Ray stood leaning against the wall, watching as the Nyxia apprentices in their light blue coats ran around following their instructors’ orders. Soon, his ears caught the sound of hooves crashing into dirt and wheels turning. They really are here… He glanced at the emperor standing, his arms crossed and a smile on his face. Does being blind make his other senses much sharper? His hearing is better than everyone here.

  As he kept thinking, Ruby tapped his shoulder. “What are you doing?” Ray looked at her and let out a deep breath. “Just wondering something.” She tilted her head, leaning against the wall. “You always do that.” His brows furrowed, and he stared at her. She grabbed his hand and led him through the crowd. “Let’s go to the arena. I heard it’s bigger than ours.” He shook his head and let her lead him towards the arena, which was a few minutes away from the academy. People gathered on the road to the arena, discussing the festival. Ray and Ruby continued until they reached the gates. Ruby looked around, her mouth slightly open, while Ray looked at the people gathered around. The giant arena stood tall in front of them; the sun shone through its open slit windows, and guards stood lining up the crowd. They both entered and took a seat near Luke, who had been waiting. The other second-year apprentices soon arrived, followed by the other academies. Each took their seat, and after a while, the arena filled to the brim.

  Everyone went silent when the emperor rose from the balcony with his arm raised. “Let the Festival of Arms… begin.” The crowd’s cheers filled the air as the emperor took his seat. Charles jumped into the middle of the arena and laughed, his voice ringing over the crowd as they fell silent. He cleared his throat. “By the grace of His Imperial Highness, Augustus Cynthius, we have all gathered here today for the long-awaited Festival of Arms!” The crowd cheered again, filling the arena, followed by claps and apprentices chanting their academy’s names. “As we do every year, the academies will duel each other starting with last year’s winner, our Nyxia! Facing off against last year’s runners up, Acacia!” The crowd cheered once more, some Acacia, some Nyxia. Charles clapped, silencing the crowd. “This year, only three apprentices from each academy will fight. So, choose three and let the festival begin!”

  Luke stood, looking around, then turned with a smile and said, “Rowan, Vivian and Ray. You three will take part.” Ruby turned to Ray and patted his back. Julius let out a sigh and then smiled at Rowan. “I know you will win.” Grace and Nyla also wished him, Ray and Mei Zhi, the best of luck. Except one of the three that didn’t introduce themselves before, shot to his feet. “I disagree. Leaving such a prestigious matter in the hands of three lowborn is a disgrace to our name.”

  Luke’s smile didn’t waver in the slightest as he placed a hand on his shoulder. “Kyle… I have decided and will not tolerate any further disagreement. Just sit and watch the duels.” Kyle clenched his fist, and his brows furrowed. “I-” Brandon grabbed his shoulder and forced him onto his bottom. “Be quiet before I break your jaw.” Kyle stared at his feet, his eyes wide and fists clenched. Brandon and Luke nodded at each other, and soon, Ray, Rowan and Mei Zhi entered the ring. Rowan turned to the two of them, placing a hand on his sword hilt. “Ray, why don’t you go first?”

  Ray frowned. No? He crossed his arms. “Why?”

  “Are you scared? I’ll go then.” Mei Zhi tilted her head, a slight smirk playing on her lips. Ray’s frown deepened, and he gritted his teeth with a smile. “Scared? No, no, I’ll go.”

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  He shook his head, entered and told the announcer, a man wearing light armor, his name. “Ray, a first-year apprentice at Acacia.” On the other side, a boy with light-skin, blue eyes and black hair entered, his eyes narrowed and a smirk playing on his lips. “Will face Elijah, a second-star from Nyxia.” The crowd cheered and clapped for him.

  Elijah unsheathed his sword, still smirking, and said, “A junior… I’ll teach you your place.” Ray tilted his head, cracked his knuckles and then unsheathed his sword. The announcer raised his hand and signalled the duel to begin. Elijah rushed at Ray and launched a crescent slash. Ray ducked and counter-attacked with a stab. Elijah blocked his attack and kicked him away. “You look a lot like Heliosian royalty, but aren’t you a lowborn? Your mother must’ve been a whore.”

  Ray blinked and stared at him with wide eyes; the word echoed in his mind, then vanished. Huh? The world around him disappeared; the cheers faded; he clenched the hilt of his sword; the veins near his forehead bulged. He rushed at Elijah, who swung his sword once more, but Ray caught his arms, stared into his eyes. And sliced both of his arms clean off. Then, grabbing his face, he slammed him into the ground. Dust flew all over. Ray still grabbed his face, his sword angled at Elijah’s neck, and was about to stab him when Charles kicked him away. Ray crashed through the ground, and Maya jumped down to catch him. Elijah screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice ringing over the now silent and wide-eyed crowd. The nearby healers jumped down and grabbed him, trying to stop the blood. Ray took heavy breaths and stared at Charles. He grabbed Maya’s sword from its sheath and rushed at him. “Ray, no!”

  Charles planted his feet on the ground. “Hah! Brat, come to your senses! You’ll need to train for a hundred years before you can defeat me!” Ray jumped at him and slashed downward. Charles dodged, and Ray’s attack crashed into the ground, his palm ripped open from the force, blood trickling down his forearm. Dirt blew, filling the surrounding air. Charles punched, but his eyes widened as the dust cleared; only Ray’s sword remained. He turned around and spotted Ray about to slash Elijah’s neck. “No!”

  But didn’t. Everyone froze, their eyes still wide, mouths open. “How clever. You managed to fool Charles.” His calm voice carried over the wind, Ray’s arm firm in his grip. He knocked him out, and his body fell to the ground. Charles stopped just by him. “Your Imperial Highness…” After a moment of silence, he sighed, turning to the guards and pointing at Ray. He said, “Take him to the cellars.” The guards rushed in, picked him up, but Maya grabbed Ray from their arms, took her sword back and aimed at them. Charles’ eyes widened. “What the hell are you doing?!” Augustus stood still, smiling. Brandon jumped down, placing his hand on her sword. “Calm down.”

  “Calm down? Do you want Lysa to kill you?” She pushed him aside when Luke said from the stands; his smile turned into a frown. “Let them take him, Maya.” He looked over at Augustus. “We’ll discuss this later.” Maya gritted her teeth, let go of Ray, and the guards carried him out. Ruby, with her fingers intertwined, her arms shaking as she watched them carry him away.

  The healers carried the screaming Elijah to the infirmary. Both Augustus and Charles walked back to their seats. “Continue with the duels.” Augustus said, raising his arm. Rowan and Mei Zhi glanced at each other and nodded. She entered and told the announcer her name. “Vivian, a first-year apprentice at Acacia.” On the other side, a boy with dark skin, white hair and red eyes, readied with his spear. Mei Zhi stretched her arms. I’ve never seen him so angry. A smile appeared on her face. For the first time, I agree with what he did. If he had insulted my mother, I would’ve killed him on the first strike.

  Their duel began, but nobody attacked first. Mei Zhi, clicking her tongue, made the first move. The boy kept his distance, blocking and counter-attacking. Augustus watched — or heard — their every move. He smiled, listening to her footstep’s patterns, the air around her punches. “Found her.”