Quarter finals(2)

The air in the Coliseum hung thick with anticipation, a damp, metallic scent clinging to the thousands of tightly packed bodies. Jenna, Princess of the Frostwood Realm, paced in the shadows backstage, her breaths forming tiny puffs of frost against the already frigid air. Her white hair, usually meticulously braided, spilled down her back in a tangle, a reflection of the turmoil within. Across the arena, Selene, heir to the SilverCrest dominion, radiated an ethereal calm. Her silver dress, usually a shimmering spectacle, seemed dull under the fading afternoon light. Worry gnawed at Jenna – Selene, master of moon magic, thrived under a full moon, not this wan, gibbous orb hanging in the twilight sky.

The starting gong clanged, a harsh sound that scraped against Jenna's nerves. She gripped the hilt of her longsword, the frost-encrusted metal strangely slick against her clammy palms. Charging forward, she unleashed a battle cry born of years spent battling the unforgiving Frostwind. Selene, graceful as a startled heron, evaded the blow with a sidestep so smooth it seemed almost telepathic.

"Predictable, Princess," Selene drawled, her voice cool and mocking. "A touch more finesse, perhaps?" Jenna snarled, frustration bubbling in her chest. Selene was everything Jenna wasn't – elegant, controlled, wielding the magic of the moon with a finesse that bordered on arrogance.

Jenna launched into a flurry of attacks, fueled by years of Frostwood training. Her blows landed with a bone-jarring thud, each one sending a tremor through the packed-earth arena floor. But Selene countered with unnerving ease. One moment she'd be a shimmering mirage just out of Jenna's reach, the next a blur of silver as she unleashed a crescent-shaped energy blast that singed Jenna's arm and sent a jolt of pain through her shoulder.

Exasperation gnawed at Jenna. Every learned technique, every honed reflex felt clumsy against Selene's ethereal defenses. She needed a new strategy, and fast. Briefly closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, picturing the vast, frozen landscape of her homeland – the whispering wind through the ice-laden trees, the deep, unwavering stillness of the eternal winter. With a deep breath, she channeled that image, weaving her frost magic into existence. The air shimmered, and a dome of solid ice materialized around Jenna, momentarily shielding her from the relentless assault of Selene's moon magic.

Inside the icy cocoon, Jenna could hear the frustrated shrieks of Selene's attacks impacting the barrier. Relief washed over her, fleeting but precious. However, she knew this wouldn't last long. She needed to act fast. Focusing on the frost, Jenna visualized an intricate pattern, a web of ice shards mimicking the constellations of her homeland. Chanting an ancient Frostwood incantation under her breath, her magic surged, transforming the interior of the dome into a shimmering cage of frozen stars.

A shocked silence descended upon the arena. The crackling of Selene's moon magic faltered against the intricate frostwork. The ice, infused with the essence of the constellations, seemed to nullify the strange energy. "Impressive," Selene finally conceded, her voice devoid of its earlier arrogance. "But can your pretty ice hold against the power of the moon?"

Jenna emerged from the collapsing ice dome, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Every muscle screamed in protest, the cold seeping into her bones despite her fur-lined armor. "Only one way to find out," she rasped, raising her frost-covered sword.

The fight resumed, a desperate dance between ice and moonlight. Selene, her ethereal glow dimmed by the waning moon, unleashed a barrage of silver energy blasts. Jenna, fueled by adrenaline and the Frostwood magic within, deflected them with practiced swordsmanship, the clang of metal against ice the only sound breaking the tense silence.

The arena floor became a glistening array of shattered ice and churned earth. The metallic tang of blood filled the air as a stray ice shard caught Selene on the arm. Exhaustion gnawed at both warriors, their movements sluggish, their attacks losing their initial fury.

Jenna saw her chance. As Selene launched another burst of moon energy, anticipating the trajectory from years of honing her battle instincts, Jenna twisted her body with practiced agility. This wasn't about a powerful blow, not anymore. This was about precision, about exploiting a single moment of weakness.

Her sword, a shimmering sliver of frost in the fading light, found its mark. It connected with Selene's shoulder in a sickening thud. A gasp escaped Selene's lips as a wave of frost spread from the point of contact, sapping her strength and turning the surrounding flesh a pale blue. Jenna knew this was frostbite – debilitating, and with enough time, potentially fatal.

Jenna rushed towards Selene, her face frozen. Jenna focused her magic trying to reverse the effects of the Frostbite. The ice melted and color returned back to Selene's face.

She gasped and sat up and began panting for air. Jenna embraced her in a sisterly hug. The herald materialized before them.

"Lady Selene" he asked his voice calm.

"Would you like to continue " he asked.

Selene nodded and the herald looked at the crowd.

"And the winner by forfeit is Jenna" he yelled.

The entire collesium burst into a cacophony of applause.

Medics rushed to Selene's side as she walked off, Selene shot a smile at her and Jenna returned it back. She was excited that now she was going to the Semi-finals. Two more fights and then she would say goodbye to her stupid husband.