I am Just an Average Tamer

"Let the duel begin."

Rashira moved first.

Swift hand signs flicked into the air, glowing runes spiraling around her fingers as she murmured an incantation under her breath.

Water pulsed beneath her boots, summoned from the ambient moisture in the air.

"Tide Veil."

A shimmering wall of swirling water formed in front of her like a fluid shield, wrapping her in a protective cocoon.

"Vaendra pressure up," Rashira commanded sharply.

The Riverwake Serpent responded instantly, hissing before launching forward. Its long body twisted through the air like a whip, surging across the field in a blur of motion, water splashing in its wake.

Aria's eyes narrowed.

"Now, Iny!"

The Ironfang Panther responded with a deep growl and dashed forward, claws digging into the sand as it zigzagged across the field, agile and fast.

The serpent lashed out at it with a tail whip, but the panther ducked low, circled around, and leapt.

The beasts clashed.

The Riverwake serpent coiled and snapped, trying to constrict, while the Ironfang panther slashed with its silvered claws, leaving faint glowing marks across the serpent's scales.

Meanwhile, Aria charged.

Dagger in hand, she sprinted around the edge of Rashira's summoned veil. Her emerald-green training gear clung tight to her form, letting her move like a shadow in motion.

"Think you're the only one with a trick up your sleeve?"

Rashira turned, surprised, just as Aria slid beneath the Tide Veil and came in close.

CLANG!

Their weapons met, Aria's dagger scraping against a quickly conjured water blade in Rashira's hand.

"Hah! You're rushing a mage?" Rashira grinned, their faces inches apart.

"You talk too much," Aria shot back, twisting, feinting low, then spinning to Rashira's side.

The blade nicked Rashira's sleeve, but a burst of water pressure exploded between them, throwing Aria back.

"Hydro Burst!" Rashira shouted, skidding back as well.

Both girls landed on their feet, panting lightly.

In the crowd, cheers and whistles erupted.

"Damn! They're both crazy fast!"

"Aria almost sliced her!"

"Princess Rashira got some serious counter magic!"

Back in the ring, the panther and serpent separated, both beasts panting.

The serpent now had several claw marks along its side, and the panther's front paw was slick with water.

Rashira raised her hand again. "Let's end this then!"

Her magic circle pulsed. Water in the arena rose unnaturally, swirling into a massive spiral.

"Tide Fang!"

The serpent's body coalesced into a spinning spear of water energy as it lunged straight toward Aria and her beast.

Aria's eyes sharpened. "Iny! Vault me!"

The Ironfang Panther surged beneath her and leapt, giving her the boost she needed.

Aria somersaulted through the air, spinning once, and as she fell toward Rashira—

Whoosh!

A dagger went flying.

Thwip!

It struck the ground just beside Rashira's foot.

But Aria wasn't done. She landed in a crouch, rolled, and in a flash was behind her opponent again.

Dagger at her neck.

"Yield," Aria whispered.

Silence.

The Tide Fang dissolved midair.

The Riverwake Serpent stilled and hissed low, sensing its tamer's danger.

Rashira blinked. Her face scrunched, then she sighed and smiled.

"Ugh. Fine. I yield. That was good. Really good."

"Winner is Aria Glimair!"

Professor Lysenna shouted.

Aria stepped back, lowering her dagger. She offered Rashira a hand.

The elf girl took it with a chuckle. "Guess I got too confident. You've improved, Aria."

"So did you."

Both walked back together, their beasts trailing behind them, panting but proud.

Back near the others, Riven whistled.

"Damn, didn't know you had assassin moves too."

Corrin smirked, "Remind me to not piss her off."

Liliana grinned, "Told you she'd smack."

Kai just gave her a light nod of acknowledgment, lips curling faintly.

Aria walked back toward the group, the slight bounce in her step betraying how satisfied she was, even if her face tried to stay cool.

Liliana grinned and raised her hand.

"Hehe, that was awesome, really."

They exchanged a solid high five that echoed softly.

Corrin, arms crossed, gave a small nod.

"Nice moves. Precise. Efficient. Lethal."

Riven smirked, stepping up and giving her a not-so-light smack on the back.

"You totally nailed her, Aria! I knew you'd grown after the trials, but this much? Damn."

Aria winced at the slap and gave him a side-eye glare.

Then—

Thwack!

Elbowed into his ribs.

"Ow!" Riven clutched his side, dramatically recoiling. "You tryin' to kill me too?"

Aria smirked.

"Of course I'm stronger. What do you think I've been doing while you were slacking off?"Her voice turned half-playful, half-proud as she added,

"I trained hard, y'know, thanks to a certain person."

She turned slightly and tilted her head toward Kai.

The group blinked.

Liliana's eyes widened. Her mouth opened, then closed... then narrowed into a glare aimed at Kai, suspicious as hell.

"Huh? Wait. You two... trained together? When?"

Riven clapped his fist into his palm.

"Aha! So that's where he kept disappearing to."

Corrin chuckled with a sly grin.

"Oi, don't tell me that 'mission' was actually secret training with her... how scandalous."

Kai blinked once. Then twice.

His brows furrowed, "Oi. I didn't train anyone."

Aria froze.

Her triumphant smirk vanished, replaced by a blank expression.

"Ah."

Her eyes widened with horror as she realized exactly how they took her words.

Before Corrin could toss another smug remark, Aria cleared her throat and quickly raised a hand to her mouth.

"What I meant was, I watched his trial recordings. Over and over. Then trained myself. I just copied some of his moves, that's all."

Everyone paused.

Then gave collective nods.

"Ohhh."

Liliana relaxed.

Riven scratched the back of his head.

Corrin shrugged, looking a little disappointed.

"Tch. That's less fun." he muttered under his breath.

Kai crossed his arms, shooting her a dry look.

"Next time, maybe don't say it like you're my secret apprentice or something."

Aria smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck.

"My bad."

"But hey," Liliana nudged her, "That's still cool. Who else can say they trained by analyzing a battle footage, huh?"

Riven then nodded, now more serious.

"Honestly, not a bad idea. That's what actual warriors do, break down moves, study rhythms. You're smarter than you look."

Aria rolled her eyes. "I'm gonna take that as a compliment, idiot."

They all chuckled.

Then—

CLAP!

Professor Lysenna's voice rang out again.

"Next pair, get ready! Duel ring will reset in fifteen seconds. And no explosive magic inside the barriers!"

The students chatter began again, shifting attention to the next names being drawn.

Kai glanced at the field.

"Who'll be up next?"

Corrin smirked.

"I have a feeling we're about to find out. Hope you're ready, 'not-a-secret-trainer'."