Mage Marygold (8)
One-on-one duels between knights and mages were rare.
Unlike knights, who would clash swords at the slightest boredom, mages couldn't see the point in risking injury by throwing themselves into close combat.
"Mage, let's test our knightly honor!"
"Why fight? What do I get out of it?"
That was exactly why such matchups were so uncommon. Even Lancel, hardened by countless knight-against-knight bouts, hadn't dueled mages all that often. Whenever he'd drawn steel against one, it had usually been in war or a hunt. Finding a mage willing to spar for practice was just too damn hard.
But this was the academy. Cadets here did what they had to.
"My name is Angel Gord. Under my master's tutelage, I've undergone ten years of rigorous training and research, graduating this year in 2nd Rank magic and preparing to advance to 3rd Rank..."
"Too much talk!"
"Hey, we haven't even started yet...!"
As the knight charged in abruptly, the mage hurriedly traced a hand seal. Whoosh—a cold wind enveloped him, swiftly forming ice crystals.
"Don't underestimate me, knight! Taste the sting of icicle needles sharper than any pin!"
"Too late."
Before the ice could sharpen into deadly form, a kick landed first.
"Guhk!"
Lancel let out a hollow chuckle as the mage flew back from a single blow.
"Kek, kehek!"
Clutching his side where the vital point had been struck, he trembled. He'd underestimated a knight's physical prowess.
"Don't expect me to wait for your spell to finish. The moment I close in, it's over."
"Heh, this is too easy, isn't it, Professor Lancel?"
The knight who'd dispatched the mage with one hit cracked his neck arrogantly.
"Get cocky after you've actually won..."
The mages' eyes sharpened. A woman in a large hat pulled low stepped up next.
"Lynn Airy. 2nd Rank mage. I'll give it a go."
"Hold on, is that even allowed?"
The triumphant knight pointed at the female mage's hands. She'd already formed her hand seals before the duel began. Mana swirled around her, whipping her robes wildly. She was fully prepped to cast.
"Got a problem? What's the difference between drawing your sword first and this? Scared you'll lose?"
"You insolent commoner mage, who do you think you're—"
"No complaints? Then let's start."
Laura, watching from afar, raised her thumb in a circle.
"Mages need their prep time too. Approved."
"Exactly. Consider it a handicap."
"Tch."
With even Lancel chiming in, the knight clicked his tongue and raised his wooden sword.
"Begin."
The moment the command dropped, the mage gripped her wand.
"Air. Vibration. Raging wind."
Short incantation words spilled from her lips, unleashing a ferocious gust from the ground.
"Whoa!"
The knight lost balance mid-stride, briefly floating as if trapped in zero gravity, flailing in the air.
Seizing the moment, her wand pointed down.
"Slam."
The knight's body tilted, then crashed headfirst into the dirt under mana force.
Thud!
"Urgh!"
He rolled harshly several times, blood trickling from his nose.
"Yes!"
"Heh."
The mage smirked, forming new seals.
"How's that taste? I can do it again if you want."
"Pah! What kinda lame-ass spell is that?"
Spitting blood-mixed saliva, the knight glared with bloodshot eyes.
Lancel saw mana surging to the knight's feet.
'He's pissed.'
The female mage twirled her wand with a grin.
"Keep showboating, knight. Looks like your pride took a real hit from a commoner mage."
The next instant, explosive power burst from the knight's toes.
Boom—!
His heel gouged the earth. His form shot straight forward, wooden sword slicing a perfect line toward the mage.
"Huh?"
Only when the blade was inches away did the mage snap to.
"Kyaaak!"
She braced for impact, covering her face—but no pain came.
"Easy there, you trying to crack her skull?"
Lancel had deflected the thrust with his blade.
Stunned, the knight stared at his empty hand. His wooden sword lay rolling far away.
"D-did... did I win?"
"Yeah, you did. Mage Lynn Airy, defeated. Step back."
"M-my legs... feel weak..."
Her knees buckled; comrades dragged her off.
"Who's next?"
...
Four more mages followed, but the results were the same. None breached even one knight, felled by a punch, kick, or sword swing each.
"Is that all the magic department's got?!"
"Let me fight too!"
Easy victories bred leisure and laughter among the knights.
'Experience gap's still too wide, huh.'
Lancel gave a wry smile. The mages weren't weak. Wielding 2nd Rank or higher at such young ages proved elite talent. A bit of training, and they'd toy with average knights one-handed.
But that was for later.
"Cleaning... cleaning..."
"I can't, I can't, I..."
"Huuuh... aaaah...!"
Defeat loomed over the mages, visions of scrubbing knight dorms haunting them.
"Mary. 1st Rank mage."
And Marygold stepped up seventh.
"Finally!"
"Been waiting, Mary."
"Aw, that little squirt was supposed to be mine."
Cheers erupted from the knights.
'She's popular, Marygold.'
Amid the chants, her emerald eyes fixed solely on Lancel.
'...?'
Burning emerald gaze.
"A request, Professor Lancel."
"...What request?"
"If I beat all ten."
Her pupils gleamed fiercely, almost radiating light.
"You take the penalty too, Professor Lancel."
"...Huh?"
Lancel's jaw dropped.
"That cheeky brat!"
Knight cadets surged to their feet as one.
"How dare you speak to the professor like that!"
"Insulting Professor Lancel, our knightly idol, you lowly commoner!"
"Bow and apologize!"
'I'm their idol?'
News to him.
"Ahem. Quiet down."
Calming the heated knights, Lancel nodded to Marygold.
"If you beat all ten, I will."
"Thank you."
Lancel scratched his neck as she turned away, lips pursed.
'She's sulking?'
17.
"Mary, perfect timing—you broke the boredom."
Even as the wooden sword whistled through air, Marygold's face stayed eerily calm. She just kept glancing sidelong at Lancel.
"Don't go easy, show Mary a knight's power."
"No worries, Professor."
Each time Lancel encouraged the knight, her face twitched.
"......"
Soon, moist eyes stared at him.
She'd been keeping slight distance lately; maybe resentment had built.
'Don't take it personally, Marygold. I'm the knight department prof—gotta back my side.'
Ignoring her, Lancel raised his hand.
"Ready."
Tension coiled between Marygold and the knight.
"Begin."
The knight moved first, kicking off the ground in a rush toward her.
"Mary, gonna give you a lump the size of an egg!"
Two leaps closed the gap to sword's reach.
Marygold, though, ignored him. Eyes closed serenely, she focused mana.
"Hoo."
Then she dropped her wooden staff.
"...?"
Lancel's eyes narrowed. Her feet and staff floated up.
"Compress. Release."
Bang—!
Ears rang. A shockwave exploded from Marygold.
"Kuh!"
The knight reeled back several steps, struck full-force.
But Marygold continued.
"Compress. Release. Compress. Release. Compress. Release."
The blasts repeated six, seven, eight times.
Bang! Bang!
"Kuh!"
The knight's groans grew labored.
"1st Rank magic. Mana waves."
"That's some output for..."
Mages gaped. Gusts reached even distant watchers.
Marygold gripped her staff. A sphere formed at the tip, mana compressing relentlessly into it.
Rrrumble—!
Light, air, heat—all sucked in. Layer by layer, it hardened into a dense point.
Surroundings warped around the mana orb.
"Grrrraaah."
Her body shook uncontrollably, teeth chattering from vibration.
Mana's limit.
"Now!"
Eyes flashed open. Staff aimed at the knight.
"Go."
"...!"
Boom—!
The orb slammed down in a straight line.
"Damn...!"
A massive explosion erupted beside the desperately rolling knight.
Ruuuumble—!
Dust billowed. Dirt and sand rained down. A deep crater yawned in the grass, big enough for three people.
"Hah... huh?"
The knight, hand on chest, paled. Around Marygold spun an even larger mana sphere—five of them.
"Still more."
Through the dusty blast haze, her eyes glowed faintly.
"For corrupting Sir Lancel into a knight... accept your punishment!"
'What the hell?'
Lancel raised his wooden sword against the five incoming orbs. Her output was insanely strong. Even a trained knight would break if hit head-on.
"Mary, stop..."
But Laura's wand pointed first.
"Shield, protect the knight."
A lattice mana barrier enveloped him. The five orbs crashed into it.
BOOM BOOM—ear-splitting roars hammered the mind.
"Urgh!"
Post-blast, the ground fanned out in upheaval—save the knight's spot, preserved by Laura.
He slumped, spirit broken, looking hollow.
"That's... magic..."
Stiff voices from the knight cadets. Witnessing true high-rank magic snapped them awake.
Yeah. Rare on battlefields, but high-rank mages were powerhouses. Not to be trifled with by green knights.
'How strong does an archmage get?'
Lancel pondered. Even recalling his 3rd loop self, facing a fully realized Archmage Marygold felt uncertain. Could he win unscathed?
"Mary has talent."
A quiet admiration from beside him—the boy prince Aldebar of Lucia, who'd approached unnoticed.
"That output from mere 1st Rank... Mary might match or exceed me. With nurturing, who knows how far? Terrifying potential."
Match or exceed. Lancel swallowed a scoff.
Did Aldebar even know? Marygold was the world's one true archmage candidate. No one held greater potential. She could be anything.
'Marygold, you're definitely the protagonist.'
Lancel marveled at her talent surpassing his expectations.
"Mary wins!"
Laura's cheerful call. Mages cheered.
"Urk...!"
Marygold collapsed as she landed.
"Mary!"
"P-Professor! Mana depletion!"
"Quick, to the infirmary. Let her rest."
The match couldn't continue anyway—the training ground was a dirt mess from her spells.
"So, the bet?"
"Eh."
Lancel shrugged at Laura.
"7 to 1."
Magic department: judged loss.
...
That night.
"Marygold."
Lancel faced the full moon again. More precisely, the greatly grown Marygold beneath it.
-Lancel.
Bathed in moonlight, faint smile. The massive, one-horned Marygold.
-Hng...