"Ah, we have company! Welcome, everyone! As you know, my name is Erik Huntis, and I'll be the announcer for this fight! As it stands, we guys have achieved one victory and the girls stand at two! It is too close to call for sure, but we're not backing down at all for today's results!

"On the guys' side, we have the Honourable, Sir Knight himself, James Klein! He will be fighting with the broadsword and shield combination; and on the girls' - ahem, the other guys' side!" Synthy nodded approvingly to the amendment. "We have Synthy! A renowned, face-puncher extraordinaire! Her fiery fist to evil-doers is a fearsome thing indeed! However, what effect will it have on a man who has succumbed to no temptation, no sin, no transgression?! We'll find out!"

The cheers grew to a fever pitch and even Mr. Shields, once passively observing, opted to join into the theatrics.

"... A betting pool? Well, so long as they learn to read opponents." He, too, placed a bet, joining Jenna who opted to join in with Mr. Shields' pace, who both opted to hide the chip they were given.

Synthy seemed to grow ever-more eager to fight with the added attention; whereas James seemed no stranger to shouldering high-expectations.

He maintained his position, wielding the blade he was not accustomed to. He had never even held a shield before, but since it was said knights do, he grabbed one before the arena matches started. It should be said that James was a commoner, through-and-through. He was enamoured with the thoughts of being a knight and internalized it so much that he began acting like one to the best of knowledge.

Rather, he acted more like one than most who held the title today. Sadly, he was never trained for it. Nor did he know that there were unwritten rules against profiting through arranged conflicts. To be fair, few knew that aspect and fewer still of those that did follow it.

It was their primary skill, after all.

Synthy was genuinely from a knight family, however, and had a habit of forcing her values on others. She became quite good at it. Particularly without the need for a weapon.

Her reputation was similar in scale to Lisanna's with a differing - if equal - significance of her family's status. Which was saying something.

"Annnnd! Contestants, get ready! We'll be starting in... three... two... one... zero! Fight, fight, fight!"

Synthy burst forward, closing in the five-meter gap near-instantaneously. She hammered her fist towards James' undeterred face as flames erupted on her knuckles.

The steel shield he carried was raised just in time, but she followed through with the strike. A two-inch indent of her bare-knuckle appeared as parts of the decaying wooden base was sent off towards James' face.

His stance was low and strong as he prepared to receive the strike.

He did not raise his blade in time because he already saw the leg cutting across in a low-sweep. If he fell down, he'd be out.

If he rose too late and exposed his groin, he'd really be out.

"Earth Pillar!"

He shouted, stepping back from his spot.

The kick continued and cut through the rising mass of stone and sediment; yet, he pressed forward and pushed his blade forward clumsily as the stone still pushed the leg up and off-balance.

"Eruption!"

The pillar burst before she could land on two feet, and Synthy was knocked back, hopping on one-leg and covering her face with both forearms.

Her short-bob cut was exposed as the hood from the heavy cloak flew back.

"Ah... good! Good!" She said with a dangerous smile.

"Fire Fist. Are you ready?"

"Yes," James said stepping forward to the dangerous foe.

Synthy cracked her knuckles as she leisurely advanced, intentionally mirroring the distance advanced by James, while pacing to the left and right.

It was a more stout-hearted foe than she was used to. Usually, the first break in composure was all she would need to press it and take the opponent out, male or female.

James stopped three meters away with a serious expression.

"... Interesting. Fire Pillar."

He did not flinch even as the blossoming flames surrounded him; he just muttered, "Earth Pillar", and a wide base formed at his feet.

Since it interfered with the other magic, even raising a barrier in the way of a few inches of earth, the flames were choked out and the boy ignored the scent of burnt hair. His burnt hair.

"I'm coming then." So he declared, but Synthy bolted forward.

He rose the shield towards the sudden charge and full-kick - "Fire Whip!" - and took the sheer pain accompanied by a tendril of flames wrapping around his back, sword-arm, before tapping his sternum.

He knocked the ethereal whip aside, slashing his blade at Synthy while shouting, "Earth Bullet! Earth Bullet!"

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Though he only chanted twice, nearly a dozen pebble-sized stones were fired towards the retreating girl.

Synthy nimbly stretched her back behind her, pressed her hands against the ground, and pushed off as the bulk of the first wave of rock bullets were aimed to her torso, and the second to her legs.

She flipped, incurring only a few bruises and straightened herself out to strike the incoming blade.

It was solid.

Unlike the shield that she nearly destroyed before, the steel broadsword did not signal its demise with a creak or crack; rather, her hand grew taut as she brought her other hand to strike at his face.

She hit the same damaged spot, but the shield did not collapse. She shouted, "Fire Lance!" And confirmed her suspicion as she jumped back.

"... You figured it out already. So be it. It just makes it more interesting."

Synthie declared as such, charging forward again, aiming for James' stomach with a kick, but it was met with the impenetrable shield.

"Earth Wall!"

"Hmph! Fire Lance!"

Her leg, trapped for a moment, ached as she felt a bite of steel on her calf. It was not deep, but it was bleeding quite a bit.

Likewise, the explosive ordinance of the sediment and stone cut James' face, but after brushing away the dirt and sweat impairing the use of his eye, he let the blood trickle down his cheek.

'... What a good soldier he'd make,' Synthy thought, but that soldier was already stepping forward steadily.

She was already breathing a little hard from the necessary over-concentration of mana in her limbs to prevent them from snapping during attacks.

"... I see. You are not terrible."

"Synthy! Synthy! Synthy!"

"James! You got this, man!"

"Nah, tie! Tie!" One shouted, apparently taking the chance that he'd get paid out due to the ridiculous accumulation of bets.

"Be quiet!" Erik shouted over top of the chanting crowds. "As much as I'd to cheer, it isn't good to distract them - if you must, don't use names!"

"Woah!"

"Hoo-rah! Hoo-rah! Hoo-rah!"

"Hoo-rah!"

"Go for it!"

"Hoo-rah!"

"You got this!"

Synthy did not understand the meaning behind one particular chant, but James' face grew surprised, and then stood at full attention.

He pressed forward and she wanted to kick herself for missing his lapse - and for being exposed to one herself.

However, with a quiet, primal roar marking his quick advance, Synthy said, "Fire Wall! Fire Pillar!"

She blocked the front and engulfed the spot he was just standing in with flames; there would be no escape, even he took a step back. And forward? She jumped forward in anticipation as she struck the approaching figure with a spinning leg kick.

Except he stopped.

Right in the middle of the wall of flames as fire licked his hands, neck, and face, and let the kick pass in front before calmly calling out, "Earth Lance."

A three-foot-long lance of semi-solid stone punched into her stomach, completely putting her on the flat of her back as a sword appeared to rest on her throat.

"..."

"Woah! Hoo-rah! Hoo-rah! Hoo-rah!"

The guys shouted as Erik shouted, "Match! James wins! The odds were... wah?! three-to fifty!? I should've gotten in on that one!"

"It's only natural," Mr. Shields said, looking at Synthy. "You rely too much on your physical body. You have neither the frame nor mass, and people do not have the means to imitate the natural leverage that comes from the use of tools. If you used tools, you'd have no issue, however."

Jenna nodded. "You control too much at any given time, limiting your ability to actually deal damage. However..." She looked at James who was rapidly putting out his smouldering hair. "You're too reckless. It worked well with this opponent, but I'd appreciate it if you work with the understanding that the uniform is intended to protect only us from issue - not your body as you seem to employ so consistently."

James nodded seriously as if reflecting on his actions. There was a crowd of girls (and even a few guys) who Synthy and gave her sympathetic comments. However, she silenced them by raising her hand and pushed through the bodies.

She extended her hand towards James. "Congratulations. You earned that victory. Except... next time it will not be so easy, got it?"

"Understood."

"Perfect."

She walked away.

"... Well, that's that, folks! Guys two, girls two! Now we... wait do have another fight?" He looked around at all the people that were still lingering around and struggled to recall who else was scheduled to spar. Finally, it hit him, "that's right! Eldrich and Hunter! Damn it, Ayla, you forgot to introduce them in beginning!"

Ayla complained, "Huh? I did? Oh! Sorry! Now since that's my cue-"

"No, it's not!"

"Too bad!" Ayla stole the position back from Erik. "Eldrich and Hunter! Eldrich is... wait, no that's Hunter... why don't either one of you stand out?!" She complained to no-one in particular.

Both boys looked rather timid, were of average height, average build, and even though Hunter's hair was darker by a shade, it difficult to discern one from the other.

"Well, whatever! Hunter is the new blood brought from the hellish, otherworldly gate that is punishment! As a PSA, don't be late for class!" Mr. Shields nodded approvingly, eyes loosening from their narrowed focus. "He is a fire mage against our resident unassuming veteran, an earth mage! Now, the betting pools are... o-ffici-ally open!"

"..."

"..."

"... A gold on Eldrich, I guess?"

"... I'll do one for a tie."

"A gold on a tie."

"Yeah, me too!"

It was a bit much as the two were already walking to the ring. They both had the same distraught expressions, tired countenance, and resounding sighs. Since they were wearing the same uniform, it was more difficult to tell them apart.

"Uh... which one was Eldrich again? I wanted to make sure who to watch!"

"Can we just a tie a cloth or something around one of them?"

"Ah, that...? Uhm..." Ayla blinked before trying to find something. Since all the students were wearing the same thing anyway, it wouldn't have helped much. "Well, whatever! Whoever wins, tell us your name at the end!"

""I'm [Hunter/Eldrich]!"" They shouted at the same time, in a rare burst of courage. They both looked to the floor soon after, raising their heads to look at each, and then looked down again.

""Hah...""

"Mutual sighs too! Ah, the fight is starting! Get ready! Three! Two! One! Go! Go! Go!"

They both actually started a step late; however, each casted a long-range "[Fire/Earth] Bullet!" and circled to their right.

And then "[Fire/Earth] Lance!"

... And then they both moved forward with their plain arming swords, clashing with a diagonally strike, stepping back at the same time to set their respective elements pillar attack below the other's feet. Of course, they predicted this and jumped forward again, clashing blades.

Occasionally, one would step forward while the other stepped back; however, it was rarely not reversed with the other mirroring the reactions previously.

Amazingly, despite such equal movements, attacks, and skill with a blade, Hunter collapsed first.

It was easier to tell know that he was covered in dust, dirt, and rock fragments, whereas Eldrich fell to a knee with slight burns on his body.

"... Match! Uh... Eldrich...?" Seeing the boy nod, dissatisfied, she continued, "there you have it! Match! And Eldrich wins!"

Ayla took a breath as she looked at the somewhat uninterested faces. "I propose a new rule! Those two are not allowed to fight each other anymore under these brackets - it's too confusing!"

"Yeah!"

"I agree!"

"Woo!"

"Perfect! We're in agreement then!" Ayla determined from the noise of the crowd; as Eldrich and Hunter were much too quiet, their complaints were lost amongst the crowd.