A Villainess Should Be Strong

Today, Estelle went to train as usual.

It was the third day. The final day for the challenge to be completed.

If Estelle could not prove her abilities by the end of this day, then consider her return ticket to Alynthi booked.

Naturally, there was a lingering tense atmosphere looming around the silver-haired girl practicing in the field with a tall man looking at her from behind.

In her hands was the Moonlight Bow.

She let out a long breath before closing her eyes and pulling on the bow.

Soon, as she concentrated her powers, the string and arrow of the bow appeared.

However, in a split second, it disappeared once more and destroyed her calm trance.

"...Again?" Estelle said, brooding in disappointment.

"Estelle, you were too rash," Aleksei brought her a bottle of water, which Estelle gratefully drank. She massaged her sore shoulders, and looked up to the sunny sky.

It was still the morning. But time passed quickly.

She hadn't seen any results from when she got to this point with Frey's guidance yesterday.

She had been testing out her progress repeatedly without a break, but the state of her string and arrows were too unstable.

The 'rash' action Aleksei talked about was when she pulled the string too fast. It was a reflex, since she couldn't help but become desperate after failing more than a hundred times in just trying to shoot it.

Several hours had already passed. Half of the day was soon about to be drained just like that.

Naturally, she would become slowly more and more devastated as time went.

However, even if she wasn't rash, the components would disappear. She became confused.

What was it that she lacked?

Her focus was put solely on the bow, and her magic flowed naturally as if she was breathing air.

Why didn't it stay until she could shoot the arrows?

"Take a short rest. You've gotten this far, it's not impossible. Cool your mind down and think logically," Aleksei advised. He stopped for a moment and added. "Regarding this point.. Neither me or my teacher can help you anymore. It's up to you now, the ways have been revealed, and it's only a matter of how you continue this play,"

Estelle sighed. She understood that what Aleksei said contained the truth.

However, she still couldn't help the burning frustration inside of her that made her want to throw the bow away.

"I know," Estelle replied. "It's up to me,"

After a short five minutes break, she stood back up from their resting table and went back to the bow.

Once more, she got into her shooting position.

[Be calm.]

[Like breathing.]

[A smooth flow.]

[Circulate the magic circuits, let it roam freely.]

[Focus on the bow.]

[No disturbance.]

Every time she tried, she always stopped at the very last step before she could achieve harmony with the bow and shoot the physical arrow.

This time..

It was the same.

She did not succeed.

However, due to her overwhelmingly concentrated mindset, Estelle was able to discover a strange sensation this time.

This was the closest she had gotten to the 'final step', and it made her pick up a bizarre feeling.

[It's not my magic. It's not my ways. It's not my mind.] Estelle crossed off the possible conclusions.

[Then...]

Estelle came upon one choice.

Her magic circuits.

Everything was set up perfectly.

However, if she had to describe the strange sensation, it would be like a blockage that choked up her output, thus making her result unstable.

If that was the case, then the magic circuit was likely to be the main problem of this.

Estelle couldn't help but check on her magic circuits to see if anything was wrong with it.

Soon, she realized.

"Ah!"

She had discovered something. She held on to her chest, as she withstood the stinging pain that elapsed over her.

There was no way she would mistake this sensation.

"These are.. the remnants of-" Estelle widened her eyes in realization.

All these years, she had encountered several situations that made her be exposed to her natural archenemy. The [Destruction Magic]. Remnants of her exposure had stayed inside the circuits, plaguing it.

Even now, it had came to haunt her.

"...Aleksei, do you know how to purge yourself of a strange element?" Estelle clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"What.. kind of question is that?" Aleksei frowned. "Purging? Like purification?"

"Basically, I have had an accident that caused harmful elements to be stored inside of my body in the past. I'm afraid that.. it polluted my magic circuits although only by a slight part. But if I had to point out one plausible reason on why my magic is unstable, then it might be that," Estelle explained briefly.

"..Purification, huh? If it is just a foreign element, I might know a temporary solution, but it is painful. It's a forced method. And your time wouldn't be that long before everything reverts back to normal and.. brings the consequences," Aleksei replied. "So.. if you are not completely sure that this circuit blockage is the cause of your problems, then don't do it. It will just shorten your time, since you will collapse right after that blockage rampages inside you. A rejecting contrast,"

Estelle thought deeply.

"How long is the time I can maintain my condition for?"

"I'd say.. three hours," Aleksei replied.

"Deal," Estelle was desperate.

"..Once again, are you sure?" Aleksei asked her.

"I'm sure of this. A hundred percent," Estelle looked at the man straight in the eyes.

Aleksei shut his eyes, sighing. "Haah. I will do it, but be prepared. It is a dangerous process,"

"..I can withstand it,"

At this point, Estelle could brag about being a pain connoisseur.

Aleksei's method was very simple. She just had to lay down as he performed his purification process, which consisted of him pitting his index and middle finger together, then gently pressing it against Estelle's chest.

That position allowed him to maneuver his way around Estelle's circuit and pull out the impurities that resided inside Estelle's body.

Scorching fire spread throughout her body, but it wasn't as painful as the most devastating sensation she felt.

She bore through the arduous minutes, and came out with her body having been 'purified'.

She felt lighter than usual, but that was not the important thing.

Her heartbeat increased as she rushed to the bow.

Once more, she tried. This time, not only her desperation, but also fear stayed inside her heart.

Fear that the solution she came up with might not even be the answer to her problems.

"..Did I just?" Estelle's mouth was gaping from the amount of shock she felt.

It wasn't particularly a controlled shot, but she had managed to master this abstract archery style.

The fact that the string and arrow showed up for her. The fact that she managed to shoot them without the arrow's remnants disappearing.

The fact that an arrow was currently stabbed on the ground. Although she did not hit the target, the arrow was the sole proof that she had succeeded.

"..I guess you did. Congratulations, child," Aleksei gave a warm smile, coming over to Estelle and patting her on the head.

"I want to tell Neil right now. I want to see how he reacts once he sees my moves!" Estelle announced enthusiastically.

"Alright, alright. But before that, why don't you try once more? To confirm that it's really working,"

"I'll try once, twice, thrice, and even four times if that's what it takes to win this God forsaken challenge," Estelle huffed, picking up the bow once more and preparing to shoot another arrow.

After shooting three consecutive shots, with her accuracy getting better each time, Estelle gave a victorious smile and a peace sign to Aleksei.

"Will this be counted as my victory now?" Estelle smirked.

"Yes, yes. Now, you're going to look for Neil, right? I will go with you,"

"Ao? Why, do you have some business with him?" Estelle tilted her head.

"No, I just want to see my disciple beat that kid's challenge," Aleksei replied.

"..How mean," Estelle chided as she stored the Moonlight Bow away and drank fresh water to revitalize her tired body.

"Right, do you know where Neil is at?" Estelle asked.

Aleksei stopped momentarily, then shook his head. "I don't think so, but he would probably be somewhere around the Queen. Aside from his attendant duties to you, he still has his regular duties to my sister,"

"Hmm... so, if I were to find him, I would also be meeting with my grandaunt?" Estelle scrunched up her face as she thought.

"Why? Is there something up with my sister?" Aleksei raised a brow.

"I have a feeling that she isn't really fond of me, but I guess that is understandable," Estelle said, lowering her head as she recalled Shirley's reaction to her actions.

It was their first meeting, and Estelle might've completely ruined her own first impression.