Still on the topic of why Elias chose to keep a low profile, “To avoid attention,” Damon said. “Maybe he doesn’t want to be targeted. Or maybe he’s saving himself for something worse.”

“I know someone who’d have grown out to be just like him.” Damon murmured more to himself than the others as he was hit with a wave of nostalgia.

Damien, his twin brother, might’ve ended just like Elias.

The table fell silent for a moment.

Then Daveon spoke up. “Vekar’s dangerous too. He’s reckless, sure. But if he gets near you, it’s like being locked in a storm with no ground.”

“Too bad storms are predictable,” Damon said flatly. “You can feel them coming. They don’t hide. If I was a Year Five, I probably would’ve been able to deal with him.” Eben as he spoke it, he doubted the words.

He took another bite, then gestured with his fork. “But let’s stop pretending we’re fighting Year Fives. That’s not our tier.”

“Yet,” Daveon grinned.

“So what about our tier?” Anaya asked. “Year Threes. Who’s our biggest problem?”

“Wyrmere’s team is odd,” Celeste said. “Their leader didn’t score the highest, but his team operated like a unit. Like they’ve trained together for years.”

“That girl with the spear?” Daveon added. “She moved like a beast. Never stopped spinning. She’s not fast, but you could feel her intent every time she hit something. I don’t want to get caught in her rhythm.”

“Thornevale’s Year Threes are more technical,” Celeste continued. “Precise strikes, minimal movement. Like they’re trained by a duelist’s guild.”

“They are,” Anaya said. “I heard their whole class rotates through a noble-run battle academy during breaks.”

Damon sipped water, eyes narrowed. “And Crowgarth?”

Everyone paused.

Then Daveon chuckled. “They’re the wild cards. Chaotic magic. Brutal tactics. No restraint.”

“They’d throw poison into a spar if they could,” Celeste muttered.

“They’ll get disqualified before they win,” Damon said. “Unless the rules bend.”

Anaya leaned back. “So what’s our plan?”

“Simple,” Damon said. “We fight like we train. Don’t worry about flair. Win clean. Win fast. Make them regret thinking ElderGlow’s only got one weapon. Win as though we’re the only ones capable of winning for ElderGlow.”

Celeste cracked her knuckles. “No pressure, huh?”

“Actually, that’s a lot of pressure.” Daveon sighed, shaking his head. He was probably the most level-headed in the group but even he sometimes got influenced by Damon.

Damon stood, stretching again. “We’ve got a few hours till sundown. You all can train if you want. I’m going for a walk.”

Daveon stood too. “If you head to the library, bring back a book for me, will you?”

Anaya rose and took Damon’s hand. “I’ll come.” She smiled when Damon didn’t decline.

Celeste and Daveon remained at the table.

“Well, have fun.” Celeste waved them away.

As the two of them watched Damon and Anaya leave, Celeste shook her head with a faint smirk.

“They walk like they’re not about to risk their lives in a few hours.”

Daveon sipped his drink. “That’s because they’ve already made peace with the fight.”

The cafeteria had begun to quiet down, though the aroma of roasted meat and fresh tea still lingered in the air.

Most students had finished eating, retreating to their corners of the academy to train, rest, or in some cases, simply pass time until the matches began at sundown.

Daveon and Celeste, however, remained seated at their table near the window, drinks in hand, watching as Damon and Anaya strolled away together through the exit.

They were walking slowly, side by side, their hands gently laced together, unaware of the world’s eyes. Or at least pretending to be.

Celeste, without taking her eyes off the pair, let out a low murmur—barely above a whisper but loud enough for Daveon to hear.

“They really are perfect together.”

Daveon raised a brow. “You think so?”

Celeste gave a small nod. “They balance each other. Damon’s all fire and impulse. Acts before he thinks. Anaya’s the calm water. Doesn’t speak unless she’s sure it’s worth hearing.”

Daveon sipped his drink, considering. “Never thought you were the sentimental type.”

“I’m not.” She gave a small smile. “But I’m not blind either.”

Daveon chuckled and leaned back in his chair. “Let’s just hope that perfect chemistry holds up when the real battles start.”

Meanwhile, outside and far from the cafeteria chatter, Damon and Anaya wandered through the stone-paved walkway that led behind the main building. The sun had started its slow descent, casting an orange hue over the academy grounds.

Damon let Anaya guide their pace. She wasn’t in a hurry, and neither was he.

“I figured you’d want to train,” Damon said after a long stretch of silence.

“I thought about it,” Anaya replied. “But I’d rather be somewhere quiet for a bit. Somewhere where it doesn’t feel like we’re being watched.”

Damon nodded. “So where to?”

She pointed ahead. “The garden.”

The ElderGlow Academy Garden was one of the lesser-known corners of the institution. It wasn’t that it was forbidden, but most students had little reason to go there.

No essence fields to train in, no illusion traps or runic mazes. Just rows and rows of wildflowers, small trees, and whispering fountains.

The place was secluded, quiet—perfect for reflection. Or simply escaping the noise.

As they entered, the wind carried with it the scent of morning dew still clinging to the leaves, even though it was late in the day. A quiet hum from the insects mingled with the occasional chirp of birds that hadn’t yet flown south.

Anaya led them to a stone bench under a sprawling willow tree. The shade was deep there, and the air felt cooler.

Damon looked around, nodding. “Didn’t even know this place existed.”

“Of course you didn’t.” She smiled. “You’ve never stopped running long enough to find it.”

They sat together, hands still linked.

For a few minutes, they just listened. The water trickled softly from the nearby fountain. Leaves rustled gently in the breeze.

“It’s weird,” Damon finally said. “I still remember my first day here in the academy. I barely said a word.”

“You were silent enough that it was scary,” Anaya teased.

He smirked. “And now look at us. Year Three. Representing our class. Standing alongside the best of ElderGlow.”

Anaya leaned her head against his shoulder. “We’ve come far. But there’s still a long way to go.”

Damon looked out at the garden. “Do you ever wonder what comes after all this? After the academy, after the competitions?”

“After the coming war too.” Damon added after a brief moment of silence.

Anaya didn’t answer immediately. Seconds later, she murmured… “I wonder if we’ll all still be together.”

Damon didn’t say anything. He just held her hand tighter.

They stayed in the garden for a while longer, walking between the flowerbeds and small, glistening ponds.

The world outside the academy, the rival schools, the tension of the looming contest—all of it melted away in that moment.

But time, as always, pressed on.

Diiiiing!!

A distant chime echoed through the academy grounds. A subtle signal to the teams that only an hour remained before the official matches began.

Damon sighed. “Guess the peace is over.”

Anaya nodded. “Let’s go find the others.”

They returned to the cafeteria where Daveon and Celeste were still seated.

Daveon raised a hand in greeting. “How was the garden date?”

Damon gave a sly grin. “Peaceful. Quiet. Full of romantic metaphors I won’t repeat.”

Anaya rolled her eyes and sat beside Celeste. “He fed a few fishes with leftover bread.”

Daveon burst out laughing. “That’s our warrior. Charm and carbs.”

The group shared a few final jokes and laughed more than they should’ve, the way friends do when they’re too aware of what’s about to come.

But as the sun dropped lower, the reality of the moment caught up.

The crowds began moving again.

Students from all four schools were summoned to the preparation Chambers, massive circular rooms beneath the colosseum where each year’s representatives would await their call.

Damon and his team stood up together.

They jogged through the academy’s inner ring, through the wide plaza filled with stone arches and glowing runes, and finally made it back to the edge of the colosseum’s lower gate.

There, standing just outside the entrance, was Miss Leana.

Her arms were crossed. Her face unreadable. She looked over the four of them with a slow, calculating stare.

She didn’t speak for several long seconds.

Then: “You’re late.”

Damon opened his mouth, but she raised a hand.

“I don’t care where you were,” she said. “You made it back in time. Barely.”

Her eyes flicked from face to face. “We’ll talk about it later. For now, head inside. Find your places. Stay calm. The contest begins at sundown, and I want no hesitation from any of you.”

They nodded in unison.

She stepped aside, letting them through.

As they walked past her into the holding chambers, Damon glanced back once and caught the faintest curl at the edge of her lips.

A ghost of a smile.

Maybe she wasn’t mad after all.

“Get moving before I beat you to a pulp.” Miss Leana threatened.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep