I looked at the motherly smile of my new summon. She radiated warmth and power in equal measure.
But I was completely confused.
Why was my opponent's summon bowing in front of her? What connection did they share? What history was I missing?
"Vaelis! What the heck are you doing?!"
Azrael's voice cut through the arena. He had moved a safe distance away from us, frustration dripping from every word.
"And who is this new woman? I don't care just finish them all!"
Vaelis rose from his bow. Despite his burned, broken body, he stood with unmistakable pride.
"This right here is Lady Aerin. The greatest summon of our greatest elven queen, Ishtar. The one who fought countless calamities in that ancient era. The sole reason our kingdom stands tall to this day."
He turned slightly toward Azrael.
"And you command me to defeat her? Master, whatever memories I possess of her—I can see clearly that I am no match. I can see myself bowing before her. Serving as her shield. That is why my head lowered on instinct alone."
Hearing his words, pieces began falling into place.
The summon that had been attracted to me that had resided within me all this time was some ancient being. Someone who had served the greatest elven summoner in history.
I didn't have knowledge about Queen Ishtar or her legacy. But looking at Azrael's terrified face told me everything I needed to know.
A devilish grin spread across my lips.
The payback had begun.
"Looks like you never needed my help."
I turned to see Eren watching me. A genuine smile on his face. Not mocking. Not sarcastic. Just... genuine.
I smiled back.
"No, that's not true. It's because of your help that I'm seeing the clear path in front of me."
I looked forward again. At the cousin. At the kingdom that had destroyed my family.
"Thank you, Eren."
He turned away, stretching his arms lazily. I heard him recall his summons, the energy flowing back into him.
"It was nothing. And if you feel indebted, then for your information I accept gold coins. Or even a kiss from your new summon would work."
I almost choked.
Freya was right. This bastard was a complex specimen. Impossible to predict. Impossible to understand.
But in the end, I had been wrong about him from the very start.
My gaze shifted back to Azrael.
His voice came out broken. Desperate.
"That doesn't change the fact that you are my summon. My slave. You have to obey whatever I say!"
The moment those words left his mouth, Vaelis's body convulsed.
He clutched his chest. His already broken form twisted in fresh agony. The punishment for defying a master's order even momentarily.
After the pain subsided, Vaelis looked up at Aerin.
"I have no choice here, my lady."
Aerin's expression remained serene. Understanding.
"I understand, Vaelis. And I don't mind fighting you. It's nature's game to make us play our parts. So don't regret it."
Her smile turned slightly sharper.
"And not to mention you couldn't touch me even if you were fully healed. Or has your memory become so sluggish that you've forgotten who is superior?"
Vaelis didn't respond with words.
Aerin simply gestured at the air.
RUMBLE!
From the ground, two massive roots erupted. Each one as broad as a tree trunk. They burst forth exactly where Vaelis's swords had fallen during the earlier battle.
The roots moved with purpose. Wrapping around the twin sabers. Lifting them into the air.
With a casual wave of her hand, Aerin sent the weapons flying toward their owner.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Vaelis caught them effortlessly. One silver. One black. Both returned to their master.
He gave a respectful nod.
"I am honored that you remembered my name, Lady Aerin."
Then he dashed forward.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
His footsteps were heavy but determined. A warrior charging despite knowing he couldn't win.
Aerin casually raised her hand. Gestured for the roots to attack.
And they obeyed.
The massive wooden appendages danced with her every movement. Alive. Responsive. Extensions of her will.
CRASH!
The first root slammed down where Vaelis had been standing a fraction of a second earlier. The ground shattered beneath the impact.
He dodged.
WHOOSH!
The second root swung horizontally. He jumped over it. Then did something unexpected as he ran along its surface. Using it as a bridge to close the distance.
Clever.
But Aerin simply grinned.
As if it was already over.
And it was.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
Behind Vaelis, a wall began rising. Made of pure wood. Growing taller and taller. Higher than even Eren's monstrous storm from earlier.
It followed him. Gaining speed. Casting an enormous shadow over the arena.
Vaelis glanced back. Saw the wooden tsunami approaching.
He tried to change direction. Find an escape route.
But the wall bent. Curved. Closed off every possible path.
There was nowhere to go.
CRAAAAAASH!
The wooden wave crashed down. Consumed him completely. Crushed everything in its path.
Silence followed.
No movement from within.
After several long seconds, Aerin released her magic.
The wood evaporated. Dissolved into particles of green light that scattered in the wind.
Where the wall had been, only Vaelis dust particles remained which was also evaporating.
Aerin turned to face me. Her expression soft once more.
"I am looking forward to working with you..."
A pause.
"...master."
The word felt strange coming from someone so divine. So powerful. But there was no mockery in it. Only acceptance.
I smiled. "Thank you, Lady Aerin. For choosing me."
She didn't reply. Just hovered there in the air. Smiling that serene, knowing smile.
"The match is over! Team 106 wins and proceeds to the next round! "The announcer's voice boomed across the arena.
ROAAAAAR!
The crowd erupted. They had witnessed something extraordinary today. Ancient magic. Divine summons. Battles that would become legends.
I recalled Lady Aerin. Felt her essence return to my core. Warm. Powerful. Reassuring.
Then I looked for Eren.
He was standing on top of poor defeated opponent's back. Not celebrating the victory. Not acknowledging the crowd's cheers.
He was taunting the audience. Making obscene gestures. Riling them up for his own amusement.
I felt my face flush with embarrassment.
I walked off the stage immediately. Couldn't be associated with that behavior for another second.
But before I left, I gave one final stare to Azrael.
He stood frozen. Petrified. Unable to comprehend what had just happened. How completely his world had shattered in a matter of minutes.
Good.
This was only the beginning.
[ Later — A Few Hours Before Sunset ]
We were walking back to the villa.
The whole way, Celestine had been recounting every detail of the fight to Freya. Animated. Excited. Describing each moment with theatrical enthusiasm.
Freya hadn't been available to watch. Her own matchup had been scheduled at the same time in a different arena.
But she wasn't enjoying the storytelling at all. Her expression grew more and more strained with each passing minute.
Finally, Celestine finished her lengthy narration.
Eren, who had been walking with insufferable pride this entire time, suddenly stopped.
"Wait. Where's the prize money?"
Celestine looked at him with genuine confusion.
"Huh?"
He walked over to her. Gently placed a hand on her shoulder. His voice was calm. Patient. The calm before a storm.
"The 200 gold coins I borrowed from you. The ones I told you to bet on me again. Where are they?"
"Oh! Here it is!"
She handed him a pouch.
He took it. Weighed it in his palm. His expression darkened.
"This is 200. Where's the rest?"
Celestine tilted her head innocently. "What rest? This is everything I got."
Eren began rubbing his forehead. A vein visibly throbbing.
"Haven't I told you to bet them when the match started? When the odds were against us?"
She fidgeted with her fingers.
"But this time Freya wasn't there to snatch the money from me and do everything..."
She made her most innocent face.
"And I actually did stand in that crowded place! Everyone was staring at me! I was scared too, you know!"
Eren exploded.
He started cursing her. Calling her every name in the book. Lamenting his lost fortune. Mourning the profits that could have been.
Freya and I just watched.
And laughed.
His greed was truly something else.