Semifinals, Match Two: Rebecca vs. Herbena (1)
Crack—
A single bolt of sky-blue lightning lanced straight for Yulia. She yanked her water magic back in a flash of alarm, but the reaction came a heartbeat too late.
"Ngh—!"
The direct hit sent a dizzying jolt racing through her whole body. She rocked backward and fought, somehow, to keep her balance. A quarter of my mana, gone in one strike! Part of the reserve she had meant to hoard until the finals had already burned away. She seized her focus and threw up a defensive spell, yet no further magic came flying until the smoke had cleared entirely. And into the eyes of Yulia, still standing there half-unsteady, came Cindy—looking as though merely remaining upright was the most she could manage.
Her breathing was nothing but ragged gasps. Her legs trembled without cease. Mana Overdrive had seized the whole of her right arm. And still Cindy was smiling, the same as always.
"Too bad."
With that, she toppled backward and hit the ground. From the waiting room far off, Herbena watched, and a thin sigh escaped her.
"Senior Cindy."
She could almost see that smile with her own eyes.
"The next steak is on me."
Herbena murmured it to herself while, up on the arena, Aurora flew in and looked Cindy over.
"Impressive, Cindy."
She laid a healing spell over her. Yulia came up at once, and Aurora's eyes met hers in an awkward beat. Yulia offered her a formal courtesy. Then a dry cough broke from Cindy's lips.
"Kaff—!"
Aurora lifted her voice, bright and clear, so that everyone would hear.
"Winner of Semifinal Match One—Yulia Edfolk!!!"
"Waaaaah—!"
"Yulia! Yulia!"
Yulia raised a hand and waved gently to the crowd chanting her name. Most of the students had risen to their feet to applaud. Sweeping her gaze over them, she let it come to rest on Blow, and smiled at him, bright and unguarded.
The first match was over, and the break had begun. The afterglow of it still clung to Blow, and he was talking with Rachel in a voice a little flushed with excitement.
"So that was something Lady Yulia ordered you to do?"
"Yeah. I still didn't pull out the finisher, though."
"There's more than that?"
"Of course there is, Blow Deblique."
Rachel said it while preening, and Blow gave her a nod that conceded the point.
"It was remarkably fresh. I'm actually looking forward to Sunday."
"Tsk. If only we'd had a little more time."
"Senior Yulia's whole duel style might change after this, don't you think? A more aggressive Yulia, I mean."
"Who knows? She really seems to think this is her last match."
Rachel's tone was flat. Blow remembered Yulia saying something much the same, and tilted his head as if he couldn't quite follow.
"Even so, I don't see why she needs to go that far."
"She says she wants to focus on the business. And that her magic's been stuck for a long time."
"Isn't that a waste of talent?"
"I think it's a waste too, but she won't have it unless she's the best. And even as she is, she's already very strong for a young lady of her house. Besides—shouldn't you be glad?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. If she throws herself into the business, that's good for you, isn't it?"
"Even so, she's something to see when she's using magic."
The moment she heard it, Rachel's face twisted, and she tossed the words out bluntly.
"There you go again, you brat. Don't you ever say that to Yulia."
"Why not?"
"Because then she'll throw herself back into magic."
"If that's all it takes to change her mind, doesn't it mean she's still holding on to a little regret?"
"That's not—... Forget it. Do whatever you want, you brat."
Rachel shook her head as if the whole thing were stifling. Blow, failing to understand, hung a question mark over his own head, then broke into a short laugh.
"Even if I don't say a word, she'll manage just fine on her own. Senior Yulia will."
"Honestly. Can't even say it out loud."
After that the two of them talked over the match they had just watched, this and that. Before long Yulia came up to join them, offered a bright smile, and took the seat beside Blow.
"Young Master! How was I?"
"Impressive."
"Haha, right? I'm just glad I won."
She was in high spirits, grinning loose and foolish. Blow answered her in a sly, shameless tone.
"I thought you'd take the win for granted."
"Cindy's extremely tricky. She even landed a hit on me at the end."
"I hadn't noticed. Lady Rachel here had to tell me."
"Really?"
"Kid, you're a fourth-year at the magic academy. What are you doing if you can't even see that?"
"I was dead last there, so please cut me some slack."
"Hey. Anyone else here who didn't see it?"
With that, Rachel turned to take in every one of Blow's employees. Aside from the traffic-light trio, not a single hand went up.
"Hopeless."
"I'll study hard in my next life."
"Haha, it's fine, Young Master! I'm strong enough for the both of us!!"
Yulia slipped the words in, smooth as anything, and Blow nodded as if he quite agreed. A little later, an announcement rang through the arena: the next match was about to begin.
"Yulia, which magic is Rebecca best at?"
"Cold magic, of course."
"Just like a daughter of the North. She's good with her body, too. If we'd had a little more time, I would've liked to run at least one practice match."
"That would have been nice. But more time would also have meant Herbena preparing far more thoroughly."
"She doesn't even look interested in dueling."
"Then let's take comfort in having given her one less thing to think about."
Rachel clicked her tongue, plainly displeased. All around them, voices were already bright with excitement, no one bothering to hide how much they were looking forward to the match about to start. At last Aurora's lively voice carried from the arena floor.
"Match Two—Rebecca versus Herbena!"
For a moment, turn the clock back—to before Cindy and Yulia's match. Rebecca, assigned to escort Yulia, came to her waiting room.
"Chief, it's time to head out."
"Oh my. The next match is yours, Lady Rebecca, and you came in person?"
"Yes. Even so, I thought it best that I see you out myself. I am Head of Planning, after all."
"Thank you for going to the trouble... Planning Chief Rebecca, have you settled on a plan for facing Herbena?"
"Yes. I have."
"You aren't thinking of drawing out as much of her mana as you can, for my sake. Tell me you aren't."
"I'm not."
"That answer came a little late."
"The truth is, I am."
Rebecca barely got the words out, avoiding Yulia's eyes. Yulia stopped walking for a moment and looked her over with a gentle gaze.
"Just hearing it puts me at ease. But Rebecca, what I want is for my Planning Chief to reach the finals."
"......"
"I think that would be far more entertaining. Next year's president against the vice president. What could possibly be more fun than that?"
"Chief..."
"Don't worry about me. Do exactly as you please, as much as you please. Understood?"
"......"
"Let's see your ice bloom in the finals, too."
"Yes."
With that, Yulia started toward the arena again, and Rebecca fixed the sight of her retreating back clearly in her eyes. Rebecca had always thought herself fortunate. Grateful, even. She had been able to serve on the student council beside the person at this school from whom there was the most to learn, and beyond that, she would be running with her in the presidential election. Yulia understood the true meaning behind the words of someone with no gift for speech, and thought only well of her. A girl from the North, a year younger, and not once had Yulia looked down on her or spoken down to her. All of it was, to Rebecca, something she could only be thankful for.
So just now she had let Yulia catch her true intention—and still, in this match, Rebecca meant to draw out as much of Herbena's magic as she could. She had confidence enough in reading a spell and answering it. If she could drag the fight out in earnest, Herbena would be forced to spend a little more mana, and Yulia would be left with a little more data to work from. That was the only repayment Rebecca could offer her. Later Yulia would have a word to say about the choice. She would think well of it anyway, as she always did.
And so the first match ended in Yulia's victory, and when Rebecca's turn came she climbed onto the arena and at last stood face to face with that Herbena. The same as ever: eyes half-lidded, as if she were tired. Rebecca stood a good two handspans taller, and yet it was Herbena who seemed to be looking down at her.
"It's been a while, Senior Rebecca."
"Yeah."
Feeling the exceptionally pure mana leaking from her, little by little, Rebecca let out a thin sigh. Their record against each other stood at no wins and two losses. Once in the first semester this year, once in the second—each time at the Magic Workshop's opening class. It had never been a total rout. It always felt like losing by a hair. Each time, Rebecca was disappointed, but her classmates and seniors were disappointed far more. Against that undefeated Herbena, the only ones who could so much as trade blows were Rebecca herself and Yulia. After those two duels, though, someone had asked Herbena why she bothered facing her in the Workshop at all, and Herbena was said to have answered like this.
When the story finally reached Rebecca's ears, Danvers, who had been listening beside her, flew into a rage. What did that girl take a person for? Rebecca herself had nothing particular to say, and she wasn't angry. Well. A loss was a loss, and however the winner chose to think of the loser was the winner's business. She swept her golden hair back and steadied her heart.
...She doesn't need to win. Just cling harder than she had in the Workshop. Hard enough that Herbena finds her vile.
To Rebecca, will set like iron, Herbena offered a small smile and spoke.
"Let's do this properly. You and I."
"Yeah."
A little later Aurora finished introducing them, and before they knew it the two stood facing one another. Rebecca closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, and tried to feel her own mana. And then—
"Begin!"
The moment Aurora declared the match open, Rebecca cast flight magic and put the greatest possible distance between them. In an instant the gap was some thirty meters. She moved laterally, eyes on Herbena. She had expected to be dragged in by space magic, or pursued through the air the way Yulia had been. Contrary to that expectation, Herbena simply stood where she was and unfolded a single magic circle.
At this range, I can see it and answer it. No question.
A brief opening. But because no one knew what Herbena meant to do, the stands swallowed dryly and stared up at the arena. All at once she flung aside the cloak and the outer layer she had been wearing. Beneath them was their summer duel uniform, sleeves barely covering half the forearm, and Herbena's figure—slender, and unmistakably full—was laid bare without reserve. The arena was outdoors, and the day was cold enough that breath showed white. Everyone watching narrowed their eyes in puzzlement.
"What in the world is she doing...?"
The murmur spread through the whole of the stands. In the instant Blow, sensing what was about to come, met the eyes of Jane seated behind him, Herbena's chant settled clear in every ear.
⟨ Salamander's Nest ⟩