Iah PoV

I munched on chips as I watched Adela approach the ring from the comfort of my room. They had finally finished fixing it after the massive battle prior.

Sigh. I probably would be no match against Burai if even Lei couldn't defeat him. Hopefully, Adela could defeat her opponent and represent us exchange students.

I frowned a little. 'Us,' there was no 'Us' anymore. I was no longer a student at Nine Petal, and the thought felt strange and hollow. I missed the camaraderie, the sense of belonging, and the thrill of being part of something bigger than myself.

Adela took a deep breath and joined her opponent in the ring. Koharu stood confidently across from her, an expression of determination etched on her face.

“The last match between the second-years for today! Hailing from the hermit kingdom, the phoenix guardian, Xian Adela!” the announcer called out, his voice booming over the crowd.

Adela waved at the audience with a shy smile, though I could see the anxiety in her eyes. She looked like she wanted to dig a hole and hide in it. I wondered how she handled crowds as High Priestess back in her country. Surely, she had faced larger gatherings than this.

Her fingers twitched slightly at her sides, and I wished I could lend her my support.

The crowd erupted into cheers, their excitement palpable. I leaned forward, my heart pounding. “Come on, Adela! You can do this!” I whispered, even though I knew she couldn’t hear me.

Koharu glanced at Adela, her expression serious. She was ready, and I could sense the tension in the air between them. I had seen Koharu train; she was fierce and skilled, her magic sharp and precise. Adela would have to dig deep to match her.

“Focus on your strengths, Adela,” I muttered to myself. “You’ve got this.”

As the announcer stepped back, signaling the start of the match, I held my breath. Adela squared her shoulders, her posture shifting from anxious to determined. The shy smile faded, replaced by a fierce resolve.

Koharu made the first move, launching a flurry of magical projectiles that whizzed through the air like shooting stars. Adela reacted quickly, summoning a barrier of shimmering light that surrounded her, deflecting the attacks with a graceful fluidity.

“Nice!” I exclaimed, feeling a rush of pride.

The crowd roared, their energy feeding into the match. Adela’s confidence grew with each deflected attack, her movements becoming more assured. She countered with a wave of fire, her magic blooming like a brilliant flower.

Koharu sidestepped, her own magic flaring as she retaliated with a burst of wind that twisted around her, creating a cyclone aimed directly at Adela.

“Watch out!” I shouted, the tension gripping me as I leaned forward in my seat.

Adela didn’t falter. Instead, she dug her heels into the ground, channeling her own magic. Flames swirled around her, merging with the wind, creating a stunning display of fire and air that clashed with Koharu’s cyclone.

“Come on, Adela!” I cheered, my voice lost in the cacophony of the crowd.

Their powers collided, sending shockwaves rippling through the arena. I could see the determination in Adela’s eyes, a fierce glint that reminded me of the stories I had heard about her back in her kingdom. She was more than just a student; she was a guardian, a protector, and she was fighting for more than just herself.

With a final push, Adela broke through the cyclone, racing toward Koharu with a burst of speed. The crowd gasped as she unleashed a torrent of flames, the heat radiating from her like a beacon of hope.

I couldn’t help but smile. She was doing it! Adela was fighting with everything she had, and the crowd was roaring in approval. I felt a mixture of admiration and longing; I wished I could be out there with her, fighting alongside my friends.

As the battle raged on, I could see the weight of expectation lifting from Adela’s shoulders, replaced by a fierce resolve. Maybe she could represent us exchange students after all. Maybe we still had a chance to be part of something great, even if I wasn’t in the ring myself.

“Go, Adela!” I shouted again, my voice rising above the din. “Show them what you’re made of!”

Adela moved her hands rapidly as she channeled flame prana into her index and middle fingers.

Koharu narrowed her eyes as Adela launched multiple bird-shaped flames at her.

The crowd roared, their voices rising like thunder as Koharu dodged the fiery missiles with relative ease.

"Crush her!" the crowd roared.

I frowned. The Kyuu Seishin still didn't think highly of us foreigners... No matter.

Adela took a deep breath, focusing on her prana. She was a master of the flame, a phoenix among mere mortals, and she would not be defeated so easily. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured another volley of fiery birds, sending them hurtling toward Koharu once more.

This time, however, Adela added a twist. The birds split into two groups, one veering off to the right and the other to the left, forcing Koharu to choose a direction to dodge in as they encircled her.

The crowd held their breath as the birds closed in, their flames casting a haunting glow on the battlefield. Adela's eyes blazed with determination. She transformed her wand into its obsidian sword form, not waiting for Koharu to destroy or dodge her spell.

She rushed at Koharu, her blade singing through the air as she aimed for the girl's chest.

Koharu unleashed a blast of lightning magic and zipped over to Adela. She was fast... dangerously so. Even faster than Burai and Lei were. Even with my Tsuki no Me, I could barely keep track.

With a single kick, she sent Adela flying backwards before she knee what hit her.

The crowd gasped as Adela's birds vanished. They watched as Adela soared through the air, her pink hair streaming out behind her like a banner of fire.

Adela sighed and touched her bracelet. Was she going to unleash more of her sealed strength?

A surge of power erupted from her, bathing her in a bright white light. When it faded, she stood in a crimson hanfu that seemed woven from the very essence of the sun itself, her hair tied back in an intricate braid that cascaded down her back like a river of lava.

The crowd's astonishment was clear in their wide eyes and slack jaws, their whispers of awe and confusion filling the air.

I leaned forward. Adela had used this power against me when we fought in the ruins. At the time, she was at her limit, so she couldn't do much against my possessed self, but what could she do now? This form was clearly her strongest yet, but it seemed like it drained her a lot.

Adela smirked at Koharu. "Was this not in your predictions?"

Koharu laughed as purple sparks danced across her body. "Of course it was! But you'll need a lot more than this to defeat me."

The two kinds of plasma clashed in the center of the arena, creating a shockwave that sent dust and debris flying. Adela's flames blazed with a ferocity that matched Koharu's lightning. The two magi were locked in a dance of power, their spells weaving and clashing, each seeking to overpower the other.

Adela also blocked all of Koharu’s kicks with her wooden blade.

The crowd watched in awe, mesmerized by the display of magical prowess. Adela's determination shone through her every movement, her eyes blazing with a fire that refused to be extinguished.

As the duel raged on, the air itself seem trembled with energy. Adela and Koharu traded blow after blow, their powers colliding in a symphony of light and sound. The stadium was alive with the roar of the crowd, their cheers echoing across the battlefield.

But Adela was slowly being overwhelmed. Koharu's strikes were growing faster, more powerful. While she was panting heavily, her face etched with exhaustion.

I shook. My friends were all losing. It made me feel even weaker than I already had been. But at the same time, I felt a strange sense of pride. Despite the odds stacked against them, they were fighting with everything they had. I had to do the same. While my magic wasn't what it once was, I could still make a comeback.

"Come on, Adela! Don't give up!" I yelled, even though she couldn't hear me.

Adela gasped as if she had indeed heard my shout. I watched, my heart racing, as she dug deep and found the strength to keep going. She launched a barrage of fireballs at Koharu, each one more intense than the last.

"YEAH, GO ADELA!!" the audience shouted, pumping their fists in the air.

The crowd erupted into cheers, their enthusiasm infectious. Adela's power surged, her flames taking on a new level of intensity. Koharu grinned, her eyes narrowing in determination as she unleashed a bolt of lightning that sliced through the air like a blade.

Adela dodged, her body twisting and bending in ways that seemed impossible. It was as if she had become liquid flame, flowing and shifting with the grace of a dancer. The crowd gasped and cheered, their voices a chorus of admiration.

"Wow!"

"Amazing!"

"She's like a living flame!"

Koharu's lightning struck again and again, but Adela faded in and out, warping away from her attacks before returning to block her kicks.

Adela's clothes shifted, returning to their normal state. No, her transformation was over. It seemed like her body couldn't handle the power for much longer.

Koharu smirked and threw a kick at her. Adela managed to block with her wooden sword and unleashed a barrage of branches from it to entrap Koharu, but she was too fast. She dodged out of the way and then kicked Adela's sword out of her hands before giving Adela a good punch to the gut.

Adela gasped her fist and threw her like a wrestler.

Koharu grumbled as she flew through the air. "You're not the only one who can transform!"

Lightning shot up from her body, encircling her in a tornado. When the light subsided, she had transformed into a silver horse with a purple mane and a long tail that flicked with energy.

Adela's eyes widened as Koharu galloped toward her.

In a last-ditch effort, Adela slammed her palms against the ground, unleashing a massive wave of branches. The plants tried to ensnare the horse, but Koharu was just too fast. She easily dodged and then leapt up into the air. She flipped and kicked her hooves at her.

Adela smirked as she shot a blast of deep red flames. The flames caused Koharu to wince and back off, allowing Adela to leap into the air and catch the sword Koharu had kicked out of her hands earlier.

The two landed on the ground and faced each other.

Was the end of her transformation a feint? I wondered as Adela once again transformed. This time, she had the appearance of an elf-like being with green hair, a long white dress, and pointed ears.

Her sword morphed into a wooden staff.

"What's this?" Ms. Key yelled.

I smiled. Adela, Ny, and Lei sure were full of surprises. Well, I had my own too, but nothing new like this.

Koharu narrowed her eyes. "I can beat you no matter how many times you transform. So bring it!"

Adela grinned and unleashed a wave of branches at Koharu.

"More plants," Koharu mumbled as she dodged the branches, but the wooden tendrils were more persistent this time, chasing after her. She was able to evade her attack, but just barely.

Koharu kicked the air, unleashing a powerful sonic boom. She stomped the ground and sent a burst of electricity at Adela.

Adela raised her hand and unleashed a wall of metal. It shattered on impact, debris everywhere, but it stopped the electricity. Adela then twirled and slammed her staff against the ground, forming a wall of wood to protect her from the sonic boom. The wall shattered, but Adela was safe behind it.

She twirled her staff and unleashed a wave of metal and wood at Koharu.

She had a lot more control over the plants and metal than she had before. Was her new transformation the reason?

With a neigh, she stomped on the branches, destroying them with overwhelming electricity. Koharu galloped toward her, dodging Adela's attacks before slamming her hoof into Adela's staff. Adela winced but continued to smile despite being in pain. She then launched a wave of wood and metal at Koharu.

Koharu neighed and then reared up on her hind legs, unleashing another devastating sonic blast.

Adela blocked the blast and formed another barrier of wood and metal.

Koharu charged at Adela, breaking through the barrier with ease. She reared back on her hind legs, and with a powerful kick, she shattered the barrier and knocked Adela's wand away once again. Adela gasped, falling on her butt in shock as Koharu stood over her, her hooves inches from her face.

"Looks like it's my win," Koharu neighed.

Adela smiled. "You're strong."

Koharu smiled and returned to her human state.

Adela took a deep breath, her chest heaving with exhaustion. "You're definitely stronger than me," she conceded, her voice barely above a whisper.

I sighed. Like Lei, Adela fought hard, but it wasn't enough.

I frowned and stood up, leaving the room to go train. I couldn't be the only one to fall behind. Well, even more behind than I already was.

**Solar Note: 2nd chapter this month ^^. To celebrate our youngest Honey-boy's birthday. This chapter was written with the help of NAI's Llama Erato 3**