Sora had been waiting in the square since 2:30, and now it was nearly four o'clock. Kixiu was growing impatient. The lively students sitting beneath umbrellas were enjoying desserts and drinks, glancing over with amused expressions. Shaking his leg, Kixiu gripped his rose-colored wand and snapped at Louise:
"Your familiar still isn't back? If he doesn't show up soon, I'm leaving."
"He'll be here any minute. Just wait," Louise replied.
Kixiu scowled.
A dragon's roar echoed from the distant sky. Everyone looked up as a blue shape swooped toward them. Tabasa's wind dragon landed with a powerful gust, nearly blowing Kixiu off his feet. Sora and Tabasa jumped off Fenglong, and Sora had a new longsword in his left hand.
"I'm back."
Kixiu stepped forward. "Good. Then let's begin the duel. Today I want the commoners to witness the majesty of a true magician."
Sora leaned over and whispered something to Tabasa. She nodded quietly and walked toward Louise and Chuluk at the edge of the crowd. Fenglong flapped its wings and lifted off, leaving the square.
"I want to add a wager," Sora said. "Here are the five hundred gold coins Louise and Chuluk gave me. Do you have a matching stake?" He tossed the untouched money pouch to the ground.
Kixiu's expression tightened. After a long hesitation, he grumbled, "Using money women gave you… pathetic. Fine. I'll add this earth-attribute magic crystal." He pulled a gray necklace from his chest and threw it beside the pouch.
"Louise?" Sora asked.
"Magic crystals boost a mage's cultivation. That one is worth at least a thousand gold coins," Louise explained.
"I don't have anything comparable. Your bet's too extravagant, Kixiu," Sora said.
"Hmph. A mage is always wealthy. Besides, I'm going to win anyway. I permit this duel to proceed," Kixiu replied confidently.
Sora smiled. "Then thank you."
"You idiot, buddy, you don't need to be polite when using me," Delphlinka muttered.
"Of course not. Let's go," Sora said, raising the sword.
The crowd immediately fixated on Delphlinka.
"A talking sword!"
"Is that one of those rare Swords of Wisdom?"
"My family has something similar—it taught me magic."
"It must be expensive…"
Kixiu snorted. "So what if it's a Sword of Wisdom? The wielder's still a commoner who can't use real magic."
"Then experience a commoner's swordsmanship," Sora said, taking his stance.
"Hmph. I'll show you the true power of a magician." Kixiu raised his rose wand.
"Then let's begin," Sora said—and charged straight at him.
"Grando Erth Hammer!" [Bronze Puppet]
Kixiu swung his wand. A single rose petal fell, struck the ground, and transformed into a man-sized bronze puppet armed with a spear.
"You see? This is the power of a mage," Kixiu said proudly.
Among the onlookers, the cafeteria chefs and maids looked nervous.
"Sora!" Louise called anxiously.
"Sword strong. Don't worry," Tabasa said, deadpan.
Chuluk blinked, surprised the quiet girl was talking to people. "Really?"
"Really?" Louise asked, startled.
Tabasa nodded.
On the field, Sora ducked under the puppet's sweeping spear and slashed across its chest and abdomen. Though seemingly solid, the puppet split cleanly in two and collapsed into a pile of dirt.
"Your magic doesn't seem very impressive," Sora teased.
"That was just luck—hitting its weak point! Don't get cocky. I can summon six more. Try handling that!" Kixiu snapped, hurriedly reciting six incantations. He flicked his wand; a shower of petals hit the ground and blossomed into six bronze puppets.
"Partner, use my power," Delphlinka said.
"All right. Please lend it to me." Sora tightened his grip. As the puppets charged, he dodged between them and planted himself in the center. Then he spun and swung.
Delphlinka flared with brilliant light—a roaring blast of wind blades erupted, shredding the hollow bronze puppets into pieces. It was the same wind magic Tabasa had infused earlier, now released through the sword.
The gust was so strong that the skirts of nearby girls billowed up. Sora unintentionally caught a wide variety of underwear designs out of the corner of his eye.
Aside from Sora and the sword, only Tabasa seemed to understand what had just happened.
Frozen in shock, Kixiu watched Sora stride toward him and place the blade at his neck.
"That's how I win, Kixiu."
Kixiu's mouth hung open. Then he bowed his head in defeat. "I… lost."
Sora smiled and sheathed his sword. "As for the prize—I'll accept it without hesitation. Feel free to challenge me again anytime."
He walked to the side, retrieved the money pouch and magic crystal, and headed toward Chuluk, Louise, and Tabasa. "I'm back."
"Well done," Chuluk said.
"You're safe… thank goodness," Louise said.
Tabasa gave a small nod.
The group walked off chatting and laughing.
Kixiu collapsed onto the square in a daze until a girl ran over to help him up. The crowd buzzed with excitement, curiosity, and awe toward Sora.
Meanwhile, in the headmaster's office, the principal replayed Sora's duel, recalling the glowing mark on his hand.
The Void… Gandálfr… the Sword of Wisdom.Yes—this familiar named Sora was indeed the ancient familiar Gandálfr once summoned by their legendary ancestor.