BLOOD & SIGILS

Chapter 60: The Calm Before the Storm

The training fields of Eldoria Academy echoed with the clash of steel and bursts of mana. The top-ranked fourth-years sharpened their skills, pushing themselves to the limit in preparation for the Survival Trial. Though the battle on the island had yet to begin, the true war had already started—the war to prove who was the strongest.

A Battle of Titans: Kael, Darius, Cassian, & Leonel

Kael tightened his grip on his sword, his crimson eyes locked onto Darius Zephyrion, Cassian Duskbane, and Leonel Faelwyn. The four of them stood in a wide clearing, the air crackling with anticipation.

Darius smirked, rolling his shoulders as lightning crackled along his arms. "Alright, Veyrin. Try not to burn out too fast this time."

Cassian lazily flicked his rapier, his silver eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, come now, Darius. We all know Kael loves a challenge. Maybe he just enjoys getting beaten up by us?"

Kael scoffed. "Bold words from someone who avoids fights whenever possible."

Leonel, standing a few steps away, rested a hand on the hilt of his sword. His golden-brown eyes were sharp, but his usual smirk was absent. "Enough talking. Let's get started."

The battle erupted in an instant.

Darius surged forward first, a streak of lightning as he closed the distance between him and Kael. Cassian sidestepped with a flicker of Eclipse Sight, while Leonel whistled, summoning his Shadowfang Wolf to attack from Kael's blind spot.

Kael didn't hesitate.

With a flick of his fingers, three runes ignited in the air. His Arcane Sigil pulsed—Acceleration, Impact, and Barrier.

The moment Darius' lightning-coated fist struck, Kael's barrier absorbed the brunt of the attack before redirecting it back at him in a shockwave of mana.

Cassian took advantage of the chaos, his rapier flashing toward Kael's exposed side—

Only for Kael to twist mid-air, countering with a precise Arcane Sever. The mana blade sliced through the illusion of Cassian's attack, revealing the real strike just in time.

Leonel saw his chance. His Shadowfang Wolf lunged at Kael's back.

But Kael was already moving—his Crimson Sigil flaring as he coated his blade in burning mana, slashing clean through the beast's illusionary copies.

The battle raged on, each fighter pushing the limits of their skill.

Then—a new presence entered the field.

Lucian Eldoria.

The Prince Joins the Battle

The moment Lucian arrived, the entire battlefield froze.

Even Darius—who was always itching for a fight—paused as the Crown Prince walked forward, golden eyes calm yet commanding.

"Continue," Lucian said simply. "I'll join this round."

Darius let out a low whistle. "And here I thought we'd get through today without being humiliated again."

Cassian sighed dramatically. "Oh well. It was nice being alive."

Leonel, however, simply gripped his sword tighter. His beast growled lowly, sensing the shift in pressure.

Kael exhaled. This was a rare chance. Facing Lucian meant testing himself against the strongest opponent possible.

Without another word, the fight resumed—this time with the prince in play.

In another corner of the training fields, a different battle was unfolding.

Selene Duskbane stood poised, her silver eyes calculating as she spun her spear with controlled precision. Across from her, Evelyne Grimthorne planted her feet, her greatsword resting on her shoulder, an easy smirk on her face.

Mira Valcroft stood between them, her stance lighter but no less determined. Though she lacked a noble house behind her, her resolve burned brighter than ever.

Evelyne was the first to attack, her strength monstrous as she brought her greatsword down in a single, earth-shattering strike.

Selene's Eclipse Sight activated, and she dodged before the attack even landed.

Mira, instead of retreating, closed the gap— her sword flashing as she went for Evelyne's exposed side.

The clash was fierce, the three warriors each pushing their own strengths.

Selene's predictive movements made her almost untouchable.

Evelyne's endurance and brute force were nearly unstoppable.

Mira's adaptability allowed her to flow between both combat styles, adjusting on the fly.

None of them were willing to back down.

Away from the chaos, Rael Varros trained alone.

The Phantom Duelist moved through the trees, his figure flickering in and out of existence. Each step was silent, each movement precise.

He wasn't interested in dueling for pride or rank. He was testing Void Step, refining his assassination techniques.

But he wasn't blind to what was happening around him.

From a distance, he watched Damien Nocturne.

He could see it—the frustration, the quiet seething in the noble's posture.

He didn't need Eclipse Sight to know what Damien was thinking.

Damien Nocturne sat alone, his fingers curled tightly into a fist.

He had lost—again.

Not just once, but multiple times. And every time, the same person had humiliated him.

Mira Valcroft.

A commoner who had no right to be standing among them.

His face twisted with rage as he watched her fight alongside nobles, her skill undeniable.

But that ends soon.

The Survival Trial was coming. And on that island, where danger lurked in every shadow…

Accidents could happen.

He smirked, his mind already formulating a plan.

As the day ended, and the sparring matches concluded, the strongest fourth-years left the field stronger than before.

But beneath the surface, tensions were brewing.

Kael, Darius, Cassian, and Leonel had tasted battle against Lucian—but none had won.

Selene, Evelyne, and Mira's rivalry grew sharper.

Rael remained a ghost in the background, unseen, unreadable.

And Damien Nocturne plotted in silence, his hatred festering.

The Survival Trial was no longer just a test.

It was the battlefield where reputations would be made—

Or destroyed.

And none of them were ready for what awaited them on the island.