The air in the training grounds felt charged with anticipation as Ellice Frost stood before them. Her icy blue hair and piercing eyes gave her an almost ethereal presence, commanding attention. Henry and Lukas exchanged a quick glance, both curious and wary of this unexpected challenge.
"Ellice Frost," Lukas repeated, studying her. "I've heard of you. You're known for your ice magic. Why do you want to duel me?"
Ellice's smile faded, replaced by a look of determination. "I've been watching you two train, and I see potential. But I also see a need for a real challenge. I want to test your skills, Lukas."
Lukas scrutinized her closely. "Who forced you into doing this?"
Ellice faltered for a moment before regaining her composure. "I only want to test your skills. No one can force me into doing anything."
"No human, maybe," Lukas muttered. "What if the one forcing you isn't human?"
Henry nudged Lukas, whispering, "That's not the way to talk to a girl, y'know."
"If you don't have the courage to duel me, I won't force you. But that would mean you're just a coward, scared of being bested by a girl," Ellice taunted.
Lukas looked down for a moment, then nodded. "Very well, let's make this a fair fight," he said with a grin. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone had sent her, but he pushed the thought aside.
Henry stepped back, giving them space. The other students in the training grounds noticed the confrontation and began to gather around, forming a loose circle. The air buzzed with excitement as whispers spread through the crowd.
Lukas and Ellice faced each other, their expressions serious. "Are you ready?" Lukas asked, his hands glowing with a soft, blue energy.
Ellice nodded, summoning a small flurry of snowflakes that danced around her. "Ready."
With a signal from Henry, the duel began. Lukas moved first, his hands weaving intricate patterns in the air as he summoned his ice magic. A flurry of icy shards formed around him, their edges gleaming in the sunlight. He launched them towards Ellice with a swift motion.
Ellice reacted quickly, raising a hand to summon a wall of ice between them. The ice shards collided with the wall, shattering it into pieces that scattered around them. Ellice retaliated with a wave of her hand, sending a barrage of icicles towards Lukas. He deftly dodged and deflected them, his movements precise and controlled.
As the duel continued, the onlookers watched in awe at the display of skill and power. Henry observed closely, noting the contrast between Lukas's fluid, agile attacks and Ellice's controlled, strategic defenses. It was clear that both duelists were pushing themselves to their limits.
Lukas sent a gust of freezing wind to scatter the ice shards, then followed up with a series of ice spikes aimed at Ellice. She sidestepped them, her form a blur, and countered with a beam of frost. The frost beam and ice spikes met in mid-air, creating a shower of ice crystals.
Ellice pressed the attack, sending a wave of cold that froze the ground beneath Lukas's feet. He jumped into the air, summoning a whirlwind of snow to keep him aloft. From above, he unleashed a storm of ice shards, forcing Ellice to summon a protective barrier of ice. The shards hammered against the barrier, creating cracks and fractures.
Seeing an opportunity, Lukas descended rapidly, his hands glowing with frosty energy. He aimed a powerful strike at the weakened barrier, but Ellice anticipated his move. She dispersed the barrier and redirected the energy into a concentrated beam of frost aimed directly at Lukas.
Lukas managed to twist in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the beam. He landed and immediately countered with a powerful gust of freezing wind, pushing Ellice back. She skidded across the frozen ground, but regained her balance quickly.
Ellice raised her hand, summoning a blizzard that swirled around them. The cold was intense, and Lukas could feel his movements slowing. He generated a barrier of ice to shield himself from the worst of the cold, but Ellice was relentless. She created spikes of ice within the blizzard, launching them at Lukas from all directions.
Lukas spun, his ice barrier deflecting most of the ice spikes, but a few managed to pierce through, grazing his arm and leg. He winced, feeling the sting of the cold. Summoning his remaining strength, he conjured a powerful ice storm, sending shards of ice through the blizzard.
Ellice was forced to dissipate the blizzard to avoid the ice shards, leaving her momentarily vulnerable. Lukas saw his chance and charged forward, icy energy arcing between his hands. Ellice summoned a thick shield of ice just in time, but Lukas's ice shattered it, the fragments scattering around them.
With a final, desperate move, Ellice unleashed a torrent of frost, engulfing Lukas. The freezing cold threatened to overwhelm him, but he held his ground, his own icy aura pushing back against Ellice's attack. They stood locked in a stalemate, their powers clashing in a dazzling display of frost and ice.
Lukas could feel his energy waning. He knew he had one last move left in him, a powerful ice spell that could turn the tide in his favor. But as he prepared to unleash it, he saw the determination in Ellice's eyes and the exhaustion on her face. She was giving it her all, just like he was.
In that moment, Lukas made a decision. He let go of his spell, allowing Ellice's frost to wash over him. The cold enveloped him, and he fell to one knee, breathing heavily.
"I yield," Lukas said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "You've won, Ellice."
Ellice's eyes widened in surprise, then she quickly masked it with a haughty expression. "Hmph! You're worthless," she said as she walked away, undoing the ice magic on Lukas.
Lukas watched her go, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Well, you're pretty good for getting this far with me while I'm only using 3% of my full power," he mumbled to himself. "At least, you got the win he wanted," he added quietly.
Henry hurried over, concern etched on his face. "Hey Lukas, don't feel bad. That's why she's called the Ice Goddess. You're amazing for lasting this long; you're rank E while she's D rank."
"Yeah, it seems she was being forced to duel me," Lukas said.
"You said that earlier. Why do you think so?" Henry asked.
"The look in her eyes," Lukas replied.
"You shouldn't jump to conclusions over such small evidence. I don't think anyone would dare give her orders, including the teachers," Henry said.
"Yeah, you're right," Lukas agreed. "But I peered into her memories for a while. Although I didn't see the face clearly, I heard something about selecting a worthy vessel," Lukas thought to himself, keeping this revelation to himself for now.
***LATER THAT NIGHT***
Ellice walked briskly through the darkened corridors of the academy, her mind racing. She reached a hidden passage concealed behind a tapestry, which led her to a secret underground chamber. The walls were lined with eerie symbols, and the air was thick with an unsettling energy. At the center of the chamber stood a group of hooded figures, their faces obscured in shadow.
"You have returned," a deep, resonant voice echoed through the chamber. The speaker, a tall figure cloaked in darkness, stepped forward. "Report."
Ellice knelt, her eyes fixed on the ground. "I have dueled Lukas De Arcadian and proved that he is not worthy," she said.
There was a murmur of approval from the hooded figures. But the tall figure raised a hand, silencing them. "Did he fight with all his strength?" the leader asked.
Ellice hesitated. "He yielded before the end, but he fought well. I believe he gave his best."
A soft chuckle emerged from the shadows. "You are mistaken, Ellice. Lukas was holding back. He did not reveal his true power."
Ellice's eyes widened in shock. "What? But... he seemed exhausted. I could feel his energy waning."
The tall figure stepped closer, his face still hidden. "You have much to learn. Lukas De Arcadian is no ordinary mage. His potential is far greater than you realize. Your task was not just to test him, but to ascertain the extent of his abilities."
Ellice's heart sank. She had underestimated Lukas, and now she felt a pang of regret. "What should I do now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The leader's voice turned cold and commanding. "Lukas De Arcadian poses a threat to our plans. He must be eliminated. You will find an opportunity to kill him, and you will not fail this time."
Ellice felt a chill run down her spine. She had been assigned to kill someone she had just fought and respected. But she couldn't refuse; her allegiance to the cult was absolute. "Yes, my lord," she said, bowing her head.
As she rose to leave, another hooded figure stepped forward, handing her a vial filled with a shimmering liquid. "Use this to weaken him. It will dull his senses and inhibit his magic. He won't stand a chance."
Ellice took the vial, her hands trembling slightly. "Thank you," she murmured.
The leader's voice echoed once more as she turned to leave.