It stopped raining

Outside, the courtyard is wet. No mud, luckily. Because the whole courtyard is made of bricks.

Kiara brings us to the urn with dirt which Shalia is supposed to use for training earth magic. Due to the heavy rain, that has now become mud. My mentor asks me to use my magic to pull the water out, and I try, but it is really difficult. I barely get any water out.

“That is because the earth in the urn is interfering with your magic.” Kiara explains. “Shalia, try combing both your earth and water magic like you studied in the library this morning.”

Shalia then gives it a try and it works much better for her. She manipulates it similar to water, except it is much thicker.

Kiara has Shalia continue to practice mud magic while I get to try out my new [Dual Strike] skill. At first it is difficult for me to activate it. Almost like the time I used it against Leona was merely a fluke. But then I figure out how to make it work.

After a while, Wendy returns from the armory with a new weapon, a spear. Turns out the book she read on her skill [Piercing Strike] revealed that it is a skill often used in combination with a spear. I guess that makes sense she’ll start training with a spear now, instead of a short sword.

In the second half of the afternoon, Kiara brings in a royal guard drill instructor to teach Shalia how to better use the quarterstaff while I get to practice the [water barrier].

When I cast this spell, I get water to form a globe around me and then start to swirl around. As I keep this spell up, Kiara tells Ryul to punch me. He tries, but the water keeps pushing his fists aside. Unfortunately, the spell drains my mana quite fast. Before I even run out of mana, the water barrier decreases its speed and Ryul manages to punch through. Oh man. No wonder Amelia was drinking mana potions all the time.

The next couple of days, Kiara keeps helping us train in both out magic and our skills. Ryul and Shalia become quite good friends. Sometimes they are so good at faking to be a couple that even I start to believe they might be together for real.

Miranda tends to flirt with Dante whenever he spends some time with us, but she never goes out of her way to meet him. Looks to me like she’s sees it as just some harmless flirting.

Leona … well, she’s Leona. She acts cold whenever we’re in group, but once you’re alone with her she starts to soften up.

I tend to head to the library after dinner, so I can read more books. Sometimes about my skill, sometime about water magic or mana control, sometimes about Zrephia.

Wendy of course follows me to the library. Both to keep our fake relationship going and also because she too is curious about her skills and wants to learn more. Perhaps it because we spend so much time with each other, but Wendy and I become quite friendly.

One day, when we are in one of the private reading rooms on the library's second floor, Wendy asks me if I haven't reconsidered her offer to give me a blowjob.

"I am quite honored that you are willing to do me this favor." I reply. "But I just know that if we were to do this now, I would just start pretending you were Mia. I don't want to insult you like that."

"Still not over her, huh?" Wendy replies. "Man, that Mia has no idea what an amazing guy she gave up on. The things I wouldn't do to get a guy like you. One who focusses so much on just one woman."

Wendy leans close to me and with her lips just inches from my neck she whispers, "You sure I can't do something to help you forget about her?"

"Sorry. I need more time." I say. "But could use a hug."

Wendy then gives me a lovely hug . Though as our heads are resting against each other she says, "Don't wait too long getting over her, though. No girl waits forever."

The night before the last day of Kiara's mentorship, I dreamt of Ophelia again. Last time I was barely able to make her out. Now I am somehow able to better see the edges of her body.

(How are you doing?) Ophelia asked.

"I'm going great." I say. "I recieved my rank a few days ago. First I was disapointed, because it was just a D. But then I ranked up and i'm a C rank now."

(You have room for growth)

"Yeah, I know. I'll work hard and get better. Though I'm still having difficulty with casting my spells. Do you know of anything to help me?"

(I'm not sure. There are plenty things that i have forgotten. Try telling me how you cast your spells.)

I then tell Ophelia about the spells I have learned and how I cast them.

(That [Water Barrier]. Do you cast it on yourself?)

"Yeah, of course i do. Can i also cast it on others?"

(When cast on others, you will need to direct your magic, so you'll have to aim at them. But when cast on yourself, there is ne need to aim.)

"So ... You're saying that as long as i cast that spell on myself, i can keep both my hands on my sword?"

(I will tell you how.)

Ophelia then explains to me how certain spells can be cast without the need for me to hold up my hand and aim. When I wake up the next morning, I feel both smarter and stronger.

Today is the last day we'll be having Kiara as our menter. She also says she is going to give us a test to round up our week with her. At lunch, we were of course talking about it. Both nervous and excited, guessing what her test might be. Until suddenly we were interrupted by Gerald throwing something into Leona’s plate. After the initial confusion, we that the object Gerald threw into Leona’s plate is a choker with a bell on it. “Found some jewelry for you, kitty cat!” Gerald shouts at her.

While Gerald and some of his friends are laughing, I check out how Leona is reacting. She is staring at him, with her eyes squinted and her cat ears flattened. In the days I’ve known her, I can now tell she is planning something that won’t do her any good.

I place my hand on Leona’s wrist to get her attention. When she looks at me, I say, “You can get kicked out if you take ‘deal’ with him. Don’t give in and do something you will regret.”

Leona closes her eyes. She then takes a deep breath and raises her ears back to how they normally are. Shalia takes this moment to grab the choker out of Leona’s plate and hides it in her pocket. I hope she will throw it away or something.

When we meet Kiara in the courtyard, Shalia pulls out the choker and tells our mentor what has happened. Kiara patiently listens and then asks the rest of us if it is true. All of us agree. Kiara then takes the choker with the bell from Shalia and asks Leona to come with her.

The two distance themselves from us and have a conversation when they are too far away from us to hear. Well, too far from the others. I could still hear a few words coming from them. At some point I hear Leona whisper ‘Dark Dragons’. Sounds like Kiara showed Leona her necklace. There rest of us were unable to see is because Kiara had her back to us. I guess that means Leona got her invite too.

Once their conversation is over, they return to us.

“Alright everybody. Today is the last day I’ll be your mentor. But before we part ways, I would like to see how much you have grown.” Kiara announces. “So, let me explain what the test is.”