CHAPTER 87: EVALUATION

The room stilled.

Lucen stayed on his knees, coat torn, palms raw, blood drying slow on the side of his temple. His breath rasped low in his chest, sharp, shallow pulls that barely moved the ribs he’d taken a polearm to. But he was conscious. Awake. Watching.

Varik stepped onto the platform with a soundless gait, boots making no echo on the scuffed stone. He didn’t go to Lucen.

He went to the trio.

The girl was already on her feet. Slight limp. Burn marks visible along the side of her arm where the Ignition Burst had landed. She didn’t complain. She just adjusted the straps on her glove, exhaled once, and straightened.

The spear-wielder stood beside her, polearm down now, held loose in one hand like a walking stick. His knuckles were pale under the grip.

The enhancer sat on the edge of the platform wall, shoulder rolled forward, dabbing a cloth at his lip. Blood. Not much. Just a trace from where he’d nearly taken the Piercing Flare’s rebound head-on.

All three were silent until Varik reached them.

Then, the polearm user spoke first.

"Thank you, sir."

Varik raised a brow. "For?"

The man shook his head slightly. "That wasn’t a spar. That was a recalibration. I haven’t had to rework my approach mid-engagement since my promotion trial."

The girl exhaled. "He’s not what you said."

"I didn’t say what he was," Varik said calmly. "Only that you’d learn something."

She looked at Lucen, then back. "I assumed it would be how to dismantle a clever support mage."

"And instead?"

There was a pause.

She said, slower, "Instead I had to unlearn three reflexes just to stay upright."

The enhancer finally spoke, his voice lower, calmer than the others.

"I’ve seen reversal effects. Echo-casting. Trigger timing. Even field disruption."

He nodded toward Lucen.

"But that wasn’t any of those."

Varik didn’t smile.

Just gave a short nod. "You’re correct."

There was silence. Respectful. He didn’t explain. Didn’t elaborate.

Lucen listened, head tilted forward, sweat stinging the cut above his eye. His hand twitched once—half a spell motion, aborted. Habit.

The girl finally turned toward him and spoke directly.

"You’re fast."

Lucen looked up, voice dry. "That’s the least dangerous thing about me."

That got the faintest snort out of the spear-user.

The enhancer stood, slow. Walked over.

He didn’t offer a hand. Just said, "You pushed me out of rhythm with a spell I couldn’t see. That’s never happened."

Lucen didn’t respond.

The man waited. Then added, "I’ve been running suppression fields for six years. Today was the first time one got sent back through me like a bad alchemy reaction."

He gave a short nod, then turned away.

Varik finally addressed them all together.

"You’re dismissed."

None of them moved right away.

Then, one by one, they stepped toward him, not rigid, not military, but with purpose.

Each one reached into their belts, pulled out a thin silver tab, and handed it to him.

Lucen recognized the shape.

Private acknowledgment markers.

Not tokens. Not currency. Gratitude.

Each bore a different crest. Not guilds. Not merc units.

Individual marks.

The spear-wielder said, "For later. If he needs backup."

The caster gave hers without comment.

The enhancer added, "Or cover, if someone comes asking questions."

Then all three turned and left through the same side door they’d entered, the arena lights dimming slightly behind them.

Lucen stayed still.

His system hummed faintly now—settled. Sore.

[Mana: 6 / 148]

[Spells Used: 8]

[EXP Gained: 6,720]

[LEVEL UP: 17 → 18]

[Stat Points Gained: +4]

Varik walked over at last, crouched down beside him.

"You’re running hot."

Lucen muttered, "I’m running done."

Varik reached out and pulled back Lucen’s glove, just enough to see the raw thread lines along his palm. Casting burns. Not bad. But fresh.

"You pushed past safe channeling limits halfway through."

Lucen nodded. "Didn’t have another choice."

Varik studied him a moment.

"You did."

Lucen looked at him, eyes narrowed.

"You just didn’t like it."

Varik stood.

"I liked it fine. But I like clarity more."

He stepped back, pacing the arena slowly as he spoke.

"You didn’t break any of them. Not fully. But you forced them to show respect. Not to me. To you."

He glanced back.

"That’s more than most high-B ranks can manage."

Lucen flexed his hands.

"I’m not B-rank."

"No," Varik agreed. "You’re something else. That’s why I didn’t tell them what you were. I wanted to see how long they’d treat you like prey."

Lucen forced himself up to a sit, arms braced behind him.

"Feels like they didn’t stop."

"No. But they hesitated."

Varik walked closer again, voice dropping.

"Next time, that hesitation gets you the kill."

Lucen blinked once.

Not fast.

Just thoughtful.

Then he said, "You’re planning something."

Varik’s face didn’t change.

But he didn’t deny it.

Lucen stared at the floor for a long moment, then pushed himself up to stand. Swayed once. Steadied.

"What do I do until then?"

Varik turned for the exit.

"Rest. Heal. Think about what it cost to land a few hits."

Lucen followed, limping slightly, arms heavy.

"And after that?"

Varik glanced back. "We start making people nervous."

—

The hallway outside the training room was quiet. Not sterile. Just clean, low-lit, lined with paneling that still held the faint warmth of spent mana.

Lucen leaned one shoulder against the wall as the last echo of the door sealing shut faded behind them. His coat was torn at the sleeve.

Blood crusted at the wrist, flaking onto the floor in tiny red pinpoints he didn’t bother wiping away.

Varik stood across from him, arms folded, watching the lift approach.

Lucen said nothing for a moment.

Then pushed off the wall and cleared his throat once.

"I’ve got open slots."

Varik didn’t turn. "How many?"

"Three."

Now Varik looked over, just a little.

Lucen continued, voice even. "They’re clean. Unfilled. Not pre-locked. My system lets me design from scratch."

Varik raised an eyebrow. "You’re just now mentioning this?"

Lucen shrugged. "Didn’t think it mattered until now. Thought I’d ask you before I fill them."