As her strike landed, I fell to my knees. But then I realized—it didn't hurt at all. Could it be that my spell actually worked? I looked up at Hawka, and she seemed just as shocked as I was. If she was surprised, then so was I. How did I manage to block that hit?
"Why are you using a wooden sword? Are you trying to provoke me? Why not use your blade?" she demanded, her eyes burning with questions.
I didn't know how to answer her. All I knew was that this was Ashweist's idea. Still, now that I understood her attacks couldn't break through my defense, I decided it was time to go on the offensive.
I rushed forward and struck at her, but my overconfidence betrayed me. With a swift movement, she knocked the wooden sword out of my grasp. Panic surged through me—I needed to retrieve it quickly. I darted toward the fallen weapon, but before I could reach it, Hawka appeared in front of me with lightning speed.
Her next strike tore through my shield completely, electricity searing into my body. I felt the sharp sting of her lightning and collapsed, my strength slipping away. Just as I was about to pass out, a voice echoed in my head.
"You're doing all right. Now, let me help you."
It was Ashweist's voice.
In that moment, my body began moving on its own, as though someone else had taken control.
***
Ashweist's perspective in Leora's body.
It seems like she's doing okay. But if she trained hard enough, I believe she could become a great sage. That thought can be put aside for now. As I grabbed the wooden sword, I woke up inside her body. Ugh… why doesn't she ever tie her hair?
I quickly tied it into a ponytail as I stood up. Much better.
"Oh, so you survived that strike. I guess the output wasn't strong enough to finish you off. But this time, you won't survive."
I swung the wooden sword lightly.
"How could she swing that wooden sword like that?"
"The wind can be felt even from here!"
"What's that failure Grey trying to pull this time?"
I could hear the crowd's voices echoing all around. They didn't even realize the true potential of the wooden sword. Don't worry—I'll show them its real strength.
I pointed the sword towards Hawka. At the same moment, she charged at me with the speed of lightning. But her attacks—I parried them all, one by one, with perfect timing, turning her offense into nothing.
And when she went for her final strike, I countered. After the parry, I struck only once. But that single blow carried such force that it landed like a heavy impact.
…Oops.
And just like that, Hawka ended up losing—to Leora.
***
Leora's perspective
As I came to my senses, I found myself standing while the crowd erupted into cheers. What was happening? I didn't know, but judging from the atmosphere, it seemed like I had won. Did that mean Hawka had lost? But how? I couldn't understand it. Still, before anything else, I needed to find him quickly.
"Ah, you're awake!" Ashweist said casually, munching on a pack of potato chips right in front of me.
"Huh? How could I win?" I asked curiously.
"You struck her very hard," Ashweist replied, looking away as if to dodge the question.
"Huh? How?" I pressed.
"Well, you won, right? How about celebrating it first?" Ashweist said, clearly trying to avoid giving me a proper answer.
"If you say so… Do you see my sister?" I asked.
"Oh, you mean her." Ashweist pointed toward the corner of the room.
I walked over to Hawka. When I reached her, she looked deeply saddened.
"About our deal—I'll settle it. You've been hiding your true talent all this time… for what reason, I don't know. Whether it was to avoid attention or to endure humiliation, I can't say. But I do know this—my sister is capable of more than you realize. And now, I see hope in you. You're no longer a failure." Hawka said softly.
For the first time in my life, one of my family members looked at me like this—with a bit of hope. No more judgmental eyes.
"So, you two made peace yet?" Ashweist came over and asked.
"Seems like it." I replied. I didn't know why, but tears started to roll down my cheeks.
"Hey, I'm hungry. Let's eat," Ashweist said.
"Ugh, why are you still hungry when you're already eating those chips?" I said. "...Fine, let's go." I added with a small smile.
Even though I didn't understand what had just happened, I believed he had changed me into someone better. Though… my pocket money was definitely going to be empty after this.
"You sure have a big appetite," Hawka said to Ashweist as we ate together.
Ashweist didn't answer—he was still busy chewing. Earlier, Hawka had reluctantly joined us, though it seemed she was more concerned about paying for Ashweist's endless food bill than enjoying the meal.
"Sorry, sister. He may look like this, but… he's kind. Perhaps," I said, glancing away awkwardly.
"Ugh… I don't know how you managed to summon a human as your familiar, but something about this guy feels off," Hawka whispered to me.
"Maybe that's just your imagination, sister. Don't overthink it. He's my familiar," I replied.
"Hm… fine, it's your problem. I won't interfere. But tell me, what is that wooden sword you used?"
"This? Oh…"
"I don't know, Ashweist gave it to me."
"If I'm not mistaken, the material of that wooden sword is usually used to craft magic staff. How could it end up as a wooden sword? Its quality is the same as a high-grade staff. That's why your magic was amplified so strongly, and why I couldn't break through your shield earlier."
"Huh? Really?" I asked, surprised.
"Yeah, it's one of my refined weapons," Ashweist said casually, still chewing with food in his mouth.
"Hey! At least swallow before you talk," I scolded him.
"Wait—you're saying that weapon was yours? Are you some legendary swordsman from another world?" Hawka guessed.
"No. Why would I be a swordsman?" Ashweist continued eating, unfazed.
"But you gave away a sword like it was nothing."
"Well, I don't need it. I'm stronger without using weapons anyway," he said flatly.
"Ah, I see. Actually, when I was about to be defeated, I sensed a different aura inside you. A powerful aura—something I've never felt before. It was as strong as a king's aura… no, even stronger. But it only appeared for a moment. I don't think that aura was yours," Hawka said, narrowing her eyes as if guessing.
"Oh, I—"
Before Ashweist could respond, I cut him off.
"Hm. Maybe it's just your imagination."
"I hope so. But still, be careful. Many people were at the arena hall that day. Who knows who might leak information about you to others," Hawka warned.
"Thanks for letting me know."
Though it was just a simple meal with my sister, it felt precious to me. For once, I was able to show people what I was capable of. Especially towards my family.
"Thanks, sis, for paying our tab," I said.
"It's nothing. But you should really control your appetite, Ash. Leora can't keep up with your food bill if you eat like this," Hawka scolded.
"It's okay, sis. I'll start cooking for us after this," I replied casually.
"Hm. If you say so. But remember my advice—be careful. Enemies could be anywhere."
I gave a small nod. Hawka soon excused herself and walked away, her words still echoing in my head.
Once she was gone, I turned sharply toward Ashweist.
"You need to explain everything to me," I said, my tone edged with curiosity.
Later, back in my room at the academy—thankfully a solo room, giving us privacy—I finally confronted him about his secret.
"What exactly do you want to know?" he asked, leaning back as if this was all too trivial for him.
"How could I win? How did I manage to stand against someone like Hawka?"
"I used a spell on you," he said bluntly.
"Huh!? What kind of spell?"
"Well… some kind of possession spell. Don't worry, I only took over your body for a few seconds."
My eyes widened. "You possessed me? How could you even do that? You possessed your own master."
"Well, didn't I say I would intervene if things went wrong?" Ashweist said calmly, folding his arms as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"I know that," I replied, narrowing my eyes, "but I didn't think you would go so far as to possess me."
"Ah, it's nothing big, actually." He shrugged, his tone casual—like it was normal to just take over someone's body.
I clenched my fists. "Please… don't ever possess me—or anyone else—again."
He tilted his head, curious. "Okay, fine. But why?"
"If you possess me, then you'll end up knowing things I'd rather keep private."
Ashweist chuckled lightly, waving a hand dismissively. "Oh, don't worry about that. I'm not interested in children."
My eyes widened in shock. "H-Huh!? Children? You mean… me?"
"Yeah, who else could it be?" he said with a smirk.
I frowned, still stunned. "Then… how old were you when you were sealed?"
"Hmm… maybe around my early twenties. Supposedly." His gaze turned distant for a moment, as if recalling faint memories.
"So young…" I muttered under my breath. "I didn't know you were still so young when you became the forbidden one."
He grinned proudly. "Hah! I know, right? Please, praise me more."
I rolled my eyes. "Do you at least know a spell that could make me stronger?"
Ashweist leaned forward slightly, his smirk growing sharper. "I am the legendary Elementalist, after all. There isn't a spell in this world that I don't know."
"Then tell me!" I pressed eagerly.
But his smirk faded into a firm look. "No. I don't want to tell you. Strength isn't something you just receive—it's something you earn. That's why the possession spell is useful for you. You're weak now, but when I possess you, your body learns. Skills, instincts, even reflexes. You'll grow faster that way. That's why… I'll keep possessing you. To make sure you can defend yourself."
"Ugh…! Please don't…" I groaned, sinking into my chair.
And from that day forward, I lived with the uneasy truth—sharing my body with the one who vowed to keep possessing me.