The atmosphere in the arena was tense, the air thick with anticipation. The crowd of students and professors gathered to watch the next round of battles in the First Year Admission Tournament. Among them was a wide range of reactions—from curiosity to outright disdain—as Lucius faced off against Soren.
Ash Braker stood among the crowd, his arms casually crossed, but his sharp blue eyes were laser-focused on the arena. His gaze didn't waver from Lucius's movements, watching the calculated steps he took in the fight. From the moment Lucius drew a handgun and a dagger instead of a more conventional weapon, Ash's interest was piqued.
He's not using magic… strange, Ash thought, his lips curling into a subtle smile. The quick movements, the precise shots—everything Lucius did seemed deliberate. Unlike Soren, who was brimming with magical enhancements, Lucius wasn't relying on any visible spells.
Instead, he was methodical, keeping his distance while dodging and parrying attacks with ease. Ash couldn't help but feel admiration growing. Lucius's calm demeanor throughout the fight—how he managed to stay composed even in the face of Soren's aggression—was something Ash found impressive.
Hah, he really ain't like the other nobles… he's using a logical, yet cold strategy.
When Lucius fired a shot into the sky, Ash's brow furrowed. The bullet didn't hit its mark, and yet Lucius didn't seem fazed. Moments later, as the bullet ricocheted off the magical barrier surrounding the arena, hitting Soren's scalp, realization dawned on Ash.
He planned that all along? Ash's grin widened. Yeah, maybe he isn't what the rumors make him out to be.
....
Seraphina Lysandor stood in the crowd, her arms crossed over her chest. Her piercing bright crystal blue eyes followed Lucius's movements, but her expression was as icy and unreadable as ever. The fight was… interesting, to say the least. She wasn't impressed by Soren's over-reliance on brute force and augmentation magic. Lucius's tactics, however, caught her attention.
He fights like he's playing chess, Seraphina thought, watching as Lucius kept Soren at bay with his gun, using his dagger only when absolutely necessary. It was a refreshing change from the usual flashy combat she'd grown accustomed to seeing from nobles. Lucius, in contrast, was ruthlessly efficient.
A flicker of amusement crossed her mind when she glanced at Ash, who stood watching the fight with a broad smile. What's he smiling about? Seraphina's eyes flickered back and forth between Ash and Lucius. Are they friends? The thought was laughable. Lucius, with his cold and distant demeanor, didn't seem like the type to make friends easily.
Then again, Ash had a strange way of befriending others around him. Perhaps they are more than friends? She suppressed a small chuckle at the ridiculous thought.
No, that's unlikely. Lucius was too closed off, and Ash… was far too optimistic. Seraphina returned her focus to the fight, but the thought lingered in the back of her mind, amusing her as she continued to watch.
....
From his elevated platform, Grandmaster Veridane watched the battle unfold, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable. He had seen hundreds of matches like this before—students eager to prove their worth, relying on magical prowess or high-tech weapons. At first, Lucius's choice of a handgun and a dagger seemed unremarkable, even disappointing.
A gun? Veridane thought dismissively. How uninspired.
But as the fight progressed, his interest was piqued. Lucius wasn't fighting like the other students. He wasn't relying on flashy spells or brute strength. Instead, he was cold, calculated—manipulating Soren's every move and waiting for the right moment to strike. The moment Lucius fired that shot into the air, Veridane's eyes narrowed, following the bullet's trajectory as it ricocheted off the barrier and hit Soren.
He planned that? Veridane's frown deepened. Lucius wasn't just surviving—he was controlling the battlefield, turning the fight to his advantage. His tactics were ruthless, bordering on cruel.
As the fight came to a close, with Lucius standing victorious and Soren pinned beneath his boot, Veridane's gaze darkened. This one… he doesn't fight like the others around him. There's cruelty—it's dangerous.
Veridane could already see why the other students avoided Lucius. It wasn't just his arrogance—it was the way he fought, cold and unyielding. As the Grandmaster considered the implications, his gaze remained on Lucius, quietly observing.
He'll need to be kept on watch, for the safety of the his fellow students.
....
The murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire. Students leaned toward one another, whispering about the match they had just witnessed.
"Did you see that? He used a gun! What kind of noble fights like that?"
"It's cowardly. He didn't even use magic!"
"But… he won, didn't he? Soren's not an easy opponent."
"Still… that wasn't a real fight. Lucius just ran around and shot at him. What kind of noble does that?"
"Yeah, but it worked. He outsmarted Soren. And did you see how he ended the fight? Cold as ice."
"I don't know… I wouldn't want to be on his bad side."
....
Elena Drexith stood quietly among the other students, her vivid blue hair catching the sunlight as her sharp red eyes followed the fight in the arena. She had been the one meant to fight Soren—at least, if things had gone the way they were supposed to. But now, she stood watching someone else take her place.
She tilted her head slightly as she watched Lucius, her long blue hair shifting with the movement. There was something about the way he fought that intrigued her. It wasn't like the other nobles—there was no showmanship, no arrogance. He fought because he had to, and his movements were deliberate, precise.
I wonder, how would I fair in a fight against Soren Caldrex, Elena thought, her red eyes narrowing as Lucius fired his final shot into Soren. No… rather, im glad i didn't have to fight him.
As the match ended and Lucius walked away, Elena continued to watch him, her curiosity growing. He's different, she thought. I wonder what drives him.
For a moment, their eyes met across the arena, and Elena felt a strange flutter in her chest. She couldn't quite place it, but she knew one thing for sure: she wanted to know more about Lucius Foster.
…..
Lucius walked down the hall, away from the arena with the need to use the bathroom, the tension from the battle finally easing out of his body. His shoulders sagged, and his mind was racing with thoughts about the fight and what was to come next.
Suddenly, he felt a tickle in his nose. Before he could stop it, a loud sneeze erupted, causing him to rub his nose irritably.
Ugh, why does it feel like there's people talking behind my back? He glanced around, half expecting to see someone gossiping in the shadows. Of course, there was no one there.
He sighed, shrugging off the odd feeling. Doesn't matter. I survived, and that's what counts.