Chapter 14: The Hermit Bull

< Previous Chapter / Next Chapter >

It was morning

Dean was outside the base along with Juno "What? Are you serious, Miss Juno?" asked an excited Dean who became curious and excited in front of a smiling Juno and then, the girls came outside and saw the two of them while happening to ask his question.

"What's wrong, Dean? You surely are excited for some reason." commented a smiling Serena who was curious about Dean's behaviour.

Juno then turned to face them smiling "Well, since you three are eager to grow stronger, I figured training under someone's guidance would help you a long way. Frankly, Kai has gone off to the Coral Peacock for business and Rhea might be..." She paused for a moment considering how she normally is. "...Too much for you as you are now. There is one person I can think of that will be perfect choice to train you three. He should be up in his room still." She explained and looked over to the castle.

A couple of minutes passed

The trio was walking the hallway upwards "Miss Juno said that it's the furthest door of the hallway." recalled Helen while walking with the others and they then reached the door "Excuse u-" she tried to say while about to knock the door, but then an explosion happened from inside and the door fell inwards and a green smoke was coming from the room. The trio covered their mouth and nose while someone fell down while drooling, a man in his early thirties with long loose hair with brown eyes that was wearing black suit with a red tie and black pants along with brown shoes while he also had glasses "are you alright, sir?" asked Helen concerned.

"Cough, cough, I was just making a usual potion that cures sleep effects, but I accidentally used more herb powder and it resulted to this." he said while dusting himself off and then took a look at the trio, putting his hand on his chin "I see, the three new recruits Kai told me about, right?" he asked curious and the trio then lined up.

"We are Dean, Serena, Helen" they said in unison "Miss Juno said that you could train us, nice to meet you sir!" they said while bowing, with him smiling.

"If Juno said that, then, why not? You three seem good, honest and mostly, proper." he said and began walking while waving at them "Follow me." he said to their happiness.

After a while

All of them were at a spacious grove inside the forest "Allow me to properly introduce myself. I'm Bacchus Faunus, one of your trusty seniors in this barbaric and chaotic squad." he ended up saying with a smile and look as if he was wondering how his life ended up like this, with the sitting trio getting curious.

"Don't you like being in the squad?" asked Dean while raising his hand, with Bacchus then looking up in the sky.

"They call me The Hermit Bull because I'm always inside my room and rarely interact with anyone, except Kai and sometimes Juno. Don't mistake me, I *love* the Black Bulls, and it's because I love them that I cannot stand the state the squad is in. Seriously, it could be so much more." he said while looking now at them "However, what keeps me is that despite the chaos, there are good hearts inside the squad that just need some push, like diamonds that need polishing and I feel that the day of change will soon come." he said with a smile full of hope "So, since you are the new blood, I hope I can bring out your true capabilities to benefit the squad." he explained while having a cheering smile and pointing at them.

"We hope so too sir" said Serena and Bacchus then clapped his cheeks.

"Alright then. First of all, I want you three to tell me your affinities and show me your current spells." he said while crossing his hands "You are first, Dean" he said.

Dean then got up " I'm using Beast Magic, sir, and these are my spells." he said as he first did his Gazelle Gallop and then used in rotation his Wolf Bite, Gorilla Punch and Tiger Claw while finishing with his Tortoise Armour and then Bacchus looked at Serena.

"My magic is Scan Magic." she said as she created her drones "Currently, except the natural ability to see through things, I can create these drones from which I can hear and see what they do while I have a spell that reveals the weak points of anything and I can use it through them too." she explained and then, Bacchus looked at Helen who got up.

"I use Forge Magic and currently, I can copy objects by analyzing their structure, create a halberd of lightning, my armour here that is light but durable, swords of fire and light and...no, just those." she said slightly nervous, with Bacchus' eyes sharpening for a moment but then they were filled again with joy.

"You three have nice and uncommon affinities and thanks to seeing your spells, I can roughly give you some estimations and comments." he said with his hand on his chin eagerly, with the trio waiting for what he had to say. "Firstly, Dean. I see that all of your spells are set on offense, having zero spells that could be used for various situations. Beast Magic is fairly easy to develop, do you know why?" he asked serious.

"I...don't know." replied Dean with slight bitterness due to Bacchus' words being right and him not realizing it sooner.

"You don't have to be so sad because after all, you can't expect one that just joined the Magic Knights to possess powerful or complex spells, it takes time" he explained, with Dean cheering up "as I was saying, your magic is one that can easily develop through training because it's magic that is focused around your body. By manipulating your mana's shape and training hard, you can create a desired spell, but growing as a person also helps" he explained.

"Thank you, sir!" said a happy Dean and then Bacchus looked at Serena.

"Your magic is a supportive one and I have to say, that for the time being, you have unlocked nice spells." he said to her surprise that turned into happiness "If you become more creative, then you could obtain an offensive spell or two, but that also depends on factors we will try to solve in due time" he said thoughtful and then looked at Helen.

"My dear, your magic has infinite possibilities in terms of spells because the more you utilize weapons with specific properties, then the more likely it is to develop into spells, however, your magic is around a concept that with the right training, could do many other things." he claimed, with Helen smiling. "Now, for the time being, I want you three to train separately. Dean, your task will be about manipulating and shaping your mana in a form you find suitable. Serena, I heard you fight with Magic Bullets and so, I want you to try having you channel it through your drones and finally, Helen, I want you to recreate a weapon that you have analyzed but never used and imbue a property you find suitable." he explained and then clapped his hands once "Begin!" he demanded.

An hour passed

Bacchus was going to see how Helen was doing and he saw her having a bow and by pulling and releasing its string, she fired a handful of swift wind arrows that snapped a tree in half "Good, you are getting the hang of it." he said as she turned to look at him and wiping her sweat off "If you keep this up, it will become a spell and won't cost so much mana." he explained and she smiled.

He then headed towards Serena who was sweating while having her two drones out, but the boulder she was focusing on "I understand that it's difficult, but all you have to do is simply utilize part of the mana with which they are created in a mana bullet with the most low-cost form possible, try it." he adviced.

"Right" said Serena who then closed her eyes and hand her hand extended, with her hand shaking and then mana began forming in the center of the two drones who then unleashed a piercing beam, much to her happiness "I did it!" she said and he nodded his head "if you keep at it, doing it will feel natural and will be done faster" he said to encourage her and she nodded.

He then came to Dean who was struggling to keep up a mana with which was trying to create protrusions at his back "so, you want to create wings?" asked Bacchus interested with his hand on his chin, with Dean undoing the aura and breathing in exhaustion.

"Ha...it's hard mister Bacchus" he complained while sweating and Bacchus then had his finger pointing upwards.

"If you already know about Mana Skin, then training like this will be much easier he said confident while pumping his chest.

Dean the tilted his head "Mana...Skin?" he asked oblivious, with Bacchus's eyes opening and widening.

"You don't know that? I see, so this is your first official training since you came into the squad, sigh" he ended up sighing but then he cheered up "alright, time for teaching" he said. After a while, the three were lined up "listen well kids, because I will show you two basic techniques that a propert Magic Knight should know" he announced and they gulped, with him then being surrounded by a thin green aura which he naturally had around him "this is Mana Skin which is simply having an aura that boosts your physical abilities while this" he said as he suddenly undid his aura and had his feet be surrounded by mana "and this is Leg Strength Boost that allows you to jump and run with much greater results" he explained while undoing it and the trio being amazed "so, for the rest of the day and week, we will focus on these two techniques" he announced "all you have to do for each one is cover your body in mana and later try to focus it on your feet, with you later trying to be as less tense as possible at times, understood?"

"Yes sir!" shouted the trio excited. It was afternoon of the next day, with Dean being on the same spot and was on the same spot, with him trying to maintain an aura around his body and Bacchus came to check on him "To think that you especially would have such trouble." said Bacchus in an almost teasing tone at Dean who then relaxed his body at his sight.

"Why are you saying that?" asked Dean with curious eyes.

"Beast Magic and Mana Skin along with Leg Strength Boost are fundamentally the same; it's about covering yourself with mana." he explained, with Dean's eyes widening his eyes from the revelation.

"Damn, how could I miss something so simple?" he wondered frustrated and then smiled "Alright, how about this?" he wondered and then took a breath, with mana gathering around his feet and then he jumped on a tree and then returned to his spot, with him and Bacchus smiling.

"Keep at it." he said and then left, with him then ending up after a while to Serena and he was left speechless.

"Oh, Mister Bacchus, is something wrong?" asked Serena concerned while being faintly surrounded by an aura which she was maintaining seemingly easily, with Bacchus struggling to extend his hand.

"Unbelievable! Serena, you managed to use Mana Skin! It's still incomplete in output, but you mastered it! You have incredible control of magic power!" he exclaimed, with her being surprised and then she smiled.

"Thank you, sir!" she said while bowing. He then went to Helen who had mana around her legs and was jumping from spot to spot and Bacchus clapped.

"Nice, you got the hang around Leg Strength Boost." he said, with her looking down on the ground disappointed.

"I need more training. I'm close to perfect it and I currently can maintain it for only a simple rush and I have to do it again for another." she said while gripping her halberd tighter "Also, about Mana Skin..." she said and then she was surrounded by an aura that was undone after some seconds "...This is what happens." she explained, with him touching her shoulder.

"Don't be hard on yourself, you simply need a little more practise, keep at it." he said and she smiled A week passed and it was night, with the trio sweating like crazy and barely breathing and Bacchus came to check on them, only for him to see that they were covered in their mana and were training, with him looking at the ground.

"You really are talented." he said to himself and they noticed him, coming near him while undoing their auras.

"We did it...Mister Bacchus...all thanks...to your explanation and method" said a tired Dean while trying to breath, with Bacchus putting his hand on his shoulder.

"Yes, and I'm proud for you kids." he said to their happiness "So, how about the other technique?" he asked and then the trio had their feet being covered in mana and lunged swiftly at a tree and Bacchus beckoned them to return.

"You three managed to master these techniques in practically a week, and to a great extent, congratulations!" he said praising them, with them smiling and then he coughed "Ekhem, you will need a little bit more training in them but, since you passed the basic level, we will try to have you each develop a spell or function for your affinities but first, follow me to the base" he said. Bacchus along with the trio then went to the base's basement, with the trio being shocked "here" beckoned Bacchus.

He then opened the door only to reveal a big bath "This here is the public bath of the squad and now..." he said as he brought out his grimoire which began flipping pages "**Environment Magic: Relaxing Spring Zone** plus **Blooming Garden**!" he said and the bath began producing steam while it was filled with flowers "If you take a bath inside, you will be healed and have your exhaustion relieved, but ladies first." he said as he made Dean go outside.

Three more days passed

It was morning, with Bacchus and the trio being outside the base "You three managed in almost a week to make immense progress. I would love to train you today, but the Captain has called for you, for a mission most likely, but consider it a good chance to show the results of your training and the new spells you got." he said.

"Yes sir!" they shouted in unison excited while he gave them an object.

"This is a communication device which you can use for communicating with whoever you want from the squad no matter where you are." he explained "Now, go inside and make me and the squad proud." he said.

"Of course!" they said while they swiftly headed inside.

Ten minutes passed

Bacchus headed inside and went left from the main hall and knocked a door, seeing Kai with a mountain of paperwork.

"Still the ever heavy working vice-captain, right, Kai?" he asked with a warm smile as he saw Kai pressed on signing papers as quickly as he could.

"You know it." Kai responded as he looked over damage reports from one of the bulls' last missions.
"Thanks to your dear Juno, I found three good students." said Bacchus happy, with Kai then stopping dealing with the paperwork and was now looking at him.

Kai slightly looked away after the Juno comment and grabbed a new folder. "I've been reading the reports of the trio newbies. What are your thoughts over them?" he asked and Bacchus smiled.

"They are good, Kai. They are talented and catch on things quickly, but what got me, was their good heart and dedication. Since you asked, allow me to return the question, how is Alessandro?" he asked curious as he sat down on the chair at the front of the office, facing Kai.

"He's doing okay, he's been busy working on some of the private lessons I've been giving him." Kai responded before putting away the last bit of paperwork. "The kid is a fast learner, a natural talent for the lessons."

"Like mine." replied Bacchus and then took a breath while having stood up "They are hope, Kai. Dean , Serena, Helen, Alessandro, the four are what will improve the squad for the better, can you feel it?" he asked serious and thoughtful.

Kai smiled and got up from his seat. "I can't really say, they're still green and Ihaven't really done much with the those three. But hey, only time can tell."

Bacchus was smiling from what his old friend  said and now he was heading out to let him work "If it's you, I know they will make much greater progress, and we will need all the power we can get because if what the reports say are true, then a huge storm is coming and we will all be tested, my friend." he ended up saying serious and alerted  while at the door and looked at Kai who just resumed his paperwork, with Bacchus closing the door as he left.

"...What's to come....is much worse than any storm." Kai thought before reaching for another pen.