The sun cast its warm glow over the Academy, illuminating the students as they hurried to their classes. Lucius, Darius, and Elara walked through the bustling hallways, the anticipation of the upcoming tournament buzzing around them like electricity.
"Can you believe it's almost here?" Elara asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Darius chuckled, adjusting the strap of his bag. "I've been dreaming about this tournament for a long time now. It's our chance to prove ourselves."
Lucius, walking a few steps ahead, turned around with a confident smirk. "Just remember, you two—I'm not going easy on anyone."
Elara rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Lucius, sometimes I wonder if you ever take anything seriously."
"Only when it matters," Lucius replied, his tone suddenly more serious. "And this tournament—this matters."
The day unfolded with the usual rhythm of classes and lectures, but the excitement was palpable. Every student seemed to be talking about the tournament, discussing strategies, and speculating about their opponents. During lunch, the trio found a quiet spot under a large oak tree, away from the bustling cafeteria.
"I heard that the tournament will have some surprise challenges this year," Darius said, taking a bite of his sandwich. "Apparently, they want to test not just our combat skills but our strategic thinking as well."
Elara nodded, her brow furrowed in thought. "That makes sense. After all, a true warrior needs to be more than just strong—they need to be smart."
Lucius leaned back against the tree, his eyes scanning the horizon. "No matter what they throw at us, we'll be ready."
As the afternoon classes came to an end, the students began to disperse. Lucius, Darius, and Elara were about to head to their dormitories when Darius heard a commotion coming from behind one of the training buildings. Curiosity piqued,he rounded the corner to find a younger student, a fellow first-year named Timo, being bullied by a group of older boys.
Timo had always been a target for bullies. His small stature and shy demeanor made him an easy victim. But today, the bullying had escalated. The bullies had discovered that Timo came from a family of non-magical folk, a fact that they used to mock and belittle him.
"Hey! Leave him alone!" Darius shouted, his voice echoing through the narrow alley.
The bullies turned, sneering at Darius.
One of the bullies, a lanky boy with a sneer, stepped forward. "Or what? You gonna stop us?" he taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance.
Without another word, Darius stepped forward, his fists clenched. The bullies laughed, but their amusement was short-lived. With swift, powerful movements, Darius engaged them, his earth magic enhancing his strength and defense. He dodged their clumsy attacks, countering with precision. One by one, the bullies fell, defeated and humiliated.
Timo looked up at Darius with wide, grateful eyes. "Thank you," he whispered.
Darius smiled, helping the boy to his feet. "Stay strong, okay?"
Later that evening, in the dimly lit common room of the dormitory, Darius recounted the incident to Elara. "Those bullies had no chance," he said, his voice filled with a mix of pride and concern. "But I have a feeling they won't take this lightly."
Elara's eyes widened.They are notorious for being ruthless. You need to be careful, Darius."
Darius nodded, his expression serious. "If they plan something, it won't be just a simple brawl. They will come at me with everything they have."
The next day passed uneventfully, but Darius couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. He trained harder than usual, pushing himself to be ready for whatever the bullies might throw at him. Little did he know, They were already concocting a detailed plan to take him down.
The Bully boss whose name was Sam wasn't an ordinary bully. He was cunning and strategic, always thinking several steps ahead. They gathered their cronies in a secluded part of the Academy grounds, away from prying eyes. "Darius humiliated us," Sam began, his voice cold and calculating. "We need to hit him where it hurts."
One of the cronies, a wiry boy named Max, spoke up. "But Sam, he's strong. He took us all down without breaking a sweat. How can we beat him?"
Sam's eyes narrowed. "We don't fight him head-on. We wear him down, exhaust him, and then strike when he's at his weakest." He outlined his plan in meticulous detail. They would isolate Darius, luring him into a series of traps designed to drain his energy.
First, they would spread rumors about a secret training session in an isolated part of the forest, where Darius would have to fight off some of the Academy's best fighters. Sam had connections and could arrange for these fighters to challenge Darius under the guise of a secret, elite training exercise. Darius, always eager to prove himself, would not be able to resist the challenge.
Once Darius was sufficiently worn out, Sam would confront him alone. Sam's fire magic was powerful and unpredictable, a perfect counter to Darius's earth magic. He instructed his cronies to study Darius's fighting style, noting his strengths and weaknesses. They would use this knowledge to their advantage, exploiting every vulnerability.
The following week, the plan was set into motion. The rumors spread quickly, and it wasn't long before Darius caught wind of the secret training session. Intrigued and eager to test his abilities, he ventured into the forest, unaware of the trap that awaited him.
The fighters Sam and Rick had arranged were formidable, each one skilled in different forms of combat. Darius fought valiantly, his earth magic giving him an edge, but the continuous battles began to take their toll. He could feel his energy waning with each passing minute.
Just as he thought he couldn't go on, Sam emerged from the shadows, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Well, well, look who we have here," Sam sneered, his eyes gleaming with malice. "I told you you'd pay for what you did."
Darius, breathing heavily, tried to stand tall. "You think this changes anything? I'll still take you down."
Sam chuckled, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "Oh, I don't think so. This time, it's just you and me."
With a flick of his wrist, Sam summoned a torrent of flames, the heat intense and suffocating. Darius raised his arms, summoning a wall of earth to shield himself, but Sam's fire magic was relentless. The flames licked at the earth, breaking it down, inch by inch.
Darius fought back with everything he had, his earth magic creating barriers and launching projectiles. But Sam was too powerful, his fire magic overwhelming Darius's defenses, he was already a mid Tier 2 mage at just 14.The heat was unbearable, and Darius could feel his strength slipping away.
Sam advanced, his eyes cold and calculating. He launched a series of fiery attacks, each one more brutal than the last. Darius tried to counter, but he was exhausted, his movements slow and sluggish.
With a final, devastating burst of fire, Sam knocked Darius to the ground. The flames seared his skin, the pain excruciating. Darius tried to get up, but his body wouldn't respond. He could feel the darkness closing in, his vision blurring.
Sam stood over him, a triumphant sneer on his face. "This is what happens when you mess with me," he spat, kicking Darius in the ribs for good measure. "Remember that."
When Darius regained consciousness, he was in the healers' wing, his body aching from head to toe. The room was quiet, the only sound the soft rustle of leaves outside the window. He tried to sit up, but the pain was too much.
"Don't move," a gentle voice said. Darius turned his head to see Elara sitting by his side, her eyes filled with concern. "You're hurt badly. You need to rest."
Darius tried to speak, but his voice was weak. "Sam... it was Sam..."
Elara's eyes darkened with anger. "I know. I found you in the forest. You're lucky to be alive."
Tears filled Darius's eyes. "I couldn't stop him. I'm so sorry, Elara."
Elara shook her head, her expression fierce. "Don't you dare apologize. This isn't your fault. Sam is a monster, and he will pay for what he's done."
Lucius was in the healers' wing when Darius was brought in, his body limp and battered. The sight of his friend, once so strong and full of life, now reduced to this state ignited a fury within him that he had never felt before. He barely heard the healer's words as they explained Darius's injuries; all he could see was red.
Elara's voice was a distant echo, trying to calm him, but there was no calming the storm that had been unleashed inside him. "Who did this?" he demanded, his voice a low growl.
"Sam Les," Elara whispered, her eyes filled with sorrow and anger. "He set a trap and—"
That was all Lucius needed to hear. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the healers' wing, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He knew exactly where to find Sam and his cronies—lounging in their usual spot, basking in their false sense of superiority.
When Lucius arrived, the sight of Sam's smug face only fueled his rage. Without a word, he launched himself at Sam, his fist connecting with a sickening thud against Sam's jaw. Sam stumbled back, more out of shock than pain.
"You coward!" Lucius roared, his voice echoing through the courtyard. "You think you can get away with attacking my friend?"
Sam's cronies tried to intervene, but Lucius was a force of nature. He dispatched each of them with brutal efficiency, his anger giving him strength. Every punch, every kick was fueled by his hatred for Sam and his cruelty.
"Is this all you have?" Lucius spat, his voice filled with contempt as he knocked another one of Sam's lackeys to the ground. "You hide behind your friends, but they're just as pathetic as you are."
The students who had gathered to watch the spectacle were silent, their faces pale with fear. They had never seen Lucius like this, and it terrified them.
Sam, now alone and cornered, tried to summon his fire magic, but Lucius was too fast. He grabbed Sam by the collar and slammed him against the wall, his eyes burning with fury.
"This is for Darius," Lucius hissed, his fist connecting with Sam's face again and again. "For Timo. For everyone you've ever hurt."
With each punch, Sam's resistance crumbled. Blood streamed from his nose and mouth, his eyes wide with terror. Lucius's hands were slick with Sam's blood, but he didn't care. All that mattered was making Sam pay.
Finally, as Lucius drew back for another punch, a hand caught his wrist. He turned, his eyes wild and unseeing, ready to fight whoever dared to stop him.
But the sight of that hand, the firmness of its grip, brought him back to reality. He stood there, his chest heaving, his knuckles dripping with blood, as the students watched in stunned silence.