To her surprise, Oscar excitedly declared that he was staying, because he found Rod quite interesting. Lily could not believe that he really intended to choose a wand from this strange shop. Even Rod, who had been trying to act tough, was stunned by his attitude.
Oscar then asked why Rod thought he was a swordsman. Rod studied him carefully for a moment, from head to toe. Afterwards he explained that it was because Oscar tilted more to the right, which meant he was used to carrying something heavy on his left side. He told him that it was an obvious sign of a man who carried a sword.
Oscar was impressed by the accuracy of Rod's analysis. Lily protested that Oscar was not a swordsman at all, but Oscar held out a hand to keep her back. He found it astonishing that Rod had seen through him in an instant.
After a brief silence, Oscar explained to Rod that he had only just started learning magic. Rod was shocked to hear that he had been training for a mere six months. Oscar explained that his stance was the way it was because his father had drilled him to become a swordsman, and the effects of those old habits were still lingering in his body. Lily backed him up and assured Rod that Oscar was truly a student of the magic academy, just like her.
Rod then asked Oscar why he needed a new wand, and Oscar replied that his old one had been destroyed. He showed Rod the broken wand, and after examining it, Rod let him know that it was now completely useless. On closer observation, he explained that the magic circle inside the wand had been shattered, and that this was because too much mana had been poured into it.
Oscar did not understand what he meant, so Rod broke it down for him. He explained that larger wands could hold more mana, but that their size made them harder to handle. Large wands also required precise mana control, which made things more difficult still. He further explained that a simple wand of this type was perfect for beginners because of its small size, which made it easy to handle. Then he reminded Oscar that the professors at the magic academy used larger and more complicated wands because of their level in magic.
From Rod's explanation, Oscar was amazed that his beginner's wand had not been able to withstand his newest magic theory. He asked Rod to recommend a wand that would suit him, but Rod let him know that he had not yet made up his mind to sell him anything.
Oscar and Lily were surprised to hear that, because they had assumed the man was warming up to them. Rod pointed at his wand display and ordered Oscar to pick out the best one in it. He revealed that he would sell him a wand if he was satisfied with Oscar's choice.
Oscar began scanning the display while Lily held her breath. Her anxiety rose, because she knew that a wand's value was determined by its size and the material it was made from. Magic wands made of rare materials were extremely expensive, since those materials had a higher mana affinity. Just then, a wand on the top shelf caught Lily's attention. After studying it carefully, she realized that it was made from a precious wood called Haganami wood, and she knew that the price of a wand like that was enough for a person to live comfortably in luxury for a whole year.
She silently prayed for Oscar to notice it. Her prayers went unanswered. As usual with Oscar, everything happened the wrong way around, and his eyes landed on the most unremarkable wand in the store. He picked it up, waved it about as though he had just won the lottery, and proudly declared that he would settle for it. Lily was speechless, and Rod was stunned by the choice.
Lily hurriedly pointed at the most expensive wand and begged him to change his mind. Oscar let her know that he had been asked to choose a good wand, not the most expensive one. Lily was puzzled, wondering what on earth he meant by a good wand.
Rod asked him why he had picked that particular one. Oscar replied that he had simply chosen it because of a warm feeling. Rod told him that it was nothing but an old beaten-up wand, but Oscar pointed out that it was still in one piece despite its age. He explained that the most terrifying thing on a battlefield was a weapon that broke in the middle of a fight. He pointed out that this wand's function had not been compromised at all, even though it was battered on the outside, and he added that it looked as though it had been made with the user's needs in mind.
Rod was impressed by his words, and he quietly stepped away, leaving the two of them puzzled. Before he could go, Oscar asked whether he intended to sell him the wand, and Rod said that it was not for sale. He explained that he had made it for his son a long time ago. Oscar and Lily were surprised by the revelation, and Lily wondered why it had been kept on display at all if it was not for sale.
Rod revealed that it was because the owner broke before the wand did. He refused to say anything more about the death of his son. He simply told Oscar that the wand was too old, and that it could no longer be considered a good wand. Then he went quietly back to his workstation, and Lily decided that it was time for them to leave.
She promised to stay with Oscar until he found somewhere to buy a good wand. Oscar was a little disappointed that Rod had not sold him one, because their interaction had been genuinely interesting. But just as they turned to leave the shop, Rod called them back, which surprised Oscar. He told him to wait while he fetched a wand that suited him.
Lily and Oscar were delighted to hear it, because all their hard work had finally paid off. The moment Rod left to get the wand, Lily let out a long sigh of relief. She had been on edge from the moment they walked into the store. Oscar apologized for troubling her and asked whether she was curious about the kind of wand Rod meant to give him.
Unfortunately, Lily's nerves were still settling, and she was not excited about this particular adventure at all. She could tell, however, that Oscar was thoroughly enjoying the whole thing.
Suddenly Amon arrived at the shop, and he was stunned to see them there. Oscar and Lily were just as surprised to see him, and he asked why they had come. An awkward silence fell across the room as Amon gripped his whip tightly, as though preparing for a confrontation.
Oscar stared straight at him without blinking, while a clueless Lily happily asked Amon whether he had come to buy a wand. Amon answered vaguely, and just then Rod returned and greeted him cheerfully. Amon acknowledged him, and then hurried out of the shop as though something were chasing him, telling Rod that he would come back later, since Rod was busy attending to customers.
Lily rushed out to see him off, but Amon had already put some distance between them. She worried that they might have interrupted the professor's business with Rod. Throughout the whole exchange, Oscar stayed calm and quiet.
A few seconds later, Rod cleaned up the magic wand and handed it to Oscar as his new companion. Oscar's eyes lit up as they scanned over the not particularly pretty magic wand in his hands.