Aeloria Academy — Orion Classroom
Calm filled the room, broken only by the soft scratching of chalk against the board. Calem finished writing a series of symbols, then slowly placed the chalk back in its case. He turned around, his white gloves perfectly fitted.
— "This afternoon will be your first quarterly exam."
Whispers stopped immediately. Every gaze turned to him.
— "It will take place in the grand arena. All students will be allowed to attend as spectators."
A hush swept the room.
— "The exam consists of five successive duels, individual… against one and the same opponent."
He paused.
— "Zarek."
Silence. No shouts, no disbelief. Just a heavy tension.
Everyone already knew. Everyone was waiting.
— "The five participants will be: Menma, William, Alina, Daren… and Fye."
William lifted his head, suddenly more attentive. Alina paled. Daren clenched his fists. Fye just stared into space, jaw tight.
— "He won't fight at full strength, rest assured. The goal is not to crush you… but to reveal you."
He scanned the class with his gaze.
— "This trial is an opportunity. A rare chance to show who you truly are, even when facing a wall."
A heavy silence. Then, softer, he added:
— "Courage exists only within fear."
His eyes met Menma's… then Alina's.
He turned on his heels.
— "Meet at two o'clock. In the arena. Be ready."
And he left the room, leaving behind a storm of thoughts, anxieties, and stifled hopes.
Academy Hallways — Shortly Before the Trial
The hallways buzzed with anticipation. Voices mixed, hurried and restless.
William walked beside Menma, hands crossed behind his head, wearing a falsely relaxed expression.
— "Do you think we'll make it against Zarek?" he asked bluntly, eyes fixed straight ahead.
Menma shrugged, serious.
— "Maybe we had a chance… if he had stayed the same as two months ago."— "But he's still in the top 4…"— "That means he's even stronger now."
They were about to turn toward the west wing stairs leading to the arena when a figure suddenly appeared before them, forcing them to stop abruptly.
A student with a determined gaze stood there, straight despite her pounding heart.Her pale gray hair framed a tense face, more expressive than usual.
She spoke directly to Menma, with a tone that seemed to command herself as much as him.
— "Thank you."
Silence.
— "And this time… you won't need to protect me."— "I've improved."
She briefly nodded, then turned and walked away immediately, her brisk steps betraying inner turmoil.
Menma froze, blinking.
— "…Huh?"
He glanced at William, clearly lost.
— "Who was that…?"
William chuckled lightly, hands still behind his head.
— "Alina."— "She was there the day you stepped in against Zarek."— "She almost took his attack head-on."— "Even if it wasn't exactly for her… she saw it as a rescue."
He looked at him sideways, calm but a bit more serious than usual.
— "Maybe you did more than you think that day."
Menma slowly looked away.
He didn't even remember her face.But her words were clear.
Grand Arena of the Academy
The crowd's roar fell silent as Calem raised his hand.
He carefully unrolled a scroll.
— "Here are the five Orion class students who will face Zarek in duels. Five trials. Five perspectives. Five chances to confront the elite."
A shiver ran through the audience. Everyone knew Zarek's reputation: a cruel and ruthless prodigy, capable of crushing even the strongest in a flash.
— "First duel: Daren — Guardian Arche."— "Second duel: Fye — Light Breeze Arche."— "Third duel: William — Agility Arche."— "Fourth duel: Alina — Instinctive Shield Arche."— "Fifth and final duel: Menma — Amplification Arche."
— "Fights will begin in five minutes. Prepare yourselves."
The stands were packed.
The murmur of students filled the air as the arena prepared for the duels.
— "Look over there, it's Ryoma!" whispered an Orion student.
— "Top 3. Childhood friend of Zarek, right?"
— "Yeah, that explains why he came."
"And wait, that's Ayame… top 2."A voice rose, full of respect. "She looks impeccable, her outfit perfectly tailored, every movement radiates confidence. You can tell right away she's extremely powerful, one of the academy's best."
— "Masaru, the top 1, is here too."His presence commanded a respectful, almost solemn silence. The champion, the one everyone wanted to challenge or admire.
— "It's rare to see all three together."
The atmosphere was electric. Everyone knew these fights would mark the start of the real challenge.
The Duels Begin
Duel 1 – Daren
Daren stepped onto the field slowly, heavy with tension. His Guardian Arche allowed him to create resilient physical barriers.
But Zarek wasn't there to play.
Three crushing strikes. Three barriers shattered.A fiery blow to the plexus, and Daren collapsed to his knees, powerless to stand.
— "Impressive!" exclaimed a spectator.
Duel 2 – Fye
Fye chose a different tactic. His Light Breeze Arche gave him aerial mobility, almost ghost-like. He darted and twirled with agility.Yet Zarek was always a breath ahead.
When boredom took over, he raised his hand, triggering a targeted blast that sent Fye flying out of the circle.
— "Zarek leaves no chance to his opponents!"
Duel 3 – William
Things changed slightly.
William embodied speed and precision. His Agility Arche forged subtle feints and precise dodges. He prolonged the duel, even drawing some admiring shouts.
— "He's holding on!"
— "If he loses here, it would be a total surprise."
Zarek, expressionless, smirked. He first accelerated gently, then intensely, catching William at the heart of a feint. His flaming fist struck down.
William fell, shaken, teeth clenched. But stood till the end.
— "For an Orion, he did well."
Duel 4 – Alina
Alina stepped forward, eyes fixed on the ground, body tense. Her power was primarily defensive, and she was uneasy about attacking.
For fifteen long seconds, she remained still, assessing the situation, unable to move.
Zarek, annoyed, said scornfully: "If you don't move, I'll come to you."
Before Alina could react, he dashed at lightning speed, already right in front of her in a flash. She activated her last-second shield, but Zarek's burning magic palm strike hit with colossal force.
The shield broke with a sharp crash, and Alina was thrown backward, flying out of the arena under the brutal impact.
— "She's not moving!"— "Is he crazy or what?!"
William jumped onto the stage.
— "Alina! Are you okay?!"
He slid beside her, checked her breathing. She was alive but unconscious.
Menma stepped down, fists clenched.He simply muttered: "Tss… Zarek."
Zarek spread his arms provocatively.
— "Already here? Want to finish our fight earlier than planned?"
He pointed at Menma.
— "Your turn, Orion's hero. Come show me your power."
In the stands, Ayame watched the scene coldly, without a word, but her gaze betrayed a new curiosity. Masaru, standing nearby, frowned.
— "Zarek hasn't changed. Still just as cruel."
Appendix — Spotlight on an Antagonist: Zarek
Through the trials and duels, it is important to better understand the one who embodies power and threat in the academy: Zarek.
Quick Portrait: Zarek, the Blaze of Fire
At only 14 years old, Zarek already carries the weight of heavy family expectations. His Fire Archetype reflects his fiery and ruthless temperament. Raised in a demanding nobility, he has learned to hide any weakness behind a cold and distant facade.
In the arena, he is feared for his cruelty and mastery of fire, but beneath this armor hides a secret fear: the fear of never being good enough. His true drive remains a mysterious rival, a shadow that inspires both respect and determination to surpass.