Aldric sat down slowly.
He lifted the teacup in his hand and took a sip. I did the same.
A bitter aroma lingered at the tip of my nose.
After a long silence, he finally set his cup down and spoke.
“I assume you’ve realized why we engage in these duels, Evron. You must understand that it’s not just to pressure Cassian.”
I slowly nodded.
He was right. It wasn’t just about pressuring her.
They were too composed for that—too transparent in how they conducted these duels.
At first, I had assumed it was simply confidence.
But after spending time with the swordbearers, I had come to understand.
The duels were not meant to suppress Cassian.
On the contrary, they were meant to protect her.
Receiving the sponsor’s sword as compensation was both a warning and a lesson about the failures they had experienced.
It was ironic how such goodwill manifested in a way similar to how mages used their own means.
“Honestly, I was very surprised.”
He gave a bitter smile.
“I thought Cassian’s limit would be at the fifth duel. I expected her to falter there. But she didn’t. I suppose it’s thanks to your support.”
He tapped the desk and stared at me intently.
His face, now holding a faint smile, was softer than before.
Yet, there was a hint of hostility in his eyes.
I couldn’t discern the reason for it.
“Her body’s perfection is astonishing. I never imagined it would develop in this direction. Restricting magic and maximizing physical potential—I almost want to experience it myself.”
His voice remained quiet and polite, but I tensed.
I could see the hostility in his gaze growing ever so slowly.
“Yes, her body is nearly complete. But do you believe she has truly progressed? No. I don’t think so. Right now, she is merely an experiment controlled by your hands.”
“An experiment? I only wish the best for Cassian…”
He raised his palm, and the sharp magic radiating from it cut off my words.
“Unlike her body, her will has not developed at all. That’s why she has barely ascended in her abilities. Every duel she fights is merely following your commands. If she wins the final duel and decides to leave, will you let her go?”
I had no answer to that.
‘If I lied, he would surely see through it.’
Without waiting for my response, he continued speaking.
“The association exists to protect wayward talent. Just like you, mages find swordsmen convenient to use.”
He closed his eyes.
The air around us lightened slightly.
I felt a cold sweat trickling down my back.
He then lifted his teacup and took a sip.
“I don’t believe this is truly your will, Evron. Rather, it must be the influence of whatever is beside you. When a swordsman is tamed, they lose their path forward. I came here hoping you would understand that.”
I nodded silently.
These duels weren’t my concern.
That was why I had simply buried myself in research.
In that pursuit, I collected data and embedded it into Cassian’s body.
It was all to witness the finished product.
Unconsciously, I had been treating Cassian as nothing more than a component—my possession.
He was right. “Experiment” was the perfect term.
I had been conducting a test using her as my subject.
Finishing his tea, he stood up.
Looking down at me, he spoke again.
“Consider this. Letting her go and sending her to us might be what’s best for her. And I intend to stop you. I will be your opponent in the eighth duel.”
“Understood. Thank you for your words.”
I slowly nodded.
He turned and exited the room.
Watching his retreating figure, I mulled over his words.
‘Mira’s influence… perhaps he was right. ‘
‘Hearing those words made it feel as if we were the villains in this story.’
Lost in thought, I stared down at my teacup.
***
Soon after, Mira and Cassian returned, smiling at each other.
A bear doll followed behind them, arms full of something.
“Oh my, why do you look so gloomy?”
Mira asked as she glanced at my face.
I spoke quietly.
“Aldric was here.”
Then, I recounted everything he had said.
There was no reason to hide his attempts to manipulate me while treating Mira as some kind of monster.
I had a clear distinction between allies and enemies.
Right now, Mira and Cassian were my allies.
The others were enemies.
There was no reason to be swayed by the enemy and doubt my comrades.
Besides, what was wrong with treating Cassian as an experiment? She had agreed to it.
“That sounds like an interesting conversation. I should’ve stayed and listened.”
Mira chuckled.
Cassian, seemingly uninterested in the discussion, was playing with the bear doll.
I glanced at her.
This conversation was about her—’why was she so indifferent?’
“Well, he wasn’t entirely wrong. This body, I’ve trained it meticulously. But this child is more special than they think. Protecting her talent? How laughable.”
Mira wrapped an arm around Cassian’s shoulders, giggling.
Finally, Cassian turned to look at us.
“Since you’ve shared a secret, let me share one too. I’ve already discussed borrowing this body with her.”
I widened my eyes.
Mira smirked mischievously at my reaction.
“We agreed before we even set out. I refine her body, and in return, she lets me borrow it occasionally. In the tower, of course.”
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“Well, I needed to make sure you were fully committed. Just earning points wasn’t enough—I had to give you a compelling reason to come. I knew you’d act once you found the logic in it.”
I slowly processed her words.
‘If I had known this before we left, what would I have done? Maybe I would have done the opposite.’
‘I might have handed them a fake tree and stayed behind in the tower. That would have been enough.’
Mira and Cassian would have come alone and fought the duels by themselves.
“Did you anticipate this would happen?”
Everything that had unfolded was a result of their foresight.
‘Had they known about the sponsorships beforehand?’ Mira slightly shook her head.
“Not exactly. But this child had a bad feeling. She thought you would be needed. So we set things up accordingly. I cast the bait, and you made the choice.”
Mira mimicked casting a fishing line.
It lightly brushed my sleeve before dissipating into mist.
She grinned and patted Cassian’s head.
“You’re too passive, Evron. That makes you easy to read. That’s why people keep testing you—like that friend of yours who just visited.”
She let the mist dissolve back into her body.
She then chuckled as she ruffled Cassian’s hair.
“Cassian made a deal with me before all of this. Bringing us here, trusting me with her body—her instincts told her it would be beneficial.”
Cassian looked a little smug at that.
The bear doll clapped its hands enthusiastically.
Come to think of it, this thing had been in on it too.
It must have heard everything but had kept the secret well hidden.
I sighed.
Keeping this from me wasn’t a major loss.
It was just a simple trick to get me moving.
What struck me more was how easy I was to read.
That was the real shock.
***
“So, what’s your next step?” I asked. “As Mira said before, her body is reaching its limits.”
Mira tapped her chin thoughtfully.
“Hmm. There’s still room for more. They misunderstand something. They think she hasn’t grown, but she’s only been gathering strength for a leap forward.”
She smiled as she lightly tapped Cassian’s shoulder.
Cassian gazed at me seriously.
“They say I lack willpower? I disagree. My life depends on this sword. You’ve guided me this far—now it’s time for me to move forward.”
She stroked the sword at her waist.
Closing her eyes, the air around her subtly stilled, even without magic.
“How adorable.”
Mira playfully teased Cassian, causing her to recoil.
I sighed as I watched them.
Time passed. Duels continued. Data was collected. Cassian’s body became even more refined.
The sixth duel began.
Her opponent was a fourth-floor resident preparing for graduation.
Cassian won after sustaining wounds—her arm slashed, her leg half-split.
She looked at us and smiled faintly.
Her score: 100.