All eyes were fixed on the arena, their emotions surging with such intensity that it overwhelmed their rationality.
There was no denying that Aurelianne's performance had stunned everyone present, completely captivating the entire audience.
But this... this was simply too overwhelming.
Are you sure she's really a mage?
Suddenly, the nobles recalled the crystalline moonlight sword that Aurelianne had wielded moments ago.
Ah yes, she is indeed a mage.
Creating weapons out of thin air in the arena - that's something only mages can accomplish.
What's truly astonishing is that despite being a mage, Aurelianne displayed remarkable proficiency in close combat.
Though her challenger might have seemed ordinary, he was still a senior student with six years of academy training under his belt.
Yet, he was defeated by Aurelianne in a single strike.
Even the students waiting below who hadn't gotten their chance to fight were left with only one thought after witnessing this battle.
This princess from the Calensia Empire seems... quite formidable.
The diplomatic ministers, seeing Aurelianne's effortless victory, wore broad smiles as if they themselves had won this face-saving battle for the empire. They unconsciously straightened their backs and glanced at the students on either side with pride in their eyes.
Meanwhile, King Augustus's mind was still echoing with Viktor's earlier response, paying little attention to Aurelianne's spectacular victory.
'Good at a little bit of everything?'
This was clearly an understatement.
If translated properly, that statement should actually mean...
'Excuse me, but I'm proficient in everything.'
He found it hard to believe, yet Aurelianne's performance had genuinely shocked everyone.
What Augustus saw wasn't just Aurelianne's superior technique, but rather the composure of a seasoned battlefield veteran.
Her decisiveness, and even her cold precision in delivering killing blows.
She seemed to know every weakness of her opponent, understood how to counter-attack, and employed the most efficient methods to defeat her enemy.
Could this really be taught by a mage?
Of course, Aurelianne wasn't actually killing anyone.
At this moment, a team of medical staff in white uniforms rushed onto the arena, even bringing a stretcher to carry away the student. They tore open his clothes where the sword had supposedly pierced his chest.
What they found shocked the crowd once again.
There wasn't a single wound on the student's body.
How strange.
Everyone had clearly seen the blade pierce through his chest, and the student had even collapsed weakly to the ground.
Could this also be the power of magic?
But since when did mages engage in close combat? How were warriors supposed to make a living when mages were this skilled in close combat?
As Augustus pondered this, Aurelianne had already returned.
She wore a smile, as if she had merely gone down to release some tension, and her attitude toward the king had notably improved.
Under the watchful eyes of numerous nobles, Aurelianne passed by Joanna and stood in the arena's passageway.
Without sparing another glance at the female student, Aurelianne merely nodded to Hilda before returning to her seat.
By now, no one dared question Aurelianne's combat prowess anymore.
And how old was she anyway?
The imperial princess was said to be only fifteen years old.
Meanwhile, most of the sixth-year students here were already adults.
Augustus spoke with an appreciative tone:
"That was an excellent battle, Princess Aurelianne. Your swordsmanship is truly outstanding."
Aurelianne responded with a smile:
"Thank you. It's all thanks to my teacher's excellent instruction."
Hearing this, Augustus's thoughts once again drifted to Viktor.
If the student was already this formidable, just how powerful must Viktor, as the teacher, be?
At this moment, Hilda also stood up and bowed respectfully to Aurelianne:
"Thank you, Princess, for fulfilling my request."
Aurelianne merely returned a faint smile.
Joanna glanced at Aurelianne before turning to Hilda and saying softly:
"Sister, I'll take my leave now. I need to prepare for the next match."
Hilda let out an "Ah" sound, paused for a moment, then said casually:
"Alright, good luck."
Joanna then lowered her head and quickly left, carrying her sword.
Considering that Aurelianne had already demonstrated her prowess, she naturally wouldn't participate in any more matches.
Even if she wanted to continue competing, the instructors wouldn't want her to participate anymore.
Clearly, Aurelianne's abilities far exceeded the average level here.
The competition continued, with students taking turns stepping onto the arena, eagerly showcasing their talents before the nobles.
As the sky grew darker, the final match finally arrived.
Joanna faced another formidable student.
Like Joanna, this opponent had won several consecutive matches.
Whoever emerged victorious would claim first place in this assessment.
By now, their battle had been going on for quite some time.
The student before her was putting considerable pressure on her.
After all, they were among the top students in the sixth year.
The battle remained deadlocked for a while longer, with both fighters seeking openings in each other's defense.
At this point, Joanna noticed her opponent's stamina was depleting, their breathing becoming heavy and movements slightly sluggish.
Sensing an opening, she stepped forward and thrust her blade toward her opponent.
However, her opponent's lips curled into a slight smile as they seized the opportunity, making a subtle movement with their sword.
In the next instant, Joanna lost her balance, her sword flying from her grip with tremendous force.
She lost her footing and landed on her bottom on the arena floor.
Her sword clattered to the ground nearby.
Her opponent, showing neither arrogance nor rush, sheathed their sword.
"Your skill is impressive. If I weren't a year older, the outcome might not have been so certain."
"You're too kind."
The students were surprised to see the match conclude with Joanna's defeat. Even Hilda frowned upon seeing her sister's final performance.
Only Augustus commented:
"Hilda, your sister is quite talented. She shows great potential."
Despite receiving praise from the king, Hilda's expression remained gloomy.
After all, a loss was a loss.
She had been outmatched.
But for Joanna to show such an obvious mistake during the visit of the king and foreign delegates...
Naturally, this put her in a foul mood.
Below, the instructor added a point for the victorious student.
After the final battle, this student claimed first place on the scoreboard, while Joanna took second.
The instructor announced loudly.
"The first place in this assessment goes to - Yaso Hyde!"
The victorious student went up to receive his award with a beaming smile.
Naturally, there was no reward for second place.
Joanna gripped her sword handle, clearly dejected by her loss.
She left the venue with her head down.
Seeing this, Hilda took a deep breath, then smiled at Aurelianne and the king:
"Please excuse me for a moment."
She stood up and hurried after Joanna.
At this point, the king smiled and said to everyone:
"Well then, shall we take our leave?"
After all, the diplomatic delegation had only come to watch the academy's assessment matches.
Now that the matches were over, there was no reason to linger.
Seeing the nobles and king present, the students didn't dare to stay either and quickly dispersed.
After all, it was getting late.
The king stood up first, followed immediately by the noble lords.
Augustus turned to Aurelianne:
"It's getting late, Princess Aurelianne. Let me arrange accommodation for you."
Aurelianne stood up, smiling.
She occasionally glanced back at Viktor, as if seeking his help.
Teacher, how should I respond now?
Viktor appeared not to notice Aurelianne's looks, remaining quietly seated.
But no one noticed.
At some point, the crow on Viktor's shoulder had disappeared.
Just then, the sound of a staff striking the ground rang out. Everyone's attention was drawn to it.
The noble lords all knew very well what this sound signified.
Even King Augustus looked over.
Duke Festan stood up, leaning on his staff, and addressed Augustus:
"Your Majesty, there's no need for such trouble."
"Let the princess and her companions stay at my estate during this period."
...
Unnoticed by anyone, a pitch-black crow bathed in moonlight silently flapped its wings and took to the night sky.
Its wings stirred a slight breeze in the darkness as it flew over the brightly lit streets.
Finally, it dove into a narrow, gloomy alley, landing in a shadow-covered corner.
Not far from the corner, Vega heard a complaining voice:
"Why did you perform so poorly today?"
The voice was familiar.
It must be that female instructor and her sister.
Starting a lecture, are they?
Perhaps their emotions would escalate and they might even come to blows.
Vega idly speculated from its dark corner, finding the complaining tone rather grating.
So, it narrowed its eye and peered out.
But what happened next was unexpected.
At this moment, Hilda was kneeling on one knee.
In the moonlight, her expression was both stern and full of love.
Joanna sat leaning against the steps, her face no longer showing the determination and restraint she had displayed in the arena.
Hilda was carefully applying medicine to Joanna's wounds with cotton balls.
As the sister carefully tended to the wounds, Joanna accepted it expressionlessly.
The elder sister's reproaching voice remained clear in the quiet night.
"You could have performed better. What happened?"
Joanna kept her lips tightly sealed, letting the moonlight fall on her cold face.
Hilda finished bandaging her sister's leg and looked up to see the faint wounds appearing on Joanna's arm.
"Give me your arm, it's injured too."
Joanna obediently extended her arm, allowing her sister to bandage it.
After finishing everything, Hilda stood up, while Joanna looked up at her.
"Don't train so intensely next time. Learn to relax occasionally."
Then Hilda added:
"His Majesty and the others should be leaving now. I'll go see them off."
"You rest a bit and head back to the dormitory soon."
With that, she turned to leave, casting one last reluctant glance at her sister.
Joanna watched her sister's departing figure with a hint of self-reproach.
At this point, she also stood up, flexed her body a bit, and sheathed her sword, preparing to leave.
Suddenly, Joanna stopped in her tracks.
At some point, a small black crow had appeared before her.
Strangely, it had only one eye.
A luster flowed across its small body, and an inexplicable dark aura gradually emanated from the crow.
She felt it - the atmosphere in the alley became oppressively heavy, and powerful pressure seemed to swirl around her body like rolling clouds.
It was a terrifying force, its coldness penetrating to the bone.
At this moment, her body was so cold she couldn't move.
Finally, the crow's ethereal voice descended from above, full of temptation and danger.
Like a cold light flickering in the night, it pierced Joanna's soul.
"Hello there, brave little girl."
"Do you... desire power?"
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