Chapter 40: The Final Training

I wake up, it’s 6:30 in the morning. Today the final trial would begin, before everything ended in a conflict that would decide the fate of this world. It was time to start the last training before launching the attack against the Demon Queen’s army. We knew that once breakfast was over, we would only train the Fusion, so I had to be mentally prepared for what was to come.

I got up and noticed that Akane, Mizuki, and Mizu were also getting up. We greeted each other.

“Good morning, girls. Well, once we finish breakfast, we’ll go with Ranma, Teto, and Lilit, along with their two other friends, so we can all practice the Fusion together,” said Mizu, already prepared for what was coming.

“I know this will be difficult, but we can’t turn back now,” I said with confidence and faith in myself, ready for what lay ahead.

“Alright, let’s eat breakfast and then meet with Ranma, Teto, and Lilit. Let’s get going,” said Akane, already ready to begin the day.

We left our room and headed to the dining hall. When we arrived, several girls were already having breakfast. We went to the cook so she could give us ours: the usual—coffee, toast with butter, and a piece of fruit. We sat at an empty table to eat; just something simple to last until noon.

After twenty minutes we were done. As always, we returned our dishes for the cook to clean. At that moment, Ranma called us to begin our final training.

“Girls, let’s go to the gym to train Fusion,” Ranma said happily, as if she was glad because she already saw a way for all of this to end soon.

We arrived at the gym to start the last part of our training. Honestly, I was excited to see what would happen, though I wouldn’t lie—I was nervous too. Things were about to escalate far beyond what I could have imagined. I still remember clearly the moment I died and met the goddess. I remember her words:

“First, you won’t speak their language. But once you arrive in that world, you will be able to speak it without forgetting the one you already know. If there’s a magic system, it will be based on the elements, but you’ll discover that yourselves. Your mission will be to defeat the Demon Queen, who plans to torment that world. That is your purpose: to save it. As for your ages and memories, you’ll keep them, even when you’re reborn as babies. You’ll continue to think and act as adults. But I recommend that you act as children so as not to raise suspicions, and don’t take advantage of your new bodies—that would be unpleasant. Well then, I hope you have a good life and achieve great results.” The goddess had spoken calmly.

Those words are still etched in my memory. It’s incredible that almost thirteen years have passed since then. Remembering them gives me the strength to keep going. I still can’t believe all of this began with that party, that cursed night when Cleer and I were killed by that murderer. But if we are both in this world, it must be for a reason.

When we got to the gym, Ranma spoke:

“First, we’ll do some warm-ups. Then, each team will take turns practicing the steps and fusing. Once everyone has fused, we’ll spar in training battles to learn how to move in sync. After that, we’ll test our powers in the forest. Finally, we’ll train physically—both fused and on our own—so that in about three years we’ll be ready to begin the final war against the Demon Queen and end those damned demons that want to turn our lives into misery. I expect great things from each of you. Now, let’s begin the final training. We only have three years before the final war, so give it your all.” She spoke with the emotion and firmness worthy of a true leader.

Her words gave us courage, confidence, and determination—enough to not hesitate when it came to facing this war. I knew it was my duty to fight, and that meant I needed strength not only physically and magically, but also mentally.

Each team took their turn to fuse. After about twenty minutes, every team was fused into a single being.

From there, training began. The days were hard. We stuck to our plan, taking on the occasional guild mission in between. Those three years were full of hard work, training, duty, and more.

By then, I was almost sixteen years old. Only two days remained before my sixteenth birthday in this world—my thirty-fourth in mental age. My body was stronger, more developed, toned, and fuller than before. Years of adolescence had shaped me well. A body that caught the attention of several boys my age—but I rejected them. Not because I still thought of myself as a man, but because I knew it would be wrong.

In fact, I was rejecting another boy right then for the same reason. I had also turned down Tatsuki again, telling him not to insist anymore—he wasn’t going to succeed. Yet he kept trying, wanting me to be his girlfriend. But that was never going to happen.

I was waiting to celebrate my sixteenth birthday, because a week after that we would depart for war. We were already preparing everything, and I knew that once we set out for the Demon Kingdom and its Queen, it would all come to an end.

At that moment, my parents asked me to help prepare for my birthday before I left with the Magical Girls. Not all of us would go; some of the ninety-nine girls would stay behind to protect the kingdom and the surrounding villages, keeping the civilians safe.

I went to my parents, and they told me:

“Taiyaki, I can see you’re becoming a fine young woman. You’ve been the best thing that ever happened to us, and we’re sure you’ll win this war with your friends. You have all our support,” said my mother warmly.

“I know you’ll be able to face anything that tries to hurt you. But for now, enjoy the time you have left before leaving for that war,” said my father, encouraging me.

Hours passed, and I returned to the guild. When I arrived, they told me that my friends—Akane, Mizuki, Mizu, Rem—and I would spend the next three days at home to rest and be at our best before the final preparations for the war.

Then Mizuki suggested we take advantage of this to celebrate my sixteenth birthday. They already had plans.

I said:
“Well, we could have a sleepover, just the five of us. What do you think of that idea?”

They all agreed, and we decided to have the sleepover the day after tomorrow.

As for me, I said goodbye and went home to rest. After dinner, I went to my room and decided to sleep. I knew that soon this peace would end, and everything would reach its conclusion.