Lian moved without a sound. The soil, softened beneath his feet, parted, clearing the way. Each step altered the terrain; water gathered in narrow streams and stretched after him like an obedient shadow. He didn't waste a single moment. His gaze remained focused, his breathing steady. He knew what he wanted.
Kai fought differently. His body answered the magic with a surge. He hurled water spheres one after another, not giving his opponents a chance to catch their breath. The streams flew without pause. He didn't look around, didn't control the field. All his attention belonged to Blake and Gort. He attacked without thinking. Only fury. Only the urge to break through.
Blake moved with grace. Every motion was calculated and precise. There was confidence in him. He dodged strikes easily, predicting their direction before the spell had even formed. A stream of water trailed behind him. It followed his heels, coiling into loops, rising upward, ready to strike. Blake commanded the element without effort.
Gort remained entirely calm. He cast no spells, returned no blows. Only movement. His steps stayed exact. He did not falter, did not slow. Kai's magic flew past, missing him by fractions of a second. The ground shifted beneath his feet, but it didn't hinder him. He avoided obstacles without wasting extra energy. He stood in the very center of the fight, yet nothing touched him. There was menace in that calm.
Kai suddenly slipped on the washed-out ground. The mud beneath his feet gave way, and he flew forward, turning in the air. His body tumbled straight into the stream left behind by Lian. Water splashed high, soaking into Kai's clothes in an instant.
"One down," said Gort. His voice sounded calm, without a hint of mockery. He still stood there, watching the battle.
"No!" Kai shouted, choking on indignation and wet clothes.
Blake didn't even turn around. His concentration didn't break for a moment. Air currents coiled the water into a tight stream, sending it toward Gort. The magic moved with precise force, ready to knock down anyone in its path.
But the earth responded. From beneath the surface, branches rose, woven into a solid wall. They closed together, leaving no gap. Not a single drop made it through the barrier. The stream crumbled, losing its power.
I flinched. The earth beneath my feet trembled — barely perceptibly, but enough for a chill to run through my body. In that moment, my heart froze. But when I looked around, no one even turned their head. No alarm. No surprise. Everything continued as before. What kind of magic was that?
"He's the strongest Earth and Plant mage," Kai explained.
He approached slowly, brushing the dirt off himself. His voice sounded tired, with a note of disappointment. Apparently, my face still showed confusion, and he decided to explain without further prompting.
Meanwhile, the branches that had risen from the ground came to life. They reached for Lian. He barely managed to retreat, trying to keep his distance. But fleeing didn't help. When the branches caught up to him, they shook violently, like a wet dog after a bath. Dirty spray flew up and came crashing down on Lian, drenching him from head to toe.
"Two down," said Blake, a spark of amusement in his voice.
"Shall we go all out?" Gort offered, raising his hands. The skin on his palms gleamed brightly.
"Perfect. I'll get to wipe the floor with you a second time today," Blake smirked. "Lian, step back. Go to Biana and the others."
Lian didn't reply. He only lowered his gaze and slowly walked in our direction. There was no energy in his stride. It was as if he carried his own disappointment on his shoulders.
I couldn't take my eyes off Blake. The light came not only from his hands — something shimmered inside, around his chest. Like the breath of a power ready to burst out.
As soon as Lian reached us, the ground shuddered. This time, stronger. I tensed, trying to keep my balance, but something inside me recoiled from the approaching pressure.
The kids, despite their defeat, lit up again. They laughed, shouted, their eyes gleaming with excitement. Every gaze was fixed on Gort. No one wanted to miss the moment he revealed his true strength.
I was still trying to keep my balance as the ground began to lurch. The others stood calmly, as if such tremors had long become part of their daily routine. Their bodies didn't sway, not one of them stumbled. Only I struggled with gravity, as if teetering on the edge of a cliff.
When the earth quaked harder, I instinctively reached out for support. Kai silently offered me his hand. He stood steady, almost casually, and yet didn't take his eyes off Gort.
I felt a gaze — sharp, angry. Blake. He was looking straight at me. A thought flashed through my mind: Is he really taking this seriously? But they're just kids.
The ground beneath his feet began to crumble like wet sand. Stones rolled aside, pushing him closer to the water. He didn't resist. He simply turned his gaze to Gort and took a few steps back. And then he rose into the air.
Effortlessly.
I froze.
What?
"Holy shit," I blurted, loud. I didn't even think to hold it in. The surprise crashed over me. No one had said he could fly.
From the ground, branches surged upward. They twisted in the air, chasing Blake at a frightening speed. It seemed they meant to drag him straight into the river.
"I agree with that," Kai said, not hiding his amazement. His voice remained even, but his eyes sparkled. He watched Blake with admiration as he dodged, weaving between the snapping branches. "I heard Mr. Blake uses gravity only in battle. Looks like he really doesn't want to let you go," he added more calmly, as if talking about the weather.
"Gravity?" I repeated, eyes locked on the figure above. For a moment, I thought he had simply lifted himself with wind. The same way he had lifted me not long ago.
"Yes. Mr. Blake has one of the strongest magic combinations — wind and gravity," said Lily. Her voice was confident, almost like a student reciting a lesson, but her gaze shimmered with adoration. "And Gort is the greatest Earth and Plant mage. That kind of power pairing is extremely rare. Though all of the Feller generals wield strong magic, those two are considered the most powerful."
She drew a breath and went on, as if reading from a favorite book.
"That's why Mr. Blake is the High Mage. Not just because of his lineage, but thanks to his abilities and mind. He and the generals are considered the peak of magical potential among humans."
I listened without looking away from what was happening. There, in the sky, Blake soared, confidently evading the furious attacks of the branches. Magic clashed with magic like stone against stone.
In one sudden motion, Blake raised his hand. The air grew heavy, the currents twisted tighter, gaining strength with every second. His wind wrapped around the surface of the river, tore a large wave from it, and hurled it straight toward Gort. The water surged forward, sweeping away everything in its path. The branches trying to catch him couldn't withstand it. Their broken silhouettes vanished in the roaring stream.
The earth trembled harder. Beneath our feet, everything began to crumble, like in a real earthquake. I tried to hold on, but my body no longer obeyed. My balance slipped away, as if the very ground refused to support me.
To my left, Lian reached out his hand. He said nothing, but his gesture was precise and steady. I reached for him, hoping to lean on something, but at that very moment a strong current of air swept around me. The wind lifted my body above the ground, not letting even my fingers touch it.
I shuddered. My eyes flew open. My heart pounded faster. I was floating. Held aloft by someone's will, someone's power. And I knew — it was him.
Gort raised his hands, and a massive wall of earth rose before him. The wave sent by Blake struck the barrier with a dull roar. The water surged high, crashed down — but went no further. The wall held.
"Yeeaaaaah!" came the children's joyful cries.
Their shouting drowned out even the roar of the water. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed soldiers gathering by the gates of the training field. People were streaming in one after another, drawn by the spectacle. But no one stopped the fight. Maybe no one even thought it necessary.
Behind Blake, where the wave had already receded into the river, new branches appeared. They crept toward him, slow and silent, like traps slithering across the water. And he didn't see them. His gaze was still fixed on me. Cold. Displeased. Pressing.
"Behind you!" I shouted, staring into his stubborn face.
He didn't respond. Didn't turn. Didn't move.
My chest tightened. He knew. But why wasn't he reacting?
"Last one down," Blake said calmly.
I turned to Gort. His body swayed slightly as the wind currents suddenly shoved him back. He took an unsteady step, lost his balance, and landed directly in the muddy puddle left by Lian. Water splashed up, staining his clothes.
"Damn you, Blake!" Gort barked. His voice shook the air, full of irritation. "Those tricks of yours again."
He brushed the mud off himself, grumbling with barely contained frustration. Kai and Lian were already giggling, not even trying to hide their amusement.
"You should shut up about tricks, when you're sending vines behind people's backs," Blake replied, landing on the now-settled ground. His steps were steady. The wind that had been holding me weakened. He gently set me down beside the others.
"Well, I guess that settles it. Biana stays with me," he added, looking straight at me. Then his gaze dropped to my hand, which was still resting on Kai's.
My breathing faltered. It all felt like a game. Or did it? Was he actually taking this seriously? Or had I simply stopped understanding anything?
"You shouldn't be so sure of yourself," Kai said, not pulling his hand away. "She doesn't have a seal yet. That means I still have a chance."
He spoke lightly, but there was stubbornness in his voice.
"Once she gets one, you won't be able to do anything. I'll court her every day, and one day she'll fall for my charm."
Kai grinned, smug and defiant. His eyes sparkled with challenge.
Blake suddenly smiled. Not coldly, not tightly, but truly warm. Then he ruffled Kai's hair, like a big brother might.
"In that case, I should lock her in a room," he said, with a playful note in his voice.
Kai snorted, but didn't manage to retort.
"Don't worry," Lily chimed in. She looked at Blake with innocent seriousness. "He'll forget about Biana the moment he gets his own Keeper."
Lian couldn't hold back a laugh. His shoulders shook, and his eyes gleamed. Clearly, he knew how right Lily was.
"Well, since you've won both in hand-to-hand and in magic today," Gort said, stepping closer, "dinner with wine is on me."
He said it with a faint smirk, but there was genuine respect in his voice.
"You two did well," he added, turning to Kai and Lian. "It's rare to see anyone who dares challenge him. I'm sure you both have a great future ahead of you as mages."
His voice was low, slightly hoarse, but warm. In its own way, it wrapped around you.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Blake's body tense, just for a second. It didn't last more than a heartbeat, but I was sure I'd caught something personal.
"All right. Dinner's on you," Blake answered calmly. "But for now, excuse us. I need to speak with Biana."
With a gesture, he invited me to walk with him toward the gates. Soldiers were already gathered there, whispering, exchanging glances. Their stares were curious, but restrained.
"Perfect," Gort nodded with satisfaction. "We'll clean up the field in the meantime. Nice meeting you."
He stepped closer to me and gave a small nod. Respectful.
I hesitated. I didn't know how to respond properly. Was this a good sign? Or bad? Did he recognize me? Had we met before?
"I..." I began, but the words never came.
Blake intervened. Currents of wind gently lifted me and guided me forward. He walked beside me, not falling a step behind. After a few paces, I was on my feet again, but he didn't let go. Not with his gaze, not with his presence.
Whether he was angry or pleased, I couldn't say. He had closed himself off. One moment, he smiled like a child. The next, he was cold again. I couldn't understand him. And I was getting more and more lost in these shifts.
"We need to stop by the kitchen," he said in a different voice now. Steady. Short. Military.
We passed through the line of soldiers, and with every step the air filled with clapping and cheers. People called out, shouted his name, but he didn't react. Not a glance in return. Not a single nod.
Wind swirled around us. Currents, guided by his will, wrapped around me from all sides, forming an invisible wall. Careful, but firm. As if he didn't want anyone to touch me. Not even by accident.
But it wasn't necessary. No one tried. Everyone we passed stepped aside, watching us with respect.
He walked a step ahead. I was beside him, half a step to the side.
All eyes were on him.
And he, as if outside all this, didn't hear, didn't notice, didn't allow himself to be distracted.
We said nothing. Only our footsteps echoed over the stone floor, following us all the way to the kitchen. The same place where, just yesterday, something strange had happened. Almost inexplicable.
When we entered, the first thing I saw was Ada. She was sitting at the table, lost and silent. Adel was rummaging through the drawers, going through their contents with clear tension. Nimor stood by the window with a small pouch in his hand, lifting it to his face, inhaling the scent, as if trying to identify something familiar. On the table lay several pouches and boxes, scattered in a hurry.
As the door closed behind us, Adel immediately turned, catching the movement. Ada looked up, and I saw the fear in her eyes as she stared at Blake.
"How's it going?" he asked Adel. His voice was restrained, nearly neutral.
"Nothing yet. None of the samples resemble the contaminant. Ada insists she's never used anything like this in the kitchen," she replied calmly.
"What about Eiron?" Blake's voice grew colder. Steady, but tense.
"This morning they confirmed he's still on the northern wall. I've already sent a request for him to return. He's in for questioning and inspection," Adel reported, still focused on the boxes.
I stood aside, unmoving. Trying to catch something. Anything. Yesterday had felt different. The fake Eiron, whom I hadn't recognized. And Blake. What did it all mean?
What had I missed?
And why had any of this been necessary?