Chapter 49 – Kael's Demonstration

The following day dawned crisp and clear—perfect for a public demonstration. Kael's new bracers needed testing, and Elara, in collaboration with the king, had arranged something suitably grand: a full-scale sparring event against the City Guard and the elite Royal Guard.

The practice arena, shaped like a great amphitheater, buzzed with excitement. Noble spectators filtered into private viewing platforms, while the lower tiers filled with curious citizens, guards off-duty, and academy students hungry for spectacle. The king himself attended, seated in his elevated, rune-etched platform. Beside him sat Elara, her presence alone enough to draw a few gasps from the gathered crowd.

She wore a long coat of dark plum, embroidered with fine silver thread. Beneath, a high-slit battle dress shimmered with magically reinforced fibers, cut elegantly above her knees and flaring with movement. Her heels—gilded, open-toed, and rune-etched—clicked delicately as she crossed her legs, her painted nails matching the violet gleam of her earrings.

Kael stood in the arena's center, stretching her arms and rolling her shoulders with practiced control. Her new bracers shimmered faintly in the morning light, the modular rings softly rotating in standby. The guards formed up on the opposite end—twenty in total, including half a dozen Royal Guard elites.

As the formations settled, Elara casually surveyed the lineup. One of the Adept Knights caught her attention. He was tall, with tousled dark hair and a proud stance, his armor perfectly polished. There was something oddly familiar about him. Her brows drew together slightly.

Where have I seen him before?

Her stomach fluttered uncomfortably when he looked in her direction, catching her gaze. A rush of heat surged to her cheeks, and she quickly looked away.

The king, noticing the change in her complexion, leaned slightly toward her. "Are you quite alright, Professor Wyrmshade?"

Elara blinked, clearing her throat. "Yes—yes, I'm fine. Just… the sun."

The king raised a brow but said nothing.

Back in the arena, the match began with a sharp burst of mana from the herald.

Kael wasted no time. She blurred forward like a fired bolt, the modular rings of her bracers shifting mid-movement. Her opening strike launched two guards backward before they had time to raise shields. She flipped into the air, sent a pulse of heat down at the Royal Guard's defensive line, and landed among them with a controlled shockwave.

Gasps rang out.

Within minutes, Kael had dismantled the City Guard. She then turned to the Royal Guard, who regrouped quickly into a tight formation.

But it didn't matter.

Kael tested the new features with ruthless precision. She triggered a repulsion spell mid-spin, reversed the flow with a redirect glyph, and sent a blast of wind that knocked three guards to the edge of the ring. Her bracers gleamed, glowing brighter with each spell cast.

Elara watched in proud silence, though her gaze occasionally drifted back to the young knight who hadn't yet engaged. When Kael had finally cleared the field, the herald called the bout with a raised arm.

The knight—that knight—approached Elara. Her heart thumped as she stood to meet him, offering a polite nod.

"I don't believe we've met," she said, voice steady despite the internal whirlwind. "Your name, sir?"

He bowed formally, then looked up with a hint of admiration. "Leo, my lady. Adept Knight Leo Varence."

The name hit her like a lightning strike.

Leo. Mira's twin.

The boy who used to follow her and Mira around like a lost puppy. The one who used to blush furiously when she smiled at him.

The realization flooded her with heat. Her posture stiffened, and she let out an uncharacteristic squeak.

"I—I have to go."

She turned sharply and began to walk—no, flee—toward the edge of the platform.

"Professor Wyrmshade?" the king called after her, confused.

Kael, ever vigilant, immediately followed.

Elara didn't stop until she reached the private hallway connecting the arena to the academy building. She braced herself against the wall, breathing heavily, heart pounding.

That was Leo. That was Leo!

The awkward, sweet kid from her childhood was now a fully grown man. And she'd been ogling him.

Kael stopped beside her, not asking questions. Just waiting. Watching.

"I can't believe this," Elara muttered, face buried in her hands. "Of all the people… why did he have to grow up like that?"

For the rest of the day—and the week that followed—Elara was a mess.

She dropped tools mid-research. Fumbled spell notations. Repeated herself in lectures. She even wore mismatched shoes once—Kael silently corrected her before anyone else noticed.

Thoughts of Leo plagued her. His eyes, the confident way he carried himself, his voice. And worst of all—how he hadn't even recognized her.

A full week passed before she finally ran into Mira in the city. And when she did, everything came flooding out...