CHAPTER 130: THE WINTER TRIALS 5

The arena was massive.

Aegis had seen this particular arena a few times from a distance during her time at the academy, but standing inside it was different. Stone seats rose in tiers around a central platform—a perfect circle of polished white marble, roughly thirty meters across. Runes glowed faintly along its edges, probably some kind of protective enchantment to keep the audience safe from stray spells.

Students and nobles packed the stands. Aegis spotted a few of her friends near the front: Scarlett waving like a maniac, Sophie bouncing in her seat, Lune sitting perfectly still with her sketchbook.

At the center of the platform, Headmistress Valdris stood with her hands clasped behind her back. Her silver hair caught the morning light, and her presence alone commanded silence.

"Welcome," she said, her voice amplified by magic, "to the Combat Tournament of the 792nd Winter Trials."

The crowd erupted into cheers.

Valdris waited for the noise to die down before continuing.

"The rules are simple. Victory is achieved by forcing your opponent to yield or by removing them from the ring entirely. Lethal force is prohibited. Healers will be on standby for injuries." Her gaze swept across the participants. "This is a single-elimination bracket. Lose once, and you are out. The victor will be granted a minor noble title and the honor of representing Rosevale Academy in future international competitions."

Aegis’s heart pounded. A noble title (albeit a minor one). That was the goal. Win this, and she’d be one step closer to marrying Talia.

[Just gotta win every single fight. No pressure at all... Feels like I say that a lot these days.]

Valdris gestured toward a massive enchanted board hovering beside the platform.

"The bracket will now be determined."

Names began appearing on it, slotting into position as magic sorted the participants. The board split down the middle—the left side and the right.

Aegis scanned the list, her eyes darting across the names.

Left side: Talia Stone at the far left, followed by Darius Goldspire, Serilla Frost, Kai’Lin Summerfang, and several other names she didn’t recognize.

Right side: Kanna Greaves, Mei’Lin Summerfang, Scarlett Lionheart, Liora Vale, and more unfamiliar faces.

And at the very end of the right side, in the final slot: Aegis Starcaller.

[We’re going from left to right, right? Of course I’m going dead last. Of fucking course.]

She studied the brackets more closely. If everything played out as expected, the left bracket would likely come down to Talia, Serilla, or Darius. One of them would be left to face Aegis, assuming Aegis made it that far.

"Brutal matchups, huh?"

Aegis turned to find Scarlett jogging over, grinning despite the obvious nerves in her eyes.

"Did you see the bracket?" Scarlett asked. "I might be going up against Liora."

Aegis winced.

"I’m surprised Liora signed up."

"So am I."

[... Maybe she’s aiming for that noble title too, actually. Could that be the case?]

"At least it’s not Kanna right out of the gate. If I had to face her in the first rounds, I’d probably just forfeit and save myself the embarrassment." Scarlett laughed, though it sounded forced. "Don’t worry, by the way. I’ll go easy on Liora. You’re fighting last though. That’s gotta be nerve-wracking."

"Yeah. I get to watch everyone else and overthink everything."

"Or you get to scout your competition." Scarlett punched her shoulder lightly. "Don’t screw it up. I’m looking forward to fighting you."

"I’ll do my best."

As Scarlett walked off to stretch, Aegis noticed Serilla approaching from the other side of the arena. She moved with that same infuriating confidence, her short pink hair catching the sunlight.

"Starcaller," Serilla said, stopping just close enough to be annoying. "Looks like we’re on opposite ends of the bracket."

"Yep. Guess we won’t be fighting until the finals."

"Assuming you make it that far." Serilla’s smirk was infuriating. "Big assumption, honestly."

"You stole my line." Aegis crossed her arms. "What, you worried I’ll choke before we get our rematch?"

"Worried? No. Disappointed? Maybe." Serilla leaned in slightly. "I’m looking forward to humiliating you in front of everyone."

"Keep dreaming. By the time we meet in the finals, you’ll be too exhausted to keep up."

Serilla laughed, low and genuine.

"God, you’re fun. I almost hope you do make it."

She walked away before Aegis could respond, hips swaying deliberately.

Aegis exhaled slowly.

[She’s so damn annoying.]

"Aegis!"

Sophie came bounding over, Vera trailing behind her with her usual bored expression.

"Big sis! You’re gonna crush everyone, right?"

"That’s the plan."

"Good! Because if you lose, I’ll be really sad." Sophie hugged her tightly. "And then I’ll have to make out with you to feel better."

"Sophie, that’s not how emotions work."

"Sure it is."

Vera yawned.

"You’re last in the slot. That sucks."

"Thanks for the support, Vera."

"I’m just being honest." Vera shrugged. "At least you get to see everyone’s tricks before you fight."

Aegis nodded. That was one way to look at it.

Lune appeared beside them, sketchbook already open.

"The first match is about to start."

"First match!" Valdris’s voice echoed across the arena. "Kai’Lin Summerfang versus Eren Blackwood!"

The crowd roared as the first two combatants stepped onto the platform.

Aegis found a spot near the edge where she could watch without being in the way. Lune settled beside her, pencil already moving across the page.

Kai’Lin and Eren faced each other on the platform. Eren was stocky, with a warhammer slung over his shoulder. Kai’Lin looked like a coiled spring, ready to pounce.

The moment Valdris signaled the start, Kai’Lin moved.

She was fast—blindingly fast. Her claws extended as she lunged forward, closing the distance before Eren could even swing his hammer. She slashed at his legs, drawing blood.

Eren stumbled back, eyes wide.

Kai’Lin pressed the advantage, a flurry of strikes forcing him toward the edge of the ring.

"Yield!" Eren shouted, raising his hands.

The crowd erupted. The whole fight had lasted maybe fifteen seconds.

Aegis let out a low whistle.

"She didn’t mess around."

Lune’s pencil scratched across paper.

"Highly efficient."

"Second match!" Valdris called. "Scarlett Lionheart versus Liora Vale!"

Scarlett and Liora both stepped onto the platform. Scarlett looked confident, but Aegis could see the tension in her shoulders. Liora, meanwhile, seemed calm.

The fight started.

Liora moved first, darting to the side and launching a small gust of wind magic. Scarlett charged straight through it, her sword raised.

Liora dodged, staying just out of reach.

Scarlett swung again. Liora ducked.

It went on like that for almost a minute—Scarlett trying to land a hit, Liora staying just out of range.

Finally, Scarlett feinted left and swung right. Her blade connected with Liora’s side, not hard enough to injure but enough to send her stumbling toward the edge.

Liora caught herself at the last second, then raised her hand.

"I yield."

Scarlett helped her up, and the two exchanged a brief hug before leaving the platform.

Aegis felt a little sorry for Liora.

[She had to have known it would go this way. So... Why...?]

The matches continued.

Talia fought next, demolishing a wind mage with a single pillar of ice that launched him off the platform before he could finish casting.

Kanna Greaves faced a sword fighter and won through sheer overwhelming strength, her strikes so powerful they left cracks in the marble.

Scarlett watched from the sidelines, her face bright red.

"She’s so strong," she muttered.

Aegis patted her shoulder.

"You’ll get there."

Mei’Lin went next, her agility and ferocity making short work of her opponent.

Then Darius stepped onto the platform.

His opponent was a fire mage—talented, from the looks of it. The moment the match started, she launched a barrage of fireballs.

Darius deflected them with a barrier, then closed the distance with terrifying speed. He disarmed her in three moves and had his blade at her throat in under thirty seconds.

She yielded immediately.

The crowd murmured. Darius didn’t showboat. He just walked off the platform like it was nothing.

[Shit. He’s good.]

More matches followed. Some were quick. Others dragged on. A few ended with fighters being carried off by healers.

Serilla’s match was a spectacle. She toyed with her opponent—a dual-wielding rogue—dancing around his attacks and landing light hits until he was too exhausted to continue. She didn’t even look winded when he finally yielded.

Aegis’s stomach twisted.

[Everyone here is a monster.]

The sun climbed higher. The crowd’s energy never waned.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Valdris stepped forward again.

"Final match of the first round!" Her voice cut through the noise.

"Aegis Starcaller versus Vane Snowhill!"

Aegis stood, her heart pounding.

Scarlett grabbed her arm.

"You got this."

Sophie hugged her.

"Kick his ass, big sis!"

Even Lune glanced up from her sketchbook.

"Good luck."

Aegis nodded and walked toward the platform.

The crowd’s murmurs grew louder.

"That’s the commoner, right?"

"The one with the perfect test scores?"

"Think she’ll last more than a minute?"

Aegis climbed onto the platform. Across from her, her opponent adjusted his grip on his longsword. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and looked like he’d been training since birth.

Valdris raised her hand.

"Combatants, ready?"

Aegis drew Ruby and Sapphire. The daggers felt perfect in her hands.

The guy smirked.

"Nothing personal, Starcaller. But I’m not losing to a commoner."

Aegis twirled her daggers once.

"We’ll see about that."

The crowd fell silent.

Valdris’s hand dropped.

"Begin!"