Before jumping into the event, the Wilton Academy group agreed it would be best to observe a few matches first. It gave them time to study the competition, to figure out what techniques were most effective, and, more importantly, how the challenge actually worked.

It didn't take long for them to pick up on a few key insights.

Out of all the types of magic they had seen so far, wind magic was proving to be the most effective. Its ability to cover wide surface areas made it ideal for pushing the large metal slab in the center of the stage.

There were also restrictions.

Earth magic was completely banned, it was likely too powerful and could potentially damage the platform. But most other forms of magic were fair game. Some students with exceptionally strong fire magic had used it to apply pure force and push the slab by sheer heat pressure alone.

They were also surprised to find the event involved more technique than expected. Some teams started the match with a full-power blast from both members, hoping to gain an early lead. If their opponents were holding back or trying to conserve mana, the match would be over within seconds.

Others fought a slow-burning battle, draining each other's mana bit by bit, turning it into a mental and magical tug-of-war.

Strength wasn't always the deciding factor. Some clever pairs had even come up with coordinated attacks. One would suppress the slab using subtle mana pulses while the other unleashed a large-area wind gust that swept the slab toward victory.

What looked like a simple, physical test had quickly turned into a fascinating and strategic competition for the group.

"Well, there's four of us," Chiba said, linking arms with Yolden. "I guess me and Yolden can go together, and then you two can team up."

"You mean… go up against each other?" Moze asked, raising an eyebrow. "That doesn't seem like a good idea. We'd end up draining our mana, and even if we recover in time, do we really need all of us participating? Also…"

He paused, eyeing the two girls.

"You two are always paired up. If this is about team bonding, shouldn't we start mixing things up a bit?"

Chiba sighed, clearly reluctant to break the pattern. "Fine, fine. I guess since you're too worn out to participate in this 'little game,' I'll sit out too. Which means…"

She gave Yolden a small push.

"Why don't Piba and Yolden go together?"

"Me?" Yolden blinked, pointing at herself. She wasn't entirely convinced she was strong enough to hold her own in a competitive event, let alone shine in it.

"I agree with Moze," Piba said, stepping forward with a soft smile. "We haven't had the chance to fight side-by-side yet. But it would be an honor to do so now. You're one of Wilton's top students, Yolden. Believe in yourself."

Yolden's cheeks flushed lightly, but she nodded. She'd come this far, it would be foolish to back down now.

Once the current round ended, Piba and Yolden signed up for the event. It wasn't long before their names were called, and they both stepped up onto the platform, standing inside the designated magic circles.

Among the gathering crowd, a few Central Academy students recognized them.

"Hey, those are the top students from Wilton, aren't they?"

"Should we go up and beat them ourselves?"

"Yeah, imagine what that would do, just proves how much better Central is."

"…But what if we lose to them? They didn't even make it into the Central Academy. If they win, what does that say about us?"

Their whispers died off quickly. In the end, none of them had the nerve to sign up. No one wanted to risk it.

Until two figures stepped forward.

A spiky-haired blonde boy with a thin scar above his eyebrow, and another student at his side.

It was Rupert… and Kayzel.

The energy in the area shifted instantly.

"Oh my god, that's Kayzel!"

"Right? It's like we're watching a personal exhibition match now!"

"Of all people… why him? I can't even remember the last time he bothered to take part in a public event."

Yolden's heart dropped. She'd never seen Kayzel in person before, but she had heard the name. Everyone at Wilton had.

"Piba," she said quietly. "If we want to win this, we're going to have to take it seriously."

"I know," Piba replied. "I heard the name too."

The only one who didn't seem fazed by the announcement was Moze.

"I mean, yeah, he's one of their top students, maybe even the top. But what difference does that make? Piba and Yolden are top students too. They still have a chance, don't they?"

He looked to the others, trying to read their expressions.

From the reactions of the Central students' uniforms, he had already figured out Kayzel and Rupert were like Bones and Nannan, exceptional. But the look on Chiba's face wasn't the same as before. It wasn't admiration.

It was caution.

She didn't respond right away. Instead, she silently cast a silence spell around their group.

That was when Moze knew this was something serious.

"Kayzel isn't just a top student," Chiba said finally. "That's not what makes him dangerous."

She glanced toward the platform, where Kayzel stood casually, arms folded, waiting for the match to begin.

"What makes him feared… is that he's the son of Idore, one of the Grand Magus."

Moze's eyes went wide. The name sent a chill down his spine.

He didn't even know the Grand Magus had children. But now that he thought about it, of course someone like that would be studying at Central.

"But… how is that not public knowledge?" he asked.

"It's complicated," Chiba replied. "Kayzel's never been officially recognized as Idore's son. Supposedly… he was the result of an unplanned pregnancy."

****

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