The afternoon sun cast a golden glow across the training field as Ryan and Scarlet stood across from each other, ready for their mock battle. The air between them felt charged, filled with anticipation. Both had trained hard, and now it was time to put their skills to the test.
Ryan held his sword steady, a small smile playing on his lips. "You ready for this, Scarlet?"
Scarlet, her red hair catching the sunlight, nodded with determination in her eyes. "More than ready."
Without wasting another second, Ryan made the first move. "Earth Spear!"
The ground beneath him rumbled as a sharp spear of earth shot upward, heading straight for Scarlet. But she was quick on her feet. Her hands glowed with fiery light as she shouted, "Fireball!"
A ball of roaring flame shot from her palm, hurtling toward Ryan's earth spear. The two powerful spells collided in midair, creating a massive explosion that sent a gust of wind across the field. Dust and embers flew everywhere, momentarily obscuring their vision.
Ryan didn't slow down. Using the cover of the explosion, he whispered, "Amplification Magic," boosting his speed in an instant. He dashed toward Scarlet, his movements almost a blur as he aimed to close the gap between them.
But Scarlet was prepared.
"Flame Clone!" she shouted, a mischievous smile appearing on her face.
A fiery duplicate of Scarlet appeared in front of her, its flames dancing menacingly. Ryan didn't hesitate—he moved in to strike. But the moment he got close, the clone exploded into a burst of flames, sending fiery sparks in all directions.
For a moment, it seemed like the flames had engulfed Ryan. But as the smoke cleared, Ryan stood unharmed, his Earth Clone and Earth Boulder standing in front of him, having absorbed the impact of the blast.His earth clone got tattered after the explosion.
"You almost got me there," Ryan muttered, scanning the field for the real Scarlet.
She wasn't far. Ryan spotted her a few feet away, her hands already glowing with mana as she prepared another spell.
"You're going to have to be faster than that!" Scarlet teased, her eyes gleaming with determination.
Ryan grinned. Time to finish this.
With a quick surge of Gravity Manipulation, Ryan increased his speed, his body moving faster than ever before. The ground beneath him cracked slightly as he pushed forward, closing the distance between him and Scarlet in an instant.
Before she could finish her chant, Ryan appeared behind her, his sword gently placed against her neck.
"Got you," he said, his voice calm but triumphant.
Scarlet froze, realizing she had lost. She sighed in defeat, lowering her hands. "I thought I could hold you off a bit longer."
Ryan chuckled, lowering his sword as he stepped back. "You did great. That flame clone was smart. If I hadn't used my earth clone, I'd be in trouble."
Scarlet smiled, though there was a playful glint in her eyes. "I'll get you next time."
Ryan shook his head with a grin. "We'll see about that."
They both stood in silence for a moment, catching their breath after the intense battle. Despite the playful nature of their fight, it had pushed them both to their limits.Ryan legs felt weak as gravity manipulation takes a toll on his leg muscles.
After a moment of quiet, Ryan decided to check their progress. He opened his panel first, curious to see how his skills had grown after their hard training.
Ryan's Panel
Level: 1 Magister(High earth affinity)
Age: 10
Skills:Earth Spear (Level 3)
Earth Clone (Level 2)
Amplification Magic (Level 3)
Primary Gravity Manipulation (Level 5)
Primary Northern Sword Flow (Level 5)
earth boulder(level 5)
Magic missile(level 2)
He nodded, satisfied with his progress. His earth magic and gravity manipulation were becoming more refined, and his swordsmanship had improved significantly.
Next, he checked Scarlet's panel.
Scarlet's Panel
Level: 1 Magister(peak fire affinity)
Age: 10
Skills: Primary Fire Manipulation(level 5)
Fireball(level 4)
Flame Clone(level 4)
Phoenix Fire Art(level 3)
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "You're getting stronger. Your flame manipulation is a lot sharper than before."
Scarlet blushed slightly at the compliment. "Thanks. You've improved too. Your speed… it's ridiculous. I could barely keep track of you."
Ryan smiled. "That's the plan."
They both stood quietly for a moment, letting the excitement of the battle settle down. Despite the outcome, both of them had grown stronger through their training, and it was starting to show.
After a while, Ryan sheathed his sword and glanced at the setting sun. "We've got to get back," he said, his voice returning to a more serious tone.
Ryan continued. "We need to prepare for the welcoming ceremony tomorrow. Crown Prince Leo and Vivienne will be arriving at Duskveil."
"Yeah, it is," Scarlet replied. "We've got a lot of work to do to make sure everything's ready. But don't worry, it'll go smoothly"
Ryan joked."Just make sure you don't set on the stage with flames".
Scarlet rolled her eyes but couldn't help but laugh. "I'll do my best to control myself."
Ryan chuckled as they made their way back toward the estate. The day had been exhausting, but the thought of what was to come filled them with anticipation.
to be continued....