CH17

“A duel!” The man said, “Let this gentleman, show you what it feels like to be humiliated!”

A magic circle flared behind him.

“What?” Furi shouted, she stepped backed, preparing to dodge.

Suddenly, an icicle is launched from the magic circle, it shrieks through the air, leaving behind a cold mist.

Furi, reacting quickly leap into the air.

BANG!

A massive ice shard crystalized; a quake shakes the cavern.

People around began to scatter; the calm turned into chaos.

Furi landed with a thud, quickly getting up, “Hey! What are you doing!” She screams “Are you trying to kill me?”

But the man didn’t listen, ice forms around his right hand, covering it with cold mist, he walk towards her, like a cold killer.

He swipes his right hand, in a blink, a sword appeared, made from ice.

“Come on! Show me what you got!” The man shouted “Are you surrendering already? I’m just warming up!”

His eyes flared like jewelry, like it was the most thrilling moment of his life,

People around yelled for them to stop, but they both were locked, not a word reached them.

Furi, though hesitant, cast a fireball.

She can’t back down anymore. It’s heat sweeping through the air. But the man swipes it away with his sword, though his blade shattered, cold mist emanates from the hilt, then new ice spring up the form the blade once more.

clutching his sword, he slashes at her.

Furi’s spine chilled, something bad is approaching, instinctively, she dodges to the right.

CRACK!

The mana crystal behind her was sliced, its fragment falls to the ground.

Then suddenly massive ice crystals burst out of the cut, Slicing Furi’s arm slightly, although the pain was bearable, the message was clear.

‘This person is not normal’ She thought

Steadying herself, Flames manifest behind her, she shoots them towards him.

The man slashes upward with his sword, a wall of ice crackles to follow his slash, ricocheting her flames.

BOOM!

Her flames hit the ceiling, mana lights flicker in the shockwave, pieces of rocks fall, destroying some tents.

Screams echoed throughout the cavern; more people shouted for them to stop “Stop! Are you all going to destroy this cavern?” but it was no use, you couldn’t shout for two beasts to stop fighting.

“C’mon! Is that all you really got?” The man said, a wide grin on his face. “Or do you need some more pressure?”

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A magic circle flared under his feet. Then, a fog of cold mist came.

Furi stood there and blinked, she recognized this fog “Is this man the one who saved me?” She thought “This freaking lunatic?”

Furi stomps her feet, flames appeared and spread outwards, dispersing the fog.

She looked around quickly, anticipating the man.

‘This man, why is he going all out for this freaking simple duel!’

Then suddenly he jumped through the roaring wall of inferno, his sword raised.

Furi stepped back, raising her arms, aiming her finger at him, a magic circle also appeared at the tip of her finger

‘At this range there’s no way he can dodge!’ she thought.

Time slows down for them both, like everything in their life was dependent on this moment, will the sword hit her first? Or will it be the flames that blast him first?

“Hey! What the fuck are we doing?” A voice breaks through the chaos

The two stopped dead in their tracks, as the embers became extinguished and the frost melted. A scene of carnage is revealed before their eyes.

Tents broken, people huddling in corners or under rocks, some are frightened, their body shivers, some stand there, their eyes blank, like the world shattered before their eyes.

“Ahem, excuse my language” Lisa clears her throat “One question, why?”

Both the man and Furi looked at each other, like they’re blaming each other, telepathically.

“Spero?” Lisa turns to face the man.

He fidgets around, sweat poured from his face “I’m…I’m sorry, sister. I…I got a bit too excited”

Lisa face palmed with disappointment.

“It is your lucky day, miss Caprico, this is the guy that help you flee”

Furi nodded, although annoyed to be save by this man.

“So, this is who you told me to use my magic for?” Spero said in disbelief.

“Whatever, go clean up after yourself” Lisa points to the crowd.

“Come meet me at my tent after you all are done”

Furi walked into the area, she spots a man trapped under a broken tent.

Furi knelt and extended her hands to help him get up.

But the man looked down and slapped her hand away. Furi startled, froze.

“Are you really one of us? Did you saw horror?” The man shout in frustration “Where is the scar of battle on you? What did you do in war? Huh? Sit in the back while people like us die?”

“No…I…”

“Go away, I don’t want to hear your sob story, We don’t need your soft hands”

Furi walked out of the area, devastated.

Her intention was good, but why? Why did they not want to receive it?

The man named Spero was still standing there, on the same place, he didn’t move an inch, his arms crossed.

He let out a sign seeing Furi walked out, “It’s because our hands are too clean”

“What do you mean?” Furi said, her voice trembles a bit.

“See them?” Spero points around “They all have a scar from battle, one way or another”

“In battle, mages like us stay in the back, because of strategic purposes. So those in the front face the full wrath of the enemy, and mages was full of pride back then because if you were a mage, that’s a free ticket to status and wealth”

Furi stood there, still devastated

“It’s fine. Get use too it, war isn’t kind, so is those in them”

“I’m Spero Magicium Pythagoros, call me Spero, nice to meet you” Spero offered his hand.

“I’m…I’m Furi Vandalia, nice to meet you” Furi answered, seemingly calm down a bit and squeezes his hand.

“For starting this mess” Furi said, then walked away.

“Hey! But you looked like you were into it!” Spero shouted, running after her.

Although she isn’t there anymore, she could still feel their gaze. It’s like from those above.

They arrived at the command tent, and inside Lisa was waiting for them.

“So, we…No, I would like to send you two on a mission. Your combat skills are the best we have. But in this mission, you won’t be throwing hands” Lisa said “You can choose to participate, if not then leave”

“Well, what’s the mission? Sister” Spero asks

“I’ll tell you if you choose to join”

Furi thought, “This is a good chance to redeem myself’

Although those people still likely won’t accept her for what she did, she must prove herself. Prove that she is one of those who has seen what war did.

Some may say that we don’t need to prove it to anyone. But a lone wolf will likely die first.

“I’ll join” Furi said

“How about you, Spero?”

“Heh, I won’t lose to her. I’ll go as well”

“When did we have a competition?” Furi asked

“Since you use that fireball”

“But you attacked me first!”

“That’s because we were in a duel!”

“Both of you stop bickering, please” Lisa uttered “Don’t make my day worse”

They both froze, they then walked closer to Lisa.

“So, here’s the mission, it will start tomorrow afternoon”

Sometime Later, Aquaria’s city square.

Voice chatter, a big crowd formed around a stage. The square and shops are packed with people.

“Good afternoon, everyone! I’m Alice Gabrielson, your host for today!”