It was simple.
Almost like a fighting game.
In a game like Dark Souls, a player only had a few control skills. Attack, dodge, parry, block—etc.
What Seraphina wanted to do was make Ryan learn something similar.
She wanted him to use all his variety of skills to hone his basic abilities.
'Good that you understand. You will learn hundreds of abilities in your life, but I want you to use all of them effectively by making them do the basic things better in a battle. In the end, even teleportation is just a faster way to dodge and attack.'
That was her fighting philosophy.
Keep it simple.
Keep it non-complicated.
Use the complicated abilities to get real effects.
"Now, when I attack, use your Speed Burst to dodge.
"When I block, use your Apex Predator to increase your power and attack me.
"When I dodge, use your Luck Sucker to make me blunder.
"When I parry, use your Vitality Theft in the short span you get to touch me.
"Use your Enhanced Vision to predict what I am going to do next. Will I attack, block, dodge, or parry? React accordingly."
She moved, attacking him in a speed he could barely react. Just before she could get him, he used Speed Burst to dodge her.
Immediately, he used the chance to attack her.
Apex Predator!
His speed increased drastically but she simply swiped his hand aside with her wrist. And before he could use another skill, his focus faltered and a kick send him skidding across the floor.
"Better than earlier," she praised. "Now, I am only using half your strength to fight you. I want you to be strong enough—force me to use as much power as you."
"Let me gather some mana first…"
Ryan sat up.
He understood what he had to do.
It was like a boss fight in a game. He had to understand her simple pattern, and then he had to react accordingly to what she would do. It would become harder the more strength she used, but if he could keep up—he would be able to actually use his skills in a fight.
It won't just be useless powers.
Even when he gains more skills, he would just be using those skills to better his basic aspects.
Attack, Defend, Move, Strategize.
Ryan rubbed his face, deeply moved.
"But isn't the time when I am low on Mana being spend on nothing? Isn't this wasted time?"
Seraphina rubbed his hair. "Good thing that you noticed. You won't be sitting idle when you are regenerating your mana. You will be doing physical training. Gym. And you will also be teaching me mathematics and science from Earth.
"Now, stand up and do a hundred pushups."
There will be no rest in training. Ryan liked it that way. He was too lazy, but he knew deep down that he wanted to change himself.
With Seraphina mentoring him, this was a perfect opportunity.
"100? Are you kidding me, I don't think I can even do 50."
"Don't moan like a bitch and try!"
"Yes miss."
He began trying.
3. 4.
It was much easier than he expected.
10.
20.
It became quite a bit harder.
30.
It became much harder.
More than the physical issue itself, he was focusing on the tiredness. He became certain that he would not reach 40.
I have to somehow reach 40…
35.
Ugh…
36!
THIRTY SEVEN!
THIRTY EIGHT!
Each push up was a struggle.
He felt his hands tremble.
THIRTY NINE!
One more… just one more!
FOURTY!
He immediately wanted to fall but Seraphina said calmly: "Don't fall. Don't stop. The mind always gives up long before the body does. Your body can do a lot more—continue!"
He wanted to continue, but he could not.
He breathed heavily as he fell.
He was already sweat-soaked.
She kneeled beside him. "This is why I want you to train your body. I don't care if you get six packs or muscles, but I want you to get the mindset that is required. You are untrained, that is why you couldn't grit your teeth and ignore your mind's wish to stop. If you were trained, you would have more resilience."
Resilience, the ability to ignore the wishes of the mind to rest and continue struggling. Many people thought that it was an inborn skill that some people just had. But no, it was a skill that was developed, created.
"We will build that in you, Ry. Without resilience, you will reach nowhere. Can you stand?"
"My whole body feels sore…"
"That is normal after first intense workout. Rest for a few minutes. Rest is just as important as training. Now, give me your hand."
He gave her his trembling hand.
"Teach me your elementary maths."
"Eh… sure. Just read my mind."
There really was not a single moment wasted, huh?
His sis truly was a monster trainer.
She began to read his mind about elementary math.
The numbers. The shapes.
Ryan pulled Seraphina into his arms, since she was focused on something else, she did not resist.
He kissed her.
His tongue gently forced her lips open and he cupped her face with his hands.
When his tongue coiled around hers, she kissed him back without thinking.
Her hand rested on his chest, steadying herself, but her thoughts were somewhere else entirely. The sensation of utter peace that came through their bond made her learning even clearer. She focused on his memories, letting them flow into her while her tongue went through the motions.
This part—she could get used to this.
Numbers system on Earth is not the same one as in Mugen, it is different but also very interesting.
At elementary level, she did not need his personal guidance. Just his memories and focused learning time was enough.
So she scraped through his elementary school memories and learned all the simple mathematics.
After a few seconds of the kiss, she pushed him away and wiped her lips, eyes shining. "Earth had some good thinkers. The idea of 'Zero' in the numbers is genius."
"Ah, I forgot 'zero' was never counted here in Mugen."
"Yeah, I wonder why nobody thought of such a simple thing."
There were similar concepts in Mugen, but it was not integrated into the broader mathematics like it was on Earth.
Ryan was a bit baffled thinking about it.
Why was the mathematics so backward in Mugen when mages literally needed to learn in order to grow stronger?
Were individuals hoarding knowledge?
That would make sense in a world where knowledge was true power.
But even then, Sera must be getting top tier education of this world. Even she found Earth's mathematics mostly better.
Maybe pure mathematics was sidelined because it wasn't seen as immediately useful compared to combat skills or magical prowess. Earth's intellectual history, with its philosophers and scientists, might've pushed math further than Mugen's warlords and nobles ever cared to.
Sera continued: "Anyway, don't think about all that garbage and explain to me about all of this, it's hard to remember things that I learn inside our Bond. I need to actually learn in the real world as well for it to stick."
It was not necessary, but it would be helpful regardless. She didn't want Ryan to just kiss her whenever she wanted to study, either. It would end up distracting both of them. It felt far too peaceful inside their minds—it was nearly sleep inducing.
I should ban this inside training grounds.
"Anyway, explain elementary mathematics."
"...Fine."
After a while, his mana was replenished and another brutal thrashing began.
But this time, his use of his skills became a bit more nimble than before.