“Interestin’.”

  Sol stroked his chin, amused by the explanation Arthur provided. Targeting every floating target around himself and blowing them up was no small feat, especially for someone who never used magic before.

  “Ta think ya’d apply the Chaitin Theory offensively, and ‘n such a large scale… Did Gunnhildr teach ya that?”

  He let himself fall backwards, a chair made out of stone appearing from the ground. He nodded towards Wilhelm, who proceeded to make four more chairs for the rest of them.

  He wrote on the notebook, before crossing his arms and glancing at Arthur. He sat down, before awkwardly rubbing the back of his head.

  “She taught me about the theory, yes. Truth be told, I wasn't sure if this would work, it’s the first time I tried it. Not to mention, it wouldn't have worked if it weren't for the Remembrance Stone.”

  He glanced down at the dagger and added, “I used up about half a week worth of stored Ark for that trick. It’s not something I can use everyday, sadly. And even if I could, it wouldn't be as effective in actual combat, since I need to be fully in the Dipping State.”

  Sol shook his head.

  “Even if it ain’t somethin’ you can use often yet, jus’ bein’ able ta do that is incredible for someone with yer experience.”

  Arthur nodded, incorporating his words. If, at some point, he became able to use that multiple times, it would be an incredible asset.

  He looked down at the dagger, closing his eyes and taking in a sharp breath. He let his Ark flow into the Remembrance Stone, to charge it in case they needed to go through more tests. That spell was efficient for its effects, but it still cost him a large amount of Ark.

  ‘I made it as thin as possible, but it still took a lot out of the Stone… Maybe I could change the parameters around…’

  Ley Line Formulas, that was a term he had found out while training with the Tyrfingr, through the Archive. Although magic in that world was considered a science, it was a field where much was still unknown.

  For example, the meaning of the symbols present on Ley Lines. It was a loosely accepted fact that they indicated the ‘parameters’ of a spell, such as the speed or strength of a spell, but there was no solid proof.

  Not to mention, much of the process of changing a spell’s effects was a matter of visualization. That is, creating an image of how the spell would come out, in the mind. That was the reason Arthur needed to enter the Dipping State to modify that spell, to decrease the density of Ark and in exchange greatly increase the size of the flood.

  He took in a deep breath, his strength already coming back. Before he could, Irene turned towards Sol, asking him, “Will we be doing any other tests? Um, I don't want to seem hasty, but my morning check-ups should be soon, and I don't want to keep the nurses waiting…”

  Sol nodded.

  “Hmm… We’re supposed ta ran one more, but…”

  “It’s alright… I’m, I’m here, Mr Sol…”

  A figure appeared from behind Sol’s chair. Quite literally jumping out of his seat, he almost threw his chains at the person, before taking a deep breath and shaking his head.

  “Geez… I told ya, ya gotta stop comin’ out of nowhere and scarin’ people.”

  Arthur blinked a few times, and squinted. Then, he blinked some more. He shot up, extending his hand towards the girl, and smiled.

  “I believe we’ve already met? I’m Arthur Aerhius.”

  Surprised, she pulled off her hat and shook his hand. Two large, rabbit like ears shot up from underneath the accessory, before being hidden under the hat once again. If he remembered correctly, she worked at the library.

  He looked down at her fingers, before sitting back down.

  “Y-Yes, we have… G-Good morning to all of y-you. I-I’m Emilie, and Mr Sol has a-asked me to help you w-with your training…”

  She clasped her hands together and smiled at them. Arthur squinted once again. He could guess why he picked her to help in the training, despite being a librarian.

  She had a bad stutter, but she didn't seem shy, quickly leaning towards all of the Moirai members to shake their hands with a large smile on her face.

  “What’s the plan, then? Are you going to make us read some bloody books and call it a drill?”

  Sol shook his head with a chuckle.

  “Nah, it's nothin’ like that. I wanted to test yer skills in actual combat.”

  He stood up, stretching his arms. Wilhelm did the same, lacking the stretch. Emilie straightened her back, placing hands on her hips with a prideful expression on her face.

  “W-We’re going to fight y-you guys!”

  Her declaration left the three stunned. Wilhelm quickly added, “This is merely to review your performance. We shall be avoiding any spells or attacks that could leave you seriously wounded, but do expect flesh wounds.”

  Arthur raised his hand.

  “Can we pick who we fight?”

  Following that question, Jacob immediately glared at Wilhelm. Ark crackled from the back of his hands, his Ley Lines forcefully held back from expanding.

  “Well, I had some plans for y'all, but… You probably won't be too against it.”

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  He grinned.

  A few minutes later, the three pairs were ready, in different sections of the training grounds to avoid any friendly fire or misfires.

  ‘This is perfect.’

  Arthur looked at his opponent. Emilie was busy fixing her clothing, throwing off the long, dark cloak and pointy hat she had been wearing prior. Judging solely from her attire, he would have believed her to be a witch, or a magic relying fighter.

  However, judging from her weapon of choice, that was unlikely. From a long scabbard, she produced a pristine rapier, the pointed blade cutting the air.

  Arthur squinted and clicked his tongue, taking up a defensive position. He looked down at his feet, and back at Emilie.

  “Ready when you are.”

  She replied, “L-Let’s wait for the s-signal.”

  He nodded. His gaze was fixed on the girl, taking rhythmical breaths to calm himself. Even if it was just training, this was the first time he ever fought against someone.

  From Sol’s location, a flaming projectile rose up into the sky, exploding. That was the signal for the fights to start.

  Explosions immediately covered the space between Jacob and Wilhelm, kicking him a large amount of dust. The older brother pulled out his weapon from his shoulders, casting off the wrapping to reveal a large staff.

  The earth quickly shifted beneath him, pillars rising and moving as if animated, quickly moving towards Jacob. He snapped his fingers each time a pillar got too close, repeatedly blowing them up with large explosions, while sneaking smaller ones at Wilhelm’s feet.

  Irene’s liquid steel moulded itself into weapons to strike Sol, who simply stood there with his guard raised. He separated his arms, pushing away the onslaught, and releasing his chains.

  Compared to the other two, the fight between Emilie and Arthur was a lot less flashy. He stood still, with his dagger raised and his eyes trained on the girl’s movements. Her posture was relaxed, her fingers wrapped around the sheathed rapier.

  “A-Are you not going to make the f-first move?”

  She tilted her head. Arthur stayed quiet. Emilie pulled out the blade from the scabbard, before letting out a sigh and dropping her head.

  “Y-You know… No one l-likes arrogant guys.”

  An unfamiliar expression washed over her face. Arthur widened his eyes and tensed up his muscles.

  ‘She’s coming!’

  His mind entered a state of complete focus. He forced himself into the Dipping State, even if only for a moment. That was the only way he could keep track of her.

  As if time had slowed down, he saw her body flicker away, like a candlelight in the wind. The light coming from her Ark disappeared, and in the next instant, she was in front of him.

  Clang!

  He narrowly blocked the rapier strike with his dagger, pushing himself back off of the blade. From the tip of the dagger, a sphere of Ark swirled into existence, quickly closing the distance towards Emilie.

  The Ark Shot pierced her abdomen. Arthur clicked his tongue, and threw himself to the side, dodging another strike. Emilie raised her eyebrows. She was unscathed.

  “W-Wow! N-No one ever dodged me on t-the first try before!”

  He clicked his tongue, examining her body with his eyes. She clapped her hands quietly and quickly, humoring him, before jolting forward.

  Her rapier slashed Arthur’s cheek, staining the blade with red drops. Ignoring his own defenses, he raised the dagger once more, shooting Ark forward.

  The result was the same.

  ‘She just disappears. It’s some sort of mobility magic… But how is she so fast?’

  The image of her body became hazy, before she reappeared in another spot. He put up his guard, blocking the piercing strikes without fighting back. He needed time to think, and figure out how her spell worked.

  [Arthur Luria. Would you like me to examine her fighting style?]

  His eyes widened in surprise. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a large arc drawn by the rapier, and nodded to the Archive.

  ‘Right. How could I forget about this! The Archive can help me notice things I wouldn't notice!’

  He stood back up, piercing the air with Ark constructs, forcing Emilie to evade. Until the Archive could give him the information he needed, he had to buy time. He turned his head for a moment. From another corner of the room, explosions were roaring out.

  —

  “Come out that bloody shell, bastard!”

  The fight between Jacob and Wilhelm was almost impossible to observe, thanks to all the dust and smoke caused by the explosive magic.

  Jacob closed his hand into a fist, collecting Ark into his palm. As if tossing stones, glimmering spheres of pure, explosive energy collided with Wilhelm’s magic. The older one hit the ground with his staff.

  The stone around himself came undone, having previously formed a defensive construct to stop his brother’s attacks.

  “Your precision is good, but you lack strength.”

  “Shut your trap and focus!”

  He clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers. With each snap, columns of smoke rose from the ground around Wilhelm, who had already put up another barrier.

  The ground beneath their feet rumbled as he spun his stuff in his hands. A large mass of water rose up into the air behind Wilhelm, shaping itself into the form of a dragon’s head, with a long body.

  “If you can't land a wound on me within three minutes, I’ll throw this at you. If you can wound me, or evaporate the entirety of the spell, I’ll consider you as having grown stronger from our last bout.”

  Jacob’s eyebrow twitched. Everything about his brother made him lose himself in anger. From his overwhelming superiority in magic, to the way his speech and expressions always lacked emotion.

  He clasped his hands together, interlocking his fingers. Ley Lines spread on the entirety of his hands, the air crackling with energy.

  “Come at me.”

  Wilhelm slammed his staff onto the ground once more. Spikes and pillars of stone coiled towards Jacob, striking him and keeping him from moving. He wasn't going to make this easy for him.

  —

  “Man, those two don't know how ta hold themselves back… How are ya farin’, li’l missy?”

  Sol chuckled, and turned towards Irene. Even though he was overwhelmingly strong, he knew how strong the Behemoth girl was, and knew how much damage she could take.

  Irene stood still with her guard raised, breathing raggedly. He knew exactly how much damage she could take, and would push her to the brink of exhaustion for the purpose of training.

  “I can… Still go.”

  She had no chances to go on the offensive. The liquid steel flowed around her, forming a protective cocoon. The entirety of her focus was used up to defend, and she couldn't spare any amount of steel, risking making her defenses too thin.

  She steeled herself for impact, the golden chains slamming onto the cocoon. The reverberations shook her body, hurting even through the defense.

  Sol flicked his wrist. The impacts of steel against steel resounded in the room, caused by the waves of the chains.

  Her eyelids twitched. She felt dizzy. The cocoon slowly unraveled around her, weaving itself into strings of steel. Sol raised an eyebrow and stepped forward, stopping his chains.

  “This would make fer a perfect lesson… Well, I’ll have ta explain it ta y'all later.”

  Irene’s eyes closed, her body falling forward. Before she could hit the ground, a metallic string pulled herself up.

  She opened her eyes once again, staring at Sol in a daze. Her posture was completely different from before, liquid metal swirling around her body.

  It didn't solidify into any specific shape. Sol smirked, a sharp tipped chain quickly approaching Irene.

  Clang!

  The steel flashed onto the attack, surrounding the chain and diverting the attack upwards. Irene blinked once, and snapped back to her senses. She didn't know exactly what happened, but still felt like she was in a daze.

  She looked up at Sol.

  “I think… You can be a bit more serious.”

  He grinned. She was growing faster than he expected.