Chapter 19: Kragsten vs. Kragsten

A long time ago, a crazy mage watched a raging storm and thought; ’Hey, I could do that.’

By taking the most violent aspects of three basic elements—Wind, Water, and Lightning—, the Mage began years of trials and errors to combine them to create something new. The result was an almost untamable ’unique’ element boasting the most destructive properties of the three components that were used to make it; Storm Magic.

That Crazy Mage started the Kragsten family line and the secrets of their ’Storm Magic’—perfected over thousands of years—were ingrained within their family’s interpretation of the Arcane Codex. Storm Magic wasn’t just a mismatch of three elements anymore. It was its own thing.

Most people in the Acheron Empire knew the tale and among them was Eloise who eagerly waited to be shown the destructive power of the Element.

Caius found it interesting that she was looking so amazed when her family, the Nightingales had created a ’unique’ element of their own.

Anyway, Caius watched the altercation in the arena play as it did in the original story. The Storm Magic spell circle at Delia’s feet let loose a torrent of energy that charged the very air around her and let out sounds of rumbling thunder.

"Ahhh," she let out in anger and tossed her hand forward to unleash two streaks of lightning at her sister who grinned and nodded with approval.

"Good, you’re learning," Professor Kragsten said, "Distance."

Even while speaking, she deflected the lightning streaks with a lightning spell of her own. Striking with precision and canceling out Delia’s attacks before they got too close.

With another battle yell, a powerful wave of water powered by torrential wind surged out of the Storm Magic spell circle and struck toward Professor Kragsten who nodded appreciatively even as she waved her hand leisurely to smack the water aside with a water spell of her own.

Every spell Professor Kragsten cast was at the Third Circle just as she promised but a Third Circle spell from an expert like her will never be the same as what an actual Third Circle Mage is capable of. She would always have the advantage of Mana reserves and experience.

Cynthia Kragsten knew this was not a duel her sister Delia could win and really, it wasn’t a duel at all. It was an education for the class but especially for her little sister who still would not learn to adhere to the traditional ways of being a Mage.

Delia sent out attack after attack from her Storm Magic spell circle and with every deflection, Cynthia was only getting happier. This was what she wanted.

When her sister conjured a dark cloud above her and rained down lightning streaks that left divots on the Arena ground, Cynthia smiled. When a cutting gale of wind nipped too close to her neck and forced her to use a Third Circle Wind movement spell to escape, she looked proud.

There was a clumsiness to Delia’s attacks but as long as distance was maintained, the Professor was pleased.

"Good, good," Professor Kragsten said in an encouraging voice when her sister consistently kept away and attacked from afar, "You’re finally getting it."

Delia, however, was obscured by the stormy wave she had conjured so her sister couldn’t see her expression but Caius knew what it was; Anger and a fierce desire to prove her sister wrong.

The wave surged, leaving the Storm spell circle entirely which meant it only had less than a minute to remain active but then Professor Kragsten’s eyes widened when she realized Delia was no longer standing where she had been before.

Instantly she understood her sister had become one with the violent wave. The wave surrounded the Professor now and an attack could come from any side. The waters crackled with lightning and thunder rumbled within. Powerful winds flowed and moved with the wave.

The fearsomeness of Storm Magic!

For a minute, every student watched with eagerness for the outcome now that they understood Delia Kragsten’s rouse a bit.

Would she land a hit on her more experienced sister, as unlikely as that seemed?

Cynthia’s eyes moved from side to side studying the wave that was winding closer and then she sighed and struck out a palm coated with Mana restrained to the level of the Third Circle towards a section of the surrounding wave.

*BAM!!!*

The sound was loud, the force was powerful and the wave dispersed. Within the dispersing water—which was turning into flecks of mana— was Delia who was throwing a lightning fist at her sister’s face. She was about two inches from making contact when a water spell appeared and stopped her knuckles from making any more progress.

There was a moment of silence and then someone in the class clapped. Everyone joined in along with chants. The ’duel’ was short but entertaining. No one expected Delia to get as close as two inches to the Professor’s face. It truly was impressive.

But Professor Kragsten was not impressed. She canceled the water spell and eyed her sister with disappointment.

"When will you learn?" She asked shaking her head in dismay.

"Never," Delia said as she dropped her fist. Her expression did not change. It was like the claps and cheers of adoration weren’t reaching her.

Cynthia sighed,

"Well, I never expected it to be easy. But we have time. And you WILL learn."

"No, I won’t. And you know it," Delia said and turned away returning to the spectator seats, walking past admiring classmates without paying them any mind.

Professor Kragsten watched her go but quickly returned to addressing the class with a deep frown,

"Charging in as Miss Kragsten did is not the way of a Mage. You don’t just learn by doing, you learn also by watching and knowing not to repeat the errors of your peers. Don’t repeat hers."

"Um, Professor?" a student said and raised a hand.

"Yes?"

The student flushed from having the beautiful Professor’s attention suddenly only on him but he managed to speak.

"As Mages, are we always meant to be at a distance from an opponent? B-Because I’ve seen Mages who fight differently—"

"Those are not Mages!" Professor Kragsten interrupted with finality.

"But I’ve seen them use magic—" the student started, looking confused but Professor Kragsten interrupted.

"You are thinking of ’Mage-Knights’ not ’Mages’."

"What’s the difference?"

"What’s the difference?" Professor Kragsten repeated and let out a disparaging scoff as she set off into a short rant,

"Mages and Mage-Knights; One understands the principle of ’mind over matter’ while the other believes in ’muscle over mind’.

One understands the deep relationship and spirituality of using one’s mind to make the elements of the world obey, creating a rich symbiotic relationship between man and the elements which leads to incredible discoveries on the varied applications of magic. While the other is so simplistic that it believes charging in with a fist first or a sword wins every battle and is all that matters.

Now, while fist and melee fights are barbaric and unfitting of the true magic ways, a wise Mage understands the importance of flexibility. Distance is not always possible so close-quarters battles are prepared and trained for. We leave room for that. But Mage-Knights have their minds set on melee combat and leave room for nothing more.

The ’Mage-Knight’ practice bastardizes the true meaning and principles of a Mage. Sure, it teaches strength but it doesn’t teach the meaning of it."

It seemed like Professor Kragsten was talking to the class but everyone could tell her words were mostly directed at her sister who was looking off to the side but could clearly still hear it all. Hence the tension in her hands as they grabbed her arms.

This was not the first time Delia had heard all of this. The Kragstens for generations have thought and acted like traditional Mages. Their ’Unique’ Element of Storm Magic was even built on the foundations of traditional Mage battles.

But Delia had only ever wanted to be a Mage Knight.

’What’s the point of hanging back and slinging spells when I can get right in my opponent’s face and slice them up with a sword. Or strike them flat with a hammer?’

Sure Magic could conjure such weapons to attack from a distance but it wasn’t the same. Any Mage-Knight who ever dabbled in the traditional ways knows it’s not the same.

For years her family had tried to dissuade her and turn her back on the ’right path’. Still, she refused.

Cynthia Kragsten let out a secret sigh. Her being Delia’s teacher was a last-ditch attempt to change her sister’s mind but she feared she might not be able. There was a Mage-Knight Class today and she knew Delia would be there, learning and heading deeper into the wrong principles.