The Line-up
Ava's POV
Today is the third day of the Arcane competition. I heard we're now in the finals. All the winners from the previous rounds are set to compete against each other.
I feel nervous, even though I’m ready to fight Jocelyn. I want a chance to finally show her what I’m made of and how it feels to be bullied, but I’m worried I might end up paired with Anastasia instead. She’s so fierce that I actually feel chills just thinking about it after watching her last fight.
The lineup announcement shocks everyone, including me. My heart races as I look at the board. My worst fear has come true, I’m matched against Anastasia. And Gwen, my sweetheart, is up against Jocelyn. The relief is mixed with fear. If Gwen can beat Jocelyn, her bullying might finally stop. Maybe people would start respecting and fearing Gwen, especially her haters.
The first fight of the final round is between Charles the fairy and Alexia the trickster. I’ve heard people call her "trickster," but I’ve always wondered why. Some say it’s because she’s from the magic clan, while others say it’s because of her sneaky, unpredictable ways.
Alexia’s story is unique. Raised by the leader of the magic clan, she’s an orphan and not exactly liked by everyone. But she’s not hated either. From what I see, she’s a loner and neutral, someone to be wary of.
The crowd falls silent, a tense excitement filling the air as the next match is announced; Charles the Fairy against Alexia the Trickster. Alexia is a Fae, so it’s thrilling to see a Fae and a fairy battle, especially since the Faes aren’t very respected in Lystra.
“I like her, Gwen,” I say, surprising Gwen.
“She’s a Fae! I told you to avoid them,” Gwen scolds, looking at me disapprovingly. I just shrug and focus on the battle.
Charles steps into the arena with determination. His wings shimmer in the sunlight, casting a glow of lavender and silver as he faces Alexia. She stands calmly, eyes gleaming with a playful but dangerous look. She radiates confidence, like she already knows she’ll win, with a small, sly smile as if she’s in on a secret no one else knows.
I lean forward, holding my breath. Charles won his last fight with everything he had, but Alexia is different. She’s known for her tricks and illusions, always one step ahead.
The starting horn blares, and Charles charges toward Alexia, his sword raised and glowing with magic. She doesn’t even flinch. At the last second, she sidesteps, just missing his blade. Laughing, she vanishes in a flash of light and reappears behind him.
“Missed me,” she taunts, her voice mocking.
Charles spins, frustrated, swinging his sword with precision, but every strike lands on nothing but air. Alexia moves with grace, dodging his attacks like smoke.
“Stand still, will you?” he growls, his wings beating faster as he gathers magic around him.
She just laughs. “Catch me if you can, fairy.”
Gritting his teeth, Charles takes a deep breath, calming himself, focusing on her moves. Then, in a quick burst, he anticipates her dodge, his sword striking toward her left side.
This time, he hits her. A line of light appears on her arm, and Charles’s face lights up with triumph. He’s drawn blood.
Alexia stumbles back, momentarily shaken. Her hand touches the thin trickle of blood on her arm.
“Impressive,” she says softly, her eyes narrowing. “Didn’t think you’d catch on so quickly.”
Confidence boosts Charles as he moves closer, pressing his advantage. His strikes become faster and sharper, each one pushing her back. The crowd cheers, sensing his momentum. He feels the shift in power, a fierce determination fueling him.
“Losing your tricks, Fae?” he mocks with a smirk.
Her eyes flash dangerously, but she keeps her cool, lifting her chin. “Don’t get too comfortable, Charles.”
As he closes in, he notices something strange. Her form flickers, almost as if he’s looking through a fog. He blinks, and she seems solid again, but a chill runs down his spine. He ignores it, determined to keep his advantage.
With a final lunge, Charles swings at her left side again, his magic-infused blade cutting through the air. Just as he’s about to strike, she vanishes. His sword hits nothing but empty space.
“What...?”
Before he can react, she reappears a few steps away, looking calm as ever. The cut on her arm is gone, as if it never happened. A wave of fear washes over Charles.
“Something wrong?” she asks, tilting her head with a teasing grin.
Charles clenches his jaw, frustrated. He swings again, only for her to disappear and reappear behind him. He spins around, but now she’s gone. Fear and doubt was all over Charles, the arena started shifting around him, shadows flickering, whispers filling the air.
He forces himself forward, trying to find her, but each time he gets close, she slips away, almost as if the arena itself is helping her and they are one. His confidence starts to fade, replaced by doubt that shows on his face.
“Stop hiding!” he shouts, his voice desperate.
Her laugh echoes, twisting around him like a haunting melody. “Hiding? I’ve been here the whole time.”
Cold sweat takes over as Charles realizes he can’t tell what’s real anymore. The hits he thought he landed, the advantage he thought he had, they were all an illusion. Shadows swirl around him, the crowd gasped, murmurs and fear among some of the trainees whispering were floating around.
The arena becomes a maze, walls shifting, stretching, twisting. He feels trapped, like he’s in a nightmare he can’t wake from. Desperation takes hold as he strikes wildly, hoping to break free, but every swing deepens his helplessness. The illusion tightens, swallowing him whole.
And then, as suddenly as it began, the illusion shatters.
Charles stumbles, blinking as the real arena comes into view. He looks up to see Alexia standing before him, unharmed and calm. The wounds he thought he’d inflicted? They were nothing but tricks.
“You... you were playing with me,” he whispers, breathless as if he was suffocating and has seen a monster.
She smiles, triumphant. “Did you really think you had me?” she asks softly in a calm demeanor. “This is what it means to fight a Fae, Charles. You fairies aren't so powerful.” The cold smile was still on her lips.
The horn sounds, ending the match. Charles drops his sword, wings drooping, feeling the weight of his defeat. She had control from the start, letting him believe he was winning only to reveal it was all a trick.
The crowd falls silent, stunned. Charles looks around, seeing their disbelief, but he keeps his gaze on Alexia. She nods at him, acknowledging his effort, but her message is clear, he still has a lot to learn and he was nothing close to her.
She walks out of the arena as her vest flares around her legs and arms.
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