My parents had a practice arena constructed after the lawn incident. A small square building with a dirt floor. The loose dirt and sand would be easier and cheaper to repair than the prestigiously upkept lawn. As an extra precaution I wasn't allowed to practice fire magic anywhere near civilization.

James thought that Emilia had not been improving in her magic ability for a few months and thought a rivalry might spur her to improve her magic. Unfortunately, the only one who could fill this roll was me. James pulled me to the side before our duel.

"I know you haven't needed a tutor for a few years now, but do try to go easy on the girl. If you beat her too easily she might give up on magic forever." He warned.

"And what a shame that would be. Imagine how horrible I would feel if I didn't have to share a home with that brat anymore." Technically she was a year older than me but by the way she acted the only time we talked three years ago, she could be mistaken for a six year old.

"Just try not kill anyone, okay?" He said in exasperation.

I walked into the arena and bowed to Emilia. "Pleasure as always." I said biting my tongue.

Emilia gave me that same stuck up hmf as she did that day. "And I see your still just as clueless as before." 'Fucking bitch' I thought angrily ' here I am trying not to be an asshole then she goes and makes it that much harder? I'm fucking done with niceties.'

I calmed myself and tried to make my tone even. "I look forward to winning, I mean, dueling today." I thought I did a good job at trash talk. "Shall we begin?"

"Let's."

She shouts "WATERSLICER!" 'Really?' I thought 'either she can't use magic without incantations or she's way too confident.' Knowing what spell she used, I easily blocked it with ice wall. Then used mana to force ice arrows from the wall to fly in her direction. She dodged to the side instead of wasting time shouting an incantation.

I could easily close the distance by using warp to shorten the space between us. Basically teleporting behind her, but I decided against it. Teach, said to go easy on her, after all. I lowered the ice wall and shot a small bolt of electricity at her. This time she was ready a ball of water intercepted the bolt. Since water is conductive the bolt electrified the water for a few seconds. Emilia through the ball at me but I used a small wall of fire to evaporate the water. Then I used a burst of light magic to blind her. While I drew my sword I warped behind her.

I placed the flat of the blade on her shoulder. The Doltian symbol for the end of a duel. It lasted about a minute but it was such an easy fight that barely used an eighth of my magic.

Emilia walked over to James and started shouting at him. "He cheated," she complained, "how could he beat when I trained a year longer than him?"

James looked sympathetic. Like he got where she was coming from. "The problem is that you only ever bothered to learn what I taught you. He studied night and day and got a better understanding of magic than I could teach in a lifetime. That's how he beat you."

"But he only studied from books. You only taught him for four months. It's not fair." She really did sound like a six year old throwing a tantrum. It was hard to watch. "If your done teaching him then why are we still here? I can't learn anything in this house. I'm telling Aunt Elizabeth that I'm done." With that she stormed away.

James turned to me. "Didn't I tell you to go easy on her?"

"I did. It's not my fault that she can't beat me when I'm going easy." I said defensively. "you should do what she says. There isn't anything else I can learn from you."

My mother had a talk with me about why Emilia was leaving. She was angry, but she understood what was happening when I explained it to her.

"So, how do you plan to proceed from here? Will you continue your magic and swordplay training?" She asked at last.

"Yes," I had already thought about it for a while at that point, " I intend to study magic on my own for two years until I'm an adult. Then I'll take the magic academy intrance exam."

Her eyes widened. "You know that school is only in place to train magic users for the military. Most nobles could get away with taking their children out of service but your father is the headmaster, cousin of the king. If he took you out of the kings army he would lose favor with the king and be fired from his position."

" I know mother. I don't plan on being removed from service. How would it look if only commoners and minor nobles were all the king's army consisted of. If the son of the Duke were to be in his service, the kings army would be more legitimized as the defense of the kingdom. Then more nobles would be obliged not to remove their children from service."

"But it's dangerous. War is just around the corner-" I cut her off

"Which is exactly why I need to do this as soon as possible, mother." I said curtly, "if the kings army gets more nobles then victory is certain."

"But you are the only heir to the duchy if you die then I lose my only child and our family loses its title until another heir is produced."

"I know. Which makes it that much more important that I help get something done" I argued, " I thought about this longer and harder than any decision I've ever made. If I die then you just have to get to producing another heir."

Mothers face was sadder than it had ever been. "If that's your decision, I can't stop you. Your father will just have to find out when you take the exam."