Chapter twenty: The Arena Trails part tree

The crowd’s roar shook the stone of the colosseum as the two women entered. Their presence alone was enough to silence the whispers and sharpen the anticipation.

“Ready?” Roly asked, his voice echoing.

Alpha smirked, lifting Ivar, her long sword already veiled in mist that poured from the hilt. “Ready to lose, Fen?”

Fenrona’s lips curved into a smile. She raised Elga, her silver hair flowing like a banner in the frost-heavy air. “Show me, Princess of Frost. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

“Begin!” Roly’s voice rang out.

In an instant Alpha blurred forward, her strike aimed to split Fenrona down the center. But Fenrona had already vanished from her path, reappearing behind her as Alpha’s blade struck the ground. From the point of impact, a massive crystal of jagged ice erupted upward.

“That was quite the attack,” Fenrona whispered at Alpha’s ear before springing back with a playful smile.

Alpha turned, eyes flashing. “You love to tease, don’t you, Fen? But you should know I’m not like your other opponents. I’m stronger.”

“And that just means I get to have more fun teasing you,” Fenrona replied, spinning Elga. The blade shimmered, mist wrapping its length until it glowed pale white. “Let’s dance, Al.”

From the stands, Bill leaned toward Cid. “Did she just? That was stage four magic with her sword, wasn’t it?”

“Yes,” Cid said, eyes fixed on the arena. “Now watch. The real fight’s about to begin.”

The blades clashed. Shards of ice exploded outward with every strike, the ground cracking beneath them. Fenrona deflected Alpha’s advance, twisting sharply and slashing her cheek. Blood welled, only to crystallize instantly as it hit the air. Fenrona backed away with a sly smile. “Come on, Al. Show me something real. Make it interesting.”

Alpha wiped the crystallized blood from her cheek, her smile fading into grim resolve. “Fine. You asked for it.”

Heat rippled from her body, the mist from Ivar swelling until it was more smoke than frost. Her eyes shifted blue fading into a burning crimson. Then, with a shuddering breath, her body ignited with blue flames that bled cold, mist spilling from her mouth with each exhale.

The crowd gasped.

“What is this?” someone shouted.

“Blue flames… that’s fire and ice combined! That’s impossible!”

“There’s no way someone can wield two elements at stage four!”

Another voice countered, trembling with awe. “After what we’ve seen today… would you really doubt it?”

Alpha grinned, her aura blazing. “Now, where were we?”

“Right here,” Fenrona said, eyes narrowing as her grip tightened on Elga. Mist seeped from her own body, her stance steady, fearless.

In a flash, Alpha was in her face, swinging upward in a savage arc. Fenrona bent aside, a wave of fire and frost slicing past her.

“You trying to kill me, Al?” Fenrona taunted.

“Yes.” Alpha’s boot struck Fenrona’s ribs, sending her crashing into the arena wall. Blood dripped from her mouth as the stone cracked beneath her weight.

“Cute,” Fenrona coughed, frost spreading from her body to cover the wall. But her ice didn’t touch Alpha.

“Right,” Alpha said, stalking forward, her aura burning hotter. “You’ve never seen this technique before. It doesn’t just make me stronger. It makes my magic stronger. You can’t touch me with stage four alone.” She stood over Fenrona now, her blade poised, her voice chilling. “Get up, so I can put you back down.”

Fenrona staggered to her feet, blood at her lips, when suddenly…

Get up, a woman’s voice echoed in her mind.

‘Elga?’ Fenrona thought.

Who else? It’s time.

‘You think we’re ready?’

If we don’t try, we’ll never know.

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Fenrona raised Elga with one hand, her eyes blazing. “So… you’re saying I can’t defeat you unless I use stage five?”

Mist began to pour from her body, thick and suffocating. She lifted Elga high. “Then so be it. Elga, release!”

The entire arena was swallowed in mist. The crowd held its breath as the fog thickened, then just as quickly it vanished, leaving the air eerily clear.

Fenrona stood transformed. Her eyes now glowed icy blue, her hair flowing like liquid silver. Elga was no longer a thin rapier. In her hands gleamed a long sword, its blade pure white, the hilt black and shaped like a wolf’s tail. The handle was bound in dark leather, and at the pommel gaped the snarling mouth of a wolf.

In the stands, Cid’s lips curved. I knew she could do it.

“What… what is that?” someone whispered.

“I’ve never seen a transformation like this!”

“Stage five… it has to be!”

The colosseum buzzed with awe and fear.

Fenrona leveled Elga at Alpha, a smile curling her lips. “Let’s finish this, Al.”

Alpha’s grip on Ivar tightened, though her grin returned. “I always knew you’d reach it.”

She lunged, her strikes blazing with blue fire and frost. But this time, Fenrona flowed like water, dodging every blow with ease. Steel rang, sparks flew but Elga met Ivar with an effortless grace.

“You can’t hit me anymore, Al,” Fenrona whispered. She twisted, deflecting a strike, and slammed her fist into Alpha’s stomach. The flames there sputtered, freezing solid in an instant, before Fenrona hurled her across the arena.

Fenrona’s voice carried, calm and cold as death. “Let me make this clear. I’m not using ice magic anymore. I am ice. This is the meaning of stage five you become your element. You control it as easily as breathing.”

Alpha laughed weakly, staggering to her feet, flames licking at her frozen armor. “You’re just like him, you know…”

Fenrona’s eyes softened for a heartbeat. “I know, Al.”

Then her hand touched Alpha’s chest. In a flash, Alpha was encased in solid ice, her form trapped in a crystalline prison.

The crowd gasped.

Roly’s voice trembled. “Is… is she dead?”

“Not yet,” Fenrona answered coolly.

“Then the winner… is Fenrona Lynvern!” Roly roared.

The colosseum erupted, thousands screaming her name. Fenrona! Fenrona!

Fenrona released Alpha from the ice, but her own body faltered. Both women collapsed at once.

“Fen!” Cid shouted, already leaping down. Charls was beside him, and together they carried Fenrona and Alpha toward the medical wing as the crowd continued to roar their names.

The fight was over, but its echoes would shake the kingdom for years.

The medical wing was filled with the scent of herbs and the soft hum of healing spells. Cid sat by Fenrona’s bedside, his hand wrapped gently around hers, waiting for her to stir. Charls lingered nearby until a servant entered, bowing slightly.

“Sir, your fight is about to begin,” the servant announced.

Charls glanced toward Cid, then back at the doorway. Before he could move, Emily appeared, leaning against the frame.

“You should go. I’ll stay with him,” Emily said firmly.

“Emy,” Cid muttered, his tired eyes turning toward her. “You should go too. Your fight will be next.”

“There’s still time,” Emily replied, crossing the room to Fenrona’s side. “His fight comes first.” She shifted her gaze toward the bed Alpha lay in.

Cid exhaled slowly, his tone light but edged. “Charls don’t hold back. Show them what you’ve got. You don’t want to be left behind, do you?”

Charls smirked faintly. “Yeah. Don’t worry.” His gaze lingered on Emily, softer now. “I’ll be back.” With that, he turned and left, the sound of his boots echoing down the corridor.

Emily sat at Alpha’s bedside, still watching Fenrona. “I didn’t know she could do that,” she admitted.

“She couldn’t until today,” Cid said quietly. His eyes never left Fenrona’s sleeping face. “The fight with Alpha forced the bond to grow. That was only the beginning. She hasn’t even used Elga’s true attacks yet. What you saw was just her first step into stage five.”

A faint voice broke the silence. “So… your wife can use stage five magic?”

Cid turned. Lilith, propped against her pillows, had opened her eyes.

“You’re awake,” Cid said, his tone softening. “Feeling any better?”

Lilith chuckled dryly. “Better than earlier. Your brother here broke nearly every bone in my body.” She shot a wry glance at Emily. “But I’m mostly recovered now.”

Emily frowned. “You know…”

“I already told her,” Cid interrupted gently. He leaned back, his voice steady. “Lilith’s father… is our uncle. The other brother of our mother. That makes her our cousin.”

Emily froze, then slowly sat down with a small smile. “So… it’s not just us anymore.”

“It’s always good to find more family,” Fenrona’s voice whispered weakly.

Cid’s head snapped back toward her. Relief surged through him. “Fen,” he breathed, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “You’re awake.”

“Of course I am, my love,” Fenrona murmured, sitting up slowly. Her silver hair fell over her shoulders, her wolf-ears drooping but alive with warmth. “How is she?”

“Not dead,” Alpha muttered from her bed, her voice hoarse.

“Good. You’re awake too,” Emily said, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.

Alpha turned her head, her blue eyes sharpening on Fenrona. “Since when you could awaken Elga like that?”

Fenrona managed a tired laugh. “Since today. The fight pushed us through the threshold.”

The room quieted until the door creaked open again. Charls stumbled in, carrying his unconscious opponent slung over his shoulder. He lowered the boy onto a nearby bed with surprising care.

“I see you’re both awake,” Charls said, exhaling. His eyes flicked to Cid. “Cid, you’ll want to see the next match.”

“Why?” Cid asked, rising slightly.

“Because it’s Emily’s fight,” Charls answered, pointing toward Lilith’s bed. “And she’s facing her brother the Dark Prince, Jake Grayman.”

Lilith’s expression hardened. “Jake…” she whispered. “He’s stronger than me. Good luck, Emily.”

Before Cid could reply, Charls spoke again. “I’ll stay here and take care of them. Go watch.”

The door opened once more, and a tall man in a tailored suit stepped in. His face was unreadable, his tone crisp. “My lady,” he said, bowing slightly. It was Emily’s assigned servant. “It is time.”

Emily rose. Her hand brushed the hilt of Clain, her blood thrumming like a drumbeat.

Cid laid a hand on her shoulder as she passed. His voice was calm, but his eyes burned with pride. “Let’s see what the Dark Prince is truly made of, Emy.”

She gave a sharp nod, walking toward the arena gate. Her thoughts were a storm. The Dark Prince, huh? Let’s see what you are.