###Chapter 15: Again!?
The next names announced by the teacher were unfamiliar to most of the students: Sora and Iris. A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Who are they?" someone whispered.
"I've never heard of them," another replied.
The lack of recognition wasn't surprising. Sora and Iris were far from being standout students. Neither had earned a reputation for daring feats. Both were mages who preferred to keep to themselves, and neither had displayed any aptitude for weapons or hand-to-hand combat.
As the pair stepped into the arena, the crowd's chatter continued, skepticism clear in their voices.
Arie leaned closer to the Princess, his sharp eyes fixed on the pair. "They don't look powerful. Do you think they'll be okay?"
The Princess, calm as ever, crossed her arms and observed. "Looks can be deceiving. Let's see what they're capable of."
The teacher's booming voice cut through the noise. "Sora and Iris, your opponent is the Enhanced Grimshale!"
Gasps erupted from the students.
"The Grimshale again?" Arie muttered under his breath, his gaze narrowing.
But as the teacher continued, Arie's unease deepened. This was the same Grimshale he had faced in the dungeon. The word "Enhanced" hung in the air like a dark omen.
Arie's jaw tightened. "That dungeon monster."
The Princess turned to him, her brows furrowing. "What?"
He nodded, his voice low. "I've faced that thing before. The Grimshale—it's not just any monster. It's a dungeon abomination. And now... it's here."
The Princess's expression shifted, her usual composure cracking. "If that's true, then this arena is far more dangerous than it seems. Why would they use dungeon creatures?"
Before Arie could respond, the Grimshale emerged from the gates. This version was larger, more menacing, its glowing red eyes brimming with malice. Its claws shimmered with a faint, eerie glow, and its movements were unnervingly agile for something its size.
Sora and Iris exchanged nervous glances.
"Ready?" Sora asked, his voice shaky.
Iris adjusted her grip on her staff, her knuckles white. "We don't have a choice, do we?"
The teacher's voice boomed again. "Begin!"
The Grimshale wasted no time, charging at the pair with terrifying speed. Sora barely managed to cast a barrier spell, the shimmering shield appearing just in time to block the creature's claws. The impact sent shockwaves through the arena, and the force of the blow cracked the ground beneath them.
Iris raised her staff, chanting rapidly. Flames erupted from her hands, forming a blazing inferno that surged toward the Grimshale. The fire engulfed the creature, and for a moment, it seemed like they had gained the upper hand.
But the Grimshale emerged unscathed, its thick hide immune to the flames. With a guttural roar, it swiped its massive claws again, shattering Sora's barrier like glass.
The crowd erupted into shouts and gasps.
"They're not coordinated," Arie muttered, his fists clenching. "They're fighting separately, not as a team."
The Princess nodded grimly. "That's a death sentence against a creature like that."
In the arena, panic began to set in. Sora and Iris were skilled mages, but their lack of teamwork was glaringly obvious. Sora tried to cast another spell, but the Grimshale lunged at him before he could finish. Iris attempted to distract the creature with a burst of ice shards, but her timing was off, and the attack missed its mark.
The Grimshale's claw struck Sora, sending him sprawling across the ground. His staff rolled away, clattering uselessly to the side.
"Sora!" Iris shouted, her voice trembling.
She tried to run to his side, but the Grimshale blocked her path, its red eyes locking onto her. It lunged forward, claws slashing, and Iris barely managed to leap out of the way.
"Why aren't they retreating?" Arie asked, his voice low.
The Princess shot him a sidelong glance. "Because retreating isn't an option. The teacher will only step in if their lives are truly at risk. Until then, they're on their own."
Arie's hands tightened into fists as he watched the fight unfold. His mind raced, replaying his own encounter with the Grimshale. He knew how relentless it was, how it exploited every weakness.
In the arena, Sora managed to pull himself to his feet, blood trickling from a cut on his forehead. He grabbed his staff and began chanting again, his voice hoarse but determined.
"Iris, cover me!" he shouted.
Iris nodded, her hands glowing with light as she prepared a healing spell. But before she could finish, the Grimshale turned on her, its massive claw swinging toward her head.
The crowd screamed as the claw connected, sending Iris flying. She hit the ground hard, her body limp.
Sora's chant faltered, his eyes widening in horror. "Iris!"
The Grimshale roared, advancing on the fallen girl.
Arie couldn't stay silent any longer. "They're going to die!" he shouted, turning to the Princess.
The Princess's expression was grim. "The teacher will intervene if it comes to that."
But Arie wasn't convinced. The Grimshale's claws glinted as it raised them for the finishing blow.
At the last moment, a barrier shimmered into existence, halting the creature's attack. The teacher stepped forward, his face calm but stern.
"That's enough," he said, his voice carrying across the arena.
The Grimshale growled but obeyed, retreating as the teacher gestured for it to stand down.
Medics rushed into the arena, tending to Sora and Iris. The crowd was silent, the weight of what they had just witnessed sinking in.
Arie exhaled slowly, his body tense.
The Princess spoke first, her voice soft but firm. "If the academy is using dungeon monsters, then something is very wrong here. This isn't just training."
Arie nodded, his gaze lingering on the Grimshale as it was led away. He could feel the tension in the air, a storm brewing just beyond the horizon.
This was no ordinary academy, and these were no ordinary battles. Something darker was at play, and Arie knew it was only a matter of time before the truth revealed itself.
The teacher's voice echoed through the arena, silencing the whispers of concern after Sora and Iris were carried off to the infirmary. He cleared his throat and scanned the remaining students.
"Next pair, step forward!" he commanded, his tone firm yet expectant.
A moment of silence hung in the air before a boy with spiky black hair and a confident smirk nudged his partner—a shy-looking girl with long, braided auburn hair and glasses. She hesitated for a moment, clutching her staff tightly, but eventually nodded and followed him toward the center of the arena.
The boy was the first to speak, his voice loud and brimming with confidence. "Don't worry, Teach. We've got this!"
The girl, though quieter, murmured a soft affirmation, her gaze flickering nervously between her partner and the now-bloodstained ground where the Grimshale had stood moments ago.
The teacher's lips curled into a slight grin. "Alright, let's see what you're capable of."
The crowd's chatter picked up again, fueled by curiosity and speculation about the new pair's abilities. All eyes locked onto the two as they prepared for their trial, the next battle about to unfold.