A duel between two students within the Star Academy did not necessarily have to involve blades clashing, abilities erupting, or weapons swinging for one another's throats. Contrary to what outsiders might assume, the rules of the Academy had never specified that a duel must always take the form of direct combat.
The very definition of a duel here was broad, flexible, and adaptable to circumstance. Two students could just as easily settle their wagers by racing across a field, the winner being whoever crossed the finish line first. Or they might decide upon a contest of games, whether it be cards, strategy, or puzzles. Some preferred a trial of skill, such as archery, where precision decided victory.
The method did not matter; the Academy's rules only required that both participants recognized the contest as a legitimate duel and willingly accepted the terms.
