CHAPTER 17 — The Dojo competition (2)
The mage dojo again fell quite.
Master Garrick is sitting on his chair hands folded. Eldric is sitting on the ground beside him.
Students sat in disciplined silence waiting for their master's words.
Rowan sat among them, excitement bubbling in his chest
'it's my first time sitting with other students. I don't know why, but my heart is beating so fast.'
Some students are still whispering to each other
"Hey do you know what type of spell was that."
"How would I know. It's also my first time seeing something like that."
Seeing the other students whispering One student asked the student beside him.
"Hey Riven, do you know what type of spell that was — i mean is it possible to cast a spell with an axe."
Riven sat quite back straight his eyes were closed but he slowly opened them and said.
"Who knows there are still many things in magic we have not uncovered."
While saying this, he looks at Rowan who is smiling as usual.
'He was the kid I gave advise last time, someone who was struggling to even do basic fire ball is casting an unusual fire spell like that...'
Riven nods slowly.'Hmm atleast now he won't be a shame to the dojo.'
Everyone was looking at master Garrick as the dojo master finally broke the silence.
"Ok so as you all know today is the competition of the mage dojo like every year."
Master leaned forward.
"The one who wins the competition will get the recommendation letter for the Grand Aetherion academy to be eligible to take the entrance exam."
Master Garrick looks at the students but his gaze specifically linger on Riven as they both shared each other a glance.
"So now let the compitition begins."
With that two circular arenas shimmered into existence on the backyard.
Looking at the circle area Rowan looks at Eldric behind him. rubbing the back of his head he asked.
"What do I do?"
"Just step onto the areana."
Rowan again cheers up as he then looks forward at his first opponent. Rowan steps forward and the moment he and his opponent is fully inside the circle.
A translucent barrier gets formed around the circle Rowan looks around seeing the barrier.
'what is this? is this also magic.'
"Hey you dolt !"
Rowan looks back as Eldric says giving him a thumbs up.
"Don't get distracted and focus on battle... Don't lost on your first match."
Rowan. who's mouth was slightly opened closed it with a smile as he nods turning towards his opponent he looks forward to the battle.
---
The air inside the barrier felt heavier than it had a moment ago.
Rowan stood on one side of the circular arena, axe resting loosely in his grip, his boots pressing into the packed earth. Across from him, his opponent rolled his shoulders once, wand already raised, eyes sharp with focus.
Beyond the translucent barrier, another arena shimmered into existence. Two more students stepped into position there, the low murmur of the crowd fading as the barriers sealed shut.
The dojo master's voice echoed across the training grounds, deep and steady.
"The rules are simple. The battle will take place inside the barrier. There is no time limit. Focus on your opponent, defeat them, and remain standing."
His gaze swept across both arenas.
"If the barrier detects that you can no longer fight, you will be removed automatically. Understood?"
"Yes, Master!" the students answered in unison.
The dojo master raised his hand.
Then lowered it.
"Begin."
The moment the word left his mouth, Rowan felt something shift.
The barrier hummed faintly, mana circulating along its surface like invisible veins. The outside world dulled, sounds muffled, as if the arena itself demanded full attention.
Rowan adjusted his stance, feet settling naturally into position.
Across from him, his opponent inhaled sharply and lifted his wand.
And just as mana began to gather—
Amemory surfaced.
The smell of cheap ale and the warmth of a crowded inn filled the atmosphere.
Eldric sat slouched at the table, one leg hooked over the other, a half-empty mug dangling loosely in his hand. Rowan sat across from him, staring into his own drink like it held the secrets of the world.
"Hey, Master," Rowan had asked suddenly. "Why do spells all have different names?"
Eldric squinted at him. "What kind of question is that?"
"I mean," Rowan continued, genuinely puzzled, "fireball, flame burst, ignition—aren't they all just… fire?"
"each spell has different Form,Use and Mana density that's why they have different names." Eldric replied causally sipping from his cup.
"But still... I mean. what's the difference? At the end of the day they are just fire aren't they. So why name them differently. Can't we just say fire and launch the spell.'
Eldric stared at him for a long moment.
"Huh you are not gonna understand it like that."
Eldric sighed and took another drink.
"Alright, let me put it this way," he said. "When you cut wood, Do you treat every wood same."
Rowan blinked. "Of course not."
"Oh?" Eldric raised a brow. "Why is that? isn't that all wood?"
"Well," Rowan said, warming to the topic, "if it's a thick log, you split it straight down. If it's a branch, you trim it sideways. If it's planks, you shave them smooth. Same wood—but different shapes need different techniques."
"And, why is that."
Rowan leaned forward "Because each wood need a specific technique. If I use different technique to cut a different wood then, that wood won't be cut well, and then it wouldn't sell."
Eldric stared at Rowan silently.
Rowan frowned. "What?"
Eldric suddenly reached over and smacked the back of Rowan's head.
SMACK!!
"Idiot," he said. "That's exactly what I was saying."
Rowan rubbed his head."What? What were you saying. I still didn't get it."
"Huh." Eldric sighed. "it's just like that. Just like different shape of wood are named differently so that Your mind knows that it needs to be cut differently. That's the same with spell.
Eldric took another sip,"when you name a spell. Your mind would know what type of spell is it."
"Then why didn't you just say that?"
Eldric groaned. "Because magic isn't about saying it. It's about knowing it. When you give a spell a name, your mind understands the shape you're trying to give the mana."
He leaned back, eyes half-lidded.
"Same element. Different form."
---
"Fireball!"
The shout snapped Rowan back into the present.
A sphere of condensed flame burst into existence at the tip of the opponent's wand, heat rippling through the air as it launched forward.
Rowan's eyes sharpened.
He didn't step back he lifted his axe and swung.
"Fire Chop."
The axe cut through the air in a clean, practiced arc.
Mana surged—not swelling, not compressing, but spreading along the blade's path. A crescent of flame erupted forward, thin and sharp, cleaving straight through the incoming fireball.
The spell split apart midair, flames dispersing uselessly as the crescent continued on.
The opponent barely had time to react.
He twisted aside at the last moment, heat grazing his sleeve as the attack tore past him and slammed into the barrier.
CRACK.
The barrier shuddered, spiderweb fractures flashing briefly across its surface before sealing shut again.
Silence followed.
The opponent stared at the spot where the crescent had passed, then slowly turned back to Rowan.
His eyes widened.
'I knew his spell was fast but I didn't expect it to be this fast.'
But then suddenly his face dropped.
'but seriously... Did he just said the spell name was fire... chop? What the hell is this ridiculous name.'
Outside the arena, students leaned forward.
"Did he just said chop?"
"That spell was fast."
"Yeah... But what the hell is this name?"
Eldric, sitting on the ground beside the dojo master, buried his face in his hands.
'Dolt, ugh... Couldn't you have thought some other name' he thought weakly. 'What the hell do you mean fire chop?"
Beside him, the dojo master hummed thoughtfully.
"Hmm so that spell name is fire chop huh... Even the name is very unique," he said. "Just like the spell. Fitting, in its own way."
Eldric shot him a look of betrayal.
Inside the barrier, the fight continued.
Rowan advanced, axe moving in steady rhythm. Each swing sent another crescent of flame slicing through the air.
His opponent kept dodging —barely.
One step left. Another right. A sharp turn, heat grazing past his cheek.
Rowan's eyes lit up.
"Wow," he thought, genuinely impressed. "He's really good."
Meanwhile, his opponent's breathing grew ragged.
'This is bad.'
He couldn't stop moving. Every time he tried to plant his feet, another attack came screaming toward him. Casting while moving threw off his aim. Standing still meant getting hit.
'His spells are too fast, and I can't kept dodging forever.' the opponent gulped.
"Gulpp!"
'I have to do something quickly.'
Another crescent passed so close he felt his hair singe. The sweat is ticking down his forehead.
Huff... Hufff... Huff..
'He is only using fire.' the opponent thought desperately. 'Looks like he doesn't know anything else?'
He again dodge another spell which brushed past his shoulder.
'i think I know what do to now.'The opponent ducked after dodging another attack.
'I have to counter fire.'
'Fire chop is not working looks I need to change it up,' Rowan thought lifting his axe again for another swing.
As if answering him, his opponent skidded back and raised his wand, teeth clenched.
"Water Cannon!"
A roaring torrent surged forward, compressed and focused.
Rowan's grip tightened.
His stance shifted slightly.
"Water Chop."
'huh? Did he just said... water?' the opponent thought.
The axe fell and following that swing was a sharp cresent arc of water.
The crescent that followed shimmered blue, slicing cleanly through the rushing stream. The water split apart as if cut by an invisible blade, the arc continuing unhindered.
It struck the opponent squarely.
The impact sent him flying backward.
The barrier flared—and then ejected him in a flash of light.
He hit the ground outside the arena, skidding across the dirt, eyes wide with disbelief.
Silence swept the training grounds a long heavy unnatural silence.
Then finally the whispers of students broke that silence.
"The newbie… won?"
"Wow... He is not bad."
"Did you see that cut?"
"The second match is concluded." Eldric's voice was heard as the barrier slowly started dissolving.
Rowan blinked.
"Second match?" he muttered, confused.
'i thought my match was the first one.'
The barrier around him finally fully dissolved.
He turned his head looking at the other side—and froze.
In the other arena, the barrier had already been.
One student lay outside, clutching his chest and swearing under his breath.
"ughh... Damn it."
While Inside the circle stood another student, perfectly still, eyes closed,Unmarked,Calm and Untouched. It looked like he didn't even fought at all.
Rowan's gaze lingered on the boy's oddly familiar face.
"Wait."
A memory stirred.
'If you want to understand fire, go near fire…'
A small, genuine smile formed on Rowan's lips.
Eldric's voice rang out.
"The winner of the first battle—Riven Valemont."
Riven opened his eyes.
"And the winner of the second—Rowan."
---
Chapter Ends.