The sky above the Azure Arena shimmered with magical light. Floating platforms drifted in the air, students filled the stands, and banners flew from every tower of the Academy. The second week of the Azure Clash had begun, and with it came the long-anticipated team battles.
Three-person squads from both first-year and second-year divisions were to be matched for "cooperative evaluation." That meant chaos. Lots of it.
And Kael?
He was asleep.
Under a tree. Again.
His tea rested half-finished beside him. Lyra sat nearby, scribbling in her notebook, occasionally glancing up to check if Kael was still breathing. (He was.)
Nyx, however, was pacing in front of them with all the urgency of a man about to give a royal speech.
"This is it!" he declared. "Our debut as a legendary duo!"
Kael didn't respond.
Nyx stomped over. "Kael! Wake up! We're on the schedule!"
Kael cracked one eye open. "Cancel it."
"We can't! I told them we were 'Team Shadow Thunder'—"
"Why would you do that."
"Because it sounds cool! And mysterious!"
Kael sat up slowly. "I don't do teams."
"Too bad. It's you, me… and Lyra."
Lyra froze. "Wh-what?! M-me?!"
Kael blinked. "You agreed to this?"
Lyra clutched her notebook. "I-I didn't even know I was in a team…"
Kael groaned.
But ten minutes later, all three stood on a floating battle platform facing their opponents.
---
On the Opposing Side: Team Wyvern Fang
Three second-years stood in formation. Big. Muscular. Shiny armor. Way too confident.
Their leader, a bulky spear-wielder named Duran, pointed dramatically. "First-years? Pfft. This'll be quick."
Nyx posed. "Speak for yourself, shiny boy!"
Lyra whimpered.
Kael yawned.
The referee's voice rang across the arena: "Begin!"
---
What Was Supposed to Be a Team Battle
Duran charged forward, spear raised high. His two teammates flanked him—one with wind magic, the other a berserker with a giant hammer.
Nyx started screaming random move names.
"Shadow Gale! Thunder Fang Strike! Nyx Special Triple Spin—!"
No one paid attention.
Lyra ducked behind Kael. "I-I think I'll just defend…"
Kael walked forward. Slowly.
One of the second-years threw a gust of wind toward him. Kael raised his arm lazily to block his face.
The gust hit a nearby banner pole.
It snapped, swung down, and knocked the wind mage off the platform.
The crowd gasped.
Nyx blinked. "Wait, did you just—?"
"I didn't do anything," Kael said.
Duran lunged, spear flashing. Kael sighed and stepped to the side. The spear missed by a hair and slammed into the stone floor. Duran tried to yank it back—only for it to crack from the impact and shatter in his hands.
He froze.
Kael shrugged. "You should return that to the school shop. Might be defective."
The third second-year—the berserker—roared and charged straight for Kael.
He slipped on a discarded tea cup Lyra had dropped.
Face-first.
Out cold.
---
Silence. Then Madness
"Team Shadow Thunder wins!"
The arena exploded in confusion.
"Did he even move?!"
"That guy just… stood there!"
Nyx raised his arms. "BEHOLD! THE POWER OF STRATEGIC IDLENESS!"
Kael scratched his head. "I really just wanted to sleep."
Lyra peeked out from behind him. "…Did we win?"
Kael looked at her. "I think the wind did more than we did."
---
Later That Evening:
In the observation balcony, Elira watched the replay with narrowed eyes.
"This doesn't make sense."
Her fellow nobles were whispering behind her.
"He's untouchable…"
"Is he lucky or cursed?"
Elira crossed her arms. "He's doing this on purpose."
Behind her, a few instructors exchanged worried looks.
One of them whispered, "Is it really luck? Or… is this something else?"
---
Elsewhere: In the Shadows
A cloaked figure inked another line in a growing scroll.
> Subject #0001 has completed secondary passive trials. Adaptation rate: immeasurable. Probability shift observed.
Interference not advised.
Another figure nearby spoke quietly. "Should we initiate contact?"
The first one shook their head. "Not yet. Let the world watch him… and misunderstand."
---
Back in the Dorms
Kael flopped onto his bed. Finally.
Tea on the nightstand. Blanket halfway over him. Peace at last.
Nyx's voice rang out through the window: "Kael! We made it to the next round! They called us geniuses!"
Kael pulled the blanket over his face.
"…I hate this school."
---
End of Chapter 15