As the students began filing out of the hall, guided by the second-year students toward their dormitories, Rai's mind wandered. Amidst the rush of new faces and the bustling chatter, one thought persisted in his mind. Where is she?
His eyes scanned the room, searching for the fiery red of her hair or the glimmer of those beautiful, burning eyes. His heart raced a little faster as he pushed through the crowd, not entirely sure why the thought of Rose Scarlett lingered so strongly in his mind.
And then, at last, he found her.
She wasn't among the crowd of students heading toward the doors. No, she was perched higher—on a private balcony overlooking the hall. The way she sat, poised and detached from the chaos below, was exactly what Rai had imagined. "Of course she would be there", he thought to himself. "She is the daughter of the current Elemental Magistrate, after all".
He couldn't tear his eyes away from her. The sunlight caught her fiery red hair, casting a halo around her, and for a moment, the bustling world around him seemed to fall silent. His thoughts filled with memories of their brief encounter earlier. His mind raced, reminding him of how boldly he'd declared she would be his wife when he became the Elmag. "Did she remember"? He wondered.
Rose, seemingly aware of his gaze, looked up from her position on the balcony. Their eyes met, and in that moment, Rai could've sworn time had slowed. But in the next instant, she quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks flushing a deep red. Rai's warm smile only grew wider as he waved at her, his expression bright and playful.
Rose's reaction, however, was immediate. Her face, already flushed with color, turned even redder as she hastily turned her back on him. With a sharp, dismissive flick of her hair, she walked away, her steps quick and purposeful. Yet, despite her attempt to ignore him, Rai couldn't help but notice the lingering hint of embarrassment on her face.
The image of Rose, flustered yet strangely intrigued, stayed with Rai as he continued to watch her retreat. It was just the beginning of their interaction, but in Rai's mind, it was already a victory. "She'll remember me now", he thought with a sense of pride.
And with that, Rai's thoughts shifted back to the journey ahead. The road to becoming the Elmag was still long, but in this moment, he couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement, knowing that his path would be filled with far more than just challenges.
Rai was about to leave the hall, his mind still buzzing with thoughts of Rose, when suddenly, a sharp shove from behind sent him crashing to the floor. He groaned as he hit the cold stone, his hands instinctively reaching for the ground to push himself up. The sound of footsteps echoed around him as he struggled to rise.
He looked up and saw the source of the disturbance: a group of four students, all standing tall and intimidating around him. They were blocking his way, their faces twisted with malice. Rai's eyes narrowed, already knowing that trouble had found him again.
The leader of the group, a tall boy with spiky white hair, stepped forward. His eyes, marked with the wind symbol—a pair of wings—glowed faintly, indicating his affiliation with the Mach clan, a branch of the Wind Clan known for its unrivaled speed. He was Baruss Bromach, the next heir to the Mach clan, and as the rumors went, one of the strongest of the first-year students. His eyes gleamed with arrogance as he looked down at Rai.
"I can't believe someone like you is attending the same academy as I am," Baruss sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. The entire hall fell silent, the tension in the air palpable. Students gathered around the scene, eyes wide with curiosity, while some of them, including Rose from the balcony above, watched the unfolding drama with rapt attention.
Baruss's three lackeys flanked him, forming a circle around Rai, trapping him in place. "Every second you stay here, the more shame you bring to this academy," Baruss continued, stepping closer, his expensive clothes rustling with each move. He wore them like a crown, a clear display of his noble status. "I'd say it's best you just leave and save yourself the embarrassment."
The room held its collective breath. Everyone knew Baruss was a powerhouse—rumors swirled that his skills were on par with Rose herself. It seemed like an undeniable fact that Rai stood no chance against someone of his caliber.
But Rai didn't flinch. Despite the looming threat, he stood tall, his eyes filled with unwavering determination. He wasn't about to let these miscreants get the best of him.
With slow, deliberate movements, Rai stood up. His expression was calm, but his eyes burned with purpose. "You," he pointed a finger at Baruss, his voice steady but loud enough to command attention, "whatever your name is—if you're so hung up on me bringing shame, why don't we duel?"
A stunned silence followed. Rai's words hung in the air, but not in the way he'd hoped. Instead of the shock of awe, the room was filled with the sounds of crickets. Students exchanged puzzled glances, some even stifling disappointed sighs. The problem? Rai had pointed at the wrong person. Baruss wasn't the one he was pointing at.
Rai's face immediately morphed into one of embarrassment, realizing his mistake. The silence stretched, and then, Baruss erupted in laughter, the sound loud and mocking. "You can't even figure out who I am, and you want to challenge me?" Baruss sneered, thoroughly amused. "Fine. I'll humor you. Let's fight." He spread his arms wide, inviting the duel he was sure would be a one-sided affair.
The crowd, initially stunned, now shifted in anticipation. Even Rose's attention sharpened as she leaned forward slightly from her perch, intrigued by the unfolding spectacle.
Rai, unfazed by the ridicule, shifted his stance. His confidence was back in full force. He wasn't done yet.
With vigor, Rai raised his finger again, this time pointing directly at Baruss. "Actually," he said, his voice carrying across the room, "I'm glad you're not scared. Let's make it more interesting. Why don't we have a Magistrate Duel?"
The room went dead silent. A Magistrate Duel? The words hung in the air like a bomb ready to explode. The concept of a Magistrate Duel was something reserved for only the most skilled combatants—those capable of wielding power that could shake the very foundations of the world. It was an ultimate challenge, a fight where the stakes were high and the victor's power was undeniable.
The concept of a Magistrate Duel was something that carried immense weight in the world of magic. To issue such a duel was to risk everything, and only those with the highest authority would be allowed to witness and oversee the fight. It was more than just a test of strength—it was an exhibition of sheer will, a contest where the winner's power was undeniable, and their place in the world solidified.
The rules of a Magistrate Duel were clear, but strict:
Both parties must bet something of great value—something they would lose if they were to lose the duel. This wasn't just about pride or reputation; the stakes had to be something meaningful, something that would serve as a constant reminder of the outcome. For Rai, this was perhaps the most difficult part to comprehend, as he had nothing tangible to bet. But as the duel continued to form in his mind, he was willing to sacrifice anything necessary to prove himself.
Magic could be used without restraint, allowing the duelists to tap into every ounce of power they possessed. The only restriction was a simple one: no one could kill. The fight could be brutal, destructive, and even deadly in its consequences, but it had to end with both participants alive. The risk of life-altering injury was high, but it was still a duel fought in the name of proving one's power, not extinguishing it.
The highest authority was to oversee the duel—someone who had the power to enforce the rules and ensure that the duel was conducted fairly. The Elemental Magistrate was the one who had the final say in such matters. They would watch over the duel, ensuring that no cheating or dishonorable actions took place. The presence of the Magistrate also lent the duel a kind of legitimacy—it would not be considered valid unless the Elmag personally oversaw it.
Because of these stringent rules, a Magistrate Duel was no small matter. It wasn't something one could casually request; it was a decision made by the highest powers in the world of magic. In fact, the duel had to be approved by the masters of the Four Head Clans—the most powerful figures in the world of magic. To get such approval was no easy feat, and only those who had the influence, power, or reputation to back up such a challenge could even hope to engage in one.
For Rai to issue a challenge of this magnitude was both reckless and daring. No one, especially someone with ordinary eyes like him, would dare ask for a Magistrate Duel without understanding the gravity of what that meant. But for Rai, it wasn't just about the duel. It was about proving that he wasn't just another "ordinary" boy. It was about showing the world, and especially the students around him, that he belonged in the same ranks as the greatest magicians in the world.
Baruss stood before him, sizing him up. The stakes were high, and the room was tense with the realization that Rai had just set into motion a sequence of events that could forever change the course of his life. But Rai wasn't backing down.
"You've got guts," Baruss muttered, his expression momentarily flickering with a mixture of respect and contempt. "I'll give you that. But you better hope you're not out of your depth, because once this is official, there's no turning back."
Rai's face remained firm, unshaken. He didn't need to back down. This was his moment. And no matter the odds, he would take it.
With a final nod, Baruss turned to face the gathering crowd, signaling that the challenge had been made. The tension in the room was palpable as the murmurs began. Rai had issued a challenge no one would soon forget.
As Brauss faced the crowd and accepted Rai's challenge, the air grew heavy with anticipation. Every eye in the room was fixed on the two of them—Rai, standing confidently, and Brauss, a dangerous grin spreading across his face. The tension was palpable, and the atmosphere seemed to vibrate with the weight of the moment.
At that moment, Rose Scarlett made her way down from her elevated position, her fiery red eyes never leaving Rai. Despite her irritation, there was a flicker of intrigue in her gaze, as though she couldn't help but wonder what would unfold next.
Then, suddenly, a loud voice boomed across the hall.
"Enough!" The voice was commanding, almost thunderous. "Stop making fools of yourselves. A Magistrate Duel isn't something just anyone can initiate."
The source of the interruption was none other than Mammoth Stark, a fifth-year student whose presence seemed to fill the entire room. Mammoth stood tall, his muscular frame casting a shadow over the gathered crowd. His yellow hair and glowing yellow eyes were unmistakable—symbols of his lightning abilities, a rare and powerful manifestation of water elemental magic. He was widely rumoured to be the most powerful student in the academy up to the fifth year, the head of the Student Council, and the most sought-after member for every squad within the Elemental Knights.
Mammoth's commanding presence was only heightened by the two figures who flanked him: Lorenzo Privateer and Sylvia Star, the head and vice-head respectively of the academy's Discipline Committee. Lorenzo, with his mild demeanour and green hair, was a gentle giant, his glowing brown eyes marking his earth elemental power. Beside him stood Sylvia Star, a striking and imposing figure. Like Mammoth, she was muscular, yet her beauty was undeniable. Her dark brown hair and pitch-black eyes signified her mastery over black magic—a rare and dangerous force that only a select few could wield.
"Get yourselves to your rooms now," Mammoth continued, his voice cold but undeniably powerful. "The challenge is over. You've made your point, now it's time to return to your duties."
All eyes shifted from the two would-be duelists to Mammoth and his entourage. The room fell silent, as the presence of the Discipline Committee was a force not to be challenged. The crowd, now unsure of how to react, waited for the next move.
Rai wasn't about to back down. With a fiery passion, he shouted, "Who on earth gave you the authority to make that decision? The last time I checked, it's the four clan leaders who decide these matters, not some random student."
Mammoth's deep laughter rumbled through the hall. He wasn't the least bit fazed. "You've got guts, kid. I'll give you that," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "But the four clan leaders have much more important things to attend to than validating an absurd challenge from a nobody with ordinary eyes."
Rai's patience snapped. His expression soured as he growled, "Yeah, yeah, ordinary eyes. We get it, Mr. Manhut."
Mammoth's face contorted in confusion. "Did you just call me 'Manhut'?"
Rai, completely oblivious, shot back, "Yeah, isn't that your name?"
The entire room froze. An awkward silence spread like a wave, with Rai looking utterly goofy and adorable in his unbothered confidence. Even the most hardened students were caught off guard by his cheeky response.
"Well, anyway..." Rai continued, not missing a beat. "Everyone keeps saying my eyes are ordinary, but they're the only pair in this entire world that defy the norm and actually stand out. So, I'd say my eyes, just like me, are actually pretty extraordinary, Mr. 'Manhut,' FYI."
The room remained silent, processing his words. Then, a tense chuckle escaped Rai's lips.
Mammoth's eyes widened in disbelief, and his fury quickly mounted. "It's Mammoth, you imbecile!" he roared, his voice booming through the hall. His yellow eyes glowed fiercely, his face twisted in rage. "A little punk like you should learn to keep your mouth shut!"
Mammoth's arm shot into the air, his fingers crackling with raw energy. He drew the moisture from the air, manipulating the water particles around him with his lightning-infused power. Static electricity built up in his hand, and the air hummed with tension as the lightning surged brighter and more intense. He was ready to unleash his attack.
The students' faces were filled with dread as the atmosphere grew tense. Rose, with her hand hovering near her magic, was preparing to step in and stop Mammoth, sensing the destructive force of the impending lightning strike. Meanwhile, Rai stood with an arrogant smirk on his face, almost daring Mammoth to unleash his attack. His confidence was unshaken, as though he knew the strike would do nothing to him.
But before things could escalate any further, a sudden chill swept through the hall, freezing the tension in the air. Mammoth's lightning crackled in the air, but just before it could land, a frosty hand materialized, halting the attack mid-flight.
The crowd fell silent as Frost Kromus, stepped forward. His cold gaze swept over the room, his icy aura commanding respect. "How very disappointing," he said, his voice like a winter wind. "To think even the head of the student council would be so easily provoked by a nitwit like him."
Rai, still wearing that goofy grin of his face, looked around in confusion, not fully understanding who Kromus was referring to. He leaned toward Mammoth and whispered, "Yo, Manhut, who's the 'nitwit' he's talking about?"
Mammoth, visibly frustrated by the exchange, let out a grunt and gritted his teeth. "He's talking about you, you nitwit," he snapped, clearly losing patience.
Rai's face lit up with realization as his fist met his palm, the gesture a sign of sudden understanding. "Oh," he said, still blissfully unaware of the growing tension.
Kromus surveyed the room with a measured "Hmmmm," his icy gaze flickering across the players in this chaotic scene. Mammoth, once so imposing, was now kneeling on the ground, his face twisted in pain from Kromus's iron grip. Rose stood nearby, silently observing, her fiery demeanor momentarily subdued.
And then there was Rai. Radiating an almost childlike sense of carefreeness, he seemed oblivious to the weight of the situation. Yet, beneath that sunshine-filled exterior, there was a glimmer of something unshakable—determination. That look caught Kromus's attention.
Letting out a resigned sigh, Kromus broke the silence. "Fine. If you're so desperate to prove yourself," he said, his voice cutting through the tension, "then let's have a Magian Battle."
A collective gasp swept through the hall. The mere mention of a Magian Battle sent shockwaves through the students. While it didn't carry the grandiosity of a Magistrate Duel, the Magian Battle was far from trivial. In fact, it was a rarity—so rare that the last one had taken place fifty years ago. The victor of that legendary battle? None other than the current headmaster of the academy himself.
The rules of the Magian Battle were straightforward but severe:
Eligibility: Any student from the Four Great Elemental Academies could issue the challenge, and it could be accepted by any other student within those academies.
High Stakes: The loser of the battle would face irrevocable consequences—they would be blacklisted, not only from the Four Great Academies but from every other magical institution in the world.
The stakes were monumental. On one side stood Rai, a boy whose dream could be crushed before it even had a chance to flourish. On the other side was the head of the student council, Mammoth, a rising star in the magical world whose promising career could meet an abrupt and devastating end.
The room fell into a heavy silence, the enormity of what had just been proposed settling over everyone like a suffocating weight. All eyes turned to Rai and Mammoth, the centrepieces of a battle that promised to etch itself into the history of the academy.
Rai didn't hesitate for even a second. With a confident smirk, he stepped forward, cracking his knuckles in a manner that seemed far too casual given the gravity of the situation. "I'm in," he declared, his voice steady and resolute. "It's time I put all these doubts to rest. And who better to help me prove myself than the academy's so-called rising star?"
Gasps rippled through the room at Rai's audacious claim. Mammoth, towering over the rest like an immovable mountain, clenched his fists as fury washed over him. The sheer gall of this boy—a nobody with no magic—daring to challenge him? It was beyond disrespectful. Fueled by anger, Mammoth stepped forward, his voice booming like thunder. "Let's go, punk. If you're so desperate to have your delusions shattered, then I'll be the one to do it. The duty of teaching you the reality of this world has fallen to me!"
Kromus's cold, commanding voice sliced through the charged atmosphere. "It's settled, then," he declared with an air of finality. "We will hold a Magian battle. A duel of this magnitude has not been seen in fifty years. The contenders: Rai and Mammoth." His gaze swept across the room, silencing the murmurs with a single glance. "The match will commence tomorrow morning at exactly 9 a.m.—not a nanosecond later."
Mammoth, now free from Kromus's icy grip, loomed over Rai like an 8-foot-tall colossus, his glare dripping with menace. His broad shoulders cast a shadow over Rai, yet the young boy, standing a full two feet shorter, didn't flinch. Rai met Mammoth's gaze with equal intensity, his unwavering confidence creating a palpable tension in the air.
For a moment, it felt as though the room itself had shrunk, the weight of their mutual defiance suffocating everyone around them.
As Kromus opened his mouth to speak, a hesitant, weak voice cut through the heavy atmosphere. "H-Hey guys, but... but what about me? I was the one who was gonna fight Rai!"
The room collectively turned toward the source of the voice, and there he was—Baruss, the punk who had started this whole mess. Now reduced to a mere afterthought, he stood awkwardly under the weight of everyone's gaze. The silence was deafening, the collective stare creating an atmosphere so awkward it was almost painful.
Rai, breaking the stillness, cocked his head and exclaimed with genuine confusion, "And who the hell are you, pal? Can't you see we're busy here?"
Baruss's face twisted with despair as the words hit him like a sledgehammer. Falling to his knees, he muttered in shock and humiliation, "They've completely forgotten about me... Yes... Yes, I am what you would call... a true NPC." His head drooped, and his eyes dimmed with sorrow before he collapsed dramatically onto the floor.
"Boss!" his three loyal lackeys cried, rushing to his side. They awkwardly hoisted him up, his limp form flopping in their arms. As they carried him toward the exit, one of them turned back, pointing an accusatory finger. "This is not the last you'll be hearing from our boss! You hear that?"
And with that, they scurried off, leaving behind an air of second-hand embarrassment that lingered long after their departure.
"Ahem. Ahem." Kromus cleared his throat, the sound echoing through the hall as he sought to regain control of the chaotic scene. "As I was saying, the battle will take place tomorrow at 9 a.m. sharp. Until then, you are to go about your day as usual. Dismissed."
He gestured toward the second-year students, who promptly began guiding the younger students toward their dormitories. Mammoth cast one final menacing glare at Rai as he stomped away, his towering figure radiating frustration and indignation. Rai, however, remained utterly unfazed, his confident smirk never wavering as he casually made his way to his dormitory.
Rose, walking in the opposite direction, found herself unable to shake thoughts of Rai. His audacity, his humor, and even his unwavering confidence played over and over in her mind, creating a swirl of emotions she couldn't quite identify. Her steps slowed as her gaze lingered on his retreating figure, but she quickly shook her head and picked up her pace, her face betraying a faint flush.
Meanwhile, atop the podium, Kromus stood with his hands neatly clasped behind his back. His eyes were fixed firmly on one individual: Rai. A sharp glint in his icy gaze betrayed his inner thoughts as he observed the boy who had disrupted the day so thoroughly.
"What an interesting one," Kromus mused to himself, his expression unreadable. "Did you see all of that, Headmaster Pragaya? As you predicted, this boy was the star of the show today. Wouldn't you agree?"
From the solitude of his office, Headmaster Pragaya leaned back in his chair, his eyes glowing faintly as he watched the events unfold through a magical projection. His laughter rang out, deep and hearty, echoing within the quiet chamber. "Of course he is, Kromus! Ah, ah, ah!"
The headmaster's laughter carried a sense of delight, as though watching a long-anticipated plan fall perfectly into place. In the great hall, Kromus allowed himself the faintest of smiles—a rare, genuine expression. He straightened his posture, his thoughts still on the enigmatic boy.
Tomorrow's battle, it seemed, would be far more than just a contest of strength.