The courtyard was still littered with shards of stone and scorched marks from mana, the echoes of the Grade Two fight lingering like a storm that had passed. Nobles whispered anxiously, some in awe, others in disbelief.
The school principal stepped forward, staff tapping lightly against the marble. His eyes swept the battlefield, then rested on Lady Eryndor.
"Queen Eryndor, your demonstration is… thorough," he said, voice calm but carrying authority. "These children have proven themselves beyond expectation. They will be admitted to the academy."
A murmur ran through the crowd. Even Lady Eryndor's lips curved in a subtle, satisfied smile.
"So it ends here, then?" she asked, the air around her still thick with residual mana.
The principal inclined his head.
"Yes. Further trials can wait until formal schooling begins. The Upper Middle Realm cannot risk more destruction in public spectacle."
Kairo and Igron exchanged a glance. Igron smirked lazily, sheathing his sword. Kairo's crimson eyes scanned the nobles before settling on the principal, then lowering slightly in acknowledgment.
The nobles whispered among themselves, some skeptical, others resentful.
"Admitted already? Without defeating even the fiercest of the houses' champions?"
"She's gone too far… bringing outsiders to rival our heirs?"
From the edge of the crowd, the Ignis Clan father watched carefully. His son, Sukai, shifted uneasily at his side. The elder's sharp gaze softened fractionally, but his voice carried weight.
"Sukai… do not fall short now. You have a new challenge before you. These children may be outsiders, but they will test you every step of the way."
Sukai's eyes burned with a mixture of pride and resolve.
"Yes, Father," he murmured, fists tightening.
Lady Eryndor's smile widened, her silver hair catching torchlight. She glanced toward Kairo and Igron, her eyes glinting with intrigue.
"Strays, yes… but clever, cunning, and strong. They will learn… and so will the rest of the realm."
The courtyard quieted, the tension shifting into anticipation. Kairo and Igron had survived, proven themselves, and now faced the next phase: the Upper Middle Realm academy. And for Sukai and the other nobles' heirs, a new, unexpected rivalry had begun.
Even from afar, the Hound watched silently, noting every expression, every movement, before turning to report back to Lady Eryndor.