Annan was drawn for the eighth match, while Alice had the fifth. Looking forward to a Law Breaks the Sky moment, Annan wondered, Will we lose all seven matches before mine, leaving me to turn the tide?
Before his match began, Annan had two chances to watch how mages fought.
The first match pitted a student he didn't know from Siltovis Magic Academy against one he didn't know from Solz Magic Academy. As soon as the official from the Department of Ceremonies announced the start, both young mages began casting spells.
There were few dazzling magical effects in a fight between low-level Spellcasters. Practicality came first, with the occasional dodge that looked decidedly un-mage-like.
The contestant in a dark purple Mage Robe caught his opponent mid-dodge, chanted for three seconds, and sent an Arcane Missile streaking toward him in an arc.
The gray-robed contestant bent his upper body back with startling agility, dodging the Arcane Missile like a Ranger. But the truly Ranger-like move came next: he seized the moment to bind his still-recovering opponent with the Living Rope Spell, pulled a Short Sword from his loose Mage Robe, and charged straight at him.
Annan could almost see a new Michael rising.
"I surrender."
The bound mage shouted through gritted teeth. The gray-robed young man casually spun his Short Sword a few times and returned to the waiting area.
The spectators praised the two students for putting on a raw but exciting duel in just a few dozen seconds. Annan only regretted that his side had lost.
"Sorry..."
The young mage who had lost the opening match spoke guiltily.
"It's all right... To win, they'll have to eliminate every one of us."
"Don't worry, you won't be the only one," Theophilus said.
Annan thought Theophilus ought to apply to be