- My magic is weak, I'm a support mage, not an attack mage like you, and my bow skills are also nothing but a shame. - Afyera said in a quiet, subdued voice.
The sudden changes in the dark elf's behavior showed me that behind all her words was the fact that she did not feel her strength and perhaps was trying to hide behind her behavior from what was really troubling her.
- What kind of magic exactly can you use to enhance your targets? Who are you casting spells on? - I asked the dark elf, who was trying to avoid looking me in the eye.
The dark elf began listing the spells she possessed, many of which were neither powerful nor capable of influencing the battle, as Afyera and the girl standing next to her thought.
Mileen tried not to show her disdain for the dark elf's magic, but I could see her glancing at the rest of the team.
Falling silent, Afyera expected to hear us say we were unlucky to have her in our temporary squad, which I agreed with only in that she was our weakness, which our enemies would certainly try to exploit.
Turning her gaze to Mileen, who was about to say something, but seeing a slight smile on my face, she raised an eyebrow in surprise and then simply shook her head.
After asking the dark elf how far away and how many targets she could target with certain spells, a strategy began to form in my head.
- You know what kind of magic we use and how well we wield weapons, but we know you only wield dark magic and that's all. - Milin said, turning to me. - The captain doesn't want to share information about himself with his squad?
I could tell from the girl's voice that she was trying to provoke me into something. Smiling at her remark, I began explaining what magic I wielded and what spells I used, leaving out only the wyvern and my sword style.
The girl narrowed her eyes, trying to find something to distrust, but like everyone else at the academy, she had been there for that duel between me and the two princesses.
- I'll be honest with you, as Afiera said, she's our weak point in the squad. I said, seeing the dark elf look down as I continued. - But she's also someone no one will take seriously, not here, and especially not at the tournament.
The two girls looked at me with mixed emotions. One was incredulous, while the other thought I was mocking her.
I didn't know their positions in their main squads, but perhaps our temporary squad would force them to reconsider their strengths and weaknesses.
Smiling at them, I began explaining my strategy and the tactics that had come to mind after hearing everything the girls had said.
As I'd told them, the dark elf was our weakest member, but her underestimated nature and her magic were something we could take advantage of.
Milin and I were mages who wielded both magic and weapons, and the primary target would always be her and me, since getting rid of us would make the dark elf easy prey.
Her magic focused on supporting her teammates but also complicating matters for the enemy, making her one of those who inconvenienced opponents not with attack magic but with magic that forced them to lose concentration and avoid whatever was inconvenient them.
I didn't tell them that the strategy and tactics were based on the fact that the dark elf was not feared.
Listening to what I proposed as tactics and strategy, I could see how the faces of the two girls began to frown and cast thoughtful glances at each other.
- I doubt it'll work forever, but for one of the possibilities, it's not bad. - the girl said thoughtfully, nodding her head. - We can try it against other team members and see the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of this strategy and tactic.
The dark elf silently glanced between me and the girl, still trying to comprehend how she'd ended up playing such a crucial role in our strategy and tactics.
In the main squad, her magic was only called upon to cast spells on a squad member before a training battle.
Once the battle began, no one tried to protect her, and as a result, she was the first to be eliminated, leaving her comrades to fight in the minority.
- Okay, I agree to my role in this squad, Captain. - Afyera said uncertainly.
It was clear the girls weren't yet confident in my tactics and combat strategy, but I hoped they wouldn't try to do anything harmful.
I headed back to the rest of the squad, who were looking at us with a certain interest, the glances Samantha and Cassandra were casting at the girls that hinted at a desire to harm them.
- Have you discussed your tactics yet, Stufon Trey? - Filier said, not hiding his surprise, looking from me to the girls walking behind me.
Seeing my nod, the young man looked thoughtfully at the girls' faces; his gaze lingered on the unusually silent dark elf; throwing this oddity aside, the young man looked at the other members of the team.
- Okay, if you're ready, your first opponent will be Ka'Ula's squad. - the young man said, gesturing toward the fair elf next to whom the boy and girl were standing. - Proceed to the center, and on my signal, the training battle between you will begin.
Looking at the light elf, I noticed an unusual hairstyle that lightly brushed her shoulder, and her eyes had an emerald hue.
Her gaze radiated confidence. Without saying anything, she and her squadmates headed toward the center, skirting around us.
I wondered why Cassandra and Samantha hadn't mentioned that there were noble light elves among the team.
Glancing at the girls, my squadmates and I walked toward the center, where our future opponent awaited us.
Approaching the center, I examined the weapons our opponents held. The light elf held two daggers.
Looking at the other members of Ka'Ula's squad, one of them was armed with a small shield that covered his chest and legs, and in the other hand, he held a spear.
The girl held a small staff, more reminiscent of a toy given to children. I didn't feel any seriousness in the squad's gaze, they were relaxed, their gaze was aimed at the dark elf who was standing behind the girl and me.
- When you hear three, the battle begins. You must touch the academy emblem on your opponent's chest to win. - Filier's loud voice was heard. - You must not attempt to harm your opponent in a way that could take their life. Treat the fight as a tournament.
Listening to the team captain's voice, I looked closely at our opponents. I didn't know what kind of magic they possessed, and while I was considering my options, Filier fell silent.
- Three, the training battle between the teams of Stufon Trey and Stufon Ka'Ula begins. - The young man shouted.
After everyone heard the battle had begun, our opponents began to disperse in different directions. As I expected, two of the light elf's team immediately targeted me.
The third team member headed toward Milin, waiting for them to disperse. Their movement slowed, and they began to walk with greater difficulty, a change they didn't miss. I cast the next spell, covering us with a dome of darkness, and my sword, hiding us from the other team members' view.
Finding ourselves in the darkness, our opponents froze for a moment but began moving forward again when they felt water under their feet.
The light elf stopped, ordering the rest of her squad to halt, trying to keep me in sight, and began to look around.
She remembered the glance Ka'Ula cast at the dome of darkness, which she had seen during my duel with Cassandra and Samantha.
Wincing, she looked down and, seeing the water that covered the entire dome of darkness, she turned her gaze from the ground to the girl who was standing next to me.
- I thought your water magic was more powerful than summoning a puddle of water! - the light elf shouted defiantly, pointing to the ground where the water was barely visible. - Stufon Trey, is it true they say Princess Keirin completed your tasks for you?
Smiling at her words, I merely shook my head. The girl's attempt to unsettle me was blatant and had the potential to work against the arrogant member of this race.
Raising my dark sword toward the light elf, I took two quick steps toward her, wanting to close the distance. Unlike her partner, Ka'Ula saw my actions and began to retreat.
- Step back, Fiole, we can't let the half-elf get close enough to strike! - The light elf shouted to her companion, who was looking in confusion at her squad leader as she retreated.
Following Ka'Ula's orders, the girl began to retreat along with the squad leader, while I continued to advance, casting a quick glance at Milin, who was already fighting the young man who was trying to block the girl's blows with his shield. It was clear that due to the dark elf's magic, he was moving slower than he was used to.