Chapter 36: Ecoes of the Challenge.

Chapter 36: Ecoes of the Challenge.The Next Day – By morning, the entire Arcadia Academy was humming with whispers. The rumors of the clash between the first-year elites and the second-year rankers had already spread like wildfire through the dorms, hallways, and classrooms. Students from all —swordsmen, mages, tanks and healers—were all talking about it. "Did you hear? Jin Halden went head-to-head with Darius!" "They’re fighting again tonight... in the arena!" "Is it true that Edwin Leonhart will be facing Kayle? I heard Professor Yulia himself will be watching!" Even professors pretended not to hear the chatter, but many kept their ears open. Some even adjusted their schedules to make sure they’d be free by evening. Kael’s Morning Kael, as always, kept to his routine. The sun had risen onto the training ground. His shoes hit the dirt track rhythmically as he started running. His body had changed. Grown stronger. By the time two hours had passed, Kael had finished 98 laps, his uniform soaked with sweat but his steps still stable. (I’m getting faster. Almost at a hundred.) After running, they moved to the body resistance classes, standing beneath the controlled blasts of magic and energy. Heat Resistance ClassCold Resistance TrainingMana class At break time, inside the classroom ! As the other first-year heroes—Jin, Edwin, Elysia, Ronan, Lucy, and Evander—stepped out of the classroom for a discussion about the evening challenge, the room grew quiet. Kael remained behind, leaning against the window ledge, arms crossed, gaze lowered. The air was still... until he heard soft footsteps approaching. "Kael," a gentle voice called. He looked up. Cecelia stood near him. She walked closer—calm, graceful, and with a hint of hesitation in her voice. "I never got the chance to say this properly," she said softly. "Thank you... for saving me during the attack." Kael blinked, caught off guard. "...I only did what anyone would’ve done." She tilted her head. "No. Not anyone would’ve thrown themselves in front of a blade like that." He paused, then said, more quietly, "You saved me first. I just returned the favor." Then Cecelia’s soft eyes looked downward—and her expression changed. She noticed Kael’s worn shoes, damaged and nearly falling apart. His uniform was patched and torn a little bit. And his hands... wrapped with half-torn bandages, bruises darkening his skin. "...You’re hurt," she said, almost in a whisper. Kael looked down as if just noticing. "It’s nothing," he muttered. But Cecelia stepped forward without another word. She reached out, her hands glowing faintly with a warm light. "Hold still." Before he could protest, she gently took his hand. The bruises slowly faded, replaced by the warm tingle of her healing spell. Kael’s eyes widened. Her fingers were soft, her touch careful—and for a moment, his heart skipped. His face turned slightly red. He looked away. "...You didn’t have to do that," he murmured. Cecelia smiled gently. "I wanted to heal you." She let go of his hand. Kael stared at his now-healed knuckles, flexing them once. "Thanks." She nodded. Then she turned and walked out quietly, leaving Kael standing there—his face still faintly flushed, hand warm from where she touched it. At the academy canopy: The six students gathered at the academy. Jin Halden leaned back against a bench, grinning despite the bandage on his shoulder. They talked about how they got into the problem. Lucy scoffed. "but.... Most of the first-years are struggling." "But not us," Ronan said, cracking his knuckles. "We held our own." Evander remained quiet, eyes half-closed, listening. Jin stood up and made a wide gesture with his hands. ..... "Anyway, I may have thrown a few insults, and he definitely threw the first swing—" "You provoked him," Edwin cut in, raising an eyebrow. Lucy crossed her arms. ...... "Next time, don’t try to solo an entire squad of upperclassmen." "Come on, Lucy," Jin grinned. "Admit it. You missed the thrill." "I missed my lunch," she said in emotional way. Then Elysia spoke, her voice cool and certain. "I want in, on the challenge." Everyone turned to her. "You’re serious?" Edwin asked. Elysia nodded. "I heard about the challenge being arranged tonight in the arena. If it’s not an official match... I want to be part of it." Ronan smirked. "Didn’t think you were the type to ask." "I’m not," she replied, adjusting her hands. "But after what happened in the forest, I’ve realized something. The second-years underestimate us. I want to show what they are talking about." Evander opened his eyes finally. "We’ll have to fight smart. Kayle and Darius are brutal. They are the top rankers of the second year." "Let them bring anyone, anything," Ronan said, voice calm and low. "We’ll still win." Edwin looked at each of them. "Then it’s settled. today, we will settle our score." Jin bumped his fists together. "We crush them. No more talk. Let’s make them regret ever mocking us." The six stood in a quiet moment of unity and tension building like thunder before the storm. The day of the class has ended ! Evening – The Buzz Before the Battle As the sun began to set, the academy’s atmosphere was busy. Second years and third year dropped message among each other, (Meme, come fast the battle is about to begin) Student Duel: First-Year Elites vs Second-Year Rankers Time: 5:00 PM Location: Ground one Arena Hundreds of students filled the upper balconies, seating rings, and even levitating platforms. Professors stood in the shadows, arms crossed, watching with interest. "Do the first-years really think they’re smart and strong?" one of them said, from third year student. "Please. Surviving one assassination attempt doesn’t make you hero." Another laughed, flipping his cape behind his shoulder. "I’ll be impressed if they even last five minutes." Nearby, a tall man stepped into view—his uniform trimmed with gold, a silver badge gleaming on his chest. Kayle’s older brother, third-year Rank 3, known as the "Silver Reaper" for his brutal efficiency in duels, had arrived. He stood silently at the edge of a raised platform, arms behind his back, his silver hair tied in a warrior’s knot. A murmur rippled through the crowd. "That’s... Kayle’s older brother." "He doesn’t show up for just any match..." "He wants to see how badly the first-years get crushed." Kayle’s older brother looked calm and serious on the outside—his face showed no emotion—but deep in his eyes, there was a subtle feeling. Maybe he expected something great from Kayle... or maybe he was disappointed in him. Cecelia and Kael came together. Though it was a non-official challenge match, all were gathered asif big tournament was happening. And they cannot ask them to leave either.