As he operated his magic, four different exclamations of surprise reached his ears. They were probably surprised by his ability to construct a magic circle without drawing it first, much as Felmenia had been.
“Alchemy…” muttered Enmarph, the mage.
It seemed that he understood what Suimei was about to do. Under the direction of the light emitted by the magic circle, the mercury pulled and drew itself upward like so much clay, before finally landing in Suimei’s hands in the shape of a sword.
“—This is my weapon.”
Sure enough, this had answered Lefille’s question. Suimei then focused, readying himself for the battle ahead. There was no room for retreat here. With his gloved hands, Suimei took up his sword of quicksilver and shifted into a combat stance, meeting Raikas’ doubting eyes.
“…Hey you. Weren’t you a mage?”
“You saw my magic just now and you still don’t believe?”
“Because you’re a mage holding a sword. …Actually, do you even know how to use that thing?”
Raikas’ question reminded him that Felmenia had wondered the same thing. It seemed like the idea of a magician warrior was unheard of in this world. Their “common sense” reminded him of a game or a story almost, where magicians took up positions in the rearguard and warriors served as the vanguard. Then again, seeing as magic and close combat were two entirely different domains, it was probably natural to think that way—
“Well, I know a thing or two.”
“I see.”
Suimei smiled unworriedly at Raikas, who didn’t respond, seemingly fed up with talking. Seizing the opportunity, Dorothea raised her arm.
And then—
“Begin!”
At Dorothea’s command, the offensive began. Raikas’ first attack was easy to follow. Racing forward, he slashed diagonally at Suimei.
Suimei mirrored his action.
“Ha—”
Snorting in laughter, Raikas couldn’t see anything special about Suimei’s attack. The difference in their arm strength could be seen with a glance, just looking at their relative arm sizes would tell you as much.
Suimei could read from Raikas’ cold smile that he believed he’d obtained victory, but the final result was something that only he had foreseen. Just as their swords were about to cross, Suimei sidestepped to the left, let the strength go out of his arms, and allowed his sword to follow Raikas’ backwards. Seizing the opening thus created, he spun a full circle and from his new position, to the southeast of where he was originally standing, he slashed at his opponent once more.
“Wha?!”
Raikas’ reaction was a moment too late, and he lost his opportunity to correct his stance, instead being forced by the momentum of both his body and his sword to stagger forward.
What had just happened was completely unexpected. It had been a marvelous technique which specifically targeted an opponent’s attack and destroyed their balance, causing their attack to fail.
This move turned things around completely. Suimei didn’t let the opportunity go to waste. With a flip, he unleashed an attack at Raikas’ defenseless back. Raikas, on the other hand, was slow to react. He seemed to regret the price for his carelessness. Suimei, however, realized that he would not have the opportunity to finish his opponent.
That was because there was still someone glaring at him from behind, like a predator eying its prey.
“—O wind. Focus thy eternal power which crushes all before thee. Unleash thy wrath upon mine foes! Wind Fist!”
“Secundum Excipio! (Second bulwark, local activation!)”
Abandoning his attack without the least hesitation, Suimei activated a defensive magic to stop the progress of the enormous gale blowing at him with all the force of a giant’s punch.
The magic he’d used had been the resplendent, golden fortress wall. It was a defensive technique which specialized in magic defense.
“Wha—!?”