Martial Magick (2)

Riniock took his position on one side of the arena, his opponent mirroring him on the other, with Professor Evondiel standing between them. Both acolytes gripped their wands tightly, poised for the duel to begin.

 At Evondiel's signal – his hand dropping and the command 'Begin!' ringing out – Riniock acted swiftly. Instead of launching an attack, he flicked his wand with precision, conjuring a solid wall of ice before him. The barrier rose swiftly, obscuring his opponent's line of sight and buying Riniock valuable time to strategise his next move.

 Riniock's decision to wield a frost-attribute wand made perfect sense given his prior experience.

 'Take this!' his opponent shouted, unleashing a sharp, narrow bolt of energy. The spell struck the icy barrier, leaving a slight fracture.

 Undeterred, the opponent continued to fire at regular intervals, each strike widening the crack in the frozen wall. From the outside, Riniock remained motionless, giving no indication of a counterattack.

 The relentless barrage wore on, and soon the other acolyte's movements grew sluggish. Fatigue crept into his motions, and his wand, drained of odh, flickered weakly – its reserves nearing exhaustion.

 From the stands, those who couldn't see Riniock grew restless, wondering what was happening behind the icy barrier and why he remained inactive.

 Their curiosity turned to astonishment when a blade of wind shot out from behind the wall of frost, curving and steering, trained at the acolyte. The projectile nearly caught his opponent off guard, missing by a hair's breadth. But before he could recover, a second gust struck him squarely in the back, sending him sprawling across the arena floor, gasping for air.

 The ice barrier shattered – not because of damage, but because Riniock chose to dispel it. He stepped forward, his right hand donning the wand pulsing with frost, his left hand swirling with wind within his palm. Without hesitation, he pressed the attack, casting the two elemental spells in relentless succession, just as Professor Evondiel had advised. His opponent cowered on the ground, overwhelmed, too terrified to call out his surrender.

 'That's enough!' Professor Evondiel commanded, stepping between them to shield the fallen acolyte. 'Surrender now.'

 'I-I surrender… I surrender,' the young man stammered, his voice barely audible.

 Riniock's focus gradually faded, and he became aware of the world beyond the duel. He looked around and saw the expressions on his peers' faces – a blend of shock and awe. They struggled to process what they had just witnessed.

 How had he managed such precise and powerful spellcasting without relying solely on a wand or any traditional catalyst? To them, this feat should have been impossible at their level. The realization dawned on the crowd: none of them had yet learned spell inscription. For Riniock to wield such precise magic, he must have learned it independently.

 'Impressive control, acolyte,' Professor Evondiel praised. 'I hope everyone paid close attention to this duel. It demonstrated key elements of strategic thinking and relentless pressure.'

 The spell exchange caught the attention of all who watched, prompting some unusual reactions.

 A woman stood up from the seats, her voice soft but resolute. 'Excuse me. If it's permitted, may I duel this acolyte?'

 Evondiel turned to find the source of the request. The speaker was a young acolyte from Ikshar Academy, clad in robes of beige and brown. Her expression was calm, but her eyes burned with determination.

 The professor's gaze shifted to the older maegi seated with the Ikshar delegation. 'Is this request genuine?'

 The elder maegi, likely a professor from Ikshar, turned to his student. A soundless wave of magic, imperceptible to all but the most skilled, passed from his sealed lips to her mind. After a moment, the young woman responded with a measured nod.

 The elder maegi turned back to Evondiel and gave a subtle nod of approval.

 Professor Evondiel's eyes rested on Riniock. 'Mr. Tolgir, do you accept this duel?'

 Riniock paused to consider his options.

 There would be no repercussions if he refused; declining the duel was well within his right. Yet accepting the challenge held far more promise. The risk of injury was a small price to pay for the potential rewards. He could gain valuable experience, gauge the strength of Ikshar Academy's acolytes, and finally face someone who might truly test his abilities. Amongst his peers, none had proven to be his equal, and meaningful practice was essential for growth.

 His choice was clear.

 'I accept,' he declared with conviction.

 Professor Evondiel's gaze sharpened. 'You understand what this could mean?' he pressed, subtly reminding Riniock of the potential outcomes. 'This young woman likely holds more experience than you.'

 'All the more reason to face her, professor,' Riniock replied, his voice steady. 'Opportunities like this don't come often.'

 Evondiel nodded, a glimmer of respect in his eyes. 'Very well. The duel will begin shortly.'

 The woman descended gracefully into the arena, taking her place opposite Riniock as Professor Evondiel positioned himself between them.

 Once she reached an optimal stance, Evondiel raised his arm to signal the start but was interrupted by her calm voice.

 'Before we begin, would you mind if we duelled without wands?'

 Riniock's eyes narrowed with interest. 'That would be wonderful,' he replied, a hint of excitement in his tone.

 'Then let's proceed, Professor Evondiel. At your mark,' she said with a nod.

 Evondiel scanned both combatants for readiness, then dropped his arm in a swift motion to begin the duel.

 The woman moved first. Crossing her arms before her chest, a fiery blaze erupted, sweeping across the arena like a scorching tide.

 Reacting quickly, Riniock spun his hands in a tight spiral, summoning a vortex of wind that deflected and dissipated the flames into harmless embers. With the inferno neutralized, he seized the opportunity, unleashing rapid gusts of wind to stagger his opponent and create openings for an attack.

 Though a few gusts landed, most were dispelled before reaching her, her sharp movements and precise counterspells negating his efforts.

 Suddenly, she thrust her hands forward in rapid succession, unleashing a flurry of small fireballs that hurtled towards him in a chaotic swarm.

 Riniock had no time to strategize. With instincts taking over, he thrust his palms downward, generating a powerful updraft that propelled him a few coigns into the air, just high enough to evade the onslaught.

 Whilst airborne, he conjured a blade of wind, sharper and faster than the one used in his previous duel. It cut through the air with blistering speed, aimed directly at his opponent.

 But she was prepared. With a fluid motion, she dispelled the blade and slammed her palm onto the ground. A surge of flames erupted, creating a fiery wall that consumed the arena ahead of Riniock.

 Caught mid-fall, he had no chance to manoeuvre. The roaring flames engulfed him, searing his resolve. As the fire licked at his skin, he cried out in surrender.

 'I surrender! It's my loss!'

 The flames subsided, leaving Riniock scorched but unharmed, thanks to the controlled nature of the duel.

 The crowd erupted into murmurs, the Ikshar acolyte's skill leaving a strong impression on everyone present. Riniock, though defeated, couldn't help but smirk – this was exactly the challenge he had sought.