The trial within the hall left lasting marks on the students, especially Sina Palen. Exhausted and drained, she lay in her bed, yet rest would not come. Her mind was restless, filled with the name of a boy who had long occupied her thoughts—Connor McCloud.
Memories of their past weighed heavily on her. Once, filled with pride, she had challenged him to a duel. Despite her confidence in swordsmanship, she suffered a humiliating defeat. From that day on, she pursued him with stubborn determination, repeatedly picking fights whenever their mercenary groups crossed paths. Yet victory never came. Even though she could have easily bested him with her archery—her true strength—she refused. To her, winning with a bow against his sword felt unfair.
When she entered Trinity Academy, her ambition had been to prove herself to him. But she learned, to her shock, that Connor had already entered the Academy through a special admission program for commoners. Her emotions were tangled: anger at being ignored, envy of his talent, resentment at his advantage, and yet, an undeniable relief that she would see him again.
From their first days at the academy, Connor only grew further from her reach. He even fought on equal ground against Myael Astaroth, a prodigy regarded as unmatched, and achieved victory. To Sina, who had watched him for years, the boy who once felt close now seemed impossibly distant. Worse still, he did not recognize her at all. Despite their shared past, he treated her as a stranger.
Even so, her heart betrayed her when Connor appeared during her moment of crisis in the hall. She wanted help but could not bring herself to admit it, hiding her feelings behind prideful words. Yet Connor acted with determination, risking himself to protect her. For Sina, the night after the trial became restless. Her thoughts lingered not on her own struggles, but on him—the boy who saved her life.
Meanwhile, Connor himself returned from the hall and met with Kyle to discuss the outcome. The results of the trial would not be revealed until the following afternoon, leaving him with time, but also questions. Together, they examined why the mask's power had succeeded this time.
Kyle explained that the key lay not in skill, but in will. The mask responded when the wearer was fully prepared for life-or-death combat. Calm or half-hearted battles would not trigger it; only moments of absolute resolve and danger allowed its full potential.
Connor reflected on the sensation. With the mask on, he had fought as though guided by instinct. His body knew how to move, where to strike, and how much strength to use without hesitation. Doubt disappeared completely. Each swing of his blade carried an unshakable certainty—it would cut. This confidence was not arrogance, but a strange, natural truth that erased fear.
Yet, something else troubled him. His visions—once limited to glimpses of his own death—had shifted. For the first time, he saw futures where he survived, where he overcame danger. This change hinted at a deeper transformation. His gift, once stable and predictable, now seemed altered, perhaps reshaped by the merging of two souls within one body.
The next day arrived, and the Academy prepared to announce the trial results. Though Connor wished to avoid crowds, curiosity drew him to the central hall. Before the announcement, however, he became the center of attention.
Rumors had already spread that he had returned early from the hall, and commoner students looked at him with admiration. For the first time, Connor felt the weight of attention, surrounded by eager classmates asking for his secrets, advice, and even his autograph.
Overwhelmed by the sudden flood of voices and questions, he struggled to hold his ground. Hungry and exhausted, he could only cry out for space, realizing that the events of the trial had turned him into something he never intended to be—a figure of admiration and curiosity at the Academy.