Chapter 22: Inter-Academy Tournament

Luciel sat in his morning class, his golden eyes staring blankly at the chalkboard as Professor Jadestar droned on about advanced mana theory. Normally, he would have been engrossed in the lecture, eager to absorb every detail. But today, his mind was elsewhere. The events of the morning replayed in his head like a broken record—Katharine lounging on his couch, the warmth of her embrace, the teasing glint in her red eyes, and the awkwardness of waking up next to her. His face flushed just thinking about it.

Why did she have to stay the night? Luciel thought, his fingers tapping restlessly on the desk. And why can't I stop thinking about it?

He tried to focus, but every time he closed his eyes, he saw Katharine's playful smile. Even the memory of her ruffling his hair made his heart skip a beat. It was maddening. He had never felt this way before, and he wasn't sure how to process it.

"Luciel," Professor Jadestar's sharp voice cut through his thoughts, snapping him back to reality. "Care to explain the relationship between mana density and elemental affinity?"

Luciel blinked, his golden eyes wide with panic. "Uh... mana density determines the potency of an awakener's elemental affinity, but it's also influenced by the individual's control and focus."

Professor Jadestar raised an eyebrow, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly. "Correct, but try to pay attention next time. You're usually more engaged."

Luciel nodded, his face burning with embarrassment. "Yes, Professor. Sorry."

As the class continued, Luciel forced himself to focus, but his mind kept drifting back to Katharine. 

...

Aria and Arthuria, who were sitting a few rows ahead of him, exchanged a glance. Aria's green eyes narrowed as she turned slightly to look at Luciel, her expression a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Arthuria, ever observant, noticed Luciel's distracted state as well. Her icy blue gaze lingered on him for a moment before she leaned over to whisper to Aria.

"Something's off with him," Arthuria murmured, her voice low. "He's never this unfocused in class."

Aria nodded, her lips tightening into a thin line. "Yeah, and he's been acting weird all morning. Did you see how he practically ran out of the dorm earlier? He looked like he'd seen a ghost."

Arthuria's gaze flicked back to Luciel, her silver hair shimmering faintly in the sunlight streaming through the classroom windows. "Do you think it has something to do with Katharine? She's been hanging around him a lot lately."

Aria's eyes darkened at the mention of Katharine. "Probably. That girl's nothing but trouble. I don't like her."

Arthuria sighed, her tone thoughtful. "We should talk to him later."

Aria nodded in agreement, though her expression remained troubled. "Yeah. But if that vixen is involved, I'm not letting her off the hook that easily."

...

Later that day, Luciel arrived at the Warblades' training facility for his elective class. The facility was bustling with activity as members of the club prepared for the day's training. The air was thick with anticipation, and Luciel could feel the room's energy as he stepped inside.

Kaelith stood at the center of the training grounds, his blue eyes scanning the group. "Today's activity is dueling," he announced, his voice carrying across the room. "Pair up and test your skills. Remember, this is about learning, not winning. Focus on your technique and adaptability."

As the members began pairing up, a few of the older students voiced their concerns. Marcus, a second-year with a muscular build, raised his hand. "Kaelith, are you sure about this? Luciel's still a first-year. We don't want to hurt him."

Elena, a third-year with a calm demeanor, nodded in agreement. "He's talented, but he's not at our level yet. Maybe we should pair him with someone closer to his rank."

Kaelith's trademark smile returned, though his eyes were serious. "Luciel's stronger than you think. He's been training hard, and he needs to face stronger opponents to grow.

The group nodded, though some still looked uneasy. Luciel stepped forward, his golden eyes glowing faintly. "I'll be fine."

The first duel was against Marcus. Luciel summoned his Sword Domain, the blades of light materializing around him as he prepared for the fight. Marcus charged forward, his movements swift and precise, but Luciel managed to dodge and counter with surprising agility. The duel lasted longer than anyone expected, and though Luciel eventually lost, Marcus extended a hand with a respectful nod.

"Not bad, rookie," Marcus said, his tone genuine and impressed. "You've got some serious potential."

Luciel smiled, though his body ached from the exertion. "Thanks."

The next duel was against Elena. She was a master of water-based techniques, her movements fluid and unpredictable. Luciel struggled to keep up, but he managed to hold his own for a while, using Void Step to evade her attacks and Sword Domain to keep her at bay. In the end, Elena's experience won out, and she landed a decisive blow that sent Luciel sprawling to the ground.

Elena extended a hand to help him up, her expression kind. "You're improving, Luciel. Keep it up."

Luciel nodded, his golden eyes glowing faintly. "Thanks, Elena."

...

The last duel of the day was against Katharine. She stepped into the ring with her usual playful grin, her red eyes gleaming with mischief. "Ready to lose, kid?" she teased, summoning a pair of daggers made of shadowy energy.

Luciel's face flushed, but he forced himself to focus. "Not gonna happen."

The duel was intense from the start. Katharine moved with a speed and precision that left Luciel struggling to keep up. Her attacks were relentless, each strike calculated to push him to his limits. Luciel used Void Step to evade her blows and Sword Domain to counter, but Katharine's experience and skill were overwhelming.

In the end, Katharine landed a devastating blow that sent Luciel crashing to the ground. He groaned, his body aching from the impact, but he managed to push himself to his feet. Katharine extended a hand to help him up, her grin softening. "You're getting better, kid."

Luciel nodded, his golden eyes glowing faintly as he groaned in frustration. "Thanks, Katharine. But dammit I really wanted to land good hit on you."

Katharine chuckled in response, before flicking his forehead with her index finger.

...

As the training session came to an end, Luciel sat on the sidelines, catching his breath. It had been three months since he first entered Celestia Academy, and he couldn't believe how much had changed. He had gone from a street kid with no direction to a promising awakener with a growing reputation,

Luciel left the training facility, but he was met by Aria and Arthuria, who had been waiting for him outside. Aria crossed her arms, her green eyes narrowing as she looked at him. "Alright, Luciel. Spill it. What's going on with you?"

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

Arthuria stepped forward, her icy blue gaze piercing. "You've been acting strange all day. You were completely unfocused in class, and you looked like you were in a hurry this morning. What's going on?"

Luciel hesitated, his golden eyes flicking between the two of them. He wasn't sure how much to tell them, but he knew he couldn't keep it to himself forever. "It's... complicated."

Aria's expression softened slightly, though her tone remained firm. "We're your friends, Luciel. You can talk to us."

Luciel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's just... Katharine was in my room this morning. She stayed the night.."

Aria's eyes widened, and Arthuria's lips tightened into a thin line. "What?" Aria exclaimed, her voice rising. "What was she doing in your room?"

Luciel quickly held up his hands, his face flushing. "It's not what you think! We didn't do anything like that. She just kept me company and now I can't stop thinking about it."

Arthuria's expression softened, and she placed a hand on Luciel's shoulder. "It's okay, Luciel. We're here for you."

Aria nodded, though her eyes still burned with frustration.

Luciel managed a small smile, feeling a sense of relief. "Thanks, you guys. I'll figure it out."

They made their way to the next class, and when the class started, Professor Jadestar cleared her throat, her crimson eyes scanning the room with a rare glint of excitement. "Before we start, I have an important announcement to make."

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to the professor. 

"In two months' time," Professor Jadestar began, her voice carrying a weight of authority, "the annual Inter-Academy Tournament will take place. This is the largest event of the year, not just for us at Celestia Academy, but for all of humanity. The tournament will be streamed live to every household, making it a spectacle unlike any other."

A murmur of excitement rippled through the class. A tournament? Streamed to the entire human domain? This was huge.

Professor Jadestar continued, her tone commanding attention. "The tournament is divided into leagues based on study years, meaning first-years will compete against first-years, second-years against second-years, and so on. There will be a variety of events, including basic duels, war games, battle royal, and more. Each event is designed to test not only your individual strength but also your teamwork, strategy, and adaptability."

Aria leaned over to Arthuria, her green eyes sparkling with excitement. "This is our chance to show what we're made of."

Arthuria nodded, her icy blue gaze focused on the professor. "It's also an opportunity to see how we measure up against the other academies."

Professor Jadestar's gaze swept across the room, her expression serious. "This tournament is not just about winning. It's about representing Celestia Academy and proving that we are the best of the best. I expect each and every one of you who will be participating to do their best."