«Now that we're done with the boring part, I think it would be a nice idea to have a demonstration duel. Any volunteers?»
The tension in the classroom rose palpably. The competition to become the strongest wizard in the kingdom would begin with that duel.
I didn't even have time to think about whether to volunteer or not when a boy a few rows ahead of me stood up with his hand raised, exclaiming:
«Me! Mr. Principal.»
«Ah! You are, sir?»
The boy replied in a tone that seemed vaguely annoyed:
«Frank Montague, sir, I'm the son of Count Ferdinand Montag-»
«Very well, Mr. Montague,» Skylark interrupted him, «do you already have an idea of who you want to challenge?»
«I want to challenge Sophia Thornton,» said Montague, reading the name from the right wall.
"Predictable."
The name he had read belonged to the person at the bottom of the ranking, essentially the one with the least magical power in the class.
"It's going to go like I assumed from the beginning uh?" I thought.
«Perfect,» said the principal in a neutral tone, «Miss Thornton, could you please stand up?»
I heard someone moving behind me. From the last row, without saying a word, a slender girl with black hair stood up. Her sharp green eyes betrayed a slightly annoyed expression, as if this situation were a nuisance.
I had already noticed that girl. When she grabbed the glass sphere, the light barely moved. Probably the bench she had been sitting on a moment before had her same mana level.
"What are people like her doing at the Academy?" I wondered for the umpteenth time.
«Mr. Montague, do you want to put any conditions for the duel?» asked the principal.
«Of course,» the boy replied promptly, «If I win, I want Miss Thornton to challenge me to a duel every day this week.»
"The nobleman isn't stupid."
This way he would ensure an additional 14 points for the week. But the girl could simply refuse.
Surprisingly, Sophia replied, «I accept the duel.»
"She's either an idiot or has an ace up her sleeve."
«What are your conditions, Miss?» asked the professor.
«I want Montague to give me half of his lunch for this week,» she replied with a bored tone.
"Okay, she's just an idiot."
Most of the class burst into laughter.
«I accept,» replied Frank Montague, gritting his teeth.
«Great, come up here in front of the class,» ordered the principal.
When the two approached the lectern, a strange glowing dome began to form around them.
«It's a magical barrier,» explained Skylark, «inside it, you can use the most powerful spells at your disposal, without fear of hurting the spectators or damaging the classroom.»
«Oh, and don't worry about destroying the floors or anything like that,» he added. «All objects within the barrier will be regenerated at the end of the duel.»
After the professor's words, a metallic voice suddenly echoed in the class. It came from the barrier.
«Prepare for the duel!» it resounded loudly and clearly.
YOU ARE READING
Duelcrest Academy
FantasyElizabeth Belvoir has a dream: to meet her idol Aldric, the most powerful wizard in the kingdom. The opportunity to achieve her dream arises when she receives an admission letter from Duelcrest, the Royal Academy of Magic. Little is known about this...
