Entering the central combat field of the Magic Tower, Valença was reading a magic book about how to manipulate and create lava magic. She was still unsure whether she really wanted to learn a new magic, but she wanted to have a few cards up her sleeve. Besides, some of the magics that Val'Drakar had used could be shaped to fit her own style and perfected.
'At least this way I'll pass something of him on.'
Enrico was already on his way to free the Dark Elves, and she would help him with that. However, her desire to help those Elves who were sealed away did not exist only because of the one who had been her mentor, even if only for a week. Their story had also awakened in her the desire to help them. Because of that, it would be as if she became a new guardian. Not to replace Val'Drakar, but to continue his legacy.
'Maybe, among them, they can create other guardians, but until then, I will protect them. That is the conviction I have had these days.'
This duty as a guardian would be temporary, until she found someone who truly deserved to occupy that position. Even after no longer being their guardian, Valença would continue helping. And there was only one reason why she did not want to focus on this for so long.
"Good morning, Valença. You can come sit here."
Enrico was sitting in the stands and waved at her with a smile. The reason Valença would not remain their guardian for long was him. She wanted to stay by Enrico's side and have a life with him, even if it was embarrassing to admit that. Valença sat beside him, becoming a little flushed as she remembered that thought, but it was not her fault. She had simply had a dream in which the two of them lived together in a house, alongside several children.
'Damn dream... why are you making me think this way?'
"So, master, you're going to explain it to me, right?"
"Yes, I will. You just need to wait."
Suspiciously, she looked at Yumeha, who was whispering something to Enrico. The only thing Valença could think about was that the two were too close. Before she could do anything, someone sat down between her and Enrico. When she realized who it was, she saw Serenya with her legs crossed and a beautiful expression on her face, clearly made for Enrico to appreciate.
"Subordinate, I like—"
"Hello, darling."
Two hands appeared over Enrico's neck. Both Serenya and Valença gave irritated looks. Aoi had appeared behind him and whispered in his ear, making him shudder. Enrico had only one thought in his head.
'Don't think about anything and just enjoy it.'
"Hello, Aoi. I was worried after you ran away yesterday. What happened?"
"I simply got excited, darling, and sent a message to my mother. As soon as she found out, she wanted to talk to you. So, when she comes, we can talk about our marriage."
Serenya and Valença gripped the table in front of them, causing it to crack. Yumeha watched everything while biting her own finger, while Rina, who was also behind Enrico, was already preparing to make her hundredth proposal for him to become her Ketsumei.
"First of all, Yumeha will be the first."
Enrico pointed at Yumeha, who was beside them and immediately began to glow upon hearing those words. Valença and Serenya became dejected and desperate.
'Does he already like someone?'
"But of course. I will be second."
"But, Aoi, he has to be my Ketsumei! So, the second should be me. And if you do that, it will be difficult to take Yumeha's first place."
Hugging her friend, Rina begged Aoi not to make that up and not try to take her place. Yumeha's face became demonic upon hearing about someone trying to take her position as first. The two, however, were not understanding anything that was happening.
It was at that moment that Seraphina and Grakka arrived. When they asked what was happening, their doubts about Enrico marrying Yumeha were finally cleared up. Now they understood that it was a contract.
"But, if marrying many people can..."
Seraphina, who had been jealous, was full of doubts, since she had never seen anything like that. Of course, she had also never asked anyone about it and had never bothered to find out. Beside her, Grakka squeezed her own arm, showing off her muscles.
"But of course. There are many in my tribe who marry the strongest. Since friend Enrico is strong, he deserves it."
"But isn't that in your tribe?"
"As far as I know, humans do it too. I heard about a woman who has thirty husbands."
With her head spinning, Seraphina thought that she did not want to share Enrico. She thought she had very few chances compared to the others, so she was unsure of what to do. That doubt, however, did not exist in the two girls beside her. Valença and Serenya thought exactly the same thing.
'So I still can.'
Since Enrico already had a marriage, they would have to try. That did not mean, however, that they would accept being below Yumeha. They still intended to take first place.
The demonic aura around Yumeha increased, because she felt a threat coming precisely from the one who was supposed to be her partner and from the other shameless girl.
"Enrico, I feel like I can evolve to the Second Circle. So can we have a rematch? This time, seriously."
The moment stopped when Kai sat down between Yumeha and Enrico. He was quite excited, causing the threatening atmosphere among the girls to immediately turn against him.
After that, all the students from each class began gathering. His friends from Class B, where Seraphina was, also arrived. On that day, their punishments had finally ended, so they could go back to challenging one another. Even so, that day did not matter much for that, because they could increase their ranks even without the challenges. It was simply a special day.
"Very well, students. I will explain the rules of the battle between classes."
Director Hao was the first to enter, followed by the teachers. Hao and Virelle looked at Enrico with great expectations, since they had already discovered that he had reached the Second Circle.
The first rule was that the battle would last one hour. The second determined that students could join together to fight with other people, but their ranks would not increase because of it. The third allowed students to choose to ally themselves with whoever they wanted, even if they were from a lower or higher class, to increase their chances. The last rule was simple: killing was strictly forbidden.
Seraphina wrote everything down, but stopped when she realized there was something she did not understand. So she decided to ask Enrico a question.
"If our ranks aren't going to increase, then why would anyone want to team up with someone else to defeat someone?"
"Because of the reward. The class that wins, besides receiving money, which would be good for the commoners, will also receive training from the director himself."
"Seriously? That's good. But if you increase your rank and your class wins, then you won't receive that reward?"
"You'll still receive it, so don't worry. The best result is if you move up a class and go to the one that won."
Of course, every year, the one that won was always Class S. Even so, the mages, especially those from the Magic Tower, used that battle not only to analyze the future mages, but also because they were keeping an eye out for some hidden gem.
Seraphina nodded at Enrico and went back to paying attention. The director then showed a map of what the combat zone would be like.
It was a place called Echo Cliff, an open area at the edge of a precipice, with constant wind and sounds that could easily be heard if someone concentrated. The field was forty meters wide and would be divided into completely random zones within the cliff, which had several bases. In the past, that area had been used for protection, fifteen hundred years ago, when Sanos was not yet a city. Up above was the finish line. The students would be divided with a maximum difference of ten meters between them, and those who would be in front would be the ones from the lower classes.
"So that's where our ancestors used to stay."
Kai admired the place quite a lot. It was something everyone in Sanos respected and knew because of its history. The place had become sacred, serving every year to demonstrate the power of the new generations and, every three years, to hold friendly battles between continents.
"And lastly, this will not be broadcast only to our continent. With my power, I will broadcast everything that happens to the continents with which we recently made an alliance."
All the students were surprised. Some became nervous, while others wanted to take advantage of that opportunity to show what they were capable of.
Hao gave Enrico a brief glance and raised his hand toward all the students.
"Very well. Let's begin."
Everyone was confused, since they would not have to walk to the location like in previous years. So, would they be teleported directly there? Enrico noticed that Hao was about to snap his fingers and stood up. The moment the snap echoed, all the students disappeared.
Virelle smiled at the director, already knowing the reason why he had done that.
When Enrico opened his eyes, he realized that he was falling inside a hole.
"That damn old man just wants to impress the other continents."
Grabbing onto the wall, he dug his fingers into it with force and hung there. He had to admit that old man knew how to cause chaos.
'Well, that's why I like him.'
Placing one of his feet against the wall, Enrico smiled excitedly and looked up, searching for a place where he could safely hold on.
'This is going to be good training.'
Licking his lips, excited, Enrico's feet exploded with fire, propelling him upward.