Before anyone could respond, the plaza fell into a hush. Spiritlight flared in the central square, forming an enormous crystalline screen that hovered above the crowd. Glyphs spun in perfect rhythm, runes of chance and fate.

The announcer's voice boomed:

"By decree of the Academy Council—the randomized teams for the Team Arena Trials will now be revealed!"

The glyphs spun faster. Columns formed. Names began to lock into place, glowing one by one.

—

Aston's gaze snapped up.

[Team 11]

[Aston Rhyner – Scouting Arts] [Marcellus Trent – Spirit Combat] [Ivy Deyra – Enchantment Arts] [Selene Roth – Support & Healing] [Brennar Coil – Spirit Engineering]

All strangers. He rolled the names across his mind, measuring possibilities.

Beside him, Lyra exhaled. Her own name had locked into Team Sixteen, alongside four equally unfamiliar faces from Alchemy, Healing, Engineering, and Combat. "Looks like I'll be making new friends."

Seria spotted her name under Team Twenty with members from Combat, Enchantment, Commerce, and Alchemy.

She leaned in when Rowan muttered, "There." His name blazed under Team Twenty Nine, grouped with four others he didn't know. He gave a small shrug, ever the adaptable one. "Could've been worse."

Then came Kai's. Team Thirty Seven. The screen filled in around his name: four students from Commerce, Alchemy, Healing, and Combat. None familiar.

Kai chuckled nervously, "Also unfamiliar with my teammates. This spells trouble."

—

The plaza erupted in noise—cheers, groans, even a few outright curses. Some students clutched their heads in despair at their mismatched lineups. Others shouted in triumph, already celebrating.

The announcer's voice cut through the chaos:

"After the rumble royale. sixteen groups will stand. Forge strength from strangers—or collapse into dust. The Arena does not pardon weakness. Remember: betrayal is disqualification. Cooperation is survival. All members must survive. One member incapacitated—you're out!"

The names burned brighter, locked in spiritlight for all to see.

"May the best teams remain. This ends the third day!"

The crowd lingered long after the final words of the announcer faded. Names still glowed above the arena like constellations—markers of fate set in spiritlight. Students buzzed with speculation, voices rising with nervous laughter, boasts, and whispered strategies.

But Aston and his group quietly slipped out of the plaza, weaving through the sea of bodies until they reached the calmer paths leading back toward their dorm wings. The noise still followed them, carried by the festival's energy, but it softened with every step.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Random teams," Lyra muttered, her arms folded across her chest. Her lynx padded beside her, ears twitching at every sound. "I don't like it. We trained together for weeks, and now we're split apart."

"Think of it as a test," Seria said evenly. Lumine fluttered above her hair, wings faintly shimmering, while Oriel circled low like a guardian shadow. "It's meant to strip away comfort zones. To see who can adapt, not just who can fight."

Kai kicked a pebble across the path, his hands tucked into his pockets. "Adapt, huh? Easier said than done when your teammates are total strangers." He sulked. "Guess it's a scouting lesson on its own."

Rowan gave a small shrug. "Doesn't matter who we fight beside. What matters is how we handle it. You trust your beasts, you think on your feet. The rest will follow."

Aston remained quiet for most of the walk, Mirage perched on his shoulder, Gray trotting close at his heel. He listened to their words but let them settle in silence. Cooperation. Survival. The rules had been brutal and simple—one member down, the whole team lost. That meant protecting people he didn't even know. Or worse… pretending to hold back while still securing victory.

—

By the time they reached the dining hall, the day's glow had shifted. Lanterns lit the walkways, reflecting off polished tiles and the distant stalls of the festival still alive with chatter and trade.

The hall itself hummed with voices, crowded with students eating late meals after the long day of events.

They found a table by the window and sat together. Plates filled quickly—roasted fowl, seasoned grain, spiced root stew. Conversation started slowly, but as food warmed them, the tension eased.

"Did you see the Spirit Alchemy performance earlier?" Lyra asked between bites. "The one that tied for first in the showcase?"

"Hard to miss," Kai said with a chuckle. "Perfect scores from all five judges. Guess throwing explosions that taste like candy is a good way to win hearts."

Rowan rolled his eyes. "Alchemy's flashy, but wait until they're tossed into a combat bracket. A cauldron won't shield you from claws."

"Still," Seria added softly, "they proved something today. If the festival rewards creativity as much as raw strength, then any division can shine. That's the point."

For a moment, they let that truth settle. The festival wasn't just combat—it was everything. A stage where divisions displayed what they were worth, and where reputations would be carved into memory.

Aston finally spoke, his voice steady. "We don't know who we'll face in the rumble tomorrow. Or how long it'll last. But it doesn't matter. We each do what we're best at. That's how we'll survive."

Mirage clicked her beak softly, almost as if agreeing. Gray gave a short chuff and curled against Aston's boots under the table.

The group lingered after their plates were cleared, the small talk drifting between festival gossip, guesses about the "secret prize" of the freshmen competition, and light teasing about Kai's habit of disappearing to take "mystery missions." Their laughter was subdued but genuine, easing the weight of what waited tomorrow.

Eventually, the lanterns outside dimmed toward curfew, and the flow of students slowed. One by one, they rose.

"Rest well," Seria said with her usual calm. "Tomorrow isn't just about survival. It's about leaving a mark."

Lyra gave a firm nod. "Then let's make sure ours isn't forgotten."

Kai stretched, carrying Shelldon in his arms like always. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't get knocked out in the first five minutes."

Rowan snorted. "Save your jokes for when you're still standing."

They broke apart at the dorm crossroads, bidding each other goodnight. Aston climbed the steps toward his own room, the festival lights flickering faintly in the distance behind him.

Inside, the room was quiet. Ren wasn't there, as usual. Aston changed into lighter clothes, sat cross-legged on his bed, and closed his eyes.

Tomorrow begins another test.

Aston steadied his breath. His beasts settled around him, Gray curling at his side, Mirage on the bed's headboard.

The chaos of the day ebbed away, leaving only silence.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.