Azuma immediately entered the arena, deflecting the spear aimed at Asuka, causing it to fly far away and miss its target. He then attacked Merlin, sending her sprawling off the arena platform.
Zaky, who witnessed this, ran to help Merlin, disregarding the stares of the crowd and the threats of his father, who had forbidden him from associating with her.
"Are you okay?" Zaky asked, worry evident in his voice.
"I'm fine," Merlin replied as she stood up, brushing off her clothes.
"Thank goodness," Zaky said, relieved to see her unharmed.
"Go back. I don't want you to get into trouble because of me," Merlin said, not wanting the Black Clan to get involved in unrelated conflicts.
Meanwhile, Azuma tried to free Asuka from the chains binding him, but the chains held fast, refusing to loosen.
Merlin, visibly frustrated, gave a middle finger—a gesture that went unnoticed by everyone but herself. Without another word, she flew off the arena with Lucy, heading back to the forest.
"Are you satisfied now?" Lucy asked, sensing Merlin's anger.
"I'm upset because Azuma used his authority to push me around. Their arrogance disgusts me. The royal family is so full of themselves because no one dares to stand up to them," Merlin vented, recalling the haughty behavior of Sujin and Asuka, the second prince of the Eastern Kingdom.
"What will you do next? The chains binding Asuka can't be removed unless by you. That's essentially torturing him," Lucy reminded.
Merlin hadn't realized the extent of her own power. The chains left behind were conjured from Asuka's own companion beast, bound to obey Merlin alone.
The match was temporarily called off as evening fell, but news of the chaos Merlin had caused spread quickly across the kingdom. Many criticized her for defying the royal family, unaware of the events that had led up to the duel.
Azuma, feeling betrayed by Merlin, regretted ever trusting or helping her. Without seeking clarification, he concluded that Merlin was malicious and intent on attacking his family.
Unwilling to assist Asuka any further, Merlin retreated to the forest, longing for the peace she once enjoyed. Life in the forest was free from the greed and arrogance of the people she despised.
From the moment she had arrived at the academy, Merlin had sensed the deep-seated rivalry among clans, each striving for dominance. This constant tension unsettled her. However, she now understood the harsh reality: strength was everything.
Her musings were interrupted when someone grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.
"What are you doing here?" Merlin exclaimed, startled to see Zaky following her.
"I'm worried about you. You fought alone and were thrown out of the arena. Are you really okay?" Zaky asked, his concern unwavering.
"I'm more worried about you. If you keep following me, you could get into serious trouble with your father. Go back to the academy. This is my home, and I'll be fine. I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me," Merlin said firmly.
"I'm truly worried about you. Please, don't push me away or ignore me—I care about you," Zaky pleaded, refusing to release her hand.
"I'm fine. Please, don't follow me anymore," Merlin insisted, knowing the King of the Black Clan would not stand idly by.
"I know you're in trouble. I'll always be here for you, no matter what. Please, don't dismiss me," Zaky said, his voice filled with concern.
Zaky suspected that Asuka had provoked Merlin into the confrontation, as Merlin was not one to pick fights.
"I'll return for now, but I'll visit you often to check on you," Zaky finally relented and left.
Merlin continued walking, her mind heavy with the events that had unfolded. She longed for the peace of her forest home, a place far removed from the ambition and arrogance of others.
"What are you even planning to do now? What about the tournament?" Lucy asked, noting Merlin's lack of motivation.
"I don't know. I might just stay in a cave for now. I've lost my chance at the tournament, and my plans for revenge are ruined," Merlin said despondently.
"You act like you're completely alone, but you're not. I'm here, and whatever you do, I'll support you," Lucy said, trying to encourage her.
Before Merlin could rest, a commotion caught her attention. She turned to find Zaky thrown to the ground by an attack. Concerned, Merlin rushed to help him.
"What happened here?" she asked, tending to Zaky's injuries.
As she did, a sword appeared from behind, its blade pressed against her neck, startling her.