“Someone fill me in, how did we get here?” I asked.

The two walked over to me. Lucy crossed her arms and leaned on her back leg. Leah tilted her eyes down and brought her hands behind her back.

“Have you gone mad? You woke up in the dead of night and proceeded here on your own. If it wasn’t for Leah catching you leaping down the window, we may not have made it in time.” Lucy said with disdain in her voice.

I looked over to Leah who didn’t seem mad, but instead wouldn’t make eye contact with me.

So if I’m hearing this correctly… then it means one of them took over the body while I was asleep. But, how can I have no recollection of it? Usually we are able to see through the eyes of whoever has control… but this is strange. How did I lose control?

I summoned a flower in my hand, but it wilted in an instant. I clenched my hand. Something isn’t right.

“Ah, of course! I just felt a need to scout the place once more. Well, now that we are here, might as well purify this dastardly place.” I pepped, brushing past the two.

I felt something hold my arm.

“Leo, we need to talk.” Leah said, her voice straight.

“I am always ready to whisper sweet nothings into each other’s ear darling. But we really should go.”

“I’ll keep watch, you two talk about whatever it is you need to talk about to get us moving.” Lucy interrupted, walking towards the stairwell.

“Ok well I guess we are talking now.” I felt my voice shake. Why is the air so intense?

“Who are you now?” Leah asked, gripping my arm tighter.

“I’m Leo of course. Should I write you a poem so you can never forget me again?”

“No! You’re… different. The one before you was different as well! None of you are the real Leo.” She said adamantly, shaking her head.

“Dear, I think you are reading too much manga. How can I not be Leo while… being Leo? I believe your poison is aff—“

“Poison? Why are you trying to change the subject! Just bring back the old Leo now! Before you get him killed.”

“Sweetheart I’m being serious.” I said, putting my hands on her shoulders. “The Elder says you were inflicted with a fatal amount of toxin from the claws. We have to go and kill it before it leaves any permanent damage to your magic. We can discuss the whole Leo thing after we return back to the academy. I promise.”

“My magic? My magic is just fine look.” She brought her palm out and conjured a large fire. From her wide eyes, it seems she didn’t expect this. “I can’t control my mana output.. but what about at the dessert shop?!”

“The mana desserts must have let you control it somehow… either way, if you overuse your mana pool… the strain will be so much that your mana flow will never be the same again.”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Leah pondered for a bit, looking at me with lost eyes.

“Maybe you’re right… but Leo—“

“After the dungeon.” I interrupted, “I’ll tell you everything.”

Leah hesitated for a bit, then nodded and walked over to Lucy.

I don’t know what’s going on, but we have to complete this as soon as possible. No versions of me will be able to stop my control. None of them will be able to separate me from her…

I followed after the two, smiling at them before cutting between and walking up ahead of them.

“Do you not use magic to fight?” Leah asked Lucy behind me.

“I do use magic, but more to give me an advantage with the blade. I infuse my magic into the sword, a useful practice once you learn the tricks.”

“And do you use the blade often?”

“Always, the art of the sword has been present in the family since its inception. They pride themselves on being the best swordsmen of the kingdom. And because of that, their egos have grown too big for their own good. There’s no world where I would be able to outrun the grasp of their fanaticism.”

“A family of swordsmen… I have heard of old-fashioned families condemning the use of offensive spellcasting magic, but there is only one where they hold it to such a degree… Hey, are yo—”

The trumpet-like roar echoed in the air, interrupting the girl’s conversation. I looked forward to seeing talon marks on the door frame from before.

“Cheers, to the beginning of round two.” I said, conjuring a bouquet of roses and throwing it towards the door frame. “Cover your ears.”

I plugged my ears with my fingers while Leah gave me that cute dumb look. Lucy waved her hand and headphones appeared over Leah’s head while Lucy covered her own ears.

Soon after, a loud explosion could be heard from the room. Ah, now that’s a Flower Bomb. Lucy waved her hand again and the headphones shrunk down, pocketing it inside her satchel.

“That should help us a bit.” I said, conjuring a single rose this time and giving it a whiff.

“What did you do?” asked Leah.

“It’s a magic item infused with his spell.” Said Lucy, “it multiplies the effects of a contained spell over the capacity of what it could hold. Basically a bomb.”

I conjured two more roses and handed them to the two girls. Am I going to tell them what it’s for? No, that’s a surprise, and that fun is in the mystery.

We walked up the few final steps and peered inside the doorway. The once grey room was now covered in splotches of bright colors. Like if paint was thrown without a care in the world onto a blank canvas. That is what this abstract work of art looks like. A masterpiece in the making.

Patches of flowers were scattered throughout the giant room along the floor and some parts of the wall. The giant Manticore looking back and forth while the two children flew around the room, squawking away. I bet if I could understand them, they would be saying how beautiful the room looked. Sadly, that exceeds my skill set.

I got down on one knee and placed a palm to the ground. I sent my mana through my palm and seconds later, a grassy pathway sprouted up, and extended towards the Manticore. It was only until when the whole block underneath the Manticore was covered in my spell that I trotted inside with the others.

“Leah, ignite the grass if you would please.”

The creature turned to us with its glowing eyes and roared. Leah put her hands out and focused an intense amount of mana.

“Flame Vortex!” she yelled, igniting the tile in front of her.

The flames rushed down the pathway towards the Manticore and within moments, a giant tornado of flames erupted from underneath the creature.

“That’s all I have.” Leah huffed.

I turned around to her to see crumbs on the corners of her mouth. Smart one.