Kael paused, hand still resting on the golden door handle.
He turned slowly, eyes calm yet sharp.
Standing a few feet away was a girl with smooth, short brown hair, flowing just above her shoulders. Her bright green eyes were clear and unwavering, and despite her delicate features, she had a solid, athletic build matching Kael in height almost exactly. That alone surprised him.
She crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly.
> "You really are as good-looking as they say you are."
Kael blinked once.
> "I guess… you're Elsa Sylvenmire."
She nodded firmly.
> "Yeah. That's me."
Before he could speak further.
> "Fight me."
Kael raised a brow. "...What?"
Elsa's eyes flared. "I said fight me. Right here, right now."
There was a moment of silence. The wind blew gently across the courtyard as Kael considered her expression. She wasn't joking.
> "Why?" he asked.
She clicked her tongue and looked away for a moment, then back at him.
> "People in the academy keep saying you only became a high ranker because of your sister. That you got in on name alone. And since I ranked just ahead of you in the monster test by a single second… they're calling me weak too. So I want to prove I'm not."
Kael stared for a moment.
So that's how it is.
He sighed, dropping his hand from the door and slowly turning to face her fully.
His red eyes gleamed under the moonlight, and the shadows from the S-rank gate danced behind him.
> "You want a fight to prove yourself."
She nodded. "Exactly."
"No"