I hear movement from the sparring area—a low rumble of feet shifting, followed by a burst of crackling fire that ignites the air. The heat pulses against my skin, but I don't flinch. Instead, I focus on the vibrations in the ground beneath my feet, the subtle hum of energy that tells me just how close they are.
"Julius, Kate," Dr. Lorre calls out, and I hear a slight shift in their posture, as though they've turned toward us. "This is Annabel. She's here to be observed and trained. We're hoping she can be a beneficial asset in the future."
Julius's voice breaks through the air, bold and confident, filled with a touch of mischief. "So, you're the prodigy everyone's been whispering about?" His tone is light, but there's an underlying challenge in his words. "I'll be the judge of that."
His words are followed by a crackling sound, the heat of his magic swirling around me, and I can feel the intensity of his power. His energy is like a firestorm, wild and untamed, but controlled enough to feel like a force just waiting to explode.
Then, Kate speaks, her voice calm and smooth as the gentle breeze. "I'm Kate," she says, her presence so steady I can almost feel the earth beneath her feet. "Wind and earth mage—stage four." Her voice is measured, but it carries an authority that's hard to ignore. "We'll see how you handle our magic, Annabel."
I take a deep breath, focusing on their words, their energy. Julius's fire feels like a constant, pulsing presence, while Kate's energy is a delicate breeze that shifts like the air around me. Together, they form a kind of opposition—fire and wind, earth and storm.
"Nice to meet you both," I say, my voice steady despite the tension in the air. "I'm here to show you what I can do. No rumors, just results."
There's a brief pause, and I can hear the smile in Julius's voice when he replies. "We don't care about rumors. We're here to see if you can back up your words with action."
Kate's voice is softer but no less intense. "It's not about words. It's about proving yourself in the heat of battle."
I nod, feeling the spark of determination igniting inside me. "I'm ready."
Dr. Lorre steps back, leaving us to it. I feel the weight of the crowd's gaze pressing down on me, but I focus only on Julius and Kate. The ground shifts under my feet as I hear them move—Julius's heavy footsteps and Kate's lighter, more fluid ones. Then, I sense the first rush of heat as Julius lets loose his magic.
Without warning, the air around me explodes with heat as fire shoots toward me. I hear the crackle and roar of the flames, and I don't hesitate. I summon a barrier of stone around me, feeling the magic flow through me like a familiar surge of power. But that's not all. The fire's intensity pushes against my barrier, and I quickly reinforce it, adding layers to give it more strength, creating a thicker wall to shield myself.
Kate's wind magic follows soon after. The gusts slice the air, rushing toward me in a sweeping arc. I don't just hold my ground. I draw on my water magic, creating a slick, damp surface around me that helps redirect some of the wind's force. The wind's pressure still hits me, but it's not as devastating as it could be.
The earth beneath my feet shudders as Kate's earth magic comes next. It's not a simple attack; it's a steady force that pushes against the ground itself. The pressure is immense, like being buried under the weight of the earth. But I don't panic. I summon my ice magic, freezing the ground under me just enough to create a stable footing. The ice holds, anchoring me in place and preventing me from being forced back.
I feel Julius's laughter echo through the air. "Not bad. But how long can you keep this up?"
His next attack comes faster than I can react.A whip of fire slices toward me, so hot it sears the air. I try to summon a shield of water, but I'm too slow—The heat slams into my side, knocking the breath out of me. Pain flares sharp along my ribs. For a second, the world spins, and I stumble, my magic flickering.
I hear Julius's boots pounding toward me, feel the rush of his magic ready to strike again.
Move!
I force my legs to steady, summoning a desperate surge of ice beneath my feet. The ground slickens, and as Julius charges, he slips—just for an instant. It's enough. I lunge forward, slamming a wall of water into him, driving him back before he can finish me off.
My chest heaves, the pain burning deeper, but I grit my teeth.
I won't fall.
I push myself forward. There's no time for hesitation. I draw on my fire magic, feeling the intensity of the flames surging through me. I channel it into my fists, launching myself forward in a flash of heat and force. I strike at Julius with a powerful punch, forcing him back with the impact of my magic, but he's quick—he sidesteps, using the wind from Kate at his back to propel him out of reach.
Thats when I hear Kate's voice in the wind, and I don't wait for it to find me. I push forward, using my earth magic to bolster my movement, closing the distance between us with a burst of speed. As I near, I grab her arm, twisting it behind her back and forcing her into a grapple.
Kate grunts but manages to free herself, summoning a gust of wind that knocks me off balance. I stumble but quickly regain my footing. They're fast, but I'm faster now, feeling the surge of adrenaline coursing through me.
I press the attack. Julius propels fire at me, but I close in, landing a blow that sends him stumbling back. He's unsteady for a moment, and I don't waste it. I rush forward again, ducking under a wind blast from Kate, and twist her body to the ground with a firm push.
The ground shakes as I use my earth magic to restrict her movement, i whisper "Roots of Restraint" creating a small but effective trap beneath her feet. Getting her stuck in place
I feel my breath come heavy, but I'm focused. The fight is mine now
The ground trembles under my feet as Kate struggles to free herself from the earth's grip, but I keep her trapped with an extra layer of stone, thick and unyielding. The weight of it forces her to stay grounded, her body pressed against the earth as if the very ground refuses to let her rise.
I feel the pressure in the air around me, knowing Kate won't stay down for long. She's not one to give up easily. As I focus on keeping her in place, I can hear Julius's fiery presence surge again, the heat around me intensifying like a wildfire. His flames crackle, hot and eager, ready to scorch everything in its path.
I hear him move, and before I can fully brace myself, a wave of fire sweeps toward me, burning the air between us. I step back instinctively, the heat licking at my skin. My heart races as I twist my hands, summoning a water barrier quick, after it blocks his heat, i turn my the barrier into a cool rush of liquid that I thrust toward him with a powerful motion.
The water slams into Julius, pushing him back. I don't waste the opportunity. As he staggers, I call upon my ice magic, my hands flicking with a precise motion. The water freezes midair, forming a series of sharp ice spikes that shoot forward with the intent to keep him in place to end the fight.
Julius reacts quickly, but not fast enough. One of the ice shards grazes his side, leaving a trail of frost on his skin. He hisses in pain, but his fire roars back to life, more intense this time, as if he's fueled by the challenge.
I feel the heat around me surge again, and I know he's about to strike back. But I don't wait. I call on my ice magic once more, this time covering the ground beneath me with a thin layer of frost. I slide across the ice, quick and silent, closing the distance between us. Before Julius can react, I launch a barrage of ice shards at him, hitting him from every angle. The cold hits hard, and I can hear his breath hitch as he struggles to keep his footing.
But Julius is a seasoned fighter, he's definitely a level above Kate, and his fiery magic doesn't lose its intensity. He quickly regains his balance, summoning a wall of flames to block the ice. The fire burns hot, but I'm already moving, my instincts pushing me forward. I raise my hand, directing another surge of water toward him, this time forming a massive wave that crashes against his flame shield, forcing him to stagger back.
For a moment, everything is still. Julius pants, his eyes wide with surprise and begrudging respect. I stand tall, my body burning with adrenaline but steady.
Kate's voice cuts through the air, low and calm despite the chaos. "Julius, you need to focus. She's faster than we thought."
Julius growls, but his voice is laced with a new respect. "Yeah, no kidding."
I don't give them time to regroup. I turn back to Kate, who's still trapped beneath the weight of my spell, but I can hear her shifting, her magic building. She won't stay down for long. I need to end this.
I focus, grounding myself, and I send a wave of magic through the earth, freezing the roots and stones beneath Kate's feet. The earth around her solidifies, locking her in place, making it even harder for her to move. She grunts in frustration, but the magic I've laid down holds firm.
Her voice is strained but calm. "You're good, Annabel. But don't think I'm done yet."
I don't respond, but my heart races with anticipation. I focus on Julius again, who's recovering from the water and ice I've thrown at him. His fiery magic flares up, but it's slower now, less focused. He's getting tired.
It's now or never.
I surge forward, my magic humming through my veins, and I throw one last burst of ice toward him. This time, I don't aim for his body. I aim for the ground beneath him, and with a sharp motion, I freeze the earth, sending an icy wave that knocks him off balance. He stumbles, his footing slipping, and before he can regain it, I push him back with a final blast of water, sending him crashing to the ground.
I stand over him, my breath heavy, my body so exhausted i fall down on my back to catch my breath . The ice freezing cold even for me, the air crackling with the residue of our battle.
Kate's voice comes again, softer now, tinged with awe. "She really did it…"
Julius laughs, though it's breathless. "Yeah, I think we just lost to a seven-year-old blind girl."
I don't respond, letting the words hang in the air. Instead, I focus on my breathing, trying to steady the rush of excitement and exhaustion that floods my senses.
From the sidelines, I hear the unmistakable sound of clapping. Slow, measured, but full of approval. I turn, and Dr. Lorre steps forward, her smile wide, her hands clapping in rhythm with the energy of the moment.
"Well done, Annabel," she calls, her voice filled with pride. "That was exactly what I wanted to see."
I don't need to see her to feel the warmth of her approval. I just nod, the exhaustion from the fight settling into my bones, but a sense of accomplishment filling me. I've shown them what I'm capable of.
Julius and Kate stand slowly, their respect for me clear, though neither of them says anything. I can feel the shift in their energy, a mix of admiration and disbelief. They're not used to being bested, especially not by someone so young, and certainly not by someone who's blind.
"We'll need more training," Julius mutters, wiping sweat from his brow. "A lot more."
Kate just nods, her voice quiet. "She's incredible. I feel like i was barely able to do anything. We'll need to step it up."
Dr. Lorre steps forward, her gaze focused and sharp. "Its clear that Annabel doesn't fight like you. She uses her other senses to feel the world around her, to anticipate your moves. What you're used to isn't going to work on her."
I can sense the weight of her words, and I feel a thrill of accomplishment. But I don't get lost in the praise. This is just the beginning.