Sparring

The duel began with both casting different opening spells. Charles opted for Silencing Charm, aiming to cut off Higgs's ability to cast spells vocally. The spell's quick trajectory was perfect for a surprise attack and could disrupt Higgs's rhythm if successful.

Higgs, meanwhile, countered with Impediment Jinx, choosing a broader area-of-effect spell to force Charles into defensive movement.

The two darted into motion the moment their spells were cast, weaving and dodging with impressive agility. Their training under Alex had clearly paid off—they cast while on the move with growing fluidity, and neither spell hit its mark.

What followed was a rapid exchange of spells, each spell flying faster than the last. Shield Charms, Disarming Spells, and Stunners crackled through the air as they pushed each other to the limit.

Alex stood on the sidelines, arms crossed, observing critically. Though they were evenly matched in pace, Charles lagged behind in accuracy. "Higgs's spellwork is sharper," Alex noted to himself. "He's using sudden stops and feints to throw Charles off, avoiding spells instead of blocking them. That costs more stamina, but it's giving him the edge."

Charles, on the other hand, relied on agility to avoid attacks, but Higgs's precise aim often forced him to block or deflect at the last moment. This defensive pattern made it harder for Charles to mount a consistent offense, leaving him in a stalemate.

Nearby, Vivian, Bill, and David watched the action while munching on candy, their expressions a mix of awe and understanding. For the first time, they saw the value of Alex's rigorous training regimens—drills like side-to-side jumps and rapid spellcasting now made perfect sense.

"I get it now," Bill whispered, wide-eyed. "All those reflex drills? They're why these two can keep up like this."

In the arena, both duelists began showing signs of fatigue. Higgs's constant movement and abrupt halts drained his stamina, while Charles, two years younger, was struggling to keep up with the older wizard's larger mana reserves. Realizing he was at a disadvantage, Charles switched tactics. He stopped attacking and focused on defending, biding his time. Then, in a momentary lull, he aimed his wand at Higgs's feet and cast a Transfiguration spell.

Higgs, assuming Charles had simply run out of steam, paused to catch his breath. That brief moment of stillness gave Charles the opening he needed.The ground beneath Higgs shifted, and hands made of hardened clay emerged, locking tightly around his legs.

"Yes!" Charles grinned, quickly firing off a flurry of spells: Stupefy, Rictusempra, Expelliarmus. He intended to end the duel decisively while Higgs was immobilized.

Panic flashed across Higgs's face, but he forced himself to stay calm. Instead of hastily countering, he took a breath and aimed at the ground near Charles.

"Ventus!" A swirling gust of wind kicked up dirt and debris, blinding Charles temporarily. The distraction worked, forcing Charles to shift position to escape the dust storm, giving Higgs precious seconds.

With his legs still bound, Higgs pointed his wand downward and cast Reducio on the clay hands. The transfigured restraints shrank and crumbled, freeing him just in time to deflect Charles' oncoming spells with a hastily cast Shield Charm.

Higgs, finally free from the Transfiguration spell, was drenched in cold sweat. For a moment, he'd thought he was done for. But there was no time to relax. As he regained his footing, Charles, who had already moved beyond the range of the flying sand, organized his next offensive.

A spell shot toward Higgs, cutting through the air like a streak of light. On its surface, it seemed like a single spell—an easy enough target. But Higgs's sharp instincts kicked in.

"Hidden Curse. No way I'm falling for that," Higgs muttered, narrowing his eyes.

He recognized the trick immediately. With Charles' attack speed, there was no way he'd cast just one spell. A hidden curse technique had to be at play. It was one of the advanced strategies Alex had taught them during their training—layering spells to catch an opponent off guard.

Rather than waste time countering blindly, Higgs sprang into action, darting sideways to avoid the incoming spell. He knew he couldn't afford to stay stationary. His grasp of Transfiguration wasn't nearly as solid as Charles', and he wasn't going to let himself get caught again.

The string of curses continued to pursue him relentlessly, guided by Charles' line of sight. It was another advanced spellcasting technique Alex had taught them—tracking spells. But maintaining such control came at a cost, steadily draining Charles' mana reserves.

After weaving and dodging for what felt like an eternity, Higgs realized he wasn't going to outrun the spells. He needed a new strategy. "Avis!" With a quick flourish of his wand, Higgs summoned a flock of magical birds. Though not as proficient at controlling them as Alex, he managed to direct the sparrows toward the incoming curses. The birds swarmed the lead spell in an attempt to disrupt its trajectory.

The first spell, a small Thunderbolt Jinx, detonated with a sharp BOOM, scattering the flock and sending a shockwave through the clearing. The explosion created enough turbulence to knock the remaining birds off course, leaving only a few unscathed.

But the rest of the curses remained intact, hurtling toward Higgs with undiminished force.

The blast disoriented Higgs for a moment, and the flying debris stung his face. Blinking through the dust, he realized he was out of time.

"Fragmentum!" Higgs rolled sideways, barely keeping his balance, and fired a rapid double burst of Thousand Bullets. This spell allowed him to unleash magic like a shotgun blast, scattering multiple projectiles in a wide area. It wasn't the most precise counter, but at close range, it could still hit his target.

The first volley struck the lead curse mid-air, causing it to explode with a loud POP. A second curse was caught in the following barrage, bursting apart in a dazzling flash of light. Higgs exhaled sharply, but before relief could wash over him, he saw yet another spell emerge from behind the dissipating glow.

"Quadruple Curse?" he muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Charles, you're really going all out, aren't you?" Exhaustion weighed heavily on Higgs. His movements slowed, and his mana reserves were nearly spent. Still, he knew Charles had to be just as drained—tracking multiple curses was no small feat.

"This is it," Higgs thought. "If I can block this last one, I'll have a chance to turn the tables." With grim determination, he cast one final Protego. The shimmering shield flickered faintly, a clear sign of his dwindling strength.

The incoming curse—a Stunning Spell—slammed into the shield with a loud CLANG! The barrier held, though barely. Higgs allowed himself a flicker of hope. But then the final hidden curse revealed itself—a Banishing Charm that struck his weakened shield with brute force.

CRASH!

The shield shattered in an instant, the spell's impact throwing Higgs off his feet. He tumbled through the air before crashing unceremoniously onto the ground, dazed and winded. "Five consecutive curses?" Higgs groaned, his mind reeling as he lay on his back. "Really?"

On the sidelines, Vivian, Bill, and David gasped in shock. They watched as Higgs was flung across the field, clearly incapacitated. "We should help him," Bill said, stepping forward.

"Wait," Alex interjected, holding out an arm to stop them. "It's not over yet."