Kyle tapped his stylus against the edge of his mana tab, finishing the last few notes on elemental resonance theory.
The classroom buzzed with chatter as students packed up, but he lingered in his seat at the back, double-checking his work.
'One month since the academy started. Two months since I woke up in this world.'
The thought still felt surreal.
Instructor Grey's voice cut through his musings.
"Alright, that's it for today. Don't forget the essays on mana crystallization are due next week."
Kyle stretched, rolling his stiff shoulders. He had just closed his mana tab when a shadow fell over his desk.
A guy with short brown hair and sharp brown eyes stood in front of him, arms crossed. His expression was pure disdain, like he had just stepped in something unpleasant.
Kyle blinked. 'Do I know him?'
The guy's lip curled. "Kyle Valemont."
"Yeah?" Kyle leaned back keeping his tone neutral.
"I am officially challenging you to a Rank Match."
Silence spread through the nearby students. Conversations died mid-sentence. Heads turned.
Kyle raised an eyebrow. "And you are…?"
The guy's face darkened. "Kaelith Duskrend. Rank 11."
'Ah.' Now only Kyle remembered.
In the novel, Kaelith had been Rank 10—an arrogant noble from the Argent Empire. The type who thought commoners belonged in the dirt and nobles were destined to rule.
And now apparently, he was pissed Kyle had taken a spot in the top 10.
Kaelith's jaw tightened. "You stole my place. You don't deserve to be Rank 9."
Kyle sighed. "The rankings are based on the entrance exam. If you wanted a higher spot, you should have scored better."
A few snickers came from nearby students. Kaelith's ears turned red.
"You are the only one in the top 10 still stuck at Grade 2 Bronze" he spat.
"I've already broken through to Grade 1. I have surpassed you."
Kyle glanced at him. True, Kaelith's aura was slightly denser now—Grade 1 Bronze. But that didn't mean much.
"If you have surpassed me," Kyle said calmly "then the Rank Match will prove it."
Kaelith smirked. "Finally, some backbone. Don't back out last minute—and don't expect your sister to bail you out like she did during the entrance exam."
A hush fell over the room.
Kyle's fingers stilled.
'Ah.'
So that was the real issue.
Kaelith wasn't just angry about the ranking. He thought Kyle had only gotten this far because of Aurelia. That he hadn't earned it.
A slow, cold anger settled in Kyle's chest.
But outwardly, he just smiled. "Sure. I will see you in the arena."
Kaelith scoffed, turning on his heel. "Don't disappoint me, commoner."
The moment he was gone, the classroom erupted into whispers.
"Damn, Valemont you actually agreed?" someone muttered.
"Kaelith's a beast in combat. You sure about this?"
Kyle just shrugged, packing up his things. "It's just a Rank Match."
***
Eleanora watched from her seat near the front as Kaelith Duskrend—'that insufferable noble brat'—marched up to Kyle's desk like he owned the academy.
She didn't even need to hear the words. The way his lip curled the way he loomed over Kyle like some petty warlord issuing a decree. She knew exactly what this was.
A Rank Challenge.
'Idiot.'
Kaelith's voice carried, sharp and mocking.
"You are the only one in the top 10 still stuck at Grade 2 Bronze. I have surpassed you."
Eleanora's fingers tightened around her stylus. 'Surpassed him?' She almost laughed.
If only Kaelith knew how badly he was about to embarrass himself.
But then—
"—and don't expect your sister to bail you out like she did during the entrance exam."
The stylus snapped in her grip.
A cold, razor-edged fury sliced through her chest. Her mana flickered, just for a second—a silent, deadly promise.
'How dare he.'
She could end this right now. A single word from her, and Kaelith would find himself stripped of rank privileges, maybe even tossed out of the academy entirely. Nobility meant nothing compared to royalty.
But then—
Kyle smiled. Not a tense, forced smile. Not an angry one. Just… calm.
"Sure. I'll see you in the arena."
Eleanora exhaled.
'Right.'
She had forgotten for a moment—this was Kyle. The same man who, in her past life, had fought his way into the top ranks with nothing but raw determination.
The same man who had faced down demons without flinching.
He didn't need her interference.
Kaelith was nothing. A minor nuisance. A stepping stone.
And Kyle?
He would handle it.
As the classroom emptied, Eleanora lingered, watching Kyle pack up his things with the same quiet focus he always had.
She could still intervene. A quiet word to the instructors. A subtle nudge to make sure the match was rigorously supervised.
But no.
Kaelith had insulted Kyle's pride. His family.
And Eleanora knew better than anyone—pride wasn't something Kyle Valemont let slide.
'Let him have this.'
She turned away, a faint smirk curling at the edge of her lips.
'It'll be fun to watch.'
***
In Solvayne Academy, rankings weren't set in stone.
Every student had the right to challenge someone above them in the rankings—within reason. You couldn't jump more than three spots at once, and the challenged had the right to refuse (though it came with a minor reputation hit).
But if both agreed?
They would fight in the academy's combat arena, under supervision.
The winner took the higher rank.
The loser? Well.
They had to live with the humiliation.
Kyle tossed his mana tab onto the bed, the rules of Rank Matches still glowing on its surface. The words 'no outside interference' seemed to mock him. As if he'd ever needed help dealing with someone like Kaelith.
Three sharp knocks rattled his door.
"It's open," he called, not bothering to get up.
Aurelia stormed in, her academy robes flaring dramatically behind her. She didn't even bother with greetings. "You're going to destroy him."
Kyle blinked. That wasn't the reaction he'd expected. "I was planning on it, but I didn't think you would—"
"That little shit had the nerve to imply I helped you cheat?" Aurelia's eyes crackled with barely contained lightning.
"And you are offended he thinks you would cheat so obviously?" Kyle smirked.
"I would be more insulted if he thought you were bad at covering your tracks."
Aurelia flicked his forehead. Hard. "This isn't funny. He challenged your right to be here."
Kyle rubbed his forehead, still grinning. "I know. And I'm going to wreck him."
Aurelia studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Good. Make it hurt."
She turned to leave, then paused. "You are still holding back your breakthrough, right?"
Kyle nodded. As per Aurelia's advice, he had delayed advancing to Grade 1 Bronze, focusing instead on improving his mana control and mastering his elements. A solid foundation now meant faster growth later—and right now, his control was sharp.
"Good." Aurelia's smirk was vicious. "Destroy him as a Grade 2 Bronze. Let the whole academy watch a 'weak commoner' dismantle their precious noble prodigy. Then break through after. Rub their noses in it."
Kyle chuckled. "You are terrifying."
"I know." She waved a hand dismissively.
"Just don't get cocky. Kaelith's fire affinity hits hard in close quarters. Don't let him get the upper hand"
"Noted."
As the door clicked shut behind her, Kyle exhaled, staring at the ceiling.
****
Author's Note: "Add this to your library, drop some Power Stones and show some love because creativity is hard, folks!" 😅✨