“She will lose.” The murmur of Bennett disturbs the sound of battle down below. Even now he’s standing beside his colleague, the past love of his life, ex-wife, the woman he planned children with, and the one who made his hair turn gray and thin.

“It’s fine, a mage’s biggest weapon is their creativity. And she’s still holding back, not desperate enough. And clearly not her old self.” Answers Martha as if they were sitting in the park slurping tea. “That’s why I decided to take fire from her. It’s not her Skills that interest me. Her style changed and her mentality even more so.” She observes.

Bennett just grunts and continues watching as the half-elf pelts the warrior with lightning bolt after lightning bolt. The prison holds for now but it's only a matter of seconds.

“What did I miss?” A man arrives with bags that smell distinctly sweet.

Bennett raises an eyebrow at the old woman next to her. Its implication being ‘How did he get inside the Fort?’

“Told them at the reception to let him through and guide him here. I sure as hell would be curious to see my child in action.” Martha grumbles, mood souring as always when it comes to the lack of her own descendants.

“Eli is doing fine for now. Although, I reckon we should look for a healer. She’ll need it.” Answers the only mother around.

They continue watching and just as expected Valka breaks free, huffing and snarling in anger but not worse for wear. This results in another game of tag where the Mage tries to get a good hit in while the Warrior, or rather berserker at this point, just marches through it.

“You like her.” Giggles Martha, capitalizing on the old man’s lapse of attention.

“She fights like a rabid beast.” Bennett tries to deny the accusation. “No technique, no discipline, just-”

“And that’s why you like her.” The woman hums mockingly. “The drive, the determination. And the unique mindset. Yes… she does not fear pain the same way any sane person should but that’s not all. She dreads something more than any injury. A new favorite maybe?”

“I don’t have favorites, unlike some.” Bennett keeps the hat of delusion on. “She will win because everything plays in her favor.”

“Despite the lies, I take it you won’t reject a free servant for a few days? In case her slave Class requires some work before it can be discarded.” Martha asks with that good old wicked grin on her face.

Before Bennett can answer however a flame is lit on the courtyard. Elyssia is now standing with eyes narrowed in deep concentration facing off her opponent knee-deep in the mud. In one hand a bright yellow marble of fire, in the other a ball of water.

“She isn't allowed to use fire to-” Bennett tries to complain about the imminent breach of the rules when a hand smacks his lips.

“Shush, observe!” Martha whispers and focuses intently on what is about to come.

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

I need something more impactful but at the same time not all that deadly. The first two plans have already failed and those were all the plans I had. Valka is now in full swing, marching on like a complete berserker just like when we fought the goblins, and clearly out to punish me for messing with her.

My first idea was to rely on explosions if only the use of fire wasn’t restricted. In the end, an explosion is just fire, and energy released really fast…

Or is it? If we over-inflate a balloon it explodes. A different kind, mechanical explosions. The same goes for how the carriage went boom after the space magic got destabilized. Something that still delivers a hefty punch without the burn…

Valka dives at me again while I’m trying to cook something up, snarling like an angered beast. I rely on the water around my body once again to slow her movements and slip away but she’s getting faster and the same trick can only work so many times. Electricity runs through the water connection of our bodies but she seems to be getting used to it barely even twitches even though I’m pretty sure that output could kill a normal person.

I can't keep doing this. Sooner or later she will get a good grasp on me and my mana supplies are painfully finite. Maybe if I used a mass of iron large enough instead of water to hit hard enough… Wait, that’s it. Water!

Just like air, water can also go boom violently. Something called flashing the liquid makes it expand rapidly and the overpressure can cause some serious damage. I once got too eager when heating my bath and let’s just say it didn’t end well. I only learned the reason behind that incident later but man Savant can be such a Blessing, quite literally.

A steam explosion will hurt, burn, and accomplish that all through eighty percent water magic. Not hitting her with fire as per our agreement.

I’ll need a few seconds to create something with enough kick but the freedom to do that… it’s something Valka will most definitely try to prevent. She has seen what happens when I have time to prepare a spell.

I throw a few weaker strikes of lightning at my friend, who by now is coming at me probably seeing red. As weird as it is to say… she’s getting scarier the longer this goes on. It’s almost like she’s taking less and less damage and I know that none of her Skills has an effect even remotely close to this, not even her Blessing.

It might just be sheer grit honestly. She’s also pissed because every time I shot and scoot it’s her pride that truly suffers the damage. The way I’m playing with her and giggling to make it really sting…

She buckles and stumbles for a second after each hit before pushing through and reaching me again. We’ve been here about eight times already, just within arms reach yet so far. To my great fortune, the red mist clouding her mind stops her from seeing through my tricks. She has all the experience I do and then some, but her reasonable self just doesn’t seem to be there. On the other hand mind games are my greatest joy and advantage in a fight.

She gave up on grabbing a while ago and now just goes right for, honestly quite spine-chilling, punches. She’s faster but I can vaguely see where the attacks are headed, both because of Premonition and because her eyes betray her every move. Yet again she closes in, stomping hard enough to shatter the layer of ice coating the ground, bashing through every obstacle I make and powering on despite the veritable blizzard raining into her face.

Then I create a raging inferno in my palm and throw it her way which finally manages to halt her advance. Of course, I dissipate the flames before they can even reach her, playing the rules fabulously and taking this chance to escape again. I command the remaining water on my body to tie her arms up and swallow her face but the flames have clearly changed something.

From the corner of my vision, I see a new trick, very much unlike Val. Her right leg sails through the air in a deadly arc which guarantees her losing her balance but catches me off guard nonetheless. She doesn’t like using her legs, saying they were made to move, and has her fists for hitting stuff. Supposedly something idiotic her mother preached when she was little.

With only a blink to react, I place my palms in the leg’s way and create an air cushion to dampen the impact. My arms buckle and my wrists feel like breaking but I manage to turn the attack into upward momentum and get a foothold on Valka’s shoulders. A perfect jumpboard for a quick escape.

Just for fun, I make the water go up into her nose and freeze before launching myself off her back. Maybe tearing it out will drag her nose-hair with it.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Glancing backward just in case I see Val spin after me, slam a fist against her forehead, instantly shattering the ice, and reach after me with bloodshot eyes. The crumbling ice melts instantly and flows back onto my shin, solidifying in a second to slip away once more, however…

I’m not the only one learning and improving.

Valka uses both hands to smack the ice from two angles, shattering the thin layer and grabbing hold of me for good. No more slippery armor and in her grasp… the grin from my face quickly migrates over to Valka, too quickly.

She grabs onto my leg, which feels like the bone is about to shatter under her fingers, and whips me around a few times before preparing to straight up slam me into the ground. Looks like she forgot about the whole friendly match and holding back agreement.

Arguably my fault for messing with her that much if we’re honest.

Just as I’m sailing through the air at the highest point I discharge as much lightning magic into the berserk warrior as my Intelligence allows. The closer the better is a golden rule for using magic and it's pretty close right now. Her muscles tense and her body stiffens, while I create another concentrated air cushion under her palm. My heart rate slows a little when I finally slip from her hold and turn the slam into a throw. I was really starting to fear for my life.

After a quick fly I correct my fall as much as possible with wind magic, still slamming hard into the ground and grinding to a painful halt on my side. Despite the bruises and aching side, I grin wickedly.

Thanks for giving me the distance.

Now with that done, I turn my undivided focus to the task at hand. I need to create pressure very quickly, instantly. In one hand a ball of fire lights up, while the water on me converges in a similar ball above my other palm. Even though my eyes are looking forward I can barely see anything as there is no brain power left to spare. My fingers slowly close around the two elements, compressing the flames and creating a thin icy layer around the ball of water.

Doing the two completely opposite tasks all at once is difficult almost beyond my capabilities and it's a surprise even for me how well it turns out. Time is of the essence, and I’ve never done this before, and maybe against an enraged Valka it isn’t the smartest of moves to experiment… But what’s done is done.

Said bull, a female variant, is already rushing at me shouting her usual battlecry with now a bit of worry sprinkled to the rage in her eyes.

Gods, please let this do the job.

I curve the icy ball of water into Valka’s path and aim down the tiny but blazing hot marble of fire along my index finger. I have to be careful, if the fire hits Valka that’s a rule break and I lose, besides causing her quite a lot of pain which sounds even worse.

Just when the water is an arm’s length away from the intended target the fire marble flies off in a blur and sinks into the ice with a small pop. Since the magic mix is still within my reach I help the heat spread and water evaporate as bubbles swarm in the hundreds and the ice cracks… then an explosion far beyond what I’ve been expecting goes off, blowing up dust and sending Valka flying.

I gawk like a stranded fish, while the now calmed and greatly hurt berserker groans loudly on the ground, clutching her side with a pained face. Blood is flowing down the side of her lips and that ribcage really isn’t supposed to dent like that.

Did I overdo it? I’ve been trying to restrain myself because this is just a friendly spar in the end but…

While I’m chewing on my conscience for causing this much damage and start walking towards her to help, she goes silent. Deep ragged breaths fill her chest before she decides to push herself back up even though she’s in clearly no condition to stand.

I halt my step and create another set of water and fire just to discourage her from doing anything stupid. “Stay down Val, I’m warning you!”

She looks at me with eyes reflecting tranquility despite her and the courtyard’s condition before spitting some blood and chuckling quietly. “Do you know me like that?” She asks and grunts as the ribs crack back to their place. “We’re not done.” She states and continues towards me, picking up pace.

I’m conflicted for only a second. In the end my respect for her wins out over the worry that I will hurt her.

It takes but a moment to finish the preparation steps but this time I add a little more curve to the flying ball of water. Valka is of course cautious to a fault this time, moving much slower and changing course the moment my magic leaves my side. Except…

It’s my magic, my control, my trajectory, and my stage. I adjust the water’s path and make it chase after her before ducking under her raised arms guarding her head. With everything in place the pea of fire marble with pinpoint accuracy…

The explosion is just as violent the second time. Again Valka crashes down on the ground with her blood now flowing freely from her ears and mouth and I’m almost silently begging to the Gods for her to stay down. I might kill her… just like I killed those people back in Solermo.

And yet even before her wounds start to heal she’s already moving. One arm after another, pained and wobbly attempts at trying to stand upright, and a crazed yet confident grin that sends chills down my back.

I focus on my hands once more and try my best at hastily remaking my steam bomb, however…

When I look up again to aim it's just as I feared. Valka is there, standing close enough that I can feel her labored breaths. Her hand reaches out and she grabs the flame I made, grimacing as it sizzles and extinguishes.

Damn idiot, you made your point already, you’re too tough to lose. This is just unnecessary masochism.

“Hope I got some good Skill levels from this spar. After all, it’s just as you said, I'm too weak as I am now.” She whispers, looking down at me due to the slight height advantage. “Helped me a lot with getting stronger today, didn’t you?”

She looks intimidating, not because of her stature, but because of those eyes of hers and the indomitable aura surrounding her. The confidence that no matter what I’ve done she can just stand back up and march on. Her clothes are hanging on her in tatters, nothing new there, and still not a single wound is visible on her skin.

I’m also a bit relieved I didn’t get to send that bomb for the third time. I like a clever fight, not hurting my friend, bordering on torture. I’m also down to around twenty percent mana so it would’ve been only a question of seconds how long I can last.

I smile at her innocently and tilt my head. “I surrender?”

Her eyes narrow, and her voice is cold and tinged with amusement. “No, you don’t. You’re going nowhere!”

Knowing very well what she means I zap her again and start fleeing like my life depends on it.

“Come back here!” She giggles menacingly. “I’ll help you with Pain Tolerance.”

“No~o!” I scream and run faster than ever. “DAD!” It’s no shame to cry for help when in a desperate situation.

What it is however is a futile waste of breath.

“You deserve it, sweety.” Mom shouts back, not helping at all.

“Please don’t be too cruel, Valka.” Dad adds, basically telling me that I’m on my own.

***

Half an hour later the other kids are back in the courtyard, doing their routine stuff. Some small-scale duels and no squad battles since we mostly demolished the entire place.

I’m aching everywhere, wet and grumpy. The grievances were repaid. I was half drowned, slapped, spanked, and tickled without a morsel of mercy. Despite losing, which is one of my least favorite activities, I'm not too dejected. We both fought well and I know victory was only seconds away.

Besides Valka’s retribution, it was quite fun actually. I always wanted to see how I’d fare against her.

The four adults just smile as they discuss our little demonstrations in hushed voices. Dad has the goodies so he gets a pass but I will hold a grudge against the rest for their betrayal.

“But she used fire.” Bennett whispers a little too loud.

“And did we forbid your newest little favorite to use her fist, hm? No? Then shut your trap.” Martha replies with her usual attitude before all eyes turn to us.

“I won’t lie, that was impressive.” Bennett compliments, only for Martha’s elbow to dig into his side. “One of the greatest displays I’ve ever seen from anyone your age.”

He must really be in a good mood. If I had to guess he won a fat bet and found a new toy, all in a day without any effort. His eyes have been locked onto Valka the entire time which comes as no surprise since he’s the one responsible for training all the warriors. Working on the rough gem that she is will be the old fart’s job.

“So, can she join?” I ask just to be sure.

“I mean, only a fool would say no.” Martha shrugs. “We’ll still have to inform command but consider it a sure bet.”

“Nice.” I fist-pump, not hiding my feelings the slightest bit.

With that done there’s only one thing left to do for today… I quickly dash over to my parents and snatch the sweets from Dad. He’s not the only one eyeing them as Mom knows what the baggage hides and by the looks of it Valka’s nose unveiled the secret as well.

“Then see you at dinner.” I wave, grab Valka, and scamper off,

“Where-” She tries to ask as I pull her along.

“To take a bath.” I grin ear to ear. “Dad got us some goodies as an apology. Trust me, just relax and have the best few hours of your life.”

The face of my parents when I stole the loot… They’re traitors anyway, throwing their daughter to the dogs.

Hehe, it’s nice to be back… to be home.