Why is this happening?
…Did I miss something?
Those questions spun endlessly in my head, refusing to settle.
But that couldn't be right. I hadn't done anything—at least, nothing that should've affected her. Sure, I secretly brought a Dream Orb from Arcana, but that shouldn't have had any connection to Elena.
So then… why was everything starting to deviate?
"Match over!"
The professor's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, pulling me back to reality.
I blinked, refocusing just in time to see the result—Ed standing tall on the stage, sword lowered, his opponent sprawled in defeat.
As expected, Ed won.
The crowd's reaction, however, was almost comical.
Harsen staggered down from the arena, his face pale and eyes wide, completely unable to accept that he—a noble—had just been defeated by a commoner. The students from Class C, who had been cheering for him moments ago, now sat in stunned silence, mouths half open.
They probably never imagined that the boy they'd looked down on would dominate so easily.
A murmur spread through the audience.
"Not bad… for a commoner."
"Hmph! Just a lucky strike. He probably won't even last next time."
The nobles' words were laced with forced arrogance, their pride unwilling to acknowledge what they'd just witnessed.
It was ridiculous.
They were clinging to their prejudice, denying the truth even when it stood right in front of them, sword gleaming under the arena lights.
I sighed quietly.
Some things, it seemed, never changed—no matter how much the story tried to.
But as my gaze drifted back toward Elena, who was still watching the stage with that same unreadable expression, a faint unease crept into my chest again.
No admiration. No spark of curiosity. No reaction at all.
I leaned a little closer to Elena, trying to sound casual.
"What did you think of that match just now?"
Elena turned her head slightly, her golden hair catching the light. "That Edmund person fights really well," she said simply.
"Right?" I replied quickly, trying to nudge her reaction in the right direction. "He might be the strongest first-year, don't you think?"
She tilted her head, her expression thoughtful but unimpressed. "Hmm… I don't think he's quite that good."
…Damn it.
I felt my smile twitch. That wasn't how this was supposed to go.
In the comic, Elena was supposed to be captivated by Ed's match—her eyes shining with admiration, that faint blush on her cheeks… But right now? She just looked mildly curious, like she was watching a stranger spar in the training yard.
Something's off.
First impressions are everything. Even if it's not love at first sight, there's supposed to be something—a spark, a sense of interest that sets everything in motion.
But the Elena beside me wasn't showing any of that.
Still, she didn't dislike him either. And that was… something. Maybe her indifference could turn into curiosity later.
The next part will be crucial.
The next episode in the story—where Ed rescues Elena from danger. That's when their bond is supposed to truly begin. If I can make sure things go right there, maybe the story will realign with the comic.
If that doesn't happen… I might never see how the story's supposed to end.
"Louis! Louis!"
"Huh?" I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts at the sound of my name.
"It's your turn for the next match!" Elena said, her voice sharper than usual.
Oh, right. We were still in class.
Panic hit me as I realized everyone was looking my way. I scrambled to my feet, nearly knocking over the chair in the process.
Professor Dominic's glare could have cut steel. "...Why didn't you answer when I called you, Louis?"
"I—I apologize, sir," I stammered, standing stiffly at attention. "I was momentarily lost in thought…"
"We are currently in class. Please focus."
"Yes, sir!"
"Come up."
I swallowed hard and climbed into the arena, my palms already sweating.
Great. Now, not only was Elena's storyline derailing, but I was about to embarrass myself in front of the entire class.
One crisis at a time, Louis. One crisis at a time.
Fortunately, the professor didn't seem interested in lecturing me any further and simply waved a hand dismissively.
I let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Yes, Professor!" I replied with forced enthusiasm before hurrying up to the arena.
As I stepped onto the stage, I noticed my opponent was already there, standing perfectly still with his eyes closed—almost as if he were meditating.
But the moment I got a closer look at him, I couldn't help but frown.
Something about his appearance felt… off.
His hair was darker than Ed's, so dark it almost seemed to swallow the light around it. His uniform was partially hidden beneath a loose overcoat that didn't belong to the academy at all—its flowing sleeves and tied sash looked straight out of traditional Japanese attire.
For a second, I just stared, trying to process what I was seeing.
'What's with this guy?'
He looked completely different from the other students. While everyone else followed the academy's neat, western-style dress code, this guy stood there like he'd walked straight out of another world.
I tilted my head slightly.
'Was there someone like this in Ed's class?'
I racked my brain, trying to recall the comic's cast. There were plenty of supporting characters—rivals, sidekicks, even background extras—but I was sure I'd never seen anyone who looked like him.
His sharp, distinctly Eastern features and calm expression didn't fit into any of the storylines I remembered.
And when the professor called out his name…
"Tatsuya!"
I blinked.
'Tatsuya? Seriously? What kind of name is that doing here?'
This world was supposed to be pure fantasy—knights, nobles, kingdoms, and magic. There weren't supposed to be people with names like that.
As I studied him more closely, something about his presence felt… off.
His appearance didn't quite fit the world I knew. His clothes, his demeanor—everything about him seemed slightly out of place, like he had stepped out of a different story entirely.
Then, with a calmness that drew everyone's attention, he opened his eyes and looked directly at Professor Dominic.
"Professor," he said, his voice even and polite. "May I request one thing before the match?"
Dominic arched a brow. "What is it? I already explained the rules. Violating them will not be allowed."
"It's nothing major," the young man replied, reaching into the bag at his side. "I just wanted to ask if I may use this."
He held up what appeared to be… a scabbard.
The room stirred with quiet murmurs.
A scabbard? Why that?
It wasn't enchanted or glowing—just an ordinary, well-crafted sheath. Even Professor Dominic seemed a bit puzzled.
"Why are you asking about that?" the professor asked, his tone wary.
"It's necessary for the sword technique I use," he answered simply, his expression completely earnest.
Dominic stroked his chin, then turned his gaze toward me. "Hmm… Louis."
"Yes, Professor?"
"If you permit it, I'll allow Tatsuya's request."
I hesitated for a moment, glancing between the two of them.
This duel was meant to be friendly—a simple spar, more symbolic than competitive. The outcome wouldn't affect our grades or rankings. It was just part of the academy's attempt to teach nobles a bit of humility.
A lesson in reality.
And besides, that scabbard didn't look like anything special. It wasn't an artifact, just a standard piece of equipment. It shouldn't make much difference in the fight.
After a short pause, I nodded. "I permit it."
Tatsuya bowed lightly. "Thank you, Lord Louis."
Dominic gave a satisfied nod. "Very well, then. Both of you—take your positions."
The murmuring around the training hall died down as we stepped forward, the faint sound of boots against the floor echoing through the quiet.
I loosened my shoulders, adjusting my grip on the hilt of my sword, my gaze fixed on him.
A scabbard technique, huh?
I'd never seen anyone use one here before.
Still, I wasn't about to underestimate him—not after that look in his eyes.
Something told me this wasn't going to be just another routine spar.