Elesya had finished reading Vabazon's book, but she was not very impressed with its contents. Encapsulated Magic, she said, made spells too simple for anyone, stripping away the value of a mage's knowledge and skill. In her opinion, it only produced poorly trained, incompetent mages. Naturally, I was excepted from this pitiful category.
We began debating our strategy to win the magic dueling tournament.
"Sam, unlike other mages, you have a huge advantage. From what I understand, Vabazon's symbols allow you to cast any spell you want—at least as long as you can describe it on paper."
"Yes, that's true," I admitted reluctantly. "But we have to keep in mind that my energy is far lower compared to a true mage. I can't perform any complex or long-lasting spell unless I draw energy from an outside source."
Elesya fell silent for a few moments, then asked me again:
"Haven't you found any solution to this problem? After all, at the exam you managed to cast some extremely difficult spells."
"Yes, I did. The luminous crystals are the solution—just like the ones I used in the lamps. I kept such a crystal in my pocket during the exam. The question is whether I'll have enough energy for battle spells in the arena."
I paused briefly, flipping through the book.
"Vabazon describes eight defensive spells and twenty offensive ones," I explained. "For example, Protection Spell No. 46 shields the mage on all levels, including physically. But it has a major drawback: it consumes a lot of energy, and it's difficult for the mage to maintain it for long. So the first thing I need is more energy."
Elesya nodded and jotted down a few words on her list.
"You'll need three or four crystals like the one you had at the exam," she said. "Still, remember that their energy has to be used sparingly, or else you risk being unable to cast anything in the final round. Have you thought about which spells you want to use in combat?"
I fell silent for a few seconds. Until then, I hadn't considered using Vabazon's spells to win a fight in the arena. I was satisfied with having a way to pretend I was a real mage, but I wanted to rely on encapsulated magic only when absolutely necessary. The thought of pushing the deception further now made me uneasy. If I were to win the tournament—as I hoped—didn't that mean I was wrongfully taking away the prize from a genuine mage?
I quickly dismissed these thoughts. Fair or not, if I wanted to survive, I had to resort to dishonest means. In a way, it was the Academy's fault too, for leaving me no alternative between this and the slavery awaiting me if I failed to pay my tuition. They had been ruthless with me; now it was time for me to be ruthless in return.
"Energy is the main issue, not the spells. If I had enough energy, I could use Spell No. 46. Once the magical shield is up, I'd let my opponents attack me until they completely exhausted themselves. Then I'd demand their surrender, threatening to use fire magic if they refused. That way I'd surely win—and no one would get hurt."
"That's not a very good strategy," Elesya objected. "First of all, it's not spectacular, and you'll make all the spectators leave when they came here to be entertained…"
"That's not my concern," I answered sharply. "My goal is to win, not to entertain the crowd. As long as I don't break the rules, how I proceed is my own business."
"Secondly," Elesya continued calmly, "there's another, better reason not to do that. You risk being disqualified for refusing to fight. You're allowed to defend yourself, but you also have to attack from time to time."
I realized she was right.
"Understood. I'll need to study the tournament rules carefully so I don't run into any surprises. Well then, if I must fight, I'll do it. Still, I'll have to be careful not to kill someone by accident."
"What makes you think of that?" Elesya asked, a faint unease flickering in her eyes. "It's very rare for anyone to die in the arena. Usually, mages who are about to lose surrender immediately."
"Well, the offensive spells in my book are quite powerful and can easily get out of control. For example, Spell No. 55 unleashes fire over such a wide area it could incinerate half the arena. I don't think any mage here could withstand that kind of attack—and I won't be using it during the tournament."
Elesya nodded slightly at my words.
"Sam, your book contains many less dangerous spells you can use in the matches without harming anyone. We'll think this through together. But honestly, I believe it would be much simpler for you to rely on the standard spells from your magic manual. Elemental magic is all you really need."
I closed Vabazon's book and set it aside.
"Are all types of spells allowed in the arena?" I asked, trying to better understand how the tournament worked.
"Yes, there are no restrictions. Except necromancy."
"Necromancy?" I asked, puzzled. "You mean spells cast on the dead? Who would practice something like that?"
In a lowered voice, as if she didn't want anyone to overhear, Elesya explained:
"There are tribes in the nearby desert who practice necromancy. Our kingdom wages wars against them from time to time. But we must never speak of it. There are royal laws that punish even discussing such matters with extreme severity."
"Fascinating…" I said with some regret, since the subject had stirred my curiosity. "Well then, let's talk about what is allowed. What kind of magic is usually used in the arena?"
"For the lighter and mid-level duels, wind magic. For the tough battles in the final rounds, fire magic."
"Earth magic isn't used?"
"No, never."
"Why not? Is it forbidden?"
"It's not forbidden, but it isn't customary. Earth magic is associated with agricultural mages, who are considered inferior. No one wants to tie their name to such a lower caste."
"That's interesting… But what about water magic?"
"Extremely rare," Elesya replied. "It's considered impractical for combat—too much energy for too little effect. Unless you just want to give your opponent a cold bath."
"You never know, Elesya. We should keep it in mind. Aside from the elemental magics, should we expect other forms as well?"
"Yes," Elesya said. "Every mage may have secondary talents, but they often keep them secret. Those can provide the element of surprise in battle, and sometimes they're the deciding factor between victory and defeat."
"Can you give me examples?" I asked, curious.
Elesya frowned slightly, trying to recall past competitions.
"I don't remember all the details… Last year, the winning mages summoned fiery steeds that attacked their opponents from several directions. Two years ago, another team created illusions that warped sight like a mirage. You know, like when you look across the desert on a hot day and the air makes shimmering images appear that look like distant lakes. That's what it was like in the arena, only far stronger. The illusions completely hid the team from their opponents' eyes, leaving them with no idea where to aim their attacks."
I began to regret never having attended the magical duels in the arena. From Elesya's descriptions, they sounded fascinating.
"Well then, Elesya, let's get to work. If you want to help me with your experience, please make me a list of the spells from the manual you think are useful in combat. Starting tomorrow, we'll move on to practical training. I'm not entirely sure we'll win, but I do want us to give these mages the best fight we can."