Cindy
I thought I'd met every type of genius that existed. But there I was, flying away from the most frustrating prodigy I'd ever met.
He clearly has talent. His reaction to my spell was freaking insane—what kind of five-year-old can even move in that situation, let alone throw a fireball? I wasn't trying to scare him or catch him off guard or anything, but still… it was impressive.
Frankly, I didn't expect to find someone like him in a remote corner of the outer ring. Most of the geniuses I'd met before came from the central area—they were eager, confident, and more than happy to be in the spotlight.
But Reno's a different story. The kid's just as talented as they are, but he's got zero confidence. It's suuuper frustrating.
I never planned to take him on as my apprentice. After all, the whole 'wandering mage looking for a pupil' thing? That was just a lie. I only ended up in this situation because of a stupid bet and got stuck as a recruiter.
Technically it was my own fault – I challenged the professor in front of everyone to a duel. Win, and I skip my elemental thesis. Lose, and she saddles me with an assignment of her own devising.
To be honest, this duel really wasn't about the thesis. It was personal. Professor Melinda's smug corrections, her constant 'apply yourself more' lectures, even though I topped nearly every exam… I'd had enough.
So I blurted it out: "Duel me."
What happened next felt surreal. One blink and the courtyard had morphed into a carnival. Betting slips danced in the breeze and even lunch ladies haggled over odds like seasoned gamblers.
'Hey, did you hear? The Genius Hater is challenging the new Headmaster!'
'Wait—you mean that Genius Hater? The one who erased half the Top Ten rankings last year?'
'That's her. And she's going head-to-head with Professor Melinda of all people!'
'You're joking. Melinda? Wasn't she called the Oceans Voice back in her prime?'
'The Genius Hater finally wrote a check she can't cash.'
'Oh come on! Cindy's never lost a duel in her life! You're just mad you couldn't cash in that check when you bet against her last time!'
'You're all missing the best part—it's a Water duel.'
'What!? That's like challenging a leviathan to a swimming race!'
'Please—who exactly is the leviathan here? Melinda is clearly the one out of her depth.'
'You guys do realize the Headmaster won the One Hundred Schools of Water Tournament as a first-year, right?'
'And Cindy ranked top of our year while still half-asleep in exams. Your point?'
'Least obvious ragebait. The headmaster hasn't duelled in public for decades, who knows how strong she is now...'
'Bro, you all keep sleeping on Cindy, straight up. Melinda's washed.'
'This is gonna be even bigger than her entrance match—remember that one last year?'
'How could I forget? She flattened every other first-year, even the ones who teamed up got cooked!'
'After that, no one dared to use the word "genius" unless they were ready to back it up.'
'Ugh, I didn't get to see that match! People wouldn't stop projecting the highlights in the dining hall for weeks...'
'Then make sure you don't miss this one. It's gonna be legendary.'
.
.
.
The rumours spread like waves – my impulsive declaration rippling across the islands. The stage was set and the audience was ready. Before I knew it, it'd gotten to the day of the match.
The duel was going to be in one of the grand celestial arenas, right at the centre of the academy islands, a place normally reserved for third-year tournaments. The stands were packed, a living sea of eager faces, all hungry for a spectacle.
'We love you Cindy!'
'Knock her down a peg Headmaster!'
Cheers and jeers blurred together. None of it mattered. In my world, only the person in front of me mattered. Just me and the Professor. Student and Teacher.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Cindy?" She asked, that familiar smug smile playing on her lips.
Today, I'd erase it.
"Naturally. Why do you ask? Getting cold feet?"
"Oh-no. I'm just worried about your safety."
I felt my eyebrow twitching in irritation.
She was still underestimating me.
"Ready when you are, teach."
Her wink was all the provocation I needed.
I inhaled deeply. My focus tightened. I studied her movements, every flick of her sleeve, every shift in her stance. This was my first time fighting someone at the apex of magic. I couldn't afford any rash moves.
"Pay close attention, okay Cindy?" Her voice rang out, calm and confident. "Class is in session. And unfortunately for you, it's a lesson you can't skip."
Mana converged around her like a living tide. The sun dipped behind clouds, and the wind shrieked in reply. Thunder cracked. She stood in the eye of it all—the storm incarnate.
Silence fell.
A heralding rain began. Lightning flashed overhead. The pressure made my ears ring.
My heart raced. Muscles coiled.
I'd seen this once before. The deadly calm before a flood.
Yes. This was it. The pinnacle of magic I wanted to reach.
"Nice fireworks, teach! Hope it's not just for show!" I called out, grinning.
What water spells can I use? Waterfall? No that would leave me too vulnerable... Water Geyser? That could work for traps, but I needed something more.... Could I use her weather spell against her somehow? No – she can control the rain directly it would only backfire. Think Cindy, think!
'Water Prism!'
A translucent shell spiralled into place around me, refracting the lightning flare into colourful bands. Rain hammered against it in furious waves, the downpour so thick it blurred the world outside the prism a motionless grey.
That's it! Maybe a flank!
A series of waves surged at my command, forming a living path as I shot forward. Every wave swirled beneath me, threading me through the slashing rain she'd conjured. Off to my left, I called a small wave to gather, its surface beginning to twist. I was waiting to shape it into a dragon when the right moment struck.
The air crackled. She was readying something.
I slipped into the rhythm of the sea, letting its weight carry me. Not just to move, but to strike.
'Water Dragon.'
A serpentine form coiled from a wave to my right, scales of compressed water gleaming under the flickers of lightning. I veered left, body low, letting the dragon surge past like a thrown spear.
She didn't flinch.
"What obvious misdirection." Her voice was calm, amused. "A sneak attack? Do you take me for a student?"
She raised one hand. A geyser erupted from the ground, shredding the oncoming dragon mid-charge. Then, without even turning, she snapped her fingers.
Behind her, a solid wall of water rose like a shield. My hidden dragon, coiled just outside her field of view, slammed into it and burst apart in an instant.
Of course it wasn't going to be that easy. I had to think smarter. What if I could trap her someway? Using Water Geysers? Then finish her with some sort of Aqua Canon while she can't move? I'll have to try at least I have no other option.
She grinned, hands rippling above the water's surface. In an instant, the sea beneath her feet swelled into a cresting wave, lifting her as if she were born to surf the storm.
Two sleek dragons burst from the depths, snaking around the arena toward me. Water sprayed off their jagged scales with every coil, sending ripples across shattered stone.
Behind her, another pair of serpents broke the surface, eyes glinting, jaws parting in a silent challenge. Her stance was inviting me to strike head-on.
"Oh, stealing my tricks?"
Water Golem!
Two hulking giants rose from the depths, Muscles of liquid steel shoved back against her flanking dragons with thunderous splashes.
"Stealing? Did you forget who taught you those very tricks you're so proud of?"
I planted my feet, back straight, and met her gaze. "Naïve," I breathed. Then I surged forward, dragons howling at my heels, ready to clash head-on. As I closed the gap, I slashed the water's surface with the edges of my dragons, carving shallow wells that pulsed like loaded springs.
"Question. Why do high level mages cast environment controlling spells before the fight starts?"
Rain slashed the ground as her water dragons lunged outward, each coil swelling with storm-fuelled power. They charged like a chariot of serpents, thunder rolling in their wake.
"Because it's easier for them to escape when they get thrashed."
I thrust both palms forward. My dragons leapt free, streaking through the air like liquid arrows, veins of mana crackling along their spines.
"A quarter marks. That's unlike you Cindy. Firstly - because the one who controls the environment controls the fight."
BOOM—
Our dragons collided mid-air, a shockwave rippling through the arena.
I shaped the water at my fingertips into a spinning spear, its tip gleaming like ice. She halted and then summoned a towering wall of water.
My spear thudded against it with a muffled clang. She didn't waver. She had her same calm and unassuming smile on.
Something in her stance told me she was baiting me. She was waiting for an opening.
"Secondly," she said, voice as calm as the storm, "There's more tactical options."
Damn it she got me! It's from above!