Chapter :24
The sun rose above the great banners of Aflety Magic Academy, casting golden light across the arena's obsidian tiles. From every tower and flagpole, the crests of rival academies fluttered in the wind, each one a testament to legacy, pride, and battle-earned honor.
Evan stood at the edge of the observation balcony, arms folded behind him, Nex curled loosely around his shoulders like a living scarf. The Basilisk, though still growing, had begun to shed faint traces of divine presence—its scales now shimmered with iridescent undertones of deep blue and shadowy violet, a sign of its dual affinity: Water and Darkness.
Below, the massive coliseum buzzed with thousands of spectators and hundreds of students from across the empire. But Evan's eyes were fixed not on the crowd—but on the leaderboard suspended in the sky.
With a thrum of ancient magic, the transparent board lit up in twelve streaks of elemental color. The First Stage Rankings were about to be revealed.
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THE ELEMENTAL LEADERBOARD: ROUND 1 – SCORES REVEALED
1. Aflety Magic Academy – Team A | 975 points
2. Drakos Dominion Academy | 960 points
3. Lunaris Veil Academy | 940 points
4. Titan's Roar Academy | 925 points
5. Stormfang Academy | 910 points
6. Aflety Magic Academy – Team B | 900 points
7. Crimson Howl Academy | 880 points
8. Ebonshade Academy | 860 points
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A chorus of gasps echoed across the stands. Whispers, murmurs, and cries of both joy and jealousy rippled like wildfire.
"Look! Aflety's Team A took the lead!"
"They beat Drakos Dominion by only fifteen points?! That's insane!"
"I thought Titan's Roar would dominate the opening—what happened?"
Evan turned as Silva Elowen stepped up beside him, her eyes fixed on the names. "We only lead by a thread," she said softly. "It's not enough."
He gave a nod. "They're watching us. All of them."
From behind, Lilith's voice chimed in. "Let them watch. They can all fight for second place."
She sauntered into view, parasol spinning lightly over her shoulder despite the sun's lack of bite. Her crimson eyes sparkled with mischief, but her tone held an edge.
Cassia Belvane appeared next, silently studying the board before folding her arms. "Arrogance before the next battle is dangerous," she said flatly. "Especially when our opponents are trained killers."
"And you're not?" Gareth Ironfang grunted, stomping up the stone steps with a grin on his face. "Come on, it's our turn to shine."
Evan smirked slightly, watching them all. His team wasn't perfect. They were dysfunctional, proud, and often clashed. But they were strong—and getting stronger.
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Across the Arena – Drakos Dominion
Prince Kael of the Drakos Dominion Academy glared at the rankings, his amber eyes narrowed. "Only fifteen points behind…" he muttered, grinding his teeth.
Behind him stood Lady Alira Vortan, a girl with flowing flame-red hair and the emblem of Fire element burning on her chest. "That Basilisk tamer… Evan Rochel. He's trouble."
Kael let out a dark chuckle. "We'll crush him in the arena. He can't hide behind points forever."
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Titan's Roar Camp
A towering beastman student from the Titan's Roar Academy punched the air. "We're falling behind!"
Their leader, a calm elf with silver tattoos named Veylen Duskroot, raised a hand. "The tournament has only begun. Focus. The real games start today."
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Back at Aflety – A Letter in Flames
As the excitement from the leaderboard died down, a page in formal uniform ran up to Evan. "Young Lord Rochel," the boy bowed and handed him a scroll sealed with imperial gold wax. The symbol of the Emperor burned like fire on the seal.
Everyone around Evan froze.
He took the letter, felt the warmth of the seal, and slowly slid it into his cloak without a word. The others didn't ask. They only exchanged glances—curious, wary, and in Lilith's case… envious.
"You receive letters from emperors now?" she teased, though her smile didn't reach her eyes.
Evan said nothing. The letter weighed heavy in his coat. Not just in mass—but in meaning. He'd read it later.
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Announcement: First Stage – Begin
Dean Gawain's voice thundered through the enchanted sound crystals.
"All teams prepare! The First Trial of the Inter-Academy Tournament begins at dawn! You will face a field of illusions, elemental chaos, and traps. Victory requires not just strength—but wisdom, unity, and survival instincts."
A glowing doorway opened at the heart of the coliseum, revealing a spiraling staircase of light.
"Team A of Aflety, step forward."
Evan clenched his fists. "Let's go."
Nex hissed lightly from his shoulder, licking his cheek in a moment of comfort. He chuckled, whispering, "You trying to calm me down?"
"You need it," came the creature's dry telepathic reply. Evan nearly tripped.
"Did… Did you just talk?"
"I have always talked. You're just slow."
"Wonderful," Evan muttered. "Even my beast has sarcasm."
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The spiral staircase of light shimmered as Evan and his team descended into the trial arena. With each step downward, the world above seemed to fade—replaced by a growing hum of raw magic pulsing through the walls. The air became heavier, saturated with ancient enchantments.
When they finally reached the base, the team found themselves standing before an enormous archway carved from obsidian stone. Runes older than the empire itself pulsed in steady rhythm, reacting to their presence.
Professor Gawain's voice echoed again through the arena crystal.
"Trial One: The Maze of Elemental Concord. A battlefield of shifting terrain, random elemental zones, and ambush points. You will be judged on strategy, survival, and coordination."
The ground before them began to shift. Cracks split the stone apart, and out of them surged radiant light. The floor twisted upward, reshaping itself into a wide, living maze filled with elemental pockets—zones of fire, lakes of mirror-like water, icy caverns, magnetic sandstorms, and darkness so thick even mana could not pierce it.
Cassia raised an eyebrow. "This doesn't look like any 'training exercise.'"
"It's not," Evan said calmly. "It's a battlefield in disguise."
Lilith gave a sigh. "And here I thought today would be boring."
A loud gong rang out.
"Begin!"
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Inside the Maze – Minutes Later
The team split into two units—Evan leading the left flank with Gareth and Silva, while Lilith and Cassia moved right through a shimmering forest of crystalline ice.
Nex slithered silently beside Evan's feet, his movements almost imperceptible.
"Left. Trap rune buried under the grass," Nex whispered mentally.
Evan stepped around it without a pause. "You really are handy."
"I'm divine. There's a difference."
Ahead, three figures stepped from behind a boulder—students in black and gold uniforms. Crimson Howl Academy.
Their leader, a towering boy with black flame tattoos glowing on his arms, stepped forward. "You're Evan Rochel. Let's see if you're worth the hype."
"Challenge accepted," Gareth cracked his knuckles, stepping forward before Evan could speak.
"Wait—"
Too late. Gareth charged in, fists glowing with earth mana.
The clash was explosive—earth clashed with fire, mana sparks lighting the air. Evan turned to Silva. "Help him. I'll cut through the right."
She nodded, spinning her staff. "Don't get burned."
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Meanwhile – Right Flank
Lilith and Cassia had encountered a different threat.
A zone of pure shadow magic had swallowed the terrain ahead. They stood at the border, where the air seemed to suck the warmth from their skin.
Cassia muttered, "Shadow Element—Unstable. This is artificial. Made by someone."
"No. Someone is in there," Lilith whispered, then pointed. "Watch your left."
A boy dressed in a silver robe darted out of the dark, hurling a chain of spectral blades. Cassia countered instantly, summoning a crystalline barrier of wind-sharpened ice.
"Impressive," Lilith said sweetly, stepping forward with glowing red eyes. "My turn."
With a snap of her fingers, shadows answered. Dozens of blood-laced thorns burst from the ground, wrapping around the intruder's feet. He screamed as they drained his mana.
Cassia whistled low. "Didn't know vampires had that kind of blood magic."
Lilith smiled. "That's because most vampires aren't Laistrygones."
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Back with Evan – Chaos Unleashed
Evan ducked behind a crumbling stone pillar as one of the Crimson Howl students hurled a fireball the size of a wagon. He could feel the searing heat lick his skin even from a distance.
Nex uncoiled beside him. "Permission to bite?"
"Make it clean."
The Basilisk vanished in a blur of motion. In seconds, the enemy was screaming—his legs wrapped in coils of pure pressure. Nex's venomous fangs stopped just short of biting.
Evan emerged calmly from the pillar. "We can finish you… or you can forfeit."
The boy threw down a white flare crystal. "We yield!"
Nex released him. The scoreboard above shimmered, Aflety's score ticking up another ten points.
Silva returned at that moment, blood spattered on her sleeves but her expression cool. "Gareth's fine. Took out their captain with one hit."
"Show-off," Evan muttered.
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Team Regroups
Minutes later, the five members of Aflety's Team A regrouped at the center of the maze. The exit had opened, and teams from other academies were being funneled out, one by one.
They looked around at one another—scarred, tired, but standing tall.
Gareth grinned. "That was fun. Got to punch someone and show off."
Silva wiped her staff with a cloth. "You mean you almost ruined the strategy."
Lilith rolled her eyes. "Honestly, the flirting between you two is unbearable."
Cassia adjusted her cloak. "Save it for the next round."
Evan stood slightly apart, watching Nex settle onto his shoulders once more. The Basilisk looked pleased.
"They're getting stronger," Nex whispered. "So are you."
Evan didn't respond immediately. He just looked up at the sky.
"It's only the beginning."
Chapter End
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