A tense silence fell over the grassy field, illuminated by poles with light gems, broken only by the distant song of an owl. Tassi was the first to move. With a firm step of her left foot, which softly crushed the damp grass, she thrust her fist forward, the green-gemmed bracelet gleaming under the sun. Immediately, the plants around Nyran's feet came to life, growing into a quick, verdant tangle to ensnare her ankles.

  Nyran, ever agile, didn't let herself be caught. With a graceful push, her wind-gem-adorned shoes shimmered, and she rose five meters into the air, narrowly avoiding the persistent vines.

  Tassi was waiting for exactly that. With a decisive step to the right, she raised a wall of earth in front of her. The smell of fresh, damp soil filled the air. Without hesitation, she punched the barrier, and shards of earth and clumps of grass flew like projectiles at Nyran, who dodged them with disconcerting leaps and pirouettes, getting closer and closer.

  "It's not going to be that easy!" Tassi shouted, raising two more earthen barriers and hurling them at her rival.

  The strategy, however, only slightly delayed Nyran's advance. Seeing the distance dangerously shortening, Tassi threw a sharp punch at one of the barriers. The earth didn't break into pieces but exploded into a thick, smothering cloud of dust that scratched the throat and covered the field of vision, turning the world into an ochre blur.

  Nyran, blinded by the dust, charged with a powerful kick to the spot where Tassi had been, but her feet found only empty air.

  "Where are you?" she snarled, irritated.

  The answer came in the form of fire. Spinning on the spot, Nyran began spitting flames from her mouth in all directions. The intense heat made the air shimmer and drove the dust away, while the acrid smell of burnt grass took over the environment. The flames licked the ground, carbonizing the plants that stubbornly still tried to climb up her legs.

  When the flames and dust finally settled, the scenery had changed. In the center of the field, now marked by black burn spots, stood a gigantic tree. Its trunk was already charred by the fire, but of Tassi, there was no sign.

  Nyran quickly looked up at the treetop, but the canopy was dense and dark, impossible to see through.

  Where did she hide?

  Convinced her rival was there, she concentrated her flames on the base of the trunk. The wood crackled and snapped until, with a deep groan, the tree began to topple. Nyran gave a light leap backward, moving out of its path.

  As she examined the smoldering wreckage, a sudden, living vine sprouted from the ground and wrapped tightly around her ankle. She thought of burning it instantly but hesitated—the flames would certainly burn her own foot.

  "Damn it!" she yelled, struggling and trying to jump to break free, but it was in vain.

  Drawing a short dagger from her waist, she cut the vine with a quick slash. But at the same instant, another vine wrapped around her wrist, and a third seized her free leg.

  How is she attacking me without seeing me? Where is she?

  Fury took hold of Nyran. Ignoring the pain, she spewed a concentrated stream of fire from her mouth directly onto her feet and hands, carbonizing the vines instantly. The smell of burnt cloth and a slight odor of seared flesh hung in the air. She didn't care; she knew the wounds could be healed at the mocambo's hospital.

  While still fighting the last vestiges of the plants, several blocks of earth, the size of human heads, began flying at her from various points on the field. She dodged them with agility, until, from inside one of them, a small tree sprout emerged and grew at a frantic pace. One of its branches, strong as a club, struck the side of Nyran's head with a dull thud as she jumped. Her vision darkened immediately, and she fell unconscious on the grass.

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  After a few seconds of silence, Tassi emerged victoriously from the ground, as if the earth were spitting her back out. Her clothes were stained with dirt, and she was breathing deeply.

  Carlos and Quixotina, watching from a distance, stood gaping.

  "That... was incredible," the two murmured almost in unison, exchanging a look of disbelief.

  Seeing their reaction, Tassi felt a wave of pride and triumph. The victorious smile, however, lasted only a few seconds. Her face pale, she bent over and vomited on the ground.

  "Ugh... This is what I get for conserving mana just to have a decent duel," she groaned, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

  Immediately, Carlos and Quixotina ran to her.

  "Tassi! Are you okay?" asked Carlos, his voice full of concern.

  "I'm... I'm fine," she replied, panting. "I just used too much mana. My body isn't used to it."

  Carlos placed a firm hand on her back, offering support.

  "You'd better go rest. No more duels for today."

  Quixotina, meanwhile, approached, sidestepping the vomit with a wrinkled nose. Her gaze, once scornful, was now one of pure respect.

  "You... you are an incredible warrior," she said, her voice somewhat hesitant. "I... I thought you were nothing."

  Tassi forced a slight smile, still leaning on Carlos.

  "I was really rusty that day I dueled you. I wasn't training properly, nor eating well. Besides, you caught me by surprise. You're very strong, you know? I still don't know which of us would win in a serious fight."

  Quixotina's eyes shone with sudden enthusiasm.

  "Well, we have to find out soon! How about a duel this weekend?"

  Tassi shook her head, laughing weakly.

  "I'll pass. Besides... soon we'll have much more powerful weapons. Right, Chief?" She looked at Carlos. "With a simple revolver, I could have ended this pitiful duel in an instant."

  Nyran, who had silently regained consciousness, heard that last sentence.

  More powerful weapons? More than this? No... she thought, her head throbbing. It's Tassi who is powerful, not the weapons...

  She waited for the subject to change, then groaned softly and pretended to wake up, bringing her hand to her sore neck. Slowly, she got up and went over to the group.

  "I lost," she admitted, with a respectful bow of her head. "You are stronger. But... could you tell me how you knew what I was doing, even while hiding?"

  A genuine, slightly tired smile lit up Tassi's face.

  "Of course I can."

  She gestured for Nyran to sit on the grass. The rival obeyed, curious.

  "You know," Tassi began, placing her open palm on the ground, "before coming to Brazil, I only saw earth and nature as tools of war. And in the plantation where I stayed, I saw they were also tools for making money."

  Under her hand, a small tuft of new grass sprouted and grew, green and vibrant.

  "But, working with Carlos and doing experiments for him, I saw that the soil and plants aren't just tools. I discovered that plants like certain things, like guano. And, in my experiments, I'm forced to try to listen to their needs, to feel the state of the soil. The staff I used was the same one from the plantation, but I started to have a completely different view of it. Not just of it, but of every magical tool with gems. They... talk to me differently now."

  Carlos listened to everything with deep attention, his eyes sparkling with scientific curiosity. Nyran, on the other hand, seemed a little lost.

  "And what does that have to do with the duel?" she asked, sincerely confused.

  "Everything," Tassi replied, her gaze losing itself on the horizon. "Basically, I learned to feel what the soil feels. During the fight, I felt each of your steps through the vibration in the earth, I felt the weight of your body on the grass, I felt the plants wrapping around you... I felt a lot of things, just by keeping my feet on the soil. And I wouldn't have understood this if I hadn't spent time away from the battlefield. That was it, the knowledge, the care... that's what made me stronger."

  Carlos's eyes shone like two gems upon hearing that.

  So knowledge helps master the power of the gems? That's... incredible! he thought, his mind racing a mile a minute. Ah, how I wish I could use a gem myself! I wonder if there's a gravity gem? I would so love to get my hands on one of those... who knows, I might even be able to create a black hole!