Lunch went by without any incidents except one where Damien yelled at some guys from B class. Arthur and the others stopped him before it could escalate.
The guys from B class probably left the matter alone when they saw Oliver.
"Seriously. How come a guy like you is so quiet and gentle?", Ray asked as the whole class walked to practice hall 3. "I don't like getting into any trouble.", Oliver replied.
"Same here big guy.", Seventeen appeared behind them. 'Damn, sir is sneaky.', Arthur thought. Seventeen raised his eyebrows.
"Why are you guys just standing there? Get changed to your combat uniforms."
They entered the changing rooms. "Damn Arthur, you're ripped. I bet the ladies will swoon when they see those abs.", Ray whistled when Artur took off his shirt.
"You think?", Arthur asked with a chuckle as he took out the black shirt and wore it. "You don't look like the scrawny little kid I met years ago.", he said, "Oh wait. You're still little."
"Shut it.", Ray threw a rolled-up shirt at Arthur who dodged it with a grin. Soon they changed into their combat uniforms and entered the practice hall with Seventeen.
"You're late.", a female voice said in a frustrated tone when they entered the hall. Arthur saw a beautiful half-elf woman standing at the of the hall with her hands crossed and a scowl on her face.
'So that's Ruth Aeva.', he thought.
"What do you mean late?", Seventeen frowned. "I was waiting for half an hour.", Ruth replied. "Half an hour?", Seventeen sighed.
"Look Aeva. We agreed to have the duel at 2:30 and I came right on time. Don't tell me you came half an hour early. I didn't know you were that eager to fight me.", he said.
"Of course, I'm eager to beat you. I came early to scout the place so that you will not do any dirty tricks.", Ruth said, her face a little red.
'She's too eager.', they all thought.
They heard a laugh behind them, "You are really looking forward to kicking Seventeen's ass. Aren't you, Miss Ruth?", the voice said.
They looked behind and gasped. It was Headmaster Leonard Zephyrus and he had a wide smile.
"Hey guys.", he waved cheerfully. "Headmaster. What are you doing here?", Rhea asked.
"Well, I am the mediator for the duel between Seventeen and Ruth and I also have to protect the students from these two demons when they clash.", he chuckled.
"Excuse me, headmaster. Who are you calling a demon?", Ruth asked in an icy tone. The headmaster's smile froze and he gulped.
'She's scary.', Arthur thought.
"Jeez, ice queen. Stop scaring the headmaster. Let's get this over with.", Seventeen said in a slightly bored voice. "Very well.", Ruth replied.
Arthur saw Gray going up to Seventeen. She looked graceful in her combat uniform which was modified with a scarf and a longer jacket, similar to Arthur's.
"Sir, will you be alright?", she asked worriedly.
Seventeen smiled at her, "Don't worry. I'm the strongest.", he said.
Strangely, Arthur believed those words.
"Okay, guys. The duel is about to start. Let's take a seat.", headmaster Zephyrus announced. The class nodded and went over to the seats.
Arthur looked back at their instructor. Even though he knew Seventeen for only a day, he felt a sense of familiarity with their instructor. It felt as if he was looking at himself. The fact that Seventeen looks like an older him further strengthens that feeling.
He smiled at Seventeen, "All the best sir.", he said. Seventeen returned the smile, "Thanks Arthur.", with this Arthur went over to the benches and sat next to Minerva.
"This duel is going to be epic.", she stated. "I hope it goes well.", Arthur said, remembering his vision of the possible icy future.
*******
Seventeen walked to the middle of the hall when he was stopped by Zephyrus. "Please hold back. Ruth is my best student.", he whispered.
"I didn't know she was your student.", Seventeen whispered back.
"I forgot to tell you."
"Jeez, Headmaster."
Both of them walked to the middle of the hall. Seventeen faced Ruth while Zephyrus stood between them. "I hope you haven't forgotten what the loser has to do.", Ruth said.
"Yeah yeah, I remember. Let's see what you can do ice queen.", Seventeen said.
Zephyrus coughed, "Ahem. Okay, so let the duel between Ruth Aeva and Seventeen commence!", he then flew away and sat on one of the benches.
'Let's go with 10 percent', Seventeen thought and released his presence which shook the practice hall. Ruth stumbled for only a second before unleashing her own powerful presence.
The two presences clashed at the center of the hall, cracking the floor. Seventeen saw Zephyrus erecting wind barriers around the students. Suddenly the two presences dispelled each other with a powerful shockwave.
Ruth wasted no time. She infused magia in her feet and dashed forward with incredible speed. She took out two white jagged daggers that glowed an icy blue color and slashed at Seventeen.
Seventeen easily dodged it. He summoned Nyx and blocked the second strike in a flurry of sparks. White and black pushed back and forth with such intensity that tiny shockwaves formed.
"Not bad ice queen.", Seventeen said with a grin. "Shut up.", Ruth growled, {Ice Code: Spike Bloom}.
'Oh damn.', Seventeen thought and jumped away, just in time before giant ice spikes erupted from where he stood. He felt a presence behind him and turned to intercept Ruth who swung her daggers down.
Seventeen landed on the ground with a grunt, 'Damn she's fast.', he thought.
(Seventeen, I know that Zephyrus asked you to hold back but not this much)
'I know Prime. I know.', he replied in his mind. Ruth landed a few feet from him. "What happened Seventeen? Didn't you just say you're the strongest?", she taunted him.
"Yeah, I did. And it's the truth.", Seventeen said with a smile, "Now. Let's start melting.", he pointed his sword at her. Golden red flames enveloped Nyx and spread around his body, {Fire Code: Pheonix Cloak}.
The temperature around him increased suddenly, making Ruth sweat. She gritted her teeth, "Not those flames again.", she muttered and crossed her daggers, {Ice Code: Frost Blades}.
Ice spread from the handle of the daggers, it covered the blades and extended resulting in two long jagged ice daggers. Ruth exhaled mist as the temperature around her dropped.
Both of them charged and clashed. Ice and fire collided to form an explosion of steam as Seventeen's flames started vaporizing Ruth's ice which she constantly reformed.
The resulting shockwave shook the building. Zephyrus whistled, "Damn this is awesome."
Arthur and the rest were utterly amazed by the battle in front of them. "Wow. Sir is a fire user.", he said in awe. Ray nodded, "I've never seen a sword like that. It looks deadly.", he whispered.
Arthur nodded in agreement. Even he hasn't seen a sword like that in his life.
Seventeen and Ruth launched a chain of attacks. Ruth jumped back and held up her hand, {Ice Code: Frozen Spear}, a huge spear of ice formed beside her. She flicked her hand and the spear shot toward Seventeen.
Seventeen sliced the spear in two with Nyx but suddenly a second spear came right behind the first one. 'She used the first spear to hide the second one.', he thought.
He moved to the side and held out his sword. The ice spear slid against the blade and flew toward the wall. Seventeen looked ahead only to find one of Ruth's daggers coming at him.
"Shit.", he muttered and increased the intensity of his Pheonix Cloak. Ruth yelled and jumped back. She stood panting and her face was caked with sweat.
'I really shouldn't really hold back a lot.', Seventeen thought. He found something unique about his opponent's fighting style.
(Even you felt it huh? Ruth Aeva's fighting style focuses on finishing the fight as fast as possible)
'It could be that she can only hold back her curse while using Codes for a small period of time.', Seventeen concluded.
(So looks like you have to prolong the duel until that time ends)
'Yeah. But it could also cause her magia to go out of control.'
(I think we can stop that with the Code you were working on)
'Will it work on curses?', Seventeen asked in his mind.
(It may work since a curse is a type of enchantment)
'Let's give it a try.', Seventeen thought and slashed his flaming blade, {Fire Code: Burning Crescent}, an arc of flames emerged from Nyx and went towards Ruth.
She gritted her teeth and crossed her daggers, {Ice Code: Icy Wall}, a thick wall of ice formed in front of her. The flaming arc crashed against the wall and immediately vaporized the ice, creating another cloud of steam.
Ruth covered her face to avoid the steam. Suddenly she saw a glint of gold and red, "Damn it!", she yelled and jumped back when Seventeen emerged from the steam and aimed his sword at her.
She moved to the side but the black blade made a small cut on her arm, the blade felt really cold despite it being covered in flames, so cold that she slightly winced.
Ruth saw some runes on the blade glow as it came in contact with a single drop of her blood. She has a bad feeling about it.
"What happened Aeva? You got spooked?", Seventeen taunted her. "In your dreams.", she snarled. Ruth brought the handles of her daggers together such that the blades are on opposite sides.
'I'm almost at my limit but I have to win.', She closed her eyes and concentrated.
{Ice Code: Dance of Swords}
The temperature dropped sharply and mist spread from the daggers and covered Ruth completely. Seventeen felt a sudden increase in ice magia and he felt it condensing.
Ice crackled and the mist spread to half of the practice hall. The students shivered. Flare summoned a fireball for warmth.
(Careful Seventeen. This Code is a powerful one)
Suddenly the mist cleared and revealed a breathtaking sight. "Whoa.", Seventeen said.
A hundred swords of ice floated around Ruth in a snowflake pattern, her two daggers fused to form a single beautiful sword with a handle intertwined with thin ice vines.
Ruth's clothes became pure white with long white ribbons trailing from her shoulders and back and her auburn hair has become white. She exhaled mist from her mouth.
"That's a good Code. Now you look like an ice queen.", Seventeen said with a chuckle. "I will freeze that mouth of yours.", Ruth said and pointed her sword at him.
Immediately the swords around her flew towards Seventeen. He tried to slice them but it seemed like the swords had a mind of their own as they evaded Nyx and spun around, forcing Seventeen to parry them.
(The Dance of Swords is a powerful Code, it gives her complete control over her ice swords. The movements of the swords resemble a dance, hence the name)
'Thanks for the info Prime. But looks like that Code is taxing her. Could be due to the curse.', Seventeen thought as he dodged the swords. He saw Ruth breathing heavily and sweating despite the cold.
She suddenly slashed her sword in his direction. A hundred swords flew towards Seventeen at a very high speed. He won't be able to dodge or intercept them.
Seventeen smiled. There is only one way to stop them, "Can't believe I'll be finally using it.", he said and held out his left palm at the swords.
He bent his ring finger inwards and exhaled.
{Code Cancel}