Chapter 87: Show of Elements

The doors of the main hall swung wide, and a wave of voices spilled out as students crowded inside, eager to see the board where the competitions were listed. Lira squeezed in with Maelin by her side, Fluffy padding along gracefully at her heels, his thick white fur brushing against her skirts whenever the crowd pressed too close.

Rows of parchment had been posted, each glowing faintly with magical ink that shimmered when touched by sunlight from the tall stained-glass windows. Whispers buzzed through the room—names, disciplines, guesses at who would face who.

Maelin leaned closer, scanning quickly. "Dueling brackets are here—fire against wind, earth against water..." She nudged Lira with a grin. "And look! You’re in the Resonance Trials. That means your ability to sense and amplify energies is finally being tested."

Lira’s breath caught as her eyes trailed down the list until they landed on her name. The shimmering ink danced, almost mocking her nervous heartbeat.

Lira Elion — Round One, Resonance Trials — Opponent: Rynar Velin.

Lira’s eyes finally caught her own name, glowing softly in golden script among the list of competitors. For a heartbeat, she only stared. The letters shimmered and pulsed, as though alive, spelling out something she never expected:

"Lira Elion."

Her lips parted. Elion? That wasn’t her name. She had never had a family name at all. She never had one at all.

Before she could speak, a warm, steady hand rested on her shoulder. She turned and looked up into the calm, ageless face of Grandmaster Elion himself. His presence drew a hush around them, though the hall still buzzed with chatter.

"I thought it was time you carried one," he said quietly, his deep voice carrying both kindness and certainty. "You’ve walked long enough with only a first name. From this day, let the academy know you as Lira Elion."

Her throat tightened. Words tangled in her chest, and all she managed was an awkward, "Th–thank you, Grandmaster. I... I don’t know what to say."

He gave a small, approving smile, as though her gratitude was more than enough. Then, with the faint rustle of his robes, he moved on, his presence leaving warmth in its wake.

Lira touched the glowing letters again, her fingertips brushing over Elion. For the first time in her life, she felt like she belonged—not just as a student, but as someone worth naming.

Maelin bumped her shoulder gently, whispering, "Looks like you’re not just competing anymore. You’re carrying his name. Don’t let me down, Lira Elion."

Fluffy purred at her feet, tail swishing as though in agreement.

Her gaze flicked to the opposite column. She vaguely remembered Rynar: a boy a year older, with a reputation for weaving sound and vibration into his spells. Serious, quiet, always practicing late in the training grounds when most others had gone to bed.

"Oh," she murmured, chewing her lip. "He’s... good."

Maelin leaned over her shoulder, hair brushing against Lira’s cheek as she read the name. "Rynar Velin?" A low whistle left her lips. "Yeah, he’s sharp, but don’t you dare back down. If anyone can meet resonance with resonance, it’s you."

Just beside their names, the ink glimmered into the emblem of their trial—a silver flag bearing a spiral, the symbol of echo and harmony. Above them, banners of every element and specialty shimmered into life: scarlet flames for fire, azure waves for water, deep green leaves for earth, grayish blue orbs for spirit. The ceiling of the main hall had transformed into a living sky of flags, each one humming faintly with the energy of its discipline.

Students gasped and pointed, the noise rising to a fever pitch.

"There!" Maelin suddenly jabbed her finger toward another bracket. "I’m up against Serenya Talos in Fire Duels. First round!"

Lira looked, wide-eyed. Serenya was tall, sharp-eyed, always surrounded by admirers, and her air hits were infamous for their precision. "That’s not going to be easy."

Maelin’s grin only widened, her amber eyes sparking with determination. "All the better. I’ll show them fire doesn’t belong only to nobles who think they own it."

They pushed a little further in the crowd, catching sight of more names. Gasps rose again when someone read aloud:

"Dominica versus Halvar!"

That drew whispers and even a few nervous laughs. Halvar was known for his raw strength, but Dominica—stern, unshakable, her will like stone—was already one of the academy’s most feared duelists. The thought of them clashing in the very first round had everyone murmuring.

"I almost feel bad for him," Maelin whispered with a smirk.

Lira laughed, though nerves still curled in her stomach. Her eyes drifted back to her own name, glowing there as if carved into destiny. She tightened her grip on the strap of her satchel where her little pocket creature stirred softly, sensing her unease. Fluffy brushed against her leg, a low, comforting purr grounding her.

The crowd began breaking apart, students rushing to share the news of their matches. Some laughed, some groaned, some whispered strategies under their breath. Teachers in their long robes moved among them, watchful and stern, ensuring no one started their battles early in the excitement.

The competition had not yet begun, but already the air felt charged with the promise of fire, steel, wind, and song clashing together.

The crowd spilled out of the main hall like a river bursting through its banks, laughter and anxious whispers echoing along the stone corridors. By the time Lira and Maelin stepped outside, the entire academy seemed to hum with restless energy.

Colorful banners already fluttered from the spires, each one shimmering with enchantments that painted them brighter than natural dyes could ever manage. The training grounds below were alive with movement—workers and junior mages shaping the earth into smooth arenas, others weaving wards of protection into the air so no duel could end in disaster. Great elemental stones had been wheeled to the borders of each ring, glowing faintly, ready to absorb excess magic and keep it contained.

Maelin tugged at Lira’s sleeve, eyes sparkling. "Come on. Let’s go see our arenas before the mob takes over."

They hurried down the steps, Fluffy bounding gracefully ahead. The little white creature stopped every so often, tail twitching, before darting toward the next interesting sound or smell. Lira followed, her satchel brushing against her hip where her pocket creature stirred again, its tiny head briefly poking out before vanishing with a squeak at the sudden noise of clashing practice spells.

Around them, groups of students were already sparring in corners, testing their strength before today’s matches. A pair of fire mages sent sparks scattering across the ground as their energies collided; two water mages had conjured a small pool to practice shaping whirlpools inside. Everywhere, laughter mixed with determination, joy with nerves.

Lira slowed as they approached the Resonance arena. It was different from the others—no raised platforms or battle circles, but instead a great ring inscribed with spiraling runes, like soundwaves captured in stone. At the center, a polished crystal hummed faintly, waiting to respond to whoever stepped inside.

Her chest tightened. That’s where I’ll face Rynar.

Maelin’s voice broke her thoughts. "Mine’s over there." She pointed to a dueling ring bordered by obsidian slabs etched with fire runes. Already, flames flickered faintly along the carved grooves, waiting to be awakened by the combatants.

The two girls exchanged a glance, then clasped hands, squeezing tight.

"No matter what happens," Maelin said, her grin softening into something gentler, "we’ve got each other’s backs. Agreed?"

Lira nodded, her nerves easing just a fraction. "Agreed."

They stood there for a long moment, watching the arenas being prepared, feeling the air thrum with anticipation. Today, those circles would be filled with shouts, with power, with victories and defeats.

The hall quieted as the great bronze bells above the academy tolled three times. Their deep, resonant sound rolled through the stone walls, signaling the beginning of the first trials. The students, buzzing with anticipation, poured out of the hall toward the great arena.

The competition grounds had been transformed overnight. Once a simple training field, it now gleamed with banners strung between high marble columns. Flags of every element—fire’s scarlet, water’s deep blue, wind’s silver, earth’s green, and bluish gray hues for spirit resonance—fluttered proudly in the breeze. Above them, magical wards shimmered faintly, forming protective domes over each dueling platform.

Teachers and Masters sat along the raised dais at the far end, their robes marked with sigils of their disciplines. Grandmaster Elion stood at the center, his presence commanding silence even without a word.

"Students," his voice boomed, strengthened by subtle magic, "today you do not only fight for victory. You fight to learn, to discover the measure of your spirit, your courage, and your bond to magic itself. Win or lose, all who stand here will be tested—and all will be remembered."

A cheer rose from the gathered crowd.

Lira felt her heart leap against her ribs. She glanced at Maelin, who squeezed her hand with a quick, excited grin. Fluffy twined around Lira’s ankles, purring as though she could sense her nervousness. From the pocket of her robe, the tiny bird-like creature stirred, giving a soft trill, as if offering encouragement.

The first pair of names flared upon the glowing board. Students rushed forward to take their places on one of the many circular platforms spread across the arena grounds. A protective dome shimmered to life around them, sealing the duel.

It began.

The crowd erupted in cheers as fire clashed against wind, streams of flame curling through the air only to be torn apart by powerful gales. On another platform, two earth-users sent shockwaves through the ground, raising pillars of stone that shattered under the impact of heavy strikes.

"Look!" Maelin whispered, pointing eagerly. "That’s Dominica."

Dominica was already in a duel, her blade of conjured steel clashing against a boy’s stone-armored fists. Sparks flew with every strike. Sweat streaked her face, but her eyes blazed with determination. It was a fierce match, and though she stumbled once, barely avoiding being pinned beneath a wall of rock, she roared in defiance and countered with a powerful upward strike that shattered the stone armor into shards. She barely won, and when the dome faded, she staggered out, clutching her arm but victorious.

Students cheered her name, some in awe, others in relief that they would not have to face her yet.

Lira swallowed, her throat dry. Soon it would be her turn. She and Maelin stood close together, waiting for their names to be called, clapping and cheering with the others whenever a duel ended. Each victory and each loss weighed on the air, the tension growing with every battle.

Above their heads, the flags shimmered with magic, each lighting up when a duel was about to begin, marking the element in play. Teachers leaned forward, their gazes sharp, ready to stop anything that broke the rules.

And then—Lira saw her name glow on the board.

Her breath caught.

"Lira Elion, against Kaelen Veyr."

Maelin squeezed her shoulder. "You’ve got this."

The crowd parted as Lira stepped forward. Fluffy padded after her but stopped at the boundary line, sitting neatly with tail curled around her paws, watching intently. The little bird in Lira’s pocket chirped once, as if sending her luck.

She walked into the circular platform, and the dome shimmered to life around her.

Across from her stood Kaelen, a tall boy with sharp features and piercing eyes. He gave a confident smile, spinning a short staff in his hands.

"Try to keep up," he said, his tone half-mocking, half-playful.

Lira’s palms tingled as energy gathered within her, resonating to the rhythm of her heartbeat. She took her stance, remembering every lesson, every moment she had trained for this.

The Grandmaster’s voice rang out, clear and commanding:

"Begin!"