The arena thrummed with energy—cheers, murmurs, and tension mixing into a pressure that weighed heavy on every entrant. The polished stone reflected the daylight, but above, hovering enchantments muted the harshness of the sun, casting a serene glow across the coliseum-like structure.
Zane stood at the edge of the staging platform, arms folded, his eyes scanning the crowd with quiet detachment. He could see instructors, nobles, merchants, and even veteran adventurers watching from the stands—each waiting to witness who would rise and who would fall.
Nyx's voice echoed in his mind.
"This is more than a trial, you know. They're searching for power... and stories."
Zane exhaled slowly. "Guess I'll give them both."
A sudden buzz signaled the next match. His name lit up on a floating projection rune.
ZANE vs. LUCIA WHITECREST
Zane's brows lifted. Whitecrest? That name alone was enough to draw blood.
Lucia Whitecrest. Daughter of the prestigious House Whitecrest—an elite noble lineage that boasted some of the continent's most powerful Light mages. Rumors whispered that she had blinded a professor during training and had never apologized. She was gifted, ruthless, and worst of all... protected by power.
"Wonderful," Zane muttered.
The platform beneath his feet shimmered, then lifted. In a blink, he stood in the center of the grand arena. The stone beneath his boots radiated soft magic—reinforced by centuries of enchantment. Around the circular boundary, a glowing golden line marked the safety zone.
Across from him stood Lucia herself—radiant as the sun and twice as sharp. Her pristine white dueling robes were stitched with platinum thread. Her blonde braid whipped in the wind, and her staff, an heirloom no doubt, shimmered with runes older than most of the arena audience.
Lucia tilted her head, giving him a glance that hovered between amusement and condescension.
"I expected a brute," she said, her voice amplified for the crowd. "Not a shadow crawling through corridors."
Zane smirked. "And I expected someone less... dramatic."
The crowd chuckled lightly. Lucia's smile faded just a little, and she raised her staff. Light danced at her fingertips.
"You'll regret that," she said coldly. "My light exposes all things. Even worms."
"I'll take my chances."
The instructor raised his hand, energy swirling around his palm.