This Isn't Over

A sudden shockwave blasted through the arena, sending dust and debris into the air. Students gasped at the spectacle.

Then, a voice rang out. Smooth. Mocking. "How disappointing."

A figure emerged, his aura standing out from the dust.

Caelum's eyes darkened. "Who dares to interrupt the duel?"

The figure didn't even glance at him, focusing solely on Valerius. "Prince, I didn't expect you to have such powers, you don't seem like a cripple at all."

Bram then said, "Brother, what are you…"

THUD!

Before he could finish, an invisible force slammed into him, sending him sprawling across the arena like a ragdoll. He groaned in pain, barely conscious.

The crowd fell into stunned silence.

Valerius tightened his grip on his katana. "Why did you interrupt our fight?"

The figure, Eldric Ravenflame had faint brown skin, his arms etched with markings that flickered like embers. His eyes glowed, one ember-bright, the other shadowy black. His long, wild hair mirrored this contrast, a blend of burning amber and darkness.

With cold eyes, he declared, "This duel is over."

 The tension in the air thickened as Eldric's ember and shadow eyes bore into Valerius. His lips curl slightly, in amusement.

Eldric coldly said, "You have won the duel, Prince but know this isn't over."

Valerius's grip on his katana tightens. What does he mean?

Bram groans from where he lies, barely conscious, Eldric then glances at the Ashrend brothers and says "Take this fool away." 

The Ravenflame heir then slowly took a step forward turning to leave.

Caelum then said, "Eldric why did you..."

Eldric cut him off, his tone sharp. "Caelum, I respect you as a teacher, but choose your next words carefully."

Then his gaze returned to Valerius.

"Enjoy your time at the academy, Prince…"He said with a faint smile on his face.

Without another word, Eldric vanished into the crowd, disappearing as quickly as he came.

The arena buzzed with whispers, but Valerius was thinking about Eldric's last words, This isn't over. What did he mean by that?

Valerius tried to push the nagging thoughts aside. I'll figure it out later, he told himself, his focus shifting as he took a slow breath. He couldn't afford to overthink it now. There was a class to attend.

Turning away from the arena, he walked briskly toward the exit, his pace steady despite the weight of the unanswered questions on his mind. For now, that had to be enough.

Elsewhere in a secluded chamber in the palace, Lilianne's golden eyes locked onto Dravenholt, her voice sharp as steel.

"How is he able to cultivate again? Is his bloodline no longer crippled?"

Dravenholt paused for a moment, his brow furrowing in thought. "I'm not sure how he's cultivating again. If I had to guess, it's some kind of medicine, maybe something from his mother's family," he replied quietly. His eyes darkened slightly as he continued, "As for his bloodline… There's something there. It might even be stronger than before."

He spoke slowly, as though the realization itself was difficult to process. His face seemed to shift, a small hint of concern flickering across it.

Lilianne remained calm, her golden eyes unwavering as she absorbed his words. The faint flame-like markings on her skin seemed to shift with the movement of the light as she ran a hand through her red-streaked hair. For a moment, she appeared deep in thought, her warm skin almost cold under the weight of the situation.

"Well," she said after a pause, her tone steady, "as long as we get rid of him before the Twilight Mirage Dragon Empire notices, our plans can still move forward."

Dravenholt nodded, his voice more certain. "You're right. We just need to deal with him. If no one finds out, they'll still think he's the same crippled prince he always was, no longer the one with the royal bloodline."

A heavy silence fell between them, full of unspoken decisions. They both knew what needed to be done.

After the duel, Valerius arrived at the classroom of Year One, Class E, just moments before the lesson was set to begin. The room was already filling with murmurs as students settled in. He found an empty seat near the middle, scanning the room briefly. About twenty students were present, some chatting in hushed tones, others lost in thought as they waited for the teacher's arrival.

The door creaked open, and a woman stepped inside with an air of quiet confidence. She had deep brown eyes that seemed to observe everything at once, her fair skin marked with faint red streaks along her arms. Her brown hair, streaked with crimson, shimmered slightly under the light as she moved. A warm smile crossed her lips as she addressed the class.

"Hello, my name is Elira Ironhart, and I will be your teacher for the next three years, or until you graduate," she said, her voice carrying a steady authority. "Before we go over today's plans and what you can expect in your first year, let's start with introductions."

She glanced across the room before settling her gaze on a particular student. "Let's begin with you, the one with silver hair and radiant silver eyes."

All eyes turned toward Valerius. He exhaled softly before rising from his seat, meeting the teacher's gaze with calm composure.

"My name is Valerius Von Aster…"

"My name is Valerius Von Aster," he began, his voice steady but carrying a faint edge of tension, "and I'm sixteen years old. My cultivation rank is Mana Core - Mana Embryo, and I haven't awakened a bloodline."

The words felt heavier than he expected, and as soon as they left his lips, an uncomfortable silence descended over the room. Eyes shifted uneasily, and a few students exchanged whispers.

'I thought the Fifth Prince was crippled...'

'That's the crippled Fifth Prince, right?'

'He's not a cripple anymore…'

'Didn't you hear? He even won that duel against Bram Ravenflame.'

The murmurs buzzed like a swarm of bees, their curiosity and disbelief mixing with subtle apprehension. Valerius could feel the weight of their stares on him, but he stood tall, his expression unreadable.

Elira's voice cut through the chatter like a sharp blade. "Quiet," she commanded, her tone firm but not unkind.

The room fell silent almost instantly.

"The next person behind him," she continued, nodding toward the student seated behind Valerius. "Let's move on," she said with a faint smile on her face.

As the murmurs died down, Valerius returned to his seat, his mind not bothered by his classmates' reactions, after all, he is not a cripple anymore...