I am Just an Average Tamer

The moment Professor Lysenna's voice rang out—

"Begin!"

They moved.

Corrin dashed in first, his crescent blade already drawn in a reversed grip, body low to the ground like a coiled snake. His expression was unreadable, except for the sly glint in his eyes.

Riven didn't flinch. He sidestepped, his hand glowing faintly.

"Ember. Come!"

From behind him, a fiery hiss erupted.

A Flame Serpent curled behind Riven like a guardian, glowing eyes fixed on Corrin.

Corrin said in a playful voice. "You sure you can handle me and your lizard at once?"

"Heh. Big words for someone who's about to get roasted."

Riven snapped his fingers, and Ember lunged.

Corrin's blade flashed.

He rolled forward beneath the serpent's snap, flames licking his clothes as he slid and came up behind Riven in one smooth move.

CLANG!

Their arms clashed, Corrin's crescent blade against Riven's braced forearm, wrapped in a faint orange glow.

"Using body enhancement already?" Corrin smirked, dancing back.

"Afraid of a little steel?"

Riven chuckled. "Just warming up."

He launched a flurry of rapid punches, his fists glowing faintly. Corrin blocked and weaved between them, their each clash sharp and quick. The ground cracked beneath them from the force.

Above them, Ember coiled in the air, then rained a burst of small fireballs from its mouth. Corrin twisted away and threw a dagger mid-spin, which Ember batted aside with its tail, but it gave Corrin the moment he needed to reposition.

Corrin called out as he slid backward. "Gotta say, I'm impressed. You've improved."

Riven flicked sweat from his brow. "You too. Thought you were all mouth last time."

Corrin just grinned.

Then he dashed in again, blade arcing in a diagonal slash, Riven ducked, swept low with a kick that Corrin narrowly avoided by hopping back. In that instant, Riven raised his hand and pointed at the ground near Corrin.

"Ember, strike!"

The serpent dove down like a bolt of lightning.

BOOM!

A column of fire exploded where Corrin had just stood, but he was already flipping sideways.

"Damn, that's cheating."

"It's strategy, though boy!"

They clashed again.

Corrin spun, parried, and feinted, while Riven danced between offense and calling precise commands to Ember.

For a moment, the entire training field was lost in their duel.

The students surrounding the ring were on their toes, cheers and gasps ringing out.

"Let's go Corrin!" Liliana shouted.

"Riven, don't let him cook you!" Aria yelled.

Kai watched silently, eyes sharp.

Professor Lysenna folded her arms and smiled faintly. She was clearly enjoying the match.

Corrin skidded back, breathing slightly heavier, a trickle of sweat down his temple.

Riven stood across from him, his knuckles glowing faintly.

"So," Corrin said between breaths, flipping his blade into a forward grip now.

"We gonna end this or keep dancing?"

Riven grinned, raising his fists again.

"Let's keep dancing."

Then the air between both shifted.

The casual playfulness drained away, replaced by the razor-edged silence that came before a storm. Ember coiled along the ground beside Riven now, its molten body heating the earth beneath it, fangs bared and tongue flicking.

Corrin's fingers tightened around his crescent blade, its steel catching the sunlight in a sharp gleam. His eyes lost their teasing glint, now sharp and focused.

Riven cracked his knuckles and took a lower stance, muscles coiled like springs. "Let's stop holding back."

Corrin smiled, coldly this time. "Gladly."

Then...

Riven burst forward, fist glowing with concentrated flame.

Ember followed close, slithering low to the side, ready to flank. Corrin remained still until the very last moment, then spun to the left, narrowly avoiding Riven's punch. His crescent blade lashed out in a wide arc, forcing Riven to block with his bracer.

CLANG!

Sparks flew.

Corrin pressed in, blade flickering with feints and jabs, testing Riven's defense.

Riven blocked, deflected, ducked. Then with a sudden low sweep, he kicked at Corrin's legs.

Corrin leapt back, but Ember lunged.

FWOOSH!

Flames burst from its gullet, forcing Corrin to twist mid-air and land in a crouch.

Riven smirked. "Getting a little warm?"

Corrin didn't reply. He stood slowly, flipped his blade into a reverse grip again, and held it out sideways.

The blade began to shimmer faintly with silver light.

Then he exhaled.

"Moon Cleave."

In an instant, he lunged forward, blade glowing brightly. The motion was swift, almost too fast to follow.

A half-moon arc of silver energy slashed through the air, aimed directly at Riven.

Riven crossed his arms and reinforced them with his essence. The arc slammed into him like a battering ram, launching him backward. Ember darted forward to intercept, coiling around Riven and absorbing part of the force, both of them crashing into the far edge of the dueling ring.

BOOM!

Dust exploded outward.

Gasps rang out.

"Holy crap!" someone shouted.

As the smoke cleared, Riven was on one knee, panting, a scorch mark across his shirt. Ember hissed beside him, scales cracked along its side.

Corrin raised an eyebrow. "Impressive."

"I'm not done yet."

Riven slammed his palm into the ground. "Ember, Scorch Trail!"

The serpent hissed and shot forward, dragging its body across the ground in a tight arc around Corrin. As it moved, the earth cracked and ignited in a trail of fire, boxing Corrin in. The flames shot high, forming a ring.

Corrin's eyes flicked to the edges.

Riven appeared through the fire, fists wreathed in flame, and launched a barrage of rapid strikes. Corrin ducked the first, blocked the second, and narrowly avoided a fiery uppercut. The heat singed his cheek.

He grunted and spun, blade slicing a line across Riven's shoulder. Riven growled, twisted, and delivered a flaming palm strike to Corrin's ribs.

Thud!

Corrin stumbled back a step, breath catching. But his blade flicked upward instantly, catching Riven off guard with a pommel strike to the jaw.

Riven reeled, and Corrin pressed the advantage.

He slashed low, Riven jumped.

He spun the blade in a feint, Riven overcommitted on the dodge.

Then Corrin stepped in.

"Moon Cleave."

A blinding flash of light enveloped the blade, this time forming a full crescent shape in the air. Corrin twisted and unleashed it in a powerful sweep, the arc larger and more forceful than before.

SLASH!

The energy slammed into Riven and Ember, blowing them apart. Ember was flung backward, hitting the edge of the arena with a crash, smoke rising from its scales. Riven landed on his back, gasping.

The crowd went silent.

Professor Lysenna raised her hand.

But Riven... got up.

Blood trickled from his lip. His stance was shaky, but his eyes were still burning.

Corrin narrowed his gaze.

"You're not giving up?"

Riven wiped his mouth. "Hell no."

He charged again with a roar of determination.

Corrin didn't smile this time. He respected it.

He braced himself, drew his blade close, and whispered:

"Lunar Mirage."

His figure blurred, one, two, three images flickered around him.

Riven punched the left, miss.

Corrin reappeared behind him.

CRACK!

A clean strike with the hilt to Riven's back dropped him to one knee.

Corrin moved in, blade to his throat, not cutting it, but the implication was clear.

Riven panted, still tense, then let his hands drop to the ground.

"I concede."

Cheers erupted.

"The winner is Corrin Duskwood!" Lysenna declared.

Corrin stepped back and extended a hand. "You're tough, Riven."

Riven took it. "And you're fast as hell."

They pulled each other up, and Ember slithered over, coiling protectively around Riven's legs.

Back in the crowd, Serena threw her fingers into her mouth and let out a sharp whistle.

"Damn. That was awesome! Way better than all those dumb fucks' fights earlier."

A few heads turned toward her with raised brows, some glaring, others clearly offended.

Rashira, standing beside her, looked slightly mortified and spoke in a low tone.

"Come on, Serena… You really shouldn't say things like that."

Serena just shrugged like it wasn't her problem.

"Meh. Not my fault they're weak."

Rashira sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Meanwhile, Corrin and Riven made their way back toward their group, both breathing a little heavier than usual.

Despite that, Corrin still wore his usual cool expression, while Riven ran a hand through his hair, his smirk returning now that the adrenaline was fading.

Liliana was the first to speak up, grinning wide.

"Hehe, Corrin, you totally nailed it out there!"

Corrin gave a half-shrug, rubbing the back of his neck.

"It was alright."

Aria grinned as Riven stood beside her.

"What happened out there, hotshot? Lost to a guy who naps in class?" she teased, nudging his side.

Riven scoffed and waved a dismissive hand.

"Tch. Please. I just didn't want Corrin to lose face in front of the whole class, y'know?"

That earned a round of chuckles.

"Sure, sure," Kai muttered with a smirk.

Clap!

But the moment didn't last long. A sharp clap echoed through the grounds, and Professor Lysenna's clear, commanding voice cut through the air like a blade.

"Next pair will be Lira Elsworth vs Kai."