The number of one's mana circles was not a simple measure of raw power. If magic was the act of painting over the world, then mana circles were the number of colors one could use. That was why the greatest gap between any two stages was that between a 1-Star and a 2-Star.
The difference between painting with a single color and painting with two was as vast as the heavens and the earth.
‘The outcome was already decided.’
Her thoughts remained unchanged, even in the face of this bizarre phenomenon. Lumia clenched her fist, regenerating her Flame Spirit. Dersia's disciple, Jern, was it?
He was a battered mess, the last of his jewels now cracked. He sat on the ground, an arm resting on one knee, staring intently at her. The fighting spirit, the anger, the hatred—or even the desperate search for the slimmest chance of victory in a hopeless situation—all of which should have been there during a fight.
She could find none of it. Jern was simply watching her. …With those colorless eyes.
"How unsettling."
Lumia muttered without realizing it and took a step back. Against a 1-Star mage.
"Tsk."
His eyes were still devoid of emotion, but for that very reason, they became a mirror reflecting her own self. Lumia saw ridicule in them. She gritted her teeth.
The Flame Spirit Manifestations, now numbering eight, all grabbed a handful of the surrounding sand. The melted grains of sand, which flew like bullets— At some point, their trajectory changed, and they fell to the ground around him. That in itself wasn't strange.
If he could interfere with the Flame Spirit Manifestations at that distance, he wouldn't be taken down by mere grains of sand. Lumia, too, had thrown them as a probe to figure out his unknown magic. But Jern's posture hadn't changed in the slightest.
He hadn't uttered a single command, nor had he even blinked. There wasn't even a hand sign to act as a trigger. It meant that whatever unknown magic he was using, he could wield it with that much familiarity and ease. -That?
Lumia was genuinely bewildered. No matter how powerful a spell was, at 1-Star, it couldn't be that much different from elemental spells. No, in fact, the more powerful the spell, the more likely it was to be weaker than elemental magic at lower Stars.
This was because they were created by mages of at least 5-Stars, and thus held little meaning for anyone below that. And yet, that spell, despite being a 1-Star magic, was handling her 2-Star Flame Spirit Manifestation as if twisting a child's wrist.
"... How amusing."
This was not an opponent to engage in a pointless battle of pride. The flame dancing on Lumia's right hand began to burn even brighter. At the same time, the size of the Flame Spirit Manifestations swelled several times over.
She squeezed out all the mana she had been saving for an emergency. After thirty minutes, she wouldn't be able to use magic for days, but that was better than losing to a commoner. Lumia sent a full-powered punch flying at Jern, who still showed little reaction.
Fwoosh…!
The fist vanished just before it could connect. It was within her expectations. The spot where the fist disappeared was filled by another, and the vanished fist regenerated.
It was an exchange of mana. Behind the endless barrage of fists, Lumia asked with a deliberately nonchalant expression.
"Will you be alright? I don't know what kind of magic that is, but if it's a type of interference spell, it must require quite a bit of mana."
"Hmm..."
Jern pondered for a moment, then chuckled.
"I think I'll be fine."
‘…If you say so.’
Lumia smiled as well. Because she could do this hundreds of times if need be. Increasing the size and changing the color were simple tricks to deceive the eye.
The current fists were merely flames shaped to mimic Flame Spirit Manifestations. They had no binding power. If Jern had learned defensive spells, he probably wouldn't take much damage even from a direct hit.
But Jern was jumping to conclusions and erasing every single fist. A 1-Star mage with an unbelievable range, using interference magic that only a handful of high-level mages could wield. There was no way it also consumed less mana.
If such a thing existed, the entire system of magic would crumble. They exchanged fierce glares and countless fists.
Ten times.
Twenty times. …A hundred times.
"... What—" The number of exchanges it took for Lumia to doubt her eyes was 237. He was unfazed.
Despite having dismantled her magic to that extent, he didn't look the least bit tired.
‘Is he bluffing…?’
It was the only possible explanation. There was no other way to comprehend it.
"Hmph."
"Ugh."
As Jern let out a low hum and rose to his feet, Lumia took several steps back. But this time, she didn't blame herself. She hadn't even realized it.
Her entire attention was focused on Jern's every move. Casually dusting the sand from his legs in the middle of a fight, he asked in a passing tone.
"Are you all finished?"
Lumia's expression turned icy cold. She had certainly fought against stronger mages many times. They made the earth tremble, caused meteors to fall, and created monsters.
But all of it had been within the realm of comprehension. She had been confident that she, too, would one day reach that level. This, however, was in a realm of non-understanding.
She didn't have the slightest clue what method he was using. Beyond simple annoyance, an uncomfortable feeling began to grow in her chest.
"... Not yet!"
The Flame Spirits steadily increased in number. This time, they were real. Not like the dummies from before, but true Flame Spirit Manifestations.
They multiplied endlessly.
‘If wearing down his mana by numbers won't work—’ Then she would slam dozens of them into him at once.
Gritting her teeth so hard they could have cracked, Lumia felt a wave of dizziness as she clenched her fists.
"Go on, try and get rid of all of these…!"
"Then, I shall strike back as well."
Jern's reply sounded far more serene than her own, as she struggled to maintain her magic. She didn't like it. An unknown emotion kept surging within her.
"—With what!"
Jern raised a hand. Lumia forced a sneer. If it was a pure clash of magic, not that bizarre erasure, then no one, not even among 2-Star mages, could stand against her.
Sensing victory, she sent the Flame Spirit Manifestations plunging forward.
"Princess."
Jern asked calmly, his tone unsuited for the situation.
"Princess, where do you think we are right now?"
"-?"
It was an incomprehensible question. It seemed like nothing more than a stalling tactic, so Lumia didn't answer, nor did she stop. Just before the fists collided with Jern's face.
He let out a small laugh and uttered an even stranger sentence.
"Well, if you knew, you probably wouldn't have used fire-type magic."
"Wha—" Thirty-two fists vanished in a single instant.
It was the result of a wave of Jern's hand. Lumia froze in place. Partly because she was deeply shocked by the instantaneous disappearance of her Flame Spirit Manifestations…
But also because a pressure so intense she couldn't even let out a groan was squeezing her body.
Crack— "Kh."
Stiffening where she stood, Lumia glared at Jern in bewilderment.
‘T-Telekinesis?!’
How could something like telekinesis exert such strong pressure— No, it wasn't telekinesis. It was something different. An unpleasant, sticky resistance and a chill washed over her body.
She also felt an unidentifiable gaze upon her. With his hand still gripping the empty air, Jern began to walk toward her. Thrashing about even as she suffocated, Lumia suppressed the unknown emotion welling up inside her with anger and clenched the flame in her right hand.
Instantly, her entire body was covered in flames.
‘Using this hurts my pride, but…!’
She had no choice. It was a self-defense spell, the first she had learned as a princess.
Flame Scales.
As long as the flame did not go out, that part of the body would be immune to any damage. It was a spell optimized for defense, a high-class magic that could not be learned unless one reached the world of 3-Stars. Of course, Lumia had only been able to learn it through a shortcut.
The princess had to be safe under any circumstances, so she had been taught to manifest at least Flame Scales at any time, borrowing every forbidden technique available. Naturally, using it here might draw criticism. To use a spell given to protect herself in a duel.
Against a 1-Star mage, no less…
"Keuk…"
That was a problem for later. For now, she had to escape this restraint. Activating Flame Scales would make her immune to the effects of all magic below 3-Star.
So whether this was telekinesis or some other unknown magic, it would disappear.
However.
"... Huh?"
The flames covering her body were extinguished in an instant. At the same time, Lumia's mind went blank.
"It won't work," a low voice reached her.
It was close. Jern was already standing right in front of her.
"D-Don't—!"
Lumia immediately unleashed every spell she had. She paid no mind to efficiency or anything else. She just frantically hurled the strongest magic she could at Jern.
It was a childish struggle. Nothing could penetrate Jern's Remove. Jern shook his head as if annoyed and squeezed his right hand harder.
"This is getting a little dangerous."
"Gack—!"
The moment the water pressure increased slightly, she couldn't even use magic anymore. The Flame Spirit Manifestations couldn't form. The Flame Scales were extinguished the moment they were manifested.
Even her struggles had come to an end. All that remained was a flailing of her legs, a resistance that could only be called the simple strength of a young girl. -What more could she do? When that became her only remaining option, she realized it, whether she wanted to or not.
The fact that her life was in the hands of an unpredictable opponent who used incomprehensible magic.
"The more you struggle, the harder it gets."
Forcing herself to meet his gaze, which was impossible to read, Lumia realized one thing. The identity of the unknown, uncomfortable feeling she had felt from the start.
"Now, shall we have a little talk."
Hiccup. It was— Fear.
People have to take responsibility for their actions. And taking responsibility is a terrible, unpleasant thing to do. Therefore, one must be careful with their actions.
For these reasons, I had no intention of actually defeating the princess. If a spiteful Lumia decided to start tormenting us, we would quickly be reminded of the difference in our stations. I could have crushed her overwhelmingly, but it would be a huge problem if her pride was scarred.
I just needed to show her that I was not an opponent to be taken lightly. So that she would not so easily pick a fight with Dersia, or with me.
"Princess."
First, I released the water pressure.
"Kya, kyaak..." …Kyaak?
The moment she was free, the princess, wearing the expression of a terrified young girl, hastily backed away and tumbled onto the sand. As I stood there bewildered, the princess looked up at me with trembling eyes. I quickly looked around before extending a hand.
"Princess, please get up."
"S-Stay away from me!"
"Pardon?"
When I tilted my head, the princess, who had been hiccupping and drawing her knees together, quickly nodded.
"... I-I understand. I apologize. I'm sorry, I take it back. Y-Your Master made the right choice..."
"No, that's not what I wanted. Well, you're not wrong, but."
"Hic."
The situation was not looking good. If this continued, the gallery would be filled with strange rumors. I made the princess aware of this.
"Princess."
"Y-Yes?"
"Everyone is watching."
“…”
"Please, take my hand."
I extended my hand again with a serious expression. The trembling princess glanced at the surrounding spectators, then slowly took my hand. After helping her up, I kept hold of her hand, bowed my head deeply, and shouted in a loud voice for everyone to hear.
"I have learned much. Thank you for your guidance!"
Only then did the bewildered spectators begin to look at each other and exchange opinions.
"What… was that? I thought the princess was just playing around, canceling her magic midway through..."
"Was she helping that commoner with his training?"
"Hmm, I guess so…?"
The truth didn't matter. I leaned in and whispered softly into the ear of the princess, who was still vibrating like a phone on silent mode.
"Princess."
"... Y-Yes?"
Her reaction was something to behold. I could literally see goosebumps breaking out on her skin. I said what needed to be said, even if it might earn me some disapproval.
"The reason Lady Dersia chose me over you, Princess, is not because I am particularly exceptional. It's because I'm unusual."
"You saw the little tricks I just showed you, so you must understand. I would be grateful if you could find it in your generous heart to overlook this."
"I-I understand. I will never bother you two again."
"Your tone."
"... Pardon? M-My tone…?"
"Your tone has changed. There is no need for such formal speech."
"I-I understand. I shall never… approach you two again..."
'Not bother' had turned into 'not approach'.
Thump-thump-thump— The interval of the princess's heartbeat, which I checked with Tide Sense, was alarming. Her teeth were chattering, too. She truly seemed to find me terrifying. …I can only hope that this fear doesn't turn into anger later on. -Clap, clap, clap.
Just then, I turned my head and saw Dersia in the quiet stands, clapping with a deadpan expression. When did she get here? From what I'd learned over my time here, my Master seemed to be in quite a good mood.
Well… if she was satisfied, then so be it.
"The winner, Princess Lumia!"
I stepped away as the staff member raised the hand of the still-trembling princess.