"Ah!" Gizel gasped, her eyes snapping open in shock.
The last thing she remembered before blacking out was the unbearable pain tearing through her body.
The battle… it had been one-sided from the very start.
When she had summoned the Mirror World and landed a few hits on William, she thought she had gained the upper hand. She believed he had fallen for the same tricks that had secured her victory in countless past battles.
But she was wrong. Utterly wrong.
He had never been cornered. He was simply observing her—studying her moves.
For him, it wasn't a struggle; it was entertainment. He had wanted a real fight, one fought head-on.
But Gizel hadn't seen that. She was focused only on winning.
Maybe it was pride—maybe ego—but she just wanted to stand as the victor.
And that was her downfall. The moment she pushed him too far, he decided to end it.
He crushed her completely. She hadn't even been able to fight back.
'Not once have I ever felt so helpless in a battle where I was fighting with all my strength,' She thought with a helpless smile lifting her lips.
"Are you okay now?" a voice called out.
Gizel turned toward the boy sitting nearby.
"Caleb," she breathed. Her only real friend—in both the class and the Council.
The pink-haired boy looked at her gently. "Does it still hurt?"
Gizel sighed. "To know that, I'd have to move… and honestly, I don't feel like doing that yet."
Caleb pinched the bridge of his nose. "You went a little too far."
Her brows lifted. "Shouldn't you be saying that about the other person?"
He frowned. "And who was the one trying to stand and keep fighting even after her precious barriers shattered like glass?"
Gizel looked away. "...Valebridge blood runs too deep in me."
Caleb let out a dry chuckle, though his eyes showed no amusement. "Excuses. You just can't admit that your pride wouldn't let you stop. Don't hide behind your family's name."
Gizel groaned. "Are you here to lecture me?"
He rolled his eyes. "I'm here to tell you that your left arm is fractured and you'll need a week to recover."
Her gaze fell to her arm—and sure enough, it was tightly bandaged, a wooden plank fastened to keep it still.
There were other damages too but they would heal in a few days. However, because she fell right on her arm when she was pushed, she dislocated her wrist bone a crack form in her long bone
Gizel let out a soft sigh. "Well… isn't it good? Facing failure once in a while keeps you grounded. It's been a long time since I felt a defeat this crushing."
"And it didn't shake your confidence?" Caleb asked, his delicate brows raised in curiosity.
Gizel looked at him with a blank expression. "If you think this will do anything but push me to do better, then maybe you don't know me as well as you think."
Caleb fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "I've handed your privilege card to him."
Gizel nodded. "Thanks for that." She sighed, then added, "Caleb… we're going to need him."
He frowned. "For… what exactly?"
"The Goblet of Honor," she replied.
Caleb's eyes widened, panic creeping into his voice. "I get that you're overwhelmed after seeing his skills, but suggesting he join the team?! Aren't you rushing this a bit?"
The Goblet of Honor was a contest held every year, where third-year students from each academy faced off against a member of the Round Hall.
Being selected for the contest was proof that you were truly among the elite.
Contestants received numerous privileges, and the one who performed exceptionally well was granted the title of Promised Heir.
Only one student each year earned the chance to claim a seat in the Hall after graduation.
It was a massive opportunity—and only the most exceptional students were ever given the chance to take part.
Gizel wryly smiled as she said, "You don't understand what has happened today, Caleb." Looking ahead with her eyes focused on nothing particular, she added, "He had crushed me one-sidedly. Someone who is hailed as a prodigy."
Caleb's expression turned bitter since he had seen it with his own eyes, despite how unbelievable it still feels to him.
The girl further added, "We need to think about the Academy's honor over ranks and past performance." Turning to look at the boy, she said, "And I have a feeling that William might change the bitter past of the academy."
….
William made his way toward the academy's common hall.
But today, he didn't sit with the ordinary students.
He could feel their eyes on him, though for a reason very different from usual.
After all, a silver card peeked from his breast pocket, carefully positioned so its faint glow reached every corner of the hall.
He walked past the crowd and entered the private section—the council members' dining area.
As he stepped through the doors, his eyes flicked to the monitoring officer posted nearby.
William could have slapped the man with his silver card if he tried to stop him.
But the officer merely glanced at him once, then turned away.
'Che, disappointing,' William thought.
He tucked his hands into his pockets and strolled further into the private dining section.
A round kitchen stood at the center of the room, surrounded by neatly arranged dining tables—some for four, some for two, and even a few for solitary diners.
Chefs moved gracefully, preparing meals for council members and a few teachers. Unlike the rushed chaos of the common hall, here each dish was crafted with care, every detail attended to.
But William wasn't here to taste their cooking.
He was here to use his privilege card to prepare his favorite dish with his own hands.
'Haah~ It's been so long since I've eaten something truly good,' he murmured, a small grin forming on his face.
°°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading. Please add the book to your collection.