In the nobles' hall, awed whispers echoed at the sight of the real opponent who had just appeared. "Who is this Elf?" they wondered. "How come no one spoke about her before?"
Ayla and her companion watched the clash in silence. "I thought it would be a classic one-on-one," the Elf commented, bending her knees. "Were you that scared of me, little Colin?"
"Who are you?" inquired Brighid in a serious tone.
"What's wrong, jealous?" mocked the intruder. "The mana you're hiding is almost scary... I think I'll start with you!"
Safira gestured as if holding a bow, conjuring a fire arrow and firing it at the woman, who merely raised her right arm.
WOOSH!
The arrow vanished, as if it had been sucked away. The four were stunned.
"Easy there, cutie, it'll be your turn soon!" She advanced toward Brighid, imbuing her fists with mana. The fairy did the same. "You first!"
BAM! Brighid blocked the blow. Although it didn't hurt her, the force of the impact sent her flying, generating a shockwave that knocked Colin and the others back.
"What was that?" shouted Kurth, competing with the roaring sound of the wind. The two of them had disappeared, carried far off into the forest.
"Tell me, how did you escape that hole? Huh?" asked the Elf. "Is it because you're a pure being? Is that why?"
"Who are you?!" Brighid concentrated mana in her fists.
"Cutie, are you really going to keep this up? I dragged you here to face you without interruptions. I can't let you put him in danger, and you know very well who will come after him if you stay by his side, don't you?"
Brighid assumed her combat stance. "Think I can't protect him? You seem to know about me, but you underestimate me!"
"I don't underestimate you, but you're weak; your strength is incomplete, isn't it?"
"I have enough strength with me."
"Oh, really?" They charged at each other.
Upon a thick branch stretching like a suspension bridge between the forest canopies, Brighid and the red-haired Elf fought an intense duel. The robust wooden support creaked beneath their feet, heightening the tension of every movement, while the instability of the natural platform intensified the danger of each strike.
With a lightning-fast move, Brighid threw a straight punch, aiming for the center of her rival's body. However, the Elf, endowed with almost supernatural reflexes, leaned gracefully to the side. Her arm rose in a precise block, while her fingers dug into the bark to maintain balance, making the branch tremble with the impact.
Without hesitation, the red-haired Elf responded with a swift counter-attack. A spinning kick sliced through the air toward Brighid, who retreated in a precise spin, turning the move into a solid defense. The fight continued at a frenetic pace. Blows and defenses intertwined.
Brighid delivered calculated punches, while the Elf alternated between quick blocks and precise counter-attacks. In a decisive moment, the Elf advanced with a diagonal attack, mixing kicks and lunges to destabilize Brighid. Experienced, she raised her arms in a defensive gesture that deflected the blow with such force that the branch creaked in protest, triggering a silent shower of leaves.
She is good!, admitted the red-haired Elf, moving away after defending herself from a particularly fast blow from Brighid. Even with incomplete power, she is powerful. Her movements are precise, well executed. I expected no less from you, Kag'Thuzir!
The Fairy's face was serious, focused, every muscle in her body tense, ready to react. She knew she couldn't underestimate the Elf. Every movement of the redhead was calculated; every attack, an attempt to find an opening in her defense. And, skilled as Brighid was, the Elf seemed to hold a momentary advantage.
They pulled apart, standing a meter from each other.
This woman..., thought Brighid. She is more skilled than a cultist. Not to mention I feel my mana decreasing every second I am close to her, as if... she were draining it.
She is holding back, thought the redhead. Are you afraid to show who you really are, cutie? Of course you are, it would be problematic to do that with everyone watching.
Once again, the two charged at each other. The surrounding trees were silent witnesses to the clash, their ancient trunks almost twisting in excitement as both warriors fought.
This woman..., thought Brighid, dodging a spinning kick that the Elf launched with frightening precision. She can read my movements perfectly. I have to end this, and fast!
The Elf smiled, as if she could read Brighid's thoughts. She jumped to an upper branch, positioning herself above the Fairy. "Going to protect him with that outdated skill?" provoked the Elf. "You'll end up dead, just like him!"
Brighid didn't answer. Her focus was total. As much as the Elf was fast and skilled, Brighid knew she couldn't yield. Every superficial cut the redhead managed to inflict on her skin was a reminder that she needed to raise her game.
With an agile leap, Brighid moved to another branch, gaining breathing room. She closed her eyes for an instant, feeling the flow of mana in her body, concentrating on channeling part of it. When she opened her eyes again, there was a new determination in her gaze.
"No more playing around," murmured Brighid. The red-haired Elf noticed the change immediately. The air around Brighid seemed to vibrate. So you're going to show a part of that power, huh?
The redhead didn't hesitate. She advanced again, launching a sequence of fast blows, but this time, Brighid was ready. With even more precise movements and a speed that rivaled the Elf's, Brighid counter-attacked. Her blows were like lightning, fast and devastating, forcing the redhead to retreat. The tide of battle was turning, and Brighid didn't intend to waste the opportunity.
The two warriors continued their duel, now at an even more frenetic pace. Brighid took advantage of a breach in the Elf's defense and, with a precise and well-placed blow, broke her guard.
Shit! Did the cutie get even faster?
In a fluid motion, Brighid knocked her off the branch, striking her right in the face with her shin. The impact was strong enough to send the redhead into free fall towards the ground. However, with impressive agility, the Elf managed to grab a lower branch at the last instant, hanging like a wounded feline, but still dangerous.
"You are strong," admitted the redhead, her voice a little hoarser now, climbing onto the branch in an acrobatic movement. "But don't think this is over!"
Brighid didn't answer; she jumped to the branch where the redhead was and, swiftly, delivered a precise kick that made the opponent stagger on the edge of the fall.
Yeah! There's no way to defeat her if she decides to take this seriously. I think that's my cue!
With a quick movement, the Elf recovered and took advantage of an opening in Brighid's guard. In a surprising move, she touched Brighid's chest with the palm of her hand and, immediately, a magic portal opened, sucking Brighid inside and making her reappear elsewhere.
Wooosh!
What? That was... Brighid reappeared in a deserted meadow, staring at the palm of her hand. Part of my mana... disappeared in a single instant...
"All done!" The Elf smiled, triumphant. "Now that I've used that, I must have only a few minutes left before those bastards intervene."
In the nobles' hall, they were left wondering what had actually happened. It wasn't common for mana users to use portals. "What was that?" questioned one of the nobles. "Was it a portal? Is that even possible?"
"It must have been another trick; there are no mages who know how to use portals. And, if they did, what would they be doing in a freshman admission test?"
"My lady!" called Ayla's companion, whispering in her ear. "She is a Wanderer, right? I read about them once, thought they had been extinct a thousand years ago in the vampire war."
Ayla swallowed hard. "Seems like they are still around..."
"Hodrixey has to stop the test!" Eksebi exclaimed.
"It's no use, she will likely escape when that happens, and undoing a plan with specific conditions like his could cause aftereffects to the students. We have to stay here and wait."
WOOSH!
The Elf disappeared, reappearing where Colin and the others were. "What did you do to Brighid?" Colin began to concentrate his mana. "Answer me!"
She cracked a disdainful smile. "Worried about the little girlfriend? If you beat me, I'll tell you!"
KABOOM!
Colin charged.