Hikari laid out her remaining weapons on the ground in her chambers, allowing Ria to survey them.
"Thirty four handcannon balls. Eleven throwing daggers. Two short swords. Hundred and twenty sheets of wyvern skin armour. Mostly in good condition. Your ballista bow and the spare handcannon. Shame that the claymore is gone. But this much should be enough for anything short of a titan isn't it Hikari?"
"Yes"
Heave! Ho! Heave! Ho! More than a dozen soldiers hauled a massive crate into her chambers. Then, two RazenHeir knights went around the crate, undoing the locking mechanisms. The soldiers grabbed the handles on the lid and pulled it off to the side.
"The claymore of Barius RazenHeir. Its Runium core is much more resistant to our flames than steel. Plus an outer layer of black steel, the best conductor we could find for our mana form. It's soft compared to steel though, but the layer can be replaced if you happen to break it."
Hikari picked up the sword. Unlike her steel swords, she could feel some weight from the dense Runium core. She ignited it, the heat in the black steel built up far faster than she would with steel.
"It's good. But are you sure I could use this?"
"Of course. These weapons are meant to be passed down. There is no doubt that you are more than worthy of wielding it. "
The soldiers cleared the room.
As Hikari studied the sword, the soft pluckering sound of Ria's lips on her cotton socks could be heard.
"Ah… I take it that the meeting with the Lord RazenHeir went well. Smooch* I'm so excited that you will be accompanying me to the academy. Smooch* I'm sure you'll shake up the power balance like a thunder storm. Smooch* Oh, and my Lord has decided to purchase a set of king black salamander armour for you. Smooch* Your recent achievements must have really made an impression on him. Smooch* Smooch*. "
"So, what's the job?"
"We slay the queen wyvern in her lair. Well not us. We're just hired as part of the force to clear the route to the lair. The wyverns had been getting more aggressive of late, attacking merchant convoys and even farmers in the field. "
"I see."
"You're not disappointed? I thought slaying a wyvern queen might excite you. I can just picture you standing on top of the slain wyvern queen with your boot on its head. Smooch* Smooch*"
"You don't risk your life for that reason."
"Ah, I see. Smooch* Smooch* Well, we would probably make enough gold from this raid to get by. More importantly, we gain prestige with the Herdial guilds to have access to better missions. Oh and look at this."
Ria knelt upright and fished a silver badge out of her pocket.
"Silver rank. Awarded to the RazenHeir knight Hikari for her supporting role in taking down the cultist flesh titan. Or so the letter says. "
Ria laughs. "Yeah sure. They were just trying to save face that their prized sky fortress lost."
Hikari lifted her toes, pushing Ria off her foot. Ria crawled to the side to give her some space.
She picked up an elaborately decorated lantern, the hexagonal base fitting onto her palm. As she held it in her palm, the core behind the translucent glass gave off an eerie light.
"The Eldarsoar artifact. We salvaged it from the Titan's corpse. Metharia. Chances are slim that she might still be alive. I guess we'll hold on to it for now."
"I'll try learning it."
"The mana form? Sure. I heard it's extremely difficult to master a mana from just the artifact without the aid of the progenitors. I hope you can do it so that their legacy can live on."
Hikari focused in on the object, moving her mana around the complicated runes and symbols etched on the inside of the lantern.
"Its hard"
"He. Don't be too hard on yourself. Even grand sorcerers would have trouble with that. Just focus on what we should do for the wyvern queen raid."
Hikari put down the lantern and picked up her bow. She tugged the bow string to test its elasticity.
"It's not strong enough."
"No worries about that one. It's just a siege ballista without the mount. Probably not hard to have it restrung even in Herdial. As for the bolts, we can probably even borrow some from the Herdial army."
Hikari picked up her handcannon. It was similar in design as the one she raised against Carla. Telekinetic and Razenheir runes inside the chamber and barrel. The shorter barrel meant less runes, reducing both the power and range of her shots.
She dropped a cannon ball into the barrel, pointing it towards the ceiling. The flaming steel ball popped out of the barrel, falling back down into Hikari's hand which smothered the flames.
"Still works."
"Phew. That's a really expensive and delicate piece of gear. It's gonna take at least three months for them to repair the barrel on your other one."
Hikari turned her attention to the humongous piece of stone. It was glowing with swirling red energy. One could feel the silent screams of the thousands sacrificed to craft the stone.
"Ah, a shard of the Titan's core. One went to Herdial, another went to the territory, and the last went to you for delivering the final blow to the titan. Officially, Herdial reported two shards. They secretly negotiated with us to publically let them take the credit for the titan kill. They needed something to cope with the political disaster of losing their sky fortress. I can't imagine how much this would go for at auction."
Hikari picked up the shard with both hands and stared into it for a few minutes.
"I'll consume it."
"Eh? Consume it? Oh, I mean…"
Ria mumbled to herself for a moment.
"Yes of course, Hikari. It's your kill after all."
Hikari put down the stone and turned towards Ria.
"We're short on gold aren't we?"
"Ermm… yes. But you let me worry about that. I'm your lady after all, I shouldn't make this your problem."
Hikari thought for a bit.
"Sell the black spider silk dress."
"The black dress? Hmm… that dress is rather expensive. The material can be sold but…"
"The blood crystals and high heels too."
Ria dropped her head and kept quiet.
Hikari sat down. Using one finger, she lifted Ria's head by the chin.
"It was fun being pretty. But there are few things that could grow my power."
Ria's eyes lit up.
"Yes. Of course. We should focus on what's important. You are so perfect even without them."
Ria planted a kiss on Hikari's finger.
"I'll put them up for auction right away. In the meantime, I'll prepare the ingredients. I remember reading an old cargo manifest on your growth mixtures. Let's see, wheatgrass as the base, any source of distilled protein will do, ivory berries for their mana content"
Hikari ran her finger along her cheek and over her head, stroking the back of her hair.
"Are you sad you won't get to see me in that dress anymore?"
"No, not at all. You are so perfect no matter what you wear. I'm just ashamed as your lady to have to sell your dress like that. Once you slay the monsters, I'll be sure to get the best prices for the monster parts so I can buy you an even better dress. One that would really make men burst in their pants."
Hikari giggles.
"By the way, have you ever seen me grow before?"
Ria moans as blood rushes to her head.
"Not now, time is short. When I'm done, you'll be the first to see me."
"Oh… you promise?"
"Yes, my lady."
The next morning, Hikari sat meditating in her chambers. The pulsating titan core resting right in front of her. She controlled her breath, relaxing her body as much as she could.
Cart after cart of wheatgrass, ivory berries, jars of herb mixtures and crates of mana crystals were hauled before her cauldron by a congo line of soldiers.
She opened her eyes. She walked to the cauldron, poured the first carts into the cauldron and began grounding the mixture with a stone grounder. She poured a tankard of water and mixed. The fire was turned on, Hikari walked back into the circle, allowing the first mixture to shimmer.
The mana from the titan's core began flowing into her body. Hikari felt like she's being pricked by a thousand needles as the foreign energy permeated her body.
As she got used to the mana flow, she activated the Eldarsoar lantern behind her. She grit her teeth as the two energies entered her body, each fighting her and each other as she gradually assimilated them into herself.
Her body stabilized. She walked to the cauldron. The coal below had burnt out as she had only put a limited amount to avoid overcooking. The cauldron and its contents had gone cold. She picked it up with both arms, held it above her head, and poured the vicious contents into her mouth.
With her stomach filled, it was back into the ritual circle. With every minute, HIkari could feel more and more mana and nutrients being pumped into her muscles.
Another cauldron down her throat. She picked up a crate of mana crystals, scattering its contents around the ritual circle.
"Argh.. " she groaned softly as the intensity of energy pierced her skin. It has gotten dark.
She sat in place, the ritual circle deactivated as she allowed time for her body to readjust.
She opened her eyes. Slithers of dim sunlight from what she assumes to be an overcast sky outside dimly lit the chambers.
Another cauldron down her throat.
"Argh..! Argh.." Hikari drew more and more energy out of the titan's core. Pumping them into her muscles and her own core.
Glup. Glup. She emptied another cauldron.
"Half way through… Huff* Huff*"
She reactivated the circle.
"Arghh….!" She was drawing energy from deeper and deeper inside the shard. Her heart pounded, her veins and muscles screamed from the forceful expansion. She felt as though the titan's energy was just a hair away from ripping her insides apart.
It was night again. She slept sitting in the circle.
She picked up the last carts. Her muscles felt like they were going to burst. Gulping down the contents of her cauldron and scattering the last of the mana crystals. She stood in the circle this time, the titan core at her feet.
It had gotten much smaller than before. The Illenium shell on the outside disintegrated as HIkari forced mana through it again and again. The bright core of the titan remains. Hikari grabbed it with both hands, groaning as the core resisted her, searing her hands.
She took a deep breath, and slammed the core onto her chest. A brilliant flash could be seen piercing through the curtains from outside the chambers.
And then there was silence.
Ria approached Hikari's chambers. It was in full lockdown since she began the ritual. Knights and guards positioned themselves all around and even on top of the structure at all times.
The windows and door were sealed with a barrier that blocks mana.
Sir Parkel greeted her. "Good morning, my lady. It seems that our maiden knight is just about done now."
"How is she? Is this alright? It's been four days since she locked herself in there." Ria was exasperated.
"She's fine. Four days isn't even a record for her. I just hope we have under wear big enough for her Chuckles*"
The head maid arrived, along with several other maids pushing carts made of sheets of clothing for Hikari following behind her.
"Fortunately we do, Drill master, so that you and the boys don't get any ideas. Unless you want the Lord Razenheir to put you on probation like the Forge master?"
"Haha! Alright! Alright! We'll be leaving now. Oh by the way, Lady Ria. I heard you'll be going to Herdial. It must be exciting to go on a trip for the first time."
"Yes, Drill master, I hope your teachings will serve me well."
"I hope so too. It's a dangerous world out there. Don't hesitate to pull the trigger when you need to."
"Thank you, Drill master."
Sir Parkel raised his hands and did a twirl. The knights and soldiers cleared the area.
Ria entered Hikari's chambers. She swallowed and blushed as her heart pounded.
Hikari was wearing her running tops that were no longer big enough to cover her abdominal muscles. She was struggling to piece together her pants to fit her new size.
"Apologies, i-"
"No, No, Hikari. We brought you new clothes. Leave the old ones by the shelves. We'll bring it to the weavers."
The maids pushed the carts to the wardrobe area.
"Chop! Chop! Let's go!" The maids cleared the chambers.
Hikari gave a brief smile to Ria who was frozen in place before the doorway, before she walked to the wardrobe area, disassembling her tops and half assembled pants.
"Come here." Ria got down and crawled.
– Hikari –
Physique : 756 -> 787
Mana : 712 -> 753
Defense : 735 -> 762
Height : 4.5 metres -> 4.8 metres
Weight : 2255 kg -> 2600 kg