"So, are you ready?" Kayda asked, her voice carrying that casual sharpness she always had, like she was already bored of waiting.
I glanced around us, at the crowd forming in a loose circle. People whispered, craning their necks, some even grinning in anticipation. Great—exactly what I didn't want. A duel was one thing, but with an audience? Every little move of mine would be picked apart. My chest tightened, and I folded my arms, narrowing my eyes at her.
"Can't we do it at a training ground?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm even though the attention made my skin itch.
Kayda's lips curled into a sly grin, her tail flicking once behind her. "No. I'm in the mood to do it now." She stepped closer, her eyes glinting with heat, literally—her mana shimmered faintly in the air around her, warm enough that I felt the shift against my skin.
"Tsk, fine," I muttered, tugging at my scarf, unwrapping it slowly, and folding it once before tossing it aside. My hoodie followed, leaving me in a plain, fitted undershirt and cargo pants. The air against my arms felt colder and sharper, and I caught Kayda's stare lingering longer than I liked. With a sigh, I set my feet shoulder-width apart, raising my hands into a fighting stance. My voice came out steady, clipped. "I'm ready."
Kayda gave a low whistle. "To think you look like that under your hoodie." Her grin widened into something mischievous before she casually flicked her wrist. Two glowing scorch balls ignited in her palms and spun toward me, humming with compressed heat.
"Haah, whatever," I said under my breath. My fist met the first ball, heat exploding against my knuckles. It burst in a sharp flare, the shock rattling my arm. I clenched my jaw and swiped at the second one, my palm cracking through the sphere before it popped with a hiss. Pain lanced, but I kept my expression flat. "That kind of hurts," I muttered, shaking the faint smoke from my hand.
Kayda's brows lifted. "Why would you do that?" Her eyes narrowed, searching my hand—then widened slightly. My knuckles were coated in a thin sheen of frost, shimmering faintly. Her grin returned. "I see… so you do have a racial element." She said it under her breath, almost to herself. But I caught it anyway.
"Yes, I do," I answered, my voice low but firm. Then I tilted my head at her. "You as well, right?"
Her eyes flicked to mine, a little flash of surprise. "You could hear me from there?" She shook her head with a small chuckle, then nodded. "Is that so? It's our little secret, then." With that she bared her teeth in another grin and sent another wave of attacks my way.
I huffed and lifted my hands, stepping forward into the storm of fire. Each one I smacked aside or cut through, forcing my body forward. The air around me grew hotter, sweat pricking my neck, but I pushed, closing the gap one step at a time.
At four meters, I darted into a sprint. There's no point wasting stamina punching flames. Dodging was easier.
"You think just because I'm a sage, I'm weak up close?" she asked, annoyance flickering across her face as she whipped another scorch ball past me.
"Huh? Of course not." My tone was flat, my face unreadable. With a flash of speed, I slipped into her blindside, the war hammer materializing in my grip mid-motion. The weight felt solid and grounding as I brought it down toward her.
Her eyes widened, her form blurring back several steps before the hammer slammed into the ground where she'd stood. Dust plumed upward. I straightened, exhaling. "The reason's simple—I can't use long-range attacks yet." My gaze followed her as she adjusted her stance, still several meters off.
"Wow, your—" She didn't finish. Her head snapped up as a whip lashed toward her. She barely slipped aside before her eyes widened again, a scythe's gleaming edge grazing the air above her neck. She ducked, only to stumble back as jagged ice spikes erupted from the ground, slow but sharp, forcing her to scorch them away with a wave of heat.
She landed lightly several paces back, glaring. "Are you trying to kill me?"
I didn't answer, my expression remaining cold and detached. That only made her sigh before she resumed her barrage.
My lungs burned. Mana was running low. 'I don't really have a lot left. Flash Step and running ate most of it.' My arms felt heavier, my breathing sharper. I conjured a halberd in one hand, leaving just enough mana in reserve.
Her next volley came fast. I spun the halberd, its blade catching the heat, slicing one ball cleanly in half while the other whistled past my ear. I lunged, thrusting.
"You sliced it?" she muttered, eyes flicking in brief surprise as she twisted aside. Her palm flared, a searing line of heat shattering the halberd's tip in an instant.
I gave no reaction, flipping the broken shaft and spinning it into a strike aimed at her side.
She danced back, smirking faintly. "You really remind me of someone I know."
"Is that so?" I pressed forward, bringing the staff down hard.
"Yeah." She caught the shaft mid-swing and yanked, dragging me toward her.
I dispelled it instantly, the sudden loss of resistance pulling me forward. Two daggers appeared in my hands, the rest of my mana sputtering away in the creation. Momentum carried me into a slash, the left dagger arcing upward.
She stepped back, the blade grazing the edge of her robe. She prepared a spell, but I followed with the right dagger, forcing her another step away. From outside it might have looked like she toyed with me. But each dodge was tight and precise—she wasn't playing.
"Geez, you're quite a prodigy for your age," Kayda said between breaths, her grin sharp. "No—more like a monster prodigy."
"Pfft, and what does that have to do with anything?" I growled, not letting up.
"You really are—" Her words cut as danger prickled the air. Both of us froze, eyes snapping up.
A dozen swords whistled down from above. Instinct took over—we dove in opposite directions, blades and heat slicing the ground where we'd just stood.
"She's outraged this time," I muttered, pulling a sword from my thigh sheath. Kayda stood beside me, tense.
"Can you transfer mana?" I asked quickly.
Her eyes narrowed. "Yes, I can. Why?"
"Well, I don't have any left, and I really don't want to die today." I extended my hand without hesitation.
She blinked at me, then smirked faintly before grasping it. Energy flowed in, warm and steady, seeping into my veins.
'Mana transfer—only possible with precise control. Something I lack.' The realization stung.
"Thank you," I murmured. My eyes lifted just as a shadow descended. Mom—Stacy—landed from the aircraft, her presence heavy, oppressive. One look at her expression and I groaned inwardly. Pain. Lots of pain incoming.
"Do you know what you two just interrupted!?" Mom snapped, her tone sharp enough to slice.
I swallowed, lifting my hands slightly. "If I think about it, I have an idea… but I don't want to say it."
"Ohh, you do?" She tilted her head, eyes narrowing in mock curiosity.
"You do?" Kayda asked, clearly lost, glancing between us.
I leaned toward her, whispering quickly. "You know she was away for three years, right?"
She nodded slowly.
"Well… she was away from Dean as well."
Her eyes widened, realization hitting like lightning. "Ooh… ohhh." Her smirk returned as she looked at Mom. "You were busy 'stress-relieving' with Dean, weren't you?"
"Haha, Kayda, you really looking to die today." Mom's voice dripped menace.
"Can you not make it worse?" I hissed, glaring at Kayda.
"Oh, come on, we both know you won't kill your best friend," she shrugged.
Mom's hand twitched, a sword pulling itself from the earth. I reacted fast, shoving Kayda away just as the blade cut the air where she'd been. "Can you not taunt her right now!"
Mom's voice came from behind me, cold. "Did I not teach you not to take your eyes off your opponent?"
Her kick slammed into my ribs, launching me through a building wall. Dust choked my throat as I groaned against the rubble.
"Wow, Stacy, isn't that a bit too much?" Kayda called, running toward me.
"Where do you think you're going?" Mom flicked daggers at her back.
Kayda twisted away with a click of her tongue. "Calm down! You might've killed her just now!"
Mom laughed, sharp and merciless. "Do you really think a daughter of mine would die that easily?"
"Daughter!?" Kayda yelped.
"For fuck's sake, Mom!? Can you not send me into a building?" I shouted back, dragging myself out. My reply was punctuated by two spinning crosswheels flying at her.
"Ohh, are we taking this seriously now?" she said, batting them aside.
"Shut up," I muttered, stepping into the open, a war hammer slung across my shoulder, and a one-meter rock balanced in the other hand. I tossed it up, gripped the hammer with both hands, and smashed the rock midair, sending it careening toward her like a cannonball.
The hammer dropped from my grip as I flashed beside Kayda. "Attack her from a distance. Don't worry about me being in your way." I sprinted ahead, an ice katana forming in my hand.
"Okay?" Kayda's voice was hesitant and confused.
Mom's smirk deepened. "Oi, don't think your plans will work that easily." Her katana met mine with a clang, sparks flying. If she'd fortified it, my blade would've shattered.
I ducked, slashing low at her legs, forcing her into a hop just as Kayda's spells rained down.
"Kayda, you know these won't work on me," Mom said, slicing them cleanly.
"The only way out of this is to hit her at least once!" I shouted, swinging upward.
"That's right!" Mom's boot slammed into my stomach, knocking the breath from me.
Pain blurred the edges of my vision, but I gritted my teeth and stood again. Ten minutes bled away into a haze of steel, fire, and exhaustion.
Finally, I collapsed, face-first into my own blood. Kayda knelt in seiza beside me, chest heaving, her body trembling.
"In the end, you couldn't hit me," Mom said, her voice calm, almost smug, as she stood above us.
"You demoness," Kayda wheezed. "Of course we didn't. I was too scared to go all out, and she's…"
"Weak," I mumbled, forcing my head up, blood dripping down my chin. I glanced at Kayda, asking silently for mana. She shook her head. Empty. I turned to Mom—her expression said it all. Denied.
'Weak, huh? If she's weak, then I'm nothing but a booger, Zagan thought grimly from the sidelines.
"Sis is really strong," Amari whispered, her fists clenched tight, awe flickering in her eyes.