Around three in the afternoon, class ended. As students began leaving—some heading back to the dormitory, others to the square to rest—Sora and Louise were about to leave when a blond-haired boy approached. He carried a bouquet of red roses and had an air of arrogance about him.
"Um… Louise's familiar? Showing off today, are we?" he said, standing in front of Sora with a scowl.
Sora glanced at him, sneered, and said, "I told you my name this morning. Maybe you have bad ears—or a bad brain. You're such a sissy."
"What—what? A commoner curse?" Kixiu sputtered, clearly offended.
Sora smiled. "A sissy is a boy who imitates a girl, holds flowers, and speaks in a soft voice. Do you think that describes you?"
"I—I'm a magician, you blind commoner!" Kixiu waved the rose angrily.
"Girls don't even know how to use that wand properly, sissy," Sora shot back, pointing at Louise's wooden wand.
"Ah! You—you're humiliating me, humiliating me, Kixiu de Guramont! I—I want to fight you!" Kixiu's face flushed red with anger.
Sora narrowed his eyes, fixing Kixiu with a stare. The boy shivered as if a venomous snake had wrapped around him.
"Louise, what's this duel about?" Sora asked behind him.
"It's a battle where magicians compete to settle disputes. The winner can take money, weapons, or other bets. But it's rare for magicians to duel with civilians," Louise explained.
"I see. Chuluk, how strong is Kixiu?" Sora asked.
Chuluk smiled with interest. "Well, he's almost a triangle-level magician for his age. That's quite impressive."
The students around them were amazed. A teenager at triangle-level is considered a genius. If Kixiu is that strong, Chuluk, who can analyze him, must be even more powerful.
Kixiu, overhearing this, lifted his chin with pride. "So, if you don't dare duel me, the genius and elegant Kixiu, you just kowtow and apologize, commoner."
Sora sneered. "And if I win, will you kowtow and apologize to me, genius and elegant Kixiu?"
"Hmph! How could I lose to a commoner?" Kixiu said, puffing up with arrogance. The onlookers nodded, confident a magician could never be defeated by a civilian.
Louise looked worried. "How can a commoner beat a magician? Sora, don't be impulsive—please apologize."
Seeing Sora remain unmoved, she leapt forward. "Kixiu, I'll—"
Sora grabbed her and covered her mouth. "Don't apologize for me. He came here first and started the trouble. Understand? No apologies, no admitting defeat."
"Y-Yes," Louise nodded reluctantly.
Kixiu sneered. "Civilian, if I lose, I'll pay you a hundred gold coins. If you lose, you kowtow and apologize."
Sora shrugged. "You think in terms of money too? Fine, I accept."
Kixiu's eyes lit up. "Good. I'll wait for you at Westley Square." He turned and strutted away triumphantly, followed by a worried girl.
Chuluk turned to Sora. "Do you think you can beat Kixiu?"
Louise glanced over anxiously as well.
Sora smiled confidently. "Certainly. But I need a sword—I practiced swordsmanship in my world."
"A sword? This is the Academy of Magic. We don't have swords," Louise said.
"Then I'll wait until I have one, or ask Kixiu to bring me one. Otherwise, I won't fight." Sora's tone was firm.
Everyone was speechless—he was shameless.
Tabasa, sitting behind Chuluk, suddenly spoke up. "Wind Dragon, Bazaar, sword."
Chuluk clapped his hands and translated. "Tabasa's Wind Dragon is very fast. She'll take you to the market nearby to buy a sword."
Sora raised an eyebrow. "Wind Dragon?"
"It's Tabasa's familiar. Very reliable," Chuluk explained.
Tabasa went to the window and whistled. A massive blue dragon, five or six times the size of a human, swooped down and hovered outside.
Sora smiled slightly, staring at the dragon. A Dragon Knight… Every man dreams of having a dragon mount. I want one too.
"All right," Sora said.
"Here, take the money for the sword. I have two hundred gold coins for you," Chuluk said, handing him a purse.
"I have three hundred," Louise added, handing him hers and glaring at Chuluk. My familiar doesn't need to rely on your money to buy a sword.
Chuluk and Louise exchanged a faint glare, but Sora just smiled, enjoying the tension.
Tabasa then guided Sora to the window. Her hand was cold, small, and soft when he took it. Her face instantly turned crimson.
Sora jumped onto the dragon's back, wrapping his arms around it nervously. Tabasa leaned close to the dragon's head and whispered a few words.
"Go on, spin, Bazaar."
The Wind Dragon flapped its massive wings and shot into the distance.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" Sora's scream faded as the dragon soared higher, his stomach churning.
Kixiu, in the square, spotted the dragon and shouted, "What are you doing, civilian? Trying to run away?"
The dragon performed a few elegant maneuvers before leveling out. Sora, gripping the dragon tightly, grimaced in discomfort.
Tabasa smiled faintly, pleased that her little prank had worked.
Together, they flew toward the nearest market.