The dueling platform at the rear of the giant area of the was virtually unattended at first.
But in Valkarion Academy, rumors spread fast. Even before Lucifer and Rayne were ten paces away from each other, over fifty students had filled the marble stairs on both sides of the arena. Third-years, second-years, even a few instructors watched with arms crossed. No one was willing to miss an opportunity to witness the nephew… and the prince of Eryndor himself duel.
Rayne smirked as he stepped forward, unsheathing his blade with a flourish. Mana crackled faintly around him, visible to most as a pale aura. A few girls from the noble branches let out soft cheers.
"Don't hold back now, sick boy," Rayne sneered. "You're already a disgrace. Might as well entertain us."
Lucifer didn't respond.
His cloak flared in the breeze as he walked to the center. No sword, armor that could be seen. His hands hung loose at his sides.
Rayne's eyes narrowed.
"Heh. No sword? No staff? I suppose rumors were true. You're just a sickly rat playing games."
Amongst the onlookers, Seris watched in silence. Her eyes were impossible to read.
Lucifer…
She remembered. Years ago, The boy was coughing up blood in the gardens of the palace. Rayne had laughed then too.
"You should be grateful I'm even bothering to fight you," Rayne continued. "I'm Rank E, for goodness' sake. One of the top three of third year. Maybe when you get beaten, you'll at least slink back into whatever grave you crawled out of."
Lucifer didn't say anything.
Then silently the duel began.
BOOM!
Rayne leapt forward, sword glinting with wind mana. His stance was sharp, crisp; proof of high-level training. He struck directly for Lucifer's shoulder, with the aim of a quick, humiliating blow.
But Lucifer's body twisted sideways like smoke.
Too slow, he thought.
He raised his right hand up a bit; index and middle fingers extended against the air.
[Flame Spark]
A tiny flash of fire winked into being.
Rayne snorted. "A spark? Seriously—"
KRAK!
The flame missed him. It hit the ground next to his left foot and exploded outward, hurling a cloud of ash and smoke into the air.
Rayne stumbled, blinded for a second.
That was enough.
[Gust Burst]
There was a shockwave of pressurized air that struck his chest.
Rayne flew backward, hitting the ground with a crunching impact.
The students gasped.
"What was that?"
"Did he just cast two spells? No chant?"
"That wasn't sword magic… That was straight-up mana manipulation."
Lucifer strode forward, slowly, eyes icy.
His foe crawled to his feet, gasping. "You—! That's forbidden sorcery, isn't it?! You're not even supposed to be able to cast that fast!"
Lucifer tilted his head a degree.
"It's just mana," he said softly but firmly. "Didn't your tutors teach you how to breathe with it?"
Rayne's face twisted with rage. "You dare lecture me?! I'll cut you down!"
He roared and attacked, striking wildly. Wind blades exploded from his stroke, shattering the platform.
Lucifer dodged once more, quiet as a specter.
So clumsy and desperate.
He focused. The magical energy within the air was dense now, infused with emotion and the breath of spectators. Aetherra's ambient flow whispered through his senses.
[Frost Touch]
Lucifer's pale blue left hand pulsed as he closed his grip around Rayne's blade half-way through its swing.
Rayne's eyes widened in horror.
His sword froze in an instant. Frost crawled across the blade, into his gloves, freezing his fingers in place.
Lucifer's knee landed on Rayne's belly.
WHAM!
The prince fell to the ground, wind lost. His sword shattered into pieces.
There was silence.
Lucifer loomed over him, calmly and was still. The dark aura around him dissipated slowly, like the last note of a requiem.
The battle was over.
---
And from the crowd that had watched, no one applauded.
They didn't understand what they had just witnessed.
The instructors exchanged glances. One of them whispered, "That wasn't swordsmanship. That… was something else. A different path altogether."
Seris walked to the edge of the platform, arms folded.
She gave Rayne one glance, then turned to Lucifer.
"You've become stronger than ever you should have," she said softly.
Lucifer gave her a nod.
---
Later that night, rumors spread like wildfire.
The sick nephew had defeated a third-year prince.
Some blamed him for using forbidden magic.
Others that he had captured demons.
Some that he was blessed by a deity.
But none of them knew.
Only Lucifer knew the path he followed.
This world fears what they do not know. Let them. The less they know, the farther they'll leave me alone.
He walked back to his quarters, the night air cool on his skin.