***Kaius's POV***
We advanced quickly through the matches and we have fine-tuned the strategy to the point that matches were won quickly. First, I would do a quick yet weak spell while Platina protected me. Once the first spell was done, I would perform a second stronger spell and Platina would try to distract the opposing mage from their own spells. If possible, she would also try to incapacitate both mage and familiar, thus ending the match at just under a minute. It was insane how efficient her fighting was and I wondered what she did before she was my familiar. Platina refused to say anything on the matter, however.
It came as no surprise, though, when opponents started getting stronger and quicker the closer we get to the top. Since this performance assessment pooled mages across three grades together, there was bound to be more advanced mages. I have heard that the top place always goes to someone in the third year, it was possible that we would not win this. Then again, Platina was uncommonly strong and the matches against people in my second year class were over quickly and easily enough. Maybe fighting with third years would require Platina to use her magic? I would love to see it and the curiosity was killing me.
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On the third day of the assessment and our eleventh match in total, we were hailed as the dark horse team. After the battle with Rilche a while back, everybody was sure we would lose on the first day, since we had such a disastrous time working together before. Needless to say, it came as a surprise that we easily beat out the first and second years in our way, while Rilche's team lost one of the matches to a third year yesterday. In fact, people in my year had been cheering on us once they saw our prowess, excited that we were in the running for championship.
Platina never stopped her mantra of not letting it get to my head. It was hard to when sweet victory was so close and only five more matches to be won. Plus, all of our matches had been won in under five minutes, how hard could it be to face the third years? When I said that, she shrugged and said she thought it wouldn't be too hard either, but we should never let our guard down.
When we stepped into the stage, Platina immediately brandished her sword. On the opposite side, I could see a third year with his powerful-looking familiar. I recognized him as one of the top students in his class and from what I knew, he had a pretty easy time winning all his matches up till now too. This could turn out to be troublesome…
When the whistle sounded, Platina lunged at them and I shouted "thirty!"
While this strategy had gone smoothly for all our matches thus far, this time was different. Ten seconds in and while I was concentrated on casting, I heard Platina's shout and I was knocked down by her before I knew it. When I stood just moments before, a blast of flame passed by and I could feel the scorching heat from my proximity. I would not have escaped unhurt if Platina hadn't pushed me out of the way.
"The familiar can breathe fire!" She said with annoyance.
"The guy must've unsealed its power, then." I said as she helped me up before pushing me to run. Another blast of flame licked behind us.
"This isn't good, we are outmatched as long as you drag me down like this," she groaned.
"Hey!"
"It's the truth! Haven't you retained even a little of my training?! Try to avoid the damn flame without me guiding you, for god's sake!"
A bolt of lightning came from the third year, and Platina none-too-gently pushed me away and dragging me by the hand as we ran.
"Kaius, unseal me, and don't stop running!"
Knowing this could take a while, as flames and spells were coming on to us without a rest, I tried my best to recite the incantation. Theoretically, it should only take ten seconds, but it was easily three times that when I finally managed to finish while Platina held my hand to guide me.
Once it was done, though, Platina gave a smirk, signifying that the unsealing spell was successful, and kept running.
"Do a small shield spell next!" She shouted.
This one took fifteen seconds or so, but soon, we were enveloped in a protective bubble that can withstand some flame.
"Keep layering shields on, and don't stop until I tell you to!"
I did as she said, not too concerned at the moment that she had been ordering me all this while even though I was supposed to be the master.
On the other hand, however, Platina was using the strange pen that she always carried around her to draw a circle in the air. She was doing magic! What kind, I had no idea.
Not wanting her to berate me for being useless, I keep adding barriers on top and could see flames and lightning spells bounced off of it harmlessly. For now, we were at an equilibrium. My continuous barrier spells were enough to prevent the attack, but we were far from victorious if we keep defending like this.
I looked over at Platina. She was putting her palm against a glowing rune that was just a circle with a star inside and chanting continuously. It wasn't a language I knew, but its inflection sounded similar. She had the look of extreme concentration, with her eyes closed. That spoke volumes about her trust on me, that she would let herself be in this vulnerable position with spells fired at us, knowing that I would keep shielding us. Finally, after what felt like forever, her eyes snapped open with determination and she shouted "Herzelsi! Come to me!"