"What do you mean 'a game'?" Haruto asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I meant what I said." Zephyr spoke, pointing his finger at Ayaka. "I want to duel you."
Haruto stood between Zephyr and Ayaka, shielding his friend with his hand. "You want to challenge him now because I said no? Pathetic!"
Zephyr stood motionless, his eyes giving off the same cold expression. Ayaka looked at the cold eyes, a sense of guilt running through him.
"Fine," Ayaka replied. "I'll entertain you in your game." Zephyr's lips twitched.
"Splendid." He spoke before turning to his teacher.
"Ayaka," Haruto spoke. "Are you sure about this?"
Ayaka turned to Haruto, his body shaking slightly. "Not really."
*****
Zephyr and Ayaka stood against each other, swords in their hands and surrounded by their classmates and teachers.
"Whoever knocks their opponent's sword out of the other or knocks them unconscious wins!" Instructor Braz began, explaining the rules to the two students.
"Or if we decide one can't fight anymore." Instructor Graham joined.
"If you also don't feel like fighting, you can quit."
"Any questions?"
Ayaka slowly unsheathed his wooden sword while Zephyr's remained sheathed.
"No," both answered.
Instusctor Graham rose his hand and bought it down, saying: "Begin!"
Ayaka lunged at Zephyr, hoping to end the duel quickly. Zephyr stepped back, seeing the blade slash the air in front of him.
"You're slow." Zephyr whispered as he pushed the blade away with his hand. He struck forward, causing Ayak to fall on his back.
Zephyr rose his blade and swung at the fallen Ayaka, who instantly casted a spell.
"Fireball!" Zephyr jumped back, evading the attack. Ayaka repeated, shooting multiple blazing balls of flame.
As Zephyr was busy evading Ayaka's attacks, he didn't see Ayaka get back on his feet.
A golden aura began surrounding the boy, his muscles tensing, his senses sharpening, and Mana power increasing. The students began exclaiming their astonishment and excitement.
Zephyr looked up and smirked.
'[The Hero's Effort]' He thought, seeing a golden Mana surround the boy. 'But its risky letting them see it.' He thought, looking at the crowd from the corner of his eye.
He rose his hand and whispered: "[Padlock]"
Suddenly, Ayaka felt his blood vessels pop as his body stiffened. 'The heck?!' Haruto thought as he witnessed a sudden change in Ayaka.
Ayaka's mind went blank as his flow of mana locked itself. Blood spewed out of his mouth and ears, staining his uniform. He fell to the ground with a loud 'thump'.
Silence echoed in the arena as the crowd watched Ayaka's body twitching and shaking vigorously. Haruto rushed over to his friend, his hand glowing with small amounts of mana.
"W-winner," Instructor Graham stuttered. "Zephyr Von Valour!"