The dueling arena buzzed with anticipation.
Students gathered around the raised platform, their whispers filling the air as Caelum Drayton stood across from Gareth Evernall.
It wasn't just a simple spar.
It was a statement.
Caelum had kept a low profile since his family's downfall, and Gareth—Evelyn's older brother—had always looked down on him. This was the perfect chance for Gareth to trample him publicly.
Except Caelum wasn't the same person anymore.
His System window flickered before him.
> **[Quest: Defeat Gareth Evernall]**
> **- Reward: +10 Influence, 500 System Points**
> **- Bonus Reward: If victory is decisive, gain a Combat Skill**
A smirk tugged at his lips. **Good.**
The instructor raised his hand. "Begin!"
Gareth wasted no time. With a burst of mana, **he lunged forward, sword gleaming.**
Caelum's body reacted instinctively.
His System-assisted reflexes kicked in, making the world slow for just a fraction of a second. He sidestepped the incoming slash, letting Gareth's momentum carry him forward.
Gareth's eyes widened—he had expected resistance, not air.
Seizing the moment, Caelum twisted and delivered a precise strike to Gareth's ribs with the blunt edge of his training sword.
**Thud!**
The impact sent Gareth staggering. The crowd gasped.
"Fast!" someone muttered.
Gareth recovered quickly, gritting his teeth. His mana surged, and he lashed out with a heavy downward swing.
**[System Alert: Hostile Combat Style Detected]**
Caelum reacted immediately. Instead of blocking, he angled his sword slightly, letting Gareth's blade glance off to the side. The force of the blow slid past him harmlessly.
It was a simple yet effective technique. One that only someone experienced in battle would know.
And that realization pissed Gareth off.
"You—!" He growled, stepping back.
Caelum remained calm. He wasn't here to play Gareth's game—he was here to win.
Gareth's next move was reckless. He charged in again, but this time, Caelum saw through him completely.
He dodged. Sidestepped. Redirected.
It wasn't a fight—it was humiliation.
The final blow came swift and clean.
Caelum pivoted, bringing his sword in an upward arc. His mana surged just enough to add force to the strike.
**Crack!**
His blade slammed against Gareth's wrist, disarming him. The wooden sword flew from his grasp, clattering to the floor.
Silence.
Gareth's chest heaved, sweat trickling down his temple. His face twisted in disbelief.
Caelum stood unruffled. Untouched. Unbothered.
The instructor raised his hand.
"Winner—Caelum Drayton!"
The crowd erupted in murmurs.
"What the hell was that?"
"He made it look easy…"
"How did Drayton get this strong?"
Caelum didn't celebrate. He simply turned, walking off the platform.
As he did, his System flashed.
> **[Quest Completed!]**
> **- Reward: +10 Influence**
> **- 500 System Points Earned**
> **- Bonus Achieved! New Skill Gained: [Phantom Step]**
**[Phantom Step] (E-Rank) – Increases speed and agility during combat, allowing the user to slip past attacks with minimal effort.**
Caelum smiled to himself. **A good start.**
But as he stepped off the stage, his gaze met two important pairs of eyes.
One belonged to Princess Seraphina.
The other—Evelyn Evernall.
---
Seraphina leaned against a nearby pillar, arms crossed, watching him with an unreadable expression.
Caelum approached her, knowing she had something to say.
She tilted her head slightly. "That wasn't the performance of a disgraced noble. That was the performance of a warrior."
Caelum smirked. "You sound impressed, Your Highness."
Her blue eyes gleamed. "I don't impress easily, Lord Drayton."
A challenge.
She had already taken interest in him before, but now that she had seen him fight, that interest had deepened.
"Perhaps I should find out how well you fare against me one day," she mused.
Caelum chuckled. "Careful, Your Highness. You might find yourself at a disadvantage."
Her lips quirked ever so slightly. "We'll see."
Then, without another word, she turned and left.
This was only the beginning.
---
Later that evening, as Caelum returned to his dormitory, he found someone waiting for him.
**Evelyn.**
She stood near the entrance, her hands clasped together, her emerald eyes flickering with something… vulnerable.
Caelum sighed inwardly. **Of course.**
"You were incredible today," she murmured.
Caelum studied her, his gaze unreadable.
"Did you want something, Evelyn?"
She hesitated. "I just… I didn't expect you to be so—" She paused, biting her lip. "Different."
Caelum exhaled. **She was wavering.**
She had betrayed him, yet now, she was drawn to him again.
And that was dangerous.
Because he wouldn't fall for her lies a second time.
"I am different," he finally said, his voice cool. "The man you left behind no longer exists."
Evelyn flinched.
For a split second, pain flashed in her eyes. Regret.
But before she could say anything, Caelum walked past her.
And behind him, Evelyn's fingers trembled
Because for the first time… she felt the tiniest flicker of fear.
---
As Caelum entered his room, the System greeted him with a new message.
> **[New Update: Influence Shift Detected]**
> **- You have risen in Academy Influence!**
> **- Relationships have shifted: Seraphina's interest has grown, Evelyn's obsession has begun.**
> **- New Questline Unlocked: [Path of the Rising Star]**
Caelum narrowed his eyes.
Obsession?
He let out a slow breath. This was only the beginning of Evelyn's descent.
And soon… things would become even more dangerous.
But for now?
He would rise