Chapter 18: The Day of the Magic Display

Chapter 18: The Day of the Magic Display

The grand arena of the academy was alive with activity, its marble stands packed with spectators from all walks of life. Nobles in their finest silks whispered amongst themselves, pointing out promising talents, while merchants rubbed their hands in anticipation of betting outcomes. Commoners craned their necks, eager to catch a glimpse of the magic prodigies rumored to grace this year’s class.

Among the murmurs, the name Ranolf drifted from mouth to mouth.

“Isn’t there a Ranolf in this year’s class?”

“I heard he’s nothing like the others. A disappointment, really.”

“But the Ranolf family is famous for their unparalleled dark magic mastery. Surely there’s something there.”

Inside a secluded room near the arena, Aetrial sat before a mirror, scrutinizing her reflection with a furrowed brow. Her attire—a finely tailored black and silver jacket adorned with the Ranolf crest—fit her perfectly, but she tugged at the collar, feeling stifled. Her hair, a cascade of midnight blue, was neatly brushed, and her luminous blue-violet eyes caught the light with an almost ethereal glow. Her skin, pale and flawless, seemed to radiate a faint luminescence, a stark contrast to the dark ensemble.

“This feels over the top,” she muttered, turning to Yvonne, who stood behind her, inspecting her with a critical eye.

“Nonsense,” Yvonne said with a faint smile. “You’re representing the Ranolf family. You must look impeccable.”

Lucas, leaning casually against the doorframe, interjected, “More than impeccable. You need to remind everyone of your heritage. The Ranolf name carries weight, even if they’ve forgotten what you’re capable of.”

Aetrial sighed, her delicate shoulders slumping slightly. “I’d be happy just not falling on my face in front of everyone.”

Lucas smirked. “Aim higher, Young Master.”

---

The Arena Entrance

As Aetrial stepped into the arena, the energy of the crowd shifted. Conversations hushed momentarily as all eyes turned to her.

“Is that… Ranolf?”

“He’s prettier than I expected. I thought he’d look more… menacing.”

“He doesn’t seem like much. Maybe the rumors of his incompetence are true.”

Aetrial kept her gaze forward, her face calm, though inside, her heart raced. Just get through this without embarrassing yourself, she thought.

Her opponents were already waiting: a fiery-tempered fire mage whose magic was as volatile as his personality, and a wind mage known for his speed and precision. Both eyed her with thinly veiled skepticism.

“Are you sure you’re in the right place, Ranolf?” the fire mage sneered.

“Focus on the match,” the instructor called out, raising his hand. “The objective is to demonstrate your magical prowess with composure and control. Begin!”

---

The Duel Begins

The fire mage wasted no time, launching a blazing fireball that roared through the air. Aetrial reacted instinctively, summoning a shimmering barrier of darkness. The flames collided with it, extinguished as if swallowed by an endless void.

The crowd gasped, murmurs rippling through the stands.

“he blocked it so easily!”

“I didn’t think dark magic could be used like that.”

The wind mage followed up with a barrage of razor-sharp wind blades. Aetrial sidestepped gracefully, her movements almost dance-like, and countered with tendrils of shadow that lashed out, deflecting the attack.

In the audience, Arthur Lionheart leaned forward, his sharp eyes narrowing. “Her control is remarkable. Where did she learn that?”

Tyler Knightneurs grinned. “he’s full of surprises, isn’t he?”

William Middleton adjusted his glasses, his gaze analytical. “Dark magic requires precision. This level of skill isn’t something one picks up casually.”

---

A Bold Move

As the duel continued, Aetrial felt herself slipping into a rhythm. Her opponents relied on brute force, but she focused on strategy, conserving her mana and countering with calculated precision.

The fire mage, growing frustrated, began charging a massive fire spell. The air around him crackled with heat, the intensity drawing audible gasps from the crowd.

“Don’t just stand there, Ranolf!” someone shouted from the stands.

Aetrial hesitated. She wasn’t sure her usual barriers could hold against something that powerful. Then a thought struck her—a memory from the novel.

“The Aetrial in the novel had potential,” she whispered. “He just never bothered to cultivate it.”

Drawing a deep breath, she reached deep into her mana reserves and decided to try something she’d never attempted before: a high-level barrier spell from the dark magic system.

Shadows began to swirl around her, forming a dome that pulsed with dark energy. The fire mage’s attack collided with it in a deafening explosion. When the dust settled, the barrier remained, unscathed.

The crowd erupted into murmurs of disbelief.

“Did you see that?”

“That was high-level dark magic! How did he manage that?”

---

Reactions from the Audience

Arthur sat back in his seat, his expression unreadable. “So, there’s more to him than meets the eye.”

William frowned slightly, his mind racing. “If he’s capable of that now, how much more could he achieve with proper training?”

Tyler grinned, clearly enjoying the spectacle. “I knew he had potential.”

Stephan de’Gold, sipping his tea, chuckled. “Perhaps the rumors of his incompetence were greatly exaggerated.”

Leo smiled softly, his gaze thoughtful. “He’s far more interesting than I expected.”

---

Reflection

After the duel, the instructor declared Aetrial the winner, though she barely heard it over the pounding of her own heartbeat. As she left the field, Yvonne greeted her with a rare smile.

“You surpassed all expectations, Young Master.”

Lucas nodded approvingly. “The Ranolf name will certainly shine after today.”

Aetrial shook her head, brushing off their compliments. “Let’s just hope this doesn’t attract the wrong kind of attention.”

But as she glanced back at the audience, where the male leads watched her with a mix of curiosity and newfound respect, she had a sinking feeling that her life was about to become even more complicated.

---

A Private Moment

Later that night, Aetrial sat by the window in her dorm, the soft glow of moonlight illuminating her face.

“That wasn’t just my talent,” she murmured, staring at her hands. “The Aetrial in the novel had potential, but this… this feels different.”

She thought back to the moment she cast the barrier. The power had come naturally, as if it had always been there, waiting to be unleashed.

“Is this the result of my soul merging with his body? Or is it something else entirely?”

One thing was certain: her magic was stronger than it had ever been. And if she played her cards right, she might just have a chance to rewrite her fate.

End of Chapter 18