A few days ago. Someone said something that surprised everyone.

"Well, yes. Because this Arts originally created to rival that person's power."

That sentence made the people who heard it immediately dumbfounded.

After the seminar held that day was over, the news about the Sword Master of the Church being related to the Sword Saint instantly spread fast as the wind to the entire town. 

Everyone surprised. However, there are some people who don't believe at that news that still sounded like a rumor. 

So they intend to meet the man in person themselves. But unfortunately, because of the sudden shock, Sylvia Shield closed the church's access for the Hunters. 

Students are still granted permission, but with requests for permission that are stricter than before.

There is a special pride that the church can find in realizing that one of their teachers has a relationship with the great Sword Saint. But because of that, Sylvia Shield made a stricter policy, and that pissed them off.

Unfortunately, after the shocking statement, the Sword Master is harder to find. Although before that day the Sword Master is already hard to find, it was harder than before. 

However, not all people are hyped by the event. One of the people is the next [Vigorous Maiden] cast.

~~~~~~~~~~

Saint Arcane Church / Indoor Practical Room #3

Weekend /

Elisa fell off her butt, releases the stick in her left hand and the wooden sword in her right hand. 

"Aaaaaaaaaahhhh."

She complained to the room wind.

"Why is it so hard to do?"

That's because you are forced yourself to do that.

"No, I am not forced myself to do this. I was chosen to be the next Vigorous Maiden, I have to do it."

That's why I said: you forced yourself to do it. 

"No, I am not," answer Elisa with her head lowered, contemplating.

...

"Wait."

Elisa finally realised she didn't actually speak with the narrator, but with an unexpected and unwelcome one.

"Still working hard even in the weekend, eh?"

It was Ars. He is in the room, and he is there at the time, so it was is. 

"W-what do you want?!"

Feeling threatened, Elisa immediately takes her sword, stands up, and pointed the sword to the man. 

By the way, Elisa's sword is a wooden one, so that doesn't scare Ars at all. Instead, Ars took Elisa's sword with ease. 

That was surprising, but Elisa didn't give up and immediately took her second weapon, the wooden stick.

There, Ars lifts his sword and intends to attack Elisa. 

Elisa didn't believe Ars would really attack her, and he actually did it. But with little power and like playing around. 

Elisa also somehow followed Ars' children's game.

They clashed each other weapon with little power and made sounds: tik, tik, tik, each time their wooden weapon clashes. 

Then suddenly, Ars lifts his sword up, and made a strong and fast swing. 

Elisa didn't prepare for that, so she immediately just lifts her stick horizontally, protects her head. But the sword didn't hit her even after a few seconds passed. 

Curious, she opens her eyes, and finds the sword is right on her head. Then she got chopped. 

"Aw!"

"Hmph!"

The chopped is not that hurt, but still scared Elisa a little. Plus that 'hmph!', is that a snort? Did Ars just felt amused by doing that to Elisa?

Elisa slowly lifts her head to find the man is walking to a certain point. Elisa's wooden sword is floating in front of her. 

The sound of a chair being placed was heard. Ars sat on a chair facing Elisa, with his casual dead fish expression. 

His intension is unclear as Elisa wondering, then realized, "Wait, don't tell me you are going to watch me training?!"

"Yeah."

He really intends to watch Elisa training. 

"No-no way! You cannot! Please don't do this to me!"

No matter how much Elisa complained and asked, her words would not be heard, as usual.

"Ugh, fine, I will do it elsewhere."

She turns back with her two wooden weapon in hands, walking out of the room. 

But when she want to open the door, "Hm?", the door was locked. 

No, that's not locked. Because if the door locked, Elisa can still wave the door. But the door remains established even after Elisa put almost all her strength to her hand. 

"Hngggggg!"

But the door won't even waver.

Then she realized, who is the culprit of the crime.

"You, what are you doing to the door ?!"

[Quest: Master the Vigorous Maiden dance]

[Reward: The door opened]

"What's with that stupid game system?! And I couldn't master that dance in such a short time!"

Elisa has been practicing for almost two months. She started when she returned to the church, come to Mother Maria, and was given the responsibility of becoming [Vigorous Maiden] this year.

She had seen the dance twice and really admired it.

Last year, for some time, she tried to practice the dance. Even though she cannot really do it and only does it only for fun. But at least she tried.

Then came the time when he was burdened to become one herself. 

She was given a special room, time and teacher to practice. She trains every day for 2/4 time of the day. But that is not enough.

Festival time is very near. Only half a month left. In that short time, Elisa had to try to master the dance. But she cannot. 

She doesn't know why. She just, can't do it.

Then came that time. Where a random man came to her and forced her to master the dance. If she can't she probably won't be able to see tomorrow light.

"You can't or you don't want to can?"

Suddenly, came an ambiguous question about the context of the dance and Elisa.

You can't or you don't want to can?

What does the question even mean? Doesn't that question asked the same thing?

"[You can't] mean you need a certain way that works for you, and an extra effort to do it. The difficulty level isn't that high if you think about it."

That's understandable.

"[You don't want to] means you reject the idea of the lesson you are trying to master."

"That's..."

For some reason, Elisa couldn't argue with that. 

Somehow, in her heart, she received Ars's words that sounded belittling her capability.

"Say, so what is your reason for willing to do the dance?"

That annoyed Elisa a little.

"Of course, because Mother Maria told me to! That is a very proud burden all church maidens want to do that! But only those who are chosen can do it! I am the chosen one, so I have to carry that burden and be able to do it for everyone!"

"So you did that to please people? Isn't that so arrogant and irresponsible?"

"What's so arrogant and irresponsible?! Didn't I told you that his is - "

"You are scared."

Elisa immediately fell silent because of that one sentence.

"You're afraid to disappoint everyone, so you pretend to try until you get hurt to show, 'look, I have been trying'. So it will be your escape if you fail later."

Elisha didn't know why, but those simple, plain words sounded painful to her.

It's because everything Ars said is true. 

She actually doesn't want to carry such a heavy burden, because she thinks she's just an ordinary girl who doesn't have to be special.

But that burden gave her a chance to become special. She will be seen by many people. She will be remembered as the girl who once performed the [Vigorous Maiden] dance.

But unfortunately, she didn't want to get that opportunity. 

"Then, what should I do?"

Elisa dropped her stick and sword, then fell to her seat, covering her face with both hands, slowly crying.

"What should I do?"

Because of what Ars said, all the emotions she had been harboring overflowed, exploded, into the cries of a scared little girl.

She will surely disappoint everyone, her two friends, her dance teacher, the church, and most importantly her adoptive mother and her adopted sister.

She had told everyone that she could accept the burden and would give the best result she could.

But sadly, she didn't even come close to the best she had promised. She is still under 50% of the results she needed to achieve. But time is very close to the promised day, and she didn't have much time to reach the 100%.

That was why she continued to endure all the pain her body was receiving during the constant training. But she must not cry in front of people to prevent further worries.

However, it just led her to an extremely tough situation like that.

She cries to her heart's content. That time she didn't care, even if someone would see her crying. She just couldn't contain all those feelings anymore.

Then suddenly, a big, coarse palm touches her cheeks, and wipes the tears that trickle down. 

Elisa stopped her cry for a moment to see the owner of the hand, and find her beloved one look at her, although with his casual dead-eye fish. But Elisa could see a bit of anger in his eyes. 

~~~~~~~~

After calming herself down, she finally stopped crying. When she wants to stand up, a hand provides her a help. 

She accepted the help. 

Facing with her beloved one, she was given the stick and the sword once more. 

She still scared to hold the two representative weapon, but her beloved one offer the two weapons with certainty. 

She once more hold the weapons and become a dreamy fictional figure. 

"Calm yourself. Build confidence. Set intention. That are three things you need to do before mastering a lesson."

She didn't know why, but at that moment her heart burned in a lake of fire full of intention and determination.

She didn't know when she got that feeling. But one thing certain, with her beloved one beside her, she knows that she will achieve everything.