Chapter 11 The Fight
Kaelith furrowed his brow as he watched the contestant tentatively, his gaze sweeping across the contestant as if they were a treasured pawn in his game of chess.
A wild and violent flame roared across the stage. The heat rose like a wave, making the air shimmer. Kaelith felt it from where he sat, just a breath of warmth, as there was an invisible barrier protecting the crowd from the waves of the fight.
The white-uniformed boy didn’t move much. His eyes were observant and calm. He raised one arm, and a ring of frost burst outward from his body. A sharp ice formed in layers across the platform; it covered it within seconds.
The moment the two elements clashed, the entire stage shook again.
Cracks ran across the floor, and a sharp gust swept through the arena as steam hissed from the collision between fire and ice. The crowd gasped and leaned slightly backward, but Kaelith stayed still.
’Fast,’ he thought, watching the boy in red. ’But sloppy. Tsk. Tsk. He wants to burn through everything, zero outsmarting skills.’
The boy in white moved with precision. Each motion had a purpose. He stepped sideways and raised his hand again. Snow spiraled upward in a sharp arc before hardening into a barrier.
The fire slammed into it, sending a shockwave through the platform. A low boom followed. Dust scattered, and some nobles near the front raised their arms to shield their faces.
However, Kaelith didn’t bat an eyelid. His gaze was too focused for a five-month-old.
Back in the arena, the boy in white used the mist from the explosion to vanish from sight. When the flames cleared, the red-uniformed boy spun in confusion.
"Come out, you coward! And fight me head-on," but no matter how much he searched for a glimpse of the other boy, he couldn’t find him.