THE Academy of Magic was also famous for its many vast training grounds, each a massive dome-shaped structure with a wide-open space inside. The walls were reinforced with special magic to prevent them from collapsing even with powerful magical attacks.
Yuffie and Jack faced each other on one of them.
H-How did this happen…?
A huge, magical lantern hanging from the ceiling illuminated her stiff face. She rewound to just ten minutes ago, when Lyle made the suggestion to Jack, who was doubtful that Yuffie could use offensive magic.
“One of the training grounds is currently empty. Jack, if you fight Yuffie, you’ll find out the truth. Don’t you agree?”
Jack hesitated, then answered him. “Are you serious, man? You want me to use my magic on a tiny thing like her? Over my dead body!”
“So you’re forfeiting? That would make you a coward who tucked tail while also basically admitting I’m right about her and her abilities.”
“Screw you!” Jack shouted back. “Fine then, challenge accepted!”
Urk… Using magic in front of people makes me so nervous…
It was already nerve-wracking enough just standing in the spacious arena with nothing around, but it was even more so with people watching. Since this battle was organized in secret, only Lyle, Edward, and Erina were in the audience. Still, Yuffie’s mouth was dry with tension.
Plus… She glanced over the training field. Definitely wide. But… If I’m not careful, I’ll blow this whole place up!
Jack taunted her while the thought flashed through her mind. “What’s the matter? Poor little baby, too scared to talk?” he sneered at her. “Why am I not surprised? I mean, I am the second-best in our grade after Lyle! If you wanna call this off, now’s the time.”
“N-No, I won’t! I’ll do my best!” Yuffie bowed her head and expressed her determination to fight.
“…Damn it, I really don’t need you messing up my rhythm.” Jack scratched his head, looking uneasy.
“Yuffie is adorable, isn’t she?” Erina giggled in the stands. Her eyes were filled with affection, like a mother watching her child playing in the sandbox. “Now that I think about it, Lyle, I’m curious about exactly which types of attack magics she can use.”
“Well…” Lyle pretended to think for a moment, then continued with a mischievous smile. “You’ll just have to find out for yourself.”
“Aw, don’t be so stingy.”
“Erina, stop it,” Edward grunted. “He can’t answer you because she never actually used offensive magic. Just hurry up and get this over with. I don’t have time to watch a farce.”
“Don’t worry, you won’t be disappointed,” Lyle replied.
“We’ll see about that,” Edward retorted, completely unapproachable.
With a faint smile in the other boy’s direction, Lyle took a step onto the battlefield. “I’ll explain the rules! Once the match starts, you’re free to fight however you wish! However, killing is strictly prohibited! Also, refrain from using magic that can damage the training grounds! Yuffie, please take that into consideration!”
“I-I will! I’ll be careful!”
“I’ll teach you to underestimate me…” Jack’s face was filled with anger from the implication of Lyle’s words that Yuffie was stronger than he was.
“The winner will be determined if one of you surrenders or I deem either of you unable to fight!”
“I’ll heal any injury as long as neither of you dies!” Erina exclaimed with an excited wave of her hand.
I have to try my best at least so that they aren’t disappointed… Yuffie steeled her resolve. Her eyes brimmed with strength.
“Then, begin!”
With Lyle’s command, the battle began.
“I’ll show you what I’m made of! Inferno!” In an attempt to finish this off quickly, Jack emitted red flames from his outstretched hands, fireballs blasting one after the other—five of them in an instant. On average, first-year students could create one or two fireballs at a time.
“Five fireballs at once, impressive.”
“I didn’t expect anything less of our grade’s number 2.”
Edward and Erina nodded in admiration.
“You’d better pray that you don’t get hit!” With that, Jack raised both hands toward the ceiling and swung them down in one go. The five fireballs released intense heat, tore through the air, and rushed straight for Yuffie.
“Yuffie! Move out of the way!” Erina yelled.
In this world, girls couldn’t use attack magic. So the only way to deal with it was to run away. If you were a normal girl.
“Water Ball.”
Yuffie stretched her hand out in front of her with a calm expression and briefly chanted the spell’s name. Five water balls instantly formed from Yuffie’s outstretched fingertips. Each was about the size of a fist, transparent and bluish, and exuded a gem-like beauty.
“What the hell…?!” Jack bellowed.
Yuffie waved her hand and created an instant popping sound. Her water balls absorbed the heat from his fireballs and exploded, containing the burning power. Hot steam filled the space but cooled down immediately, obscuring their vision. A warm dampness caressed their cheeks.
A few seconds later, the steam cleared to reveal Yuffie unharmed, not a single burn mark on her clothes. The only traces of Jack’s fireballs were the five molten tracks left on the ground—she had intercepted every single one of his attacks.
Silence…
Jack couldn’t believe it. One of his most advanced spells had been blocked so easily.
Edward and Erina were also astonished. Yuffie, a girl, had used water magic, one of the elemental offensive magics.
“Y-You’re joking…” Erina blurted out, goggling at the sight in front of her.
“That should be…impossible… But…she definitely executed water magic…” Edward propped his chin on his hand and lapsed into thought. “Not to mention the power to create five water balls at once in addition to the control required to shoot down each fireball without the slightest deviation… This is no amateurish feat…” His tone grew increasingly agitated.
“See? I was telling the truth.” Lyle chuckled like a child whose prank had been a success.
Meanwhile, Jack, finally able to accept reality, spoke with trembling lips, “Y-You…are you sure you’re not a cross-dressing boy?”
“First him and now you! What is it with you people?!” Yuffie wailed, her agitation at odds with the atmosphere.
As for Jack, his lips twisted belligerently. “So…you weren’t lying… You can use attack magic.”
Clearly the type to believe what he saw with his own eyes, Jack immediately raised his guard against Yuffie and manifested a new spell. “Roaring Flame Beast!” Red hot flames began dancing on his palms, which he raised toward the ceiling.
“That’s…!” Edward cried out in shock.