"For the next year I will have you stay here and go through Elaina's regime. This should get you to tier 9 by the end of it, but you will be something more than just a tier 9. You will all become proper warriors with proper training." Freja glanced at Elanor as it was obvious the system was helping her. Freja didn't know for sure, but there was no way the princess had gotten any training, so she was 99% confident it was the system's doing.
"Now, I know you may be concerned about the approaching threat of the pope, but for the time being please leave that to me." Freja wanted to reassure everyone that it will be alright even if a year goes by.
"What about me?" Himeko felt a little out of place since she was already tier 10.
"You can stay if you want, I figured if it's okay with them you could join their group." Freja didn't really care and was more than happy to roll with whatever Himeko wanted to do.
"That's fine, plus we could really use a frontline." Shaman preferred for Himeko to stay since having her there made the dungeon so much easier.
Himeko waited for a moment to see if anyone would protest, but they just stayed silent waiting for her response. This made her extremely happy that she was accepted and even more so by Clara.
"It isn't like I have a place to go back to anyway, so I'll stay to protect them." Himeko's motherly urge to protect kicked in, but she tried her best not to show it.
"With that settled, I will go organise your training regimen with Elaina, so prepare to make a trip to hell a few times." Freja was going to leave the details to Elaina, but it didn't stop Freja from describing what it will be like.
Everyone gulped a bit of saliva, nervous about what kind of training they will go through. They thought Elaina wouldn't be as bad as Freja, but the two were friends which was a red flag in and of itself.
"Don't be so worried. Oh, one last thing Himeko, are you able to deal with the whole Clara situation." Before she left, Freja wanted to address how Clara is possibly Elaina's relative.
"Oh don't worry I got that covered, I wanted to deal with that before I left anyway." Himeko had a plan in mind already that she wanted to do before she left, but seeing as she is staying now there was no rush.
"Good. I will try talking with Elaina personally about it, but you might need to help smooth things over." Freja wanted to try to use the fact she was friends with Elaina to talk about it, but with her current mood, it wasn't hopeful.
"With that said, does anyone have anything to say before I leave you here for a year?" Freja was about to leave and most likely wouldn't see them until after they finish their training, so now was their chance to say something.
"No one? Not even a goodbye or tears now that I'm leaving?" Freja looked around hoping for a response, but they all just shook their heads.
"It isn't like we won't see you again." Clara didn't see the point as it isn't like they are going their separate ways forever.
"No offence, but I don't really know you." Elanor didn't have any kind of attachment to Freja, so she didn't have anything to say.
"I doubt you can stay away for a year so see you in a month." Shaman doubted that Freja could last a month without at least paying a visit so she felt similar to Clara.
"Tch, I hate how you are right. Whatever, I'm leaving." Freja was annoyed, but she couldn't be mad at them. If anything it was the kind of attitude she wanted them to have.
"Bye Freja." Everyone waved goodbye as she clicked her fingers, disappearing in a ball of blood.
"I guess now we wait." There was nothing else for them to do so Shaman figured they might as well take the opportunity to rest.
"I'll head to my own room. If you need anything just come knocking." Himeko decided to leave first as she had nothing left to say, plus it felt a little awkward hanging around with people she saw as her own kids.
"Oh alright, are you sure you didn't want to talk about Elaina?" Clara was curious about how they were going to deal with her family situation.
"That can wait, plus we need to wait for Freja to make her own attempt, as how Elaina responds may change what I have in mind." Himeko didn't want to plague Clara with more things to stress about, so it was better to wait until the time comes than talk about it now.
"Alright…" Clara was already stressed about it and not knowing how Elaina would respond left her worried. However, at the same time, the part of her that kept overthinking the plan was happy for any excuse to delay the possible conflict.
"I'll head back as well, I feel myself falling asleep." Elanor felt exhausted from all the fighting making her want to just fall into bed and sleep.
"Same." Silver wasn't as exhausted, but his favourite thing was to sleep which sounded really appealing right now.
"See you guys later then." Shaman waved off Himeko, Elanor and SIlver as they funnelled out of the room.
"Sooooo-"
"Now Elysia, not tonight." Before Elysia could even ask Shaman shut down her attempt to even suggest they have sex.
"Aww, no fair." Elysia pouted as she was rather pent up considering they haven't had a chance ever since Clara joined the relationship.
"Is this how you feel all the time, Elysia?" Clara was in a similar situation of wanting to do it but was being blocked by Shaman saying no.
"Yes! Do you see Shaman? How dare you make two girls wait, hmph." Elysia instantly jumped at the opportunity to try and make Shaman feel bad, hoping she would change her mind. (f)reeweb(n)ovel.com
"Surely no one will come." Clara figured Shaman was worried that people would walk in or hear them, but it was already getting late so it was very unlikely anyone would come.
"Hmmmmm."
Clara hit the mark perfectly as that was Shaman's main concern. She felt it was rude to do such a thing on the first night in a new place. It would definitely not leave a good first impression if they get caught.
"Come on, surely it won't matter." Elysia crawled up to Shaman now trying to use her body to tempt Shaman. Clara also joined in by pressing her body against Shaman's side.
"Damn it you two! Fine." Shaman couldn't take it anymore and decided to give into temptation.
"Hehe~ nice work Clara." Elysia high-fived Clara as they just doubled-teamed Shaman into getting what they wanted.
***
<Freja POV>
Appearing out in the open above the city Freja noticed Elaina floating high as she watched over the city. The entire city was slowly getting rebuilt by mages combining their elements to remake the housing districts.
"I thought you left." Elaina didn't turn to face Freja, continuing to stare down the city. While she seemed idle, she was actually communicating with a bunch of demons coordinating the repairs. It was also to gather information about what happened with her elite squad as some of their bodies were never found.
"There are a few things I need to talk to you about." Freja had to leave soon, so she hoped Elaina would at least hear her out.
"What is it?" Elaina wanted to say no, but seeing as Freja wasn't up to her usual games she knew it was serious.
"Well firstly I have a human who is a part of the pope's army who betrayed him, so I thought you might want to talk to her." Freja remembered she left Jane at her mansion who could be a good source of information.
"Sure, bring her in." Elaina didn't care as she already knew from the few demons that lived that a woman had helped.
"HImeko will also be staying and she is friends with this human so don't treat her badly." Freja was worried that Jane would be tortured, so she tried to make sure Jane was seen as friendly.
"Yeah, yeah I know she isn't with the pope. What did you really want to say?" Elaina believed what Freja said so there was no need for her to try to convince Elaina. However, she knew how Freja liked to build up to the big subjects, so there was bound to be something worth a reaction at the end.
"It's about the missing heir… Your younger cousin." Freja tried to be careful with her words as it was a touchy subject.
"Go on." Elaina wasn't going to snap yet as it was about her younger cousin who realistically hadn't done anything. Her anger was directed at her cousin's parents since they were the ones to run away.
"I may have found some information about her whereabouts, but I want to know first what you would do with her." Freja didn't want to reveal Clara's identity as it may lead to Elaina taking Clara as a prisoner.
"What are you getting at? I wouldn't do anything of course, unless they want the throne back. Sure, they are descendants of those bastards who ran away from their responsibilities, but I doubt the girl would even remember she is royalty." Elaina's opinion was rather unexpected. Freja thought she would be a lot more heated about the topic.
"What if I tell you she does remember and is currently in your castle?" Freja tried to be subtle, but Elaina already guessed who it was.
"Huh? It's her?" Elaina completely broke concentration and turned to face Freja.
"Yes it is, but don't get me wrong, she doesn't desire the throne, if anything she would be glad that you want it still." Freja was relieved to see that Elaina didn't vanish on the spot to investigate.
*Sigh* "More things to worry about, I'll talk to her tomorrow." Elaina rubbed her head while trying to link back to all the demons she was communicating with.
"Good, well I will be off now, don't grind them to death with your training regime." With everything said and done Freja could leave without worry.
"If they survived being around you they will be fine." Elaina waved Freja off as right now the training was the least of her priorities.
"Aww I'm not that cruel Ela, but oh well see you later." Freja disappeared on the spot before leaving a slightly agitated Elaina.
"How many times do I have to repeat not to call me Ela!" Yelling out her annoyance she accidentally broadcasted it to all the demons she was speaking with.
'Ma'am, are you okay?'
'Yes I'm fine, keep talking about what happened.'
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