Sage Academy – Training Field
The vast training field of Sage Academy was nearly empty now, with only a handful of students left. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and determination. Ronan stood at the far end, swinging his sword relentlessly as sweat dripped from his brow. A few feet away, Kaelius, Garold, and Darius walked up to Damon, who was catching his breath after an intense session.
Kaelius smirked. "What do you guys think about Arthur? Don't you think he's been acting a little full of himself lately?"
He expected Damon to agree, but instead, Damon exhaled sharply and said, "I don't know… But if I were you, I'd stay away from him." His voice was low, almost as if he was warning them.
Kaelius frowned. "What? Why?"
Damon's fingers twitched as a memory surfaced—Arthur's chilling words echoing in his mind.
"Lower your head."
A shiver ran down his spine as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. "He's a monster. I don't want to experience that again."
Darius chuckled, shaking his head. "What are you saying? It sounds like losing to him twice messed up your brain."
Garold and Kaelius laughed, but their amusement died when Damon narrowed his eyes at them.
"Weren't all of you also defeated in your matches?" he asked coldly.
The laughter stopped.
Kaelius clenched his fists. "So what are you trying to say?"
Damon exhaled and looked at them seriously. "The tournament. That's our chance to redeem ourselves—to prove that we're not just stepping stones for him."
The others fell silent, each recalling their own humiliating losses.
Damon continued, "That's why I refused to go on that dungeon expedition. I need to get stronger. And you should do the same. The only thing we should be thinking about right now is how to win the tournament."
Kaelius gritted his teeth, the sting of defeat still fresh. Then, after a long pause, he exhaled and smirked. "You're right. Losing still burns, and I don't want to feel that again. Fine. I'll listen to you this time."
Garold and Darius exchanged glances before nodding.
"Yeah… Let's train. Let's win," Darius said.
Kaelius grinned. "Then let's make sure we smash that tournament, huh?"
They all nodded in agreement before stepping onto the training field, the fire in their eyes reigniting.
---
Sage Academy – Classroom
The girls sat in their usual spots in the student hall, the warm glow of the afternoon sun casting soft light across the desks. Lyra leaned back in her chair, playing with a strand of her black hair, while Selene sat beside her, absentmindedly tapping her fingers against the desk.
"So, what do you think about Callista and Seraphina?" Lyra asked suddenly.
Selene tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"They both went on the dungeon expedition. Do you think we made the right choice by not going?"
Selene thought for a moment. "I don't know about Seraphina… but Callista's nice. She doesn't act like a noble, not around me at least."
Lyra sighed. "But still… don't you feel like we're falling behind?"
Selene's green eyes hardened. "I don't think this is about right or wrong choices. It's about our purpose. And our purpose is the same—we stayed because we need to get stronger for the tournament. Seraphina and Callista might be the strongest girls at Sage Academy, but we can't let them leave us in the dust. We have to work hard to surpass them."
Lyra nodded firmly. "Yeah. You're right."
With that, the two stood up and left for the training field, determination burning in their eyes.
---
Training Field – A Sudden Omen
As the students practiced, the air around them suddenly shifted. The sky darkened, the clouds swirling unnaturally, forming a giant vortex.
Selene stopped mid-step, her breath hitching. "What the…?"
She looked up, eyes wide.
"Everyone! Look at the sky!" she shouted.
The others followed her gaze, their expressions turning from confusion to unease.
"That's… definitely not normal," Garold muttered.
Selene didn't waste time—she turned on her heel and ran toward the academy halls. Mr. Nathaniel needed to see this.
---
Nathaniel's Office – Urgent Report
Nathaniel leaned against his desk, deep in thought, when Selene burst through the door, panting.
"Mr. Nathaniel! There's something happening near the dungeon! The sky—it's changing!"
Nathaniel's eyes flickered with concern as he stood up and walked to the window. The swirling storm clouds in the distance sent a chill down his spine.
"Is it a battle…?" he muttered. "I have a bad feeling about this."
Selene bit her lip. "What should we do?"
Nathaniel took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Don't worry. It's far from here. The others will be back soon."
Selene nodded hesitantly, then left.
As soon as she was gone, Nathaniel's smile faded. He turned on his heel and strode toward the Head Captain's Lounge.
---
Head Captain's Lounge
Nathaniel saluted as he entered the grand room. The Head Captain sat behind a heavy wooden desk, sipping tea. His sharp eyes flicked to Nathaniel.
"What's the matter?"
Nathaniel didn't waste time. "A strange phenomenon has been sighted near the dungeon. A cloud of lightning is forming, and I believe a battle is unfolding there."
The Head Captain raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Nathaniel's expression darkened. "I request reinforcements be sent immediately."
The Head Captain took another sip of tea before setting the cup down. "How do you know it's not one of their powers?"
Nathaniel straightened. "I know all their magic attributes. The only one who uses lightning is Darius Voss. The others… Arthur's element is Ice. His Zeraphim uses Ice as well."
At the mention of Arthur's name, the Head Captain's fingers stilled.
"Arthur?" His voice held an edge of curiosity.
Nathaniel nodded. "Yes, sir. Arthur is the student who was able to manifest the spirit form of his blade during the trials."
The Head Captain's mind flashed back to the Sage Trials.
"So that's him."
He leaned back, a slow smirk forming.
"Interesting…" he muttered.
Nathaniel furrowed his brows. "Sir, we should send sword mages—"
The Head Captain cut him off. "All sword mages are on missions right now. However, there's a squad near the dungeon. Once they're done with their mission, they'll head there."
"But—!"
"That's enough, Mr. Nathaniel. You're dismissed."
Nathaniel clenched his jaw but bowed and left.
Walking down the hallway, he exhaled, trying to shake off the unease in his gut.
"I have to trust them. They're strong. And Gael's with them. They'll be fine… right?"
---
Head Captain's Perspective
As Nathaniel left, the Head Captain turned his gaze toward the dungeon's direction.
His smirk widened.
"Arthur… don't disappoint me."