23 CH 23- Mock battles!

Standing outside on the track the classroom is circled around Steel. It was a beautiful day out the wind was just right and the sunbathed everyone in warm rays. The smell of freshly cut grass wafted through everyone's noses as Steel spoke.

"Alright everyone, you have had time to get use to wielding magic."

Creating an energy flare Steel looks at the class he has been teaching for over a month now and smiles. He was finally going to see if any of them were really paying attention to him during this time.

"It's now time for you to test it on each other through mock battles."

Everyone looks excited especially Wittorf who is bouncing up and down. Steel points his flare at Wittorf and smiles.

"What did I say about that?"

Stopping in place Wittorf stiffens like a plank and smiles back.

"Yes sir!"

"for the first match I would like to see Diel and Kai up front. Everyone else head to the benches and watch."

The rest of the students retreat to the benches leaving just Kai and Diel with Steel who has motioned them to their starting spots. Standing off the track but in between the two Steel raises his flare.

"This will be a quick duel to determine how much you have learned. The first person to land a blow on the other's chest will be victorious, remember this is a mock battle so no lethal attack."

Firing the flare into the air signaled the beginning of the match. Diel was in a panic right from the start. How could he possibly lay a finger on the woman he loved. Oh, how fate was cruel to someone like him.

Kai was not thinking the same thing in the slightest. Raising her hand, she called upon her mana reserve and summoned a whip in her hand. Rushing towards Diel she quickly began smacking it on the ground as she went for effect.

Diel was startled, how could she be so cruel to him. Did she not feel any connection between them? He had to put up some kind of fight. He raised his hand up and called mana forth.

"Sticky Shield!"

A round shield formed around Diels arm with what looked like a large sticky mouse trap coating the entire outside of it. He raised it to block the whip as he did, the whip stuck to it. Trying to free it from the entangle she cursed his quick response and dispelled it.

Using the time Diel raised his other hand and called mana forth once more.

"Sticky net!"

Diel shot a net towards Kai who barely dodged it before it stuck to the ground. Dang he didn't want to hurt her, but he needed to win this to prove his love to her.

Sliding to regain her balance Kai shot forward and raised her hand towards Diel.

"Flash bang"

A ball shot towards Diel and hit him square in the chest bursting into a bright light that blinded him. Trying to shake it off Diel turned around and took a few steps back he raised his hands together.

"Energy field!"

A wall of energy shot forward about 5 feet and extended around him in a large dome shape. Kai could not tell how to get around it. She was surprised that he had such skill for such a jokester. She was impressed but she knew something that big must of taken a lot out of him.

If she could find a way past it, she could claim victory. Kai raised her hand towards he barrier and shouted a command.

"Penetrating energy shot!"

Shooting a small bolt from her hand hitting the barrier and cracking it she knew a few more and it would crumble. Diel was seeing stars and blinking as much as possible to remove them. Seeing her chip away at his barrier he had to think fast. He had an idea.

The barrier kept taking shots until finally she got through as it crumbled into dust a command was heard.

"Sticky net!"

A net flew out of the dust cloud towards Kai who did not see it coming. Ducking to lay flat on the ground it flew past her as she then used all four of her limbs to jump back up forward towards Diel who took another step back and suddenly felt as if he could not move his legs.

He looked down and noticed that his own sticky web was still on the ground. He had walked straight into it and Kai was not slowing her assent towards him.

He quickly tried to dispel the entangle but it was too late. Kai was in front of him and her hand was on his chest. It was game over.

"Match, Kai!"

Shouted Steel as he raised and lowered his hand like a referee. Diel sighed as he walked to his best friend Sedian. Kai jumped up and down and stuck a victory pose.

Looking at his notes Steel calls out two more names.

"Sai, Sedian, you're up next!"

Shocked Sai jumped to attention and slowly walked awkwardly towards the field. Sedian with his usual emotionless stare walked to the field. Diel was cheering him on.

"You got this man, just go easy on her like I did, she is a girl after all!"

"She is my enemy now, which means no mercy."

Making a yelp Sai was certain she was going to lose. She had been practicing all week, but she knew that Sedian must have practiced harder.

Sedian and Sai take their positions and Steel says the same thing to them as before. He raises the flare in the air and fires it.

Sedian takes no pause as he raises both hands and points them at Sai.

"Frivolous bolts."

Bolts shoot from Sedians hands like a machine gun towards Sai who is frozen. She knew it, Sedian was just stronger than she was. She couldn't handle something like that. She raised her shaking hands up and mumbled a few words.

"Stretchy energy field."

A large field formed 5 feet in front of her as bolts began hitting them, they all stretched in the shield before repelling and redirecting themselves at Sedian.

"That was not calculated…"

Sedian tried side stepping his own bolts but was not fast enough. A few hit him in the right arm and leg but none managed to tag his chest.

Grabbing his arm, he grunts as they sting him.

"Magnet web."

A spider like web of energy shoots from Sedians hand towards Sai who quickly jumps out of the way and lands on her butt.

"Ouch!"

She quickly tries to get back up as the web comes back towards her. Sai rolls away from it and is breathing heavy now. The web was not giving up chase.

She could not act fast enough it was bound to get her. Sai sits down and looks at the ground in defeat as the web flings back towards her.

"Don't give up yet!"

Shouting from the stands Wittorf is gripping the bar hard his knuckles white with anticipation. Sai looks at him and snaps back into reality.

Did he really call out to her? Did he really believe in her? What was she supposed to do the web was going to get her any second now.

Sai raised her hands up towards the net and called out the only thing she could think of.

"Sturdy energy pole!"

A large pole appeared in front of her and the net connected with it wrapping around and falling to the ground.

Relieved she looked over to Wittorf to see his approval but all she saw was him yelling at her.

What was he saying this time, Look out? Sai quickly turned back to Sedian who had his hands up once more.

"Frivolous Bolts."

She could not react in time she still needed to get up and get out of there or they would all hit her. She turned around and covered her head. The bolts made connection with her back and she let out a cry of pain.

Furious Diel called out to Sedian.

"What kind of monster does that to a girl!"

"The kind that does not let his guard down."

Sai looks up at the stands and notices Wittorf is still watching her. He looks concerned, what was this feeling. She felt as if she had to continue fighting. To prove to Wittorf that she could do it.

Sai stumbles up and turns around. Panting hard. She takes a deep breath in and raises her hands with confidence this time.

Sedian noticed her change in attitude and raised his hands to meet hers. They both shouted at the same time.

"Frivolous Bolts!"

A volley of bolts shot from both of their hands and slammed into each other bursting into smoke. The dust was heavy in the air as both parties were blocked from sight.

The dust began to settle and standing by themselves was Sai. Sedian was on the ground a scratch on his chest from where a bolt had landed.

"Match- Sai!"

The crowd goes wild as Wittorf runs up to Sai who is limping towards the stands. He quickly goes to help her, and she blushes. He was touching her again and that made her feel funny.

"Th-thank you."

"I didn't do anything; it was all you."

They make it to the stands. Sedian is being dragged by a very angry Diel back to their side. Scolding him for his rough treatment of his love's sister.

The next match was about to be called. Steel looks at the three-remaining people. Loat, Caiman and Wittorf.

"Very good, I would like Caiman and Wittorf to come up front next!"