Headed by a Snake

Tycondrius examined the spell circles the young lady had been scribing and the yellowed pages of the open tome at her side.

None of them contained invisibility or... even concealment spells.

"These are... short-range illusion formations," He explained with chagrin.

The chocolate elf looked down, her hands clapped on her thin cheeks-- "Oh! Oh... oh no! I accidentally completed tomorrow's homework!"

Tycon shook his head. How clumsy was this child?

Taking the book, he flipped several pages and set it down in front of her.

He tapped on the displayed diagram, "This should be what you're looking for."

"Oh, wooowwww!" The illusion-wearing child gasped, "Have you read this book before? High Wizard Tyrael's lessons are... so difficult."

"I have not," Tycon shrugged, "but he sounds like an extraordinarily intelligent individual."

As the girl's knowledge-hungry eyes greedily consumed the information, he decided to ask her a question.

"Might I ask for your name, young lady?"

"Oh!?" She blinked, "M-my name? It's... it's um..."

"You either know it or you don't," Tycon frowned.

As the child's concentration waned, so did the illusion... and her human form was revealed.

She was a child of a similar height to the Sasarame of a couple years prior, with pale, sunburnt skin. Her dark hair was short and disheveled, with certain strands almost with a mind of their own... almost like a medusa's. Either she'd only recently awoken... or had been practicing lightning magic.

As if to hide from Tycon's staring, she slunk down in her seat... "Master told me not to speak with strangers..."

...Fair.

"My name is Tycon."

The young human tilted her head down, muttering towards her lap, "My... my name is Megara..."

"You must have studied quite laboriously to reach First-Circle at your age, Miss Megara."

"Y-yeah-- I mean... yes," The young girl said as she played with her fingers... "Master said I didn't have much talent... but... I worked really hard."

With her head still dipped, she lifted her gaze upward... "Um. Excuse me, Mister Tycon... but are you... a villain?"

"...Possibly?" Tycon raised an eyebrow, "I would need a frame of reference to know for certain."

"M-master is really strong," Megara raised her chin, her eyes suddenly brave. "He's stronger than any villain-- including you! Or anyone!"

"Hah! I doubt that," Tycon smirked. "I'm *incredibly* strong. And I am also very handsome."

"Nuh uh," She shook her head. "My master's way stronger. And... super handsome! He's... he's a Hero!!"

Tycon couldn't help but laugh in earnest.

"W-why are you laughing??"

"Miss Megara... such a claim is preposterous."

Tycon had met the Hero of the current generation. Whoever the child's master was... it was highly improbable for them to belong to the same ridiculous Class.

Also, he'd only met two individuals that were arguably as handsome as he was.

One, he participated in murdering and the other had been missing for several moons.

"H-he is!" Megara pouted... "I... I'll make you believe me!"

Tycon took a deep breath, "Very well... Might I ask how you plan on achieving that?"

"I'll... I'll... Oh! I know!" The child pointed aggressively, "I'll challenge you to trial by combat!"

...Tycon narrowed his eyes.

"Um..." Megara retracted her hand, placing a finger against her lips, "Is that okay?"

He'd been challenged to duels for foolish reasons before, but none so arbitrary.

Unfortunately, as his honor as a very powerful and exceedingly handsome person was on the line, he could only acquiesce.

"I... I accept?"

"Is it okay, though?" Megara withdrew her hands in front of her chest and she poked her fingertips together, "You're not busy or anything?"

"It's fine," Tycon waved.

Megara stood up from her table and took three steps aside. She was gripping her tiny fists, intent on her victory.

"State your terms... um... please? Maybe... spell completion? Or... we could have a footrace? I'm really fast."

Tycon walked a short distance away from her...

Challenging the young mage in one of her specialties? He would not be so arrogant.

If her master was as powerful as she alluded to, Megara likely had either enchantments, items, or specialized spells that would grant her an unexpected advantage in a contest of her choice.

Tycon drew his sword, allowing the blade to ring upon the metal mouth of the scabbard. While it was a sloppy display of technique and detrimental to the sword, non-swordsmen tended to be intimidated by the sound.

He gave his opponent a crisp salute, "Martial combat until submission or death."

Megara's eyes grew wide, "T-to the death?!"

"...Yes," Tycon twisted his lips to the side. "Such is... to be expected, no?"

"I... guess so?" Megara muttered... "Yeah... that makes sense. Oh... oh no..."

Tycon twisted his lips to the side, "Is there an issue?"

"I don't have any martial spells!" Megara whined.

"You can use... any offensive spells in your repertoire," Tycon offered hopefully.

"Oh. Okay."

Tycon stood patiently and waited...

Megara continued staring in a daze... though her earlier bravery had long since left her.

Tycon cleared his throat, "Ahem. You... can go ahead, Miss Megara."

"Um... okay. I'm gonna use a spell, then?"

Tycon lowered his body in a defensive stance, "Please do."

He slowly edged closer to his opponent, remaining cognizant of Megara's mana-channeling as she drew single-layered spell circles in the space in front of her.

The young Mage's spell slowly and methodically neared its completion... but Tycon was confident in following her motions, leaping aside to dodge when he sensed the moment was right.

"Um... can you stop moving, please?" She frowned, "It's hard enough to concentrate..."

"Ah," Tycon stopped... "My apologies. As you were."

Megara began... chanting in Aquan, the language of water and ice elementals, "(Winds... of the Frozen North... Sisters shunned by sunlight...)"

Her pronunciation was quite good.

"(Moonlight hidden by... by...)"

"(The devoted white sky,)" Tycon suggested.

Megara nodded-- "(by fluffy white clouds!)"

...Her phrasing was... unorthodox-- but it was close enough.

"(Frozen blood of fifty sinners.)"

Fifty?

Suddenly, Megara's hands stopped and she ceased her chanting.

"Is there something else wrong?" Tycon asked.

"Can I check my notes? I'll be quick."

",