The arena was slowly quieting. Students were still processing what they had witnessed. Protective barriers fizzled, banners swayed, and the scent of scorched stone lingered in the air. Kiren had long since walked off, shirt in tatters, aura calm, leaving a stunned crowd behind him. Vane, still sitting amid the cratered arena floor, raised an eyebrow at the aftermath. He had apparently gotten carried away.
Up above, in one of the multiple towers surrounding the school, in the shadows of the observation gallery, the Chancellor watched. His eyes—dark, endless, like the night sky itself—had followed every blow. The way the werewolf moved, the way Vane's energy flared and bent the storm, the precision behind both their attacks... it had been more than a display of strength. It had been a lesson in instinct, strategy, and raw potential.
He adjusted his glasses slowly, letting the silence fill the gallery.
"Impressive," he murmured slowly to himself, voice barely above a whisper. "Both of them... but especially the boy. Purple fire, layered storm... he has talent yet untested. Strong, yes—but controlled... potentially dangerous."
He sat back in his chair, fingers steepled. "This is the kind of student who can either change the academy—or burn it to ashes."
His thoughts flicked briefly to Kiren, standing outside the arena, his wounds fully healed, his posture relaxed. "The werewolf is strong, as expected. But he held back. Even without transforming, even with injuries... he didn't push the boy beyond his limits. I'm curious. Perhaps he sees something in him. Something the boy hasn't discovered yet."
Satisfied—for now—the Chancellor waved a hand, and a scroll of light hovered down before him. He tapped it, noting the aftermath, the cleanup, and the ranks to be assigned.
---
By the time the students returned to their dorms, the sun had set. The halls were quiet, punctuated only by the low chatter of students recounting the fight. Every corner seemed to hum with rumors of what had occurred, some exaggerating the fight, others whispering conspiratorial theories.
Vane stretched against his bedframe, letting out a low groan.
"He's unreal," Lyra said softly, sitting beside him. "Not even transformed and he still... I wonder what his swords were made of."
Vane sat up. "What do you mean?"
Lyra shrugged, "his swords cut through your magic, they can't be normal."
Oscar hummed in his head.
["His blades were made of werewolf bone."]
Vane cringed, 'ew'.
Lyra leaned back, sighing. "I guess we're all exhausted... but I wonder how the ranks will turn out."
Vane gave her a side glance. "I don't care."
Lyra smirked. "Of course you don't."
---
The next morning, the students were summoned back to the main hall. The sun streamed through the tall windows, casting light across the polished floors. A soft murmur ran through the room as everyone took their seats, some still carrying the awe from yesterday's battles.
The instructor stepped forward. "Students, your ranks have been finalized based on your performance in yesterday's evaluation. Please pay attention."
He motioned to a glowing board around 50 feet wide and just as tall, as it appeared at the center of the hall. One by one, names appeared with corresponding ranks.
Lyra's name appeared first... B-rank.
Stunned relief and excitement washed over her face. She glanced at Vane, grinning. "I told you, I could do it!"
Next, the crowd erupted as Kiren's name appeared. A Rank. Gasps and whispers swept through the students. A werewolf—ranked higher than almost anyone here. Some were awed, some terrified, others just muttered about 'insane power'.
Finally, Vane's name flashed. C Rank.
Lyra blinked. "C? After what you did yesterday?"
Vane stretched and yawned. "I'm pretty okay with that."
Oscar snorted.
["Your rank has been tampered, something feels off."]
Vane waved him off. "Ranks don't mean anything as long as I graduate."
The hall buzzed with students comparing themselves, gossiping about fights, and debating strategies. But Vane's attention lingered only on the empty space where Kiren had stood.
Lyra noticed the look in his eyes. "You're still thinking about him?"
Vane's expression hardened slightly, almost thoughtful. "Yeah... I'm curious. That was only the beginning. I wonder what he'll do next."
Lyra frowned, glancing at the ranking board. "He's... something else. You better be careful."
Vane smirked faintly. "Careful? That's a first. Just because I lost once doesn't mean I'm not gonna beat him one day."
And somewhere, outside the hall, past the whispers of students and the excitement of the new ranks, Kiren stood in one of the schools towers, arms crossed. He looked across the room to the man seating at the other end of it.
"Why'd u make him C-ranked?" Kiren asked.
Izeal Tempest pushed his glasses up. "Why'd you hold back?"
Kiren snarled, "You know why."
The Chancellor cocked his head to the side, the movement was so small if not for Kiren's werewolf senses he wouldn't have seen it.
"I told you, if you want to beat him you can't rely on the boy alone, you have a part to play as well. And that starts with taming your inner beast."
Kiren looked away, "I know, but it will take time."
The Chancellor looked out a dusty, large plane window. "The boy is dangerous. Are you sure you want to use him?"
Kiren frowned, "Well other option do I have seeing as you aren't exactly volunteering for the task."
Izeal took of his glasses and set them on the table, he closed his eyes and sighed deeply as if just releasing a breath he had been holding for a while. He picked up his glasses and placed them on his face once again.
"He's planning something big. And soon."
Kiren paled, "How do you know that?"
"Your friend has been quite...loose-lipped."
Kiren didn't pry, the Chancellor had just confirmed what he had feared. They were running out of time.
---