Chapter 51: The Fragility of Ice

Chapter 51: The Fragility of Ice

Hannelore stood across from Alistair, her stance sharp, her posture flawless. The air between them buzzed with residual heat, the last traces of the arena's repair work fading into the background. Jessica's words still lingered, threading themselves into the atmosphere with quiet finality.

"I think we're in for a surprise."

Tobias leaned forward, arms crossed despite the pain in his body. Magnus remained unreadable, while Zyrenia shifted in Jessica's lap, curling closer as if sensing something was off. Jessica, however, didn't look away—not from Hannelore, not from the way her mana flickered just slightly off-beat.

Alistair flexed his fingers, the faint glow of his mana stirring to life. Golden light rippled around him, coalescing into delicate arcs that shimmered like the rising sun. Fire flickered at his fingertips, dancing in tandem with the shifting luminance. His expression remained composed, yet there was something razor-sharp in his eyes—calculating, as if already measuring her limits before they'd even begun.

The signal to begin snapped through the air.

Hannelore moved first. Precision defined every step—measured, fluid, unhesitating. A sheen of frost trailed in her wake, the chill unmistakable.

But something was wrong.

Jessica saw it immediately, even before Hannelore did.

The frost didn't settle the way it should have. Instead of firm, crystalline ice forming beneath her boots, there was a dampness—a weight to it, as if the temperature wasn't quite enough.

The first attack came like a flash of judgment.

Alistair's hands moved in an elegant twist, and in the blink of an eye, spheres of golden light exploded into existence around Hannelore, each one hovering at an unnatural stillness. They pulsed, thrumming with barely contained energy, their fire-tinged edges glowing with a warning.

Jessica's eyes narrowed.

A trap.

Hannelore knew it too, but she wasn't given time to respond. Alistair flicked his wrist, and the spheres detonated in rapid succession, streaking toward her from all angles—

—Celestial Barrage.

Hannelore's reflexes kicked in. She lifted her hands, willing her ice to rise—

It didn't.

Instead of an impenetrable wall, what formed was a barrier of slush, thick and heavy, collapsing inward from the sheer force of its own weight.

She barely had time to adjust before the first blast tore through, impacting just above her shoulder. Heat scalded across her skin despite the protective layer of wet frost she managed to conjure around herself. The second hit came a heartbeat later, knocking her from her footing and sending her skidding backward across the arena floor.

More detonations followed, a relentless, calculated assault designed to pressure, to break, to test how much she could take before she cracked.

Tobias' hands curled into fists.

Jessica didn't blink.

Magnus finally muttered, "It's not working."

Jessica exhaled slowly, her gaze still locked on the fight. "You know," she murmured, "I said Magnus was going supernova in that fight—but I said it too flat. If he hadn't screamed, he would've lost."

Tobias frowned, turning slightly toward her. "And?"

Jessica's expression remained unreadable. "And now it's affecting her."

Tobias blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

Jessica's voice was still eerily steady. "If Hannelore didn't scream your name, Tobias, you would've lost. But that's exactly why she's losing now."

Tobias barely had time to process that before instinct kicked in—he shouted, "Come on, Hannelore! Get back in it!"

Hannelore felt it. The humiliation burned deeper than the fire magic, than the scorching light. Tobias was watching her fail. Watching her magic collapse into something sloppy, something weak.

She grit her teeth, standing straight once more. If ice wouldn't answer her, she wouldn't use it.

But she hesitated.

Meanwhile, Edgar von Riefenstahl leaned slightly toward Jessica, voice low. "You know, she mentioned this at the memorial."

Jessica didn't turn her head, but her gaze sharpened slightly. "What?" she asked, not taking her eyes off Hannelore, who barely deflected another burning projectile with a wave of heavy slush.

Edgar tilted his head. "At the memorial, she said something about being cold—like she couldn't feel what happened to them."

Before Jessica could respond—

Zyrenia hissed.

Edgar flinched so hard he nearly fell back into the row behind him. The rare moment of pure, unfiltered alarm crossed his face before he immediately backed off, out of her space.

Jessica blinked, mildly amused. "Hungry?" she asked flatly.

Zyrenia, still glaring at Edgar, muttered, "No."

Jessica nodded as if this was the most natural interaction in the world. "Mhm."

Edgar was already gone.

Jessica sighed, shifting slightly before lifting Zyrenia off her lap. The little vampire pouted immediately, crossing her arms as Jessica passed her off to Magnus.

Zyrenia huffed, turning her head away. "…I'm not hungry."

Jessica gave her a flat look. "Mhm." Then, with deliberate steps, she moved toward the arena, stepping up onto the stadium wall.

She tilted her head slightly, gaze locking onto the Headmaster's private viewing box. She didn't say a word—she didn't have to. She just stood there, watching. Waiting.

Below, Hannelore staggered again, barely staying upright.

Alistair flexed his fingers, another burst of fire flaring to life at his side.

Jessica narrowed her eyes.

The Headmaster's gaze met hers.

A heartbeat later, the ground beneath Hannelore trembled—and multiple stone pillars shot up around her, intercepting the incoming fireballs, light bursts, and concussive force before they could land. The entire attack sequence collapsed, the magic dispersing harmlessly against the stone barriers.

The match was over.

And the Headmaster understood exactly why he had stopped it.

If he hadn't, Jessica would have.

And interfering in a royal duel was not something the Academy—or the Empire—could afford to let happen.

Jessica turned away, stepping off the wall and returning to her seat. Without a word, she reached for Zyrenia and lifted the little vampire back into her lap.

Jessica tilted her head. "Are you really not hungry?"

Zyrenia crossed her arms tighter. "I said I'm not."

Jessica extended her hand, almost absentmindedly, offering a single finger. "You can bite if you want."

Zyrenia sputtered, face heating. "I—No!"

Jessica, already moving on, exhaled and looked to Magnus. "I need you to carry him to the infirmary." Her voice was steady, but quieter. "I would carry Hannelore, but… I don't think our presence would help her right now. Not while she's like this."