Cremona studied her opponent.

Arlothe had spoiled her fun by making it a formal duel.

She had looked forward to testing both this newcomer and herself.

She had little experience fighting someone physically, especially another mage.

It would have been interesting.

And while the spells that gave him his physical enhancements were still in place, they would be of little help against her now that they were confined within the circles.

She considered her first spell.

Her poisonous fog spells would just make it too easy, filling the circle with poison.

He'd pass out eventually, but she'd lose points for such an attack and it was boring.

Horde of Vipers might be fun.

She'd get to see him fight the spectral minions, but she decided to soften him up a bit first.

The Vipers had a weak poison effect and he had ignored the Poisonous Cloud cast on him before in the earlier round.

Venom Bolt would hit him for light damage with an ongoing damage effect and lower his resistance, then maybe send in the snakes.She looked over at Tallsqueak.

He seemed focused, or was that fear.

"I expect a good fight from you Tallsqueak.

Please don't hold back.

Hit me with your best spell.

My husband Arlothe and I duel constantly and give no quarter."Her opponent just nodded at her, not speaking.

"I cast Cremona's Venom Bolt." In a real fight, she'd have simply pointed a finger, but the silly duels almost demanded that you shout out your spells or lose points.

Before she could finish casting her spell, an exploding skull went off at her feet, ruining her concentration and knocking her to the ground.The crowd exploded as all the students began shouting.

Arlothe motioned them to silence.

"Be quiet and observe.

If Tallsqueak had cheated, D'Camembert's Duel would have immediately told me.

You may all draw your own conclusions.

Tallsqueak, it is your turn to cast a spell."Tallsqueak waited while Cremona brushed herself off and regained her feet.

Her face was as blank as a master poker player.

Counter Spells were not unheard of, but a true Counter Attack ability was very rare for anyone in the lower Tiers.

Her own ability, Shield of Mana was something she used constantly against Arlothe to block his Storm Arc.

She wondered again what school Tallsqueak had attended.

And then all musings left her as he cast his first spell.

Magic surged from Tallsqueak as he empowered the runes of a bone harpoon.

They glowed bright enough that she got a glimpse of them, even at this distance.

Cremona used runic magic in composing her own spells.

In a pinch she had even devised new spells on the fly.

But she'd never seen these runes before! They were something different.

More primal.

She prepared Shield of Mana just in time, as the Harpoon of the Winds shrieked across the short distance towards her, too quick to avoid.

Magic Harpoon hit Magic Shield and both were destroyed.

Cremona was drained of over 300 mana and was knocked backwards by the force of the blow.

She got to her feet and was congratulating herself on stopping the spell as the second Harpoon of the Winds hit her in the shoulder, showering the area with blood and putting her on the ground again.She rose slowly, pulled the weapon from her shoulder and snapped it in half.

That had been a potentialy lethal spell if it hit her in the head.

Tallsqueak certainly wasn't holding back.

"Playing with Big boy spells and Fast Casting, are we? Good.

I like a challenge!""Toxic Razor Quills of Doom!"Tallsqueak saw a horde of razor-sharp projectiles streaking towards him.

Each one glowed an unhealthy green.

He dodged as best he could within the confined space, leaping upwards and rolling into a tight ball to present his back.

Acrobat, Uncanny Dodge, and Danger Sense gave him a superior chance to dodge the attack.

The Ring of the Scout Master gave him both a boost to Danger Sense and to his chance at dodging.

Only one of the dozen quills actually hit him.

You have been struck by a Poisonous Razor Quill.

This Strong Poison does 20 points of damage, greatly reduced by your Strong Poison Resistance.

Your blood has cleansed ongoing poison effects.