As we headed toward the arena after buying a weapon, a shield, and several things for Keyrin, we walked in silence. From time to time, I caught glances directed at her and could only shake my head inwardly. After today's fight, most of the world would hate me, while the rest would be desperate to learn how I had mastered the use of darkness.
All my plans to keep my magical talents hidden had crumbled in an instant. All I could do now was accept it, mentally sigh, and try to prepare for whatever fate had in store for me.
Lowering my gaze to the sword hanging at my side, I ran my hand along its hilt. I hadn't listened to Keyrin and had still chosen the curved blade. I didn't know why, but after seeing how the tormentor fought with it, I had decided to try it myself.
As for the shield, I had picked the one Keyrin recommended. It wasn't massive, but it covered the upper part of my body—my arms, chest, and neck—providing a good balance between defense and mobility.
Neither weapon was ordinary.
The sword could absorb my mana and project attacks depending on my talents. Both the blade and the hilt were dark in color, and as Keyrin had explained, it conducted the power of earth, fire, and darkness especially well. Considering that dark mages practically didn't exist in this world, finding something like this was genuine luck, which only pushed me even more toward buying it.
The shield was decorated with intricate patterns that allowed it not only to block magical attacks, but also to redirect them back at the opponent.
Trying not to think about what awaited me in the arena, I shifted my gaze to Keyrin. Sensing it, she looked at me and slightly raised an eyebrow.
"You're looking at me strangely, young master," Keyrin said sarcastically.
When she addressed me like that, I didn't feel angry or arrogant—it had all happened too accidentally. Even so, I still hadn't abandoned the thought of revenge and was certain I would keep thinking of ways to repay her for a long time. Though, to be fair, I had already made a start.
Remembering that we had bought her a new uniform, I couldn't help but smirk. As promised, we had chosen different clothes for her—far more fitting for a light elf and a princess.
That was precisely why Keyrin was even more irritated now, constantly catching the endless stares of passersby.
"Young master, are you plotting something?" Keyrin asked. A shiver ran down her spine, and fully aware of what had caused it, she immediately stared at me.
"I think after the duel, you'll have plenty of work to do, Keyrin," I replied vaguely with a smile.
"Plenty of work? What are you talking about?" she asked in confusion.
"Two princesses, two completely different personalities, one of whom happens to be your younger sister. What do you think—will princesses have many requests?" I asked mockingly, watching as her expression rapidly changed.
"Young master, you wouldn't dare! I am your loyal servant," Keyrin said in a trembling voice. She had finally begun to understand what I was getting at, and that only made me laugh even harder.
So loudly, in fact, that people walking nearby began turning toward us.
"That's right, Keyrin. You are my loyal servant, which is why I'll offer them the same choice I offered you," I replied, quickening my pace as I noticed the surrounding people staring at us even more intently.
"I had no choice!" Keyrin growled angrily as she caught up to me.
"True. And I already apologized for that. But things are different with the two princesses—I can't exactly announce in the middle of the arena that I refuse to accept them as a reward. You understand that, don't you?" I turned to her and looked directly into her eyes.
As a light elf and a princess, Keyrin understood perfectly what I meant.
If I publicly declared in the arena that I refused them as a reward, their already shaken image after defeat would collapse even further.
And elves—whether light or dark—were an extremely proud race. Being rejected in front of a crowd could easily push them toward openly foolish actions.
And Keyrin understood that better than anyone.
"So what kind of choice do you intend to offer them?" Keyrin asked. Unlike her, those two really would have a choice, so there was no point in hiding her interest.
"In the arena, I'll accept them as my wives. But afterward, we'll meet in my room, and I'll offer them a deal. When we're together, they'll play the role assigned to them. But when we aren't around each other, they can do whatever they want. After graduating from the academy, we most likely won't meet again, so in the future they'll be free to marry whoever they want," I explained, noticing the genuine surprise on Keyrin's face.
"You want to offer the princesses a fake marriage for the duration of both your studies at the academy? And then simply part ways afterward?" Keyrin said in astonishment, as if she could barely believe her own words.
"Yes. I don't need companions by my side who are only kept there by obligation. You can never fully trust people like that," I replied calmly, noticing that we were already approaching the arena.
Keyrin clearly wanted to make another biting remark about how she herself was hardly bound to me of her own free will, but this time, she stayed silent.
As we drew closer to the arena, more and more groups of stufons were heading in the same direction. Keyrin could only shake her head.
As for me, I could feel dozens of gazes on me—ranging from outright disgust to contempt. Most of the stufons had apparently already decided that I was trying to climb far above my station and worth.
Ignoring those looks, instead of heading for the stands, I made my way toward the arch through which duel participants entered the arena—the same one we had used during the trial.
As I approached, I noticed two guards. One of them cast a strange glance over my shoulder at Keyrin, but I couldn't be bothered paying attention to it. Lately, I had grown too tired of reacting to such things, so I simply walked up to them.
Both shifted their attention to me.
"stufon, this entrance is for duel participants. Turn around with your companion and head to the stands," one of the guards said in a deep voice.
"I know. That's exactly why I'm here. Duel participant—stufon Trey," I replied calmly, touching the academy emblem.
Mana released from it began forming into a seal, giving the guards undeniable proof of my words.
The guards looked at the seal, then back at me.
This continued for several long seconds, and I was gradually beginning to grow irritated.
Like any prince, I disliked being delayed, especially by ordinary guards. But in my current situation, I had to remember that I was nothing more than a common half-elf now.
"You may enter, stufon Trey," the same guard finally said, stepping aside.
His partner followed suit, though he still couldn't take his eyes off Keyrin.
Seeing that the path was clear, we silently walked inside.
The door leading to the arena was already open, and in the distance, I immediately noticed two figures.
Both stood in the center of the arena, looking in my direction.
Most likely, they had already been informed of my arrival and had come out early to demonstrate their confidence.
Letting out a quiet sigh, I turned to Keyrin.
"Stay here. There's no reason for you to step into the arena," I said, heading toward the exit.
But the very next moment, I felt someone pulling me back.
Turning around, I saw Keyrin. Raising an eyebrow in surprise, I looked at her.
"Be careful. Samantha uses wind magic—don't be careless," her quiet whisper reached my ears. She was clearly trying to hide the concern in her voice, but she was doing a rather poor job of it.
Freeing my hand, I looked into her eyes and gave a short nod.
Words were unnecessary now.
Only a fool treated an opponent with contempt, and I intended to give this fight everything I had.
As I stepped out from the arch, I immediately saw that the stands were packed to capacity.
Two enormous screens hovered in the sky, displaying two beautiful elven women. Both looked like more mature versions of the ones currently standing in the arena, so there was no need to guess which one was the matriarch and which was the Queen of the Light Elves.
As I walked toward the center of the arena, I heard the voices in the stands gradually falling silent.
More and more eyes turned toward me until, at some point, the entire arena began looking at me as though I weren't a person, but some rare monster or exotic beast.
On the way, I summoned one tormentor, evening the odds—two against two.
Back at the dormitory, I had already infused it with the power of darkness and my own blood, so the mana surrounding it immediately took on that familiar, piercing density.
Silently, it followed behind me.
As I drew closer, I could finally make out Samantha and Cassandra clearly.
Both were dressed in academy uniforms.
One held a saber in her hand, while the other carried a staff.
Stopping opposite them, I began carefully studying them both.
Under my gaze, Samantha and Cassandra visibly tensed.
One tightened her grip on the saber's hilt, while the other clutched her staff a little closer, holding it in front of herself like an extra barrier.
"It seems the duelists have arrived. Then I shall announce the rules of the duel," the familiar voice of the director sounded from the opposite side of the arena, where he was watching us.
"Duelists are permitted to use any magic and any combat style, with the sole exception of attempting to take the opponent's life. There is no time limit. If your opponent destroys your emblem, you are considered eliminated and defeated. This match will be observed by the matriarch and the Queen of the Light Elves. I will serve as the judge."
After finishing the explanation, the director gestured toward the two screens, where the elven women remained focused on the arena, their sharp gazes fixed firmly on me.
"Are you ready, duelists?" Suga Tin asked.
Seeing our brief nods, he raised his hand and loudly announced the beginning of the duel.