Upon the martial stage, locked in combat, were Kael and Laura. From the start, Laura had pressed to the advantage, sending the first attack.

Laura was giving her all, sending out a flurry of kicks, punches, and sometimes even bursting out with flying daggers towards Kael. In the past few months, her form had become swift, steady, and accurate. But the things which she had gained the most of was strength.

Briar, who was observing, could see clearly that the force behind Laura’s strikes had become much greater over the past month or so. Even though the muscles in Laura’s arm was still as skinny as ever, the muscles had become more condensed and elastic, allowing her arms to build up more force and a faster acceleration.

And this was all thanks to Master Thales’s regimented training.

--

Huh? Briar looked around the room. Come to think of it, where is Master Thales? While Briar wanted to see what was keeping him, she also felt reluctant to leave and miss seeing the end of the match. She decided to put off looking for Thales until later, after the match.

--

Kael retreated, dodging the flurry of strikes by a mere 5 centimeters. The knives were either dodged, or redirected using a well-aimed kick, or a palm strike. Laura continued to press the advantage, as Kael retreated around the stage in a circular motion, avoiding being cornered against the edge of the stage.

Even when Laura began to use her martial skills and appear in different parts of the stage, Kael was completely able to keep up with her. It could be said that while Laura had become very proficient in Shadow Flight, Kael had become even more proficient in Ghost Evasion. The after-images frustrated Laura to no end.

He could also tell where she would be fleeing to, since she always glanced in its direction before activating the technique. If they were simply engaging in a training spat, he would probably tell her about it. But, since this was a competition, why help her opponent out?

Finally, Laura did the one thing that he had been waiting for: she teleported directly behind him. But, even before she finished, Kael had started turning, throwing a right straight punch at her. It struck her in the left shoulder before she understood what happened, tossing Laura back a certain distance.

Laura landed, sliding back a bit before stopping. She paused, glaring at Kael with suspicion. How was he able to guess where she would escape to? Should she test it out again?

Laura rotated the shoulder that had been struck. Although it wasn’t broken, she was certain that she could only use half as much force with that arm now. It wasn’t worth the risk to test whether Kael could tell where the destination of her Shadow Flight would be. She would have to assume that he had a way of knowing.

And so, Laura decisively sealed away her Shadow Flight. It was better to set aside something that was not working, than to risk exposing herself due to a flawed technique.

Kael raised his fists and struck a boxer’s pose. Then he smirked and pointed his hand out towards her, waving her forward, tauntingly.

Why this little-!

Laura grinned in anger as a vein started to throb in her forehead. Without hesitation, she launched herself at Kael. If she could just get a clean strike on him, she would win!

Kael continued to dodge, and block her attacks, as he backed up. Somehow, always managing to keep away from the edges of the circular stage. While bending over backwards, to avoid a facial punch, he landed on the palm of his hand, and kicked out towards the side of her head.

Laura turned her face, tilting her head in the direction of the kick, which redirected the majority of the energy. She just barely managed to avoid being KO’ed. Surprised, Laura’s eyes flashed with a sense of caution.

Kael flipped over sideways, and landed on his feet again. But he quickly jumped backwards as Laura smashed forward, pounding her fists onto the ground where he once stood. The sturdy stone stage cracked from the force of the blow.

“Is this all you are good for?” Laura raged. “Running away?”

“The term, my dear friend, is ‘strategic retreat.’” Kael replied easily. “Not everything can be solved by brashly charging into a situation.”

“Are you calling me brash!” Laura yelled.

Kael smirked. “Now why would you think that? I certainly don’t recall giving out any names. Or is it that you also think that you sometimes behave brashly?”

“Rascal!” She hissed and threw a punch at him.

“Verily.” Kael agreed, as he dodged.

“Coward!” She booed, shooting a throwing knife towards him.

“Completely.” He replied, as he caught the knife between two fingers, flicking it away in a harmless direction.

Laura then jumped back, and stood there, her eyes turning red.

“You are so frustrating! I trained hard to be able to fight you face to face! I did not come here to watch you dodge around like a dragonfly!”

He paused and tilted his head to the side in thought. “Then you can give up?” He said.

“I don’t want that!” She yelled.

“Then, what do you suggest?” He asked.

Receive the full force of my punch!” Laura cried out, gathering her strength.

“Good! Come!” Kael responded to her vigorous shout. Standing still, upright and unguarded. He opened his arms out.

“Let me see how good you’ve become!”

Laura once more launched herself at him, all of her strength behind this one last punch. Even up to six inches away, Kael stood still, waiting to receive the blow. But, when she reached 5 centimeters away, Kael finally moved.

Falling backwards, he moved in the direction of the punch, grabbing both of Laura’s arms as he fell, rolling backwards onto the ground.

Uh-oh! NOT GOOD! Laura realized, as she felt herself supported by a foot at her stomach, to fly right over Kael’s head, and swing headfirst into the stone ground just past him. All she could do was to clench her teeth before her head struck stone.

THUD.

Laura’s head whirled with dizziness as she fell onto her back, temporarily unable to get up. Kael just stood up, looking down at her with a wry smile.

“You-you cheated!” Laura muttered unwillingly.

Kael chuckled and sighed.

“Silly girl. Did I ever say that I would actually receive that punch of yours?” He replied.

“Of cours-…huh? You rascal!” Laura’s bitter face could pickle cucumbers as she sighed. “It’s my fault then. I should have known better than to jump in headfirst after hearing something like that… I admit my defeat. You win.”

“You don’t want to stagger across the stage a bit more?” Kael asked.

“At this point, I’d be lucky if all I could do was stagger. Your blasted move gave me a concussion!” Laura growled frustrated.

“Then, lie still and wait patiently for the medic to arrive.” Kael replied.

“BRIAR HAS WON!”

The announcement sent shivers through the audience, awakening them from the daze they had been in. The final duel had been an eye opener for some, and a mouth opener for others as they dropped their jaws, with no sound coming out.

But that silence did not remain for long. A deafening, frenzied cheer rose up from the crowds, one which didn’t dissipate even after several minutes, as they cheered themselves hoarse.

“There will now be a half an hour break to recover. Then, afterwards, we shall begin the last part of the martial competition. Don’t think that this is over! There’s still one last round to finish.” The announcer reminded them, as the crowds filed down to the concessions stands for food, and to the stationed outhouses to relieve themselves.

Kael had now been confirmed as the temporary first place. If Laura didn’t challenge him to another match--or was not challenged by the dragon lad and defeated, allowing the lad to challenge Kael for first place--then Kael would be confirmed as the first place winner.

At this point, Briar jumped up on the stage, to go examine Laura.

“She has a concussion.” Kael told her helpfully.

Briar sighed as she got to work, placing her hand upon Laura’s forehead as she chanted “[Heal]”

A blue glow surrounded Laura’s head, and the damage was quickly beginning to be reversed under the effects of the calming blue light.

Kael whistled. “You can restrict the spell to just a single area now?” He asked. Usually, when [Heal] was chanted, the glow would spread to the entire body, unless otherwise specified. To do what Briar did meant that she was able to manipulate her mana to a very high degree. Several members of the Magicians Council were very impressed when they saw this. But, Briar didn’t even spare a glance in their direction.

“Don’t challenge him again.” Briar said to Laura, patting her on the shoulder.

Laura made a face. “You’re just saying that because you want him to win!” She muttered.

“I also do not want to have to heal your bruised head again. Otherwise, if there should be a next time, I might just leave you to suffer through it, Hmm?” Briar smiled cheerfully, but Laura shuddered.

“No, I’ll be good.” Laura muttered, feeling a bit happy that her best friend cared enough about Laura to be concerned about her health.

“Good. My job is to get you in tip-top shape so that Dragon Boy doesn’t have even a chance at first place.” Briar nodded. Laura felt a bit better thinking that she might have another chance to bash that jerk’s face in.

Unfortunately for Laura, the lad was traumatized enough that he wouldn’t dare to face Laura after that. And so, after the half-hour intermission, the first, second, and third places were confirmed for the martial competition.

Of course, Kael was in first place. Laura was in second place. And the dragon lad was in third place. They made their way to the stage that had been erected outside of the double-colliseum under the thunderous cheers that besieged them through the magic barrier around the pathway.

The magician winners were already present up on the stage. Of course, Briar was in first place. Youma was in second place. And Elsa was in third place. On top of the stage was the usual three steps for first second and third place. The two first place steps had been placed together, so that they could stand side by side.

As Briar and Kael stood together, many people began to notice the similarities between the two, including the fact that they shared the same name. But before they could begin to hash out theories about why the two looked so similar, Council-mage Syrel stepped forward, alongside Mayor Bradley.

While Syrel and Bradley were busy with the presentation of the rewards, Grandpa Thur was suspiciously watching the Councilmages behind the winners on the stage. The person who had been observing Madam Rothema’s viewing room had come from one of these men, and Grandpa Thur would be darned if he didn’t catch a clue as to who it might be.

---

“And so, Briar Mikael, I present to you this first place martial medallion, along with the first place prize of fifty thousand gold coins.” Syrel announced, as Bradley beamingly placed the medal around Kael’s neck, and presented the coins to him. Kael bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement as he accepted the coins, placing them in his ‘magic’ bag.

To his and Briar’s great luck, not even one of the magicians noticed the fact that Kael was Briar’s double, allowing the ceremony to proceed smoothly.

“And to you as well, Briar Rose, I present this first place magic medallion alongside this permanent pass to the Great Library of the Magician’s Council. It will allow you to enter anywhere in the Library, of course, aside from the forbidden books section. I trust it shall serve you well in your pursuit of the peak of knowledge.” Syrel said, personally giving the prize to her this time.

“Thank you very much!” She said with a smile.

“And now-What is this!?” Syrel exclaimed as a blue magic teleportation circle opened up beneath Kael’s feet.

“Magic Dispersal!” Briar shouted. But the magic circle only receeded for a moment before rebuilding itself. Syrel, finally reacting to the situation, slammed his staff down upon the stage. The magic circle shattered with Kael collapsing to the floor, his face turned pale.

“WHO! Who was the blasted fiend who DARED to interrupt this Ceremony!” Magi Faerwind’s enraged voice boomed out like thunder as the wind began to gather around him in a mini tornado.