Chapter 100 : The Weight of Defeat

The sharp clash of steel still echoed in Alden's mind as he followed Alicia out of the training facility. His wrist throbbed from the final strike, his muscles burned from the relentless exchange, but more than the physical strain—it was the weight of his loss that lingered.

He had lost.

Not to some arrogant noble, not to an overconfident fool, but to Alicia von Rosenheim—one of the strongest in their year.

It wasn't a loss he could be ashamed of, but it still irritated him.

She had beaten him fair and square. Not with tricks, not with overwhelming physical strength, but through sheer combat prowess. Even though he had the upper hand in swordsmanship technique, her superior aura control had made the difference. That, and her ridiculous combat instincts.

"You're being awfully quiet," Alicia mused as they walked toward the academy's cafeteria. "Did I bruise your ego that badly?"

Alden sighed. "I'm just thinking."

She chuckled. "About how you lost?"

"About how I can win next time."

That made her pause. She glanced at him, her golden eyes filled with curiosity. "Oh? So you're already thinking about a rematch?"

Alden gave her a small smirk. "Of course. You're strong, but you're not invincible."

Alicia tilted her head slightly, a spark of amusement in her gaze. "I like that attitude. Most guys would just accept their loss and move on."

"I'm not most guys."

"No," she admitted. "You're not."

They reached the cafeteria, stepping inside to find the evening rush in full swing. Students from different classes were gathered, some still in their training gear, others discussing the latest academy gossip over steaming plates of food.

Alicia walked ahead, picking a spot near the window. Alden followed, grabbing a tray of food—a simple meal of roasted meat, vegetables, and fresh bread.

As he sat down, Alicia leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "So, tell me, Alden. What exactly are you holding back?"

He met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "What makes you think I'm holding back?"

"Instinct," she replied without hesitation. "You have the fundamentals. Your swordplay is clean, precise. But there were moments in our fight where I felt you hesitating. Like you were suppressing something."

Alden was silent for a moment, taking a bite of his food. He chewed slowly, considering his words.

She wasn't wrong.

He had deliberately not used Voidstep or Eclipse Vision in their spar. Those abilities were too dangerous to reveal so soon. If he had used them, the fight could have gone differently—but that wasn't the point. He had wanted to see how far he could push himself without them.

And he had found his answer.

He wasn't there yet.

"You're imagining things," he finally said, his voice neutral.

Alicia huffed. "Liar. But fine, keep your secrets. Just know that if you ever want another fight, I won't hold back next time either."

"I'd be disappointed if you did."

She smirked, clearly satisfied with that answer.

Their conversation drifted to other topics—academy politics, upcoming ranking evaluations, the rumors about an underground duel club within the academy.

But the entire time, Alden's mind kept replaying the fight.

He needed to improve. Not just his aura control, but his ability to adapt mid-battle. Alicia had dominated because she knew how to use every advantage at her disposal. If he wanted to surpass her, he couldn't just rely on power—he had to refine his strategy.

And he would.

A Presence in the Distance

As they ate, Alden's attention was drawn to another table, where a familiar group was seated.

The main cast—Leonhardt, Seraphina, Anneliese, and a few others—were gathered, engaged in conversation.

What caught his attention, however, was Anneliese.

Unlike before, she wasn't stiff or overly withdrawn. She wasn't exactly open, but she seemed… comfortable. She nodded occasionally, listening intently as Seraphina spoke. Leonhardt laughed at something, and even Anneliese gave a small, almost imperceptible smile.

It was a subtle change, but Alden noticed it.

So she's starting to warm up to them.

He wasn't sure how he felt about that.

Their first meeting had been a calculated move on his part, a way to establish a connection. He had expected her to remain distant for a while longer, hesitant to trust others.

But now, she was adapting.

Fitting in.

He had no real reason to stop her. If anything, this was good. The more entangled she became with the main cast, the more useful she would be when the time came.

As the evening wore on, the cafeteria gradually emptied. Alicia eventually stood, stretching. "Well, that was fun. Let me know when you want that rematch."

Alden smirked. "You'll be the first to know."

She gave him a mock salute before heading off, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

He sat there for a while longer, watching the main cast from a distance before finally standing and leaving the cafeteria.

His loss today had taught him something valuable.

He wasn't ready.

But he would be.

And the next time he faced Alicia—

He wouldn't lose.