*****
The field was cleared as Silas was carried off to the infirmary, with Lily closely following by his side.
Since her match wasn't next, she had taken it upon herself to ensure Silas received the care he needed.
Back on the battlefield, the tension shifted as the next na was called out.
It was a match between none other than the red-headed troublemaker, Ren Sullivan.
Ren stood up from the audience, brushing off his uniform as he cracked his neck with exaggerated flair.
"Finally, my ti to shine,"
He said with a smirk, his fiery hair catching the sunlight.
Lyrium leaned back in his seat, arms crossed as he muttered,
"Your ti to shine or your ti to get obliterated? Let's see."
Ren shot him a confident glance, pointing a finger at him as he walked toward the field.
"Watch and learn, Lyrium. You're about to see greatness in action."
"Yeah, greatness at being pumled,"
Lyrium quipped back, earning a few chuckles from the students nearby.
As Ren reached the center of the field, he stretched his arms and legs, his easygoing deanor masking the nerves that bubbled beneath the surface.
In the audience seats, an unexpected and awkward duo found themselves sitting side by side—Alicia and Lyrium.
Alicia, ever composed, sat with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze fixed on the battlefield below.
anwhile, Lyrium shifted uncomfortably in his seat, stealing occasional glances at her while trying to act natural.
The silence between them was palpable, but was broken by the murmur and the distant clash of weapons in another arena by another group.
Lyrium finally cleared his throat, breaking the tension.
"So... uh, do you think Ren has a chance out there?"
He asked, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.
Alicia didn't turn to look at him.
"Depends,"
She replied curtly.
"Does he value his life enough to give it his all, or will he keep fooling around like he usually does?"
Lyrium smirked nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.
"That's... encouraging."
Alicia raised an eyebrow, finally glancing at him.
"It's not my job to encourage. It's my job to assess. Besides, you're next. Shouldn't you be worried about your own fight?"
Lyrium leaned back in his seat, letting out a sigh.
"Haa..."
"Oh, I'm plenty worried. But watching Ren's match first will make mine feel less... painful, I hope."
Alicia shook her head slightly, her lips curling into the faintest of smirks.
"Good luck with that."
*****
Step—!
In the battlefield, a figure erged from the shadows of the underground hall on the opposite side of the stadium field.
Step—!
Each step echoed ominously, sending ripples of tension through the crowd.
Ren, standing in the center of the field, tilted his head as he squinted at the approaching figure.
His cocky grin faltered slightly as the silhouette beca clearer.
Professor Shirone stood tall in the center of the battlefield, his imposing figure exuding an aura of effortless authority.
Dressed in a sleek, all-black combat robe with subtle silver embroidery at the edges, he looked both elegant and intimidating.
His robe swayed slightly with his movents, the fabric shimring faintly as if reflecting the calm surface of water.
In his right hand, he held a long mage's staff, made of polished blackwood and capped with a gleaming sapphire gem.
The gem seed alive, pulsating softly like a heartbeat, with faint streams of water-like mana swirling within it.
The staff itself was carved with intricate wave-like patterns, reinforcing his mastery over the water elent.
Shirone's piercing sapphire eyes focused intently on Ren.
His gaze carried the weight of an experienced sage, calm and unyielding, like the stillness of deep waters before a storm.
Ren, standing opposite him, shifted nervously.
"Great,"
He muttered under his breath,
"He has a staff. Because fighting a water master with just my fists wasn't hard enough."
On the sidelines, Lyrium smirked faintly, watching the scene unfold.
"Well, at least it'll be over quickly for him,"
He comnted dryly, glancing at Alicia, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Shirone tapped his staff lightly on the ground, reverberating through the quiet arena.
Thunk—!
A faint ripple of mana pulsed outward from the point of contact, the moisture in the air thickening around them.
"Ren Sullivan,"
Shirone said in a low, steady tone,
"You stand before not as a student, but as a combatant. Show the strength you've cultivated. This is your opportunity."
Ren inhaled deeply, attempting to calm his nerves.
"Alright, alright, I get it,"
He muttered before raising his fists into a defensive stance.
"No pressure, right?"
Shirone didn't respond.
He simply raised his staff, the sapphire gem glowing brighter as water-like mana began to swirl and gather around him, shimring faintly in the dimly lit arena.
The match had yet to begin, but it was clear to Ren that he was up against an overwhelming force.
Then, in the audience sit,
Alicia stood from her seat, her clear voice cutting through the quiet, echoing in the vast, empty stadium.
"The second battle is between Professor Shirone of Deviants Academy and Ren Sullivan, student of Deviants Academy."
The silence was almost oppressive, with no cheering crowd to fill the void.
Only four figures occupied the space—Professor Shirone, Ren, Lyrium, and Alicia. The stillness amplified the tension in the air.
Alicia raised her hand, forming her signature gun gesture.
A faint swirl of red mana gathered at her fingertip, glowing faintly in the dim light.
She released it with a flick of her wrist.
Whizz—!
The sphere shot upwards and exploded in the air with a sharp
Boom—!
Signaling the start of the match.
Ren rolled his shoulders, exhaling as he tried to shake off the nerves.
"Alright... it's just and him. No big deal,"
He muttered under his breath, flexing his fingers.
From across the field, Professor Shirone stepped into the arena.
His steps were asured, his posture relaxed yet exuding power.
He was dressed in a simple yet elegant navy-blue combat robe lined with silver accents, its flowing design mirroring the movent of water.
His short, white hair glead faintly under the lights, and his sharp, sapphire eyes locked onto Ren with an unshakable calm.
Ren let out a shaky laugh as he watched the professor's composed approach.
"Yup. Totally dead."
On the sidelines, Lyrium crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering as he observed the two.
"You've got this, Ren,"
He muttered sarcastically, his voice low enough for Alicia to hear.
"But only if Professor Shirone decides to give you a handicap. Which he won't."
Shirone stopped a few ters away from Ren, standing tall and motionless like an unyielding mountain.
Without a weapon or any visible preparation, his calm confidence was unsettling.
"Ren Sullivan,"
Shirone began, his voice smooth and steady,
"Show what you've learned. Don't hold back. I won't."
Ren swallowed hard but managed a grin.
"Right, don't hold back. Got it,"
He said, though his shaking hands betrayed his nervousness.
The air around Shirone grew dense, moisture forming an almost imperceptible mist that hung heavily between them.
Ren tightened his fists, taking a step forward.
"Alright, Professor Shirone. Let's dance."
*****
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the flat, white ceiling. It was painfully plain, with nothing but a floating ceiling AC gently humming above.
My head throbbed, my limbs felt like lead, and my chest ached with each shallow breath I took.
'Damn it. I lost.'
I turned my head to the side, wincing at the movent, and noticed Lily sitting beside my bed.
Her arms were crossed, her expression a mix of frustration and concern.
She was watching closely, as though she was debating whether to scold or comfort .
"You're awake,"
She said finally, her tone clipped.
I blinked at her, the words slow to register.
"Yeah... I guess I am."
"You're an idiot,"
She said bluntly, leaning forward slightly.
"You could've died out there, Silas. What were you even thinking?"
What was I thinking?
I looked down at my hands, flexing them weakly.
Even now, I could feel the echoes of that battle, the weight of my sword, the strain of my mana reserves running dry.
I had given it everything I had, and it still wasn't enough.
"I was thinking that I needed to prove myself,"
I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.
Lily sighed, leaning back in her chair.
"You're not going to prove anything if you keep throwing yourself into situations like that. Strength isn't about winning every fight, Silas. Sotis it's about knowing when to back down."
I clenched my fists, the frustration bubbling up inside .
"If I back down, then what's the point? How am I supposed to get stronger if I don't push myself?"
"You push yourself by training smart, not by nearly getting yourself killed,"
She retorted, her eyes narrowing.
"You're not invincible, Silas. You're not so hero in a story. You're human, and humans have limits."
Her words stung, but I couldn't bring myself to argue.
She was right, of course.
I wasn't invincible.
Just because I have the system, a little bit of advantage than other sages.
I wasn't even particularly strong—not yet, anyway.
"Haaa...."
*****
Thanks for reading—!
And don't forget to point out my mistakes.!!
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