Orin Alpheratz (15 years old) Location: Solaris  Date: Year 873 / Pegasus Cycle (1) / Craftsman's Day (5)

Perseus's gaze locked onto Orin like a drawn blade, his shield still glowing faintly with the remnants of his Solar Shield skill. The steam around him swirled like a phantom cloak, casting his tall figure in an almost divine light.

Behind him, the mighty wall of water crumbled. The spell had ended, and the stream resumed its quiet flow, gurgling innocently as if nothing had happened.

"Draco. Fall back," Perseus commanded, never taking his eyes off Orin. "Take care of the ones hiding in the trees. I'll handle this."

Draco hesitated only for a breath, then gave Orin a withering glare before turning on his heel, heading toward the scattered foliage beyond the stream.

Perseus raised his sword and pointed it at Orin.

“I figured you still had a few tricks left. But now that you've lost the element of surprise... this battle is already decided.”

Orin clenched his fists, sweat running down his brow. A head-on fight with Perseus? Not ideal. His mind raced for a countermeasure, but there was no easy way out.

Unless...

His eyes flicked toward Sirius. The clashing of blades between him and Wesen had stopped, both fighters momentarily distracted by Perseus's dramatic entrance.

Orin gave a small nod.

Sirius saw it, and understood.

Without hesitation, Sirius lunged forward, blade flashing. Wesen barely raised his shield in time to deflect the first blow, his stance slightly off-balance.

“You can swing all day, it won't change anything,” Wesen taunted with a crooked grin. “Your sword's not getting through my defense. I just have to wait until you run out of steam.”

“Then maybe it's time I showed you... a special move,” Sirius replied with a grin of his own.

Wesen scoffed. “A bluff. You've got nothing.”

Sirius surged forward.

Wesen raised his shield high, bracing for the impact. “I said, you—!”

Clang!

Sirius's blade struck the shield dead-on. His footing faltered, Wesen's eyes lit up. Now!

He thrust his sword toward Sirius's exposed side.

But—

Wait... that move...

Orin's eyes widened. That's the same bait I used on Perseus in our duel!

Sirius twisted mid-fall. In a blink, he redirected Wesen's blade with a sweeping arc, then stretched his arm to its limit, his blade slicing across Wesen's unguarded ribs with clean, practiced force.

Thud!

Wesen dropped to his knees and collapsed sideways, one hand pressing to the dirt.

“Hmph. So you've taught your pet some tricks,” Perseus sneered, voice dripping venom. “But I told you once, and I'll tell you again... parlor tricks won't help you against a true knight.”

With that, he launched forward like a bolt of iron, shield raised. Orin barely twisted away in time, feeling the wind of the blow graze his cheek.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Perseus didn't let up. His sword struck like a drumbeat of death, each blow crashing against Orin's defenses with merciless precision.

Orin staggered back, barely holding the line.

Across the clearing, Wesen struggled to rise. His breathing was shallow, eyes unfocused. Sirius, now visibly winded, steadied himself.

He raised his blade.

But then—

“Stun Arrow!”

A glowing shaft of light soared from the trees and struck Wesen in the back. His body seized up, and dropped motionless.

Sirius exhaled sharply. “Thanks, Cor...” He wiped sweat from his brow.

But peace didn't last.

“Fireball!”

A blaze of searing heat roared across the field and exploded into Sirius's chest.

“AGH!”

He flew back, hitting the ground hard.

Smoke curled up from his clothes.

Atop the hill beyond the stream, Draco stood tall, his hand still smoking from the cast.

“One down,” he said, smirking. “Time to hunt the rest.”

Back near the path, Orin was still locked in a brutal exchange with Perseus, shield against shield, steel against steel.

“Draco!” Perseus barked between swings. “If you have to, burn the whole forest down!”

Draco's eyes gleamed.

“Now that's a plan I like.”

He raised his hands. Heat shimmered around him. Flames licked at his fingertips, ready to consume everything.

But—

“I won't let you do that.”

A calm voice echoed through the trees.

From the underbrush, Eridus stepped out, his robes fluttering in the heated wind.

He raised a hand, water gathering around his fingertips like threads of glass.

Draco raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

“We'll see about that,” he said, baring his teeth in a grin.

Draco lowered his outstretched arm from Eridus and redirected his aim toward a cluster of trees in the distance.

"SPELL: Fireball!"

A sphere of flame burst from his palm, streaking toward the foliage like a blazing comet.

Without missing a beat, Eridus stepped forward, both arms extended. His voice rang out, resolute and sharp.

"SPELL: Water Cannon!"

A high-pressure jet of water erupted from his hands, crashing into the fireball mid-flight. With a hiss and a plume of steam, the flames vanished.

Draco grinned, unfazed. “Let's turn it up a notch.”

With gleeful malice, he flicked his hand in different directions: single, double, triple fireballs erupting like fireworks across the field.

Each time, Eridus countered. Jets of water extinguished flame after flame, but his breathing grew heavier with every cast. He was locked in a frustrating rhythm: defend, extinguish, repeat.

"Wow," Draco said, chuckling mockingly. "You're really doing a great job keeping me from turning the forest into a bonfire."

Eridus narrowed his eyes at the sarcasm. "You'll have to go through me if you want to reach my team. And don't forget, I have the elemental advantage here."

"Advantage, huh?" Draco's grin widened, almost manic now. "Is that what you think? Do you really believe—?"

Before he could finish, a direct hit from Water Cannon slammed into his chest.

WHAM!

He was sent flying, crashing back-first into a tree trunk with a sickening thud.

"You talk too much," Eridus muttered.

For a moment, Draco looked dazed. Slumped against a fallen log, unmoving. But then—

"Hah... Hahaha!"

He started laughing, low and wicked.

"I knew it," he said, raising his eyes toward Eridus with a twisted smirk. "If this were a one-on-one, I'd admit your spells would be a pain to deal with. But Water Cannon? I get it... no need to explain." His eyes flicked toward the woods. "Your friends are still hiding out there, aren't they? You can't risk a spell too big, you might hit them."

"Tch. I told you... you talk too much," Eridus said again, and another Water Cannon surged forward.

But this time... something was wrong.

It slowed down midway.

Even so, it hit Draco, who coughed up blood.

"Wh-what?" Eridus frowned. "The spell... weakened?"

Draco wiped the blood from his lips and grinned, looking completely unfazed.

"You still don't get it?" He whispered, eyes gleaming. "Why haven't I countered a single one of your spells? Haven't you asked yourself that?"

A shadow of dread crossed Eridus's face.

"Oh, you have figured it out," Draco said, practically vibrating with satisfaction. "But it's too late. While you've been busy attacking, I've been doing something else, concentrating my magic. Surrounding us. Preparing."

Eridus's heart dropped.

"You don't have the time, or the mana, to stop me now."

"No—!"

Turning toward the trees, he shouted:

"Everyone, be careful! Draco's going to—"

"—burn the forest to the ground." Draco finished, now on his feet, arms raised high.

"SPELL: Fireball Inferno!"

The air ignited.

Hundreds of fireballs exploded around them, surging in every direction like a flaming storm.

Trees ignited. The undergrowth exploded into flame. Orin, still locked in combat with Perseus, struggled to dodge the sudden barrage.

Perseus simply activated Total Defense, encasing himself in spectral shields. The flames bounced harmlessly off his barrier.

Orin shielded his eyes from the flames, watching helplessly as trees around him caught fire.

Is everyone... okay?

"You've got time to worry about others?" Perseus sneered, stepping closer. He swung his sword with deadly grace. "No fun if all you do is run."

Orin spotted movement.

In the distance, Eridus was sprinting toward where Cor might be hiding.

Everything was unraveling.

The only way to turn the tide: defeat Perseus. But how?

Draco's laughter echoed in the background as he collapsed, drained of magic. The damage was done. Even Eridus couldn't control the spreading inferno now.

Orin dashed toward a still-unburnt tree, heart pounding. Behind him, Perseus followed: casual, unhurried, enjoying the hunt.

Then—

A signal.

From the side of the path, Sirius, injured but conscious, raised his hand weakly, gesturing toward a nearby thicket.

The bushes rustled, just slightly.

Orin understood.

He raised his shield, gripping his sword tightly. Face set.

Perseus noticed the change in posture. He chuckled.

"So you're finally ready to fight. Good. I'll show you what a true knight can do."

He charged. Fast. Furious.

Orin stood firm. Just a bit more... a little longer...

And then—

"SPELL: Mud Wall!"

A wall of dirt erupted between them.

Gina!

Perseus's eyes widened, he was just a foot away. But then he laughed.

"You think that'll stop me? ACTIVATE KNIGHT SKILL: Total Defense!"

The spectral shields spun once more, smashing through the wall—

But—

Orin was gone.

"What—?!" Perseus stopped, scanning the area wildly.

"Behind you!" Sirius shouted.

Perseus whirled around, blade swinging.

Nothing.

"Just kidding." Sirius stuck out his tongue. "Look up."

Perseus snapped his head back—

Orin was midair, diving from a tree branch, sword glowing with searing light.

"ACTIVATE KNIGHT SKILL: Solar Sword!"

A flash, brilliant and blinding.

Perseus reeled back, eyes seared by the light.

"You and your tricks!" he growled. "Once I can see again I'll—"

ZAP.

A glowing yellow arrow flew across the battlefield and struck him directly in the back.

Paralysis.

Orin didn’t even need to look. He knew. Cor's arrow. Gina's wall. His friends were safe.

He dropped to one knee, fist against the scorched earth, breathing hard.

They had won.

The forest still burned, but—

The second round was over.

And Orin's team stood victorious.