"So, brother, what's the plan? Must warn you, specialist cores have very high affinities in their respective specialization," Morad said.
"I know, but what I would like to know is which element has the type advantage in this scenario," I replied.
"As you are also a specialist, are you not?" I asked.
"Yes, yes, you're right, brother. Let's give it our all!"
I grinned, settling back against the stone. "That's the point. Water versus wind. Time to test him out before her teacher arrives."
Morad swirled, his fins stiffening into sleek points. "Finally! An actual duel. Prepare yourself, Lady Astraya! I won't hold back!"
Astraya straightened, her mana beginning to hum in the air around her. Her eyes and body had a white glow and aura. Threads of white light shimmered at her fingertips. The air stirred, lifting strands of her hair. I will also do the same... not hold back.
She did look terrifying for her age. The fact that I was using Morad against her already felt like we would lose. No, this is not the time for this. Let's begin.
"Brother," she called down to me, a playful spark hidden in her nervous eyes, "you'd better not hold back!"
"Don't cry if you lose," I shot back with a laugh.
Wait, she said... how do we even know who is the winner of this practice match?
"Alright," I said, raising my hand. "First to get five clear hits on the other wins. Ready?"
Astraya inhaled. Morad flicked his tail. My thumb was already glowing as I knew exactly how to trigger the ability.
I dropped my hand.
"Begin!"
The plan was simple: use speed to overwhelm her, as she wasn't aware Morad was at least faster than a crow when we used bond sense, which also allowed us to have a clear understanding of our thoughts.
"Morad, go!"
Morad dashed up toward Astraya with bird-like speed. Astraya didn't flinch, but I understood casting better than her; you could only be in two states right now: attack and defense. Her best option was to cast a defense spell, as Astraya wasn't that reckless.
Within moments, Morad had closed the distance, and the first clear hit was in reach.
"O flowing winds, circle and conceal Gale Shroud!"
The wind rushed in, neighboring air flowing with her body. Wind began to circle her, forming a transparent, aggressive spiral, still visible to the naked eye, that moved like liquid glass. Stray particles dust, leaves, droplets got caught, orbiting and outlining her.
"Perfect," I knew she would go on the defensive. Smirking, "She just basically made a wind ball that could cover the size of her body. Impressive, sister, but that won't be enough to stop Morad. Time to test Iron Tail," as Morad was already closing the distance.
Morad's tail gleamed white as he turned it towards her wind ball.
"Guess you're not aware, brother, of Dual-Function Spells," Astraya called out. "This is a spell I've been working on."
As she yelled, "MAXIMUS!"
To the realization of both Morad and me, the so-called wind ball that just covered her body rapidly expanded in a matter of seconds. That impact was enough to hit Morad before he could even use Iron Tail.
What... a spell that can defend and attack?
Morad was sent flying back, just enough for a practice fight.
"You okay, Morad,? I called out.
Yes brother?" he replied.
"Wow, how did she do that? We both thought she was defending...right brother?"
"Yeah, I thought that also. Turns out she had planned it all along.
" Morad said. "what we going to do now."
Astraya's voice rang out. "Astraya 1, Astraga and Morad 0!"
She was now encased in an even bigger wind ball of aggressive air, and we could see her smirk within the protection.
"Time to get serious now!"
Morad sounded surprised. Weren't we serious before?
"Zip it! That was a miscalculation. Now, let's focus. I would hate it if I lost to my sister," I muttered.
"Yes, brother, let's go!"
I'm going to crank up the speed, as speed is our major advantage here. All this while, I had been lightly placing my left hand on my right thumb; I needed to commit to the control. That wind barrier, or Gale Shroud, would be a problem. The fact she hadn't stopped using it gave me the impression that she hadn't fully used the extending reach of the spell, or she wanted to test ifwe would keep the attacking mindset in this fight.
I stared at her with all my focus. "Morad, let's go. Round 2."
Holding my right thumb tighter morad had a significant boost
Morad was no longer charging ahead; we had learned our lesson. Now, morad began to rotate around Astraya and her Gale Shroud at bird speed
The new plan was simple, inspired by the logic that rotation creates stability and focus in any fluid projectile. I had already understood how Astraya was able to develop this spell: her Gale Shroud had multiple air currents moving in opposite directions at the edges.
The first was the Outer layer air, which rotated clockwise, compressing the inner layer inward. The second was the Inner layer air, which rotated counter-clockwise, maintaining central stability. This balance prevented the sphere from bursting early and kept it controllable, though it seemed she hadn't yet figured out how to retract it.
All I had to do was counteract the outer layer air, and no better ability was best for the job than Piercing Water Shot.
Now, Morad Astraya was more reactive than proactive, and she was going to have to change her mind on that.
Morad's gills flared wide, his eyes narrowing in sync with my focus.
He puffed his cheeks, his throat pulsing with blue light, and released.
"Piercing Shot!" I yelled. It felt good.
The shout wasn't a roar but a slicing vibration a compressed spiral of water that smashed around the Gale Shroud, tightening as it spun in the opposite direction. The winds screamed as both rotations met; droplets vaporized into steam at the collision line, the air flashing with refracted light.
It was working. Morad kept rotating, maintaining the water beam.
Until..
The clash shrieked like metal tearing. Then, with a sound like shattering glass, the Gale Shroud collapsed.
Air slammed outward in a violent ring, the mist bursting from the center like steam from a cracked engine.
And without hesitation, Morad gave a clear hit on Astraya's hand with his head enough for a practice fight, hehe.
"Yay!" Morad cried, circling the air in an excited manner. "We did it!"
"Well, well, would you look at that, sister. Astraya 1, Astraga and Morad 1!"