[Calyra’s POV]
By the ti the nas had been drawn and shuffled, the hall had settled into an expectant silence.
Calyra remained where she was, a little apart from the others, one gloved hand loosely resting on the curve of her waist while the other hung at her side.
Her blue eyes, cold and devoid of warmth, scanned the rearranged nas on the screen.
A few minutes later, Silvena appeared beside her without much introduction.
She leaned against the balustrade with casual ease, her gaze following the shuffling of Class E scholars with a playful smile.
"So~ in the end, you really didn’t volunteer."
"Of course, you told not to." Calyra replied casually.
"I see~ Haa, anyway, I know you’re thinking about it too... that this session would be a perfect trap for Class E, one that would have played out exactly as intended if not for him, right?"
Calyra glanced toward the one in question, who had so cleanly upended Delila’s session.
However, instead of replying Calyra remained silent.
’He really can see the future...’
She recalled what Ruvian had told her.
—"There is no need for you to search for your master. You don’t need to trouble yourself over that for now."
—"However, what you should be looking for instead... is soone else. You made a promise, after all, with him. And if you fail to keep it... You’ll never feel happiness again."
Even now, she still doesn’t understand why he told her not to look for her master. How did he know she had been searching for her?
But more than anything...
What did he an when he said she should look for soone else instead?
If he truly could see the future... then what future did he see that made him say those words to her?
Honestly, both back then and even now, she still carries countless questions. The difference was that in the past, she had never truly trusted him.
But after witnessing what happened today... it no longer feels like a coincidence. It really does seem as though he knows the future.
And then there’s Silvena, who was willing to follow his ideas without questioning anything.
Calyra quietly sighed.
Then, Delila’s voice suddenly cut through the quiet.
"First match: Rosalin Varion from Class A."
The announcent rang out like a polished bell, and Calyra finally turned her gaze away from Ruvian—watching as Rosalin calmly stepped forward.
’Rosalin...’
"Ah, right. You haven’t t her at all ever since that day."
Silvena said as she lightly tapped her chin.
Calyra weakly nodded. Her gaze softened, the sharpness in her eyes dulling just a little as it followed Rosalin’s figure.
Silvena stretched her arms casually overhead, then glanced sideways.
"You know, Calyra, if it is still weighing on you... you could just go and apologize to her. We both know you didn’t an those words at that ti."
Calyra shook her head.
Her voice slowly beca subdued.
"No. I crossed a line that day. I said what I shouldn’t have. Whether I ant it or not doesn’t matter. She owes nothing. And so, I have no right to ask for her forgiveness."
Silvena didn’t say anything after that. She simply watched Calyra as her sapphire gaze lingered on Rosalin.
Watching the gentle sway of Rosalin’s crimson hair, Calyra’s mind wandered back to the day of that incident.
She recalled Rosalin, seated in her wheelchair, smiling brightly as she addressed her with genuine admiration during that birthday party.
—"...It is really you. You really ca. Ah, sorry, I should have introduced myself first. My na is Rosalin. From House of Varion. It is such an honor to see you, Lady Calyra."
—"I... I have heard a lot about you. And I really want to see you in person. You’re an inspiration to , Lady Calyra."
—"You see, my dream is..."
—"...I want to be soone as strong as you."
Even now, Calyra could not forget that radiant smile of hers, nor the fierce, golden fire that burned within her eyes—a look of pure admiration and hope.
And yet... it was she who had snuffed out that light with her cold, heartless words.
*****
[Ruvian’s POV]
Ruvian stood quietly among the sea of Class E bodies, eyes steady as three first representatives from Class E stepped forward, their movents cautious.
Delila’s voice rang out.
"Garen Elswick, Mikael Dorn, and Linnea Canell of Class E, please step forward."
Ruvian’s gaze narrowed, shifting from the stage to the trio stepping into position. The taller boy, Garen, tightened his grip around the hilt of a sparring blade.
Mikael stood beside him, broader and sturdier, already shifting from foot to foot in restless anticipation.
Linnea, the smallest of the three, moved with sharper intent, though her fingers tapped twice along the length of her staff.
She was nervous.
From across the hall, another set of steps broke the stillness.
Only one.
Rosalin Varion.
Seeing her getting closer to him before stepping onto the stage, Ruvian activated his [Character Sheet] skill on Rosalin.
===============
{}---『RUNEHEART』---{}
◇ Na: Rosalin Varion
◇ Age: 17
◇ Spellcore: Tier 3
◇ Rank: First-Class Magus
◇ Magic Affinity: [Fire], [Light]
[Mana Resonance: (679/1000)]
==[General Attributes]==
Strength: B (A )
Agility: B (A )
Endurance: B (A )
Vitality: B (A )
Perception: B- (A)
==[Mage Attributes]==
Mana Control: D
Casting Speed: C-
Magic Power: D
ntal Strength: A
Mana Sensitivity: D
Mana Essence: [3,500/3,500]
==[Innate Blessings]==
- [Blessing of War God’s Incarnation]
- [Afflicted: Darberg Syndro]
==[Affinity Mastery]==
- [Fire (Interdiate)]
- [Light (Basic)]
===============
’Hmm, strength, agility, endurance... everything about her physicality is rated at the upper end of the first-year spectrum. Her Spellcore has matured into Tier 3 already. That alone put her ahead of 90% of the academy’s first-years.’
Ruvian deeply pondered.
Rosalin was what the Academy would call a "combat archetype," but what Ruvian would more honestly call a monster.
However, what truly drew his attention wasn’t the raw stats. It was the blessing etched into her very na.
==========
[Blessing of War God’s Incarnation]
[Description]: A divine blessing that shapes the bearer into the peak of human physical potential. The body is naturally strong, durable, flexible, and highly resilient, with exceptional balance, coordination, and stamina.
Dexterity and reflexes are sharpened, granting nimble movent and precise control, while both hands function equally well, allowing true ambidexterity. The senses are enhanced, including clearer eyesight and sharper awareness.
As the bearer grows older, the blessing develops alongside them, steadily refining the body until it reaches its absolute pri at full maturity—the embodint of the perfect human warrior.
==========
’No matter how many tis I’ve read this... her blessing is such an absurd thing to have.’
It was the kind of blessing that wasn’t sothing people stumbled into. A monster, in the most knightly sense of the word.
’But... she still has the Darberg’s Syndro disease with her.’
The effect of that disease is the opposite outco of her blessing, it weakened her.
Ruvian’s gaze moved from her glowing sheet to the three Class E volunteers now standing opposite her.
Their nas; Garen, Mikael, and Linnea, rested in his mind without weight.
However, they were less a scripture and more of a footnote compared to her.
Their profiles, summoned through his [Character Sheets] skill, yet yielded only the basics.
Their mana capacity barely exceeded his own.
Their Spellcores were late Tier 1 at best, with no notable blessings.
Ruvian exhaled silently, his gaze sharpening as he watched the four figures spread out across the training ring.
’This match is already decided.’
Rosalin unsheathed the academy’s longsword with fluid grace.
She held it in one hand, angling the tip just low enough not to intimidate, and just high enough to remind them of who they were facing.
There was no mockery in her golden eyes, only focus.
It was then that Delila’s voice rang through the hall, clear and ceremonial.
"Begin."
──────── ✦ ────────
[Chapter 71: The First Blade Drawn (1)]
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