Standing on the arena, facing each other, dressed in full bodysuits, both Elysia and Ray stared at one another with unwavering eyes, the atmosphere between them tense and silent... as if the world had paused for this mont alone.
The arena was abuzz with murmurs, voices rising and falling like waves. Most of the students were either admirers of Ray or Elysia, both of whom were well-known among the academy circles.
Others had simply gathered to watch, hoping for so fiery entertainnt and drama that only a public duel could offer.
"What do you think... who’s going to win?" Lyra finally asked, glancing sideways at Alia and Grace, her voice laced with curiosity and a bit of unease.
There was a long pause between them, before Grace sighed and replied, her tone calm yet certain, "Obviously Ray is going to win. You’ve seen how fast he’s grown these past few weeks. The gap between him and Elysia isn’t sothing that can be ignored... She’s still at a lower rank than him."
Lyra frowned slightly, her brows tightening as her concern grew clearer. "That’s exactly why I don’t understand. Why is Elysia so determined to fight... when she knows she’s going to lose? And in front of all these people too? Wouldn’t it just affect her negatively... and even more than that, what about Ash? It would affect him too."
There was no answer to her question, because no one could really make sense of it. No one knew what was going through Elysia’s mind. No one could guess what she truly wanted from this fight.
Only Alia’s gaze turned somber upon hearing that question. Even though she didn’t know every detail of what was about to happen... she had seen just enough to understand what needed to be prevented. What people didn’t realize was that Instructor Leonard’s sudden appearance had already changed sothing important.
She had seen it in her vision — both Ray and Elysia, fighting without restraint, right then and there, without any supervision and safety. Although no one was hurt in the vision, she still took no risk, after all if sothing was not going to happen, then the vision should not have co.
And many might wonder why she hadn’t tried to stop the duel completely... why she only inford Instructor Leonard instead of preventing it altogether. But the truth was sothing else, sothing she had learned the hard way.
The future shown in her visions could not be changed completely... not with her current powers. The path of fate was far too strong for her to rewrite entirely.
However, what she could do... was influence it. Not by erasing the events, but by softening the impact. She didn’t prevent the duel — but she made sure it happened here, now, in the arena, under the eyes of the academy and the instructors.
This way, no matter what happened... no one would be seriously hurt.
"Maybe... it’s because she wants to prove sothing," a voice suddenly spoke from behind them. "She wants to prove that she really loves Ash. That even if she’s going to lose... she’ll still show that she’s willing to go this far for him. To show that her love was not just empty words."
Her words were calm but carried weight. The three girls turned around at once, surprised by the voice.
It was—
"Senior Aurora..."
It was Aurora Starborn, the Star Blessed.
But before they could say anything more, before their thoughts could be voiced...
A chanical voice echoed throughout the arena, interrupting everything.
***
[Are you ready?]
A chanical voice echoed across the arena, and instantly, the entire space was consud by a heavy silence. Not a single whisper was heard. Every pair of eyes were locked onto the two figures standing inside the square boundary.
Both Elysia and Ray gave a silent nod.
[Let the duel begin.]
Yet, neither moved.
They stood still, exactly ten long steps apart, their bodies tense like coiled springs waiting to snap.
Ray was dressed in a fitted black combat suit, the official one provided by the academy. He held a standard-issue blunt sword, its handle slightly worn from use.
Elysia, wearing the sa body suit, stood tall with her blade angled slightly downward. Her long silver hair had been tied neatly into a high ponytail, the strands swaying gently with the breeze, brushing against the back of her neck.
Above them, the sky was painted in thick strokes of grey. Heavy clouds veiled the sun, cloaking the dueling arena in a dim, shadowed light.
The wind blew softly, curling around the pillars like a whisper, while the artificial lights lining the arena flickered on, casting a white glow against the dull tal floor.
"I’ll let you attack first," Ray spoke in a calm, composed tone, his voice devoid of emotion. "After all, you’re lower in rank than ."
He had already activated his skill—Null Mind—once again. He couldn’t afford to let his emotions interfere in this fight.
{Sigh... The skill is working well, I’ll admit that. But don’t forget, Ray... you’re not removing those emotions permanently. They’re just being pushed down, suppressed for now. Eventually, they’ll return the mont you deactivate the skill.}
I know that... I’m not trying to erase them. Just need them silent right now.
{Then let ask you this—why exactly are you fighting her? I get it, she hurt you... saying that boy, Ash, is stronger than you. But even so, you could’ve simply rejected her challenge. If you really wanted to prove sothing, you could’ve tracked Ash down later and challenged him directly instead.}
Have you forgotten already...? You were the one who told to kill her.
{Yeah, and? I said either her or that star girl. Doesn’t an you needed to accept a fight driven by feelings.}
Then shouldn’t you be glad that I’m fighting her now?
{Glad? No. I’m worried about you, Ray. Can you really handle this? Will you be okay when it’s over?}
Yeah... I think I’ll be fine. This fight... maybe it’ll help decide what to do with these feelings I still carry for her...
You were right when you said I can’t force her to love . I understand that. But at the very least, I want to try and show her that Ash isn’t what she thinks he is. Maybe she’s just grateful to him for saving her. Maybe she mistook that gratitude for sothing deeper. Maybe this fight will open her eyes...
I just... I want to give everything I have before I finally let go. I need to be able to say that I tried, that I did all I could... even if it ans getting hurt in the end.
{Sigh... fine. Do what you need to do. I won’t stop you. Your reasoning isn’t wrong... it’s just painful.}
Thank you... for understanding._
Elysia, standing across from him, took a slow breath. Her gaze was sharp, unyielding.
"I’ll gladly go first," she said in a steady, serious voice. Her grip on the blade tightened, her stance shifting just slightly as she prepared to move.
Every breath she took beca slower, more focused, her silver mana stirring beneath her skin like the calm before a storm.
-Swish.
She moved mana through her body, accelerating herself instantly as she ran quickly towards Ray. Her steps were fast, yet graceful, barely touching the ground as if gliding.
But Ray didn’t move at all. He simply stood there, completely still, his arms relaxed, as if waiting for her to arrive. And just when she was only five steps away from him, her blade flashed with silver light.
In that instant, she swung her sword, releasing a crescent slash of silvery mana straight towards him.
Three powerful slashes tore through the air, two of them forming an ’X’-shaped cross, while the third followed vertically behind them like a finishing strike.
But Ray didn’t do anything to counter it. The mont the attacks ca close enough to touch him, his figure beca blurry for a split second, and the attacks passed right through his body like cutting through mist.
It was Illusion Step. A movent technique Aetheris had taught him as more fragnts of his sealed mories unlocked after his Rank up.
The technique drew upon both space and water elents, rging them together to create afterimages and spatial mirages that confused the senses.
But just as the attack missed, and his form reappeared a few steps away, a blade coated in bright silver moonlight appeared right in front of him. The distance between the tip of Elysia’s sword and Ray’s face was dangerously close.
Still, Ray reacted in ti. With a blinding motion, he raised his own sword and deflected the incoming strike upwards, the clang echoing faintly like a chi.
She’s sharp...
Even before the echo faded, Elysia followed up. She twisted her body mid-motion and launched a sharp kick toward his face, fast and well-aid. But Ray caught her leg with his hand and twisted her body sideways, almost making her lose her balance.
However, Elysia spun nimbly, using the montum to flip herself upright and land on her feet with practiced ease.
She attacked again, not giving him ti to breathe. Sotis she struck directly from the front, sotis using unexpected tricks or feints, occasionally even trying to land blows with her fists or legs when he least expected it.
But none of her attacks landed.
So were deflected smoothly, others were blocked with precise movents, and a few simply passed through his form once again, the illusionary step making it feel like she was striking empty space.
Damn it...
***
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