The sun burned high above the arena, but it felt cold with how tense the crowd had gotten. After seeing Brutus and Vex crush their match, everyone was on edge.
The announcer's voice echoed across the field again.
"Three versus three match!
From Cyran Academy: Liora Godfrey, Selene Lykaios, Aeron Valestar!
From Elaris Academy: Lina Myrr, Tariq Fen, Ashen Ryel!"
The crowd cheered. People waved flags, but the energy felt off. Most were too busy whispering.
"That's Aeron Valestar, right?"
"that Liora right?"
"And that girl isn't she princess Selene?"
Liora moved first.
She raised her hand, and a dark shadow circle opened under her feet. From it, spears of black chains shot straight across the field. Ashen threw up a wall of flame, but it cracked instantly. He barely rolled away as the shadows sizzled the air behind him.
Selene stepped forward next. Calm and graceful. She waved her hands in slow circles, and a blue mist wrapped around her. Then—snap!—she flicked her fingers, and water rushed out like a tidal wave, heading for Lina and Tariq.
Lina tried to dodge with illusions again, but the water soaked everything. Her clones vanished, and the real Lina stumbled, coughing as water slammed into her chest.
Aeron raised his sword with one hand. Magic burning across his blade—light and fire at once. He didn't say a word. He just slashed the air in front of him.
A massive wave of burning light flew forward like a wall. It hit all three of Nysira Academy students at once—Ashen, Lina, and Tariq. The blast was so bright the crowd had to look away.
When the dust cleared… all three were down.
Ashen groaned, curled up in a smoking hole. Lina lay flat, soaked and coughing. Tariq was knocked halfway across the ring.
The horn blew.
"WINNERS: LIORA GODFREY, SELENE LYKAIOS, AERON VALESTAR—CYRAN ACADEMY!"
It had barely taken a minute.
The crowd exploded with cheers, but also nervous murmurs. Even some teachers looked surprised. Aeron didn't celebrate—he just walked away, sword on his back. Selene helped Lina to her feet. Liora stood still, her shadow slowly fading.
I clapped once. "Well. That's that."
The scoreboard flashed:
[Updated Tournament Points]
Cyran Academy – 33 points
Gravesend Institute – 30 points
Nysira Academy – 15 points
Elaris Academy – 18 points
The announcer's voice rang out again, even louder this time.
"Next match!
From Gravesend Institute: Zarah Frostvein, Halek Groar, Draska Twin-Blood!
From Elaris Academy: Korin Aetherhold, Zeon Lumaire, Velra Noxveil!"
The crowd leaned forward.
This match was going to be wild.
The six students stepped into the arena.
Zarah Frostvein looked calm as ever, frost clinging to her fingers. Her silver hair whipped in the wind.
Halek Groar grunted and cracked his knuckles. A massive brute with arms like tree trunks and earth magic strong enough to shake a castle.
Draska Twin-Blood smiled—a wild smile. Her eyes burned red and gold, her twin axes spinning in her hands. She looked ready to fight a dragon for fun.
Across from them stood Korin Aetherhold, glowing blue and gold, floating just above the ground.His staff shimmered with crystals.
Zeon Lumaire adjusted his sleeves, light dancing around his fingertips. His magic style was smooth and fast—pure light and speed.
And Velra Noxveil—dark hair floating around her as she rose into the air. Her illusion magic was tricky, dangerous, and unpredictable.
The horn blew.
Velra struck first. Mist filled the air—thick and strange. The entire arena vanished in a cloud. From inside, illusions danced: false fire, floating swords, copies of herself and her teammates.
But Zarah just narrowed her eyes. She raised her hand and whispered something.
Frost exploded from her palm. A cold mist spread through Velra's illusions and froze them in place. The fake spells shattered like glass.
Halek slammed his fist on the ground.
Crack!
The earth split. Jagged spikes of stone shot out, tearing through the fog. Zeon tried to dodge, flashing left and right in bursts of light, but one spike caught him in the leg and knocked him down.
Korin floated higher and fired a golden blast at Zarah. She dodged, but the heat from the magic melted some of the frost around her.
Then came Draska.
Laughing, she charged at Zeon, axes spinning. He threw beams of light to slow her down, but she deflected them like flies. She leapt, spun mid-air, and slammed both axes down. Zeon rolled, barely avoiding the hit, but the ground where he'd stood cracked deep.
Korin sent a wave of magic across the arena—bright, fast, and full of force. It hit Halek in the chest, sending him sliding back. But Halek just grunted, planted his feet, and roared. Rock rose around him like armor.
"Try again!" he said.
Meanwhile, Velra launched shards of illusion magic at Zarah again. But this time, Zarah raised both hands and called down a snowstorm. Ice formed in the air and crashed into Velra's spells, shattering them.
Korin flew forward, staff spinning. He clashed with Halek, firing blasts while dodging giant stone punches. The two fought hard—one in the air, one on the ground.
Zarah moved like a ghost. She found Velra, now exhausted, and hit her with a cold burst. Velra froze in place, her limbs stiff and shaking.
"Sleep," Zarah whispered, knocking her out with a soft blast of snow.
Draska fought two at once now. Zeon and Korin both turned on her—but she loved it.
"Good! Yes! Come on!" she yelled.
Korin blasted her with light. Zeon sent a whip of golden magic. Draska flipped over the attacks, landed on Korin, and slammed him to the ground.
Zeon ran at her, glowing sword in hand.
Draska caught it with one axe and kicked him in the chest. He flew back, coughing.
Then Halek stomped the ground. A wall of rock trapped Zeon in a corner.
Korin tried to rise, but Draska was already behind him. She slammed the back of her axe into his back. He dropped, knocked out cold.
"DOWN TO ONE!" the announcer shouted.
Zeon gritted his teeth and charged at all three.
Zarah raised a wall of ice. Halek raised a wall of stone. Zeon leapt over both, glowing with speed.
Draska met him in mid-air.
She caught his sword in one hand and slammed him into the ground with the other.
The horn blew.
"WINNERS: ZARAH FROSTVEIN, HALEK GROAR, DRASKA TWIN-BLOOD! GRAVESEND INSTITUTE WINS THE MATCH!"
The crowd went wild.
Flags waved. Horns blew. Even students from other schools cheered. Gravesend had taken back the lead.
Zarah helped Velra up. "You fight well," she said, voice calm.
Velra nodded. "You too. I hate frost now."
Draska danced across the arena, still laughing. "That was fun!"
Halek didn't say anything. He just stood tall, arms crossed, like a mountain with legs.
Korin groaned from the dirt. Zeon helped him up, looking dizzy.
The scoreboard flashed again:
[Updated Tournament Points]
Cyran Academy – 33 points
Gravesend Institute – 40 points
Nysira Academy – 15 points
Elaris Academy – 18 points
Noah leaned back and exhaled.
"Gravesend's scary," he muttered.
Liora nodded beside him. "Yeah. But we're scarier."