Ezra ran through the long stone halls, his boots striking the floor in uneven beats. The cold air brushed against his face, but he barely noticed it. Gena was in his arms, light but struggling, her fingers clutching the fabric of his coat as she leaned backward to glare at him.
"Why is it necessary for you to watch Lady Vera fight?" she asked, folding her arms even while being carried. Her voice carried clear annoyance.
Ezra glanced down at her face, then forward again, not slowing his pace.
"Of course, it's necessary," he said. "Do you know how rare it is to see Vera actually fight?"
His steps grew faster. His heart beat quicker, not from the run, but from expectation.
Gena clicked her tongue. "I don't see anything special about it."
Ezra tightened his grip slightly so she wouldn't fall. "Vera is dangerous," he said. "And among everyone here, she's the only one I can't clearly imagine how she fights seriously."
That made Gena tilt her head up to look at him from under his chin. "Really?" she said. "And you're telling me that's worth leaving good food behind?" She scoffed. "Tsk."
They reached the courtyard, where the training arena stood wide and open. Stone seats surrounded the fighting platform, and the place was already packed. Voices overlapped, excitement buzzing in the air like static.
"We're here," Ezra said and dropped Gena without warning.
"Ah!" She landed hard on her back. "What's wrong with you?!" she shouted, rubbing her waist.
Ezra looked down at her calmly. "You know I can't let people see how close we are."
Her eyes widened as she noticed the crowd. She quickly pulled her collar up, covering half her face, then stood and dusted herself off. "You should have warned me, you jerk."
She stuck out her tongue at him before running toward her group near the front of the arena, where Vera and Priscilla already stood facing each other.
Ezra stood still for a moment, watching Gena's figure fade into the crowd. Her hair disappeared between taller bodies, swallowed by the noise and movement. Only then did he lower his shoulders and step forward, blending in himself.
"Ezra!"
He turned to his right.
Veda stood there with five others behind him. Linda was closest, her arms crossed as usual. Beside her stood a girl with white hair streaked with sky blue, her eyes the same color, calm but distant. Two boys with dark brown hair and black eyes stood together, silent. Bobby lingered near the back, his posture tense.
Ezra walked over quietly.
"Just the person I was looking for," Veda said, tapping Ezra's shoulder. "How are you feeling now? I heard you were in the infirmary."
Gena…
Ezra pressed his lips together. Of course, she told him.
"I'm fine now," he replied, forcing his voice steady.
Veda studied him for a few seconds, then smiled. "These are the members of my group," he said. "Or rather, our group."
Ezra bowed slightly. "Nice to meet you. I'm the newest member. Please take care of me."
Four pairs of eyes locked onto him at once. The way they stared made his skin prickle, like he'd stepped into cold water. Bobby shifted uncomfortably, glancing between Ezra and the others.
Linda broke the silence.
"You look extremely weak for Rank Seventeen," she said flatly.
"He doesn't even feel threatening, at all," one of the boys added.
Linda stepped closer, locking eyes with Ezra. "Veda, are you sure this is the guy you spoke so highly of?"
"Guys let's not judge so quickly," Veda said, laughing lightly.
"Yes," Bobby added hurriedly, "I don't think Sir Veda would lie about something like this…"
"Quiet," Linda snapped.
Bobby flinched and shut his mouth.
"You know Veda can be naïve at times," Linda continued, folding her arms.
"I'm naïve?" Veda asked himself silently, pointing at himself, genuinely confused.
"We already have enough weaklings to carry," Linda said coldly. "We don't need another one. Especially a fraud who only ranked high because of excess Cognis he probably can't even use."
The others nodded in agreement.
Who the hell is this girl?
Ezra looked at her without expression, then his eyes drifted to the badge on her chest.
Rank Fifteen.
He stayed silent.
Linda stepped directly in front of him. "Why are you quiet?" she asked. "Scared?"
"That's enough."
Veda moved between them. His face remained calm, but his presence felt heavier. "We didn't come here for this. Focus on the fight."
The crowd noise surged. Cheers clashed together, some calling Priscilla's name, but far more shouting Vera's.
Linda clicked her tongue and stepped back, turning her attention to the arena.
"I'm sorry about that," Veda said quietly. "Linda was angry when she found out a commoner ranked higher than her. And… some of them are tense because Felix's group is growing too fast."
"It's fine," Ezra replied. He really didn't feel anything. "So why are you here?"
Veda smiled. "To support my little sister."
Ezra and Bobby both looked at him.
So, you only call her that when she's not around.
On the arena, Priscilla glared at Vera.
"Why that look?" Vera said, lips curved in a lazy smirk. "Scared?"
"Why would I be?" Priscilla snapped. "I just feel nostalgic. It's been a long time since we fought."
"I remember telling you not to challenge me," Vera replied, tilting her head to the left, arms folded.
"And I remember you saying you wouldn't even answer my challenge," Priscilla shot back, spreading her arms toward the arena. "Yet here we are."
Vera sighed. "Why wouldn't I answer when you're giving me free points?"
She chuckled and pointed toward the betting board managed by Nina, Zack, and several members of her group. People crowded around it.
Priscilla turned.
"What… what is this?!" she screamed.
Vera: 1.01
Priscilla: 10,000
Vera burst into laughter.
"This isn't funny!" Priscilla shouted, pointing at the board. "I'm already awakened. I'm a Full Alchemist—Novice rank! And you think I'd lose that badly?!"
Her voice shook with anger and embarrassment.
Vera stopped laughing and walked back and forth slowly. "Priscilla, Priscilla," she said softly. "Did you really think with all that, you were on my level?"
She tilted her head, smiling. "Are you stupid? No… you are stupid. Maybe getting beaten badly will help you remember your place."
She tapped her chin. "I'm generous, right?"
That smug…
Priscilla clenched her teeth.
"You know what's funnier?" Vera continued. "I opened this bet to profit from your fans, but I don't even see anyone betting on you."
"Huh?"
Priscilla turned.
No one stood on her side.
Her group avoided her gaze.
"Guys?" she whispered.
Silence.
A cough broke the quiet.
Priscilla turned sharply. Nate didn't meet her eyes. Her eyes began to tear up. After a few seconds, he grabbed Niki and Mira by the wrists and walked to the board. Reluctantly, they followed. Fifteen points were added to her name.
Tears glittered as they turned away.
Priscilla's trembling expression shifted. She straightened and faced Vera again.
"I don't care about the odds," she said. "I'll prove you're a fraud here and now."
She stepped into her fighting stance.
Vera smiled wider. "Aww. How touching" Vera said, her voice light, almost amused. She tilted her head slightly, eyes half-lidded as if bored. "Honestly, I'm thinking of helping you win so I can earn a larger number of points from it."
Priscilla stared at her.
She didn't answer right away. Her jaw tightened. Her fingers dug into her palm, nails pressing hard enough to sting. The disgust on her face was clear as she slowly straightened her posture, forcing herself not to react.
"I don't need your help," Priscilla said at last.
She stepped forward, planting her foot firmly on the ground. Her shoulders squared, and her breathing grew steady. The faint glow in her eyes brightened as her fist clenched, veins standing out along her arm.
"I'm going to beat you anyway," she continued. "Brace yourself."
Vera blinked once, then smiled.
"Okay, okay," she replied, lips curving upward as if she were being indulged rather than threatened.
A guard stepped onto the stage, face blank. "This is a friendly match. Victory is decided by surrender or loss of consciousness. No killing. Severe injury is permitted. Begin."
The crowd fell silent.
All sound seemed to sink into the stone floor as Priscilla and Vera faced each other. Priscilla was already in her fighting stance, knees bent, body low, breath controlled. Vera stood straight with her hands behind her back, her posture loose, almost careless.
In the next instant, Priscilla moved.
Her foot slammed against the ground, and her body shot forward. She appeared right in front of Vera, her right fist swinging toward Vera's face with sharp force.
Vera didn't move her feet.
She tilted her head slightly to the left.
The punch passed by, cutting through empty air.
Priscilla's teeth clenched. The miss burned. She dropped low at once, sweeping her leg toward Vera's ankles, trying to take her balance.
Vera reacted before the kick could connect. She hopped lightly, her feet leaving the ground for a brief moment, then landed a few steps back, still calm, still upright.
Priscilla didn't pause.
She pushed her Cognis through her body. Her muscles tightened, her breathing quickened. She charged again, her steps heavier now, and threw another punch, this one packed with strength.
Vera stepped back half a step.
The fist missed again.
The moment Priscilla's foot hit the ground, she shifted her weight and tried to pin Vera's leg, her elbow already rising for the next strike.
She didn't get the chance.
A sharp impact slammed into her chin.
Her head snapped back. Her body lifted slightly off the ground before crashing down hard against the arena floor.
The sound echoed.
For a second, no one spoke.
The crowd stared, frozen, shock spreading across their faces.