(EP-178.1) Sand #3
178 – Wind and Sand #3
Enduring Aira’s evident displeasure, I called Kasim for one reason and one reason only.
To fight.
While the one providing me teachings was the Rank 5 Archmage, Hynax, he was still an old Sage. Thus, asking him to spar with me was somewhat impractical.
However, Kasim was young and exceptional. The issue was that he was of royal blood. As a commoner, I had no way to casually challenge him to a spar.
Well, unless he initiated it himself… Of course, I had a way to provoke him into challenging me like touching his arrogant pride or something.
Yet, the Kasim I met today surprisingly carried himself with courtesy and showed an unusual amount of favor towards me.
“How about sparring with me? What do you think?”
He extended what I had been seeking, presenting it even before I could bring it up.
Had being away from the throne made him a more amiable person?
I guessed it was the same as having a popular unapproachable cousin. In fact, being a descendant of Angmar, he and I were indeed distant relatives. So it was not an entirely inaccurate analogy.
Anyway, I was contemplating how to approach the conversation, but he proposed the sparring himself.
This was good for me.
“That would be great! However, I am not really a combatant, so please go easy on me.”
“Hehe, don’t worry, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Our match was held in the empty lot behind the Great Hall. Aira, who had been out for a walk, also returned at this time and sat on the bench with her legs crossed.
“To spar in front of the Queen, how nerve-wracking~.”
As he spoke, Kasim pulled out a thin, long wand from his waist. It was a luxurious golden item with a tip adorned with a large pearl. It looked impressive at a glance.
I also took out my Imp Tail Wand.
“An Imp tail! It has excellent magic conductivity for wand use. But obtaining it must not have been easy, no?”
“I got it as a gift from an acquaintance Imp.”
“Oh, I see. But in its raw state, you can only use half the power of the material.”
“Really?”
“Yes, isn’t that well-known with Mages?”
It was the first time I had heard of it. Neither Hynax nor Aira had mentioned such a thing. Glancing at Aira, she chuckled and said.
“Theo, some things you have to discover for yourself~.”
‘I see.’ Then Kasim spoke as if showing favor.
“If you provide me with a satisfying match, I’ll specially craft that wand with a gem for you.”
What craft? As I puzzled over this, Aira, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly came alive.
“For someone green, you suggested quite a decent proposal, Kasim. The Tanak Royal Family’s craftsmanship has a deep history even on the continent.”
“That’s right! Well then, let’s get ready. How about showing me some skills?”
At Kasim’s words, I created a magic shield with one hand.
—Mana Shield.
Uuuung, uuung.
The shield was shaped like five thin blue petals, which also corresponded to its ability to withstand five significant impacts. At that sight, Kasim’s eyes gleamed with interest.
“Five shields in a light enchantment… Your fundamentals are excellent! Mana shield in one hand, wand in the other. Your stance is textbook. It seems that my friend’s mentor, Hynax, is a classical Mage.”
“But he says that classical and traditional techniques are timeless for a reason.”
“That’s true too. Well, I see now why the Queen summoned me. You have probably never seen a Mage like me. It will be a good experience.”
Seureung.
The Red Mage drew a sword from his right hip.
(T/N: Don’t know why he’s a red mage all of a sudden but 붉은 (bukda, “red”))
On one hand, he was holding a peculiar curved blade glowing with a blue sheen, while the other held a wand. It was a weird sight, creating a strange cognitive dissonance—a Mage wielding a sword.
“Haste-.”
He briefly chanted. I recognized it as a Rank 3 spell which could make the body lighter.
Sasak-.
And as if to prove my point, Kasim swiftly approached me like the wind. I hadn’t even thought that a Mage could move that fast!
“What-.”
“My friend is probably thinking, ‘For a Mage, he’s fast-“
Shh-. Soon, the blade in his left hand swept vigorously from my right side to the back of my neck. All I could do was extend my mana shield forward and try to create distance.
Clink.
One of the mana shield’s petals shattered. But Kasim remained undeterred, as he continued to raise his sword, before forcefully chopping down.
“Will you block this too?”
“Heup-!”
I raised my arm to block the sword strike, and simultaneously, another petal shattered. Now, only three remained…
If I continued like this, I risked losing all my petal shields due to the one-sided attacks. So, I quickly backed up and put some distance between us.
But instead of pursuing, Kasim just aimed his golden wand at me.
“Creating distance. Good idea. But my friend, I’m a Mage. Is it okay to distance yourself from a Mage~?”
—Sand Icicles.
Seuseuseu.
Soon, the garden erupted, and sand and dirt coalesced into spikes on the ground. Long, round cones flew towards me with a tangible form and murderous intent.
Pyusyusyusyuk-.
Clink, clink.
“Sand exists everywhere in this world! So, my friend, what’s your plan? It’s quite different from dealing with the usual dungeon monsters, isn’t it~?”
Only then did I realize that this man’s fighting style was vastly different from the creatures I had faced before or the classical Mages I was familiar with.
Closing the distance meant risking my neck from his curved sword, while keeping a distance meant I’d get rained down by sand attacks.
“Ugh-.”
If the last remaining petal shield got broken, it’d be my defeat. How could I overcome this well-balanced Mage? Were there any weaknesses?
Then it struck me, both of his hands were equipped with weapons!
Edited by: faker
