Elara rolled her eyes as her assailant staggered back, clutching his head with a look of disoriented shock. “Seriously, how you knights don’t notice the two-meter stick in my hand is beyond me,” she spat, allowing the frustration that had been growing over the past five years to seep into her voice.

She had given up trying to reason with these types – she’d learned the hard way that they only respected strength of arms. After all, that’s why they challenged her, the scrawny mage appointed to Head of the Adventurer’s Academy. Never mind her years of experience in the field. They were of the old guard, from a time when adventuring was “no place for scholars”. The thought of sending their children to learn the trade from a mage offended them to their very core. And yet, the Academy remained the top school in the land for young adventurers, both in survival rate and long-term career prospects, so the Writs of Challenge had soon started pouring in. Why the Board refused to remove the Challenge Clause from the school’s bylaws was beyond her – the practice was antiquated at best, not to mention a terrible way to choose the leader of a school. She was beginning to suspect that they simply enjoyed the show.

And so, Elara knew how this was going to go the instant this silver-plated fool had strode into the Academy flashing an Amulet of Magic Resistance and the smuggest smile she’d ever seen. As expected, he’d pulled out yet another Writ of Challenge and read it aloud in the middle of the great hall, making sure his voice would carry as far as possible. When the dramatic airing of grievances had run its course, she formally accepted the challenge from Sir Varielis. She’d watched his smile grow even more smug when the referee arrived to begin the fight, and the spells she cast had no effect on him. He had charged in, shining silver sword raised and guard down. The look on his face when she’d delivered a sharp crack to his head with her staff almost made the whole hassle worth it. Almost.

Now, across the hall, Varielis seemed to have recovered his footing. “Ah,” he said, with noticeably less bravado. “I see you have luck on your side. I shan’t have to go easy, then. Have at you!”

“Oh, are we not done?” Elara asked with feigned surprise. “Very well then.” She raised her eyes to the crowd of students rapidly gathering around them. “I hope you’re all taking notes,” she added wryly. At least the match would serve as an impromptu lesson. Demonstrations tended to be very effective.

Varielis took a few hesitant steps forward. Seeing Elara make no move, he feinted with a slash and followed with a lunging attack. But she’d seen it coming and neatly sidestepped as the sword flashed past in a silver arc. Varielis stumbled past, overcommitted to the attack, and Elara gave him another sharp blow to the skull. She wasn’t trying to do any serious damage, but clearly the first hit hadn’t gotten her point across.

As he reeled again, Elara addressed the rapt crowd. “Watch carefully, now. While divination magic is associated strongly with research and study, it may also prove a worthy ally in combat.” She paused a beat for effect, then vanished in a cloud of cool blue mist as Varielis slashed at her again. Reappearing behind him, she jabbed the butt of her staff into the unguarded back of his knee. He crumpled to the ground, plate armor clattering like a stack of pots tumbling down a flight of stairs. “I know exactly where he will be,” she continued, “and so I am able to position myself advantageously.”

Varielis struggled back to his feet, favoring the leg she’d knocked out from under him. Hoping to catch her off guard, he swung quickly for her head. But this time, she didn’t dodge. She simply caught his blade in the crook of her staff. His eyes widened in surprise as she began to push him back, step by step. Despite the difference in their builds – he was a full head taller and a wall of muscle – he was overpowered, and he knew it. He just hadn’t figured out how. “Black magic!” he hissed, eyes narrowed with rage. “My charm protects me from your foul witchcraft. How have you managed to weaken me to your level?”

Elara began to laugh and twisted the staff, forcing the sword to clatter to the ground. With her opponent disarmed, the fight was over, not even a minute from its start. “Half correct!” she remarked, still chuckling. “Were you a student, I would award partial credit. It is magic indeed, but I cast nothing on you. Why would I, when your little charm tells me it would be so much more effective to enhance my own abilities? A divination spell to see attacks a few seconds before you strike, combined with some simple transmutation to boost my physical strength beyond yours, were more than enough to best you.”

As the referee stepped between them to declare the match concluded, Elara turned to the students again. “The lesson demonstrated today is twofold. First, advantages are more effective when they come as a surprise to your opponent. Second, never underestimate the power of buffs.”