As the roar of the first match faded, the Colosseum floor seemed to come alive. Restoration runes glowing beneath the stone tiles hummed with power, automatically knitting the shattered rock back together and erasing the scorch marks of the Princes' duel.
Mint: "All right, people! Now for the second match of our ceremony! Let us welcome: Stency Rose of the Celestial Academy versus Meena Meril of the Mystic Academy!"
Mint: "It is the first time in a decade we have seen a Thread Grand Master appear in this ceremony, and she faces a Pure Mage! This is a battle of complexity versus raw output!"
(Note: Threads are similar to runes, but a single thread can hold up to 12 spells depending on how many knots the user has formed. They form a second thread as they progress beyond 12 knots. Unlike runes, which require infused magic to activate, threads absorb surrounding magic and keep spells ready for instant release. However, the recharge time is significantly longer.)
Stency Rose entered the arena with a confident catwalk, casually chewing a lollipop as if she had come to a playground rather than a battlefield.
Stency: "Hello~"
Meena (Nervous): "H-hi."
Stency: "How are you going to fight with that attitude? You're shaking."
Meena (Calming her breath): "I don't have to talk to fight. Intermediate Spell: Flame Spear!"
Meena manifested a spear of fire and launched it directly at Stency's face. Without moving her feet, Stency's entire body jerked exactly one inch to the left, letting the spear whistle past her ear. It was her first knot spell: Pull—a technique that allowed her to be yanked toward a desired spot within a 20-meter radius by thought alone.
Stency (Chuckling): "My move, shy girl."
Stency used Pull to launch herself toward Meena, throwing a vicious roundhouse kick. Meena was faster than she looked, instantly forming a Heat Shield that hissed as it absorbed the impact.
Stency: "Fast for a Pure Mage. All right then... fuck it. INVERSE!"
The moment the word left Stency's lips, Meena's Heat Shield didn't just break—it imploded.
(Note: Every spell has a unique magicular structure to manifest. The 'Inverse' spell reverses the structural properties of a spell, causing it to collapse. As a side effect, the magic of the spell is thrown OUTWARDS, creating a vacuum shockwave that causes extreme damage to the surroundings.)
The resulting blast sent both girls flying in opposite directions, tumbling across the stone floor.
Melvin: "Why the hell are all these kids insane? Using Inverse at point-blank range is practically suicide!"
Anjan: "What concerns me more is where a student learned a forbidden spell like that."
Meena (Standing up, serious now): "You are reckless."
Stency: "I prefer the term 'exciting.'SWOOOOSH! Stency closed the distance in a jagged, zig-zag pattern using her Pull spells. Meena responded with a meteor shower of flame spears. Stency cast Combustion (Intermediate) and layered it with a Knot Spell: Amplification. She swung a heavy strike at Meena, but Meena used a Flame Thrust from her right hand to dodge-spin her entire body. In the same motion, Meena pointed her left hand at Stency's ribs and released a Flame Spear at point-blank range.
BOOM!
Stency was sent skidding across the floor, spinning wildly before slamming into the arena wall.
Anjan: "Not bad. She is learning from her opponent's rhythm, just like I taught her."
Melvin: "Indeed, Advisor. Your granddaughter is making the Meril name proud today."
Anjan: "But I am more interested in that girl from the Rose family."
Melvin: "They are an independent family from the South—full of weirdos and military outcasts. No clan would accept them, yet they've pulled their own weight to rise this high."
Stency pulled herself out of the wall, a wide smile on her face despite the dust on her clothes.
Stency: "Well played... oh god."
Meena wasn't waiting. She had already manifested twelve High-Tier Flame Spears in a halo behind her. She began firing them one by one. Stency used Pull on the arena walls, "skating" across the vertical surfaces with Amplifier active. The spears struck the wall inches behind her, their energy dispersing against the audience's protection runes.
Both girls were smiling now, caught in the pure adrenaline of the fight. The atmosphere in the stadium shifted from tension to a strange, lovely warmth as the crowd realized both fighters were genuinely enjoying themselves.
Anjan (Laughing): "That's how you make friends in this world!"
After dozens of high-speed exchanges, both were reaching their mana limits. Stency decided to end it, revealing her hidden card: her Sixth Knot Spell.
Stency: "BIND—AMPLIFY!"
Out of thin air, multiple strings of pure mana snapped into existence, wrapping around Meena's limbs and neck, immobilizing her completely.
Stency: "FLAME CANNON (Fifth Knot)!"
A concentrated ray of fire roared past Meena—close enough to singe her hair—knocking her unconscious instantly. The stadium erupted in a respectful, standing ovation. Stency began to walk toward the exit, waving at the crowd.
Mint: "Hold on! Hold on, people! Though Cadet Stency Rose displayed an amazing performance, she utilized a Forbidden Spell in a sacred ceremony! By the laws of the Empire, her victory is invalid and she is disqualified! The winner of this match... Meena Meril of the Mystic Academy!"
Stency didn't even stop walking. She didn't care about the trophy. She had used the ceremony as a stage to show the world that the Rose family was back. She walked out with a smile, knowing that every powerful eye in the Empire was now fixed on her.
Mint: "Since we have reached high noon, we shall take a one-hour recess! Go forth, eat, and rest! We will resume the ceremony shortly!"
As the crowds flooded out of the Colosseum to the countless food stalls lining the streets—smelling of spices and roasted meats from every corner of the Empire—the young warriors gathered in the sanctuary of the Representatives' Room.
Stency entered the room, already chewing on a stick of meat. Meena was there, sitting quietly and mostly recovered from the Flame Cannon.
Meena (Awkwardly): "Hi..."
Stency (Cheerful): "Hi there! Want some of these Salamander Roast Sticks? They're still hot."
Meena: "No, thank you. I've already finished my lunch."
Aurin (Leaning in from behind): "I'll take one. Can I?"
Stency: "Sure, have a bite."
Osmian (Voice from above): "Oh! I want one too!"
Stency looked up to see Osmian perched on top of a tall storage cupboard, casually sipping a drink.
Stency: "Sure... wait. Why the heck are you up there?"
Osmian: "Better view."
He jumped down, landing silently. Meena let out a startled squeak and jumped back.
Osmian: "Sorry, Meena."
Aurin (Crunching loudly): "Mmm... these are perfectly crunchy."
Osmian (Taking a bite): "Tastes awfully spicy. Must be a recipe from around Joagerm."
Aurin: "Where did you find these?"
Stency: "Fifth stall to the right of the main entrance."
Aurin: "I'm going to get more."
Stency: "They're a steal! Only 40 Milans a stick."
Aurin: "Wow, that really is a bargain."
The door creaked open as Rocian entered, carrying a large bag filled with—coincidentally—Salamander Roast Sticks.
Aurin: "Brother! Did you go get those for me?"
Rocian (Coldly): "Get lost, Aurin."
Stency: "Our tastes really are similar, Prince Rocian."
Rocian: "Just call me Rocian."
Stency: "I liked your fighting style, by the way."
Rocian: "I lost."
Stency: "So did I."
Aurin: "Oh? I sense the start of something here..."
Meena: "U-uh... Your Highness Aurin? Your timing is a little... annoying. So, please... be quiet."
Stency burst out laughing, nearly choking on her spicy roast.
Osmian: "He's right, Prince Aurin. You should talk a little less if you want to maintain your royal dignity. Even the shy girl is pissed at you now."
Rocian: "I like these people."
He looked toward the corner of the room where Kain Fostan stood, a silent, masked statue in the shadows. Osmian suddenly yelped and scrambled back onto the top of the cupboard.
Osmian: "When the hell did you get behind me?!"
Kain: "..."
Aurin: "Ah, right. Another nutcase."
Rocian: "You're a nutcase too."
Stency: "So are you."
Meena: "Aaaah..."
Stency: "Yeah, I know, Meena. I know."
Silence fell over the room, broken only by the sound of Aurin happily munching on his spicy meat sticks. Stency looked around at the furniture, blinking in confusion.
Stency: "Seriously, though... why is there a closet in the middle of a waiting room?
Aurin: "I'll ask a better question... what exactly is wrong with my words?"
Rocian: "I have a better one: what is wrong with your head?"
Osmian: "I've got the best one: where is the bald guy?"
The room went quiet as everyone realized OM was missing. Kain simply gave a thumbs up toward the door, and Osmian smirked with pride.
Osmian: "Hehehe... finally noticed, did you?"
Suddenly, the door was kicked open with a bang. OM stumbled in, his clothes disheveled and his breathing heavy.
Meena: "Bald guy! You're—" She quickly clapped her hands over her mouth. "Oops."
OM (Gasping): "I... finally... escaped..."
Stency: "Which pit did you fall into this time?"
OM: "There was a stall selling Salamander Roast Sticks. People went absolutely insane. A brawl started right in the middle of the street! Luckily, I managed to grab one..."
He stopped mid-sentence, realizing everyone in the room was already holding a stick and munching away.
OM (Crashing out): "How?! How did you guys get these without starting a war?!"
Stency: "Early bird gets the lizard, I guess."
Aurin: "Rocian... did you have something to do with this?"
Rocian (Looking away): "I just mentioned the stall to some... acquaintances from the Academy. That's all."
OM: "So you caused the whole mess!"
THE ARENA – RESUMPTION
Mint's voice boomed over the speakers, though it sounded a bit muffled, as if he were chewing.
Mint: "Alright, people! Chomp. We will now resume our ceremony! The third match: Osmian of the Emperor Adrian Academy versus Kain Fostan of the Ashes Academy!"
Osmian (Excited): "I've been waiting for this. You're an intriguing guy, Kain."
Kain didn't say a word. He simply turned toward Osmian and gave a slow, deliberate thumbs down.
Osmian: "You little piece of—! I'll show you!"
The doors to the arena creaked open. Osmian marched out, ready for the fight of his life against the masked monster, but as he stepped onto the sands, he froze. He was utterly dumbfounded.
In the waiting room, Stency was howling with laughter. Back in the arena, Aurin was turning a deep shade of red.
Aurin: "Rocian! Who the heck are these 'acquaintances' you mentioned?!"
On the arena , the "sacred ceremony" had vanished. Nobody cared about the match. In the stands, citizens were wrestling each other for the last Salamander sticks. In the VIP section, Advisor Anjan and Melvin were shamelessly munching away. Even the guards in the corner were arguing over a spicy tail-piece.
And on the central throne, Emperor Stromas sat with a massive skewer, looking more satisfied than he had all day.
Osmian: "What the... what is happening? Are we fighting or not?!"
Kain: "???"
Up on the balcony, the foreign merchant Kam watched the madness with a look of pure realization.
Kam: "I suppose it doesn't matter where in the world you go... people will always find a reason to fight over good food."
Houren (Nodding while chewing): "Yep."
Next chapter --------BATTLE OF MONSTERS