After coming to an agreement with Isilia, Shiro made her way to the mech hanger to see how Shiina, Oran and Akhess were doing. Since they each had specialised units that worked around their primary elements, there were more to learn compared to the standard units.
Upon arrival, she could see the three taking a break by the vending machine. She had installed them so that pilots could get some refreshments whenever since it was easier than going to the cafeteria.
“Seems like you three are having a break right now.” Shiro called out as the three of them immediately slammed the bottles in their hands into the bin and stood up straight, not daring to say anything.
“The fck?” Shiro couldn’t help but mutter seeing how fast they binned their drink the moment she spoke.
“Your highness, we were just about to go back to training!” Oran shouted out in a panic as Shiro raised her eyebrow.
{Hais… look at how much you traumatised them. They can’t even relax with you nearby now.} Nimue shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.
‘What did I do? I only put them through some training that’s slightly harder than the normal recruits. Plus, they’re talented, especially Shiina so it’s only natural that they get harder tasks. By completing them, they can become stronger no?’ Shiro replied as Nimue only rolled her eyes.
{Yeah your definition of a little harder is bullsh*t. It’s much harder ok? These three need some time to recover.} Nimue replied as her smile twitched.
“Your highness?” Oran called out seeing that Shiro was staying silent.
Seeing this, both Shiina and Akhess widened their eyes as they didn’t say anything since Shiro was probably thinking about something important.
‘I’m going to kill that dumbass when her highness leaves!’ Shiina shouted out in her mind as Oran was poking the devil right now.
“Mn? Oh it’s nothing. I was just talking with Nimue. I haven’t introduced you three to her yet have I?” Shiro said as she summoned Nimue.
“You three meet Nimue, Nimue, you already know who these three are.” Shiro said as Nimue glanced towards the three pilots.
“Of course I know who they are, they’re poor victims of your training.” Nimue rolled her eyes as she walked up the three.
Flicking her finger, water droplets appeared around them as their body was healed from the fatigue of training.
Looking down at their body in surprise, they couldn’t help but feel grateful to Nimue.
‘Yes! We’re victims!’ They wanted to shout out but remembering that Shiro was just behind her, they didn’t say anything.
“Pft what do you mean poor victims? I’m doing this because I care.” Shiro shrugged as Nimue rolled her eyes.
“That’s bullsh*t and you know it. Regardless, don’t pressure these three too much, they’re still young and they’re already being put to the front lines when the new age arrives. Let them enjoy the remaining time of peace.” Nimue sighed as Shiro agreed.
“Mn, that is true. Fine, take three days off to recuperate. I’ll be gone for a while anyway. Remember, this is the last holiday that you’ll have before the new age arrives.” Shiro said while looking towards the three.
Hearing this, Shiina, Oran and Akhess looked at Nimue as if she was an angel that had come down from heaven to save them from this hellish training.
“You’ll have to work hard after though. I’d say you’ll get roughly three hours per week.” Shiro smiled as the three tilted their heads.
“Three hours per week of what?” Shiina asked.
Hearing this, Shiro paused before grinning.
“Three hours of rest per week.”
“PFT!!! Three hours are you trying to kill them!?” Nimue shouted out in shock as the three seemed like their soul had just left their body.
Though even if it did, Shiro would just drag it back.
“I’m kidding. Of course they’ll get plenty of rest.” Shiro laughed.
“Hais… Ignore her.�� Nimue shook her head.
“Setting aside the matter of how long you need to rest, how’s the progress with the mechs? Are you three getting used to the specialised units yet?” Shiro asked with a smile.
“Yes we are. The second form is a little hard to get used to since it constantly saps our mana but I think we’ll be able to use it once the new age arrives.” Shiina replied as Oran and Akhess nodded their heads.
“That’s good. I would have liked for you to work in a group of 4 or 5 rather than three but there hasn’t been anyone else that seemed promising enough to have a specialised unit just yet. We’ll have to wait to see the results of the yearly exams to see if there are anyone qualified.” Shiro nodded her head.
Her initial plan was to have the mech groups similar to how a party would be formed so that if the mech is destroyed, they can still work as normal party to face their enemies.
A tank vanguard, a long ranged fighter, a mage, a support and a close ranged fighter.
Shiina fills the role of mage with some long ranged artillery right now, Oran can act as both the support and close ranged while Akhess is the same. They were lacking a proper tanker that could help them block strong attacks and wrestle the enemy to the ground.
When Shiro found out that Oran could use the Earth element, she was guessing that Oran could become a tanker but his specialisation in lightning changed that.
“For now though, you three will probably lead your own little groups. Only when there are important missions will you work together.” Shiro explained as the three nodded their heads.
Talking to them for a little longer, Shiro made her way back to her room within the centre tower and slept the night away.
Waking up early in the morning, she met up with Isilia outside of her house.
“Ready?” Isilia asked as she had already packed up everything that she would need.
“Mn. We’ll be making an extra stop since I don’t have a teleport marker that connects us directly to the city.”
“That’s fine.” Isilia smiled since it was just going to take a few extra minutes to get there.
Opening a portal in front of them, they left Asharia.
###
The moment they arrived in Miriel, Shiro noticed the barrier was still being sustained and smiled since it seemed like everything was going fine.
While she was checking out the barrier, Shiro noticed that Isilia was looking at the city with longing and sadness in her eyes.
“Missing your husband?” Shiro asked as Isilia nodded her head.
“Mn, a little. I haven’t seen him in so long.” Isilia sighed.
“It’s a shame. Even if I can find who his source code has reincarnated into, he’ll be a different person.”
“I know. I still have Lyrica so it’s fine. Plus, I met you again haven’t I?” Isilia smiled.
“That is true but I can’t comfort you in bed like your husband does.” Shiro grinned as Isilia coughed with a small blush since Shiro liked to joke around with things like this even though she herself, was a 300+ year old maiden with no love life.
“Hush it. Can’t let Attie hear you when you say things like that.” Isilia replied as Shiro nodded her head.
“You are not wrong but he’s playing with Iziuel right now.” Shiro shrugged.
{Just because I’m looking after him does not mean he can’t hear you.} Iziuel spoke up as Shiro scratched her cheek.
‘Fine fine, I’ll try to keep things kid friendly ok?’ Shiro sighed as Iziuel thanked her before focusing back on Attie.
“Honestly, I still can’t believe you just casually adopted three children. Especially with one of them being kidnapped from a quest world. Plus, she was also destined to be the light goddess’ body and you changed that.” Isilia massaged her eyes.
If Shiro didn’t intervene, Lisandra’s body would have been taken over by Aekari’s daughter.
“Speaking of the light goddess, after killing Aekari I’ll need to deal with his wife and daughter. Hais, my kill list is like 90% gods now.” Shiro sighed.
“It’s only 90% filled with gods since you mentioned that you pissed off another 60+ by messing with Verron.” Isilia’s smile twitched.
“Also true.”
While they walked towards the castle where Cyril and the elders were, the two talked without anyone interfering like they did back in Aria.
The jokes they shared, the experiences they had gone through together and their first meeting.
“Say, we should take the party to Aria one day if the place is still around when the new age ends. Even though it was full of assholes and the whatnot, it’s still a pretty nice place with all the technology.” Shiro suggested.
“Oh that would be fun. I wonder if my house is still around.” Isilia chuckled.
Talking for a little longer, they arrived at the castle gates.
