chapter 28

She tried to help Takeshi in the magical aspect, but like his previous work, he can't seem to work with it. Fortification magic is something he can barely pull off, but it just ends miserably. The other type of magic isn't suited for Takeshi's style and body, to which he agreed with. Heck, Erika tried to teach him how to cast a light spear for the heck of it, but it ended miserably.

She really couldn't do much there with Takeshi's magic, so she just focused her efforts on training him physically.

"It makes me wonder why you can only do Enchanter spells and not other spells." Erika said with a thoughtful look, before she sighed and stood up. "Well, whatever the case, we have to keep working on looking for other options if you want to progress."

"The road to becoming a successful Magician sure is a long one for me..." Takeshi said while sighing, rolling and sitting up. Erika stayed silent for a few moments, before she gave Takeshi a considering look.

"You know what? I think after what you've been through, I think it is appropriate for you to know something." Erika told him, making Takeshi look at her with an interested expression.

"What is it?" Takeshi asked curiously.

"Since the first day I've meet you, I've had this some sort of weird feeling around you." Erika explained to him as she folded her arms. "It's kind of common, considering that we Fallen Angels have like this sixth sense around certain items."

"What do you mean?" Takeshi asked, not sure where she is going with this. Erika went into a thoughtful look.

"...Takeshi, you may very well have a Sacred Gear." Erika told him.

Silence passed through the room, neither one saying anything upon her statement. Takeshi gave a plain expression, before he blinked owlishly upon what he heard.

"M-Me? I have a Sacred Gear?" Takeshi asked with surprise in his tone.

"It's possible. We'll never know unless we try." Erika answered with a shrug. Takeshi looked down at himself and placed his hand on his chest.

"Huh...that's rather surprising. I never knew I had one." Takeshi said.

"Most humans these days can go on with their lives without activating their Sacred Gears. So I guess it's natural that you didn't know you had one." Erika explained.

"Huh...so how do I bring it out?" Takeshi asked her, considering that Fallen Angels and Sacred Gears are well connected. Erika puts on a thoughtful look as she tried to think about it.

"Well, let's see here...If I remember correctly, the most common thing to do is to imagine reaching some deep power within yourself, and you need to have the desire actually bring it out. That's how bringing out inner power works these days." Erika explained to him with a shrug.

"...Reach a deep power within me, huh?" Takeshi muttered to himself, before he closed his eyes and focused.

'Focus...Remember what Dad told me...Keep a steady focus on the goal before you, and you shall reach it. Keep focused and concentrate...just like magic...' Takeshi thought to himself as he focused on bringing out his supposed Sacred Gear. Takeshi inhaled deeply, and gave a slow exhale as his mind grew silent and focused on nothing more than bringing out his power.

It was then Takeshi felt some sudden tug in his body and soon felt his body push out something. He lightly gasped as he felt something in his hands, and slowly opened his eyes to see what is it.

And boy, was he surprised to see what it is.

In his hand appeared to be some sort of Chinese Style Horse Whip. The design of the horse whip had long handle that had a mixture of black and golden, designed into square mazes plaid pattern. At the end of the horse whip was a bunch of fine material made into a mop of strings, with the color of deep blood red.

Takeshi blinked owlishly at the item in his hand, while Erika had the same expression as well. The two stared at the item in his hand in silence for a short moment.

"...I'll admit, I did not expect this to appear." Erika commented quietly, before she gave a look at Takeshi. "What, you have some sort of fetish that you didn't share with me?"

"..." Takeshi didn't respond as his body was still. Hearing no response from him, Erika gave a disappointment look.

"You're no fun, you know that?" Erika told him with a flat tone. She blinked when she didn't hear a respond from Takeshi, which made her raise an eyebrow.

"What, you giving me the silent treatment now?" Erika called out to him once more. She gave a frown as she still didn't hear an answer from him. Getting a bit irritated, she snapped her fingers right in front of him.

"Hey! I'm talking to you here! Kind of rude ignoring someone!" Erika called out to him.

"..."

"Seriously, what the hell is-!?" Erika yelled as she got closer to Takeshi and looked straight into his face, but soon stopped when she realized something strange about him.

He had this some sort of hypnotized look on his face, not being able to respond to anything as his eyes were completely blank and didn't give the slightest of facial expressions.

"...What the...?"

(Unknown)

The moment Takeshi brought forth his supposed Sacred Gear, his consciousness soon faded to darkness and he saw absolutely nothing. But a moment later, he soon felt his vision coming back to him.

Slowly opening his eyes, he felt bright light enter into his eyes, something that he winced a bit as he shaded his eyes with his hands while his eyes adjusted to the light. His other senses soon came back to him, and he became surprised upon what he felt around him.

His ears picked up the tranquil sounds of water. The smell of a fresh garden entered his nose. He could practically taste the fresh and crisp air around him.

When his visions cleared, he soon saw his surroundings.