Disclaimer notice: I own nothing.
Author's note at the end contains some spoilers of Mushoku Tensei.
Chapter 3
The sun was high in the sky, its radiant beams striking all without impunity. Luckily as it were her faithful blue hat with its wide brim blocked out most of the light as she moved through the flowing fields, moving as liquid gold, a scene most would call picturesque As she looked backwards towards the valley, blue eyes filled with thought. The golden sheen of the wheat fields blended together rather nicely with the emerald grazing fields of the roaming herds of cattle belonging to the various families of the region. The cherry on the cake of course was the backdrop of the sky, a most heavenly blue tying it all together.
Her name was Roxy Migurdia, sorcerer, magician, Saint classed practitioner of the arcane arts and nowadays teacher of Rudeus Greyrat, budding prodigy. Her student at the moment temporarily incapacitated enduring the tender mercies of his twin sister and father, as such having finished today's lessons, Roxy took the initiative to help the surrounding farmers. All crops need water after all, and conjuring a light shower for the thirsty plants is a child's play for one such as her. Though nowadays it seems that particular idiom holds true in another aspect as well, her thoughts drifting to her student, her incredibly talented student, Her four year old student. Now soon to be graduated, there is not much left to teach him after all, a few more months worth of material was all she had left. Which reminded her to craft a wand soon, rather embarrassing as it was something he should have received straight away after mastering elemental beginner magic.
Her thoughts temporarily interrupted as she stepped into a pile of mud upon the worn, cracked road she leisurely strolled upon. The mud was an oddity as rain had not befallen upon the village for at least a fortnight and the downfall she had conjured was not enough to create this amount of mud especially on the road! Her white leather boots, now disgraced with dark brown sludge. She hurriedly crouched down, [Water ball] at the ready to destroy the offending mark of shame. When a foul stench began to reach her, the perpetrator mooing in slight amusement a few paces to her right, temporarily hidden amongst the swaying wheat. Adding two and two together she promptly flings the water ball into the repulsive bovine's face, round cheeks burning as wide eyes wildly flung around searching for witnesses. Huffing a sigh in relief as the only living being around, being the cow her ire stemmed from, boots once again pristine from the not-sludge! Her stomps cracking against the ground in quick succession along the road, eyes set upon the house where the reverberating impacts of wood on wood came from, intensifying for each step taken.
A whirlwind of brown with flashes of red in between is what greeted Roxy upon her arrival, A small girl with porcelain skin, with hair glistening like rubies under the afternoon sun, locked in battle with her father. His torso unclad, sweat glistening as he gave ground between his opponent, rapidly kicking against the ground to gain distance under the ceaseless swings of his daughter, her blade cleaving the air in turn where her opponent once stood. Their eyes while differing in colour held the same determined look, glinting with danger as they were locked unto each other both uncaring of her arrival. A moment of respite was given, till their dance began anew.
As their battle raged on once more, Roxy spotted her quarry lying beneath a tree resting in its shade, well out of the danger zone of the battle maniacs. His face a curious red with spots that have already begun darken, eyes closed, his body shaking with erratic puffs of air coming out, his clothes dishevelled with numerous tears in the fabric. His weapon of choice, a wooden sword now broken in half. "Malenia?" she inquired softly whilst sitting down next to him, her hand placed upon his shoulder, "-Y-cough-Yes" Roxy merely nodded as it wasn't, neither the first time she or his mother had healed him after a particular hard session which reminded her "Let this divine power be as satisfying nourishment, giving one who has lost their strength the strength to rise again" she intoned as green glow flowed out her hands into his shoulder.
"Thank you teacher" softly exhaled the husk of a student lying besides her, the body loosening its tension and even breathing was heard followed soon by a soft snoring. "Snrk '' came the sudden snort behind her as blonde locks came into focus above her. "Oh -hehe– my poor -hehe-little Rudy" as the person crouched down beside the fallen son, taking the left side, shaking as though straining no to suddenly burst out in rambunctious laughter. Zenith the mother of her student and the little terror currently wreaking havoc across the yard with the aforementioned terrors father. Zenith turned towards her, a wide grin stretching across her face, as Roxy felt her face burn and immediately looked upon the ground, remembering another expression on the other woman's face, an expression only seen in the throes of passion caught by her but a few months ago when she was skulking outside their room in the middle of the night...Doing research...
"Hehe, No need to be shy. I think it's great that you take care of my little genius" She tittered whilst stroking hair, his head now on her lap a wistful smile playing upon her lips. "I–I- of course, Zenith'' Roxy mumbled face cooling as she looked up toward the battle once more catching Malenia trying to skewer her father upon her training sword in an impressive lunge that covered several paces in but a moment, beads of sweat trailing down her exposed forehead, half moons of sweat already formed around her neck and under armpits, eyes slightly unfocused. Her father as sweaty if not more was still trailing fairly well, his focus still clear pushing away the blade while planting a knee into her gut, punting her back from whence she started "C-ough, guuh" were the only sound that emerged from the redhaired heap consisting of the now downed Malenia. Her mother howling as she jolted up, ramrod in her posture "PAUL, I HAVE TOLD–" "Calm thyself M-cough-ther" came the quit yet commanding reprimand from the bloodied heap that now sat up, her posture exhausted, a line of blood dripping from the corner of her mouth.
As the Zenith began to rush toward Malenia, Paul already moving both his arms up in a sign of surrender
"I know, I know Zenith but Malenia begged to not hold back"
"Hmph"
"B-but come on now Honeykins you know I can't so no to those eyes"
"..."
"Look please, I will be more careful in the future I promise"
"You will do no such thing-cough- Father, this has been the most sati-cough-sfactory bout yet"
"... You are both grounded, No training for both of you tomorrow"
"Tch!"
"Tch!"
An old argument within the Greyrat family as Roxy has learned ever since it was discovered that they housed not just one prodigy but two. One prodigious in the arcane arts and while certainly talented within the realm of Swordplay as well he didn't hold a candle in regards to his twin sister when it came to the sword.
A once in a generation prodigy according to Paul, unlocking battle aura at the young age of three, a never before heard achievement at least to Roxy's own knowledge.
Although Malenia has proven to be totally inept in the arts of magic… a fact much to the pleasure of her own brother who gave her the nickname of Magical Moron Malenia after it became known. The nickname was not appreciated… no sire.
Afterwards Malenia had proven especially vindictive towards Rudeus during training, mercilessly beating him into ground before he could even put up a proper guard. Much to the amusement of Paul and the horrification of Zenith, till she learned of the nickname from Lillia who had been present at time, while still disapproving of the violence she would not stop it during practice as name calling was also forbidden and "Rudeus should know better than to tease his sister" as she put it…she still chewed them both out in the end.
"Snrk" Roxy chortled to herself remembering that particular evening while watching Zenith heal her only daughter "Such a beautiful snort, teacher" a known voice whispered from behind her-it would appear Rudeus had awoken from his involuntary nap-"No teasing your teacher" Roxy responded in kind while she whacked him over the head with her staff. As Rudeus held his head, still with a smile upon his face a voice was heard, it was Zenith calling out towards us and Paul, as she was already at the doorway of the house, gesturing towards the house, Malenia already beside her clearly eager for dinner.
"You should consider yourself lucky Rudeus" Roxy began as her feet rapidly began to steer her towards the house, another thing of the Greyrat household Roxy had learned was that Malenia ate a lot…Like alot alot, more than Paul in some sittings.
"Your Mother has forbidden your sister and Paul from training tomorrow"
"Heh"!
"Heh indeed my student, your manliness can only take so many hits in a day after all"
"N-no fair teacher"
"Hmm?"
"N-n-othing, let's hurry up before the magical moron eats it all"
As Roxy watched Rudeus sprinting ahead, steps full of vigour, a clear difference from when she found him under the tree earlier. As the sun warmed her back and laughter rang out from the open doorway, she found that she felt content where she was in life. A cute apprentice, great hosts, a tranquill region to enjoy it all, Now if only Malenia could stop viewing her with such suspicion and call her by her name! Not Sorcerer, Magician, nor Witch… It's Roxy damn it! And was with that weird nickname she had given her at the reception one and half years ago, Who or what even is a Ranni?!
Author note:
So I decided to make Malenia a Sword Savant, why? Well we don't really see her using anything else in the game except the power of rot which I would argue is not her power but the outer god's till she fully awakens at least,
SPOILER AHEAD!
Into which the spoiler warning comes in handy, there is something called the Laplace factor in the Six Diced World at first when introduced in the series it's something to have with ones magical potential such as total mana for example. Which Rudeus discovered in the first episode of the anime was complete malarkey. Later on if I remember correctly it was mentioned what the Laplace factor means is that those who possess it for example Rudeus and Sylplhiette they have a piece of Laplace the magic god soul within them. As it continually reincarnates through a bloodline till the magic god is reborn.
What this also means is that those who have the Laplace factor can't or have great trouble using battle aura. As Laplace famously couldnt use it? I think at least.
So what happens with Malenia is that she basically has the Malenia factor, Greater senses, a rather substantial boost to all baseline abilities- strength, agility etc and of course a natural talent for swordsmanship further propelled by her own memories. Her essence as a demi-god (except some of it the Tarnished gained after defeating her) is basically fusioning slowly with her now human body, which could take a while.
As usual Thoughts? Questions? Concerns?