The Lost Mage's Journey

Chapter 4: The Flames of Resolve

Scene 1: The Tournament Begins

The grand arena is packed with students and professors alike, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. Banners representing the Academy flutter in the wind, while magical wards hum in the background, preparing to contain the spells that will soon fly through the air. The tournament is set to determine who will represent the school at the regional Magic Tournament, and everyone's attention is focused on the competitors.

In the center of the arena, Lyka stands nervously, her heart pounding in her chest. She glances at the crowd—some are whispering, others laughing. She knows why. Her name had been drawn first to compete, and her opponent...

Narration:
The student council president had rigged the poll. There was no other explanation. Lyka knew she should be fighting someone her age, her skill level. But instead, she stood across from a fourth-year student—a seasoned mage with mana reserves far beyond her own. It was an unfair match, and everyone knew it.

The fourth-year student steps forward, his name is Valen Vorthe, a tall, imposing figure with piercing blue eyes and a calm, arrogant expression. His robes shimmer with the colors of enchantments woven into the fabric, and mana pulses around him like a storm.

Valen (smirking):
"You shouldn't even be here, commoner. I'll end this quickly, for both of our sakes."

Lyka feels a rush of fear, but beneath it burns her determination. She grips her staff tightly, her mind racing as she prepares her strategy. She knows she can't match Valen in sheer mana power, but she doesn't need to. She has something else: knowledge.

Lyka (steadily):
"I'm not afraid of you."

Valen's smirk deepens. The professor overseeing the match raises his hand, and with a booming voice, the duel begins.

Scene 2: The Duel - Lyka vs. Valen

The moment the signal is given, Valen moves, casting a spell with frightening speed. His hand glows with blue light, and a torrent of ice shards flies toward Lyka, cutting through the air like daggers. Lyka barely manages to summon a protective shield, but the force of the attack sends her sliding back across the arena floor.

Valen (chuckling):
"You're not even worth my full strength."

Lyka steadies herself, her breath ragged. She could feel the pressure of Valen's mana weighing down on her, but she wouldn't give up. Valen casts another spell, this time summoning a wave of flame, the heat radiating toward her in a suffocating wall.

Lyka's mind races—there's no time to overthink. With a swift motion, she calls on her magic, conjuring a gust of wind to divert the flames just in time. But she's on the defensive, and she knows it.

Narration:
She had promised herself she wouldn't use her most advanced spell. Not yet. Not until she absolutely had to. But Valen was pushing her harder than she'd expected. He wasn't just powerful—he was ruthless.

Valen raises his hand again, and this time, the arena shakes as the earth itself begins to crack beneath Lyka's feet. Large pillars of stone shoot up from the ground, trapping her in place.

Valen (mocking):
"Come on, commoner! Show me what you've got! Or do you plan to cower behind weak spells until I finish you off?"

Lyka clenches her teeth, sweat dripping down her brow. She had no choice. She had to use it—the spell she'd been perfecting in secret. The spell that had taken everything she'd ever learned and combined it into something beyond even her wildest dreams.