《The unwritten Blessing》


 The Prophecy

    On a quiet night, when the stars shone brightest and bathed the continent of Lazarus in their glow, the sound of muffled sobs echoed through the royal castle.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to go,¡± whimpered a little girl, rubbing her tear-streaked cheeks with her small hands.


    On the grand, luxurious bed lay an old woman. Her breathing was shallow, her time nearly at an end. The room, adorned with golden ornaments and heavy velvet curtains. Yet, despite its splendor, the only thing that mattered in this moment was the child standing beside the dying woman.


    With trembling fingers, the elder reached out, gently running her hand through the girl¡¯s hair. Her voice was weak, yet filled with warmth.


    ¡°My dear child, it is time for me to go. My place in this world has been fulfilled.¡± She smiled faintly. ¡°I know it will be hard for you to walk in my footsteps. But I believe fate will be kind to you.¡±


    ¡°I hate them all!¡± The girl clenched her fists. ¡°No one comes to visit you. No one cares. I hate them!¡±


    The old woman sighed. ¡°It may seem that way, but not all people are bad.¡± Her gaze drifted into the distance, as if she could see beyond time itself. There was nothing she regretted about her long life. And yet¡ªone last wish remained.


    ¡°I wish¡­ I could see the king one last time.¡±


    Suddenly, her body convulsed. Her eyes snapped open¡ªglowing with an intense light, as if the universe itself had ignited within them. Then, just as quickly, the glow faded.


    ¡°Oma?¡± The girl froze. ¡°What happened?!¡±


    She knew exactly what had just occurred. A vision. Her grandmother had the Blessing of Sight, just as she did.


    Tears streamed down the old woman¡¯s face. Her frail body trembled, and in a broken voice, she whispered:


    ¡°He has been born.¡±


    ¡°Who? Who has been born?!¡±


    The elder struggled for breath, her fingers clutching weakly at the sheets. Her final strength was slipping away.


    Then, with one last gaze into eternity, she spoke her final words:


    ¡°He will destroy the world.¡±


    Meanwhile, in a small village, a second child was born into the Wolfseif family.


    ¡°It¡¯s a boy,¡± the man said with a trembling voice, holding the newborn child in his hands. Carefully, he passed the baby to his wife and sat down beside her. Together, they gazed at their child, tears of joy streaming down their faces.


    A little girl stood by the bed, staring at the newborn boy with wide, fascinated eyes. She now had a little brother.


    ¡°Julius. That is his name,¡± the woman whispered.


    The father smiled with excitement. They had chosen this name long ago, should their child be a boy.


    ¡°Look, Anja, you have a little brother now,¡± he said gently.


    The night passed peacefully. The family spent the evening with tears of happiness and warm laughter, until the flames in the fireplace faded and the night swallowed the stars.


    Thirteen years had passed, and once again, a group of children was causing mischief in the village.


    Julius had turned thirteen, and together with his friends, he played pranks on the neighbors. Their group consisted of five members:


    Noah, a tall boy with an impressive build for his age. Although he was only a year older than Lazarus, many mistook him for an adult. His family were farmers, tending to the village¡¯s crops¡ªno wonder he was so massive. Anyone who saw his father working in the fields knew at a glance whose son he was. He had undoubtedly inherited his father¡¯s physique, earning him the nickname ¡°Bull.¡±


    Then there were the Paul twins, Jin and Jina. A boy and a girl¡ªthankfully, or else their friends would have had a hard time telling them apart. Both had blonde hair, and despite being a boy, Jin had delicate, almost feminine features.


    Bon was the smartest¡ªand the most mischievous¡ªof the group. He was the same age as Lazarus, and since they lived next door to each other, they had grown up together. They were almost best friends.


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    Bon always wore glasses, even though he didn¡¯t need them, just to appear more intelligent. His medium-length brown hair was neatly combed back to give him a polished look. And he had a very specific reason for this effort: Anja, Julius¡¯ sister.


    She was three years older than him, but that didn¡¯t stop Bon from trying to win her heart. That was also the only reason he and Julius were almost best friends.


    As always, the group met near the village entrance at their self-made campfire spot.


    ¡°Your sister is pretty late today,¡± Jina said, concerned.


    ¡°She¡¯s probably meeting her boyfriend,¡± Jin teased.


    Bon instantly jumped up, grabbed Jin by the collar, and shook him violently. The very thought of the love of his life being with another man was unbearable.


    ¡°She would never have a boyfriend! We belong toge¡ª¡±


    But before Bon could finish his sentence, a cold chill ran down his spine.


    Julius had stood up. His gaze was dark¡ªdangerous. He moved toward the two boys with a look that promised pain.


    BAM! BAM!


    Two swift hits to the head, and both were on the ground, groaning in pain.


    While Jin muttered an apology, Bon threw himself at Julius, headbutting his stomach and pushing him backward. They would have started a full-on brawl if Bull hadn¡¯t stepped in and pulled them apart.


    Once again, they sat around the fire in silence. Bon straightened his hair and shot Julius an angry glare.


    Julius, irritated, turned away¡ªthen suddenly froze.


    Something didn¡¯t feel right. His sister was never late.


    There was no reason to worry¡ªor was there?


    Anja had always been better than him. Even though they had grown up poor, with uneducated parents, she was different. She was smart, strong¡ªa genius.


    By the age of ten, she had already mastered magic without any help. The villagers called her a prodigy. She had even been sponsored, giving her the rare chance to attend a magic academy in the city¡ªan opportunity usually reserved for nobles and the wealthy.


    That was why they were all waiting for her. They wanted to hear her stories, to know what life in the city was like.


    For commoners like them, attending a magic school was an unattainable privilege. Anja was a miracle.


    ¡°There she is!¡± Jina suddenly shouted, pointing down the road.


    Anja had returned.


    They all ran toward her, surrounding her in an instant.


    ¡°Sister, where have you been? Did something happen?¡± Julius asked, his voice filled with concern, while the others stared at Anja, their eyes full of curiosity.


    ¡°Oh my goodness! I completely lost track of time. I¡¯m so sorry!¡± She clasped her hands together and smiled apologetically.


    Bon nearly collapsed, his face turning bright red. Her radiant smile had, as always, completely thrown him off balance.


    Julius shot him an annoyed glance but quickly lost interest. He turned his attention back to his sister.


    ¡°You have to tell us what happened, Sister!¡± he said, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.


    They sat together around the fire, all eyes expectantly fixed on Anja.


    She began telling them about her day at school. Even though it was almost always the same routine, the five friends loved listening to her stories.


    As always, she was the top student in her class. But even though she never said anything, Julius had a bad feeling. She always spoke of nice things at school, about her friends¡ªbut for the past year, no one had ever come back to the village with her. It felt as if she was always alone.


    The nobles and wealthy despised commoners. The very idea that someone like her could attend the same school¡ªand even outperform them¡ªmust have been unbearable for them, Julius thought.


    ¡°Why do you look so down?¡± Anja asked her younger brother, noticing his lowered gaze.


    Julius straightened up, shook his head, and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just keep telling us your story.¡±


    The others quickly jumped in. ¡°But why are you so late today? Something must have happened!¡±


    A sly grin spread across Anja¡¯s face.


    ¡°Something incredible happened.¡±


    Everyone held their breath¡ªnone of them had ever seen her this excited.


    She explained that a rumor had been spreading across the continent: a boy, the same age as Julius, had been born with the Blessing of the Neun Wunder.


    Their jaws dropped.


    Even though they had never gone to school and had limited knowledge, Blessings were no mystery to them. Every person was born with a chance¡ªhowever small¡ªto receive one. While there were many different tiers, the Neun Wunder were beyond extraordinary.


    They were among the most powerful Blessings in existence, granting abilities so incredible they would be hard to believe without seeing them firsthand.


    Anyone possessing such a Blessing would instantly rise to prominence in the world.


    The group jumped up, cheering and laughing. None of them had received such a Blessing, but just hearing about it was thrilling.


    Anja continued, ¡°The entire city was in an uproar. Even if it was just a rumor, there had to be some truth to it. Otherwise, the nobles wouldn¡¯t be making such a big deal out of it.¡±


    After all, in the entire kingdom, only two known individuals possessed a Blessing of this level¡ªone of them being the King himself.


    While the others were still celebrating, Julius looked down, a somber expression on his face.


    ¡°Imagine if you got a Blessing like that, Julius. What would you do?¡± Jina asked.


    Everyone turned toward him. Only now did he realize how much of a dark aura he was giving off.


    He didn¡¯t want to ruin the mood, but he couldn¡¯t suppress his frustration. ¡°It¡¯s probably a noble.¡±


    The excitement died instantly.


    Julius didn¡¯t like nobles. He hadn¡¯t met many, but he had his reasons¡ªespecially because of his sister.


    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Bon said, adjusting his glasses. ¡°High-tier Blessings are always passed down through noble bloodlines. Someone like us getting one¡­ it¡¯s just a dream.¡±


    Bon always tried to act and dress like an intellectual, mostly to impress Anja. But Julius knew that Bon didn¡¯t have to pretend¡ªhe actually was intelligent.


    The mood had soured.


    Julius hadn¡¯t meant to dampen their spirits, but he couldn¡¯t hold back his thoughts.


    Then, suddenly, Anja laughed.


    Everyone turned to her in confusion. Had Julius said something wrong?


    ¡°You guys are so adorable when you act so serious.¡±


    Bon turned bright red and looked away in embarrassment. Julius jumped up, his own face flushed.


    Anja giggled. ¡°Alright, then. Shall I tell you one more thing?¡± She held a finger to her lips. ¡°It¡¯s not a noble. It¡¯s a commoner.¡±

 Whats my Blessing

    A week had passed, and everyone was talking about one thing: the commoner with the Blessing. Julius stood in the yard, launching a fireball at a wall. His sister had taught him a few spells she had learned at school.


    "Diligent in your training, I see, my boy?" His father laughed as he stepped out of the house. Julius greeted him. His father worked in the city''s administration.


    Neither he nor Julius'' mother had much to do with magic, but they were thrilled that their children were so talented¡ªespecially their daughter. Julius had never felt envy; instead, he was happy to have such a genius for a sister.


    His father needed to run errands in town and asked Julius to fetch some vegetables from the farmer.


    Julius had been training all day and had nearly exhausted his mana, so he couldn''t continue even if he wanted to.


    He knew the way well since one of his best friends, Stier, lived there.


    The farm was on the other side of the village. Normally, he would have had to go around the forest in the middle, but he knew it like the back of his hand.


    In just 15 minutes, he arrived¡ªhalf the time it would have taken on the normal path. But as he approached the house, he noticed an unusual silence.


    Stier''s father would normally be outside working late into the night. Julius had often seen him fall asleep on the field after a hard day''s work. A bead of sweat ran down his face.


    This was strange. Just then, Stier stepped out of the house, and they greeted each other.


    "Hey Stier, I came to pick up some vegetables," Julius said as they exchanged a handshake.


    Stier fetched a crate from the house and handed it over. Julius struggled to keep his balance as he took it.


    "They always look so light when you carry them," he remarked.


    Stier offered to help him carry the crate home, but Julius initially refused. However, after taking a few steps, he stopped. In the end, there were two of them walking through the forest.


    Embarrassed, Julius followed behind Stier and thanked him. Stier just smiled as he carried the crate effortlessly.


    "Your father isn''t home?" Julius asked, as if it were unusual.


    Stier only knew that his father had gone to the city for some business. He also had a bad feeling¡ªhis father hated going to the city.


    Back at Julius'' house, Jin was already waiting outside, looking around nervously. When he spotted them, he ran up to them. Both of them looked at him, confused.


    "To the city! Quickly!" Jin tried to speak, but his words were rushed and jumbled.


    Julius grabbed him by the shoulders and calmed him down.


    After taking a deep breath, Jin finally managed to say, "The soldiers are in the city!"


    They ran to the village entrance, where Bon and Jina were already waiting.


    "What''s going on?" Julius asked.


    But Bon didn¡¯t know either. Soldiers had arrived¡ªnot just any soldiers, but from Lidoris, the city with the best mage academy on the entire continent...


    Everyone was excited, especially Julius. If the rumors were true, he might finally find out whether he had a Blessing or not.


    "Man, if I got a Blessing of the Ten Scriptures, Anja would marry me instantly!" Bon daydreamed aloud.


    Normally, Julius would have smacked him for that comment, but he was too deep in thought himself.


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    "You guys shouldn''t get your hopes up too soon. A Blessing of the Ten Scriptures for an idiot like you? Hahahaha!" Jin laughed mockingly.


    Bon put him in a headlock, joking that if he got a Blessing, the first thing he''d do would be to wipe Jin off the face of the earth.


    "Maybe not one of the Ten Scriptures, but even a small Blessing would be nice," Jina grinned.


    Even though Blessings existed in the world, one couldn''t know if they had one or not unless they inherited it and were already aware, or used a special crystal to find out. However, that crystal was extremely rare, making it inaccessible to commoners like them.


    "Of course, I''ll have a Blessing of the Ten Scriptures!" Julius shouted confidently, pounding his chest.


    Bon retorted that Julius was an even bigger idiot than he was, making it impossible. The two stood so close they looked like they were about to start a fight¡ªuntil they heard the soldiers arrive.


    The soldiers marched into the village¡ªfour soldiers and a mage. They moved to the center of the village, quickly surrounded by curious townsfolk.


    A soldier dismounted his horse and introduced himself.


    "My name is Commander Schwarz. I am the leader of these soldiers. You have no reason to be afraid."


    His voice was deep and rough, matching his appearance. He had an unkempt black beard and scars across his face, signs of past battles.


    The other soldiers dismounted and began setting up a small tent in front of everyone. Inside, the mage placed the crystal.


    "Anyone who wishes to be tested for a Blessing may step forward. There will be no cost. In the name of the city of Lidoris, I swear it," declared the commander.


    Julius rushed forward eagerly, unable to contain himself any longer. As he stood before the tent, he saw his sister there as well.


    She also wanted to take the test.


    "You''ll definitely have a Blessing, Sister, as smart as you are," Julius said with conviction.


    Anja blushed.


    Out of nowhere, Bon jumped ahead of them and loudly proclaimed that if he got a Blessing of the Scriptures, Anja would have to marry him. Before Julius could smack him, Bon had already disappeared into the tent.


    "What an idiot," Julius grumbled.


    Anja just laughed.


    A short time later, Bon emerged from the tent, looking as if someone had drained the life out of him.


    "She said I don''t have a Blessing..." Tears welled in his eyes.


    Seeing this, Julius suddenly got cold feet. What if he didn''t have a Blessing either? Everything started spinning¡ªuntil a gentle kiss on his forehead brought him back to reality.


    "I''ll go in first," Anja said softly before disappearing behind the tent curtain.


    Julius pulled himself together. He couldn''t back down now. Time passed, and Anja finally emerged. Bon and Julius rushed to her, looking at her with curious eyes. She smiled slightly.


    She had a minor Blessing, called "IQ Boost," which slightly increased her intelligence above that of ordinary people, the commander had explained.


    Bon wasn¡¯t surprised; he had always believed Anja would have a Blessing. He joked that no Blessing could ever compare to her beauty.


    But Julius felt uneasy.


    That smile¡ªhe knew it too well. It was the same one she wore when she told stories about her friends at school. A fake smile. Something wasn¡¯t right. However, he decided not to ask her about it now.


    Julius thumped his chest, laughed, and stepped into the tent.


    As he entered, he heard two people whispering. But when he stepped inside, neither of them was speaking. It must¡¯ve been his imagination, he thought.


    Inside the tent, there was only a table with a book and a crystal, roughly the same size as the book, placed in the center. Behind it stood Commander Schwarz, his arms crossed, wearing a menacing expression.


    "You don¡¯t need to be afraid. A commander must be present for an official measurement," the mage explained, motioning for Julius to sit.


    She told him the process was simple¡ªhe just had to place his hand on the crystal.


    It would glow and reveal a symbol, and from the color and symbol, she could determine his Blessing from the book.


    Julius placed his hand on the crystal and waited. At first, nothing happened. Then, the crystal began to glow. It shone blue, and a symbol appeared.


    Julius was elated. A Blessing! He had one! He jumped up, unable to contain his excitement.


    "Blue means common. You have a common Blessing," the mage said as she flipped through the book.


    Julius was disappointed.


    He had hoped for something powerful, but reality was different.


    Time passed, but the mage remained silent. She kept flipping through the pages.


    "Hmm... that''s strange," she muttered.


    "Your Blessing isn¡¯t listed in the book."


    Normally, the symbol would indicate the exact Blessing, but she had never seen this symbol before.


    Julius stood up, curiosity burning inside him.


    "So, does that mean it¡¯s something special?" he asked hopefully.


    But the mage shook her head. She explained that while it was rare for a Blessing to be missing from the book, the fact that it was blue meant it was just an ordinary Blessing. He shouldn''t think too much about it.


    Another blow to Julius'' hopes.


    He had gotten his expectations too high.


    Disappointed, Julius turned to leave the tent, but then stopped and looked back.


    Outside, Julius found Bon and looked around.


    "Where¡¯s my sister?" he asked.


    Bon replied that she had forgotten something at school and had gone to retrieve it.


    Julius got a bad feeling about this.


    "Bon," he started, pausing for a moment, "who told you the result of your Blessing?"


    Bon didn¡¯t think long and replied, "The mage, of course. The soldier didn¡¯t say a word to me, he looked scary.¡°


    Bon looked at Julius, confused.


    "That doesn¡¯t make sense. Then why did she say that the commander revealed her Blessing?"

 Blood

    Bon and Julius had searched the entire village, but Anja was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, the soldiers and the mage had already left, and dusk was setting in. The five friends had gathered at the campsite near the village entrance, waiting for Anja to return.


    Everyone was worried¡ªit shouldn¡¯t have taken this long to fetch something from school. Something wasn¡¯t right.


    As a figure approached the village, the teenagers jumped to their feet. It was Julius¡¯ father. He had searched the city for Anja, but his expression already told them he hadn¡¯t found anything.


    The city guards had merely told him that it wasn¡¯t uncommon for children of commoner families to run away, hoping to escape their current lives and start anew somewhere else. They had no interest in helping.


    ¡°That¡¯s bullshit!¡± Julius shouted angrily, clenching his fists. It wasn¡¯t the first time people like them had been ignored by the guards.


    ¡°You don¡¯t think she was kidnapped, do you?¡± Jina asked, her voice filled with concern.


    Darkness was creeping in, and Julius¡¯ father urged the group to go home. He promised that first thing in the morning, he and the villagers would search the city again.


    Julius didn¡¯t like this. Why wait until morning?


    ¡°The soldiers are in the city. No criminal would dare kidnap someone in broad daylight,¡± his father reasoned.


    Besides, it was nearly pitch black outside. Everyone knew that staying out after nightfall was dangerous¡ªwhen the demons roamed. The villages were safe, protected by a magical barrier connected to the city, but outside that protection, the dangers were real.


    Julius clenched his jaw in frustration. There was nothing he could do.


    ?


    Lying in bed, Julius tried to sleep. But the thought of the commander wouldn¡¯t leave his mind. Just as he turned over restlessly, he suddenly heard a scream.


    A girl¡¯s voice.


    Faint¡ªbarely more than a whisper¡ªbut clear enough to make him sit up in bed. He threw off his blanket and ran outside. Nothing.


    ¡°Was that just my imagination?¡± he murmured.


    Then, the scream came again. Even softer this time. It was coming from the village entrance.


    Julius stopped in his tracks. The sound had come from the road leading to the city.


    Leaving the village at night was dangerous. He hesitated, considering turning back to wake his father.


    But then, he heard the scream once more¡ªthis time barely more than a breath in the wind.


    If he turned back now, he might lose too much time. It could already be too late.


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    Memories of his sister flashed through his mind.


    Without another thought, he took off running¡ªtoward the scream.


    Julius ran blindly into the night.


    He didn¡¯t know his way through the forest. He had been to the city a few times, but only with his father.


    The screams had stopped.


    Wandering aimlessly, he had no plan. It was dark, and without a sense of direction, finding someone would be nearly impossible.


    Then he saw something on the ground.


    Blood.


    Julius held his breath.


    Determined, he followed the trail, his heartbeat quickening with every step.


    As he drew closer, he heard something¡ªlaughter.


    Two soldiers in full armor stood in the middle of a small clearing, surrounded by towering trees. Around them lay several lifeless demon hounds.


    Julius had only heard descriptions of these creatures before. Now, for the first time, he saw real demons.


    ¡°Hurry up already. Their blood stinks,¡± one of the soldiers said in an irritated tone.


    The other just laughed.


    They looked identical, their faces hidden behind helmets.


    Julius hid behind a tree, breathing a sigh of relief.


    Surely, the soldiers could help him.


    Just as he was about to step forward, he noticed something.


    Someone else was there.


    A girl lay on the ground.


    One of the soldiers had his foot pressed against her chest. In his hand, he held a sword¡ªsharp as a needle, its blade glowing faintly red.


    Julius froze.


    Looking closer, he recognized the blonde hair.


    ¡°Jina¡­¡± he whispered.


    One of the soldiers turned sharply, noticing him.


    He drew his sword.


    ¡°Come out,¡± he ordered.


    Julius¡¯ breath caught in his throat. Panic surged through him.


    Trembling, he stepped out from behind the tree¡ªrevealing himself to the soldiers.


    The soldier was surprised¡ªhe hadn¡¯t expected a mere boy.


    He let out a sigh.


    Julius didn¡¯t dare speak. His eyes were fixed on Jina¡¯s body, covered in deep cuts.


    And the only one responsible¡­ was the soldier standing over her, a wide grin plastered across his face.


    He didn¡¯t even turn to look at Julius.


    ¡°What should we do with the boy?¡± asked the other soldier.


    The man with the red sword grinned even wider. ¡°Her blood is simply the best.¡±


    Then, without hesitation, he plunged his sword into Jina¡¯s hand.


    The blade glowed red once more.


    Jina let out a piercing scream.


    Rage flared up inside Julius.


    He wanted to charge at the man.


    But before he could take a step¡ª


    A hand seized his throat and slammed him against a tree.


    His body dangled in the air.


    He kicked wildly, struggling for breath, but he couldn¡¯t break free.


    He hadn¡¯t even seen it happen¡ªthe soldier was too fast. His lungs burned. His vision blurred.


    The soldier held him up effortlessly with one arm, his sword still gripped in the other. Julius fought with everything he had, but he was powerless.


    Tears welled up in his eyes. The grip tightened. Death was coming for him.


    ¡°You want his blood too?¡± the soldier asked, turning his head slightly.


    There was no response. So he decided to finish it.


    But just before he could¡ª


    Julius raised his hand.


    His palm faced the soldier¡¯s helmet.


    For a brief second, the soldier saw it¡ª


    A wicked grin spreading across the boy¡¯s face.


    Then¡ª


    An explosion.


    A massive fireball erupted in the soldier¡¯s face.


    The force sent him flying backward.


    Flames spread in every direction, licking at the trees, setting them ablaze.


    Julius collapsed, unconscious, his body slumped against the tree trunk.


    The other soldier stopped laughing.


    He had been so caught up in his cruelty that he hadn¡¯t noticed what was happening around him.


    But now¡­


    Fire.


    His comrade lay motionless on the ground.


    His helmet was dented, scorched black, burn marks streaked across the metal.


    ¡°This is a problem,¡± he muttered.


    He grabbed his fallen companion and hoisted him over his shoulder.


    Julius coughed.


    With what little strength he had left, he pushed himself up with shaking hands.


    But his body was weak.


    His vision swam, his eyelids heavy.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡± he managed to whisper.


    But it was useless.


    The soldiers disappeared into the smoke.


    And once again¡ª


    Julius lost consciousness.

 the truth

    ¡°Wait!¡± Julius shouted and sat up abruptly. His body was drenched in sweat. He gasped for air and looked around in panic. But as he recognized the room, he realized¡ªhe was in his own bedroom.


    He tried to stand up, but his legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the floor. The door opened, and his father entered. Without hesitation, he helped him up and carefully sat him back on the bed. His eyes were filled with concern, but he spoke only a few words.


    ¡°What happened? How is Jina?¡± Julius asked with the last bit of strength he could muster.


    His father avoided his gaze, a shadow passing over his face. He looked as if he might cry.


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it later. You need to rest.¡± His voice was heavy.


    He turned toward the door. ¡°If you need anything, just let me know.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Julius called out again, his voice trembling.


    He lowered his head. ¡°What about my sister?¡± he asked softly, afraid of the answer.


    His father hesitated. ¡°Just focus on getting better. That¡¯s the most important thing right now.¡±


    Without another word, he left the room.


    Julius sat motionless on the bed. Anger and frustration boiled within him. Why wouldn¡¯t he tell him what was going on? Why was he avoiding his questions?


    He couldn¡¯t wait any longer. After a few minutes, he realized his strength was slowly returning. Without hesitation, he opened the window and climbed out. If his parents wouldn¡¯t tell him the truth, he had only one other option¡ªhis friends.


    He walked along the street when a familiar voice called out his name.


    ¡°Julius?¡±


    He looked up and saw Stier staring at him with wide eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re already awake?¡± Stier asked, concern in his voice.


    Julius forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m feeling better.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to see Jina. How is she?¡±


    Stier lowered his gaze and fell silent. Julius¡¯ heart pounded.


    ¡°Tell me what¡¯s going on.¡±


    Stier took a deep breath. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the fire pit. I¡¯ll explain everything there.¡±


    As they walked, Stier asked again, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡±


    Julius trembled. ¡°I can feel how empty my mana is. I haven¡¯t felt this bad in a long time.¡±


    ¡°No surprise. You were unconscious for three days.¡±


    Julius stopped dead in his tracks. ¡°What?!¡±


    Three days?


    A sinking feeling spread in his stomach. He was ready to ask about his sister when they arrived at the fire pit. Bon sat there alone, staring into the flames.


    ¡°Bon!¡± Stier called out, waving.


    Bon turned, his expression darkening the moment he saw Julius.


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    Julius frowned. ¡°Hey.¡±


    But Bon refused to look at him.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Julius asked, growing more confused.


    ¡°Why did you go into the forest?¡± Bon suddenly asked, his voice cold.


    Julius blinked. ¡°What kind of question is that? To look for my sister, of course.¡±


    Bon clenched his fists. ¡°And Jina? Why did you take her with you?¡±


    Julius stepped back. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Tell me how Jina is! And what happened to my sister?¡±


    Suddenly, Bon snapped. Without warning, he punched Julius square in the face. Julius staggered back, spitting blood, his eyes widening in shock.


    ¡°What the hell was that for?!¡± he yelled.


    Bon stood over him, fists trembling with rage. ¡°Everyone says you took Jina into the forest at night to look for Anja. That you ran into demons!¡±


    Julius¡¯ confusion deepened. ¡°What kind of nonsense are you talking about?!¡±


    Bon¡¯s face twisted in anger. ¡°You killed her. Anja is dead.¡±


    Silence.


    Julius¡¯ mind reeled. He could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his ears.


    That¡¯s not possible.


    Bon didn¡¯t flinch. His eyes burned with fury.


    Julius¡¯ body moved on its own. Without thinking, he swung at Bon, knocking his glasses off. They both crashed to the ground, fists flying.


    ¡°Stop it!¡± Stier shouted, pulling them apart.


    Julius lay on the dirt, panting, his strength drained. Bon stood up, picking up his glasses without a word.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve heard, but that¡¯s complete bullshit!¡± Julius gasped.


    Bon said nothing. Then, without another glance, he turned and walked away.


    Julius clenched his fists and slammed them into the ground. ¡°Damn it!¡±


    He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. Finally, he turned to Stier. ¡°Tell me what happened.¡±


    Stier hesitated before speaking.


    ¡°The guards saw a fire in the forest and rushed to the scene. When they arrived, they found you, Jina, and demons. Jina was badly injured and had to be treated. You suffered mana depletion and were unconscious for days.¡±


    He paused before continuing. ¡°They also found something else¡ªburnt clothing and a necklace. Later, they identified them. They belonged to Anja.¡±


    Julius¡¯ stomach twisted.


    ¡°The story going around is that you took Jina to search for Anja, found her in the forest, and then demons attacked. They say you used fire magic to fight them off, but¡­¡± Stier hesitated. ¡°Anja got caught in the crossfire.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a lie!¡± Julius roared, eyes blazing with fury.


    That story was completely wrong. He never even saw Anja in the forest. The ones who attacked him and Jina were the soldiers. And yet, somehow, the soldiers had twisted the truth.


    ¡°Do you believe that story?¡± Julius asked, his gaze locking onto Stier¡¯s.


    Stier hesitated before lowering his eyes. ¡°Of course not. But that¡¯s what everyone is saying.¡±


    Julius clenched his jaw. He wanted to set things right, but who would believe him? No one would take the word of a commoner over that of the soldiers.


    ¡°How is Jina?¡± he finally asked.


    ¡°She was treated, but¡­ she won¡¯t wake up,¡± Stier admitted.


    Julius narrowed his eyes. Something wasn¡¯t right.


    ¡°Can you bring Jin here? I need to tell you both the truth,¡± he said, his voice softer now. If the town wouldn¡¯t believe him, at least his friends would.


    ¡­Wouldn¡¯t they?


    ¡°What about Bon?¡± Stier asked cautiously.


    Julius hesitated. He and Bon had been friends for so long, it hurt to think that he actually believed this ridiculous story.


    ¡°That stubborn bastard¡­ If he doesn¡¯t want to listen, then let him be,¡± Julius muttered, crossing his arms.


    But deep inside, it still hurt.


    Stier had brought Jin with him. Jin looked pale¡ªhe hadn¡¯t eaten much lately, which was understandable after what had happened to his sister. Stier and Jin sat down across from Julius.


    Out of the corner of his eye, Julius noticed someone hiding behind a tree. Bon¡­ he thought. Stier must have convinced him to come after all.


    Julius took a deep breath and began telling his story¡ªfrom the scream he had heard to the soldiers¡¯ arrival.


    ¡°Do you believe me?¡± he asked anxiously.


    Stier nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t see why you would lie to us.¡±


    Julius felt a slight sense of relief. Then he turned to Jin. His heart pounded. What would he say? His sister had been hurt¡ªwould he really believe him?


    A long silence stretched between them before Jin finally spoke.


    ¡°That night¡­ when it happened¡­ my sister also heard a scream,¡± he admitted, his voice trembling.


    Julius and Stier exchanged shocked looks and leaned in closer to listen.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything myself, but¡­ she insisted on going to check.¡± Tears streamed down Jin¡¯s face. ¡°If only I had stopped her, then maybe¡­¡±


    He couldn¡¯t finish his sentence.


    Julius jumped to his feet, rage burning in his eyes. ¡°Those bastards are going to pay for this!¡±


    He was ready to storm into the city and confront the soldiers, but Stier quickly grabbed his arm, stopping him. ¡°They¡¯re already gone,¡± he said firmly.


    Julius hesitated, his fists clenched.


    The scream Jina had heard¡ªit had to be Anja¡¯s. It had to be. They never found a body.


    That meant¡­ she could still be alive.


    But for now, there was nothing he could do. He was only thirteen. If he wanted to stand a chance against the soldiers and save his sister, he had to get stronger.

 The tournament beginns

    Three years had passed since the incident, and the calmness that once filled the village was gone. An explosion shook the ground, yet the villagers paid no attention¡ªafter all, they had grown used to it over the years.


    ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?!¡± Julius shouted, launching another fireball.


    ¡°Shield!¡±


    The fireballs struck the large figure standing before Julius, but they had no effect. It was Stier. He pressed his palms together, creating a protective barrier. Steadying himself, he prepared to counterattack.


    ¡°Wind Slash!¡±


    A powerful blade of air shot toward Julius, slicing through everything in its path. But with ease, Julius dodged¡ªit was no challenge for him. He had enhanced his body with mana, granting him greater strength and agility.


    Once again, he hurled multiple fireballs at Stier, who blocked them with his shield.


    ¡°Seems like my fireballs aren¡¯t enough, huh?¡± Julius smirked.


    ¡°Burn to ashes¡ªFireball!¡±


    This time, the fireball was massive¡ªthree times its usual size¡ªrushing toward Stier with immense heat. But unlike before, the explosion shattered his shield and sent him flying backward.


    Stier lay on the ground, his vision spinning, when he felt a hand reaching out to him.


    ¡°That was a good training session,¡± Julius said, pulling him up.


    ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re ready?¡± Stier asked.


    Julius¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°This is my only chance.¡±


    Julius was determined to find his sister. His only lead? The soldiers from Lidoris¡ªa city famous for its magic academy, the most prestigious in the entire continent.


    Since the school¡¯s founding, no commoner had ever been admitted. Even nobles struggled to secure a place. But that changed when a commoner, later known as one of the Nine Wonders, emerged. He was a powerful mage, and despite his lowly birth, he was invited to study at Lidoris.


    His acceptance shook the foundations of the academy. For the first time, the school opened its doors to more commoners, seeing it as the dawn of a new era.


    However, this decision sparked outrage among the nobility. No commoner had ever set foot inside Lidoris before¡ªnow, everything was changing. And all because of a Blessing.


    That was the power and status that came with being one of the ¡°Neun Wunder.¡±


    Tomorrow, a tournament would be held in the city to determine who could enter the academy. The rules were simple: anyone could participate as long as they were at least sixteen years old¡ªthe minimum age for magic academies, as that was when a person¡¯s mana core fully matured.


    ¡°Did you read the books Jin brought you?¡± Stier asked.


    ¡°Yeah, they were great. Some powerful spells in there¡­ I keep wondering where he even gets these.¡±


    Stier just laughed awkwardly.


    ¡°Oh, right¡ªwe were supposed to visit Jina,¡± Stier said, nudging Julius. ¡°We should hurry.¡±


    When they arrived at the twins¡¯ house, Stier knocked on the door. A large man answered¡ªit was Paul, Jin and Jina¡¯s father.


    ¡°Good afternoon, Paul. We¡¯d like to see Jina,¡± Stier said with a gentle tone.


    ¡°Oh, Noah! Good to see you. Come on in.¡± Paul stepped aside, letting them enter.


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    Julius, however, hesitated. He stayed behind Stier as they walked in, but Paul shot him a sharp, unkind glare.


    Even after Julius had explained everything, it took two years¡ªand Jin¡¯s help¡ªbefore he was even allowed to visit Jina. But Paul still didn¡¯t fully trust him.


    Inside the room, Jin was already there, holding Jina¡¯s hand. She lay in bed, fast asleep. Her scars had healed over time, but she never woke up.


    ¡°How is she today?¡± Stier asked softly.


    ¡°No change,¡± Jin replied.


    For a moment, silence filled the room.


    ¡°Did you find out anything more about the sword?¡± Julius finally asked.


    Jin shook his head. ¡°No.¡±


    Julius had described the sword in detail¡ªhow it glowed when it touched Jina¡¯s blood. Jin had spent years searching for information, and he had found something.


    It was an artifact called the ¡°Blutrotes Dornenschwert .¡± The more blood it absorbed, the stronger it became. Those who lost too much blood to it usually died as a result.


    That was why Jina hadn¡¯t woken up.


    But they had no way to fix it.


    After giving Jina their blessings, Julius and Stier left.


    Tomorrow was the tournament.


    And Julius had to be ready.


    The day of reckoning had arrived¡ªthe tournament was about to begin. Julius and Jin had just arrived in the city.


    ¡°It¡¯s really crowded today,¡± Julius said, glancing around. The city was more alive than ever. People had come from all over, each hoping for a chance to secure a spot at the prestigious Lidoris Academy.


    ¡°Are you nervous?¡± Jin asked, noticing the tension in Julius¡¯s expression.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Julius replied, shaking his head. He had worked too hard for this moment. He had to win his place at Lidoris¡ªonly then could he begin searching for his sister.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± he said, rushing forward.


    In the city center, a small open field had been cleared and surrounded by a wooden fence to resemble an arena. In the middle stood the mayor, addressing the crowd.


    ¡°Welcome, everyone, to the city of Minga! Today is your chance to prove yourselves and secure a place at the best academy on the continent!¡±


    The crowd erupted in cheers.


    ¡°The rules are simple¡ªyou will fight against one another, but only three of you will earn a spot at Lidoris.¡±


    ¡°Only three?! What?¡± voices from the crowd murmured in disbelief.


    At that moment, a man in a robe stepped forward. He carried a staff as tall as he was, and his long white beard reached down to his chest.


    ¡°I am Professor Stein¡ªor should I say, former professor,¡± he chuckled, stroking his beard.


    ¡°Though I am retired, I have been given the honor of selecting three mages who will have the privilege of attending Lidoris. Show me that you are worthy of being trained as true magicians!¡±


    The crowd roared in excitement.


    ¡°Alright! The tournament will begin in just a few minutes. Use this time to prepare,¡± the mayor announced before stepping down.


    Julius and Jin sat on a bench near the arena.


    ¡°There are a lot of participants, huh?¡± Jin remarked, scanning the crowd.


    ¡°Everyone wants a spot,¡± Julius said, clenching his fist. He had only one goal, and the only way to achieve it was by winning.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget¡ªnot to use your secret weapon right away,¡± Jin whispered to Julius.


    ¡°I know, I know,¡± Julius replied, rolling his eyes.


    Suddenly, a voice startled them from the side.


    ¡°Oh? So you have a secret weapon too?¡±


    A young man with short black hair and a headband featuring snake eyes was sitting beside them. He was another tournament participant.


    ¡°Since when have you been sitting there?¡± Jin asked, shocked.


    ¡°The whole time!¡± the boy declared proudly, puffing out his chest.


    ¡°And who are you?¡± Jin asked cautiously.


    The young man crossed his arms and answered with confidence.


    ¡°I am Shadow! A member of a secret organization that protects the kingdom from the shadows!¡± He stood tall as if expecting admiration.


    ¡°A secret organization?¡± Jin raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°What¡¯s it called?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Shadow admitted. ¡°But my grandfather used to tell me stories about it when I was a kid.¡±


    Julius and Jin nearly fell off the bench.


    ¡°So¡­ it was just a bedtime story?¡± Julius deadpanned.


    ¡°Ah, I think my father told me something like that when I was little too,¡± Jin added.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Jin. This guy is crazy,¡± Julius muttered, getting up.


    As they walked away, Julius felt a strange sense of unease. He had lost time on a meaningless conversation, yet something about Shadow unsettled him.


    He hadn¡¯t even noticed when the guy sat down.


    ¡°Look over there, Julius,¡± Jin said, pointing at another boy.


    Julius followed Jin¡¯s gaze and spotted the boy in question. He wore white robes adorned with golden stripes.


    ¡°A noble,¡± Julius muttered, his voice laced with anger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget what I told you about them,¡± Jin warned, as if Julius might forget at any moment.


    At that moment, the noble noticed Julius¡¯s dark glare and strode toward him.


    ¡°Jealous of my staff, are you, commoner?¡± he sneered, holding up his ornate magic staff with pride.


    ¡°Be careful not to get your filthy hands on it¡ªit¡¯s worth more than your entire family could ever afford.¡± His arrogant laughter rang out.


    Julius clenched his fists, his anger boiling over.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did Daddy¡¯s money fail to buy you a spot at Lidoris?¡± he shot back, meeting the noble¡¯s gaze head-on.


    The noble¡¯s laughter instantly faded. He raised his staff, pointing it directly at Julius.


    ¡°You damn commoners don¡¯t know your place,¡± he hissed, preparing to strike.


    Jin panicked, certain that the two were about to tear each other apart.


    But before anything could happen, a loud signal echoed through the city, grabbing everyone¡¯s attention.


    The tournament had begun.

 Now its really getting started

    The tournament had begun, and all the participants gathered in the arena. Over a hundred people had entered, and the space was gradually becoming tighter.


    "Ah, maybe we should have built the arena a bit larger?" the mayor said in a panic to Stein.


    "I expected many competitors, but this is really a lot," Stein said, standing up.


    "There¡¯s no other choice. I don¡¯t have all day either." He looked over the arena from a podium and drew everyone''s attention with a glow from his staff.


    "Thank you for your attention. Unfortunately, there is a problem¡ªyou are too many, and this would make the tournament last too long." The young participants grew nervous and exchanged words among themselves.


    "What exactly does that mean?" a boy called out from the crowd.


    "Quite simple," the magician said, stroking his beard.


    "We¡¯ll simply reduce the number of participants." He raised his staff into the air and whispered some words to himself.


    A magic circle appeared beneath the contestants in the arena.


    "Huh? What¡¯s happening?" Voices of confusion and panic spread through the crowd.


    Julius felt uneasy. If Stein was trying to cut down the number of contestants, then something was about to happen.


    "Just in case," Julius thought, casting a spell to reinforce his body.


    "Blackout!" With these words, Stein struck his staff against the ground.


    Suddenly, screams echoed as one participant after another lost consciousness and collapsed. Julius dropped to his knees, his brain shaking violently. It felt like spinning at high speed in circles. He was on the verge of passing out, but with his last strength, he managed to stay on his knees.


    As the dizziness began to subside, Julius looked around. Nearly all the participants were on the ground, unconscious. Only eight others besides Julius had managed to stay awake. Julius was still struggling to get back on his feet.


    "Wasn¡¯t that a bit excessive, Professor?" the mayor asked with concern.


    However, his concern was not for the participants, but for the event, which had cost him and the city a lot of money.


    "This is still a selection process for a place at Lidoris Academy. Of course, we have our standards, whether commoner or noble," the magician responded.


    As he scanned the remaining participants, one person particularly stood out.


    Among the hundred contestants, one boy remained completely unaffected, standing tall on both feet.


    "What is your name?" the magician asked.


    "Jon Bricks," the boy answered.


    Julius was finally able to focus his vision and looked forward. The young man standing firm wore simple clothes, like those from a village. He couldn¡¯t be a noble.


    "Incredible. That was a Tier 4 spell," the magician mused.


    "You have passed, Jon Bricks."


    Julius was shocked to hear those words. That meant one spot was already taken.


    "The remaining conscious contestants will soon compete against each other," the magician announced before sitting back down.


    "Clear the arena!" the mayor commanded, and guards and assistants began carrying the unconscious participants out of the arena.


    "Looks like you made it too," a familiar voice came from behind.


    It was Shadow.


    "My grandfather used to grab me by the legs and swing me around when I was a kid, so I¡¯m used to this," he said with a laugh. Then, suddenly, he stopped.


    Blegh.


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    Shadow vomited.


    Julius just looked annoyed. "I don¡¯t need to worry about him," he thought.


    But as he looked around, he noticed something¡ªeveryone else who had passed was wearing clothes with golden stripes, the sign of nobility. One face, in particular, stood out. The guy with the staff, the one Julius had almost fought earlier.


    Julius clenched his fists.


    "There¡¯s no way I¡¯m losing to him."


    The arena had been cleared again, and most participants had enough time to recover. Now, eight people stood in the arena. The magician stood up and swung his staff once, and numbers appeared above the participants. Those with the same number would face each other.


    Julius looked around and saw the young man with the same number as him. He was slightly overweight but, judging by his robes, still a noble.


    "We kindly ask the others to clear the field for the first match," the mayor announced, officially starting the first duel.


    Everyone except for two participants left the arena: Shadow and his opponent. His opponent was also a noble¡ªtall and slender, wielding a magic staff.


    "It¡¯s unfair that they¡¯re allowed to use magic staffs," Jin muttered.


    Magic staffs were essential for mages as they enhanced and controlled spells better. However, they were expensive, making it nearly impossible for commoners to own one.


    "Why don¡¯t you just surrender and spare yourself the humiliation?" the noble sneered, laughing like a snake.


    But Shadow stood tall, arms crossed. "The word ''surrender'' doesn¡¯t exist in our organization."


    A loud signal from Stein marked the beginning of the match.


    "Fireball!" the noble shouted, launching multiple fireballs at Shadow.


    Yet, Shadow dodged them effortlessly.


    "He¡¯s fast," Julius noted, watching in surprise.


    Had he enchanted his body to increase his speed?


    Not a single fireball even grazed Shadow. He jumped and ducked like an acrobat, avoiding every attack. The noble grew frustrated and fired even more rapidly.


    "Fireball! Fireball! Fireball!" he yelled.


    But Shadow only laughed.


    In mid-air, Shadow twisted and kicked into the air. "Air Slash!" A blade of wind shot toward the opponent.


    "Shield!"


    The noble barely managed to protect himself, but the force of the wind blinded him momentarily.


    "What¡ª?" he gasped, taking a step back.


    But it was too late. Shadow was already in front of him.


    "Thunder Strike!"


    Lightning erupted from Shadow¡¯s hands, shocking the noble and rendering him unconscious.


    The crowd erupted in cheers.


    Julius was stunned. "He¡¯s stronger than I thought."


    The mayor was furious. A commoner had already secured a spot, disrupting his plans. "Damn commoner! No honorable mage fights like that!" he spat, seeking confirmation from the professor.


    "Lightning magic is one of the highest-tier elemental spells. It¡¯s difficult to control, making it an advanced technique. Using it in close combat is unorthodox but clever," the professor remarked.


    The next two matches ended quickly¡ªboth won by forfeit. Julius was furious.


    "What the hell?" he snapped.


    "They¡¯re conserving their mana," Jin explained. "The nobles don¡¯t just want to secure a spot; they want to make sure as few commoners as possible pass."


    "Those bastards," Julius growled as he was called for his match.


    Now, Julius and his opponent stood in the middle of the arena.


    "You commoners have no pride. Your friend¡¯s tricks won¡¯t work on me," the noble taunted.


    Julius clenched his fists, ?talking about pride, huh¡°.


    "Burn! Fireball!"


    A massive fireball hurtled toward Julius. He barely dodged in time.


    "Damn," he muttered under his breath, but before he could catch his breath, another fireball was already coming.


    "Shield!" Julius shouted.


    The impact sent him stumbling backward.


    "Hahaha! That¡¯s the difference between us, commoner!" his opponent laughed.


    Julius gritted his teeth. "Starting with such strong spells¡­" He analyzed his opponent carefully. Then he noticed something¡ªan armband with a crystal embedded in it. Jin had told him about nobles using magical artifacts to gain an advantage. The crystal was blue, likely enhancing his mana reserves.


    Julius was in a tough spot. If this continued, he¡¯d run out of mana before he could win, let alone fight another match.


    "I have to end this in one move," Julius decided, steeling himself.


    "Burn! Fireball!" Another attack was already coming.


    "Enhance!" Julius cast a spell to strengthen his body and dodged the attack.


    "Where did a commoner like you learn that spell?" his opponent scoffed, disgusted.


    Julius sprinted forward at incredible speed, closing the gap between them.


    "Reinforced Shield!" The noble yelled, summoning a glass-like barrier around himself.


    "Even a lightning attack won¡¯t scratch this!"


    "You nobles are all the same," Julius said, fire burning in his eyes.


    "Burn to ashes! Fireball!" Julius unleashed an enormous fireball with both hands.


    "What?!" The noble¡¯s expression twisted in horror as his shield shattered, sending him flying backward. The fight was over¡ªJulius had won.


    The crowd roared in excitement, including Jin, who cheered loudly.


    Julius panted. "That spell consumes a lot of mana."


    The mayor¡¯s jaw dropped. "How is this possible? How did he break that shield?" he asked the professor in disbelief.


    "His attack was Tier 3 magic, and the shield was only Tier 2," the professor replied.


    "What?! How can a commoner use Tier 3 magic?" the mayor fumed. "I thought only noble children were capable of that!"


    The professor stroked his beard. "It¡¯s true that most noble students use Tier 3 or 4 magic because their wealthy parents hire expensive tutors."


    "Then how does a commoner know it?" the mayor demanded.


    The professor thought for a moment. "There was once a student in Lidoris who copied spellbooks and sold them to nobles. When it was discovered, he was expelled, and the school tried to recover the books. Of course, not all copies were found, and they continued circulating on the black market."


    "So, he has one of those books?" the mayor asked.


    "Unlikely, it was just a story that came to my mind. Tier 3 books are also sold legally, but they are very expensive."


    "He must have stolen it! We should arrest him!" the mayor raged.


    "Let¡¯s not jump to conclusions," the professor said calmly.


    "Even with a book, learning Tier 3 magic alone is incredible."

 The secret weapon

    Julius had won the battle and approached Jin. "I used more mana than I wanted to," he said, annoyed.


    "But you won! You were incredible," Jin complimented him.


    "You really were incredible." A familiar voice echoed.


    "Shadow!" Jin called out in surprise.


    "What are you doing here?" Julius asked cautiously, eyeing Shadow.


    "Was that your secret weapon you mentioned?" Shadow asked curiously.


    "Like I''d tell you, idiot," Julius retorted.


    "Why not?"


    "Because we''re still opponents, and even against you, I won''t hold back."


    Shadow laughed. "No worries. We won''t be fighting each other."


    Julius and Jin looked puzzled.


    "I accidentally overheard the mayor saying he wants to decide the final matchups himself," Shadow explained.


    "And what does that mean?" Julius asked.


    "There are only two spots left and four contestants." He pointed at the other two fighters. "I think you know what that means."


    "If that''s true, the mayor will probably want the nobles to get a spot," Jin said.


    "I know," Julius replied, his gaze fixed on the nobles.


    "So, tell me, was that your secret weapon?" Shadow pressed Julius.


    "As if I''d ever tell you¡ª"


    "No, he still has another secret weapon," Jin interrupted.


    "I knew it! Everyone should have a secret weapon," Shadow said before walking away.


    "What was that? Why did you tell him?" Julius asked, slightly annoyed.


    "Ah, sorry! He just didn''t seem like he meant any harm," Jin replied, a bit remorseful.


    "Whatever. I''m going to win anyway." His eyes burned with determination.


    The mayor stepped forward. "Now, the final matches will begin. The top two will earn a place at the newly renovated school in Lidoris."


    All four contestants gathered in the center of the arena.


    "Now, I will announce the matchups." He hesitated for a moment before stepping closer to the participants.


    "You two commoners, what are your names?" He spoke as if forced to ask.


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    Julius clenched his fists, barely resisting the urge to punch him.


    "Shadow. I''m Shadow, and I''m part of a secret organization," he declared proudly.


    The mayor was momentarily speechless.


    But Julius, amused by Shadow''s boldness, smirked.


    "I''m Julius, and I''m going to kick all of your noble asses."


    The mayor''s face turned red with anger.


    "We''ll see about that," he snapped before continuing his speech.


    "Big words for someone who just got lucky," said a young man beside Julius.


    As Julius turned, he recognized the nobleman he had fought before the tournament even began.


    "What did you say?" Julius growled, provoked.


    "Who would''ve thought that scum like you could use Tier 3 magic? If Mark had known, he would''ve used a stronger protection spell," the noble mocked.


    "The matchups are as follows: Shadow versus Wilhelm VanHellsing, and Julius versus Jon Silver. May the best fighter win."


    With those words, the finals began.


    The first fight: Shadow versus Wilhelm VanHellsing.


    "That guy is seriously muscular," Jin commented, surprised.


    "He doesn¡¯t seem like a noble to me," Julius remarked, noticing that Wilhelm carried no staff.


    However, the golden insignia on his uniform proved he was one.


    A gong signaled the start of the fight.


    "Enhance!" Wilhelm shouted, charging straight at Shadow.


    He tried to grab him, but Shadow leaped into the air, dodging the attack.


    "Oh, so you''re a close-combat fighter? Fine by me," Shadow said, taking a fighting stance.


    He kicked into the air. "Air Slash!"


    A sharp gust of wind shot toward Wilhelm, slicing everything in its path. Yet, Wilhelm didn¡¯t move an inch. The attack struck him directly, but he stood firm, as if unfazed.


    "He didn¡¯t even cast a protection spell," Jin observed, confused.


    Julius was equally puzzled but quickly realized Wilhelm must be using an artifact.


    Wilhelm smirked. "Is that all you''ve got?"


    Shadow dashed forward, yet Wilhelm remained still.


    Shadow leaped into the air, preparing his next attack.


    "Thunder Strike!"


    Lightning crackled, surging toward Wilhelm. But once again, he stood firm, completely unaffected.


    Now, Wilhelm shifted into an offensive stance, preparing to strike.


    "Counter Strike."


    Electricity gathered around his fist as he lunged at Shadow.


    Shadow barely managed to block with his arms, yet the impact sent him flying several meters back.


    The attack had dealt significant damage.


    Wilhelm laughed, while Shadow remained on his knees.


    Seeing this, Julius clenched his fists in frustration. Even if he didn¡¯t particularly like Shadow, he refused to let a noble win.


    "Damn it, they can only win because of their artifacts!" Julius growled.


    A laugh came from behind him.


    "Commoners like you always make excuses because you can''t accept reality," Jon taunted, stepping closer.


    "What did you say?!" Julius snapped, ready for a fight.


    "He doesn¡¯t have an artifact," Jon replied.


    Julius didn¡¯t believe him. His last noble opponent had used an artifact, so why wouldn¡¯t this one?


    "If it''s not an artifact, then how is he taking those attacks without magic?" Jin asked skeptically.


    "You commoners are so pathetic," Jon scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "It''s his Blessing¡ª''Endurance.'' He has higher resistance to all elements. And since he can only use weak spells, this fight is already decided."


    Julius was irritated by Jon''s arrogant attitude.


    "That¡¯s the difference between us and you," Jon sneered before walking away.


    "He just wanted to insult us," Jin muttered.


    "Fireball!"


    A fiery explosion struck Shadow, sending him flying backward.


    "Oh no!" Jin gasped.


    The fireball had hit him directly. After the Counter Strike and the lingering electricity in his body, Shadow had become an easy target.


    "It¡¯s not over... right?" Jin asked anxiously, looking at Julius.


    Julius took a deep breath before shouting at the top of his lungs, "Is this the kind of person who¡¯s supposed to protect the kingdom?!"


    His voice echoed through the arena, drawing everyone''s attention. Jin flushed with embarrassment at all the eyes on them.


    But Julius'' words reached Shadow, who slowly stood up.


    "Ah... Grandpa would be angry if he¡­¡° Shadow muttered to himself.


    He let his headband fall over his eyes to cover them.


    "Looks like I have no choice but to use my secret weapon."