CHAPTER 62: HIDDEN ARENA.

Ren was still sitting on the comfortable couch, organizing his thoughts about the complex political web he had just learned about.

His mind was working through the connections between the three factions when a soft chime echoed from his academy badge.

The small silver emblem pinned to his chest began glowing with a gentle blue light.

He lifted the badge closer to read the message that appeared in floating letters above it. All prospectives were to report immediately to the Edge of the Block.

They were specifically instructed to gather at the white wall section and wait for further instructions.

Ren raised an eyebrow as he read the message twice to make sure he understood correctly.

This was unusual timing for any kind of announcement or gathering. Most academic activities were scheduled well in advance.

His first thought was whether this might be another special event like the curse siege from before.

That had been an unexpected test that caught everyone off guard. Perhaps the instructors had planned another surprise challenge to evaluate their progress and abilities.

But something felt different about this summons. The location was odd, and the timing seemed almost random. Ren had never heard of any activities taking place at the Edge of the Block before.

He carefully placed the dimmed memory orb back in its designated spot among the others. Rising from the couch, he stretched his arms and decided to head to the specified location.

Whatever this was about, he would find out soon enough.

As he approached the Edge of the Block, he could already hear the buzz of excited voices ahead.

The sound grew louder with each step, suggesting that quite a few prospectives had already gathered at the meeting point.

When Ren rounded the final corner, he saw exactly what he had expected. A large crowd of girls had already formed near the white wall section.

They were clustered in small groups, chatting animatedly about the mysterious summons they had all received.

Some were speculating about possible training exercises. Others wondered if this might be an announcement about their advancement to the next stage and actually becoming true students.

The energy in the group was a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation.

Ren calmly walked to one side of the gathering and stood with his hands casually tucked into his pockets.

He maintained his usual composed demeanor while observing the crowd and waiting to see what would happen next.

His silver eyes scanned the faces around him, noting the various expressions of curiosity and concern.

Better to stay calm and observe until more information became available.

The white wall they were gathered near stretched high above them, its surface smooth and seemingly solid.

Ren had walked past this section many times before but had never paid much attention to it. Now he found himself studying its appearance more carefully.

Suddenly, he felt small hands cover his eyes from behind. The touch was gentle but playful, and he immediately recognized the size and warmth of the hands.

Only one person would approach him this way.

"Lia?" he said without hesitation, his voice carrying its usual calm confidence.

The hands immediately pulled away, and he heard Lia’s delighted squeal behind him. She bounced around to face him, her eyes wide with amazement and her expression full of joy.

"How did you know it was me so easily?!" she exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement at his quick recognition.

Ren turned to face her fully, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Your hands are softer than everyone else’s here," he said smoothly.

"And you’re the only person who would try to surprise me like that."

Lia’s cheeks turned slightly pink at his observation, but her smile only grew brighter. She seemed pleased that he had noticed such a detail about her.

Her energy was infectious, and several nearby girls glanced over at their interaction with curious expressions.

As Ren’s gaze moved past Lia, he noticed Mirabella standing quietly beside her.

She was observing the exchange with her usual composed expression, though there was something different about her demeanor today.

Ren nodded toward her with his characteristic expressionless face. It was a simple acknowledgment, neither friendly nor unfriendly, just neutral recognition of her presence.

Mirabella nodded back, but unlike his neutral expression, she wore a small mischievous smile.

There was even a faint blush coloring her cheeks, which was unusual for someone normally so controlled and confident.

This was the first time they had encountered each other since their battle where Ren had lost. The memory of that defeat lingered between them, creating a subtle tension that neither acknowledged directly.

The situation felt slightly awkward, but Ren chose to ignore the uncomfortable undercurrents.

Instead of dwelling on past events, Ren decided to focus on the current situation. He turned his attention back to Lia, who was still beaming at him with obvious happiness.

"What do you think this is all about?" he asked her, gesturing toward the crowd of gathered prospectives and the mysterious white wall.

Lia’s expression shifted to one of confusion as she shrugged her shoulders. "I have absolutely no idea," she admitted honestly. "The message was so vague that it could mean anything."

She looked around at the other prospectives, noting their similar expressions of puzzlement. "Everyone seems just as confused as we are," she added. "Nobody knows why we’re here or what we’re supposed to be waiting for."

Ren nodded and then looked toward Mirabella, curious about her thoughts on the situation. She had proven to be analytical and logical in her thinking, often seeing patterns that others missed.

Mirabella noticed his questioning gaze and spoke up calmly. "Given the unusual location and the sudden nature of the summons, this is likely something significant," she began, her voice thoughtful and measured.

"The Edge of the Block is not typically used for routine training or announcements," she continued.

"The fact that we’re specifically gathered at the white wall suggests there might be something special about this particular section."

Ren found himself agreeing with her reasoning. "That makes sense," he said. "The timing also seems deliberate rather than random."

Mirabella nodded and added, "If I had to guess, we’re about to discover something that has been hidden or kept secret until now. The instructors wouldn’t gather us here without a specific purpose."

Her logical deductions aligned with Ren’s own thoughts about the situation. Whatever was about to happen, it was clearly planned and intentional rather than spontaneous.

As if responding to their speculation, a deep rumbling sound suddenly echoed through the area.

The ground beneath their feet vibrated slightly, and the crowd of prospectives fell silent as everyone looked around nervously.

The rumbling grew stronger, and then something extraordinary happened.

A large portion of the tall white wall began to move, splitting apart with mechanical precision to reveal what lay beyond.

Hidden behind the wall was a doorway unlike anything any of them had seen before. It was massive, easily tall enough for three people to walk through side by side, and it glowed with a soft inner light that seemed to beckon them forward.

The prospectives stared in amazement at this hidden entrance that had been concealed right under their noses.

Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd as everyone tried to process what they were seeing.

"Did anyone know this was here?" someone whispered, but the question was met with shaking heads and expressions of wonder.

The discovery of this secret passage explained why they had been summoned to this specific location. Whatever lay beyond that doorway was clearly important enough to warrant such secrecy and dramatic revelation.

Without waiting for official instructions, the prospectives began moving toward the entrance.

Their curiosity had overcome any hesitation, and they trooped forward eagerly to see what secrets lay beyond the hidden door.

As the crowd of prospectives passed through the doorway, they found themselves in a space that defied all expectations. The hidden area opened into an arena so vast and magnificent that it took everyone’s breath away.

The arena was ridiculously grand in its design and scope. Its architecture combined sleek modern elements with uniquely ancient features, creating an atmosphere that was both intimidating and awe-inspiring.

The main floor stretched out before them like a massive stage, easily large enough to accommodate hundreds of people in combat or ceremony.

Around this central space, ten different smaller floors were arranged in tiers, each one designed for specific purposes that weren’t immediately clear.

Ren estimated that the entire arena could easily fit ten thousand people without feeling crowded.

The scale was beyond anything he had imagined could exist within the Side Block without being noticed. The ceiling soared high above them, supported by massive pillars that seemed to reach toward the sky.

Ancient symbols and modern magical arrays were carved into the walls and floors, glowing with subtle energy that made the entire space feel alive.

The combination of old and new created an atmosphere of timeless power and authority.

The design was both beautiful and functional, clearly built for important events that required both grandeur and practicality. Every detail seemed carefully planned to create maximum impact on anyone who entered.

As the Block B prospectives stood in amazement at the arena’s magnificence, something else caught their attention.

Two other massive doorways, identical to the one they had used, were also opening on opposite sides of the arena.

From these additional entrances, hundreds of other girls began streaming into the space.

Their clothing and badges identified them clearly as prospectives from the other blocks within the side block.

It didn’t take long for the Block B prospectives to realize what they were seeing. These were the prospectives from Block A and Block C, all summoned to this secret arena at the same time for the same mysterious purpose.

The three groups of prospectives now found themselves sharing this magnificent space, each group having discovered its existence simultaneously.

The arena suddenly felt much more significant and important than any of them had initially realized.

This was clearly not just a routine gathering or training exercise. The fact that all three blocks had been summoned together suggested something major was about to take place.

The atmosphere in the arena began to shift as the three groups became aware of each other’s presence.

What had started as excitement and wonder began to transform into something more complex and charged.

Almost immediately, and for no particularly logical reason, the atmosphere in the arena grew tense. The three groups of prospectives began regarding each other with obvious hostility and suspicion.

Block A prospectives clustered together on one side of the arena, their expressions wary as they observed the other two groups.

Block C prospectives gathered on the opposite side, their body language defensive and challenging.

Block B prospectives, including Mirabella and Lia, positioned themselves between the other two groups but maintained similar attitudes of caution and competitiveness.

The friendly excitement from moments before had completely disappeared.

Even Mirabella, usually so composed and logical, showed signs of this sudden group hostility.

Her expression had hardened, and she watched the other blocks with calculating eyes that suggested she was already assessing potential threats.

The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. Each group seemed to view the others as competitors or enemies rather than fellow prospectives working toward the same goals.

In the midst of all this rising hostility and group loyalty, only one person remained completely unaffected by the tribal tensions.