"Clang!" "Bang!" "Clang!"
Inside the underground training hall of the tower, Hermione, who had exhausted her magic, sat on the edge of the arena sofa, staring wide-eyed at the two figures in the center. They wielded steel swords, darting and weaving as they launched relentless attacks at each other—thrusts, slashes, diagonal cuts, parries, blocks, and evasions. Every movement, whether of hands or feet, was executed with precision. She had never seen such a dangerous and thrilling display of close-combat fighting. Even professional fencers couldn't produce something like this.
Yet despite the speed of their battle, both maintained extreme caution. Every successful strike came at a cost. Though the practice swords were unsharpened, the pain from being hit was still intense. And striking an opponent wasn't free either—Hermione had clearly seen that when Lewis landed a hit on Cirilla, his own body burst with a flare of scorching flames.
"Clang!"
After another clash that pushed them apart, Cirilla finally shouted, "That's enough! I'm done for today!"
She tossed her sword aside and dropped to the ground.
"That's it? I was just getting into it," Lewis said, throwing his own sword aside and sitting beside her. Both of them looked scorched and smoky—the effect of Elemental Rebuke triggering repeatedly.
Cirilla rolled her eyes. "Not everyone's a freak like you."
"I thought this would finally be my chance to teach you, since it's your first time using a sword," she continued. "But after just a few exchanges, you were already handling it properly… and then you were evenly matched with me."
She sighed. "It's honestly frustrating."
Lewis just smiled and shook his head. "Can't help it. Being smart makes learning faster."
But it wasn't just that he learned quickly. During his sparring with Cirilla, he had gained something far more valuable.
Through combat practice, you have learned [Longsword Proficiency].
You have combined weapon usage with spellcasting in battle and grasped the technique of using both simultaneously. You have learned the abilities [Spell Combat], [Spellstrike], and [Armored Casting].
Spell Combat: You can cast spells and wield a weapon simultaneously without interference, as long as one hand is free and the other holds a light or one-handed melee weapon.
Spellstrike: When casting a touch-range spell, you can deliver it as part of a melee attack through your weapon.
Armored Casting: You can cast spells normally while wearing armor, ignoring its interference.
This time, although he hadn't gained a new class, these three abilities were the core of a spellblade.
With them, a spellblade could wear heavy armor, wield a sword in one hand while casting spells with the other, and even channel spells like Shocking Grasp or Burning Hands—or even ranged touch spells like Acid Arrow and Scorching Ray—through their weapon, combining physical and magical damage into a single devastating strike.
With this set of abilities, Lewis felt like he had gained a massive advantage in combat.
Cirilla really was his lucky star.
And since he had learned these techniques through sparring with her, they were perfectly suited for her as well.
After a short rest, Lewis picked up the practice sword again and called out enthusiastically, "Come on, Ciri. Let me show you something new."
Holding the sword in one hand, he began chanting. The next moment, frost spread across the blade, cold mist swirling around it.
Cirilla's eyes lit up instantly.
Then Lewis swung at a training dummy.
Crack!
The blunt blade didn't leave a cut, but the moment it passed, the frost energy erupted, freezing the dummy solid.
Cirilla's eyes gleamed even brighter. "That was… Frost Arrow!"
Her innate magical sensitivity allowed her to recognize it immediately, but it only raised more questions.
"…How did you attach Frost Arrow to your weapon?"
Lewis grinned. "That's the technique I wanted to show you—Spellstrike."
"Want to learn it? I'll teach you."
"Of course!"
Cirilla was thrilled. After a brief explanation, she immediately understood. Combined with Spell Combat and Armored Casting, this technique was perfect for someone like her—someone who excelled at both melee combat and spellcasting. It allowed her dual abilities to merge seamlessly, amplifying her effectiveness several times over.
This wasn't just suitable for her—it was perfect for witchers as well. If her adoptive father, Geralt of Rivia, ever heard about it, he'd probably go crazy with envy.
From that moment on, she had a clear goal.
Their shared living routine gradually became structured. Every morning, Lewis and Cirilla accompanied Hermione to practice flying. In the afternoon, they trained in combat—Hermione focused on basic combat skills, while Cirilla practiced spellblade techniques. Evenings were free time. Hermione would study magic she was interested in, while Cirilla became fascinated with Gwent from her homeland, pestering Lewis until he made her a deck.
As for Lewis, he spent several consecutive nights locked in his underground alchemy workshop, occasionally using the Floo Network to visit Diagon Alley and purchase rare materials and magical metals.
Finally, on the seventh evening, Lewis emerged from the workshop carrying a silver longsword inlaid with various gemstones.
"This is Arcane Sword Version 1.0."
He placed it on the table, proudly presenting it.
"It's beautiful!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Yeah, it looks amazing," Cirilla added.
The elegant blade and its glittering gems captivated both girls instantly.
"Of course," Lewis said smugly. "Anything designed by Lewis Green won't have aesthetic issues."
"But this sword is more than just looks."
"First, it has excellent magical conductivity, allowing spells to be easily channeled through the blade."
"Second, I replicated the internal structure of a wand within the hilt."
"This allows it to function as both a weapon and a casting focus."
"In other words, you don't need a separate wand in battle. One sword is enough to fulfill both roles."
Cirilla's eyes lit up with undisguised desire. This weapon was practically made for her. Even Hermione, though she didn't need it, was impressed.
But Lewis wasn't done.
"This is just Version 1.0. There are still many features I haven't added."
"1.0?" Hermione asked. "So there'll be 2.0, 3.0?"
"Exactly," Lewis said, clapping his hands. "In the future, I plan to add transformation functionality—normally it'll appear as a wand, but it can shift into a sword during combat. I also want to include anti-magic properties and mana storage…"
Each feature he described sounded more tempting than the last.
Finally, Cirilla couldn't hold back anymore. "Lewis… I have a question."
She hesitated for a moment before asking, "How much would something like this cost?"
"If we're talking materials alone, about 5,000 Galleons," Lewis replied casually.
The number stunned her. Five thousand Galleons… she didn't even spend five hundred a year. That amount would take countless contracts to earn.
Fortunately, Lewis continued, "But that includes research and failed attempts. If mass-produced, each sword would cost around 1,000 to 2,000 Galleons."
Still an enormous sum.
Just as Cirilla was wondering how she could ever afford it, Lewis offered another option.
"If you want one, there's another way."
"I happen to have a dangerous task coming up, and I need a partner."
"If you help me with it, I'll make you an Arcane Sword afterward. What do you think?"
Lewis could easily give her one for free, but he chose not to. Their relationship wasn't quite at that level yet, and more importantly, the Lion Cub of Cintra had her pride.
"Even without a reward, I'd help you," Cirilla said firmly. "What's the job?"
Lewis smiled slightly.
"Hunting a Chimera."
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