The hallways of Tharvaldur felt colder than usual. The deep echo of Noel's boots on stone was the only sound as he made his way through the underground corridors. Noir rested silently within his shadow, unseen, but present as always.

He turned a corner, parchment still fresh in his mind. His steps didn't falter.

'I need to tell him everything what we learned yesterday is too valuable to waste. This isn't something I can delay.'

He stopped in front of a door — unmarked, but unmistakable. The private office of Headmaster Nicolas.

Two light knocks.

"Come in," answered a familiar voice from inside.

Noel exhaled slightly. 'Good. He's here.'

He pushed open the door and stepped in.

Nicolas was alone, seated at a desk cluttered with documents, glowing brackets, and a half-finished cup of herbal tea. He was studying the latest tournament progress. Many had already been eliminated. Now, only the strongest remained — and if both Noel and Marcus won today, they'd face each other tomorrow.

Nicolas looked up. "Noel?" His brow lifted with subtle amusement. "Judging by your face, something good must have happened."

Noel allowed himself the briefest of smiles. "Something did… but that's not why I'm here."

He stepped forward, closing the door behind him. For a flicker of a second, a memory from the night before surfaced, Elyra's warmth, her words, her hand going down on... but he pushed it aside. Focus.

"Noel?" Nicolas asked again, watching him carefully.

Noel nodded. "We had another meeting with Torwan. Disguised as Estermont merchants."

Nicolas leaned back in his chair slightly, the light from the mana crystals outlining the sharp lines of his face. "I see. Then I'm guessing what you discovered is important."

Noel's expression turned serious.

"Very."

Noel stood straight, arms crossed as he laid it all out.

"First, the enhancer. Students are being used as test subjects. That much we already suspected, but now we have confirmation. They're being enhanced to win fights, and in some cases, forced to lose. The enhancer's effect is subtle, almost impossible to detect unless you know exactly what you're looking for."

Nicolas nodded, his eyes narrowing. "That explains why some matches felt… off."

"There's more," Noel continued. "Those who lose on purpose… they're not doing it willingly. Something forces them to follow Torwan's commands. I don't know if it's a spell, an item, or even blood magic like Kaelith used, but they obey without question."

"I noticed something odd during a match yesterday," Nicolas said, pacing slightly. "One of the students from Tharvaldur Institute looked like he was holding back. He moved as if he was waiting for someone's signal. I asked Torwan afterward if he noticed anything strange, and he acted completely clueless. The other directors didn't catch it, but I'm sure something was wrong."

"Then your instincts were right," Noel said. "Because we also found the factory. The enhancer is being mass-produced with hundreds of workers involved, probably more and it's all backed by the King. Or rather, whoever's pulling the strings behind him. He's under some kind of illusion magic. He's not acting of his own will."

Nicolas's expression hardened as he stopped pacing. "That's a big claim."

"It's true," Noel replied. "And if we play this right, we can expose the whole operation: the factory, the manipulation, everything."

"We'll need the right moment. Somewhere public. Where there's no way to cover it up."

"What about the tournament final?" Noel suggested. "Everyone will be watching. The King will be there too."

Nicolas turned, giving a slow nod. "That could work. We'll be surrounded by every major faction, and if we move carefully, we can corner them politically. As for the illusion on the King… there's someone who might help. The director of Luceria Grand Academy. She specializes in that kind of magic."

Noel hesitated, then asked, "Do you trust her?"

A small smile tugged at Nicolas's lips. "We were partners. For over two decades. Let's just say I know exactly what she's capable of."

Noel blinked, filing that revelation away. "Understood."

"Is that everything?"

"One last thing," Noel said. "After today's match, I'll be bringing the girls and my opponent here. Charlotte will need to perform a Blessing, and this is the only place with enough privacy to protect her identity."

Nicolas raised an eyebrow. "The girl you're fighting today is under the enhancer?"

"Yes. And she's supposed to win. If I beat her, Torwan loses a significant bet. That alone could throw his plans off-balance."

"How sure are you that you'll win?"

"Very."

Nicolas gave him a firm nod. "Alright. I'll keep the room ready. Come as soon as you finish the match."

Noel gave a short bow of thanks and turned toward the door.

Noel stepped out of the private corridor and made his way toward the arena floor, passing several guards and organizers in uniforms of deep red and silver. The noise grew louder with every step — a steady rumble of anticipation, voices layered over voices, thousands of spectators already in place. The crowd outside had surged through the gates not long ago, eager to see the next round of academy battles. Cheers echoed down the stone halls.

He walked calmly, hands in his pockets. The thick stone of the mountain barely muffled the roar of excitement above.

'So many people watching…'

Noir stirred lightly within his shadow — a flicker of violet in the dim hallway light.

"I know," Noel muttered under his breath. "Eyes open, just in case. If something goes wrong with her blessing, we'll need to move fast."

He approached the inner gates of the arena, where two guards stood flanking the entrance. One of them recognized him immediately and stepped aside without a word. Noel nodded once in thanks and continued through.

As he entered the lower section of the arena tunnel, he spotted them.

Charlotte, Elena, and Elyra stood together near the railing overlooking the coliseum floor. They were dressed in academy uniforms, and they stood out among the nearby spectators.

Charlotte wore her Sancta Veil, her long pink hair now a vivid crimson, her eyes shifted to a soft hazel. Elena looked visibly flustered about something, her pointed ears really red, while Elyra had a satisfied little smirk that told Noel everything.

He sighed internally. 'She told them. Great.'

The three of them noticed him at the same time. Elyra raised her hand in a casual wave, looking proud. Charlotte smiled gently — though her eyes narrowed slightly in curiosity — and Elena looked like she was trying hard not to look in his direction for too long.

Before he could speak to them, the announcer's voice boomed across the arena.

"Next up! Representing the Imperial Academy of Valor, Noel Thorne!"

The crowd erupted into cheers.

Noel stepped forward into the light.

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