Magical Duels
It's time for the students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons to arrive, right? Then, let's fast-forward to the next chapter. e.e
Today, Einar had another class with the sixth-year students. This time, the lesson wasn't held in the classroom but outdoors, where the sound of hammers striking hot metal echoed loudly. In front of huge furnaces and anvils, the students hammered the iron with all their strength, fighting against the exhaustion that mounted with every strike.
Einar watched them with his arms crossed. He knew that most of them didn't have the physical endurance to complete a dagger on their own, so he had organized them into groups of three to take turns at the forge. This way, at least they could finish something functional before their arms gave out.
It had been almost a month since he began teaching, and although progress was slow, the difference was noticeable. It wasn't just about teaching them to make weapons; he also had to ensure they acquired useful skills. Not all the lessons consisted of pounding hot metal, but those who persevered could now at least forge something that could cut... though in some cases, it was more dangerous to them than to their enemies.
"Einar, we're done!" shouted the Weasley twins, approaching with a mix of pride and amusement.
With them, Lee Jordan was collapsed on the ground, panting as though he had just run a marathon. He had been the last to hammer the metal, and his body was paying the price.
Einar calmly took the dagger, unfazed by the residual heat. He examined its blade, weight, and balance… until he reached the tip.
"Why does it look like a star?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Fred and George exchanged glances before pointing at the one who couldn't defend himself.
"It happened during Jordan's turn," Fred quickly explained.
"But looking at the bright side, it seems like it would do quite a bit of damage," George added with a grin.
Lee Jordan tried to protest, but he only managed to groan before continuing to lie on the ground.
Einar looked at the tip with interest. It wasn't what he had asked for, but he had to admit, in a way, it worked.
"Did you all realize you made something more complicated than what you actually needed?" he said with amusement. "Well, I suppose it's effective. Ten points for each of you."
"Awesome!" the twins exclaimed in unison. It was the first time they had earned so many points for their house… though they'd probably lose them just as easily later.
"That means we won the enchantment, right?" Fred asked excitedly.
"Yes," Einar nodded. "What do you want?"
The twins immediately began debating.
"Electric damage!"
"No, better fire damage."
"If we choose ice damage, we can freeze our drinks."
The conversation went on, with neither of them paying any attention to their teammate, who was still sprawled on the floor, too exhausted to give an opinion.
"Then make it ice damage," they finally decided, more interested in the misuse of the dagger than its effectiveness in battle.
Einar sighed but saw no reason to deny their request.
"Come by my office later, and I'll enchant it. But for now, make a handle and a leather sheath," he said quickly, handing the star-tipped dagger back to them.
The twins rushed off, full of renewed energy, eager to finish their weapon. The forge might not be their strong suit, but when it came to manual work, they would likely get it done without problems.
Einar continued walking through the work area, inspecting the progress of the other teams. Some had managed to forge fairly functional daggers, though with minor imperfections. He took the opportunity to point out their mistakes and explain how to correct them while they sharpened the blades.
On the other hand, there were also... peculiar creations. Daggers with strange shapes, twisted blades, or uneven tips"resulting from teams made up of students who were either too physically weak or simply too lazy to put in the effort. To those students, Einar didn't even bother to give his time. If they didn't want to take the class seriously, he wouldn't waste his energy teaching them.
Finally, the class came to an end.
"Next session, we'll have a magical duel tournament against the other classes. I already got the permission, so you better come with a tough defensive team," Einar announced with a challenging smile before walking away.
The students stood in silence for a moment... until the excitement exploded among them.
.....
Einar watched them from an elevated platform, his arms crossed and a sharp smile on his face.
"Welcome to today's class. As I mentioned last time, you will have a magical duel tournament. This is not just a simple children's game of casting spells. Here, you will learn to fight, to resist, and above all, to win."
His voice echoed in the room, and more than one student swallowed nervously as they saw the seriousness in his eyes.
"The rules are simple. One duel, one winner. No lethal spells allowed, but other than that..."
He paused, letting the silence speak for him.
"Do not hold back."
The students exchanged glances, feeling the adrenaline rise. The first names were called, and the duels began.
The sound of spells striking shields, sparks of magic lighting up the arena, and the cries of effort filled the air. Fred and George proved to be a formidable duo, using clever tactics to destabilize their opponents. Others, like Lee Jordan, were forced to rely more on speed than brute strength.
But Einar wasn't just observing; he intervened when he saw opportunities to improve his students.
"Faster, Weasley! Don't give your opponent time to recover. Thomas, don't stand still like an easy target! Use the environment. Luna... well done, take advantage of your opponent's distraction!"
Einar watched Luna with some surprise as she stared intently at one of the corners of the room, completely absorbed. Her opponent frowned, confused, and instinctively looked toward the direction she was staring at. It was at that moment that Luna seemed to remember she was in the middle of a duel and, with her usual nonchalant air, cast a clean and precise Expelliarmus, disarming her opponent in a single move.
With each duel, the students weren't just fighting"they were learning. Some were knocked out quickly, others surprised with unexpected strategies, and a few showed true potential in combat.
After several rounds, the class reached its climax. The remaining students, exhausted but determined, stood panting. Cedric Diggory was among them, hands resting on his knees as he caught his breath.
Two students remained from each year. In fourth year, the finalists were Harry and, surprisingly, Neville. Since he changed his wand, Neville's ability had grown exponentially. The speed with which he cast his spells was impressive, as if years of using an inadequate wand had forced him to perfect his control and speed. Despite his natural nervousness, he had made it to the final, proving that his potential was far beyond what anyone had imagined.
Einar smiled with pride. Even the first-year students were now able to cast an Expelliarmus while dodging attacks, an unthinkable feat before his arrival. If they kept training like this, these students would surpass previous generations without a doubt.
He stopped at the center of the arena, his eyes scanning the remaining fighters. His smile took on a challenging edge as he drew his wand.
"Not bad… but you're still too soft."
He struck the ground with his wand, and a wave of magic spread across the room, sending a shiver down the students' spines.
"Now… those of you who can still stand… come against me."
Silence took over the room. The students exchanged looks of disbelief and fear. Was Einar joking? But when they saw the glint in his eyes, they realized he was serious.
Cedric was the first to step forward.
"How many against you?" he asked, with a mixture of respect and excitement.
Einar smiled wryly.
"All of you."
The air grew tense. Harry swallowed nervously, sensing an even greater challenge was coming. Neville, though trembling, remained firm. Fred and George exchanged knowing glances, already planning a strategy.
The second-year students had already given up, leaving only the strongest and most determined.
Einar raised his wand, his expression calm but challenging.
"Don't worry... I'll only use my wand." His smile widened. "Start whenever you want!"
In an instant, the Great Hall lit up with the glow of multiple spells fired simultaneously. Bright flashes of light in different colors streaked through the air, heading toward him at high speed.
But for Einar, each of those attacks moved at an exasperatingly slow pace. His mind calculated, in fractions of a second, the distance, speed, and impact points of each spell. Then, with precise movements, he dodged each one with the slightest tilt of his body, as if he were dancing in the midst of the battle.
And while he slid between the attacks, his wand didn't remain idle. With inhuman reflexes, he counterattacked with surgical precision. An Expelliarmus disarmed Harry, an Impedimenta knocked Cedric down before he could react, and a well-placed Stupefy took Fred and George out of the fight. One by one, all those who had dared to face him ended up on the ground, either disarmed or too stunned to continue.
Silence fell. The few who were still standing stared at the scene in disbelief.
"He's a damn monster..." Cedric murmured with a conflicted smile, gasping for air.
Einar let out a light laugh, shaking his head.
"Hahaha. Well, this was to keep your victories over your classmates from getting to your heads."
The students who could still move began to chuckle quietly, though with a hint of resignation. They knew they still had a long way to go before they could even come close to Einar's level.
"That said..." he continued with a serious look, "you did well. No matter how many times you lose, what matters is learning from each battle."
There was a murmur of approval among the students. Neville, still on the ground, clenched his fists with determination.
"Now, everyone who can move, pick up your wands and help the others. Class is dismissed."
As the students struggled to their feet and helped each other, Einar watched with satisfaction. It wasn't easy, but he was shaping true warriors.