With one swift kick to the face, Kalvin was sent down to the ground, blood coming out from his broken nose and bruised mouth. One eye forced shut with a huge black eye surrounding it.. He was beat up.
The man who kicked him–Sévir, stood firm with only a bruise in the corner of his mouth..
He walked up to Kalvin, placing his foot over his neck. "I apologize for putting you in this state.. But I'm not exactly in the best mood."
The flagbearer raised a flag. "VICTORY FOR SÉVIR VAN DOREN!" Most of the audience were silent. Some clapped, but most didn't. But it did not matter to Sévir at all.
He extended his arm, offering Kalvin a hand. "Get up."
Kalvin used up all his remaining strength to stand up with the assistance of Sévir. And what remained of his strength was spent walking away with him to get themselves healed up.
Percival hugged himself tightly, as if he was in the blistering cold. "..I do not want to fight that man hand to hand.. He didn't even use his dagger.. And his magic at all!"
He turned his gaze to Ms. Ardell. "Ms. Ardell.. Can you arrange it behind the scenes so that I NEVER fight him ever again?" His voice hinted at slight fear and desperation.
She could only just giggle to his request. "No can do, Percival. I don't want to overexert myself just so you don't get whacked by Sévir again." Finally, she returned the gaze to him. "Maybe I can.. Under one condition."
He beamed to the possibility of her being able to fulfil his request, "What is it!? I'll do anything!"
She stuck out one finger. "Beat Minerva in the next examinations.. Academic examinations." Her soft voice had turned to a stiff and commanding one.
Percival couldn't help but gulp.. Him? Beating Minerva in an academic examination? That just sounds impossible.
But Percival was determined. He stood up and grabbed something from his pocket.. It was a white headband.
Ms. Ardell raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
Percival struck a determined pose, and a determined face as he wore the headband. "A piece of cloth made with my hands.." He slowly but surely tied the back end. "One that greatly expresses my faith and willpower–to persevere against all odds.."
He put up his bangs, revealing texts in the headband. "I am.."
The text written was: 'INDOMITABLE HUMAN SPIRIT' "THE INDOMITABLE HUMAN SPIRIT!" He put his arm down to a fist pump, his voice was loud and clear, overflowing with confidence. Everyone nearby heard it, and wondered what in the world was happening.
He crouched down and grabbed his bag. "Please do excuse me, Ms. Ardell. I must waste away downstairs, feeding my hungry brain." And without waiting for her to reply, he walked away, even his walk showed every ounce of his determination. He truly is the indomitable human spirit.. Who could even stand beside him as his equal in terms of willpower!? NOBODY!
Ms. Ardell let out another giggle as she watched her student walk away. "I'm such a good mentor."
...
Blades of ice were the first spell to form for the duel, it speeded towards Zephyr, but she was not to be underestimated in any way. "BEKUMIECZ!" In the nick of time, a sword of ice formed, she immediately used it to block the blades of ice coming her way.
It sure is handy to have this toughed out sword of ice.. It's not the strongest, but it can do! She poised the sword in front of her, assuming an elegant defensive stance that Minerva would most likely use.
I'm ready for your attacks.. Bring it on! While her thoughts had resolve and steered clear from negativity, her face betrayed her thoughts, which wore a nervous look in every part of her face.
On the opposite side of the arena, stood a tall woman with long, light blonde hair all tied up with eyes like the bright, blue sky that were covered by the grey, gloomy clouds. Zephyr couldn't help but take a quick glance at her ears as they stood still at opposite sides.
Unlike Zephyr and the others, this woman had pointed ears–like that of an elf.
The blonde woman held her spear with both her hands, its tip was gold in color, whereas its pole was black. It was 6 feet long, definitely taller than her.
It would be scary if she suddenly threw that spear at me..
As if she read her mind, she suddenly threw her spear at Zephyr, the spear and her hands glowing blue.
The spear was fast enough, its entirety, especially the bottom, hugged tightly by magical water that somehow didn't drop to the ground.
Zephyr just barely dodged it as she dashed to the left, keeping her eyes at the flying spear. My reaction time needs some work.. Moreover, I have to watch that spear very closely..
The spear turned around mid-air, locked towards Zephyr.
As soon as it had a clear angle on her, it speeded towards her once more, but Zephyr was more prepared, she dodged it again, watching it pass by her.
The spear eventually stopped as the blonde woman grabbed it in time.
From a distance above, Minerva watched the two fight it out, they've closed the distance, so much so they've begun to fight with their respective melee weapons.
Minerva sighed in slight disappointment. "You still have a long way to go, Zephyr. If it were me fighting, I'd have my cutlass pointed at her neck already."
"She isn't experienced with all these, cut her some slack." said Sanguinex, who was sitting beside her. "But anyways.." She cast her gaze at the blonde woman with intrigue. "She has pointed ears.. Is she an elf?"
Minerva nodded. "She is. She's from the junior group.. A 6th year, to be exact."
"So she's above us."
"Yes. She seems like a new student, I've never seen her before."
"So. What's her name?"
Minerva thought of it, trying to remember her name from their last encounter. Who knows how long it's been? "Oh, right!" Her face loosened up as she remembered the blonde woman's name. "Her name is Seraphina Mistdancer."
"Mistdancer.. That's a weird surname."
"Is it? I think it's nice."
Seraphina twirled around her spear, its speed showing just how skilled she was in doing so.
A huge disk of water had conjured as she continued to twirl it around, slowly walking towards Zephyr, who took one step back.
As the seconds ticked by, Zephyr grew more and more ticked. "What's with you fellow water users using the source style!? Am I the only visionary user here!?" Her voice grew irritation alongside her face.
She made it very clear she's getting sick of her fellow water users using source style. Honestly? It's just a skill issue. 🙂
Seraphina heard it loud and clear, but she did not bother to reply. She only continued to twirl around her spear with not a single hint of exhaustion, and as she did, small bubbles of water slowly formed and rose from the ground around her.
Zephyr took yet another step back, her resolute face quickly grew to a conflicted one. This is weird.. We've done absolutely nothing these past seconds, she just keeps getting closer with some sort of spell around her... I have to do something!
Finally, Seraphina stopped. She just stood there, holding her spear in front of her as she stopped twirling it.
As Zephyr took a step forward with the intention of attacking her, a violent surge of water rose all across the arena, conjuring a swirling sphere that radiated blueness like that of seawater.
It happened so fast, but even so, Zephyr continued her advance and attempted to strike Seraphina down. She swung her ice sword at Seraphina, who had become the heart of the sphere of water, she herself was surrounded by water.
Her attack did nothing, as it did not go through, it's as if she struck a wall instead of water.
Minerva leaned closer from her seat, her face radiating with excitement, she clasped her hands together and giggled. "Oh! It's this spell!" Her voice did not fail to express her excitement either, it was like a child getting their favorite candy.
Meanwhile, her red-haired seatmate couldn't help but scratch the back of her head, confused. "I don't get it.." Sanguinex's voice had uncertainty in it, she doesn't understand what's happening right now.
"Never mind that!" She hurriedly put her hand over Sanguinex's shoulder, shaking her as she pointed at Seraphina. "Look! Look! She's going to cast another spell!"
"Kohenévoa." Seraphina muttered under her breath.. Without warning, the sphere of water collapsed onto her and Zephyr.
Zephyr looked up in shock.. But her body couldn't just let her stare and do nothing.
As she ducked and looked down, she could only yell out; "BEKUROCCIA!" Small puddles of water formed all around her, and in an instant, it rose up as pillars of ice, completely shielding her as the water fell down to the ground. But she did not know what was on the outside now, and unbeknownst to her as she broke off the pillars..
"Fog..??" Sanguinex narrowed her eyes, wondering if what she's seeing is real.
Minerva nodded. "Fog formed the very moment the water sphere dropped, as if replacing it." She commented.
A thick coat of fog enveloped before Zephyr's eyes, she can no longer see the spectators.. Nor could she see Seraphina.
The cold and eerie air hugged her tightly, her heart slowly beating faster as every second of silence.. And 'blindness' passed by. I can't see her.. I can't see anything!
She looked around, left and right, front and behind, there was not a single sign of Seraphina. Not even a glimpse of her silhouette.
Without any warning, she felt her arms resisting against the force of a projectile, it echoed a loud, sharp and crystalline clang. As she looked back, she noticed her arms extended, her sword was right behind her, which just blocked the projectile that disappeared.
What..? How am I holding my sword behind me? As she turned around, she was confused, but she shook her head. I'll think about it later. I still have an enemy lurking around!
Finally, a silhouette formed in front of her, taking the form of a woman, and blended with her was a spear.
But the silhouette did not just stand still, it moved, and quickly.
She swung up her spear, only to be stopped in its tracks by Zephyr's sword, echoing yet another loud, sharp and crystalline clang.
Blow after blow, the battle between metal and magic ice seemed to have no end. Its wielders, united by the same uniform, but divided by combat.
Slowly but surely, the fog began to fade away, and with it, the cold and silent air that surrounded the two combatants.
As more and more of the fog faded away, the spectators were granted the sight of the two, clashing back and forth with their weapons, with little to no use of the magic they've been trained to use.
I did not train you with weapons.. Minerva narrowed her eyes as she watched Zephyr. Why are you not using magic?
The fight went on, but it was too clear that it was Zephyr struggling. Try as she might to create distance, Seraphina was relentless in closing the distance to her range.
This is so annoying! Her spear range is longer than my sword, I can't safely cast my spells without her constantly attacking me!
"Is she stupid?" Deleena asked with irritation in her voice, turning her head to Adina. "She's using a literal spear. She's fighting close range with it! She should've been able to strike Zephyr down earlier if she actually decided to try poking her! Zephyr doesn't even have a shield!"
Adina shrugged, She too, didn't seem to know what was going on in Seraphina's head. "At least she hasn't been hit yet. She should've been hit by now considering her range from Zephyr's sword."
And finally, the exchanges that seemed to be non-stop, finally stopped. Zephyr was left sweating and breathless, the opposite could be said for Seraphina, who looked the same as when the duel began.
I can't shoot her down! But why hasn't she shot me down yet!? I had so many openings, she could've stabbed me with her spear! Zephyr was still as confused as earlier.. Seraphina is odd, and it's messing around with Zephyr's head.
Zephyr had decided to go on the offensive, launching spells she's used before again and again at the expense of her mana, but Seraphina just kept defending, conjuring pillars of water and pillars of ice to shield herself from Zephyr's attacks.
Seraphina kept her eyes at Zephyr with precision, even as she blocked all of her attacks. She looks tired. She tightly gripped her spear, no longer taking any steps back.
She pointed her spear at Zephyr. Just like their past spells, a puddle of water quickly formed, spreading and forming to ice on the ground quickly as it rushed towards her.
But unlike the former ones, the ice spreading on the ground was way wider. Zephyr was quick to notice, dodging the deadly pillar of ice at the last second.
But as she looked around.. Seraphina was gone. Where is she!? Is she at the pillar!? She turned around to face the pillar, only to see Seraphina in front, thrusting her spear towards her.
But as if her body already expected it, she took a step back and blocked the spear with the flat of the sword, the spear slid up, and so did Zephyr's sword which seemed to follow the spear.
She flinched to this, but as she opened her eyes once more, Seraphina attempted to stab her again, only to be blocked yet again.
The ice sword was starting to show its weakness, hairlines of cracks had formed all around the blade.. It was breaking but Zephyr kept blocking, oblivious to the condition of her sword.
But finally.. Finally! After looking for an opening for the whole duel, Zephyr saw an opening in Seraphina's flank. An opening! Her thoughts exclaimed. There was just no way she could miss this chance, and so she went for the strike.
Zephyr barely noticed a small smile worn in Seraphina's face..
Seraphina twisted her body, deflecting Zephyr's sword with the butt end of the spear.. The sound of ice breaking echoed in the ears of both Zephyr and Seraphina, the blade of the ice sword shattered to pieces and fell to the ground. Once the whole and resilient sword, now everything but the hilt was gone.
Seraphina took a step forward with her right foot, thrusting the spear forwards until it was an inch away from Zephyr's neck.
It was no good. Zephyr stood there, shocked and frozen. Seraphina kept her small smile. "I win." She whispered. It wasn't very audible, but it was enough for it to echo in Zephyr's ears.. To remind her of the fact she has now lost the duel.
The flagbearer raised a flag. "VICTORY FOR SERAPHINA MISTDANCER!" He yelled. The crowd erupted in cheers, Seraphina put down her spear, offering her hand to Zephyr.
Zephyr looked at her hand, and hesitantly extended it, shaking hands with Seraphina. No words needed to be blurted out, especially for someone like Seraphina.
No.. No.. No... She looked up at the crowd and looked at Minerva. Her already scared face had turned to a terrified one as she saw Minerva's disappointed look. Beside her was Sanguinex whose head was tilted down, biting her lip.
She had just disappointed her mentor, who spent months worth of time just to train her.
She cast her gaze at Deleena at Adina, both of which had similar facial expressions to the other two.
I.. I can't look at them! She quickly looked away, her whole body felt cold, her hands started shaking.
Finally, she too, walked away from the arena, her head tilted down, her eyes staring at the ground. She carried the disappointment and humiliation of her defeat along the way.
...
The cold began to kick in as snow slowly, but surely dropped down from the sky. The dark, gloomy sky went hand in hand with Zephyr, seemingly expressing what she felt.