The wind had turned colder by midafternoon, tugging at the draping flags above the central spires. Shadows from the upper colonnades cut deep angles across the dueling grounds, and students gathered again, shifting restlessly in their seats. Arin leaned forward from the observation tier, resting his arms against the carved stone rail. His cloak was plain, weighed down by dust and lingering ash, its fabric now dulled from earlier combat. No embellishments marked him, no family crest or house sigil—just the presence of a quiet observer who had bled for his place here.
Below, the arena teams reset the wards. Faint runes shimmered over the stone, then vanished into silence. The arena was quieter now, the crowd tempered by the weight of the last few duels. Whispers filled the stands, the kind of hush that follows a storm but promises another on the horizon. Arin sat among the student observers, his black cloak pulled tight, the faint shimmer of healing glyphs still fading beneath the folds of his sleeves. The sting of his own battle still lingered in his ribs, but his mind was elsewhere.
The Head Arbiter called a single name that pulled Arin out of his thoughts.
"Elias Greaves. Report to Arena Four."
There was a pause in the stands.
"Finally. Let's see what the prodigy can really do."
Elias stepped into the sunlit archway, casting a long shadow over the polished stone floor. His crimson-lined duel robe fluttered slightly as he adjusted the strap of his spellbandolier. A breath in. A breath out. He moved like a blade kept in velvet—silent, but edged.
Arena Four was a dueling pit carved in concentric stone circles. Unlike the terrain-shifting arenas designed for chaotic magic or strategic maneuvering, this one was pure—flat stone, no hazards, no gimmicks. A true test of precision and will.
His opponent was already waiting. A first-year student named Dain Velric, known for his aggressive rune evocation and stormcraft. Broad-shouldered with short silver-blond hair, Dain cracked his knuckles as Elias approached.
The Arbiter raised her hand. "Tier One Duel: Elias Greaves versus Dain Velric. First to yield or incapacitation. Begin."
The horn blared.
Dain was aggressive from the first breath, scrawling a triad of stormglyphs into the air. "Chain Surge!" he shouted, and twin forks of lightning erupted from his fingertips. Elias shifted to the side, invoking a glyph on his gauntlet.
"Vitae Aegis." A translucent barrier flickered into place, absorbing the blast with a pulse of green light.
Dain pressed forward. "Tempest Lash!"
A whip of condensed plasma cracked toward Elias, burning through the air. Elias dropped low, slamming his palm to the ground. "Frost Grasp."
A trail of frost surged outward, catching Dain's foot mid-lunge. Ice climbed his leg before he shattered it with a burst of raw mana.
Elias stood, eyes narrowed. "Frigus Vocare."
His staff formed again, taller and colder this time, jagged with spikes of magic-infused ice. He struck forward in a sweeping arc. Dain parried with a summoned spear of storm energy, sparks and frost clashing in midair.
Dain leapt back. "Thunder Spiral!"
The air around him condensed, then detonated in a vortex of sound and lightning. Elias planted his staff, chanting fast under his breath.
"Runes of Severance, Linea Glacialis."
A glowing rune circle formed under his feet. A line of frost slashed through the vortex, splitting it in half. The cold pierced through Dain's defenses, throwing him back across the arena.
Blood trickled from Dain's lip. He stood shakily. "Not done yet!"
"Neither am I," Elias muttered.
He slammed his staff against the stone. "Cryo Spire!"
An enormous column of ice burst from beneath Dain, flinging him into the air. Elias followed with a jump, eyes locked onto his opponent.
"Fractura Glacies!"
His staff exploded midair, fragmenting into dozens of glinting shards that swirled around him.
Dain tried to block with a shield of lightning, but the shards moved like intelligent daggers, circling and striking from blind angles. Two embedded into his shoulder and thigh.
Dain dropped, crashing to the stone floor.
"Yield!" he gasped.
Elias landed, frost mist trailing behind him as he dismissed the remaining shards.
"Glacial Chain." Frosty bindings shot forward, locking Dain's limbs in place.
The Arbiter raised her hand. "Duel complete. Victory: Elias Greaves."
The crowd erupted in applause, louder than before.
Elias gave a nod and a slight bow, then walked off the field, the effort of the fight only slightly visible in his steps.
In the observation stands, Arin watched silently. A small nod of respect. The crowd murmured with awe.
Back in the lounge, Elias rejoined Arin.
"Where's Talia?" Arin asked.
"Preparing. They want her in Arena Seven next."
Arin's eyes narrowed. "They're testing us for more than skill."
Silence lingered.
The bells tolled again.
"Talia Mirren. Report to Arena Seven."
To be continued...