“You never told me that you learned new spells,” I said, pausing and turning to Valentina. “Are you hiding things from me?”

“No, why would I do that?”

I studied her face for any sign of deceit. Her eyes were big, and innocent, and her expression seemed completely genuine. I shook my head, looking back to the path in front of me, and resumed my pace.

I shrugged.

“I guess it doesn’t matter.” I glanced at her again. “How did you even learn them though? We’ve only been in one duel and there’s no way you found points to train with so…”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged, offering a light hearted smile.

I breathed away my frustration.

I should’ve expected that answer.

We reached the dueling box I’d reserved to test my theory. Alex, Amhir, and a girl with violet pigtails and ivy green eyes stood waiting.

“You’re the idiot that wants to duel me?” green eyes scoffed. “Ah-me, why am I wasting time here?”

“Just bear it Lee Loo, I promise it’ll be worth it.”

“Ugh!” she growled. “It better be.”

Amhir shrugged then leaned close, whispering in her ear. A mischievous grin spread lips thin as he backed away.

Alex seemed to be ignoring them, focused instead on his spell tome. As we approached, Thor ripped free of Alex’s hands, personifying in front of me.

With smiling eyes, he raised his hands, saying, “Today, I’ll show everyone what a real god is.”

Lee Loo glared, muttering, “Are all Spell Tomes insane, or did you just luck out and get a weird one. Whatever, let's just get this over with. I wanna leave this place, the smell of idiots is too thick to stand much longer and I might catch a brain-rot infection from hanging out with you.”

“What’s your tome like then?” Alex barked. “With your personality, it must be one of the creepy and gross variety.”

His eyes narrowed as Lee Loo looked at him.

Amhir cleared his throat then waved a hand over the holo display, summoning the box interface system.

As his hands began to work over display, he asked “What are we doing here anyway? Alex wouldn’t say, just insisted I bring someone along.”

Nodding at his friend, I said, “Thanks for coming, Lee Loo.”

She wrinkled her nose, widened her eyes, and scrunched up her eyebrows, her face twitching like a jella-beast as she struggled to hold the odd expression. “Don’t you ever call me that again.” Her words squeezed between her teeth as she huffed.

My hands lifted on their own as if they might start throwing a fit like my heart that was hammering in my chest. “Sorry, Le—uhm…”

She spat at my feet then turned up her nose. “Honestly, Ah-me you’re such a saint, enduring the presence of these rats without complaint.” Draping herself over Amhir’s shoulder, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled up to his cheek. “I’d have demanded a reassignment if I was you.”

Alex groaned.

Valentina shook her head as if the whole thing bored her.

I kept my eyes locked on the girl, thinking she was the perfect person to help test out my new magic. Her attitude would only make it more satisfying.

Amhir turned, causing Lee Loo to release him, and said, “Don't keep us waiting Dex, what are doing here?”

I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart, then I said, “I haven’t been practicing as you know, so I was just hoping you all might be willing to help me get caught up.” I paused as I turned to Lee Loo and added, “You don’t have to participate if you don't want to, but—”

“Obviously, natch!” She rolled her eyes. “I’m only here for Ah-me, so he doesn’t have to suffer you filth alone.”

“Ah…right.” I nodded. “Well if you want to go first then—”

Her eyes narrowed to little slits as her lips pressed flat. Sensing that she had no intent to duel me, I said, “Nevermind, let’s start with you Ah-me—” I cleared my throat. “Amhir.”

Lee Loo chuckled, and Alex raised a fist.

I sighed.

Amhir frowned as his spell tome flew from its pouch into his hand. “Why me? From what I hear, you have a tome of space, so we’re really not a good match,” he said. “It wouldn’t be fair to you…” he looked at the others, as if waiting for one of them to agree.

They remained quiet.

Sighing heavily, Amhir pressed a button on box interface and the two of us were teleported inside.

“Welcome magisters, we are your automated interface. Before your duel begins, let me first confirm the terms—retrieving.”

“I don’t want you to hate me, so you can decide on the stage and settings,” Amhir said with a sympathetic smile.

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The space around us changed, shifting from an empty plain into the ruined courtyard of a crumbling fortress. There was a fallen statue at one end of the field. The stonework had crumbled, making the woman who looked as if she were lying down instead of sitting, as was originally intended. Her face was lost to time, but she held a stone shield over her body, while her other arm held the hilt of a broken blade.

“Valkyrie’s fallen fortress has been selected, is this stage fine?”

I nodded.

“No mobs, clear weather on a summer night, and teleport out before death are the current settings. Do both magisters accept?”

We both nodded.

I felt Valentina solidify in my hand, her spine soft and cool against my palm. My fingers tingled with excitement as I anticipated the feeling of my first new magic.

A clock appeared, floating just over our heads and it began to countdown from ten.

Amhir stood calmly in front of me, his eyes looking to the side like he couldn't even be bothered to meet my gaze. I waited in silence. Thinking with this stage he chose, and his earlier comment, he must’ve had a spell tome of darkness. That would certainly render a tome of space largely useless as the dark element had its own spacial aspect in addition to some summoning abilities, and minor curses.

Three…

I wasn’t sure I could win, even if I was fast. My heart pounded in my chest.

Two…

My palms felt wet against Valentina and I felt a tremor pass through my hand. Easing myself with a deep breath, I cast “Break!” Just as the countdown finished.

Amhir stumbled as the ground beneath him pulled apart. Cracks spread in every direction, radiating away from him, but his spell tome caught him. A shadow rose from his book as Amhir leapt to the side and away from me.

The shadow exploded in size.

The beast had dark skin that looked like wet mud with veins of gold and crimson light running through it. Its body was humanoid and its limbs were long and muscular, but the beast's head was like that of a horned magi-beast with razor-like teeth and pointed claws at the ends of its massive fingers.

A monster of the dark element, and the kind of magic I had hoped for.

Its head swiveled back and forth like the beast was listening for something as the shadows beneath its body pulsed with each of its breaths.

“You surprised me.” Amhir laughed from behind the beast. “So is it actually just a tome of a magic?” He said, as if to himself.

“She’s quite unique,” I said as Valentina’s pages turned.

The beast lunged forward, throwing out its hand. It looked as if the shadow arm was extending, growing in length, but as I took a step to the right it swung in that direction. I was fast, but the shadow was faster and the tips of its fingers sliced my chest.

My body flinched, and the beast used the moment to swing the other arm at me, slamming into my side and sending me flying back. I felt the breath knocked from my lungs as the beast charged forward.

This isn’t over! I told myself. No more being weak and timid. That was the promise I made myself and if I was going to find out what happened to my parents, then I’d have to keep it.

As I lay there on my back, looking up at the sky, the shadow closed in. I grinned as a spell presented itself in my mind.

“Blaze forth, wisps of eternal fire! Flaming flurry!"

The world lit up as a million tiny fireballs rushed together and enveloped the creature, illuminating it so bright it hurt to look directly at the beast. I jumped to my feet, immediately following up with “Crumble!”

Instead of just casting the spell, I specifically focused on the shadow beast, hoping I could narrow the scope of the spell to just the beast.

The spell activated and the creature roared. Its legs and body breaking into tiny shards that dissolved in the air.

My body relaxed and I looked up from the shadow searching for Amhir.

His fist shot out of the darkness, connecting with my jaw and knocking me off balance. I tumbled, catching myself on the ruined statue.

My breath burned with anger, my face throbbed.

I stumbled away from the crumbling rock and looked for Amhir, but he was gone. Clicking my tongue in frustration, I realized this was a fight I couldn’t win. Not yet, but one day I’d be stronger. With only fracture left in my arsenal, I knew there was nothing more I could do. Maybe, I could chase him out of the shadows with flame flurry, but it was a long shot and I’d accomplished my primary purpose—confirming that Valentina had copied Seth’s spells… well all except the one I didn’t hear.

Raising my arms, I said, “I surrender, you win.”

Amhir laughed. It was the first real laugh I had heard from the quiet guy.

The space around us began to shift again as the battlefield broke apart. “Magister Dexter Maele, forfeits. This duel has been registered as a victory for Amhir Saied.”

Both of us were teleported out of the dueling box. Alex looked confused as our eyes met. Lee Loo, however, looked starry eyed at Amhir. She rushed to his side, nearly jumping into his arms as she squealed, “Ah-me, I had no idea you were such a strong magister. I think I like you even more now.”

He chuckled then gave a dismissive wave.

Lee Loo leaned in, giving him a light peck on the cheek.

The sight of the two of them made me sick. My parents, who worked hard and struggled for everything they had, were dead, slaughtered like dogs while people like Lee Loo got to do whatever they wanted, swooning over a bullshit victory and living their lives without knowing loss.

I couldn't accept this reality, it was too painful.

“Why did you surrender?” Alex asked, slinging his arm over my shoulder. “It looked like you had the upper hand there for a second, did I miss something?”

I shrugged. “Not really. I just knew I couldn’t win and I learned what I needed to know so…”

Alex raised a brow. His expression said, do you think I'm an idiot?

I just smiled and nodded then I opened my spell tome. If she could copy Seth’s spells, I figured she should also be able to copy Amhir’s, unless the ability was limited to a specific category of spells.

“What are you doing?” Amhir asked as I flipped through the pages of my tome.

Spewing venom, his green eyes friend hissed, “It’s too late to change the outcome of the duel. Don’t try to show us some spell claiming you could’ve used it to win!”

I just waved and shrugged her off, turning my back to the three.

My body relaxed and my breath evened out. My focus fell on my tome. She glowing gently and several pages were stained black with ink, but there was no writing.

“Val?” I prodded, waiting several seconds, but she didn’t reply.

“Is that why you gave up?” Alex asked. He was peeking over my shoulder. “What’s wrong with her?”

“Nothing,” I said, pushing him off. “I’ll see you guys later.”

As I walked away, Amhir called, but I pretended not to hear him. I didn't really have anywhere in mind to go, but I was pissed and in the mood to be alone.

I wasn’t sure what was going on, but if something was wrong with Valentina, I supposed the librarian would be the best person to ask about it.