Clash of Wits
"Boomer," Feya whispered low, her dark eyes darting briefly in the direction of the tall figure of the boy standing beside Kai Dawnsworn.
"Hi," Boomer nodded briefly, his own eyes keen and unyielding, locked directly on Leo. The silence in them was like a tension ripple across the room, demanding attention with no single word spoken.
"'He who knows not, fears not?'" Kai Dawnsworn echoed, a wry smile curling at the corners of his mouth. He didn't look even remotely ruffled by Leo's acerbic comment. Three years of insults and scorn had tempered him; petty words had lost their bite long ago. Amongst beauty, it was usual for people to swell with pride through criticism.
"You think you're the expert, don't you?" Kai Dawnsworn taunted lightly.
"For development? That's not even a question, especially compared to you, loser," Leo replied with scorn. Confidence dripped from his words—after all, Kai Dawnsworn had lingered on the Nexus Plane for three long years, slacking and skipping classes with impunity.
"Alright then," Kai Dawnsworn said suddenly, leaning forward, "tell me—how could a warrior beat a double-element fire/metal mage?"
Leo paused, caught off guard for a moment, before responding with sarcasm thinly veiled. "Are you serious? Even an element mage would easily beat a warrior, unless the mage was a moron and let the warrior get up close. In a duel one-on-one, that's the only possibility. Forget about a double-element mage."
Mages cast their magic from a distance, dictating the fight on the battlefield—warriors had to get close, something practically impossible against a master mage.
"You fool. A warrior triumphs when he's at a higher level of existence," Kai Dawnsworn sneered. Leo's face darkened. In the room, there were whispers, eyes wide in awe at the temerity of Kai Dawnsworn—how shameless could one get to challenge openly the crème de la crème?
You questioned cross-class fights without citing different planes. Does your question even have meaning?" Leo responded caustically.
Kai Dawnsworn shrugged. "Same plane, then? What if the warrior had greater strength and improved agility?" The change in reasoning made a few of the students stop. Suddenly, his argument seemed reasonable—a warrior with added strength could blitz, and agility would enable rapid entry into close combat.
"Come on, you're talking about a double-element fire/metal mage. He would have a fire shield and metal-armor enchantments. Even at close range, the warrior has no chance," Leo sneered, still confident.
"And what if the warrior knew Rampage Cleavage?" Kai Dawnsworn countered, his golden eyes glinting with mischief. "It's a specialized armor-breaking technique. With Strength-concentration, metal-element defenses crumble like paper. As for the mage's attacks? They wouldn't even land."
Leo scowled harder, seeing the sense in Kai Dawnsworn's position. A Strength-concentration fighter with heightened agility could certainly avoid a mage's attacks—a clever commentary from one who was allegedly stranded on the Nexus Plane.
"This argument is all theory on paper. Knock it off," Leo growled grudgingly, refusing to concede outright.
"Right," someone else added, "how could a mage ever possibly lose to a warrior?"
You're merely mimicking what you have read in books, faking to be all-knowing and behaving as if everyone else is dumb. Good, so respond to this: How do people vary in development throughout the first Awakened Plane, the Nexus?" Kai Dawnsworn continued to push mercilessly.
A cultivator feels Mana from the universe and gathers it within this plane," Leo started, measured and exact. "A mage, though, has better understanding of a certain element, which allows cleaner power collection. Therefore, for elemental collection, the differences are enormous. However, for overall development, the difference is lesser. Every mage's Collection Plane mirrors the subtleties of their element and their natural understanding.
Idiot," Kai Dawnsworn spat with a contemptuous look over his shoulder before he turned and walked away, the faint smile still pressed on his lips.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Leo growled, scowling. "Walking off like you own the place when you can't even respond? You loser."
"Kai Dawnsworn is annoying," whispered the students, shaking their heads.
Abruptly, a brilliant flash burst forth from Kai Dawnsworn's back. Mana curled outwards in dazzling filigree, a living rainbow unfurling before the class. All students stood still, mouths agape in shock and horror.
Even in the Nexus Plane, Kai Dawnsworn was not like the rest—some did manage to transcend the average, after all, and he was undoubtedly one such.
Leo's scowl grew, astounded. How did this person, who'd spent three years on the Nexus Plane, have this display? It contradicted everything they believed they understood.
Boomer trailed Kai Dawnsworn quietly as they left the room. As soon as the door shut behind them, the class was left in shock, the memory of Kai Dawnsworn's brilliance seared into each mind.
"I have to say… that one is exceptional for the Nexus Plane," someone whispered.
"So what? The guy's been stuck here for three years—of course he stands out. Anyone would if stuck on the first plane three years."
"Right. But how does he get away with being so arrogant?"
"And how does he have the audacity to talk dirty to Amaya Green and Feya like that? That scumball," another voice spat, anger bubbling.
"Leo, calm down. No matter what he says, you'd crush him instantly if he challenged you," a peer reassured him, and others murmured agreement.
Leo's tension eased, confidence returning. They were right—Kai Dawnsworn's status as a low-level cultivator could not cloud his judgment.
"Feya, that child is trouble," Mary said, going over to her friend in earnest. "I know you've known him for years, but keep your distance from him. Don't let him affect you. He brags without backing, and it will hurt you if you are seen with him."
"He's out of bounds," Feya grumbled, her voice tinged with exasperation and disbelief.
Mary's expression grew stern. "Wake up, girl. You're going to be an official cultivator soon. Your attention should be on your career, not a wild fool like him. Others will judge you by the company you keep—don't destroy your reputation for the likes of a boy like Kai Dawnsworn. Grow up, and avoid him. Forever.
Feya scrunched up her brow, taking in Mary's words, understanding the weight of the counsel but hesitating whether she could heed it or not.