CHAPTER 103: CHAPTER 103 - EXTRA VS PROTAGONIST (2)

The air was thick with anticipation, tension clinging to the watching students like a second skin.

Whispers erupted across the arena, spreading like wildfire.

"Those two are already monsters..."

"Are we supposed to compete with them?"

"As expected of someone who received an award from the Empress."

"That’s the Sword Duke’s grandson for you..."

Even instructor Halreth, who had been silently watching from beside Seraphina, let out a low whistle. "Those two are monsters."

Seraphina’s eyes were locked on the battle. "They’ve both reached the Meridian Saturation stage... But Luca’s aura—it feels chaotic."

Halreth gave a quiet nod. "True. But he’s controlling it well. And his battle instincts... they’re razor sharp. That boy has fought before in a life and death situation."

In the spectator line, Kyle’s hands were clenched into fists. He exhaled with a tired smile tugging at his lips. "Looks like I’ve got some serious catching up to do..."

But on the stage, all of that became irrelevant.

The two boys were locked in their own world.

Crimson and gold.

Twin sabers and glowing blade.

Chaos and order.

Valentine and Everhart.

Their weapons met with a clash that cracked the air like thunder. The sheer pressure from their movements created small shockwaves that rippled across the arena floor, scattering dust and pebbles. Sparks danced each time metal met metal, their footwork a blur, impossible to follow for most students.

Luca’s breath came steady, his eyes gleaming with intensity. I didn’t know it would be this... fun, he thought, laughing inwardly. This is what a real fight feels like...

And he was certain—Aiden was thinking the same thing.

He glanced at Aiden mid-spin, only to catch the gleam in his golden eyes. Aiden was smiling too.

Their weapons crashed again, shockwaves rippling across the arena.

Then, almost in sync, both of them let go of restraint.

Then they moved—simultaneously.

In a single breath, both released their aura affinities.

A brilliant white-gold light flared around Aiden, sharp and pure. His aura shimmered like sunlight breaking through storm clouds, radiating overwhelming clarity and purpose. It lit up the stage, forcing several students to squint.

Opposite him, Luca’s aura surged with a swirling storm of blacks, silvers, and deep violet hues—ethereal, unstable, and yet entrancing. It looked like a galaxy in motion, the chaotic threads of mana spiraling around him with untamed power.

The very air warped around them.

Tiles cracked beneath their feet as the sheer weight of their auras pressed down. The wind roared, stirred by the opposing forces.

Then—they moved.

Faster than before.

Aiden launched forward, blade trailing pure light. Luca ducked, his twin sabers sweeping upward like twin crescents—black and white arcs of destruction.

Their blades didn’t just clash—they collided with explosions of force. Dust burst into the air. Shockwaves rippled out, knocking back a few unprepared students near the front row.

Luca’s left saber intercepted Aiden’s downward slash while his right spun around, aiming for Aiden’s exposed ribs. But Aiden twisted, light flaring beneath his feet, allowing him to pivot mid-air and land behind Luca.

Before his boots touched ground, Luca had already turned—slashing upward with both sabers. Aiden blocked the first with his arm guard, parried the second with his glowing blade, and retaliated with a blinding horizontal arc of mana.

The attack carved a deep scar into the stone floor—but missed. Luca had already leapt backward, his cloak fluttering like shadows in the wind.

They landed opposite one another again, shoulders rising and falling.

Sweat trickled down Aiden’s brow.

Luca’s chest heaved, but his eyes gleamed with focus.

Neither spoke.

Then—they moved again.

It was no longer a duel. It was a dance—of instinct, skill, and raw power.

Luca’s blade spun with elegance and unpredictability, like a cyclone threatening to devour everything. Aiden’s counters were decisive, clean and divine, like rays of sunlight cutting through a storm.

Their feet dug into the stone. Their arms blurred. Every movement was a risk. Every strike was a gamble.

And they were both smiling.

So lost in the fight...

So caught up in the thrill...

They forgot this was just a practice duel.

And then—they both raised their weapons.

Aiden’s sword hummed with holy light as he prepared a Radiant Slash.

Luca spun his twin sabers in opposite directions, pulling in his chaotic aura, condensing it around the blades—preparing Eclipse Severance, a twin-blade technique forged from balance and destruction.

They launched at each other.

But—

A pair of hands shot out between them.

CLANG!

Aiden’s sword was caught in one hand.

Luca’s sabers stopped cold in the other.

Instructor Halreth stood tall between them, unmoved by the force of either strike.

"Enough."

His calm voice held the weight of thunder.

"That’s enough," he said, voice calm but commanding. "Don’t forget... this is a practice duel."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Luca blinked, breathing heavily. Aiden exhaled, lowering his blade.

Both boys took a step back and bowed their heads slightly.

"Apologies, Instructor," they said in unison.

Heralth nodded, stepping aside.

Their eyes met once more.

"You seem to have advanced," Aiden said, still catching his breath, yet grinning.

Luca smirked. "I can’t afford to stay behind, can I now?"

Aiden laughed. "But the result?"

Luca shrugged, twirling one of his sabers lazily before sheathing it.

"I’m sure we’ll get a proper chance."

Aiden nodded firmly. "I’ll look forward to it."

And with that, the duel ended.

The crowd, once tense, burst into applause—but the two warriors had already turned, walking off the stage in silence, their minds still caught in the lingering rhythm of combat.

The practical session was over.

***

The moon had already begun its gentle ascent when Luca finally returned to his dorm room. His limbs ached, his shirt clung to him with the weight of dried sweat, and faint bruises marked his arms from the intense duel earlier.

With a soft sigh, he tossed his uniform onto a chair and stepped into the cold shower. Water crashed against his skin, sending shivers down his spine, but he welcomed it. The icy stream numbed the soreness and cleared the fog in his mind. After a few moments, he leaned his head against the tiled wall and exhaled deeply.

"That was... fun," he murmured to himself.

Later, dressed in simple clothes, Luca stepped barefoot into the room, toweling his damp hair. The sky outside had turned deep blue, stars beginning to twinkle in the velvety dusk.

With a soft breath, he held out his hand.

In a shimmer of light, a small portal of spiraling mana unfurled, and with a delicate pop, a tiny form emerged— The baby dragon flapped her tiny hands as she landed with a little bounce on the bed, blinking rapidly as she scanned the room.

Her eyes locked onto Luca’s form, her gaze dropping to the faint bruises on his arms and neck.

And then—

"Woooohhooooooo..."

She wailed. A sharp, high-pitched cry, almost like a whistle, echoed off the stone walls. Her little hands reached out toward him as tears welled in her eyes.

"Pappa! Woohohoooo~"

Luca blinked, wide-eyed. "Ah—w-wait, no, don’t cry!"

In two steps, he reached her and scooped her into his arms. She clutched at his t-shirt with her tiny fingers and buried her snout against his chest, sobbing softly.

Luca gently patted her back. "Hey, hey, it’s okay. It’s just a scratch or two. Papa—" he paused, grimacing at the word— "I mean, I’m not hurt. Look."

Still, she continued to sniffle, eyes shimmering.

"You’re such a crybaby, huh..." he muttered, unable to stop the smile tugging at his lips. "Why don’t I take you out for a bit? Hmm? You like that, don’t you?"

At once, the baby dragon’s sobbing halted. Her eyes widened, and she looked up with a sparkle of excitement.

"Paa~!"

She giggled and flapped her wings, tail curling in delight.

Luca narrowed his eyes, mock suspicion creeping in....Wait. Don’t tell me you were faking those tears.

She tilted her head adorably and blinked.

...No, no. She’s just a child. No way she tricked me. He gave a low chuckle and gently tapped her nose. "Alright. Let’s go."

As night wrapped the academy in its cool embrace, Luca dressed again, this time in a dark cloak with a hood. He made sure the baby dragon nestled quietly in a pouch near his chest, concealed but comfortable. He exited through a quieter corridor, his steps silent, making his way toward the central plaza.

"The fountain should be empty this late," he muttered, eyes scanning the dim pathways. "And I really hope no one hears her calling me ’papa’ again..."

But once they reached the marble courtyard, bathed in soft moonlight, all his worries faded. The fountain shimmered under the glow, gentle streams of water arcing into the air.

Luca lowered the baby dragon near the edge. She immediately bounced toward the water, her tail wagging as she pawed at the sparkling jets and let out tiny squeals of joy.

"Papap!" she chirped, slapping her tail on the ground.

"Shh!" Luca whispered sharply, glancing around.

She tilted her head innocently, and then— "Papapapa~!"

Luca sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I’m doomed..."

Still, he couldn’t help but chuckle as he crouched beside her, scooping water in his hands and gently splashing it near her. She jumped back, startled, then giggled again—pure laughter, the kind that made even the night feel warm.

For a moment, all was peaceful.

Until—

A voice like frost slithered into the air behind him.

"Papa? What is going on here..."

Luca’s body went stiff.

He turned slowly, heart lurching, as moonlight reflected off white hair... and cold violet eyes nearly identical to his own, narrowed in deep suspicion.