Chapter 51: Day of the Tournament

Inside a small but luxurious chamber, a girl with silver-white hair was sitting on a bench, staring blankly at the wall in front of her.

Her appearance was especially striking today. Her uniform was pressed to absolute perfection, her hair, makeup, and everything else about her seemed perfect.

A few more seconds of quiet passed before a precise knock resounded from the door to her left and a figure stepped forward.

"Lady Stormbourne. Your duel will start now."

The female faculty member stood until Raven gave her a firm nod and stood up.

It was the day of the tournament, just moments before her first battle.

And yet, despite the challenge ahead of her, all she could think about was the duel taking place later today.

One where the heir of a fallen house would face a prodigy of a great one.

A matchup with a whole two-tier difference.

Still lost in thought, Raven stepped onto the arena, which roared in awe at her arrival.

There were hundreds of people seated all around the battle area, with a single raised platform reserved for the great houses standing on the west side of it.

Her purple eyes lingered on her uncle for a moment, the man’s stern, almost already disappointed look, before she turned toward her opponent.

The second-year student almost shrank upon her gaze.

"L-Lady Stormbourne!" he bowed deeply, his forehead almost touching the ground. "It-It is an honour to stand before you!"

Nathaniel Bearwood.

A second-year student with an Elite Tier 3 beast.

Among most summoners, he was someone deemed strong and perhaps even respectable.

Suddenly, the voice of a tournament organiser resounded from the speakers around the arena.

"You may now summon your beasts."

Nathaniel was first to move.

His arm trembled slightly as he stretched it forward.

Moments later, a beast resembling a chimpanzee materialised before him.

Beasts without any elemental affinities were rare, and when they did happen, they usually had other ’tricks’ up their sleeve.

Just like the Iron Ape, which instead of any elements wielded immense physical strength and durability, one that could even rival legendary beasts.

Nathanial looked proud, staring at his beast. The ape stood at almost two meters tall, with muscles lining every part of its grey skin.

Then, noticing that Raven still hadn’t moved, Nathaniel looked up.

"Uhm... L-Lady Stormbourne?"

Raven didn’t answer.

Her mind was elsewhere.

’Godric should be fine... Yeah, there is no reason to worry.’

Suddenly, a loud horn cut through the arena.

The duel had begun.

Nathaniel’s expression changed instantly.

All traces of his earlier timidness vanished, replaced by a burning resolve.

"Go!"

The Iron Ape roared as it charged forward.

Its enormous feet slammed against the arena floor with every step, sending vibrations through the ground.

The spectators watched nervously as the beast barreled toward the completely motionless Lady of House Stormbourne.

Ten meters.

Five.

Three.

The Iron Ape raised its fist.

And then—

Raven calmly raised one hand.

A streak of lightning erupted into the sky.

Skybreaker appeared above the arena. The majestic bird didn’t even pause. It folded its wings and plunged downward like a bolt of divine retribution.

The Iron Ape barely had time to look up.

"Lightning Strike."

A brilliant flash swallowed the battlefield as the lightning struck.

The Iron Ape’s enormous body was driven into the ground in an instant.

Dust exploded outward, and silence descended over the arena as all of the spectators held their breaths.

When the smoke finally cleared, the Iron Ape lay motionless in the crater.

One strike.

That was all it took.

The Elite Tier 3 Iron Ape had been defeated before it could even reach its opponent.

Raven lowered her hand, while Skybreaker circled lazily overhead, as though eyeing for a real opponent.

The entire arena remained silent.

Then the spectators erupted.

"The winner is... Raven of House Stormbourne!" The voice announced from the speakers, barely making it through the roaring sound of the arena.

Raven, however, didn’t pay it any mind.

With her thoughts still distant, she dismissed her summon and slowly walked down the tunnel she’d come from.

’He’ll be fine. It’s Godric, after all.’

***

Three hours later, Godric was sitting in a chamber almost identical to the one Raven used earlier.

He waited eagerly for the faculty member to arrive, turning over everything he learned of his soon-to-be opponent in the last few days.

Luckily, he didn’t have to wait much longer as a knock resounded from his left and a man stepped forward, a man he most definitely recognised.

Godric raised a brow. "Director?"

The director of the academy wore his usual, gentle smile.

"Godric, how are you? Nervous?"

"Ready," he replied flatly.

The man chuckled slightly. "Of course you are. I know this matchup is a little tough, but it is the only way to make a true statement. Our guild will not be taken seriously if we can’t stand against the Great Houses."

Tough was a bit of an understatement.

Tier 3 summoner against Tier 5.

If it were any other combat sport, this would’ve been called a mismatch.

Godric stood up. "Don’t worry... After today, every Great House will know your name."

With that, without even being told it was time, Godric walked past the director and stepped through the tunnel that led to the arena.

The crowd was rather quiet as he entered. There was no cheering, other than that from two people sitting in the east zone.

One was a girl with silver-white hair and purple eyes, and the other was a younger girl who should most definitely be at school now, with black hair and eyes identical to Godric’s.

He frowned. ’What is Mina doing here? And why is she with Raven?’

Shaking his head, he turned his head away from the two girls just as the crowd suddenly boomed with a roaring sound at a figure that stepped through the opposing tunnel.

Through the speaker, the voice announced with newfound enthusiasm: "Lady Felicia of House Solvaine!!"