The whispers didn't stop.
By morning, the duel between Rael and Eris had reached every corner of Arcane Academy. From the towering spellcraft halls to the whispering hedge mazes of the Garden District, students gossiped like hungry sparrows. Who was Rael, really? How could a no-name freshman overpower the Fireblood Heiress—even if just barely? Was he a prodigy, a fraud, or something worse?
Rael ignored it all. Mostly.
He walked through the main corridor of the west wing at a steady pace, his cloak trailing behind him. Sunlight spilled through the tall windows, casting angular shadows that danced across the marble floor. A few students stepped aside when they saw him—not out of respect, but wariness.
He paused at the entrance to the training yard. Several older students were mid-spar, enchanted weapons clashing with ripples of energy. But he wasn't here for that.
On the edge of the stone path, Eris was waiting.
Her flame-red hair was tied up today, her uniform freshly repaired. No one mentioned what had happened during the duel—Rael's smoke screen had seen to that—but the memory still lingered between them, unspoken and undeniable.
"You planning on staring all morning, or do I get to swing first?" Eris said, her voice tight with tension.
Rael stepped into the yard.
"You said you'd never go easy on me," he replied.
Eris clicked her tongue, walking toward him. "And I won't."
They stood a few feet apart, their shadows falling toward each other.
"...Thanks," she said quietly.
Rael blinked. "For what?"
"For… yesterday. You didn't have to cover for me. Or give me your jacket. Or say I fought well."
He shrugged. "You did fight well."
Eris looked away. "You're infuriating sometimes, you know that?"
"And yet you keep talking to me."
"I don't know why!"
Rael let the faintest smile tug at his lips. "Let's call it training."
She narrowed her eyes. "You're impossible."
But she didn't walk away.
---
The sun loomed high over Arcane Academy, casting golden light across the training grounds as a buzz of anticipation filled the air. Today was the Combat Quest Trial—a midterm exam where S-Class and A-Class students were grouped into small parties to research, prepare for, and defeat a mid-level magical beast. It was a test of strategy, power, and teamwork.
Rael stood at the edge of the courtyard, arms crossed, silver eyes fixed on the announcement board. His cloak fluttered lightly in the breeze, drawing curious glances from onlookers. Beside him, Evelyn Starwyn stepped forward, her long brown hair cascading like a river of polished mahogany. Her emerald eyes sparkled with both concern and curiosity.
"You're really not adding anyone else to the team?" Evelyn asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Rael nodded, calm as ever. "Just you and me."
Evelyn's eyes widened. "Are you serious? It's a mid-level monster. Standard team size is at least four. Two at minimum—with a healer."
Rael smiled faintly. "I have a plan. Trust me."
Evelyn stared at him, torn between doubt and the strange reassurance she always felt around him. Ever since he'd stood up for her during elemental resonance class, her heart had gravitated toward him. He never asked her to prove herself. Never judged her for her lineage or burdens. With Rael, she could just be Evelyn.
She exhaled slowly. "Alright. I'm in."
Rael's eyes softened. "Thank you."
---
Word of Rael's unusual team choice spread like wildfire. Two members? And one of them wasn't even a known combat specialist? Students gathered in the common hall, whispering and speculating.
In their classroom, tension crackled. Evelyn sat at her desk, poring over maps and bestiary entries. She wanted to prove she was more than her last name. That she could stand beside Rael—not be shielded by him.
The door slammed open.
Eris Moonshade strode in like a storm.
Her golden braid whipped behind her, violet eyes locking onto Evelyn with unspoken venom. The class fell silent.
She stopped at Evelyn's desk, her voice low but cutting.
"You're awfully close to him lately."
Evelyn didn't look up. "We're on the same team. It's a trial."
Eris narrowed her gaze. "Don't take what's mine. Just behave, and no one gets hurt."
A flicker of pain crossed Evelyn's face, but she turned the page, feigning focus on Virellian Marshland terrain types.
"You know," Eris added, leaning in, "he doesn't need a liability."
That struck deep. Evelyn's fists clenched—but she said nothing.
Satisfied, Eris turned to leave.
Then she paused.
"I'm forming my own team," she announced to the room. "Raiden Valenhart is with me. We'll see which team truly deserves the top mark."
Gasps followed. Raiden—the battle prodigy of House Valenhart. It was a declaration of open rivalry.
Rael, who had just entered, met Evelyn's gaze. She offered him a brave, tight smile.
He nodded.
---
That afternoon, Rael and Evelyn sat in the Grand Library, surrounded by towering tomes and unfurled maps.
"We're facing a mid-level Pyroceros," Evelyn read aloud. "Fire-element, armored hide, charges when provoked. Weak to water and spirit magic. Located near the volcanic ridge west of Greystone Pass."
Rael tapped a location on the map. "Narrow terrain. Cliffs on both sides. If we control the center, we can bait it into a trap."
Evelyn blinked. "You're going to use the terrain to trap it?"
He nodded. "I'll draw its charge. You bind its legs with spirit magic. Once it's stuck, I'll knock it down the slope."
"And if that doesn't work?"
Rael met her gaze. "Then we adapt."
Evelyn hesitated. "Why just me, Rael?"
He paused, then said softly, "Because I trust you."
Her breath caught. She turned away, cheeks flushed.
"Then... I won't let you down."
---
The day of the trial arrived.
Teams departed one by one from the academy gates, bound for various monster territories. Rael and Evelyn walked in silence across the scorched volcanic ridge. Heat shimmered in the air, the scent of sulfur thick around them.
They reached the designated zone. Smoke curled from cracks in the earth.
The Pyroceros emerged—a hulking, quadrupedal beast with molten horns and magma dripping from its plates. Fire wreathed its hooves. Its breath steamed in the hot air.
Evelyn's heart pounded. "It's... bigger than the records said."
"Stick to the plan," Rael said, stepping forward.
The beast roared and charged, earth cracking beneath its weight.
Rael darted left, cloak trailing like a shadow. The Pyroceros slammed into the cliff wall, stunned.
"Now!"
Evelyn thrust her hands forward. Spirit circles glowed around her, intricate and luminous. Emerald wisps snaked through the air, binding the beast's legs with light.
The Pyroceros struggled, flames flaring.
Rael leapt from a rocky ledge above, palm glowing with ember energy.
"First Awakening—Ember Ascension."
He struck the monster's spine with a searing blow. The Pyroceros buckled, stumbled—then fell.
It tumbled down the slope, its flames extinguished in the gravel.
Silence.
The assessment crystal pulsed green.
Success.
Evelyn sank to her knees, panting. "We... we did it."
Rael offered his hand and pulled her to her feet.
"You believed in me," she whispered. "Even when I didn't believe in myself."
"You were never a liability, Evelyn," Rael said. "You're stronger than you think."
---
Back at the academy, the results were announced.
Rael and Evelyn: Exceptional strategy. Flawless execution. Top-tier teamwork. Highest score.
Eris's team had faltered. Despite Raiden's power, their monster had fled, resulting in only partial success.
Eris stood at the edge of the courtyard, jaw clenched, watching Rael and Evelyn receive praise.
She turned away, furious.
Evelyn glanced at her. For the first time, she didn't feel fear.
She felt pride.
And beside her, Rael stood—not in front of her, not behind her, but right beside her.
As a partner.
As someone who saw her—not for her name or status—but for who she truly was.
And that was all Evelyn Starwyn had ever wanted.
Eris stood at the edge of the courtyard, jaw clenched as the crystal screens displayed the results. Rael and Evelyn: Highest score. Top marks for strategy and synergy.
Her team, despite Raiden's raw power, had fumbled the objective. The beast they were assigned had slipped through their grasp during a miscalculated spell sync. Only partial marks.
She crossed her arms, trying to hide the bitter twist in her chest.
If Rael had picked me...
The thought came unbidden, sharp as glass.
We would've won. First place. No question. He knows how I fight. We'd have destroyed that trial.
But he hadn't chosen her.
He'd chosen Evelyn. Sweet, nervous Evelyn, with her hesitant steps and spirit charms. And somehow, they'd made it work.
No. He had made it work.
That's what hurt the most.
Eris looked away as the crowd offered quiet applause. Rael stood beside Evelyn, calm and unreadable, as instructors reviewed the crystal footage.
Why her? she thought. Why not me?
Jealousy burned, coiling with something more fragile underneath—something she didn't want to name.