[@Stern Algorithm]

Kano could hear ShiZhen down below, could see her tears as she struggled mightily against the odds. For some the glacier was no challenge, easily overcome by familiarity or a clashing element carving it with ease, but for some it served its intended purpose of pushing students into unfamiliar territory. Some who wielded flame could not control their own strength and turned their only way up into a twisted wreck of its original form, while some the water students who struggled to manipulate ice quickly discovered its infuriating nuances. Time was always the enemy. 

A whisk of the Headmasters hand had the ice slide right off the young girl, wherever her body came in contact with the glacier was returned to a watery state. Gradually the capsule of water ShiZhen was in had created a protective bubble everywhere but her face as it crawled across the the walls until it deposited the girl right into Kanos waiting arms. Without flesh and blood he could not offer living warmth for the girl. Like the hotsprings they had trained in so long ago the bubble of water around her gradually warmed over time, Kanos own temperature rising with it.

"You performed excellently, Miss Fang. You faced the challenge." His words were soft as he crouched, focusing on bringing the girls body temperature back up without sending her into shock. While most Fire and Water elementalists had a surprising tolerance to such things it was not a guaranteed skill in such young students. "Overcoming an obstacle is never as important as learning from it."

Like all students that struggled against their challenges he felt nothing but pride for the young girls achievements thus far. Her fear of water, her control, the elemental being she manifested, it was all very impressive for a first year. 

After a few minutes of silence he finally spoke up again. "When you are ready, if you are ready, will you continue with the final stage?" 

[hr]

[@Hammerman]

Kanakos opponent was indeed a larger form. Much larger. Augustus Grant was a first year and already stood over 6 feet, weighing in at just over 250. A big lad who liked to eat that was for certain. Despite his appearance there was hesitance in the way he carried himself, looking at Kanako only made him fidget. His eyes kept glancing away as his face turned the slightest bit red but still he took his place at the ready.

"I, uh, that is, when you are ready? I don't want to hurt you so I'd like to maybe focus on the defensive part."

The Headmaster had implied that offense and defense were important. Protecting yourself or others sometimes meant taking the fight head-on or avoiding the worst of it. From the look of Augustus it would be the latter. Kneeling down he sank both of his hands into the suddenly malleable stone below before fishing them back out covered in rock that slowly began to take the shape of two rectangular shields, each large enough to cover a part of his exposed body. Not all of it but enough. Despite their heavy appearance there was no visible discomfort to Augustus, likely meaning that both shields were frail. Easy broken through.

Both stone shields clicked together to create a wall with just the boys eyes peering over them. 

[hr]

[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/366129818791575552/380647619980034048/Felixwilliams.png[/img][/center]
[@Crusader Lord]

Imperious as always, Felix stood his ground with a look of dissatisfaction. It was a cruel joke of fate that had put him in the same ring as the girl he had taunted earlier. Even though nobody had been offended it still irked him that she was given the chance to get even so quickly. Especially when his way of defending himself wasn't allowed in this situation! His hand itched to hold a proper weapon instead of relying on his bare hands. 
Training with a foil had made his boxing skills very rust.

Not that he intended to really fight back.

The first blow came quick as the girl launched herself at him, throwing a straight punch. A smarter person would have put some thought into how they would react to such a moment; dodge, counter, reposition. Having done nothing for the entirety of the challenges thus far except standing at the start, he decided to carry on that blossoming tradition.

The blow came and Felix went forward, ramming his forehead into the girls fist as she closed the gap. If he was lucky Felix hoped to get the hit before she had a chance to put her full strength behind it.