Valen slipped into the bronze tier arena through the back entrance, navigating his way to a suitable seat in the stands. Valen was aware that it would be some time before Aurelius was chosen to fight, so he decided to take advantage of the opportunity by observing other combatants or perhaps indulging in some reading.
His attention was drawn to two students emerging from opposite ends of the arena—an experienced third-year student and a second-year student. Valen winced, anticipating the impending clash between them. This was going to get ugly.
Unfortunately for the second-year combatant, he was pitted against a formidable third-year student, pretty widely acknowledged as one of the strongest in their class. This was the issue with the first days of the Tournament of Elites. Due to the tournament resetting each semester, and subsequently resetting the students' points, many of the stronger competitors would still be striving to advance through the bronze tier. Therefore, some students, like this poor second year student, would be matched up against strong opponents they usually wouldn’t have faced. Valen had warned Aurelius to steer clear of participating on this particular day for precisely this reason.
Nevertheless, Valen couldn't help but recognize the unwavering determination in Aurelius. Yet, within those unyielding greenish-brown of Aurelius, there was something else that gave Valen pause. A flicker of caution and constant vigilance, as though he was evading or hiding something.
Intrigued, Valen sought to unravel the mystery that was his newly assigned roommate. Various peculiarities surrounding Aurelius had piqued his curiosity. However, upon asking around, no one seemed to have any knowledge or information about Aurelius. Valen attempted to broach the subject with Aurelius directly, hoping to gain insight into his past or origins, but each time, Aurelius grew slightly defensive.
It was surprising to learn that Aurelius did not come from a noble house, considering the rarity of commoners attending Lothern Academy. Even amongst the commoners, most of them came from wealthy merchant families, Arlo serving as a prime example. Even more astonishing was the fact that Aurelius had been personally invited and bestowed with a scholarship by the headmaster himself—an assertion Valen had confirmed through multiple sources. At this point, Aurelius stood out as a one-in-a-million exception.
The voice of the judge resounded, snapping Valen out of his reverie.
"Begin!" came the authoritative command as the barrier swiftly rose around the arena, protecting the spectators.
The second-year student immediately recognized the predicament he was in. With a quick summoning gesture, he conjured an earth wall, revealing his affinity for earth magic. His decision seemed justified as a split second later, a powerful fireball collided with his defensive barrier. Despite the protection provided by the earth wall, the explosion's force knocked the second-year student several feet back, causing him to land on his backside.
Valen turned his gaze towards the fiery-red haired third-year student, his eyebrows raising in astonishment. The intensity of that fireball was remarkable, particularly for a student in their third year. Moreover, the speed at which the incantation was cast was incredibly impressive. The second-year student had barely any time to mount a defense.
As the second-year student regained his composure and rose to his feet, he looked up to witness three additional fireballs hurtling through the air, aimed directly at him. With no other recourse, the combatant tremulously shouted, "I surrender!"
Instantly, the airborne fireballs dissipated, and the impartial voice of the judge echoed through the arena.
"Winner: Combatant Lyra Joran."
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Valen glanced up at the conclusion of the round. It had been approximately 30 minutes since he had taken his place in the stands, engrossed in his textbook and occasionally diverting his attention to observe the ongoing fights. With the entrance of two fresh combatants, heralding the commencement of a new round, Valen cast his gaze upon them, hoping to spot Aurelius. And there, to his surprise, stood Aurelius—tall and commanding, his hair a striking hue of silvery blue, a rarity among High Elves, as he emerged from one of the arena's entrances.
Aurelius appeared as impassive as ever, advancing leisurely toward the center of the arena, a neutral expression adorning his countenance. Valen briefly shifted his attention to Aurelius' adversary, attempting to discern any familiarity, but failed to recognize him. Nevertheless, judging from the student's attire, it was evident that he, like Lyra, was a third-year student.
Valen's primary concern was that this third-year student would be a mage. He wasn't entirely sure about Aurelius' supposedly amazing swordsman abilities, but he was pretty certain that he wouldn't be able to fight for long against a third-year mage.
“Duel between first-year combatant Aurelius Lusam and third-year combatant Matthias Declan,” the announcer's voice boomed, reaching even the distant stands where Valen sat. The third-year combatant visibly relaxed upon hearing Aurelius' first-year status. Some spectators in the crowd had a similar reaction, showing disinterest in what they expected to be a one-sided battle, while others relished the opportunity to witness a beatdown.
"Begin," the judge declared, and the transparent shield around the arena snapped into place.
For the first few seconds, neither opponent made a move. One smirked while the other stared intently. Matthias, the third-year combatant, took a couple of steps forward, lazily swinging his sword in front of him, seemingly unconcerned with his opponent.
To Valen, Matthias' nonchalant actions came as a great relief. Firstly, Matthias didn't seem to take the competition too seriously, which Aurelius could potentially use to his advantage. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, Matthias didn't appear to be a mage, alleviating one of Valen's primary concerns. Of course, Matthias could be concealing his magical abilities, but at least for now, there were no obvious signs.
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However, Aurelius’ actions surprised Valen. Instead of advancing towards his opponent, he took a few steps back as Matthias approached. Valen once again felt the urge to put his head in his hands, and he could even hear Matthias chuckling at Aurelius' actions.
"You know, surrendering would be easier for both of us than running," Matthias taunted. "I'm not sure why you decided to participate in this tournament so early, but I welcome the free points. I guess today is my lucky day," Matthias said with a grin slowly forming across his face. Aurelius remained silent, assuming a defensive stance.
With each passing second, a palpable tension hung in the air as the combatants locked eyes, the silence of their confrontation stirring restlessness among the crowd. Growing impatient, Matthias decided to make the first move. He lunged forward with lightning speed, his sword aimed directly at Aurelius' chest, executing a textbook strike with precision.
To everyone's surprise, Aurelius swiftly sidestepped the attack, narrowly avoiding the blade. Gasps of astonishment echoed from the crowd, as disbelief registered on Matthias' face. Recovering quickly, Matthias swung his sword in a wide arc, attempting to catch Aurelius off guard.
However, Aurelius had anticipated the attack.He expertly deflected Matthias' strike with his own blade, executing a skillful parry that left the third-year combatant momentarily stunned. Valen's own eyes widened as he witnessed Aurelius' unexpected display of swordsmanship.
As the fight progressed, Aurelius matched Matthias strike for strike, seemingly able to predict Matthias' every move. At a critical moment, Matthias made a misstep, momentarily falling for one of Aurelius' feints. Aurelius, to his credit, capitalized on the opportunity provided by the misstep, quickly rushing in towards Matthias, swinging down at his defenses.
Even from Valen's position in the crowd, he could see the weight behind Aurelius' swings. Each swing caused a tremor in Matthias' arms, clearly struggling to fend off Aurelius' flurry of attacks. With a quick burst of speed, Aurelius lunged forward, his sword arcing through the air towards Matthias' exposed side. The strike was swift and precise, aimed at catching his opponent off guard.
Fortunately for Aurelius, the strike landed true. A look of shock flashed across Matthias' face as he staggered backward, clutching his side in pain. Valen and the crowd gasped in shock, now fully engaged in the duel. Never had Valen truly believed that Aurelius would be able to stand toe-to-toe with the third-year combatant.
"One strike for Aurelius Lusam," the judge's voice rang out.
As the combatants briefly separated, this time it was Aurelius smiling and Matthias narrowing his eyes in determination. Looking at Matthias' determined face, Valen knew that the true fight was about to begin.
Matthias, now fully focused, launched a flurry of attacks, aiming to overwhelm Aurelius. During the intricate dance of blades, it became clear that Matthias was the superior swordsman, possessing the advantage of experience. However, somehow, Aurelius seemed to bridge the gap with his strength, quickness, and an uncanny sense of anticipation, allowing him to dodge Matthias' strikes with precision.
As Aurelius evaded each attack, he countered with his own well-timed strikes, exploiting the smallest openings in Matthias' defense.
Valen's breath hitched, his heart thundering in his chest as he observed the unfolding spectacle. This was a side of Aurelius he had never witnessed before, nor even fathomed. Compared to the person he had known and talked to as a friend, it was as if a different person had taken over his body, one who possessed extraordinary skill and confidence. The mystery surrounding Aurelius deepened, and Valen became even more determined to uncover the truth.
The duel continued, both combatants displaying remarkable skill and determination. Matthias, driven by his wounded pride, refused to back down, launching relentless attacks with increased ferocity. However, Aurelius proved to be an exceptional opponent, evading, parrying, and countering with precision and finesse.
With each passing moment, the crowd became more captivated by the duel unfolding before them. The clash of blades, the sparks that flew with each strike, and the intense concentration on the combatants' faces created an electrifying atmosphere in the arena.
Aurelius seemed to move with a choppy fluidity, his movements becoming a dangerous dance of swordplay. Astoundingly, he seemed to anticipate Matthias' every move, using his speed and agility to his advantage. The once-dismissed first-year combatant was now the center of attention in the arena, desperately fending off the third-year combatant.
Sweat glistened on both combatants' brows as they continued their fierce battle. The judge closely monitored their movements, ready to intervene if necessary, but so far, Aurelius had held his ground admirably. However, Aurelius' relative lack of experience occasionally betrayed him, as evidenced by a critical moment when Matthias exploited an opening in his defense. Valen winced as he witnessed the slash slice beneath Aurelius' guard, tearing through a section of his academy uniform just below his ribcage. The score now stood tied at one to one. Aurelius, to his credit, swiftly returned to the fray, appearing unaffected by the slash.
In a climactic turn, Aurelius feigned a low strike, prompting Matthias to lower his guard and attempt to counterattack. But it was a trap. With lightning speed, Aurelius changed the trajectory of his strike, aiming for Matthias' exposed shoulder. The blade connected, slicing through the fabric of Matthias' uniform, leaving a shallow but visible cut.
The crowd let out a small roar of approval, their excitement reaching a crescendo. Aurelius had managed to land another strike, bringing the score to two in his favor.
The pain and frustration etched on Matthias' face were unmistakable. Determination burned in his eyes as he shifted his stance, adjusting his grip on the sword. With a renewed sense of purpose, he launched himself at Aurelius with even greater ferocity, his strikes coming in rapid succession.
Aurelius met Matthias head-on, his own blade moving with lightning speed to intercept each attack. He blocked, parried, and sidestepped, showcasing his agility and reflexes. Despite Matthias' relentless assault, Aurelius managed to hold his ground, countering with calculated strikes whenever an opportunity presented itself.
Valen watched, his heart pounding, as the duel reached its climax.
Sensing an opening, Matthias executed a daring feint, drawing Aurelius into a vulnerable position. He swiftly followed up with a powerful downward swing, aiming to end the duel with a decisive blow. But Aurelius, in a display of extraordinary instinct, reacted in the blink of an eye.
With a deft movement, Aurelius twisted his body and brought his blade up, meeting Matthias' strike with a resounding clash. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through their weapons, causing sparks to fly in all directions.
Locked in a fierce struggle, Aurelius and Matthias strained against each other, their muscles taut with exertion. They pushed against the other, their faces etched with concentration and sweat streaming down their brows.
Then, in a split-second decision, Aurelius sprang into action. With a burst of strength, he overpowered Matthias, breaking their deadlock. He swiftly stepped to the side, evading Matthias' desperate attempt to regain control.
In a fluid motion, Aurelius swung his sword with all his might, aiming for Matthias' exposed flank. The blade connected with a satisfying thud, slicing through the air and leaving a deep gash on Matthias' side.
Matthias stumbled backward, clutching his wound, a mix of shock and pain contorting his features.
The judge's voice rang out, declaring, "Winner: Combatant Aurelius Lusam!"