Chapter 236: Preliminaries Part 5

Chapter 236: Preliminaries Part 5

The crowd of students stared in anticipation for the final match of the preliminaries. The golden beauty, daughter of House Goldelm, against the tough redhead, the gifted of the Commoner District.

Who do you think is gonna win? Sylvie asked excitedly.

Hard to say, Poppy muttered. Freya Goldelm is a bi-manifold orange and white mage, while Kithina is only a yellow mage. Still, chromatic colors arent everything. I personally havent seen Kithina go all out, but rumor has it she can multicast; its a huge advantage in any fight, however Freya has the power of the Goldelms running through her veins. Poppy scratched her head, Hmm it really is hard to tell.

So no answer, Sylvie sighed with an exaggerated pout.

Poppy smiled wryly, If I had to guess, Freya will have to be on the defensive until she can find an opening. If she can bide her time, she might find a chink in Kithinas defense.

Uh-uh, Sylvie shook her head.

What do you mean? Poppy asked.

Sylvie stared at the blonde dwarf on stage, Well, I havent known Freya for long, but I do know she isnt one to back down from a fight.

BEGIN! Vayu shouted.

Freya didnt waste a moment. She raised her hammer and channeled orange mana into her veins. The veins in her arms and legs grew dark and grey, the agility spell taking hold.

Freya dashed forward with a light step, her small figure a blur. Kithina threw her hand forward, a blast of wind exploded from her palm. Freya stabbed the butt of her hammer into the ground, its steel sharp point sank into the stone floor with ease. The blonde dwarf crouched and held the hammer tight. The wind raised her legs off the ground, but the hammer stood resolute.

Before the gust had completely died down, Freya pulled out the hammer and sprinted. She swung the hammer with all the force she could muster straight at Kithinas hip. Kithina gritted her teeth and dropped low; yellow scales covered her left arm and blocked the hammer. The scales cracked underneath the blow but held.

Freya yelled a warcry and raised her hammer for another blow. Kithina tackled her, Freya stumbled but held her ground. Kithina refused to let go and wrapped her arms around the Goldelms waist.

Let go of me! Freya screamed and slammed her elbow down on Kithinas shoulder. Freya grimaced, a sharp pain ran through her elbow; yellow scales shined brightly underneath Kithinas shirt.

Kithina slackened her grip and smiled, Boom. A gust of wind burst from her lips and shoved Freya away.

The blonde dwarfs body skidded on the ground across half the stage. She coughed painfully and staggered to her feet with a scowl.

Kithina wiggled her hands, I took a page out of Strygs book. Casting with my mouth may be less accurate and powerful, but at point-blank range its hard to miss.

Kithina lifted her head and glared at Freya dangling in the air. What comes up she muttered. Must come down! Kithina slammed her right hand into the ground.

The wind howled from up high and smashed into Freya, her small body shot down like an arrow and crashed into the stage with a sickening crunch. Freya lay face-down, both her right arm and leg were bent at unnatural angles. Her body didnt move, save for the twitch in her left arm.

Kithina cradled her broken wrist and stood up slowly. The crowd watched with stunned faces and slack jaws, but Kithina did not notice, nor did she care. She dragged her feet to Freya and flipped the aristocrats body over with a kick.

Freyas nose was broken, blood covered her face, and her eyes already seemed to be swelling. Kithina coughed weakly, but her green irises were bright with determination.

She placed her foot over Freyas bosom and sneered, I am not weak. Aristocrats, Great Houses, Ruling Families none of you are better than us!

Freyas golden eyes shot open. She shoved her hand into Kithinas face and fired off a bright spell. The white light burned straight into Kithinas eyes, she screamed and staggered back, blinded.

Freya moaned, gritted her teeth, and used the hammer to push herself up. Her vision was blurred with blood, she couldnt feel her right arm or leg, and the rest of her body throbbed painfully. Even her good leg wobbled and threatened to buckle underneath her.

Kithina yelled angrily, a shrill of panic in her voice. She swung her right hand all around her in a fit of panic, weak blasts of wind sweeping across the arena. Frail yellow scales covered her skin in random splotches. She blinked over and over, her sight still gone.

Freya wheezed faintly and swallowed her blood and spit. White mana flowed into her palm and transformed into a healing spell that seeped into her good left leg. The pain slowly receded away, just enough to manage a hobble.

She limped over to a thrashing, blind Kithina. Freya ducked beneath stray blasts of wind, stumbled, and kept limping until she stood in front of her.

...Youre not weak, Freya whispered.

Kithina stiffened at the sound. She flung her arm and pointed straight at the blonde dwarf. Freya dropped low, barely escaping a lash of wind. With a last burst of strength, she gripped her hammer and struck Kithinas temple, shattering the yellow scales.

Kithina stumbled, her body wobbled, her knees buckled, and she toppled over face-forward. What little remained of her scales faded away.

Freya felt herself falling, she leaned on her hammer and managed a feeble stance.

The crowd clapped and cheered, but there were tears among many of them.

Vayu nodded solemnly and raised his hand, Kithina is unable to continue, I declare Freya Goldelm the victor.

Freya closed her eyes and sighed in relief. Her head sank forward and she collapsed unceremoniously.