SPLASHHHHHH!!!
"BWAAAHHHH HA HA HA—!"
I barely manage to get a breath before another massive wave slams into my face, flipping me over like a helpless fish.
I flail, gasping. WHAT THE HELL, WOMAN?! ARE YOU TRYING TO TAKE MY LIFE?! I'M YOUR SON!!!
Mom stands at the edge of the training pond, hands on her hips, beaming. "Oh, don't be dramatic, Ryuk! It's just water!"
"JUST WATER?! YOU JUST THREW AN OCEAN AT ME!!!"
Mom hums thoughtfully. "Hmm. Maybe it was a little big for your first day…"
A LITTLE?! WOMAN, THAT WAVE HAD ITS OWN ECOSYSTEM!!!
"Alright! Here comes another one!"
"WAIT—!"
SPLASHHHH!!!
I go under. Again.
After two months of getting beat up by Dad's sword training, I thought learning magic with Mom would be gentler. You know, safer. Maybe some peaceful meditation, guiding the mana through my body, feeling the elements—
NOPE. THIS IS JUST ADVANCED ATTEMPTED MURDER.
I burst back to the surface, coughing. My tiny body feels like a soaked sponge. "WHY DOES LEARNING WATER MAGIC INVOLVE ME BEING THE TARGET?!"
Mom tilts her head. "Well, if you can't handle water, how can you control it?"
WHAT KIND OF INSANE LOGIC—?!
"Here comes another one!"
WHOOSH—SPLASH!!!
I get slammed into the pond again.
THIS ISN'T TRAINING. THIS IS JUST A CRIME.
I thrash my way back up, panting. Fine. If I don't wanna drown, I need to use magic.
I focus. Feel the flow of mana.
Water moves with intent. It doesn't fight—it adapts.
I extend my hands, pushing my own mana into the water. It shudders—then swirls, forming a barrier. A shield.
Mom's next wave slams against it—but doesn't break through.
I did it!
"OH, NICE, RYUK!" Mom claps excitedly. "You're a fast learner!"
I wheeze. You mean fast drowner!
"Alright!" she chirps. "Now, onto Light Magic!"
I blink. "Wait. We're already switching?"
She raises a hand, and a blinding flash explodes in my face.
"BWAAAAHHH!! I CAN'T SEE—"
Mom giggles. "Light is all about perception, dear! Now, dodge!"
"DODGE WHA—?!"
SPLASH!!!
I go under. AGAIN.
OH, GREAT. I'M BLIND AND DROWNING. THIS IS THE WORST UPGRADE EVER.
Training with Dad was painful. Training with Mom?
I NEED A WILL. IMMEDIATELY.
I gasp for air, barely keeping myself afloat. I HAVE THE BLESSING OF GODDESS AQUA, YET HERE I AM—DROWNING. WHAT AN IRONY!
Mom, completely ignoring my suffering, claps her hands. "Ryuk, try casting the same spell as me! You need to stop my attack!"
I flail in the water. HOW ABOUT YOU STOP TRYING TO DROWN ME FIRST?!
She smiles. "You can't keep letting yourself sink! You're blessed by the Goddess of Water! You should be a natural at this!"
OH, YEAH, SURE, JUST LIKE HOW HAVING A GODDESS OF WAR BLESSING WOULD TOTALLY MAKE ME IMMUNE TO STABBING, RIGHT?!
Still, if this is the only way to survive, I have no choice.
I focus, gathering mana. "Water Ball!"
A small, respectable sphere of water forms in my hands. Alright! This could work!
I hurl it at Mom with all my strength.
She blinks. "Oh, good form! But—"
She lazily raises her hand. A literal tsunami-sized water ball materializes.
"...What."
Before I can even react, she launches it straight at me.
SPLASHHHHHH—!!!
I get blasted ten yards away. I don't even have time to scream. Just—glub glub glub.
I resurface, coughing up water. "SOMEONE SAVE MEEEE—!"
Mom waves. "That was great practice! Now let's try again!"
AGAIN?! I JUST SAW MY LIFE FLASH BEFORE MY EYES—AND IT WAS MOSTLY JUST ME DROWNING!
After an entire day of drowning, Mom finally decides she's done.
"Alright, Ryuk! Let's call it a day. You did a great job! You're improving fast!" she says cheerfully.
What exactly did I do great at? Surviving?! Improving fast? Oh yeah, I sure did—improved fast at learning how to not die underwater. Thanks, Mom.
She suddenly frowns. "Oh dear, you're all wet. You might catch a cold!"
I blink. Huh? After drowning me all day with your ocean-sized spells, NOW you realize I could catch a cold?!
But before I can complain further, she claps her hands together. "Oh, wait! You can't catch a cold! The Goddess of Nature blessed you! That means we can do even more training tomorrow!"
My soul leaves my body. "…More than this?"
Mom nods enthusiastically. "Of course! You're learning so fast! Maybe tomorrow we can take it up a notch!"
A notch?! What's next? You summon an entire PLANET of water and call it 'Water Ball' magic?! SOMEBODY JUST KIDNAP ME!!!