For a duel between mages, it's quite strange that the both of us have chosen to use wooden swords instead of pure spellcasting. To be honest, it would be fairly easier and faster to blast him to next weekend with a simple spell, but if I'm going to make him understand the hard truth of combat as a magic knight, I'll have to do so with a sword. Plus, beating him with a sword would be all the more satisfying.
"Aren't you a caster?" Eleric queried, eyeing the wooden sword in my hands.
"Best not to worry about me right now, and just focus on yourself,"
Eleric scoffs, tightening the grip on his wooden sword as he takes a stance, while so obviously underestimating me. Well, I guess it can't really be helped. I don't think I've showcased any skill with the sword yet, added to the fact that a tier 4 mage wouldn't really have any business holding a sword. It might be unwise to show more of my cards, especially since it may garner suspicion that a four circled mage is well versed in swordsmanship, and enrolled in the magic theory class rather than the magic knight course, but I doubt I'll be faced with anything I can't handle. I can always write it off as a broad interest in swordsmanship.
Eleric exhales before closing the distance swiftly, clashing his sword against mine. The look on his face says that he wasn't expecting me to block his first strike. His eyebrows knot into a visible frown as his eyes focus on me, increasing the strength against his sword in an effort to push me back.
A smirk involuntarily spreads across my lips as I do the same. My stats are two times higher than his, so with much ease, I push against his wooden sword, eventually causing his hands to give, creating an opening. Pivoting on my left leg, I use my right leg to kick the left side of his now unguarded abdomen, sending him flying in the same direction.
"Agh!" He grunts, skidding his feet against the ground to gain his balance once more.
The air stills as a look of shock forms on his face, still not completely processing what happened, and the once noisy arena falls silent as the noble students look in clear dissatisfaction. Eleric struggles to get back on his feet, clutching his side as he groans. I may have kicked him harder than I intended. It's honestly quite impressive that he's managed to stay standing. Between heavy gasps he states,
"Are you sure you're a caster?"
"I'm twenty-five levels higher than you. Don't take it to heart."
He grits his teeth before gripping his sword again, letting out a heavy breath before charging at me. I dodge both his swifts to the left and right. His accuracy and precision are actually really good. Well above average by my standards, which means he must really be talented compared to everyone else here. If his attacks actually hit me, they'd be clean and decisive. So it only pisses me off more that he's wasting it.
"Gestry," I say casting a fire arrow spell aimed at Eleric.
He rolls to the side, dodging it, before he notices that I've prepared a hail of fire arrows that rain down towards him. He manages to block a few by enhancing his wooden sword with mana, and dodge the rest. Finally free from the hail of arrows, he glances up to the position I was in to find that I've disappeared.
"What the-"
"You should really pay attention to your surroundings," I state from behind him as I strike his hands, disarming him of his wooden sword, and place mine at his neck.
"Ouch!" He winces in pain from the area I struck him.
"Give up," I say coldly.
Eleric doesn't answer as his eyes dart around for his sword. I was hoping he wouldn't surrender so easily since I really haven't had my fill of beating him up yet.
"Okay then. Let me teach you what a finishing strike is,"
With that I start the activation for the spell 'Meniva' that summons ice arrows.
His eyes widen as he recognizes the spell circle, and not the only one. The students spectating gasp as they watch most likely wondering if I'm actually going to hit him with an attack at such close range.
"Wait... stop!" The professor attempts to interfere, worried that I'm taking it too far.
Eleric stares at me in shock as I glare back, before a wicked grin spreads itself along my lips, and a gasp escapes his, realizing that I will shoot him.
"Meniva," I speak, casting the spell aimed at Eleric.
"No!"
"Alice!"
Boom!
The arena falls silent, as dust and fog block my vision from the unusual strength of a mid-level attack spell. The tension in the air thickens as the spectators of our match watch on, as the dust clears, waiting to see what happened.
The smirk on my lips remain as there is no body in the position Eleric was before, but instead a wooden sword dangerously aimed at my neck.
"What?!"
The students gaze in awe as they slowly piece the situation together. Eleric had dodged in the nick of time, and grabbed his sword to strike me. It would have been a clean hit had I not used a barrier spell to shield myself.
"Seems like you finally get it," I sigh, finding Eleric's shocked expression amusing. "But, play times over."
Saying that, I knock the wooden sword out of Eleric's hands and swiftly pin him down. "It's my win."
"Uh-huh? Um... Hishaku wins," The professor, also left in shock and confusion states, trying to understand what was going on.
"An interesting fight, as usual," Larien muses as I rejoin him and Darius where they stand.
"I may have gotten a little carried away." I respond.
"Hey!" Eleric's voice calls from behind me.
"Hm?"
"Tell me honestly," He starts, gasping between words. "Are you actually a caster? Who did you learn swordsmanship from?"
"Actually I could ask you the same question," I reply. "What kind of magic caster instinctively fights with a sword? Aren't you meant to be a magic knight?"
"..." Eleric doesn't respond, holding his tongue as a troubled expression spreads across his face.
"Hey, I don't suppose you're in a team for the competition already are you?" I continue.
"Huh? Um... no."
"Good. Then join mine. I'll give you another lesson or two on how not to be such a pansy."
"... what?"
"What he means is, we would be pleased to have you join our team for the competition,"
"Ah... that's just Alice's way of saying you're welcome to join our team!"
Larien and Darius say simultaneously, attempting to correct my speech.
Eleric looks at Larien, before turning to gaze back at me. "Will I be able to fight you again?"
A small laugh escapes my lips before replying, "Anytime you want your ass handed to you."