The Duel (Part 1)

Lunch break was already over. Gabriel was walking along hall way that lead to where the Student Council was.

“A good day to you President Gabriel”, said a girl passing.

Gabriel lightly nodded his head.

“Yo Prez! Afternoon!”, this time it was a group of boys in their Juniors.

Gabriel only did the same as before. This had become an everyday norm for him. Though it wasn’t the case before. In fact he used to be quite over whelmed at during his early days.

Being President of the Student Council had gained him an enormous amount of fame over Western Academy’s students and staff alike. One other thing that helped him in his popularity (specially among the girls), were his looks. He was extremely handsome. His blue hair matching along with his crystal like light blue eyes easily made him stand out among other angels. Being exceptionally good in his studies and a powerful double element user just gave him extra points in everyone’s books. He was, simply put, the dream boy of any high school girl. Anna had already noticed this.

As Gabriel drew closer to the Student Council’s room, he heard a loud sound. As if something was struck by lightning. He observed from the window near by to see two students, surrounded by a circle of many other students.

One was holding a sword that looked as if it was made from water. The other held a book in her hand from which purple sparks spat out. The boy with the sword had his uniform torn, and probably may have been struck by a bolt of highly concentrated electricity. The sound earlier might have been from that. The girl, on the other hand, didn’t seem to have a single scratch.

“Poor soul. Doesn’t he know that using water to fend off electricity is to use fuel to extinguish a fire… Even a pre-schooler may know that.” Gabriel pitied the boy, then headed towards the entrance of the Student Council room.

This particular space of quarter unlike other clubs, was given a comparatively larger room. It had a big double door to welcome its residents, with a golden plaque beside the door that had ‘STUDENT COUNCIL’ on it.

Gabriel entered through one partially open door.

Rosarria stood beside his table attending to some files. She noticed him as he made his way into the room.

“Oh, you’re back”, she said whilst continuing to going through her work.

Gabriel quietly sat down on the couch that was reserved for special guests. Another table and two more chairs were placed in front of it.

Gabriel loosened his tie as he sighed irritatingly.

“Those idiots, again with a duel…”

“Ah… that explains the lightning sound. I thought it was about to rain. So, who was it this time?” Rosarria began a conversation.

“Didn’t recognize the boy. Seemed to be a first year. The other one looked like Selvia’s little sister.”

“Wait isn’t she a first year too? Guess she’s gonna carry the legacy of her big sister…” Rosarria finished messing with the paperwork and turned towards Gabriel.

“By the way Gabriel, what’s with that face of yours?” she had a grin covering her face.

“What’s wrong with my face?”

“That’s the face of a rejected man. Did your dear elf do something to you?” she mocked.

“No.” Even though he tried to hide it, it was obvious. “Why would you even bring her up in the first place? Nothing happened with her, I just wanted to have a chat with her…”, Gabriel said as he tried not to blush.

“Hahaha, I was just kidding”, Rosarria giggled. “What’s so special about her? I’ve never seen you show that much interest in someone. Let alone in a girl. Say,” She scratched her head.

“It’s not just because she’s an elf is it?”

“No, it’s just she-” Gabriel stuttered. He didn’t wish to talk about things that he felt were too intimate for him. “… she just reminds me of a certain person.”

“Don’t tell me it’s because of that weird dream you saw.”

“It wasn’t a dream!” This was why Gabriel dared not share his personal things with others. But Rosarria was a persistent one. Hence why it made her a good candidate for The Council. Though now he may kind of regretted his decision.

“Why did I even tell you that?” he rolled his eyes. “Forget it. We got better things to attend to. Which is why I needed to speak to you about the morning assembly tomorrow.”

“Sure thing President. I’ll go grab the schedule.”

<< >>

“Anna Spineswood!” She raised her voice, aiming her point finger at the sky. “I challenge you, to a duel!” The girl with the short purple hair exclaimed confidently as her finger dropped down aiming towards me.

It was only the third day since I’ve enrolled in Western academy. First day was an absolute let down with the whole ‘President-Gabriel-incident’. Following day was fine **I guess**. I made some new friends, or preferably some admirers in my class. The only odd thing that day was Sophie deciding to sneak into the bath when I had been fully naked under the shower and… yeah, lets stop it there. Now I’m here in the classroom confronted by this girl for who-knows-what reason.

“Um?”

“Silphie! W-what are you doing here? D-did Anna do anything?”, Sophie desperately spoke for me.

**Silphie?** I could understand from the color of her bow that she seemed to be a freshman. By the way, how did she know my name?

I got the answer right away.

“Who are you?” She shot down Sophie who abruptly sat down back in her place. She whispered to me with a pale face, “This is bad…”

“You’re everywhere on Geogram aren’t cha? They say you scored the highest result on the entrance exam.” She almost slapped me with her phone trying to show what was on it.

What I saw on the screen were photos. Of me. All me. I leaned in another centimeter or so trying to understand if my mind was playing tricks with me. **Wait is that me eating…? Oh no, they may have already reached dad.** Considering that he hasn’t taken any actions so far, I guessed he was okay with this. **Now I feel like an idiot for sneaking out of home.**

I looked back at her.

“What do you want with me?” I asked looking straight at her eyes. At first I thought she was just being annoying.

“The nerve. Who do ya lowly half blood think ya speaking to?” She spat back, clearly annoyed herself. As if I cared.

“Sophie…right?”

“Ha ha ha, don’t act like you don’t know. Everyone knows me. Both my elder sister and I.”

“Sorry. But I believe this is the first time I’m seeing you.”

“Y-y.. You…”

Another girl came behind her and whispered something to her ear.

“I see. So you’re new to heaven huh? Hey you!” She pointed to Sophie. “Explain this idiot who I am.”

“Huh! Ohh, okay. **Ahem.** She’s Miss. Silphie Virmorli. Youngest daughter of Western Heavens Mayor.”

“Right?!” Silphie grinned proudly at how she got praised for her father. I could tell she loved to brag about it “Now that you know who I am, you better think twice before you run that mouth of yours”, she said cheekily looking at me.

I noticed four more students behind her looking at me sternly, as if they were her bodyguards. One boy had a collar around his neck.

“Oi!” Silphie snapped her fingers at me. “Don’t make say it Thrice! Will you accept the duel or not?!” she demanded.

“I’ll give it a try?” I replied blankly.

“Heh, the nerve…” the way she said it made her left eye twitch a little. “Lunch break, at the court yard. Don’t. Be. Late.” She began walking away with her bodyguards, giving me a sly grin from the corner of her mouth as she exited the classroom.

“Annaaaa! Why did you agree to it?!” Sophie pleaded, rivers of tears flowing down on her face.

“I didn’t have any other choice”, I replied bluntly. **Besides I just want her to get it over with.**

“I see” she sighed. “She’s just that type to get what she wants however way she can.” I think I got that already.

Sophie seemed to know that Silphie person a bit more than I expected.

“So you do know her a lot.”

“Yes yes, she was in the same class as I was in middle school”, she said excitedly. Then her expression changed. “I guess she may have not even noticed me back then.”

**What actually is your relationship with her, Sophie?**

“By the way… what is this ‘duel’?” It must’ve been the most ridiculous question I could have asked at that moment. Or ever! Sophie’s bubbly eyes shrunk down to the size of a pepper. She looked at me with a blank face as if saying, “Bruh”

“Wait, wait, wait, wait! You agreed to a duel without even knowing what a duel is?! Oh my word Annaaa, ya clumsy girl.”

“Ah ha ha, I had no idea…” I looked puzzled at her, and she at me.

“So?” I asked.

“So what?”

“A duel Sophie, what is it?” She sighed, vigorously rubbing her temples.

“Let me explain, m'lady”, said a voice from the row behind.

We turned our heads back to see a brown haired boy.

“Ah, Daniel”, said Sophie.

I recognized him. He was the one that had come running towards me asking whether I was fine back when I had run into Student Council President Gabriel on the day of the entrance ceremony. His name happened to be Daniel.

**Wait a minute was he-**

“Oww! What was that for Leyla?”, cried Daniel as the girl sitting besides him pinched his arm.

“How many times have I told you not to eavesdrop on conversations between girls! Sorry ladies, this is his nature…”, she said apologetically.

There was nothing to apologize here though. Not that it’d be an excuse if I was discussing something embarrassing with Sophie. Leyla though seemed to have taken it too far as she was frowning at him.

“C’mon was just trying to help milady.”

Layla pinched him again. Did she want him not to talk with us?

**By the way what’s this ‘m'lady’ thing.**

“No no, it’s fine”, I finally said.

“Hehhee”, Daniel smirked teasingly at Leyla.

She puffed.

“Can you please tell me about about this duel thing?” I urged him.

“Yes. Ahem, so let’s start from a piece of distant history.” Daniel began. “During the founding years of this academy along side others such as the Northern, Southern and Eastern Academies, there had been no such thing as duels. Once had been a dispute between two angels in Northern academy, to which the cause was unknown for.” **So it was the Northerners huh?**

“No matter how much they had tried, they were unable to come at a conclusion. Until one person had suggested a method used by humans to settle their problem once and for all. And I think you know what that method is.” He pointed to me.

“That was how the first duel began and how it later became a tradition among all Academies across Heaven”, I completed his story. What a… conventional back story.

“Yes, exactly. m'lady gets it. Now! About the rules of a duel.” He veered back to his narration. “It is, simply, a fight between two people. The rules vary, but in Heaven the rules are that murder is strictly prohibited, as expected. And the victor decides the fate of the looser. You also get to discuss the outcomes before starting”, Daniel finished.

“So, I just have to not-loose right?”

“Exactly”, he said pointing his index finger towards me.

Daniel looked happy. Guess he really liked explaining stuff.

Meanwhile Leyla was still crossed about him.

Now all I needed to know was what spells she would be using. Based on her appearance, and her attitude, she seemed to be a galvanizer.

Alright then, should be a piece of cake. She was really weak.

**Better if I finish it soon. I need one of those buns before lunch break ends.**

“Thank you very much, Daniel.”

“At your service, m'lady.” He smiled.

**Seriously, what’s with this m'lady thing?** He almost reminded me of home.

“Everyone take out your practical Magery text books!” said the always cheerful PM(Practical Magery) teacher Ms. Amber as she entered the classroom.

Now, the wait begins.

<< >>

Location: Center Courtyard, Western Academy.

Anna, the elf of Western Academy, was on her knees. Around her were dirt and sand that resembled a colour closer to charcoal. Another strike of lightning and she would bite the dust for good. She painfully gazed up to her opponent, standing triumphant right in front her. With her book of spells levitating on her left hand, a wide sinister grin spread across Silphie’s face.

“Now then”, sparks of electricity began flickering around her. “Let’s end this.”