Chapter 18 – The Sky Trial: The Duel Begins
The next day, the sun seemed hesitant to shine over Etheria Academy. The air was thick with static electricity, and every gust of wind seemed to foreshadow the coming storm. All the students had been summoned to Arena A for an extraordinary duel between student and master, canceling even the day's classes. The stands of the central arena were packed; the stone and crystal trembled slightly under the collective anticipation. Kael, Tara, Seth, Alma, and Teddy, hearts pounding in sync with the palpable tension, could not take their eyes off the center.
"I've never seen anything this grand…" Seth murmured, his eyes fixed on the arena.
"Shh… don't speak too loud, you'll draw attention," Tara whispered, fists clenched.
Alma, meanwhile, stared at Roy, a mix of admiration and worry in her gaze: "He's ready… I can feel it."
Damian, silent, tightened his cloak: "Whatever happens, he controls this better than anyone here."
At the center, Bastien made his entrance, a towering figure clad in robes adorned with shimmering runes. Every step echoed across the stone floor like a resonance of ancestral power. His eyes sparked with anticipation and challenge. Roy descended behind him with unsettling calm, his eyes burning with intensity. The two locked gazes, and the air seemed to vibrate with tension.
"So, the famous professor…" Roy began, his deep voice echoing through the arena.
"I do not intend to hold back," Bastien replied, a slight smile on his lips.
"Let's see if you can keep your promises… and let me show you that even a student can surpass a master," Roy shot back.
"Prepare yourself. I will let nothing through."
"Neither will I."
Without warning, Bastien raised his arms, and a low rumble erupted above the arena. The sky darkened instantly, streaked with lightning, as the storm magic—an inheritance of his noble Sylphe lineage—came to life. The students instinctively recoiled, awed by the raw power striking the arena.
"He won't hold back…" Alma whispered, mouth agape.
Lightning struck with inhuman speed. Roy raised a massive shield of pure magic, absorbing and deflecting the assaults. One, three, five, then more than fifty bolts struck directly. The shield vibrated under the force but held firm.
Bastien, capable of moving faster than lightning, teleported behind Roy. Roy immediately formed a protective bubble around himself.
"Nice try, Professor…" he murmured, calm yet focused.
The wind howled, banners flapped, and the arena shook under the unleashed power. Luxurius, motionless in the upper stands, murmured: "This kid is impressive…"
A stormy rain blurred Roy's vision. He attacked but met only illusions floating in the sky: "Storm Reflections." The real Bastien channeled celestial energy to form a gigantic lightning spear while also protecting the spectators with a safety spell.
"He's… incredible…" Seth murmured.
"Like nothing I've ever seen," Alma agreed.
Bastien shouted: "I was a student here myself! I will not allow some kid to disrespect me!"
The arena trembled under the spear, pulverizing part of the ground. Bastien wore a victorious expression, confident he had destroyed Roy. The boy, lying on the ground, had not been able to withstand the attack.
"I've won," Bastien said confidently. "A student cannot surpass a master."
A cold voice suddenly echoed from the sky, as if coming from nowhere and everywhere at once:
"For a master, I'm a little disappointed…"
The students froze. Kael blinked: "Th-there are two Roys?"
Tara clenched her fists, both fascinated and terrified: "His voice… it's coming from the sky…"
Alma whispered: "No… that's impossible…"
The ground vibrated with invisible energy, and even Bastien frowned, destabilized by the power emanating from the sky. The wind swirled, charged with a strange, oppressive force, and the sky began to glow with an incandescent red light.
Roy, invisible in the sky but unmistakably present, continued speaking with chilling authority:
"You were so eager to strike that you forgot to think. You've faced only a soldier so far. This confirms what I said: you are useless…"
A shiver ran through the stands. Spectators held their breath, the tension reaching its peak. The air vibrated, charged with electricity and pure magic. Roy's voice resounded in all directions, omnipresent, and even Bastien felt his heart race, unable to locate the true source of this power.
The sky above the arena slowly blazed red, signaling the impending apocalypse. The students realized, with a mix of fascination and fear, that the moment when Roy would reveal his full strength was about to arrive…
To be continued…