"How... how did you do that?"
Halahar's eyes widened. With her body reduced to an infant's size, her mouth could barely fit a cherry, even opened as wide as it would go. She had thought Tang Qi was a spellcaster with a unique gift for leadership.
After all, this bard remembered the effects of every spell, whether high circle or low circle. He had also demonstrated abilities such as "copying," "healing," and "blessing beastfolk" before her many times—
But she had never imagined that a spellcaster unable to cast spells could draw a scimitar and display a presence every bit as impressive as a seasoned warrior's.
The strike that pierced his opponent's throat had been clean and decisive, too fast for her to follow. "No wonder he became a legend—"
While Halahar was still reeling in shock, Tang Qi's gaze met hers.
Perhaps because she had shrunk, her chubby cheeks made her look like a tiny doll, scarcely more lifelike than the little bear in her hands.
"Has anyone ever told you your eyes look like blue spinel? A clear blue gemstone, the color of shallow water."
"My father did—no, wait. Ahem! Why are you bringing up my eyes?"
"Sorry. Looking into them made me a little wistful. Sometimes I wish I had a distinctive pair of eyes too. Unfortunately, mine are as common as obsidian. In a four-panel comic, I'd usually be some background character with dots for eyes."
Tang Qi pointed at his eyes.
"No, I mean this is hardly the time to discuss eyes. We still haven't dealt with those lizardmen—"
"They've already been dealt with. When I used [Misty Step], the tide of chaos happened to sweep over them and turn them into potted plants."
As he cast [Misty Step], he had used his [Mist Walker]