Shroy: Phew... here I am.
Shroy stood in front of the magnificent building, Lionheart Martial Arts Hall, which was rather famous in the neighbourhood. He waited until he caught his breath and pushed the door open.
As soon as he stepped in, he felt that someone from behind was about to pounce on him. His body reacted faster than his mind did as he swiftly grabbed the assailant and flipped him over his shoulder. When he was about to use his weight to suppress the attacker, he heard the person shouting.
- ？？？: Wait wait wait! Stop pressing! It's me!
- Shroy: ...It's you again, Swift. Do you really like me throwing you around so much?
Shroy let go of him and gave him a hand to help him up. Swift was a student of the Lionheart Martial Arts Hall who ranked second among all students.
- Swift: Ha, my dragon skin is thick enough anyway, I’m not afraid of being thrown down. But your shoulder flip is still so powerful that I have no way of defending myself.
- Shroy: It's far from powerful. You can easily defeat me with magic.
- Swift: Haha, enough with that. I don’t want to pick on your sore spot. I—
- ？？？: Swift, so you’re not cleaning up your weapons and came here to slack off.
The speaker was a sturdy lion, a Spiritual Beast. He was the owner of the martial arts hall, named Queness. Ruban, a fox Spiritual Beast with a headscarf, and Mumu, a girl in a hide outfit, followed Queness. They were both students at the martial arts hall.
- Swift: Ma-master! N- no. I just came to say hello to Shroy.
- Mumu: Sniff sniff... I smell... lies.
Mumu stared at Swift intently. The latter, who was being stared, looked really embarrassed. His face flushed, and he was eventually no match for her gaze. He said as he dropped his shoulders.
- Swift: I'm sorry...I was being lazy...
- Shroy: Apparently, Swift's weakness is in Mumu.
- Mumu: Huh? Why?
- Shroy: You’ll have to ask Swift about this.
- Swift: Shroy!
- Ruban: Alright, stop joking around. Go back and organize your weapons.
Following the instructions of Ruban, their senior, Swift and Mumu went back to the hall, leaving Queness and Shroy behind. Shroy was the first to speak.
- Shroy: Sorry, I'm late.
A haze flashed across Shroy's face. It was a fleeting one, but Queness caught it anyway.
- Queness: What happened?
- Shroy: Huh? What do you mean?
- Queness: You are in a bad mood, something must have happened.
……沒有喔～
Shroy had a face that was neither too masculine nor feminine, which, when decorated with a radiant smile, could make anyone adore him. Queness, however, was not fooled by Shroy's disguise. He asked in a low voice.
- Queness: Shroy, just put down your pretense in front of me. Tell me if you have troubles.
- Shroy: ...I just met a summoner, who was...different from what I had imagined. She was impetuous and reckless...and I couldn’t help wondering why people like that could become...
- Queness: So you’re bitter about the fact that even though you’re better and work harder than her, you still can’t become a summoner because of congenital issue.
Although the criteria for becoming a summoner were not disclosed, there was at least one thing that everybody was certain—the ability to use magic, one that Shroy happened to lack.
- Shroy: I…
- Shroy: “My parents sacrificed their lives for me, but I cannot even fulfill their last wish...”
Shroy had a serious car accident when he was little, which was probably the reason why his memory of the past was always vague. However, his parents’ expectations of him becoming a summoner was etched in his mind, and had long been the focus of Shroy's life and every endeavor.
Familiar with Shroy's past and struggles, Queness’ face showed traces of pity and sympathy. He cleared his throat as he covered his mouth with his fist.
- Queness: Shroy, you know the position of our souls, don’t you?
- Shroy: Yeah, I’ve learnt that in school. The position of the soul determines our race.
- Queness: Yes, but other than that, do you know the essence of the soul?
- Shroy: Essence? No, I haven’t heard about that.
- Queness: Huh, I knew it. They didn’t teach you, probably because they thought that ordinary people don't need to know... Simply put, the soul of each race has an essence at root. And do you know what the essence of the human race is?
- Shroy: Hmm... mediocrity? Ah, “treachery” would be even more accurate.
- Queness: ...Shroy, aren’t you cynical.
- Shroy: Ha, I think so too.
- Queness: Anyways... to continue, the essence of the human race is “indefiniteness”.
- Shroy: Indefiniteness... Not really clear-cut, is it?
- Queness: If you see it from another perspective, it actually represents unlimited possibilities. Even if you can’t use magic now, it doesn't mean that you can’t in the future. So be patient, the chance will definitely come.
- Shroy: ...You’re is right. I have worked hard for so many years, and if I give up now, it would be too much of a loss.
- Shroy: “If that girl can do it, there’s no way I can’t. I will never give up!”
Hearing Queness’ speech, Shroy became extremely motivated and cleaned every corner of the martial arts hall in the shortest amount of time. After bidding farewell to Queness and others, Shroy set off for his next destination—a cafe where Javanor, his childhood friend worked at.
Story Chapter
x1
Principal: Shroy, it’s you. Today is the anniversary of the establishment of the Heptara Unies, you don’t have to attend classes. Why did you wake up so early?
Column Conversion ‧ Light
Puzzle Shield
4+ Combo Shield
Visible Masked Board
Raid
Defense Break
HP Restore - 100% ‧ Kamikaze 100%
Turning into Fire Runestones ‧ Shared Fate
15 Cumulative Fire Shield
