The sounds of water sizzled as if it was burning on a hot skillet, and the sound of fire crackled as if it was burning through a forest of wildfire.
Continuous fireballs were being launched at each other, and continuous waterballs were as well.
It was a duel of magic, and Currently me, and Olivia were the only ones doing this duel, testing our skills on each other.
["You know how to also create waterballs? I thought you were only an ice user, Godfrey?!"]
Olivia shouted at me as I chuckled at her.
["Without water you can't have ice! I simply learned how to use water as part of an application of being an ice user."]
We used two small twigs inside our hands as we both cast spells at each other; another fireball and another waterball clashed against each other, causing steam to explode outwards. I was also surprised that Olivia was a fire user. That means her view on the world must've been quite harsh since fire users normally look at the world as a hellish earth, full of fire and brimstone... but sometimes it could mean other things as well, so who knows what her worldview was?
We'd been testing our spells on each other for hours as the kids around us watched in awe, noticing our stamina was quite high.
["Give up already, Godfrey! I have the high ground!"]
What does she think this is, Star Wars?
["You may have more stamina, Olivia, but there's one thing you didn't notice!"]
She widened her eyes as she cast another fireball, and I cast another waterball.
["What is it?"]
I smugly looked at her, and dodged to the side, evading her next fireball.
["Take this!"]
She cluelessly glanced at me as I dove to the ground, pointing my stick at her feet.
["What are you aiming at? H-Huh??"]
She didn't notice it, but each time we clashed with our attacks, water had been spraying everywhere from their collisions, eventually making a puddle right underneath Olivia's feet, which I took advantage of, turning it into ice.
["H-Hey, since when was I standing in a puddle of water?"] She cried cluelessly.
The water underneath her feet turned to ice and trailed up her legs, locking her in place. There was nowhere for her to run now, so I took my chance and dashed toward her, and before she could raise her stick, I smacked it out of her hand.
["EEK!"] She closed her eyes and held up her arms to protect her face, scared that I was about to hit her.
["Heh."] But I simply knocked on her forehead with my knuckles, winking at her. ["There's something called strategy, Olivia. You need a strategy in a fight, not just brawn's."]
She slowly opened her eyes and whimpered, still scared.
["There's nothing to be afraid of, I'm not gonna hit you, idiot."]
She puffed up her cheeks and pushed me forward after I called her that, using her fire magic to heat her legs up, melting the ice.
["Shut up, I know what strategy is! You went and took this too far!"]
I fell on my butt and looked up at her with a nervous chuckle.
["T-Too far? You're not hurt, are you? The most damage I did to you was knocking on your forehead."]
She crossed her arms, stepping forward with a mean look.
["Tomorrow we will have a rematch, Godfrey! From now on we're rivals."]
["Rivals? What? No way in hell, you outclass me in every category except strategy. I don't wanna be rivals!"]
She smirked.
["Too bad, I, Olivia Field, am known as the leader around here, and I am the only one who made you sociable today! Whatever I say is a must, and whatever I do is absolute, do you understand me?"]
She wasn't even a noble and had the personality of one, I found it quite funny.
["Pffft, hahahaha- bahahahaha!"]
I couldn't help but laugh! Leader? Her words are absolute? Give me a break!
["Sure, sure Olivia, whatever you say!"]
She looked down at me angrily, placing her foot on my chest, and slamming me into the ground.
["What is so funny, Godfrey!?"]
She leaned forward, placing her index finger against my forehead, and tapping it repeatedly.
["Be prepared for the hardest battle of your life tomorrow! Don't you dare back out of it!"]
I flinched each time her finger hit my forehead, nodding at her words.
["Ow- okay, okay! I'll show up tomorrow, prepared! You got it, boss!"]
She smugly looked at me, taking her foot off my chest and turning around in sass.
["Good, I'll be training all night, so you better do the same."]
She walked away down the dirt road that led to Mediocre village, leaving the field.
["She really put you in her place didn't she?"]
One of the kids said behind me.
["Man, what a pain in my ass..."]
I stood back up and dusted myself off, looking at the twig in my hand that broke after I fell down.
["I used this twig ever since I was three, that sucks. Guess I'll have to get a new one..."]
I turned to face the other kids, laughing at the intense atmosphere I felt around me.
["Hahaha, no worries, I'm sure I can handle it tomorrow. Anyways, it's getting pretty late, isn't it? We should all be going home by now."]
The other kids all stretched their arms above their heads while most of them yawned.
["Yeah, it is getting pretty late... my mom is making dinner by now, and I'm starving."] A young boy said.
["Same here, let's all walk back home now."] Responded a young girl.
Everyone walked on the dirt road, returning back to their houses.
***
Half an hour had passed, and now I was back home, carrying the book of Ferdows with me. I was yawning, exhausted out of my mind, and was ready to just plop on my bed.
Making my way through the door, I could smell nothing except my mom's famous chicken casserole... it was one of my favorite meals, and I've been eating it since I was three. Honestly, it's the only thing in this whole world that I would get fat from eating too much, and it also woke me out of my sleepy state.
["That smells so good..."]
I was nearly drooling, making my way into the small kitchen to see the casserole placed on the stove while my mother was washing her hands in a small bucket of water, and lime.
It felt like I was staring at heaven... the delicious chicken, steamed broccoli, and that rich cheesy goodness. I couldn't wait to dig in...
["I'm starving Mother, this smells good!"]
I scared my mom, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin.
["Oh my goodness, Godfrey, you scared me. Did you just make it back home?"]
I giggled at her, running over to hug my mother around the waist.
["Yep, I had fun! I talked to the other kids as well, instead of reading all day."]
["Oh my, you finally started talking to them?"]
She sounded happy for me, rubbing my head with her soft, and feminine hands.
["Yeah they're pretty cool... but Olivia... she's bossier than I imagined."]
My mom closed her eyes and tittered.
["Ah yes, Margrets child. Olivia tends to get her bossiness from her mother a lot, so it only makes sense. What did you two do? Was it an argument?"]
["...Well it was something like that, at first we were testing our magic on each other, and then we got in an argument once I won our little duel."]
My mother had a nervous sweat trail down her cheek.
["Oh that explains it, you won against Olivia out of all people... she can tend to be very prideful, Godfrey."]
["Yeah I know, tell me about it. Anyways, this casserole is smelling good, Mom! I can't wait to dig in, I'm super hungry."]
I unwrapped my arms around her waist and walked over to the oven, standing on my tippy-toes to look at the dish on the stove.
["Well the food is done, I was just waiting on the garlic bread to finish cooking-"]
All of a sudden our door burst open, and a woman infiltrated our house, shocking me and my mom.
["Emma, we have an emergency!"]
It was my auntie, Matilda.
["Sissy, what is it? What's going on?"]
My mom quickly ran over to Matilda.
["One of the kids in Mediocre village has been killed, it's an emergency meeting with the parents, we must all meet in the capital!"]
My eyes widened... it felt like my heart sunk in my chest... was I hearing this right? A child... killed? Here?
["A-Auntie Matilda, who was it?"]
My auntie glanced at me with a look of sadness spread across her face.
["One of them went by Mason, but that's not the only thing that happened."]
Emma worriedly placed her hands together as if she was about to say a prayer.
["Dear god, Matilda, what else happened...?"]
["Olivia... she's been kidnapped!"]