The halls of Elysian Academy buzzed with anticipation. A new event had been announced—an internal duel tournament for first-year students. The prize wasn't anything grand, just recognition, but in a world where reputation could open doors and attract powerful allies, such recognition meant everything.
Jin stood near the edge of the sparring ground as students gathered. He kept his presence low, blending in with the rest, yet many eyes still gravitated toward him. Ever since his duel with Kael, whispers had followed him like a shadow. Some saw him as a prodigy, others as a threat. None knew the truth.
He had no interest in this tournament, but Headmaster Vael had made it compulsory. Jin wondered if this was the old man's way of testing him—or baiting him. Either way, he'd play along, for now.
---
Matches came and went quickly. Raw talent collided with trained technique, and sparks flew in every arena. Students cheered for their favorites, while instructors silently evaluated future prospects. The children of nobles and disciples fought with fierce pride, their family names carried like banners into every clash.
Jin's turn came.
His opponent: Arwen Delacroix, daughter of Aira. She was graceful and calm, with snow-white hair and eyes like sharpened steel. Her movements were precise, inherited from her mother's legendary swordsmanship, yet refined with her own personal flair.
The crowd hushed as the two stepped into the ring. Neither wore armor. This was about skill, not protection.
"Begin!"
Arwen moved first, blade flashing. Jin sidestepped, barely a blur, and redirected the strike with the flat of his hand. The force behind her swing was immense, more than enough to fell a normal opponent.
He pivoted, using her momentum against her, forcing her to retreat with a somersault.
She landed, eyes narrowing. "You're not normal."
Jin remained silent, his posture relaxed. The training of decades flowed through him like instinct. Arwen charged again, this time mixing feints with precise thrusts, forcing Jin to engage fully. He parried, countered, stepped in, and for a brief second, their blades locked.
"You move like someone I've seen before," she said quietly.
Jin gave no answer.
With a shift of his foot, he broke the lock and spun past her guard, placing the wooden sword against her neck in one fluid motion.
Silence.
The match was over.
The crowd burst into murmurs and gasps. Many hadn't even seen what happened.
Arwen stepped back and bowed slightly. "I yield."
He nodded in return, eyes meeting hers for only a moment. There was no gloating. Just mutual respect.
In the distance, Lucas, Aira, and Ryo watched the match unfold from the shadows above the arena. Though none of them showed it openly, something unspoken passed between them.
That style. That control. That presence. It reminded them of someone they once knew—a man whose teachings had shaped the very core of their power.
Could it be?
---
That night, Jin sat alone at the academy's rooftop garden. Stars shimmered above, the world quiet save for the soft rustle of wind across the grass.
Then a voice came from behind.
"You fight like my mother. No... like someone who trained her."
It was Arwen again. She stepped forward, eyes filled with questions.
"Who are you really, Jin?"
He turned his gaze toward the sky. "Just a student trying to find his place."
She didn't believe him, not fully. But she didn't press further.
Instead, she sat beside him. "Well, whoever you are... thanks for the duel. It's been a while since I felt that alive."
Jin smiled faintly. "Likewise."
---
In the depths of the academy, unknown to even the headmaster, a sealed gate pulsed with ancient energy. Cracks formed in its obsidian surface, and whispers slithered into the void beyond.
Something was coming.
And it would change everything.
---
End of Chapter 9