Confidence

Part 8

Dev looked at her with a smile “I guess as long as I’m able to keep my calm under pressure I should be able to avoid accidentally performing this new type of rapid casting so far when it’s happened accidentally it’s like second nature to me having the intent to cast the spell the method for casting it and the final product visualized seems  too lead to its manifestation

It it’s still requires my focus like any spell so it’s not some hack to freely casting spells that I don’t know how to cast but it definitely will let me cut down my cast time  in a life or death situation. As for this field nobody is supposed to know about it so perhaps we should make an effort to return it to a more natural appearance before we leave…” Dev gestured to the damaged landscape, then began using earth magic to restore the ground and then light magic to cause new grass to grow back rapidly. Elira was impressed by how vast devs reserves of Mana seemed to have become.

Elira watched the ground knit itself back together beneath the earth magic, then stared as fresh green shoots pushed through the soil under the influence of the light spell.

Her eyebrows slowly climbed.

“Dev…”

She looked across the field.

“You’ve been doing this for hours.”

Her gaze returned to him.

“You’ve cast wind, ice, earth, light, defensive magic, healing magic, and whatever that little pressure trick was earlier.”

She gestured toward the rapidly recovering grass.

“And you’re still casually throwing around enough mana to regrow half a field.”

She walked over and crouched, touching one of the new blades of grass.

“That is very different from before.”

There was no alarm in her voice this time. Mostly fascination.

“Your regeneration was already good, but this…”

She stood again.

“Your core isn’t behaving like a bigger version of your old one. It’s actually keeping up with what you’re doing.”

She looked toward the academy.

“And that might be the more important discovery today.”

Elira glanced back at the field. Most of the obvious damage was disappearing beneath layers of soil and vegetation. A few scars remained, but from a distance the place would soon look untouched.

“Good thinking, though. If Veris really meant this place to stay secret, leaving behind a battlefield isn’t exactly subtle.”

She brushed dirt from her hands.

Then she smiled.

“Come on, Alderhollow. Before the academy decides two missing students have been eaten by wolves.”

She started toward the concealed path, then stopped after a few steps.

“Oh—and one more thing.”

She turned around.

“Tomorrow, we’re testing your new casting against an opponent who knows it’s coming.”

A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.

“No surprises. No accidents. And I’ll be watching specifically for the moment you switch between normal casting and instant manifestation.”

She started walking again.

“Let’s see whether your fancy new trick actually makes you faster when someone is actively trying to kill you.”

“…Figuratively.”

She glanced over her shoulder.

Dev gave her a sly smile, “oh I look forward to it, you know I don’t shy away from a good challenge”.

As they got back into the academy eventually they reached devs room, and suddenly he felt a weight in his chest, he didn’t want her to leave off to her room. He was enjoying her company to much to want to part ways. Little did he know she was feeling the same. “Hey Eli, would you wanna come in for a bit… I know you need to focus on your studies too and I don’t want to steal all your time… we could study for the test coming up or…” she stoped him cutting in “oh.. right i almost forgot about the test with everything that’s been happening…” Dev was shocked to hear it, “no way Elira of all people would forget about the academics…” he thought the surprise noticeable in his expression. “Oh don’t look at me like that!” She pushed him with a huff “I’m not the one who came barging into your room late at night with some paradigm shifting new magical revelations. Do you even know how exciting it is to be the only person on the planet tracking such a massive discovery!” She exclaimed but then caught herself seeing Dev’s expression shift “is that all I am to you, some big discovery…” he sounded dejected but she quickly cut in “wait don’t take that the wrong way Dev you know how much I love magical research but that’s not how I see you, I value our friendship you know that.” She said embracing him and he hugged her back but the moment was interrupted as a small group of students came around the corner. Noble born silver spoon assholes as Dev saw em; when they caught sight of the two hugging they began to chuckle and whisper amongst themselves.  “Looks like the village rat and the book worm are getting real cuddly. We need to teach that leach a lesson. Yeah he needs to be put in his place.” Devs hearing was abnormally good and yet he let these remarks slide but then he caught them scheming “seems the village dog has a weak spot for the book worm, maybe we should take her and have some fun with her that would show them their place in this world” the biggest of the boys said to the others. Elira hadn’t heard them but devs ears caught every vile word. His eyes narrowed into fiery slits as he stepped in front of Elira “stay back Eli, go into my room I don’t want you to get caught up in this… these sick fuckers need to be taught a lesson that they can’t talk or even think about touching you.” He said stepping towards the group

The laughter died when Dev stepped between them and Elira.

The four students stopped.

For a moment, nobody moved.

The largest of them was a broad-shouldered young man with immaculate black-and-gold robes and a silver signet ring bearing the crest of an old noble house. Two others stood behind him, both wearing the same smug expressions that suggested they’d rarely been told no.

The fourth boy looked considerably less comfortable.

The leader’s eyes moved from Dev to Elira and back again.

“Well,” he said quietly. “The village rat has teeth.”

Elira’s expression had changed completely. The warmth from moments earlier was gone.

“Dev…”

The nobleman raised a hand, stopping his companions from advancing.

“Relax. We were only having a little fun.”

One of the boys beside him snorted.

“Were we?”

The leader gave him a sideways glance.

“Not here.”

That earned a confused look from the others.

The nobleman looked around the corridor. A few students had begun slowing down, sensing trouble. He clearly noticed them too.

Then his gaze settled back on Dev.

“You’ve been getting rather confident lately, Alderhollow. Winning a few exercises doesn’t make you important.”

His voice remained calm, but the threat underneath it was unmistakable.

“And certainly doesn’t give you permission to speak to people above your station.”

Elira stepped forward.

“Above his station?”

The leader’s eyes flicked toward her.

“You should be careful, Elira. You’re quite valuable to this academy. It would be unfortunate if your association with him damaged your reputation.”

That was when the fourth student finally spoke.

“Ravian, maybe we should just leave.”

The leader—Ravian—looked at him coldly.

“Go.”

The boy hesitated.

“I said go.”

He immediately turned and disappeared down the corridor.

The remaining two exchanged glances.

Ravian rolled his shoulders.

“Fine.”

His hand moved toward the enchanted focus hanging at his belt.

“If you want to make this a confrontation, we can settle it properly.”

The ambient mana around him began to stir.

A few students farther down the corridor backed away.

Elira’s voice became low.

“Dev, don’t let them bait you.”

Ravian smiled.

“Come on, village boy.”

His fingers closed around his focus.

“Show everyone what you’re worth.”

The corridor suddenly felt very quiet.

Ravian’s mana surged.

“You’re pathetic Ravian, threatening to abuse an innocent lady and scare to face me without one on one so you come with your crew but not even that’s enough as you cowar artifact in hand.” Dev said not particularly loud but in a clear tone so everyone around could hear.

Ravian’s face tightened.

The words carried farther than Dev had raised his voice, and the students lingering at the end of the corridor suddenly became very interested in what was happening.

One of Ravian’s companions muttered, “You heard him.”

Another whispered, “He just called Ravian a coward.”

Ravian’s jaw clenched.

For several seconds, he simply stared at Dev.

Then he slowly removed the focus from his belt.

“Fine.”

He tossed the enchanted focus to one of his companions.

“No artifact.”

The other students immediately began whispering.

Ravian stepped into the center of the corridor and rolled his shoulders.

“And no crew.”

He looked toward his companions.

“Stay out of it.”

They reluctantly stepped back.

Elira caught Dev’s sleeve.

“Don’t underestimate him.”

Ravian’s eyes narrowed.

“You wanted one-on-one.”

His mana began circulating through his core, visibly disturbing the loose dust along the stone floor.

“You’ve got it.”

A faint silver glow appeared around his hands.

Level Three.

Elira recognized the circulation immediately.

“Dev…”

Her voice dropped.

“He’s a Will-level mage.”

Ravian smiled.

“Let’s see how impressive the village rat really is.”

He lowered his stance.

The surrounding students began backing away, creating a rough circle around them.

And then Ravian moved.

Not attacking yet.

Just waiting.

Watching Dev carefully.

Waiting for the first move.

Dev smiled “oh you’re gonna regret giving up your help, you really think you can face me alone? please don’t kid yourself your core is only at the third stage of development. You can’t hold a candle to my flame.” Dev taunted wanting to make sure Ravian threw the first blow so that he wouldn’t be blamed for starting the fight. thinking to himself “the rules are clear, no students are allowed to start fights but there’s nothing wrong with finishing them”. Devs mana surged careful to keep chanting and making hand signs as he compressed the air around himself and a layer of ice armor covered his body

Ravian’s expression hardened at the mention of his core.

“You arrogant—”

He stopped himself.

A few students around the corridor exchanged impressed looks. Ravian had taken the bait, but he wasn’t stupid enough to charge blindly.

His eyes flicked over Dev’s stance, the compressed air, then the ice armor.

“So that’s what you’re relying on.”

His right hand snapped forward.

A silver rune flashed into existence between his fingers.

Bang.

A compressed lance of force tore down the corridor.

It wasn’t aimed directly at Dev’s chest.

It struck the stone floor several feet in front of him.

The impact shattered the tiles and sent a spray of stone fragments outward while the released force raced along the ground toward Dev, attempting to disrupt his footing rather than simply overpower his defenses.

At the same instant, Ravian pivoted.

A second spell formed around his left hand—a thin, translucent barrier angled toward Dev.

He was preparing for a counterattack.

The students nearest the fight scrambled backward.

Elira remained near Dev’s doorway, tense but holding her position.

Ravian’s eyes stayed locked on Dev.

“Let’s see if that confidence survives the first ten seconds.”

Dev channeled a broad wind blade in front of himself to disperse the stones and incoming force as he stood his ground readying for Ravians left hook, as it came Dev raised his hand and a all the compressed air released under Ravians right side sending him up at an angle to crash into the ceiling

The broad wind blade tore through the debris cloud, scattering stone fragments across the corridor. The remaining force buckled harmlessly against Dev’s defensive airflow.

Ravian committed to the follow-up.

His left hook came in hard—

—and the air beneath his right side suddenly vanished into a violent pressure differential.

His footing disappeared.

“Wh—?!”

BOOM!

Ravian was ripped upward at an angle, his body twisting helplessly as the compressed air launched him toward the ceiling.

His defensive barrier flashed into existence around him a fraction too late.

CRACK!

He slammed into the stone ceiling hard enough to fracture several tiles.

The barrier absorbed the worst of the impact, but it shattered immediately afterward.

Ravian dropped.

He landed heavily on one knee, one hand braced against the floor, breathing hard.

For perhaps two seconds, the corridor was completely silent.

Then someone whispered:

“He didn’t even touch him.”

Another student muttered, “He redirected the air under him…”

Elira’s eyes widened despite herself.

“That’s the same principle you used against me.”

Ravian slowly raised his head.

The embarrassment on his face had been replaced by something considerably more dangerous.

Anger.

But underneath it, Dev could hear something else in his breathing.

Caution.

Ravian had just learned that charging into Dev’s range was a terrible idea.

He stood, wiping a thin line of blood from the corner of his mouth.

“Fine.”

His mana surged.

The silver glow around him intensified as he abandoned the casual posture he’d started with.

“You’re stronger than I expected.”

His eyes narrowed.

“So I’ll stop treating you like a student.”

The floor beneath Ravian’s feet began to glow with several faint silver runes.

Elira immediately recognized the formation.

“Dev—”

Ravian slammed his palm toward the floor.

The runes activated.

The stone beneath Dev’s feet suddenly began to buckle upward.

Using one of the buckling tiles as a springboard Dev jumped up into the air towards the wall and then jumping off of the wall Dev sent a hail of ice spikes int Ravian but each was imbued with a healing spell so they closed the holes in the opponent’s body as fast as they opened, this would rapidly drain their vitality and energy that could only be replaced by eating and rest

The buckling floor erupted beneath Dev, but the raised stone gave him exactly the foothold he needed.

He launched upward, hit the wall, and kicked off.

Ravian’s eyes tracked him.

Too late.

A storm of ice spikes flashed into existence.

Ravian threw both hands forward.

“Aegis!”

A silver barrier snapped into place.

The first few ice spikes shattered against it—

then the next volley punched through.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

Ravian’s barrier cracked apart as several spikes struck his torso and legs. Blood appeared almost immediately.

Then the strange part happened.

The wounds began closing.

Ravian stared down at his body in disbelief.

“What the—”

The pain disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived, but the weakness didn’t.

His breathing became heavier.

His knees dipped.

The healing magic was repairing the physical damage, but the energy required to rebuild tissue was still being drawn from his body.

Ravian understood what Dev had done.

“You…”

His voice came out breathless.

“You’re using healing magic on the wounds.”

One of his companions shouted from the edge of the corridor:

“Ravian, get out of there!”

Ravian ignored him.

His eyes hardened.

He wasn’t going to win by overpowering Dev.

So he changed tactics.

Rather than attacking Dev directly, Ravian slammed both palms against the floor.

Silver runes spread outward beneath the surrounding students.

The corridor’s stone suddenly began glowing.

Elira’s face went pale.

“That’s an area spell.”

Ravian’s chest heaved as he forced mana through the formation.

“If I can’t hit you…”

The runes flared.

“…I’ll take away your room to maneuver.”

The stone walls on either side of the corridor began shifting inward.

Not enough to crush anyone yet.

Enough to turn the wide hallway into a narrowing combat space—and force Dev toward Ravian’s prepared formation.

Ravian is still standing, but the repeated healing has visibly drained him. His movements are beginning to slow.

And now he’s trying to turn the environment itself against Dev.

Seeing the walls of the hall contract Dev smiles “okay two can play at this game” stomping the ground in front of himself a wave of earth spikes erupt from the ground

The stomp sent a violent tremor through the corridor.

CRACK—CRACK—CRACK!

A row of jagged earth spikes erupted from the floor, racing toward Ravian’s position.

Ravian’s eyes widened.

He immediately abandoned the formation.

“Barrier!”

A silver wall snapped into place.

The first earth spike smashed into it hard enough to bend the barrier inward.

BOOM!

The second struck.

CRACK.

The third shattered the barrier completely.

Ravian threw himself sideways as another spike tore through the space where he’d been standing.

He hit the floor and rolled, narrowly avoiding a fifth spike that ripped upward beside him.

But Ravian had anticipated one thing.

The collapsing walls.

His area spell hadn’t stopped completely.

The stone continued grinding inward behind Dev and Ravian, shrinking the available space with every passing second.

Ravian pushed himself upright, breathing heavily.

His face was pale now.

The repeated healing had clearly taken a toll.

But instead of attacking immediately, he looked at the jagged earth formation between them.

Then at Dev.

A faint smile appeared.

“You’re relying on the ground.”

His hand rose.

The silver runes beneath the floor flashed again.

“Then let’s take it away.”

The stone directly beneath Dev suddenly lost its cohesion, turning unstable and crumbling into loose rubble.

Ravian wasn’t trying to attack Dev.

He was trying to destroy his footing while the narrowing corridor prevented easy movement.

Elira’s eyes widened.

“He’s targeting the terrain beneath you!”

As the ground beneath him turned into loose sand  Dev jumped upwards as spikes if I screw from his arm brace and gripped into the ceiling then kicking a spiraling stream of fire burst towards Ravian. Simultaneously he swung and  released the ceiling

landing back on the sand restoring it he compressed it back into stone

The spiraling fire tore down the corridor.

Ravian threw himself sideways as the flames corkscrewed past, the heat washing over his robes. He hit the wall shoulder-first and barely managed to stay upright.

Then he looked down.

The sand beneath him had become stone again.

His expression darkened.

“So footing isn’t the answer.”

He wiped sweat from his brow.

“Fine.”

Ravian stopped trying to control the floor.

Instead, he thrust both hands forward.

The silver runes around his body condensed into a tight lattice, and the air between him and Dev suddenly compressed.

A pressure wave slammed down the corridor.

It wasn’t a projectile.

It was the entire volume of air between them being violently forced toward Dev at once, carrying enough force to stagger, crush, and potentially drive him backward into the narrowing walls.

Ravian gritted his teeth.

“Let’s see how well you fight when the air itself becomes the weapon.”

“Air is more versatile but a wall of wind will always lose against a wall of earth” Dev thought pulling the ground in front of himself up and then pushing it forward with both magic and his physical strength glad that the quarter behind him was sealed from observation by Ravians spell