Silent Stakes: A Dance of Spells and Deals

Right now I'm sitting on some type of elevated seating not too different from bleachers. As I sit here I'm taking my time doing nothing but sitting down. It doesn't matter if the class is supposed to be about sparring.

Ren is much better at filling the role of doing such useless tasks than if I do it. It's rare if me and Ren share any classes at all but it seems they either don't care or forgot about this one.

From here I get to watch people fight. Much more entertaining. Now normally I would be up to fighting with whatever as it helps my goal but only taking a glance around reveals I wouldn't learn anything from fighting people here.

So instead I'll just watch. If a miracle happens maybe I'll see somebody do anything extraordinary.

It's a good thing that I still know how to not waste my time. Even now when I'm seemingly just watching people fight I'm still trying to learn.

Right now in one of my hands, I have an element casted. It doesn't go anywhere, it just stays hidden floating right above my hand. Its shape shifts and contorts. Its structure moves violently until it breaks just above my hand.

Something I've been working on is trying to cast something greater than a basic element ball and a good step is to try to change the ball's shape itself. I've already had success at manipulating elements, such as earth when it's in its natural environment.

Whenever I try to cast it myself it's much more difficult to change it to anything other than a round ball. A low-level spell that I am even embarrassed to use.

But that's why I spend this idle time practicing this. I presume soon I'll be able to manipulate elements in any way I want. Akari has seemed to perfect this simple casting method, not bothering to try any other. So I have to pick up the slack.

It's then, watching the sparring matches one pair up catches my eye. Well not only me but most people. It seems Ren will be fighting somebody.

I'm not too sure who the other person is. Using appraisal on them suggests stats in the low hundreds. Definitely a prodigy and comparatively they might be the strongest person in this academy.

Sadly for their ego, both Ren and I are here. Even without Ren, my own stats would surpass his. But if we were to include Ren then she dwarfs me. I only appraised her a few days ago but her stats were terrifying to look at.

Authority huh? What a powerful skill she holds. This other student doesn't know what he's going up against.

Or so I thought. At first, I didn't pay much mind but as it went on I became more and more intrigued. Was this random faking his stats page? It was the only responsible question to answer why he was standing his ground to Ren.

Looking around I want the only one interested in the fight. In fact, other students who had been fighting stopped purely to watch these two monsters go at it.

In the middle of the fight, a spell gets cast, missing the target and flying off. The projectile flies right for me but gets stopped way before it gets close enough to be dangerous from some type of barrier.

It's not like you could just ignore the fight anyway…

During this whole ruckus, I forget to notice my surroundings and before it's too late I have a pink-haired girl sitting next to me. I make sure to put my idle training on hold for the moment.

"You know I would like it if you at least acknowledge my existence," she says with an attitude.

"What do you think you are doing?" I ask not bothering to look at her.

"I've come with a proposition," said, her eyes unwavering.

"Yes, because I have so much to offer," I say sarcastically.

"You know you should be grateful I'm even offering you a deal in the first place. That being said, I believe your silent spell-casting is something very valuable you obtain."

It looks like she really found the one thing I can actually offer her. I assume she is bringing this up because of our last altercation. What a surprise that instead of running away she is coming right at me.

It's a bold move I'll give her that but it's one that I didn't see coming. Akari's wanting to simply not chant while casting leads him to a form of magic not seen for millennia. In a phrase, he somehow performed a magic trick in a world of dragons and mages.

That means silent spellcasting is something that isn't just given out.

That doesn't mean that it is impossible to come up with a deal with her, it just means from her perspective it will be very one-sided.

It also seems she has a scroll with her. One that resembles that of a contract. That combined with the fact that she must have many connections I'm going to assume it's a magic contract. So it's fair to say she is taking this seriously.

So I shall as well.

"Sure I'll teach you it," I say, still watching the fight.

Jade's posture becomes more open "You will!?"

"If you are willing to give your all to me," I say, turning to her smugly.

I then hear some imminent rejection from her and some other complaining but I've already looked away from her and back at the fight that is coming to an end. The result seems to be Ren's victory.

Even though it was her victory I can tell it wasn't easy. Both her and this random have some actual marks on them. It's fair to say both of them tried their hardest.

If I really cared I would look into who this student was but I can just use my intuition to assume he's some super-talented refugee from afar, he might become a great mage at some point, and good for him, it's too bad I don't care.

After the fight, a spell activates under them healing both of them instantly. I watch the boy act respectfully and reach his hand out for a shake but Ren rudely doesn't even see it and gets swarmed with her friends. The one of note that didn't swarm her is the one right next to me.

Speaking of she's still been talking this entire time let's focus back in on what she's saying.

"Fine I'll do it, but only under certain conditions," she stated, slightly miffed.

Well, I am pleasantly surprised…

"And let's say I agree to this. What may these conditions be?" I ask.

She holds out three fingers and says "Firstly I'll follow your lead for the school year. That's the maximum time you get to teach me silent spell-casting." She holds up two fingers. "Secondly, our agreement remains a secret. No one, especially not Ren or her groupies, can know about this." She holds up one and her final finger "And lastly if at any point I believe you are taking advantage by not helping me with casting, I'll break it off."

Wow, it definitely looked like she thought out this agreement. Her conditions are definitely more restricting but don't really do anything but make sure she lanterns what she wants to learn. The thing it doesn't restrict is my obviously vague side of the argument.

"Yeah, sure sounds fair to me," I say, getting up for my turn at sparring.

It seems the instructor found both me and Jade chatting and in the middle of our conversation picked us out to fight. Jade walks down to one of the many magic circles on the ground in the room set up for sparing.

"Wait so that's it? You'll just do it just like that? Are you sure? Like is it final?" She asks as we pick out weapons.

Jade doesn't take much time to pick out her weapon of choice while I spend some time looking at them all. While I do an interesting idea comes to mind.

"Well, technically it will need both of our consent verbal or otherwise so how about this? This match will be the seal on the deal but if you want to make it more interesting we can make it so if I win I get to get rid of one of your conditions while if you win you can learn my silent spellcasting free of charge."

I do manage to find a weapon that seems interesting. It's some short sword of some kind, not too sure but it doesn't matter.

Jade takes some time to answer me, probably evaluating her options. It's a very scary addition. She probably knows she can't win this fight and if she does lose she isn't certain which conduction I will remove.

Then again she has no idea how powerful or weak I am. It might be worth it to play defensively and figure out what my strengths are. That and the fact if I lose I'll teach her for free. Well, let's just say it's hard to say no.

Jade holds her hand out "Fine sounds fair"

I shake her hand "Agreed"

At that moment the paper she was holding disappeared with a glow.

Both of us stand on opposite sides of the circle and get ready. Jade gripes her spear with one hand and her shield in the other. She gets into a position and holds her ground tensely.

I just stand there. I'm not exactly sure if there is any right way to hold a sword or a stance for that matter. Even if there was, it wouldn't be very Akari-like now, would it? It does feel nice to cheat every now and then by claiming how Akari would do it, so my sword just stays wherever.

I then hear a countdown from someone. I'm not totally sure who.

"Five! Four! Three! Two!"

Jade's body gets ready, shifting her body slightly.

"One!"