Chapter 23: Passionate Mark Starts Playing Master in Front of Me
The academy's training grounds were livelier than usual.
Targets stood lined up on the sandy plaza‚ and students from other classes had gathered noisily in the spectator seats.
The instructor's whistle blew sharply‚ and the barrier lights emitted a faint glow that enveloped the entire training grounds.
"Today's a public training session. Everyone's really fired up‚ huh?"
Linne said while waving her hand‚ and Cross puffed out his chest.
"Leave it to me! My muscles are shining today too!"
"Muscles have nothing to do with it!"
Kotone immediately fired back a retort‚ and Nagi silently directed her gaze that way.
(...So noisy)
Amid all that—
Kicking up a cloud of sand‚ one man came running in with full force.
"Alrighttttt! From today‚ let me join in toooooo!!"
The air in the training grounds froze for a moment.
That man—Mark—stood with both arms spread wide‚ wearing a smile as bright as the sun.
On his back was a large sword‚ on his arms mysterious bandages‚ and his energy level was higher than anyone else's.
"...Who?"
Aria muttered under his breath.
His fingertips tapped out a nervous rhythm of "ton-ton."
"I'm Mark! The future hero! And from today‚ I'm your new comrade!"
Mark declared with his chest puffed out.
"The future hero...?"
Cross furrowed his brow.
"Doesn't that overlap with my character somehow?"
"It doesn't!"
Linne answered instantly.
Nagi directed a cold gaze at him.
"...Having a high self-evaluation isn't a bad thing‚ but what's your basis?"
"Basis? Passion!"
"Illogical."
"That's harsh!"
But Mark wasn't discouraged at all.
If anything‚ he seemed happy to take even Nagi's cool retorts in stride.
"Well‚ for now‚ welcome!"
Linne said with a smile‚ and Mark gave a thumbs-up.
"Leave it to me! I'll use all of my power!"
Faced with that momentum‚ Aria couldn't help but mutter inwardly.
(...Is this guy going to be okay?)
And so‚ the overly cheerful newcomer joined the team.
The instructor's whistle blew sharply‚ and the barrier lights around the training grounds all intensified at once.
In the center of the sandy ground‚ multiple training magical beast-type targets appeared‚ wrapped in a faint light.
"Alright... shall we begin?"
Aria steadied his breath slightly and tapped his fingertips in a "ton-ton" rhythm.
That rhythm was his unique tempo‚ a mix of tension and concentration.
"Aria-kun‚ please take command!"
Linne called out‚ and Aria nodded a little hesitantly.
"Okay then... Front line will be Cross and Liam. Linne‚ provide support from the left.
Nagi‚ monitor the waveforms from the rear. I'll adjust the barrier in the center."
The instructions were concise and without waste.
A small murmur of "Oh..." rose from the spectator seats.
Meanwhile‚ as for Mark—
He stood at the edge of the spectator seats with his arms crossed‚ staring intently at Aria.
(...What's with that composure.
No‚ more than composure... a quiet flame?
What is this feeling... my chest is... burning...!)
Mark's inner thoughts were already in an uproar.
Aria began his chant.
His voice was small‚ but even from a distance one could see the magical waveforms aligning beautifully.
Around Aria‚ tiny particles of light drifted gently upward.
The edges of the barrier overlapped without a sound‚ spreading out like a "quiet performance."
(...W-what is this...!
Magic was this... beautiful!?
It's different from the magic I know...!)
Mark clenched his fists and trembled.
His face no longer looked like a mere spectator‚ but like someone who had received a religious revelation.
"Aria‚ the target on the right moved."
Nagi reported calmly.
"Understood. Deploying second layer of the barrier."
When Aria snapped his fingers‚ rings of light overlapped and sealed the target's movements.
The entire sequence of actions was efficient‚ precise—
and yet somehow warm.
(...That is... art...!
No‚ that's not it... a performance of the soul...!
Aria... you... are amazing...!)
Something exploded inside Mark's heart.
At the back of the spectator seats‚ Kotone whispered quietly.
"...Doesn't that guy's eyes look even brighter than before?"
"They're shining so much it's scary."
Nagi replied flatly.
Unaware of those gazes‚ Aria simply continued weaving his magic quietly.
In the center of the training grounds‚ Aria's barrier pulsed softly.
The edges of light swayed‚ holding the magical beast-type targets in place.
"...Alright‚ now."
Aria muttered softly and tapped his fingertips in a "ton-ton" rhythm.
In that instant‚ the barrier's waveform changed‚ and the restraints strengthened.
(...Yessssssssss!!)
Something completely burst inside Mark's heart.
(Did you see that just now!? That delicate magical control!
That quiet intensity!
That's... that's already... a master‚ right!!)
His excitement breaking past the limit‚ Mark finally moved.
"Ariaaaaa!! I'll back you uppppp!!"
"Eh‚ wait...!?"
Before Aria could turn around‚ Mark kicked off the sand and charged forward.
"Mark‚ I haven't given any orders yet!"
Linne shouted‚ but Mark wasn't listening.
"Leave it to me! My fists are itchinggggg!!"
(Don't itch! Calm down!)
Aria's inner retort couldn't keep up.
But Mark's movements were surprisingly sharp.
Heading toward the target whose movements had been sealed by Aria's barrier‚ Mark raised his greatsword—
"Uooooooooh!!"
—and landed a perfect finishing blow.
The target vanished into particles of light.
Cheers rose from the spectator seats.
"I did iiiit!!"
Mark slung the greatsword over his shoulder and turned toward Aria.
His eyes were completely beyond "respect" and now shone with "adoration."
"Aria! That restraint just now was the best!
Because of that‚ my strike landed perfectly!
In other words... in other words...!"
(...I have a bad feeling about this)
Aria took a step back.
"Aria! From today‚ be my masterrrrr!!"
"No‚ I won't!?"
"Why nooottt!!"
"Why... there are all kinds of reasons!"
The reactions around them were lively too.
"...He's completely infatuated now."
Kotone's eyes sparkled.
"Aria‚ you're popular."
Cross grinned.
"...So noisy."
Nagi muttered flatly‚ but the corners of her mouth softened ever so slightly.
Mark pressed even closer to Aria.
"Please! Today‚ Aria's magic saved my life!
No‚ it saved my soul!
No‚ you could even say I was reborn—"
"Too long too long too long!"
Aria hurriedly stopped him.
But Mark's passion wouldn't stop.
That heat was the complete opposite of Aria's cool demeanor—
and precisely because of that‚ they strangely meshed well.
(...This guy is hard to handle‚ but... he's probably not a bad person)
Aria thought that as he let out a small sigh and erased the remnants of the barrier.
The training ended‚ and the light of the barrier lamps gradually weakened.
Heat still lingered on the sand‚ and the murmurs from the spectator seats slowly settled down.
"Phew... it's over..."
Aria sighed while wiping the sweat from his forehead.
His fingertips still moved in a light "ton-ton‚" but it was more a rhythm of fatigue than tension.
Then—
"Ariaaaaa!!"
Kicking up a cloud of sand‚ Mark came charging in at full sprint.
"Whoa‚ too close too close too close!"
Aria hurriedly stepped back.
Mark stopped right in front of Aria and placed a hand on his chest‚ taking a deep breath.
His expression was completely serious.
"Aria... that teamwork just now... was the best...!
I've never been able to move that comfortably before!
No‚ more than that... I was moved! My soul trembled! I was reborn!"
"That's way too exaggerated..."
Aria smiled awkwardly‚ but his ears were faintly red.
Mark continued further.
"Your magic isn't just a technique.
How should I put it... it was like 'music.'
It showed me exactly where I should move!"
(...Music‚ huh)
Aria lowered his eyes just a little.
He had never thought of his own magic being seen that way.
Beside them‚ Linne smiled.
"Aria-kun‚ you're being praised."
"Y-yeah... I know‚ but..."
Aria tapped his fingertips in a "ton-ton" as if to hide his embarrassment.
Nagi stood with her arms crossed‚ observing calmly.
"...Mark's movements are rough‚ but his compatibility with Aria isn't bad.
His high energy is compensated by Aria's precision."
"So that means they have good chemistry?"
Kotone's eyes sparkled.
"...I won't deny it."
Nagi looked away.
Mark firmly grabbed Aria's shoulder.
"Aria! I won't forget today's teamwork!
Let me keep fighting together from now on!"
"Eh... a-ah‚ yeah. Of course."
Though surprised‚ Aria naturally nodded.
(...This guy has amazing momentum‚ but... he doesn't give off a bad vibe)
A faint warm feeling lit up deep in Aria's chest.
"Alright! Then from today I—"
Mark opened his mouth with full energy.
"M-maste—"
"I'm not letting you say it!"
Aria hurriedly stopped him.
Laughter rose from those around them‚ and a soft atmosphere spread across the training grounds.
In the evening‚ the training grounds had become quiet‚ as if the heat of the day had been a lie.
The light of the barrier lamps weakened‚ and long shadows stretched across the sand.
"Good work today."
Linne said while stretching‚ and Cross puffed out his chest.
"My muscles are satisfied too!"
"We don't need your muscles' opinions!"
Kotone immediately fired back a retort‚ and Nagi silently directed her gaze that way.
A short distance away‚ Aria was checking the remnants of the barrier while tapping his fingertips in a "ton-ton" rhythm.
Mark quietly approached beside him.
"Aria... thank you so much for today."
"Yeah. Same here‚ you really helped."
Aria smiled a little shyly.
Mark clenched his fist and squeezed the words out from deep in his chest.
"I... understood something in today's battle.
Your magic isn't just a technique.
It's a 'power that guides your comrades.'"
"That's way too exaggerated..."
"It's not exaggerated!"
Mark declared with serious eyes.
Nagi watched that exchange quietly from a short distance away.
(...A new heat source has been added around Aria. Not bad)
Linne smiled‚ Kotone's eyes sparkled‚ and Cross was somehow showing off his muscles.
The atmosphere of the team had become just a little livelier.
On the way back‚ Mark muttered quietly toward Aria's back.
"Next time I'll help even more... maste—
...No‚ Aria-san!"
That voice melted into the evening breeze and reached no one's ears.
Only deep in Mark's chest‚ the talent for spirit contracts quietly began to awaken
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