Dylan walked over to a table in his room, took a glass from his ring, and poured himself some water from a glass bottle while thinking, "This would look better if it were wine."
Dylan displayed his power at the 3-moon rank (High level).
"As you can see, yours is potential. I strove again and again to exceed the potential I possessed, so what everyone considers my potential is actually the power I have achieved.
"With my magic staff, we are on the same level," said Zia, whose power was 3 moons (Medium level).
Dylan sighed, knowing that offending a high-ranking noble would be problematic, as high-level nobles had many powerful subordinates at their service, whom he considered nothing more than a nuisance and a danger he did not wish to face.
Dylan knew that the principal and vice principal were constantly aware of the power shifts within the Academy, and if he showed more than necessary, they would notice.
Dylan sighed, waved his right hand, and the door to his room opened.
"I'll see you in the coliseum's battle arena. I'll face her if necessary," Dylan said calmly, showing a relaxed expression again the moment the door opened.
Zia Distanian felt offended, especially since the person speaking to her was a low-ranking noble.
"I'll show you your place in the tournament," said Zia, who wanted to have the last word.
Dylan waved his right hand again and the door to his room closed after Zia left.
"How annoying when things don't turn out the way you expect. I don't want to influence a character like Zia too much without knowing how the story is developing either."
...
Evon, who was outside, saw Zia come out with a determined look on her face and immediately understood that Dylan had not been reckless, but he thought he would have to pay the price until he saw Dylan's bedroom door close. Evon sighed with relief and walked away quietly.
••••
Tournament day. Midday. Blue sky with very few clouds.
The tournament was held in the Academy's coliseum, and during those days, the public who could afford the tickets were allowed to attend.
In the stands were talent scouts from different guilds and nobles willing to sponsor any promising youngster who was willing to swear allegiance to them.
Lower-ranking nobles had to remain in the stands, because only middle- and high-ranking nobles were allowed to use the coliseum's private boxes.
Bang!...
At that moment in the combat arena, one student was throwing fireballs at another student who was dodging and dodging, closing the distance.
The wizard looked so scared that he didn't even move as he fired fireballs with his staff.
The warrior who had closed the distance was about to punch the wizard in the face. The warrior's fist was covered in mana and an incipient aura that had not yet taken shape.
"You're lost!" exclaimed the warrior.
Bang!
A long, thin bar of stone rose from the ground. The upper end of the stone bar suddenly struck the warrior's jaw, causing him to bite his tongue.
The tip of the warrior's tongue fell at the feet of the magician, who was quite frightened.
The warrior was unconscious and had blood in his mouth.
At that moment, an average-looking teacher announced:
Winner: Edgar Wilsed.
...
In the stands of the coliseum.
Dylan's parents seemed somewhat nervous and excited at the same time. If their son achieved the position of one of the top 10 prospects, their low noble status would no longer be at risk, which would allow them to aspire to a promotion in the future. Even so, they tried not to put pressure on their son.
Dylan, for his part, sat next to his parents, pretending to be having fun and being cheerful. However, Dylan found most of the fights between the students quite boring. The only thing he found amusing was when he saw the warrior's tongue accidentally cut off when the warrior bit his tongue for talking in the middle of combat.
Dylan wanted to laugh, but instead he just said in a kind and considerate tone:
"I hope there's a wizard with healing magic who can help him."
"Don't worry, there are wizards at the Academy who are prepared for this kind of incident," Dylan's father said.
"Then it would have been better if he had bitten off his entire tongue," Dylan thought, but he nodded in agreement with his father's response.
...
Student Dylan Gray vs. Student Ansel Bedfer," announced one of the teachers supervising the tournament.
Student Ansel was a wizard, of above-average appearance, which means he was somewhat handsome, but he looked like a lump of steel next to a valuable lump of gold.
Ansel feigned a smile, still remembering how his blood temperature rose and was close to boiling point. He thought he was going to die.
Ansel's stomach was growling, and he felt like going to the bathroom.
Begin!
Ansel did his best to look natural as he feigned a smile, then said:
"I give up. I won't fight my friend."
The teacher and the people in the stands were somewhat surprised.
"Thanks, Ansel. I'll take you out to dinner," Dylan said, pretending to be cheerful.
The teacher, still surprised, hastened to announce that Dylan had won the fight.
...
"Do you know that magician?" Anelia asked Dylan when he returned to the stands of the coliseum.
"Yes, I've made a lot of friends these days; people seem quite friendly and attentive," Dylan replied, sitting down next to his beautiful mother.
"You must be careful. Sometimes you are too kind. One day you may encounter people with ulterior motives. Be very observant when interacting with those around you," Viscount Demian advised his son.
"I will not forget your advice. You are very thoughtful toward me, Father. Thank you," Dylan said with gratitude and joy.
...
The rest of the day's fights were not very remarkable, with the favorites winning easily because they had higher power levels than their opponents.
Dylan, for his part, won again when another of his friends surrendered in the second round of the tournament.