“He’s nimble,” Koda said. “I can say that much.”

  Austin pranced through the air like a dancer on stage, using wisps of pebbles and dust to lift his feet over explosions of fireballs. With each splatter of fire sizzling on the ground, the brown mage extinguished it using a blast of sand with a fluid movement of his fingers.

  Ven showed her frustration through growls and erratic spell casts, each more wild than the last.

  “His control is solid too,” replied Arrelion. He pointed to Austin as he ducked a firewhip. “Both over his body and magic.”

  Koda folded his arms. “I don’t think a ranged strategy would be very effective.”

  The fire mage clenched her teeth and furrowed her brow. She formed her hands together and mustered a larger fireball. With a grunt she hurled it at Austin, however Austin waved his hand and the fire made a wide arc, turning on Ven. It blasted her with a hefty impact, chucking her out of the ring.

  The referee raised his flag. “Ven Newsun has been knocked out of bounds, Austin Ridge is victorious!”

  “How in Ruens’s domain did he control Ven’s fire like that?!” Koda exclaimed.

  “This earth mage prodigy is full of secrets.” Arrelion shook his head, still stunned by the battle. Arrelion led Koda back to their tent. “There is a strong possibility you may face him next round.”

  “How so? Aren’t the matches chosen at random?”

  Arrelion looked up at the sky and gave a heavy sigh. “One would like to think so, but the truth of the matter is the first round is chosen at random, then the officials choose the following round based on how exciting the match would be, and from there the rest of the matches are based on skill alone.” Arrelion explained.

  Koda gave Arrelion a blank look. “How exciting the matches would be.”

  Arrelion chuckled. “Can you blame them? It is a tournament that happens every two years.” The second round is the bulk of the strongest opponents after the first round combed out the weaker ones. What better way to celebrate a competition of the best and brightest by choosing who fights who in the next round?”

  Koda smiled. “I suppose that makes sense, but why would I have to fight Austin? Wouldn’t Trent be a stronger match up?”

  “And miss out on the opportunity of seeing a prodigy take on a Silver Mage?”

  Koda stopped in his tracks as that idea of such a novel match dawned on him. The realization of facing Austin hit him like a falling tree. Even with the power of his ilrune, how could he beat that level of magic manipulation such as Austin’s? Did Arrelion have a strategy or was he to figure it all out on the fly?

  “Master, how can I defeat him?” asked Koda.

  Arrelion unsheathed his sword and twirled it with his hands. “I hoped we wouldn’t have to resort to this strategy, as it is your weakest suit, but swordplay.”

  Koda raised his brow. “Swordplay?” he repeated.

  “Keep him on his toes, either back him into a ring-out or get a lucky shot in. If you have an element channeled, it will still count as casting.”

  “Master, that sounds like cheating,” Koda said with a disappointed frown.

  Arrelion poised his sword at Koda. “Why do you think we trained you with a sword and how to channel? Fighting with your blade is a viable combative option of the Silver Mage.”

  Koda unsheathed his ilrune. “Then you are right. I wish I was more experienced in swordplay.”

  Arrelion lowered his head. “Unfortunately, it’s our best plan.”

  ***

  Although the sun never set in the strange desert, Koda had a feeling at least two days passed during the first round based solely on how often he slept. He saw Azeva’s pupil, Nia, move onto the second round. Both the blue draconian Falnastaar and mist elf Jashanti succeed in their matches as well. If round two were to truly be the round of set matches, from what he witnessed, each match would be a sight to behold.

  Raine waved Koda over to the ethereal sign, floating off to the side of the tournament grounds. Together they pushed themselves through a crowd of mages that gathered before it. Koda looked up. It glowed with dazzling lights, charting the second round matchups written in a neon green lettering. The sign read:

  Austin Ridge versus Koda Dawnedge

  Raine Skyteller versus Falnistaar

  Nia Embersky versus Trent Brawnlion

  Syruss Sawyer versus Jashanti Sunfruit

  Koda bit his lip as he read his match, not once or twice, but the third time. Just to be sure, just to find a fault or flaw in the wording, but with each pass came the same conclusion, he was facing Austin. Seven other competitors and he had to get the prodigy. Arrelion shot the arrow true, they wanted to see a Silver Mage fend off Austin the Prodigy. With any luck, the boy would be just as clunky in melee as he was.

  If only Elucard and Cade were here to give me an hour of sparring to refresh and sharpen my skills with sword fighting.

  Koda drooped his ears and face. He was so sure he would have made it to at least the semi-finals, but he was just as confident now that Austin would mop the floor with him. Even with the overwhelming power that he could channel, Arrelion made it sound like a prodigy could conjure that in spades. Mastery of manipulation and precision. How was he to compete with that? He had only been a Silver Mage for a few months, while Austin had so much natural talent with his element at thirteen than Megan had in her whole life!

  ***

  Koda stepped onto the arena platform and unsheathed his sword. Across from him stood the human child, Austin. He couldn’t have been more than thirteen and yet he possessed so much raw power. If Koda had even a hint of that talent he would have never fallen into the hands of Tashna, perhaps he could have stopped Elucard from murdering his father. Silly thoughts! No time for wishes and desires. He needed to concentrate on his task at hand.

  Koda gripped his hilt until his fist turned white. Sweat beaded down his temple and saliva dried up in his mouth. He glanced at the referee. What was taking so long? The anticipation was killing him!

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  Finally the referee raised his flag. “Begin!”

  Koda didn’t let another moment get between Austin and himself. Like a falcon’s dive he shot forward. He had to close the gap, get in melee range, and give the kid no berth.

  As Koda neared his target, he channeled a flare of lightning magic through his ilrune. Austin rolled sideways, desperately trying to get away from Koda’s advance. However, Koda was one step ahead and stabbed the ground, catching the tail of Austin’s brown robe.

  The child yelped and ripped his fabric away from the sword. Koda took hold of the weapon and slashed an arc of electricity down at Austin.

  Austin had no choice but to forge rocks around his arms and block the attack. The lightning dissipated into harmless specs of lights over the stone arm.

  Koda answered back with a flurry of lightning slashes. Each blow sparked into brilliant flashes as Austin deflected the attacks. The elf king kept up his relentless offense, striking at Austin’s shoulders, ribs, and legs, but each were met with speedy parries.

  I need to get faster strikes in. I need to overpower him.

  Koda channeled white magic. A stream of wind encircled his hands and wrist, empowering him to swing faster and harder. Austin could no longer keep up. Cuts sliced across his upper body. The boy stumbled backwards.

  I have him! Arrelion was right, swordplay gave me the advantage!

  Koda raised his blade over his head, one more attack would end the match. He whipped the ilrune down but to his shock the blade froze mid-swing. Koda grunted and wrenched the blade, but it would not budge.

  What is this? It is as if gravity has taken a hold of my sword. Koda thought to himself.

  Beneath the frozen blade, Austin smirked, his hand held out towards the gleaming edge with a flat palm.

  Did he… is he controlling my sword like he took control of Ven’s flames?

  Koda squeezed his hilt with both hands and poured an even larger douse of purple magic into his blade, but even with the extra power boost, Koda still couldn’t move his sword.

  How? How could he do this?

  Koda scanned the battlefield, searching for any clue, anything that would explain Austin’s technique. Then he spotted it. Scattered black chunks of stone—coal!

  That’s how he controlled the fire. He formed coal in Ven’s spell!

  Now it appeared obvious to Koda. His sword was steel. Metal. Found in the earth. Austin had hijacked the material of his sword!

  Austin stepped closer to Koda. He flicked his wrist and the ilrune wriggled free from Koda’s grip and hovered by itself in the air. Koda backed away, now in bewilderment. The sword began to spin slowly. Then faster. Faster. So fast it screamed and screeched.

  “This is where you lose, my king,” Austin said in a small voice.

  Austin clenched his hand into a fist and the buzzsaw sped forward.

  Koda shut his eyes, but no pain came. No blood squirted. Nothing happened.

  The warmth of the desert disappeared and a cold gust brushed against his skin. He opened his eyes and found a familiar black wolf sitting in front of him. Although he couldn’t explain why, he was back in the mountains and once again before the Misty Veil. Snow drifted all around him and he brushed off the building mounds of flakes from his shoulders.

  “You are safe, Koda,” said the wolf in a rough voice.

  “Tezhok,” Koda said calmly.

  “Yes, my friend.”

  Koda moved his hand close and patted the animal. Tezhok moved away and walked deep into the fog. “Follow,” he called back to the elf.

  Koda huffed a sigh, but did as he was told. As he stepped forward, the haze parted, revealing a pair of massive steel doors built into the side of the mountain. They were the same doors he saw in his visions before. The double doors swung open and a man draped in fine black silk robes appeared. He had pale skin, golden eyes, and shimmering platinum white hair.

  The man gave Koda an elegant bow. “Welcome, dear Koda.”

  Koda approached the regal man and bowed back. “Who are you? Where am I?”

  The man waved his hand. “You are deep in the Northern Territory, beyond the impenetrable mountains, and through the wall of ethereal fog.”

  Tezhok trotted to the man’s side and sat down. “You are home, Koda.”

  “Home?” questioned the elven king. “Only moments ago I was at the mage tournament! How am I here?”

  The man avoided the query. “Do you wish to go back?”

  Koda lowered his head. “It doesn’t matter, I can’t beat Austin. No doubt I already lost.”

  The man let out a soft chuckle. “I wouldn’t worry about your match. I have sent Tezhok to assist you.”

  Koda raised his head and asked his question again, “Who are you?”

  The man gave Koda a gentle smile. “You may call me Mateo. I hope to be your next teacher.”

  “Mateo!?” Koda gasped. “The Mateo!?”

  Mateo bowed once more. “The one and only, my liege.”

  Koda scratched his head in astonishment. First Arrelion offered to mentor him and now Mateo. “Why me?” he finally said.

  Mateo clasped Koda’s shoulder. “My boy, the Magi is too powerful for you to manipulate, yes?”

  “Yes, I have trouble controlling the Magi.”

  “I wish to teach you to properly harness it,” explained Mateo.

  “B-but Arrelion told me it shouldn’t be used.”

  Mateo squeezed the elf’s shoulder until he winced. “Do not squander such gifts,” Mateo whispered in a cutting rasp.

  Koda looked deep into Mateo’s golden, soulless eyes.

  “Koda, at my side you will walk amongst eternals.” Mateo inched closely to Koda’s ear. “And you will never falter again.”

  Koda’s eyes widened in a daze. Mateo’s hypnotic voice echoed in his mind.

  “Now awaken…”

  Koda snapped his eyes open and looked down to find Austin on the ground with an ilrune pointed against his neck. Koda inspected the blade and found he held it.

  “Austin has forfeited, Koda is the victor!” shouted the referee.

  Koda dropped his weapon and swayed on his feet. Arrelion, Raine, and Wildeye ran to his side and embraced him in a warm hug.

  “You did it!” cheered Wildeye. “You were amazing!”

  “What an unreal performance, Koda!” laughed Raine.

  “You have shown more prowess with silver magic than I anticipated,” said Arrelion. “Well done!”

  Koda broke away from his friends and headed for the tent. “I-I need to lay down.

  “Don’t take too long of a nap, Koda!” Raine called out. “I’m up after this next match!”

  ***

  Koda tossed and turned on his cot, unable to sleep. Mateo’s words still echoed in his head.

  “When you stand by my side, Koda, you will walk amongst eternals. And we will never let you falter again.”

  What did he mean by that? Was Sable’s master actually Mateo?

  He recalled back to what Sable told him at Dragon Realm Blight’s seal

  “Continue on your journey to become a Master Mage, you will know him when you see him.”

  The mystery of Fen’s connection to Mateo was unraveling. He knew he was close to completing the puzzle, but he just needed a few more pieces. However, a tournament victory and achieving his final color stood in his way.

  “You seem troubled, boy.”

  Koda rolled over to find Master Stryneth sitting beside him. “I’m just having a bad dream.”

  Stryneth twiddled his thumbs. He nodded in silence before speaking up again. “Dreams… or visions?”

  Koda showed no reaction to the question. Another piece to the puzzle was here the whole time. “Who are you, Master Stryneth? Who are you really?”

  The blue mage placed a gentle hand on Koda’s shoulder. “You know who I am and why I am here.”

  Koda sighed and shifted to his back. “You are here to evaluate me… for Alifinster Fen.”

  Stryneth narrowed his eyes and smirked.

  “Alifinster Fen,” whispered Koda, “is not his real name.”

  “No,” replied Stryneth.

  “And do you go by a different name as well?” Koda said softly.

  Stryneth nodded. “You may call me Strife. Now you know my name and you know why I am truly here.”

  “To bring me to Mateo,” Koda whispered again. “So that I can release the gods.”

  Strife rose to his feet. “You know how to find him. I will see you again when you are ready to do so.”