Clara Heartstone. One of the beauties of academy. She is a year above mine. Her magic control is like of royal mages. And that's why she is one of the wands. Wands is a title given by headmaster, to exceptional talented students. This title helps in future and also gives certain privileges in academy. But the wands are a bit much arrogant. This is what I have known by exchanging words with one of their members. Maybe their pride is reason for arrogance. Now, the duel was going to happen tomorrow. Before duel I thought of meeting the headmaster after school. When the bell rang, I gave regards to Fren and went the office.
I looked at his face. It was like he was anticipated it. I took a seat, and first asked him about the duel rules. Duels doesn't have much rules. The first one is that both participants have to agree for duel with stakes. Second one is that participants can't use spell above then middle tier. It is for safety. For example "fireball" is a low tier spell. It is just burns an target. Then It becomes "fire blast" in middle tier. It have a bit destructive power. If target is human, then he will lose his arm in one shot. And it becomes "fire storm" in high tier. Here it has quite destructive power. It can kill couple of humans in one shot. Magic spells are classified in low tier, lower middle tier, middle tier, higher middle tier, high tier, mega tier, and legendary tier. Most magicians can use upto high tier. Mega tier have most complication magic spells. So magicians have to comprehend them to use. Legendary tier are more hard and need very high amount of mana. Even of learn, if you don't have high mana then you can't cast it. But all spells doesn't come under these tiers. There is unique tier for unique magic spells.
The magic spells are divided but it doesn't mean that low tier spells can't defeat middle tier. The main component or subject on which division of magic spells is done is its casting sequence or in other words its formula. Higher tiers have complicating formulas which makes them hard. Low tiers are easy to understand. But if an individual have good amount of mana, then he can make fireball stronger than normal ones. And one more factor is mana force. Mana force is the term for measuring one's mana quality. The more pure mana you have, the better spells you can exert. And the purer mana have more potential to exert spells of high quality.
Now, if you have casted a magic, most important thing to have control over it. If you cast an "aqua ball", and have perfect control over it, then you can change its shape in middle and also change a target in middle of combat. And this magic control is in which Clara excels.
After learning the rules I asked about Clara Heartstone. Clara Heartstone is daughter of low rank noble. She was unable to got in the academy because of some teacher replaced some high noble with low Mark's in place of her for money. From then she hates high rank nobles with no ability. The nobles who don't have ability but still got accepted because they have status and money. And from her reasoning, I am that scapegoat who entered without any ability. That's why she was more furious after learning my identity. It looks like it is growing into serious issue.
Then the headmaster told that in the private arena beneath his chamber is where he will conduct the duel. And he will be the referee.
I thanked the headmaster and headed to dorm. Then i talked to Fren about the events. He was laughing madly. I was a bit confused. Seeing me a bit perplexed, Fren asked
"Eric, if you want then you can easily defeat her. So why such a hardening look?"
"Fren, you are right. It is easy to defeat her. But i only don't want defeat her through sheer power. What i mean to say is I want her to know herself a bit more and want her to forget her hatred. "
"Hmmm ... So, you can't do that?"
"I can do that. Don't think I can't do that, Fren. Now let's rest. I don't have time to laze tomorrow."
Today is the day of Duel. And I am late than schedule. I arrived at the private arena a bit late. Seeing me in this situation, Clara got more pissed. Yesterday before going to bed, I thought that maybe if I can persuade with words, then I don't have to duel to Clara. So, I approached her for a talk before duel. I said
"Listen, Clara. Isn't there is better way to solve this? Why don't you cancel the duel?"
After hearing this statement the headmaster also spoke in my behalf. But she replied
"I don't intend to withdraw the challenge. I will teach you lazy noble a lesson. You weak lazy bastard!! Or are you scared?"
"Listen, Clara. This is not what I am about. You should throw away your hatred."
"Whatever you say, I don't intent to withdraw. You better prepared for emergency treatment."
Shit. She doesn't understand anything. Well if words are not efficient then force will. Both of us entered the arena from opposite sides. The headmaster was on watching from sidelines. He then announced
"Duel between Clara Heartstone and Eric Valhard will now commence!!!"
As the duel begin, she quickly casted fireball. I casted barrier on front. Then suddenly the fireball changed its trajectory. It's speed increased and it disappeared from front and suddenly appeared from back. And boom!! It stopped. I had known that fireball will appear in back. She saw and commented
"This was only warm up treat."
After hearing her comment, I stretched myself a bit. Then replied
"Then, It would impolite if i don't sent you a warm up treat."
I casted a fireball. Unlike hers, my fireball was of blue color. It was because of pure mana. It quickly rushed towards her. She quickly casted barrier. I was impressed with reaction speed. But barrier is not enough to my fireball. Then maybe because of her instincts, she knew that it was not possible for her stop with barrier. She quickly dodged using haste. Then she looked at the point where fireball landed. The walls of all arena are coated with magic barrier which are capable of resist all types of low to middle tier spells. It was like alarm which helps to maintain the rules. If a wall is destroyed, it means the individual have used a spell of high tier. But my fireball destroyed the wall. Seeing this she quickly asked headmaster
"Headmaster. He is violating rules. The walls were destroyed. "
The headmaster replied
"No. He wasn't cheating. The formula was of low tier."
"Then why the wall was destroyed?"
"It is because his low tier spells are stronger than your middle tier spells."
Then she was glaring at me. Then i asked her
"Why are you glaring?"
"It is because you are stronger."
I was a bit surprised. She is more sincere and honest then she seems. I replied
"You are honest. I never expected that."
"Of course. I never do things out of my ethics."
"Whatever. You started the duel. Now you better take this seriously. Because I don't do half ass battles!!!"