Chapter 7 - An Unfair Duel

“Okay, begin.”

I barely have time to blink before Theodore unleashes three spells at once. A jagged rock bullet, a blazing fireball and a spear of water rip through the air, all targeting me.

Three elements? Are you freaking kidding me? What is this? Is he some kind of protag wannabe?

“Such a prodigy,” Professor Cordelia purrs, admiration dripping from her tongue like honey.

I grit my teeth and focus as I fling my mana forward, forcing it into a shape in front of me. A translucent shield forms, and I stand my ground. The rock bullet hits the shield, exploding into tiny fragments of stone as it rattles the shield. I force myself to stay standing from the impact, but it still knocks me back a couple of steps.

The fireball hits next, flames licking at the translucent shield. The shield flickers and wobbles, but still holds, but it doesn’t stop the heat from the flames.

Sweat drips down my cheek, the stench of burning hair dances around my nose, and my breath comes out ragged, but the next attack doesn’t give me any time to recover.

The water spear slams into the shield, spraying droplets all over the room as cracks of white light spiderweb across its surface.

The shield shudders, flickers and groans. My legs lock, nails digging into my palms as I force the mana to hold. Sweat runs down my spine as my hands tremble. I’m not going to let it break, not yet. But what can I do?

“Only defending?” Theodore laughs, swirling his staff smugly in his hand. “You’ll never last like that.”

“Watch me,” I spit back, putting as much venom into my voice.

Okay, if I can create a shield with my mana, what’s to stop me from creating a weapon? I take a deep breath and force mana into my free hand, demanding it to take shape. It writhes about like something alive, as if fighting me at every step, but I finally force it into a shape I can use. The light takes the shape of a long pole with a pointed tip, a spear. Well, actually, it looks more like a twisted and jagged branch that’s been sharpened at the end, but it still resembles something like a weapon.

Another fireball slams into my shield. The strain of the impact almost makes my legs buckle. My arms scream as my legs quiver.

Okay, you want me to stop defending, that’s exactly what I’ll do. I take a deep breath as I let the shield break and dissolve into motes of light and hold the spear out in front of me.

Another water spear streaks towards my head. I hold my spear firmly in my hand and slash at the water spear. I expect my mana spear to knock the water spear away, but it slices straight through it. The water collapses the instant my spear breaks it apart, bursting into a rainfall that spatters across the floor.

A smile tugs at my lips. Who needs proper magic when I can just brute force my way through?

I lunge forward, fingers tightening around the spear.

Theodore panics and launches another barrage of spells. Three rock bullets soar through the air, followed by two fireballs and two water spears. Seriously, does this boy have an endless supply of mana?

I swing the spear hard, knocking aside one rock bullet, then another, and another, all of which shatter upon contact. The impact sends shudders through my arms, but I refuse to drop my spear.

For the first time, his smug smile slips. His eyes widen, and fear flashes through them as his gaze remains fixed on my spear.

Got you.

I’m almost on him—

Then the world tilts. Something slams into my back, a gust of wind sharp enough to feel like a fist. It drives the breath from my lungs and hurls me forward. My focus shatters. The spear disintegrates into tiny shards of light that dissolve between my fingers.

I stagger, but still remain on my feet. I raise my head just in time to see a fireball soaring towards me.

I twist, but I’m too slow.

The fireball smashes into my shoulder with a crack that sends agony ripping through me. Fire blooms across my skin, searing fabric and flesh alike. I slam into the floor hard enough to make my teeth rattle and air rushing from my lungs. The scent of scorched hair clings to me.

For a heartbeat, all I hear is my own ragged breathing and the smug and triumphant laughter of Theodore.

“Theodore Gaistel wins,” Professor Cordelia declares, a sense of smug satisfaction filling her voice.

“What?” I gasp, pushing myself to my knees, clutching the blistering pain on my shoulder. “The hell? Something hit me from behind!”

Cordelia’s lips curve upwards, revealing a smile that contains not one bit of warmth. “Don’t be ridiculous. If anyone had interfered, I would have noticed.”

“Yeah,” Theodore jeers, slinging his staff across his shoulders; his face breaks into a smug grin that makes me want to punch him. “Don’t be a sore loser.”

Fury burns within me, hotter than the damn fireball, but I can’t fight them here. The words from the headmaster echo around my room. Any bet they are all waiting for me to dig my own grave. I won’t give them that kind of satisfaction.

I take a deep breath and force a smile onto my lips. I add as much sugary sweetness into my voice as I say, “Thank you for the lesson, Theodore. I certainly learned a lot.”

His smirk falters, confusion flickering across his face, but I don’t give him more. I sweep into an exaggerated curtsey, my skirt flaring out dramatically on both sides, before turning my back on him.

Each step back up the stairs is agony, but I don’t stagger. I have to back down about the fight, but I refuse to let them see any weakness.

As I sink into my seat, the weight of the class’s glares presses in from all sides—disdain, fear, disgust. But one gaze feels different. This one is not hostile, but curious.

My gaze sweeps the benches until I catch a sight of a boy who’s looking at me with a slight, amused smile playing on his lips. He leans back lazily, his black hair falling into his silver eyes. He doesn’t bother to look away when I meet his stare. He only continues to study me, like I’m a puzzle he knows he’ll enjoy solving.

My pulse races. Who the hell is he? I rake through the list of names Emily drilled into me, but nothing matches.

No one matches his description. And I thought Emily gave me the names of everyone I would be interacting with. That unsettles me more than the duel.

I tear my gaze away and slump back into my chair, gritting against the pain flaring in my shoulder. Whoever he is, he’s not my problem right now. I’ve got bigger ones. Like not dying before lunch.

If I want to last here, I need more strength. And I need to find out how the hell I get magic. My lips curl into a smirk. Fine. Time to grind.