"Luminara Academy will host the Radiant Crown Tournament."

Confusion rippled through the crowd. Some students recognized the name immediately. Most did not.

Ronan watched faces shift. Nobles exchanged glances knowingly. Commoners frowned in confusion. Upperclassmen straightened slightly, which told him they knew more than the freshmen did.

Rubin continued before the murmurs could build.

"This will not be an internal competition. Three academies will participate."

He paused, letting that sink in.

"Luminara Academy. Xytrian Academy of Xyta. And Wintercrest Academy of the Northern Continent."

The hall erupted.

Students began speaking over one another. Some were excited, others alarmed. A tournament involving three major academies wasn't just unusual. It was almost unprecedented. Ronan could hear fragments of questions around him, none of them fully formed yet.

"Why Xyta?"

"The Northern Continent? Are they serious?"

"How many students are competing?"

Rubin raised one hand. The noise died reluctantly.

"Each academy will send 100 students to participate. 300 participants in total."

There was another wave of reaction, but it was quieter this time. Students were processing what was said rather than outwardly reacting.

Ronan glanced at Elara. She had gone pale.

"100," she muttered. "100 out of how many? The whole student body"

Kazuma answered before Ronan could. "Roughly three hundred freshmen remain. More upperclassmen. The competition will be harsh."

Rubin explained the selection process before the question could spread.

"Luminara will hold an internal selection event to choose its hundred representatives. The format will be a battle royale."

Battle royales rewarded more than strength. Positioning mattered. Timing mattered. Hiding ability mattered. Even weaker students might survive if they were clever enough.

Elara relaxed slightly. "So it's not just the top 100 by rank."

"No," Ronan said. "It's a test of decision-making under chaos. If they wanted to do it based on strength, they would have just done a mini tournament with the highest ranked students."

She glanced at him. "You sound like you're looking forward to it."

"I am."

Before she could respond, a hand shot up from the crowd. One of the older commoner students, standing near the front.

Rubin allowed the question.

"Headmaster, will there be rewards?"

Rubin smiled faintly. The first real expression Ronan had seen from him since he entered.

"Of course."

The hall leaned forward.

"First place will receive ten skills. Second place will receive five. Third place will receive three. All sponsored directly by Luminara Academy."

The hall nearly exploded.

Ronan heard gasps, excited whispers, and one noble student behind him curse under his breath. Ten skills was absurd. Even for wealthy families, that represented generational value. For commoners, it was life-changing.

Elara grabbed Ronan's sleeve, stars in her eyes as if she was going to win the prize. "Ten skills."

"I heard."

"Ronan, ten–"

"I heard."

She let go but kept staring at the stage.

Rubin raised his hand again.

"There will also be substantial monetary rewards and additional benefits chosen by the winners. Those benefits will remain unspecified for now."

The nobles shifted. Ronan understood why. Unnamed rewards were often more valuable than public ones. They implied political favors, restricted resources, or access to things families couldn't normally acquire.

"The Radiant Crown Tournament will be held at the Sanctum of Light."

This time the reaction was pure shock.

The nobles froze. The commoners looked confused until someone near them explained, and then they froze too.

Even students who did not care about history knew the story. The Sanctum was the original location where the First Hero was chosen by the Goddess of Light. It was one of the most sacred historical sites on the continent. It had been sealed or restricted for generations.

Holding a tournament there wasn't just unusual. It was almost unthinkable.

Ronan watched the crowd carefully. Some students looked awed. Others looked afraid. A few looked suspicious, as if they were wondering what the real purpose of this tournament was

"Am I hearing wrong? Did he say the Sanctum of Light?"

"Why would they do it at the Sanctum of Light? I thought that was restricted grounds?"

"Why are you complaining? We have all dreamed of seeing the place where the first hero was chosen."

Many people threw out their own speculations.

But Ronan understood what Rubin meant even if he didn't say it directly.

The tournament was designed to find a Hero of Light.

The students reacted with awe, fear, disbelief, and ambition.

Some glanced toward the strongest freshmen students. Some looked toward Luca. They would be the ones who would get to fight in the tournament and step on the holy grounds.

Ronan noticed Grace watching Luca too. Her expression was tense. Not surprised, but tense.

Of course it was.

She knows this route. She's probably going to try to make sure Luca gets chosen again, and support him the whole way.

Rubin gave them the final details.

"The battle royale selection will occur within the week. Any student may register. Those who succeed will be trained and evaluated before traveling to the Sanctum."

He looked across the hall one last time.

"Prepare yourselves."

Then he turned and left the stage.

The hall erupted into chaos the moment he was gone.

Students spoke over one another. Commoners discussed the skill rewards. Nobles discussed family reputation. Combat-focused students discussed the battle royale

Elara turned to Ronan immediately.

"Are you entering?"

"Of course."

She didn't look surprised. Just nervous.

"100 spots sounds like a lot until you remember upperclassmen are included. The competition will be brutal."

"Battle royales reward more than strength. Alliances, positioning, hiding ability, and timing matter. Don't be discouraged. I have a feeling you will make it."

He wasn't lying either. He didn't remember if the original Elara made it, but this Elara was a lot stronger. There was a high chance she would make the cut.

Elara smiled at that.

Luca stood among the students, serious and quiet, already looking like someone the crowd wanted to believe in and root for.

Grace watched him with a complicated expression, likely thinking about his future as the hero. If she was a reader as well, that made sense.

Ronan looked away from the scene.

The tournament was made to reveal Luca to the world. That was fine, Luca could have that.

Ronan only needed the crown first.

That was all.