n

n

nElizabeth glanced between Eldrian and Ilmadia, making sure that both were ready. Some way through the journey her role had been established as the referee. If she actually participated then there would be none but if she did not then she would always call the fight's start and sometimes end.

nShe enjoyed doing this more than she had expected she would as it allowed her to observe how everyone fought and try and makeup plans for when they would go on missions. It also allowed her to try and come up with new tricks they might be able to do with more practice.

n

"Start!

"

nRight as this was shouted both players directly set out for their respective approaches. Eldrian stayed at the distance he was, waiting for Ilmadia to do something. He was really confident he would easily dodge anything at this distance, which would allow him to see what Ilmadia could do.

nIlmadia on the other hand started casting a fireball spell. This took her around a second, a floating ball of fire almost as big as Eldrian's hand forming before her as she cast it. As soon as it finished forming it darted forward Eldrian, its speed not great but certainly fast. Eldrian followed it with his eyes, the fireball reaching his position around two seconds after being cast. Giving him more than enough time to move out of the way.

nAs it landed on the ground it exploded open like fireworks, setting the surrounding grass on fire. As Eldrian wanted to smother the fire a ball of water started heading towards him.

nBoth these spells were almost twice the size of the respective Tier 0 spells Eldrian normally cast. The fireball being around the size of his hand and the same as this water ball. Floga and Nidia would instead form a ball of their respective elements around the size of his palm.

nEldrian had to dodge right as he saw the ball of water coming for him, it moving almost twice as fast as the fireball. Rolling on the ground Eldrian looked at the fire again, being forced to dodge again as Ilmadia threw a rock at him.

n'Give me a second!' Eldrian wanted to shout as he stood up from his dodge. He wanted to change the rules to not set a fire. But Ilmadia was far too into this to give him even enough time to do that.

nOuch! Eldrian suddenly felt a stinging pain in his leg, looking down he saw a small dagger-like ice piece piercing into his leg. Frost needle? He wondered as he moved again, making sure to not be an easy target.

nWhile at it Eldrian slowly started going nearer to Ilmadia. Finding that a few of her spells were really easy to dodge, like the wooden spear she formed out of twigs and the fireball. Others like the ice dagger and water ball became more and more difficult as Eldrian neared her.

nWhen Eldrian reached around twenty meters from her he felt he would not be able to dodge her spells if not for her mouth indicating when she finished casting a spell. While she was not shouting the spell's names, she had to say them to cast them. This gave Eldrian a second more to react.

nI have to learn silent casting. Eldrian noted for himself as he realized just how strong that would be. Reaching the ten-meter mark Eldrian got ready to rush her. Casting Anthizo to put his HP back to max Eldrian waited for the right time when Ilmadia just finished a spell.

nDarting forward Eldrian only made two steps before he felt another piercing pain. Jumping to the side he dodged a different spell, yet he was forced to keep moving. Not allowing him to look at what was stuck in his leg.

nAfter a few seconds, Ilmadia likely having used all her spells, Eldrian had a second or two to look at his leg, seeing a small bullet-shaped hole in his leg. This hole was not deep but Eldrian did not have enough time to inspect what caused it.

nDodging the next spell Ilmadia cast, Eldrian again cast Anthizo on himself. Keeping his HP at max so that he could rush her.

nSmart of her to use small projectiles. I wonder if it is specific spells or rather just manipulation of spells. Can she do that though? Eldrian contemplated feeling that he had a fifty percent chance of winning if he simply rushed her. Most of her spells did less than 10 damage, meaning he just needed to get hit less than five times to win.

nTaking a deep breath Eldrian resolved himself to simply do this, his chances would only lower if he did not act now.

nAt this point Ilmadia was actually panicking as she realized she had not spaced her spells enough, bringing her mana to a critical low.

nSeeing Eldrian rush her she desperately cast a few spells at him again, Eldrian dodging the first but tanking the next one. The other missing due to him having moved, Ilmadia having failed in predicting his movement.

nThis effort left her with no mana as Eldrian shouted and thrust his spear into Ilmadia's chest. The hit causing her to fall over and lose her breath.

nAs Eldrian was worried he had just gotten carried away Ilmadia suddenly shouted,

"That was such a rush!

" Standing up she rubbed her chest where Eldrian had struck and looked at him. Eldrian himself quite sore and very wet, having been hit by a water ball spell right as he neared her.

n

"That was fun, we should do that more,

" Ilmadia said excitedly, causing Eldrian to smile as he watched her enthusiasm.

n

"If you had a few more spells or was more used to using them I would have easily lost,

" Eldrian replied, truly feeling that this would be the case. Even if one of her spells had simply landed on his head then he would have lost. At least this was what he expected would have happened.

nEldrian had also realized through this exercise just how strong controlling spell was. True he had felt it would be strong, but he now realized that it would actually be broken. If he could master frost needle and always direct it at a vulnerable spot on an enemy, then he would be able to easily kill it.

nUnfortunately, he was still struggling quite a bit with learning Frost Needle. He had made some progress but he felt he was only about halfway now.

nAfter this exchange Eldrian wanted to ask if he could quickly borrow their spell modules, but he did not in the end. Feeling that it would be improper as he was not really part of their group.

nEveryone grouped after they saw that Ilmadia and Eldrian were done. Starting to praise them both and discussing the match as they did. Elizabeth was the only one to take note of the fire which had started due to their fight.

n

"Hey! Everyone, let's stop the fire before it gets out of hand!

" She shouted, making everyone look around them in shock. A fire was really starting.

nLuckily it was not too difficult to smother the fire, everyone who knew water spells simply launched them at the fires Quickly bringing peace back to their party.

n

"Is anyone in your group called Haru?

" An NPC asked, causing everyone to stop celebrating their victory over the fire. It was rare for an NPC to actually disturb players, they normally stayed in their own groups. Ignoring the players, treating them largely as overly excited children. Especially since they started fighting at night like energetic children.

nThough the NPCs actually preferred this to them trying to go out and do something. Them trying to go out would often lead to more trouble instead of help.

nEveryone turned and looked at the NPC strangely. The NPC looked like a villain character in stories. Wearing a dark hooded robe with broken chainmail visible through the tears in his robe.

n

"That would be me,

" Eldrian replied as he stepped forward while wondering just what the NPC wanted with him.

n

"Old Sword asked me to come and get you.

" The NPC started walking away as soon as he finished speaking.

n

"Oh,

" Eldrian was left surprised by the abruptness of this NPC. He took a few seconds to say goodbye to his travel buddies, explaining to them that he was going to go see his mentor, before following the NPC. They quickly left the camp heading towards one of the scout's resting points.

n

"Stay here.

" The NPC said as he went and talked to a few of the soldiers who were keeping the fire going, coming back with two horses.

"Can you ride?

"

n

"Yes.

" Eldrian replied, a smile growing on his face as he thought back to his first experience with Sesha. I truly hope she made it back safely.

nClimbing onto the horse Eldrian followed the NPC at a trot as they left the camp, while traveling Eldrian tried to talk to the NPC, but was quickly quieted down.

n

"This area is not safe to talk, if we encounter any beasts just try to keep up. I do not want to fight.

"

nHis words confused Eldrian since there had been no real fights all this time. Eldrian had perceived it as a peaceful place due to being in the middle of the entire division. But if you were on the perimeter of the division then fights were common, especially in the area they were currently in.

nEldrian tried to get more of an explanation from the NPC, but only received a glare instead. As such he quietly followed behind. Wondering why the NPC was so on edge.

n