The fighting segment of the tournament trials began in earnest, with the academy arena packed to capacity. Students, faculty, and even visiting dignitaries from neighboring kingdoms filled the stands to witness the action.
The headmaster's voice boomed over the crowd as he made his speech. "Today marks the first round of the combat trials! Each student will fight in a one-on-one match, with winners advancing to the next stage. Remember,demonstrate your skill to the fullest, show your resolve, and your sportsmanship!"
The students lined up to draw lots for their matches, each face a mix of anticipation, nerves, and determination.
Rynhara's fingers hovered over the small box filled with numbered tokens. When she pulled hers, it read 120.
"Great," she muttered. "Last match of the day. As if I needed more time to stress about this."
Kaelira, who was sitting in the attendants' section, smirked. "You get more time to study the competition. That's a good thing. A real win win situation if you ask me."
"Thats only if I don't fall asleep due to boredom from waiting," Rynhara shot back.
The first few matches were filled with varying levels of excitement. Some were short-lived, ending in a single blow, while others dragged out into intense, drawn-out battles. Rynhara watched closely, taking mental notes of her potential opponents.
During Match 12 that showed Prince Leoric (Sunfire Kingdom) vs. Lady Selene (Moonveil Duchy) Rynhara took note of Leoric's fiery sword as he clashed against Selene's shimmering crescent blade. The fight was a spectacle of light and fire, but Leoric's raw power and brute force eventually overwhelmed Selene.
Another match that she took note of was match number 34 that showed Veloria (Crystal Dominion) vs. Rynhara's least favorite loudmouth, Daemon.
Veloria stunned the crowd by using a clever feints to disarm Daemon before delivering a decisive blast of ice magic. He hit the ground with a resounding thud.
"Serves him right," Rynhara muttered, smirking as Daemon sulked off the field.
As for Match number 57 that pitted Kira (Thundermarch Clan) vs. Lady Fiora (Auroras Reach) Rynhara mad3 extra shore to watch foe ant weaknesses as Kira's lightning magic (though not as powerful as hers)and relentless aggression overwhelmed Lady Fiora, who barely lasted five minutes in the arena.
"Another win for our group," Veloria whispered to Rynhara.
"Barely surprising," Rynhara replied, watching as Kira strutted off the field like she owned it.
The magical 78th match of Lord Cedric (Everwinter Kingdom) vs. Lady Lyra (Frostglade Province) was a spectaclemof wonder .As it was a battle of master of pure ice magic which ended with Cedric narrowly taking the win thanks to his superior control over freezing terrain.
In the 100th match a wildcard—an unassuming commoner named Fyn wqs showcased as he wielded a peculiar weapon: a wooden slingshot. He took down a much larger opponent using precision, ingenuity, and an impressive combination of wind magic and ricocheting shots.
"Fyn?" Rynhara raised an eyebrow. "Didn't see that one coming."
During match 115 a towering noble named Viktor (Ironheart Empire) flattened his opponent using brute force alone. His massive warhammer and seemingly endless stamina made him a crowd favorite.
The Final match was Rynhara vs. Cailen (Emerald Expanse)
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the crowd buzzed with anticipation for the last match of the day. Rynhara stepped into the arena, scythe in hand, facing off against Cailen, a wiry but deadly swordsman with a cocky grin.
"So, you're the infamous villainess," Cailen said, unsheathing his twin blades.
Rynhara rolled her eyes. "Let me guess—you're here to 'put me in my place' or something equally stupid?"
Cailen smirked. "Something like that."
The fight began with a flurry of strikes. Cailen's speed and dual blades forced Rynhara on the defensive, her scythe spinning to parry each attack.
"Impressive," Cailen said, darting around her strikes. "But let's see how you handle this!"
He unleashed a torrent of wind magic, sending razor-sharp gusts toward Rynhara. She countered with a dark barrier, the magic crackling as the attacks collided.
The fight escalated, with Rynhara using her scythe's reach and elemental versatility to keep Cailen at bay. However, his relentless speed and agility made him a difficult opponent.
At one point, Cailen managed to land a glancing blow on Rynhara's shoulder, drawing blood.
"First blood's mine," he taunted.
"Don't get cocky," Rynhara growled, channeling lightning through her scythe.
The crowd gasped as the arena was illuminated by a brilliant flash of light. Rynhara charged, her scythe cutting through the air with deadly precision.
In the final moments of the match, both fighters were visibly exhausted. Cailen launched a desperate attack, but Rynhara countered with a sweeping strike, her scythe connecting with his chestplate.
Both combatants fell to their knees, panting.
The arena fell silent.
Headmaster Solara's voice echoed. "The winner… by a narrow margin… Rynhara!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, though Rynhara barely heard them as she struggled to her feet.
"Good fight," Cailen said grudgingly, offering her a hand.
"You too," Rynhara replied, shaking it before stumbling back to her team.
That night, Rynhara nursed her injuries while recounting the day's events to Tiamora.
"So," Tiamora said, trying to hide her amusement, "you barely scraped by against a swordsman? You're slipping, dear."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mom," Rynhara muttered, icing her shoulder.
Kaelira smirked from the corner. "At least you didn't lose. Imagine the humiliation."
"Both of you are terrible," Rynhara grumbled, though she couldn't help but smile.
"Well, you survived," Tiamora said, patting her daughter on the head. "And tomorrow's another day. Rest up—you'll need it."
Rynhara sighed. "Why do I feel like this was the easy part?"
Tiamora just grinned. "Oh, sweetie. You have no idea."