Another icy arrow sped through the air. A frosty mist cascaded underneath it and as it found its mark at Koda’s feet, it exploded into a massive glacier-like wall that towered over Koda, casting him in a cold shadow.

  Koda grit his teeth. Silvis commanded the battle from the start, keeping him at bay with runed ice arrows, each with its own utility such as turning ground to a deep layer of snow to hinder Koda’s movement and now this wall.

  Koda ducked as another shard arrow whistled over his head. He looked as a volley of ice arrows fell upon him. Instinctively, he turned his body to stone, but to his surprise the arrows landed in a crescent shape behind him.

  “Oh no,” he mumbled.

  Ice walls erected from the arrows, now completely encasing him in a pit.

  He may have had this battle from the get-go with his aggressive style, but I’m about to take this victory. Koda thought to himself.

  The walls began to tremble and grind as they slid at Koda. I don’t think so!

  Koda pulled his ilrune into his hands and channeled wind magic. With a whisk of wind, he lept high into the air. Silvis was now only a spec on the battlefield in Koda’s aerial view. The elven king lifted his legs behind him. He flared brown magic through his feet forming a slab of rock. Bending his knees and bracing against the stone, he channeled wind magic once again and pushed off the slab like a ballista missile.

  Koda hurtled through the sky, aiming for Silvis. The elven archer fired another arrow at him, matching Koda’s speed but dragging behind came a rising tidal wave of ice. Koda clenched his teeth and powered his magic through his sword until it sparked with a burning white flame. He thrust his sword forward so that his body became a flame-tipped javelin.

  The arrow sizzled into vapor as it made contact with Koda’s sword. He continued his path straight into the oncoming frozen wave, tunneling into the center and punching through the other side. Koda raced closer and closer at Silvis, a trail of fire and vaper behind him like a comet. Silvus had seconds to react as he dove sideways.

  Koda twisted his body and quickly channeled earth magic, creating another platform underneath his feet. He bounced off the platform and flew to Silvis.

  Silvis yelped as Koda swung his sword through him. However, instead of cleaving the elf in two, he entombed him in diamond.

  Amplification. Turning normal stone into something harder. Koda landed with a smirk across his face. His feet skid backwards until his heels reached the battleground’s ledge.

  “Silvis is unable to continue,” the referee cried. “Koda is victorious.”

  Koda tapped his blade on the diamond, crumbling it and releasing Silvis from his prison. The ice elf fell to his knees. “G-good f-ight,” he stammered through labored breaths.

  Koda offered his hand and lifted his opponent to his feet.

  “You could have killed him, Koda, but instead you showed an impressive mastery of control,” came a voice from behind the king.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Koda turned around to find Trent walking onto the battleground. A smug grin crossed the white mage’s face. “It vould appear you have grown stronger than you vonce were.”

  Koda sheathed his ilrune, choosing to ignore Trent’s comment. He walked past him, making sure to bump Trent’s shoulder. Trent tugged Koda’s collar so hard that the elf spun around to face him.

  Koda tried to break free, but Trent only tightened his grip. His hard eyes pierced Koda’s soul.

  “No matter, you vill still fall before facing me,” said Trent with a dry laugh.

  “Trent Brawnlion and Ireen Scurrywhisker, come to the arena”

  Trent pushed away Koda, “Looks like I’m up against a green mage. I’ll pretend it’s you!

  Koda’s face boiled red with rage. “You’ll eat your words when you face me, Trent!” Koda spat through clenched teeth.

  “Good luck in your future match, Koda, you vill need it,” the wind mage sneered.

  ***

  Koda entered the large tent spanning the size of the war tents Koda’s commanders used during the The Dawnedge War. Arrelion had set it up as a home away from home during the tournament. Several comfortable cots lay around the perimeter of the tent, each serving a bed for Wildeye, Raine, Arellion, Stryneth, and himself. Lavish fruits, sweet wine, and hearty sliced bread sat on a round table at the center. Arrelion had placed a soft chair for reading at the far end, which Wildeye snoozed in with a fat book still in her hand.

  Raine put her wine cup on the table and smiled as Koda walked in. “A thrilling battle, Koda.”

  Koda grew a wide grin and rested his sword on a cot. He walked to the table and plucked a grape. “You caught it?”

  Raine nodded enthusiastically. “You used a wonderful technique combining wind and earth magic!”

  Koda’s ear tips blushed. “Thanks, Raine. Trent is having his battle now.”

  “Trent’s and four other matches are left to go this round,” Raine explained. “Did you want to watch any?”

  Arrelion sat up from his cot. “It would behoove you to watch Austin’s match.”

  “Why? Who is Austin, Master Arrelion?” asked Koda.

  Arrelion leaned forward. “A brown mage prodigy.”

  “A real prodigy or do you mean he is just good?” asked Koda.

  “A prodigy,” Arrelion repeated. “Each elemental school of magic has a child born with a higher degree of power and control with their magic. Only seven are known to live at a time. Austin is one of them.”

  “So he would make an excellent challenge,” Koda said with a smirk.

  “He’s thirteen and with his raw talent, he will possibly be your most challenging yet!”

  Raine pulled at Koda’s sleeve. “Come on, Koda, our tent has a great view of the ring!”

  Arrelion nodded to Koda, “Go ahead, have some fun. There will be a time to be serious when your next match comes around.”

  Trent’s match just wrapped up as Koda and Raine began to watch the battles. A tall twister spat out a small green mage mouseling, sending her flying out of the ring.

  “Ireen Scurrywhisker has been knocked out of bounds, Trent Brawnlion is victorious!”

  Koda frowned. Even though he caught the tail end of the battle, Koda remembered Trent’s power and now he was stronger than ever. Did Koda have what it took to beat him? Was silver magic enough to put the wind mage away?

  “Zidan Shadowseeker and Syruss Sawyer, please come to the arena.”

  The battle began. Zidane, a moon elf black mage, used shadow puppets like summons to do his bidding. Koda noted that he kept Syruss at bay, much like his battle with Silvis and the ice arrows. Koda watched on in awe of Syruss’s complete control over his elements. Using wind to increase his speed, and fire to enhance his light magic to counter the shadow puppets. Earth to create a deadend to trap Zidane. Then he used a vine whip to pull himself in closer to the shadow mage, ending the match with an ice dagger to the shadow elf’s gut.

  “Oh wow, he’s good, Koda,” commented Raine.

  Koda couldn’t help but be speechless. Trent would be hard pressed to beat that performance.