Valerius narrowed his eyes, his gaze locking onto the unfamiliar student. The boy met his stare with a cold, knowing smile.
Who is he? Valerius's mind sharpened with suspicion. I've never seen him before… yet he looks at me like we have unfinished business. Is he connected to Bram somehow?
Pushing those thoughts aside for now, he turned his attention to the ring. Elowen and Alaric stood opposite each other, their stances tense with focus.
"Begin!" Zepharion's command rang out.
Alaric moved first. His footwork was swift, and precise, crossing the distance in an instant. His leg whipped out in a vicious kick. Elowen barely had time to react. She raised her arms, blocking the blow, but the sheer force sent her skidding back several steps. Her breath came quick, eyes sharp with caution.
Alaric pressed the attack. A storm of relentless strikes forced Elowen onto the defensive. She blocked, dodged, and countered where she could, but the gap between them was obvious.
Then, Elowen made a misstep. Alaric then instantly, performed a powerful strike sending her tumbling out of the ring.
"The winner, Alaric Ashrend!"
Alaric smirked, stepping away from the ring with confidence. On the sidelines, Bram leaned back with a pleased grin, his gaze flicking to Valerius.
But Valerius remained unreadable. No reaction. Only the sharp glint in his eyes betrayed his thoughts.
Bram chuckled under his breath. "Ronan, your turn."
A figure stepped forward. Ronan, his posture relaxed but his eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Instructor," he said, voice steady. "I am volunteering to fight now."
Zepharion gave an approving nod. "Good. Who's stepping up to face him?" His gaze swept the remaining students. From Classes A, B, C, and D, a few remained. From Class E, only Valerius and Cassian.
Ronan smirked. "Instructor, can I choose my opponent?"
Zepharion raised a brow but nodded. "Fine. Pick."
Without hesitation, Ronan's hand lifted, finger pointing directly at Cassian. "I'll fight you."
Cassian blinked. "Me?"
Ronan said nothing, but the slight smirk on his face was answer enough.
Zepharion clapped his hands together. "Come on, kid. Into the ring."
Cassian hesitated, stealing a glance at Valerius. The unease was clear in his eyes.
Valerius exhaled and stole a cold glance at Bram, and placed a hand on Cassian's shoulder. "Just do your best."
Cassian swallowed, then gave a small nod. No choice, huh? Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the ring.
Zepharion crossed his arms. "Name?"
"Ah… Cassian Delacroix."
Zepharion nodded. "Alright. Are you two Ready?"
Cassian met Ronan's gaze. He nodded. So did Ronan.
"Begin!"
Ronan lunged, closing the gap in an instant. His fist cut through the air, aimed directly at Cassian's guard.
The impact landed. But Cassian didn't move. Didn't even flinch.
Ronan's eyes widened slightly.
Cassian countered, his fist shooting forward. But Ronan reacted a second too late, as he took three steps back.
Cassian's expression looked serious ,as he took a firm stance. This time, he moved first, dashing forward with a sharp punch. But Ronan, more prepared now, slipped past it with ease.
The fight continued, both exchanging blows, neither gaining the upper hand. The ring echoed with the sharp crack of fists meeting flesh, the shuffle of feet adjusting, repositioning.
After One minute has passed.
Zepharion raised a hand. "Enough!"
Both fighters halted, stepping back. Cassian exhaled as he returned to his classmates, rolling his shoulders.
Ronan, however, stayed frozen for a moment. His brows furrowed, frustration creeping into his expression. He clenched his fists. I couldn't break through his defense… He barely budged. How?
His jaw tightened, but he forced himself to walk back to his class. Bram looked at him disappointedly but said nothing.
Zepharion's grin returned as he clapped his hands. "Alright! Who's next?"
His eyes landed on Valerius.
Valerius felt the weight of Zepharion's stare settles on him. There was no need for words, he understood. It was his turn.
With measured steps, he moved toward the ring, his expression unreadable.
Zepharion scanned the remaining students, his sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd before settling on one figure. "You," he said, his voice carrying authority. "Step forward."
The chosen student moved without hesitation. His deep ocean-blue eyes held a calm confidence, and his wavy auburn hair shimmered under the sunlight. His steps were light, yet deliberate, an air of nobility clung to him.
"Yes, instructor." His voice was smooth, unwavering.
He stepped into the ring, stopping a few paces from Valerius. A smile tugged at his lips, casual yet unreadable.
Valerius met his gaze, eyes narrowing slightly. There was a glint of something unreadable in his stare, curiosity, maybe, or something sharper.
Zepharion folded his arms. "State your names."
Valerius was the first to answer, his tone was firm. "Valerius Von Aster."
Whispers rippled through the crowd like wildfire. Disbelief, curiosity, and shock mixed in their hushed voices as eyes darted toward the young man standing in the ring.
"The crippled Fifth Prince...?"
"No way, what's he doing here?"
"I heard he beat against Bram Ravenflame earlier today!"
It was unthinkable. Just months ago, Valerius von Aster had been nothing more than a forgotten name in the royal bloodline, an afterthought, a prince in title only. A disgrace, shackled by a body that could not wield mana, mocked and pitied.
And yet, here he stood.
The rumors had spread like wildfire, but hearing about it and seeing it with their own eyes were two different things. The Fifth Prince, who was once believed to be crippled, was not only standing in the arena, he was preparing to fight.
For some, the thought was absurd. For others, terrifying.
The other student remained unaffected. His smile didn't waver as he gave a small nod and reported his name.
"Aloenwyr Hackenwynn."
Valerius' thoughts flickered. Aloenwyr Hackenwynn…. That's one of the Dukes Families in the Empire. That would explain why I saw him with Bram earlier.
And without any further words between them, Zepharion then asked. "Both of you ready?"
A tense silence stretched between them.
Valerius exhaled slowly. Aloenwyr's smile remained, unreadable, as he lifted his hands into a fighting stance.
Zepharion raised his hand. "Fight!"