As the students continued to chatter excitedly about the tournament, their voices gradually grew louder. The energy in the hall was palpable, but then, without warning, the room was plunged into darkness.
"Huh? What happened? Why did the hall suddenly go dark?" a student asked, their voice tinged with confusion.
The murmurs grew, the tension rising, until a soft flicker of light broke through the blackness. One by one, magical lanterns sprang to life, filling the hall with a warm, glowing light. The flickering flames illuminated the faces of students, casting eerie shadows across the room.
Then, the principal's voice boomed above the crowd, calm and authoritative."This is the magic lantern," he said, though there was a slight edge of amusement in his tone. "I'm sure you all already know how it works. But this being your first match, we'll be closing the doors to block out the starlight. You'll experience a different kind of environment—one you'll have to adapt to."
A murmur of surprise swept through the crowd. Closing the doors? Blocking out the light? What kind of challenge was this going to be?
Zara raised an eyebrow. "So they're taking the fun out of it already, huh?" she muttered, crossing her arms.
Elira, beside her, nodded in agreement. "Seems like they're testing more than just your skills with a sword."
Selena stood silently, her eyes scanning the room, while Mia bounced from foot to foot, eager for the matches to start.
across walls flags start appearing with academy crest on it sword and sheid,
Zara stood at the edge of the crowd, a devilish grin spreading across her face as she cracked her knuckles. The soft popping sound cut through the murmurs of the students, drawing a few curious glances.
"Alex, you jerk," she muttered under her breath, eyes narrowing as she pictured her rival. "Just wait. I'm about to show you what real power looks like."
Her grin widened, her fingers flexing as she prepared herself mentally. "Even if you've got high-level magic, it won't be enough to stop me. You're still going to lose."
Selena, standing to the side, observed Zara with a calm expression, her eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing the odds of her victory. She had no doubt Zara had the determination, but in the arena, anything could happen. It was always a gamble, even for the most skilled.
Before the tension could settle further, Jason suddenly leapt from the stage, landing effortlessly in the center of the ring. The crowd hushed, eyes focusing on him as he stood tall, his voice cutting through the air with authority.
"I am your referee," Jason announced loudly, his voice firm and commanding. "The first match will be Drakan versus Selena Skyfall."
A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd. Drakan, with his impressive presence, and Selena, known for her deadly precision with a blade—this was sure to be a thrilling match.
Zara's grin didn't fade, but her eyes briefly flicked over to Selena. "Good luck," she said, her tone playful but genuine.
Selena gave a subtle nod, her face as serene as ever, before stepping toward the ring. Her movements were measured, purposeful—she wasn't the type to rush into things.
"As Selena entered the arena, Jason shouted loudly, 'Start your match, but remember, you cannot kill each other!'"
Selena drew her sword, eyes locked onto Drakan, who stood across from her with a calm, unreadable expression.
Without hesitation, she dashed forward, blade gleaming in the light. With a swift motion, she slashed at him—but Drakan effortlessly sidestepped, his movement precise and controlled.
Her eyes narrowed. So, he's fast... she thought.
Golden light began to shimmer around her as she activated her magic. A radiant aura enveloped her body, making her presence feel almost divine.
She swung her sword again, but this time, golden arcs of energy shot out from the blade with every movement, launching at Drakan like bolts of light.
Drakan's expression darkened. A black aura burst from his body, thick and ominous. He raised his hand, coating it in that shadowy energy—and with a low growl, he met Selena's attack head-on, throwing a punch wreathed in black magic straight toward her.
At the very last moment, Drakan's dark aura suddenly faded—dispersing into the air like smoke.
Only one person noticed.
From the stage, Ishara's serene smile wavered ever so slightly as her brows drew together. He held back… why?
Selena's sword stopped just inches from Drakan's neck, glowing faintly with golden light. She stood firm, her breathing steady, eyes sharp.
Drakan didn't move. He merely stared at the blade, then lifted his gaze to meet hers with a calm, unreadable look.
Jason suddenly appeared on stage with a burst of wind and clapped his hands, his voice ringing across the hall.
"Match ended! Selena Skyfall wins!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, though some students exchanged curious glances—those who had seen flashes of Drakan's power earlier now wondering why he hadn't used it fully.
Selena slowly lowered her sword, but she couldn't shake the odd feeling that something about that fight… hadn't been right.