Chapter 16: The Passion of Love
A crush, the informal feeling of love and admiration for someone, often someone you know you can't have a relationship with. — Relationships made simple
The air was still, no one moved, yet all eyes were on the center stage, the training field.
Silver blond hair flickered in the wind. Leron stared at his opponent.
"What is your response, birdie?" Adrian asked. They returned from Martindale a while back. He decided to finally confront Leron — to see where he was lacking compared to him. Was it strength or wealth?
"If I accepted the challenge of a thirteen year old, would I still be able to call myself a man? I have nothing to prove." Leron shook his head.
"As someone wise once told me, age is but a number… the truly powerful disregard it." Adrian said. "We both seek the hand of a woman, yet you, a so called man, refuses to fight for her. Must she come fight for you like she did earlier?"
"Oh, so this is what this is about. Loise?"
"Are you fighting or not?"
"Is it because of Eloise?"
"In more ways than one, you ruin my plans. I shall see how much better you are… or show them how much of a rodent you are." Adrian said, his conversation with Lue flashing before him.
"Since you have insulted me this much, I can't ignore this." Leron nodded.
"Isolation dome." Adrian muttered. Leron wasn't a gyn nor was he an elf, he was an angel, and to use his power fully, he needed to be in that form. Yet he was sure Leron wouldn't want any unwanted attention — maybe some non-Carter were in the house, some who didn't know of the reality of the hidden races.
"So indeed, you are aware that I am not like you." Leron said.
"No one is like me, birdie." Adrian's aura shot up.
"The winner of this battle forfeits any chance of being with Eloise." Adrian added.
"You treat her like she is an object for you to bargain with." A blinding light surrounded Leron. When he rose, he stood four meters tall, one meter taller than Adrian. His halo was dimmer than Raphael's but still shone considerably. Golden runes and symbols appeared on his skin. The bracelet around his wrist turned into a sword.
Adrian summoned his blade, but looking at Leron for a while he smiled.
"Null: What new magic shall you show me?" The echo halos took a while to form — this told him that this magic was one he hadn't faced before. Realizing that Leron might actually be someone of interest, one that might entertain him as well as the dean and maybe even be close to Lue's level, he decided to go all out from the beginning. Having already taken complete control of normal flame magic, he used Sovereign Rewrite.
"Do you know one flaw I have with my power? If I am using Sovereign Rewrite of one magic type to fight another, my mana levels are capped." He had discovered this against the lion monkey, hence his decision to end things quickly.
"Lady Suventare, grant me power." Leron muttered.
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Swoosh.
Leron vanished.
'He isn't any slower than the lion monkey… in fact he's faster.' Adrian contemplated. He was prepared to phase, any moment.
Boom.
Leron reappeared before him, the tip of his sword inches from Adrian's face. The force sent wind pushing forward.
Swoosh.
Adrian phased just in time as the sword hit the ground, creating a giant crater. If that strike had connected, he would surely have died — after all, he was only partially immortal.
"You pack more of a punch than I expected…" Adrian wiped blood from his face. The sword still managed to injure him, just a small cut. "This is going to be fun."
Boom.
Adrian's eyes constricted. Leron's sword was already near his face again. Phase.
Boom.
As Adrian reappeared, Leron was already before him.
Boom.
This attack hit. Adrian was sent crashing into the ground. "Pui." He spat out a mouthful of blood. He raised his hands and observed the cuts and injuries. The ends of his lips slowly rose.
"You see these wings? They symbolize the purity of my angel blood. Less than a hundred and fifty angels possess them, yet you disrespect me — for what? A girl who clearly will never like you." Leron hovered above the crater.
"Are angels merely brutes?" Adrian asked, ignoring Leron's remarks. "Use some magic already." He was pissed off at Leron's words and he knew it.
"Do you concede defeat?" Leron questioned.
"Flame magic: Blazing Inferno."
A raging blazing sea erupted from the tip of Adrian's blade. He used the moment to heal himself, but that was proving difficult — the sword seemed imbued with dangerous toxins. He healed just enough to stand.
He stared at the unscratched Leron. The flames had painted the surroundings black, but Leron remained, radiant, hovering in the air.
'The energy restriction… how much do I have left?'
<<70%… you could always beg and I'd give it back.>>
'That should be enough.'
...
Eloise peered into the dueling ward, fingers digging into her sleeves.
'You should stop them.' Said her inner voice. 'You are the cause of this.'
But she didn't speak.
She couldn't.
Not when Adrian — fragile, terrifying, hers — looked at Leron as if he was on the verge of committing murder.
Not when Leron — steady, noble, hers too — looked back without fear.
'Is it because of Eloise?'
The memory of his voice asking that surfaced in her mind and wouldn't leave.
This wasn't about her.
That was the worst part.
They had turned her into a reason to destroy each other and still she said nothing.
...
"You're fast," Adrian admitted, raising his blade.
Flame surged from his sword, spiraling into a fiery serpent that slithered toward Leron. Leron raised his blade and channeled his light magic into a shield. The serpent collided with the barrier, erupting in sparks and flame.
"Phase." Adrian vanished, reappearing behind Leron and unleashing a fireball toward his back. Leron was quicker. His wings flared, propelling him upward in a burst of light.
"You fight like a cornered beast," Leron said, voice calm but edged. "Your tricks won't suffice."
He extended his free hand. Spears of light materialized and launched downward. The ground quaked as they rained, forcing Adrian to phase rapidly, each step leaving scorch marks.
Adrian raised his blade skyward. A storm of fireballs cascaded toward Leron. The angel soared through the air, deflecting each one.
Leron descended with renewed speed. His blade struck true, grazing Adrian's side and sending him tumbling.
"This ends now." Leron pointed his blade downward, light gathering at its tip.
Adrian chuckled through gritted teeth, never relenting.
He staggered, blood dripping, his flames reduced to faint embers. His chest heaved. He looked up at Leron hovering above him, radiant and untouched.
He forced himself to stand. His legs buckled.
Leron descended, feet touching the scorched earth. His golden runes still shimmered. He pointed his blade at Adrian, light unwavering.
"You've lost. By your own terms, you forfeit Eloise."
Adrian held his gaze.
Then nodded.
The dome went down.
Silence followed. Then shock.
As Leron turned, Adrian fell to one knee, his sword clattering to the ground. He didn't look at the crowd. He didn't look at Eloise.
He just stared at the smoldering field and said nothing.
Watching Leron's returning figure, Eloise wondered — would it have been better if she had stopped this from ever happening?