The Biringan Chronicles

Chapter 6: The Swordsmen and the mage.

Lucian's taunts echoed through the social hall of the academy as the trio passed by. He couldn't resist poking fun at El for the recent encounter with the Pantianac. "Icicle!" he mockingly jeered. "Hey everyone, Elysian here froze when a Pantianac attacked them last night!" Lucian's laughter filled the hall. "Stop it, Lucian," Thai stepped in to defend his friend.

Lucian, however, was relentless in his mockery. "Oh, the powerful mage who was saved by a girl last night wants to fight me," he taunted. Thai's frustration was evident, and Raven, always quick to de-escalate, suggested, "Just ignore him, guys."

El was struggling with his emotions, his anxiety bubbling up as he recalled the traumatic events of the previous night. The incident occurred near Lucian's home, giving him a front-row seat to the entire ordeal. As Lucian continued his taunts, El remained silent, grappling with the lingering fear from the night before.

"See you later, icicle," Lucian sneered, making a final jab before parting ways with the trio. 

In the duel hall, preparations for the semester-ending dual exam were in full swing. El selected a sword from the school's armory and donned his lightweight armor for the upcoming duel. He seemed calm and composed, his mind, however, still haunted by the events of the previous night.

Thai, on the other hand, was visibly nervous as he sized up his opponent—a massive Kapre student wielding dual maces. His anxiety bubbled to the surface as he quipped, "If I die, please remember me." Raven couldn't help but laugh at his dramatic remark.

Raven, noticing El's distraction, walked over to him and held his hand reassuringly. "You'll do fine," she said with confidence. "We can't even beat you." Her smile was infectious, and El managed to return it. Her support meant the world to him.

As the duel exams commenced, the trio faced their opponents with determination "See you on the arena icicle!" 

The duel had commenced, and El found himself facing Lucian, the same nobleman's son who had mocked him earlier. Galahad, the professor, explained the rules, emphasizing that grades would be awarded based on sportsmanship and mastery rather than just winning the duel.

As the fight began, Lucian wasted no time and charged at El, swinging his sword aggressively. El, however, remained calm and agile, easily evading Lucian's attacks. Lucian's frustration grew, and he resorted to taunting. "What's wrong with you, Icicle? Too scared to attack?" he mocked, but El remained silent, focused on defense.

Suddenly, Lucian's friend from the crowd shouted, "Look, a Pantianac!" El, still haunted by the events of the previous night, froze in fear for a moment. This gave Lucian the opening he needed, and he knocked El down with a powerful strike. The crowd burst into laughter at El's expense.

"Stand up!" shouted Raven from the sidelines, her voice filled with determination.

"That's not fair!" Thailos protested, seeing his friend's struggle and the unfair tactics being used against him. 

Amidst the chaos of the duel, as El's initial shock had left him vulnerable, he heard Raven's unwavering voice, loud and clear, cutting through the noise of the arena. "Stand up! You can do this, listen to my voice," she shouted, her words both a lifeline and a catalyst for El's inner strength. Her encouragement was a beacon in the darkness, urging him to rise above his fear and doubt.

And then, just as he found his resolve, another voice echoed within him, a voice filled with wisdom and guidance. It was his father, Sirius, speaking from the depths of his memory. "Swinging harder does not make it a powerful attack, my son," Sirius's voice resonated within him. It was as if his father's presence was there with him in that critical moment.