Lucian's taunts echoed through the social hall of the academy as the trio passed by. He couldn't resist poking fun at El for the recent encounter with the Pantianac. "Icicle!" he mockingly jeered. "Hey everyone, Elysian here froze when a Pantianac attacked them last night!" Lucian's laughter filled the hall. "Stop it, Lucian," Thai stepped in to defend his friend.
Lucian, however, was relentless in his mockery. "Oh, the powerful mage who was saved by a girl last night wants to fight me," he taunted. Thai's frustration was evident, and Raven, always quick to de-escalate, suggested, "Just ignore him, guys."
El was struggling with his emotions, his anxiety bubbling up as he recalled the traumatic events of the previous night. The incident occurred near Lucian's home, giving him a front-row seat to the entire ordeal. As Lucian continued his taunts, El remained silent, grappling with the lingering fear from the night before.
"See you later, icicle," Lucian sneered, making a final jab before parting ways with the trio.
In the duel hall, preparations for the semester-ending dual exam were in full swing. El selected a sword from the school's armory and donned his lightweight armor for the upcoming duel. He seemed calm and composed, his mind, however, still haunted by the events of the previous night.
Thai, on the other hand, was visibly nervous as he sized up his opponent—a massive Kapre student wielding dual maces. His anxiety bubbled to the surface as he quipped, "If I die, please remember me." Raven couldn't help but laugh at his dramatic remark.
Raven, noticing El's distraction, walked over to him and held his hand reassuringly. "You'll do fine," she said with confidence. "We can't even beat you." Her smile was infectious, and El managed to return it. Her support meant the world to him.
As the duel exams commenced, the trio faced their opponents with determination "See you on the arena icicle!"
The duel had commenced, and El found himself facing Lucian, the same nobleman's son who had mocked him earlier. Galahad, the professor, explained the rules, emphasizing that grades would be awarded based on sportsmanship and mastery rather than just winning the duel.
As the fight began, Lucian wasted no time and charged at El, swinging his sword aggressively. El, however, remained calm and agile, easily evading Lucian's attacks. Lucian's frustration grew, and he resorted to taunting. "What's wrong with you, Icicle? Too scared to attack?" he mocked, but El remained silent, focused on defense.
Suddenly, Lucian's friend from the crowd shouted, "Look, a Pantianac!" El, still haunted by the events of the previous night, froze in fear for a moment. This gave Lucian the opening he needed, and he knocked El down with a powerful strike. The crowd burst into laughter at El's expense.
"Stand up!" shouted Raven from the sidelines, her voice filled with determination.
"That's not fair!" Thailos protested, seeing his friend's struggle and the unfair tactics being used against him.
Amidst the chaos of the duel, as El's initial shock had left him vulnerable, he heard Raven's unwavering voice, loud and clear, cutting through the noise of the arena. "Stand up! You can do this, listen to my voice," she shouted, her words both a lifeline and a catalyst for El's inner strength. Her encouragement was a beacon in the darkness, urging him to rise above his fear and doubt.
And then, just as he found his resolve, another voice echoed within him, a voice filled with wisdom and guidance. It was his father, Sirius, speaking from the depths of his memory. "Swinging harder does not make it a powerful attack, my son," Sirius's voice resonated within him. It was as if his father's presence was there with him in that critical moment.
With these voices, these words of support and wisdom, El's transformation began. His movements became fluid, controlled, and precise. Each swing of his sword carried a calculated force, and his attacks landed with pinpoint accuracy. Lucian, who had taunted him earlier, now struggled to defend himself against this transformed opponent.
As El's swords swung with newfound power and precision, the impact was unmistakable. Lucian's shield shattered into pieces, leaving him defenseless. El seized the opportunity, moving with calculated grace, and pressed his advantage. Lucian, now on the ground, had no choice but to surrender, his face a portrait of defeat.
The spectators, who had earlier mocked El, now watched in stunned silence. Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire, as the realization dawned upon them. "He broke a shield," murmured one student in disbelief. The hushed murmurs and mocking laughter had transformed into an eerie quietude that hung heavily in the air.
Galahad, the professor, broke the silence, his voice echoing through the arena. "Elysian Starshadow wins."
El walked to the side of the battleground, his heart still pounding from the intense duel. He joined Raven and Thailos, who were waiting there to greet him. Thailos clapped him on the back, and Raven gently held El's blistered hands, a silent gesture of support and camaraderie. She gave El a half-hug, a wordless assurance that they were there for him.
El's face bore a mixture of exhaustion and relief as he looked at his two friends. The duel was over, and he had emerged victorious. Now, he was eager to watch his friends take their turns in the upcoming duels, knowing that they would face their own challenges and triumphs.
"The next battle will be against River Booksworth and Thailos Ironheart!" Galahad announced, his voice echoing through the duel hall. Thailos stepped forward with a determined look on his face, while Raven couldn't resist adding humor to the tense moment. "Better not die, brat!" she jokingly commented on Thailos, earning a smile from him.
Thailos made his way to the battleground with newfound confidence, ready to face his opponent and prove his mettle in the duel exam. His friends, El and Raven, watched anxiously, knowing that Thailos was about to give it his all.
The duel between Thailos and the Kapre student began with a resounding "fight!" Thailos wasted no time, drawing upon the lessons he had learned from El's practice sessions. He knew that speed and agility were the key to defeating an opponent larger and stronger than himself.
Thailos made a daring leap towards his opponent's head, but the Kapre's mace was a formidable weapon, forcing Thailos to dart away just in time. The duel continued, with Thailos using his nimbleness to his advantage, dodging strikes and keeping his opponent on the defensive.
As the battle wore on, the Kapre grew tired and made a crucial mistake, accidentally striking himself with his own mace. Thailos seized the opportunity and emerged victorious with a knockout. The students in the duel hall erupted into laughter and cheers, celebrating Thailos's unexpected but well-deserved win.
El looked at Raven, her nerves palpable. "Are you scared?" he asked gently.
Raven hesitated momentarily before responding, "No, I mean, maybe?"
El reached out and held her hand, offering a reassuring smile. "You can win this too," he said, his voice filled with confidence and encouragement.
Raven blushed slightly, her spirits lifted by El's words and support.
The anticipation in the arena was palpable as the next duel was announced. Galahad's voice resounded through the hall, adding to the excitement. "Next up! Raven Nightsade and Tabitha Silva!"
Raven took a deep breath, her heart pounding with a mix of nerves and determination. She stepped onto the battleground, ready to face Tabitha Silva in what promised to be an intriguing and challenging duel.
Raven's confidence in her magic spells showed as she began the duel with a powerful incantation. "Buhangin!" she chanted, creating a fierce gust of wind that blew Tabitha Silva out of the battleground. Raven couldn't contain her excitement as she initially believed she had achieved the quickest knockout.
However, Tabitha, undeterred, revealed the true nature of her abilities. "Not bad, Nightshade," Tabitha acknowledged with a wry smile. "You just knocked out my illusion."
The duel continued with an intense exchange of spells and tactics. Both mages, top of their class, displayed remarkable skill and creativity. Tabitha's illusions were as elusive as convincing, making it a formidable challenge for Raven to discern what was real.
As the battle raged on, Tabitha seemed to gain the upper hand, and Raven found herself in a precarious situation. But just as Tabitha prepared to cast another spell, Raven summoned all her energy and unleashed a massive fireball. The fiery projectile soared through the air and struck Tabitha, sending her crashing to the ground.
The arena erupted in cheers as Raven emerged victorious from the intense duel. Her victory was a testament to her determination and skill as a mage, earning her the admiration of her fellow students.
The event came to a close, leaving everyone feeling exhausted yet confident in their abilities. Galahad, the head swordsman master, addressed the students, informing them that the results of the duel exam would be announced the following week. He encouraged them to enjoy the upcoming weekend and not be overly concerned with the outcome of today's event. With this, the students dispersed, looking forward to a well-deserved break and the anticipation of the exam results.
As the trio walked home, they basked in the satisfaction of their victories in the duels. Thailos's mention of his upcoming 15th birthday added an extra layer of excitement to their conversation.
"Tomorrow is my 15th birthday," Thailos announced with a grin. "I'll make sure to invite myself," El replied, eager to celebrate his friend's birthday.
Raven, ever the subject of playful teasing, couldn't escape Thailos's banter. "Raven, are you older? You kinda look like 30," he quipped, eliciting a playful response from her. "Hey, I'm still 14, you know. El is older than us; you should know that" she retorted with a hint of blush.
Being the voice of reason, El confirmed, "Just a year older." With that, they continued, their camaraderie and friendship stronger than ever.