Academy – Duel

body {
font-family: Georgia, serif;
line-height: 1.6;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 20px;
}
h1 {
color: #333;
border-bottom: 2px solid #ddd;
padding-bottom: 10px;
}
p {
margin-bottom: 1em;
text-align: justify;
}

―Thud.

Today, I open the door and enter the class with Annie.

‘I wonder if Doran is already here?’

I briefly scan the students and find Doran sitting in his seat.

At the same time, Doran turns his head and our eyes meet.

“Hey, Lena!”

As soon as Doran sees me, he stands up and approaches me.

Judging by his excited expression, it seems he has prepared something.

“Lena, you’re not thinking of running away today, are you?”

“Why don’t you cut the crap?”

Undeterred by my exasperated look, Doran smiles and takes something out of his pocket. He starts waving it in front of my eyes.

“You know what this is, right?”

“This is… a Mana Contract….”

I let out a groan at the paper in front of me.

A Mana Contract for a duel between academy students.

Doran has prepared a pretty good contract as an extra. Of course, it’s a contract that commoners can’t even dream of affording.

I guess he really wanted to get his hands on me.

Mana Contracts are expensive, but they are very effective because they involve betting each other’s mana.

Due to this characteristic, it is impossible to lift it unless you are a Magic Tower elder or higher.

‘It wouldn’t mean anything to me, who is at that level or higher, though.’

Generally, if you try to break a contract, you lose all your mana.

However, Slave Contracts work a little differently.

For example, if the Slave Contract proposed by Doran is concluded, the owner gains control over the slave’s mana.

Since they can control the mana in the body at will, it becomes almost impossible for the slave to resist.

Thus, when a Mana Contract and a Slave Contract are combined, they manifest as a terrifying form of contract.

In fact, it’s a contract that doesn’t mean much to ordinary people without mana. But for mana users, breaking the contract is as good as death.

“That’s right. It’s a contract where we bet all our mana. It’s a must-have for duels between nobles, right? You weren’t thinking of pretending you didn’t know and running away even if you lost the duel, were you?”

Basic duels are bound by the laws of the kingdom, so it’s true that running away with a determined mind would be meaningless.

Although I would never be able to set foot in the Rica Kingdom again.

“I wasn’t satisfied with the kingdom’s legal contract. From your perspective as a commoner with no parents, you might run away from the academy even if you lose.”

Bringing up my parents here is surprising.

Of course, no matter how much you insult my parents, I don’t feel bad.

“How dare you say that to Lena!”

Annie, who was next to me, got angry at Doran’s words and tried to rush at him.

“Wait a minute. I’m okay.”

I stopped Annie and calmed her down.

“I was worried that you might use your status to pretend you didn’t know even if you lost the duel. It’s a relief that you won’t be able to think that way if you use this.”

-Snatch!

I grab a contract from Doran’s hand.

“You didn’t tamper with the contract, did you?”

“Are you still doubting me?”

“Just think about your usual behavior before you speak.”

I slowly read through the clauses of the contract. It’s quite long, but it wasn’t difficult to read in a short time.

It doesn’t seem like he tampered with it.

Well, from Doran’s perspective, who has something to believe in, there’s no need to tamper with it.

“Take it.”

I confirm that there are no problems with the contract and hand it back to Doran.

Doran says with satisfaction.

“Good. Then let’s meet at the training hall after class.”

Doran returns to his seat with a satisfied expression.

‘This is going to be fun.’

The stakes are getting higher, so I’m even more looking forward to the duel.

I wonder how fun the reactions of the people will be.

**

“As you all know, you can freely control mana from the 5-Star level. You must aim for this 5-Star level first.”Mana application ability is essential for realm ascension.” To handle mana well….A long lecture on mana levels and application methods followed.

Mana application is an essential element for realm ascension.

For this reason, most students were listening intently to the class.

As time passed, the professor who was lecturing put down the book he was holding and said.

-Thud.

“That’s all for today’s class.”

“Let’s go to the training room quickly!”

“Let me go with you!”

As soon as the class ended, most of the students ran to the training room.

The training room was already crowded with people.

The training room was built wide for many students to use, but it seemed that there was not much room to set foot because of how many students came.

“Lena will definitely win, right?”

“Do you think the top student is a joke? Honestly, I really didn’t like that Doran guy, so I hope he gets a good beating.”

“But what happens if Lena loses? A slave….”

After a while, a woman’s voice was heard among the students who were chattering noisily.

“Can you all move aside a little? I think I need to pass.”

When people turned their heads to check the identity, there was a blonde woman and a brown-haired man.

It was Lena and Doran, the main characters of today.

The students who found them began to clear the way to the sparring arena.

The two walked side by side along the created path to the front of the sparring arena.

“Are you a little nervous? Have you thought about how you’re going to beg me for forgiveness if you lose?”

“….”

“How boring.”

Doran was teasing Lena from the side, but Lena lightly ignored it.

In front of the sparring arena, an instructor was standing with the contract.

“The entrusted Mana Contract is here. If Lena wins the duel, Doran will apologize to Jade and leave the academy, never to return. If Doran wins, Lena will be his slave for a week. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

The instructor was about to hand over the contract at Lena’s nodding appearance, but stopped for a moment.

“Are you really okay with this? Even if it’s short, it’s very dangerous to bet a Slave Contract as a price. It’s like betting your life.”

“I’m okay.”

“I hope you don’t regret it.”

Lena, who received the contract, handed the other one to Doran.

They put mana into their respective contracts and stamp their fingerprints.

“Good. The contract is established. Anyone who violates the contents of the Mana Contract will lose all their mana and will never be able to use that power again. Keep this in mind.”

As soon as the instructor’s words ended, Doran and Lena went up to the sparring arena.

The two stand facing each other on the sparring arena.

“Lena, are you ready?”

Doran grabbed his staff and took a stance.

The staff he held in his right hand had a sparkling jewel at the end, as if it were quite expensive.

-Whoosh.

Lena also drew her sword and took a stance.

“I don’t know what you’re believing in to be so confident. You’re not trying to cheat, are you?”

“You keep looking at me like that, it hurts my heart.”

Suddenly, Doran slowly approached Lena and brought his face close to Lena’s eyes. Then, he said with eyes full of desire and a sly voice.

“You’ll win even without that.”

“!!”

Lena took a step back as if she was momentarily creeped out.

“Haha!”

Doran laughed at Lena’s appearance and returned to his original position.

The instructor next to him began to explain the rules.

“The duel between Lena and Doran. This duel will continue until someone surrenders. The rules are that everything is allowed except for murder and injuries leading to death. Oh, as agreed in advance, Scrolls and the like are naturally prohibited. If you break the rules, you will be immediately disqualified, so be careful.”

There was a moment of silence, and then the instructor’s words continued.

“Then… let the duel begin.”

As soon as the instructor’s declaration ended, Doran quickly cast a spell.

“Shall we test your skills?”

The Electric Field Magic he boasts about extends from his staff.

Five arrows made of electricity appeared around Doran in an instant.

The arrows began to fly towards Lena as they were.

-Whoosh!

Lena doesn’t panic and easily avoids three arrows by moving her body slightly to the side.

-Chiiing!

Then, she puts mana into her sword and brings the blade diagonally at the exact timing to deflect the remaining two arrows.

“You deflected that?”

Doran looked flustered, but quickly regained his composure and cast the spell again.

But Lena didn’t let this happen.

-Tadatak!

Lena approached Doran in an instant and swung her sword.

“Kuh!”

In response, Doran stopped casting and fired an incomplete spell.

Lena slows down for a moment at the magic flying again. Then, she bends her knees and brings the blade to the magic to deflect it as before.

-Chiiing!

Once again, she perfectly deflected the magic, unfolded her bent knees, and rushed towards Doran quickly.

The series of movements continued like flowing water, as if she had become one with the sword.

“Such an absurd movement….”

Doran was flustered by Lena’s skills and hurriedly created a shield.

-Kwajijijik!

“Ugh?!”

However, the sword containing mana shattered the hastily made shield in an instant.

-Swish!

Doran’s arm is slightly cut by Lena’s blade flying through the magic.

Lena, who succeeded in the attack, stepped back and lightly shook her sword. Then, the slight blood on the sword disappeared.

“How was the skill test? But after I tested you, I’m worried that I might accidentally kill you?”

“You bitch….”

-Gritting!

Doran gritted his teeth at Lena’s appearance, who was standing leisurely and mocking him.

After that, a sluggish offensive and defensive battle continued, with Lena attacking and Doran defending and running away.

“Doran, how long are you going to keep running away? Is this all you had to be so arrogant?”

Lena provoked him by continuing to evade Doran’s appearance.

However, Doran was not able to answer Lena’s words, and continued to defend while sweating profusely.

“Hoo….”

Lena stopped attacking for a moment and took a deep breath. She was also slightly tired as a result of continuing to move fiercely.

“You’re so proud of yourself for pushing me a little… Eat this!”

As if he had been hiding his hidden card while timing it, Doran fired a spell that he had been continuously casting without being noticed.

A huge amount of electricity poured out from behind him.

-Pajijijik!

A net of electricity covering half of the sparring arena rushed towards Lena.

“This….”

It was a magic that seemed impossible to avoid.

Lena seemed momentarily flustered by the powerful magic.

But she soon took a stance and began to gather mana in her sword. As mana gathered in the sword, the sword began to tremble little by little.

―Woo Woong.

Soon, an incomplete but mana blade is added to her sword.

“What, is that Aura?”

“I didn’t think so, but the rumor that 5-Star is right in front of us was true!”

People were buzzing as if they were surprised by the clear appearance of Aura that was not complete but was formed on the sword.

Lena swung her sword as it was and began to cut through the approaching net of electricity.

When Aura touched the magic, the touched parts collapsed in an instant.

-Pasasak.

It’s not just cutting it recklessly.

She accurately cut out only the vulnerable points of the net with streamlined movements.

-Pasaseuseuk.

In the end, the net of electricity lost its power and fell and faded at Lena’s sword.

“Now it’s my turn?”

“Damn it….”

Lena quickly passed through the disappearing net of electricity and reached the flustered Doran in front of her eyes. And she swung her sword as it was.

-Swaeaeaeak!

Doran barely managed to roll and avoid the sword―

-Swish!

“No!”

His staff touched Aura and shattered as it was.

“My, my staff….”

Doran tried to pick up the staff fragments and somehow put them back together. But it seemed impossible to revive the completely shattered staff.

“It’s over.”

-Whoosh.

The blade is cast over his neck, who lost his staff and fell.

“You can’t even use magic now. Surrender.”

“Damn it! This can’t be….”

“Now. Let me hear the word surrender from your mouth that was only spouting nonsense? Declare to everyone that you lost.”

Lena demanded Doran to surrender by bringing the blade closer.

“It’s over. Lena’s victory after all! Jade, I told you I’d guarantee it.”

“Ha… that’s a relief.”

Jake and Annie raised their hands and cheered at the sight.

Lena turned her face to the cheers and smiled at them, saying.

“I told you all not to worry. There’s no way I’d lose, right?”

At that moment, something flashed in Doran’s hand, and an anomaly occurred.

“Kyaaaa?!”