Almark saw Leila with serious eyes.
"Now, what are you turning into? Say whatever you want."
Almark saw a pile of stones in the corner of the magic field.
"Let's turn that stone into a bird. Or a mouse."
I don't use stones.
That's how Leila shook her head.
"You're always practicing."
"Yeah."
"That's not gonna be a challenge."
Bye.
Almark is a little confused.
"What are you going to use?"
"It's more nervous."
"Are you nervous...?
"Yeah."
Leila nods.
"For you, that's it."
Leila pointed to something on Almark's back.
Eh?
Almark opens his eyes.
"Here."
"Yeah."
Leila nods.
"Put it down quickly."
"No, this is..."
Almark was distracted.
It's important, isn't it?
Leila doesn't change her expression.
"I know. I saw it in the fountain cave, and the dean said so."
Well then...
"That's why it's okay."
Leila reached out.
If you can't put it down, I'll take it.
"All right, all right. I'll put it down myself."
Almark hurried it down.
"Leila, but this is..."
Almark showed Leila Mars' wand and said.
"It's not just a wand, it's special."
It's getting better.
Leila nods.
"The more important it is to you, the better. Then you can never fail."
That said, the look on Mars's wand is completely unchanged.
"Or did I just tell you that I'm sure I can do it? Is that a lie?
"No."
Almark shakes his head.
"I'm not lying."
"Then I'll have you change that wand with the magic of change. That's right."
Leila narrowed her eyes.
"A dragon the size of a cane."
A dragon.
Almark opened his eyes.
At best, Almark can still make small animals like birds, mice, and rabbits. I've never made a dragon.
"Making things I've never seen before is harder."
"I've seen dragons before."
Almark said.
It's just a water dragon.
"I've seen dragons before."
Leila watches.
Amazing.
Would you like something else?
"No"
Leila shakes her head.
"I'm interested in dragons made by people I've seen. So let's go."
This has come to be a terrible thing.
Almark glanced at Leila's face.
Leila is serious.
Look at Mars's wand and think of Wendy's face.
"Gate" and "Key".
I hope this wand doesn't break because I made a mistake and turned it into something terrible.
When the Rhinel tried to manipulate me, I used my magic to beat myself up. At that time, the cane itself was not scratchy, so I wonder if it was sturdy.
However, Wendy may not be affected by the strange way she casts her magic.
What if Wendy's "gate" opens?
When I thought about it, I sweated cold on Almark's spine.
Either way, Wendy can't. [M]
You can't risk Wendy with my training. [M]
Almark raised his face.
"Leila, I knew this was..."
"You're scared."
Leila stopped cold.
"You must be scared. But just stones don't make me feel that way. Don't be afraid."
"We can't afford to fail."
I'm sure you are.
Leila nods.
But Leila and I went on.
"That's because you think this is just practice."
Leila's harsh eyes stared at Almark.
"People who think it's practice, they wander around in real life. I've only been able to practice. I always think that daily practice is the same as examinations. I am fully prepared not to fail. So I think it's only natural that there should be some fear and danger."
A fountain cave used to train middle school students.
Leila, who was there all by herself repeatedly, certainly embodied the words.
"That's why you think this is real. This is the situation where we have to turn the wand into a dragon."
That's what Leila says and sees Almark.
"If that doesn't work, I won't force you. But I'm saying it because I think you can do it."
Leila's words are not as warm as encouragement. I'm just calmly telling the truth. That's what the tone said.
Leila looks at Almark's hand.
A hard, stone-like palm that doesn't look like a child's hand.
"I thought your sword must have been forged like that."
Sword.
The words remind Almark of the weight on his back.
Not now, but the weight that was on my back until I came to the academy.
"Or is your sword arm trained for practice?"
Leila says.
No, it's not.
Almark also understood.
Days when I waved my sword.
After swinging his sword freely to some extent, he imagined battles on the battlefield every day.
The image of killing people.
Get ready to go on the battlefield.
Whenever you get caught up in a fight.
Father's back.
A burning sensation of irritation.
That's why Almark was able to slash the two mercenaries who suddenly broke into the base as he practiced.
Oh, I see.
Almark thinks so.
My thoughts were raised on the battlefield in the North. [M]
Think of things with a sword and you'll get a neat and simple answer.
"Leila"
Almark said.
"You're right."
The first time she saw the light in her eyes, Leila smiled slightly.
"Yes, those eyes."
Leila said.
"I love your eyes when you get serious."
When a huge magic shadow appeared in the fountain cave.
When he appeared on his sleeve from behind the scenes as he approached the scene of the Magic Festival.
When Almark is serious, there is fire in his eyes.
The eyes also gave Leila a strange illusion.
And evil monsters.
Some shadows have no substance.
Old customs and clumsiness.
Even fateful yarns tangled with Leila.
With a sword in his hand.
"It feels like you're going to kill everything in the world."