Almark – Northern Sword, Southern Wand

After school that day, the magic practice hall.

Illmis called out to Almark to begin his meditation as usual.

"You were going to the martial arts tournament the day after tomorrow as an athlete."

"Yes"

Almark nodded.

"Well, let's not practice tomorrow. Athletes before the game need a good rest."

"I see. Thank you very much."

"Instead...."

Illmis looks at Almark and adds.

"Today, let's change our tastes a little."

"Hobbies."

Almark looks up at Illmis.

"It's no big deal."

Illmis pointed to the dark blue robe Almark was wearing.

Take off that uniform robe.

……

Almark looks strange.

Do you want this?

"Yes, it is."

Illmis nodded.

Almark takes off the robe and puts it on the floor with a strange face.

"I took it off."

"Okay, that's good. So, as usual, from meditation."

"... is this all you have?

"That's right. Come on, meditate."

"... yes"

Almark closed his eyes.

I don't know, but as they say, I start meditating.

To be able to concentrate in any mental state.

It's one of the themes Almark has been working on this summer.

Any questions or concerns that come to mind.

One by one, these misgivings are rounded in a spherical shape and sinked into the water that stretches out to the bottom of your heart.

I'm not throwing it away. Just sink it for a while.

Bo-chan, bo-chan, the sound of water rises.

Each time, you can see that your mind is clear and you can concentrate.

This is how Almark arrived at meditation.

Eventually all the spheres of nuisance sink into the water, emptying your heart.

Instead, it boils into the space, like an irreplaceable, sandy, sandy wind.

Magic.

The magic is refined with the fingers of the image.

I didn't know what to do at first, but I gradually grasped the magic while meditating every day.

Almark is now practicing his magic in a familiar way.

Soon, the quality of magic will increase, creating a flow and starting to swell.

Shape.

Give us a form in which we can exercise our power in the world.

It flows as if magic were looking for it.

You're all set.

Almark opens his eyes.

Okay.

Nodded silently to Ilumis' question.

"All right, I want you to imagine the magic of fog."

"Yes"

Almark held his right hand.

After practicing for days, the fog was much smoother.

Almark concentrates on creating an image that subdivides the magical water.

... that?

Almark felt uncomfortable.

I don't feel my magic gathers well in my right hand.

On the contrary, magic has leaked from everywhere in the body.

What is this?

I feel terribly defenseless when I use magic.

For example, a mercenary would go to battle without armor.

Still, Almark's right hand emitted a magical fog.

However, it is far from the usual momentum.

Usually magic flows straight through a single channel, but it's as if the channel is destroyed in countless places now and does not flow downstream.

"Doctor, this is..."

I couldn't wait to say that to Iris.

"Imibikariasa"

Ilmis said.

"The name of the original plant, the fiber woven into the robe you're wearing."

"Imibikariasa"

Without knowing what it was, Almark rebelled against its name.

Illmis nodded.

"This is why the magician put the robe together, Almark."

"There are several plants that can block magic. Imibikariasa is one of them."

Ilmis says.

"By wrapping a robe woven with the fibers of these plants, extra leakage from the magical body is prevented. Simply put, it makes it easier and more efficient to concentrate magic when using magic."

That's why the magician put the robe back together, Ilmis said.

But now, its original meaning is diminishing, and there are many magicians outside who simply wear robes as a symbol of the authority of what is called a magician, Ilmis explains.

"Most of the robes these magicians wear are just fabrics, and they're often unwoven."

"... then, as long as these plants are woven together, don't they have to be robes in shape?"

"Sometimes it is desirable to have a full cover. Well, you don't have to stick to the robe. Nevertheless, as I mentioned earlier, Robe is now a symbol of the wizard's authority. Everyone thinks it's more like a magician wearing a robe than other clothes."

"... I see."

Almark nodded.

"For the first time today, I understand. I can't believe it's so hard to use magic without a robe."

"I thought it was best to make you feel it."

Ilmis says.

"From now on, let's start practicing without a robe."

"Yes"

In reply, Almark remembers his classmates.

Wendy and Nelson in Lord Boluk's maze.

Morgan on his journey to Miletos.

No one was wearing a robe. And yet, he used his magic as if nothing had happened as usual.

"Classmates usually use magic, even if they're not wearing robes."

Almark said. Shake your head.

"I knew they were amazing. Try it on your own and you'll see it for the first time. Guys, we're still a long way from here. I won't chase you."

"Are you out of your mind?

Ilumis looks like he's measuring Almark.

"It would be a lie to say that you will not perish at all."

That's how Almark smiled.

"I'm more than happy."

"I'm glad."

Illmis raised one eyebrow.

"Yes"

Almark nodded.

"I'm glad. Once again, I know that my classmates are such amazing people. I'm so proud to be lined up with these amazing people every day."

Upon returning from the tutorial, Almark asked Illmis again.

"Does the teacher do martial arts too?

"Why?

"You said athletes need to rest."

Ah.

Illmis laughs.

"When I was a student here, I won three high school solo fights."

"Eh!

Almark rounded his eyes.

"Wow, the teacher is not only a magician, but also a martial arts teacher."

I'm kidding.

Returning to her true face, Ilmis answered.

"I don't think so. I don't like martial arts. In martial arts competitions, athletes were often not chosen."

Say it without smelling.

"It's just common sense to give athletes a break. Come on, it's getting a little late. Come back today."

Almark thought he heard something extra.

In front of Almark, who hurried back to the dorm, a small light was seen.

Lamp lights or lamp magic?

I wonder who.

As she approached, a girl sat on a large stone on the side of the road.

She is fluffily shaking and playing with the flame on her right palm.

She was a girl I had never seen before. You are in a slender, luxurious body. Black hair as opposed to white skin.

I'm just as old as Al Mark.

The girl saw Almark approaching.

"Ah"

And he shouted and smiled.

"You must be Almark."

Almark stops when his name is called.

You know me.

The girl nods with a smile.

I don't know you.

Almark said the girl stood up smiling.

The flame shakes softly.

"Almark. I know. Your name is Almark."

The girl says to sing.

Before Almark stared, the girl turned her back on Almark and slowly walked towards the school building.

Where are you going?

Almark speaks up.

"You...."

The girl looked back unexpectedly at who Almark was trying to say.

"Be careful, Almark."

Until then, Almark stuttered at the seriousness of his tone.

"The martial arts tournament the day after tomorrow... bad power will come."

Serious, dark eyes. Enough to calm Almark down.

"Bad power? What is that?"

At that time, a strong wind suddenly blew.

The flames on the girl's hand were scratched out and disappeared, and darkness surrounded her.

After finally getting used to the darkness, no matter how hard Almark looked, the girl was nowhere to be found.

By the time the dorm was finally visible, Almark remembered that the girl earlier had not worn a uniformed robe.

I wonder who that was.

I wonder what bad power is.

Almark thought vaguely.