Life with Kraft was surprisingly... how to put it, easy. Everything fell into place too well. Their interactions were very... precise, as if the elf knew what she wanted.
She wanted to light a fire? Kraft would go chop wood. Prepare food? He would go hunt. Wanted to sleep? He stood guard.
After everything, this kind of... life turned out to be... a relief
No need to work twice as hard, think about tomorrow, and simply rely on someone. Life with Mari and Frau was mostly like that too, but in their coziness there was that little fidget Flamme. It was her that Sefi worried about... if you could say that. She watched over her safety, what she ate, played, and her education. And of course, after a while, she even taught her some magic.
And now she could just live without any cares
— Seraphima, don't you think you're overworking yourself? — Kraft asked, approaching her. She was currently working on making small bowls, wooden utensils. Normally she would have done it with magic, but most of her mana was already spent on transforming her leg, so she dared not use more mana.
Kraft had given her the tools, though they weren't special tools, just a small hatchet and a knife. Nevertheless, her experience allowed her to make a good hollow in the wood and widen it using stones. Gouging the wood and then processing it with the knife, removing the tough parts of the outer side with the axe.
And the splinters and unevenness would later be smoothed with the tough hide of a caught and butchered monster, although... it wasn't really a monster at all. An oversized horse, so huge it could trample you and not notice. Kraft somehow managed to defeat it and brought it back.
There was a lot of meat, enough for a month. Butchering the carcass took a whole day of working together. And they stored the meat in a hastily made cellar for that purpose, two meters deep. Two buckets, one filled with cold water and the other bucket with meat placed inside.
The bucket was wooden, but covered with fabric smeared with waterproof ointment... how did Kraft make that? Unclear, but he managed to take fat from the meat and somehow smoke-cure it, left it in the air and, mixing it with herbs, made an ointment. It was water-repellent, and smearing it on the fabric, they secured it all onto the wooden bucket. Amazing.
And a few other things besides. He was insanely strong. No, she had no doubt about his strength, but when he carried a whole boulder, it made her feel uneasy. That was a huge boulder, and he called it a light load. What kind of strength was that?
His fists then shattered that boulder. All of this was because he wanted to make a stove, a special stove that could roast a huge amount of meat. He wanted to have a feast and would help her with the cooking, which was why she was making the bowls.
She had been standing idle for too long. However... there was a request for him, worth asking after the meal, when he was in a good mood.
...
...
This reminded her of something. A certain moment... hmm... Miss Serie
Wait, this was kind of like a form of manipulation...
She had to be right. Yes, believe in herself, as Kraft said. She needed not think about such trifles and ask him directly:
— Kraft, will you help me become stronger? — She asked, and the elf thought for a moment, then nodded. — Thank you...
It was... simple...
***
After all the chores and making the dishes, they started cooking. Seasoning the meat and such fell to the elf warrior, who gladly began working on it. They took out a third of all the meat from their cellar. A large amount, but apparently needed for the feast. Kraft began skillfully cutting it and coating it with herbs for flavor. Some Sefi even recognized: she had used them in the forest when she was with Miss Serie and Frieren, because they grew abundantly there. This one from a plant resembling a small flower, you had to get its seeds located in the bud and grind them, yielding a red sour powder. And this one was from when she was with Mari and Frau: a long plant resembling dill, you had to dry it and chop it, it gave a salty taste. Green.
There was a third one too, grayish with small orange flowers. Mari had shown it to her once, but it was rare, according to him. To obtain it, you had to find a tree called "Katsiy" and get the fruits, and take their pulp. Separating the husk, wait until they became hard, very hard. Grind them and mix them with their own pulp, and then you got a very sweet, yet sour thing. It was mainly used for making sweets, but Kraft for marinating meat... added it to some fat, mixed it with his hands and added a bit of an unknown seasoning and covered it with cloth. A sauce?
He added sourness, saltiness, and sweet-sour. She wondered what kind of flavor he was trying to achieve.
Her job was to heat up the oven. At first Kraft wanted to do everything himself, but Sefi insisted. Now before her stood a huge structure three meters high, two meters wide. She could easily fit into the firebox area. And the cooking area... it was more like a clearing. Were they cooking a lot of steaks? Apparently so. However... it didn't matter. The main thing was to prepare.
So, she stuffed a lot of wood in there, a whole lot, almost the entire space, lit it with magic. Started watching the flames blaze.
— Thank you for your help, Seraphima. I've finished my part too. — He said and pointed behind him. The demoness looked and gasped: a whole basin full of meat. So much and it smelled so pleasant. — So, let's take it and... start cooking.
...
It was difficult, but they managed to cook it all. Unfortunately... Sefi couldn't taste, so she ate without emotion. And even if she could, she would probably eat without emotion anyway. It didn't change the essence, she was a demon. She'd bet the joy would come when she devoured human flesh. Meaning joy would never come. She would never eat such a thing. Disgusting.
Kraft, on the other hand, thanked the Goddess for the food and began to eat. Even though his face didn't particularly move, his eyes – they shone with happiness, Sefi presumed.
— Kraft, what do they taste like? — Sefi asked, waiting until he had finished his third piece. Quite an appetite. Those three large pieces were eaten in ten minutes. — I know what salty, sour, and sweet are. Describe how much all of that... is expressed in the meat, I want to understand.
— No one has ever asked me that before, I admit, this is my first experience with such a thing. — He said with a cough, hiding his nervousness. He took a bite of meat and chewed it, then began to think. — Hmm... very sweet, but at the same time sour. The saltiness is felt on the edges of the meat. — He said and with a nervous laugh tapped the table. — I apologize, but I'm not good at describing food.
— That's enough for me, thank you. — Sefi said and thought... she was eating with a large knife and fork. Like Kraft, but her knife was sharper, that was for sure, it cut the meat too well. — Salty, when I could taste, I preferred eating salty food... that's my food preference.
She cut off the edges and tried them
There was no taste. Disappointing... it should be disappointing, but it wasn't
Hmm, why saltiness specifically? Probably because the first thing that gave food flavor for her was salt. And she had created the salt herself with magic, maybe that's where it came from.
Kraft observed this, then continued his meal. Part of him was saddened that the demoness before him couldn't perceive taste, but at the same time he admired her strong nature. Even if she was a demon, even if she didn't feel joy, sadness, or anger, even if she was like that, this was the burden of fate, and she carried it all, while thinking of others.
Not every person was capable of thinking like that, of clinging to the good, even after experiencing hell themselves. Not just a person, even the will of an elf or dwarf could be broken. Seraphima was strong in spirit, he acknowledged that. Goodness wasn't always accompanied by reward, it could come with suffering, but she accepted that, showing the child herself as a monster.
As a demon
It was terrible, but she did it for the sake of good, thinking of her future, thinking of what was best. To acknowledge the monster in yourself, but remain good... no, right – that was spirit. Faith. Even if she didn't realize it, her faith was unshakable, even more so than his own.
— As soon as we finish dinner, let's draw up a training plan.
She had to live, she must
***
Time passed, they cleaned up and were about to start training, but then Kraft hesitated and asked one thing that had long been on his mind.
The elf asked what she understood about emotions, and she shared her knowledge: there were four types: happiness, fear, sadness, and anger. And the rest were a mixture of these four or a greater amount of one type of emotion.
For example: Euphoria = Happiness × Happiness
Hatred = Anger × Anger.
This was simple multiplication, as these were stronger emotions of the same type, but the mixture:
Astonishment = Happiness + Fear, where happiness was positive, and fear caused by surprise.
Nostalgia = Happiness + Sadness. Here a person would be happy, but at the same time sad about the past.
At this explanation, the elf laughed and nodded contentedly, hands on his hips, after which he asked her permission to pat her head, and she allowed it:
— You have very extensive knowledge about this. What a good girl! And what if you were to show emotions? I understand it's not the same, but just in case. — And after these words, Sefi thought and came up with the idea of displaying her emotions through symbols above herself. She had learned this long ago, and it turned out to be... easy, like writing words in Paint and changing their color. Thankfully she had experience in both parts, and knew colors well enough. So, words and recolor them. So like this:
Fear – purple.
Sadness – blue.
Anger – red.
Having said this, she was immediately praised for her cleverness. And then... she displayed above herself:
Happy
In yellow
***
Their training began with a warm-up. First they stretched, jumped in place, twisted around. Warmed up their legs. The elf was actually hot and took off his outer clothing.
As an indicator of shame, Sefi... hmm, turned away. She didn't feel anything, of course, but such things weren't allowed. To show what she felt, she wrote the letters "Embarrassed" above herself in pink.
The elf, understanding this, gasped and hastily apologized for his outburst. After which he put on a light shirt, and they ran. As such, Sefi didn't sweat, and even if she did, the "Purification" spell would help get rid of such things, so she was dressed warmly.
So, the elf in light clothing and the demon in warm clothes ran through the forest. The former's speed was higher, and he led his companion. Light running, intended to prepare for more difficult training.
And so they ran through the forest. Sometimes they had to jump, quickly go around a tree. Overall, this helped not only endurance but also spatial coordination. The elf gave her verbal instructions and encouraged her along the way. Then a river appeared. Kraft understood this as a hint from nature itself that they should turn back, so he suggested it, but this time at a higher speed.
— Of course, but Kraft, don't run too fast, it's difficult with my leg. — How she managed to run was unclear to the elf himself. Each strike of her leg against the ground or stone made a unique clinking sound, but even with this weakness, Sefi didn't stop running and followed him very well.
— I understand, I'll be just one step ahead. If you need a break, let me know immediately. — He said and started running. Sefi also began to run. The leg was, of course, a problem, but she used mana to lift and lower it. This way she trained mana control, its proper application, and casting speed. Multiple complexes, in short.
And so they ran...
The golden leg clinked...
Clink...
Clink...
Clink...
Clink...
...
...
...
Hmm... something seemed off. Where was that sound?..
Kraft turned around and saw Sefi
Her horns were caught in the branches
— ...Mmm, my arms can't reach, help me, Kraft.
He would need to account for this in the future and run in places with few low-hanging branches. Nevertheless, the main task was to free her horns from the branches. It was just unpleasant to see her hanging there trying to reach herself.
Kraft approached and helped free her horns, pushed the branch aside and allowed her to land on her feet. Sefi again made that sound of metal striking the ground and brushed the excess leaves from her horns and hair. Text appeared above her head, yellow.
Grateful
— Thank you, Kraft.
The elf stood, read the letters and chuckled, ruffled her head again and called to continue, but now walking side by side. Sefi now lowered her head slightly and kept looking up a bit as she followed him.
***
They returned to the camp... This was a temporary shelter, so the term "camp" fit better than "home". They would leave this place anyway. Someday. But not now.
— So, Sefi, now that we're warmed up, we need to start training. Allow me to ask, why did you decide to take this up? — The elf asked, already starting to squat in place. Sefi also began to repeat, albeit not very well because of her leg. She decided to simply grasp her golden leg with her hand and hold it out at 90 degrees forward while squatting on one leg. Difficult, but it would help.
— There were places I wanted to protect, but couldn't, so I want to become strong. Magically I can manage myself, but physical traits I can't without a teacher. — At this, the elf nodded, and then Sefi produced another text above her head, yellow: "Curiosity". — And also I want to see myself with muscles. Well, even if it's just a little bit.
Kraft laughed heartily again
— I will make that wish come true. With me, you'll become muscular in no time, Seraphima!
***
Such training continued for five months. Her leg was now almost completely normal. Below the knee it was still covered in gold, but it didn't hinder her much. Their comprehensive training included many things: running in the forest, high jumps, push-ups, pull-ups on branches, squats, and much more. It would take an hour to tell everything.
If picking out something among them, several things stood out: lifting stones and logs – very difficult. Not just lifting them, but gripping them and holding them overhead. For patience, she held a plank. It seemed like hours passed, but in reality it was only 3 minutes. Her record was a full 15 minutes.
Her demonic body gave her strength, so this was a kind of... hmm, inherently advantageous situation. Training improved her capabilities even further. Then came hand-to-hand combat. At Sefi's own insistence, this was mostly fistless, specifically wrestling.
The first few times she always ended up on the ground after the round started, but after a month of training she began to last longer. After another month she started attempting interceptions and holds... After another month, Kraft threw her so hard her head rang for a long time. Turns out he had always been holding back and at that moment decided to show a fraction of his strength. It turned out embarrassingly: her horns went into the ground, and she got so stuck they had to dig her out and wash her horns.
But there was progress in hand-to-hand combat. She could shoot for the legs and take down an opponent. Unfortunately, the art of chokes or using the opponent's own attack against them was hard to learn; she tried, of course, and somewhat understood the concept, but it was still difficult. She decided to stick with the most understandable of all – judo. Although her technique was more like freestyle wrestling or just sheer strength, because her physical attributes allowed her to ignore things like weight difference, the opponent's strength in most cases. Well, and... just throwing from a high point was better. Grab, lift, and throw. The problem was her horns, so performing several signature throws over herself was difficult because then her horns would either dig into the ground or break... Well...
It is what it is. Thankfully, Kraft knew everything: both fist and fistless styles. So at his insistence, she learned two strikes. A straight left punch – that was like a jab... yes definitely a jab... although she wasn't sure.
Before, she thought such a punch was just throwing out your arm, but it turned out there were small details: turning the shoulder, the forward leg extended, and the foot on the toe. That would give her a chance to strike and quickly retreat. But Kraft said moving the shoulder wasn't necessary. First and foremost, it was a strike for speed and retreat. The main thing was to strike with the lead hand depending on the stance, not the rear, as that could put her in a vulnerable position.
The second strike... a powerful strike. This was a hook punch. You had to work your core and let your legs work fully. Have good support and move your foot. It was advisable to bend slightly for a good strike and deliver the punch simultaneously, giving impulse with a push from the leg: from the feet themselves to the movement of the hip, moving the torso. A strike to the head or torso, especially to the liver area, the side of the body, would have such an effect that the opponent would either be knocked out or at the very least severely disoriented. This was called a punch from the hip, but rather it was a hook... a hook... something like that.
These two strikes. Sometimes he said "Kick," but Sefi wasn't that acrobatic, so she probably wouldn't do such things.
Also, a special part of her training became dodging strikes. No matter what, she had to dodge. Especially her. Knowing her fighting style, the enemy would surely launch an aggressive attack because it would be more advantageous. Dodging... there was a problem with it, because strikes to the head could land on her horns. Yes, she ducked her head, but she needed to work with her whole body, which was very awkward. Because of this, strikes to the head were particularly effective, considering they could grab her horns and knee her in the face? He said this because she got hit like that once. There was so much blood after...
Then there was... an attempt at reaction training. Kraft threw small stones at her, and she had to dodge them. Kraft would flick them with such force they seemed like they could pierce metal. It was scary. Nevertheless, her reaction was better than her dodging, so Kraft advised her not to engage in close combat at all, even if she had the advantage. Hmm...
It was precisely after this that she took a long stick and decided to learn to strike with it. Kraft was no less surprised but allowed her to learn. He, although a monk, was in the past the Hero who saved the world. He had enough experience. Even if he wasn't very good with a stick, since the sword was his main weapon, he gave some advice.
The main advantage was that it was long, and she could grip it anywhere. This was both a plus and a minus. A minus – because it also touched the enemy. So she had to act quickly. For a strike at a distance, it was best to twist it, grip the end, and deliver a strike without a wind-up, using the whole body. Although a wind-up gave power, exposing your open back to the enemy was the stupidest decision.
In short, like this: maintaining distance, twist it in your hand, grip the end, and strike the enemy, then quickly move back and bring the weapon back to yourself.
The second strike was an overhead strike. The main thing was to ensure the weapon wouldn't break and that you had the advantage. Swing the arm up and strike down horizontally. Moving your legs and feet, giving a push, was most important, and the shoulders should too. A powerful strike should knock out the opponent.
The third – to keep the enemy at a distance. Just quickly poke, like a spear. To increase range, you could take a step forward, grip with one hand and push your shoulder forward, but this was risky and not worth the investment.
The fourth – a side strike. You could combine from any angle: low, high. The main thing was to act quickly and strike the joints.
And today... they would have a sparring match. As usual, actually, only this time she was allowed two things.
Use magic, mainly non-lethal, to create conditions and enhance herself. The second was the stick, well staff... okay, stick.
— Don't worry, Seraphima, I'll hold back. There won't be a repeat of the nose incident, I guarantee. — Kraft got into a stance. It looked like boxing. One foot forward, body slightly bent, and... he moved. Fast.
Gripping her weapon, she decided not to defend, but to attack. Fight fire with fire. Kraft masterfully dodged her first strike, bending down and shooting for her legs. At that same moment, she sharply leaned back and managed to evade.
Kraft didn't let up. On the contrary, he increased the pressure. She had to dodge, and opportunities to attack became fewer and fewer. Thrusting strikes didn't work – the opponent nearly intercepted her weapon and twisted her arm. Luckily, she quickly let go and, stepping in, kicked him in the stomach.
It was the cleanest straight kick, without any fancy spins like in karate or some martial arts, the kind firefighters use to kick down a door. The most straightforward kick she had ever performed. Kraft gasped and let go. All because the kick was made with her golden leg... She never thought that would come in handy.
— I commend you. This is what I was talking about with kicks. They deliver a serious blow, and with improvement you can make it even better. — After these words, he vanished. Dust rose. If before her eyes, enhanced by blood magic, gave her at least some information about his movements, now he was gone. She couldn't track him even with the enhancement.
She had to... guess... hmm... where could he have...
Behind!
She spun around sharply – no one was there. And then she was grabbed and thrown to the ground. How? Luckily, she managed to tuck and roll, then quickly got up. If not for his throw, he would have ended the fight right there. One strike and she would probably be knocked out.
— I deceived you, Seraphima. The opponent doesn't always attack from behind in such a situation. — Now Kraft lowered himself slightly, his silhouette dropped. He shot out like a cannonball and immediately grabbed her weapon. Only now he also squeezed her hands, so she couldn't let go. — You must think quickly, otherwise you'll die.
His hands pulled the weapon towards him, and his leg came up. Another kick to the face? No... not this time!
She planted her feet on the ground and decided to do something strange, which she came up with on the spot. What the hell. She leaned back so much she almost went into a bridge. Because of this, Kraft decided to let go of the staff, which Sefi took advantage of, quickly regripped it and stuck it into the ground so her horns wouldn't get caught. It worked! She did a roll and stood up... Perfect. That strange move worked. Kraft looked on with amazement, nevertheless, he attacked again.
If so, then... wait. She was first and foremost a mage, so...
She gripped her weapon and made a thrusting strike. The elf just moved his torso, but then mana created a sharp part in the middle of the staff, a spike aimed at his torso. He jumped back, but Sefi now seized the initiative. She had plenty of mana. Specifically for this sparring, she decided not to remove the gold from her leg and to go all out.
A side strike with the staff, at the peak of which a stone structure formed, round. It looked like a mace. A long mace. The elf also did a backflip, dodging, but now Sefi had options. She spun the staff, regripping it, creating different things on both ends: sometimes a round stone that would have struck if not for his step back, sometimes a blade that prevented him from moving in to attack. Several times she made thrusting strikes, and then suddenly shifted the spear to one hand and pushed with her shoulder, increasing the attack range. But this was a risk, which Kraft immediately exploited by ducking under the staff. However, Sefi had a trump card – physics. She let go of the spear and created a large stone shell around it. Instantly, the spear fell and pinned Kraft.
— That was clever of you, Seraphima. — "Pinned" wasn't even the word. It didn't even make his knees buckle. They just had an agreement about victory. Sefi had to touch him with her hand or at least the staff, and she had done that. So... — I lost.
She won
— I am very glad. — The demoness created an image of a cube above herself and the word "Victory" above it.
— That's a strange emotion you have there, Seraphima. — The elf smiled, handed her the staff, and waved his hand. — If so, then I'll do my part. Rest today.
***
Sefi lay on the grass by the pond, propping her head up with her hands. Hmm... today was... a good day. A joyful one. She had finally managed to defeat Kraft, learned a lot. But she understood, she knew that one thing was missing...
— I want to feel happiness...
She displayed yellow letters before her eyes, forming the word: "Happiness". What to do? How to proceed? How to feel it? She didn't know. And could she even feel it? She was a demon, just a demon... And what if using magic?
A wonderful day. The sun was shining, flowers were fragrant... Birds were singing, the quiet sound of water splashing. Everything so harmonious, so... musical...
The breath of wind, the whisper of leaves and the bird's song, its chirping, the rustle of foliage, the beat of her heart. Such a sound... a beautiful sound... music.
Should magic have rules? After all, powerful magic must have a price. And what if... she gave it a rule... but what kind?
A fair one
Sefi closed her eyes
...
Hmm…
Music… the color yellow… and…
Happiness... She felt it. It overwhelmed her. Her heart was full of joy. It was such a wonderful, smooth, gentle, and at the same time bubbling feeling, pulling upwards and only upwards. This was magnificence... bliss.
But how?
She opened her eyes
Before her rose a majestic dome, huge, situated high up, adorned with gold elements and crystals. The dome itself was yellow, entirely covered in glowing gold. And the dome was supported by walls. If there was a word to describe them, it was "majestic": rich and intricate patterns, an abundant amount of ornamentation. High vaults, adorned with skillful paintings, soared upwards as if they were eternal. Rays of light, penetrating through the stained-glass windows, played on the walls. Majestic columns supported the vault, adding grandeur to the space. Every element of the interior breathed history and spirituality, and most importantly – happiness.
A temple
Sefi stood up
She stood under the dome, on a huge circle. The circumference of the circle began to fill with a yellow glow.
The first ones lined up and began to transform. Their shapes started to resemble violins: first row, second, and then – cellos, finished with large double basses.
Flutes, trumpets, and curved French horns
Paired timpani
And in the very corners, three great instruments appeared: a piano, an organ, and a harp. They weren't usually in such orchestras, but they were there… And then they all began to play music.
Usually, uninterrupted sounds only give chaos, but looking at them, one understood that only the necessary ones played, as if they had a mind. They began to play, and play, and play. Only the necessary ones.
The melody began
Soft sounds of the piano began to fill the entire space. The whole temple was filled with this sound. Tenderness itself.
The fragile voice of the instrument began to gain momentum. The keys pressed themselves, selecting the right tempo, the right sound.
The notes resonated throughout the Temple like sunbeams piercing the huge windows. Each press of the keys echoed in Sefi's body with a soft vibration, giving her the so-desired happiness. Joy, this sound filled her with meaning.
Then the tempo accelerated
The fingers of an invisible pianist glided over the keys, creating a shimmering cascade of sounds. This was the moment when string instruments joined the piano. The violins entered softly, barely audibly, like a whisper of wind, but with each second their sound became thicker, warmer. They picked up the main theme, turning the lonely hum of the piano into joy. Into her joy.
She felt it: how the spent mana flooded her body again, as if she had used nothing at all. How the gray color of her life was flooded with yellow.
With happiness
She felt... happiness
Yes
***
Kraft could only gaze, watch this miracle, he watched as a demon... built this grandeur out of nowhere. It seemed to him that his whole life was worth no more than this temple, as if this place had existed longer than he had, it was akin to a vision of the goddess herself. Grandeur incarnate.
He didn't know what to do: his hands, legs, eyes – nothing moved, he only wanted to listen and admire this. Perhaps... his faith had been justified? Perhaps... this was happiness? The Great Praise he had so desired after being forgotten by everyone, by the era itself, by the world itself. Whatever it was... it didn't matter.
He only wanted to listen and admire this
Seraphima, whoever she was, whatever she had been through... she... she was true justice itself
He believed in this
As in the Goddess herself