(3° person POV)

(Maria): “Umm…”

She murmured, taking Umbra’s attention.

(Umbra): “What is it, Maria-san?”

Looking to Umbra, she scratches her head, saying:

(Maria): “It isn’t that I’m looking down on him, but I DID expect that the fight would be a bit more…”

(Umbra): “Flashy?”

Maria nodded. Ari also talked:

(Ari): “I have to agree with Maria-chan. The Black King is more warrior than mage. Although he didn’t use that much magic, his physical prowess is in another level.”

Umbra nodded, saying:

(Umbra): “Well, you’re not wrong. He is indeed more fighter than mage. However, he is a good mage. The magic that he used, although he didn’t use that many, they were high level, and that black mana that he expelled from the mouth was masterfully done. It’s impressive that he is as good with magic as he’s good with the swords.”

He said, nodding to himself. the other three looked at the screen as Adalgar Ackens receives a ceremonial modified helmet, made of black metal based on a Greek helmet. Instead of a crest, it has a black metal crown fashioned at the top, making it look quite unique and beautiful on its own way.

It’s also decorated with red jewels on the crown part. It is called Helm of Darkness.

(Ari): “We have ten minutes until the next set of mages come it. Which color is the next one?”

(Umbra): “Blue, if I’m not wrong.”

He says, taking a bit from a slice of pizza. Maria ate some chips and then asked:

(Maria): “What kind of mages are the blues, anyway? What’s their magic?”

She said, looking at Umbra, the one that knows more about magic than any of them. Swallowing his pizza, he says after taking a sip from his cola.

(Umbra): “Illusions, mostly. Water mages aren’t direct combatants, not direct ones, that is. They summon and cast mirages, illusions, deceits, that sort of thing. It’s… interesting to watch.”

He said. Serena then asked:

(Serena): “Umbra-san, how do you know so much about magic?”

(Umbra): “I know a lot of things. I traveled a lot after all.”

He said, in a tone that didn’t left any opening for more questions. Serena, as a daughter of royalty, knew very well when someone was trying to cut the talk without offending the other party. So, instead, noticing Umbra’s look, she masterfully avoided the subject, asking:

(Serena): “So, what can we expect from the blue mages?”

Umbra was about to answer, when he noticed the TV.

(Umbra): “I guess that we will see it firsthand. The two first ones came in.”

He said, pointing to the TV. In the tv, Mina, the host, says:

(Mina): “On the left side, an excellent summoner and monster master, Lilian Ford! On the right side, an excellent caster, and master illusionist Marcus Chandler!”

Both competitors enter the arena. As soon as the signal is given, they start their tactics. Marcus takes four cards from his grimoire, however, before he can do anything, Lilian takes one card from her grimoire and it immediately starts to shine, being charged directly from her inner mana.

The card blows up into a white mist, covering her whole body and spreading out and covering a large distance. However, the mist didn’t attack Marcus, and was in fact getting away from him. Frowning, Marcus stores one of his cards, taking out to more.

From his back, he takes out a throwing knife, something allowed on the tournament. He then threw it on the mist, and it bounced off, as if hitting a solid wall. Mina immediately told what was happening:

(Mina): “Lilian immediately summons a Fog Wall, a defensive creature from the blue element! The nightmare of any blue caster, able to hold against any mental spell!”

Marcus activated his cards, four turning into mana and converging to the last one. Crushing it with his hand, he pointed to the mist, opening his hand. A pressurized jet of water comes out from the glow on his palm, attacking the mist.

The jet goes right through, piercing the mist. Moving his hand, he makes a horizontal line, left to right and vice versa, the jet carving a deep gouge on the wall behind it.

(Mina): “Marcus fights back with a Water Jet, cutting through the mist with a spell out of his specialty! A physical spell, something rarely used by the blue magicians to cut through the Mist Wall!”

She said, and the wall didn’t like it. Clearly, he missed Lilian, the caster. And the wall reacted. After all, it isn’t a spell, it’s a summoned creature, prone to emotions. Mainly, caring for its caster. After all, blue monsters are sentimental, and a lot of them are caring and sometimes even loving to their masters.

Many tortured and angry faces without any detailed features formed in the mist, and with a blood chilling wail, the mist advanced in Marcus’s direction. Taking ten cards from his grimoire, nine turned into mana and were absorbed by the tenth.

Throwing it at his feet, it exploded in blue light, and a water barrier in an oval shape formed around him. A barrier, charged to the limit with blue magic, enough to resist the mist for some time. The mist attacks, focusing around him and blocking the vision from outside.

Lilian is revealed, crouching, making a complete dodge from the water jet.

(Mina): “Marcus angered the Mist and is now under attack! Lilian has the overwhelming advantage.”

Lilian smiled, certain of victory. When suddenly, a water torrent burst out of the mist, coming from where Marcus is. It violently hits Lilian, sending her flying to the wall, on the limits of the arena.

Thanks to a special barrier on the arena, it’s impossible to die in battle, avoiding any mortal wounds. However, it doesn’t mean that the barrier protects from all damage, allowing the students to hurt each other in battle.

The mist dissipated, it’s caster down. Marcus smiled, his barrier vanishing. However, before Mina could make the announcement, something cold wrapped around his neck. He grabbed it, feeling his fingers slip through, as if it was made of water. No, I was made of water.

He looked back, seeing a hand floating in the air, holding the water whip. The hand pulled, making him spin in the air. Falling to his knees, he tries to get up, but the whip hits his chest, making a little explosion, knocking out.

The hand, floating in the air, has a distorted image where the rest of the arm is supposed to be. Slowly, white mist raises, and Lilian appears out of thin air. The other Lilian, the one knocked out by Marcus, turns into mist, that flies to her gently, turning back into a card.

(Mina): “A cleaver deceit! The blue mage Lilian deceives her opponent to lower his guard, just as a blue mage does! Marcus is defeated, Lilian wins the first fight for the Crown of Tides!”

She says, as Lilian proudly walks out of the arena, unharmed and not even tired. With the fight ended, Umbra then says:

(Umbra): “That’s how a blue mage wins.”

(Ari): “I see. I guess that we must have our eyes peeled when fighting them.”

(Umbra): “Yeah, they are quite brutal in a sense. Attacking from the bind point, deceiving you with magic, hiding themselves, almost never attacking until they have the perfect chance. That’s their style.”

He said, crossing his arms as the next fight came in. now, all of them are staring strongly to the screen, checking every movement. They are mages, after all, facing them in the future is something that will happen without doubt. This tournament being transmitted will be of great help.