Pruned Trees Re-Sprout!! ~ Ragazza Volpe Magica ~

"Wow, we really popped off, huh?" Pacifica gasped, gawking at the view count of their video.

December 2nd was a particularly cold day in Dalliva, a bit above freezing, but the sun shone brightly on the Sunday morning.

"Gabriel says it'll probably spike up in the next day or two. We basically invented new magic. It's just gonna take one major news site posting it to go viral," Shouri told her.

"I'm stoked to see what kind of different shapes other people's summons are," Rebecca chimed in.
"You know you can look that up already, right?" Shouri tousled her hair.
"I know, but this feels cooler, like I'm leaving a mark on history, y'know?"

The four sat in relative peace for a few minutes.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Hey Shouri, you have a visitor!" Ritika shouted from the other side of the door.

Shouri exchanged a look with his trio, who shrugged. "Guess we should see who it is," he mumbled, sliding off the bed to his feet.

"PLEASE BE OUR TUTOR!"

Shouri and the girls blinked as the woman before them folded herself like a sheet of paper, keeping her head down as she awaited his judgment. Behind her were two Resonators, a fire and water element duo, who also bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle, just like their Maestro. Shouri really wished he wasn't alone with her. Well, alone with Taika and the others at his back (he'd chew out Emily for abandoning them later).

Rebecca scrutinized the two Resonators folded up before them. The antlers on the water element were a dead giveaway: a cervid, probably a deer of some kind. His tall, lithe frame spoke to the piercing attribute. His fiery partner on the other hand, had a great bushy tail and a distinctive pair of fluffy ears. It was the shape and how she held her tail that gave away her species – a squirrel, probably from the red family, was Rebecca's appraisal.

"Tutor you for what?" asked Shouri.
"Please!" the Maestro cried.
"Please!" the two Resonators joined in.

"That doesn't-" Shouri tried again.
"PLEASE!"

The guildmaster grew annoyed, but thankfully, Pacifica spoke on his behalf. "Hey Miss, can you tell us what exactly you want so we can figure out how to help you?" asked the patient otter.

"Ah, oh, we never said, did we?" the Maestro asked her resonators, who shook their heads.
"You never even told us your names," Rebecca pointed out.

"Oh right, I'm Casey, a diva, and these are my partners." She motioned to the two behind her.

"Marie, Fire-Slashing Squirrel."
"John, Water-Piercing Deer."

Rebecca nodded, glad her appraisal was on point. Though there was something the Maestro of the two Resonators said that drew wonder.

"What's a diva?" Taika blurted out Rebecca's internal monologue.

Casey's eyes sparkled as she grinned from ear to ear. "I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED!" she boomed with all the excitement of a child on a sugar rush.

"Divas are Maestros who instead of being hunters or duelists are those who work in Resonator Festas – contests of skill where the Resonators are allowed to strut their stuff without needing to beat each other into the ground! While there is a battle element to it, the battles are purely magic-based, hand-to-hand combat is not allowed. You and your opponent have to put on a good show trading blows for both the audience and the judges."

Shouri and the others blinked. "That's a thing?" was all they could utter.

"It's so much fun!" Casey exclaimed. "Granted, it's not the easiest lifestyle… the Festa circuit isn't government funded like hunters and duelists are, but at least they recognize us as a distinct class of Maestro and you can apply for a diva's license if you ask for it," she admitted, her enthusiasm dampened. "And hopefully the attendant even knows what you're talking about," came the even quieter admission.

She shook her head, returning the pep to her step, and grabbed Shouri's hands. "But I just know you'd love Festas!"

"How do you figure that?" asked Shouri flinching from the speed which he had been approached by the overzealous diva.

"I can tell you love Resonators! Call it my woman's intuition. You have a soft spot for your three, don'tcha?" said Casey.

"Love, good word," Shouri spoke evenly. He freed his hands from the vice grip applied by the eager young woman. "It does sound like it's in better taste than the duelist circuit, that much is for sure," he said. "But I'd have to see it myself to make that decision."

"That's great!" Casey exclaimed. "'cause we have a Festa next weekend!"

Shouri sighed, thankfully Pacifica had his back and voiced his curiosity for him. "What exactly do you want us to teach you?" asked the otter. "None of us had even heard of Festas until about five minutes ago," she added.

"That cool Famiglio Incedio you did in the video!"

Shouri and the girls exchanged a grimace. Their soon to be viral sensation was at their doorstep, and while they wondered how in the world they were found out in the middle of nowhere Lybertera, there were more pressing concerns to address.

"Hmmm, actually," Pacifica suddenly spoke again. "Let's teach her," she said.
"Huh? Why?" asked Rebecca.
"Think about it. If these Festa things have a wide audience, it'd take the heat off of us to spread it further than we already have by having her use the technique in a physical setting for a large crowd to see," the otter explained.

"That is a good point," Shouri nodded in agreement. He stroked his chin in thought, as he considered it.

"I know it's gonna be a big thing. We're gonna have to learn how to do it sooner or later," Casey spoke up.

Rebecca nodded. "A flashy display and a new technique, I could see how it would almost become expected of you since you do have the means to make it happen." In that way, it was pretty similar to the duelist circuit. New strategies formed all the time which led to certain types of Resonators being favored from one season to another.

It did make her mildly sick to her stomach. Duelists were infamous for trading away entire teams between seasons, she herself having been subject to it countless times before she ended up with Shouri.

Her Maestro's hand on her shoulder released the rising tension that built in her. His gentle smile and firm grip punctuated the rhythm from his fingertips. Rebecca couldn't help but wag her tail as her lips rose.

"We'll teach you."

And so the week began with those words.

Monday

"One two! One two!"

Morning started early for divas, Shouri and the other members of PTRS quickly learned. Shouri parted the blinds on his window to see the diva and her duo jogging in place. Only John was bundled up, with both Marie and Casey in lighter casual wear.

Their attire wasn't what concerned, it was the third Resonator that joined them (albeit at a much slower pace).

"What?!" Shouri threw himself out into the cold, rushing over to the quartet.

Dancer jogged in place next to them, pacing himself while he did so. The wheelchair they had gotten him was close enough for the horse man to sit down if needed.

"Oh hey Shouri! Wanna join us for some calisthenics?" Casey greeted the other Maestro.

Shouri pulled the other Maestro off to the side. "Let's talk," came the stern demand.

"Keep going guys! I'll be back!" Casey shouted as she was pulled away.

In the main office, Shouri shut the door to give them some privacy.

Casey spoke first. "Okay, I know I said we'd start training today, but we really need to go through our routine, so I wanted to start tomorrow and-"

"No it's not that." Shouri shook his head, trying to stop the tangent. "Look, I let you stay here while Paci and Rebby trained your pair. I need you to understand what we're doing here-"

"You're a like rehabilitation clinic place, right?" Casey cut him off.
"Sort of, kind of." Shouri shook his head as he considered his next words. "Dancer has-"
"Leg issues, yeah, he told us. My grandpappy had some leg problems too and calisthenics really helped him out. He was pretty darn mobile until he passed."

Shouri didn't have a response to that.

"It'll be fine! He said it looked like fun and came out of his own accord. I'll keep an eye on him, I promise." Casey winked. "Nothing like a little charm to perk ya up!" she giggled.

As she took her leave, Shouri was left with his thoughts. "Charm?" was what he was stuck on.

Tuesday

"Well that's a problem," commented Rebecca.
"I'm sorry!" Casey cried out.

A hurdle had presented itself almost immediately upon starting their training proper that morning.

"Let me try again! I'll get it!" Casey shouted.

"Meravigliare Famiglio Bolla Incendio, Presto Presto!"

Nothing happened.

Emily pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head. "Guess not everyone can be heroes like Shouri," she mumbled. The "hero" in question shook his head, having caught that quip.

Marie, John, and Dancer watched the Maestro struggle with corde casting under Emily's tutelage in the PTRS main office. Shouri sat behind his desk, glasses on, focused on his laptop. Taika cleaned as usual while Pacifica and Rebecca sat on the desk.

Soot tapped his Maestro's shoulder and held out a flattened hand, bending his second hand as a right angle and tapping it against his open palm.

"Right we can show them again," agreed the Maestro.
"Thank you!" Casey clenched her fists tightly, staring intently as she watched the Luna native work.

Emily took a breath, gripping her red tuner.

"Cortina Fumogena
, Presto!"

Soot received the rhythm and began casting – a small ball of fire appeared by the golem's head and from his hand smoke began to waft from it. Before it could fill the room however, Emily called Sotto to cancel it.

"You have to let your rhythm guide you, split your focus between the two spells," Emily advised.

Casey nodded eagerly. "Let's do it Marie!"
The squirrel girl nodded, just as pumped up as her Maestro.

The diva primed herself, took a breath and followed the directions Emily so graciously provided.

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"Cortina Fumogena
, Presto!"

Unlike before, where the rhythm never stirred, the requested spellcraft flowed without a hitch. From Casey to Marie the rhythm effortlessly passed from Maestro to Resonator.

In one hand Marie summoned a small ball of fire, and in the other her hand smoked.

"WE DID IT!" Casey tackled Marie, pulling her into a tight hug.
"Wait! Casey! I'm holding fire!" the squirrel yelped.

Emily shook her head but smiled.

Wednesday

"Okay, one more time. Join hands and etude, let the rhythm flow naturally, you're working on this together. It's not about fire versus water it's about fire and water," Pacifica instructed.

The group stood out in the dirt path they used as a driveway for the PTRS guild hall. Today's gathering was Shouri, Pacifica, Rebecca, Casey, her duo, and Dancer.

"Can you demonstrate one more time Miss Pacifica?" asked Marie with a sheepish grin.

Pacifica let out a short breath. "Rebby, Sho?"
"Put em up," responded the fox, holding out her hands.

Shouri nodded and took a breath.

"Famiglio Incendio, Presto!"

Marie, John, Casey, and Dancer all watched as the bubble fox came into being.

"We want the same thing," said Pacifica, her eyes closed.
"Marie, you need to focus on it being possible, don't think your squirrel is going to get snuffed," Rebecca added, eyes also shut.

"You can add more to it if you focus right," Pacifica spoke.

"Famiglio Incendio, Presto!
"

With Shouri's rhythm and spells the two Resonator's formed a new fox between them – one made of ice.

"As long as you're in sync, you too can add your own spin on it," said Rebecca.

"Famiglio Incendio, Presto!"

And then a third fox joined the growing pack – this one made of a thick black smoke.

The squirrel and deer nodded in unison. "We can do that," they said in tandem. Casey nodded and took a breath.

"Famiglio Incendio, Presto!"

John and Marie held hands and focused. The squirrel girl readied her half of the spell, preparing the rhythm, but stopping just shy of letting the spell be cast. In turn she could feel John's rhythm tickle her scale – he was ready to cast and so was she.

They both let the spells launch, but once again they ended up with a rhythm beast and a bunch of bubbles.

Case released her held breath. "Aw…" Casey pouted. "I thought that was the one!"
Pacifica opened her mouth to say something, but she was beaten to the punch by an unexpected voice.

"Maybe they should practice by verbalizing what they're doing. Once they get the hang of casting the spell they can start doing it silently," Dancer suggested.

Everyone turned to the horse man who sat in his wheelchair.

"I've practiced working with others in tandem. Until you get your timing down through rhythm it helps to call what you're doing in practice," he advised.

Rebecca nodded – Dancer was a career battler alright.

"Marie, maybe we could work on that today?" suggested John.
"Oh! Good idea, we could practice our routine that way to get our timing more in sync! Come on!" Marie grabbed her partner's hand and rushed out to the tall grass.
"Wait up!" Casey shouted, chasing her zealous resonators.

"I guess that's it today," said Shouri, letting out a breath before taking his leave to the office.

Rebecca and Pacifica watched as Dancer got out of his wheelchair and made his way in the direction Casey and her Resonators ran off to.

"Hmmm," the two Resonators who remained exchanged a thoughtful glance.

Thursday

KNOCKKNOCKKNOCKKNOCKKNOCKKNOCK

"Sage Luca, in my moment of sickness take my soul to Lontano Island so I may heal," Shouri prayed in bed.

"Sho! Stop wishing for comas!" Pacifica shouted, shaking her Maestro.

Taika and Rebecca tried to slink under the covers while the rapping at the door increased in tempo.

Shouri and Pacifica went to the door (the otter mostly joining to keep her Maestro in line).

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" was how Shouri answered the door.

Casey beamed with joy as she held up a bubble squirrel. "We did it!"

SLAM

"It's SIX in the morning!" Shouri barked at the door while stomping back to bed.

At the much more reasonable ten in the morning, Shouri and his Resonators left the comfort of their room to find Casey, her two Resonators, and Dancer along with a small horde of bubble squirrels.

Marie weakly lifted her head, her back curled as sweat poured off of her. "Casey, I think we should-"

"Famiglio Incendio, Presto!"

Yet another bubble beast appeared among the pack of squirrels gracing the property. Casey smiled, relishing in her handiwork. Unfortunately, her pride would be dashed upon the rocks of hardship.

"Ah, John catch me," Marie whimpered, before she fell back like a ton of bricks. The deer moved and allowed his partner to land softly in his arms. The squad of bubble squirrels popping with Marie's collapse.

"Oh no! What happened?!" Casey shrieked.

Shouri shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You overloaded her. She'll come around in a few minutes," said Rebecca.

Casey knelt next to her fainted Resonator. "I didn't even know that could happen, I'm so sorry Marie!"

Dancer walked up and scooped up the fallen squirrel. "She'll appreciate waking up in a bed," said the earth element, motioning for the concerned pair to follow.

As they departed Shouri and his trio watched.

"Wait… how is he carrying her?" asked Taika.

Dancer walked up the stairs with little issue, all while he carried the fainted fire element.

"Oh!" Shouri realized what had just happened.
"Oh, yeah! What the heck?" Pacifica too, joined the realization train.
"Dancer was exerting a lot of rhythm, maybe his species trait is making up for the strain on his legs? He definitely does seem to be in better shape today," Rebecca noted.

"Hmmm…" Taika hummed, a swarm of thoughts buzzing in her head.

Friday

"He's been shadowing them all week," Taika pointed out as she peeked through the blinds. Her ears were folded back as her tail swished rapidly behind her.

Shouri joined his curious fox, parting the slats to take a look for himself. Sure enough, Casey had Marie and John on the grind, summoning bubble squirrels in reasonable numbers and dismissing them when they got too much for her to maintain.

Dancer sat nearby, just watching the trio work.

"Maybe he's interested in Festas," Pacifica suggested, having joined the nosy duo.
"Maybe," Taika narrowed her eyes, humming thoughtfully.

"Probably easier to eavesdrop is you're out there," Rebecca pointed out, taking the initiative to leave their room.

"I'll be out in a sec!" Pacifica shouted, rushing to grab her winter apparel.

Shouri and Taika stepped out into the cold to join Rebecca in observing the group on their front lawn.

"Oh! Shouri! Look we're doing it!" Casey pointed at the small cluster of bubble squirrels playing in the grass.

"My limit is twenty turns out," Marie chimed in.
"We're keeping it at five," added John.
"That's the number they plan on using for their performance," Dancer clarified.

The horse's interjection earned raised brows from Shouri and his girls, but they left it alone.

"Have you tried adding extra elements to it?" asked Rebecca.

"Uhhhh…" Casey lowered her head. "I uhhh, can't get the words to come out right. Two spells work fine, but three is well…" she trailed off. "I've made a lot of progress on not biting my tongue!" said the diva brightly.

"The bubble squirrels are probably novel enough to get by for now," Shouri mused aloud.
Rebecca shook her head. "Nope, not accepting that. If we want people seeing what these can do we need her to use all of them."

"But-!" Casey cried out.
"Nope! Keep trying until your hair is white, I don't care," Rebecca stared down the Maestro with obstinance burning in her eyes.
"I thought you were the stubborn one," Shouri quipped to Taika who nodded in agreement.

"Fam Ghiaciglio Incendio, Prestissimo!"

"Guh! That's a lot!" Marie winced, while John grunted. Unfortunately, for all their discomfort inflicted from the messed-up spells, all they earned was noting.

"Try it again," Rebecca demanded.
"But! I don't want to hurt them!" Casey cried out.
"Then stop getting in your own way and focus," the pushy fox asserted.

"What she means to say is don't think about failing, just let it flow," Dancer spoke up. "I've… heard that imagining the end result helps rather than thinking about how you get there," added the horse.

Casey stared at the earth element for a moment before nodded slowly. "One more time then."

The diva took a breath and cast.

"Famiglio Incendio, Presto!
"

The strange stacked speech flowed naturally, smoothly, and effortlessly. For the casting and rhythm, they were rewarded with results.

A squirrel of shimmering ice appeared between John and Marie.

"We did it!" Marie exclaimed, hugging John and pointing at their handiwork.
"We did it!" Casey also cheered.

Dancer smiled at the celebration.

Rebecca hummed in thought, she could feel her Maestro's curiosity poking her as they all stared at Dancer who watched the trio who relished in their accomplishment.

"I wonder…" whispered Rebecca.