"Alright students, I'm sure that all of you are ready for the line up for the third trial of the tournament." The students were all ok the auditorium, eyes already downcast for what was to come, others eyeing Jarren and others Callista and Brose.
The screen behind Timothy flickered to life and a layout came to them all. Jarren wore his smile like casual as he eyed his opponent. Groans of discontempt erupted from the crowd however Timothy had his eyes locked with Jarren, ready to see his reaction from the line up that he had.
As expected from Timothy, his encounter would be on the last day, Callista's the day prior facing Brose while he was set to face not a student from Vorthmere but a student of their own, a fifth year student he was more than familiar with.
Callista also understood from the line up however she couldn't help but ponder what the outcome would be. As they all left the auditorium for the first fight, Jarren was interrupted by Timothy. "I was wondering about that story that you told me the other day and I couldn't help but wonder, why was the outcome worse on the second attempt when facing the abstraction ?"
Jarren had his hands pocketed, a thin smile already on his calm and composed face. "The abstraction that they faced was far above their comprehension, a god the author hinted. As for the cruelty, the abstraction saw the misuse of time and punished them for it."
Timothy paused, curious about his book. "Why didn't the author come up with a happy ending at the very least?" Jarren let out a low menacing chuckle that hinted something far more than just a casual folklore. "The author had a fixation on nihilism and cynicism, in his view sometimes stories didn't need happy endings, some could just end."
Timothy let out a knowing hum, still stunned with what he heard. "That's a very interesting story, it's a shame that you don't know the title." He finalized his thoughts. "You don't have to look that far to find the author." And with that Jarren took his leave.
Timothy had looked into the story he narrated to him with no luck of it's source. The third trial of the tournament would occur within the span of two weeks, each fight as time dragged on more interesting than the last. The more it went on, the more heated it got.
"I seriously can't believe that Jarren won't be fighting one of us. It's basically a way for them to say that he's too good for us." One of the students clicked as they watched the fight unfurl. "But then again didn't you feel that monstrous shockwave from the second trial? I still can't believe that he survived such an attack with no scratches."
His friend added as the fight came to a climax. The arena spanned for far and wide giving the combatants a lot of space to work with. The cobblestone floor shone with glyphs for repair with each hit it took from the excess damage. "But for him to face against Lirale, a fifth year. Isn't that a but too absurd?"
His partner had no answer for such a statement. For a fourth year student to fight a fifth year student was unheard of. "Maybe they want to see his full potential and had him face a stronger opponent." His acquaintance claimed as the winner of the scuffle was declared, a Caelbridge Academy student at that.
"Though I wonder whether he'll win." They went on making their way off the seats and back to their dormitories. "It depends whether he'll use his shadow or pyro. But still it would be entertaining to see the two go at it."
...
"Did you have a professor directly arrange the fight?" Callista mused, seated across Lirale who had a deadpan expression. "I too was shocked when I heard that they would have me face Jarren." She stated however Callista wasn't fully bought on that. "Well I wish you good luck because you just might need it with Jarren."
Offended with her statement, Lirale shot up. "Do you have so little faith with me Callista or have too forgotten just how dangerous I can get?" A thin smile formed on her face, now looking at Callista whose face remained stagnant. "Quite the contrary, I think that you have grown weaker."
Supporting her head with her hand, Lirale took a closer look at Callista. It was clear that she meant what she had said. "Really? How about a quick match then?" Callista who was slowly losing interest blankly nodded.
...
The two appeared in a closed off arena, a reserve for fifth year students. It was cool, indoors requiring the participants to control their output and with no audience. Lirale took a fighting stance, Callista standing still like a puppet awaiting orders. "I see you have a new bell, does it ring or is it cosmetic?"
Callista's eyes narrowed, not out of agitation but intrigue. "Don't blink or you'll miss it." There was no timer as the two went at it. Given that she was a fourth year, Lirale chose to hold back only to be met with a harsh check.
A lance crafted out of fire missed her completely and in retaliation was met with a crystalline punch to her gut.
*Boom*
The pain bearable as she drew back. "Okay, it looks like it won't be so easy." Pleased with Callista's expertise, she grinned as she closed the distance between them in half the time.
*Whoosh*
Callista's body was coated in blackwater obsidian, her mind boggling glyph forming at her feet. Lirale's flames burnt blue, the degree hotter way hotter and much more precise. And for this some speculated that she had blessed by the god of flames at a young age explaining her monstrous control over the element.
With resources and a rick background, it wasn't hard for her to further sharpen her skills. Her fist coated in flames, writhing in blue ambers connected with Callista's shoulder.
*Bam*
The lady staggered a few feet before regaining her footing, Lirale puzzled at her state. The crystal that she had anticipated to melt upon impact remained intact. However she couldn't dwell on the matter with Callista now taking the initiative. Her movements were fluid and precise, in her hand now a crystal longsword.
The blackwater obsidian hovered inches above her skin, covering every inch save for her head.
*Clank-Clank-Clank*
Hardening her flame, the two went at it, exchanging blows, each more devastating than the last. The air crackled with heat and sparks. 'I didn't think that she would be this good. Her speed also isn't that bad either.'' In her head, the image of the five minute spar ending in her victory slowly wavered with each passing second.
Her speed was lower than Lirale's but her fluidity in defense and offense made it hard for Lirale to land a proper punch. With most landing on her lower body barely fazing Callista.
Vhorren who made his appearance into the hall was perplexed with how well Callista held her own with Lirale. "Oh come on Lirale, you have to do better than that if you want to beat her." He chimed to the side. Callista kept on attacking before it became apparent to Lirale and Vhorren.
'She won't lose if we keep on going like this. It anything I'll be the one to lose it I drag this on any longer.' Her malcore reserves weren't as abundant as Callista's who with the necklace further refined her use of it.
*Bang*
The arena flashed blue blinding Vhorren who had a smile on his face. "Damn you Lirale!" He cursed taken by surprise with the flash. Lirale who remained unfazed closed the distance between her and Callista.
*Whoosh*
The two looked at each other, neither refusing to yield as their blades pointed at each other's heads. Simulateneosly lowering their weapons, Callista couldn't help but state. "See, you're getting weaker." And with that she took her leave.
Watching her figure depart, Vhorren looked back at Lirale who let out a short sigh. "I guess that's not a good sign." She laughed her own defeat. As much as it ended in a tie, in her mind she saw it as a loss. "It makes me wonder just what league Jarren is." Offering her a hand off the arena, the two made their way out the hall.
With the recent deaths spiralling , students were required to walk in pairs or even trios if needed. "This is my chance to finally see what Jarren truly is but now I think that I won't be strong enough to last against him." She sighed, looking at the ground in defeat.
If she couldn't take Callista down then what chance did she have with Jarren. "Well the fight will be controlled to begin with so that's not saying your fight will be the absolute determination whether you're stronger or weaker than him." Her fight with Callista controlled throughout but the more it went on the more she was forced to use her malcore.
Something that she wished she wouldn't but even now she wasn't sure whether she would be able to beat her. "The fight will portray a fraction of what we truly harbour so if I can't beat him let alone leave a scratch on him then it's safe to say that he is stronger than me."
Vhorren paused, looking at Lirale who seemed lost in her own maze of a mind. "Look , if he can beat you then wouldn't that force the academy to do more of an in-depth check on him without having to tiptoe on the matter." She looked at him and admired his optimism. "What if he intentionally loses? A psychopath like him could do anything for all we know."
His fingers drummed the table, a light hum emanating from his gullet. "Well in that case I'm sure that it would be easy to note it and have him checked. Besides with Timothy I'm sure an expert like him will pick something up." The more she put more thought into it, the more she realized that Jarren was backed into a corner.
"I guess it does work out for us either way. But I want to make sure that I beat him." The after taste of Saevin's death lingered in her teeth and the rage building up in silence demanded to be let out. Jarren being a fitting candidate for it. "So how about we head out to Boylres..." Vhorren took a sniff before jerking back.
"After you take a shower that is." A soft punch landed on his arm. "What?! Do you think that I wasn't going to? It's not my fault that my flames make me sweat!" As much as she pleaded, she went along with his game. She was certain that Vhorren knew about her resentment for Jarren.
"Well make quick because we don't have all day, that ice cream parlor won't be open for long so hurry up." He rose to his feet alongside her and the two made their way back to their dormitories. Theirs way bigger than the rest as one was equivalent to a small house, lavish and sleek in design.