The sound of the gong echoed throughout the arena, marking the beginning of the duel between Eveline and Cedric. The audience, once murmuring with excitement, fell silent, all eyes fixed on the two swordsmen at the center of the field. Flags fluttered in the gentle morning breeze, but Eveline felt nothing but the weight of her sword in her hand and Cedric's imposing presence before her.
Cedric took the first step. His sword shone brightly with magic as he moved like lightning toward Eveline. The strike came quickly, but Eveline was prepared. With an agile spin, she blocked Cedric's blade, sparks of magical energy flying between their swords.
The impact made her legs tremble, but Eveline held her ground. Cedric was fast, faster than any opponent she had ever faced, but the arrogant confidence in his eyes indicated he still wasn't taking her seriously.
"Is that all you've got?" Cedric murmured as he stepped back, preparing for another attack. "Let's see how far you can go."
Eveline narrowed her eyes, feeling the wave of power Cedric was accumulating. He wasn't just using swordsmanship; she could sense the ancient magic he was conjuring in his blade. Each of his strikes felt heavier, as if he were channeling raw energy directly into his attacks.
Cedric charged again, this time with a combination of quick and precise strikes. Eveline could barely keep up with his movements, defending herself at the last second as the pressure mounted with each blocked blow. However, she was unwilling to be pushed into a corner.
Finally, when Cedric launched a devastating vertical attack, Eveline saw her opening. With a speed that surprised even herself, she dodged the blow, spun her body, and unleashed a wave of shadows from the tip of her sword. The energy enveloped Cedric, forcing him to retreat for the first time.
The audience gasped in shock.
"So this is it," Cedric said, a smile creeping onto his lips. "The famous magic of shadows."
But Eveline knew that wouldn't be enough. The duel was far from over.
Cedric raised his sword, and Eveline could see he was preparing for something greater. The air around him began to crackle with energy. The light surrounding him grew blinding as he murmured a series of incantations. His sword shone with an intensity that made the spectators shield their eyes.
"Pure light," Cedric declared, raising his blade with deadly brilliance. "Let's see how your shadows withstand this!"
With a fluid motion, he swung an arc through the air, launching a wave of luminous energy directly at Eveline. The light came with overwhelming force, as if it would consume everything in its path.
Eveline couldn't afford to hesitate. She concentrated, closing her eyes for a brief moment as she felt the shadows within her stirring. She raised her sword, now surrounded by a swirling torrent of pulsating darkness.
In the last second, Eveline cut through the air with her blade, releasing a powerful wave of shadows to collide with Cedric's attack. The two forces clashed at the center of the arena, creating an explosion of light and darkness that shook the ground and sent many in the audience to their feet in surprise.
The arena was engulfed in a whirlwind of light and shadows, the energies intertwining and colliding. Amidst the chaos, Eveline and Cedric continued to move, their swords glowing as they exchanged blows in the midst of the magical tempest.
For a brief moment, Eveline felt the pressure from Cedric increase. He was strong, more than she expected, and his confidence was justified. However, something within her began to awaken. The calm she had felt during the test with Varian returned, and Eveline remembered that true power came from balance, not brute strength.
Cedric advanced with another powerful strike, but this time Eveline did not retreat. Instead, she plunged into the shadows, disappearing from Cedric's sight. The audience murmured in confusion, but Eveline was already moving, using the darkness to reappear behind Cedric in the blink of an eye.
Cedric barely had time to turn around when Eveline attacked. Her blade shimmered with the perfect fusion of light and shadows, and when it collided with Cedric's sword, the force of the impact made him stagger back.
"Impossible..." Cedric murmured, struggling to regain his balance. "How... how did you do that?"
Eveline remained silent, her eyes locked onto Cedric. She knew he still hadn't shown all his power, but she also knew that if she continued to fight the same way, she wouldn't stand a chance. She needed something more.
Suddenly, Eveline felt a new wave of power within her. It was different from what she had felt before—deeper, older. The shadows around her began to glow with a faint light, as if they were harmoniously merging.
Cedric composed himself and charged again, this time with more rage and determination. He struck with an almost impossible force, but Eveline, now in tune with her power, easily blocked the attack. The clash of their swords was deafening, but Eveline did not waver.
Cedric fell back, breathless, his eyes wide. "What did you do...?"
"It's not just about strength," Eveline replied calmly. "It's about balance."
Cedric gritted his teeth, and with a cry of frustration, he gathered the remnants of his strength for one final attack. His sword shone brightly, and he lunged at Eveline with all his remaining energy.
Eveline raised her sword, now fully imbued with both light and shadows, and faced Cedric's attack head-on. The two blades collided with a force that shook the arena once again.
For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still. Light and shadows intertwined in the air around them, as if in perfect balance.
And then, with a sharp sound, Cedric's sword shattered in half.
Cedric fell to his knees, exhausted and defeated, while Eveline stood tall, breathless but victorious.
The audience erupted into applause, and Eveline lowered her sword, looking at Cedric with a mix of respect and compassion.
"You're strong," Cedric said, his voice low and somber. "Stronger than I expected."
Eveline extended her hand to him, helping him up. "True strength doesn't come solely from light or shadows. It comes from the balance between the two."
Cedric met her gaze for a moment before nodding silently, accepting defeat with dignity.
As the applause continued, Eveline gazed toward the horizon, knowing that while she had won this duel, the true challenge was yet to come.