“How could it be bad?” Hilxi smiled lightly, then set the potion aside.
“But there’s still time now, Monica-san. I’ve recently taken an interest in a certain magic, though there’s a lot I don’t understand.”
“What magic?”
“I won’t tell you just yet. Guide me a bit~”
“Hmm.”
Time passed quickly with magical practice.
The light outside the window grew dimmer and dimmer.
After successfully overcoming a difficult hurdle, Hilxi said goodbye to Monica and headed toward the Association Branch.
It was dusk, and people hurried along the streets.
Dressed in black, Hilxi flew on her broomstick.
The biting wind made her think about creating a potion that could keep someone warm all the time after drinking it.
As she pondered what ingredients to use for the potion, she arrived at the Association.
However, she didn’t enter directly but circled nearby.
Not far away, in an open space, she noticed the glow of magic.
“Saya-san is still in training, huh? Yeah, it should be ending around this time.”
The broomstick turned, and soon Hilxi hovered above the clearing, where she saw Sheila fiercely beating up Saya.
Hmm… the scene was quite brutal.
Wait, does “training” mean getting beaten up?
A gust of wind caused by magic swept through, instantly messing up Hilxi’s hair.
On the ground, Sheila took a drag of her cigarette, then concentrated wind magic through her wand, creating something like an Air Cannon, which she fired straight at Saya!
The roaring sound of the magic echoed all the way to Hilxi above, proving the attack’s considerable power.
Her gaze shifted to the seemingly fragile Saya.
Facing the incoming Air Cannon, Saya countered with her own magic, but to no avail—the Air Cannon completely neutralized her attack.
The air currents lifted her black hair as Saya took a defensive stance, gathering her magical power before her, preparing to resist head-on.
“It’s over.” Sheila put away her wand, took another drag, and exhaled a swirl of white smoke.
Swish, swish!
At that moment, several Wind Blades fell rapidly from the sky, slicing the Air Cannon to pieces in the blink of an eye, gouging deep cracks in the ground as soil scattered.
A figure slowly descended.
“Sheila-sensei, aren’t you going a bit too far?”
“Tch, what are you suddenly butting in for?” Sheila frowned sharply upon seeing who it was.
“Hilxi-san?” Once the attack subsided, Saya looked up at Hilxi, her eyes lighting up suddenly.
Phew… that was close. She almost got knocked out.
“Not hurt, right?” Hilxi landed from her broomstick and gave her a few glances.
Saya’s robes were covered in dust and grass, and her footing was unsteady, but she shook her head.
“I’m fine.”
“Hey, Hilxi! Don’t interrupt our training!” Sheila shouted, summoning her wand again.
“Isn’t training over?” Hilxi shrugged. “I just heard you say it ended…”
“Training extended!”
“Ah? Look at Saya—she’s already in rough shape. If you keep going, it’s abuse, isn’t it?”
Helpless, Hilxi stepped forward a few paces and stood in front of Saya, frowning slightly.
Though it felt like meddling, she couldn’t stand watching.
“This is nothing! Training doesn’t end until you fall! Hey, step aside, or don’t blame me if I take you both down!” Sheila’s golden hair flew as she shouted, her wand glowing dangerously once more.
“Hmph? There aren’t many chances to fight a witch. Fine, then let’s go!” Hilxi grinned, instantly readying herself for battle.
Sheila had been training with Saya for a long time.
Their magic and stamina must be drained, so she probably wasn’t at full strength.
She might be beatable… Hilxi thought so, ignoring Sheila’s warning and striking first.
Wind Magic: Wind Blade!
Several sharp Wind Blades suddenly flew out, rippling the air along their path.
Sheila’s expression darkened, and she dodged sideways.
“You brat! You actually dared to attack. Fine, I’ll teach you a lesson!”
Suddenly, Sheila leapt aside, and the ground where she had stood softened and sank.
Earth Magic…
Sheila’s eyes grew serious as she quickly tracked Hilxi’s movements.
Then she saw a white light at the tip of Hilxi’s wand, which spewed out a bright white snake!
Lightning Magic, extremely fast in attack… Sheila instantly formed a defense with magic, blocking the strike with a loud impact, staggering back two meters.
“Hit,” Hilxi said, her gaze sharp.
The lightning dispersed as an expanding Fireball suddenly shot forward, the intense heat distorting the air.
Hilxi reacted quickly, immediately using Water Magic to absorb the fireball.
The hissing sound of water meeting fire echoed, creating a faint white mist.
Wind Magic: Tornado!
Hilxi’s robes fluttered as she aimed at Sheila’s position.
A roaring gale swiftly gathered and spun, forming a sandy-colored tornado!
Wild grass bent wildly, trees swayed, and clouds of dust billowed.
“Didn’t expect you to be this capable.”
Sheila was lifted into the air by the tornado but remained calm.
She flicked her wand, and a dazzling, glowing broomstick appeared, pulling her out of the tornado’s reach.
“Is that all, Sheila-sensei?” Hilxi summoned her own broomstick, stepping on to give chase.
“Tch, are you provoking me?”
Sheila angrily hurled several fiery spears forged from flames, but Hilxi dodged them easily with a few broomstick maneuvers.
“Oh dear, your aim is terrible~ Sheila-sensei’s attacks can’t even hit me~” Hilxi laughed, launching a mental assault.
“…Are you asking for a beating?” Losing her patience, Sheila flew directly at Hilxi, who raised her wand and drew a circle.
The circle suddenly expanded several times, intending to block Sheila’s fury.
But in the next moment, Sheila used her wand’s glow to mislead Hilxi, steering her broomstick around the circle and chasing Hilxi instead.
“…Huh?” Hilxi was confused.
As Sheila closed in, Hilxi realized her plan.
She wants to get up close and personal?
“Take my punch first!”
That was it.
Pressing her palm down, Hilxi changed from sitting to standing on the broomstick, secretly accelerating it toward Sheila.
Who says I’m not a close-combat mage?
Then Hilxi got brutally punched! She had intended to dodge but was surprised by her own slow reaction…
Though at the crucial moment, she used Wind Magic to blast Sheila back, resulting in a stalemate.
“Phew! That felt great!” Sheila, who had punched Hilxi, felt refreshed as if she’d smoked five cigarettes in one breath, waving her hand with a smile. “Well, that’s enough training for today!”
“…”
Suspended in midair, Hilxi touched her face but said nothing.
Actually, she had deliberately let herself get hit; otherwise, this farce wouldn’t end easily.
Even if she won against Sheila-sensei, it would only harm their relationship.
Yeah, that’s it.
It wasn’t that she failed to dodge.
Watching Sheila fly away on her broomstick, which strangely sounded like it had an engine, Hilxi landed and went over to Saya.
“Hilxi-san, your face…” Saya pointed at Hilxi’s cheek, which was visibly red and swollen.
“A minor injury.”
After casting Purification Magic and Healing Magic on herself, Hilxi’s appearance quickly returned to form.
“Geez, but Sheila-sensei sure hits hard…”
Though recovered, Hilxi still felt occasional sharp pain, causing a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth.
“Thanks for earlier,” Saya said, lowering her head as she recalled Hilxi’s initial intervention.
“You’re welcome.” But rather than just words, Hilxi went on to pat the dust off Saya’s robes.
Grass and dirt fell away as Hilxi and Saya began walking.
“Is your training always like this? Just getting beaten up?”
“Not exactly. Sheila-sensei also teaches me magic, knowledge related to magic, or potions. But after reaching a certain level, we need a practical test to verify our progress. I don’t mind it,” Saya explained as they walked.
“That’s tough.”
Hilxi sympathized. Just as she was about to summon her broomstick, she noticed Saya walking too and asked,
“Saya-san, aren’t you riding your broomstick?”
“My magic is almost gone…”
“So what? Here, I’ll give you a ride.” Hilxi smiled, summoning her broomstick and sitting on it first.
“I’ve ridden with someone before, don’t worry—you won’t fall off.”
“Hilxi-san…” Seeing such a gentle Hilxi, Saya’s eyes shimmered as if lights were swirling within.
Wiping away tears, she quickly sat behind Hilxi on the broomstick.
The gentle trap really works. If I do this a few more times, Saya probably won’t refuse to buy my useless potion anymore.
Maybe selling it for one gold coin isn’t impossible after all… Hilxi silently calculated, her smile growing wider as she took off on the broomstick.
“Hold on tight, I’m going to… cough! Uh, grab my shoulders, grab my shoulders… Don’t hug me—it’ll affect the flight.”
“No way, I want to hug Hilxi-san~”
“…”
I have to sell at least two gold coins, or this feels like a bad deal.