Leo struggled to gather his thoughts and words, but eventually managed to form a mumbled rebuttal.
“Wait… Why now? How can we even switch bodies at this time of year in Elrand when we can’t use magic?”
“We can’t manifest new magic, that’s true,” Lena explained. “But magic that’s been in place will continue to work. That’s why we’re still switched, and the language restriction spell is ongoing.”
She added a quick clarification: “This is just a theory, but I believe that the body-switching spell keeps a trace of magic running to prevent our souls from reuniting with our original bodies. Until now, my focus was on counteracting this with more magic to reverse the switch. But if we deplete this magic with spirit power, it should naturally free our souls and return them to their bodies.”
“We don’t need to perform the body-switching spell again. Instead, we need to undo the original spell,” she continued. “This way, even without being able to cast new magic, it should work.”
“I have an idea on how to secure the necessary spirit power,” she said, glancing briefly at Bruno.
Leo rubbed his forehead, trying to comprehend Lena’s plan.
“Okay, but how do we drain the magic? Even when I was wearing a magic-suppressing bracelet, it was pretty tough. This could be even more dangerous, couldn’t it?”
He remembered Albert’s struggle with magic suppression. Albert had looked quite unwell, and the marquis had mentioned how even his life might be in danger.
Would Lena really be able to handle this? If she returned to her body after being completely drained of magic, she’d be in grave danger.
“This is a risky world. Everything comes with risks,” Lena retorted.
“But why take the risk on yourself?”
“You can’t use magic effectively anyway, so there’s no point in you being here. I’m much better suited for this situation. I can use my intelligence to find a way out.”
“But why should you be the one to take the risk? I’m the one who got caught, so I should pay the price,” Leo argued.
Lena considered his words. “Even if we use spirit power, we must define the magic we’re trying to eliminate. For that, we need the crystal to connect us. It’s probably reaching its limit, so—”
“Lena!”
“Stop interrupting me!” Lena shouted back, her voice loud and angry.
Her freckled cheeks flushed red, and she glared at him.
“Do you even realize how serious this is? We’re in life-or-death danger! We’re going to die, all because of this body-switching spell!”
Her desperation and fear struck Leo. He had never seen Lena look this vulnerable.
She continued, her voice intense. “You may have made things worse, but I started all of this by switching bodies so carelessly. It’s my responsibility to fix this. I will fix this situation!”
Lena’s words were passionate and driven, yet Leo wasn’t convinced.
“Why should you bear the burden of my mistakes?” he asked.
Lena tried to explain. “We need to focus on dissolving the magic spell. This crystal connects us, but it may be at its limit soon.”
“Lena!” Leo shouted again.
“Be quiet!” she snapped.
“Stop talking like you’re helpless! Do you even know how dangerous this is? We’re about to die because of this spell!”
Leo noticed Lena’s determination. She seemed ready to take on the world to set things right.
“Lena, you…”
Leo couldn’t help but admire her courage.
“You may be a fool,” he finally said, his tone serious.
“What!?” she exclaimed.
“You’re brilliant, but you always assume you’re right.”
Leo nodded to himself. “You switched bodies with a bug to avoid a nobleman. Now you’re about to risk your life to undo this mess.”
“All these risky moves just to help a poor orphan,” Leo mused. “You’re crazy.”
But it opened his eyes to what needed to be done.
“If the only way to fix this is to switch bodies again, I shouldn’t ask for your help,” he concluded.
“Lena, what’s going on—”
“I don’t need your help,” Leo said. “This communication isn’t helping.”
“Leo! What are you talking about—”
“I don’t want you to use the crystal again,” he warned.
Lena was alarmed. “Leo! What are you—”
Leo ended the conversation abruptly. He watched the crystal in his hand melt away and disappear.
Then he looked up.
“Is this the girl we’re supposed to kill?”
“Seems like it.”
“Looks like a child, not a woman.”
The door Arill Ad had used to leave opened up again.
***
In the heavy stone doorway that creaked open, several men began to file in. Judging from their intonation, they seemed to be residents of the slums. All of them were shirtless, wearing black hoods with eye holes cut out, obscuring their faces for concealment.
“… Haha.”
It was a scene straight out of a picture of utter hopelessness. Leo, half-upright on the altar, forced a stiff smile.
“Leo…?! Leo! No, what happened to him…?”
Lena screamed in panic as Leo’s image suddenly vanished from the crystal.
“Crystal! Replay! Show me the current state of Leonora von Hakenberg! Crystal! Replay now…!”
She chanted spells, her usual composure slipping and her throat burning. Nevertheless, Lena continued chanting frantically, clawing at her throat, but the crystal merely emitted a faint glow, failing to display the image of her target.
“Leo…!”
Her pale scream was followed by silence. Lena pressed her lifted hand to her forehead, feeling dizzy.
What had he said?
He wouldn’t allow the death of the girl.
If you hate men, don’t replay the crystal—
“Why would he say such a thing…!”
A hero protecting a girl was out of character for him. He was supposed to be a naive trouble magnet, a miser without a sense of danger. Lena’s mind reeled with these thoughts.
Bruno had been right. Leo didn’t believe in unconditional love. In fact, he didn’t consider himself worthy of being loved by others. He didn’t think his life was worth being exchanged for her’s.
So, at times like this, he was willing to throw away his life.
“Not funny…!”
Lena’s emotions surged, and she nearly cried. In that instant, she regretted every decision she had made.
They shouldn’t have switched bodies.
One’s life should not be tampered with recklessly or thoughtlessly. Not because of potential personal harm, but because their dignity should be protected. She should have immediately tried to reverse the switch.
“Spirits…!”
Lena prayed to the spirits with a genuine heart for the first time in her life.
She would apologize, make amends, do anything to prevent him from dying in her place.
Bruno, standing beside her, was still frozen with a pale face. His black eyes were wide open, rigid, and he seemed to be desperately trying to reject the situation.
“Leo! Bruno!”
A voice cut through the sound of rustling grass as Kai’s voice called out.
He approached, panting, “This is the place, then…!” he told the two with a sense of urgency.
“What happened? Did the spirits give you any clues?!”
“…”
No words came to mind.
Lena stood in a daze as Kai’s expression darkened with disappointment, but he quickly regained his focus.
“We decided to split into two groups based on everyone’s discussion. Master Albert and Lord Oscar will split up. Horses are faster than carriages, so each will take one horse.”
Fortunately, the horses used to pull the carriage were also trained for riding. Albert would ride one horse to Eland, while Oscar would take the other back to Weitz, reporting the situation to the emperor with Snowsong.
“Kai, the coachman, and I will wait for dawn and then head down the mountain to Elrand. Will you follow?”
Kai explained briskly as Lena watched him blankly, her mind racing.
(Think… think…)
How could she save Leo?
What was the best course of action here?
(With no horse-riding skills, the fastest option is to trust Prince Albert with the journey to Elrand. But he doesn’t know where Leo is being held.)
Lena could know the location.
By replaying the crystal.
With determination, Lena spoke up.
“Kai. Albert… I mean, Prince Albert is still around, isn’t he?”
“Uh, yes… he was watering the horses… ‘Prince Albert’…?”
Kai stared at her in shock. Lena nodded firmly.
“I need to talk to him.”
By replaying the moment when Leonora von Hakenberg was abducted, the truth could come out, perhaps exposing the switching of identities. This could complicate their escape.
However, the chances of saving Leo’s life would increase.
“I have crucial information in my possession.”
Lena thrust out her hand with the crystal towards Kai, leaving no room for doubt.
I’m glad someone finally picked up this novel.
You’re the hero we needed 🫡