Fate DxD

Chapter 80

We appear at the end of a forest, on a small dirt road, and in front of us are stairs leading up to the top of the mountain. Seeing the distance to cover, I sigh, feeling the start of training already upon us.

"Here we are." Rias proudly announces. "As you've already guessed, training starts right away. Take these bags and ride with them until you get to the mansion.

"Um... These bags are huge..." Asia murmurs, not super cheery.

"Don't worry Asia, for you you'll have a much lighter bag. Oh and a rule for you Senji, forbidden to use your magic circuits or any of your capacity during these 10 days. Come on everyone, let's go." Rias announces, grabbing a bag and beginning her ascent.

The first to step forward is Akeno, closely following Rias. I take the time to stretch, before picking up the bag and placing it on my back, feeling an enormous weight. Surprised by the weight, I almost fall but catch myself and start climbing. Asia passes me fairly quickly, with a perfectly normal bag.

I'm sucking in a lot of air to keep up the pace, each step is harder than the next, and the fact that I can't use my magic circuits to strengthen my body doesn't help at all.

(I'm so weak without my abilities... Nah, no time for complaining, I've got to move on.)

The weather is so good, the sky is decked out in blue, showing spring in all its splendor. We're surrounded by trees as far as the eye can see, regaining their leaves, and birdsong accompanies us.

"Come on, everyone, let's get moving." Said Rias, looking at us from several steps above.

(These... bags... are too heavy... What did she put in them...?)

"Haa... Haa... I expected nothing less from President..." Kiba murmurs beside me, keeping pace.

"...See you later..." Koneko walks past us, with twice as much bag on her back, as if everything were fine.

We finally reach the interior of the manor house, which is completely made of wood, the smell of the material invading our noses.

"This mansion belongs to my House, welcome, we will live here for 10 days. Leave the bags in the living room and then go and change. Kiba, Senji, I'll ask you to fetch some herbs for tonight's meal. But don't take too long, the rest of the training is waiting for you." Rias explained, before going off to change.

"Herbs... Does it grow around here?" I ask, heading for the kitchen.

"If I remember correctly, yes." Kiba replied, pouring us a glass of water.

"..." I gulp down my glass of water. "Okay, let's make this quick then."

"Let's get changed before we go, follow me." Kiba guides me through the mansion.

We go upstairs and into the changing rooms, where we hear the girls talking and laughing nearby. We quickly change into sportswear, before heading out into the woods in search of edible herbs.

"Sounds good to me, it grows well in the mountains... Oh, here's more." I get up and pick another herb, under Kiba's amused gaze.

"You seem to know a lot about it Senji, were you a herborist in another life?" Kiba asks me amusedly.

"Maybe." I reply. "I mostly did that a lot on my trips with my foster father."

"Oh, I see. And may I ask how long you've been traveling?" He asks me, curious.