The two forces collided with a deafening hiss, steam erupting from the point of contact, filling the entire area with thick, blinding vapor. Alexander grimaced as the heat from the fire met the cold, damp air of the water magic, and the room's temperature dropped rapidly. The clash of elements created a burst of energy, and Alexander felt the shockwave ripple through his body, forcing him to take a step back.
His vision blurred as the room became obscured by the cloud of steam, and for a moment, Alexander couldn't see anything. He focused his mind and squinted into the haze, his muscles tensing as he tried to anticipate her next move. His instincts screamed at him to stay alert, but the mist made it impossible to see clearly.
Suddenly, a sharp glint of light caught his eye. From within the vapor, a sword formed from pure water burst through the mist, aimed directly at him. Alexander reacted on instinct, throwing himself to the side just as the sword flew past him, embedding itself into the ground with a solid thud. He turned, watching the blade melt back into a harmless stream of water that trickled into the cracks in the floor.
His heart raced. Alexander's eyes darted through the mist, his breath shallow. The guardian was still out there, hidden within the fog, preparing its next attack. He stood still for a moment, gathering his thoughts and listening to the faint sounds of water swirling around him.
The woman, sensing his readiness, raised her hand slowly, and water magic formed around her fingertips, spiraling outwards in intricate patterns. Within moments, she had summoned a swarm of flying swords made entirely of water, each one gleaming in the light of the virtual space. The blades hovered around her like a deadly constellation, ready to strike at any moment.
Without wasting a second, she flicked her wrist, and the swords shot toward Alexander with terrifying speed, like a school of fish. And through the haze, he saw them—more than a dozen water swords, gleaming and deadly.
"Damn, here it comes again," Alexander muttered through gritted teeth, his mind racing as he summoned fire wall to his aid. The flames responded instantly, roaring to life around him and forming a protective barrier of heat about two meters. He poured more energy into the spell, and thrust his hands forward. The flames growing larger and more aggressive, and finally became a blazing sea of flames around him.
They licked the air like a hungry beast, flickered with an almost violent energy. Under his command, the fire surged forward, rolling across the ground like a tidal wave, rushing toward the guardian in a massive wave. The water swords, once threatening, were no match for the inferno, were caught in the path of the flames. One by one, the blades were swallowed by the flames, evaporating into steam as they made contact with the heat.
Alexander watched with satisfaction as the fire consumed everything in its path. The sea of flames grew larger and larger, spreading across the ground until it reached the guardian herself. But the guardian wasn't done yet. Her water barrier shimmered into existence again, pushing back against the flames with an equally powerful force.
The two elements collided violently, steam and heat filling the air as they battled for dominance. The pressure in the virtual space grew unbearable, the opposing forces creating an almost deafening roar. Finally, the guardian's water barrier began to crack, small fissures appeared in the protective shell, and Alexander saw his opening.
"Now!" he shouted, thrusting both hands forward as he unleashed the full power of his spell.
The flames surged forward one last time, breaking through the weakened barrier and crashing into the guardian with explosive force. The fire wrapped around her, consuming her form in a swirling inferno.
But just as quickly as it had begun, the flames flickered out, leaving the battlefield eerily quiet.
Alexander stood panting, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. The virtual space was still, then a soft chime echoed through the space, signaling the end of the simulation. A beam of light enveloped Alexander, and before he knew it, the virtual world began to dissolve around him.
When the light faded, Alexander found himself sitting on the cool floor of the magic training room, the familiar surroundings a stark contrast to the fiery battlefield he had just left.
He ran a hand through his damp hair, couldn't help but grin. It had taken four attempts, but he had finally defeated the guardian of level A. The taste of victory was sweet and he had learnt the guardian's magic skills and experience, even if it had nearly drained every ounce of magic he had left in the end.
"Well done," came a voice from behind him.
Alexander turned his head slightly to see Lira standing at the edge of the room, her arms crossed as she leaned against the doorframe. There was a proud smile on her lips.
Alexander chuckled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Barely."
Lira walked over and offered a hand to help him up, handing him a water bottle. "That was impressive, though. You are the only one in the academy who had successfully taken on the A-level challenge on the first attempt in 30 years."
Alexander took a long sip of water, the cool liquid felt like a blessing, soothing his parched throat. He leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes for a moment. "I almost thought I would failed again."
"Here are ten pink crystals," Lira said, pulling a small package from her arms and handing it to Alexander, her movements were careful. "Take them for now. You might need them tomorrow. And remember—blood-red crystals must be kept hidden. They're not to be shown to others lightly."
Alexander stared at the package, then quickly shook his head and waved his hands in protest. "It's too valuable. I can't accept this," he said, backing away slightly.
Lira chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Just think of it as a loan," she said, her tone light but persuasive. "You can repay me later. No need to feel guilty."
Alexander hesitated for a moment before sighing and accepting the crystals. "Well, I already owe you so much," he said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "How about I repay you with my body?" His tone was teasing.
Lira burst out laughing, shaking her head. "Go away!" she giggled, playfully pushing him. "That would be a bargain for you!"
After accepted the crystals, Alexander said, determination filling his voice. "I need to keep training."
Lira looked him up and down, her smile fading just a little. "You pushed yourself too hard. You need to be careful, especially with the duel tomorrow. You won't have time to recover if you're running on empty."
"Let's get out of here," Lira said, gesturing toward the door, and offering him a hand. "You've done enough for today. Time to take a break."
Alexander nodded and took her hand out of the training room. The exhaustion was starting to weigh heavily on his heart and mind, and all he could think about now was getting back to his dorm and collapsing into bed.
...
Roderick and Lucian, here he come. And he wouldn't lose.