In front of Brand, a skeleton gripping a staff swept an arc in the air—a blue flame was glowing faintly in its empty eye sockets.
The air trembled, raging violently, as mana filled the air with each wave the skeleton made. Each ripple of mana seemed to sap away a bit of the chamber's warmth, indicating the cost of each magical surge.
"It's casting a spell…" Ruby breathed into his ear, her hands already weaving mana, preparing to counter the skeleton's spell.
"Look closely, the duel between spell users," Seraphine whispered in his ears.
The ground trembled. Without warning, jagged spikes erupted beneath Ruby and him, attempting to impale both of them. It was an Earth elemental spell.
Brand, with his enhanced reflexes, lifted Ruby and leapt to safety. The spikes scraped the soles of Brand's boots as he lunged forward. If he were just a tad bit slower, he would get pierced!
