The sun blazed high above Aethel Academy, casting long shadows across the arena grounds as the day of the semifinal match arrived. The amphitheater was alive with energy, packed to the brim with students, instructors, and visiting nobles. Excitement buzzed in the air, and flags bearing the symbols of the participating families waved in the wind.
But amidst the festive atmosphere, tension gripped Nat and his team like a vice.
They had uncovered a conspiracy festering within the academy, and today, they knew the conspirators would strike again. This time, their target was Kai—a skilled but humble water elementalist from a minor noble house. Kai was known for his clean fighting style and sportsmanship. Unfortunately, he'd also emerged as a dark horse in the tournament, winning against several favored opponents. That had made him a threat.
Nat, seated with his team high in the spectator stands, scanned the field warily. "We stick to the plan," he whispered. "We intervene only if absolutely necessary."
"Right," said Atlas, his eyes narrowed. "We can't give them a reason to accuse us of interfering unless we're forced to act."
Zephyr leaned on the rail, gaze flicking between the judges and the instructors seated nearby. "Look sharp. One of the instructors just signaled Terra's group."
Terra, Kai's opponent, stepped into the arena to roaring applause. She was tall, muscular, and wore a stone-colored uniform. Her aura crackled with power. Terra hailed from a high-tier family with deep connections, and she had earned a reputation for brutal efficiency. Rumors of underhanded tactics surrounded her, but none had been proven—until now.
Kai entered a moment later, calm and composed. He carried no weapon, relying solely on his fluid manipulation of water. His blue robes shimmered under the sun, and he bowed respectfully to his opponent before taking his stance.
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena. "Let the match begin!"
Water surged around Kai, forming arcs that shimmered like glass. Terra responded by slamming her foot into the ground, summoning jagged earth pillars. The two clashed, water meeting stone in thunderous explosions. Geysers erupted, and dust clouds billowed with each exchange. The crowd was captivated by the spectacle of raw elemental power.
But Nat wasn't watching the fight for entertainment.
"Something's off," he murmured.
Lyra, seated beside him, closed her eyes and placed her hands on the stone beneath her. "There's... movement. Underground. Subtle, but definitely unnatural."
Nat's eyes snapped to Terra. Though she fought ferociously, she wasn't aiming to land decisive blows. Instead, her strikes were consistently targeted toward the same sections of the arena floor. The stone was cracking—slowly, deliberately.
"She's weakening the foundation," Nat realized aloud. "They've rigged the field!"
Just as he spoke, a sharp rumble echoed through the arena. The stone beneath Kai gave way with a sharp crack!—and suddenly, he vanished from sight.
Gasps and screams erupted from the crowd as a section of the arena floor collapsed, revealing a dark pit below.
"No!" Nat leapt to his feet. "Move now!"
Atlas was already sprinting toward the edge of the stands. Drawing on his water affinity, he summoned a concentrated jet beneath his feet, blasting himself forward in a high arc over the arena.
Lyra reached out and, with a roar, caused a stone platform to rise swiftly from the stands to the battlefield. Zephyr dashed up the ramp and launched himself into the pit without hesitation.
Inside the crater, Kai had landed hard on a slab of broken rock. Blood stained his robes, and he struggled to stay conscious. Terra loomed above, preparing a devastating finisher—shards of sharpened stone rotating above her like a storm of blades.
But just before the attack could fall, a whirlwind burst through the pit, and Zephyr emerged with Kai in his arms. He leapt from the crater as the stone spears slammed into the earth behind him.
The arena fell silent.
All eyes turned toward Nat, who now stood near the judge's podium, scrolls and documents clutched in hand.
He raised his voice, projecting across the arena. "This match was a setup! The arena was sabotaged to eliminate Kai before he could win. And we have proof."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Nat held up a burnt ledger, a torn diagram of the arena with weakened structural points marked in red, and a series of communications between instructors discussing match outcomes.
"These documents, gathered over the past two weeks, show how several instructors—along with students like Terra—conspired to influence the tournament. From match rigging to betting on outcomes, they've treated this academy's sacred tradition like a game of profit."
Gasps turned into shouts. Students looked at one another in disbelief. Some began booing the instructors sitting in the VIP section.
One instructor stood, trembling. "This is absurd! You're just a student—"
"Then explain this!" Atlas said, landing beside Nat and holding up a sealed envelope—signed with the instructor's own insignia. "It's your handwriting. Your seal. You approved the sabotage."
Security personnel rushed into the arena. The Headmaster himself, a stoic man named Vardros, descended from the highest seat with an expression like thunder.
"I will see these claims investigated immediately," he growled. "And if they're true—those responsible will answer to the full weight of the Academy Council."
As the instructors were detained, Terra stood in shock, the crowd's support vanishing around her like dust. She glared at Nat and the others, hatred burning in her eyes. But even she knew it was over.
Kai, though battered, gave Nat a weak smile as Zephyr helped him stand.
"Thanks... I owe you one."
Nat shook his head. "You owe us nothing. We just made things right."
As the arena slowly returned to order, Nat felt the weight of what they'd accomplished. They had protected their fellow student, exposed a network of corruption, and reminded everyone what true strength looked like—not in brute power, but in conviction.
But deep inside, he knew this wasn't the end.
This was just the beginning.