"Next match! Solace Thren and Meira Kael from Nysira Academy… versus Kara Voss and Ren O'Shae from Cyran Academy!"
The crowd cheered like they just saw free snacks being handed out.
Solace Thren stepped into the arena, calm and serious. Her red armor looked clean—too clean. She held her sword like she already knew she was going to win.
Meira Kael walked beside her, cracking her knuckles. The glowing runes on her silver gauntlets lit up.
"Hope they hit hard," Meira said. "I need a warm-up."
Across from them, Kara Voss grinned. Her silver hair sparkled as she twirled her twin glaives.
Ren O'Shae dragged his lightning sword along the ground like it owed him money. His armor sparked. His frown said, I hate fun.
The horn blew.
Kara rushed in like a whirlwind, glaives slicing the air. Solace blocked the hits, sparks flying everywhere. But Kara was fast—one strike cut Solace's arm. Nothing serious, just enough to annoy her.
Meira charged Ren. Lightning shot toward her. She ducked, rolled, then punched him in the chest. Boom! He slid back like someone pulled him by his cape.
Solace gritted her teeth, stepped forward, and smacked Kara's glaive away. Then, she kicked Kara in the stomach. Kara spun back, winded.
"Okay," Kara muttered. "She kicks hard."
Ren roared and swung down his sword, but Meira blocked it with both gauntlets. The lightning cracked around her, but she didn't flinch.
"Neat trick," Meira said. "Now here's mine."
She punched the ground—BOOM! A wave of blue energy knocked Ren off his feet. He landed with a grunt and didn't get up fast.
Solace and Kara clashed again—blade vs glaives—until Solace spun low and sliced Kara's leg. Kara dropped her weapon with a yelp.
"Yield?" Solace asked, sword at her neck.
Kara sighed. "Yeah... let's not pretend I can still win."
Ren groaned from the dirt. Meira stood over him, hands glowing. "You done?"
He didn't answer.
"WINNERS: SOLACE THREN AND MEIRA KAEL FROM NYSIRA ACADEMY!"
The crowd burst into cheers. Nysira students waved flags. Someone tossed a hat.
Solace helped Kara up. "Good fight."
"Thanks. I'll stretch next time."
Meira helped Ren. He looked dizzy.
"You smell like burned toast," she said. "Also, you fight good."
The scoreboard lit up with a ding!
[Tournament Points So Far]:
Cyran Academy – 23 points
Gravesend Institute – 20 points
Nysira Academy – 15 points
Elaris Academy – 18 points
Noah sat in the stands next to Liora, casually chewing on a slice of fruit someone had thrown at him earlier. Probably meant as an insult. Joke's on them—it was delicious.
The announcer's voice rang out.
"Next match! From Gravesend Institute: Vex Umbra and Brutus the Black Warden! From Elaris Academy: Faelith Zephyr and Korin Aetherhold!"
Noah leaned over to Liora. "Why does it sound like someone summoned a boss fight?"
Liora shrugged. "Because they probably did."
The arena floor darkened. Clouds rolled in overhead. Even the sun seemed to say, Nope. I'm out.
Vex Umbra stepped out first. She wore a long black cloak that never stopped moving—even though there was no wind. Her eyes glowed violet. She had no weapons in her hands, just floating black daggers swirling around her like hungry flies.
Then came Brutus the Black Warden.
And the crowd got quiet.
Brutus was massive. A walking wall of metal and chains. His armor looked like it was built out of old war machines. A huge axe rested on his back, and his helmet covered his entire face, except for the red glow beneath.
Noah blinked. "Is he breathing smoke?"
"Yep," Liora said. "And probably eats swords for breakfast."
Across from them stood Faelith Zephyr—tall, with wind swirling around her constantly. Her hair floated like she lived in a hurricane.
Beside her, Korin Aetherhold floated a few inches above the ground, glowing blue and gold. His staff shimmered with glowing crystals.
The match began.
Faelith shot into the sky, spinning like a tornado. Wind blades flew from her hands toward Vex, who smiled—then vanished in a puff of black mist.
"Classic shadow move," Noah said, nodding. "Very slippery. Very annoying."
Vex reappeared behind Faelith and flung her shadow daggers up. Faelith flipped, wind carrying her higher, but not fast enough. One dagger slashed across her leg. Blood sprayed in the air.
Down below, Brutus charged.
And when Brutus charged… the ground felt scared.
Korin raised a glowing shield just in time—but Brutus slammed his axe down, and the shockwave cracked the floor. Korin flew backward, bouncing once, then groaning.
"Wow," Noah whispered. "That boy just got launched like laundry."
Korin fired back with magic. Golden beams shot from his staff, exploding on Brutus's armor.
Brutus didn't care.
He stomped forward, shrugging off the hits. His axe caught Korin in the side—not a full hit, but hard enough to send him crashing into a wall.
Meanwhile, Faelith dove down, spinning with wind so sharp it cut stone. Vex smiled again and raised her hands. A wave of black mist shot up—and swallowed Faelith whole.
When it cleared, Faelith was on the ground, coughing, bleeding, and missing part of her left boot.
"Don't ask what happened in the fog," Noah said seriously. "You never want to know what happens in the fog."
Korin struggled to his feet and shouted, "Faelith, now!"
Faelith leapt up and clapped her hands—BOOM! A giant wind blast surged across the arena, pushing Vex and Brutus back.
But Vex laughed. Not a funny laugh. A "you already lost" kind of laugh.
She threw both hands forward and a massive shadow spear exploded from the ground. Faelith tried to dodge, but it clipped her side and threw her across the field like a rag doll.
Brutus grabbed Korin's staff mid-spell and snapped it in half like it was a twig.
Then he raised his axe and hit Korin until he was out cold.
The horn blew.
"WINNERS: VEX UMBRA AND BRUTUS THE BLACK WARDEN! GRAVESEND INSTITUTE WINS THE MATCH!"
The crowd was stunned for a second, then erupted.
Noah stood and clapped slowly. "Well. I won't sleep tonight."
"Same," Liora said. "Vex looked like she wanted to steal souls for fun."
Faelith was helped off the field, limping but alive. Korin woke up with a grunt and tried to cast something. His broken staff sparked and fizzled.
"Someone take his wand privileges," Noah said. "He's had a rough day."
Brutus walked off like nothing had happened. No emotion. No celebration. Just heavy footsteps and steam.
Vex gave a little wave to the crowd, like she was saying, You're next.
[Updated Tournament Points]:
Cyran Academy – 23 points
Gravesend Institute – 30 points
Nysira Academy – 15 points
Elaris Academy – 18 points
Gravesend was now in the lead.