Hidden Feelings

“Wide range teleportation? I want to learn that!” Iori admired the mage’s spell.

“That’s an extremely advanced spell, I don’t know if you’d be able to learn it at your level,” Kana informed Iori.

Iori sillily pouted to Kana as Kaito got up off his butt.

Ace explained their planned lesson. The students would split into five groups, all under a different Flaming Tiger member. Under the instruction of each member, the students would all be taught certain skills benefiting their class.

Kaito was with the ninja girl, Clenn with Ace, Evona with the lizardman, while Iori and Kana were with the long-haired mage.

The ninja girl adventurer Kaito was with was named Marionette, but she preferred to be called Mari. Kaito was very giddy about being in the group with the attractive ninja.

“Alright, my fellow speedsters, the skill I’ll be teaching you all is Feint,” Mari announced. “But first a demonstration… You there look experienced, try and strike me.”

Kaito was the one Mari referred to. Now that she thought highly of him, it was time for Kaito to impress her.

Kaito, taking out his dagger, ran up to Mari and slashed at her stomach. Before Kaito’s dagger hit, Mari vanished and swiftly reappeared beside Kaito. Mari then stuck her foot out, lightly tripping Kaito.

“Whoa!” Kaito said in shock, barely managing to keep his balance.

“The Feint skill can act as a defensive counter, allowing you to escape and reposition yourself for an attack, but it can also be used offensively,” Mari taught the group.

She then took out her two daggers, also signalling Kaito to prepare himself. Kaito, receiving her signal, stanced himself to prepare for Mari’s attack.

Mari rushed directly to Kaito. Reacting to her speed, Kaito put up his guard, but just before Mari’s blade clashed with Kaito’s, she again phased into nothing. This time, she appeared behind Kaito and lightly punched him in his back.

“Alright, everyone, get into pairs,” Mari instructed the group. “I’ll be with this one.”

Mari once again referred to Kaito, realizing the amount in her was uneven and thus needed to pair with someone. Everyone else in the group heeded her instructions and aimed to learn the Feint skill.

Mari and Kaito began sparring as they tried to get Kaito to learn Feint. Given her stoic demeanor, Kaito was surprised that Mari started making small talk.

“I get the feeling you’ve been on many egregious adventures, so what brings you here to this school?” Mari started asking. “Are you trying to get into a guild?”

Still focusing on their practice, Kaito answered, “Nah, I’m not guild hunting. Just here to get more training in the basics.”

“Ah, so you’ve likely been winging it on your journey,” Mari successfully deduced. Kaito felt the jab at his unprofessionalism. “No need to take it as an insult,” Mari clarified. “It’s good for those in speed-related classes to know how to think fast.”

Liking the compliment, Kaito slightly let down his guard from his giddiness.

“Don’t put down your guard,” Mari ordered, swinging her dagger to punish Kaito’s laxened behaviour.

Though out of nowhere, Kaito successfully activated the Feint skill. He phased out, appeared behind Mari, and pushed her back, almost making her trip up like Kaito did.

“Impressive,” Mari slowly turned after regaining her balance.

Kaito responded, “Thanks, Marion—”

Suddenly, Kaito was flipped around and face-planting into the ground. Mari had attacked him, but he couldn’t even react to what she had done.

“I told you all, it’s just Mari,” Mari corrected Katio, looking down at him sternly. “Also, I can tell you’re staring.”

Kaito knew she was referring to him, admiring her body as they sparred together. Kaito felt embarrassed as he thought she didn’t notice.

Mari crouched down to the floored Kaito. “I’m a ninja. You really thought I didn’t notice?”

Kaito had no response. Mari had him beat. All he could think about was how much Mari reminded him of Rina. They both had black hair, clothing, and the same stern attitude towards him.

“I haven’t really talked with Rina since I’ve summoned Iori,” Kaito thought. “Maybe I should make up with her after this program ends.”

____________________________________________________________________________

Looking at the others, everyone has been learning their assigned skills effectively.

Clenn learned a skill called Impact from Ace; it lets the user apply more damage and knockback to their strike.

Evona learned Gash from the lizardman, allowing her to apply deeper wounds to opponents that cannot be healed for a while.

Kana and Iori were in a more unique scenario.

The long-haired mage instructor assigned their group four skills and told the students to learn one skill that benefits their elemental fighting style. There was a fire, water, earth, and air-based spell.

Kana barely managed to learn the water and earth spell.

Iori, on the other hand, learned all four of the spells and even adapted what she saw from the wide-range teleportation spell to learn a personal, short-ranged one.

“Y-you’ve exceeded my expectation, Iori,” the long-haired mage announced nervously. “I-I must say, I’d be happy if you’d join our guild. O-or maybe I can tutor you,” she continued to suggest.

“Oh, thank you for the offer, but I’m more interested in adventuring with my friends...” Iori bowed as she floated in the air.

“O-oh, that’s too bad…” the mage responded.

The practical class was pretty much over, so everyone in the class actually witnessed Iori declining the direct invitation for the Flaming Tiger. A lot of people were shocked.

“Evona’s happy Iori is our friend!” Evona, this time, happily announced beside Kaito.

“Ha! You were shut down, Nisteen!” Ace laughed off the long-haired mage’s declined offer.

As everyone was watching, Kana started ominously walking towards Iori.

“IORI!” Kana shouted.

Everyone was drawn to the two in which Kana announced her thoughts.

“Please, fight me… No, I challenge you to a duel.”