-bulwark-
[https://i.imgur.com/LoYByv0.png]
I am a high-ranking divisional officer. A Commander and, by my count, number three in the chain of command over the entire Empire.
Strategist, guardian, soldier… I’ve been called by plenty of titles since our bloody departure from Axio—but baby-sitter hasn’t been one of them.
Those two had better get their asses back here at a reasonable time or I might lose it. If one more stray fireball from Rias singes my coat, I’ll douse her with a water bucket.
“You still doing alright in here, Commander?”
My scheming was interrupted by a light pressure against my back. Long strands of violet hair spilled over my left shoulder and Mei’s alluring features came into view.
“I was just contemplating what size bucket I’d use to put out the next fire Rias starts.”
“Hahaha!” My left shoulder bobbed up and down as Mei giggled to herself. As she finished laughing, her face lit up with a smile. “I still can’t believe you agreed to keep watch over Rias doing magick. I would have thought you’d have learned a lesson or two in Tolin.”
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A loud pop followed by the rush of air whipping through the room disrupted us, and I turned my attention back to the two young girls in the center of the floor.
Rias was casting various spells in rapid succession, focusing on speed rather than control, and Akari was attempting to mimic the spell just by sensing the magick type and sigil that manifested.
Watching Rias spin spell after spell with short or no incantation was impressive enough, but watching the little girl whose eyes were glued to Rias’ hands throw out an identical spell based on a quick glance at seemingly indecipherable magick sigils…
I turned my head back towards Mei, “Rias is pretty wild with her magick compared to anyone—except maybe her sister. And sure, when we’re talking spells of a certain element, she’s more likely to be burnt herself rather than the target, but just watching her perform magick is something you can’t see anywhere else.”
“The little one there is just as impressive. Spell for spell, Akari is keeping up. In most cases her magick appears more refined than Rias’. It’s hard to imagine she’s actually as young as she looks.”
“You think somethings off?”
“Nah. In almost every other way she acts like a young kid. But with magick she’s just a savant.”
The pressure on my shoulders increased as Mei placed her full weight on me. I glanced over at her, and she grinned back at me with a cheesy smile.
Her weight shifted suddenly after an earsplitting crackling deafened the room, and she sprinted across the room.
“Whoa-whoa-whoa! Girls, how many times do we have to tell you, stop lighting the carpet on fire!”
“Whoops!” “Sorry!”