Novel Full Chapter 634: Day of the tournament
Chapter 634: Day of the tournament
It was a bright, sunny day—one of those rare, perfect mornings where the weather settled into a gentle warmth.
The sun was out, yet the heat wasn’t harsh; instead, it felt comforting, like the world itself was eager to celebrate.
“Now, I officially declare the start of Lumen Academy’s first ever Grand Festival Tournaments! Everyone, I welcome you all—please do enjoy it to the fullest!”
Principal Leilah’s voice rang out powerfully, echoing through the entire academy grounds.
Her words were carried not just by magic amplification but also across seven enormous holographic screens floating above the designated festival zones.
Each projection shimmered with clarity, displaying her dignified figure and bright smile.
A second later—BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Brilliant magical fireworks exploded across the sky in dazzling arcs of color.
Trails of stardust-like mana scattered through the air, causing cheers to erupt all around.
Music began to play, upbeat and celebratory; it felt like the academy had transformed into a grand carnival overnight.
Students and foreign visitors alike buzzed with energy.
Laughter, chatter, and excited screams blended into a lively festival atmosphere.
Even those normally reserved couldn’t help but be swept up by the collective anticipation in the air.
But nowhere was the excitement more intense than at the academy’s massive Grand Colosseum.
Every seat was packed.
The air vibrated with the murmurs, shouts, and whispers of tens of thousands.
After all, just the team battle royale from a few days ago had been enough to stir up insane levels of hype across the academy and even beyond.
That chaotic, explosive event had been a taste—an appetizer—to what everyone hoped would be revealed today.
And now… the real spectacle was about to begin.
Who wouldn’t be excited?
The matches today would feature students considered future top-tier powerhouses of the entire continent.
Adventurers, mercenaries, knight orders, magic towers, and even royal observers from various kingdoms had all taken seats in the stands.
Every major power kept their eyes locked on the arena.
Because the ones fighting today weren’t just students—they were the rising stars who would shape the continent’s future.
And this tournament… was their stage.
The tournament venue had been arranged with impressive efficiency.
Unlike the previous Grand Festival—where the top ten students were prohibited from participating until the final day—this year’s event opened its doors to everyone from the very beginning.
Naturally, participation was still mandatory for all S-Class students, but with the format being far more inclusive this time, a surprising number of lower-ranked students stepped forward as well.
There was a certain eagerness in the air.
Some students—those considered top prospects even outside Lumen Academy—were excited for the chance to challenge themselves against the continent’s finest.
And while A-Rank students and below fully understood the vast, almost insurmountable gap between themselves and the S-Ranks… the results of the recent team battle had shifted something in their hearts.
Seeing the chaos, the intensity, and the unpredictability of that event had stirred new courage within them.
Some of them saw opportunities.
Some saw weaknesses.
Some simply wanted to be seen on a grand stage, to let the entire continent witness their growth.
And for many, there was also the fact that the top students from the foreign academies hadn’t performed as impressively as everyone had expected.
That alone ignited a spark of confidence in many of the mid-rankers.
Emilia carefully squeezed her way through the bustling entrance of the Colosseum, wincing slightly as she navigated through the packed crowd.
“It’s so full…” she muttered in disbelief as she glanced around.
The dense waves of spectators moving through the corridors were overwhelming.
Whether they were students, staff, adventurers, nobles, foreign dignitaries, or simple visitors, everyone was rushing to find a seat before the event officially began.
Emilia finally located her designated seat and sat down with a relieved exhale.
Unlike the others, she would not be participating in the tournament this time, so she would be watching alone… though the moment she sat down, she noticed something strange.
Despite the overwhelming crowd, some seats around her were still empty.
She blinked. That was odd.
But then she remembered—of course.
Her seat was in the front row, one of the most expensive and exclusive sections in the entire Colosseum.
Only a handful of people could afford such luxury seating, and many of them were likely still socializing in the VIP lounges or arriving fashionably late.
Emilia sighed softly and rested her back against the chair.
“Even though I told Amon and Anna to just sit in the normal seats…” Emilia grumbled softly.
She let out a small sigh.
She appreciated her personal guards—she truly did—but sometimes they took their duties way too seriously.
Still, she wasn’t exactly complaining.
The front-row seats were comfortable, spacious, and had a perfect view of the arena.
It was hard to stay annoyed when the cushions felt this nice.
Looking around, Emilia could tell right away just how hyped everyone was.
The energy in the Colosseum felt almost electric.
The moment the announcers mentioned which match was about to start, the noise rose another level.
And honestly? She understood why.
This first match in the bracket was insane.Right from the beginning—no warm-ups, no easing into it—two of Lumen Academy’s top ten were going to clash head-on.
Flamme and Stacia.
People already knew their capabilities from rumors and academy reports, and after the team battle the other day, the expectations for this fight had skyrocketed.
Everyone wanted to witness something close to a godlike clash—something they’d talk about for years.
Emilia hugged her knees a little and whispered,
“I just hope they don’t hurt each other too badly…”
She respected their duel; she really did.
But liking it?
That was different.
She wasn’t a fan of seeing her close friends fighting seriously, even if it was something they wanted.
Yet with the top first-year position on the line, she couldn’t blame them either.
And in Lumen Academy, this tournament wasn’t just for show.
Unlike the foreign academies, Lumen placed heavy weight on performance.
How well a student fought here could influence their ranking and evaluation in the next semester.
So many students weren’t just fighting for pride.They were fighting to be seen, to climb, to be acknowledged.
“Uhm… is this Sector A’s VIP Section 12?”
The sudden voice made Emilia turn her head.
Standing a little stiffly beside the row was another first-year student—judging from her uniform—her expression a mix of nerves and hope.
“Uhm, yes… Section 12 should be the seat next to me,” Emilia answered softly.
“I–I see. I’m glad… I almost thought I got lost. Thank you.” The girl exhaled in relief before offering a small, polite bow.
“You’re welcome.”
She sat down gracefully beside Emilia, her movements refined and elegant in a way that instantly revealed her noble upbringing.
Once settled, she turned to Emilia with a warm smile.
“My name’s Athy. What about yours?”
Caught off guard by the sudden introduction, Emilia blinked before smiling back.”I’m Enna…”
“Enna, huh? That’s a cute name.”
“Hehe, thank you. Your name is rather cute and charming as well.”
That broke the ice more naturally than Emilia expected.
The two quickly slipped into a light, easygoing conversation, exchanging small compliments and soft laughter before the topic drifted to the arena and the tournament.
“So you’re friends with Princess Stacia and Lady Flamme, Enna?” Athy asked with an intrigued glimmer in her violet eyes.
“Yes,” Emilia replied.
“Hmmm… I’m so jealous. No—maybe that’s not the right word. I imagine being friends with people of such high status must be quite hectic.”
“Haha, no, not at all,” Emilia answered with a shy shake of her head.
Still… she was a bit surprised.
A noble of Athy’s caliber—judging by her bearing and perfectly refined etiquette—saying something like that felt unusual.
Most nobles in the academy saw high-status connections as opportunities, stepping stones, or competition.
But Athy…
Athy seemed like one of the rare exceptions who genuinely didn’t care about such things.
The way she spoke wasn’t envy—it was admiration mixed with sincerity, without even a hint of scheming behind her eyes.
It was refreshing.
Then, as the music within the academy shifted into something far more grand and ceremonial, the atmosphere inside the colossal arena subtly changed.
Conversations died down.
Anticipation thickened.
One by one, gazes from every corner of the colosseum rose toward the highest point of the stage—the Judges’ Sector.
Traditionally, the judges were announced with pomp, and last year’s appearance of the Grand Duke himself—Luther Heavens, the strongest swordsman in the world—had set an impossibly high bar.
Because of that, everyone was restless with expectation.
“I wonder if it’ll be another top brass from the Empire this year? Maybe some foreign dignitary or even royalty?””No idea, but it has to be someone important…”
Regardless of who it was, everyone believed the figure stepping out today would be someone influential—someone worthy of the academy’s prestige.
But just then—
“Excuse me~”
The soft voice came from behind Emilia and Athy, so gentle yet so casually spoken that it sliced through the noisy excitement around them.
Both girls instinctively turned around. Their eyes widened almost comically.
“Is that seat section 11?” the newcomer asked politely.
“Yes…?” Emilia replied, dazed.
“Oh, perfect. I’m glad I made it before the event started.”
With a graceful sigh, the pink-haired woman stepped fully into the aisle and slipped into the seat beside them.
“So you’re here to watch the tournament as well Junior?”
“Y-Yes…”
Emilia was honestly shocked at Alice being here….
Her presence alone shifted the air.
A tall, beautiful witch hat—midnight black, trimmed in elegant gold filigree.
Long, silky hair the color of soft cherry blossom.
Golden eyes bright and piercing, brimming with both mischief and brilliance.
A beauty that rivaled Princess Snow herself, but far sharper, like a star that refused to be overshadowed.
And then her reputation.
The academy’s top fourth-year in the Magic Department.
The rumored future Archon—no, many whispered she already qualified as one.
A prodigy in every sense of the word.
Alice Holloway.
“S-Senior Alice… why are you here?” Athy blurted out, unable to contain her shock as well.
Alice blinked once, tilting her head as if the question itself was strange.
“Hnn? To watch the event, of course~”
What she didn’t notice—or maybe she did—was that it wasn’t only the three girls staring at her.
The entire colosseum had subtly shifted their attention toward her row.
Or more accurately…
Toward Alice herself.