The Theoms Tournament
When Prince Ethan entered the class, his eyes locked onto Atta like a blade. He glared once, then turned away and dropped into his seat.
The teacher soon arrived, his stern gaze sweeping the room.
"Good morning. Today we have a new student among us." He gestured toward Atta. "This is Atta, a commoner human who has earned a scholarship to study at Saint Athepia."
A ripple of confusion spread through the class. Then one angel noble leaned back in his chair and sneered loudly, "A commoner human? On scholarship? Maybe the weakest race is finally learning something."
The class erupted in laughter. Ethan smirked without even glancing at Atta.
"Enough," the teacher barked. His voice was sharp, and the room instantly fell silent.
Princess Isha leaned closer, her voice soft and encouraging. "Don't worry. Just ignore them."
Atta managed a small smile. "It's alright. I understand… humans are weak."
The rest of the lesson passed without incident. But the whispers never stopped.
---
When class ended, Isha rose beside him.
"I have another class now," she said with a gentle smile. "I'll meet you in the canteen later, alright? Take care."
Atta nodded, watching her leave before heading toward his next class—fire magic. He was just about to enter when a calm voice called out behind him.
"Prince Atta. A moment of your time."
Atta froze. Slowly, he turned to see none other than Prince Cassius.
Shock flickered across Atta's face. What is the heir of the Angel Kingdom doing here? He quickly composed himself and bowed slightly. "What do you wish to speak about, Prince Cassius?"
"Not here." Cassius extended his hand, his tone calm but commanding. "Take my hand."
Atta hesitated. His instincts screamed caution—but something about Cassius's unwavering gaze made refusal impossible. Slowly, he placed his hand in Cassius's.
In an instant, the world around them blurred into pure radiance. Light swallowed everything, and when it faded, they were standing in a serene garden, sunlight streaming through the trees.
Atta blinked in awe. "Light magic… so that's your affinity."
Cassius smiled faintly, his expression unreadable. "You're observant. Now, let's speak."
Atta straightened, still cautious. "What is it you want from me?"
Cassius's gaze sharpened. "I want you to participate in the Theoms Tournament."
The words struck Atta like lightning. His eyes widened.
Theoms… He knew the name well. The annual tournament of Saint Athepia—where the strongest students clashed in fierce magical duels before the entire academy. A proving ground for elites.
And Ethan would surely be there. Waiting.
Atta's voice trembled. "You want me to enter the Theoms Tournament? Are you serious? If I fight with that much magic flying around, Azeon could awaken again. He hasn't spoken to me since the garden incident, but… do you really want to risk it? Without him, I'm weak. I don't even use magic yet."
But Cassius only smiled, calm as ever. "Don't worry. This isn't about risking anything—it's about measuring how much control you truly have. Over yourself. Over him." He paused, then added, "And I've heard… you're quite skilled with a sword."
Atta exhaled slowly, his chest heavy. "Yes… I'm a good swordsman. But this is a tournament of magicians. Against them… what can I do?"
Cassius's smile lingered, his eyes glinting with something unreadable.
"Then prove them wrong."
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To Be Continued...