Wickedly

[7] Blue Panther

Lazuli

The arena Lord Alas prepared for us was filled with students from the academy. I don't know why one man would go to such extent, duels are only fun when it involves two dragons.

I was accompanied today by Sir Amir and two others maids, Hanna and Cecil. We were in the balcony, a high seat meant for royalty. Up here, I could see Lord Alas and his little brother, Mister Milo, talking at the entrance of the arena.

Suddenly, the speakers had turned on, and the MC began to announce the beginning of the duel. "Ladies and gentlemen! Today we bare witness to the duel between Milo Wellington and Lazuli Almas Fahd la Monique! Subject of the duel, the familiars!"

The crowd roared, and I was sweating with nervousness for the poor kid. I may sound cocky with this, but comparing my familiar with him, his Hyena is no match for the Blue Panther. While mine is the legendary beast of the Evangeline, his is...I don't even know where he got it from, the forest?

I shake my head from my stupid thoughts. At least I should go easy on the kid, that will help him a bit. But then, I never liked dealing with spoiled brats.

Petty old woman be damned, I'll crush that kid to teach him a lesson.

The MC came back at the speakers, "Introducing the familiars. On Milo Wellington, here comes the predator of the wastelands," he said it, "a jaw crushing monster, the Aardwolf Hyena!"

Everyone was screaming when a large magical circle had appeared at the centre of the arena. As it rose from the ground the appearance of an overgrown hyena with two heads came to be. Milo held a smug look, crossing his arms in his chest and laughing.

The hyena laughed maniacally, circling the arena, giving me a small snarl before standing proudly beside its master. I gotta say, his familiar has grown twice the size last time I saw it. I can only assume the little kid actually trained hard for this, he had increased the mana on his beast, which made it bigger and stronger than before.

"Now for our next contester, on Lazuli Almas Fahd la Monique, we have the legendary beast of the ancient goddess, a guardian that beholds prosperity, I welcome you...the lustrous Blue Panther."

I raise my hand and began chanting the magic circle, "Come forth Tecumseh."

Water came sprouting from the ground, creating a tidal sphere that began to whirl like tornado. The presence of my oh so lovely familiar came to be, once her form had passed through the gate, she snarled a deadly growl, deafening me and probably the students around. The sphere exploded from the roar, splashing the water into the air. I immediately closed my palm, turning the water into mist.

Tecumseh, also known as Simi, stood ominously at the centre. She must be annoyed that I pulled her out of her nap, the fiery glow in her eyes could melt a diamond. Sparkles of gold coated her blue majestic fur, I ran my hand so many times in those silky smooth layer and I always end up getting some of the glitters on me. I hardly take her out, since she seems to enjoy the little home I made for her inside my storage, I used my creation magic just for that.

Comparing the two familiars, mine differed in height. Milo's hyena towered over my panther in inches, this made the other party grin like fools.

The party has yet to begin.

"The rules of the duel! If one party stays down for 10 consecutive seconds, the other party wins! If one party crosses the line of the arena, the other party wins! If one party surrenders, the other party wins!" The MC screams through the speakers.

"Excuse me, my lady, but a messenger has come." Sir Amir whispers next to me, I nodded at him in acknowledgment.

"Ad astra," a woman's unfamiliar voice came from my right, I knew she was one of the Queen's assassins based on the codeword, "the Wellington County has infiltrated the Duchy."