Chapter 54: A Monster In The Making
Both Briar and Zephyr high-fived each other as their palms slapped togethe.
For a moment, a real smile shown on Briar’s face, it was wide and childish like he had just won a game among his friends.
Zephyr opened his mouth to say something but a low, rumbling howl sounded through the air. It was the sound of a tornado gathering, the wind whipping into a furious circle and turning the dirt and grass upward as it spun toward them.
Briar and Zephyr frowned, turning their heads around to look. They could not see who was commanding it yet, but they knew. Only a storm caller could command a tornado like this. The massive funnel of wind barreled straight at them.
As it get closer, wind lances like spear-like gusts shot out from the tornado, moving toward Briar and Zephyr. The spear did not strike directly but circled their feet, forming tight rings that pinned them in one place.
Their bodies tensed instantly, and they shifted back on instinct, trying to avoid the lances spear trapping their boots. Briar broke the silence first, yelling, "Zephyr! Think of something, damn it! We can’t just stand here!"
Zephyr yelled back, his voice cracking with panic, "Me? You’re the rider, call your dragon!"
Briar hissed in frustration, cursing under his breath. "By the fucking flames, are you out of your mind? You want me to summon my dragon against someone bonded to three?"
Zephyr shot back, "Well, I fucking have no idea what to do then! You are the big shot, come up with something yourself!"
Briar gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching hard. "Stop talking and put up a wall barrier! It’ll buy us time to think!"
Zephyr nodded quickly. "Fine!" He started weaving his hands, pulling air together into a barrier.
Just then, Reynold’s figure emerged on top the tornado. It was carrying him..He was unleashing those wind lances spear, and directing them with his fingers. Briar swung his sword wildly to hold them off, while Zephyr desperately try to put up the barrier wall, sweat beading on his forehead as he poured more magic into it.
Reynold’s shirt was shattered from the earlier slashes and arrows, hanging in tatters that revealed his broad chest that has fresh cuts and bruises. Parts of his trousers were ripped too, exposing glimpses of his thighs. Blood streaked his skin.
The crowd gasped, their voices sounding everywhere. "He is fucking alive!" someone shouted.
Another voice cut in, "How the fuck did he survive those arrows and slashes?"
A third voice yelled, "I said it before, and I will say it again, Reynold is my champion!"
The students fell silent, or maybe they were just dead shock.
A girl muttered to her friend, her eyes wide, "Is it weird that I find Reynold Starweaver so handsome right now?"
Rhe second girl nodded eagerly. "Forget the blood stains on his skin, just look at those abs. They’re worth dying for."
The third friends wrinkled her nose. "Eww, not right now, you two."
The first girl shot back, "Why not? I mean, look at his masculine body. He is fucking handsome even in this mess."
The eww-girl hissed, "By the flames, Briar is your boyfriend, and you’re crushing on someone else?"
The first girl shrugged. "Briar is just a fu£king buddy not my boyfriend. I go with popularity and strength, and right now, Reynold Starweaver got both."
Just then, the tornado stopped and Reynold dropped to the ground with a heavy bang.
Zephyr and Briar let out deep sighs of relief, their chests heaving. Briar was sweating badly, sweats rolling down his face, which made his cheeks burn with embarrassment. He wiped it away with the back of his hand as anger washed over him.
This whole challenge felt like a slap to Briar’s face, and hurting his ego deep. What annoyed him most was that Reynold was stronger, and he was showing it off in front of everyone. He knew the academy’s new hot topic for this coming weeks would be how a lowborn took on a rider and a magic user at once and kicked their asses.
Reynold was new to magic, yet his control was insane like a warrior who had fought countless wars. How? That question was going through Briar’s mind.
Zephyr was too busy to notice Briar’s distraction. He was busy clearing the wind lances around their feet.
Reynold figure was fully visible now that the tornado had died down completely.
The highborns were disappointed as different curses were flying from their lips.
"Fuck this lowborn scum!" one of them snarled.
"Shit, how is the b@stard still standing?" Another highborn spat.
"Damn it! He is making us look like fools!"
Deep down, some highborns felt fear taking over them.
Kael, who had was grinning wide moments ago, let out a disappointed groan, his face full of dejection.
Even the teacher in charge was shocked, his mouth was slightly open. He had thought they had lost Reynold for good, but now he did not know if he was happy or?
Reynold Starweaver had proven himself today, and this moment would not be forgotten easily.
From a top of a nearby building, Professor Valerius watched with a faint smile on his lips while nodding like a proud father. His gaze shifted from Reynold to the crowd. More students were flooding into the field. Even second, third, and fourth-year cadets, who usually ignored first-year challenges were coming to see it with their own eyes.
Among the cadets coming in were Landon and Laena, pushing through to get a better view.
Reynold opened his hands, and two swords made of storm wind appeared in his hand..He swung them as he walked closer to Briar and Zephyr.
Reynold swung one sword toward Briar, who countered fast with his own sword, With the other sword, Reynold slashed at Zephyr, who stumbled back, falling on his butt. "Briar, tell me what to do!" Zephyr yelled, scrambling back.
Briar yelled back. "You are the one with magic, so think of something! I’ve only got my sword right now!"
Reynold swung again at Briar, their sword locking with a clash sound. Zephyr, still on the ground, yelled, "I think I need a sword! I can’t channel right now. I’ve drawn too much!" He stretched out his hand, and a sword that was made with air formed in his palm.
The fight turned into chaos. Swords clashed against each other.
Almost immediately, Reynold feinted left at Briar, drawing his guard, then spun right to slash at Zephyr. Zephyr rolled aside just in time, his sword scraping the ground as he rose up back. Briar charged in, swinging overhead with a roar, forcing Reynold to block with one sword while thrusting the other at Zephyr’s side. The impact sent sparks flying, and all three stumbled. Reynold skidded back on his heels, Briar dropping to one knee with a grunt, Zephyr tumbling sideways. But they did not stay down.
Briar pushed up first, cursing, "Fu£king yield, Starweaver!" He lunged again with his sword.
Zephyr flanked from the other side, his sword slicing low. Reynold turned, blocking both attacks.
Briar nicked Reynold’s arm, drawing a hiss, but Reynold countered with a storm slash that knocked Zephyr off his feet again. But they got up quickly, their swords ready to go away.
Zephyr, breathing was getting more heavy as he channeled a burst of wind through his sword, making it extend like a whip. He lashed out at Reynold’s legs, forcing him to leap. Mid-air, Reynold brought both swords down on Briar, who blocked but felt the force drive him back, his arms shaking.
"Hold him!" Briar barked at Zephyr. Zephyr nodded, swinging wide as his sword caught Reynold’s thigh, slicing a little part. Reynold staggered, blood already dripping, but he steadied himself with a low hiss as he surged forward.
He disarmed Zephyr’s whip-extension with a cut, then turned on Briar, their swords grinding in a lock. Briar headbutted him, splitting Reynold’s lip, but Reynold kneed him in the gut, doubling him over. Zephyr recovered, grabbing his sword and slashing Reynold’s back, drawing another blood.
Reynold growl in pain but turn, knocking Zephyr down with a strike. Briar straightened, wiping blood from his mouth, and their sword clashed again. The cut on Reynold’s thigh slowed him down a little, but he pushed through.
They fought on as Reynold went all out. He crossed his swords in an X, unleashing a burst of wind that shoved Briar and Zephyr apart. Closing on Zephyr first, he rained blows, a high, low, thrust. Zephyr parried frantically, his air sword cracking under the pressure. "Briar—help!" he gasped.
Briar rushed in, slashing at Reynold’s flank. Reynold blocked, but the force sent him sprawling, his swords knocked from his hands, turn back into dust of wind. Briar grinned viciously, raising his blade to slice Reynold. But Reynold rolled backward in a quick flip, springing to his feet just as the sword hit the place where he had shifted from.
Reynold countered with a whirlwind spin, his sword clashing against Briar’s in a shower of sparks, then he turned to kick Zephyr in the chest, sending him flying.
Zephyr hit the ground hard, groaning. Briar pressed the attack alone now, their swords meeting in a furious exchange.
For everyone in the crowd, this challenge was beyond their imagination. They had never seen a first-year cadet take on two opponents like this and hold his own so well.
Someone in the crowd rested a hand on Kael’s shoulder, making him jump. A cold chill sliced through the hearts of almost all highborns. Their belief in Briar and Zephyr winning was slowing going away after every strike.
Even Kael, who had been happy earlier, was breathing nervously now, his hands trembling slightly.
The confidence which was back before was slipping away again.
Gwyn with her injuries now bandaged was back in the crowd. She rested her head on Nyx’s shoulder as anxiety was taking over her.
Some third-year and second-year cadets murmured, "This kid Starweaver’s got it in him. He is a real catch."
Another added, "Yeah, handling two opponents like that? Most of us couldn’t pull it off."
A second-year nearby said, "Even with our training, holding off two opponents this long? No way. The guy is a monster."
Laena who was standing close to the murmurs, frowned deeply.
She remembered the day she was supposed to join "The Bonded" group, she ended up making a fool of herself all because of Reynold. It cost her big.
But she never imagined that the same Reynold Starweaver, her childhood lover whom she had dumped for being weak, was this same boy who is now a Two and is bonded to three dragons and now facing two opponents at once.
Damn it.