As I walked up to the arena, a memory hit my head.
A training session just like this one, only much harder, much bloodier.
The girl standing in front of me now looked exactly like the one from that memory.
I think her name was... Yuna Choi.
"Tell me when you're ready to start," said the instructor, raising his hand and forming a mana shield around us.
"In this match, you may use mana, but please, be careful with each other."
His look made it sound more like an order than a request.
"It may be true that your mana is stronger," Luna said, placing her hand over her heart as if insulted, "but I doubt you can use it as well as I can."
Then she looked at me with that arrogant smile.
"We'll see about that. But I won't hold back."
Impatience showed on my face as I stretched my body one last time before it started.
We both looked at the instructor.
The air got heavier, the tension thicker as we waited for his word.
The crowd behind us was buzzing loudly.
Everyone was betting, the nobles on Luna out of pride, the others hoping they'd see someone finally break the norms before their eyes.
It felt so familiar.
Like it wasn't Luna standing in front of me, but Yuna.
The whole situation… it was the same.
I don't want to repeat it.
My bond with Yuna started during a training session just like this.
We were both freshly promoted soldiers, trying to prove we deserved the trust given to us.
My heart trembled when I looked at Luna.
Her eyes had the same fire Yuna's once had.
"What's that look? Lost your will to fight already?" she said, taking advantage of the moment.
Her legs tensed, and in the blink of an eye she was in front of me.
Her sword brushed against my clothes as I dodged.
I counterattacked right away, but she used her mana, forming a shield around herself.
When the dust cleared, I saw Yuna standing in front of me.
Mana gathered in her hand, glowing as she aimed it at me.
Mana shield. Blood. The scene flashed back into the present.
Blood everywhere. My limbs stiffened.
"Giving up already?" she said as she came closer, her arm glowing with light.
I coughed up blood and forced myself to look into her eyes.
"No," I said, a faint, painful smile crossing my face.
She lifted her arm, her mana started to vibrate, and I was thrown to the other side of the arena.
I couldn't see much, but I could feel her getting closer.
And then I heard Yuna's voice again.
"You can't even move, let alone fight. Just give up."
My vision was blurry, but her voice was shaking. She didn't want to continue.
"I don't even have a scratch. What could you possibly do?"
"I'm sorry, Yuna… but there's one thing I can do."
Confidence filled me for a moment. I raised my hand to distract her, then threw dust into her eyes.
I don't want to do this again… but I have to make a choice.
I looked at Luna. My eyes were heavy, I didn't want her to see what would come next.
I took a deep breath… and started using Bloodweave.
Slowly, my wounds disappeared, as if nothing had ever happened.
The body that couldn't move moments ago was now full of energy.
Everyone stared in shock.
They couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"He… he healed himself… with his own blood." said a voice in the crowd, expressing what everyone was thinking.
Even the kings stood up from their seats in surprise.
Yuren stood frozen, his fingers twitching uncontrollably.
"Is that what I think it is?" asked the King of Eldora, his face pale.
"Yes, it is," Yuren answered, turning to calm the others. "Please, sit down. Let's just watch what this young boy can really do."
As Luna slowly regained her sight, she froze.
I stood in front of her, my body uninjured, just like at the start, except now I wasn't holding back anymore.
She began to step backward as she saw the aura coming off of me.
"What are those red things moving behind you?" she asked, her legs trembling as she tried to stay standing.
Everything was happening like before.
My eyes darkened.
But this time… it won't end the same.
One thing is different now.
Me.
In the fight against Yuna, I felt joy a twisted joy in fear itself.
Now I just stood there, feeling like a failure.
I let out a long sigh, and directed my blood to my back, shaping it into blood tendrils.
Using them, I launched myself forward and threw the blood tendrils into the ground around Luna, avoiding her body completely.
Her face begged for mercy. No words came out. Her whole body was shaking.
I hate myself. I always end up hurting others.
As I looked at her, Luna's image faded and Yuna's appeared.
Lying on the ground, unconscious, almost lifeless.
I shook my head.
I won't hurt anyone like that again.
Then I looked at the instructor.
"See? She's not moving. That means I won."
My eyes silently pleaded with him to end it.
It took him a moment to understand, but he finally nodded.
"Y-yes… it's over. The winner is Narihu Mizuhara."
Silence.
Everyone was stunned.
Then, slowly, a few claps started.
More followed.
No one truly understood what had just happened.
But everyone saw the same thing, someone stronger than all of them.
The kings started talking among themselves.
"This boy… he's unique. I never thought someone like him could have such power," said the King of Asterin, touching his chin.
"This is the first time a child without noble blood stands above the rest," said Eldora's king, a small smile appearing on his face.
His eyes shone with a strange excitement.
"This child will need special attention from now on," Yuren said quietly.
His eyes stayed on me, as if he already knew what my future would look like.
I looked at Luna, completely defeated.
I didn't want to destroy her. I just wanted to win.
I didn't know what to say, so I just reached out my hand, forcing a small, tired smile.
She looked down, then slowly took my hand with shaking fingers.
"I thought that blood and birth decided everything… who we are, what we can become."
Her voice was trembling. Her eyes were red.
"For the first time… I regret believing that. I was proud of nothing."
She hesitated for a moment, then bowed.
"I'm sorry. For how I treated you. I, Luna Arashi, admit my defeat."
I couldn't find words. She didn't wait for any, she turned and walked away, trying to hold onto her noble pride even now.
I was left alone in the arena.
Every eye was on me.
Every whisper reached my ears.
So I ran.
I went back to that quiet place, trying to clear my thoughts.
"I'm not the same as before. I'm better.
Luna's fine… Yuna would be proud."
As I sank into the calmness of the scenery, my body felt light.
And before I knew it, I fell asleep to the sound of birds singing.