Kalon Bloodborn POV

An array of weapons lay before me, meticulously arranged in the Vulcan-forged cabinet. Each piece was a testament to their mastery in weapon hardening, known throughout Enoria. I marveled at the intricate designs for a moment before returning to my seat. Despite the craftsmanship, I wasn’t one for wielding weapons. Magic, for me, was arsenal enough—though it required more mana.

The training grounds buzzed with the clashing of metal and surges of mana following each strike. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, a byproduct of exertion. Unlike the Hall of Knowledge, the crowd here was sparse. Most arenas were empty, as expected—Lamians, after all, were not as battle-hardened as some other races.

I sat between Nora and Damon. Our eyes fixed on the fight unfolding before us. Across the field, Clovis and Jared faced off against Ariadne. Jared’s sword blazed with brilliant fire, while Clovis's dual blades shimmered faintly with phantom energy, barely visible in the dim light.

I had pestered Clovis about teaching me the art of phantom magic, but he refused. “It’s forbidden,” he had said with a serious tone, “and even if I tried, you wouldn’t be able to diffuse it.”

Closing the distance in just three steps, Clovis slashed his blade toward Ariadne’s midsection, but she blocked it effortlessly. Her left axe locked with Clovis’s blade while her right arm flexed above her shoulder, poised to strike again.

Jared appeared at her side, his sword flashing in an upward diagonal arc. Ariadne twisted, her feet pivoting smoothly as she intercepted his blow. The clash extinguished the red flames that once coated Jared’s sword, leaving the blade frost-tipped—a sign of Ariadne’s influence. My suspicions were confirmed, and Jared didn’t have time to process it before Ariadne swung both axes outward, her crossed arms snapping wide. The sheer force sent Jared staggering backward, unable to hold his ground.

Sensing her opening, Ariadne turned her attention back to Clovis, swinging one axe with brutal precision. Clovis parried the first strike, but as her second axe descended in an overhead slash, he had no choice but to leap backward. His retreat, however, was short-lived. An eruption of ice exploded across the arena, shards of frost bursting forth, blocking his path. The icy branches grew rapidly, trapping Clovis in their midst, and sealing his attempted escape.

Jared descended from above, his wings ablaze with fire, casting a brilliant glow that contrasted sharply with the freezing atmosphere Ariadne had summoned. The shift in temperature, under her control, caused the ambient mana to fluctuate wildly. Unable to steady himself, Jared crashed awkwardly onto the ground, landing before Ariadne. Without hesitation, she grabbed him by the neck, her axe raised, poised for a killing blow.

Suddenly, darkness cloaked the arena, shrouding the battlefield in obscurity. My vision blurred, and I could only make out the sound of Ariadne cursing, followed by the sharp clang of an unseen strike.

“What trickery is this? Do not fight like a coward!” she shouted, her voice filled with fury.

‘Clovis, it must be’ I thought, trying to piece it together. ‘The light must have refracted… but how?’

“This is simply my magic,” came Clovis’s voice, calm and mocking. “Battle isn’t just about brute strength, you thick-headed brute.”

The fight raged on, and we stood watching from the sidelines as their clash intensified. Clovis’s mastery over light manipulation created a series of illusions, making it difficult to discern his real form. With deft movements, he appeared out of nowhere and effortlessly freed Jared from Ariadne’s grip. The frost that Ariadne had unleashed grew thicker, transforming the arena into a frozen wasteland. The ice formations spread quickly, making it feel as though the very air had turned to frostbite.

Ariadne, now surrounded by darkness and against her opponents' relentless attacks, swung her axes wildly. But Clovis’s illusions kept her at bay, forcing her to fight shadows as the true Clovis maneuvered unseen.

The arena was lit up by rapid bursts of flame bullets. Jared's fiery attack cutting through the shadows that cloaked the battlefield. Each shot illuminated the ice-laden expanse for brief moments, casting eerie reflections off the frost and making the scene seem all the more intense.

“Bow before these flames and I may spare you!” Jared's voice boomed, his wings still aglow with fire, radiating heat despite the overwhelming cold Ariadne had summoned. His challenge echoed through the arena, daring his opponent to submit.

I shifted my position, trying to get a clearer view of the ongoing clash. Clovis, moving with such speed that his form left afterimages, dashed across the arena, skillfully dodging Ariadne’s towering ice constructs. Each step was precise, as if he anticipated where every shard of ice would fall, avoiding the deadly obstacles that could have easily impaled him.

“Bow? How presumptuous of you to think so,” Ariadne retorted, her voice dripping with defiance. Her cheeky smile, faintly visible under the darkness, shone as her confidence grew.

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she stood tall, unfazed by Jared’s fiery onslaught. The ice around her began to twist and coil, responding to her will, forming an intricate web of frost that seemed to dance in tune with her magic.

"Got you," Ariadne whispered as ice formed around Clovis's legs, locking him in place. His momentum carried him forward, straight into Ariadne's fist, her punch landing with brutal precision. Clovis hurtled across the arena, crashing into the ground as the darkness that once shrouded the area dispersed. Jared, wide-eyed and shocked, dropped his sword in defeat, unable to process the swift turn of events.

"You win," Jared muttered, his voice laced with resignation.

Without wasting a moment, Damon, Nora, and I rushed to attend to their wounds. Even though they wore armor, dueling at full force had its risks. Our presence allowed them to push their limits, knowing they’d be treated afterward.

Ariadne had managed to subdue both Jared and Clovis, despite their considerable growth in magic. It was an impressive feat, but not entirely surprising. As I gently ran my hands over Ariadne’s injuries, soft yelps escaped her lips, followed by satisfied sighs of relief. Clovis's attacks had left shallow cuts, but they would heal soon enough.

"Ugh, we just can't seem to win against you," Jared lamented, his frustration evident.

"It's a shame you can't find opponents of matching strength among our peers. You must get pretty tired having to duel us," Clovis admitted, his words holding a bitter truth.

I smirked to myself, musing silently. ‘Nodens truly are built different.'

It was clear that Ariadne’s strength wasn’t easily matched, even among those who had been refining their abilities like Jared and Clovis.

I couldn't help but chuckle internally at the thought of anyone, aside from the seasoned elders or soldiers, even standing a chance against Ariadne. Her proficiency with both water and ice magic had been exceptional since childhood. She wasn't one for study or deep reflection like some of us; she was a pure natural in combat. That relentless drive to duel made the idea of her tiring from fighting Clovis and Jared repeatedly seem like a huge joke. It was amusing, really.

"Kalon...you're zoning out. What's making you smile?" Nora’s voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality as I finished healing Ariadne's last wound.

"Ah...nothing really. Just remembered something funny," I replied, brushing off her question with a half-hearted grin.

"Kalon, why not have a duel against Ariadne?" Clovis chimed in, a mischievous spark in his eye. "You're quite strong."

"What?" I turned to him, somewhat baffled. "I'm sure you've never seen me duel before. How'd you come to that conclusion?"

Clovis shrugged, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "Call it an instinct. You’ve got more strength than you think."

Ariadne, who was flexing her arm to check her newly healed muscles, raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Oh? Kalon, do you want to have a go? It'd be fun to see what you've got."

I hesitated. Though I had been practicing, going up against someone as formidable as Ariadne didn’t seem like the wisest choice. Still, there was an undeniable curiosity tugging at me.

“Oh, Damon did say your magic is phenomenal," Clovis continued, recounting the events that took place while I was secluded in my study.

"Yes, he’d always praise you in your absence," Jared added, confirming the surprising revelation.

I glanced over at Damon, flabbergasted. His response was a wry smile, clearly speechless but not denying a thing. I hadn’t expected him to be talking about my abilities like that, especially behind my back.

“I could give it a try,” I said, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. “Would you be able to go for another round, Ariadne?”

Ariadne stood up from her cross-legged position, her usual grin returning. I followed suit, feeling the anticipation build.

"Hmm. Of course, I’m ready," she replied with a determined glint in her eyes. "Let’s see your magic in action, Kalon."

As we squared off in the arena, I could feel the energy in the air shift. The others watched intently, their expressions curious as they awaited what was bound to be an interesting duel. This was my chance to prove myself, but also, to see if all those hours of study and practice could match Ariadne's natural talent.

Ariadne Frostborn

I scurried through my bag, taking out a potion to boost my energy. Kalon insisted I take it.
‘Surely he didn’t think he’d be able to best me because I just finished a duel.’

This was a chance I’d long been waiting for. Nora must have anticipated this moment. Kalon’s magic was something I’d seen overstay together—quick-witted and able to decipher complex theories while gaining insights. I’d never seen anything like it.

Having been regarded as a genius by my kind from a young age, I immediately took the liking of our benevolent matriarch. I started my ‘Path to Mastery’ at a young age, first going to Aeolis, then through Amagia, before arriving in Stygia to complete this required regime.

The people here were welcoming, just like the rest. One thing that stood out was the openness. Knowledge was precious as gemstones, and magic was subject to scrutiny. Each Lamian I encountered carried an air of wisdom, different from the cultured Amuns or the dignified Typhons.

Kalon was significant. Within his blood-red eyes lay a mystery. I found it hard to associate with him at first, and it only got worse when he declared the principles of magic as ‘faulty’—something I had lived by my entire life. Yet, he always found solutions to complex theories that I couldn't simply ignore. The thought of him being right was scary, but it also provided a sense of fulfillment debating certain topics with him.

I got into a stance, ready to unleash an assault. Kalon was quick to notice. A barrage of blood spikes shot towards me. I cut through the spikes and swung my axe in a circular motion, parrying the onslaught.

‘He unleashed this many with just a thought. About thirty blood spikes.’

In my attempt to dash off, I was held in place by a thickened substance. Surrounding me was a pool of blood. He had cast that many blood spikes, changing their phase with ease. Recycling his arsenal and hoping to make me exhaust my mana.

The blood pool extended, segments attaching to my limbs and hardening to hold me in place. Ice mana pulsed from my heart. Utilizing it, I controlled the ambient mana. An outburst of ice followed, freezing everything within range. Before Kalon, the ambient mana converged into pressurized water, slamming down. He didn’t move from his position or attempt to defend. His eyes were simply locked onto his impending doom.

The pressurized water landed, its collision sending vibrations across the arena.

Utter shock filled me at the outcome. Kalon remained unharmed, not a drop of water on him. I realized there was a sudden shift in ambient mana before it took form.

Did he control it? The ice mana? No, that’s not possible. He’s Lamian. He must have interfered with its formation by blocking the flow. Such precision—unheard of.

It became clear that I’d have to attack him from close range since I wouldn’t be able to anticipate his magic jamming.

Willing ambient mana into my axe, the carvings shimmered like veins carrying life, glowing a dim blue as the weapon became infused with ice mana. I hurled it toward Kalon, but with a flick of his hand, he redirected it using blood art—a defense I had foreseen. The ice mana splintered from the axe, freezing the surge of blood mid-flow, like a river trapped in winter’s grasp. I pressed forward, rushing toward the source—the heart of the storm—where Kalon stood unwavering.

Then, I saw it. I stood frozen, watching as the remnants of blood twisted and warped into the monstrous shape of a beast. Its skin seemed stitched together from nightmares, with veins pulsing beneath like roots swollen with poison, making the creature's form even more grotesque.

It resembled a magical construct—something akin to the giants' golems—yet there was something darker, more primal about it.
‘Could it be the nature of his mana form... Blood?’

The manifestation weathered the nova of ice without faltering, unshaken as if knowing my magic was merely a passing storm. Still, I kept moving forward with the same unyielding confidence I always bore in battle.

The beast lunged at me, its colossal arm arcing toward my position like a falling tree, its weight immense but its movements sluggish. I slid beneath its swing, then launched myself skyward. My axe cleaved through the beast’s neck with a hiss, while the twin axe, now levitating toward us, buried itself deep into its back.

With a sharp tug, I freed both axes from the collapsing form of the manifestation. Its body crumbled like brittle stone, and without hesitation, I sent both weapons flying toward Kalon. An ice dome erupted, encasing him in its cold prison, locking him in place. As I closed the distance between us, Kalon stood calm—his expression serene. Only the heavy, labored breaths escaping his lips betrayed his exhaustion.

Victory was within reach, but it tasted hollow. For I knew all too well—if Kalon ever mastered this magic, even I would struggle to stand against him.

This friend of mine... He was an enigma, a curious blend of the strange and the extraordinary.