Chapter 159: 159 Selka Ignat.

’What is happening?’.

That was the first thought that occurred to her when she witnessed the match that had just concluded.

Selka Ignat, the representative student from Valor Academy, had to swallow her second bitter pill as she witnessed two of her comrades fallen by none other than a first-year from Promethys Academy.

She lifted her gaze, seeing the silver-haired girl; her azure eyes shrank dangerously, emitting a cold breath that froze her consciousness.

Then, when she gazed down, Myro, who was supposed to have the ability to manipulate water at will, couldn’t even lift a finger before the first-year girl.

A clattered noise broke her thought in a daze; Selka felt a searing pain assault her palm.

As she glanced at her palm, red blood oozed from her palm. Without noticing, she was digging her own nails tight.

The fluid dripped, one by one, reflecting her knitted brows and stirred heart. Why did this happen?

They easily dismissed the seniors who had already experienced it the previous year.

Maybe not all of them, but Selka knew one person as she now stood in the spectator’s seat as a commentator for the match.

She still recalled, at that time, the raging tides that could wash the town, rising so high that they covered the skies.

From her side, a towering flame could scorch the land, turning the earth into a living Hell.

Flame and water, both opposing forces, clashed, creating chaos that stirred the martial arts festival at that time.

As a result, both candidates were turned empty-handed. The match was tied at that time.

For the past year, Selka put in a great effort in hopes of creating that legend, but it vanished as Selene decided to pass the torch to a first-year student.

Initially, Selka was furious and also dumbfounded by the Promethys Academy’s decision to let a first-year student participate in the festival.

If it’s only one person or two, she could accept it, but it was the whole team.

However, of the two matches her academy attended, Selka received two overwhelming losses.

The fourth match happened, and one of her comrades walked to the arena, bringing hope and pride to their academy.

On the opposing side was a cat demi-human. Her short, glossy black hair seemed to absorb light itself.

Her beautiful appearance and aloof expression caused her comrade to furrow her brow in wary concern.

’You can do this, Carla’. Selka muttered to herself.

After the earlier two matches, she couldn’t let her academy receive any more losses than necessary.

With the signal from Selene, the match started.

Carla, who acted as a scout with her group, had a sharp instinct and a high sensitivity to danger.

Selka believed that this time, her academy could clinch its first victory.

However, those glimpses of iridescent memories faded as the tide in the match leaned in favor of the opposing side.

’Why?’. Selka’s eyes widened. Her expression was clouded in disbelief.

Selka’s orange eyes blazed; she observed the cat demi-human’s movement meticulously.

A realization dawned on her like a cold water that washed the flame in her heart. It was freezing and hurt at the same time.

With minimal movement, the cat demi-human dodges Carla’s attack. The lack of emotion on her face exacerbates the situation.

’…What the hell!? She isn’t aloof’. Selka gritted her teeth as she couldn’t accept the answer in her head. ’She just lacks interest in any of this even to Carla’.

A boiling anger started to surge from the pit of her stomach. It spread through her veins like molten lava, waiting to be unleashed.

’How dare you!’.

At the peak of erupting, cheers that shook her eardrums flooded her heart with a cold stream that chilled her thoughts.

Selka’s thought was chilled, but her heart was a scorching sun.

Her eyes lost their light, as all emotion got burned away with the scene when Carla was being cornered and lay wasted on the ground.

“We lost another match”.

“What is wrong with the first-year in the Promethys Academy?”.

“Yeah, they are terrifyingly strong”.

“Are they cheating or something?”.

“Are you a fool, there is no way this sacred Academy would tarnish their own culture that was built over years”.

“But…”.

A voice of dissatisfaction rang behind her; each of their grumbles felt like a knife that sliced her ears, creating much hold in her heart that was filled with the anger Selka was holding.

“That’s enough, tend to Carla”.

Selka’s voice was calm, but it shifted the clamoring students behind her. The atmosphere spiked up, exhaling a burning hot air that opened their pores.

Sweat trickled down their bodies, and one of the students came to the arena, escorting Carla.

The blazing girl glanced at Carla; the scout girl’s expression twisted in anger, her eyes glittering with tears.

“I’m sorry, leader”.

Carla’s trembling words reverberated across the narrow tunnel.

It struck a chord in their hearts, stirring the raging beast that lay dormant and awakening it.

The eyes that one looked down on the opposite sides were now filled with a tremendous fighting spirit that evaporated the air.

Selka noticed the change in the demeanor of her comrades. She didn’t say much and kept her gaze straight, watching the fifth match.

It came from Promethys Academy. A girl with long, straight hair cascaded down like golden threads.

The girl was full of energy as she waved at the crowds with a trained gesture, casual yet exuding a grace that captivated many, like a princess.

Her charisma even dimmed the flame in her heart, but Selka shook her head furiously. She exhaled sharply to wash away the doubt that lingered in her chest.

Selene’s voice cut through the excited arena, introducing a wandering mage who happened to see the opportunity to make himself shine on the sacred stage.

“…The fifth match begins”.

Selka swept her gaze over, seeing the two candidates exchanging basic levels of spell attack.

The princess’s main attack was the fire spell, an element that had significantly more firepower than others.

It also had a destructive ability and easily spiked up the temperature around depending on the user’s mental condition.

Selka knew better than others, for she was a flame user herself. Additionally, as someone who dedicated half of her life to craftsmanship, she was blessed with a tremendous affinity for the Origin flame.

The commotion in the arena brought Selka’s thoughts, which had been submerged deep in her consciousness.

Sparks flickered around the places before dozens of fire lance emerged and hovered above the princess’s side like guards.

’He’s done for, hm!?’. Selka’s brows knitted as he noticed the change in the wandering mage’s aura.

Once, he was the controller of Earth’s elemental superior in defense; now, his aura was shifted into light blue, the same as the skies.

“No way, double elemental aptitude?”.

As soon as the words left her mouth, the atmosphere in the place turned damp, and the moisture in the air began to clump together, forming a towering wall that enveloped its user, creating a dome-shaped barrier.

A thick current swirled violently within the barrier, forming a living whirlpool that shielded its caster.

When Selka glanced closely, she noticed the ground beneath the wandering mage was hollowed in a circular shape.

It was caused by the current water pressure that spun rapidly and created a water jet.

’What will you do, princess?’.

Selka shifted her attention to the blonde-haired girl, who stood with a hand on her waist, seemingly unbothered by the commotion that had just occurred when someone had used two elements.

The princess extended her right hand forward, her index finger pointed forward and winked at her raised thumb.

“Bam, bam, bam”. The princess’s words were cryptic and unintelligible to everyone around, including Selka.

’What is that? Some kind of incantation?’.

Selka exhaled sharply, feeling exasperated by the situation.

However, soon, her eyes narrowed dangerously as the lances hovered above the princess shrank in size, but its firepower was increased several times.

“That’s…”. Selka’s voice stammered, seeing one lance shot forward faster than an arrow.

A massive explosion shook the place, halting the crowd’s cheer as they gulped in tension.

The second lance flew and clashed with the water dome, and then another lance followed.

It rained down on the dome barrier like the wrath of a fire god. Each lance tore through the air in a trail of ember and ash, igniting the air surrounding them.

A symphony of destruction and Divine.

Selka gulped, reflecting to herself that if she was on the side of the wandering mage. Even as a flame user, she was certain Selka would be nothing but a pile of charred wood.

“I concede!”. The wandering mage shrieked.

“Yes, the fifth match has concluded and the victor is Lucya from Promethys Academy”.

Selene’s voice broke through the stillness in the air, bringing a thunderous roar and cheers that shook the building.

“It is time, huh?”.

Selka exhaled.

She raised both hands, clenching it several times to ensure everything was ready. Her orange eyes shut tight, diving into her own subconsciousness.

Unconsciously, she reached to her chest, feeling the boiling magma still rampaging inside.

*Thump!

Her heart beat loudly, pulling Selka away from her dream as her closed eyes opened and welcomed by the golden furnace above, glaring at her.

Selka peeked through her shoulders, and all her comrades gave her a firm nod. Carried within their flames were the hope and wishes of their academy.

For those who weren’t chosen and those who cheered them on from the spectator’s seats.

Their will and flame were transmitted across dimensions and settled in Selka’s heart.

“I will win this match”.

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