Closing Act: Flying Broom
Chapter 24: Girl, Fights
HOT winds dashed through the prairie as mana spun around Nichika, drawing a circle of fire as it followed her outstretched hand. Snapping her eyes open, she swung her hand straight down from over her head.
“Swirl into the skies, O tempest! FIRE STORM!” she shouted, unleashing the gates to hellfire. Panic-stricken monsters stampeded away from the blast as fast as they could. Once the flames had abated, Wolfie jumped out of hiding.
“That was so awesome, Nichika! I didn’t know you could use magic attacks like that.”
Yet, despite the awesomeness of the attack she’d let loose, Nichika sunk to her knees in the coarse grass. “I can’t take it anymore! Why do I have to be the one fighting these battles now?!” she whined.
Oswald came out of hiding next, taking down notes. “Don’t be absurd. It’d be a complete waste not to use your magic when you have full control over fire.”
“But I’m terrified! I’m on pins and needles thinking I might get bit by something!”
Unfortunately for Nichika, her display of shooting off a fire arrow at Lolo Village made Oswald consider her as a splendid addition to his fighting forces. Battles from then on unfolded with Nichika fighting on the frontlines as Oswald issued directions from the safety of cover—the complete opposite of the usual male-female combat roles.
“Monsters left us completely alone until now. Why are they coming after us all of a sudden?!” Nichika fumed.
Their group had departed from Lolo Village and traveled from the north to the east. Compared to before, their current journey on the road had taken a rather violent turn. Black beasts akin to huge dogs attacked them in succession.
Several more beasts appeared while they were bickering and ran with their tails between their legs from her tiny fireballs. The monsters were being recklessly aggressive.
“Before now, I was just keeping the monsters and enemies away with my Witch’s Items.”
“Then let’s use those! I can’t keep this up mentally! Eeek!”
Wolfie body slammed one of the black beasts that had snuck right behind Nichika, knocking it away. He skillfully landed on the ground, worriedly glancing back at her.
“You okay, Nichika?”
“I’ll die. I’m gonna dieeeeeeeee!” She wanted to bury her face in her hands and cry, but she didn’t even have the time for that. Jumping backward to evade an attack aimed at her jugular, she clumsily fell.
All the while, unhelpful commands to action were coming from behind in shouts of, “Fight! Take ‘em down! We’ll be in a real pinch when that dire moment comes, and we need your abilities if you can’t get used to the battlefield!”
“I’d like to hear YOU say that from the frontlines, you JEEEEERK!”
✦ ✦ ✦
AT last, the wave of monsters left the area, and tranquility returned to the prairie. Emotionally exhausted, Nichika fell back on the grass and kicked her legs in the air.
“I’m so doneeeeee!”
“Good job! Good job! You were so cool! I was spellbound watching you!” Wolfie openly praised her without even an ounce of fatigue weighing on his lithe frame.
Envying his stamina, Nichika pulled out her water bottle. “I don’t think I killed them, but I wonder if I overdid my attacks…”
The prairie’s coarse grass had been cut short as if she had run it over with a lawnmower. Her attacks made it look like a clearing had been specially made just around her.
“I see. So this is what we get when balancing the output. Okay, time to go,” Oswald said heartlessly, closing the booklet he was recording her attack patterns in.
Nichika rolled her eyes and groaned, “Already?! Let’s rest a little longer!”
“Don’t get exhausted over such light work.”
She jumped to her feet at his hypocrisy, objecting, “I don’t want to hear that from the guy who was watching from the safety of a tree behind me the entire time!”
Wolfie plopped his butt down beside her and started fishing through the rucksack on his back with his teeth. “I agree with Nichika! It’s time for lunch, Master!”
“What am I gonna do with you two?” Oswald sighed, giving in to sit down with them. Their lunch for the day consisted of food from the flower festival’s feast the people of Lolo Village had shared with them.
“Anyway…mmph…where are we headed?” Nichika asked through a mouth full of cheese and ham sandwiched between rye bread.
Oswald made an unusual frown as he chewed on an identical sandwich. “I’m thinking of going to Elminage.”
“Elmi—what?”
“I know! I know! Isn’t that the academy you attended, Master?”
Surprised, Nichika put down her sandwich. “Academy? Like a witch academy?”
“It’s not just for witches. They also train wizards. I want to investigate something there.”
“B-But…”
Wasn’t the Witch’s Council after him? Memories of being hunted by the flock of witches when they had visited the first town were still fresh in her mind. Oswald must’ve glimpsed the worry in her expression, because the muscles in his face tightened as he reassured her, “Don’t worry about it. Nobody will know if I disguise myself.”
“Can the problem really be solved that easily…?”
They finished their lunch and resumed walking, doubts about his plan still lingering in Nichika’s mind.