The next day was Friday, one that would precede a three-day weekend as the faculty would be holding meetings that Monday. Every student was anxious to walk out the doors that afternoon and get to their weekend shenanigans.
That time had now come, and Ian was walking down the hallway with his friends from science class: Sadalia, an elf; Althea, a cyclops; Gurge, a troll; and Parthenope, a satyr.
"Man, that test was no joke," Gurge says. "I could've sworn we went through that study guide together at least ten times."
"Dewthorn really likes toughening up her tests," says Althea. "I just hope I at least passed."
"At least it's all over now and we can just relax for three days," Sadalia says. "Are you guys still up for going to the park?"
The other four respond with "yeah", with Ian adding "I have to get back early enough for dinner, we're making roasted griffin and I have to help."
"We won't be there for long, it's just that it's such a nice day we wouldn't want to miss the opportunity," Sadalia tells him. "I think we all just need a good mental break."
"Don't I know," the wizard says. "I'm just...relieved that things are somewhat going back to normal for me."
"Well, I'd imagine it would be hard to recover from something like that..." she says. "Just don't rush yourself. What you went through was horrible."
Ian sighs as the five of them walk out of the front entrance.
"It's just that I rebuilt this school and yet the same people who were happy for me now can't stop staring at me because I was in shock during a fight and I was somehow responsible for my brother getting stabbed. They weren't there, yet they choose to harass me about it."
"Just try not to think about it, Ian," Parthenope says. "Enough time will pass to where no one will care anymore and you can just forget about it. Besides, we'll always support you."
She, Gurge, Althea, and Sadalia wrap the wizard up in a group hug. "Aw, guys, you don't have to," Ian says, blushing heavily.
Just as they start making their trek to the park, they see a figure walking towards them from down the street; an elf nearly Ian's height with darker blue skin than him and wavy, shoulder-length purple hair that was shaven on one side. He has a nose piercing, and dark blue eyes. He's also skinny like him but had a good deal of muscle.
"Is that a new student?" Althea asks. "I haven't heard anything about a new student," Gurge says. "Does he even go here?"
The elf walks closer to the group, obviously focusing on Ian.
"Chantar's Talon, not again..." Ian mutters under his breath.
"You must be Ian Lightfoot?" the nose-pierced elf starts. He speaks in a very upfront and loud tone, causing the students around him to quiet their chatter and look upon the scene.
The wizard gulps before answering "Yeah, yeah I am. Um, who are you?".
"I'm Chardyr Dalamin, a junior, I've just moved to this area, and I go to Silver Creek on the other side of town," the short-haired elf says. "I've come here to see you up close, and it seems like my efforts didn't disappoint."
Why is he talking like that? Ian thinks to himself.
"Here he is in front of me," Chardyr continues. "...the wizard who both destroyed and rebuilt this school with his staff, restoring magic to the realm."
"Well, technically I didn't destroy the school, that happened when we took the-" "I don't need to hear any technicalities, it still happened because of you two. And I will say that was very bold of you...putting yourself out there, risking your life to save the town, and see your father..."
"Uh...thanks?" Ian mutters, not finding what words to say.
"You see, I'm also a wizard," Chardyr says, pulling out his staff, long and thin with an intricately carved tip. "I'm glad to see there were other people in this realm interested in bringing back the magic."
Ian hesitantly smiles, still not knowing what to make of his intimidating attitude.
"Well, it's good to know there are other wizards around...I thought I would've been one of the last ones or something," the 16-year-old says.
"There are definitely many more..." The purple-haired elf says, striking his staff on the concrete ground. Suddenly, Ian started to slowly float up in the air, much to his shock, as he let out a yelp. The surrounding students were in awe.
"Y-you...you can do...silent magic..." Ian stutters.
"What can I say? I've dedicated my time to practice, long before your battle," Chardyr says as he slowly lets down the elf.
"W-woah..." Ian whispers. "Where are you from?"
"The Central Realm, from the town of Blackmount," he states. "Magic runs in my family, and we're very proud. And now that you've made the news...I'd like for you to prove something."
The smile disappears from Ian's face, as he doesn't seem like he'll stay nice after all.
"If you're really so strong and so powerful as you think...then why don't we see about that?"
"...Wait, what? I-I..." "If you couldn't even bear to take your staff with you to take out those two crooks, are you really a loud and proud wizard?"
"...Look, you don't understand, I can't take my staff to school, or I'm dead-" "Oh, so you feel the need to give in to your parents?"
Some of the other students start to snicker. Ian's stomach drops again, as he now doesn't know what to say. He tries to gather the words in his head, but he feels a tug from behind him and sees that it's Sadalia.
"Ian, let's go, let's get away from this," she whispers. "I just now thought of what to tell him," he whispers back. "It's going to be fine."
"Look, man, I know you're powerful and all that and you've been doing this longer than I have, but I don't need someone else to tell me how powerful I am," Ian says to Chardyr. "I know I'm good enough."
"You only say that because your brother says so," Chardyr says back as Ian turns to walk away, and then stops in his tracks. The other students turn their heads to look at the lanky elf.
"He'll always agree with everything you do, no matter what..."
Ian feels a lump in his throat, along with the rage and fear that's running through his body.
"That's not true," he says, turning back to Chardyr. "He knows I'm not perfect and that I can do better and-" "I've heard enough."
Chardyr walks closer to Ian, tapping the tip of his staff on the other's shoulder. Ian breathes rapidly while looking up at Chardyr's face, now beginning to feel lightheaded.
"I'd like for the two of us to have...a duel."
The rest of the students gasp upon hearing this.
Ian gasps as well, his eyes going wide.
"In order to prove which wizard will come out on top...we will need to duel. Do you accept?"
Ian looks around, trying to process everything. Every student in the front yard was staring at him, eagerly waiting for a yes.
"Ian, please, you don't have to give in," he hears Parthenope behind him. He feels Sadalia tugging on his shoulder again.
The students start chattering among themselves. He stares at the ground, as his sight becomes blurred. His heart is beating fast. He can't slow his breathing, everything feels like it's going numb.
He shuts his eyes tightly and opens them again before looking up at Chardyr and saying "I'm in."
The lean elf smiles, stepping back from him.
"It's settled, then. Tonight at 7 sharp, Whitcrest Park."
"Wait, tonight? I don't have time to prepare, or-" "It's settled."
Ian steps back, fully realizing what decision he just made.
"See you then."
Chardyr turns away and walks back down the street. The students look back at Ian without a word.
"...Uh, sorry guys, I can't hang out anymore, but I hope you all have a good time at the park, bye!" Ian stammers to his friends before running to the east side of the school and back to his car.
He slams the car door after getting in, and out of rage he punches the steering wheel, triggering the horn.
"Agh, Gargamon's Tail, what have I done?" he shouts to himself while grabbing his hair.
He slumps down in his seat.
"What have I done?" he repeats.
He feels a vibration in his pocket.
Pulling out his phone, he sees that it's the usual text from Barley.
"Afternoon, dear brother! How was your day of education?"
He replies: "Like any other boring day."
He puts his phone back in his pocket, then starts his car and heads out of there as fast as he could.
Barley can't find out about this.
"...And that's your Uncle Frildar, haha..."
As he walks through the front door, Ian sees Laurel and Barley sitting on the couch looking at old photo albums.
"He doesn't seem very familiar to me," Barley says. "Have I met him before?"
"You saw him a few times when you were very little," Laurel answers. "But it wasn't a secret he was something of a wild card. Around the time Dad got sick, he disappeared to who knows where and we haven't had contact with him since."
"Is he..?" The burly elf mutters.
"We still don't really know," the she-elf says. "Like I said, he had a few screws loose. Maybe he'll come back someday, but...it's been 16 years."
"Family mysteries..." Barley whispers.
"Hey guys," Ian says, peeking into the living room. "Hey Ian!" says his brother. "We're looking at some of these old photo albums. There's so much more old pics of me and Dad!"
"I'll check those out later, I gotta get started on some homework," the younger elf says as he starts heading up the stairs.
"Alright, well, just be back in time for roast griffin later!" Laurel calls to him.
The wizard shuts the door behind him, and grabs his staff where it always stays.
"Gods above, give me strength," he whispers while gripping his staff.
A wave of nausea hits him and he sits down on his bed.
Is this pity nausea? Stress nausea? Is he just sick? All of the above? He can't tell.
All he knows is that he could either come out of this duel dead or alive...and considering his experience, it might as well be the former.
Sure, he's learned many more spells since he found out he was a wizard...but not to the level of Chardyr.
All he can do is do what he can.
At dinner, Ian could barely make a dent in his roast griffin. The waves of nausea kept coming, and he was sure if he put anything in his mouth, he would lose everything he'd eaten today.
"Ian, are you feeling okay, sweetie?" his mother finally asks him.
"Oh, uh, I'm feeling fine, really. It's just...you know, I've had this stress from school, and tonight it's taken a toll on my appetite...?"
"...That's strange, you always scarf down your roast griffin. Are you sure you feel like going to the park?"
"I do, Mom. It's nothing."
"Well, guess that's more for me!" Colt says, taking a bite off of Ian's dish.
The wizard looks at his brother, who'd just finished every bite off his plate and was looking back at him with concern.
"Do you really wanna walk by yourself to the park?" he asks. "It's already starting to get dark, and-" "Barley, I'm fine."
"Just remember, Ian, you have to be back right at 8, understand?" his mother says sternly. "Yeah, I know..."
The young elf looks at his watch: it's already 6:30.
"I'll go ahead and go, my friends are probably waiting for me," Ian says.
"Have fun, and be extra careful, you hear?" Colt tells him as he stands up from his chair. "Yes, yes I know..."
The elf walks towards the front door, and waits for his family to look away from him. He sneakily grabs his staff leaning on the wall where he put it earlier, and then heads out the door into the evening breeze.
It was time.