Twenty-five

"The evening at Eloise's house," time seemed to slow down as Eloise contemplated her upcoming challenges. Thoughts raced through her mind as she strategized her approach. "Now it's time to plan my moves. I'll challenge five people first to accumulate enough stars and each time and bet on my victory with 2 stars, so I can eventually challenge Jade and take her place on the council," Eloise thought determinedly.

Interrupting her train of thought, Eloise's mother, Lucy, called from downstairs, "Come down, Eloise. It's time for dinner."

Eloise shook herself out of her reverie and responded, "Yes, Mum, I'm coming."

"One week later," Eloise's heart pounded with anticipation as the day to challenge the fifth student finally arrived. In her mind, she had prepared herself well, facing him.

Eloise stood confidently in the center of the grand arena, basking in the vibrant atmosphere that enveloped her. The air crackled with energy as the cheers and applause of the students from the prestigious magical school filled the space. The anticipation was palpable, and Eloise could feel her heart pounding within her chest. This was the moment she had been waiting for the chance to prove herself against Robin, a renowned student who had mastered the intricate magic of the wind. While a surge of excitement coursed through her veins, a flicker of apprehension lurked within her thoughts. She wasn't afraid of Robin himself, but rather the possibility of losing control over her own formidable magic the power of fire.

As she surveyed her surroundings, Eloise's gaze fixated on the entrance of the arena, awaiting the arrival of her opponent. Robin appeared, his blond hair dancing in the invisible breeze, complementing his piercing blue eyes. He adorned lightweight attire that granted him unrivaled agility, enabling him to swiftly maneuver through any challenge. A self-assured smile graced his features as his eyes locked with Eloise's, emanating an aura of arrogance.

"Ready to bite the dust?" Robin taunted her, his voice dripping with overconfidence.

Eloise's eyes narrowed, refusing to be intimidated. "Don't speak too soon, Robin. You might find yourself choking on your own words," she retorted, her voice laced with determination and a hint of defiance.

The gong reverberated throughout the arena, signaling the commencement of the highly anticipated battle. Eloise raised her hands, channeling her magic with a focused intensity. She conjured a mesmerizing display of yellow flames, casting a warm glow around her. While it was the lowest level of her pyrokinetic abilities, Eloise purposefully chose to begin with a controlled display, conserving her energy for the challenges that lay ahead. She was well aware that Robin's swift movements and mastery of wind manipulation would demand her utmost precision and resilience.

Her expectations proved accurate as Robin swiftly dashed towards her, employing swift gestures to summon gusts of wind in an attempt to destabilize Eloise or extinguish her flickering flames. However, Eloise's inner strength shone through as she steadfastly resisted the assault of wind, deepening the intensity of her fire. The flames transformed from a gentle yellow hue to a vibrant shade of orange, intensifying with each passing moment. Gathering her resolve, Eloise projected the fiery orbs towards Robin, launching them like scorching fireballs.

With remarkable agility, Robin deftly maneuvered, gracefully ducking or nimbly leaping to evade the incoming projectiles. Yet, Eloise refused to relent, her fiery determination burning brighter than ever. As Robin closed in on her, launching a swift kick in her direction, Eloise deftly blocked his attack with her left arm, defying his expectations. Simultaneously, she retaliated with a well-aimed blast of orange flame, colliding with Robin's arm. A sharp cry of pain escaped Robin's lips as his sleeve caught fire, leaving him momentarily stunned.

Sensing an opportunity, Eloise wasted no time in capitalizing on her advantage. With measured determination, she advanced towards Robin, expertly twirling her flames like a fiery whip. Robin, his face contorted with urgency, shielded himself with raised hands, summoning a powerful gust of wind in an attempt to push Eloise away and regain his footing.

Momentarily thrown off balance, Eloise stumbled backward, her determination momentarily wavering. However, anger surged within her, igniting a fierce determination to overcome the setback. Refusing to be pushed aside, she quickly regained her footing and steadfastly met Robin's challenging gaze. With an unwavering resolve, she unleashed the full extent of her power. Her flames transformed, shifting from the vibrant orange hue to an intense shade of crimson, radiating an aura of unrivaled intensity.

Forming the flames into the shape of a formidable sword, Eloise brandished her blazing weapon with a newfound confidence. Robin's expression visibly paled, recognizing the imminent danger that loomed before him. He possessed no weapon of his own, solely relying on his mastery of the wind. In a desperate bid to turn the tide, he desperately searched for a means to disarm Eloise or inflict sufficient injury to force her to concede defeat.

Summoning every ounce of his power, Robin channeled his energy, conjuring a formidable tornado that encircled him. He hoped that the powerful centrifugal force would thwart Eloise's attempts to approach him or throw her flaming sword with lethal accuracy.

Undeterred by Robin's desperate defense, Eloise concentrated her fiery energy, fueling it into her weapon. With a swift motion, she hurled the blazing sword towards the tornado with unerring precision, akin to a seasoned javelin thrower.

The sword effortlessly pierced through the whirling vortex, finding its mark in Robin's chest. A muffled cry of agony escaped his lips as he crumpled to the ground, his consciousness slipping away. The tornado dissipated, leaving a trail of dissipating wind in its wake, while Eloise's flames gently subsided, casting a haunting glow in the aftermath.

Eloise emerged victorious, her triumph echoing throughout the arena. Raising her arms high in the air, she allowed herself a jubilant smile as the students from the magical school erupted in resounding cheers. A sense of profound pride and relief washed over her, knowing that she had triumphed over the challenges that had loomed before her.

She had proven her mastery of the fiery arts without needing to unleash the fearsome power of the violet flames, reserved only for the most perilous circumstances.

"Well, I've faced five people, and I've won enough stars. Now, it's time to challenge Jade and prove myself."

Meanwhile, from Jade's perspective, she had been diligently accumulating stars over the week. Her total had already reached an impressive thirty stars, a testament to her determination and skill.

Filled with confidence, Jade stepped forward and declared, "I challenge you, Yugo."

Yugo, unable to refuse the challenge, accepted with a gleam of excitement in his eyes.

"Since I can't refuse, I accept. This fight will be really interesting," he replied, anticipation lacing his words.