Night had fallen on the jungle kingdom, and lights twinkled among the branches of the tall trees like stars hanging from the sky, while the palace throbbed with life and the simmering tension of the still-raging rivalry.
In the training hall, the air crackled with activity. Arena moved with astonishing agility, branches sprouting from the ground, twisting like green serpents toward Ryan, who dodged them with swift turns and powerful leaps. The floor shook beneath their feet, and the sound of their collisions echoed muffledly through the hall.
Ryan charged forward with a fierce attack, his fist slicing through the air with incredible speed, but Arena countered with a barrier and managed to deflect the blow with difficulty. They traded endless kicks and punches, each pushing the other to their limits. In a flash, Ryan remembered the manager's words and Kyle's orders: "Be careful, don't use your energy... or we'll be exposed. Use only pure powers."
He bit his lip, trying to restrain his impulse, but his fighting spirit had never known restraint. The urge to fight coursed through his veins like fire. "I can't stop now!" he gasped.
So he shut down his aura completely, relying solely on his physical strength. The fight devolved into a fist-for-fist, kick-for-kick, sweat pouring down their faces with every violent movement.
"I can't believe you're still holding your own against me without energy!" Arena screamed, charging at Ryan with all her might.
Ryan laughed confidently as he dodged a quick punch. "I'm just enjoying the workout. I don't want to embarrass you any more than this!"
The room grew hot, and the walls began to shake from the impact. After the final, powerful collision, they both slumped to the floor, breathing heavily, their chests heaving with exhaustion.
Silence fell, then a soft giggle escaped Arena, followed by a similar laugh from Ryan, as they both gazed up at the shimmering ceiling.
"You're strong," she said between gasps. "I never expected this from you."
"And I... I never thought a princess could be this strong," Ryan replied with a smile.
They rose slowly, each bearing the marks of fatigue and sweat. "It's getting late," said Arena, wiping the sweat from her brow with a friendly smile. "How about we take a bath and then explore the palace? The night air is so fresh, and the gardens are illuminated by glowing flowers."
Ryan was taken aback, thinking Arena was asking him to bathe with her. Arena sensed his thoughts from his gaze, her face flushed, and she began to explain what she meant when she said "let's bathe."
"That's a wonderful idea," Ryan replied with a faint smile, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I really need some peace and quiet after that crazy fight."
They left the hall together, the sound of their footsteps fading into the palace corridors, which were adorned with golden leaves of light.
At the other end of the palace, the scene was entirely different.
In the royal study, the atmosphere remained calm, broken only by the gentle movement of chess pieces on the black and white board.
Felisa sat opposite Kyle, her face a mixture of challenge and curiosity. Their intellectual battle had been raging for hours—questions, riddles, tests—and now the chessboard was their new battleground.
Their gazes met like crossed swords. Kyle moved his bishop calmly, but Felisa blocked its path with a chain of pawns, responding with a swift move that momentarily threw his plan off balance. "You didn't expect that, did you?" she smiled confidently.
"On the contrary," Kyle replied with a calm smile. "I've been waiting for this move since the start of the game."
Felissa's expression shifted for a moment, then she refocused on the board.
She knew deep down that this young man was no amateur.
"He's a pro," she thought to herself, watching his precise movements. "He's almost beaten me at least twice! How does he analyze things so quickly?"
He thought to himself as he deftly moved the next piece: "She's not bad at all, her intelligence is sharp… but she's no match for Saruto. After all those nights I've spent playing with him, nothing can surprise me anymore."
He smiled faintly as her queen fell into his silent trap, then whispered softly, "Checkmate."
Felisa raised her head in utter astonishment, her eyes wide. "Impossible… you've been toying with me all along?"
"Yes," Kyle replied in a friendly, sly tone. "That's how it should be."
She glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that night had fallen. She smiled and stood up. "It seems we've been here longer than I expected," she said. "How about we go outside for a bit? The palace at night has an indescribable charm."
Kyle slowly raised his head, a sharp glint in his eyes beneath his outward calm. "I don't mind at all," he replied gently. "An evening stroll would be perfect for clearing the head… and getting to know this beautiful palace better."
Felisa smiled sweetly and gestured for him to follow her. They left the office quietly, while Kyle's mind raced, mapping the palace with deadly intelligence.
And so, that night, as Arena chatted with Ryan in one of the palace gardens, Felicia laughed lightly beside Kyle in the brightly lit corridors. Little did anyone know that beneath this dignified calm, Kyle and Ryan were beginning to develop feelings for the two princesses.