Duelcrest Academy

Over the next seven days, my routine underwent another drastic change.

After our fight, my relationship with Sophia seemed to have frozen.

It was kinda strange, if anyone had been watching us from a distance, they wouldn't have noticed anything wrong.

After all, we continued to sit close to each other as if nothing had happened, and when we spoke it was in a subdued way.

But that was the problem. We usually fought like cats and dogs.

It would have been obvious to anyone who knew us that something was wrong.

Amy had noticed immediately, that very evening.

She had taken me aside and asked me if anything had happened between Sophia and me.

I had told her everything, shrinking in shame under her stern gaze, like that of a mother fed up with her daughters' silly quarrels.

«How old are you two again? I thought after what happened in the infirmary you had finally learned the importance of communicating honestly with each other?»

«This time it's mostly my fault. I know Sophia didn't mean anything by it. But I can't stand the fact that she doesn't take a duel between us seriously...»

«Then why don't you just tell her?»

«I will, but first I want to show her what I'm capable of. Only then will she understand...»

«Do what you want...»

The disappointment in Amy's voice was like a stab wound. Since that evening, she had also begun to treat me with a certain coldness.

But even though I felt guilty, I was determined to persevere.

Luckily, I had a very enthusiastic accomplice.

Celeste's eyes had lit up with a light of their own when I had explained my intentions.

From then on, our weekly meetings became daily ones.

At the first of these, we decided on a strategy. The idea was mine.

After all, I had begun to formulate a plan ever since I had discovered what Sophia's innate power was:

"Cut through anything, be it an object, a spell or a person."

The key to defeating her was, in theory, very simple: I had to circumvent her power.

How? Well, even though she had said "anything", there were definitely limits.

Both in terms of what she could cut and how much she could cut.

The problem was how to exploit those weaknesses. I needed to find the right weapon.

And that's where Celeste came in.

Her passion for magic made her the perfect person to help me find the right spell to carry out my plan.

Fortunately, it didn't take long.

The day after the event was announced, Celeste knocked on my door.

In her wake, floating lazily in the air, was a pile of grimoires almost as tall as she was.

Apparently, her collection of magical texts rivalled that of Aldric-themed merchandise.

«How the hell did you manage to bring all this stuff with you?» I asked in astonishment.

«Ever heard of a bottomless suitcase?»

Did such a thing really exist? An item with such an enchantment must have cost a fortune.

"Damn nobles..."

So we began to leaf through those volumes in search of inspiration.

A few hours later, while reading through one of them, my eyes fell on a very strange spell.

«Celeste! Come here!»

My friend lifted her nose from another book and reached over my shoulder to read its effects.

She quickly began to giggle.

«Oh, oh! You're really mean! That's a low blow to use on someone like her!»

She was right. I doubted I would find anything better in that pile of books. It was perfect, but...

«It looks really complicated... To expand my mana that much... Do you think I could do it?»

«Well, there is only one way to find out. You have until the 25th to learn how to use it. Better start practising after dinner! We'll make it!»

Despite Celeste's encouraging words, I was still doubtful. There was another problem.

«But even if I could use this spell... Sure, it would catch her by surprise, but it wouldn't be enough to defeat her. She would never give up for so little...»

«Mmmh, you're not entirely wrong... If you could master it in time, maybe you could cast it with enough power to incapacitate her instantly... But I think it would be dangerous...»

Celeste began to walk thoughtfully around the room. After a few minutes, an idea came to her.

«Liz, have you ever heard of double casting?»

I knew exactly what she was talking about. In magic jargon, double casting meant using two spells at once.

The technique I had used to defeat Chloe, my trump card.

The time had come to decide if I really trusted Celeste. Revealing all my abilities to her was necessary if I wanted her help.

But if one day we were pitted against each other, I would lose the chance to catch her off guard.

Celeste seemed to sense the reason for my hesitation.

She pulled out her wand and levitated one of the grimoires on the desk. Then she pointed a finger of her free hand at another book, which began to orbit around the first.

She winked at me.

I should've guessed that she too was capable of something like that.

Seeing that she trusted me encouraged me to do the same. After all, if I was to have any hope of defeating Sophia, I had to pull out all the stops.

I had no reason to hide that ability now if I was going to show it during the duel.

«Yes, I made use of it in the past. But only with simple spells...»

«Sometimes the simplest spells are the most dangerous!» Celeste replied mysteriously.

"What does she have in mind?"

«But even if I found a simple spell that could defeat Sophia, I don't think I could use it with the other one... It's too difficult!»

«Do you want to win or not?»

«Of course I do!»

«Then I don't want to hear you say the words "too difficult" again. Screw classes, let's start now!»

Celeste grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me out of the room and into the inner courtyard.

From then on, I spent every possible moment training.

I often came so close to running out of mana that Celeste had to help me back to my room.

But slowly I began to see encouraging results.

It was then that I asked Celeste for another favour.

«Celeste, would you mind helping Amy prepare for the duel? If I offered to do it myself... I think she would refuse at the moment...»

«Roger that! If it helps you concentrate.»

That girl was tireless.

«Celeste, why are you so enthusiastic about helping me defeat Sophia?»

Could it be that the animosity Sophia seemed to feel towards her was mutual?

But the reason was something else.

«It is very simple. I want to prove that pure magic is more than capable of triumphing over a strange power like hers. And, of course, because we are friends and you asked me to help you. So make her bleed!»

I wasn't sure if that strange, magic-obsessed noblewoman was an angel or a demon.

I put my wand back in its sheat.

I had done all I could. If I continued to train, I would risk not having enough mana for the next day.

It was the eve of Wintermoon and my duel against Sophia.

I was in the magic training room.

As the event drew nearer, the courtyard had become increasingly crowded with other students.

I didn't want anyone spying on my strategy.

Besides, I always lost track of time in there because of the spell that kept the courtyard permanently lit by an artificial sun.

I left the room with a yawn.

It was better to go to bed early. Tomorrow I would need all the energy I could get.

As I walked through the school corridors to my room, I passed many of my classmates.

It seemed that I wasn't the only one who wanted to sneak in a last training session. Those 50 points, so insignificant to me, were certainly appealing to the lower-ranking students.

As I rounded the corner, I noticed Sophia's slender figure in front of me.

"What is she doing out at this hour?"

Was she training too? Nah...

In the past few days, the rift between us had not healed. We continued to treat each other with that unnatural cold courtesy.

"But tomorrow, I'll set things right."

At least I hoped so...

Driven by a sudden impulse, I quickened my pace and caught up with her.

«Hey...» I greeted her.

«Oh... hi.»

«Even you out of bed, huh?»

«Yeah...»

"Why is it so hard..."

We walked in silence to her room. Without looking at me, she said goodbye:

«See you tomorrow.»

She opened the door but, before she could enter, I grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

We stood there for a moment, motionless.

«Look into my eyes!» I burst out.

Sophia turned, surprised. Perhaps it was the first time our eyes had met in a week.

«Tomorrow... I need to talk to you. But first, face me with everything you've got!» I shouted at her.

Sophia's expression was inscrutable.

«Are you sure? Is this what you want?»

«Idiot! It's what I wanted all along!»

«I hope you won't regret it. If that's all... Good night.»

«Good night!»

I let go of her arm and turned on my heels.

«I hope you won't regret it,» I mimicked her, talking to myself.

This last exchange only strengthened my resolve.

I would show her what I was made of.

The next morning, as soon as I got up, I was shaking with excitement.

After my fight with Chloe, I realised that maybe I was nothing more than an adrenaline junkie.

I wanted to experience the thrill of facing an opponent stronger than me again.

"I'm playing into Skylark's hands..."

Perhaps the purpose of this deadly game was to awaken such emotions in us...

Arriving in the dining hall, I grabbed breakfast from the magic circle and went to my usual table, where I found Amy waiting for me.

No sign of Sophia.

«Hey Amy, are you ready?»

«Mmh yeah...»

Her hands were shaking too.

"I can't take it anymore..."

I would deal with Sophia later, but there was no reason not to make peace with Amy now.

«Listen Amy, I know I'm acting like a child. But it's important to me. I promise I'll make things right. And from now on I'll try to be more reasonable. So please start smiling at me like you used to!»

Amy's expression quivered and after a moment... I was attacked with one of her usual rib crushing hugs.

«Lizzie! Help, I'm sooooo nervous!»

And just like that, things were back to normal in an instant. If only it were that easy with Sophia.

When she let me go, I smiled at her.

«I missed you, Amy!»

«Me too!» she replied, returning to her seat.

«Tell me, did Celeste help you come up with a strategy?»

«Yes! She said she asked around about how Finch duels... So it should work... But I'm sure I'll mess something up, you know how I am!»

«You won't! I know you won't! You've improved so much, soon you won't even need the points we give you!»

«What are you talking about... And you... Are you ready?»

«Yes,» I replied determinedly, «I'm not sure if I'll win, but... I've done my best. Whatever happens, I'll make her understand that she can't afford to underestimate me.»

We continued chatting for the rest of breakfast. Then we got up, ready to head to the classroom.

When we approached the entrance, we noticed in the distance that a large group of students had gathered.

«What's going on?» Amy asked worriedly.

I couldn't blame her, the last time we'd seen a scene like this there had been a death.

But as we got closer, we immediately understood why there was such a crowd: Skylark's presence.

"Why is he here?"

But then I noticed something strange. Behind the headmaster, at the top of the marble staircase, where once there had been a solid stone wall, there was now a large door engraved with the symbol of the Academy.

It was then that the old professor's words came to mind:

"For the occasion, you will duel in a special arena."

It was probably behind that wall.

Perhaps I would have been more surprised if I had not already discovered the existence of secret rooms in the school.

Amy and I joined our classmates.

Looking around, I caught Celeste's eye as she greeted me cheerfully with a wave and a wink.

I also saw Sophia, at the edge of the group, with her usual bored expression.

"I'll erase that soon!"

We waited for the rest of the class for about ten minutes and then, at the headmaster's urging, we climbed the stairs.

As soon as Skylark put a hand on the engraved door, it swung open.

When I managed to catch a glimpse of what was inside, I was stunned.

"And this would be the special arena?"

The room was empty and seemed barely big enough to hold all 81 of us.

Did he want us to watch the duel from the stairs?

No, there was something strange about this empty room.

The headmaster entered and motioned for us to follow. When we were all inside, the door closed behind us.

Skylark clapped his hands and a glowing circle of magic appeared on the floor.

"What the hell?"

But before anyone could utter a gasp of surprise, the circle went out.

«This is it,» Skylark said, heading for the door.

As it opened, light flooded the room.

«But it's... the sun!»

Amy exclaimed beside me in amazement. She was clearly expecting some kind of trick.

But no, as soon as we stepped out of the room we realised it was all real.

We were on the roof of the Academy.