Author’s Note: Thanks for the correction, Shishio. The site I checked said Quest, but then again it might have been Crest. It's been too long for me to remember. Probably one of those tramslation/name copyright things.

Chapter 17: Mage Duel

There weren’t too many other mages competing past the Bretheren Arcanum. All of the elves they saw were much older than Dregan, and they saw no other Sir’Kai other than Zentarou. After a few rounds, the Bretheren and a strange, powerful elf were the only ones left, meaning they’d have to face each other for sure.

“This should be interesting,” Ora commented. “This is the most mages I’ve seen in one duel before.”

First up were Vivi and Zentarou.

“No hard feelings, no matter what,” Zentarou assured. “But I’m not going easy on you.” Vivi laughed.

“I wouldn’t want you to. It’s time to see if what you all said concerning my power was right.” The signal was given. “Flare!”

“Life Aura!” The offensive spell exploded around Zentarou, and when the smoke cleared they saw the aura had held. Then through it he cast on Vivi… forgetting until the last moment, even as his Aura expired, about the Black Mage’s Reflect, forcing him to have to dodge his own spell. Vivi’s sons and friend cheered.

“That will make this more difficult on Zentarou,” Syn’Rae laughed. Vivi chuckled.

“I was just having fun.” He dropped the reflect, then unleashed Fira. Zentarou countered with a water attack, creating a gout of steam. When it cleared enough for the crowd to see, Vivi was already sending in another Flare. Zentarou didn’t see it coming in time and fell to the powerful spell. Vivi was the victor.

“You okay?” Vivi asked as he helped Zentarou. The cat smiled.

“I’m fine, but remind me to never get in front of that spell again.” They laughed.

Dregan next entered the arena, to be opposed by the elf. Savander suddenly began to whimper fitfully.

“It’s okay, sweetie,” Layrina soothed. “He’ll be fine.”

“Yeah,” Kest joked. “Dregan won’t hurt him too much.” Still Savander fussed squirming and whimpering. Evarion looked at him, then eyes the combatants as the signal was given. They began casting, Dregan unleashing Fireball, the elf using Lightening Strike, both fairly normal spells. But when the bolt hit Dregan, he went flying. Savander was in tears at this point, as his father hit the ground and didn’t get up.

“Wow!” Zidane gasped. “One spell! Vivi might be in trouble.” The elf mage cautiously approached his fallen opponent, the tip of his staff dragging in the dirt. As he got closer, Savander shrieked.

“Cedras,” Evarion said quickly, “true or lie: This isn’t what it seems, and Dregan is in mortal danger.” Cedras paled.

“By Lokeru! True!” Instantly Zentor shouted, calling a halt to the competition as all the guests and Cat family males sprang up and over the arena wall to the ground. The elf looked around, seeing what was going on, then swiftly flipped his staff out of the dirt to ‘point’ at Dregan, and indeed the butt of the staff was sharpened to a glistening spike. He lifted it to jam it through the prone, helpless elf.

“Agaru’Gurtha!” The sentient blade flew from Evarion’s hand to strike away the staff, as Zentarou’s Life Aura enveloped Dregan and the Bretheren ran out to join the fight and the rest had gotten nearer. Quatrill gasped.

“Demon! He’s a demon!” The elf grinned malevolently and polymorphed into a demon unlike anything the three Bretheren had ever seen before. His hide was fire red, blood red, and he stood at least fifteen feet tall. Most noticeably was a pendant that hung around his neck, a triangle embossed with a skeletal hand clenching a scythe. With a motion he summoned two more smaller demon allies.

"We'll take the big guy," Kest called as the people in the stands screamed and began to flee. "Just keep his buddies off of us!" Realizing that the Syndisian Sword Company were more experienced than they, the rest split up into two groups, one taking each demon. Zentor broke away from the groups to position himself defensively near Dregan, shield up, and Cringer joined him to 'guard' the prone elf (or hide, whichever).

The demons didn't stand a chance.

First one, then the second fell to the combined might of the heroes of the three worlds and their steel and spells, and then they all teamed up against the head demon. Soon it dropped to its knees and began to glow bright red.

"Back! Everyone back!" Aerderwyn cried. Zentor positioned himself more between Dregan and the demon and set his stance, shouting,

"Invincible unmovable!" The rest scattered as the demon shrieked,

"Lord Ri - !" and exploded. When the smoke cleared, the paladin king stood where he'd been, unharmed thanks to the deific gift bestowed upon those defensive paladins, and thus Dregan and Cringer behind were unharmed.

"Don't run out there!" they heard Valian cry, and looked to see Savander darting across the arena grounds as fast as his legs could carry him.

"Savander, stop!" Zentarou called, moving to intercept him. "You can't cross the - " Savander ran right through the blue aura protecting Dregan like it wasn't there. "...Life... Aura?"

"That's Savander," Layrina said simply as her son dropped to his knees and huggled his father, whimpering softly. Zentarou dropped the Aura as everyone crowded around.

"Why isn't he waking up?" Lily asked, sounding worried and frightened. Cedras held out a hand and concentrated, then nodded to himself.

"He's in shock. I think that bolt had some unholy elements in it."

"Maybe this will help," Garnet offered, lifting her staff and casing Curaga, as everyone was a little injured. Sure enough, Dregan's eyelids fluttered, then opened as he groaned.

"What... happened?" he asked as Savander hugged him again and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"A demon tried to take you out," Kest explained as he helped Dregan stand.

"Again?"

"I doubt this has anything to do with the Bretheren." Quatrill's tone was grim. "Kest, what the demon yelled before he died... Do you think...?" The Kheledi's expression was fierce.

"I'd bet Lindithil on it. Riven is to blame this time around." The mention of 'Riven' had a curious effect on the normally fearless Alaya: she gasped and began to tremble violently.

"You... you don't mean - Riven Archangel, do you?" Those from Sindaya looked at her in surprise. "I had a dream - a vision - about him, and it's haunted me ever since." Syn'Rae hugged her comfortingly.

"Could he be the one after us?" Vivi asked Dregan.

"I pray to all the gods of good no."

"Trolly-Molly, is he that powerful?"

"Only one person has fought against Riven and lived... and he was unconscious in a coma for three days after." As he spoke, Dregan's gaze went to Kest. In the silence that followed, everyone realized that they'd had an audience for the battle, namely those spectators that weren't able to flee. They looked to be caught between amazement and fear, seeking their king for what to do, unsure as to what they'd witnessed.

"Allow me, your majesty," Kest said, that sparkle back in his eyes. He stepped a bit away, used a small spell, then said in a amplified voice, "Thank you, all, for watching out little show! We hope you enjoyed it, and after a small break to let the mages rest, the Mage Duel will continue." The crowd, believing the elf's words, burst into applause as Zentor whispered to Kest,

"Normally I'm for honesty towards my people, but in this case, perhaps it is for the best." They all took a bow.

-------------------------------

Author’s Post Note: I believe I have received a review from someone under the name Riven before. This is just to say that Riven Archangel is a creation of my husband, and might just pop up later.