Chapter 55: Semi-Finals and War Talk

As the duelling competition slowly wound on, I was left with the impression that I was correct about how easy the competition would be if I took part. There were only three people who I thought had a modicum of skill; one was obviously Fleur, who won all her fights within a few spell chains. 

The other two were also women, one of African origin who used mostly wandless magic to defeat her opponents and the other was a small mousy girl who dodged all the spells cast at her while casting on the move.

"Who do you think will win, Erik?" Lord Delacour asked, while snacking on some fruit, he seemed to have full confidence in his daughter and was just trying to gauge our thoughts. "I believe that she will continue to have an easy time until the semi-finals where she will face one of the other two who will give some challenge," I say giving my honest opinion, "I think that she will be able to claim second place due to beating the mousy woman but I think the wandless magic user will throw her off too much."

He looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding at my prediction, "I agree with her beating the mousy woman however I don't see why she would struggle with the wandless magic." He replied.

"Well, your daughter so far has been analysing wand grip and movements to predict which spells they are using and which would most likely be cast next. This allows her to excel against wand users however gives her a distinct disadvantage against people who can use wandless magic as she cannot predict their spells." 

I say while Fleur frowned at her tactic being seen through so easily, "I can tell she has limited experience when facing wandless magic users since she has classified Lord Black as a bigger threat than me even when Lord Black would lose against me if we duelled."

Both Delacour's side-eye me while Lord Black nods behind me before providing agreement to my words, "He is indeed correct, Erik here is an adept user of both wand and wandless magic. I would have little chance should we actually duel."

"What would you recommend then?" Fleur asked while looking at me for advice as she increased my threat level in her head, "What tactic would be effective against the wandless magic user?"

"Well, she seems to have a proclivity for charms and has done only minor transfiguration which would suggest that either she has a small magical capacity or isn't proficient in the use of combat transfiguration," I said before pausing to allow what I had said to sink in, "I would suggest using transfiguration, if you are able, to restrict her body movements or even to bind her completely since she still needs to move her arms to cast spells wandlessly."

Both Delacour's thought my words over seemingly simulating the scenario in their heads before both shared a look and nodded at my advice. "Thank you for your guidance," Fleur said with a small bow. 

Fleur proceeded through her matches with ease until she was placed against the mousy woman in the semi-finals. "Both contestants ready?" The announcer asks receiving a nod from both women, "Then begin."

The mousy woman continued her strategy of dodging all spells cast towards her or at least she attempted to, she was managing to dodge the first 3 spell chains before a small nudge of wandless magic from Fleur pushed her arm back enough to be clipped by her body-bind spell. The match ended quickly after that since she was unable to dodge and conceded defeat.

After the match, the woman shook Fleur's hand praising her use of wandless magic to unbalance her. "I am not very adept at using it and that was as much as I could do," Fleur replied.

"It doesn't matter, you used all your abilities to defeat me while also showing me where my tactic failed. Thank you for the chance to improve." The woman said while doing a small bow before walking off.

"Are you all ready for the final duel of this event? Miss Fleur Delacour who has shown impressive use of spell chains to limit and defeat her opponents and Miss Kone who has used her mastery over wandless magic to surprise and catch her opponents off guard." The announcer said riling the crowd up with anticipation of the final duel. 

"You have already seen both duellists so who do you think will win?" He asked to the crowd getting loud shouts of the contestants' names in response. "We shall take a small intermission to allow both to rest to make the last duel one to remember. In half an hour we shall continue this event and see the winner of this year's competition."

The crowd dispersed into the cafes and inns around the square getting some food and drinks that they had forgotten about due to how invested in the duels they had become. Our group of four headed into a café where we ordered tea and some pastries, "So Lord Bodewig what is it that you require my help with?" 

Roger Delacour's question was asked after he cast a small ward so people couldn't listen in on our conversation, I took a moment to sip my tea and savour the taste before replying, "Are you familiar with what happened in Britain a decade or so ago?"

"You almost had a dark lord rise to power, trying to take over the isle right?" Lord Delacour said before thinking of the impact Voldemort had on the rest of Europe with the movement of dark creatures and wizards. 

"That is correct but due to recent information and events we are left to believe that he never died but instead lost his body," I say pausing to sip my tea and eat a small pastry, "He will return eventually and I believe he will try to do what he did in the last war, recruiting dark creatures and wizards from the rest of Europe to fight for him."

Lord Delacour seemed to agree as when I finished he placed his teacup down and spoke, "So you want me to prepare resources and assets to hinder his attempts should he rise again? That will cost a significant amount of gold, an amount my family cannot spend."

"Gold is of little worry, Lord Delacour," I said before placing a Gringotts contract in front of him which allowed him access to the Bodewig family's secondary vault, "Don't worry about funds since the Bodewig family has many assets that make us more gold than you can possibly use."