Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series-Chapter 122: Tuning Up [5]

The next morning, Aiden awoke to the sound of water shifting and sloshing in the stillness of their dorm.

Blinking away the heaviness of sleep, he pushed himself up from his bed, instinctively reaching for his night light to combat the lingering drowsiness. His vision adjusted to the dim lighting, and he saw Sevan standing near the window, practicing his water control.

A thin, spear-like construct of water hovered before him, twisting and solidifying at the edges as he focused. He had his hands raised, fingers twitching as he attempted to sharpen the tip.

The morning light filtering through the room caught the droplets in the air, making them sparkle like diamonds before seamlessly merging back into the liquid mass.

Sevan furrowed his brows, taking a breath. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he thrust the spear forward. It shot through the air, striking against an invisible target before dissolving back into a puddle at his feet.

"Still not sharp enough," he muttered under his breath.

Aiden turned his head and noticed Adrian near the door, crouched on the ground with his dagger in hand.

Unlike Sevan, Adrian was refining his technique with shadows. Aiden watched as inky black tendrils slithered up the blade, coating it in an eerie darkness.

The dagger pulsed for a moment before the shadows flickered and wavered, as if resisting him.

Adrian clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Come on…"

He tightened his grip, forcing the shadows to bend to his will.

This time, the dark energy settled, clinging perfectly to the weapon. Aiden could feel its presence even from across the room- an unnatural coldness that seemed to bite into the air itself.

Adrian gave an experimental swipe, and the blade cut cleanly through the air, leaving a faint shimmer of black mist in its wake.

"Better," he muttered, a small smirk playing on his lips.

Aiden stretched, finally pushing himself out of bed.

"You two are up early."

"We have duels today," Sevan replied, still focused on forming another spear. "I’d rather not embarrass myself in front of the entire school."

"Or lose to someone we hate," Adrian added casually.

Aiden chuckled, shaking his head. "Fair enough."

He glanced at his own hands, flexing his fingers as the heat of his fire magic simmered beneath his skin.

Tomorrow is his duel.

Aiden hoped he can win.

After freshening up, the three made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast.

The usual morning chatter filled the air- students discussing the previous day’s duels, last-minute preparations for their own, and the general hum of excitement that had settled over the academy since the Pre-Trials had begun.

As Aiden, Adrian, and Sevan entered, they immediately felt the shift in energy- eyes lingered on them longer than before, whispers curling around their presence.

People were starting to notice them.

Aiden ignored it and focused on getting food. He grabbed a plate and filled it absentmindedly, his mind already drifting to the duels ahead. Adrian, on the other hand, looked completely at ease, flipping his hourglass between his fingers as he leaned back in his seat.

Sevan, however, barely touched his food.

Instead, he had a thick book propped open in front of him, flipping through its pages on Magic Theory. His fingers tapped anxiously against the table, and his eyes, though scanning the words, weren’t really focused on them.

Aiden watched him for a moment before finally speaking.

"You nervous?"

Sevan stiffened slightly, then sighed, closing the book with a quiet thud.

"I’d be lying if I said no." He ran a hand through his hair. "I know I can hold my own, but knowing the entire school is watching? That’s different."

Aiden nodded. He understood completely. Yesterday’s matches had been brutal, nothing like the casual sparring they had experienced before. Everything had been overwhelming.

It was different from training with Professor Anwar in secrecy.

Adrian, however, was unfazed. He speared a piece of fruit with his fork and smirked, watching Sevan with amusement.

"If you’re that nervous," he said, "just make sure you win fast. That way, you won’t have time to think about the audience."

"Oh, sure. I’ll just land a perfect hit immediately. Why didn’t I think of that?"

Adrian shrugged, spinning his fork between his fingers. "That’s what I’m doing."

Aiden snorted. Of course, he was.

Even so, he could tell Sevan wasn’t as relaxed.

Still, Aiden knew his friend. Sevan never backed down. Even if he was nervous, he would still fight his hardest.

Aiden pushed his plate away, standing up. "I’m checking the board."

Adrian waved a hand lazily. "Tell me where I’m supposed to beat up Ambrose’s ass."

Sevan just nodded, still lost in thought.

Aiden made his way to the bulletin board, pushing through the gathered crowd of students. Conversations murmured around him, with people making last-minute bets, analyzing yesterday’s matches, wondering who would get eliminated today.

He scanned the parchment pinned to the board, running his finger down the list of names.

There.

R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freewebnovёl.ƈom Only.

Adrian’s match was first:

Adrian Caleena vs. Ambrose Bessmertny

Arena: Obsidian Ring

Then Sevan’s:

Sevan Wasterfall vs. Shiloh Spadille

Arena: Mirage Field

Aiden’s brow furrowed slightly. Obsidian Ring- that was a well-known arena, mainly used for fast-paced, close-quarters combat. It was small with no room to run.

Perfect for Adrian.

But Mirage Field? That one was unfamiliar.

He turned back toward their table, pushing through the crowd once more.

Sevan had finally closed his book, but his fingers still tapped lightly against the cover. Aiden set his hands on the table and relayed the information.

"Your fights are in the Obsidian Ring and Mirage Field."

Adrian gave a satisfied nod. "Sounds dramatic. I like it."

Sevan, however, was deep in thought. His jaw was clenched, his fingers still drumming against the table.

"Mirage Field," he muttered. "That doesn’t sound fun."

Aiden didn’t say anything, but he could tell that Sevan was engrossed in his thoughts. Already, he was going over possible scenarios, ways his fight could go.

As they made their way outside, they spotted Jarek at the end of the first year’s long table, grinning as he flexed his muscles at Rupert. His sleeves were rolled up, showing off his well-defined arms, while Rupert sat there, unimpressed, lazily stirring his porridge.

Jarek grinned wider. "C’mon, you’re not even gonna pretend to be impressed?"

He flexed again, this time dramatically, as if his muscles were about to tear through his uniform.

"Jarek, I’ve seen you do this every day for a three months now. The shock value is gone."

Adrian snorted. "He’s got a point."

Jarek turned to see them approaching and grinned. "Well, well, if it isn’t the golden trio." He smirked, dropping his pose. "Ready for your duels?"

Aiden gave him a nod. "Yeah. What about you? When’s your match with Ivara?"

Jarek stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders. "Afternoon. Gives me plenty of time to prepare. Or, you know, eat half the Great Hall before I fight."

He grabbed a whole loaf of bread from the table and bit into it like it was nothing.

Sevan shook his head. "You’re insane."

"No, he’s just a bottomless pit."

Jarek grinned mid-chew and swallowed. "Hey, I need the energy if I’m gonna fight Ivara. She’s no joke with that bow."

Aiden nodded.

He had seen Ivara’s precision firsthand. If she landed a shot before Jarek got close, she could easily take him down.

Adrian smirked. "Well, at least your fight will be entertaining. Unlike Ambrose’s, where I’m going to end it in five seconds."

Jarek let out a loud laugh. "I like the confidence. Can’t wait to see that. Where’s your duel gonna be?"

"Obsidian Ring."

"Cool." Jarek turned to Sevan. "How about yours, Sev?"

Sevan snapped out of his. thoughts. "Huh?"

"Your duel?"

Aiden glanced at Sevan, who was still quiet, still calculating.

He could tell Sevan was running through possibilities for his own fight, still thinking about Mirage Field.

"He’s in the Mirage Field."

They had all trained hard, but now that the matches were real, the weight of them started to settle in, evident by how Sevan looked like all the blood was drained out of his body.

He looked like a walking corpse.

After finishing their breakfast and checking the board, they called for a Holloway. The creature tilted his head, waiting for their command.

"The Obsidian Ring," Aiden told it.

The Holloway twitched before floating forward, leading them through the northern side of the academy.

They followed, weaving past arched hallways and towering columns, their boots tapping against polished stone floors. It took them up three flights of stairs, each one feeling longer than the last, until finally, they reached two massive doors.

They were polished black, with jagged obsidian veins running through them, giving off a faint sheen under the academy’s floating lanterns. Students from different year levels were passing through, either entering or leaving the venue. The buzz of conversation filled the air, voices ranging from excitement to nerves.

Sevan scanned the crowd, his grip tightening on his book.

"Looks like everyone’s watching today."

Aiden hummed in agreement, but his gaze flickered toward Adrian.

Adrian suddenly looked like his nerves had finally caught up to him. His usual smirk was gone, replaced with a more serious, almost tense expression. His fingers fidgeted with the worn leather of his jacket, thumb rubbing against the seam near the zipper.

Aiden nudged him. "Nervous?"

Adrian clicked his tongue, forcing a scoff. "Please. I’m just-" He exhaled sharply and rolled his shoulders. "Just getting into the zone."

Sevan arched an eyebrow. "You’re fidgeting."

"I’m warming up."

Aiden smirked. "Right."

Adrian glared at him, but Aiden could see the way his fingers kept gripping at his jacket, loosening, then gripping again.

When they went inside, the Obsidian Ring was smaller than Aiden expected.

Unlike the Labyrinth, which sprawled across a whole floating island and had shifting terrains and countless obstacles, the Obsidian Ring was more intimate- a compact battleground enclosed by jagged black stone.

The ground was a polished dark slate, smooth but covered in faint, hairline cracks that suggested countless duels had been fought here.

Overhead, torches hung from the curved stone walls, casting sharp shadows that flickered as if alive. The air felt dense, charged with magic from past battles, lingering like echoes of every spell and weapon strike.

Aiden took it all in. The space was tight, barely enough for long-range combatants to fully utilize their abilities. There was no room to run or strategize from afar. Every move would have to be quick, decisive, and ruthless.

He glanced at Adrian.

This kind of battlefield… suited him perfectly.

Adrian thrived in the shadows, in close combat, in striking before his opponent had the chance to react. A large battlefield with too much open space might have put him at a disadvantage, but here, in this confined arena with minimal room for escape?

Adrian just needed one opening. One strike.

"You ready?"

Adrian took a deep breath before replying, "Ready as I’ll ever be."