I can walk perfectly fine… why does Shen have to carry me? For I don't even know how long, Shen had me on her back. It was long enough for the towering rocky hills around us to change. They were much smaller, but it allowed us to see how large this range is.
I caught a glimpse of Shen looking up. Her ruby colored eyes didn't cause me to be scared anymore, I knew deep down she wouldn't harm me. "Are you comfortable?"
"Not really." I replied to her question, she visibly shrugged at it. "I can walk, can't you just set me down."
"It's either on my back, or your adopted father's."
"I can walk fine, you know?"
"Those are your only options." Shen bluntly said, she ended our little spat there. Just why the heck is she so firm on this?! I don't want to idly sit here…
"Why can't I walk? I must be pretty heavy, y'know?" I asked her, afterwards I heard a slight chuckle from her. Oh no, what did I do?!
She shrugged her shoulders, took a deep breath in before responding. "Are you worried about being heavy? That's pretty girly coming from you."
"I am not worried about my weight!" I refuted! And no, I am not worried at all about my weight! It's the least of my concerns! "What kinda crap are you even spewing?!"
"I can tell you're blushing~" Shen mused, eventually changing her tone to her usual. "To end that, I can't set you down. Not after what happened earlier."
"That was just unlucky, y'know?"
"You almost dying to some orcs? Call it unlucky, that's undermining it. It was a mix of stupidity and unluckiness."
That's true. I couldn't help but agree, but! "I'm alive and kicking aren't I? That's lucky."
"You were barely alive, your arm, ribs and shoulder were shattered."
"What if I promise it won't happen again?"
Hypothetically— well, not hypothetically. It won't happen again. Afterall, I have to resign to my position as a spellcaster… not a swordswoman, or a magical swordsperson.
This body doesn't allow for physical attacks, my foot, and physique are more in line for a mage.
"Yukina, it still isn't happening. Just resign to your fate and don't complain."
Hm… what if I do…if talking doesn't work, what if I do… As we both fell silent, I looked down at Shen's ears. My hands went towards them, I'll just-
"Don't you dare do anything." Shen proclaimed as she twirled her head to the side. "Stop complaining, don't act childish. Or I will drop you on the ground."
"I can complain about something else then?" As she was giving me an intense side-eye I tilted my head; as much as Shen was different from Takeda, she still had some old habits.
It felt as if I was talking to Takeda, not Shen… but, those two names were merged into the person I know now. And it seems like I annoyed her… hahaha, maybe I will be able to walk!
Shen's glares were boring a hole into my body, and I can sense some dread exuding off her body.
She let out a huge sigh, then responded to me. "As long as it's not about being carried, go ahead."
"You know, you didn't teach me magic like you said you would…"
As this left my mouth, Shen cocked an eyebrow.
"You only kicked me in the side, and were pissed about me training with Shaun. And by the way, you should've gone softer on my sides…"
The kicks weren't soft, yes, but they weren't immensely hard. They hurt somewhat, my ribs were aching… but paired with the training, it hurt like I was being kicked more.
"Sure, I'll teach you."
"When? Are you going to fall asleep all day like last time?"
Just to annoy her further, I used the top of her head as a rest. If my ears weren't sensitive, I'd say mine are fluffier…
The weight of my arms pushed her fox ears to the side.
"Why don't we start now?" Shen claimed. Her voice was monotonous, something I wasn't expecting. Thought she'd say or do something….guess not huh…
"Hm?"
Whilst Shen was focused on the path forward, she suggested something to me. "Why don't you practice with your magic?"
"Eh..? Why?"
"You're just uselessly sitting there."
"Ouch…? Alright…."
That was pretty harsh… but, alright…. Anyways, Shen didn't need to elaborate. I need to raise my mana proficiency, and my control over mana.
With her suggestion of using a fireball to idly sit there, I began this little practice.
I held my hand out in front of her, and she had a step by step process for this. Keep it a small flame, pour it slowly. She wanted me to keep it out for a few minutes. If the mana waivers, she'd have me redo it.
I did so, as a tiny ball of fire came alit in my palm. It was so tiny, it was smaller than a marble. If I kept a steady, small stream flowing into it, it wouldn't change.
Moreso, to cancel that chance of it increasing, I had a small opening in my palm. It became a flap for the mana to flow through, although metaphorically. That helped me visualize the stream and control it.
Gotta love the passive skills I had gotten already… I held a smuggish look as I did this. Due to my skills in mana already, this process was easy; in fact, I just passed it now.
"Great job, now make the ball smaller, but increase the heat." Shen commanded, although she had praised me it was not a true praise. Then again, that's how she was… She definitely knows that process IS SO MUCH HARDER!
Why couldn't I just have a skill that can split my focus?! Yes, yes I have done this type of ordeal before, but I need to visualize each stream of mana and split it!
Oh, Yukina~ what's the big issue, you might wonder. Well! These skills only help slightly, slightly. Mana efficiency, yes it increases the ease of my mana usage, it doesn't help with my split usage.
I have to control that itself, it wasn't the system's job. Everything was my job to do. And I'm a little slow at learning.. okay?
As I shrunk its size even more, Shen clamped her hand over it. "Do it simultaneously."
Well, you didn't specify it! And doesn't that hurt?! I couldn't help but gawk at Shen's hand. The fireball obviously exploded!! Why didn't she take any damage?!
She flapped her hand as smoke rose from it, and had me do what she requested again.
I shouldn't have said anything… ugh. And I finally did as she said. Creating a small orb, just half the size of the first one. It began to radiate heat, which counteracted the cold around us.
In moments I began to sweat as it swatted at my face. Although successful, I regretted it.
"Keep that going."
"Can I at least calm the heat?"
Shen physically shook her head. Feeling this I cursed; Hopefully there is a river after this mountain…
I really felt like I needed a bath. I'll have to ignore that for now, I might just have to ask Shen if there is one in the future.
"Watch out."
"Oh crap!" I exclaimed as the flame in my hand disappeared. "I held it out for a while, can I just-"
"Try again, Kid."
"You're joking… right?"
Shen shook her head. "Try again."
"...You're a jerk."
"You should've listened."
Damn it….
I did this again, again and more. Unfortunately, I kept failing at the last minute.
Just as I was about to succeed, Shen stopped, which broke my focus.
Big white furry humanoid beasts blocked our path. Their arms were dangling to the ground. They looked like mutated apes.
But, they were called trolls, the second most dangerous creatures in this mountain range. Their numbers weren't as vast as the orcs, nor were their individual strengths that high.
Shaun ran in first as Shen strolled back with me on her back. I tried to convince her to let me down, but it failed. It was a full denial above all else.
Just why? The group could handle six orcs. And… I believed her.
However! She allowed me to contribute to the fight!! I can test out my spells on enemies that are affected by them. Though, she'd act as a trusty stead for now.
With his shield raised high, Shaun used his provocation skill. The six trolls with their ugly mugs dashed at him.
A loud clang rang out with each hit; thanks to James's buff, Shaun easily took each hit.
The wind whistled, and one ape fell with an arrow in its skull.
In a flurry, Verd rushed in, a green hue enveloping his entire body. Easily, he cleaved through one Troll, then a second.
I really underestimated these guys… Once there were three left, I began my fiery onslaught.
My first fireball exploded in a massive vortex at the nearest troll.
It plummeted to the ground in a burning pile, its entire body turning an ashen black.
The others screamed as smoldering embers flung onto them. They were quelled when I immediately summoned two earth darts; each one full power, rotating faster than I could see.
YES!! HAHAHA…. Oh… I internally celebrated, but those three attacks took everything.
That was not a good idea… crap…
My body was heavy, and I had to lay my head down.
As I did, Shen spoke to me. "Nice job Kid."
"Thanks… Can you help me refill my mana?"
"Nope, you have to deal with it yourself this time."
"Isn't this uncomfortable for you?" I asked. As for the reason… I could feel the fur from her ears. They were scratching my cheek.
"No."
Haaah… she's a lot more stubborn than she used to be. I closed my eyes, James, Shaun and Verd- well, everyone praised me.
Even when James offered to refill my mana, Shen swatted him away. Seriously… what is her issue?
I was forced to rest on her back, slowly regaining my own mana. Shen wouldn't answer my questions; it was only when the scene changed did she speak.
"We can relax now." Shen called out. She turned her body, and I could see the mountain range.
There was another bloodied arrow on the ground pointing inwards. It was relieving as I could feel my own tense body relax.
The sight was pretty magnificent, the rocky peaks reached towards the sky. They were held up by their fragile supports, they were much more beautiful than the ones on earth.
Although, I never saw one in person up until today… Heh. I was slightly looking forward to the next mountain. I heard we'd actually have to climb… it's going to be fun, hahaha.
I'm joking. It's scary, I might almost die again. I might. I'm not looking forward to the frosted peaks.
Shen turned to the rest before ordering for us all to keep going as there's daylight. She wanted to get away from the mountains just in case.
Might as well get a wheelchair… I sighed quietly as we began our journey again.