Hello guys, here I come with a new chapter, I hope you'll enjoy it and don't forget to leave a comment behind.

Enjoy !

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Four days passed since we met Inkvir, I continued to train with Kiel while Nuya and Pan were 'sparring'. Within those four days I quickly grew stronger, I should be strong enough to kill one of those Cerbals as Inkvir call them. But it's not enough, I have to become stronger than that.

Meanwhile, Eniel and Fiona were training on their own. Inkvir said he would train them but he needed to gather some herbs around for their training. Their training should start today, yesterday he already had most of them.

In those four days, Estiel didn't really move from where she was, she is still hugging her knee against a wall. She almost doesn't eat and her body is beginning to become thinner.

We tried to speak to her, it's as if she doesn't hear us; I don't know what we can do.

Inkvir came back with some herbs in his hands, it was the last one he needed. Eniel and Fiona ran to him, impatient to begin their training.

Fiona : " Are you finally done ? " She asked with an impatient smile to which Inkvir just responded with a smile.

Inkvir : " Yes, we shall begin today. But before that, I need to talk to her. " He pointed his hand toward Estiel.

Fiona looked toward her saddened while Eniel just closed his eyes, not showing any emotion.

Inkvir : " If we don't do anything to help her now, it will surely become even worse later. " Fiona nodded to his words, he seemed to understand how she felt.

Fiona : " What can we do ? "

Inkvir : " Just let me speak to her... " He said approaching her.

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Estiel POV :

I don't know how much time passed since we arrived here... I don't feel like eating or moving from here.

Everything that happened is my fault, I am just a burden for every; I am the one who brought them in this hell. If only I had reacted in time when Shina warned me, we wouldn't be here.

Even when she was fighting the dark wolf, I was useless, unable to do anything. Everyone else participated in the fight, apart from me. Pan is a dragon who can breath fire, Nuya is a fairy with a strong ice magic, Estiel and Shina are strong enough to beat A ranked swordsmen and even fight S ranked one evenly.

Even Fiona who should be as strong as me managed to make herself useful, she saved Shina by firing an arrow in the monster's eye. As for me, what did I do other than staring blankly at this monster while everyone was fighting ?

In the end I am just a burden, something they have to bother protecting even if they don't want to admit it.

??? : " Estiel. " As I heard someone call my name, I slowly lifted my eyes from the ground, looking toward him; it was Inkvir. He sat in front of my and looked in my eyes.

Inkvir : " Tell me, what do wish to attain by sitting here ? "

What I wish?... I don't know... I just... don't want to be a burden, I don't want to see them being hurt, unable to do anything to help them. They are my first friends, and the only people I have left... But what can I do ?

Inkvir : " I know what you feel... Let me count you a story, the story of a young boy in a now destroyed country. " His voice was full of nostalgia and sadness.

Inkvir : " It was in a country named Valztia, the only country which existed in this world, the habitant of this world were named 'Vec'. The warriors of this country to prove their strength hunted dragons, only by doing they would become 'True Warrior', able to work directly under the king. "

Estiel : " Hunting dragons ? "

Inkvir : " Yes, the Vecs were far more powerful than the actuals race, but when I say dragons, I only means the one who aren't older than 300 years. The Elders Dragons were out of question. Anyway, because of this they thought of the dragons as simple beast and started to hunt them whenever they could for their meats and scales. "

Estiel : " You treated dragons like animals ?! " I asked astonished, whenever a dragon appear, it would easily destroy a city or even a country.

Inkvir : " It was the foolishness of the leaders of this country, one day the king said he wanted to taste the meat of the Dragon King and to forge an armor of his scales. He was a young king of eighteen years who just accessed the throne. He ordered all his warriors, all armed with swords and armor made of the dragons they slew to hunt him down. What do you think happened ? "

Estiel : " They managed to hurt him ? "

Inkvir : " Haha, it would have already been nice if they even managed to leave a scratch on him, their weapons broke on the contact of his scale and they were all annihilated. The Dragon King was outraged by the Vec's attack, he already received reports of how they were treating dragons. He lead a small group of Elder Dragons and flew to Valztia, turning the ground into ash behind them and making sure not even a child would be left. "

Estiel : " What about the boy ? " I asked him, totally immersed in his story

Inkvir : " I am coming to it, the capital of the country received a report of what was happening through magic and prepared their defense. In this country was living a young boy named Inkvir, he was considered as a genius swordsman who managed to kill a dragon when he was fifteen. He received the 'Sword of Flertia', a sword made from an ore unique in this world and refined for hundred of years. It was said that this sword could cut through anything that existed, he was bearing the hope of the country. When the dragons arrived, he engaged in a fight accompanied by his comrade. They died one after another, the boy managed to land a hit on the Dragon King, but the sword only scratched his scales. "

Estiel : " You... fought the Dragon King ? "

Inkvir : " ...When he glared at him, he lost all strength and dropped his sword. He complimented the boy and told him to get away if he wanted to survive. The boy was terrified, he knew he had no hope to survive if he continued to fight; but he was the only hope of his country and comrades. He wanted to fight, but his body wouldn't move, under the Dragon King glare he ran away; he was terrified and could hear his comrade injured calling his name, telling him to come back, saying he was a coward... It was the truth, in front of death the boy became a coward and ran away. " The boy make me think of myself, unable to do anything; maybe I too would have run away if they died, leaving them behind.

Estiel : "What happened after ? " I said gulping.

Inkvir : " The boy observed the city where he lived burning, the citizens were screaming his name, begging him to save them; but he only looked at it blankly, unable to do anything. Everything he loved was destroyed because he wasn't strong enough to fight the dragons by himself. Not even strong enough to injure to Dragon King. The boy decided to become stronger and traveled through the world for hundred of years. He then realized something. "

Estiel : " What did he realize ? "

Inkvir : " The boy... had no reason to become stronger anymore, everything he loved was gone, he had no reason to live either. In his dreams every night he saw his comrade treating him of coward, saying that a warrior shouldn't be afraid of dying. The boy should have died there, doing his best to help his people. He was strong, his current self was strong enough to even kill the Dragon King, but he had nothing left, not even revenge; just grief and regret. "

Estiel : " W...What if not everyone died back then and the boy still had some people left?... " I asked weakly.

Inkvir : " The boy would have done his best to protect those people, he would have trained to become stronger than anyone and protect them against anything. That's what it mean to have someone you care about. "

Become strong enough to protect the ones you care about...

Estiel : " Can I become strong ? " I asked resolute.

Inkvir : " Only by accepting your weakness and doing your best to train, just like your friends who are currently doing their best to protect each other. " He said looking toward them training while stealing some glance to us.

Estiel : " What was I doing... I became a burden and instead of doing my best to help them, I simply made them worried. " I said while getting up.

Estiel : " Please, train me until I am strong enough to watch their back against any enemy. " I asked bowing toward Inkvir.

Inkvir : " That was my intention " He replied with a relieved smile.

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Shina POV :

We all heard the story of Inkvir, he must have realized it but didn't stop; after speaking with Estiel, they called all of us. Fiona literally jumped on Estiel, hugging her and making her drop to the ground. It would have been a warm scene if not for Pan and Nuya sitting on their back, making a victory pose.

Shina : " Are you okay ? " I asked Estiel, still somewhat worried.

Estiel : " Sorry for being a burden until now, I'll do my best to become stronger. "

Shina : " I see. " I said with a wide smile.

Fiona : " Estiellllllllll *hueeeeeeeeeeeeeeee* " Fiona couldn't contain her tears, and cried on Estiel's breast.

Estiel : " Come on Fiona, I am fine ! " She said cheerfully, trying to reassure her, suddenly drop kick hit Estiel's head but it didn't hurt her too much.

Nuya : " Idiot ! She was the most worried about you ! "

Estiel : " Sorry... "

Inkvir : " *Keuh Keuh* Shall we start the training ? "

Shina : " Yeah, let's go ! "

Inkvir : " You can't participate Shina. "

Shina : " Why ?! " I said shocked.

Inkvir : " What we are going to do would have no effect on you, anyway your method of training is already very efficient. You don't need my help for becoming stronger. "

Kiel : " You don't have to feel down Mistress, as long as you keep training, Mistress will be able to beat anyone. "

Inkvir : " You should try to hunt some monsters, if it get too dangerous then come back to the camp. I've been living here for a long moment so the monsters know this is my territory, they won't dare to follow you. "

Shina : " Okay... Please take care of them. " I said making a slight bow.

Inkvir : " Haha, don't worry, they are in this old man care. "

After they left, I wandered outside the camp, looking for some monsters, what I came across a few Cerbal; the dark wolfs we encountered when we arrived.

There were three of them, the memories of the first one came to my mind, I wish there were only one of them but it may be the occasion to test my strength after meditating.

Shina : " Kiel, change into a spear. " I whispered to her, she became a long black staff with a black at the end.

I slowly approached the Cerbals and imbued Kiel with Light mana, making her shining in a golden light. The Cerbals noticed the light and gathered together, however with my magic, I made four small hole appear beneath one of them, immobilizing their legs.

I closed them with magic, trapping him; my magic became faster than before, and also stronger. If it was at the same level as previously he would have been able to easily free himself, however right now he couldn't move.

I took the opportunity and pierced his skull with Kiel, there was no contact between Kiel and the wolf and no blood either. The golden aura simply turned his head into ashes, leaving not even blood come out.

The two other Cerbals jumped to me while I was finishing their friend, I simply extended my hand toward them and imagined a dark wall in front of me. Mana came out of my hand and formed a thin red wall in front of it.

The Cerbals's hairs stood up, they somehow pushed each others in mid air and fell around me, managing to dodge my wall.

By using mana, I can easily dispose of them now; however I am lacking battle experience, I need to fight without relying on my mana, I can learn to control my mana alone at the camp.

I absorbed the golden aura which I infused in Kiel earlier and brought the spear diagonally next to my body, the blade almost touching the ground.

Kiel : " Mistress ?! Why did you stop infusing your mana in this one ? "

Shina : " I need to fight without using mana, let's do our best partner. "

Kiel : " I see... This one will do her best to help you Mistress. " Kiel started to shine, the previously black blade of the spear became orange.

Shina : " What did you do ? " The only change was in her appearance, I didn't feel anything abnormal.

Kiel : " This one used a few enchantment on itself, each time Mistress puts mana in this one, a small amount of it is lost. This one simply absorb this amount and uses it to enchant myself. "

Shina : " You couldn't do it before ? " It would have helped against the first Cerbal.

Kiel : " No... This one somehow got stronger when you started to meditate, each time Mistress grow stronger, this one feels stronger at the same time; it is as if there's a link between this one and Mistress. "

Cerbal : " AAAAWWWWWWWWLLLLLLL !! " An howling stopped our conversation.

Shina : " Let's talk about it later, they are coming. "

While we were talking, the two Cerbals had enough time to get up and howl; if I don't hurry and kill them quickly, I'll once again be encircled by a dozen of Cerbals but I can't use magic, if I want to become stronger then I can't use it.

I tried to stab one of the Cerbal in the stomach, but he dodged and my blow pierced his leg. Kiel enchanted was strong enough to pierce the Cerbal's thick and durable skin, Kiel pierced through his bone, making it's leg unusable.

The second one jumped at me from my back, I tried to pull Kiel out, but the first Cerbal contracted his legs muscles, making it harder to pull Kiel back.

The Cerbal was almost on me, I was his large mouth opening, showing his sharpened teeth. Slowly he began to slow, no... he was in mid air, he couldn't be slowed, it was my vision who became faster; I also saw magic made golden scales grow on my skin.

I once again tried to pull Kiel away from the Cerbal's leg, she almost instantly came out of the leg, like it wasn't stuck in it. I used the opposite side of Kiel which is pointed to pierce the eye. Kiel didn't only pierce his eye, but went through all his head, the whole Cerbal's body was carried by Kiel.

Kiel : " Mistress ? What happened ? Something about you is different. "

Shina : " I don't know... Let's talk about it later, it's not over. "

All my senses became stronger, I could hear the breathing and the sound of monsters running toward me. I also felt the vibration of their step on the ground, it was telling me what they looked like and how many there were 13; they are the Cerbals which were called before by those three.

I finished the Cerbal which I previously injured in the leg by a stab in the head before the group came to me.

Shina : " Now... What should we do, fight against them or run away ? "

The Cerbals were getting closer and closer, I didn't want to back down; it's all for the sake of becoming stronger. I won't run away now !

The thirteen wolves arrived in front of me, they looked at their comrades corpses and then stared at me with hatred. However they were hesitating, I took a step forward and they at the same time retreated with one step; they were cautious of me.

Shina : " Kiel... We are hunting them until the last one. "

Kiel : " Yes Mistress ! "

I jumped toward the group of Cerbals and attack the nearest, aiming at his head; he somehow dodged the spear to the left, but not totally; I cut through his two legs, making him fall to the ground.

Unlike before, the spear wasn't stuck in him, the others were surprised, but it only lasted a moment and four of them attacked me.

Three of them ran to me while the fourth one jumped; I impaled the one who jumped through his stomach and used all my strength to smash him against the three others. Two of them dodged him while the third was smashed into the ground.

I didn't have enough time to pull back Kiel and attack them, but as if she read my mind, she shrunk to the size of a small staff. The two Cerbals left tried to hit my with their front paw which contain a powerful strength. I used the small spears form of Kiel to make an horizontal slash, cutting through the paw of one of them.

The second one's attack was a faint and stopped his attack before head butting me, sending me flying against a wall.

Kiel : " Mistress ! Are you okay ?! " She asked worried.

Shina : " *Kuuh* It hurt... I didn't want to use magic but I have no choice... I can't die here. "

The ten Cerbals tried to take the opportunity to finish me off, I waited for them to be only a a few meters from me to create four thick wall of earth which formed a prison. However it wouldn't last long, cracks appeared as they were hitting the walls.

Pouring mana in the ground, I made a three meters deep hole beneath them; the walls were just here to make sure they wouldn't jump away at the last moment.

I dispelled the walls and stared at the ten Cerbals trapped, their eyes were looking at me with fright and anger. I maintained eye contact for some minutes before gathering light making a blue fire in my hand.

I had an idea, it was something I never tried before; I gathered light mana in the flame, but it turned into a light ball, it wasn't my goal. Adding this time more fire mana, the light ball once again slowly turned into a flame; it was a small silver flame.

The amount of mana necessary to make this small silver flame of about 3cm was frightening. I dropped the silver flame in the hole and ran away, it was like an explosion; the little silver flame on contact with the Cerbals transformed into a large fire column which burned everything around not even leaving ashes. The whole area changed, the three meters deep hole wasn't even here anymore.

I was almost caught in the fire, I could even feel the heat from afar.

Kiel : " Mistress, wasn't that your father's flames ? "

Shina : " Yes, it's daddy's power... But it wasn't on the same level, his flame were purer than this one. "

Kiel : " It's still very impressive, we should get away, a lot of monsters will gather here soon. "

Shina : " Yeah, let's go back. "

I went back to the camp and started to meditate. After what seemed for me to be a few minutes, I heard the step of four people, they were back.

When they saw me with my clothes torn and a little burned from my previous fight, they all ran to me, looking for any injuries.

Eniel : " Are you okay ? Your clothes are all torn... I'll help you to change. " She said, grabbing something from a bag she didn't have earlier when they left.

Shina : " Wa-Wait Eniel ! Don't strip me here in front of everyone ! Stop ! "

Eniel didn't listen to me and stripped me of all my clothes, Inkvir looked at us, me trying to escape... the others all trying to strip me... the usual; he at least left before they managed to take my clothes away.

After 'changing' into a common shirt and pants who are by the way quite comfortable, my attention was pulled toward Estiel's light red sword and Fiona's brown arc.

Shina : " Is that why you left ? " I asked them.

Estiel : " Yes, Inkvir said that our weapons were too weak to really be used in fight against the creatures around. We went to the treasury to take new weapons. "

Nuya : " Mistress Mistress ! Does it look good on me ? " Nuya asked while pulling me clothes, I didn't notice earlier, but she had small ring with a white jewel on it on her neck, using it as a collar. The ring was emitting a small white aura who was cold when you touched it.

Shina : " Yes you look good with it, but doesn't it feel cold ? "

Nuya : " Not really, the cold feel good. It also boost my ice magic ! " She said flying around me happily.

Inkvir : " Fine then let's start your real training. " He said coming to us with a small bowl full of a strange orange liquid.

Fiona : " What is that ? "

Inkvir : " First, let me explain you something about the monsters around. The mana around he is dense, it is far more concentrated than in the rooms or even outside this dungeon. The monsters who grew here merged with this mana and their meats fused with it.

By burning their meat you can release the mana they contain and eat them without any risk. However if eaten raw, it will destroy you from the inside.

You training will be of eating the monsters meat and fusing your flesh with mana, this potion is here to make your body able to accept the mana and fuse with it. Any question ? "

Estiel : " You... want us to eat raw monster meat ? "

Inkvir : " It may sound strange, but it is the most efficient way of becoming stronger, you still have to know that it will cause some change in your body and cause an unbearable pain. After eating your first meat, you won't need the potion anymore. "

Estiel and Fiona were hesitating, but Eniel didn't care and drunk a part of the potion.

Eniel : " Meat please."

Inkvir : " Haha, you didn't even hesitate; this is a blue rat meat, it is the best meat the start with because it doesn't contain a lot of mana and have no affinity. "

Eniel took some meat from Inkvir hand and ate it as it is under the others eyes. After a few dozens of second, her face slowly started to become pale but her expression didn't change.

Inkvir : " Impressive... You managed to withstand this pain, even I at my first time almost fainted. " He said laughing lightly.

Estiel stared at the orange potion before taking the bowl and drinking it, she then took some more meat from Inkvir hand and ate it, trying to swallow it as fast as possible. She then fell to the ground and held her stomach.

Estiel : " I-I didn't think it would hurt this much... " She said strongly holding her stomach, but her eyes were resolute and not even one tear fell.

Fiona followed their example and ate the meat after drinking some of the potion, she fell into my arms; her body was shaking. I hugged her body until she calmed down.

While I was focused on Fiona who seemed to be the most sensible to pain of our group, Nuya and Pan also did the same.

Shina : " Nuya, Pan, you can't ! "

Nuya : " I... Have to become...strong too... " She said as she had an hard time flying, Pan didn't seem to have any problem.

Inkvir : " You don't have to worry about them, Dragon's and Fairy's body are already imbued with mana, they just need to attain a certain age before eating mana imbued food. Because they took the potion they should be alright too. "

Everyone apart from me and Kiel used this method... They are all suffering to become stronger...

Shina : " Can I use this method too ? "

Inkvir : " You can't... Your body is almost made of pure mana, there would be no effect on you. It would have the same effect as eating normal meat. "

Estiel : " D-Do we really have to eat those meat everyday ? "

Inkvir : " You can stop if you want, but if you don't eat it at every meals a whole meat, the mana will disappear from your body and you will turn back into what you were. Moreover, you won't be able to try again because your body will be unable to absorb the magic afterward. "

Eniel : " Earlier... You talked about affinity, what is that ? " Inkvir smiled at her question.

Inkvir : " Oh, you remembered. Almost every monsters in this world have an affinity, the blue rat meat have no affinity and this is why I gave it to you. The Cerbal for example have a Dark affinity and a weak one to Fire, this is why they are able to use a purple flame. Eating the meat of a monster with an affinity will give it to you, making you able to use chantless magic. "

Fiona : " I guess we can only have one affinity right ? "

Inkvir : " You can have one major and one weaker just like the Cerbal, there are of course exception like the dragons who have multiple affinity, or your friend who have all of them. "

They all looked at me with a jealous stare, I felt something else in it.

Estiel : " Would it work if we drunk some of her blood ? " She said with a little smirk, all of their face became scary.

Inkvir : " Only if you managed to survive after that, her blood is a poison for anyone in this world because of her power, maybe by diluting it there may be a chance, but you would first need to adapt your body to absorbing a lot of mana. "

At first they were all down, but hearing the second part of Inkvir they looked at me with a little cold smile.

Shina : " Wait... Don't tell me you guys want to drink my blood ? " I asked them, gulping.

Fiona : " It's fine if it's just a little right ? You don't have to be afraid it won't hurt... "

Shina : " But the way you look at me is scary... You would really drink your friend's blood to become stronger ? "

Estiel / Fiona : " Of course ! " They answered simultaneously.

From now on, I better stay on my guards...

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