As the echoes of the third battle's thunderous roars faded, an eerie silence washed over the Great Hall. It was soon broken by the confident stride of a young woman whose grace seemed stolen from a wild leopard. She exuded a vibrant, magnetic presence; her short, messy black hair gave her a practical edge, while her vivid green eyes sparkled with sharp intelligence and unwavering self-assurance. She wore a charcoal-gray combat suit that clung to her lean, athletic frame, accented by sky-blue circuits that pulsed with every movement, highlighting her natural agility and allure.
On the opposite side stood a young man in a dark suit laced with neon-orange lines. They glowed across his chest and arms, tracing the flow of mana through his veins like a living map. The two adversaries circled one another in a charged silence, each gauging the other's weight before the inevitable clash.
Bern, the girl with the green eyes, smirked. Her playful tone barely masked a razor-sharp edge as she spoke:
"Don't hold back, Ken.. but remember, I won't be showing you any mercy in this arena."
Ken responded by activating his iron frame. In an instant, Bern lunged toward him with breathtaking speed, utilizing her leaping abilities to the fullest. She moved like a flickering phantom, unleashing a barrage of kicks and close-quarters strikes. Yet Ken, bolstered by his sensory awareness and superhuman reflexes, evaded her attacks with startling fluidity. The arena became a blurred stage of speed that the naked eye could barely follow.
In a flash, Ken spotted an opening and seized her wrist. Suddenly, a biting chill surged through Bern's arm; it felt as though frost were gnawing at her bones, a result of his violent mana concentration. Bern cried out, trembling, as she played her trump card:
"Ken.. would you really hurt a delicate girl like this? Is this how you were raised?!"
Ken froze, a look of pure shock washing over his face. He released her hand in a panicked rush, stammering:
"I.. I didn't mean to.. I'm sorry.."
Bern wasn't about to let such a golden opportunity slip away. The moment she was free, she regained her balance and pounced like a storm, raining down a flurry of swift, deceptive strikes. Ken tried to hold his ground, but guilt had shackled his movements. In a moment of pure instinct, he triggered his sensory awareness once more to predict her next move. He caught her mid-strike and delivered a powerful blow that sent her reeling backward.
Ken retreated with trembling steps, his voice shaking with genuine concern:
"I'm truly sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you again!"
Bern rose slowly, wiping the corner of her mouth. Her green eyes now burned with a noble fury:
"Don't apologize in the middle of a fight! Fight me with everything you've got!"
She charged again, turning the arena into a whirlwind of relentless kicks that forced Ken into a constant retreat. But just as he tried to gather his energy for a counter-attack, his body seized up as if hitting an invisible wall.. he had completely run out of mana.
Bern stopped in her tracks, her brow furrowed in confusion:
"Why did you stop?"
Ken gave a self-deprecating smile:
"It's over.. I'm out of mana."
Bern walked toward him with a slow, poised gait that radiated confidence. She reached out and lightly tapped his forehead with her finger, offering a captivating smile:
"Now we're even.. That touch is for the hard hit you gave my face."
Ken's face flushed deep crimson. He touched the spot where her finger had been, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks. Meanwhile, Bern turned toward the Headmistress's platform and raised her hand, declaring clearly:
"I forfeit this match."
Headmistress Dalia's voice boomed through the hall, announcing the official result:
"The winner of the fourth match: Ken!"
Bern laughed softly as she left the arena with confident strides, leaving behind a trail of charm and confusion. Ken remained standing at the center, stunned, his mind racing:
(Could it be that she.. has feelings for me? No, that's impossible.. She's definitely just playing mind games..)
Headmistress Dalia's voice rang out again, her stern authority silencing the chatter in the stands:
"The battles have concluded.. Promotion results will be announced tomorrow. Good luck to everyone. Detailed reports will be delivered to the Class C student offices tomorrow morning."
As the crowd dispersed, Rion remained lost in his usual silence, his eyes gleaming with deep thought. Misaki broke his train of thought, leaning in with a worried tone:
"What about Touka.. and Trangen?"
In that moment, Trangen—a girl of delicate features—approached Rion, her face clouded with a heavy sorrow:
"Rion.. are you really going to Class B and leave me behind? I promised myself I would stay in your shadow, no matter where fate takes us."
Rion smiled faintly, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder:
"I don't know what the reports will say, Trangen.. but even if our classes change, we are under the same academy roof. The bond between us is stronger than any rank."
Tears shimmered in Trangen's eyes as she whispered bitterly:
"I don't want this separation.."
Misaki turned to Touka, the beast-kin girl, wondering how she felt. Touka raised her head with calm dignity and a deep-seated confidence:
"Don't worry about me.. I'll be fine. My roots run deeper than you think."
Rion watched her silently, his mind clouded with suspicion:
(Was Touka sent here as a pawn to test us? Are they trying to draw out the monster lurking inside me through her?)
Rion returned to his room that evening and collapsed onto his bed, exhaling a sigh heavy with worry:
(Things are getting complicated.. Kairen, Touka, and those suspicious looks from the Headmistress.. I feel a disaster approaching, ready to shatter this false peace.)
A soft, hesitant knock at the door interrupted him. He opened it to find Trangen standing there, a shy, nervous smile flickering on her face.
"Rion.. may I come in?"
"Come in," he replied calmly.
She sat across from him, her fingers nervously fiddling with the hem of her dress. Then, she asked abruptly:
"I was just wondering.. is there another woman in your life? Do you have a girlfriend?"
Rion raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise:
"No, I don't."
Her face brightened with a bashful smile, then she asked with a strange plea in her voice:
"Then.. would you mind if I stayed here with you tonight?"
His eyes widened in shock:
"What?! Why would you ask such a thing?"
She replied with a transparent sadness:
"I don't know.. all I know is that I want to feel you near me, as much as possible."
Rion turned his face away, his tone firm and final:
"No.. I refuse."
She smiled bitterly:
"I understand.. I won't burden you with my whims." At the door, she turned back one last time and whispered in a soft, sincere voice:
"I love you, Rion."
She left the room with slow steps, leaving Rion in a state of daze. He rubbed his temples and let out a long sigh:
(She loves me? Me? Is a simple rescue enough to make a girl fall into such an illusion? Truly.. a woman's mind is a puzzle with no key.)
The next morning, Rion woke to the vibration of his phone. He read the message he had been waiting for:
"Rion Grein has been officially promoted to Class B."
He took a deep breath, gathered his things, and headed toward his new classroom. As he entered, he saw familiar faces alongside strangers. Trangen waved at him enthusiastically from her seat; he gave her a brief smile and sat beside her.
Teacher Iris entered with a bright smile:
"Good morning, students.. Our class grows stronger and brighter today. We have a pleasant surprise; a new student will be joining our ranks."
Rion's heart suddenly constricted:
(A new student? Again? Is this academy a never-ending stage for newcomers?)
The door opened, and a girl stepped in who looked as if she were plucked from a daydream. She was slender, with short, pale pink hair that just brushed her shoulders in simple elegance. Her small pink eyes shone with innocence and curiosity, and her fair, flawless skin caught the morning light. She wore an oversized pink hoodie with "PINK" printed in bold letters, paired with a short red skirt and simple white shoes.
She walked to the front of the class with a graceful stride, her warm smile bathing the room in serenity—though a closer look revealed a hint of deep sorrow behind her gaze. Rion's eyes widened in total disbelief. The blood seemed to freeze in his veins as he stared at her, unable to process what he was seeing.
The girl spoke in a voice as sweet and delicate as a morning hymn:
"Hello, everyone.. My name is Mira, and I am very happy to begin my journey with you."