Training with Donovan became more intense with every session. We both agreed that returning to the underground was probably a bad idea, especially since the red dragon herself had taken notice of me. After seeing what the founder's influence did to Solari, I knew I wanted nothing to do with them.

Both Gaia and the professor insist that he broke the charm and eventually started working with them to stop the founders' plan, but we all agreed it would Be better not to go through that at all.

Fortunately, with Valentina learning a full tome's worth of spells, it was a lot easier to hide that she was copying spells.

Dueling was no longer as dangerous, and when I wasn’t practicing with Donovan or running through forms, I dueled as often as possible. It wasn’t long before my record was intimidating enough to attract the attention of Jyanna and other elites I never thought would notice me.

Nearly every match now, Jyanna would join the crowd of spectators watching me duel. The first time was surprising. I didn't even notice her until after my match was finished. Her and her three look alikes walked onto the field with the grace of gods, Jyanna taking center stage. Smiling as she said, “Dexter, right?”

I nodded, but didn’t feel like entering whatever drama she hoped to start so I exited the dueling box and hurried to my dorm.

In class the next day, I caught her staring at me as she twirled a strand of hair around her finger. As our eyes met she winked, then giggled to one of the other girls around her, making no attempt to hide it as they whispered behind their hands.

It started to get strange when she began approaching me any time I was alone. I figured she must’ve been trying to intimidate me. At best she might have wanted me to slow down accepting duels so that I wouldn’t beat her record.

The first few times, I fled before she could get close. When I realized she wasn’t going to give up, I asked Alex to stick with me after class and go with me to the box rental shop so I wouldn’t have to worry about Jyanna.

I thought I was all clear until…

“You have an anonymous duel request. Will you accept?”

I paused the video my father sent. This was probably the millionth time I watched it. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was looking for, but I hoped I might see something that would help me better understand what happened to them.

The duel request came with only a win-loss record.

‘58 - 0’

An undefeated challenger… it might be better to reject it. I thought, but then again it could be a great challenge.

“Accept the duel,” I said, standing and shoving my phone into my pocket.

There was a familiar flash, then Jyanna was standing opposite of me. A light breeze danced through her curly hair as it bent the tall grass, causing it to sway around her.

She smiled at me stepping closer as she said, “You were avoiding me, so this was the only way. I hope you’ll forgive me for beating you.”

I stared blankly, unsure what to say to her

“The duel will begin in thirty seconds.”

“How about a little wager, hmm? If you win I’ll be your girlfriend, but if I win, you have to do anything I say for the next month.”

My face flushed with rage. I knew she was an entitled brat, but did she really think so much of herself?

“I don’t—”

“5…4…3…2…1… begin.”

I clicked my tongue, leaping past her and stretching my arm to hook around her neck. The take down worked on everyone I tried it on so far. No magister expected to be rushed, fewer had the nerves not to freeze up when it happened.

Jyanna was a fool to step closer at the start.

As my arm came in contact with her neck, she spun into my grip, putting out her right elbow so that it struck my sternum, sending me reeling backwards as a white hot flash of pain rippled across my body.

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She came after me, reaching with a back fist aimed at my cheek. I lifted my hands in an attempt to block the strike, but I was a half second too slow. The punch clipped the corner of my jaw, spinning me in a full circle as my legs left the ground.

The grass tickled my skin as I fell and rolled away from my assailant. My stomach tightened as I sucked in a deep gulp of air. I could still feel the sting of the impact, but nothing was numb so there weren't broken bones. I pushed myself up from the ground, scanning around for Jyanna.

I spotted her in my periphery and spun into her, my knee leading.

Jyanna moved to the side, letting my leg fly past her.

“I’ve seen you fight, you’re too predictable.”

She smiled. Her red eyes were bright with confidence. She lunged, and I spun away. I came out of the turn with an elbow destined for her temple, but it never connected. She had already stepped to my other side, striking with a kick to the back of my knee then a knife hand to my throat.

I coughed and gagged, taking several steps back. My heart pounded, I could feel the blood racing through my veins.

She was better trained than I expected.

Valentina flew from my belt, drifting behind Jyanna then she personified, grabbing Jyanna under both arms with her hands behind the girl’s head before she could turn.

Jyanna struggled, but couldn’t get free of Valentina’s hold.

Jyanna shook her head. “I'm disappointed Dexter, I thought you were more of a challenge, but I guess your win loss record was just luck.”

She stopped struggling as I rushed closer.

As I pulled back for a punch, she smiled.

My arm shot forward.

“Vapor,” she said, then vanished in plumes of wispy smoke.

My fist struck Val, knocking her back in the grass, then a cold hand closed around my neck.

I couldn’t see my attacker, but it couldn’t have been Jyanna. The person was taller than me and easily lifted me off the ground. It must have been her spell tome.

Pressure grew around my throat as I gasped for air.

My vision blurred and I struggled in vain against my assailant's hold. I needed air, but there wasn't anything I could do.

The match may as well have been over.

“I think you’ll enjoy my first request,” Jyanna smiled as she stepped into view. “I want you to join me for dinner tonight. We’ll dine at Ravenor so dress nice.”

I bit my lip. I hadn’t even agreed to her terms, and I wasn’t ready to give up. There had to be something I could do.

Valentina jumped to my defense, diving at Jyanna’s spell tome with something shiny in her hand.

“Jasper!” Jyanna shrieked.

The tome reverted, releasing me as he floated back to his magister.

I dropped to the ground, taking several gulping breaths before I could rise.

“Master of death, seeker of flesh, desecrate and defile, consume this wretch in your unholy maw.”

Black smoke billowed out of the tome in Jyanna's hands, covering the ground then filling the air. A skeletal jaw, covered in black blood, burst through the mist towards my head.

I rolled, just out of the creature's grasp as a skeletal claw raked across my left cheek. I rolled to my feet, my right arm and hand leading my spin as I struck at the beast's back with all of my momentum. My fist landed with a resounding crack, sending bone chips in every direction and throwing me back down to the ground.

A cry of agony pierced the air. The ground around me erupted into black flames that swept toward me from all sides.Valentina returned to my hand, but it was too late.

A white flash cleared the arena, returning us to our starting positions as an automated voice announced, “This duel has been decided with Jyanna Myrtle as the victor.”

“Wear purple,” she said with a wink “It’ll look good on you.”

Then she was gone.

I collapsed, rolling onto my back as I took deep, gasping breaths.

It hurt.

A lot.

Valentina knelt beside me. She shook her head and frowned, saying, “I should have acted sooner.”

I shook my head. “I never asked, besides we both underestimated her, so don’t blame yourself.”

I groaned as I sat up, holding out a hand. Valentina accepted it, pulling me to my feet as she asked, “Will you be ok?”

“Yea. That duel was a good reminder of the professor’s favorite lesson.”

“Overconfidence leads to a swift death,” Valentina said, then we both laughed until the pain in my ribs, chest and neck forced me to stop.

Once the laughter faded I said, “I don’t have anything purple.” My voice cracked as I swallowed my discomfort.

She raised an eyebrow, frowning with one side of her lips as she said, “So...you going to go to that date?”

I shook my head, then I nodded, then I said, “I don’t know, but either way it isn’t a date. I’ll bring Alex.”

Valentina chuckled, but there wasn’t much mirth in her laughter.