Chapter 14 – The First Trial

The training grounds were vast, an open-air arena of stone and reinforced steel, designed to withstand the full force of mana-enhanced combat. The Academy's combat field had seen countless duels, victories, and failures—and now, it would bear witness to Ariel's first fight.

Students gathered around the edges of the grounds, murmuring in low voices. Though some were simply eager to begin their own training, most had their eyes fixed on the newest arrival. The unknown factor. The one who had trained under Selene. The one who had entered their world without fear.

Arthur stood off to the side, arms crossed, a smirk playing at his lips. He had no doubt the instructors would pit Ariel against someone skilled—not out of cruelty, but to see where he stood.

Professor Reinhardt stood at the center of the arena, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "Pairing assignments have been adjusted today. Our newest student will begin with a live demonstration." He gestured toward Ariel, then turned his gaze to another student. "Ethan, you'll be his opponent."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Ethan was an Exemplar-ranked student, a third-year like Arthur, known for his speed and precision. Not the strongest in the class, but no easy opponent.

Ethan stepped forward, rolling his shoulders, the confidence in his stance evident. "I won't hold back," he said, his tone casual, but laced with something else—curiosity.

Ariel merely gave a small nod. He was unreadable as ever.

Reinhardt raised his hand. "Begin."

Ethan moved first.

He lunged, closing the distance in a blink. His blade shot forward, aiming directly for Ariel's shoulder.

Ariel dodged—barely. His reaction time was sharp, but not honed. Ethan pressed the attack, forcing Ariel onto the defensive, his strikes fast and relentless.

Arthur watched intently. He's analyzing, not panicking. Good.

Ariel sidestepped another attack, his footwork efficient but lacking aggression. He wasn't fighting to win—he was fighting to understand.

Ethan smirked. "What's wrong? I thought you trained under Elder Selene."

Ariel's grip on his sword shifted. A small, nearly imperceptible change.

Ethan attacked again, but this time, Ariel didn't retreat. He stepped into the attack, parrying at an angle that deflected the force instead of absorbing it.

Arthur's smirk widened. There it is.

The shift was subtle but undeniable. Ariel was learning, adapting, faster than any normal student should. He still wasn't aggressive, but his movements were becoming sharper, more refined.

Ethan, noticing the change, narrowed his eyes. "Tch. Let's see how well you really keep up."

He activated his mana.

A faint glow surrounded Ethan's body, enhancing his speed. He shot forward, blade flashing like lightning.

Ariel barely had time to react. Too fast.

The strike connected, sending him stumbling back.

The crowd murmured, some laughing under their breath. So much for the prodigy.

Arthur, however, didn't laugh. He watched as Ariel steadied himself, eyes flashing with something cold. Something focused.

He exhaled.

Then his body shone with incandescent silver light, as if the very moon had descended upon him. The glow was not blinding, but it carried a depth—an ethereal radiance that made the air around him hum with raw power. His mana, once dormant, surged to life, rippling through his veins like liquid silver. 

And then, for the first time—he moved.

Ariel surged forward, not with brute force, but with precision. His blade cut through the air, intercepting Ethan's next attack. The impact cracked against the silence of the arena.

Arthur felt his pulse quicken. Not bad.

Ethan grit his teeth, doubling down, but now Ariel wasn't just reacting—he was controlling the flow.

The duel was no longer one-sided.

Professor Reinhardt watched in silence, eyes sharp.

The battle was just beginning.

Ethan gritted his teeth, his stance shifting as he reevaluated his opponent. The fluidity of Ariel's movements had changed—he was no longer hesitating, no longer simply reacting. His strikes, though measured, carried an unmistakable weight behind them.

Ethan feinted left before pivoting sharply, aiming for Ariel's exposed side. But Ariel saw it. He didn't just block—he redirected. His blade twisted at the last moment, guiding Ethan's strike away with an effortless flick of the wrist. The counter was seamless, precise—an execution of technique that should have taken years to refine.

The crowd's murmurs grew louder.

Ethan wasn't finished. He pivoted again, faster this time, activating another surge of mana to enhance his speed. He aimed lower, trying to force Ariel off-balance.

But Ariel didn't move like a typical Academy student.

Instead of dodging outright, he took a measured step back, using the momentum of Ethan's lunge against him. He shifted his weight just enough, then drove his sword downward, locking Ethan's weapon in place.

For the first time in the match, Ethan staggered.

Arthur's smirk grew. He's not just learning—he's adapting in real-time.

Ethan snarled and twisted away, breaking the deadlock. His pride wouldn't allow him to be overpowered so easily. He launched forward, mana crackling around his blade as he aimed a decisive strike at Ariel's torso.

But Ariel had already moved.

A step to the right. A twist of the wrist. A downward arc—

And then, his blade was at Ethan's throat.

Silence.

Ethan stood frozen, chest rising and falling with labored breaths. He stared at the cold edge of Ariel's sword, realization dawning in his eyes.

Professor Reinhardt took a step forward, his expression unreadable. "That's enough. The match is decided."

Ariel exhaled slowly, lowering his blade and stepping back without fanfare. He offered no triumphant smirk, no look of satisfaction—just quiet, composed acknowledgment of the fight.

Ethan clenched his jaw but nodded, begrudgingly recognizing his defeat.

Arthur let out a low chuckle. "Well, that was something."

The murmurs in the crowd grew louder. Some students looked at Ariel with curiosity, others with newfound wariness. He was no longer just the unknown factor.

Now, he was a threat.