"Y-you want to fight me?"
I stared with a dumbfounded expression at what the Dragon Lady just said to me.
"Do I have to repeat myself, mongrel? Or are your ears filled with too much wax accumulated from the filth of your commoner labor? I said... FIGHT ME."
Wait, Anastasia Dragonheart herself wanted to fight me? I'm not sure if I should be flattered or scared shitless to her for sparing such interest for someone like me. The gap between our social standing is like day and night.
On second thought, dirt and diamond is probably a more suitable analogy.
I raised my hands in protest against her unbelievable challenge.
"Hold just a freaking damn minute, Dragon lady. Why in the Seven Gods' name do you want to fight me?"
She crossed her arms in response and gave me a harrumph.
"You garnered second place in learning the 'Wind Blade' spell, coming close to my brother by a mere minute. But most importantly, you, a commoner of all people, managed to defeat me, a Mage of the Dragon blood. Such... Such humiliation shall not go unnoticed!! Unless I beat you in combat, my honor as a Dragon shall never be regained!!"
What in the actual fuck...
To think that she challenged me just because of a petty reason.
Sure, she may sugarcoat it with her self-proclaimed honor, but it only served as a catalyst for the sole convenience to justify her unreasonable action.
I guess I should try to be the voice of reason and divert this crisis.
"Drag... Milady, you do realize that I'm no match for you, yes? What's the point of challenging me if we both know what the outcome is going to be? How can a commoner like myself be a match against you, a Dragon of all people?"
That should stroke her ego and persuade her to not press the issue any longer.
Seriously, what's a Dragon doing challenging a nobody hailing from a farming village? She must have a few screws loose in that draconic brain of hers.
"Worry not, mongrel. Commoner or not, none of that really matters, for as long as you can provide me with a challenge."
Wow, I'm not sure if I should be touched by the fact that she does not care about my social status.
Although, her flattering sentiments are all for wrong reasons, with me being at the pointy end of the stick.
This Dragon lady sure is persistent...
Better choose my next words carefully.
"And I believe that I'm not the one who can provide you with this challenge that you mentioned. I'm weak, untrained. You could say that I'm kind of new in this magic business and all of that. Besides, my mana level of 1,001 can hardly compare to your 5,027, so I'm barely average at best."
"Weak, huh?"
Anastasia suddenly grinned deviously, much to my utter worry.
This can't be good...
"Weak, yes, maybe. But average? Please, you surely jest. No average Mage is capable of learning a C-rank spell in a short time. I truly am curious to see what that equates to in actual combat."
God-fucking-damn it!!
It seemed that my own words are used against me.
Wait, surely the Headmaster won't allow this to happen, right? He appears to be a reasonable man so far.
Thus, I decided to use that particular trump card and end this nonsensical dilemma for good.
"Even if you want to fight me, Dragon lady, the Headmaster most likely won't permit you though. We are in the middle of an important exam and disrupting it certainly would have its fair share of consequences."
Anastasia's expression instantly turned sour when I mentioned the Headmaster.
"Tsk, as much as I hate to admit, you do have a fair point, mongrel."
"Oh, don't worry, I'll allow it."
"Wait, what??!!!"
My eyes widen with drastic shock when I heard the Headmaster answering nonchalantly.
Damn that fucking chibi...
"Really!?"
As expected, Anastasia was now grinning widely like a child who just got her favorite toy from the toy shop.
"Of course. It is part of the third exam that you will be taking next. For that portion, you will be facing one another in a magic duel called Magicka to determine how well you are skilled and resourceful in a real battle. Since Ms. Dragonheart seemed to be fixated in dueling you, I'll authorize this bout to happen."
This... This was not what I planned at all!!!
My plan has completely backfired!!
"I have the right to refuse, correct?'
"Sure, but Dragons like her won't stop until they get what they yearn for. They certainly are a persistent bunch, to an extent until refusal is no longer an option. If I were you, I would accept her challenge and simply be done with it. I've dealt with her father before during my youth and let's just say... It was a rather dreadful experience on my part, hahaha."
Ah, speaking from personal experience then. If the Headmaster is the one advising me, then maybe it would be wise to follow him.
However, there is one issue that I wish to clarify.
"But if it is a part of the exam-"
"Have no worries, Mr. Bruce. Losing the match won't affect how I grade you in this examination. You will be evaluated based on your overall skill, and how quickly you adapt. Basically, if you put up a good show, then you are as good as accepted."
Oh, so it won't matter if I win or lose. Although now the real problem is how I'm going to last long to impress the Headmaster during the Magicka.
And I'll be fighting with the Dragon lady of all people.
How troublesome...
With a defeated sigh, I gave my answer to Anastasia.
"Very well, I accept. Please don't be too rough on me."
"Heh, no promises, mongrel."
Yup, regretting this decision indeed.
For the rest of the second exam, we waited for the rest of the examinees to finish. Around the one-hour mark, around 13 of them successfully learned the spell. Among them is the Akanir chick who I believed to be a prodigy on par with the Dragon siblings.
Hmm, I guess she must be hiding her true powers then if she's going so far as to be an average Mage instead. That or my Mana Sense may be mistaken.
Then two hours have passed and the exam was finally over. An additional 6 students emerged successfully while the rest lowered their heads in shame at their failure. It's most likely game over for the latter.
I should be included in the ones who have failed but fate has decreed otherwise. To think that not only have I passed but by flying colors as well, second to the prodigy Alexander Dragonheart.
Now comes the final moment of my life-changing verdict, the third and last examination.
The magic duel or more commonly known as Magicka as what Headmaster Gray has called.
Since my battle with Anastasia is already pre-determined, the two of us were excluded in being raffled randomly on who's going to fight who.
Then an idea has popped into my mind. If I can't avoid the fight, then at least I have to prepare accordingly so my chances of success would increase by tenfold.
It perhaps may be crazy...
Crazy enough to work that is.
And this is also the perfect opportunity for me to test if my hypothesis is actually correct.
I then raised my hand and called the Headmaster's attention.
"Headmaster, may the Dragon Lady and I have our Magicka be the last one or at least later on?"
One of the knacks when making a request, give them a set of choices to choose from. One is the unreasonable option so the other party will be enticed to choose the other one that you intentionally want from the beginning.
In this scenario, it's choice number two of making our Magicka at least not to be first. That's actually my sole motive.
But hey, if the Headmaster wanted to fulfill choice number one, then all the better for me.
The Headmaster stroked his chin for a moment.
"Hmm, I supposed it would do no harm to fulfill your request, but making it last is kind of pushing it."
Crap. I don't like the sound of his tone.
"Oh, not that I'm mad or anything, Mr. Bruce. If I were being perfectly honest, I'm just being selfish and excited to witness your duel with Ms. Dragonheart early on. I'll arrange your Magicka to be at third."
Well, it's better than nothing. Being third is actually a good choice and with this, I can observe the first and second match to my heart's content.
"I see. Being third is also pretty nice. Thank you, Headmaster."
Anastasia also gave her own remarks about the matter.
"It matters not. First or last, you will be squirming beneath my feet in the end."
Beneath her feet, huh? Well, she does have pretty nice legs.
Hehe, maybe I don't mind being stepped by a beautiful redhead like her. Those luscious thighs sure a sight to see.
Of course, I knew better than to express my perversion and simply smiled at her in response.
"Let's have a good match, Dragon lady."
"Hmph, we shall see."
And with that, my plan was set into motion, a plan that may potentially get me out of trouble and grant me admission to the academy at the same time.
And what particular plan is that you ask?
Well, let's just say that I'll be validating my hypothesis and "learn" some spells on the go.