Return.

Chapter 7

Mithra: Certainly. Please shoot down this phantom of a cursed bird.

Mithra: <<Arthim>>!

Mitile: <<Ortonik Sealsispilce>>!

[Magic shines]

Mitile: …Yes! I did it!!

Mithra: What? Obviously, you can do it if you actually try.

Mithra: But why did you use that spell? Considering your mother's spell is much stronger....

Mitile: Um, Mister Mithra!

Mitile: I don't want to turn the Elder into stone. I don't want to eat him.

Mithra: Haah?

Mithra: Why are you being so difficult? Do you think you're on a roll after one meager success?

Mitile: I'm not on a… Well, I may be on a roll, but that has nothing to do with what I'm saying.

Mitile: My mother - the mother I always admired, who drove back a tornado, saved her city, and protected everyone - was a strong Southern witch.

Mitile: I also want to fight off the tornados that destroy our farms and threaten Doctor Figaro's clinic.

Mitile: I want to kill the coyotes and bears that attack Mister Leno's sheep.

Mitile: That's the kind of wizard I've been working so hard to become.

Mitile: But… Right now, if I killed the village Elder to eat his stone… I don't think I would be able to be that kind of wizard anymore.

Mithra: …

Mitile: So that's why…

Mithra: How naive.

Mitile: …Um…

Mithra: In the North, the twins have sustained their reputation of being "gentle". But that is only possible because they are powerful first, and that is what allows them the luxury of showing mercy to others.

Mithra: During the last battle with the <Great Calamity>, the Southern wizards all defended each other, but in the end, none of them were strong enough to save a single one.

Mithra: Without power, the "kindness" you aspire to is meaningless.

Mitile: …I know.

Mitile: Which is why… I'm going to endure your training and keep getting stronger.

Mithra: Did you not hear a thing I just said?

Mitile: I heard you! But eating mana stones can't be the only way to get stronger. 

Mitile: Even if I still have the same amount of magical power, haven't I already gotten stronger just by training with you?

Mitile: No matter how difficult it gets, I won't give up. So, please…!

Mithra: …It's completely unnecessary, when you can gain just as much strength by simply eating stones. Why would you use the troublesome method…

Mitile: …

Mithra: …

Mithra: Haah… I suppose it would be pointless for you to force yourself to use magic that is in conflict with your heart, anyway.

Mithra: I'll say it one more time. If you refuse to eat stones, your magic will never reach its full potential.

Mithra: That being said… For now, I'll let it pass. It will be a shame to miss out on that Elder's stone, though.

Mitile: …! T-Thank y…

Mithra: But, in exchange, your special training will be that much more strict.

Mithra: If you are too weak to completely eliminate an opponent, there is the possibility that they will return to attack you again later.

Mithra: If you do not wish to be turned to stone, please make sure that you are fully prepared to fight.

Mitile: Like I said, the fight with the Elder is just a simple contest of strength…

Mitile: But I'll do my best to win. I'm excited to train with you, Mister Mithra!

—

The time passed quickly leading up to the festival, and the day before Strongarm's Mettle was quickly upon us. I hadn't been back since we had first arrived to help.

I hadn't been able to show up for a while, but I wanted to come see Mitile and Mithra practicing.

Today, Mithra was also wearing a traditional costume. Chloe had insisted he wear it, since today was the last day of training before the festival.

The outfits had been custom-tailored by Chloe, and the strong, brightly-colored embroidery made for a very cool impression.

But even though they both looked handsome, I couldn't shake my lingering sense of unease.

Akira: (Last time I saw Mitile, he looked terribly pale… Is he doing alright?)

Akira: (The two of them have been training every day from early morning until late at night, so I didn't get to see them much at the Wizard's Center…)

Mitile: Master Sage, Mister Chloe, Mister Nero. I'm happy you all came to see our special training.

Mitile: I'm sorry I wasn't able to help with any festival preparations, or spend time with you and the others at the Wizard's Center. 

Chloe: Oh, don't worry about that! This is my first chance to watch you train properly, Mitile, so I'm really looking forward to it.

Nero: Mister Tailor here was holed up in a workshop on the other side of the village this whole time. But I guess I also only caught glimpses of you two when I was servin' up a meal. 

Akira: Mitile… Umm, how are you holding up…?

My voice trailed off into a mumble as I thought back to the other day - when Mitile was repeating "it's nothing", and clearly trying to hide that anything was wrong - and I gingerly watched his face.

But this time, Mitile's fists were clenched eagerly, his smile genuine and burning with ambition and fighting spirit.

Mitile: I still kind of feel like I'm missing something, just a little bit. But I'm almost there!

Mitile: Right, Mister Mithra?

Mithra: You are. But don't get carried away. When you get too worked up, you make mistakes.

Mitile: I - I know…!

Nero: Haha… Your training must be giving real good results if you're gettin' that excited over it.

Chloe: That first day seemed rough, but you've worked really hard, Mitile!

Mitile: I have!

Akira: (Thank goodness… I'm still not sure exactly what happened back then, but…)

Akira: (Mitile, you look much better.)

Mithra: …Alright.

Mithra deftly parted the layers of his jacket, and slowly stood up.

Mithra: Mitile. I will start with the lighter set.

Mithra: <<Arsim>>.

[Magic crashes]

Mitile: <<Scintilla>>!

[Magic shines, then clashes]

Mitile's magic formed a barrier against the blades of mud that flew towards him. At the same time, a skeleton lunged towards him to attack, and he summoned a gust of wind to help him leap out of the way.

As soon as he touched back down on the ground, he knocked the skeleton back with a small cluster of sparks, and turned to face Mithra again.

Chloe: Mitile, that's amazing! You're handling Mithra's magic perfectly…!

Nero: He's dodging around the things he can't directly counter with his magic. It wears ya out quickly, but it's a good strategy. I'm gonna have to make a proper, hearty dinner later.

Mithra: Oh, well done. Let's try something more difficult.

Mithra swept his finger upwards.

[Roar, bones and blades clattering]

Immediately, Mitile's brow furrowed with effort. The magic barrier cracked and shattered as it was struck by a blade of mud, and numerous skeletal hands grabbed at his ankles.

Mitile: Ugh… Augh…!!

Mithra: See? There you go again - all you do is rely on defense. Have you forgotten that you can't win with that?

Mitile: I didn't forget..! Agghh…!

Mithra: A fight is not over once you fall. It continues until there is only one survivor.

Nero: Uh, no it doesn't. It's a festival, man.

Chloe: Mitile, are you okay? You made a pretty nasty noise when you fell…

As we watched anxiously, Mitile suddenly tightened his grip on his medicine jar.

Mitile: …Ugh, <<Scintilla>>!

Akira: Ah…!

[Roar, bones and blades clattering]

For just a moment, the swarm of skeletons that had been reaching for him staggered and slowed. Mitile took the opportunity to scramble to his feet. 

With his eyebrows furrowed with determination, he set his stance towards Mithra, thrusting the medicine jar towards him.

Mitile: <<Scin -- >>

Mithra: Too slow.

Mitile: Waah!!