Summer Training-Friday 8:00 AM:

As the wind pushed the young witches' hair back the sound of wheezing air rushed into their ears rendering small chat all but useless since their words would just fall behind them blown away by the strong wind. Suddenly just in front of them in a sea of blue was a small remote island. That must be where their training would be held. Akari idly wondered how far away they were from Aguri's house as she only now realized that they were flying over the ocean since she was preoccupied earlier by trying not fall.

"Here we are!" Koro announced.

After landing Koro gently set down the two witches on the ground. As soon as their feet touch the ground their knees buckled. It was like watching a baby deer try to walk for the first time.

"Hahah don't worry you'll get used to it." Aguri commented as she flew down from the sky on her broom.

"W-wow! How far away are we?" Manami asked.

Her curious eyes looking all around to find nothing but the vastness of the ocean surrounding them.

"Pretty far I think." Aguri commented as she gazed out towards the distance, her eyes squinting as if searching for nearby land. "In any case I hope you two are ready for some training." Aguri said before pulling something out of her lab pocket.

"What's that?" Manami inquired as she re-positioned her glasses.

Aguri was holding a handful of small rock figurines in her hand.

"Watch this!" Aguri exclaimed as the rocks' crevasses started to glow a bright blue.

She then flung two of them up high in the air. The sound of tumbling rocks was heard as the small figurines grew in size in midair before plopping on the ground in front of them with a large thud sound as the earth rumbled slightly on impact.

"These will be your targets." Aguri explained. "For now they will be stationary but next time…"

Aguri snapped her fingers and the rocks' vein like fractures began making their way around the rock in elaborate tattoo like design before being filled up with a light blue color that represent Aguri's magic. Suddenly they began to clumsily move their heavy appendages.

"They will become moving targets." Aguri continued as she watched her students' eyes widen in awe.

"Yosh! That's so cool!" Akari exclaimed as a passionate flame flickered in her hazel eyes.

"Well then let's begin with some simple projection spells!"

Aguri then took out another object from her lab coat; a coach's whistle and she didn't hesitate in using it.

"Okay let's move, move, move it ladies!" She demanded as she made Akari and Manami get into position to begin their training.

After words in the evening they had their Familiar Relationship studies. They learned that when faced with a self-conscious and sensitive familiar the best course of action is to use positive reinforcements and to be honest with each other by holding talk sessions to avoid misunderstandings or bottled up feelings as well as practicing one's patients.

Summer Training: Saturday-10 AM

"In order to make the sunburn cure what is the base ingredient for the elixir? Is it:
A. Ginger
B. Cucumber water
Or
C. Coconut oil?" Koro quizzed.

"B!" Okuda proclaimed confidently without any form of hesitation.

"B…!" Akari announced but she was too slow to answer.

"Okuda-chan said it first so she gets the point." Koro said as he gave the flashcard to Okuda.

"Yes!" Okuda exclaimed happily before taking her prize.

"Next time!" Akari vowed. "Come on next question!" She ordered. She was getting fired up!

In the end Akari ended up getting the most points. After a small break Akari pondered if they could go ingredient hunting for their Bonding Ritual ingredients. Since the rest of the day was basically free time Aguri agreed and let them look through her ingredient stash in her cove and if they didn't find anything or were one thing short then tomorrow they would go searching for the missing ingredients.

Summer Training: Sunday- 9:30 AM

Manami chewed the end of her pencil in thought….For once she wasn't worrying over her incantation she had finished that a few minutes ago…Right now she was pondering her future…She never really had a solid plan in mind for what she wanted to do…She sighed and picked up her notebook and pencil before making her way to the living room where Akari and Aguri were; Mr. Koro had gone out ingredient hunting…

"Need something Okuda?" Aguri inquired once she saw the petite witch walk over towards them.

"Y-Yes…please…" Manami responded.

"Okay what do you need help with?" Aguri queried.

Manami wasn't sure how to phrase her question…

"My future." She said bluntly hoping the broad response would suffice.

"Oh! Okay come here, come here sit down." Aguri eagerly replied as she beckoned the plum haired witch to sit down next to her on the couch.

Before Aguri could talk Koro came zooming in with a bag in his hand.

"Honey, I'm home!" He proclaimed cheerfully as he made his way into the living room at lighting speed.

"Oh finally!" Akari said as she jumped up from her seat ready to receive the bag of ingredients Koro had.

"Koro perfect timing!" Aguri exclaimed.

"Okuda here is having trouble deciding what she wants to do in her future and Akari has a few question to so why don't you help Okuda while I help Akari!" Aguri explained.

"Hey Manami if you need some reference you can ask me to! Aguri and I will be in the kitchen if you need anything." Akari chimed as she picked up her stuff to move to the kitchen.

Manami smiled happily as her heart resonated with a warm hum. Everyone was so helpful and kind to her. She must be the luckiest witch in the world.

"O-Okay thank you!" Manami gleefully responded.

"Well then Ms. Okuda what is it you're having doubts about?" Koro asked.

For some reason in the split second Okuda wasn't paying attention Koro had adorned himself in a suit with rectangular glasses and was carrying a clipboard and pen around.

"W-Well Mr. Koro…uhh…" She didn't know where to start.

"Here have a seat."

She did just that.

"Now breathe."

She took in a deep gulf of air before letting it out.

"Well y-you see…I just kind of assumed really early in my childhood that I wasn't g-going to be a powerful witch…I thought a simple spirit would be my familiar a-and I uhh I thought that I would just take over my p-parent's mystic shop….t-they told me I wasn't obligated to d-do so…but still I don't know…" She rambled.

"I see so you wanted to have an unassuming life while still paying homage to the people that raised you…" Koro hummed as he wrote something down on the clipboard.

Having him writing something down was making Manami feel as though she was being assessed and inspected and it kind of made her nervous. Never the less she continued.

"I-I uhh guess but um…So now I don't know what to do. I mean if I get a strong familiar what then? Will I still take over my parents' shop? Do I become a guild witch? I mean…I-it's not like I myself will become any more useful even if I do get a strong familiar…and I don't want to be a burden…"

"…I see…Hmm…How about you simplify your way of thinking…just think of what you like and simple reasons that make you feel motivated." Koro advised.

"W-Well I like alchemy a-and I'm really good at it! I like Akari she's my best friend and I want to support her in any way I can! I-I also like being useful or a-at the very least feeling useful. If I can somehow help someone out then that's good enough for me…" Manami answered honestly.

"Well then there's you answer."

"Huh…?"

"Just focus on those things and what kind of job or possible future those things may bring. I suggest thinking of something where you can do all those things." He suggested.

"Hmm…o-okay…well…" Manami stopped to ponder.

Something that would allow her to do all those things…Was there really something that would help her do that?

"W-what's Akari thinking of doing?" She suddenly asked.

"Why don't we go ask her ne?" Koro suggested.

Manami nodded in agreement and they made their way to the kitchen where Aguri and Akari were.

"I really want a fluffy skirt but…hmmm maybe some tights…"

"Don't forget about practically now."

"Yeah, yeah I know…Some shoulder armor….and an armor corset…I don't want to be weighed down too much though."

Aguri's ears suddenly perked up at the sound of footsteps. She looked up from the papers she was looking at to see Okuda and Koro at the front of the kitchen archway. Okuda looked nervous. Perhaps she wanted to ask something…In order to ease the young witch's fear Aguri offered her a patient smile.

"What do you need?" She inquired.

Akari raised her head finally realizing her friend's and Koro's presence.

"Oh Manami did you want to say something?" Aguri asked.

Manami fiddled with one of her plaits nervously but Mr. Koro placed a comforting hand on her shoulder which eased her nerves.

"O-Oh w-well I…I just wanted…I was curious as to what you m-might be thinking of doing…y-you know for the uhh for the future." She stammered.

"Well I was planning to join the UCA guild or the EP guild. I've always had a knack for acting but ever since my awakening it's been hard getting any acting jobs… Besides I like helping people and magic is a way of life for me! So I decided the Undercover Associations Guild or the Espionage Patron guild would be a good guild to join and become a guild witch of! Hopefully I even get to assemble my own team to!" Akari exclaimed.

"I-I see…" Manami quietly responded as she stood still in thought…

She seems determined to join one of those two guilds….hmm to help people…do what she likes… Manami's gears suddenly started working as she thought about what both Akari and Koro said to her…If she recalls correctly the EP Guild and the UCA guild… They didn't just focus on the sole act of espionage they also had people that could provide materials for certain jobs and request….Then a light bulb went off in her head.

"I know what I want to do now!" Manami exclaimed loudly.

"Eureka we made a break through!" Koro cried ecstatically.

"Really? What is it?" Aguri asked.

"I-I want to stay by Akari's side and support her in any way I can! Because! Because… I care deeply about her as a friend! So I will join the EP or UCA guild with her and lend her my alchemic skills to aid her in her job requests. Or even if she doesn't join the EP or UCA guild wherever she goes I go! I will support her in health and in illness to the end of my days with all my abilities, skills and tools at hand!" She loudly proclaimed with a determined face.

Akari had turned beet red her pulse quickening as her heart stated hammering at Manmi's declaration as it was starting to sound more like wedding vows, but she was flattered her friend liked her so much and cared about her. It made her heart feel warm and full of love.

"So you're saying you want to become a guild witch and act as the support of the group as well as the supplier in order to help people and support your best friend while still doing what you love, am I correct?" Koro said as he summarized what Okuda meant to say.

"Yes!" She quickly replied.

"Okay then phase one complete!" Koro proclaimed happily.

"Phase…one?" Okuda muttered in confusion as she tilted her head.

"We must move on to what you wish to specialize in so we can train you accordingly." Aguri explained.

"Akari already has that figured out. Why don't you two stay so we can help you?" Aguri suggested

"O-Oh okay…" Manami said as she sat down across from Aguri and Akari.

"Akari why don't you tell them what you were going to specialize in doing. It might help Okuda." Aguri advised.

Akari nodded as she let her red cheeks cool down first before she looked Manami in the eyes again. She was still a little flustered.

"Oh uhh w-well if you really want to join the same guild as me than the EP guild is the best option as they are a more well-rounded guild that doesn't just focus on spying…and I thought in terms of magic I would specialize in hexes and charms opting to concentrate on the ice and water elements as that was the element that awakened my powers." Akari explained.

"What do you mean?" Manami asked.

What did someone's awakening have to do with their ability to cast elemental spells? She wondered.

"Well you see Okuda a witch is often better suited for the type of magic that causes her awakening. Akari here had her awakening on set during a movie production. She was still a child and she was tired and hungry and just wanted a break to go eat but she didn't get one which made her annoyed and all of a sudden the temperature dropped, snow began to fall, and ice formed around the ground." Aguri explained.

"W-well how did they know it was Akari's fault?" Manami cried out in defense of her friend.

"The ice from the ground was stemming from her furthermore she wasn't shivering and the snow never fell on her."

"O-Oh but I s-still don't get it…"

"In simpler terms some witches are just better at casting certain spells and those spells correlate to the kind of magic used in their awakening." Koro elaborated.

"Oh I see…"

"You can continue now Akari." Aguri said.

"Right well. I plan to work in the field as a spy but I want to be well-rounded so I'm thinking that fighting and magic skill wise I would be an agile tank since I have an unnaturally high endurance and perseverance rate and have a high mobility. I would also like to focus mainly on combative strength and offensive spells." Akari finished.

"O-Oh okay….I think I get it…" Manami said.

"Now how about you?" Aguri asked.

"W-what?" Manami responded confused.

"What was your awakening like?" Akari asked a little curious as Manami never talked about her awakening.

"O-Oh uhh I…umm.."

"You don't have to say but do tell us what kind of magic you used." Koro gently said.

Manami stayed quiet for a little while as she refused to think back to her awakening. Regardless she took in a gulp of air before letting it out to tell them her response...

"I-It…it was f-fire…" She stammered.

"The complete opposite of Akari huh…? Well opposites do attract…" Aguri pondered out loud.

"I-I do have a-an idea for my position on the team though…I mean I was going to be the support…Maybe I can specialize in potion making….I've been umm w-working on my j-jinxs s-spells to…But I'm not one for …hurting others…so maybe I'll focus more on healing, protection, and distractions…you know defensive stuff t-that isn't to confrontational…" She babbled.

"I think that sounds perfect!" Koro said with a smile.

"Oh! And haven't you've been working on those uhh what do you call them you know their like beads but you throw them and stuff happens…? It's like…mini potion bombs or something?" Akari stated.

"Y-Yes…I was developing them as a personal project…As they would be easier for quest witches to hide and carry…T-They're basically like throwing potions b-but more compact some of them are just s-smoke bombs…others are freezing potions… or healing potions etc…b-but they uhh because t-they are rather small they don't cause too much damage….you know...s-So I'm still working out the b-bugs.."

"Oh wow that's amazing Okuda-chan!" Aguri gushed with sparkles in her eyes.

"Hmm…you would be a ranger, than we will have to work on that throwing arm!" Koro advised.

"Well I think that's enough discussion for now why don't we go have some fun?" Aguri suggested.

"Next Sunday we will discuss your witching outfits." Aguri said.

"Sounds good to me." Akari explained as she got up from her seat and began to stretch her aching muscles.

All four of them then decided to go to a small amusement park where they spend the rest of the day riding rides and eating carnival food. It was so much fun they made sure to take lots of pictures. Truly this was the calm before the storm.

"How is the test subject?" A male voice apathetically inquired as his gaze was keener on reading the large paper report in his hands than on the subordinate before him.

"He has been growing increasingly more aggressive and during sporadic moments of aggression most if not all parts of the brain responsible for rational thinking and language seem to shut down or slow down at the very least…"

"The state of the test subject does not concern me." Was the man's cold reply. "All I'm concerned about is the progression of the actual research. So tell me is it ready?"

The lackey swallowed a nervous wad of spit before replying.

"I…The subject is…still unstable and it is not very likely he will follow orders as he just keeps talking about his revenge…"

"Hmmm…I see…So this 'revenge' is an obstacle…a distraction…I did promise it that it could seek revenge though…" The intimating man pondered.

"W-what are you suggesting sire?"

"Let him have his 'revenge' perhaps then he will not be so distracted." The man ordered.

"But sir in his current state he could cause several unnecessary casualties, both non-magic and magic casualties! Would it not be better to make sure the test subject follows orders?"

"…Are you questioning my authority?"

"N-N-no s-sire I-I…I just would not like to waste any valuable resources or man power…He c-could very well attack his own allies." The lackey explained with a quivering voice his eyes searching for anything other than the man's glaring violet eyes in front of him.

"I appreciate your concern but do not overstep your boundaries if it will ease your nerves I can assure you that the test subject will not harm any magic users. It says here in his files that he already had a disdain for 'normals' and supported our cause, even in his most aggressive moments this disdain is still held true furthermore the moment he 'volunteered' for this experiment I informed the test subject that I would require a piece of his soul if I was to 'save' him from the state I found him in and now even in his more powerful form he will yield to me if I deem he has gone too far. He is nothing more than a rapid dog on an iron leash…and I should make it clear…I am not afraid of sacrificing a few lives to reach my goal whether they be magic users or not…So anymore protest?"

"N-No sir…"

"Good. Then move along."