Chapter 48: Sparring Match
Before we began, Selena took a second to lay out the rules of the spar, as much for myself as the onlookers. Spars were generally much more casual than duels, and lacked the magical wards and protection. As such, it was considered good etiquette to withhold any magic or attacks that would endanger the lives of the contestant or the convenience of an observer.
That didn’t mean incidents were avoided, of course, but skilled Life Mages were always on standby in the training field. In this case, Selena herself was an extremely talented Life Mage and could guarantee the safety of anyone sparring under her instruction.
For this specific spar, Selena wanted to acquire an accurate evaluation of my current magical abilities and limits, ending only when she was satisfied with the results. By the time she explained the rules, almost three hundred people crowded around the sparring circle. While many of the locals came to see an instructor in action, as that itself would be a valuable learning experience, most of the foreigners were here to see the rumored demonkin. That someone like me could exist within the Divine Throne after the Holy War with the Beast Kingdom must have been astounding.
Unfortunately, they hardly kept their speculation and amazement quiet, and my keen ears picked up on several different conversations.
"Why is there a demonkin here?"
"Is she actually going to fight that Instructor? How could a demon stand against the Divine Throne’s finest?
"Wait, do you see that on her chest? So she’s a slave then. I wonder who would be lucky enough to own a cute girl like her? I bet they have lots of fun, if you know what I mean..."
The constant drone of the crowd brought a bashful blush to my cheeks, and I wished my ears weren’t nearly so sharp. No one was outright hostile, but the curiosity and attention made me uncomfortable.
"Prepare yourself!" Selena shouted, her passionate voice rolling over the training ground in waves, hushing the crowds.