Jace was sitting on the edge of his seat, his eyes darting between the two teachers unsure who to watch as they got into their positions. The air in the arena grew still, a heavy silence settled over the crowd. Then slowly a thick mist began filling the arena, growing denser and denser until it filled the entire space. Jace somehow leaned even further forward, his heart pounding as the mist began fading, revealing the breathtaking transformation.
A vast stretching blue sky, dotted with fluffy white clouds slowly drifting overhead, the air fresh and earthy, carrying the faint scent of grass and wildflowers. Long grass gently swaying in the breeze. It was as if they had been transported into a different world all together. The teachers stood as opposite ends of the field, their figures small but unmistakable against the expansive landscape.
Jace let out a shallow breath. He knew that the Academy was a place at the forefront of magic, but seeing it first hand was incredible. The size and speed of the transformation was insane, shaking his head in slight disbelief.
"This is insane," Ethan said from beside him, his hand running through his hair, almost like he was trying to keep it out of his eyes so he could see better. "I feel like I can taste the earth in the air. How do they even do something like this?"
Jace didn't respond, his attention already drawn back to the teachers. Both glancing at the Dean before nodding, taking their stances. Jace's fingers gripped his seat, looking out across the grassland his anticipation continued to rise.
The female teacher raised her staff, and a swirling mass of fire formed at its tip, the air around it distorting from the intense heat. With a small wink she sent the flames hurtling towards the male teacher, the raging flames roaring as it cut through the space between them.
Jace's eyes snapped towards the man, his response was immediate and precise. His skin took on a shiny metallic sheen, glistening like polished steel, as a current of water surrounded him like a protective river. His hands rose, and with a sharp clap, two massive walls of earth erupted from the ground on either side of his opponent, closing in to crush her.
As the earth walls approached, the female teacher slammed her staff into the ground. Pillars of earth shot up on either side of her, intercepting the walls with a deafening crash. The collision sent chunks of rock flying, dust and debris filling the air. Before the dust could settle she thrust her staff forward sending a superheated wave of air rippling toward her opponent.
Jace's heart kept racing as he watched the duel unfold. The power and precision of their magic left him breathless. He could feel the heat from the flames, and the rumbling crash from the earth colliding echoed in his chest.
Ethan let out a low whistle. "Did you see that?" She didn't even flinch when those walls started coming at her. And that heatwave, how do you even counter something like that?"
"Dispel the metal, and rise above the heat." Jace replied quickly, refusing to blink. This was a lesson not just a duel, and he would learn everything he could.