High above the dueling ground, separated from the noise and heat of the arena, a secluded chamber overlooked the entire battlefield. The room was quiet, cool, and lined with enchanted glass—transparent from the inside, invisible from the outside.
This was the Observation Cabin, where Etherlight Academy’s top instructors watched and assessed.
Five professors sat at a long obsidian table, scrolls, recording crystals, and mana tablets in front of them.
Each of them observed the arena closely, making notes. Every move. Every mistake. Every sign of growth.
This wasn’t just a tournament.
It was a live evaluation.
A chance to redesign training regimens for each student based on how they’d grown since last semester.
Professor Aric, the stern combat instructor specialised in Martial Arts , squinted as he watched a duel end.
"That was Marcus Ardent’s match," he muttered. "He won—but his focus is slipping. His mana flared unnecessarily three times. Sloppy execution, even if the result was a win."
Next to him, Professor Yumina—the soft-spoken Beast Taming specialist—nodded thoughtfully. Her braided green hair swayed as she turned her crystal to another view.
"What do you think of their overall improvement?" she asked. "From last semester till now, I see quite a difference in control and adaptation."
Professor Katrina, arms folded and posture upright, answered without hesitation.
"They’ve grown significantly. Especially the principal’s personal disciple."
She gestured with a flick of her hand toward the screen showing Dalen Voncrest moving gracefully with his blade.
"His refinement is leagues better than before. Clean movement, stable core. It’s obvious he’s received personalized combat coaching."
Professor Drake—a silent type with silver-rimmed glasses and a calm aura—spoke up without looking away from his tablet.
"They’ve improved. No doubt. But I didn’t expect him to stand out."
Yumina glanced sideways. "Oh? You mean that boy?"
Her eyes shifted to a nearby image of a student, casually seated near the rest area, chatting calmly with another.
Gray eyes like quiet steel.
"Ezra Celestrian," Yumina murmured. "The disciple of the Sword Emperor... Ren Kurogane."
Professor Sergei, leaning back with his arms crossed and a wolfish grin on his face, chuckled.
"That boy’s a beast," he said. "I reckon he’s already more talented—and stronger—than Marcus."
Katrina immediately turned toward him, eyebrows raised. "That’s absurd, Sergei. Marcus is a six-element wizard. A once-in-a-century genius."
Sergei shrugged. "And Ezra’s the disciple of Ren Kurogane. He held back against Dravis and still humiliated him."
"He’s Rank 2 at best," Yumina said, adjusting her mana tab. "Impressive for his age, yes, but given time, both Marcus and Dalen will surpass him."
Sergei smirked but didn’t argue. "We’ll see."
Then he looked toward the corner of the pavilion.
"What do you think, Kael?"
The name made the other professors glance up.
Standing there, leaning casually against a support pillar with messy hair and a tired expression, was Professor Kael Arkezen—the unbothered, coffee-loving mage of Non-Elemental Magic. A peak Rank 7 like Sergei.
Katrina’s eyes narrowed.
"Why are you here?" she snapped.
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Last I checked, watching student evaluations wasn’t illegal, Katrina."
"You’re not even part of the combat faculty—"
"And it’s still none of your business," Kael cut in, clearly bored. "Relax, will you?"
Katrina stood abruptly, fire mana flaring instinctively at her fingertips.
Professor Aric stepped in quickly. "Calm down, Katrina. We’re still in class."
Kael chuckled and sipped from a can of cold tea he pulled from his coat. "Still as fiery as ever, huh, little Kat?"
"Don’t call me that—!"
A wave of cold pressure rolled over them all.
All five professors immediately turned, feeling it before they saw it.
A man was walking toward them.
Broad-shouldered. Towering. His muscular frame was wrapped in a long black overcoat over a dark three-piece suit. A silver spear crest glinted on his chest. Military-cut black hair. Tattoos etched across his neck, disappearing beneath his collar. Every step he took echoed like judgment.
Aura restrained—but immense.
Sergei straightened. Katrina backed down.
"V—Vice Principal," Professor Drake stammered. "W-Why are you here?"
The man stopped in front of them, glancing around slowly.
"Can’t I check on my school?" he asked, voice deep and calm. "Or did the title ’Vice Principal of Etherlight Academy’ mean something different this morning?"
No one dared speak out of turn now.
Vice Principal Varian Raiklan, also known across the continent as the Spear King a living legend, and a Peak Rank 8 Awakened.
He glanced toward Katrina, his voice calm—but laced with command.
"Focus on the students, not your personal grudges, Miss Darkheart."
Katrina bowed her head, clearly restrained.
"...Yes, Vice Principal."
Then Varian turned to Kael, his voice colder this time.
"And you, Kael... I didn’t expect you to be here."
Kael Arkezen, still leaning against the wall, took a sip from his mug and replied lazily,
"I just came to see someone."
Professor Drake frowned and asked, "A student, Senior Arkezen? You’ve taken interest in a student?"
Everyone looked at Kael with mild disbelief.
The man who rarely showed up even for his own classes... was watching a student?
Kael didn’t answer. But he didn’t deny it either. His gaze returned to the screen, to Ezra, now seated and preparing for his second duel.
Varian’s eyes narrowed.
"Is it the Sword Emperor’s disciple?"
"Yeah. I’ve got a good eye for mana flow. That kid... he’s not the rank he’s showing."
Aric, curious now, leaned forward.
"What do you mean, Senior?"
Kael shrugged. "I can’t say his exact realm... but he might be at Peak Rank 3, maybe even higher."
The room went dead silent.
Yumina’s eyes widened. Katrina froze. Aric looked stunned.
Drake sat perfectly still, his fingers tightening slightly around his pen.
And only Varian... nodded.
"As always, Kael. You figured it out."
Katrina finally found her voice.
"Vice Principal... is that true?"
Varian turned his back to the window, facing them fully now.
"When we tested Ezra Celestrian during the private Second Semester evaluations, he disguised his core flow. But the Headmaster and I saw through it. And with direct confirmation from the Sword Emperor himself—"
"—Ezra Celestrian is currently at Beginner Rank 4."
The weight of the revelation hit like a shockwave.
"Impossible," Yumina whispered. "He’s only eighteen..."
"How...?" Aric muttered.
Sergei crossed his arms, satisfied. "I told you he was a monster."
Varian stepped forward, his voice grave.
"Before anyone gets ideas about reporting this—don’t. This knowledge is restricted. Sword Emperor Ren Kurogane himself warned us not to spread Ezra’s rank beyond this room."
"And now I’ll add my own warning. If anyone leaks this—know that you won’t just face the Headmaster’s wrath. You’ll be hunted by the Sword Emperor himself."
A silence fell once more.
Because they all understood.
This wasn’t just about protecting a genius.
This was about protecting a weapon not yet ready to be drawn.
"You all know demons and foreign races have begun targeting prodigies," Varian continued.
"We cannot let them discover we have another student on the level of Dalen or Marcus. Maybe even stronger."
His final words echoed in the cabin like a quiet storm:
"Not until he’s strong enough to defend himself."
One by one, the professors nodded.
None of them were foolish enough to speak against it.
None of them were reckless enough to leak it.
And all of them... felt the weight of what this meant.
Another game-changer.
Another kingpiece on the board.
The screens flickered.
A bell chimed gently from the crystal interface.
"Second Round will begin shortly."