Gadfi was a 3rd year student at Essaf. He was one of the few Class A, triple affinity mages on the campus,being able to wield Earth, water and Wind magic. His position at the school was made comfortable at the school due to his power. Noone dared to challenge him to a duel because he had been seen decimating his opponents without using all of his affinities. So people stayed clear of his path.
Unfortunately for Damien, he had accidentally crossed Gadfi's path when he rescued Neville from Cornelius and his brother, Percy. Unfortunate because the brothers were cousins to Gadfi, their fathers were brothers. Unfortunate because who else to report to than one of the most talented warriors at the school? The spineless bullies reported without any embarrassment their loss to a D Class student who seemed to possess some tricks up his sleeves. Gadfi agreed to have a talk with the D class.
So it came as a great surprise when during the lunch break, Gadfi sauntered to the first year's table and issued a direct duel challenge to Damien.
" I challenge you to a duel, Damien Snow!",he said.
The dining grew quiet as people tried to understand what was going on. An A class warrior mage challenging a D class student?Impossible! A first year student no less.
Damien appeared to be slightly surprised at first,then annoyed by the challenge which served to infuriate Gadfi. He released a brief pulse of intent into the atmosphere, flattening the students nearby,except for Damien himself.
"You attacked the wrong cousin,bustard. So now you will answer to me!", Gadfi growled.
"Aftet lunch,the battle arena,don't be late", he added.
Damien simply nodded his head and continued to eat. The onlookers to this spectacle were shell shocked,Noone does that to Gadfi and everyone started to back away trying to escape the pulsing intent that was now emsnating from the 3rd year.
"On second thought,let's do it now. Get up weakling!",Gadfi shouted.
Some eager students had already started to move the tables away to create a makeshift arena for the ensuing battle.
Suddenly, Damien stood up and strode purposefully towards Gadfi,who was now rolling up his sleeves. Damien in burst of unbelievable speed,suddenly disappeared, and appeared in front of him and grabbed his face with an iron grip and whispered in Gadfi's ear," No collateral damage then,let's get to the arena now". Gadfi opened his eyes wide,surprised that he wasnt even able to see the D class bastard move,they both disappeared.Appearing at the school arena,empty.
Neville rushed into the cafeteria in the wake of the Essaf Professors. Word had reached the whole campus of a dangerous duel issued to a weak student. The teachers appeared to be greatly worried for Damien's sake,but the principal,who strode in moments after Neville,was worried about Gadfi. So was Neville,who had witnessed Damien in action. The principals head snapped up,"They are at the school arena!Hurry and stop the fight before anyone gets hurt", he shouted running for the cafeteria exit. Neville and the rest of the students stampeded in the wake of the teachers,eager to see this particular fight. Saline ran up to Neville ," Will your friend be alright?",she asked,worry creasing her beautiful features.
"He will,I actually worry more for the other guy!".
Saline stopped in her tracks,Neville did so as well and looked back at her. "Damien is a D class mage,that's very weak by all definitions. Why would you be worried about an A class student stronger than every other student at Essaf??", she exclaimed. Neville shrugged and looked around first to make sure Noone could hear them.
" Damien is stronger than everyone else ,Saline. He prefers to hide his power but he is above even the principal!",he whispered
Saline let out a scoff,"Impossible!The principal himself is almost god level. You tell me a first year D class student is more powerful than the principal of Essaf?The greatest magic school in all of Shilock?Damien may have some hidden talent but he definitely isn't that stro-",she was cut off by a powerful pulse of intent coming from the school arena.Everyone was pressed down to the ground,except Principal Palmer,who was making his way to the entrance with difficulty.
He muttered under his breath and a blanket of energy covered everyone,giving them relief to the aura."Get the students far away from the arena!I can't hold this barrier for too long," he instructed the teachers who began hasting to do as ordered. He continued into the arena and was met with the most destructive picture he had ever seen. Gadfi was bleeding everywhere,one of his eyes closed shut and quickly swelling. His clothes were all but tattered and he was clutching his left arm which hung lifelesslly to his side. Damien on the contrary had no damage at all,and appeared to be trying to reason with Gadfi.
"You cannot defeat me Gadfi.I am stronger than you can imagine. I do not even know the extent of my strength and you foolishly challenged me in front of everyone?You are bleeding profusely,if you continue this battle you will die!", Damien pleaded.
The hatred in Gadfi's face was absolute.He would not yield." I don't care if I die here,but-",
Principal Palmer appeared between them and grabbed Gadfi's arm and opened a portal from nothing,pushed the boy through and closed it after him.
Seeing this,Damien withdrew his intent and everything went back to normal. He looked sheepishly at the Principal who was now looking at him with interest."I knew you were strong but not to this extent. Good thing I made it here in time before there was any fatalities." he said walking slowly towards Damien.
"How much of your intent did you let out,boy?"
"Just a very small fraction si sir!",Damien responded,looking down at his feet.
"I didn't want to destroy the school sir",he added.
"mmmm,show me",said Palmer.
"Show you?I can't, it will be dangerous for you and everyone around sir!", he gashed.
"I'm quite powerful you know,I can contain your intent!" he argued.
" No you cannot," said Deanna, who appeared above the arena and was now slowly descending towards them. Palmer immediately knelt on one knee," goddess Deanna!I didn't expect you here.I have this under control your highness!"
"You were until you suggested he show you his full power. You do not know what you are asking. I suggest you swallow your curiosity and come up with a plausible alibi for this fight. You are to tell everyone that you intervened in time stop Gadfi from killing the boy. You ended up subduing Gadfu resulting in the injuries that he now sustains."she said
"Is that clear?"
"Yes yes!I understand goddess Deanna. I will do as you ask.But if I may ask,why hide the boy from the world when he is this powerful?Surely if it be known that -"
"The boy is a mystery that is still to be understood. He is way more powerful beyond even my own power",she said glancing at Damien who was watching the exchange with curiosity. Damien was particularly interested in the part of him being more " powerful beyond even my own power". So he can do more?He couldn't wait to test out his limits.
"As you wish goddess. I will keep this a secret",said the principal.
"I am taking the boy with me to my abode. He will be back in his room this evening",said Deanna,drawing closer to Damien. The principal bowed and made his exit.
"Take my hand,Damien Snow. It's about time we understood exactly who you are...."