" ouch."

The man in front of me slowly stood up, his voice low.

"You're no match for a child," the man behind him says in a voice that is not quite the same as the one before.”

"You should try it."

　The man in front of him slowly lifted his wand.

"Now what can I do for you?"

　Almark tried to move his body, but he could not move even a finger. He could barely move his eyes.

"What the hell is this kid anyway?"

　The man behind him said.

"I don't know."

The man in front of Almark shook his head.

'He just jumped in out of nowhere."

The smell of rot.

　Every time the two men opened their mouths, the smell of rottenness wafted through the air.

After a somewhat stilted conversation, the man in front of him came to a conclusion:

"You want me to kill him?

"That would be better."

　The man behind him nodded easily.

The man behind him nodded easily. Just take him out quietly.

"I'll do it."

The man in front of him held out his wand.

"I'm the one who's been hit,"

"Do what you want."

　The man behind him slips past Armark into the center of the room.

"We have work to do, and we have to do it fast."

"I don't need to be reminded of it,"

With a snort, the first man points his wand at Almark.

There is a shock.

　Almark's body, which was unable to move, was hit by a strong pressure.

　It came from all directions.

The pressure was placed on Almark's entire body, as if he was being crushed by a piece of cardboard.

　The pain was so intense that he screamed out, but he could not even raise his voice.

　His body creaks and creaks.

"You're in my way. I hate you, boy."

The man laughs, holding up his wand and saying, "That's a nice touch.

"You're going to die".

　Almark struggled desperately to move his body in the midst of the terrible pain that made him feel as if he were about to lose consciousness.

　(Move.)

　However, his body still did not move at all.

　On the contrary, the pressure was getting stronger and stronger.

　Here, in a place like this.

　Blood poured out of Armark's nose, ears, and eyes.

(Is this where I'm going to be killed by this unknown person?)

(Is this where it's going to all end?)

"Ho. You're surprisingly tough. You have a hardy body."

　The man laughs.

　(This can't end. like this )

　Almark reminded himself.

　(Move.)

(　Dad.)

　(Mom.)

　(Wendy.)

Almark called the names of those dear to him.

　(I can't die here .)

　But in spite of his desperate resistance, his consciousness is slowly fading away.

　(I can't move.)

No matter how much he reminds himself, his body does not move even a twitch.

　"Don't be afraid."

Suddenly, Yilmaz's voice floats through Almirk's mind.

"You are no longer the man you were that day."

It was a sign of life.

　(Yes, that's right.)

　Almark realizes.

　(A magician.)

(　I am a magician.)

　(If my body doesn't work, I can knead it.)

(Even if my body is stuck, my mind is free.)

Even if the body is not free, it cannot prevent me from meditating.

　All I have to do is knead.

　Almark just barely held on to his fading consciousness.

(Focus.)

　(Knead the magic.)

　(I can't knead it carefully. There is no time to do so.)

(But I desperately create a wave.)

　Let it flow.

　(Flow, my magical power.)

　.

As the wave grows stronger, it moves Almark's heart as if the magic has a will of its own.

　(With this level of magic.)

The magic screams.

(You want to destroy my master with this level of magic?)

　The undulating magical power overflows from the whole body.

　Almark's magical power pushes back the man's magical power that had tied up Almark's whole body from the inside.

"What is this?"

　The man was dismayed.

"Is it the boy's magic that is pushing back my magic?"

Almark slowly flexed his right arm.

It moves.

"It's moving!"

　The man shouted.

"What the hell is this?"

　Almark grits his teeth and takes a step toward the man.

"This is not the portal. What is this magic?"

"What are you doing?"

The other man raised his wand toward Almark.

The second man's magic attacked Almark's body.

　This time, the pressure was strong, not in all directions, but from top to bottom.

　The sudden change in the direction of the force caused Almark to arch his back and cower.

　The pressure was so strong that he was pressed against the floor, and he could hardly breathe.

　But then, a wooden stick that had been propped up fell over and rolled to Almark's feet.

"Nooo!"

　The man shouts.

'At the feet of the little boy."

　He could no longer tell which man had spoken.

　Almark looked at the wand.

An unusual luck.

　But Almark had experienced it many times.

Almark turned his eyes only to his long sword, his partner.

　Inside that sheath.

　It must be shining.

　His mother's pendant.

Almark summoned all the magic power in his body.

　The magic power of two men.

　It doesn't matter.

　Almark's whole body is screaming.

　(This level of magical power is nothing.)

"Oh!"

　Almark shouted.

He grabbed the wand , overcoming the men's magic and grabbed the wand.

"You got me, kid!"

　The man shouted.

"But what are you doing with it?"

"You don't even know what it is!"

"What are you going to do with it?'

　There is a sound of mockery in their words.

It is hard to tell which of them is speaking anymore.

　Seeing that simple pressure would not finish off Almark, the men were preparing their next spell.

"We have no choice. Let's burn him down."

　"...... what are you going to do when you grab this thing, you asked ?"

　Almark cringes and puts strength into his right hand, which is holding the wand.

　)Don't you know)

(For as long as I can remember, I' ve been the son of a mercenary from the north.)

(No, even before I can remember.)

　(What do you do with a wand in your hand?)

　(There's only one thing to do.)

　Almark barked again.

　(If you want to know, I'll tell you.)

His entire body flashed with magic, and for a moment his body regained complete freedom.

　Almark leapt toward the man in front of him.

　Whether it was the first man or the one who came after him, it didn't matter.

　He swung the wand horizontally.

　With a blow of such tremendous speed, he snapped the man's neck.

"How dare you!"

The other man shouted and raised his wand.

　The pressure was on Almark again.

Almark's whole body radiates all the magic he can muster to fight back the man's power, then leaps once more.

"You know what it is."

He swung the wand straight down into the man's head as he said, "

　A dull thud.

　The man collapses without a sound.

　(Remember that, )

Almark thought.

(　When you have the wand , do this.)