During lunch, the atmosphere remained light despite the recent assassination attempt, as Cedric and Seraphina stayed at the estate to keep Alastor company. The security had been tightened, and the estate felt safer, though the tension of an unknown enemy still lingered in the air.
Between bites of roasted meat, Seraphina turned to Cedric with a smirk. "You know, since we're staying here for a while, we should at least make good use of the time. How about a little sparring session?"
Cedric immediately shook his head, waving his hands dramatically. "Oh no, no, no. I just got here, and you expect me to throw myself into a death match with you? Not happening!"
Alastor chuckled, watching his friend's exaggerated reaction. "Are you scared, Cedric?"
"Of course not!" Cedric huffed, but his eyes darted warily to Seraphina, who was already cracking her knuckles. "It's just that, you know, resting is important too. And digesting food properly is crucial for good health."
Seraphina rolled her eyes before grabbing Cedric by the back of his collar. "Excuses, excuses. You're always whining about your training—this is the perfect time to put it to good use! Now, stop resisting and come with me!"
"Alastor, help!" Cedric called out dramatically as he was dragged out of his seat.
Alastor only laughed, shaking his head.
Moments later, they arrived at the training grounds, a wide-open field designed for combat practice. Several training dummies lined the sides, and a few estate guards took interest in the sudden match between the young noble heirs.
Seraphina and Cedric stood a few feet apart, stretching as they prepared for battle. The air around them buzzed with excitement, the anticipation of their clash growing by the second.
"Alright, Cedric," Seraphina said with a grin, summoning a swirl of sharp wind around her hands. "No more excuses. Show me if you've actually been training or if your father's been wasting his time."
Cedric sighed, rubbing his temples. "I really hate how you're always so forceful… Fine, but don't blame me if you end up eating fire."
With that, the duel began. Flames ignited around Cedric's hands as he lunged forward, meeting Seraphina's slicing wind with a fiery punch. Their battle was fierce—flames and wind colliding in a spectacular display of elemental mastery. The estate guards and servants who gathered to watch were left in awe at the sheer power both fighters wielded.
Seraphina's speed and precise wind control gave her an advantage in agility, allowing her to weave around Cedric's attacks. She manipulated the air to create powerful bursts of force, attempting to knock him off balance. However, Cedric's overwhelming flames countered her wind with sheer intensity, creating explosive reactions whenever their attacks met. Neither could gain a solid lead, and each strike was met with an equally powerful counter.
Alastor watched with an amused expression. Despite their bickering, Cedric and Seraphina were evenly matched, their talents undeniable.
After what felt like an eternity, both fighters stood panting, their mana reserves pushed to their limits. The training ground was covered in swirling dust and scorched earth, evidence of their explosive clash.
Seraphina smirked, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. "Not bad, flame boy. I thought you'd be weaker than this."
Cedric groaned, resting his hands on his knees. "Yeah, yeah… remind me to never let you drag me into this again."
Alastor clapped, approaching them. "That was a great fight. Looks like you two really pushed each other to the limit."
Cedric slumped onto the ground dramatically. "Pushed me to the grave is more like it…"
Seraphina only laughed, already eager for their next match.