As the event continued, Lazros still hadn't fully processed the shock of being ranked 1st in the first round. His mind was consumed with thoughts about what would come next. He never expected to stand at the top, especially in front of so many powerful mages and students, but now that he had, he couldn't let himself become complacent. There was more to prove.
What truly surprised Lazros, though, was the reaction from his sister, Lunara. She had always been kind to him, even though they shared only their blood through their father. Unlike their other siblings, who dismissed him due to his past failures, Lunara had always believed in his potential, though she never expected him to be this capable. As she watched him display his power, her eyes sparkled with a mixture of pride and something deeper—something like recognition. She had always known that Lazros was special, even if he hadn't revealed his true potential until now.
The second round of the Grand Magic Games began, and this time, it was the Battle Royale. In this round, every student would face off in a free-for-all battle, with the last mage standing declared the winner. The battles were randomly selected, and when Lazros saw his opponent, he couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu.
Standing before him was Cedric Wyncrest, the son of one of the kingdom's four 8th-circle mages. Cedric had been an annoying presence since the beginning of the academy year, and the tension between him and Lazros had only grown since the princess's attention had shifted to the latter. Lazros knew Cedric was no fan of his, but now, it seemed that Cedric had made it his mission to take him down.
Cedric stepped forward, a sneer on his face. "I've been waiting for this," he muttered under his breath. "Last time, I underestimated you, Lazros. But not now. I've spent the whole year preparing for this moment."
Despite his bravado, Cedric's magic was still at the 2nd circle. But he wasn't fooling anyone. His arrogance hid the insecurity that lay beneath, and Lazros knew that Cedric was desperate to prove himself. The truth was that Cedric was aware of his own shortcomings, and he was unwilling to accept that someone he had once thought of as "useless" had outperformed him in the first round.
What Lazros didn't expect was how far Cedric would go to secure a victory. As the battle began, Cedric struggled to land any blows on Lazros. His attacks were clumsy, his magic lackluster in comparison to the 3rd-circle power Lazros had recently attained. Cedric's pride took a blow, and it was clear that he wasn't used to facing anyone who could outmatch him so effortlessly.
But that wasn't enough for Cedric. As the battle wore on, he realized that the difference between them was too great. In a desperate move, he pulled out a vial—hidden within his robes—and swiftly consumed a forbidden pill. The pill was known to boost a mage's magical circle temporarily, something that was strictly forbidden by the academy. But Cedric didn't care. All that mattered was winning.
Immediately, Cedric's aura shifted. His magic surged, and he stepped up from the 2nd circle to the 3rd circle in an instant. A ripple of shock passed through the audience and the professors, but Lazros was already aware of what had happened. He had seen it clearly—the sudden spike in Cedric's power. His sharp senses could pick up on the smallest details, and the forbidden pill's effects were unmistakable.
As the professors around the arena began to murmur and a few made attempts to stop the battle, Lazros noticed Lunara, his sister, standing in the crowd. She was watching intently, her gaze fixed on him. For a moment, their eyes met, and Lazros saw something that surprised him—a quiet, yet firm resolve in her eyes. She wasn't asking him to win by any means, but there was a hint of curiosity, an unspoken desire to see how he would handle Cedric now that his opponent had broken the rules and advanced.
"Don't let him get away with this," Lunara seemed to silently communicate through her gaze.
Lazros took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle on his shoulders. He could feel the pressure building, but it was nothing compared to the power he had within the book. With a calm and focused mind, Lazros drew upon his rune magic, the very magic that had carried him to the top.
Cedric, now filled with confidence, advanced toward him with a wave of energy. But Lazros was already two steps ahead. With a swift motion, he traced a rune in the air, and the magic surrounding him warped. A massive barrier of rune magic surged up to deflect Cedric's oncoming attack, causing Cedric's magic to crash harmlessly against it.
Without a moment's hesitation, Lazros countered. He etched another rune, and this time, it burst into a wave of destructive force, knocking Cedric back with ease. Cedric struggled to maintain his balance, his newfound strength unable to save him from Lazros's calm and precise control.
In the end, Lazros won. The battle was over, and Cedric collapsed in defeat. He had underestimated Lazros again, and this time, it cost him the match.
The audience sat in stunned silence as Lazros stood tall, his rune magic pulsing with an otherworldly energy. The professors, unable to hide their astonishment, began to applaud, though they were still processing what had just transpired. Lazros had shown them all something they had not expected: the power of his genius.
The princess, too, had made it through the battle royal round. Her earth/wood magic had proved powerful and precise, as she easily bested her opponents. Her calm and graceful display of magic, honed through years of royal training, left many students in awe. But when she stood at the end of the round, she was smiling—though she had secured victory, she had seen something in Lazros's display that had sparked a new interest in him.
Even Lunara, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but feel a swell of pride for her brother. The rumors surrounding him were now far behind. Lazros had truly begun to carve his own path—and it was one that no one would forget.
As the dust settled and the cheers erupted through the arena, Lazros took a steady breath, his mind still racing. He had proven himself once more, not just to the academy but to himself. The path he was carving wasn't an easy one, but with each step, he felt the weight of his past diminish, replaced by the steady strength of his growing resolve. The Grand Magic Games were far from over, but one thing was clear—Lazros Silvershade was no longer a shadow in the Silvershade family. He was a force to be reckoned with, and this was only the beginning of his rise to greatness.