The aftermath of the Combat Quest Trial echoed through the halls of Arcane Academy like distant thunder. It wasn't just about who placed where—it was about who had risen. And in this case, Rael, the enigmatic transfer student who had taken on the trial with just one teammate, was at the center of it all.
Whispers trailed him wherever he walked.
"Did you hear? He won with only one partner."
"He didn't even pick Eris Valenhart—and she's a dueling champion."
"Who is this Rael, really?"
The quiet boy with silver-streaked hair had upended the unspoken rules. Strength was one thing, but confidence to stand alone? That stirred fear and fascination alike.
---
Meanwhile, Evelyn Starwyn walked the Academy grounds with a strange lightness in her steps. For once, her name was being spoken with admiration rather than pity. She wasn't just the unstable spirit mage or the daughter of a high-born family trying to prove herself.
"Evelyn!" a fellow spirit major waved her over. "Two spirit familiars in sync? That was... incredible."
"I… thank you," Evelyn stammered, cheeks coloring. Compliments still felt foreign, like trying on new clothes.
She hugged her satchel close and moved on, unaware of the figure standing near the training arena, arms folded and watching her every step.
---
Eris Valenhart's eyes narrowed as she observed the attention Evelyn received. Her red hair caught the afternoon sun, but her thoughts were clouded with jealousy.
"He picked her," she muttered. "Out of everyone… her."
Raiden, leaning against a tree behind her, sighed. "Still brooding?"
"I would've dominated that trial with him. We could've been unmatched."
"Could have," he said, "but didn't. He made his choice."
Eris's jaw clenched. It wasn't about winning—it was about Rael. The fact that he had chosen Evelyn, not her, made it feel personal. And Eris Valenhart didn't like rejection, especially when it came wrapped in silence.
---
That evening, Rael sat under the great willow tree in the eastern courtyard. The rustling leaves above cast dancing shadows across the grass. The scent of spring mixed with the faint hum of lingering magic.
He leaned back against the bark, arms folded, replaying the trial in his head.
Evelyn had trembled. But she stayed.
"She didn't run," he murmured. "That matters."
A soft yawn broke the silence.
"You always talk to trees when you're alone?"
Rael turned his head. A silver-haired girl in half-fastened robes, one sleeve dragging behind her and socks mismatched, was squinting at him. In one hand, she held a half-eaten melon bun.
Lyra Dreamshade.
"I wasn't talking to the tree," Rael replied.
"Well, it's not talking back, so you're already ahead," she said and flopped down beside him without invitation.
"You're Rael, right? The mysterious transfer guy who made half the academy lose their minds today?"
"Apparently."
She offered him the rest of her bun. "Want some?"
He raised an eyebrow but declined.
Lyra shrugged and took another bite. "You've caused such a mess. Professors are gossiping, students are forming theories, and someone painted your face on a training dummy. It's weird."
Rael glanced sideways. "You don't seem too impressed."
"I hate drama," she said with a sigh. "I just want naps and soft bread. Unfortunately, people like you bring storms."
He chuckled softly. "You talk like someone twice your age."
"I feel like someone twice my age," she said, stretching and collapsing backward on the grass. "Magic's exhausting. Especially when you're good at it."
Rael studied her. There was a strange stillness to her, like water beneath ice. Lazy on the surface—but deep. Very deep.
"I've seen you before," he said. "Sleeping through lectures."
"Sleeping near lectures," she corrected. "Important distinction."
He smirked. "You're talented, though. Everyone knows that."
She shrugged again. "Magic should be like breathing. Natural. Not pages and pressure and stupid duels for status."
Rael was quiet for a beat.
"You watched the trial?" he asked.
"Of course." Her voice dropped to a softer tone. "You move like someone who's used to being chased. Not admired."
That caught him off guard.
"I'm not here to pry," she added, her eyes now on the sky. "Just… don't lose yourself trying to be what people expect. They'll love you until they don't."
He didn't reply. There was nothing he could say that wouldn't sound too honest.
Lyra sat up, brushing crumbs off her robe. "Anyway. I'm off. Might actually attend class tomorrow. Maybe I'll sit behind you. Or nap next to you. We'll see."
With that, she wandered off barefoot, humming to herself, leaving behind a trail of crushed grass and the faint smell of sugar.
Rael stared after her, strangely grounded.
---
Back in the dorms, Evelyn paced her room in circles. Lumina, her small wisp-like spirit, floated nearby, casting soft pulses of light.
"Why me?" she murmured. "Why did he pick me?"
Lumina chirped in reply.
She sat on her bed, gripping the edge. "Maybe it was convenience. Or maybe…"
A knock.
Evelyn startled. She opened the door to find Rael standing there.
"Hey," he said. "Hope I'm not interrupting."
"No! Please, come in," she said, stepping aside quickly, heart racing.
Rael sat on a nearby chair while Evelyn stood nervously, fingers tangled in her robe sleeves.
"I wanted to thank you," he said. "For trusting me during the trial."
Evelyn blinked. "You trusted me."
"I did. And you didn't let me down. You were scared—but you stayed. That meant more than you know."
Her eyes widened. Her voice was quiet. "I want to get stronger. For myself this time. Not for my family. Not for anyone else."
Rael offered a rare smile. "Then we'll grow together."
She nodded, the brightness in her chest overwhelming. For the first time, someone had chosen her without strings.
Outside, unseen in the shadows of the hallway, Eris watched the door close. Her fists clenched, nails digging into her palm.
---
The following morning, a storm of gossip stirred across campus—not about rankings, but about influence.
Rael's name had weight now. Professors whispered about special assignments. Student clubs extended invitations. Nobles sent messengers asking about alliances.
And Evelyn's name was mentioned alongside his.
"Did you hear? He turned down three elite dueling societies."
"They say he's already been invited to the elite sparring halls."
"Who is he really?"
In the courtyard, Lyra lounged across a bench, munching on a pear.
"Humans are so noisy when they're curious," she muttered, flicking a piece of fruit at a gossiping girl nearby.
Rael passed by in the distance, his expression unreadable. He glanced toward the academy tower—where hidden eyes watched, calculating.
He didn't care about fame. But attention brought danger.
For now, though… he had allies.
Evelyn, who wanted to grow.
Lyra, who saw through masks.
And maybe, just maybe… more to come.
For the first time since escaping the ashes of his world, Rael felt something dangerously close to peace.
Moonlight spilled through the tall windows of Eris Vaeloria private dormitory. The room, pristine and elegant, was filled with trophies, enchanted artifacts, and portraits of her noble lineage. But Eris wasn't paying attention to any of it.
She sat curled on her bed, her usual composed expression nowhere to be found.
Clutched tightly in her arms was Rael's uniform jacket—the very one he had lent her weeks ago after their intense sparring match. Her own uniform had caught fire in the final clash, torn and scorched by a mistimed counterspell. Rael, without hesitation, had shrugged off his jacket and handed it to her, not caring that he stood in just his undershirt in front of half the class.
Back then, it had flustered her. Now, it haunted her.
"…Why didn't you pick me?" she whispered into the soft fabric, her fingers curling tighter. "I'm stronger than Evelyn. You know I am. We would've been number one."
She inhaled the faint scent that still lingered—warm, clean, a hint of smoke and magic. It was Rael's scent. And it only made her chest ache more.
"I didn't care about winning," she admitted aloud to the empty room. "I just wanted to be by your side."
Her voice cracked.
"But you didn't choose me."
Silence. Only the soft rustle of night wind brushing against the glass.
Eris lay back, hugging the jacket close to her chest, the image of Rael walking away with Evelyn burned behind her closed eyes.
And for the first time in years, the proud, stubborn heir to House Vaeloria let herself feel the sting of being left behind—not in combat, but in something far more personal.