Chapter 32: Sparks on the Arena Floor

Chapter 32: Sparks on the Arena Floor

The air in the arena grew thick with tension as Aetrial and Cain faced off, the crowd's murmurs fading into an expectant hush. Aetrial adjusted her grip on her wand, her posture steady and calm. She felt the weight of the audience’s gazes, but her focus remained on the man in front of her.

Cain stood casually, his hands empty. He didn’t draw a weapon or prepare a spell, but his crimson eyes glinted with dangerous confidence.

“Shall we begin?” Cain asked, his tone light but taunting.

Aetrial narrowed her eyes. “You might regret this.”

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The Duel Begins

The Duel Club leader stepped forward. “Combatants, the rules are simple. No attacks designed to kill. Anything else is fair game. Begin!”

The moment the word left his mouth, Aetrial acted. She raised her wand, and dark energy surged around her, forming a dozen shadowy spears that shot toward Cain like arrows.

Cain moved with inhuman speed, weaving between the projectiles as though he were dancing. Not a single one grazed him.

The crowd gasped.

“Fast,” Aetrial muttered, her eyes narrowing. She flicked her wand again, and a massive barrier of dark energy surrounded her. Simultaneously, the ground beneath Cain’s feet erupted with black tendrils, aiming to restrain him.

Cain dodged the tendrils with ease, his movements fluid and unhurried. “Impressive,” he called out, his voice carrying over the roar of the energy. “But predictable.”

He raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, the tendrils dissipated.

Aetrial's eyes widened. He countered my magic without even casting a spell. How?

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Aetrial’s Resolve

Refusing to be outdone, Aetrial shifted tactics. She cast a spell she rarely used—a concentrated burst of shadow magic that spiraled toward Cain like a black comet.

Cain didn’t move to dodge this time. Instead, he extended his hand, catching the dark energy as if it were a mere ball. The audience gasped as the spell disintegrated in his grip.

“You’ll have to try harder than that,” he said, his smirk widening.

Aetrial gritted her teeth. Her pride burned, but she refused to let him rattle her.

She extended her arms, and the shadows around her grew thicker, spreading across the arena floor. The lights dimmed as her magic consumed the area, plunging it into an artificial night.

The audience murmured nervously.

“Interesting,” Cain’s voice echoed in the darkness.

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A Moment of Vulnerability

In the shadowed arena, Aetrial used her heightened senses to track Cain’s movements. She felt his presence behind her and spun around, launching another volley of dark spears.

But he was too fast. Before she could react, he appeared in front of her, mere inches away.

“You’re holding back,” Cain said, his voice low and almost... disappointed.

Aetrial froze. His proximity was unnerving, and his crimson eyes seemed to pierce right through her.

Before she could retort, Cain raised his hand—not to attack, but to brush a stray strand of hair from her face.

The gesture was so unexpected that Aetrial didn’t know how to react. Her breath hitched, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause.

“Such delicate features,” Cain murmured, almost to himself.

Aetrial’s heart pounded. She pushed his hand away, stepping back. “Stop playing games,” she snapped.

Cain chuckled, taking a step back as well. “As you wish.”

---

Aetrial’s Determination

Anger flared within her. She couldn’t allow him to toy with her like this—not in front of everyone.

Drawing on every ounce of her power, Aetrial summoned a spell she had only ever practiced in private. The ground beneath her glowed with a dark sigil, and a massive serpent made of shadows rose behind her, hissing menacingly.

The crowd gasped in awe and fear.

Cain’s smirk faded, replaced by an expression of genuine interest. “Now we’re talking,” he said.

The serpent lunged at him, its massive jaws snapping shut where he had stood only a moment before. Cain dodged effortlessly, but Aetrial kept pressing the attack, controlling the serpent with precision.

---

An Unexpected Outcome

The duel raged on, but as the serpent struck again, Cain raised his hand, and a wave of crimson energy burst forth. The serpent dissolved into nothingness, leaving Aetrial panting and drained.

“You’re strong,” Cain said, his tone sincere. “But you’re holding yourself back in ways you don’t even realize.”

Before Aetrial could respond, the Duel Club leader stepped forward, declaring the match over.

“The winner is Cain!” he announced, though his voice trembled slightly.

The crowd erupted into applause, though there was an undercurrent of unease.

Cain approached Aetrial, extending a hand to help her up. She hesitated before accepting it, her pride wounded but her curiosity piqued.

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After the Match

Later that day, Cain walked through the academy gardens, his mind replaying the events of the duel.

“I didn’t expect the Ranolf heir to be so restrained,” he muttered to himself.

His gaze drifted upward to the setting sun, its warm hues painting the sky. He thought about the power Aetrial had displayed—raw and untapped, yet strangely controlled. It wasn’t what he expected from someone of the infamous Ranolf bloodline.

“Something about her is... different,” he said aloud, shaking his head.

As he walked, a faint smile played on his lips. Whatever secrets Aetrial Ranolf was hiding, Cain found himself eager to uncover them.

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End of Chapter 32