One Piece : Wild Hunt

After sleeping more soundly than he had in his entire life, Thomas awoke to find himself in his bed. More concerningly, he didn't have so much as a single strand of clothing on his body...
Popping up out of nowhere, Benienma revealed what Thomas already suspected, explaining, "I took the liberty of removing Master's clothes and cleansing your body, dechi. Once you have completed your morning routine, please make your way to the kitchen. Breakfast ended hours ago, but I made sure to save your portion."
Though his expression morphed into an emotionless deadpan as he imagined Benienma stripping him down and giving him a sponge bath, Thomas consoled himself with the knowledge that, at the very least, it wasn't Astolfo. He had held out hope that the pink-haired Paladin was a woman, especially when she appeared without a visible bulge in a bikini, but the truth became 'very' apparent when Astolfo invaded his shower...
Recalling the incident, a powerful shudder ran through Thomas's body, prompting Benienma to crawl onto the side of his bed so that she could feel his forehead with her palm.
"You don't seem to have a fever, dechi. Still, if Master is feeling unwell, please take the day off. It's fine to push yourself when you're healthy, but doing so when you're unwell will do more harm than good."
Retracting her hand from Thomas's head, Benienma hopped off his bed and departed the room without further comment. In her wake, Thomas just exhaled a tired sigh, briefly considering staying in bed before forcing himself to get up. Strength wasn't born from complacency, so he couldn't afford to laze about unless he was genuinely sick. Then again, even if he was, Asclepius could probably treat him in an instant...
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After dragging himself out of bed, getting dressed, and washing his face, Thomas went to the kitchen to find Musashi and Benienma waiting for him at the dining table. Benienma considered herself his Kosho, so she did her best to care for his needs. As for Musashi, she had purportedly reached a point where no amount of training would help her grow stronger. The only way to increase her strength further was through live combat, so most of her 'training' revolved around meditation and visualization. In other words, she had nothing to do until a strong opponent appeared. In the meantime, she followed him around to ensure his safety.
Though she had sensed Thomas long before he reached the kitchen, Musashi feigned pleasant surprise, adopting a smile as she said, "You've finally awoken. Rest after exhausting yourself is the best kind. Just make sure you don't overdo either."
Emulating Chiron, Thomas did his best not to lower his gaze to Musashi's perfectly sculpted breasts as he replied, "I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Thanks..."
Noticing Thomas's attempts at restraint, Musashi narrowed her eyes in amusement as she remarked, "Well, would you look at you...a single day of training, and you're already behaving more like a proper man. Keep it up."
Smiling wryly, Thomas took his seat and focused on eating the meal Beni had warmed up for him. Even reheated, it was exceptionally delicious, so he was in high spirits despite his impending shift in the Engine Room. He had an agreement with Drake, but more than that, he still had three more Servants to summon before he could focus fully on his training...
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Though he wasn't sure why they needed a Shipwright when Drake could repair the Hind using the Mana stored within the Equivalence Engine, that wouldn't stop Thomas from summoning them. As someone that had been a fan of the Fate Series, spending hundreds of dollars on games like Fate: Grand Order, there were a lot of Heroic Spirits he would like to meet.
While it was undeniably wishful thinking, Thomas held out hope that he would summon the remainder of his Top-3 Waifus. He had already hit the jackpot with Musashi, but if he could get Ishtar as his Sniper and MHX as his...anything, he would be over the moon. Of course, the biggest jackpot of all would be receiving the female version of Merlin, one of the greatest Mages in existence, but that was 'beyond' wishful thinking. If any version of the dick-wizard were to appear, it would most likely be the male...
Interrupting Thomas's shift, Chiron entered the Engine Room, followed closely by Drake. The latter had been spending most of her time within her quarters since she dispatched Astolfo to map the region, so Thomas was more than a little surprised to see her. Even more surprising was the fact that she was covered in sweat and had a slightly ruddy complexion...
Seeing the deadpan expression on Thomas's face, Drake gave him a playful wink and adopted a cheeky smile as she mused, "You summoned a good one this time. The two of us just had a nice long 'chat,' so you're free from Engine Room duties for the time being. Good luck with your training."
After stating her piece, Drake caused both Thomas's and Chiron's brows to furrow when she squeezed the latter's ass on her way out. When she was gone, Chiron exhaled a slightly exasperated sigh as he remarked, "If you had intentions toward our Captain, I apologize. Know that I harbor no feelings toward her."
As he was already well aware of the type of woman Drake was, Thomas just shook his head, adopting a wry smile as he said, "Don't worry about it. The six of you might be my Servants, but you're ultimately individuals with your own wants and needs. Besides, I would rather she sleeps with you than some random guy she picks up at a bar..."
Despite Thomas's words, Chiron exhaled another sigh before walking over to give the former a few claps on the shoulder. He could tell Thomas was more than a little bothered by what had occurred between him and Drake, so he adopted a kind expression and tone as he said, "Once you become stronger, you will find a woman worthy of your devotion. Captain Drake is a beautiful woman, but she is not someone you should entrust your heart to..."
Blinking in surprise, Thomas met Chiron's gaze as he asked, "Did you read my mind...?"
Shaking his head, Chiron replied, "While it is a capability I possess, I've never once peered into the mind of another without their consent. I just have a sense for these kinds of things."
Giving Thomas's shoulder one final clap, Chiron removed his hand and asked, "Now, shall we discuss your training? I believe I've come up with a method to help you realize your ambition of 'reaching the pinnacle of this world.' If you're still willing to trust me, that is..."
As he had already anticipated Drake sleeping with whoever she pleased, Thomas managed an awkward smile as he replied, "I'll do my best..." in a half-hearted tone. He didn't have much of a choice but to rely on Chiron if he wanted to grow stronger, so as long as the horse-like man didn't begin sleeping with every female member of the crew, he wouldn't 'completely' lose his shit...
Though he could sense Thomas's awkwardness, Chiron could also feel his sincere desire to grow stronger. Thus, after an approving nod, he began to lay out his plan for Thomas's training...
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As it would take literal decades to master something like swordsmanship and most traditional forms of Magecraft, Chiron set Thomas on the path he had been considering from the start, overwhelming his opponents with raw, in this case, magical power. More specifically, he would be teaching Thomas Material Transmutation, starting with basic Reinforcement Magic, Alteration, and eventually Projection Magic.
Though Reinforcement Magic sounded like it simply enhanced the user's strength, speed, and endurance, it was actually one of the 'fundamental' Magecrafts, one of the schools closest to 'True Magic.' Rather than simply strengthening the user, it reinforced the 'existence' of any person, place, or thing that could contain Magical Energy. In the case of a knife, it would enhance its durability, sharpness, and edge retention. Food would have its nourishment increased, plants would grow stronger, faster, and healthier, and animals could be driven to 'evolve' into far more powerful, potentially even mythical creatures.
Fortunately for Thomas, consuming the Mana-Man-no-Mi placed him in a position to benefit 'drastically' from Reinforcement. His body was already saturated and constantly producing Mana, so he just needed to learn how to convert it into Magical Energy. Once he mastered the basics, he would be able to 'reinforce' his physical parameters in the same way as a Heroic Spirit.
While there were no clear limitations to the amount of Magical Energy something could receive, everything from its internal structure to how it was perceived determined the effectiveness of the Reinforcement Magic. The same amount of Magical Energy channeled into an ordinary wooden sword would have a 'significantly' greater effect when conducted into a famous katana. In that same vein, someone that had never trained their physique would struggle to empower themselves as they lacked a proper 'understanding' of what it meant to be strong.
When broken down into its most simplistic form, Reinforcement Magic was effectively a modifier applied to an existing object. In the case of a person, it was akin to abilities such as the Kaio-Ken or the Super Saiyan Transformations. They were remarkably powerful transformations, but if your 'base form' was weak, they weren't nearly as effective.
To ensure Thomas wouldn't be helpless if he exhausted or started to run low on Mana, Chiron had him focus primarily on improving his physique and learning how to survive by tasking him to move from one side of the jungle to the other.
While the creatures within weren't a threat to even the weakest of Heroic Spirits, they were extremely perilous for someone at Thomas's level. The fear of death was a powerful motivator, so even if he 'knew' someone like Musashi or Benienma would step in to save him, Chiron informed Thomas that he would 'benefit' greatly from being hunted and forced to survive on his own...
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During the afternoon of his fifth day of training with Chiron, Thomas was enjoying some grilled fish prepared by Benienma when the Shipwright's Card abruptly activated. He had been pumping Mana into it whenever he had spare time, so, after five days, Thomas was expecting another God or a powerful Caster to pop out. Instead, someone he never expected, not in a million years, made an appearance...
Standing 174cm tall, nearly as tall as Chiron but markedly shorter than Thomas, was a fierce-looking woman with bronze skin, aquamarine eyes, white hair, and tiny, rabbit-like ears sticking out of her heard. As for her outfit, she wore predominately white, black-trimmed armor that hugged most of her incredibly feminine form, the only exceptions being a small gap above her breasts and the region between her thighs, exposing black fabric and a part of her voluminous ass.
By instinct, Thomas raised his hands to show that he wasn't a threat while keeping his gaze firmly fixed on the fierce woman's face. The other Heroic Spirits he had summoned had the same personalities as the characters he was familiar with, so he didn't want to make the bronze-skinned woman's shit list. She was famous for hating all Deities and the majority of men, so there was a real possibility she might attack him if he managed to piss her off...
Narrowing her eyes at Thomas, the white-haired woman, Caenis, asked, "Are you my Master?" placing extra emphasis on the word 'master.'
Instead of answering in the affirmative, Thomas replied, "Please call me Tom or Thomas..."
Looking away from Thomas, Caenis passed her gaze over Benienma before shifting her attention to the jungle where Musashi was lurking in the shadows of a tree. The latter gave her a 'very' dangerous feeling, so she restrained herself a bit as she stated, "My name is Caenis. And while I &nbsp;may be your Servant, I am not your slave. I will obey your orders if it's to fight, but if you try to have me serve you in other ways, I'll tear 'it' off and force you to eat it. Never forget that..."
Understanding what Caenis meant by 'it,' Thomas's forced smile became even wrier as he replied, "While my thoughts might wander, I would never do something like that..."
Since he couldn't lie in front of Benienma, Thomas had to be 'very' careful with his words. The truth was that he would jump at the opportunity to be with a woman of Caenis's caliber. However, even if his life and manhood weren't on the line, he would never try to force her...not after knowing her past...
Sensing no falsehoods within Thomas's words, Caenis gave an approving nod before turning her attention to the campfire they were seated around. Fish was a staple food during her era, so the aroma of Benienma's grilled skewers had been tickling her nose since her summoning. She could tell from the fragrance it was going to taste phenomenal, so she immediately took a seat when Thomas asked if she would like to join them...
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(A/N: Reinforcement is op, but Projection is borderline omnipotent...Chiron set our boy on a terrifying path. Also, for those who are upset/annoyed by Drake's behavior, you have a fundamental lack of understanding about the character. I'm not going to make her act like someone she isn't just to pander to the egos of Thomas and those who would supplant him within their minds. Drake just isn't a one-man kind of guy, and she would never, ever, be in a committed relationship. It would go against everything she stands for/believes in.)

Contrasting Thomas's expectations, Caenis didn't remain silent after taking a seat. Instead, after taking several bites of her fish, she asked, "So, what's the deal? Seeing how I was summoned as a Shipwright, I expected to be on or around the water. Why are we in the middle of the jungle...?"
Recovering from his momentary stupor, Thomas answered, "I'm training under Chiron to become stronger. Have you-"
Before Thomas could finish speaking, Caenis perked up slightly, asking, "Chiron? That old horse fucker is here? Well, at least I won't be the only Greek Heroic Spirit among our crew."
Although she had never trained under Chiron, Caenis was aware of the famous Centaurian Sage. She had even sailed aboard the Argo alongside nearly a dozen of Chiron's most celebrated students, serving the same function she had been assigned now, Shipwright.
Instead of asking how someone who lived in the same era as Chiron knew him, Thomas nodded his head, explaining, "My goal is to stand near the pinnacle of this world with my own power, so I'll be doing my best to get stronger so that you all can attain your wishes..."
"Oh, so that's how it is..." replied Caenis. Then, catching Thomas more than a little off guard, she added, "Then I'll help you. I don't have the patience to be a teacher, but I can serve as a training partner. My body is functionally indestructible, and I won't die even if you somehow manage to pierce my heart or head. Feel free to test your limits against me during your training."
Not expecting Caenis to be so...amicable, Thomas found himself at a loss for words. He knew she wasn't as bad as the community made her out to be, but she actually seemed kind of nice. Unfortunately, he was busy with personal matters around when the Atlantis Lostbelt event was running on FGO, so his understanding of her character was based on things he had skimmed on the Type-Moon wiki. All he remembered with absolute clarity was that she had EX-Rank Mad Enhancement, making her one of the few Heroic Spirits that could murder her Master. Once she went on a rampage, not even Command Spells could stop her...
Noticing Thomas's disbelief, Caenis furrowed her brows slightly, asking, "You don't believe me?" in an audibly hostile tone.
Shaking his head quickly, Thomas answered, "Oh, no, I'm fully aware of your indestructibility. I just didn't expect you to offer to help out with my training. In the world I originate from, you and the other Heroic Spirits are just fictional characters. Whenever I summon one of you, it takes me a bit of time to accept that you're actually 'real'..."
Though she could tell Thomas was glossing over something, Caenis could also sense that he was being truthful. Thus, instead of getting upset, she casually retorted, "As real as a Heroic or Divine Spirit summoned through the Throne can be. Anyways, is there any more fish? If not, I can go catch some."
As she wasn't the type that liked sitting around, Caenis rose to her feet even before Thomas could respond. In contrast, she then waited patiently to hear if he approved of her proposition.
Since it wouldn't be him preparing the fish, Thomas turned to Benienma, asking, "Do you mind, Beni...?"
Shaking her head, Benienma replied, "Cooking is my responsibility, dechi. If someone on our crew is hungry, Benienma will do her utmost to ensure their bellies are full and content."
Returning his gaze to Caenis, Thomas said, "Well, you heard her. We're on a fairly small island, so you shouldn't have any issues locating the sea. There's also a stream nearby, but the fish are smaller and apparently have more parasites..."
Manifesting a predominately red spear with a large, flat blade on the end, Caenis snappily replied, "I am familiar with the differences between fresh and saltwater fish. Just leave it to me. I'll catch something big enough to fill all our bellies."
As she had already received permission, Caenis surprised Thomas by abruptly jumping into the air, bounding over even the tallest of trees. Her Strength and Agility were both A-Rank, so she could leap upwards of 5km or land from virtually any height without so much as spraining an ankle.
Seeing Caenis disappear, a relieved sigh escaped Thomas's throat as the tensions drained from his body. The white-haired horse-woman was nicer than he expected, but he still felt like he had a spear at his neck the entire conversation...
Shaking away his discomfort, Thomas pulled out his two remaining tarot-like cards and gave them a look. Only the Sniper and Musician remained, so, with the hopes of encountering his Goddess, Ishtar, Thomas selected the Sniper's Card and immediately began channeling his Mana into it...
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Though he had gotten a taste of it the day he summoned her, Thomas had underestimated just how 'chatty' Caenis was. She didn't have anything to do back at the ship, so she spent the entire day following him around and asking him random questions about his previous world, personal life, One Piece, and anything else that happened to pop into her head.
While he didn't mind Caenis's intrigue, Thomas couldn't help feeling like he had summoned the wrong version of her. She seldom got angry, and when Benienma gave her chocolate, she practically gushed like a girl over a name-brand handbag. When Thomas asked if she enjoyed sweets, she adopted a smile that could rival the Sun's radiance, followed by a lengthy monologue about the various kinds of sweet bread, fruit jams, and honey cakes present in ancient Greece...
When she wasn't busy pestering Thomas, Caenis was either chatting it up with Musashi or swimming in the ocean. She seemed to enjoy everything about the sea, from its appearance to the temperate breeze that carried with it the fragrance of salt, fish, and 'adventure.' What surprised Thomas was her initial attempt to dive in completely naked, seemingly uncaring if she was seen in the nude. Drake and Musashi had a similar temperament, but they at least feigned decency when Thomas was around.
Though he burned the image of Caenis's naked, incredibly toned frame into his mind, Thomas asked Musashi to at least convince her to wear a swimsuit. Caenis refused at first, arguing that it would get in the way, but eventually relented when Chiron later said something to her. Shortly after that, she emulated Musashi by manifesting a black bikini that left little to the imagination...
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Four days after the summoning of Caenis, giving Thomas greater hope that he would summon Ishtar, the Sniper's Card abruptly activated while he was taking a break. Since even Caenis had taken five days to appear, Thomas immediately knew he hadn't summoned Ishtar. He wasn't even remotely disappointed, however, as the individual who popped out easily made his Top 10...
Under the watchful and curious eyes of Thomas, Caenis, Musashi, and Benienma, a slender woman with inordinately long and unkempt hair that was green near the bangs and transitioned into wheat near the tips slowly emerged from the summoning circle. She had delicate yet 'wild' features, including angular eyes, gauntlets fashioned into claws, large, cat-like ears atop her head, and a similarly feline tail poking out above her butt. As for her outfit, she appeared in a form-fitting green and black dress with puffy shoulders, a two-layer pleated skirt, and thigh-high boots that ran nearly the full length of her long and slender legs.
As the light from the summoning circle faded, the cat-like woman opened her piercing green eyes, immediately locking gazes with Thomas as she asked, "You're my Master?" in a terse, no-nonsense tone.
Earning a slight furrow, Thomas adopted an awkward smile as he replied, "Welcome to the world of One Piece, Atalanta. Please, feel free to call me Tom or Thomas..."
"You know who I am?" asked Atalanta. However, before Thomas could reply, Caenis adopted a massive grin as she said, "Holy shit! Is that you, Atalanta!? Why do you have those ears? And that tail...! Hahahahahaha~!"
Turning away from Thomas, Atalanta's eyes narrowed further as she practically growled, "Caeneus...back to being a woman?"
Snorting through her nose, Caenis retorted, "Better a woman than a cat. Tell me, which God did you piss off to receive features like those...?"
Instead of answering Caenis's question, Atalanta focused on the horse-like ears atop the former's head, nearly sending the white-haired woman into a rage as she remarked, "It appears Poseidon's obsession with you transcended your death..."
With her usually sky blue eyes abruptly turning red, the air around Caenis began to tremble as she said, "Choose your next words very carefully, you shitty cat. You know I'll fucking kill you..."
Though she was confident in her ability to flee, Atalanta knew Caenis would never rest until she managed to hunt her down. Her stamina would eventually give out, while Caenis's was functionally unlimited. Thus, while she wasn't afraid of the white-haired horse-woman, she responded with a curt, "My apologies." before turning her attention back to Thomas.
Clicking her tongue, Caenis was tempted to press the matter further but ultimately decided against it. She didn't like dealing with anything related to the errant God that had ruined her life, not even her own thoughts on the matter. Her mood was still terrible, however, so she rose from her seat and walked off into the jungle to blow off some steam...
Waiting until Caenis had departed, Atalanta exhaled a faintly relieved sigh before regaining her previous edge as she stared into Thomas's eyes and asked, "What is your desire? Why do you seek the Holy Grail...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "My wish was granted the moment I entered this world. My 'goal' is to stand near the pinnacle with my own strength. As for what you're really asking..."
Since Atalanta's wish was one of the few that was 'known' to everyone in the Fate community, Thomas added, "I will readily support your desire to create a world where children can be raised with care and love. As far as wishes go, it's a pretty phenomenal one..."
Blinking in surprise, Atalanta asked, "You're familiar with my wish...?" while also casting her gaze to Benienma. She could tell the latter wasn't a child, but she also felt a sense of 'kinship' toward the petite sparrow due to their similar affinities with guiding and protecting children.
Believing Atalanta was seeking her input, Benienma firmly asserted, "Our Master is a good man. Even though I am much older than him, he regards me with care and respect because of my appearance. If Lady Atalanta wishes to create a world where children can live happily, I believe Master will support you wholeheartedly, dechi."
Losing a bit of her edge, Atalanta replied, "I see..." before returning her gaze to Thomas and adding, "Then I will also support you to the utmost of my ability. Let us work together to make both of our dreams a reality."
Adopting a significantly less nervous smile, Thomas replied, "Glad to have you, Atalanta..."
Nodding her head and adopting the faintest of smiles, Atalanta responded with a curt, "Likewise." as her cat-like tail swished and curled behind her. Thomas didn't know if this meant she was pleased, but he presumed, at the very least, that she didn't hate him. With Atalanta, like any other cat, that was a pretty significant step forward. Who knows, she might even let him touch her ears in the future...
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(A/N: Ceanis gets a pretty bad wrap in the community at times as a 'man-hater.' While pretty brash and extremely violent at times, she isn't really a 'bad' guy. And her fondness for sweets...well, let's just say she will lose her shit when she learns about the existence of Whole Cake Island xD...)

In the face of Thomas's earnest plea, Musashi didn't hesitate to reply, "No. I don't mind teaching you the basics, but it would be a waste of time to instruct you traditionally. You don't have any talent for swordsmanship."
"..."
While he didn't expect Musashi to jump at the chance to teach him, her words were like a punch in the gut to Thomas's enthusiasm. In response, Musashi adopted a wry, slightly apologetic smile as she added, "Trying to master something you lack a genuine interest in is impossible. From what I can tell, you've never wielded a sword despite being fairly old. Not old-old, mind you, but far beyond the age people start learning skills such as swordsmanship."
Sheathing her katana, Musashi surprised Thomas by giving him a firm pat on the shoulder. She could tell he 'really' wanted to learn from her; he just lacked the talent and the conviction of a true swordsman. It took years, if not decades, to achieve a reasonable degree of mastery. If Thomas had a genuine interest in mastering kenjutsu(sword techniques), he would have picked up a blade in his childhood and never let it go.
Adopting a radiant, borderline breathtaking smile, Musashi added, "As I said before, I don't mind teaching you the basics. I can even teach you a few tricks that would make fighting against other swordsmen much easier. However, if you truly wish to become strong, you'll need to follow the path in your heart. I'm not sure what that is, but it clearly isn't swordsmanship."
Retracing her hand from Thomas's shoulder, Musashi directed her gaze to Benienma, narrowing her eyes slightly as she asserted, "You, on the other hand, seem to have at least a knack for the blade arts. Despite your small size, I can sense a powerful sword intent within you..."
Recovering from the stupor prompted by Musashi's smile, Thomas made introductions and gave a bare-bones explanation of the situation. Musashi was a little surprised to learn that Benienma was an Oni from Hell, but she was also relieved to know she wouldn't be the only Servant of Japanese origin in Thomas's service...
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Though his expectations were tempered after Asclepius's and Musashi's refusal to instruct him formally, Thomas didn't lose hope that at least one of his Servants would be willing to teach him. If nothing else, he was fairly certain that Benienma or Astolfo would help him...
With such thoughts in mind, Thomas focused on summoning the Second Mate next. He was just going in order of the ship's hierarchy at this point, so, following the Second Mate, he intended to summon their Shipwright, Sniper, and Musician.
Fortunately, while Musashi refused to teach him, that didn't prevent the faintly pink-haired Yojimbo(bodyguard) from sticking around. She viewed it as her duty to keep him safe, so even if Drake hadn't asked her to keep an eye on him, she would have. More importantly, she had swapped out her already skimpy kimono for a significantly skimpier bikini. Heroic Spirits could effectively swap out their outfits at will, so, after learning she would be spending a considerable amount of time out at sea, she adopted an ensemble virtually identical to her Berserker counterpart's start-spangled bikini from FGO.
Though he did his best to be 'respectful,' Thomas couldn't help sneaking glances at Musashi as he focused on filling the Hind's Equivalence Engine with Mana. She noticed whenever he did so, but instead of getting angry or upset, she just carried on her conversation with Benienma as if nothing had occurred...
With nothing happening for nearly five full days, Thomas, Musashi, and Benienma perked up when the Second Mate's Card finally dissolved into motes of bluish-white light. What popped out of the resultant summoning circle was a fairly tall and muscular man with wild, free-flowing brown hair that formed into a ponytail near the small of his back. He had calm yet piercing blue eyes and wore a rather archaic-looking outfit with elements of Greek, Persian, and Celtic cultures. Beyond his peculiar form of dress, the thing about him that stood out the most was the horse-like tail that stuck out from the back of his kilt-like armor...
Immediately recognizing who the man was, Thomas's eyes practically lit up with excitement as he exclaimed, "You're Chiron...!" with a massive grin on his face.
Though he was a little taken aback by Thomas's sudden outburst, Chiron placed a hand over his heart and gave a slight but unsubservient bow as he replied, "That is indeed the name I was vested at birth. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my Master..."
Shaking his head, Thomas insisted, "Please just call me Tom or Thomas. Also, I desperately need a mentor to help me grow stronger, so please consider accepting me as your student. If even you decline, I honestly don't know what I'll do..."
Providing Thomas considerable relief, Chiron adopted a faint smile as he replied, "I will gladly accept you as my student. The thing I enjoy most is teaching others, so, as long as you are willing to learn, I'm willing to teach you."
Though he didn't actually tear up, Thomas felt as though he was on the verge of doing so after hearing Chiron's words. The latter was one of the most famous teachers in Greek mythology. In the lore of the Fate Series, he was the one responsible for training heroes such as Heracles, Achilles, and even Asclepius. His forte was archery, acting as the inspiration for the Sagittarius Constellation, but he possessed a unique Skill called Wisdom of Divine Gift that allowed him to use 'all' Skills with B-A-Rank proficiency. With the singular exception of Scathach, he was the best possible teacher Thomas could have hoped for...
Inhaling a deep breath, Thomas's smile and tone were genuine as he said, "Thank you. You have no idea how relieved I am to have someone like you appear. If I had to figure out things on my own..."
Shaking away his self-deprecating thoughts, Thomas's smile became even more sincere as he reiterated, "Seriously...thank you..."
Feeling the sincerity in Thomas's words, the smile on Chiron's face broadened as he replied, "As I said before, I enjoy teaching more than anything. It is a genuine privilege to have someone so eager to receive my instruction. I look forward to &nbsp;both working with and instructing you, Thomas."
Catching Thomas a little off guard, Chiron extended his fist as if he were expecting a fist bump. When he eventually reciprocated, Chiron gave an approving nod before asking, "Would you like to start now? I'll need to get a basic grasp of your capabilities if I am to instruct you properly. It would also help me better understand the direction your training will take. There are more paths in this world than stars in the evening sky. Finding the one that best suits you will save you considerable time and frustration."
As he had already been pumping Mana into the Equivalence Engine for more than four hours, Thomas didn't hesitate to reply, "I would greatly appreciate it. So far, I've mainly focused on proper dieting and simple exercises, so I'm more than ready to move on to some actual training..."
Nodding his head in approval, Chiron was prepared to teach Thomas everything he was willing to learn. Before that, he turned to Musashi and Benienma, his eyes widening noticeably when he saw how the former was dressed. Unlike Thomas, however, his gaze didn't wander in the slightest as he asked, "Will the two of you be joining us? I can sense tremendous power and potential lurking within each of you."
Dismissively waving her hand, Musashi replied, "I'll come along, but I'm the type that likes to figure out things on my own. Besides, as far as I can tell, you're weaker than me. I don't doubt you could teach me a few tricks, but there's a reason I'm the First Mate, and you're the Second."
Instead of refuting Musashi's words, Chiron gave a slight nod before directing his gaze to Benienma. In response, the petite sparrow replied, "Benienma will assist Master in any way she can, dechi."
Though he could sense that Benienma was a Demon, Chiron could also tell she was being sincere. Thus, with an approving smile, he said, "That will make things easier. It will take some time for our Master to reach our level, but having more opponents to face will prevent him from developing bad habits. I'll be counting on you, Miss...?"
Puffing out her non-existent chest, Benienma stood with her arms akimbo as she answered, "Shita-kiri Suzume no Benienma. Sir Chiron may refer to me as Benienma, dechi."
Following Benienma's introduction, Musashi added, "And I'm Miyamoto Musashi. Since we'll be allies for the foreseeable future, you can call me Musashi."
Similar to when he greeted Thomas, Chiron gave a courteous bow, his right hand over his heart as he said, "It's a pleasure to meet you both..."
Following affirmative responses from both girls, Chiron raised his head, turned to Thomas, and asked, "Shall we get started...?" with a friendly, disarming smile. It was the type of smile that made other feels as though they could entrust everything to him, yet, the moment he adorned it, an involuntary shiver ran through the body of a nearby God of Medicine...
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To get a sense of Thomas's capabilities, Chiron had him perform a series of physical exercises until the point of exhaustion. Then, instead of letting him rest and recuperate naturally, he would use a type of Recovery Magic unique to the Centaur tribe to replenish his stamina. He wanted to test the limits of Thomas's willpower and drive, so the evaluation would only come to an end once the latter had 'given up.'
Unaware of Chiron's intentions, Thomas kept pushing himself even after the Sun began disappearing over the horizon. He felt incredibly stressed, but, desperate to overcome his weakness, he managed to pick himself up and keep going every time Chiron healed him. The twenty minutes he was allotted for dinner even gave him a second wind of sorts, allowing him to continue until nearly 3 AM before the humanoid centaur stopped him, an approving smile on his face as he calmly asserted, "You have significant room for improvement. However, if you continue with the same resolution you showed today, it's only a matter of time before you become powerful enough to stand proudly among the Pantheon of Heroes."
Exhaling a profound sigh, Thomas abruptly collapsed onto the sandy beach, a slightly pained laugh emanating from his throat as he replied, "What a relief..." before falling unconscious. Once he learned that Chiron could heal him, he did his best to push himself as much as his mind and body could endure. There were several times when he just wanted to say fuck it and stop, but his fear of staying weak and helpless kept him going long after his mental anguish transitioned into something that could best be described as resolute indifference. His pain and feelings of frustration didn't lessen, but he gradually stopped caring about both...
Staring down at the unconscious Thomas, Chiron's expression softened as he began drafting the former's training regimen in his mind. Because of Thomas's age, there weren't too many specialized paths he could pursue. Mastering swordsmanship, spearmanship, archery, magecraft, and most martial arts were completely out of the question. However, while he might not be able to master any particular art form, that didn't mean he couldn't become powerful enough to contend against even the world's strongest. He just needed to become strong and durable enough to endure virtually any attack...
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(A/N: Though Thomas won't be able to benefit from Scathach's 'friendship of the thighs,' Chiron's guidance really is the greatest boon he could have possibly received in the form of a Servant xD...)

Chapter 10: The Path Towards Growth