Koda and his escort climbed up the smooth marble steps of the Wind Mage Academy. Despite his bias towards the former nation, Koda could not resist gawking at the sheer presence of the tower statues depicting past Estinian mages and philosophers such as Gustav the Wise and Lucus the Stoic. Powerful jet stream columns that held up the roof ripped at Koda’s clothes. The elf hesitated walking under the heavy roof. A stone slab of that size would crush him if the magic failed even for a second.

Wildeye stuck a claw into the column. She giggled as the magic tickled her fur.

Elucard let out a low whistle. “Alanna’s black wings, this place is impressive.”

Koda searched Wildeye and Elucards’ eyes for his own confidence before he knocked on the door. It was not a hefty pounding, but a light tap. Not only was this his first mage color to challenge for, but this was the school of the people that he went to war with—twice! How would their instructors react to Koda Dawnegde? How would the students? Would the headmaster even let him in? The questions gnawed at his mind. These were the questions that plagued the very thought of starting his journey with the wind element! He grew weary of fear. Now was not the time to run. No, now was the time to show the Estinians he was no longer the cower child in the prison cell. He was a king, the king that defeated them. That toppled their empire and crushed their royal family. He shouldn’t—he no longer feared them and now he would show them why, for he was Koda Dawnedge, the Mage King!

Koda swallowed his fear and knocked louder this time. No sooner than when he did, the door swung open and before him stood a boy. Younger than himself, but older than when he first began learning vernal magic. He had frizzled black hair and freckles dotted his cheeks. He pushed his wide brim glasses up his nose and squeaked out his nasally question. "Yes? Vhat is it?"

Koda paused, already forgetting why he was there. "I-I..."

The boy frowned and slammed the door in Koda's face.

"Rude," Elucard sneered. With a mighty kick, the door flew open once more. "King Dawnedge is here for a challenge!" Elucard barked.

The boy gasped, frozen in place. "Is-is that so?"

Koda stretched his collar with his finger, now slightly embarrassed. "Yes. I am Koda Dawnedge and I wish to challenge your school for my white sash," he finally said.

The boy examined Koda's green robes up and down, careful not to capture the angry eye of Elucard. "If that's the case, please follow me."

Koda, Elucard, and Wildeye followed the boy through the pristine halls of the white mage school. Books floated on drifts of clouds to the hands of awaiting students. The walls swirled with shimmering dust, arching over doors that led to classrooms, dormitories, studies, and libraries.

Their guide led them up a set of winding stairs to the roof of the school that served as the battlefield. There a match roared already in progress. Several white mages lingered around the sidelines observing the battle. One mage, taller than the rest, glowered at Koda. Scars stretched from the corners of his mouth and curled across his cheeks.

Koda grimaced and quickly turned away to watch the duel.

Closest to Koda, stood an elven mage with fiery, red hair and a white streak through her bangs. She looked about his own age. Violet robes draped down her body instead of the green that he wore.

She dashed and dodged oncoming blasts of wind, but kept her feet away from the edge of the battleground so that she did not fall out of bounds. From her hands and fingers crackled streaks of purple electricity. The lightning kept her wind slinging opponent at bay.

Finally, she clapped her hands, exploding a massive array of blinding light. The glare was too painful for Koda to keep his eyes open and he sheltered them with his arms. In that moment of disarray, he heard a scream and the referee calling out the new victor.

"Trent has been knocked out! Challenger Raine wins!"

The purple mage wiped the sweat from her forehead as she passed Koda by. "Trent keeps you on your toes. Watch out, he's a tough one!"

Koda tugged her shoulder. "Any tips? This is my first mage duel."

Raine gave him a warm smile. "Well, you picked the toughest school I've ever challenged. I would say try your best, I suppose."

Trent strolled up to Koda. “Vill the great Koda Dawnedge be challenging my headmaster or the high student?”

Koda narrowed his eyes at the sarcastic remark. “I suppose you are the headmaster?”

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“No, I am only the highest ranked student of the school.”

Koda stole a glance at Trent. The Estinian was well built, stern, and a mean scowl carved across his face. Koda recognized bloodlust in those eyes. The same bloodlust he had once seen in Elucard’s eyes over his father’s headless corpse. It frightened him.

“Well if this is the hardest mage school in Cypress, I would be a fool to challenge the headmaster.”

Trent gave Koda a smirk. “Very vell, you shall challenge me then.”

Koda turned back to Raine. Koda frowned. "Do you have advice on a strategy."

Raine stroked her chin. "Hm, I would say don't get caught in his wind. I know that's obvious, but Trent is a master of air manipulation. Once you are caught, there's not much you can do."

Koda swallowed a lump in his throat.

"Hey." Raine playfully punched Koda's arm. "Don't let him get the best of you. If he sees that you are scared of him, he'll already have an edge."

Koda nodded his head and swallowed a lump in his throat.

"Would you feel better if I stayed to watch your battle?" asked Raine.

Koda nodded again. "A little, thanks."

Koda stepped onto the battlefield and approached the white mage. "I am here to challenge you for my whi—"

"I know vhy you are here, Koda Dawnedge." Trent smirked. He puffed out his chest. "It is all the city talks about right now. Rest assured, in the name of the true royal family, I vill destroy you."

"Don't back down, Koda!" Elucard shouted.

Koda balled his fists until they shook. "Let's just get this over with."

Trent adjusted his thin gray gloves. "Very vell. Do you know the rules?"

Koda began to speak, but Trent interrupted him. "Of course you don't. I shall explain them. The rules are simple. You fight until one of us submits, falls out of bounds, goes unconscious, or dies."

Koda's flesh turned pale. "D-die?"

Trent flashed a smile. "Vorry not, dear Dawnedge king, The school's runes do not allow true death, you vill be brought back to life and healed. I can not say the same for your veak mental state. I know you von't recover right away. There is quite a bit of queasiness from a false death." Trent paused, before finishing his explanation. “Oh, and excruciating pain of the death is still felt

Koda bit his lip. False or not, he didn't want to experience any sort of death. “How can a school bring someone back to life? Only the angels above are capable of such miracles.”

Trent chuckled. “You really know nothing about how powerful ve mages truly are? Very vell, I vill entertain your question. During the construction of a mage school, the battlefields are written vith extremely powerful healing runes so that all vounds will heal after a match. The same vith deaths inflicted by a mage. Does that satisfy your query?”

Koda nodded.

“I don’t know vhy I feel so compelled to educate a Long Vhisper elf, but I vant you fully prepare for your defeat. If you fear your false death, then my victory vould be hollow.”

“Are those the only rules?” asked Koda.

“Almost,” replied Trent. “Vill ve be using all our colors or just our base.”

Koda raised an eyebrow. "Base?"

Trent sighed. "Vhen one vins a color, they may use their secondary, third, or vhatever in battles. However, the challenger may choose to only use their base, as in their default color. Your vernal versus my vind."

Koda nodded in understanding. "Then as I only have one color, I will choose my base."

"Fine." Trent turned to the referee. "Start the battle!"

The referee turned to both duelers. "Step to your appointed sides."

He waited for Koda and Trent to get to their opposing starting blocks, painted neatly on the battlefield. A line stretched across the center of the field as well.

The referee raised up a red flag with a white diagonal stripe. "Duelers ready?"

They both nodded.

"Begin!"

Koda took a deep breath. He needed to be ready, because it was now or never. With a burst of speed he dashed forward. At this range, he knew none of his spells would reach Trent. As Koda made his way closer, he tossed seeds onto the ground. They quickly burrowed themselves into the dirt that laid across the field.

With any luck, I can use these later. He thought to himself.

Koda was gaining ground. In a matter of moments he would be within spellcasting range. Did Trent even know that? Why was he letting Koda get so close?

Koda clenched his teeth and sliced his hand forward, sending forth a volley of razor sharp thorns. Koda widened his eyes in anticipation as his projectiles drew nearer and nearer. The thorn needles were only millimeters from Trent's face, but all he did was grin.

With a single hand motion, he flung the needles with a gust of wind and flicked his wrist. Koda screamed as he was flung high into the sky.

Koda frantically called for his seeds to bloom and shoot vines to catch his ankles to lower himself back to the ground.

"Oh no you don't!" Trent called out with a cruel smirk. He whipped his body around and a lash of wind cut the vines in two, sending Koda crashing to the ground below.

Koda landed with a thud. He scrambled to his feet, but wobbled. He did his best to shake away his foggy head and blurred vision. However, he was too late as a hand of wind snatched him up and pushed back into the air.

Koda's face stretched back from the centrifugal force. His eyes rolled back, slowly he faded from consciousness.

"I vouldn't make it that easy for you, Koda!" Trented shouted. "No, I vant you to learn the meaning of defeat!"

Koda struggled with the grip of the claw, but try as he might, he could not break free. A great whoosh of wind buffeted his face as he plunged down.

The hand gained speed as it careened to Koda’s death.

Falling.

Falling.

Faster.

Faster.

Koda clenched his eyes shut. What else could he do? He held his breath as all went silent.