### Chapter 7: A Duel of Flames
The morning sun barely filtered through the fog as Caden made his way to the training grounds. The academy seemed quieter than usual, the usual buzz of students dulled by the looming tension. He knew why. The day before, Darren had sent word: a formal duel was set between them, one that would decide who truly held power at the academy.
Caden’s fingers twitched as he walked, his palms sweaty beneath the cool morning breeze. The prospect of facing Darren in a duel wasn’t something he had ever wanted, but it was inevitable. He could only deflect for so long, and yesterday’s thinly veiled threats from Alex confirmed that Darren wouldn’t stop until this was settled.
“Are you sure about this?” Lira’s voice broke through his thoughts as she caught up with him, her face etched with worry.
Caden didn’t slow his pace. “Do I have a choice?”
“You could still refuse. There’s no rule that says you have to accept every challenge.”
He shook his head, feeling the weight of her words. “You know that’s not how it works. Darren’s been itching for this, and the more I avoid him, the more everyone else will think I’m scared.”
Lira grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop. Her usually fierce eyes were softened with concern. “And what if he’s been planning this all along? What if this duel is exactly what he needs to prove you’re just...”
“Just what?” Caden asked, his voice low.
Her silence lingered for a moment before she sighed, releasing his arm. “Nothing. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
Caden glanced at her, feeling the unspoken weight of her worry settle between them. Lira had always been the one who pushed him forward, the one who believed in his potential. But now, for the first time, he saw fear in her eyes—fear for him.
“I’m not going to lose,” he said softly, trying to sound more confident than he felt. “I’ve been preparing for this, Lira. I have to face him eventually, and today’s as good a time as any.”
She looked at him, her lips pressing into a thin line, but she nodded. “Just... be careful, okay?”
“I will.”
The training grounds were already crowded with students when they arrived. Word of the duel had spread fast, and the air was thick with anticipation. Finn was waiting for them near the edge of the field, his usual carefree attitude replaced with a rare look of concern.
“This is crazy,” Finn muttered as Caden approached. “I don’t like this, man. Darren’s been looking for a way to take you down for weeks.”
“I know,” Caden replied, his voice steady. “But it’s time I stop running from him.”
The crowd parted slightly as Darren arrived, his black uniform pristine, a smirk on his lips that radiated arrogance. His group of lackeys followed close behind, their eyes gleaming with excitement at the thought of their leader’s impending victory.
“Well, well, the duke’s youngest finally shows his face,” Darren called out as he stepped into the center of the training ground. “I was starting to think you’d run off.”
Caden met his gaze, forcing himself to remain calm. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
Darren chuckled darkly, drawing his wand with a flourish. “You might have bested me in words, Caden, but today, it’s power that matters. Let’s see if your brain can keep up with your spells.”
The crowd hushed as both Caden and Darren stepped into position, facing each other across the expanse of the training ground. The dueling instructor, a stern-faced professor named Valen, stood between them, his arms crossed.
“This is a formal duel between Caden Vael, son of Duke Vael, and Darren Valmont,” Valen announced, his voice ringing out across the field. “Both participants have agreed to the terms. No lethal magic, and the duel will continue until one participant yields or is incapacitated. Do you both understand?”
Caden and Darren nodded in unison.
“Then begin.”
Darren didn’t waste a second. With a sharp motion, he unleashed a torrent of fire from his wand, the flames spiraling toward Caden with fierce intensity. Caden barely had time to react, throwing up a barrier of shimmering blue light that absorbed the attack.
*He’s not holding back.* Caden’s heart pounded as he braced himself for the next assault.
“You’re slow, Caden!” Darren taunted, circling him like a predator stalking its prey. “Is this all you’ve got?”
Caden’s mind raced. He couldn’t rely on raw power—Darren had more experience with offensive spells. But Caden’s strength had always been in his strategic mind. He needed to find a way to outthink Darren, to turn his arrogance against him.
As Darren prepared another spell, Caden muttered an incantation under his breath, sending a shockwave of wind toward his opponent. It wasn’t meant to damage—it was meant to distract. Darren stumbled slightly, caught off guard by the sudden change in tactics.
Caden used the opening to his advantage, summoning a series of illusionary copies of himself. In an instant, five identical Cadens stood before Darren, all moving in perfect synchronization.
“Is that supposed to scare me?” Darren sneered, his wand crackling with energy. “I can see right through your tricks.”
He unleashed a barrage of lightning, striking one of the illusions, which dissolved instantly. But before Darren could react, the real Caden appeared behind him, casting a freezing spell that encased Darren’s legs in ice.
Darren growled in frustration, shattering the ice with a burst of fire, but his movements were slower now, his steps more cautious. The crowd gasped, murmuring as they watched the tides of the duel shift.
“You’re not the only one with power, Darren,” Caden said, his voice calm but firm. “But you rely too much on brute strength. That’s why you’ll never be a true mage.”
Darren’s face twisted with rage, his wand glowing brighter as he prepared his next attack. “You arrogant little—”
Before Darren could finish, Caden released a binding spell, roots of magical energy shooting up from the ground and wrapping around Darren’s arms and legs, holding him in place. The crowd gasped, eyes widening as they realized that Caden had managed to trap Darren.
“Yield,” Caden said, his voice cold and steady. “You’ve already lost.”
Darren struggled against the binds, his face contorted with fury. “I’ll never yield to someone like you!”
Caden’s heart pounded, but he forced himself to remain calm. This was it—the moment he had been building toward. He could end the duel here, prove that he wasn’t just the youngest son of a duke, that he had earned his place at the academy.
But as he looked at Darren, thrashing against the magical binds, something shifted inside him. Winning wasn’t about humiliating Darren or proving his own worth to the academy. It was about standing his ground, about showing that he didn’t need to rely on raw power to be strong.
With a flick of his wand, Caden released the spell, the magical binds dissolving into the air. Darren fell to his knees, panting heavily, his face red with embarrassment.
“You could’ve beaten me,” Darren muttered, glaring up at Caden. “Why didn’t you?”
Caden stepped forward, his voice soft but resolute. “Because winning isn’t just about being stronger than your opponent. It’s about knowing when to stop.”
Darren’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing, his gaze filled with a mix of confusion and resentment.
Valen stepped forward, raising his hand to signal the end of the duel. “The match is over. Caden Vael is the victor.”
The crowd erupted into murmurs, some in awe, others in disbelief. Caden’s chest heaved with adrenaline, but there was no satisfaction in the victory. He had won, but the cost felt heavier than he had anticipated.
Lira and Finn rushed to his side, their faces filled with relief.
“You did it!” Finn exclaimed, clapping Caden on the back. “I knew you had it in you!”
Caden forced a smile, but his mind was elsewhere. Darren’s words echoed in his thoughts, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t over—that there was more to come.
Lira stepped closer, her eyes searching his face. “Are you okay?”
Caden nodded slowly, though his heart still raced. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
But deep down, he knew that this was just the beginning.
As they walked away from the training grounds, Caden glanced back at Darren, who remained kneeling in the dirt, his fists clenched in silent rage. There was no doubt in Caden’s mind—Darren would be back. And next time, the stakes would be even higher.
But for now, Caden had proven what he needed to prove. He wasn’t just the youngest son of a duke. He was his own person, and he had earned his place at the academy.