Iaden felt a rush of warmth over his skin, shaking him from the depths of unconsciousness. "What happened, oh that's right... there was a man, he knocked us out." Turning, he saw his beloved Rowan and the lovely Britt also just waking from their own attack. "How are you both?"

  Britt, shaking, turned to him with a warm expression of pure disarming trust. "I've been better, he just dispelled my magic. I have never even heard of someone doing that before. My powers are rather specific, so that's a bit extra scary."

  Rowan sighed. "I wish I could help on that front, but I know so little on magic, just the bare minimum on healing magics from one lesson. Is it really that scary?"

  "Terrifying." Muttered Britt. "I doubt even my parents could do that, and they are absolute masters of the craft."

  Iaden looked at his chest, only now realizing it was bare. "I am all bruised up, I heal so fast normally... we aren't dealing with average people."

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  Glowing hands moved over his chest, Rowan's warm magic soothing his wounds... for about a second before sheer agony shot through both, making them convulse on the floor. Britt's screams of horror only barely pierced the fog of agony, and yet Iaden could not make out what she said.

  "A solid attempt to heal him, boy," The voice, the same as before, pierced the fog."- but I should have warned you that magic is outside of the arena." Slowly, the trio turned to the voice, seeing their blue eyed attacker from before smiling at them with sheer smugness. "You are trapped here, until we call you into the arena. Now be good pets, and settle down until you are called in for your examinations."

  And so he left fading away into nothing in a rush of cold magic.

  "So that was terrifying." Rowan crowed. "I really, really don't want to deal with him again... but do we have any other choice?"

  No one had an answer, but Iaden made a vow in that moment. 'I will protect these two, with all I have, and allow no other to harm them if I can help it.'