Page 63 of House Ignis

A viper.

It moved like liquid moss beneath the sunlight, scales shimmering green and gold as it coiled upward. Higher. Higher.

At full height, it rose nearly to Darcy's chest—thick as a tree limb, with a tail that still circled the stone floor. Its hood flared wide, fangs gleaming wickedly as it hissed, tongue flicking.

Even Darcy blinked. "What the fuck," she muttered, not even attempting subtlety.

Then her opponent stepped forward. Rhea moved with effortless authority, the sun catching the deep, rich brown of her skin. Long black braids swayed behind her, emerald eyes fixed on the ring like she already owned the space within it. Her forest-green leathers fit like armor grown from the earth itself—House Terra.

"Alright, everyone," Professor Aldara called, stepping toward the barrier. "Meet Rhea and Vesper. And Darcy and Void. Ladies, you know the rules—duel until one pair is rendered unfit to continue. Five… four… three… two… one—go!"

Darcy struck first. A blade of shadow snapped from her hand, racing toward Rhea. Vesper reacted instantly; the viper launched in a blur of green, its body uncoiling with terrifying speed, fangs flashing. Void exploded from Darcy's collar like a shadow-detonation. Bat and serpent collided midair—wings slamming against scales as they twisted and crashed together, tumbling in a vicious knot of claws and venom.

Rhea didn't hesitate.

She drove her palm into the ground, and a wall of thorns erupted upward, snapping closed like a jaw. Darcy cursed as the barbs tore across her forearm, forcing her back. Blood dotted the dirt. She retaliated instantly—a spiral of darkness lashing toward Rhea's feet, shadows biting into stone and root alike.

Back and forth they went. Green and black magic clashed like jungle and storm—roots ripping through the arena floor, shadows cleaving them apart, venomous strikes met with razor-dark counters. I'd never seen Terra magic wielded with such lethal precision. Rhea wasn't wild; she was a surgeon.

Darcy's eyes hardened. With a sharp flick of her wrist, she summoned a dense cloud of shadow that swallowed half the ring whole. The stands erupted in gasps.

A shrill hiss cut through the darkness. Void burst from the fog, fangs sunk deep into Vesper's neck.

The viper screamed—a high, vibrating shriek—and whipped its tail around Void, crushing the bat midair. Darcy froze. The shadows thinned.

And Rhea struck.

Roots blasted from the ground like spears, wrapping around Darcy's legs and yanking her down hard. The impact knocked the breath from her lungs. The roots coiled tighter, pinning her flat against the dirt, locking her in place. Void dropped beside her, gasping. Vesper fell back, wounded but upright.

"Holy shit," Ember breathed beside me.

Professor Aldara stepped forward, his voice carrying effortlessly over the roaring crowd. "Over. Winner—Rhea Marcellis."

The arena exploded into cheers. Vesper uncoiled from Void's crumpled body.

The bat wheezed, dazed but very much alive. Rhea crossed the arena without so much as a smirk—no gloating, no theatrics. She extended a hand to her opponent.

Darcy took it, still breathing hard, a grin tugging at her mouth despite the bruises already blooming along her arm.

Rhea gave a slight bow, palms pressed together in a gesture of respect. And then—shockingly—Vesper leaned forward and gently tapped Void with the tip of his tail before slithering back to Rhea's side.

A collective "awww?" rippled through the crowd.

"Ooh, I know who she is," Maddy breathed beside me. "She's the High Priestess's daughter. From the Eldrethine Grove."

My stomach dropped. Not just talented. Sanctioned-by-the-gods talented.

Darcy returned to us beaming, cradling Void against her chest. The little bat looked half-flattened and absurdly pleased with himself.

"Well done, Darcy!" Maddy cheered, throwing her arms around her. "Your shadow work was insane."

Ryven high-fived her, flashing a grin, while Ezra gave her a single approving nod.

"Damn," Ryven muttered. "That Rhea girl is someone to watch."

"Hundred percent," Darcy agreed, still catching her breath. "She fights like she's been training since the womb."

More duels followed in a blur of elemental fury.