Chapter 12: Trials of the Bladecaster
The stands roared with anticipation as the audience leaned forward, eager to witness Aeron's third fight. He stood at the edge of the arena, feeling the familiar pulse of energy that came before combat. He had chosen a simple strategy so far—testing his hand-to-hand skills and using minimal magic—but his next opponent wouldn't allow such restraint.
Jinx sat in the stands, her crystal goggles perched on her face, a notebook in her lap. Her sharp eyes followed every movement Aeron made, her mind whirring with ideas as she jotted down notes. Beside her sat Arlen, who remained silent but observant, his sharp features impassive as he watched Aeron prepare.
Below, Aeron stretched, rolling his shoulders. He'd been matched against a fire mage—a young woman named Dena with fiery auburn hair and a confident smirk. Flames danced around her as she twirled a short staff, leaving scorch marks on the stone floor. Her magic was strong, but it lacked finesse. Aeron could already see openings in her technique.
The announcer's voice echoed across the arena. "The third fight of the day! Aeron Drakenhart versus Dena Valis!"
The crowd cheered wildly as both fighters took their places.
"Good luck!" Dena said, grinning as she ignited a flame in her palm. It hovered there, crackling with intensity. "You'll need it."
Aeron didn't reply, simply bowing slightly before dropping into a ready stance. He had no intention of underestimating her, but he wasn't going to be provoked into carelessness either.
The gong sounded, and the fight began.
Dena wasted no time. She thrust her staff forward, unleashing a torrent of fire that surged toward Aeron in a twisting arc. The crowd gasped as the flames split into two streams, rushing at him from both sides.
Aeron sidestepped with precision, letting the heat singe the air beside him. His boots scraped against the stone as he ducked low, closing the distance between them. Without missing a beat, he darted forward, aiming to disarm her before she could launch another attack.
But Dena was quicker than she looked. With a twist of her wrist, she slammed the butt of her staff into the ground, creating a ring of fire that erupted outward. Aeron leapt back, the edge of the flames licking at his boots.
"She's aggressive," Arlen commented from the stands, his arms crossed. "If she controls the pace, Aeron will struggle."
Jinx scribbled furiously in her notebook. "He'll adapt. He always does."
Aeron adjusted his stance. He couldn't rely solely on speed against someone so explosive. As Dena prepared another wave of fire, he extended his left hand, drawing upon the energy of the earth beneath him. A thin wall of stone erupted from the arena floor, absorbing her flames.
"You do use magic!" Dena shouted, laughing as she launched another attack. This time, the flames rolled over the stone, melting it partially before splashing harmlessly against the ground.
Aeron pushed forward again, ducking under a stream of fire and closing the gap. He feinted right, drawing her attention, before sweeping her legs out from under her with a swift kick. Dena hit the ground hard, but she rolled with the impact, her staff striking out in a defensive arc. Aeron caught the movement too late, the end of the staff catching him in the ribs with a sharp crack.
Pain flared, but he didn't falter. Instead, he pressed harder, channeling energy into the stone beneath his feet. Pillars erupted around Dena, boxing her in and forcing her to focus on defense.
"Impressive," she muttered, twirling her staff. Fire burst from its tip, melting through the pillars, but Aeron used the moment to his advantage. He surged forward, grabbing the staff and wrenching it from her hands. With a final spin, he planted the weapon into the ground and held his hand out in a clear gesture for her to yield.
Dena hesitated, her hands still sparking with latent fire. But after a long moment, she sighed and lowered them. "Fine. You win."
The crowd erupted into cheers as the announcer declared Aeron victorious.
Back in the stands, Jinx was buzzing with excitement. "Did you see how he used the stone like that? The precision! I think I could design a gadget to amplify his focus—maybe something that stabilizes his energy output when summoning."
Arlen smirked faintly. "You're relentless."
"He's amazing," Jinx said, her voice filled with awe as she continued to scribble notes.
Below, Aeron stepped off the arena floor, catching his breath. The fights were becoming harder, each opponent pushing him further. But he welcomed the challenge—each battle honed his skills, bringing him closer to the strength he needed.
The tournament rolled on, with each match raising the stakes. The next fight on the docket was Arlen's third-round match, and Jinx could barely contain her curiosity. She leaned forward as the announcer's voice boomed again, introducing the competitors.
Arlen stepped into the arena with his usual calm demeanor, his black hair catching the faint sunlight that filtered through the stands. His opponent was a hulking warrior wielding a massive axe, his brute strength apparent with every step he took.
Aeron, now seated beside Jinx, watched with interest. "This should be good."
The fight began, and it was immediately clear that Arlen's style was unlike anything the audience had seen so far. He moved like a shadow, his movements fluid and nearly impossible to track. The axe-wielding warrior swung with relentless force, but each blow missed by mere inches as Arlen weaved effortlessly out of harm's way.
"He's testing his opponent," Aeron noted.
"He's making it look easy," Jinx added, her goggles back on her face as she analyzed Arlen's movements. "It's all precision and timing."
Arlen didn't bother using magic at first, relying solely on his agility and skill. When the axe warrior finally overcommitted, swinging too hard and leaving himself open, Arlen struck with blinding speed. A gust of wind sent the warrior sprawling, his axe flying out of his grip.
The fight was over in moments. Arlen stood calmly as the announcer declared his victory, his expression unreadable as he walked off the arena floor.
The group reconvened in the hallways after the matches, Jinx practically bouncing with excitement. "Arlen, that was incredible! Where did you learn to fight like that?"
"Training," he replied simply, though there was a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes at her enthusiasm.
"I'd hate to face you in the arena," Aeron admitted, offering Arlen a small nod of respect. "Your technique is...sharp."
Arlen's lip curled in a faint smirk. "Coming from you, that's a compliment."
The camaraderie between the trio was growing, forged in the fire of battle and mutual respect. But as the tournament pushed forward, Aeron couldn't shake the feeling that his greatest challenges were yet to come.
Aeron leaned against the cool stone wall of the hallway, catching his breath as the excitement of the last fight began to settle. He rolled his shoulder where Dena's staff had connected, feeling a dull ache radiate through his ribs. It wasn't anything serious, but it was a reminder—he still had room to improve.
Jinx, still beaming with excitement, flipped through her notebook. "Alright, I have at least six new ideas," she declared, adjusting her goggles. "Aeron, I think I can design something to help refine your control when you summon those stone walls. And Arlen—your footwork is fascinating. I could probably craft a device to enhance—"
Arlen held up a hand, stopping her mid-thought. "I don't need gadgets."
Jinx pouted. "You don't even know what they do yet."
Arlen smirked but said nothing, his silence speaking volumes.
Aeron chuckled, shaking his head. "Let her have her fun, Arlen. You never know, she might surprise you."
Jinx grinned triumphantly before flipping a few pages in her notebook, refocusing on Aeron. "Your movement was better this time, but you still hesitate when shifting between hand-to-hand and magic. You should work on smoother transitions."
Aeron nodded. "Noted."
The tournament continued into the evening, with the arena illuminated by glowing crystal lanterns. The energy in the air remained electric, students and spectators still eager for more battles. The final matches of the day were starting, and Aeron knew tomorrow would be even more intense.
As they made their way toward the academy dorms, a figure stepped in their path—a familiar face, one Aeron had expected to encounter eventually.
Kelton.
The water mage stood with his arms crossed, a smug smirk on his face. His dark blue robes reflected the light from the lanterns, giving him an almost regal air. "Not bad, Aeron," he said, his tone carrying an edge of condescension. "But I hope you aren't getting too confident. You've yet to face a real challenge."
Aeron met his gaze steadily. "I look forward to it."
Kelton scoffed. "We'll see if you're still so calm when it's your turn to fight me." With that, he turned on his heel and strode away, disappearing into the crowd.
Jinx exhaled sharply. "I really don't like that guy."
Arlen's expression remained unreadable. "He's dangerous."
"I know," Aeron said. "That's why I need to be ready."
The tournament was only heating up. Tomorrow, he'd be facing stronger opponents, and Kelton's challenge loomed in the distance. But Aeron wasn't backing down.
He had a path to walk—the path of the Bladecaster—and he would see it through to the end.