"That's great, big sister!"
"Yes, it's truly wonderful!" As siblings, they were incredibly delighted that Fiore's legs could be healed.
"Shirou said to train, but how exactly should we train?"
"Regarding physique, it should be strength and endurance, right? In that case, to train, you need to exert force and take hits."
"Exert force and take hits, huh?" Hearing Shirou's explanation, everyone around couldn't help but frown.
"Exerting force is easy to train. As for taking hits, it shouldn't require direct body contact, right?" Chiron also began to ponder Shirou's explanation. "Then it's a matter of training efficiency. Clearly, direct impact on the body results in greater growth than impact on one's weapon."
After all, action and reaction are equal and opposite.
When parrying an attack with a weapon, the body is still subjected to the force's vibration, which also contributes to endurance training.
"I see!" After hearing Shirou's explanation, Chiron, a
world-renowned teacher, began to devise a training regimen for Fiore in his mind.
"Fiore, starting tomorrow, you must begin rigorous training!"
"Yes, Teacher Chiron!" Fiore showed no fear towards the upcoming arduous training. After all, the seed of power that would enable her to stand had been obtained. Now, she only needed to provide it with nourishment to let it take root and sprout.
"I will absolutely not waste the time ahead."
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As Fiore said, in the following days, she faced difficulties without fear, desperately pushing her body to its limits, training under Chiron's guidance. During this time, unable to bear seeing his sister suffer alone, Caules also joined the training. This was an extremely delightful development for Chiron, who loved teaching disciples.
Thus, Chiron simultaneously trained their bodies and imparted to them the grappling technique known as Pankration. As a secret art passed down among the great heroes of ancient Greece, both Fiore and Caules were highly interested in it, continuously improving themselves.
"Mmm, how relaxing. If only this life could continue forever!" Sitting on the open-air balcony, sipping his homemade fruit juice, Shirou couldn't help but sigh while observing the three below.
"But that's impossible. Once the Holy Grail War ends, we'll probably have to return to the Throne of Heroes, right?"
"Who knows when we'll be able to meet again then!"
Jeanne said wistfully, leaning against the railing, also drinking fruit juice.
"..."
"Indeed!" Finishing the fruit juice in one gulp, Shirou leaned back and lay directly on Jeanne's lap. The sensation from the back of his head made Shirou narrow his eyes slightly. A smile also spread across his face.
Five days had passed since the battle where the Greater Holy Grail was taken.
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For these five days, neither the Red nor Black Factions made any moves, silently tending to the wounds inflicted by that battle. During this period, other Masters also inquired Shirou about how to proceed. But Shirou's only response was one word: "Wait!" This led to clear dissenting voices among the Black Faction's Masters. And that person was Astolfo's Master, Celenike Icecolle Yggdmillennia.
Due to Mordred's early death and Sieg's disappearance, Celenike was still alive and Astolfo's Master. Having a strong desire for the Holy Grail, she didn't want to continue sitting idly by, but she couldn't achieve anything with her power alone. Therefore, she continuously raised objections during discussions.
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Unfortunately, the current Lord of the Yggdmillennia family was Fiore. After being blessed with God's grace by Shirou, Fiore was completely obedient to Shirou, without any objections. Thus, the internal dissent within the Black Faction was suppressed. Meanwhile, the Red Faction was actually in a bit of a bind. Because the number of dead Heroic Spirits was still small, only four.
Amakusa Shirou Tokisada could not fully utilize the Greater Holy Grail's power to achieve his wish.
Therefore, the Red Faction had actually been waiting for the Black Faction to attack. But the Black Faction remained unmoving. This passive stance made the Red Faction very uncomfortable. Among them, Avicebron, in particular, had the most objections to the current situation.
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He knew very well that once the Black Faction took the initiative to attack, he would no longer have the opportunity to unleash his Noble Phantasm. Although his wish was to create the First Human, it wasn't just about creating him. He hoped to paradize the world through the Golems he created, thereby saving the world.
Furthermore, as long as his Noble Phantasm stood on the earth, it would possess infinite magical energy. But in this Hanging Gardens, it did not have such ability.
Therefore, he needed to return to the earth to complete his Noble Phantasm.
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"By the way, what did you think of the city we visited yesterday?"
"It was very beautiful and prosperous, seemingly untouched by the Holy Grail War here."
"Then do you like it?"
"Very much!"
"That's good!" Lying on Jeanne's lap, Shirou and she chatted casually. After this period of time together, Shirou and Jeanne's relationship had deepened considerably. Taking advantage of the downtime, Shirou took her sightseeing everywhere, especially exploring the surrounding cities thoroughly.
During these travels, their feelings for each other also leaped by a thousand miles. After all, Shirou was not a pure boy like Sieg, who knew nothing when he was just born. Faced with Jeanne's various emotional fluctuations, Shirou always took the initiative to press his advantage.
This made their emotional development extremely rapid.
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Unlike the previous Shirou, the current Shirou had come to a realization. As the saying goes, "many debts don't weigh you down." He had let go of himself. He now held the same mindset as the Shirou from "Carnival Phantasm" that is, he wanted to make everyone happy!
"I truly wish this life could continue forever!"
"But unfortunately, that's impossible. The end of the Holy Grail War will likely be the day of our farewell."
Jeanne's voice was filled with sadness. She knew very well that this feeling was destined to be unrequited. It would ultimately vanish with the end of the Holy Grail War.
"Don't worry, things will turn around!" After all, living on is a simple matter with the Greater Holy Grail. There's no need to even consider it!
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Sitting up from Jeanne's lap, Shirou looked at the gradually darkening sky and suddenly felt a sense of warning.
"It seems the time I've been waiting for is coming!"
"Hm!?" Jeanne, not understanding what Shirou meant, looked at him questioningly. Shirou smiled and said, "Let's go back. It might be lively tonight!"
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Located directly below the Hanging Gardens, Avicebron and Atalanta appeared in the forest.
"I will not interfere with your plan, nor will I provide you with support."
"I will merely watch your outcome in silence, and then depart. You know this, Avicebron!"
"Ah, of course, I understand, Atalanta!" Looking towards the direction of Millennia Castle, Avicebron slowly said, "It seems Roche can no longer gain his freedom. In that case, I can only use the alternative!" Looking at the Magus lying on the ground, Avicebron slowly extended his hand.
"Spartacus's Master, I hope your compatibility with it will be better!"
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