Chapter 27: Solari Imperials [1]
Under the soft, bluish glow of the moon, the Academy’s official dueling platform shimmered with magical runes carved deep into its stone base, runes that ensured fair play and contained the sheer power of even the most volatile battles.
A crowd of students buzzed around the edge of the dueling ring, some climbing onto balconies or hovering along the barriers enchanted with light mana.
Excitement swirled in the air like firecrackers waiting to ignite.
"Who do you think will win?" a novice whispered to his friend, leaning in close.
"Is that even a question? Of course Neal will win. He’s already level 21!"
"Yeah, he probably doesn’t even need to try. Kaelen’s just a healer."
"But they did fight off monsters before, you know. That counts for something."
The murmurs of the novices turned into heated debates, some mocking, others wary, and a rare few remembering the infamous forest incident.
And then the momentum shifted.
The crowd gasped.
With a flash of light the duo entered the scene like warriors entering a battlefield rather than students about to spar.