The canteen was bustling with life. The Arcane Dominion Trial had ended, and students from all years were gathered, sharing tales of their victories and defeats. Some boasted about how many Arcane Sigils they had snatched, while others sulked over their losses.
At a corner table, Aiden, Xaleth, and Leon sat together, their food untouched. The conversation with Takeda Renzou earlier still weighed on them.
Leon, leaning back in his chair, crossed his arms. "Tch. Fighting the best from different kingdoms… Sounds annoying."
Xaleth, already stuffing his face with food, grinned. "You say that, but you're probably the most excited out of all of us."
Aiden, sitting across from them, silently mulled over Takeda's words. If you want to be the strongest, you need more than just rage. You need purpose. He clenched his fists.
"Yo, you three look like you just saw a ghost," a familiar voice called out.
Aiden turned his head and saw Elara approaching with her team—Lyra Evern and Elysia Ashford. Unlike the trio's serious demeanor, the girls seemed relaxed, as if the brutal trial had been nothing more than a casual sparring session.
Elara slid into the seat next to Aiden, nudging him playfully. "So? What's with the long faces? You won, didn't you?"
Xaleth raised an eyebrow. "Did we, though? Leon pretty much did everything for us."
Elara smirked. "You're just mad you got knocked out."
"Not my fault someone's built like a damn monster." Xaleth nudged Leon with his elbow.
Leon scoffed but said nothing.
Meanwhile, Lyra took a seat across from Leon, resting her chin on her hand. She had been quiet throughout the conversation, but her golden eyes studied him closely.
She had seen everything. Unlike the others, she hadn't blacked out. She had watched as Leon crushed his opponents with merciless precision, his movements like a force of nature—untamed, violent, yet strangely captivating.
He was terrifying… but damn, he was hot.
Her fingers lightly tapped against the table as she recalled every detail—the way his white hair fell messily over his forehead, the sharp look in his eyes, the way his muscles tensed as he tore through his enemies without hesitation. There was something intoxicating about his raw power.
She had played along, pretending to be unconscious just like the others, but in reality, she had been fully aware. She had watched everything from the corner of her eye, her heart pounding—not out of fear, but something else entirely.
"So that's Leon Aaldric…" she thought to herself.
Elysia, sitting beside Lyra, noticed her staring. With a smirk, she whispered, "Enjoying the view?"
Lyra blinked and quickly looked away, grabbing a piece of bread and stuffing it in her mouth. "Shut up."
Elara, oblivious to the exchange, clapped her hands together. "Alright, enough sulking. Let's talk about something fun!" She turned to Aiden. "Tell me, how many Sigils did you guys collect in total?"
Aiden, shaking off his thoughts, scratched his cheek. "Uh… we never counted, actually."
Xaleth nodded. "We just picked up whatever was left on the ground and left."
Elara gasped. "Wait… don't tell me…"
Elysia grinned. "Yeah. You guys picked up all of Leon's leftovers, didn't you?"
Aiden, Xaleth, and even Leon froze for a moment.
"Shit," Xaleth muttered. "Now that I think about it… that's probably why we had so many."
Elara facepalmed. "You do realize that means Leon was technically the real winner, right?"
Aiden let out an awkward laugh. "Yeah… we kind of figured that out during the announcement."
Elara shook her head. "Unbelievable."
Leon, who had remained silent, finally spoke, his voice low. "Doesn't matter. I didn't care about winning."
But Lyra, still resting her chin on her hand, smirked. "Oh? Then why'd you fight like a demon possessed?"
Leon's crimson eyes flicked toward her. "Because I was pissed off."
Lyra hummed, her smirk widening. "Uh-huh. Sure."
Leon narrowed his eyes. "What?"
"Nothing~," she sang, leaning back in her chair.
Elysia snickered. "Lyra's got a point. You were fighting like a man who had something to prove."
Leon didn't reply. He merely picked up his fork and stabbed at his food.
Elara stretched her arms and yawned. "Well, whatever. The trial's over, and we're all alive. That's what matters."
Aiden nodded. "Yeah. But the real fights are just beginning."
The mood shifted slightly. The Arcane Dominion Trial had been one thing, but now they had to prepare for battles against students from different kingdoms.
Xaleth leaned forward. "So, what's the plan? Training under Takeda again?"
Elara smirked. "Of course. And we'll be training under our teacher too."
Elysia added, "She might not be as high-ranked as Takeda, but trust me, she's no joke."
Leon scoffed. "Tch. I don't need training."
Lyra rolled her eyes. "Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that, White Demon."
Leon twitched. "Don't call me that."
Lyra smirked. "I think it suits you."
Aiden chuckled. It was strange. For the first time in a long while, it felt like they weren't just warriors preparing for battle—they were just students, eating, talking, and enjoying the moment.
But deep inside, he knew this peace wouldn't last.
Because soon, the real war would begin.
The Grand Hall of the University of Higher Magic was once again filled with students. Unlike the previous announcements, where some students looked uninterested or bored, this time, everyone was paying attention.
Standing at the podium, the Dean, a man whose presence alone could silence the entire hall, scanned the room. He was about to reveal something that would change the course of their journey.
He raised his hand, and instantly, the murmuring ceased.
"I have two important announcements to make."
The students straightened up.
"First," he continued, "in twelve days, the Grand Arcane Ball will be held. This is a long-standing tradition of our university, and every student is expected to attend. You will have five days to choose a partner. After that, you will return to your hometowns and spend the remaining time training with your partner for the ball's formal dance."
Excited whispers spread through the hall. Some students grinned at each other, already planning their moves, while others looked absolutely miserable—especially the combat-focused students who had zero experience with formal dancing.
Elara smirked as she glanced at Aiden. "You better not embarrass yourself."
Aiden scratched the back of his head. This was going to be a nightmare.
Lyra nudged Elara. "I have a feeling someone's going to have a rough time."
Leon remained silent, standing slightly apart from the group, arms crossed. He didn't care about a ball or dancing.
However, before the students could fully digest the announcement, the Dean raised his hand again. The atmosphere shifted.
His next words were like thunder in a storm.
"The tournament against the five great kingdoms has been postponed."
The entire hall fell into stunned silence. Then, chaos erupted.
"Postponed? Why?"
"Are we not fighting them anymore?"
"What's happening?"
Even Aiden and the others looked at each other in confusion. This wasn't expected.
The Dean, unfazed by the reaction, continued, his voice cutting through the noise.
"The tournament is not canceled, only delayed. The council overseeing inter-kingdom battles has decided to expand the competition. Instead of only our university, other academies from our kingdom will also send their strongest students."
A cold realization hit Aiden. This just became much harder.
"So we'll be competing not only against the top students from the five great kingdoms, but also against other academies from our own kingdom?" a student murmured.
The Dean nodded. "That is correct. And because of this change, only those deemed worthy will be selected to represent the University of Higher Magic."
Aiden's fists clenched.
"This isn't just about fighting anymore. This is about proving who deserves to stand at the top."
The Dean's next words only solidified the tension in the room.
"The tournament will still happen. But now, you must earn your place in it. Training will be intensified, and every student will be evaluated. Only the strongest will represent us."
The weight of those words settled over the entire student body.
Leon, standing off to the side, remained calm. This didn't change anything for him. More opponents meant more people to crush.
Xaleth exhaled. "This just got more interesting."
Vael Darius, who had been standing nearby, had a complicated look on his face. He muttered, "So even making it to the tournament is a battle in itself…"
The Dean gave one final nod. "Choose your partners wisely for the ball. And prepare yourselves. Dismissed."
Aiden stood still for a moment, his mind racing.
This was the first time he fully understood why he never gave up. Why he kept fighting.
"I want to be number one in the world."
His eyes shone with determination, staring at the path ahead. It wouldn't be easy. But he had never cared about that.
He was going to make it to the top.
Elara noticed his expression and grinned. "Looks like someone's fired up."
Leon didn't react outwardly, but deep inside, he was already prepared. It didn't matter who they sent. They would fall like the rest.
Xaleth nudged him. "You seem calmer than usual."
Leon scoffed. "Because it doesn't change anything. I was already going to win."
Elara felt excitement bubbling inside her. She wanted to grow stronger, to prove that she could stand on her own alongside Aiden and the others.
And maybe, just maybe, she wanted to see how much further Aiden could go