Chapter 62

The silence between Gale and me stretched on, heavy with unspoken thoughts and emotions neither of us could fully understand. The world around us blurred—the cheers of the crowd, the claps of the teachers, the whispers of our classmates—all faded into a muffled hum. All I could hear was the pounding of my own heart and the faint sound of Gale's breathing.

Then, Gale broke the silence.

"Are you... okay?" he asked, his voice softer than I'd ever heard it.

His question startled me, snapping me out of my daze. I quickly healed the dull ache in my shoulder, masking any sign of weakness.

"Of course," I said, forcing a grin as I sat up. "You didn't actually think that would take me out, did you?"

He chuckled lightly, brushing dirt from his sleeves as he stood. "No, but I had to try."

Before I could fire back, Ganth's voice boomed across the arena.

"And the winner is... no one!" he announced with dramatic flair, pointing at both of us. "This match is officially declared a draw!"

"A draw?!" I shot to my feet, indignation flaring in my chest. "What do you mean, a draw? I was clearly about to win!"

Ganth raised a skeptical eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself. "Both of you were thrown out of the ring simultaneously. Unless you've got evidence that says otherwise, it's a draw."

I opened my mouth to argue, but no counter came. He was right. That reckless tumble had sealed the match for both of us.

Gale smirked, his expression annoyingly calm. "Looks like we're evenly matched after all."

"Guess so," I muttered, my competitive spirit still bristling.

The crowd erupted into cheers, their excitement cutting through my frustration. As I glanced at the sea of smiling faces, a small, reluctant grin tugged at my lips. I couldn't deny how exhilarating the fight had been.

Maria approached, her eyes glowing with pride. "Aleena, Gale—that was incredible. You've set a new benchmark for this academy."

Erica clapped enthusiastically. "I can't believe I get to train alongside warriors like you two. That was... inspiring."

Bargue, still munching on his ever-present bag of popcorn, chimed in with a grin. "Next time, try not to destroy the arena, yeah?"

Ganth, however, seemed more thoughtful, his sharp gaze flicking between Gale and me. It was as if he were piecing together a puzzle only he could see.

"Alright, everyone," he finally said, clapping his hands to regain order. "Sparring day isn't over yet. Aleena, Gale, take a break. The rest of you, get ready for your matches."

---

Gale and I moved to the sidelines, settling onto a bench overlooking the ring.

"You really went all out back there," Gale said, leaning back with an easy confidence. "I didn't think anyone could counter my magic circles that quickly."

I smirked, crossing my arms. "What can I say? I'm full of surprises."

He chuckled, but there was something in his gaze—something deeper than admiration.

"You're different," he said after a pause, his voice quieter.

I blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean?"

"Your strength, your style... it's not just talent. It feels like you're holding back, like there's more to you than you're letting on," he explained, his piercing eyes fixed on me. "So, who are you really, Aleena?"

For a moment, my heart stopped. Did he suspect something? Did he know about the secret I worked so hard to keep hidden?

I forced a laugh, hoping it sounded casual. "I could ask the same about you. Who trains with magic circles at your age?"

Gale smiled, the intensity in his expression softening. "Fair point. Maybe we both have our secrets."

The tension between us eased as we turned our attention back to the matches. But his words lingered, leaving an uneasy feeling in my chest.

---

That night, as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the events of the day replayed in my mind. The fight, the unspoken connection I'd felt with Gale, the ache in my chest that wouldn't fade—it all felt too significant to ignore.

What's happening to me?

Before I could spiral further into my thoughts, a faint tapping came from my window.

I sat up, startled, and saw a small, glowing bird perched on the sill. Its soft light bathed the room in a warm, golden glow.

Sliding out of bed, I opened the window, letting the bird flutter inside. It landed on my desk and began to speak in a familiar, deep voice.

"Princess," came Tartarus's voice, low and grave. "There's been a development. Veil has made its move."

My heart sank. I had known this peace wouldn't last.

The bird continued, "A faction has been spotted summoning demons on Earth. Their targets appear to be highly populated areas, but we've intercepted some of their efforts. We cannot confirm all locations yet. Please, my liege, remain vigilant wherever you go next."

I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening. "Just... keep them away from Mama and Papa, okay? Promise me that."

The bird nodded silently before dissolving into faint sparks of light, leaving me alone in the quiet darkness.

I fell back onto my bed, staring at the ceiling once more.

Today had been exhilarating, but the weight of my responsibilities loomed larger than ever.

The fight may have ended, but the real battle was just beginning.