A Mate To Three Alpha Heirs-Chapter 207: Facing the Undefeated Student

{Third Person}

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For a heartbeat, there was only silence. Then, the arena erupted.

The roar of cheers was deafening, echoing from every wall and tier.

Elira froze, her chest heaving, still kneeling beside her fallen opponent. The realization slowly sank in. She had done it again, against someone who had never been defeated.

Cassian exhaled, half-smiling despite his loss. "Guess the talk wasn’t just talk after all."

She offered her hand, and after a pause, he took it, letting her pull him up.

In the stands, her friends screamed her name. Nari waved both arms wildly; Cambria and Tamryn cried out so loud they drowned half the crowd.

Zenon’s expression softened with a flicker of pride; Lennon beamed openly while Rennon gave a subtle nod.

But in the upper pavilion, Luna Gwenith sat still, her smile brittle, her gaze sharp as ice.

And far away, Regina Shaw’s nails dug into her palms until blood welled beneath her manicured fingertips.

"How could she..." she whispered to herself. "The snacks were meant to weaken her."

Suddenly, her breath hitched as the truth snapped into place. ’She didn’t eat them?’

Regina’s vision tunnelled for a second as the cheers in the arena swelled louder—Elira’s name rising like a chant of victory, mocking her.

All the planning, the subtle planting of poisoned snacks through her pawns, the quiet assurances from her mother that it would only weaken Elira—not kill her... All of it...

Useless! Her pulse hammered as a flush crawled up her neck.

"Impossible..." she whispered, unable to stop herself. "No one rejects free gifts from their fans. Not even—"

But she cut off, her anger choking her.

Even Soraya gave her a sideways glance. "Regina? What’s wrong with you?"

Regina forced her fist to unclench, wiped the smear of blood off on her skirt, and stood abruptly.

"Nothing," she lied tightly. "I just realized we miscalculated something."

On the other hand, Kaelis was too busy glaring at Elira’s celebrating figure to pry.

Down in the arena, Elira lifted her face, stunned, overwhelmed, glowing with victory and fire. The crowd adored her—the professors watched her with new respect—and Regina felt something tighten violently inside her chest.

’If she wins again... if she reaches the finals... if she becomes the face of ESA...’

Then nothing, absolutely nothing, would stop Zenon and his brothers from openly going to Elira. And the Luna. And the nobles. And the entire kingdom.

Regina’s throat burned. Her mother’s words whispered in her memory: "You should have never taken your eyes off her."

For the first time that day, Regina felt fear, not just hatred, curl low in her stomach.

Because Elira Shaw was no longer the weak, pathetic cousin she could bury, she was a threat—a very dangerous one.

And Regina had just realized that Elira was actually rising faster than she could destroy her.

Meanwhile, completely unaware of the raging hate brewing in her cousin’s heart, Elira stepped off the combat platform and into the narrow, shaded passage that led behind the outdoor arena.

The sun blazed above the open courtyard, and the roar from thousands of spectators rolled in waves behind her.

Her chest still heaved from exertion. Her side throbbed where Cassian’s blows had landed. Her knuckles were raw. She had survived the first match.

Before she could catch her breath, she heard it— "ELIRA!"

Her friends were sprinting across the grass toward the staging area, their cloaks flying behind them.

Nari reached her first, flinging her arms around Elira’s shoulders so hard that Elira stumbled back a step.

"You were amazing!" Nari shrieked in her ear.

Juniper dove in from the side, hugging her waist. Cambria cupped her face, checking her bruises with trembling fingers. Tamryn arrived last, her voice thick with relief.

"Elira, you fought beautifully."

The morning sun caught the moisture in their eyes, turning them to tiny crystals.

For a moment, Elira felt her heart squeeze tight. She had never been looked at like this—with awe, pride, and fierce devotion.

"I thought—" she began, her voice cracking, "I thought I might lose."

"Lose?" Nari scoffed. "Babe, you burned the air. You literally fought a storm and won."

Elira laughed weakly, leaning into their warmth. But then a drumbeat thundered across the courtyard, the signal calling combatants for the Final Round.

The girls stepped back as the reality settled in.

"You will win this, too," Cambria whispered with conviction.

"Remember," Tamryn added gently, "fight smart. Fight with control."

Nari squeezed Elira’s hands. "And when you come back? We are throwing a party. Don’t you dare lose now!"

Elira exhaled a trembling breath and nodded.

As her friends hurried back to their seating rows in the lower stands, she turned toward the open arena once more.

The sun was sinking lower, casting warm gold across the duelling grounds. A soft breeze stirred her red hair, carrying the scent of dust, grass, and anticipation.

Elira stepped back into the light.

The drums thundered again, rolling like distant storm clouds over the open arena.

The stands trembled with anticipation; thousands of students and dignitaries leaned forward as the Vice Chancellor stepped to the centre podium again.

"For the final round," her voice boomed magically across the field, "The match that will determine this year’s champion—Elira Shaw versus Orion Vale."

A gust of whispers swept through the stands.

Orion stepped out first. He was tall, graceful, with shoulders dusted by the faint shimmer of frost.

He walked with the quiet confidence of someone born to master combat. He was an undefeated third-year student, and a warrior whose supernatural ice could freeze a river in mid-flow.

Elira stepped out opposite him.

The crowd erupted with cheers, chants of her name, and a ripple of fire-colored flags waving wildly. Her breathing steadied as her heart slowed.

Just then, Selene murmured inside her mind, "This time... show them the full flame."

Elira lifted her chin.

Then the Vice Chancellor raised her hand. "Combatants... prepare!"

Orion bowed politely, though frost already curled at his fingertips. "Elira Shaw. I’ve been waiting to face you."

"Unfortunately, I can’t say the same." Elira mirrored the bow.

A faint smile touched his lips. "We will find out soon enough."

Finally, the Vice Chancellor’s hand dropped. "BEGIN!"