A Veilbourne…?
Aldrich felt his stomach sink at the re ntion of the word.
A duel akin to an Agni Kai, where two fire-type mystics clash over honour, the victor being the one who burns their opponent first.
But in a Veilbourne, there were only two possible outcos: drain your opponent of mana or surrender.
"No way! No damn way Aldrich is playing that ga!"
Saldrich's voice rang out with sharp defiance, her disbelief mirroring Aldrich's thoughts. This wasn't just so sparring match, it was a death sentence for him.
There was no strategy, no tricks to exploit. A Veilbourne was an arena of raw power, a battlefield where outside interference was strictly forbidden.
The slightest violation ant imdiate disqualification, and any attempt to cheat? A disgrace that would stain his na forever.
And Kyle Dandada?
Aldrich felt his hands grow clammy. There wasn't a universe where he could win against soone like him.
Not in one scenario.
Not in a thousand.
Not in a million.
It was impossible.
He had known this since the very beginning, and yet, here he was, being dragged into a confrontation he couldn't hope to survive.
"Then you leave no choice."
Dwayne's voice was firm, carrying the importance of authority. His gaze settled on Aldrich, cold and unwavering.
"Not only have you shown disrespect to the power you wield, but your cowardice has given every reason to strip it from you."
Saldrich moved before Aldrich could even react, positioning herself between them with unwavering resolve.
"You are not taking my brother's eyes," she declared, her stance unshaken. "Not on my watch."
Dwayne regarded her with mild amusent.
"Stay out of this, Saldrich. Unlike your brother, you have proven yourself worthy of keeping the Eyes of Aldaman. Does it not bother you that he squanders what you recognize as the greatest bloodline Art to ever exist?"
Saldrich's expression hardened. "I don't care what you think. You are not touching Aldrich. Not while I stand here."
Aldrich inhaled sharply.
She didn't refute him.
A gnawing sensation crept into his chest. He had no reason to focus on minor details, but for so reason, this one stuck.
Saldrich hadn't denied Dwayne's words.
And that ant… sowhere deep inside, she agreed with him.
Aldrich clenched his fists, struggling to suppress the emotions bubbling to the surface. He wasn't oblivious to his shortcomings. He knew he hadn't co close to maximizing his potential.
But to have it thrown in his face so blatantly?
To realize that even the ones closest to him were on the sa page as his enemies?
Aldrich felt sothing inside him crack.
"I wi—"
"You know what the problem is here?!"
A voice cut through the tension like a blade, shattering Aldrich's mont of hesitation.
Dante.
Aldrich turned just as Dante strode forward, his presence radiating frustration. His voice was of soone who had been holding back for far too long.
"First, you kidnap first-years in the na of a 'trial.' And now this? Waltzing in here like you own us. Like being a year above us gives you so divine right to push us around?"
Aldrich barely contained a scoff. He had every right to be mad at Dante. If Dante had been there during the trial, none of this would have happened.
Not Fiona getting hurt and certainly not Aldrich having to publicly be shad and called out in this manner.
Not if Dante Pendragon had faithfully carried out his role as he should have as the main character that he is.
But he didn't, and now this happened.
Shoved in his face is Aldrich's mont to be shown just how weak he is.
How powerless.
Dwayne exhaled slowly, his expression unbothered. "I apologize if it feels that way, but this is not about dominance. This is about justice."
He turned his gaze back to Aldrich.
"Kyle committed a cri, and I have been tasked with delivering his punishnt. But simply assigning him a consequence wouldn't be enough. The only fitting punishnt is one delivered by those he has wronged.
And that ans you, Aldrich."
Aldrich stiffened.
"To claim that right, I want you to face him in a Veilbourne. You win, and you decide his fate."
Silence.
The consequence of those words crashed down on him like an avalanche.
"And if I lose?"
Dwayne's lips curled slightly as if he had been waiting for that question.
"If you lose… you will leave Eldora Institute. You will never step foot in this place again."
A ripple of shock spread through the group.
"No!" Saldrich snapped, stepping forward. "No way! Don't even think about it, Al! There's no logic to this! none!"
Aldrich barely registered her words.
Doubt coiled around his mind like a suffocating fog.
Did he even deserve to be here?
Sure, he was skilled with a bow. Sure, he was an Aldaman, possessing a bloodline Art that could evolve.
But beyond that?
What else?
Nothing.
That was exactly why he wasn't imdiately rejecting the idea.
Maybe this was fate's way of telling him the truth.
Maybe—
"You know what?"
Dante's voice shattered Aldrich's spiralling thoughts.
"I have a better idea."
Dante stepped forward, placing himself directly in front of Dwayne. His stance radiated unshakable confidence, his eyes burning with defiance.
Aldrich felt a sinking feeling in his gut.
He knew that tone.
Dante was about to do sothing reckless.
"You want Aldrich to fight Kyle in a Veilbourne?" Dante continued, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. "Fine. He'll do it, but under one condition."
Aldrich's heart skipped a beat.
Dante took another step closer, his eyes locking onto Dwayne's.
"Fight . Right here. Right now."
Aldrich's stomach dropped.
The air shifted. The tension thickened into sothing suffocating.
Dwayne's expression didn't change. He rely observed Dante, waiting.
"If you win," Dante continued, "you get your wish. Aldrich fights Kyle in the Veilbourne."
Dante's next words rang out like a challenge to the heavens themselves.
"But if I win… you and every single second-year leave us alone. Forever."
Silence.
Aldrich felt his breath catch in his throat.
What the hell was Dante thinking?
Before he could intervene, Dante took another step closer toward Dwayne, his voice dropping to a near growl.
"What do you say, Dwayne Aldaman?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"You up for it?"
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