The cheers from Morgan Benedict's match had only just faded when the arena lights shifted again, focusing on the floating bracket.
"Stage One—Match Six! Token 3 versus Token 14!" the announcement boomed.
Two figures walked out from opposite ends of the arena. Token 3 belonged to Kaelen Dros, a hot-tempered earth mage known for smashing his way through smaller tournaments in the Western Isles. His opponent, Lira Wynn, Token 14. She was a wind-element duelist from a lesser-known house, calm and unreadable.
"Never heard of her," someone from the gallery muttered.
"I have," another whispered back. "She defeated two strong opponents during the regional evaluation trials. She is fast and quick witted too."
Though some were invited by the court of mages to participate in the tournament, some had to go through trials. And Lira was one of them. A strong one at that.
The referee raised a hand. "Begin!"
Kaelen charged forward immediately, brandishing a hammer of compacted stone. The ground cracked under his steps. Lira didn't move. Instead, she waited, as her cloak kept fluttering. When Kaelen lunged, she sidestepped with ease and swung her right hand. A wind blade shot from her hand and struck her opponent.
Kaelen roared and started swinging his hammer with rage, but each of his strikes met air. Lira glided across the arena with precision, sending wind bullets and wind blades that kept hitting Kaelen.
Then suddenly, she lifted both hands. A concentrated ball of wind conjured in air. She hurled it at Kaelen. It struck Kaelen square in the chest, knocking him off balance. Before he could even recover, another gust of air slammed into him, sending him out of the stage flying.
He didn't get up.
"Winner—Token 14, Lira Wynn!"
The crowd erupted in cheers. Many had expected Kaelen to overpower her. In the balcony, the nobles gave only polite claps, but the gallery was alive with noise.
While the gallery roared, Lilith Starwind leaned back in her seat. The thrill she'd felt during Morgan Benedict's match…his intimidating aura, his precision, had piqued her interest. But now, that spark had vanished.
The movements felt slower, the spells were not that amazing. Her eyes drifted to the arena, but her mind was elsewhere.
"Mediocre," she thought.
Even Prince Rowan, seated nearby, seemed to share her boredom.
Zephyr Albrecht, however, still continued watching. But whether he was still enjoying the match or simply observing out of habit… no one could tell. His face was unreadable.
And then there was Logan. Among nobles, heirs, and cold-blooded geniuses…he really was the odd one. He watched every match like a child in a garden full of wonders. His eyes lit up when spells clashed, when blades met, when mana flared. There was no calculation in his gaze, no boredom, no judgment. Only joy. It wasn't the power that thrilled him, it was the struggle, the way each fighter moved, failed, or broke through.
The lights shifted again.
"Match Seven—Stage Two! Token 20 versus Token 29!"
This time, a boy with a snake tattoo walked forward. Vaylen Mord, a water-element mage from the Marshlands. Opposite to him stood Degar Flint with fire affinity from House Flint.
"Let's get this over with," Degar growled, steam hissing from his fiery fists.
The battle began explosively. Degar surged forward with flame-coated fists, throwing punch after punch. Vaylen, eerily calm, ducked and weaved, forming small water barriers again and again with ease to counter the flames.
Then came a sudden move…Vaylen formed a thin mist, supercooled with water magic, blinding Degar temporarily. With one final swing, he struck Degar across the chest with a water blade and knocked him unconscious.
"Winner—Token 20, Vaylen Mord!"
The crowd buzzed with claps and cheers.
"That was a smart move, producing mist like that."
"True. Or else winning against a fire mage with water affinity would be difficult."
Next match was announced.
"Match Eight—Stage One! Token 4 versus Token 13!"
Token 4 was Marei Evin, a water mage from a coastal monastery. Token 13, Arven Skell was a wind mage from the Chainbound Sect with a combat chain laced in enchanted steel.
The moment the referee signaled, Arven launched forward. The chain cracked like thunder, striking toward Marei. His opponent summoned a barrier of water in hexagonal shape. It looked impenetrable but the chain punched through with ease, coiling around her leg.
With a yank, she stumbled. One final whip sent her flying across the stage.
"What?!" Everyone was shocked.
The match ended too quickly. No one could even process what happened.
"Winner—Token 13, Arven Skell!"
"Damn! What the hell just happened?!"
"You couldn't follow? That chain, it's more than just physical. It's reinforced with mana flow."
"Yes. He is controlling it as if it's an extension of his limbs."
The crowd was thrilled. They were shouting because they wanted more.
The betting corner also buzzed with excitement with every match. For some, this tournament wasn't about glory or honor. It was about the thrill of the gamble, and today's chaos fed their hunger well.
It didn't take long for the next match to start.
"Match Nine—Stage Two! Token 21 versus Token 28!"
The fighters were introduced as Fayra Dusk, an earth mage from the Southern Reaches, and Renald Keir, a dual-wand lightning user from the capital's Arcane Division.
This match was even faster, almost too fast to follow. Fayra raised slabs of stone, forming walls to limit vision and slow her opponent.
But Renald floated just above the ground, his twin wands glowing with crackling arcs.
With a single swing, lightning rained down.
One blast hit the edge of the arena. Another shattered a stone barrier. A third struck Fayra's shoulder, sending her tumbling.
She tried to rise, but the next bolt pinned her cloak to the floor.
"Winner—Token 28, Renald Keir!"
"He is fast. Didn't give his opponent a chance to even react."
"That's Tier two lighting for you."
Every match would instigate a conversation.
"Match Ten—Stage One! Token 5 versus Token 12!"
The crowd stirred again. Token 5 was a twin-blade fighter named Jerrik Vale with wind affinity.
His opponent, Nara Elen, was also a wind mage known for feints and surprise attacks.
With referee's signal the match started.
Jerrik moved like a blur, his speed and reaction boosted by air magic.
Nara countered with barriers and curved air currents, her gloves glowing faintly as she guided and diffused his attacks.
For minutes, the crowd watched steel and wind clash across the stage.
Then Jerrik feinted left, twisted mid-air, and brought both blades down in a cross slash.
Nara blocked it but the force still shattered her stance.
She stumbled.
And Jerrik's blade was already at her throat.
"Winner—Token 5, Jerrik Vale!"
The gallery erupted in cheers as usual.
The duels continued one after another. Each fight was breathtaking in its own was.
"Match Eleven—Stage Two! Token 22 versus Token 27!"
This time, the arena welcomed Soren Vey, a fire and wind affinity fighter from the Scorching Plains, versus Elira Thorn, a water mage from the Boreal Crest.
The battle was a spectacle of contrast. Fire bursts and wind blades met frozen barriers and curved water lances. Soren tried to melt through her defense, but Elira danced between his flames, launching spears of hardened water in return.
The tide shifted when she froze the arena's surface beneath Soren's feet, causing him to slip mid-charge. Before he could recover, a jagged spike of ice slammed into his shoulder and knocked him down.
"Winner—Token 27, Elira Thorn!"
Both the gallery and betting corner was lively. Eleven matches had ended with excitement, suspense, and inspiring battle prowess. Only five remained in the first round.
And then came the voice that turned heads once more.
"Match Twelve—Stage One! Token 6, Logan Smith, versus Token 11, Varn Drayden!"
The audience stirred. Some tilted forward. Others whispered.
Varn Drayden, a rare triple affinity user. Fire, earth and wind.
A known prodigy from the Emberlight Institute. It was an institution for talented mages.
"Triple affinity, huh?" someone muttered. "The other kid's done for."
Then their focus shifted toward the other participant.
"Who is that kid again?"
"No clue. But he's about to get roasted."
Many mocked anticipating the outcome, Varn's opponent would face.
Logan, seated quietly in the waiting area, rose to his feet with a faint smile. He looked calm.
"Best of luck, Logan." Both Rudeous and Alice said at the same time.
"Don't overdo it, kid," said Ardin.
Logan nodded politely at all of them. "I will be off then," He said.
Mirena and Darius both looked at Logan's departure with tension in their eyes.
While the anticipation and excitement grew stronger, Logan slowly headed toward the stage.