it constantly rains around Juvia ... Will you help Juvia ?
Juvia forced herself to speak every word she dared. Her recent experiences told her not to trust anyone, she didn't want to become some kind of outcast from society again, especially the society that Sigmund was a part of. Juvia believed that Sigmund was kind, that he wouldn't turn his back on her.
But Juvia didn't want Sigmund to become an outcast because of her, she didn't want to cause him trouble.
Juvia believed that her rain was her personal curse.
It was very difficult for her to talk about it.
But she trusted Sigmund's judgment and opened up first.
to Ciel . She was good at reading people and their emotions, she knew that Juvia trusted her, and that made her feel great.
After all, if she can become something like a kind aunt to Juvia and the other children, then, according to Sigmund, she will become a wonderful mother.
- Oh, there's nothing wrong with that. To tell the truth, my reiatsu control is also very poor . We can always practice control together, and Sigmund will prepare everything for us.
Juvia still had little faith that people could talk to her in such a kind tone. She looked at Siegmund with disbelief. Sieg himself also saw it perfectly well and even kindly patted Juvia on the shoulder.
- Yeah, you can count on me. Irene and I are the guild's deputies, if you have any questions or need anything, contact me, Ciel or Irene.
- Irene? Juvia doesn't know who Irene is .
Juvia's hair again before smiling.
- Yes, you don't know yet, but I'll introduce you all today. And now follow me, I'll show you your new home.
/ New house, huh?
Juvia herself didn't know why, but these two simple words echoed in her soul with a storm of emotions.
She remembered her old... house, if she could even call this building a home. She remembered her carefree childhood, remembered how she started helping her family in the field at the age of 4, remembered all the mistakes she was scolded for by... older relatives with the last name Loksar .
Juvia , no matter how much she wanted to, couldn't call these cruel people "mom" and "dad".
She remembered how much she walked across the field, how she died from the heat during haymaking, when they were harvesting, she remembered how she rested in haystacks, how stupidly and amusingly she ran away from evil hens when she collected eggs.
There were so many memories of all the work she had done, but… She suddenly realized that she didn't have that many memories of her older relatives.
During those two absolutely crazy days that she spent with Sigmund, she felt much happier, calmer and safer with him than ever before.
Even her pneumonia, which she had been scared of before, did not seem so scary to her. Yes, she was coughing. Yes, her throat hurt. Yes, it was unpleasant. Yes, she felt weak.
But she felt alive, she felt that it was just a small inconvenience that Sigmund would soon correct.
/ Is this a real man? It's even nice to be around him .
Although Juvia was a bit of a dunderhead when it came to any social interactions, she knew what the ideal man was like.
Juvia looked once more at how they were all walking forward somewhere. Ciel never stopped smiling, her hands wrapped around Sieg's right hand, she even laid her head on his shoulder, not caring about anything else at all.
Sigmund himself walked straight, calmly, measuredly and confidently. His steps were not very long, he looked after Juvia , checking her condition, but despite this worry, there was confidence in him.
Juvia had never seen anyone so confident in themselves.
Juvia herself belonged until recently , any mage is an absolute example of confidence. The very ability to cast spells and defeat large and strong magical beasts with amazing ease without injury instills confidence in the future. This is probably why they dress, behave and even live so leisurely and carefree.
Juvia had seen some of the mages, but compared to Sigmund, they looked like clowns.
His self-confidence and charisma were so strong that they seeped out of him and passed on to others.
Juvia took on some of his confidence and courage.
Juvia once again remembered all those buildings she had lived in for the past few months, remembered that she called them home, but she didn't feel comfortable there, and there was no safety there either.
/ Home is where you feel safe and comfortable…
Locksar remembered that famous phrase, and then looked at the large hand that was squeezing hers. She did not feel the strength that Sigmund's hand had, did not feel how her palm was squeezed with force, but she felt it in her gut, as well as his warmth.
/ Juvia has found her new home! Juvia's home is next to Sigmund!
After this, Juvia began to move forward much more boldly and confidently than before, than ever before.
/////
The dorm Juvia was moving into was a nice one. There were actually three dorms: one for girls, one for boys, and one for couples. The rooms in the first two dorms were a total of 80 square meters, with a separate small kitchen, toilet, bathroom, bedroom, hall, and storage room. That was more than enough space for one person.
This space took up almost a third of her old house, and now it all belongs to her alone.
Was Juvia happy ?
Not quite. She felt satisfaction and the knowledge that she now had her own corner.
She would have been happy with half the area, but this is even better.
The dormitory for couples (or young families) was 120 square meters, had a larger bathroom, kitchen, extra storage space and a bedroom.
It wasn't difficult for Sigmund to make such apartments, Urahara made more monumental structures, and thanks to the Ring of Connection, it is much easier for Sigmund to collect reishi and make structures from them.
And while Ciel was showing Juvia's new house , Sigmund was following Irene. Irene didn't make a scene and didn't ask unnecessary questions. Sigmund addressed her normally, by name, knew why she was there, what she was doing and what her duties would be.
The only thing that calms her down is that she recognizes Sigmund's scent. Obviously, she hadn't smelled it before, but she remembered Jeanette's scent very well . A man's scent is different from a woman's, but Sigmund and Jeanette smelled very similar, and they looked like just a male and female version of the same person, so Irene thought that Sigmund and Jeanette were brother and sister.
Besides, she felt his magic much more clearly.
Because of the Gigai used as a prosthesis, because of the EX-rank Magic Resistance, it was extremely problematic to understand the true level of Siegmund's magical power as " Jeanette ". Now, due to the peculiarity of the structure of his soul, Siegmund needs to throw out excess magic, just to avoid exploding like a balloon. Urahara once sealed the pressure release points of Aizen 's reiatsu with the Hogyoku , but Aizen evolved again.
And the thing is, Irene felt perfectly well that Sigmund's passive release of magic per minute was equal to just over 15% of her entire magic reserves.
Irene was no fool , she had seen many different types of magic that changed the body of the mage, she herself was a great example of this phenomenon. And Irene knew that it was not even intimidation, he did not even try to scare her.
Irene knew that if he wanted, he could simply throw her to the ground, rip her clothes, grab her by the arms and fuck her hard in all the holes, not paying attention to her screams and protests, and she would not be able to do anything to him.
Sigmund's very existence was for Irene a painful memory of all the centuries of her powerlessness and a guarantor of her own safety, something that made her feel protected and calm.
Irene and Acnalogia are in similar "weight classes", their difference in strength is obvious, but they can still be compared in strength.
Irene and Sigmund can no longer be compared in strength, it is simply pointless.
It is because of this emotional "Yin-Yang struggle" that Irene always watches Sigmund carefully. She is afraid of angering him, always behaves carefully and reservedly with him, but tries to hide it, like a schoolgirl or a young woman in front of her boss. Irene often hears her own heartbeat when she thinks she has done something wrong, but if Sigmund just smiles at her once, all of Irene's stress and worries disappear.
/ I had a thought that such "emotional games" are just fun for him … As if I'm playing in the palm of his hand… As if everything is going according to plan for him…
Despite the confusing, unfamiliar reactions of her own body, Irene was not absent-minded, she noticed them, but she tried to give rational answers to her questions.
/ My body behaves strangely in Sigmund's presence because I'm afraid of him? I constantly feel relieved and happy that I didn't anger him. This monster can kill me with just a spit ... Or maybe he can even kill me with a simple spit. With such a monstrous level of magic, it's hard to give any normal assessment of the capabilities. During our entire walk, he has already thrown out more Magic than I have in principle. I have a feeling that it is in a completely different dimension , otherwise such monstrous emissions would have destroyed half of Ishgar .
And while Irene and Sieg waited quietly in one of the sports grounds, Ciel had to bring the other children here.
And while Irene had no idea what exactly she was feeling, Sigmund felt Irene periodically burning his back with her gaze. Not nearly as much as his children or even Orihime could do when they wanted something, but enough to make him uncomfortable. It made him periodically glance at her. Irene looked at him awkwardly, even smiling at times, as if apologizing for something or for the inconvenience caused, while innocently batting her eyelashes. It looked charming, perhaps even funny and cute. Sigmund did not understand what she wanted from him. She did not look at him expectantly or appraisingly, she simply burned him with her gaze. In order not to breed awkwardness, he smiled at her approvingly and welcomingly. It helped, but after some time everything started all over again.
/ Why are you looking at me like that? Why are you acting like some lovesick schoolgirl?! Are you trying to seduce me? If so, you're doing it hilariously wrong! Staying put, covering up, doing nothing, and being awkward!
Of course, Sigmund didn't just "look through" Irene's entire life, he lived every minute with her. He understands her perfectly, but now she's just acting strange. She's a grown-up, self-confident woman with her own pride. She's not embarrassed when it comes to sex or other perverted relationships, she's not a virgin, but for some reason she acts like an excited schoolgirl.
/ Or maybe she caught it again drug trip and just not yourself? Sounds plausible.
And having arrived at the agreed place, three minutes later, Sigmund and Irene noticed how Ciel was leading Juvia and Kagura by the hand .
The children watched the adults with interest. They were strangers to them, but they trusted Jeanette enough to follow Ciel's commands , and for some reason they enjoyed being in her company.
But even so, Erza actively avoided any social interaction, gradually becoming a loner. Only Kagura and Sorano were able to communicate with her, the rest of the children decided to stick together. They had all suffered enough to not trust people, and therefore no one had much desire to "build bridges" with someone they did not know, especially someone like Erza, who studied the aura of suspicion and almost naked malice.
painfully obvious to Sigmund how consumed she was by her hatred and anger, while everyone else saw only coldness and alienation in her. Even Irene could not see it due to her lack of experience. Erza's situation was very specific, and therefore the usual methods of "reading people" would not help here.
/ If she were an Uchiha , she would have received the Mangekyo Sharingan ... How much trauma did that situation leave her? It affected her so much that I even have to remember similar "turning points" for others. I can only immediately remember Tousen and Gin .
Sigmund clapped his hands softly, attracting everyone's attention.
- First, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Sigmund, Sigmund Kronstein. To my left is Irene, Irene Belserion . From this day forward, the two of us will be responsible for your training as mages and fighters. We have sufficient skill in a wide range of magical disciplines to train such a diverse group as you. Do you have any questions?
The children looked at each other unexpectedly. It was obvious that they were uncomfortable around strangers, but Sigmund's natural charisma, as well as his incredible experience of social interaction, smoothed things over. The only exceptions were Erza and Irene, who burned holes in each other.
/ Will this be my magic teacher? I don't care, the main thing is that she makes me stronger.
And immediately after that, Erza turned her gaze back to Sigmund.
/ He… doesn't look threatening. Even that woman next to him looks more threatening. And his constant happy idiot smile is just annoying… It's like he's trying to befriend us, not prepare to teach. Even that woman, Irene, is looking at us appraisingly … I hope he'll be a good teacher, otherwise he'll be a waste of time.
Irene looked at her daughter and couldn't believe what she saw. She didn't see a little girl, not a child, but some kind of... cornered animal that could attack at any moment.
/ Even though it hurts me to watch, I need to fix this. After all, it's my responsibility as her mother.
Meanwhile, the children chose the bravest child in their group, Sorano .
- Um, sorry. We thought that Jeanette would be in charge of our training . Did something happen to her?
- Nothing happened to Jeanette , she's just a little busy with other things. Besides... there's no problem with that, right?
Sigmund had spread his wings, and his almost holy presence. He had time to remake the medallions, and so he was doing so. He could use Jeanne's skills calmly and unhindered, as if they were his own. His very figure was very similar to the one the children had seen. They immediately understood that Sigmund was related to Jeannette in some way , and what exactly was not important now. Someday they themselves would understand that he was Jeannette , and that would be better.
- So you are an angel too!
Sorano's eyes began to sparkle like stars. Any doubt she had about Sigmund simply vanished. After all, an angel couldn't be evil, right?
Zig himself came closer and gently stroked Sorano's head.
- You could say that. Do you have any other questions?
- How will our training take place?
Eric, being the most perceptive, immediately noticed that he could not hear the thoughts of Irene, Ciel and Sigmund, although he could hear those of B-rank mages inclusive. This could only mean that they were stronger than that rank, which meant they could make them stronger.
- As you know, it's the end of October. Most of you have magic power, but not innate magic. It will take some time for us to learn your magic. It's not that important now, since only Sorano and Hotei can control their magic power, and Juvia is just starting to learn. We will be sparring for the next few months. You are children, your physical strength is not enough to cause any serious injuries to each other with fists and kicks . Well, Sorano , Juvia and Hotei can only instinctively defend themselves. Therefore, we will teach you to fight. In the morning, there will be physical training, I have already put together a set of physical exercises for you. First of all, it is aimed at improving your flexibility, endurance and explosive force. This is necessary in order to prepare your ligaments and tendons for further training and gaining muscle mass, tightening muscles and increasing physical strength, as well as strengthening your punches. In the middle of the day after the rest there will be sparring. They will help you learn how to fight properly . In the evening you will study according to the program that Irene will put together.
After a long introduction by Sigmund, Irene decided to tell her training plan.
- Most of the time I will teach you various magic. Not only to use your magic, but also to understand someone else's. In a battle of equal magicians, the winner is not the one who is slightly stronger, but the one who is the first to understand the limitations of his opponent's Magic. As a rule, until the age of 30, magicians hone their skills in their innate magic, occasionally helping themselves with some auxiliary magic, and therefore their arsenal of techniques is very limited. I will give you a base that will help you overcome most of your obstacles in the future. The rest of the time I will teach you language, economics, various other magical subjects such as the complex but universal Enchantment Magic . Well, and I will also keep an eye on you.
Sigmund continued his explanation.
- Until December, you will undergo basic training. After the new year, I will gradually take you on C, B, or even A-rank missions from time to time so that you can gain experience. In addition, every three months, everyone who can awaken their magical power will participate in the Battle Marathon or Endurance Battle. This event will begin early in the morning, right after a small breakfast, you will go out onto the field and fight against me or Irene until you can stand. Don't worry, we will treat you and give you time for a short break.
Midnight raised his eyebrow in surprise.
- Why should we fight all day? We will learn to fight every day anyway.
- It's a good question, but unlike regular sparring that will teach you how to fight, the Battle Marathon will help you hone your teamwork. Two regular fighters may have difficulties working as a team due to the peculiarities of their fighting styles, and with the use of Magic, these peculiarities become many times greater. Up to complete incompatibility. In addition, such tests will teach you to wisely distribute your forces. When completing a task, the most important thing is to maintain your form. If you quickly run out of breath because you just want to finish the task as quickly as possible , you can die. Starting with rank B, your opponents will be armed fighters or even magicians. Your combat endurance and the speed of your recovery are your main priorities for this training. Of course, those who have shown the best progress will be rewarded. The amount of reward may vary, but not less than 100,000 precious . This is quite a large sum, since in big cities like Clover or Magnolia you can buy your own two-story house with three bedrooms, a large bathroom, kitchen, hallway, hall, living room, storage rooms and a balcony for 5~6 million. That is, when you grow up and start to independently perform at least somewhat large tasks, and this is somewhere from 17~18 years old, then by 20 or 22 years old you will be able to buy your own home without any problems.
-…This is almost a month's salary for a mid-level worker…
Juvia muttered quietly to herself, but because the others were silent, she could be heard perfectly, which made her feel embarrassed.
- Sorry... Juvia was just surprised.
Sigmund smiled and gently stroked her head, much to the girl's delight.
- It's okay. On the contrary, I'm glad that you appreciated my efforts. Thank you, Juvia .
And the young girl immediately became happy and lit up like a little sun.
- Well, since everyone understands everything , let's begin our combat training course!
////
And after that, the whole group went to a separate ground training ground. The first to fight were those who had magical power. As expected, Sorano and Hotei did not know how to fight at all. Sigmund specially changed his body with self-modification so that their dimensions would be similar and it would be easier for them to fight him.
Everyone present was surprised by Sigmund's somewhat grotesque transformation, especially Irene, who perfectly understood the level of mastery of magic and understanding of her own physiology for such a "trick".
/ Sigmund literally rebuilt himself almost on a cellular level ... This transformation is on a completely different level than the usual magic of transformation or my enchantment . If I had such magic, I would have been able to solve my problem long ago.
The fights usually lasted about 10 minutes each. During this time, Sigmund managed to show the main mistakes, as well as somehow set up a strike so that they could continue training normally.
Juvia was not involved in the fight due to her illness . She was trying to master her own magic with a small bracelet that would suck the magic out of her and turn it into water magic. Juvia simply needed to learn to control the incoming flow of magic, as well as the water she created.
At some point, Eric came out, who was amazing at dodging blows, even surprising Irene with his skill, who had seen a lot in her life. Most of the training went like this: Siegmund would throw a normal blow or a combination of them, Eric would awkwardly dodge or parry them. This would be repeated, but with more complex techniques. Siegmund at some point stopped using single attacks, after which he began to work on floors. It became much more difficult for Eric, but he could still dodge, although he began to receive blows.
Even though Eric can't hear Sigmund's "thoughts," he can hear his body, which is what delivers the blow. That's why he can dodge normal blows. If Sigmund had used even a little magic to trick his hearing, Eric would be like the other kids.
Eventually, Eric could have developed into an incredibly effective striker, but he was very inexperienced. Sigmund walked into his legs, knocked him to the ground, and then all of Eric's momentum was gone. He couldn't dodge punches when he was pinned down. Anyone with even a passing interest in wrestling could twist him into a ram's horn. Sigmund demonstrated this perfectly when he went from regular punches to throws and holds.
And while everyone was training, Erza watched closely and tried to analyze every fight she saw.
/ Even though Sigmund doesn't use magic on purpose and has weakened his physical abilities to our level, we are still weaker than him. No one could even land a single blow on him. And with all that, he didn't even try to hit us when we fell. For the jailers, this was generally a favorite thing to do when they punished newcomers.
Erza glanced at everyone present. Ciel was quietly encouraging Juvia , who was practicing controlling her magic.
/ She is the strongest so far. I can't use magic at all right now, so I'm not even an opponent to her.
Then Erza looked at the other children. And this raised her mood a little, because she herself learned a lot from their example.
/ Wally, Kinana , and Kagura are the weakest so far. Hotei is the most physically developed and resilient. Midnight learned the fastest. Yukino keeps her distance longer and better than anyone. Sorano has the strongest strikes, especially her kicks. And Erik has proven himself the best. Although his strength and speed are average, his dodging skills are the best. Sigmund even praised him for his good counterattacks.
And while Erza was watching everyone, it was her turn, she calmly stood up and walked towards Sigmund. Her posture was tense, her legs were spread wide, she was ready to jump in any direction if she needed to dodge his kick. One hand was slightly above chest level, and the other was at stomach level. In this way, her hands could cover her head, chest and stomach.
Sigmund looked at her for two whole seconds, then smiled.
- Erza , honey, you don't need to be so tense. This is just training. Be more relaxed, it will be more effective.
Erza heard this comment and became a little calmer, but did not change her posture. It was obvious that she was taking everything too seriously.
After all, she now has a burning desire to become stronger.
Sieg didn't show his disappointment on his face. Erza barely listened to him, he wasn't an authority for her. For Erza, the only authority was Jeanette , but Siegmund himself simply felt uncomfortable being in this image all the time. At least because there can be no romance with Ciel . He himself would be disgusted by wearing this mask during a date.
Conclusion?
Erza again .
Sigmund started the training the same way he did for the others. He started with simple punches that Erza could block. She would try to punch back, but Sigmund would just shrug them off. Sometimes literally, sometimes he would just move out of the way. Erza had a particularly hard time hitting him when he was using Tyson's Pendulum . She never hit him at all, and when she tried to kick, he would just sweep her leg, grab her leg, and lift her up, causing her to fall, or he would just go behind her and give her a painful jab in the ribs.
A simple poke , not a blow, just an indication that she screwed up.
Erza incredibly angry , she got irritated, hit faster and harder than before, sometimes made mistakes for which she received new jabs at the sore points, but she improved.
And while Sigmund's pose was very light, as if flying, Erza's pose was rigid, monumental. She subconsciously held herself the way she wanted to be.
Indestructible.
Strong.
She put all her strength into each blow.
Erza used a powerful side kick. The kick was wide, strong, strong enough to knock down someone with a fluttery posture like Siegmund. However, Sieg himself simply jumped back a little and swung his other leg, hooked his foot around Erza's , and then lifted his leg up. Thus, not only did the kick miss its target, it was much higher than Erza intended , and due to her poor flexibility, she was forced to fall forward and fall to the ground.
And Erza fell to the ground, face first, in an inelegant manner. The area behind her knees and in her groin were very sore from the sudden stretch, but she stood up on her wobbly legs.
- Well, you've got a base in striking techniques. I praise you. You can go and rest.
Sigmund knew that Erza was quite stubborn, it was one of her key character traits, both in the manga and here. He saw how her eyes lit up during training with other children, and especially with herself.
She was obsessed with training.
- I want to continue.
And Erza didn't disappoint him. She was very stubborn.
- You're tired, I can see that very well. I was much softer with the others than with you.
- At least another five minutes?
Despite the small amount of time that Sigmund had given Erza for their training sparring, the girl herself literally felt in her gut that she had become stronger. If before she thought that with some luck she could stab one or two jailers with a pickaxe, now she could even kill five. Not all of the jailers were mages, most of them were either real third-rate scum who had a minimum of magic, or were simple bandits.
And it was because of this sense of personal growth that Erza wanted so badly to continue training, but she knew she had no control over whether Sigmund would train with her or not, so she used what she could. She tried to persuade with cuteness. Erza put on the cutest face she could.
Sigmund was not bothered by such "trap cards" at all. His children often made such faces when they wanted something badly, but almost never got what they wanted "just because". He did not buy them expensive cars, smartphones and other luxury items, although he had the money for them. Such things must be earned or earned.
Erza 's situation was different. She needed a support she could rely on, a figure she could look up to, and a mentor and guide who could guide her through life and give her advice.
Sigmund looked at everyone gathered here. Of all those present, no one even came close to fitting these roles.
Even though Erza trusted Kagura , she couldn't be a support for her. Erza, on the contrary, didn't want to show any weakness in Kagura's presence .
Sorano and Juvia could be good companions for Erza , but support?
Unlikely.
Erza could rely on them, but not trust them. Erza has become too withdrawn and distrustful. There would have to be a life and death event for Erza to trust Sorano or Juvia in the next 5 years.
The rest of the children simply do not meet the necessary criteria.
Irene, despite all her power, stateliness, experience and even kinship with Erza , can only become a role model. Irene is literally a "figure of a successful and powerful mage" in the eyes of children. With their external similarities, it is too easy for Erza to imagine herself in her place and start imitating her. However, as a mentor, Irene is frankly weak , since she lacks life experience. Life experience is not measured in years. Moreover, she lived in a different era and grew up during wartime, and such people are very different from ordinary civilians. As an emotional support, Irene can help Erza, but only after she admits that she is her mother , which, given her own situation, will not happen soon.
Ciel , while she may be an emotional support for other children, is not one for Erza . Erza is a young Sith , and a young Sith will not accept someone like "just a nice girl" as an authority figure. A true authority figure for a Sith must have not only ambition, strength, and power, but also control.
Something that Ciel has absolutely no desire to achieve.
And with a simple quick glance, Sigmund realized that he was absolutely necessary for Erza's upbringing . By becoming her mentor, he could become something of a mentor, and then a support. The rest would be up to Irene and Erza herself .
- Okay, as you wish. You can go and rest, and I'll still train with Erza .
addressed Irene and Ciel first . Ciel had her own task - to find a common language with the children, so she would not be too bored.
- Okay, Dear. Don't be too harsh with Erza , she's still little.
- I'll wait there.
Irene just said something incomprehensible, but Sigmund understood perfectly well that she would be waiting for Erza at the healing springs. While the others were just training a little, Erza was asking for a full-fledged training session, and therefore she would not leave in one piece.
- Okay. Don't be too bored.
Sigmund looked at Erza , whose eyes began to burn with real fire.
- T-thank you!
- You're welcome. You won't be leaving here for the next hour.
////
Three hours have passed since Erza's individual training began .
She was in pain.
Her whole body ached.
She felt every bone in her body.
She kept falling over and over again.
But she kept rising.
Once again, Erza stands in front of Siegmund's childlike figure. She lunges, ducks under a counter kick, and tries to throw a straight punch to the stomach, but Siegmund intercepts her straight arm and locks her. Erza doesn't understand what exactly happened, one moment she tries to throw a punch, and the next she feels her arm being twisted, and Siegmund locks his legs around her neck.
Naturally, they both fall. Erza tries to somehow get out of the hold, but she can't.
- You've become much better at behaving in battle. I praise you.
- And how will this training help me in a real fight? I can get a knife with my other hand. Any bandit and dark magician carries a sharpening or a knife with him!
And it was true. In this world, despite the medieval setting with elements of magic and industrialization, there was a large selection of cheap but high-quality weapons. It is not worth talking about ordinary butcher knives. Any bandit can afford at least 10 knives.
Not every mage is born with strong magic that helps him in battle. Not everyone has the monstrous power of Natsu's blows or his own weapon, like Gajeel . Everyone carries a knife with them, it comes in handy even on hikes.
In the end, Hiro Mashima has a fetish for knife wounds.
- That's true, that's why wrestling skills aren't really valued by the locals, but you can consider it just a transitional stage. Once you get a basic grasp of wrestling, you'll learn how to make effective throws. And with a little Magic, you can do that.
Erza felt one of Sigmund's legs stop pressing on her, and the next moment she felt that same leg go under her ass , then lift it up. And since the leg at her throat was still there, Erza fell spectacularly but painfully on her stomach, and Sigmund calmly twisted her arm behind her back, pinned it with his knee, and grabbed the other with his hand.
- This entire throw takes from 3 to 5 seconds. It's convenient in a one-on-one fight, but dangerous against several opponents. As, incidentally, any other throw and grab. If you can't kill the opponent immediately after the throw.
- I see. I'll carry a knife with me.
- I would appreciate it if you fought with weapons or magic. Fighting skills are good, but it is much more difficult to grab you when you have a sword or spear in your hands. Either you have a weapon that reduces hand-to-hand combat to a minimum, or you must have incredible physical training to break the grip. Besides, I am more used to fighting with a sword, and therefore it is easier for me to teach you fencing.
- Okay, I'll keep that in mind.
After this, Sigmund let go of Erza and helped her up.
- Okay, the training is over. I'll take you to the healing spring now, where you can heal your bruises. Tomorrow there will be a more intense training.
- Do we have such a source?
Erza's voice was hard to miss. After all, this was a healing source!
/ If we have something like this, does that mean I can train more and become stronger?!
- Yes, I made it, like most of everything our guild has. This source was made specifically for training. It will hurt at first, but when the pain goes away completely, it will mean that you are healed.
- Wow …
After just one training session, Erza began to look at Siegmund with completely different eyes. She began to look at him with admiration. Erza was still quite distant and cold, but she began to trust Siegmund much more. Even his very figure, his broad shoulders and monumental confidence calmed her.
This is exactly what Erza wanted to be .
Confident about tomorrow.
Sigmund led Erza by the hand, calmly telling her where everything was. She learned that there was some kind of bar, a sauna, some kind of recreation complex where there were dozens of different types of games, like poker or "mafia". Every time Erza passed some complex, she felt the completion of some project, the feeling that everything was in its place, where it should be. Despite the fact that Erza knew that she was one of the first members of this guild, there was no feeling of any lack or need when something is just starting to be done.
Erza , although she understood almost nothing about economics and other complex subjects, knew that this was a very good place, in which a lot of money and work had been invested. They would not abandon him halfway, saying something along the lines of "well, it didn't work out. It was nice to meet you, bye." These were houses, these were buildings, and they would not stop and go away.
All this together created a feeling of security.
It gave peace.
Erza has been sleeping very poorly for the past few months .
Although she slept like a log in System R, it was due to her fatigue. The quality of her sleep was terrible, her body itself was under stress on many levels, from psychological stress due to fear of the guards and mistrust of the other prisoners, to physical stress due to the high physical load and low calorie intake, as well as the almost complete lack of vitamins. Normal sleeping on a mat with a thin pillowcase on top could not provide quality sleep.
Erza also had trouble sleeping on the train, as she was simply afraid that someone might come to them and do something to them while she was sleeping. The carriages were too open, and there were no emergency exits, only a window that she couldn't break. The train carriage with only two entrances was more like a cave or a stone room that Erza knocked out in System R. There, too, many people slept in cells, there were also only two exits, there was also a mattress-like bedding and some kind of thin blanket.
Right here in Spirit Heart she felt protected. The guild was located an hour's walk from the train station, there was a forest nearby, literally no one came here except for the guild.
To a guild that has one of the most famous sorceresses, who was able to single-handedly deal with at least 50 dark guilds! Some were even mid-level guilds! A real S-rank mage!
No dark magician would dare to come here.
However, this was not the only thing that brought peace to Erza .
There was a similar detachment in Rosemary Village, but it was attacked. Simply distancing yourself from everyone will not make Erza calm. What really makes Erza calm are the numerous magical barriers that Jeanette took the trouble to demonstrate. Sorano and Hotei have repeatedly said that they felt some kind of film when they passed through the outer fence of the dormitory.
And the walls.
Huge, thick, solid walls that were everywhere. The outer walls of the dormitory itself were a little more than a meter. They were simply gigantic. Because of them, it was even a little inconvenient to approach the balcony, but the windowsills were large because of this.
Erza closed the door to her room, she could barely hear any sounds from outside.
She didn't hear the water dripping.
She didn't hear other people's deep sighs.
She didn't hear the echo from the stone walls.
She didn't hear the dull clatter of steel boots on the stone floor.
She didn't hear the jailers banging their sticks against the steel bars of the cells, watching with amusement as the frightened prisoners flinched.
She did not hear the painful cries of the other prisoners.
She didn't feel the cold of the stone walls.
She didn't feel damp.
Erza felt safe in her room . She agreed with Midnight that the beds were a masterpiece . Erza could drown in it, and the large, warm feather blanket provided the necessary warmth.
For this, Erza was sincerely grateful to Sigmund.
And remembering that all this was built by one person, Sigmund, Erza realized that this guild, Spirit Heart is his brainchild.
What he planned to leave behind.
Something that could change the world.
At least in this country.
Erza couldn't help but be inspired by the idea.
- Well, this is the women's part of the bathhouse. You go behind the partition, take off your clothes in a special basket, all the places are signed there, after which you wash off all the dirt and go to the spring.
- I see. Aren't you going to go show me?
Erza asked the first question that came to her mind. She didn't think there was anything strange about it. Sigmund, on the other hand, had a rough idea that being raised in a village without the supervision of an older female figure might not have shaped Erza's feminine behavior well . In addition, in System R, slaves were also taken to wash in very large groups to prevent infections, so bathing together might be normal for her. Sig squatted down to get a good look at Erza's face , then gently stroked her head.
- Erza , this is a woman's side. As a girl, you must maintain your purity and not show yourself in a negligee in front of boys. Only a special person with whom you plan to spend the rest of your life can see you in a negligee, and even then only after your relationship has reached at least the planned wedding. Do you understand me?
- But before I washed with other people. There were boys there too...
- Those were special circumstances. Same as a doctor's check-up. You better forget about what happened in that place. After all, it's gone and never will be again . I'll make sure nothing like that happens again. Deal?
- Agreed.
Erza nodded her head, taking Sigmund's position. It didn't mean she would forget about System R, they both knew she would never forget, she would just try to distance herself from what she had experienced there.
/ Start life from scratch? You could say that my new life begins today. I met my teachers, Sigmund, I started training and became a little stronger … Yes . Sigmund is right. Nothing will happen behind these barriers and walls. It is better to think about that place as little as possible.
Afterwards, Erza entered the bathhouse, washed off the dirt, and then went to the hot spring. There, she met Irene, who was patiently waiting for her.
- You trained for a long time. I hope he was gentle with you .
Irene came here from the beginning, she was looking after Juvia , Sorano , Yukino and Kagura , who came here earlier. Ciel was looking after the boys , after which they sent the children separately to their dorms. However, after that, Irene returned back here, because she knew that Sigmund would long and methodically throw Erza to the ground.
Erza was unique, literally one of a kind. A human conceived in the body of a transformed Dragon Slayer, and then a full-fledged dragon. Erza could not be ordinary by definition. One could even say that Erza is a Dragon Slayer who did not receive her element, so she cannot absorb her element and use Dragon Slayer Magic. Her physical attributes, especially her strength and endurance, are closer to, if not superior to, first-generation Dragon Slayers of similar magical power.
And to her great regret, Irene overheard the conversation between Sigmund and Erza , which made her feel heavy at heart. She felt sad that her daughter did not have even the rudiments of common sense, as if she were some kind of abandoned animal.
- We just had a training session.
Erza immediately tensed up when she met Irene. She expected to be alone here, so she couldn't calm down. However, Irene saw how Erza's body tensed up . So with a tired sigh, she got up from the hot spring, showing off all her feminine splendor, and then walked up to Erza, who became even more tense.
- Come on, sit on the chair, I'll wash your hair, it's still dirty.
Erza didn't say anything, but sat down obediently on the chair. She felt Irene begin to massage her head, while simultaneously soaping her hair. Even though it was supposed to be relaxing, Erza couldn't help but feel more tense. Such a vulnerable position made her very embarrassed, especially around someone she didn't trust.
Irene saw it, but she couldn't fix her old, hardened scars and mistrust.
However, the next moment something happened that Erza did not expect. Irene ran her finger down her back, almost from her butt to her neck. At that moment , Erza was scared. For the first time since she arrived in this place.
/ Is she the kind of person who does horrible things to little boys and girls!? What should I do!?
Erza had overheard more than once the adults in System R talking about some jailers who were attracted to children. She understood little of that talk, only that such people were considered even more disgusting than ordinary dark mages!
- You are too tense. Your muscles are practically wooden, and these are static loads. For your information, static exercises are much more difficult to perform than dynamic ones. If you had not been so tense from the moment you started training, you would not have wasted so much energy, you would have been faster and more resilient during training. Perhaps you could have increased the training time by half an hour or even an hour.
/ Huh? So she was just pointing out my mistakes?… And a whole hour of extra training … Too big an omission. Apparently, Sigmund just didn't want to embarrass me so much by talking about this tension. Irene… turned out to be useful.
- Would it increase the training time that much?
- Although you wouldn't know it, I'm a master of close combat. Maybe not as good as Sigmund, but I can fight very well at close and medium range.
Irene felt an interest in her almost immediately. Despite finding common ground with Erza , she was somewhat uneasy that Sigmund was so good at predicting her daughter's behavior.
- I see ... And I'm curious. Do you know other people with similar appearances?
Irene felt a lump in her throat, but she tried to keep her face straight.
- I've seen it more than once. Red hair is not that rare.
- Clear.
The conversation died down immediately after that. Erza was still tormented by her own questions, but they had nothing to do with Irene. If she said that red hair was n't as rare as she thought, then he probably wouldn't be able to find his relatives. And she didn't really want to. Maybe she could ask them why they abandoned her.
Irene could feel how indifferent Erza was to the topic of their possible relationship. This made Irene happy, since she would not have to tell her story now, but it also made her sad.
At some point, Irene washed Erza's hair and they both immersed themselves in a healing spring.
- Shhh !
Erza immediately hissed as she sank into the water above her knees. She felt as if she was being dipped into knitting needles, it was painful. Irene could see it clearly.
- Be patient, Erza , this is a healing source. Once you are fully recovered, the pain will go away. Healing magic is very closely intertwined with life magic, and therefore specialists in such magic are almost impossible to find. Sigmund is not only a master of this Magic, but he also made this source. Without this source, you would have to rest for a day or two so that the bruises would go away, and you could also effectively conduct the next training.
This sentence instantly made Erza shut up and completely submerge herself in the water. She endured, but said nothing. She could not foolishly miss the chance to become stronger, even if only a little.
- Do you want to become stronger so much? Why didn't you go play with the other kids?
- I want to become stronger. Become independent, self-confident.
- I see ... You know, in the evenings, after your training, I don't have much to do. I could start training you in the evenings. As you may have noticed, Sigmund already has a girlfriend, so he can't devote time to you every day.
Erza looked at Irene with surprise. She didn't quite understand what she was saying, but she understood boredom, so she agreed without much thought. She couldn't miss another free training session. Plus, she had this healing source that made all bruises and injuries disappear. Erza had been here for literally 30 minutes, and the pain was already gone. She just had to endure the intensity of two training sessions. Nothing she couldn't do, after all, she had been working herself to the bone at the quarry for the past few months .
- Okay. Thanks in advance.
Irene breathed an internal sigh of relief. She didn't want to be too pushy, but Irene trusted Sigmund's analysis.
/ Unfortunately, Jeanette was damn right. You only have to lure her with training, and she immediately agrees, as if her brain temporarily switches off. This is already some kind of obsession ... Well, I have already made a start. During training, I will be able to get closer to her, after which one day I will be able to tell her the truth.
Irene and Erza spent the next half hour quietly inside the hot spring, then went to the dorm. Irene walked her daughter to her room, then went to her own. Even though Erza was very sleepy, she was able to undress and lie down on the bed. She remembered the whole day.
- Good day. Good day of a new life.
After these words, Erza almost immediately fell asleep in her quiet, warm, calm little shelter.