Teacher for a week(1)(corrected)

"Well... it's a peculiar situation."

Mark shifted his gaze between Aiz and Tiona and the two unexpected people, Zoe and Bell.

With the confirmation of the War Game, Bell and Zoe came to the Loki Familia's base to ask Aiz if they could train them, the problem was that so it seemed they wanted the support of the Loki Familia. The one who forced them to leave was Tione, but only after whispering to him where to go to meet Aiz and so that led to the current situation, but there was a problem.

"What do I have to do with this? Don't you mean that the favor you need is to train them?" -Mark asked uncertainly.

It was true that he had become stronger and his fighting skills had improved greatly, but it didn't change the fact that he had been holding a sword for about 4 months, trying to train someone in his condition was ridiculous.

''Bell will be taken care of by me and Tiona, the problem is Zoe who is a mage. I don't possess enough skills in that subject to help, that's why I asked you."

"I think you've forgotten, but my way of doing magic is also quite peculiar." -Said Mark with a sigh.

"That's exactly why I would like you to help her Mark, her magic is also different from the magic normally used by wizards. Please!"

Seeing Bell bow, Mark's expression would have become complicated except for the fact that under the effects of corruption, he didn't feel anything special, besides there was one thing that needed to be taken into consideration.

"Let's say I'm willing to help you, what's in it for me? Unlike Tina and Aiz, I don't have that much free time."

"..."(x2)

Ignoring the two who were pouting at him, he focused his gaze on Bell and Zoe. He had too much on his hands to consider helping someone for a week with nothing in return.

The duo looked at Mark seriously, realizing that his words made sense; after all, it was true that he was under no obligation to help them when he had already done so twice without asking for anything.

Thinking carefully, Zoe got an idea, quickly searched her pockets, and pulled out a card that she handed to Mark.

Reading the contents, Mark looked up at Zoe surprised.

"I see that you are an alchemist and what's more, with the Rank E Master."

It seemed that Aiz and Tione were also curious about it. The job of an alchemist wasn't easy, working carefully with materials to create potions required a high level of skill and knowledge, otherwise, there was a risk of losing resources that had a fairly high cost.

"I'm not saying this to brag, but my skills are improving day by day, and I'm sure I'll reach the higher ranks. Knowing this, I propose to offer you options at half the price for a year, what do you think?"

Unable to read her aura, all Mark could do was look at her heterochromatic eyes full of self-confidence, which strangely for him, prevented him from feeling any kind of doubt towards her words.

"Are you able to create potions for pain resistance?" -Mark asked her after a moment of silence.

"Yes."

"Then we have a deal." He reached out his hand and shook Zoe's, confirming the exchange.

Even though he wouldn't have much time to train that week, he would gain something just as good. With him going into the dungeon every day and facing mostly monsters stronger than him, his potion consumption rate had become too high for his pockets.

"I think it's better if we train in the dungeon, you know the magic damage problem." -Proposed Zoe.

"That's not possible for today, at the moment, I don't have armor, besides..."

"Mark is grounded, he can't enter the dungeon." -Tione interjected, putting herself between them.

"?"(x2) -Both Bell and Zoe looked at Mark confused.

"It's not a punishment, just... a momentary pause." -Mark said, searching for the right words, then turned back to Tione.

"Why are you here anyway? You barely know them."

"Sounds like fun." -She said innocently.

'What could I expect.' -Sighed Mark.

With only a week, the group wanted to make the most of every available moment, so they headed for the walls where Bell and Aiz used to train. There they could train without anyone coming to disturb them and when they arrived, Bell, Tione, and Aiz immediately started fighting.

Instead, Mark and Zoe stood on top of a watchtower, connected to the walls. Before training her, Mark wanted to understand how her magic worked.

"From what I saw this morning, you know how to use instant healing magic, what are the other two magics?"

"Regarding that, let's say I'm not limited to the use of three spells." -Zoe said embarrassed.

Even if Mark was helping her, they were still members of different Familia and with the fact that she couldn't read his mind, there wasn't enough mutual trust and even Mark seemed to understand this.

"Alright, can you use magic that doesn't have too much destructive power on the ground?"

"Yes 'Wind slash'."

From the tip of the spear came out a blade of compressed air that managed to create a furrow, and considering that the walls of Orario are used to contain monsters in case they came out of the dungeon, that represented how powerful Zoe's magic was.

'It seems there's someone other than Bell hiding something.'

Seeing the damage caused, Mark immediately understood that Zoe's magic was already on par with that of advanced level 3 adventurers.

"Alright, aim for me this time." -Mark said, moving slightly away from her.

Initially, Zoe showed an expression of conflict, but remembering how easily Mark had handled that level 2, she made the decision.

"Wind slash."

"Electric dart."

Before the wind slash could approach, a magic circle formed in front of Mark, from which an electric dart came out and crashed with the wind slash, dispersing it.

At the scene, it was Zoe's turn to open her eyes in shock. Mark's way of casting magic seemed so simple and quick that Zoe wondered if Mark possessed similar magic to hers.

"Again." -said Mark impassively.

Concentrating, Zoe cast magic again, but as before it was intercepted by Mark's magic.

"Again."

Still unmoved, Mark told her to cast the magic again, but it was blocked again. This cycle was repeated again and again, and in case there were other mages nearby, they would have their mouths wide open in shock, as it was not normal for someone around level 2 or 3 to cast so many magics with that speed.

Time passed inexorably as the two of them repeatedly threw spells at each other. Zoe's face was pale as sweat slowly dripped down her slender neck, while Mark seemed to have made no effort at all.

'Heavy breathing.'

Placing her hands above her knees, Zoe's breathing became heavier, but even so, she didn't want to give up, but when she tried to cast magic again, she was stopped by Mark.

"You can stop for now. Tell me, what have you managed to learn from these fights?" -Mark asked.

"...That my Falna reserves are not enough." -Replied Zoe still fatigued.

"Not really, or rather you only see the problem from one side."

"?"-Zoe looked at him as if trying to understand what he was referring to.

"I don't understand how your magic works, but I have a question for you. Why did you cast your magic at full power every time? If you had decreased it, my magic would still have been destroyed and you could have continued more." -Explained Mark carefully.

Hearing Mark's words, she could only agree with him. With the fact that she could cast any magic she could think of, she considered the type of magic to use more than the power to dose.

"Another point, I told you to throw your magic at me, not to stand still, also hadn't you noticed that you always cast your magic in the same spot, why didn't you change your position?"

Mark's words struck her as barbs, but he wasn't wrong. Although Al and Astrea had helped her with her training, it was more of a form of self-defense, she lacked the flexibility of thought during a real fight.

"It seems my teacher will not be kind." -Even if she said that the excitement in Zoe's voice at being able to improve herself was throbbing.

"A pupil who doesn't complain is every teacher's dream."

It seemed that Zoe's excitement was also affecting Mark, as a small smile formed on his lips. From what he could see, this week was going to be a good form of entertainment.