Sword is equal to Wand, Chapter 24 (Patreon)

After spending a good bit of time with Susan and Hannah, I headed on down to the training room where Daphne and I were supposed to meet, in the next few hours. And from there, I just laid out on a padded bench as I mentally went into the Library of Heaven.

"Hmm... What should I read for the next few days of accelerated time flow?" I mused thoughtfully as I looked at the thousands of books of pure knowledge that couldn't be fused together into spells, manuals, recipes, and such.

Then I paused as a I was reminded by McGonagall's words about how the winners of the various tournaments would also have a chance to represent Hogwarts in duels and other events against the other magic schools that spanned this dangerous world.

"Let's see... Aha! A book on the history and brief introductions to the other famous magical schools could be interesting." I muttered thoughtfully as I pulled out a large dragon hide-bound book and laid it across my lap so I could begin reading.

And in this world that was literally much larger than normal Earth due to the Pantheons of gods who had expanded it over the countless millenia even if it generally still had the same shape. There was, in fact. A fuck load of magical schools that taught magical knowledge and some form of cultivation.

African schools for example, focused on magical beast bloodlines being integrated into natural-born wizards and martial artists, which gave them innate divine strength as well as access to potent elemental abilities.

The wizards of Egypt and the Middle East used faith-based spells for large-scale combat to call upon their respective deities and lesser aspects of their Pantheon for smaller tasks as well.

The book didn't get into the actual spells of these people, though I did notice something a little interesting... Apparently, Hogwarts and the premier school of Japan in Mahoutokoru recently had some history.

As supposedly our headmaster and the lord of Mahoutokoru had a terrible 'lovers spat' between them and Dumbledoor's side lover in Grindlewald, while the very male kitsune leader of Mahoutokoru was also cheating on Dumbledoor with his brother Alberforth!

Truly delightful gossip that couldn't even escape a history book, apparently.

 But what was more interesting was Japan's view of youkai/spirit beasts who took the path of using human faith/wizards mana to ascend themselves as lesser gods in kami. And the whole point of the best school in Japan was purely to help the lineages of powerful spirit beasts/youkai in Japan to find a wizard to help them.

And apparently... Nowadays, they were even having the most beautiful and socially skilled youkai debut as idols to gain the faith and worship of humanity to promote themselves to lesser kami through the faith of millions through the power of the internet.

'Wait, so these youkai idols are just Vtubers as they just 'graduate' and retire once they light the spark of inner divinity to let the next generation of youkai take the center stage.' I thought helplessly.

Still with a helpless chuckle I finished the book without any other major notable things coming to attention.

And from there I went back to reading another transfiguration book until the alarm spell I put on the door was tripped. Which drew me out of the Heaven's Path Library and I sat up as Daphne Greengrass as well as Tracey Davis came into the training room.

"You two are a bit earlier then I expected." I noted calmly as both ladies shrugged off some zip up jackets and drop some long bags which was their weapons and probably a change of clothes.

Daphne snorted and said in a rather amused tone instead. "I wanted to speak before we got down to business. Have you heard about my spat with Dorea yet?"

I simply nodded with her sneering for a moment before she said coolly. "I want your training to help me beat Dorea into the ground. I do NOT want you to likewise train her as I need to beat her in a martial duel with zero questions about the difference between us being allowed!"

I drew a sip from my drink before I looked to Tracey and asked with a small smile. "Alright, you are the one paying me. But I am curious to why you are also here Tracey?"

Tracey went to speak. But Daphne spoke over her with a slight frown. "She is my... Half-sister you could say. Leave it at that, I will be paying for her lessons as well, she also uses the same wind-based saber martial art as our father and I use." 

And then looking at Daphne and Tracey's faces... Besides Tracey's eyes being a different color, I could see how similar they were. Besides Tracey having a nicer ass then Daphne.

Still, after a glance, I just shrugged and said. "Fine. You both train in the same martial art so it's not like I have to change things up too much." 

I got up and with a pop in my nec,k I said. "Alright. Daphne, you go first, I need to see where you are after my previous lessons."

And Daphne, still remembering how I walked her through the proper motions to activate her magical energy and thus perform elemental attacks with her martial art got to work.

Though it was still clearly rather rough. She was fighting to stay locked into the motions I put her through to activate her martial art instead of grasping the feeling of the mana being activated inside of her body.

I then took out my wand... And after a moment of thought, I transfigured the training pit into a sand pit that was very deep and loose before I said. "Your movements are as stiff as a dead tree. Your martial art especially requires your movements to be fluid and willing to change as is the nature of wind."

Pointing at the sand pit, I said. "Take off your shoes and train your movements in the sandpit with longer steps. If you can maintain graceful steps and even step upon the sand without sinking as much into it. You will gain much more skill and control over the martial art." 

Daphne gave me a long look before she tsked and took off her shoes and socks while I turned to Tracey... As the shape of Daphne bent over in tight exercise pants was going to get Tracey to look down on me if I stared, obviously.

"Alright, let's see how you are, Tracey. Try to attack me." I said, even as I transfigured a table into a saber that was double the length of Tracey's, which made her grimace.

"Fine... Here I come then!" She said firmly as she gripped her sword and she swung her saber at mine... Not at me, but at my saber.

Our blades met several times, with me letting her take over the flow of the battle. But it only took a minute for me to put together some thoughts about this Tracey Davis.

'She isn't just the half-sister of Daphne. She is a bastard in a noble house... She knows it, accepts it, and has a weak heart for it. As she feels she is lesser then others.' I thought with a slight grimace as I pulled back my saber from a forceful blow from her.

And as she missed and got ready to send another carving slash at me... She paused, lost in what to do as I left my saber low at my side, not putting it away. But something she couldn't use as a target anymore.

My lips smacked before I shook my head and said blandly. "Alright thats enough."

She pouted and then said rather pointedly. "What? What did I do wrong?"

I gave Tracey a look before I said calmly. "In every blow we shared... Not once did you swing at me. You only swung at my own sword. You don't have the heart of a warrior, you hate combat don't you?"

Tracey looked down with Daphne pausing in her own training at my words with a heavy frown crossing her face.

And the room went quiet as Tracey didn't have a rebuttal... Until she exhaled heavily and said tiredly. "Yeah. I am just a normal girl I guess. I may be a witch, but swinging a sword and carving through monsters just isn't for me. I love potions and just reading in peace." 

I slowly nodded and said calmly. "That is fine. I cannot teach you something you have little interest in."

 But Daphne on the otherhand... She had her own thoughts it seemed as she said with that same heavy frown.

"Tracey you know what Father is wanting. What the Greengrass lineage is all about. You need to be strong if you want to be accepted into the family."

And my face became very fucking awkward as Tracey said flatly. "My mom is just a pureblood bastard who works for your father as his maid. That he fucks behind your mother's back in his cigar lounge when she has her other 'noble' friends over.... Right, Daphne?" 

Daphne's face became red as she went to say something before Tracey added on. "Of course your father isn't entirely at fault... He had to hedge his bets for his own bloodline, being the last of his own. And with the blood curse that plagues the all-female line of the Greengrass family. It's not like he expects anything of me besides carrying on his own bloodline."

The room became very awkward as both blondes looked as though they just remembered that I existed in this conversation.

So I took refuge in utter audacity as I took a drink and then said blandly. "Oh? Don't mind me, keep airing out your family's dirty laundry. I am the one getting paid by the hour with large amounts of money just to sit here." 

To say the least, Daphne's face twitched at my shameless words. But it got both girls out of their drama as she took a deep breath and looked at Tracey before saying in annoyance. "Just... Go back to the Slytherin common room and watch Dorea. I will be back in a few hours!"

With Tracey snorting and grabbing her stuff as she snapped back as she left. "Hmph! Don't get attacked by Dorea's cronies on the way back then without me watching your back!"

And Tracey made sure to slam the door behind her as she left, leaving just me and Daphne alone who looked ready to call the training session short.

But instead I took a deep breath and said. "Square up. We are going to spar in the sand pit. Seeing as you want to beat Dorea so badly, I will push you harder then." 

-

And so I did, I pushed Daphne to the point of collapse as she collapsed to her knees panting with her large breasts heaving with the motions. All the while she cradled several bruises I left on her from the wind blades we both conjured from our swords.

Meanwhile on my end. I was a bit sweaty, but I was so much better with her own family's martial art that it was kinda sad. So none of the wind blades from either of our attacks managed to ruin my clothes like hers.

"Alright, now that you are exhausted. It's a good chance to train your flexability." I said with Daphne giving a small yelp as I gave her a princess carry out of the sandpit so I could transform it into a padded mat... That felt like it was stuffed with sand instead of cotton.

But still it was progress!

And after putting her back down, I sat down behind her and placed a hand onto her back with her groaning as I said. "Spread your legs a bit and relax. We are going to start with you reaching in for your toes." 

Daphne groaned as I slowly pushed her forward until she said breathlessly. "Jake! My chest is in the way, I can't bend that far to the side over my leg!"

And without mercy, I said flatly. "Make it squish down. Your waist is too tight, grab onto the top of your foot... And keep your leg straight Daphne!"

A whimper left Daphne as she did the stretching routine until she was done with my demands, and then with a thud she just gave up and I grunted as her back hit my chest.

"I... Hate you, Jake." Daphne said with clear exhaustion as she leaned against me, too exhausted to move.

Though I just raised an eyebrow before saying calmly. "You have become a good twenty percent faster with your elemental attacks, Daphne. So long as Dorea herself doesn't unlock elemental attacks or ranged attacks with her martial arts. You should steamroll her and the rest of the competition."

There was a pause before Daphne said quietly. "Except you right... You are a monster who is only held back by the fact you are a commoner, without backing and a powerful heritage to draw from." 

My lips curled into an evil smile with Daphne going stiff as I said teasingly. "Speaking of heritage and wealth... You have literally thrown yourself into my arms. Should I call you one of my own then?" 

And I paused as she said somewhat flatly. "Even if you wanted, and I agreed. My mother would force you to take my own name. Are you willing to marry into another family?"

'Damn now this is trial of a question.' I thought helplessly but I couldn't be a coward right now. Otherwise, I knew for a fact that Daphne would lose all respect for me.

"I think... Maybe you could be worth it." I said slowly as I wrapped my arms around Daphne, just below her heavy breasts with her going stiff for a moment.

Before she chuckled lowly before saying cooly. "Maybe, though it's you, who will need to show his value."