Danmachi: Exception

The third floor's phosphorescent light cast long shadows as they walked, their footsteps echoing off ancient stone. Three hours of steady progress had given Cyrus a solid read on Tessia's capabilities. Her archery proved consistently excellent, her magic control improving with each encounter. But something still held her back - a hesitation that could prove deadly on deeper floors.

A familiar screech echoed ahead. Dungeon lizards. Three of them, based on the sound patterns. He held up a hand, noting how Tessia immediately shifted to cover his flank. Good instincts.

"Remember what we discussed about commitment?" He kept his voice low, though the monsters already knew their location. "Time to practice. No holding back."

Her turquoise eyes narrowed in concentration as she nocked an arrow. "What's the plan?"

"They'll try to use the walls. Split our attention." He spun Serpiente in a casual arc, its emerald core pulsing with stored power. "So we deny them that option. When I say now, hit the ceiling with everything you've got."

"The ceiling?" Her ears twitched in confusion. "But-"

"Trust me." He smiled, the kind that made smart monsters run the other way. "And remember - full commitment."

The lizards burst from around the corner, exactly as expected. Two immediately scurried up opposite walls while the third charged straight ahead. Classic pincer movement. Too bad they'd played right into his hands.

"Now!"

Tessia's voice rang out clear and strong: "Through ancient roots that bind our souls, spirits of the verdant depths rise forth. Let wisdom of elder groves manifest - Sylvan Genesis!"

Blue-tinted vines exploded from the ceiling, far denser than her previous attempts. They spread rapidly, forming a complex web that forced the wall-climbing lizards back to ground level. Perfect.

"Good." He stepped forward, Serpiente held low and ready. "Now watch carefully. This is how you control a battlefield."

The charging lizard reached him first, jaws snapping. He pivoted smoothly, letting it pass while simultaneously sweeping its legs with Serpiente's weighted end. The monster tumbled, momentum carrying it straight into its companions. All three crashed together in a tangle of limbs and tails.

"See that?" He circled the pile of thrashing monsters. "Force them to bunch up. Create targeting zones. Like this - Fuego!"

Golden flames erupted from Serpiente's core, not aimed at the lizards directly but at the ground beneath them. The sudden heat made them leap apart - straight into Tessia's waiting arrows. Two perfect shots, two dissolving corpses.

The last lizard proved smarter, diving through the flames toward Cyrus's legs. But that just demonstrated why he'd practiced knife defense with Tessia earlier.

He jumped, tucking into a tight roll that carried him over the attack. As he came up, Serpiente swept down in a perfect arc, catching the monster mid-turn. One clean hit, one less threat.

"That," he said as the body dissolved, "is how you handle multiple opponents. Notice anything specific?"

Tessia lowered her bow, eyes bright with analysis. "You never stopped moving. Every action flowed into the next, like... like a dance almost."

"Close. It's about rhythm. Reading the flow of combat and-" He paused, noting how her ears had perked forward. "What is it?"

"More coming. Lots more." She gestured down the corridor. "The vibrations through my vines... at least eight, maybe ten."

He grinned. "Perfect. Time for your next lesson."

"Which is?"

"How to fight outnumbered." He shifted his stance, Serpiente held ready but relaxed. "Remember - full commitment. No holding back. Show me what you can really do."

The first wave hit like a tidal surge - goblins and kobolds mixed together, charging en masse. A lesser archer might have panicked. Tessia just smiled and began to chant.

"Let gentle winds guide my path true - Wind Whisper!"

Her next arrow curved impossibly, threading between two monsters to strike a third in the back of the skull. The shaft glowed briefly before returning to her hand, ready for reuse.

"Now that's more like it!" Cyrus launched forward, Serpiente becoming a blur of motion. "Keep that energy going!"

He danced through the monster ranks, each movement precise yet flowing. A kobold's claws scraped harmlessly across his shirt as he spun past, Serpiente's counter-strike removing its head. Two goblins rushed him from opposite sides - he dropped low, letting them crash into each other before sweeping both aside with a single strike.

Behind him, Tessia's bow sang a steady rhythm. Each shot found its mark, her arrows curving through impossible angles to strike vital points. The few monsters that tried rushing her met walls of thorned vines, forcing them back into Cyrus's reach.

"Your control's improving!" He caught a goblin's punch, using its momentum to throw it into its companions. "But you can do better. Remember what I said about limits?"

Her response came in the form of spellcraft: "Through ancient roots that bind our souls, spirits of the verdant depths rise forth. Let wisdom of elder groves manifest - Sylvan Genesis!"

This time the vines didn't just sprout from walls and ceiling - they erupted from every surface, forming a complex maze that separated the remaining monsters into manageable groups. Some found themselves suspended helplessly in mid-air, perfect targets for her arrows. Others were herded straight into Cyrus's waiting strikes.

"Now that's what I'm talking about!" He moved through the impromptu battlefield like water, Serpiente striking with lethal precision. "Keep pushing! Show me what you can really do!"

Her next arrows carried traces of wind magic, their impacts creating small shockwaves that staggered nearby monsters. The few that managed to avoid her shots found themselves tangled in vines or facing Cyrus's staff work.

The last goblin actually tried retreating, showing more wisdom than its kin. Tessia's arrow caught it mid-stride, the wind-enhanced shot punching clean through.

Silence fell as the final body dissolved. Cyrus surveyed the aftermath with approval. "Much better. That's the kind of commitment I was talking about."

Tessia leaned against the wall, breathing heavily but smiling. "That was... actually fun."

"Getting past your own limits usually is." He offered her a water flask. "How's your mind holding up?"

"Lower than I'd like." She took a careful sip. "But not as bad as I expected. The wind magic helps reduce strain on the plant spells somehow."

"Smart combination." He retrieved Serpiente from where he'd propped it. "Ready to continue?"

She straightened, squaring her shoulders. "Actually... can I ask you something first?"

"Mm?"

"Earlier, when you said someone showed you your limits were self-imposed..." She hesitated. "Who was it?"

Cyrus was quiet for a long moment, memories surfacing unbidden. "Someone who saw potential I didn't know I had. Who pushed me past comfortable into necessary." He started walking, prompting her to follow. "They taught me that growth only comes from challenging yourself. From being willing to fail spectacularly in pursuit of something greater."

"Sounds like quite a teacher."

"They were." His grip tightened slightly on Serpiente. "Still are, in many ways."

She caught the shift in his tone. "What happened?"

"Life." He shrugged, the motion too casual to be natural. "Sometimes the best teachers are the ones who show you what not to do. How not to be."

"Is that why you're helping me? To be better than they were?"

He glanced at her, noting the genuine curiosity in her expression. "Partly. But mostly because I see that same potential in you. The drive to be more than what others expect." His smile held equal parts encouragement and challenge. "Question is, are you ready to prove me right?"

Her answering smile was fierce. "Lead the way."

Three dungeon lizards burst from the shadows. Their claws scraped against stone as they circled, looking for an opening. Cyrus spun Serpiente in a lazy arc, more from habit than necessity. 

This is a lot more boring than my first dungeon run...

Ottar's words echoed in his memory, from that day in the bathhouse.

"The basics," the Boaz had said after a long moment. "Master them. Then master them again."

"That's it? No secret techniques? No hidden wisdom passed down through the ages?"

"There are no secrets. Only what works and what gets you killed."

"And the basics work?"

"I'm here."

Cyrus had laughed. "Can't argue with that logic."

Now, watching the lizards' predictable attack patterns, he understood the deeper truth in those words. The basics weren't just foundations - they were the difference between life and death when everything went wrong. Still...

"Same formation as the last group," he called to Tessia. "Want to handle this one?"

Her response came in the form of an arrow, curved by wind magic to catch the leftmost lizard mid-leap. The shot drove clean through its skull, dissolving the monster before it hit the ground. 

The remaining two split apart, one charging straight while its companion scaled the wall. Standard tactics, growing tiresome after the tenth repetition. But Tessia's eyes blazed with focus, her movements sharp and precise as she tracked both targets.

"Through ancient roots that bind our souls-" Her voice rang with genuine excitement as thorned vines erupted from the ceiling, forcing the wall-climber back to ground level. 

Cyrus stepped back, letting her work. She'd grown considerably in just these few hours. Each spell showed better control, each arrow found its mark with deadly precision. The way she moved through combat now held a dancer's grace, her earlier hesitation replaced by fluid confidence.

She looks beautiful doing it too.

The thought caught him off guard. He pushed it aside, focusing on her technique instead. The way she used wind magic to curve shots around her own vine barriers. How she layered spells to control the battlefield's geometry. Professional assessment, nothing more.

The last lizard dissolved under a perfectly placed arrow. Tessia lowered her bow, breathing heavily but grinning. A light sheen of sweat made her skin glow in the dungeon's phosphorescent light.

"How was that?" 

"Clean work." He gestured to a relatively clear section of floor. "But you're burning through mind faster than necessary. Time for a break."

She nodded, reaching for her pack. "I brought lunch, if you're hungry."

"Food first. But take a mind potion - you're running low."

"I know, I know." She pulled out a small blue vial along with several wrapped packages. "I'm the potion expert here, remember?"

"Just looking out for my student."

They settled against the wall, close enough that he could feel the warmth radiating from her. She passed him something wrapped in leaves - some kind of meat pie, still warm from whatever magic kept it fresh. The scent made his stomach growl.

"You made this?"

"Mhm. Miach's been teaching me some preservation techniques." She took a bite of her own portion, ears twitching with satisfaction.

"Smart application." The pie tasted even better than it smelled - perfectly seasoned, with just enough kick to wake up the senses. "You've got quite a few talents hidden away."

"Says the man who moves like water through combat." She took another sip of mind potion. "Speaking of which... that thing you did earlier, with the staff sweep? Could you show me the footwork for that?"

"The reversal throw?" He set aside his food. "It's all about weight distribution. Here-"

He demonstrated the move slowly, breaking down each step. How to read an opponent's momentum, when to pivot, the exact angle needed to maximize the throw's effect. Tessia watched intently, occasionally asking questions that showed keen tactical understanding.

"The key is commitment," he explained. "Once you start the movement, you have to follow through completely. Hesitation-"

"Gets you killed." She smiled. "You've mentioned that a few times."

"Because it's true." He settled back down beside her. "But you're getting better at that. No hesitation at all with those last lizards."

"It's easier now." She played with an arrow, spinning it between her fingers. "Everything feels... clearer? Like I can see the whole flow of combat, not just individual threats."

"That's experience building. Pattern recognition, muscle memory, tactical awareness - it all starts coming together eventually."

"Is that how it works for you? Seeing patterns?"

He considered the question carefully. "Sometimes. But mostly I just..." He gestured vaguely. "Feel it? The rhythm of combat, the flow of movement. Like music almost."

"That explains the dancing."

"I don't dance."

"Really?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Because that spin move you did earlier looked an awful lot like dancing."

"That was a tactical repositioning."

"Mhm. Very tactical. Very graceful too."

He gave her a mock glare. "Careful. I might decide you need extra training."

"Oh no, anything but that." She laughed, the sound echoing off stone walls. "More time learning from the great dance- I mean, combat master? However will I survive?"

"Keep it up and we'll see how well those archery skills work in close quarters."

"Is that a challenge?" She set aside her empty potion vial. "Because I've been practicing hand-to-hand too."

"Have you now?"

"Mhm. Naaza's been teaching me some basics." She shifted to face him fully. "Want to test them out?"

The invitation hung in the air between them. Her eyes held that same fierce focus from combat, but softer now, almost playful. He became acutely aware of how close they were sitting, how the dungeon's cool air carried traces of her scent - herbs and sunshine and something uniquely her.

A distant screech broke the moment. More monsters, moving their way.

"Rain check on that sparring match." He stood, offering her a hand up. "Sounds like we've got company."

She accepted the help, her fingers lingering against his palm for just a moment. "How many?"

"Based on the echoes... at least a dozen. Mixed group - lizards, goblins, maybe some kobolds."

"Good." She nocked an arrow, that combat focus returning. "I've been wanting to try something new with the vine barriers."

"Oh?" He spun Serpiente into ready position. "Care to share with the class?"

"Better to show you." Her smile held a predator's edge. "Try to keep up."

The monsters rounded the corner in a chaotic mass - exactly the kind of mindless charge that made these floors feel tedious. But Tessia's opening move proved anything but boring.

"Through ancient roots that bind our souls-" The familiar chant carried new intensity as vines erupted from every surface. But instead of forming simple barriers, they wove together into a complex three-dimensional maze, creating elevated platforms and channeled corridors.

"Impressive." Cyrus leapt onto one of the platforms, getting a better view of the battlefield. "But what's the plan?"

Her answer came in the form of wind-enhanced arrows, curving through the maze to strike monsters from multiple angles simultaneously. The shots themselves weren't lethal - but they drove the creatures exactly where she wanted them.

"I see." He grinned as understanding dawned. "You're herding them."

"Mhm." Another volley of arrows, another group of monsters forced into tighter clusters. "Care to help with the cleanup?"

"Don't mind if I do." He launched himself from the platform, Serpiente trailing golden flames. "Fuego!"

The fire magic caught three goblins mid-stride, their bodies dissolving before they hit the ground. A kobold tried flanking him - he pivoted smoothly, letting the attack pass while simultaneously sweeping its legs. The monster tumbled straight into a waiting vine snare.

Above, Tessia continued her archery assault. Each shot served multiple purposes - damaging monsters while simultaneously controlling their movement options. The few that managed to climb toward her platforms found themselves facing lethal point-blank shots.

A particularly clever lizard spotted a gap in the maze's pattern. It launched itself through the opening, claws extended toward Cyrus's back. But that just proved why he'd spent so much time teaching her about battlefield awareness.

"Let gentle winds guide my path true - Wind Whisper!"

The arrow curved at an impossible angle, catching the lizard mid-leap. The wind magic's impact sent its dissolving body crashing into two more monsters, stunning them long enough for Cyrus to finish them with precise staff strikes.

"Now that's just showing off." Cyrus charged his staff with fire magic, each strike leaving trails of golden flame. "I like it."

They fell into a natural rhythm - her arrows and vine control herding monsters into kill zones, his close combat expertise eliminating any that broke through. The dungeon's phosphorescent light caught the edges of her magic, creating an ever-shifting dance of shadows and motion.

Silence fell as the final body dissolved. Cyrus surveyed the aftermath with genuine appreciation. "Now that was creative. When did you come up with this setup?"

"Been thinking about it since the first floor." She hopped down from her platform, landing lightly beside him. "You kept talking about controlling battlefield geometry, so..."

"So you turned the entire corridor into your personal shooting gallery." He grinned. "Remind me not to get on your bad side."

"Too late for that." She pulled out another mind potion. "You already promised me extra training, remember?"

"Pretty sure you brought that on yourself with the dancing comments."

"I stand by those observations." She took a careful sip of the potion. "Very graceful. Very tactical."

Cyrus checked his crystal pouch, the familiar weight suggesting a productive run. "Getting close to capacity here. How're yours looking?"

Tessia held up two equally full pouches. "Same. Though I still have some mind left if you want to continue..."

"Better to end on a high note." He secured Serpiente across his back. "Besides, this was meant as a training run, not a full expedition."

"True." She fidgeted with her bow string, a habit he'd noticed emerged when she was working up to something. "Actually... I was thinking..."

He raised an eyebrow. "Dangerous pastime."

"Oh hush." Her ears twitched - another tell, this one suggesting nervous excitement. "I was wondering if maybe... if you'd like to celebrate? At Hibachitei?"

The invitation caught him off guard. Hibachitei was quieter than the Hostess, more intimate. The kind of place where...

Oh.

"Celebrate?" He kept his tone carefully neutral.

"Mhm." Her fingers traced patterns on her bow. "It's less crowded than the Hostess, and... well, I'd like to thank you properly. For the training."

There were several layers to unpack there. The slight emphasis on 'properly'. The way her eyes wouldn't quite meet his. The faint blush coloring her ears.

"That sounds..." Dangerous. Complicated. Tempting. "...nice. What time were you thinking?"

"Give me two hours to get ready?" Now she did look at him, those turquoise eyes holding something that made his pulse quicken. "Pick me up at the blue pharmacy?"

He nodded, not quite trusting his voice. She smiled - not her combat smile or her teasing one, but something softer, almost shy.

"Good." She started toward the exit, then paused. "Oh, and Cyrus?"

"Mm?"

"Wear something nice." With that, she disappeared around the corner, leaving him to wonder exactly what he'd agreed to.

Celebrating. Right. He checked his crystal pouches again, more from habit than necessity. Because that's definitely all this is.

The distant sound of her footsteps faded, replaced by the dungeon's ambient noise. He should head up too, get cleaned up, maybe...

Shit. I'm in trouble, aren't I?