Next Mage
13.Christmas

~Marilla's POV

"Dear Marilla, you are officially invited to the Annual Magic Games this Sunday, the 25th of December. (You don't have to go if you don't want to) Merry Christmas, Oliver." I scanned the letter again in excitement. "This is going I be so FUN!" I

squealed.

dashy line thingo

I hadn't seen the Mage Realm in months, but what I saw was amazing. Large bulbs were strung everywhere, on fences, over doors, even on chairs! Some seemed to be made out of pure crystals, others looked like balls of water, a few were just made of spinning air and some even had a little flame burning inside them! Wreaths of mistletoe were nestled among overflowing baskets of sweets. I gawked as I saw a real, live reindeer fly past, but laughed when I realised it was the work of an air mage. But the most spectacular of all was the tree. It was gigantic, almost fifteen metres tall; and tiny, twinkling flames in the shape of stars danced around it. The tinsel was sparkling, seeming to be made out of a mixture of water and air. Colourful rocks and crystals hung about the tree's thick branches. How did they get a tree so big? Suddenly, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I whipped around, already guessing who it would be.

"Hey Oliver," I grinned, "long time no see."

~Oliver's POV

We ran as fast as we could towards the Great Hall, but the speech had already started. Trying to open the heavy doors as quietly as we could, Marilla and I slipped in and found ourselves seats next to Emma and the others. The redhead elbowed Marilla slyly and whispered something in her ear. Marilla blushed and shook her head furiously.

"...may the Annual Magic Games...BEGIN!" Infernus' voice echoed through the Great Hall.

"Let's go!" I said to the recruits. "Since this is your first time here, I'll be your guide and show you the best food stalls before all the competitions start!"

dashy line thingo

"GO DARLING GO!" I heard Elvira squeal over the noise of the crowd. Sweat rolled down my cheeks as I battled it out with Kellen. As I dodged another boulder, I threw a fireball at him. He fell.

"And Oliver is the winner! He now takes the Ring Battle (BTW it's called that coz they battle in a ring, sorta like element wrestling) Cup for the 7th time in a row-"

"Can I challenge him?" A voice called out from the crowd. I whipped around to see Marilla step out from the crush of bodies and into the ring. "Don't go easy on me," she winked. A wave of unexpected emotions came out of me in the form of a blush.

"Oh? Looks like we have another contestant! Well then, let the battle begin!" The commentator rang the bell and the battle started.

another dashy line thingo

Marilla seemed to be preparing for something. She dodged all my attacks, her body lithe and swift, but she made no attacks do her own. What is she doing? I thought, and at that moment, I paused.

"AHA!" Marilla shouted, summoning a huge wave and crashing it down on me. I barely had a time to even think before I was soaking wet.

"Aaaand that's it! Well, what a surprise! For the first time in six years, Oliver has been beaten! And not just that, but buy a recruit!" The commentator exclaimed. "I present Marilla this trophy!" I wiped my face as Marilla took the trophy, crowd cheering. Especially Emma. Marilla walked over to me, and I grinned sheepishly. She bent down and as quick as lightning, her soft lips met my cheeks. I felt heat creep up my face. "That w-was...what f-for?!" I stammered.

"You, um, were under the mistletoe." Marilla said as a matter-of-fact, blushing as well. I looked up and indeed was a mistletoe hanging above my head, on the ring fence. Marilla put her hand out and helped me up. "W-well then, shall we go?" She asked. I grinned as I noticed Elvira fuming in the background.

"Sure," I replied. This was turning out to be the best Christmas ever.