The next match was called.
"Please proceed to Arena Two."
A ripple moved through the crowd.
"…She's up."
"The fourth Eldridge heir…"
"This should be good…"
Maki stepped forward, stretching her arms slightly as she walked.
"…Man, I hope this isn't boring…" She yawned lightly.
"…If it's another 'honorable noble duel' I might fall asleep mid-fight…"
Maki walked into the arena with both hands behind her head, looking completely unbothered.
"…Man, this place is huge," she muttered.
Some nobles twitched in annoyance.
"…Does she not take this seriously?"
"…How improper…"
Across the arena stood her opponent. A tall, broad-shouldered boy with a rigid stance. His presence was… solid, grounded.
Brown hair sharp jawline. Heavy armor reinforced with earth magic. Unlike Herald Darius didn't look arrogant. He looked focused.
Calm.
Dangerous
"Name's Darius Stone," he said, voice firm.
"Earth attribute."
Maki tilted her head.
"…Stone?" A grin tugged at her lips. "…That's either very fitting or very unfortunate for you."
"…I won't lose," Darius said calmly.
"Yeah, yeah," Maki waved lazily. "Everyone says that until they're on the ground questioning life decisions."
"…That guy's earth magic is monstrous…" said someone from the crowd.
"So you're the famous Eldridge daughter,"
Darius said.
Maki blinked.
"…Uh… yeah?"
"…I've wanted to fight you."
"…That's kinda scary, dude."
A few students laughed. Darius narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You don't seem nervous."
"Should I be?" Maki asked.
"…Most people are." Darius added.
"Well," Maki shrugged, "most people aren't me."
The examiner stepped between them.
"Victory conditions remain the same."
"Incapacitation, surrender…"
A pause.
"…or death."
The arena fell silent.
"Begin!"
The moment the match started Darius slammed his foot into the ground.
"Earth Wall!"
Massive stone pillars erupted upward instantly, surrounding Maki from all sides.
The crowd gasped.
"…Instant casting?!"
"…That was fast!"
Inside the stone prison Maki scratched her cheek.
"…Okay, rude."
The walls suddenly closed inward trying to crush her. Darius didn't hesitate.
"Stone Coffin!"
The arena shook violently, several students winced.
"…That's lethal…"
"…He's not holding back…"
Then—
Water spilled from the cracks.
"…?"
The stone walls suddenly exploded outward.
BOOOOM!
A high-pressure surge of water burst into the sky like a raging river. Maki casually stepped out from the wreckage completely unharmed.
"…Trying to crush someone first thing in the morning is wild," she complained.
The crowd stared.
"…She broke it that easily?"
"…That was advanced earth magic…"
Darius smiled faintly.
"…Good."
The ground beneath Maki suddenly softened.
"…Hm?"
Her feet sank slightly.
"Quicksand Field."
The arena floor turned unstable instantly. At the same time, massive stone spears launched toward her from multiple directions.
Maki's eyes widened slightly.
"…Okay, that's actually pretty cool."
She clapped her hands together.
Water spiraled around her body instantly.
"Water Flow."
Her body moved like a stream itself.
Fluid.
Smooth.
Untouchable.
The stone spears missed one after another.
"…She's dancing through them…"
"…No… she's redirecting her momentum with water…"
Maki slid across the arena effortlessly. A grin spread across her face.
"This is fun."
Darius slammed both palms down.
"Grand Boulder!"
A gigantic mass of stone rose behind him before launching toward her like a meteor.
The audience erupted.
"…That's huge!"
"…He's ending it!"
Maki stared at the incoming boulder.
"…Seriously?" She sighed dramatically.
"…Fine."
Water gathered around her arm.
Compressing.
Condensing.
Spinning violently.
Then—
She punched forward.
"Pressure Cannon."
A concentrated blast of water shot forward.
For one second nothing happened.
Then—
The entire boulder exploded.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
"…What?"
"…She destroyed it in one hit…"
"…That level of compression…"
Darius' eyes widened for the first time. That attack power…
Monstrous.
Maki pointed at him lazily.
"You're strong, you know?"
"…But your magic's too stiff." She said bluntly
Darius frowned.
"…Stiff?"
"You rely too much on overpowering people."
She rolled her wrist casually.
"Magic's more fun when it flows."
"…Fun?" He lifted a brow.
Darius rushed forward earth armor covered his fists.
"Then let's see how much fun this is!"
He punched downward, the arena cracked violently. Maki jumped back laughing.
"Whoa! Angry much?!"
Darius continued relentlessly, punch after punch.
Stone spikes.
Walls.
Shockwaves.
The arena trembled nonstop. And throughout all of it—
Maki smiled.
Dodging.
Spinning.
Countering like she was playing.
"…She's enjoying this…"
"…Is she insane?"
"Good thing I was athletic in my past life, otherwise this would've been troublesome" Maki said to herself while out manoeuvering Darius.
In the viewing area Keith watched silently.
"…That movement…" His eyes narrowed.
"…Why does that feel familiar?"
Maki slid beneath another attack before creating a whip of water around her arm.
"Okay, my turn."
The water whip lashed outward instantly.
Darius blocked with stone armor, But the moment it touched. The water exploded.
"?!"
The impact sent him flying. Before he could recover water wrapped around his arms and legs tightly.
"Wha—?!"
He struggled. The more he moved, the tighter it became. Maki pointed at him casually.
"…You give up?"
Darius grit his teeth. The water pressure kept increasing.
"…Tch…"
He looked up at her. Then slowly raised his hand.
"…I surrender."
The examiner raised his arm immediately.
"Winner!"
The arena erupted into noise.
"…She dominated him…"
"…The Eldridge family truly produced a monster…"
"…And she barely looked serious…"
Maki released the water restraints instantly.
"Good fight," she said with a grin.
Then she leaned slightly closer.
"But seriously…" she said casually.
"…You should relax more."
Darius stared at her speechless.
"…You're weird."
"Yeah," Maki replied proudly.
"I get that a lot."
As she walked out of the arena—
Keith continued staring silently.
"…Damn she's tough, and that Darius guy was too. Just hope that wasn't Akira cause Akira isn't that rigid…"
His chest tightened again.
"…Wow so that's how battles between nobles go, she's so beautiful …"
After countless battles, bruises, victories, and shattered pride, the successful applicants of Azure Magic Academy were gathered once again inside the grand assembly hall.
Exhaustion lingered in the air. Some students were still bandaged from their matches.
Others sat proudly, basking in their victories like peacocks wearing battle scars. At the podium stood the headmaster once more.
"This year," he began calmly, "is quite unusual."
His voice echoed throughout the massive hall.
"Azure Magic Academy has received more successful candidates than expected. Roughly 500 students passed the combat evaluation."
Murmurs spread immediately.
"That is impressive," he continued. "However…"
The room quieted.
"…many of you will still fail."
The atmosphere stiffened instantly.
"The next stages consist of:
Written examination.
Mana level analysis.
Class and dorm allocation."
His sharp gaze swept across the hall.
"And I assure you… more than half of you sitting here today will not remain students of this academy."
A heavy silence followed.
"You have earned the right to proceed."
Teachers began distributing red bracelets.
"These bracelets indicate that you passed the first phase. Wear them until final enrollment."
The students accepted them carefully.
"Hold your heads high," the headmaster said. "And do your best."
Then, surprisingly warmly:
"You may now return home."
Applause erupted throughout the hall. Maki did not stay long enough for conversations. The instant the headmaster stepped away from the podium, she vanished into the crowd like a silver ghost. A noble tried calling after her.
She ignored him completely. Moments later, she slipped into her family carriage.
Finally alone, she relaxed into her seat dramatically.
"…Sorry, Hayato," she murmured softly.
"Looks like meeting you will have to wait until enrollment."
She smiled faintly.
"…Good luck on tomorrow's test."
Meanwhile, Keith was leaving through the academy gates under very different circumstances. The nobles glared at him openly now. The commoners stared with curiosity some with admiration,
others with suspicion.
"…Damn."
Keith scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I panicked and used too many attributes…"
He sighed. "Now everybody's wondering who I am."
A pause.
"…Whatever." His expression softened slightly. "Akira…"
"I hope you're here."
Homecomings
Back at the Eldridge estate, celebration had already begun.
"That's my girl!" her father laughed proudly. "That noble never even saw it coming!"
"You were amazing, dear," her mother added warmly. "But don't relax yet. The written exam is tomorrow."
"You better pass," Klein said smugly. "None of us failed."
Maria smacked his shoulder lightly.
"She'll obviously pass."
Theo smiled calmly.
"Good luck tomorrow, Maki."
Maki grinned lazily.
"…Thanks everybody."
Then internally: Please lower your expectations immediately.
Meanwhile…
Keith walked through the evening streets alone.
Until—
"Stop right there."
Keith's expression immediately soured.
"…You again."
Standing in the alley ahead was Herald Einsworth.
And behind him…
Three others.
Herald's face twisted with fury.
"How dare you humiliate me!"
Mana flared around him violently.
"Because of you, my father is forcing me into some backwater academy filled with commoners!"
Keith stared blankly.
"…That sounds like a you problem."
Herald nearly exploded.
"You little—!"
Keith's eyes sharpened.
"You lost."
His voice turned cold.
"So leave with dignity."
"Kill him!"
Herald pointed furiously.
"And be careful! He uses three attributes!"
The three students rushed forward instantly.
One fire user.
One water user.
One vine mage.
And unlike Herald…
These three were actually coordinated.
"Water Shot!"
"Blazing Sphere!"
"Binding Vines!"
All three attacks came simultaneously.
Keith released a burst of wind magic—
But the attacks powered through.
"…Damn, they're strong!"
The vine mage suddenly caught his legs.
CRACK.
Pain shot through his ankles. Keith fell to one knee instantly.
"Gah—!"
The vines rapidly spread upward, tightening across his body like constricting snakes.
The fire and water users launched relentless barrages immediately after. Keith slammed his hand against the ground.
"Earth Wall!"
Stone erupted upward barely in time.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions shook the alley but the vines kept tightening. His breathing became ragged.
"…They're serious…"
"…They're actually trying to kill me…"
Panic crept into his chest.
Far away…
Maki sat near her bedroom window, staring peacefully at the stars.
Then—
Clouds covered the sky.
"…Seriously?"
She frowned.
"I was actually enjoying that."
The atmosphere darkened unnaturally.
"…Maybe staying home tonight was the right choice…"
Then—
A massive bolt of lightning split the heavens.
KRAAAAAAAAAK!!!
The flash illuminated half the capital. Maki immediately stood.
"…No way."
Her eyes narrowed sharply.
"That wasn't natural."
Without hesitation, black feathers swirled around her body. Her Tempest Raven cloak materialized instantly.
"…Someone might actually be in danger."
She leapt through the window and flew into the night sky.
Back in the alley—
Lightning exploded downward. The vines restraining Keith were obliterated instantly.
The attackers staggered back in shock.
Keith coughed heavily, his arms and shoulders aching from the pressure.
His earth wall shattered moments later.
The vine mage was completely stunned.
"…Lightning?" the fire user muttered.
Herald panicked instantly.
"Attack him now!"
A massive fireball shot toward Keith.
Keith unleashed a violent gust of wind that blew it away—
But before he could recover—
All three attackers charged again.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
Keith's eyes widened. I can't dodge this—
Then—
A dark figure descended between them.
BOOM.
The attacks hit where Keith once was, Silence fell. Keith stared upward.
A black cloak, silver-threaded edges and a hood hiding the face.
"…Who are you?" he asked breathlessly.
The girl didn't look at him. Instead, she faced the attackers calmly.
"I am…"
She raised her hand dramatically.
"…Shadow Knight."
A beat of silence.
Then:
"And I'm here to hunt villains."
Keith blinked.
…That was kinda cool.
Before the attackers could react silver threads exploded outward. The group froze instantly, restrained completely.
"…W-what is this?!"
Herald struggled desperately.
Then—
The cloaked girl slowly raised two fingers toward her eye. Her right eye glowed purple beneath the hood.
"You guys need sleep."
A pause
"Hypnosis."
The purple glow pulsed.
Instantly the four collapsed unconscious.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Silence.
The cloaked girl turned toward Keith.
"You should leave before people
misunderstand the situation."
Then unexpectedly she smiled beneath the hood and flashed a peace sign.
"Stay safe. Peace ✌️"
And just like that she vanished into the night sky. Keith stood frozen.
"…What just happened?"
By the time people arrived, Keith had already escaped. Herald and the others were later discovered bound tightly in silver threads.
That night, Keith lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
"…Who was that girl?"
He turned slightly.
"She was insanely strong…"
His expression tightened.
"And I let my guard down like an idiot."
A flashback surfaced in his mind.
"I'm Shadow Knight… and I'm here to hunt villains."
Keith covered his face.
"…She was so cool."
A pause.
"…She kinda acted like Akira."
His eyes widened slightly.
"…Actually…"
"No."
He turned violently onto his side.
"I'm not falling for some random mysterious girl."
A beat.
"…Especially because Akira would probably fall for her first."
Silence.
Then quieter:
"…And I'm not dating anyone until I find him."
His expression softened sadly.
"He never even got the chance to fall in love…"
Exhaustion finally took him.
Meanwhile—
Maki landed softly inside her room and collapsed backward onto her bed.
"…That multi-attribute guy really got jumped…"
She stared at the ceiling.
"Good thing I got there in time."
Then a quieter thought surfaced.
"…And this time…"
"…I didn't kill anybody."
Her smile faded.
"…Would Hayato hate me if he found out?"
Fear gripped her chest instantly.
"…I hope not."
Slowly She drifted asleep.
The next morning, rumors spread throughout the academy.
"Did you hear?"
"Herald Einsworth got attacked by some fiend called Shadow Knight!"
"Apparently she tied them up with threads!"
"Sounds terrifying…"
"Threads? But that's a monster ability."
Keith frowned immediately.
Fiend?
For some reason…
That irritated him more than expected. He almost argued back but stopped himself.
"…Why do I even care?"
He sighed.
"She's just a stranger…"
A pause.
"…A stranger that saved my life."
The written exam soon began. Keith sat quietly at his assigned desk.
Meanwhile, in another classroom—
Maki stared blankly at her paper.
"…I hate exams."
She rested her cheek on her hand.
"I understand magic theory just fine…"
she complained
"…but writing explanations is torture."
A painful memory surfaced.
"…Back then Hayato basically carried me through studying…"
She groaned internally.
"…Please save me again."
Days later—
The results were announced.
Out of roughly 500 applicants…Only 130 remained.
100 nobles.
30 commoners.
Keith Nova passed.
Maki Eldridge passed.
Naturally.
Mana Analysis & Class Allocation
Students lined up before two glowing orbs.
One measured mana capacity. The other identified attributes.
Classes were divided into:
Elite
A
B
C
D
E1
E2
E3
Most commoners were expected to fall into the E classes. Maki stepped forward first.
She placed her hand on the mana orb.
Bright blue light flooded the room. Then she directed water magic into the second orb.
The examiner's eyes widened.
"…Class Elite."
Maki grinned.
"Nice."
Keith stepped forward.
Whispers instantly spread.
"That's the commoner…"
"The multi-attribute user…"
Keith exhaled slowly and touched the orb.
Fire.
Wind.
Earth.
Lightning.
The attribute orb erupted with light.
Then—
The mana orb blazed so brightly the room itself illuminated.
Silence.
Pure silence.
"…Class…"
The examiner swallowed.
"…Elite."
The room exploded into disbelief.
"A COMMONER?!"
"Impossible!"
"Four attributes?!"
Keith quietly stepped away awkwardly.
"…This is bad."
Meanwhile, Maki sat in the dorm office.
"Lady Eldridge," a teacher said politely, "we recommend the Sora Dorm. It is suited for nobles of your status."
Then Maki noticed another dorm marked with a large X.
"…What's that one?"
The teacher stiffened.
"…That dorm has not been used in years."
She stated.
"No one chooses it."
"…Perfect." Maki said in satisfaction.
"…Pardon?"
"I'll take it."
The teacher panicked slightly.
"No, Lady Maki, it really isn't suitable for someone like you—"
"I choose my dorm, right?"
"…Technically yes…"
"Then I choose that one."
A pause.
"And don't tell anyone it's mine."
"…Why?"
Maki smirked.
"Because nobody's gonna pick it anyway."
Hours later—
Keith arrived for dorm allocation. He happened to be the last one to appear. The teacher looked deeply uncomfortable.
"…Sir Nova…"
"…All dorms are occupied."
Keith froze.
"…What? that can't be, there has to be one left righ?" Keith said desperately.
The teacher looked at him with pitty and thought we can't let such a special student go.
"There is… one left."
The teacher looked ashamed.
"But honestly, it's not even suitable for commoners."
"I'll take it."
"…You can commute from home."
"I'll stand out too much," Keith insisted desperately.
"…Please."
The teacher sighed.
"…Fine."
She handed him the key. After struggling through several hallways and getting lost twice Keith finally found the dorm. He opened the door cautiously.
"…Huh?"
It was… clean. Surprisingly clean.
"…What's supposed to be bad about this place?"
Then—
He heard breathing.
Keith froze.
"…Someone's here?"
Slowly, he followed the sound toward the bunk beds.
And there sleeping completely unladylike—
Was Maki Eldridge.
One arm behind her head.
One on her stomach slightly raising her shirt,
one leg crossed lazily over the other. Looking less like a noble princess…
…and more like somebody who lost a wrestling match against sleep itself.
Keith stared blankly.
"…Where the hell did they send me?"