The crowd erupted once more...

The glowing Obsidian Crest above shifted again, its letters reforming into bright azure flame as the next duel was declared:

VARIS KYNN (House Kynn, Rank II)

DION HALVOR (House Halvor, Rank II)

Gasps echoed through the crowd — the Kynn family were well-known for their flame lineage, wielders of sapphire fire that devoured both light and air.

From the lower chambers, Varis emerged first, tall and proud, his robe embroidered with flame-like sigils that shimmered faintly with motion. His steps echoed with purpose as he ascended the steps, his chin tilted upward in pride.

"Get him, Varis! Don't disgrace your House in a mere test!"

A familiar voice —his sister's, rang clear from the noble seats above.

The corners of his lips lifted.

Almost instantly, as his mana ignited.

Blue flames roared to life across his palm, swirling up his arm like coiled serpents of fire. The air rippled from the heat as he clenched his hand into a fist.

Across from him, Dion Halvor stepped forward slowly... a calm, stoic figure, his crest shining with a faint emerald hue. No emotion flickered in his face; his stance was measured, deliberate, his control almost too perfect for a Rank II.

The enforcer's hand lifted, as his palm came slicing the air between them.

"Step forward."

Both did, their boots clicking against the obsidian floor as they moved closer toward the center, closer to the judges' table, closer to the waiting silence that hung over the crowd.

Slowly they bowed their heads slightly towards the judge tables and the high seats.

The enforcer's gaze swept between them once more.

"Begin."

The Obsidian Crest flared above, their names burning brighter.

Varis didn't hesitate. With a guttural growl, he thrust his hand forward...

A tidal surge of blue flame exploded outward, tearing through the air like a beast unchained. The ground beneath his feet cracked from the sudden pressure.

The attack blazed across the space toward Dion, a storm of heat and fury.

But Dion didn't move.

At the last possible second, his arm lifted... and with a silent exhale, green runic sigils flashed across his forearm.

Thrum!

The flames bent midair, as though yanked by invisible force, twisting violently before scattering in sparks across the barrier.

Gasps broke through the silence.

"What... he redirected it?"

"Halvor crest.. earth stabilization! He grounded the mana flow!"

Varis' eyes widened for an instant before narrowing again. He growled, taking another step forward, his blue flames flaring brighter now, the glow of his mana reflected his jaw and cheekbones in azure light.

"Let's see you redirect this!"

He slammed both palms down, mana bursting from the floor beneath him. Blue fire surged into a wall of blazing spears, shooting forward one after another, tearing through the air with screaming heat.

Dion raised his hand again, emerald glyphs whirling around him.. but this time the sheer velocity forced him backward a step.

The dome cracked faintly from the blast.

Dust and embers clouded the field. The sound of crackling fire filled the chamber, mingling with cheers and gasps.

Eran watched from the side corridor, the glow of the Crest washing faint blue light over his face. His eyes traced the intensity of the flames, the rhythm, the pulse of mana.

He studied calmly.

Every noble here fought with power. But the difference wasn't strength, it was precision. Control. Intention.

As the smoke cleared, Dion's silhouette reappeared through the haze, faint green light swirling around his hands like threads of nature magic.

He exhaled.

"Enough fire tricks."

The ground beneath Varis' feet snapped.

A massive shockwave rippled through the obsidian floor sending spikes of emerald crystal shot upward in a jagged pattern, locking around Varis' legs, crushing the blue flame shield in an instant.

Varis' scream was drowned by the eruption of noise from the crowd. His flames sputtered once, then vanished completely as his crest dimmed.

The Obsidian Crest above pulsed once, reshaping the names again:

Winner: Dion Halvor.

For a moment, silence fell. Then cheers..

wild and thunderous, rolling through the entire arena as Dion stepped back, brushing a faint line of soot from his sleeve.

Professor Girzar's voice echoed across the platform.

"Mark complete. Record; Halvor House, standing advance."

Eran exhaled quietly from the corridor's shadow, his gaze steady.

If these were the duels before his turn…

He could already tell.

The stage of the Hierarchy was far from ordinary.

Whispers rippled through the crowd like wind over still water, uneasy, and fragmented. Those who moments ago had shouted Varis' name now fell silent, their cheers dying on their lips.

From above, a familiar voice pierced the noise.

"Shame… disgrace! You were never fit for the House of Kynn!"

Every head turned toward the upper stands. The noble girl's words cut sharp as glass, echoing down the marble walls until the arena fell utterly still.

Below, Varis lay half-kneeling, his palm pressed to the floor, chest heaving in fury and disbelief. The blue flame sputtered weakly across his skin as his gaze burned upward at Dion, who was already turning to leave the stage in calm, deliberate steps.

A guttural snarl escaped Varis' throat.

He slammed his hand against the ground, and his palm flared again.. azure fire roaring to life in defiance.

But before the spell could form, a sudden whirlwind of force swept across the platform, lifting him violently into the air. Gasps erupted all around.

"Professor Girzar!"

"Wait...!"

The towering figure of Girzar stepped forward, his heavy boots echoing against the obsidian floor. His gaze, cold and unreadable, fixed on the boy suspended in midair.

"If you fail to represent your House as a young potential,"

his voice boomed, resonating across the arena,

"then you've already failed, boy."

He raised his rod etched with ancient sigils, and pointed it toward Varis.

"Did you not hear my words earlier?"

The rod struck the floor with a resounding crack.

Mana surged.

The suspended body plummeted towards the floor.

THUD!

A ripple of shock spread through the arena as Varis hit the ground hard, his crest dimming to a faint glow. Silence followed.. thick, oppressive, and heavy enough to press into every noble's chest.

Professor Girzar didn't so much as glance down again. He turned sharply on his heel, raising his hand toward the glowing crest floating above.

The obsidian crystal flared once, reshaping the names in molten gold light.

Next Duel; Kael Vorthen versus Rai Estell.

The murmur began again, louder this time.

Gasps. Whispers. The tension was alive.. no longer from the duel itself, but from what they'd just witnessed.

"Did you see that…?"

"He punished him in front of everyone "

"I've never seen Professor Girzar react like that before…"

All the nobles of Grade D once prideful, mocking—were silent, unease flickering in their eyes. The hierarchy had shown its teeth.

Up in the stands, a few glanced down toward the next duelists, Kael and Rai, as they stepped slowly into the arena, their faces pale under the glowing light.

Eran watched from the shadows near the lower archway, his expression unreadable, but the faintest smirk tugged at his lips.

Perhaps this was the true face of the academy's discipline.. raw, ruthless, and absolute.

The next duel stirred the crowd alive again, curiosity and excitement flooding through the chamber. Whispers rippled like sparks.

"A commoner this time... Kael Vorthen against Rai Estell!"

Some nobles leaned forward with cruel amusement, others burst into laughter they could barely contain. Beneath the lower archway, a few nudged each other, smirking wide at the irony of the matchup.

Eran stood apart from them, his back to the cold marble wall, arms folded in that same quiet composure.

From the side, a tall noble boy stepped closer... his voice was low and biting. The same one Miyu had once sent flying across the training hall a week ago.

His grin was all fury and pride.

"Get ready, fool," he sneered. "I won't even bother laying a hand on you. You're her prey, after all… when the time comes."

Eran's gaze met his, unflinching.. calm, and deep, almost lazy.

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

The boy's grin faltered in an instant. He clenched his fists tighter, forcing a dry chuckle.

"It's funny, right?"

He spat to the side and turned away, muttering under his breath.

Eran's smirk lingered as his thoughts curled into quiet amusement.

Just as I thought, he mused. Miyu's already placed fear in them.. the queen herself. And none dare touch me without her permission.

He tilted his head slightly, a spark of arrogance lighting his eyes.

To them, I'm her prey. But unknowingly… Miyu is mine. A queen to a king. What else could loyalty be, if not that?

A cruel laugh almost escaped his lips, but he stifled it with his hand.

A few nobles nearby turned sharply toward him, startled by the quiet amusement.

"Has he gone mad?" someone whispered.

"He's smiling..look at him. He's lost it already"

"He won't even last a minute out there."

They scoffed, rolling their eyes before fixing their attention back toward the dueling platform where Kael and Rai were preparing to step forward.

The obsidian crest above flared brighter once more, the names of the duelists burning into its surface as the next battle was about to begin.

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