We live in the Foothills of Dragon Peak.
Two Trials
My stomach rumbles.
After all, yesterday I only ate the sweets I shared with Ares-chan. I spent the whole day playing, so it’s no wonder I’m hungry.
Ares-chan, hearing my stomach’s screams, looks up at me with concern.
“Are you hungry?”
“Yeah, I am. Shall we go look for some fruit in the Ancient Tree Forest?”
“Potato potato?”
“No, no. Even if we find potatoes, we can’t eat them because we can’t use fire.”
“No, no.”
I wonder what she means. As I’m looking at Ares-chan, she pulls a golden potato from some mysterious space.
“!?”
Come to think of it, Ares-chan had that special skill. Or rather, if you had it, you should have told me sooner!
I receive the fluffy, warm potato from Ares-chan, as if it were just baked. Does it have a warming function?
I peel off the crispy skin and share it, splitting it in half with Ares-chan.
The gentle sweetness that fills my mouth is a welcome surprise for my morning stomach.
Thanks to Ares-chan, I managed to get through breakfast.
There’s still the problem of what to do after lunch, but for now, it’s good enough. I should be able to procure some food in the Ancient Tree Forest during the morning.
But before that.
I have to do something about the spirits who have started appearing as if they were waiting for the morning!
If I end up playing with the spirits who gathered with the intention of playing, I won’t have time to tackle the trials.
“Let’s play.”
“Fun!”
“What should we do?”
Do they have no regard for my circumstances?
The spirits continue to gather as I ponder how to get out of this crisis.
Perhaps my trial is to skillfully manage these innocent spirits.
“There’s no such bizarre trial!”
“Uwah!”
I’m startled by the sudden, merciless interjection and look around.
Wh-who is it!?
“Good grief. Watching you since yesterday, you seem like a clueless boy.”
“A-Ares-san…? No, that’s not right. Ares-chan is clinging to me. Then… who are you?”
Yes. It’s no wonder I mistook her.
I look at the direction the voice came from. Ares-chan, still clinging to me, is looking in the same direction. And at the base of the Spirit Tree, in our line of sight, stood an alluring woman who resembled an adult Ares.
I realize it instinctively.
She’s a Spirit Tree Spirit.
She has a different presence from the spirits gathering around. An alluring atmosphere. And a resemblance to Ares.
Adult spirits should need to store Spirit Power to become one, but this woman was already in adult form from the start. That alone tells me she’s different from ordinary spirits.
“If you understand, then we can talk quickly.”
The woman, narrowing her eyes, approaches me with a chuckle.
“Elnea… is that your name?”
“Yes. Is this our first meeting?”
“What are you saying? Didn’t I help you in the Eastern lands?”
“R-really?”
“If you’ve forgotten, then that’s fine. However, I want you to fulfill my request.”
“Uh, what do you mean?”
I don’t understand the flow of the conversation.
What is this sudden adult Spirit Tree Spirit trying to make me do?
The spirits that had gathered around the Spirit Tree do not approach the Spirit Tree Spirit. They play well with Ares-chan, but they don’t go near this woman.
She might be a truly special existence.
“I want to see Elnea’s Dance again. I helped you in the Eastern lands. Elnea should thank me, shouldn’t she?”
If she puts it that way, I can’t refuse.
However, I don’t have my White Sword or the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword with me right now. I’m hesitant to perform the Dragon Sword Dance without any weapons. The woman shakes her head, indicating I’m mistaken.
“Elnea doesn’t understand. Either way, listen to my request and dance.”
What is it that Elnea doesn’t understand? Putting that question aside. I’m happy to repay the favor to the spirits who were kind to me in the Yorttenitos Kingdom.
“But, is it really okay to go without a weapon?”
“Didn’t I say you don’t understand? I’m not asking for a fight. I want to see Elnea’s Dance. Can’t you dance without a weapon?”
“I’ve never done it before, but I’ll try my best.”
Until now, whenever I’ve performed the Dragon Sword Dance, I’ve always held something in my hands. Whether it was a branch for firewood, my White Sword, or the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword. I lack confidence in whether I can dance properly without a weapon, but I’ll try.
Reacting to my enthusiasm, Ares-chan lets go of me. Then, she moves to the woman’s side.
The woman takes Ares-chan’s hand and sits down at the base of the Spirit Tree.
The spirits that appeared gather around me expectantly.
I feel nervous about dancing without a weapon, while being aware of the many eyes on me.
I close my eyes and focus my mind, trying to calm myself.
Now, this is my first time dancing the Dragon Sword Dance without a weapon, but that doesn’t mean I think it’s okay to fail. It’s repayment for favors, so I can’t hold back.
With my eyes closed, I spread both arms wide. The lightness in my hands feels insufficient.
I focus. Even though I’m not holding anything in my hands, I concentrate my Dragon Energy to my fingertips, as if focusing on the sword tip, just like always.
And slowly, I begin to dance.
This is not a Dragon Sword Dance for battle.
Rather, it’s a purifying dance, like when sending off the undead.
It’s a Kagura, like an offering to the Goddess.
I dance the unarmed Dragon Sword Dance with gratitude, not hostility.
The clear Dragon Energy overflowing around the Spirit Tree begins to dance in sync with the Dragon Sword Dance.
Paying close attention to my tiptoes, body movements, and fingertips, I strive for a dance that aims to impress, not to defeat the opponent.
Once I start dancing, I no longer feel the gaze of the surrounding spirits.
I dance from the heart, with gratitude for the spirits.
This might be a special dance, unlike any before.
With every wave of my hand, with every high kick, my heart becomes clearer. And the Dragon Sword Dance, performed with a pure heart, felt sacred, devoid of any aggression.
A dance is meant to be like this, isn’t it?
Not something that hurts someone, but something that fascinates, brings happiness, and evokes joy.
I’m not denying the Dragon Sword Dance for combat. But we shouldn’t lose sight of the original meaning of a dance hidden behind its aggression.
Kensei Faruna captivates her audience and opponents with her battle dances. This is likely because she hasn’t lost sight of the essence of dance even in combat.
That’s a realm I haven’t reached yet.
I realize.
Taught by Sleigsta (Old Man), sparring with Mistral, and through trial and error, I’ve obtained my own Dragon Sword Dance.
So, what should I aim for next? Perhaps, something even further beyond.
Perhaps, a dance that captivates everything, like Kensei Faruna.
If that’s the case, what am I lacking now?
I can dance according to the form. I can delicately handle Dragon Energy. I can weave in my own techniques.
My movements are perfect.
Amidst all this, what is missing?
It’s likely the power to captivate the audience.
A dance like a prima ballerina’s, an exciting dance. I lack passionate movements.
Once the basics are mastered, application is needed.
When I close my eyes, I vividly recall the passionate dances of the prima ballerina.
The role model is right there.
Flowing movements. Actions with varying tempo. A dance filled with passion. I dance the Dragon Sword Dance, mindful of the audience.
I continue to dance the Dragon Sword Dance, wholeheartedly, yet not forgetting that the spirits and Ares-chan are watching.
I don’t know how long I danced.
I finished the Dragon Sword Dance before fatigue caused my concentration to waver and my Dragon Energy and limbs to become disarrayed.
My hands raised high. My breathing is heavy.
My entire body is drenched in sweat.
Instead of applause, I see the spirits’ joyful commotion. Particles of light dance wildly, spirits in the form of beasts and reptiles leap around, and those in human form mimic the Dragon Sword Dance with little hops.
It makes me happy.
I was supposed to be the one performing the Dragon Sword Dance, but seeing the spirits enjoy themselves makes me feel happy.
“It’s… passable, I suppose.”
However, the Spirit Tree Spirit woman says that, and I end up with a bitter smile.
“I’m sorry. From the middle, I was dancing for myself, wasn’t I?”
“No, that’s fine. What I wanted was precisely the latter half of the dance.”
“Is that so?”
“If you wanted to fight me, the first half of the dance would have been fine, but…?”
“No, I’ll pass.”
“Then, Elnea is not mistaken. In that case, you will dance until I am satisfied.”
“Eeeeee!”
I might have found the assignment for this trial.
To further elevate the Dragon Sword Dance to a higher level.
So I don’t resist dancing, but until the Spirit Tree Spirit woman is satisfied? Can my stamina last?
After all, I haven’t eaten properly since yesterday.
With only yesterday’s sweets and this morning’s potato, I’ll faint from hunger.
Indeed, my stomach, after finishing the dance, was already complaining.
“Good grief. What a troublesome boy.”
Saying that, the woman takes out something from a mysterious space, just like Ares-chan.
“Th-that is…!”
I gulp.
The golden potato was sweet and delicious, but it can’t compare to the fruit the woman is holding.
“I’ll share some Spirit Tree Fruit with you as a special treat.”
“Yay!”
I jump for joy at the woman’s kindness. Then, I receive the ripe fruit and take a big bite.
Supreme sweetness overflows in my mouth and permeates my entire body.
“Keep this a secret from Sleigsta.”
Yes, I nod and eat the Spirit Tree Fruit.
“Potato potato?”
“Can’t be helped.”
Ares-chan takes out another potato and trades it with the woman. Then, she also happily sinks her teeth into the Spirit Tree Fruit.
I notice the surrounding spirits looking at us enviously, which makes me feel awkward.
“It’s only special for today.”
Noticing this, the woman generously shares, and the spirits begin to rejoice even more.
And then I have another idea.
That’s right. Trials don’t have to be just one, do they?
I think of another trial and become motivated.
No matter what, I will overcome the trials and show everyone a better version of myself.
The Dragon Sword Dance is currently divided into a dance for battle and a purifying dance for cleansing. I want to add to this a dance that captivates the audience, and a dance like Kagura to be offered to the Goddess and the Spirit Tree. And I want to complete a Dragon Sword Dance that combines all of them.
It probably won’t be easy, but it’s perfect for this trial. After all, there are two Spirit Tree Spirits right in front of me. Moreover, one of them spoils me, and the other seems likely to criticize me strictly.
And one more thing.
If I can achieve the second trial that came from the Spirit Tree Fruit, I might be able to resolve something I’ve been troubled by for a long time, killing two birds with one stone, wouldn’t that be great?
“What an interesting worry.”
The woman, reading my thoughts, laughs.
It’s a worry the spirits wouldn’t understand. But for me, it was an urgent one.
“Since it sounds interesting, I might help you.”
“Yay! Thank you very much for your help.”
I thank the woman who seems willing to help me with my concerns, and my motivation increases even further.
If this is the case, whether I can achieve it safely by the end of the year depends on my effort.
Thus began my rigorous training, having found two trials.
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