Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

Once again, morning came too soon for the shield bearing otherworlder, as Kaede groggily got out of bed.

Last night, She, Acer and the ogre had hunted down seven more groups of monsters, all throughout the night. From horned bears, to grave lizards, and of course, blood boars, so many blood boars.

Kaede had been flung through so many trees, she acquired a skill called [Impact Resilience] among other skills, basically, a skill against knockback, an issue Maple had to deal with for years in NWO.

Although. "I swear, I'm going to have nightmares about those things." She murmured. "At least, my magicules reserves are up to 6.5% now."

Looking besides her, Kirara's bed was empty. "Damn, what time is it?" Kaede cried as she immediately rushed out of the room.

---

With her gear on, Kaede made her way to the training yard. She could already hear the holy knight templars doing their morning drills.

Stepping into the field, Kaede was shocked to see Kirara in their midst, a shield buckler on her forearm and a short sword in her hips.

She was also wearing leather armour for some reason. Kaede made her way over just as Sardyne had Kirara doing some drills

"What's going on here?" Kaede asked as she reached them. Unfortunately, Kirara was already going for a jog, a few templars encouraging her as they ran beside her.

"Ah. Kaede, you're awake, Kirara mentioned you had a rough night and couldn't sleep." Sardyne turned, as she noticed the shield bearer.

"Uhm. I'm alright, just some jitters from the raid." Kaede smiled, relieved Sardyne didn't ask anything else.

"Hmm. I understand." Sardyne placed a hand on her shoulder. "This was your first mission. I heard from Ordric what happened. You did more than anyone could hope for in their first mission."

Kaede found herself relaxing at Sardyne's words. "Thanks, a lot.. For that, I just hadn't really realized just how fragile life was until I was right there in the thick of it."

Sardyne nodded, even as Kaede continued. "In that moment, nothing else mattered, the only thing that mattered, was my shield, and its purpose... my purpose."

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Sardyne and Kaede watched as Kirara slowed down with exhaustion. "The holy faith would be happy to have you. Our Goddess Luminous is always looking for those with steadfast hearts and unyielding resolve," Sardyne said, her voice calm but filled with conviction.

Kaede hesitated, glancing at Kirara as the younger girl bent over, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. The templars around her clapped her on the back, offering encouragement and cheers. Kirara smiled faintly, though her exhaustion was obvious.

"I appreciate the sentiment," Kaede replied, her tone measured. "But I'm not sure, I'm really the type, no offense."

"None taken," Sardyne said, her lips curling into a small smile. "The faith isn't for everyone. Still, your shield already carries a purpose, and that's a powerful thing. Don't lose sight of it."

Kaede nodded, her mind racing. Sardyne's words resonated with her more than she wanted to admit. Was her purpose only her shield? Or was it something more? She had to escape from falmuth first, and of course save those farmers, but after that? She wasn't sure, but she knew one thing: she had to keep moving forward, no matter how hard the path became.

"I should probably check on Kirara," Kaede said after a pause, gesturing toward the girl. Sardyne nodded, stepping aside to let her pass.

As Kaede approached Kirara, the younger girl straightened, wiping sweat from her brow. Her face lit up when she saw Kaede. "Hey! You're finally awake!"

Kaede crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow. "And you're... training with the templars? Since when?"

Kirara gave a sheepish shrug, her smile turning slightly awkward. "Since Sardyne asked me if I wanted to learn. I figured I should do something useful, you know? Like you."

"Me?" Kaede repeated, incredulous. "Last night, I got thrown into a tree by a blood boar. Six times."

Kirara laughed, the sound light despite her fatigue. "But still, you're out there risking your life, and I'm just sitting around. I wanted to contribute too. The snake was able to resist [Bewilder] that's it, that's all I have Kaede, without it..."

Kaede's expression softened, and she placed a hand on Kirara's shoulder. "You're not just sitting around. You're... helping in your own way. But if this is what you want, I'm not going to stop you. Just... be careful, okay?"

Kirara nodded, her grin returning. "Don't worry, I'm tougher than I look." she flexed her muscles.

Kaede sighed, shaking her head but smiling nonetheless. "Alright, but don't push yourself too hard. I'm heading to the sparring ring if you need me."

Kirara saluted mockingly before jogging back to the templars, who welcomed her return with more cheers. Kaede watched her for a moment before turning toward the sparring area.

The ring was already busy, knights and trainees clashing in controlled chaos. Kaede found an empty corner and strapped her round shield to her arm.

"Time to get to work," she muttered to herself.

As she began practicing her movements, she couldn't help but replay the events of the night before in her mind. The monsters, the blood boars, the overwhelming force of nature they represented. But she wasn't dying anymore. More than that, she had grown stronger.

"Alright, let's do this. Time to kick your ass. Your shield won't save you this time Kaede." Behind her, Kaede heard Shogo's voice echo through the yard as he walked towards her.

Surprisingly, he was followed by a smiling Kyoya.

Kaede turned toward the pair, her grip on her shield tightening instinctively. Shogo's towering frame cast a long shadow across the training yard, his smirk, sharp. Kyoya trailed behind him, his demeanor far more relaxed but no less confident.

"Shogo," Kaede greeted, forcing herself not to sigh. "What brings you here?"

"Just thought I'd see if your first mission didn't get you cocky," Shogo said, cracking his knuckles. "Apparently, you almost died, so cocky might be a stretch. Still though, time for your daily beat down."

Kaede's eyes narrowed. "You mean spar?"

Shogo grinned with a cocky swagger. "Unless, of course, you're scared."

Kaede glanced at Kyoya, who merely shrugged, his usual easygoing smile in place. "Don't mind him. He's not the one fighting you, we haven't sparred yet."

Kaede blinked. "I didn't think you were..."

Kyoya smiled, his eyes still closed. "No, but I've been training as well. There isn't anything the swordsman of this country can teach me anymore, so a master swordsman has been summoned to continue my training. But before then, wanna see how I measure up to the 'shield maiden'." He chuckled.

"Please don't call me that, it might catch on " Kaede groaned. "But sure, I don't see why not. Fighting a swordsman is good for me." She thought back to the ogre and their first meeting. He had tricks, and maybe she could learn to fight opponents like that.

Kyoya's smile widened as he stepped forward, rolling his shoulders. "Great. Let's make it a proper duel, then. First one to land three decisive strikes wins."

Kaede nodded, adjusting her grip on her shield. "Sounds fair. Just don't hold back—I need the practice."

The gathered knights and templars began to murmur excitedly, forming a loose circle around the two combatants. Shogo leaned against a post, his arms crossed, clearly enjoying the spectacle already.

Kyoya unsheathed his blade with practiced ease, its edge catching the morning light. His stance was relaxed, almost lazy, but Kaede could sense the danger behind it. He wasn't underestimating her; he was simply confident in his own skill.

"Ready when you are," Kyoya said, his tone light but his focus sharp.

Kaede raised her shield, her eyes locked on his movements. "Bring it."

Without warning, Kyoya darted, his blade cutting through the air in a quick arc. Kaede barely had time to react, shifting her shield to block the strike. The impact sent a jolt through her arm, but she held firm.

"Fast," she muttered, stepping back to regain her footing. 'Faster than the ogre.'

Kyoya didn't give her a moment to breathe. He pressed the attack, his strikes swift and heavy. Kaede's shield intercepted each blow, her movements steady but defensive. She could feel the difference, Kyoya wasn't just a swordsman, but he was no master, still lacking experience.

"Not bad," Kyoya said, his blade clashing against her shield once more. "Your defense is solid, but how's your offense?"

Kaede smirked, shifting her stance. "Let's find out."

She surged forward, her shield leading the charge. Kyoya sidestepped, but Kaede anticipated the move, swinging her shield in a wide arc. The edge caught him off guard, grazing his side.

"One for me," Kaede said, stepping back with a grin.

Kyoya chuckled, rubbing his ribs. "Alright, noted."

The duel continued, the two of them trading blows in a flurry of motion. Kyoya's strikes were quick, each one roughly flowing into the next, while Kaede's defense was unyielding, her shield nearly a blur.

"You're adapting," Kyoya remarked, dodging a strike and countering with a quick thrust. Kaede twisted her shield, deflecting the blade just in time.

"And you talk too much," she shot back, stepping into his guard and slamming her shield against his shoulder. The impact forced him to retreat, his balance momentarily disrupted.

"That's two for you," Kyoya said, his grin unwavering. "Guess I'll have to step it up."

Kaede braced herself as Kyoya shifted his stance, his movements becoming sharper, more deliberate. His next strike was a feint, his blade changing direction mid-swing. Kaede managed to block it, but the force drove her back a step.

"Tricky," she admitted, her heart racing.

Kyoya nodded, his expression serious now. "Let's see if you can handle this."

He moved like lightning, his blade a blur as it struck toward her exposed side. Kaede barely had time to react, twisting her body and raising her shield just in time to deflect the blow.

But Kyoya wasn't done. Using the momentum of her block, he spun around, his blade sweeping low. Kaede jumped back, but the tip of his sword grazed her leg.

"One for me," Kyoya said, straightening with a satisfied smirk.

Kaede gritted her teeth, her determination renewed. "Alright, no more playing around."

The crowd watched in awe as the two of them clashed again, their movements a blend of skill and strategy. Kaede's shield was a fortress, but she knew she couldn't rely on defense alone. She had to find an opening, a moment to strike.

And then she saw it. Kyoya's blade suddenly shone, with runic letters running down it's length.

As Kyoya lunged, his blade aiming for her shoulder, Kaede stepped to the side, using her shield to guide his sword away. In the same motion, she spun and slammed the flat of her shield into his back, when she felt something slam into her side.

"Two for me," Kyoya smirked, spinning his sword as the crowd erupted in cheers.

Kaede straightened, laughing softly as she raised her shield. "Well played, Kyoya." She leaned on her right foot, slowly inching back, creating some space between them. 'From what I remember, he has a skill with the spatial element. What happened, Artificia?'

"Helpful... Real helpful." She groaned.

Kyoya's smirk widened, his blade glowing faintly as he took a step forward. Kaede adjusted her grip on her shield, her mind racing. The danger she'd felt earlier wasn't just for show, there was something about Kyoya's weapon that was far more dangerous than it appeared.

She raised her shield and prepared to intercept the next strike, but Kyoya didn't move immediately. Instead, he flicked his sword, and the blade shimmered unnaturally. Kaede's instincts screamed at her to move, but she didn't see an attack.

"Noticed it, huh?" Kyoya asked casually, his blade still shimmering with faint, ethereal light. "This is where I stop playing nice."

Kaede took a step back, her eyes narrowing. "That glow... What's the trick, Kyoya?"

He chuckled, spinning his sword lazily in his hand. "Ready to lose, 'Shield Maiden'?"

Kaede groaned internally at the nickname but kept her focus. She couldn't afford to let him distract her. "We'll see about that," she shot back, raising her shield higher.

Kyoya darted forward again, his movements even faster than before. Kaede managed to block his first strike, her shield absorbing the impact, but the force was far greater than before. She gritted her teeth as her feet slid slightly across the dirt. 'Thank you [impact resilience]'

Before she could counter, Kyoya's sword seemed to blur, its glow intensifying. He slashed again, and Kaede barely blocked, but something felt off. Her shield didn't clang like usual, instead, it vibrated strangely, as though the blade had passed through it without fully connecting.

"What the," she started, but Kyoya was already moving again.

He swung upward, his blade detaching mid-swing into countless tiny shards that scattered into the air like glittering dust. Kaede raised her shield, but the shards were everywhere, slicing through the space around her with unnatural precision.

"[Severer]," Kyoya explained as he stepped back, his voice calm but with an edge of satisfaction. "Dummy swords, space magic, and a lot of practice."

Kaede grimaced, pivoting to avoid the swarm of razor-thin shards. Her shield couldn't block them all, and shallow cuts began to appear on her arms and legs. It wasn't enough to incapacitate her, but it was enough to wear her down.

"Not fair," she muttered, trying to reposition herself.

Kyoya smirked, reconstructing his blade in an instant and lunging again. Kaede tried to counter, but he feinted at the last second, forcing her to commit her shield to the wrong angle. His blade slipped past her defense, stopping just short of her throat.

"Three for me," Kyoya said with a grin, stepping back and sheathing his sword. "Good fight."

Kaede lowered her shield, breathing heavily. She stared at him for a moment, then laughed softly. "Yeah, I guess it was. But next time though."

"We'll see," Kyoya replied, offering her a hand. She hesitated for a moment before taking it, letting him help her to her feet.

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, though Kaede couldn't tell if it was for Kyoya's win or the intensity of the match itself. Either way, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride.

Shogo wandered over, clapping Kyoya on the back. "Not bad, not bad. Still, you didn't obliterate her. Kinda disappointing."

As Shogo and Kyoya discussed, Kaede felt a faint feeling of being watched. In the corner of her eyes, behind a window, she spotted Razen, his ever narrowed eyes on the yard. 'No matter what, I'm getting out of here Razen.'