Volume 1: Path – [Academy Arc]
Chapter 32: Exploration & Arena
After 45 minutes, Caelus woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed like he'd been reborn. The mental storm of the past two days had finally calmed, giving him a sense of clarity.
He had been burdened by waves of regret, the pressure of mastering Leym energy, and the overwhelming depth of the history lessons. But now, for the first time in days, his mind felt lighter.
He placed the history story book back in its proper place, scanned his ID via his chronolink to log his exit, and stepped out of the library. He made his way to the academy's central plaza to meet Aiv, since the library was on the opposite side of the training grounds.
They both decided to meet up in the center plaza.
Aiv had arrived ahead of him. Caelus, walking leisurely while browsing his chronolink for quick ways to earn merits, showed no rush. It took him about five minutes to get there.
Once they met, the two began exploring the academy grounds. But with time passing quickly and the campus being so vast, they couldn't cover much before their free block ended.
They needed to head to the Arena before the gates closed but due to their plans for exploring were done before starting, their path led in the same direction. So, instead of rushing, they strolled at a relaxed pace. A few minutes later, they reached the entrance just as the gates were shutting behind them.
"We made it just in time," Caelus remarked.
"Yeah."
"Didn't expect the academy to be this massive," Caelus added.
"Of course it's big. This place, along with the other seven academies, forms the backbone for nurturing new Awakeners. Even though only a few thousand awaken each year, it still needs to be spacious, like for comfort, for training, and because the Holy Church shares its grounds with the Academy."
"Makes sense."
When they entered, Caelus saw the full scale of the Arena and it was breathtaking. From the outside, it had already looked massive, but they'd only seen the front façade and the towering walls. Now, inside, the scale truly hit Caelus.
A massive stone arena stretched wide across the landscape, built in a circular layout with tiered seating that rose high above the ground. The structure could hold over ten thousand spectators, with stone benches wrapping around in concentric rings. The seats at the top offered a sweeping view of the entire complex, while the lower rows pressed close to the action, separated only by a low barrier.
At the center lay a vast field divided into ten dueling grounds, each spaced evenly apart. Every ground was a flat, open space, marked by boundary lines and slightly raised platforms. The surfaces varied, some were packed earth, others smooth stone or sand, designed for different types of combat. Each dueling zone had its own identity, yet they were close enough that the crowd could experience the roar and rhythm of simultaneous battles.
The outer walls loomed high and thick, held together by massive columns and reinforced arches. Wide staircases spiraled upward for spectators, while large gates at the base served as entrances for the duelists. The air carried the scent of dust, and when filled, the arena could erupt into a thunderous roar as thousands of voices joined in a single tide of excitement.
Caelus glanced at Aiv, who, like him, showed little outward reaction. 'Maybe it's because he already knew,' Caelus thought. 'Yeah, that has to be it, he was the one who planned the whole exploration and led the tour after all.'
"Aiv, are you going to participate in the duels too?"
"I don't think I will."
"Why not? It'd be a great chance to rank up, and if we do well, we could get better dorms than the ones we're stuck in now."
"That's true… but only if you win. And winning isn't easy, especially for someone who hasn't fully trained in their tachi combat style yet. Most students who participate are nobles they've had formal training since they were young. You're new here, and honestly, even for me, it would be tough. So, entering a duel without proper preparation would be pointless."
'He's right. I mean, yeah, I beat Uriel this morning, but that was only once. I lost to her twice and tied five times. She's insanely talented. Nobles really are a different breed when it comes to ability. If only they weren't so arrogant, they'd actually be admirable. But then again, how could a noble not be arrogant? It's basically built into them. Except Uriel, of course… she was never arrogant to commoners.'
So, in the end, Caelus and Aiv decided not to participate in any duels unless someone challenged them directly of their own accord.
Caelus didn't expect that to happen anytime soon, considering he was ranked near the bottom, with only a handful of students below him.
Unless someone from an even lower rank challenged him to climb the ladder, he had no intention of stepping into the dueling stage.
And yet, there was an itch. A quiet urge was building in him, not out of some fantasy-inspired thrill, but because of a very practical reason: 'If I win, I get their merits.'
That was his real motivation. The winner's prize in a duel: merit points. And Caelus needed them more than anyone.
Earning merits wasn't easy. Missing even a single day of work could leave a student nearly broke unless they somehow managed to secure a large sum all at once.
As that thought crossed Caelus's mind, he and Aiv settled into one of the spectator seats. Around them, other students were also taking their places, the crowd slowly gathering in anticipation.
'I hope some noob ranked higher than me challenges me to a duel,' Caelus thought repeatedly, the idea stuck in his head like a looping chant.
Within minutes, the battles began. Ten duel platforms stood tall, each already hosting two fighters, a total of twenty students engaged in combat, while dozens more waited below for their turn. The matches currently taking place were mostly between lower-ranked students, most of whom relied solely on basic combat styles.
"How do they already know combat styles?" Caelus asked, genuinely curious.
"Because most of them awakened a long time ago and received proper training before even entering the academy," Aiv explained. "Unlike you, who awakened just before the term started."
"Oh… makes sense."
Caelus scanned the crowd of competitors near the platforms and spotted her standing near platform number 7. She stood alone, silent and composed, yet unmistakably drawing attention.
It wasn't that the male students didn't want to be near her. In fact, quite the opposite, many were subtly competing just to get closer. But any open disruption would earn them harsh punishment from the instructors, who were closely monitoring the situation.
'Looks like she's participating... I wonder what her rank is among the first-years,' Caelus thought, his curiosity piqued.
Caelus wasn't angry about the situation after all; it wasn't his concern anymore. It was her choice to live however she wished, whether that meant embracing who she used to be or becoming someone entirely new. He had never interfered in Uriel's matters.
Unless she asked for it, he wouldn't step in. 'A human should know when it's appropriate to cross a line and when not to. But then again... can someone truly hold back when they see something beautiful? Even a child will chase a butterfly if it catches their eye. That's just human nature, and being drawn to Uriel is no different.'
Caelus had already distanced himself from her. He bore no resentment; he only wanted to quietly watch over her from afar, stepping in only if she ever found herself in true danger.
'I don't think I'll live long enough to see her get married… huh, maybe that's for the best. Still, I just wanted to see her happy.'
Caelus's thoughts were cut short as he noticed Uriel stepping into the arena; it was her turn now.
The floating virtual display hovering in the center of the arena lit up, showing her rank: 50. Her opponent, a woman standing opposite her, held the 49th rank, with her name being Sakura Yamaguchi.
'Oh, she is from a country near mine.' Caelus recognized it because of the name; it sounded similar to the names used by a neighboring country. That country is called Yamato.
From this distance, it was difficult to make out the opponent's facial features; only her black hair was clearly visible. Thankfully, the virtual display hovering above the arena provided a clear view of the match, allowing spectators to see the fighters up close.
The opponent had sleek black hair and matching black eyes. She was undeniably beautiful, but Caelus paid no attention to her appearance. His focus was entirely on her movements; she wielded a tachi, just like him. He watched her with sharp intent, hoping to learn something from her combat style, studying every step and swing for insight.
As he was observing the movements, the match began.
[End Of Chapter - 32]