Leo gripped his axe and readied himself to move at any second. He knew that the second the fight started he would face a barrage of spells coming at him, getting close as soon as possible without using too much mana was his only chance of winning.

“Start!” he heard the principal shout.

Leo moved at full speed at his opponent, moving fast enough to cause the air he pushed to create a sound similar to what happens when one swings a stick fast enough. If he could run like that he would get to Sophie in less than a second, still, it seemed that he would get a chance to do that.

Ten fireballs were coming at once at him, 6 from front and 4 from both sides. Thinking of the best outcome he imagined what would be the most optimal way to not lose speed and at the same time not lose the match.

He jumped vertically to the left which still put him on the trajectory of two fireballs, barring himself he gathered his light mana on his left arm creating an absorption field covering his skin. Over the years his control of the spell increased and his efficiency was nearly on the same level as the device he trained with. It was also the first time he would use the spell in front of Sophie.

He kept his axe in his right hand and blocked both fireballs with his left palm, as he did so he felt warm mana entering him and slowly refilling about half of the energy he used to cast the barrier.

Sophie widened her eyes, she didn’t expect for her fireballs to just disappear, still, she didn’t hesitate. She focused fire in her left hand and swung it at Leo. A long fire whip was created and coming for his head downward.

He dodged it to the right and it struck the ground but before he could take next step forward the whip turned around coming straight for his back. He dropped to the ground and rolled away causing the whip to miss him again as it flew above him.

He didn’t get a moment to rest as the second he got up two whips were coming for him, calling them snakes though would be more appropriate with how they moved. Still, he was too close to Sophie now to move away from their range and he felt that there was no place in the arena that they couldn’t reach.

Not having much choice he moved forward, second before the fire was going to hit him he slid along the ground underneath them and creating an absorption field on his hand cut the snakes in half, hoping it would give him some time before they regenerated.

The fire he cut of slowly dissipated and he pushed himself to the right before standing up. The distance between him and Sophie was now 3 meters, jumping forward he faced two more snakes coming at him, he powered up his muscles some more and swung his axe stopping the fire from reaching him with the wind he created.

Jumping around Sophie’s spell he was close now but as he was one step away from where he could strike a two meters high firewall appeared in front of him. Forcing more power inside of his leg muscles he jumped upward flying straight above it and also Sophie.

Landing behind her, he turned around with his axe already in motion to catch his target. Still, Sophie jumped away from the blade, avoiding it by millimetres and as she did she released a small fireball at Leo.

Compared to the ones before it was much slower and it looked different to Leo’s eyes. Still, he dodged it to the right and wanted to continue his attack but as he did the ball beside him flashed.

Hastily he focused all of his light mana on him and increased both his defence and created the absorption field on his skin as the flame enlarged and consumed him and soon after he also felt a shockwave that pushed him away to the edge of the arena.

He supported himself on one knee and gasped heavily, he strained his mana circuits with what he just did but luckily there was no pain. He stood up, he still was not out of the fight and his empowerment was doing its job.

“You are still not out despite that explosion?” said Sophie surprised looking at Leo standing up her smile soon returned. “Good. Come.”

Despite greeting his teeth Leo smiled, jumping forward he avoided next fireball coming at him and after that, he danced between four fire snakes that came at him. Stepping to the right he dodged one, ducking lightly second one went above his head, bending his body to the left he avoided the third one while making sure he didn’t touch the first one. As the fourth one come he pushed himself up jumping slightly above the first one landing beside it.

Turning backwards and swinging his axe he stopped the four snakes that were coming at him from behind and jumped forward again at Sophie. This time he got into striking range swinging his axe from his right he was sure that he got her this time.

Suddenly it seemed like if Sophie flashed in red light for a second and she was outside of his range again. “You are not the only one that can speed themselves up.” said Sophie to surprised Leo.

Without waiting he moved forward again but as he did a big circle of fire was created around her and swiftly it expanded to the whole arena leaving Leo completely engulfed in flames.

In last second he cast his absorption field on himself but he felt that didn’t have more than two seconds before his mana run out. He wondered what ridiculous amount of mana she needs to have to make something like this but he could leave such thought for later.

Jumping in the general direction he remembered her standing he soon got inside the small area without fire where she was standing and with half of his body still in the fire he swung his axe that was on fire diagonally from his right shoulder.

Surprised she tried to block it but as Leo still had his empowerment on he got past her block easily and the blade hit her on a shoulder.

The fire around them stopped, everyone looked in shock. It was the first time they have seen a fight like this happen. Even if Leo’s speed and strength were amazing he was still vulnerable to magic that covered big areas or at least they thought so, so no one thought he stood a chance but there he was standing after the fight ended his chocker silent and next to him Sophie with her beeping and flashing in red.

Leo couldn’t really believe what just happened, he was the one barely standing from the amount of mana he used and Sophie looked like if she still had the energy to go. Despite it, the outcome was announced.

“The winner this year is Leo Redmond!” shouted the principal.

The surrounding boomed with excitement, it was the first time in a long while since someone beat Sophie and it also happened by the hand of someone who everyone thought didn’t stand a chance.

Sophie gathered herself from her surprised state and stepped forward to Leo, her face was red for some reason. “It was a fun fight but I need to know how did you survive in that fire.” she said.

“Ah, that, I have been training with an absorption field device and I learned how to use it.” Leo said little surprised. “Are you alright though?”

“Hmmm? Me? I’m alright.” she said perplexed.

“Ah it’s okay then, it’s just that your face is red a little.”

Sophie's eyes widened a little and she touched her face with her left palm. “Eh? Maybe it’s from the haste spell, I still wonder how can you keep that up for such long time. It’s quite taxing.” she said looking at him as she looked at him the redness on her face increased a little and she turned her head away. “Well, no matter, it was a good fight. Congratulations.” she said before turning and walking away to exit the arena.

“Thanks. You were amazing too.” he said, she didn’t turn back though.

Leo stepped out of the arena and he was met up with everyone's congratulations. They were happy that someone stopped Sophie from winning third time in a row.

Mary got close to him “Congratulations. I think that was your best fight yet.”

Leo smiled at that, finally, he won against Sophie for the first time, he was elated.

Alice also got past the crowd and got close to him. “Congratulations!” she said and grabbed his right arm into a hug “And here is your reward.” she stood on tips of her shoes and slowly placed a kiss on his cheek, Leo’s face turned red and he looked perplexed at Alice as she parted away from him.

The black haired girl looked smugly at Mary but the brown haired girl didn’t look annoyed or surprised.

Mary stepped up to Leo and grabbed his face with both of her hand forcing him to look at her. He looked even more lost than before and didn’t even know what to say.

She brought her face up to him and placed her lips on his causing an uproar to happen around them. Voices like ‘Congratulations’ could be heard but also ‘Did I really just cheered for that guy’ or ‘I’m jealous’ and ‘I will beat him next time for sure’ were there.

Leo couldn’t hear any of them though, he didn’t know what to say even after she parted away from him. His head turned wholly red and he forced a voice out of him. “I… well… thanks… I need to take a shower and all ehm… I will be back soon!” he said running away as he got to the shower area and thought about what just happened, he had a stupid smile on his face.

Mary was left there blushing a little before turning away and walking to the changing area for girls.

Alice just stood there shocked and not really believing that Mary had guts to do something like this.

-*-

It took a while before Leo calmed down. He changed into his regular clothes and went back to the training hall. As he did he noticed Mary and some person in a black suit standing next to each other he guessed it must have been one of the teachers.

With some red on his cheeks, he walked closer to them and just stood there not really knowing what to say.

The man in the suit spoke first. “Hello, Mister Leo. Mister Edge, Mary’s father wants to send you an invitation to dinner tonight.”

Leo looked at Mary but she just shook her head, she also had no idea what was going on. Leo wondered for a second but in the end looking at the men and with what just happened he felt he didn’t really have much of a choice. “I would need to call and inform my parents first.”

Leo called his parents with a communication device he has gotten on his thirteen birthday, he explained it as going to hang out with a friend and he would be home late which his mother accepted if reluctantly. Afterwards, they were heading for the exit. Just before they did though Mr Alexandrius walked up to them and spoke to Leo.

“Before you go, there is something I want to give to you.” he said. He had something in his hand that he passed to Leo.

Looking at it he had no idea what it was, it looked like a black box made of some material, he found a lock on one side and opening it he looked confused at what was inside. It was some kind of white material with words written on them. On the first sheet in big letters was written: ‘An Adventuring Story’.

Leo looked back at the principal. “Is this paper?” he asked it was material once used for books and writing on, it was the first time for him seeing one though.

“Yes, it is. But don’t worry about it now, read it back when you are at home.” said the principal with a smile.

Leo nodded and closed the box putting it in his backpack. “Thank you, but why?”

“It’s something I wanted to give you for a long time and today you have proven yourself worthy of it. Now, I don’t want to keep your company waiting. Go now.”

“Goodbye.” said Leo before walking away.

“Goodbye.” said the principal smiling.

After that Leo, Mary and the man went to the parking lot and there they entered a black long car. Shortly after they took off and headed for Mary house and in the end, Leo had no idea why.