"You’re all late," Master Eld said, his stern gaze sweeping over them. His eyes landed on Kai, noting his limp. "Luckily for you, I postponed the final test until tomorrow morning. Get to bed."

  "Yes, sir!" the three replied in unison.

  Maria and Fido guided Kai to his bed, exhaling in relief as they finally dropped him onto his bed.

  "Some day, huh?" Maria said, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

  "Yeah," Fido muttered, already heading for the door. "Final test tomorrow, and the warrior’s ceremony at night... I need sleep."

  "Oh, I can’t wait!" Maria grinned, practically shoving him out. "Let’s go before we pass out on our feet."

  She turned back to Kai, who lay still, staring at the ceiling. Her expression softened.

  "Good night, Kai. Sweet dreams," she murmured before slipping out and closing the door behind her.

  Kai shifted onto his side, his voice barely above a whisper. "Sweet dreams... I wonder what that's like."

  Kai's eyes grew heavy, his thoughts fading and before he knew it, sleep took him.

  The morning sun bleeding through the windows, golden streaks across the room. A loud knock at the door shakes him awake.

  A familiar voice rings through Kai's head. "Kai, are you awake?"

  He rubs his eyes, stretching out the stiffness in his limbs. "Let me wash up. I'll be out soon."

  When he opens the door, Maria is there, leaning against the wall. Her hands are clasped behind her back, her foot idly tracing circles on the floor. She looks… shy. Unusually so.

  Kai notices but doesn’t acknowledge it. He steps past her without a word.

  "Wait."

  Her fingers wrap around his wrist, gentle but firm. He stops.

  Maria hesitates, then slowly opens her hand. Resting in her palm is a necklace—a wooden carving of a phoenix feather, smooth and carefully shaped.

  "For you," she murmurs. "A good luck charm."

  Kai stares at it, then at her. She’s looking down, her usual energy replaced by something quieter, more uncertain.

  His fingers close around the pendant. His expression darkens—not in anger, but something else. Something unspoken.

  He turns to walk away. A few steps in, he hesitates.

  "Thanks." His voice is barely above a whisper.

  Maria’s gaze snaps up, her eyes wide with surprise. Then, a giggle escapes her lips. With a light hop, she brushes past Kai, turning back just long enough to flash him a bright, unguarded smile.

  Maria playfully races ahead, "Let's go get something to eat before the final test."

  As Kai watches her walk head, he tightens his grip on the necklace, For the first time in a while, something felt... different. Maybe he's not as alone as he thought.

  The mess hall is more crowded than usual, buzzing with energy, likely in anticipation of the final test. Maria rises onto her tiptoes, scanning the room.

  "Ah! There he is." She grabs Kai's wrist and drags him to where Fido is sitting.

  Fido grins as they approach. "Took you two long enough. I saved you some seats—and your breakfast." He gestures to the table, where two bowls of porridge and some fresh bread wait.

  Fido takes the last piece of his bread and soaks up the remnants of his porridge. "So, are you both ready? Found out who you're up against yet?"

  Maria nods, tearing off a piece of bread. "Darcy," she says before popping it into her mouth. "She's strong, but I’m not worried." She swallows and glances at Fido. "What about you?"

  Fido finishes the last of his meal and leans forward, elbows on the table, fingers clasped. "Leo. He’s a top-five candidate. It won’t be easy." His gaze sharpens. "But you shouldn’t take Darcy lightly—she’s ranked in the top ten."

  Maria waves a dismissive hand. "Yeah, yeah," she says, deepening her voice in imitation. "'Never underestimate your opponent.'" She smirks. "Master Eld would be proud."

  Fido chuckles before turning to Kai. "What about you? Have you checked?"

  Kai shakes his head.

  A towering, muscular figure strides up to their table and slams both fists onto it, making the bowls rattle. He locks eyes with Kai, his glare full of menace.

  "I'll kill you in the final test," he growls. "This fight won’t be like before." With a grunt, he turns and stalks off.

  Fido exhales. "Well, now you know."

  Maria leans back, crossing her arms. "You humiliated him last time. Even I don’t think I could take him in a fight."

  "Word is he’s taking the number two spot—some even say number one," Fido adds.

  Kai stands, grabbing his bowl. "Let’s go."

  Maria giggles, picking up hers. "Unfazed as usual."

  Fido shakes his head with a smirk and follows after them.

  All the students make their way toward the small arena at the back of the school. The circular arena is surrounded by tiered seating, with every student from the school now seated, murmuring in anticipation. On a raised terrace overlooking the arena and the crowd stands Master Eld, flanked by other masters from both the Mage and Warrior schools. With them is a distinguished Warrior, a royal guard that protects the King.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “Welcome, students,” Master Eld’s voice booms across the arena, silencing the crowd. “Today marks the final test for our warriors who have reached the age of eighteen. This is a test to determine their rank, to see who will claim a spot among the top five.”

  The students in the stands roar and clap in eager anticipation for the event to begin.

  Master Eld raises his hands, signalling for silence. "The fights will be one-on-one. Opponents have been chosen at random."

  In the waiting room beside the arena, where students prepare their gear, the distant roar of the crowd and Master Eld’s voice can be heard. Fido chuckles at the announcement. "Random? Yeah, right," he mutters, a smirk tugging at his lips.

  Master Eld scans the crowd, his gaze sharpening as the excitement builds. He nods to the other masters and the King's guard. "Now," he says, his voice booming over the arena, "let the first fight begin!"

  The crowd erupts to their feet, fists raised, whistles and cheers filling the air. The large double doors of the waiting room swing open, and two students step out, their weapons raised high, further fuelling the crowd’s excitement.

  As steel clashes against steel echoing through the arena as fights unfold. The ground rumbles from the roar of spectators but also the warriors unique abilities. One by one, warriors return from battle, some limping, others carried away to the infirmary.

  Maria takes a deep breath, steadying herself as she secures her daggers at her sides. Exhaling sharply, she rolls her shoulders, preparing for her turn.

  Fido steps up beside her, giving her shoulder a firm pat. "Good luck," he says with an easy grin.

  She turns to him, arching a brow. He winks.

  Then, her gaze shifts to Kai. A smirk tugs at the corner of her lips. He meets her eyes and nods.

  As the current fight reaches its climax, Maria makes her way toward the arena entrance.

  "Congratulations, Fran. A well-fought battle," Master Eld announces before clearing his throat. "Next, Maria versus Darcy!"

  The crowd erupts once more, a particularly excited cheer rising from the younger students—Maria has fans.

  The doors swing open, and Maria and Darcy step onto the battlefield. Maria raises her fists, a playful giggle escaping her as she soaks in the electric atmosphere.

  Master Eld once again raising his hand to silent the crowd. Each fighter take their positions. Their eyes on each other, Darcy smirks at Maria, Maria smiles and playfully waves her hand.

  "Begin!" Master Eld commands followed by a roar of the crowd.

  Both fighters explode into motion, sprinting toward each other. Darcy strikes first, her fists flashing with deadly intent. She wields specially crafted steel knuckles, each embellished with sharp spikes, delivering a relentless flurry of punches.

  Maria weaves between the attacks, dodging swiftly while using her daggers to deflect the ones she can't avoid. The clash of steel on steel rings through the arena, each impact crisp and sharp.

  Darcy keeps up the pressure, refusing to slow. Punch after punch, she forces Maria onto the defensive. But then—an opening.

  Maria seizes the moment, driving a kick into Darcy’s midsection and flipping backward to create distance.

  Darcy grunts holding her stomach. Maria smiles at her.

  Maria exhales, her eyes flickering with a golden glow. In an instant, she vanishes—only to reappear right in front of Darcy, her dagger flashing toward her neck.

  Darcy barely has time to react. She raises her fists just in time to block, the impact jolting her arms. But Maria is relentless. With a swift sweep, she knocks Darcy’s left leg out from under her, forcing her off balance. A gap opens at Darcy’s right side.

  Maria blurs again, phasing to the opening. Her dagger plunges into Darcy’s right arm, slicing down to her elbow in one clean motion. Blood sprays. Darcy lets out a sharp scream, her arm now useless at her side.

  Maria moves behind her in a blink, daggers poised for another strike—but Darcy ducks at the last second.

  A furious scream erupts from Darcy, her body suddenly radiating a crimson aura. She twists, eyes blazing with pain and rage, and throws a massive hook toward Maria’s left hip.

  Maria barely registers the attack before impact. The spiked steel knuckle rips into her side, sending her flying across the arena.

  Kai and Fido peer through the gap in the door. Fido watches with a furrowed brow, concern flickering in his eyes. Kai remains silent, his expression unreadable—but his grip tightens around the necklace.

  In the arena, Maria spits out blood, her hand pressing against her wounded hip. She glances down—her palm is soaked in red. Across her stands Darcy, chest heaving, eyes burning with an animalistic hunger.

  Darcy lunges.

  Maria stumbles to her feet, her stance unsteady, her body hunched over in pain. Darcy swings wildly, her steel-knuckled fists blurring with terrifying speed. Maria struggles to keep up, barely managing to deflect each blow. The force behind them is monstrous—stronger than before.

  Darcy has enhanced herself.

  A special ability. One that grants her the strength and speed of the beasts she emulates.

  Maria braces herself, but Darcy shifts tactics. She spins, driving a brutal kick into Maria’s uninjured side. The impact sends Maria hurtling across the arena once more.

  The crowd erupts, standing in awe as two top-ten candidates clash with everything they have.

  Maria groans, coughing up more blood. Pain flares through her body. One hip impaled, the other bruised and fractured. She lifts her head, vision swimming, and sees Darcy standing on the opposite side of the arena—still ready, still relentless.

  Maria clenches her fists. Her breath steadies. Her golden eyes blaze, fully illuminated.

  The bleeding slows.

  The crowd murmurs, sensing a shift. Maria slowly rises, golden light pulsating from her daggers. The blades extend, wreathed in a faint golden aura. Ethereal wires—delicate yet crackling with power—unfurl from her back, floating like ghostly tendrils.

  Darcy snarls, her lips curling over her teeth. With a feral scream, she charges.

  Maria’s golden strings lash out, whipping toward Darcy, coiling around her arms and legs, locking her in place mid-stride. She thrashes, muscles bulging as she fights against the bonds, but Maria strides forward, unwavering.

  Then, a sound—a beast’s cry for help.

  Darcy throws her head back and roars. Her body trembles. Twists. Her injured arm contorts, muscles surging, bones cracking, reshaping. In seconds, her limp human limb morphs into something monstrous—a werewolf’s clawed arm.

  Then the other follows.

  The crowd gasps in excitement.

  With newfound strength, Darcy wrenches free. The golden wires snap.

  The crowd gasps in exhilaration.

  Maria smirks. “Didn’t know you had that trick up your sleeve. A partial-shift.”

  She moves.

  A blur. Phasing left, then right, then behind. Darcy’s glowing eyes dart wildly, unable to track her.

  Desperate, Darcy swings her massive claws, each swipe powerful enough to tear Maria apart—but she’s too fast. Golden mirages flicker and vanish in her wake. Strings snap out, whipping and distracting, forcing Darcy to defend instead of attack.

  Then Maria strikes.

  A sharp slice.

  Darcy’s Achilles tendon is severed. She stumbles, dropping to one knee. Another flash. Another cut. Both knees buckle.

  Golden strings lash around her wrists and hoist her off the ground. Suspended, helpless, she dangles in mid-air.

  Maria steps forward, daggers poised, ready to drive them into Darcy’s stomach—

  “Stop!”

  Master Eld’s voice booms across the arena.

  He rises from his seat.

  The entire arena falls silent.

  "Maria is the winner!"

  The arena erupts into deafening cheers, louder than ever before.

  Master Eld watches Maria, a smile tugging at his lips. He turns to the other masters and the royal guard—each of them nodding in approval.

  Fido pumps his fist. "Did you see that, Kai? I've never seen her go all out before!"

  Kai remains silent, but a small smirk forms on his lips.

  The doors swing open. Darcy is carried through on a stretcher, while Maria limps forward, supported by two students. Despite her injuries, she beams at Fido and Kai.

  "I'll heal up quickly, then watch from the stands," she says, her voice unwavering.

  Fido gives her a thumbs-up. Kai simply nods—then, without a word, he lifts the necklace and fastens it around his neck.

  Maria's eyes widen, glistening with unshed tears. She closes them briefly, then grins, her smile radiant. "Good luck!"

  The students guide her away, her voice lingering in the air.