The Quiet Challenger

Observation Chamber, Academy Authority Boardroom

Far from the stadium, a wide domed chamber overlooked the arena via large arcane viewing panels. Several evaluators sat discussing the fight, but one woman leaned forward, watching the replay in silence.

She was older—graceful and commanding, with sharp grey eyes and a silver pendant resting against her academy robes.

She rewound the match again. This time, she paused at the key moments: the crackling mist, the thunder within water, and finally—the final Aqua Jet colliding with Whisp's ultimate flame attack.

She pressed a button to zoom in on Luna's aura at the moment of skill activation.

There it was. Clear as daylight to her trained eyes:

Water and electricity interwoven. Elemental resonance.

"A dual-element whisp," she whispered, almost reverently.

No one else in the room had picked it up.

To most eyes, it had just been skilled mist use, clever tactics, and water manipulation. The electric hints were so subtly layered they vanished under the broader chaos of the match.

But she knew what she saw.

The woman leaned back with a satisfied smile.

"Gentlemen," she said calmly, "my decision stands. This match was more than justified. The boy is something else. That whisp… even more so."

The other evaluators nodded, still focused on replaying the battle's more obvious highlights.

Only she truly understood what Jimmy had brought to the ring.

And she wasn't going to tell anyone.

Not yet.

Back in the Stadium

Jimmy sat beside the bucket once more, checking Luna's status via his Space Codex.

Inside, Luna's health had stabilized. She was fully healed and awake, but… quiet.

Her tail floated lazily in the water. Her ears were down.

She stared at her reflection in the rippling surface.

Depressed. Distant.

Jimmy could feel it.

She blamed herself for not being strong enough. For being hit. For nearly losing.

Jimmy gently tapped the rim of the bucket and whispered:

"Wait there. If you come out too soon, it'll cause problems."

Luna didn't respond. She curled her tail closer to her body, staring deeper into the water.

Jimmy frowned. Then his thoughts flowed gently, clearly:

"Everyone learns from failure."

"You didn't lose. You fought better than anyone expected."

"He was high-grade primary. You're just intermediate-primary. There's a gap—but that's not your fault. It's training. Time. That's all."

Luna blinked once.

Her ears slowly perked.

And, after a long silence, she gave a tiny smile—weak, but real.

Moments later, Nun arrived, floating gracefully toward him with concern on her face. She held a small crystal wand in one hand.

She placed a soft palm on Jimmy's arm.

"Are you alright? Do you need help with recovery?"

Jimmy shook his head and signed in clear, elegant gestures:

"I'm fine. I brought healing potions, food, nutrients. I prepared everything."

Nun smiled knowingly.

"You always prepare."

He bowed slightly.

Then gently lifted Luna from the codex again and placed her back into the secondary bucket, infused with cooling herbs and a light nutrient blend for recovery. She rested there, calmer now.

A little while later, the old priest arrived, robes sweeping the floor behind him like whispers.

He stepped beside Jimmy and looked down at Luna, floating peacefully.

Then at Jimmy himself.

"How was the match?" he asked.

Jimmy looked up with a light in his eyes, exhaustion fading behind quiet pride.

"Very good," he replied softly. "Even without a contract… she trusted me. She fought with everything."

The priest gave a long nod.

"Yes. And that is a greater bond than any paper contract could offer."

Teacher Returns with Evaluation

Soon after, the teacher returned from the academy office, holding a neatly folded set of documents.

She approached Jimmy directly.

"Congratulations," she said, handing over the papers. "You passed. You've been placed into Class B. Your training will officially begin tomorrow."

She turned, ready to walk away—but Jimmy raised a hand again.

He signed:

"How many classes are there?"

She stopped, turned her head slightly, and said:

"Only three levels at this point in the academy: Elite Class, Class A, and Class B. You've been assigned to the foundational core."

Jimmy nodded.

Then pointed to the envelope:

"What about my passing certificate?"

The teacher glanced at her wristband.

"Here it is."

She handed him a sealed parchment—thick, official, glowing faintly with magical verification.

"Here is your passing certificate. Your room number is written on the back. Be at the dormitory tomorrow by sunset. Class will start from next to next days onward. Don't be late for enrolment."

Jimmy accepted it with both hands and bowed again.

The teacher gave one last look at the quiet boy, then at the recovering Luna, and turned away.

Jimmy turned to Nun, who smiled and stood beside him.

Luna's tail flicked gently in the water.

It was time to go.

Tomorrow, Class B awaited.

But for now, Jimmy had done enough.

He had passed.

He had fought.