Chapter 7: To Be Strong
2018, September 29th
Yuji was the only one tense as both Sukunas' laughter died off. Still with his hand on Yujis' shoulder, Gojo tightens his grip as he gives a friendly smile. "Never would have guessed we would get Sukuna here." His smile shows more of his excitement. "This seems like fun."
"Is that so?" Sukuna asks. The weapon by his side fades away as Sukuna folds his arms into his yukata, but makes no move to do anything else. Tension thickens until Yuji raises a questioning hand. "Gojo, if Sukuna is still alive, how can we summon them right here?"
At his question, Gojo relaxes and puts a hand to his chin in thought. "You know, I have no clue. Maybe somebody discovered how to destroy a finger?"
Ruler watches them both with a bored expression, decides to start walking towards the doorway out. "I doubt it."
Out of instinct, Yuji steps forwards in the way, his expression annoyed to be facing Ruler. "Where do you think you are going?"
Ruler motioned towards the doorway, making Yuji tense. "To feel the fresh air." The flinch has amusement flicker across his face. "Is there something disagreeable about that?"
Yuji frowned, troubled by Rulers' words. "Yes." With a few steps, Gojo stands next to Sukuna and leans in closer, anticipating something. "As much as I'd love to be friendly and to paint nails with you, we really can't let you out there until we can make sure you'll play nice." Tone serious despite his joking body language, he stares at Sukuna.
A short chuckle of amusement leaves Ruler. "How about this, then? Your words only have weight to them if you are worth my time." There was a small glimmer of interest in Sukunas' face as he peered at them, drinking in their appearance. "If you are truly a vessel, then demonstrate your worth." His glance was focused on Yuji. "The weak aren't worth listening to." His half lidded stare has no judgement to it, just a mild apathy.
"Yeah, I'll do it." The glare from Yuji only brings a pleased expression to Ruler.
"So you're willing to listen to people if they prove themselves. But what if they beat you?" Gojo had started grinning from ear to ear.
Sukuna's eyes brighten as he directs his attention to Gojo. "If you are so certain you can win, let us make a vow." The full attention of Ruler is enough to make Yuji frown.
"Oh? And what would that be?" Gojo asks, acting coy.
"Let us fight." Rulers expression is indulging. "If either of you impresses me, I will listen to what you have to say. If you defeat me, I will follow your lead as a true servant. But if I am to win…" He draws it out as his expression becomes more neutral. "All I ask is that the one who summoned me can only use his command seals for what I tell him to."
There is a moment of consideration as all parties consider their options. With a steady glare in Rulers direction, Yuji locks eyes with him. "That's fine by me." He states evenly.
"In that case, give us three days." Gojo puts up three fingers for emphasis. "Until then, let's make a binding vow to work together and not purposefully harm innocents or any of our known allies or your summoner." He says, the last part added as if in afterthought. "That way, we don't kill each other or cause problems. We'll determine the match rules on the day."
Yuji clenches his fists, shifting himself in preparation if Ruler does anything, but Ruler in contrast seems content. "That is fine, but I have one condition." Ruler says. "You must supply me with food to my satisfaction."
Yuji frowns at Ruler with something bothering him about the interaction.
The laughter of Gojo distracts Yuji, making him lose his train of thought as Gojo shakes his head. "I can certainly try! But no guarantees. Not sure what your standards are, but I'll find something in the meantime."
"That will have to do." Ruler says. "Then our vow is sealed." All three of the occupants in the room feel it as they agree on the terms. While both the adults seemed content, Yuji was confused and conflicted. The eye of Sukuna on his cheek watched Ruler with a half lidded stare, no longer as amused now and more irritated.
"Wonderful!" Gojo claps his hands together in glee for a moment. "Lets go outside and meet the others. Man, they are gonna freak out when they see you."
"I do hope these others will be entertaining." Rulers had returned to his more neutral tone now that there was no threat of violence.
"Why didn't you just fight?" Before they can even leave, Yuji speaks up in confusion. "Are you even Sukuna?" His voice raises in agitation. "Why aren't you going on about killing and hurting people?!"
"Why would I do that?" Rulers asks. Their amusement rises at Yujis' frustration. "I'm already in a battle that promises the greatest feasts in all of human history. Killing the insects isn't worth my time." Dismissing Yuji, he follows Gojos' lead, who was standing in the doorway. Seeing the argument done, Gojo turns on his heel to stay in front of Ruler as he leads him outside.
In the silent room, Yuji stares at the back of his hand, gritting his teeth. "Dammit..." He takes a deep sigh and releases his tension.
On the back of his hand, Sukuna speaks up once more. "If it bothers you that much brat, you can always just command that servant to kill themselves during your spar." His voice drips in amusement at Yujis' suffering. "It won't break any of the vows, either."
Startled at first, Yuji turns his own hand to look at him and scowls at it in distrust. "I don't believe you for a second. Why would you even help me against yourself, anyway?" Giving a small chuckle, Sukuna disappears from his hand. Annoyed, Yuji glares at the spot he used to be before hurrying to follow the others.
Catching the end of whatever small conversation Ruler and Gojo had with themselves, they all stop before opening the last door to outside. Gojo turns his head to face the others behind him, mischievous. "Alright, this out here is our allies, so let's play nice."
A small grunt in acknowledgement at the back of his throat is all Ruler gives Gojo before Gojo opens the door. "Would you believe me if I told you all that I wasn't expecting this?"
Outside, everyone had moved from where they had been. Near the doorway, both Sabers stood in ready position on either side. Above, Nanami, Ryouma and Oryou had taken to the roof. Archer and Nobara had concealed themselves further back, remaining out of view, while Rin and Megumi positioned themselves across from the door, far enough away that they could be heard if they shouted.
Megumi was noticeably shaken by Ruler, but somewhat is relieved at the sight of Yuji nearby as well, before it circles all the way back to being worried once more. Rin twitches, putting on a friendly smile even as she stares murder at Gojo.
"We should have just used a catalyst, damn it…" Rin mutters under her breath before yelling across to Gojo. "Gojo, I swear that better not be who I think it is. Because if it is, this is the last time I listen to your advice."
Putting his hands in front to cup his mouth, he shouts back. "Don't worry, I can fix him!" Even with his mouth cupped like this, he couldn't hide his amusement. At hearing his words, Rins' smile becomes more fragile. "We've come to an agreement. We won't be harming each other for a couple of days, so you'll be fine."
The other servants relaxed somewhat at the words of Gojo. Ignoring everyone else, Ruler had stepped away from the doorway. With arms held out by his side, he raised his head and closed his eyes, basking in the outside environment, content. "How wonderful it is to feel the world in the flesh once more."
"Right." Rin mutters to herself. Taking a moment to take a breath, Rin walks forwards towards them in the doorway. Megumi hesitates for but a moment before he also follows from behind. At a more reasonable distance from each other, she gives Ruler an assessing stare before focusing on Gojo. Next to her, Megumi is tightly strung, focusing intently on Ruler for any move he might make.
"So, what class are you?" Rin asks, her attention on Ruler.
"Ruler." He says, his eyes opening to all focus on her. "Now, what has happened that requires both sorcerers and mages to work together?" His eyes take in the appearance of multiple servants with a frown. "And for the war to be delayed like this?"
At the mention of Ruler, Rins' expression tightens in recognition. "Did we cause a fail-safe of the grail to activate?"
Ruler smirks. "Yes." Rins' expression pales a little. "But this is only the start, I imagine." He continues. "After all, I'm not the true Ruler of this war. I was just forced into this class so that I would be summoned." His smirk drops for a scowl.
"What do you mean?" Yuji asks, suspicious. Gojo makes a small noise of interest as he listens to their conversation.
"Is it not obvious?" Ruler asks with a smirk. "If the participants refuse to fight. How do you imagine they enforce the war to commence?"
"When we first dismantled the grail..." Rin says to herself slowly, for the benefits of the others. "there were extra classes that were part of it, but they had been mostly unused over the years for a variety of reasons." She pauses in realization. "Rulers are a class that were supposed to oversee a grail war and maintain the human order. But you shouldn't be able to summon them like this."
"Heh. Dismantled? Isn't that interesting?" Ruler says.
"You were summoned as Ruler because you would have endangered the human order or the rules of the grail war, isn't that right?" Rin accuses Sukuna, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
"That's right." He confirms without shame. "And it seems you failed in ending the wars if it has happened once more. What a shame." He laughs to himself.
Now no longer as focused on Ruler, Rin was more in her thoughts. Her frown deepens. "We have over half the war on our side, and there hasn't been any sighting of other servants. So if no servants have any intentions to continue the war for now..."
"The true Ruler shall appear." Sukuna finishes. "Whether they command us servants to all fight to the death, or this conflict grows ever bigger. I shall win either way."
"And what stops us from cutting you down now?" Sakura asks. Her distaste is clear as she glares down at his position. Over the course of the conversation, Saber had made her path to Rin, stepping by her side.
"Your allies." Ruler retorts in amusement. "We shall all play nice for the next three days. Unless you wish to cause undue difficulties?" Without waiting for an answer, he turns his attention away. "We shall learn who shall lead by then." Ruler fades away after his statement, leaving the clearing in silence.
"He's gone." Ryouma says from his place on the rooftop with a note of relief. "Man, he's certainly from the Heian era, alright."
"Oryou is disappointed. A fight would have been fun," Oryou adds. Ryouma has a bemused chuckle at her comment before noticing her hands slightly shaking. "Even if he gave Oryou the shakes." She shivers for emphasis, as if trying to shake something off.
Confirmed that Ruler is gone, Rins attention snapped to Gojo as she reared herself up in a fury. "What did you even do to get him to cooperate? Tell me everything and don't leave a single thing out." Her attention turns to Yuji, before softening. "Just let me know where about Ruler goes, Yuji."
"I've got Archer keeping an eye on Sukuna as well." Megumi says. Now, with Sukuna gone, he had managed to recover somewhat. "I'll let you know if he does anything."
"Call him Ruler." Rin says. "It'll help separate the living one and the servant. And maybe it'll stop people from realizing straight away who they are."
"I doubt it." Megumi mutters, but Rin ignores him.
Everyone gathers closer in Rins' directions as she keeps both Yuji and Gojo in her view. "Now. Tell everyone what happened when you summoned. And leave nothing out."
The story wasn't long in telling, being a brief exchange as they went over what happened with questions asked and answered in equal measure.
"So you didn't specify how the fights will happen?" Rin asks for clarification.
"Nope~" Gojo answers.
"Well. I can work with that at least. Ruler has the time to come up with his own conditions to favor himself. But we have the benefit of multiple people to come up with what we want from this." Rin puts one palm underneath the elbow of her other hand she uses to emphasize her points. "So we have three likely scenarios."
Rin puts up a single finger. "Ruler fights Yuji and Gojo in order, or both at the same time." She puts up a second time. "It's our greatest champion against him." She places a third and final finger up. "Either he fights us all together or one by one."
"Wouldn't trying to fight all of us be a bad idea for him?" Yuji asks.
"Not necessarily." Gojo adds in thought. "Sukuna is famous for taking on an entire age of sorcerers and winning. He likely has something that benefits him in such a large battle."
"It's even more so due to him being a heroic spirit." Rin counters. "Placing them in situations that echo their history is likely to make the same outcome. Our loss." Everyone frowns at that.
"It is best we focus on his weaknesses, then." For the first time during this conversation, Saber speaks up. Everyone's attention diverts to her. "If what I was told was correct, Sukuna was sealed rather than slayed." At the nod of the sorcerers, she continues. "So our best chance is one who can either do overwhelming force, or someone who can seal Ruler."
"Oryou is strong." Oryou says with a nod to herself. Next to her, Ryouma frowns. "Neither of us two know much about sealing someone like that, though. And I suspect he has some sort of advantage against Oryou as well. She's never reacted like that to someone before."
"Oryou would still win." She says, stubborn. Ryouma gives her a fond smile. "Best not to risk it if we don't have to." Oryou nods at his point begrudgingly.
The attention turns to the other servants before Gojo speaks up, tone amused. "I mean, there is a clear answer to all our questions right here." He points a thumb in his own direction with a grin. "If it's a question of who the strongest is here. It's me."
This drew the ire of all the servants who stared at him, but Gojo was unbothered. "There is no point talking too much about this. Everything you listed is something I can do. All we need to do is train everyone."
"You've known magecraft for days." Rin says dryly.
"I won't need to know all magecraft there is, just what's needed." Gojo shrugs.
"If you are so certain, I will not dissuade you." Saber says. "But I shall require proof on your end, Gojo Satoru." Using his full name, Saber, despite her stature, was the most imposing person in the room. "Over these coming days, we shall spar. If I find you satisfactory, I shall support your decision."
"Fine by me!" Gojo replies, his expression serious for once in the face of Saber's resolve.
"Oryou will help." Blank faced, she mimes punching the air. But the force of it is so strong that it makes gusts of wind. Ryouma tilts his hat downwards over his eyes as he nods. "We will do our best to help everyone know what it is like to fight a servant."
Both Nanami and Sakura had a silent conversation to the side, culminating in Sakura facing Gojo as well. "Lets do our best to work together, everyone."
"Even if I can handle this all by myself, I want you all to still take your training seriously and try your hardest in your lessons." Gojo wags a finger at his students.
"Yes!" Yuji answers him with cheer, while Megumi nods seriously. It's only Nobara who acts oddly, clutching the side of one of her arms with a far away look as if focused on something else. "Sure." Is her eventual late response, which has Gojo tilt his head at her for a moment.
"Rin, looks like I'll be paying you overtime." Gojo says amused. "Let's rotate our students around to give them a couple of different lessons over the next couple of days." He pauses for a moment before giving a cheeky grin. "Well, more like you figure out what to teach them. I have to go off and do some self study for a bit. I'll see you all in the afternoon."
Rin opens her mouth, annoyed, only for Gojo to place his hands together and disappear. She closes her eyes in frustration. "Think of the money Rin, think of the money." She mutters to herself.
"Sorry about Gojo, Tohsaka." Yuta says. He gives her an earnest look. "He means well. It's just sometimes he's a little too carefree. But he really does care."
Opening her eyes to see Yuta, she gives him a reassuring look. "I imagine so. It doesn't stop him from being frustrating sometimes."
Yuta can only laugh nervously at her point, scratching the back of his head.
"I'll figure something out." Rin says, to reassure the others as much as herself.
2018, September 29th
Muta was feeling distinctly like unwanted luggage at this point. Even being unable to communicate with any others or even leave this domain, they still had guards watching him. Whatever Geto had done had cut him off from any of his Mechamaru bodies. He was alone, with no way out and eyes constantly on him.
He didn't know if *that* curse and their weird double trying to talk to him was worse or better than waiting in silence.
"Is your accommodations so far acceptable?" Hanami asked. All three of them were resting on the upper floor of the house, which had been specifically made for Muta. The gentle waves of the distant beach, and the rustle of the surrounding trees from a wind he had no clue on where it was coming from, were beautiful, he couldn't deny.
It didn't stop him from hating being here.
"As well as can be considering." Muta said, sarcastic. "Trading one form of suffering for another isn't what I was aiming for." Ignoring the pain in his abdomen was second nature at this point, but random points in his body still ached from whatever they had done to his body when they first captured him. All the cursed energy he kept generating was being drained away in equal measure.
"I wish it wasn't this way." Hanami says. The genuine sorrow in the curses voice takes Muta back. "There is no joy to be found in suffering like this."
"What." Muta flatly replies, baffled at the curse across from him. "You are a curse. All you bring is negativity and suffering. So forgive me if I find your pity condescending."
For the first time during this conversation, their servant turned their head to stare at Muta. Beautiful, an androgynous voice and face, long green hair, deep brown eyes the same shade as wood, and a pale white complexion with the same markings as the curse. Their white tunic barely hid the fact that this servant put to shame Todo in the muscular department. That both curse and servant towered over Muta as well in height was annoying for him.
Under the disproving stare of the servant, Muta found all his words drying up as he freezes. "That is not true." The servant says serenely. As the servant's attention turns away from Muta once more, he is able to breathe once more. "At least for my master, they love all of nature. Humanity is but one part of it, however distant you are."
"If that's true." Muta says slowly. "Why work with the other curses? You've heard them by now. They want to kill all of humanity. You'd be killing the very thing you love."
Hanami hunches as if a weight has been placed upon them at his words. Their face marred in a weary sorrow that continued to shock Muta. "It's true." Hanami admits. "To save the very planet itself, to save nature, I must eradicate humanity."
Sensing something of an opportunity, Muta carefully chooses their words. "And what are you going to do if you succeed after destroying humanity?"
"We curses shall inherit the earth, treating it with the proper care it deserves." Hanami finishes.
Processing their words, Muta desperately chooses and discards multiple answers they could use in their head. Right now Muta couldn't afford to say what he felt. "What will you do to the curses who don't agree with you?" He asks, softly. "Not all curses will think the way you do, in the same way no humans do." His voice rises in tone, the more confidence he gains. "Will you kill them too? And what about animals who also destroy the environment? Will you destroy them?"
Hanami grows more and more uncomfortable as Mutas' questions go on. They open their mouth as if to answer, but Muta continues to not give them time.
"How much of nature will you destroy to save nature?" Muta finishes. Confident in his argument so far, he waits.
The silence is deafening for at least a minute, but what unnerves Muta most is how unbothered the servant seems as it stares over the veranda. He just couldn't quite get a read on them.
"Even if." Hanami pauses as they collect their thoughts. "Even if destroying all those becomes necessary, I will follow through." Their voice is choked, bringing Muta to the horrifying conclusion that this cursed spirit can *feel* emotions in a way he didn't think was possible. "Nature weeps with what humanity has done to it. If it is necessary, I will weep with it and do what I must."
Muta clenches his fist as another door closes on him, leaving him back at square one. "At least you are consistent." He mutters, bitter. They sit in silence for a couple of minutes after this, before Muta realizes the servant had turned their attention from the coast and was now staring at him in curiosity.
"What?" He growled, both annoyed but still intimidated from the last time they stared at him.
"Why is it that you chose your physique over your companions?" Straight to the point, these person's words cut straight through him and make him scowl.
"It was never meant to go wrong like that," Muta says, resentful. "If it wasn't for your master here, most of my friends wouldn't have been hurt at all."
"Ah, so you value your friendship." There is a hint of approval in their tone. "But you chose your own well-being over others?" No judgement is in their tone, but Muta still feels himself bristle in self defense.
"I was in agony in all my life, crippled and unable to even feel moonlight without it burning me. All I wanted to do was experience the world face to face with those I care about. So I saw my chance and took it."
"I see." Curiosity sated, the servant turned to stare at the coast once more. With only time on his hands, Muta contemplates on what he can do. He stares at the symbol on the back of his hand, thinking of cages and friends far away.
2018, September 29th
"I'm here, so what did you want?" Nobara asks. Her hands are on her hip as she frowns at Rin. Both of them had settled into the building as the others trained outside. Inside of the room, it was as if the sounds of outside had vanished.
"To train you." Rin says plainly. "And make sure you have the fundamentals to a level that I find acceptable."
They have a silent stare off for a few seconds before Nobara takes her own seat near the floor with a sigh. "Got it. But shouldn't you focus more on Yuji, considering?"
A few steps forward, allows Rin to sit in front of Nobara in perfect seiza. "We are. But that doesn't mean I'll just neglect my other students. Saber has taken off the kid gloves in training Yuji. And the others are helping with Megumi."
Nobara flinches with an incredulous stare. "That was her taking it easy?" She croaks.
Rin doesn't answer, only giving her a small smile in response. "Right now, your education is what's important here." Letting that sink in, she continues. "Currently, we will need a more streamlined and focused curriculum for you all to get some results. Which leads us to general fundamentals. Why do you think that is?"
Patient, Rin waits as Nobara thinks over her question. "It's not to go over the basics again." Nobara says, more stating than asking. "We are going to do something with either contagious, or sympathy based magecraft."
Pleased at her guess, Rin nods. "A good guess. While contagious magecraft might eventually be useful for you, for now, sympathy based magecraft will be your best bet." Into her lecturing now, Rin waves her hand as if to encompass all of Nobara. "Your cursed technique most likely works on a similar principle. Although your straw doll is closer to the curse arts." Rin mutters to herself at the end.
"Everything I do is curse based." Nobara points out, her tone flat.
"You know what I meant," Rin says, exasperated. "But what I aim to teach you today is a type of magecraft based on creating a connection between you and something you wish for better control over."
"It's something that doesn't work against mages, isn't it?" Nobara asks with a sly grin. "Otherwise I doubt they'd teach it much in a general class."
"Yes." Rin admits. "But you shouldn't be facing mages, anyway. What you shall learn this for is to help influence things in your environment. And if you are lucky, this might just work on curses."
"Okay." Nobara says. Even at Rins' words, she doesn't seem thrilled. But considering how their initial meeting had gone, Rin was glad that Nobara was at least willing to hear her out.
Using one hand, Rin flicks her hair over one shoulder. "This doesn't mean that you should neglect your other fundamentals. But that is something more that you will need to practice in your own time, so long as you always keep in mind that magecraft is dangerous and should not be taken lightly."
"I get it."
Resisting the urge to sigh. Rin clamps down on her frustration and focuses on making sure that Nobara gets the most out of the lesson while she still can. Briefly, Rin considered if sparring with Nobara would make her be a bit more respectful. It seemed to have worked for Saber.
Rin could only complain in her head once more about how unfair Charisma is with her wife.
2018, September 29th
Miwa stared at the door, neatly seated at her desk in the small classroom. Alone, she checked her watch with a frown. Taking out her own notebook, she makes her own notes and markings. After checking her watch for the sixth time, she decides to move and get up. Before she can so much as take a step, the door opens with a weary form of her teacher with his apprentice following after.
"Ah." Miwa makes a small sound at the back of her throat, sitting down promptly. "Are you okay?"
Waver waves her off, taking a few steps before sinking into his luxury chair at his own desk. "I shall be fine. Your fellow students were just a little... much." At his side, Gray takes a seat at her own small table in the corner.
A sound of understanding leaves Miwas throat at his words. "Todo, is still bothering you?"
"The others are fairly respectful." Waver says carefully. "But Todo does not seem to understand what moderation is." Unable to find a polite answer to the statement, Miwa maintains her silence.
"Regardless." Waver says with a sigh. "We shall continue from where we left off." Sorting through his notes, he motions for Miwa to bring her chair closer. Now both able to see what he had written, Waver continues. "Spending time here, querying about sorcery itself and our experimentation has led to some interesting correlations."
"Is this about how magecraft and sorcery are both systems built on equivalent exchange?" Miwa asks.
"Precisely." He says with a smile. "Where both require knowledge, the right genetics and an energy resource. What is interesting is that sorcery does not weaken the more others understand it. What does that suggest to you, Miwa?"
"That... that it's not based on mystery?" Miwa asks.
"That is part of it. But not entirely." On the piece of paper, Waver draws a perfect circle, drawing lines with a black pen. "Think of the world as having a series of veins where mana flows. These we describe as leylines." He grabs a red line over the top of the black lines. "When one creates a thaumaturgical system, one must engrave it into them. From there, what people believe about it can greatly influence the foundation of this system."
Following along, Miwa nods her head enthusiastically.
"Mystery is what gives these systems their power. The greater the amount of people who have heard of your system, but do not understand how it works, the more stable and powerful it is." He takes a moment to let that sink in. "Sorcery does not have this. There is no foundation, no leylines or other such. Instead, your techniques are *engraved* into your very being."
Fascinated, Waver shakes his head. "It is a similar sort of phenomenon as how psychic abilities form, or pure eyes. But something about the land of Japan itself reinforces the likelihood of a sorcerer being born."
Brows furrowing in thought, Miwa stares down at the paper. "Couldn't it also be a case of there being more sorcerer families here, so new sorcerers are born more often?"
"That could be it." Waver agrees. "For now this is merely a guess. What is most suspicious, is how sorcerers and curses are much more uncommon outside of Japan."
"You mentioned how the church deals with most curses. Are they not sorcerers or mages as well?" Miwa asks curious.
"Ah." Waver mutters to himself. "I am not as familiar with the church myself. But from what I know, they have their own system of Magecraft that they use as prayers." Thinking more on the subject to himself he frowns. "I seem to have gone off topic."
As if expecting where his question would lead, Miwa opened up her notebook for Waver to read. His eyes scour over the sheet soaking up the details. Eventually, he leans backwards in his chair as he contemplates. "Sound is an interesting choice for your first focus. What made you wish to focus on that?"
At his question, Miwa chuckles nervously to herself and scratches her cheek in embarrassment. "Well… during the exchange event, I kind of fell asleep for most of it despite people I knew being in danger." She hesitates for a moment. "Apparently, one of the other students has cursed speech and made me do it. But I ended up losing my Katana and everything!"
"I felt- feel pretty useless about it." Miwa confesses quietly.
Gray makes a small sound of sympathy, while Wavers glance softens for a moment. "There will always be moments you wish you could have changed. What's important is how you move forward." He lets his words sink in for a moment and then returns to his normal demeanor. "Sound itself can certainly lend itself to you as a form of magecraft. By tomorrow I will have some options for you to choose from and practice with."
Miwa nods enthusiastically with a grin she struggles to hide. "Yes sir."
"Now on to your sorcery. Walk me through your choices." Waver says.
She nods, taking a deep breath. "It was a bit hard trying to think of what I could do." Her voice is steady despite how nervous she was inside. "But with all the hero summoning I thought maybe I'd borrow from them...?" She pauses to see if he reacts, but at his neutral expression she keeps going. "So I thought, what if I gave myself a weak spot to make myself stronger?"
"It should likely work." Waver agrees. "But the benefits are weighed next to the risks. I see you chose to have a mark to show where your weakness is?"
"Y-yes." Her eyes dart to the paper and then meet his eyes again. "Well. I was going to base it on Cú Chulainn at first because it was really similar to how binding vows work. And his whole story was really inspiring. I wish that he hadn't needed to kill his best friend though. Or his son." Realizing that she had been rambling she stops. "But I ended up going with Siegfried. I'll have the leaf on my back to make it more obvious." She finishes lamely.
"We can test that in your spars with Gray later. But I see you didn't cross out your idea of using the geas of Chulainn."
"Yes sir. It doesn't conflict with any of the other binding vows, and I wanted to make an homage to him."
Waver raises an eyebrow in surprise. "Is that so?"
Sensing her teachers curiosity, she gathers her thoughts to try to answer. "He was someone who loved and was loved deeply. Who looked after what was close to him and wanted to be something more. Sometimes he made mistakes- and terrible ones. But he always tried his best. That's what I want to do."
Waver's eyes reflect something nostalgic at her words. "Admirable." He says. "But make sure to be realistic in your expectations."
"I will."
"Speaking of, the rest of these won't work without some form of heavy revision. Or tailoring your magecraft to suit. You simply don't have the options to make the trade worthwhile."
Miwa nods in understanding as they go over her notes once more. This was going to be another long day of learning. But all the people in the room couldn't find it in themselves to care.
The longer Waver spent time with Miwa, the more he could see why she had such an element.
End of Chapter 7:
Howdy! Sorry on the delay, life do be going on. A bit more emphasis on learning and the beginnings of some future stuff. Hope all of you are doing well, and thanks for reading!
There was in fact a little bit of a rewrite with one of the chapters, referenced in last chapter and a bit more context on what happened with Rin learning of her new students. More a case of it being pointed out to me in hindsight what a big shame it was to miss that.
Ah and if I do have any fanon elements that are especially noticable, please feel free to let me know on what they are. I try to keep my writing in believeable bounds for both franchises and might make mistakes. So thank you to anyone who helps me correct what those could be.