(Kazu Xios POV)

The hours of the morning passed within this cultivation session. The flow of Magical Energy around me only responded to my will and my will alone as I took hold of it with My Esoteric Restrictions.

In fact, it was only with them, I could even understand Cultivation in the first place. Soon after, my session ended as Theitus guided me out of this state of both control and focus, a surreal sensation that was hard to describe in any way, but it felt as though I had once experienced the height of that state before, something that felt so familiar to me, but at the same time new to me.

“Not bad, Kazu,” Theitus and his grin told me, while I opened my amber glare, still sitting on the same silk cushion with my legs crossed as my breathing return to normal, looking at Theitus with my typical demeanor.

“… hmm? I guess it wasn’t that bad, what now?" I asked, although I wasn't surprised when a small smirk formed on his face.

"That's enough for one day, you did very well, I will expect much more from you tomorrow," Theitus answered with a hearty laugh and stood up from his own silk cushion to stretch his limbs. “You’ve grasped the first step to Zenki Ryu, the Foundation of the technique. As you progress, you will reach higher steps in time, and a vital part of that is your physical training. Altear will begin with that shortly, after she’s done with Isabelle" Theitus said with a slight chuckle before he looked toward them not far from us.

My gaze turned toward them, not noticing them till now, leaving me to believe they arrived during my cultivation session. Altear held a wooden pole in her grasp while she instructed Isabelle to follow along, using it like a spear of sorts while they seemed to do a series of movements in the courtyard.

I could only watch from where I sat, in silence, and from the way it seemed to be going it was clear, this was a routine of sorts, an everyday training routine. “… Isabelle has yet to breakthrough her cultivation and advance into her second stage. However, her talent learning the many weapons, Zenki Ryu has mastery over is quite impressive,” Theitus explained with pride, which caused some laughter to follow.

But it seemed Altear had noticed me and Theitus watching from the sidelines before she turned her attention to us, “Boys, it’s not polite to spy on ladies,” she teased with a giggle before turning her attention back to Isabelle.

Isabelle only huffed in annoyance while she focused on her training.

“How was your session with Theitus today, Kazu-kun~?" Altear asked playfully while a smirk remained on her face.

"I guess it was fine,” I remarked as I got closer with Theitus.

Altear only seemed to giggle at my response. "Oh? Just fine?" She asked with a sly smirk on her face, "well I suppose it’s time for you to begin your training with me,” she said before turning her attention to Isabelle. “Isabelle, that’s enough, time to work on your cultivation with Theitus now,” Altear said with a soft smile.

Isabelle halted in place and huffed while the grip on the wooden pole tightened, it was clear she was frustrated about something, but she relented. "...fine," she grumbled in annoyance before she set the wooden pole down and dragged her feet toward Theitus, who only gave a wide grin as she approached seeming to know why she was so upset.

"Come on now Isabelle, you’re improving day by day, we both know that, cultivation isn't something you can master overnight.” Theitus explained with a warm smile that seemed to ease her frustrations a little bit.

"Theitus… don’t talk about me when he’s around," Isabelle said with a sigh.

"Ah yes, apologies for that Isabelle," Theitus said with a chuckle before giving me a wink as if to tell me not to be bothered by her behavior. "Now come on,” Theitus said leading Isabelle away with her lingering frustrated pouting, Altear couldn't help but to giggle under her breath.

I, however, was a bit confused, Isabelle was an interesting girl but at the same time I wondered just what I did to her to get such a reaction.

"Kazu-kun~. What are you thinking about so hard?” Altear asked with her usual sly smirk like she could read my mind.

I only scoffed at her question, "... It's nothing, let’s get to this training" I remarked with a slight annoyance before turning my attention to her.

"Of course, let's get started then,” she said with a smile before she continued. "Our training will be much different than Isabelle’s. You will consecutively be going against me, unlike her, I won't go easy on you. The Esoteric Restrictions give you an advantage and I’ll use that to teach you the Physical aspects of Zenki Ryu, that will make it easier for you to make the necessary adjustments to your body," Altear explained with a glint in her eyes.

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I wasn’t sure what she was going on about, but I was quite sure I could keep up with her, assuming she had the same power level as Theitus or less, “… so what you're saying is, you want me to fight you. like some kind of sparring… alright," I said before grabbing the wooden pole meant for her training and getting into the appropriate stance.

Altear only giggled at me, "My my~, how eager. you even managed to get into position without me telling you to. Good boy" she teased taking her stance across from me while her pole danced around her body.

"Don’t hold back, in order for me to advance you in this training, I need you to come at me with everything you have… don’t worry about me, a little Xios like you, won't hurt me," she added with her usual sly smirk before her pole instantly stopped spinning around her and it met the ground in front of her.

I was ready for her and somewhat amused by her challenge, it was like she wanted to provoke me, yet at the same time she seemed to enjoy it. “… huh? Alright then. whenever your ready," I remarked with an air of indifference as I held the wooden pole firmly in my grasp.

In an instant, Altear dashed forward, the force of her wooden pole whistled through the air, in a momentary millisecond of surprise I managed to dodge the pole aimed for my head. Her quick attack only met air as she smirked at me from her height that now stood over top of me leaving the smell of her perfume to linger in the air, "My my~. You actually dodged that," she purred as she grazed the fabric of her chest along my face before twirling her pole and shifting back to a ready stance.

I only scoffed before taking my own stance and returning my glare to her. "heh, just barely. I think I understand what you want now," I said causing her to giggle at my response.

"… if that's the case, you better not disappoint. I’ll make you adapt your body to Zenki Ryu, every movement of mine will become second nature for you as I force you to make those changes. All while you are under constant pressure," she teased with that sly smirk of hers.

I only scoffed at her fully understanding this, "yeah? I guessed that much already… treating me like a puppet to achieve that, Altear, its almost funny," I remarked with a slight smirk of my own and began to move, Altear's eyes followed my quick movements, while the wooden pole in her grasp whistled through the air pressuring every step taken.

I blocked her attacks as best as I could, while I looked for an opening, Altear didn’t have any openings, or rather I couldn’t land the small window without taking damage. I wasn’t quite used to such a long weapon to begin with, but as I’ve been told Zenki Ryu was a battle art that had a mastery over various weapons. Which left my Esoteric Restrictions to make the best use of this wooden pole as a weapon.

Yet, that wouldn't be enough to beat her. It was clear Altear was far stronger than myself, but I could see how effective her training approach was, in fact, I couldn’t recall anyone but Theitus putting me under this kind of pressure to adapt. It made me realize how much I needed to improve my body. I wasn't at either of their levels.

I could only feel a bit amused at my thoughts, in a way, I wanted to reach the height they stood upon.

Without even realizing, I felt myself adapting to the style of Zenki Ryu, but at the same time, I needed more time, to truly master the technique.

Altear however, didn't hesitate to strike with her wooden pole, her technique was elegant, and refined. In an instant, I saw an opening I could take, "...heh, I can already feel it. The pressure you're putting on my body... I can feel it. Adjusting my body to Zenki Ryu is something I can easily do," I remarked with a smirk while my Esoteric Restrictions guided my body through the air, evading every attack that Altear threw my way, leading me to the perfect opportunity to strike her.

Altear’s wooden pole came at me once more, and this time I managed to parry it upwards. The sheer strength behind her strike left my arm tingling, as if my whole body had been slapped with a whip. But with this maneuver, I had her momentarily off guard to go on the offensive, or so I thought. Her body spun quickly to avoid being hit from her backside by throwing herself into the air as her face lit up with excitement before landing gracefully seconds after, ready to launch another assault. I couldn't help but be amazed by her movements, they were as fluid as a dance, her pole dancing around me. Each time, I was forced to dodge or deflect her attacks.

It was something entirely different from what I had encountered before and her attacks grew more aggressive and focused each minute, pushing me further and harder against my limitations, forcing me to adapt with each strike.

Hours in, my body began to ache from the exertion, while she remained far from tired despite our continuous exchange of blows. It wasn’t till, Altear finally stopped her advances and giggled seductively at my tiring form.

"You're not that bad," Altear said between controlled breaths. "I'm surprised you lasted so long. Your stamina is nothing to scoff at either. I put a bit more into those last minutes," she added with a wink.

Despite her praises, I knew my own limits. "I don't think I'll be able to keep up with you much longer," I remarked, with a few tiring breaths escaping outwards.

"Oh really, we've barely scratched the surface of Zenki Ryu," she said with a smirk, leaning in towards my ear. "It will be a good exercise and lots of fun too," she whispered, her warm breath tickling my neck.

I ignored her obvious teasing. "Let's continue then," I said, determined to keep going, which brought an eager smile to her lips. She continued her relentless assaults for what felt like hours, but I had lost track of time. Altear was just as persistent as she was skilled.

Finally, we called it a day when her smile finally became less predatory and more relaxed. "… that's enough for today," she said with a stretch revealing her tight stomach muscles beneath loose clothes. "You did well, Kazu, I hope you’re ready for tomorrow," she added with a lick of her lips.

I knew she was teasing me, but it wasn't something I found myself concerned by. "Thanks, I heal quickly so… I’ll be ready," I remarked with a scoff and let off a stretch of my own to attempt to unknot soreness across every muscle imaginable.

The hours that followed before the day ended was spent eating dinner and resting my body. I had only tasted a bit of what this new life had to offer, despite the questions I had and the ones that would come, I knew there was time for that later. After all this was already quite the experience, something new I wanted to get used to.