Afyera, observing our initial tactical successes, cast her next spell, obscuring Milin and the young man she was fighting with a haze.
We could only see their silhouettes and the sound of steel clashing against steel. The light elf, seeing one of her squad members disappear into the fog, clicked her tongue in irritation but continued to retreat closer to the dome.
The two girls' expressions gradually grew wary, unsure why their magical energy was leaving their bodies.
From the look Ka'Ula cast at the dark barrier, it was clear she knew where her magical power was leaving their bodies. After giving an order to the girl accompanying her, the light elf turned and cast a spell.
I felt heat rise from the ground. Glancing down in confusion, I saw the fire begin to touch the water, creating smoke inside the dome.
From the look Ka'Ula gave me, I could see a confident smile appear on her face. On alert, I heard something flying toward me.
Trusting my body, I struck in front of me, and feeling something hit the sword of darkness, I looked at what was falling from the impact.
On the ground lay nothing more than ice balls, cut in half. The smoke grew thicker, hiding the two girls from me.
Waiting until they were out of sight, I smiled and summoned small swords of darkness, pointing them in the opposite direction.
I tried to reduce the power of the swords of darkness; I had no desire to kill my opponents, only to strike a blow that would slow them down or disable them from continuing our fight.
Having waited for a scream from the place where I directed the blades of darkness and heading towards the dark elf, moving in the smoke I managed with difficulty to find the figure of Afiera, who, as I could hardly see, was already fighting with someone.
Judging by our opponents' behavior, I concluded that they had already developed different strategies and tactics against their opponents during their training.
My footsteps were audible to the dark elf and her opponent, who was attempting to destroy the badge on Afyera's chest.
The sounds of my blows grew even faster, indicating that my blades had reached the light elf and her partner.
Seeing two figures, one attempting to retreat from the other, I resisted the urge to summon my tormentors to aid the dark elf, but they were absent from the tactics and strategy I had developed.
Wincing at the thought of having completely forgotten about them, I tried to discern who was trying to evade blows and who was attacking, aiming for one sure blow. I remembered that the dark elf had a bow as her weapon, but I doubted that was all she had.
Peering into the smoke before me, I saw only a single blade and a figure that continued to retreat. Wanting to confirm my thoughts, I struck the one swinging the sword.
Because both figures were immersed in the battle and constantly moving through the smoke inside the dome, they didn't know where the one aiming it was, and my strike with the dark sword struck the light elf's back.
The unexpected blow to her back caused Ka'Ula to fall to the ground, sword outstretched, aiming at the dark elf.
We heard the emblem on the light elf's chest crack and crumble, signaling the defeat of our enemy's captain.
Glancing at the dark elf, I saw her clutching her bow to her chest, panic evident in her gaze. Looking from the suddenly fallen Ka'Ula to me, her panicked expression turned to surprise.
Nodding toward the fair elf lying on the ground, I headed toward the remaining sounds of the struggle. Passing through the smoke, I encountered a girl sitting in the water, clutching her belt where blood was pouring.
Looking at her face, I saw it growing paler, her gaze filled with acceptance of defeat. She slapped her emblem with her free hand and lowered her head. Continuing through the smoke, I approached the fog that shielded Milin and her opponent from us.
Passing through it, listening for the sounds, I heard only pairs of feet treading water. Wary and preparing to fight the remaining member of Ka'Ula's squad, I began cautiously approaching the sound of feet.
Passing through the fog, I saw a young man sitting on the ground, and Milin stood above him with a bored expression. Hearing my footsteps, the girl quickly turned toward me, pointing her blade, ready to fight me.
- I see you've dealt with your opponent. - I said, putting away my blade, the girl, seeing me, lowered her weapon.
Chuckling at my words, Milin sheathed her weapon and pointed at the dome of darkness. Understanding her meaning, I canceled it and the fog began to lift, revealing the outcome of our battle to the remaining team members.
The remaining team members began to approach, their wary glances shifting from one enemy team member to the next.
After confirming that my temporary squad was unharmed, I headed toward the girl who had been struck by my dark blade.
Seeing me approaching her, she tensed and began looking around for someone to help her. Clutching her wound and trying to crawl away from me, the rest of the team, seeing the wounded girl's behavior, looked at me even more warily.
- Don't worry, I won't harm you. I need to cancel my magic in your body. - I said in a quiet voice, addressing the girl, who flinched. I could tell she wanted to refuse. - If I don't do this, there's a chance my magic will kill you.
My last words addressed to the girl apparently made her look at her wound; painful sensations ran across her face; she stopped in place and waited for me to approach her.
- Take your hands off and let me touch the wound. - I said, sitting down next to the girl, who shuddered. I could see the blood slowly pooling between her hands.
There was fear in her gaze, which she was trying to fight off. Pressing her hands to the wound, she began to push herself off the ground with her feet and crawl further.
Glancing at the team captain, who and the others had helped the light elf and the young man regain consciousness, I was left wondering why the girl sitting across from me hadn't passed out from the pain.
Seeing my gaze, Samantha said something to Cassandra standing nearby and, leaving the others, began to approach me and the girl.
As they approached, confusion appeared on the girls' faces, their gaze shifting from me to the wounded girl, who was staring at me.
- What's wrong, Trey? Do you need help? - Samantha asked, cautiously approaching the girl and me and sitting down next to us. - Oyli, try to calm down and trust my husband. I think he's trying to help you.
The light elf cast an expectant glance at me, asking me to confirm what she had said earlier. I only spread my hands, showing that I had not intended anything bad.
- I need to take back my magic, otherwise it could harm her body or even kill her. - I said, pointing to the girl's wound.
The girl's face grew increasingly white. Was this change due to my magic or was the wound more serious than I thought?
The light elf shook her head and tried to smile at the wounded girl, extending her hand toward her.
- Squeeze my hands if it hurts while Trey removes his magic from your body. - Samantha said in a caring voice. - Don't worry, he won't hurt you again.
I wanted to dispute her words, feeling my shoulder tighten. I glanced at Cassandra, who shook her head at my desire to dispute Samantha's words.
Oily shifted her gaze between me and the girls; I could see her considering various options, trying to resist the increasingly intense pain.
Surrendering to the pain, the girl lowered the wound and took Samantha's hands, trying not to look at me or her own wound.
Examining the wound, I could see how a blade of darkness had pierced the armor. The blood pouring from the wound grew darker.
I sighed, remembering the royal wyvern that died when the darkness reached its heart. Moving my hands toward the girl's wound, I saw how she squeezed Samantha's hands tighter.
Putting my hand to the wound, I felt Oily trying to resist the pain. I felt my magic in the girl's body, gradually taking over more and more of the wounded woman's body.
When I told the girl I needed to cancel my magic, I wasn't lying, but I didn't have the knowledge to cancel it without killing Oily.
Summoning darkness magic, I tried to draw it out of the girl's body, who began to arch and scream, attracting the attention of the remaining team members, who had already confirmed that the others weren't seriously hurt. I heard quick footsteps coming our way; I didn't have time to explain to everyone that if I wanted to save the girl from my magic, I shouldn't interfere.
- Stufon Trey! What are you doing with the wounded woman? Let her go immediately. We need to get her to the healers! - I heard the team captain's voice, and I could hear the irritation in it at what he was seeing and hearing. - I order you to let her go!
Wincing at the young man's words, I felt the dark magic gradually begin to leave the girl's body.
Oily lost consciousness due to the intense pain, and her screams ceased to be heard, leaving only the sound of approaching footsteps.
By the time the rest of the team reached us, I had a small ball of darkness in my hand. After examining the wound and confirming that I couldn't feel my magic inside the girl, I took out a healing pill and, lifting her head, I opened her mouth and pushed the pill down her throat with my fingers.
Hearing her swallow, I turned my gaze to Filier, who was drawing his sword and shield and preparing to attack.
- Should I have canceled my magic, or maybe you wanted the girl to die?! - I said irritably, turning to the young man and showing him a small ball of darkness with blood still visible on it. - If you decide to attack now, I won't hold back.
Confirming my words, I summoned all the tormentors except the wyvern. I didn't want to fight the entire team, much less kill them.
If they were harmed, the director would blame me for the academy being left without team members and demand my participation as a key member.
The other team members, who had followed the young man and saw me summoning the tormentors, turned expectant glances to the team captain.
I had no doubt that none of the team liked me; our fight with Filier was still fresh in their memories, and I could see from their faces that they didn't want to fight me even though they were in the majority.
The young man frowned, looking from me to Cassandra and Samantha, who had stood next to me, summoning their weapons, and to the tormentors.
Looking at the girl lying on the ground and watching her color return, Filier put away his sword and shield.
Looking around, the young man stopped his gaze on the two seated light elves, who were watching with interest what was happening before them.
- Okay, you two Stufons, come down here and take Stufon Oily to the healers. - The young man shouted, gesturing toward the two Stufons. They looked over their shoulders in surprise, but seeing no one, they realized they were being addressed.
While waiting for the two stuphons Filier had indicated to descend, silence fell over the team. Everyone looked at me and my tormentors with apprehension.
The team members' gazes shifted from me to my tormentors, glancing at the girls standing next to me; apparently, the team members weren't wary of them.
Seeing the two stuphons approaching, I stepped away from the girl, allowing them to lift her and head toward the exit from the platform.
- Stufon Tray, now you need to watch the other team members fight. - the team captain said, drawing my attention with his hand, pointing to the place where I met the team. - The rest of you, split into your squads and let's begin training!
Looking at Cassandra and Samantha, I could tell by their behavior that they wanted to refuse Filier's orders and go observe the training with me.
I merely shook my head at their questioning gaze, drawing their attention. Ka'Ula and the young man went to fetch two stupons, fearing for their partner's health.
As they passed me, I saw their displeasure at the battle between our teams and the fact that Oily had been injured.
Shifting my gaze from the retreating girl and boy, I began to watch the team's training with interest. Having split into their squads, even those in my temporary squad began training.
To my surprise, their fights weren't focused on swordplay but used various spells against each other. Some squads tried to attack with magic and defend themselves with it, such as a fiery circle surrounding one of the team members and his fiery spear flying toward the enemy.
Continuing to observe the young man's squad, I began to ponder how I would have acted in his place.
Attacking with magic alone wouldn't force the enemy to make mistakes or surrender. Were they really betting more on who would run out of magic first?
Shaking my head, I realized that this approach wasn't my strong suit. Perhaps I could suppress them magically, but then the battle would drag on for a long time.
I, on the other hand, was comfortable using magic as a melee weapon, thereby throwing the enemy off-balance.
Assessing our training battle against the team, I found that my fighting style, even when I tried to restrain it, still dealt damage.
Recalling my training against the major and professor in Midjen, I felt I had a better sense of the power with which I applied my style.
Having first fought the team captain, I began to fear that my style, even in its weakened state, could cause significant harm to my opponent.
And after the battle against the light elf's team, I realized that my fears were confirmed: I still haven't fully mastered the power of my style.
Wincing and glancing at the opposing squads, I settled on Cassandra and Samantha. Looking at their behavior, I was surprised to discover they understood each other without words—just a glance was enough.
Samantha attacked with her magic and, to my surprise, used her weapon to close in on her opponents. Her opponents tried to stop her with magic, but the light elf's movements were faster at times.
Once in range of the girl's weapon, her opponents' formation began to shift, retreating from the girl's potential attack. They tried to slow her with both offensive magic and attempts to provoke her, hoping to confuse her.
The light elf, choosing one opponent, attacked them, ignoring the others. Watching as chains suddenly erupted from the ground, restraining Samantha's chosen enemy, I glanced in surprise at the dark elf, who was assisting her friend.
Examining the chains enveloping the enemy, I sensed dark magic within them. There wasn't much of it, but it was still there.
Trying to restrain myself from rushing into battle, lest I ask the dark elf where the dark magic in her spell came from, and continuing to watch the battle, I saw a third member of the girls' team join the fray—a short man.
When the young man touched the ground, I saw the earth rise up at his touch, stretching toward the two opponents focused on Samantha.
I could see the enemy, wrapped in chains, trying to get rid of them first with magic and then with blows from his weapon, but all was in vain.
When the raised earth reached the two opponents, it hid them inside, forming a dome similar to mine, but unlike the darkness, I saw that the earth magic was strong.
I knew the girls' team had won, especially when Samantha covered the dome of earth with her magic, making the earth even stronger, preventing anyone from breaking out from within.
Catching myself thinking that after the duel against them, I hadn't received any other challenges from other Stufons.
I tapped the academy emblem, found the duels, and looked through the Stufons' names, seeing their rankings and how many wins and losses they had. A slight smile appeared on my face when I reached my name.
Stufon Trey Ranking: One hundred and tenth place.
Number of duels: One.
Wins: One.
Losses: Zero.
I had no desire to immediately challenge those who were among the strongest groups of Stufons.
I wanted to better control my swordsmanship and perhaps improve my understanding of my magic. And gradually make my opponents more challenging.
A smile appeared on my face as I settled my gaze on one of the Stufons and looked at his ranking.
Stufon Nein:
Rating: One hundred.
Number of duels: fifty.
Wins: thirty-seven.
Losses: thirteen.
When I clicked on the challenge button, a message appeared informing me that my challenge request had been sent to the stooge and that I would receive a decision.
Removing my hand from the logo, I returned to watching the team's practice matches with interest.