After leaving Calia's office, Ryker returned to his dormitory still wearing his sweat-soaked training uniform.
"You need to clean that," Seris commented, wrinkling her nose despite being incorporeal.
Ryker headed to the laundry room, realizing too late that his only academy uniform was now soaking wet. He stood in the hallway wearing nothing but a borrowed bathrobe.
"This is humiliating," he muttered and knocked on the dorm manager's door. Hanks opened it, took one look at Ryker, and burst out laughing.
"Laundry emergency," Ryker explained. "Do you have spare clothes I could borrow?"
Hanks pulled out three sets of casual clothes. "Here. Keep them. I was going to donate them anyway."
"I only need one"
"Take all three. Just don't get yourself killed in that duel." Hanks grinned. "Oh, and is it okay if I do some exercises around the common area?"
"As long as you don't use magic outside the training center, you're fine."
After changing, Ryker spent three hours running laps around the dormitory. When he finally stopped, Seris materialized in front of him.
"Your stamina is terrible. Let me teach you another spell while you catch your breath." Her form shifted, displaying a complex magic circle. "This is Black Flame a Tier One spell combining dark and fire elements."
[System Notification: New spell acquired - Black Flame (Tier 1)]
[Affinity: Dark/Fire]
[Mana Cost: 25]
Ryker studied the pattern. "I thought I could only use dark magic."
"Black Flame is dark magic, but it manifests as fire. Any spell with a dark element works with your affinity." Seris's eyes gleamed. "If you had both affinities, it would be even stronger."
After showering and changing into his dry uniform, Ryker's stomach growled. Time for the cafeteria.
The academy had three cafeterias two serving free food, one for elite students. The segregation wasn't official, but students naturally separated based on social hierarchies.
The moment Ryker entered the regular students' cafeteria, conversation died.
"Look, it's Sword master Ryker."
"He accepted Zayne's challenge. They're fighting in a month!"
"But Ryker has amnesia. What if he forgot how to fight?"
Ryker grabbed a tray and found an empty table near the window. Seris materialized beside him but invisible to others.
"They're talking about you like you're already dead," she whispered.
"Let them talk."
A group of Zayne's friends entered and sat at the table directly behind Ryker. Their voices were deliberately loud.
"Did you hear? Zayne's father secured a special permit for the duel."
"A permit for what?"
"Full-contact combat. No magical restrictions. Zayne can use any spells or techniques he wants." Laughter. "The academy council approved it this morning."
Ryker's hand tightened around his spoon.
"That's not a duel. That's an execution."
"Exactly. Zayne's going to humiliate Ryker so completely that no one will ever challenge the Corvus family again."
"What about Ryker's supporters?"
"Damien's handling them. Anyone who speaks up for Ryker will face 'disciplinary action.' By the time the duel happens, Ryker will be completely isolated."
[System Notification: Threat assessment updated - Opponent: Zayne Corvus]
[Estimated Tier: Official Knight (Tier 2) with Grand Knight training]
[Host current tier: Unranked]
[Survival probability: 8%]
"They're setting you up," Seris whispered. "This isn't just a duel. It's a public execution."
Ryker took another bite of bread. "I know."
"And you're just going to sit here?"
"Let them talk. Let them plan. The more confident they get, the harder they'll fall."
Behind him, the conversation continued.
"Zayne's planning to announce his engagement to Gianna right after the duel. In front of everyone. While Ryker's bleeding on the ground."
"That's brutal."
"That's politics."
One of them stood and deliberately bumped Ryker's shoulder, knocking his spoon into his stew.
"Oh, sorry. Didn't see you there. You've gotten so... small lately."
Laughter from his table.
Ryker calmly picked up his spoon, wiped it clean, and continued eating.
The student's smirk faltered. "Nothing to say?"
"Enjoy your meal," Ryker replied evenly.
The student's face reddened, but his friends called him back. They left shortly after, still laughing.
Seris floated closer. "That took self-control."
"Getting angry would prove them right. That I'm weak." Ryker finished his meal and stood. "Come on. I want to practice that Black Flame spell."
As they left, Aurora Lysander watched from the far corner. She pulled out a communication crystal and whispered, "He knows. Zayne's people made sure he overheard everything, and he didn't react at all." A pause. "No, he's not broken. He's planning something."
In a secluded training area behind his dormitory, Ryker stood alone.
"Focus," Seris instructed. "Black Flame isn't like Dark Bullet. It doesn't just pierce it consumes. Channel your mana, but let the dark element take the lead."
Ryker closed his eyes, visualizing the magic circle. The black flame sparked to life in his palm.
It didn't burn hot. It felt cold like the presence in his chest but looked like dancing shadows.
[Black Flame Mastery increased to Rank F+]
"Good. Now hold it steady."
Ryker held the flame for ten seconds before it flickered out. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Again."
He cast it repeatedly until night fell. Twenty-three times total.
[Daily Quest Complete: Practice new spell 20 times]
[Black Flame Mastery increased to Rank E]
Ryker collapsed against the wall, exhausted.
"Twenty-seven days," he said quietly.
"Can you do it?" Seris asked. "Can you really beat Zayne?"
Ryker looked at his hands that had thrown a mana-enhanced student to the ground, hands that could now summon black flame.
"I don't know. But I have to try. Because if I don't..." He thought about Marcus and the others who believed in him. "If I don't, they win and I'm tired of bullies winning."
Seris smiled sadly. "Then we'd better make sure you're ready."
High above the academy, two cloaked figures watched.
"The Corvus family is escalating, full-contact permission, public humiliation designed to break him completely."
"And the boy?"
"He's not running. He's preparing." The figure gestured at a scrying orb showing Ryker's black flame. "In twenty-seven days, Zayne expects an easy victory. But I don't think that's what he's going to get."
"Should we intervene?"
"Not yet. Let them commit fully to their plan." The figure watched the flickering black flame. "When it all falls apart, we'll know exactly what we're dealing with."
The figures melted into shadow.
As Ryker walked back to his dormitory, messages flew across communication crystals throughout the academy:
"The trap is set. In twenty-seven days, Ryker Vale falls. Make sure everyone is watching."