Headed by a Snake

Tycondrius led the way, Ran trailing slightly behind. The gravity of the Golden Crow's task seemed to weigh on the fellow... but Tycon had no reason to doubt him. As difficult and... somewhat disorderly as the Sea Wolves tended to be, they took training very seriously.

The training would transform every single member of Guild Letalis into skilled, resilient warriors... provided they survived it, of course.

After asking for Athena's whereabouts, the two navigated their way throughout the outdoor training area. As they walked past a weapon rack, Tycon nonchalantly picked up a Tyrion pilum.

Ran didn't ask any questions. It seemed he already knew what it was for.

Tycon looked off into the distance. He had a clear shot to where Athena sat in tandem with a few other female mage adventurers. They were meditating together, likely concentrating on the circulating flow through their mana circuits.

Hefting the weighted pilum into his main hand, he aimed... and threw. While he did not empower the throw with mana, he aimed at Athena's center of mass and did not hold back in his strength.

Immediately drawing his enchanted short sword, he sprinted forward to follow up on the attack.

Athena's eyes shot open, recognizing the danger. With a wave of her hand, she deflected the projectile with a chantless ⌈Ice Barrier⌋.

​ Good. Very good.

Tycon leapt up, sailing through the air with his sword poised to fall upon her frost-blue head. It was a straightforward attack, highly telegraphed... but very, very fast.

Athena clapped both hands together, shattering her ⌈Ice Barrier⌋ and reforming it into three ⌈Frost Blades⌋. Thrusting a palm forward, one sword sped rapidly towards Tycon. The two remaining blades levitated at her sides, ready to either follow-up or to be retracted defensively.

Reaction speed. Concentration. Effectiveness.

Everything was flawless.

Tycon shut his eyes, consigned to his defeat. He had no hopes of dodging the blade while mid-air, "Ran."

Golden flames wreathed Tycon's body. As he landed, oppressive wings of heat fanned out from his back. He stood up, crossing his arms and grinning...

Shao Ran had stood in front of him, wielding his halberd, Ferocity. Ran had deflected Athena's initial counterattack, the blade impaling the dirt, mere ilms away from cutting Tycon's thigh.

Even with the oppressive heat of Ran's Flames of the Golden Crow, the surface of Athena's ⌈Frost Blade⌋ still held a semblance of its form.

Most impressive. Her concentration on her spell effects had come a long way in a few short weeks.

"Full marks, Miss Athena!" Tycon declared, clapping his hands together. "Well done."

Athena's small group of adventurer friends applauded, one whistling raucously-- a grinning twin-tailed girl. Athena turned and bowed politely at the crowd, "Th-thank you."

"Thank you, Ran," Tycon dispelled his ⌈Flame Shield⌋, eyeing Athena with interest. Her mana reserves had seemed to grow and stabilize... more resembling that of a Second-Circle caster than a First, "Young lady! Have you undergone another breakthrough?"

Athena nodded, her smile brighter than any of Ran's fire attacks, "The wind... the water... the ice and chill... It's all the same. And I am the same as them."

That was one of the stupidest things Tycon had ever heard.

"Well done. Very well done." Tycon smiled, truly proud of his young charge, "As a small reward, what would you like me to make for dinner?"

If Athena could visualize her spells and will them to do as she pleased, whatever thinking had gotten her to that point was quite acceptable.

...

⟬ Over a week later. ⟭

"Sir Tycon! Sir Tyconnn!" Athena Vanzano waved frantically as Tycondrius passed by the training area.

"Good afternoon, young lady." Tycon smiled politely. He drew his sword and swiped it slightly above her head.

The young woman tapped the sword with a finger, forming a thin ⌈Ice Barrier⌋ to casually deflect the attack, "Good afternoon. I was wondering about Mister Chaleb."

Tycon was dreading this moment. Athena didn't seem to enjoy training with males her age. Of course, Tanamar was an exception. However, her results training with that fellow were so inconsistent that he eventually forbade it.

Shaking his head, Tycon resheathed his blade, "Speak your mind, Miss Athena."

"It's just... I haven't seen him for awhile?" Athena tilted her head in bemusement.

Tycon felt his eye twitch. How bothersome.

The young noble, Chaleb Moretti, was one of the adventurers that answered the recruitment call for Guild Letalis. Thinking objectively, Athena and the boy were excellent complements. They belonged to the same class at the Military Academy in Silva, so were very similar in age. On the subject of martial combat, they were rated as the top two students in the academy... thus, they had competing levels of skill.

Their social statuses were similar, as well. House Vanzano had fallen in favor over the past few years, while House Moretti was a noble only in name-- an ancestor a few generations past had won favor in the Church. Both had plenty to gain from attaining a victory as a Duo-Team in the Caeruleum Martial Tournament.

It was slightly troubling that Chaleb seemed to have romantic inclinations towards Athena. It was reasonable, as she had a pleasant demeanor, and was probably attractive. However, Tycon deemed that his potential as a Bronze-Rank Duelist was worth cultivating.

Anyroad, he doubted that the young fool's romantic aspirations would be fulfilled. Tanamar was irreplaceable in Athena's heart. With the tournament less than two moons away, he estimated there to not be enough time for Chaleb to grow resentful of it. The boy would be useful for winning the championship and, from there, would either be discarded or assigned a position too far to bother Athena.

"I don't see a cause for concern," Tycon shrugged. He reached out to grab the young lady's tunic near the neck, pulling lightly.

Athena hooked her arm beneath Tycon's, snugly placed her shoulder deep under his, then rotated her body to throw him over her.

Tycon landed on his back, smacking the ground with his heels to absorb some of the impact. The young lady's sense of danger and reaction speed had grown to acceptable levels.

Whatever issues Athena had, she had been working hard enough that he would work to accede to her requests.