A soft breeze blew through the stands of the tournament venue. A massive building with an open roof allowing for natural sunlight to shine upon the combatants that would be taking part in the Six Great Academy's Tournament. From all over the empire, young people from the six primary academies. Gathered for the greatest, an exhibition of strength and value. From a prepared position, Mynrea sat with her sisters. Watching as the students from each academy gathered in the field below.
"I look forward to this tournament. The constant rivalries between the human clans fascinate me." [Tayrie]
All four sisters nodded as one. If there was one thing that dragons enjoyed most of all. It was watching the humans bicker amongst themselves. That being said, the clans had much to squabble over concerning lands, money, and marriages. It never seemed to end for the humans, and it was that unending antagonization that was found to be interesting.
That being the case, Mynrea actually did not take her place. With the Strentolos clan in the booth that had been prepared. A cafe that had been built in the venue's fourth tier allowed for an incredible view of the arena. Also, it was unlikely that her sisters would be welcomed by the rest of the clan if she was to take her place. That was because of the higher powers within the clan attempting to low rung Leinea and herself by making their position as unbearable as possible.
It was mostly because of this. That Lanthim never attended clan functions even when ordered to do so. While he did hold a great deal of faith in the system and values of the clan. Lanthim found his father's first wife, Fienya, to be a destructive force that was at the present time uncontainable. That being the case even, with his relationship with his grandmother becoming slightly more bearable, the elf witch would just continue to poison the well.
"The bickering does not interest me. I wish to see how far your husband will get before he has to remove his limiter. There is bound to be at least one other group in the tournament that has a dragon or two in it." [Palrena]
"I must agree even as powerful as he is with the limiter active, a serious opponent could force a situation. [Mynrea]
By this time, the arena had been emptied of students with the allotted grouping prepared to begin their respective matches.
"To think we would have our first match right out of the gate." [Leinea]
"It shouldn't be too bad twelve other matches are happening at the same time so we could get some intel on the other combatants." [Lanthim]
Both sat together on some benches. That ran the entire length of the long corridor that ran the span of the venue. All around them the other groups who were to participate in the first rounds of the day.
"The venue is prepared can, we, have all participating combatants return to the field."
Moving back out into full view of the spectators, Lanthim was amazed by what he saw twelve sixty-yard platforms lay across the entire arena field.
"So we have to survive close quarters combat before we get to the fun stuff." [Lanthim]
Making their way to the designated platforms, the crowds of spectators became silent. Watching as the combatants prepared.
"Remember, a loss will mean immediate ejection of that pair from the tournament."
The judging officials for each combat group with hands raised made ready to begin the many matches.
"The first rounds will be easy there, is no reason to over plan things." [Leinea]
Having spectated many of the previous tournaments, Leinea knew the first rounds would be just the separation of the wheat from the chaff. So there was no reason for the two of them to work too hard in the beginning. It was also important not to allow Lanthim's overwhelming combat ability to be seen too early to avoid countermeasures that could be developed against him.
"I understand" [Lanthim]
Drawing his sword Lanthim stood just ahead of Leinea their first opponent was a pair from the Academy of Frendrel. An all elf school which meant that both participants could use magic. A fair matchmaking decision pitting a dragon and a human male that could manipulate mana against any other pair would be totally unfair.
Watching the official with determined eyes everyone was ready to begin.
For each match, the officials with hands raised altogether lowered as one.
"Fight!"
Lanthim did not move from his position. Standing far enough in front of Leinea that she could perform any spell. She wished while he providing excellent defence. Through many different barriers spells which he had shown to great effect while attending the academy until now.
Unlike most witches who relied more on the overall output of damage on an opponent Lanthim dealt with combat in a much more rounded way. Being more defensive at the outset of a battle allowing for a sudden and deadly counterstrike when the time arose.
Waiting for either of the two opponents to make a move, Lanthim advanced forward towards the enemy. Watching the female elf who was silently preparing a spell, Lanthim continued forward. The chance of her spell penetrating his defence was unlikely having deployed four different barrier spells without anyone noticing gave Lanthim a vastly superior position.
The weapon his opponent had chosen was a spear almost three meters long with a twelve-inch blade. Not a difficult weapon to master if one had time to pour into the training to properly use it.
" Lanthim Frenost, I hope you will at least attempt to give me a struggle."
If there were one thing, elves had in great abundance. It was their belief in the superiority they had over all the other first-order races. Very rarely would any other race be able to beat them in a straight match of magical might?
Lanthim looked at this elf with the usual emotionless expression he bore towards anyone who looked down on him.
"Lanthim." [Leinea]
Turning his head. So to see Leinea he could see that she was smiling calmly as if she had no care in the world.
"Talmer nurin Kalm palgormin." [Leinea]
"Madel drom faliea." [Lanthim]
Looking back to his opponent Lanthim lowered himself in preparation to attack. His sword is drawn looking, his opposite in the eyes like a hawk hunting its prey Lanthim kickoff from his position blowing apart the entire platform from where he launched himself from. With a frightful look on his face, the elf moved quickly to counter his opponent only to receive the whole force of Lanthim's strike. Forcing his partner to deploy a barrier spell before he came careening towards her.
The sound of his head striking the barrier. Made a disturbing crack, that while there would likely be no physical damage, received his brain likely got a good shaking. Moving quickly for the finish Lanthim struck down with his hand towards the elf's left shoulder. Watching as his hand made contact momentarily cutting circulation to his opponent's brain.
"I am afraid I did not catch his name." [Lanthim]
Turning his attention to his opponent's partner, who looked petrified with fear Lanthim seemed uninterested in the match continuing much longer.
"H-His name is Haindras Tregir."
The elf answered quickly if not for her moment of hesitation she might have maintained any look of grace that was common for elves even in the most dangerous of circumstances.
"I see for an elf to be defeated by a human, so easily this may bring him substantial shame." [Lanthim]
Smiling as he looked down at the unconscious. Haindras, the words that Leinea had spoken earlier were entirely true. The beginning round if anything like this first match would end quickly.
"Lanthim, it is not in our best interest to have too many people think you enjoy watching your opponents suffer. Crushing defeats, remember that dishonour falls both ways." [Leinea]
Having come forward from her rear, position Lanthim's wife was now standing beside him. Looking down on the elf face down on the platform, she was impressed by the speed at which Lanthim had dispatched this irritating fly. In her eyes, elves had nothing better to do than parading their superior position over other first-order beings.
"The shame will fall on me, you fools he was my partner his failings are mine. Also, don't just stand there acting like you are greater than the rest of us."
"I would not try using, magic dear miss. It will not go well for you." [Lanthim]
"My name is Ilsre Deslym, and I shall see the both of you defeated here by my hand." [Ilsre]
Holding her free left hand towards the sky, Ilsre began chanting. Watching as the incantation was being recited, Lanthim forced Leinea further behind him.
"What is wrong." [Leinea]
"Stay behind me Leinea, your training has been exclusively towards the offensive any, defensive spells you have will not be able to hold back the coming spell." [Lanthim]
His face was neither angry nor fearful, but precautions were necessary when dealing with powerful magic.
"You better teach me some of these barrier spells of yours. Even now at the level of a first-order being, these spells are incredibly potent." [Leinea]
As she said, this Ilsre launched her spell, an immense, ball of white flame that devoured everything around it but the caster unharmed. Watching as this incredible spell came hurtling towards, them Lanthim effortlessly waved his hand. In an instant hundreds of octagonal-shaped panes formed from extremely dense air molecules began to take shape within seconds these panes had interlocked and layered themselves creating a super-dense barrier.
The heat from Ildrre's spell was something fierce that Lanthim had only seen in his studies within the library inside the Forest of Legrcstim. As the spell persisted he found himself expanding the barrier to totally encompass both of them.
"Well, there is really only one counter to this spell the only issue is I would prefer not having to use that high a level of first-order mana manipulation." [Lanthim]
"If we wish to win we have no choice." [Leinea]
The desire in her eyes to actually succeed in this tournament made Lanthim smile. While he did not want to bring too much attention to himself, his wife desired to win so, win they would. Holding out his hand a small white orb formed there. However, instead of producing heat, this orb was frightfully cold.
"We shall be fine if we stay in the barrier as for they outside of it I have prepared a second spell to activate after the first." [Lanthim]
Saying this the spell shot off towards the flame like a bee looking for a flower it looked beautiful until it passed the barrier then everything went white.