​Click.

​The carved wooden door clicked shut. The corridor outside Liana's office suddenly felt profoundly quiet, as if the sound of their previous footsteps had been sucked inside along with them.

​Roland leaned his back against the long wooden bench in the hallway. Crack. He stretched his stiff legs. Beside him, Rianor sat perfectly upright—but not out of a sense of strict etiquette.

​Rianor's focus was entirely consumed by the Mana Glove on his right hand. His fingers flexed slowly. Bending, opening, tracing its metallic surface with a faintly furrowed brow.

​"Passable instructor," Roland murmured, breaking the silence. "Strict, but thankfully not the type who relies on shouting."

​Rianor didn't respond.

​Roland turned, studying his brother's profile. "Hm? Is something different?"

​The question hung in the air for a few seconds. Rianor finally lowered his hand slowly. "I don't know. Perhaps."

​"That crystal earlier?"

​"Not the crystal itself." Rianor clenched his fist tight. Creak. "But... the sensation afterward. Something has shifted in here." He stared at his clenched fist. "I just don't know what it is yet."

​Roland offered a thin smile and didn't press further. He knew his brother's habits intimately. If Rianor said "I don't know yet," it translated directly to "I will tear this apart until I find out."

​Click. The door opened again. Charis and Lira stepped out, their shoulders slumped in defeat. Their faces were incredibly haggard, yet there was a palpable sense of relief. They looked exactly like sailors whose ship had just barely survived crashing into a reef.

​Charis wiped the cold sweat from the back of his neck. Lira, meanwhile, let out a long, shuddering exhale. Haaaaah...

​"We got chewed out. Brutally. For a very long time," Charis reported, his tone as flat as a board.

​"Oh, we heard you all the way out here." Roland chuckled softly. "Hey, you're still alive and breathing. That's excellent progress."

​"We need to head back to the dorms first." Charis pointed down the corridor with his thumb, his body already half-turned. "Shower. Change uniforms."

​"Go ahead. Take your time. We still have a bit of business with Advisor Liana."

​Charis merely gave a weak nod, then trudged down the hallway with Lira. The scuffing of their shoes gradually faded into the distance.

​Roland looked back at Liana's door. "So, you're still curious?"

​Rianor shot him a deadpan look. "You're the one who's been itching to ask."

​"Hahaha, an accurate deduction." Roland stood up, brushing imaginary dust from his coat. "I am perpetually curious."

​Knock. Knock. Roland rapped the door twice and pushed it open without waiting.

​"Come in."

​Liana was already wearing a faint smile when she saw the two of them return. "I suspected you wouldn't head home just yet."

​The woman hadn't cleared the stacks of parchment from her desk. Her teacup was still half-full, the steam thinning. Roland reclaimed his previous chair, followed by Rianor.

​"We're still curious about that tournament," Roland fired away without preamble. "Care to elaborate?"

​Liana leaned back in her chair. Her shoulders relaxed slightly. "Certainly. What part do you wish to know?"

​"The combat system. Standard elimination?"

​"Elimination," Liana nodded. "But rest assured, it's not to the death. Only until a participant loses consciousness or yields. There are specialized mana barriers in the arena that neutralize fatal blows."

​Rianor looked up, his focus recalibrating. "Mana barriers? Who is powerful enough to sustain a barrier of that magnitude?"

​"The Arcanum themselves. They take turns standing guard. It's part of their mandatory duties during the tournament. They don't just sit pretty in the spectator stands—they ensure no student goes home in a casket."

​Roland rubbed his chin, logging the intel. "And who is the tournament favorite or the center of attention this year?"

​"There are always standout names. But this year..." Liana stirred her cooling tea. "The Fire Arcanum will personally descend as a special overseer. I've heard... he is searching for a successor."

​"The Fire Arcanum, huh..." Roland narrowed his eyes. "Is he that powerful?"

​Liana stared intensely at Roland. A flash of reluctance flickered in her eyes. "He is the most lethal among the seven Arcanum. Subordinate only to the Holy Maiden, of course."

​"And you?" Rianor suddenly interjected. "Are you entering the tournament?"

​The room plunged into a sudden silence.

​Liana stopped stirring. She looked away, gazing out the window where the late afternoon sun was beginning to bleed into coppery orange. "Perhaps. It depends."

​"Depends on what?" Rianor pressed.

​"I haven't been registered as an Arcanum yet." Liana slowly traced the rim of her porcelain cup with her index finger. "But honestly... I am not entirely certain I want that position." She swallowed softly. "Because becoming an Arcanum... means binding your life as a servant of the Church. And I... have far too many doubts about that."

​Roland waited silently for her to elaborate. But Liana clamped her mouth shut. Her expression hardened. She had no intention of explaining what those "doubts" were.

​Roland—his diplomatic instincts kicking in—chose to tactfully retreat. He stood up.

​"Thank you for your valuable time, Advisor. Once again."

​Liana stood and returned the brief bow. "I wish you success. In whatever it is you are truly searching for in this Capital."

​The two men exited the room. And this time, the door clicked shut with finality.

​The late afternoon had shifted to a crimson orange by the time Roland and Rianor's boots touched the grass of the Academy courtyard.

​"The Fire Arcanum. The strongest mage. Looking for a recruit," Roland muttered as they walked.

​"That is merely information. Not a golden ticket," Rianor replied coldly.

​"Eh, depends on how we leverage it later."

​Their steps halted when they spotted the silhouette of their carriage with its scorched canvas roof. Naya stood leaning against the carriage door, her posture relaxed but her thumb resting permanently on the pommel of her dagger. Dom sat as still as a stone gargoyle on the driver's bench.

​However, the wooden bench beside Dom was completely empty.

​Roland sighed. Creases instantly dug deep into his forehead. "Where are Adul and Eva?"

​"Got dragged along by those two academy kids. A campus tour," Naya answered casually.

​Roland massaged the bridge of his nose. Tch. "Adul... please don't tell me he's going to cause a scene."

​"Relax. Eva stuck to him like glue. She's keeping watch," Naya added.

​Roland simply scrubbed his face roughly. "Well, that is precisely the part that terrifies me the most."

​[A Short While Earlier]

​Charis and Lira had changed their clothes. They were now wearing crisp, clean navy-blue academy uniforms. Lira's hair, which had previously looked like a bird's nest, was now braided neatly.

​The two were walking from the dormitories, intending to see the caravan off.

​"Hey! What are you guys doing?" Adul poked his head out of the carriage window, waving enthusiastically.

​Charis stopped in front of the carriage. He scratched his head awkwardly. "We... aren't doing anything, really. Since we happen to have no scheduled classes left, do you guys want a quick tour of the Academy?"

​Adul looked hesitant. His round eyes darted toward the main building. "Wow... I... I don't know. If Lord Roland gets mad—"

​"There's a cafeteria here with the best apple pie and cakes in the entire Capital!" Lira cut in quickly, her eyes sparkling like a seasoned promoter. "And there's a giant library! And a fountain plaza that—"

​"I'll go."

​The voice sliced through Lira's chatter.

​Adul flinched and turned around. Click. The carriage door swung open, and Eva stood there, staring straight out.

​"Huh? Y-you're coming too?" Adul gaped.

​Eva turned her head slowly. Her eyes scanned the two academy students from top to bottom. It was only a two-second visual sweep, but it successfully made Charis's spine go rigid again and forced Lira to reflexively take a half-step back.

​"They can't protect you," Eva stated honestly. Far too honestly.

​"Hey! Excuse you!" Charis protested, his face flushing as his pride was bruised.

​In the end, Naya merely shrugged, letting the four of them wander off, while Dom remained entirely indifferent.

​Charis led the impromptu tour. His tone was a mix between the pride of a senior student and the boredom of a tour guide repeating the same tired script.

​"Alright, that one is the main lecture hall. Over in the right wing are the elemental laboratories." Charis pointed to a row of tall windows that occasionally flashed with red and green lights. Bzzzt. "If you see the windows flashing weird colors, don't panic. Those aren't lights, just the residual explosions from failed student experiments."

​Adul looked up, his mouth hanging open in a perfect 'O'. "Crazy... I've never seen a house this big in my entire life."

​"Pfft, this is nothing. Wait until you see the grand library," Charis grumbled proudly.

​They cut across the main courtyard. The afternoon breeze gently rustled the leafy canopy. In the center of the garden stood a magnificent white marble fountain. Clear water flowed around a statue of a robed woman with her hands raised, clutching a miniature sun that pulsed with a dim glow.

​With unbridled enthusiasm, Lira explained that it was a monument to the first Light Arcanum—the founder of Luminous Academy.

​Throughout the walk, Eva chose to remain at the very back of the group. Her footsteps were nearly soundless. Her eyes constantly darted around. Analyzing the pillar structures, calculating lines of sight, mapping every blind spot hidden in the shadows of the trees.

​"The security system in this area, how is it structured?" Eva asked suddenly, her voice low but piercing.

​Charis looked over his shoulder. "There are layered mana barriers on the outer walls of the Academy. No one can infiltrate without a clearance token."

​"And to prevent people from leaving?"

​"Same thing." Charis frowned suspiciously. "Anyway, why are you asking—"

​"Just... a field survey," Eva cut him off abruptly, killing the conversation.

​Adul—who was entirely oblivious to the murderous aura radiating from Eva behind him—had already run ahead of the group. "Lira! Where's that cafeteria?! My stomach is starting a riot!"

​Lira smiled widely. "At the end of this hallway! Come on, follow me!"

​The Luminous Academy cafeteria was incredibly vast. Its vaulted ceiling stretched high. Long oak tables were arranged in pristine rows. The aroma of melted butter, freshly baked bread, and creamy chicken soup instantly invaded Adul's nose, making his stomach grumble loudly. Grumble.

​But their cheerful strides came to a screeching halt.

​Three broad-shouldered youths stood blocking the main entrance to the cafeteria.

​Their blue uniforms were far neater and more polished. The sun emblems on their collars were noticeably larger—a symbol of a higher caste and rank. The figure in the center, a tall youth with slicked-back blonde hair, folded his arms across his chest. His lips curled into a condescending sneer.

​"Oh, look who decided to show up. Charis of the Third Circle." He dragged out his words, dripping with mockery like a noble stepping in horse manure. "Still making a hobby of dragging foreign trash into Academy grounds, I see."

​Charis's jaw tightened. "They are official guests. Sent directly by Advisor Liana."

​"Advisor Liana?" The blonde youth snorted in amusement, glancing at his two lackeys who joined in the mocking laughter. "You mean the instructor who has continuously failed to get promoted to an Arcanum? Makes sense. Her taste has always been collecting useless garbage."

​Lira looked down deeply, biting her lower lip to hold back tears. Charis's fists trembled at his sides, his knuckles turning white, yet not a single word of defiance left his mouth.

​The blonde senior's eyes now shifted, landing on Adul and Eva with a look of pure disgust. "And where did these two crawl out from? The Ash-Castes? Tch. Since when did our elite Academy open its doors to mana-less peasants?"

​Adul took a step forward. His knees were shaking violently, but he forced his mouth open. "W-we... we were invited in, you know!"

​"Oh? Invited?" The blonde youth stepped forward, looming over Adul. "Invited by whom? Sewer rats that just crawled out of the drains?"

​Adul's meager courage instantly deflated. He reflexively stepped back, hiding behind Charis's back.

​It was then that a voice as cold as ice shattered the tension.

​A single phrase.

​"Are you done?"

​The blonde turned, frowning. His eyes glared sharply at the brown-haired girl standing in the back. "Huh? What did you say, slave?!"

​Eva didn't repeat her question. She wasn't angry, nor did she shout. The girl simply stared back into the blonde youth's eyes.

​But the look in her eyes... was hollow. Dead. It was chillingly devoid of emotion, like looking at an inanimate object waiting to be discarded. It was the gaze of a killer who had slit the throats of a thousand men with similar arrogance, without a single one managing to leave an impression in her memory.

​The blonde youth's body froze for a fraction of a second as his natural instincts screamed of mortal danger. But his ego won out. His sneer widened, trying to mask his dread.

​"Oho... you've got some nerve, trash. Good." He pointed a finger at Charis's face. "We settle this in the Training Dungeon. If you and your pets win, we will never bother you again. But if you lose... you all get on your knees and become our slaves forever."

​Charis swallowed hard, his face pale. Lira frantically tugged at Charis's sleeve, silently begging him to refuse.

​But from behind Charis's back, Adul spoke up quietly. His trembling tone was laced with heavy guilt. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be a burden... because of me you guys are..."

​Eva shifted her gaze from the blonde senior to the terrified Adul.

​Her eyes closed for a brief moment. Then she looked back at the arrogant senior.

​"Fine," Eva cut in flatly. "Lead the way."

​The air in the Academy's underground Dungeon was a stark contrast. Damp, freezing, and reeking of stone moss, it assaulted the senses. Torches mounted on the stone walls flickered, casting a mystical blue fire.

​In the center of the vast, circular room, a combat arena glowed dimly, bordered by lines of ancient runes that were worn down by age and countless battles.

​The blonde youth stood on the opposite side of the arena with his two lackeys. He cracked his neck. Crack. "The rules are very simple. There are no rules. Just don't get killed." He smirked deviously. "Don't worry, the arena's mana barrier will prevent any fatal injuries. But... the pain of a broken bone or scorched skin will still be felt at one hundred percent."

​On the opposing side, Charis and Lira stood panting heavily. Cold sweat beaded on their foreheads. Adul stood behind them, clutching his violently shaking knees, trying his best to look brave.

​And Eva? The girl was simply leaning casually against the rocky wall in the corner of the arena, her arms folded. Observing. Waiting.

​The battle erupted.

​Charis took the initiative. He didn't attack; instead, he threw both hands wide. Whoosh! A shield of wind expanded in front of them, just in time to block a bolt of lightning fired by one of the seniors. BAM! Lira, standing beside him with trembling hands, cast a counter-spell. A fireball shot from her palms, intercepting a second strike.

​However, this was a two-versus-three fight.

​The third senior flanked the shield and launched a barrage of razor-sharp ice shards from their blind spot. Charis gasped in shock, his foot slipping backward. Scrape! His focus shattered. His wind shield flickered and destabilized.

​Lira screamed in panic as their defense collapsed.

​At that exact moment, Adul, trying to dodge the residual blast of the ice, accidentally tripped over his own feet.

​Thud! His small body tumbled... rolling right past Charis's defensive line, landing dead center in the open arena.

​Adul looked up, his eyes widening in sheer horror.

​The three seniors now stood towering over him. One of them, the blonde youth, laughed cruelly. Lightning crackled brightly in the palm of his hand, primed to be unleashed from point-blank range.

​"M-mercy! I'm not part of—"

​"Eat this, street rat!"

​The lightning surged wildly. Adul squeezed his eyes shut.

​"HEEEEELP!!"

​In the corner of that rocky dungeon, Eva's shoulder, which had been casually leaning against the wall, slowly peeled away from the stone.

​She hadn't taken a step yet. Hadn't drawn a weapon.

​But as she looked up through the dim light of the blue torches... her eyes radiated a killing intent as cold as the depths of hell.

​Her leash had just snapped.