Mr. Saville stood in a dimly lit hallway, his fingers tapping the sides of his trousers nervously. He was anxious. Just then, the door creaked open, and Maxwell Vance, the head of operations of the Silent Blades, stepped inside. His sharp eyes flickered over the room before settling on Mr. Saville.
"Did you confirm it?" Mr. Saville asked, his voice low.
Maxwell's lips curled slightly into a grim smile. "I'm almost sure," he said, his tone even. "Damien isn't just any student. I saw him use a signature move that only Caiden Ashwood would know."
Mr. Saville's eyes narrowed, his fingers still tapping. "And you believe it's him? Caiden Ashwood?"
Maxwell leaned back against the wall, his arms crossing over his chest. "I do. We need confirmation. I'll be sending Gabriel to the school to get a closer look. If it's truly him, we'll know soon enough."
Mr. Saville nodded, a quiet tension in his expression. "And if it's not?"
"If it's not... We adapt. But if it is him, we'll have to act fast. We can't afford any more delays."
Maxwell's gaze softened for a split second, an unreadable expression crossing his features. "I'll let you know when Gabriel makes his move."
---
The competition was finally here. The entire school had gathered in the massive arena, a grand structure designed to test the strength and skills of every student. The air was thick with anticipation, and the energy was almost electric.
Damien, keeping his cool, stepped into the arena for his first match. His opponent: Ava, a witch known for her ability to manipulate elements with ease. She stood across from him, her posture poised and her expression unreadable, but the slight smirk on her face hinted that she was confident in her abilities.
The referee raised his hand, signaling the beginning of the match. Ava immediately raised her arms, her fingers moving with precision as she summoned gusts of wind that whipped around Damien, testing his agility.
Damien was quick, ducking under the first barrage of wind before sliding into a low crouch. His eyes scanned the area, anticipating her next move. He knew better than to rush in without analyzing the situation.
Ava wasn't just a typical witch. She was skilled in battle, able to combine spells with physical attacks, making her a formidable opponent. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured a torrent of fire that rushed toward Damien.
But Damien didn't flinch. He moved quickly, his body flowing as he dodged the flames, his movements almost too fluid for the eye to follow. As Ava conjured more spells, Damien's instincts kicked in. He didn't need to think. His body knew exactly what to do.
With a precise strike, he closed the distance between them, dodging another wave of fire and locking his hands around Ava's wrist. He twisted, forcing her to lose control of the spell she was about to unleash. A quick spin, and he had her on the ground, her powers neutralized for the moment.
The referee called for the match to end, declaring Damien the winner. He stood over Ava, who looked up at him, her face a mixture of frustration and admiration.
"That was impressive," she muttered, dusting herself off.
Damien offered her a small nod but said nothing. His focus shifted to the crowd, his eyes scanning for familiar faces. Emma, standing off to the side, watched him with wide eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. But it quickly faded when she caught sight of her own opponent, a much stronger competitor, stepping into the arena.
Emma's match was next. As she stepped up, her confidence faltered. She was facing someone far more powerful, a student known for his brute strength and combat skills. The crowd hushed as the match began, the tension thick in the air.
Emma tried her best to hold her ground, but the difference in power was too much. Her opponent easily overpowered her, landing a crushing blow that sent her sprawling to the ground. She tried to get up, but the fight was over before she could recover. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stood, unable to hide her disappointment.
Damien watched from the sidelines, his jaw tightening in frustration. He wanted to help, but he knew it wasn't his place. Still, the sight of Emma crying hurt more than he expected.
Oliver, who had been watching the match closely, walked over to Emma, offering her a hand to help her up. "It's okay," he said softly. "You did your best."
Emma sniffled but managed a small, grateful smile as she accepted his hand. "I don't know if that's enough," she whispered.
"You'll get stronger. I know you will."
Damien joined them, offering a quick, reassuring glance at Emma. "Next time," he said, his voice steady. "You'll win."
Despite his words, Emma didn't seem convinced. The weight of the loss hung heavily on her shoulders, but Damien wasn't about to let her give up. He'd seen her strength in other ways, and he knew that this defeat wouldn't define her. Not if he had anything to do with it.
The next match was Oliver's, and he stood ready. Unlike Emma, Oliver was a tactician, using his mind more than brute force. His opponent was a student known for his wild, unpredictable fighting style. The match would test not just strength but strategy.
Oliver, with his usual nervous energy, adjusted his glasses before stepping into the ring. Damien watched intently, knowing that Oliver's approach was much different from his own. The match started with quick, sharp movements. Oliver ducked and dodged with impressive agility, avoiding his opponent's wild attacks.
The crowd gasped as Oliver used his intelligence to outmaneuver the stronger fighter, setting up traps and using the environment to his advantage. He wore down his opponent, exhausting him with calculated strikes until, finally, he landed the winning blow.
The referee called the match in Oliver's favor, and the crowd erupted into applause. Oliver, flushed with success, gave a shy wave. He was the underdog in this competition, but he had proved that brains could overcome brawn when used right.
Damien clapped him on the back as he joined him in the stands. "You were great," Damien said, offering him a rare smile.
"Thanks," Oliver said, his voice filled with disbelief. "I actually won."
"You did. And you'll keep winning," Damien assured him, his eyes flicking toward the next round. The real challenges were just beginning.
🤗🤗🤗🤗