The First Disciples
初弟子
“So do you have anything you want to do?” with the awkward silence killing me, I decided to initiate a conversation.
Despite being a teacher back in the previous world, I was mostly an introvert and did not partake much with social conversations unless there is a need to. However, unnerved by awkward silence between the three of us, I decided to initiate one with the twins.
“…” Len was silent, but it was clear in his eyes that somehow gleamed with interest. I had the inclination that he wanted to ask something from me but did not have the courage to ask. This could be his chance. However, he still waited for his sister to initiate a reply.
“We want to get stronger!” Ran who was so adamant at averting her eyes moments ago decided to speaks her words and finally looks at me. “You are strong right, teach us!”
“Please teach us, Master!” Judging from Len’s eyes glued on me, he was also asking for the same thing as his sister. Well, I could train them and all, but…
“Why?” While I was indeed curious as to why they wanted to get strong, my intent was a little different. This question is actually to affirm their most inner thoughts. Many of my students in the previous world perceive little of the ‘why’ question, I believe the ‘why’ question to be a tricky question. When asked with a ‘why’ question most often and immediately anyone would answer the most common or desired answer, which often leads people to fail.
Thankfully, the two seem to understand my intentions as they looked at each other then, matched my eyes to give their answer.
“We want to protect the place we can finally call home!” Their eyes full of conviction. There was no shed of malice and devoid of hidden agenda.
I could only give a faint smile. Looks like their hearts are in the right place. What warms my heart the most is that these two have genuinely regarded the Romaria couple as family. These two have indeed come a long way. When I first met them, their eyes were glued only with each other, however, now they have extended it towards Lady Anna and Sir Heid.
Had they answered lines like: ‘Because we want to defeat the ones who tricked us…’. Or perhaps: ‘We want to avenge our real family someday…’. Or one way or another they are unable to answer. I would have trouble on to whether to help them attain the strength they desire...
It is true that hatred and vengeance as sources of power is strong, but these two reasons provide empty promises, once they exact both reasons, they will either wither and die or lose their paths ultimately. As an educator, I believe it is not a good source of fuel for their strength.
Thankfully, despite my worries, the twins had answered earnestly in protecting their newfound family. As someone who value familial love, I believe that the will to protect is a genuine source of strength that does not provide empty promises or
would lead both astray.
And because of that, I will with all embers in me help them attain the strength for them to protect their new home. “And with that, I will guide you to my utmost capabilities.”
I did not dabble in martial arts in the previous world, so I cannot expect to teach them masterfully. But, since I have convicted myself to provide them assistance, I will facilitate and provide instructions so that they can attain their ambition to gain strength.
******
In whatever educational endeavor, pre-assessment is a requirement to ensure the utmost growth. This assessment will greatly address the needs of learners.
Again, allow me to reiterate ‘I have not dabbled in martial arts in the previous world’ so I can’t completely formulate those specific assessments. For now, I just need to know the twin’s capabilities. Like, how well they could go in a one-on-one fight. How well they can fight one-to-many. Their aptitude in art of weaponry or magical affinity.
Practically any other battle scenarios.
First Assessment: Combat Capabilities.
“Ran, you go first and attack me one-on-one.”
“Yes!” she eagerly lunges at me as expected. She was primitive at best, I mean I did ask her to attack me, but she did it as soon as she heard the command. She did not even bother to ask for any weapon.
After a few minutes, the battle ended as expected -she lost almost immediately. However, I learned that Ran was the brash type and would go rush at her enemies almost without any plan.
“Okay Len, you go next.”
“Y-yes!” while hesitating with his movements Len then pounces at me, he sometimes retreats regularly. Unlike Ran who attacked me unarmed, Len on the other hand picked a branch on the ground and used it as a weapon. He then tried to attack the obvious flaws of human foresight.
The battle ended a bit longer, as he tried to move with basic strategies. However, while Len was indeed good at thinking up strategies, for some reason he ends up hesitating at crucial moments and lose momentum with his attacks giving him many openings.
“Hmm. Okay, both of you work together and attack me at the same time.”
“Y-yes! Sister, attack in the rear.” Len gives his sister a simple enough command.
“Yes!” despite being rash in the previous battle, Ran, heeds her brother’s call, and instantly moving towards my back and lunch her usual attack.
The combat combination of the two was a perfect match, one to attack and one to think up of strategies to use. There was one big problem however…
First, it was easy to see that the brains were coming from Len, decapitating him would render Ran to go berserk and lose composure in her attacks. Second, if Ran get taken out first instead, Len who had seen his sister gets knocked unconscious becomes confused on what to do and is unable to focus his thoughts and becomes completely immobile.
With that the combat capabilities assessment ends.
Second Assessment: Ki and Mana Aptitudes
This is something I had come to understood while fighting in that Nameless Dungeon, aptitudes for Harmony of [KI] and [MANA] is essential in any combat. Even me who is unable to use magic still needed to use Mana even at a bare minimum to compensate for whatever situation would require it.
Much like the different multiple intelligence theories in my previous world, all have the potentials for these intelligences, it eventually becomes different as individuals start to favor some intelligence for another.
In the same analogy, [MANA] and [KI] also harmoniously exist in all living beings but this harmony varies differently from individuals who favors to either [KI] or [MANA]. Warrior type individuals tend to harness [KI] harmony more in their bodies while the [MANA] complimenting behind it. Reversed for [MAGUS] type individuals who tend to harness their [MANA] harmony more in their bodies and the [KI] compliments behind.
“Len, Ran try focusing your [MANA]…” the two tried their focus.
“Ugh~g” Ran is having a hard time.
“Fuuu…” Len on the other hand is relaxed in his breathing
“Okay, this time try focusing on your [KI]…” as suggested the two reversed their focus.
“Ugh~g” Len this time is having a hard time.
“Fuuu…” While Ran is showing a relaxed breathing.
The result of the [MANA-KI] Aptitude Assessment: Lan, had difficulties in focusing [KI] while easily focused his [MANA], thus his Harmony lies on [MANA], which would make him more of a Magus type than a warrior. Ran on the other hand geared her Harmony towards [KI] as she had difficulties in maintaining her focus on [MANA] and easily focused her [KI], which is evident that she skews more as a warrior than a mage.
With these results, I was a bit troubled. It is unfortunate for Len as magic was beyond me. He can only learn and train about magic later. For the time being I will make sure that he can protect himself while he expands his Mana.
Ran on the other hand affinity for combat as to be expected. The night they raided the Romaria mansion although haphazard she was able to dash towards me in the dark and pinpointed my location almost immediately. I should be able to provide her combat advice that will benefit her preference.
“Len, Ran. While maintaining a preferred Harmony is good, it will be better for both of you if you can expand both aptitudes. Allocate 30 minutes to focus on expanding your main aptitude. Another 30 minutes for your weaker aptitude” This is to ensure that the two be versatile in their combat repertoire.
Third Assessment: Weapon Specialization
Well, since I don’t know any assessment tool to check weapon aptitude, and it will take some time to just allow them to pick all known weapons to check for their aptitude. I decided to do the most logical thing to assess them…
“Okay, do you have any weapon preference in mind?” I asked.
“Something that can cut and slice.” As to be expected, Ran, she immediately said something scary. Now I am having second thought giving her a bladed weapon.
“I don’t like seeing blood too well, so something that could smash bones would be nice.” Okay, looks like Len is a lot scarier than her sister, really smashing bones…?
“Okay, I will prepare something for you when you get better in combat. For now let us increase your endurance and stamina.”
…And so, their training begins.
*****
Now I just needed to allow them to do the basic training regiments. Stamina, endurance, composure, practice swings, and basic strategies. These became the twin’s curriculum under my tutelage.
Thankfully there is a wide garden at the back of the mansion and used it as a training ground without them being seen by others. There, I made them run in circles, do push ups, fetch water and other mundane stuff that would increase their stamina.
“Remember, in a battle of attrition the first who losses stamina gets killed.”
Well, if they can finish the battle in an instant that would be wonderful. However, you can never expect enemies to fall with just one attack. Another scenario would be if a battle fought with a disadvantage of 1 to 100. It is better to be prepared.
“Y~es.” Both answered as they run lapses and catching their breaths. My ultimate goal will be for them to talk without losing their breath.
Next is endurance. Well, I had them alternately focus on their MANA-KI Harmony while they wait and bus the tables. This should increase their endurance and patience at the same time.
“Excuse me I would like to order the breakfast special…”
“Amarante Bread and Orange Juice please.”
“… … …”
The objective of this regiment is to increase their endurance and increase their [MANA-KI] aptitude. I hope that they will also gain patience… especially Ran.
“Ran, your face looks like a demon.”
After a few more days, they started donning masks while they bus and wait at tables. The masks function as Perception training, how well they can move under little to no visibility.
Under those days, I had carved a wooden sword for Ran and wooden staff for Len. As it will take time for me to forge a Trial Blade and a Composite Staff for the twins. I figured that they should get used to their weapons of choice from the start.
With my above average Wood Craft skill, the wooden weapons they are using should still be durable for any fight unless their opponents are master [KI] users.
In the morning and afternoon was my class time. Other lessons also started at night, with Lady Anna for reading, writing, and arithmetic. Sir Heid on the other hand is teaching them functionality in the real world. Looks like the couple was a bit frustrated that I had started teaching them before they could so the evening was for their basic education.
21 days after the start of the rigorously training the two, I also got something out of it.
.Log {
•Since you have trained Len SEVILES ROMARIA and RAN SEVILES ROMARIA you have Obtained Disciples as a Master.
•Your MASTER COMBAT STAFF ARTS has increased to LVL 2
•MASTER DUAL SWORD ARTS has increased to LVL 2
•MASTER DAGGER ARTS has increased to LVL 2
•MASTER SHORT SWORD ARTS has increased to LVL 2
•MASTER THROWING has increased to LVL 2
•MASTER TRAINING has increased to LVL 2
•Captain the Master. You even have disciples now. Good Job Captain!
•Nice work Master!
}
Now that you mentioned it despite using my sword to kill [Forest Wolves] in the [Dark Forest] my [Master Sword Arts] level never did rise up. It would seem that, I can’t level-up my skills the same way I’ve been doing. As a ‘Master’ my skills will probably grow the more I teach it. That’s going be difficult.
Well, for now I should just thank my lucky stars that I got to know about these facts at the beginning than later on, it surely saves a lot of trouble.
