Chapter 86: The Third Day of the Festival (XV).
In the second year, Lower Sections was next.
Lower Section 2A: Caelan Smith
vs
Lower Section 2B: Sheldon Cobber
"From the lower sections! Let us welcome Mr. Caelan Smith and Sheldon Cobber! They both have the affinity of fire! Everybody-! I suggest drinking some water now because it's about to get hot!" (Mr. Wazinki) raised his hands to start the match, after their introductions.
The air around the arena crackled with tension as the two fire mages stood facing each other. Caelan Smith, a tall and lean figure, wore a confident smirk. Across from him, Sheldon Cobber, stockier and shorter, radiated intensity as both prepared to showcase their fire-wielding prowess.
Caelan clenched his fists, his eyes glowing with an amber hue.
"[Fire Magic: Flame Inferno]!" With a quick flick of his wand, flames erupted from the ground beneath him, spiraling into a towering inferno that swirled around his body like a protective vortex.
"Let's see if you can handle the heat, because I guarantee my flames will be a lot hotter than yours!" He taunted, his voice smooth, almost mocking.
Sheldon, undeterred, raised his wand toward the sky, and a surge of flame erupted from his palms, forming two massive fireballs.
"[Fire Magic: Fireball]!" With a growl, he hurled them at Caelan, aiming for his chest. "I won't go down so easily!"
With a quick spin, Caelan sidestepped the first fireball, the heat grazing his skin, and raised his wand.
"[Fire Magic: Flame Wall]"! His flames spiraled upward, forming a wall of fire that blocked Sheldon's second attack.
But instead of standing still, Caelan channeled his magic into the ground.
The earth beneath Sheldon cracked, and from the fissures shot streams of fire that whipped toward him, wrapping around his legs and immobilizing him.
"Too slow," (Caelan) murmured.
Sheldon gritted his teeth, struggling against the flames wrapping around his legs.
"I'm not finished yet!" he roared, sending a burst of fire directly toward Caelan's face.
But Caelan was faster.
With a wave of his hand, the wall of fire he had summoned earlier shifted, creating a barrier that absorbed Sheldon's blast. The heat surged, but Caelan remained unharmed, stepping through the flames toward Sheldon with calculated ease.
With a swift motion, Caelan raised his hand high.
"[Fire Magic: Flames of Phoenix]!" The flames around him surged, forming a massive phoenix shape that soared toward Sheldon, pushing him back. The intensity of the fire grew as it expanded, the heat forcing Sheldon to stumble, his magic faltering.
Sheldon's eyes widened in panic as the fiery phoenix loomed over him.
"No-!" He couldn't escape in time, and with a final, concentrated burst, the phoenix engulfed him in flames. The arena fell silent as Sheldon collapsed to the ground, smoke billowing from his charred clothes. His magic sputtered out, and he was no longer able to fight.
Caelan stood tall, his body surrounded by the remaining flickers of his magic. He breathed steadily, his smirk widening as he looked down at Sheldon, now defeated.
"Better luck next time," (Caelan) said softly, before turning away from the arena, the heat of his flames dissipating into the air.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
"And the winner is Mr. Caelan Smith!"
===
High Section 3A: Hecate Li
vs
High Section 3B: Mirelle Avalon
The next match... is between the third years from noble classes.
The battlefield was set, the winds howling in anticipation.
The two students got ready as Mr. Wazinki introduced them into the crowd, "Please give it up to our two new magic duelists of the second year high section! Lord Hecate Li and Lady Mirelle Avalon!"
Cheers erupted once more in the colosseum.
Lord Hecate Li, an exchange student from the elven lands.
A tall and brooding figure with black hair and eyes stood confidently on one side, his dark cloak swirling around him like a shadow. He clenched his fists, and his eyes glowed like embers, ready to summon the destructive force of fire.
"Wait, is that an elf using fire magic?! I thought they could only do their natural magic!"
"Hahaha! He must be a half-breed then!"
"Been a while since I've seen a half-breed! Hahaha! Hard to believe that he decided to attend a human academy, no wonder- he's going to set his home on fire if he attended their elven academies. It's all flammable."
The Elven people were a race steeped in reverence for the ancient, harmonious bond they shared with nature. To them, the forest was more than just home; it was sacred. The rustling of leaves, the murmurs of rivers, the whispers of the wind- these were the voices of their ancestors, and their magic flowed through these natural elements.
Their pride was not just in their beauty, but in their connection to the living world. It was this connection that defined their power.
To be an elf was to be chosen by nature itself, a vessel for its purest, most elegant magic.
The beauty of their culture was reflected in their hair, which symbolized their rank and their bond with the natural world. Silver hair, the rarest of all, marked those of royal or high noble descent- individuals who were closest to nature's purest form.
Blonde or green hair signified those with lower ranks, yet still, they carried the grace of the trees and the serenity of the earth in their veins.
But in the midst of this harmony, there was one elf who stood apart.
His name was Hecate Li.
Hecate's hair was jet black, starkly different from the shimmering silver of his peers. His appearance was a constant reminder of the shameful bloodline that ran through his veins: the result of half-breed lineage. The product of that union had stripped Hecate of his connection to the forest. He could no longer hear the ancient song of the trees, nor could he feel the pulse of life that once thrummed through his veins.
Instead, he was cursed with the elemental affinities of mankind: Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind.
However an elf using fire magic... is unheard of.
To an elf, fire magic was an abomination. It was the opposite of nature's calm, a force of destruction and chaos. The very thought of an elf wielding fire- one of nature's most volatile and destructive elements- was not only an insult to their culture and tradition but a direct challenge to the sanctity of their existence.
Fire was seen as a force of corruption, a stain on the purity of the elven bloodline.
...
On the opposite end, Lady Mirelle Avalon, a slender but fierce girl with windswept blonde hair, stood poised, her arms extended and her expression determined. She was a noblewoman who was well acquainted with the Alarie family, you can even say they're long distance relatives.
The Avalons and Alaries have a good relationship with one another.
"Hmph." Her clothes rippled as if they were caught in a constant breeze. The air around her shimmered with the power of wind, and her eyes sparkled with the intensity of a storm about to break. "Ugh, of all the class volunteers it had to be you..."
She eyes the elf with black hair.
Everything about him is unnatural.
"Didn't they choose someone better to fight? Why is it a half-breed elf like you fighting for your section?" She crossed her arms and looked at the noble stands who were watching their fight, the Avalon family had come to support their daughter.
"Goodluck, darling! Make us proud and be careful!" It was Duchess Avalon who was holding a handkerchief trying not to cry. She was awfully proud of her dearest baby for following her mother's footsteps, volunteering in the annual magic duel is something to behold!
"Tch." (Lord Hecate) has already heard the word half-breed more than he can count, he points a finger at Lady Mirelle and sticks out his tongue to piss her off. "And I can't believe that a stuck up spoiled brat like you is volunteering to fight. I bet you'll be an easy opponent to face- nothing like Lady Alarie."
Her hands shaped into a fist, hearing her get compared to Evelyn Alarie.
It was unfair.
"Why you-!"
The elven boy smirked, now that she took the ragebait he can focus on riling the girl up in hopes her own emotion will get the best of her in this battle.
"Let's see if your winds can withstand my flames," (Hecate) sneered, raising his hands. A trail of fire ignited from the ground, curling around him like a serpent.
Lady Mirelle smirked, her voice filled with defiance. "We'll see whose storm is stronger, half-breed!"
"Don't call me that!"
"[Wind Magic: Tempest Pool]!" With a flick of her wrist, the air around Lady Mirelle began to swirl, forming a gust so powerful that it whipped the dust from the ground. She gathered the wind around her, creating an impenetrable barrier of air that shielded her from Hecate's advancing flames.
Lord Hecate gritted his teeth.
"You think you can stop me with a gust of wind?" He raised his wand, and the flames around him exploded in a fiery blaze, shooting toward Lady Mirelle in a torrent of fiery tendrils. "[Fire Magic: Exploding Embers]!"
Lady Mirelle, undeterred, raised her arms and the wind intensified.
She summoned a gust so strong that it twisted the flames, bending them like branches in a storm. The fire raged against her wind barrier, but she pushed back harder, redirecting the flames and sending them spiraling into the air.
"You're too slow!" (Lady Mirelle) taunted, her voice carrying over the gusts.
With a surge of energy, Lord Hecate threw his arms out, launching a massive wave of fire that engulfed the area in a fiery cyclone. The heat was intense, scorching the air, and the ground beneath trembled with the power of his magic.
But Lady Mirelle was ready.
"[Wind Magic: Tempest Pull]!" She slammed her hands into the ground, and the wind around her swirled violently, creating a powerful vortex that sucked the flames into it.
The fire struggled to escape the force of her wind, and Lady Mirelle bent her will further, turning the vortex into a devastating maelstrom of air and fire. "[Wind Magic: Tempest Fusion]!"
"Looks like you're all words," (Lady Mirelle) said, her voice full of confidence. "Why don't you... go back to where you came? Just because I'm weaker than Evelyn Alarie doesn't mean you can push me around so easily."
Lord Hecate's eyes burned with frustration.
"This is why I hate humans!" He attempted to call upon more fire, but Lady Mirelle wasn't done. With a sharp motion, she lifted her wand high, and the air grew cold, freezing the flames and leaving Lord Hecate vulnerable.
Before he could react, Lady Mirelle summoned a final gust of wind, pushing the frozen flames back at him in a relentless force.
"NO!" (Lord Hecate) shouted, trying to shield himself, but the cold, sharp winds sliced through the remaining flames.
"Ngh!" He staggered back, struggling to keep his balance as the winds battered him.
With a final blast, the wind shattered his flames, leaving him gasping and defeated on the ground. Lady Mirelle stood tall, her breathing steady, and a slight smirk on her lips.
"Hmph. It's my win," she said, walking away with a graceful step, her hair whipping in the wind. "Better luck next time."
The crowd erupted in cheers as the announcer's voice rang out.
"And the winner is- ! Lady Mirelle Avalon!" Mr. Wazinki's voice boomed through the arena, and the applause grew louder, filling the air with excitement.
Her family, seated in the stands, were already on their feet, clapping and cheering. Her mother's voice, loud and filled with pride, cut through the noise of the crowd. "Wonderful! Oh- Mirelle, well done! That's my darling daughter everybody!"
Her mom especially was the one mostly yelling happily, "T-Thanks... mother."
Lady Mirelle's heart swelled with affection, but she couldn't help the hint of exhaustion that was creeping into her bones.
===
Lower Section 3A: Xi Yuan
vs
Lower Section 3B: Justin Wood
===
Mr. Wazinki's voice boomed, announcing the match. "Lower Section 3A: Xi Yuan vs. Lower Section 3B: Justin Wood! The battle of Earth versus Fire!"
The crowd's anticipation buzzed in the air as the two contestants entered the arena. On one side, Xi Yuan, a third year who lazily strolled onto the field, his hands tucked into his pockets and his posture almost slouched.
The other side saw Justin Wood, a fiery young man with a determined glint in his eyes, his fingers crackling with flames as he prepared for the fight.
"You may begin!" The match starts.
The horn sounded, and immediately, Justin surged forward, his fiery fists igniting with power as he hurled a massive fireball towards Xi Yuan. "Take this! [Fire Magic: Fireball]!"
"Yawn...[Earth Magic: Barrier]." (Xi Yuan) didn't even flinch. He just raised a lazy hand and summoned a large, solid earth barrier that sprang up between him and the fireball with almost no effort.
The fireball collided with the stone shield, and the force of the explosion sent a plume of smoke into the air. But when the smoke cleared, Xi Yuan stood there, completely unfazed, his hand still casually hanging at his side. "Yawn..."
Justin, breathing heavily, growled in frustration. "Is that all you've got?"
"[Fire Magic: Fire Bolt]!" With a flick of his wand, Justin summoned a barrage of fire bolts, each one streaking towards Xi Yuan with the speed of a bullet. He was relentless, determined to break through the earth's defenses.
The heat from the fireballs shimmered in the air as they barreled toward Xi Yuan.
Again, Xi Yuan didn't move.
"Yawn...[Earth Magic: Barrier]." He just lazily waved his hand, summoning another earth barrier to shield himself from the incoming fire. The bolts collided with the wall of stone, each explosion leaving a ringing echo, but once again, Xi Yuan remained untouched.
Justin's face turned red with frustration. He had never faced someone so effortlessly defensive. "I'll break that barrier!" He shouted, his hands glowing with fire as he launched continuous fire spells at Xi Yuan. The sky above them darkened with the smoke and sparks of his attacks.
"[Fire Magic: Fire Bolt]!"
"[Fire Magic: Fireball]!"
"[Fire Magic: Flare]!"
Xi Yuan's eyes barely lifted to glance at Justin.
"[Earth Magic: Barrier]." He summoned another earth shield, which quickly grew thicker and sturdier, repelling the firestorm without a hint of strain. "[Earth Magic: Barrier]."
And another one.
"[Earth Magic: Barrier]."
He let out a long, drawn-out yawn as he leaned back against the barrier, clearly disinterested in the battle.
Justin gritted his teeth, throwing everything he had left at the wall of earth. His fire flared wildly, desperation fueling his attacks. But despite his best efforts, the barrier remained unyielding. The heat of his magic was starting to wane, his mana running dangerously low.
Xi Yuan glanced over at him, almost as if noticing Justin for the first time.
"Hmm... you're still going, huh? Well, that's a bit more effort than I thought you'd put in."
Justin, drenched in sweat and panting heavily, could barely keep his arms raised anymore. The fire in his hands flickered weakly, and his legs started to give way beneath him.
"D-Damn it," he muttered, his voice strained. His vision blurred, and before he could do anything else, he collapsed, fainting from exhaustion, his flames flickering out like a dying candle.
Xi Yuan stood there, still leaning casually against his shield, watching the young fire mage collapse to the ground in defeat. He sighed, shaking his head. "Well, that was a bit boring."
"U-Um..." (Mr. Wazinki) was in a bit of disbelief. This is the first time he's seen this kind of tactic and honestly, the headmaster should ban this type of strategy because it's a little bit unfair. He couldn't even dictate what was happening in the show because- the guy just keeps summoning a barrier and that's it!
The show must go on, his voice rang through the arena, and announced the winner of the duel. "And the winner is- Xi Yuan!"
Xi Yuan lazily raises his hands to celebrate, adding sarcastically, looking at the crowd cheering his name. "Yay... I want to go home and sleep now."
The crowd, who had expected an intense clash, stared in disbelief at the laziness of the fight. Xi Yuan didn't even seem to care as he shrugged off the victory, stepping off the field with barely a glance at Justin, who lay unconscious from his own failed efforts.
In his mind, the victory was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. After all, Earth magic didn't require much effort when you were as good at defense as Xi Yuan.
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