The stone stands of the Royal Academy's arena had filled rapidly with a tense, almost palpable murmur. Golden rays of sunlight streamed down onto the gathered young aspirants, all gathered for the most dreaded trial of all: the final duel between the candidates. Kaelian, clad in his simple yet impeccable tunic, stepped forward into the center, each step deliberate and measured. His gaze was calm but piercing as it swept across the crowd—and more importantly, rested on his opponent.
Before him stood Ardin, a noble born of one of the kingdom's oldest families, already renowned for his mastery over elemental magic and infamous for his arrogant demeanor. His erect posture and haughty smile were but a façade; Kaelian knew all too well that behind that arrogance lay a fierce mind and a cunning sharper than most.
"You don't deserve to be here, bastard," Ardin sneered mockingly.
Kaelian's reply was quiet yet filled with cold determination. "It's not your ancestors who decide my place, but my mind and my strength. Prepare yourself."
The Stakes of the Duel
This duel was not merely a display of magical power. It was a total confrontation—magic, strategy, and psychology intertwined. The winner would earn official entry into the Academy, but more crucially, would gain enough prestige to shift the balance in the cruel power game that ruled this place. To lose meant not only elimination but total disgrace, which in this milieu could lead to social death or even physical death.
Kaelian also understood this duel was an indirect test of Queen Virella's ability to maintain her influence. She watched the battle like a hawk. For him, victory meant more than survival; it meant sending a clear message to the powerful: a new force had emerged at court—one not to be underestimated.
The Battle Begins: Magic in Action
The signal came from Master Elgorn, the archmage with piercing eyes who observed with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. Kaelian felt his magical energy pulse through his veins: the forbidden blood magic he had begun mastering in secret boiled within him, ready to erupt.
Ardin cast the first spell: a torrent of crimson flames that streaked through the air toward Kaelian. Agile, Kaelian sidestepped, summoning a barrier of icy water that hissed under the heat of the fire.
"Not bad, bastard," Ardin sneered, immediately following with a cutting wind charged with electricity, aiming to unbalance Kaelian.
Anticipating this, Kaelian commanded the earth beneath his feet to harden and stabilize the ground, deflecting the electric assault with a mineral shield. The crowd held its breath, captivated by the fluidity and speed of the exchanges.
Magic Blended with Strategy
But this duel was more than a spectacle of dazzling spells. Kaelian's strategic mind was at work.
He studied Ardin's weaknesses: a tendency to rely on frontal attacks, overconfidence, and lack of adaptability. Meanwhile, he concealed his own techniques behind ambiguous gestures that sowed doubt.
At one moment, Kaelian feigned weakening under a barrage of magical projectiles, retreating as if losing control, only to suddenly unleash a wave of energy that froze Ardin in place. The surprise was complete. Ardin, thrown off balance, felt fear clutch him for the first time.
Seizing the opportunity, Kaelian cast a subtle spell: a chain of energy not designed to harm, but to capture. With precise aim, it wrapped around Ardin's arms. Enraged, Ardin struggled to break free, but the magical bonds tightened like a vice.
A Duel of Intellect and Willpower
Though powerful, Ardin lacked Kaelian's intellectual finesse. Kaelian exploited every second, analyzing, anticipating, calculating.
He knew this duel would not be won by brute strength or spectacular magic alone, but by cunning, resilience, and the ability to shatter an opponent's confidence.
"You've learned some tricks, bastard," Ardin spat, straining his magic to break the chain.
Calmly, Kaelian replied, his eyes glowing with unwavering light: "I am more than a bastard. I am heir to strategy and knowledge. And you are nothing but a poorly prepared pawn."
The Revelation of Kaelian's Secret
As the crowd watched, spellbound, Kaelian took a risk. He unleashed a fragment of his forbidden magic, the blood magic he had discovered and secretly begun to master.
A red mystic circle flared beneath his feet, vibrating with a power that exuded a sickly aura. Ardin's face paled, understanding that Kaelian was wielding a taboo magic, forbidden even among the nobles.
The impact was immediate: Kaelian focused his energy into a blood-red projectile and launched it at Ardin. Disoriented, Ardin failed to dodge in time and was struck in the arm, magical burns erupting on his skin.
The Final Trial: The Mental Confrontation
But magic was only half the equation.
The duel shifted into a purely intellectual battle—the magical "duel of minds," a rare ritual where opponents enter a trance-like state and their wills and thoughts clash directly.
Kaleian, heir to a modern strategic mind, had the advantage. He mentally set traps and false logics, forcing Ardin to hesitate, to doubt.
Ardin, despite his pride, showed cracks. His thoughts blurred, confidence faltered, his magical energy weakened.
Conclusion and Consequences
The trance ended abruptly. Ardin collapsed to his knees, exhausted and defeated. Kaelian stood tall, calm satisfaction etched on his face.
Master Elgorn gave a solemn nod: "The duel is over. Kaelian is victorious."
A mix of astonishment and applause rose from the stands. The bastard had proved he was not just a survivor, but a genius capable of rivaling the nobility.
Yet Kaelian knew this was only a step. The court would not forget Ardin's defeat nor the forbidden magic Kaelian had employed. Queen Virella would no doubt double her efforts to neutralize him.
But this victory granted him a new weapon: respect, fear, and above all, an official place in this deadly game.
The Final Scene: Suspense
As Kaelian left the arena, his gaze met a hooded figure at the edge of the stands: Lyssa, his only loyal friend. A subtle sign passed between them, but a shadow flickered in her eyes—suspicion, perhaps, or a warning.
Kaleian sensed an invisible threat tightening around him. The real fight was only beginning.
End of Chapter 17
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