Laughter rippled again, drowning the air.

But between the noise, between the flashes of violet and gold, the two of them stood locked in the same invisible thread.

A shared smirk, a hidden plan, a game no one else could see.

Then... without a word further, the golden pulse of mana flared brighter in Eran's palm. The nobles exchanged glances, whispering and snickering, thinking how utterly foolish he was. Just because the judges had granted him a moment to act didn't mean it would amount to anything. After all, he was just a commoner.

Eran's smirk deepened. His gaze found Miyu's again as he stretched both palms outward. Instantly, a spiral of golden light sprawled across the stage, twisting and flaring as it directed itself toward her.

He knew well this wasn't enough to disrupt Miyu—far from it. The flare was meant for something else entirely. To draw eyes. To stir laughter. To make them watch.

As the golden spiral neared Miyu, it dissolved midair into harmless fragments, fading before even touching her. The crowd roared in laughter.

"Ha! Is that it?" someone barked.

"A commoner trick! What did you expect?" another jeered.

Eran's smirk widened, unbothered. Exactly as planned.

Across the stage, Miyu stood calm. Her head turned slightly, her lips twitching as faint laughter escaped her... low, restrained, but undeniably entertained. The arena lights shimmered in her eyes like molten glass.

Slowly, Miyu walk towards Eran. Her steps were calm, deliberate.. every movement composed with the grace of a true noble. The air itself seemed to shift with her, quieting the echoes of laughter as curiosity replaced mockery. Around the arena, nobles leaned forward in anticipation, eyes locked on the stage.

With each measured step, the sound of her boots against the stone rang faintly until she came to a stop in front of Eran. For a moment, neither spoke. Their gazes lingered, unbroken.. long enough for something unspoken to pass between them.

Then, behind her, her violet mana circuit flickered to life. It flared wide and brilliant, casting shimmering hues across the floor. Gasps rippled through the spectators; awe replaced derision. Her palms shimmered in a soft crimson-violet glow as she clenched them lightly.

Eran's breath steadied. Perfect. Everything was unfolding as he hoped.. but even so, the quiet understanding between them was more than he anticipated. They hadn't planned this deeply. Only a brief conversation a week ago, just a faint alignment of intent. Yet here she was—playing along flawlessly, almost as if she had become the performance itself.

As if responding to his thoughts, Miyu's lips curved into a subtle smirk.. one only Eran could see.

Without a word more, she raised her hand high, her voice ringing clear across the arena.

"I'm disappointed. Truly," she said, tone sharp with disdain. "I give up. Commoners aren't worth the effort of a duel, nor the grace of my mana. If one can barely summon a flicker, then he's not worth my attention. This is a waste of time… I'm done."

Silence fell like a blade.

For a full heartbeat, no one moved. The nobles stared, half-risen from their seats, caught between disbelief and outrage. Her words sliced through the arena like cold steel. Even the enforcers at the high table froze, their quills halted mid-stroke over parchment.

Miyu cast one last glance at Eran. To the crowd, it was cold... an icy warning to every commoner watching. But beneath that stare, something deeper passed between them, quiet and unseen.

Eran remained still. Stunned. Not by fear.. but by how seamlessly Miyu had carried the act beyond his expectations. Her declaration, her exit... everything had set the stage perfectly. The crowd wouldn't realize it, but this move secured his unexpected victory.

As the murmurs began to swell again, Miyu turned, her violet circuit slowly dimming behind her.

And from the far end of the arena, Girzar began to walk toward the stage.

"..."

Just as Professor Girzar slowly walked toward the arena stage, murmurs rippled through the crowd. Nobles whispered behind cupped palms, others spoke lowly under their breath.. confused, astonished, unsure what to believe.

"Did she really just give up?"

"It makes sense, doesn't it? She's a Velmeirion—top of the class, unmatched in grace and control."

"For someone of her caliber, a duel against a commoner must be dull. Still... she carried herself with such poise."

"Velmeirion blood indeed. I heard about their lineage... they don't play around. That pride is earned."

The hum of voices built into a soft storm unti..

Tap!.

Girzar's rod struck the stone once, and the arena fell instantly silent. The weight of his presence drew every gaze. Even the air seemed to still.

He took a calm step forward, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd before turning toward Miyu. A faint, knowing smile curved his lips... one that spoke of acknowledgment more than amusement.

"Earlier," Girzar began, his tone deep, steady, resonant, "I spoke of the Hierarchy, and of what it truly means to stand upon this stage. The duel was meant to test mana, potential, and restraint... but perhaps it has revealed something far greater."

He turned fully to Miyu now, his voice carrying warmth beneath its composure.

"I must admit," he said, "I did not expect any noble to demonstrate such understanding. I watched your earlier matches... you handled your opponents without effort, yet I saw the same thing then that I see now: not arrogance, but discipline. You have proven yourself aware of your own limits, and beyond that, aware of your worth."

Gasps spread through the seats. The nobles leaned forward, eyes wide, processing every word.

Girzar raised his right hand, turning slowly to face the crowd. "Today," he intoned, "my heart feels warm. For a true nobility is not measured by how fiercely one fights.. but by how well one knows oneself. To know your strength, your pride, your heritage, that is the essence of the noble spirit."

He gestured toward Miyu, his tone lifting with conviction.

"Here before you stands that very definition. Miyu Valerane, blood of Velmeirion—one who knows her pride, her worth, and her name."

The silence that followed was absolute. Even the air trembled faintly with the echo of his words. Then he smiled.. softly, with respect.

"Giving up, as she has done, does not mark defeat," Girzar continued, voice lowering to a thoughtful calm. "It is, instead, the highest mark of discernment. She has recognized when victory would bring no honor—and by that alone, she has won. Even before the judges' quills can ink the final scores... she has already taken the first position."

The arena erupted... not in laughter this time, but in stunned awe. Nobles turned to one another in disbelief, the murmurs swelling again with a new tone.. admiration, reverence, even envy.

And at the center of it all stood Miyu, calm and unshaken, her violet circuit fading softly behind her.

Eran stood quietly a few steps away from Girzar and Miyu. His expression unreadable... calm, almost too calm, but his thoughts sank deep beneath that still surface.

He hadn't expected it to unfold this way.

Not this perfectly.

Not this dangerously perfect.

Miyu's voice still lingered in his head, the words she'd spoken echoing through the air like a spell that changed everything. "I give up..." Yet, in truth, it was the most noble checkmate he'd ever seen.

Eran lowered his gaze slightly, his lips twitching with a faint, restrained grin. Brilliant. She hadn't only given him a win; she had turned the entire stage into a statement.. one that silenced even the proudest nobles.

The hum of admiration, confusion, and whispered realization filled the vast dome. Around him, nobles still muttered, unsure whether to celebrate or question what had just happened. But Eran stood still in the quiet between those voices.. calm, thoughtful, with a glint of quiet understanding in his golden eyes.

From the high table above, Nyssa leaned slightly toward Selene, her curiosity piqued. Her eyes followed Miyu where she stood beside Girzar, her posture straight, her poise effortless.

"Well," Nyssa murmured with a soft smile, "I'll admit... I never expected that from her. She's more than just pride.. she's purpose. A true noble through and through."

Her voice carried quiet respect as she gestured faintly toward the stage. "Look at her. That stance, that calm... she's everything the Velmeirion name represents and more."

Selene's gaze lingered on Miyu for a long moment. The violet circuit fading behind the young noble's back shimmered faintly against the air—an echo of her grace. Selene exhaled softly, a quiet sigh of relief escaping her lips.

"At least the duel didn't escalate as I feared," she whispered, the tension in her shoulders easing. A faint smile curved her lips, genuine and warm. "I really admire her. I trained with Miyu once... but she's come much farther than I ever imagined."

Nyssa chuckled quietly, her tone thoughtful and amused. "To me, she's more than a Grade D noble. She's refined.. mature, respectful, and aware of her own worth. If you ask me, she's already walking the path of a Grade C."

Selene gave a small nod, eyes flickering with agreement. "Hm. True, I guess…"

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