Chapter 8: The Water's Edge
The sunlight streaming through the academy's grand arena had shifted slightly, marking the passage of time as the tournament progressed. The cheers of the audience ebbed and flowed like a tide, rising with every explosive spell or devastating strike. Aeron stood near the edge of the stands, his arms crossed, his eyes locked on the arena below.
It was Kelton's turn to fight, and Aeron wouldn't miss a single moment.
"Looks like the showoff is up," Jinx said, nudging Aeron's arm. She adjusted her goggles, the faint hum of magic detectable as the lenses whirred to life.
"Let's see if he's worth the talk," Aeron replied evenly.
Kelton entered the arena with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, his posture relaxed, his smile sharp. His opponent, a hulking third-year named Darik, towered over him, his thick arms rippling with muscle. Darik was a known contender in the academy, famous for his brute strength and earth magic. The ground seemed to vibrate under his heavy steps.
"He's going to struggle if he gets too close," Jinx remarked, scribbling in her notebook.
Aeron nodded but said nothing. Kelton, however, didn't look concerned. He was already toying with a small stream of water in his hand, letting it twist and spiral lazily as if Darik wasn't even worth his full attention.
"Fighters, take your positions!" the headmaster announced.
Kelton rolled his shoulders, his smirk never faltering. Darik slammed his fists together, the ground beneath him cracking slightly as he summoned his magic.
"Begin!"
Darik wasted no time, slamming his foot down and sending a jagged wave of stone rushing toward Kelton. The arena trembled as shards of earth shot up, aimed directly at Kelton's midsection.
Kelton sidestepped casually, the water in his hand forming into a shimmering barrier that absorbed the impact of stray debris. With a flick of his wrist, the barrier shifted into a thin stream, snaking toward Darik with deceptive speed.
Darik countered by raising a wall of stone, but the water wasn't meant to strike—it wrapped around the wall and slid across the ground, pooling near his feet. Kelton grinned.
"Watch your footing," Kelton called, his voice carrying easily over the din of the crowd.
The ground beneath Darik turned to mud, his heavy frame sinking slightly as he tried to pull his legs free. He growled in frustration, slamming his hands down to harden the earth again, but Kelton didn't give him a chance.
With a sweeping motion, Kelton summoned a wave of water, crashing it into Darik's chest. The impact sent the larger fighter sprawling, mud clinging to his limbs as he struggled to stand.
"He's toying with him," Jinx muttered, leaning forward.
"Or testing him," Aeron said, his tone thoughtful.
Darik roared, slamming both fists into the ground. Spikes of stone erupted around him, forcing Kelton to leap back. The crowd gasped as one spike grazed Kelton's arm, leaving a shallow cut.
For the first time, Kelton's smirk faltered, his expression darkening.
"That was a mistake," Jinx whispered.
Kelton responded with a precision that was both terrifying and beautiful. The water pooling at his feet shot upward, forming into a whip that lashed out with blinding speed. Darik raised his arms to block, but the whip shifted mid-strike, curling around his ankle and yanking him off balance.
Before Darik could recover, Kelton closed the distance. A blade of ice materialized in his hand, its edge gleaming dangerously. He pointed it at Darik's throat, his eyes cold and unyielding.
"Yield," Kelton demanded.
Darik hesitated, his chest heaving, the fight clearly drained from him. "I yield," he muttered reluctantly.
The crowd erupted, some cheering, others booing, but Kelton ignored them all. He turned on his heel and walked away, his ice blade dissolving into droplets that trailed behind him.
"Well," Jinx said, snapping her notebook shut. "He's certainly efficient."
"Efficient, but reckless," Aeron said quietly.
Jinx glanced at him, her brow furrowing. "Reckless? He barely broke a sweat."
Aeron's gaze followed Kelton as he left the arena, his confident stride unbroken. "He wastes energy on theatrics. Against someone who doesn't fall for his tricks, that'll be his undoing."
Jinx shrugged, tucking her notebook into her bag. "Maybe, but he knows how to win."
"For now," Aeron replied, his tone unreadable.
The next fight was called, but Aeron barely registered the names. His focus remained on Kelton, the gears in his mind turning. He didn't just want to defeat Kelton—he needed to understand him first.