EP.180 Sign Here, Battle Mage! (6)
Rania van Trias.
Guest from a Foreign Land, Lrutia.
As the duel between the two professors approached, the students were busy chattering about this intriguing incident.
Of course, there are many unclear aspects regarding the duel itself.
The fact that it is a public duel in front of all the students. The reason why the duel is taking place. And, the remarkably quick scheduling of the duel, but… that wasn’t something the students needed to worry about.
The only thing that interested the students was one thing.
Who will win?
It’s a topic that can’t help but draw interest.
No student was unaware of Rania van Trias’s skill. Especially, according to the testimonies from the students of the Battle Magic Department… Professor Rania was already at a level near an insurmountable nightmare.
But what about Professor Lrutia?
Although she was a recently arrived professor to Apuria, Professor Lrutia was no pushover either. The depth of her magical knowledge showcased in front of students was immeasurable. Not to mention her practical application of the spells covered in class.
A mage who seemed to have experienced real battles.
She even exuded an aura similar to that of a well-trained soldier, having overcome numerous hardships and adversities.
And now, these two mages were about to clash.
Battle Mage. Wizard.
Who would emerge victorious?
To see that result with their own eyes, the students headed to the announced location. However, not everyone was fortunate enough to have such a privilege.
“…”
There was a girl glued to the window, gazing outside. She sighed deeply as she watched the stream of students heading to the duel arena.
“Whew…”
Hero candidate, Chloe.
With a glum face, she murmured quietly.
“I want to go see too.”
Chloe also wanted to witness the duel that had become the talk of the town, but unfortunately, she was not granted permission. It had been about a week since the “no outing” constraint had been imposed on her.
Didn’t they say I shouldn’t show myself in front of guests from foreign lands…?
She didn’t know the reason.
All she knew was that this had led to her restriction. Of course, her daily life was unaffected thanks to the maids in the Central Academic Hall, but she felt a little stifled due to the current situation.
“Geez…”
Pouting, Chloe draped her robe over her shoulders. To relieve her disappointment of not being able to go outside, she thought to check out the facilities available in the Central Academic Hall.
A place that was usually too crowded to visit.
Such as the gym or the cafeteria.
Since all the students went to watch the duel, she figured it would be a good opportunity to explore peacefully. Just then, as Chloe stepped down the stairs, she heard footsteps behind her.
Tap.
Must be another student still around? Without thinking much of it, Chloe turned around and…
“Whoa…”
She froze solid.
Now that she thought about it, if there was a student above her level on the upper floor… there was only one such person.
Her platinum hair gleamed in the sunlight.
With a light outfit yet a seemingly graceful stride.
The Fourth Princess, Ayla…
The woman born from the most noble bloodline in the kingdom.
Chloe stared blankly at her, while Ayla, who was descending the stairs, noticed Chloe’s presence and halted her steps.
Their golden and green eyes locked onto each other. Chloe was the first to avert her gaze.
“Um, it’s an honor to meet you…”
Nervously, Chloe stumbled over her words.
Although she had learned the etiquette for addressing the princess through the Dark Master previously, her head was in a whirl, making it hard to continue.
“…Ah.”
Seeing Chloe’s flustered demeanor amusing, Ayla covered her mouth and smiled lightly.
“You don’t have to be so formal here in Apuria.”
“Ah, yes…”
Her voice sounded somewhat fatigued.
Chloe sensed a hint of weariness in that tone. Slowly, she raised her head to look at Ayla. There was something different about her than the rumors she had heard.
I heard she was confident and dignified…
She didn’t exude that kind of vibe now. Instead, she looked somewhat drained, a bit tired.
“…Chloe, is it?”
She spoke.
“Shall we talk for a moment?”
Chloe nodded slowly.
—
Kelharlem Bel Artiya.
What kind of mage is he?
I sat in the waiting room, pondering about Kelharlem.
Madman Kelharlem.
He had a notorious reputation, yet among those few who truly knew him, there were scarcely any. And I was one of that handful.
I knew Kelharlem’s constraints.
I understood his magical prowess, and I knew quite well how far he could reach once freed from those constraints.
Well, I’ve seen it all.
When I carried out operations with Kelharlem on the battlefield.
During the third subjugation of the Gletus, I had requested Kelharlem to free himself from all constraints. At that time, Kelharlem readily accepted my proposition.
He knew too.
That there was no other way at that moment.
And even after subduing Gletus, as I restrained the rampaging Kelharlem… I understood what kind of mage he was.
“Hmm…”
It was hard to describe in a single word.
But if I had to put it, I would say…
He was tricky. Very tricky.
To put it frankly, he was similar to me.
While I had honed entirely different weapons to capture Skebal… Kelharlem transformed the shape of his weapon into dozens of varieties.
Utilization of magic.
Transformation of spells.
That was the essence of the demonic path that Kelharlem walked. He never cast the same form of spell twice. Always demanding a response with something new and unfamiliar.
It was troublesome. Annoying.
[Professor Rania, please come up!]
Yet, he was still a mage.
“If it’s a mage I’m up against, then who cares?”
I chuckled as I stood up.
“I don’t think I’ll lose…”
Bam!
“But you must lose, senpai. You know that, right?”
Stunned.
“…”
I rubbed my eyes in silence.
Yeah, this was a fight I needed to lose…
Sigh…
With a heavy sigh, I trudged out of the waiting room. Amidst cheers from countless students, Kelharlem was also stepping forward.
Madman Kelharlem.
I looked straight at him as I ascended to the dueling arena. It had been quite a while since I had faced a Wizard instead of Skebal.
Tap.
Kelharlem and I stood at opposite ends of the duel arena. The duel would proceed as per our prior agreement. I pulled my gloves down while Kelharlem rolled up the sleeves of his robe.
Bwooooh!
The trumpet sounded to signal the start.
However, no one moved at first. We stood still, simply staring at each other. A noisy commencement wasn’t necessary in a duel between mages.
Yes, let’s start off lightly.
I extended my arm forward. I rubbed my middle finger and thumb together to snap.
In response, Kelharlem drew a line beside him.
He drew a stroke (一劃).
I snapped a point (一點).
And my magic allowed the point (點) to transform into a stroke (劃). Tick, a spark flew. The first spell I showcased was my most favorite one.
Smite.
A streak of sharp lines surged towards Kelharlem.
—
The duels between mages are often said to be excessively flashy and noisy. There’s truth to that claim. In duels between mages, the outcome is not as significant.
They simply showcase their respective realms.
For example, like this.
Ah, this side will unleash a high-tier spell with this kind of power. Oh, then this side will layer several mid-tier spells to nullify it. In that case, this side will use an even higher-tier spell…
Truth be told, it’s a scripted duel anyway.
They merely wanted to show how far they could go; thus, it’s hard to find practicality in those duels. It’s just wrapped up in the guise of a ‘duel’ where they take turns exchanging blows.
It’s probably the same this time.
Unlike the excited younger students, the older professors sitting in the audience appeared indifferent. It wasn’t a duel between young mages. It was a duel between two professors who had a firm understanding of the world of mages.
Would such a duel contain any heated combat?
They would just exchange spells and end it.
Moreover, it was said that there would be constraints upon each other. I heard it said they would only use basic spells, right? A duel under such constraints tends to become a bit more boring.
It seems like it’ll be a dull duel…
That’s what the professors thought.
Yet, they still held to a glimmer of hope that Professor Rania, with her unorthodox thinking, might showcase something unexpected. And as soon as the duel began, the professors tilted their heads in confusion.
Neither of them moved a muscle.
No frantic hand movements to draw circuits. Nor did they present a prepared spell. They didn’t even draw up mana.
They slowly, very slowly…
Simply plucked their fingers and drew lines.
And then.
Kaboom! KA-ANG!
A deafening sound shredded the silence. In a split second, the professors couldn’t comprehend the exchange that transpired. They only grasped the results belatedly.
A wall of earth surged up in an instant.
The center of that wall was profoundly dented.
As soon as the professors understood the result, the next spell followed immediately. Rania flicked her fingers, and two strands of sharp lines smashed into the earthen wall. In the blink of an eye, a KWA-ANG! echoed.
Crack!
Unable to withstand the shock, the earthen wall collapsed.
At that moment, a wave of intense heat surged forth from behind the crumbling wall. Emerging from the debris was Kelharlem, clutching a fireball.
Fire-ball.
It was the most basic spell. However, its form was different from what the professors knew. It wasn’t a round ball of fire. It was a sharply chiseled, disc-like fireball.
WHOOSH!
Throwing it, Kelharlem moved his fingers rapidly, drawing lines.
First a stroke (一劃), then another (二劃).
He drew his finger from top to bottom, then from bottom to side. In that moment, the completed spell radiated with light, and walls of earth surged up around Rania.
Boom!
The spell that was initially utilized for defense was now being used to trap the opponent. As the fireball aimed for the small gap between the earth walls, it was just then.
Swish!
A cutting sound echoed.
A streak of light drawn from within the earth wall severed through it. Even the fireball shot towards the wall was split in half.
Boom!
As the flames lost their focal point, frantically scattering, Rania appeared amidst the remnants of the remaining wall. Thus far, she had only used one spell.
Smite.
The basic damaging spell of the striking type.
She had shot it like an arrow, or wielded it like a sword. And as you can imagine, what she showed was just a fraction of her potential.
Smite.
Rania flicked, nodded, and rubbed her fingers. Those actions were too simplistic to be drawing a circuit. Her movements contained no strokes (劃). Only points (點).
However, even that was enough.
Just by her marking the points, the circuit was completed.
It radiated light and became a weapon to strike down her opponent.
BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM!
Sharp lines poured forth. Some were needle-like and sharp, others blunt and thick, while some resembled razor-sharp blades. Although their forms varied, they were all a single spell.
WHIZ!
In response, Kelharlem used both hands. With one hand, he drew a circle. With the other, he made a stroke. His hand movements were rapid, and the spell manifestation occurred almost instantly.
BOOM!
A mound of earth surged from the ground. It accurately moved toward the point where Smite would land. It was a technique made possible by reading the flow of mana.
Thud!
The sharp lines collided with the mound of earth, piercing through it, shattering, slicing through it. The impact diminished, yet Smite still remained intact. And Kelharlem swung his finger upward.
WHOOSH!
The flames that sprang forth swallowed up the sharp lines, concluding yet another exchange. At that moment, the professors realized that, after a few exchanges, only three spells had been used.
Smite.
Fire-ball and Earth-Wall.
Same spells. But entirely different forms.
A spell meant for defense was used for attack. A spell meant for attack was treated for defense. Since their forms changed every time, their uses shifted as well.
…It’s different.
This was unlike a standard duel between mages.
Although they were only using basic spells, it made the duel even more intriguing. The professors, who had been sitting unmoved, were now riveted. They swallowed dryly as they gazed at the two young mages standing in the dueling arena.
Neither of them had moved a single step from their starting point.
The only difference from the earlier duel was that the remnants of the spells lay scattered around them as soot. And the spectators instinctively noted.
A light exchange has ended.
Now, the real fight begins.
And that intuition was spot on. Rania tapped her toes lightly against the ground of the dueling arena. Then she bent down, taking a large step forward.
Boom!
For the first time, their positions changed. With that one step, the scattered debris on the floor trembled. Her lowered posture seemed ready to leap at any moment.
To begin with, Rania stood in the dueling arena as a Battle Mage.
Closing the distance is the fundamental fighting style of a Battle Mage. And she had always remained faithful to the basics. This time would be no different.
“Let’s start lightly.”
The light exchange had ended.
“Now that I’ve gauged your level…”
Her expressionless fist clenched tight.
“Next is…”
“I’ll definitely make a killing blow.”
Boom! She pushed off the ground, charging toward Kelharlem.
A smile curved at the corners of her lips. Her eyes, gleaming with the desire for victory, shone in a shade of blue.
Author’s note (afterword)
An ugly Battle Mage filled with thoughts of winning…!
