Adrian stood rooted at the center of the glowing platform, the soft hum of the barrier around them resonating in his ears like a low, ominous drumbeat. The tiered rows of students beyond the shimmering wall sat in tense silence, their earlier amusement replaced by wide-eyed anticipation.

He kept his stance loose, though his heart thudded steadily in his chest. If he’s trying to prove a point, he’ll make the first move. Let him.

Professor Damien stood opposite him, his sharp green eyes gleaming like polished emeralds under the light of the rune-etched platform. His lips curled into a thin smile, devoid of warmth.

Then, suddenly, he lifted his hand, conjuring an orb of glowing emerald energy that pulsed with raw power. The air rippled around the sphere, faint distortions bending the light as it grew. Without a word, Damien launched it.

Adrian shifted just as the attack reached him. The orb sailed past, missing him by mere inches before colliding with the shimmering barrier. The resulting explosion lit the room in brilliant green, sparks cascading like shattered stars as the barrier absorbed the blast. Students flinched as one, startled gasps punctuating the charged silence.

That wasn’t a warning shot. He’s aiming to hurt me. Adrian thought.

Adrian straightened, his jaw tightening as he raised his hand. The blue flames around his fingers flared to life, their eerie glow casting shadows across his face. They burned hotter now, flickering with an energy that felt alive, but he held them steady.

He didn’t strike back. Instead, he kept his movements measured, defensive. Let’s see what you’ve got.

Damien wasted no time. His foot slammed against the platform with a dull crack, sending tremors rippling outward. A jagged line of stone erupted from the ground, sharp spikes shooting up in quick succession, threatening to close in around Adrian like a cage.

He leapt backward, his movements fluid as he twisted in the air to avoid the rising spires. The flames around his feet surged, propelling him higher in an arc that carried him clear of the trap. He landed lightly, boots skidding slightly on the smooth stone.

But Damien was already pressing forward. He swept his arm in a wide arc, summoning a torrent of water from thin air. The wave churned as it surged toward Adrian, its sheer force rattling the platform. The sound of crashing water filled the space, drowning out the murmurs of the audience. Adrian’s flames pulsed brighter in response as he thrust both palms forward, unleashing a blazing wall of fire to meet the oncoming wave.

The two forces collided in a deafening hiss, the resulting steam erupting into a thick, swirling cloud that enveloped the platform. Adrian dug his heels into the ground, every muscle in his body straining as he held his ground. His flames pushed against the relentless surge of water, the blue light cutting through the haze. He’s not pulling any punches. If I slip, even for a second, I’m done.

With a final surge, Adrian’s flames roared brighter, overwhelming the water until it dissolved into harmless vapor. He straightened slowly, his chest rising and falling in steady breaths.

The professor’s face remained composed, but a flicker of frustration crossed his eyes, a crack in the otherwise perfect mask. Adrian allowed himself a small, defiant smirk, his voice light but dripping with challenge. “Is that all, Professor? I thought you were supposed to be teaching me something.”

Damien’s jaw tightened in response. He raised both hands this time, summoning twin orbs of crackling lightning. The room outside the barrier glowed with their fierce, golden light as they hummed with unstable energy. Without a word, Damien hurled both directly at Adrian.

Adrian moved quickly, dodging one orb and deflecting the other with a precise blast of his flames. The deflected lightning struck the barrier, sending shockwaves rippling outward. He spun on his heel, closing the gap between himself and Damien in a burst of speed, his flames trailing behind him.

He stopped just short of striking, twisting his body to avoid Damien’s quick counter attack: a blade of wind slashing toward his side. Adrian ducked low, the attack grazing harmlessly overhead, and rolled away to regain distance. He’s ramping up. But if I go all out and injure him, it’s my head on the chopping block.

Damien was relentless, his attacks coming faster now. Shards of ice shot toward Adrian, forcing him to weave and dodge in a blur of motion. He countered with controlled bursts of flame, melting the shards before they could reach him.

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The professor’s strikes grew more aggressive, his spells larger and more destructive. Adrian felt the heat of a fireball explode near him, the force pushing him backward. He caught himself, sliding across the platform and extinguishing the flames around his hands momentarily. He’s trying to corner me, to make me retaliate with something dangerous. Not going to happen.

Adrian’s blue flames flared back to life, and he used them to propel himself upward, flipping over another earth spike Damien conjured. As he landed, he sent a low, sweeping arc of fire along the ground.

The professor’s frustration was visible now, his lips pressed into a thin line as he glared at Adrian. “Why are you holding back? Are you afraid?”

“Afraid of you? But I don’t think people would appreciate it if I turned a professor into charcoal.”

The class erupted into a mix of gasps and muffled laughter, their tension momentarily broken by Adrian’s sharp remark. Damien’s eyes narrowed, and his grip on his next spell tightened, but he said nothing.

Gradually, Adrian’s breathing grew heavier, his body working overtime to keep pace with Damien’s relentless attacks. The professor hurled another wave of lightning toward him, and the boy deflected one with a burst of flame, the blue heat cutting through the air, but the effort left his arms trembling slightly. Sweat slicked his forehead as he ducked under another slicing arc of wind magic, the sharp gust tearing through the space where he had just stood.

I can’t keep this up forever. He’s pushing harder with every spell. What’s his endgame? Is he really just trying to humiliate me, or… worse?

“What’s the matter, Adrian? Losing your stamina already?" Damien taunted.

Adrian clenched his teeth, refusing to take the bait. His flames burned brighter, the otherworldly blue casting long, flickering shadows across the platform. He shot forward, his fire propelling him like a rocket. He closed the distance between them, unleashing a barrage of controlled firebolts aimed directly at Damien’s defenses.

Damien raised his hands, conjuring a barrier of shimmering light to block the assault. The flames impacted the shield with a deafening roar, each strike pushing Damien back a fraction of an inch. Adrian gritted his teeth, pouring more energy into the attack. His flames twisted and surged, taking on a life of their own as they coiled like serpents around the professor’s barrier.

For a fleeting moment, Adrian thought he had him. The barrier flickered, the edges cracking under the pressure of his flames. The fire surged closer to Damien’s figure, the heat forcing him to shift his stance and strain against the onslaught. Just a little more.

But before the flames could reach their target, a commanding voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Enough!”

The word echoed across the room, its sheer authority bringing the fight to an abrupt halt. Adrian froze, his flames dissipating instantly as his head snapped toward the source. Damien lowered his hands, his shield fading into nothingness as he turned to look as well.

At the edge of the barrier stood a woman with sharp black hair pulled into a tight bun, her oval-shaped glasses catching the light. She wore a crisp black blazer over a high-collared white blouse, paired with a long black skirt that flowed elegantly to her ankles. Polished boots clicked against the platform as she stepped forward.

“What exactly is going on here?” she demanded.

The room outside the barrier was silent, the students watching with wide eyes as the woman surveyed the wreckage of the sparring session: the cracked platform, the faint scorch marks, and the lingering haze of steam and smoke.

Damien straightened his coat, his composed mask slipping back into place as he spoke. “Ms. Greythorne, I was conducting a practical demonstration of advanced magic application. Unfortunately, Adrian here allowed his emotions to take control and escalated the situation far beyond what was appropriate.”

Adrian’s chest tightened as he processed Damien’s words. “What? That’s not true! You’re the one who—”

“Enough, Adrian,” Ms. Greythorne interrupted. “I don’t want excuses.”

Adrian’s hands curled into fists at his sides, frustration bubbling in his chest. “He’s lying! He kept pushing me!”

Damien spread his hands in a placating gesture. “Adrian is clearly talented, but he lacks the discipline necessary to wield his power responsibly. I was merely trying to teach him the importance of restraint. Unfortunately, his arrogance got the better of him.”

“That’s not what happened!” Adrian said, his voice rising despite himself. He gestured toward the other students, his eyes darting to Alisha. “Ask anyone here—”

“He’s telling the truth!” Alisha’s voice rang out from her seat. She stood abruptly as she glared at Damien. “Adrian didn’t escalate anything! He only defended himself!”

Ms. Greythorne’s eyes flicked toward Alisha, her expression unreadable. "Princess Alisha, with all due respect, this matter does not concern you.”

Alisha hesitated, her jaw tightening, but she sank back into her chair with a glare directed at Damien. Adrian shot her a grateful glance before returning his focus to Ms. Greythorne.

“Please, you can’t seriously believe I’m the one at fault here.” Adrian pleaded.

Ms. Greythorne adjusted her glasses. “What I believe is that you were involved in an incident that disrupted this class and created unnecessary risks. Regardless of who started it, you must accept responsibility for your actions.”

Adrian’s shoulders sagged slightly, the weight of her words sinking in. This is so unfair. No matter what I say, they’ll always take his side.

“You will accompany me to the principal’s office immediately to discuss your punishment. I expect full compliance, Adrian.” Ms. Greythorne said.