Beads of sweat continued to slide down my cheek, my breathing was slowly getting ragged as the adrenaline from the fight weared off.

I had won against Victor swiftly and decisively, but the duel with Ian and Melanie took much more effort than I would've liked. I guess being part of the Enforcers, the top security force of public peace-keeping is no joke. Melanie's fire magic onslaught was much dangerous than what I thought it could, and Ian's earth wall was surprisingly sturdy and was quick to be constructed. But I knew I could move faster than they could react, it was all about finding the right opening.

A loud clapping snapped me back to my surroundings, I just witnessed Ian's earth dome crumble and was catching my breath. Cameron's loud clapping and voice grabbed my attention.

"Excellent display of skill Captain. It seems those who truly experienced and graduated from the Imperial Academy are made of better stuff than those from the public institutions the Empire has." He had a smile this time, not a grin on his face, as he walked forward. "Alright treat Melanie and Ian to stabilize their conditions. Afterwards, treat the Captain some mana recovery before our duel."

I dropped my fighting stance and stood relaxed as I waited his approach. Rona, Joran, and Tiana retrieved Melanie and Ian from the field and laid down them next to Victor. Rona treated them again with her healing magic.

"I guess harassment from the nobility and ambitious folks really put a number on you huh?" Cameron said as he stood face to face with me.

I smiled, "My grandfather was granted nobility by the previous emperor, though only a barony, and then my father rose to the rank of Count. You could say there were high expectations for me since the system of meritocracy elevated us from commoners to a county in just two generations." I looked up at him eye-to-eye.

"I wanted to rise our rank again at first, but after my experience at the academy, I would prefer just living a life where I can live comfortable enough that I wasn't burdened with the expectations climbing the social ladder nor impoverished that I always had to think about what to do to survive the next day. A mundane life you could say." I sighed, a bit drained from telling him my aspirations.

He lost his smile and took a serious face, "I see." He crossed his arms, "That's the reason you joined up the Research and Development Bureau huh? And somehow you worked your way up to a comfortable position, and since the bureau is known for their eccentrics, that position is less sought out. Impressive move Captain."

I was still breathing a bit ragged but I stood up straight as best as I could. That was when Rona approached us with her staff. "I must commend you on your duels Captain." She bowed her head. "I thought you were just another noble who wanted accolades but seeing this fight, and hearing about your past, it seems you are more commoner than noble." She showed a smile that went perfectly with her small frame and young face. "I will now cast a mana recovery spell on you. This will hasten your mana recovery for a moment. After that, you may resume your final duel but rest assured, once you feel your mana restored, the hastened recovery effect will be gone by then. If you excuse me then." She bowed again before leaving Cameron and I alone at the middle of the field.

"It seems you have earned the recognition of the members of your magic talent." He grinned, "This should be an interesting bout." His stance was subtle, arms crossed, shoulders wide, and legs spread apart to have firm footing. Looks like he really meant business.

After casting the mana recovery spell, a glow of blue radiated around me and I feel the fatigued going away rapidly. After a few minutes, I already felt in tiptop shape. I stretched and flex a few of my limbs a bit to make sure I was fully healed up before taking my stance before a dash. "Ready when you are Lieutenant." We both wore a smile of excitement for the upcoming duel.

Tiana took a look at each one us before raising her hand high. "Begin!"

I immediately dashed diagonally towards him. I didn't have much information about him except that he was a fire mage and he had already twenty-five years of service. That's almost my whole life's worth of experience.

As I arrived at my landing point, Cameron was still facing my start position, this meant that I have the first strike opportunity but something seemed to a be amiss. Thus, I cautioned a bit and only launched two wind bullets. I expected them to hit him but an explosion occurred midway. It seems he can do a longer range of combustion compared to Melanie. I took a dash back to evaluate my next steps since the explosion made both of us disappear from each other's view, which was a good decision because after I dashed, Cameron appeared out of the smoke, with both of his fists covered in flames as he threw a punch where I was earlier.

"Good reaction timing and decision-making Captain." He commented, before readying himself again in a boxing stance. "Let's take it up a notch."

A blast of explosion erupted from behind as he launched himself forward like a bullet. He was readying himself for a swing of fire punches so I dashed left, barely dodging his flaming fists.

"Don't you think hitting me with a flaming fist would scar me for life Lieutenant?" I told him a bit jokingly but he said, "Don't worry. It doesn't actually burn on contact. it just packs destructive power and a little bit of heat and light."

He launched himself again and I dashed again but damn he was fast despite being a fire mage. I needed to come up with a counterattack. We continued this game of cat and mouse for a good minute or so. I was getting exhausted from the heat as I was barely dodging them but Cameron was still calm and collected as ever. Every time he landed, he would ready himself for another launch stance and then follows me after a second or so.

This could be a war of attrition of our mana, but I think I would lose that fight. That mana recovery came in handy, but at this rate, I might be out of mana again, so I thought of going on the offensive once I find a good chance again.

Eventually that chance came and I dash jumped and launched a pair of wind cutters at him from above. Surprisingly, he had more tricks up his sleeve. Instead of detonating an explosion midway of their trajectory, he can cast a long range flame breath at the end of this fists. "Flamethrower!" was what he shouted when he casted it. It spewed flames perfectly in the straight line from the end of his fist. This is getting bad, the flames are traveling faster than me falling down due to gravity, so I leaned sideways to avoid it and drop faster.

As I was deciding my next move, Cameron switched his fist to his left one and pointed it at me, "Flamethrower!".

I casted a wind bullet to disrupt the center of the flames and a wind barrier to absorb the scattered flames. As I hit the ground, I rolled over to absorb the impact and dashed around him, sending an occasional wind bullet at him. Now I understood what it meant when he was described as the main fighting power of this squad. He was parrying my wind bullet with each cast of his flamethrower. It was fascinating seeing him, dance around like a martial artist, while sending a line of fire at the end of his fists.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

At this rate, I don't think I could win with a long range attack which means I have to go close-range against him. Back at the Academy, there were a few fundamental rules against certain elemental mages no matter who they were.

For Earth mages, it was to never let them control the field.

For Water mages, it was to never let them have combo their spells

For Wind mages, it was to never let them get too much distance.

And for Fire mages, it was to never get too close to them.

I didn't know how much distance is too close for a fire mage as experienced as Cameron, but as rule of thumb for us back at the Academy, it was an arms length of distance. Cameron was able to detonate an explosion that was definitely longer than arms length so I had to work with that.

While still continuing to attack him while dashing around him he spoke out, "Running out of tricks Mischievous Wind?" He was still composed and was perfectly intercepting all my attacks while using the least movement possible. "Cheap tricks and ideas won't always work Captain."

He was trying to hint that I should try a new approach but he never gave me the chance as he bellowed out, "Now, let's end this!"

He slammed down his fist on the ground, creating a wall of flame that stretched across the field, and I was two or three dashes away from colliding with it so I stopped my dash and prepared to reverse my dash direction but he did the same thing at the other end. Now the I was cornered. Two walls of flame blocking my sides, and my back to the end of the training field area we agreed on beforehand.

Cameron took a step back and lowered his center of gravity. "Nothing personal Captain." He said, before thrusting his right fist forward shouting, "Dragon's Roar!" the flame that erupted from his extended fist formed a straight line of fire with the head of the dragon at its front. It was hotter and redder than his previous flames, and I think it's getting bigger and bigger?!

At the rate it's growing, its going to encompass the whole area if I stand still. The only option is to get back or to dash past it. Guess it's a gamble then. I channelled all the mana I have left, waiting for the right moment to move and conceal myself as I make my counterattack.

I felt the mana coursing through me, coating my body with a thin layer of wind barrier, and enveloping an additional wind-like blades on my hands. Then, the small opening I had waiting for had arrived. The fire dragon had enlarged so much that it obscured both of us from each other's sights. I dashed to the left of the dragon, squeezing in the space between it and the ground, then since my body was coated with a layer of wind barrier I hovered in place as I rotated to make a beeline towards Cameron. It looked like he was channelling his mana to enlarge the fire dragon.

"Here goes nothing." I muttered as I used up the last of mana to propel myself at high speed towards Cameron.

I woke up facing the sky. I lifted my hands up to inspect them and sure enough, they were good as new, just like the rest of my body. "Looks like I passed out after that move huh." I said aloud.

"Not too bad Captain." the familiar voice that replied belonged to Cameron. I looked towards the source of it and I saw him standing up a few paces at my right.

"Guess it's a two wins and one loss for me huh Lieutenant?" I said to him as I stood up. Tiana was behind me as she helped me up.

"Not really." I turned towards Cameron with a surprised look on my face. "What do you mean?"

"It's more of a draw. That last attack you pulled, you came out of nowhere to uppercut me. Though I was able to parry it, the sheer strength of your speed with normal fists was enough to punch out cold." He said as he extended his hand.

"I guess I'll take that draw then." I accepted his hand and shook.

"Glad to see you're a competent mage Captain. We'd be honored to serve under you!" He said before saluting. The other members followed suit as well."

I felt a feeling of satisfaction, and happiness now that it seemed they've accepted me as a member of the team instead of just an important official they had to bodyguard throughout this mission.

I saluted at them back, "Looking forward to working with you!".

We all shared a laugh before heading out to inform Commander Holmes of our departure later.

"So the rumours are true!" Tiana exclaimed, as she excitedly walked up to me, with sparkles in her eyes, "You were the Mischievous Wind! The fastest and unseen ghost that haunts those with improper conducts at the academy!" She as bit too close for comfort but I at least I could keep her at arms' length, although the strained smile I gave her is the best I could as a reaction.

I smiled at her, though she couldn't see me since she didn't turned around.

"It's not that big of a deal, looking back at it now, I think it was pretty petty of me to retaliate like that." I explained as much but Tiana shook her head, denying it, "No! Your exploits impacted the academy life positively! There were less harassments and the students actually used the sanctioned duel system to solving disputes instead of risking the wrath of the myth!".

Hearing that, I just needed to hold a hand to my head. Who spun that tail out of control? Or did other similar people recreated my exploits just to extend the rumours lifespan? Ugh at least nobody really knows I started it all.

"That reminds me," I said, "Is our resupply complete?"

"Yes, we can check the manifest the supply officer will be carrying when we get back to your wagons." Tiana replied as she continued to lead the way to the Garrison Commander's office.

Our visit to Commander Holmes was brief this time around. it was just to confirm our departure later that day after lunch. It was a brief meeting with him and all he said can be basically summed up with "Best of luck in your mission.". We still had time before lunch so we asked Tiana if she could tour us again.

We spent the rest of the hour before lunch by having Tiana tour us around again but through the ramparts this time. We could experience somewhat how the defending forces would see from here during a siege. It was a downhill approach from the enemies side and since the fort gets higher and higher, the defenders get more advantage from having their range improved due to elevation.

When lunch came around, we all headed towards the mess hall, alongside with the first rotation of soldiers on break. This time, lunch was vegetable soup, although it was delicious, the serving was pretty more, than one could intake, might probably be due to that's the average intake of the garrison here.

When we finished lunch, we soon headed out to the outer courtyard with the gate that faced the outer central region. Cameron and Joran went to double check our inventory and if everything was supplied correctly while Melanie and Victor checked up on the horses by the stable. Rona and Ian were on standby just outside the wagon, occasionally helping out with sorting the inventory.

I was off to the side, with Tiana beside me.

"I wish I got to spend more time talking about your academy days Captain Tessanya." Tiana said quietly, looking quite timid as were waiting for our inventory check.

I smiled at her, "Don't worry." I patted her on her shoulder, "Once I get back to the capital, we can exchange letters." She perked up a bit and nodded, "You got it Captain!".

There were a few soldiers who saw us standing around the wagon and they offered to help us check so we can be ahead of schedule. After half an hour after the lunch bell, we were all set to go.

We would be traveling with the same arrangements, Cameron, Joran, and Victor on the first wagon, and then Melanie, Ian, Rona, and myself at the second wagon. Our next major stop would be Mineras City, governed by House Leonhart. It would then take four to five days from there to reach Auburn City.

Once we loaded up on the wagons, the garrison gate personnel escorted us through the exit and we waved farewell to them. We slowly rattled along the road. As we got more distance between us and the fort, we gradually picked up speed. Although we were travelling away from the fort, its elevation still made it look like it was closer than it was supposed to be, and now that I'm seeing it from the sieging armies' perspective, the fort looks daunting and imposing.

Built on top of a hill, with the only approach a winding slope, along with two rings of walls, complete with watchtowers, and a single gate that led within. A very dangerous assault yet the most strategic positioning of a defensive structure that protects the capital city from invaders.

"Hey." Rona called out to me, breaking my thoughts from the fort, "You look impressed." She said, before turning to look towards the view of the fort, "but I understand why. The grandeur of the fort that acts as both gate and shield to the capital Astralis is quite a marvel no?". This is the first time I'm hearing her use words that nobles would tend to use, neat.

I nodded, "Yeah." I then faced her, "I guess you really were brought up alongside a noble huh?" I flashed her a grin to which she responded with a pout, "Hmph!". Well she got embarrassed when I brought it up but I got a chuckle from Ian and a "Hmm". from Melanie. I guess our atmosphere might still be a bit stiff huh? Well I can't blame them, I just beat them up earlier today.