FORELODY'S POINT OF VIEW
It was already dawn when I stirred awake and saw Rhein just returning. Like last night, she entered through the balcony. She looked tired, so I pretended to be asleep to spare her from having to interact with me and to give her a chance to rest.
Since the selection wouldn't start until the afternoon, we left her alone and let her sleep.
"Do you think she'll be fine?" Lovely asked, her voice tinged with worry. "She's sleeping so soundly, I feel like she's going to have a hard time waking up later."
"Weirdo. You sound more paranoid than her partner," Kate replied, glancing at me. I just nodded in agreement.
I rested on Allie's left shoulder since Rhein wasn't here. She didn't shove me away.
"Are you worried about her too? She's a tough girl." Her words eased me a little. Turns out that underneath her icy exterior, she has a kind side.
After a few hours lounging in our dorm room, we finally made our way to the gymnasium. We took seats at the very top of the bleachers.
The place had completely transformed. It was so beautiful that it was almost unrecognizable as the same gymnasium. The ceiling had vanished entirely, replaced by an open view of the bright sky. The sun was high, but the heat of its rays didn't touch us—probably the work of some kind of magic. Cameras were scattered all over, aimed at the battle area below where the matches would soon take place.
The venue was packed with students, from junior high to college. Only elementary students were prohibited from watching. Several ofris mnarillazas were stationed along the edges of the battle area, ready to heal anyone who got injured.
I glanced at Rhein again. She was surveying the scene with a serious expression. She felt distant ever since she woke up and ate at the cafeteria earlier. I wanted to ask what she had been doing all night, but I hesitated. By the time I'd decided, the event had already begun.
"It looks like everyone's here!" announced a teacher who is serving as the emcee, holding a microphone and standing atop a floating, disc-shaped piece of steel. "Welcome, dear students of Mnarill tes Aleid! Today is the selection for the Top 8 Highest-Ranking Students, who will also serve as the Student Council of this school. Good luck to all of you, senior high school students!"
The gymnasium erupted with cheers and excited shouts.
"Let's officially begin!"
The first pair was called to fight. Their match ended quickly when one side surrendered.
"Coward," I muttered in disappointment. Rhein heard me but didn't respond.
"Right, Pracien?" I pressed.
She glanced at me briefly and nodded.
"You okay?"
A small smile curved her lips. "Of course."
I narrowed my eyes at her. "Then why are you so quiet?"
"I'm just… nervous. About my match—and my opponent."
"Did something change with your mnarill last night?"
She shook her head, frustrated. "No. I'll just have to fight as an ofrismnarillaza."
"For our third match… a gulni mnarillaza from Ecialis Section A versus a yvus mnarillaza from Ementumo Section A! Let's welcome Zen Harrison and Lovely Ash!"
Our conversation ended abruptly. All eyes turned to Lovely, who looked shocked at the early call of her name—but she recovered quickly.
"Wait, Zen is my opponent? Gosh! If he tries to electrocute me…" She pouted, then smirked. "I'll definitely roast him." Leaving her partner behind, she flashed us a grin. "Wish me luck!" She didn't even look scared.
"Good luck!" we chorused.
"Start!"
Zen unleashed a surge of electricity, but Lovely dodged it easily. In retaliation, she hurled a barrage of fireballs at him. He avoided most, but one struck his left arm, earning a pained grunt. A bolt of lightning shot from Zen's palm, striking Lovely's right leg and knocking her down.
The fight became a repetitive exchange—attack and dodge, attack and dodge. Their uniforms were in tatters. Zen had several burns, while Lovely had small cuts on her arms and a scorch mark on her leg.
Minutes later, both were exhausted, yet Lovely was still smiling as if enjoying every second.
I stole a glance at Rhein. Her eyes were fixed on the battle, her expression unreadable—same with Allie and Kate.
The crowd's cheers grew louder, most rooting for Zen.
Lovely scattered fire across the ground before summoning massive fireballs. Zen couldn't dodge in time—one hit his legs, sending him crashing to the center of the arena, unconscious. Lovely collapsed to her knees, drained.
"Our winner for the third match is Lovely Ash!" The announcement drew some disappointed murmurs from the crowd, but we were thrilled for our friend. Kate let out a loud cheer, joined by a few classmates from their section.
Zen and Lovely were carried to a corner where the ofris mnarillazas began healing them.
Over an hour passed, and I was beginning to feel drowsy when Kate's name was called.
"For our next match… a sychi mnarillaza from Ecialis Section A versus a rescemnarillaza from Ementumo Section A! Let's welcome Andrew Miller and Kate Wagner!"
"Good luck, Kate! Don't put him to sleep too early, okay? Show me a real fight!" Lovely teased, now fully recovered and back in her seat as if she hadn't just fought.
"I'll try, but I can't promise that," Kate replied.
Kate walked in silence until she reached the battlefield—a sharp contrast to her opponent, who strolled in like some celebrity waving at his adoring fans.
"Start!"
Neither of them attacked right away. Instead, they locked eyes, a silent challenge passing between them.
Kate's expression shifted into a scowl when Andrew stepped toward her.
The moment she tried to move, her muscles froze.
"I can't move!" she shouted, glaring daggers at him.
Andrew only answered with a mischievous grin.
After a few seconds, her lips curled into a smirk of her own, as if a plan had sparked in her mind.
"You want a controlling game, huh? Fine. You can control my body, but I can control your mind."
The sky above suddenly dimmed.
Kate looked up, startled, as the once-bright heavens deepened into a velvety darkness, scattered with countless tiny stars.
"Our winner for this match—Kate Wagner!"
When we looked back down, Andrew was sprawled on the floor—unconscious. Another wave of disappointment rippled through the crowd.