Chapter 4: The Dawn Duel
The field was quiet now, the tension Wardell had stirred lingering in the cool night air. He had stormed off, leaving Joy, Ash, and Zephyr standing in the aftermath of his harsh words. They had been practicing magic together, pushing each other to improve, but Wardell's interruption had thrown them off balance.
Zephyr, their long silver hair swaying in the breeze, broke the silence first. "We can’t let him get into our heads. Let’s get back to it," they said calmly, brushing off Wardell’s insult with an air of quiet confidence.
Joy glanced at Ash, whose short, wavy black hair was still wild from their earlier practice. His face was tight with frustration, but he nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I’m not letting him ruin our night. We’ve got to get stronger."
Joy tugged at her own short blonde hair, still feeling the sting of Wardell’s words. She didn’t want to admit it, but his arrogance had shaken her. "Let’s keep going," she said, forcing herself to focus. "We were getting better."
Zephyr smiled at them both, their silver hair catching the moonlight as they raised their hands. "Ready? No more distractions. Just focus on your control."
Joy and Ash squared off, taking their positions again. The air around them buzzed with the hum of magic. They had already spent hours practicing before Wardell had shown up, and Joy could feel the weariness in her muscles, but she wasn’t ready to stop.
Ash was the first to strike. He sent a controlled jet of flame toward Zephyr, who flicked their wrist and sent a gust of wind to scatter the flames harmlessly. Without missing a beat, Zephyr turned the wind toward Joy, who managed to raise a shield of shimmering light just in time.
"You’re getting faster," Zephyr called out, their voice encouraging. They summoned a spiral of wind in the palm of their hand, launching it toward Ash, who dodged and sent another burst of flame back.
Ash’s control had improved since earlier in the night. His flames were no longer wild and unpredictable, but focused and sharp. "Thanks to you, Zeph!" he called, a grin breaking through his frustration.
Joy, on the other hand, struggled to keep her balance. Her light magic flickered as she tried to keep up with the speed of the duel. She was powerful, but she still lacked the control Zephyr had mastered. Zephyr’s long silver hair flowed around them as they moved, effortlessly weaving between Ash’s fire and Joy’s light.
"Come on, Joy!" Zephyr called, a gust of wind pushing against her shield. "Focus on the energy. Don’t fight it, guide it."
Joy clenched her fists, frustration bubbling up. She tried to center herself, feeling the magic pulse through her, and launched a bolt of light toward Zephyr. This time, it was more precise, cutting through the air straight toward them. Zephyr deflected it with a wave of their hand, but they smiled.
"Better," Zephyr said. "You’re getting it."
The three of them continued sparring, their magic lighting up the night. Zephyr’s wind danced around them, effortlessly deflecting and redirecting every spell thrown their way. Ash’s fire was sharper, more refined, and Joy’s light magic began to stabilize, glowing brighter with each cast.
As the night wore on, Joy and Ash found themselves slowing down, their energy draining. Zephyr seemed tireless, their magic as fluid and controlled as ever, but they paused, noticing the fatigue in their friends.
"Okay," Zephyr said, lowering their hands. "Let’s take a break."
Ash collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily. "You make it look so easy, Zeph."
