Rising of the Weakest Mage

Vol 9/Ch 89 - An Infamous Rematch II

As Allen's duel against Nathaniel Rivertide progressed, Stephen Windblade noticed that there was something wrong with Allen, and Allen wasn't trying as hard as he could in this duel.

With all of the effort and hard work Allen put into his training to prepare for this important duel of his, Stephen could only wonder if something else was affecting Allen. Just what could it be?

Allen, what's going on with you?, Stephen thought to himself, as Nathaniel kept hurling insults at Allen.

But what surprised Stephen the most was when Allen had suddenly decided to use his recently acquired "Magical Release" ability. Nathaniel had immediately dodged the spell, almost as if he was completely expecting it.

Wait, that's it, Stephen thought as he had a realization. Nathaniel baited him into using it!

With Allen suddenly on the ground and out of energy, and with Nathaniel slowly walking over to him, Stephen made the final realization - Allen was slowly giving up!

Stephen could hear the worried words of his friends around him, all concerned for Allen. After all, if Allen lost here and now, that would mean his expulsion from the academy, and Allen would immediately lose everything he has worked so hard for. Stephen just could not accept that!

But, what could I even do?, Stephen asked himself, as he could only watch Nathaniel slowly approaching Allen. I obviously cannot directly help him, but is there a way I can indirectly help him?

"What's going on with Allen? Is he going to be okay?," a worried Thomas asked, as he began to get up from his chair. "Don't tell me he's going to lose and give up!"

Stephen closed his eyes for a moment before answering. "It has to be his sudden lack of confidence and growing fear, no doubt attributed from Allen's first duel and loss to Nathaniel, and now with what's going on"

"But-"
"Remember Thomas," Stephen turned to look at him. "Although he was fine afterwards, I'm sure his loss against Nathaniel has been eating away at him since the beginning. He still hasn't truly gotten over it, and it's finally showing in his duel against him again"

"That... that can't be true... Surely Allen is going to win, right? Right?"

Stephen didn't answer him, and instead grit his teeth as he watched the fight below. Just what could he do? Was Allen really going to lose here, and they just had to sit back and watch it happen?

"Witness everyone!," Nathaniel yelled as he moved his head around to face everyone in the crowd. "Witness the defeat of this 'Weakest Mage' by my hands! Witness how he truly is weak and not deserving of being a mage!"

"What's going on, dear sister?," Misa asked, as she grew a look of worry on her face.

"I'm not sure myself, dear sister," Lisa admitted, as her eyes drifted back and forth between the duel referee and Nathaniel. Should they step in and have the duel referee end the duel before things get worse?

Stephen thought back to his duel against Allen, the duel in which he stubbornly declared. Despite his harsh words and negative feelings directed towards him, Allen instead helped turn things around for Stephen. He helped make him realize his own real feelings, and helped him make up with his own father.

After all of that, he just couldn't watch Allen lose so easily, especially after all of that hard work and effort Allen has put in since day one.

"Allen, you idiot," Stephen said out loud, as he grit his teeth.

"Take this, you pathetic excuse for a mage!," Nathaniel yelled as he cast his spell at Allen from almost point blank range. Allen took the hit, and his body was launched a few meters across the arena.