Aiz emphasized each word with a jab of her scabbard as Bell moved to block each attack with his dagger. It was an intense back-and-forth, or perhaps it would be more accurately described as fending off a one-sided assault. Their feet moved like lightning as the scrimmage continued.
After worrying all day yesterday, she’d finally decided on what to teach.
They’d practice dueling.
There was no way someone with her limited conversational skills would be able to instruct anyone using her words. It wasn’t possible to convey everything she knew about combat. After countless failures on the first day, she offered him a new proposal and said only one thing:
“Let’s fight.”
Their weapons clashed, the two of them reading each other’s movements, looking for anything they could use to their advantage.
She told Bell to get a feel for everything she did during their practice battle, and then to steal everything he could.
Aiz might have been using only her scabbard, but Bell wielded a real dagger fit for use in the Dungeon, so it was about as close to a real battle as they could get. She tried just hard enough to distill any unfounded fears the boy might have, not even allowing him to fight back as she peppered him with blows from her relatively harmless scabbard.
“Flailing wildly in an attempt to block…won’t help.”
“Ngh?!”
“Connect each block with your next move, whether attacking or changing position.”
Of course, Aiz wasn’t going to leave everything up to Bell to learn himself.
She made sure to point out anything she noticed as the two of them fought, interjecting words of advice between jabs. Even though she rarely spoke, Aiz still managed to provide him the minimum degree of instruction.
Whenever he exposed an opening or made a poorly conceived move, Aiz imbued her scabbard with her thoughts and struck his body as though warning him.
How strange…
In the dim light of the still-distant sunrise, Aiz took the opportunity to examine Bell, who was frantically attempting to block her every attack.
Finn, Gareth, and Riveria had drilled the same basics of combat into her some nine years before, when she was learning the ways of adventurers as well as absorbing their wisdom. Now she was the mentor.
As Aiz recalled all these somewhat poignant memories, she saw her young self reflected in the boy in front of her. Determined to stand and face her despite his ragged breathing, he seemed to transform into an inflexible golden-haired, golden-eyed girl who hated to lose. Meanwhile, she’d become Finn, with his carrot-and-stick approach, as well as Gareth, hearty in every word and action. Most of all, she was Riveria, the severe disciplinarian.
Her hands didn’t stop. Everything those mentors had taught her was coming back to her. She could see the mock battles especially clearly.
But only doing this together wasn’t enough.
Guiding his movements, she made sure he was following her every step as she attacked.
Finn and the others had done this much, at least, to instruct the young girl she’d once been.
But I can’t yet match something like that…
She couldn’t mimic them. It was absolutely impossible for her to stand in the same league.
And as Bell’s breathing grew more and more ragged, even more so than yesterday, all Aiz could do was utter a silent apology.
There was a reason Finn, Gareth, and Riveria were the leaders of Loki Familia.
They’d shown her patience through the many arguments shared together and given all their guidance freely despite her childish resistance. The more she came to understand their degree of accomplishment, the more she felt the full weight of her own immaturity press down on her.
So she assigned herself a new mission. She would, of course, help Bell hone his skills through this training, but she would also be polishing her own at the same time.
Her scabbard collided with Bell’s dagger, causing a dull thud.
“Mm…Well done.”
“Y-you mean it?!”
He’d blocked it quite well, actually. Referencing the way Finn had spurred her on with both praise and criticism, Aiz made sure to do the same.
The words made him so happy, Bell all but forgot the pain and exhaustion, his face brightening with an almost visible shine.
All Aiz could see was a rabbit perking up at a carrot dangled in front of its face, and the thought brought a tiny smile to her lips.
Bell blushed instantly. Aiz cocked her head just slightly in confusion.
“Shall we rest for a bit?”
“Oh, uh…sure.” He wheezed in response, shoulders heaving with his every breath.
Aiz lowered her scabbard as Bell did the same with his dagger.
The two of them stood facing each other, five steps apart atop the wide city wall, as the breeze cooled their hot skin.
He’s improved since yesterday…
Aiz watched as Bell wiped the sweat from his face.
Compared to the first day, there was a dramatic difference in his movements—well, perhaps that was a bit of an overstatement, but the change was certainly visible. Whether or not this was due to his uncanny growth, however, Aiz couldn’t be certain.
There was a kind of simpleminded intensity radiating from him. As though he clung to her every word, taking everything she’d told him and reexamining it endlessly.
That being said, there was no way he could go beyond her instructions or surpass her expectations. Still, he was doing well.
He needs to focus on defense…After that, technique and strategy.
She’d evaluated him yesterday—the first day of their training—identifying and pointing out his current level and weaknesses.
The problem was that Bell Cranell was a coward.
It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it actually had some advantages when it came to solo trips into the Dungeon. When it came to combat, however, that cowardice led to one major problem: Bell was more apt to flee than fight. Fearing enemy attacks and the pain they might bring, he often took off like a frightened rabbit. This explained why his evasion skills were more developed than his defensive skills.
Aiz made it her top priority to teach him how to properly defend.
Actually, what she really wanted to do was pass on her technique of deflecting and eluding incoming attacks.
When they started, there had remained a mere seven days to train him before Loki Familia’s expedition. If she could impress upon him even a fraction of all the defensive skills, methods, and strategies she hoped to teach, then one way or another, she could make it work.
His shortcomings. Areas of improvement. Strengths.
She carefully considered each of them in turn, going over everything she already knew about the boy.
He does have…one thing going for him…
His ability to flee from danger—practically a specialty at this point—was impressive even by Aiz’s standards.
While this was likely due to his craven nature, it was still a splendid weapon of his.
Bell’s strategy in fights fundamentally boiled down to a hit-and-run approach.
After taking into account his disposition, constitution, familia, and aptitude with his weapon, that wasn’t necessarily a poor decision.
But if he could only harness the courage he’d shown earlier…
After peeling off that shell of his…things could get interesting, Aiz’s intuition was telling her.
The first topics that rose to Aiz’s mind were speed and quantity of attacks. Making full use of both would give him a fierce attack—a rush.
If he could learn to use two weapons at once, a dagger in each hand, that would be perfect.
Striking from the front with great agility. Truly, this was Aiz’s preferred style.
—She had thought that far before gasping involuntarily.
Was that all right? Molding the boy in her own image? No, no! I can’t, I can’t! Her head throbbed from the inn
er turmoil.
What discipline to follow was Bell’s decision.
Forcing her ideals onto someone else was simply unacceptable. Even more so when it came to combat.
Her only job was to teach him the basics, not lead him, and she needed to remember that.
“Still…he could be interested,” she muttered beneath her breath.
Once Bell’s breathing had finally settled back into a steady pace, Aiz explained what she’d observed from their duel.
“I’m a…coward…”
Bell’s shoulders gave the slightest of shudders.
That reaction was enough for Aiz to realize she’d hit the nail on the head.
“You’re still…worried about that? What I said yesterday…?”
“No, I mean, it’s…well……yeah.” Bell’s gaze went first left, then right, before finally dropping to the ground. His voice seemed liable to disappear back down his throat.
The pathetic sight brought with it the sting of her own failure, and Aiz furrowed her brows.
You’re…a coward.
There’s something that you’re afraid of.
I don’t know what it is that frightens you but…when the time comes, you’ll only be able to run away.
That’s what she’d told him yesterday before plunging head-on into their duel.
What she’d unearthed and revealed to him.
No doubt, her words had hit quite close to home.
Which would explain his newfound refusal to retreat—to the point of reckless abandon—meeting every one of Aiz’s blows as though shying away would spell disgrace.
Aiz’s tactless commentary had burrowed its way deep inside him, where the resentment and shame continued to weigh heavily on his shoulders even now.
I hurt him again…
Aiz was beginning to get an idea of just what it was Bell feared so much.
Though there wasn’t much she could do until she knew for sure, it was clear that the scar was deep—some sort of trauma, almost—and it wasn’t something he would easily overcome.
And here Aiz was brazenly provoking him despite how much he was subconsciously suffering. Was she really so incompetent?
Or was it just that Bell didn’t want to hear that from her?
That he was a coward.
Perhaps he wanted to scream at her how he was no coward.
All Aiz saw standing in front of her was a young boy giving his all to be strong…even as his torment and shame trampled him.
“…Mhn, uh…What I said earlier? About you being a coward? That…was wrong.”
She couldn’t take it any longer. It was unbearable seeing him like that.
To unravel his misunderstanding, as though caressing those pitiable cheeks, she tried to speak her mind.
“I don’t think…you’re pitiful, useless, or anything like that. I know yesterday…I called you a coward, but it’s important that…”
Her words were broken, faltering, and her voice grew softer and softer, heavy with emotion. Bell’s distraught face rose to meet hers.
As those entreating rubellite eyes trembled with feeling, the words became harder and harder for Aiz to find.
Frustrated at her inability to express herself, she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
“…While cowardice should not be confused with caution…”
She prefaced her thoughts with the words she remembered Finn, Gareth, and Riveria told her once.
“Sometimes…being afraid of something can save your party in the Dungeon.”
“…”
“Really, people who feel no fear at all are more dangerous.”
—Someone like me, said the voice from deep inside her, but she continued, Bell hanging on her every word.
“Which is why it’s important…that you’re not ashamed to be afraid. Okay?”
“Miss Aiz…”
“I don’t want you to ever forget that.”
Now that she’d gotten the words out there, she couldn’t stop them, and Bell continued to gaze up at her, wide-eyed, opposite her, as she shifted the focus back to her with just four words:
“The way I did.”
“Huh?!”
“I did nothing but worry Riveria and the others. I got my friends involved yet felt nothing. That doesn’t make me an adventurer…that makes me nothing but a monster.”
Aiz lowered her head. She had long since become numb to fear or terror in her quest for power.
Letting the thoughts of her past drift through her mind, well aware that she could never change from the foolish girl she’d become, she gave Bell her advice.
“Don’t become like me.”
The self-deprecating girl could see nothing but her feet now.
The voice spilling from her throat seemed so distant, a dim shadow settling on her slim shoulders.
She no longer noticed Bell in front of her, her vision now completely occupied by the rocks of the wall beneath her.
“…Th-that’s not true!!”
The loud voice shook her from her reverie.
“A monster wouldn’t have been able to save me!”
Aiz’s head snapped up to find Bell leaning forcefully in her direction.
The words continued to shoot from his mouth with uncanny boldness.
“The way you rescued me was amazing! Like a hero out of those stories I heard as a kid! And so beautiful, too! You…You’re the one who gave me my dream of becoming an adventurer! So when you say things like that, I-I mean, it’s like…well…you know…?”
As if taken aback by his own ramblings, Bell’s words grew increasingly incoherent, and his face turned a brilliant pink.
Aiz felt her own face heating from the unadulterated praise and adoration.
Such candor and sincerity. As Aiz stood there in amazement, her cheeks growing warmer, she couldn’t help but reaffirm her belief that this boy was exactly the same as she had been once upon a time.
Her lips curved up in a tiny arc.
She saw herself, eyes shining as her mother told a story.
She remembered her dreams, full of heroes and adventure.
Wonderful, sweet memories of her childhood, called forth by the boy standing before her.
From deep within the frozen recesses of her heart, a tiny flame flickered.
“Thank you…”
The slight curve of her lips erupted into a full, wide smile. The white rabbit had soothed her heart.
For just a moment, Bell was stunned. Then the embarrassment welled up inside him ridiculously quickly, and he could not bring himself to look at Aiz’s face. His eyes wandered this way and that, focusing on everything but her.
Finally, he responded with a shy laugh of his own, happy that he’d been able to bring a smile to Aiz’s face.
“…Shall we continue with our training, then?”
“S-sure!”
Aiz felt a small tingle deep inside as the faintest traces of light appeared along the eastern horizon.
Pale-pink light dyed the tips of the distant mountains as dawn’s glow slowly overtook the dark cerulean sky. As Aiz gazed out across that magnificent scenery, she brought her scabbard to the ready.
Bell followed up with another energetic reply, and their training began anew.
…He’s gotten better.
Aiz’s eyes narrowed, following Bell’s movements, as she became the Sword Princess once again.
While he still wasn’t able to block every one of hers attacks, he wasn’t just flailing wildly anymore. Face hardened like he was possessed, Bell chased every one of Aiz’s slashes, carefully reading her timing and slipping his dagger into any openings.
Her words must have hit home, since Bell’s tendency to leap forward recklessly had all but vanished.
Seeing the difference her words had made gave Aiz a wonderful feeling of accomplishment as his teacher.
—I-I did it.
Being someone normally so bad with words only reinforced her satisfaction; Little Aiz inside her raised b
oth hands in triumph.
Her joy was so great, in fact, that quite suddenly, without warning, she gave it everything she had.
Her scabbard became a blur, each slash faster than the next.
“Nngh!!”
“Ah.”
Her scabbard collided with the side of Bell’s head, and with a strangled cry he tumbled to the hard stone. There was a loud thud.
And now the boy was splayed out on the ground, his body slack.
She’d knocked him out cold.
“N-not again…” Aiz muttered before dashing to his side.
This was what happened as soon as she got careless. It would seem that as someone with zero teaching experience, she couldn’t properly adjust the strength of her attacks, after all.
Calming herself, she took a knee beside Bell, still sprawled faceup on his back. She reached out, fully prepared to take him in her arms in an act of gallant bravado.
Until—
She realized with a start…
“This feels…”
Passed out in her lap. Eyes closed as though sleeping.
Aiz suddenly had the very strong feeling that this had happened before.
Not more than a week prior, down on the fifth floor of the Dungeon, after succumbing to a bout of Mind Down, he’d been passed out just like this.
That’s right—the situation was almost exactly the same as when she had done as Riveria said and laid his head in her lap, only to have him dash off at top speed!
Whereupon she’d turned bright red and been heavily criticized by Riveria.
What was it that elegant high elf had told her? “Men usually adore this kind of thing! You’re probably just doing it wrong!” It might as well have happened yesterday, the way that memory was burned into the back of her mind.
Of course, Riveria had only been giving her a hard time, struggling to hold back a grin all the while. Aiz, on the other hand, had taken her words as gospel.
Gulp.
Body trembling slightly, she shifted toward Bell.
She couldn’t just end things here. Watch out, Riveria! Watch out, white rabbit! It was time for her unyielding, indomitable spirit to shine. Her revenge was nigh.
Failure was not an option. Not this time.
Ever so slowly, Aiz took a hold of Bell’s head and positioned it atop her thighs.
“Mmhn…” Bell murmured.
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? On the Side: Sword Oratoria, Vol. 4 Page 3