I rushed bato the office, my eyes immediately falling oor, who was holding Elnora as she slowly stirred awake. Her hand still gripped the mana sword tightly, though her expression was hazy with fusion.

  "W-where am I?" she whispered, her voice weak.

  Evastently released her, allowio sit up. She looked around, eyes filled with uainty, befng down at the bde in her hand.

  Then, as if ag on pure instinct, she dismissed the sword in a smooth motion. The mana dissolved, fading into nothingness.

  "W-Woah… di—did I do that?" Elnora asked, staring at her empty hands.

  I stood there, still trying to process everything that had just happened. Evastor slowly got up, sing the room with his usual calm demeanor.

  "I—I am so sorry, Evastor!" Elnora suddenly blurted, bowing her head deeply. Tears welled in her eyes. "I didn’t mean to—"

  Before she could finish, Evastor raised a hand aly patted her head.

  "D-don’t worry about it," he said with a warm smile. "And please, never bow. It’s not needed."

  I watched their iion in silence, my mind rag. Elnora slowly turo me.

  "A-are you hurt, Ryn?" she asked, stepping closer.

  Meanwhile, Evastor casually raised a hand, releasing a wave of ice magic. The shattered window, the broken bookshelves, the cracked walls—all of it slowly reformed, returning to normal as if nothing had ever happened.

  I barely registered Elnora’s apology. My mind was fixated on something else.

  "S-summon that bde again," I said suddenly, the words slipping out involuntarily.

  Elnora bli me. "O-okay..."

  She raised her hand, and in an instant, the mana sword maed once more. Its form was elegant, glistening with an emerald greehe exact same design as my ow perfectly aligned with her mana’s iy.

  H-how odd…

  Evast me, sighing softly, but said nothing.

  Elnora held the sword firmly, staring at it in fasation.

  "H-how did you do that?" I asked, my voice hushed with disbelief.

  She furrowed her brows. "I-I don’t know. I just… know how to use it. Like… I just do."

  Her fiightened around the hilt as she adjusted her grip.

  " you dismiss it again?" I asked.

  "Y-yeah!"

  With a flick of her wrist, the bde vanished.

  "Now resummon it and swing."

  She obeyed without hesitation.

  The moment she moved, something was different. Her stance hesitant—was now honed, refined. Every strike recise, her movements fluid, as if years of experience had suddenly been burned into her muscle memory.

  I felt my breath hitch.

  She was better. Way better.

  Minutes passed, aually, Elnora slumped onto the couch, gulping down some water as Evastor and I stood off to the side.

  I turo him, my patience wearing thin.

  "W-what was that?!" I demanded, my voice ced with frustration.

  "You're not the only one who wield Lazarus swords," Evastor said with a sigh.

  I narrowed my eyes, but before I could question him, he tinued.

  "Okay, listen. I 't tell you everything... because I literally ot."

  He coughed suddenly, and my stomach dropped as blood dripped from his lips. He quickly caught it in his palm, his magistinctively freezing it into crimson ice.

  "The swords you and Elnora wield… they only be wielded by the two of you," he said, his voice raspier than before. Another cough wracked his body, more blood esg.

  "Evastor!" I moved toward him in arm. "Are you okay?"

  He shook his head, gritting his teeth. "I told you too much… I’ll be fine. Just—" He faltered, his knees bug.

  I caught him before he colpsed pletely.

  "You o rest," I said firmly, helping him onto a chair.

  "I-I must listen to the and… no more I tell you," he muttered between ragged breaths.

  I quickly poured him a pitcher of water, pg it beside him. He gave me a weak nod.

  "I-I’ll be fine. Just check… cough—check up on Elnora."

  I hesitated, my gaze lingering on him. Despite everything, I felt an odd pang of guilt. Maybe throwing him against the wall earlier wasn’t the best idea.

  Turning away, I g Elnora. She was still sitting on the couch, sipping her water, her legs swinging slightly.

  She looked up at me. "W-where’s Evastor?"

  I hesitated. "Uh… he isn’t feeling well."

  Her eyes widened. "W-what?! Is it because I hurt him?" She shot up from her seat, panic creeping into her voice.

  "He—he’s fine," I reassured her quickly. "He just o rest."

  Elnora slumped bato her chair, her hands trembling as tears welled in her eyes. "I feel awful…"

  I sighed, sitting beside her. Gently, I reached out, patting her head affeately.

  "Hey, hey… it’s okay," I murmured.

  She sniffled but didn’t pull away.

  "Hey… would you like to spar? Maybe it’ll help get your mind off things."

  I stood up, Elnora my hand. She hesitated for a moment before taking it.

  "O-okay," she replied softly.

  Together, we made our way to the training room. Onside, we moved to opposite sides of the sparring area, easheathing our iron bdes.

  "Since we ’t use our mana swords against each other, I suppose we’ll have to fight with these," I said aloud, weighing the sword in my grip.

  Elnora twirled hers experimentally. "This is lighter than usual," she noted.

  "You ready?" she asked.

  "Whenever you are!"

  In a blitz, our swords cshed—K! K! K! The ringing of steel filled the room as we leaped and dodged, exging strikes. I quickly noticed that her blind spots had shruance, her movements… they were different. It was almost like something had awakened within her.

  "S-so," I began as our bdes cshed, "did you have a nightmare?"

  She jumped into the air, bringing her sword down toward me in a powerful strike. I dodged effortlessly.

  Her attacks didn’t slow. "I… I think it was about my parents," she admitted between strikes. "Their faces were so blurry." Her voice trembled slightly. "And all I remember is being put in that chamber… that orb!"

  Her strikes became sharper—more forceful—yet her movements somehow lighter, almost effortless.

  K!

  I parried, but the sheer force of her attack left a cra my sword.

  "Great… gonna need another sword," I thought grimly.

  Elnora’s grip tightened. "I remember a man… fightio get into it. He—he was blurry too. But somehow, I ended up inside."

  She cleared her throat, her strikes growing steadier.

  I blocked again. "I see," I said simply. Then, softer, I added, "I’m here… if you remember more."

  Elnora blihen gave me a small smile. "T-thanks, Ryn."

  K!

  We tinued sparring for hours, each strike sharpening her skill and deepening the mystery of her past.

  —

  Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Academy…

  Alex and Lilli had drifted apart. Alex found himself alongside Prince Lucas, while Lilli was with Princess a—each dealing with their own onsught of persuasion.

  Lilli sat in a spacious room, a long wooden table stretg before her. Around her, a group of young women sipped warm tea, delicate por cups king against saucers. A pte of freshly baked cookies sat in the ter, untouched. The atmosphere was tense, every gaze in the room focused solely on her.

  Princess a cleared her throat, her voice smooth and anding.

  "In the year, my father will decide who will i the throne," she began. "And I would love for you to join my efforts to secure it."

  a reached out, gently taking Lilli’s hand.

  Meanwhile, in another part of the Academy, Alex sat at a simirly grand table, surrounded by Prince Lucas’s inner circle. Among them was Aric, his ever-watchful gaze studying Alex. Ptes of apples and cheese were ly arranged, alongside goblets of water. Alex tapped his fingers on the polished wood, waiting for Lucas to speak.

  Finally, the prince leaned forward. "Soon, my father will name me king," he said smoothly. "And it would be wise for you to align yourself with me. It will be you greatly."

  His usual regal tone slipped into something sharper—more serious.

  At the exact same moment, in different rooms, both Lilli and Alex excimed:

  "W-WHAT?!"

  a remained posed. "Yes, Lilli. It would do our kingdom well if we could bring Ryn and his allies to my side. With the right support, I ensure prosperity and peaot just for the kingdom, but for the entire world."

  She hesitated, then added in a hushed tone, "I believe my brother is plotting something. It’s… unlike him to return from abroad so suddenly."

  Ba Lucas’s chamber, Alex crossed his arms, eyes narrowing. "So, you expect Ryn to join you—despite the fact that his insane brother is in yroup?"

  Lucas smirked. "And? Doesn’t Ryn value his life? Doesn’t he care about what’s best for the kingdom?"

  Alex let out a slow breath, picked up his goblet, and took a long drink. The room was silent as the men watched him. He set the cup down with a deliberate k and licked his lips.

  "ime you pn to poison me… do better," he said coldly.

  The tension in the room snapped. One of the students lu Alex, but in an instant, Alex caught him by the throat, holding him ihe room erupted—chairs scraped back, men standing in arm. Yet, Lucas remained seated, a smug expression on his face.

  "Go ahead," the prince mused. "Snap his neck. See how the Academy reacts to a royal’s death."

  Alex’s grip tightened for a moment before he let go, the student stumbling back, coughing.

  Lucas chuckled. "Mmm… as expected. Even you have your limits." He cpped his hands together. "Now, let’s all sit down, shall we?"

  Alex hesitated before l himself bato his seat, but his mind drifted elsewhere.

  "I wonder if Lilli is okay…"

  Meanwhile, back with Lilli—

  "And I was like—AHH! There’s a skeletohere!" she excimed, ughing. "And Ryn and Alex just swooped in, picked me up as a trap nearly crushed us—while Elnora was already looting!"

  Lilli snickered as she recalled the memory. "And there were spikes everywhere. But get this—we finally made it to the huh floor of the dungeon!"

  a gasped, g her hands in delight. "I’ve never heard of a dungeon with suplex traps! Oh my, where is it?!"

  Lilli froze.

  "Oh no. I ’t tell them about the dungeon… what was I thinking? I got too excited bragging about my party—ugh, my dang pride."

  She forced a ugh. "Uh… It’s in my home dungeon!"

  a’s eyes twinkled with curiosity. "Oooh? So Ryn is tag another endless dungeon? I’ve always heard that one was filled with nature-based traps, not spikes."

  Lilli’s stomach twisted. "R-Really? That’s odd," she replied hastily. "Growing up, my father always told me about the spike traps in that dungeon."

  She prayed they wouldn’t catch the lie.

  "Yeah, yeah—the Spirit Vine Dungeon," Lilli said, clearihroat.

  a chuckled, and her group of attendants quickly joined in, their ughter filling the room.

  "Oh, that sounds delightful! If Ryn does decide to join my cause, I’d love to explore the dungeon with you all someday!" a said cheerfully. "Or better yet, we could just bee friends first—he doesn’t o decide anything right away."

  She gave Lilli a warm smile. "For now, I’d rather enjoy the pany I already have."

  Lilli returhe smile, rexing slightly as the tension in the air faded. The versation shifted to lighter topics as the girls sipped their tea and nibbled on cookies.

  —

  Meanwhile, a few hallways away, Alex leaned ba his chair, arms crossed.

  "So, let me get this straight," he said, his tone sharp. "You want Ryn to join your cause if you i the throne—because you believe you’re the only one capable of leading the kingdom in the right dire?"

  Lucas smirked, swirling his goblet of water before taking a slow sip. "Yes, of course. My sister cks the strength and boldo make any real decisions."

  He set the goblet down with a k, his smile never fading.

  Alex’s fiapped against the table as he studied the prince. So that’s how he sees her...

  —

  "Ryn is merely a subject of our kingdom—a follower. He must do his duty and pledge his loyalty to—"

  "A subject, huh?" Alex interrupted, his voice sharp as he rose from his seat. "How distasteful."

  Lucas's eyes narrowed. "I wasn’t finished."

  Alex turned on his heel, ign the prince as he made his way toward the door. The room fell silent, all eyes locked on him.

  Just as he reached the exit, a firm hand nded on his shoulder.

  "I wasn’t finished," Lucas repeated, his tone edged with authority.

  Alex slowly turned his head, his pink eyes glowing faintly. The usual smile that graced his face was gone.

  "Remove your hand," he said, his voice eerily calm. "And if you ever disturb my peace again..." He leaned in slightly, his gaze burning into Lucas. "I’ll wring out your neck."

  For the first time, Lucas hesitated. Then, without a word, he quickly withdrew his hand.

  As Alex stepped out, the door shutting behind him with a thud, a strangled gasp echoed through the room. One by ohe people behind Lucas colpsed to the floor, clutg their throats as they choked on invisible force.

  Lucas’s breath hitched. His fingers curled into fists as he stared at the se before him.

  "W-What is he...?" he muttered under his breath.

  —

  i Chapter: Arc 2 - 24. Dragon's Trial