Artoria and Sapphron quickly got moved into Lux's tower, with the two ladies quickly getting into the groove of helping around the tower and helping my group, especially in dealing with things like laundry, cooking, and other things we needed done.
As it certainly wasn't as if I had any free time lately. From eight in the morning to eight in the afternoon. I was literally in class, sparring, or training with my teachers in Lux and now Fiora, who was beating, had spent the last three days beating sword forms into my head.
And then even after the classes, training, and my training to make the Rain Arrow spell matrix in my spell matrix that was within my Magic Core. I still would spend a good couple of hours working on the Ghost Ship with Jean.
With the Ghost Ship itself coming along beautifully... And fucking scary looking honestly.
Its hull was made out of bones, its masts were giant ribs from a terrible deep-sea high-tier Grimm. And the sails were made from a patchwork of literal human skin so that they could heal themselves.
The bindings for every single blank, hinge, and rope for the ship were made out of bones, muscles, and ligaments. The ship was less of a Ghost Ship, and more of a ghost ship that was possessing a ship that was made entirely out of living components.
There was not a single nail, clip, or anything that was made out of metal, stone, or anything of the like used in making the ship. The entire ship was a living construct with over three hundred souls enslaved to the ship that would all but automate the control and offensive measures of the ship.
However, the weapons were anything but organic... As I certainly wasn't going to try to manifest Tyrranid naval life forms to try to stick on my ship. The massive three-mast Frigate had open sides, allowing on each side of the ship to have fifteen Phalanx Anti-Air machine guns that shot enough explosive, incendiary, and armor-piercing rounds that nothing but magic could stop them.
And between each of the anti-air cannons was a 155mm Howitzer that although shooting much slower, would hit with far more power and with much larger rounds it allowed it those explosive rounds to act as a bit of carpet bombing when all fifteen Howitzers were targeting the same area.
Mounted atop the ship it's was another half dozen Phalanx for more anti-air defenses, with smaller artillery systems mounted on the sides for long-range bombardment. And lastly, on the bottom of the ship, I went for the real war crime delivery system.
Basically, the entire bottom of the hull was designed to ferry the thermite, and white phosphorus was stored in the much more secure center of the ship with the rest of the conjured ammo. And then the flying ship would leave a trail of blinding, and stupidly hot white phosphorus and thermite burning behind the ship as it continued to fly.
'War Crimes? What's that? I just make super big booms!' I thought with glee as I worked to stock the Ghost Ships' cannons and other ammo stores of everything it needed.
Sadly... Chemical weapons weren't really that effective on Grimm unless you did some really fucked up stuff or used magical poisons and toxins like Kafka the Jourgmandur was famous for.
So I was left with using chemical weapons that would burn in terrible, inhumane way's to kill Grimm in a large area where more direct munitions like my cannons and anti-air machine guns wouldn't be as useful.
"The ship is coming along well ahead of schedule despite your own busy schedule," Jean spoke with a bit of exhaustion in her voice, making me nod as I popped my neck.
"Yeah, it's only thanks to your fleshcrafting and skill with soul binding, however, that it's gone so well, even if its nature as a ship allows me to fill in the cracks," I said in acknowledgment of Jean's skill making her give a tired grin at my true praise.
Then, a somewhat scolding voice spoke out. "I can't believe I have to tell two teenagers to quit working so hard beyond Morgan, but Jake, Jean, you both need to get to bed. The Class Trial is in two days, and I want you both to be well-rested!"
I gave a slight chuckle as I gave Artoria a wry smile and said. "Come on, Artoria, and Jean been working so hard... We need to have a snack at least before bed."
And I raised an eyebrow as I watched as Artoria puffed up with her large breasts bouncing in her tight nightdress before she exhaled and gave me a scowl, but it was without any heat.
No, she just rolled her eyes and said with amusement. "Fine, do what you want. But just get to bed at a reasonable hour."
I nodded in understanding with Jean, yawning and saying. "Jake, you can get a snack if you want. I am heading straight to bed. Goodnight, Jake, and I love you, mom." She said as she drew in and gave her mother Artoria a hug.
And I saw as Artoria's face pinched as the scent of... Death, meat, and other things that clung to Jean, with her being a necromancer. But Artoria still hugged her daughter and then said firmly. "Go get a shower, Jean, you stink after working for the last few hours."
Jean just stuck her tongue out childishly as she danced away from her mother, and then she was jogging away towards the elevator to leave Lux's tower, as she still lived at Calia's own tower with the rest of her fellow disciples.
With Jean gone, Artoria turned back to me with a small smile before she raised an eyebrow and said. "Well, I should be turning in as well, Jake, unless you have some other major project?"
I just shook my head and said honestly. "Nah, I am going to take a shower. And then I am going to make myself a snack before I do some mental exercises before I turn in as well."
Artoria gave a slight hum before she said gently. "How about I make you an egg sandwich, something nice and light to give you some energy before you turn in?"
I blinked, and then I said happily. "Yeah, I would appreciate that, Artoria, alright. While you make that, I will go take a quick shower."
With the mother of the Arc family following behind me as we took the elevator that came back down from Jean's suite to head up the tower towards the living quarters and I noted that Prinz and New Jersey were already asleep in their shared room that was adjacent from my bedroom.
-
After taking a quick shower, I came out in a pair of comfortable shorts and a loose t-shirt, and as I came back into my bedroom, I paused as I saw Artoria was sitting on my bed next to my office seat at my office table, where I kept plans and other things.
The reason I paused was seeing a hearty late-night breakfast in eggs, ham steak, some well-buttered toast, and a small glass of apple juice.
"Wow, you truly spoil me, Artoria," I said thankfully as I picked up the plate and sat on the office seat, where Artoria gave a small smile at my appreciation.
"Hmm. Cooking, and cleaning for up to nine people, including myself and my... My departed husband always kept me so busy when the girls and Jaune were young. Now everyone has left the nest, and I was just bored to tears in that house." She said with some nostalgia in her voice.
I raised an eyebrow at that, and for a moment, I wondered what the best response was to that... Before I decided to bulldoze on as I was curious about Artoria herself. "So you never tried to be a huntress or anything?"
And Artoria giggled with her, placing a hand over her ample breasts as she held in more boisterous laughter. "Oh dear heavens no haha! My departed husband, Artucis Arc, was a huntsman himself. And even when we were young and first starting to date, he always seemed so stressed about allowing us to have a real house."
Artoria shrugged and continued in amusement. "I only got my aura unlocked so I could actually have sex properly with my husband. And I never got a chance to train as my husband was two years older than me and he got me knocked up at the wonderful age of fifteen with Morgan haha."
'Wow... Well, he knew what he wanted at least, and he did support Artoria.' I thought with my lips twitching as Artoria gave me a knowing look.
"My husband was a good man, but he had the flaw of lacking foresight," Artoria said evenly before shrugging and said. "But, for an orphan of a family that lost their baronhood, he did well for me and took care of his children."
I took a drink of the apple juice, and I finally spoke. "So... You miss him?" I asked awkwardly at all this being dumped on me.
And Artoria nodded, but said with a kind smile. "Of course I miss him, but he's been dead for more than half a decade at this point. And I have emotionally moved on to take care of my children."
After taking a breath, Artoria gave me a knowing look and said more measuredly. "Jake, I am not sure what your background is. But remember that people like you, like my past husband. They are expected to breed to spread their strong and talented genes around."
"Beacon, the Royal Family, and the noble houses all pool resources to help such scions of talent like yourself if such... Indiscretions happen on accident."
I gave Artoria a blank look and I said with a wry smile. "Me and Jean are getting close. But not that close, Artoria."
And Artoria snorted with a hysterical giggle escaping her as she said with amusement. "Oh dear heavens no haha! Jean is one of the last ones I expected to jump your... Bones as it were. No, if anything, it would likely be Mordred or Jeanne, especially if you win the class trial and get blessed by the Light God."
I stared at the mother of... Eight children, as she shrugged and said in amusement. "Jeanne would be a nun within the church if it weren't for how much she loves children and wants to have her own someday. And Mordred is a woman who needs a strong leader to pledge her body and blade towards."
"Morgan is married to the idea of magical research, Sapphron is a lesbian who thankfully adopted a child, Jean... I love her, but she hangs around corpses too much. Nero has a fetish for fire and art, and Okita is obsessed with pure swordsmanship." She listed off her daughters and their 'obsessions'
She then shrugged before smiling wryly and said. "But yes, I am very much open to the thought of grandchildren. And should you have any children with anyone in your retinue, I can be their caregiver alongside others... The Scarlatina girls would make good mother figures as well." She noted idly, speaking more to herself than anything.
And frankly... She was definitely right about Alice, who had a very strong, nurturing aura around her.
I knew Artoria a good bit for the week I had her as my retainer, so I knew this wasn't her pushing me to go... Breed her daughters like someone might have thought. No, this was just her opinion on her daughters.
So I moved past that landmine of a topic as I gave an honest smile and said, after finishing my bite of toast. "Well, we will just have to see what happens in the future. Anyway and thank you for the food again, Artoria, this will help me a good bit."
And Artoria gave a knowing nod before she squeezed her knees with her hands as she sighed and stood up from where she was sitting on my bed with her coming over and laying a hand on my shoulder as she spoke quietly.
"No thanks are needed, Jake. I needed something to do to get away from the house filled with a bygone life. Now you have a good night." She said sweetly as she gave my shoulder a soft squeeze before she left my room.
And by the Light God, her ass a wonderful sight in that tight sleeping gown she was wearing to behold as she left. 'Damn Jake, can't be thirsting after the widow.' I thought with a hint of scolding towards myself as I smiled wryly and kept eating.
-
The next day, things went about the same as usual. I got through my classes in Grimm Studies, Huntsmen and Nobility Law, and Human/Faunus Suppression Training just fine. And Combat Training went well with Weiss cooling off and only giving me weird looks while I spent a good bit of time sparring with Pyrrha and talking with her.
Then, after my magical lessons with Lux, which went well with myself getting close to finishing the Raid Drop Arrow spell matrix in my Magical Core, I then went to my final lesson of the day in pure swordsmanship with Fiora.
"You have done well within your form and footwork lessons, Jake. I am glad that although you walk the path of magic, while dabbling in your semblance, and inherited magic. You still know the value of a good blade in your hands." Fiora spoke in her accented voice.
I took a deep breath as I massaged my wrist, which was sore from doing one thousand perfect swings of my saber between my two hands to start off the training.
"Now, Jake, I have got this saber martial art I think will fit you well enough. Or until you find what you are truly more suited for." Fiora spoke as she handed a large scroll to me from the table she was sitting at while watching me swinging my saber in the smaller training room.
Gently putting the Fabulous Fioretto back into its sheath at my side, I respectfully came to the side of the table and began carefully unrolling the scroll as I spoke quietly. "I practice the sword because I am human. And humans are the peak of the food chain because we use tools."
There was a pause before Fiora spoke sharply, even as I finished unrolling the scrolls that had something similar to the feeling of the magical Grimoire of the water spell I picked up.
"Jake, thinking of swordsmanship, or a sword itself as merely a tool. It will not allow you to get anywhere as a swordsman. You must think the sword is a part of yourself, an extension of your arm. And then you will understand the truth of swordsmanship in the future."
My lips twitched at that... But hey, if the sword 'cultivator' who is has become so good at cutting things with her sword that she is working to cut out the end of her own lifespan.
Who the hell was I to say anything about her teachings?
'Hundred Waves Saber Art?' I mused internally as I looked at the scroll.
"At the end of the scroll, where the handprint of blood is. Put your own hand atop that handprint." Fiora ordered.
I gave Fiora a dry look and I asked blandly. "Is a saber of blood going to stab through my hand or something?"
Fiora gave me a dull look before she blinked and snorted. "No, Jake, it's a heritage scroll from a respected martial artist. Not a Grimoire written by a foolish mage who would lock his legacy to his bloodline out of pride."
And Fiora's words were cutting indeed as I recalled all too well how a quarter of the dozen Grimoires that Lux brought to me had such bloodline locks. Which made them all but useless to everyone who wasn't already a match for the mage when they were alive or recorded that book.
So at the end of the long scroll filled with dozens of pictures of people using the saber art, there was the large handprint that was clearly of rusted blood. 'This sounds like a speed run to getting an STD.' I thought with a sigh.
But I just shut down those thoughts and put my hand on the bloody handprint and held in a wince as the handprint burned hot with the scroll glowing slightly.
Then the pictures of the forms and stances of the martial art swirled in place before they began going down the scroll and merging into the blood hand print of all things with an ink-like tattoo forming around my wrist.
Once the heat dissipated from the scroll, I pulled back my hand and brought it close to my face so I could see my wrist... And as I looked close to my wrist, I could see all the forms of the saber art in damn near-microscopic detail on my wrist.
"Good, the will within the scroll accepted you as an inheritor of the Hundred Waves Saber Art, Jake, though with your water affinity, that isn't much of a surprise," Fiora spoke, and I turned to her as I heard the signature rasp of her rapier leaving its sheath.
"Now, a Martial Artist Scroll is quite similar to a Grimoire in truth, it will remain on your body instead of within your magical core instead though. But it functions much the same in pushing you to adopt their method of use and style."
I likewise took up my saber, but instead, I realized that I was holding it very differently, with Fiora smiling as she noted me holding the saber downwards.
"So the Scroll helps train muscle memory... I see." I mused as I swung my saber, and it smoothly flowed into a diagonal slash upwards, and then with double the power, it came back down in a much more powerful slash.
'The Hundred Waves Saber Art is a saber art that focuses on building momentum to use much more powerful strikes and excels at dealing with large groups of chaff, and once the momentum is built up, it can do great damage to elite enemies.' I noted to myself as I experimented with the odd feeling of my body being slightly pushed towards certain movements.
Fiora's rapier made a snap towards my arm, and I realized easily that Fiora was also helping me test my martial arts as she said casually. "The tattoo will fade away once you master all the movements, stances, and counters detailed within the scroll that has transferred to your skin."
My saber hit her thin rapier and knocked it aside, but before I could speak, in turn Fiora silenced anything I could say as she bounced her rapier off my saber and sent the point of her blade at my face.
Automatically I stepped back with my back leaning back slightly and I realized that this was also in the martial arts. I stepped forward as Fiora pulled back her sword. And with the step forward and my back leaning forward, I brought my sword back down with a lot more force.
To which Fiora caught on the guard of her crossguard, and before I could react, Fiora had calmly sheathed her sword back into her side. "Good, we will continue sparring after the class trial, but I recommend you also spar with other swordsmen like Pyrrha, and Weiss in particular."
"Is it because Weiss uses a rapier even if magical? Like yourself?" I asked curiously.
And Fiora gave a slight hum before she said calmly. "Partly, though more on the side of you being physically her superior, so you will get practice in properly dominating a weaker foe. While Pyrrha and Jingliu, on the other hand, will show you the other side of being on the weaker side in a match-up."
"Now you go back home to rest, Jake, you have tomorrow off in terms of classes to meet with your teammates for the Class Trial. I hope for your own sake you use the time well." Fiora said in dismissal.
"Thank you for your time, Fiora," I said with respect and bowed my head slightly before I sheathed my saber and left to make my way toward Lux's tower.
Making my way through Beacon's massive campus as I was making my way past the common hall where I used to stay when my term first started. I saw Yang hanging out with another couple of people that she had in her 'unarmed' classes.
So I gave her a quick wave before I continued on with my own walk home... But of course, life was never that damned simple.
The air became colder, but more than anything was how the air became heavier and a soft voice that was twisted whispered towards me. "The cafe is to your right." And I looked down the road to my right, that led to more of the dark side of the schools of magic as I was entering the magic quarter of Beacon.
And lo and behold, was Calia sitting a hundred meters away from me at a table that was just outside a gothic-themed cafe.
Taking a breath, I swallowed down any nervousness, and I made my way over to Calia once I was close enough. I spoke respectfully as she was still a Sage herself. "Lady Calia." I greeted her.
I didn't demand what she wanted in getting my attention, nor did I even ask what she wanted, as it was obvious that she had something she wanted from me, as she got my attention on purpose.
Calia elegantly nodded with her waving a thin, delicate hand towards the chair in front of her. "Sit, young man. I have some wisdom to share with you, and to make sure your potential isn't snuffed out too soon."
I sat down and folded my hands atop the table, and I asked bluntly. "That isn't even a threat, is it? No... It's not the church, is it, for me beating up that priest, is it?"
Calia raised an eyebrow before she said casually. "Ah, you mean the little preacher who killed himself after the church said they wouldn't heal his castration after lusting after another man's woman... No, your threat is closer at hand, I am afraid."
My lips curled into a frown, and I cycled around who could be the enemy around me, and I honestly came up blank. Besides, maybe Ruby might have held some kind of grudge with how much she seemed to hate Yang.
"I see. Then please share your wisdom, Lady Calia." I said after a moment of thought.
And Calia's crimson eyes, which were a sign of her status as a Lich, glowed as a small rune formed on her finger that she tapped on the table. "I sealed the area so no sound could escape, nor could anyone read our lips from a distance." She said casually before her lips thinned.
"Ravel Phenex, the second born. And first Princess of the Royal Family has made official plans to spend the next few days here at the Academy to watch the Class Trial, which includes staying at Luxanna's magic tower as they are childhood friends."
I blinked and had to run that through my head a couple of times, and for a moment I thought Calia was saying Ravel was my enemy for some reason... But then I recalled the genetic magic all Royals had. And what the Valian royal family had in particular.
"Peerage," I stated with a frown, with Calia elegantly taking a sip of her tea.
And with a soft clinking noise of her putting the tea cup back on its coaster, she said calmly. "Peerage indeed, young man. Ravel is playing the Great Game, and is seeking her own Peerage to counter her older brother's and, of course, to suppress her younger siblings."
Calia's glowing red eyes met mine with her saying calmly. "I already told Jean to refuse all such requests with my own name being used as a shield. But you will need to watch your own retinue who doesn't have a sage behind them that can counteract Ravel's royal influence."
With Calia finishing off bluntly. "Because even if little Lux tells Ravel not to invite you... She would be put in a very awkward place as the heir of Crownsguard, who are the most loyal to the Royal Family, and one of your members decides to 'join of their own accord."
"So it's a situation of better to ask forgiveness than to ask," I muttered with a frown, with Calia sniffing and retorting.
"Ravel is the First Princess Jake. Should the King and the First Prince die? She would be hoisted to the throne without a question as the Queen recently died to a plot from Abominations. Unless she does something that will harm Vale greatly, she won't be censored or punished without good reason."
I remained silent for a moment before I spoke. "My potential isn't what you are worried about. Why are you actually telling me this?"
Calia was silent for a long moment with her giving me a look that brought a chill to my very soul, before she blinked and looked back down to her tea and began speaking. "Vale, Mistral, and Atlas have been in recovery for the last few decades after the Night of Knives and Faunus Culling."
"After these decades, even the Grimm's higher-tiered monsters are moving much more overtly. But in principle, Mistral and Atlas, for their own reasons will also be coming into conflict with the bread basket of the world in Vale."
Calia held up both of her hands, and with her left hand, she said. "Mistral's entire culture of decadence and strength is built on the back of a brutal slave culture of might makes right."
Calia then raised her right hand. "And Atlas is a center of magical and technological advancement that's material needs will never be sated. Conflict is assured, especially with how Weiss is here now."
I raised an eyebrow at Calia, and I couldn't help but recall how Weiss said she was sort of the black sheep of the family. So I stated. "Weiss is worthless as a political prisoner, huh... Why is she even here, though?"
To which Calia gave a wane smile before replying coldly. "Whether it's in life or even death. The royal family has uses for her; in life, she could be added to one of the royal's peerages should the right leverage be used. And even if she needs to be dealt with... Either myself or the Lich Lord of the Royal Family can make a very powerful corpse puppet out of her body."
I was silent for a minute as I digested that information, then abruptly Calia spoke again after she took another elegant sip of her tea, after speaking so much. "My disciple Jean has said good things about your work ethic, Jake... It's a pity you leapt into Lux's arms despite my admittedly ham-fisted attempt to make you see the power in true necromancy."
"Soul ensnarment does give a bit of a bad first impression," I stated calmly before I shrugged and said honestly.
"Besides, with Lux, I am one of only two disciples, with her spoiling me a good deal. Yes, I imagine you are a wonderful, if not even better, teacher than her with your experience and power. But having almost her sole attention is more than worth it."
Calia raised an elegant eyebrow before she closed her eyes with a mild sniff of amusement emanating from her. "I see. That is a fair point to make, as I indeed do have more than fifty disciples in my service. Though my time is not nearly as limited as you may thin,k Jake... As this is only one of my thirteen bodies that are roaming Beacon as we speak."
I actually paused at that before I realized that it made sense with how Calia was a Lich, and thus her soul had already been taken out of her body and seal away somewhere safe. Who was to say that she hadn't already used wisps of her soul to create or take over bodies already?
Either way, I had no doubt she wasn't lying to me in any way... Having a dozen plus Calia's running around wasn't something someone could hide or something, though I am surprised I haven't heard about it.
"In either case, little Luxanna is going to watch you most closely... One could say jealousy in fact, but regardless. Jake, I do appreciate you taking my disciple Jean into your Class Trial team. With your project, I am quite assured of your team's victory, honestly, so long as you all don't die." Calia said with a small smile despite the casual mention of our possible violent deaths.
I raised an eyebrow at her wording, and I slowly nodded before I asked a bit cheekily. "How much is your appreciation worth, Lady Calia?"
And there was a pause before Calia blinked, and I felt the dark pressure of her mana flex ever so slightly before her smile deepened and she spoke in a soft tone.
"My appreciation is a dark, heavy thing, Jake. You probably aren't ready for such a thing, but as for what it's worth... You will not see my appreciation, Jake, but you will still feel and reap its rewards."
With that, Cali elegantly stood up, and I felt something sticking me to the chair I was in, and then Calia stepped behind me with her soft hand gently falling on my shoulders, just beside my neck.
And then her hot, moist breath hit my ears as she whispered. "You can build souls out of nothing, Jake... Me and you could create something truly great if you wanted. And I can teach you things about life and death that Lux would never understand even if she became a Sage."
I felt Calia's hands squeeze my shoulders before letting go with her painted black long nails sensually skating over my neck as she stood up. Then I realized her shadow construct that had stuck me to the chair had broken apart with Calia teleporting away via a pillar of darkness that swallowed her up.
After a moment, I gingerly felt my neck and muttered to myself. "Did I just get molested by a big titty goth milf?"
And you know what... It wasn't that bad, to be honest.
Taking a breath to center my thoughts, I got up as I wasn't going to let Calia distract me with her wiles. And I continued back to Lux's tower without any other incidents happening.
-
However, once I got into the tower and got my things put away. I got a loud ping from my scroll, making my face twitch as I read its contents.
[Heya! Come meet my bestie. We are all relaxing right now. She is the first princess, but this is a private thingie, so your first meeting won't need to be super formal. We are on my floor so come on up!]
"Damn... I can't just avoid her." I muttered with a wry smile before I sighed at the realization I wouldn't be getting to get some rest just yet or seeing my ship girls... Or my bunny girls.
Heading up the elevator to the top floor of the magic tower that was Lux's personal floor, I came out of the elevator with another message telling me where the girls were, apparently.
And I headed over to where she told me to.
Lo and behold I found my master, Cinder, and the First Princess Ravel Phenex all sitting around a large ornate wooden table that had a massive orb embedded in the center of the table.
"Hello, Jake! We are playing Divination and Destruction! You sit with Cinder, and she can explain!" Lux said excitedly and my lips twitched as I saw how she was clearly fucking drunk with the dull eyes and the crimson flush across her face.
Ravel herself was looking drunk as well, with her having long blond hair that was done in a long, ornate braid. And she was wearing a thin dress that clung to her voluptuous frame, that exceeded Lux's as well as Cinder's.
Cinder, however, wasn't drunk even if she had clearly done a bit of drinking herself. And by that, I mean that she had drunk like half a bottle of wine while Lux and Ravel each had like three empty bottles in front of themselves.
"Jake," Cinder spoke quietly in greeting before she inclined her head towards the large orb and began explaining quietly.
"Divination and Destruction is a game Master mages and up do often for trading resources and such. Using the divination ward stones surrounding Beacon, we outline a zone and then, using the stones as a conduit to carry our mana, we create controlled spells that don't kill Grimm but instead draw them together or into a targeted area."
Then Lux shouted over Cinder, whose face twitched. "And da-winner is whoever blows up the most Grimm in a single Master tier spell haha!"
Then, with a slight hum, Cinder added. "Jake, sync your mana into the Divination Orb, you will be able to watch Lux and Lady Ravel do their game."
And even as I did so, I felt Ravel's eyes fall on Cinder and me with her pouting and saying in somewhat of a whine. "Cinder, no need to call me lady, princess, or whatever here. I am just relaxing and don't want any of that courtly nonsense right now."
To which Cinder said calmly. "As you say, Lady Ravel, I will do my best to treat you more informally." The obvious sarcasm made Lux giggle mischievously while I finished syncing up my mana from my magical core into the Divination Stone.
It was rather like having all the viewing ward's surrounding Beacon open to myself, but Ravel and Lux obviously had their connections set to follow them with me, and Cinder was able to switch between watching Lux and Ravel using their magic to guide their own small hordes together.
It was my first time seeing a powerful mage up close and personal as the only other times I had seen mages in action were the other mages that entered Beacon's initiation and they weren't all that special, frankly.
Well, besides no other mages than when Glynda froze everyone in the hallway when Ruby had her psychotic episode when she went after Yang anyway.
Ravel was seemingly a Master tier mage or maybe even close to a Grandmaster mage when it came to Fire and Wind magics, as she was using explosive blasts of fire magic to scare and get the Grimm moving and then using her wind magic to guide them.
Then, when she got a large group of Grimm together within a good hundred-yard radius. She would use a fire spell, and it seemed she was fond of violent implosions that resulted in an even more powerful explosion that resulted right after the implosion collapsed in on itself.
Meanwhile, Lux, being known as the Grandmaster of All, used a variety of elements to herd and control the Grimm until she used her preferred finishing magic in Light magic.
Which, in this case, was two circular rings of light that formed on the ground and in the air. Then, from the outer edges of the ring to the center, a massive pillar of light magic would blast upwards and downwards at the same time, annihilating everything caught in between the rings.
"Ha! I killed forty-seven Grimm!" Ravel said proudly.
"Yeah, but I killed higher-tier Grimm!" Lux said spitefully, sticking out her tongue at Ravel, and I almost wanted to face-palm at just how childish she looked.
Cinder leaned in and, as Ravel and Lux began drunkenly arguing, she whispered. "Be formal with Ravel. Don't let her get too close for your own safety."
I nodded silently as Ravel saw Cinder whispering into my ear and shouted out. "Luxie! Cinder is flirting with your disciple!"
And I saw Lux's eyes glow as she drunkenly scowled at us, and I couldn't help but wonder how Lux was even able to text me then. Lux flared out a bit of her mana and shook her head, and I realized she was burning away the alcohol inside of her.
"Ahh... You are killing the buzz, Lux." Ravel muttered before her hair glowed, and with the room's heat going up as she also seemingly purged herself of the booze she had consumed.
"I can't go smiting my adorable disciples just because you get me all worked up, Ravel," Lux said with some joking scolding in her voice, making Ravel raise up her hands in surrender.
Then, seeing the two older magicians were done with their game for a moment, Cinder spoke up. "Well, with Jake here and needing to introduce himself. I must be getting back to my research. So please excuse me, Lady Ravel and Lux."
Lux gave a small frown before she nodded with a small smile. "Ok, ok, Cinder, go back to your quarters if you want. Jake... You are mine for now haha!" Lux said with joking menace in her voice.
Cinder quickly beat a retreat from the room while I coughed, and when Cinder had left, I gave a slight bow to Ravel and said somewhat formally. "Lady Ravel, my name is Jake Bariss, and it's a pleasure to meet you."
Ravel raised an eyebrow before she gave a slight smile and said. "I see, I am glad you feel that way, then. And how has your time with my friend as your teacher been going?"
"Lux has been a great teacher for me in the couple of weeks I have been under her study. I am almost done with my first spell matrix to the point I think I will finish it tonight, even honestly."
Lux blinked and said with some excitement. "Really, Jake? That's great news! Actually, can you try again and let us watch you try to form it?"
My face pinched at the thought of letting Ravel and Lux both into my mana core to watch me make the spell matrix, and seeing my flash of reluctance, Lux giggled and said comfortingly. "Jake, it's normal for mages to show each other how they form their spell matrix with people they trust. And I have been Ravel's friend for my entire life, I trust her with my life."
'Yeah, but I don't trust Ravel with my own life.' I thought with a sigh internally before I smiled wryly and said. "Alright, alright, master. No need to guilt trip me."
Lux clapped her hands happily and said. "Thank you, Jake! Now let's mowsie on over to the exercise mat's over there and you can meditate while we watch your mana core."
I walked over to the three-foot-thick exercise mat's there were clearly for more fun than actual yoga... Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if Lux actually just slept on these mats instead of moving all the way to bed with how lazy she could be sometimes.
And I began the process of drawing the Water Drop Arrow spell matrix within my mana core as per usual.
But soon enough, I felt Lux's hand naturally fall on my own with her own mana merging into my body to look within my mana core. Likewise, then I felt on my other hand, a soft, dainty hand that could only belong to Ravel, that had its own strong feeling to it.
'Ravel is definitely at least a Master tier mage... Makes sense with how she is aiming to become Queen of Vale over her older brother, though.' I mused before I got back to work.
The Water Drop Arrow spell, however, even for a novice spell, was rather complicated. As it wasn't just using my mental energy with the Mental Brush to create a simple water drop or whatever.
No, I had to draw a perfectly even, perfectly filled-out, with zero overlap in the drawing of a three-dimensional droplet inside of my Mana Core.
As the premise of the spell was for the droplet to act as a powerful armor-penetrating spell, with the thin part of the solid droplet hitting and piercing the target with the pressurized water inside the droplet, then exploding within the target it hit and hopefully piercing into.
I failed a couple of times with the Spell Matrix falling apart, but as I went to do it again... I didn't fuck up this time like most other times and overlapped the spell matrix at some point.
And I finished the Water Drop Arrow spell matrix with the spell shrinking as it sank into the Mana Pool that was my particular Mana Core.
I opened my eyes with both girls letting go of my hands, with Lux waiting for me as I opened up a hand, and I slowly called upon the spell matrix inside my mana core with the Water Drop Arrow spell forming slowly above my hand.
A large sideways water droplet formed that was bigger than my fist, and I knew that the water was compressed enough to explode with the force of a hand grenade.
"Well, well. Congratulations, Jake Bariss on your first spell matrix." Ravel said kindly as she shifted slightly from her rather formal sitting form of sitting on her knees.
And in her movement, I noticed that she had magically changed out of her dress while I was busy meditating.
With her tight-fitting dress being replaced with a 'casual' tight-fitting sleeping blouse that exposed her deep cleavage, along with her wearing tiny shorts that I imagine also clung to her form.
Only taking a glance at her, I was saved from any interaction with Ravel... Is what I would love to say but I was pushed into Ravel, face first into her tit's making me mentally scream as Lux had jumped me in a bear hug with her shouting excitedly. "Jake, I am so proud of you for learning your first spell so quickly!"
'Titty logic is at hand...' I thought before I froze as I felt a bloom of supernatural heat as Ravel snapped out. "Lux! Get your hands out of there!"
Then as soon as Lux's weight got off my side and back I got my face out of the fucking princesses tit's with her having a deep flush and some slight anger in her eyes as I scooted away from her.
And the moment I got away from Lux and Ravel, Ravel made a slapping motion at Lux whose eyes widened and she squealed as a powerful gust of wind threw her ass over tea kettle across the large mat making her roll across it a solid four times with the speed she had.
But even as Lux came to a stop, Ravel's scowl turned into a twitching eyebrow as Lux shamelessly called out. "That's what you get for touching my disciple's hand without asking permission, hmph!"
"Where else would I touch him to see into his mana core other than his hand?" Ravel demanded in exasperation before pausing and then massaging one of her left breasts as I had landed more on her right one. "And why did you pinch my breast, especially in front of him, Lux?"
To which Lux puffed up her considerably smaller chest and said shamelessly. "That's what you deserve for flaunting them!" Then she paused as though in thought.
Then, Lux said with a wide smile as though she had an epiphany. "I got it! You can hold his foot! I don't want to touch his feet, so you can touch those instead of his hand haha!"
And that's where I checked out as I just covered my face in fucking embarrassment at how much of a damned goober my master was.
'Wait. Is she actually this weird with her friend? Or is she actually just going full ham to make Ravel too embarrassed to even bug me about peerage?' I wondered.
My thought was answered as Lux yawned loudly with her holding out her hand with a fresh, large wine bottle shooting into her hand with her saying cheekily. "Jake darling, go on back to your floor. Me and Ravel are going back to drinking Ozzie's special stash from Mistral while we watch some movies, and you can't be here for this depraved slumber party."
There was a pause before Ravel stated bluntly. "Jake, your master drools in her sleep, she monologue's her dreams... Even lewd dreams and-"
Lux screamed shrilly as she threw another wine bottle at Ravel who caught it with her magic while throwing an evil smile at Lux. And myself? I literally fucking ran from the room.
These older single mage women were scary!
The next day I awoke to the sweet and succulent feeling of a sweaty body underneath my blankets.
Opening eyes I took in two messy heads of white and blue hair snuggling up on my chest and I knew today... Was going to be a good day, that's if we didn't die in the Class Trial today anyway.
"Prinz, Jersey... Wake up time." I groaned with both girls whining with Prinz Eugen looking at me with pout before she retorted.
"No. You been too busy to pay any attention to me and I won't have it!"
With New Jersey oh so helpfully chiming in. "Yeah! You been working on a whole different ship then us, not even making another shipgirl that we could hang out with darling, so take your punishment cuddles with respect and dignity!"
And so I was horrfically punished with snuggles with my possessive shipgirls that demanded their own time knowing full well that with the Class Trial today. We were going to be extremely busy.
-
After the great snuggledoom my group in myself, Ren who had successfully trained himself into being able to use his new YoRHa body well enough, Nora, and my two ship girls, met in the hall designated for teams to get together before we took the Bullhead assigned to us.
And of course while we grabbed everything we needed. I also had stuffed the Black Pearl into my enchanted Ship in a Bottle so that I could easily carry it with me.
"I am glad to see you all ready for this wonderful day!" Jeanne spoke excitedly as she smiled kindly as she all but dragged Jean behind her.
And bother sister's were outfitted in their combat outfit's which were almost a reflection of one another. Jean's was dark, with dull metal criss crossing her outfit with a small crown of burnt metal that protected her forhead.
While Jean's outfit was clearly aligned with the God of Light church. With clean white fabric, gold highlights and some slight blue trim on the edges.
"It's too early for this." Jean muttered with a slight yawn and I noticed that Artoria wasn't anywhere to be found today... And then I realized she likely didn't want to be seen with how the last big event for her in killing Grimm was her son dying.
"Oh you are just so cute in that outfit Jeanne! We need to coordinate some outfit's together after this!" New Jersey went on with Jeanne who smiled and met my ethusastic Ship-girls... Particular brand of insanity easily.
While Prinz Eugen and Jean however just sharing a look of silent agreement of some sort.
"Well so now we are just waiting on the other's." Ren noted calmly as he stood behind Nora with his android arms folded over his chest.
Seeing Nora look between me and Ren, I smiled wryly before I asked him curiously. "So how is your new body treating you? Is it everything you could have wanted?"
To which Ren actually chuckled and said in his normal calm voice. "It's certainly something. I think I honestly prefer my body this way. Without my body distracting my mind, I have made phenomenal strides in wind and shadow magic in fact."
'Yup... There is that Semblance driven complete sociopathy. He still has little to no emotions due to his semblance throwing his emotional horomone specturm into the gutter.' I thought as I talked with Ren, just having a bit of bro time to catch up with him as we both had been stupidly busy for the last week especially.
Then Pyrrha came into the room and over to our group after picking us out of the groups of other student's making their way into the room. And she sidled up to me quickly as the other groups gave her dirty looks for obviously being frrom Mistral.
And I coudn't help but wonder if Pyrrha herself was a bit of a political prisoner like Weiss was... Even though Pyrrha had run away here to Vale herself somehow.
"Hello Jake, are you ready for today?" Pyrrha asked with a soft smile as she looked at me. And I noticed that smile had a bit of an edge to it as Prinz leaned against me a bit.
But either way I just nodded and said confidently. "Yeah, we have all the best methods to come in first place for this event. I would be rather shocked to say the least if we didn't frankly."
To which Pyrrha gave a sharp incline of the head in agreement before she said somewhat quietly. "I agree Jake. Not to mention how much it would hurt my pride to lose with how stacked our team currently is."
And wasn't that a statement. Our team was basically perfectly all rounded, we had an assassin, plenty of long range bombardment, duelists for elite enemies, and we even had a healer in Jeanne.
To say nothing of our precious Nora... Nora who smashes things real good.
"So I have some pictures on my scroll of some food made from Mistral Jake, do you think that when we get settled in, you could conjure up some authentic Mistral food?" Pyrrha asked as she sidled in a bit closer as Prinz got pulled into conversation with Jean as they shared some common intrests.
Pyrrha's soft cinnamon body wash filled my nose as she looked towards me with hope and I slowly nodded as I said. "Yeah, I will do my best. I can manifest food rather easily though I am not sure how authentic it would be."
And Pyrrha gave a soft smile as she said gently. "Don't worry Jake, I am sure you will get... Plenty of time to get the hang of it with how long we will be together. And I made sure to get the pictures done by chef's I paid to make the food on a ship itself!"
As Pyrrha finished speaking, she had gotten so excited that she had actually grabbed my wrist and as she did so... I realized something with how Pyrrha was a bit flushed as she looked at me.
'Ah hell... Pyrrha has a crush on me. I replaced Jaune in being the only one to basically treat her like a normal human being and she has latched onto me because of it.' I thought with a wry smile.
But that was just the start... As the room went quiet and I startled with Pyrrha frowning as a soft voice rang out as I felt someone gently pull the back of my dress shirt and pull between the straps holding the cannon's to my arms.
I looked behind me in confusion only for me to pause as I looked behind me. As right behind me and blushing fiercly was a clearly embarrassed Ruby Rose in her combat outfit that had the top couple buttons undone to show off a bit of cleavage...
But her pale breasts being partly shown wasn't something I could look at for long as Ruby whispered weakly. "Uhm Jake. I am sorry if I made a bad first impression. Me and Yang... I wanted to say I am sorry for being like that and I made you some cookies!"
She then held out a basket towards me filled with the scent of somehow freshly baked cookies that filled my nose... And as I felt my group's gaze on my back. I knew that 1 It would be extremely rude to refuse out of hand with how it was clearly an apology she was making earnestly.
And 2, it would also reflect bad on me as Lux's disciple to refuse an open hand of apology and friendship from the Rose Duke family.
So even with some level of miss giving's I gingerly took the basket containing the cookies before I said respectfully. "I see. Well I am sorry for the... Friction between you and Yang. But, uhh yeah thank you for the cookies. They smell wonderful and I am sure I will enjoy them."
Ruby nodded rocking back and forth on her boot's with raised heels with the motion making her chest bounce with the motion as she bit her lower lip.
And then after she mustered up her courage she said quietly. "I... I think how you make your weapons is like really really cool. So I hope we can be friends, and uhm would you like to hang out after the Class Trial or something?"
All of a sudden I felt a dagger like gaze hitting the back of my neck but I just smiled helplessly before I said honestly. "Yeah, I mean after the Class Trial, and everything about that is taken care of. I woudn't mind if you have some free time."
"That's great! Ok, I uhm yeah I need to get to my team so I will see you after the Class Trial alright?" Ruby said as she looked at me with her big silver eyes all but begging me to agree.
I simply nodded as Ruby grinned victoriously and she literally skipped away .
Turning back around to my group I saw that Jeanne was giving me a wide smile as she spoke happily. "You becoming a friend with the Rose heiress is good news indeed for the faith!"
And I was reminded on how the Silver Eyes was a direct and rare blessing from the Light God. Either way I got back into conversation with my team before I noticed time was running out and that Weiss and her retainer Jingliu were going to be late soon.
But then she came through the door, and I couldn't help but stare as Weiss was wearing this perverted maid outfit I most certainly didn't expect to see her wearing.
And to say the least, Weiss's pale skin was tinted red as she forced herself to walk normally and not be hiding behind Jingliu which was just emanating silent smug energy.
Even my own team fell silent as Weiss made her way over to my team, and once she got there... Weiss's eyes filled with embarrassment pierced my own with her whispering as fiercely as a kitten who was defending their ill-gotten snack.
"Well? Are you content now?" She demanded adorably.
And I just took a deep breath as I looked into Weiss's eyes and I said quietly. "You have an adorable belly button."
For a split second I thought Weiss was going to have an aneurysm as she covered her stomach while Jingliu chuckled and covered her mouth to hide her further hysterical giggles.