~NRK~
Entering the main street plaza at the center of Mid-Layer Lyngarth, the three looked around before a flash of green hit Flora's noggin.
"Ah, it's here," she said as a portal opened up by them, a cart coming by.
"Huh? So, we'll be back in two hours?" Naruto asked.
"A bit more time than that but these carts are specially designed to be 'borrowed' if you will," Hakone explained as it stopped in front of them and its door opened. "Ladies first."
Flora chuckled a bit before going in, Naruto following after with Hakone pulling up the rear.
Once they were inside the rather shocking amount of space, Naruto blinked as the door closed and they flew. "Whoa!" He grinned as he leaned forward and looked outside. "Hehe, it feels better jumping the roofs but this is cool, too!"
"Hmm?" Flora raised a brow at him while Hakone chuckled.
"You see, we usually travel on foot via rooftops," he said as she blinked at him. "It's good exercise and we get places faster."
"Is this a Lyngarth custom?"
"Nope!" Naruto said.
The next thirty minutes were spent with simple chatter, the sights also a good 'attraction' for letting time fly,
When they were above a section of the High-Layer, their flight slowed down and they began to descend.
"Hmm, we'll be doing this in the Royal Library?" Flora said, looking intrigued as Naruto blinked.
"Wait, a magical library?" He asked and the woman nodded.
"The Royal Library is a special one for, within it, every book in Lyngarth resides in its halls. From normal books to magical tomes to tomes relating to Terraspheres of all rarities. It's an amazing spot in Lyngarth."
Naruto was now very intrigued. "Do ya think they'd mind if I looked through it for some spells?"
"Well… it'll depend on them, no?" Hakone asked Flora who nodded.
"One can't just walk into the Library. It's specially crafted to only allow in the royal family and anyone they deem as worthy."
"... ya know what? I'm good, I don't wanna impress 'em too much, y-yeah?" Naruto said as she chuckled.
When they landed, the side door expanded and opened up, creating a small line of carpet for them to walk out on comfortably.
They got up and left, Naruto looking around once they left the cart.
A wide circular landing made of white stone and small blue and gold flags greeted his gaze as he looked ahead to see maids and butlers bowing to them.
"Whoa."
"Welcome," the six staff members said. "The prince and princess are awaiting you."
"Hmm," Hakone grinned a bit as Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Come, Flora, could you lead the way?"
"I can but I'm sure we'll gain guides in a few moments," she said as they walked down the line of help.
As they reached an intersection of pathways from the landing zone, the castle, and the Royal Library, there at the intersection were a pair of finely dressed twins.
Naruto blinked at them.
Similar vibrant blue hair, the woman with short hair in the back but with chest-length bangs while the man had a fluffy-looking style with a combover over his left eye.
A pair of yellow eyes looked between the three before landing on Naruto, their fair skin and smiles the same.
They wore matching outfits, blue mantles with silver pauldrons locking them to their shoulders, white tunics, rich blue pants for the man with a similar-colored skirt for the woman, a powerfully white armored mantle around their waists, and brown boots.
"Welcome," the male twin said, voice like butter.
"Good morning," the female twin greeted, voice like small bells.
"Good morning," Flora said with a small curtsy.
"I hope the day's treating you well," Hakone bowed.
"Same," Naruto said, following his adoptive father's bow.
As they all stopped their greetings, the twins' eyes remained on Naruto who tilted his head, fox ears and tails following appropriately.
"... mm?" The female's eyes looked him up and down, interest raised.
'Oh no, worst-case scenario,' Naruto thought with a shaky grin.
"Come, apologies, father would have done it but…" the man grinned just as shakily as the blonde had. "There was just some paperwork that needed to be signed and handed off."
Following them to the Royal Library, Naruto looked around at the tall trees and the large field around the Library.
'Whoa, this place looks amazing,' he thought, grinning before looking back ahead- 'Hrk?!'
The female twin seemed to be looking at him, eyes alight with… 'something', he just hoped she wanted to feel his ears but not make it awkward.
Anything besides that would be a bad outcome.
~NRK~
Thyme dressed in her combat uniform before walking about the woods where the boys had gotten their firewood and meat.
"..." Thyme looked around at the fresh grass, the smooth stones, the healthy trees, and the well-trodden dirt road. "... hmm," she let out a small breath, feeling the world around her and relaxing a bit. 'There are fairies here,' she could feel it.
She allowed her Vow to activate and just… read the forest if you will.
Her vow expanded around her before pulsating with flashes of red shooting out around her in a 5-meter radius.
Thyme smiled at the feeling and… 'spots' she sensed. 'There they are,' she grinned, walking off towards a tree behind a large stone.
She looked up the moderate length of a trunk before looking at the hole in it.
"Hmm," what to do.
She knew there was at least one fairy in her immediate vicinity, what should she do? Fairies could be finicky, she knew that much, so what should she do?
As Thyme considered her options, she never noticed a small head peeking out of the hole in the trunk, a small female with glittery wings leaning down with interest.
'Maybe I'll just come back tomorrow with Chives and Nar-' She began to consider before blinking as something… someone came into her sight. "?!"
The small humanoid grinned as she flipped around and fluttered her wings to stay afloat in front of the HGA student.
"Hiya!" She grinned, mouth not moving to make the words, of course, they didn't.
Fairies were, for lack of a better term, outlines of humanoid energy. They had actual wings, butterfly-like ones, but their forms were simply either feminine or masculine in general looks with no discerning features. Outside of those? They all came in different colors.
And this one was red.
"... hi," Thyme said with a smile.
"Hmm~ You're different from those short guys," the fairy said as Thyme smirked. "But you're also different compared to that one guy who came here recently."
"One gu… Naruto, that's who you mean. A boy with a fox tail?"
"Oh! I remember! Yeah, he's that guy who's got the world around his pinky, a bit of it anyway!" She said and Thyme nodded.
'So, mom was right… still,' Thyme considered it. "I'm curious, my mom said the same thing about him and I was curious about what that could mean."
Fairies were, outside of spirits and elementals, natural magical applications of the world if you will. They were connected to the world at large on a level that couldn't be understated.
So, Thyme wondered what that meant for her foxy friend.
"Oh, well, he might be able to read some of that weird stuff in those odd places!" Thyme was now very intrigued. "There are places ya can go only if you're connected."
That made sense, she guessed… oh.
"Here," Thyme pulled out a rolled-up cloth before unfurling it in her hands.
Three items revealed themselves, one was half an apple, another was a small toy, and the last was a bit of metal, bronze, at that.
"You really know how to handle a fairy!" The small humanoid said with a giggle as she flew over to the items before moving about them. "... hmm, I am hungry."
She grabbed the apple and rolled her arms around it.
It was covered in red energy before vanishing from sight.
"Ah, that'll keep me going for a while, usually it's just those cuties giving me seeds or cilantro."
"Yes, I know them," Thyme smirked as she re-rolled-up the cloth. "So, I'm curious, do you know of any spirit animals who can teach me?" No offense to Naruto, none.
If she could get more teachers, Thyme was sure they could double her training speed with Worldly Energy.
~NRK~
Cal blinked as Mallow told him what was in the high-class grapevine.
"What?" He choked as his friend nodded.
"Yes, it's… there's word that the king requested him to meet with his twin children, his first wife's children," Mallow emphasized as Cal wheezed. "I… I didn't know, apparently Sir Tumeric was the one who was the courier for the royal summons."
Cal didn't know what to do with that information, all he knew was for sure.
"Dad's gonna flip."
~NRK~
And he had.
"..." Scabra's eyes shut as he grit his teeth and clenched his recliner's armrests. "What?"
Cal had come home too late and found the man being told by one of their own couriers.
Shit. "Yo, dad, I heard the news," he said as he winced, his brother and mother not in sight. 'Crap, I'm sailing this storm alone.'
"Cal."
"Y-Yeah?"
"..." Scabra dismissed the courier as he beckoned Cal over. "... the king's words are law, despite the things he welcomes into his lands, I can't very well ignore them."
Cal felt some relief fill him as he nodded. "He is the king, he's led us well for over 50 years"
"That is the truth and that's why we'll be dealing with this youth ourselves."
Callum flinched. "U-Uh, dad? What the hell do you mean?"
"I've considered my plans and I can't wait to find out, we'll wait for our fated contest after the Autumn Processional but I must know now. I've already sent out spies to find the boy's current location he'll return to. When they come back, we'll wait out the time of the meeting before interacting with that mutt."
Cal's hands clenched but he barely kept his cool. "... alright, just a talk, yeah?"
"An interrogation."
God-fucking-dammit.
~NRK~
Naruto, Hakone, Flora, and the Royal Twins sat at a circular table within the Royal Library, tea and biscuits spread out on the white table cloth by each of them, staff waiting at the entrances and librarians moving about each section of the nearly ten-story book building.
So, yeah, he really wondered if anyone could find anything easily in this place.
"A pleasure once more, Lady Cayenne, Lord Cumin," Flora said as she bowed once more.
"Recorder Flora, it's been some time," Cumin, the male twin, smiled gently. "I believe you were last here half a year ago."
"Yes, it's been some time, handling your other siblings' coming-of-age ceremony's transcript was rather amusing," Flora smiled as she sat back up. "So, I'll be doing as I did last time. Please, everyone, have your meeting."
"Hmm," Cayenne looked from Flora to Hakone to Naruto, eyes focusing deeply on the fox beastkin who grinned nervously. "Please, I'm sure you might be nervous but it's not an affront to us. Father did call you here so you are our guests, please, speak candidly," Cayenne said with a bit of a bow but her eyes never left the blonde's.
'Oh no,' he hoped he could get out of this single. "Alright, well, I guess we'll start from the first day of my Exploration Hours?" Naruto offered and the two blinked. "... oh! R-Right," he chuckled nervously. "Sorry, my friend called them that, when we actually go places, so it kinda stuck."
"Hmm, it's certainly apt," Cumin said with a hum as Flora hummed, a quill pen in her hands and forehead alight with a magic symbol, her hand shifting in a blur before it stopped. "Maybe we'll have that request pushed forward."
'I hope they're just joking,' Hakone didn't want to think about the conflict of interest that might come from that, especially if someone realized it was because of Naruto. 'And I'm not sure if I like how cordial he was about that,' his son was in for it.
"Please, continue," Cayenne said with a smile.
Naruto nodded before doing just that.
Recounting the entire first two days from start to end had come with several bits of input from Hakone and the Royal Twins themselves.
"Curious," Cayenne said with a tilt of the head as Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Surely it was dangerous, I doubt you didn't know it was out of your realm of victory."
"Well, I wouldn't go that far, I have good attack power, I just didn't know what I was dealing with at the time," he explained as Cumin hummed.
"Still, did you not think it wise to send in a Guardian?" He asked.
"Ah, let me explain," Hakone said as the young man perked up. "We need permission to enter. Normal matters would make it a seven-day process."
"Oh," he winced. "I should probably look over the laws for that again."
"Still, had you done so earlier, you might have made it. I'm sure we have 'Emergence Entry' passes," Cayenne said.
"I didn't know that was a thing at the time before Mint went and told the Triad. If we'd have known, honestly? We would have done it. Sadly, we didn't and by the time, it didn't even get cleared in time to help fast enough," Naruto said as she blinked. "Not blaming your dad or mine but even when we did do it, it sadly didn't work on time."
"Oh…" She frowned at that before sighing.
"To the king's credit, he did bump me up and do it quicker than the three days but, sadly, Naruto is right," Hakone said softly as Cumin frowned but nodded.
"Perhaps we should try and lower the time?" He asked his sister who folded her hands on the table.
"We'd have to lower the grace period they'd get. Instead of a week, we might have to lower it by two days to compensate and that'd be if the other countries were willing to accept," Cayenne said as he nodded. "Please, continue."
Explaining the next two days, the twins hummed.
"You learned some Demon Language and how to use your Vow, that likely had a great effect," Cumin said as Naruto nodded with a grin.
"It's basically the only reason the situation didn't get too ridiculous," not fully false.
Had he not destroyed the first Gnarl and a lot of the second, Naruto was sure he'd be dead.
"Hmm," Flora frowned. "So, it was only you three?" She asked him and he nodded. "What was… never mind, apologies."
"I'm sure you were just worried for your daughter," Cayenne said with a nod. "I know mother worries about all of us despite us not all coming from the same bloodline, she's quite the… 'mother hen' I think was the term?"
Hakone and Naruto chuckled at that while Flora blushed a bit.
"Y-Yes, it is, My Lady."
"Curious terms come from the other Layers so much I'm left wondering what it's really like down there."
Naruto looked amused as Cumin chuckled.
He explained the last bit of their quest, the defeat of the Gnarl with a demonstration with his Rasengan, and the wounds/rewards he received.
The twins' curious gazes never left them as they listened to it all, looking intrigued beyond measure and, over the course of his explanation, Naruto… got it.
He kinda got their whole deal down, they'd never experienced this, no wonder they were eying him like that!
"Hehe, I'm basically fully healed now, thankfully," he said tugging at his collar to show the bandages on his clavicle. "And, well, that's it. We don't know where Elecampane went, she just disappeared afterward."
Flora nodded as her noggin stopped glowing and she flipped down each of her pages before handing the half-filled notepad to the royals.
"..." Cayenne's eyes glowed as she flipped through each page with a glowing hand before nodding. "Alright, thank you, all of you. I'm sure father will be relieved to know all of this in this much detail. Though, you might need to come here again," she smiled. "He'll likely want to meet you even if only for half an hour."
"... Sure, I don't mind," Naruto said with a smile. "Though, what we'd talk about? I have no idea."
"Hmm, it might not be so much that but a change in pace for you," Cumin said, confusing the three guests. "For a later time."
"Um, actually," Naruto rubbed the back of his head.
"Yes?"
"I actually wanted to ask, this library does hold every spell in Lyngarth, right? Like, Old Magic kinda spells?"
"Hmm, well, we do have a small section for that," Cumin said with a nod. "You wish to learn some?"
"Most Support Magic, things like enhancements and stuff, but I also wanted to learn Purification spells and Runes."
"Hmm, curious choices but I suppose you'll want to increase your physical body to handle your magical strain?" Cayenne asked as he nodded. "Then, you should also check out healing spells if you should. If your body's strain during magic use is lessened, would that not allow you to use more of your full potential?" She smiled.
Naruto blinked at that. "I… I never thought of it like that," increased his healing to the point that he was able to power through the pain, basically, right? "... Yeah, thanks, ma'am," he grinned.
The woman smiled even as her cheeks reddened. 'So cute, young, and noble,' the princess chuckled a bit and Hakone now felt concerned.
'Oh no,' horrible mistakes had been made!
"Librarian!" Cumin called over one managing books at the side, the man hurrying over with a nod
"Yes, my Majesty?"
"Could you bring up the Old Magic Support Collection, Purifist's Tome Volumes, and all we have on Runes?"
The man looked intrigued before his hands glowed and he walked to the side of the table.
He formed a glowing box that developed into a cube that expanded before a single bookshelf formed.
"We don't have a lot," Cayenne realized as Naruto's cheek twitched. "Hmm, what kinds are there, Librarian Cassac?"
"Hmm, there are 100 books here, ma'am, of those sixty, twenty are on different styles of healing spells," Cassac's eyes glowed as he looked at specific glowing sections, each time he looked to another group they glowed as well as the previous lost their glow. "Twenty different forms of weapon-, and ritual-, based reinforcement with different elemental affinities save for two which lack elemental inclusion, ten spells for the spatial clairvoyance, 15 Rune Tomes, 25 magical tomes on different forms of purification rituals and spell, with the last ten being based on Terrain Reinforcement."
"Terrain Reinforcement?" Naruto asked as the man nodded.
"You see, the elves' style of magic has stumped many for ages," he explained. "Their power is mystical and unique, many have tried over the years to copy them and that's how we gained Terrain Reinforcement magic, the magic to either reinforce an area, imbue yourself with the terrain's natural magic, and the power to change the flow of magic in an area by supplanting it with your own, creating a zone meant for your magic. That last bit is useful in terrains where outside forces can interrupt your spells while also expanding the range of Runes and Purification."
Naruto blinked at that before looking intrigued. 'Does it interact with World Energy?' He didn't know. "... well, if it's alright, could I take one from the specific sections I needed? Promise I'll bring them back."
"No, please, these are copies, go right ahead," Cayenne said with a pleased smile as Flora grew very amused.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head before nodding, the librarian considering him for a moment.
"Tell me, young man, is there a specific style of combat you partake in? Hit-and-run tactics? Siege-like bombardments? A close-combatant?"
"Well, I'm like the last one. I fight up-close a lot of the time with a long-range attack here or there though I have my own ritual spell for enhancing my body that takes a minute to activate. My best attacks are magic energy-related and I use a sword and shield."
"A good detailed explanation," the man smiled before four books flew off the shelves and landed in a stack in front of him. "Continuous Vitality Volume 2, Ritual Blade Magic Vol 2, Empowering Eyes Compound Formula I, The Rune Gamma Alphabet, Purification Expansion I, and Basic Terrain Enhancement Vol 2, it's the last part of the 'Basic' series," Cassac explained as each book came down. "For your style, I provided two on-the-move magic series, the third-portion of the Rune Alphabet, and Basic Purification spells while the last one is more of a preparation-based skill."
"Thanks a lot!" Naruto grinned and Cayenne's cheeks reddened some more.
"Y-Yes, um, let's not lean on their time too much," Hakone said with a shaky grin. "My Lord, my Lady, please, it's been an honor. We'll take no more of your time."
"Hmm," Cayenne pouted a slight bit and Flora chuckled.
"I'm sure your father will make an appointment," she said and the young woman smiled again. 'What a troubling situation,' well, Naruto brought it upon himself.
Flora could only do so much.
~NRK~
Back in the carriage, Naruto grinned as he looked at the Continuous Vitality book.
"Hmm, it's basically levels of continuous healing, shield building, and stamina-increasing," he said to Hakone who hummed. "It's like repeatedly filling someone with energy in some ways."
"I hope things went well," Flora said. "Because you did a bad job at making her not like you."
Naruto stopped, blinked, and twitched as Hakone sighed.
"We'll… Well, I hope you don't get into more trouble."
"Dammit!"
~NRK~
Cal grimaced as he and his father hurried down to Parsley's house in their combat gear with his mace next to him and his father's large hammer at his own side.
The man sat there stoically, arms crossed, eyes closed, and posture perfect while Cal leaned onto his knees, hands folded and chin resting on them.
'Shit, shit, what do I do?!' He thought, eyes closing in thought as he kept his scowl off his face. 'What'll dad do? Why the hell did he bring his weapon?!' Was he trying to cow Naruto? Really?
Naruto wouldn't give a shit, Cal knew that much, and that fact would piss his dad off! God, what could he do? What could he say?
'Dad only wants to scare him, right? Maybe he'll lose interest,' his father had never gone this far before, this would be brand-new territory. 'Think… if Naruto just tells him, what'll he do?' Maybe give chase or organize a search?
Now that he thought about it, what would his dad do? If he gave chase, Cal could see another month without seeing him if he went to the Demon World.
'Maybe this'll go well? Besides, he won't make a scene in front of Parsley's home.'
… Oh, crap, could his dad even fit in her house?!
Moments later, he'd get his answer as their cart came to a stop on the main street square.
"Alright, we're here," Scabra said as the door opened and let them walk out without too much issue, its expanding entrance was big enough for both of them. "It seems like it's down this street," the man explained as they turned to it-
A cart pulled up on their side, coming to a stop and releasing… its way too convenient cargo, much to Cal's chagrin.
"Huh? Cal?! What the hell, man?! Where-?!" Naruto began to say as he saw him before grinning.
'Oh, sweet fuck.'
"Don't you dare speak to my son like that," Scabra said with a snarl as Naruto's run came to a crawl and he shot the man the highest-raised brow known to mankind. "You little-"
"Scabra," came Hakone's voice as he and Flora made it over to them, the man with a frown on his face, a very serious frown that Cal realized meant bad things.
"Dad, seriously," Cal hissed as Scabra frowned at him but his eyes narrowed at the now frowning Naruto.
'... ah, I see,' someone didn't like him for some reason. "Whelp, nice ta meetcha," the way Scabra's eyes narrowed said it all. "... So, what's up, Cal?"
"Uhhh," Cal grimaced. "It's nothing, you're that Naruto guy," he said with a look away as Naruto's eyes widened in total confusion. "Tsk, nice to meet you," Cal said with his mace planted in the ground and his posture straight.
Naruto could feel the negativity ahead of him and frowned as his eyes went from Cal to the oddly proud 'Scabra'.
'Did he do something?'
"Hmph, Hakone," Scabra said neutrally. "Keep that boy away from my son."
"..." Hakone's eyes narrowed a slight bit while Flora crossed her arms in confusion.
"Scabra Agrostis of the Royal Guards," she said as Scabra's eyes went to her before they widened. "Hmm, so we meet again."
"... you're with these two."
"Of course, things found themselves this way but they've been rather pleasant companions. What is this all about?"
"... you," Scabra grit his teeth as Naruto's eyes didn't turn away from his own in the slightest, rebellion in those filthy eyes of his. 'In time, you mutt,' he schooled his expression. "I must know the location of those wicked traitors."
"Huh?" Naruto blinked while Hakone kept his guard up. "Seriously? I mean… Well, why come to me?" He began to say before changing it. "I mean, I know that the twins said that this would be revealed in the court and to all active Guardians."
Cal finished cutting his hand across his neck before regaining his composure as Scabra scoffed.
"I need to know ahead of time," he said to Hakone whose eyebrow twitched while Naruto nearly rolled his eyes out of his skull. "Tsk. If I do, I can send my couriers and scouts now, not later."
"Well… whatever, man, they were in the Demon World, I don't know coordinates or something but it was by a village I think was… fifty miles outside of the capital?" Naruto said unsurely before shrugging as Scabra grimaced. "If ya really want to know more, ask Professor Dretch, she's more familiar with that village than I was."
"..." The man's eyes went down to the bag on Naruto's back. "And that is?" He pointed out more than asked.
Cal looked at what he meant and blinked. 'No way he got rewards from the big wigs!' That'd be insane!
"Oh, these? I got to borrow some books from the Royal Library," he grinned as Scabra looked horrified. "Hehe, the twins were pretty awesome about it and I told them I'd bring them back, eventually, they didn't give me a time…" Naruto shrugged. "They did say they were just copies but I'd still wanna bring these back, they're not mine and I have tons of books to go through as is."
'They let him into their Library?!' That bastard, using his luck to get into places greater than him.
'He's more worked up than usual,' Hakone said with a frown. 'You're not even hiding it so I guess that suspension from duty got to him more than I thought,' still…
If Scabra had any choice words with his son, Hakone would be sure to lob just as many back.
"Tsk, somehow they did, it seems," the man grimaced. "What else? There's likely to be names, something."
"Elecampane," Naruto shrugged again. "That's about it, she vanished somewhere in the Demon World after I beat the Ultra Gnarl so, yeah, that's it."
"... 'Ultra Gnarl'."
"I mean, that's the best I could call three of those things mixed together."
Scabra's eyes widened in disbelief. 'How?!' How had a student beat a fused monster?! "You're lying, there's no possible way for someone of your caliber to beat a fused monster."
"I mean, I had a last-minute desperation move and it worked but that's it. It's not safe to use it and that's why I've gotta get stronger anyway I can."
Sickening. "..." Scabra cupped his chin with a frown as Cal sighed in relief. "Callum."
He blinked at his father before remembering the deal he made with his mom. "... So, yeah, my parents told me to bring some of my classmates to a party after the Fall Processional," Cal said simply. "You're also invited, apparently they wanted to meet the strongest of my year."
Naruto just looked at him oddly before shrugging. "Alright, I'm down. Might be fun," he grinned and Cal looked away with a conflicted expression. "Hopefully I'm not busy doing everything after that," he admitted while humming, and Scabra scoffed once more. "... So, later, hope you got what you wanted out of this. Later, Cal, we should hang out sometime."
As Naruto began to walk off, Hakone shooting Scabra a look before doing the same, Flora hummed.
"I'm not sure what your issue with Young Naruto is, Scabra, but you may wish to approach this more tactfully next time," was all she said simply and matter-of-factly before following after the two.
Callum's eyebrow twitched. 'Why couldn't you just let it go?' He didn't understand what his dad's deal was but surely this wasn't the play, yeah? "So, what do we do?" He asked him and Scabra's narrowed eyes said it all. 'He's gonna be like this all day when we get home.'
"Tsk, go and follow that boy, Callum, I'll be speaking with one of our spies."
"Wait, our what?"
"Oh, please, you'll learn in time, there are dangers everywhere," Scabra glared a bit at where Naruto's group had gone. "And they wait and scheme."
"... w-whatever, I'll go," anything to get out of this situation. "When do I meet up with you?"
"An hour. I'll be waiting if you're not here yet."
Cal sighed heavily before nodding, heading after Naruto.
'God, please, I don't want to talk about all this shit right now,' he thought.
~NRK~
Naruto raised a brow as Cal's signature followed behind them.
'Maybe he'll explain what the hell is going on,' Naruto hoped so. His usually abrasive friend wasn't one for underhanded tactics.
Cal was upfront and straightforward, he didn't hesitate to speak his mind just like Rosemary did.
"Hmm, Scabra was rather unpleasant today," Flora said as Naruto turned to her. "I'm not sure what's going on with that."
"I do," Hakone said with a frown as the two looked at him. "... he's racist against beastkin," he whispered as their eyes widened. "It's a well-known thing within the Guardians Reserve. The sheer distaste he has is something that he normally restrains but something happened in the king's court."
Naruto frowned at that. "I don't get that, it makes no sense to me," he said as Hakone rubbed the back of his head. "... well, he went somewhere and Cal's coming-"
"Y-Yo," the boy-in-question grimaced as he stopped in front of them, Naruto's look having his own gaze shying away. "... fuck, I shouldn't be here."
"I don't blame you, you know," Naruto said and the look Cal sent him had him chuckling. "You have your reasons, I wouldn't mind hearing them but only if ya want to."
Hakone smiled sadly at that while Flora tilted her head.
'I see, I'm starting to understand Thyme's possible attraction,' finding someone who was so emotionally mature likely balanced her out, maybe. '... I'll try sometime today,' Flora told herself even if she felt nervous.
"I… Goddammit," Cal kissed his teeth before schooling his features. "Let's not do this out here, alright?"
Naruto nodded before gesturing to the dwarf-sized door. "So, uh, prepare to scrunch."
Getting into Parsley's parents' home had been interesting and when he arrived in the 'front area', he heard the sound of yelling, squealing, and yelping from far in.
"What the hell is going on?" He asked Naruto who chuckled.
"We've been training a lot here ever since we met up a couple days back," he explained and Cal winced. "Hey man, no, it's cool. I'm sure you wanted to chill with your own family. It's not like everyone else had their parents here so it's not the same."
"... I guess."
"He's good at handling him," Flora whispered to Hakone who nodded.
"Naruto's emotional understanding is rather high, he's been like this ever since I met him," he explained with a grin as she looked amused. "Naruto, I'll be going to the school to check if anything else needs to be done, alright?"
"And I will be… going to see about an arrangement," Flora winced as Naruto nodded.
"Alright, take care, you two."
As they traveled further in, Cal grunted as he stretched outside of another small passageway.
"How you all do it, I'll never know," he said as he popped his back and groaned, looking down a path and thankful that everything else was high enough for him to walk normally through. "Hmm?"
Thyme looked up from a book she was reading, stone forming out of the ground constantly to make a series of arrows she put into a wooden box/quiver.
"...?" The elf girl looked up before blinking. "Cal?"
"Yo. What's up? Everyone here?"
"Yeah, the only one who isn't here is Amaryllis because she went to get her uncle," Thyme answered. "They're all doing their own things."
"Alright!" Naruto said with a grin and Thyme noticed his bag. "Guess who got some cool stuff from the Royal Library?~" He chuckled as she perked up more.
"Really?"
"Yep, I got some good stuff?!" Naruto smirked as she smirked. "Alright! Let's go and try some stuff!"
Naruto led the way to the 'yard', Thyme following after him with Cal doing the same.
As the three made it into the yard, they found Sage currently holding onto a wooden spear, which was really just a really long and thicker arrow, trying to break through Rosemary's own wooden weapon's guard.
She looked every kind of insecure about it, poking at her friend's weapon with a weak resolve.
In another section, Snapdragon and Parsley sparred, the tall ginger's stone axe swinging, slashing, and bashing at her raised stone hammer. Each hit was guarded against without too much trouble but Parsley's ability to adjust her block definitely needed work.
Aloe sat in the middle of it all, Anise's puppets performing a little show for her as her wife chuckled next to her.
The elf woman noticed them first and grinned.
"Welcome back!" Aloe said as the others stopped what they were doing and turned their heads.
"YOU'RE BACK!" They all said before noticing Cal. "CAL?!"
"Hmph," Cal shrugged. "Sup."
"You're back so quick!" Rosemary said with a grin, the entire group wearing simple tunics and pants for their workout. "What happened?!" She asked Naruto who chuckled, his bag surprising them.
"What's that?" Snapdragon asked. "T-That wouldn't be a reward, is it?!" He choked as Thyme smirked and Cal snorted.
"I was allowed to borrow some Old Magic spell books from the Royal Library," Naruto said as Sage stumbled.
"WHAT?!" She zipped over and grabbed his arm before pulling him away. "SHOW ME EVERYTHING!"
"... I missed being here," Cal said as Parsley laughed as they followed the two. "That was beautiful," he whispered in awe.
"Glad to see you returning to form," she snorted.
When everyone was by the two magic-users, Naruto opened up his sack and placed the books in a line in front of him.
Telling them the name of each one, Rosemary squealed.
"Ritual Blade?!" She squeaked in excitement as Naruto chuckled.
"Yeah, I looked at Continuous Vitality and it's pretty interesting," he said. "I'm planning on focusing on that, Runes, Purification, and Terrain Enhancement first. If you want, Rosie, you can borrow the Ritual Blade book, though I can't tell you how difficult that'll be."
"Alright!" Rosemary chuckled before looking nervous. "H-Hey, Sage~?"
"I'll help you," her childhood friend said, Rosemary's cheer returning in an instant. "Though, I'm curious about all of these with Empowering Eyes Compound Formula having my interest," she said before blinking as Naruto offered it to her.
"I've got no need for that as much as the librarian thought but I didn't want to be rude," the beastkin explained as she took it gratefully.
"We'll return these as soon as possible, Naruto, thank you."
"No problem."
"Hmm," Aloe looked at it all. "Honestly, Thyme, I think you should also work on Terrain Enhancement considering everything. From what I know, it's like a copy of Elvish Speak but for easier magic use for other races."
"Seriously?" Thyme asked, looking at Naruto who nodded. "Alright."
"Hmm," Parsley considered her options. "... I guess I'll work on Ritual Blade?"
"Honestly? I think you should also work on Terrain," Naruto said as she looked confused. "What happens if you can make an area more like a good magic smithy? I was also told that it can expand Runes, this might be perfect, Pars!"
Snapdragon nodded. "That makes sense," he said. "Though, what about us?" He asked Naruto, Cal tilting his head.
"... If I had to take a shot? That Vitality thing," Cal said as Snapdragon blinked. "Think about it, if we can keep healing up, we can keep working out. You need to buff up and I need to get stronger."
Snapdragon flinched. "Y-Yeah? Um, well, w-why not increase our abilities, though?" He coughed at Cal's confusion. "W-What I mean is, you've got a point but what if there's more in there than healing and stamina? We've already got those two things."
"There is," Naruto said as Callum looked intrigued. "There's 'Endurance' skills you can learn in that book. The ability to lower poison's effectiveness, light mending for wounds, and even something called 'Second Wind'? I think it's what it is but I don't know. You might want to get those first, Snap's got a point."
"Oh yeah? Fine, I guess being able to hold off poison is kinda important."
Handing the two the book, Naruto nodded as he sat back with Parsley, Thyme, and Aloe, the oldest raising her finger.
Twirling it above the 'Terrain' book, three copies found themselves in their hands.
"Huh? W-Wait, it's that easy?!" Naruto's jaw dropped as she twirled her finger in the air once more.
The groups all found themselves with their copies of the books they wanted to read.
"They're temporary copies, I'm a bit daring not a fool," Aloe explained as Anise spoke in depth with Rosemary and Sage. "I do this a lot with my magic classes, it saves on money and allows everyone to have the up-to-date version of our materials. Now, let's go through the prologues of the books!"
Naruto chuckled but nodded, doing as she said and reading it along with Parsley and Thyme.
As they read for an entire thirty minutes, they hit some interesting parts.
"Terrain Reinforcement, at its core, is about interacting with the affinity of the world around you. Its effects can be altered by a series of factors," Thyme read. "The caster's skill, medium, the area they've chosen, the vitality of the area, and the magic level of it."
"Depending on the specific element, the enhancement can be condensed even more," Parsley tilted her head as she continued. "Despite the uncommonness of this art, its effects are plentiful while also capable of having its effects changed with even a small effort."
"Terrain Reinforcement is a hard-to-manage art but its effects can guarantee a change in one's own abilities," Naruto continued on. "It's said that the High Witches of Witch Country have a large-scale reinforcement for their capital city, Reinforce," he blinked. "It's… it's actually called 'Reinforce'?"
"I mean, maybe Witch cities are different?" Parsley offered. "Besides, we don't know if their names mean they're based on spells or stuff."
"It's noted that every city in Witch Country has a spell it majors in whether due to it being popular or because the strongest magic-user made it so," Aloe said. "For now, we know it's very useful if High Witches can use it."
The three students nodded.
They went to the next page and found the first spell.
"... O-Oh, crap," Parsley blushed as Naruto and Thyme shot her a look while Aloe smiled.
"Here," she said, putting her hands together before pulling them apart, a familiar portal forming.
Out of it came a small brown wand, an instrument that had Naruto and Thyme wincing.
"Oh, right, magic staff," they said. "Sorry, Pars."
"It's fine, it's not like any one of us uses a staff… oh, wait, right, Sage does," Parsley grinned nervously. "I-I haven't seen her use that in a while so this is… yeah, forget me please."
"Now," Aloe grinned. "Let's try this out, the spell is your first initial with a series of circles around it and some material of the area we'll be using," she read out as Naruto nodded.
He raised his finger that he allowed to become clawed and poked into the ground, crushing it and allowing them all to collect some of the stone, Thyme raising her hand over it and pulling on the stone to cover it up.
"You two are getting good!" The elf woman chuckled. "Alright, for Parsley, imagine your internal power and send it to the tip of the wand," she said as the dwarf nodded.
She focused on her wand's tip, breathing out slowly before it glowed a soft yellow.
"Good, now, will Naruto go first? It is your book, after all."
Naruto nodded, holding the stone in his hand while the other drew in the air.
"Oh, wait, do I need good penmanship for this?" Parsley asked with a nervous sweat as Thyme smirked.
"Yeah, typically," she answered as Aloe laughed a bit.
"That wand's meant for beginners, Parsley, it'll help guide your energy," she told the now relieved girl.
"And… done," Naruto said as he finished his magic emblem before raising the stone to it.
The bit of rock glowed a soft gold before vanishing into the symbol which pulsed out, flashing over the surrounding area from the floor all the way up to the ceiling.
"WHOA?!" The others jumped. "WHAT HAPPENED?!"
"Sorry! Testing stuff out!" Naruto said to them all as Thyme tilted her head, looking around. "So, this is how I make my field of control, yeah?"
"Yes, now, you have several possible paths," Aloe explained as she read her copy of the book. "So, for beginners, it says that your first act should be to send in your energy into the surroundings and see what happens. It seems like you'll have an affinity for magic that you'll find out about if you do this."
Naruto nodded, putting his hand down on the ground and focusing.
It glowed gold before pulsing out again-
"Yikes!" Came Snapdragon's yell as they turned to see… trees.
Lots and lots of small trees growing around them like a miniature pony forest.
"Oh," Parsley blinked. "... ya know? That'd be some useful firewood."
"Pars, I'll help ya cut it down, I promise," Naruto said, rubbing the back of his head.
"Um!" Sage spoke up. "D-Did Thyme try out something?" She asked the room, flat on her back atop one of the trees. "C-Can you make it stop?"
"Sorry!" Naruto said. "Uh," he looked at his hand before putting it back down.
Gold energy pulled into his hand and the trees slowly shrunk back into the cracks, the young man stopping so Sage could get off in comfort.
"T-Thanks."
"So, you can also pull energy from your surroundings like that? Interesting, it's not that surprising but it means you'll have an affinity for the body reinforcement aspect," Aloe explained. "You can enhance your surroundings and increase your own reserves so we'll keep it at that for now. Let's see, hmm… Thyme, I want you to do it and try to overturn Naruto's Zone."
Thyme blinked at that before nodding, performing the spell the same way the blonde boy had and frowning as her pulse only extended around her in a meter-long circle with red borders.
"Oh, we can't see Naruto's border," Parsley realized as Aloe nodded.
"It's true, I figured but wanted to be sure," she said as Thyme's flat expression got a laugh out of her. "Well, I mean, you could try and see if you can overtake it."
Thyme huffed before considering her little 'space' within Naruto's. 'Overtake it…' If she had to take some guesses on the 'how', it'd be a few things.
Break his 'Zone' somehow, maybe by breaking his boundaries?
Encroach, use more power to expand her Zone.
She put both her hands down before her arms burned red.
Her eyes flashed and she saw where his Zone's weaknesses were, and spread out her influence in small 'spikes' that slowly began to pop up around Naruto's.
"H-Huh?" He shivered at the feeling of… Thyme invading his mind? "I-It's a bit weird," Naruto blushed as he held his face, Parsley raising an eyebrow at that.
"You feelin' good, bud?" She asked him and he groaned as he dragged his hand down his face.
"Y-Yeah, the feeling is just weird," he muttered as Thyme's own cheeks reddened slightly.
'It's like I'm breaking open his defenses,' the feeling of 'breaking' with her 'spirit', she guessed, attacking his? 'I-It's super weird, he's right.'
… and she kind of liked it. Defenseless, that was what she called him at one point, right? She was currently leaving him defenseless.
Her core burned before Naruto's control 'broke'.
He sat back on his rear as if pushed as Thyme's pulse spread out, the girl gasping a bit as Aloe nodded at a page in the book.
"Yes, breaking someone's Zone comes with several downsides," she said, not looking at the horrified, embarrassed, teens. "It's both energy-intensive, can be reversed, and can leave you knocked-out if it's pushed enough."
Thyme barely heard her, fingers tingling as her head turned to the looking-away Naruto.
'So defenseless,' her mind crowed before she shook it away, embarrassed. "S-Sorry."
"I-It's fine, I promise… l-let's not do that again, y-yeah?" Naruto offered with a bashful look, running his hand through his hair with an embarrassed grin.
'I wanna do it again,' her mind rebelled and Thyme covered her mouth in horror. 'O-Oh no,' she hadn't just thought that.
About Naruto of all people?! The normally so gung-ho, strong, bright young fox who was so nice-looking when DEFENSELE-
Parsley raised a brow at the two before shaking her head. "Man, something had to have happened, yeah?" She said intently and the two choked while Aloe looked up from her book.
"Hmm?"
"NOTHING!"
"Oh? Well, then let's have Parsley try!" Aloe smiled obliviously as Naruto and Thyme burned.
'Oh no!' They choked as Parsley nodded, forming the symbol with some difficulty. "W-Wait, Pars-!"
There was shouting a bit away, all the groups stopping what they were doing before blinking.
"Your nation is an eyesore!"
Cal paled before scrambling to his feet because he'd made a mistake.
"Dammit!" He ran off, leaving the others confused before Naruto jumped to his feet and gave chase.
"You guys keep going! I'll handle it!" He said as he slid through the door leading out there and caught up to Cal. "What the hell is happening?"
"My dad likely just met-"
"I don't know you? Witch Country is troublesome sometimes but it's not my fault."
"You know that's full of-"
"DAD, DON'T!" Cal and Naruto slid out the door, arriving in time to stop Scabra and another man from continuing their argument. "What the hell is happening?!"
"This Witch Country citizen is in our country," Scabra growled as the man in front of him frowned while stroking his beard. "... what happened inside?" He asked as he spotted Naruto who shot him a flat look.
"Learning," he said sarcastically as the man hissed. "... A-Ah, hey, Rylls," Naruto said as the girl in question came up to them in her combat gear with a frown.
"Who is this dick?!" She growled as Scabra rescinded with a growl.
"Excuse me?!"
"You heard me!"
"Little Gem, don't," Spinel said with a frown as Scabra looked more angered. "I can understand Lyngarth's distaste for our country but surely you're not going to say I am the one who's harmed you."
"I don't trust the words of someone who could use magic to change my senses," Scabra frowned as Amaryllis growled again. "Callum."
"Dad, seriously, let's just chill and talk this out," everything was going wrong and Cal didn't like it.
"I won't talk to some Witch Country intruder!"
"Intruder? You do realize you're talking crazy, right?" Naruto said in disbelief as the man growled at him. "Oh my God, what is your deal?!"
"Keep it shut, mutt!" Scabra roared as Naruto's jaw dropped.
"You're a piece of work!"
"Your incessant race couldn't be silent?!"
"I don't know, could you?"
The man looked ready to attack him and Naruto's eyes narrowed as gold filtered out of his form.
"Don't start a fight you don't want, old man," he said with a frown.
"Oh, I've wanted this ever since I HEARD of you, you little-" Scabra's grit teeth sharpened his words.
"Screw off!" Amaryllis hissed, glowing purple before her uncle came forward and raised his hands. "Uncle?!"
"Let's not do this, yes?" He offered the group and Naruto blinked before groaning, facepalming.
"... you're right, sorry, sir," he said to Spinel who smiled. "... and I guess you, too," Naruto turned to Scabra who smirked.
"Listening to your betters," he said.
"So, that's why I don't listen to you?"
The heat turned back on and Callum groaned into his hands.
"No! For the love of God, we're making a scene, dad!" He said in horror as Scabra grimaced, the windows and doors in the alleyway cracked to allow other inquisitive eyes to look on. "Let's just go, please, this isn't good."
"... Tsk!" The man hissed before stomping off, leaving Cal to stuff his own face into his hand.
"..."
"... go on, dammit," Naruto huffed before patting his friend on the back. "My bad, I wasn't helping. Seriously wasn't living up to my Title," he frowned as he rubbed the back of his head.
Callum looked conflicted, opening his mouth to say something before it clamped shut.
"I'll bring your mace to school on Monday."
"... Fuck," the purple-haired boy grimaced before stuffing his hands into his pockets and walking off. "Thanks…" He muttered before leaving.
Spinel rubbed the back of his head as Amaryllis growled once more.
"And he's Cal's dad?" She asked Naruto who sighed.
"Yeah, I thought he only had a problem with me but now that's definitely not the case and I'm worried for Cal," the beastkin said as her fire simmered, his mature words dimming her spark.
"D-Dammit, stop it. I want to be angry."
"Hehe, sorry."
She huffed, crossing her arms and frowning at the backs of the two grape heads.
"I didn't think my first day here would be so… explosive," Spinel said.
"Sorry, Mr. Rylls's Uncle."
"Hahaha, no, please, just call me 'Spinel'."
"Alright, Mr. Spinel. So, uh, I know it's not the greatest showing but welcome to Lyngarth, things are usually better than what just happened," Naruto said with a shaky grin as the man looked amused. "Come on, I know dad and Mrs. Flora'll be back soon and Pars' parents are out so I'll say I let you in."
As the three went into the home, Amaryllis huffing at the amused males as she just walked in without issue, Naruto led them to the yard and the Witch Country duo blinked in surprise at the feeling around them.
"Someone's enacted a Zone?" Spinel asked as Naruto nodded.
"It was either our friends, Thyme or Parsley, who did it. We were practicing some new stuff we learned," he explained as Spinel raised a brow at him. "I literally just learned that Witch Country's capital has a larger version, right?"
"Yeah," Amaryllis said. "Whatcha think, Unc?"
"It's honestly interesting, I can feel the effects of two former ones," he said.
"Oh, so it's Pars's right now," Naruto said as they walked into the area.
"Uh, did something happen?" Parsley asked him as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Some things but don't worry about it, me and Cal will handle it," he explained as Thyme shot him a look. "Guys, this is Mr. Spinel, Rylls's uncle, as ya know."
"Good afternoon," Spinel said, waving to them all. "I'm glad I got to meet all of Little Gem's friends. I honestly hope to speak with your teachers, too, I hear they're some of the best in this country."
"Well, that'd be surprising," Snapdragon said. "But it'd make sense," he added.
"Hm, hmm, now, what's everyone learning? I might have some curious input."
"Actually, yeah, you guys are all doing magic?" Amaryllis asked in confusion before Naruto explained what had happened earlier.
By the end of it, she groaned but nodded.
"Okay, but ya couldn't have gotten one book on Terraspheres?"
"Sorry, you know where my abilities lie."
She did. "Ugh," Amaryllis said but raised her arms to show her new Terraspheres, their design the same as her previous ones but now bearing glowing white symbols that looked like an 'N' within their depths. "Fine, fine, I know how you guys are. Honestly, though, some of you should seriously get a Terrasphere, not even Whiskers is afraid of 'em, he even says they're good for emergencies."
"Oh?" Spinel turned to Naruto who grinned.
"I think they have their places, sir, but it's better to know and have both New and Old Magic," he explained as Spinel cupped his chin.
"Curious, you don't get many youths outside of Witch Country who'd care nowadays and you all are learning it. Why, it's nice to see," he chuckled. "And if you'd like, I could give you some input on Terrain Creation."
"Huh?"
"Creation?" Aloe asked and the man nodded. "Our book says it's Terrain REINFORCEMENT."
"Hmm? Oh, I understand, you're looking at the Lyngarth-level of the skill. It doesn't have as much advancement as they'd like or admit to. From Terrain Reinforcement you go to Terrain Creation," he explained. "When you've dominated an area to your liking, it can boost the natural skills and nature of your form, spirit, and abilities."
"Wait, there's more!?" Parsley balked. "That's insane! B-But we're not even that far, anyway!"
"While true, you can add a 'rule' to your Terrain as a beginner," he smirked as the group blinked. "Honestly? You all should know at least the basic form of it, it'd be a good continuous protection."
"That sounds cool!" Rosemary said with a grin. "B-But maybe our other friends should learn it first? I mean, I've still gotta get good at 'swording' and spirit stuff."
"... I see."
Amaryllis's cackles were obvious. "Hahaha! Yeah, better to let these three wizzes handle it first," she smirked as she gestured to Naruto, Thyme, and Pars. "Actually, I'm surprised, Pars. I thought you didn't really do good with magic."
"Well, I just never had a teacher and it was kinda hard on my own, I'm still not a mage, ya know? I'm just learning what can help my craft," Parsley admitted as the short mage nodded.
"Then you'll definitely want to learn at least the intermediate version of Terrain Creation," Spinel chuckled as she blinked. "As one gets better at using that specific magic, they can imbue any area they designate with more powerful rules but there comes a point where you need to be stationary to manage it."
"... S-So, say if I was to make a smithy with that?"
"It'd be the perfect 'Terrain' for you to 'Create' within."
"O-Okay!" Parsley looked fired-up. "So, come on! Teach us, Mr. Spinel! Our dreams are on the line!"
The man laughed a bit while Amaryllis went over to Snapdragon and looked at his 'efforts'.
Sitting down, Spinel hummed at Parsley's Terrain. "I see, I see, you've rightfully skipped all that theory and idea-crafting for this," he said nervously while nodding to the 'Volume 2' on the book cover. "Now, for the sake of simplicity, let's make a comparison. Terrains are special areas one can create or 'enact', as we call it, in any location. A Terrain is more powerful depending on the number of 'rules' but those rules won't be as powerful unless they've been given time to mature."
"Ah, so it's like planting a seed," Aloe smiled and the man grinned.
"Exactly. Terrains are powerful because you could establish one that's as small as a dagger or as big as an entire capital. Though, obviously, this comes with downsides. If someone Breaks it, you'll be dealing with the aftershock depending on the size of the Terrain you've dominated."
Naruto blushed along with Thyme, the fox boy rubbing the back of his head.
"Ya don't say?" He grinned nervously.
"Yes sir, it's the give-and-take of 'Old' Magic," the man rolled his eyes. "Don't tell Little Gem but I honestly hate those labels. 'Old' Magic is just magic, it's not something you put under one umbrella but these new fandangled Terraspheres are just moving all the tradition out of the way. These old bones get depressed about that sometimes, thank God for youngins like him," he said as he pointed at the laughing Naruto.
"Magic's too amazing," Naruto smirked as Spinel did.
"I see, I see, you're a good one. Hm, hm, for later, now let's have you three enact the spell, yes? Actually, you all should learn some minor transmogrification."
"... What?" Parsley asked as the man nodded.
"A moment."
They spent half an hour learning how to make strands of their hair into 'similar' pieces of the areas they'd want to establish with decent success.
The three students nodded within their small Terrains.
"Good, now, recreate the symbol for the spell and add another shape to it," Spinel said as they blinked. "When you do, focus on the rule you'll be making."
They blinked before nodding, following through on his words.
When they did, they blinked as the symbol floated in the air by them, Naruto adding a spiral below his initial, Thyme a circle around the outside, and Parsley a triangle.
"When it's done, the symbol won't go away until the entire spell is gone. That's another downside, unless you hide it, it'll be obvious to anyone when a Terrain is established," Spinel nodded. "Tell me, what rules did you come up with?"
"I wanted to expand my senses," Thyme said. "I figured, mine won't be stationary but it'll help me scan more things with my Vow."
"Ah, those interesting bits from your lands, not bad. You, dwarf girlie!"
"Heh, I added a rule that my hands can't slip so like if I'm handling anything," Parsley said as Aloe nodded.
"That's good, you should focus on your own futures with your learning," the woman said. "Naruto?"
"... I made my rule about 'connections'," he grinned. "If my power's applied to any of my friends, they get double the effects."
"Oh~" Spinel hummed. "That's a good one for those with lots of Support Magic though you struck me as a type with more preference for offensive spells."
"I usually would but that's not in my wheelhouse right now. I'm focusing on Support Magic."
"I see, I see, well it's not in me to tell you not to, that's your choice. Alright, let's see, have they learned how to apply the Terrain's various general effects?" Spinel asked Aloe who hummed.
"Mostly. They can enhance the area, gain small bits of power from it though Parsley struggles with that the most for understandable reasons," Aloe said. "They can all create a 'Zone' as you can see but none of them has been able to change the flow of magic in the area."
"Ah, that's just the bits and pieces they're good at. For now, I'd say you all should practice constantly establishing your Zones to gain experience with them."
"So, question, does a Zone cost energy?" Thyme asked.
"Only the initial cost/materials. Once that's handled, it only goes away once you will it to. A mage could have numerous Zones for their work with no end in sight and many use that to their advantage."
"... interesting."
~NRK~
The next two days were spent training, resting, hunting, or even wondering about their 'missing team member'.
So, come Monday, the group met up at the school gates, all of them, Cal and Mint included.
"... fuck, don't give that to me," Cal said with a look away from Naruto who tilted his head at the new spiked hammer resting across Cal's back, the weapon a foot and a half shorter than him.
"Oh, a new weapon?" He grinned as Cal looked further down. "Alright, I'll hold onto this then. In case you ever want it."
The purple-haired boy winced as he fingered his new weapon a bit before groaning. 'Goddammit, dad,' this whole situation didn't need to happen! "Shit," he winced as he locked eyes with Amaryllis.
The short mage turned away with a huff and Cal paled a bit.
"D-Does Rylls hate me?"
"She's probably a bit miffed," Naruto whispered, back to him as he put Cal's weapon in his book bag's side strap. "You just gotta show you're not your father."
Cal's fists clenched as his head fell.
Rosemary tilted her head at it all while Snapdragon rubbed the back of his noggin.
'She's not gonna want to talk to him for a while,' he thought. "Come on, for now, we do need to see if our schedules changed," Snapdragon offered as the group hummed before nodding. "You know? I wonder when Aster wil-"
"I. Am. HERE!" Came the voice from behind the group, all of them blinking before they turned their heads.
Blonde hair, fair skin, and bright red eyes greeted them with a powerful posture, a golden-handled longsword with a red gem in the guard on his waist as he stood there in their school uniform.
Rosemary gasped as her face burned up, eyes now hearts.
"Eeeeeee!" She squealed as Snapdragon blinked.
"Aster?" He asked before smiling as the familiar boy chuckled at him. "I was just wondering about you."
"Have no fear, I'm here to greet my new school," he said, red eyes looking around before they shifted to a light blue. 'So, it's him who basically reeks of magic,' the young man thought in awe as his eyes glowed.
And saw the veritable tower of golden energy coming off of his form before they saw the red core at his chest with white chains around it.
'It is a curious thing, his power is restrained yet it's still so much?'
'It obvious his limits aren't small, hehe, good, go and get him, boy.'
Aster's eyes blinked, red and light blue, before returning to a normal blue color that had him running his hand through his hair.
"So, you're him," he said with a softer voice than before as Naruto blinked, turning to face Aster as Rosemary squealed some more. "I see, well, I'd like to have a fight," Aster grinned as his fellow blue-eyed blonde male blinked.
And then he grinned.
"I get the feeling you're our kinda guy. I accept."
~NRK~
And so we return with Aster in tow and issues abuzz.
Among everything, this should secure Naruto's current learning methods.
Support Magic, Runes, Terrain Creation (Yes, like 'Territory Creation' but under a different name), and his foxiness increasing with more efficiency.
Also, sorry for the lack of updates, I recently got a new job and it's both tiring and draining. Even this chapter was basically finished a day or so ago but I was too tired to think about it.
So, yeah, ciao.
~NRK Out~