The sketch of 4koma "Perfect Pose" is already finished. Please check it out at https://www.patreon.com/Rayish
When Bell arrived, panting heavily, Aiz merely glanced at him briefly without saying a word. No smile, no warm greeting—just as usual. But Bell knew, from the way Aiz turned her head and gave a slight nod, that this was her way of acknowledging his presence.
"Ready?" Aiz asked curtly, her flat voice calm yet firm.
Bell immediately straightened up. "Yes, Aiz!" he replied with undiminished enthusiasm, even though his body hadn't fully recovered from his breathless sprint.
Aiz didn't wait any longer. She raised her sword sheath into a combat-ready stance. Though it wasn't a real blade, the sheath moved like an extension of her body, as if it carried the weight and destructive power of an actual sword. She didn't need a real weapon to train—precision and control were far more important.
Meanwhile, Bell drew the Hestia Knife from his waist, the black dagger emitting a soft yet dense blue aura, pulsing with the divine power of the goddess who blessed it. He steadied his breathing and assumed the stance Aiz had drilled into him repeatedly over the past few months.
No signal was given.
In an instant—Whssh!—Aiz lunged forward, her sheath slicing through the air at nearly invisible speed. Bell hastily parried with his dagger, the clash of blunt and sharp metal producing a light clang! that echoed faintly among the ruins.
Aiz pressed on relentlessly, her movements swift and decisive. Each swing of her sheath demanded faster reactions from Bell, leaving him no room to think—only instinct.
"Don't focus too much on my weapon. Watch my footwork, too," Aiz said tersely between attacks, her calm voice like a slap amidst the storm.
Bell nodded quickly, his expression serious. "Got it, Aiz!"
The sparring was intense but controlled. Aiz moved as if reading Bell's every motion, correcting him with pressure. Meanwhile, though nearly losing his balance multiple times, Bell kept pushing forward and holding his ground.
Dust rose from the shaken earth. Their breaths grew heavier, but neither showed any sign of surrender.
In Aiz's eyes, Bell had improved far beyond his initial self. His movements were now more deliberate, his reactions quicker. But more than that, there was a fierce determination in his gaze. A will to keep moving forward.
And that... Aiz thought as she deflected Bell's counter and twisted to evade. ...is the most worthy thing to respect.
The sparring continued under the warming morning sky, two young warriors honing their skills in a silence full of meaning. No audience. No fanfare. Just relentless training... and the bond between mentor and student.
Amid the flurry of swings and the clashing of metal, Aiz observed Bell's movements closely. Deep down, she couldn't help but feel admiration. He's come this far... she mused, watching as Bell now managed to withstand her rapid, precise strikes. Level 3... and he's starting to keep up with my pace, even if he's still unsteady.
That was why—perhaps driven by an impulse she didn't fully recognize—Aiz decided to raise the intensity of their sparring.
A swing of her sheath was followed by a light kick to Bell's hip. Without pause, she attacked from above, forcing Bell to twist and block with his dagger. But the move was anticipated.
Thump! A solid strike landed on Bell's shoulder, sending him staggering.
Bell's breathing grew ragged. Sweat dripped from his temples. His eyes lost focus, and his movements slowed.
Seeing that look—slightly shaken, yet fighting hard to endure—Aiz frowned. No... You must never show hesitation in battle.
Without hesitation, she leaped forward. This attack was swift and powerful, as if aiming for a finishing blow. Bell, already exhausted, reflexively raised his arms and crossed his dagger in front of his face, eyes tightly shut as if bracing for pain.
But...
It was a feint.
Aiz nimbly pivoted and unleashed a spinning side kick—whack! Her foot struck Bell's temple with precision. A soft thud! Echoed as Bell's body crumpled to the ground, dust rising slowly around him.
"Huff..." Aiz landed lightly, then walked closer.
She stood over Bell, who lay motionless. "Never close your eyes in battle. The enemy won't wait. When you shut your eyes..."
Aiz's voice trailed off.
Her eyes narrowed.
"...Huh?"
She crouched slightly, peering closer at Bell's face. The boy's eyes remained closed, his breathing steady and even.
Passed out? she thought, touching Bell's forehead with the back of her hand. No fever. But... he wasn't waking up.
"...I didn't hit him too hard, did I?" she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Her golden eyes flicked left and right, ensuring no one was watching, then she averted her gaze slightly.
With cheeks faintly reddening, Aiz bowed her head and muttered, "...Sorry, Bell."
After that, she sat quietly beside him, hands on her knees, waiting for him to wake—her expression awkward and her heart quietly weighed with guilt.
Given the vast difference in their strength, Aiz was accustomed to seeing Bell collapse during their training, especially when he was still Level 1. And though Bell had grown significantly and reached Level 3, the undeniable truth remained—the gap between them was like heaven and earth. Aiz, with her Level 6 strength, struggled to hold back completely.
I... still can't control my strength well, she admitted inwardly, gazing down at Bell's still form. Finn could. When I was little and he was already far stronger... he could adjust his power, tailoring his movements just to train me. But I...
Aiz sighed softly, her usually expressionless face showing rare gentleness.
Her hand twitched hesitantly. She wanted to wake Bell but wasn't sure how. In moments like these... she was at a loss. Not good at comforting. Not good at care. She could only sit there like a silent guardian, hoping Bell would wake on his own.
She pulled her knees slightly to her chest, resting her chin on her arm. A cool breeze blew, but her thoughts drifted to the past—to the moment she first met Bell in a situation not unlike this one.
Back then, she was with Shirou and Riveria, traversing the Dungeon. Shirou acted as the supporter, carrying supplies and monitoring their surroundings, while Riveria walked beside her. Then they found Bell, collapsed on the 5th floor, trembling and pale.
"Mind Down, it seems," Riveria had said, kneeling to examine him. "He overused his magic... without restraint."
Without hesitation, Shirou slung Bell's belongings over his shoulder, then bent down and carefully lifted the boy. "Then I'll carry him to the surface," he said softly.
Aiz, who had only observed from behind, still remembered clearly how Bell, in his unconscious state, murmured faintly.
"...Mom..."
That single word silenced everyone present.
Aiz had glanced slowly at Shirou, then at Bell's face buried in the young man's shoulder. Mom...? she had thought, almost disbelieving.
Now, sitting beside Bell as he lay unconscious again, Aiz suddenly smiled faintly. You really are...
Her typically expressionless face radiated rare warmth. Shirou...
The image of that young man surfaced in her mind—not clad in armor, not wielding a sword, but wearing an apron with a wooden spoon in hand. His red hair was slightly tousled, his face filled with worry as he checked if his cooking was burning. Not just that, Aiz could also picture Shirou busily cleaning the kitchen, folding towels, then grumbling softly about how people didn't know how to store ingredients properly.
Good at cooking, diligent at cleaning, attentive to small details... Are you my hero or a housewife? Aiz chuckled inwardly, her cheeks tinged pink by the unexpected thought.
She glanced at Bell, then whispered while gently patting his shoulder, "If you stay unconscious, I'll keep thinking weird things, you know..."
Suddenly, Bell's closed eyelids twitched. Slowly, he blinked a few times, then pushed himself up with one hand, rubbing the side of his throbbing head.
"Ugh... did I pass out just now?" he mumbled, half-conscious.
He turned his head and immediately met Aiz's gaze as she sat beside him, her face as calm and expressionless as ever. But Bell had caught something just before fully regaining consciousness.
"Did you say something earlier, Aiz?" he asked innocently, tilting his head.
Aiz flinched slightly, her eyes darting away for a fraction of a second before she quickly stood, brushing dust off her knees. "I didn't say anything," she replied curtly, then extended a hand to Bell.
"Eh? O-oh... okay." Bell accepted the hand and stood slowly, still unsteady. Once stable, he looked around and spotted his black dagger—the Hestia Knife—lying on the ground. He hurried over to retrieve it, then returned to face Aiz, renewed determination shining in his eyes.
"Thanks for waiting, Aiz. Let's continue the sparring!"
But before Aiz could assume her stance, she raised a hand, signaling Bell to pause. "Wait."
Bell immediately lowered his dagger, standing at attention, ready to listen to whatever his mentor had to say.
Aiz stepped closer, stopping just a few paces in front of Bell. "Earlier..." she said softly, then continued more firmly. "You closed your eyes when I launched the final attack."
Bell swallowed hard and nodded slowly. "Yeah... I thought I couldn't dodge, so..."
Aiz shook her head slightly. "That's a huge mistake. In the Dungeon, closing your eyes for even a second could mean the end of everything."
Her golden eyes locked onto Bell's red ones, deadly serious.
"No matter how terrifying the attack, you must keep watching. Seeing means anticipating. Closing your eyes only leaves you vulnerable."
Bell tightened his grip on the dagger, Aiz's words striking like a sharp blade, not to wound, but to shape him.
"Right... I'll remember that, Aiz," Bell said, his voice low but resolute.
Aiz gave a small nod, then returned to her starting position, raising her sheath. "Then... let's go again."
Without warning, the training resumed. This time, with Bell's eyes wide open, ready to face the danger head-on and grow even stronger.
As if determined to etch this lesson into Bell's body and soul, Aiz allowed no long breaks. The moment they resumed sparring, she darted forward with sharp, merciless movements. Each swing of her sheath carried full force—not enough to seriously injure, but hard enough to test Bell's resolve and reflexes.
Clang! Clack! Thud!
The sounds of the Hestia Knife clashing against the sheath echoed repeatedly across the floor. Aiz scrutinized every detail of Bell's expression—the tension in his brow, the focus in his gaze, the rhythm of his breathing. She knew Bell was, by nature, prone to cowardice. He often hesitated and panicked easily. Yet, his determination was something even Aiz couldn't dismiss.
Bell fought hard against his fear. Repeatedly, he felt the urge to shut his eyes, especially when Aiz's attacks came from unexpected angles. But this time... he resisted his instincts. Don't close your eyes! Don't run! Watch! Face it!
Though his body trembled and his breath grew labored, he held on. His face tightened, sweat drenching his white hair, and his knees nearly buckled at times. But his eyes-those red eyes—remained wide open, refusing to close even as his instincts screamed in terror.
When Aiz's sheath arced toward him from the lower left in a swift swing, Bell kept his eyes open. He even tried to raise his dagger to block, though too late.
Wham!
Bell's body was sent sprawling sideways like a ragdoll, hitting the ground hard.
Aiz stopped. She exhaled, then walked slowly to where Bell lay. Unconscious again.
She sat quietly beside him, knees bent, her sheath resting against her shoulder. A gentle breeze stirred her golden hair. If he keeps this up... how long will it take for him to reach my level... or... when?
Then Bell groaned softly. "Ugh..."
His eyes fluttered open. And, as before, he sat up with effort, clutching his bruised side.
"H-how many times have I passed out during training with you, Aiz?" he muttered, laughing bitterly.
Aiz stood again, sheath in hand. "Enough for me to memorize the sound of you falling," she replied flatly.
"P-please continue..."
This time, Aiz stared at him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright."
And just like before... the attacks resumed. A hard swing from above, a spinning kick from the side, and a quick thrust toward the shoulder. Bell barely managed to evade them all—until finally...
Blagh! Aiz's kick slammed into Bell's stomach, sending him flying backward and knocking him out... again.
The cycle repeated.
Unconscious.
Awake.
Train.
Unconscious.
Awake again.
The sun climbed higher in Orario's sky. Golden light bathed their training ground. The mist had vanished. Birds chirped in the distance.
And Aiz... still sat beside Bell, waiting for her student to wake once more.
Then, as usual, she waited. Kneeling silently beside Bell, hands folded on her lap. Quiet, with only the morning breeze and distant birdsong for company.
Minutes passed in silence before Bell's body finally stirred. He opened his eyes, blinked a few times, then slowly pushed himself up, wincing at the pain in his shoulder and hip. His face was battered—a faint bruise on his temple and a light scratch on his cheek. But the fire in his eyes hadn't dimmed.
He reached for the Hestia Knife lying nearby, gripped it tightly, and stood despite his unsteady legs.
"A-Again..." he whispered, but firmly.
Aiz studied him briefly, then raised her sheath into position. She gave a slight nod, acknowledging his spirit.
But...
Growl~
An unmistakably loud sound cut through the silence, making the atmosphere instantly awkward. The noise had clearly come from Aiz.
In an instant, Aiz froze. Her expression remained blank, but the tips of her hair fluttered slightly as she quickly turned her gaze to the brightening sky.
"...Let's call it a day," she said calmly, as if the sound had never happened.
Bell stared at her, then bowed slightly, his awkward expression barely hiding a smile. "Alright, Aiz..."
Without another word, he began walking toward the stone stairs leading down from the city wall. But his steps were far from steady—each movement made him grimace, and his dragging feet resembled a weary zombie more than an eager adventurer.
Aiz watched Bell's unsteady back for two seconds, then quickly caught up.
"Eh?" Bell turned, but before he could speak, Aiz had already slung his arm over her shoulder and half-carried him. Her left hand supported his waist, while her right still casually held her sheath.
"But..." Bell tried to protest, "...you didn't want anyone to know you're training me, right? If people see—"
In her usual flat tone, Aiz replied, "You can't walk properly. I'm just helping you down."
She stared straight ahead, not even glancing at Bell's face, which was now as red as a tomato. "No one will see. It's still early."
And even if someone does... I'll avoid them like usual, she added silently.
Bell fell quiet, his cheeks flushed, and for some reason, his heart raced. Aiz, on the other hand, remained as composed as ever, her steps light despite supporting a boy twice as clumsy as her.
If this... is a dream, don't wake me up yet... Bell thought as they descended, half-leaning on the person he admired most in the world.