[3rd Person POV]

Wilhelm, caught off-guard by the thick layer of ice that suddenly covered the ground below him, failed to react quickly and had his feet trapped by the ice. In his panic, the spell he prepared failed to activate and the magic circle disappeared.

Tsk!

He quickly tried to regain himself and prepare another spell to break the ice on his feet, but he didn't have a chance.

As Alterisa descended back to earth, a pair of shoes made of ice with blades attached under its soles appeared on her feet, and she began gliding and skating along the frozen ground.

What is that?!

"Icicles!"

"Tch. Earth Wall!"

Wilhelm, who was about to cast an earth wall under him to lift him off the ground and break out of the ice, was forced to cast it in front of him to protect himself from the barrage of icicles heading towards him at scarily incredible speed.

The wall of earth burst through the ground, shattering the layer of ice above it, and protected him from Alterisa's icicles.

Wilhelm calmed down for a moment. He felt relieved that he was able to block Alterisa's attack.

Although the spell that froze the entire ground surprised him, it didn't do much other than trapping him in his spot. He could destroy the layer of ice below him at any time and escape. Then, he will be able to counterattack.

But at that moment, two curved ramps suddenly appeared at his flanks. He wondered what they were. It doesn't seem like a direct attack to him.

As he thought of this, he heard his opponent's beautiful, bell-like voice shouting yet another spell.

"Water Spear!"

The spear made of water struck his earth wall, but it didn't do that much damage.

Hmph, perhaps she is a fool after all. Who would use a water spear to pierce a wall made of earth?

Wilhelm began preparing another spell. This time, he'll be using "Rock Shoot" and aim for her when she'll be using the ramps on his sides.

He waited, but she never came. He concentrated on the sound of her movement, and he heard her getting closer and closer.

Until suddenly, she appeared above him.

"Icicles!"

Like an angel flying in mid-air, she shoot out all the icicles that floated behind her towards him.

This is bad!

"Earth Shield!"

Solid earth appeared on his arms as he covered himself from the rain of icicles above him.

This is ridiculous! Never in his wildest dreams would he ever expect that daughter of the prime minister to suddenly appear over the tall wall of earth before him!

Then it suddenly hit him. That water spear... Did she cast it to distract him and then build a third ramp in front of his earth wall?!

He had been completely fooled! The two ramps at his flanks were both decoys for him to believe that she'll use it for her next attack!

Alterisa landed back on the ground skated away with a spear made of ice in her hand. She waved her hands and created more ramps, then rode one and flew into the air.

Her glossy silver hair glimmered in the light as she flew. She smiled brilliantly as she spun in mid air before landing back to the ground.

Beautiful...

Wilhelm stood frozen in awe as she watched the fairy fly and glide on the glittering ice. But, he quickly shook his head and snapped out of his daze in a hurry.

I can't get distracted!

"Water spear!"

Wilhelm deftly dodged the spear of water that came from behind him, causing it to hit the earth wall in front.

I can't do anything with this ice trapping me.

Deciding what he needed to do immediately, Wilhelm shoot the ice that trapped his feet with "Rock shoot", causing it to shatter.

Good, now I can move. But I still need to be careful. This ice is very slippery...

Now he understood why Alterisa cast this spell. It was not only meant to trap him in a layer of ice, but to also steal his mobility while increasing her as she can glide around on ice.

He had to admit, she is a very smart tactician for her age.

But, now that he is free, he'll be able to move much more even though he was still limited due to the slippery ice.

He took a deep breath and locked his gaze onto Alterisa. Then, he placed his hands on the frozen ground and shouted.

"Earth Spike!"

Sharp protruding tall spikes suddenly burst forth from the ground in a line towards the direction of Alterisa.

It traveled extremely quickly, but Alterisa simply went to one of her ramps and launched into the sky.

As she flew, she shot out water spears towards Wilhelm. However, he simply stood behind the earth wall he had made, causing the spears of water to hit it instead of him.

She's using more water spells. Perhaps she is not as proficient in ice than she is in water...

If that was the case, then it will be simple for him. After all, no matter how powerful her water was, she will not be able to destroy his earth defenses.

It will only be a matter of time before she runs out of mana and stamina, and loses.

Wilhelm continued to shoot his rocks and cast various offensive spells towards Altersia that she simply dodge or countered with her ice spells.

But as they went on, Wilhelm began feeling a sense of uncomfort from Alterisa. It felt like... she was waiting for something.

Alterisa continued to attack him using water spells, which led him to believe that she's more proficient with water than ice.

But, one time when he almost succeeded in hitting her with his rock bullets, she managed to destroy each and every one of them with her icicles. Such a thing shouldn't be possible without tremendous aiming accuracy that would allow her to hit a quickly flying object, and great control in her magic.

But, if she's that skilled with ice, why isn't she attacking him with more ice magic?

Wilhelm peaked around his earth wall, though he didn't stick to it as he didn't want to soil his clothes with mud. He saw Alterisa just happily enjoying her time, gliding on the ice with icicles floated around her and a frozen spear in her hand.

He admit, she looked like a very lovely ice fairy right now. But, he was still confused. Just what is she planning?

It has been more than 20 minutes since the start of the duel, and they both have been casting spells after spells, one after another. She must be beginning to run out of mana and getting tired as even he was beginning to breathe heavily.

But, she looked completely fine! She didn't even seem to be running out of mana, and she has been raining icicles at him and making all these ice ramps all this time! Not to mention the water spears she has been shooting at this earth wall. Could she have a greater mana capacity than him?

This is not good...

If that was the case, then he must defeat her quickly.

Wilhelm prepared his best intermediate-ranked spell. A large magic circle appeared from below him.

This sight and his raising magic might alert Alterisa, but that wouldn't matter. It would be too late for her.

He could hear her coming towards him from behind his earth wall. It seems she wanted to attack him from above again, but she wouldn't have her chance. His spell was complete.

With a deep breath, Wilhelm opened his eyes and cast his spell.

"Ragnar spear!!!!"

Numerous columns of earth burst forth from the ground, aiming towards Alterisa one after another.

He felt bad, but at most, she'll only be knocked out for a moment. This is a magic duel after all, and he's sure Lawliela-sama can heal her using her incredible water healing magic.

He slowly took a peek from behind his earth wall to see if she had already been hit by the numerous columns of rocks that he aimed toward her. But, he froze in shock.

With movements that should be impossible for a five-year-old, she was deftly dodging each and every rock column going straight at her as she glided along the ice.

It was like... a dance. She was dodging all of the columns as if they were a part of her choreography.

I-Impossible...

Wilhelm unconsciously stepped back as he trembled and slipped, falling onto his bottom.

Then, he heard her beautiful voice once again.

"Freeze!!!"

A small crack suddenly appeared on his earth wall, and slowly became bigger and bigger, until finally, it shattered with a resounding boom.

Then, as the shattered earth that has been partly frozen fall, he saw her heavenly figure flying towards him with a spear of ice in hand.

She landed before him and pointed the tip of his spear in front of his face.

Seeing this sight, he knew he had lost.

He had lost for the first time in his life. He had lost in a magic duel.

But somehow, he didn't feel bad. He didn't feel the bitterness of defeat. He didn't feel the coldness of the ice that defeated him.

All he could feel was the loud thumping in his chest and the warm sensation that slowly crept up his cheeks.







AN:

"Pheeeww~ That was a good skate~ Ufufufu, it has been a while since I did that. It felt good!!!!"

You played around too much, Risa... You'll have muscle pain starting from tomorrow...

"Shush! You know nothing, author! I've been called the prince of ice, you know! Hana and Kazuto can vouch for my skills!"

N-No, I'm not doubting your skills... Well, don't blame me if you can't move tomorrow...

Hah... I've already told her that she'll be in pain if she plays for too long, but she kept on asking me to make it a long fight. What a spoiled girl she is...

The author watched helplessly as the silver-haired girl laughed in an unladylike manner.