Mage Fight!

Me and Tesk stare at each other from the same positions from when I faced off with Trel, waiting for the receptionist to give the start signal. Once it's given, I move quickly.

I immediately raise a wind wall around me, solidifying it with a hundred mana to hopefully ward off whatever Tesk tries to send my way.

I stare at her for a moment, but she just seems to be standing there. I don't even see her channeling any mana.

I immediately tense. Either she's trying to bait me into doing something stupid, or she's managed to hide the emissions manipulating mana gives off. If so, she's going to destroy me.

She speaks, and I tense up. "You constructed that wind wall rather quickly, don't you think? Rather, TOO quickly, wouldn't you say?" I'm confused by what she's saying, and by the mana she's started to emmit. Then I realize what she means.

I'm offended. "I'm offended that you think I would stoop to cheating! There's no point in cheating during the test since this determines my rank. If I got a rank outside of my capabilities, then I would probably die on my first job!"

She chuckles as she finishes her spell. "I did not mean to imply that you cheated, simply that you were quick. Though, that is not always a benefit." And with that, she unleashes her spell.

Earth gathers in front of her, rising from the ground to form three large spikes. They launch at me one at a time and I prepare to dodge in case my barrier isn't strong enough to block them. To my surprise though, they easily crumble once they hit it.

I see a frown cross Tesks face before it's gone again. I grin. and prepare my own attack. I put fifty mana into a fireball and launch the tire sized ball of flaming death at her.

Her eyes widen before she erects a stone barrier, blocking the fireball. It explodes on the barrier, and I can see her face pale a bit through a large hole where it struck. Damn I'm powerful!

While I'm busy silently gloating, she manages to conjure another spell and a sandstorm gathers around us. Soon I'm unable to see anything around me.

I know that using wind to try to clear it away won't work very well since the storm is constantly swirling around us, so I instead start launching fireballs at where I remember Tesk standing. I only put ten mana in each of these and go for a quantity approach in the hopes of scaring her into dropping the storm to protect herself.

Unfortunately that doesn't seem to work as the storm continues and I don't hear any signs of them making an impact. I stop after ten fireballs, leaving me at 275 mana. "So it's been two minutes since the start of the fight," I mutter.

I look around me, trying to peer into the storm to find my opponent with no luck. Soon though, my barrier is impacted by a multitude of stone spikes erupting from the ground. A few of them manage to pierce it, and I notice that it's the same spot where the pervious spikes struck it.

'So it doesn't weaken as a whole when struck, but just around the point of impact. Good to know.' It's a good thing I placed the barrier a few feet away from me, or else I would've been struck by those spikes.

Just then, I feel an intense pain from my feet and I cry out. I look down and find a small pair of spikes sticking through the roof of my feet. Then the storm drops and I hear the receptionist shout the end of the match.

I dissipate my wind barrier, but don't move from my spot. You know, because the spikes are STILL IN MY FEET, AND OH THEY HURT LIKE A MOTHERF*CKER!

Luckily, Tesk dispels them and quickly approaches me. Catching me before I can fall over.

She gives me a guilty look as she half drags, half carries me over to the stairs and sits me down.

"My apologies about that. The strength of your spells came as quite a surprise, so I felt that I was required to go all out as well." She shoots a look at the holes in my feet. "I might have gotten a bit... overzealous in my desire."

I let out a pained snort. "If you were any more "overzealous", I might have been in a bit of trouble." A quick glance at my health shows that I'm down to ninety-one. Her spikes did about thirty-five damage to me, more than Trel did when he struck me and I hit the stairs! Which is a bit odd, but I guess the ka decided that having spikes in my feet is more damaging than some blunt impacts.

Tesk has the good grace to blush as Trel and the receptionist descend the stairs. I should really get her name.

She speaks before I can decide to ask her for it or not. "Those were both splendid fights. I can tell that you clearly have power despite your appearance."

"Hey!"

"Be that as it may," she ignores my cry of outrage and continues, "I will look to those more experienced for an analysis for the battle and how you did."

She looks at Tesk and Trel and they both nod at her as they seem to contemplate our battles. Before anyone can say anything else though, I remind them of something they seem to have forgotten about. "Uh, hey. Can someone do something about the holes in my feet? They REALLY hurt.

The receptionist slaps her forehead at my reminder. "Of course, I'm sorry. It must hurt an incredible amount." She kneels down next to me and raises both her hands.

"May your wounds be banished by the healing light, Heal!" After her short chant, a light descends upon my feet and I watch as the holes begin to close up. I look at her and give her a relieved smile. Though I'm not sure why she used a chant, since neither Tesk nor myself used one in our spar.

She grins ruefully at my unasked question. "While I can use healing magic, I don't have enough skill to cast it quickly, or mentally. That's why I'm the receptionist for new adventurers instead of an adventurer myself. I can heal most injuries anyone might receive during the exam."

She shakes her head. "But enough about me, it is time to hear the results of your assessment."

We both turn our attention to my examiners, and I wait with baited breath to hear my results.