Midyear Duels

One day after Will retained his first-place rank, the mage duels has begun. Unlike last year, the king, cardinals, and aristocratic did not attend this year's light mage duel.

Bishops, adepts, and priests crowded the stand to watch the competition. Rebecca and the other fourth-year students, compete who could heal the most injured.

"You did a good thing, Will, letting that Baron and his son off the hook, the goddess is merciful indeed," Bishop Lang said sitting next to Will.

"Thank you, your lordship," Will said.

"Now, now, none of that your one of us now. He-he, also, that donation idea wasn't a bad idea either. A few of us on the Council got a laugh out of that punishment. Bishop Lang said patting Will on the back.

They watched as Rebecca pulled ahead and her magic seemed bottomless.

"The Church of Aether was right to choose your sister. Her casting is a sight to behold. In truth, we thought about recruiting her, but the Church of Aether asked us to hold off. You have a very talented family," Bishop Lang congratulated.

After Rebecca won, an hour later the second-year light mages marched into the arena.

"Will, I wanted you to hear this from me. The Church wants to offer Elizabeth vont Whitby a Discipleship position. That is why I am here today. But, in a rare Council vote, the Council wants to let you to decide on whether to offer a position or not," Bishop Lang said melodramatically.

"Offer her the position," Will said unflinchingly.

"Are you sure? If she accepts, you won't be able to marry," Bishop Lang said sadly.

"I'm positive, discipleship is a once in a lifetime opportunity! How could I refuse her of a choice," Will said.

"You are a good man, to put the church's need before your own. The Council wasn't sure what you do, but to confidently say offer her the position, was unexpected," Bishop Lang said in admiration.

After Elizabeth, won the second-year mage duel, Bishop Lang stood and magically amplified his voice. The bishops, adepts, and priests on seeing Bishop Lang stand quieted down.

"Lady Elizabeth vont Whitby, your success today is commendable. The Church of Gaia, is impressed with your talent. Cardinal Silva vont Gaius, the Council of Bishops, and our champion Baronet William vont Ballard extend you the opportunity to become a Disciple of Gaia!" Bishop Lang said to loud clapping and gasps of surprise. The other men and women, Will on the Council of Bishops rose in favor of accepting her.

"I wish to thank you, Bishop Lang, for the Cardinal vont Gaius, the Council of Bishops, and your champion on extending me this offer, but I must decline," Elizabeth said.

"Are you sure, being a Disciple is a once in a lifetime opportunity? Disciples are short-listed for the next cardinal position and become Bishops quickly, the Church of Gaia will not offer to this chance a second time," Bishop Lang said sternly.

"Yes, your lordship," Elizabeth said curtsying.

Bishop Lang set down dejectedly, "After your sister, she was our next choice for a disciple. What about the second place man? Will asked.

"The Church of Aether has already accepted him into the priesthood," a dissatisfied Bishop Lang said.

"What about these first years?" Will asked.

"After they perform, we'll check their family background, and meet this spring on who to invite," Bishop Lang said.

A day after the light mage duels ended, came the rank completion. Will had to duel to keep his second-place rank.

In academy battles or duels, only first rank was allowed to skip the first round of duels.

Will's first opponent was an air mage, which meant there was no advantage. It also meant he could use spells like [sandstorm], and air mage could easily redirect the the attack.

Will stood his ground and easily blocked the air witch's first strike [wind blade] with [earth wall]. Will's biggest problem was the air mage floated off the ground making most of his attacks useless.

Will cast [meteor], [earth spike], [rock golem], and [iron lance], he wanted to pincer the witch between the falling meteor and stalagmite. Then Rock would use iron lance as a ranged attack to force her to land. Will channeled almost half his mana into the meteor. The growing sphere of molten rock slowly grew above the woman's head and sharp spikes under her feet.

The air mage had great difficulty deflecting Will's lance while struggling to deal with the AOE of the meteor. Will was able to skin her arm and legs, small scratches appeared on her body.

But, she had great dexterity twisting past several of his strikes. This was a long-drawn-out duel of the cat trying to catch the mouse. Both Will and the air mage were tired, but in the end, he won. One lance shattered legs, the pain made her concussions and she fell unconscious to the ground. The instructor refereeing the duel suspended the unconscious witch in midair and drifted her to the healer.

Will second, third, and fourth matches were against pyromancers. Elder Thaddeus was the most famous fire mage in the kingdom. After sparing with his master, those fire mages were pathetic. It was almost too formulaic: cast, step right, slash, cast, dodge, attack, parry, cast, feint, cast, attack, win.

In the semifinals, Will fought against a woman commoner named Jean. After, Magister Wright's instructions, Jean rushed towards him. Will was surprised because most mages chose to in place and cast spells.

Seeing Jean rush towards him, Will cast [quicksand], [entagle], [poison cloud]. A water cannon shot out from her hand reducing his spells drowning them away. As she closed the gap between them, she began enhancing her body like a knight, Will did not expect her to shift in tactics.

Jean smiled as he came in sticking distance. Taking out a whip made of ice, she whipped it at him. Coming out of his confusion, Will dodged the cracking whip, and unsheathed his sword.

Will met her in the middle of the arena, in closer quarter combat Will had the advantage. In quick succession, spells and sword thrusts were thrown at each other. The woman was vicious, her eyes showed a desperate woman willing to Will at all cost.

The sound of ice and meta parrying rang out with a crash. Compared to Alice vont Ellis, whom he lost to last year, Jean's water magic wasn't as polished or strong.

After 10 minutes, Jean's whip split into multiple pieces. Without her whip, Will cast [earthen dome] to imprison her. Seconds, later the dome was nothing mud and rubble.

Seeing her break free but defenseless, Will launched a flurry of sword strikes. Jean cast [ice shield] and blocked each blow.

Seeing his effort go to vain, Will enhanced his body and increase the ferocity of his attack. Will pressed his advantage, Jean became less and less able to counter.

Losing the advantage, Jean began to yell, "I will win! I must win!."

Jean snarled and spun on Will, she cast [tempest] and [flood] in close range. Those were the same spells that defeated Will lost last year. An intense storm filled the arena and the arena ground began to flood.

Will rapid cast, [earthquake] and [standstorm]. The duel would come down to who had more mana left. Sand met water when the two storms classed the wind howled. The sand and raindrops resembled an army of elemental soldiers in a great aerial war.

As Jean looked up pouring increasingly more mana into her [tempest], Will took advantage of the storm to stealthy walk behind Jean and stab her in the chest.

"No, I can't lose," she doubled over in pain crying.

"Baronet vont Ballard is the winner," Magister Wright yelled.

Will relaxed, drank a mana recovery potion, as Alice fought Ryan to advance to the finals. As Will watched, he realized Alice's [snowstorm] was even strong than last year. Moreover, Alice's face has become more white and pale.

Ice, water, and fire classed in their battle. She'd bathe Ryan in water, and he'd burn her with fire. Ultimately, like Will's battle, the duel came down to the power of [snowstorm] versus [firestorm]. In the end, Alice vont Ellis won. Ryan and Jean would duel it out for the third place.

After their bows, Will and Alice looked at each other. Alice took an aggressive stance as she stared at Will. Will immediately fell into a defensive posture, the same he used when facing Elder Thaddeus.

Both of them tensed as Magister Wright raised his hand.

"Fight!" Magister Wright yelled.

Will immediately cast [earthquake], [earth spike], and [dome]. Will's casting was slightly ahead of Alice as she cast [flood], [tempest], and [snowstorm]. Floodwaters feel into deep ravines, keeping the arena floor dry. The earth spikes forced Alice to move from her standing location. Inside the dome, Will was immune to the cold watery winds and snow.

Alice stirred the winds to beat the dome, but Will's mana filled the dome, keeping him safe. Will cast [rock golem] and [iron lance]. Rocky roared into existence and charged at Alice brandishing his iron lance. Since, Will blacksmith training, the iron improved greatly.

As Rocky ran over, the ground vibrating with each step. Alice looked over at Rocky, while constantly dodging Will's earth spikes. Then to Will's amazement, Alice cast [ice golem]. A four-meter tall ice golem with an ice sword. Will watched in awe, as two golems fought.

Rocky was the better fighting, but the ice golem was also talented as well. Just one mistake was all it took for Rocky to skewer the ice golem. The ice golem collapsed to the ground, missing ahead.

'Now's my chance,' Will thought.

Will left the earthen dome and brandished his sword planed to attack Alice from the right. Rocky ran to Alice and planned to attack her left flank. As Will ran he cast [entangle], trying to snare Alice in place.

Alice looked down to surprised to see a thorn vine wrap around her ankles. The thorns ripped through her skin causing her to blend. Now Alice looked surprised. Yet, she cast [ice spear] and cut the vines around her ankle.

In an instant, she was in the air floating on a snowflake, Will cast multiple [meteor] bottoming out his mana whirlpool hoping to bring her down. Will only had enough mana for one more spell. The smoldering balls of metal began to melt her snowflake. Yet she cast [glacier] to slow and cool the meteors.

As Alice was focused on the meteors, her snowflake floated closer to the ground. Will and Rocky attacked.

'I got you this time,' Will thought relishing the challenge.

As Will and Rocky drew closer with weapons extended, the match looked over. Until Alice summoned a Frost Wolf. A two-meter tall Frost Wolf howled upon being summoned. The Frost Wolf's claws ripped Rocky to shreds.

After Rocky crumbled into boulders, the Frost Wolf looked at Will with bloody eyes. After checking with Alice, the Frost Wolf jumped in the air to pounce on Will. Will dodge, three claws clamped onto his skin, three nails digging deep into his flesh.

A burning sensation radiated from Will's chest, as he saw the blood dripping down his tattered uniform. Three large bloody claw marks streaked across his uniform.

After training with Elder Thaddeus, pain shouldn't be more than a minor nuisance to him, but right now it hurt far worse than that.

Will stumbled back, bruised and injured, and exhaled heavily trying to catch his breath. This duel was nothing like he planned. Will couldn't figure out how Alice already had a familiar.

Alice and the wolf stayed still, waiting for Will to make the next move. Will knew he had to draw out the wolf. Gathering his breath, and sealing his Will ran to Alice, gathering his mana for a final strike.

The crowd witnessing this duel were marveled at both fighters. Everyone knew Alice was the stronger fighter, but they admired Will's tenacity.

Seeing Will charge the wolf tried to pounce on Will again. This time Will was able to timely roll under the wolf's attack. Will cast [earthen dome], imprisoning the familiar. Then he ran towards Alice. Will's sword swooped down in perfect balance, but Alice was able to block his strike and her spear slammed into the side of Will's neck.

"Stop!" Magister Wright shouted.

Will dropped his sword and fell limply to the ground.

"Healers," Magister Wright commanded.