As she hurried toward the arena, a thought lingered in her mind.
Suddenly, she bumped into Benjamin.
"Ah, sorry," they both said at the same time.
They were about to walk past each other when Heidi suddenly called out.
"Benjamin?"
Benjamin turned around in surprise.
"Hmm? Heidi."
"Where did you go this morning? You even skipped breakfast," Heidi asked.
Benjamin scratched the back of his head.
"Ah... just somewhere," he replied with a forced laugh.
"Hmm..." Heidi stared at him for a moment.
"Anyway, I'm sorry for ignoring you and ruining the mood at the residence. I let my emotions get the better of me and only thought about myself."
He bowed apologetically.
Heidi let out a small laugh and gently patted his shoulder.
Hearing her laugh, Benjamin looked at her in surprise, wondering if he had said something funny.
"Sorry for laughing," she said with a smile. "It's just that... you're more thoughtful than I expected. And I can already see you've started to grow after that battle."
"Grow?" Benjamin asked, confused.
"It takes courage to accept defeat, you know. That's when we begin reflecting on our mistakes, improving ourselves, and working harder."
She smiled at him once more.
"Anyway, I should get going. Make sure to cheer for me, okay?"
She gave him a small wave before hurrying toward the arena.
For once, Benjamin found himself speechless because of someone else's words.
"Ahhh... I really suck."
He lowered his head.
"But this time... for some reason, those words struck me so deeply that they make me feel excited."
A smile slowly spread across his face.
"And somehow... they make my heart feel so much lighter."
He burst into laughter in the middle of the road.
The students passing by looked at him curiously, whispering among themselves.
"Is he okay?"
"Ah... I'm kind of jealous. I wish I could laugh like that."
"He's kinda weird."
Whispers quietly surrounded him, but Benjamin paid them no attention.
As the morning matches began, the arena erupted with cheers. Most of the audience consisted of second-year students.
Standing at the back of the arena, Caelin quietly watched the match unfold.
His gaze drifted to his right, where he noticed Alice standing alone.
His mind flashed back to the night they argued beneath the pouring rain.
He hesitated for a moment.
Then, he walked over and stood beside her.
"Didn't expect to see you here," he said.
Alice glanced at him from the corner of her eye before replying.
"Just passing by."
Silence fell between them once again as they watched the fight taking place in the center of the arena.
"Just so you know..."
Caelin was the first to break the silence.
"I'm sorry about the other night. For making you worry... and for speaking to you like that."
"Don't say things you don't mean just because you think you have to," Alice replied firmly without even looking at him.
Caelin was taken aback.
"What do you mean?"
"Caelin."
She finally turned to face him.
"You're not an ordinary student like everyone else. The way you leave this academy will shape the kind of king you'll become."
She paused before continuing.
"And I don't want you to become like your father... someone consumed by greed for power."
Her eyes returned to the battle.
"As for Bane and Thandor, don't take what I said as a threat. If your father starts a war with them, there's no way he'll win."
She spoke calmly but firmly.
"So treat it as something you'll eventually have to face. Whether you choose peace or war will one day be your decision. Your father seeks war because he's blinded by power."
She glanced at him once more.
"I truly hope you never become like him."
Caelin took a deep breath before letting it out slowly.
"Maybe you're right."
He smiled faintly.
"But even if all of that is true, there's not much I can do right now. I'm still just a prince."
He looked toward the arena.
"So I've decided to focus on the things I can control."
A determined smile appeared on his face.
"And the first step..."
"I want to win this tournament."
He scratched the back of his head before adding with a small laugh,
"No... I have to win."
"I have my own reasons."
Alice slowly turned toward him.
"I'm glad you've found your own pace."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"And I mean that."
"I may have given you the map..."
She gently tapped his shoulder.
"...but you're the one who has to walk the path."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Caelin watched her disappear into the crowd before letting out a quiet chuckle.
"She never fails to surprise me."
A smile formed on his face.
At that moment, the arena erupted with cheers as the winner of the first match was announced.
Caelin looked toward the arena with renewed determination.
"Looks like we're all getting a little closer to our goals," he murmured.
Arasa stepped into the arena.
From the opposite side, Cedric Valtor of the Valerith Nation stepped forward as well.
As the two approached one another, the supervising knight walked between them.
"Are you both ready?"
They nodded.
Both tightened their grips on their swords, lowering their stances.
"Begin."
The knight stepped back.
The two stared at each other, neither making the first move.
"Hmm... this one isn't making the first move. Interesting."
A smirk appeared on Arasa's face before he suddenly dashed forward.
Cedric remained still, waiting for Arasa to attack first.
As Arasa closed the distance, he grinned.
"If you want to defend... let's see how strong your defense really is."
He leaped into the air, raising his sword for a powerful downward slash.
"Ah... I let my excitement get the better of me. I jumped."
The realization came a little too late.
Cedric immediately noticed the opening.
Without hesitation, he drove his fist into Arasa's stomach.
Thud!
"Argh!"
Arasa was sent backward. He barely managed to land on his feet, using his sword to support himself as he clutched his stomach.
"He's trying to recover."
Cedric wasted no time.
"I won't let him."
He charged forward and swung his sword.
A smile suddenly appeared on Arasa's face.
Without even looking directly at the attack, he slipped past the blade.
The entire arena fell silent.
Cedric's eyes widened in shock.
Before he could recover from the missed swing, Arasa had already moved inside his reach.
Cedric barely caught sight of him.
His body couldn't recover in time.
Arasa grabbed the back of Cedric's neck...
...and drove his knee into Cedric's stomach with all his strength.
"Ugh!"
The crowd erupted.
"Ooooo!"
Cedric's vision went dark for a moment.
His sword slipped from his hand as he collapsed onto the ground, curling up while desperately trying to catch his breath.
The supervising knight immediately rushed over to check on him.
Cedric could only breathe slowly as he clutched his stomach in pain.
Arasa stood quietly, raising his sword above his head while looking down at his defeated opponent.
"It's my win," he muttered.
He turned and walked away.
The arena instantly exploded with cheers.
Some praised him.
Others cursed his ruthless fighting style.
Arasa ignored them all and continued walking.
Watching from a distance, Caelin let out a quiet sigh.
"So... he really didn't hesitate."
After a brief silence, he murmured,
"It's not like we can afford to hesitate anyway."
He turned and slowly walked toward the arena's exit.
Behind him, several soldiers helped Cedric to his feet.
The young man could no longer walk on his own.
"Poor guy..."
Caelin glanced back at Cedric one last time before leaving the arena.
Under the tunnel leading to the arena, Heidi stood quietly with her eyes closed.
"Just do your best... just do your best..."
She kept repeating those words to herself.
"Are you nervous?"
A voice suddenly came from behind.
Startled, Heidi quickly turned around and saw Alaric standing there.
"Ah, Alaric! What are you doing here?"
A look of relief appeared on her face.
"Well..." Alaric scratched his cheek.
"I thought I should at least see you off."
"Hmph."
Heidi pouted.
"Here I thought you were going to give me some advice."
Alaric chuckled.
"Don't stress too much. If you don't believe in yourself, your opponent already has the upper hand."
He walked closer.
"By the way... can you jump?"
"Hmm... not very high. Why?" Heidi asked curiously.
"Give me your sword."
Without questioning him further, Heidi handed it over.
Alaric took the sword and stepped back.
"Now listen carefully."
"I'm going to swing at you. After that, jump toward me as high as you can."
Heidi nodded, though she still had no idea what he was trying to teach her.
Alaric swung.
She instinctively dodged before jumping toward him.
"Hmm..."
Alaric rubbed his chin.
"That's enough."
He handed the sword back.
"Just wait and see which way your opponent attacks."
He smiled.
"Then you'll know how to finish the fight without wasting too much stamina."
"...Eh?"
Heidi blinked.
"What do you mean?"
Before Alaric could explain further, a soldier shouted,
"Contestants! Make your entrance!"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Alaric slowly stepped away.
"Do your best."
He gave her a small wave.
"And don't forget what I just taught you."
"That's your trump card."
Heidi watched him leave with a helpless expression.
She let out a deep breath before walking into the arena.
"...He could've just explained it normally."
"I barely understood anything."
She muttered to herself.
Looking across the arena, she found her opponent.
"Hmm... he's kind of short for a guy."
"Are you both ready?" the supervising knight asked.
They nodded.
"Then..."
"Begin!"
The knight stepped back.
Her opponent pointed his sword toward her.
"Listen here, girl!"
"I, Moses, will end your journey here and send you back to learning how to dance!"
"Ah... this guy is annoying."
Heidi tightened her grip.
"Still... what was Alaric trying to tell me?"
Moses suddenly rushed forward and struck downward with a small hop.
Heidi raised her sword and blocked above her head.
She immediately tried to kick his stomach.
Moses jumped back just in time.
The kick missed.
The two returned to their positions.
"He attacked from above..."
"What was it, Alaric?"
Before she could think any further, Moses attacked the same way again.
Another overhead strike.
Another block.
He quickly retreated before Heidi could counter.
"...The same move again."
Moses narrowed his eyes.
Then he charged once more.
This time, instead of a small hop, he leaped much higher before bringing his sword down.
At that instant...
Heidi remembered Alaric's demonstration.
Instead of blocking, she put all her strength into swinging upward.
Clang!
The force of her strike knocked Moses' sword backward, leaving him completely exposed in midair.
Without hesitation, Heidi jumped forward.
Thud!
Her knee slammed directly into Moses' face.
He staggered backward.
Blood burst from his nose as he crashed onto the ground.
The supervising knight immediately stepped between them.
"Enough!"
The crowd exploded with cheers.
Benjamin and Tina hugged each other in excitement.
"Whoa! She did it!" Tina shouted.
"Yes!"
Benjamin grinned.
"Just one more match until the final!"
Meanwhile, Moses slowly sat up while holding his bleeding nose.
Heidi walked over and offered him a hand.
He looked at it for a moment...
...then refused it and struggled to his feet on his own.
"Hmm... guys and their pride."
As Moses walked away, voices from the crowd echoed through the arena.
"What happened to all that trash talk before the match?"
"Losing to a girl? How embarrassing!"
Heidi awkwardly smiled.
"For some reason... this feels familiar."
She gave the cheering crowd a small wave before leaving the arena.
Back inside the tunnel, Alaric was waiting for her.
The moment Heidi saw him, she hurried over.
"That really helped!"
She bowed slightly.
"I barely used any stamina for the next match. Thank you, Alaric."
"Hmm."
Alaric laughed.
"Rare to hear you thank me."
"But it wasn't completely free."
"What do you mean?"
He smirked.
"It means..."
"You have to reach the final."
He laughed as he began walking toward the end of the tunnel.
Behind him, Heidi puffed her cheeks.
"You barely explained anything!"
Alaric simply waved his hand.
"You can't rely on me forever."
After walking in silence for a while, Heidi looked around.
"I wonder when the next match will begin."
"Probably this afternoon."
Alaric stretched his arms.
"Get some rest."
"I'll be back to watch the afternoon matches."
He gave her one last wave before heading off.
"I'm going to grab something to eat."
As Alaric walked through the academy grounds, he searched for Lalanat and Elara.
Students glanced at him as he passed, quietly whispering among themselves.
"Look at that badge."
"That's Alaric Thandor."
"The son of Warlord Kalvein Thandor."
Hearing their whispers, a faint smile appeared on his face, and his pace slowed slightly.
His eyes continued searching the crowd.
Before long, he spotted Graneth walking toward him with a lunchbox in his hand.
Graneth looked up and noticed Alaric as well.
He raised a hand.
"You eaten yet?"
"Ah, not yet. I'm still looking for Lalanat and Elara. Have you seen them?" Alaric asked as he scratched the back of his head.
"Hmm..."
Graneth thought for a moment.
"Before the break, I saw them heading toward the notice board. That's the last time I saw them."
"Ahhh... I'm starving."
Alaric let out a small sigh.
"Where did they disappear to without telling me?"
Graneth chuckled.
"Well then, I'll see you later."
"Hmm?"
"You're not eating with us?" Alaric asked.
"Sorry."
Graneth smiled apologetically.
"I promised a few first-year girls I'd have lunch with them."
He gave Alaric a light pat on the shoulder.
"Sorry, Alaric."
The moment he finished speaking, he quickly picked up his pace.
"Hey..."
Alaric watched him leave.
"He ran away."
Letting out another sigh, Alaric began walking toward the notice board.
After a while, he noticed a familiar girl standing in front of it.
Elara.
Without thinking...
...he suddenly started running toward her.
"Eh?"
"Why am I running?"
He questioned himself as he continued sprinting.
Hearing the approaching footsteps, Elara slowly turned around.
"Now it'd be even more awkward if I stopped."
With no choice but to commit, Alaric kept running until he reached her.
He stopped beside her, bending over slightly as he caught his breath.
Elara tilted her head.
"Hmm... why were you running like that?"
She looked at him curiously.
"Yeah..."
"I'd like to know that too."
After catching his breath, Alaric finally spoke.
"Ah... well..."
"I'm hungry."
"Hmm..."
Elara looked him up and down.
"I don't think you are."
"You still had enough energy to run."
She turned and started walking.
"I'm serious."
Alaric quickly followed beside her.
"I've been looking all over for you."
"By the way, Princess... where's Lala?"
The moment the word left his mouth, Alaric quickly covered it.
Elara glanced at him.
"I'm sorry."
"I didn't mean to call you that."
They continued walking in silence for a while.
Finally, Elara answered.
"She was taken by the first-years from Class Two."
"They needed her help with their drama performance this afternoon."
"Oh..."
Alaric nodded.
"I see."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Well, we won first place last year because of her script, after all."
Elara quietly nodded in agreement as they continued walking together.
After walking for a while, they found a tree not far from the arena.
The two of them sat beneath its shade.
Alaric looked around for a moment.
"Oh..."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I remember this place."
"We had lunch here last year."
Elara quietly took out the lunchbox and began unpacking it.
"There were four of us back then."
Alaric smiled to himself.
"And now..."
"It's just the two of us."
Elara watched him silently for a moment.
"Alaric."
He had already begun eating.
"Yes?"
She picked up her spoon before asking,
"Do you hate that it's just the two of us?"
She casually continued eating.
Alaric stopped chewing for a second.
He quietly stared at her.
"Is there even a right answer to that question?"
He searched for the right words.
After a brief silence, Elara spoke again.
"Relax."
"I'm not confessing or anything."
"So you don't have to overthink it."
She smiled faintly.
"If it's difficult to answer... you don't have to."
Silence returned as the two continued eating.
After a while...
"Sometimes."
Alaric finally spoke.
Elara looked at him.
"When I think about the past..."
"The four of us together..."
"It was beautiful."
"It was fun."
He let out a small laugh.
"Or maybe... those are just the parts I choose to remember."
His smile gradually faded.
"But at the same time..."
"I'm hurt."
"I'm scared."
"And I feel helpless."
"Because no matter what I do..."
"I can't bring those days back."
He looked down at his lunch.
"And maybe that's what hurts the most."
"They were too beautiful to simply come to an end."
Elara quietly listened.
"The first time I came here, I didn't know anyone."
"I was lonely."
"But at the same time..."
"It felt normal."
"I didn't really have any friends back home either."
He smiled.
"Then I met you all."
"And before I knew it..."
"Spending time together became something I never wanted to lose."
He paused before letting out a soft laugh.
"Sometimes I even wonder..."
"What would've happened if the four of us had simply met as ordinary teenagers..."
"...instead of a prince, a princess, and nobles."
He quietly continued eating.
The sky remained bright and clear.
For a while, only the gentle breeze and distant voices from the academy filled the silence.
"Not as a prince or princess..."
"Just ordinary teenagers..."
A faint smile formed on Elara's face.
"For some reason..."
"I completely understand what he means."
"I don't want this chapter of our lives to end either."
"But unlike him..."
"I don't have the freedom to say it out loud."
Lost in her thoughts, she remained completely still.
"Elara?"
"Elara."
Beside her, Alaric waved a hand in front of her face.
She suddenly snapped back.
"Huh?"
"What is it?"
"Are you okay?"
"You've been staring at the road this whole time."
"I think you're making the people passing by a little uncomfortable."
"Oh..."
She lowered her head slightly.
"Sorry."
"I was just thinking."
She quietly began packing the lunchbox.
Alaric chuckled.
"Sometimes you're really strange whenever you're thinking."
"I mean, you even cr..."
Before he could finish the word cry...
Elara suddenly shoved a bottle into his mouth.
"Here."
"Drink."
She quickly stood up and walked back toward the academy without looking back.
Alaric blinked in confusion.
"...Was she embarrassed?"
He shrugged before taking another bite.
Meanwhile...
Elara hurried down the path with her head lowered.
"I completely blanked out in front of everyone..."
"How embarrassing."
She quickened her pace toward the classroom.
On the other side of the arena...
Heidi, Tina, and Benjamin sat together, quietly eating their lunch.
For a while, only the sounds of the bustling arena filled the silence.
Tina suddenly smiled.
"Heidi, that was an amazing move. It was so fast."
Heidi smiled sheepishly as she continued eating.
"Ah... it was actually a move Alaric taught me just before the match. At first, I didn't understand it, but as Moses kept using the same attack over and over, I started to see why it was so effective."
Benjamin nearly dropped his lunch.
"Wait..." he said, quickly standing up.
"You mean Alaric Thandor?"
Heidi blinked in surprise before giving a small nod.
"Ehh... how? I mean... how do you know each other well enough for him to teach you something like that?"
His voice rose with every question.
Heidi let out a quiet chuckle.
Across from her, both Benjamin and Tina waited patiently, their curiosity written all over their faces.
After a brief moment of silence, Heidi scratched the back of her head.
"I actually challenged him to a duel."
Benjamin stared at her without saying a word.
"He's incredibly strong... honestly, he's on a completely different level from us."
She paused for a moment, remembering their fight.
"But he isn't arrogant."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"He seems... simple."
She laughed softly.
"To be honest, he almost looks empty-headed sometimes."
Benjamin and Tina exchanged a glance.
"But that's only until he starts fighting."
Her expression gradually became more serious.
"The moment the battle begins... it's like he's already read the entire match before it even starts."
She let out a quiet sigh.
"I still lost... even though the rules put him in a difficult position."
She looked down at her lunch for a moment.
"But instead of laughing at me or looking down on me... he was just happy to have a good fight."
A warm smile slowly returned.
"And after that... we started hanging out."
She paused.
"...Or, more accurately..."
"...I just kept tagging along with them."
Benjamin slowly sat back down.
"Well..." he said.
"He's not just Kalvein Thandor's son anymore."
"He's also last year's Sword Duel Champion."
He shrugged.
"So... of course he's good."
Both Heidi and Tina nodded in agreement.
After finishing the last bite of her lunch, Heidi stood up.
"With that said..."
"I still have one more match before the finals."
She picked up her things.
"I should get going."
She took a few steps before turning back toward them.
"You guys better cheer for me, okay?"
She smiled before walking away.
"Heidi."
Benjamin's voice stopped her.
She paused and slowly looked back.
Benjamin quietly stood up.
Beside him, Tina silently packed away their lunch boxes, pretending not to interrupt.
Benjamin avoided Heidi's eyes.
Almost in a whisper, he spoke.
"...Good luck."
For a moment...
Heidi simply stared at him.
Then she suddenly burst into laughter.
"Thank you."
She smiled brightly.
"And don't forget to cheer for me!"
With that, she turned and ran toward the arena tunnel.
The two of them quietly watched until she disappeared from sight.
Tina smiled to herself.
"I hope she wins."
Benjamin looked at her.
"She puts so much effort into everything."
Tina continued watching the empty tunnel.
"And she's always encouraging everyone else."
She smiled warmly.
"I guess she's not just growing as a fighter anymore."
Benjamin hesitated.
Then, almost reluctantly, he nodded.
"...Yeah."
Tina picked up her bag.
"Come on."
"We should go too."
Benjamin stood, and together they made their way back toward the arena.
The final evening before the championship had quietly arrived.
For Heidi...
For Alaric...
For Caelin...
And for Arasa...
Each of them carried the same determination.
Each of them had one last score to settle before everything came to an end.