For I Am A Side Character - 35: A Garden to Tend

“…” As Soril stood in front of the stairs he would usually walk on to the top of his master’s dojo, excited for the growth to come and the fear that followed, but in that day, he remained still before the stairs as his face was filled with a very contemplative gaze.

In it, he was in deep thought.

‘I can’t use the mountain splitter at all, if I do, It’ll without a doubt break my arms entirely.’ remembering the feeling of losing his arms from the fingertip to his elbow, Soril was left feeling conflicted over the idea that his body could not use his skill entirely.

Seeing the result of his actions inside the simulation test, he now had a goal in mind for the upcoming month.

‘I can’t use it as I am…I have to train my body at a point where I can use that skill at least once…just once…’ he thought.

After finally making his decision, he made his way to the top of the stairs, and as he went up, he came upon his brother, Cecil who came with a rather curious expression.

“…Hello brother.” he said as he continued walking.

“You weren’t in the Dojo yesterday, what happened?” asked Cecil.

“Hmm…I was piut into bed-rest after a duel in the academy.”

“…Bed-rest? Oh, so you lost the duel?”

“No…uh actually, I won the duel. The end result was just to severe that both of us had to be put into an hospital bed.”

“Hmm…and who was your opponent?” he asked

“…Jessabelle Morrison.”

“Morrison, oh, I see…so James’s Daughter…I see.”

“!?…You know Professor Morrison?” asked Soril as he was quite shocked by this.

“Who wouldn’t know the greatest flame mage to ever exist…but, hahaha, you actually beat his daughter. That’s just hilarious. Hahaha” as Cecil found this news to be quite entertaining, when they finally made it to the top of the mountain, Master Yagami was found sitting by the porch of his school while sipping on some late-night tea.

“…Hmm, you’re finally back.” said Master Yagami.

As Soril made his way to face his master, he bowed in his utmost respectable manner and gave his apology to his master.

“I apologize master, I wasn’t able to attend my lessons yesterday due to some unforeseen event.”

“…Its surprising to find that You’ve come back injured instead of actually leaving this school injured…I can only assume that this is an academy-related incident?” asked his master.

“Umm…Y-yes.” said Soril nervously.

“I see, very well. Put on your uniform and come out to the training field…we’ll be advancing your lesson here on out, and after that, I will have you go back to the hollow stone, do you understand?”

“…Yes, I understand.” seeing his weak reaction, his master can easily tell that he was not enjoying or excited to meet the stone once again…its only natural that a person would feel that way, but to his master, he looked to Soril and gave him an additional words of motivation..one that would naturally make someone who was a disciple of this school excited.

“…Soril, I’m lifting the ban of you not being able to use mana during training.”

“!!?”

“From now on, you must give it your all against your brother…see to it that you do not fall so easily.” said his master.

“I will! Thank you master!” said Soril as he was seen excited clear as day.

As Soril left to get dress, Cecil went and waited at the training field.

“Hmph- he’s more excited than I could have imagined. Hehe” said Cecil as he stood with a smile on his face.

“Well, it only proves that he is that willing to grow.” said Master Yagami as he then went and waited on one of the shades by the field.

As Soril came out with his typical dojo uniform, he quickly made his way to the field where Cecil was found looking as relax as ever.

“Since we’re now putting away the lift of you not being able to use mana, it only means to me that I can act tougher in this scenario, right?” asked Cecil as he looked to his master.

“…Just try not to overdo it, he’s still going into the stone after your done.” said Master Yagami as he calmly observed the upcoming battle.

“Okay Soril, give it all you got. No holding back. I want to see just how much powerful you are without any forms of limits binding you.”

As Cecil said this, Soril went and picked up his usual weapon.

“…” with his sword and shield on hand, he looked to his brother with quite a competitive gaze and to it, he made his position known.

[Heavy Rush!]

In that single act of using his skill, his body was able to burst out of his place and straight to his brother with no brakes being put on the line.

“Oh?” and to Cecil’s surprise and reaction, he simply raised is hand forward and simply gave out his palm in the open.

In this gesture, the moment Soril came close to his brother, he felt confident that they would clash with one another,

As each milli second passed by, he came closer and closer to his brother…

Until finally…

*Swoosh!!*

He was found crashing unto a bush out of his own control/

“.…Eh?”

In it, his entire body was just gaining the idea that he was nowhere near Cecil even with his new found power.

“Wow, that skill of yours really packed a punch. It made my hand itch. Hahaha” His brother laughed while he remained shocked and confused by what just happened.

“W-what happened?” asked Soril as he stood back up again.

“Oh you’ll figure it out sooner or later, for now, just try to put out all your skills to me. And don’t hold back either…I want to see just how strong you are with no limits!” said Cecil as he was seen smiling, a clear indication that he was enjoying this.

On that day, Soril experienced a defeat that gave him no sense of joy at all.

Defeat after defeat, the night went on with him falling to the ground and standing back up again to rush his own brother.

Meanwhile, somewhere in a guild called the Black Rose Guild, owned by the sister of Master Kotoko Yagami himself. Kotomi Yagami was found tending to her own personal garden found at the middle floors of his high-rise guild tower.

In it, she was seemingly smiling as her flowers were growing quite well during this season.

The Black Rose Guild, owned and grown by Kotomi herself since the early days, she had the justification to call this guild her own home.

The Black Rose Guild was one of the most influential guilds known in the country, with its influence reaching even far from continent itself, the black rose guild was one that claimed the reputation of being able to successfully raid 65 S-ranked dungeons. This title was at all no falsehood as tis guild was the only one possible of such feats. The other guild on the other hand were only barely ever keeping up with their record of accomplishments. Its something that simply puts the guild at the top.

But aside from this ever so growing guild, a conflict was slowly arising within its own roots.

Three of her own children were fighting for succession of whoever was going to lead the guild forward.

“…I’ve taken your advice brother…but even with your wise words, I can still see the hatred within themselves.” said Kotomi as she sobbingly watered her own garden.

As she did, all of a sudden, the elevator opens up and a person approaches her.

“Grandmother, you’ve called for me?” asked a young beautiful lady that was carrying a shapr sword on her side.

“…Audrey, my dear…please, can you help me tend to my garden?’ asked Kotomi lightly ot her own granddaughter.

“Of course, what should I do?” asked Audrey.

“Go and pick out some flowers…its time I try to bring some color into my room.”

As Audrey went and picked out a pair of scissors from the table, she went and approached her grandmother.

“Which one should I pick?” she asked.

“…Anything that is fully bloomed..or at least, anything that is to your preference…” said Kotomi.

As Audrey nodded to her grandmother’s request, she went an picked out the flowers that were looking fully bloomed.

“Audrey…how has your school life been going? Are you enjoying your time there?”

“Hmm, its not really as boring as I would have expected…in just yesterday, two duels from a bunch of students that were highly ranked, fought each other.” as Audrey said this, she was bringing out a soft smile along her words.

“Ah…haha, I see. It looks like you are enjoying your time there. Have you made any new friends?” she asked.

“F-friends?….U-m yeah…I made….friends.” she said nervously, as she tried to avoid eye contact.

In truth, Audrey was quite shy with people…she has trouble making friends as easily as one could. It comes to a point that she doesn’t even recognize if some of the people who she were locally close with (Jason and Jessabelle) were her friends or not.

She stills thinks of them as her classmates and nothing else.

But because she cares for her grandmother dearly, she awkwardly lies to her.

She had no confidence in her own heart to say what was needed to said.

“Any boy friends?” asked her grandmother.

“W-what!??”

“You know, boy-friends…have you got any?” despite the seemingly misunderstood phrase of words, her grandmother was one who enjoys these kind of antics with her own grandchildren.

“N-no!”

“…Really? I thought that you would have at least…hmm, maybe things didn’t work out for him.” said her grandmother as she remembered back to when she tried to ask for one of her brother’s disciples who was also attending the academy to befriend her own granddaughter.

That Boy being Soril.

But seeing as how this was her own Granddaughter’s business, she didn’t pry any longer. Or she wouldn’t have, if not for the fact that she likes to pry on her granddaughter’s personal life.

“Hmm…have you found anyone interesting in that academy?” she asked.

“…there are a few, but not one of them are someone who I would look at twice.” said Audrey.

“Oh?…you know, I do know one boy at that academy. I can guarantee you that he’s strong.”

“huh? You know someone from the academy? is he an acquaintance to the guild?”

“Something like that…” Knowing her brother’s strength, it was only logical to think that his disciple was as talented in the matter. And seeing as how her granddaughter was looking for some sort of challenge or excitement, she enjoyed herself in the thought of those two meeting.

“Hmm…you know, why not meet this boy. I really think that you might find him interesting.”

“Ah…grandmother, I don’t think I’m interested in that matter…”

“really? Even if it was under the request of your old and dear senile granny?” she asked, old and pleading.

“Eh..f-fine…I’ll meet this boy.” said Audrey, hesitantly.

“Great!”

“So? What’s this boy’s name?” she asked.

“…Eh?”

“Huh?”

“Oh right…he’s name. Just give me a moment…” as her grandmother quickly went for her desk, she right in a few couple of words in a letter and had it delivered by a personal rare bird that was only used for personal matters.

*2 minutes later…*

The bird came flying in with a rather exhausted figure.

“Right then…he’s name is….Shourill….Gremus…Hmm, what a strange name.”

“Grandmother, you forgot to wear your glasses.” as Audrey pointed this out, her grandmother repeated the words that were on the letter.

“Okay…his name is Soril Remus…hmm, still a strange name, but who cares.” as she carelessly threw the piece of paper into the floor, she looked to see what her granddaughter thought of the name.

“Well? What do you t-”

But before she could finish, Audrey was found looking a bit shocked by hearing that name.

“Audrey dear? Are you okay?”