n

n

n

"Stand like this... Keep the center of your body balanced.

"

nJohn's Master got into a strange stance which involved balancing your body.

nHe imitated the stance and held on to his daggers.

n

"Don't fall.

" She said.

nConfused, John looked over at her to see what she meant, and she was gone.

n

"M-Master... How long do I have to stay like this? Master!?

"

nWithout saying anything, his master left John in this position.

n***

nJohn lost track of time, but it was starting to get dark. His legs were trembling and he could no longer feel them. John was just about to drop when all of a sudden.

n

"Well done.

" Said master.

n

"M-Master... Can I drop down now...

" John asked.

n

"Hm... Okay,

" She said.

nIn that instant, John was about to fall over backward when all of the sudden, his body subconsciously rotated while keeping the stance, causing him to stay standing.

n

"Eh? What was that? That was so coo-

"

nSuddenly, the pain started surging through John's legs, which caused him to fall over either way.

n

"Before learning a stance, you must find balance. Tomorrow will be more stance training.

" She ordered.

n

"Yes...

"

n***

nJohn walked wobbly back home. His legs felt like a small breeze would be enough to push them.

nInstead of getting a carriage, he just casted furtim and levite to fly home, while making sure that there was no one watching.

nWhile the nice fresh breeze continued to hit John as he flew in the sky, he started talking to himself.

n

"Come to think of it... we've been in this mansion for 6 days already... I guess the super-soft beds are what's keeping everyone there. But after school starts, we'll all move into the dorms so, might as well just enjoy as much of it as I can for now.

" John reckoned.

nIt didn't take long for him to reach the mansion. John deactivated levite and deactivated furtim, and walked inside.

n

"Welcome back, esteemed guest,

" Said one of the maids.

n

"Thank you, how is everyone?

" John asked.

n

"The young master is still in her room, as for your two friends, Serena and Ariel, they are behind the gates,

" She said.

n'Hm, then how come I didn't see them? Well, I guess I flew over the gates.' John thought.

n

"Hm, I didn't get to see them...

" He spoke.

n

"Shall I go call them for you?

" She asked.

n

"No, it's fine, let them continue their training, I have other matters to attend to,

" John replied.

n

"Very well.

"

nShe was rather young for a maid, still in her teens. If John remembered correctly, her name was,

n

"Thank you, Mrs Tao!

"

nThe maid seemed surprised by something. 'Did I get her name wrong?' John wondered.

nHe was a little busy now, so he decided to just ask next time.

nWithout wasting any time, he went straight to Eleanor's room.

n

"How do I do this...?

"

nAs John stood in front of her door, he tried thinking of a way to get in.

n'Maybe I should invent a spell which allows me to phase through objects? Haha, that's a funny joke. If it fails, I'll be stuck in a wall.' John thought.

n

"Hm... Do I cast silentium and furtim and just slowly enter... Hmm, I might go with that.

" John decided.

nHe cast silentium, and furtim and concealed his presence as much as he could.

nJohn then slowly opened the door to her room and walked inside.

nWhat he saw left him speechless.

nThe lights were off, but the room was lit up by a bright light. It was coming from under the blankets of her bed.

nThe room was big, there were many things that stood out, but none of them grabbed his attention, or rather, John was more interested in what that light was.

nAs John got closer, he could hear Eleanor muttering something. It sounded like a spell.

n

"Hujus luminis fons sit amet meis offero pro viribus obire hostes arma lucis.

" Translation: Spirits of the light, be one with my magic flow, I offer my power in exchange for swords of light to strike down my enemies.

n'She's chanting? And why... Why can I understand every word?' John wondered.

nDo you want power? A voice spoke.

n'Wha-'

n

"Advanced Holy Light magic: lux gladio

"

nThe moment she said that the light which was coming from under the blanket, took shape of swords. 5 Swords of light were formed right above the blanket

nAt the same time, she got lifted up the blanket and got up.

n

"I did it!

" She shouted with an excited expression.

nShe was in her pyjamas. Her golden blonde hair, which always silky straight, was now a bit messy and her oceanic blue eyes now had dark circles under them.

n

"`I finally did it...

" she muttered once more.

nShe got up from the bed and the light swords dispersed.

n'I see... She's been practicing all this time... if she needed help, why didn't she just ask us?' John thought, feeling confused.

n

"I have to get stronger... I can't keep relying on those 3 all the time, I need to stop being so useless,

" She said as she clenched her fist.

n

"Useless? Who said you were useless?

" John accidentally blurted out.

n

"That voice... John!?

"

n

"Crap…

"

n------------------------------------

n

"Sir Kurt,

" Said the head maid.

n

"Yes?

" Kurt responded.

n

"I noticed John standing in front of Eleanor's room.

"

nA smile was formed on Kurt's face when he heard this.

n

"So that means the plan will soon start... The plan to get John engaged to Eleanor...

" Kurt muttered.

n-----------------------------------

n

"Atchoo...

" let out Serena as she sneezed.

n

"Is it too cold for you?

" Ariel asked.

n

"Hm? Ah no, not really... I have a bad feeling for some reason...

" Said Serena as she looked towards the mansion.

n

"if Serena has a feeling, then we start heading back to the mansion. Besides, John is back.

" Said Ariel.

n

"Hm? How do you know?

" Serena asked.

n

"Ah, I learned a new spell. It allows me to feel other people in the area through the wind. I felt something descend from the sky, and only John can do that so...

"

n

"Ariel...

" Serena muttered.

n

"Y-Yeah?

" Ariel replied.

n

"You're amazing, let's head back and see if everything is fine.

"

n