“No!” Cecil exclaimed as he watched the wave of flames engulf his friend.Next to him, Julie squeaked, falling off her chair from his sudden shout. He briefly glanced down at her as he rubbed her back.“S-sorry, you scared me,” she said, before picking herself up.He didn’t respond, although he gave her an apologetic nod. The two of them had never spoken before, but they were both friends of Eli. And during the entire battle, they had both been silently yet nervously watching as their friend somehow kept up with the greater spirit with the help of some potions and artifacts.But now, the tide of the battle had turned as the spectral sentinel unleashed a pulse of flames that washed over Eli. The entire audience was gripped in silence as they watched this happen. Even Prince Claudius remained quiet as a sense of nervousness about their classmate’s fate washed over everyone in the arena.Peeking over the stands, Julie stared down at the dissipating flames, eyeing Eli’s silhouette through the smoke.“Is he… alive?” she asked apprehensively.Cecil narrowed his eyes as the smoke cleared. And standing there, body half-burnt, right arm limply hanging from the shoulder, was Eli.The young boy was panting as he stood behind a collapsing barrier of white light. Whatever that protective spell was, it must have taken the brunt of the attack. The pale silver fire that was coating his body from earlier also faded away as he straightened, before a golden light washed over him as he started to heal himself.“He’s still standing!” Julie exclaimed, wide-eyed (...)