My previous loss does bother me a bit, quite a bit. I can accept it and still… fuck.

The matchup was quite balanced and our stats were similar. The only reason I lost is because he played his cards better. It was even kinda enjoyable all things considered… like some dangerous board game.

This does not mean I accept defeat easily. I will have my win today.

We watch a few more duels and I’d be lying if I said they weren’t as, or even more, impressive as mine. My only excuse is that they have more ‘ompf’ to work with. After an hour or so we move on to mixed duels before group combat.

This type of combat favors the melee fighters because the designated duel area isn’t too big and lethal attacks are forbidden, so we can’t even thrash them properly before they reach us. Whatever, there’s no point crying about that, if you’re better you win, that's the only truth.

Since I’m no longer amongst the lowest leveled kids here I have to wait for my turn in the ring for my first proper showdown. We usually let the weaker ones try themselves first, so they can challenge others freely without getting discouraged by the more mind-boggling display. Yeah, the winner gets to choose their next opponent.

Our little group is gathered once again, the four of us always just mystically draw to the others for company. I look smug as hell now that I have the highest level, tied with Kayla, while waiting for my turn to bash some heads and maybe see what Victor can do.

August is currently in the ring, running laps around an archer who’s panicking as all his shots are nowhere even close to the target. Even before the arrow is released August changes directions, keeping his distance for some reason.

Is he just mocking the guy by not taking this seriously?

The arrows are enhanced with wind mana, propelling them faster and guiding them slightly so they are plenty dangerous.

As it turns out August's reserved style was no coincidence as the archer finally breaks, the frustration making him act rashly. He pulls his empty bowstring back and when he releases it small blades of wind, like the ones I conjure, fly out in the dozens. They are tiny yet sharp without a doubt, speeding towards August relying on numbers instead of accuracy to end the target.

I hate to admit it but August is very good with the sword and incredibly agile on his feet. Like a leaf blown on the wind, he dances between the crescent blades and raises his weapon to intercept anything that seems unavoidable while making his way towards the archer.

“I-I surrender!” The boy cries out, looking frightened by the skillful display and throwing in the towel before getting hurt.

August slides to a stop, his wooden sword aimed at the boy's throat and he holds it there a bit to show off. A bit too flashy if you ask me but stylish nonetheless. The archer, I can’t be bothered to learn every kid’s name, strolls out of the designated fighting area looking both relieved and downcast at the outcome. It was a really disadvantageous matchup, pitting a ranger and a speed-based melee combatant against each other. As versatile as I am, even I would struggle against such an opponent.

August indifferently looks over the crowd, exercising his right to choose his next opponent. Sword stabbed into the ground he just stands there as his eyes flicker from person to person, at the end stopping on me. He points his blade towards me as a challenge, the corner of his mouth raised slightly.

I would’ve been surprised if he chose anybody else with the whole crowd survey as just a farce, with the target being me all along. He might act ignorant and cold, but still, I’m sure his previous loss against me hurt his little fragile ego. Let's see if it can weather another one.

I nod, indicating that I accept the invitation and soon I’m standing in front of him, looking each other in the eye before the referee, Bennett, starts the round.

A vicious smile appears on my face and I walk closer. “Begging for a rematch to mend your pride, huh Aug?” I incite.

“I’m just establishing the proper order. You need to be shown your place, amateur.” He narrows his eyes, trying to act as if my insult didn’t reach him. He raises his wooden sword, preparing for the mark.

“If you get trashed by an amateur, then what does that make you I wonder?” I sure as hell not gonna let him win the verbal duel either.

[The general Skill [Persuasive Speech] has reached lvl 4.]

Hehe.

The last time we fought I was unable to find out his Class’s element as he refrained from using it just like right now. Maybe he’s looking down on us, or has a trashy Class or the magic works in a very passive way or he holds back for a surprise attack. Time to find out.

Well, if he hides it intentionally then I sure as hell am not gonna let him walk out of here without him using it.

I take my place and we both nod for Bennett that we’re ready to rumble. For a change, the fight doesn’t take place in the small stone circle, instead, we use the wider courtyard as a whole. We both prefer more open terrain for combat so it was agreed upon to let us fight a little more freely. The area is fairly empty and flat, which would give me an advantage in normal circumstances but it favors him even more for quick maneuvers.

Bennett lifts his hand high, while both August and I stare at each other without even blinking, muscles coiled and ready for the signal.

“Begin!” Comes the command and the hand swipes down.

I don’t even waste the effort on trying to keep the distance and instead prepare for the inevitable confrontation while trying to slow August down. To my surprise, however, he doesn’t just bolt straight my way and instead circles around me.

I activate Mana Vision because I sure as hell won't repeat my previous mistake of not checking on what my opponent uses against me. The Skill might be mentally demanding but a quick look is all I need.

Before the world is overtaken by colors I raise spikes of earth around me and gather a ball of fire in my hand. I don’t want to be left defenseless if he attacks me while I’m preoccupied with figuring out what exactly I’m seeing.

The ground turns brown, the air is fuzzy light green and bodies glow a bright yellowish green. The fire I’m holding shines red and the world around August is brighter than anything in my view.

Light magic.

I knew it. I knew he had some Skill running to keep his movement so smooth. Does this help me beat him in any way? Nope, but it feels good to know he isn’t holding back just has really subtle Skills.

Then the light around him flashes for a second and he accelerates sharply, basically flying towards me. He got quite a bit faster since the last time I made him eat dirt, thank the Gods I also became a lot more deadly since then.

The vision Skill gets dumped right away as I start to feel its burden and even before my vision can normalize I pull the ball of fire before me and unleash the flames like a spraying sneeze.

It manages to scare him away while blocking the line of sight for the both of us. Without hesitation I make the earth spikes shoot out of the ground in his general direction as lightning begins to dance between my fingers.

Only two ways to deal with fast bastards. Make them unable to dodge or hit them with something faster than they are.

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August breaks through the cloud of dust, fire and dirt with nothing more than a few scratches on him and his eyes narrow when he sees what the next attack is about to be. The electricity snaps into small spears around me and just as I’m about to aim and launch August points the tip of his sword towards me.

I feel, no I know something is off so Mana Vision returns just in time for me to see light running up his arm, through the wooden sword and gathering at the tip. When the light reaches a breaking point a small ball forms and through a tiny hole a ray of light shoots out at me, all this in a fraction of a second.

Before I can even send my lightning spears the light connects with my shoulder, burning through my training blouse and searing my skin. I hiss and grit my teeth, fighting not to collapse and sadly lose concentration on something much more important than some little pain.

When I look up from the wound August is already just steps away, sword poised to strike and lightning spears nowhere to be used, returning to the cycle of mana the moment my concentration was broken.

In a moment of half panic, I raise a hand and do the quickest form of magic I can think of. A short intense flash of light. Even closing my eyes and turning my head sideways doesn’t entirely protect me, still, I roll to the side with my eyes shut while drawing some earth around me in the hope of August being blind as a bat.

My wishful thinking is proven wrong when the moment I try to stand back up the sword comes swinging for me and only the stumble backward caused by surprise saves me. His eyes are shut rendering his swings inaccurate… the fucker is relying on his ears.

Instead of defending I attack and not with magic but by side-swiping him in the knee, knocking him off his feet and slamming two fists of earth into his side as he falls. He’s down and blind but gets up just as fast as I do, tottering slightly and blinking rapidly.

I reach for lightning magic again to resolve this quickly, however, the second the first crackle of electricity is heard he points his sword toward me, and I dive out of the way. We both learned our lessons it seems. He hates being shocked and will do anything to stop me from zapping him.

Why is he beating me in ranged combat??? This is so fucking stupid. Just because he can run fast and shoot faster…

Frustrated, I abandon caution and swap the roles. With two pillars of ice forming by my side, I run headfirst toward August, who by now seems to be regaining his sight. Probably because he uses light mana himself.

With sword raised to divert the first ice club slamming down on him only for the second one to split into smaller spears and turn the air around him into an inside-out hedgehog.

I have to stop him from moving one way or the other and if too many attacks are the way to do that then I’ll bombard him until one of them hits.

He crouches so low his head touches the ground before jumping up as wind blades approach only to be met with projectiles of earth flying his way. He keeps dodging and blocking everything I send his way, only suffering minor injuries, so I try calling lightning again he dives again to avoid some ice spears.

He reacts a bit late as the spear of lightning starts to form in my hand, yet instead of raising his sword as usual his boots flash with a bright light. Even without Mana Vision, I can tell he uses the Skill to boost his speed as he closes the distance in the blink of an eye.

Melee should scare me as a Mage. It should be as water to a cat, yet I don’t back down and step forward driving my spear towards him.

Our eyes lock and the world seems to slow down as we’re about to clash. This is about who blinks first. If you back away that leaves you open for an attack and yet there’s a dangerous glint in his eyes which I’m sure he also sees in mine.

It can’t end like this.

He jumps back and I blast winds between us to get as much distance as possible before hurling the lightning spear at him. In a surprise move, he throws the wooden weapon which collides with the lightning and shatters into splinters, albeit stopping my attack.

His boots flash again and I only have a second to react as he charges me with his fist pulled back.

There’s something faster than lightning to take him down, something he showed me himself. I point both my index fingers and focus light magic at their tips. I imagine the pressure building, even though light has no mass, and making a tiny hole, through which the energy can escape.

My aim is poor, still, both rays of light land on August who staggers from the burning sensation. At his speed… every small mistake is fatal.

He falls forward and hastily corrects himself into a roll, yet when he lands in a crouch only my smug face and two glistening ice knives welcome him point blank.

“That’s enough, winner Elyssia.” Bennett declares, making me sigh in relief.

This one was close, really close.

August gets up with a big frown and clenched jaw that might have something to do with my shit-eating grin. “Next time.” Is all he says before vanishing into the crowd.

His injuries are small and the light beams I shot at him barely left his skin red.

Not to self again; don’t attack with the same element the enemy wields, not too efficient.

The stupid smile on my face won’t leave despite all my attempts, although I’m not trying that hard. I don’t know why but I was having a blast. It wasn’t even the victory itself that had my heart beating like crazy, the risky plays, tricks, the mind games… Okay, I’m not talking about getting hit and all, I’m not into pain, still the process of analyzing your opponent, coming up with a plan and succeeding... Damn, it feels good, even better against irritating people.

I quickly refill my mana, and seek the resident healer to see if anything needs healing before returning to Bennett. It’s my time to choose an opponent. I don’t actually have to think about it, it was either Kayla or Victor from the start.

I look towards them and I can see Kayla smiling widely with Victor standing behind her pointing at the girl and shaking his head with wide eyes, mouthing ‘Not her, not her!’.

I tilt my head and ponder on what’s wrong with him for a few seconds before deciding to call his name. Him first or Kalya, doesn’t matter. His brown hair got longer in these few weeks and instead of mischief, sharpness glints in his blue eyes. He’s a bit shorter than me so I can look down on him as we face off against each other.

“You know Eli, I’m really glad we’re on the same side.” He takes the bow off his back. “A few years and I’d have no idea how to beat you… too witty, too versatile.” He pulls an arrow out of his quiver and slots it.

“So what you’re saying is that I’m gonna lose?” I raise an eyebrow.

He just shrugs. “We’ll see.” After that, we just wait for the signal.

“By the way, why did you tell me not to pick Kayla?”

“Oh, she’s scary, you don’t want to pick her, trust me.”

“Start!” Bennett shouts.

I’m immediately on the defensive, as shooting an arrow is faster than forming magic and launching it. Walls of dirt rise around me one after another to provide cover and shield my approach. Soon a small maze, a lot flimsier than the dwarf made, is all around us with ample cover so I go on the offensive.

I just wait and wait… the mistake with my little construction is that I can’t really track his position behind the walls effectively. I activate Mana Vision and look around for anything that would suggest where Victor is and notice him to my side about to peek out from behind a wall so I launch my spears into that direction.

He immediately stops and pulls back as if guided by an invisible hand to avoid my attack. Now it's his turn to shoot so I scurry behind another wall, ready to play hide and seek. We run around in the maze exchanging shots never hitting the other despite the many opportunities and just learning about the other’s fighting style.

I can see him coming with Mana Vision, yet for him, it’s like he already knows the attack is coming. Just as I start running out of ideas an earth bolt catches him in the guts, making him retreat quickly and turning me into the hunter.

I run after him but before I can reach the turn I step on the ground and things take a shocking turn. Literally. The ground discharges lightning, sneaking up my leg and making me fall to the ground convulsing as electricity curses through me.

Victor walks up to me, standing above my shuddering body, his eyes looking sinister and a cold smile on his face.

“Don't overestimate yourself,” He chuckles. “a simple Lightning Trap can catch anybody off guard. You even made the perfect environment for me to place some… too scared of ranged combat.” He twirls his bow around. ”If this had been a full-on fight I might’ve lost, yet in a tactical sense, you’re no better than a five-year-old.” He laughs and holds his hand out to help me up.

If he’s like this when he fights then just how terrifying must Kayla be for him to call her scary? I don’t ever wanna fight against her.

My attempts at raising my arm to take his hand only result in twitching so he chuckles. “Ah, sorry about that.” He says and pulls me off the ground.

We stumble over to the healer so I can function normally again and after that, I just sit down among the audience and contemplate what he said.

It’s not even that I’m so horrid at coming up with a plan that caused me to fail here, he’s just scary sharp. Combine that with his Blessing and…

A shiver runs down my spine.

I’m really thankful for him being on my side.

Realizing that you’re so many steps behind is a terrifying feeling. This is exactly why we have these combat practices. It might be ineffective in terms of leveling but the combat experience and the things you learn can come just as handy as raw strength.

I still prefer some blue flames over trickery.