Kaelen's voice rang out. "Begin!"
Darius wasted no time, channeling his mana to envelop his fists in crackling energy.
He lunged forward with impressive speed, aiming a punch at Lindarion's midsection.
Drawing upon his own reserves, Lindarion sidestepped gracefully, feeling the familiar surge of mana coursing through him.
He retaliated with a swift palm strike, augmented by a controlled burst of energy that sent Darius skidding back a few feet.
A flicker of surprise crossed Darius's face, quickly replaced by a grin. "Not bad."
They circled each other, exchanging blows and counters, their movements growing more fluid as the bout progressed.
The surrounding students paused their own sparring to watch, murmuring among themselves.
After several intense minutes, Kaelen raised a hand. "Enough."
Both combatants halted, breathing heavily but standing tall.
