The Annual Arcane Duel Championship was Eldoria Magic Academy's most prestigious event—a week-long competition testing students' magical prowess through trials of strength, strategy, and creativity.
Luna Fenwick stood at the center of the arena, surrounded by cheering spectators and rival participants. Her sapphire staff gleamed in the sunlight, and her confidence radiated like a beacon.
"This year," she declared aloud, "I'm taking first place."
Kael watched from the sidelines, munching on a muffin. He'd signed up for the tournament out of obligation (Dorm Head Ink had blackmailed him into it) but planned to lose immediately.
"You're not even trying," Ink muttered, fluttering beside him. "It's insulting."
"Winning draws attention," Kael said simply.
"So does letting people get hurt," Ink snapped. "And trust me—you're going to intervene sooner or later."
As if summoned by fate, Luna marched toward them.
"Kael!" she called. "Let's spar. First match."
"Why me?"
"Because you're the only one who doesn't treat me like some fragile snowflake," she grinned. "Come on. Don't hold back."
Kael sighed. "Fine. But don't blame me when you lose."
The arena buzzed with anticipation. Luna struck a formal pose, channeling her signature ice magic. Jagged spears of frost materialized around her, spinning like deadly halos.
"Frost Spiral Barrage!" she shouted, hurling the icy projectiles toward Kael.
He didn't move.
The spears froze mid-air… then melted into harmless water droplets.
Luna gritted her teeth. "Alright, serious mode."
She raised her staff high, summoning a swirling blizzard. The temperature plummeted. Snowflakes sharpened into razor-edged blades, slicing through the arena.
"Glacial Storm!"
The storm roared toward Kael—only to disperse harmlessly around him like smoke.
"What?!" Luna gasped.
Kael yawned. "Nice weather."
She charged, swinging her staff in a wide arc. A wave of freezing energy surged forward—but the moment it touched Kael, it vanished.
"How are you doing that?!" Luna demanded.
"Doing what?"
"Blocking everything without casting a single spell!"
A murmur spread through the crowd. Even Professor Orin leaned forward, squinting suspiciously.
"Maybe he's immune to magic?" someone suggested.
"Or maybe he's just lucky?" another offered.
Riven snorted. "Weakling luck won't last forever."
Later that evening, Luna sat alone in the Arcane Archives , poring over ancient scrolls. She'd borrowed a rare artifact from the restricted section: the Mirror of Reflections , an enchanted mirror said to absorb and reflect spells.
"If Kael can block magic without effort," she muttered, "maybe this mirror can show me why."
She activated the mirror, channeling a simple detection spell into it.
Instead of reflecting her, the mirror shrieked .
Dark tendrils erupted from its surface, wrapping around her wrists. The library shelves trembled as spectral shadows poured out, distorting reality itself.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Ink screamed, bursting into the room.
"IT'S THE MIRROR!" Luna yelled, struggling against the grip of the shadows. "IT'S POSSESSED!"
The mirror began chanting in a language older than time, its glass warping into a vortex of chaos. If it wasn't sealed soon, it would devour the entire archive—and possibly the academy.
Students outside screamed as books flew off shelves, furniture levitated, and gravity flipped unpredictably.
Professor Orin arrived, panting. "NOBODY TOUCH IT! THIS IS A HIGH-CLASS CURSE!"
Luna's eyes widened. "Then how do we stop it?!"
Orin hesitated. "We… need someone powerful enough to nullify its magic entirely."
Suddenly, the door creaked open.
Kael walked in, holding a sandwich.
"I heard yelling," he said. "Is this thing broken?"
"YES!" Luna shouted. "Fix it!"
Kael stepped forward, reached out, and tapped the mirror's surface .
The vortex collapsed instantly. The shadows shrieked and vanished. Gravity stabilized. Books fell back into place.
Silence returned.
Luna stared at him. "…How?"
"It was annoying," Kael shrugged. He took a bite of his sandwich. "Don't use cursed relics next time."
Before anyone could question him further, the ceiling groaned. A loose chandelier crashed down—only to freeze inches above Kael's head.
He casually pushed it sideways. It landed gently on the floor.
Everyone gawked.
"Was that gravity control?" Orin whispered.
"Nope," Kael said. "Just physics."
That night, Luna sat on the roof beside Kael, staring at the stars.
"You know," she said quietly, "you're really good at pretending you're weak."
Kael blinked innocently. "I am weak."
"Then how did you stop the mirror?"
"Coincidence."
"How did you survive my Glacial Storm?"
"Lucky timing."
She narrowed her eyes. "You're hiding something."
"Probably."
Luna crossed her arms. "One day, I'm gonna figure it out."
Kael smiled faintly. "Good luck with that."
Below them, somewhere in the forest, the demon chicken crowed again.
Still ignored.