Because of Irene, Alex arrived far later than he had intended.
He paused in front of the principal's office.
'…She's probably still awake.' Alex thought.
As expected, light spilled from beneath the door. He knocked once, then pushed it open.
Elena was still at her desk, sleeves rolled up, papers arranged in neat, controlled stacks. Several floating screens hovered nearby, scrolling through documents and schedules at a steady pace. She looked exactly as she always did at this hour—focused, composed, and very clearly still working.
Her gaze lifted the moment he entered.
"Oh," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're back. I was beginning to wonder if Alicia had decided to keep you."
Alex winced internally and dipped his head. "S-Sorry, Principal. I got… delayed."
"Mm." Elena leaned back slightly, amusement flickering in her eyes. "I noticed."
That was all she said, yet it felt like she knew far more than she let on.
Alex could only offer a sheepish, apologetic look. Elena let the moment linger for a second longer, then straightened.
"Alright," she said, her tone shifting smoothly from teasing to professional. "We'll skip the pleasantries. You've already missed enough."
She gestured to the chair across from her desk. "Sit."
Alex obeyed immediately.
Elena folded her hands. "Since you were… unavailable earlier, you missed the general briefing with the other participants. That means I'll be handling it personally."
Alex blinked. "The tournament briefing?"
"Yes." She nodded. "The Nine Academy Tournament."
At his blank expression, one of Elena's brows lifted a fraction.
"I see," she said calmly. "Then we truly are starting from the beginning."
As the name suggests, the Nine Academy Tournament is an official inter-academy competition held annually within Lunar City.
On the surface, it functioned as a ranking system—an ordered measure by which academies were compared and judged. In truth, it was far more than a contest of scores and victories. It was a declaration of prestige, a display of institutional influence, and a quiet negotiation of future standing within the city's power structure. Victories shaped funding, alliances, recruitment, and reputation for the year to come.
Each academy was permitted to select only a limited number of participants.
The tournament itself was divided into three distinct phases, all compressed into a single, demanding week.
The first phase was reserved exclusively for first-year students. Its purpose was simple, yet significant: to spotlight prodigies, uncover rising stars, and announce to the city which newcomers were worth watching. Many careers had been defined—or redefined—during this opening stage.
The second phase shifted focus away from individuals and toward institutions. Academies showcased subsidiary arts, research papers, auxiliary disciplines, and historical depth. It was a demonstration of infrastructure, academic lineage, and long-term strength—proof that an academy's excellence extended beyond a handful of gifted students.
And finally, there was the most anticipated phase of all.
The one-on-one combat duels.
These matches carried the greatest weight and drew the most attention, often deciding the tournament's ultimate outcome.
When Elena finished outlining the structure, the room felt heavier.
She folded her hands and looked directly at Alex.
"That's why," she said evenly, "I want you to familiarize yourself with the other participating students as early as possible."
Alex blinked. "The other first-years?"
"Yes. Especially them." Elena nodded. "There will be team-based matches in the opening phase. Coordination, trust, and a basic understanding of one another's abilities will matter more than raw strength alone."
She paused, then added—more pointedly, "And there is another reason."
Alex straightened.
"You are new to many of them," Elena continued. "Your name appeared on the roster late. Rumors will spread. Questions will be asked."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"I want your abilities to speak for themselves before doubt has a chance to take root."
"Ah."
"It's for morale," Elena said plainly. "And for cohesion. If your teammates trust you—if they've seen what you can do—they'll fight beside you without hesitation. And they won't question why you're there."
Alex nodded slowly. "I understand."
Elena leaned back, satisfied.
"Good," she said. "Then tomorrow, you won't be training alone."
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
The next morning, one of the academy's training auditoriums buzzed with subdued energy as students gathered.
Knight Faculty and Magic Faculty—first-year representatives selected for the upcoming tournament. Obviously, all students were from the Elite class.
To the left stood the knights. To the right, the mages. The divide was obvious, rigid, and familiar.
And then there was Alex.
He stood slightly apart from both groups, hands relaxed at his sides. Not quite with the knights. Certainly not with the mages. A newcomer in every sense of the word.
Eyes drifted toward him. Whispers followed.
"That's him, right?"
"The late addition."
"He missed the briefings."
"A Knight student?"
"I heard he can't even—"
Alex ignored them, gaze steady, expression neutral. Aurora hovered nearby, lips curved in faint amusement.
The auditorium doors opened and the murmurs died instantly.
Elena entered first. Behind her came the two Vice Principals—Irene, calm and austere, positioning herself before the Knight Faculty students, and William, who took his place before the mages with an air of proprietary arrogance.
Once everyone settled, Elena stepped forward.
"This gathering has a single purpose," she said evenly, her voice carrying effortlessly through the hall. "You are the first-year representatives of Star Shine Academy for the Nine Academy Tournament."
No one spoke.
"You will be judged not as individuals," Elena continued, "but as the face of this academy. Cooperation is mandatory. Personal prejudices are irrelevant."
Her gaze swept the room, lingering just long enough on certain faces to make the warning unmistakable.
Then she turned slightly.
"Before we proceed, there is someone you must be acquainted with."
Elena gestured. "Alex Blanc."
Alex stepped forward half a pace and bowed politely.
"And," Elena added calmly, "for clarity—Alex will be participating in both the Knight and Mage divisions."
The room froze. Shock came first—then confusion, then outright disbelief.
"What?"
"That's impossible."
"A Knight in the Mage division?"
"He doesn't even—"
Irene remained still, her expression unchanged, as if nothing remarkable had been said.
William did not share her composure.
"That's enough."
His voice cracked like a whip.
He stepped forward, face flushed with anger. "Principal Elena, this is absurd. Open favoritism, plain and simple. You add a name to the roster at the last moment and expect us to accept it without question?"
Elena regarded him coolly. "This decision was not made lightly."
William scoffed. "A commoner," he snapped, pointing openly at Alex. "Someone who can't even use magic. You expect the Magic Faculty to accept a cripple suddenly standing among us?"
The word echoed.
A few students stiffened. Others smirked.
Alex's expression didn't change.
Elena's did.
"That will be enough, Vice Principal William," she said, her voice dropping just enough to signal danger. "Mind your language."
William sneered. "Or what? You'll rewrite reality next? You can't seriously expect us to believe this—this absurdity."
Elena lifted a hand.
A document materialized midair, glowing faintly with verification seals.
"Alex was diagnosed with Mana Stenosis." she said evenly. "A rare condition that obstructs mana circuits and prevents mana core formation. His case went undetected due to his background. It has since been treated."
William faltered—for half a second.
Elena pressed on.
"This documentation has been verified by the kingdom's medical council and external specialists. His condition is cured. Naturally, he can now use magic."
Her gaze sharpened.
"The decision is final."
Irene stepped forward then, her voice firm and unyielding. "Pedigree is irrelevant," she said. "Strength is not inherited—it is demonstrated and proven. Results are what matter on the battlefield, not origin."
Silence followed.
William clenched his jaw, fury simmering beneath forced restraint. He said nothing more.
But the look in his eyes promised this was far from over.
Elena turned back to the students.
"Alex is your teammate," she said simply. "Accept that—or remove yourselves from this tournament."
A brief silence followed her declaration.
No one spoke. No one dared to.
Then a single figure stepped forward from the Mage Faculty side, Helena Scarlet.
Unlike William's bluster, her expression was composed, her gaze steady—sharp with genuine scrutiny rather than malice.
"Principal Elena," Helena said respectfully, inclining her head. "I understand allowing Alex to participate in the Knight division."
A few knights shifted, subtle approval passing through their ranks.
"But," she continued, her eyes turning toward Alex, "I cannot comprehend why you would permit him to enter the Magic division as well."
A murmur rippled through the mage students. Helena's tone remained calm, measured—yet firm.
"Even if it is true that he can now use magic," she said carefully, "and even if he possesses talent, his condition was cured only recently. Magic is not something mastered overnight. Most of us here have trained for years."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"I do not believe it is unreasonable to question whether he can truly stand at our level."
To the magic students, it wasn't a personal attack—but it felt like a slap all the same. Expertise in magic was earned through years of discipline, lineage, and relentless study.
Alex felt the weight of their stares.
He didn't flinch.
Irene watched silently, arms crossed.
William looked almost smug.
Then a slow, profound smile appeared on Elena's face.
"You're right, Helena," Elena said evenly. "Alex was cured recently. But you are mistaken about one thing."
She stepped forward, her presence filling the auditorium.
"For the past month," she continued, "he has been training under me."
The murmurs died instantly.
Several students stiffened.
Helena's eyes widened—just a fraction.
Elena folded her hands behind her back, her smile unwavering.
"And if that is still insufficient to satisfy your doubts," she added lightly, "you are free to test him—here and now."