“Wait wait wait!” I never agreed to any duel. Besides, fight is… “Can we not? I don’t feel like hurting anyone any time soon.”

“It’s just a simple demonstration.” Martha insists. “And you loved duels back when you were their age.” She nods towards the greenhorns waiting for the spectacle, some of them not even a year younger than I. “ Believe me, a simple friendly bout will do you-”

“No!” I raise my voice. “You don’t get it, I’m sick of hurting people. Beasts weren’t the only things I had to kill. I just- I can’t.” A few surprised gasps and quiet murmurs welcome my outburst but the faces of the adults remain unfazed.

“I know, I can tell.” My mentor steps up to me and gently strokes my hair. “The way you twitch at every loud noise, avert your eyes at the sight of weapons, and clench your fists every time you try to downplay what happened… Trust me I’m fully aware of it all.”

Then why is she forcing me to tear open that wound? I just need some time to digest it all. Even the thought of doing my part in the Academy, beating up pompous brats, is filling me with dread. What if I can’t hold back and accidentally cripple or even kill someone? I’m dangerous and I don’t know if I can trust myself to-

“But you’re wrong if you think running from the issue will solve anything.” A small spark of electricity comes to life at the tip of her finger and goes berserk right away. “If there’s a monster you’re scared of then waiting till it calms or disappears isn’t how you’d deal with it, is it?” The raging magic slowly calms, taking on the shape of a perfect square.

I need to reign it in to regain control… Or kill it to prevent any further damage. But I like my magic, even the dangerous aspects of it so that only leaves me with practicing until I can confidently wield my power without any risks.

“Lassie, you’re overestimating yourself. The world isn’t too fragile to handle you.” Bennett chimes in, to my great disappointment. “Holding back when you can’t afford it will kill you and we’d like to avoid that. “I throw Mom a pitiful glance begging for help, only for her to nod at Bennett’s words. “Thankfully you brought the perfect partner to help you fight your fear.” All eyes wander onto Valka. “Good luck accidentally killing her.”

“That’s insane, why would I hurt my friend? Why not one of you?” I protest vehemently against the idea of using her as a test dummy.

Instead of answering however the veterans turn toward Val instead. “What about you?” Bennett asks her opinion which is very much unlike him.

“I’m fine.” She shrugs. “I also killed one or two of them but they were bad guys so-”

“No, not that.” The old man chuckles. “What’s your opinion on our idea?”

“Hmm.” Val taps her chin for a few seconds, glancing between me and the adults before nodding to herself. “I’d win.” She finally blurts out. This earns another round of excited gasps from the onlookers, still waiting for the fight to start. “She sure is cocky and I agree, waiting won’t solve anything. A good beating is what she needs.”

Do they really- why can’t they just- Argh, fine, I’ll give it to them. I tried to be considerate here and just heal normally but now I’m done.

“Sure, let’s have a fight. are you happy?” I cross my arms, still reluctant but a little too miffed to care. Especially since Val literally asked for it. “But why can’t we take care of her collar first?”

Somehow my answer comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me even a little. When push comes to shove I rarely back down and truth be told if it were anything but Val I’d most likely refuse just because I know how laughably tough she is.

“Because I don’t want to wait an entire day to find the smith and reset your Classes and all that.” Martha huffs, not like she has much else to do. “So, are you waiting for me to clap? Take your place in the circle!” she edges us on to show what we have become.

“Hold up!” I raise my voice before she gets overly excited, despite her age. “We need to get changed and the ring is too small. Val is like a cockroach already, you don't need to give her the range advantage as well.” I ramble on about how senseless the so-called professional gets.

The adults are almost as surprised as the orphans at me daring to talk back to the gods of the training field. I will be disciplined one way or the other for acting up so I might as well make the most of it. Everyone is too excited and ever since Martha came down like a literal bolt lighting things have been moving a bit too fast for my taste.

Before anyone can start lecturing me about manners I grab Valka and start marching towards the changing room for some sparing clothes. “Come on, we don’t wanna destroy your new wear in a little spar, there should be…” I came to a sudden stop. “Do we have anything in her size?” I turn to Martha specifically.

She seemingly lets my earlier rudeness fly and thinks deeply with a sneezing face. “Not that I know of, she’s anything but kid-sized and we don’t have any Beastmen big enough in their ranks this year.” We glance at Valka with judging eyes. “Wait here, the clothes back from my hay days should be an okay fit.”

Bennett slides closer now that Martha left. “She wants what’s best for-”

“I know.” I answer, fully aware of what he means.

“And I’m here in case-”

“I know.”

He stays quiet for a moment before changing the topic. “The scars on you… they will be difficult to get rid of.”

And I mutter the same two words for the third time, just a lot weaker. “I know.”

Visiting that same healer I almost killed wasn’t an option and I’m not a kid to whine about every minor injury. I lived, in some cases only barely but that’s all in the past and turned out well. Right?

“She is a weird mage.” Val slaps my back gently. “I mean, who rushes straight at the enemy without any Endurance or Fortitude? The wounds were never serious and those she went up against always ended up worse, but she truly is a messed up one.”

Look who’s talking.

In a few minutes, Martha reappears in her usual fashion, teleporting behind us. I expected it and Bennett knows the woman through and through. Valka though… she jumps high like a startled cat.

“Put these on,” The hag hurls her a bundle of old-smelling clothes. “and get moving. We don’t have all day.”

I guide Valka to the rooms designated near the courtyard just for the purpose. Injuries and ruined clothes are a constant here. There are separate tiny rooms in case we want some privacy and also because despite our tender age boys will be boys and girls will be girls.

In seconds I change into the good old white shirt and brown leather pants with a pair of comfy boots on my feet. These clothes have been around in heaps purchased en masse by the Fist just to be destroyed during duels like this in no time. They are expendable. I wait outside for a few minutes before Val comes out wearing the same stuff just in a much older edition and a tiny bit oversized.

Martha must’ve been a looker in her prime.

All the bystanders have found a good spot on the upper corridors, safely away from any harm. Mom, Martha, and Bennett are standing beside each other and looking down on us with expectant eyes. This means the entire courtyard is ours to play.

“Take up position in opposite corners and wait for my mark.” Bennett orders.

This time Valka speaks up emboldened by my foolish example. “Some rules first.” She gets the nasty eyes. “What? I don’t want to be torched. I would be fine as long as it’s none of that nasty blue stuff but it would hurt like hell.”

“What level is your Pain Tolerance?” Bennett asks, again interest shoving in his eyes.

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“87.” Valka answers which gets a sharp whistle from the crowd.

If only some of them knew what it takes to get it that high.

When Bennett turns to me I share my humble yet still respectable number. “46.”

“So fight until surrender, you both can take a few hits and not break down into tears.” No reactions this time, the two of us know exactly how bad a hit needs to be to take us down. Although I feel like the old fart is mostly just mucking the rest of the kids. “Fire is forbidden and try not to kill each other.”

Having one of my most potent weapons sealed isn’t ideal but I can agree to that. This is just a friendly duel without any protective gear. Although it’d be fun to see Val completely bald again.

Despite my calm facade, I have little confidence in winning this one. My firepower might be just enough to bring her down but keeping her down there… That’s gonna be an issue. During our months together I went over a scenario where I had to face off against her three hundred times if not more and it’s pretty even. When I’m pulling my punches though…

Keeping my distance will be key although I have no delusion she will get in my face sooner or later. Tough and fast like many lumbering beasts, just with a little more brain to make use of her strengths. Earth and water will be my best tools for the job.

Val told stories about how back in her village children grew up beating each other up on a regular basis to become better hunters and do other wild stuff so this shouldn’t be anything new to her.

“Are you ready?” Bennett asks and lifts his hand.

I nod and soon see Valka follow suit. Then the arm goes down and I start weaving my magic while backpedaling like crazy. Valka rushes at me with the subtlety of a mammoth bull, a crooked smile on her face that I don’t want to observe from any closer.

We’ve fought long enough side by side to know every weakness and specialty the other can bring to the table. Cutting her is a pipedream with that broken Blessing of hers and as agreed fire is a no-go.

I get into a low fighting stance and start throwing punches into the air just like I was taught years ago. Every time my fist hits only thin air a piece of earth twice its size shoots out from the ground right at my foe. In my grip, I compress the soil into something bordering on stone to have some actual impact and it surprisingly works.

I mainly aim at the legs to slow Val down in her relentless rush at me and a good hit to the knee makes her fall over to my great joy. A follow-up rapid barrage forces her on the defense, raising her arms to protect her chest and face.

I know I said reluctant to hurt her but at the same time, I know she’d take it as a great offense if I held back. Her people supposedly take great pride in duels and improving themselves and holding back would be equal to looking down on her.

Since she didn’t get close enough to implement the second step of my plan it’s up to me to inch towards her without giving any breathing room. I’m almost in range when something changes. Valka drops her guard and snags two rocks I throw at her out of the air while letting the rest crash into her, receiving the hits only with a small grunt.

A wicked smile spreads across her face as she pulls her arm back and returns my attacks with twice the force behind them. Understandably I don’t need Premonition to warn me about the impending danger. The moment the muscles in her arm twitch, unleashing devastating power, I’m already hurling myself to the side. I do dodge the first boulder with no problem, especially with my magic hard at work to slow the flying rock of death, but the second one she crushes in her grip and launches as a scattershot. Some of the pebbles I block, others miss entirely… those that do land however sting like a motherfucker.

Now with no more projectiles coming her way, Valka advances once again, and in my moment of fright, I launch a few more bundles of earth at her. Needless to say, things repeat themselves.

I won’t try that one again. She can take the hit and I can’t.

Despite the first one and a half steps going down the drain I’m still not done. She’s in range now.

----------------------------------------

Valka Pov:

Oh, I will so tear her to shreds.

She went right after my second biggest weakness since I specifically asked for the first to be banned for this fight. Fire is the worst but getting hit by a hammer or a bolt of lightning as thick as her arm isn’t much better. It seriously hurts and I really have no other way of blocking things than just eating the hit.

Just let me get my hand on her…

I waited to learn the pattern and timing of her attacks. Then she quickly caught on to only throw what you’re willing to receive, only harder. I can’t hold the smile back from my face as Eli tries to pitifully flee. Using earth and wind magic to propel herself backward, away from the predator.

I’m faster and I’m coming for you little mage.

When there are only steps for Eli to backpedal with a wall to her back she abruptly changes her approach and charges at me. Which is so very much like her.

Water gathers around her torso and arms like a snake coiling around its soon-to-be meal, twisting and twirling like a whirlpool. I still approach all the same albeit a little more carefully yet not any slower. Momentum is a great asset to hit hard.

Instead of going for a heavy smash, however, I try to grapple. A punch might accidentally kill her but more importantly, I feel like she wants me to attack the usual way.

Eli leans right and prepares a right hook a futile attempt with her strength and I know she’s not dumb enough to actually punch me. Just as I predicted, a pillar of earth shoots up into my side sliding just below my defenses.

The impact isn’t even enough to knock the air out of me but it does manage to mess up my balance before crumbling against my side. Eli grasps the opportunity and tries dashing past me while I’m open and I of course grab her arm abandoning defense entirely.

The previously dormant water finally comes to life on her body, snaking down the limb I’m after and freezing into an icy layer.

“You slippery weasel!” I yell after her as my fingers slide off the otherwise useless layer of protection.

She giggles fiendishly and flees again. The distance between us widens considerably before I can turn and ice recedes from her arm, flowing back into the snake. We’re back to square one.

She launches a few smaller rocks at me, betting on my lapse in focus, but they just bounce off me, falling harmlessly like the waste of mana they are, not even worthy of healing. Cat and mouse it is. The gloves have come off, I won’t underestimate her again and play nice.

Instead of chasing right after her I grab a nearby weapon rack and throw the entire thing, shields, swords, maces, and everything after her.

“Hey, that’s not fair.” Eli cries, scrambling away from the rain of steel.

My aim is shit, thankfully there is plenty of stuff to throw and more than enough force behind everything flying her way. Now that the slippery mage is preoccupied with dodging and blocking I close the distance rapidly, abusing Power Burst to power my every step.

Courtesy of all the levels I earned after meeting this rat my body can handle the strain a lot better. The stone tiles crack under my feet and the soft soil caves with barely any resistance as I power forward. The chase… it’s exhilarating.

Eli notices me basically flying at her a moment too late, her eyes widening as I cock my fist back to end this little game. She tries to run and pulls earth, water, and wind, everything she can move, between us to protect herself. When my fist connects the hastily made shield holds for a second before slowly crumbling under the force, proving too little too late. My momentum carries me through and just now I start fearing for my friend and the damage I could cause.

As I move through the shattered fragments I expect a pained or frightened cry but… nothing. As the clutter clears from my face I’m met with my fist colliding with thin air. Then a finger touches my chest.

In these fragments of a second, my eyes shift downwards and catch a hole, within it a mage, on its face a victorious grin. Lightning travels up her arm and enters my chest through the finger with such intensity that even the collar’s punishment pales in comparison.

The energy slamming into me acts like a powerful punch slamming into my chest and hurls me away mercilessly. My mind goes blank for a second and my muscles refuse to respond but using my healing has become second nature and it’s already working hard to get me back into the fight.

She landed a nasty hit before I could catch her and it’s mostly my fault. I got distracted and feared for nothing. My vision returns and I’m just about to move again when I notice the smashed barrier coming to life once again.

My body is sadly too slow to react and the muddy earth envelops me, piling up and growing heavier before it all turns cold and heavy.

“Frozen and compressed mud, hopefully resilient enough to keep you down for good. If not I’ll just make your new cosy prison bigger and heavier. How do you like it?” Elyssia steps in front of me with a boastful smile, leaning right into my face. “I can’t take you down, huh? I don’t think you can go any lower than this and I didn’t even need to really hurt you.”

Her words hit just the right spot, making me furious and hurting my pride enough to make me stop caring about other things besides this fight. Besides the enemy in front of me here and now.

I heave and thrash against the tight hold of the ground, loosening it slightly only for Eli to quickly back off and redouble her effort in keeping me down. But more importantly… her confident facade is no more.

“Don’t make this any harder, I got you.” She warns but I call her bluff.

“Not over until I’m still concious.” I growl and start using those damn muscles I worked so hard for again.

I am grunting, roaring, and pushing only to be forced back by the magic repairing the small mound that’s holding me back… I bear my teeth at Eli and start relying on Power Burst again, just to see her confidence crumble.

“Last warning!” She says in a serious tone.

I’m not here to lose on my first debut against a damn knife-eared, soft-skinned Mage with a handicap, so I don’t relent. She sighs and thrusts her hand forward in a familiar motion. Lighting bursts forth, lighting connects, and lighting tears through me once more.

And I get even more pissed. The attack only feeds The Body’s Grudge, allowing the Skill to store power for one decisive retaliatory strike, and I only need to be patient a little longer before I can crush her along with this pathetic prison.

That little bitch just shocked me again… Now I’ll definitely give her a proper beating.