“Your dear Igneal is about to begin his duel with Tyrus. Are you certain you don’t want to come and support him? I’m confident he would be happy to see his grumpy father backing him.”
Arms folded, Kleine stood and stared out the window. Rather than responding to Selena’s taunts, he simply observed the two boys with a neutral face. She joined her brother after shrugging her shoulders. Selena spotted spectators below, holding open pouches with sil inside.
“It seems that the spectators are enjoying themselves by placing bets. How about we follow their example and make a small bet ourselves?”
He shot her a quick sideways look. “Hmph. A Lockhart should not engage in such actions. Is the pay for the Valis branch position not sufficient for you?”
“Kleine, our wager doesn’t involve money. I earn an adequate amount thanks to His Highness. Wouldn’t it be fun to test our insight on which of the boys will remain victorious? We are merely going to wager for entertainment. Quit being so resistant and just accept the proposal, for goodness sake.”
In the wake of a moment of silence, Kleine released a sigh. “Engaging in wagering would serve no purpose. We are already aware of the result. What’s the rationale if we’re going to be placing bets on the definite winner anyhow?”
“Oh? And who do you plan on betting on? I’ll assume you’d think Igneal would win, considering he’s your son and all.”
Another stretch of silence accompanied the two. Just as Selena believed Kleine had let go of the topic, he reopened his mouth once more.
“Igneal has been diligently sharpening his sword skills since he became capable of wielding it. In his upbringing, I have granted him access to the most exceptional mentors, the most brilliant scholars, and my utmost guidance. Up to this point, he has demonstrated promise with the sword, but his primary talents lie elsewhere.”
“Considering his role as an Elemental Sorcerer, I believed it wise for him to receive training not only in magic but also in swordsmanship. Provided that he continues to strive for knowledge and strength, achieving the position of the next family head would be a feasible dream.”
Family Head Lockhart shifted his gaze toward Tyrus. “Regarding the black tiger, his lack of formal training is evident in his sword handling. His stance is replete with opportunities for attack, and his shoulders are overly tense. He is a fighter of the lowest caliber when it comes to the sword. A run-of-the-mill thief should have no problem breaking such feeble defenses.”
“Going by what you said, it seems like you're in favor of Igneal winning the duel.”
Kleine merely scoffed. “You said the black tiger–a Multi-Specialist–has only been a sorcerer shortly, correct?”
“Yes, I have mentioned that before. What are you trying to get at?”
“Then I have nothing more to say about the matter. You should know my response regarding the ultimate victor in this duel.”
He took a final glimpse outward before marching to the door. “I have even more business over at the Imperial Palace. His Majesty had made a request for a final meeting with the family heads prior to our departure. Once completed, I will bid farewell to Valis and journey back to Lockhart land. Remember to honor our agreement, Selena."
"Will you not be taking the time to say goodbye to your children before leaving?" she asked. Her words fell upon deaf ears as Kleine shut the door. Selena let out an exasperated sigh, peering out the window just in time for the bout to begin. “He really gets on my nerves sometimes…”
****
“Let the duel begin!”
Once he received the green light to start, Tyrus wasted no time in activating augmentation. A rush of strength coursed through his body as he flung himself forward, already in the midst of swinging.
I’ll end this in one hit!
Igneal was most definitely an Elemental Sorcerer, therefore, the best course of action would be to get up close and not allow him to use any spells. If he remembered right, Reo himself had said that Augmentation Sorcerers were counters to Elemental Sorcerers because of their weakness in close-ranged fights. As long as Tyrus used his strength and speed to his advantage, then before long, he would overwhelm Igneal. He had the upper hand, and Igneal would soon find that out.
Now a few steps from the confident Lockhart, Tyrus brought his arms to the sky and swung the sword downward, aiming right for Igneal’s weapon. Since it was a friendly duel and not a real right, he had to make sure he didn’t accidentally kill him or injure him too badly. It would be his first experience in fighting a human, especially one near his age. All he had done was fight beasts, creatures much more durable and stronger than humans.
“Hmph, how sloppy,” Igneal taunted.
Igneal’s movements flowed like liquid, his body becoming as supple as a river. He skillfully pivoted to the side, narrowly evading Tyrus’s weapon as it grazed his clothing. Tyrus watched in astonishment, his eyes widening at Igneal’s incredible agility.
In the blink of an eye, Igneal adjusted his own weapon and launched it upward, connecting squarely with Tyrus’s chest. A sharp pain surged through Tyrus’s body as he staggered backward. To compound his misfortune, Igneal seamlessly followed this strike with a swift leg sweep that sent Tyrus tumbling to the ground. He coughed out a mouthful of grass and dirt as the sound of a chuckle reached his ears.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“One thing’s for certain, you’re an Augmentation Sorcerer,” Igneal acknowledged. He backpedaled away, allowing Tyrus to rise. “You assumed that my status as an Elemental Sorcerer would give you the advantage. You are partially right, but there is one thing you are mistaken about. Having superior physical abilities doesn't ensure victory in a fight.”
Tyrus glared at Igneal. “Mind telling me what you mean by that?”
He got into a different stance, now one-handing the sword. “No, I don’t think I will. Watching someone inexperienced in swordplay squirm is more entertaining.”
Tyrus remained silent, his brows furrowed. That arrogant personality of his was just as infuriating as a thorn jammed into his fingernails. And listening to his tone of speaking was like having his brain whittled down to thin slices. Tyrus could see himself purposely becoming deaf just to never hear a word from Igneal.
Aside from his grievances, just how did Igneal manage to dodge that swing effortlessly? The guy wasn’t faster than him and he certainly didn’t use any magic that could give him an advantage. There weren’t any incantations or mana spewing out of him. Was it just a lucky guess that he dodged, or did he know something that Tyrus didn’t?
“Let’s figure that out first,” Tyrus mumbled. Infusing some more mana into his legs, he shot toward his smiling opponent. Instead of going for an overhead swing, Tyrus went for a horizontal slash instead.
Tyrus adjusted his stance and took aim at Igneal’s left torso, determined to capitalize on the weapon’s reach this time. But, anticipating the attack, Igneal adopted a different strategy. He neatly evaded the blow by taking a few calculated steps backward, eluding Tyrus’s extended weapon.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Igneal quickly extended his sword arm, delivering a powerful strike that hit Tyrus's shoulder directly. The force of the impact sent a tremor through Tyrus’s arm, nearly causing him to lose his grip on the weapon. Quickly, the crowd erupted into cheers.
“As much as I am enjoying this duel, It’s about time that you give up–“
Igneal's words were brought to a sudden halt as Tyrus charged forward once more. The young man shook his head as he brought up his weapon.
“This again? It won’t work.”
Just as Tyrus was about to go for another strike, he immediately stopped mid-swing, only stopping his charge directly in front of his foe. A wave of confusion washed over Igneal briefly, and that expression turned to shock when a surge of flickering tendrils appeared from his palm. The tendrils raced across the ground, and in time coiled themselves around Igneal’s feet. Gasps from the audience rang out.
“What in Sthito’s name is that? That can’t be earth magic, can it?”
“Maybe it’s the light element instead? Before anyone calls me a fool, yes, I know light is golden.”
“That’s beside the point; that boy didn’t even utter an incantation at all! How is he able to use silent casting so soon? In addition to that, he's a Multi-Specialist as well!”
Jaw clenched, Igneal struggled against the restraints. Before he could escape, Tyrus had already moved on to the next course of action. He raised his weapon once more and went for a sweeping motion against his opponent’s weapon. Though Igneal’s legs were immobile, his arms were still free of use. He brought up the sword and defended against the attack. A grunt escaped from his mouth as he glared at Tyrus.
“I’ve underestimated you. It's astonishing to see a commoner using the silent casting method and being a Multi-Specialist. I understand why Father is interested in you. Unfortunately for you, you’re not the only one who can utilize silent casting.”
Out of nowhere, the scent of ashes permeated the air. Tyrus found it odd that he was detecting such a smell when there weren’t any signs of a fire. When his nose picked it up, he promptly located the source and looked downward. As soon as his eyes landed on the ground, the outline of Igneal’s leg swiftly approaching him startled him.
Barely, Tyrus evaded the blow by pulling his attack and leaping backward. Once his focus returned, he witnessed an unexpected sight he had never thought of before. A swirling vortex of flames surrounded Igneal's legs. The tendrils that had ensnared him were disintegrating, just like logs used for a fire.
“You know you can’t beat me,” Igneal warned. “While you have potential, your skills still need work. Your swordplay is downright horrible and your control over mana still needs some work. Is this all you can amount to? I’m afraid to say Father’s interest in you has been… misplaced. Alas, to spare you from any more frustrations, I’ll–“
“Hey,” Tyrus interjected. “The way you talk really bothers me. How about you just stop talking entirely? Father this and father that… I wouldn’t consider him a guy worth sucking up to. Personally, I prefer Selena; she’s a way better person than your dad.”
Igneal’s face darkened. “That’s not a funny joke. Father is leagues stronger than Aunt Selena. There’s a reason he’s family head and not her.”
“And I don’t care,” Tyrus replied. To be honest, he already knew Selena was most likely weaker than his dad. He had sensed both of their mana presences before, and the family head's mana felt more solid and refined compared to Selena's. If they were to get into a confrontation, then the family head would be the victor. Though Tyrus acknowledged that, he just wanted to find an excuse to get under his skin. Seriously, he must not have any friends at all by the way he acts.
"I'll put an end to this duel as a favor to you," snapped Igneal. Flames erupted from his left hand as he stomped forward, his eyes reflecting intense hatred.
Tyrus stared at him for a moment until he straightened up his spine. “Yeah, you’re right. It is time to end this duel. I pretty much know where I stand after fighting you. You have me beat in swordplay, but mana control? No, I don’t think so.”
“Hah? What’s that supposed to–“
In an instant, Tyrus made a daring decision. He cast his weapon aside, both hands now focused on the advancing Igneal. Within his mind’s eye, he visualized the three elements at his command, a volatile combination of powers.
With a single, resolute thought, he summoned forth another Lightning Snare, a crackling web of power sizzling into existence. Then, with unwavering resolve, he shifted his control from lightning to light, uttering the Light Bolt spell.
Like unleashed hounds, bolts of lightning streaked across the field, crackling with relentless energy. Moving even faster, a radiant mote of light shot towards Igneal’s chest like a guided missile. Igneal’s jaw dropped open and his eyes widened as he saw the two spells racing towards him, each second feeling like an eternity.
In a desperate attempt to evade the incoming Light Bolt, he contorted his body, but it was an exercise in futility. Striking him in the chest, the spell exploded into a cascade of golden light, causing him to wobble.
Following the onslaught, Lightning Snare caught up and entangled him once more. Before Igneal could fully regain his bearings, Tyrus had closed the distance, his steps quick and determined. He came to an abrupt halt, his focus intently fixed upon the still-dizzy Lockhart.
Tyrus envisioned the Thunder Stun spell materializing from his outstretched hand. In a blink, an orb of lightning power burst forth, colliding with Igneal’s face and coursing across his entire frame. The potent shockwave transformed Igneal’s body, turning it as rigid as stone, a scowl etched across his features. Defeated and motionless, Igneal yielded to the spell’s dominance and toppled over.
Tyrus looked down at the fuming Igneal. “What was that about my skills being left to be desired?”