Entering the arena, Enrico approaches the three who were equipping themselves while the others on the opposite side were doing the same. Pretending not to know, he asks what was happening. Receiving the explanation, he nods.
"You did well, we can't let other academies make fun of ours."
"I knew you would understand, Enrico. We have to make them pay… in fact, I'd like a rematch."
"Later. And you also did well, Valença."
Turning his head back, he sees Valença stroking her hair with a smile. Hearing him, she grabs her staff, waving determined to finish them off in the best possible way.
"I'll finish them, and then we'll go on a date."
"Our date is already set, can't you wait a little longer?"
"No."
She replies with a completely cold face. During that week, he had decided to schedule dates with the girls on different days, starting tomorrow, but it seemed someone was cutting in line.
"If the others find out, you'll be in danger."
"It's a danger I'll fully accept if it's for you."
"If you think it'll work out, then defeat that girl and I'll accept."
An explosion of fire appeared in Valença's eyes as she looked mortally at the red-haired girl. She was doomed, because now there was a new reason for Valença to crush her opponent quickly.
[You're demonic.]
'That's a compliment to me.'
"You also did great, Camila, so give it your all. It's going to be important in your fight."
"Why do you talk as if you're not sure I can win?"
Enrico's eyes became like a cat's, while a playful smile appeared on his face. It was a smile that, for some reason, irritated Camila.
"I believe in you, just not as much as I do in Kai and Valença. Any problem with that?"
"Yes, there's a big problem with that."
"If you think so, then prove me wrong."
His face returned to normal as his eyes went back to normal. Seeing this, Camila turned her head to the side with a sulky expression.
"Why did Kai have to fall for you, of all people?"
'She still believes that? She should already know Kai is an idiot in love.'
"Well, putting that aside, you're right. I'll prove to everyone that I'm better than they think."
"Of course. Just be careful, because that red-haired girl is Giulio's half-sister, so don't hurt her too much."
The three turned their heads to Enrico in surprise, while Giulio came running and glared at his sister on the other side. Approaching, he placed his hands on Enrico's shoulders.
"If you fight her, you can beat her up, she deserves it."
"Really? Did everyone hear that? Forget what I said and hurt her badly."
"That's right, that damn girl deserves it for always stealing my paint."
Giulio spat fire from his mouth, furious as he remembered his childhood, which for him had been horrible. While Enrico comforted Giulio, the three, not understanding that tantrum, approached the arena.
"Who's going to deal with the girl?"
"I will. If either of you interferes, I'll kill you."
"Alright… she's all yours, Valença."
Seeing who would be the first to enter—her and the blue-haired boy—Camila decided to be the first to fight, since those two already seemed to have chosen their opponents.
"So, the girl who looked at me like that will be the first to be destroyed by me."
"You talk too much for someone who's going to lose."
"That arrogance seems to be in all Astrong students, not just the strongest ones."
"Of course, we're the best youths on the continent, so we deserve a little arrogance."
A vein popped on the boy's forehead as he positioned himself with his weapon, a long dagger he held with one hand pointed behind him.
"My name is Camila Cinzaria."
"Pff, Lorenzo Azzurri."
The judge of that fight was a knight who had been training some first-year students from Class C in ego weapons, and he authorized it after hearing why they wanted to fight.
'I hope the girl wins, I don't like those boys' attitude.'
"The rules are as follows: this fight will continue until one of you is defeated or thrown out of the arena. If you're ready, you may begin."
Lorenzo slashed the air with his dagger, and a blade of water flew straight at Camila. Raising her arms, several ashes appeared, forming a sturdy shield that blocked the attack.
"Ice Blades."
Around Camila, several blades appeared, aiming to pierce her from all sides. With both hands raised, several ashes rose from the ground, and with a snap of her fingers, they exploded in fire, melting all those blades.
"I admit, you're stronger than I thought."
Behind her, with his blade raised high, Lorenzo appeared ready to deliver a fatal blow to her neck. She didn't care, since healers would quickly fix her anyway.
"And you're stupider than I thought."
Feeling a blow to his stomach, Lorenzo was sent out of the arena by a fire explosion that had appeared out of nowhere near his belly, the reason why he was thrown back.
"I only need a single ash to make a fire explosion. And thank you for announcing your sneak attack by speaking—thanks to that, this victory was easy."
"You damn—"
Ignoring Lorenzo's furious glare, she raised two fingers toward her companions, announcing her easy victory. She even gave Enrico an arrogant smile, but was disappointed to see him clapping along with everyone else.
"Well done, Camila."
"You're amazing, I never doubted."
'I thought he'd be more surprised.'
Sensing something behind her, she turned, seeing Lorenzo charging with his dagger quickly. If not for a fireball launched by Enrico that diverted the attack, she would have been injured.
"That didn't count. If we fought to the very end without that rule, I'm sure I'd win."
Grabbing Lorenzo's shoulder firmly, the knight looked at him seriously, appearing quite threatening. With nothing else to do, he returned to his teammates' side.
"How humiliating, Lorenzo. We'll talk personally about your defeat when we get back."
"I'm sorry, Matteo."
Lorenzo grabbed his head as he sat down, hanging it low, wanting to die of shame. Matteo shook his head but noticed Enrico's serious gaze as he watched Lorenzo lament.
'I'll keep an eye on him, in case something happens to Lorenzo.'