"Elise! Tell me what's all this fuss, right now!" Brenov growled at her.
Elise clasped her hand at the back, fidgeting as she stammered, "M—Mr. Mariston, the students trained for this schedule are the top parties that will participate in the special event."
"You mean, 'The Great Hunt'?"
Elise bobbed her head despite her gaze remaining downwards, unable to look at his bloodshot eyes directly.
"You could have told me! We don't need such a spectacle!"
"Mr. Brenov, may I know what's going on?" Anasthasia queried as he felt the temperature around him increased rapidly.
"I—"
"If it isn't Brenov Mariston."
Anasthasia shifted her head. She could only see his crimson hair, loosely tied, and draped to his back at a distance. His features, most especially his grey eyes, resembled so much that it rang in her head.
Brenov muttered while he gritted his teeth, "Greetings, Prince Daniel." He then gave a curt bow.
Her eyebrows arched from his belligerent nature. She took a glimpse of the people behind him, but not of them struck her with significance. Her eyes darted back at the Prince, curling her hands into tight fists.
Daniel caught off guard from how she remained astute in her stead, which revealed a smug grin in his face. "Is this the person who'd take the special examination with a letter of recommendation at hand? It must be nice to have several free passes." His voice boomed throughout the area, which startled the onlookers.
Anasthasia could feel them staring daggers that coated with cold and contempt. Anasthasia scoffed in silence, thinking, 'They never hid their intentions. Claws are coming out, huh?'
"I'm not sure what free passes you're talking about, but one thing for sure, I'm here to take part in the examination."
"Oh?" Daniel's cold eyes glinted and moved closer as he uttered, "You never stuttered, and you seem unperturbed with my presence."
Anasthasia watched how the chained brooch, with its bejeweled opal and gold patterns around it, hooked the white cape that fluttered with life. Her eyes scrutinized every detail of his uniform therein.
'Quite special for white chiffon fabric weaved in a uniform. It's so chic and splendid to look at. The incorporation of golden silk as highlights and linings meshed well on both the suit and trousers.'
She snapped from her thoughts when he moved so close, and he slowly reached his hand. She bit her lip as her body repulsed.
'Ice wall!'
A sheet of ice erupted from the ground in a blink of an eye, forming a fine boundary between them. So thin that she could see his translucent features beyond the ice. That said, Daniel let out a mirthless laugh.
"Such cheap tricks!" Daniel sneered as his finger prodded the crystalline surface. It didn't take long for the cracks to scatter and then crushed the ice into smithereens.
A breeze blew her way, the shards of ice sparkled and glimmered with glamour around her. She gave a dismissive wave of her hand, and the crystals vaporized into a thin mist.
"Quite a show-off for just a simple skill, Daniel."
Anasthasia's sultry voice echoed in their ears; brief silence loomed over the place—mesmerized as though it came from the sea's secret sirens.
When they noticed how not an ounce of respect was found on her tone and diction, it caused an uproar.
"Silence!" Daniel roared aloud, stomping their utterance. He huffed out, facing back at her stature and narrowing his eyes. "You didn't call me with such honorifics. That's a first."
Anasthasia rolled her eyes, unbothered by his remarks.
Daniel propped his hand under his chin, rubbing as he queried, "Why do you refuse to refer to me as Prince, my title and birthright?"
"Oh, I don't know about that. Should princes make my heart skip a beat whenever I see them or hear of their righteous deeds," She replied, voice dripping with satire, "However when I look at you, my guts scream for an overwhelming desire to run away, and possibly vomit."
His grey eyes rattled; gnashed his teeth. "You—!"
"Please don't forget you're on these premises, Prince Daniel. I hope you'll bear that in mind." Brenov took the opportunity as he shifted to the side, extending his arms from his advances.
Daniel clicked his tongue and turned around, leaving haughty strides as his cape beat with the same rhythm.
"Right! Before I go, didn't you say you'd take part in an examination? Would you like to listen to this proposition of mine?"
"Prince Daniel—"
"Very well, say it if you must." Anasthasia glanced her way to Brenov, looking mortified. "I'll be fine." She leered back at Daniel, who's face contorted in pleasure.
"A future instructor in this institution must have such capabilities that must be acknowledged not only by the administrations and staff but also to the students!"
That said, it caused loud cheers that resounded the premises. Anasthasia knew what was up, but she tried to jive with them.
"Prince Daniel! She never had any intentions to teach in this Royal Institution, she came but with one thing in mind, and that's none of your concern."
He snickered, "That sounds suspicious…" Anasthasia watched Brenov's reaction, and she could see his veins etched on his forehead and on his lithe neck. It was clearly on the verge of popping off.
"You dare question my authority?"
"I'm not implying such." Daniel gave a light shrug.
Anasthasia could no longer drag this tension; further, she stepped in and commented, "So, what do you want me to do?"
"Now, we're talking! Since you're taking a special examination, might as well pick any of us you'd want to fight!"
"That's not part of the—" Brenov retorted, but his voice drowned from the sea of cheers.
Such loud cheer that turned into rolling booms and thunderclap, Anasthasia could feel the floor rumble from their hyperactiveness. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, calming herself.
'You took the wrong path, Daniel. I'll show you.'
"I choose you." She opened her eyes, revealing a glint as he stared daggers at Daniel.
"What about using some weapon?"
"I can handle it well, regardless." Her confidence earned her jeers and ridiculed among the crowd.
"If you say so." Daniel chuckled, "Let's get to it!"
Daniel unsheathed his sword, dashing her way towards Anasthasia. Before he could reach within her perimeter, she waved her hand as she cast 'Gust!', thrashing him away for several meters. Such an intense burst of wind caused his party to scurry away from the area. Brenov and Elise moved to the side.
In one swift move, she silenced the spectators. Turning to their attention, she could see their road to demise—eyes seemed to gouge out of their sockets, ever so paleness in their faces, and the classic jaw-drop.
Daniel flipped and perfectly landed. He stood upright with his breaths quickened and wiped off his forehead as the beads of sweat formed.
"You're one formidable opponent, let's see what you can do about this."
Daniel revealed afterimages soon as he changed his momentum, but Anasthasia never felt so confused from his quick strides. She stood there with grace, waiting for his opportunity to strike.
It didn't take long for her wrist to feel the tingling sensation. She raised, and the air around her arm instantly froze, creating a barrier of ice. In a split second, his sword struck with immense weight, and the impact began to burst, explode from the sheer force, and break her defensive glacial power.
She never dilly-dallied as she reached out her other arm.
'Winter's Grasp!'
Air turned abuzz as it heralded the crackling sound of frost. Once glowed, it reached his torso. The ice scattered all over his body; with that said, he started to lose his balance as he got dragged midair. She twirled her hand and smashed his body to the ground, causing a dent on the floor.
Daniel had a faint glow in him as he tried to get up on his feet, staggering. Looking up, he saw flurries of ice shards heading his way. He frantically rolled to the side, witnessing how the ice hit the ground caused a cold blast.
There was no room for a breather. Anasthasia flicked her hand, raising thorns of ice from the ground, and formed an inverted pyramid, striking his direction simultaneously. She can feel a slight pulse in her head as she analyzed the mana fluctuations within the training grounds and calculated enough magic power to finish the farce.
Despite her onslaught, he dodged in perfection.
Anasthasia's eyebrows creased how he decisively slashed the ground, marbles sent flying. She then saw how the debris flew her way with ferocity.
She had to make a move, or there would be unnecessary injuries. She gusted onward and cast, 'Diamond Dust!' Trying to fight off the debris.
'Things turned for the better. We shall see what he's capable of—'
Anasthasia shuddered as she felt a sharp pain bloomed on her waist.