The dust spread across the field, clouding everyone's vision. Kael used the moment to slip through the chaos, dashing toward the group of nobles who were still fumbling to locate him.
"Where is he?!"
"I can't see anything—this is bad! Don't separate!"
Kael struck fast. Two girls trying to retreat suddenly felt his grip on the backs of their necks.
"Shhh… don't scream," he whispered low.
One of them nodded quickly, but the other wasn't having it. "He's here—!"
Kael gritted his teeth. Tch. No choice.
He slammed their heads together in one swift motion. Both dropped unconscious.
By then, the dust had begun to settle. The rest of the class turned—only to see Kael standing there with the two girls lying at his feet.
"You damn traitor's son!"
Three nobles charged him, fury in their eyes. But Kael didn't move. He just stood there and smiled.
"Why's he smiling…?"
That's when it hit them—cold and fast. A sharp gust, a blur of motion—
CRACK.
Selviane appeared behind them mid-slash, her wooden sword connecting clean with their backs, dropping them in an instant.
"This class is a mess," she muttered. "They can't even dodge me properly."
From across the field, Daranth's fists clenched. He couldn't believe it—eight people, all useless. And Kael… that bastard was fighting dirty.
"Fight like a man!" he shouted.
Kael turned slowly, glaring. "Says the prince hiding behind everyone else."
"Where are the rest of the three?! Where's my backup?!" Daranth looked around—only to see Emilio waving a limp arm like a puppet.
"These weaklings?" Emilio grinned. "Already taken care of."
Daranth opened his mouth to shout, but stopped. His anger was bubbling over. He wasn't acting like himself. If it were his father in this situation, it would've been handled in moments.
"Haha… I see. It's my loss."
"Tsk. Causing this much chaos, what a disgrace of a prince," Lucian finally said from the side.
Daranth's eye twitched. "W-What?"
Ryven laughed. "Come on, Lucian. Remember—he's the crown prince."
Lucian scoffed, then turned toward Kael. Their eyes met. A long pause. Kael narrowed his gaze, locking eyes with Lucian. The tension snapped like a string.
Lucian smiled faintly… and looked away.
"Tsk."
Then a new voice cut through the air.
"Kael."
Kael turned, frowning. It was that red-haired girl—Lyssandra.
"What?" he said flatly.
She pouted. "That's how you greet me? How cold. This is the first time I'm talking to you, and that's what I get?"
Kael let out a dry laugh. "What business does someone like you have with me? I'm the traitor's son. You'd better stay out of it."
"Aaah…" Lyssandra sighed. "You seriously have the worst personality," she muttered, shooting Kael a glare.
Swoosh. CRACK.
They turned toward the sound.
Daranth collapsed face-first onto the ground, unconscious. Selviane cracked her neck and stretched, her smile returning.
"I can still sense more energy…" she said softly, eyes narrowing on Kael and Lyssandra.
A wave of pressure hit them.
Kael tensed. Lyssandra froze.
The air thickened.
"I guess it's time to raise the difficulty," Selviane whispered.
In the blink of an eye—she was gone.
Then—BOOM.
She landed between them, swinging her wooden sword with inhuman speed. Kael and Lyssandra dove in opposite directions, the blade smashing into the earth between them and sending up a cloud of dust.
When it cleared, a crater was left where they'd stood.
Is she serious?! That would've cracked my ribs—! Kael thought, panting as he struggled to stay calm.
"Relax," he reminded himself.
Relax my ass. How am I supposed to relax when she's trying to kill us?!
Across the field, Emilio moved to shield Serina, but Selviane noticed the hesitation. Her body flickered—gone.
"Watch out!" Kael yelled.
But it was too late.
She appeared beside Serina, her wooden sword thrusting forward—aimed right at Serina's stomach.
Serina froze.
Too slow.
But—
"Move!" Neira shoved Serina out of the way.
CRACK.
The wooden sword smacked Neira in the head. She hit the ground hard, twitching in pain.
"No!" Serina screamed, reaching for her—but Selviane spun, tapping her temple with two fingers.
Serina collapsed instantly, unconscious.
Emilio stepped in, sweat running down his face, but his guard was shaky.
"It won't work on me," Selviane said coldly.
THWACK.
She slammed her sword into his side, sending him tumbling across the dirt.
Kael's fists clenched.
"Damn it… My whole team went down that fast?"
"Focus, Kael," Lyssandra said sharply, sliding back into stance.
Kael shot her a look. "Who the hell told you to talk to me?"
"Me," she said flatly, eyes locked on Selviane.
Then—
"Don't leave me out," another voice called behind them.
Ryven stepped into place, smiling.
"I want in on the fun, too."
Lucian stepped in silently, saying nothing.
Kael frowned. "No way in hell."
Selviane smirked. "Oooh… who would've thought? The four duke house brats, teaming up—even with someone like Kael, stained by history." She cracked her knuckles, then dug her heels into the ground, focusing all her aether into her legs.
"Let's see how strong you really are."
CRACK.
The ground split beneath her as she launched forward.
"Watch out!" Ryven shouted.
She charged straight at them—but at the last second, she shifted.
Her body blurred and vanished.
Kael's eyes widened. Where—?
[Behind.]
A chill ran down his spine.
He dropped and rolled just in time to dodge a slash from behind. Selviane didn't slow. She adjusted instantly, pursuing him, her strikes fast and merciless.
Kael rolled again, got to his feet, and sprinted.
"Damn it! Why are you only coming after me?!"
"Haven't you noticed?" she said coolly. "Your aether leaks. You're unrefined. And compared to the others—you're the weakest."
Kael ducked a horizontal slash and twisted backward. Her blade slammed into the dirt where his head had been. He kicked forward, catching her sword arm. The impact caused a momentary pause—but she twisted with it, flinging him across the field like a ragdoll.
Kael tumbled hard until—
"Got you!" Lyssandra grabbed his arm and steadied him.
"Damn it," Kael growled under his breath.
Selviane chuckled from across the field. Smart… He used the kick to stall and create distance. But smarts won't be enough.
She vanished again, reappearing behind Lucian.
He didn't flinch.
She thrust her blade—he sidestepped, graceful and precise, and darted backward to reposition.
Selviane grinned. "Fufufu… this is getting fun."
Then she raised her leg toward the sky, as if preparing for a strike from the heavens.
"What is she doing…?" Lyssandra muttered, eyes wide.
"We should be careful," Lucian warned.
The moment Selviane's foot touched the ground—
BOOM.
A shockwave burst outward, kicking up a cloud of dust that engulfed the field. Everyone's vision vanished in an instant.
Kael stumbled, trying to get his bearings.
Then—
Thud.
A wooden sword fell between his legs.
His eyes widened.
WHAM.
Lyssandra yanked him out of the way just in time.
He landed hard, coughing, as she crouched beside him.
"Stop panicking. Hide your aether. Stay calm!" she ordered.
Kael didn't respond. His pride burned. Being saved by a duke's daughter… again… It's a disgrace.
[Don't sulk, brat. Focus. She's behind you—again.]
Kael turned—
But too late.Selviane hovered above him, blade raised.His eyes widened.
"No way…"