Fenglong flew incredibly fast, covering in half an hour what would've taken three hours on horseback. At Tabasa's request, the wind dragon set the two of them down outside the market, and they walked in on foot.
It was around three in the afternoon, and the market was still bustling. On a road wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side, vendors had set up stalls along the edges. Sora glanced around restlessly—fruit stands, a tailor, a flower shop. A little girl, a woman, a young lady; people of all kinds passed by.
At a fork in the road, Tabasa tugged him sharply and turned down a narrower street, one only wide enough for a single carriage. Judging from the storefronts—potions, weapons, magic wands—this lane catered to magicians. There were fewer people here, giving the street a deserted feel.
Tabasa brought Sora to a shop marked with a hanging sword. "Inside. Sword."
"Yes, yes, I'm going in to buy a sword. Wait for me outside," Sora said with a laugh. He pushed open the door and stepped in while Tabasa leaned against the wall and pulled out a book to read.
"Welcome!" A small old man with buck teeth and a pipe hurried over as soon as Sora entered.
Sora scanned the shop: axes and spears hung on the walls, and a row of slender ceremonial swords leaned in the corner.
"Boss, got any other swords? Bring them out and let me have a look."
"You're here to buy a sword? Guest, you don't look like a mercenary," the old man said, puzzled. He disappeared behind a curtain and returned with a gleaming golden sword.
Sora took it, swung it twice, and frowned.
"Too heavy, too brittle. This is just for show."
"How could that be? This is a famous sword forged by an alchemist in Garmania! You're just not familiar with magic, sir," the old man said anxiously.
Sora smiled. "Well, I'm learning magic."
He extended his right hand, letting a red glow of fire element flicker to life.
"Ah! Guest—sir—you're a magician!" The old man's demeanor shifted instantly to meek respect. "Master Sorcerer, this beautiful sword is extremely popular."
He produced another sword, silver and inlaid with gems, trying to impress him.
Sora narrowed his eyes. "Enough. I'll look myself."
"Yes!!" The old man scrambled out of the way.
Behind the curtain was a cramped storage room packed with weapons of every shape, each looking impressive but useless. Sora tested about a dozen longswords—some as light as feathers, others snapping under mild pressure. None were worth using.
Each time Sora tossed one aside, the old man rushed to catch it and return it tenderly to its place.
Sora moved back outside and rummaged through a barrel of miscellaneous weapons. At last, he pulled out a sword with a satisfying weight and balance—though it was caked in dust and clearly old.
Still, it would do.
He gave it a few strong swings, the blade slicing the air with a satisfying whoosh.
"Good sword," Sora said.
"Master Magician, you fancy that one? Then… three hundred gold coins," the old man said, rubbing his hands with a hopeful grin.
Sora shot him a glare. "Magicians aren't fools. If I find out it's not worth that, I'll have the guards seal your shop."
"Ah—well—Master Magician, look at how old it is. I'll… give it to you! The shop is honest—we don't need the guards involved…"
Satisfied, Sora nodded. "Good. I'll come again if I get the chance. Goodbye."
"Yes, yes, please—come again," the old man said, though inside he begged, Please don't come again, stingy magician.
Sora felt quite pleased with himself—getting a decent sword for free.
Then he heard a voice.
He looked down. The worn sword hilt in his hand was moving, opening like a mouth.
"You talking? Sword?" Sora asked.
"Of course! I, Delphlinka, just saved your skin."
"Oh, thanks," Sora said.
"No need to thank me. It's my duty," the sword replied shyly.
Tabasa suddenly raised her wand, magical energy gathering in the air. Sora turned and sprinted toward her. He grabbed the smaller girl, pulled her into his arms, dipped his head, and kissed her deeply—cutting off her chant. His tongue pushed in without hesitation, claiming her mouth.
"Whoa, buddy—that's not what I wanted to see—ugh." Delphlinka bounced restlessly.
Tabasa froze, her wand slipping from her fingers and breaking the spell.
Feeling her soften in his arms, Sora savored the kiss until she was out of breath. Only then did he release her. Tabasa, blushing furiously, collapsed weakly.
Sora caught her.
"Well then, let's go back, Tabasa."
With Tabasa held in his right arm and Delphlinka in his left, Sora dashed out of the market. The earlier commotion had scared the soldiers enough that none dared approach. Only now did the nearby shopkeepers open their doors to gawk.
Outside the market, Tabasa gradually recovered, refusing to look at him without turning her back. Fighting Sora further was pointless.
He whistled. Fenglong swooped down from the sky. The two of them climbed onto the dragon's back—Tabasa in front, Sora behind.
Staring at her slender back, Sora suddenly reached out and circled his arms around her. Tabasa stiffened as he pulled her into his chest, pressing against her as he leaned toward her ear and whispered softly.
She melted again, slumping weakly into him.
The dragon carried the pair—one rider and one very talkative sword—back toward the academy.
"Let's go, Tabasa," Sora called.
Tabasa looked down at her book and ignored him.
Sora paused, then reached over and squeezed her cheek—soft and cool to the touch, surprisingly pleasant.
She frowned but didn't look up.
"So that's how it is? Guess I'll go big, Tabasa." Sora placed one hand beside her, leaning in and blocking the sunlight. His lips brushed hers—cool like jade. I want to feel that more, he thought.
Smack. Tabasa snapped awake and shoved him hard.
Expression cold, she lifted her full-length staff and swung it.
"Inz Wendy Gluck!" [Wind Hammer]
A burst of compressed air smashed into Sora's chest, blasting him six or seven meters backward.
Tabasa's expression didn't change. She raised her wand again as if preparing another strike.
Sora rubbed his stomach and jumped up, barely hurt.
"Hey, stop. I was just waking you up, Tabasa!"
She cast Wind Hammer again.
"I'm gonna get angry, Tabasa!" Sora raised his newly acquired sword to intercept the attack.
Boom! The force still shoved him back three steps. His hands tingled. What power… Quiet as she normally was, Tabasa—bonded to a wind dragon—wielded frightening magic.
She lifted her wand higher. Three spiraling wind vortices formed overhead, water vapor condensing and freezing into meter-long icicles.
"Elk Wendy Water Bruce!" [Wind–Water Compound: Ice Lance]
A compound spell—far stronger than before.
Can I even block that? Sora raised his sword with both hands. Maybe after this she would finally calm down.
Just then, the familiar mark on Sora's left hand blazed.
His body surged with strength—speed, power, endurance skyrocketing. His vision sharpened; he could see every detail of the incoming ice lances.
This might work. He stepped forward and slashed three times. Crack, crack, crack! The tips shattered, and the remains flew past him, spearing the bluestone ground behind.
Tabasa's eyes flickered. She lifted her wand again—preparing something even stronger.
Cold sweat ran down Sora's back. "Okay, okay, I was wrong! Stop, Tabasa!"
But Tabasa seemed determined to teach him a lesson. Magic swirled violently overhead, forming a roaring wind eye.
Oh no—this is bad. The wind gathered, chilling him to the bone. I'm gonna die at this rate!
"Wait! Chuluk wouldn't want you blasting me, right? Stop! Stop!" Sora cried.
Tabasa hesitated—and held back half her power before releasing the spell.
"Gruss Wendy Wendy Wendy Spar!" [Double Wind Strengthening: Wind Eye]
A massive vortex hurtled toward Sora, unleashing razor-like wind blades.
"Unlucky, unlucky, unlucky—!" Sora braced himself and swung his sword. The mark on his hand glowed; the old blade in his grip shone brilliantly.
With a flash, the Wind Eye vanished completely.
Tabasa and Sora stared, stunned.
"Man, waking up to that was rough. Really unfriendly, buddy," Delphlinka muttered.