Air was electric as the crowd buzzed with excitement. Zaryth sat still in the stands, holding Roxane in his arms, his heartbeat quickening as the announcer's voice echoed throughout the arena.
"Next match—Ruby Silverlight versus Sirus Glacius!"
Zaryth's entire focus locked on the arena. His sister's name had finally been called. Roxane, sensing his excitement, clutched his tunic, sucking on his thumb with wide, curious eyes. Zaryth gave her a brief glance, whispering, "Don't worry, Roxane. This one will be fun." He shifted her comfortably in his arms and leaned forward, his gaze intent on the arena below.
The gates on either side of the arena creaked open. On one side stood Ruby Silverlight, her silver hair flowing behind her like a storm waiting to be unleashed. She wore a confident expression, her crimson-and-black battle uniform shimmering under the arena lights. Across from her, Sirus Glacius entered with a smirk, the crowd cheering loudly as he twirled his ice-tipped spear effortlessly in one hand.
Sirus approached the center, loud enough for everyone to hear. "So, the sister of the runaway Silverlight finally decides to show her face." The audience chuckled as the mockery began.
Sirus leaned forward slightly, taunting Ruby with a smug grin. "Do you remember, Ruby? When I humiliated your brother in front of everyone here? Do you want to follow in his footsteps and continue the legacy of your pathetic brother who ran away?"
The crowd erupted into laughter, the sound ringing in Zaryth's ears. He clenched his jaw, his grip tightening on Roxane. The painful memory of his defeat at the hands of Sirus surfaced, but he forced himself to stay calm. This was Ruby's fight, and she didn't need him interfering.
Down in the arena, Ruby's expression darkened. The light in her silver eyes shifted—dangerously calm and sharp. The tension in the air became palpable as she spoke in a low voice, "You shouldn't have brought my brother into this."
With no further words, the announcer gave the signal, and the battle began.
The Fight
Sirus moved first, conjuring shards of ice from thin air. With a flick of his wrist, dozens of razor-sharp spears shot toward Ruby. She didn't flinch. Raising her hand, a wall of searing lightning burst from her fingertips, disintegrating the ice shards midair with a crackling roar.
Sirus dashed toward her, his spear trailing frost, aiming for a fast strike to end it early. But Ruby was faster. She slid backward, her body trailing streaks of lightning, and countered with a jet of fire magic, forcing Sirus to leap back in defense.
"Good reflexes," Sirus grinned, spinning his spear to deflect another incoming bolt of electricity. He retaliated with a sudden surge of ice magic, the air growing cold around him. Ruby's breath crystallized in front of her as icy tendrils shot from the ground, aiming to bind her legs.
Ruby smirked. "Not good enough." She stomped the ground, and with a thunderous crack, lightning rippled through the arena floor, shattering the ice tendrils and forcing Sirus to jump back.
The two clashed again, spells flying rapidly between them—fire against frost, lightning against water. The arena roared as magic collided in bright flashes of light. Ruby was relentless, forcing Sirus to stay on the defensive.
Sirus gritted his teeth. "You're faster than I expected."
Ruby gave him a cold look. "I don't need your expectations."
Sirus growled and changed tactics. He thrust his spear into the ground, and an enormous wave of frost surged forward, covering the arena floor in ice. Ruby's footing wobbled slightly, but she skated gracefully across the frozen surface, her movements like a dancer gliding on lightning.
Sirus leapt at her with a burst of speed, his spear flashing toward her throat. Ruby twisted her body mid-slide and narrowly dodged the blow, sending a pulse of water magic that hit Sirus square in the chest and sent him skidding backward.
The two stood apart, both breathing hard. The battle was wearing on both of them, and the crowd was fully engrossed.
Sirus clenched his jaw and pushed forward, his spear glowing with a blue aura. With a roar, he summoned an ice storm, surrounding himself in blinding snow and frost. But Ruby remained unfazed. She calmly raised her hand, lightning crackling between her fingers.
Sirus rushed through the snowstorm, aiming a decisive strike at her heart—but Ruby was ready. She slammed her palm into the ground, sending a massive wave of lightning outward. The energy dispersed the ice storm instantly, shocking Sirus and causing him to stumble, disoriented.
Ruby didn't give him time to recover. She summoned a powerful bolt of fire, launching it directly at Sirus. He managed to block part of it with a wall of ice, but the force of the explosion knocked him off his feet, leaving him vulnerable.
The two warriors stood at the edge of their limits, both breathing heavily. Ruby's silver hair was slightly disheveled, and Sirus was struggling to stay upright, leaning on his spear for support.
They locked eyes—both knowing that a single misstep would decide the match.
The Final Clash
Sirus pushed himself up with one last burst of strength. He lunged toward Ruby, his spear glowing with ice magic. Ruby met his charge head-on, her body surging with lightning and fire at once.
The two clashed in a blinding explosion of magic. Lightning crackled, fire roared, and ice shattered as the two spells collided. The force of the blast sent shockwaves through the arena, forcing the spectators to shield their eyes.
When the dust settled, both Ruby and Sirus stood still—exhausted, drained, and barely able to stand. The crowd held its breath, waiting for the outcome.
Then, the announcer's voice rang out:
"The match ends in a draw!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, amazed by the fierce battle between the two. Zaryth exhaled slowly, a proud smile spreading across his face as he watched his sister stand tall, unwavering despite the draw.
In his arms, Roxane tilted her head in confusion, still sucking on his thumb. Zaryth kissed her head and whispered, "That's your aunt Ruby, Roxane. Isn't she amazing?"
As the arena buzzed with excitement, the announcer's voice rang through the stadium.
"Next Match! Mavuika Natlan, the War Queen, heir of the Natlan family, and the future War Archon!"
The crowd cheered thunderously at her introduction.
"Her opponent is none other than Elysia Silverlight, the future Archon of Duality and Holy Knight of the Empire!"
The tension in the air thickened as the two stepped into the arena, drawing all eyes toward them.
Mavuika, with her striking crimson hair and piercing eyes, wielded her elegant katana—its blade as sharp as her presence, shimmering with elemental power. Wind swirled around her, and sparks of fire and lightning flickered at her fingertips. She stared down Elysia with a mixture of respect and unyielding determination.
Elysia stood tall, a beacon of divine grace, her armor glinting under the sunlight. She drew her holy sword with an air of calm confidence, radiating power. The crowd was on edge—this was a battle between two prodigies, and neither of them intended to hold back.
The Battle Begins
Without warning, Mavuika dashed forward, a storm of wind at her back, slashing at Elysia with blinding speed. Elysia deflected it with ease, her sword glowing with holy energy. Mavuika danced through the elements—flames burst around her sword, water encircled her movements, and lightning lanced through the air. The sheer variety of attacks kept Elysia on the defensive, but she remained unfazed.
Elysia retaliated, channeling her mastery of duality—light and shadow harmonized in her strikes, her every movement precise and balanced. Mavuika found herself challenged at every step, struggling to land decisive blows against her sister-in-law's overwhelming composure and experience.
The clash of their magic and blades echoed through the arena, drawing gasps from the audience. Windstorms met radiant blasts, water surged against holy fire, and lightning crackled underfoot as they exchanged fierce blows. Both fighters pushed themselves to the limit, neither willing to concede an inch.
Mavuika fought like a tempest, relentless and unpredictable, but Elysia's experience and calm mind gave her the edge. Mavuika launched a final assault, combining fire, wind, and lightning into a devastating attack, but Elysia countered with a blinding surge of holy light.
When the dust settled, Mavuika's katana was just an inch from Elysia's throat, but Elysia's sword rested lightly on Mavuika's chest. The crowd erupted as the match was declared in Elysia's favor—her experience had given her the narrow victory.
Zaryth's Surprise Visitor
As Zaryth watched from the distance, hidden among the crowd with Roxane in his arms, he felt a mixture of pride and nostalgia. Memories of his family flooded his mind—Elysia's calm demeanor, Ruby's determination, and Mavuika's fire. He could only smile at how much they'd all grown in his absence.
Just then, a shadow approached from the side, and Zaryth's smile disappeared.
"Kane?" Zaryth whispered, his voice low with warning. Kane ducked low beside him, glancing around to make sure no one saw him.
"You weren't supposed to leave the waiting area," Zaryth hissed, glaring at his companion.
Kane shrugged with a mischievous grin. "I got bored."
Zaryth narrowed his eyes. "You know you're not allowed to be here."
Kane's playful demeanor shifted, and he leaned closer, speaking in a serious tone.
"Zaryth, there's a problem."
The smile on Zaryth's face vanished, and his gaze sharpened. "What problem?"
Kane glanced around nervously before leaning even closer. "Something's wrong... It's urgent."
Zaryth's heart sank as the weight of Kane's words settled over him. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.