The next day, the Imperium Academy was packed to the brim with outsiders.
Usually, the school was out of bounds to anyone who had no business there, but whenever they hosted a tournant, the gates of the academy were opened to the entire public.
The tournants hosted by the school weren’t just designed for the students’ curriculum. It was a form of entertainnt for the public that also helped to raise funds for the school.
Spectators who wished to see the tournant had to pay a certain fee to be allowed in each day, with the sole exception of nobles.
They already made large contributions to the school welfare and therefore, they were allowed to see every tournant.
Figures...
Word was sent out to the people, and noble dignitaries were invited from the eight cities of the continent.
Most of them responded, and within days, all the inns in the city of Viridale had been occupied.
It was quite uncommon for a simple first-year tournant. However, this ti, every participant in the tournant – except one – was a descendant of a ruling noble.
This heightened the excitent of the spectators, and long before dawn, outsiders had begun trooping into the school, hoping to secure a decent seat in the Imperium Academy’s battle arena.
No one dared to miss it.
*****
On the morning of the tournant, I was overwheld with an uncontrollable feeling of dread.
When I first learned about the tournant, I felt a bit terrified, but I had quickly overco it with the hopes that I would gain my magic back before it started.
My natural confidence also had convinced that I’d find a way to defeat any opponent, even without the use of spells, like I had always done.
But now that it was close... Now that I knew the kind of opponents I would be facing... Every shred of confidence I had in myself slowly dwindled away.
Part of wanted to stay away from the tournant grounds, but that would risk my chances at the academy, and bring sha on my noble house.
...Sha on my house...
I smiled. Without realising it, I was starting to think like him.
Regardless, I had no choice but to fight in the tournant. So, my fear grew worse.
Miss Fumiko sensed it and tried to lift my spirits.
"I’m sure you’ve participated in many tournants in your previous life. This one shouldn’t be any harder."
Ever since I arrived at her house, Miss Fumiko had been nothing but kind to .
I had been unconscious for the last two days, and during that ti, she had taken good care of . She’d changed my clothes, washed my uniform, and prepared a generous al for the mont I woke up.
Even more, she had sohow convinced the other teachers that I was ill and received permission from the school to exempt from classes till I recovered.
I hadn’t done anything to deserve this kindness from her, but I appreciated it very much.
"Don’t look so discouraged," she said, with an encouraging smile on her face. "They’re students... young and naive. You’re the Grand Mage..."
"Was," I cut her off.
"Are... You beca the grand mage... not because of your magic, but your knowledge. Your mind preserved it, and with it, I believe you’ll find a way to defeat your opponents."
She was right.
When I was the Grand Mage, I had found a thousand clever ways to defeat mages and monsters who were way more powerful than I was.
The difference was, I had my powers to rely on when all seed hopeless. This ti, I had to face my foes as a normal human.
As the minutes passed, my dread only deepened.
Then, I recalled his voice.
’The answer is in your heart... listen to it.’
I still didn’t understand what he ant, but my magic was never going to return if I just sat here pouting about it all day.
So, I stood up.
"Do you feel better now?" Miss Fumiko asked.
I shook my head.
"Magic or not... fearful or not... I’ve never been one to retreat from a fight."
"You don’t have to be fearful. I can help you with a mind spell to ease your worry."
"It’s alright. I’ll be fine."
I made my way to the front door, while Miss Fumiko slowly trailed behind .
"Thank you for all your help," I said, making a slight bow to her as a sign of respect.
When I lifted my head up, I found her walking towards . Then, gently placing her hands on either side of my face, she pressed her lips against mine.
Her action took by surprise, and my first thought was to break it off, but as the kiss deepened, I felt my initial feelings of dread slowly fade away.
I leaned into it, slowly placing my hands on her waist, but soon afterward, it ended.
"For luck," she whispered, stepping away.
But just before she turned, I saw a faint glow in her eyes.
For the first ti that day, I felt calm.
That was no ordinary kiss.
"You... did sothing, didn’t you?" I asked.
Miss Fumiko simply smiled.
"Use it wisely," she said.
I didn’t understand what she ant, but I was grateful that my fear was gone.
"Thank you," I said.
Without another word, she turned around and disappeared into another room.
*****
By the ti I arrived at the arena, it was almost filled.
The arena was a massive amphitheatre shaped like a cross when viewed from above.
In the center, there was a wide square-shaped field, filled with earth, surrounded on all sides by tall arena walls, with two gates leading in and out.
Above the four walls of the central field, there were four distinct seating areas, each one reserved for a particular group of people; two for students, tutors, and the other two sections for outsiders; nobles and commonbloods.
Built from the ground up with large stones, it was left open to the sky and lit up by the warm sunlight.
But in the event of extre weather, a veil would be cast overhead to protect everyone in the arena from discomfort or harm.
It was the first structure in the academy, as the arena was originally built as a religious space where the people of Viridale worshipped Virga, the goddess of nature.
But after the academy was built, its use was converted.
As I approached the large structure, hundreds of people trooped into it, eager to watch the spectacle unfold.
Students from all years brushed past , so of their faces beaming with confidence, while so were fearful for the candidates whom they supported.
So recognised as they passed, and even wished good luck as they went it.
I wondered if Lucy was among the students who had already gone into the arena. I decided to find her and hopefully talk to her before the tournant begins.
Just when I took another step, I saw them.
The bully squad; Freya Lillith, her sister Ginny, and their third unknown friend.
They were slowly marching toward the arena, their strides more pompous than usual.
And walking right behind them... was Baron Borain.
I silently observed him from a distance, but his gaze t mine, and a cold grin spread across his face.
"Good luck, Stormborn," his eyes seed to say, but not in a kind way.
Our eyes remained fixed until he turned away and walked into the arena.
"Good luck, Borain," I whispered under my breath, wearing a faint smile. "May the best mage win."
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