Raine’s POV: 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

’All these people... I never knew this many people would be interested in duels. We’re just first-years, aren’t we?’

Raine had taken up one of the front rows of the arena. She yawned slightly, the stress in her body giving in, and tears pricked at her eyes for a brief moment.

The arena was rammed with cadets from every year bar the fifth. It got to the point where most couldn’t even nab a seat inside, forcing the instructors’ hands to set up projections across certain areas of the academy.

Instructors were no different either, especially a certain instructor for the third-years she’d heard quite a bit about. Her eyes found him once more, but she couldn’t keep contact for long. The sheer coldness coming off him had her rattled.

Long, dark hair that fell across his shoulders, a leather jacket with a few buttons left undone, revealing tattoos that crawled from his chest all the way up to his neck, and two chain cross necklaces hanging at his chest.

’Why is Instructor Moon here? I heard he loathes weaklings and throws out anyone who isn’t fit for his class. Worse... he can send cadets into Malice-ranked Rune Realms or force them into wars whether they’re ready or not.’

He even sat there doing nothing, not a flicker of emotion showed in his blue eyes, and his expression didn’t budge in the slightest. Despite his own fiancée, Instructor Stella, sitting beside him, chatting away and laughing with the others.

Raine gulped bile.

She had spent most of the night trying to find a culprit. From ten to two at night, she did nothing but roam hall to hall, going through all eight of them, trying to find whoever wanted Leomaris dead. Once that fell through, she returned to training until five in the morning. She’d barely slept a wink.

She had no intention of losing. That was what all this had been for. She hadn’t bargained on such a fearsome instructor being around, though, and honestly, it piled more pressure on her than she’d like to admit.

While she sat there trying to pull herself together as the examination began, the officiator made his way up to the stage. Dark-shaded glasses, a black suit, a big grin plastered across his face, and a wooden microphone in hand.

"This event has become more interesting than we anticipated. First years, I advise you to brace yourselves. Not only is this being broadcast throughout the entire academy, but you have also been granted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Instructor Moon himself is here to observe your duels, and he will personally select some of you as his trainees for a bit. I hope that serves as motivation."

Raine’s expression darkened. She hadn’t known what to expect, but it wasn’t this. She knew Instructor Moon was frightening and didn’t give two hoots about his students’ safety, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was exactly what she needed.

’He will be able to help me become stronger. And if I overcome every challenge, it will prove my strength beyond a shadow of a doubt.’

She braced herself. ’First, I must win this and improve my chances of becoming a Calamity. I am highly likely to face another Calamity, and if that happens, I cannot lose under any circumstances.’

Her mind was set on her prize, and the burning determination in her eyes was all the proof anyone needed.

"You must remember — there can be only one winner in the end. Now then, we begin the show with a duel between first-class cadet Raine St. Claire and second-class cadet Meera Van Hart!"

—

Charlotte’s POV:

’I knew many people would take Instructor Moon’s presence seriously, though not to this degree. He possesses strong ties to the Spire Magic Tower, and some even believe he is a Floor Master himself. Since the Spire Magic Tower serves both the Twelve Churches and the military, any affiliation with Instructor Moon is viewed as an exceptional credential.’

In her seat, she looked down at her hands as they trembled. After Raine won her duel, it didn’t take long before Charlotte was called up. She won as well, but she couldn’t shake off the feeling that she’d made harder work of it than necessary.

’With Instructor Moon’s endorsement on my résumé as his trainee, even if only temporary, I would gain the opportunity to begin raiding Rune Realms before reaching my third or fourth year. I could become a Void Ruler far sooner than expected.’

Her fist tightened with the determination of someone with everything to lose. With or without Instructor Moon watching, losing simply wasn’t on the cards.

She needed to prove to Leomaris that his trust in her hadn’t been misplaced and to prove to herself that she was ready to become a Void Ruler.

That determination hadn’t died, not in the slightest. If anything, Instructor Moon’s presence had only deepened it.

She sat quietly as duels ended one after another. Before long, it was Leomaris’s turn to duel, and it was as though the officiator had deliberately handed him an easy win. A fifth-class cadet. Hardly fair considering Leomaris was a Calamity.

’But wait... the fifth-class cadet is actually giving it his all. I think it’s because of Instructor Moon.’

Charlotte let out a deep breath.

’I suppose in circumstances like this, class no longer matters. A fifth-class cadet has very little chance of ever advancing to second or third class. Realistically, it would be safer for them to leave the academy rather than risk death. However, everyone possesses dreams and aspirations, and they came here for a reason. If a fifth-class cadet were to obtain Instructor Moon’s endorsement on their résumé, they could easily become a reserve mage warrior or receive permission to raid lower-class Rune Realms. For many, that would be the fulfilment of their greatest dream.’

Charlotte could feel the cadet’s determination against Leomaris, but it just wasn’t enough. The gap in strength, intellect, and experience was too wide. Leomaris won.

But the crowd wasn’t having it. They booed the officiator for such an unfair matchup, demanding fifth-class cadets be matched up against fourth-class cadets to at least give them a decent chance.

Before long, the second round kicked off, and with the calmness of someone who’d seen it all, the officiator called out the first matchup.

"Calamity Charlotte Greenwood, first-class cadet... and Adent Blinker, first-class cadet."