Prelude to Inter-Academy Festival I

The Inter-Academy Festival was the largest academy event in the world, surpassing even the renowned End of Year Festival at Mythos Academy. This prestigious competition was held exclusively for the second, fourth, and sixth-year students of Mythos Academy, as well as the top academies from each continent.

Frostspire Academy from the North, Gravehold Academy from the West, Starcrest Academy from the East, and Serpentstone Academy from the South were all gathering under the leadership of Slatemark Academy, united in their goal to dethrone Mythos Academy, the number one academy in the world.

And they did.

They managed to defeat Mythos Academy's second-year students, thanks to one man—Jack Blazespout.

Even without using his second Gift, Jack's raw power was overwhelming. He overpowered both Lucifer and Ren, single-handedly securing victory for his academy. 

The loss wasn't just a defeat in battle. For Mythos Academy, losing at the Inter-Academy Festival was a blow to their prestige, a dent in the reputation of the world's most powerful institution.

I couldn't let that happen again.

With Magnus Draykar now as a senior professor, we had an advantage. But even with his presence, I would make sure Mythos Academy reclaimed its honor and came out on top.

We couldn't afford to lose. Not this time.

Mythos Academy's reputation had already taken a hit, tarnished by a series of devastating incidents—the Shadow Seeker attack, the demon infiltration, and the corruption that followed. Each one had chipped away at the academy's prestige, casting doubts on its ability to remain the world's top institution.

And with the massive incident looming during the upcoming Field Trip, I had to ensure that the academy wouldn't crumble under the weight of yet another disaster. If things spiraled out of control again, the academy could face permanent damage—possibly even closure. I couldn't let that happen.

But there was more at stake than just the academy's reputation.

Jack Blazespout wasn't just an immediate threat; he was the future villain of this world, destined to plunge it into chaos. I needed to measure my strength against him now, to see how close I was to being able to challenge him.

If I couldn't defeat Jack in this situation, it would mean I was falling behind—dangerously so. His growth, as I knew from the novel, far outpaced Lucifer's over time. Although I had helped Lucifer unlock his second Gift, accelerating his development, it might not be enough.

I had to face the truth: if Jack's strength continued to surge ahead, it wouldn't just be Lucifer or the academy that stood in danger. The entire world would be at risk.

I had to close the gap. Quickly. And this festival—this looming incident—was my opportunity to gauge where I stood. If I couldn't rise to meet the challenge now, everything I was working toward could unravel.

"You've been training hard, Arthur," my master, Magnus, said as he watched me closely.

"Yes, Master. I need to get stronger," I replied, steadying my breath.

"That you do. I am your master, after all," he said, crossing his arms with a slight smirk. "My disciple can't afford to fall short."

I returned the smile, though inside, I felt the weight of the challenge ahead.

In the two months since mid-terms, I had made significant strides. Jin had reached White-rank under my guidance, and Seraphina was steadily learning to harness her Gift, almost able to control it the way I envisioned.

But when it came to my own progress, something was holding me back. My mana core. 

The lingering effects of the battle with Drake Namgung still haunted me. I had pushed myself far beyond my limits during that fight, and though I had completed the second stage of the integration process, I hadn't fully reached Integration-rank. My core was still fragile, not yet able to fully handle the power coursing through me.

And time was running out.

In three days, the students from the other academies would arrive. The Inter-Academy Festival loomed large, and with it, a chance to measure my strength against the best the world had to offer—including Jack Blazespout.

I couldn't afford to be at anything less than full strength.

"Master," I said, turning toward Magnus. "I need to break through. Before the Festival begins."

Magnus looked at me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded. "You're close, but you've been holding back because of your core's instability. We'll have to push it further—safely this time."

"Safely?" I raised an eyebrow, knowing full well that in his terms, "safe" didn't always mean what others thought.

Magnus chuckled. "You'll survive. But if you want to reach Integration-rank in time, you'll need to let go of your hesitation. Your body is ready, even if your mind isn't."

I exhaled, knowing what was coming. The next few days would be grueling, but if it meant finally breaking through, I was ready. I had no other choice.

__________________________________________________________________________________

"You'll be returning to the academy, right, Elara?" Archduke Leopold Astoria asked as he sipped his tea, his eyes flicking briefly from the news on his tablet.

"Yes, Father," Elara replied with a warm smile, one that always seemed to melt away his concerns.

It was time for her to head to Mythos Academy for the upcoming Inter-Academy Festival. Though Leopold was reluctant to send her, he understood the significance of the event. With Magnus Draykar at the academy, her safety wasn't something he had to worry about.

'The Martial King,' Leopold thought, his expression darkening slightly. He remembered their brief clash all too well. 

That sword Magnus wielded—it wasn't just powerful, it was on another level entirely. When he fought Magnus, it felt like witnessing the sky crashing down on a mountain. His own blade had been utterly outmatched.

There were levels to swordsmanship beyond even the mastery of a Grade 6 art, and Magnus had far surpassed every swordsman, including Leopold. No one could give him a decent fight, let alone hope to defeat him.

While Leopold reflected on his battle against the Martial King, Elara's thoughts drifted elsewhere, to someone who occupied her mind far more often than she admitted.

The boy who danced with her at Princess Cecilia's birthday. And Princess Rachel's. And Princess Seraphina's. Each moment they shared at those grand events felt special, lingering in her thoughts long after.

She wasn't sure what it meant, but there was something about Arthur Nightingale that drew her in, something more than just his strength or talent. As her father continued sipping his tea, lost in his own thoughts, Elara found herself wondering what the upcoming festival would bring—and if, perhaps, she might see Arthur again.