Damien revealed a hint of excitement right away.
“Duel practice? That sounds exciting!”
“It is! It also helps relieve my stress! I can pummel some people with no punishment!”
Damien looked at Cal with astonishment, he had only seen his happy-go lucky side. Now he couldn’t tell what kind of person he really was. Instead of worrying about that, Damien decided to change the topic.
“So do we just go and choose a partner to practice with?”
Before Cal could answer, Wexley appeared behind them and interrupted them.
“You will not be participating today, but as for them they can choose someone to partner with. It is preferable to choose someone close to their rank so they can push each other. The other method is to set forth a personal challenge near the end of the class period.”
Damien’s excitement went away with his words so he asked him why.
“Why won’t I practice today?”
With a deadpan smile Wexley stated the obvious.
“You said you don’t even know how to use magic. Do I need to say anymore. Today you will follow me and observe your classmates. This will help you gain an understanding of how magic should and shouldn’t be used.”
Cal patted Damien’s back and wished him luck. Damien saw Cal ran off with the rest of the group as they chose their partners. Eventually Cal arrived at where Yuki was and they both claimed an area for themselves. The whole class already knew who they would partner with, so very quickly everyone started to practice. The area was filled with what seemed like a light show and the air became dense with energy.
“Walk with me.”
Wexley began to walk and Damien followed behind him. Duels raged on around them as they walked around observing them. Wexley also made sure no one was going to be fatally injured in battle. As they walked Wexley began to talk to Damien more about magic.
“Since you have not been exposed to magic like the rest I will explain the ranks and how to train. Just like in any other format like swordsmanship, it goes from Earth, Sky, and Heaven realm. Each realm has 9 ranks that you must climb to reach the next realm. The difference from each realm is so immense that it is near impossible to surmount it and defeat someone a realm above you.”
Damien understood the realms but did not know how to evaluate himself with the system. He did not even know his sword ranking, nevertheless how to do it for magic.
“Professor Cloudshade, how does one evaluate their mana?”
Wexley kept on walking around as he explained the system to Damien.
“It’s quite simple really. In the Earth Realm if you observe your mana it will be a foggy substance. We call it ‘Mana Mist’ and it is sparse in nature but you train to accumulate more and more. After you accumulate enough mist you will reach a critical point for a breakthrough. Your mana will have a qualitative change and become a liquid-like substance called ‘Mana Fluid’. This is the indicator you reached the Sky Realm. Here your mana will enter a boon in strength and endurance. You will continue to accumulate more and more liquid to create an ocean of mana within you. When you reach the point of not being able to accumulate more, the next qualitative change will happen. You will gather all of your knowledge and enlightenment to create a solid structure out of your ocean of mana. This is known as ‘Mana Form’ and you will have reached the Heaven Realm. The form you create is based on your own understanding and enlightenment you gain and will help fuel your mana to reach unbelievable heights.”
Wexley reached into the inside of his red robe and took out a book named, “The Fundamentals of Cultivation.” He handed it over to Damien and explained his purpose.
“This will teach you how to cultivate your mana. Unfortunately this book only covers the Earth Realm, but the library has a variety of books that will sate your desire for knowledge.”
Wexley finished his explanation with a smirk on his face but Damien was too busy checking out the book to notice it. They walked around the room some more and Wexley gave advice to pairs along the way. After some time Damien didn’t even notice the duels around him were being wrapped up. Prying Damien’s attention away from the book with a cough Wexley said,
“Class is going to be wrapped up in a bit, I hope you will come back tomorrow better informed.”
Damien bowed his head and headed where Yuki and Cal were training. Along the way Damien did not notice he was being encircled by a group of students and when he did, Erik appeared in front of him. Even though he was one of the shortest students around he somehow made himself feel bigger than the rest.
Damien made note that everyone around him was a part of Erik’s clique. He had seen them sucking up to him all day so he realized this was an organized attack. The commotion caused the rest of the class to join the circle around the two. That was when Erik crossed his stubby arms and stuck his head high.
“I challenge you to a duel. Do you dare?”
Damien finally understood his intentions; he wanted revenge for earlier and made it difficult to refuse. The entire class was here to witness it and if the most talented student here were to refuse they would bash him forever.
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‘I have no choice, but to refuse. I’ll just have to train and challenge him another day.’
Damien gritted his teeth and was ready to speak out his refusal.
“I refu-“
Before he could finish his statement a commotion arose in the crowd. Damien turned his head and saw Cal breaking through the encirclement and arriving by his side.
“How noble of you to challenge a beginner Erik. I will step in for him. How about that? Or are you scared?”
The crowd collectively gasped and roared in excitement. Erik’s face became stiff and lost the composure he had earlier. He could not back down in front of everyone and ruin his reputation. Through his clenched teeth Erik spit out his acceptance.
“Fine…”
Damien was stunned at the turn of events and his expression turned soft. He never felt like this before and never understood the camaraderie of friendship. Now he felt like he really made a friend here. He instinctively put his arm around Cal's shoulders.
“Thank you, Cal. I owe you one.”
Cal noticed Damien was about ready to tear up from the way he spoke and he quickly replied.
“Don’t worry about it, it’s what friends are for. Besides, he had this coming.”
With tears rolling down his face he put his face down on Cal’s shoulder. Cal smiled at his actions.
“You’re lucky you’re wearing glasses so it’s hard to tell. I’ll just tell everyone you gave me good advice.”
The crowd parted ways toward the center stage where personal challenges were held. Cal and Erik both stood on the stage on opposite sides. Unknowingly Yuki appeared next to Damien.
“Erik is strong…. But Cal is on a different level.”
Damien looked at Yuki who wore her signature cold face. He hadn’t heard her say praise about anyone, not even to him. He thought back on Cal’s words and understood what he meant by ‘relieving stress.’
“How strong is Cal?”
“You will just have to see.”
Wexley walked onto the stage and positioned himself between them.
“As always, win by knocking your opponent off stage or making them forfeit. Now greet each other.”
Once he set off the match he vanished from his position and appeared above them.
“Cal, Earth Realm Rank 8.”
“Erik Fierstone, Earth Realm Rank 9.”
The class started talking amongst themselves with excitement after their introductions.
“I can’t believe Erik already reached the pinnacle of the Earth Realm.”
“Both of them are stronger than most of the 2nd years.”
“Cal may be handed his first loss today.”
The chattering was non-stop creating a drone throughout the class. Suddenly Wexley tapped his foot in midair, sending a light, ticklish shock to everyone. Everyone became quiet as the atmosphere became more tense between the two duelists.
“Begin.”
Wexley set off the match and as he overlooked the fight personally. Damien stared intensely at the stage waiting for the first move to be made. He understood from everyone around him that these two were strong. He noticed even though Cal was a rank below him he still carried himself with a carefree attitude on stage.
He stood there with his thin frame waiting for Erik to make the first move. Eventually Cal gestured for Erik to come to him. Erik’s composure didn’t last after that, his square face turned red and his veins popped out.
“I’ll show you the difference between us today, you forsaken mutt.”
Erik set off from his position like a tank. He began inscribing a rune in the space in front of him.
“Earth Armament!”
His body was encased with a sturdy and bulky earth-plated armor. The scene was quite odd but his power grew immensely. His steps became so heavy that it left cracks on the floor as he rushed Cal.
“Interesting, you used up most of your mana for a Sky Realm rune. That’s not going to be enough to save you, Fierstone.”
Understanding that Erik consumed most of his mana, he began devising his own strategy to bring him down. Cal understood he could not let Erik get near him. If Erik landed just one hit, then it would be over.
Cal’s demeanor instantly changed and entered battle mode. He wrote a rune of his own to slow Erik’s momentum down.
“Marsh Land”
The stage became a marshy environment and every step Erik took sank down into it. His movements came slowing down, wasting his mana away as he maintained his rune spell. Erik knew the predicament he was in and he couldn’t afford to waste even more of his energy, but he had no choice but to do that.
“You coward, you won’t stop me.”
Each step Erik took was now filled with hardened earth. His feet were glowing with a light brown aura creating a path on top of the marshy floor. Erik became more and more flustered from one simple spell that almost drove him empty. He decided to go all in on his frontal attack. He placed his hands on the floor and filled them with mana.
“Earth Lance!”
The floor beneath Cal emerged with lances stabbing toward him. Cal received his attack with a smirk on his face. He anticipated a move of desperation and was already prepared with his own spell. His hands were already positioned creating a rectangle. In the open space between his hands a screen of pure white appeared. He spread them open creating a screen of white light.
“Light Mirror”
The lances entered into the mirror and then they came right back out. They shot straight back into Erik’s chest leaving slight indentations on his armor. The lances did not have enough force to break an armor created from a Sky Realm rune. Erik realized his predicament and rash decisions, but he could not back down here. He proceeded to launch himself by creating pillars of earth under his feet. He quickly closed the space between the two and launched a frontal attack. The air seemed to break apart from the massive weight that shot across the air. Cal reacted by inscribing a green rune.
“Wind’s Blessing”
His legs were wrapped by a green aura enhancing his speed so he could dodge the mass heading at him. His light screen disappeared and what replaced it was a black blob on his hand. As Erik came right at him he dodged to the left at the very last possible moment. Cal placed his black blob on his chest as he went around him. Erik crashed into the spot where Cal was once standing and when the dust settled a crater appeared around him. Erik stood up to keep the pressure up, but once he did the armor around his chest began crumbling and fell apart.
“When did you touch me? Stop acting like a coward and face me directly!”
Erik’s face glowed red with anger and embarrassment.
“Winning is king. Nothing else matters.”
Cal sped past Erik who was dumbfounded and tapped his back with his black blobs. He kept pressing Erik from every angle who could not keep up with Cal’s speed and dexterity. He sped past him many times and eventually appeared in front of Erik. Erik’s armor crumbled all at once leaving him defenseless and exhausted. Erik did not have any more mana to expend and fell down to his knees. Cal whispered so only Erik would hear.
“Forfeit or I’ll drag you off the stage in front of everyone.”
Erik reluctantly raised his arm and called out.
“I forfeit.”
Wexley came down from the space above them and announced the winner. The class erupted in uproar after the duel. Everyone believed Erik would prevail this time with a higher rank, but Cal was truly a monster. They both walked off the stage to their respective groups. That is when Wexley approached Erik.
“Erik. It was smart of you to attack by enhancing your physicality, but you didn’t leave any mana to support you further. Rethink your approach next time.”
Erik bowed his head in acknowledgment and continued on his way.