Chapter 13: The Morning Before

Ais joined the Astraea Familia in the dining room where a feast had been cooked. There was a huge variety of food set across the large table, Ais couldn't help but drool. She wanted to start eating whatever was close to her, but she held back out of respect, she was a guest after all, this wasn't her home where Merlin didn't care how much food she ate and even cook more just to see how far Ais could go.

"Alright, let's eat!" Alise declared, and everyone started putting food on their plate, none faster than Ais who seemed to stack a large amount of food on her own plate within a millisecond.

The Familia made small talk with each other as they ate. Ryuu who sat next to Ais decided to speak to her. "Umm, Ais-san, if you don't mind, could I ask what level you are?" Ryuu was curious of how high the level was of the child that had defeated her. She estimated that Ais should be around a high level three or maybe even a level four. The rest of the Familia quieted down to hear Ais's response.

"I have no level" She stated nonchalantly as she devoured a steak.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Seeing that she had to clarify her answer, she set down her bowl of soup and wiped her mouth. "I have no level because I do not have a falna"

...

"""WHAT?!"" The Familia yelled out in surprise, they then looked at Astraea who as a goddess is able to see through lies. However, Astraea was just as shocked as them with a surprised face that told everyone that Ais wasn't lying.

"H-How are you so strong despite not having a falna?" The pink haired Pallum asked.

"Training"

Alise wanted to face palm when she heard Ais's answer. "Could you be a little more specific?"

"Hmmm..." Ais closed her Ais and began thinking of what she should say. "First my training begins in the morning where I start with 1000 push-ups, 1000 sit-ups, 1000 squats and a 10-kilometer run"

Everyone became even more shocked at the crazy amount of exercise she was doing, but that couldn't be all, after all she was very strong. "Then after my warm-up I drink some health potions that Merlin made for me, after that my training is different depending on the schedule Merlin gave me, on the first day of the week I focus on-"

As Ais continued to talk about her training schedule, everyone remained silent as they tried to comprehend the absolute insanity that was Ais's training, even more so that she was falnaless.

"And that's about it for my training" Ais said, then started eating again, not bothering to see their reactions, she was more interested in the desserts baked by Astraea herself. Ais wouldn't say it out loud out of respect for her teacher, but Astraea was better at making sweets then Merlin.

After dinner, everyone went to bed still in shock. They now understood that the world was a big place where anything was possible. Astraea guided Ais to a guest room that was cleaned out. Ais had to admit that the room was fancier then back home. She and Merlin lived in a simple two-story home as they didn't find it necessary to get a bigger house when Merlin could very well afford to buy an entire castle.

She laid down on the bed and tucked herself in, the softness and warmth of the bed almost terrified her. Her eyes slowly closed.

'Maybe I should ask teacher to buy better beds...' With the final thought, she fell asleep.

...

...

 "AHAHAHHA! Finally! It's finished!" Within the basement of her home, Merlin was cheering. In front of her was a strange floating device, the same device she had been working on for a while now.

"Time to test its features. First, lights!" The floating device emitted a bright white light towards Merlin. "My eyes!" She fell on the ground screaming in pain. She was rolling around while covering her eyes with her hands. "Turn it off! Turn the lights off!"

The device stopped emitting light. Merlin recovered after a few minutes, she got up, rubbing her eyes. "Got to reduce the amount of light emitted... Hopefully it's the only problem..."

Spoiler: it was not. And so, she got back to work, occasionally sipping on coffee that she brewed.

...

...

Ais woke up early in the morning, before most of the Astrea Familia. She normally woke up at this time to begin her training. Merlin would have a grand breakfast prepared for her before she went out.

She stared up at the unfamiliar ceiling and realized that this wasn't her room. Memories of last night resurfaced, she had spent the night and had an all you can eat buffet. She pretty much ate most of the feast prepared, did she feel guilty about it? Of course not. She would always accept free food unless it was from someone she didn't trust, or the food tasted bad. Merlin had taught her a technique that could even surpass the gods! Act broke, stay rich.

Merlin had told her that this was how she was so wealthy. Merlin rarely ever spent money on anything. Why would she when she could get someone else to do it for her or just stea- Borrowing. Merlin had admitted that the most money she had ever spent was on Ais's growth, mainly the food and potions that Ais consumed like a black hole.

There were somethings that Ais agreed with her teacher on but didn't on others. 

~Knock~Knock~

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden knock on the door.

"Ais-san are you awake?" Ryuu asked from the other side of the door.

"I am awake" Ais replied as she got out of bed.

"Breakfast is ready in the dining room. Once everyone is awake and gathered, we will do a final briefing before heading out"

"Understood" Ais stretched then collected her gear set on the table inside the bedroom. She could hear Ryuu's footsteps growing distant as she went to the main rooms that Familia members slept in.

Ais did one final check on her sword and gear. Making sure everything was in good condition, and that her medical supplies were filled. She put on her gear and walked downstairs, already memorizing the layout of the mansion for the parts she had been in.

Today would be the first day she skipped training.