House of Amarin

Lia's shout traveled far and wide, stunning some of the participants summoned to the platforms, making their spells faulty and not come off as intended. Watching their uniforms, they were all 2nd-year students, trying hard and concentrating on manipulating their respective sides of the pond, casting their spells. Some displayed their control over the lake's water by calling swirling columns out of it, turning part of its surface into ice, or separating the lake before them, revealing the lake's bed to the autumn sun. Watching them, Koa felt their mana to be at the Magi level, the same as herself. It was quickly evident that she was the only 1st-year student attending this competition, standing on the temporary pier, not doing anything.

Some of her competitors had already changed out, giving way to 3rd-year students at the Adepti level, forming elaborate water sculptures, amusing the spectators, and making some of the judges nod with approval. Many who looked at Koadriana thought she was dismayed and drove her to realize she should have stayed out of it. Yet, in reality, she was surprised for a different reason. She was mulling over why the students at the Magi level were so slow in casting and why the Adepti mages were dissimilar from what she was used to.

"Difference in heritage." She suddenly remembered her grandfather's words, "Between mages, even amongst those on the same level, many factors decide their overall strength. Erias identified four key points that are a deciding facet in a mage's prowess." She thought, closing her eyes, slowly raising her hand as she started to cast her own spell. "Mana. The basis of all spells. The energy that flows around and through everything in the Realm. Knowledge. The instrument that lets a mage interact with the elements and control them through his or her body. Imagination. Without creativity, no spells would be created, and no advance would be made in our world… and finally, Will. Nothing will listen to you without a firm and strong will, and nature would ignore your imagination, your attempt to manipulate it."

When she reached the end of her thoughts, behind her back, a glowing, blue magic circle just as big as her was already rotating clockwise. Slowly opening her eyes, she ignored the many gazes directed at her figure. Summoning a magic circle was not rare; every mage could do it, and it happened instinctively. It was a response from nature, acknowledging the mage's spell, her will, and her imagination. But the size and complexity of one were signaling the proficiency behind the spell. What Koadriana summoned was already at a level of a Master.

She started to move her hand gently, like a conductor standing in front of an orchestra. After a flick of her wrist, human-like figures sprang up from many points on the lake's surface, forming featureless male and female bodies, pairing up with each other. From the middle of the lake, a ball of water shot into the air, clean of any impurities, rotating above them and letting the sun's rays go through its body, breaking into multiple colored beams, shining onto the lake's surface with numerous, sparkling colors. The summoned figures started to silently waltz to a tune of nature, turning the entirety of the lake into a ballroom, ignoring every other competitor's spells.

"She's greatly improved from the last time I saw her," Solren said, leaning back, watching her performance, scratching his chin. "No wonder Uncle Parthorn is always angry at her! She could easily bring her branch up to the 2nd position with a little more effort."

"Not 1st?" Lauron asked with a smile, knowing the answer.

"Of course not. She easily equals us if we look at us being on the same level. But we have more talent under our branch. We, brothers, and everyone under our banner are just as strong and capable. The 2nd branch has been rebuilding since the tragic death of Fetloch." He sighed with regret in his voice. "They still carry the shadow of fear in their hearts because of what happened back then."

Fetloch, the past head of House Amarin, was a step away from unlocking the secret behind wielding light and darkness simultaneously. He knew the risks, and he did not tell anybody about his plans, afraid that if he failed, they would follow him to the grave. It was precisely what happened when he died, despite his wishes to avoid it. Many of his descendants and students tried to go against his warnings and follow in his footsteps. He thought he was right with his ideas, and they thought they could complete those teachings that he did share. They failed. Many of his staunch followers died, and their bloodline went nearly extinct.

A branch's strength did not come from only the main bloodline making it up. Every one of them had many servants, allies, and a country worth of people under them, not to mention cousins of all kinds carrying the blood of Erias. Parthorn alone had five cousins, all managing the coastal territories of the Amarins and having a heavy say in the direction of their branch family.

Same with the 2nd. They had yet to produce genuinely talented people, so they were allowed to take up managing and leading roles amongst the regular people living under Amarin rule. They were given great freedom to replenish their numbers, strengthen their blood, and regain their strength. But that was a long process, taking many centuries, especially with the heavy past they still carried on their shoulders. Nobody could help them with that. It was their duty to shake those chains off and rise back to a level that was befitting of an Amarin.

The only oddball was the current 1st branch, Reyra's. Her family was always a strong bloodline, often taking up leading roles in the '4th' branch, giving them their core military strength. They were warriors and the most orthodox followers of Erias's teachings, and because of that, their main bloodline was thin in numbers compared to the others. She came in like a storm when she was born, shaking up the House from an early age. After her parents' death, they only had Reyra remaining to their name. Instead of shielding her, which the other two branches advised, she became her branch's leader at the tender age of 9. She was supported by every soul under her parents after their untimely death. Their servants, soldiers, and followers were loyal to the bone, supporting her with everything without question. When she became the leader of the House and birthed her first offspring, her name was already recorded as one of the Heroes of House Amarin. Taking away the role of 1st branch from her hands seemed impossible for now.

"I don't understand…." Lauron murmured, playing with his hair, watching the waltzing water clones sparkling in the light showering them from above.

"Hm?" Solren tilted his head, waiting for his brother to continue.

"She has talent. She has the bloodline. Why doesn't Parthorn let her go wild? More kids, more chances of geniuses! Look at mom; she already produced four of us and found one while traveling~."

"Idiot." Solren rolled his eyes in answer.

While the brothers were not really surprised by Koadriana's 'magic show,' the judges were, including Lorin.

"I knew who she was from the start… but this is still amazing." He thought silently, forming a small smile, watching the dancing figures on the lake a little more before looking at the rest of the judges. "I think she has to be in the top 10." Lorin didn't know if the others were bribed similarly as he was, so he would quickly find it out by speaking up now. His 'job' was to look away if he noticed something weird, to not notice a bit of sabotage if it happened. He accepted it in the first place because he knew Koa's background. Sabotaging her? Good luck with that… especially now, after seeing her demonstration.

"Let's wait and see the rest before announcing that." Another male judge replied, drawing a loud snort from the female judge sitting between them.

"She is barely using her mana, controlling the spell! Don't you feel it? She built a perfect feedback loop between her spell, the water, and her mana. She could maintain them for days."

"Yes, but it is nothing more than a flashy show put forward to entertain the masses. In reality, it has no use outside of this competition." The man answered with an even voice.

"This competition focuses on the fact of how one can manipulate water. Usefulness is not part of its description." Lorin countered with a soft smile, "Besides, what is marvelous in her spell is the technique behind it. Her underlying method is to put as little strain on herself as possible. This performance is worthy of being in the top 10."

"I agree." The others answered, finally drawing out a nod from the only opposing voice.

While Koadriana was conducting the performance for everyone to see, she was keeping an eye on the judges. Seeing their nodding heads, she already knew she had secured her place in the final round.

"Good. I was getting bored here." She thought to herself. The spell she demonstrated was developed by her when she was just a child. Few of her friends liked to swim in the ocean because the water was usually freezing at their beaches. Yet, for her, it did not matter. Swimming, splashing around, diving deep into it was something that brought immense joy to her. When nobody wanted to accompany her in playing, she created friends for herself. Buddies who would accompany her in exploring the seabed near the coast of her home. Looking around, seeing the faces, she would lie if she denied the feeling of pride welling up in her chest when she snapped her fingers, ending her demonstration.

The first to burst was the ball of water in the air, popping like a balloon, showering every other participant, judge, and spectator with cold water. Next came her water clones, all exploding simultaneously, letting loose a second wave, washing away everybody sitting closest to the lake.

"You were right!" Keily nodded rapidly, turning towards Lia, "She did prepare a prank!"

"Fufufu~ Told you~" Lia grinned as they sat behind an earth wall, slowly retreating into the ground, courtesy of Raufon.

"Good thing I was ready!" He added, redrawing his spell, revealing them to the other drenched people around them.

"Well, they can't be angry at her!" Sion chuckled, watching Koa walk off the pier, and she was soaked from head to toe, turning her clothes partially see-through. Not that she was bothered by it, even wearing a smug, proud grin, swaying her hips as she walked off to the resting area.

"She held back for far too long." Aurora wrote in the air, watching the stunned people around them. Some were angry to be splashed on; some could not tear their eyes from Koa. Either because of her spell or her revealing figure.

"I can see that… her spell was… explosive!" Ceiline answered, with a thoughtful nod, as her eyes were analyzing Koadriana's spell and how it manifested itself, missing the point that Aurora was speaking about. "Her part in the final is guaranteed!"

"That was never a question, fufufufu!" Lia laughed, taking a deep breath, feeling energized. "I hope they will have a good fight! It would be best if they try something nasty so we can join in!"

"Why are you so eager to fight?" Raufon asked, receiving a glance from Lia as she remembered that… he was the one to blow his top on their very first day of school. "You know what?" He realized it, too, as soon as the words left his mouth. "I asked nothing!"

"Hehe~" Lia stuck her tongue out in answer, "I just want to learn more~ Watching Koa and the others casting water spells… is great~ But fighting is better!" She giggled as she intently read everyone's spells since the competition started, trying to reference them with the memorized parts of the ancient book she had bought.

…
….
……

Heliett was calmly watching Koadriana walk off the pier, heading into the resting area, while she was heading out to also perform her own spell before the judges. Behind her calm exterior lay a cold and severe interior. She was just as surprised as the rest of the spectators by the show Koa had just pulled off. Even though she did not feel the strength behind her spell, it was flashy, and the underlying technique was genuinely unique. She was, in all the sense of the word, a genius when it came to manipulating water. Better than Heliett herself.

Yet it did not make her desperate. Everyone studying here, regardless of their background or proficiency, was a genius-level talent. Even the weakest student was someone who was endorsed by the Six Houses to attend the Institution and chosen to be a leading figure of the Realm. Only by facing off against others, strong mages, could one improve herself… and she was determined to give her best today as He was here. Lauron Amarin. If she could catch his attention… everything would change for her. Everything.

Stepping onto the pier, when she raised her hand to cast her magic, a blue formation appeared below her, quickly expanding outwards. When it turned invisible, all the water in the lake froze over in a flash. Nobody else could manipulate it anymore; every other participant's spells failed immediately, rejecting their attempt to control it. When she looked around, her eyes emitted faint, blue, cold light as her gaze was just as freezing as the air around her.

"Oh~" Lauron smiled, and his reaction did not escape Heliett's, who was looking directly at the two brothers. Just his slight interest made her heart flutter, making her snap her fingers, imitating Koa, and let the ice crack and break apart, returning the lake to its normalcy.

"She is not bad," Solren added, watching Heliett walk off her pier. "I guess House Berison would be interested in her."

"Hm," Lauron nodded, flicking his wrist, "I checked her name; she is Heliett Kayrinev. Her family is a ruling family of a kingdom near House Berison. They ARE a subordinate family."

"Then, no wonder!" Solren chuckled, "Lucky her! Uncle Parthorn butted head with the previous leader of House Berison... hm... how many times?"

"Too many." Lauron laughed with his brother, "They thought Uncle was trying to compete with them… with the Masters of Ice! Hehehehe… I still think the previous head of House Berison was simply jealous that Uncle did not marry her in the end!"

"If she wouldn't be an ice queen all the time… I also wouldn't want to waste time with a girl like that. I'm not into solving puzzles and going through hoops daily to draw her true self out once in a while!" Solren moaned, clicking his tongue.

"You wouldn't be able to get together with any woman lil' bro… Not with your bluntness." Lauron teased, but Solren just shrugged.

"I'll find a wife who does not need to be fed sugar-coated lies all the time. The rest… I'll pass to you… big bro." He answered with a slight grin.

"Please do so!" Lauron laughed, playfully knocking on his shoulder, "I knew I could count on you, ahahaha!"