A friendly competition, part 3

Irmilla's idea made other patrons interested in what was going on. While Cael and Ginevra pondered the spell, more and more people arrived at the training hall, including the Duke Belpaese himself.

Irmilla immediately fluttered to greet him. Whatever she said to him, Belpaese looked thrilled by the prospect.

"What a fine idea, signore von Rotermond!" he declared loudly. "I fully endorse this competition. Why, I even will offer a reward to its winner!"

He snapped his fingers and whispered something to the spectral servant that appeared. In a few minutes of time, the servant entered the hall again, holding a silver tray. On the tray sat a velvet pillow, and on the pillow laid a bracelet shaped like a thick, smooth metal band.

"This is one of the many treasures from my vault—a Spell Eater Bracelet! It can consume spells up to the third rank if they touch it, store them, and then release on command."