Primordial Heir: Nine Stars

The second match pitted Elreth against a young man named Arthur Fassbinder, hailing from one of the lesser families.

Holding his spear confidently, Arthur offered a respectful nod. ”Greetings, Your Highness. Please take good care of me.”

”Likewise!” Elreth replied with a bright smile, swirling her spear playfully. Her red hair danced wildly around her, and her orange eyes gleamed with mischief. This would be fun. She noted that Arthur could wield the Law of Water, the opposite element to her Law of Fire.

As Balrog gave the signal to begin, Arthur launched the first attack. Water coiled around his spear, making it both extensible and nimble, and he unleashed a flurry of thrusts, each one resembling a water snake lunging to bite Elreth.

Most cadets would have felt a wave of panic facing such an assault, but Elreth simply grinned. With a fierce determination, her entire body ignited in flames, and her spear blazed with fire as she met the incoming attack head-on. Mimicking Arthur’s movements, she launched her own fiery thrusts.

Boom!

The clash of the two opposing elements created a spectacular explosion, sending steam and sparks flying across the arena.

The audience gasped, witnessing the sheer force of the collision. Arthur’s eyes widened in disbelief, momentarily stunned by Elreth’s audacity. He felt a wave of frustration but quickly masked it with determination. Resolving to give it his all, Arthur pushed himself further.

With a swift motion, he spun his spear, creating a whirlpool of water that surrounded him, enhancing his defensive capabilities while setting the stage for his next attack. He thrust his spear forward, the water swirling into a single, powerful jet aimed straight at Elreth.

Elreth, however, was ready. With a flick of her wrist, she unleashed a torrent of flames, igniting the water jet upon impact. The two forces collided in a dazzling display, steam billowing around them as the heat from her flames vaporized the water, momentarily obscuring vision in the arena.

But Elreth didn’t stop there. Using the momentary distraction, she darted forward, her spear a fiery blur. She executed a series of acrobatic maneuvers, twirling and flipping, her movements graceful and fluid. Each thrust of her spear was precise, aimed not just to attack but to toy with Arthur, keeping him on the defensive.

Arthur struggled to keep up, his frustration mounting. He began to recognize that Elreth was not just a prodigy; she was a monster on the battlefield, dancing around him with effortless ease. Every time he tried to counterattack, she was already one step ahead, her laughter ringing out like a melody of victory.

”Come on, Arthur! You can do better than that!” she taunted, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she parried his thrusts effortlessly.

Bitting his lips, Arthur called upon the depths of the Law of Water. He focused, drawing on the moisture in the air, creating a thick mist that enveloped the arena. It was a desperate move, but he hoped to level the playing field.

As the mist settled, Elreth’s grin faltered slightly, but only for a moment.

”Nice trick!” she called out, her voice teasing. ”But you’ll have to do better!”

With a burst of fire, she ignited the mist, sending tendrils of steam swirling around her as she danced through the fog, her spear striking out in unpredictable arcs. The flames illuminated her path, making her a fiery specter amidst the haze.

Arthur could barely keep track of her movements. She was a whirlwind of fire and energy, and he found himself struggling to mount a comeback. With each attack she launched, he grew more aware of his limitations, and that awareness only fueled his frustration.

In a last-ditch effort, Arthur gathered all his strength, forming a massive wave of water that he sent crashing toward Elreth, hoping to overwhelm her. ”Take this!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the arena.

But Elreth merely laughed, her confidence unwavering. ”Is that all you’ve got?” she mocked, her spear raised high. With a brilliant flash, she summoned a wall of fire that met the wave head-on.

The collision was monumental. The arena shook as the water evaporated on contact with the flames, creating a massive steam explosion that enveloped both cadets. When the smoke cleared, it revealed Elreth standing tall, her hair and clothes slightly singed but her spirit unbroken. Arthur, on the other hand, was on one knee, breathless and defeated.

Balrog stepped forward, raising his hand to signal the end of the match. ”Enough!” he called, his voice cutting through the tension.

The crowd erupted in applause, and Elreth, panting but exhilarated, offered Arthur a hand to help him up.

”Great fight! You really pushed me there,” she said, a genuine smile on her face.

Arthur accepted her hand, his expression a mix of frustration and admiration.

”You’re incredible,” he admitted, his voice still heavy with exertion. ”I didn’t stand a chance.”

Balrog approached them, a proud smile on his face. ”Elreth, your control over the Law of Fire is impressive. You’ve shown remarkable talent and creativity in using your abilities. But remember, true mastery comes from understanding both your strengths and your limitations.”

He turned to Arthur. ”And you, Arthur, have great potential with the Law of Water. Don’t let this match discourage you. Every battle is a lesson, and you have the talent to grow even stronger. Focus on your adaptability and learn to think outside the box.”

With the match concluded and valuable lessons imparted, Elreth and Arthur left the arena with newfound respect for one another. The journey of mastery was far from over, but both were eager to continue honing their skills for Arthur he wanted to be strong enough to bring his family to another height, save the most people while Elreth being Elreth, it is because it would be fun.

The third match was about to commence, featuring Adam against Azalea. As they stood opposite each other, tension crackled in the air.

Adam clicked his tongue in annoyance as he sized up the Elven princess standing before him. Due to his racial traits, he was shorter than Azalea, standing at around 1.60 meters while she towered over him at 1.74.

With a smirk, Azalea looked down at him, her bow poised and ready in her hands.

”Do your best to entertain me. Struggle for as long as you can,” she taunted, her voice low enough for only Adam to hear. His face scrunched up in irritation, as if he had bitten into something sour. He gripped his warhammer tightly, his brown eyes narrowing into slits as a heavy pressure emanated from him. Small particles of earth began to gather around him, a manifestation of his connection to the Law of Earth, particularly the sub-law of gravitation.

Azalea, on the other hand, embodied the Law of Wind as if it were second nature. Elves had a natural affinity for this Law, and with her bow in hand, she was deadly accurate. While most archers specialized in long-range combat and were vulnerable up close, Azalea was not one to be underestimated in close quarters.

With a decisive signal from Balrog, the match began. In an instant, Azalea unleashed an arrow forged from pure wind, its green hue shimmering as it shot toward Adam like a bolt of lightning.

With his muscles bulging, Adam swung his warhammer down with all his might, colliding with the wind arrow. The impact was explosive, sending a shockwave through the arena as the arrow shattered into a flurry of wind particles.

Not missing a beat, Adam harnessed the gravitation around him, sending a wave of force outward. The earth trembled beneath their feet, and Azalea, sensing the danger, nimbly dodged to the side, her movements fluid and graceful.

”Is that all you’ve got?” she teased, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes as she rapidly notched another arrow, this time infused with swirling winds that crackled with energy.

”Not even close!” Adam retorted, charging forward, his warhammer raised high. He launched himself at Azalea, determined to close the distance. With each step, he drew on the earth’s power, feeling the weight of gravity anchoring him, making him a formidable force.

Azalea released her arrow, and it zipped past him, grazing his shoulder and sending a jolt through his body. He gritted his teeth but pressed on, leveraging the pain to fuel his determination.

As he approached, Azalea flipped backward with incredible agility, landing gracefully a few meters away. She quickly spun her bow, summoning a gust of wind that whipped around her, creating a barrier of swirling air.

Adam, undeterred, swung his hammer again, aiming for the barrier. The collision sent ripples through the air, and he felt the force push against him, but he stood firm, grounding himself with the Law of Earth. He could feel the connection to the land beneath him, drawing strength from it.

”Impressive,” Azalea admitted, her voice tinged with respect. ”But let’s see how you handle this!”