CHAPTER 14: ECHOES OF THE ARENA

Chapter 14 – Echoes of the Arena

The arena still hummed with the lingering tension of the trial. Dust floated in the air like motes of memory, shimmering faintly under the enchanted lights that lined the colosseum ceiling. Students whispered in hushed tones, the crowd of candidates buzzing with disbelief at the scene they had just witnessed.

Michael Willson lay unconscious on the arena floor, his chest rising and falling, sword clutched loosely in his hand. His duel with Instructor Alastor had ended with him collapsing, not from defeat, but from mana exhaustion—after pushing himself beyond what anyone had expected.

And from among the many who had witnessed, two pairs of eyes in particular could not look away.

---

Leon Lionheart’s POV

Leon’s grip tightened around the hilt of his training sword, knuckles pale from the pressure. He had watched the entire fight with unwavering attention, and what he saw left him both unsettled and invigorated.

That boy... Michael. He fought like someone who’d already lived through countless battles.

Leon was no stranger to combat. His training as a Lionheart, even as the illegitimate son, had drilled discipline into him since childhood. The Lionheart Sword Style was etched into his bones: sharp, disciplined strikes infused with fire’s ferocity. He could already use two of the six recognized forms, each capable of overwhelming most F and E-rank opponents.

Yet when he compared his own swordsmanship to Michael’s... it was different. Michael’s movements weren’t flamboyant or polished with aristocratic flair. They were clean, stripped of excess, as if each swing of his blade had been forged through necessity, through survival, rather than for performance.

He replayed in his mind the moment Michael unleashed that final strike—his blade carving through the air with an edge so precise it seemed to split the very arena’s atmosphere. The resonance of ice, shadow, and something Leon couldn’t quite name had clung to that attack.

And then, there was Michael’s will. He didn’t back down. Even when his body trembled, even when his mana drained, he pressed forward.

Leon exhaled, shaking his head. He felt something stir in his chest, not resentment, but the heat of competition.

He’s no ordinary candidate. If I want to prove myself, I’ll need to surpass him. Otherwise, I’ll always be chasing behind.

Leon glanced once more at Michael’s unconscious form being lifted from the arena by attendants, then allowed a faint smile to curve his lips.

Good. This exam just became far more interesting.

---

Aurelia Miller’s POV

Aurelia crossed her arms tightly, her light-blue hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders. Her crystal-clear eyes had been fixated on the duel from start to finish, though she refused to admit it even to herself—how much it unsettled her.

At first, she had dismissed Michael Willson entirely. A commoner from nowhere, with no known family background, daring to enter Arcade Academy? She had pegged him as someone who would crumble the moment true pressure was applied.

But instead, he had fought against Alastor Greythorn—the academy’s Sword Instructor, a man who had reduced countless arrogant nobles to trembling wrecks during this very trial and Michael had endured. More than endured. He had forced Alastor to acknowledge him.

Her gaze narrowed.

That technique at the end... She had felt the temperature plummet, frost swirling around Michael’s blade. And then there had been something else, a strange ripple that distorted space itself, so subtle that most students might not have noticed. But she had.

Her instincts screamed danger.

Aurelia was proud, the only daughter of Martin Miller, Guild Leader of Aster Hall, one of the strongest hunters alive. She had been raised to look down on those below her. Yet something about Michael unsettled her arrogance, forcing her to see him not as an insect to crush, but as... a rival.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Who exactly are you, Michael Willson?" she muttered under her breath.

And then, as attendants carried his unconscious body away, she caught herself staring far longer than she should have. Annoyed at her own curiosity, she flicked her gaze aside with a huff.

---

Vice Principal Sophia Emberheart’s POV

High above, in the elevated seats reserved for staff and dignitaries, Vice Principal Sophia Emberheart leaned forward, her crimson robes fluttering slightly with the enchantments that warded the arena. Her keen emerald eyes hadn’t missed a single detail of Michael’s performance.

"He concealed it well," she murmured to herself, her tone thoughtful.

Beside her, Principal Herald Crimson sat with a neutral, almost disinterested expression, though Sophia knew better. The Principal rarely revealed his thoughts so easily.

But Sophia... she was impressed.

Michael Willson had shown remarkable mana efficiency for someone his age. His swordsmanship wasn’t textbook, but it was undeniably effective, a blend of raw pragmatism and instinct that spoke of unorthodox training. More than that, there had been something dangerous—something he deliberately suppressed.

For a moment, she thought she had sensed the faintest trace of Space Affinity, a power so rare it bordered on mythical. If her suspicion was correct, and this boy was hiding such a gift... then his future would be very different from the others.

A small smile curved her lips. "Interesting."

She stood, her voice ringing out across the arena, cutting through the crowd’s murmurs like a blade.

"The third trial has concluded!" she declared, her voice echoing with authority. "Those who have endured until now have proven themselves worthy of consideration. Tomorrow, the final trial shall be held. Until then, you are to rest in the Common Hall. Prepare yourselves—for only the strongest will endure what awaits."

The candidates stirred, whispers breaking out. The words final trial carried weight—everyone knew that meant something beyond ordinary combat.

As the crowd dispersed, Sophia’s gaze lingered once more on the boy being carried from the field. Michael Willson... you’ve hidden something. And I’ll be watching you closely.

---

– Infamare (Hospital within the Academy)

When Michael finally opened his eyes, it was to the faint glow of runes etched into the walls above him. The sterile, clean scent of herbs and mana-infused ointments hung in the air. He blinked, realizing he was lying on a soft bed, his body wrapped in faint warmth.

The Infamare, the Academy’s medical wing.

His body felt heavy, though the pain from before had dulled into a faint ache. More importantly, when he stretched his senses inward, he found his mana reserves fully restored.

The door creaked open. A young nurse stepped inside, her white uniform glowing faintly from embedded healing charms. She smiled when she saw him awake.

"Ah, you’ve come to. Good. You gave us quite a scare."

Michael sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. "How long...?"

"You collapsed during the trial," she explained, walking over to check the runes etched into the crystal tablet beside his bed. "Mana exhaustion. Severe, but nothing we couldn’t handle. Academy-grade potions and a day’s rest did the trick."

Michael exhaled. So he had pushed himself to the brink, after all.

The nurse gave him a knowing look. "You should be proud. Even the staff couldn’t stop talking about your performance. You lasted longer against Instructor Greythorn than most nobles from prestigious families."

He remained quiet at that, but inside, his thoughts churned.

The system notification... before I passed out. He remembered the faint chime, the blurred text. Something about a hidden recognition. But exhaustion had claimed him before he could read it fully.

The nurse continued, her voice soft. "After you collapsed, the Vice Principal herself stepped forward. She announced that the final trial will be tomorrow. Tonight, you and the other candidates are to rest in the Common Hall."

Michael nodded slowly. "I see."

"Don’t overdo it again," she warned, before smiling lightly. "But... whatever you did out there, it’s clear you’ve made an impression. Just remember that the final trial will be even harsher."

When she left, the room grew quiet once more. Michael stared at his hands, flexing them slowly. His grip tightened as his thoughts sharpened.

The survival trial. An artificial island. Three days of endurance.

He rose from the bed, gathering his things, and by evening, attendants escorted him to the Common Hall, where the remaining candidates were gathered.

--

The Common Hall was abuzz with murmurs as Michael entered. Dozens of eyes turned toward him; some admiring, some jealous, others openly hostile. His performance in the arena had elevated him from obscurity to notoriety in the span of a single duel.

Michael ignored the stares, claiming his bed near the corner. He lay down, hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling.

His thoughts weren’t on the whispers or the stares. They were on tomorrow.

---

The Special Exam.

An artificial island... three days of survival. This is where the real test begins.

His eyes slowly drifted shut, though his resolve only hardened. Whatever awaited him, he would face it.

The stage for the final trial was set.