DAY 19

ONE DAY UNTIL THE FIRST EXHIBITION

For the next six days after the Hell Pit Bond Event, Cora and Seiji focused on perfecting their Dragon Stance. The idea came when Seiji had offhandedly mentioned using it to take glancing blows rather than massive attacks. He tested his theory by using it to take a full-powered punch from Cora. While it hadn’t hurt at all, it used most of his aura to defend. His 45 Magical Stamina stat gave him a decent cushion to fall back on. Using that as fuel, their current training regimen consisted of guarding one another’s attacks and activating Dragon Stance whenever aura was about to be used. It was a mix of both reflex and stamina training, something they both needed.

They’d also begun training their coordination in battle. Cora had purchased a few training dummies. They were six-foot featureless wooden dolls wielding longswords that grew from their hands. Their first few attempts ended much like they did in the Hell Pit – failure due either to a lack of communication or a misunderstanding of the other’s intention. Their first breakthrough came after Seiji recalled their fight against Alexandra in the Botanist’s Bond Event. They’d attacked her at the same point from the front and back, and that was enough to defeat her. Seiji suggested fighting in turns before combining for a finishing attack he’d called their ‘Resonance’ technique. It worked almost every time, one giving the other the freedom to do what they do instead of fighting at the exact same time. Seiji hated that they didn’t have the opportunity to test it against–

The door burst open just as Seiji had the thought. Seiji smiled at Cora, who’d begun to watch the door with eagerness. She looked cute when she was excited. When the door opened to reveal a gold-winged Valkyrie accompanied by a man Seiji didn’t recognize, Seiji’s own excitement began to grow.

“Akio!” Cora shouted, sprinting at the newcomer who spun her in a tight hug.

“Hey, Cor! Sorry I missed the first half of the Exam. You know how it is, back home.”

Seiji found himself falling into old habits. They had the same white hair, but Akio’s was unkempt compared to Seiji’s… unkempt undercut. He wasn’t unattractive, but he wasn’t Seiji Otsuki. To be fair, no one was. He wore a black leather coat with fur around the collar, atop an all-black version of the Exam Outfit. Seiji compared it to the baggy beige cargo pants and black tank top he wore and tried not to wince.

When he finally put her down, he walked over to Seiji and extended a hand. Cora had begun to speak with Endora while she closed the door, no doubt badgering her about training.

“She’s like a little sister to me. I still remember when she was a kid!” Akio smiled, extending a hand. “Speaking of little sisters, how’s Thea doing? I heard you’re her new victim.”

“You know Thea?” Seiji asked, not meeting his hand. Akio kept it extended. “Yup! We fought with her and her old Servant in the Hell Pit way back. She’s… she made Endora laugh, so I tolerated her. Now, she’s part of the family!”

Family?

“Don’t leave me hanging, cousin!”

“We aren’t–”

Akio reached for Seiji’s hand and shook it. It took Seiji a bit too long to return the gesture.

“Enough about found families,” Akio said between their handshake. “Got any real family you left behind?”

Seiji noticed Endora glance at him from the door. She wasn’t staring at him, but she gave him a look he’d never seen from her. Seiji wasn’t sure what to make of it. Was she mad that he’d been rude to Akio?

“Nope,” Seiji answered, shaking Akio’s hand a bit more earnestly. “Just me. My parents sold me off, and I wouldn’t know if I had any siblings or cousins or something.” Seiji looked up at Akio’s white hair. “Are we…?”

Akio laughed, separating from Seiji. “Nah, not us. I’m pretty close to The Ardor, though.”

Before Seiji could fully parse that statement, Cora stomped over to Akio with Endora in tow. As soon as they were together, she ran to Seiji’s side with a smile on her face.

“Akio, Endora said you two would train against Seiji and me when you returned! We’re ready!”

Akio shared a glance with Endora.

“Cor, the Exhibition is tomorrow. You two need your rest.”

“He’s right. Honestly, you two shouldn’t have trained today.” Endora said, eyeing the limp dummies at the back of the training hall. “You need to rest and prepare.”

“But it’s only two fights! Plus, they give us elixirs before every–”

“Cora,” Endora said, her voice radiating the authority of a Valkyrie. “We’ll have plenty of time to train after the First Exhibition. You can afford a single day of rest.”

Cora glared at her for a moment, but it quickly turned into a pout. Endora did her usual placating ear scratch, and Cora lightened up after a few seconds of defiant sulking. When Akio commented on Cora being the same as she was during his Valkyrie Exam, Seiji recalled a point Cora had made back at the Grand Garden. Not only did Endora lose her Valkyrie Exam, but Akio had been sent back to his home planet. Despite that, he was right there – a Servant to the only gold-winged Valkyrie in history.

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“How are you here?” Seiji found himself asking.

“Endora brought me here,” Akio answered.

He stared up at Akio’s placid smile with an unamused glare. Akio sighed.

“Alright, kids. Sit down. Papa Akio’s gonna tell a bedtime story.”

Seiji listened with rapt attention as Akio told the story of a world consumed by conflict. He’d nearly been killed by it before getting sent back to Haven. When he’d lost, he awoke in the same place he’d died – buried in a mound of dirt. When he instinctively blasted his way out, he’d noticed that he had access to all of the abilities he’d learned from the Valkyrie Exam.

“The Soul Remembers.” Akio mused. “Sir Lasko said it to me as he sent me back. I didn’t get it at the time, but I think I understand now. My soul already knows how to use the techniques I learned, and it remembers existing inside of a more powerful body.”

Using the power he’d gained in Haven, he’d fought alongside his countrymen to defeat the ones taking over his home. When they’d been fully driven out, Akio had unanimously been named king. After a couple of years, Endora flew in and helped with the rebuilding efforts. In the end, Akio’s home became an unofficial colony of Haven.

“You know,” Akio chuckled. “I’d tell stories about Haven all the time, but no one believed me. Not until Endora flew in with gold wings looking like she was on the brink of death!” He shot Endora with a look that Seiji didn’t quite understand. She smiled sheepishly, turning to face Cora.

“Your mother had a Servant lined up for me when I returned. It was some boy from the Royal Guard.” She shrugged. “I turned it down. I already had a Servant!”

The two gave each other a quick side-hug as Cora’s jaw dropped comically wide. She glanced between Akio and Endora before shouting, “You refused my mother and got away with it?!”

Endora laughed. “I mean, I guess I did. When I turned her down, we fought for a week straight. In the end, I lost. When I recovered, Eir was there at my bedside.” She gave a childish smirk. “I stabbed her with a spear then flew off before she could catch me!”

As Endora let out the most maniacal laugh Seiji had ever heard from the Valkyrie, Cora’s eyes softened as they had during his and her conversation in Athena’s Antichamber. Now that he knew her better, Seiji understood what the look represented: sympathy.

“Endora, I know it’s in the past, but you were pushing your luck and you know it.”

Endora’s smile remained, though she didn’t laugh anymore. “I know, but there’s a method to my madness.”

To Seiji’s surprise, she walked up to Endora and gathered her into a hug. Endora’s smile faded, replaced by wide-eyed shock.

“I don’t know what you saw outside of Haven, but if it was enough to drive you to defy my mother, it must’ve been big.” Cora closer her eyes, gripping Endora tighter. “You can trust me, Endora. I don’t want you to carry that burden by yourself.

As those words left Cora’s lips, Endora’s face twisted into a look of aged weariness he’d seen from her only one time. When she spoke again, her tone was soft. “I promise you, I’ll tell you everything when this Exam ends, regardless of the outcome.” With a shaky tone, she muttered, “I need to tell you.”

Akio placed a hand on Endora’s back, carrying a similar look of weariness as his Valkyrie. Seiji felt guilty about his inability to provide any sort of comfort or reassurance. Endora had been there for them the entire Exam. Seiji recalled Sir Lasko’s words and began to say something, but Cora spoke before he could.

“Endora, you have been my ally since I was a girl. Without your assistance and tutelage, I would not be in the Valkyrie Exam.” She pulled away from Endora, holding her forearms and looking her in the eye. “Please wait for me, Endora. I would be honored to fight by your side as a Valkyrie.”

“I agree!” Seiji shouted, running to Cora’s side. “You can rely on me when this Exam ends!”

Endora gave them the widest, most genuine smile Seiji had ever seen from her. Tears fell from her eyes as she gathered them both into a hug and wept.

“I love you two! I can’t wait to fight with you! There’s so much I need to show you! So much I need to tell you!”

“I love you too, Endora. Please wait a little longer for us.” Cora responded through her own tears.

Endora continued to wipe newly forming tears from her eyes while Akio gave Seiji and Cora a look radiating gratitude. Seiji nodded and Cora smiled.

“I don’t mean to ruin the moment,” Akio began, stepping a bit closer to Seiji. “But I have a question for you.” He leaned a bit too close to Seiji and tilted his head. “Suppose you go the distance. You hit Tier 8, you fight in the Final Exhibition, but you fail. You’re sent back to The Ardor. What’s next?”

All eyes focused on Seiji. Endora, who’d previously been a crying wreck, stared at him like she was trying to read his mind with just her eyes. Akio, comparatively, had Endora’s trademark smile on his face. Cora, however, stared at him like she’d been struck. He wanted to ask her why, but it didn’t seem appropriate given the circumstances. Instead, he thought about his answer.

The first thing that came to his mind was to do everything Akio had done. He could erase the Hidden Hand and turn The Ardor into a place like Haven, using his power to establish a system that kept The Ardor safe. The second idea that came to his mind was looking for a way off of The Ardor. If Endora could fly to distant worlds, Seiji could learn how to do it, too. No matter how long it’d take, he’d make his way back to Haven. There was no chance he was going to die alone. Not again.

He briefly glanced over at Cora, whose expression still looked nervous, then turned back to Akio.

“If I go back to The Ardor, it’ll be in this body,” Seiji gestured to himself. “As a Servant. I couldn’t tell you what I’d do if I went back there as a regular man. I’m not a regular man! I don’t know how regular men think.”

Seiji tried not to sound too cocky, but he wanted Cora to register his confidence. She did, her ears raising as she began to laugh. Akio nodded, and Endora gave him her victorious smile.

“That’s a good answer, Seiji!” She walked closer and patted him and Cora on their heads. She turned to Seiji. “Good Servants, however, need their rest.” She turned to Cora. “And good Valkyries have a responsibility to ensure that they’re taking that rest!”

Endora separated from them, grabbing Akio’s hand. “There’s still time in the day. Random dates are the best ones!” She grabbed Akio’s hand and made for the door. “No training, though. If you do, Akio and I will have to stop you.” Akio gave a thumbs up with his free hand.

As they approached the door, Seiji found an idea sprouting in his head. He turned to Cora, who gave him a look that said she was thinking the same thing.

“Wouldn’t that be good training for us?” Seiji asked, hope blossoming within him.

Endora turned around and gave Seiji a look radiating bloodlust. It took effort for him to even stand on his feet. He recalled the word she’d given to it in the training hall after the Hell Pit. ‘Dominion’. If Seiji could wield his like a knife, Endora could wield her’s like a cannon.

“No, Seiji, it wouldn’t.”

There was no arguing with her. No room for debate. Seiji wouldn’t be training today, and that was something he simply needed to accept.

“No fair,” Cora pouted.

Endora agreed, waved, then left.

The two of them stood in silence for a brief moment, shooting the occasional glance between each other, the wooden dummies at the back of the training hall, and the door. They smiled mischievously at each other, but stopped when they heard banging at the door.

“I’m just gonna put them away!” Cora shouted.

She didn’t. Instead, she stuck her tongue at the door in mock disgust. She sighed and grabbed Seiji’s hand.

“There’s this new sandwich place near the castle. You wanna go?”

Seiji shrugged.

“Might as well.”