At lunch, I told Mason about what I will be dealing with later on in the afternoon — all about the arranged duel with Alessia Hayes as my final test to see if I qualify enough to join the camp. Mason's response was not what I was expecting.
"That Alessia Hayes? She's the strongest girl in camp! What was that lunatic of a director thinking pairing up a complete newbie against the best of the best here?!" he unintentionally screamed. Several heads turned to our direction in the canteen, to which I shrank myself in embarrassment.
"Shush it! I also thought of the same thing when he mentioned her. He said something like 'us two are other-worlders so it would only be fair if I went up against her,' like me being from Earth has got to do with any power boost!"
Mason nodded. "Well, that's not a surprise, to be honest. All of us from this camp knows that the director's a bit cuckoo in the head, but this is a bit over the top. If you don't know yet, Alessia was incredibly strong ever since she came here when she was six. She quickly climbed the ranks and became so powerful she is considered a prodigy. And she's only twelve!" For some reason, I feel like Mason is less critical about her and more fawning.
"That's not good in the slightest... I've already got way too much disadvantages to begin with..."
"I can help," an idea popped into Mason's head.
"How?"
"You'll need some info about her, and where to go for that other than me?" He pounded on his chest proudly.
"I'm beginning to think Alessia needs a restricting order filed against you..."
Mason ignored my words and continued. "After that, I'll be able to help you prepare for a bit. You said you haven't fought anything before, right?"
"Unless you count a training dummy, then no. Not physically, at least."
He nodded again. "I'll ask some of my friends to help out as well. You'll need to find a good weapon to use and think up some tactics. Got any preferences?"
I shook my head disappointingly. "Not really. The only weapon I've held was a wooden scimitar, but that thing was already too heavy for me. I'm not that strong, at least not in my arms. I am quite fast though — genes, I assume."
"Well, that's a basis for what we're working on. Oh, I forgot! Are you able to use magic?" He added.
"Yes, I just learned it in my 'interview.' I'm not very efficient at it, though."
"What type is it? Oh, don't tell me! Let me guess — Dark type? You seem to fit the bill," he half-joked, and I half-laughed.
"I can use Vector magic."
Mason went silent for a moment. He stared at me with seemingly blank eyes and spaced out. He sat there momentarily still and I was worried. "Hello?" I waved my hand in front of his face. He seems to snap out of his trance and bounced on top of me — well, his hands did, anyway.
"V-V-Vector magic?! Isn't that, like, super rare?"
"A-Apparently so," I stuttered under the sudden pressure. Is this really a big deal?
"Woah... most of the kids here usually get Elemental types, and I'm a Fire-Earth hybrid myself... to think you of all people is the one to get a Law type!"
"Yeah, that's cool and all, but it's the weakest out of the five... Also, what is this 'hybrid type' thing you said you were?" I was utterly curious the moment he mentioned his affinity. The director did explain that spells can contain traits from multiple different magic categories, but he never told me anything about hybrids...
"A hybrid," Mason explained, "is a person who has an affinity for more than one type of magic. They can use the spells under the categories they fall under with ease, and can combine those spells to create powerful composite spells. I myself am a Fire-Earth hybrid, which means I can use both Fire and Earth magic."
"Wow, is that unusual?"
"Uncommon, but not as rare as your type. However, there is a trade-off for being a hybrid."
"And that being...?"
"Normal magic users can only easily use their own type of magic, but that does not mean they can't use other types. It's just easier for them to use the spells under their own magic category. A hybrid like me, however, will never be able to use other types. Or rather, it is incredibly hard for me to learn magic outside of my type range. That also means I am extra susceptible to magic that counters both my types. So really, hybrid or not, all types of magic have their own pros and cons."
"Okay... but wait, don't Fire and Earth magic branch off from different purer types? Fire came from Light, and Earth is from Dark, right? So how come you're a combination of two opposite things?"
"Oh-ho, you are too naïve, dear Ernie," he laughed and waved his finger. I was slightly put-off. "The magic types may branch off from different parents, but their origin is still the same — Yin-Yang magic. They aren't as different as they may seem. Besides, haven't you ever learnt that opposites attract?"
I shrugged. "Looks like I've got a lot to learn."
Mason nodded in agreement. "Then let's go."
"To where?"
"To train you, duh." And we headed off to the field.
***
On the southeastern side of the green field, several of Mason's friends surrounded me in a wide circle as I try out weapons. "Yes, weapons," said Mason. "These are important. Usually, we want something that goes well with our magic. Since you're a Vector type, how about we go for a ranged one?"
"Sure," I replied. I took the bow lying on the ground and an arrow from a leather quiver right next to it. "I've never used a bow before," I said as I placed the butt of the arrow to the string.
"Ah, right... I'm not a bow user myself, so let's get someone else to teach you. Ah! Ganz, the perfect person for the job! Get in here, buddy!" Mason said as he pulled an older boy into the circle, the latter not really resisting but still unsettled by the roughness of his pull. He dusted his tunic before reaching out a hand to me and said, "Ganziz, bowmaster of this camp. I believe we've met earlier today?"
"Oh, yes! I'm Ernie, if you don't remember," I took his hand and retuned his greeting. Ganziz Jenexpra, an olive-skinned and sharp-eyed student, who is the most proficient with the bow in this camp. His hair is short and black, stature thin but still taller than me. Actually, despite being several years older than me, his height is only slightly taller than Mason, so you would say he's actually short.
"I remember you well, not to worry. Now then, let's get on to the bow. This is how you place the arrow..." He showed me how to put the arrow on the string and how to keep it straight. He pointed out how I was holding the bow wrong, and how my eye should be level with the arrow. He then gave me an example of how to pull back the string until a certain point below the tip of the arrow, and let go without interrupting its flight. Then, it was my turn.
Long story short, I was terrible at shooting with a bow and arrow.
"Looks like this isn't your forté... Sorry, Ganz. Maybe you'll find an apprentice next time," said Mason. Ganziz huffed and stomped away, arms crossed and all. I felt sorry for being a disappointment. "Do you still want to try ranged weapons, Ernie?" Mason continued.
I thought for a moment, and ended up deciding that maybe melee is the way to go. "Nah, I want to try some close-range ones. I've got a tiny bit of experience with a sword, after all."
Mason nodded, then handed me a double-edged wooden straight sword. Comparing its size with the one Mason was holding, it's definitely on the smaller scale. The leather-bound hilt also suited my grip, and it wasn't terribly heavy. I might be able to do a decent swing with one hand. Since it was camp property, and more importantly public property, it wasn't in the best shape: a bit of chipped edges here and there on the blade could clearly be seen. Must've been from the countless usages from the lot here.
"Alright, Ernie. I'll be the one teaching you some sword skills. Up for the challenge?" Mason said, pointing his sword at me. I nodded enthusiastically. "First," he continued, "some basic strikes. Let me show you how..." He lifted the sword up his hand and slashed it down vertically with a good bit of might. The blade stopped just shy of hitting the grass. "That was a basic overhead strike. Keep in mine my pose as well — you've got to have a good balance when you're doing these. They really help in adding extra force to your attacks and keeping you from hurting yourself. Now then, let's see you try it."
I imitated him as closely as I could, pose and all. My first slash was wonky, and I put a bit too much force into the swing, which caused it to recoil off the ground and made me fall backwards. "Pose and stance, remember. Also, try to stop it from hitting the ground, will you? Power ain't everything," advised Mason. He held his hand out to me and I took it, lifting myself up with more ease thanks to him. "Let me try again," I said.
The overhead strikes went on for a dozen more times, before Mason deciding that I need to learn other moves as well. He taught me horizontal swings, diagonal swings, 360-degree brandishes, recovering from heavy moves, as well as the stances that go with each of them. Then, we went for a duel, with the intention of teaching me situational moves and parries.
I could feel the power of Mason's practiced strikes as my blade collided with his. He was significantly better than I am, due to the amount of training he already went through, but instead of actually trying to beat me (which he can easily do so), he taught me every single little tip as we fought on. I went in for a strike, which he easily caught with his own blade and swung it away. It went on for a good bit before deciding it's time to stop.
"Haah... That wasn't — so bad, was — it?" Mason asked, panting in between words.
"Yeah —, it — was — fun," I replied, panting wildly as well. I collapsed onto the grass with my front to the sky, and Mason joined me on my cloud gazing. "What else — should I — know?"
"Well..." Mason sat up, already recovering from his inhalations. "You should know about your opponent as well, right?"
"Yeah... So what information have you got about her, Mr. Stalker?" I sat up as well.
"Alessia Hayes... she's an excellent duelist, with incredible agility and battle prowess. Her main weapon is her signature crescent white sword, but I doubt the director would let her use that... she usually uses a saber for training and mock battles, though, so I think that'll be her weapon."
"So she's quick on her feet and uses a thin sword... what else?"
"She is a Dark type magic user. Her skills include things like Shadow Step, where she sinks into her shadow and can reappear behind yours, and Dark Embrace, which slows down your senses. Just be careful not to get in her range."
"Anything I should particularly look out for?"
"Now that you said it... Her special ability, Caligro — it makes your surroundings super dark and it'll become really hard to see where she's coming from. But apparently that skill eats up a lot of her mana, so she can't use it for very long. Make sure to not get hit too badly while you're blinded."
I took a mental not and stood up. In the distance, I saw the director approach an olive-skinned girl — not too different from Gaziz's skin color — with curly dark auburn hair tied in a ponytail. After a few words, she nodded and they headed off somewhere. "I think it's about time," I said to Mason, who promptly stood up as well.
"Yeah, I think so too."
And thus my training finished, and now I'll actually have to face that Alessia Hayes. I couldn't learn a lot or master anything from just two hours of training, though I did gain a lot of new information and a bit of sweat running, but at any rate, I walked away from that field more prepared than what I was two hours ago.
***
"Gather 'round now, everyone, gather 'round!" Director Elshire bellowed as flocks of trainee adventurers of different ages crowded the duelling court. The students stomped on the flagstone-paved ground with clumps of sand littered here and there. In the centre of the circle made by the horde of students, the director stood with two other people: myself, and the very same olive-skinned girl I saw from a distance.
So this is her, I thought as I observed the girl. She was a good bit taller than me, perhaps even taller than Mason. Her hair, as I saw just now, is indeed curly and auburn-colored. Her face looks sharp, eyebrows thick but well-trimmed. Her eyes glow misty purple, though one could easily mistake it for an obsidian-esk hue instead. She wore light clothes suited for battle: a gray sleeveless top and black sweatpants. Around her waist tied her belt, which held a sheathe containing what I assume is her saber. All in all, she is the exact image of what one would think when they hear the word 'prodigy.'
Alessia's posture was confident, as she stared at me while I stared at her. Our gazes locked; I wanted to avert my sight but decided against it, while she merely nodded, squinted her eyes and smirked. Our 'staring battle' was interrupted by the director walking between us. "Alright, time to announce the participants of this battle. On the challenger's side is the newcomer, an other-worlder who intends to start his lessons here a mere week after his arrival at Elhera: please welcome Ernie Neswitt!" Upon the director screaming my name, a round of applause resounded through the court.
"And on the challenged side, is the camp's youngest prodigy of the generation, and also a fellow other-worlder: give a clap for Alessia Hayes!" An objectively louder applause thundered through my ears this time. Cheers and hoots came from the crowd; Alessia merely waved and smiled. For some reason, however, it felt like she wasn't happy at all. Like I could see some sort of scorn in her movements.
"This battle," the director continued after the applause has subsided, "is a test for the newcomer. If, per chance, Mr. Neswitt wins this duel, then he will be allowed to train at this camp. However, if he fails to defeat Miss Hayes, then a different situation will befall him. So step back, as our competitors get ready for their battle. My young warriors," —he turned to face us— "your battle shall start upon the third clap of my hands — get into your poses by my first, and ready yourself by my second. Am I clear?"
Both of us nodded, and we quickly did some warm up stretches. A bit of slashing with my sword on my part, while Alessia did a stationery jog on her part. Clap, the sound cracked through my ears, as the director announced, "Get ready!" We moved to our halves of the arena, and prepared our weapons in a stance; "Get set!" The second clap came. I took a deep inhalation of oxygen and cleared my mind. This is it, I thought. I'm actually fighting Alessia Hayes. I have to win!
"—And by the will of my last clap — I hereby declare: Shalatte!" He clapped thrice. I was caught off by the director's words that I didn't notice Alessia launching herself in incredible speed right at me, her saber held level with her head. Without time to think of what in the word Shalatte means, I jumped back and parried her strike. CLANG— our swords collided. Her strike was harsh and powerful, and much to my disdain, it is overpowering my block.
The girl lifted her blade away and spun around, carrying the momentum of her body into her saber as she slashed down towards me. The arc of the strike barely hit me — I stumbled backwards and almost fell. My opponent did not waste a single tick: she immediately rushed forwards and thrust her saber right at my chest. I panicked, and by instinct, I crouched down and slid below her blade. My legs almost tackled hers, only to be foiled by her quick feet. She immediately jumped up as I came, and landed intentionally harder than how it was supposed to be on my feet.
I groaned in pain, while she struck the tip of her blade at my face, only inches away. "Hah," she sighed. "Give up, you stand no chance. I've already got you pinned down."
I thought for a moment, before realizing that there was sand by my fingers. I took a hump of that grainy yellow stuff and threw it at her face. She flinched backwards as the sand pelted her face, her hands stumbled upwards to block her eyes from unneeded pain. This bought me enough time to rise up again and readjust my grip on my sword. "You!" She growled, already recovering and shooting right at me, annoyance clearly flaring up in her eyes.
My sword took the blows as we danced around, slashing at each other. She undoubtedly had the upper hand; I was only barely keeping up due to the unwarranted shock I gave her with the sand just now. Our swords swished and clanged as metal hit metal (I was given a steel sword for the fight), cheers erupting from the crowd every time the impact struck.
She swung at my right — I curved my arms to block it with my sword upside-down; she swerved it from below — I moved back and counterattacked; she parried it graciously — I flinched back; she went in for a diagonal slice from my upper left — I barely managed to block it, though it collided dangerously close to the guard; she jumped to my open right and slashed down — I tumbled back in a pathetic backflip. I wouldn't even call it a backflip — I just rolled on the ground and got up quickly.
She charged again, this time her patience shattering — she went all in now. "Horaaaaaa!" She bellowed as she came. Due to the distance between us, there was still a bit of time before she could stab me. I noticed more sand by my feet; I smiled sinisterly as another dirty tactic came into my mind. I kicked the sand up and the minute grains flew: I then concentrated all my might into the grains of sand, visualizing them changing their path and instead flinging themselves directly at Alessia's face.
And they flew. The sand changed trajectories and rapidly shot at Alessia — she only barely noticed the sand flying at her as she came flinging at me. She stopped in her tracks and covered her face for impact; the grains of sand just softly pelted her arms without any real harm. "What was that?!" She yelled, demanding an explanation. "How did the sand do that? I didn't see you move your hands!"
I shrugged. "Dunno, must be the wind." A few snickers came from the crowd. Alessia looks genuinely put-off now. She swung her saber and slashed downwards, closing the gap in her feet and lifted her free hand. "I've had enough of your tirade," she said. "Now it's time to face my powers: O spirits of the Dark, lend me your virtue and gift me the powers of twilight; heed my request and enshroud this place with Shadows — Caligro!"
Oh no, I panicked in my mind. Oh no, no, no — she's using magic! I didn't have time to notice that she needs to chant before activating her magic; I continued panicking and braced myself, all my senses on full alert as darkness crept in my vision. Everything slowly went dark — sounds are muffled, the faces of the crowd gone, my opponent succumbing to the shadows — I was completely lost. It felt like an endless limbo, without a single sound nor a single shred of light.
I held my sword tighter, shivering slightly from the expended energy and from the fear of the unknown. She could come from anywhere, and I wouldn't know. I concentrated harder, and thought. What would be the position where I would least expect her to hit me from? Surely, she won't come from in front: it would be too obvious. The back would be too easy to guess as well. That leaves my sides. Since it would be easier to strike from the point where my weapon is further, she'll definitely come from her left. I hold my weapon with my right hand, and coming from my left would take me more time and effort to block my attack, in case I notice.
—So I took the risk. Following my logical reasoning, I twist my sword upwards and put the flat of my blade to my left side. The moment I did so —
CLANG
—A hard impact brushed my sword. My eyes burst wide open: I saw her. I saw the damned blade colliding with mine, the wielder of said blade had a face full of surprise. But it didn't surprise her for long enough — she shook her head and retreated back into the shadows, only to reappear from my rear. I did a reckless move by crouching down — luckily it worked. She must've not expected me to dodge twice. But perhaps that's the farthest where luck will go for me.
I continued to do wild guesses as she danced around trying to hit me. Her thrusts rushing so close to my face it honestly scared the shit out of me. I was dancing with this invisible — or hidden — assailant in the shadows, which could all end in one wrong move. And so it did:
Schwing— The saber sliced my cheeks. I fell back in agony, a deafeningly intense pain clogging up all my senses. It was horribly hot on my cheeks, like a flaming iron was being pressed upon it. Fresh, crimson blood spurted out, the ugly scar stretching from the tip of my mouth to barely hitting my ear. If it were not for the darkness, I would be standing in a crowd full of people staring at me in pity, but not in shock. They all knew this would happen. This was all expected; perhaps, they imagined worse. I trembled by the thought of that.
For some odd reason, my wishes seem to be granted in exact reverse: the darkness parted and the blue sky and colorful surroundings came back again. The onlookers all gasped as they saw me, sitting on the ground and clutching my cheek agonizingly. I growled in pain, but the person standing tall in front of me could care less. She stared me down, with fury still burning in her eyes.
"Are you done?" She asked in an icy cold tone. I couldn't bear looking at her. All I did to avoid more humiliation was to muster all my strength to stand up, trying my hardest to ignore the pain. I howled loudly, charging straight at her with every bit of power I've got. "Imbecile," I heard her mutter under her breath. She lifted up her saber and charged at me as well, bellowing along as she did so.
Two blades. Two wielders. Two shouts. But only one can come out victorious.
I concentrated, harder than I ever did before, targeting the blade in my opponent's hands. I visualized it changing trajectories — it will fling itself to the side with a sudden invisible thrust, and it will catch the wielder off-guard. An opening will come to the opposite side, where I will be able to slice her.
And it did. In a sudden motion, the saber in Alessia's hands moved on its own — it flung itself to the left, and the wielder, still tightly holding onto its hilt, felt the sudden movement, as if an invisible hand pulled on her blade. Her face lit up with pure shock and confusion. She stumbled to the side and left her right part wide open. I took the chance and swung my blade at her neck; "WAAAAAGH!" I howled, as the shining blade came swooping in an arc and almost decapitating the girl's head—
"STOP!" A sudden, low voice shouted, and I recoiled my sword back — the blade came dangerously close to Alessia's neck, only mere inches away. My hands shook with fear. What was I about to do? I came back to my senses. I realized I was about to slice the head off this girl. She looked up at me in horror, still perplexed by what happened to her sword. We said nothing — the crowd said nothing — it was all silent, except for our heavy breathing.
"I hereby declare that this battle has ended in a draw!" For a moment, silence conquered the court. Then, came the thundering cheers, shouts and applause. It all erupted so suddenly. They whistled, laughed, and jeered all the same — as if they didn't care the girl right in front of me could've died. I dropped my sword, sighed, and took a step back.
Suddenly, the world was spinning, and darkness slowly ate away my vision. I stumbled around in confusion; my knees were weak and I couldn't think straight. Then, I fell to the ground, and with time, became unconscious. I didn't respond to the shouts of people rushing towards me — no, I couldn't respond. I was falling, fainting, and becoming unconscious. I couldn't hold on any longer. So I closed my eyes, slowly, and the world came to a halt. Everything became black.