A gentle spring breeze blew, separating a rain of pink and white petals from the ancient cherry trees. The ground beneath their feet had become a carpet of blossoms.
Maria and Arthur stood under the shade of one of the trees.
It was a calm and beautiful atmosphere, but Arthur's face didn't match this peace. He was staring at the tournament chart crumpled in his hand.
"Damian has gotten stronger, Maria."
Arthur whispered.
"My spies reported he succeeded in executing 'Composite Magic'. Combination of Fire and Lightning. Even many Guard mages can't control two magics simultaneously."
Maria looked at the Prince's worried profile.
The pressure of being Crown Prince... everyone expecting you to always be perfect.
She reached out and gently pulled the paper from Arthur's hand and smoothed it out.
"Don't think about Damian. He is powerful, but his power comes from 'Anger'. Your power comes from 'Stability'."
Arthur raised his head and looked into Maria's eyes.
"What if I lose? If I'm humiliated in front of him... my family's honor goes."
"Focus on yourself, Arthur. Not on honor, not on Damian. Just on the sword in your hand."
Maria continued firmly:
"If you beat Damian, we'll see each other in the finals. I'll be waiting for you there. I promise to be there."
A spark of hope shone in Arthur's eyes, but the shadow of doubt remained.
"And if... if I don't make it? If I lose in the semi-finals?"
A short silence fell. A petal landed on Maria's shoulder.
Maria smiled. Not those cold strategic smiles, but a warm, friendly smile.
"Then we'll make it next time."
Arthur blinked.
"Next time?"
"Yeah. This isn't the last tournament of life. If not this year, next year. If not next year, on the real battlefield. What matters is that we're still standing."
Arthur's shoulders dropped. As if a heavy load was lifted from him.
A smile settled on his lips that lit up his eyes.
"You're right. We're still standing."
The evening breeze blew, leaving them alone amidst the blossoms.
***
The room had fallen into silence. Sarah had gone to sleep early to have energy for tomorrow.
Maria sat on the carpet in the middle of the room, arranging her gears.
The light of the magical night lamp reflected off the metal equipment.
She wiped the two silver wristbands obsessively and set them aside.
Sharpened the two Shadow Daggers. The sound of shhhk... shhhk... of the whetstone echoed in the room.
And finally, she checked the small pouch containing three metal spheres and tied it to her belt.
Nero, who had been watching silently until that moment, came forward. He put his head on Maria's lap and stared at her with his ruby eyes.
Maria stopped working and stroked Nero's fur behind its ear.
"You can't come tomorrow, boy. It's full of mages and sensors there. Even if you're in the shadow, they might find you."
Nero gave a protesting whimper and wrapped his tail around Maria's hand.
"I know... you want to protect me. But tomorrow is my war. You have to stay here and be safe. If they catch you, you become my weakness."
Nero seemed to understand. He pressed his head onto Maria's leg and calmed down.
Maria put her gear in her bag.
The work was done.
But she couldn't sleep.
A cold feeling twisted in her gut.
Tomorrow... what if I lose? What if those wristbands don't work? What if Damian was right and absolute power is the only truth?
Doubt crept in, quiet and persistent.
Maria got up and went to her closet.
Opened the closet door. From the bottom shelf, under folded clothes, she pulled something out.
A crooked rag doll.
A doll sewn with poor quality threads and stuffed with straw. The only thing remaining from the mud hut and her mother Alice.
Maria held the doll. It still carried the smell of earth and a faint trace of her mother's perfume.
She sat on the bed and squeezed the doll in her arms.
Closed her eyes.
Remembered her mother's last words: "Forgive me that I can't protect you..."
And remembered the promise she made at the grave: "I will live in a way that makes you proud."
Her hands tightened around the doll. Her body's trembling stopped. Fear didn't disappear, but turned into fuel.
I won't lose, Mom. I'm not that helpless little girl anymore.
She untied the thin piece of cloth tied around the doll's neck like a scarf.
Then she tied the cloth around her finger and stood.
***
The locker room smelled of leather oil, metal, and anxiety.
Maria stood in front of her locker. She had put aside the skirted Academy uniform. Today was not a day for formalities.
She put on her new outfit: a tight, dark navy tactical set, with reinforced stitching at the joints and multiple hidden pockets on the belt and thighs. She had designed this outfit with Goren's (the blacksmith) help; lightweight, silent, and durable.
She fastened the leather buckles. The click... click... sound echoed in the semi-dark locker room, and finally, she tightened the laces of her reinforced boots.
Sarah stood in front of her. She had placed her hands on Maria's silver wristbands.
The blue light of the wristbands reached maximum brightness and then stabilized.
Sarah pulled her hands back and drew in air slowly.
"One hundred percent. Full to the brim."
Maria hid the wristbands under her sleeves.
"Thanks, Sarah."
Sarah grabbed Maria's shoulders worriedly.
"Look... I know you've gotten strong. But out there, everyone wants to prove themselves. Especially in front of foreign guests. Please... please be careful. Winning isn't worth your life."
Maria sheathed her daggers behind her back. Her expression settled into something older than her years.
"I'm more worried about you. You have tough opponents facing you, don't be reckless."
Sarah sighed and said:
"I hope I at least win the first match."
Maria put her hands on Sarah's shoulders.
"Don't worry, you fought beside me against Varon. These are just a bunch of kids."
Both exited the locker room.
The sound of the crowd was like the roar of a stormy ocean, heard even from behind the thick walls of the entrance tunnel.
The large iron gate rose with the sound of chains.
Blinding sunlight rushed into the tunnel.
The tournament announcer shouted with a voice amplified by magic:
"And now... from Group A! The student who amazed everyone in the strategy exam... Maria Alessandra!"
Maria stepped out.
Thousands of people.
The stone stands of the Academy's Grand Arena were packed. Students, professors, nobles, and even ambassadors from Xenia and Solareth. Colorful flags waved in the wind.
Maria shielded her eyes with her hand.
In the VIP box, she saw the glint of familiar golden armor.
Edward.
The Commander of the Royal Guard sat beside the king with dignity, his hands clasped together.
His face was stony, but his gaze was locked directly on Maria. A look that said: Show them what you learned.
Maria took a deep breath. Her lungs filled with the cold, dusty air of the arena.
She no longer heard the crowd. Only her heartbeat—and her objective
Maria's opponent entered. A tall boy from Class B with the green robe of Wind Mages. He twirled his staff proudly in his hand.
Ryan Mackenzie. One of those who always called Maria a "stain" in the hallways.
Ryan planted himself across from her, a crooked grin tugging at his mouth.
"Heh... think you're an assassin with that ridiculous outfit?"
He pointed his staff at Maria. The tip of the staff glowed with green light. Small whirlwinds started spinning around his legs.
"Throw away your toys, little girl. This isn't a place for playthings. Magic means pure power, not tricks of..."
The referee raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Ryan hadn't finished his sentence yet. His mouth was still open.
Maria bent her knees.
She sent the mana stored in her wristband to her boots.
Mana Burst.
A muted blast erupted beneath her boots. Dust kicked up into the air.
Maria vanished.
Ryan's eyes widened. He only saw Maria's empty spot.
"Where—?"
A cold breeze touched the back of his neck.
"Boo."