บท 9: Rematch
[You're accepting this quest?]
The reward for winning against Ophelia seemed promising but the punishment was harsh.
"Let's fight, Ophelia." Mika declared determined.
Still, Mika accepted the quest. He had the feeling that the reward may come in handy soon.
"I-I guess you're a boy after all…" Ophelia commented barely audible as her cheeks were still as red as a beet.
"Hm? What did you say?"
"N-nothing!"
After clearing her throat, Ophelia regained her usual calm and confident composure.
"Follow me then."
Mika silently walked behind her as they headed towards the academy.
"We're going inside?" Mika asked.
"Of course. I mean, you don't want to be seen using your power, right?"
"Ah, yes, that's right. Thanks." he responded slightly impressed by her attentiveness.
When they stood in front of the tall doors of the academy, Ophelia softly touched the door with her hand.
At that moment, the doors slowly opened itself.
"How did you do that?" Mika asked astonished with his mouth agape.
"The doors will open as long as someone recognized by the headmaster of the academy touches them."
"But don't stand there like an idiot. Come in already."
Thus, the two entered the vast hallways.
The walls were decorated with paintings of teachers, mages, knights, and other prominent people connected to the academy. The massive golden chandeliers, like those in castles, illuminated the insides. With the ceiling being relatively high, pillars were made to support the balance of the building. At the end of the hallway, there was a large stained-glass window in the colors of the magic elements. Under that window, there were stairs that led to above.
Ophelia and Mika walked on a dark red carpet until they stopped in front of the window at the end of the hall.
"Where are we going?"
And again, Ophelia just stretched her arm forward as if she wanted to touch the window. Following that, the window shone brightly.
Mika instinctively held his arms up and closed his eyes due to the sudden flash.
"You can open your eyes again."
"…"
After he opened his eyes, he had to get accustomed to the current location's light conditions.
Compared to the hallway, it was now darker.
"Where are we…?"
Suddenly, with the snap of Ophelia's fingers, multiple torches forming a wide ring were lit.
As a result, Mika finally realized what this place was.
"Welcome to the arena." Ophelia said with a proud smirk.
The inside of the arena resembled a coliseum. The fighting space fit roughly about 200 people and there were a lot of stands outside of that space for spectators. However, outside the arena, it was pitch black. Even if one looked up, there was nothing but darkness.
"Don't worry about any spectators. I've reserved the arena for today."
Mika could not hide his amazement again as he looked around him.
"This arena is in a magic space created by one of the academy's top mages. It's perfect for holding battles involving magic as nothing can break this space from inside."
"Anyways, this should be enough for the introduction. Let's cut the chit-chat and start, shall we?" Ophelia added bored.
Ophelia created some distance between them before they could begin.
Mika was ready to draw his sword as he touched its hilt vigilantly.
"Last time I made a mistake and underestimated you. Therefore, I will now treat you like a worthy opponent." she said with a stern gaze.
Following that, she stretched both her hands to the front.
"I can go all out, too, right?" Mika muttered.
[Yes, but be careful. Even with that sword, it will be difficult to win this time.]
"?"
Mika was confused by the system's statement. With the sword's true power, opponents like Ophelia would not be much of a threat. So why was the system in doubt?
His focus shifted back to the front when he noticed something on Ophelia's hands.
Her hands were shrouded in darkness.
"Let me show you my relic." she said with a sly grin.
Mere seconds passed and instead of darkness, her hands were covered in black armored gloves.
"Relic…?"
It was the first time, he witnessed one of the 66 mystic relics.
"Draw your sword because I'm coming at you now!" she suggested – or rather, ordered.
Ophelia pointed with her palm at Mika and just like in the first exam, she quickly gathered lightning in that palm and fired off a beam.
Instinctively, Mika drew his sword which was glowing in a white light, and with a light slash, the beam disappeared in thin air.
Replacing the rusty sword from before again was a pure white blade with a golden hilt.
"…"
Staring at the sword intensively, she continued attacking him with magic.
But be it beams or lightning strikes, they all vanished as soon as the sword touched them.
"I see…"
She smirked again.
On the other hand, Mika could not afford to waste more time, so he leaped to her. Holding his sword above his head, he intended to slash her vertically.
Ophelia did not let her guard down, hence she dodged his attack swiftly by jumping to the side.
"That's an interesting sword you got." she remarked impressed despite her face not showing it.
"…"
"It negates any kind of magic attack, am I right?"
"…"
"Still no response, huh…" she said disappointed.
Preparing his stance, Mika launched another attack, however Ophelia dodged it again.
"This sword may be impressive, but it still has some huge flaws."
Using the momentum, she grabbed his hands, which were holding the sword, and with a lightning-packed punch to the face she sent him flying.
"Argh!"
Mika landed on his back, but he got up instantly as he tried to go at her once more.
"With this sword, you won't have any problems deflecting projectile type of magic. But what if you encounter an enemy who is specialized in melee combat?"
He swung his sword horizontally, however, Ophelia evaded it with her lightning-boosted speed and got behind his back.
"!"
He realized it too late.
She touched his back with her palm.
"Ahhhh!!!" Mika groaned in pain as Ophelia launched a beam at point blank.
With burn marks, his electrified body fell to his knees.
"In the end, it's just your sword that negates magic. There is nothing you can do if a magic attack hits you at a spot you can't counter with your sword."
Even though they were fighting, she still lectured him mercilessly.
"Tch…" he clicked his tongue.
Suddenly, Mika got up as he held his sword tightly and vigorously.
"Ah, the first recoil should be coming now." Ophelia stated negligently.
Then, out of nothing, Mika got sent flying again.
"Argh…"
When he landed, he touched the spot where he felt the pain.
"W-what was that…" he pondered in pain.
[It's her relic.]
"What…?"
He was sure that Ophelia was not moving from her spot back then. She did not even lift a finger. So how was she able to land a hit on him?
"7…8…9…"
"?"
"…and 10." she said sinisterly.
Anew, the same thing happened.
"Ugh!"
It felt like he was hit with a punch.
"J-just what did you do to me…" he asked confused as he touched his cheek.
Then, she pointed at her own cheek.
"Try to look where you're touching yourself now."
"Hm?"
He touched the exact same spot where he was hit for the first time by her.
"Wait… Could it be that-"
Again, too late.
Mika let out a painful grunt.
[One minute passed since you used the power today.]
"…"
"Now tell me, did you find out what happened to you?" Ophelia asked sarcastically.
Exhausted, Mika looked at her bitterly.
He may have an idea what the relic's power was, but he had an even bigger concern.
He did not have much time left.
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