The square was slowly devolving into chaos, but Melisa was strangely calm.
Her tail flicked behind her as she ducked under a beam of searing light, the heat kissing the back of her neck. The emerald-haired woman moved with the precision of a predator, her hands tracing spellsigns faster than most mages could dream of.
"Ventus, ferra, stralia!" the woman shouted, sending a wave of razor-sharp wind highlighted by the sapphire aura of Essence slicing toward Melisa.
Melisa's wand flashed through the air as she countered with her own spell.
"Lumin, corta, aegis!" A barrier of shimmering light appeared in front of her, the wind blades scattering harmlessly against it like leaves caught in a storm.
The crowd gasped. Melisa caught a glimpse of Aria in the front row, her silver eyes wide and unguarded. The princess looked... shocked.
[Good. The real fight obviously hasn't started yet, but... Maybe I can still use this.]
