Chapter 42: The Tournament Begins

The air was thick with anticipation as the trumpets blared, signaling the beginning of the Midnight Tournament. The vast arena was illuminated by magical lights, casting an ethereal glow over the students and spectators gathered in the stands. The energy in the air was palpable, crackling like the hum of electricity just before a storm. It felt as if the very ground beneath my feet was alive with excitement.

Liara stood before me, ready to enter the arena, her back straight and her expression focused. She had always been determined, but today, there was an edge to her determination that made her seem almost… unapproachable. Her armor gleamed under the moonlight, and the sword at her side looked as though it had seen its fair share of battles.

"You're going to do great," I told her, offering a warm smile, though I could tell she was already in her zone, mentally preparing herself for what lay ahead.

She gave me a small nod, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes. Was it doubt? Fear? No, it wasn't that. Liara wasn't afraid of anything. It was more like a deep-seated concern, a desire to prove something—both to herself and to everyone watching.

"Watch closely," she said with a quiet intensity before she turned and walked towards the entrance of the arena, her boots crunching softly on the gravel.

I watched her go, my thoughts momentarily distracted by the weight of my own place here.

I was Aria Velanova, daughter of Gaia, the Goddess of Nature, and I had everything at my disposal—power, skill, and an unshakable lineage. But for all my abilities, I had never really felt like I belonged here. Not among these students, not in this world. It wasn't arrogance that held me back; it was simply apathy. But as I stood there, watching the fierce competitors take their places, I felt something stir within me.

Maybe it was time to stop hiding behind my laziness. Maybe it was time to stop running from the very thing I was meant to embrace.

I glanced over at Liara, who was now stepping into the center of the arena, raising her hand in a graceful salute to the crowd. Her first opponent, a tall and imposing figure with dark red hair, waited for her. I could see the tension in the way the crowd shifted in their seats, all eyes fixed on the fighters.

Liara's opponent struck first, sending a bolt of fire hurtling toward her with a flick of his wrist. But Liara was faster. She ducked under the attack with an ease that came from years of training, then retaliated with a precise strike, her blade cutting through the air like a flash of lightning.

The crowd roared as the duel escalated, a flurry of blades and magic flashing before my eyes. Liara was magnificent, graceful, and deadly. I could feel my heart racing as I watched her dance through the air, her every movement fluid and calculated. There was no hesitation in her, no doubt. She was born for this.

But then, something unexpected happened.

Liara's opponent, a man with a deep, booming voice, roared in fury and summoned a massive storm of fire and wind. The air grew hot, and the ground beneath them shook with the intensity of the magic being unleashed. Liara's graceful movements faltered for just a split second as she tried to avoid the oncoming torrent, but the storm was relentless.

I could feel the tension in the air, the impending danger as Liara struggled to regain control. And then, in an instant, I saw her stumble.

I didn't think—instinct took over.

I felt the rush of power surge through my body, and without hesitation, I raised my hands toward the sky. Light magic, fueled by the power of nature itself, surged from me like a tidal wave, enveloping the arena in a brilliant, golden glow. I focused all my energy on Liara, protecting her from the oncoming attack.

The storm of fire and wind began to dissipate as my magic clashed with it, creating a bubble of light around Liara, shielding her from the worst of the flames. The crowd gasped in awe, their gazes shifting from me to the arena where the battle was still taking place.

I wasn't sure what possessed me to intervene. It wasn't like me to get involved in something that didn't concern me. But for some reason, seeing Liara in danger, watching her struggle, made me want to protect her.

As the last of the flames fizzled out, the arena fell silent. Liara, now standing at the center of the field, turned toward me, her eyes wide with surprise and gratitude. The moment seemed to stretch on, suspended in time.

And then, just as quickly as it began, the tension evaporated. Liara smiled, her lips curling into a grin. "Thanks, Aria," she said, her voice breathless from the exertion. "But I had it under control."

I shook my head, a mischievous smile tugging at my lips. "You looked like you were about to get roasted, I wasn't just going to sit there and watch."

The crowd erupted into applause, their cheers echoing through the arena. Liara, still breathing heavily, gave a bow of acknowledgment to the spectators before walking toward the edge of the arena, where I stood waiting.

"You should enter," she said as she approached me, her voice low but earnest. "If you don't, I'll never hear the end of it from everyone here."

I hesitated. My mind told me to keep up my usual facade, to remain uninterested in the competition. But the truth was, I had felt something. Something more than the laziness I had wrapped myself in for so long. It was a spark, a reminder of who I was and what I was capable of.

I met Liara's gaze, seeing the challenge in her eyes.

"Maybe I will," I said, my voice calm but determined.

Liara grinned. "That's the Aria I know."

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Later that night, after the tournament had concluded and the winners were crowned, I found myself alone in my quarters, pacing back and forth. I wasn't sure what had happened, what had changed inside me. I had always been the one to avoid conflict, to shy away from expectations. But now, I was unsure whether I could continue down that path.

I looked out the window, the moon casting its gentle light across the academy grounds. The silence in my room felt suffocating, and I longed for something more—something beyond this academy, beyond the comfortable laziness I had embraced.

"Maybe it's time to stop running from who I am," I whispered to myself, my voice barely audible in the stillness.

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