CHAPTER 129: THE WINTER TRIALS 4

"All participants!" Duchess Valemont’s voice cut through the murmurs. "You are dismissed for the remainder of the day. Rest. Prepare. Tomorrow, the combat tournament begins at dawn."

The crowd began to disperse. Scarlett jogged over, grinning like an idiot despite the sweat pouring down her face.

"That was intense! Did you see me and Kanna? We absolutely crushed it!"

"Yeah, I saw you two working in perfect sync. Very impressive." Aegis smirked. "Almost like you’ve been thinking about her a lot."

Scarlett’s face went red.

"Shut up."

Aegis laughed and patted her shoulder.

"I need to go take care of something. Catch up later?"

"Sure. I’ll be at the baths if you need me."

As Scarlett walked off, Aegis made her way toward the noble district of the academy. Lady Vermillion had mentioned wanting to speak with her after the cooperation trials. Might as well get that over with now.

The Vermillion estate’s temporary quarters were tucked in the western wing, reserved for visiting nobility during major events. Aegis knocked on the ornate door.

"Enter."

She stepped inside. Lady Cassandra Vermillion sat at a desk near the window, reading through documents. Her silver hair was pinned up in an elegant style, and her sharp eyes flicked toward Aegis without lifting her head.

"Miss Starcaller. Punctual. Good."

Aegis closed the door behind her.

"You wanted to see me?"

"I did." Lady Vermillion set down her quill. "I’ve been observing your performance today. The strategy portion was clever. The cooperation stage was competent." She leaned back in her chair. "But let me remind you of our agreement."

Aegis nodded.

"Win one fight in the combat tournament, and you’ll sponsor me."

"Precisely." Lady Vermillion’s smile was thin. "Do you still believe you can win the entire tournament?"

"Absolutely."

"Even against Darius Goldspire? Or Princess Talia Stone?"

Aegis met her gaze without flinching.

"Especially against them."

Lady Vermillion studied her for a long moment. Then she laughed—a short, sharp sound.

"You’re either incredibly confident or incredibly foolish. I haven’t decided which yet."

"Why not both?"

"Indeed." Lady Vermillion stood, walking to the window. "House Vermillion does not back losers, Miss Starcaller. If you fail to win even one match, do not expect a second chance."

"Understood."

"Good. Now get out. You should be resting, not standing in my office."

Aegis grinned.

"Yes, ma’am."

She left the room, the door clicking shut behind her. As she walked down the hallway, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of tomorrow pressing down on her shoulders.

[One fight. Just one. But if I’m going to marry Talia, I need to win the whole damn thing.]

---

The dormitory halls were quieter than usual. Most students were either resting or making last-minute preparations for the tournament. Aegis figured she’d check in on Talia before heading to the training grounds.

She turned the corner and found Talia’s door slightly ajar.

Aegis frowned. Talia never left her door open.

She approached slowly, intending to knock, when she heard it.

A soft moan.

Aegis froze.

Then another sound. A breathless gasp. The unmistakable sound of lips meeting skin.

[Oh.]

She peeked through the gap in the door.

Talia was on her bed, completely naked, her black hair spilling over her shoulders. Liora was straddling her, equally naked, their mouths locked together in a deep kiss. Talia’s hands roamed over Liora’s back, pulling her closer.

Aegis felt her face heat up.

[Well... Glad to see them making up.]

She stepped back carefully, closing the door as quietly as possible. The last thing she needed was to interrupt that reunion.

As she walked away, she couldn’t help but grin.

[Good for them.]

Her cock stirred slightly at the memory of what she’d just seen, but she shook her head and kept walking.

[Focus. Tomorrow’s the big day. No distractions.]

The training grounds were mostly empty by the time Aegis arrived. A few students were still running drills, but most had already called it a day.

Aegis grabbed a practice rapier from the rack and moved to an open space. She took a deep breath, centering herself.

Rosanna’s lessons echoed in her mind. The stances. The movements. The way aether flowed through the body, not as a weapon, but as an extension of will.

She began.

Her feet moved in precise patterns, each step deliberate. She pivoted, her rapier slicing through the air. Aether hummed faintly around the blade, visible only to her.

Slash. Pivot. Step.

She transitioned into a defensive stance, then flowed back into offense. Rosanna had drilled these movements into her over countless nights atop the Sky Piercer. They weren’t just techniques—they were history. The same moves Queen Rosanna had used to unite the warring kingdoms.

Aegis spun, her rapier tracing a glowing arc in the air.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw something. No, someone.

Lune sat on a nearby bench, sketchbook in hand. Her pencil moved across the page with almost mechanical precision.

"Enjoying the show?"

Aegis stopped mid-swing and turned. Sheathing the rapier, Aegis walked over, wiping sweat from her forehead.

"Drawing me again, huh?"

"You make an interesting subject." Lune didn’t look up from her work.

Aegis leaned over her shoulder. The enchanted, moving sketch was surprisingly detailed—her mid-spin, rapier extended, expression focused. Lune had even captured the faint glow of aether around the blade.

"Not bad," Aegis said. "You’re getting better at drawing me in motion."

"Practice."

Aegis sat down beside her, stretching her legs.

"So. Big day tomorrow."

"Yes."

"You nervous?"

"I will not be participating in the combat portion. I’m not up for it." Lune’s pencil paused. "Are you nervous, though?"

"A little." Aegis leaned back, staring at the sky. "I mean, I’ve got a lot riding on this tournament. House Vermillion’s sponsorship. Proving I’m not just some lucky commoner. And, you know, the whole Talia thing."

Lune glanced at her.

"Ah... And, how is that befriending mission of yours going?"

Aegis groaned.

"Honestly? Not great. I’ve made progress with Darius—kinda—but the twins are still hissing at me every chance they get."

"Hm. Well, you have time. It’s going to be a long school year, after all."

Aegis blinked.

"Uh... I kinda wanna befriend them by the end of tomorrow, hehe."

Lune tilted her head slightly.

"That’s oddly specific."

"Well, you know. Personal goal." Aegis rubbed the back of her neck. "I just feel like if I don’t sort things out with them soon, it’s going to bite me in the ass later."

Lune considered this.

"Then perhaps you’re overthinking it."

"What do you mean?"

"You’re trying to force relationships into neat categories. ’Friend.’ ’Enemy.’ But people are more complicated than that." Lune’s pencil resumed its movements. "Understanding them should be more than enough for now."

Aegis smiled.

"Insightful as always."

Getting an idea, Aegis grinned and lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Lune in a sweaty hug. Lune blinked.

"Aegis, you are very sweaty."

"Well, think of it as your punishment for drawing me without asking."

Lune’s expression didn’t change, but Aegis could feel her stiffen slightly.

"This is unsanitary."

"Yep."

"I dislike it."

"No, you don’t."

Lune sighed.

Aegis laughed and finally let her go, stepping back. As she did, she caught herself staring for a moment.

Lune’s black hair framed her face perfectly. Her pink eyes were focused back on her sketchbook, calm and detached. There was something almost ethereal about her.

[Damn, Lune is cute.]

Aegis shook her head, dispelling the thought.

"Alright, I’m gonna hit the baths before I pass out. Thanks for the advice."

"Good luck tomorrow."

"Thanks. I’ll need it."

---

The next morning came faster than Aegis wanted.

She woke to sunlight stabbing through the curtains like it had a personal grudge. Her body ached from yesterday’s trials, but adrenaline was already kicking in.

Lune was already awake, sitting at her desk with a cup of tea.

"Big day," Lune said without turning around.

"Yep."

Aegis got dressed quickly, throwing on her combat uniform. She checked her daggers—Ruby and Sapphire—making sure they were secure at her hips.

By the time she reached the dining hall, the energy was electric. Students were clustered in groups, whispering excitedly. Some were placing last-minute bets. Others were nervously stuffing food into their mouths.

Aegis grabbed a plate and sat with Scarlett, Sophie, and Lune.

"Ready to kick ass?" Scarlett asked, grinning.

"Born ready," Aegis replied, though her stomach was doing flips.

Sophie leaned over and kissed Aegis’s cheek. "Good luck, big sis! I’ll be cheering for you!"

"Thanks, Sophie."

As breakfast wrapped up, Headmistress Valdris’s voice echoed through the hall via amplification magic.

"All combat participants, report to the arena immediately. The tournament begins in thirty minutes."

Aegis stood, her heart pounding.

Scarlett clapped her on the shoulder. "Go show ’em what you’re made of."

"Will do."

As Aegis walked toward the arena, she couldn’t shake the nagging thought in the back of her mind.

[I still don’t know how the hell I’m supposed to befriend the twins and Darius by the end of all this.]

She stepped into the sunlight, the roar of the crowd already building in the distance.

The combat tournament was about to begin.