Carmilia and Vlahiç could barely contain themselves. The mont Guinevere's loss was declared, a ripple of laughter escaped their lips, echoing through the VIP section of the coliseum. Carmilia, her icy blue eyes glinting with a mixture of amusent and condescension, leaned back in her seat, her voice laced with a mocking tone.
"Well, well, it seems your little firebrand wasn't quite up to the task, General," she chuckled, glancing sideways at General Cao. "All that fire, yet so easily extinguished by that boy's endless mana. I must say, I expected more from her."
Vlahiç joined in with a sharp laugh, his hand slapping the armrest of his chair. "Perhaps she should spend less ti trying to ignite herself and more ti mastering control. It's a sha, really. I was looking forward to a more... explosive performance."
"Well it was a good thing she had to be kicked out of the tournant here, at least she wouldn't ruin her image in front of the guests outside the academy" Carmilia suddenly comnted with a sly smile on her face.
General Cao, however, remained unfazed. His face held none of the irritation or embarrassnt that the others may have expected. Instead, he watched Guinevere with quiet pride. Despite her loss, she had fought valiantly, and he knew she had given everything she had. Her fiery spirit had not been extinguished, even in defeat.
She had pushed her limits, grown stronger, and demonstrated her courage before all the academy. That, to him, was worth more than any fleeting victory.
With calm dignity, General Cao turned to face Carmilia and Vlahiç, his expression composed. "Laugh if you wish," he said in a steady voice. "But today, Guinevere fought with all her heart and with great honor. That's what matters most. Victory is only one part of a warrior's journey."
He then glanced back at the platform, where Guinevere was catching her breath after the grueling match. He gave her a small nod of encouragent, his eyes conveying his pride.
Carmilia and Vlahiç's laughter gradually died down, their smugness not quite able to breach General Cao's composed exterior. Even in their mocking, they recognized the strength in his calm, and though they shared a glance of amusent, neither could truly rattle him.
'This guy really doesn't know when to quite huh?' Carmilia thought with a deep frown on her face.
General Cao remained seated, his gaze forward, proud of his disciple.
"Gosh, the group battles are finally over!"
"But I can't still believe Guinevere got kicked out of the tournant without winning any match in this group battles"
"Well this just shows there are still so crouching tigers and hidden dragons in this tournant"
"And that's why this tournant will keep on getting better and better"
As the crowd in the coliseum began to settle after the intense battles, a sudden shift in the air made everyone pause. The massive arena grew silent for a mont, and then, with a burst of energy, a tall figure in ornate robes appeared at the center of the coliseum. His presence commanded imdiate attention, and all eyes turned toward him.
The organizer of the group stage battles, an enigmatic figure with an aura of power and authority, stepped forward. His long, flowing robe shimred with the crest of the Pacesetters Academy, and his sharp eyes scanned the platforms where the participants still lingered from their recent duels. His voice rang out, clear and authoritative, carrying over the vast expanse of the coliseum.
"Participants!" he called, his voice amplified by magic so that every word was crisp and undeniable. "You have shown your strength and skills in these group stage battles, but the ti has co to bring this phase to a close. Return to your seats in the participants' section."
Kaelen, still catching his breath at the edge of the platform, exchanged a glance with Morris. Both of them, along with the others who had fought fiercely, knew it was ti to step back for now. They nodded in understanding, their bodies exhausted but their spirits still high from the fierce competition.
Guinevere, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow, stood tall despite her loss, a determined fire still burning in her eyes. The participants from all the platforms began making their way off the floating stages and back toward their seats, so limping, others with resolute expressions as they took their places among their peers.
Once the last participant had returned to their seat, the organizer raised his hand, and with a wave of it, the platforms that had been separated for the group stage battles began to move. The crowd watched in awe as the floating platforms gracefully drifted back together, their edges lding seamlessly until the coliseum floor was once again one single, united stage.
The magic that had separated the platforms seed to hum in the air before fading, and the coliseum floor returned to its original, grand state. The screen that had once hovered above each platform also vanished, consolidating back into one large display that hovered above the center of the arena, showing the results of the group stages.
The organizer, his work done for the mont, turned to face the seated participants. His gaze was intense as he studied them, his voice still strong. "The next phase of the tournant will be announced shortly. For now, rest and recover. You have all fought well, but the true trials are still ahead."
With that, he stepped back and, with a flicker of magic, vanished from the center of the coliseum, leaving the participants and the crowd in anticipation of what was to co next.
As Kaelen returned to his seat, he noticed Guinevere sitting a few rows down, her shoulders slumped, and her fiery confidence dimd after her loss. He made his way toward her, sliding into the seat beside her. She stared at the ground, her usual spark dulled.
"Hey," Kaelen said softly, his voice cutting through the tension. "Don't beat yourself up about it. You gave it your all."
Guinevere clenched her fists but didn't respond imdiately. Her eyes flared with frustration and self-criticism. "I just… I thought I had more to give, you know?" She sighed, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "To lose in front of everyone like that…"
Kaelen nodded. "I get it. But we both know it's not the end for you. You're one of the strongest people here. This loss—it's just a step. I wouldn't be surprised if you ca back stronger than ever next ti."
She glanced at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're just saying that."
Kaelen shook his head. "Not a chance. I an it."
Guinevere chuckled softly, her spirit beginning to rekindle. "Thanks, Kaelen. I appreciate it."
Before their conversation could continue, the atmosphere in the coliseum shifted again. A familiar ripple of energy cut through the air as the organizer of the group stage battles reappeared at the center of the coliseum. His commanding presence silenced the murmur of the crowd instantly.
"Attention, everyone," the organizer announced, his voice echoing through the coliseum. "It is ti to reveal those who have passed the group stage."
The audience collectively held its breath as the massive screen above the coliseum flickered to life. The glowing display hovered high above the center, catching the gaze of every participant and spectator alike.
One by one, nas began to appear on the screen. The first group of nas scrolled past, each one representing a participant who had fought their way through to the next round.
Kaelen leaned forward, his eyes scanning the screen intently. His heart pounded in his chest as the nas continued to be revealed.
Finally, his na appeared. Kaelen. He released a breath he didn't realize he had been holding, a sense of accomplishnt washing over him. But his attention quickly shifted back to the screen.
Not long after, another na appeared—Eldric. Kaelen felt a surge of adrenaline as he saw Eldric's na beside his own. The lightning-wielder had proven to be a formidable opponent, and it seed their paths would cross again soon.
But then Kaelen's eyes flicked down the list, searching for two other nas. First, Morris. He scanned past each line, but Morris' na didn't appear. His brow furrowed.
And then he looked for Guinevere. He searched the screen, but her na was absent as well.
His heart sank. He glanced over at Morris, who was sitting further away, staring at the screen with a calm expression. Guinevere too had seen the results, her jaw tightening slightly.
The organizer continued speaking, oblivious to the reactions of those who hadn't made it through. "These participants have proven themselves in the group stage. They will advance to the next rounds of the tournant. As for the rest, your efforts have not gone unnoticed. Continue to hone your skills—there will be many more opportunities to prove yourselves."
Kaelen turned to Guinevere, unsure of what to say. He wanted to console her, but she spoke first. "It's fine, Kaelen," she said with a small smile. "I knew it was a long shot, especially with Eldric in the group. I'll be back next year."
Kaelen gave her a firm nod. "And you'll be even stronger."
As the crowd buzzed with energy over the results, Kaelen leaned back in his seat, still feeling the weight of the tournant. He glanced at Morris, who t his gaze and gave him a small nod of acknowledgnt. Neither of them had expected Morris not to pass the group stage, but there was no resentnt, only understanding.
The tournant was moving forward, and Kaelen could feel the pressure mounting. He had made it to the next stage, but with Eldric also advancing, the real challenge had only just begun.
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