The arena was packed.
Students filled the seats like hungry birds, squawking and squabbling for a better view. Betting slips passed hands. Professors whispered behind fans and enchanted scrolls. Even Headmaster Kaelus made a surprise appearance, sitting up high with an expression carved from apathy and disdain.
Typical.
Below, the two duelists stood on polished stone—Julien, with his cocky grin hiding pure terror, and across from him...
"Is that Seren Valker?" Mira whispered.
"Oh no," Felix whispered back. "Oh no no no no—"
"Who the hell is Seren Valker?" I asked.
Wallace blinked at me. "Only the rank one sword prodigy in the Academy. Rumor is, he got scouted by the Obsidian Guard at age fourteen."
"Huh," I said. "Well... sucks to be Julien."
The signal flare went off.
Julien launched forward with a burst of light from Wallace's bracer. A trick of runes—speed without stamina cost. He closed the distance like a missile, blade swinging in a wide arc—
CLANG!
Blocked.
