The air stilled, the valley silent. The distant sounds of fighting had faded. Down at the foot of our hill, Asher's team waited. They didn't move to intercept us as we edged closer; they stood their ground, disciplined and confident. We stopped a few dozen steps from them, the six of us locked in a silent standoff under the moons.
Asher's eyes caught the six banners planted at the crest of our hill, then settled on me. A condescending smile grew on his lips. "Six banners. An impressive haul for a team of scavengers."
"Oh... you noticed? I see you've brought six too. So kind of you to deliver them to us," I shot back, pointing to the banners on their spearman's back.
Asher didn't respond; he just shook his head like he was disappointed by my childishness.
"Enough." Victoria stepped forward, her sword held ready. "Let's finish this."
The calm scene turned to chaos in an instant.
I didn't wait. I charged—straight for Asher. He was my target. My only target. My mana flared into existence, shimmering around my body. As I approached, my instincts blared. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the spearman's lunge.
A flash of silver shot past me. Victoria. She met his lunge with a sharp ringing of blades.
From the hill behind us, a bolt of Kael's lightning zipped through the air, aimed for the center of their formation. It never struck. A hurling ball of earth met it halfway, and the two spells flashed in a shower of sparks and dust.
The melee had started, but my focus stayed singular.
Asher met my charge with his shield raised. The clash of metal sending vibrations up my arms. I expected him to be pushed back by the sheer force of my two cores. But he didn't budge.
Instead, with a pivot of his feet and twist of his arm, my massive blow slid harmlessly off the edge of his shield. My momentum dragged me, forcing me right past him.
What?
I spun around and planted a foot in the dirt to stop myself. He was already facing me, his guard ready, his expression calm.
I couldn't hold back my frustration. "Not just going to stand there, are you?" I growled, changing again.
This time, I feinted high before bringing my sword around in a low, sweeping arc aimed for his legs. His eyes widened briefly as he hopped back, the massive blade hissing through the empty air. I grunted, my muscles screaming, as I reversed the swing, bringing it up in a backhanded arc.
He saw this coming, too. He brought his shield out to block, bracing it with both hands just as my sword connected.
The impact sent out a booming shockwave that echoed across the valley. The sound of an overwhelming force meeting an unbreakable defense.
For a fraction of a second, the force of the blow lifted him completely off his feet. But his technique was flawless. Instead of tumbling back, he landed with grace, the soles of his boots sliding, leaving two parallel trenches in the snow.
How?!
He managed to absorb my entire attack and reset his stance like nothing had even happened.
My cheek twitched as he stood there, ready for my next onslaught. Dammit, I hit this guy with everything I have, and he just shrugs it off?
The frustration etched on my face was like a signal. He darted forward with a powerful step, catching me in my thoughts.
His blade was a silver streak tracing toward my left shoulder. I brought my sword up to block, but his sword's path changed, now aiming for my opposite side. I leaned back, the urgency carrying me into a full flip. I used my free hand to keep myself from tasting a mouthful of snow before landing back on my feet.
What happened next was a blur of clashing blades. Neither of us took a step. Our feet were planted in the frozen earth, trading blow after blow in a space no bigger than a closet.
His blade wasn't powerful like mine; it was quick and calculating. He took any tiny opening I left as an invitation to cut me down. My defenses, built entirely on my instincts, were starting to struggle against the never-ending probes and counters.
The stalemate broke. I was losing.
I was forced back, cursing myself for picking a massive sword, as I scrambled to parry and block the relentless jabs. He was trying to find the winning opening, and I was doing everything I could to keep it closed.
I drew all my strength into a powerful downward swing, hoping to regain the upper hand with sheer force.
Of course—it was a mistake.
He parried, my sword met his shield at the perfect angle, redirecting my attack straight into the dirt beside him. The ground shuddered as an explosion of snow and dirt took over my vision. I saw a glint of Asher's sword through the commotion, a high thrust shooting straight to my shoulder.
My sword was still buried in the dirt. His blade was already at my shoulder. Shit, shit, fuck.
I did the one thing I should never do in a fight. Ugh, Elara is gonna scold me for this. I let go.
My body felt weightless as soon as my fingers left the hilt. I moved with speed and flexibility that was impossible before. Asher's precise thrust hissed through empty air as I dropped low and spun on my heel.
I popped back up inside his guard. He tried to pull his sword back in a panic, shocked at my sudden unarmed assault.
He was too slow.
I brought my leg around, pouring all of my frustration and mana into a brutal back kick.
My armored heel landed squarely into Asher's midsection with a thunderous THUMP.
Air escaped his lungs in a choked grunt before he went flying backwards.
His perfect, textbook stance was shattered. He looked silly flailing his arms as he tumbled through the air, blown completely off his feet. He crashed down onto his ass, sliding a bit before using his shield as an anchor to stop himself.
I stood up straight in triumph, panting, both hands on my hips. I got him down, not just pushed back, not just off-balance. Down.
"How's that you smug bastard?"
* * *
Rhea leaned against the cold stone railing of the competitor's balcony. Her teammates were in the infirmary. She was alone, left to watch the conclusion of the round she was no longer a part of.
On the plethora of screens in the arena, she could see the chaos in perfect clarity. Six banners placed atop a hill, six more moving through the forest. Two teams had collected twelve out of the eighteen banners. Amazing, she thought, awe overshadowing her irritation.
Her thoughts drifted back to her fight. To the strange, silver-haired girl who had called a timeout in the middle of a duel. She couldn't get over that arrogant question she asked so casually. Why are you in the back with a bow? It was an insult, but somehow, a genuine acknowledgement of her skill. She still didn't know what to make of that girl.
She cursed herself for not asking for her name, not bothering to memorize any of the names called by the announcer earlier.
She focused back on the massive screens throughout the arena. The fighting had mostly died down, and only a handful of teams were still roaming the battlefield. Then she noticed it. Astaria Royal Academy. Asher Deylin, the prodigy. They were cutting a path straight toward the northern hill, straight to the six banners the silver-haired girl was defending.
The main screen flickered, the image now showing the two teams facing off at the base of the hill. The girl said something, but the audio was muted, although Rhea could imagine what she was saying.
Moments later, the two teams exploded into a fierce battle.
She looked at another screen. Victoria Vaelstrad was a flash, her elegant bladework slowly overwhelming Astaria's spear user.
Next to that screen was a magical battle. Two mages were locked in a long-range battle, both trying to disrupt the other's team. Bolts of lightning sizzled through the air, only to be met by barriers and rocks.
But it was the main screen that held everyone's attention.
It was like a hero battling a wild beast. Rhea watched, captivated, as the girl unleashed a barrage of powerful attacks with impossible movements, while Asher Deylin perfectly blocked, parried, and countered all of it.
Most would think it was a perfect stalemate, but Rhea knew—Asher Deylin was winning. All of the girl's attacks were being shrugged off, and it was only a matter of time before she wore herself out. Asher was waiting for that moment, that big opening to finish the fight in one move.
It didn't take long. After an incredible exchange of attacks so fast Rhea's eyes couldn't keep up, the girl stepped back and wound up her most powerful attack yet. She swung down, and Asher parried it flawlessly, burying the sword into the ground.
This is it, Rhea thought, she's done. Asher's counter was instant; his thrust was shooting straight for the girl's shoulder.
But that girl did something insane. She let go of her sword.
She used her freed-up movement to twist at an unnatural angle, slipping past the thrust, and brought her leg up in a devastating kick. Rhea watched, shocked, as the kick slammed into Asher Deylin's chest with enough force to send him flying back and crashing into the ground.
Rhea, along with the whole arena, just stared. The unbeatable Asher Deylin, the perfect cadet, taken down by the kick of a teenage girl.
* * *
He didn't answer my taunt. Damn, he really sticks to the script, huh?
Asher used his shield to push himself up. Completely ignoring me. He got up off one knee, then slowly, deliberately, back to his feet. Like he was putting on a performance.
The usual condescending look in his eyes was gone, replaced by a murderous fury.
Oh, good, finally pissed him off.
He didn't wait for me to grab my sword. He didn't say a word. He just charged.
The fight had completely changed. Instead of the constant defense, Asher finally went on the attack. His attacks were fast and lethal. Enough to make me think he was actually trying to kill me. The full force of his late-stage Gravity core, aided by his pure rage, was now aiming for my life.
And my sword... still ten feet away, buried in the dirt.
This was a big problem.
I ducked, dodged, and dived, dancing around the flurry of furious strikes.
"Hey!" I shouted as his blade hissed past my face. "Let me get my sword!"
I hopped back, and he brought his sword down in an overhead cleave where I'd just been.
He struck out again, this time I rolled, inching closer to my sword, as the attack shattered the ground next to me. I sprang back to my feet, my hand finally closing around the hilt of my sword.
I ripped it from the ground just in time to meet Asher's next thrust, the ringing of metal calming my heart.
We were locked in another desperate flurry, both of us panting, seeking that final attack. He lunged; I parried. I swung; he blocked. Just as I coiled for what felt like the final, match-winning move—
A horn echoed through the valley. The same one that sounded the start of the round.
The two-hour match was over.
We broke apart, glaring at each other, surrounded by shredded earth. The duel was unresolved.
"The round is over! Final banner count: Aegis Academy, six. Astaria Royal Academy, six. Tidesword Academy, two. This round is a draw!" The announcer's voice resounded through the valley.
Whoa, how are they doing that? We're nowhere near the arena.
I stood there, still staring at Asher's eyes, still feeling that piercing fury. It was a draw. A frustrating draw.
I heard footsteps approaching from behind. Victoria and Kael. The brawl was really over.
Kael slapped my shoulder. "Damn, Luna. That was... intense. I really thought he had you for a second there."
Victoria came to a stop beside me, her breathing a little ragged. She was looking at Asher, her expression a mix of respect and animosity. "A draw. But we held them off. We didn't lose a single banner."
I grabbed Victoria by the arm. "Come on. Let's head back. I'm exhausted."
She let me pull her along, Kael following behind, as we left Asher's team in the ruined clearing. After a few steps, I stopped.
"So... how do we get back?" I finally asked, looking around at the dark forest around us.
Victoria gave me a look—something between exasperation and pity. "No, Luna. There are designated extraction points with mages stationed at teleportation circles throughout the valley." She pointed toward a faint glow in the distance. "There's one."
She was dragging me by the arm now. The walk was quiet and we reached the point quickly. A mage stood beside a glowing circle of runes. He gave us a nod before we stepped onto the circle.
The nauseating feeling didn't get any better the second time.
We were back in the main hall beneath the arena. A few other teams were arriving as well, much less than the original eighteen.
We were halfway to our staging room when a figure approached from the corridor ahead. He wore the formal attire of a noble's aide. He stopped directly in front of me, making my stomach tighten.
"Cadet Luna. Duke Lucian wishes to speak with you. Immediately."