Chapter 31: The Brothers and the Blue Scarf


    The Knights'' Arena was unlike any other training ground. A vast, undulating mass of golden-blond hair spread beneath the students'' feet, resembling an ocean frozen mid-wave. What kept them from plummeting into its depths was a semi-transparent glass-like floor, shimmering with an almost ethereal glow. It was a masterpiece conjured by Asahi, the white-haired student whose abilities allowed such surreal landscapes to exist.


    Above them, thick storm clouds churned in the sky, their dark hues shifting restlessly as if whispering among themselves. The air carried the scent of distant rain, a sharp contrast to the crispness of the cool breeze sweeping through the open space. The towering oak trees encircling the arena swayed slightly, their leaves rustling in hushed tones, adding to the tension brewing among the students.


    Among the gathered students stood Shinso, a tall, nearly bald young man who bore the disciplined aura of a former soldier. Clad in the academy''s black-and-white embroidered uniform, he exuded a quiet intensity.


    The Minma genes pass from parents to children in the same way that hereditary traits do—eye color, hair color, facial structure, even inherited diseases. I am nothing without my younger brother, and he is nothing without me. But together… we are the strongest.


    As Shinso mulled over these thoughts, the teacher, Makoto, lifted his head after jotting down notes in his leather-bound journal. His sharp green eyes, framed by dark gray hair that was slightly unkempt, scanned the arena. His expression remained composed, revealing little of his thoughts as he turned his attention to the next student.


    Somewhere within the crowd stood Mizuhara Ryosuke, a brown-haired girl with matching dark brown eyes. There was little reason to describe her appearance, for she was invisible at that very moment. A few students weren''t surprised by her ability—after all, invisibility wasn''t the most practical skill in combat. But they knew it had many other advantages.


    Makoto, unaware of her exact location, spoke in a steady voice, "Alright, how long can you remain unseen?"


    Silence.


    The answer didn''t come immediately. The delay stretched long enough to make the other students glance around in search of her—except for one. Fayrouz, with her sapphire-blue eyes, gazed steadily to her left.


    Exactly five seconds later, Mizuhara''s form shimmered into existence right beside Fayrouz. Her face held a calm expression as she remarked, "I''m surprised. These sapphire-like eyes… it''s as if they were tracking me the whole time. That wasn''t a coincidence, was it?"


    To the rest of the students and the teacher, Mizuhara had appeared out of nowhere. But for Fayrouz, she had never been hidden. That was why she answered, her voice composed, "Unfortunate for you, there are some people in this world for whom invisibility is useless. And I have no reason to explain why."


    Mizuhara remained silent for a moment, her gaze locked onto Fayrouz''s, before she eventually turned and walked toward the back of the crowd. "Teacher, answering that question would only expose my weakness. I''d rather avoid that."


    Makoto, not the type to pry into personal secrets, simply flipped to the next page of his notebook. "Next, Shinso Minaho."


    At the sound of his name, Shinso stepped forward—but he wasn''t alone. Beside him walked another young man, eerily similar in appearance yet younger. His nearly bald head matched Shinso''s, as did the sharp angles of his face. But the differences were there—subtle variations in their features, and most notably, their deep yellow eyes.


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    Makoto''s green eyes studied the younger one before he asked, "You''re Yuta Minaho, correct? The younger brother. I''d like to see your older brother''s ability first—your turn will come after."


    Shinso, now twenty-three, raised a hand in a slow, deliberate gesture. "We can''t use our ability unless we''re together."


    Makoto lifted an eyebrow, his usually impassive face showing a flicker of intrigue. His graying hair, slightly tousled, framed his features in a way that made him appear both wise and calculating.


    Shinso continued, "Before my brother was born, I was considered ''ability-less.'' A rare phenomenon, and one that made me feel incomplete. But when Yuta came into this world… something happened. Something so unprecedented that even the doctors were left speechless."


    Makoto didn''t fully understand what he was hearing, but he wasn''t one to overreact. He remained calm, about to grant them permission to demonstrate. However, before he could, the younger brother, Yuta, added, "There''s one more thing. It would be best if we had an opponent. It doesn''t need to be a real fight—just a demonstration."


    A smirk spread across Shinso''s face. "What an excellent idea, Yuta! Watching students show off their abilities without a battle has been painfully boring. A proper fight will let me unleash my full power."


    Makoto flipped through his notes, his voice even as he said, "The only ones left are Fulan Nanimo and Fayrouz… Hmm, Fayrouz is listed without a surname. In any case, are you suggesting I make this a two-on-two match? Today''s goal is to observe abilities, not start an actual training session."


    The atmosphere in the arena shifted. A hushed excitement ran through the students. The storm clouds overhead thickened, casting a dim, silver light over the scene. A cool breeze swept across the arena, carrying the scent of damp earth and oak leaves. The towering oak trees surrounding them whispered as their branches swayed. The semi-glass floor beneath them, though solid, carried a faint echo with every step taken upon it.


    From within the crowd, Fulan stepped forward. His movements were measured, his eyes closed as if deep in thought. A subtle smile curved his lips, a sign of quiet satisfaction. "I don''t know why I always end up in team fights with you."


    Five meters away, Fayrouz strode forward with steady, confident steps, mirroring his expression with her own playful smirk. But unlike him, her striking blue eyes had begun to glow—a light, almost ethereal blue, reminiscent of sunlight reflecting on the ocean''s surface. "I could say the same. Perhaps it''s a curse. One that started the moment we boarded that old, rickety carriage together."


    In one fluid motion, Fayrouz reached into her pocket and retrieved a glowing blue ring. As she activated it, the ring expanded into a radiant scarf. Initially luminous, it wrapped around her neck, shifting in texture and hue until it settled into a deep, elegant blue. The contrast against her flowing black hair, streaked with dark blue strands, was breathtaking. Her pale skin only enhanced the striking image.


    Standing side by side, Fayrouz and Fulan faced their opponents. Between them, Makoto remained, serving as the only barrier before the battle.


    The students murmured among themselves.


    "Do they know each other?"


    Among them, Lazaria, with her vibrant green eyes and soft blonde curls, smiled gently as she observed. Oh, you two really do look good together.


    Shinso, watching the pair, grinned and turned to Yuta. "Looks like this will be more than just a demonstration. Are you ready?"


    Yuta, ever the serious one, nodded. "Even if I know the chances of us losing are zero, I will treat them as if they have the power to win."


    On the other side, Fayrouz placed a hand on her scarf, a silent signal that she was prepared.


    Fulan glanced at her. "I didn''t see you use that in the exam."


    "It wasn''t a battlefield fit for it." Her answer was cool, focused.


    Yet one student had no interest in watching this match—Asahi Leorin, the white-haired boy with gray eyes. Sweat trickled down his temple as he thought, Isn''t she the one who caused that earthquake during the exam? Does Makoto really expect me to maintain this glass floor during their fight? He''s got to be kidding!


    Makoto, slipping his notebook into his pocket, took a few steps back. "You have one minute. After that, I will end the fight."


    One minute was more than enough.


    The academy''s legendary battles were only beginning.


    But… wasn''t there supposed to be a tenth seat?