The Scum Emperor's Redemption System

[Ongoing Editing]

The early morning sun bathed the training grounds in a golden glow, casting long shadows from the towering trees that lined the edges of the field. Argider stood nervously in the center, surrounded by her three wives—Elira, Faeralys, and Fialova—all eyeing her with varying degrees of skepticism and amusement.

"This is a disaster waiting to happen," Argider muttered under her breath, already regretting the idea of a group training session.

"You dragged us out here, Your Majesty," Faeralys snapped, folding her arms over her chest. Her crimson hair gleamed in the sunlight, her fiery temper already simmering beneath the surface. "You better not waste my time."

"Elira started this madness," Argider retorted, pointing at her first wife.

Elira rolled her eyes. "I just wanted to teach you magic. You're the one who insisted on inviting these two."

"These two?" Fialova quirked an eyebrow, her tone icy despite the faint smirk on her lips. "You make it sound like we're intruding, Elira. I thought we were family."

Faeralys huffed. "If by 'family,' you mean constantly arguing over who gets to be by Argider's side first, then sure."

"Can we not make this about me?" Argider interjected, waving her hands to diffuse the rising tension. "We're here to train, not bicker."

Fialova chuckled, adjusting the collar of her uniform—a remnant of her days as a knight. Her lightning-blue eyes sparkled with mischief. "I can bicker and train at the same time, can't I?"

Elira groaned, already rubbing her temples. "This is going to be insufferable." Then she clapped her hands. "Alright, let's start simple. Everyone focus on summoning a basic elemental spell. Fire, lightning, or something within your affinity."

Argider nodded, trying to look confident despite the beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She extended her palm, focusing her mana. A small crackle of lightning flickered to life, sputtering slightly but managing to hold steady.

"Not bad," Elira admitted grudgingly. "Now, let's see what you two can do."

Faeralys stepped forward, glaring at Argider. "If you can do it, there's no way I can't." She closed her eyes, concentrating. Her hands trembled slightly as a faint spark of fire appeared, growing into a steady flame.

"I did it!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of excitement and pride. Then she glanced at Argider, quickly masking her delight with a scowl. "Not that it's impressive or anything. I mean, you're the one who activated my magic in the first place."

"Right, right," Argider said, biting back a smile. "Totally unimpressive."

Fialova was next. She squared her shoulders, her expression calm and focused. With a quick motion, she extended her hand, and a bolt of lightning crackled to life, brighter and more powerful than Argider's.

"Show-off," Faeralys muttered, crossing her arms.

Fialova smirked. "Don't be jealous just because I'm better." Discover exclusive tales on empire

"Better?! I'll show you better!" Faeralys shouted, her flames flaring uncontrollably.

"Stop, stop!" Argider yelped, stepping between them. "We're supposed to be practicing, not burning each other alive!"

Elira sighed loudly, already regretting her life choices. "This is why I don't like group activities."

As the session continued, the four of them tried various exercises. Argider, still learning to control her lightning and fire, was caught in a whirlwind of chaos as her wives bickered incessantly.

"Argider, watch this!" Faeralys called, summoning a large fireball. She tossed it into the air, grinning triumphantly as it exploded in a dazzling display of sparks.

"Not bad," Argider admitted, clapping lightly.

"Not bad?" Faeralys snapped. "That was amazing!"

Fialova snorted. "If you want to see amazing, watch this." She summoned a bolt of lightning, striking a nearby practice dummy with pinpoint accuracy. The dummy burst into flames, and Fialova turned to Argider with a smirk. "Impressed?"

"Uh, yes, very impressed," Argider said, raising her hands defensively.

"Why are you praising her so much?" Faeralys demanded, her flames flaring dangerously.

"Because I hit the target," Fialova said smugly. "Unlike someone who just makes fireworks."

"That's it!" Faeralys shouted, lunging at Fialova.

"Ladies! Stop!" Argider yelled, stepping between them again. "We're supposed to be a team!"

Elira watched from the sidelines, shaking her head. "This is why I work alone."

Despite the constant interruptions, there were moments of genuine progress. Faeralys and Fialova began helping each other refine their spells, albeit begrudgingly.

"Try focusing your mana more," Fialova suggested, guiding Faeralys's hands.

"I don't need your help," Faeralys snapped but didn't pull away.

Elira, meanwhile, coached Argider on maintaining control. "You're too tense. Relax. Magic is about flow, not force."

"Easier said than done," Argider muttered, but she followed Elira's advice, managing to create a more stable lightning orb.

"See? Not bad for a beginner," Elira said with a rare smile.

By midday, the training session had turned into a playful duel. Faeralys challenged Fialova to a contest of accuracy, while Argider and Elira sparred with smaller spells.

"Try not to embarrass yourself, Argider," Elira teased, summoning a vine to trip her.

"Cheap shot!" Argider yelped, stumbling but retaliating with a small bolt of lightning.

"Is that all you've got?" Elira taunted, dodging gracefully.

Meanwhile, Faeralys and Fialova's duel escalated into a full-blown competition.

"Beat this!" Faeralys shouted, hurling a fireball that exploded in a spectacular burst of flames.

"Child's play," Fialova replied, summoning a lightning strike that left scorch marks on the ground.

Argider, caught in the crossfire of their rivalry, sighed deeply. "This is my life now."

Despite the chaos, the four of them began to find a rhythm. They practiced combining their magic, creating dazzling displays of fire and lightning that lit up the training grounds. Argider found herself laughing more than she had in months, even as she dodged errant spells and tried to keep the peace.

For a brief moment, they weren't emperor and consorts—they were just four people learning and growing together.

By the end of the day, they were all exhausted but smiling. Argider looked at her wives, feeling a rare sense of unity. "You know, we might actually make a decent team."

"Don't get used to it," Faeralys grumbled, though her cheeks were flushed with satisfaction.

Fialova smirked. "I wouldn't mind training like this again. It's... entertaining."

Elira rolled her eyes but didn't protest. "Just don't expect me to babysit you every time."

As they headed back to the palace, Argider couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could face whatever challenges lay ahead—together.